Shrimp shells are the salvation for the UAE’s water sources

Our modern life has a detrimental effect on the environment, and subsequently our own health. Industrial production, mining and farming can all leave behind materials and substances that can come back to harm us.

One of the most toxic metals in the environment is cadmium, which can cause damage to human kidneys, lungs and bones and is the cause of conditions such as the painful itai-itai – Japanese for “it hurts, it hurts” – disease.

Though found in nature, cadmium is most commonly left behind in dangerous concentrations by certain industries and processes, including mining, production of batteries, fertilisers and pigments, foundry industries, municipal waste and sewage sludge.

The Arabian Gulf region is not a stranger to this toxin, with a number of fish species found to have dangerous levels in their systems.

Finding ways to remove cadmium from an environment is obviously of benefit and interest.

It is for that reason that a team at the Masdar Institute is looking at a natural and sustainable material that has the potential to collect it for removal.

This material is chitosan, derived from the chitin, a protein found in the shells of crustacea such as shrimp and crabs.

By treating chitosan with molecular anchoring groups, in this instance carboxylate groups, we can change the surface of the chitosan to make it stick to loose cadmium molecules.

When polluted water is treated with this special chitosan, the loose cadmium binds to the chitosan and gets trapped. The chitosan can then be filtered out, taking the poison with it and leaving clean water behind.

The cadmium can later be washed out of the chitosan, leaving behind two separate materials that both have further uses.

The chitosan can be reused to remove more cadmium, while the resulting cadmium can be sold on. Not only have we removed a dangerous pollutant that would otherwise end up in our groundwater, our soil and the Gulf, but in doing so we have produced a commercially valuable product.

The Gulf is particularly vulnerable because it is shallow – just 30 metres at its greatest depth – with a high rate of absorption of heavy metal ions, such as cadmium, into various fish species and other human food sources living in the sea.

We in the UAE rely on the Gulf to provide the water we desalinate and then use in our homes. It is also where some of the seafood we consume comes from.

Cadmium can build up and become concentrated in fish and shellfish, making it unhealthy to eat. By providing industries with ways of removing cadmium from their outflows, and providing another layer to sewage treatment, we can help ensure the Gulf and all of us who rely on its water and marine life are healthier.

The country’s aquaculture sector – artificial farms for shrimp and open-sea fishing – is a critical part of the economy, food security and future progress of the country. Using the waste from shrimp production to develop a much-needed source of pollution removal can turn a waste product into a wealth source.

It is our hope that with this research project and others, we can help the UAE diversify its economy, safeguard the health of its public and improve the environment.

Dr Simo Pehkonen is a professor of chemical engineering at the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology

Pots for the Asian Qualifiers

Pot 1: Iran, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, China
Pot 2: Iraq, Uzbekistan, Syria, Oman, Lebanon, Kyrgyz Republic, Vietnam, Jordan
Pot 3: Palestine, India, Bahrain, Thailand, Tajikistan, North Korea, Chinese Taipei, Philippines
Pot 4: Turkmenistan, Myanmar, Hong Kong, Yemen, Afghanistan, Maldives, Kuwait, Malaysia
Pot 5: Indonesia, Singapore, Nepal, Cambodia, Bangladesh, Mongolia, Guam, Macau/Sri Lanka

Real estate tokenisation project

Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.

The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.

Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.

The White Lotus: Season three

Creator: Mike White

Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell

Rating: 4.5/5

The%20specs%3A%202024%20Mercedes%20E200

%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2.0-litre%20four-cyl%20turbo%20%2B%20mild%20hybrid%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E204hp%20at%205%2C800rpm%20%2B23hp%20hybrid%20boost%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E320Nm%20at%201%2C800rpm%20%2B205Nm%20hybrid%20boost%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E9-speed%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFuel%20consumption%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E7.3L%2F100km%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENovember%2FDecember%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh205%2C000%20(estimate)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A

Fight card

Preliminaries:

Nouredine Samir (UAE) v Sheroz Kholmirzav (UZB); Lucas Porst (SWE) v Ellis Barboza (GBR); Mouhmad Amine Alharar (MAR) v Mohammed Mardi (UAE); Ibrahim Bilal (UAE) v Spyro Besiri (GRE); Aslamjan Ortikov (UZB) v Joshua Ridgwell (GBR)

Main card:

Carlos Prates (BRA) v Dmitry Valent (BLR); Bobirjon Tagiev (UZB) v Valentin Thibaut (FRA); Arthur Meyer (FRA) v Hicham Moujtahid (BEL); Ines Es Salehy (BEL) v Myriame Djedidi (FRA); Craig Coakley (IRE) v Deniz Demirkapu (TUR); Artem Avanesov (ARM) v Badreddine Attif (MAR); Abdulvosid Buranov (RUS) v Akram Hamidi (FRA)

Title card:

Intercontinental Lightweight: Ilyass Habibali (UAE) v Angel Marquez (ESP)

Intercontinental Middleweight: Amine El Moatassime (UAE) v Francesco Iadanza (ITA)

Asian Featherweight: Zakaria El Jamari (UAE) v Phillip Delarmino (PHI)

THE BIO

Favourite book: ‘Purpose Driven Life’ by Rick Warren

Favourite travel destination: Switzerland

Hobbies: Travelling and following motivational speeches and speakers

Favourite place in UAE: Dubai Museum

While you're here

The National Editorial: The fragile future of jobs in the Middle East

Daniel Bardsley: Covid-19 effect on jobs – the occupations most at risk

Alice Haine: Sunak urged to rescue ailing car industry as production slumps

The specs: 2019 BMW X4

Price, base / as tested: Dh276,675 / Dh346,800

Engine: 3.0-litre turbocharged in-line six-cylinder

Transmission: Eight-speed automatic

Power: 354hp @ 5,500rpm

Torque: 500Nm @ 1,550rpm

Fuel economy, combined: 9.0L / 100km

Inside%20Out%202

%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%C2%A0%3C%2Fstrong%3EKelsey%20Mann%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%C2%A0Amy%20Poehler%2C%20Maya%20Hawke%2C%20Ayo%20Edebiri%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E4.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A

Why your domicile status is important

Your UK residence status is assessed using the statutory residence test. While your residence status – ie where you live - is assessed every year, your domicile status is assessed over your lifetime.

Your domicile of origin generally comes from your parents and if your parents were not married, then it is decided by your father. Your domicile is generally the country your father considered his permanent home when you were born.

UK residents who have their permanent home ("domicile") outside the UK may not have to pay UK tax on foreign income. For example, they do not pay tax on foreign income or gains if they are less than £2,000 in the tax year and do not transfer that gain to a UK bank account.

A UK-domiciled person, however, is liable for UK tax on their worldwide income and gains when they are resident in the UK.