A novel sinusoidal design for an electrocoagulation reactor followed by an electro-Fenton reaction and a porous ceramic filter for the treatment of polluted waters.

In this research work, a novel design of an electro-Fenton reactor for the treatment of polluted water was investigated. In addition to the reactor with iron electrodes, a ceramic filter was also used. An electrical circuit was designed to change the cathodes and anodes every 24 s via an electrical relay between the electrodes. The untreated water was sucked into the reactor with an air pump and entered the electrocoagulation chamber after filtration with a ceramic filter. Then, it flows to the polyethylene filter to separate the coagulated particles from the fresh water. To produce 12 L of clean water, the system consumed 100 W of energy. Analysis of a river sample showed a reduction in nephelometric turbidity units (NTUs), total suspended solids (TSS), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), and chemical oxygen demand (COD). Turbidity reduction studies have shown that the system can improve water transparency by 95%, thereby improving water quality to acceptable levels. Further, this system reduced TSS by more than 86%. In addition, BOD was reduced by more than 84% and COD by more than 88%, as shown by the change in the ratio of BOD to COD from 0.44 to 0.625, indicating improved water quality. According to the results, the treatment system can clean polluted waters, particularly during floods and when industries discharge their effluents into rivers.

Survey on cattle ticks in Nur, north of Iran.

OBJECTIVE: To survey the prevalence of cattle ticks in Nur County and prepare a list of tick fauna in this district. METHODS: This investigation was carried out on 150 head of cattle ticks of rural areas of Nur city which is located in Mazandaran province during spring and summer seasons of 2011. The collected ticks were identified using light microscope and available systematic keys. RESULTS: A total number of 1 563 ticks were isolated from examined cattle and their genus and numbers including: Ixodes ricinus 51% (111 male and 691 female) and Boophilus annulatus 49% (83 male and 678 female), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Results of the current investigation indicate the presence of two species of acarine ectoparasites which have potential health risk Ixodes ricinus and Boophilus annulatus. More studies are required to increase our data concerning ticks and other ectopreasites of ruminants in other areas of Mazandaran province and should be noted to their ability in transmission of infectious agents.