Fuzzy goal programming for biodiesel production

ABSTRACT

The energy consumed around the world and especially in Morocco is dominated by oil products. The latter; whether in the global or the national context; are mainly due to diesel, whose climate impacts are well established, suggesting the search for a greener alternative. Despite its virtues, biodiesel is struggling to impose itself for purely economic reasons. Thus, in order to offer a sustainable solution, while keeping in mind the unpredictable fluctuations (price, demand …). This work proposes a generalization of fuzzy goal programming into fully fuzzy goal programming and a relative application, where the aim is to have a final product at a competitive price.     

Photodegradation of atrazine and ametryn with visible light using water soluble porphyrins as sensitizers

The photodegradation of the herbicides atrazine and ametryn with visible light in aerated neutral aqueous solutions and 5, 10, 15, 20-tetrakis (2,6-dichloro-3-sulfophenyl) porphyrin or 5, 10, 15, 20-tetrakis (4-sulfophenyl) porphyrin as sensitizers are reported for the first time. Our findings show that the degradation percentage reached 30% for atrazine and 63% for ametryn. The final photoproducts were characterized as dealkylated s-triazines. Photolysis of the pesticides in the presence of a singlet oxygen quencher showed only a minor contribution of this type of mechanism, while a bimolecular quenching reaction between the triplet state of the sensitizer and the pesticides is excluded by flash photolysis studies. It is proposed that the mechanism may involve the formation of a superoxide radical anion from the triplet state of the sensitizer and molecular oxygen, followed by a radical decomposition pathway. Selected article from 1st International Meeting on Photochemistry, Photocatalysis and Environmental Applications, Agadir, 2006, organised by Prof. Dr. Ait Ichou, University Ibn Zohr, Agadir, Morocco     

Highly efficient photodegradation of the pesticide metolcarb induced by Fe complexes

Here we show the efficient photoinduced degradation of the pesticide metolcarb, in less than 400 min, using iron(III) aquacomplexes and 365 nm light. The degradation is mainly due to the formation of hydroxyl radical. It was complete when molecular oxygen was present. The analytical study gives evidence for the primary formation of several byproducts formed from 1) the scission of the O–C bond, 2) the hydroxylation of the aromatic moiety and 3) the attack of the two methyl groups. Under prolonged irradiation and in aerated solutions, efficient mineralization was evidenced by the study of total organic carbon evolution as a function of irradiation time.     

Remediation of heavy metal contaminated soils via integrated electrochemical processes

The thrust of this study is to develop an in-situ method/technique capable of modifying the contaminated soil environment and maximizing contaminant extraction. Contaminated soils were compacted in electrokinetic cells to densities similar to natural field conditions. Conditioning fluids were used during the application of a direct current to solubilize the precipitated forms of heavy metals. Mobilization of contaminants as a function of time was quantified by analysing metal ion concentrations in the extracted effluents at both the anode and cathode and in the compacted specimens. For each conditioning fluid used, the removal efficiencies were evaluated based on both effluent and soil concentrations.     

Kinetic adsorption of application of carbon nanotubes for Pb(Ⅱ) removal from aqueous solution

The capability of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) to adsorb lead (Pb) in aqueous solution was investigated. Batch mode adsorption experiment was conducted to determine the effects of pH, agitation speed, CNTs dosage and contact time. The removal of Pb(Ⅱ) reached maximum value 85% or 83% at pH 5 or 40 mg/L of CNTs, respectively. Higher correlation coeffcients from Langmuir isotherm model indicates the strong adsorptions of Pb(Ⅱ) on the surface of CNTs (adsorption capacity Xm = 102.04 mg/g). The results indicates tha...     

Antenatal corticosteroids and outcomes in gastroschisis: A multicenter retrospective cohort study

Objective

In gastroschisis, there is evidence to suggest that gut dysfunction develops secondary to bowel inflammation; we aimed to evaluate the effect of maternal antenatal corticosteroids administered for obstetric reasons on time to full enteral feeds in a multicenter cohort study of gastroschisis infants.

Methods

A three center, retrospective cohort study (1992-2013) with linked fetal/neonatal gastroschisis data was conducted. The primary outcome measure was time to full enteral feeds (a surrogate measure for bowel function) and secondary outcome measure was length of hospital stay. Analysis included Mann-Whitney and Cox regression.

Results

Of 500 patients included in the study, 69 (GA at birth 34 [25-38] weeks) received antenatal corticosteroids and 431 (GA at birth 37 [31-41] weeks) did not. Antenatal corticosteroids had no effect on the rate of reaching full feeds (Hazard ratio HR 1.0 [95% CI: 0.8-1.4]). However, complex gastroschisis (HR 0.3 [95% CI: 0.2-0.4]) was associated with an increased time to reach full feeds and later GA at birth (HR 1.1 per week increase in GA [95% CI: 1.1-1.2]) was associated with a decreased time to reach full feeds.

Conclusion

Maternal antenatal corticosteroids use, under current antenatal steroid protocols, in gastroschisis is not associated with an improvement in neonatal outcomes such as time to full enteral feeds or length of hospital stay.