A 50 MW concentrating solar power plant for Jordan

The potential of concentrating solar power plant (CSPP) technology in Jordan is assessed and the next steps for development of the first CSPP in the country are presented. For this purpose, a prototype of a 50 MW CSPP for electricity generation in Jordan is proposed and analysis of its economic feasibility has been performed. Moreover, a calculation model – using the concept design of the proposed CSPP, and the solar irradiation data – was developed to estimate the energy yield of the plant. Based on the analyzed solar irradiation data, it was found that Jordan has an outstanding potential for CSPP, especially in the southern locations of the country such as Quweira. At the same time Jordan's energy master plan is seeking for independent energy supply and for an increasing share of renewable energies. Furthermore, Jordan's demand curve over a day closely matches the electricity production of the proposed plant. Combination of these factors creates a very favorable situation. Therefore, establishment of the proposed 50 MW CSPP is highly recommended not only in Jordan, but also in many other countries, which have similar political and economical conditions such as those countries located in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.     

Filtering effect of wind flow turbulence on atmospheric pollutant dispersion

This paper presents a model for coupling the statistics of wind velocity distribution and atmospheric pollutant dispersion. The effect of wind velocity distribution is modeled as a three-dimensional finite-impulse response (3D-FIR) filter. A phase space representation of the 3D-FIR filter window is discussed. The resulting pollutant dispersion is the multiplication in the phase space of the 3-D Fourier transform of the pollutant concentration and the volume described by the filter window coefficients. The shape of the filter window in the phase space enables representing such effects as vortex shedding thermal currents, etc. The impact of spatial distribution of the sensors on the resulting pollutant spatial distribution and the 3-D FIR filter model employed also discuss. The case of a neutrally buoyant plume emitted from an elevated point source in a turbulent boundary layer considers. The results show that wind turbulence is an important factor in the pollutant dispersion and introduces expected random fluctuations in pollutant distribution and leads to spreading the distribution due to wind mixing.     

Adsorption study of 14C-paraquat in two Malaysian agricultural soils

The adsorption equilibrium time and effects of pH and concentration of ¹⁴C-labeled paraquat (1,1^??-dimethyl-4,4^??-bipyridylium dichloride) in two types of Malaysian soil were investigated. The soils used in the study were clay loam and clay soils from rice fields. Equilibrium studies of paraquat in a soil and pesticide solution were conducted. Adsorption equilibrium time was achieved within 2 h for both soil types. The amount of ¹⁴C-labeled paraquat adsorbed onto glass surfaces increased with increasing shaking time and remained constant after 10 h. It was found that paraquat adsorbed by the two soils was very similar: 51.73 (clay loam) and 51.59 ?? g g^???1 (clay) at 1 ?? g/ml. The adsorption of paraquat onto both types of soil was higher at high pH, and adsorption decreased with decreasing pH. At pH 11, the amounts of ¹⁴C-labeled paraquat adsorbed onto the clay loam and clay soil samples were 4.08 and 4.05 ?? g g^???1, respectively, whereas at pH 2, the amounts adsorbed were 3.72 and 3.57 ?? g g^???1, respectively. Results also suggested that paraquat sorption by soil is concentration dependent.     

Economic benefits from decreased mercury emissions: Projections for 2020

Anthropogenic processes have increased the exposure of humans and wildlife to toxic methyl mercury (MeHg). Mercury emissions will increase by about 25% between 2005 and 2020, if the present trajectory is maintained. A global assessment of societal damages caused by the ingestion of methyl mercury, based merely on loss of IQ (Intelligence Quotient), suggests that the annual cost will be approximately US$3.7 billion (2005 dollars) in 2020. The corresponding cost of damages resulting from the inhalation of methyl mercury is estimated at US$2.9 million (2005 dollars). Under a higher degree of emission control such as in the case of the Extended Emission Control (EXEC) and the Maximum Feasible Technological Reduction (MFTR) scenarios, total emissions could decrease in the period 2005–2020 by about 50–60%. The corresponding annual benefits in 2020 are estimated to be about US$1.8–2.2 billion (2005 dollars). Large economic benefits can be achieved by reducing global mercury emissions.     

Potential environmental impact of dissolution of raw phosphate in sea water of the Gulf of Aqaba

Dissolution of raw phosphate (apatite) in sea water of the Gulf of Aqaba was investigated through lab incubation experiments. Three types from three different sources (Al-Hasa, Al-Abyad and Esh-Shydiya) have been used for these experiments. Impact of quantity, grain size, and source (type) of raw phosphate on dissolution rate were studied. Statistical analysis shows significant differences between the results obtained from comparing each two weights; as weight of apatite increased, dissolved inorganic phosphate-phosphorus (DIP) and fluoride in sea water solution increased. The differences between the dissolution rates of raw phosphate from the three sites were not significant while the differences between the different grain size fractions were significant. Dissolution rates were inversely related to particle size. Using a worst-case scenario, a conservative estimate of the maximum increase in DIP in seawater of the Gulf of Aqaba due to the apatite particles lost to the sea during ship loading resulted in DIP concentrations of 0.03 μM per year. As the residence time of the water in the Gulf of Aqaba is about one year, the DIP concentration will not increase by more than 0.03 μM under the estimated annual quantity of exported phosphate. Fluoride will not increase by more than 0.03 mg/l under the same conditions.     

Validation of QuEChERS-based method for determination of flusilazole residues in grape by high-performance liquid chromatography with photodiode array detector

A high-performance liquid chromatography with photodiode array detector analytical method was developed to determine the residue levels of flusilazole in grape and investigate the dissipation pattern and safety. The results showed that the mean recoveries were in the range of 86%–90%. Limits of detection and quantification were 0.008 and 0.02 mg/kg, respectively. The residue levels of flusilazole were best described by first-order rate kinetics and with half-lives ranging from 4.2 days (recommended dose) to 4.6 days (double the recommended dose). In conclusion, flusilazole at the recommended or even at double the recommended doses does not pose any apparent hazards to consumers.     

Prevalence of Rotaviruses Groups A and C in Egyptian Children and Aquatic Environment

The objective of this study is to compare the prevalence of rotaviruses groups A and C in Egyptian children and aquatic environment. From 110 stool specimens of children with acute diarrhea and using RT-PCR, 35 samples (31.8 %) were positive for human rotavirus group A and 15 samples (13.6 %) were positive for human rotavirus group C. From 96 samples collected from Zenin wastewater treatment plant over a 2-year period (November 2009–October 2011) and using RT-PCR, rotavirus group A was detected in (4/24) 16.7 %, (5/24) 20.8 %, (4/24) 16.7 %, and (4/24) 16.7 %, while rotavirus group C was detected in (2/24) 8.3 %, (3/24) 12.5 %, (3/24) 12.5 %, and (0/24) 0 % in raw sewage, after primary sedimentation, after secondary sedimentation, and after final chlorination, respectively. Moreover, from 96 samples collected from El-Giza water treatment plant over a 2-year period (November 2009–October 2011), rotavirus group A was detected in (7/24) 29.2 %, (6/24) 25 %, (5/24) 20.8 %, and (3/24) 12.5 %, while rotavirus group C was detected in (3/24) 12.5 %, (1/24) 4.2 %, (1/24) 4.2 %, and (0/24) 0 % in raw Nile water, after sedimentation, after sand filtration, and after final chlorination, respectively. Using SYBR Green real-time RT-PCR, the number of human rotavirus group A genome or infectious units was higher than rotavirus group C. VP6 sequence analysis of the RT-PCR positive rotavirus group C samples revealed that four clinical specimens and three environmental samples showed similar sequences clustered with Moduganari/Human Nigerian strain AF 325806 with 98 % homology, and two clinical specimens and one environmental sample showed similar sequences clustered with Dhaka CB/Human Bangladesh strain AY 754826 with 97 % homology.