An investigation covering 12 districts of Baghdad city was conducted over 2 yr to monitor the effect of domestic storage practice on the quality of drinking water. Water storage tanks are widely used in Iraq as an additional water source. Tap and stored waters were tested for their chemical constituents i.e. Ca, Mg, Na, K, Cl, Zn, Fe, Pb, Cd, and total hardness (T.H.). All the tested elements were within the permissible limits. However, statistical analysis showed a significant variation between the different districts for T.H., Cu, Mg and chloride for both tap and stored waters. Seasonal variations have a significant effect on the levels of some elements. The quality of stored water was not affected by storage practice. Zinc, Pb and Fe were the only elements that showed some variation in the stored waters. This was attributed to the effects of corrosion of the tank metal and the migration of metals from the distribution system.

Conventional alkali refining of edible oils is being replaced progressively by physical refining, which offers improved yields, reduced processing times and few by-product problems. The variables involved in physical refiningpre-treatment, processing time and processing temperature-have been studied on a laboratory scale for the refining of soyabean oil, and related to the quality characteristics of the refined products. The best results are obtained with phosphoric acid degummed, partially bleached oil processed at up to 250°C for not more than 2 hr. Higher temperatures and longer times lead to quality defects such as loss of stability, increased viscosity, darkening and chemical changes reflected in reduction of iodine value and increase in free fatty acids.

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