The disclosure structure and its effect on performance Essay

The disclosure structure and its effect on performance - Essay Example The research combined content examination of CSR reports, and corporate performance data of various companies covered in the Accountability Rating statistics of the period 2004 to 2007 to facilitate the study. The study utilized a multifaceted approach to analyze influential variables capable of informing the analysis. Particularly, the research related the level, and structure of environmental and societal disclosure to CSP. The research utilized a design capable of addressing study objectives accordingly. The research sample was developed by following informed procedures leading to the establishment of an inclusive sample. The research identified influential variables for measuring the effect of practice on the firm’s performance to examine the effect of the disclosure level and the structure on the company’s CSP. According to Panneerselvam, an ideal study must define all essential variables that when examined can help one develop an informed conclusion. The researche r should acknowledge different types of variables to propose ideal method for assessing each. Researchers conducting the analysis considered the variables while setting a sample for their study. This is evident in the study’s approach of focusing on a sample of organization with essential statistics that allowed researchers assess all necessary variables consistently. The study sourced data from a diverse population of global companies included in reliable business statistics to develop a longitudinal dataset for the study.

Legal Department Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Legal Department - Essay Example As Adoranti (2006) explains, business to business and commercial contracts explicitly define the obligations of sellers and buyers. This includes the specifications of the contacted for products/services, their quality and time/place of delivery. The violation of contractual obligations, on either side, can be cause for the invalidation of the contract and grounds for the payment of financial penalties (Adoranti, 2006). As our organization's legal councilor emphasized, the binding form of contracts implies that it is incumbent upon the organization to ensure that a contract works in its favor and not against it. Hence, within the context of our organization, the policy is that no sales contract is signed prior to the formulation of an inter-departmental business plan which details how the organization will fulfill the contract and whether, indeed, it can. Only following a thorough review of this plan does the legal department authorize the signature of the contract. The regulations which the legal department has imposed upon contractual commitments are an outcome of prior negative experiences. Two years ago an overenthusiastic sales department committed the company to the supply of more than it could produce within a specified time period. As the Sales Director had the authority to conclude contracts, the outcome was the overextension of corporate resources in a bid to satisfy its contractual obligations and, ultimately, a failure to meet the time of delivery, resulting in the imposition of fines upon the company. This incident, as the corporate legal councilor informed me, instigated a revision of corporate policy, whereby contracts could only be entered into following inter-departmental meetings and the formulation of business plans which outline strategies for the fulfillment of contractual obligations. Contracts, however, do not represent the extent of the legal department's involvement in corporate and business processes and relations. Indeed, one of the department's primary concerns is employee relations, the implementation of corporate policy and the assurance of adherence. Insofar as the aforementioned is concerned, Poole (2004) identifies it as one of the more important of any corporate legal department's responsibilities, comparable to the implementation of law and order. As such, the legal department governs/supervises employee relations and ensures adherence to a specific code of conduct. This code of conduct extends to company-related behavior following the termination of the employee-employer relation. For example, in the event of an employee's dismissal for non performance of job related responsibilities, he/she is, as per the employment contract signed, warned against both defaming the company and exposing company business secrets. This, as the legal councilor advised m e, was standard practice in most organizations but, without doubt, one of the more important of the legal department's responsibilities as it involved the safeguarding of the company from disgruntled former employees. The protection of the company against defamation, not just by former employees but by competitors and the media consumes much of the legal depa

A Revelation to me Essay Example for Free

A Revelation to me Essay When I was a kid, I got almost anything I wanted. I had travelled to China and seen the Great Wall. I travelled to Brisbane to see the Coral Reef and I even travelled to Italy and saw places like the Coliseum and the Sistine Chapel. However, to me, Singapore was the be all and end all of the world. I had lived there for 11 years and all my wants and needs were met on that small island. I could walk anywhere without worrying about getting kidnapped. I could take a taxi and not worry about the driver cheating you. I could even leave the house 10 minutes for a lesson and not worry about being late. I had a lovely school, a nice group of international friends and moreover a house in a pristine location. All was good. One day, my dad was at work and my brother was at a sleepover. My mother took me to my favorite restaurant at that timeMcDonalds. I knew something was fishy, because I hadnt done anything good, but I went along with it. Then she brought me a FULL Meal. Hmmmmsuspicious but I again parried it off. Then she upsized it. Ok! Something was wrong. So when I went to the table to eat my Upsized, full meal of McDonalds, I asked my mum Whats going on? Whats the special occasion? And she replied, Nothing Rushad. Cant we just have a mother, son outing? I looked at her in the eye and I could tell something was wrong. Ok, fine. She said. Paused. Took a bite from her burger. Swallowed. Then said We are moving from Singapore. Dont lie. I laughed. You cant be serious! MUM! But she just shook her head, like a bothered elephant and said Im sorry. But I dont want to move. And she told me the words I will never forget: Life is like McDonalds. One day you get the Big Mac, whilst others you just get simple Chicken Nuggets. However, sometimes, you only get whats available and have no say in the matter. Do you think a chicken wants to be killed to fill your stomach? Or a cow slaughtered to fill you up? No, sometimes, you have to accept defeat and walk along the path your life has chosen. This was a turning point in my life. I realized that in life, you dont always get what you wanted. Fortunately, some people learn this in simple ways such as not winning the game you wanted, or not getting that pretty girl to go out with you. Unfortunately for me, I learnt this the hard way. Leaving all that I knew behind, to start a fresh life in Jakarta. Sometimes you only want something, like staying in Singapore, because its the safe way out. However, moving to Jakarta was a risk and a scary adventure.

PETRONAS Company Overview and Analysis

PETRONAS Company Overview and Analysis PETRONAS is the short for Petroliam National Berhad. As an incorporated company, it was founded on the 17th of August 1974. It was wholly owned and controlled by the government of Malaysia. PETRONAS has ventured into more than 32 countries including Argentina, Russia and Egypt. It currently employs over 30, 000 employees of 38 nationalities. PETRONAS has involved in the entire petroleum activities. From managing the sharing contractors of the foreign production, it has been changed into developing its own capabilities in the upstream sector allow it to take the lead in the exploration and production of the nations oil and gas resources. Vested with the entire oil and gas resources in Malaysia, PETRONAS is entrusted by the government to develop and add value to these resources. Besides that, it also ventured into downstream activities. It seeks to maximize value creation and strengthen of its operations all the way down the value chain. The range downstream activities of PETRONAS includes oil refining, gas processing and liquefaction, gas transmission pipeline operations, petrochemical manufacturing and marketing, property investment, shipping, marketing of liquefied natural gas, marketing and distribution of petroleum products, and trading. Internal Environment There is a high level of interdependence between an organization and its internal environment. The internal environment comprises elements that have a direct influence on the operations of the organization. They have an impact on the achievement of the organizations goals. The Micro forces of the environment are: Vision and Mission PETRONAS is a big organization and a corporation which is widely known to the world as a company that exports Malaysian oil. Being a big organization, PETRONAS has its very own vision and mission to achieve its common goal and to serve its customers the best service they can provide. As we all know vision is a long-term plan that exists in almost every company or organization. PETRONASs vision statement is to be a leading oil and gas multinational of choice. It is hoping to become a worldwide known organization and also the first choice among all other oil companies present so far. PETRONAS mission statements, on the other hand, are as follows: We are a business entity. Petroleum is our core business. Our primary responsibility is to develop and add value to this national resource. Our objective is to contribute to the well-being of the people and the nation. (PETRONAS, 2010) The mission and vision PETRONAS believes has made it grows tremendously since it was incorporated in the month of August on the 17th in the year 1974. It is now a fully-integrated oil and gas corporation which is ranked among FORTUNE Global 500s largest corporation in the world. Organizational structure Organizational structure is the internal, formal framework of a business that shows the way in which management is linked together and how authority is transmitted. (Stimpson, 2006) PETRONAS adopts the functional organization structure. It enables specialization and allowing its employees to focus on their respective areas. There is cross functional bonds between the respective divisions and departments. It is the bond and process of specialization that has led to the success of the organization. Team work is encouraged, all the departments work together to achieve the companys goals and targets. This has proved to rewarding for the organization as a whole and the employees, customers, suppliers and the community as a whole. The line of authority is clearly drawn, orders are sent from the top most level, the president and the CEO. PETRONAS has also hired consultants to improve business and organization results. Functional Strategies Corporate Planning and development division This division plans long term and short term business strategies which lead to the development of the organization. Education division This division undertakes the responsibility of all the educational activities associated with PETRONAS. It involves the scholarships provided by University Technology PETRONAS and the education programs provided to the underserved community. Finance division The Finance division provides the company with its accounting and financial reporting backbone of the company. Its role is to identify financial sources to finance the operations of the company and to locate profitable areas where the business can invest their money to get higher returns. PETRONAS is involved in the sports world through its investment with Mercedes F1team. It has also contributed towards the development of Turkmenistan economy, by investing US dollar $ 1.8 billion in the oil and gas industries. Technical Services division This division is set up to drive and manage the technological activities of PETRONAS. Human Resource division The most important function of the human resource department is recruitment, selection and training of employees among others. PETRONAS selects the best and brightest of employees through talent searches amongst local and overseas graduate. PETRONAS trains and molds its own employees through technical training and innovative program provided in University Technology PETRONAS. Shareholders Shareholders of a firm can directly influence its policies and activities. PETRONAS shareholder is the government. It generates income and value for its shareholder. PETRONAS gave the government RM 52.3 billion from its RM86.8 billion pre-tax profit, in the form royalty, dividends, corporate tax, income tax and export duty. PETRONAS provides shareholders with the opportunity to gain first hand exposure on the Companys operations by organizing several visits to its Gas Processing Plants. Such two-way communication increases corporate transparency and helps shareholders take a longer term view of their investment based on a better understanding of the companys corporate strategy and operation. PETRONAS recognizes the importance of timely and equal dissemination of information to shareholders. Therefore they arrange the Annual General Meeting (AGM) which is a crucial mechanism in shareholders communication. Employees PETRONAS must be committed to enhancing the capability of its employees, as a corporation is only as good as the people who work for it. This phrase is from PETRONAS mission statement. Employees are the most important asset of an organization, since it is the dedication, motivation and skills of an employee that make a business successful. PETRONAS highly values its employees and understands the importance of their motivation. Therefore it arranges various programmes to encourage and support its employees by involving them in voluntary work. Programmes such as Sentuhan Kasih and Jalinan Insan allow their employees to contribute to homes for disadvantaged children and orphans in the areas of their operations. These programmes provide the employees with job satisfaction, which in return highly motivates them to perform better. Community Lord Holme and Richard Watts used the following definition. Corporate Social Responsibility is the continuing commitment by business to behave ethically and contribute to economic development while improving the quality of life of the workforce and their families as well as of the local community and society at large The culture now is to be generous by giving back to the community. Therefore organizations have certain responsibility towards the community they work in. PETRONAS is a responsible citizen of the community, thus is has successfully imitated and supported various social, environmental and community projects. PETRONAS and Education PETRONAS is committed is developing the people and they operate in by providing education particularly in the field on science and technology. They are determined to create a skilled human resource base for Malaysia through various schemes. Scholarships University technology PETRONAS (UTP) provides hands on technical training and innovative programs to help employees build skills and competencies. PETROSAINS provides a rich and motivating environment for the public to acquire knowledge about science and technology. PETRONAS benefits from this program since they are molding their own workforce, by educating them in standards which are important to PETRONAS. PETRONAS and Environment PETRONAS recognizes the importance of conserving biological diversity in order to ensure people, animals and plants. Therefore they developed the KUALA LUMPUR CITY CENTRE (KLCC) PARK, to balance the challenging demands of growing urban populations, with the environmental conservation. A much needed public park and green lung for the city of Kuala Lumpur. External Environment External environment refers to the factors that happen outside the business which cannot be controlled by the business. These factors will influence the internal functions of the business and its strategies to adapt itself to the changing environment. Political Environment The Malaysian government chose to create a state company, rather than using taxes, production limits, leasing, or other familiar instruments of supervision. The government sought to assert national rights over the use of the countrys resources. A state company, having both supervisory powers over the majors and production activities of its own, was a workable compromise between allowing the majors full rein and excluding them, along with their capital and expertise, altogether. PETRONAS is given full trust by Malaysia government to conduct business independently from the government. Government holds 100% of PETRONAS and formulates and implements energy policies including oil gas. The company cooperates with the government for the common purpose to develop the country to achieve the level of advanced countries. Regarding the relationship between PETRONAS and the government, one executive in the company said, There is a world, especially in the Third World, where only the government and the government (GG) can open the first door. He claimed that there is the world which does not function well with the absence of mutual trust between the government and the national oil company. Legal Environment Legal concepts, principles and issues are affecting everyday business decisions of all organizations. PETRONAS is a multinational organization. Therefore the company is subjected to laws in all of its host countries. Petroleum Development Act 1974 To regulate the oil and gas industry to achieve Malaysias economic development needs, Petroleum Development Act 1974 was formulated, and PETRONAS was established under this act. Through this act, PETRONAS owns the exclusive right of ownership, exploration and production of petroleum and gas. Under the direct purview of Malaysias Prime Minister, PETRONAS is responsible for its planning, investment and regulation of all up-stream activities. Government Taxation PETRONAS is liable to pay to the Federal and State Government in terms of dividends, taxes, export duties and royalties. In the year of 2009, PETRONAS has paid RM 30.0 billion as dividends, RM20.3 billion as income tax, RM 9.1 billion as corporate income tax, RM 2.2 billion as export duties and RM 6.2 billion as royalties to the government (PETRONAS: Media Release, 2009). Laws Regarding Employee Benefits On the other hand, nearly all government pass laws to control recruitment, employment, minimum wages, health and safety at work, and trade union rights of employees. One of its aims is to protect the workers from any kind of physical injuries. It requires the working environment in PETRONAS to be safe with adequate equipment and sanitation. However, these requirements usually add up to the business cost. Consumer Rights In addition, PETRONAS has to protect consumer rights. The Consumer rights seek to protect the rights and interest of consumers, as well as to prevent them from receiving products that do not reach a reasonable level of safety. PETRONAS sternly practices this as to ensure maximum popularity amongst other oil and gas company as well as looking after customer satisfaction. Economical Environment Economical environment refers to the collective of the nature of economic system in the country. It would affect a business in terms of recession, interest rates, exchange rates and global economic factors. Recession Recession is the process when values of goods and services decline in an economy. It results in the fall of demand for certain products, as income is reduced. To keep the demand on going, the prices of products are lowered. According to an article by Jane Lee in 2009, net income of PETRONAS in the year ended March 31 dropped 14%. It was its first annual profit decline in 7 years due to sapped energy demand in global recession and high production cost. Interest rates During inflation, there will be increase in the supply of money associated to the amount of goods available. This will result in a rise in prices of goods and services in the economy over a period of time. For PETRONAS, the high interest rates and fall of purchasing power would consequently affect the cash flow of the organization. Oil Price Oil Price has strong relationship with PETRONAS sales performance. When oil price in Malaysia increase, its sales will strongly increase, and when oil price in Malaysia decrease, its sales also decrease. Technological Environment In order to adapt itself to the rapid growing technological environment, an organization has to be versatile and recognises the value of technology to its business growth. PETRONAS is a technology dependent organization that promotes and uses technology vastly for research and development. It pursues the strategic deployment and application of technology to further enhance operational excellence and maximize the potential of its existing assets and emerging opportunities. Technology in Gas Business In the Gas Business, PETRONASs technology emphasizes on mercury management. With the initiatives to remove mercury from raw condensates, the onshore mercury removal system, a technology that is among the first in the world, has been installed at PETRONAS Onshore Gas Terminal in Kertih. This system is able to treat raw condensates at the terminal, to improve operational and Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) performance as well as to assure product quality. Technology in Oil Business In the Oil Business, PETRONAS continue to pursue leading edge technologies to enhance its fuels and lubricants businesses. PRIMAX 3, the unleaded petrol, was developed in-house utilizing a superior quality fuel formulation innovated by optimising base fuel properties through the addition of the Sinar G-05 additive (PETRONAS: Oil Business, 2010). While meeting environmental standards, it enhances engine performance and efficiency. In addition, PETRONAS also believes there are opportunities in alternative energy resources and continue to explore the potential of hydrocarbon resources as well as solar energy and bio-fuels. In building a long term and sustainable energy business, the company looks toward Green Technologies to prepare for the future low-carbon economy. These technologies are believed to be providing a strong competitive advantage for PETRONAS to strengthen its position in global business. Competition In any of the industry, there must be competition among organizations. An organization will try to get more customers to buy their product instead of the one offered by the competitors. The success of organizations depends on which one makes the most attractive products at lower prices. The major competitors to PETRONAS are Shell and Caltex. They produce different type and efficiency of petrol. PETRONAS PETRONAS has designed PETRONAS PRIMAX 3 to provide maximum protection and performance for your car. By formulating with unique additive components, PETRONAS PRIMAX 3 efficiently protects the engine against injector fouling and corrosion, reinstating the car to its peak performance to improve fuel economy. Shell However, Shell is the leader in developing high quality fuels. Shell Super with fuel economy formula is specially designed by Shell experts to give you extra miles at no extra cost. It is formulated with Shells Synthetic Viscous Friction Improver, designed to reduce friction in this crucial part of your engine, helping to improve its efficiency. Caltex On the other hand, all Caltex petrols now include technologically-advanced, patented fuel ingredient, Techron ®. Caltex Techron with cleaning agent is unsurpassed at keeping engines clean and cleaning up deposits to help reinstate original performance. It contains powerful detergents which help in removing deposits from fuel injectors intake ports and valves. The key benefits for using Techron ® are improved performance, enhanced reliability, smoother drive, restored fuel economy and lower emissions. Comparing these petrol brands, each of them has its own strengths. They are having a healthy competition in the petrol industry with the same goal to provide the best petrol they could produce. Social Environment Social environment refers to the factors regarding the society as well as the environment. An organization needs to have social responsibilities in order to contribute to the people of the society and to protect natural environment. Social Responsibility on Consumer Many companies are affected by society and vice-versa. For PETRONAS, it was noticed that consumers are the foundation of the entire business, and dissatisfied customer could be a warning signal to the business. Therefore, it has to take care of societal needs and safeguard human rights. For example, it concerns about the safety and health of consumers. It has to make sure that it supplies safe products to the consumers and provides product knowledge via advertisements, as well as ensures product utility and performance as advertised. Social Responsibility on Environment In undertaking its business activities, PETRONAS cares for the environment by adopting responsible environmental management practices in its operations. At the same time, it also contributes to the biodiversity and conservation of the environment for the sake of the community. PETRONAS is taking every practicable and reasonable step to prevent the risk of injuries, health hazards and damages to properties in according to international Health, Safety and Environment standards. It is also investing in community-related initiatives in environmental conservation and urban renewal, both in Malaysia and other countries. These community projects aimed to create sustainable benefit and tangible value to the communities. Conclusion Over the years, PETRONASs unique experience and expertise, coupled with its technical and operational competencies have allowed it to be accepted as the preferred strategic partner by international companies and the host countries. Facing the adverse business and economic environment, PETRONAS is still able to integrate, add value and globalize its operations. These would bring the company towards the realization of its vision to become a Leading Oil and Gas Multinational of Choice. Moving forward, PETRONAS will continue to improve its business performance, strengthen its resilience and enhance its capabilities to confront the challenges in delivering a sustainable energy future for all its stakeholders. Moreover, it will guided by its objective to serve the nation and people with high standards of ethics and integrity, while at the same time maximizing shareholders returns. (3022 words)

Oxidative Decolourisation of Rosaniline Hydrochloride (RAH)

Oxidative Decolourisation of Rosaniline Hydrochloride (RAH) Kinetic, thermodynamic studies for oxidation of rosaniline hydrochloride dye by persulphate in ambient temperatures Z. M. Abou-Gamra* Abstract The kinetics of the oxidative decolourisation of rosaniline hydrochloride (RAH) by sodium persulphate was studied spectrophotometrically over pH range 3.5-9.5 at 30-45 oC. The reaction was second order with respect to dye and half order to persulphate. Increasing the pH of the medium increased the rate of decolourisation dramatically in alkaline medium. The Activation Parameters were found to be 62.11 kJ mol-1, 90.33 kJ mol-1 and -98.44J K-1 mol-1 with respect to activation energy, free energy and entropy respectively. Addition of sodium chloride and sodium sulphate had no effect on the rate of decolourisation. Key wards: Kinetics, Mechanism, Degradation, Rosaniline, Persulphate. 1. Introduction Textile dyeing process is significant source of environmental pollution. It produces large amounts of highly colored effluents, which generally toxic resistant to destruction by biological treatment methods. Many physical, chemical processes such as adsorption [1], electrochemical [2], photocatalytic [3] are used to remove the dyes from waste water. Chemical oxidative processes seem to provide an opportunity for future use in industrial wastewater. Examples of such potentially effective chemical oxidants for oxidative processes include Fenton reagent [4-5], KBrO3 [6-7] and KClO3 [8]. *corresponding author e-mail: [emailprotected] The use of persulfate has recently attention as an alternative oxidant in the chemical oxidation of contaminants [9-12]. Persulphate (KPS) is one of the strongest oxidants known in aqueous solution and has a higher potential (Eo = 2.01 V) than H2O2 (Eo = 1.76 V) [13] Table 1. It offers some advantages over other oxidants as a solid chemical at ambient temperature with ease of storage and transport, high stability, high aqueous solubility and relatively low cost. It has great capability for degrading numerous organic contaminants through free radicals ( SO4-. and HO.) generated in the persulphate system [12]. Basic dyes, such as, crystal violet, malachite green and roseaniline hydrochloride are used cotton tannin, mordant printing and dyeing in textile. Rosaniline is triphenylmethane dyes with amino group on each phenyl ring. Its structure is easily reducible where the chromophore group is destroyed and the compound loses its colour. Redox reaction of rosaniline hydrochloride by sulphite and nitrite ions are reported earlier [14-16]. This work focused on the kinetic study of oxidation of rosaniline hydrochloride with persulphate at ambient temperature spectrophotometrically. The effects of pH, dye, persulphate concentrations and temperature were studied. Also mechanism as well as rate law equation for the reaction is proposed. 2. Experimental 2.1. Reagents and materials All chemicals were of pure grade and were used without further purification. Rosaniline hydrochloride BDH (molecular weight =337.8, à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¬max = 540 nm). The chemical structure of (RAH) is given in (Fig.1). NaCl and Na2SO4 were purchased from Merck. All solutions were prepared using bidistilled water. Stock solutions of dye (1 mM), K2S2O8 (100mM) were prepared. The pH is adjusted by HCl and NaOH solutions. 2.2. Kinetic experiments All kinetic measurements were carried out using a Cecil 292 spectrophotometer equipped with a water-jacketed cell holder. The reactants (dye and K2S2O8+NaOH) were thermostated for 15 min., then mixed thoroughly and quickly transferred to an absorption cell. The progress of the reaction was monitored at 540 nm. The pH of the reaction was adjusted using Griffin pH-meter fitted with a combined glass calomel electrode. 3. Results and Discussion Kinetic study for oxidation of (RAH) by (KPS) was followed at à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¬max= 540nm. Figure 2 shows the decreasing of absorbance with time. Figure 2 also shows that about 85% of rosaniline is removed in 60 minutes at temperature 25 oC. 3.1 Kinetic study In the present study, zero-, first- and second-order reaction kinetics were used to study the decolourization kinetics of (RAH) by (KPS). The individual expression were represented below Ct = Co– kot lnCt = -k1t + ln Co 1/Ct = 1/Co+ k2t where Ct is the concentration of (RAH) at reaction time t. Regression analysis based on the zero-, first- and second-order reaction kinetics for the decolourization of (RAH) by (KPS) was conducted and the results were shown in (Fig. 3). Since plotting of At versus time did not give straight line zero-order kinetics is excluded. Comparing the regression coefficients (R2) obtained from (Fig. 3b) and (Fig. c), it can be seen that R2 of the second-order reaction kinetics (Fig. 3c) was 0.9995, which was obviously much better than that based on the first-order (R2 = 0.9394) reaction kinetics. The results indicated that the decolorization kinetics of (RAH) followed the second-order kinetics well. Based on the above analysis, the second-order kinetic rate constants for the decolourization of (RAH) at different reaction conditions were shown in Table 2. 3.2. Effect of pH A thermally activated persulphate oxidation system is known to involve SO4. and HO. radicals depending on the pH of the medium. According to literature survey, SO4. is predominant oxidant radicals at pHà ¯Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¼ 7, both SO4. and HO. are present at neutral pH and HO. is predominant radical at pH à ¯Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¾ 9[9]. Keeping the concentration of (RAH), (KPS) and temperature constant and change the pH in range 3.5 to 9.5, the rate of reaction is increased by increasing the pH value, (Fig. 4). Increasing the pH in range 3.5 to 9.5 increased observed rate constant from 6.7x 10-4 to 6.8 x 10-3 mol dm3 s-1, Table 2. This is probably attributed to the effect of hydroxyl ion on (RAH) which converting it to a carbinol base with no conjugation structure. All studies have done at pH = 9 since dyeing cotton performed in alkaline medium [17]. 3.3. Effect of dye concentration The effect of initial (RAH) concentration of aqueous solution of rosaniline on oxidation process by persulphate was investigated since pollutant concentration is important parameter in wastewater treatment. The observed rate constant decreases linearly with increasing the initial concentration of rosaniline, (Fig. 5). This is attributed to relatively lower of SO4-. and HO. results from the increasing of rosaline concentration while concentration of persulphate and hydroxyl ions remains the same. The obtained results was in good agreement earlier reported [18-19]. 3.4. Effect of persulphate concentration Increasing the persulphate concentration in rang 410-3 to 2.4x 10-2 mol dm-3 increasing the rate constant from 3.1310-3 to 9.9210-3 mol-1dm3 s-1 at pH= 9 and temperature 40oC, Table 2. Plotting of log kobs versus log [K2S2O8] give straight line of slope equals 0.63 indicating the order of reaction with respect to persulphate is half, (Fig. 6). This is similar to results obtained by T. Mushinga and S. Jonnalagadda [20]. Also the fraction order ( n = 0.779) with respect to persulphate is obtained by M. Ahmadi et al[19]. 3.5. Effect of temperature The variation of the temperature in range of 303-318 K increases the rate of decolourization of rosaniline, (Fig. 7). The activation energy was calculated from Arrhenius plot and Eyring equation and was found to be 62.11 kJ mol-1. The activation energy for decolourisation of RY84 was 45.84 kJ mol-1[19] while for decolourisation of CV by persulphate was 28.9 kJ mol-1[18]. Chen-Ju Liang and Shun-Chin Huang demonstrated that the activation energy for MB with persulphate was 87 and 90 kJ mol-1 in acidic and alkaline medium respectively [9]. The other activation parameters were determined and are found to be 90.33 kJ mol-1 and -98.44 JK-1 for free energy and entropy respectively. 3.6. Effect of inorganic anions The potent effect of persulphate as oxidizing agent in destroying the organic contaminants is high redox potential of sulphate free radical. The presence of other species in waste water such as chloride, sulphate and phosphate could reduce its oxidation efficiency. It is reported earlier [21] that chloride can react with sulphate free radicals according to the following mechanism: Chloride concentrations had insignificant effect in studied range [0.008- 0.08 mol dm-3]. Also the presence of sulphate did not reduce the decolourisation rate. Similar results are observed earlier [21-23]. 4. Reaction Mechanism and Rate Law The probable mechanism of reaction involves the break of conjugation of roseaniline hydrochloride. Since the fraction order of persulphate is observed, It likely that the initial reaction is thermal decomposition of persulphate, Applying equilibrium approximation and assuming an equilibrium between the reactant and product of (eq. 1) From (eqs.5 6) If the proposed mechanism and rate low are probable, so plotting of kobs versus [S2O82-]1/2 should yielded straight line passing by origin and the slope should be equals k x K1/2. Using the data in Table 3 and the plot gave straight line passing by the origin with slope =0.065 (R2 = 0.9557) which support the proposed mechanism. Conclusion In this study, (RAH) was successfully degraded in aqueous solutions by the persulphate and it was found that the reaction of (RAH) degradation follows the second-order kinetic model with respect to (RAH) and half order to persulphate. The activation energy for (RAH) degradation with the persulphate was determined to be 62.11 kJ mol-1.The presence of inorganic ions such as NaCl and Na2SO4 had no effects on the (RAH) degradation. References 1- Z. M. A bou-Gamra, H. A. Medien, Kinetic, thermodynamic and equilibrium studies of Rhodamine B adsorption by low cost of biosorbent sugar cane bagasse Eur. Chem. Bull., 2(7) (2013) 417-422. 2-M. JoviĆ¡, D. StankoviĆ¡, D. ManojloviĆ¡, I. AnÄ‘elkoviĆ¡, A. MiliĆ¡, B. DojÄ inoviĆ¡1, G. RogliĆ¡, Study of the electrochemical oxidation of reactive textile dyes using platinum electrode, Int. J. Electrochem. Sci., 8 (2013) 168-183. 3-J. Ã…  Ãƒ ­ma, P. Hasal, Photocatalytic degradation of textile dyes in aTiO2/UV system chemical engineering transaction 32 (2013) 79-84. 4- Z. M. Abou-Gamra, Kinetic of decoloration of alizarine red S in aqueous media by Fenton like mechanism, Eur. Chem. Bull., 3(1) (2014) 108-112. 5- H. A. Medien, S. M. E. Khalil, Kinetics of the oxidative decolorization of some organic dyes utilizing Fenton-like reaction in water J. King Saud Univ. (Science), 22 (2010) 147-153. 6-A.H. Gemeay, G.R. El-Ghrabawy, A.B. Zaki, Kinetics of the oxidative decolorization of Reactive Blue-19 by acidic bromate in homogeneous and heterogeneous media Dyes Pigments 73 (2007) 90-97. 7-M. Nasiruddin Khan, Z. Siddiqui, F. Uddin, Kinetic and mechanism study of the oxidative decolorization of neutral Red by bromate in micellar Medium, J. Iran. Chem. Soc., 6(3) (2009), 533-541. 8- Y. Mohammed, A.C. Etonihu, V.A. Tsa, Hexamethylpararosaniline chloride (crystal violet) oxidation by chlorate ions in aqueous acidic medium: approach to the mechanism of reaction, Trakia J. Sci. 9 (2011) 1-7. 9-C. Liang, S. Huang, Kinetic model for sulfate/hydroxyl radical oxidation of methylene blue in a thermally-activated persulfate system at various pH and temperatures, Sustain Environ. Res., 22(4) (2012) 199-208. 10-C. Liang, Z. Wang, C. J. Bruell, Influence of pH on persulfate oxidation of TCE at ambient temperatures, Chemosphere 66 (2007) 106-113. 11-X. Xu, X. Li, Degradation of azo dye Orange G in aqueous solutions by persulfate with ferrous ion, Separation and Purification Technology 72 (2010) 105-111. 12-X. Xu, S. Li, J. Liu, Y. Yu, H. Li, Activation of persulfate and Its environmental application, International J. of Environment and Bioenergy, 1(1) (2012) 60-81. 13- D.C. Harris, Quantitative Chemical Analysis, 4th Edition, W.H. Freeman and Company, New York, 1995. 14- J.F. Iyun,. H.M. Lawal, Non- metal redox kinetics; the reduction of pararosaniline chloride by sulphite ions acidic solutions, J. Chem. Soc. Nigeria 22(1997)155-159. 15- O.A. Babatunde, Kinetics and mechanism of reduction of parafuchsin by nitrite Ions in aqueous Acid Medium, World Journal of Chemistry 4 (1) (2009) 39-44. 16- J.F. Iyun, O.D. Onu, Nigerian J. Chem. Research, 3 (1998), 24. 17- A. Walters, D. Santillo, P. Johnston, â€Å"An Overview of Textiles Processing and Related Environmental Concerns†. Greenpeace Research Laboratories, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4PS, UK, 2005, p.16. 18-L.M.A. Fayoumi, M.A. Ezzedine, H.H. Akel, M.M. El Jamal, Kinetic study of the degradation of crystal violet by K2S2O8 comparison with malachite green, Portugaliae Electrochimica Acta 30(2) (2012) 121-133. 19- M. Ahmadi, J. Behin, A. R. Mahnam, Kinetics and thermodynamics of peroxydisulfate oxidation of reactive yellow 84, Journal of Saudi Chemical Society (2013), in press. 20- T. Mushinga, S. B. Jonnalagadda, A kinetic approach for the mechanism of malachite green-peroxydisulphate reaction in aqueous solution, International Journal of Chemical Kinetics, 24 (1992), 41-49. 21-Y. Lee, S. Lo, J. Kuo, C. Hsieh, Decomposition of perfluorooctanoic acid by microwave activated persulfate: Effects of temperature, pH, and chloride ions, Frontiers Environ. Sci. Engin., 6(1) (2012), 17-25. 22-B. E. T. Soares, M. A. Lansarin, C. C. Moro, A study of process variables for catalytic degradation, Braz. J. Chem. Eng., 24(1) (2007) 29- 36. 23-A. H. Mcheik, M. M. El Jamal, Kinetic study of the decolorization of rhodamine B with persulphate, iron activation, Journal of Chemical Technology and Metallurgy, 48(4) (2013) 357-365. 1

Isolation of a Urea Degrading Bacteria :: Biology

Isolation of a Urea Degrading Bacteria Introduction Urea was the first organic chemical to be synthetically produced1, previously it was thought that only living creatures could produce organic compounds Urea is naturally produced by the kidneys as waste from the degradation of amino acids. It is because of this that urea is commonly found in soils and is a useful nutrient source for bacteria that are able to utilise it, such as, Helicobacter pylori, Klebsiella pneumonia, all species of Proteus and Micrococcus luteus. These bacteria degrade urea in a reaction catalysed by the urease enzyme, CO(NH2)2 + H2O Ã  CO2 + 2NH3. this process benefits the bacteria in several ways. The bacteria use the ammonia that is produced for respiration, the products also raise the pH of the environment. This promotes the growth of many urea degrading bacteria and inhibits competition from many other bacterial species. M. luteus is commonly found on mammalian skin and it is unusual for a member of the natural human flora to degrade urea. It is believed that M. luteus has this ability as an evolutionary hangover from its life in its ancestral soil habitat. In this environment urea is readily available and the ability to degrade it is a distinct advantage. As the species evolved to live on skin the trait remained, as it had no negative effect on survivability. Micrococcus is a genus within the Micrococcaceae family. With the use of 16s RNA in bacterial taxonomy the genus has recently been revised2. The genus now includes three species, M. luteus, M. lylae and M. antarcticus3. M. luteus is a common yellow gram-positive coccus and roughly 0.5-2.0mm in diameter. Cells appear in pairs, tetrads and irregular clusters but never in chains.4 Method of Isolation * Isolate a variety of organisms from soil and skin. By taking samples from four different sources (three skin and one soil) the chance of urea degrading bacteria being present was increased. * Culture in nutrient broth. This allowed all isolated microbes to grow. * Plate sample onto urea plates. On these plates urea was the only nutrient available, this meant that any bacteria that grew could degrade urea. * Perform urease test. Isolated bacteria are grown in a broth containing phosphate buffer, yeast extract, 2% urea and phenol red. An agar slope of the medium is heavily inoculated and incubated at 370c for at least four hours. If the organism only has low urease activity the phosphate buffer will neutralise the NH3 produced. A red colour indicates that NH3 has been produced and the result is positive5. * Perform Gram stain. This is the most important stain in bacteriology and differentiates between gram positive and gram-negative cell walls, which indicates

The Effects of Aerobic Exercise Among Adolescents with Mild to Moderate

The Effects of Aerobic Exercise Among Adolescents with Mild to Moderate Depression Kaplan and Sadock (as cited in Brollier, Hamrick & Jacobson, 1994) stated that depression, during the teen years, has become an increasing area of concern in psychiatry (Kaplan & Sadock, 1991. Kashani, Carlson, Beck, Hoeper, Corcoran, McAllister, Fallahi, Rosenberg and Reid (as cited in Brollier, Hamrick ,& Jacobson, 1994) studied the prevalence of depression in adolescents and reported that approximately 8% of adolescents experienced depressive disorders. Kaplan and Sadock (as cited in Brollier et al., 1994) suggested that new forms of treatment are needed when dealing with adolescents because adolescents often do not respond well to medications, electroconvulsive therapy, and psychotherapy, which are used on adults. Exercise, or physical activity, of an aerobic nature has been widely used as part of the recommended medical treatment for many health problems, and the physiological health benefits associated with exercise have been well documented. Brown, Ramierez,, and Taub (as cited in Mihevic, 1982) have stated that within recent years, exercise has been increasingly used for the treatment of depression as well. The results of a study conducted by Maroulakis and Zerva (1993) have shown that all dimensions of mood were positively affected by exercise to a significant extent. They went further to say that exercise is the most important natural mood modulator. Many studies have been conducted which examine the effects of aerobic exercise on depression scores of normal adult patients, and adult patients with depression. One such study, conducted by McCann and Holmes (1984), concluded that participation in a program of strenuous aerobi... ... on mood of adult women. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 76, 795-801. McCann, I.L., & Holmes, D.S. (1984). Influence of aerobic exercise on depression. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 46, 1142-1147. Milhevic, P.M. (1982). Anxiety, depression and exercise. Quest, 33, 140-153. Norris, R., Carroll, D., & Cochrane, R. (1990). The effects of aerobic and anaerobic training on fitness, blood pressure, and psychological stress and well-being. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 34, 367-375. Norris, R., Carroll, D., & Cochrane, R. (1991). The effects of physical activity and exercise training on psychological stress and well-being in the adolescent population. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 36, 55-65. Stein, P.N., & Motta, R.W. (1992). Effects of aerobic and nonaerobic exercise on depression and self-concept. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 74, 79-89.