In recent years, Reinforced Earth retaining structures have become more desirable for construction and civil engineering projects because of their suitable performance, variation of design and construction methods. In this article, the performance of back-to-back reinforced earth walls has been evaluated and analyzed. Throughout the article, the effect of different parameters such as angle of internal friction, soil unit weight, cohesion, using different materials in layers with 1.5m thickness and reinforcing elements' specifications has been analyzed. For detailed information from the site of the wall, a borehole was drilled to a depth of 30 meters and geotechnical tests were done in Hormozgan province (Iran). The results show that the lower length and tensile strength can be used with higher angle of internal friction and adhesion. Also, utilizing material in different layers produces a more favorable performance, optimization and decreases the strength of reinforcer elements.

Reinforced concrete flat slab systems are supported to columns directly without beams. In this analytical study, a structure which has reinforced concrete flat slab with four storey is investigated under earthquake effect. The structure was analyzed by three different methods to compare bending moments in columns and flat slabs. In this study, explanatory information about flat slab systems was presented and different types of solution methods which are adopted our countries specification was compared through a structural example under the horizontal loads. Under the influence of horizontal earthquake forces; selected bearing system have been analyzed by the equivalent frame method, called the moment transfer coefficients method developed by Ünlüoðlu and finite elements method based SAP2000 software [1], [2].
The result of comparing the findings obtained from different solution methods to each other is presented with the help of column top and bottom moments in all floors, flat slab bending moments in inner and edge column strands, tables and graphs. According to this, the method developed by Ünlüoðlu using moment transfer coefficients and the results obtained from finite elements based SAP2000 software are very close to each other. The results obtained from the equivalent frame method are different from those result of the other methods of analysis. Because the equivalent frame method is an approximate method, it does not give as accurate results as the results obtained by the finite element method However, the method developed by Ünlüoðlu may be an alternative to the finite element method.

The total concentrations of arsenic (As), boron (B), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), lead (Pb), thallium (Tl) and zinc (Zn) in the mine tailings of an abandoned Pb-Zn mining site and an open boron mining site are investigated in this study. In addition, heavy metals’ distributions in chemical binding forms and their mobilities with the presence of binding materials and acidic bacteria are examined. The amounts of sulfur and carbonate in the waste and binding materials are also determined according to the static method, in order to define the acid neutralization potential of the wastes. For mobilization studies, mine tailings are mixed with with leonardite and domestic solid waste compost in different ratios (10/0, 9.5 / 0.5, 9/1; 8/2). Independent from the binding materials, the mobilization effect of sulfur oxidizing Thiobacillus thiooxidans bacteria has been tested and evaluated. Experiments are conducted using a standard leach test EPA 1310B Extraction Procedure, and correlations between the parameters studied were statistically evaluated using the findings of SPSS 24. Although there is no statistically significant reduction in metals’ mobilization with the use of leonardite and waste compost, it has been concluded that different binding agents may have different impacts due to the metal type. As a result, it is understood that metals mobility increases in the presence of Thiobacillus thiooxidans in the environment, and that the heavy metal mobility is directly proportional to the exchangeable and acid soluble fraction, followed by the reducible fraction and the amount of metals bound to the organic fractions.

This study was conducted to determine the anionic detergent and phosphate pollution in the coastal area of Gökçeada Island between December 2016 and November 2017. According to the results, the anionic detergent concentrations 0.020 – 0.051 mg/L and phosphate concentrations 0.008 – 0.451 mg/L were found between the values. The average concentrations of anionic detergent and phosphate in water samples collected from the island were evaluated according to Water Pollution and Control Regulation in water samples from Gökçeada Island. The island waters were determined as I. class (uncontaminated water) in terms of anionic detergent parameter and II. class (less contaminated water) in terms of phosphate parameter.

Active ingredients of disinfectants are very common pollutants in urban and industrial wastewater. Removal of these contaminants is very difficult in biological treatment systems. As a result; these pollutants, which are also frequently detected in surface waters, threaten both nature and human health. The objective of this study is to determine the optimum conditions that will provide the most efficient removal of benzalkonium chlorides (BACs), one of the most common contaminants in wastewater, in biological treatment systems. For this purpose, BAC biotransformation kinetics were determined under different conditions using Pseudomanas sp. BIOMIG1, a bacterium that is the key BAC degrader in the environment. Using the data collected and the Michaelis-Menten growth model, BAC biotransformation kinetic parameters were calculated and the effect of the applied conditions on kinetics was determined. BIOMIG1 can transform BACs at a rate of 1.4 mg/L-hour and converts these pollutants into ammonia and carbon dioxide. BAC mineralization can be achieved even at low bacterial densities such as 105 cells/mL after a short delay. When biotransformation rate of BAC homologs was compared, BAC with 14 carbon alkyl chain length had the fastest and BAC with 16 carbons had the slowest rate of biotransformation. The temperature at which the BAC biotransformation rate was the highest was 35 oC.. BAC was converted to benzyldimethylamine which was accumulated in the medium or was not transformed at all at temperatures above 35 oC since BIOMIG1 does not survive above this temperature. The outcomes presented in this study would be used for the design and operation of advanced treatment systems targetting the removal of micropollutants like BACs.

The yeast production industry wastewaters contains high amount of chemical oxygen demand (COD), brownish color and recalcitrant organic components. In this work, one of the yeast production plant wastewaters operating in the Aegean region, the color removal were studied with using Photo-Fenton (H2O2/Fe(II)/UV) oxidation processes. In this study, the Box–Wilson statistical experimental design method applied to optimization of decolorization of the yeast production industry wastewater. For this reason, the initial oxidant and catalyst concentrations and pH of water were chosen as the experimental parameters on decolorization. Color removal was observed during the experimental studies. Complete color removal (E=100%) was achieved with the addition of 2400mg/L H2O2 and 121mg/L Fe(II) at 3.7 pH after 120 min. of exposure to the UV irradiation.

The presence and amounts of chemicals in bio-oil produced by catalytic fast pyrolysis are affected by the process parameters, hence, the relationships between the chemicals and process parameters need to be investigated in detail by multivariate analysis techniques. The present work classifies the most available 11 chemicals in bio-oil based on the 24 samples (treatments) of catalytic fast pyrolysis experiments of municipal solid wastes by using principle components analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA). There were 3 principle components (PCs), but the first 2 PCs explained 74% of the total variance. The samples and variables (chemicals) were clustered into 4 and 2 different groups, respectively, in PCA. The samples and variables were clustered in 2 main groups and a few subgroups in HCA. Both PCA and HCA results showed that there was a clear grouping in the samples and variables.

Microalgae, a sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative energy source for the industrial economy and community consumption, has come to the forefront in recent years due to the rapid depletion of oil reserves and consequent negative effects of greenhouse gases on the environment. In this study, the chemical composition of microalgae affecting the selection of biofuel production processes, factors affecting microalgae cultivation, cultivated systems, biofuel production processes and its economic analysis are examined. The content of microalgae affects the conversion processes, and the obtained biofuels from microalgae show differences. As a result of this investigation, it has been concluded that the heat and electricity production may be obtained from burning or gasification of microalgae residues. Biodiesel, bioethanol and methane can also be produced using microalgae. The full-scale applications of algae cultivation for biofuel production with existing technologies are quite expensive. To reduce algal production costs, the regional power plants or the industrial flue gas and the wastewater treatment plants should be used in an effectively and integrally.

Pollution is a global problem and the increased use non-biodegradable plastic packaging films have caused environmental concerns. Thus, there is a tendency to use natural polymer materials, such as biodegradable films. This paper aims to prepare and characterize novel collagen hydrolysate/carboxymethyl cellulose/nano-SiO2 films for packaging/coating applications. The results indicate that the incorporation of nano-SiO2 in films from 1% to 4% caused significant increase (p < 0.05) in thickness and tensile strength but significantly decreased the elongation at break. Nano-SiO2 drastically reduced the water vapor permeability and water solubility values of films. Furthermore, the increments in nano-SiO2 proportion in films increased the values of transparency and provided a reduction in the light transmission in the ultraviolet and visible range. This study demonstrates that nano-SiO2 addition to collagen hydrolysate/ carboxymethyl cellulose films gives significantly effects on properties of film produced. The enhancement of film properties shows the potential for using collagen hydrolysate/carboxymethyl cellulose films for coating/packaging purposes.

The Craters of Meke Lake and Acýgöl are located in the district of Konya Province border and 6 km southeast of Karapinar. Compared with petrographical signatures, craters formed during the final stage of volcanism that effective in Plio-Quaternary comprise basalt-andesite and andesitic rocks and are found around the Meke crater, whilst the andesite and trachyandesite lithologies have been observed in Acýgöl. Volcanics formed by the main mineralogical composition plagioclases (Meke An56-80; Acýgöl An46-68), pyroxene (Meke Wo37-51, Acýgöl Wo40-48), amphibole and biotite are observed as mafic components. In Meke volcanics, these mafic components are accompanied by olivines (Fo70-85).
The major element oxides of the rocks outcropping in the region show values the values of 51.32-64.88% SiO2, 1.16- 3.09 K2O%, 2.39-3.92% Na2O, MgO 1.2-3.39%, 14.24-17.85% Al2O3, 0.18-0.35% P2O5, 5.59- 9.46 %CaO, 0.09 to 0.15 %MnO and the 5.17 to 10.21 %Fe2O3. The Harker-type variation diagrams suggested that more basic characters of major oxides are observed in the rocks cropping out around the Meke Lake.
MORB-normalized trace element patterns reflect strongly LILE enrichment and slightly HFSE depletion. The petrographic and geochemical studies indicate that the volcanic rocks of Meke and Acýgöl are characterized by the continental arc setting and the calc-alkaline to alkaline in nature. The petrographic, geochemical and geothermobarometric studies indicate that Acýgöl and Meke volcanics crystallized under respectively 1093-1107 ˚C - 0.9-1 kb and 1133-1141 ˚C - 4.7-5.3 kb conditions. Meke and Acýgöl are characterized by the continental arc setting and the calc-alkaline in nature.

In this study, drilling speeds were measured in situ by keeping the drill bit and machine working parameters (impact, pressure, air pressure and rotation) constant during drilling-blasting operations on six different open mines (4 limestones, 1 clay and 1 feldspar quarries). From these quarries, shapeless blocks samples and rock chipping specimens from blasting holes were taken for laboratory experiments. The physical and mechanical properties of the rocks from the block samples and coarseness index from chip samples were determined. Sievers miniature drilling tests and brittleness tests were also performed to determine the drilling rate index (DRI) values of the rocks. As a result, the results of the laboratory tests and insitu drilling data were evaluated statistically. Significant relationships were found between the physical and mechanical properties of the rock and the measured drilling speed. It has been determined that the drillability values determined in the laboratory can be reliably used in predicting the rate of penetration in drilling-blasting operations.

In this study, the effects of the thermal and mineral waters in Yoðunaðaç-Karakoçan and Dedebeð-Mazgirt on the surface waters along the direction of the Peri Stream were determined that the samples were taken in two different periods (May / September). The distributions of the studied ions and some complex ions at the mixture setting Peri Stream and thermal and mineral waters are shown to decrease of K, Al, Cu, Mn and increase of Cl, Mg, HCO3, Ca, Na, SO4, As, B, Ba, Fe, Sb and Sr in May, while increasing of Cl, Mg, HCO3, Ca, Na, B, Mn, Al and Sb, decreasing SO4, K, Pb, Fe and Sr in the Peri stream water in September. While increasing of ion diversity due to rain fall during in May. According to the calculated saturation indices, Peri, Ohi streams and thermal and mineralized waters are oversaturated with minerals containing Fe, such as goethite and hematite. High Fe concentrations in stream and thermal and mineral waters should be related to the dissolution of Fe-bearing minerals in volcanites, sedimentary rocks and metamorphites. Oversaturation of the waters with clay minerals such as illite and kaolinite is related with the dissolution of clay minerals occurred in fractures and faults related with the active tectonism in the study area.The Peri Stream water sample when mixed with thermal and mineral waters, is classified as low quality water in terms of its contents of Ca, Mg, Na, K, Cl, SO4, HCO3, Al, Mn and Pb when assessed according to the averages of intra-continental water resources.
Key words: Peri Stream, Thermal water, geochemistry

Gazipaþa coastal plain is located in the Eastern Mediterranean basin, within the borders of Antalya province. The mainstay in the coastal plain based on agriculture and the irrigation water need is provided from surface water and groundwater. The sustainable use of coastal aquifer constitutes an important element of risk in view of agricultural production as surface waters are affected adversely by the droughts that occur for consecutive years. In this case information on coastal aquifer reserve is rather old and needs to be updated with contemporary research approaches. In this study, it was aimed to establish a conceptual hydrogeological model of the Gazipaþa coastal aquifer based on geological, hydrological, hydrogeochemical and environmental isotopic data and quantified the water budget components. According to the evaluations, the groundwater head distribution in the plain fluctuates between wet and dry periods during a year, but has not changed at all in the long term. The groundwater chemistry belongs to Ca-HCO3/CO3 facies and the sea water contribution was observed at only two sites near the coast. According to stable isotope data, all of the samples are located on the left side of the Global Meteoroic Water Line deuterium excess value (Dex) of 10, between the Antalya Meteoric Water Line with (Dex=+16) and Local Meteoric Water Line with Dex= +18. These values suggest that the groundwater is recharged by precipitation originating from the moisture over Mediterranean Sea. 3H value of surface and groundwater samples vary between 3.08 TU-0.33 TU and the average value is 1.95 TU. Compared to shallow-circulating groundwater, tritium content of the deep-circulating groundwater is lower and the specific conductivity value is higher. According to alluvial groundwater budget calculations, total annual groundwater recharge of 71.1 Mcm is supplied by precipitation (32.0 Mcm) and by recharge from limestone and marble units (39.1 Mcm) surrounding the alluvium. Groundwater’s discharge components include evapo-transpiration loss (25.3 Mcm), surface flow (10.6 Mcm), irrigation water use (10.9 Mcm), domestic use (2.4 Mcm), evaporation from water table up to 2 m from ground surface (1 Mcm) and, groundwater discharge in to the sea (20.9 Mcm).

In exploration of groundwater, unlike the layers showing regular sequence, stratigraphic traps (sand, gravel, clay lens) are always a problem. In addition to geological characteristic of the lens structures, geophysical methods are used to identify geometric features of the lens such as locations, dimensions, thickness and depth. It also identifies physical features such as conductivity, resistivity and porosity.
The study area is located in the north of Corlu Sarilar village of Tekirdag (Marmara region). It is also located in the west part of Corlu creek flowing in the direction of NE-SW. The lowest level of the study area is 123 mt. and the highest level is 146 mt. In the study area, geological structures were analyzed for modelling the stratigraphic traps in the different level and dimension of Pliocene aged Corlu formation using the geoelectric method. In the geophysical study, Vertical Electrical Sounding (VES) method was applied in 21 points using Schlumberger array. Line length (AB/2) is 300 m. Geometric locations of stratigraphic traps was monitored and physical features were tried to define by generating resistivity level map and two dimensional geoelectric profile obtained from VES resistivity values. Resistivity values in the region is between 18.5 Ohm-m and 7.0 Ohm-m, while low resistivity zones are observed at shallower depth.