Impact of green trust and green perceived quality on green purchase intentions: a moderation study

Environment, Development and Sustainability - The current study explores the role of green trust, green perceived risk and green perceived quality in changing green purchase intention....     

The impact of an industrial complex on freshly deposited sediments, Chener Rahdar river case study, Shiraz, Iran

Concentrations of elements (As, Co, Cu, Ni, Mo, Pb, V, and Zn) are studied in the sediments of two adjacent stretches of Chenar Rahdar river. The first stretch (S1) is influenced by urban and arable land wastewater, and the second (S2) is mainly loaded with industrial effluents. The average abundance order of heavy metals content in S1 sediments is Ni > V > Zn > Cu > Co > As > Pb > Mo and in S2 sediments is Ni > Zn > V > Cu > Mo > Pb > Co > As. The maximum average concentration for these heavy metals (except for As) occurs in the S2 sediments. The contamination factor (CF) base of background in S1 for eight analyzed elements is moderate. The CF for Cu, Zn, and Pb in S2 sediments is considerable. The highest CF in S1 and S2 sediments is observed for Mo (CF = 10.95 and 12.41) and indicates very high contamination. The application of modified degree of contamination values (mC_d) indicates low and high degree of contamination (1.89–4.15) in S1 and S2, respectively. Calculated enrichment factors (EF) reveal enrichment of Mo and As in S1 and Zn, Cu, Mo, and Pb in S2 compared to the average abundances of background level. The maximum EF for Mo is 7.61 (significant enrichment), while Pb, Zn, and Cu with maximum EF between 2 and 5 indicate moderate contamination. Principal component analysis (PCA) shows distinctly different elemental associations in S1 and S2 sediments. The strong association of Zn, Co, Ni, Sc, Cu, Al and Fe in S1 suggests a similar source. The results of PCA for Zn, Pb, Mo and Cu in S2 (componente2) indicate that these metals are influenced by anthropogenic activity. Also, high loading heavy metals with OC (0.97) indicate that organic carbon plays a significant role in the distribution and sorption of these heavy metals in the sediments. Factor analysis indicates that As and Mo behave differently in sediment samples.     

Estimation of Water Demand in Iran Based on SARIMA Models

The generation of synthetic, residential water demands that can reproduce essential statistical features of historical residential water consumption is essential for planning, design, and operation of water resource systems. Most residential water consumption series are seasonal and nonstationary. We employ the seasonal autoregressive integrated moving average (SARIMA) model. We fit this model to monthly residential water consumption in Iran from May 2001 to March 2010. We find that a three-parameter log-logistic distribution fits the model residuals adequately. We forecast values for 1 year ahead using the fitted SARIMA model.     

Sulphur-oxidising bacteria isolated from deep caves improve the removal of arsenic from contaminated harbour sediments

Acidophilic S-oxidising bacteria isolated from sulphur-rich deep caves (Frasassi, Italy), characterised by relatively low temperature, were tested for their ability to mobilise (semi-)metals from contaminated sediments. Sediment samples from two commercial Italian seaports were used to set up bioleaching experiments. The effect of different growth substrates was also investigated. Our experiments revealed that S-oxidising bacteria isolated from Frasassi caves have a high potential to remove As from contaminated marine sediments, as never reported before. Although As solubilisation efficiency was quite low (i.e. about 30%), only a small amount of As was associated with non-residual fractions of the sediment. On the contrary, the solubilisation efficiencies of Zn and Ni (20% and 10%, respectively) were lower than those previously obtained by the use of other acidophilic bacteria and mainly influenced by the experimental conditions rather than by the presence of the S-oxidising bacteria. Results presented here open new perspectives in bioleaching applications for the remediation of contaminated sediments. Indeed, microbial strains adapted to relatively low-temperature environments could improve sediment bioleaching at temperature regimes where mesophilic and thermophilic strains are not favoured. Such strains could be exploited for developing selective bioremediation procedures for sediments contaminated with As, to be applied in multistep biotreatment processes.     

Sustainable EOQ and EPQ models for a two-echelon multi-product supply chain with return policy

Environment, Development and Sustainability - In this work, a new model is developed to determine optimum sustainable economic order quantity (EOQ) and economic production quantity (EPQ) values for...     

The role of land use change on the sustainability of groundwater resources in the eastern plains of Kurdistan,Iran

In this study, land use change and its effects on level and volume of groundwater were investigated. Using satellite images and field measurements, change in land uses was determined from 1998 to 2007. By analyzing the observation wells data and preparing the zoning maps in GIS, groundwater level fluctuations were assessed. Considering the area corresponding to these fluctuations, changes in aquifers volume were calculated. The rain gauge and synoptic stations data were used to calculate meteorological parameters and evapotranspiration. The water requirement of the main crops was determined by CROPWAT software. Results showed an increase in average rainfall and crops water requirement. The classification of satellite images showed that 11,800 ha was increased in lands under irrigated crops cultivation, while 27,655 ha of rangeland was declined in the region. Groundwater levels dropped an average of 7 m, equal to 63.4 MCM reductions in volume of water in the aquifer.     

Cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of Guaribas river water (Piauí, Brazil), influenced by anthropogenic action

In general, tropical rivers have a great impact on human activities. Bioaccumulation of toxins is a worldwide problem nowadays and has been, historically, overlooked by the supervisory authorities. This study evaluated cytogenotoxic effects of Guaribas river (a Brazilian river) water during dry and rainy seasons of 2014 by using the Allium cepa test system. The toxicogenetic variables, including root growth, mitotic index, and chromosomal aberrations, were analyzed in meristematic cells of A. cepa exposed to water samples taken from the up-, within, and downstream of the city Picos (state: Piauí). The physical-chemical parameters were also analyzed to explain water quality and possible anthropogenic action. Additionally, the presence of heavy metals was also analyzed to explain water quality and possible damaging effects on eukaryotic cells. The results suggest that the river water exerted cytotoxic, mutagenic, and genotoxic effects, regardless of the seasons. In addition, Guaribas river presented physico-chemical values outside the Brazilian laws, which can be a characteristic of human pollution (domestic sewage, industrial, and local agriculture). The genetic damage was positively correlated with higher levels of heavy metals. The pollution of the Guaribas river water may link to the chemical contamination, including the action of heavy metals and their impacts on genetic instability in the aquatic ecosystem. In conclusion, necessary steps should be taken into account for further toxicogenetic studies of the Guaribas river water, as it has an influence in human health of the same region of Brazil.     

Optimized Removal of Acid Blue 62 from Textile Waste Water by SBA-15/PAMAM Dendrimer Hybrid Using Response Surface Methodology

SBA-15/PAMAM Nano adsorbent was synthesized by the proficiency of SBA-15 as an original compound, 3-chloropropyltrimethoxysilane as a bridge chemical compound and polyamidoamine dendrimer (PAMAM) in the role of a multifunctional amine end group for adsorption of acid blue 62 (AB62) from aqueous media. The synthesized adsorbent was characterized by transmission electron microscope, field emission scanning electron microscope and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscope. A response surface methodology was employed to evaluate the simple and amalgamated factors of the operating variables subtending initial pH (2–12), adsorbent dosage(0.01–0.03 g), contact time (5–120 min), initial dye concentration (40–600 ppm) and temperature (25–45?°C) to optimize the operating statues of the treatment method. These parameters were altered at five levels pursuant to the central composite design to appraise their effects on AB62 removal through analysis of variance. Analysis of variance represented a high coefficient of definition amount (R²?=?0.9999) and acceptable prediction quadratic polynomial model was concluded which ascertain the suitability of the model and a high correlation among the predicted and empirical amounts. Utmost color removal efficiency was auspicated and empirically accredited. The optimum conditions relied on acquired results for AB62 removal were at an initial pH of 2, adsorbent dosage of 0.03 g SBA-15/PAMAM, dye concentration of 40 mg l^?1, time contact of 60 min and temperature of 25?°C.     

Influence of particle size on the physico-mechanical and energy properties of briquettes produced with coffee husks

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Briquetting is a technology with the potential to convert agricultural wastes into solid biofuels with improved handling, transport, storage, and...