Adsorptive removal of Cu(II) and Pb(II) onto mixed-waste activated carbon: kinetic,thermodynamic, and competitive studies and application to real wastewater samples

This work aimed to investigate the adsorption characteristics, both kinetically and thermodynamically, of Cu(II) and Pb(II) removal from aqueous solutions onto mixed-waste activated carbon, as well as to study the competitive behavior found in mixed heavy metal solution systems. This study shows that activated carbon prepared from mixed waste is an effective adsorbent for the removal of Cu(II) and Pb(II) from aqueous solutions, with the aim of detoxifying industrial effluents before their safe disposal onto water surfaces. The adsorption process was characterized in terms of kinetic and thermodynamic studies. In addition, the influence of presence of Cu(II) and Pb(II) in a competitive system was investigated. The results showed that the maximum adsorption capacities were gained at a pH of 6 with a contact time of 180 min, a metal solution concentration of 300 ppm, and an adsorbent dose of 0.3 g/L. The adsorption process was found to follow a pseudo-first-order kinetic model. Thermodynamic parameters such as ΔG ^o, ΔH ^o, and ΔS ^o showed that the sorption process was spontaneous and endothermic in nature. A competitive study demonstrated the applicability of mixed-waste activated carbon to adsorb Cu(II) and Pb(II) from a solution of mixed metals. In addition, the adsorption capacity was found to be as effective as other adsorbents reported in the literature. The developed adsorptive removal procedure was applied for treatment of real wastewater samples and showed high removal efficiency.     

Faulting and fracturing in the Jurassic carbonate ramp folds of southern Rif ridges (Northern Morocco)

In the South Rifian ridges (SRR), the dominated structures correspond to the faulted anticline characteristic of a foreland orogeny context, front of the Rif Alpine belt. These anticlines correspond to thrust propagation folds. Geometric model of these structures shows that the normal faults have controlled the Mesozoic sedimentation during extensive episodes and participated in determining areas of thrusting during Miocene compressional phases. However, the normal fault strike which is relative to the direction of the shortening determined the geometry of diverse folds whether into the frontal ramps, lateral, or oblique. In the meantime, the systematic fracturing study in the Jurassic limestone beds, in different parts of the folds with axes oriented E-W, NW-SE, and NE-SW, permits to propose a relative fracturing chronology and tries investigating the relationship between folding and fracturing. The three main fracture families, oblique, transversal, and axial, appear simultaneously during the amplification of the fold. The simple shear in the limb contributes the latest to the folding reactivation and the density of the intensification of these microfractures. Likewise, given the important downslope fold limb dip of the ramp propagation folds, theoretically the shear intensity is more important, and micro-fractures are more important in the downslope fold limb, thus the uphill one.     

Tectonic and geologic influences on soil gas radon emission along the western extension of Damascus fault,Syria

The main purpose of this work is to demonstrate the possibility of using soil gas radon survey as a promising technique for locating the trend of western extension of Damascus fault, where it is hidden under a cover of Pliocene unconsolidated deposits. The normal level of radon background was established in a stationary area away from the tectonic influence of the fault zone. The sites of radon measurements were chosen according to the accessibility and suitability of the area, besides some indicative geologic and tectonic evidences. A total of 81 radon sampling points were analyzed, and the results revealed some reasonable spatial increases, with peak values of 2–3 times higher than the background level, trending in accordance with what is believed to be the general direction of the fault in the bedrock. However, permeability properties rather than geotectonic activities seemed to be the main causes controlling the variations of radon concentration over the concerned fault zone. Yet, the moderate level of the observed radon values could be attributed to the nature of the prevailing rock types, as well as the probable effect of locked tectonic structure due to the action of high regional compressive regime which typically originates such reverse faulting. Further, the accumulation of fill materials due to rock alteration along the plane of such dormant fault, through long geologic time, possibly led to increase in the ratio of clay minerals which may affect soil gas mobility through the medium.     

Tectonic control on the morphology of the subcircular structure of El Mdaouar (Saharan Atlas,Algeria): insights from geological and remote sensing data

El Mdaouar subcircular structure is located in the eastern Saharan Atlas (Algeria) at 35° 05′ N and 4° 19′ 30″ E, about 20 km southwest of the town of Bou Saada. Its diameter is about 3.2 km and shows a raised rim that stands high above the surrounding terrain. We have carried out a combining remote sensing (Landsat 8 OLI image and Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) data) and geological field investigation of the El Mdaouar subcircular structure in order to study its morphology and to determine its origin. In the absence of evidence of magmatism, diapirism, and impact on this structure, a tectonic deformation is the most likely in the origin of this subcircular feature. The counterclockwise rotational motion of the layers explains the morphology of the structure. This rotational motion is probably the result of a combination of the movement of the faults which pass through the structure, in particular two NE-SW strike-slip faults and a NW-SE fault, which marks the eastern limit of the El Mdaouar structure. The NE-SW trending of the structure indicates a NW-SE compressional event, which corresponds to that of the Atlasic phase. This event occurred in the Late Eocene (35 Ma), which is the best estimation of the age of the El Mdaouar structure.     

Recent trends of temperature and precipitation proxies in Saudi Arabia: implications for climate change

The objective of the present study was to reconstruct a short-term (12–14 years) trend of surface temperature and precipitation patterns using their surrogates as provided by satellite images for selected locations along the Red Sea mountains in Saudi Arabia. Time series land surface temperature (LST) and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) data acquired from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) satellite were temporally plotted to delineate the trend and the decadal rates of change of both parameters. Results showed that real climate change is reported in the study area during the study period. There is a net increasing in the surface temperatures by 0.45 to 1.2 °C/decade and a net decrease in annual rainfall between 2001 and 2014. Findings of the present study show that the region is under a warming of the climate and a declining of wetness, which coincide with the air temperature and rainfall trends obtained from meteorological stations.     

Connectivity and stock composition of loggerhead turtles foraging on the North African continental shelf (Central Mediterranean): implications for conservation and management

The loggerhead turtle, Caretta caretta, is a highly migratory species with a complex life cycle that involves a series of ontogenetic habitat shifts and migrations. Understanding the links amongst nesting populations and foraging habitats is essential for the effective management of the species. Here we used mixed stock analysis to examine the natal origin of loggerhead turtles foraging on the North African continental shelf off Tunisia, one of the most important Mediterranean neritic habitats. An 815‐bp fragment of the mitochondrial DNA control region was sequenced from 107 individuals sampled from 2007 to 2009. No temporal variation in haplotype frequencies was detected. Juveniles (n = 87) and adults (n = 23) exhibited weak but significant genetic differentiation that resulted in different stock compositions. Libya was the main source population but the proportion of turtles from this rookery was higher in adults (median = 80%) than in juveniles (median = 35%). Western Greece was the second most important contributing population. Juvenile stock composition derived from mixed stock analysis and the estimates produced by numerical simulation of hatchling dispersion in the Mediterranean Sea were significantly correlated, supporting the recent theory that loggerheads imprint on possible future neritic habitats during the initial phase of their life. This association was not significant for adults, suggesting that other factors contribute to shaping their distribution. Overall, our results show that human activities on the South Tunisian continental shelf pose an immediate threat to the survival of the Libyan rookery.     

Green synthesis of iron oxide (Fe3O4) nanoparticles using two selected brown seaweeds: Characterization and application for lead bioremediation

The exploitation of different plant materials for the biosynthesis of nanoparticles is considered a green technology because it does not involve any harmful chemicals. In this study, iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe₃O₄-NPs) were synthesized using a completely green biosynthetic method by reduction of ferric chloride solution using brown seaweed water extracts. The two seaweeds Padina pavonica (Linnaeus) Thivy and Sargassum acinarium (Linnaeus) Setchell 1933 were used in this study. The algae extract was used as a reductant of FeCl₃ resulting in the phytosynthesis of Fe₃O₄-NPs. The phytogenic Fe₃O₄-NPs were characterized by surface plasmon band observed close to 402 nm and 415 nm; the obtained Fe₃O₄-NPs are in the particle sizes ranged from 10 to 19.5 nm and 21.6 to 27.4 nm for P. pavonica and S. acinarium, respectively. The strong signals of iron were reported in their corresponding EDX spectra. FTIR analyses revealed that sulphated polysaccharides are the main biomolecules in the algae extracts that do dual function of reducing the FeCl₃ and stabilizing the phytogenic Fe₃O₄-NPs. The biosynthesized Fe₃O₄-NPs were entrapped in calcium alginates beads and used in Pb adsorption experiments. The biosynthesized Fe₃O₄-NPs alginate beads via P. pavonica (Linnaeus) Thivy had high capacity for bioremoval of Pb (91%) while that of S. acinarium (Linnaeus) Setchell 1933 had a capacity of (78%) after 75 min. The values of the process parameters for the maximum Pb removal efficiency by Fe₃O₄-NPs alginate beads synthesized via P. pavonica (Linnaeus) Thivy were also estimated.     

Three-Dimensional Back-Analysis of an Instrumented Shallow Tunnel Excavated by a Conventional Method

The excavation of a shallow tunnel induces deformations of the soil volume in the vicinity and above the tunnel and consequently on the nearby buildings. The range of these deformations depends among other on the geological conditions, the geometry of the tunnel, and the excavation method. In this context, this research focuses on the 3D numerical modeling of a shallow tunnel instrumented during its construction, located on the Toulouse (France) subway line B for which the excavation has been carried out in a conventional manner in an over consolidated molassic geological context. The objective of this analysis is to estimate the tunnel behavior in terms of vertical and horizontal movements of the surrounding soil and the deformations of the existing buildings. The explicit finite differences numerical code FLAC^3D is used to model the various implementation phases of the work where the fluid–soil interaction is taken into account through an undrained coupled analysis. The results of this 3D model are compared to those of the in situ measurements in order to validate the geotechnical characteristics of the molasses. The latter are a useful basis for the back-analysis of the different monitoring sections implemented in areas where the tunnel excavation is made by TBM with pressurized front.     

Validity Criteria of Oedometric and Triaxial Test Results

Oedometric and triaxial tests are very much used in soil mechanics. However, in spite of their frequency in the world, these tests present some limitations related to remolding due to sampling process and to implemented experimental procedures. These limitations contribute to decreasing the resistance and deformability mechanical properties of soils, which condition their limit and critical states behavior. This paper proposes four validity criteria of oedometric and triaxial test results (compressibility criterion based on the oedometric test results; consolidation, resistance and rigidity criteria based on the triaxial test results) to appreciate the disturbance of test specimens. Impact of the sample disturbance on the yield envelope of clayey soils according to these validity criteria is then analyzed.     

Distribution of diagenetic alterations in glaciogenic sandstones within a depositional facies and sequence stratigraphic framework: Evidence from the Upper Ordovician of the Murzuq Basin, SW Libya

The spatial and temporal distribution of diagenetic alterations has been constrained in relationship to depositional facies and sequence stratigraphy of the Upper Ordovician glaciogenic quartzarenite sandstones in the Murzuq Basin, SW Libya, which were deposited during the Haritanian glaciation when the basin was laying along the continental margin of Gondwana. Eogenetic alterations encountered include: (i) replacement of detrital silicates, mud matrix and pseudomatrix by kaolinite in paraglacial, tide-dominated deltaic, in foreshore to shoreface (highstand systems tract; HST) and in post-glacial, Gilbert-type deltaic (lowstand systems tract; LST) sandstones, particularly below the sequence boundaries (SB). Kaolinite formation is attributed to the influx of meteoric water during relative sea level fall and basinward shift of the shoreline. (ii) Cementation by calcite (δ¹⁸O_VPDB = − 3.1‰ to + 1.1‰ and δ¹³C_VPDB = + 1.7‰ to + 3.5‰) and Mg-rich siderite in the paraglacial, tide-dominated deltaic and foreshore to shoreface HST sandstones, in the glacial, tide-dominated estuarine (transgressive systems tract; TST) sandstones and in the post-glacial, shoreface TST sandstones is interpreted to have occurred from marine pore-waters. (iii) Cementation by Mg-poor siderite, which occurs in the post-glacial, Gilbert-type deltaic LST sandstones and in the paraglacial, tide-dominated deltaic and foreshore to shoreface HST sandstones, is interpreted to have occurred from meteoric waters during relative sea level fall and basinward shift of the shoreline. (iv) Pervasive cementation by iron oxides has occurred in the glacial, shoreface–offshore TST sandstones and post-glacial, shoreface TST sandstones immediately below the maximum flooding surfaces (MFS), which was presumably enhanced by prolonged residence time of the sediments under oxic diagenetic conditions at the seafloor. (v) Formation of grain-coating infiltrated clays mainly in the glacial, fluvial incised-valley LST sandstones and in the post-glacial, Gilbert-type deltaic LST sandstones as well as, less commonly, in the paraglacial, foreshore to shoreface HST sandstones and in the tide-dominated deltaic HST sandstones below the SBs.

Mesogenetic alterations include mainly the formation of abundant quartz overgrowths in the glacial, fluvial incised-valley LST sandstones, post-glacial, Gilbert-type deltaic LST sandstones and glacial, shoreface TST sandstones, in which early carbonate cements are lacking. Illite, chlorite and albitized feldspars, which occur in small amounts, are most common in the glacial, tide-dominated estuarine TST sandstones and paraglacial, shoreface HST sandstones. This study demonstrates that the spatial and temporal distribution of diagenetic alterations and their impact on reservoir-quality evolution in glacial, paraglacial and post-glacial sandstones can be better elucidated when linked to the depositional facies and sequence stratigraphic framework.