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• Agent-based modelling is a powerful tool for evaluating the impact of the circular economy (CE). • Agent-based CE literature is fragmented and lacks a comprehensive framework. • Our systemic review finds three main themes in the literature. • We develop an integrated framework for agent-based model that complements general equilibrium models. • Our insights contribute to the theory and open future avenues of research. Circular Economy (CE) is a popular topic for governments and businesses around the world; yet, only a few comprehensive and economy-wide frameworks exist, and the consequences of the CE on economic systems stay unclear. With this systematic review, we put under scrutiny the existing contributions to Circular Economy (CE) that apply the Agent-based modelling methodology. There is an open gap in the CE literature regarding the use of ABM. The research question that guides this systematic review concerns the potential benefit of ABM for CE and how to use this methodology in the context of CE. We put in evidence three thematic areas, two agents and one process, namely producers , i.e. firms and industrial systems, consumers , i.e. households and waste disposal, and the diffusion of innovation. We infer that the former three thematic strands of literature can be further synthetized together to form a general model of the Circular Economy. This development is crucial to properly evaluate how the agent's heterogeneity affects the diffusion and the consequences of the adoption of CE practices on the economy. Research has widely applied ABM simulations to consider the impact of heterogeneity amongst individuals and their behavioural interactions on the evolution of complex systems, yet very little did it systematically about CE. Our results complement those of Computable General Equilibrium models. The review provides an interpretative framework, suggests valuable future research directions within the new comprehensive thematic area, and contributes to the theoretical and managerial discussion on agent-based modelling in the circular economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A route preparing SiOC/SiC nanocomposites directly by pyrolysis of organosilane slurry residue was investigated. Organosilane slurry residue's unique composition, containing both silicon and carbon, offers an intriguing platform for developing advanced ceramic materials. The pyrolysis process is examined comprehensively, revealing the chemical reactions and structural changes leading to SiC crystals formation. The phase evolution at various annealing temperatures was revealed. Crystallization behavior in the process were studied. The results reveal that SiOC matrix was generated at annealed temperature 800°C and SiC nanoparticles were formed at 1300°C. In comparison to phase separation of SiOC, carbothermal reduction of SiO2 was domain in SiC formation. This research advances the understanding of SiOC/SiC nanocomposites, highlighting the value of repurposing industrial byproducts for sustainable and innovative materials development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The smart city projects have been criticized for their technocratic approach, often seen as prioritizing technology over other essential aspects of society. The digital solutions developed by technology firms fail to address the needs of deprived and vulnerable communities in society because the dominating sociotechnical imaginary that emerges from outsourced solutions ends up ignoring localized ones. Using a preference-based model to address the crucial problem of choosing the right technology for waste treatment, the paper highlights the importance of taking into account a variety of imaginaries and urban futures when choosing a waste disposal method for urban local bodies. In order to reduce uncertainty in the choice of waste disposal methods in Indian cities, the paper suggests a method based on grey theory which is modified for preference-based analysis. This approach lessens the requirement for cost and benefit attributes by incorporating the significance of design criteria in decision-making. The approach is contrasted with earlier approaches and demonstrated with a waste disposal issue in Indore, India. For socio-technical transformations in cities to be successful, the study highlights the significance of localized solutions and diverse imaginaries. The approach that involves choosing and allocating weights to criteria is strongly supported by the quantitative methodology, which involves interviews with officials, NGOs, experts, citizens, and traders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fish scale waste can be used as a precursor of hydroxyapatite (HAp). In this work, HAp was extracted from white seabass (Lates calcarifer) scale waste by using an alkali heat treatment. The fish scale was pretreated with hydrochloric acid (HCl) concentrations of 0.1, 0.5, and 1 M. The pretreated fish scale was then treated with 2% sodium hydroxide (NaOH) solution at 70°C for 5 h and again (20% NaOH solution) for 1 h to extract HAp. The effects of each pretreatment on the properties of the extracted HAp were investigated. HAp produced after pretreatment with 1 M HCl had the smallest particle size (28.24 ± 5.20 μm), the highest degree of crystallinity (79%), the highest thermal stability, the largest BET surface area (90.80 m2/g), and the highest whiteness value (97.360 ± 0.01). 1 M HCl could eliminate more protein, collagen, and other organic compounds than lower HCl concentrations without destroying the crystalline domains of the fish scale. Waste L. calcarifer scale is therefore a potential source of HAp. Furthermore, in a preliminary study for further research, HAp extracted in the proposed procedure was used as a filler in a biodegradable starch foam. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cementitious–glass composite bricks (CGCBs) with 3D-printed reinforcement structures made of PET-G could be an innovative production method that relies on recycling glass waste (78%) and PET-G (8%). These bricks offer a promising solution for the construction industry, which has a significant impact on climate change due to its greenhouse gas emissions and extensive use of natural aggregates. The approach presented in this article serves as an alternative to using conventional building materials that are not only costlier but also less environmentally friendly. The conducted research included mechanical tests using digital image correlation (DIC), utilized for measuring deformations in specimens subjected to three-point bending and compression tests, as well as thermal investigations covering measurements of their thermal conductivity, thermal diffusivity, and specific heat. The results highlighted the superior thermal properties of the CGCBs with PET-G reinforcements compared to traditional cementitious–glass mortar (CGM). The CGCBs exhibited a 12% lower thermal conductivity and a 17% lower specific heat. Additionally, the use of specially designed reinforcement substantially enhanced the mechanical properties of the bricks. There was a remarkable 72% increase in flexural strength in the vertical direction and a 32% increase in the horizontal direction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Strains of micromycetes and bacteria with lipolytic activity were isolated from oil palm biomass waste. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the obtained micromycetes are closely related to Penicillium chrysogenum, P. goetzii, P. citreosulfuratum, P. citrinum, Paecilomyces lilacinus, and Aspergillus hortae. Opportunistic microorganisms prevailed among the bacterial isolates. The non-opportunistic isolate Pseudomonas sp. Z-M-7T2 exhibited lipolytic activity but did not show active utilization of palm oil. The study showed that micromycete strains related to P.chrysogenum and P.goetzii are most promising for decomposition of oil palm biomass waste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the field of radioactive waste management, particularly the geological disposal of higher activity radioactive waste, support for the longevity of engineering solutions in the repository is partly based on studies of natural systems, especially geological examples, often referred to as natural analogues (NA). Since the radioactive waste can be hazardous over hundreds of thousands of years, the long-term safety has to be assessed to very far future, e.g. up to 1 Ma from now. NA studies cover and exceed the time spans of interest. Despite of the long-acknowledged importance of NAs in the safety case for the geological disposal of radioactive waste, there is a lack of guidance and strategic planning to incorporate this information to the safety cases that assess the overall safety of the repositories – this leads to a certain lack of resilience. This paper presents the work undertaken to develop a strategy for utilising natural analogues (NAs) in Nuclear Waste Services (NWS), UK, geological disposal facility (GDF) programme. The work is largely based on the extensive review of the strategic use of NAs in the international context, lessons learnt from various past programmes and by considering how the strategy could look like in the current framework of the UK's GDF programme. The strategy presented aims to support this programme. The main message is that NA information and projects can and should be handled through the same procedures as any research utilising existing and upcoming NWS protocols. This means that NAs need to be a part of knowledge management, rather than, for example, a stagnant database. Including NAs as part of the data screening allows the knowledge base to be updated according to needs arising from the changes in the GDF programme when moving from generic stage towards more site and design specific phases. It is foreseen that key to the best utilisation of NA information is to include it in the NWS' digital safety case, making the information and the related methodology transparent. This paper refers to NWS' GDF siting programme as at September 2023. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Xinchang site in northwest China has been selected as a potential deep geological repository for spent high-level radioactive waste (HLW) due to its low-permeability granite bedrock. Predicting the characteristics of long-term flow systems is of priority for improving the suitability assessment for a HLW disposal repository. In this study, a three-dimensional saturated–unsaturated groundwater flow numerical model, using the software TOUGH3/EOS9 with an improved evaporation module, was developed. It was subsequently used to reveal the regional groundwater flow patterns in the bedrock fracture network and to provide scientific support for the safety assessment of the potential HLW disposal repository at the Xinchang site. The regional groundwater flow system associated with the Xinchang site can be characterized by three hydrogeological units. The groundwater at Xinchang site cannot flow into the Hexi Corridor due to the high surface topography and low-permeability F11 fault, but it flows southward to Yuanyang Ditch and then discharges from the east and south boundaries. Changes in precipitation, fault permeability and fault connectivity only cause fluctuation of the water table in local areas, and do not impact the regional groundwater flow patterns. Topography is the main factor determining regional groundwater flow. The proposed model is expected to serve as a powerful tool for studying groundwater flow patterns in fractured bedrock regions and provides the foundation for deeper analysis of nuclides migration in terms of distance and time in the Xinchang area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the twentieth century, inadequate management of mine waste at the Mount Lyell Copper Mine affected the ecology of the Queen–King Rivers and Macquarie Harbour, western Tasmania, Australia. Over the past two decades, the water quality of the river system has been measured semi-annually to investigate the long-term hydrochemical and environmental impacts caused by these historical mine practices and the waste associated with the Mount Lyell mine to the Queen–King Rivers. At sample sites below the confluence of Haulage Creek, the water pH was below pH 3.5, remaining below pH 5 across all sites to Macquarie Harbour. Local baseline rivers ranged from pH 4.0 to 8.4. Elemental concentrations of dissolved metals in water samples downstream of Haulage Creek were above the Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council (ANZECC) water quality guidelines. Copper, Fe, and Zn were not attenuated along the length of the river, with concentrations remaining elevated to the King River Delta. Mineralogical analyses demonstrated secondary minerals in sediments at Haulage Creek and pyrite concentrated at the King River Delta. Static tests on mining-affected sediments indicated risk of AMD and metal(loid) leaching in the river system. Since 2016, after flooding of the Prince Lyell mine, dissolved metal levels in the Queen–King Rivers have decreased; however, concentrations remain above guidelines. Almost three decades after legacy mine waste disposal ended, it still poses a long-term risk to the downstream environment, implying that without effective management of these historical mine wastes, the Queen–King Rivers will continue to be severely impacted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ceramic proppants are preferred in hydraulic fracturing because of their high strength, good sphericity, and excellent acid corrosion resistance. Bauxite is the main raw material of ceramic proppants, but with the increasing depletion of bauxite resources, substitutes for bauxite need to be sought. Coal gangue is a solid waste that is rich in SiO2 and Al2O3, making it a potential substitute for the preparation of ceramic proppants. The use of coal gangue to prepare ceramic proppants can reduce the cost of ceramic proppants and benefit environmental protection. Studies on using coal gangue to prepare ceramic proppants have been conducted and achieved progress, but further improvement can still be obtained. Here, the basic principle, progress, and prospects of coal gangue ceramic proppants are reviewed. First, coal gangue ceramic proppants are divided into two categories, namely, proppants prepared using coal gangue as an auxiliary material and proppants prepared using coal gangue as the main material. Second, the progress of research of coal gangue ceramic proppants is summarized from the perspective of additives, and the influence of different kinds of additives on the sintering temperature and performance of proppants is discussed. Lastly, the future prospects of coal gangue ceramic proppants are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indiscriminate waste disposal practices and open defecation put pressure on environmental and human health in developing countries. Environmental sanitation laws have been enacted in those countries in an attempt to change sanitation behavior, but enforcement has been weak. This study examined the causes of poor enforcement of environmental sanitation laws in Ghana and the effects of the phenomenon on environmental and public health. Qualitative data were collected from 83 sanitation-related experts, informants, and workers, and analyzed using the thematic approach. It became evident that the main causes were the weak political will of the government, low commitment of enforcement institutions, mild sanctions regime, inadequate funding for enforcement, pervasive corruption, poor sanitation culture, and low capacity of the enforcement institutions. The environmental health effects were polluted air and water bodies, choked drainage systems, seasonal flooding, and dirty community landscapes. The public health effects were the incidence of diseases including, diarrhea, malaria, typhoid, and neglected tropical diseases. The government should build a mix of committed political, cultural, religious, legal, and social institutions, comprising relevant sector ministries and local governments, traditional authorities, churches and mosques, sanitation tribunals, vibrant civil society organizations, and mass media for enforcement management through advocacy and public education on sanitation and the laws. The government should provide funding, fight corruption, equip the relevant institutions, and hold the frontline enforcement institutions—sector ministries and local governments—accountable for the lapses in enforcement. The socio-cultural behavior change approach to enforcement should be strengthened in support of the traditional prosecutorial and sanctions regime. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To find the correlation of menstrual hygiene management (MHM) with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and cervical cancer. Materials and Methods: This case-control study was conducted in a tertiary care teaching hospital for 1 year. One hundred cases (CIN or cervical cancer) and 135 controls (normal cervical cytology, Swede's score below 5, or normal cervical histology) were surveyed about MHM practices through a predesigned, semi-structured questionnaire by interview method. Data were analyzed on SPSS version 17.0 statistical analysis software through Chi-square test and bivariate regression analysis. Results: All Poor MHM practices except frequency of change of absorbent were significantly more commonly seen in women with CIN or Cervical cancer as compared to controls (P < 0.001). The bivariate regression analysis showed that old age, illiteracy, and the use of old cloth are significant risk factors for cervical cancer. Conclusion: Poor menstrual hygiene practices of using old cloth and disposal in open are significant risk factors of cervical cancer. Good MHM practices should be widely publicized and implemented in the community to reduce the risk of cervical cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this research is to demonstrate the utilization of animal wastes and by‐products in the production of low‐energy and low‐CO2 clinkers and cements in order to preserve natural resources, such as limestone, while reducing CO2 emissions released from the cement manufacturing process and reducing potential health risk to the world population (such as bovine spongiform encephalopathy or other health issues...). Pure calcium sulfoaluminate clinker was produced with calcium hydroxide, aluminum hydroxide, and calcium sulfate hemihydrate; followed by additional clinkers produced from substituting calcium hydroxide with bone ash (from 0 to 100% of the calcium hydroxide replaced). The final clinkers contained various amounts of ye'elimite, calcium aluminate phases, as well as tricalcium phosphate, depending on the firing temperature. Finally, some preliminary results on the hydration process and compressive strength are provided for the production of these binders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tens of thousands of municipal solid waste (MSW) landfill sites worldwide hold a high risk of contaminating groundwater. This study aimed to establish a practical hydrogeological classification system for MSW landfill sites and explores the correlation between the classification and the risk of groundwater contamination. Hydrogeological information and groundwater contamination data from 80 MSW landfill sites in China were collected and analyzed, and a general hydrogeological model was proposed. The key hydrogeological parameters in the model were identified and analyzed, including the relative depth to the water table, the ratio of the length of the MSW site's recharge boundary to the combined length of the discharge boundary and hydrobalance boundary, the hydraulic conductivity of the bearing layer, and the background hydraulic gradient. On the basis of the general model, hydrogeological conditions at the landfill sites were categorized into seven subtypes. By using chloride, ammoniacal nitrogen and chemical oxygen demand as the characteristic contaminants, the migration features of groundwater contaminants within the seven subtypes of landfill sites were revealed. It was found that the maximum contaminant migration distance could be 2,000 and 300 m at the landfill sites with 'plain and intensive runoff' type and 'valley and weak runoff' type, respectively, and the corresponding concentration gradients of the characteristic contaminants were less than 10 mg/(L × m) and greater than 10 mg/(L × m). This work provides a guide for implementing cost-effective site investigation and environmental risk management at landfill sites with different types of hydrogeological conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the transformation of the proper site of waste disposal across ecosocial landscapes throughout twentieth century Mongolian history to today. As Western ecological discourses became dominant in public space, they were not set up in a vacuum but rather mixed with vernacular ideas of waste from pre-socialist times as well as socialist cultural campaigns. If Mongolian zero-waste and waste recycling associations claim to belong to international movements and adopt a globalized upper-class eco-habitus, their discourses also reinterpret two imperial and idealized parts of Mongolian history: socialist modernity, when proper waste management was a sign of modernity and culture, and the Mongol Empire, when even Genghis Khan would not have left permanent traces along his path. This article is therefore about the present reinventing the past through ecologist discourses that allow Mongolians to define themselves both as modern and as true Mongols. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Remote sensing can represent an important instrument for monitoring landfills and their evolution over time. In general, remote sensing can offer a global and rapid view of the Earth's surface. Thanks to a wide variety of heterogeneous sensors, it can provide high-level information, making it a useful technology for many applications. The main purpose of this paper is to provide a review of relevant methods based on remote sensing for landfill identification and monitoring. The methods found in the literature make use of measurements acquired from both multi-spectral and radar sensors and exploit vegetation indexes, land surface temperature, and backscatter information, either separately or in combination. Moreover, additional information can be provided by atmospheric sounders able to detect gas emissions (e.g., methane) and hyperspectral sensors. In order to provide a comprehensive overview of the full potential of Earth observation data for landfill monitoring, this article also provides applications of the main procedures presented to selected test sites. These applications highlight the potentialities of satellite-borne sensors for improving the detection and delimitation of landfills and enhancing the evaluation of waste disposal effects on environmental health. The results revealed that a single-sensor-based analysis can provide significant information on the landfill evolution. However, a data fusion approach that incorporates data acquired from heterogeneous sensors, including visible/near infrared, thermal infrared, and synthetic aperture radar (SAR), can result in a more effective instrument to fully support the monitoring of landfills and their effect on the surrounding area. In particular, the results show that a synergistic use of multispectral indexes, land surface temperature, and the backscatter coefficient retrieved from SAR sensors can improve the sensitivity to changes in the spatial geometry of the considered site. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study provides an alternative to traditional masonry materials: a cement–glass composite brick (CGCB), with a printed polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PET-G) internal scaffolding (gyroidal structure). This newly designed building material consists of 86% waste (78% glass waste, and 8% recycled PET-G). It can respond to the construction market's needs and provide a cheaper alternative to traditional materials. Performed tests showed an improvement in thermal properties after the use of an internal grate in the brick matrix, i.e., an increase in thermal conductivity (5%), and a decrease in thermal diffusivity (8%) and specific heat (10%). The obtained anisotropy of the CGCB's mechanical properties was much lower than the non-scaffolded parts, indicating a very positive effect of using this type of scaffolding in CGCB bricks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Food-processing sludge with extremely high moisture is treated by smouldering. • Sand: Food-processing sludge: Sawdust = 25:5:1 may be a reasonable mixing ratio. • Continuous self-sustaining smoldering is volumetrically scaled up to the pilot-scale. • O 2 , CO, NO x , SO 2 , VOC, and dioxin concentrations of flue gas are measured. • Heavy metal element is low in ash, good self-healing of smouldering is validated. Although smouldering of solid waste with high moisture has shown strong promise in laboratory studies, there are fewer reports about the larger-scale device and continuous operation. This work studies a self-sustaining smouldering treatment of food-processing sludge (FPS) with extremely high moisture (over 85 %) in laboratory- and pilot-scale devices. Results from laboratory-scale experiments show that adding auxiliary fuel is necessary to maintain FPS self-sustaining smouldering, Sand: FPS: Sawdust = 25:5:1 is a reasonable mixing ratio. Then, the self-sustaining smouldering is volumetrically scaled up to the pilot-scale. The smouldering asynchrony in the feedstock is observed due to the non-uniform air flux. Compared to the laboratory-scale, the pilot-scale device presents a similar temperature level but a higher smouldering velocity. Furthermore, a continuous process in the pilot-scale device is successfully performed, and the flue gas concentrations are measured: 15.0 ∼ 16.5 % for O 2 , 4000 ∼ 5500 ppm for CO, 155 ∼ 195 ppm for NO x , 210 ∼ 250 ppm for VOC s , 55 ∼ 70 ppm for SO 2 , 0.0138 ∼ 0.0317 ngTEQ/m3 (at 11 % O 2) for dioxin. These studied results can provide useful information for continuous, low-energy solid waste treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reusing organic wastes in land applications would enhance the recovery of resources, following the concepts of the circular economy. The sugarcane-based sugar industry produces various by-products (e.g., sugarcane filter mud, molasses, and bagasse) that have the potential to contribute to crop production and soil fertility, owing to their high contents of organic matter and nutrients. Although the agricultural benefits of compost utilization in agriculture have been well-documented, to the best of our knowledge, few scientific data are currently available on the effects of sugarcane filter mud combined with the application of compost for increasing crop production. Thus, a field experiment was carried out to study how sugarcane filter mud, in combination with two compost sources, affected the growth and yield of sweet maize (Zea mays var. saccharata). We compared (i) two types of compost made from brassica residue and household waste applied at a rate of 9 t ha−1, and (ii) two application rates of sugarcane filter mud: 0 and 2 t ha−1 to two controls without any compost application: one with (+SFM) and one without (−SFM) sugar filter mud. The results highlighted that all crop growth and yield parameters benefited more from the domestic waste compost than from the brassica straw compost. Moreover, the addition of sugar filter mud to the compost further boosted the crop performance. Based on the above results, we concluded that the addition of sugarcane filter mud to locally available composts is a feasible approach for more sustainable production of sweet maize, combining efficient waste disposal and the provision of organic matter to the soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the ever-increasing human population, there is a need to develop new urban settlements for human habitation. For these new settlements, it is imperative to optimally site different land-use zones, including solid waste disposal sites. The aim of this article is to determine suitable sites for locating a landfill in a new developed city in Zimbabwe around Mt. Hampden, named the New City. The New City will have various residential, commercial, and industrial areas. This entails the need for a proper site selection of a landfill to reduce the negative social and environmental effects such as contamination of water bodies and proliferation of diseases such as malaria. GIS and remote sensing were the major methods used in mapping the suitable areas. Multi-criteria evaluation and weighted overlay analysis methods were used in the landfill site selection process. Factors used for landfill site selection were rivers, settlements, roads, protected areas, and soils. A suitability map was generated, showing five potential sites that are suitable for landfill siting in the New City. Moderately suitable areas cover approximately 8%. A further 73% of the total land area in the study area is highly unsuitable for siting a landfill. A real-time Web-GIS monitoring interface was developed to monitor land use on the selected area, because the New City is a new area under development. Using a Web-GIS interface makes data easily accessible to environment planners, ecologists, spatial land planners, and other decision makers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report a comprehensive study on lanthanide monouranate–based glass–ceramic (GC) composites as potential waste forms for the immobilization of the lanthanide actinide fraction waste arising from the reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel (SNF). Although the crystalline LnUO4 precursor prepared via a nitrate route can be well stabilized in a sodium aluminoborosilicate glass, the in situ crystallization of EuUO4 in glass from oxide precursors (Eu2O3 and U3O8) is rather robust with regards to various processing conditions such as waste loadings, ceramic‐to‐glass ratios, and cooling rates. Scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy investigations revealed the detailed microstructures, where ∼1–5‐μm spheres for NdUO4 and EuUO4, and ∼1–5‐μm rectangular crystals for DyUO4 and HoUO4 were observed in residual glasses. As designed, the pentavalent uranium has been confirmed by diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. Overall, LnUO4‐based GC composite waste forms are chemically durable, offering flexible processing options with wide operating windows for SNF and process waste stream management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Economic and social progress in the Republic of Korea resulted in an increased standard of living, which subsequently produced more waste. The Korean government implemented a volume-based trash disposal system that may modify waste disposal characteristics to handle vast volumes of waste efficiently. However, the inconvenience of having to purchase standard garbage bags on one's own led to passive participation by citizens and instances of illegally dumping waste in non-standard plastic bags. As a result, there is a need for the development of automatic detection and reporting of illegal acts of garbage dumping. To achieve this, we suggest a system for tracking unlawful rubbish disposal that is based on deep neural networks. The proposed monitoring approach obtains the articulation points (joints) of a dumper through OpenPose and identifies the type of garbage bag through the object detection model, You Only Look Once (YOLO), to determine the distance of the dumper's wrist to the garbage bag and decide whether it is illegal dumping. Additionally, we introduced a method of tracking the IDs issued to the waste bags using the multi-object tracking (MOT) model to reduce the false detection of illegal dumping. To evaluate the efficacy of the proposed illegal dumping monitoring system, we compared it with the other systems based on behavior recognition. As a result, it was validated that the suggested approach had a higher degree of accuracy and a lower percentage of false alarms, making it useful for a variety of upcoming applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The classification of biomedical wastes based on the source from which they are created includes many risk factor related to their handling and eventual disposal. A tertiary care hospital's compliance with various categories of biomedical waste management was assessed. A checklist with 17 biomedical waste management-related criteria, including "condition of waste containers," "segregation of waste," and "mutilation of recyclable waste," was created and compliance was monitored in 70 different patient care settings, including wards, casualty departments, operating rooms, and intensive care units. During the two-month study period from 1 November to 31 December 2021, any three non-consecutive days were used to visit each area. Thus, a total of 30 visits were made to area and mean percentage score was analysed for each area and each category of biomedical waste management. For Medicity Hospital OTs, Wards, Casualty, and ICU the mean percentage was 90%, 90.67%, 94.64 and 92.17% respectively. In Ram Ganga Hospital, the mean percentage was 88.67%, 91.34%, 92.34 and 91% respectively. For Vaidic Hospital, the mean percentage for these categories was 74.67%, 85.34%, 73.34% and 78% respectively. It was determined that more importance needs to be rested for 'mutilation of recyclable waste' especially in wards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, in geotechnical engineering, waste utilization and management have become immensely important in terms of reducing the ratios of environmentally harmful and relatively expensive chemical soil strengthening additives. Glass manufacturing waste (GMW), among the above-stated waste materials, comes to existence as the mineralogical part required to produce glass is separated from the mined material. GMW leads to serious environmental pollution incessantly. This study aims to investigate the effects of GMW to the bearing capacity and time-dependent consolidation settlements of clayey soils (CS) in an environmentally friendly approach. In this regard, GMW, which has not yet been considered in the relevant literature, was activated with KOH, NaOH and CaO alkali activators to form geopolymer mortars. Large-scale model experiments were performed on geopolymer-CS mixtures and up to 7.35 times bearing capacity increments along with 6.90 times settlement reductions were reached compared to unimproved CS. Optimum GMW ratio was found as 25% and CaO was determined to be the most ideal alkali activator. Curing temperature and durations were examined and it was deduced that both affected the results significantly. Results were compared to those of cement and remarkably close bearing capacity and settlement improvements were achieved in an environmentally friendly approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to determine the influence of biomaterial in the binder composition on the quality of reclaim from furan no-bake sands. The biomaterial is introduced into the moulding sand in order to accelerate the biodegradation of post-regeneration dust and thus to reduce the amount of harmful waste from foundries in landfills. This addition, however, can't deteriorate the technological properties of the moulding sand, including its ability to mechanical regeneration. Chemically bonded moulding sands are characterized by high ability to mechanical regeneration, which reduces the consumption of the raw material and costs related to their transport and storage. A side effect of the regeneration process is the formation of a large amount of post-regeneration dusts. According to the tendencies observed in recent years, moulding processes must meet high requirements connected to environmental protection including problems related to the disposal of generated wastes. A partial replacement of synthetic binding materials with biomaterials may be one of scientific research directions on the production of innovative foundry moulding and core sands. The conducted regeneration tests presented in this paper initially proved that biomaterial slightly decreases the quality of reclaim from moulding sand with its addition. However, its ability to regeneration increases with time of the process. In previous research authors tested biodegradability of the dust remaining after the regeneration process. The tests proved that moulding sand with biomaterial added at the stage of the production process is characterized by about three times better biodegradability than the same moulding sand without additive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the results of computational and experimental studies of the electroplasma gasification of carbon-containing technogenic wastes to obtain high-calorific-value syngas (H2 + CO) for power-generating devices. The composition of the syngas produced by gasification of organic wastes was experimentally determined. The change in the composition and calorific value of the syngas depending on the gasification time of organic materials was studied. The change in the calorific value of the syngas during waste gasification is considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To estimate the effect of improving waste collection services on waste disposal behaviour and exposure to environmental risk factors in urban, low‐income communities in Pakistan. Methods: We enrolled six low‐income communities in Islamabad (Pakistan), four of which received an intervention consisting of a door‐to‐door low‐cost waste collection service with centralised waste processing and recycling sites. Intervention communities underwent community‐level and household‐level mobilisation. The effect of the intervention on waste disposal behaviour, exposure to waste and synanthropic fly counts was measured using two cross‐sectional surveys in 180 households per community. Results: Intervention communities had less favourable socio‐economic indicators and poorer access to waste disposal services at baseline than control communities. Use of any waste collection service increased from 5% to 49% in the intervention communities (difference 44%, 95% CI 41%, 48%), but the increase was largely confined to two communities where post‐intervention coverage exceeded 80% and 90%, respectively. An increase in the use of waste collection services was also found in the two control communities (from 21% to 67%, difference 47%, 95% CI 41%, 53%). Fly counts decreased by about 60% in the intervention communities (rate ratio 0.4, 95% CI 0.3, 0.4) but not in the control communities (rate ratio 1.52, 95% CI 1.1, 2.2). The decrease in fly counts was largely confined to the two high‐coverage intervention communities. Conclusion: Introduction of a low‐cost waste collection service has the potential for high uptake in low‐income communities and for decreasing the exposure to waste and synanthropic flies at household level. Intervention success was constrained by low uptake in half of the intervention communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Disposal of the excess excavated soft soils produced in construction is a contemporary engineering challenge. A win-win solution could be found through utilising much excavated soil during reclamation of abandoned mines, and an evaluation model is necessary to realise this solution. This study aimed to propose a decision-making framework for large-scale disposal of excavated soft soil during mine reclamation using a Bayesian network (BN). Utilising multi-facet information, a decision-making path considering engineering and economic factors, and engineering risks was established. Thereafter, the practicability of backfilling much excavated soft soil into 215 abandoned opencast mines located in Wenzhou, China was evaluated. Based on the decision-making path and information of the 215 mines, a BN including 22 nodes was established with the practicability of large-scale soil disposal in mines as the decision node. Consequently, 40 valid mines were evaluated to be able to absorb 5 × 107 m3 soil, around 50% of the total excavated soil from the municipal districts of Wenzhou during 2020–2024. The BN evaluation showed high reliability with accuracy of all the nodes >70% and that of the decision node >90%. Five input nodes were identified to be high-impact for evaluation of the practicability and total fill volume. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Disposal of high-level radioactive waste has been a long-standing problem requiring methods for evaluating the level and type of damage as well as linking the level of crystal damage to leaching of radionuclides from the matrix and dissolution of the matrix itself. Numerous Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations have been undertaken to link the damage created by a recoil event to the suitability of a given material to act as a storage matrix. In this context, we have employed adaptive kinetic Monte Carlo to provide new insights over an extended time frame up to seconds into the healing of Gd 2 Ti 2 O 7 after a simulated cascade and the complex diffusion of anions and cations. Comparison of the present results with previously published data demonstrates that MD simulations covering up to nanoseconds are not capable of accounting for relevant rare events with high-barrier ionic diffusion, which limits the reach of the insights into radiation damage in materials derived from short (ns-scale) MD simulations alone. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the expansion of human activities, the volume of waste and hazardous waste produced has increased dramatically. Increasing the volume of waste has created challenges such as transportation hazards, cleanup, disposal, energy consumption, and most important environmental problems. The difficulty of unsafe waste control is one of the critical studies topics. Finding the optimal location of hazardous waste disposal is one of the issues that, if done properly, can significantly reduce the aforementioned challenges. The increasing volume of information, the complexity of multivariate decision criteria, have led to the lack of conventional methods for finding the optimal location. Machine learning methods have proven to be effective and superior in many areas. In this paper, a new method based on machine learning for finding the optimal location of hazardous waste disposal is presented. In the proposed method, after applying clustering in the separation of the desired areas, the gray wolf algorithm optimization is used to find the optimal location of waste disposal. In order to apply the gray wolf optimization algorithm, a multivariate target function is defined. Cluster centers as were chosen as location of waste disposal. Proposed method is performed on collected data from the study area in Iran, Tehran province. Proposed clustering method is evaluated and compared with some metaheuristics algorithm. The simulation results of the proposed method show cost reduction in finding the desired locations compared to similar researches. Also, Xi and Separation index was used for evaluation of the proposed clustering method to select the best location. The number of best locations using Xi and Separation index claim the superiority of the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Growth in urban population has led to increased generation of fecal sludge (FS). • Production of briquettes from FS blended with food wastes was explored. • Blending fecal sludge with the wastes reduced its ash content between 43% and 87%. • The calorific values of the blended briquettes were between 11.7 and 17.9 MJ/kg. • Use of FS derived briquettes could save USD 620 per ton of wood charcoal foregone. This study explored the production and evaluation of briquettes made from dried fecal sludge mixed with fresh food waste as a dual strategy to solve energy poverty and poor sanitation problems in Ugandan slums. Cylindrical briquettes measuring 82 mm height by 76 mm diameter were produced from dried fecal sludge (FS) alone, and FS mixed separately with pineapple peels (FS + PP), charcoal fines (FS + CD), and bean husks (FS + BH) in a mix ratio of 50% FS: 50% biomass (wt/wt basis) using red soil as the binder. Physiochemical characteristics and fuel thermal efficiency of the briquettes were tested following ASTM standards and were compared to wood-derived charcoal and commonly traded briquettes on market in Uganda. The average moisture content was 5.1%. Bulk density was highest in FS briquettes (1.12 g/cm3) and lowest in FS + BH (0.847 g/cm3). Volatile matter (VM) was highest in FS + PP (39%) and lowest in FS alone (25.7%). The average ash content was 30.4%. FS + PP had the highest calorific value (17.92 MJ/kg) while FS alone had the lowest (6.19 MJ/kg). The highest burning rate was recorded in FS + CD briquettes (8 g/min) and was lowest in FS + PP (4 g/min). Based on the calculated burning rates and calorific values, the economic advantage calculations implied that blending one ton of dry FS with one ton of dry pineapple peels for fuel briquettes, and their use as a substitute could save consumers about USD 620 per ton of wood charcoal foregone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Injection of fluid into subsurface geologic strata for geothermal energy, oil production, and waste disposal has been linked to induced seismic activity in the United States as well as in several other countries. According to the report of the National Research Council of United States of America thousands of induced earthquakes were reported at the numerous sites, where oil and gas recovery and waste disposal activities took place. Most of these induced earthquakes were small magnitude events (Moment Magnitude [Mw] < 4), although earthquakes of magnitude (Mw) 6.5 to 7 were also reported near the oil and gas production sites. This paper presents the results of a review of case histories on increased seismic events due to deep well injection (DWI) and oil extraction. Key factors that may lead or contribute to increased seismicity will also be discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The REGIME method is an easy to understand techniques which is based on pairwise comparisons and which can use qualitative data for decision making problems. The steps of the technique are simple and can be easily adopted to complex decision problems. Classical REGIME techniques use crisp numbers to evaluate qualitative evaluations. In this paper we propose Pythagorean Fuzzy REGIME (PF-REGIME) techniques which integrates Pythagorean Fuzzy Sets with REGIME technique. The proposed PF-REGIME is applied to waste disposal site selection problem. The decision model is constructed for three alternatives and five criteria in order to demonstrate the performance of the proposed PF-REGIME method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Catalytic environmentally safe combustion of liquid fuels considered. • Combination of flame and catalytic combustion minimizes formation of toxic products. • Structured cartridge based on glass-fiber catalysts provides efficient oxidation. • Process optimization made on the base of kinetic studies and process simulation. • Prototype of 18 kW catalytic diesel-fueled device created and successfully tested. The article presents the results of the development and testing of a prototype device for the combustion of liquid fuels and the disposal of liquid toxic waste based on structured microfiber catalysts. The technology is based on a two-stage approach combining homogeneous and catalytic oxidation, which is carried out in a structured spiral cartridge with a modified glass fiber platinum-containing catalyst IC-12-S111. A prototype of a catalytic device with a thermal power of 18 kW was created and tested on a model fuel (diesel fuel). The optimal combustion mode is realized at a fuel consumption of 1.8 L/h, an air flow supplied to the burner - 12.3 st.m3/h and to the mixing zone in front of the catalytic block - 67 st.m3/h. At the same time, the air leaving the device contains practically no toxic impurities (CO, nitrogen and sulfur oxides). An important advantage of the proposed technology is its modularity, that is, the possibility of implementation in the form of low-power mobile devices, from which it is possible to form transportable and quickly deployable systems of any total capacity and a wide range of purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study examined the effects of environmental taxes on pollution control in Nigeria. It specifically the influence of environmental taxes on waste disposal in Nigeria. The research is predicated on planned behavior theory and value belief norm theory of environmentalism. Primary data sources were used in presenting the facts of the situation. Purposive probability sampling methods were utilized to identify targeted respondents. Data gathered was examined using descriptive statistics for 100 surveys. The studies demonstrated that environmental taxes have a substantial influence on pollution reduction. This is based on the fact that the majority of respondents (95 percent) agree that environmental taxes have a significant impact on pollution control. The result of the finding revealed that environmental tax has positive and significant influence on waste disposal in Nigeria which is a clear indication that environmental taxes have a beneficial and considerable influence on pollution control in Nigeria. The researcher recommends that, considering the seriousness of these environmental hazards, which pose a great threat to the lives of the people, it is the responsibility of the Federal Government of Nigeria to establish a tax system that would allow environmental tax policies, so that the levy of tax may be planned, laying its weight on those who are responsible for generating a specific environmental issue, or problems, and also to make provision for statutory incentives to reduce the administrative cost to the government and the compliance cost placed on the tax payers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Disposal of agro residues has turn out to be a rising problem in most of the agro-based countries, subsequently leading the farmers to burn the residues in-situ. Burning biomass not only pollutes environment but also results in loss of appreciable amount of plant essential nutrients. Despite lacking practical management options, open-field burning of crop residue contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution. This, along with climate change, has led the agricultural sector to explore more sustainable ways to use crop residues. As agriculture, being the centric for food production globally, the authors review the insightful techniques adopted in effective utilization of agro residues generated in various parts of the world. This review manuscript discusses the possible strategies and utilization techniques of agro residues in conventional and un-conventional methods for numerous applications. Among convention methods, techniques adopted in agro residue waste management into a) Bio-Energy and Bio-Fuel generation; b) Biogas; c) Composting Manures; d) Pulping of Papers & e) Plywoods are discussed elaboratively. Likewise, in regard to the non-conventional methods the article converses the usage of agro residues towards a) Construction; b) Adsorption and Water Purification; c) Hydrogen gas production; d) 5-hydroxymethyfurfural (HMF); e) Levulinic acid & f) Diesel Bio- Blendstock. Furthermore, it provides a detailed analysis of major barriers hindering the effective utilization of agro residues and remedies for overcoming the same with focus on sustainable future. The techniques reviewed in this manuscript, will be of utmost importance for any other agricultural depended nation to integrated the same for remarkable contribution towards sustainable development goals. [Display omitted] • Recent advance in utilisation of sustainable agro residue is critically reviewed. • The review is intended for the agro residue waste generated across countries. • Usage of agro residue is listed based on conventional & unconventional methods. • Analysis on barriers hindering effective utilization of agro residues is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Process-based model was extended to link with plastic debris model in regional scale. • Model simulated seasonal variations of riverine plastic transport in Asian region. • Settling and resuspension affect plastic mobilisation and intra-annual variability. • Impact of waste plastic trade on change in riverine plastic transport was evaluated. • Results helped to quantify trade-off of waste plastic between export and import. Environmental contamination by plastics has been receiving considerable attention from scientists, policy makers and the public, and waste plastic trade has become a major social issue in recent years. In this study, the authors applied eco-hydrology model coupled with plastic debris model in Asian regions by including effect of waste plastic trade in order to clarify this research gap. Result showed settling and resuspension of plastic particles have great impact on mobilisation of plastic and its high intra-annual variability, and that the plastic transport becomes drastically higher during the flood periods accounting for most of the annual flux. In particular, the model simulated the size distribution of plastics in the water and riverbed sediment of the global major rivers and showed that the coarser particles are more distributed in the riverbed than those in the water. Further, the authors evaluated impact of waste plastic trade on change in riverine plastic transport by newly including effect of plastic trade on Mismanaged plastic waste (MPW) in the extension of previous studies. They newly modified to calculate municipal plastic waste by including these effects of plastic trade and disposal, and revised MPW assuming that the import of plastics is treated as the same as the export of plastics as the first approximation, which is the innovation of this study. The modified MPW became smaller than the original one in the exporting countries and vice versa in the importing countries. Further, this analysis clarified waste plastic trade has promoted decrease of riverine plastic transport in Japanese rivers, its slight increase in Yangtze, Yellow, and Ganges Rivers, and almost its constant in Mekong, Indus, Irrawaddy, and Brahmaputra Rivers. Recently, there is a growing progress in compiling existing research results and setting policy making in various countries under the umbrella of an intergovernmental negotiating committee (INC) on plastic pollution. The present results help to quantify plastic trade-off about impact of export and import of waste plastic on plastic dynamics in regional scale and to support the achievement of sustainable development goals (SGDs). [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Fe-based co-precipitation of As is widely applied to remove As from groundwater. • This method is easy to deploy, but consists of complicated co-occurring reactions. • Synchrotron techniques have produced new molecular-scale insights in these reactions. • We critically review the reactions underpinning Fe-based co-precipitation of As. • Knowledge gaps are identified and future research directions are proposed. The co-precipitation of Fe(III) (oxyhydr)oxides with arsenic (As) is one of the most widespread approaches to treat As-contaminated groundwater in both low- and high-income settings. Fe-based co-precipitation of As occurs in a variety of conventional and decentralized treatment schemes, including aeration and sand filtration, ferric chloride addition and technologies based on controlled corrosion of Fe(0) (i.e., electrocoagulation). Despite its ease of deployment, Fe-based co-precipitation of As entails a complex series of chemical reactions that often occur simultaneously, including electron-transfer reactions, mineral nucleation, crystal growth, and As sorption. In recent years, the growing use of sophisticated synchrotron-based characterization techniques in water treatment research has generated new detailed and mechanistic insights into the reactions that govern As removal efficiency. The purpose of this critical review is to synthesize the current understanding of the molecular-scale reaction pathways of As co-precipitation with Fe(III), where the source of Fe(III) can be ferric chloride solutions or oxidized Fe(II) sourced from natural Fe(II) in groundwater, ferrous salts or controlled Fe(0) corrosion. We draw primarily on the mechanistic knowledge gained from spectroscopic and nano-scale investigations. We begin by describing the least complex reactions relevant in these conditions (Fe(II) oxidation, Fe(III) polymerization, As sorption in single-solute systems) and build to multi-solute systems containing common groundwater ions that can alter the pathways of As uptake during Fe(III) co-precipitation (Ca, Mg bivalent cations; P, Si oxyanions). We conclude the review by providing a perspective on critical knowledge gaps remaining in this field and new research directions that can further improve the understanding of As removal via Fe(III) co-precipitation. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fusion has the prospect of producing only low-level radioactive waste, but the volume of this waste is potentially very large. A possible means of reducing the volume of this waste is to recycle the activated materials, e.g. within the fusion industry. In the process of steelmaking, certain impurities are removed via accumulation in slag or fumes produced during the process, and this has been successfully employed as a means of clearing surface-contaminated LWR steels (e.g. steam generators). In this work, we simulate the process applied to neutron-activated fusion reactor components including the blanket, divertors, and shielding. The process is based on a well known partitioning between melt, slag, dust, and gas that is based on the oxidation potential of the elements and their volatility. We model this partitioning of activated materials and use FISPACT-II to simulate their activation during operation; the processes are repeated cyclically to simulate the long-term accumulation of activation products in the steel and waste products. The principal findings are that most of the induced activity remains in the metal rather than accumulating in the slag, and that while the slag remains a low-level waste under the assumptions employed, its volume actually exceeds that of the recycled material, and it therefore did not constitute a successful waste volume reduction technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scrap tires pose a significant challenge as a common and inconvenient form of waste, resulting in non-functional waste products that are difficult to dispose of effectively. With an annual production of nearly 1.5 billion tires, the environmental pollution caused by their eventual disposal in the trash stream is a pressing concern. The European Union has imposed a ban on tire dumping, emphasizing the need for tire collection and recycling instead. Pyrolysis emerges as a promising solution, enabling the dissolution of waste while simultaneously yielding valuable by-products. This process involves the transformation of tires into gas, liquid, and solid phases. The heat value of pyrolytic gases during liquefaction reaches approximately 30–40 MJ/Nm3, providing ample energy not only for sustaining the pyrolysis process but also for alternative applications. Nonetheless, the presence of excessive SO 2 in flue gases poses a significant obstacle, surpassing legal limits, while HCl, NO X , and heavy metals may also contribute to similar environmental concerns. To meet regulatory standards and optimize pyrolysis efficiency, gas cleaning techniques are indispensable for eliminating these chemicals from the dissipating gases generated during discarded tire pyrolysis. Given that pyrolysis gas exhibits excellent potential as a gaseous fuel, this article's primary objective is to comprehensively evaluate its characteristics for energy recovery, while also outlining potential consequences that need to be addressed. • Pyrolytic gas obtained from waste tires is a valuable source of energy. • Composition and properties of pyro gas varies depending on pyrolysis conditions. • The special emphasis should be focused on the collection of data on gas emissions. • Pyrolysis of waste tyres produces oil, gas, and char, and recovered steel. • Batch, screw kiln, rotary kiln, vacuum and fluidized-bed are main reactor types. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Characterization of MIBA from 3 MSWI plants in Delhi to assess disposal or reuse. • Compilation of 50 studies on MIBA leaching to identify CoCs critical to fate of MIBA. • Comparative assessment of CoCs to evaluate variability across countries. • Emphasis on mandatory inclusion of the identified CoCs in future studies. Present study characterizes municipal solid waste incineration bottom ash (MIBA) from three incineration plants in Delhi with an intent to serve the dual objectives: a) assessing the disposal/reuse options for Delhi MIBA, b) evaluating variability in results across the countries (including India) and assessing if is significant enough to influence the fate of MIBA of varied origin. A review on leaching studies of MIBA (50 research papers) was conducted which aided in achieving both the objectives. Delhi MIBA samples were analysed for chemical composition. The two commonly adopted leaching tests i.e., TCLP and EN 12457–2, were conducted and the results were checked against regulatory threshold levels (RTLs) to achieve the first objective. Leaching concentration of the contaminants was compared with the compiled literature and RTLs to accomplish the second objective. The compendium of literature most importantly revealed the physicochemical parameters which are pivotal in determining the fate of MIBA but have been missing from many studies. Ten such parameters were identified: Cr, Cu, Mo, Sb, Cl - , SO 4 2- , Cd, Pb, Ni and Zn and are referred as contaminants of concern (CoCs). Delhi MIBA was found suitable for disposal to non-hazardous waste landfills and unsuitable for unrestricted reuse. CoCs identified in Delhi MIBA were identical to those observed in literature (except Cd, Pb and Zn). The variability in leaching concentration of CoCs, observed from comparative assessment of results, spanned nearly 2 to 3 log 10 magnitudes for Cu, Cr, Pb, Sb and Zn while 1 to 2 log 10 magnitudes for Mo, Cl - and SO 4 2-. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, Blast Furnace Slag (BFS) waste was evaluated as a sustainable, cost-effective CaO, SiO 2 , Al 2 O 3 and MgO substitute for inorganic oxides for the production of frit, a raw material for glass ceramic production. Two different frits were prepared to compare a commercially available frit (F-STD) with frit produced using BFS waste (F-BFS). The samples were characterized by XRF, XRD, heating microscopy, dilatometry and TG-DTA to determine the chemical composition, phase formation and thermal properties. The frits were applied on steel using the electrostatic spray method and subsequently thermally treated at 830 °C for 4.5 min. The reference (GC-STD) and partially BFS-substituted glass ceramic (GC-BFS) coatings were examined by XRD, SEM-EDS and ICP-MS experiments. The main crystal phase for both samples was Ni-substituted fluorine mica (KLiNi 2 Si 4 O 10 F 2). GC-BFS was slightly more amorphous (70%) than GC-STD (69.1%), which was correlated with the thermal properties of the BFS waste. Likewise, ICP-MS analysis after a boiling citric acid test (ISO 28706-1: 2008) revealed that the GC-BFS had relatively higher chemical resistance. The total release from the reference sample (GC-STD) was 23.556 mg/L, whereas the total release from the sustainably produced sample (GC-BFS) was 21.451 mg/L, which was consistent with the XRD results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a two-dimensional consolidation solution for geotextile tubes filled with fine-grained material was presented. The solution is based on a combination of various methods that were modified or extended to take into account the change in tube shape, the nonlinear interaction between the soil and geotextile, and the water content distribution of the tube during consolidation. Using the proposed solution, the effect of various necessary input parameters was investigated. Thereafter, numerous dewatering and consolidation properties of various combinations of geotextiles and fill materials were obtained from several tests such as the half cross-section test, hanging bag tests, and geotextile tube demonstration test. Results of the study have shown that the method presented in this study can well-represent the consolidation behavior of geotextile tubes filled with fine-grained material. • Presentation of a two-dimensional consolidation solution for geotextile tubes filled with fine-grained material. • Solution accounts for the change in shape, water content distribution, and nonlinear interaction between soil and geotextile. • Solution verification based on data from half cross-section test, hanging bag test, and geotextile tube demonstration test. • The method presented can well-represent the consolidation behavior of geotextile tubes filled with fine-grained material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sugarcane agriculture contributes to the greenhouse effect by the polluting action of residue disposal, given that most sugarcane bagasse (SB) is burned. Because it is a low-cost fiber and ecofriendly material, SB can be an alternative to the construction of permeable friction course (PFC) pavement layers. Due to SB-specific properties, its effects on PFC mixtures are unknown. This study aims to evaluate for the first time the feasibility of incorporating SB fibers in a PFC mixture. For this purpose, a PFC mixture that included SB fibers (PFC-SB) was compared to a control PFC mixture fabricated using synthetic cellulose fibers (PFC-CEL), which are currently the most used fibers for fabricating these mixtures. The results suggest that the SB fibers can be successfully added to PFC mixtures to control binder draindown without compromising their volumetric properties. Additionally, the PFC-SB mixture presented an increase in stiffness and resistance to both cracking and raveling compared to the PFC-CEL. However, the mix design should be optimized to ensure proper mixture permeability. These findings suggest that the incorporation of SB fibers in PFC mixtures can be further explored, which encourages additional research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lightweight insulation refractories are essential for high‐temperature performance to reduce energy consumption. This study investigates a new insulation material, that is, solid waste rice husk ash (RHA) derived lightweight refractory castable, replacing traditional insulation refractory brick. The RHA is generated after the burning of rice husk as biomass fuel. The RHA is used as an aggregate and alkali‐extracted silica sol from RHA as a binder to fabricate the insulation castable. The nanosilica containing (~30 wt%) sol is employed to synthesize the refractory castable by varying the sol amount (2.5‐12.5 wt% silica from sol). The castable specimens are cast by a vibro‐caster and fired at 900‐1200°C in a muffle furnace. The physic‐mechanical and thermal conductivity (κ) of the castable is investigated. At 1100°C with 10 wt% dry sol retaining sample shows an excellent apparent porosity (~65%), low bulk density (~ 0.8 g/cm3), and κ (0.136 W/m k) with sustainable compressive strength (6 MPa). The acquired results are a good match with the literature (other wastes‐derived insulation materials) and industrial (silica insulation brick) obtained data. These promising outcomes may inspire the refractory industries for using RHA as an aggregate and RHA extracted sol as a binder for making insulation castable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Waste disposal is an important issue that needs to be addressed, not only for health and environmental reasons but also for its social and economic impacts. Three important waste streams that contribute to the growing amount of wastes generated come from medical, industrial, and electronic residual wastes. These residual wastes are usually just being dumped or disposed of in sanitary landfills. Apart from finding solutions to these environmental waste problems, these wastes can be a possible source of energy that can support our energy sustainability. In this study, three different waste streams, medical, industrial, and electronic wastes in Metro Manila – the capital region in the Philippines – were profiled and investigated for their potential as waste-to-energy (WTE) feeds. The daily generation, types of wastes, and heating values were studied. The total generated daily waste for medical wastes, hazardous industrial wastes, and residual electronic wastes that have a potential for WTE was about 143,834 kg/d or about 52,500 tons/yr. Its total energy potential was about 4,727 GJ/d. These large amounts of residual WTE feeds can potentially support daily energy needs, as well as mitigate problems associated with the typical disposal of these hazardous and residual wastes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article considers the production of biofuel from agricultural waste, such as sugars, alcohols, organic acids, by obtaining hydrogen and biogas from them during photocatalytic decomposition. Possible chemical reactions during photocatalysis are presented using the example of the photocatalytic decomposition of methanol into hydrogen and carbon dioxide. Experiments on the preparation of nanostructured ZnO by the hydrothermal method in a solution containing zinc acetate and urotropin have been carried out. The obtained ZnO immobilized on a substrate is supposed to be used as a photocatalyst. A possible design of a reaction vessel and radiation sources for a laboratory setup for producing biogas from model solutions are considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The object of research is the secondary material resources of processing plant and animal raw materials, namely fruit pomace and milk whey. One of the most problematic areas is that the waste of these industries has high rates of biological and chemical oxygen consumption of wastewater, which significantly impairs the operation of local and city treatment facilities. In addition, the parameters of extraction and determination of the quality indicators of the obtained product are not well defined. The processing of whey and pomace of fruit crops can reduce the environmental burden on the environment and increase the efficiency of technological processes through resource conservation and obtaining a surplus product. The problem is solved, in particular, by using the process of extracting plant waste using milk whey and the process of energy-saving membrane concentration.In the course of the study, let’s use pectin-containing plant waste from juice production, namely watermelon, pumpkin, quince, beetroot, apple and a mixture of orange and tangerine pomace. The results obtained indicate that the process of extracting apple pomace with milk whey is promising, since the highest pectin content in the extract is established for apple pomace. The main amount of pectin substances passes into the extract starting from 75 minutes to 90 minutes. Extraction-hydrolysis for 2 hours at a temperature of 85°C, pH=2–2.5 units determines the best results. Ultrafiltration of the obtained extract makes it possible to increase the pectin content up to 3.0% with a protein content of more than 6.0%. The membranes used in the experiment are characterized by high selectivity for protein and pectin. The fact is established that diafiltration makes it possible to effectively purify whey-pectin concentrates from ballast impurities with simultaneous enrichment of the concentrate with high-molecular components of whey. A technological scheme for the production of pectin-whey concentrate with high organoleptic and detoxification characteristics is proposed. The proposed technological process has a number of positive features, in particular, a high content of pectin substances, high value indicators, a significant reduction in the burden on the environment, economic benefits through energy conservation and obtaining a surplus product. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]