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.     

Fluoride distribution and the effect of some ions along Alexandria coastal Mediterranean seawater of Egypt

The coastal seawater of Mediterranean of Alexandria receives large amount of discharged waters containing industrial wastes, sewage, and agricultural and domestic drainage. Fluoride and some parameters were( chemical and physical) determined. The data gave indication that the content and the amount of the discharged water largely affect the chemical composition of the coastal water. Stepwise regression analysis was highly significant and the model was very fruitful, where the observed and calculated values were mostly concordant. This may indicated that there was a relation between fluoride content in cosslal seawater and its content in the discharged water.     

Discovery of copper chloride cancer in ancient Egyptian polychromic wall paintings and faience: A developing archaeological disaster

We are deeply indebted to the Stiftung Volkswagenwerk for the generous financial support to conduct a detailed research program on ancient Egyptian pigments in time and space. We are grateful to the Egyptian Antiquities Organization specifically to its former Presidents Dr. Ahmed Kadry and Dr. Abdel Halim Nour El Din for their support and for the permission to collect pigment samples from various archaeological sites. During the course of this study we enjoyed the continuous encouragement of Dr. Ahmed Kadry and Dr. Abdel Halim Nour el Din and their deep understanding for the importance of the link between scientific research and Egyptology in solving archaeological problems. We also enjoyed constructive discussions with Dr. Ali Radwan Dean of the Faculty of Archaeology, Cairo University. We are also grateful to the following Directors, officials, and inspectors of the Egyptian Antiquities Organization: Dr. M. Abdel Razeq, Dr. Ali Hassan, Mr. M. Balbush, Dr. M. El Sughair, Dr. M. Saleh, Mr. M. Nasr, Mr. Ismail El Masri and other colleagues at various sites in Egypt. We are also grateful to Dr. Shawki Nakhla, Director of the Conservation Center of the Egyptian Antiquities Organization. This work has benefited from discussions with Dr. E. Martin-Pardey, Mrs. I. Blom, and Dr. A. Eggebrecht. Specifically Dr. E. Martin-Pardey laid the sampling plan for and participated in the field campaign in March 1988 and we enjoyed her egyptological support.     

Surfactant solubilization of hydrophobic compounds in soil and water

Reductions in the apparent soil-water partition coefficients (K_d ^*) for 28 polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) caused by the surfactant sodium dodecylsulphate (SDS) in the aqueous phase were studied. Above the critical micelle concentration (CMC) of the surfactant, K_d ^* was reduced by 2–3 orders of magnitude, but even far below CMC at environmentally relevant surfactant concentrations significant reductions in K_d ^* were observed. The plot of the soil-water partition coefficient (K_d) divided by K_d ^* versus the concentration of SDS allowed for the calculation of monomer (K_mn ^oc) and micellar (K_mc ^oc) surfactant-water partition coefficients normalized to organic carbon for each PCB congener. K_mn ^oc values were comparable with published values for the partition of PCBs between natural dissolved organic matter and lake water. K_mc ^oc values were up to 30 times higher than K_mn ^oc values and comparable with published octanol-water distribution coefficients. The findings of the present study underline the potential of surfactants at concentrations below their CMC to mobilize otherwise strongly bound hydrophobic compounds in soil-water systems.     

Unexpected reproductive strategy of Sardinella aurita off the coast of Venezuela

Biological sampling of Spanish sardine (Sardinella aurita Valenciennes, 1847) off the coast of Venezuela from 1956 to 1989 was used to study the reproductive strategy and migration pattern of the population. Whereas in many pelagic fishes the energy re-allocation necessary for reproduction usually occurs optimally at the end of the upwelling season when planktonic production reaches a maximum, in the present study a 5 mo delay was observed. This suggests that energy was stored as lipids early in the season and released later via metabolism for gamete production. Major reproduction did not occur in an area and at a time when offshore transport and turbulence were low, which is also unusual for a pelagic fish species. These results are discussed in terms of the life cycle of the Spanish sardine and its possible migratory patterns. The reproductive strategy of this population apparently gives priority to optimising food availability for the offspring and not to preventing eggs and larvae being transported offshore. The presence of “retention” areas could explain this unexpected strategy. Received: 4 November 1996 / Accepted: 20 December 1996     

Reinforcement of thermoplastic rejects in the production of manhole covers

Thermoplastic rejects are un-recyclable plastics that are either incinerated causing harmful emissions into the air or land-filled. A common problem associated with manhole covers is the theft of the cover made out of cast iron and then selling it on the black market leaving a large empty hole in the road causing many potential safety and health hazards. This paper investigates the reinforcement of un-recyclable thermoplastic rejects to be used in the application of a manhole cover. Foundry sand and steel were used with the thermoplastic rejects as reinforcement of the material. Foundry sand is a hazardous waste that may cause many potential health hazards. It was shown that with 10% foundry sand, 90% thermoplastic rejects, and a steel mesh of diameter size 12 mm reinforcement, the manhole cover could withstand an average load of 112 kN. This value exceeds Grades A, AA, AAA, and B of acclaimed standards BS EN 124 for manhole covers, which ultimately indicates that the manhole cover may be used in pedestrian precincts and areas with occasional vehicular access. This composite material is produced out of waste materials (foundry sand and un-recyclable thermoplastic rejects) thus not utilizing or depleting the earth's natural resources, and eliminating the safety hazards, health hazards, and pollution associated with these waste materials. Not only is this product a benefit to the environment, but also inexpensive due to the fact that the materials are un-recyclable waste materials, and thus do not attain any value or cost.     

Microbial quality and physical–chemical characteristics of thermal springs

Microbial quality and physical–chemical properties of recreational spas were surveyed to investigate the health aspect of the spas’ water. A total of 195 samples were collected from pools and springs of the spas in five sites from Ardebil Province of Iran. The effects of an independent factor defined as ‘condition’ and its component sub-factors (i.e., sampling point, location, and sampling date) on microbial quality and physical–chemical properties of the spas were studied by applying path analysis. The influence of physical–chemical properties on microbial quality was also considered. The percentage of samples exceeding the ISIRI (Swimming pool water microbiological specifications (vol 9412), Institute of Standards and Industrial Research of Iran, Tehran, 2007) limits for Staphylococcus (spp.) was up to 55.8 in the springs and 87.8 in the pools, 58.1 and 99.2 for HPC, 90.7 and 97.8 for total coliform and fecal coliform, and 9.3 and 34.4 for Pseudomonas aeruginosa, respectively. There were significant differences between the pools and springs for both physical–chemical properties and microbial quality. From the path analysis, sampling point was the most effective sub-factor of ‘condition’ on both the physical–chemical properties and microbial quality. Among the physical–chemical properties, water color had the most enhancing or additive influence on microbial pollution, while EC indicated a reducing or subtractive effect.