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- ItemGREEN INTELLECTUAL CAPITAL, GREEN INNOVATION AND GREEN TRAINING FOR ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY– EVIDENCE FROM THE PALESTINIAN BANKING SECTOR(An-Najah National University, 2024-10-15) Barakat, AnwaarThe notable incremental demand for environmental performance in the banking sector has created a massive need to examine how green practices influence ecological performance. This study aims to investigate the impact of Green Intellectual Capital (GIC), Green Innovation (GI), and Green Training (GT) on Environmental Performance (EP) in the Palestinian banking sector, providing insights to improve sustainability practices. The sampling plan for this research included selecting 97 managers from 12 different Palestinian banks as the target population, given their direct engagement in green initiatives implementation. A quantitative research approach was used, and data was collected through structured questionnaires. The sample size was determined to ensure a representative group of employees across multiple banks, capturing diverse GIC, GI, and GT perspectives. This sample allowed for using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) techniques to analyze the relationships between the variables. The findings confirm a strong and positive correlation between Green Intellectual Capital and EP, meaning that the more a bank adheres to environmental principles, the more likely it is to record better ecological results. Moreover, the result proves a positive relationship between GI and EP. This result highlights the importance of innovation activities in maintaining a sustainable environment. The study also stresses the significance of GT in enhancing Green Intellectual Capital and GI and in promoting the culture for ecological development. This study is helpful to policymakers and bank management in Palestine as they can apply some recommendations on sustainable practices in the banking system. The results will help to expand the knowledge of the concept of sustainability in the context of the banking field and provide further groundwork for more investigations of the establishment of sustainable practices in the financial sector.
- ItemPHOTOCATALYTIC DEGRADATION OF XYLENOL ORANGE DYE BY MAGNETIC FE3O4.TIO2 NANOPARTICLES USING LIGHT EMITTING DIODE (LED)(An-Najah National University, 2024-10-29) Abbas, NadeenThe aim of this study is to develop a new effective and economical photocatalysis method to purify water from organic dyes under visible light radiation. This is achieved by synthesizing a new photocatalyst that has a small band gap; to make it active under light emitting diode (LED) radiation, and it has magnetic properties that simplify purification of the catalyst post treatment. In this study, the magnetic nano particles of 10%TiO2/Fe3O4 were synthesized under basic conditions. The point of zero charge (PZC) of the synthesized photocatalyst was found to equal 4.69. Magnetic nano particles were used as a photocatalyst to purify water from Xylenol Orange Sodium Salt organic dye under LED radiation. The photocatalytic properties of the synthesized catalyst were analyzed across various parameters, and by referring to the change in the UV-Vis spectrum of the solutions. It was noticed that the synthesized nano particles have the same photocatalytic effect of rutile TiO2, but they are easier to purify post treatment. Different parameters affecting the photocatalysis were studied such as time, pH of the medium, concentration of Xylenol Orange, amount used of the catalyst, and H2O2. It was observed that the photocatalytic efficiency is unaffected by the concentration of the Xylenol Orange solution but decreases as the amount of 10%TiO2/Fe3O4 increases. Also, photocatalysis was found to favor acidic conditions with pH ~ 3, and favor presence of H2O2. A kinetic study was conducted, it was found that the degradation increases with time, and the rate of the reaction follows the second order rate. The possibility of catalyst’s recovery after treatment was examined using several washing solutions. Ethanol was found to be the optimal solution to recover the nano particles post treatment. Also, it was found that the nano particles preserved both magnetic and photocatalytic properties. It was confirmed that the photocatalyst could be used at least in four cycles of photocatalysis. In conclusion, the synthesized magnetic nano particles of 10%TiO2/Fe3O4 could be used efficiently as a photocatalyst under LED radiation to degrade organic pollutants while being both economically and environmentally friendly.
- ItemALGAE FOR NUTRIENTS REMOVAL FROM WASTEWATER: THE APPLICATION OF ARTIFICIAL LIGHT FOR ENHANCED ALGAL GROWTH(An-Najah National University, 2024-10-10) Alhamaydeh, AhlamTreating municipal wastewater using algae to remove nutrients is considered one of the most successful, environmentally friendly, and inexpensive natural methods, as algae grow naturally in wastewater if the appropriate conditions are available for its growth, such as nutrients, temperature, duration, and intensity of exposure to light, as well as the presence of bacteria that form a symbiotic relationship with algae to help it grow. This research studied the effect of artificial light on the growth of algae and its activity in removing nutrients from municipal wastewater. Three beakers of municipal wastewater in which the algae grew, with a volume of 5 liters as a pilot scale of patch reactors, were used and placed in the same conditions which were Temperatures and mixing for 15 days, with varying durations of exposure to artificial light. In the first sample, the algae was exposed to light 24 hours a day and was called the light sample. The second beaker was exposed to light for 19 hours, the fifth was exposed to natural daylight and was called half light sample, and the third sample remained in the day and night cycle, where it was called the natural sample. After 15 days of comparing the three samples, although the results were close in the two light and half-light samples, the algae in the light sample were the most efficient in removing nutrients from wastewater, as their efficiency in removing COD was 95% and phosphorus was 96%. 99.8% ammonium, TSS concentration 737.4 mg/L, and chlorophyll A pigment concentration of 129.4 μg/L. In the half-light sample, the effectiveness of algae in removing COD was 93%, phosphorus was 94%, ammonium was 99.8%, TSS concentration was 237.4 mg/L, and chlorophyll A concentration was 57.2 μg/L. Finally, in the natural sample, the efficiency in removing COD was 93%, phosphorus was 6%, ammonium was 56%, TSS concentration was 174 mg/L, and chlorophyll A concentration was 8 μg/L. These results show the effectiveness of algae as a natural method for removing nutrients from wastewater and the positive effect of light on improving algae growth and its efficiency in the treatment process.
- ItemOPTIMUM SIZING AND ALLOCATION OF PV SYSTEMS FOR IMPROVING THE PERFORMANCE OF ELECTRICAL NETWORK – CASE STUDY NEDCO(An-Najah National University, 2024-09-30) Breik, OmarDistribution networks may be affected if distribution generation is integrated into an existing system without a comprehensive network analysis since electrical systems are not built to support power generation sources at the distribution level. There may be an impact on voltage levels, current flow and protection coordination. Hence, the importance of studying the optimal size and location of solar cells in electrical networks. In this research, the Chaotic Bees Algorithm is used to determine the optimal size and location of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems for integration into electrical distribution networks. Considering that solar energy integration has become an essential energy source, PV deployment needs to be supported by strong standards and research to optimize its benefits. The traditional Bee algorithm in most studies solves the problem of optimal PV placement and sizing by focusing on minimizing losses while improving voltage stability only on small systems and networks such as the IEEE test system of 33 or 69 busses. We modified the algorithm so that the modified form of the algorithm using chaotic mapping increases the search space and returns better results faster and handles larger networks. Three scenarios were compared in order to determine how well the distribution network performed: without solar systems, with distributed solar systems on remote and weak buses, and with optimally placed solar systems through both the original and improved Bee algorithm. The improved algorithm proved its efficacy, as it was able to improve the network performance significantly and thus provide optimal solutions. the algorithm was applied to a more significant part of the Nablus network, which included 247 connection points and 213 transformers, based on information from operational engineer we considering a load factor 0.4 and a power factor 0.95 of the transformers because we don’t have measured data in all the 213 transformers. This study was done with the help of the Python programming language and Jupyter Notebook for the implementation of the algorithm and analysis of the network. The results confirm that the developed algorithm finds the optimal locations and sizes of PV systems to improve the efficiency and stability of the electrical network with higher quality and speed compared to the traditional algorithm.
- ItemNUMERICAL SOLUTION FOR FREDHOLM INTEGRAL EQUATIONS(An-Najah National University, 2024-09-08) Khalaf, FatenThe integral Fredholm-Hammerstein integral equation has many applications in various areas of mathematical physics, including heat transfer problems fluid dynamics and quantum mechanics . In this thesis, we focus on the numerical treatment of the Fredholm-Hammerstein equations using the Galerkin method and the shifted Chebyshev Polynomial method. To test the efficiency and the accuracy of this method, one numerical example with known exact solution is presented. Numerical results show that the conveyance of this method is in good agreement with the exact solution. Moreover, we conclude that the in Galerkin method and shifted Chebyshev method provides very accurate results.