Simultaneous Growth of Spirulina platensis and Removal of Hardness in Van Lake Water

In this study, batch experiments were carried out to investigate simultaneous growth of Spirulina platensis and removal of hardness in the Van Lake Water (VLW). Laboratory‐scale studies showed ample Spirulina growth observed in VLW when exposed to light. Spirulina was the only algal specimen inoculated in the water during the study. VLW percentages were varied between 0.1 and 100% while pH values were 8.7–10.42 in the flasks. On a dry‐weight basis the biomass concentration was 1.18 g L^?1 at pH 10 after 17 days of incubation in the VLW. The increase of pH to above 10.38 associated with Spirulina growth resulted in the precipitation of hardness causing compounds while providing 70% hardness removal from the VLW medium. Experimental results indicated that the proposed method can be used to design batch systems for producing S. platensis and removal of hardness from the VLW.     

Investigation of the Possibility of Copper Removal from Industrial Leachate by Raw and Calcined Phosphogypsum: D‐Optimal and Taguchi Designs

In the present study, the removal of Cu(II) was evaluated by raw and calcined phosphogypsum (PG) as an industrial product. The role of experimental factors on the removal of Cu(II) was examined by using D‐optimal and Taguchi designs. The experimental factors and their related levels were selected as initial pH of 3–6–8, adsorbent content of 5, 10, and 25 g L^?1, contact time of 5, 10, and 20 min, and temperature of 20, 40, and 60°C. The results are evaluated by ANOVA test to extract important experimental factors and their levels. The performances of the suggested factorial designs were then compared and regression models that took into account the significant main and interaction effects were suggested. Taguchi design was found as a reliable solution with less number of experiments for adsorption studies with the optimized values. The resultant removal efficiency is calculated as 78.34%. The results revealed that calcined PG is an appropriate adsorbent for Cu(II) removal from leachate of industrial waste.     

Trace Element Levels in the Groundwater of Mediterranean Coastal Plains – The Case of Silifke,Turkey

The Silifke plain is located near the coast of the Mediterranean Sea in Turkey. The delta in the plain is a highly fertile land that supports the agriculture of more than twenty types of crop. Some trace element content of the groundwater samples taken from the existing wells in this area are analyzed using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP‐OES). The mean levels (ppm) of boron (B), barium (Ba), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), total chromium (TCr), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), aluminum (Al), and nickel (Ni) were obtained for the sampling points in the area for four seasons. Groundwater samples taken in the study area don't exhibit significantly elevated levels of these elements during a period of twelve months between December 2007 and November 2008. Furthermore, all of the elements exhibit values lower than 0.005 ppm, with the exception of B, Ba, and Fe. The results demonstrate that although these three elements produce the highest values, most are found to be appropriate for activities such as irrigation and human consumption in terms of trace elements.     

Geomorphic evidence for active tectonic deformation in the coastal part of Eastern Black Sea,Eastern Pontides,Turkey

The Eastern Pontides (EP), which is the under transpressional deformation zone, is an active mountain belt that has been rising rapidly since the Cenozoic era because of the Arabian-Eurasian convergence. Morphometric studies have been performed to investigate the tectonic activity of this region and better understand the characteristics of the faults geomorphologically; the faults control the mountain fronts in the drainage basin of the EP. The results show the Hypsometric Curve (HC)-Hypsometric Integral (0.37-HI-0.67), Basin-Shaped Analysis (1.2-B_s-7), Valley-Floor-Width to Height-Ratio (0.4-V_f-1.2) and Asymmetry Factor (35-AF-81) applied to 46 drainage basins together with 9 tectonically controlled geomorphic indices (1.2-S_mf-1.5) and a Stream Length Gradient (30-S_L-120) indicate that the EP is tectonically active, and when the areas are evaluated according to S_mf and V_f analyses, the tectonic level is relatively high. According to our conceptual model for the uplifting of the EP, with respect to field studies and morphometric analysis, (i) the EP is the active deformation zone and has a “push-up” geometry in conjunction with the North Anatolian Fault; (ii) the EP is progressively uplifting at a rate of more than 0.5 mm/yr in along with the thrust faults of the Black Sea Fault (BSF) and Borjomi-Kazbegi Fault (BKF).