ABSTRACT
Biochar is a carbonaceous solid substance produced by heating biomass without using air. This research aimed to create and evaluate local carbonization pyrolysis using a screw conveyor and filtration equipment. Date palm frond (DPF) biochar was studied and tested at pyrolysis temperatures of 320, 390, and 460 °C, as well as feeding rates of 60, 90, and 120 kg/h. The physicochemical parameters of DPF biochar were evaluated using SEM and FTIR. When the pyrolysis temperature was raised from 320 to 450 °C, and the feed rates were reduced from 120 to 60 kg/h, the biochar yield of DPF and volatiles fell. At 460 °C and 60 kg/h, the maximum ash and fixed carbon content were 11.73 and 77.61 %, respectively. As the feed rate decreased and the temperature increased, the H and O values (1.96 and 2.62 %, respectively) of DPF biochar decreased considerably; the C and N values (83.60 and 0.24 %, respectively) trended in opposite directions. The BET surface area and pore volume increased as a result of the micropore surface area and volume at higher temperatures and lower feeding rates, but water holding capacity increased from 6.04 gwater/10 g at 320 °C to 6.78 gwater/10 g at 390 °C (60 kg/h). The results showed that the heating temperature increased and the feeding rate decreased; phosphorus) P(and magnesium (Mg) increased significantly, whereas the levels of potassium (K) and calcium (Ca) showed a non-significant increase. Furthermore, as the pyrolysis temperature increased, pH and EC increased from 7.90 to 10.96 and 2.91 to 4.25 dSm-1, respectively, while CEC declined; however, there were no significant changes in CEC. DPF biochar demonstrated enhanced macro porosity and surface area at 460 °C and 60 kg/h, making it acceptable for agricultural use as a soil supplement.
ABSTRACT
Sexual assault is a serious social problem that affects women's life. In Egypt, there is no accurate epidemiological study on sexual assault, although it has undergone a dramatic surge in 2013. The goals of this study were to estimate the prevalence and the characteristics of sexual assault against female in Qalyubia Governorate, Egypt. It is a retrospective study evaluating sexual assault against females from 2009 to 2013. Total numbers of cases of female sexual assault was 130 over the studied years. The mean (SD) age of victims was 15.2 (6) years ranging from 4 to 40 years. Fifty-eight percent fall in the age group of 12 to 18 years. Most victims (61.5%) came from urban areas. Summer was relatively a vulnerable season for sexual assault (53.1%); 81.5% of victims was unmarried and 94.6% with normal mentality. The highest percentage of sexual assault crime was found in females with primary education (44.6%). Twenty-two (16.9%) of the assaulted cases were considered intrafamilial assault, whereas 83.1% were extrafamilial. The most common location for assaults was at the assailant's home (50.8%), and 80% of the victims were exposed to assault by 1 assailant. The shortest time between alleged assault and the examination was 1 day in 12 cases (9.2%). The most frequent type of assault was complete vaginal penetration (48.55%). The most common type of physical injury was abrasions (48.1%), whereas the least was burn or broken teeth (1.3% for each). The highest percentage of genital injury was lacerations (36.4%), and the most common location was the hymen (36.4%).
