Environmental Engineering / Çevre Mühendisliği
Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/11147/4321
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Article Citation - WoS: 2Citation - Scopus: 1Dynamics of Co2 Consumption, and Biomass and Lipid Carbon Production During Photobioreactor Cultivation of the Diatom Cyclotella(TÜBİTAK - Türkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Araştırma Kurumu, 2023) Ökten, HaticeUnderstanding of CO2 delivery and consumption dynamics in algal photobioreactors are critical to unravel microalgae’s full potential for bioproduct generation and carbon capture from flue gas streams. This study aims to expand our current understanding by cultivating the diatom Cyclotella under controlled process conditions of a bubble column photobioreactor and analyzing CO2 consumption dynamics in real time using results from an online CO2 sensor connected to the reactor exhaust. Two sets of experiments were conducted: they served to contrast the influence of silicon and nitrate (Si&N colimitation) and Si limitation, and the light availability, respectively. CO2 consumption was calculated based on the mass balance around the reactor inlet and outlet gas streams. Biomass samples and lipid extracts were analyzed for carbon (C) content to determine biomass-C and lipid-C concentrations. The outlet CO2 concentrations varied significantly with cultivation time and process conditions. More than 15% to 65% of the CO2 introduced left the reactor in the exhaust at any instance based on the set CO2 transfer rates. The highest average daily capturing efficiency was 60%. Nutrient limitation regimes imposed generated unique CO2 consumption profiles undiscernible by the biomass-C analysis, i.e. unlike Si limitation, N limitation had more immediate detrimental effects on C consumption. Final biomass-C concentration increased with increasing N and light availability, 275 mg/L vs. 336 mg/L, and 270 mg/L vs. 501 mg/L, respectively. Biomass-C based capturing efficiency approximations resulted in 20% to 40% underestimation. Under Si-limited conditions, the higher light intensity increased the final lipid-C to biomass-C ratio by two times (from 20% to 40%) and the final lipid-C concentration and peak productivity by four times (from 56 mg/L to 216 mg/L, from 7 to 30 mg/L-day, respectively). This study demonstrates online exhaust CO2 concentration-based analysis’s unique capabilities for assessing carbon availability and capture, organic-C production, and its diversion to biomass and lipid production.Article Citation - WoS: 13Citation - Scopus: 14Desalination and Detoxification of Textile Wastewater by Novel Photocatalytic Electrolysis Membrane Reactor for Ecosafe Hydroponic Farming(MDPI, 2022) Aydın, Muhammed Iberia; Özaktaç, Damla; Yüzer, Burak; Doğu, Mustafa; İnan, Hatice; Ökten, Hatice Eser; Coşkun, Serdar; Selçuk, HüseyinIn this study, a novel photoelectrocatalytic membrane (PECM) reactor was tested as an option for the desalination, disinfection, and detoxification of biologically treated textile wastewater (BTTWW), with the aim to reuse it in hydroponic farming. The anionic ion exchange (IEX) process was used before PECM treatment to remove toxic residual dyes. The toxicity evaluation for every effluent was carried out using the Vibrio fischeri, Microtox® test protocol. The disinfection effect of the PECM reactor was studied against E. coli. After PECM treatment, the 78.7% toxicity level of the BTTWW was reduced to 14.6%. However, photocatalytic desalination during treatment was found to be slow (2.5 mg L-1 min-1 at 1 V potential). The reactor demonstrated approximately 52% COD and 63% TOC removal efficiency. The effects of wastewater reuse on hydroponic production were comparatively investigated by following the growth of the lettuce plant. A detrimental effect was observed on the lettuce plant by the reuse of BTTWW, while no negative impact was reported using the PECM treated textile wastewater. In addition, all macro/micronutrient elements in the PECM treated textile wastewater were recovered by hydroponic farming, and the PECM treatment may be an eco-safe wastewater reuse method for crop irrigation.Article Citation - WoS: 64Citation - Scopus: 78Utilization of Municipal Plastic and Wood Waste in Industrial Manufacturing of Wood Plastic Composites(Springer Verlag, 2020) Başalp, Dildare; Tıhmınlıoğlu, Funda; Sofuoğlu, Sait Cemil; İnal, Fikret; Sofuoğlu, AysunIn this study, Wood Plastic Composites (WPCs) were produced from post-consumer bulky wastes of recycled plastic and wood in order to minimize waste, decrease environmental effects of plastics, reserve natural resources, and support circular economy for sustainable production and consumption. Five different types of polypropylene (PP) or polyethylene (PE) based recycled plastics and wood obtained from urban household bulky wastes were used in the production of recycled WPC composites, r-WPCs. Virgin WPC (v-WPC) and r-WPC compounds were prepared with wood flour (WF) and maleic anhydride grafted compatibilizer (MAPP or MAPE) to evaluate the effect of recycled polymer type and compatibilizer on the mechanical properties. It was found that tensile strength properties of r-WPCs produced from recycled PP (r-PP) were higher than that of the r-WPCs produced from mixed polyolefins and recycled PE. r-WPCs containing anti-oxidants, UV stabilizers, and compatibilizer with different WF compositions were produced from only recycled garden fraction PP (PPFGF) to determine the optimum composition and processing temperature for pilot scale manufacturing of r-WPCs. Based on tensile, impact, flexural, and water sorption properties of r-WPC compounds with different formulations, the optimum conditions of r-WPC compounds for industrial manufacturing process were determined. Surface morphology of fractured surfaces as well as tensile, flexural and density results of r-WPC compounds revealed the enhancement effect of MAPP on interfacial adhesion in r-WPCs. r-WPC products (crates and table/chair legs) based on bulky wastes were produced using an injection molding process at industrial scale by using 30 wt% WF-filled r-WPC compound. This study demonstrated that r-WPC compounds from recycled bulky plastic and wood wastes can be used as a potential raw material in plastic as well as WPC industry, contributing to circular economy. GraphicArticle Citation - WoS: 5Citation - Scopus: 5A Hybrid Process for 2,4-Dichlorophenoxy Acetic Acid Herbicidal Treatment and Its Microbial Identification by Maldi-Tof Mass Spectrometry(Taylor and Francis Ltd., 2020) Doğdu Okçu, Gamze; Ökten, Hatice Eser; Yalçuk, ArdaThe feasibility of coupling photocatalysis and a biological treatment to remove a herbicide–2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid (2,4-D)–from pure water was examined using batch experiments following three protocols: aerated (A-BR) and non-aerated biodegradation (NA-BR) alone, and intimately combined photodegradation and biodegradation (P-B). In view of a subsequent biological treatment, 15 and 180 min irradiation times were chosen in accordance with spectrophotometric and LC-MS/MS results that indicated the decrease in the COD/TOC ratio during photocatalysis. Pre-treatment led to a quick decrease in concentration of 2,4-D and COD during the biological process: a 78.79 ± 0.30% COD removal and 38.23 ± 3.12% 2,4-D elimination was measured after 5760 min in A-BR, and 80.89 ± 0.81% COD and 81.36 ± 1.37% 2,4-D removal was achieved after 2880 min in P-B. For species identification using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI)-time of flight (TOF)-TOF/MS equipment, Aeromonas eucrenophila, Stenotrophomonas acidaminiphila, Ralstonia pickettii, Sphingobacterium multivorum and Acinetobacter towneri were identified with high accuracy, and they play important roles in the degradation of 2,4-D.Article Citation - WoS: 12Citation - Scopus: 15Assessment and Improvement of Indoor Environmental Quality in a Primary School(Taylor and Francis Ltd., 2017) Ekren, Orhan; Karadeniz, Ziya Haktan; Atmaca, İbrahim; Ugranlı Çiçek, Tuğba; Sofuoğlu, Sait Cemil; Toksoy, MacitThis study reports levels of indoor environmental quality variables before and after installation of heat recovery ventilation in a primary school located in an urban area in Izmir, Turkey. A CO2-based modeling was performed to determine the required flow rates that would comply with an international ventilation standard, followed by computational fluid dynamics modeling for best airflow distribution in a classroom. Temperature, CO2, PM2.5, and total volatile organic compounds were found at undesired levels, among which relative humidity, CO2, and PM2.5 were improved after the intervention. Reductions in the mean and maximum concentrations were 29% and 68% for CO2 and 29% and 46% for PM2.5. This intervention study was a part of the city-wide main project that aimed to increase awareness of the students and their families, teachers, and staff regarding importance of indoor environmental quality in both at school and home due to its possible effects on children's health and academic performance, one of the major challenges of today's societies all around the globe.Article Citation - WoS: 21Citation - Scopus: 23Determination of Caco 3 and Sio 2 Content in the Binders of Historic Lime Mortars(Springer Verlag, 2012) Uğurlu Sağın, Elif; Böke, Hasan; Aras, Nadir; Yalçın, ŞerifeThe binders of historic mortars composed of small grain sized silica (SiO 2) and carbonated lime (CaCO 3) are considered as the main part that give hydraulic character and high strength to the mortar. In this study, FTIR, SEM-EDS, LIBS and XRD spectroscopy were used to find out the weight ratios of CaCO 3 to SiO 2 in the binders of historic lime mortars. For this purpose, a series of pure calcium carbonate and silica mixture were prepared in ten combinations in varying ratios from 0.5 to 5. Calibration curve was prepared for each analysis by plotting the peak area or intensity ratios of CaCO 3 to SiO 2 versus the weight ratios of CaCO 3 to SiO 2. A good linear correlation coefficient was obtained for each analysis respectively. The analyses were then tested on the binder of the Roman mortar samples. The results indicated that FTIR, SEM-EDS and LIBS spectroscopy are convenient tools to determine the weight ratios of CaCO 3 to SiO 2 in the binders of mortars. But XRD spectroscopy is not convenient for quantitative analysis of binders due to the presence of varied amounts of amorphous or poor crystalline silica in their compositions.Article Citation - WoS: 9Citation - Scopus: 13An Exposure–risk Assessment for Potentially Toxic Elements in Rice and Bulgur(Springer Verlag, 2017) Sofuoğlu, Sait Cemil; Sofuoğlu, AysunRice and wheat are rich sources of essential elements. However, they may also accumulate potentially toxic elements (PTE). Bulgur, the popular alternative to rice in the eastern Mediterranean, is produced by processing wheat, during which PTE content may change. This study determined PTE concentrations in rice and bulgur collected from 50 participant households in the City of Izmir, Turkey, estimated ingestion exposure, and associated chronic-toxic and carcinogenic human health risks. Comparison of the determined concentrations to the available standard levels and the levels reported in the literature revealed that Cd, Co, and Pb in rice might be of concern. The estimated health risks of individual participants supported this result with exceedance of respective threshold or acceptable risk levels at the 95th percentile. Population risk estimates indicated that the proportion with higher than the threshold or acceptable risk is about 10%, 24%, and 12% for Cd, Co, and Pb in rice, respectively. Results of this study showed that health risks associated with PTE exposure through bulgur consumption are lower than those of rice, and below the threshold or acceptable risk levels.Article Citation - WoS: 14Citation - Scopus: 22Forecasting Ambient Air So2 Concentrations Using Artificial Neural Networks(Taylor and Francis Ltd., 2006) Sofuoğlu, Sait Cemil; Sofuoğlu, Aysun; Birgili, Savaş; Tayfur, GökmenAn Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) model is constructed to forecast SO 2 concentrations in Izmir air. The model uses meteorological variables (wind speed and temperature) and measured particulate matter concentrations as input variables. The correlation coefficient between observed and forecasted concentrations is 0.94 for the network that uses all three variables as input parameters. The root mean square error value of the model is 3.60 g/mt 3 . Considering the limited number of available input variables, model performances show that ANNs are a promising method of modeling to forecast ambient air SO 2 concentrations in Izmir.