Showing 11 results for Response
Farin Fatemi, Hamed Mohammadi, Ali Ardalan, Kazem Naddafi,
Volume 6, Issue 2 (9-2013)
Abstract
Background and Objectives: On August 2012, two earthquakes measured 6 and 6.2 on the Richter scale took place in Eastern Azerbaijan province. Environmental Health Department is accounted as one of the main units for providing and supervising environmental sanitation services at the emergencies, therefore, the objective of this study was allocated to assess environmental health response performance in recent earthquake.
Material and Methods: Through multi-stages stratified sampling, we selected 8 and 4 villages from the earthquake zones of Heris and Varzaghan respectively. The collecting data tools in this research were the WHO checklist in 7 categories, 14 subcategories, and 37 environmental health activities and also the minimum standards of Sphere Project checklist. The status of environmental health in each village was assessed using the mentioned checklists. This study was carried out with attendance of research team in earthquake zones 21 days after the occurrence of earthquake.
Results: Among the 37 environmental health activities, 7 activities were the joint ones, which Environmental Health Department had to carry it out with the coordination of other related organizations. In other words, the environmental health has the supervising role in these activities. Totally, such activities had more nonconformities compared with the activities in which environmental health was administered as the main responder. The details of results have been expressed in the full text.
Conclusion: Providing intra-sector coordination, prioritizing the needs of the affected population and considering the principles of community based management in the natural disaster are proposed as the recommendations of this study.
Samaneh Ghodrati, Gholamreza Moussavi,
Volume 7, Issue 2 (10-2014)
Abstract
Background and objectives: Electrocoagulation (EC) as an electrochemical method was developed to overcome the drawbacks of conventional decolorization technologies and is an attractive alternative for the treatment of textile dyes. This study was aimed at the optimization of the EC process for decolorization and COD removal of a real textile wastewater using response surface methodology (RSM). RSM is an important branch of experimental design and a critical technology in developing new processes, optimizing their performance, and improving design and formulation of a new products. Materials and Methods: In this study, a bench scale EC reactor was designed, constructed, and studied for treatment of a textile wastewater. The main operational variables were current intensity, residence time, initial pH, and electrode materials as independent variables color and COD removal were considered as dependent variables. The experimental runs were designed using selected variables using Design Expert 7.0 software and the process was optimized for decolorization and COD removal using the response surface method. Results: The optimal operational conditions in the EC process for attaining the maximum decolorization and COD removal were current density of 0.97 A, initial pH of 4.04, residence time of 48 min, and Fe electrode. The desirability factor for Fe electrode was 1, while decolorization and COD removal were predicted 76.3 and 75.6% respectively, which was confirmed by the experimental results. Conclusion: The experimental results indicated that the EC process is an efficient and promising process for the decolorization and COD removal of textile effluents. Under the optimized conditions, the experimental values had a good correlation with the predicted ones, indicating suitability of the model and the success of the RSM in optimizing the conditions of EC process in treating the textile wastewater with maximum removals of color and COD under selected conditions of independent variables.
A Eslami, T Ebadi, M Moradi, F Ghanbari,
Volume 8, Issue 1 (8-2015)
Abstract
Background and objectives: Perchloroethylene (PCE) is categorized as contaminant of concern because of its adverse health effects and persistence in drinking water resources. Permeable reactive barrier with zero valent iron (ZVI-PRB) is a passive zone in which chlorinated ethenes are degraded in situ through the chemical reduction mechanism. The objective of the present investigation was optimization and modelling of ZVI-PRB technology for the elimination of PCE from the aqueous environment using response surface methodology. Materials and methods: In order to simulate ZVI-PRB, a column filled with silica sand and ZVI was used. effects of three variables including pH, column height or barrier thickness and flow on reductive dechlorination efficiency were assessed. Design of experiment, modelling, and data analysis were carried out using response surface method. Results: The dechlorination efficiency was about 93% under optimum conditions (pH=5, 26 cm column height and 2 mL/min flow rate). The ascending trend of pH along the column revealed that the reductive condition was dominant within the column. The R2 value of 0.98 also indicated good fitness of the experimental results and model predictions. Conclusion: Based on the results, ZVI-PRB technology has high efficiency in dechlorination of PCE. Likewise, regarding to no need of energy consumption, abundance of iron, no production of harmful by-products and cost-effectiveness, ZVI-PRB is propounded as a stable, green, and environmental friendly technology in groundwater remediation.
H Kamani, Ah Panahi, Sd Ashrafi, F Kord Mostafapour, Ns Omrani Gargari,
Volume 10, Issue 3 (12-2017)
Abstract
Background and Objective: Extreme use of antibiotics and discharging to the environment lead to serious consequences. Mesoporous silica such as MCM-41 material is widely used to absorb contaminants from the aqueous solution. The aim of this study was to evaluate mesoporous synthesis of MCM-41 and its efficacy for removal of the antibiotic cephalexin from aqueous solution.
Materials and Methods: Physical characteristics and absorbent structure synthesized by techniques BET, FTIR and XRD were analyzed. The effect of variables such as pH values (3, 7, 11), the dose of MCM-41 (200, 500, 800 mg/L), initial concentration of cephalexin (50, 75, 100 mg/L), contact time (30, 60, 90 min), and process temperature (20, 30, 40 0C) on absorption of cephalexin were studied. In order to achieve the optimal experimental conditions, response surface methodology (RSM) model was used.
Results: The results showed that pH (p=0.0001), adsorbent dose (p=0.0001), initial concentration of cephalexin (p=0.0001), contact time (p=0.01), pH2 (p=0.0002) and pH (p=0.04) and initial concentration had a significant impact on the response variable. The optimum removal condition based on analysis of variance and the model was at the reaction time 90 min, pH 3, initial concentration 50 mg/L and adsorption dose 600 mg/L. Under these conditions, the removal efficiency of 81.1% was achieved.
Conclusion: The results showed that adsorption process with the mesoporous MCM-41 had a high efficiency on the removal of cephalexin from the aqueous environments.
N Rouniasi, Sm Monavari, Ma Abdoli, M Baghdadi, A Karbasi,
Volume 11, Issue 2 (9-2018)
Abstract
Background and Objective: Water pollution due to heavy metals is a critical and increasing problem worldwide. In this study, removal of cadmium and lead heavy metals using a graphene oxide (GO) adsorbent was examined.
Materials and Methods: GO nanosheets were synthesized through Hummer’s method, and its characterizations were examined using FTIR, XRD, and SEM. The effect of independent variables pH, contact time and initial concentration of the solution on removal efficiency of Cd2+and Pb2+ using response surface methodology was evaluated according to Box-Behnken experimental design. Applying quadratic model, adsorption rate of Cd2+ and Pb2+ achieved 99%. ANOVA was applied for statistical analysis of responses.
Results: According to SEM images, the average size of graphene oxide sheets was 1 to 3 µm. After optimization through RSM, the adsorption capacity for Pb2+ and Cd2+ was 136 mg/g and 68 mg/g, respectively. Examination of the isotherms suggested that Cd2+ and Pb2+ adsorption follows Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm, respectively.
Conclusion: the results show that the graphene oxide performed well in removing both Cd2+ and Pb2+ ions from aqueous solutions. The most influential parameters on the above-mentioned heavy metals adsorption were pH of the solution and the initial concentration.
M Hadi, M Solaimany Aminabad, M Amiri, M Arjipour,
Volume 11, Issue 3 (12-2018)
Abstract
Background and Objective: Treatment of hospital wastewaters has an important role in reducing the discharge of organics and pharmaceutical compounds into aquatic environments. Nowadays, advanced oxidation processes were extensively used for the removal of organic compounds from treated effluents. The study aimed to examine organic compounds removal from real treated effluent of a hospital treatment plant using a lab scale UV/H2O2/TiO2 process by optimizing the process.
Materials and Methods: The effluent characteristics including COD, TOC and DOC were measured and recorded. A hybrid advanced oxidation process (UV/H2O2/TiO2) was used for the removal of organic compounds. The experiments were designed using surface response methodology (RSM). The effects of the independent factors including pH, duration of UV irradiation, H2O2 and TiO2 concentrations on COD, TOC, DOC and the approximate cost of treatment were assessed by analysis of variance (ANOVA).
Results: The optimal condition was 7.2 for pH, 50 mg/L for H2O2, 100 mg/L for TiO2 and 19.65 min for irradiation time. This condition provided the maximum removal percentage for organic compounds with a minimum cost. The removal efficiency for TOC, DOC and COD were 63.9, 52.9, and 64.7%, respectively. The treatment cost was approximated to be $ 0.71 per one liter of the effluent.
Conclusion: Irradiation and H2O2 concentration had the greatest impact on the cost of the treatment. UV/H2O2/TiO2 process seems to be an expensive process for tertiary treatment of wastewater. However, further investigations are required to evaluate the cost effectiveness of the process for a full scale operation.
S Fallah Jokandan, M Yegane Badi, A Esrafili, A Azari, E Ahmadi, H Tarhandeh, M Kermani,
Volume 12, Issue 2 (9-2019)
Abstract
Background and Objective: The activities of various industries produce a wide range of pollutants and toxic compounds. One of these compounds is the catechol, a cyclic organic compound with high toxicity and resistant to degradation. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate efficiency of powder activated carbon magnetized with Fe3O4 nanoparticles in the removal of catechol from aqueous solutions by response surface methodology.
Materials and Methods: The co-precipitation method was used to synthesize magnetic powder activated carbon and its properties were analyzed by SEM and XRD analysis. Then, the effect of the parameters such as pH, contact time, absorbent dose, initial concentration of catechol and temperature on the efficiency of adsorption process were investigated using a response surface methodology (Box–Behnken). The residual concentration of catechol was measured by HPLC at 275 nm.
Results: The results showed that the maximum efficiency of the adsorption process was obtained at concentration of 20 mg/L, pH=3, contact time 90 minutes, at 25 °C and absorbent dose of 1.5 g/L. The study of isotherm and kinetics showed that the experimental data of the catechol adsorption process correlated with the Langmuir and pseudo-second order models, respectively. Thermodynamic study of the reaction also expresses the Exothermic and Spontaneous process.
Conclusion: The results showed that the adsorption process using powder activated carbon magnetized with Fe3O4 nanoparticles at acidic pH had better efficiency. As a result, the studied process as an effective, rapid and inexpensive method for removal of catechol from aqueous solutions is proposed. Due to its short reaction time, it is economically affordable process.
Hanieh Mirbolooki, Mehrshad Hajibabaei,
Volume 14, Issue 2 (9-2021)
Abstract
Background and Objective: Antibiotics are hardly decomposable and resistant contaminants in the environment that according to their anti-biological properties, it is necessary to eliminate or reduce the amount of them before entering the environment. Therefore, the main goal of this research is to investigate the Fenton and Fenton-like process efficiency for the treatment of wastewater containing Spiramycin antibiotic.
Materials and Methods: The effect of independent variables including pH, contact time, oxidant concentration (H2O2), and catalyst concentration (Fe2+ and Fe3+) on the COD removal efficiency were measured using COD meter. The ranges and number of experiments were assigned by RSM (Response surface method) using design expert software.
Results: The optimum conditions of Fenton process with treatment efficiency of 63.31% were obtained at pH 4, hydrogen peroxide concentration of 50 mg/L, Fe2+ concentration of 75 mg/L and contact time of 5 min. The optimum conditions of Fenton-like process with treatment efficiency of 51.21% were obtained at pH 3, hydrogen peroxide concentration of 60 mg/L, Fe3+ concentration of 137.5 mg/L and contact time of 32.5 min. Based on the ANOVA analysis results, the f value in Fenton method indicates that the model is significant.
Conclusion: According to the results, Fenton oxidation process was selected as the optimum method to remove COD from synthetic wastewater containing Spiramycin antibiotic which may be applied as an efficient method for the treatment of wastewaters containing antibiotic.
Mohamad Javad Zoqi,
Volume 14, Issue 3 (12-2021)
Abstract
Background and Objective: The most used dyes in textile industries are Azo Group dyes. Azo dyes have complex aromatic compounds, low chemical and biodegradable stability. Due to these properties, treatment of this type of wastewater by conventional methods will not meet environmental standards. The advanced oxidation process has been widely used to treat organic matter from wastewater. In this study, dye purification of azo dye Reactive Red 195 by UV/H2O2 process was investigated. Moreover, the parameters affecting this process have also been determined.
Materials and Methods: In this study, dye treatment was conducted in the presence of different concentrations of hydrogen peroxide, and at different retention time, temperature and pH values in a continuous photoreactor equipped with UV lamps. Using central composite design and response surface methodology (RSM), effects of various concentrations of hydrogen peroxide, retention time, temperature, and pH on the color and COD removal were studied in the range of 0–2%, 60-240 min, 25-80 oC, and 3-10, respectively.
Results: The results showed that the concentration of hydrogen peroxide and retention time were the most influential parameters on color and COD removal. Color removal significantly enhanced by increasing retention time and H2O2 concentration to 200 min and 1.2%, respectively. pH increase had positive effect on color removal. There were increases in the rate of color and COD removal as the temperature went up to 50 oC. However, temperature of 80 oC negatively impacted AOP process. According to RSM, the optimum factor levels were achieved at 1.28%, 240 min, 49 oC and 10 for concentrations of hydrogen peroxide, reaction time, temperature, and pH, respectively.
Conclusion: According to the result, UV/H2O2 proved to be capable of degrading Reactive Red 195. Almost all the azo dye color destroyed after 209 min while 87.52 % of the COD was removed after 240 min of irradiation.
Mohammad Hossein Fekri, Samaneh Soleymani, Maryam Razavi Mehr, Fatemeh Saki,
Volume 16, Issue 2 (9-2023)
Abstract
Background and Objective: Due to the presence of industrial pollutants in water sources, it is necessary to treat wastewater, especially colored wastewater. This study aims to treat wastewater containing methyl orange dye using nano mesopore SBA-16.
Materials and Methods: In this study, the effect of different parameters (pH, concentration of methyl orange, amount of adsorbent, temperature, and contact time) on the absorption of methyl orange by nanocomposite prepared with the help of Design of Experiment 7 software and Response Surface Method (RSM) was investigated.
Results: The maximum amount of pollutant removal by the adsorbent was obtained under optimal conditions of pH = 4.07, temperature 50 °C, contact time 35 minutes, initial concentration of adsorbent 10 mg/L, and amount of adsorbent 0.04 g. Also, the findings showed that the absorption behavior is most consistent with the Langmuir isotherm and the absorption process is exothermic and spontaneous at low temperatures.
Conclusion: In optimal conditions, the SBA-16 adsorbent was able to remove 98.60 % of methyl orange from the aqueous solution and the maximum adsorption capacity (qmax) for the removal of methyl orange pollutant was 37.73 mg/g. Considering the high potential of nano mesopore SBA-16 in removing methyl orange pigment, it can be considered a suitable candidate for removing colored pollutants and treating wastewater from textile factories.
Mahboub Saffari,
Volume 16, Issue 3 (12-2023)
Abstract
Background and Objective: Nowadays, the use of biochar as a new and suitable adsorbent to remove inorganic pollutants from water sources has grown significantly. The present study was conducted to evaluate the effects of biochar physical modifications compared to unmodified biochar on nickel (Ni) removal efficiency in aqueous solutions.
Materials and Methods: After the production of cypress cones biochar (RB), biochar particles (<164 µm) were crushed into very small (<26 µm) dimensions (BMB) using a planetary ball mill and after evaluation their various properties by SLS, BET, FTIR and SEM techniques, their application (RB and BMB) in optimizing the Ni removal from aqueous solutions were evaluated using the response surface methodology (RSM: Box-Behnken design).
Results: Based on the results, the physical modification of biochar (BMB) decreased the particle size by 6.2 times, increased the specific surface area by 4.9 times, increased (containing oxygen) and decreased (aliphatic and OH stretching groups) of specific functional groups and finer surface morphology, compared to RB. The use of BMB in the aqueous solution caused an increase of 9.7% (on average) in the removal of Ni compared to the RB sample. The fitting of the data obtained from Ni removal in the Box-Benken model in both adsorbents shows the appropriate prediction of this model in the optimization of Ni removal from aqueous solutions.
Conclusion: According to the results of this research, the physical modification of biochar, as a simple, cheap, and environmentally friendly method, due to the increase in the efficiency of Ni pollutant removal, can be introduced as a suitable method in the activation of biochar, which further research is required based on the type of biochar and various pollutants.
