Seasonal variation of water-soluble inorganic ions in PM10 in a city of northwestern Turkey

The objective of this study was to determine the concentrations of inorganic ions present in particulate matter smaller than 10 µm (PM₁₀), released into the environment by industrial, domestic and mobile sources in Duzce. To assess spatial variations, samples were collected from two sampling sites that had urban and suburban characteristics. Further, the process was carried out in two seasons to understand the seasonal variations. An ion chromatography device was used for analyzing the inorganic ion content in the collected samples. The highest levels of inorganic ion concentrations were measured at the urban sampling site during the winter campaign. Furthermore, the highest ion concentrations were measured for SO₄^2? ion at both sampling sites and during both seasons, while the lowest concentrations were measured for Br^?. Moreover, there were significant relationships between meteorological parameters and ion concentrations. A comparison of the cation and anion equivalence values using seasonal CE/AE (cation equivalence/anion equivalence) ratios showed that the aerosol matter had alkaline characteristics during both seasons. The mean value for the CE/AE ratios was 1.58 in winter and 2.06 in summer at the urban sampling site and 1.36 in winter and 1.52 in summer at the suburban sampling site. The interrelationships among the ions were determined by Pearson correlation analysis. Based on the correlation analyses, the ions emitted from common sources and those exposed to similar atmospheric conditions displayed strong correlations with each other.     

Solid phase extraction of gold(III) on silica gel modified with benzoylthiourea prior to its determination by flame atomic absorption spectrometry

A new method has been developed for the determination of gold based on separation and preconcentration using silica gel modified with benzoylthiourea. The optimum experimental parameters for preconcentration of gold, such as acid concentration, sample flow rate, eluent and matrix ions, have been investigated. Gold could be quantitatively retained in the 0.25-2.0 mol L(-1) HCl and HNO(3) concentrations, and then eluted completely with 0.5 mol L(-1) thiourea in 1.0 mol L(-1) HCl. The sorption capacity of gold(III) is 0.92 +/- 0.04 mmol g(-1) with a high enrichment factor of 267. The relative standard deviation of the method, RSD%, was found as 1.2% for 0.1 microg mL(-1). The detection limit for gold was 1.4 microg L(-1). The validation of the proposed method was checked by the analysis of certified reference soil materials. The presented procedure was applied to the determination of gold in some environmental samples.     

Sorption and desorption studies of a reactive azo dye on effective disposal of redundant material

The effective disposal of redundant elephant dung (ED) is important for environmental protection and utilization of resource. The aim of this study was to remove a toxic-azo dye, Reactive Red (RR) 120, using this relatively cheap material as a new adsorbent. The FTIR–ATR spectra of ED powders before and after the sorption of RR 120 and zero point charge (pH_zpc) of ED were determined. The sorption capacity of ED for removing of RR 120 were carried out as functions of particle size, adsorbent dose, pH, temperature, ionic strength, initial dye concentration, and contact time. Sorption isotherm, kinetic, activation energy, thermodynamic, and desorption parameters of RR 120 on ED were studied. The sorption process was found to be dependent on particle size, adsorbent dose, pH, temperature, ionic strength, initial dye concentration, and contact time. FTIR–ATR spectroscopy indicated that amine and amide groups have significant role on the sorption of RR 120 on ED. The pH_zpc of ED was found to be 7.3. Sorption kinetic of RR 120 on ED was well described by sigmoidal Logistic model. The Langmuir isotherm was well fitted to the equilibrium data. The maximum sorption capacity was 95.71 mg?g^?1. The sorption of RR 120 on ED was mainly physical and exothermic according to results of D–R isotherm, Arrhenius equation, thermodynamic, and desorption studies. The thermodynamic parameters showed that this process was feasible and spontaneous. This study showed that ED as a low-cost adsorbent had a great potential for the removal of RR 120 as an alternative eco-friendly process.     

Development of a new adsorbent from pumpkin husk by KOH-modification to remove copper ions

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Heavy metal pollution in watercourses is a major environmental problem throughout the world due to rapid population growth, industrialization, and...     

Biosorption and retention of orthophosphate onto Ca(OH)2-pretreated biomass of Phragmites sp.

The biosorption of phosphorus in the form of orthophosphate(Po) from wastewater using biomass as the sorbent is of potential importance because the Po-loaded biomass could be applied in the agricultural sector as fertilizer and soil conditioner. However, biomass generally displays a very low affinity for Posorption and therefore biomass surface modification is required. In the present study, the biomass(as model grinded leaves of Phragmites sp. were used)was pretreated with Ca(OH)2to enhance Pobiosorption capacity(qe). The results indicate that the alkaline pretreatment resulted in a modification of surface functional groups. It was concluded that the main sorption mechanisms were ligand exchange and electrostatic attraction. A series of experiments were conducted to investigate the performance of the pretreated biomass for Pouptake under various conditions. Isotherm and thermodynamic studies were also applied and analyzed. The biosorption process was best described by the pseudo-second order kinetic model and Langmuir isotherm, which gave a qmaxof 12.27 mg P/g at 25°C and p H 7. The Ca(OH)2treated Phragmites biomass applied in this study for Porecovery may present some potential advantages in terms of costs and environmental impact.     

The assessment of the malignant mesothelioma cases and environmental asbestos exposure in Sivas province, Turkey

One of the most significant diseases related to environmental asbestos exposure is malignant mesothelioma (MM). Sivas province is located in the Central Anatolia where asbestos exposure is common. We aimed to study clinical, demographical and epidemiologic features of the patients with MM in Sivas, along with the history of asbestos exposure. In total, 219 patients with MM who were diagnosed in our hospital between 1993 and 2010 were retrospectively analyzed in terms of demographical and clinical features. Rock, soil and house plaster samples were taken from the habitats of those patients and were evaluated with optical microscopy and X-ray diffraction methods. The age of the patients ranged between 18 and 85 years. The male-to-female ratio was 1.4:1. Most of the patients confirmed an asbestos exposure history. The most frequent symptoms of the patients were chest pain (60 %) and dyspnea (50 %). The gap between the start of first symptoms and the diagnosis date was approximately 4 months in average. The plaster materials used in most of the houses were made up of mainly carbonate and silicate minerals and some chrysotile. Ophiolitic units contained fibrous minerals such as serpentine (clino + orthochrysotile) chiefly and pectolite, brucite, hydrotalcite and tremolite/actinolite in smaller amounts. MM is not primarily related to occupational asbestos exposure in our region, and hence, environmental asbestos exposure may be indicted. Yet, single or combined roles and/or interactions of other fibrous and non-fibrous minerals in the etiology of MM are not yet fully understood and remain to be investigated.     

Predictive modeling of sorption and desorption of a reactive azo dye by pumpkin husk

The use of effective disposal of redundant pumpkin husk (PH) to remove pollutants is an important issue for environmental protection and utilization of resource. The aim of this study was to remove a potentially toxic reactive azo dye, Reactive Red (RR) 120, by widespread PH as a low-cost adsorbent. Particle size, adsorbent dose, pH, temperature, initial dye concentration, and contact time affected the sorption process. Amine, amide, hydroxyl, and carboxyl groups of PH played significant roles on the sorption process. Rapid sorption occurred within the first 2 min and equilibrium was reached within 60 min. Sorption kinetic was well represented by logistic equation. Generated secondary logistic model can be used to describe effects of initial dye concentration, contact time, and temperature by a single equation with high R ² value. Monolayer sorption capacity was found as 98.61 mg g^-1. Activation energy, thermodynamic, and desorption studies showed that this process was physical, endothermic, and spontaneous. This study indicated that redundant PH as a low-cost adsorbent had a great potential for the removal of RR 120 as an alternative eco-friendly process.     

Extracting urban impervious surfaces from Sentinel-2 and Landsat-8 satellite data for urban planning and environmental management

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Impervious surface is mainly defined as any surface which water cannot infiltrate the soil. Due to the impact of urban impervious surfaces (UIS) on...