Optimization and modeling of boric acid extraction from colemanite in water saturated with carbon dioxide and sulphur dioxide gases

In this study, the boric acid extraction from colemanite ore in aqueous media saturated by CO₂ and SO₂ gases was studied and the effects of relevant parameters, namely; reaction temperature, solid-to-liquid ratio, mean particle size, stirring speed and reaction time have been investigated on the boric acid extraction from colemanite ore by using the fractional factorial design and central composite design methods. The chosen experimental parameter levels were as follows: reaction temperature, 11.4–58.6 °C; solid-to-liquid ratio, 0.0685–0.1315 g/mL; mean particle size, 0.2835–3 mm; stirring speed, 107–893 rpm; reaction time, 7.125–22.875 min. A model has been developed between the boric acid extraction efficiency from colemanite ore and relevant parameters by means of variance analysis by using the matlab computer software and the obtained model was used to determine optimum conditions. The optimum conditions were found to be as follows: reaction temperature, 41 °C; solid-to-liquid ratio, 0.0685 g/mL; mean particle size, 0.2835 mm; stirring speed, 266 rpm; reaction time, 7 min. The calculated boric acid extraction efficiency from colemanite ore was approximately 99.9% under the optimum conditions.     

The Geoelectrical Structure of Northwestern Anatolia,Turkey

The magnetotelluric method has been employed to generate a geoelectrical model that will reveal the rich geological pattern and dynamic character of western and northwestern Anatolia, Turkey. Magnetotelluric data were collected from 53 sites along a profile of 290 km from the Dardanelles to the Ala?ehir Graben. Magnetotelluric data were in the range of 0.00055 Hz to 320 Hz. The models were obtained through 2-D joint inversion of transverse electric and transverse magnetic modes. Lateral changes in geoelectrical models are verified by using gravity and magnetic data. In addition, some of the seismological data presented here agree with proposed models that suggest a brittle-ductile structure boundary at a depth of 20 km. Generally speaking, a regional extensional regime caused reduction in the thickness of the crust and consequent uplift towards the south. The constructed model delineates the western part of the North Anatolian Fault Zone along the Biga Peninsula. The current patterns of volcanic activity on the Biga Peninsula and at Kula are related to conductive spots presented in the models. The border of the Gördes Basin, located between the Izmir - Ankara suture zone and the Menderes Massif, is also well delineated. The North Anatolian Fault Zone presents a pattern in which density and susceptibility anomalies attain relatively high values. Fillings covering most of the surface have lower density and susceptibility values than those of underlying structures.     

Mercury in water,organisms and sediments from a section of the Turkish Mediterranean coast

Samples of water, marine organisms and sediment collected along the Turkish Mediterranean coast in the vicinity of Mersin were analysed for total mercury. The levels of mercury found in the samples from this area are generally low in comparison with the levels found in other regions of the Mediterranean.     

Geochronology and stable isotope signature of alteration related to hydrothermal magnetite ores in Central Anatolia,Turkey

Hydrothermal iron ores at Divri?i, east Central Anatolia, are contained in two orebodies, the magnetite-rich A-kafa and the limonitic B-kafa (resources of 133.8 Mt with 56% Fe and 0.5% Cu). The magnetite ores are hosted in serpentinites of the Divri?i ophiolite at the contact with plutons of the Murmano complex. Hydrothermal biotite from the Divri?i A-kafa yield identical weighted mean plateau ages of 73.75?±?0.62 and 74.34?±?0.83 Ma (2σ). This biotite represents a late alteration phase, and its age is a minimum age for the magnetite ore. Similar magnetite ores occur at Hasançelebi and Karakuz, south of Divri?i. There, the iron ores are hosted in volcanic or subvolcanic rocks, respectively, and are associated with a voluminous scapolite ± amphibole ± biotite alteration. At Hasançelebi, biotite is intergrown with parts of the magnetite, and both minerals formed coevally. The weighted mean plateau ages of hydrothermal biotite of 73.43?±?0.41 and 74.92?±?0.39 Ma (2σ), therefore, represent mineralization ages. Hydrothermal biotite from a vein cutting the scapolitized host rocks south of the Hasançelebi prospect has a weighted mean plateau age of 73.12?±?0.75 Ma (2σ). This age, together with the two biotite ages from the Hasançelebi ores, constrains the minimum age of the volcanic host rocks, syenitic porphyry dikes therein, and the scapolite alteration affecting both rock types. Pyrite and calcite also represent late hydrothermal stages in all of these magnetite deposits. The sulfur isotope composition of pyrite between 11.5 and 17.4‰ δ³⁴S_(VCDT) points towards a non-magmatic sulfur source of probably evaporitic origin. Calcite from the Divri?i deposit has δ¹⁸O_(VSMOV) values between +15.1 and +26.5‰ and δ¹³C_(VPDB) values between ?2.5 and +2.0‰, which are compatible with an involvement of modified marine evaporitic fluids during the late hydrothermal stages, assuming calcite formation temperatures of about 300°C. The presence of evaporite-derived brines also during the early stages is corroborated by the pre-magnetite scapolite alteration at Divri?i, and Hasançelebi-Karakuz, and with paleogeographic and paleoclimatic reconstructions. The data are compatible with a previously proposed genetic model for the Divri?i deposit in which hydrothermal fluids leach and redistribute iron from ophiolitic rocks concomitant with the cooling of the nearby plutons.     

Operational Cost Comparison of Several Pre‐Treatment Techniques for OMW Treatment

Olive mill wastewaters (OMWs), which are known to have deep impacts on the receiving water bodies due to their high‐strength contents of organic materials and color, must be treated before discharge. For this reason; a number of research studies have been available in current literature related to the treatment of OMWs. However, no widely accepted treatment alternatives have been proposed yet. The common results of these studies suggest that OMWs must be pretreated prior to final purification processes. This study focuses on the comparison of alternative pre‐treatment processes in the aspect of chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal and costs of operation. Centrifuging, lime precipitation, acid cracking, and electrocoagulation processes were performed to compare removal efficiencies and operational costs. The COD removal efficiencies for centrifuging, lime precipitation, acid cracking, and electrocoagulation processes were determined to be 30.1, 24.1, 20.0, 53.7%, respectively, with operational costs being $0.30, $0.37, $1.42, and $11.60 per cubic meter of wastewater treated, respectively. The centrifuging process was concluded to be the most appropriate one according to the COD removal efficiency and cost of operation.     

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.     

Stochastic dynamic response of dam–reservoir–foundation systems to spatially varying earthquake ground motions

In this paper, stochastic dynamic responses of dam–reservoir–foundation systems subjected to spatially varying earthquake ground motions are investigated using the displacement-based fluid finite elements. For this purpose, variable-number-node two-dimensional (2D) fluid finite elements based on the Lagrangian approach is programmed in FORTRAN language and incorporated into a computer program SVEM, which is used for stochastic dynamic analysis of solid systems subjected to spatially varying earthquake ground motion. The spatially varying earthquake ground motion model includes incoherence, wave-passage and site-response effects. The incoherence effect is examined by considering the Harichandran and Vanmarcke coherency model. The effect of the wave passage is investigated by using various wave velocities. Homogeneous medium and firm soil types are selected for considering the site-response effect where the foundation supports are constructed. The Sar?yar concrete gravity dam, constructed in Turkey is selected for numerical example. The ground motion is described by filtered white noise and applied to each support point of the 2D finite element model of the dam–reservoir–foundation system. The record of Kocaeli earthquake in 1999 is used in the analyses. Displacements, stresses and hydrodynamic pressures occurring on the upstream face of the dam are calculated for four cases. It is concluded that spatially varying earthquake ground motions have important effects on the stochastic dynamic response of dam–reservoir–foundation systems.     

An experimental study on steel‐encased buckling‐restrained brace hysteretic dampers

This paper describes a seismic test program performed on 12 steel‐encased buckling‐restrained braces (BRBs). The use of rolled or built‐up buckling‐restraining mechanisms with welded or bolted attachments was examined. In addition, the effects of bolt pretension, core‐to‐encasing attachment details, aspect ratio of core segment and imperfections due to manufacturing on the brace response were investigated. All specimens were subjected to a stepwise incremental quasi‐static testing protocol with a maximum axial strain amplitude of 2%. All specimens except one showed satisfactory performance with stable hysteretic response and sustained cumulative inelastic deformations in excess of 200 times the yield deformation. Based on the experimental results, the compression strength adjustment factor, and the strain hardening adjustment factor for each excursion were quantified. Test results revealed that these two factors are significantly influenced by the parameters investigated in the experimental program. BRB details were also found to influence the buckling and the yielding patterns of the core segment. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Investigating water quality and arsenic contamination in drinking water resources in the Tavşanlı District (Kütahya,Western Turkey)

Arsenic is a natural component of the earth’s crust, and it is transported into surface water and groundwater through the dissolution of rocks, minerals and ores. In addition, arsenic leaching processes contaminate water sources and this geogenic arsenic contamination causes significant water quality problems in many parts of the world. In this study, water quality, arsenic contamination and human health risks of drinking water resources in the Tav?anl? District were determined and the origins were discussed. For this purpose, geological and hydrogeological properties were investigated. In situ measurements and chemical analyses were carried out on water samples taken from drinking water sources such as wells, springs and surface waters for hydrogeochemical studies. According to the obtained results, water resources are Ca–Mg–HCO₃, Mg–HCO₃ and Na–HCO₃ type. Total As (As_T) concentration of the water samples sometimes exceeds the permissible limit given by the TSI-266 (Standards for drinking waters, Turkish Standards Institution, Ankara, 2005) and WHO (Guidelines for drinking-water quality, World Health Organization, Geneva, 2008) for drinking water. H₃AsO ₃ ⁰ and HAsO₄ ^2? are dominant arsenic species in groundwater and surface water, respectively. Typically high total arsenic concentrations can be found in regions characterized by magmatic rocks. In addition, As concentrations in surface waters were found to be higher than in groundwater in the region, due to the anthropogenic influence of mining activities in the region.