Investigation on Microbial Biodeterioration of the Stone Monuments in Yildiz Technical University-Yildiz Campus-Istanbul-Turkey.

The stone samples of historical monuments around Yıldız Technical University Besiktas Campus were investigated using DNA extraction-PCR-DGGE methods, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), XRF, and other analytical methods to assess stone decay over the centuries. Microbial diversity was examined by classical cultivation and modern diagnostic methods besides modern analysis techniques. The number of the microorganisms in per gram of stone samples was calculated by microbial culture methods.

Prioritization of the treatment and disposal methods of wastes containing polychlorinated biphenyl by fuzzy multi-criteria decision-making and risk assessment.

A total of 209 different types of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) with various properties have been produced from 1930 to 1970s in which they have been banned due to their toxic effects. Total produced PCBs in the world are around 15 to 20 million tons, and up to now, 5.4 million tons of PCB-containing or PCB-contaminated equipment/materials has been eliminated.

Characterisation of wastes collected from beaches, coastlines, marine surface cleaning processes and ships: A case study of Istanbul.

Marine waste management is crucial for Istanbul because of the significant location for intercontinental transition, international trade, tourism, industry and shipping. This study is the first one realised in Turkey for the detailed characterisation of marine waste. The amount and characteristics of solid wastes originating from beaches, coastlines, sea surface cleaning processes and ships (both cargo and cruise ships) were determined.

The impact of nanoparticles on aerobic degradation of municipal solid waste.

The amount of nanoparticles released from industrial and consumer products has increased rapidly in the last decade. These products may enter landfills directly or indirectly after the end of their useful life. In order to determine the impact of TiO and Ag nanoparticles on aerobic landfilling processes, municipal solid waste was loaded to three pilot-scale aerobic landfill bioreactors (80 cm diameter and 350 cm height) and exposed to TiO (AT) and Ag (AA) nanoparticles at total concentrations of 100 mg kg of solid waste.

The Performance of Four Different Mineral Liners on the Transportation of Chlorinated Phenolic Compounds to Groundwater in Landfills.

The aim of this study was to investigate the efficiency of four different mineral liners (clay, bentonite, kaoline, and zeolite) which could be utilized to prevent the transport of phenolic compounds to groundwater through alternative liner systems. Four laboratory-scale HDPE reactors with 80 cm height and 40 cm inner diameter were operated for a period of 180 days. Results indicated that the transport of mono- or dichlorophenols is significantly prevented by the liner systems used, while the transport of highly chlorinated phenolic compounds cannot be prevented by the landfill liner system effectively.