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In this work, superparamagnetic Fe3O4/C core/shell nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized using a room‐temperature and green route combining co‐precipitation method, followed by hydrothermal process. The prepared nanoparticle was utilized as an adsorbent for the removal of Pb+2 ions from a wastewater. The effect of various parameters; such as pH, dose of adsorbent, contact time and concentration of lead ions on the adsorption capacity were examined in details. The adsorption capacity (qm) of Fe3O4/C NPs was estimated from the Langmuir isotherm curve and was found to be 244 mgg−1. Interestingly, the produced Fe3O4/C NPs exhibited a rapid removal of toxic lead metal ions from wastewater effluents and the adsorption kinetics is well described by pseudo‐second‐order model. Furthermore, the data of Pb2+ adsorption is best fit for the Langmuir model. Moreover, the Fe3O4/C core/shell NPs were recycled and reused for at least five times without a significant loss of adsorption efficiency. A cconvenient and cost‐effective hydrothermal approach is developed for the synthesis of highly efficient superparamagnetic Fe3O4/C core/shell NPs as adsorbent materials for the removal of toxic lead metal ions from wastewater [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In clinical practice, the attention given to sexual problems in patients with end-stage renal disease is low. In order to evaluate the erectile function in chronic renal failure patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD) as a renal replacement therapy in upper Egypt, we used the abridged version of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5). In all, 75 HD patients were subjected to clinical and laboratory investigations. The controls were 948 healthy males representing the general Egyptian population. The prevalence of erectile dysfunction (ED) among the HD patients was 82.5%compared to 30%among controls. The prevalence of ED in HD group was significantly higher than in controls. The prevalence of ED in HD patients<50?y was 80%and it was 88%in those=50?y, while the prevalence of ED among controls was 28 and 69.8%, respectively. The prevalence of severe degree of ED was significantly higher in both groups compared to controls, while moderate degree of ED showed a statistical significance compared to controls in age groups<50?y and mild degree of ED showed a statistical significance compared to controls in age groups=50?y. The univariate logistic regression analysis showed that age (r=-0.3368, P<0.01), serum urea (r=-0.5974, P<0.001), and creatinine level (r=-0.5804, P<0.001) have a significant negative correlation with the presence of ED among HD patients, while serum hemoglobin (r=0.3396, P<0.001) and years of HD age (r=0.3147, P<0.01) have a significant positive correlation with the presence of ED among the HD patients. In view of the observed high prevalence of ED among the HD patients, we believe that a complete health evaluation of male HD patients should include a discussion about erectile function in the standard clinical care program of patients with renal disease.International Journal of Impotence Research (2005) 17, 180-185. doi:10.1038/sj.ijir.3901286 Published online 18 November 2004 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Olive mills wastewater (OMW) is characterized by its high organic content and refractory compounds. In this study, an advanced technology for the treatment of the recalcitrant contaminants of OMW has been investigated. The technique used was either photo-Fenton as homogeneous photocatalytic oxidation or UV/semi-conductor catalyst (such as TiO(2), ZrO(2) and FAZA) as heterogeneous photocatalytic oxidation for treatment of OMW. For both the processes, the effect of irradiation time, amounts of photocatalysts and semi-conductors, and initial concentration of hydrogen peroxide has been studied. At the optimum conditions, photo-Fenton process achieved COD, TOC, lignin (total phenolic compounds) and total suspended solids (TSSs) removal values of 87%, 84%, 97.44% and 98.31%, respectively. The corresponding values for UV/TiO(2) were 68.8%, 67.3%, 40.19% and 48.9%, respectively, after 80 min irradiation time. The biodegradability expressed by BOD(5)/COD ratio for treated wastewater was ranged from 0.66 to 0.8 compared to 0.19 for raw wastewater indicating enhancement of biodegradation.

As a consequence of the population growth, major efforts have been made by the Egyptian government to construct new industrial areas. Tenth of Ramadan City is one of the most important industrial cities in Egypt. The wastewater generated from various industrial activities was highly contaminated with organic matters as indicated by COD (1750-3323 mg/L), TSS (900-3000 mg/L) and oil and grease (13.2-95.5 mg/L). All overall appraisals of the analytical data from the industrial wastewater indicate that pretreatment is required for all industrial sectors to achieve compliance with the Egyptian Environmental law which requires effective pretreatment of industrial wastewater prior to its discharge into public sewers. Treatability studies via conventional and Fenton processes have been investigated. The efficiency of conventional treatment methods led to 63% COD and 44% color removal by using FeCl(3) as coagulant. Various coagulant aids and powdered activated carbon (PAC) were added to 400mg/L FeCl(3) in order to enhance the removal of color. It was found that polyacrylamide polymer, bentonite and PAC increased the efficiency of the treatments where the color removal increased to 79%, by cationic polymer, 73% by anionic polymer, 84.5% by bentonite and 95% for 0.4 g/L PAC. Fenton process was investigated which under the operating conditions (pH 3.0+/-0.2, Fe(2+) dose=400 mg/L and H(2)O(2)=550 mg/L), color removal up to 100% and more than 90% of COD removal were achieved.