Ali Savaş Koparal

The effect of initial pH on treatment of poultry slaughterhouse wastewater by electrocoagulation method

AbstractIn this work, treatment of poultry slaughterhouse wastewater by electrocoagulation method with aluminum plate electrodes has been investigated. System was operated in batch and galvonostatic mode. Effect of initial pH of the wastewater was predominantly investigated on chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiency but turbidity and oil–grease removal efficiencies were also evaluated. Operational parameters were kept constant at 150 rpm of stirring speed, 1 mA/cm2 of current density, and 293 K of solution temperature. On the other hand, initial pH of the wastewater was in the range of 2–8. Initial pH of the wastewater was an effective parameter on COD removal efficiency as it is expected. When initial pH of the wastewater was in the range from 3 to 4, it was possible to obtain higher COD removal rates. In this study, when the initial pH of wastewater equals to 3 and current density is 1 mA/cm2, system gives COD removal efficiency of 85% in 20 min. Meanwhile, system consumes 2.14 kWh/m3 of energy ...

Accumulation of Heavy Metals from Motor Vehicles in Transplanted Lichens in an Urban Area

Abstract Thalli of the lichens Pseudevernia furfuracea, Usnea longissima, Lobaria pulmonaria, and Peltigera praetextata were taken from unpolluted areas and transplanted to a downtown site in Erzurum, Turkey. Heavy metals copper (Cu), chromium (Cr), zinc (Zn), lead (Pb), nickel (Ni), and iron (Fe) were measured after an 8 month exposure period. Changes in the heavy metal concentrations were observed during the exposure period in lichen species and in both locations. Heavy metal concentrations were significantly higher in Peltigera praetextata than the other species at the location nearest to the junction crossroads. Peltigera praetextata may be considered a good indicator. These results can be attributed to the effect of atmospheric pollutants on the transplanted lichens.

Effects of environmental conditions on historical buildings: lichens and NOx gases

Environmental conditions affect human life in various ways. One of the domains of environmental conditions is buildings, and amongst them, a major and important group is the historical buildings. To keep this inheritance alive, one needs to determine the effects of environmental conditions. In this work, effects of lichens and NOx on 7 historical buildings in Erzurum were investigated. Historical buildings are readily available for lichen growth, which takes a long time, and this growth was investigated as a sample of environmental effect that occurs through long periods of time. NOx, main source of which is traffic in Erzurum, were considered as the environmental effect of daily life.

Electrochemical oxidation of sulfite ions in aqueous solutions

Gaseous pollutants that affect human health, destroy vegetation and damage materials and art treasures can be converted into harmless components by electrochemical reactions. Electrochemical gas purification methods can be applied basically in two steps. In the first step, gases to be removed are absorbed in an aqueous electrolyte. Then, in the second step, they can be converted into harmless components via electrochemical oxidation or electrochemical reduction. This study investigated the feasibility of electrochemical removal of sulfite ions arising from the absorption of sulfur dioxide in an aqueous electrolyte. The removal efficiency, current efficiency, and energy consumption were determined at different initial sulfite ion and electrolyte concentrations and applied currents. Furthermore, linear sweep voltammetry studies were performed using a graphite electrode in sulfuric acid. It has been concluded from all these experiments that sulfur dioxide can successfully be removed using an electrochemical method.