Determination of the biogas potential in cities with hazelnut production and examination of potential energy savings in Turkey

WOS: 000520029100012Turkey is currently the world's largest producer of hazelnuts. In this study, based on 2018 data, the electrical energy potential of hazelnut shells after anaerobic digestion has been calculated for various cities, namely Giresun, Ordu, Samsun, Trabzon, Duzce, Sakarya, Artvin, Rize, Gumushane, Sinop, Kastamonu, Bartin, Bolu, Tokat, Zonguldak and Kocaeli, all of which have commercial licenses for hazelnut production in Turkey. The total potential gain so determined was 131.55 GWh, with the highest for any single city (Ordu) found to be 46.42 GWh. The electrical energy that could potentially be generated that was calculated for each city was compared with their electricity consumption in terms of lighting, habitation, industrial use, business use and agricultural irrigation. It was determined that the energy generated for hazelnut-producing cities could potentially be almost twice as large as the electrical energy typically consumed by agricultural irrigation. Ordu's electricity energy generation would potentially meet 63.63%, 9.99% and 13.5% of its lighting, habitation and business energy needs, respectively. Giresun's energy potential with regard to this use of hazelnut shells would meet 15.79% of the electricity used by industry. When these values are taken into consideration, it seems clear that the electrical energy potential of hazelnut shells for these cities could offer a significant saving in terms of overall consumption

Nematode biyodiversity in agricultural and natural habitats of Sanliurfa, Turkey

WOS: 000292377300017The study was conducted to examine the biodiversity of terrestrial nematodes in agricultural and non-agricultural areas of Sanliurfa, Turkey. Study area defined with the semi-arid features consisting irrigated and dry cultures, has been divided into 5 sub-regions regarding the geographic and ecological boundaries. Samples were taken twice a year, one in the mid-spring and second in the mid-fall for 3 years, in 2003-2005. Nematode fauna has been represented by 26 species, 28 genus, and 4 families which all belonged to 8 orders. The proportions of plant parasitic and free-living nematodes were 39 % and 61%, respectively. Plant parasitic nematodes were represented by 26 species and 6 genera belonged to 2 orders (Tylenchida and Dorylaimida); bacterivores were represented by 4 families and 10 genus belonged to 4 orders (Rhabditida, Cephalobida, Diplogaterida and Monhysterida); fungivores were represented by 3 genus belonged to 2 orders (Aphelenchida and Tylenchida); predators were represented by 2 genus belonged to 2 orders (Mononchida and Aphelenchida) and the omnivores repsetented by 7 genus belonged to 1 order (Dorylaimida). Diversity of nematode communities either in the plant parasitic fauna or the free-living fauna have displayed differences in the sub-regions of the study area. The main reason may be due to the past history of the agricultural practices employed in each of the sub-regions

Efficacy of intramuscular diclofenac and fluid replacement in prevention of post-ERCP pancreatitis

AIM: To assess the efficacy of intramuscular diclofenac and fluid replacement for prevention of post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) pancreatitis

Optimization of temperature and pretreatments for methane yield of hazelnut shells using the response surface methodology

WOS: 000522876500069In this study, NaOH pretreatment, H2SO4 pretreatment, thermal pretreatment and production temperature were optimized to ensure maximum methane yield from hazelnut shells (HS) using the response surface methodology (RSM). A Box-Behnken design was achieved with four different independent variables and one dependent variable (methane yield). A total of 29 tests were performed after pretreatment according to the RSM design and to different production temperatures, suggesting optimum values for NaOH pretreatment, H2SO4 pretreatment, thermal pretreatment and production temperature were 3.5% w/v, 2.56% v/v, 145.66 degrees C and 34.65 degrees C, respectively. Under these conditions, the RSM-predicted methane yield was 215.896 mL/g volatile solid (VS). The high R-2 value (0.9904) showed that the model could be applied effectively in the digestion of HS for the predicted methane yield according to the production temperature and pretreatments. In addition, lignocellulosic solubilisation was tested after pretreatment of the reactors according to the RSM operating conditions, which showed that the highest cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin solubilisation that could be achieved was 38.7% w/w (R-10), 36.9% w/w (R-22) and 50.5% w/w (R-10), respectively. The modified Gompertz model supported the experimental cumulative methane yields (CMYs).Sivas Cumhuriyet University Scientific Research Projects Unit (CUBAP) [M-747]This study was supported by the Sivas Cumhuriyet University Scientific Research Projects Unit (CUBAP) under project M-747. We appreciate their contribution

Enhanced lignocellulosic component removal and biomethane potential from chestnut shell by a combined hydrothermal–alkaline pretreatment

This study proposes new perspectives for the management and biorefinery of wastes deriving from the agri–food sector such as chestnut shell (CS), which was here used as an organic feedstock for biomethane production through anaerobic digestion (AD). 1–5% alkaline (i.e. NaOH and KOH), hydrothermal (i.e. at 100 °C) and combined hydrothermal–alkaline pretreatments were employed to enhance the CS biodegradability prior to biochemical methane potential (BMP) tests conducted under mesophilic conditions. The hydrothermally–pretreated CS with 3% NaOH achieved the highest biomethane yield of 253 (±9) mL CH4·g VS−1 coupled to a volatile solid reduction of 48%. The hydrothermal–alkaline pretreatment positively affected both delignification and hemicellulose polymerization, promoting an approximately 2.4–fold higher substrate biodegradability compared to the untreated CS, which only reached a CH4 production of 104 (±5) mL CH4·g VS−1. AD proceeded via volatile fatty acid accumulation, subsequently followed by methane production that was effectively simulated via the modified Gompertz kinetic having a R2 of 0.974–0.999. Among the physical–chemical parameters characterizing the CS, the soluble chemical oxygen demand (sCOD) was highly correlated with the BMP showing a Pearson coefficient of 0.952. The cumulative biomethane yield, the sCOD and the cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin amount of CS were also processed through the least square method, obtaining a useful regression equation to predict the BMP. The economic assessment indicated that the hydrothermal–alkaline pretreatment is a cost–effective method to improve the BMP of CS, also for future full–scale applications

Evaluation of Dermatology Residents Using the Multisource (360-Degree) Assessment Method

WOS: 000269255400003Objective: To test the applicability of the 360-degree assessment method of postgraduate medical education (dermatology) in a Turkish setting and discover the possible areas of improvement Design: Cross-sectional research Setting: Akdeniz University Faculty of Medicine, Antalya, Turkey Subjects and Methods: Using the competencies framework of the The American Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), a 71 item containing pool was formed. Based on evaluation aspects of possible evaluator groups, the pool was converted into seven different evaluation forms for the following groups: teachers (faculty), nurses, peers, secretaries, auxiliary staff, patients and self. All seven residents and members from each department voluntarily participated in the study. Data was collected over a period of three months. Main Outcome Measures: In the data analysis process, mean scores, and internal consistency scores were measured and evaluator groups' scores and resident's ranks in competency areas were compared to find out differences. Results: A total of 259 forms were filled out by seven groups to evaluate seven residents. All the staff in the dermatology clinic participated in the process. The reliability coefficient for the faculty members was 0.99 while it was 0.60 for the auxiliary staff. Low scores were clustered. I. Conclusions: Our results show that the 360-degree assessment is very well received by the evaluator group and residents and the method is acceptable in the Turkish setting of postgraduate dermatology specialist training. There is a need for larger sample study for other settings.Akdeniz University Research FoundationAkdeniz UniversityThis study was supported by Akdeniz University Research Foundation

Investigation of biogas production by applying thermal pretreatments from mixtures of different fruit wastes and organic raw chicken waste

WOS: 000520599400032In this study, biogas production was carried out from apple pulp (EP), orange pulp (PP) and chicken manure (TG) mixtures under anaerobic working conditions. Operating temperature (outside temperature) was selected as 40 degrees C for all experiments. The dry matter content was taken as 10 % by mass for all experiments. In the first stage of anaerobic digestion experiments, optimum mixture ratios were determined. The reactor where the highest biogas production was 215 ml / g UK for EP:PP:TG values prepared in different ratios was determined as the optimum reactor. In this reactor the mixture ratio of EP:PP:TG by mass was determined as 1:1:3. Thermal pretreatments were applied to this optimum reactor at temperatures of 100 and 120 degrees C and 30, 60 and 90 min for each temperature. The highest biogas production as a result of 100 degrees C thermal pretreatment was 338 ml / g VS and 368 ml / g VS at 120 degrees C thermal pretreatment. Biogas production was controlled by measuring the removal of soluble chemical oxygen demand (SCOD). The highest SCOD removal in the untreated reactor was 58%, while the highest SCOD removal in the 100 degrees C and 120 degrees C thermal pretreated reactors was 85.1% and 92.9%, respectivel

Anaerobic digestion of cattle manure, corn silage and sugar beet pulp mixtures after thermal pretreatment and kinetic modeling study

WOS: 000504834400007In this study, biogas production was investigated from cattle manure (CM), corn silage (CS) and sugar beet pulp (SBP) mixtures under mesophilic conditions. In anaerobic digestion (AD), CM, CS and SBP were mixed in different ratios and the optimum mixture ratio was determined as 2:1:1, w/w/w respectively. In this mixture, biogas production was 180.5 mL/g TS. After the optimum mixing ratios of CM, CS and SBP were determined, thermal pretreatments were applied to this mixture ratio. Thermal pretreatments were performed at 100, 120, 150 and 180 degrees C with 10, 20, 30, 60 and 120 min for each temperature. Considering biogas production after thermal pretreatment, the best thermal pretreatment time was determined as 60 min for all pretreatment temperatures. The highest biogas yield was 362.1 mL/g TS in the reactor which is pretreated at 180 degrees C for 60 min. After thermal pretreatment at 180 degrees C for 60 min, the SCOD value in the reactor increased by 124.6% compared to the control. This reactor produced 100.6% higher biogas production compared to the control. In addition, the solubilization of cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin in this reactor was 38.2%, 32.9% and 23.2%, respectively. Cumulative biogas production (CBP) fitted to modified Gompertz and modified Bertalanffy models.Sivas Cumhuriyet University Scientific Research Projects Unit (CUBAP) [M-665]This research was supported by the Sivas Cumhuriyet University Scientific Research Projects Unit (CUBAP) under grant no M-665. The authors wish to thank this institution for their support