Ayse Elmaci

Assessment of heavy metals in Lake Uluabat, Turkey

The accumulation of heavy metals (Cu, Ni, Zn, Cd, Pb, Cr, B, As) was measured in water, plankton and sediment samples taken from different areas of Lake Uluabat during January 2003 to February 2004. The sequential extraction used in this study is useful to assess the potential mobility of heavy metals in the sediment indirectly. In this study, Cu, Pb, Cr, Cd, Ni and Zn concentrations were detected at higher levels at Lake Uluabat for selected stations, especially in plankton samples. The magnitude of heavy metal concentrations in water and plankton samples was determined as B>Zn>As>Cd>Pb>Ni>Cr and Zn>Ni>Cu>Cr>Cd>Pb, respectively. The mobile heavy metals in sediment samples were sequences as Pb>Cu>Cr>Ni>Cd>Zn, whereas the magnitude of easily mobilizable metal concentration was determined as Pb>Ni>Cr>Cu>Cd>Zn. Concentration of Cu and Cr in mobile fraction is detected higher than in easily mobilizable fraction. Concentration of Pb, Cd, Zn and Ni in mobile fraction is detected in lower levels than in easily mobilizable fraction.

Removal of Pharmaceutical Products in a Constructed Wetland

Background There is growing interest in the natural and constructed wetlands for wastewater treatment. While nutrient removal in wetlands has been extensively investigated, information regarding the degradation of the pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) has only recently been emerging. PPCPs are widely distributed in urban wastewaters and can be removed to some extent by the constructed wetlands. The medium-term (3-5 years) behavior of these systems regarding PPCP removal is still unknown. Objectives The efficiency of a Leca-based laboratory-scale constructed wetland planted with Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. Ex. Steudel in treating an aqueous solution of the pharmaceuticals, namely, carbamazepine, ibuprofen, and sulfadiazine, was to investigate. Materials and Methods The two pilot-scale constructed wetlands (CW) were operated in parallel; one as an experimental unit (a planted reactor with P. australis) and the other as a control (an unplanted reactor with Leca). Pretreatment and analyses of the carbamazepine, ibuprofen, sulfadiazine, and tissue samples (Leca, P. australis body and P.australis leaf) were conducted using HPLC. Results The carbamazepine, ibuprofen, and sulfadiazine removal efficiencies for the planted and unplanted reactors were 89.23% and 95.94%, 89.50% and 94.73%, and 67.20% and 93.68%, respectively. The Leca bed permitted an efficient removal. Leca has a high sorption capacity for these pharmaceuticals, with removal efficiencies of 93.68-95.94% in the unplanted reactors. Conclusions Sorption processes might be of a major importance in achieving efficient treatment of wastewater, particularly in the removal of organic material that are resistant to biodegradation, in which case the materials composing the support matrix may play an important role. The results obtained in the present study indicate that a constructed wetland with Leca as a substrate and planted with P. australis is effective in the treatment of wastewater contaminated with carbamazepine, ibuprofen, and sulfadiazine.