Multi-ionic electrolytes and E.coli removal from wastewater using chitosan-based in-situ mediated thin film composite nanofiltration membrane.

This work presents the experimental investigation of flat sheet composite nanofiltration membrane synthesized with chitosan nanoparticles through interfacial polymerization of piperazine with trimesoyl chloride on polyethersulfone/sulfonated polysulfone substrates. The synthesized membrane was tested in wastewater treatment containing inorganic salts and E.Coli. Single binary electrolyte solution of KCl, MgCl2, MgSO4, and Na2SO4, ternary electrolyte solution, containing a combination of MgCl2 and MgSO4, KCl and MgCl2 and quaternary electrolyte solution of KCl, MgCl2, and MgSO4 as feed were treated in crossflow membrane cell for the water flux and species rejection in the permeate under operating pressure up to 0.5 MPa. The rejection of Na1+, K1+, Mg2+, Cl1-, and SO42- was observed to be 81, 28, 87, 96, and 98%, respectively with an average water flux up to 214 ± 10 L m⁻2.hr⁻1 in the permeate for the binary electrolyte solution. Similarly, the rejection for K1+, Mg2+, Cl1- and SO42- was noted to be 33, 94, 97, and 99%, respectively, for ternary electrolyte solution with an average water flux up to 211 ± 10 L m-2.hr-1. The quaternary ion system in the feed resulted in an average water flux up to 198 ± 12 L m⁻2.hr⁻1 with the rejection of K+, Mg+2, Cl- and SO4-2 as 35, 87, 96, and 99%, respectively. The model feed solution of E. coli after passing through the membrane achieved an E. coli rejection (99%) with water flux up to 220 L m-2.hr-1.

Malaria prevalence in Malakand district, the north western region of Pakistan.

OBJECTIVE: To check the prevalence of malaria in a specific geographical region. METHODS: The prospective study was conducted in Malakand, Pakistan, from January to December 2017, and comprised suspected malaria patients. Blood samples were collected during dry, rainy, and end-of-rainy season, with symptoms of malaria. Thick and thin film of blood were Giemsa-stained, stored in a secured slide box and were reconfirmed by microscopy expert at the Laboratory of District Head Quarter Hospital Batkhela and Tehsil Head Quarter Hospital Dargai in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Graph Pad 5 was used for data analysis. RESULTS: Of 1123 suspected patients, 300(26.7%) tested positive for malaria. Of the positive cases, 296(98.6%) were Plasmodium vivax and 4(1.3%) Plasmodium falciparum. No mixed-species infection and no case of Plasmodium ovale and Plasmodium malariae were reported. Malaria was higher in those aged <16 followed by those in the 33-50 group and the least in 51-80 years group (p>0.05). Males were more infected than females (p>0.05). Individuals screened in the rainy season numbered more than those in the dry and post-rain season (p<0.05).. CONCLUSIONS: Malaria was found to be highly prevalent in the rainy season.