The use of silica gel modified with allyl 6-methyl-4-phenyl-2-thioxo-1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyrimidine-5-carboxylate for selective separation and preconcentration of lead in environmental samples

The aim of the present work is the assessment of a new sorbent, prepared using silica gel coated with a pyrimidine derivative (allyl 6-methyl-4-phenyl-2-thioxo-1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyrimidine-5-carboxylate), for extraction and preconcentration trace amount of lead from different samples prior to determination by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. Common coexisting ions did not interfere with the separation and determination of lead at pH?6, so that lead ion completely adsorbed on the column. The limit of detection based on three times the standard deviation of the blank was found to be 0.53 ng?mL^?1 in original solution. Obtained sorption capacity for 1 g sorbent was 5.0 mg Pb. The linearity was maintained in the concentration range of 0.1–30.0 ng?mL^?1 for the concentrated solution. Eight replicate determinations of 2.0 μg?mL^?1 of lead in the final solution gave relative standard deviation of ±2.6 %. The proposed method was successfully applied to the determination trace amounts of lead in the environmental samples such as carrot, rice, zardchoobe, and real water samples.     

Evaluation of antioxidant enzymes activities and identification of intermediate products during phytoremediation of an anionic dye (C. I. Acid Blue 92) by pennywort (Hydrocotyle vulgaris)

The potential of pennywort(Hydrocotyle vulgaris)for phytoremediation of C.I.Acid Blue 92(AB92)was evaluated.The efects of various experimental parameters including pH,temperature,dye concentration and plant weight on dye removal efciency were investigated.The results showed that the optimal condition for dye removal were pH 3.5 and temperature 25°C.Moreover,the absolute dye removal enhanced with increase in the initial dye concentration and plant weight.Pennywort showed the same removal efciency in repeated experiments(four runs)as that obtained from the first run(a 6-day period).Therefore,the ability of the plant in consecutive removal of AB92 confirmed the biodegradation process.Accordingly,a number of produced intermediate compounds were identified.The efect of treatment on photosynthesis and antioxidant defense system including superoxide dismutase,peroxidase and catalase in plant roots and leaves were evaluated.The results revealed a reduction in photosynthetic pigments content under dye treatments.Antioxidant enzyme responses showed marked variations with respect to the plant organ and dye concentration in the liquid medium.Overall,the increase in antioxidant enzyme activity under AB92 stress in the roots was much higher than that in the leaves.Nevertheless,no significant increase in malondialdehyde content was detected in roots or leaves,implying that the high efciency of antioxidant system in the elimination of reactive oxygen species.Based on these results,pennywort was founded to be a capable species for phytoremediation of AB92-contaminated water,may be efective for phytoremediation dye-contaminated polluted aquatic ecosystems.     

Optimized processing power and trainability of neural network in numerical modeling of Al Matrix nano composites

In this research, an experimental study of reinforcing alumina nano-particles into the aluminum alloy matrix was implemented to verify the accuracy of modeling results obtained by feed forward neural networks. Artificial neural network combined with numerical technique were used to predict the various parameters of mechanical properties such as hardness, tensile and compressive yield stress, UTS and elongation percentage. Much experimentation were taken to discover a suitable number of hidden neurons, avoid detraction from the trainability and enable feed forward neural networks to solve more complex problems. The predictions were found to be consistent with experimental measurements.     

Study the effect of static magnetic field on chromosomal aberrations on Vicia faba in area with high natural radioactivity

This investigation was performed to evaluate the influence of the static magnetic field (SMF) on chromosomes in Vicia faba cultivated in soil from high background natural activity. Fourteen soil samples were collected from Ramsar area, in north of Iran, which the annual radiation absorbed dose from background radiation is substantially higher than the 20 mSv/year. The specific activity of the radionuclides of ²³²Th, ²³⁶Ra, and ⁴⁰K was measured using gamma spectrometry. The collected soil samples were then divided into 2 separate groups including HR (high natural radioactivity) and LR (low natural radioactivity). The cultivated Vicia faba in both groups were continuously exposed to SMF of 15 mT for 8 days, each 8 h/day starting from 2nd day. The chromosomal aberrations were counted in both groups with and without SMF from root of samples using chromosomal aberration method. The results showed a significant difference between treated and control plants. Chromosomal aberrations including bridge, fragments, and lagging chromosomes in prophase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase enhanced significantly in treated groups compared with controls.     

Zero valent nano-sized iron/clinoptilolite modified with zero valent copper for reductive nitrate removal

Nitrates constitute one of the main toxic contaminants of groundwater. On the other hand, groundwater may be considered anoxic (oxygen concentration less than 9 μg L^?1). This fact justifies the use of nano zero valent metals for nitrate removal. In such conditions, zero valent metals are quite stable against oxidation due to the very low level of dissolved oxygen concentration. It has been shown that the performance of zero valent iron coated clinoptilolite zeolite for the reduction of nitrate anion in un-buffered conditions may be enhanced by coating small amounts of Cu⁰ onto the freshly prepared Fe⁰/zeolite composite. An optimum loading of Cu⁰ exists for which the rate of nitrate removal is maximal. For this optimal composition, the nitrite anion production curve with time passes through a maximum. Nitrite production, however, is slightly higher for the Cu modified zeolite. It has been shown that the nitrate removal process is only slightly dependent on the initial solution pH. In the temperature range of 20–60 °C, the process is controlled by both the liquid phase mass transfer and intrinsic reaction rate resistances. FESEM analysis of the zero valent metal/zeolite composite showed that upon the metal reduction reaction, an egg-shell distribution of zero valent metal in the zeolite agglomerate particle is produced.     

Impacts of land use and land cover change on the interactions among multiple soil-dependent ecosystem services (case study: Jiroft plain,Iran)

The spatial and temporal distribution pattern is an outstanding feature of the relationship among ecosystem services (ESs) that explains links between human activities and disturbed chemical composition of ecosystems. This study investigated the spatiotemporal variation of land use/cover changes (LUCC) and quantifies the change in four essential ecosystem services with an emphasis on soil (nutrient delivery ratio, carbon storage, crop production, and water yield) and their relationships in the Jiroft plain, Iran, during 1996–2016 through analytical tools including Land Change Modeler, and the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Tradeoff. During the 20-year concentrate period, there was a considerable overall gain in cropland (5396 km²) and urban (1787 km²), loss of unused land (5692 km²), water (2088 km²), and forest (1083 km²). As a result of LUCC, while crop production and nutrient delivery ratio showed a rising trend, overall carbon storage and water yield decreased. The spatiotemporal trade-off between carbon storage and crop production, the temporal trade-off between crop production and water yield, and synergy between water yield and crop production were widespread in Jiroft plain. These results showed that the interaction among ESs mutates over time and can be changed under planning and policies. This study will enrich the research of the geographical distribution of ESs interaction in dryland ecosystems to provide practical ecosystem management under local conditions.

     

Analyzing the factors affecting environmental risks of projects using a hybrid approach of DEMATEL‐ANP,artificial neural network: A case study

The increasing growth of the economy in each country necessitates a great amount of investment in infrastructure. The belief that projects involve various uncertainties, such as technical skills, management quality, and the like, indicates that most projects fail to achieve their aims, interests, costs, as well as their timeframes and space requirements. As the environment can pose significant uncertainty to any project, environmental risks should be deeply studied by project management departments. This study intends to analyze as a case the environmental risk management system within a consulting firm. From this analysis, each aspect of a project's environmental risk management is ranked using a fuzzy analytical network process (ANP), a neural network algorithm, and a decision‐making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) methodology. From the organizational aspect, budget risk is the most significant. From the technical aspect, the risk of regulations is the most important one. Finally, the risk of project failure from poor communication is another identified main risk in this research. By studying high‐ranking items in this hierarchy, it can be understood that these criteria exist in different aspects; therefore, all aspects of the risk should be taken into account to cover and assess risk. A neural network algorithm for validating and reassessment of ranking is employed. Results of this application showed that, based on Spearman's rank correlation method, two different approaches resulted in similar rankings. Finally, some practical implications for responding to the most highly ranked risks are proposed.     

Synthesis and utilization of a mesoporous nickel oxide as a novel catalyst for degradation of phenol

Mesoporous nickel oxide (MNO) was synthesized by sol–gel method with saponificated chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) as template and Ni (II) acetate as starting material. XRD, surface area, pore volume, pore diameter and pore size distribution of MNO were determined. It exhibited high surface area and uniform pores with very sharp pore size distribution centered at 3.6 nm. High resolution transmission electron microscope images confirmed the results. MNO showed a high activity toward degradation of phenol at low temperature under atmospheric pressure of oxygen.     

Socioeconomic benefits of conserving Iran’s water resources through modifying agricultural practices and water management strategies

Sustainable development requires modifying the current consumption pattern of natural resources. This study investigates efficient tactics for reducing the unsustainability and inefficiency of human’s food-related blue water consumption alongside improving national environmental and socioeconomic status. As a case study for Iran, 15 alternative management scenarios (AMS) were defined compared to the current on-farm management, and their effects were assessed on a monthly scale. Based on the results, 45.5 billion m³ y⁻¹ (BCM) blue water is consumed within the croplands, 78% and 34% of which are unsustainable and inefficient, respectively. AMCs reduces the unsustainable and inefficient blue water consumption by 2–17 BCM and 2–13 BCM, respectively. The combination of yield gap closure, drip irrigation, soil mulching, and deficit irrigation has the largest effect on blue water saving; it releases or changes the status of monthly blue water scarcity in 11 provinces; increases field-employees by 132%, food security by 9%, international food-export by 87%, and gross domestic production by 54%. However, it doesn’t fully address blue water overconsumption in the summer period; hence, further measures are needed to reduce blue water scarcity to the sustainable level in these environmental hotspots.     

Synthesis of quinoxalines using Gum Arabic as a nontoxic metal-free biocatalyst at room temperature in aqueous media

Environmental Chemistry Letters - In the present study, Gum Arabic was used as a metal-free biocatalyst in the synthesis of quinoxaline derivatives through condensation of 1,2-diamines and...