Modeling the influence of ethanol on the adsorption and desorption of selected BTEX compounds on bentonite and kaolin

The study investigated the effects of ethanol on the adsorption properties of bentonite and kaolin for benzene and toluene removal.     

Landscape-based upstream-downstream prevalence of land-use/cover change drivers in southeastern rift escarpment of Ethiopia

Characterized by high population density on a rugged topography, the Gedeo-Abaya landscape dominantly contains a multi-strata traditional agroforests showing the insight of Gedeo farmers on natural resource management practices. Currently, this area has been losing its resilience and is becoming unable to sustain its inhabitants. Based on both RS-derived and GIS-computed land-use/cover changes (LUCC) as well as socioeconomic validations, this article explored the LUCC and agroecological-based driver patterns in Gedeo-Abaya landscape from 1986 to 2015. A combination of geo-spatial technology and cross-sectional survey design were employed to detect the drivers behind these changes. The article discussed that LUCC and the prevalence of drivers are highly diverse and vary throughout agroecological zones. Except for the population, most downstream top drivers are perceived as insignificant in the upstream region and vice versa. In the downstream, land-use/cover (LUC) classes are more dynamic, diverse, and challenged by nearly all anticipated drivers than are upstream ones. Agroforestry LUC has been increasing (by 25% of its initial cover) and is becoming the predominant cover type, although socioeconomic analysis and related findings show its rapid LUC modification. A rapid reduction of woodland/shrubland (63%) occurred in the downstream, while wetland/marshy land increased threefold (158%), from 1986 to 2015 with annual change rates of -?3.7 and +?6%, respectively. Land degradation induced by changes in land use is a serious problem in Africa, especially in the densely populated sub-Saharan regions such as Ethiopia (FAO 2015). Throughout the landscape, LUCC is prominently affecting land-use system of the study landscape due to population pressure in the upstream region and drought/rainfall variability, agribusiness investment, and charcoaling in the downstream that necessitate urgent action.     

Treatment of groundwater contaminated with gasoline components by an ozone/UV process

In this paper, the treatment of real groundwater samples contaminated with gasoline components, such as benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene (BTEX), methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE), tert-butyl alcohol (TBA), and other gasoline constituents in terms of total petroleum hydrocarbons as gasoline (TPHg) by an ozone/UV process was investigated. The treatment was conducted in a semi-batch reactor under different experimental conditions by varying ozone gas dosage and incident UV light intensity. The groundwater samples contained BTEX compounds, MTBE, TBA, and TPHg in the ranges of 5-10000, 3000-5500, 80-1400, and 2400-20000mugl(-1), respectively. The ozone/UV process was very effective compared to ozonation in the removal of the gasoline components from the groundwater samples. For the various gasoline constituents, more than 99% removal efficiency was achieved for the ozone/UV process and the removal efficiency for ozonation was as low as 27%. The net ozone consumed per mol of organic carbon (from BTEX, MTBE, and TBA) oxidized varied in the range of 5-60 for different types of groundwater samples treated by the ozone/UV process. In ozonation experiments, it was observed that the presence of sufficient amount of iron in groundwater samples improved the removal of BTEX, MTBE, TBA, and TPHg.     

Adaptation to climate change in Ethiopia and South Africa: options and constraints

Climate change is expected to adversely affect agricultural production in Africa. Because agricultural production remains the main source of income for most rural communities in the region, adaptation of the agricultural sector is imperative to protect the livelihoods of the poor and to ensure food security. A better understanding of farmers’ perceptions of climate change, ongoing adaptation measures, and the decision-making process is important to inform policies aimed at promoting successful adaptation strategies for the agricultural sector. Using data from a survey of 1800 farm households in South Africa and Ethiopia, this study presents the adaptation strategies used by farmers in both countries and analyzes the factors influencing the decision to adapt. We find that the most common adaptation strategies include: use of different crops or crop varieties, planting trees, soil conservation, changing planting dates, and irrigation. However, despite having perceived changes in temperature and rainfall, a large percentage of farmers did not make any adjustments to their farming practices. The main barriers to adaptation cited by farmers were lack of access to credit in South Africa and lack of access to land, information, and credit in Ethiopia. A probit model is used to examine the factors influencing farmers’ decision to adapt to perceived climate changes. Factors influencing farmers’ decision to adapt include wealth, and access to extension, credit, and climate information in Ethiopia; and wealth, government farm support, and access to fertile land and credit in South Africa. Using a pooled dataset, an analysis of the factors affecting the decision to adapt to perceived climate change across both countries reveals that farmers were more likely to adapt if they had access to extension, credit, and land. Food aid, extension services, and information on climate change were found to facilitate adaptation among the poorest farmers. We conclude that policy-makers must create an enabling environment to support adaptation by increasing access to information, credit and markets, and make a particular effort to reach small-scale subsistence farmers, with limited resources to confront climate change.     

SMX degradation by ozonation and UV radiation: a kinetic study

The rate constants of sulfamethoxazole (SMX) degradation by ozonation and UV₂₅₄ radiation were investigated under various parameters including influent ozone gas concentration, initial SMX concentration, UV light intensity, ionic strength, water quality in terms of varying anions (bicarbonate, sulfate and nitrate), humic acid (HA) and pH. The results indicated that the removal of SMX by ozonation and UV₂₅₄ radiation fitted well to a pseudo first-order kinetic model and the rate constants were in the range of (0.9-9.8) × 10⁻³ and (1.7-18.9) × 10⁻³ s⁻¹, respectively. The second-order rate constants of SMX with ozone (k_O3), under varying operational parameters, were also determined and varied in the range of (0.60-3.38) ± 0.13 × 10⁵ M⁻¹ s⁻¹. In addition, SMX degradation through UV pretreatment followed by ozonation in the presence of HA was proved to be an effective method which can remove SMX with a low ozone dose. The results suggested that ozonation of SMX was more affected by concentration of influent ozone gas, alkalinity, and HA, while incident UV light intensity, pH, and HA were the dominant factors influencing UV degradation of SMX.     

Characterisation of water-soluble protein powder and optimisation of process parameters for the removal of sulphonamides from wastewater

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - A valuable method for the efficient removal of sulphonamides from wastewater using protein powder extracted from the seeds of Moringa stenopetala is...     

Degradation of tert-butyl formate and its intermediates by an ozone/UV process

In this paper, the oxidation of tert-butyl formate (TBF) in aqueous solution by an ozone/UV process was described. The oxidation process was investigated experimentally in a semibatch reactor. The results of the study indicated that the ozone/UV process was very effective in oxidizing TBF. tert-Butyl alcohol (TBA), hydroxy-iso-butyraldehyde (HiBA), acetone, formaldehyde, and formic acid were identified as major primary intermediates during the oxidation of TBF. About 90% organic carbon balance was obtained indicating that most reaction intermediates have been identified and quantified. Some of the primary intermediates were also oxidized in the ozone/UV system. Accordingly, HiBA, acetone, formaldehyde, and formic acid were the primary intermediates of TBA oxidation. The oxidation of acetone in the ozone/UV system generated formaldehyde, pyruvaldehyde, acetic acid, formic acid as primary intermediates. It was also observed that the reaction intermediates formed during the oxidation of TBF react well in the ozone/UV system and complete mineralization could be achieved by the process.     

Chemical,physical and biological methods to convert lignocellulosic waste into value-added products. A review

Environmental Chemistry Letters - Actual agricultural practices produce about 998 million tonnes of agricultural waste per year. Therefore, converting lignocellulosic wastes into energy, chemicals,...