الفهرس 
Introduction and Literature ReviewOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
The present study includes extensive investigation on the application of selected simple and advanced treatment techniques for the treatment of organic micro-pollutants. In addition, the study focuses on the efficiency of the examined techniques and the factors affecting the maximum performance of each process.
Chapter one includes a general historical review on the sources, environmental impact and the remediation of organic micro pollutants. It also includes general information on the selected treatment techniques used in the present work.
Chapter two describes the photocatalytic degradation of anthracene using green synthesized ZnO nanoparticles. In this work Zinc oxide nanoparticles were prepared using corriandrum sativum leaf extract and zinc acetate dihydrate. It was utilized as a photo catalyst for the degradation of anthracene. The catalyst was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR–TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), dynamic scattering light (DLS), Raman spectrometry and UV–Vis spectrophotometry. The study was carried out on laboratory bench–scale design for degradation of anthracene. The factors affecting the photocatalytic degradation efficiency were investigated. These include irradiation time, loading catalyst doses, and initial concentration of anthracene. Results obtained showed that the photocatalytic degradation efficiency increased with both the decrease of the initial anthracene concentration and the increase of the photo catalyst doses. The optimum photocatalytic degradation was obtained at pH 7, irradiation time of 240 min, and loading catalyst dose of 1000 µgl-1. Under these conditions, the photocatalytic degradation percentage of anthracene reached 96 %. The main byproducts were 9, 10–anthraquinone and small amount of phthalic acid as confirmed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Both compounds are much less toxic than anthracene. The kinetic studies revealed that the photocatalytic degradation process obeys Langmuir-Hinshelwood model and follows a pseudo–first–order rate expression.
Chapter three describes the synthesis and characterization of molecularly imprinted nanoparticle polymers for selective separation of anthracene. Precipitation polymerization method was used for the synthesis of two anthracene molecularly imprinted nanoparticle polymers namely; An–MINP1 and An–MINP2. The two synthesized polymers were characterized by FT–IR spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and high–resolution transformation electron microscopy (HR–TEM). The application of this type of Nano-polymers for selective separation of anthracene from aqueous solutions was systematically investigated. The data revealed that the maximum binding capacity for anthracene were 320.8 and 374.3 mgg-1 for An–MINP1 and An–MIPN2, respectively. Maximum binding capacity were 2.8 and 4 µgg-1 obtained by using the corresponding non–imprinted polymer NIP1 and NIP2, respectively. The selectivity and sensitivity of anthracene separation were high enough in the presence of some other polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (pyrene, benzo(a)pyrene, acenaphthylene, and phenanthrene), naphthalene and phenol. Factors affecting anthracene uptake and polymer binding capacity including: pH, An–MINPs loading dose, the initial concentration of anthracene, and temperature) were studied. Under the optimized conditions, the percentage of anthracene uptake from aqueous solutions using An–MINP2 ranged from 90.3 to 99.9 %. The Kinetic and isotherm measurements showed that the uptake of anthracene by An–MINPs obey both pseudo second order model and a Freundlich isotherm model.
Chapter four includes the adsorption of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons micro pollutant from water by green synthesized iron oxide nanoparticles. This study deals with the green synthesis of iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) at room temperature, using pomegranate peel extract. The green synthesized IONPs was amorphous Fe2O3 with average particle size 2.7 nm. The green synthesized of IONPs were used for adsorbing benzo(a)pyrene and pyrene from water. Factors affecting the adsorption were investigated. These factors are: nanoparticles dose, pH, temperature, and initial concentration of PAHs. The overall results showed that the maximum adsorption capacities of IONPs towards pyrene and benzo(a)pyrene were 2.8 and 0.029 mg g-1, respectively. The thermodynamic study indicated an exothermic adsorption process of pyrene and benzo(a)pyrene. The kinetic and isotherm studies were carried out. The obtained data revealed that the adsorption process follows a pseudo-second order mechanism, and obeys Langmuir isotherm model. The regeneration of the green synthesized IONPs was also investigated. It was concluded from this study that pomegranate peel extract plays an important predominant role in the synthesis of IONPs, as an ecofriendly solvent. In addition, the IONPs proved to be a potential candidate for the adsorption of pyrene and benzo(a)pyrene even after five cycles of use and regeneration.
Chapter five include the removal of pharmaceutical compounds from urine via chemical coagulation by green synthesized ZnO nanoparticles followed by microfiltration for safe reuse. In this connection, this chapter describes the use of green chemistry for synthesizing ZnO nanoparticles using the extract of black tea solid waste and Zn acetate dihydrate. The characterization of the green synthesized ZnO was conducted by XRD, SEM, HR–TEM, DLS and EDAX. Urine samples from donors under medication with ibuprofen, ephedrine and propranolol were collected through a diversion toilet. A batch experiment was conducted in order to determine the optimum dose of green synthesized ZnO nanoparticles needed for the removal of the pharmaceutical compounds from human urine. The determined optimum dose of the ZnO nanoparticles was 1.5 gl-1. A semi-pilot plant consisted of a mixing tank for chemical coagulation using the predetermined ZnO nanoparticles followed by microfiltration unit, was designed and continuously operated for the treatment of the separated urine. The overall results of the semi-pilot study showed that the concentration of ibuprofen, ephedrine and propranolol decreased from 5.0, 10.15 and 15.2 mgl-1 to 0.01, 0.10 and 0.03 mgl-1, respectively. The overall removal rate exceeded 99%. Meanwhile, the treatment system succeeded to improve the physical and chemical characteristics of the contaminated human urine. The treated urine could be safely used for agriculture purposes without any environmental threat.
Chapter six describes an integrated membranes for the recovery and concentration of an antioxidant from olive mill wastewater. The purpose of this work is to recover and concentrate valuable polyphenols from the olive mill wastewater (OMW) using integrated membrane systems. Further study was conducted by employing enzymatic hydrolysis using β-glucosidase enzyme followed by acid hydrolysis in order to release higher concentration of pure hydroxytyrosol (HT). Meanwhile, efficient treatment of OMW could be achieved for water reuse as well as protecting the environment. The OMW was directly subjected to a microfiltration (MF) where 77.6 % and 34.8 % reduction of the total suspended solids (TSS) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) were obtained, respectively. The permeate of MF was further submitted to ultra-filtration (UF), where the removal 44.9% and 85.88 % of the COD and TSS were removed, respectively. Another portion of the MF effluent was subjected to nano-filtration (NF), where COD was reduced from 33 to 6.9 gl-1 and 100% removal of TSS was quantitatively obtained. Almost all polyphenols at levels of 2.5 gl-1 were recovered from OMWW and concentrated in the NF retentate solution. By employing the enzymatic hydrolysis using β–glucosidase on NF retentate followed by acid hydrolysis, an amount of 1.3 gl-1 of pure hydroxytyrosol was produced. Based on these results, OMW can be used as an alternative source of valuable phenolic compound that are useful for industrial and pharmaceutical applications.
Chapter seven deals with the valorization of onion solid waste by extracting quercetin via solid phase extraction using molecularly imprinted polymer nanoparticles. This study deals with the valorization of onion solid waste (i.e. peel) by extracting quercetin as a natural antioxidant. This product is a food ingredient and a valuable source for many useful biological properties, including antioxidant, anti–inflammatory, antiviral, and antibacterial/antimicrobial. The studied peel waste is highly rich with quercetin (Q). For that purpose Q molecular imprinted polymer nanoparticles (Q–MIP NPs) and its corresponding non imprinted polymer (NIP) were prepared using the precipitation/polymerization method.
The prepared Q–MIP NPs and its corresponding NIP were characterized using Fourier Transmission-Infrared, Scanning Electron Microscopy, and High Resolution–Transmission Electron Microscopy. Meanwhile, the surface area, pore size and pore volume of Q–MIP NPs were also examined. The prepared Q–MIP NPs and its corresponding NIP successfully rebind the Q at capacity of binding was 60 and 10.0 mmol g-1 respectively. Hot water as ecofriendly solvent was used efficiently for extracting Q from the peel of onion. It can be concluded, thus, the Q could be successfully recovered from the peel. The recovered value of Q was 260 mg from one kg of the studied solid waste via employing Q–MIP NPs.