Iraq faces chronic electricity shortages despite abundant agricultural biomass resources. This study evaluates a small-scale biomass power plant in rural Latifiyah, Iraq as a model for renewable energy integration. Using the NREL System Advisor Model (SAM), we simulate a direct-combustion plant of approximately 14-20 MW capacity fueled by local corn stover residues. The resource assessment confirms ample feedstock availability (on the order of 10 5 tonnes per year of corn residues), enabling annual electricity generation of roughly 100 GWh. SAM performance results indicate a net conversion efficiency around 25% and a capacity factor of 75%, reflecting continuous year-round operation. However, the economic analysis reveals challenges: the levelized cost of electricity is estimated in the range of $0.10-0.15 per kWh, and the project’s payback period extends to nearly 20 years under current market conditions. These Fig.s exceed typical benchmarks, underscoring the need for financial incentives or policy support. Despite the economic constraints, the biomass plant offers significant environmental benefits, including substantial reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and the elimination of open-field residue burning, along with improvements in rural energy access and local development. As a case study, this work shows the potential and challenges of deploying agricultural biomass power in Iraq’s energy transition.
Carboxylic (COOH) functionalized zinc oxide and iron oxide (COOH-ZnO@Fe 3 O 4 ) composites were used in this study to modify polyamide thin film composite membranes. The resultant membranes exhibit improved water permeability, greater antifouling qualities, robust stability for repeated usage, and enhanced rejection of Pb 2+ metal ions compared to the unmodified membrane. In contrast to the unmodified PA-TFC membrane, which had an 82.36±0.01% Pb 2+ removal efficiency, a contact angle of 82.36°±0.01, a flux recovery ratio of 33.6%, and a water permeation flux of 3.3 L·m⁻²·h⁻¹, the membrane containing 1.5% of the COOH-ZnOFe 3 O 4 composite, for instance, achieved a 97.6±0.35% Pb 2+ removal efficiency, a lower contact angle of 58°±1.86, a higher flux recovery ratio of 86.3%, and a higher water permeation flux of 10.23 L·m⁻²·h⁻¹. Additionally, by combining ZnO, Fe 3 O 4 nanoparticles, and COOH groups from sodium polyacrylate as additives to the PA layer, the modified membranes demonstrated improved performance relative to the other membranes.
The corrosion inhibition on mild steel by eco-friendly paint produced from Mangifera indica leaves extract was carried out using the weight loss and potentiodynamic polarization methods. Central Composite Design (CCD) in Response Surface Methodology (RSM) was used for the design of experiment for the determination of corrosion inhibition efficiency, corrosion rate, and statistical analysis of the experimental results. Corrosion protection paint was formulated, and its efficacy was tested in a hydrochloric acid medium. The surface morphology of the mild steel sample was studied using the scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The corrosion inhibition efficiency of the paint for weight loss and potentiodynamic polarization methods is 83.68 and 99.49 %, respectively. The activation energy for corrosion process with coated mild steel is 26.47 J/mol K, which is higher than the value of 16.89 J/mol K obtained for uncoated mild steel, indicating that the adsorption process is physisorption. The enthalpy change is 23.96 kJ/mol. The positive value indicates that heat is absorbed from the environment. The entropy change is-180 J/mol K, implying that the activation energy complex is the rate determining step representing association rather than dissociation. Langmuir adsorption isotherm was found to be the best fit model. It was concluded from the study that the formulated paint has a high potential for commercialisation and industrial applications.
Membrane-based separation technology has grown significantly due to its cost-effectiveness, energy efficiency, easy system operations, and scale-up. The versatility of membrane application is also a significant factor in their widespread use in many separation processes. Their applications span water treatment, gas purification, energy production, and biomedicine. While promising, membrane technology still requires improvements in membrane features and performance, such as pore structure, fouling resistance, chemical stability, and concurrent enhancement of permeability and selectivity. Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) has emerged as a powerful tool for enhancing membrane properties and performance through surface modification with atomic-scale precision, enabling conformal coatings, functional surface modification, and precise control over pore size. The ability of ALD to deposit uniform and conformal films on membrane substrates makes it a favourable modification technique. This review offers a concise yet informative discussion on the fundamentals of ALD, its integration with membrane modification, recent advancements in ALD-modified membranes, emerging trends in membrane modification via ALD, and challenges of ALD application in membrane modification.
The danger to environmental productivity posed by many human activities is making water contamination an essential problem. Assessing oxidative stress biomarkers as markers of environmental contamination in water hyacinth and Nile tilapia from the Wupa River in Abuja that is damaged by effluent is the goal of this study. Samples were gathered and examined according to established protocols. Biomarker result shows hydrogen peroxide activities in the leaves of water Hyacinth (101.76 ±11.70-104.17 ± 17.78 mol/L) stem (81.22 ± 9.86-87.68 ± 10.31 mol/L). Superoxide anion of the leaves (25.33 ± 3.56-28.06 ± 6.09 mol/m 3 ), stem (24.51 ± 2.99 - 26.16 ±1.84 mol/m 3 ). Catalase enzymatic activities (43.57±2.12 - 48.23 ± 19.06), stem (39.73±4.95-47.12 ± 5.00). The Malondialdehyde of the leaves (348.04 ± 220.43-455.08 ± 137.99 g/mol) and the stem (180.08 ± 151.08-252.04 ±147.67 g/mol). In the Fish, Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) levels were highest in the liver, ranging from 363.62 ± 46.16 mol/L (upstream) to 362.81 ± 225.78 mol/L (downstream), significantly exceeding those in the heart and gills. Superoxide anion concentrations followed a similar pattern, with liver values ranging from 41.03 ± 8.75 mol/m³ (downstream) to 82.61 ± 64.88 mol/m³ (upstream), again surpassing levels in the heart and gills. Catalase activity was relatively stable across tissues, with values in the liver ranging from 33.75 ± 5.49 (upstream) to 38.51 ± 2.04 (downstream). Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, an indicator of lipid peroxidation, were significantly elevated in the gills, particularly upstream (30.89 ± 10.87 g/mol), when compared to liver and heart values. The Biomarker results demonstrate that water hyacinth and Nile Tilapia can be effectively used to assess the pollution status of the Wupa River, with the biomarkers such hydrogen peroxide, catalase and superoxide anion levels reflecting the organism’s response to environmental stressors.
