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PurposeThe objective of this study is to develop and validate a neural‐based modelling methodology applicable to site‐specific short‐ and medium‐term ozone concentration forecasting. A novel modelling technique utilizing two feed forward artificial neural networks (FFNN) is developed to improve the performance of time series predictions.Design/methodology/approachAir pollution and meteorological data were collected for one year in two locations in Kuwait. The hourly averages of the data were processed to generate a covariance matrix and analyzed to generate the principal component method. A two‐FFNN model is then used to predict the actual data.FindingsThe newly developed model improves the prediction accuracy over the conventional method. Owing to the presence of noise and other minor disturbances in the data, shorter‐range modelling gives better modelling results.Originality/valueA novel modelling technique is developed to predict the time series of zone concentration.

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-The depletion of fossil fuels prompted considerable research targeting the development of alternative fuel sources. Biodiesel production has acquired increasing importance owing to its renewable nature and milder environmental impacts. To this end, alternative sources of feedstock have been sought and studies aiming at the optimization of the production procedure have been carried out. Millions of liters of waste frying oil are produced from local restaurants and houses every year, most are discarded into sewage systems damaging networks and complicating the treatment process. This study is intended to consider aspects related to the feasibility of the production of biodiesel from waste frying oils in order to alleviate the waste frying oil pollution problems as well as to reduce the cost of biodiesel production. Locally available spent vegetable oils have been collected from different sources and accordingly have somewhat different chemical compositions. The conducted experiments involved the production of biodiesel from the different feed stocks using the base catalyzed trans-esterification process. The quality of the produced biodiesel is compared to petro-diesel in terms of established standard specifications.