Heterogeneous mercury reaction chemistry on activated carbon

Experimental and theory-based investigations have been carried out on the oxidation and adsorption mechanism of mercury (Hg) on brominated activated carbon (AC). Air containing parts per billion concentrations of Hg was passed over a packed-bed reactor with varying sorbent materials at 140 and 30 degrees C. Through X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy surface characterization studies it was found that Hg adsorption is primarily associated with bromine (Br) on the surface, but that it may be possible for surface-bound oxygen (O) to play a role in determining the stability of adsorbed Hg. In addition to surface characterization experiments, the interaction of Hg with brominated AC was studied using plane-wave density functional theory. Various configurations of hydrogen, O, Br, and Hg on the zigzag edge sites of graphene were investigated, and although Hg-Br complexes were found to be stable on the surface, the most stable configurations found were those with Hg adjacent to O. The Hg-carbon (C) bond length ranged from 2.26 to 2.34 A and is approximately 0.1 A shorter when O is a nearest-neighbor atom rather than a next-nearest neighbor, resulting in increased stability of the given configuration and overall tighter Hg-C binding. Through a density of states analysis, Hg was found to gain electron density in the six p-states after adsorption and was found to donate electron density from the five s-states, thereby leading to an oxidized surface-bound Hg complex.     

Microwave-assisted synthesis of hydroxyapatite for the removal of lead(II) from aqueous solutions

Purpose

This study has the objective to evaluate the lead(II) removal capacity of hydroxyapatite powder synthesized by microwave as an alternative method to decrease production time and cost.

Methods

Hydroxyapatite (HA) was synthesized by a microwave-assisted precipitation method using calcium nitrate and ammonium hydrogen phosphate as calcium and phosphorus sources, respectively. X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared results clearly revealed that the resulting powder was HA with high purity and crystallinity. The obtained powder was used for the removal of lead(II) from aqueous solutions. The effects of pH, amount of adsorbent, initial lead(II) concentration, and contact time were studied in batch experiments.

Results

In the adsorption experiments, maximum lead(II) retention was obtained at pH 6. Adsorption equilibrium was established after 40 min. It was found that the adsorption of lead(II) on HA was correlated well (R ²?=?0.958) with the Freundlich equation for the concentration range studied. Both ion exchange and adsorption process were thought to exist in the removal process.

Conclusions

This study indicates that easily and rapidly synthesized HA by microwave-assisted precipitation method could be used as an efficient adsorbent for removal of lead(II) from aqueous solutions.     

The impact of COVID-19 pandemic in medical waste amounts: a case study from a high-populated city of Turkey

Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management - In this study, the amount of medical waste generated in a high-populated city in Turkey between January 2018 and August 2021 was evaluated, and the...     

The influence of mercury on the burrowing behaviour ofCorophium volutator

The burrowing behaviour ofCorophium volutator (Pallas) has been recorded in sediments treated with seawater solutions of 0.001, 0.1, 10, and 1000 ppm HgCl₂. Heterotrophic sediment bacteria have also been counted. Non-choice and choice experiments have been conducted. In non-choice experiments no individuals burrowed in the sediment treated with 1000 ppm HgCl₂ solutions. The same numbers of individuals burrowed in the sediments treated with 0.001, 0.1, and 10 ppm HgCl₂ solutions as in the control. Bacterial numbers were lower in the sediments treated with 10 and 1000 ppm HgCl₂ solutions. Hence, a mercury concentration that killed bacteria (10 ppm) did not inhibit burrowing. In choice experiments, individuals avoided all the mercury-treated sediments, particularly that treated with 1000 ppm HgCl₂ solution. Bacterial numbers were only lower than the control in the sediments treated with 10 and 1000 ppm HgCl₂ solutions. Hence, individuals avoided treated sediments (0.001, 0.1 ppm HgCl₂) in which no bacterial mortality had occurred.     

National assessment of sea level rise using topographic and census data for Turkish coastal zone

Turkish coastal zone elevation to sea level rise was illustrated by using digital elevation model and Geographical information systems methods. It was intended to determine several parameters such as population, settlements, land use, wetlands, contribution to national agricultural production and taxes at risk by using high resolution SRTM topographic, orthorectified Landsat Thematic Mapper Mosaics and census data with GIS methods within 0-10 m elevation of national level. All parameters were examined for coastal cities, coastal districts, settlements and villages' status. As a result of the analysis of data set, it was found that approximately 7,319 km(2) of land area lies below 10 m contour line in Turkey, and is hence highly vulnerable to sea-level rise. 28 coastal cities, 191 districts and 181 villages or towns are located below 10 m contour line in study area. In the short term, for the struggle of negative impact of sea level rise, the findings suggest that the Ministry of Environment should declare new areas as protection areas and develop special environmental programs for national level.     

Water quality and heavy metal monitoring in water and sediment samples of the Küçükçekmece Lagoon, Turkey (2002–2003)

Physical and chemical parameters have been analyzed in water samples from a brackish water lagoon, Küçükçekmece, located on the western outskirts of Istanbul. Samples were collected every two months for a year from nine sampling stations. Of the parameters measured, temperature, pH, salinity, nitrate and phosphate showed changes when compared with the previously published data. The lagoon was found eutrophic as it was reported previously. Sulphate and COD levels were higher when compared with the standards established by the Turkish Water Pollution and Control Regulation. Additionally, concentrations of heavy metals (Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn) in water and bottom sediments were measured and compared with the standards established by the Turkish Water Pollution and Control Regulation and with the previously published data. The results were analysed statistically with respect to location and any relationships between the concentration of the elements in corresponding water and sediment samples were examined. Principal Component Analysis of water samples allowed us to discriminate three areas affected mainly by heavy metal contamination, possibly due to industrial, commercial and/or urban activities. Generally, the concentrations of the heavy metals were higher at stations near the three estuaries, suggesting a direct influence of the three creeks on the pollution of the Küçükçekmece Lagoon. Although elevated levels of Cd were recorded in several water samples, it was not detected in sediment. On the other hand, a particularly high level of Cr pollution was recorded most of the water and sediment samples.     

Cytogenetic biomonitoring of primary school children exposed to air pollutants: micronuclei analysis of buccal epithelial cells

There is an increasing attempt in the world to determine the exposures of children to environmental chemicals. To analyze the genotoxic effect of air pollution, micronucleus (MN) assay was carried out in buccal epithelial cells (BECs) of children living in an urban city of Turkey. Children from two schools at urban-traffic and suburban sites were investigated in summer and winter seasons for the determination of BEC-MN frequency (per mille) and frequency of BEC with MN (per mille). The same children were also recruited for lung function measurements within a MATRA project (“Together Towards Clean Air in Eskisehir and Iskenderun”) Measured NO₂ and SO₂ concentrations did not exceed the European Union (EU) limit levels either in urban-traffic or suburban regions. Higher O₃ concentrations were measured in the suburban site especially in the summer period. Particulate matter (PM_2.5 and PM₁₀) levels which did not differ statistically between two regions were above the EU limits in general. Although BEC-MN frequencies of children living in the suburban sites were higher in general, the difference between two regions was not significant either in the summer or winter periods. BEC-MN frequencies of the urban-traffic children were found to be significantly higher in summer period (mean ± SD, 2.68?±?1.99) when compared to winter period (1.64?±?1.59; p?=?0.004). On the other hand, no seasonality was observed for the suburban children. Similar results have been obtained in the BEC frequency with MN in our study. In summer, BEC-MN frequencies were significantly increased with the decrease in pulmonary function levels based on forced expiratory flow between 25 and 75 % of vital capacity (FEF_25–75 %) levels (p?<?0.05). As a conclusion, children living in urban-traffic and suburban areas in the city of Eski?ehir exhibited similar genotoxicity. Seasonal variation in genotoxicity may be interpreted as relatively high ozone levels and increasing time spent at outdoors in the summer.