Effect of organic residues addition on the technological properties of clay bricks

The objective of this study is to investigate the utilization potential of several organic residues in clay bricks. Sawdust, tobacco residues, and grass are widespread by-products of industrial and agricultural processes in Turkey. These residue materials have long cellulose fibres. Sawdust and tobacco residues generally are used as fuel, and the grass is utilized for agricultural purposes. The insulation capacity of brick increases with the increasing porosity of the clay body. Combustible, organic types of pore-forming additives are most frequently used for this purpose. For this reason, increasing amounts of organic residues (0%, 2.5%, 5% and 10% in wt.) were mixed with raw brick-clay. All samples were fired at 900 degrees C. Effects on shaping, plasticity, density, and mechanical properties were investigated. The organic residue additions were found to be effective for pore-forming in the clay body with the clay maintaining acceptable mechanical properties. It was observed that the fibrous nature of the residues did not create extrusion problems. However, higher residue addition required a higher water content to ensure the right plasticity. As a result, sawdust, tobacco residues, and grass can be utilized in an environmentally safe way as organic pore-forming agents in brick-clay.     

西藏亚东地区铁杉树轮样本稳定氧同位素的气候响应

为调查树轮稳定氧同位素在西藏南部的气候应用潜力,选择了西藏亚东县三个铁杉(Tsuga chinesis Pritz.)样本进行分析。其中两个样本表现出长期的稳定氧同位素下降趋势,而另一个表现出增高趋势,且三者相关性很低。当对三条稳定氧同位素序列进行一阶差处理之后,它们的相关关系有了非常显著的提高,表现出很好的一致性(p0.0001)。无论是原始还是一阶差树轮稳定氧同位素序列,它们都与夏季相对湿度和降水反相关,而与温度正相关,然而方差解释量未能达到古气候重建的最低要求。周期分析发现亚东树轮稳定氧同位素序列仅存在4.657年的显著周期,可能与ENSO活动有关,进一步研究显示1978年之前上年冬天到当年夏天的赤道中东太平洋海表温度对亚东树轮稳定氧同位素有显著影响(p0.01),而在1978年之后则无任何影响,20世纪70年代末期的全球气候突变改变了ENSO对该地树轮稳定氧同位素的影响。     

The effects of exposure of 60Co on the oxidant/antioxidant status among radiation victims

This retrospective study has been performed with radiation victims who were accidentally exposed to a 60Co source and its release into the environment. The aim of the study was to assess the effects of elevated radiation exposures on plasma level, on erythrocyte thio barbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) level and on erythrocyte glutathione (GSH) levels. Patients were treated in different hospitals with different symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, dizziness, along with severe anemia in some patients. Blood samples were collected 3-5 days following the radiation accident. Increases in plasma (6.25 +/- 0.90 nmol ml(-1)) and erythrocyte TBARS levels (330.5 +/- 30.5 micromol gHb(-1)) were found in comparison to a healthy group (3.72 +/- 0.68 nmol ml(-1) and 150.7 +/- 20.5 micromol gHb(-1), respectively) at a significant level (p<0.001). Erythrocyte GSH levels (5.2 +/- 0.30 micromol gHb(-1)) were found to be decreased among the victims (healthy group: 10.2 +/- 0.7 micromol gHb(-1)) at the same significance level (p<0.001). These observations confirm a significant change induced by radiation in the oxidant/antioxidant status among the victims. It is suggested here that antioxidant supplementation therapy might be effective in preventing the harmful effects of 60Co radiation among radiation victims.     

Assessment of risk factors in forest road design and construction activities with fuzzy analytic hierarchy process approach in Turkey

Forest road design and construction are time-consuming and complicated because various risk factors can be encountered during the process. The aim of this study is to comprehensively assess the risk factors in forest road design and construction using the fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (AHP) method in Turkey, thus contributing to the proper performance of these activities. Within the scope of the study, six main risk factors and 22 sub-risk factors were identified based on literature review. In order to determine the weights of the relevant risk factors, the opinions of three different groups [(group 1: academicians), (group 2: forest engineers (private sector employees + public sector employees)), (group 3: group 1 + group 2)] about the risk factors were obtained. Relevant risk factor weights were determined using the fuzzy AHP method. According to group 3, the most important main risk factors are technical risks and environmental risks. In addition, the most important sub-risk factors for each relevant main risk factor were incorrect road alignment, inadequate work safety in the field, insufficient capital, legal problems on the road alignment, landslide risk during road construction, and illegal logging. Differences were observed between groups 1 and 2 in the weight rankings of relevant risk factor. The results demonstrate that the fuzzy AHP method can be used effectively to assess the risks of forest road design and construction.     

Degradation of toluene and benzene by Trametes versicolor

In this study, biological degradation of non-polar monoaromatic compounds, benzene and toluene, by one of the white rot fungi, namely Trametes versicolor was analyzed and the biomass formed was determined. The studies were carried out in mediums which contain basic nutrients in certain amounts, toluene and benzene at concentrations of 50, 100, 200, 250 and 350 mg/l, pH at 5, temperature at 28 degrees C and rpm at 150. Within an incubation period of 48 hours, it was observed that, removal was completed in 4 hours when toluene concentration was 50 mg/l and was completed in 36 hours when concentration was 300 mg/l. Biodegradation was completed at the end of 4th hour at benzene concentration of 50 mg/l while it continued for 42 hours at the concentration of 300 mg/l. With the addition of veratryl alcohol (3,4-Dimethoxybenzyl alcohol) to the basic feed medium, the operation of the enzyme system gained speed and biodegradation completed in a shorter time period.     

负载型纳米金催化剂对室内空气中甲醛的去除

采用沉积-沉淀法(deposition precipitation,简称DP法)和共沉淀法(coprecipitation,简称 CP法)制备了负载型纳米金催化荆Au/Fe2O3,催化剂中金含量(质量分数)小于1%.并以甲醛完全氧化反应作为研究的目标反应.这个反应可以有效地去除室内空气中的有害成分甲醛.通过催化活性的测试和XRD、TEM、TPR等技术对催化剂进行了表征.结果表明,两种方法制备的催化剂有各自的优势和特点,其中DP法制备的催化剂金含量(质量分数)只有0.67%的情况下,经过条件优化,甲醛完全转化温度为80℃,是一个较好的结果;而CP法制备的样品有较好的抗热性,可能有利于催化剂的使用寿命.因此,本工作为该类催化剂实用化提供了有价值的信息和依据.     

伊逊河流域总磷污染来源解析

2017—2018年TP成为滦河一级支流伊逊河流域的主要污染因子,部分国控断面水质主要以GB 3838—2002《地表水环境质量标准》Ⅳ类、Ⅴ类为主.为开展伊逊河TP污染定量识别研究,在2017年和2018年伊逊河流域水体TP污染时空特征分析的基础上,从流域磷铁矿工业污染、城镇生活污水、雨水径流、河道内源释放以及农业非点源等方面开展TP污染研究.结果表明:①伊逊河流域上游至下游TP污染程度呈加剧恶化趋势,上游唐三营控制单元污染较轻,下游李台控制单元TP污染最重;丰水期TP污染较重,枯/平水期污染较轻;从年度看,2017年TP污染严重,2018年年均ρ（TP）下降了50.00%.②2017年、2018年伊逊河流域TP污染来源差异显著,2017年磷输入主要来自于磷铁矿工业污染,占比为33.46%;选矿企业整改后,2018年磷输入主要来源变为畜禽养殖和城镇生活污染,二者占比合计为59.91%.针对伊逊河流域TP污染特征,提出伊逊河流域TP污染控制建议:加强选矿企业环境监管,进一步完善监管体系;加强流域水土流失治理,实施矿山披绿;大力实施绿色农业工程,加强畜禽养殖布局优化.      

Iowa Statewide Stream Nitrate Load Calculated Using In Situ Sensor Network

Various techniques exist to estimate stream nitrate loads when measured concentration data are sparse. The inherent uncertainty associated with load estimation, however, makes tracking progress toward water quality goals more difficult. We used high‐frequency, in situ nitrate sensors strategically deployed across the agricultural state of Iowa to evaluate 2016 stream concentrations at 60 sites and loads at 35 sites. The generated data, collected at an average of 225 days per site, show daily average nitrate‐N yields ranging from 12 to 198 g/ha, with annual yields as high as 53 kg/ha from the intensely drained Des Moines Lobe. Thirteen of the sites that capture water from 82.5% of Iowa's area show statewide nitrate‐N loading in 2016 totaled 477 million kg, or 41% of the load delivered to the Mississippi–Atchafalaya River Basin (MARB). Considering the substantial private and public investment being made to reduce nitrate loading in many states within the MARB, networks of continuous, in situ measurement devices as described here can inform efforts to track year‐to‐year changes in nitrate load related to weather and conservation implementation. Nitrate and other data from the sensor network described in this study are made publicly available in real time through the Iowa Water Quality Information System.     

Quality and Quantity of Leachate in Aerobic Pilot-Scale Landfills

In this study, two pilot-scale aerobic landfill reactors with (A1) and without (A2) leachate recirculation are used to obtain detailed information on the quantity and quality of leachate in aerobic landfills. The observed parameters of leachate quality are pH, chloride (Cl⁻), chemical oxygen demand (COD), biological oxygen demand (BOD), total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN), ammonia nitrogen (NH₃-N), and nitrate (NO₃^–-N). pH values of the leachate increased to 7 after 50 days in reactor A1 and after 70 days in reactor A2. Cl⁻ concentrations increased rapidly to 6100 (A1) and 6900 (A2) mg/L after 80 days, from initial values of 3000 and 2800 mg/L, respectively. COD and BOD values decreased rapidly in the A1 landfill reactor, indicating the rapid oxidation of organic matter. The BOD/COD ratio indicates that leachate recirculation slightly increases the degradation of solid waste in aerobic landfills. NH₃-N concentrations decreased as a result of the nitrification process. Denitrification occurred in parts of the reactors as a result of intermittent aeration; this process causes a decrease in NO₃⁻ concentrations. There is a marked difference between the A1 and A2 reactors in terms of leachate quantity. Recirculated leachate made up 53.3% of the leachate generated from the A1 reactor during the experiment, while leachate quantity decreased by 47.3% with recirculation when compared with the aerobic dry landfill reactor.     

Assessment of spatial variability in some soil properties as related to soil salinity and alkalinity in Bafra plain in northern Turkey

The objectives of this study were to assess the variability in soil properties affecting salinity and alkalinity, and to analyze spatial distribution patterns of salinity (EC) and alkalinity (ESP) in the plain, which was used irrigation agriculture with low quality waters. Soil samples were collected from 0–30cm, 30–60cm, 60–90cm and 90–120cm soil depths at 60 sampling sites. Soil pH had the minimum variability, and hydraulic conductivity (Ks) had the maximum variability at all depths. The mean values of pH, EC, ESP and Ks increased while the mean values of CEC decreased with soil depth. Values pH, EC and ESP were generally high in the east and northeastern sides. Soil properties indicated moderate to strong spatial dependence. ESP and pH were moderately spatially dependent for three of the four depths, EC exhibited moderate spatial dependence for one of the four depths, CEC had a moderate spatial dependence at all depths, and Ks exhibited a strong spatial dependence. EC, CEC, and ESP were considerably variable in small distances. The spatial variability in small distances of EC, CEC, pH and ESP generally increased with depth. All geostatistical range values were greater than 1230m. It was inferred that the strong spatial dependency of soil properties would be resulted in extrinsic factors such as ground water level, drainage, irrigation systems and microtopography.