Search

This study investigates the development and characterization of chitosan, gelatin, and chitosan/gelatin (Chi/Gel) bioaerogel composites through a facile and eco-friendly approach. The goal is to optimize their structural and functional properties for potential environmental and biomedical applications. Direct freezing and lyophilization approach were used to prepare the aerogels, the focus was on investigating the effects of blending ratios on the density, porosity, surface area, and water absorption capabilities of the aerogels. The results show that Chi/Gel 60/40 composition achieved an optimal balance of structural robustness and functional performance, characterized by a moderate density of 74.2 mg/[cm.sup.3], the highest porosity among the samples at 93.5%, an impressive surface area of 184.8 [m.sup.2]/g, and a water absorption capacity of 28.8 g/g. These results suggest that the synergistic effect of chitosan and gelatin at specific ratios significantly enhances the overall properties of the material. Our findings suggest that Chi/Gel bioaerogels, especially the 60/40 composite, hold great promise for diverse applications. Highlights * All Gelatin/Chitosan bioaerogels exhibited high porosity and low density. * The Chi/Gel 60/40 mix achieved the highest porosity and surface area. * Highest water adsorption was observed in the Chi/Gel 60/40 composite. * Synergistic effects enhanced properties of the Gelatin/Chitosan scaffolds. KEYWORDS bioaerogel, biopolymers, chitosan, eco-friendly, gelatin, porose materials, 1 | INTRODUCTION In recent years, the focus has shifted towards developing aerogels from biopolymers due to their biocompatibility, biodegradability, and abundance. (1,2) Bioaerogels, known for their extraordinary lightweight and [...]

The use of agricultural biomass fibers, specifically palm kernel shell (PKS), has significant potential to enhance biodiesel production. This approach overcomes economic barriers and contributes to sustainability by repurposing agricultural biomass. This study explores the effectiveness of PKS as a cost‐effective and sustainable catalyst support. Palm kernel shell was chosen due to its high carbon content, low ash presence, and abundance as a byproduct in the palm oil industry, making it an economically viable and environmentally friendly option. In this study, an optimized activated carbon from PKS biomass was fabricated as catalyst support to enhance biodiesel production efficiency. Using response surface methodology (RSM), the PKS was impregnated with phosphoric acid and synthesized at various acid concentrations, impregnation times, and activation times to enhance porosity for catalytic support capabilities. The experimental design included a central composite design (CCD) to vary these factors systematically and determine their optimal levels. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) analysis revealed significant development of porosity, affirming the efficient activation process. Energy dispersive X‐ray (EDX) analysis confirmed phosphorus incorporation during activation, indicating the formation of an intricate pore structure. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy highlighted the presence of functional groups pertinent to the biodiesel reaction process. The transesterification process employing PKS as a catalyst with different biobased feedstocks, such as waste frying oils from corn, palm, and sunflower, led to biodiesel yields of varying efficiencies. Notably, corn oil had the highest yield at 94.92%. This study highlights the potential of PKS as a biobased catalyst support and contributes to the broader biorefinery concept by integrating biomass utilization into renewable fuel production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The wide expansion of the meat industry generated tremendous amounts of animal-based waste. Discarded beef tallow (DBT) is one of those prevalent lipid-rich wastes disposed of by slaughterhouses, meat processing units, and tanneries. The current study utilized the advanced technology of supercritical CO2 (SC-CO2) to extract lipid content from DBT for biodiesel production through transesterification. The effects of SC-CO2 parameters on the extraction rate were investigated over ranges of (32–80°C) for temperature, (10–50 MPa) for pressure, and (15–150 min) for treatment time. Using response surface methodology (RSM), both processes of SC-CO2 and transesterification were optimized. The highest extraction rate was 86.10%, obtained at the experimental conditions of 60°C for temperature, 30 MPa for pressure, and 120 min for treatment time. For the transesterification, the maximum yield of biodiesel was 95.15%, obtained at the reaction conditions of 1:7.5, 1.16 wt%, 58°C, and 72 min for lipid to methanol molar ratio, catalyst ratio, temperature, and time, respectively. The outcomes of the kinetic and thermodynamic analyses showed that the SC-CO2 extraction was an endothermal, unspontaneous, and temperature-dependent process. The characteristics of the synthesized biodiesel largely comply with the ASTM D6751 and EN 14,214 standards. The findings of the current study confirm the viability of SC-CO2 to extract lipids from DBT as a low-cost feedstock for biodiesel production. HIGHLIGHTS: Lipids were extracted from discarded beef tallow using supercritical CO2. Kinetics & thermodynamics analyses were conducted for the lipid extraction. Dependent and independent variables were optimized by RSM. Biodiesel fuel was synthesized from the separated lipids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the evolving field of bioproducts, materials that synergize sustainability with functionality are of paramount importance. Mycelium composites, derived from intricate networks of fungal filaments, are gaining traction as innovative bioproducts that offer a compelling blend of eco‐friendliness, renewability, and adaptability. As the quest intensifies for alternatives that can mitigate the environmental toll of conventional products, mycelium‐based solutions are emerging as beacons on the sustainable bioproducts horizon. Their transition from niche innovations to mainstream applications depends on their ability to overcome a series of fabrication challenges. This review paper investigates the critical challenges faced in the fabrication of mycelium composite. It examines rigorously some essential factors leading to fabrication failure, such as contamination, inconsistent growth, insufficient moisture, inappropriate pH, and improper substrate preparation. The review offers a comprehensive analysis of each factor influencing mycelium growth and the resulting composite properties, with an emphasis on preventative and mitigating strategies. Through an in‐depth exploration of case studies detailing unsuccessful mycelium composite fabrication, the significance of understanding these failure factors is emphasized. The paper culminates in a forward‐thinking discourse on potential strategies for refining fabrication processes, and identifies promising research areas poised to enhance both the success rate and overall efficiency of mycelium composite production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the enhanced extraction of sodium alginate (SA) from Dictyota menstrualis using microwave-assisted techniques and its subsequent application in fabricating green thermal insulators. Utilizing optimized microwave parameters, we achieved a notable increase in SA yield, peaking at 18.5%, significantly higher than the 14.2% obtained through conventional methods. This process not only underscores the efficiency of microwave-assisted extraction by improving yield by approximately 30% but also highlights its environmental sustainability due to reduced solvent use and shorter processing times. The study demonstrates that increasing sodium alginate concentration from 1 to 5% enhances the mechanical strength and thermal insulation properties of bioaerogel scaffolds, evidenced by an increase in density from 0.171 to 0.234 g/cm3 and a decrease in porosity from 93.6 to 89.6%. Additionally, the thermal conductivity and diffusivity measurements of 0.065 W/(m·K) and 0.294 mm2/s, respectively, affirm the excellent thermal insulation stability of these scaffolds. The study demonstrates the potential of microwave-assisted extraction as a scalable and eco-friendly approach for biopolymer recovery, and the feasibility of using the extracted SA in creating effective, green thermal insulators, marking a significant step towards sustainable material development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biodiesel serves as a viable alternative to traditional diesel due to its non-toxicity, biodegradability, and lower environmental footprint. Among the diverse edible and inedible feedstocks, waste frying oil emerges as a promising and affordable feedstock for biodiesel production. Commonly waste frying oils include those derived from palm, corn, sunflower, soybean, rapeseed, and canola. The primary challenge related to biodiesel production technologies is the high production cost, which poses a significant barrier to its widespread adoption. Thus, refining the production techniques is essential to enhance yield, reduce capital expenditure, and curtail raw material expenses. An examination of the research focusing on feedstock availability, production, hurdles, operational expenditures, and future potential is pivotal for identifying the most economically and technically viable solutions. This paper critically reviews such research by exploring feedstock availability, production techniques, challenges, and costs intrinsic to biodiesel synthesis. It also underscores the economic feasibility of biodiesel production, shedding light on the pivotal factors that influence profitability, especially when leveraging waste frying oils. Through an in-depth understanding of these considerations, optimal production and feedstock choices for biodiesel production can be identified. Addressing cost and production bottlenecks could potentially enhance the economic viability of waste frying oil-based biodiesel, thus fostering both environmental sustainability and more extensive adoption of biodiesel as an environmental-friendly fuel in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Malaysia, chemical management in workplaces is managed under the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994. Hence, the introduction of the Occupational Safety and Health (Use and Standards of Exposure of Chemicals Hazardous to Health) Regulations 2000 has strengthened the chemical management level in workplaces, including higher academic institutions. The introduction of chemical health risk assessment through the regulation required management to conduct the assessment at workplaces. Poor levels of Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) in chemical laboratories may also cause discomfort among workers when there is sick building syndrome in laboratories. IAQ is managed through the Industry Code of Practice on Indoor Air Quality 2010. Although both are different in method and approach, both are meant to ensure the workers' safety and comfort. This study is aimed to investigate the need to integrate both chemical health risk assessment and IAQ assessment in laboratories to ensure optimum safety levels among workers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The massive industrial and agricultural development in the past few years has increased the pollution level of water bodies. Several studies have concluded that the global depletion of freshwater resources will result in difficulties accessing clean water. Plant-based water treatment techniques have attracted great interest in the past few years due to their safety and cost-effectiveness compared with chemical-based techniques. Natural coagulants have been extensively studied in terms of the type of plant and the mechanism of coagulation. Banana is one of the most famous tropical fruits from the Musa genus in the Musaceae family. It is widely consumed in Malaysia, especially Musa acuminata, Musa balbisiana, and Musa paradisiaca, resulting in tremendous amounts of biomass residue, including peels, stems, and leaves, with high potential use for wastewater treatment applications. This review aims to highlight the advantages of natural coagulants and to discuss the potential use of different banana wastes in water treatment applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Particulate matter (PM) pollution is a significant environmental and public health issue globally. Exposure to high levels of PM, especially fine particles, can have severe health consequences. These particles can come from a variety of sources, including natural events like dust storms and wildfires, as well as human activities such as industrial processes and transportation. Although an extensive development in air filtration techniques has been made in the past few years, fine particulate matter still poses a serios and dangerous threat to human health and to our environment. Conventional air filters are fabricated from non-biodegradable and non-ecofriendly materials which can cause further environmental pollution as a result of their excessive use. Nanostructured biopolymer aerogels have shown great promise in the field of particulate matter removal. Their unique properties, renewable nature, and potential for customization make them attractive materials for air pollution control. In the present review, we discuss the meaning, properties, and advantages of nanostructured aerogels and their potential in particulate matter removal. Particulate matter pollution, types and sources of particulate matter, health effect, environmental effect, and the challenges facing scientists in particulate matter removal are also discussed in the present review. Finally, we present the most recent advances in using nanostructured bioaerogels in the removal of different types of particulate matter and discuss the challenges that we face in these applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biodiesel is drawing interest as an alternative and eco-friendly substitute energy resource synthesized from vegetative and animals' origin lipids. However, the costs of biodiesel feedstock still concern the researchers. Besides, the dependence on edible oils of first generation as a feedstock made the total footprint of biodiesel unsustainable since it threatens the sources of human food and consumes many resources during cultivation. For this regard, the current study was scoped to offer a reliable and affordable feedstock utilized from slaughterhouses' wastes for biodiesel industry. Utilizing the tremendous amounts of discarded animal fats (DAFs) as a feedstock for biodiesel production minimizes slaughterhouses' wastes and promotes sustainable energy resources. Technologies of DAFs disposal, lipids extraction, treatment, and conversion into biodiesel were critically discussed and compared based on advantages and disadvantages. Discussion was expanded to include the characteristics of animal-based biodiesel distinguished by higher heating value, cetane number, oxidation stability, and lower NOx emissions. Argument was evolved regarding the ethical, production, performance, and economic challenges. The results of this comprehensive review affirm the possibility of DAFs feedstock to offer affordable and sustainable biodiesel fuel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water pollution is a significant environmental issue that has emerged because of industrial and economic growth. Human activities such as industrial, agricultural, and technological practices have increased the levels of pollutants in the environment, causing harm to both the environment and public health. Dyes and heavy metals are major contributors to water pollution. Organic dyes are a major concern because of their stability in water and their potential to absorb sunlight, increasing the temperature and disrupting the ecological balance. The presence of heavy metals in the production of textile dyes adds to the toxicity of the wastewater. Heavy metals are a global issue that can harm both human health and the environment and are mainly caused by urbanization and industrialization. To address this issue, researchers have focused on developing effective water treatment procedures, including adsorption, precipitation, and filtration. Among these methods, adsorption is a simple, efficient, and cheap method for removing organic dyes from water. Aerogels have shown potential as a promising adsorbent material because of their low density, high porosity, high surface area, low thermal and electrical conductivity, and ability to respond to external stimuli. Biomaterials such as cellulose, starch, chitosan, chitin, carrageenan, and graphene have been extensively studied for the production of sustainable aerogels for water treatment. Cellulose, which is abundant in nature, has received significant attention in recent years. This review highlights the potential of cellulose-based aerogels as a sustainable and efficient material for removing dyes and heavy metals from water during the treatment process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plants are valuable source of a medicine and have long being used to cure various ailments. However, the efficacy of drugs derived from plant depends on the reliable identification of correct plants. To avoids the usage of incorrect plant that can cause poisoning, a reliable method than morphological characteristic is required. DNA barcoding technique have shown to be an efficient tool for species identification by using a short fragment of the genomic DNA and has been used widely in molecular plant taxonomy for authentication of medicinal plants species. Thus, the goal of this study was to use DNA barcoding technique to discriminate medicinal plants. DNA samples were extracted from twenty medicinal plants, chosen based on their therapeutic efficacy and were used as templates. Internal transcribed spacer (ITS2) gene was selected to be the best molecular marker for identification purposes. The efficiency of the amplification by polymerase chain reaction was sending for sequencing and species identification was performed using MEGA6. Our findings show that DNA barcoding is an efficient tool for plants identification. This study revealed that medicinal plant and their closely related species can be distinguished by using DNA barcoding technique with ITS2 region as it is an efficient marker and potential DNA marker for authentication of selected plants.

Massive generation of natural waste fiber from agricultural industries followed by improper disposal management might result in a detrimental effect on our ecosystem contributing to various types of environmental pollution. With the growing significance of climate change, an effort is being undertaken by utilizing natural waste fiber into eco-friendly insulation panels to reduce the environmental impact of buildings. In this research, a composite panel was developed from spent mushroom substrate (SMS) and empty fruit bunch (EFB) fibers via a sandwich technique. Five samples were made, each with a different fiber ratio (100 SMS: 0 EFB, 80 SMS: 20 EFB, 60 SMS: 40 EFB, 40 SMS: 60 EFB, and 0 SMS: 100 EFB) at density 0.8 g/cm3. Fourier transformation infrared (FTIR) Soxhlet extraction followed by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) indicated that the SMS and EFB fibers were relevant for fabrication into a composite panel for thermal insulation. Thermal conductivity, thermal resistance, and thermal diffusivity values for these five composite samples were 0.231 to 0.31 W/(mK), 0.0194 to 0.0260 m2K/W, and 0.2665 to 0.3855 mm2/s, respectively. The flexural strength of the composite was at the range 15.61 to 23.62 MPa. These research findings suggest that the fabrication of a sandwich composite panel from SMS and EFB fiber is a promising alternative way to utilize natural waste fiber. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon dioxide (CO2) flux from Earth's surface is a critical component of the global carbon budget, and the ocean surface is a significant CO2 source and sink. The tropical coast absorbs CO2 due to phytoplankton abundance and the all-year availability of photosynthetically active radiation. However, the role of the tropical coastal ocean in the global carbon budget is uncertain because of its underrepresentation in the literature. This study is the first to describe the variations of long-term CO2 flux in the tropical coast on monthly and annual scales using the eddy covariance method and remote sensing data. The 5-yr average of the CO2 flux is −0.089 ± 0.024 mmol m−2 day−1, which indicates that it is a moderate carbon sink. The results show that the CO2 flux varied seasonally: the fall transitional, southwest, spring transitional, and northeast monsoons partitioned the flux into three phases: increasing, stable, and decreasing. The rising and falling stages can be identified by the erratic behavior of the flux, whereas the stable phase's fluxes were relatively constant. The environmental parameters that regulated CO2 flux were chlorophyll a, sea surface temperatures, wind, and atmospheric stability, which modulated the CO2 flux on the monthly time scale. Wavelet analysis corroborated the finding and revealed the role of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) on CO2 flux through El Niño–Southern Oscillation. On the monthly time scale, sea surface temperature only slightly affected the fluxes, unlike chlorophyll a, but temperature's control on the flux became more apparent on the yearly time scale. These findings help us to understand the monthly and yearly controls of CO2 flux and could contribute to developing models for predicting the flux on the tropical coast. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Basic parameters of alpaca wool fiber before and after scouring using soaps and soda (Czaplicki and Ruszkowski [18]) HT

The distinct advantages of scCO SB 2 sb in sheep wool fiber processing are eliminating biological hazards from sheep wool (Hossain et al. [10]; Soares et al. [24]) and ensuring the cleaning of the sheep wool fibers by removing dirt and various impure substances (Van Roosmalen et al. [26]). Keywords: Sheep wool fiber; bacterial inactivation; sterilization; dry clean; wool whiteness; supercritical co2; ; ; ; ; ; EN Sheep wool fiber bacterial inactivation sterilization dry clean wool whiteness supercritical co2 ZH 8399 8414 16 11/21/22 20221220 NES 221220 Introduction A natural, high-quality protein fiber is derived from animals, such as sheep. [Extracted from the article]

The biodiesel industry is expanding rapidly in accordance with the high energy demand and environmental deterioration related to the combustion of fossil fuel. However, poor physicochemical properties and the malperformance of biodiesel fuel still concern the researchers. In this flow, polymers were introduced in biodiesel industry to overcome such drawbacks. This paper reviewed the current utilizations of polymers in biodiesel industry. Hence, four utilizing approaches were discussed, namely polymeric biodiesel, polymeric catalysts, cold-flow improvers (CFIs), and stabilized exposure materials. Hydroxyalkanoates methyl ester (HAME) and hydroxybutyrate methyl ester (HBME) are known as polymeric biodiesel sourced from carbon-enriched polymers with the help of microbial activity. Based on the literature, the highest HBME yield was 70.7% obtained at 10% H2SO4 ratio in methanol, 67 °C, and 50 h. With increasing time to 60 h, HAME highest yield was reported as 68%. In addition, polymers offer wide range of esterification/transesterification catalysts. Based on the source, this review classified polymeric catalysts as chemically, naturally, and waste derived polymeric catalysts. Those catalysts proved efficiency, non-toxicity, economic feasibility, and reusability till the 10th cycle for some polymeric composites. Besides catalysis, polymers proved efficiency to enhance the biodiesel flow-properties. The best effect reported in this review was an 11 °C reduction for the pour point (PP) of canola biodiesel at 1 wt% of ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymers and cold filter plugging point (CFPP) of B20 waste oil biodiesel at 0.08 wt% of EVA copolymer. Polymeric CFIs have the capability to modify biodiesel agglomeration and facilitate flowing. Lastly, polymers are utilized for storage tanks and auto parts products in direct contact with biodiesel. This approach is completely exclusive for polymers that showed stability toward biodiesel exposure, such as polyoxymethylene (POM) that showed insignificant change during static immersion test for 98 days at 55 °C. Indeed, the introduction of polymers has expanded in the biodiesel industry to promote green chemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Demand for determining renewable lipids feedstock for the production of biodiesel is increasing with the rapid depletion of petroleum diesel. The present study was conducted to assess the feasibility of utilizing municipal sewage sludge (MSS) as a potential lipids feedstock for biodiesel production. The lipids' extraction and separation from MSS were conducted using supercritical CO2 (scCO2) with varying treatment time (15–120 min), temperature (30–80°C), pressure (10–50 MPa), and addition of cosolvents (1–10 wt.%). The modified Gompertz equation and Arrhenius equation were employed to evaluate lipids' extraction and kinetics behavior from municipal sewage sludge using scCO2. About 27% of lipids were extracted from MSS with scCO2 at a temperature of 60°C, pressure of 30 MPa, treatment time of 60 min, and 5 wt.% of ethanol (EtOH) as cosolvent. The modified Gompertz equation was adequately fitted with experimental data of the lipids' extraction from MSS using scCO2. The kinetics properties analyses revealed that the scCO2 extraction technology was highly dependent on pressure than the temperature for the extraction of the lipids from MSS. The physicochemical characteristics and fatty acid contents of the scCO2 extracted lipids from MSS and sewage sludge biodiesel were determined using a variety of analytical techniques. The physicochemical properties of the sewage sludge biodiesel were compared with the international standard specifications of biodiesel, such as the American Society for Testing and Materials specifications for diesel fuel (ASTM D6751) and European Standard (EN 14214) specifications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wind speed in urban areas is influenced by the interaction between wind flow and building geometry; at the pedestrian level, the interaction is more complex, particularly with high building density. This study investigated the wind velocity distribution and the mean velocity ratio at the pedestrian level using the large-eddy simulation (LES) database based on random building arrays of several plan area densities, λp. The heights of random buildings are between 0.36 h and 3.76 h where h = 0.025 m. Mean streamwise velocity profiles were obtained at the pedestrian level for all arrays and were found to decrease as λp increased. Wind flow patterns at the pedestrian level were highly influenced by adjacent buildings, especially in denser conditions, λp > 0.17. The pedestrian-level mean velocity was obtained around each building, and the relationship between the local mean velocity ratio, Vp(t) and the local frontal area density, λf(t) was analyzed. Subsequently, a prediction model was formulated based on the building's aspect ratio, αp; the correlation for high-rise buildings with 2.64 h ≤ αp ≤ 3.76 h was high at 0.8, while a lower correlation was obtained for lower buildings due to random positioning and surrounding geometric effects. Therefore, the impact of high-rise buildings on pedestrian wind velocity can be estimated more accurately using the formulated model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present work is to investigate the potential use of banana peel waste as a natural coagulant and to enhance its coagulation performance using a green modification approach for the removal of synthetic water turbidity and river water treatment. Here, the regular banana peel powder had an average particle size and diameter of 978 ± 37 nm and 602 ± 13 nm, respectively, while the modified powder possessed 571 ± 41 nm and 360 ± 19 nm particle size and diameter, respectively. The coagulation performance was investigated at different pH levels, doses, sedimentation times, and NaCl quantities. The optimum dose was found to be 0.4 g/L for modified banana peel with turbidity removal of up to 90%. NaCl slightly enhanced the coagulation performance at low quantities of less than 0.4 g/L, but the activity was reduced at higher concentrations even in the modified powder. Banana peel powder had a weaker turbidity reduction of 76 and 84% for non-modified and modified powders in river water, respectively, in addition to significant reduction in water color, total dissolved and suspended solids, and chemical and biochemical oxygen demand. SEM and FT-IR characterization were performed to investigate and confirm the coagulation mechanism. Such a green modification of banana peel powder can be an alternative with significantly potential as a low cost and easily available bio-coagulant, which can certainly contribute to the waste reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapid population growth and urbanization contribute to an ever-increasing global energy demand, of which the building sector accounts for one-third. The increasing average height and density of buildings escalate the need for vertical transportation, expanding elevator usage and energy needs. This phenomenon accounts for a significant amount of the total building energy use, necessitating a study of elevator system energy consumption. This study aimed to analyze the energy consumption and carbon emissions of elevator systems in low- and high-rise buildings towards energy-efficient estimations. A comprehensive analysis was performed based on a hybrid approach of measurement and calculation using a formula and reference values derived from previous studies. Four buildings were selected and thoroughly studied, representing the low- and high-rise categories. Data were collected based on on-site sampling and observation, as well as information from the building management offices. The mechanical parameters of the elevator system in each building and operational factors in terms of speed, number of trips, load, travel distance, and time were studied. In this analysis, the energy consumption calculation was performed according to International Standard ISO 25745. Annual carbon emissions were calculated in accordance with the USA EPA and IPCC guidelines. The elevator energy efficiency class was determined based on daily energy consumption. It was found from this study that the annual energy consumption of an elevator system is positively correlated to an elevator's daily energy consumption. The annual carbon emissions of the elevator systems are dependent on increasing annual energy consumption, which is also connected to building height indirectly. The low-rise buildings showed better energy efficiency compared to the high-rise buildings due to lower travel distance, less trips, and fewer floors. The annual number of trips, travel distances, and energy consumption had an effect on the energy efficiency of the elevator systems in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is increasing concern regarding the existing sheep wool processing technology in the textile industry owing to the enormous volume of toxic effluents generated. The application of supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) in sheep wool processing is cleaner and increases wool fiber production while avoiding toxic effluent generation. scCO2 is a novel clean technology that can be utilized in sheep processing for sterilization, cleaning, and drying sheep wool at the same time. In the present study, scCO2 was used to treat sheep wool with varying pressure, temperature, and treatment time. These parameters influence the scCO2 treatment of sheep wool fiber through the inactivation of microorganisms and improvement of the whiteness index. The identification of bacteria in sheep wool was carried out based on biochemical analysis by molecular means, using 16s rRNA sequencing. It was found that scCO2 completely inactivated the microorganisms present in sheep wool and potentially enhanced the percentage whiteness index at the highest pressure of 30 MPa, temperature of 80°C, and treatment time of 80 min. Several analytical methods were employed to assess the physicochemical, thermal, and morphological properties of untreated and scCO2 treated sheep wool fibers. The results show that scCO2 effectively removes the impurities and completely inactivates the microorganisms present in sheep wool. The findings of the present study reveal that scCO2 can be utilized as an alternative treatment technology for sheep wool processing in the textile industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Natural Fibers is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd 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.)

Summary: The rapid depletion of diesel fuel, increasing energy demand, and environmental pollution concerns are increasing worldwide interest in the production of liquid biofuels. Biofuel (bio‐aviation and biodiesel) is a potential and plausible alternative to diesel fuel to substantially mitigate the environmental impact of future energy demand. Non‐edible crop oil is viewed as a potential feedstock for liquid biofuel production owing to the massive demand for edible oil as a food source. However, the major limitation of utilizing non‐edible crop oil for biodiesel production is the cost due to the high price of feedstocks and the limited supply of large‐scale biodiesel production. Candlenut trees can grow in harsh and arid climates due to low moisture requirements. Therefore, candlenut can be cultivated in the most unused lands, particularly in developing countries along coasts and riverbanks and in deserts and other wastelands unsuitable for edible crops. Additionally, candlenut seed contains a high amount of oil (30%‐60%). Thus, candlenut oil is a promising source for commercial biodiesel production. The present study was conducted to review the possibilities and challenges of utilizing candlenut as a potential feedstock for biodiesel production. Additionally, several important aspects related to candlenut oil processing, such as extraction technology, physicochemical properties, biodiesel production technologies, and advantages and limitations of candlenut biodiesel production are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: An analysis of the performance of a fixed‐plate air‐to‐air energy recovery system on its efficiency and recovered energy for potential building applications in the hot and humid environment was performed. Investigations were executed under controlled laboratory conditions in an energy testing chamber. Tests were carried out with varying operating parameters in terms of airflow rates that ranged from 1.0 to 3.0 m/s, intake air temperature of 28°C, 31°C, 35°C, 40°C and intake relative humidity of 70%, 75% and 80%. The performance was analysed by adopting the calculation methods of the ASHRAE Standard. This study showed that increased airflow rate decreased efficiency. The increase of airflow rate raised the recovered energy of the system. The study indicated that increasing values of intake air temperature (Tin) resulted in the increase of efficiency and recovered energy. A decrease in the efficiency of the system was observed, notably when the intake relative humidity (RHin) increased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Hydrogen fuel is becoming a hot topic among the scientific community as an alternative energy source. Hydrogen is eco‐friendly, renewable, and green. The synthesis and development of materials with great potential for hydrogen storage is still a challenge in research and needs to be addressed to store hydrogen economically and efficiently. Various solid‐state materials have been fabricated for hydrogen energy storage; however, carbon‐based nanocomposites have gained more attention because of its high surface area, low processing cost, and light weight nature. Carbon materials are easy to modify with various metals, metal oxides (MOs), and other organometallic frameworks because of the functional groups available on the surface and edges that increase the storage capacity of hydrogen. In addition, chemisorption is another way to enhance the hydrogen storage capacity of carbon‐based nanocomposites. In this review, we discuss the success achieved thus far and the challenges that remain for the physical and chemical storage of hydrogen in various carbon‐based nanocomposites. Various compositions of catalysts (eg, metal, MOs, alloy, metal organic frameworks) and carbon materials are designed for hydrogen storage. Superior energy storage in hybrids and composites as compared with pristine materials (catalysts or carbon nanotubes) is governed by the interaction, activation, and hydrogen adsorption/absorption mechanism of materials in the reaction profile. (Nano)composites comprising carbon material with metals, MOs, or alloys are important in this field, not only because of their potential for hydrogen sorption but also their significant cyclic stability and high efficiency upon successive adsorption‐desorption cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We analyzed real-time measurements of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2), with total electricity production and nationwide restrictions phases in China, the United States of America, Europe, and India due to the novel coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic and its effects on atmospheric CO2. A decline of 3.7% in the global energy demand at about 150 million tonnes of oil equivalent (Mtoe) in the first quarter (Q1) of 2020 was recorded compared to Q1 2019 due to the cutback on international economic activities. Our results showed that: (1) electricity production for the same period in 2018, 2019, and 2020 shrunk at an offset of 9.20%, which resulted in a modest reduction (−1.79%) of atmospheric CO2 to the 2017–2018 CO2 level; (2) a non-seasonal, abrupt, and brief atmospheric CO2 decrease by 0.85% in mid-February 2020 could be due to Phase 1 restrictions in China. The results indicate that electricity production reduction is significant to the short-term variability of atmospheric CO2. It also highlights China’s significant contribution to atmospheric CO2, which suggests that, without the national restriction of activities, CO2 concentration is set to exceed 2019 by 1.79%. Due to the lockdown, it quickly decreased and sustained for two months. The results underscore atmospheric CO2 reductions on the monthly time scale that can be achieved if electricity production from combustible sources was slashed. The result could be useful for cost-benefit analyses on the decrease in electricity production of combustible sources and the impact of this reduction on atmospheric CO2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the global primary energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions elevating at 2% and 1.7% annually, it is critical to install energy recovery systems in buildings for better energy conservation. Due to limited research on the energy recovery system in the tropical climate, this study presents the development and performance investigation of an energy recovery system in the tropical climate region. The hydrophilic polymeric membrane of the heat exchanger core was developed and organised in a cross-flow manner. Performance investigation was carried out for several operating parameters, temperature, relative humidity and air velocity. It was found that there were negative relationships between air velocity and efficiency, temperature and humidity ratio differences with increasing residence time. Ranges of latent and sensible efficiencies were 42%-74% and 45%-78%, respectively. The highest sensible energy recovered was 18 kW at the temperature intake of 40°C. One-way ANOVA showed that the air velocity significantly affects sensible and latent efficiencies at different temperature intakes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate plant identification and screening of the elements in medicinal plants have become increasingly important. Some elements can become toxic when existing at high concentrations. The present study presents a molecular identification method to discriminate plant species and assess the mineral nutrients in four selected medicinal plants widely used in traditional healing practices in Malaysia. Medicinal plants were sampled from a secondary forest in Northern Peninsular of Malaysia. Species discrimination was conducted using phylogenetic inference and BLAST method on two target genes, trnH-psbA and ITS2 while the concentration levels of the mineral in terms of macro and micro nutrients (Ca, Fe, Mg, Mn, Zn, Cu) were determined using ICP-OES spectroscopy in the leaf samples. The present study revealed that the DNA identification method has successfully discriminated all samples to species level and that the trnH-psbA is the best marker for identification. The concentration levels of mineral nutrients ranged from 0.01 to 5.76 mg/kg. within the safety range as recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). Results of the present study provide important data on the DNA barcoding of medicinal plants and assessment of mineral nutrients, which can be useful for providing scientific information on dietary supplements based on authentic medicinal plants and products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The groundwater (GW) and surface water (SW) interaction (SW-GW) through the hyporheic zone is a significant component in sustainable water resource management. The complexities in SW-GW interactions increase from a local to a regional scale and are affected by variation in hydraulic, hydrologic, and hydrogeologic (3H) processes. Controlling factors and their upscaling of these processes to assess SW-GW interaction have not been addressed sufficiently in previous studies. Additionally, it is unclear what the effective factors are at different scales during the upscaling. Therefore, the present review focused on controlling factors of 3H processes in SW-GW interaction and their upscaling techniques. Relevancy of controlling factors was identified at different scales. Applications of different approaches and their uncertainties were also discussed for the characterization of SW-GW interactions. The study revealed that the improved data from different approaches is crucial for machine learning training and its application in the SW and GW assessment at local, sub-catchment, and catchment scales. Based on the outcomes, a framework has been proposed to execute modalities of controlling factors using remote sensing, geophysics, and artificial intelligence. The proposed framework could help in handling big data and accurate upscaling for water resource management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poor access to drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene has always been a major concern and a main challenge facing humanity even in the current century. A third of the global population lacks access to microbiologically safe drinking water, especially in rural and poor areas that lack proper treatment facilities. Solar water disinfection (SODIS) is widely proven by the World Health Organization as an accepted method for inactivating waterborne pathogens. A significant number of studies have recently been conducted regarding its effectiveness and how to overcome its limitations, by using water pretreatment steps either by physical, chemical, and biological factors or the integration of photocatalysis in SODIS processes. This review covers the role of solar disinfection in water treatment applications, going through different water treatment approaches including physical, chemical, and biological, and discusses the inactivation mechanisms of water pathogens including bacteria, viruses, and even protozoa and fungi. The review also addresses the latest advances in different pre-treatment modifications to enhance the treatment performance of the SODIS process in addition to the main limitations and challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human activities continue to affect our water quality; it remains a major problem worldwide (particularly concerning freshwater and human consumption). A critical water quality index (WQI) method has been used to determine the overall water quality status of surface water and groundwater systems globally since the 1960s. WQI follows four steps: parameter selection, sub-indices, establishing weights, and final index aggregation, which are addressed in this review. However, the WQI method is a prolonged process and applied to specific water quality parameters, i.e., water consumption (particular area and time) and other purposes. Therefore, this review discusses the WQI method in simple steps, for water quality assessment, based on two multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) methods: (1) analytical hierarchical process (AHP); and (2) measuring attractiveness by a categorically based evaluation technique (MACBETH). MCDM methods can facilitate easy calculations, with less effort and great accuracy. Moreover, the uncertainty and eclipsing problems are also discussed—a challenge at every step of WQI development, particularly for parameter selection and establishing weights. This review will help provide water management authorities with useful knowledge pertaining to water usage or modification of existing indicators globally, and contribute to future WQI planning and studies for drinking, irrigation, domestic, and industrial purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is an interest in the sustainable utilization of waste cotton cloths because of their enormous volume of generation and high cellulose content. Waste cotton cloths generated are disposed of in a landfill, which causes environmental pollution and leads to the waste of useful resources. In the present study, cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) were isolated from waste cotton cloths collected from a landfill. The waste cotton cloths collected from the landfill were sterilized and cleaned using supercritical CO2 (scCO2) technology. The cellulose was extracted from scCO2-treated waste cotton cloths using alkaline pulping and bleaching processes. Subsequently, the CNCs were isolated using the H2SO4 hydrolysis of cellulose. The isolated CNCs were analyzed to determine the morphological, chemical, thermal, and physical properties with various analytical methods, including attenuated total reflection-Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), energy-filtered transmission electron microscopy (EF-TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The results showed that the isolated CNCs had a needle-like structure with a length and diameter of 10–30 and 2–6 nm, respectively, and an aspect ratio of 5–15, respectively. Additionally, the isolated CNCs had a high crystallinity index with a good thermal stability. The findings of the present study revealed the potential of recycling waste cotton cloths to produce a value-added product. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change has become a considerable concern for humanity during this anthropocentric era. Scientists believe that the rate of global warming and climate change varies directly with the increase in the concentration of greenhouse gases, particularly carbon dioxide. Urbanization is happening at a higher rate in this era than in any other generation. It was reported that the building sector plays a critical role in the emission of carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere. Construction of buildings, operation, and utilization of the built environment has led to emissions of a large number of CO2 into the ambient air. Various issues and challenges arise from the building sector in reducing CO2 emissions. The exploitation of non-renewable energy resources, poor building design, and lack of sustainability consideration in urbanization has been holding back CO2 emission mitigation measures in the building sector. Therefore, CO2 emission mitigation plans and schemes are necessary alongside standardized frameworks and guidelines. The strategies to reduce CO2 in the building sector are enforcing standards and policy, conducting impact assessment, adopting low carbon technology, and restricting energy utilization. All stakeholders must play their roles efficiently to reduce CO2 emissions and aid in the fight against climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the variation of outdoor air temperature in the shaded area covered by buildings in an urban university campus in Malaysia. In-situ field measurements were conducted to measure the distribution of outdoor air temperature at eight different locations for seven days. Meanwhile, the building-induced shadows were generated using the AutoCAD Revit software to investigate the air temperature change. The study used four urban morphological parameters namely building to greenery ratio, sky view factor (SVF), and height-to-street width (H/W) ratio. The relationship between building-induced shadow and outdoor air temperature (Tout) obtained from the in-situ measurement was investigated. The results showed that the building-induced shadows could lower air temperature. It can be noted that a high ratio of building to greenery resulted in a higher air temperature. In contrast, the area with a low SVF value due to the combination of prolonged shading by buildings and trees had a lower air temperature. Thus, the area with a high building ratio, low greenery ratio, higher SVF value, and low H/W ratio potentially has a higher outdoor air temperature. Conclusively, combination of building shading created by appropriate ratio of building morphology and sufficient greenery able to improve the microclimate of a campus area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]