Mohamad I. Al-Widyan

Experimental evaluation of the transesterification of waste palm oil into biodiesel.

Transesterified vegetable oils (VOs) are promising alternative diesel fuel. Waste VOs are cheap and renewable but currently disposed of inadequately. In this work, waste palm oil was transesterified under various conditions. H2SO4 and different concentrations of HCl and ethanol at different excess levels were used. Higher catalyst concentrations (1.5-2.25 M) produced biodiesel with lower specific gravity, gamma, in a much shorter reaction time than lower concentrations. The H2SO4 performed better than HCl at 2.25 M, as it resulted in lower gamma. Moreover, a 100% excess alcohol effected significant reductions in reaction time and lower gamma relative to lower excess levels. The best process combination was 2.25 M H2SO4 with 100% excess ethanol which reduced gamma from an initial value of 0.916 to a final value of 0.8737 in about 3 h of reaction time. Biodiesel had the behavior of a Newtonian fluid.

Combustion performance and emissions of ethyl ester of a waste vegetable oil in a water-cooled furnace

Food consumption around the world produces large amounts of waste vegetable oils and fats that, in many world regions, are disposed of in harmful ways. Consequently, this study intended to investigate the feasibility of utilizing this renewable and low cost fuel raw material as a diesel fuel replacement in small-scale applications such as in residential heating boilers. Specifically, the study examined the aspects of combustion performance and emissions of the ethyl ester of used palm oil (biodiesel) relative to the baseline diesel fuel in a water-cooled furnace. The combustion efficiency, ηc, and exhaust temperature, Texh, as well as the common pollutants and emissions were tested over a wide range of air/fuel ratio ranging from very lean to very rich (10:1–20:1). All tests were conducted at two different energy inputs for both fuels. The findings showed that, at the lower energy rate used, biodiesel burned more efficiently with higher combustion efficiency and exhaust temperature of, respectively, 66% and 600 °C compared to 56% and 560 °C for the diesel fuel. At the higher energy input, biodiesel combustion performance deteriorated and was inferior to diesel fuel due to its high viscosity, density and low volatility. As for emissions, biodiesel emitted less pollutants at both energy levels over the whole range of A/F ratio considered.

Influence of olive mills solid waste on soil hydraulic properties

The annual production of olive fruits in Jordan is about 105,000 tons producing more than 80,000 tons of solid waste annually. Olive mills solid waste (OMW) contains 94% organic matter and, therefore, can be highly beneficial to agricultural soil. However, olive waste contains oil that may increase soil hydrophobicity and decrease water retention and infiltration rate. In this research, the impact of OMW on water retention, saturated and unsaturated hydraulic conductivity, and capillary rise of three soils, loam, clay loam, and dune sand, has been investigated under laboratory conditions. Application of OMW resulted in an increase in water retention and saturated hydraulic conductivity but caused a decrease in capillary rise and unsaturated hydraulic conductivity for all soils tested. The increase in water retention has been observed at all levels of pressure potential and was significantly different at 3 bars or higher. The highest increase in saturated hydraulic conductivity occurred at 4% application rate at which about 300%, 200%, and only 12% increase was observed for loam, clay loam, and dune sand, respectively. Application of OMW caused a significant decrease in the capillary rise ranging from 11.5% for dune sand to 70% for clay loam soil. Capillary rises were inversely related to the OMW treatment level for all soils tested.

Performance and emissions characteristics of a diesel engine operating on shale oil

Abstract Jordan possesses vast reserves of unused high quality oil shale, yet imports almost all its energy needs. This study addressed the evaluation of a non-petroleum liquid fuel derived from oil shale, namely shale oil, relative to the reference petroleum based Diesel fuel. Tests were conducted in a single cylinder, direct injection Diesel engine to compare these fuels in terms of performance, exhaust gaseous emissions and particulate matter (PM) emissions at different but equal rates of energy delivery. The shale oil burned more efficiently than the baseline Diesel fuel and, therefore, resulted in higher engine thermal efficiency. Furthermore, the shale oil resulted in lower unburned hydrocarbons (HC) and less carbon monoxide (CO) than the Diesel fuel. However, the shale oil produced higher levels of oxides of nitrogen (NO x ) at lower load compared to the baseline Diesel fuel. Shale oil generally emitted fewer amounts of PM at lower loads but more PM at higher loads.

Hybrid Zinc Oxide Nanorods/Carbon Nanotubes Composite for Nitrogen Dioxide Gas Sensing

This study reports on the synthesis and fabrication of hybrid nanocomposite based on single-walled carbon nanotubes–ZnO nanorods (SWCNT-ZnONR) as resistive gas sensors for NO2 detection. The sensor was prepared using the standard simple and cost-effective hydrothermal process. The sensor was characterized by x-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy. The findings revealed enhanced porous SWCNT-ZnONR nanocomposites due to the high porosity of the SWCNT. It was also found that the sensor exhibited average response and recovery times of about 70 s and 100 s, respectively. The XRD peak at 26° indicated that the SWCNT pattern was not disturbed, while sensitivity increased with temperature up to 150°C, at which the sensitivity was maximum. Similarly, the sensor sensitivity increased with NO2 concentration at all levels examined. Moreover, the results indicate that the sensor shows significant promise for NO2 gas sensing applications.

Effect of Composted Olive Cake on Soil Physical Properties

Abstract Large areas in Jordan are planted with olive trees, resulting in the production of large amounts of olive cake (OC) and annually imposing a disposal and pollution burden. This research examined the use of OC compost as a soil amendment and its effect on soil physical properties such as soil water retention and infiltration in terms of depth of penetration and accumulated intake on two soil types: clay (S1) and silt loam (S2). Composting was intended to reduce the harmful effects of untreated OC. Olive cake was added to soil at three levels: 2%, 4%, and 8% by weight. Compared with control (untreated soil), adding composted OC caused significant improvements in soil physical properties considered. The changes in soil properties were, in general, proportional to the levels of compost added. For S2 at the 8% level, the depth of penetration and accumulated intake of water in soil were increased by 36.5% and 34.3%, respectively. For S1, the corresponding increases in the depth of penetration and accumulated intake were 27.1% and 35%, respectively. Furthermore the increase in soil water‐holding capacity for S2 and S1 at the 8% level of compost addition was up to 10.3% and 16.5%, respectively.

The Energy Sector In Jordan – Current Trends And The Potential For Renewable Energy

Jordan has a substantial dependence on foreign energy sources with 96% of its needs served by imports of oil products, natural gas and electricity. The US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003 exposed the oil supply vulnerability of Jordan and provoked official efforts to diversify energy imports and develop domestic energy resources. Political support for investment in renewable energy in Jordan was boosted by the 2007 findings of a Royal Committee on the National Energy Strategy, and there is a government target that renewable sources meet 10% of national energy needs by 2020. The positive environmental outcomes of this commitment to clean energy are diluted by a plan also to invest significantly in the extraction and processing of Jordans large oil shale reserves.

Evaluating composting and co-composting kinetics of various agro-industrial wastes

PurposeAgro-industrial wastes are posing serious challenges for the agro-industries. Composting and co-composting of such wastes will lead to converting such wastes into a useful product that will serve as a soil conditioner. The present research investigated the kinetics of composting and co-composting of several agro-industrial wastes.MethodsSeven pilot scale composting and co-composting piles of substrates from grain dust (GD), coffee-processing waste (CPW) and olive mill waste (OMW) were tested. Temperature and moisture content of the piles were monitored during the composting process and adjusted whenever necessary.ResultsThe biodegradation kinetics was found to be of first order for all composting and co-composting piles. As judged by the value of the reaction rate constant, and the temperature of the piles, the biodegradability of the grain dust was the highest among all composting piles, followed by the coffee-processing residue and finally the fresh olive mill waste. As for the co-composting, the highest degradability was noticed in the pile that was composed of grain dust and coffee-processing waste followed by that of grain dust mixed with dry olive mill waste, and then followed by coffee-processing waste and dry olive mill waste and finally by grain dust with fresh olive-processing waste.ConclusionsComposting and co-composting of agro-industrial wastes is a low cost and an environmentally friendly waste management option for solving the problem of the disposal of such waste. The study revealed that all piles followed first-order kinetics with different biodegradability rates.

Institutional Aspects of Regional Energy Systems

The chapter mainly addresses institutional aspects of regional renewable energy systems and cooperation in MENA (Middle East and North Africa) countries. The material presented here draws heavily on the deliberations of regional workshops on energy efficiency and renewable energy held at the American University of Beirut (AUB) in 2004 and 2005. In addition, the chapter discusses the importance of renewable energy as well as cooperation in renewable energy technologies in the Middle East where there exists a promising potential for utilising these resources. Furthermore, this chapter presents existing and proposed projects for regional cooperation, including the Al-Wehdah Dam, the Red-Dead Canal, regional electricity partnerships, and the Arab Gas Pipeline project. The chapter concludes that regional research collaboration on clean energy is a promising platform for developing institutional cooperation on renewable energy.

Quality Assurance at Jordan University of Science and Technology (JUST): Integrating Administrative Quality and Academic Accreditation

In light of the significant developments in higher education in recent years such as globalization, and the resulting survival challenges including but not limited to unprecedented expansion and ensuing intense competition, higher education institutions across the world had to implement international quality standards. Realizing the challenge, JUST had quality embedded in its core strategic objectives and explicitly highlighted it in its vision and mission statements. However, unlike the vast majority of higher education institutions where quality is perceived in terms of purely academic-only parameters, JUST elected to proceed in an integrated quality approach. The approach entails addressing simultaneously both academic and administrative aspects in an integrative complimentary manner. In the implementation phase, JUST put down a comprehensive total quality management system that enjoys full top management support and involves representations from all aspects of the university’s operations, departments, and units. It is claimed that thanks to this approach, JUST secured an advanced distinguished place in terms of quality that manifested itself in pioneering in local and international accreditations, as well as leading positions in world university rankings.