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Argan nutshell wood (ANW) has been used in this study as an agricultural solid waste to remove Congo red (CR) from an aqueous solution in single and mixture binary in the presence of methylene blue (MB) or crystal violet (CV).

The ANW was characterized by Fourier transform infrared and scanning electron microscope analysis. The effect of ANW dose (8–40 gL⁻¹), contact time (0–180 min), pH of the solution (4–11) and CR dye concentration (100–500 mgL⁻¹) on CR adsorption was studied in batch mode and evaluated by kinetic and isotherm models in a single system. In the binary system, the CR removal was studied from a CR + MB and CR + CV mixture with different percentages of dyes, ranging from 0% to 100%.

The pseudo-second-order and the Langmuir models could best describe the CR sorption onto ANW in a single system. In addition, in the case of the binary system, there is the appearance of a synergistic phenomenon between the CR and the other cationic dyes and the CR adsorption capacity increased until 12.24 mg g-1 and 12.06 mg g-1 in the presence of the MB and CV in the mixture, respectively.

This study demonstrated that ANW prepared can be suggested as an excellent potential adsorbent to remove dyes from wastewaters from single and mixture systems.

This study is original.

This paper aims to focus on studying the batch desorption of adsorbed crystal violet (CV) from date stones (Phoenix dactylifera), untreated (UDS) and treated using NaOH (TDS).

The process variables such as different desorbing agents, volume and concentration of the desorbing agent, contact time, dye concentration before adsorption and temperature affecting CV desorption from CV-loaded untreated date stones (CV@UDS) and treated adsorbent (CV@TDS) were optimized. The UDS and TDS were regenerated using 0.6 m HCl as eluent.

The HCl solution was an excellent eluent for the CV desorption from CV@UDS (96.45%) and CV@TDS (98.11%). The second-order model and the Langmuir model well exemplified experimental data with maximum desorption capacities were 63.29 mg g⁻¹ for the CV@UDS and 243.90 mg g⁻¹ for the CV@TDS. The calculated thermodynamic showed that the CV desorption was spontaneous, endothermic and physical. Good regeneration and reusability of UDS and TDS for the CV removal for four consecutive adsorption–desorption cycles.

This study provided a good example of reusing UDS and TDS with NaOH for fast removal of a toxic organic pollutant, CV from the wastewaters.

The use of UDS and TDS with NaOH for the first time for desorption study and their reusability to removing CV from their aqueous solutions.

The purpose of this paper is to show that a combination of Adomian and Alienor methods can be used to solve the problem of parameters identification of HIV/AIDS model. This model involves a system of three ordinary differential equations.

Parameters identification leads to the minimization of an error functional given by the sum of variations between measured variables and calculated variables obtained by solving the system of differential equations. We assume that the quantity of healthy cells CD4 + T and the viral load contents in the blood are measured.

The identification was realized by applying the combined Adomian/Alienor method allowing to reduce the problem to a minimization problem in dimention one.

Simulation results are given for illustration.

Application to parameter identification in an HIV model‐compatible, results to other methods.

To avoid sub-optimization in wheat storage centers, one of the most strategic facilities, it is necessary to review and relocate them to be optimized regularly. The present study aims to propose an integrated method using geographic information systems (GISs) and an appropriate weighting algorithm for the relocation of wheat storage facilities.

To achieve the goal mentioned above, sustainability pillars in facility location and relocation are initially developed; afterward, a set of suitable criteria are obtained from various scientific resources. Then, the weight of each sustainable development pillar and its corresponding sub-criteria were identified through utilizing the best–worst method (BWM). By applying the obtained weights in the ArcGIS software package, various geographical layers were designed, and land-use planning, logistics planning and sustainable logistics planning are carried out in the regions. The regions are ranked based on the scores obtained in the processes, and the best regions are selected for sustainable relocation problem.

A case study including 430 regions (counties) in Iran is conducted to evaluate the efficiency of the suggested approach. The study results indicate that Iran possesses a superior state for establishing wheat storage centers in terms of infrastructural and social aspects. Also, it is established that 16% of counties are recognized as sustainable locations for relocating the wheat storage facilities.

There is no most suitable analysis of the wheat storage facilities, as well as their strategic position in the supply chain, and there is a lack of considering sustainability in wheat storage facility location, despite the particular importance of it to the supply chain.

This framework is applied in an Iranian wheat-bread supply chain to find the best sustainable facilities. It is noted that this algorithm can be applied in other strategic facilities by minor and some major changes.

Decision-makers can apply the proposed methodology to find the best relocation sites for wheat storage facilities as the main part of wheat-bread supply chain in order to prevent sub-optimization and improve the efficiency of their supply chain.

Over the past few decades, the subject of governance has come to the fore in many public discussions, notably with regard to reforms of the social protection system. Without entering into various debates the concept has generated, we shall use it in its positive sense (Gilly, Leroux, & Wallet, 2004), to designate all of the interactions between various public and private actors in the elaboration and implementation of public policies to attain shared objectives of general interest (Enjolras, 2008; Le Galès, 1998). Governance thus reflects a change in the forms of collective action – which certainly would qualify as modernisation – and the growing importance granted to management strategies in this change. It also brings out the complexity of the interrelationships between the different levels of decision-making (horizontal and vertical), which might be characterised as ‘poly-governance’ (Eme, 2005). And governance also permits a simultaneous approach to the new territorial, productive and partnership arrangements emerging in response to the different levels of constraints and socio-demographic changes. These issues lie at the heart of the transformations of the welfare state and related policies for rationalising public intervention and stabilising public finances. Studies dealing with welfare mix and welfare pluralism (Evers & Svetlik, 1993; Esping-Andersen, 1999; Ascoli & Ranci, 2002; Pestoff, 2006; Richez-Battesti, 2008) bring out different ways of combining sources of risk protection or other forms of solidarity. Such research reinforces analyses of co-ordination, as well as those of management and decision-making.

This paper aims to evaluate the inhibitive action of the corrosion of mild steel in sulphuric acid solutions by ethanol extracts of Thymus vulgaris (TYV), Xylopia aethiopica (XYA) and Zingiber officinale (ZGO) as eco-friendly and non-toxic mild-steel corrosion inhibitors in H₂SO₄ solutions.

Ethanol extracts of TYV leaves, XYA fruits and ZGO roots were used as inhibitors in various corrosion tests. Gravimetric and gasometric techniques were used to characterize the mechanism of inhibition.

Results indicate that the extracts inhibit the corrosion process efficiently. Inhibition efficiency was found to increase with an increase in extract concentration and decrease with an increase in temperature. Inhibition efficiencies followed the trend TYV > ZGO > XYA. Thermodynamic considerations revealed that the energy of activation increased in the presence of the plant extracts. Adsorption of the plant extracts on mild steel surface occurred spontaneously, and E_a and ΔG_ads values confirm a physical adsorption processes. Phytochemical studies showed the presence of saponoids, flavonoids and polyphenols whose attachment to adsorption sites on the metal surface is responsible for the inhibition process. Experimental data fit the Langmuir adsorption isotherm.

The plant extracts can be used in chemical cleaning and picking processes.

The research provides information on the possible use of the ethanol extracts from TYV leaves, XYA fruits and ZGO roots as sources of cheap, eco-friendly and non-toxic corrosion inhibitors.

This study aims to activated carbon prepared from pistachio waste by using phosphoric acid as chemical activator agent. Activated carbon adsorbents were prepared from pistachio waste by using phosphoric acid as chemical activator agent.

The optimum conditions for the highest adsorption performance were determined by central composite design (CCD). The adsorbent was used for the adsorption of dye reactive black 5 (RB5), and the parameters affecting the adsorption were discussed like pH, initial concentration, contact time and adsorbent dosage. The adsorbent synthesized has been characterized by FTIR spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The kinetic models including pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order and intraparticle diffusion with Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models were applied to investigate the kinetic and isotherms parameters.

When the dye concentration is 10 mg/L, RB5 dye removal rates reach 87.5 per cent. Moreover, the adsorption process of RB5 follows the pseudo-second-order kinetics and the Freundlich adsorption isotherm.

This study provided a simple and effective way to prepare activated carbon adsorbents from pistachio wastes. This way was conductive to protect environmental from a huge amount of agricultural waste produced and subsequent application for removal of pollutants from aqueous solutions.

The activated carbon adsorbents are prepared via chemical activation, which is prepared with pistachio wastes. There are two main innovations: one is that the novel adsorbents are prepared successfully by waste and the other is that the optimized conditions are designed by CCD.

The aim of this work was to investigate how Andrographis paniculata (Burm.f.) Wall.ex Nees extract affected the corrosion of low-carbon (C) steel in 0.1M HCl.

The Andrographis paniculata (Burm.f.) Wall.ex Nees was extracted into distilled water at 70°C for 1 h. The corrosion inhibition efficiency of the extract was determined in 0.1M HCl using weight loss measurements, potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The effects of extract concentrations and of temperature were investigated.

The Andrographis paniculata (Burm.f.) Wall.ex Nees extract could inhibit the corrosion process of low-C steel in 0.1M HCl. With the extract concentration of 1 g/l, an inhibition efficiency of 96.3 per cent was obtained. The extract acted as an anodic inhibitor. The adsorption process of the extract was physisorption and it followed the Langmuir adsorption isotherm.

This paper revealed that Andrographis paniculata (Burm.f.) Wall.ex Nees cultivated in Thailand, which was extracted using a simple and environmentally friendly method, could act as a very good green corrosion inhibitor for low-C steel in 0.1M HCl solution.

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the corrosion inhibition potential of mangrove (Rhizopora apiculata) tannin in hydrochloric acid medium on copper with the view of developing a natural corrosion inhibitor.

The mangrove tannin was extracted from the mangrove bark and its anticorrosion potential was studied by weight loss, electrochemical and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis.

It has been found that the mangrove tannin effectively inhibits the corrosion on copper metal in hydrochloric acid solution. The results of the electrochemical and weight loss methods showed that the inhibition efficiency of mangrove tannin increases with increasing its concentration. Inhibition is achieved through the adsorption of tannin molecules onto the copper surface and the adsorption follows the Langmuir adsorption isotherm model. SEM study also supports the adsorption of the inhibitor molecules onto the copper surface.

In this paper, mangrove tannin has been studied for the first time as a potential copper corrosion inhibitor in hydrochloric acid medium. The anticorrosion effect of tannin has been proven by standard methods. This natural inhibitor could find use in industries where copper is used as a fabrication metal.

This study aims to carry out the deposition of zinc sulfide (ZnS) thick films on glass and silicon (100) substrates using radio frequency (RF) magnetron sputtering method at different powers. Film structure has been analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD); the patterns showed that the films possesses a cubic structure with (111) preferred orientation. Photoluminance (PL) intensity of the films has been related to the crystallinity, which is varied with the power.

Scanning electron microscope (SEM) images have been used to discover the films’ morphology. The stoichiometry has been confirmed by energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) analysis. MicroRaman spectroscopy has been used to validate the film structure. Gas-sensing studies were carried out by means of a static gas chamber to sense acetone, ethanol, methanol, H₂O and NH₃ vapor in air ambient.

ZnS has a stoichiometric and cubic structure. The band gaps and photoluminance intensity of the films are correlated with the crystallinity, which is varied with the power. The EDX analysis approved the stoichiometry of the prepared films. Acetone, ethanol, humidity (H₂O), methanol and NH₃ vapor gases were used to justify the sensing properties at 25°C of the thickest ZnS film.

High-quality ZnS films have been obtained at different powers without annealing. Gases sensing properties at 25°C are justified for deposited ZnS films using acetone, ethanol, humidity (H₂O), methanol and NH₃ vapor gases. It reveals good response for NH₃ and humidity vapors at room temperature; the sensing functioning at this temperature was attractive in recent research.