Evaluation of different isotherm models,kinetic, thermodynamic,and copper biosorption efficiency of Lobaria pulmonaria (L.) Hoffm.

The biosorption characteristics of Cu(II) ions from aqueous solution using Lobaria pulmonaria (L.) Hoffm. biomass were investigated. The biosorption efficiency of Cu(II) onto biomass was significantly influenced by the operating parameters. The maximum biosorption efficiency of L. pulmonaria was 65.3% at 10 mg/L initial metal concentration for 5 g/L lichen biomass dosage. The biosorption of Cu(II) ions onto biomass fits the Langmuir isotherm model and the pseudo-second-order kinetic model well. The thermodynamic parameters indicate the feasibility and exothermic and spontaneous nature of the biosorption. The effective desorption achieved with HCl was 96%. Information on the nature of possible interactions between the functional groups of the L. pulmonaria biomass and Cu(II) ions was obtained via Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The results indicated that the carboxyl (–COOH) and hydroxyl (–OH) groups of the biomass were mainly involved in the biosorption of Cu(II) onto L. pulmonaria biomass. The L. pulmonaria is a promising biosorbent for Cu(II) ions because of its availability, low cost, and high metal biosorption and desorption capacities.

Implications: Lobaria pulmonaria is a promising biosorbent for Cu(II) ions because of its availability, low cost, and high metal biosorption and desorption capacities. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first paper on the biosorption Cu by L. pulmonaria.     

Potential utilization of burned wood in manufacture of medium density fiberboard

The potential utilization of burned wood in the manufacture of medium density fiberboard (MDF) was investigated. For this aim, the MDF panels were made of various mixtures of burned pine wood (Pinus sylvestris L.), unburned beech (Fagus orientalis L.) and oak (Ouercus robur L.) woods under commercial conditions in an MDF company. The mixture ratio of the unburned beech and oak woods to the burned pine wood were 50/50 wt%. The mixing ratios of burned wood chips with unburned wood chips were 0:100, 25:75, 50:50, 75:25 and 100:0, %, respectively. A commercial urea–formaldehyde resin was used as a binder. The physical properties measured in the investigation included density and thickness swelling, while the mechanical properties examined were bending strength, modulus elasticity, internal bond, screw holding ability perpendicular to the plane of panel, and janka hardness perpendicular to the plane of the panel. Surface roughness and color of the panels were also measured. The results indicated that all the panels met the mechanical properties of general-purpose MDF requirements of EN 622-5. The surface roughness of the MDF panels containing burned wood decreased with increasing burned wood content but remained higher than the control panels. The dimensional stability of the MDF panels decreased with the incorporation of burned wood fibers as compared with the control MDF panels.     

Evaluation of heavy metal content in digestate from batch anaerobic co-digestion of sunflower hulls and poultry manure

In this experimental study, the biogas digestate from mesophilic batch anaerobic co-digestion of poultry manure and an agricultural residue, sunflower hulls, was characterized, particularly in terms of heavy metal content, in order to evaluate whether the biogas digestate was suitable for land applications. Ni, Zn, Cu, Pb, Cr, Cd, and Hg were detected in the biogas digestate in each trial, however, their concentrations were always lower than the limit values stated in Turkish regulations. The main source of heavy metals in the biogas digestate seemed to be the poultry manure, not the agricultural residue. The commercial feedstuffs that are frequently supplemented with various essential elements to promote optimum nutrient supply and optimum growth rates may have contributed to heavy metals presence in the biogas digestate. The results indicated that the biogas digestate from anaerobic co-digestion of manure and agricultural residue could be utilized as fertilizer in agricultural applications.     

Effects of air pollution on lung function and symptoms of asthma, rhinitis and eczema in primary school children

Health effects of ambient air pollution were studied in three groups of schoolchildren living in areas (suburban, urban and urban-traffic) with different air pollution levels in Eski?ehir, Turkey. This study involved 1,880 students aged between 9 and 13 years from 16 public primary schools. This two-season study was conducted from January 2008 through March 2009. Symptoms of asthma, rhinitis and eczema were determined by the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood questionnaire in 2008. Two lung function tests were performed by each child for summer and winter seasons with simultaneous ambient air measurements of ozone (O₃), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) and sulfur dioxide (SO₂) by passive sampling. Effects of air pollution on impaired lung function and symptoms in schoolchildren were estimated by multivariate logistic regression analyses. Girls with impaired lung function (only for the summer season evaluation) were more observed in suburban and urban areas when compared to urban-traffic area ([odds ratio (OR)?=?1.49; 95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.04–2.14] and [OR?=?1.69 (95 % CI 1.06–2.71)] for suburban vs. urban-traffic and urban vs. urban-traffic, respectively). Significant association between ambient ozone concentrations and impaired lung function (for an increase of 10 μg m^?3) was found only for girls for the summer season evaluation [OR?=?1.11 (95 % CI 1.03–1.19)]. No association was found for boys and for the winter season evaluation. No association was found between any of the measured air pollutants and symptoms of current wheeze, current rhinoconjunctivitis and current itchy rash. The results of this study showed that increasing ozone concentrations may cause a sub-acute impairment in lung function of school aged children.     

Detection of transfluthrin and metofluthrin genotoxicity in the ST cross of the Drosophila Wing Spot Test

In this study, different concentrations of transfluthrin and metofluthrin have been assayed for genotoxicity by using the Wing Spot Test on Drosophila melanogaster. Standard cross was used in the experiment. Third-instar larvae that were trans-heterozygous for the two genetic markers mwh and flr³ were treated at different concentrations (0.0103 mg mL⁻¹, 0.103 mg mL⁻¹ for transfluthrin and 6 μg mL⁻¹, 60 μg mL⁻¹ for metofluthrin) of the test compounds. Feeding ended with pupation of the surviving larvae and the genetic changes induced in somatic cells of the wing’s imaginal discs lead to the formation of mutant clones on the wing blade. Results indicated that two experimental concentrations of transfluthrin and 60 μg mL⁻¹ metofluthrin showed mutagenic and recombinogenic effects in both the marker-heterozygous (MH) flies and the balancer-heterozygous (BH) flies.     

Assessing local planning capacity to promote environmentally sustainable residential development

Smart growth and sustainability planning have, in recent years, become central issues in planning discourse. Scholars have argued that planning capacity at the local government level is critical for smart growth planning, and that planners have a fundamental role to play in advancing local and regional sustainability. In this paper, we investigate the extent to which local planning capacity enables communities to promote more sustainable, smart growth residential development. Based on a 2013 survey of 38 county and 53 municipal governments in the state of Wisconsin, USA, this study finds that the majority of the sample communities have permitted residential developments characterized as transit-oriented, New Urbanist, mixed use, infill developments, or conservation subdivisions as alternatives to low-density, automobile-dependent conventional developments. The study also finds that jurisdictions with higher planning capacities are more likely to overcome significant barriers to more sustainable residential development.     

Modelling and Optimization of Uranium (VI) Ions Adsorption Onto Nano-ZnO/Chitosan Bio-composite Beads with Response Surface Methodology (RSM)

Nano-ZnO-chitosan bio-composite beads were prepared for the sorption of \({\text{UO}}_{2}^{{2+}}\) from aqueous media. The resulting nano-ZnO/CTS bio-composite beads were characterized by TEM, XRD etc. The sorption of \({\text{UO}}_{2}^{{2+}}\) by bio-composite beads was optimized using RSM. The correlation between four variables was modelled and studied. According to RSM data, correlation coefficients (R²?=?0.99) and probability F-values (F?=?2.24?×?10^??10) show that the model fits the experimental data well. Adsorption capacity for nano-ZnO/CTS bio-composite beads was obtained at 148.7 mg/g under optimum conditions. The results indicate that nano-ZnO/CTS bio-composite beads are appropriate for the adsorption of \({\text{UO}}_{2}^{{2+}}\) ions from aqueous media. Also, the suitability of adsorption values to adsorption isotherms was researched and thermodynamic data were calculated.     

Organic pollution of the Büyük Menderes River,Turkey and effects on aquaculture

Water quality was measured at eight stations on the Buyuk Menderes River in Turkey (Ad?güzel dam, Yenice regülator, Sarayköy bridge, Feslek regülator, Yenipazar bridge, Ayd?n bridge, Koçarl? bridge, Söke regülator) between 2000 and 2013 in February, April, June, August, October and December. The resulting data were evaluated in terms of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), dissolved oxygen (DO), ammoniac–nitrogen (NH₃–N), nitrite–nitrogen (NO₂–N), nitrate–nitrogen (NO₃–N) and orthophosphate (o-PO₄) aquaculture. According to the analysis, while river water pollution generally varied during each year, samples from certain measurement points demonstrated high pollution levels throughout the year. In this study, water parameters were classified according to the “Turkish water pollution control regulation.” The studied parameters are also compared with TS 266 and WHO guidelines. While levels at Sarayköy station were generally higher than other stations, values at Ad?güzel dam were the lowest, giving it the best water quality of the eight stations. The highest values on a yearly basis were obtained in 2007 due to the severe drought in the Menderes basin within which irrigation water levels fell to 4255 m³/ha. The BOD, COD levels are the lowest in 2009 and highest in 2007; the DO level is lowest in 2007 and highest in 2009; NH₃–N, NO₂–N, and NO₃–N parameters are the lowest in 2007 and highest in 2009; and the o-PO₄ are at the lowest level in 2004 and seen as the highest in 2007. Analysis of the data was performed by SPSS 21 statistics program. One direction ANOVA was applied to the data, which were also subject to Tukey multiple comparison tests. Differences between groups were evaluated at p?<?0.05. Box–plot graphs were used to demonstrate the data distribution. In the study, it was analyzed, the effect of fish species and pollution involved in the Büyük Menderes River so far on fish species.     

Effects of aeration frequency on leachate quality and waste in simulated hybrid bioreactor landfills

Research has been conducted to investigate the effects of daily aeration frequency on leachate quality and waste settlement in simulated hybrid landfill bioreactors. Four laboratory-scale reactors were constructed and operated for about 10 months to simulate different bioreactor operations, including one anaerobic bioreactor and three hybrid bioreactors with different aeration frequencies (one, two, and four times per day). Chemical oxygen demand (COD) and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD₅) reduced more than 96% of the initial concentrations in all aerated bioreactors. The differences of COD and BOD₅ reductions among tested aeration frequencies were relatively small. For ammonia nitrogen, the higher aeration frequency (two or four times per day) resulted in the quicker reduction. Overall, the concentrations of heavy metals (Cr, Co, Cu, Mn, Ni, and Zn) decreased over time except Cd and Pb. The reduction of redox-sensitive metal concentrations (Mn, Co, Ni, and Cu) was greater in aerated bioreactors than in anaerobic bioreactor. Settlement of municipal solid waste (MSW) was enhanced with higher frequency of aeration events (four times per day).

Implications: In recent years, hybird bioreactor landfill technology has gained a lot of attention. Appropriate aeration rate is crucial for hybrid bioreactor operation, but few studies have been done and different results were obtained. Research was conducted to investigate the effects of daily aeration frequency on leachate quality and waste settlement. Results indicated that aeration can effectively accelerate waste stabilization and remove organic carbon concentration and total nitrogen in the leachate.