International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology

Burgos Castellanos, A.; Ribeiro-Santos, T.; Lago, R.

2018 International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology

doi: 10.1007/s13762-018-1901-x

In this work, a sorbent was developed based on vermiculite intercalated with cetyltrimethylammonium ions to remove the hazardous hormone molecule ethinylestradiol (EE) from the aqueous medium was developed. Characterization by infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, elemental and thermal analyses, scanning and transmission electron microscopies, N2 adsorption–desorption and fluorescence showed that vermiculite can be intercalated with 16–19 wt% of cetyltrimethylammonium ions leading to an increase in the d 001 space from 1.15 nm for the pure vermiculite to 1.22–1.24 nm. Sorption experiments with ethinylestradiol taking into account, contact time, pH, initial concentration and amount of adsorbent showed high ethinylestradiol sorption capacities in the range 6.5–9.3 mgEEg−1. These materials containing the hormone can be regenerated by simple solvent extraction which allowed the recovery and reuse of the adsorbent for at least five times. The obtained results suggest that hydrophobic cavities formed by the C18 chains of the cetyltrimethylammonium molecules in the vermiculite interlayer space are responsible for the sorption of the ethinylestradiol molecules.

Konshina, D.; Burylin, M.; Anashkin, R.; Konshin, V.

2018 International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology

doi: 10.1007/s13762-018-1917-2

Electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry with injections of slurry samples was used to determine Cu(II), Hg(II), and Pd(II) in natural and drinking waters after solid-phase extraction with modified silica gels. The formation regularities of the analytical signals of elements in the presence of excessive sorbent solid phase were studied. The solid phase of slurries under analysis (amorphous silicon dioxide with a particle size from 40 to 60 µm) favors the formation of a high (and sometimes uncorrected) background absorption. The conditions for the correct measurements of analytical signals of analytes elements: platform atomization, slurry concentration, peak height measurements, method for calibration curve plotting, and its linearity range, were determined. The preconcentration factor calculated as the weight ratio between analytes in a graphite furnace injected as a sorbent slurry after concentration and as a starting water sample (the injection volumes were identical) was 615. The limits of detection according to the 3σ concept were 1.5 ng/dm3 for Cu, 5 ng/dm3 for Pd, and 18 ng/dm3 for Hg. The developed method was applied with success upon determination of elements in real water samples using aqueous standard solutions and the ERM CA022a “Soft Drinking Water UK Metals”-certified reference samples of drinking water.

Matern, K.; Lux, C.; Ufer, K.; Kaufhold, S.; Mansfeldt, T.

2018 International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology

doi: 10.1007/s13762-018-2009-z

Kashfi, H.; Mousavian, S.; Seyedsalehi, M.; Sharifi, P.; Hodaifa, G.; Seyed Salehi, A.; Takdastan, A.

2018 International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology

doi: 10.1007/s13762-017-1635-1

Water, especially drinking water, might need to be treated before being utilized. Coagulants play a significant role in water treatment. In spite of having adverse effects on human health, aluminum sulfate, alum and other chemical coagulants are commonly used in coagulation processes. Utilization of natural and herbal materials such as quince seeds, fleawort, tragacanth, starch and yeast as coagulant aids has been experimentally investigated in this study. The aims of the present paper are: (1) to determine the optimal dose of Trigonella foenum-graecum (fenugreek) and Astragalus gossypinus (tragacanth) seeds as coagulant aids along with alum for the coagulation of raw water from Minab water treatment plant) located 7 km away from Bandar Abbas–Minab road at the east of Bandar Abbas in Iran, with a total area of 11.5 ha) and (2) to study their influence on reducing the water turbidity at a pilot scale. According to the obtained results, the optimum amount of alum (without additives) was calculated as 35 mg/L for water with the initial turbidity of 70–75 NTU, as the average turbidity interval. Using A. gossypinus and T. foenum-graecum seeds as coagulant aids, the optimum amount of alum reached 22 mg/L. The performance of A. gossypinus, as a coagulant aid, was much better in low concentrations. It was used in doses of 0.25, 1 and 2 mg/L along with 20, 22 and 28 mg/L of alum for low, intermediate and high turbidity levels (28, 70 and 120 NTU) and led to turbidity removal percentages of 85, 94.5 and 96.4, respectively. The optimum amounts of T. foenum-graecum seeds for the three mentioned turbidity levels were calculated as 1, 2 and 4 mg/L. The turbidity removal percentages of 91.5, 95.7 and 97.8 were obtained using the mentioned amounts of T. foenum-graecum seeds along with 20, 22 and 25 mg/L of alum, respectively. Similar results were obtained by using both additives along with alum.

Singh, M.; Jawalkar, C.; Kant, S.

2018 International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology

doi: 10.1007/s13762-018-1759-y

People from all walks of life sharing all types of thoughts exchange one collective challenge, which is ‘starvation’, and it needs ‘food’ for existence. Fertilizers shall carry on playing an important part in meeting this ‘everlasting challenge.’ Needless to say that green supply chain management has countless significance in the ‘fertilizer sector’. There are incredible monetary and ecological opportunities for development in the supply chains of fertilizer plants. Manufacturing of fertilizers caused some pollution, which manifests all through its supply chain in the form of losses. The additional need of fertilizers in agricultural sector must primarily ensure food safety and environmental protection. Through this research paper, an effort has been made to express a model of twelve governing drivers which play an important role in the execution of green supply chain management for the fertilizer plant in Punjab, India. The methodology used in the analysis of drivers was ‘Interpretive Structural Modeling,’ and ‘Matriced Impacts Croises Multiplication Applique and Classment analysis’ was applied for improved understanding of all these drivers. The analysis proved that Government Regulatory System was a key driver for the implementation of green supply chain management practices. It would further help the management to focus on the main drivers in the execution of such environment friendly practices.

Li, H.; Cui, F.; Zhang, F.; Cui, J.; Meng, Q.; Cheng, J.

2018 International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology

doi: 10.1007/s13762-018-1854-0

Activated carbon (AC) was modified in this study using the impregnation roasting method for the preparation of iron-modified AC (Fe/AC), and the diethylamine (DEA) removal efficiency of Fe/AC was characterized by scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller specific surface area analysis. The orthogonal experiment showed that the optimum conditions for the preparation of Fe/AC were as follows: calcination temperature, 500 °C; Fe2(SO4)3 concentration, 0.3 mol L−1; and calcination time, 3 h. The atomic percentage of Fe and S increased by 3.87 times and 1.23 times compared with that of AC, respectively. After modification, Fe(III) was aggregated on the Fe/AC carrier, and a new crystal phase was generated inside the Fe/AC. The specific surface area, pore volume, and internal porosity of Fe/AC were significantly increased. The highest DEA adsorption capacity of Fe/AC (3.55 mg g−1) was ten times that of AC. The DEA adsorption on Fe/AC followed the quasi-second-order kinetic model, which involved both physical and chemical adsorption. The DEA adsorption on Fe/AC was in accordance with the Langmuir adsorption isotherm.

Yuli, M.; Puig, R.; Fuentes, M.; Civancik-Uslu, D.; Capilla, M.

2018 International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology

doi: 10.1007/s13762-018-1937-y

This article describes the eco-innovative characteristics implemented in electronic devices for irrigation with smart-gardening solutions, such as internet connection for weather forecast and sensors of soil moisture contents, as well as a database with different plants necessities. The main function of these products is to collect and analyze the information related to plants needs, thus reducing water and fertilizer consumption. In addition to quantify the environmental impact of savings in these two resource flows (40% water and 20% fertilizers savings) compared with conventional irrigation systems, an ISO 14067 compliant life cycle-based carbon footprint evaluation has been performed to quantify environmental impact of the product itself. The main methodological issue is finding a means on how to proceed when the main environmental benefit of the product under study is, in fact, the service it provides to other systems and when this service cannot be included directly in the product’s carbon footprint calculation due to lack of defined standard-use conditions (such as meteorology or soil composition). Implementation of smart irrigation tools in gardening and agriculture can lead the transition toward more sustainable production systems worldwide, as well as being an example of business transformation toward resource efficiency improvements through the use of information technology systems to contribute to circular economy.

Moridi, Ali

2018 International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology

doi: 10.1007/s13762-018-1775-y

Article 21 of the United Nation 1997 Convention is related to the protection of water resource quality in non-navigable border rivers. Based on this article, the countries located in the border catchment are prohibited from the actions which contaminate the water sources and jeopardize the health of residents. Further, upon the request of one of the beneficiaries, a common standard, integrated monitoring program and planning to reduce non-point and point pollution sources should be developed. In spite of this law, experience has shown that the management of pollution sources, especially non-point resources in border basins, would be very complicated and time-consuming. Selective withdrawal and discharge of contaminated water from lower level of the dam are regarded as one of the effective ways to optimize the eutrophication condition of dam reservoirs in downstream of border basins. The present study aimed to develop an optimization model to improve reservoir water quality and protect water quality of downstream. This method was employed in Dousti dam located on the river of Harirud. Salma dam construction and agricultural development in Afghanistan strengthen the eutrophication condition of the Dousti dam reservoir. The results showed that reservoir conditions in the status quo were Mesotrophic, which convert to the acute conditions of Eutrophic due to the upstream development. In the case of discharging a percentage of downstream need from the reservoir bottom outlet, based on the results of the optimization model, about 30% of the dissolved oxygen is improved.

Saleh Asheghabadi, M.; Sahafnia, M.; Bahadori, A.; Bakhshayeshi, N.

2018 International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology

doi: 10.1007/s13762-018-2150-8

Increasing population growth requires more sustainable development of energy. Wind turbines convert wind energy (as renewable energy) to electrical energy. This non-contaminated energy has an inexhaustible energy source. One of the vital parameters in such structures is the choice of foundation type. Suction caissons are now used extensively worldwide for offshore wind turbine. Considering the presence of a number of offshore wind farms in earthquake areas, the study of seismic behavior of suction caisson is necessary for better design. In this paper, the results obtained from three suction caisson models with different diameter (D) and skirt length (L) in saturated sand were compared with centrifuge test results. All models are analyzed using 3D finite element method taking account of elasto-plastic Mohr–Coulomb constitutive model for soil which is available in the Abaqus library. The earthquake load applied to the base of models with a maximum acceleration of 0.65 g. The results showed that numerical method is in relative good agreement with centrifuge results. The settlement and rotation of foundation decrease by increasing the skirt length and foundation diameter. The sand soil outside the caisson is prone to liquefaction due to its low confinement.

Apeksha, M.; Rajanikanth, B.

2018 International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology

doi: 10.1007/s13762-018-1776-x

For the past 2 decades, electrical discharge-based non-thermal plasma is being utilized for the treatment of oxides of nitrogen and other hazardous air pollutants at the laboratory level. The discharge plasma exposure mainly results in oxidation of the gaseous pollutants necessitating usage of additional adsorbent/catalytic treatment. In this paper, the possibility of using the solid wastes from industries as a potential adsorbent for reducing oxides of nitrogen from diesel engine exhaust which is pre-treated with plasma discharges (direct plasma)/ozone mixing (indirect plasma) has been studied. Waste from agricultural industry (coffee husk), waste from marine industry (oyster shell), waste from metal casting industry (foundry sand), waste from aluminium extraction (red mud) and waste from thermal power plant (coal fly ash) have been used in this paper to study their gaseous pollutant adsorption capabilities. More than 90% reduction efficiency of oxides of nitrogen has been observed during the study. A comparative analysis of the industrial wastes has been made, and the synergistic effects have been discussed with respect to the plasma treatments. A new dimension to managing solid industrial wastes can be expected as a possible outcome of this work.