Iranian Journal of

Background and Objectives: Silica is an inorganic material that found in the nature in various forms. The hazards of crystal of silica or α-quartz (free silica) is greater than other forms. Exposure to dust that contains free silica result to pulmonary injury and result to silicosis and death finally. The present research was conducted in order to evaluate the level of workers exposure to free silica in air of Khaf Iron stone quarries.Materials and methods: The exposure level to total and respiratory dust measured based on personal and environmental sampling methods and concentration of dust determined based on gravimetric method. For determination of amounts of free silica, dust samples analyses based on X-ray diffraction (XRD) method, and results compared with standard levels.Results: The maximum amount of total dust and free silica measured in stone breaking station (800±155mg/m³ and 26.11±6.7 mg/m³) and minimum of them measured in official and safeguarding station (8.28±2.2 mg/m³ and 0.012±0.0019 mg/m³). The maximum amount of respiratory dust and free silica measured in red mound digging number 1 (66.14±13.45 mg/m³ and 1.48±0.39 mg/m³) and minimum of them measured in air hammer machine station (5.26±2.62 mg/m³ and 0.01±0.005 mg/m³).Conclusion: Amount of total dust only in official and safeguarding station was lower than standard levels of Iran. Amount of respiratory dust in all stations was greater than Iran standard levels. Furthermore the level of respiratory free silica only in airy hammer machine station was lower than standard level of Iran. Regarding to this amounts it is so essential to that with applying different methods generation and emission of dust protected.

Background and Objective: Natural organic matters (NOMs) are a mixture of chemically complex polyelectrolytes with varying molecular weights, produced mainly from the decomposition of plants and animal residues. Various purification methods are used for removal of NOMs from water. The objective of this study was to remove NOMs from aqueous solution using reformed continuous carbon nanotubes column. Materials and Methods: The removal of NOMs from aqueous solution using reformed continuous carbon nanotubes column was studied. Effect of several variables such as zero point of pH (pH_ZPC), pH, influent concentration of natural organic matters were studied and different isotherms were assessed. Results: Investigation of pH effect showed that the adsorbability of NOMs increased with decreasing of pH. The experiments indicated that carbon nanotubes (CNT) samples exhibit pH_ZPC around 6. Results from Freundlich, Langmuir, and BET isotherm experiments revealed that the correlation coefficient R² in Freundlich model was higher than that of Langmuir. In addition, experiments of continuous flow in different initial concentrations of NOMs showed that the adsorption capacities of CNT were 53.46, 30.40, and 24.75 mg/g for NOMs initial concentrations of 10, 5, and 3 mg/L, respectively. Conclusion: The present study shows that CNTs have high potential for adsorption of NOMs from aqueous solution