Search Results (14)

This study investigates the adsorption performance of Reactive Red-141 (ReR-141) using three modified orange peel derivatives: raw orange peel (ROP), oil-free orange peel (NOOP), and cellulose extract (CE). The adsorbents were prepared through sequential treatments and characterized by scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy to investigate their surface morphology and functional groups. Batch adsorption experiments were conducted under varying conditions of pH, temperature, time, and adsorbent amount. NOOP displayed the highest adsorption capacity (99.72% removal efficiency), followed by CE (86.99%) and ROP (77.55%), under optimal conditions. The adsorption kinetics followed a PSO model, while the equilibrium data were best described by Langmuir, indicating monolayer adsorption. Thermodynamic factors confirmed that the process was self-generated and primarily determined by physisorption. Desorption studies using 0.2 M NaOH demonstrated that NOOP retained 98.16% efficiency after three cycles, indicating its strong reusability. The adsorption mechanism is determined by different interactions, such as electrostatic forces, H-bonding, and π–π stacking. These findings suggest that orange peel derivatives, particularly NOOP, serve as optimal and environmentally sustainable adsorbents for the yield of ReR-141 from synthetic aqueous media. Full article

Background/Objectives: In this retrospective study, we aimed to compare the efficacy, survival, and toxicity results of induction (IC) or adjuvant (AC) treatment with chemoradiotherapy (CRT) in locally advanced nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC). Methods: A total of 405 patients from 22 different centres in Turkey, belonging to the Turkish Oncology Group (TOG), was included. The primary endpoints were overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS), and the secondary endpoints were safety and toxicity. Results: The median age of the patients included in the study was 49 (18.2–91.5) years. In total, 298 (73.6%) of the patients were male. Of the 405 patients, 258 (63.7%) received IC and 147 (36.3%) received AC treatment. When OS and PFS analyses were performed in terms of age, gender, T and N stages, pathological features, and treatments received, no effect of any variable on prognosis was observed. For the overall group, the median estimated OS was 137.3 months (the Kaplan–Meier statistical method could not reach the 95% confidence interval [CI]). For the IC group, the median estimated survival was 137.3 months (95% CI: 111.4–163.3), whereas the Kaplan–Meier statistical method could not estimate survival for the AC group. No statistically significant difference was observed between IC and AC groups in terms of OS (p = 0.209) or PFS (p = 0.248). Grade 3–4 side effects were observed in 12% of patients in the IC group and 29.9% of patients in the AC group. Treatment was discontinued due to toxicity in 5 patients (1.9%) in the IC group and 18 patients (12.2%) in the AC group. Conclusion: No difference in OS or PFS was observed between AC and IC treatments. More grade 3–4 side effects were observed in the AC-treated group and early discontinuation rate was higher. Full article

Generally, cheap and environmentally friendly biosorbent materials attract the attention of researchers and become the focus of research. Cellulose and hemicellulose come to the fore among biosorbent materials in biosorption processes. However, lignin is also a very abundant and underutilized biopolymer resource that can be preferred for biosorbent production. Lignin is an amorphous phenolic biopolymer with a structurally three-dimensional branched network structure. This biopolymer has advantages such as being available in large quantities, as well as high selectivity and sorption capacity. However, one of the biggest disadvantages is that lignin exhibits a heterogeneous structure for the balanced production of biosorbents. The structural behavior of lignin depends largely on the source and the processing conditions from which it is isolated. Today, although the use of lignin-based biosorbents is increasing, only 5% of the available lignin globally is used. This review summarized the world’s current trends, perspectives, and recent developments in lignin-based biosorbents in terms of all properties of lignin. Full article

Critical structures such as hospitals, high-precision manufacturing facilities, telecommunications centers, and fire stations, especially, need to maintain their functionality even during severe earthquakes. In this sense, seismic isolation technology serves as a vital design method for preserving their functionality. Seismic isolators, also known as earthquake isolation systems, are used to reduce the effects of earthquakes on buildings by isolating them from the ground they are located on. By ensuring that less acceleration and force demand is transmitted to the superstructure, both the building and the equipment and the devices in the building are prevented from being damaged by earthquakes. This experimental study aims to conduct vibration tests on a small-scale multi-story steel-building model equipped with a specially designed rolling-type seismic base isolation system. The relationship between the test model and the prototype was achieved by frequency simulation. The tests will be performed on a shake table under six different earthquake accelerations to examine the model’s dynamic behavior. The primary goal is to evaluate the isolation performance of the rolling-type seismic base isolator under seismic loads, with a focus on recording the vibrations at the top of the test building. It has been observed that the isolator placed at the base of the building significantly reduced the peak acceleration and displacement values of the floor motion. Under the most severe earthquake record applied to the shake table, the acceleration at the top of the building with the isolator was found to be reduced by approximately 50%, compared to the non-isolated case. Full article

Objectives: Septic arthritis (SA) is a serious bacterial infection that must be treated efficiently and timely. The large number of culture-negative cases makes local epidemiological data important. Accordingly, this study aimed to evaluate the etiology, clinical characteristics, and therapeutic approach of SA in children in Turkiye, emphasizing the role of real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques in the diagnosis. Methods: In this multi-center, prospective study, children hospitalized due to SA between February 2018 and July 2020 in 23 hospitals in 14 cities in Turkiye were included. Clinical, demographic, laboratory, and radiological findings were assessed, and real-time PCR was performed using synovial fluid samples. Results: Seventy-five children aged between 3 and 204 months diagnosed with acute SA were enrolled. Joint pain was the main complaint at admission, and the most commonly involved joints were the knees in 58 patients (77.4%). The combination of synovial fluid culture and real-time PCR detected causative bacteria in 33 patients (44%). In 14 (18.7%) patients, the etiological agent was demonstrated using only PCR. The most commonly isolated etiologic agent was Staphylococcus aureus, which was detected in 22 (29.3%) patients, while Streptococcus pyogenes was found in 4 (5.3%) patients and Kingella kingae in 3 (4%) patients. Streptococcus pyogenes and Kingella kingae were detected using only PCR. Most patients (81.3%) received combination therapy with multiple agents, and the most commonly used combination was glycopeptides plus third-generation cephalosporin. Conclusions: Staphylococcus aureus is the main pathogen in pediatric SA, and with the use of advanced diagnostic approaches, such as real-time PCR, the chance of diagnosis increases, especially in cases due to Kingella kingae and Streptococcus pyogenes. Full article

All over the world, environmental engineers, environmental biologists, biochemists, and other scientists are concerned about environmental pollution. In particular, different treatment technologies and applications in terms of water and soil health have been investigated for years. Studies show that the bioprocess (biosorption, bioremediation, bioaccumulation, etc.) approach is more advantageous (economical, easy design, and environmentally friendly, etc.) than many treatment methods. Thanks to these advantages, bioprocesses have been preferred for the removal of different pollutants in the receiving environment. Effective microorganisms (EMOs) are defined as mixed cultures of advantageous and naturally occurring microorganisms that can be used as vaccine material. An EMO is a natural fermentation product that is not chemically or genetically modified in the form of a concentrated solution. An EMO consists of 10 species, including photosynthetic (Rhodopseudomonas palustrus and Rhodobacter spaeroides, etc.) and lactic acid (Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus casei and Streptoccus lactis, etc.) bacterial groups, yeasts (Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Candida utilis, etc.), actinomycetes, and fermenting fungi The main components of an EMO are lactic acid bacteria, yeasts, and photosynthetic bacteria. In a liquid solution, they are in harmony. This article aims to review the literature on “Effective Microorganisms (EMOs)” from different scientific databases and discuss the effectiveness of using EMOs for bioprocess. Full article

Globally, the increase in population density, various epidemics (COVID-19, SARS, MERS, etc.), climate change, global warming, and the reduction of arable land have caused damage to the ecosystem. Quality soil is the most important factor that has a direct impact on safe food and a clean environment. Different pollutant loads, microbiological activities, climatic and topographic conditions, and current land use can change the properties of the soil. In recent years, fertile agricultural lands have been used in the construction industry. This situation explains the inadequacy between population growth and food supply. Both polluting parameters and non-purpose uses negatively affect soil quality, and alternative solutions are sought for this. One of these solutions is the application of various additives to the soil. Among these substances, biochar is a widely used additive in agricultural production, soil quality improvement, and pollutant treatment in water and soil environments. It is a carbon-rich product formed by the pyrolysis method of biochar, food, and agricultural wastes in an oxygen-free environment at ≥250 °C. In this study, current research is examined to explain the interaction of soil quality with biochar. The biochar materials used, the production conditions, and the three-step reaction in the soil were examined. This study summarizes the recent developments in the soil quality of biochar with a porous structure and high specific surface area. Full article

Today, the common problem of all countries of the world is the presence of different environmental pollutants in water, air, and soil environments. In particular, endocrine disruptors represent a broad group of pollutants. Copper, which is both in this group and among the heavy metals, reaches aquatic environments directly and indirectly from anthropogenic activities. The adsorption process is the most environmentally friendly, economical, and practical method of preventing pollution caused by these Cu²⁺ ions, and intensive studies have been carried out on this method in recent years. The main target in these studies is to prefer adsorbents that do not cause pollution after removal. In this study, iron shavings (FeS) were considered to be used as an adsorbent. Laboratory-scale batch analyses were performed in synthetic solution under constant stirring speed (150 rpm) and temperature (20 ± 2 °C) with different pHs (2.0–6.0), FeS doses (0.1–5 g), and contact times (1–60 min). The maximum removal efficiency of Cu²⁺ was determined to be 78% under optimum operating conditions. The aim of this research article is to understand the application possibility of FeS adsorbent for the efficient removal of Cu²⁺. Interestingly, laboratory studies have shown that the use of FeS adsorbent can efficiently remove the endocrine-disrupting Cu²⁺. Full article

Since the beginning of humanity, many sectors have produced different chemicals. These chemicals are the main causes of environmental pollution and have become a global problem with irreversible effects in terms of health. Because of this, countries have set a target of “a pollution-free planet”. We need to determine target-specific strategies to both eliminate pollution and protect health. To date, traditional methods of monitoring in receiving aquatic environments have been used; however, they do not provide information on toxic levels of pollutants. For this reason, researchers have focused on “bio-indicator” or “bio-monitor” organisms. Since these organisms are in equilibrium with the aquatic environment, they can also be considered an integrated sampling tool and may indicate potential contamination. Danio rerio (zebrafish) is considered a promising model organism for single health studies in terms of its biological structure. This review aims to present Danio rerio’s characteristics, susceptibility to environmental pollutants, and risks associated with pollutants in the aquatic environment. Full article

Heavy metals are of great concern worldwide in terms of environmental pollution due to their effects, such as persistence in the environment, bioaccumulation, and toxicity for organisms. These pollutants in a non-biodegradable inorganic form are released into water, soil, and air from different industrial sectors Lead ions are also a toxic heavy metal in terms of human health and this pollutant is permanent in the ecosystem. Among the many treatment methods, adsorption is an inexpensive, eco-friendly, and efficient process for removing Pb ions from water contaminated with lead ions. The most important detail that draws attention both in our research of the literature and in our own studies is that very high removal efficiencies of lead ions can be obtained with many different inorganic and organic adsorbents. Such high removal efficiencies cannot be obtained for other heavy metals and metalloids. Therefore, this study aimed to reveal the difference in the adsorption process of lead. The physicochemical and biological properties of lead ions and the effects of specific properties, such as amphoteric structure, free electron, post-transition metal, and the low melting temperature, were investigated accordingly. Full article

The recycling of food and agricultural waste, which is released as a result of domestic and agricultural uses, instead of throwing them into the garbage cycle and the environment, is of great importance both for the protection of the environment and the minimization of other environmental pollutants. In recent years, human population growth, pandemic developments (COVID-19), climate change and global warming have increased significantly. These increases endanger environmental health. Therefore, researchers are investigating different alternatives in terms of both human and environmental health. This paper evaluates the possible use of the shell part of the peanut, which is a food with high nutritional value. Peanut (Arachys hypogaea) is a plant from the Fabaceae family. Peanut is a valuable food product with a wide range of uses all over the world. Their shells are an indispensable part of the garbage cycle and have a fibrous and lignocellulosic (cellulose content: 45%, hemicellulose content: 6%, lignin content: 36%) structure. In addition, it has a very slow degradation rate under natural conditions, which is a great advantage for other wastes. Today, most peanut shells are disposed of by incineration and burial, which causes environmental pollution. For this reason, this waste should be used in various sectors with a zero waste approach. Increasing environmental pollution all over the world day by day, unconscious energy consumption and climate change have led countries to seek alternative solutions for environmental issues and to develop environmentally friendly-technological methods. Peanut shell is used intensively in fields such as compost material, energy sector (biofuel, biodiesel, CO₂ emission reduction, etc.), cosmetics (nail polish, lipstick, etc.), soil improvement, drinking water and wastewater treatment (adsorbent, nanomaterial, filter etc.). In this study, the use of peanut shells from Osmaniye province as an environmentally friendly, economical and easily available biosorbent was investigated. Full article

Today, the increase in the need for quality and potable water resources is one of the most crucial issues that all countries of the world are focused on. Particularly, large amounts of highly polluted wastewater are formed together with water consumption that need to be treated in every sector. The toxic and harmful effects of pollutants such as lead still pose a challenge in terms of both environmental and human health in wastewater. Pb²⁺ ion is an amphoteric, toxic and bio accumulative type of primary pollutant commonly found in industrial wastewater. The adsorption process for Pb²⁺ treatment is a basic method, and in recent years, adsorption studies have been carried out with various waste adsorbents from the aquatic system. Adsorption is considered the most widely used environmental and green process to remove heavy metal ions among the different processes. So, waste-based adsorbents that do not induce pollution have been evaluated. Therefore, unmodified tea waste, banana, almond and egg shells were studied for the removal of Pb²⁺ ions from the aqueous matrix. With the current process, Pb²⁺ removal capacities were investigated by utilizing tea waste, banana, almond and egg shells in the aqueous solution. The effects of adsorbent concentrations (0.5–10 g), contact time (5–120 min), pH (2–12), and temperature (283.15–308.15 K) on the removal efficiency of Pb²⁺ were evaluated by batch mode adsorption experiments. The maximum removal efficiencies of Pb²⁺ were obtained as 89%, 93%, 98% and 99% for the four adsorbents under optimum operating conditions, respectively. Experimental results showed that the selected adsorbents are environmentally friendly, economical and easily obtainable for Pb²⁺ removal compared to other adsorbent types. Full article

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to the wide use of different disinfectants to reduce the spread of the virus in homes and public spaces. In particular, more chemical compounds are used in public places than they should be in order to control the epidemic in many parts of the world. However, with this practice, human health, biological diversity, and water resources can be adversely affected. Therefore, the possible effects of chemicals used for cleaning and hygiene purposes should be evaluated in an integrated manner. The chemicals effective in deactivating the virus and their possible environmental effects were explored in this article. Full article