Search

Onion skin constitutes a major part of industrial food waste, and cold plasma technology can be employed in the treatment of onion skin. Onion skin waste was ground and exposed to dielectric barrier discharge cold plasma (DBDCP) at 40 kV for 10 or 20 min. Samples that were not DBDCP treated were used as the control. The changes in the color, microbial load, total phenolic content (TPC), and antioxidant activity of the onion skin waste upon treatment were evaluated. An increase in the b* and C* values of the onion skin powder (OSP) was obtained after the DBDCP treatment. The DBDCP process also decreased the total mesophilic aerobic bacteria and yeast–mold counts of the OSP by up to 0.92 and 0.97 log cfu/g (colony‐forming units per gram), respectively. In addition, the TPC and antioxidant activity, as determined by 2,2‐diphenyl‐2‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging activity and ferric‐reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) methods, were increased for up to 59% and 28%, respectively, depending on the treatment time. In conclusion, the findings of the study show that using DBDCP processing in the treatment of onion skin waste can reduce microbial count while enhancing TPC and antioxidant activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Xylooligosaccharides (XOS) are prebiotics of significant biological value that can be obtained through cost‐effective purification of agricultural waste. The present research featured in vitro and in vivo investigation of prebiotic effects of xylooligosaccharides derived from wheat bran powder and brewer's spent grain. Prebiotic activity of Lactobacillus. fermentum, Lactobacillus. casei, and Bifidobacterium spp. was investigated in vitro using standard selective media. 16S rRNA quantitative PCR used for in vitro and in vivo investigation quantified relative abundance of Bifidobacterium spp., Lactobacillus spp., and Akkermansia. muciniphila in samples of fecal matter, cecal content, and intestinal tissue. Research revealed a favorable association between XOS concentration and both bacterial count and diameter of resultant colonies. The standard strain of L. casei showed no noticeable effect on growth rate. Bifidobacterium spp. proliferation in intestinal tissue was validated via in vivo tests using XOS obtained from wheat bran powder and brewer's spent grain. Findings indicated increased prevalence of the A. muciniphila species and the presence of XOS showed a protective function in preserving the structural integrity of intestinal mucus secretions. The presence of XOS in food indicated direct association with proliferation of Bifidobacterium spp. and A. muciniphila spp. Study results suggest that XOS extracted through enzymatic hydrolysis in Mongolian food industry by‐products such as wheat bran products and brewer's spent grain exhibit prebiotic properties that justify XOS manufacture on a large scale and incorporation of XOS as nutritional enhancement in food products and pharmaceuticals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zeolites have been increasingly applied in various fields such as energy conversion, environmental remediation, chemical production, and so on, being used as membranes, catalysts, and supports due to their large specific areas and strong gas adsorption. And, developing low-cost strategies for the preparation of zeolites has attracted the extensive attention of researchers. Coal fly ash, waste glass, discard zeolites, and slags are typical industrial wastes and rich in Si and Al, indicating that these industrial wastes can be utilized as alternative raw materials of zeolite synthesis. Firstly, the chemical composition and properties of these industrial wastes are summarized. Then, the strategies involved in synthesizing different zeolites from various industrial wastes are discussed. In addition, the applications of these zeolites are comprehensively reviewed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The bioconversion of agricultural and industrial wastes is considered a green and sustainable alternative method for producing high-value biochemicals. As a major catalytic product of greenhouse gases and a by-product in the fermentation and lignocellulose processing industries, acetate is a promising bioconversion raw material. In this work, endogenous and heterologous enzymes were manipulated in Yarrowia lipolytica to achieve the conversion of acetate to high-value citric acid and itaconic acid, respectively. After the combinational expression of the key enzymes in the acetate metabolic pathway, the citric acid synthesis pathway, and the mitochondrial transport system, acetate could be efficiently converted to citric acid. Coupled with the down-regulation of fatty acid synthase expression in the competitive pathway, more acetyl-CoA flowed into the synthesis of citric acid, and the titer reached 15.11 g/L with a productivity of 0.51 g/g acetate by the engineered Y. lipolytica, which is comparable to the results using glucose as the substrate. On this basis, the heterologous cis-aconitate decarboxylase from Aspergillus terreus was introduced into the engineered Y. lipolytica to achieve the catalytic synthesis of itaconic acid from acetate. Combined with investigating the effects of multiple enzymes in the synthesis pathway, the titer of itaconic acid reached 1.87 g/L with a yield of 0.43 g/g DCW by the final engineered strain, which is the highest reported titer of itaconic acid derived from acetate by engineered microbes in shake flasks. It is demonstrated that acetate has the potential to replace traditional starch-based raw materials for the synthesis of high-value organic acids and our work lays a foundation for the rational utilization of industrial wastes and the catalytic products of greenhouse gases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the degradation of naphthalene in water was performed via photocatalysis with two different configurations: UV-irradiated TiO2 deposited on cellulosic tissue and photocatalytic luminous textiles. The photocatalytic performance of these configurations was evaluated in terms of pollutant removal and mineralization yield. Moreover, the influence of key operating parameters, such as the initial pollutant concentration, solution turbidity, the number of tissues, and the type of irradiation, was investigated. The results showed a complete removal of 8 mg/L of naphthalene with photocatalytic luminous textiles after 4 h of UV irradiation, with a mineralization yield of 80%. The impact of the turbidity shows that at 90 NTU, reductions in photocatalytic activity of 30% and 10% were recorded for the UV-irradiated TiO2 deposed on cellulosic tissue and photocatalytic luminous textiles, respectively. The reactive oxygen species (ROS) concentrations were monitored during photocatalysis to better understand the contribution of each active species in the mechanism reaction of naphthalene oxidation. The results show that the hydroxyl radical (•OH) is responsible for 70% of pollutant oxidation. A scaling up of the water treatment with photocatalytic luminous textiles was performed. The extrapolation confirmed the same trends observed at the laboratory scale in terms of degradation and mineralization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the implementation of CO2 capture systems has increased. To reduce the costs and the footprint of the processes, different industrial wastes are successfully proposed for CO2 capture, such as gypsum from desulfurization units. This gypsum undergoes an aqueous carbonation process for CO2 capture, producing an added-value solid material that can be valorized. In this work, panels have been manufactured with a replacement of (5 and 20%) commercial gypsum and all the compositions kept the water/solid ratio constant (0.45). The density, surface hardness, resistance to compression, bending, and fire resistance of 2 cm thick panels have been determined. The addition of the waste after the CO2 capture diminishes the density and mechanical strength. However, it fulfills the requirements of the different European regulations and diminishes 56% of the thermal conductivity when 20%wt of waste is used. Although the CO2 waste is decomposed endothermically at 650 °C, the fire resistance decreases by 18% when 20%wt. is added, which allows us to establish that these wastes can be used in fire-resistant panels. An environmental life cycle assessment was conducted by analyzing a recycling case in Spain. The results indicate that the material with CO2 capture waste offers no environmental advantage over gypsum unless the production plant is located within 200 km of the waste source, with transportation being the key factor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microalgal solutions to clean waste streams and produce biomass were evaluated in Nordic conditions during winter, spring, and autumn in Southeast Sweden. The study investigated nitrogen (N) removal, biomass quality, and safety by treating industrial leachate water with a polyculture of local microalgae and bacteria in open raceway ponds, supplied with industrial CO2 effluent. Total N (TN) removal was higher in spring (1.5 g−2d−1), due to beneficial light conditions compared to winter and autumn (0.1 and 0.09 g−2d−1). Light, TN, and N species influenced the microalgal community (dominated by Chlorophyta), while the bacterial community remained stable throughout seasons with a large proportion of cyanobacteria. Winter conditions promoted biomass protein (19.6–26.7%) whereas lipids and carbohydrates were highest during spring (11.4–18.4 and 15.4–19.8%). Biomass toxin and metal content were below safety levels for fodder, but due to the potential presence of toxic strains, biofuels or fertilizer could be suitable applications for the algal biomass. Practitioner points: Microalgal removal of nitrogen from leachate water was evaluated in Nordic conditions during winter, spring, and autumn.Total nitrogen removal was highest in spring (1.5 g−2d−1), due to beneficial light conditions for autotrophic growth.Use of local polyculture made the cultivation more stable on a seasonal (light) and short‐term (N‐species changes) scale.Toxic elements in produced algal biomass were below legal thresholds for upcycling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated the influence of organic matter (OM) constituents on the potential for recovery of P from wastewaters when FeCl3 treatment is employed for P removal. The presence of OM constituents did not influence P release from Fe‐P sludges when alkaline and ascorbic acid treatments were employed. However, the overall recovery of P from wastewater was impacted by the presence of selected OM constituents through the reduction of P uptake during coagulation. The presence of protein and humic matter showed remarkably low P removal values (3.0 ± 0.4% and 23 ± 1% respectively) when compared to an inorganic control recipe (62 ± 2%). Elevated soluble Fe (SFe) residuals in the presence of proteins (87 ± 5%) and humics (51 ± 1%) indicated interactions between Fe(III) cations and negatively charged functional groups like hydroxyl, carboxyl, and phenolic groups available in these organics. Significant negative correlations between P removal and residual SFe were observed suggesting Fe solubilization by OM constituents was the mechanism responsible for reduced P removal. The findings of this study identify, for the first time, the impact of OM constituents on overall P recovery when Fe(III) salts are employed and provide insights into recoveries that can be expected when Fe is added to primary, secondary treated, and industrial wastewaters. Practitioner Points: Low P removal values were observed for protein and humic dominated wastewater recipes.Iron(III) solubilization counted for P removal reduction by proteins and humic acids.There is no effect of OM on P release from Fe‐P sludge at pH 10 and ascorbic acid treatments.OM and agent employed to release P from sludges affected overall recovery of P. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Slags from the Silesia–Cracow Upland (Poland), including ten historical slags (deposited in waste dumps) and four contemporary slags (from current production), were examined to compare their chemical and mineralogical properties as well as to assess their potential for the recovery of selected metals and critical raw materials. The historical slags associated with the smelting of polymetallic ores originating from Mississippi Valley-type (MVT) deposits consisted primarily of gypsum. The contemporary slags, obtained from industrial waste rich in zinc and lead, were predominantly spinels (magnesium-aluminate and ferric) that exhibited higher iron content (up to 46.6 wt% of Fe2O3) compared to the historical slags (up to 26.1 wt% of Fe2O3). The zinc content was similar for both the slag types (3.5 wt% Zn). The average titanium and arsenic contents in the old and contemporary slags were at the same level as well, with 0.21 wt% (Ti) and 0.13 wt% (As), respectively. The contemporary slags contained higher levels of critical raw materials, such as cobalt, nickel, copper, and manganese, compared to the historical slags. Rare earth elements (REEs) were also more abundant in the contemporary slags, with an average content of 212 ppm, while the historical slags averaged 124 ppm. These findings underscore the potential for recovering valuable metals and critical raw materials from such slags, presenting opportunities for resource optimisation and environmental management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the current work, aluminum dross from the aluminum industry and fired-clay brick waste (Homra) were combined with alkaline activators (Na2SiO3/NaOH) with varying molarities of NaOH to create insulating geopolymer bricks. An alkaline activator with an (S/L) ratio of 3/1 was combined with Homra to replace it partly. The mixture was then molded into 50 × 50 × 50 mm3 stainless steel molds. Water absorption, compressive strength, bulk density, and apparent porosity of the produced geopolymer were measured at various curing durations and NaOH molarities. The findings showed that adding more aluminum dross waste replacement leads to a decrease in bulk density and compressive strength and an increase in the creation of pores that improve the produced bricks' ability to insulate against heat. Using 8 M of NaOH after 28 days, the findings revealed that 3% aluminum dross waste replacement has a compressive strength of about 8.6 MPa, water absorption of 14.6%, bulk density of 1.307 g/cm3, and thermal conductivity of 0.32 W/m·K. The Egyptian standard, ASTM C62, satisfies these outcomes. Using DesignBuilder energy simulation software version 6.1.06, the constructed insulating brick under ideal circumstances was utilized to calculate its contribution performance in energy consumption. The annual energy consumption was reduced by about 21% compared to traditional hollow cement bricks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Slovakia, around 200 environmental burdens that contain a significant amount of usable raw materials were created by the extraction of ores or the dumping of industrial waste. In this research, the hydrometallurgical metal recovery method from a metal-bearing environmental landfill in Sereď was investigated. The analysis of a representative sample of waste obtained from this landfill proved the presence of significant amounts of metals (43.45% Fe; 1.3% Cr; 0.09% Co, and 0.23% Ni). A thermodynamic study of the metals' (Fe, Cr, Ni, and Co) leaching probability confirmed the possibility of metal extraction in an acidic environment. Subsequently, the effect of the most important factors on the leaching process (stirring intensity, temperature, liquid-to-solid phase ratio, and acid concentration) was experimentally tested. The analysis of the results determined the optimal leaching conditions. The extraction of 90.35% Fe and 59.62% Cr was ensured at a stirring intensity of 400 rpm, a leaching temperature of 80 °C, a liquid-to-solid phase ratio of 40, and a H2SO4 concentration of 3 mol/dm3. Various techniques, including SEM, EDX, XRD, Eh-pH diagrams, and AAS analysis, were used to analyze samples and products after leaching. The possibility of precipitating metals/compounds from the leachate to obtain a marketable product was theoretically proposed and proven. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Industrial wastewater poses a serious threat to human health and the environment. The rising demand for an easy, efficient, environment‐friendly, and cost‐effective method for wastewater treatment has paved the way for the photocatalytic degradation of wastewater. Organic dyes, which comprise a major portion of organic pollutants in industrial wastewater, are highly toxic and carcinogenic. The hydrothermal method, being economical, easily available, and environmentally friendly, is used to prepare the time‐varying KBiFe2O5 samples. KBiFe2O5 is a lead‐free (nonhazardous), low‐bandgap brownmillerite‐structured crystalline material that can use a wide range of solar spectrum. Their phase purity is also confirmed by powder X‐ray diffraction (XRD), UV–Vis diffuse reflectance spectrophotometer (UV–Vis DRS) is done to confirm the bandgap value and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy is performed to identify the chemical bonds in the material. Degrading textile organic effluent methylene blue (MB) dye under visible light and comparing its photodegradation performance are conducted to investigate the synthesized samples' photocatalytic properties. The photocatalytic activity is relatively enhanced by adding H2O2 in a precise amount. So, the synthesized samples effectively demonstrate photocatalytic behavior, which has been used for wastewater remediation purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biochar prepared from crop straw is an economical method for adsorbing bromocresol green (BCG) from textile industrial wastewater. However, there is limited research on the adsorption mechanism of biochar for the removal of BCG. This study utilized cucumber straw as raw material to prepare biochar with good adsorption potential and characterized its physicochemical properties. Through adsorption experiments, the effects of solution pH, biochar dosage, and initial dye concentration on adsorption performance were examined. The adsorption mechanism of cucumber straw biochar (CBC) for BCG was elucidated at the molecular level using adsorption kinetics, adsorption isotherm models, and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Results show that the specific surface area of the CBC is 101.58 m2/g, and it has a high degree of carbonization, similar to the structure of graphite crystals. The presence of aromatic rings, –OH groups, and –COOH groups in CBC provides abundant adsorption sites for BCG. The adsorption process of CBC for BCG is influenced by both physical and chemical adsorption, and can be described by the Langmuir isotherm model, indicating a monolayer adsorption process. The theoretical maximum monolayer adsorption capacity (qm) of BCG at 298 K was calculated to be 99.18 mg/g. DFT calculations reveal interactions between BCG and CBC involving electrostatic interactions, van der Waals forces, halogen–π interactions, π–π interactions, and hydrogen bonds. Additionally, the interaction of hydrogen bonds between BCG and the –COOH group of biochar is stronger than that between BCG and the –OH group. These findings provide valuable insights into the preparation and application of efficient organic dye adsorbents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rampant use of plastics, with the potential to degrade into insidious microplastics (MPs), poses a significant threat by contaminating aquatic environments. In the present study, we delved into the analysis of effluents from textile industries, a recognized major source of MPs contamination. Data were further discussed and compared with a municipal wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluent. All effluent samples were collected at the final stage of treatment in their respective WWTP. Laser diffraction spectroscopy was used to evaluate MP dimensions, while optical and fluorescence microscopies were used for morphology analysis and the identification of predominant plastic types, respectively. Electrophoresis was employed to unravel the prevalence of negative surface charge on these plastic microparticles. The analysis revealed that polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polyamide were the dominant compounds in textile effluents, with PET being predominant in municipal WWTP effluents. Surprisingly, despite the municipal WWTP exhibiting higher efficiency in MP removal (ca. 71% compared to ca. 55% in textile industries), it contributed more to overall pollution. A novel bio-based flocculant, a cationic cellulose derivative derived from wood wastes, was developed as a proof-of-concept for MP flocculation. The novel derivatives were found to efficiently flocculate PET MPs, thus allowing their facile removal from aqueous media, and reducing the threat of MP contamination from effluents discharged from WWTPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Driving a car at extreme speeds, road holding, and sustainability do not go together well. Formula 1 racing is exciting but is not an example of sustainability. The aim of this work was to use materials, suitable for the treads of high-performance racing tyres, that can favour both high performance and sustainability. In particular, the objective was to achieve high dynamic rigidity at high temperatures (>100 °C) and a stable crosslinking network. A copolymer from an industrial waste such as sulphur and a comonomer from a circular biosourced material were used as the crosslinking agent of an elastomer composite based on poly(styrene-co-butadiene) from solution anionic polymerization and a carbon black with a high surface area. The biosourced circular material was 1,6-bis(2,5-dimethyl-1H-pyrrol-1-yl)hexane (HMDP), the di-pyrrole derivative of hexamethylenediamine. Two poly(S-co-HMDP) copolymers, with different S/HMDP ratios (6 and 8.9, Copolymer 1 and Copolymer 2) were carefully characterized by means of 1H-, 13C-, 2D1H-1H-COSY and 2D 1H-13C HSQC NMR. The comparison of the spectra highlighted the substitution with sulphur of the β-position of the pyrrole ring: mono-substitution largely prevailed in Copolymer 1 and also bi-substitution in Copolymer 2. The copolymers were used as additives in the vulcanization system. Compared with a reference composite, they allowed us to achieve more efficient vulcanization, a higher density of the crosslinking network, higher dynamic rigidity, better ultimate tensile properties, and better stability of the crosslinking network at high temperatures. Compared with a traditional oil-based crosslinking agent for elastomer composites with high rigidity and a stable structure at high temperatures, such as the perthiocarbamate 6-((dibenzylcarbamothioyl)disulfaneyl)hexyl 1,3-diphenylpropane-2-sulfinodithioate, the poly(S-co-HMDP) copolymers led to higher dynamic rigidity and better ultimate tensile properties. These improvements occurring simultaneously are definitely unusual. This work paves the way for the upcycling of circular materials in a large-scale application such as in tyres. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the efficient decolorization and complete mineralization of the diazo dye Evans blue, using an integrated aerobic bioreactor system coupled with a double-chamber microbial fuel cell (DCMFC) including a bio-cathode and acetate as a cosubstrate. The research addresses the environmental challenges posed by dye-laden industrial effluents, focusing on achieving high decolorization efficiency and understanding the microbial communities involved. The study utilized mixed strains of actinomycetes, isolated from garden compost, to treat initial dye concentrations of 100 mg/L and 200 mg/L. Decolorization efficiency and microbial community composition were evaluated using 16S rRNA sequencing, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) was used to assess anode and DCMFC resistance. The results demonstrated decolorization efficiencies ranging from 90 ± 2% to 98 ± 1.9% for 100 mg/L and from 79 ± 2% to 87% ± 1% for 200 mg/L. An anode resistance of 12.48 Ω indicated a well-developed biofilm and enhanced electron transfer. The microbial community analysis revealed a significant presence of Pseudomonadota (45.5% in dye-acclimated cultures and 32% in inoculum cultures), with key genera including Actinomarinicola (13.75%), Thermochromatium (4.82%), and Geobacter (4.52%). This study highlights the potential of the integrated DCMFC–aerobic system, utilizing mixed actinomycetes strains, for the effective treatment of industrial dye effluents, offering both environmental and bioenergy benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phosphogypsum is a common industrial solid waste that faces the challenges of high stockpiling and low utilization rates. This study focuses on the mechanical properties and internal characteristics of cementitious materials with a high phosphogypsum content. Specifically, we examined the effects of varying amounts of ground granulated blast furnace slag (5–28%), fly ash (5–20%), and hydrated lime (0.5–2%) on the stress–strain curve, unconfined uniaxial compressive strength, and elastic modulus (E50) of these materials. The test results indicate that increasing the ground granulated blast furnace slag content can significantly enhance the mechanical properties of phosphogypsum-based cementitious materials. Additionally, increasing the fly ash content can have a similar beneficial effect with an appropriate amount of hydrated lime. Furthermore, microscopic analysis of the cementitious materials using a scanning electron microscope revealed that the high sulfate content in phosphogypsum leads to the formation of calcium aluminate as the main product. Concurrently, a continuous reaction of the raw materials contributes to the strength development of the cementitious materials over time. The results could provide a novel method for improving the reusing phosphogypsum amount in civil engineering materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alkali activated materials (AAMs) offer significant advantages over traditional materials like Portland cement, but require the use of strong alkaline solutions, which can have negative environmental impacts. This study investigates the synthesis of AAMs using metakaolin and wollastonite, aiming to reduce environmental impact by eliminating sodium silicate and using only sodium hydroxide as an activator. The hypothesis is that wollastonite can provide the necessary silicon for the reaction, with calcium from wollastonite potentially balancing the negative charges usually countered by sodium in the alkaline solution. This study compares raw and carbonated wollastonite (AAM-W and AAM-CW) systems, with raw materials carefully characterized and binding networks analyzed using TGA, FT-IR, and XRD. The results show that while wollastonite can reduce the amount of sodium hydroxide needed, this reduction cannot exceed 50%, as higher substitution levels lead to an insufficiently alkaline environment for the reactions. The carbonation of wollastonite enhances the availability of silicon and calcium, promoting the formation of both N-A-S-H and C-A-S-H gels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A green, low-carbon concrete is a top way to recycle waste in construction. This study uses industrial solid waste slag powder (S95) and fly ash (FA) as binders to completely replace cement. This study used recycled coarse aggregate (RCA) instead of natural coarse aggregate (NCA). This is to prepare alkali-activated recycled concrete (AARC) with different cementitious material systems. Alkali-activated concrete (AAC) mixtures are modified for strength and performance based on the mechanical qualities and durability of AARC. Also, the time-varying effects of the environment on AARC properties are explored. The results show that with the performance enhancement of RCA, the mechanical performance of AARC is significantly improved. As RCA's quality improves, so does AARC's compressive strength. At a cementitious material content of 550 kg/m3, AARC's 28d compressive strengths using I-, II-, and III-class RCA were reduced by 2.2%, 12.7%, and 21.8%, respectively. I-class AARC has characteristics similar to natural aggregate concrete (NAC) in terms of shrinkage, resistance to chloride penetration, carbonization, and frost resistance. AARC is a new type of green building material that uses industrial solid waste to prepare alkali-activated cementitious materials. It can effectively reduce the amount of cement and alleviate energy consumption. This is conducive to the reuse of resources, environmental protection, and sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At present, engineered cementitious composites (ECC) are rapidly replacing ordinary concrete in the building production due to its superior durability and mechanical qualities. Enormous researches have been done on ECC incorporating various fibers, industrial wastes, supplementary cementitious materials and super plasticizers. As far as fiber is concerned, poly vinyl alcohol fiber was widely explored. In this study, attempt has been made to involve alkali resistant glass fiber as a replacement for poly vinyl alcohol fiber. In addition, the high rate related with ECC as a result of the utilization of micro‐sized silica sand has restricted its extensive pertinences. Thus, this study recommends utilization of quarry dust to replace fine silica sand in the ECC at amounts ranging from 0% to 100% in order to establish a green, sustainable and cost‐effective ECC. The flowability and mechanical demeanor of the ECC mixtures in terms of the tensile, compressive and flexural properties were evaluated. It is arrived that 2% of volume fraction would be the optimum dosage by which better mechanical properties can be achieved. As a result of the present research findings, it is found that the quarry dust could be a better substitute for silica sand up to 75% without any compromise in compressive and flexural strengths. To attain higher tensile qualities, however, it might not be appropriate to replace more than 50% of the silica sand with quarry dust. Cost analysis of the ECC mixtures show that using quarry dust as aggregate is both cost‐effective and sustainable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, geopolymers are advanced alternatives to cementitious materials, where their excellent chemical and fire resistance are some of its most appealing properties. Fly ash geopolymers enable the use of industrial waste materials while converting them into a novel binding material. Their production is accompanied by a much lower CO2 emission when compared to Portland cement. Reinforcing fly ash geopolymers with carbon nanotubes would significantly strengthen its microstructure and with this enhancing the long‐term mechanical and durability performance. The aim of this work is to use reactive molecular dynamics simulation method to optimize the mechanical properties of fly ash geopolymers with nano‐reinforced carbon nanotubes (CNTs). During this study, the impact of humidity and interfacial bonding strength between carbon nanotube and geopolymer is investigated. Our findings show that structural transformations under hydration process comes from the weakening of AlO bond, leading to the elongation of AlO and NaOH bonds, forming aluminum and sodium hydroxyls. Conversely, silicate is not sensitive to water and exhibits hydrophobic behavior. In addition, our results show that there is an optimal value of water content (7.17 wt.%) that makes the geopolymer nanostructure strengthen. The related elastic modulus rises by 21.56%, 20.60%, and 18.41% for Si/Al ratio of 1, 2, and 3, respectively. Inserting carbon nanofillers to fly ash nanostructure has remarkably shown an interesting strength enhancement. More precisely, when interfacial bonding concentration is around 19.36%, it is observed a positively increasing of the compressive strength, shear, indentation and elastic modulus with 39%, 65.2%, 72.3%, and 144.85%, respectively. Reduced density gradient supports that the interaction between carbon nanotube and fly ash geopolymer is dominated by a van der Waals one. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sustainable utility of industrial waste and by‐products is crucial to reduce environmental impact. Particularly relevant for the cement and concrete industry, where recycling and utilization of industrial waste can help to replace normal concrete and promote stable growth. One such waste material is aluminum computer numerical control waste (ALCNCW). This study investigated the performance of reinforced concrete beams incorporated with ALCNCW. It was decided to use the effects of the ALCNCW ratio and the proportion of longitudinal reinforcement as parameters. A total of 12 reinforced concrete beams were cast and tested with varying levels of lower reinforcement ratios (0.0125, 0.0074, and 0.0032) and ALCNCW ratios (1%, 2%, and 3% by weight), in addition to a control beam. The load‐carrying capacity, failure mode, crack patterns, ductility, and serviceability were analyzed. The findings of the experiments demonstrated that the cracking and bending effects of reinforced concrete beams were different depending on the quantity of tension reinforcement and ALCNCW that was used. The results indicate that adding 1% or 2% of ALCNCW to concrete beams has a negligible effect on the load capacity. However, the ductility of the beams was adversely affected. Nevertheless, adding ALCNCW to the concrete mix can still be implemented with a specific ratio. Finally, all 12 beams met the serviceability limit state requirements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To analyze groundwater contamination with uranium, groundwater samples were collected from the major industrial area of Jalandhar, Punjab, India (as the industrial effluent is found to contain a large number of heavy metals) and analyzed using ICPMS (Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer) for uranium-238. Uranium-238 concentrations in groundwater ranged from 4.96 µg/L and 38.52 µg/L, with an average of 17.0 µg/L. All the values of uranium concentration and uranium activity concentration in the samples were found within the permissible range by the World Health Organization (WHO). The hazard quotient for all the samples is found to be below one, indicating very low or no risk to the population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The semiconductor foundry industry faces the challenge of reducing its high environmental impact, mainly due to its energy‐ and water‐intensive processes and significant generation of waste. To date, no other study has focused on the assessment of the environmental performance and related historical trends of this industry as a whole. Methodologically, the first step was to analyze and process a large quantity of economic, production, and environmental data, available in the Corporate Social Responsibility reports of a companies' sample, highly representative of the entire world's foundry industry (about 70% of the global revenue of the related sector). It was thus possible to calculate, using a common manufacturing index (MI) and after appropriate data processing, some key performance indicators, along a significant decade (2012–2021), marked by deep political, economic, and health crises. Some of the main findings of this study are that, over this 10‐year period, the increases in technological capacity (patents), wafer production, and revenue (400%, 183%, and 172%, respectively) are matched by a significant increase in hazardous waste generation per MI (20%; 239% in absolute value) and a much larger increase in general waste generation per MI (135%; 568% in absolute value). The indicators of energy, water, and revenue per MI are substantially unchanged. A substantial decrease occurs in GHG1&2 emissions per MI (−32%), mainly due to significant investments in renewable energy sources. The findings of this research could help and guide upcoming sustainability policy decisions and encourage business‐to‐business collaboration and the adoption of better environmental production practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate the effect of extraction methods and solvents (Soxhlet and supercritical fluid extraction, SFE) on the chemical profile (gas chromatography [GC]/mass spectrometry and GC/flame ionization detection) and antimicrobial, antioxidant, antitumor, and anti‐inflammatory activities of quinoa Piabiru (QP) husk crude extracts. Soxhlet was applied using 100% water (QPSH2O), and ethanolic solutions of 50% ethanol (ethanol:water 50:50 v/v, QPSetOH50), 70% ethanol (QPSetOH70), and 99% ethanol (QPSetOH99) as solvents. SFE was applied using CO2 and n‐propane as solvents (QPSF). QPSH2O extract showed a higher concentration of phytosterols (stigmasterol, β‐sitosterol, 7,8‐epoxylanostan‐11‐ol,3‐acetoxy) and carotenoids (rhodopin) and oleic acid, displaying intermediate thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) antioxidant activity. Intermediate concentrations of ethanol (QPSetOH50 and QPSetOH70 extracts) increased the extraction yields and the antibacterial activity of the extracts (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella enterica, Bacillus cereus, and Staphylococcus aureus). Higher concentrations of ethanol (QPSetOH99 extract) contributed to increased antioxidant activity as assessed by TBARS and higher recoveries of 4‐(allyloxy)‐2‐methyl‐2‐pentanol, nonadecane, and lauric, myristic, palmitic, linoleic, stearic, arachidic, behenic, and lignoceric acids. Finally, the QPSF extract presented higher antioxidant activity by DPPH, ABTS, and ferric‐reducing antioxidant power, higher content of 5‐methoxy‐2‐pentanone, 5‐methoxy‐2‐methyl‐2‐pentanol, 1‐(1,3‐dimethylbutoxy)‐2‐propanol, oxalic, undecanoic, myristoleic, tricosanoic, pentadecanoic, elaidic, 11‐eicosenoic, and erucic acids, and better antifungal activity against Aspergillus brasiliensis than the other extracts. Crude extracts were not cytotoxic against non‐tumor cells (Vero) and did not show antitumor or anti‐inflammatory activities. Thus, antagonistic or synergistic effects of the phytochemical profile of quinoa husk crude extracts may present potential food and pharmaceutical applications. Practical Applications: The exceptional nutritional properties of quinoa seeds have boosted their cultivation in more than 123 countries. However, quinoa husks are generally considered waste. This study, which is of utmost importance, demonstrates the potential of extracting bioactive compounds from quinoa husks via pressurized fluids, turning them into a health‐promoting co‐product. This approach could minimize the current shortage of new antibiotics, antifungals, antitumor agents, and anti‐inflammatory substances in the pharmaceutical and food sectors. By converting quinoa husks into valuable bioactive extracts, we contribute significantly to developing effective natural compounds, underlining the significance of our collective work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water contamination with metals poses significant environmental challenges. The occurrence of heavy metals (HMs) prompts modifications in plant structures, emphasizing the necessity of employing focused safeguarding measures. Cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), and chromium (Cr) emerge as particularly menacing toxins due to their high accumulation potential. Increasing the availability of organic acids is crucial for optimizing toxic metal removal via phytoremediation. This constructed wetland system (CWs) was used to determine how oxalic acid (OA) treatments of textile wastewater (WW) effluents affected morpho-physiological characteristics, antioxidant enzyme activity, oxidative stress, and HM concentrations in Phragmites australis. Multiple treatments, comprising the application of OA at a concentration of 10 mM and WW at different dilutions (25%, 50%, 75%, and 100%), were employed, with three replications of each treatment. WW stress decreased chlorophyll and carotenoid content, and concurrently enhanced HMs adsorption and antioxidant enzyme activities. Furthermore, the application of WW was found to elevate oxidative stress levels, whereas the presence of OA concurrently mitigated this oxidative stress. Similarly, WW negatively affected soil-plant analysis development (SPAD) and the total soluble proteins (SP) in both roots and shoots. Conversely, these parameters showed improvement with OA treatments. P. australis showed the potential to enhance HM accumulation under 100% WW stress. Specifically, there is an increase in root SP ranging from 9% to 39%, an increase in shoot SP from 6% to 91%, and an elevation in SPAD values from 4% to 64% compared to their respective treatments lacking OA inclusion. The OA addition resulted in decreased EL contents in the root and shoot by 10%–19% and 13%–15%, MDA by 9%–14% and 9%–20%, and H2O2 by 14%–21% and 9%–17%, in comparison to the respective treatments without OA. Interestingly, the findings further revealed that the augmentation of OA also contributed to an increased accumulation of Cr, Cd, and Pb. Specifically, at 100% WW with OA (10 mM), the concentrations of Cr, Pb, and Cd in leaves rose by 164%, 447%, and 350%, in stems by 213%, 247%, and 219%, and in roots by 155%, 238%, and 195%, respectively. The chelating agent oxalic acid effectively alleviated plant toxicity induced by toxins. Overall, our findings demonstrate the remarkable tolerance of P. australis to elevated concentrations of WW stress, positioning it as an eco-friendly candidate for industrial effluent remediation. This plant exhibits efficacy in restoring contaminants present in textile effluents, and notably, oxalic acid emerges as a promising agent for the phytoextraction of HMs. KEY MESSAGE/HIGHLIGHTS: HMs stress decreased the physiology and morphology of Phragmites australis L. OA improved the photosynthetic pigments and antioxidant enzymes HMs accumulation and bioavailability increased under OA Phragmites australis L. showed higher efficacy for textile effluent treatment under OA NOVELTY: The adoption of ecological or nature-based approaches for treating textile industry wastewater poses significant challenges. Despite laboratory and field demonstrations showcasing the potential of macrophytes for remediating metal-polluted wastewater, this study investigates the Phragmites australis to address heavy metal contamination in wastewater. This research bridges this gap by presenting the outcomes of applying oxalic acid single and in combination with wastewater to Phragmites australis, focusing on the accumulation of cadmium, chromium, and lead from textile wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sulfur-containing dynamic polymers had attracted significant attention due to their unique chemical structures with high reversibility. Utilizating sulfur, an inexpensive industrial waste product, to synthesize dynamic polysulfide polymers through reverse vulcanization has been a notable approach. However, this method required high temperatures and resulted in the release of unpleasant oders. In this study, we presented a robust method for the preparation of sulfur-rich polymers with dynamic polysulfide bonds from elemental sulfur and inexpensive epoxide monomers via a one-pot strategy at the mild room temperature. Different types of polysulfide molecules and polymers were synthesized by reacting various epoxide compounds with sulfur, along with the investigation of their structures and dynamic behaviors. It was noteworthy that the obatined polymers prepared from m-(2,3-epoxypropoxy)-N,N-bis(2,3-epoxypropyl)aniline and elemental sulfur exhibit multiple dynamic behaviors, including polysulfide metathesis and polysulfide-thiol exchange, enabling their rapid stress relaxation, self-healing, reprocessing and degradable properties of the cross-linked polymer. More importantly, the hydroxyl groups at the side chains from epoxide ring opening exhibited potential transesterification. This work provided a facile strategy for designing dynamic sulfur-rich polymers via a mild synthesis route. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental exposure is associated with increased incidence of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases and reduced fertility. Exposure to air pollution can influence gene expression through epigenetic mechanisms. In this study, we analysed gene-specific CpG methylation in spermatozoa of city policemen occupationally exposed to air pollution in two Czech cities differing by sources and composition of the air pollution. In Prague, the pollution is mainly formed by NO2 from heavy traffic. Ostrava is a hotspot of industrial air pollution with high concentrations of particular matter (PM) and benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P). We performed genome-wide methylation sequencing using the SureSelectXT Human Methyl-Seq system (Agilent Technologies) and next-generation sequencing to reveal differentially methylated CpG sites and regions. We identified differential methylation in the region chr5:662169 – 663376 annotated to genes CEP72 and TPPP. The region was then analysed in sperm DNA from 117 policemen using targeted methylation sequencing, which proved its hypermethylation in sperm of Ostrava policemen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dyes are the coloured substances that are applied on different substrates such as textiles, leather and paper products, etc. Azo dyes release from the industries are toxic and recalcitrant wastewater pollutants, therefore it is necessary to degrade these pollutants from water. In this study, the palladium (0) nanoparticles (PdNPs) were generated through the biological process and exhibited for the catalytic degradation of azo dye. The palladium nanoparticles (PdNPs) were synthesized by using the cell-free approach i.e. extract of fungal strain Rhizopus sp. (SG-01), which significantly degrade the azo dye (methyl orange). The amount of catalyst was optimized by varying the concentration of PdNPs (1 mg/mL to 4 mg/mL) for 10 mL of 50 ppm methyl orange (MO) dye separately. The time dependent study demonstrates the biogenic PdNPs could effectively degrade the methyl orange dye up to 98.7% with minimum concentration (3 mg/mL) of PdNPs within 24 h of reaction. The long-term stability and effective catalytic potential up to five repeated cycles of biogenic PdNPs have good significance for acceleration the degradation of azo dyes. Thus, the use of biogenic palladium nanoparticles for dye degradation as outlined in the present study can provide an alternative and economical method for the synthesis of PdNPs as well as degradation of azo dyes present in wastewater and is helpful to efficiently remediate textile effluent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microbial production of glycolic acid (GA) from ethylene glycol is extensively used in a variety of industries because ethylene glycol is not only an inexpensive raw material but also the main component of industrial wastes. In this study, we produced GA from ethylene glycol using Escherichia coli overexpressing the endogenous 1,2-propanediol oxidoreductase (fucO) and lactaldehyde dehydrogenase (aldA) genes. To increase GA productivity, we screened a random mutant library generated using an error-prone polymerase chain reaction of fucO and obtained FucO mutants MF2-9 and MF6-9 with enhanced GA production in Lysogeny Broth medium containing 800 mM ethylene glycol. MF2-9 contained three amino acid substitutions (D23E, E222K, and G363S) and two synonymous mutations (coding DNA [c.] 93G > A and c.1131T > C) in fucO. MF6-9 contained one amino acid substitution (L377H) in FucO. An amino acid substitution (L377H) and a single synonymous mutation (c.1131T > C) in fucO contributed to the enhancement in GA production. Notably, cell lysates from E. coli harboring a synonymous mutation (c.1131T > C) or amino acid substitution (L377H) in fucO showed that only AldA activity was 1.3-fold higher than that of the cell lysate from E. coli harboring the wild-type fucO. We confirmed that c.1131T > C and L377H mutations increased aldA expression in E. coli. Analysis of mRNA levels and simulation of mRNA stabilization indicated that base substitutions at positions c.1130T, which corresponds to L377H amino acid substitution, and c.1131T increased aldA expression due to partial destabilization of the mRNA. These findings will be useful for the large-scale microbial production of GA from industrial waste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Specifically, biocatalyst coupled semiconductor photocatalysts have great potential towards the eco-friendly decomposition of toxic organic dyes that contaminate water bodies. This study reports the synthesis of vermiwash activated molybdenum doped tin oxide (Mo:SnO2) nanomaterial, for the photocatalytic degradation of a representative cationic dye - methylene blue (MB). The photocatalytic performance of the synthesized nanoparticles was evaluated using UV-visible (UV-vis) spectroscopy and the degrading efficiency of MB dye was quantified. The addition of vermiwash resulted in a marked improvement in the photocatalytic activity of Mo:SnO2 nanoparticles, with a degradation efficiency of 96% achieved after 75 min of irradiation. The nanoparticles were characterized using XRD, SEM-EDX, TEM, FTIR, XPS and UV-vis to confirm the crystal structure, morphology, functional groups, elemental analysis and bandgap energy by using Tauc's plot. The study demonstrates the potential of vermiwash as a green and efficient bio co-catalyst for improving the photocatalytic activity of Mo:SnO2 nanoparticles regarding the degradation of textile effluents. Thus, this study paves a way for new eco-friendly approach for the synthesis of cost-effective, biocatalyst coupled semiconductor photocatalyst. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing consumers demand for natural and additive -free foods and high volumes of food industry wastes, are stimulating the use of these resources in other food industries. Tomato pomace is one of the food factory wastes is the resulting by -product of tomato paste and sauce factories. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect extraction method and microwave pretreatment of tomato seeds on the physicochemical characteristics of their extracted oil. The seeds were treated with microwaves using various power levels (0, 200 and 500 W) and different process times (0, 1, 3 and 5 min) and their oil was extracted by Soxhlet and press methods. Fatty acids composition of oils was determined by gas chromatography. Some physicochemical characteristics of extracted seed oil including oil yield, viscosity, acid value, peroxide value, and color index (L, b, a values) were evaluated. Data was analyzed with factorial treatment structure in a Completely Randomized Design in three replications. The experimental data was modeled by artificial neural network with 3 inputs (extraction method, microwave power and pretreatment time) and 7 outputs (oil yield, acid value, peroxide value, viscosity, L value, b value and a value). The results of artificial neural network modeling showed that the network with a 3 - 8 -7 structure and using the Hyperbolic tangent activation function can predict the oil yield, acid value, peroxide value, viscosity, L value, b value and a value of tomato seed oil with high correlation coefficient and low error. Based on the results of the sensitivity analysis, the extraction method compared to the power and time of microwave assisted pretreatment of seeds was determined as the main factor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The industrial laundry sector is a major user of water and chemicals such as surfactants, and one of the largest producers of wastewater. Although treated wastewaters comply with regulations, they still contain contaminants. Here we review laundry wastewater with focus on industrial laundry activities and their challenges, chemical composition of wastewater, and treatment techniques. We discuss advantages and drawbacks of treatment techniques that can be used as secondary treatment in already existing plants, or as tertiary treatment, i.e., complementary to an existing treatment. We observe that laundry is an expanding industrial sector with increasing water requirements, an abundant use of chemical substances, and increasingly stringent discharge regulations. There is a lack of chemical and biological knowledge on aqueous discharges. Moreover, the chemical composition, temporal variability, treatment information, and environmental and ecotoxicological data are poorly reported. The composition of wastewaters and additives, and their temporal variability are also poorly known. Similarly, detailed information on treatments is rare, and environmental and ecotoxicological data are poorly reported. Finding a tertiary water treatment process that is efficient, viable, and environmentally friendly is challenging since wastewater volumes are very high and contaminants are present at trace level in complex organo-mineral mixtures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alkali-activated binders (AABs) have been and continue to be extensively explored as an alternative to ordinary Portland cement (OPC), addressing environmental and sustainability issues. A large number of studies that were conducted earlier focused mainly on the mechanical properties and some durability aspects of industrial waste-based AABs. However, chloride migration and diffusion causing reinforcement corrosion in AAB-based concrete (AAC) have not been thoroughly investigated. The present study focuses on the durability of AAC produced using multiple precursors that included industrial waste materials and natural minerals such as limestone powder (LSP), red mud (RM), silicomanganese fume (SMF), and natural pozzolan (NP) activated by alkali. Firstly, the dosages of all four precursors were optimized through trials and then NP was partially replaced by 10, 20 and 30% OPC to enhance the performance of the AABs. The AAC mixtures were prepared and cured under different conditions and tested for compressive strength and durability characteristics related to chloride permeability, chloride migration, chloride diffusion, and chloride-induced reinforcement corrosion to evaluate the performances of the mixtures. The results show that the composition of the AABs and curing regimes significantly influenced the performance of the AAC. The inclusion of the OPC resulted in a very significant enhancement of the strength and durability characteristics of the AAC. In addition, there is a sharp increase in the performance of the AAC mixtures when the OPC content of the precursor was increased from 10 to 20%, irrespective of the curing method. Therefore, an optimum dosage of the OPC in the precursor can be considered as 20%, allowing utilization of 80% waste materials and natural minerals as the precursor with much higher strength and durability characteristics than traditional OPC concrete, thus saving energy and reducing environmental pollution leading to a cleaner production of concrete. Lastly, electrochemically measured corrosion potential (Ecorr) and corrosion current density (Icorr) values for the reinforcing bars (rebars) embedded in AAC mixtures were found to be misleading, as confirmed by visual inspection of the extracted rebars in addition to gravimetric test results. Hence, there is a need for further research to develop corrective measures before the utilization of the electrochemical-reinforced corrosion monitoring methods in the case of AACs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

UV/H2O2 is a commonly used advanced oxidation process for removing non-biodegradable organic compounds. However, additional efforts are needed to understand the relative significance of operational factors during the UV/H2O2. Here, we investigated the effect and specific contribution of crucial factors such as H2O2 concentration, UV intensity, and reaction time on the color and total organic carbon (TOC) removal efficiency in textile wastewater using the one-factor-at-a-time method and multi-layer perceptron (MLP) analysis. The results showed that color removal was enhanced with high H2O2 concentration, high UV intensity, and long reaction time. Overall, more than 99% removal of color was achieved by the UV/H2O2, utilizing the following parameters: H2O2 concentration of 5 mM, UV intensity of 26.6 W/m², and reaction time of 180 min. On the other hand, the removal of TOC was increased by high H2O2 concentration and long reaction time, but not by high UV intensity. In the MLP analysis, the H2O2 concentration was identified as the primary factor affecting both color and TOC removal, accounting for 43% and 50% reduction of the color and TOC, respectively. Overall, this study helps to understand the relative importance of the most critical operating factors in treating actual textile wastewater by the UV/H2O2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electro-Fenton process could remove pollutant in in tannery industry wastewater. The objectives of this is used to know the effect of electro-Fenton on, ammonia (NH3), chromium (III) (Cr(III), total suspended solid (TSS), biological oxygen demand (BOD), and chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal in tannery wastewater treatment. The voltage variation used to trigger the electro-Fenton reaction was 6 V, 8 V, and 10 V. Observation time at 0, 30, 60, 90, and 120 mins was used to see changes in the sample. The results obtained are electro-Fenton method has an effective time of 30 mins to removal efficiency of 60.7%, 32.9%, 72.8%, 53.4%, and 53.4% for NH3, Cr(III), TSS, BOD, and COD respectively. Pollution from tannery effluent can be eliminated to a sufficient extent using the electro-Fenton technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study emphasizes the utilization ability of less expensive industrial waste adsorbents such as fly ash (FA) to adsorb heavy metals from wastewater r to remove its constituent pollutants, amazing eco-friendly technology guarantees benefits with the decrease in the formation of dangerous solid sludge. In the extended experimental work program: parameters such as pH, contact time, and adsorbent dosages were conducted. The results showed a remarkable treatment equilibrium time after two hours. From all the factors, the pH ranges from 5 to 8 significantly influenced the elimination of heavy metals removal efficiencies, and the highest achieved uptake efficiency during the whole three hours of the experiment period was found to be 93%, 90%, 85%, 79 %, 75 % and 70% for Cu, Fe, Ni, Zn, Pb, and Cd respectively with an optimum fly ash treatment dose of 15 g/L. Based on several performance metrics and visual indicators, different predictive regression-based models for wastewater heavy metals removal efficiencies were developed and compared to the experimental data. The statistical validation indicators revealed that a high correlation was obtained. In addition, the experiment's data were utilized using the Langmuir isotherm model. The results of adsorption data were highly satisfactory statistically match providence to Langmuir heavy metals kinetics removal with mean values of 8%, 11%, and 93% for relative mean absolute error (MAE)rel, percent bias (PBIAS), and Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE) respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focuses on utilization of a zero-valent metal (zero-valent iron, zero-valent aluminum, and nanoscale zerovalent copper) in conjunction with H2O2 conducted to treat real dye wastewater. Box-Behnken methodology was applied to describe effects of five independent factors involved in optimization of advanced oxidation system, which was type of zero-valent metals, dosage of zero-valent metals, pH, time and dosage of H2O2, for treating dye wastewater. Correlation coefficients for model, shown by the value R², were 0.9996 for removing color and 0.9708 for reducing COD. Mass of nZVC equaled 1.09 g/L, H2O2 equaled 5.39 mg/L were found to be the optimal reaction conditions when the pH was equal to 3.71. After 120 minutes of optimal settings, there was a reduction of 87.3% in COD and 98.72% in color of dye wastewater after heterogeneous treatments (nZVC/H2O2). The reusability of nZVC for degrading dye wastewater has been tested in four cycles and showed up to 70% COD removal. Ecotoxicological testing indicated that the raw textile effluent was extremely toxic to Chlorella sp. and V. fischeri. Even while wastewater after treatment collected definitely had a lower toxicity level with both V. fischeri and Chlorella sp. This research findings highlight the nZVC/H2O2 process as a feasible and effective method for real dye wastewater treatment and detoxification, positioning it as a valuable alternative oxidation process for treating organic contaminants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) increasingly have been a subject of concern and study in the past few decades. These chemicals can interfere directly or indirectly with normal physiology of endocrine system organs or organs under the influence of hormones. EDCs have been shown to cause a range of adverse effects, such as developmental abnormalities, abnormal growth patterns in children, reproductive abnormalities, hormone-sensitive cancers, and alterations in immune function. Some have been shown to contribute to obesity. Most EDCs are synthetically developed compounds that are ubiquitous in food packaging, consumer products, and the environment. They are found in pesticides, herbicides, plastics, solvents, flame retardants, and in the environment as industrial byproducts and waste. These substances are poorly regulated and exposures are not tracked. It is virtually impossible to avoid contact with EDCs in everyday life. Populations at greatest risk of adverse health effects include fetuses, newborns, and pregnant individuals. Comprehensive preconception and prenatal care can help family members and caregivers identify sources of and minimize EDC exposure in newborns and infants. For individuals, the clinical significance of these exposures is unknown and there is no current role for testing. For patients with possible exposure, a pertinent history should be taken and counseling provided to help minimize exposure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Environmental & Social Management Journal / Revista de Gestão Social e Ambiental is the property of Environmental & Social Management Journal 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.)

Copyright of Environmental & Social Management Journal / Revista de Gestão Social e Ambiental is the property of Environmental & Social Management Journal 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.)

Steel slag is an industrial solid waste produced during the steelmaking process. To explore the application of steel slag in the agricultural field, the present experiment was carried out to study the effect of substrates with different contents of steel slag on the growth of Hydrangea macrophylla cuttings. The conventional substrate (perlite: vermiculite: peat = 1:1:1) was used as the control (CK), and the treatments were designed as T1 (steel slag: perlite: vermiculite: peat = 1:3:3:3, v/v/v/v), T2 (steel slag: perlite: vermiculite: peat = 1:2:2:2, v/v/v/v), T3 (steel slag: perlite: vermiculite: peat = 1:1:1:1, v/v/v/v), and T4 (steel slag: perlite: vermiculite: peat = 1:0:0:0, v/v/v/v). The results showed that the addition of steel slag significantly increased the substrate's bulk density, EC, and pH and improved its water retention capacity to a certain extent. There were significant differences among different treatments in morphological indicators, root growth and development, and physiological and biochemical characteristics of cutting seedlings. All traits, including plant height, fresh weight, dry weight, root length, root surface area, root volume, the number of root tips, root activity, and soluble protein content of seedlings grown in T3 were significantly higher than those in other substrates. The results indicated that the appropriate addition of steel slag is helpful to hydrangea cuttings' growth, and the optimal mixing ratio is steel slag: perlite: vermiculite: peat = 1:1:1:1 (v/v/v/v). This is a significant innovation in applying steel slag in agricultural production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evaluating industrial wastes in the system with minimum preprocessing and generation economically valuable products from them have critical importance. In this regard, especially cheap, wieldy, and readily available catalysts have been researched to increase variety of useful products in pyrolysis systems, to reduce process time, and to increase quality and diversity of products. Therefore, in this study, marble sludge (named K1) was evaluated as catalyst at different dosages (10%, 20%, 30%, 50%) and pyrolysis temperatures (300, 500, 700 °C) in olive pomace (OP) pyrolysis and; the potential green applications of produced new biochars at new usage areas with different purposes based on characteristics were investigated. ANOVA test results showed that temperature and catalysts ratio had significant effect on pyrolysis product yields since significance value for K1 and temperature was lower than 0.05 for pyrolysis products. OP-K1 biochars had alkaline properties and high earth metal quantities. Moreover, increment in K1 ratio and temperature resulted in decrement of the biochar surface acidity. Therefore, it can be indicated that these biochars can have a potential usage for anaerobic digestion processes, lithium-ion batteries, and direct carbon solid oxide fuel cell (DC-SOFC) but further electrochemical property test should be performed. Moreover, produced biochars can be alternative fuels in some processes instead of coal since they have low S content and high heat values. Consequently, it is foreseen that produced biochars will have an important place in the development of potential usage areas with a new and environmentally friendly approach in different areas apart from the conventional uses of catalytic pyrolysis chars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A promising approach for carbon dioxide (CO2) valorization and storing excess electricity is the biological methanation of hydrogen and carbon dioxide to methane. The primary challenge here is to supply sufficient quantities of dissolved hydrogen. The newly developed Inverse Membrane Reactor (IMR) allows for the spatial separation of the required reactant gases, hydrogen (H2) and carbon dioxide (CO2), and the degassing area for methane (CH4) output through commercially available ultrafiltration membranes, enabling a reactor design as a closed circuit for continuous methane production. In addition, the Inverse Membrane Reactor (IMR) facilitates the utilization of hydraulic pressure to enhance hydrogen (H2) input. One of the process's advantages is the potential to utilize both carbon dioxide (CO2) from conventional biogas and CO2-rich industrial waste gas streams. An outstanding result from investigating the IMR revealed that, employing the membrane gassing concept, methane concentrations of over 90 vol.% could be consistently achieved through flexible gas input over a one-year test series. Following startup, only three supplemental nutrient additions were required in addition to hydrogen (H2) and carbon dioxide (CO2), which served as energy and carbon sources, respectively. The maximum achieved methane formation rate specific to membrane area was 87.7 LN of methane per m2 of membrane area per day at a product gas composition of 94 vol.% methane, 2 vol.% H2, and 4 vol.% CO2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The valorization of industrial waste in the production of new products is a growing trend, with food waste showing significant promise as a raw material for various industries. Thus, this research aimed to investigate the production of Geotrichum candidum lipase using industrial waste, such as mozzarella cheese whey (MCW) and corn steep liquor (CSL), and to analyze how effectively it catalyzes the esterification of oleic acid with methanol. Lipase production was carried out in medium containing MCW and CSL, with fermentation conditions optimized using a fractional factorial experimental design and central composite experimental design. The highest activities (16.71 U/mL in 24 h and 17.80 U/mL in 48 h) were found in conditions of 13.6% (%w/v) CSL and 37.1% (%w/v) MCW, with corn oil fixed at 1% (%w/v) and pH fixed at 6,00. Esterification conditions were evaluated at atmospheric pressure, both in a solvent-free environment and using hexane, as well as under high pressures with supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO2). The produced lipase demonstrated high catalytic activity for the esterification reaction of oleic acid with methanol under SC-CO2 with an increase of 39.41% in the yield. The yields found confirm the feasibility of producing lipase from industrial waste, thus presenting it as a sustainable and efficient alternative for industrial processes, and show that there is no need to use toxic organic solvents in esterification reactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: CIELAB color variables can be used to monitor a composting process and evaluate the maturity of the compost with a new, rapid, easy, and low‐cost colorimetric analysis. However, to date there are no available data to support the ability of CIELAB color changes to depict the different stages of a composting procedure. This study aims to examine the correlation of CIELAB color variables with composting time to elucidate how color changes can be used to detect the different stages of a composting process. Two green waste industrial scale composting processes with different added materials were monitored using typical physicochemical and CIELAB color analyses. RESULTS: During composting, color variables a*, b*, C*, and ΔΕ* exhibited fluctuations following a constant variation trend that correlated with each composting phase. This behavior depicts the transformation of the organic composition of compost, as described by Organic Carbon (OC), Carbon‐to‐Nitrogen ratio (C/N), Humic Acids (HA), and Fulvic Acids (FA). Moreover, color variables a*, b*, and C* showed strong relationships with OC, C/N, and HA/FA (R2 > 0.83) and with HA (R2 > 0.74). These results indicate that CIELAB color change follows the same general pattern for each composting procedure that utilizes the same main composting substrate, regardless of any differing additional materials. CONCLUSION: Monitoring the CIELAB color variables made it possible to depict the different phases of composting, especially the transformation of the organic composition of the compost. Accurately monitoring CIELAB color variables distinguishes the different stages of a composting process through a rapid analysis at radically reduced costs compared to complex physicochemical analyses. © 2023 The Authors. Journal of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry (SCI). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wüstite (FeO) has been extensively studied within the context of ironmaking metallurgy and the recycling of industrial waste, owing to its crucial role in high-temperature systems that exhibit softening and melting behaviors. Understanding these behaviors is vital for advancing multi-phase transport and chemical reactions in metallurgical processes. In this work, the Tammann temperature of FeO was identified to be approximately 826 K, a finding confirmed by molecular dynamics simulations and experimental validation. Below this threshold, the atoms' thermal vibration led to a volumetric expansion of the material. Conversely, surpassing 826 K triggered solid-state sintering, resulting in a noticeable shrinkage of FeO granules and the compaction of packed beds under mechanical stress. During softening, the reorganization of FeO grains was observed, with bonding commencing at contact points and the formation of sintering necks as surface atoms migrated and diffused. As temperatures rose further, this mass transfer and atomic diffusion intensified, facilitating the outward migration across grain boundaries, and culminating in the coalescence of smaller grains into larger formations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, a problem which often experienced by the Environmental Agency is to monitor the quality of industrial waste. The problem comes from manual monitoring of wastewater and the high cost of laboratory tests for each variable for the waste. This system is intended to develop a wastewater monitoring system considering the state of the environment and technology. This system uses 5 types of sensors to measure the quality of wastewater. The sensor will display measurement data both offline via liquid crystal display (LCD) and online via the website. For the pH sensor test, we obtained an error value approximately of 1.32% and accuracy of 98.68%. For the oxidation reduction potential (ORP) sensor test, we obtained an error value of 1.4% with 98.6% accuracy. We obtained an error value of 0.22% with 99.78% accuracy for the temperature sensor test. For the total dissolved solid (TDS) sensor test, we obtained an error value of 1.02% with 98.98% accuracy. The color sensor is validated using a spectrometer to measure the variation of color in remazol waste concentration. For the Client - Server communication test, the system has a delay of 2 seconds. One of the advantages of using a web server is the system has minimum network traffic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

80% of the raw materials for industrial products in our country come from mineral resources, resulting in a large amount of industrial solid waste. Among them, red mud is a typical industrial hazardous waste. If its not properly disposed, it will cause harm to atmosphere, water, soil etc. At the same rime, red mud also has resource attributes. If reasonably utilized, It will replace some raw material, which meets the requirements of Chinese 14th Five Year Plan for the development of circular economy. This paper summarizes the current situation of red mud production, storage, and pollution in China, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of current comprehensive utilization methods. The production of red muds large, with a storage capacity of over hundreds of millions of tons. The pollution problem has become more prominent and its currently mainly applied in the fields of metallurgy, building materials, and environmental protection. The direction of large-scale resource utilization of red muds proposed, boost China to achieve the "carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goal". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is widely accepted that cement and concrete are substantial sources of CO2 emissions. Researchers have been looking to replace cement with industrial waste to reduce the environmental impact of concrete production. The current research focuses on successfully using marble powder (M) and porcelain powder (P) instead of cement to produce cement mortar. Both mechanical and microstructural characteristics of several single and binary mixtures consisting of M and P were examined, with 13 mixes with M and P having been replaced by 2.5, 5, 7.5, and 10% of cement weight. For all mixtures in this work, compressive strength, flexural strength, SEM analysis, and thermogravimetric analysis (TG/DTA) were applied. The mixtures containing 10% M, 10% P, and 5% M+5% P demonstrated the best results. The maximum values recorded in compressive strength were 52, 55, and 50 MPa, whereas the control mix had 30 MPa. The maximum values for flexural strength were 9.24, 10.64, and 8.4 MPa in comparison with the 7 MPa of the control mix. Moreover, SEM analysis demonstrated the existence of a thick and compacted microstructure, which is predominantly the result of the formation of both Calcium Hydroxide (C-H) and high-density Calcium Silicate Hydrate (C-S-H) phases in all blends. SEM images demonstrated how hydration compounds formed and how the presence of M and P improved bonding. The difference in the quantities and types of phases distinguished by the different types of substitute material was also noted. The decrease in C-H, which is most prominent after a hydration period of 28 days, is primarily attributed to the interaction between C-H and M and P. Thus, this study demonstrates that M and P, by themselves or in combination, can be utilized as alternative resources in the production of high-performance and sustainable concretes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]