Decision making under uncertainty using PEES–fuzzy AHP–fuzzy TOPSIS methodology for landfill location selection

The location selection for landfill municipal solid waste is an important issue in waste management. Selection of the optimal location requires consideration of multiple alternative solutions and evaluation factors because of system complexity. Further, ranking of the alternative locations and selection of the most optimal and efficient locations for landfill waste are an important multi-criteria decision-making problem. In this study, the candidate locations for landfill are determined based on Political, Economical, Environmental and Social factors are assessed through decision-makers’ opinion and by the methodology that incorporates fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (fuzzy AHP) and fuzzy technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution (fuzzy TOPSIS). Specifically, the fuzzy AHP technique is applied to determine the weights of selected criteria impacting the location selection process, and the fuzzy AHP is adapted to model the linguistic vagueness and ambiguity, which can also be expressed as triangular fuzzy numbers. Furthermore, fuzzy TOPSIS technique is employed to rank the alternative locations. The applicability of this methodology is demonstrated by a case study of landfill waste location selection in the region of Casablanca, Morocco, and the results are compared with other techniques. Finally, to complete the treatment, a sensitivity analysis is performed to examine the impact of the preferences given by decision-makers to choose the best location.     

APCA Honors Five Individuals and Three Sections In 1988 Awards Program

The aim of this study was to analyze the incidence of fungi in the chapel crypt. The MAS 100 was used to monitor the air pollution. The lowest numbers of fungal colonies were isolated at the entrance to the cemetery (2400 CFU/m3). The outside temperature ranged from 24.5oC to 28.1oC, and relative humidity was between 35.3% and 46.4 %. The highest of fungal colonies from air samples at baseline were isolated inside the crypt when coffin was opened (4820 CFU/m3). The temperature in the crypt at baseline varied between 19.6°C and 25.6°C and humidity was between 50.8% and 60.1%. The number of fungal colonies increased significantly at the end of the study. Ten species of fungi were isolated from air samples inside and outside the chapel, and seven species of fungi were isolated on the surface of the exterior and interior of the chapel. Thirteen types/species of fungus were isolated from air samples collected in the crypt; 15 species of fungi were isolated on the walls, surface of the coffin, bones and other objects. Assessment of fungi in the air samples and different surfaces of the crypt, it revealed very high levels of molds in the air samples.

Implications: Assessment of fungi in the air samples and different surfaces of the crypt revealed high levels of molds in the air samples. Fungal numbers within the crypt exceed recommended limits for occupational exposure. Employees working in the crypts should know about these hazards.     

Effects of cyanobacteria producing microcystins on seed germination and seedling growth of several agricultural plants

The effects of cyanobacteria aqueous extracts containing Microcystin-LR (MC-LR) on the seed germination and growth of Pisum sativum, Lens esculenta, Zea mays and Triticum durum were investigated. Experiments were carried out on a range of doses of the extract (equivalent to 0, 1.6, 2.9, 5.8, 8.7 and 11.6 μ g MC-LR/mL). The results confirm that these plants were sensitive to cell-free extracts of a toxic Microcystis and that germination inhibition was dose dependent. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed that P. sativum is the most sensitive tested species with a 97% germination rate reduction and L. esculenta was the most resistant. At the 8th day, the exposure to the microcystins (MC) resulted in a significant decrease of plant epicotyls length, roots length and a net inhibition of lateral root formation. It is concluded that MC could affect also terrestrial plants seedling germination and growth. Therefore, the use of water for irrigation contaminated by MC could exert negative biochemical effects on seed and plant metabolism which might influence the agricultural crops.     

Cleaner production in the management of water use at a poultry slaughterhouse of Vale do Taquari,Brazil: a case study

This study included the layout characterization for the production process of a poultry slaughterhouse using qualitative and quantitative flow charts for water management; analysis of general parameters for pollution load in the wastewater produced in critical stages of the production process and assessment of environmental impact indicators. Prognoses for cleaner production based on water management were established. The diagnostic stage revealed that the scalding, pre-chilling, separated points of wastewater disposal for the wastewater treatment plant and disposal of treated and non-reused wastewater were critical for water management. Dissolved oxygen depletion and eutrophication account for the major environmental impacts of these wastewaters, resulting in an environmental pressure index of 32.1. The opportunities for cleaner production implementation resulting from this study include the reuse of wastewaters from pre-chilling and chilling for pre-washing of carcasses, since average temperatures of these wastewaters range between 4 and 16 °C. This will contribute to lowering the oil and grease pollution load. Another strategy concerns the standardization of cleaning procedures with rational water use in all work shifts and implementation of water meters on a sector-by-sector basis. In the latter case, which has already been implemented, water consumption was reduced by 13%.     

Synthesis and characterization of drinking water treatment plant sludge-incorporated Portland cement

Kinetic analysis of thermally activated phase transformations in drinking water treatment plant (DWTP) sludge suggests its applicability in the materials of construction. The suggested prediction has already been verified on the sludge-based bricks. The present study deals with incorporating the same sludge in the raw meal for the synthesis of Portland cement clinkers. For this purpose, two raw meals are prepared with varying sludge loadings. The sludge effect on reactivity of the crude mixture is evaluated on the basis of the free lime content sintered at various elevated temperatures. The results of chemical and mineralogical and scanning electron microscopic analyses reveal fine mineralogical contents of Portland clinkers calcined at 1450 and 1500 °C. Moreover, the cements prepared from these clinkers by the introduction of certain proportions of gypsum, depict significant durability. The obtained results elucidate that the studied DWTP sludge-incorporated Portland cement shows considerable potential to be commercialized.     

Nanoparticles functionalized ceramic membranes: fabrication,surface modification,and performance

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Membrane technologies are used intensively for desalination and wastewater treatment. Water filtration using ceramic membranes exhibited high...     

Cobalt separation from waste mobile phone batteries using selective precipitation and chelating resin

Separation of cobalt from mixed-waste mobile phone batteries containing LiCoO₂ cathodic active material was investigated using selective precipitation and chelating resin. Cobalt was recovered from the active powder materials containing 47 % Co oxide together with Mn, Cu, Li, Al, Fe, and Ni oxides. The metal ions were leached sufficiently using 4 M HCl. The metal ions detected spectrophotometrically were removed from the leaching solution by selective precipitation at pH 5.5, with cobalt loss of 27.5 %. Conditions for achieving a recovery of Co in the filtrate by chelating resin were determined experimentally by varying the pH and time of the reaction, as well as the initial resin-to-liquid ratio. The cobalt was efficiently determined by absorption spectrometry at λ _max 510 nm. Chelating polyamidoxime resin was synthesized by polymerization of acrylonitrile and followed by amidoximation reaction. Physically cross-linked gel of polyacrylonitrile was made by a cooling technique.