Indium tin oxide (ITO) thin films have been used as transparent electrodes in many technological applications such as display panels, solar cells, touch screens and electrochromic devices. Commercial grade ITO thin films are usually deposited by sputtering. Solution-based coating methods, such as sol-gel however, can be simple and economic alternative method for obtaining oxide films and also ITO. In this thesis, &ldquo / ITO sols&rdquo / and &ldquo / ITO nanoparticle-incorporated hybrid ITO coating sols&rdquo / were prepared using indium chloride (InCl3

Biosorption is a phenomenon involving the mechanisms that basically mediate heavy metal tolerance of microorganisms as well as sequestration of heavy metals from environment. Different classes of microorganisms have different biosorption capacities, as a result of the differences in composition and types of functional groups found on cell surfaces. The present study was undertaken to identify the molecular mechanisms for lead [Pb(II)] biosorption in the white-rot fungus, Phanerochaete chrysosporium. The methodology involved selective blocking of the functional groups known to participate in heavy metal biosorption and allowed us to determine their relative roles in Pb (II) biosorption in this organism. The relative concentrations of the Pb (II) sorbed from the aqueous environment and Mg2+ and Ca2+ ions released to the aqueous environment were measured and compared with both native and chemically-modified biomasses by using atomic absorption spectroscopy. Fourier-Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy technique was used to monitor and analyze the molecular-level changes in both native and chemically modified cell surfaces upon Pb (II) exposure. Interactions of Pb (II) with the biomass surface was determined by observing the changes in wavenumber and absorbance of NH stretching and Amide I bands arising from the amine groups and C=O stretching band arising from the carboxyl groups. The roles of phosphate groups and lipids were also investigated. Carboxyl groups seemed to be the most important functional groups for Pb (II) biosorption in P. chrysosporium, since the biosorption capacity dramatically decreased (by 92.8 %) in carboxyl groups-blocked biomass. Amine groups were found to play a secondary and minor role in Pb (II) biosorption, only a slight decrease (6 %) in Pb (II) biosorption was detected with amine groups-blocked biomass. Blocking of phosphate groups provided a small increase in biosorptive capacity and did not appear to have much significant role in biosorption. Upon chemical treatment with acetone to extract lipids of the cell surfaces, an increase of 20.3 % in the Pb (II) biosorptive capacity was determined. It was concluded that carbonyl and carboxyl groups of chitin and glucan are the major sites and ion exchange via these groups is the main mechanism for Pb (II) biosorption in P. chrysosporium.

This study aimed at providing a thorough understanding of temporal and spatial variations of VOCs and underlying factors in different microenvironments in two different urban atmospheres, with different degrees of regulatory enforcement. The VOC data were collected in field campaigns conducted in Ankara, Turkey, and Ottawa, Canada over the years 2000-2004. Insight into the sources of VOCs in different urban atmospheres was sought by using three commonly used receptor models namely / Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF), Chemical Mass Balance (CMB) Model and Conventional Factor Analysis (CFA). Motor vehicle related source profiles were developed to use in receptor modeling. Motor vehicles are the most abundant VOC sources with about 60% and 95% contributions to ambient levels in Ankara and Ottawa, respectively. Residential heating (31%) during winter season, biogenic (9%) and architectural coating (12%) emissions during summer season and solvent use (about 12%) emissions are the next abundant VOC sources in Ankara. In addition, a new method to estimate the contribution of sources from wind sectors in urban atmosphere was developed and implemented in this study. The comparison of the results of these two cities demonstrated the influence of control measures on ambient levels and sources of VOCs observed in different urban atmospheres. VOC levels in Ankara exceed EU levels and they are about factor of two higher than that are measured in Ottawa owing to lack of implementation of emission control regulations for VOCs in Ankara compared to well adopted regulations in Ottawa.

Natural Attenuation can be an effective cleanup option for remediation of Groundwater contamination by BTEX. One of the important aspects of the methodology that has been recognized recently is that mass removal rates, the most important parameters used to determine effectiveness of the methodology, is controlled by groundwater flow regime, which to a large extent controlled by aquifer heterogeneity. Considering this recognition, the primary objective of this research is to quantitatively describe the relationship between natural attenuation rates of BTEX and aquifer heterogeneity using numerical solution techniques. To represent different levels of aquifer heterogeneity, hydraulic conductivity distributions are simulated using Turning Bands Algorithm, changing statistical parameters Coefficient of Variation (CV) and correlation length (h). Visual MODFLOW is used to model the transport of BTEX contamination, at different hydraulic conductivity fields. Degradation rates are calculated by Buscheck&amp / Alcantar and Conservative Tracer Methods. The results show that, for a given h, as CV increases, the plume slows down and stays longer at the domain, so areal extent of plume decreases. For anisotropic field, plumes are more dispersed along x and y-direction, and areal extents of the plumes are greater. During MNA feasibility studies, for the aquifer heterogeneity level of CV and h smaller than 100 % and 10 m, respectively, a minimum recommended biodegradation rate constant of 0.02 d-1 can be used, whereas for the aquifer heterogeneity level of CV and h greater than 100 % and 10 m, respectively, using a minimum biodegradation rate constant of 0.06 d-1 can be recommended.

Monitored natural attenuation has been particularly used at sites where petroleum hydrocarbons and chlorinated solvents have contaminated soil and groundwater. One of the important aspects of the methodology that has been recognized recently is that the mass removal rates, the most important parameter to determine effectiveness of the methodology, is controlled by the groundwater flow regime and the aquifer heterogeneity. Considering this recognition, the primary objective of this study is to quantitatively describe the relationship between the natural attenuation rates and aquifer heterogeneity using numerical simulation techniques. To represent different levels of aquifer heterogeneity, the hydraulic conductivity distribution (ln K) is statistically simulated with the numerical algorithm, Turning Bands Random Field Generator, by changing the statistical parameters, Coefficient of Variation (CV) and correlation length (h) and Visual MODFLOW and RT3D software programs are used for the simulation of groundwater flow and chlorinated solvent transport. Simulation results showed that degradation rates and the shape of the contaminant plumes show variations for different heterogeneity levels. Increasing CV resulted in the decrease in the transport of the plume and shrinkage in the areal extend. On the other hand, &ldquo / h&rdquo / determined the shape and the size of the plume through its affect on mechanical dispersion. For a given &ldquo / h&rdquo / , degradation rates increased with increasing CV, but change in &ldquo / h&rdquo / did not show a regular trend. Such findings are expected to be beneficial when assessing the effectiveness of natural attenuation process for a selected site during the feasibility studies without need for detailed site characterization.

À partir de l’usage croisé des perspectives philosophiques de Michel Foucault, Pierre Hadot et Stanley Cavell, cette thèse vise à inaugurer un champ de recherche en éthique et en philosophie politique jusqu’à maintenant presque inexploré. Elle a trois objectifs principaux : (1) Explorer le rapport qui existe entre éthique et politique, ou plus précisément entre philosophie morale et philosophie politique, à travers la redéfinition de leurs objets, de leurs méthodes et de leurs buts respectifs par le biais d’un usage spécifique de la pensée de Michel Foucault et de Ludwig Wittgenstein. Élaborer par conséquent une « philosophie analytique de la politique » qui se propose de rendre visible l’existence et le fonctionnement concret du pouvoir dans ses ramifications ordinaires et son impact assujettissant-subjectivant sur la vie quotidienne des individus. (2) Mettre en lumière la valeur des techniques de soi et des exercices spirituels, ou mieux de ce que l’on suggère d’appeler « techniques de l’ordinaire », grâce à la comparaison, mais aussi à la mise « en tension », des travaux du dernier Michel Foucault, de Pierre Hadot et de Stanley Cavell (notamment ceux qui abordent le « perfectionnisme moral »), ainsi que, entre autres, de Ralph Waldo Emerson, John Stuart Mill, Henry David Thoreau, Iris Murdoch et Cora Diamond. (3) Poser le problème du statut de la vérité à l’intérieur d’une telle perspective éthico-politique, en défendant la nécessité d’élaborer une conception non-épistémologique de la vérité et en s’interrogeant sur le rôle que cette conception joue par rapport aux techniques de l’ordinaire. / Starting from a crossed use of Michel Foucault, Pierre Hadot and Stanley Cavell’s philosophical perspectives, this dissertation aims to open a new field of research in ethics and political philosophy. It has three main objectives: (1) Exploring the relationship between ethics and politics, or more precisely between moral and political philosophy, through a redefinition of their objects, methods and goals via a specific use of Michel Foucault and Ludwig Wittgenstein’s thought. Developing, as a consequence, an “analytic philosophy of politics” aiming to make visible the existence and concrete functioning of power in its ordinary ramifications and its effects of subjection-subjectivation on the everyday life of the individuals. (2) Highlighting the value of the techniques of the self and the spiritual exercises, or better of what can be called the “techniques of the ordinary”, thanks to the comparison, but also the confrontation, between the works of Michel Foucault, Pierre Hadot and Stanley Cavell (especially his writings on “moral perfectionism”), as well as, among others, Ralph Waldo Emerson, John Stuart Mill, Henry David Thoreau, Iris Murdoch and Cora Diamond. (3) Raising the problem of the meaning of the notion of truth within such an ethico-political context, defending the necessity to elaborate a non-epistemological conception of truth and exploring its role in relation to the techniques of the ordinary.

This thesis for the first time critically and comparatively examines contemporary Christian and philosophical ethics of war. Thus it contributes to an investigation of current possibilities of moral-political action. Exploring various combinations of political ethics and the tenets of faith, it compares three Christian with two secular thinkers. Each chapter first shows how Just War ethics are constructed between ‘realism’ and ‘idealism’. The former prioritizes individual or national self-defence and power; the latter the universal value of each individual. Each analytical section reconstructs the author’s moral understanding of political authority, violent force and political reality. These foci are investigated in terms of how they understand, envision or reject the mediation between politics and Christian morality. As the inner logic of each Just War proposal is thus brought out, continuities and differences between authors can be explained. Part I looks at Christian authors. Jean Bethke Elshtain’s realistic, ‘naturalistic’ Just War ethic of the sovereign state rejects humanist idealism. For Paul Ramsey Christian agape provides a transformative ethic between idealism and realism. Developing this, Oliver O’Donovan’s evangelical approach practically fuses idealism and realism. Dogmatically, this is conditioned by moving from Elshtain’s modern theological dualism to Ramsey’s Christ-transforming the world, though still indebted to philosophical idealism. O’Donovan, however, suggests that after the singular mediation of the Christ event, moral-political categories disclose the divine order. Part II investigates the idealism-realism divide amongst philosophers. Both David Rodin’s idealist demand for a global state and Uwe Steinhoff’s individualist Machiavellianism seek to protect human rights. After Kant, they presuppose an unbridgeable division between politics and ‘religious’ morality. Theology, having become anthropology, replaces the mediation of Christ with immanent mediators: legal, statist or individualist moral agents. But this echoes and intensifies the Christian tradition. Whereas Rodin introduces a renewed, violent papacy, Steinhoff seeks to renew the liberal-democratic status quo through a secular ‘radical reformation’. It is concluded that both modern Christian and philosophical ethics of war can oscillate between impractical triumphant justice and the failure of tragic antagonism. If the singular mediation between Is and Ought in Christ is recognized as a universal paradox, doing justice effectively becomes possible.

Daily aerosol samples (PM) were collected at a rural station, which is 5 km away from the Turkish-Bulgarian border between April 2006 and March 2008. Aerosol samples were analyzed for elements by ICPMS, ions by IC and black carbon by aethalometer to provide a multi-species aerosol data set, which can represent aerosol population for Northwestern Turkey and Eastern Europe. Average concentration of SO42-, NO3- and NH4+ was 5.8, 2.9 and 2.0 &mu / g m-3, respectively, while total aerosol mass was 66 &mu / g m-3. Seasonal variation of crustal species had maxima in summer, while most of the anthropogenic species had maxima in winter. Rainfall was found as the only local meteorological parameter affecting aerosols concentrations. The dominant sectors of air masses arriving the Northwestern Turkey were northeast in summer and west-northwest in winter. Air masses were classified into five clusters regarding their wind speed and direction. Most species indicated significant differences between clusters. The influence of forest fires in Ukraine and Russian Federation was identified by cluster analysis using soluble K as tracer. Source apportionment of PM was carried out by EPA PMF model and five sources were resolved. Crustal emissions were found to be the major contributor to PM (41%). The second largest source was distant anthropogenic sources with a contribution of 26%. Traffic was also a remarkable source with 16% contribution. Sea salt and stationary combustion sources accounted for 9% and 8% of PM, respectively. Potential source regions of resolved sources were determined by potential source contribution function (PSCF).

The purpose of this study was to investigate the process optimization of combined high pressure acid leaching (HPAL) and mixed hydroxide precipitation (MHP) route for the extraction of nickel and cobalt from &Ccedil / aldag lateritic nickel ore. In order to extract nickel and cobalt values into pregnant leach solution (PLS), several process parameters of HPAL including acid load, temperature, leaching duration and particle size were investigated in comparative manner at constant solid concentration and agitation speed. After HPAL trials, it has been found that more than one combination of parameters offered higher than 90% extraction efficiencies for both nickel and cobalt. Among them, 0.325 kg/kg acid load, 250&deg / C, 1 hour duration and 100% -1 mm particle size was selected as the optimum conditions with 94.1% Ni and 94.0% Co extractions. A stock of PLS was prepared under the stated conditions that was treated by downstream operations in order to obtain MHP. Initially by two-stage iron removal of downstream operations major impurities iron, chromium and aluminum were nearly completely removed with acceptable nickel and cobalt losses from PLS. Then, the nickel and cobalt were precipitated by two-stage mixed hydroxide precipitation. In the first step of MHP, the optimum conditions were chosen as pH=7.10, 60&deg / C and 1 hour duration. The intermediate product obtained at these conditions contained 44.3% Ni, 3.01% Co with 3.06% Mn contamination. In summary, it was found that &Ccedil / aldag nickel laterite ore was readily leachable under HPAL conditions and PLS obtained was easily treatable in order to produce saleable MHP.

In this study, anaerobic treatability of opium alkaloid wastewater and the effect of radiation pretreatment (gamma-rays) on anaerobic treatability were investigated. Biochemical Methane Potential (BMP) assay was performed with alkaloid wastewater having initial COD values of 2400, 6000 and 9600 mg/L with and without basal medium (BM). The highest anaerobic treatment efficiency of 77% was obtained in the BMP reactor containing alkaloid wastewater with initial COD of 9600 mg/L and BM. Co-substrate use was investigated by using BMP assay. Alkaloid wastewater having initial COD concentrations of 9000, 13000 and 18000 mg/L were used with glucose, acetate and glucose-acetate as co-substrates. Results revealed that co-substrate use did not improve alkaloid removal efficiency significantly but it abrogated the acclimation period of anaerobic bacteria to alkaloid wastewater. Continuous reactor experiments were carried out in Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket (UASB) reactors. Highest overall efficiencies (above 80%) were obtained in the reactor fed with co-substrate (R2) for all initial COD concentrations. Up to 78% removal efficiency was obtained in R1 (fed with alkaloid wastewater only) at initial COD concentration of 19 g/L. Effect of radiation was sought by using BMP assay with two initial COD concentrations of 14 and 25 g/L, and two radiation doses 40 and 140 kGy. At 14 g/L COD, there was no effect of radiation on gas production for both doses. However at initial COD of 25 g/L, reactors containing wastewater dosed with 140 and 40 kGy produced gas with higher rates above certain point with respect to raw wastewater.