2024-03-28T16:46:25Z
https://ijer.ut.ac.ir/?_action=export&rf=summon&issue=29
International Journal of Environmental Research
1735-6865
1735-6865
2012
6
3
Rubber and Methane Recovery from Deproteinized Natural Rubber
Wastewater by Coagulation Pre-treatment and Anaerobic Treatment
M.
Hatamoto
H.
Nagai
S.
Sato
M.
Takahashi
S.
Kawakami
P.K.
Choeisai
S.
Syutsubo
A.
Ohashi
T.
Yamaguchi
A newly developed natural rubber deproteinization process produces deproteinized natural rubber (DPNR) wastewater as an intermediate product containing a high concentration of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and rubber. In this study, a novel process to recover the residual rubber and energy as methane from DPNR wastewater was developed. As a pretreatment, SDS and residual rubber in DPNR wastewater were coagulated and recovered by addition of CaCl2 at Ca2+/SDS and Ca2+/rubber mass ratios of 0.070 and 0.055, respectively. The remaining organic matter in the pre-treated DPNR wastewater was converted to methane by using a mesophilic up-flow anaerobic sludge bed (UASB) reactor. The UASB reactor with the diluted pre-treated DPNR wastewater showed a total chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiency of 92 ± 2% at a maximum loading rate of 6.8 ± 1.8 kgCOD·m-3·d-1 at a hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 12 h. Under the condition of effluent recirculation with raw pre-treated DPNR wastewater, the UASB reactor showed a total COD removal efficiency of 84 ± 8% at the maximum loading rate of 6.4 ± 1.7 kgCOD·m-3·d-1 at HRT of 39 h. The results suggest that the newly developed resource recovery process for DPNR wastewater could be a promising treatment system.
Anaerobic treatment
Latex wastewater
natural rubber
Rubber recovery
Sodium dodecyl
sulfate (SDS)
2012
06
01
577
584
https://ijer.ut.ac.ir/article_528_fbe902db03bf9b8d6f402941ac5e0698.pdf
International Journal of Environmental Research
1735-6865
1735-6865
2012
6
3
Research Effort, Functional Integration, and Environmental Action-Based
Competitive Advantage: An Empirical Study
B.
Junquera
J.
del Brío
This paper seeks to make an empirical analysis of the degree to which the research effort andfunctional integration into the design of environmental activity account for a company’s environmental actionbasedcompetitive advantage. To do so, we have used a sample of 110 factories. It has been proven that bothfactors (the research effort and functional integration into the design of environmental activity) have a positiveinfluence on the factories’ environmental action-based competitive advantage. These outcomes are the main inthis paper and they have major implications for companies’ research policy. It proves that there is a newadvantage to the managerial effort dedicated to this area: this effort has a positive influence on the relationbetween a company’s environmental management and its environmental action-based competitive advantage.
environment
Innovation
Concurrent
research
Advantage
Management
2012
06
01
585
596
https://ijer.ut.ac.ir/article_529_b6f631a779e1b825741aa9b2073a979b.pdf
International Journal of Environmental Research
1735-6865
1735-6865
2012
6
3
Contribution of Soil, Sulfate, and Biomass Burning Sources to the Elemental
Composition of PM10 from Mexico City
V.A.
Barrera
J.
Miranda
A.A.
Espinosa
J.
Meinguer
J.N.
Martínez
E.
Cerón
J.R.
Morales
P.A.
Miranda
J.F.
Dias
This study is aimed to identify sources of particulate matter with mean aerodynamic diameterbelow 10 μm (PM10) present in the atmosphere of the Metropolitan Area of Mexico City (MAMC), usingsamples obtained from January 1st to June 30th, 2009, analyzed with X-ray spectrometric techniques.MiniVol samplers were used to collect samples on polycarbonate filters in three sites (North, Center, andSouth) of the MAMC. The filters were exposed along 24 h every two days, starting at 8:00 AM, and thenanalyzed with particle induced X-ray emission (PIXE), a microPIXE (μPIXE) system, and X-ray fluorescence(XRF). Statistical multivariate tests with positive matrix factorization (PMF) were conducted to identifypossible contributing factors. The model HYSPLIT was used to determine back-trajectories and the MODISdatabase for fire spot localization. The multivariate methods identified five factors in the Center and South,and four in the North, including Soil, Sulfate, Fuel/Industry, and Biomass burning, with certain differences inthe factors and contributions. Application of HYSPLIT back-trajectories associated these factors to threemain Soil sources and points of secondary aerosols production, as well as locations where Biomass burningaerosols were originated. The combination of X-ray spectrometric methods, receptor modeling, back-trajectorydetermination, and fire site localization, allowed the identification of possible sources of PM10 in the MAMC,namely, the dry Texcoco lake, the Toluca Valley, and the North dry plains for Soil aerosols, the influence oflocal industrial areas for Sulfate (secondary) aerosols, and the appearance of fires for Biomass burning.
aerosols
Mexico City
PIXE
μPIXE
XRF
PMF
2012
06
01
597
612
https://ijer.ut.ac.ir/article_530_cb21791a5051eb935127894db6342e56.pdf
International Journal of Environmental Research
1735-6865
1735-6865
2012
6
3
Anthropogenic Contributions to Heavy Metal Distributions in the Surface and
Sub-surface Sediments of the Northern Coast of Sfax, Tunisia
M.M.
Serbaji
C.
Azri
K.
Medhioub
Eight selected heavy metals (Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd, Cr, Mn, Fe and Al) in surface and sub-surfacesediments in the northern coast of Sfax (Tunisia) were studied in order to assess the sediment quality and tohighlight the anthropogenic contributions to heavy metal distributions in the two study sediment levels.Multiple chemometric approaches based on Geographic Information System (GIS), Enrichment factors (EFs),geoaccumulation index (Igeo) and Principal Component Analysis (ACP) were applied. Enrichment factors(EFs) and principal component analysis (PCA) revealed two distinct groups of metals. The first groupattributed to Mn, Fe and Al that were derived from natural sources, and the second group contained Cu, Zn,Pb, Cd and Cr mainly originated from man-made sources. The contribution rates of these later in terms of thesediment’s enrichment exceed 98%. The geoaccumulation index (Igeo) values explained that only Zn, Pb, Cd andCr can be considered as moderate to extreme pollutants both in surface and sub-surface sediments.
Sfax coast
Tunisia
Heavy metals
Sediments
Chemometric methods
2012
06
01
613
626
https://ijer.ut.ac.ir/article_531_01cf9392152259c7b33327fef315f848.pdf
International Journal of Environmental Research
1735-6865
1735-6865
2012
6
3
Effect of Aeration Rate on Biosurfactin Production in a Miniaturized
Bioreactor
S.
Jokari
H.
Rashedi
G.H.
Amoabediny
F.
Yazdian
M.
Rezvani
A.S.
Hatamian Zarmi
Recently, the production of biosurfactants in bioreactors and their use in various pharmaceutical,chemical and food industries have been developed. Optimum production is directly related to the physicochemicalcondition of culture medium (such as pH and temperature) and engineering parameters of bioreactors (such asaeration rate, volume of operation and the amount of energy input). Understanding the gas transfer in shakenbioreactors equipped with a sterile closure is advantageous to avoid oxygen limitation or carbon dioxideinhibition of a microbial culture. In this study, the effect of aeration rates (due to using different designclosures) on the amount of biosurfactin production by Bacillus subtilis ATCC 6633 in a ventilation flask as aminiaturized bioreactor was investigated. The highest biosurfactin concentration (0.0485 g/L/h) was obtainedin the optimum conditions in which the amount of filling volume and shaking frequency were 15 ml and 300rpm, respectively. The specific aeration rate (qin) and maximum oxygen transfer rate (OTRmax), were calculated1.88 vvm and 0.01 mol/L/h, respectively. The results showed the significant biosurfactin productivity increaseunder non-oxygen limiting condition.
Bacillus subtilis
Biosurfactin
Aeration
Ventilation Flask
Mass Transfer
2012
06
01
627
634
https://ijer.ut.ac.ir/article_532_9bd18134cda4b150c475a59116710e29.pdf
International Journal of Environmental Research
1735-6865
1735-6865
2012
6
3
Government Facilitator Roles and Ecopreneurship in Environmental NGOs
S.M.
Moghimi
A.
Alambeigi,
This article outlines the Government Facilitator Roles in Ecopreneurship functions inEnvironmental NGOs. Target Group was environmental NGOs in Iran (Key actors, committed to preservingecological and environmental integrity). Accelerating innovation way for improving the environmentalconservation by Environmental NGOs is the conceptual mean of Ecopreneurship in this research. Questionnaireas a research instrument was to measure the constructs. Content validity by panel study confirmed. Todetermine reliability alpha coefficient was calculated. Value ranged from 0.74 to .96 showed that researchinstrument has acceptable capability to collect data and satisfy accepted condition. Dominant statisticalmethod was SEM and for data analysis PLS-Graph was employed. According to path analysis results, fourdimensions of Government facilitator have a significant role in Ecopreneurship in Iranian environmentalNGOs. End of article some of implications were illustrated for improving Ecopreneurship functions byGovernment facilitator roles.
Ecopreneurship
Environmental NGOs and Government Facilitator Roles
2012
06
01
635
644
https://ijer.ut.ac.ir/article_533_0aad9adca7dc68cc213c3bce84c41f9d.pdf
International Journal of Environmental Research
1735-6865
1735-6865
2012
6
3
The Evaluation of Sea Surface Topography Models based on the Combination
of the Satellite altimetry and the Global Geoid Models in the Persian Gulf
S.M.T.
Sadatipour
R.
Kiamehr
M.
Abrehdary
A.R.
Sharifi
One of the difficulties in using absolute altitudes is the separation between the mean open sealevel and geoid. Theoretically, geoid is the base level in absolute altitudes, but practically, the mean open sealevel is used as a base level for absolute altitudes. The difference between these two levels is called as the seasurface topography. In this research, it is dealt the mean sea level modeling by using the observations of threealtimeter satellites (i.e. Topex/Poseidon, Jason-1 and GFO) in Persian Gulf and then it is dealt with theevaluation of existing models of the sea surface topography based on the altimeter satellites data and the globalgeopotential geoid models (i.e. European Improved Gravity model of the Earth by New techniques, Gravityfield and steady-state Ocean Circulation Explorer, Earth Gravitational Model 2008. The results of this researchindicate that the sea surface topographical model resulting from the EIGEN06C geoid is the most precisemodel with changes range between -2.482 m and -1.511 m and mean -0.23 m.
Satellite
Sea surface
Persian Gulf
Gravity Model
2012
06
01
645
652
https://ijer.ut.ac.ir/article_534_0204cf9ebdce76a35ecf6d1c0ff25367.pdf
International Journal of Environmental Research
1735-6865
1735-6865
2012
6
3
Green Spaces Trends in the City of Port Elizabeth from 1990 to 2000
using Remote Sensing
J.O.
Odindi
P.
Mhangara
Given the critical role played by urban green spaces and the emergence of remote sensing as avaluable natural resource management tool, this study sought to identify trends in green spaces within thecontext of South Africa’s transition period (1990 - 2000). Using the city of Port Elizabeth as a case study, threesets of Landsat - 5 Thematic Mapper images (1990, 1995 and 2000) were geo-processed, classified intovegetation density categories and verified using respective aerial photographs. There was a steady decline inareas covered by Very sparse vegetation, Sparse vegetation and Dense vegetation classes. However, areascovered by Very dense vegetation showed a steady increase during the study period. Using remote sensingapplications, this study provides an insight into trends in green spaces in the city of Port Elizabeth during thetransition period. This study further shows the importance of remote sensing as a mapping tool that can beused to provide information for physical, social and ecological planning to achieve urban socio-ecologicalsustainability in rapidly changing urban environments.
Port Elizabeth
Green spaces
Land cover classification
Change detection
2012
06
01
653
662
https://ijer.ut.ac.ir/article_535_a77d5c1cb4df3c49d11debb3b9342f7b.pdf
International Journal of Environmental Research
1735-6865
1735-6865
2012
6
3
Nitrate and Chloride Concentrations in Groundwater beneath a Portion of the
Trinity Group Outcrop Zone, Texas
P.E.
Hudak
Using a geographic information system and statistics, we evaluated spatial distributions ofnitrate and chloride concentrations in groundwater in an area of north-central Texas with agricultural activity,in addition to oil and natural gas exploration and production. Data were compiled from 40 water wells sampledin 2007. Nitrate concentrations in three wells exceeded the maximum contaminant level (44 mg/L) for drinkingwater. The highest nitrate concentration was 149 mg/L, and concentrations were generally higher in shallowerwells. Chloride concentrations exceeded the 250 mg/L secondary drinking water standard in two wells, with nosignificant association between chloride concentration and well depth. Results of this study suggest localizedhuman impacts, especially for nitrate, and identify areas warranting future monitoring.
Nitrate
Chloride
Groundwater
Trinity Aquifer
Texas
2012
06
01
663
668
https://ijer.ut.ac.ir/article_536_cd732031e6567c91cf4c1117ac722a1c.pdf
International Journal of Environmental Research
1735-6865
1735-6865
2012
6
3
Mild Temperature Oxidation of Phenol over Rare Earth Exchanged
Aluminum Pillared Montmorillonites
M.
Kurian
A.
Eldhose
R.M.
Thasleenabi
Wastewater treatment and re-use of industrial process water are critical issues for the developmentof human activities and environment conservation. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the degradationof organic pollutants taking phenol as the model compound over aluminium pillared montmorillonite and therare earth exchanged analogues, underlining the use of environ friendly clay catalysts for the effective removalof water pollutants. From the study it was noted that for reaction variables like temperature, peroxide load,catalyst load, phenol concentration etc, optimal values exist that must be taken into account for obtaining bestresults. The catalysts used were aluminium pillared montmorillonite prepared by partial hydrolysis methodexchanged with La, Ce and Th metal salts at room temperature. Characterisation of the prepared systems weredone using X-ray diffraction and surface area and pore volume measurements.The pillared montmorilloniteshowed considerable increase in basal spacing and BET surface area compared to parent montmorillonite.
Wet
Peroxide
Oxidation
phenol
Metal exchange
2012
06
01
669
676
https://ijer.ut.ac.ir/article_537_4f9085290ccf5df0c6a4c24990c41773.pdf
International Journal of Environmental Research
1735-6865
1735-6865
2012
6
3
Prediction of Climate Change Induced Temperature Rise in Regional
Scale Using Neural Network
Kh.
Ashrafi
M.
Shafiepour
L.
Ghasemi
B.
Araabi
The objective of this paper is to develop an artificial neural network (ANN) model which can beused to predict temperature rise due to climate change in regional scale. In the present work data recorded overyears 1985-2008 have been used at training and testing steps for ANN model. The multilayer perceptron(MLP) network architecture is used for this purpose. Three applied optimization methods are backpropagation(BP) (in both input selection and weight optimization), genetic algorithm (GA) (in both input selection andweight optimization) and combined GA-particle swarm optimization (PSO) (input selection by GA andweight optimization by PSO). In this framework, natural and anthropogenic parameters which affect theincoming solar radiation are considered in order to predict the climate change induced temperature rise inregional scale. Inputs of ANN model are mean temperature, dew point temperature, relative humidity, windspeed, solar radiation, cloudiness, rainfall, station-level pressure (QFE) and greenhouse gases. For predictingmonthly mean temperature, input data include one month, six months, 12 months and 24 months beforerecorded data. In this work, nine stations namely Tehran, Mashhad, Ramsar, Orumiyeh, Sanandaj, Yazd,Ahwaz, Bandar Abbas and Chabahar in nine different climatic region of Iran are chosen to determine thetemperature rise over Iran. Results show that the averaged minimum square errors (MSE) are 0.0196, 0.0224and 0.0228 for ANN-BP, ANN-GA and ANN-GA-PSO methods, respectively. The ANN model associatedwith BP optimization method predict annual mean temperature rise as 0.44, 0.49, 0.20, 0.12, 0.17, 0.46, 0.41,0.06 and 0.01°C after 10 years for mentioned stations, respectively. These values show the averagetemperature rise of 0.26 °C after 10 years (the base year is 2008) for Iran.
climate change
Temperature rise
neural network
Back propagation
Genetic algorithm
Particle swarm optimization
2012
06
01
677
688
https://ijer.ut.ac.ir/article_538_84bdd019d072d1cd9ea97d4dfe4ab49d.pdf
International Journal of Environmental Research
1735-6865
1735-6865
2012
6
3
Effects of Environmental Design Inspired by nature on Psychological and
Physiological Responses of Clients in Medical Spaces
M.
Saffarinia
S.
Tavakkoli
A.
Alipor
Medical environments such as hospital waiting rooms can affect a client’s anxiety level as wellas psychological and physiological responses to his or her situation. The aim of this research was to evaluatethe use of environmental design, specifically the design which incorporates elements of nature, in clinics andhospitals to decrease anxiety, blood pressure and pulse rates of waiting clients. Representations of nature andthe natural environment are known to recover a dynamic union between an environment and its user, thereforethe effects of environmental design on subjects’ responses are measured and analyzed. In order to examinethese hypotheses a sample of 145 people were chosen as subjects for the experiment. They were divided intocontrol and experiment groups, both of which included males and females. The designed environment wasapplied for the experiment group which included elements of nature, green plants, sounds of waterfall andbirds. Both control and experiment groups were pre tested and then post tested. The findings showed thatbeing in the designed hospital’s waiting room was clearly effective at decreasing a client’s level of anxiety (p<0.001), blood pressure (p< 0.001) and pulse rate (0.001). We propose that using an environmental design formedical treatment centers can reduce levels of anxiety in clients and can effectively foster a sense of wellbeing.
Natural Environmental Design
Waiting Anxiety
blood pressure
Pulse Rate
2012
06
01
689
694
https://ijer.ut.ac.ir/article_539_73e141d85445c5f35084a1588cbfc0b2.pdf
International Journal of Environmental Research
1735-6865
1735-6865
2012
6
3
Heavy Metals Levels in Forage Grasses, Leachate and Lactating Cows
Reared around Lead Slag Dumpsites in Nigeria
M.B.
Ogundiran
D.T.
Ogundele
P.G.
Afolayan
O.
Osibanjo
A field study was conducted around Pb slag contaminated sites in Ibadan, Nigeria to assess theintake of trace metals by cows reared around the contaminated sites as indication of heavy metals contamination.Levels of Pb, Cd, Cu and Zn in blood, milk and faeces were determined in 20 cows exposed to the sites and 20reference cows from uncontaminated areas. Chemical analysis of pasture grasses and leachate from thecontaminated sites showed high levels of Pb. Range and mean levels of Pb, Cd, Cu and Zn in the forage grassesare: 209-899 (425 ± 79.0), ND-1.87 (0.94 ± 0.23), 4.01-8.78 (6.26 ± 0.62) and 17.4-202 (79.2 ± 23.5) mg/kgrespectively. The mean values of 8.81±0.06, 0.041±0.003, 0.20±0.01 and 1.00±0.004 mg/L were obtained l forleachate Pb, Cd, Cu and Zn. Difference in blood and milk Pb was highly significant (p<0.01) between the twogroups of animals. Mean, median and range blood Pb concentration of 349±82.0, 312, <DL-1380μg/L, milk Pbconcentrations of 347 ± 144, 313, <DL-630μg/L and faecal Pb concentrations of 2.08 ± 1.46, 2.00, 0.25-6.75mg/kg were found in test animals whereas Pb was not detected in the tissues of the control animals. Analysesof blood, milk and faeces were found to be good indicators of environmental exposure to Pb. Test cowsaccumulated significantly higher levels of Zn in milk than in blood. Reverse is the case for Pb and Cu. The highconcentration of Pb detected in both environmental and biological samples implies the need for sound managementof hazardous waste.
Lead slag
Heavy metals
lactating cows
Forage grasses
leachate
2012
06
01
695
702
https://ijer.ut.ac.ir/article_540_a8bdb01748b4bc931315b584e94db9cf.pdf
International Journal of Environmental Research
1735-6865
1735-6865
2012
6
3
Effect of European Black Alder Monocultures on The Characteristics of
Reclaimed Mine Soil
Z.
Miletić
M.
Knežević
S.
Stajić
O.
Košanin
I.
Đorđević
The effect of European black alder (Alnus glutinosa L.) on the contents of carbon and nitrogen,exchangeable base cations, and plant available forms of phosphorus in the reclaimed mine soils formed bywaste deposition from opencast lignite mines was researched in central Serbia. It was concluded that thegreatest part of dead organic residues reaching the soil under European black alder monocultures was liable torapid decomposition into end products. This was the consequence of a narrow C/N ratio in the European blackalder litterfall which amounted on average to 12.77 in the study monocultures. Only a small part of organicresidues was transformed into humus. On that account, European black alder monocultures did not have amajor impact on the accumulation of organic carbon and total nitrogen in the soil. The content of carbon in thesurface layers accounted for 1.55-1.57%, and the content of nitrogen to 0.085-0.132%. Fast mineralisation oforganic matter, and thus also of the organic forms of nitrogen, resulted in the surplus of soil nitrates, whichwere liable to washing through the soil. Nitrate movement resulted in the soil leaching and the movement ofbase cations, primarily calcium, to the deeper layers of the solum. The total soil phosphorus content was low,and also the level of plant available forms. A significant portion of total phosphorus in the surface layers of thereclaimed mine soils was composed of its organic forms.
European black alder
Reclaimed mine soil
Litterfall
Soil properties
Serbia
2012
06
01
703
710
https://ijer.ut.ac.ir/article_541_7c1ca657e64a4fcd2a3bef5afac79386.pdf
International Journal of Environmental Research
1735-6865
1735-6865
2012
6
3
An Efficient Removal of Arsenic from Industrial Effluents using
Electro-coagulation as Clean Technology Option
R.
Daniel
A.V.S.
Prabhakara Rao
This paper is a preliminary communication of a study on removal and recovery of heavy metalsfrom industrial waste waters using electro-coagulation (EC) technique. The larger study envisages use of solarenergy for producing the D.C. current, and simple chemical methods of standard methods in chemistry like useof hydrochloric acid, hydrogen sulfide, collection of precipitate, incineration and getting metal oxides in themost economical way of metal recovery. However, this paper reports on the removal of Arsenic (As) fromindustrial effluent using electro-coagulation (EC) technique. The optimization has been performed to increasethe removal efficiency of As by varying initial pH (2-10), time of electrolysis (5-30min) and current density(0.8-4.8 A/dm2). For the first time, we notice that the current density 4.8 A/dm2 has been observed to producethe quickest removal (99.9%) within 10min. The phenomenal COD reduction from 400mg/l to 30mg/l withelectrolysis time of 15min is a significant finding, to achieve this type of COD reduction by the existingmethods generate huge quantities of sludge. The sludge formed in the reaction vessel also have been Investigated.
Combined Al-Fe electrode system
wastewater
Initial pH
Current density
Electrolysis tim
COD
2012
06
01
711
718
https://ijer.ut.ac.ir/article_542_e76e7059a4c454152c67ef0399b92f99.pdf
International Journal of Environmental Research
1735-6865
1735-6865
2012
6
3
Removal of Hexavalent Chromium from Aqueous Media using Mediterranean
Posidonia oceanica biomass : Adsorption Studies and salt
Competition Investigation
F.
Krika
N.
Azzouz
M. C.
Ncibi
The biosorption of hexavelent chromium from saline solutions by Posidonia oceanica, a marinebiomass, was studied as a function of pH, initial chromium (VI) and salt (NaCl) concentrations in batchsystem. The sorbent exhibited the maximal chromium (VI) uptake at pH 2 regardless of the presence ofincreasing salt concentration. Equilibrium uptake increased with chromium (VI) concentration up to 250 mg/l and decreased slightly in the presence of increasing salt concentrations of salt up to 50 g/l. The biomassadsorbed 14.48 mg of metal per gram of biomass at 100 mg/l initial chromium concentration in the absence ofsalt. When 50 g/l salt concentration was added to the solution, the value diminished to 11.49 mg/g under thesame conditions (i.e. a 20.6% decrease in the biosorption capacity). The equilibrium sorption data wereanalyzed using Freundlich, Langmuir and Redlich-Peterson models. The Langmuir equation was the mostsuitable adsorption model for describing the biosorption equilibrium data of chromium (VI) both in salt freeand loaded media. The pseudo-second-order type kinetic model depicted the biosorption kinetics accuratelyat all chromium concentrations in absence and presence of increasing concentrations of salt.
chromium
Biosorption
Posidonia
Salt
Modeling
2012
06
01
719
732
https://ijer.ut.ac.ir/article_543_e2431550ce038590ec87394044904940.pdf
International Journal of Environmental Research
1735-6865
1735-6865
2012
6
3
Breeding Biology of the Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis in
Southern Coasts of The Caspian Sea, Iran
R.
Rahimi
S.M.
Monavari
M.
Karami
M.
Shariat
P.
Farshchi
Breeding biology of the Great Cormorants Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis is assessed in thesouthern coasts of the Caspian Sea, Iran during the years 2008-2010. About 84 nests located on 63 trees wereexamined. Nests were built on large trees located in Abbas abad marsh, Gilan Province. Initially, eggs werefound on first week of April and egg laying continued until the last week of May. Clutch size varied from 2 to5 eggs, with a mean clutch size of 2.8±0.69. Mean shape index for all eggs were 1.68±0.035 and 1.706±0.048,respectively. The length of the incubation period was estimated at 26.6±2.2 days. in 2010 of the 84 eggs laid,26.6% were lost. In 2009 of 92 eggs laid, 62% were lost. Number of eggs hatched per nest averaged at1.57±0.57 in small ones and 1.8±1.6 in large nest. Mean weight of eggs was estimated at 46.8±1.28g (N=10,mean =48.9, min=45.2).
Great Cormorant
Phalacrocorax carbo sinensies
Breeding biology
Caspian Sea
gilan province
Abbas Abad marsh
2012
06
01
733
738
https://ijer.ut.ac.ir/article_544_86a2670a3f10f21d048a87eb070a76bb.pdf
International Journal of Environmental Research
1735-6865
1735-6865
2012
6
3
Pre-concentration and Determination of Platinum (IV) in Water Samples Using
Chelating Resin by Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectroscopy
(ICP-AES)
H.
Sid Kalal
H.
Hoveidi
M.
Thagiof
N.
Pakizevand
M.R.
Almasian
M.A.
Firoozzare
A chelating resin is prepared by condensation polymerization of aniline with formaldehyde andcharacterized by FT-IR, elemental analysis and studied for the preconcentration and determination of tracePlatinum ion from environmental water sample using inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy(ICP-AES). The optimum pH value for sorption of the metal ions was 5. The maximum adsorption capacitiesof resin (aniline- formaldehyde) were determined as 21.25, 14.72 and 11.9 mg/g at different temperatures 20,30 and 40 °C, respectively. The best desorption of the metal ions from resin was obtained by 0.5 mol/L nitricacid as eluting agent. The profile of Platinum uptake on this sorbent reflects good accessibility of the chelatingsites in the aniline-formaldehyde. The equilibrium adsorption data of Platinum ion modified resin were analyzedby four isotherm models such as Langmuir, Freundlich ,Temkin and Redlich–Peterson. Langmuir isothermparameters obtained from the four Langmuir linear equations by using linear method, Langmuir-1 is the mostpopular linear form, and it had the highest coefficient of determination compared with the other Langmuirlinear equations. The thermodynamic parameters (ΔG°, ΔH°, and ΔS°) were also determined using the equilibriumconstant values obtained at different temperatures. The results showed that the adsorption for Pt (IV) ion wasspontaneous nature and exothermic. The method was applied for Platinum ions determination from tap watersample.
Solid phase
Extraction
environment
Platinum
Isotherm
2012
06
01
739
750
https://ijer.ut.ac.ir/article_545_f75422a9915014651ecceb52155dede7.pdf
International Journal of Environmental Research
1735-6865
1735-6865
2012
6
3
Biosurfactants Production During Diesel Biodegranation by Mixed Microbial
Consortia Selected From Polluted Spolls
E.
Moliterni
R.
Gómez
L.
Rodríguez
F.J.
Fernández
J.
Villaseñor
This work studies the biosurfactants production which enables the diesel biodegradation byusing mixed microbial consortia from polluted sites. It was carried out by culturing three microbial consortia(named as XA, XB and XC) obtained from polluted soils, and enriched in diesel as sole carbon source.Batchexperiments were done to study the effects of three variables (temperature,hydrocarbon concentration and theorigin of the consortia) on the diesel biodegradation and the surface tension evolution. The three enrichedconsortia contained similar bacterial genera and degraded diesel with similar efficiencies (approximately 90%).Thermal inhibition was observed at 35 ºC. The evolution of surface tension was similar in all experiments: aninitial fast reduction followed by an increase once the diesel had been consumed. All three consortia were foundto be efficient biosurfactants producers. Consortia XB and XC had similar low biosurfactant yields (1.3 and1.8 g g-1, respectively) and lower critical micelle concentration values (0.42 and 0.45 g L-1, respectively), whileXA generated a greater quantity of biosurfactants (6.9 gg-1). It was noted that the maximum diesel biodegradationrate increased versus the biosurfactants yields. Despite some differences between the consortia due to theirdifferent origins, especially concerning biosurfactants production, the diesel-enrichment process resulted inadapted consortia with similar efficiencies for diesel biodegradation.
Surface Tension
Hydrocarbon
Diesel-enrichment process
Thermal inhibition
Critical micelle
concentration
2012
06
01
751
760
https://ijer.ut.ac.ir/article_546_ffa899dec70ac0cf2098cf09b874c5a8.pdf
International Journal of Environmental Research
1735-6865
1735-6865
2012
6
3
Anaerobic Digestion of Nssc Pulping Effluent
A.
Arshad
N.H.
Hashim
Two UASB reactors R-I and R-II, each of 10liters capacity, made up of acryl material wereoperated parallel and continuously for a period of 220 days, using actual effluent of the NSSC pulp and papermill, at mesophilic temperature and neutral pH. The main objective was to investigate the treatabilityperformance of the reactors at varying OLR and HRT in terms of TOC and lignin removal. The reactor R-I wasused by conventional procedure, whereas, for the reactor R-II methanol and activated carbon was added tosupplement its efficiency. Corresponding to an optimum OLR of 4.5kg/m3-day and HRT of 18hrs, the reactorR-II gives 69% TOC and 60% lignin removal. But, in the reactor R-I at same operating conditions, only 56%TOC and 51% lignin removal was noticed. However, the biogas yield in the reactor R-I was noticed relativelymore than in the R-II. The biogas yield observed was 0.28m3/kg-CODrem and 0.18m3/kg-CODrem in the reactorR-I and R-II, respectively, with 56-58% methane content in both the reactors. The average VFAs concentrationobserved in the reactor R-I and R-II is 360mg/L and 230mg/L, respectively. The results of this study suggestthat the use of methanol and activated carbon to enhance the treatability efficiency of the UASB reactor is aviable option for the treatment of NSSC pulping effluent.
NSSC pulping effluent
UASB reactor
TOC
lignin
2012
06
01
761
768
https://ijer.ut.ac.ir/article_547_b1c717ab1f0e4cb4adc18f37e766b6b9.pdf
International Journal of Environmental Research
1735-6865
1735-6865
2012
6
3
Toxic Effects of Zinc Cyanide on Some Protein Metabolites in Fresh water fish,
Cirrhinus mrigala (Hamilton)
A.
Shwetha
B.B.
Hosetti
P.N.
Dube
Effect of zinc cyanide on protein and certain metabolites content and some enzymes activitieswas evaluated in liver, muscle and gill tissues of the freshwater fish, Cirrhinus mrigala, during exposure andfollowing cessation of exposure. Fish exhibited significant alterations in the biochemical parameters in alltissues studied. Levels of total protein decreased in all tissues, where as free amino acids (FAA) and proteaseactivities significantly increased (P<0.05). Similarly decrease was observed in the ammonia level with increasedurea and glutamine levels at all exposure periods. The enzymes involved in the protein metabolism alteredunder the zinc cyanide intoxication. Increase in the protease and aminotransferases revealed amplifiedtransamination processes. Significant increase of phosphatases indicated increased rate of phosphorylationand transport of molecules across the cell membrane. Withdrawal study also exhibited significant recovery inall above biochemical parameters, in all tissue after the 7th day post recovery treatment. Present studyexhibited negative effects of zinc cyanide on protein metabolism. Fish with low protein content were not fitfor human consumption. Patterns of effects on intermediary metabolism suggest avenues to determine themechanisms by which such effects occur.
Protein metabolism
enzyme activity
Zinc cyanide
Cirrhinus mrigala
2012
06
01
769
778
https://ijer.ut.ac.ir/article_548_f76829f39ca608cc14460a719b7b86c3.pdf
International Journal of Environmental Research
1735-6865
1735-6865
2012
6
3
Characterisation of Heavy Metals in Lichen Species Hypogymnia physodes
and Evernia prunastri due to Biomonitoring of Air Pollution in the
Vicinity of Copper Mine
B.
Balabanova
T.
Stafilov
R.
Šajn
K.
Baèeva
Lichen species (Hypogymnia physodes and Evernia prunastri) were used for biomonitoring thepossible air pollution with heavy metals in the vicinity of copper mine in the eastern part of the Republic ofMacedonia. The contents of 18 elements were analysed by ICP-AES and ETAAS techniques. For dataprocessing basic statistical methods and multivariate exploratory (factor and cluster analysis) techniques wereapplied. Three geogenic and one anthropogenic group of elements were singled out from factor analysis. Mapsof spatial distribution of elements from the anthropogenic group showed an increased content of the anthropogenicelements only in close vicinity to the mine. A maximum value obtained for Cu content was 130 mg/kg and forPb content was 120 mg/kg. Lichen talus of the collected species showed high retention power for accumulationof the anthropogenic group of elements compared to moss species sampled from the same study area (r=0.86and r=0.68). Here we show that lichens can be use as biomonitors for atmospheric distribution of anthropogenicintroducedelements.
atmospheric pollution
Heavy metals
Biomonitoring
Lichens
Copper mine
2012
06
01
779
792
https://ijer.ut.ac.ir/article_549_56402429d8202960758deb287f416597.pdf
International Journal of Environmental Research
1735-6865
1735-6865
2012
6
3
Interaction Between Cadmium and Lead and the Effects of These on the
Concentration of Zinc and Manganese in Sunflower
B.
Motesharezadeh
GH.R.
Savaghebi
The pollution of soil by heavy metals is considered to be quite a big problem in many areas ofthe world. To limit the accumulation of lead and cadmium from soil in the products, a correct understanding ofthe characteristics and specifications of the translocation of cadmium and lead is necessary. In order to evaluatethe effects of cadmium and lead interaction on zinc and manganese concentration, three levels of cadmium (0,100 and 200 mg/kg), and three levels of lead (0, 200 and 400mg/kg) were tested on a sunflower cultivar SHF81-85 in a factorial experimental design with three replications. The results showed that cadmium has increasedthe cadmium and lead concentration in the shoot and root, while the effects of lead, were only significant on theconcentration of lead in the shoot, and the concentration of both cadmium and lead in the root (p<0.05).Cadmium and lead revealed a preventing effect on zinc and manganese concentration in the root and shoot ofthe plant. More investigations at field conditions are recommended.
Cadmium
lead
Soil Pollution
manganese
Sunflower
2012
06
01
793
800
https://ijer.ut.ac.ir/article_550_93ca71b25e4a065c1a54d98aee6853fe.pdf
International Journal of Environmental Research
1735-6865
1735-6865
2012
6
3
Life Cycle Assessment of Advanced Zero Emission Combined
Cycle Power Plants
A.
Ataei
A.
Iranmanesh
Z.
Rashidi
This study investigated different concepts for natural-gas-fired power plants with the CO2capture, and compared them based on the net plant efficiency and emission of CO2. The cycles were based ona six oxy-fuel, one post-combustion and two pre-combustion capture concept. This paper presented theresults of an environmental evaluation performed by the application of the Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) methodusing SimaPro model to compare an Advanced Zero Emission Power Plant (AZEP) concept with a conventionalcombined cycle power plant from 50MW to 400MW. The LCA study was built upon the calculation and thecomparison of several impacts (emissions of CO2, CO, NOX, and SOX, consumption of water and primaryenergy) and several impact categories (climate change, acid rain, ozone depletion and Ecotoxicity). The workwas developed entirely using the Eco-indicator99 of the LCA method. The results showed that for all studiedimpacts, the AZEP power plants have fewer impacts. However, compared to the conventional combined cyclepower plants, the total primary energy consumption in the AZEP concept is bigger due to the lower electricefficiency.
CO2 capture
zero emissions
combined cycles
LCA
Simapro
Eco-indicator99
2012
06
01
801
814
https://ijer.ut.ac.ir/article_551_ec4c2f991acc3c497b19c279959fbd55.pdf
International Journal of Environmental Research
1735-6865
1735-6865
2012
6
3
An Investigation on Changes and Prediction of Urmia Lake water Surface
Evaporation by Chaos Theory
S.
Farzin
P.
Ifaei
N.
Farzin
Y.
Hassanzadeh
M.T.
Aalami
Chaos theory discusses unstable and non-periodic behavior of non-linear fluctuating dynamicsystems. Since evaporation level variations of lakes have a dynamic identity, chaos theory can have a uniquerole in collecting data of these variations. Therefore it is an important and challenging problem in the field ofplanning and qualitative and quantitative management of Urmia Lake to verify whether the evaporation timeseries are stochastic or chaotic that is discussed in the present study. In addition to introduction of differentutilities of chaos theory, the monthly evaporation amounts of Urmia Lake in the past 40 years have beenstudied and predicted in the present research. So after calculating the delay time (T=7.5) by using averagemutual information method (AMI) and embedding dimension (d=3) by using false nearest neighbor algorithm(FNN), the slope of correlation dimension diagram has been computed. The non-integer amount of the slope(2.47) represents that the system is chaotic. Lyapunov exponent and broad band in Fourier power spectrumare other indexes reported in the present study and their provided results ensures that the system is chaotic.Thus the amount of Urmia Lake evaporation is predictable. Therefore the amount of evaporation in the recent10 years (1997-2007) have been predicted by means of false nearest neighbor algorithm and verified with theobserved data. The results agree with the high accuracy of chaos theory predictions so the amount of evaporationof the Lake is predicted for 10 following years (2007-2017).
Urmia Lake
Evaporation
chaos theory
correlation dimension
Lyapunov exponent
Fourier power spectrum
2012
06
01
815
824
https://ijer.ut.ac.ir/article_552_f5cb704a5ead7fcadb9bb8d269e82682.pdf