Search

Many paper-related products are in daily use all over the world. Although paper is one of the most recycled materials in the European Union, no end-of-waste criteria have been defi ned. Typical paper and cardboard should be recycled, but paper materials with impurities, such as cooking oil, sand, or plastic, are much more problematic. In particular, paper contaminated with cooking oil or butter (e.g., pizza boxes) is diffi cult waste. Also baking parchment paper cannot be stored as waste paper after use. Composting could be a solution, but in many municipal solid waste collection systems, this waste types are collected with the mixed waste stream, what fi nally leads this material to landfi lling or incinerating processes. Parchment paper and pizza box cardboard contain a lot of cellulose and in landfi lls are a source of CO2 and CH4. Incineration of these materials also leads to CO2 emission. The aim of this study was to investigate the degradation of cooking-oil-contaminated paper in media with a low inorganic nitrogen content. Cardboard usually used for packaging purposes was used as pre-test material. Two types of paper usually used in the kitchen were used: pizza box cardboard and parchment paper highly contaminated with cooking oil. Two types of low inorganic nitrogen media were tested: mature municipal waste compost (MSWC) and leaf mold (LM). The decrease of mass of both paper sample types was correlated with process time. Both tested sample types: dry cellulose materials and paper with cooking oil added, were partly or completely decomposed after 6 weeks of bioprocessing in aerobic conditions without an additional dose of inorganic nitrogen. According to waste separation rules, wet paper or paper contaminated with cooking oil have to be stored with other wastes which are „not possible for further use”. This work show possibility to change these rules.

Rationale: Rapid on‐site detection of persistent organic pollutants (POP) is highly desirable for environmental protection. Methods: Herein, a rapid on‐site analytical workflow was developed for the investigation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and perfluorinated compounds using multiwalled carbon nanotube–modified paper spray ionization (PSI) coupled with a miniature ion trap mass spectrometer. Critical parameters regarding PSI and miniature mass spectrometry analysis were optimized. Results: The analytical performance of the developed method was evaluated under optimized conditions, obtaining a short analysis duration of less than 1 min, sufficient linearity with correlation coefficients greater than 0.99, acceptable recovery rates of 93.1%–105.8% with relative standard deviations of between 3.5% and 10.3%, and reasonable sensitivity with limits of detection and quantitation of 2–200 and 5–500 μg/L, respectively. Conclusions: Considering these aspects, it was concluded that the present approach demonstrated a promising solution for rapid on‐site detection of emerging POPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The utilization of agriculture waste-based adsorbents in the treatment of real industrial wastewater represents an unexplored frontier with significant potential. In this study, the cobalt ferrite-supported activated carbon derived from orange peels (CF40-AC) was used as a magnetic adsorbent for the treatment of real pulp and paper mill effluent (PPME). Detailed insights into the properties and functionalities of the CoFe2O4-AC adsorbent were obtained through an accurate characterization analysis that included X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX), BET and pore size histogram techniques. Both pure activated carbon (AC) and CF40-AC displayed excellent textural properties with surface area (SBET) equal 2014 and 1345 m².g-1, respectively. TEM and SEM images display that the magnetic ferrites were well dispersed on the surface of AC. Following the characterization process, the CoFe2O4-AC adsorbent was evaluated for its ability to remove several key pollutants from PPME, including chemical oxygen demand (COD), total dissolved solids (TDS) and turbidity. Moreover, various operational parameters, such as pH, adsorbent dosage, contact time, and stirring rate, were investigated to achieve optimal contaminants removal rates. Remarkably, the CoFe2O4-AC adsorbent demonstrated highly efficient removal rates, with 86.9%, 59,9% and 93.1% for COD, TDS and turbidity, respectively, under optimal conditions (pH 7, adsorbent dose 0.4 gm, contact time 60 min, and stirring rate 150 rpm). The CoFe2O4-AC composite material exhibits promising potential for multiple applications reached 5 cycles without a significant loss in its adsorption or functional properties over successive uses. These results favor the promising potential of CoFe2O4-AC as a sustainable and efficient solution for addressing was- tewater treatment challenges in the pulp and paper industry, contributing to both environmental protection and resource conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paper, which is in fact a very complex cellulose-based product derived from different lignocellulosic resources, is usually regarded as a simple omnipresent commodity in our lives. Wood fibers derived from trees are the most employed sources for papermaking purposes. From an environmental protection perspective, and for their essential role in our life (they give us the life itself through their foliar system supporting the photosynthesis process), trees should not be extensively cut down and they should be used less and less for papermaking. Thus, employment of non-woody alternative sources for papermaking could be exploited more as an attractive and feasible option. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Having the South American Amazon as our spatial cut, this paper aims to discuss it as a space of physical, environmental and socioeconomic relevance to regional rearticulation, highlighting the issue of transport infrastructure and the importance of Brazil to boost this process in contemporary times. With the end of the Union of South American Nations (Unasur) in 2019, several of its councils were paralyzed and discontinued, such as the Infrastructure and Planning Council (Cosiplan), reflecting the abandonment of efforts built since the beginning of the 21st century. In addition, relations between national preferences and the indispensable search for development, and mechanisms of cooperation and regional integration, which are fundamental instruments to meet such demands, were stressed. In turn, a scenario of discredited institutions made room for greater action by multiple public and private, internal and increasingly international and multinational actors who, in a way disconnected from regional arrangements, directed infrastructure investments focusing on their own interests, resulting in expiation of the the socio-environmental vulnerability in the Amazonian territories. We argue that it is necessary to integrate to preserve and develop. Regional governance and institutionality are central pillars for the resumption of a more resilient South American integration process, aimed at protecting and developing the Amazon, in which Brazil has an important driving role to be exercised and a directive leadership to retrieve.

The profile of microbial diversity in a NABR digesting RPMW was investigated using phylogeneticanalysis of partial 16S rRNA sequences by a neighbor-joining-tree, supported by microbial morphology analysis by SEM. The results showed that microorganism inside NABR consisted of dominant Bacillus (25 strains) and Bacterium (1 strain) which were isolated from the settled sludge at the bottom of the reactor, whilst Bacillus (2 strains), Pseudomonas (2 strain) and Chryseobacterium (2 strain) were isolated from the biofilm formed on the packing material. It revealed that the microbial community strains, function, and structure changed simultaneously throughout the reactor system. The microscopic results showed rich biofacies, while the dominant microorganisms have various morphologies in every compartment of the system. It consisted of a long rod-shaped and filamentous bacterium composed majorly of bacilli of different sizes. Although the study successfully analyzed the microbial diversity and morphology in the system, the microbial communities reported in this study were different from other similar studies. This may be caused by the application of a culture-based technique that usually provides limited information due to the number of barely cultivated or uncultured strains

This paper reports an innovative study that aims to address key issues in the efficient recycling of wastepaper cellulose. The research team utilized the temperature-responsive upper critical solution temperature (UCST) polymer P(NAGA-b-DMA) in combination with the LytA label's affinity for choline analogs. This innovative approach enabled them to successfully develop a novel soluble immobilized enzyme, P(NAGA-b-DMA)-cellulase. This new enzyme has proven highly effective, significantly enhancing the degradation of wastepaper cellulose while demonstrating exceptional stability. Compared with the traditional insoluble immobilized cellulase, the enzyme showed a significant improvement in the pH, temperature stability, recycling ability, and storage stability. A kinetic parameter calculation showed that the enzymatic effectiveness of the soluble immobilized enzyme was much better than that of the traditional insoluble immobilized cellulase. After the immobilization reaction, the Michaelis constant of the immobilized enzyme was only increased by 11.5%. In the actual wastepaper degradation experiment, the immobilized enzyme was effectively used, and it was found that the degradation efficiency of wastepaper cellulose reached 80% of that observed in laboratory conditions. This novel, thermosensitive soluble immobilized cellulase can efficiently catalyze the conversion of wastepaper cellulose into glucose under suitable conditions, so as to further ferment into environmentally friendly biofuel ethanol, which provides a solution to solve the shortage of raw materials and environmental protection problems in the paper products industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes the role of the bioeconomy concept started in the Cologne paper and initiated by Christian Patermann for bioeconomy strategies in Germany and around the world. Patermann is and has been an important actor and a highly appreciated colleague in the first German Bioeconomy Council and the International Advisory Council on Global Bioeconomy (IACGB). IACGB is a think tank with the mission to promote the Global Bioeconomy as a sustainable and future looking movement for the benefit of planet and people. The Global Bioeconomy Summits (GBS) series initiated in 2015 by the German Bioeconomy Council and perpetuated by the IACGB has become a truly global meeting and conference event that gathers bioeconomy experts and high level politicians from all areas and hemispheres. The IACGB provides leadership for setting the themes of GBS. Communiques and reports on national strategies are signature outcomes.

The study attempted to assess the water quality around paper mill effluents discharge areas. Several physicochemical parameters and the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) Water Quality Index (WQI) were considered to determine the pollution level of surface and groundwater in the selected paper mills areas located in Saidpur, Gobindaganj, and Dupchanchia Upazilas of Bangladesh. Physicochemical characterization of the surface water around the paper mills areas showed that the concentration of EC, TSS, BOD5, COD, phenols, NO3−-N, and K+ were exceeded the surface water standard, whereas the DO level ranged from 1.63 to 3.5 were found below the Environmental Conservation Rules (ECR), 1997 standard. Besides, the BOD, COD, and Mn ion concentrations of groundwater exceeded the drinking water standard. In most sampling sites, the WQI of the surface water showed ‘marginal’ category, and the groundwater quality showed 'fair' category. The study observed that the toxic effluents discharged from the paper mills caused harm to the aquatic ecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Waste management is the protection of the environment and the health of the population. Paper waste sludge is produced during paper production and sepiolite is a natural clay mineral. The aim of the study was to investigate the usability of sepiolite-added paper waste sludge as a bedding material in the broiler production. Two hundred eighty-eight 1-day old male broiler chicks were divided into the 6 bedding material groups (wood shavings (control), paper waste sludge, sepiolite, mix of 25% paper waste sludge and 75% sepiolite, mix of 50% paper waste sludge and 50% sepiolite, and mix of 75% paper waste sludge and 25% sepiolite) with 6 replicate pens per group. Litter quality, performance, and some welfare parameters of broilers were assessed during the 6 weeks' period. Body weight at 42 days of age and body weight gain from 0 to 42 days of broilers reared on the wood shavings and mix of 50% paper waste sludge and 50% sepiolite were found higher than those of the sepiolite and paper waste sludge groups. Feed consumption and feed to gain ratio from 0 to 42 days, yields of carcass and carcass parts, percentages of organs and abdominal fat, IgG, percentage of bursa Fabricius, burns of foot pad and breast, litter pH and meat properties of broilers reared on the wood shavings, paper waste sludge, and sepiolite litter groups were not found to be statistically different. Litter moisture was found higher in the paper waste sludge group than that in the sepiolite group at the 42 days of rearing. As a conclusion, usage of mix of 50% paper waste sludge and 50% sepiolite as a litter does not have any negative effects on performance, welfare, and litter quality. This result is important in terms of utilizing a waste product. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Once printed, books are always accompanied by the smells of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) which are continuously emitted not only by inks but also by papers themselves throughout their lives. Although the VOCs from papers may bring mild discomfort to readers, they are considered as very important factors that feature the degradation of papers and show potential applications in cultural relic appraisal. In this study, an analytical approach based on solid phase microextraction combined with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (SPME-GC/MS) was proposed for the evaluation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted by Chinese traditional handmade papers. The VOCs evaluations and artificial aging processes were both applied to recent-made papers and naturally aged papers from a traditional Chinese calligraphy and painting scroll (collected by the National Museum of China). To be noticed, a large number of aliphatic acids, aldehydes, ketones, furan derivatives, benzene series and terpenoid substances indicated that the VOCs signals not only reveal the degradation of paper but also tentatively reflect the storage environment along hundreds of years ago. The semi-quantitative evaluation of markers indicated that the historical paper is under a serious degradation due to the high capacity it releases. Our results provided a path way to get the degradation information of ancient paintings as well as potential realistic applications such as the conservation of paper-based relics and the environmental protection in libraries and museums. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As acetonitrile is a widely used solvent for the chemical industry, the recovery of acetonitrile from acetonitrile wastewater is significant for both industrial cost reduction and environmental protection. In this article, a simple, low‐energy, and low‐cost strategy is proposed for the effective separation of acetonitrile from high‐concentration acetonitrile wastewater. The approach is based on a sequential combination of two steps: salt‐induced phase separation and hydrophobic filtration. The acetonitrile wastewater was first induced to split into two phases by salt, that is, the acetonitrile‐rich phase and the water‐rich phase, then the above two phases were poured into the hydrophobic filter paper funnel for the separation. It was shown that NaCl is a suitable salting‐out reagent, and that hydrophobic filter papers—obtained from modification by butyltrichlorosilane and octyltrichlorosilane were the optimal choice for hydrophobic filtration. The salt‐induced phase separation process is able to increase the volume fraction of acetonitrile in the acetonitrile‐rich phase up to 92%. The acetonitrile‐rich phase can pass through the hydrophobic filter paper, whereas the water‐rich phase was intercepted. The hydrophobic filter paper retained strong hydrophobicity and high acetonitrile‐separating capacity after 3 months storage, or upon immersion in acetonitrile‐water mixtures for 12 h, or applied for 25 consecutive separations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fluoroquinolones (FQs) are widely used for their excellent antimicrobial properties, yet their release into aquatic environments pose risks to ecosystems and public health. The accurate monitoring and analysis of FQs present challenges due to their low concentrations and the complex matrices found in actual environmental samples. To address the need for auto-pretreatment and on-line instrumental analysis, developing new microextraction materials and protocols is crucial. Such advancements will provide better analytical assurance for the effective extraction and determination of FQs at trace levels, which is of great significance to environmental protection and human health. In this work, we presented a Co2+ mediated paper-based molecularly imprinted polymer chip (CMC@Co-MIP), combined with UPLC analysis, to develop an effective analytical method for identifying and quantifying trace amounts of ciprofloxacin (CIP) and enrofloxacin (ENR) in water samples. Notably, the addition of Co2+ in CMC@Co-MIP helped to capture the template molecule CIP through coordination before imprinting, which significantly improved the ordering of the imprinted cavities. CMC@Co-MIP exhibited a maximum adsorption capacity up to 500.20 mg g−1 with an imprinting factor of 4.12, surpassing previous reports by a significant margin. Furthermore, the enrichment mechanism was extensively analyzed by various characterization techniques. The developed method showed excellent repeatability and reproducibility (RSD < 13.0 %) with detection limits ranging from 0.15 to 0.21 μg L−1 and recoveries ranging from 64.9 % to 102.3 % in real spiked water samples. We developed a novel microextraction paper-based chip based on Co2+ mediation, which effectively improved the selectivity and convenience of extracting FQs. This breakthrough allowed the chip to have a high enrichment efficiency as well as provide a robust on-line instrumental program. It also confirms that the imprinting scheme based on metal ion coordination is a high-performance strategy. [Display omitted] • A novel paper-based molecularly imprinted polymer chip (CMC@Co-MIP) was synthesized. • The imprinting protocol based on metal coordination was a high-performance strategy. • The chip showed excellent adsorption of fluoroquinolones, reaching 500.20 mg g−1. • The chip exhibited potentiality for environmental water samples pretreatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Honey peach (Prunus persica) is easy to rot after picking because of its special property, and the damage of traditional preservation method to the ecological environment is unacceptable. Therefore, chitosan as a kind of environmental protection material with excellent performance has attracted people's attention. Though chitosan has good practicability, its application in practical production is limited due to its poor water solubility. In this study, we prepared phenolic acid- g -chitosan using two synthesis methods of carbodiimide-mediated coupling reaction and free radical-mediated grafting procedure. After comparing the grafting rates of these conjugates, the results showed that using the synthetic method of carbodiimide-mediated coupling reaction through NHS and EDC as the coupling agent to graft phenolic acid onto chitosan had a good grafting ratio at a molar ratio of 1.5:1. Therefore, six phenolic acids were used for the first time to prepare conjugates through this method, and these conjugates were characterized by UV and NMR. It can significantly improve the water solubility and DPPH scavenging activity of chitosan, thus releasing its good properties and meeting the application of post-harvest preservation of honey peaches. The results indicate the antisepsis and fresh-keeping effects of six conjugates showed that preservative paper containing 2-Hydroxyphenylacetic acid- g -CS has the best effect of inhibited decay index and weight loss when peach fruits were stored at 20 ± 5 °C under 40%–60% humidity for 8 days. Thus, the water-soluble conjugate prepared by grafting phenolic acid onto chitosan can enhance the market application range of chitosan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We document the "good-on-paper effect," whereby people make more virtuous decisions on paper than on a digital device (e.g., tablet). In a series of 10 studies, we find that people are more likely to make virtuous decisions on paper than on a digital device because they perceive choices on paper as more real (i.e., tangible, actual, and belonging to the physical rather than the virtual world) and hence as more self-diagnostic (i.e., representative of who they are). We first show people express more interest in donating and volunteering (Studies 1a and 1b), are more likely to donate (Study 2), and put more effort into helping a charitable cause (Study 3) when these choices occur on paper (versus tablet)—a pattern of decision making we label the good-on-paper effect. Study 4 extends these findings to book choices (highbrow versus lowbrow) and to a device interaction that closely mimics writing on paper (i.e., tablet with digital pen). In the context of volunteering decisions, we then provide evidence for the sequential mediating roles of perceptions of realness and self-diagnosticity in the good-on-paper effect (Study 5 and Studies 6a and 6b). Finally, we show that chronic (Study 7) and situational (Study 8) perceptions of self-diagnosticity moderate this effect in the contexts of environmental protection and food choices (healthy versus indulgent), respectively. We discuss the theoretical and practical implications of these findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carrageenan fibers crosslinked with trivalent metal ions (Al3+ or Fe3+) were prepared into carrageenan fiber paper (Al/CAP, Fe/CAP) by the Rapid Kothen method, and their flame-retardant mechanism and flame retardancy were studied through LOI, VF, SEM, CONE, and TGA testing. The results showed that Al/CAP exhibited good flame retardancy and thermal stability, and its LOI value reached 52%. Meanwhile, the afterflame time and afterglow time of Al/CAP were 0 and 1 s, respectively, which indicated that it was not ignited and almost had no smoldering phenomenon. The flame-retardant performance of Fe/CAP is inferior to that of Al/CAP, with LOI of 32, but the total smoke emission (TSP) of Fe/CAP is lower in cone calorimetry test. Thus, CAPs (especially Al/CAP) can be widely used in the flame-retardant paper industry, due to their flame retardancy and environmental protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate and up‐to‐date biodiversity forecasts enable robust planning for environmental management and conservation of landscapes under a wide range of uses. Future predictions of the species composition of ecological communities complement more frequently reported species richness estimates to better characterize the different dimensions of biodiversity. The models that make community composition forecasts are calibrated with data on species' geographic patterns for the present, which may not be good proxies for future patterns. The future establishment of novel communities represents data on species interactions unaccounted for by these models. However, detecting them in a systematic way presents challenges due to the lack of monitoring data for landscapes with high environmental turnover, where such communities are likely to establish. Here, we propose lightweight monitoring over both ecological and anthropogenic disturbance gradients using passive sensors (i.e., those that operate continuously without much human input) to detect novel communities with the aim of updating models that make community composition forecasts. Monitoring over these two gradients should maximize detection of novel communities and improve understanding of relationships between community composition and environmental change. Further, barriers regarding cost and effort are reduced by using relatively few sensors requiring minimal upkeep. Ongoing updates to community composition forecasts based on novel community data and better understanding of the associated uncertainty should improve future decision‐making for both resource management and conservation efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of probes for the testing of the carcinogenic pollutant 2,4,6-trinitrophenol (TNP) is of great importance for environmental protection and human health. In this paper, a new rapid and sensitive fluorescence detection method based on carbon dots (CDs) was designed for the detection of TNP. The CDs were synthesized by simple pyrolysis using citric acid as raw material and characterized by various advanced techniques. The addition of TNP caused a significant turn off in the fluorescence of the CDs. The fluorescence quench intensity and TNP concentration exhibited a good linear correlation in the range of 0–80 μM with a minimum detection limit of 0.48 μM and a related coefficient of 0.994. The analytical method was applied to the determination of trace TNP in river water and tap water with recoveries in the range of 98%–110% and relative standard deviations less than 5%. Importantly, carbon dots functionalized papers (CDFPs) were prepared using the synthesized CDs and successfully applied to the determination of TNP in aqueous solutions, demonstrating the promising application of the method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Well-designed environmental regulations are a prerequisite for achieving green economic growth. However, the effectiveness of campaign-style environmental regulation—a widely used environmental management instrument in developing nations or even in some developed nations, on green economic growth remains under-researched and has not reached a consistent conclusion. This paper takes advantage of China's Central Environmental Protection Inspector policy—the strictest and largest campaign-style environmental regulation policy in China's history, as a natural experiment and uses the difference-in-differences method to explore the effect of campaign-style environmental regulation on green economic growth, and further analyze its underlying mechanisms and heterogeneity effects. The panel data covering 280 prefecture-level cities in China from 2009 to 2019 are used. Our results show that Central Environmental Protection Inspector can result in an average of 14.2% increase in green economic growth, and this effect is sustainable for a long time. Mechanism analysis shows that Central Environmental Protection Inspector boosts green economic growth mainly by promoting green innovation and optimizing industrial structure. Further heterogeneity analysis reveals that the positive effect of Central Environmental Protection Inspector on green economic growth is greater in eastern China and underdeveloped cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our everyday lives are surrounded by green revolutions, environmental protection, sustainable lifestyles, sustainable development, and safeguarding our planet. Despite the fact that environmental challenges affect all human activities, few academic fields have written about them. Marketing is a good example. Businesses have begun changing their conduct to address society's "new" environmental concerns. Green marketing and environmental marketing are commonly used in the news. Many organizations in numerous sectors utilise green marketing to follow this trend. The American Marketing Association (AMA) defines „green marketing' as the promotion of ecologically friendly products. Thus, green marketing includes adjusting products, changing production processes, packaging, and advertising. Environmental Marketing and Ecological Marketing are synonyms. Changing to "green" may look costly initially, but it will pay off in the long term. Researchers can use this study to learn about green marketing, its importance, potential, and obstacles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of China Textile Leader is the property of China Textile Information Center and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

[Display omitted] • GQD-DDT and GQD-MPA was synthesized using novel hydrothermal protocol. • GQD-DDT and GQD-MPA was used for the identification of cations using colorimetric and spectrophotometric assay. • GQD-DDT and GQD-MPA have well activity for ion sensing in aqueous solution. This study describes the synthesis of various types of thiolated-graphene quantum dots (GQDs) for the simultaneous multi-sensing of heavy metal ions using one-droplet microfluidic paper-based analytical devices (OD- µ PADs). For the first time, functionalized GQDs were synthesized and stabilized on the surface of hydrophobic fiber-glass with simple manufacturing and assembly strategy towards colorimetric chemosensing of ions including iron, copper, cobalt, mercury, chrome, manganese, and nickel. For this purpose, GQDs are functionalized by various organic species including cysteamine, decanethiol, and mercaptopropionic acid (MPA) towards specific electrostatic interaction with metal ions of Fe (II), Cu (II), Co(II), Hg (II), Mn (II), and Ni (II). Therefore, an innovative GQDs-based miniaturized chemo-system was proposed for the environmental analysis. Additionally, the results were confirmed using fluorescence spectrometry as an optical detection method. Finally, this simple and efficient colorimetric platform was used for facile metal ions detection in human urine models, and environmental fluids, which can provide a commercial device for sensing contaminants by non-professional users in biomedical/environmental mixture. As an economical technique, this platform presents a "mix-and-sense" system without dye (as a side substance) or chemical treatments. The low instrumental requirements, the color uniformity, and the disposability of OD- μ PADs approve the commercial application of the engineered ion-chemosensor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The safety climate shows the attitude and general perception of the organization's management regarding safety. This study investigates the impact of safety training on the safety climate of operational employees working in the West Oil and Gas Company. Materials and Methods: This study is quasi-experimental interventional research, which was conducted in the first half of 2019 in West Oil and Gas Production Company with a pretest- posttest design. The study population included all workers in the operational departments of The West Oil and Gas Production Company. The sampling was done randomly with 240 people. The study questionnaire included a demographic information questionnaire and the safety climate questionnaire of "the safety organization of England." The validity of the questionnaire was confirmed by safety professors, and its reliability was obtained at 0.84 using the Cronbach α coefficient. Results: The mean score of safety climate components before the intervention was 2.65, and after the educational intervention reached 3.66. The safety improvement had the highest score among the components of the safety climate. Also, the lowest mean score of the component before the intervention was related to the violation of safety rules, which had the lowest mean score after the intervention of the licensing system. Conclusion: Educational intervention improved the safety climate in West Oil and Gas Production Company, so safety training plays a vital role in increasing the safety climate in the oil and gas industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the context of an ever growing interest upon environmental protection issue, the study comprises an analyze of the organization and the effectiveness of the public sanitation services both at a union and a national level, starting from the premises of the two dedicated principles: the priority of selective waste collection and the principle „Pay-as-you-throw“, a practical application of a more general „the polluter pays“ principle. Both of these are going to be analyzed from a double perspective: the EU Law (Directive 2008/98/EC) and EU recommendations, on one side, the national law (Law no. 51/2006 of community services of public utilities, GEO no. 92/2021 regarding the waste regime, Law no. 101/2006 of the public sanitation services, Framework Regulation of the public sanitation services etc.), on the other. As this study will show, EU and national law are abundant in regulations determining and detailing these two principles: thus, the theory seems to be clear. These principles are no longer that clear when it comes to their concrete application, due to the lack of detailed rules. The selective waste collection remains, in fact, a simple wish, mostly because the users of the public sanitation service have not received previous proper instruction in this regard, as there are no concrete rules related to how to classify a waste into one of the paper/plastic and metal/glass/biodegradable categories. But also „The polluter pays“ principle is rather an illusion than a reality; even though national laws force its implementation, there are plenty of hurdles in applying it: the inadequate use of the available instruments that determines the waste produced by each individual, or to the difficulties related to condominiums. The article focuses on the analysis of all of these acute issues, taking into account two factual examples -- waste management in the Metropolitan Area of Cluj and Bucharest, -- proposing solutions attempting to ease the implementation of these two key principles concerning public sanitation services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A novel MOG with muti-functional detection of Fe(III) and Cr(VI) was fabricated. • We firstly reported the test paper fabricated by In Situ growth based on MOG. Heavy metals, like iron and chromium(Cr), have been proved to be a serious pollutant to environmental and biological systems. Long-term exposure to Cr(VI) ions through drinking water is harmful to human and will cause some serious diseases. Therefore, exploring new method for selective and rapid detection of such specific pollutants in water is crucial for environmental protection and human health. Herein, a novel functional metal organic gel(MOG) was successfully fabricated. Its detection limit of Cr(VI) was 2.4 × 10−8 mol·L−1 in aqueous solution, and 1.2 × 10−6 mol·L−1 for Fe(III) Based on the excellent deformability of MOG materials, a fluorescent test paper which could realize visible detection of Cr(VI) was fabricated by the in situ growth of Zn-MOGs onto the filter paper. To the best of our knowledge, it is the first sample of Zn-MOGs Based Test Paper (Zn-MOGs-FP) fabricated by in situ growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of China Pulp & Paper is the property of China Pulp & Paper Magazines Publisher and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Given the global economic issues and environmental pollution, there is a growing interest in research addressing the use of biomasses resulting from agricultural production. One main category of biomass components is lignin, the use of plant waste in the pulp industry being one of the ways in avoiding additional deforestation by suppling inputs for the paper industry. The implementation of a strategy for capitalizing the potential of renewable sources, as, but not limited to, paper production, provides the appropriate framework for decision on renewable alternatives and inclusion in the acquis domains in Romania. The present study analyzed the potential use of waste obtained from field crops, mainly annual, as wheat, sunflower, maize, soy, rape, rye, barley, sorghum, rice, to produce paper. Biomass/waste from field crops is a promising source for paper, primarily because it is renewable and has the potential to exploit over 7 million hectares of arable land, with annual use. The diversity of pedoclimatic conditions in Romania makes possible the cultivation of a wider range of species and, within them, a multitude of varieties and hybrids, with variable amounts of lignocellulosic agricultural waste. In addition, accidental years as 2022, the year with the worst drought in Europe in the last 500 years, reshaped the need of valorizing any available biomass, regardless of the production of the main crop. Our calculations show that for a paper containing 28% of renewable cellulose, with the wheat straws collected from Romania in 2019, 9633.31 thousand tons of paper would have been obtained, with an average per hectare of 2786.62 kg of paper. Our analysis shows the opportunity of using lignocellulosic agricultural waste for use as a raw material for paper production. A throughout analysis is needed in the context of extreme droughts experienced recently, to show which valorization of by-products is the most economically justified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable development seeks to strike a balance between economic growth, social well-being and environmental protection. It should be integrated into financial development as well. As a consequence, banks are realising changes in their roles, decision-making, and operations. This paper aims to introduce a structured literature outlook about the different interpretations of sustainable financial development (SFD) on micro and macro levels. The literature mapping is focusing on three main contexts. The basic assumption of the paper is that it is crucial to emphasise the importance of country-level economic growth, the indicators used to determine the level of financial development and the resilience of the financial intermediary actors. As a consequence, the paper represents some existing results in terms of these three contexts. This gives the future basis for the efficient interpretation of sustainable financial development aspects in the operation and the decision-making processes of financial institutions and also for policy-making institutions on the macro-level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethiopia is experiencing deterioration in river quality resulting in adverse effects on human health and hydrobionts. This study aimed to analyse the effects of specific environmental stressors on the distribution and abundance of macroinvertebrates in the Upper Awash River. The study was conducted from January 2018 to March 2018. Macroinvertebrates were collected from five sites using standard handheld nets. Physicochemical parameters including electrical conductivity, dissolved oxygen, total phosphorous, nitrate-nitrogen, pH, dissolved oxygen and water temperature that can affect the distribution and abundance of macroinvertebrates were assessed. A total of 14,465 individuals belonging to 33 families of insects and 5 families of the noninsect group were identified. Among all recorded taxa, Diptera was the most abundant and diversified order. Macroinvertebrates among the five sites showed variation in species evenness, richness, and Shannon Diversity Index. Values obtained from biotic indices and environmental parameters indicated the presence of organic pollution at different levels. The impacted downstream site paper mill waste (Walgata) had the relatively highest H-FBI index followed by Osole (more agricultural activities) indicating that Walgata and Osole were poorer in benthic faunal diversity than other sites. In addition, as habitat and water quality degradation increased, the number and percentage of Plecoptera, Ephemeroptera, and Trichoptera (EPT) decreased. The selected metrics will be also useful for the monitoring and assessment of the riverine systems and to access the impact of different stressors. As perturbation increased, species diversity, ETHbios index, Average Score Per Taxon, and family richness decreased, while the percentage of Chironomidae, Diptera, Dominant Taxa, and Hilsenhoff Family-Level Biotic Index increased indicating that tolerant species become abundant in degraded river bodies. Environmental protection agencies of governmental and nongovernmental organizations should make awareness for the local people so that they reduce activities that affect the river. Paper factory should also monitor its effluent from directly discharging into the Upper Awash River. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study reports the synthesis of functional graphene quantum dots (GQDs) through the thermal pyrolysis of D-penicillamine (DPA) and citric acid towards water treatment. For the first time, a novel type of highly fluorescent probe for selective Cu2+ detection among 26 types of metal ions which considerably enhance the fluorescence intensity of GQD. Furthermore, the recognition effects can be strengthen addition of amino acids owing to raise the electron density of the system and boos the accumulation profile of the sensing molecules. This simple fluorescent probe was applied for facile metal ions recognition in human urine samples, as well as environmental fluids. The proposed DPA-GQDs supported amino acids respond to Cu2+, Hg2+, and Fe3+, with high sensitivity. The intensity of the fluorescence histogram of this probe significantly diminished in exposure to metal ions such as, Cu(II), Hg(II), and Fe(III). Moreover, in our work, microfluidic paper-based (µPADs) was fabricated through a facile and a cost-effective method. Cu2+ can selectively be recognized by GQD-DPA on the paper-based sensors by naked-eye. The functionalized DPA-GQDs is an excellent alternative to previously reported fluorescent probes for sensing, bio-labeling, and other biological usages in aqueous solution. Its nitrogen and oxygen-rich groups can coordinate with Cu2+ and cause to an apparent fluorescence quenching by the non-radiative electron-transmission. The technique presented in this paper is economical and simple in design, and provides a "mix-and-sense" protocol with no need to chemical- or dye-modifications. Our proposed Cu2+ sensing probe exhibits linear response in the concentrations ranging from 0.001 ppm to 5 ppm, with a lower limit of quantitation (LLOQ) of 0.1 ppm in both environmental fluids, and human urine samples. The enhanced color uniformity, the low instrumental needs of the stamp, and disposability of μPADs enable the application of the suggested paper-based device for the commercial diagnostics biosensor. [Display omitted] • Colorimetric recognition of Cu(II) using GQDs-DPA supported amino acids was done. • An μ PADs was proposed for the colorimetric monitoring of ions. • An innovative naked-eye device for the low-cost identification of toxic heavy metal ions was constructed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of China Pulp & Paper is the property of China Pulp & Paper Magazines Publisher and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

As pro-environmental behaviors in business are advocated, recycling process has become a hot topic in the supply chain management. Besides the traditional wholesales and retail for new products, manufacturers would like to recycle and reprocess used products with consideration of production costs and pressure from environment protection. This paper considers the recycling process implemented by manufacturers themselves or entrusted to retailers to implement. A two-period model is established to discuss the optimal recycling and pricing strategies for manufacturers and retailers under both active return and passive return. The results show that the manufacturers and retailers are always better off in active return than that in passive return. The decision that manufacturers participate to the recycling by themselves or entrust it to retailers depends on the return rate and the collection cost. Numerical simulations and sensitivity analysis are implemented to demonstrate our results and illustrate the effect of each parameter on the optimal strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article examines the implementation of environmental aspects of social responsibility by trade enterprises in Ukraine. An analysis of environmental aspects, financial and non-financial reporting, and websites of large trade enterprises was carried out in relation to the display and provision of openness and availability of information about environmental aspects and enterprise costs. The composition of costs and their influence on the financial and economic indicators of the enterprise were studied. The implementation of one's own environmental policy and environmental initiatives, the implementation of projects, technologies, programs, and management methods used by trade enterprises of Ukraine were considered. The socially responsible enterprises' compliance with the requirements of current legislation, national and international standards, requirements for environmental standards of product quality and safety, preservation and protection of the environment, and the use of correct approaches to ensure the positive impact of their business activities on the environment were analyzed. The introduction of environmentally safe, resource- and energy-saving technologies, ecological containers and packaging, development of renewable energy sources, reduction of own greenhouse gas emissions, modern methods of utilization and recycling of PET bottles, plastic, waste paper, and waste, holding eco-actions on greening territories and charitable actions, motivate suppliers and carry out other measures that reduce the negative impact on the environment, contribute to the preservation of people's health, restoration of the environment and take care of the future of the planet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forest fires present significant threats to both natural ecosystems and human communities, highlighting the need for advanced detection systems for early intervention and mitigation. This paper aims to develop a novel forest fire detection system by integrating Internet of Things technology, machine learning algorithms, and real-time data from weather APIs. The proposed system utilizes IoT sensors to gather environmental parameters and weather conditions, enhancing the accuracy of fire detection. A machine learning model trained on this data distinguishes between normal environmental fluctuations and signs of fire. Additionally, an image processing algorithm is employed to analyze images for the presence of smoke or flames. Integration and testing of the system demonstrate its promising results in terms of accuracy and efficiency compared to traditional methods. This paper contributes to technology-driven solutions for forest fire management, with significant implications for environmental conservation and public safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amidst the mounting interest in China's Ecological Civilization (EC) campaign, this paper examines its ground-level implementation and its influences on fostering eco-conscious urban governance. Employing a temporal approach to scrutinize the change in local priorities over time, this paper conducts a detailed case study of Dali, a tourist destination in Southwest China. Environmental protection has escalated in this city over the last decade, manifesting in diverse measures adopted by the local government, including the demolition of hundreds of buildings in the core conservation zone of the lake Erhai. This paper demonstrates how the campaign of EC has strengthened environmental efforts locally, while emphasizing that local compliance relies on heightened oversight and financial support from the central government. Moreover, this paper argues that, despite resembling a degrowth strategy in terms of rhetoric and short-term effects, EC-led demolition serves as a spatio-temporal fix that has helped the local government to address both ecological and political imperatives, with growth coalitions being reconfigured. Overall, this paper contributes to scholarly discussions on the impacts of the EC campaign, expands the comprehension of the dynamic process of greening urban governance, and spotlights the analytical prowess of the demolition lens in such studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Regarding decision planning in the electronic manufacturing industry, this paper designs a green closed-loop manufacturing-recycling network for multiperiod production planning for multiple products. The network considers the tradeoff between production costs and environmental pollution induced by production scraps. Therefore, a mixed integer programming model with a dual objective is designed to achieve environmental protection and reduce production costs through resource recovery and utilization. At the same time, the recycled materials are considered to be treated, not entirely new, which could affect the manufacturing qualified rate. Thus, material attributes are proposed to distinguish new raw materials from recycled (second-hand) ones through the closed-loop manufacturing-recycling process to enhance the manufacturing qualified rate. In order to solve the dual-objective optimization model and realize optimal decisions, an epsilon constraint is designed to generate a nonextreme solution set by changing the original feasible region. The results show its ability to obtain a more balanced solution in terms of cost and environmental factors compared with the fuzzy-weighted method. Meanwhile, the analysis proves that the dual-objective optimization model with distinguishing material attributes can improve the efficiency of the manufacturing qualified rate and achieve a win-win situation for production and environmental protection during enterprise production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Transactions of China Pulp & Paper is the property of China Pulp & Paper Magazines Publisher and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The aim of this article is to analyze China's environmental policy in the Arctic region. The interests of the PRC are studied, they are divided into three groups: economic, geopolitical, and environmental. It is emphasized that economic interests disguised as environmental ones prevail among them. The primary source is the White Paper "China's Arctic Policy" - the first Chinese document on Arctic policy issued by the State Council Information Office in January 2018. The document provides a brief description of the region, establishes the goals and principles of China's Arctic policy, and lists the main areas of activity. The article pays special attention to the provisions of the White Paper which are devoted to environmental policy and environmental protection. In addition, the activity of the authorities empowered to conduct environmental policy in the Arctic is characterized. The environmental activities in the Arctic territories are analyzed. It is noted that they mainly include expeditions to study changing climatic conditions and environmental monitoring, as well as the establishment of scientific centers specializing in Arctic research. The author comes to the conclusion that China's environmental policy in theArctic is currently reduced to a research component. The White Paper, which defines the goals, objectives, principles and directions of the PRC's activities, is mainly declarative, but its adoption indicates activation of the Arctic vector in Chinese foreign policy and long-term plans for this region.

All the papers are centered around the I forest i as the main keyword, appearing in diverse combinations: forest management [[4], [7]], forest recreation [[7]], forest landscape [[6]], and forest air [[2]], plantation forest [[4]]. The authors concluded that people preferred flat views and had a strong preference for forest trail landscapes, which plays an important role in forest landscape recreation, and that the photos evoked both positive and negative emotions. Forests, which are viewed as an important natural resource for humanity, have been constantly threatened with degradation or even extinction since the dawn of the modern period. In some areas, predominantly rural ones, the forest acts as a site for the seasonal collection of berries and mushrooms (non-timber forest products, NTFPs), which are integrated into rural life as key social activities. [Extracted from the article]

Energy shortage and excessive carbon emissions have become the main constraints to the sustainable development of China's logistics industry. Improving the efficiency of the logistics industry is crucial to promoting regional ecological environment protection and sustainable development of the logistics industry. In this paper, the efficiency of China's logistics industry in 2013–2019 is evaluated by using the non-oriented EBM model considering the unexpected output, and then the influencing factors of the efficiency of the logistics industry in the central region are analyzed by using the panel Tobit model. The results show that the logistics industry in the central region is at a low efficiency level. Factors, such as the level of economic development, industrial structure and technical level have a significant positive impact on the efficiency of the logistics industry in the central region, while factors such as government support and logistics infrastructure have a significant negative impact on the efficiency of the logistics industry in the central region. Finally, the paper puts forward some targeted recommendations for the sustainable development of the logistics industry in the central region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An innovative thermal-sensitive ink has been developed and thoroughly tested on polyester fabric. Unlike conventional methods, this new ink eliminates the need for chemical pretreatment and post-printing washing of the fabric before or after printing. It utilizes high-temperature disperse dyes and a biodegradable carrier molecule called a triblock copolymer, specifically Poly(ε-caprolactone-lactic acid)-poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(ε-caprolactone-lactic acid) (PCLA-PEG-PCLA). This remarkable copolymer comprises dihydroxy polyethylene glycol (PEG), ε-caprolactone (CL), and L‐lactide (LA). Upon contact with a heated surface, such as a fiber or textile, the ink droplets swiftly transition rapidly, transforming into a gel-like state. This transition enhances the ink's viscosity, effectively preventing undesired spreading and resulting in precise edge definition on the fabric. To comprehensively evaluate the performance of polyester fabric printed with this innovative ink, a series of meticulous evaluations have been conducted. These evaluations encompass pH levels, particle size, surface tension, viscosity, ink droplet formation, as well as real-time photo-rheological and LF‐NMR analyses conducted on the surface of the polyester fabric. The newly developed inks demonstrate exceptional effectiveness and are highly suitable for digital printing applications across various materials. Furthermore, the implementation of this new ink can significantly reduce the reliance on chemicals and minimize wastewater production during the manufacturing process. [Display omitted] • A novel thermosensitive ink has been prepared by combining a triblock compolymers (PCLA- PEG- PCLA) with high-temperature disperse dyes. • This new printing technology significantly reduces the use of chemicals by eliminating the need for pretreatment. • Fabrics printed with thermosensitive ink demonstrate excellent printing accuracy and color fastness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]