Iranian Journal of

Background and Objectives:Nowadays vermicompost production of food wastes is posed as one of appropriate methods to food wastes. disposal, its production used in agriculture and gardening. Moreover this process has some by products beside useful fertilizer that one of them is the worms. we can use them in variety of products specially in production of poultry and fish food. So determination of optimal condition for operating vermicompost production process of food wastes and worms. growth in these wastes is important. The aim of this study was determination of optimal temperature and moisture range for process progression in vermicompost production of food wastes.
Materials and Methods: In this study we used Eisenia foetida species. Process performed in pots with 15 cm (h) and 12 cm (d) and in a mouth period of time. Three ranges of temperature including 5-15, 15-25, 25-35 oC and three ranges of moisture including 55-65%, 65-75%, 75-85% were applied in this study.
Results: Multivariate analysis was used for analyze of results and it showed that influence of temperature and moisture on C:N ratio is significant in vermicomposting process (p <0.05).
Conclusion: The results showed that the range of temperature 15-25 oC is more appropriate for operating of process. Due to these study.s results with increasing or reduction of ambient temperature, like summer and winter, conservation of moisture around the range of 65-75 %, is effective in better performance of the process. According to this study.s results, it seems that the temperature of 15- 25 oC and moisture of 65-75% are better conditions for worm.s growth.

Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE AR-SA MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 Background and Objectives:Benzene, toluene and Xylenes (BTX) are organic pollutants, which are mainly associated with oil and its derivatives. BTX is environmental contaminants and considered harmful to human health. Application of surface absorbents such as zeolite is one of several methods for the removal of these compounds. In this study, BTX compounds' removal efficiencies were investigated and compared by using clinoptilolite type zeolite and zeolite with copper oxide nanoparticles.
Materials and Methods: In this study, the modified zeolite by hydrochloric acid in the grain size 1-2 mm and modified zeolite with nano particle of copper oxide were used.  Artificially- Contaminated Air flow was used continuously .To determine BTX concentrations, samplings were done by charcoal tube in current input and output. The concentrations of contaminants were determined by gas chromatography with FID detector.
Results: Removal efficiency of benzene, toluene, p-xylene, m-xylene and o-xylene by clinoptilolite were 78.3%, 62.1%, 32.2% 32.15% and 18.8%, respectively. For the clinoptilolite containing copper oxide nano particles efficiency were 25.42%, 35.65%, 36.33%, 33.24% and 29.39%, respectively. Average removal efficiency of BTX compounds observed when the zeolite without nanoparticles used (43.31%) was more than zeolite with nanoparticles (32%). The results showed that the concentration of CO₂ in the outlet air of the zeolite-containing nanoparticle (550 ppm) was more than the zeolite without nanoparticle (525 ppm).
Conclusion: Results showed that adding nanoparticles to the zeolite, although the removal efficiency of benzene and toluene can be reduced. The results showed that adding nanoparticles to the zeolite, although can be reduced removal efficiency of benzene and toluene, which may be due to occupying or blocking of the pollution absorption sites by the nanoparticles on the zeolite, but It cause promote more catalytic effect of zeolite in the decomposition process of contaminants by breaking the molecules of pollutants and their further degradation progress is done for conversion to carbon dioxide

Background and Objectives: Wastewater contains various pathogens including viruses, bacteria, fungi, etc. These microorganisms can easily become airborne during normal operations of wastewater treatment plant and contaminate the neighborhood environment. The aim of this study was to investigate the type and density of bioaerosols in a petrochemical wastewater treatment plant in Iran.
Materials and Methods: In this cross sectional study, bioaerosols density was measured in different units of a petrochemical wastewater treatment plant according to the NIOSH 0800 method and the values measured were compared with background level (control area). For this purpose, air samples were collected on blood agar and dextro agar in Andersen single-stage sampler with air flow of 28.3 l/min for 10 minutes. Samples collected were shipped to the laboratory immediately and were incubated for 48 hours. Then, incubated samples were counted for colonies concentration.
 Results: Average concentration of bacteria and fungi bioaerosols measured were 731.70±185.49 and 28.43±10.58 (M±SD) CFU/m3 respectively throughout the wastewater treatment plant units. These values were 35 and 1.45 times higher than background level (Control area). The differences between average concentrations of bacteria in all units of wastewater treatment plant with control area were statistically significant.
Conclusions: Generally, it was found that the density of bioaerosols, especially bacteria was much higher than the background level. The maximum density was measured at aeration chamber, where the emission of bioaerosols could be reduced through replacing nozzle diffused aeration system.