Possible human health risk of some heavy metals from consumption of tilapia fish from Lake Mariut,Egypt

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Lake Mariut Main Basin (MB) is not only one of the three basins composing Lake Mariut (LM) but is also the main source of the popular tilapia fish to...     

Sulfonated graphene nanomaterials for membrane antifouling,pollutant removal,and production of chemicals from biomass: a review

Water pollution and the unsustainable use of fossil fuel derivatives require advanced catalytic methods to clean waters and to produce fine chemicals from modern biomass. Classical homogeneous catalysts such as sulfuric, phosphoric, and hydrochloric acid are highly corrosive and non-recyclable, whereas heterogeneous catalysts appear promising for lignocellulosic waste depolymerization, pollutant degradation, and membrane antifouling. Here, we review the use of sulfonated graphene and sulfonated graphene oxide nanomaterials for improving membranes, pollutant adsorption and degradation, depolymerization of lignocellulosic waste, liquefaction of biomass, and production of fine chemicals. We also discuss the economy of oil production from biomass. Sulfonated graphene and sulfonated graphene oxide display an unusual large theoretical specific surface area of 2630 m²/g, allowing the reactants to easily enter the internal surface of graphene nanosheets and to reach active acid sites. Sulfonated graphene oxide is hydrophobic and has hydrophilic groups, such as hydroxyl, carboxyl, and epoxy, thus creating cavities on the graphene nanosheet’s surface. The adsorption capacity approached 2.3–2.4 mmol per gram for naphthalene and 1-naphthol. Concerning membranes, we observe an improvement of hydrophilicity, salt rejection, water flux, antifouling properties, and pollutant removal. The nanomaterials can be reused several times without losing catalytic activity due to the high stability originating from the stable carbon–sulfur bond between graphene and the sulfonic group.

     

Materials,fuels, upgrading,economy, and life cycle assessment of the pyrolysis of algal and lignocellulosic biomass: a review

Climate change issues are calling for advanced methods to produce materials and fuels in a carbon–neutral and circular way. For instance, biomass pyrolysis has been intensely investigated during the last years. Here we review the pyrolysis of algal and lignocellulosic biomass with focus on pyrolysis products and mechanisms, oil upgrading, combining pyrolysis and anaerobic digestion, economy, and life cycle assessment. Products include oil, gas, and biochar. Upgrading techniques comprise hot vapor filtration, solvent addition, emulsification, esterification and transesterification, hydrotreatment, steam reforming, and the use of supercritical fluids. We examined the economic viability in terms of profitability, internal rate of return, return on investment, carbon removal service, product pricing, and net present value. We also reviewed 20 recent studies of life cycle assessment. We found that the pyrolysis method highly influenced product yield, ranging from 9.07 to 40.59% for oil, from 10.1 to 41.25% for biochar, and from 11.93 to 28.16% for syngas. Feedstock type, pyrolytic temperature, heating rate, and reaction retention time were the main factors controlling the distribution of pyrolysis products. Pyrolysis mechanisms include bond breaking, cracking, polymerization and re-polymerization, and fragmentation. Biochar from residual forestry could sequester 2.74 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent per ton biochar when applied to the soil and has thus the potential to remove 0.2–2.75 gigatons of atmospheric carbon dioxide annually. The generation of biochar and bio-oil from the pyrolysis process is estimated to be economically feasible.

     

Recycling food and agriculture by-products to mitigate climate change: a review

Food loss and waste is a major issue affecting food security, environmental pollution, producer profitability, consumer prices, and climate change. About 1.3 billion tons of food products are yearly lost globally, with China producing approximately 20 million tons of soybean dregs annually. Here, we review food and agricultural byproducts with emphasis on the strategies to convert this waste into valuable materials. Byproducts can be used for animal and plant nutrition, biogas production, food, extraction of oils and bioactive substances, and production of vinegar, wine, edible coatings and organic fertilizers. For instance, bioactive compounds represent approximately 8–20% of apple pomace, 5–17% of orange peel, 10–25% of grape seeds, 3–15% of pomegranate peel, and 2–13% of date palm seeds. Similarly, the pharmaceutical industry uses approximately 6.5% of the total output of gelatin derived from fish bones and animal skin. Animals fed with pomegranate peel and olive pomace improved the concentration of deoxyribonucleic acid and protein, the litter size, the milk yield, and nest characteristics. Biogas production amounts to 57.1% using soybean residue, 53.7% using papaya peel, and 49.1% using sugarcane bagasse.

     

Risk Assessment of 26 Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon (PAH) Compounds in Parkıng Garages

The aim of this study was to determine the level of 26 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) at parking garages and to provide the necessary annual information based on occupational inhalation exposure and non-occupational inhalation exposure, which carry risks for the environment. For this purpose, 22 samples were collected continuously from both gas and particulates phase PAHs from two parking garages at Konya City Center, Turkey. The exposure-based risk of these samples was evaluated using concentrations of the carcinogenic PAH compounds. None of the 26 PAHs measured had values exceeding the recommended exposure limits (RELs) standard values for inhalation rate recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). Exposure levels of gas and particulate PAHs for the occupational group and the public (children and adults who spend time in shopping centers) were found to be 0.07–28.24 μgm^?3 and 0.05–5.753 μgm^?3, respectively, representing levels two to four times higher than those at the control site. Maximum daily inhalation of B[a]Py was estimated at 1.33 ngd^?1 for exposure of the public and as 274 ngd^?1 for the occupational group. It is believed that traffic makes a substantial contribution to the PAH profile, which had relatively high concentrations of naphthalene (Napth) and coronene (Coro). Highly carcinogenic dibenzo(a,l)pyrene (B[al]Pyre) was found in the ambient air at two parking garages. Napth and phenanthrene (Phen) were the main compounds found in nearly all the tested samples. In this study, benzo[e]pyrene (B[e]Py) was used as a reference for PAHs because its concentration is stable and does not change seasonally. Considering the importance of these compounds in relation to human health, the aim of this work was to characterize and quantify the more toxic PAHs in parking garages. Conducting PAH sampling and their chemical analysis is very costly and labor intensive. This study produced data that can be a powerful tool for environmental forensics.     

X-ray metal assessment and ovarian ultrastructure alterations of the beetle,Blaps polycresta (Coleoptera,Tenebrionidae), inhabiting polluted soil

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - X-ray analysis was applied to estimate the percentages of heavy metals in ovarian tissues of the tenebrionid beetle, Blaps polycresta. Calcium,...     

Spatial analysis and facility characteristics of outdoor recreational areas in Istanbul

This article reports the results of a study that explored whether outdoor recreational areas are sufficient in Istanbul in terms of their surface area and facility characteristics. All the municipalities in 32 subprovinces of Istanbul were sent a survey in 2007 and asked to prepare a list of their outdoor recreational areas including their names, addresses, size, and facilities. All the data collected from the municipalities were used to create a GIS-based inventory by using GIS and remote sensing. As the study revealed, the outdoor recreational areas in Istanbul are far behind meeting the recreational needs of the residents in terms of area per person and facility characteristics. There are 2,470 areas which were dedicated to outdoor recreational activities in Istanbul. Total surface area of all these outdoor recreational areas is 19,2 sq kilometers; this means 1.52 m² recreational area per person in the city. This value is very low when compared to that of many cities in Europe and USA. As the study also revealed, the majority of outdoor recreational areas in Istanbul are poor in facility. Majority of the existing outdoor recreational areas are small and do not provide the public with many opportunities to engage in different outdoor activities. A more sustainable and efficient recreational plan is needed in Istanbul to meet the various recreational needs of its residents.     

A Microprocessor-Based Air Quality Monitoring System

Portable air quality monitoring systems may be required to supplement fixed installations or to provide for quick response to a transient situation, possibly at a remote location. A microprocessor-based monitoring unit has been developed for use with existing sensors. The unit is portable and its operational sequence can be programmed to adapt it to any unique requirements existing at the deployment site. Selectable on-site calculations are performed on raw data, and a hard copy or tape record of results can be produced.     

Comparative Thermodynamic Study on the Contribution of the Autocondensation and Copolymerization Reactions for the Tannins of the Subspecies of Acacia nilotica

Autocondensation and copolymerization reactions of the Acacia nilotica subspecies tomentosa (Ant) and the subspecies adansonii (Ana) tannins extracts solutions have been studied at several pH values by thermomechanical analyzer. Results of chemical analysis of these tannins revealed that the studied tannins, Ant and Ana contained high percentages of extractable tannins (54 and 57 %) for and polyphenolic materials (78 and 80 %) respectively. Different hardeners such as paraformaldehyde, Urea and pMDI were added at different ratios and their polycondensation reactions was studied and compared with their autocondensation ones. The aim was to evaluate the tannins suitability for the production of commercially and technically viable tannin adhesives with reduced Formaldehyde emission for wood products and to study the interference between the autocondensation and the copolymerization reaction. The obtained results of autocondensation reaction for both of the tannins studied showed that the best Young’s modulus values for Ant (3,500 and 2,750 MPa) and Ana (2,650 and 2,620 MPa) were obtained at pH 5 and 7. The Young’s modulus values obtained by the tannins Ant were higher than those achieved by Ana. This indicates that the Ant is more reactive than Ana. These results were also in line with results achieved by the gel time for both of the tannins. Gel time results indicate that the reactivity of both tannins increased towards alkalinity with Ana being more reactive at alkaline pH. Addition of 8 % of paraformaldehyde was adversely affecting the autocondensation reactions, as the best Young’s modulus values were achieved at pH 4 for Ant tannins. As for Ana the higher Young’s modulus values (2,000 and 2,310 MPa) were achieved at pH 5 and 7. This indicates that autocondensation reaction was contributed to the final network of the copolymerization reaction. When smaller ratio of paraformaldehyde and Urea (5 %) was added to Ant tannins it favors the autocondensation reaction and the best Young’s modulus values were obtained at pH 5 and 7. Addition of pMDI (10–30 %) was found to decrease the temperature of copolymerization and the obtained Young’s modulus values by Ant were lower than those obtained by autocodensation reaction. Best Young’ modulus values were obtained by Ant at pH 5 and 7. Ana gave the best Young’s modulus values at pH 4 and 5 indicating that the autocondensation appears to depress the copolymerization reactions. The obtained results by both reactions were very important from technical and economical point of view as they concluded that it is very possible to produce adhesives system with zero emission depending on the tannins autocondensation reaction and pH values. Reduction of formaldehyde emission was also possible upon addition of smaller amount of paraformaldehyde and Urea.