Aysen Muezzinoglu

A Review of Waste Management Options in Olive Oil Production

In this article, treatment and disposal alternatives of olive oil mill wastes and technical requirements for their management are covered. Waste characteristics, treatment options with regard to the economic feasibility, and challenges of existing waste disposal practices in olive growing countries are mentioned. Attention is drawn to present-day techniques of waste management. The search concerning the environmentally acceptable, economically feasible, and practically applicable methods of disposal of olive oil mill wastes is referred. In the management schemes, compliance with environmental regulations and economic and social benefits of the olive oil production are the goals that must be simultaneously achieved.

A study of volatile organic sulfur emissions causing urban odors

Levels of hydrogen sulfide and sulfur containing organic compounds were studied in the air at the deltas of the polluted creeks in the city of Izmir, Turkey in summer 2001. High concentrations of these malodorous compounds were measured in the air samples. Presence of these compounds in the air was connected with the dark appearance and rising gas bubbles in the studied segments of the creeks. These creeks were like open sewers carrying wastewaters from the industry and residential areas into the inner Izmir Bay until September 2001. Within the scope of this study organic sulfur compounds such as methane thiol, ethane thiol, 2-propane thiol, 2-butane thiol, dimethylsulfide, dimethyldisulfide, thiophene, diphenylsulfide and hydrogen sulfide were studied in the air at selected urban sites where odor nuisance was recognized. Flux measurements from polluted surfaces were preferred rather than direct ambient air measurements. Organic sulfur emission fluxes from the creek surfaces were found above the values reported in the literature. Their concentrations and fluxes were higher in June field program. A limited number of measurements of reduced sulfur compound emission concentrations from the wastewater treatment plant equalization tank and the sludge drying beds as well as the landfill soil surface were also included in the study. Concentrations of total organic sulfur compounds and certain individual components such as dimethylsulfide and hydrogen sulfide in emitted gases from river surfaces were correlated with ambient SO(2) concentrations.

Dry deposition and soil-air gas exchange of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in an industrial area.

Ambient air and dry deposition, and soil samples were collected at the Aliaga industrial site in Izmir, Turkey. Atmospheric total (particle+gas) Sigma(41)-PCB concentrations were higher in summer (3370+/-1617 pg m(-3), average+SD) than in winter (1164+/-618 pg m(-3)), probably due to increased volatilization with temperature. Average particulate Sigma(41)-PCBs dry deposition fluxes were 349+/-183 and 469+/-328 ng m(-2) day(-1) in summer and winter, respectively. Overall average particulate deposition velocity was 5.5+/-3.5 cm s(-1). The spatial distribution of Sigma(41)-PCB soil concentrations (n=48) showed that the iron-steel plants, ship dismantling facilities, refinery and petrochemicals complex are the major sources in the area. Calculated air-soil exchange fluxes indicated that the contaminated soil is a secondary source to the atmosphere for lighter PCBs and as a sink for heavier ones. Comparable magnitude of gas exchange and dry particle deposition fluxes indicated that both mechanisms are equally important for PCB movement between air and soil in Aliaga.

Evaluation of some air pollution indicators in Turkey

This article intends to shed a light on air quality in Turkey and compare air pollutant emissions on a national scale with that of the European countries. In order to estimate the quantities of Turkish emissions in the past and their future predictions, a national emission inventory was prepared with respect to five major pollutants consisting of particulate matter(PM), SOx, NOx, non-methane volatile organic compounds, and CO with 5-year intervals between 1985 and 2005. The results suggest that Turkey is a rather large emission source at the European scale, although emission indicators on unit area and per capita were shown to be somewhat smaller in magnitude. Levels of air pollution in some of the big cities in Turkey were also evaluated from available national monitoring data. These evaluations for the urban air qualities covered SO2 and PM parameters between 1986 and 1996, and results were compared with the present Turkish air quality limits, their probable revisions, WHO (Europe) guidelines and related EC directives. Results showed that the air quality limits were not met, especially during the winter periods in Turkish cities. Urban air pollutants characterizing the air in Turkish cities other than SO2 and PM, however, could not have been evaluated as these pollutants were not systematically monitored in these cities.

Odor-causing volatile organic compounds in wastewater treatment plant units and sludge management areas

Odors due to malodorous gas and vapor emissions from units of Izmir Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) were studied and evaluated with respect to chemical composition. Altogether 29 target compounds consisting of 4 different groups of chemicals were identified and quantified in the odorous gas samples from wastewater and sludges. Total volatile malodorous organic compounds (VMOC) consisted of reduced sulfur compounds (RSCs) and different volatile organic compounds (VOCs) including volatile organic compounds (VOCs), aldehydes, monoaromatics (BTX) and some halogenated organics. Among these components the most abundant group was the monoaromatics (69% of the total VOC). A statistically significant linear relationship was found between odor concentrations determined by olfactometry and total VOC concentrations (r 2 = 0.89, n = 5, P < 0.05) in the samples of odorous gases. Based on the odor contribution ratios of the compounds studied, the results of the study revealed that hydrogen sulfide, propanal and toluene were dominating in the odor emissions and these were explaining 99% of the variability in odor concentrations (r 2 = 0.99, n = 5, P < 0.05). It was shown that not only the hydrogen sulfide and RSCs but also other organics were important in forming the odors from sludge units and sludge management areas.

Presence and control of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in petroleum coke drying and calcination plants

Storage, shipment, handling, as well as drying and calcination of petroleum cokes might create serious health risks. This material should be processed and handled with care not only because of the excessive dust emissions it causes, but also because it may emit hazardous and carcinogenic volatile compounds. In this study, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) emissions from a petroleum coke drying and calcination unit in Turkey were investigated. Rotary kiln exhaust gases were found to contain 10 of the 16 EPA priority PAHs. These emissions were identified and evaluated by using the Turkish regulatory limits after certain pollution control measures were implemented. For control of PAHs and other incomplete combustion products in the stack gases incinerators equipped with liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) burners were installed into the drying and calcination gas outlet ducts.

Air pollutant emission potentials of cotton textile manufacturing industry

Abstract Cotton textile manufacturing operations cause air pollution. Air pollutants are generated by fossil fuel fired combustors due to their flues and/or a variety of chemicals in use for production. Excessive use of chemicals can be stopped or minimized by replacing them or by optimizing the production processes. Energy and water conservation are important goals in textile workplaces as well. There is substantial research and development to minimize pollution potentials of textile operations. In this paper air polluting potentials of cotton textile manufacturing operations are discussed and some quantitative examples are given for evaluating the risks to the environment. Studied impacts to environment cover direct discharges into the ambient air as well as the workplace atmosphere. Further studies are recommended for minimizing the impacts to the local and global air quality due to cotton textile production facilities.

Hydrogen Sulfide and Odor Control in İzmir Bay

The city of Izmir on the Aegean Sea shoreline is suffering from rotten odors emitted by anoxic river mouths. Anaerobic conditions in the shallowest portion of Izmir Bay due to industrial and domestic wastewaters as well as eutrophication products in this very calm part of the Bay are responsible for this. The inner section of the Bay is becoming shallower with sediments rich in organic matter. Aerobic digestion of organic pollutants is limited by the oxygen input and the warm climate leads to an optimal medium for anaerobic processes when anoxic conditions take over. Anaerobic digestion products are odorous gases among which H2S with a characteristic pungent odor is most effective in this case. Sulfur containing gases are formed from sulfides and sulfates in the sediment-water interface and are released into the air. Airborne H2S concentrations are variable as they depend on factors such as high atmospheric diffusion coefficients under changing wind direction and speed, as well as variable such as water depths, organic loadings from rivers, air and water temperatures, sulfate concentrations in sediment and water phases, pH, and Eh.

Assessment of toxicity in waters due to heavy metals derived from atmospheric deposition using Vibrio fischeri

Water toxicity originating from the atmospheric deposition of six heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn) was investigated on Vibrio fischeri activity in Izmir, Turkey. A LUMIStox® test was applied to dry and wet deposition samples and metal solutions. The inhibition levels and effective toxicity concentrations of these samples and solutions were determined. Interactive toxicity effects among the metals were investigated. When the impacts of the synthetic single heavy metal solutions were compared with each other, a toxicity ranking of Cr>Cd>Pb>Cu>Zn>Ni was obtained in order of decreasing severity. The total effective concentrations of these six metals were in the ranges of 0.074–0.221 mg/L and 0.071–0.225 mg/L for receiving aqueous solutions of dry and wet atmospheric depositions, respectively. The toxicity data showed that the wet deposition samples were 15% more toxic than the dry deposition samples. The interactive toxicity effects of the heavy metals in both dry and wet deposition samples were classified as antagonistic. High levels of heavy metals deposited in dissolved form may constitute an important input in the biochemical cycle and may have significant impacts.

SO2 Levels at Forested Mountains around Izmir, Turkey and their Possible Sources

Daily average SO2 concentrations were measured during August 1999–September 2000 period in the mountains around Izmir. Sampling devices to collect integrated daily SO2 samples were located at four different sites. These sites were Yamanlar Mountain in the north, Tekketepe height of Karabelen Mountain in the south, and two mountain villages (Kiziluzum and Bespinar) located east of Izmir. Samples were analyzed by using standard methods. Maximum daily SO2 concentrations up to 433 μg m-3 were found with the average values ranging between 75–135 μg m-3 per day at the four mountain stations. Annual mean values were above the threshold levels acceptable for the health of trees. It is concluded that such high SO2 pollution might have caused the noted decline in the forests.In order to decide the sources of such high levels of pollution on the forested mountains, trajectory analyses were carried out. Results obtained at Tekketepe station are given in this article and they point to the fractional contributions of dense industrial areas around Izmir, to the forested heights of Tekketepe. Local topography and location of industrial zones around the city are seen to have a strong effect on the deteriorated air quality over the mountains. The annual and seasonal averages and ten maximum daily measurements at the Tekketepe sampling site indicate that the highest contribution to the deterioration of air quality is associated with the northerly wind sectors.