This study was carried out to isolate opportunistic hydrocarbons oil-degrading bacteria and develop a consortium or a mixture of bacteria with high biodegradation capabilities which can be used in biological treatment units of the contaminated water before release. The biological processes in general are environmentally friendly and cost effective, as they are easy to design and apply; as such they are more appropriate to the public.     The location of the study was in Al-Dora refinery sludge holes area. The samples were collected for three seasons (winter, spring and summer) each consisted of three months.  The sludge samples were analyzed for various physical and chemical parameters. Temperature values of the sludge were at maximum in summer season, reaching 32˚C, whereas they were at minimum in winter (24 ˚C). The values of sludge pH were at maximum in summer (9.70) and minimum in winter (9.20). Turbidity levels were 382 NTU in spring and 353 NUT in winter. Biological oxygen demand (BOD5) was at maximum in summer (760) and (690 mg/l) in winter. The maximum dissolved oxygen (DO) value of 5.20 mg/l was recorded in winter, while the minimum was 3.80 mg/l recorded in summer. The maximum electrical conductivity (EC) was 17130 μs/cm recorded in summer, while the minimum was 16150 μs/cm recorded in winter. The maximum total dissolved solids (TDS) values were 10335 mg/l recorded in summer, while the minimum (10015 mg/l) was recorded in winter. The maximum total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) value (431 mg/l) was recorded in summer, while the minimum (367 mg/l) was recorded in spring. Finally, the maximum salinity value (9.90%) was recorded in spring, while the minimum (9.30%) was recorded in winter. Also, hydrocarbon compounds in sludge samples were measured using Gas Chromatography - Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS), and the result showed that they were composed of 31 hydrocarbon compounds.In the present work, nineteen sludge degrading bacterial strains were isolated from the soil near Al-Dora refinery hole by primary and secondary screenings using a modified mineral salt medium supplemented with 1% (v/v) sludge as a carbon source. The most efficient two sludge degraded isolates identified by VITIK 2 compact were Kocuria rosea and Bacillus amyloliquefaciens. The tow isolates and there mixture showed best growth at 30°C for 12 days, as shown by the measurement of the optical density of the liquid culture and the final oil concentration by spectrophotometer.      The bacterial isolates in liquid media with 2% (v/v) sludge showed best growth and the maximum biodegradation percentage after 12-day incubation period, as determined by gas chromatographic (GC). The degradation values were 68.9, 93.8 and 95.5% for Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, Kocuria rosea and the mixture of the tow isolates, respectively. In optimum conditions of pH 7, 40°C, 12 days incubation, the mixed bacterial consortium showed maximum sludge degradation.

In this study, the effects of three insecticides including: Fenvalerate, Thiacloprid and Fenoxycarb on egg parasitoid, Trichogramma evanescens were investigated. The toxicity of insecticide were tested using two laboratory tests: (a) direct spray on Ephestia cautella eggs containing the parasitoid for effects on parasitism and emergence of the adult parasitoids (b) adult parasitoid exposure to dry insecticide films residue in glass vials. All insecticides were prepared according to the manufacturer's recommendations for field application. Results showed that these insecticides varied in toxicity and have different degrees of effect regarding the emergence and parasitism of the parasitoid. Fenoxycarb was non-toxic or low toxic to T. evanescen and did not affect immature stages development and adult emergence. Whereas, Fenvalerate was highly noxious to the parasitoid and significantly reduced the percentage of emergence and parasitism of T. evanescens developing in host eggs. The effects of Thiacloprid were slightly toxic to T. evanescens as it fell into the class 2 when parasitoids were directly exposed to chemical residues. While, Fenvalerate classified as moderately toxic and caused higher mortality than Fenoxycarb and Thiacloprid in both glass surface residues and direct spray of host eggs. Therefore, obtained data provided useful data for implementing both chemical and biological control strategies in integrated pest management.

This study was conducted to demonstrate the ability of using remote sensing technique to estimate the concentrations of total suspended solids and total dissolved solids in Mosul dam lake, Iraq. In situ measurement were done to detect the mentioned parameters during the period July 2018-April 2019, also within this period satellite images were obtained (Landsat 8), where satellite images were georefrencing, those images were transported to their original form(digital numbers "DNs", after that they were atmospherically corrected to minimize atmosphere effects. Equations to estimate TSS and TDS were made depending on linear regression correlation between reflectance values and in situ data. Results showed that TSS concentrations correlate to band 1 (highest R2) in Summer (July) and band 5 in Spring (April) are strongly significant correlated to TSS concentration while band 6 in Autumn (September) significant to TSS values, while TDS correlated to band 5 has highly significant correlation (Highest R2 =0.41) in summer (August) while bands: 7,6 and 3 have significant correlation in Autumn (September), Summer (July) and (Spring) April, respectively.

Bioethanol is an attractive fuel with higher potential for energy security and environmental safety. Olive solid residues were used as a raw material for the production of bioethanol through the use of different preliminary treatments . Separate treatments with cellulose, hydrochloric acid (HCl 5%), sulfuric acid (H2SO4 2%), and liquid ammonia NH4OH (20%) were used to convert cellulose and hemicellulose into monosaccharaides. The production of ethanol was observed during the fermentation process using R. minuta under anaerobic conditions.  After 3 days of fermentation, lowest concentrations of ethanol of  0.233, 0.249, 0.261, and 0.275 g/ l were produced from olive waste powder sample as a result of separate pretreatment with cellulase, hydrochloric acid (HCl 5%), sulfuric acid (H2SO4 2%), and liquid ammonia NH4OH (20%), respectively, whereas the untreated sample showed ethanol yield of 0.264 g/ l.. The highest ethanol concentrations for the same samples were 0.510, 0.564, 0.737, and 0.696 g/ l, respectively, whereas that for the untreated samples was 0.445 g/ l. The highest concentration of ethanol produced (0.737 g/ l) was achieved after 3 days of fermentation of olive solid waste pretreated with H2SO4 2% at 30 oC and pH 5. The average yield of ethanol resulted from these saccharification and fermentation processes following the pretreatment of olive solid waste was 0.59 g/10 g dry olive solid residues.

In this study, wax worm larvae (Galleria mellonella) were used to examine their ability to degrade and assimilate polyethylene (PE) as an energy source. This idea came from the similarity of wax, that is used as the sole diet for larvae, with PE in composition. Morphology changes, weight loss, FTIR analysis and GC-Mass test were studied to prove the degradation of PE by G. mellonella. The maximum depth of holes on the plastic surface and 16% PE weight loss was due to extensive cutting. The creation of a novel O-H stretching alcohols/phenols group absorbance peak at 3293cm-1 observed in wax worm larvae PE frass samples may be due to the oxidation in their gut. Accordingly, the biodegradation of PE by wax worm larvae is ensured.