Emine Elmaslar Özbaş

Removal of astrazon red 6B from aqueous solution using waste tea and spent tea bag

ABSTRACTThis study aimed to remove basic dye (astrazon red 6B (AR)) from liquid environment by adsorption. For this purpose, batch experiments were performed using spent tea leaves (TL) and tea bags (TB) as adsorbents due to their low costs. Adsorption experiments were carried out for different initial concentrations (25–200 mg/L), different pH values (pH 2–10), and different adsorbent amounts (0.25–2 g/L) of solution. Equilibrium sorption isotherms and kinetics were investigated. The experimental data were analyzed by the Langmuir, Freundlich and Temkin models of adsorption. The adsorption data fitted well to the Freundlich isotherm for TL and Langmuir isotherm for TB. Two kinetic models, pseudo-first order and pseudo-second order, were employed to describe the adsorption mechanism. According to the results of the analysis, the pseudo-second-order equation was determined to be the best model to describe the adsorption behavior for both adsorbents with the determination factor R2 ⩾ 0.92. The results prove...

Adsorption of Astrazon Blue FGRL onto sepiolite from aqueous solutions

Abstract In this study, adsorption of Astrazon Blue FGRL on sepiolite (meerschaum) from aqueous solution was investigated using different parameters like initial dye concentration, temperature, contact time and solution pH. The obtained results were then compared for all the parameters. At the end of batch adsorption studies, the equilibrium time, optimum pH and temperature were 90 min, 7 pH and 293 K, respectively. Adsorption isotherm of Astrazon Blue FGRL on sepiolite (meerschaum) was determined and correlated with common isotherm equations such as Langmuir and Freundlich models. The Freundlich model (r 2 > 0.98) appeared to fit the isotherm data better than the Langmuir model (r 2 0.99), through the first order kinetic model did not adequately fit the experiment values (r 2 < 0.99). SEM, XRD and FT-IR spectrum analyses were carried out. The obtained results showed that Sepiolite (meerschaum) can be an al...

Removal of heavy metals (Cu, Ni, Zn, Pb, Cd) from compost by molasses hydrolysate

AbstractThis study aimed to remove heavy metals (Cu, Ni, Zn, Pb, Cd) from composts using molasses hydrolysate, produced from molasses by-product of the sugar industry. Batch experiments were conducted to examine the effects of differing experimental conditions on the removal of heavy metals, according to contact time and solid–liquid ratio. Batch experiments achieved removal efficiencies of 66% for Cu(II), 52% for Ni(II), 57% for Zn(II), 51% for Pb (II), and 77% for Cd(II) at 60 minutes and 1:12.5 solid–liquid ratio. Column experiments achieved removal efficiencies of 91% for Cu, 86% for Ni, 99% for Zn, 61% for Pb, and 99% for Cd at 0.55 mL/minute flow rate and a solid–liquid ratio of 1:12.5 g/mL. Producing large quantities of highly acidic and heavy metal contaminated solution, compost with low pH, and decreasing some parameters’ concentrations of compost such as C, TKN, total P are the disadvantages of suggested technology.

Ecological Footprint Calculation

Ecological footprint is a method that was created to calculate the load for nature of a specific population, and it also calculates the biological effective and water-containing areas which are required to obtain renewable sources for the use of people. The data obtained by the ecological footprint resource accounting provides guidance for strategic decisions on resource management. Many studies exist in the web area in order to calculate the ecological footprint automatically after entering the data. In this study, the questions in a web site were asked to people living in Istanbul in different age intervals. It was observed that the percentages of the components constituting the ecological footprints calculated for three different age ranges (three different age ranges between individuals aged 50 and below) varied according to the age ranges. In addition, the values of ecological footprints according to the education and income levels were examined for the male and the female individuals. For all the age ranges, it can be said that the ecological footprints of individuals with high economic income are higher than those with low economic income. Also, the ecological footprint of the males of the same income level is higher than the ecological footprints of the females.

An Assessment of Pyrolysis Process for the Treatment of Agricultural and Forest Wastes

As a result of social and economic activities of people, materials that completed useful life that should be removed from the environment we live in are classified as waste. Nowadays, except for local uses (burning, warming, etc.), there are few uses for general purposes (alternative fuel, etc.). Energy usage and waste amount are increasing rapidly with the increase of the population in the world and the development of industry and technology. Control of energy consumption and waste is crucial for a sustainable future. In this study, the use of pyrolysis for agriculture and forest wastes was investigated based on the literature. For this purpose, many studies on pyrolysis of organic wastes such as agriculture and forest wastes have been compiled and presented on a common basis. The methods followed in the selected studies are examined and given in the form of tables under the common headings in order that different researchers can reach easily. It has been generally agreed that the pyrolysis process, which is considered as an alternative waste management method, is an energy and environmentally friendly application for waste and that this application can be used to reduce waste and recycle waste.

The relationship between income level and CFP level of the provinces in Turkey: a case study

This study determines the distribution of carbon footprint values (CFP) in Turkey by income levels, gender, age group, provinces where people live and the geographical regions of these provinces. In addition, % distribution of human activities which lead to CFP (food, travel, home, stuff) has been analysed. The carbon emission values assessed in this study have been compared with annual carbon emission distributions of various countries. In comparison by income levels, it was observed that mainly consumption-based usages (48%) take part in spending of people in the lowest income section while travel costs (42%) of people having high income have a significant contribution to CFP values. In assessment by age groups, it was observed that the highest CFP value is obtained by those aged 40 or older (in average; 17.1 tons CO2 per capita). In assessment of CFP values on the basis of geographical region and province, it was seen that high CFP values which result from the fuel type used for heating in eastern regions of Turkey replace CFP values related to transportation in western parts. In Turkey, annual carbon emission value is 15.1 tons CO2 per capita in average. This value is similar to annual carbon emission per capita of European countries such as Spain, France.

The 2nd International Conference on Recycling and Reuse, held on June 4–6, 2014, in Istanbul, Turkey

This special issue of the Desalination and Water Treatment Journal is dedicated to the 2nd International Conference on Recycling and Reuse, held on 4–6 June 2014 in Istanbul, Turkey. This international conference was jointly organized by Boğaziçi University, Environmental Sciences Institute and Istanbul University, Environmental Engineering Department, Turkey. The purpose of the conference was to provide an excellent platform for researchers and practitioners to exchange emerging ideas and investigate key issues such as: