Iraqi Journal of Industrial Research

Electricity is the fundamental need of human society. Any nation\'s growth depends on energy. The worldwide electricity consumption increases and conventional electricity sources are causing pollution. Therefore, some non-conventional energy recourses are mandatory to be designed and developed for electricity generation, and they are useful and environment-friendly. In this study, a renewable, non-conventional energy source prototype has been developed, based on the mechanism of power generation from speed breaker with ratchet and pawl mechanism. This study aims to convert the kinetic energy of vehicles into electrical energy which can be used for street and highway lighting and conservation of electrical energy.

An experimental study was conducted to evaluate durability (compressive strength and mass loss%) in the modified sulfur concrete within aggressive environments. The modified sulfur concrete was prepared by adding recycled polymeric and filler materials that showed a noticeable enhancement for modified sulfur concrete characteristics. A durability comparison between modified sulfur concrete and traditional concrete was investigated at normal and aggressive environments (10% HCl and 3% NaCl). A cuboid shape with size (50 × 50 × 50mm) was used in this research to investigate the durability of both modified sulfur and traditional concrete. The modified sulfur concrete characteristics revealed high stable structure than traditional due to preventing a process of crystallization of sulfur that modified with polymer and fillers. The compressive strength was 10.87 – 22.5% increased for modified sulfur concrete compared to the traditional concrete at the normal environment. In the aggressive environments, the modified sulfur concrete illustrated high resistance strength compared to the traditional concrete. The comparison revealed a significant impact for 10% HCl and 3% NaCl on the traditional concrete. The compressive strength decreased between (88.78 – 96.17) % for traditional concrete compared to modified sulfur concrete in 10% HCl solution and (84.25 – 95.06) % in 3% NaCl solution. Furthermore, mass loss % of the modified sulfur concrete indicated high resistance compared to the traditional concrete in both 10% HCl and 3% NaCl solutions

This study aims to convert the municipal solid waste (MSW), which include garbage and chicken manure as raw biodegradable organic waste to produce a compost in order to transform these materials into recommended fertilizer. The principle of aerobic composting method is a waste oxidation through holding these mixed raw materials with a ratio of 1:1 garbage and chicken manure in two units of composting, rotary unit and stationary unit with recommended Carbon/Nitrogen ratio C/N of 20:1 and pH of 6.5 with moisture content of about 40% by adding water during composting process and presence of oxygen naturally. The period time of composting process was 69 days to get normal temperature of compost bulk equal to ambient temperature and pH value as natural value using two composting units. The composting results during first 30 days shows the temperature values 59.5 and 55oC for rotary unit and stationary units that refers to microbial action of microorganism and decomposition of organic matter to energy as heat. The pH values were having acidic state during first week that refers to the formation of organic acids. The final compost characteristics show a C/N ratio of 20.8 and 22.275 for rotary and stationary units, respectively with a decrease in C% and N%, which refers to a successful composting process, where Nitrogen, Phosphor and Potassium NPK values were (1.428:1.719:4.508) % for rotary unit and (1.361:0.419:3.884) % for stationary unit and electrical conductivity of 5.5 and 6.04 mS/cm as acceptable value according to the recommended standard values.

Two-dimensional numerical simulation is performed aiming to understand the role of buoyancy force convection during restricted solidification of phase change materials (PCMs) inside a shell and tube heat exchanger according to annulus cross section. Where the transient history of PCM solidification evolution was studied. The governing equations of mass, momentum and energy are solved to study the solidification behavior inside the annulus geometry. The fluid flow in the mushy zone was accounted for using the Darcy drag source term in momentum, and the liquid percentage in each cell was updated using the enthalpy-porosity method. Thermal conditions of the outer cylinder insulated (adiabatic) and the inner cylinder at constant temperature (isothermal). The results are presents as a temperature contour and liquid fraction distribution in the domain. The predicted result shows the capturing phenomenon: primary heat conduction in all regions, then heat convection and conduction become dominant in the top and bottom regions, respectively. The max. and min. temperature changes near the outer pipe surface during 16 hrs. are 56.25% and 42.5%, respectively.

The research aims to use eggshells (ES) as civilian residues in the process of removing cadmium ions and reactive red dye according to international standards limits. Synthetic solutions were prepared for cadmium ions and reactive red dye using 0.2 g non-calcined and calcined ES at various temperatures (25, 250, 500, 750, and 1000 ℃) as an adsorbent. The result showed the removal of cadmium ion was (60, 100%) for non-calcined and calcined ES, respectively, with the initial concentration of cd2+ (10 ppm). The removal of reactive red dye was (18.5, 98%) using non-calcined and calcined ES, respectively, at a concentration of red dye (50 ppm). The best removal time was 90 min. XRD and FTIR spectroscopy were performed and the results were identical to the main components of ES and changed with temperature increasing due to dissolution of calcium carbonate (CaCO3).

Solar energy is one of the most important types of renewable energy and is characterized by its availability, especially in Iraq. It can be used in many applications, including supply thermal energy by solar collectors. Improving the thermal efficiency of solar collector leads to an increase in the thermal energy supplied. Using a nano-fluid instead of base fluid (water is often used) as a working fluid is a method many used to increase the thermal efficiency of solar collectors. In this article, the latest research that used nano-fluid as a working fluid in evaluating the thermal efficiency of solar collector, type flat plate was reviewed. The thermal efficiency improvement of flat plate solar collector was reviewed based on the type of nanoparticles (metal oxides, semiconductors oxides, carbon compounds) used in the base fluid and comparison was made between these nanoparticles under the same conditions. Moreover, the effect of varying the concentration of nanoparticles in the base fluid and changing the working fluid flow rate on the thermal efficiency of flat plate solar collector was also reviewed. The results of the review showed that nano-fluids containing carbon compounds are better than other nano-fluids and that copper oxide is better than the rest of the metal oxides used in improving the thermal efficiency of flat plate solar collectors.

The fabrication of nanocomposites has played role to the development of the nanotechnology and the technology of advanced composite materials. Thermoset polymers are used in engineering applications widely. Their mechanical properties can be change with adding particles. The mechanism of toughening polymers has been suggested recently by reinforcing well dispersed particles to the plain polymer. Nano-silica particles were added to thermoset polymer of polyester to evaluate their influence on the mechanical properties of the toughened polymer using both experimental and numerical methods. The Representative Volume Element (RVE) approach, which employs finite element models, has been developed to achieve that aim numerically for various types of nano-particle reinforcement ratios. In each case, the stiffness has been calculated with using the equivalent homogeneous material concept. Experimentally, toughened thermoset polymers of polyester reinforced with nano-silica were prepared with different particle content ratio. Several tests were conducted on the nanocomposite, and it was observed increasing nano-silica ratio caused increase in Young’s modulus and decrease in ductility.

An individual solar collector and two partly freight cylinders filled with molten salts embedded storage tank were connected to each other and forced circulated water by electric pump to improve the thermal performance of residential solar hot water tank. Multi flow rates of 25, 50 and 70 l/h. used to achieve an appropriate flow rate of circulating water. The calcium nitrate tetra hydrate Ca(NO3)2-4H2O and magnesium nitrate hex hydrate Mg(NO3)2-6H2O were mixed to form cheap binary molten salts base on different weight ratios. These molten salts combined could be used as both sensible heat materials and latent heat storage materials, besides they can directly use as heat transfer fluid due to freezing temperature. Six samples of different mixing ratio of molten salts had tested to assess the thermal analysis of each sample. The result indicated that the mixture 60% Ca(NO3)2+40%Mg(NO3)2 had the best performance for thermal storage tank with melting point of 38°C and the thermal value is 8.7 mW, and thermal stability of molten salts were noticed by DSC 60 SHIMADZSU devise.

Corn is an important cereal crop in Ethiopia due to its use as a source of food security. However, its productivity is limited by insufficient application of the NPS fertilizer and different row spacing. A field trial was carried out to assess the effects of the application of different NPS fertilizer quantities and inter row spacing on the growth, yield components and yield of maize and the cost-benefit analysis of the NPS compound fertilizer application on the yield of maize in the main growing season 2019/2020.The study was arranged in a factorial combination of five levels of NPS fertilizers (0, 50, 100, 150 and 200 kg NPS ha-1) and four inter row spacing (55 cm, 65 cm, 75 cm and 85 cm). in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The consequence showed the main result of the NPS fertilizer had a highly significant (p <0.01) effect on days up to 50% anthesis, days up to 50% silk formation, 90% physiological maturity, leaf area, leaf area index, number of plants at harvest, the number of grains per ear was determined from the main effects of NPS fertilizer of 200 kg NPS ha-1. The interaction effects of NPS and row spacing have highly significant (p <0.01) effects on the number of ears per plant, number of ears per hectare, ear length, agronomic effectiveness and grain yield were obtained when using 150 kg. measured NPS ha-1 at 75 cm row spacing. The highest economic (91,608 Birr ha-1) and a higher MRR (1745%) resulted from the 150 kg NPS ha-1 and 75 cm row spacing. Thus, it should be noted that the application of 150 kg NPS ha-1 with a row spacing of 75 cm was both agronomic and cost-effective for the grain yield of the Melkassa-II in the study area.

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of Lycium barbarum extract, Chitosan nanoparticles (ChNPs) and Nanotitanium dioxide (TiO2 NPs) loaded on Gelatin films on the microbial content of labneh during different storage periods. The samples were divided into seven treatments which included (T1) non-coated labneh, (T2) labneh coated with gelatin membranes, (T3) labneh coated with gelatin membranes and Lycium barbarum extract, (T4) labneh coated with gelatin films and ChNPs, (T5) labneh coated with gelatin films treated TiO2NPs, (T6) Labneh coated with gelatin films, Lycium barbarum and ChNPs, (T7) Labneh coated with gelatin films, Lycium barbarum and TiO2 NPs. The total number of bacteria decreased after loading with the membranes for each specific period of time, and the treatment with T7 was the best, as the total number of bacteria decreased to 9.93 log/gm compared to the two controls (T1, T2), which amounted to (15.58, 13.47 log/gm) after 14 days of storage, respectively. While the numbers of Lipolytic and Proteolytic bacteria, yeasts and molds did not show any growth at the time of one day, with the prolonged storage period, the gradual increase in the total count of bacteria occurred for all treatments, it reached the highest numbers at the time of 14 days. Treatment T7 was the best in reducing the numbers of both lipolytic and proteinolytic bacteria, as well as yeasts and molds.

Chamomile is an ancient herb used for various medications. It contains many bioactive constituents such as volatile oils, terpenoids, flavonoids, lactones, acid esters, glycosides and others. By reviewing many references, a confliction appeared of using Chamomile preparations to treat primary teeth eruption symptoms as a therapy administered by pediatric dentist or pediatrician. In this study, thirteen bioactive constituents (α-bisabolol (B), chamazulene (C), umbelliferone (U), apigenin (A), apigetrin (AT), apiin (AI), luteolin (L), quercetin (Q), quercimertrin (QT), rutin (R), α-cadinene (CD), α-farnesene (F), and matricarin (M) were subject to computational predication through various online websites to predicate their taste, activity towards several CYP450 enzymes and their action as Hepatotoxic, carcinogenic, immunotoxic, mutagenic, and cytotoxic compounds. Our calculations revealed several points such as high value of taste predication indicated that Chamomile constituents under study were with sour taste, did not classify as individual fatal compound Class (GHS) 1 or 2, 44.87% of them showed inhibition character toward specific cytochrome P450 enzyme while 43.59% were non- inhibition character, more than (0.5) probability predication of various cytochrome P450 enzymes gave a positive activity that may affect liver functions. Also, hepatotoxicity, carcinogenicity, immunotoxicity, mutagenicity, and cytotoxicity predictions were more than (0.5), unsaturated Chamomile constituent (Farnesene, F) had highest immune – and mutagenic properties whilst the disaccharide flavonoid (Rutin, R) had the highest Carcino- immunogenic response. According to the above notes, our conclusion is to use minimum concentration of Chamomile preparation for less period of time and lowest repeating intake that ensure effective treatment of teething symptoms under supervision of pediatricians with minimum side effect.

Sulphamethaxazole is antibiotic used to treat several types of bacterial infections and gives double effect when used with trimethoprim by 1 to 5 of sulphamethaxazole. It has a broad spectrum effect on the positive and negative bacteria of Gram and fungi. The objective of this research is to convert sulfamethasazole to nano sulfamethasazole by Sol-gel method by using additive material like acetic acid, distilled water and ethanol with temperature 80°C and probe sonicator machine as catalyst and hydrolysis factor. Nano sulphamethoxazole solution analyzed by atomic force microscope (AFM) was show average of nano particles at size (50±10) nm. Scanned by TEM and SEM shows nano particles as a band of hollow tubes with a diameter less than 100 nm., beside the EDS pattern show high peaks of sodium, carbon and oxygen along with some other constituents. The antibacterial activity of nano solution shows respectable inhibition activity compared to slandered solution

Nano peel solution was prepared using Sol-gel technology at a temperature of (80) Celsius. A number of tests were performed to describe the properties and structure of Nano material, including scanning probe microscopy (SPM), which showed the symmetric cumulative distribution of the solution Nanoparticles and the average grain size equal to 64.5 nm and the identical distribution of the Nanoparticles with a diameter of 37.75 nanometers, with a measurement area ranging between (1531.23-1558.19) nanometers. Nano-solution analyzed with a scanning electron microscope (SEM), Inspect type (S50), with a magnification power up to X2000, where dense flakes of nano particles with a diameter of (50 ± 10) nanometers were observed. The antibacterial activity of nano-solution by using gram- positive bacteria St. aurous and gram-negative E. coli show the inhibition diameter of (St. aurous) was 27 mm and 25 mm in (E. coli).

Toxicity is important factor to human and environment and can be tested in lab and by computerized models. ProTox-II is in Silico method to assess safety of chemicals to minimize risk health threating to human and other living organisms in nature. Taste of material is another character can be calculated in Silico model like virtualtaste. Here, first attempt of using two computerized methods and hypothetical partial degradation products of four toxics materials used to control agricultural productivity was carried out to predicate taste and toxicity characters. LD50, Toxicity Class, organ and end point toxicities, Tox21-Nuclear receptor signaling and stress response pathways of Chlorfenvinphos, Dichlofluanid, Fonofos, and Methacrifos with their hypothetical degradation products were calculated. Hypothetical degradation products were a results of (C-C, C-O, C-N, C-S, C-P, P-O, P-S, or N-S) bond breakage. The hypothesized degradation chemicals showed that most of them were with sour taste and their toxicity were less class compared to the parent compound but not to non-toxic material (Class 6, LD50 more than 5000 mg/kg). Also, they were structurally toxics and could be interact with molecular cellular target resulting than parent compound if they presented in required concentration.