In this paper, a comprehensive life-cycle assessment (LCA) is carried out in order to evaluate the multiple environmental-health impacts of the biological wastewater treatment of the fish-processing industry throughout its life cycle. To this aim, the life-cycle impact assessment method based on endpoint modeling (LIME) was considered as the main LCA model. The proposed methodology is based on an endpoint modeling framework that uses the conjoint analysis to calculate damage factors for human health, social assets, biodiversity, and primary production, based on Indonesia’s local data inventory. A quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) is integrated with the LIME modeling framework to evaluate the damage on human health caused by five major biological treatment technologies, including chemical-enhanced primary clarification (CEPC), aerobic-activated sludge (AS), up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB), ultrafiltration (UF) and reverse osmosis (RO) in this industry. Finally, a lif... [more]

With the development of society, the energy crisis has become increasingly prominent, which greatly affects the sustainable development of the economy of various countries. Industrial energy consumption accounts for more than 70% of China’s total energy consumption, of which more than 50% is converted to industrial waste heat, and recyclable waste heat resources account for about 60% of the total waste heat resources, while China’s current utilization rate of industrial waste heat only reaches about 30%. The development of renewable energy and recovery of low-grade waste heat in industry is the key to solve the problem. As a type of volumetric expander with full flow expansion, the screw expander is extensively applied in the industrial waste heat recovery and geothermal energy generation industry because of its effective utilization of low enthalpy energy. Improving the performance of the screw expander as the core, the paper concludes and summarizes the research status of the leakage... [more]

Nowadays, climate change has turned into the leading environmental, technological, social and economical worldwide challenge [...]

In coal seams, depending on the composition of coal macerals, rank of coal, burial history, and migration of thermogenic and/or biogenic gas. In one ton of coal 1 to 25 m3 of methane can be accumulated. Accumulation of this gas is included in unconventional deposits. Exploitation of methane from coal seams is carried out with wells from mining excavations (during mining operations), wells drilled to abandoned coal mines, and wells from the surface to unexploited coal seams. Due to the low permeability of the coal matrix, hydraulic fracturing is also commonly used. Operations related to exploration (drilling works) and exploitation of methane from coal seams were analyzed. The preliminary analysis of the environmental threats associated with the exploration and exploitation of coalbed methane has made it possible to identify types of risks that affect the environment in various ways. The environmental risks were estimated as the product of the probability weightings of adverse events oc... [more]

Human thermoregulation models can predict human thermal responses to evaluate thermal comfort and help create a healthy environment, while their applicability to older people has not been sufficiently validated. This study aimed to evaluate the performance of the Stolwijk model and the Tanabe model for predicting older people’s mean and local skin temperatures under thermal transient conditions. Eighteen healthy older people were recruited and exposed to transient environments including neutral (26 °C), low-temperature (23 and 21 °C), and high-temperature (29 and 32 °C) conditions. The local skin temperatures of the subjects were measured and compared to predictions of the Stolwijk model and the Tanabe model. The results revealed that the Stolwijk model and the Tanabe model could accurately predict the mean skin temperature of older people under neutral and high-temperature conditions, while their predictive accuracy declined under low-temperature conditions. Increased deviations were... [more]

We investigate the environmental impacts of on-board (based on alternating current, AC) and off-board (based on direct current, DC) charging concepts for electric vehicles using Life Cycle Assessment and considering a maximum charging power of 22 kW (AC) and 50 kW (DC). Our results show that the manufacturing of chargers provokes the highest contribution to environmental impacts of the production phase. Within the chargers, the filters could be identified as main polluters for all power levels. When comparing the results on a system level, the DC system causes less environmental impact than the AC system in all impact categories. In our diffusion scenarios for electric vehicles, annual emission reductions of up to 35 million kg CO2-eq. could be achieved when the DC system is used instead of the AC system. In addition to the environmental assessment, we examine economic effects. Here, we find annual savings of up to 8.5 million euros, when the DC system is used instead of the AC system.

Energy from hydrogen is an appropriate technological choice in the context of sustainable development. The opportunities offered by the use of energy from hydrogen also represent a significant challenge for mobile technologies and daily life. Nevertheless, despite a significant amount of research and information regarding the benefits of hydrogen energy, it creates considerable controversy in many countries. Globally, there is a lack of understanding about the production process of hydrogen energy and the benefits it provides, which leads to concerns regarding the consistency of its use. In this study, an original questionnaire was used as a research tool to determine the opinions of inhabitants of countries in which hydrogen energy is underutilized and where the infrastructure for hydrogen energy is underdeveloped. Respondents presented their attitude to ecology, and indicated their knowledge regarding the operation of hydrogen energy and the use of hydrogen fuel. The results indicate... [more]

The section of Via Baltica going through the territory of the Republic of Lithuania is the most traffic intensive land logistics corridor in the country. The annual transportation volume has been increasing on this road; thus, the reduction of pollution caused by vehicles has become important. If gas emissions are regulated, and carriers have to pay pollution taxes, this does not apply to noise levels. The article presents the traffic intensity in this logistics corridor, measurements of the noise level at the characteristic points, its relation to the number of vehicles passing through it and an expert evaluation of proposed methods for noise energy reduction. Environmental noise is an unwanted or harmful sound that propagates in terms of both duration and geographical coverage. Noise is associated with many human activities, but road, rail and air traffic noises have the greatest impact. Due to irrationally arranged transport network, the transit flow of freight transport crosses res... [more]

The fracture-cavity combination structure between wells in fracture-cavity reservoirs is complex and changeable. Reliably identifying and quantitatively characterizing the fracture-cavity combination structure between wells has become an important prerequisite for flow channel adjustment in fracture-cavity reservoirs after water channeling and flooding. Aiming at the problems that it is difficult for the existing carving technology to characterize the flow characteristics of the injected fluid in the interwell fracture-cavity composite structure during the production process, and it is difficult for the existing interwell tracer proxy model to consider the specific fracture-cavity composite structure, this paper proposes a quantitative interpretation model for interwell tracers in fracture-cavity reservoirs with different architectures. Taking the Tahe fracture-cavity reservoir as the object, the matching relationship between the interwell fracture-cavity structure and the tracer curve... [more]

(Rupr. Maxim.; AS) is a medicinal plant used in the clinical treatment of cerebrovascular diseases and central nervous system disorders, and it significantly improves blood lipid levels and endothelial cell function in patients with acute cerebral infarction. Isofraxidin, one of the active ingredients of AS, is the core of the plant’s medical effects, and its extraction depends on organic solvents. Deep eutectic solvents (DESs) are new green solvents synthesized by intermolecular hydrogen bonding between hydrogen bond donors (HBD) and hydrogen bond acceptors (HBA) which are non-toxic, have a high separation and extraction efficiency, and are environmentally friendly compared to traditional organic solvents. In this paper, DES was used for the extraction of isofraxidin from AS. The primary findings demonstrated that the DES had a viscosity higher than that of ethanol, and even adding a small amount of water (approximately 10%) would trigger solvent redistribution, leading to a considera... [more]

With regard to speed, comfort, and a dense network of destinations, the popularity of air transport is on the rise. For this reason, jet fuel is a commodity with rapidly growing consumption and interesting refinery margins. At the same time, however, it is becoming a focus of attention in terms of reducing negative environmental impacts. As a response to these trends, it will be necessary to coprocess alternative petroleum fractions with sustainable aviation components in oil refineries. Six alternative jet fuel samples of different origin were used to investigate their jet fuel-specific properties, that is, aromatics (from 0 to 59.7 vol%), smoke point (from 12.2 to >50 mm), freezing point (from −49 to 50 mm) and freezing point (<80 °C).

In this study, modified granular activated carbon (GAC) and immobilized cells were used to improve the biological efficiency of high-ammonia-nitrogen wastewater treatment using microorganisms. The results showed that using sodium-hydroxide-modified activated carbon (NaOH-GAC) greatly increased the immobilized numbers of the ammonia-oxidizing bacteria Alcaligenes sp. TD-94 and Paracoccus sp. TD-10. Using NaOH-GAC increased the number of immobilized cells by 63.27% over GAC. Compared with free cells, those immobilized on modified activated carbon were more effective in the removal of high ammonia nitrogen levels from wastewater. In wastewater with an ammonia nitrogen concentration of 100 mg·L−1, the ammonia nitrogen removal efficiencies of NaOH-GAC-immobilized cells and free cells within 24 h were 100% and 4.17%, respectively. After 45 cycles, NaOH-GAC-immobilized cells maintained an ammonia nitrogen removal efficiency of 79.24%. After 70 days of storage at 4 °C, the ammonia nitrogen rem... [more]

Clarifying the water invasion rule of edge and bottom water reservoirs can adjust the reservoir development mode and improve the recovery factor of edge and bottom water reservoirs in a timely manner. Influenced by the size of a reservoir water body, energy intensity and reservoir seepage capacity, the change model of reservoir water influx basically belongs to the exponential growth model of the GM (1,1) model or the self-constraint growth model of the logistic model. The above two models are used to predict and analyze the water inflow of edge and bottom water reservoirs, respectively, and it is found that the change in water inflow of the reservoir with sufficient edge and bottom water energy is more consistent with the prediction results of the GM (1,1) model, but it has a large error compared to the prediction results of the logistic model. The change in water influx in the reservoir with insufficient edge and bottom water energy is consistent with the prediction results of the lo... [more]

Employees work long hours in an environment where the ambient air quality is poor, directly affecting their work efficiency. The concentration of particulate matters (PM) produced by the interior renovation of shopping malls has not received particular attention in Macao. Therefore, this study will investigate the indoor air quality (IAQ), in particular of PM2.5, in large-scale shopping mall renovation projects. This study collected on-site PM data with low-cost portable monitoring equipment placed temporarily at specific locations to examine whether the current control measures are appropriate and propose some improvements. Prior to this study, there were no measures being implemented, and on-site monitoring to assess the levels of PM2.5 concentrations was non-existent. The results show the highest level of PM2.5 recorded in this study was 559.00 μg/m3. Moreover, this study may provide a reference for decision-makers, management, construction teams, design consultant teams, and renova... [more]

The receding globalization has reshaped the logistics industry, while the additional pressure of the COVID-19 pandemic has posed new difficulties and challenges as has the pressure towards sustainable development. Achieving the synergistic development of economic, social, and environmental benefits in the logistics industry is essential to achieving its high-quality development. Therefore, we propose a data-driven calculation, evaluation, and enhancement method for the synergistic development of the composite system of economic, social, and environmental benefits (ESE-B) of the logistics industry. Based on relevant data, the logistics industry ESE-B composite system sequential parametric index system is then constructed. The Z-score is applied to standardize the original index data without dimension, and a collaborative degree model of logistics industry ESE-B composite system is constructed to estimate the coordinated development among the subsystems of the logistics industry’s ESE-B... [more]

Among various forms of anthropogenic pollution, the release of toxic metals in the environment is a global concern due to the high toxicity of these metals towards living organisms. In the last 20 years, sediment washing has gained increasing attention thanks to its capability to remove toxic metals from contaminated matrices. In this paper, we propose a Response Surface Methodology method for the washing of selected marine sediments of the Bagnoli-Coroglio Bay (Campania region, Italy) polluted with arsenic and other contaminants. We focused our attention on different factors affecting the clean-up performance (i.e., liquid/solid ratio, chelating concentration, and reaction time). The highest As removal efficiency (i.e., >30 μg/g) was obtained at a liquid/solid ratio of 10:1 (v/w), a citric acid concentration of 1000 mM, and a washing time of 94.22 h. Based on these optimum results, ecotoxicological tests were performed and evaluated in two marine model species (i.e., Phaeodactylum tri... [more]

The decolorization of azo dye Orange II using a UVA-Fe3+-PMS-oxalate system was studied. A series of experiments was performed to investigate the effects of several variables, including the pH, PMS dosage, Fe3+ concentration, oxalate concentration, and coexisting anions. The results revealed that a lower pH facilitated the decolorization, and relatively high decolorization efficiency (97.5%) could be achieved within 5 min at pH 3.0. The electron paramagnetic resonance (ESR) and radical quenching experiments revealed that SO4•− played a crucial role in the decolorization of Orange II (85.8%), •OH was of secondary importance (9%), and 1O2 made a small contribution to the decolorization (5.2%). Furthermore, the formation of •OH in the experimental system strongly depended on HO2•/O2•−. These reactive oxidants were able to directly attack the azo bond of the luminescent group in Orange II and initiate the decolorization process. The efficient UVA-Fe3+-PMS-oxalate system showed great applic... [more]

The surface integrity of machined components is considered to be an important part of the quality matrix for high-performance applications in the aviation industry. Therefore, close attention is given to the components made up of hard-to-cut materials such as Ti6Al4V, which face processability challenges. In this regard, among the non-conventional machining processes, electric discharge machining is widely preferred for cutting Ti6Al4V. In this study, the potentiality of cryogenic-treated tool electrodes (graphite and aluminum) with unmodified (kerosene) and modified (kerosene with Span 20, Span 60, and Span 80) dielectrics are comprehensively investigated. A three-phased experimentation framework is deployed based on the following process parameters, i.e., surfactant type, surfactant concentration, electrode material, and pulse ON:OFF time. Thorough statistical analyses are performed based on the full factorial design of experiments, and the results are characterized by process physic... [more]

With the development of the global economy, large amounts of fossil fuels are being burned, causing a severe energy crisis and climate change. Photocatalytic CO2 reduction is a clean and environmentally friendly method to convert CO2 into hydrocarbon fuel, providing a feasible solution to the global energy crisis and climate problems. Photocatalytic CO2 reduction has three key steps: solar energy absorption, electron transfer, and CO2 catalytic reduction. The previous literature has obtained many significant results around the first two steps, while in the third step, there are few results due to the need to add a co-catalyst. In general, the co-catalysts have three essential roles: (1) promoting the separation of photoexcited electron−hole pairs, (2) inhibiting side reactions, and (3) improving the selectivity of target products. This paper summarizes different types of photocatalysts for photocatalytic CO2 reduction, the reaction mechanisms are illustrated, and the application prospe... [more]

The presence of dyes in aquatic environments can have harmful effects on aquatic life, including inhibiting photosynthesis, decreasing dissolved oxygen levels, and altering the behavior and reproductive patterns of aquatic organisms. In the initial phase of this review study, our aim was to examine the categories and properties of dyes as well as the impact of their toxicity on aquatic environments. Azo, phthalocyanine, and xanthene are among the most frequently utilized dyes, almost 70−80% of used dyes, in industrial processes and have been identified as some of the most commonly occurring dyes in water bodies. Apart from that, the toxicity effects of dyes on aquatic ecosystems were discussed. Toxicity testing relies heavily on two key measures: the LC50 (half-lethal concentration) and EC50 (half-maximal effective concentration). In a recent study, microalgae exposed to Congo Red displayed a minimum EC50 of 4.8 mg/L, while fish exposed to Disperse Yellow 7 exhibited a minimum LC50 of... [more]

In the perspective of energy sustainability, biomass is the widely used renewable domestic energy with low cost and easy availability. Increasing studies have reported the health impacts of toxic substances from biomass burning emissions. To make proper use of biomass as residential solid energy, the evaluation of its health risks and environmental impacts is of necessity. Empirical studies on the characteristics of toxic emissions from biomass burning would provide scientific data and drive the development of advanced technologies. This review focuses on the emission of four toxic substances, including heavy metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), elemental carbon (EC), and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted from biomass burning, which have received increasing attention in recent studies worldwide. We focus on the developments in empirical studies, methods of measurements, and technical factors. The influences of key technical factors on biomass burning emissions are c... [more]

The rotating disk photocatalytic reactor is a kind of photocatalytic wastewater treatment technique with a high application potential, but the light energy utilization rate and photo quantum efficiency still need to be improved. Taking photogenerated electrons as the starting point, the following contents are reviewed in this work: (1) Light-harvesting excitation of photogenerated electrons. Based on the rotating disk thin solution film photocatalytic reactor, the photoanodes with light capture structures are reviewed from the macro perspective, and the research progress of light capture structure catalysts based on BiOCl is also reviewed from the micro perspective. (2) Macroscope transfer of photogenerated electrons. The research progress of photo fuel cell based on rotating disk reactors is reviewed. The system can effectively convert the chemical energy in organic pollutants into electrical energy through the macroscopic transfer of photogenerated electrons. (3) Multi-level utilizat... [more]

The global climate crisis has led society toward cleaner energy sources. Another reason is the limited reserves of fossil energy resources. Efforts to increase the efficiency of photovoltaic modules (PVs) have gained momentum. The high temperature is the biggest factor causing a decrease in the efficiency of PVs. In this study, a commercial PV was cooled with distilled water, a multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT)/water mixture, and a graphene nanoplatelets (GNP)/water mixture. The environmental impact of electricity, total energetic efficiency, energy payback time, energy return on investment, and embodied energy of the PV/thermal (PV/T) system were compared using life cycle assessment and cumulative energy demand. The electrical efficiency of the PV/T changed between 13.5% and 14.4%. The total efficiency of PV/T changed between 39.5% and 45.7%. The energy returns on investment were 1.76, 1.80, and 1.85 for PV/T-distilled water, the PV/T-MWCNT/water mixture, and the PV/T-GNP/water mix... [more]

Synthetic fibers enter wastewater treatment plants together with natural fibers, which may affect treatment efficiency, a fact not considered in previous studies. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficiency of the coagulation/flocculation process for the removal of a mixture of textile fibers from different water matrices. Natural and synthetic fibers (100 mg/L; cotton, polyacrylonitrile, and polyamide) were added to a synthetic matrix, surface water and laundry wastewater and subjected to coagulation/flocculation experiments with ferric chloride (FeCl3) and polyaluminum chloride (PACl) under laboratory conditions. In the synthetic matrix, both coagulants were found to be effective, with FeCl3 having a lesser advantage, removing textile fibers almost completely from the water (up to 99% at a concentration of 3.94 mM). In surface water, all dosages had approximately similar high values, with the coagulant resulting in complete removal. In laundry effluent, the... [more]

Experimental and simulation investigation of the performance and characteristics of different refrigerants and blends of refrigerants is carried out to replace the existing refrigerant R134a for a vapour compression refrigeration system. The performance of VCRS systems was improved by several researchers by introducing the concept of mixing the family of refrigerants with low GWP in the working circuit. This research paper presents the performance results of different refrigerants and blends of refrigerants that can replace the R134a it is also an attempt to cover the mechanism and possible combination of different blends of refrigerants to improve the effectiveness as well as efficiency of the refrigeration system. Detailed analysis of different parameters of heat transfer and predictions of low-GWP refrigerants, including the HFO (hydro fluoro-olefin) class and the HC (hydrocarbon) class through energy and exergy analysis of commercial refrigerants such as R134a is performed. Results... [more]