Journal of Rafidain Environment

Evaluation of Tigris River water before & after Qayyarah refinery

Meead Solyman Aljaburi , Yusra M.S. Al-Shaker, Mahmood Ahmed Alfakhrii — Mon, 06 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The Tigris River is one of Iraq's most important water resources; therefore, its water quality must be monitored continuously, especially from an environmental perspective. The current study aimed to evaluate the quality of Tigris River water in Mosul before entering the filtered Tigris River water and after the Tigris River water exits the Qayyarah filter. Water samples were taken in September, November, January, and March at a rate of one sample per month to study some physicochemical properties such as acidity, temperature, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, turbidity, total hardness, calcium and magnesium hardness, sulfate, nitrate, fats and lipids, biological oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand, lead, and cadmium. Some physical and chemical properties were within the recommended Iraqi disposal limits for 2009, except for turbidity, biological oxygen demand, total hardness, calcium, magnesium hardness, and lead and cadmium, which exceeded the recommended Iraqi disposal limits for drinking water for 2009.

Environmental study of some physicochemical and bacteriological properties of valley Salma water in Tal Afar district/west of Nineveh Governorate and the possibility of using it for irrigation purposes

Hussein K. A. Al-Muradi, Mazin N. F. AL-Sanjari , Iman Taha Yaseen — Mon, 06 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The current study aimed to evaluate the quality of the water of valley Salma Dara in Tal Afar District within Nineveh Governorate/Iraq seasonally and the possibility of using it for irrigation purposes for the period from November 2023 to July 2024. Some physicochemical and bacteriological properties were measured, which were represented by the acidity function, electrical conductivity, total hardness concentration, total dissolved solids, orthophosphate ions, sulfates, chloride and nitrate ions, and total bacterial counts and coliform bacteria. The results of the current study showed a clear variation in the properties, as the acidity function values ranged between (7-7.3), while the electrical conductivity values ranged between (1124-1211) microsiemens/cm, and as for the total hardness concentrations, the results showed that their range ranged between (730-806) mg/l, while the concentrations of total dissolved solids ranged between (587-786) mg/l. The results of the current study also showed that the concentrations of orthophosphate and sulfate ranged between (2.11-2.61) (357-389) mg/l, respectively, while the concentrations of chloride and nitrate ions ranged between (74-98) (20.124-22.145) mg/l, respectively. Finally, the results recorded that the highest number of total bacteria and colonic bacteria, respectively, were (44×10³-22×10³) cells/ml during the four seasons.

The results showed that the valley water, through some of the studied physicochemical and bacteriological characteristics, falls within the determinants of Iraqi water for irrigation purposes.

Using the GIS application and multi-criteria analysis to determine to optimal site for solid waste landfill in Tal Afar district

Baraa Y. Ishaq , Ayad F. Qasim, Raid M. Faisal — Mon, 06 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Solid waste management plays a vital role in enhancing public health and protecting the environment by minimizing ecological hazards and social impacts. This study aims to determine optimal landfill sites in the Tal Afar district using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) techniques. Six key factors were analyzed: land cover, road network, soil type, slope, elevation, and wind direction. Each factor was weighted using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), and spatial analysis was performed using a weighted overlay in a GIS environment. The resulting suitability maps identified highly appropriate areas for landfill development, primarily located in the southwestern part of the Tal Afar district, characterized by low population density, moderate slope, and road accessibility. The study concludes that integrating GIS and MCDM provides a reliable framework for sustainable site selection. It also recommends ongoing environmental monitoring and long-term waste management planning.

Activated Carbon Prepared From Various Plant Sources: A Review

Semaa Ibraheem Khaleel — Mon, 06 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Plant resources are receiving increasing attention worldwide as a kind of renewable resources with low cost and widely available, the preparation of activated carbon from these materials at low cost from various natural raw materials has become a necessity now and in the future. This review discussed different methods for obtaining activated carbon from different plant materials using different activation methods and activation agents (chemical and physical). The results of the review showed that the types of activated carbon obtained have large surface area and greater adsorption capacity. The use of low-cost and widely available raw materials for the production of activated carbon is the main objective of this study such as (corn cob, rice straw, peanut shell, oil stones, and ficus leaves). It was found that chemical activation can develop both microporosity and surface area. The best raw material used is peanut shell, which can then be used in the field of environmental pollution (dyes, pesticides, heavy metal ions, phenolic compounds and other organic and inorganic pollutants). It was found that the adsorption process using activated carbon is a method that can be applied to remove various pollutants.

MEASURING NITRATE CONCENTRATIONS IN A NUMBER OF VEGETABLES SOLD IN MOSUL MARKETS

Ashraf S. Alias — Mon, 06 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Animal nutrition plays a crucial role in livestock productivity and health. This makes them susceptible to poisoning when animals eat quantities of food that contain high levels of nitrates because of excessive use or misuse of nitrogen fertilizers. This leads to the accumulation of nitrates in plants, in addition to polluting surface and groundwater and creating environmental risks. The research aimed to detect the percentage of nitrates in vegetables that are given to animal breeders in the markets of the city of Mosul, and to find the vegetables that have the largest percentage of nitrates. Nitrates were read using the instrument green test in vegetables (Tomato, onions, cucumbers, chard and eggplant) as I showed that the highest percentage of nitrates is located in the chard, which reached 3662.77mg/kg and the least in onions is 30mg/kg Which was measured within 10 months. Nitrate concentrations in the measured samples of tomatoes, onions, and cucumbers were normal when compared with the values recorded by the World Health Organization. We found concentration of nitrates in onions was stable Compared with other measured vegetables. The results showed an increase in nitrate concentration levels above the permissible limit set by the World Health Organization, in chard and eggplant 3662.77mg/kg and 854.3mg/kg. respectively. From the above, it is clear that nitrates are dangerous in vegetables sold in Mosul markets and used to feed indoor animals. It also gives an indication of the danger to human health when consuming them. Which causes diseases such as colon cancer or death.

Detection of Shiga toxins and its inhibition in Escherichia.coli O157:H7 Strain isolated from water in Mosul city

Angham J. Alwan — Mon, 06 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The current study was conducted with the aim of isolating and diagnosing the strain Escherichia coli O157:H7 from water in the city of Mosul, and studying the possibility of inhibiting its toxin Shiga toxin (STX) using different materials and compounds. for this purpose 55 water samples was collected (30 Tigris River water, 25 sewage water).

Isolation and diagnosis results showed that 29 isolates of E.coli O157:H7 strain were obtained using the selective medium Sorbitol MacConkey Agar (SMAC) , distributed over river water (50%) and sewage water (56%). The molecular technique (PCR) polymerase chain reaction was used by adopting the 16srRNA gene to confirm the diagnosis of cultured isolates, the same technique was also used to investigate the genes encoding both types of shiga toxin, and it was found that the prevalence of the stx2 gene encoding the shiga toxin Stx2 is higher compared to the stx1 gene encoding the shiga toxin Stx1.

The inhibitory effect on the shiga toxins of the E.coliO157:H7 strain was studied using a group of materials represented by alcoholic plant extracts of mint leaves, pomegranate peels, and natural materials, namely honey, gum arabic, and propolis, in addition to using some essential oils, namely cinnamon oil, watercress seed oil, and gum arabic oil. The inhibitory materials used showed a high inhibitory ability against the growth of the selected isolates.

The possibility of inhibiting shiga toxins was investigated at the molecular level by investigating the possibility of inhibiting gene expression for the stx1 and stx2 genes, and Quantitative Real Time PCR technology was used for this purpose. The results showed that the alcoholic pomegranate peel extract was able to inhibit gene expression. for the stx1 and stx2 genes by approximately half, with values ranging between 0.35 for the first gene and 0.41 for the second gene, compared to the gene expression of the untreated control samples, while the rest of the studied materials did not affect the inhibition of gene expression.

The cytotoxicity of the studied shiga toxins was detected on a cell line (normal lymphocytes) for the first time locally using the MTT cytotoxicity assay method. The method succeeded in showing the cytotoxicity of the shiga toxins and confirming the ability of the alcoholic pomegranate peel extract to inhibit the shiga toxins of the studied isolates compared to the control sample without treatment.

Environmental Assessment and Treatment of Kirkuk Well Water Using Activated Charcoal and Walnut Shells

Muhammed Khidir Muhammed — Mon, 06 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000

This study aimed to assess the quality of groundwater used for garden irrigation in Kirkuk Governorate. The study conducted a comprehensive field survey and chemical analysis of water from twelve wells distributed across the governorate. The analyses focused on several key chemical indicators that affect the suitability of water for irrigation purposes, such as sulfate (SO₄²⁻), chloride (Cl⁻), and total hardness.

The results showed that the water extracted from all wells fell within acceptable limits according to approved irrigation water standards, indicating its general feasibility for use in this field. However, some wells recorded relatively high concentrations of certain chemical elements, particularly sulfate, chloride, and hardness, which could negatively impact soil and plants in the long term if not treated or diluted. To reduce the concentrations of these elements and improve water quality, an environmental treatment approach was adopted using chemical adsorption techniques. This approach utilized low-cost, highly effective adsorption materials: walnut shells (a natural organic material rich in active groups such as hydroxyl and carboxyl) and activated carbon (known for its high porosity and large surface area).

Activated charcoal and walnut shells were used for environmental remediation on the water samples under study under controlled experimental conditions. The results showed a significant decrease in the concentration of the target elements, confirming the effectiveness of adsorption processes in removing pollutants from groundwater and effectively improving its quality.

This study highlights the importance of adopting sustainable environmental solutions for water treatment, particularly those that rely on municipal solid waste such as walnut shells or locally available materials, which combine economic efficiency with environmental effectiveness.

Investment Green Internet of Things for Sustainable and Eco-Friendly Smart Cities: Prospects and Future Challenges

Mon, 06 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The study explores the integration of the Green Internet of Things (IoT) into the development of sustainable and eco-friendly smart cities. It highlights the challenges posed by urbanization, such as pollution, congestion, and resource inefficiencies, and emphasizes the transformative role of IoT in creating innovative urban systems. Green IoT facilitates energy conservation, waste management, air quality monitoring, and efficient transportation through innovative applications and technologies. Key focus areas include leveraging renewable energy sources, optimizing resource utilization, and implementing eco-friendly technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote sustainable practices. Despite its potential, challenges such as data management, security concerns, and the energy consumption of IoT devices persist, necessitating the development of advanced solutions. Case studies, including those in Singapore and Barcelona, illustrate the successful implementation of green strategies and technologies in urban environments. The paper concludes by emphasizing future research directions, including improving interoperability, managing electronic waste, and developing energy-efficient Internet of Things (IoT) frameworks to achieve smarter and greener cities. This research examines how the Green Internet of Things (IoT) can make our cities cleaner, smarter, and more sustainable. It explores how smart technologies can enhance everyday aspects such as energy use, waste management, and transportation. The goal is to develop greener cities that are more beneficial for both people and the planet.

Evaluation of some bioremediation applications of Tannase enzyme purified from ascomycete fungus Helvella bachu

Jehaan Mowafak Al-rawi, Shimal Younis Abdul-hadi — Mon, 06 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000

With the aim of reducing or stopping the threats to ecosystems, the current study was designed to investigate the ability of the tannase enzyme purified from the local isolate of ascomycete fungus Helvella bachu in reducing the most dangerous toxin aflatoxin B1, using high-performance liquid chromatography technique, aflatoxin B1concentration was reduced to 3.4 ng/ml. Tannase enzyme analyzed the aflatoxin into two compounds in terms of the appearance of two peaks at a retention time 2.08 minutes and 4.59 minutes, with a residual area percentage 13.8 and 86.6% respectively, compared to standard aflatoxin, which appeared with one peak at a retention time 4.79 minutes. The concentration of aflatoxin decreased to 1.2 ng/ml using the crude enzyme compared to aflatoxin before treatment 1.32 µg/ml at the same retention times for the purified enzyme with a difference in the remaining area 45.8 and 54.2% respectively. Moreover tannase enzyme analyzed the aflatoxin into two new compounds . The ability of tannase enzyme to remove a number of industrial dyes was also evaluated in a period of time ranging from (6-48) hours, the results showed that the enzyme was able to remove 100% of the dyes: Reactive Yellow, Indigo Carmina, and Orange G. but with varying percentages of the other dyes used after 48 hours of enzyme treatment.

The aim of this study was investigate the ability of the purified tannase enzyme from the ascomycete fungus Helvella bachu to treat aflatoxin B1 and number of industrial dyes.

Environmental Assessment of Selected Groundwater Wells InAbu Ghraib District, West of Baghdad, for The Year 2023

Mon, 06 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Water security is a basic human need, and its impact on the ecosystem is a major issue worldwide, especially groundwater in areas lacking surface water. Therefore, the aim of this study was to identify the chemical and physical properties of groundwater and its various possible uses in the Abu Ghraib area. Eight groundwater samples were collected and analyzed for physical and chemical parameters (pH, total dissolved solids, electrical conductivity, sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, sulfur, chlorine, and hydrogen). The pH was found to be neutral to slightly alkaline, and the water was slightly saline according to the values of total dissolved solids and excess minerals according to the European Commission's electrical conductivity. The groundwater samples in the area were found to be unsuitable for drinking and various industrial purposes, and all water samples were suitable for construction. The water was also found to be suitable for livestock. The concentrations of total solids and electrical conductivity were found to be high, making it unsuitable for irrigation. The suitability of groundwater for agricultural purposes was found.