In recent years, the development of submerged membrane systems has led to the significant development of ultrafiltration/water purification markets. The study aimed to investigate the efficiency of Poly-Aluminum Chloride coagulant in removing turbidity using a submerged membrane reactor for simultaneous coagulation and flocculation of filtration and determine the optimal values of its performance parameters. In this study, the Poly-Aluminum Chloride coagulant along with lime and polyelectrolyte for water coagulation and flocculation was firstly evaluated by the Jar test in different turbidities. Also, pH (5-10), Poly-Aluminum Chloride (1-50 mg/L), and coagulant aids of lime (0. 5-15 mg/L) and polyelectrolyte (0. 1 to 2 mg/L) were examined. Then, a pilot-scale submerged membrane reactor was designed for coagulation, flocculation, and membrane filtration processes. Pilot experiments were used as closed systems, and then different parameters of flux, aluminum concentration in the treated water, and membrane fouling were investigated. Jar test results showed that Poly-Aluminum Chloride had a great performance in removing turbidity. In addition, the use of lime and polyelectrolyte coagulant aids improved the turbidity removal process by 3%. Furthermore, pH=8 was selected as the optimal range, and the best flux performance was obtained at turbidity less than 100NTU in a submerged membrane pilot. The flux reduction in eight hours of operation time was only 5% while this increased to 50% in turbidity above 200NTU. The turbidity removal percentages were reported to be constant and higher than 99. 5%. The removal rate of total aluminum by the membrane process has been over 99%, and the type of membrane fouling is surface sediment and is reversible. Results indicated that the submerged membrane reactor along with coagulation and flocculation could be applied as an efficient method in water treatment with different turbidity.

The paper is focused on the formation of hydroxyapatite nanoparticles (HAp) in polyelectrolyte-modified micro emulsions, in a micro emulsion template phase consisting of cyclohexane, water, cationic surfactant and cosurfactant, in the presence of Na-polyacrylate (PAA) as an anionic polyelectrolyte. It is shown that PAA, can be incorporated into the individual inverse micro emulsion droplets. The micro emulsion droplets and PAA-filled micro emulsion droplets can be successfully used as a template phase for the nanoparticles formation. Prepared HAp in presence of polyelectrolyte has a different morphology from samples which are synthesized in absence of polyelectrolyte. PAA leads to formation of needle-like HAp (20-30nm in diameter and 100-200nm in length). Formation of HAp at room temperature was confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). Size and morphology of the HAp samples were characterized using transmission electron microscopy (TEM).

Hypothesis: The modification of aromatic polymers, such as poly(ether ether ketone) (PEEK), by sulfonation modification, can result in fabricating polyelectrolyte membranes (PEMs) as the alternatives to Nafion for direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) applications. Due to the effective role of nanomaterials in reducing the permeability in nanocomposites, the addition of natural or organically modified montmorillonite (OMMT) nanofillers to the sulfonated matrix, with the optimum degree of sulfonation, can reduce the methanol permeability and increase the efficiency of the fuel cell.Methods: PEEK was sulfonated at various degrees in solution state. Based on the selectivity parameter, the optimal degree of sulfonation (DS) was introduced. In order to prepare the nanocomposite membranes, using an ultrasonic agitator, different amounts of MMT and OMMT (Cloisite 15A or chitosan-modified MMT (CMMT)) nanofillers were added to the sulfonated polymer with optimal DS, and the resulting mixtures were cast. In this study, the ion exchange capacities (IEC) of the membranes were measured. The selectivity parameter (as ratio of proton conductivity to methanol permeability) at 25°C, as well as DMFC performance at 25°C and 1M feed of methanol for different membranes were determined and the results were compared with those of Nafion 117.Findings: The optimum DS for sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) (SPEEK) was 62%. X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns proved that nanoclays were exfoliated in the structure of nanocomposites at small loading weight of 1% (by wt). The proton conductivity and methanol permeability, as well as the performance test, showed that SPEEK/CMMT-based nanocomposite membranes have the highest maximum power generation density compared to other nanocomposite membranes or Nafion 117. Accordingly, SPEEK/CMMT polymer electrolyte membranes are promising candidates for direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) applications.

There exist some differences between different strains of the nitrogen fixing bacteria in legumes tolerant to salt. Correct selection of bacterial strains resistant to salt can help increase the nitrogen fixation in soils. The study of negative effect of this factor in nitrogen fixation can help us in correct utilization of land. Study of the role of bacterial and plant cell cytoplasmic membrane which are part of the symbiotic process can help use symbiotic nitrogen fixation for increasing the yield. This study showed that within Lupine and Lucerna and their symbiotic bacteria there are a lot of differences in respect to salt tolerant levels. Lupine had 100 mM and Lucerna 175 mM concentration resistance in root growth conditions and their symbiotic bacteria Lupine tolerated 50mM .and Lucerna 400 mM (NaCl) in solid media conditions, respectively. No active transport to outside the cell through the cytoplasmic layer and their symbiotic constituents (Bacteroids, Cymbiocom) takes place and the salt resistant could be attributed to the intercellular compoundswhich cause osmotic pressure.

Purpose: To compare the anatomical and functional results of deep vitrectomy with and without ILM peeling for full thickness macular hole.Materials & Methods: 37 eyes of 37 patients with full thickness macular hole (FTMH), confirmed by clinical examination and optical coherence tomography (OCT), enrolled in this clinical trial. Based on the stage of FTMH (stage 2, 3, 4) as described by Gass and the techniques of surgery (with or without ILM peeling) the patients were randomized into two different groups. All patients underwent preoperative Act and at least one OCT image was obtained during the postoperative follow up.After obtaining informed consent, deep vitrectomy and 20% SF6 injection was performed. The patients were unaware of their allocation status. Patients data & surgical outcome were collected and statistically analyzed. Anatomical success was defined as hole closure at postoperative OCT and functional success was referred to any improvement in visual acuity. Macular hole index (MHI) was defined as a ratio of the greatest height to the base diameter of the hole on cross-sectional OCT images.Results: 37 eyes of 37 patients (15 men & 22 women) were enrolled. The mean age of the patients was 56.4±21.94 years and FTMH were traumatic in 13 cases (35%) and Idiopathic in 24 (65%) cases. Twenty cases underwent deep vitrectomy with ILM peeling (ILM group) and the remaining cases underwent vitrectomy without ILM peeling (no ILM group).The mean preoperative 10gMAR visual acuity was 1.38±1 in the ILM group and 1.22±0.13 in the no ILM group, these improved to 0.95±1 and 0.77±0.31 postoperatively in the ILM and no ILM group, respectively (P=0.871). The overall anatomical success rate was 64%. The hole was closed in 70% of ILM peeling and 47% in the no ILM group (Chi-square test, P=0.15). In anatomically successful cases the mean of postoperative VA was significantly improved (P=0.001).In traumatic subgroup, ILM peeling seems did not affect the anatomical (P=0.2) and visual Success rates (P=0.5). There was no significant differences in hole closure rates between the traumatic and idiopathic FTMH (P=0.968). Visual acuity significantly improved after operation In MHI ³ 0.5 group compared with the MHk 0.5 group. The stage of the hole did not affect the anatomical success rate (P=0.52) or visual acuity improvement (P=0.741). Macular hole index ³ 0.5 had a prognostic value for postoperative visual acuity improvement. The hole duration was not related to anatomical success rate but there is an inverse relation between duration of the symptoms and improvement in VA.Conclusion: Deep vitrectomy and SF6 injection was a safe & effective surgical technique for full thickness macular hole and peeling of the ILM seems did not affect the anatomical or functional success rates. The hole duration, stage and origin of the hole (traumatic or idiopathic) does not related to the anatomical success or visual acuity improvement. MHI  ³ 0.5 seems to be a prognostic factor for postoperative visual improvement but not for closure rate.