The influence of biomass energy consumption on CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> emissions: a wavelet coherence approach

In terms of today, one may argue, throughout observations from energy literature papers, that (i) one of the main contributors of the global warming is carbon dioxide emissions, (ii) the fossil fuel energy usage greatly contributes to the carbon dioxide emissions, and (iii) the simulations from energy models attract the attention of policy makers to renewable energy as alternative energy source to mitigate the carbon dioxide emissions. Although there appears to be intensive renewable energy works in the related literature regarding renewables’ efficiency/impact on environmental quality, a researcher might still need to follow further studies to review the significance of renewables in the environment since (i) the existing seminal papers employ time series models and/or panel data models or some other statistical observation to detect the role of renewables in the environment and (ii) existing papers consider mostly aggregated renewable energy source rather than examining the major component(s) of aggregated renewables. This paper attempted to examine clearly the impact of biomass on carbon dioxide emissions in detail through time series and frequency analyses. Hence, the paper follows wavelet coherence analyses. The data covers the US monthly observations ranging from 1984:1 to 2015 for the variables of total energy carbon dioxide emissions, biomass energy consumption, coal consumption, petroleum consumption, and natural gas consumption. The paper thus, throughout wavelet coherence and wavelet partial coherence analyses, observes frequency properties as well as time series properties of relevant variables to reveal the possible significant influence of biomass usage on the emissions in the USA in both the short-term and the long-term cycles. The paper also reveals, finally, that the biomass consumption mitigates CO₂ emissions in the long run cycles after the year 2005 in the USA.     

Preparation of Soybean Oil Polymers with High Molecular Weight

The cationic polymerization of soybean oils was initiated by boron trifluoride diethyl etherate in supercritical carbon dioxide medium. The resulting polymers had molecular weight ranging from 21,842 to 118,300 g/mol. Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and gel permeation chromatography analysis confirmed the polymerization had occurred. Parameters affecting the polymerization were studied, which included initiator amount and reaction time. Results show that the longer reaction time, up to 3 h, favored the higher molecular weight of polymers at conditions of 140 °C and initiator BF₃·OEt₂ (2.5 g, 0.018 mol). When reaction time was increased further, the molecular weight of polymers stayed the same or slightly decreased. Increased concentration of initiator gave the higher molecular weight of polymers. The high molecular weight polymers were possibly formed through two path ways: polymerization and intermolecular Diels-Alder reaction.     

Combining AHP with GIS for landfill site selection: A case study in the Lake Beyşehir catchment area (Konya,Turkey)

Landfills are the most common method for the disposal of municipal solid waste (MSW) in Turkey. However, determining the location of landfill sites is a difficult and complex process because it must combine social, environmental and technical parameters. Additionally, it depends on several criteria and regulations. The main objective of this study was to select of a landfill site for the Lake Bey?ehir catchment area. The Bey?ehir Lake is the largest freshwater lake and drinking water reservoir in Turkey, but there is no controlled landfill site in the region. Therefore, the landfill site should be determined such that the lake is protected. To determine the most suitable landfill site, an analytical hierarchy process (AHP) was combined with a geographic information system (GIS) to examine several criteria, such as geology/hydrogeology, land use, slope, height, aspect and distance from settlements, surface waters, roads, and protected areas (ecologic, scientific or historic). Each criterion was evaluated with the aid of AHP and mapped by GIS. Data were assorted into four suitability classes within the study area, i.e., high, moderate, low and very low suitability areas, which represented 3.24%, 7.55%, 12.70% and 2.81%, of the study area, respectively. Additionally, 73.70% was determined to be completely unsuitable for a landfill site. As a result, two candidate landfill sites are suggested and discussed. The final decision for landfill site selection will require more detailed field studies.     

Water quality assessment at Ömerli Dam using remote sensing techniques

Water quality at Omerli Dam, which is a vital potable water resource of Istanbul City, Turkey was assessed using the first four bands of Landsat 7-ETM satellite data, acquired in May 2001 and water quality parameters, such as chlorophyll-a, suspended solid matter, secchi disk and total phosphate measured at several measurement stations at Omerli Dam during satellite image acquisition time and archived at the Marine Pollution and Ecotoxicology laboratory of the Marmara Research Center, where this study was carried out. Establishing a relationship between this data, and the pixel reflectance values in the satellite image, chlorophyll-a, suspended solid matter, secchi disk and total phosphate maps were produced for the Omerli Dam.     

Heavy metals in mullet, Liza abu, and catfish, Silurus triostegus, from the Atatürk Dam Lake (Euphrates), Turkey

The distribution of some heavy metals in three different organs of mullet, Liza abu, and catfish, Silurus triostegus, from Atatürk Dam Lake located on Euphrates (Turkey) was studied. Co and Mo concentrations were below limits of detection in all fish organs, whereas Ni was also below limits in organs of mullet. The metal accumulation in the liver and gill of L. abu and S. triostegus was found to be quite high in comparison with the muscle. In general, the concentrations are similar to those previously observed on other fish studied in Atatürk Dam Lake and lower than those determined in Tigris River. The analysed metals (Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, Ni and Zn) were found in fish muscle at mean concentrations under the permissible limits proposed by FAO.     

The effects of fenvalerate on different tissues of freshwater fish Cirrhinus mrigala

The histopathological changes of fenvalerate on the gill, kidney, liver and intestine tissues of the Cirrhinus mrigala were determined by light microscopy. The fish were exposed to two sub-lethal concentrations of fenvalerate (1.5-3.0 ppb). The most common gill changes at all concentrations of fenvalerate were epithelial hyperplasia, epithelial necrosis, desquamation and lamellar fusion. Besides, epithelial lifting, oedema, swelling at the tips of secondary lamellae and curling of secondary lamellae were other histopathological changes. Necrosis of tubular epithelium, pycnotic nuclei in the hematopoietic tissue, hypertrophied epithelial cells of renal tubules, narrowing of the tubular lumen, expansion of space inside the Bowman's capsule and contraction of the glomerulus were observed in kidney tissues of fish. Hepatic lesions in the liver tissues of fish exposed to fenvalerate were characterized by congestion, cloudy swelling of hepatocytes and focal necrosis. Atrophy of epithelial cells, necrosis of epithelial cells, desquamation of mucosal epithelium and infiltration of lymphocytes into the lamina propria were detected in intestine tissues of fish after exposure to fenvalerate.     

Evaluation of ecological risk,source, and spatial distribution of some heavy metals in marine sediments in the Middle and Eastern Black Sea region,Turkey

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - In the present study, the concentration levels of heavy metals such as Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cr, and Pb in sediment samples collected from 16 sampling...     

Quantifying Carbon Budgets Of Conifer Mediterranean Forest Ecosystems, Turkey

Abstact Aboveground biomass, aboveground litterfall, and leaf litter decomposition of five indigenous tree stands (pure stands ofPinus brutia,Pinus nigra,Cedrus libani,Juniperus excelsa, and a mixed stand ofAbies cilicica,P. nigra, andC. libani) were measured in an eastern Mediterranean evergreen needleleaf forest of Turkey. Measurements were converted to regional scale estimates of carbon (C) stocks and fluxes of forest ecosystems, based on general non-site-specific allometric relationships. Mean C stock of the conifer forests was estimated as 97.8± 79 Mg C ha⁻¹consisting of 83.0 ± 67 Mg C ha⁻¹in the aboveground and 14.8 ± 12 Mg C ha⁻¹in the belowground biomass. The forest stands had mean soil organic carbon (SOC) and nitrogen (SON) stocks of 172.0 ± 25.7 Mg C ha⁻¹and 9.2 ± 1.2 Mg N ha⁻¹, respectively. Mean total monthly litterfall was 376.2± 191.3 kg C ha⁻¹, ranging from 641 ± 385 kg C ha⁻¹forPinus brutiato 286 ± 82 kg C ha⁻¹forCedrus libani. Decomposition rate constants (k) for pine needles were 0.0016 forCedrus libani, 0.0009 forPinus nigra, 0.0006 for the mixed stand, and 0.0005 day⁻¹forPinus brutiaand Juniperus excelsa. Estimation of components of the C budgets revealed that the forest ecosystems were net C sinks, with a mean sequestration rate of 2.0 ± 1.1 Mg C ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ranging from 3.2 ± 2 Mg C ha⁻¹forPinus brutiato 1.6 ± 0.6 Mg C ha⁻¹forCedrus libani. Mean net ecosystem productivity (NEP) resulted in sequestration of 98.4 ± 54.1 Gg CO₂ yr⁻¹from the atmosphere when extrapolated for the entire study area of 134.2 km²(Gg = 10⁹ g). The quantitative C data from the study revealed the significance of the conifer Mediterranean forests as C sinks     

Indoor airborne fungal pollution in newborn units in Turkey

Pathogenic and/or opportunistic fungal species are major causes of nosocomial infections, especially in controlled environments where immunocompromised patients are hospitalized. Indoor fungal contamination in hospital air is associated with a wide range of adverse health effects. Regular determination of fungal spore counts in controlled hospital environments may help reduce the risk of fungal infections. Because infants have inchoate immune systems, they are given immunocompromised patient status. The aim of the present study was to evaluate culturable airborne fungi in the air of hospital newborn units in the Thrace, Marmara, Aegean, and Central Anatolia regions of Turkey. A total of 108 air samples were collected seasonally from newborn units in July 2012, October 2012, January 2013, and April 2013 by using an air sampler and dichloran 18% glycerol agar (DG18) as isolation media. We obtained 2593 fungal colonies comprising 370 fungal isolates representing 109 species of 28 genera, which were identified through multi-loci gene sequencing. Penicillium, Aspergillus, Cladosporium, Talaromyces, and Alternaria were the most abundant genera identified (35.14, 25.40, 17.57, 2.70, and 6.22% of the total, respectively).     

Biodegradation Behavior of Some Vegetable Oil-Based Polymers

The potential biodegradability of several vegetable oil-based polymers was assessed by respirometry in soil for 60–100 days at temperatures of 30–58°C. Films of soybean oil and linseed oil which were oxidatively polymerized (Co catalyst) on a kraft paper support were 90%–100% mineralized to CO₂ after 70 days at 30°C. Mineralization of polymerized tung oil to CO₂ was much slower than soy or linseed oils. Mineralization of epoxy resins made from epoxidized soybean oil (ESO) and aliphatic dicarboxylic acids was rapid while mineralization of similar resins made with a triacid (citric) was slower. There was no significant degradation of polyamine/ESO resins after 100 days at 58°C. Mineralization of the available carbon in vegetable oil polyurethanes and cationically polymerized ESO was less than 7.5% after 70 days at 30°C and 25 days at 55°C compared to 100% for soybean oil. From these results, it appears that triglycerides highly cross-linked with non-degradable linkages are not biodegradable to a significant extent while triglycerides cross-linked with hydrolysable bonds such as esters remain biodegradable.