Photocatalytic demulsification of oil/water emulsions containing nonionic surfactant

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Separation of oil-water (OW) emulsions is investigated using a photocatalytic demulsification approach. Experiments were conducted using two types of...     

Synthesis,characterization, and systematic studies of a novel aluminum selective chelating resin

A procedure is detailed for the selective analysis of trace aluminum by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer coupled with off-line column separation and preconcentration. Chelating resin was synthesized by covalent functionalization of Amberlite XAD-16 by 2-(2-hydroxyphenyl) benzoxazole. The modified resin was characterized using FT-IR spectroscopy, energy dispersive x-ray analysis, elemental analysis, thermogravimetric analysis/differential thermal analysis, and minimum energy run. The optimum sorption was at pH 9?±?0.1 with corresponding t _1/2 of only 7 min. Many competitive anions and cations studied did not interfere at all in the selective determination of Al(III), at the optimized conditions. The resin shows maximum sorption capacity of 21.58 mg g^?1 and can be regenerated up to 75 cycles without any discernible capacity loss. The Langmuir isotherm model provides the better correlation of the experimental data (r ²?=?0.999) in comparison to Freundlich isotherm model, while the Scatchard analysis revealed homogeneous binding sites in the chelating resin. Analytical figures of merit were evaluated by accuracy (standard reference materials and recovery experiment), precision (RSD <5 %), and detection limit (2.8 μg L^?1). The applicability was demonstrated by analysis of trace aluminum in biological, environmental, and food samples.     

A comparative study of the removal of 3-indolebutyric acid using advanced oxidation processes

In this study, advanced oxidation technologies, namely Fenton Process (FP), Fenton-Like Process (FLP), ozonation (O3) and O3/H2O2 processes, were applied to synthetic wastewater containing 3-indolebutyric acid (IBA). The effectiveness of each process was investigated at different pH values, Fe(+2), Fe(+3), O3 and H2O2 concentrations with respect to the removal efficiencies for chemical oxygen demand (COD) and total organic carbon (TOC). The best removal efficiencies were seen at pH 3 and 2 mM Fe concentration in both FP and FLP, in which the optimum H2O2 concentrations were 6 mM for FP and 10 mM for FLP. Optimum process conditions were pH 12 for the O3 process, pH 9 for the O3/H2O2 process and 1:1 O3/H2O2 molar ratio. The highest COD removal efficiency was 86 percent, obtained in the O3/H2O2 process and the highest TOC removal efficiency was obtained at 77 percent in the FP.     

Human and ecological risk assessment of heavy metals in different particle sizes of road dust in Muscat,Oman

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Heavy metal contamination of Hg, As, Cu, Cr, Zn, and Pb was investigated in three different fractions 45, 125, and 200&nbsp;μm of road dust...     

Solid olive waste in environmental cleanup: oil recovery and carbon production for water purification

A potentially-economic three-fold strategy, to use solid olive wastes in water purification, is presented. Firstly, oil remaining in solid waste (higher than 5% of waste) was recovered by the Soxhlet extraction technique, which can be useful for the soap industry. Secondly, the remaining solid was processed to yield relatively high-surface area active carbon (AC). Thirdly, the resulting carbon was employed to reversibly adsorb chromate ions from water, aiming to establish a water purification process with reusable AC. The technique used here enabled oil recovery together with the production of a clean solid, suitable for making AC. This process also has the advantage of low production cost.     

Removal of boron by electrocoagulation

Boron compounds are used in many manufacturing products and may be introduced into the environment in the form of hazardous materials. Here the feasibility of removal of boron from aqueous solutions by electrocoagulation was investigated. The process was examined under various factors in order to assess optimal operating conditions. The results showed that electrocoagulation for boron removal depends on current density, initial concentration and time. Under a current density of 30 mA/cm² the percentage of boron removal from aqueous solutions is in the range of 92–96%.     

Investigation of acute toxicity of beta-cypermethrin on guppies Poecilia reticulata

Beta-cypermethrin, a synthetic pyrethroid pesticide and potential toxic pollutant, contaminating aquatic ecosystems was investigated in the present study for acute toxicity. Guppy fish (Poecilia reticulata) was selected for the bioassay experiments. The experiments were repeated three times and the 48-h LC50 was determined for the guppies. The static test method of acute toxicity test was used. Water temperature was regulated at 22 +/- 1 degrees C. In addition, behavioral changes at each beta-cypermethrin concentration were observed for the individual fish. Data obtained from the beta-cypermethrin acute toxicity tests were evaluated using the probit analysis statistical method. The 48-h LC50 value for guppy was estimated as 21.4 microg/l.     

Energy and emission benefits of chicken manure biogas production: a case study

Studies on the production of biogas of different organic materials in an anaerobic environment are being carried out all over the world. The most important parameters in these researches can be listed as raw material potential, production processes, economic analyses, and environmental effects. Chicken manure is one of the raw materials used in biogas production. In this study, in addition to the analysis of biogas and energy production potential from chicken manure, greenhouse gas emissions were analyzed to evaluate environmental effects. In Turkey, chicken manure is not adequately processed and causes environmental pollution. The model biogas plant and potential energy generation were researched in this field study. The pilot plant produces 8.58 million m³ of biogas per year by processing about 110 thousand tons of waste. It produces 17 GWh/year of electricity and 16 GWh/year of thermal energy, as well as reducing CO₂ greenhouse gas emissions by 13.86 thousand tons/year.