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Camellia oleifera is an important edible oil woody plant in China. Anthracnose is a serious disease of C. oleifera, causing severe economic losses and posing a huge threat to the C. oleifera industry. The fungi Colletotrichum siamense is one of the main pathogens causing anthracnose of C. oleifera. In this study, antifungal activity of microorganisms isolated from garbage enzyme against C. siamense were investigated for the first time. 8 strains were isolated and purified from garbage enzyme. By morphological observation, gene sequence analysis, among the strains, 4 isolates were identified as Trichoderma harzianum and 4 isolates were identified as Bacillus subtilis. The result showed that 8 isolates displayed a relatively good potential on inhibiting the mycelial growth in C. siamense, but T. harzianum was more effective than B. subtilis as a biocontrol agent, with the best efficiency of 76.5%. In the vitro treatments, the combination of T. harzianum and B. subtilis were the most effective treatments in reducing the incidence and severity of anthracnose in C.oleifera, with the highest control efficiency of 77.56%. It can be concluded that T. harzianum and B. subtilis are promising biocontrol agents to manage anthracnose. These promising results provided valuable information on using garbage enzyme of wastes as a new source of antagonists to control fungi disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microplastic pollution has emerged as a global environmental concern, with pervasive contamination in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. This review paper delves into the intricate dynamics of microplastics within anaerobic digestion systems, addressing their occurrence, impact, and potential mitigation strategies. The occurrence of microplastics in anaerobic digesters is widespread, entering these systems through diverse inputs, such as sewage sludge, organic waste, and etc. Microplastics in anaerobic digestion have been associated with potential adverse impacts on biogas production, process performance, microbial communities, and degradation processes, though the relationship is complex and context dependent. This review highlights the urgent need for comprehensive research into the fate of microplastics within anaerobic digesters. Mitigation strategies offer promise in alleviating microplastic contamination, with advanced separation methods, innovative techniques such as magnetic micro-submarines, photocatalytic micro-motors, membrane bioreactors combined with activated carbon filters, rapid sand filtration, or conventional activated sludge, and disintegration-oriented techniques such as electrocatalysis, biodegradation, and thermal decomposition. Nonetheless, there is a significant knowledge gap that necessitates further research into the fate and long-term effects of microplastics in digestate. Collaborative efforts are crucial to addressing this emerging concern and ensuring the sustainability of anaerobic digestion systems in the face of microplastic challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modern problems of pasture degradation caused by anthropogenic impact and climate change require the search for new, environmentally safe solutions. The proposed technology of creating cultivated annual pastures with the use of biostimulants is a promising approach to restore and increase the productivity of pasture ecosystems. The study conducted in the south of Kazakhstan demonstrates high efficiency of biostimulants, especially those that fermented cattle manure. In contrast with traditional mineral fertilizers (N20P20K20), biostimulants MERS and Bio-Bars contribute not only to the increase in yield of green mass, but also improve soil characteristics by stimulating the growth of beneficial microflora. This makes it possible to create self-regenerating pasture systems resistant to negative environmental impact. The novelty of the study lies in the integrated approach combining the use of biostimulants and fermentation of organic waste. This approach not only increases the efficiency of resource use, but also promotes a closed cycle of production, minimizing the negative impact on the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Humic substances are highly valuable molecules known to promote several soil functions and plant growth. The present study describes the extraction and characterization of humic and fulvic acid from composts prepared from different proportions of rice straw, sea weed, fish waste and cow dung. The results showed a compost recovery of 60–64.8% and a composting duration of 65–110 days, with significant differences among the treatments. The type and proportion of feed stock significantly influenced the total N, P, Ca, Mg and K contents of the compost, with the highest values occurring in T2, followed by T3 and T1; however, there were no significant differences in Fe, Zn or Mn. The recovery of humic substances (HS) varied from 7.52 to 9.41%, with a significantly greater recovery occurring in T2 than in T3 and T1, while cow dung addition (T4) had the lowest recovery. The addition of sea weed and fish waste increased the total N, P, K, Ca and Mg contents of the HS plants, while the lowest E4/E6 ratio was recorded in T2, followed by T3 and T4, indicating strong humification, which was greater than that in T4 and T5. The FTIR spectrum of humic acid (HA) exhibited typical distinguishing bands in addition to absorption bands at 2374, 1723, 1360, 1120 and 757 cm−1, which are specific to T2 and T3, indicating the presence of diverse carbon compounds and amines and a consequently high degree of humification. The strong absorption peaks in the 1030–1080 cm−1 region for T3 and T2 were attributed to S–O and C–O stretching of sulfoxide and primary alcohol groups, whereas the additional peak at 1120 cm−1 in T3 was ascribed to C–O stretching of secondary alcohol groups. Unlike those in the HA spectra, the fulvic acid (FA) extract peak was more intense at 3320–3330 cm−1, 1630–1650 cm−1 and 610–640 cm−1, which indicated the presence of more oxygen-containing active groups. Resynthesized HSs with more mineralized plant nutrients increased in quality, indicating the technical feasibility of the valorization of organic wastes for the extraction of HA and FA with greater agronomic value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to optimize an economic procedure to produce biogas and bio-ethanol from different organic wastes such as sewage sludge (SS) and/or cattle dung (CD) and/or poultry manure (PM). The experiment was carried out at a wastewater treatment plant in Egypt. Each waste type was mixed with the starter, CaCO3, and water then loaded in a fermenter and kept for 35 days at 35 °C under the anaerobic digestion. The evolved volume of the biogas and the content of methane CH4 were measured daily while the cellulase and protease enzymes were tested every four days. Results have indicated that the digester containing the SS has produced the greatest biogas volume (L) 27.45 Lb/D/d (liters biogas/digester/day), 0.61 Lb/D contents’ volume/d, and cumulative 606.30 Lb/D during the 16th day. Significant CH4 volume percentages produced during the 17th day were 72.07, 71.16, and 71.11% while the produced bio-ethanol alcohol was 2.47, 2.32, and 1.99% from the SS, CD, and PM, respectively. The procedure efficiency is prominent by the production of the biogases and in-situ activating enzymes all in one reactor that was periodically monitored for its reactants and product content. No need for the pre-treatment of wastes as raw materials or chemical additives and the fermented residue can be further tested for soil fertilization. These wastes can be promising for bio-energy production being economic and environment friendly.

Abstract Converting waste into high-value products promotes sustainability by reducing waste and creating new revenue streams. This study investigates the potential of diverse yeasts for microbial oil production by utilizing short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) that can be produced from organic waste and focuses on identifying strains with the best SCFA utilisation, tolerance and lipid production. A collection of 1434 yeast strains was cultivated with SCFAs as the sole carbon source. Eleven strains emerged as candidates with promising growth rates and high lipid accumulation. Subsequent fermentation experiments in liquid SCFA-rich media, which focused on optimizing lipid accumulation by adjusting the carbon to nitrogen (C/N) ratio, showed an increase in lipid content at a C/N ratio of 200:1, but with a concurrent reduction in biomass. Two strains were characterized by their superior ability to produce lipids compared to the reference strain Yarrowia lipolytica CECT124: Y. lipolytica EXF-17398 and Pichia manshurica EXF-7849. Characterization of these two strains indicated that they exhibit a biotechnologically relevant balance between maximizing lipid yield and maintaining growth at high SCFA concentrations. These results emphasize the potential of using SCFAs as a sustainable feedstock for oleochemical production, offering a dual benefit of waste valorisation and microbial oil production.

In this article, a comparison of the absorption properties of 7 common agricultural waste materials from the state of Colima in Mexico is performed. The study carried out at X‐band frequencies finds that the highest absorption levels were mainly from 8 to 10.5 GHz. The experiment, based on a WR‐90 waveguide with samples inserted in holders in the middle of it, shows that papaya peel and lemon peel had the highest absorption levels in the aforementioned frequency range. This study is relevant because of the vast amount of agricultural waste generated in such state of Mexico, that can be used as absorbers in the microwave regime, and not managed as garbage. In this work, the feasibility of using these eco‐friendly and nontoxic materials as microwave absorbers instead of typical commercial synthetic materials is evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the sanitary quality of digestates resulting from the mesophilic anaerobic digestion (AD) of urban and agricultural organic wastes (OWs). 40 sanitary indicators, including pathogenic bacteria, antimicrobial resistance genes, virulence factor genes, and mobile genetic elements were evaluated using real-time PCR and/or droplet digital PCR. 13 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and 13 pharmaceutical products (PHPs) were also measured. We assessed agricultural OWs from three treatment plants to study the effect of different AD processes (feeding mode, number of stages, pH), and used three laboratory-scale reactors to study the effect of different feedsupplies (inputs). The lab-scale reactors included: Lab1 fed with 97% activated sludge (urban waste) and 3% cow manure; Lab2 fed with 85% sludge-manure mixture supplemented with 15% wheat straw (WS); and Lab3 fed with 81% sludgemanure mixture, 15% WS, and 4% zeolite powder. Activated sludge favored the survival of the food-borne pathogens Clostridium perfringens and Bacillus cereus, carrying the toxin-encoding genes cpe and ces, respectively. Globally, the reactors fed with fecal matter supplemented with straw (Lab2) or with straw and zeolite (Lab3) had a higher hygienization efficiency than the reactor fed uniquely with fecal matter (Lab1). Three pathogenic bacteria (Enterococcus faecalis, Enterococcus faecium, and Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex), a beta-lactam resistance gene (blaTEM), and three mobile genetic elements (intI1, intI2, and IS26) were significantly decreased in Lab2 and Lab3. Moreover, the concentrations of 11 PAHs and 11 PHPs were significantly lower in Lab2 and Lab3 samples than in Lab1 samples. The high concentrations of micropollutants, such as triclosan, found in Lab1, could explain the lower hygienization efficiency of this reactor. Furthermore, the batch-fed reactor had a more efficient hygienization effect than the semi-continuous reactors, with complete removal of the ybtA gene, which is involved in the production of the siderophore yersiniabactin, and significant reduction of intI2 and tetO. These data suggest that it is essential to control the level of chemical pollutants in raw OWs to optimize the sanitary quality of digestates, and that adding co-substrate, such as WS, may overcome the harmful effect of pollutants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The black soldier fly (BSF), Hermetia illucens, is known for nutrient-recycling through the bioconversion of organic waste into protein-rich insect larvae that can be processed into an animal feed ingredient. However, information on species distribution and its genetic structure in Iran is scarce. Methods and results: We directed a survey on the Caspian Sea coast, with a reconstructing demographic relationships study using two parts of mitochondrial cytochrome C oxidase 1 (COI) gene (barcode and 3' end regions) and nuclear internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) to identify BSF' genetic diversity in retrospect to the global diversity and the potential origin of the Iranian BSF population. Larvae and adults were recovered from highly decomposed poultry manure, in May 2020. Sequence analysis of both regions of COI gene (about 1500 bp) revealed a single haplotype, identical to that of haplotype C, a worldwide commercial strain originated from Nearctic, Palearctic, or African biogeographic regions. However, the ITS2 locus was confirmed to be invariable across samples from diverse biogeographic regions. Conclusion: The results proved the presence of BSF in north of Iran. However, it is not possible to determine with certainty when and where this species first established in Iran, and they have likely been released to nature due to the existence of companies importing and breeding such flies. Due to heavy international trading, the introduction and settlement of this fly in the southern coasts of the country is highly suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chiton articulatus is a species of mollusk living in the tropical Pacific intertidal rocky shores of Mexico. This species feeds on solid waste organic sources, including hard crustose algae that grow on rocky substrates, by grazing on them with its radula, a flexible chitinous membrane lined with mineralized major lateral teeth. In this study, the composition, morphology, and resulting mechanics of the mature teeth of this species, which have yet to be examined, are revealed. The results show the presence of multiphasic mature teeth, each consisting of aligned hard magnetite nanoparticles on the leading edge of the tooth underneath which are magnetite lamellae, followed by goethite, lepidocrocite, and eventually hydroxyapatite near the trailing edge. This multiregional structure demonstrates a gradation in hardness as well as different microstructural features integrated with tough interfaces. The combination of these microstructural and phase arrangements results in an abrasion‐resistant tough structure with a self‐sharpening ability. The results of this work will help contribute to developing new bioinspired designs while also helping to understand the evolution and feeding habits of these intriguing invertebrates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The leather processing industry always experiences growth every year. However, at the stage of processing leather to become raw material for a product, it produces a lot of solid waste containing hazardous materials used during the process. The resulting hazardous materials can cause pollution to the surrounding environment. Hence, there needs to be a solution to handle this solid waste, so that it does not pollute the surrounding environment. Magot Black Soldier Fly (BSF) cultivation training is a technique that can be used as a solution to process solid waste from the leather tanning industry so that it has high selling value. In a study, BSF cultivation shows circular economic results and future opportunities for investors, which will lead to increased demand. The cultivation of BSF as an alternative for processing waste into organic fertilizer and animal feed is a promising technology. It is worth inoculating, especially in countries that have low incomes with expensive fertilizer and animal feed costs. BSF maggot cultivation training was conducted for MSME players in the Sukaregang leather industry in the Garut district. The results of the evaluation were that 99% of the training activity participants felt that the training provided was very targeted and the material provided was appropriate, and easy to understand. So it can be concluded that the training provided is appropriate and beneficial for leather industry MSMEs, whoever participates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThe study aims to determine the nutrient chemical forms, storage effects, and phytotoxicity of fertilizers made from nutrient-rich materials and municipal organic waste in order to control the impact of farming practices on the ecology. Laboratory-scale experiments were conducted at 3-month intervals over a period of 15 months to determine the binding forms of phosphate and nitrogen, and other quality parameters of fertilizers. The germination index (GI) method was used to assess the phytotoxicity of the fertilizers at three different rates of applications- 2.0, 2.5, and 3.0 tonnes ha−1 on maize (Zea mays L.) and soybean (Glycine max). It was found that animal-based and organic mixture fertilizers had the highest levels of ammoniacal nitrogen and nitrate: NH4+-N (0.3 ± 0.0%) and NO3-N (0.7 ± 0.0%), respectively. Rock-based fertilizer had the highest levels of water-soluble (7.0 ± 0.0%) and neutral ammonium citrate soluble (4.1 ± 0.0%) forms of nitrogen and potassium, which are readily available to crops. The GI values of the fertilizers were generally above the safety standard of ≥80, except for synthetic fertilizer when applied on soybeans at 3.0 tonnes ha−1 (74.2). While organic fertilizers were deemed safe for application on the test crops, it is advised to avoid storing the fertilizers for an extended period of time due to potential chemical and biological changes that might affect the biome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractGarbage incineration power generation is utilized to dispose of multi-source organic solid waste. This work constructed a mathematical model for a 750 t/d garbage incinerator to reveal the coupled response between the boiler and furnace sides. Field experiments validated the model, exploring various operating conditions including different loads, fuel blending ratios, primary air, and internal flue gas recirculation (IGR) air flow rates. Increasing the load by 9.1% raised furnace heat exchange by 4.0% but reduced economizer heat exchange by 19.0%. Introducing waste cloth strips and paper mill waste enhanced furnace water-cooled wall heat transfer but reduced economizer heat exchange. A 10.8% rise in primary air flow increased superheater heat exchange by 7.8%. Similarly, a 21.3% rise in IGR air flow increased economizer heat exchange by 9.0%. The temperature rise and enthalpy rise in the superheater were higher when the low calorific value of the fuel was higher. Increasing primary air velocity enhanced heat transfer, raising the outlet temperature of the medium-temperature superheater, necessitating an increase in secondary water spray to adjust the outlet temperature of the high-temperature superheater. This work provides guidance for the design and practical operation of multi-source solid waste incinerators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogen (H2) has emerged as a clean and versatile energy carrier to power a carbon‐neutral economy for the post‐fossil era. Hydrogen generation from low‐cost and renewable biomass by virtually inexhaustible solar energy presents an innovative strategy to process organic solid waste, combat the energy crisis, and achieve carbon neutrality. Herein, the progress and breakthroughs in solar‐powered H2 production from biomass are reviewed. The basic principles of solar‐driven H2 generation from biomass are first introduced for a better understanding of the reaction mechanism. Next, the merits and shortcomings of various semiconductors and cocatalysts are summarized, and the strategies for addressing the related issues are also elaborated. Then, various bio‐based feedstocks for solar‐driven H2 production are reviewed with an emphasis on the effect of photocatalysts and catalytic systems on performance. Of note, the concurrent generation of value‐added chemicals from biomass reforming is emphasized as well. Meanwhile, the emerging photo‐thermal coupling strategy that shows a grand prospect for maximally utilizing the entire solar energy spectrum is also discussed. Further, the direct utilization of hydrogen from biomass as a green reductant for producing value‐added chemicals via organic reactions is also highlighted. Finally, the challenges and perspectives of photoreforming biomass toward hydrogen are envisioned. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anaerobic digestion (AD) has the great potential to treat organic waste and achieve remarkable results effectively. However, it is very tough to establish an accurate mechanistic model for this process. Data-driven modeling technology has opened a new door to solving this problem. While when the sample set is small, traditional data-driven modeling methods are often powerless. In this paper, an effective method is proposed for data-driven high-precision modeling in small sample scenarios. A time series generative adversarial network (TimeGAN) is first utilized to augment the original high-quality small-sample data collected during the AD methane production. A novel hybrid kernel extreme learning machine (HKELM) is then designed to form a better structure of the data-driven model, whose regularization coefficient C0 is optimized by the sparrow search algorithm (SSA). Finally, this semi-finished model (SSA-HKELM) is trained by the augmented data to form the final mathematical model (TimeGAN-SSA-HKELM) for the AD methane generation process. Comparative experiments of the methane daily production prediction error have verified the effectiveness of the method, which can be extended to other similar small sample data-driven modeling scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemical, petroleum, and dyeing industries generate a wide variety of highly toxic organic wastes. The discharge of this wastewater into the river without treatment will spoil the entire aquatic system. The photocatalytic degradation of dyes/toxic chemicals is considered a favorable technology for industrial wastewater treatment. For this purpose, we have prepared an efficient nanocomposite material. The Gelatin assisted Cerium loaded CuS (Ge−Ce−CuS) nanocomposite was successfully synthesized by a simple hydrothermal method and characterized by BET, UV‐DRS, and PL measurements. The BET surface area of Ge−Ce−CuS (88.6 m2 g−1) is higher than bare CuS (66.0 m2 g‐1). DRS Confirms that the photo‐absorption of Ge−Ce−CuS nanocomposite significantly increases from the 570 nm range to the whole visible region. PL measurements confirm that the CuS loading suppresses electron‐hole recombination of Ge−Ce−CuS. The photocatalytic activity of Ge−Ce−CuS was investigated for the degradation of malachite green oxalate dye (MGO) in an aqueous solution using UV light. The influence of operational parameters such as the amount of photocatalyst, dye concentration, and initial pH on the photo mineralization of MGO dye has been analyzed and discussed. Slightly basic pH enhances the degradation. The mineralization of MGO dye has been confirmed by COD measurements. The intermediates formed during degradations were analyzed by GC‐MS, and a suitable degradation pathway was proposed. The catalyst is found to be reusable. The mechanism of degradation of MGO dye by Ge−Ce−CuS is also proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable waste management through composting has gain renewed attention since it could upcycle organic waste into valuable bio-organic fertiliser. This study explored the composition of fungal communities in leaf litter and organic waste composts ecosystems by employing advanced internal transcribed spacer (ITS) metagenomic profiling. This approach provides insights into the diversity, composition, and potential functions of these fungi, offering practical implications for optimising composting processes and enhancing sustainable waste management practices. Various organic composts were collected, including leaf litter composts, from different sources in Delhi-National Capital Region, India, and fungal microbiome composition were characterised through ITS profiling. Results revealed that leaf litter composts and cow dung manure had the highest fungal read counts, while kitchen waste compost had the lowest. Alpha diversity indices, including Chao1 and Shannon, exhibited differences in species richness and diversity among composts, though statistical significance was limited. The leaf composts had relatively higher alpha diversity than the other organic waste composts analysed. The study also identified dominant fungal genera specifically, Wallemia, Geotrichum, Pichia, Mycothermus, Mortierella, Aspergillus, Fusarium, and Basidiobolus, across the compost samples. The presence of beneficial fungal genera like Pichia, Geotrichum, Trichoderma, Mortierella, Basidiobolus, Aspergillus, and others were detected in leaf waste compost and the other organic waste composts. There was also presence of some pathogenic genera viz. Alternaria, Fusarium, and Acremonium, in these composts which underscored the need for proper composting practices and source selection to optimise soil fertility and minimise disease risks in agriculture. Remarkably, leaf compost has highest proportion of beneficial genera with least observed abundance of pathogens. On the other hand, the municipal organic waste compost has least proportion of beneficial genera with higher abundance of pathogens. Overall, these findings contributed to characterisation of composting processes, advancing waste management practices, and enhancing the use of leaf compost as a bio-organic fertiliser. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogen-rich gas, characterized by high yield and purity, can be effectively generated through the steam gasification of sewage sludge (SS), offering substantial benefits for organic solid waste treatment and resource conservation. This study evaluated the gasification performance in a horizontal moving-bed reactor employing a wet-mixed CaO-red mud (CaO-RM) composite catalyst. The effects of CaO loading rate (CaO/RM), catalyst-to-SS ratio (CaO-RM/SS), and reaction temperature on the syngas yield, lower heating value (LHV), carbon conversion ratio, H 2 to CO (H 2 /CO) ratio, and H 2 yield were investigated. Results indicated that red mud loaded with a calcium-based catalyst significantly enhanced syngas production, particularly for hydrogen generation, during SS gasification. A maximum hydrogen molar fraction of 50.84% and a yield of 7.07 mol/kg were achieved with a CaO/RM of 40% and a CaO-RM/SS of 30% at 750 °C. With the reaction temperature increase from 700 to 900 °C, the catalytic performance for secondary tar cracking and steam reforming was further enhanced. The total syngas yield, H 2 yield, hydrogen molar fraction, LHV of syngas, and carbon conversion rate peaked at 0.79 m³/kg, 19.30 mol/kg, 54.41%, 10,249.48 kJ/kg, and 65.67%, respectively, at 900 °C. • Study boosts energy conversion of sewage sludge with new CaO-RM composite catalyst. • Examines effects of CaO loading rate, catalyst/SS ratio, temperature on gasification. • Prepared CaO-RM catalyst greatly increase syngas, especially hydrogen production. • Temperature rise from 700 to 900 °C boosts catalytic tar cracking and reforming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quantum computation is growing in significance and proving to be a powerful tool in meeting the high real-time computational demands of classical digital image processing. However, extensive research has been done on quantum image processing, mainly rooted in binary quantum systems. In this paper, we propose a new quantum ternary image circuit based on the analysis of the existing qutrit representation of quantum images. The proposed design utilizes ternary shift gates and ternary Muthukrishnan–Stroud gates, with the belief that this circuit can be used for ternary quantum image processing. This study makes a significant improvement compared to the existing counterpart in terms of quantum cost, the number of constant inputs, and garbage outputs, which are all essential parameters in quantum circuit design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic waste-to-energy (OWtE) technologies are playing a steadily increasing role in the Green Transition, thus becoming a powerful driver in the establishment of an ever more efficient and sustainable circular economy. The advantages of OWtE processes are well known: not only do they reduce the waste volumes sent to landfills or incineration plants, but also and foremost, through the energy they yield (biogenic carbon dioxide, amongst others), they reduce dependance on fossil fuels. This article gives a complete panorama of these technologies, starting from the classical methods and ending with a review of the latest modern novelties. Advantages and disadvantages of each method are highlighted, with particular focus on the formation of by-products and the relevant treatment aimed at preventing environmental pollution. Accordingly, modern techniques for increasing waste-to-energy efficiency and integrating the concept of circular economy and substitutability are analyzed from this perspective. Along with an analysis of modern scientific achievements in this area, practical examples of the implementation of technologies in European countries are given, with an emphasis on the obvious advantages, both economic and environmental. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this research was to determine the impact of composted mushroom substrate and composted municipal waste on the quality and yield of Miscanthus sinensis Andersson biomass. The plant was grown on anthropogenic soil, cultured earth type and hortisol subtype, with a pH of 6.81. Before planting rhizomes, experimental plots were treated with composted mushroom substrate and composted municipal waste, applied separately or in combination, each dose introducing 170 N kg·ha−1 to the soil. During the experiment, observations of plant development and growth were carried out, and the yield was determined. Each growing season's measurements were taken of the grass height, the number and diameter of stems and the number of leaf blades and of nodes per stem. In order to determine the level of plant stress, relative chlorophyll content and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters were determined. The measurements were carried out in a non-invasive way, using the SPAD-502 chlorophyll meter and OS30p+ plant stress meter. For the research hypothesis, it was assumed that the one-time addition of composted mushroom substrate and composted municipal waste to the soil would increase yields. The experiment also aimed to assess the impact of both types of compost on the yield and morphological characteristics of Miscanthus sinensis. Its yields increased steadily, and, in the third year of cultivation, were higher by 52%. The highest average yields were noted on plots fertilized only with composted mushroom substrate (KPP100%), with 8.44 Mg·ha−1 DM, and with compost from municipal waste (KOM100%), with 7.91 Mg·ha−1 DM. The experience presents a solution to the problem of increasing amounts of organic waste and represents an improvement in cultivation techniques to increase crop yields, improve their quality and increase resistance to biotic and abiotic stress. This paper highlights the possibility of applying environmentally friendly organic waste materials to energy crops used as a sustainable energy source. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic waste valorization is one of the principal goals of the circular economy. Bioprocesses offer a promising approach to achieve this goal by employing microorganisms to convert organic feedstocks into high value products through their metabolic activities. In this study, a fermentation process for yeast cultivation and extracellular lipase production was developed by utilizing food waste. Lipases are versatile enzymes that can be applied in a wide range of industrial fields, from detergent, leather, and biodiesel production to food and beverage manufacturing. Among several oleaginous yeast species screened, Saitozyma flava was found to exhibit the highest secreted lipase activity on pNP‐butyrate, pNP‐caproate, and pNP‐caprylate. The production medium was composed of molasses, a by‐product of the sugar industry, which provided nutrients for yeast biomass formation. At the same time, waste cooking oil was employed to induce and enhance extracellular lipase production. After 48 h of process, 20 g/L of yeast biomass and 150 mU/mgdw of lipase activity were achieved, with a productivity of 3 mU/mgdw/h. The purified lipase from S. flava showed optimal performances at temperature 28°C and pH 8.0, exhibiting a specific activity of 62 U/mg when using p‐NPC as substrate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rising production of industrial salted waste induces issues of disposal and pollution, calling for advanced methods to treat, purify and recycle the raw salt in the context of the circular economy. The main components of salted waste are organic and mineral fractions. Here we review the methods used to treat salted waste with focus on sources of salted waste, properties and removal of organic matter, and separation of minerals. Organic matter can be removed by pyrolysis carbonization, high-temperature melting, elution, and oxidation. Salt can be separated by evaporative crystallization, salt washing, and nanofiltration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid growth of organic solid waste has recently exacerbated environmental pollution problems, and its improper treatment has led to the loss of a large number of biomass resources. Here, we expound the advantages of microbial agents composting compared with conventional organic solid waste treatment technology, and review the important role of microbial agents composting in organic solid waste composting from the aspects of screening and identification, optimization of conditions, mechanism of action, combination with other technologies and ultra‐high‐temperature and ultra‐low‐temperature microbial composting. We discuss the value of microorganisms with different growth conditions in organic solid waste composting, and put forward a seasonal multi‐temperature composite microbial composting technology. Provide new ideas for the all‐round treatment of microbial agents in organic solid waste in the future. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biocrusts and plants are the main ground cover and provide multiple ecosystem functions in arid and semiarid areas. As land degradation worsens and waste management is ever more pressing, the use of composted waste appears as a sustainable restoration practice to enhance vegetation reestablishment, but its effects on biocrusts still remain largely understudied. Moreover, developing appropriate methods for the co‐introduction of plants and biocrusts can be an emerging approach to reconstruct the biocrust/plant interaction and their associated functions. We evaluated the effect of different compost types on biocrust and plant cocultivations. We performed a greenhouse mesocosm experiment using urban organic solid waste and sewage sludge composts to grow a moss‐dominated biocrust and seedlings of two pioneer shrubs (Senecio filaginoides and Acaena splendens) in the Patagonian steppe. Both compost types successfully enhanced biocrust cover and chlorophyll a development, with cultured biocrusts being compositionally similar to the natural inoculum. Only the addition of composted sewage sludge enhanced seedling growth, and biocrusts had significant but opposite effects (positive/negative) on the two plant species we used for experimentation. This difference in the biocrust/plant interaction outcome was likely mediated by the significant influence of biocrusts on the relative availability of ammonium and nitrate and possible plant species‐specific preferences for different inorganic nitrogen forms. We conclude that the application of sewage sludge compost effectively improves the success of biocrust and plant cocultures, but species‐specific differences in the performance of seedlings growing in biocrusted soils impose limits on attempts to promote biocrust and plant joint restoration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anaerobic digestion (AD) is a biological process where bacteria digest various types of organic matter under anaerobic conditions. AD has been particularly used for generating biogas from organic wastes, such as food waste. Despite its practical applications, the mechanistic understanding of the AD process remains elusive, especially complex interactions within a microbial community, and between the organic waste and microbial community. One systematic approach to address this challenge is to deploy genome-scale metabolic models (GEMs) of microorganisms involved in AD. GEM is a computational model that describes an entire metabolic network of a cell, and can be simulated under various conditions of interest. In this review, we discuss recent metabolic studies of AD-related microorganisms by using their GEMs across the four major stages of AD. We also suggest future directions in this field that need to be addressed to further optimize the GEMs and the AD process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Industrial activities contribute to environmental pollution, particularly through unregulated effluent discharges, causing adverse effects on ecosystems. Vegetable oils, as insoluble substances, exacerbate this pollution, forming impermeable films and affecting the oxygen transfer, leading to serious habitat disruption. Organic wastes, such as soybean texturized waste, spent mushroom substrate, and stabilized poultry litter, were assessed for their efficacy in enhancing the degradation of vegetable oil in contaminated soil. For this purpose, contaminated soil was amended with each of the wastes (10% w/w) using microcosm systems, which were monitored physico-chemically, microbiologically and toxicologically. Results indicate that the wastes promoted significant oil degradation, achieving 83.1, 90.7, and 86.2% removal for soybean texturized waste, spent mushroom substrate, and stabilized poultry litter, respectively, within a 90-day period. Additionally, they positively influenced soil microbial activity, as evidenced by increased levels of culturable microorganisms and hydrolytic microbial activity. While bioassays indicated no phytotoxicity in most cases, soybean texturized waste exhibited inhibitory effects on seed germination and root elongation of Lactuca sativa. This study significantly enhances our comprehension of remediation techniques for sites tainted with vegetable oils, highlighting the critical role of organic waste as eco-friendly agents in soil restoration. Emphasizing the practical implications of these findings is imperative to underscore the relevance and urgency of addressing vegetable oil contamination in soil. Moving forward, tailored strategies considering both contaminant characteristics and soil ecosystem traits are vital for ensuring effective and sustainable soil remediation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemical fertilizers have been extensively used for growing crops and controlling plant diseases, but they pose potential hazards to the environment, soil health, plants, and people. The current world situation highlights the need to implement eco-friendly agricultural practices for sustainable crop production. Using environmentally friendly manure, such as biogas slurry, can help reduce the negative effects of chemical fertilizers. Biogas slurry is an efficient waste material and organic fertilizer, making it an ideal supplement for sustainable crop production and waste management. An experiment was conducted at IARI, New Delhi, to explore the nutrient potential of biogas slurry. The main objective of this study was to assess biogas slurry's physico-chemical characteristics and nutrient contents. Samples of biogas slurry were collected in three replications and analyzed using standard methods for macro and micronutrients. The data revealed that biogas slurry has a pH of 7.2-8.5, EC of 1.06 to 1.12 dS/m, and organic carbon content of 41.7 to 45.8%. In terms of fertility, it contains significant amounts of nitrogen (1.98-2.17%), phosphorus (0.97 to 1.15%), and potassium (1.98 to 2.17%). Additionally, biogas slurry contains micronutrients such as Zn (0.023-0.027 ppm), Cu (0.005-0.009 ppm), Fe (0.32-0.38 ppm), and Mn (0.089-0.094 ppm). Statistical analysis using ANOVA and Post Hoc tests indicated that the mean data values among all three replications do not differ significantly. Therefore, it can be concluded that the nutritive value of biogas slurry is sufficient to reduce the reliance on chemical fertilizers in agriculture. It represents an optimal long-term organic remedy for developing fertile soil, ensuring enduring agricultural productivity, and mitigating the negative environmental impacts associated with waste management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growth of industries encourages the increase of waste, and in turn the implementation of eco-friendly techniques and technologies for the treatment and use of them. The objective of the research was to take advantage of the epicarp of Citrus sinensis L. Osbeck to obtain an essential extract and formulate a natural degreaser. A diagnosis was made on the production of organic waste by interviewing a company, resulting that, of the total amount of different fruits processed, half were waste without any type of use the essential extract was obtained with the technique of direct extraction to reflux and its quality was determined by measuring the parameters: pH, total solids, percentage of acidity, relative density, and determination of limonene. The essential extract (100-125-150 mL) and betaine (11-15%) were used as study factors and as substances not harmful to the environment for the formulation of the natural degreaser through a bifactorial design and ANOVA and Tukey test at 5% significance. The pH showed significant differences because of the interaction of essential extract*betaine. The use of 150 ml of orange extract and 15% of betaine (A2B1) obtained a greater detachment of lubricating grease, corresponding to the T6, with a value of 2471 NTU and a pH of 5.46 values that were analyzed by spectrophotometry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Waste management is a major concern in large cities under heavy demographic pressure. Landfill, the oldest form of solid waste management is gradually being replaced by new technics such as biomethanisation. With the purpose of contributing to the achievement of one of the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG7 (affordable and clean energy), the aim of this study is to assess the fermentable fraction of organic wastes into biogas. This survey was carried out in and around Douala city. Biological material consisted of water hyacinth (WH), household wastes (HW), oil palm wastes (OPW) and a mixture of these three substrates (MS) was collected and introduced with cow dung used as inoculum in a biodigester. Some physico-chemical parameters of substrates were determined. Results have shown that substrates used have a pH around neutral. The C/N ratio has shown an excess of nitrogen in the WH, but a deficit in the OPW and MS. The household wastes have presented an ideal ratio for the biological stability of the anaerobic digestion system (21.153 ± 0.695). At the end of the experimentation, a large degradation of organic matter has been observed with COD decrease rates of 37.55 ± 0.12 % (WH), 45.46 ± 0.60% (HW), 48.27 ± 0.34% (OPW) and 46.71 ± 0.26% (MS). All air chambers were inflated and the combustion has shown a blue flame, proof of very high proportions of methane in the flammable biogas. A sanitation process has led to clean energy production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vermicomposting in comparison to conventional composting has several advantages, such as faster treatment of organic waste and production of manure compost with lower levels of salinity. Therefore, the determination of optimal mixtures of organic waste and manure for vermicomposting and deployment of local earthworms for this procedure have important implications in plant agriculture. In this work, the vermicompost was prepared from mixtures of manure (cattle, horse and sheep) and household organic waste (wood shavings, paper, leaves, fruit and vegetable waste) in various ratios. To convert the organic waste to the vermicompost we used the local earthworm Eisenia fetida (Savigny, 1826), while a hybrid species Eisenia anderii (Iogonen, 1995), served as control. Chemical analysis of the resulting vermicompost revealed significant increase in nutrient content compared to the initial substrate: the total nitrogen (N) was increased by 79%, phosphorus (P) by 89% and potassium (K) by 62%. The efficacy of the vermicompost, which was evaluated to have high NPK content, was further studied by observing its impact on the growth of local cucumber variety Miracle F1. As a control, the plants were cultured in medium without vermicompost (black sand). In this work, we examined the effect of different proportions of vermicompost on the development and yield of cucumber seedlings. The experiments were conducted in the greenhouse of the Institute of Biochemistry, Samarkand State University. Cucumber seedlings were grown in a medium containing 10%, 20%, 30% vermicompost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Community Service & Empowerment is the property of Journal of Community Service & Empowerment 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.)

Delhi's agricultural hub, nestled along the Yamuna floodplains, faces soil and water contamination issues. Utilizing organic waste composts is gaining traction to improve soil quality, but uncertainties remain about their efficacy in reducing harmful elements. The study examined three Amaranthaceae cultivars, comparing organic waste composts with chemical fertilizer to evaluate correlations between heavy metals, antioxidants, and antinutrients to assess their bioremediation potential. "Heavy metals" or "potentially toxic elements (PTE)" levels in soil and leaves were measured by ICP-MS, while antioxidants and antinutrients were analyzed with UV–VIS spectroscopy. The study revealed higher PTE levels in floodplain soil, with Cr, Ni, and Cd exceeding safe limits in all cultivars. Compost amendments reduced these pollutants by 28% compared to chemical fertilizers, decreasing bioaccumulation by 20%. Health risk assessments showed lower risks in compost-amended cultivars. Additionally, compost amendment displayed a stronger negative correlation between PTE and antioxidants, suggesting effective bioremediation. Overall, compost amendments offer promise for mitigating PTE in metropolitan floodplains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

The article discusses a study on the prospective estimation of green electricity generation from cattle and buffalo manure undertaken in Bihar, India. The describes the utilization of biogas, which is described as organic waste, for electricity production and the generation of electricity and gas from cattle manure. It outlines the live stock forecasting using the Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) or Box-Jenkins methodology and applying the Augmented Dickey-Fuller (ADF) test.

BACKGROUND: Nuclear energy has brought immense benefits while also generating a large amount of wastewater that urgently needs to be processed. Supercritical water oxidation (SCWO) technology serves as an efficient method for wastewater treatment. In this study, a SCWO experiment was carried out with organic solvent of 30% tributyl phosphate (TBP) and 70% n‐dodecane. This study investigated the operating parameters and the effects of enhanced oxidation techniques on chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiency. An organic solvent SCWO process was developed, and its energy and exergy efficiencies were assessed using Aspen Plus. RESULTS: The COD removal was about 96.18% at the experimental parameters of 500 °C, 10 min, 25 MPa, oxidation coefficient of 1.5 and material concentration of 4 wt%. COD removal increased by 3.09% with the addition of CeO2. Finally, the overall energy and exergy efficiencies of the SCWO system were found to be 58.8% and 9.1% respectively by Aspen Plus. CONCLUSION: It was found that the reaction temperature had the greatest effect on the COD removal rate compared with other reaction parameters. The decomposition of organic solvents can be divided into two stages, fast and slow, and the addition of alkali and catalyst can effectively promote the decomposition of waste organic solvents. The experiments showed that SCWO is feasible for the treatment of n‐dodecane/TBP. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In most of developing countries, open dumpsites are frequently opted as the best choice to get rid of waste, but this type of practice has severe threats to the environment. This may be considered as one of the factors in contamination of soil and groundwater. The study examined the arsenic and physicochemical properties of soil around a municipal waste dumpsite in Rohtak city, Haryana. For Rohtak city, leachate secretion and generation of various gases at landfill site may be a factor in contamination of soil around the dumpsite. 13 samples of soil were collected from the surrounding area of dumpsite within 2 km area. Soil samples were tested for various parameters like pH, EC, moisture content, bulk density, water holding capacity, organic matter, chloride and arsenic. The pH values of the various samples of different locations ranged from 7.14 to 8.34, EC ranged from 1034-9536 add μS/cm with a mean value of 3484 μS/cm, organic matter of the soil samples of present study ranged from 1.26 to 3.16%. Water holding capacity of soil samples ranged from 51.02% to 59.14%, moisture content was found from 3.12 to 13.86%, bulk density was found from 1.28-1.89 g/cm³. Range of chloride content was 358-4165 mg/ kg with mean value 1679 mg/kg. Higher level of arsenic contamination is found in the surrounding soil samples, ranged from 410 ppb to 840 ppb with mean value of 618 ppb which may be due to leachate secretion at dumpsite area that make soil unsuitable for agricultural purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Advances in New & Renewable Energy is the property of Editorial Office of Advances in New & Renewable Energy 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.)

Acrylate polymer is widely used to manufacture display films as an adhesive. Improper disposal of acrylate polymer-containing display film waste (a kind of E-waste) may cause serious environmental problems. As an effort to develop a display film waste treatment strategy, this study applied a solvent-based method to recover acrylate polymer from display film waste. The solubility of acrylate polymer (e.g. poly(tert -butyl acrylate)) in 18 different organic solvents was calculated using Hansen solubility parameters. As a result, 2-butanol and methyl acetate were chosen as organic solvents for the acrylate polymer recovery from the display film waste. Effects of various recovery parameters (e.g. temperature, time, and stirring speed) on the recovery of acrylate polymer in five different solvent systems consisting of 2-butanol and methyl acetate (2-butanol, methyl acetate, 1:1 mixture, 1:2 mixture, and 2:1 mixture) were explored. 2-Butanol was found to be a better solvent than any others because it is more hydrophobic than methyl acetate. The recovery condition at which the highest acrylate polymer recovery yield in 2-butanol was obtained was T = 30 °C, t = 1 h, and stirring speed of 250 r/min, reaching 8.28 wt%. This study would help to develop an E-waste recycling method that can be recovering value-added products from E-waste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Large datasets of U and UP are constructed with 1526 and 743 fuel samples. • The effect of C, H, and O atomic ratios on HHV is investigated by ternary plots. • HHV of any type of waste and fuel is estimated by artificial neural networks. • Hyperparameter optimization is carried out to obtain best performing ANN models. • Ultimate analysis data is observed to be sufficient for HHV estimation of fuels. Higher heating value (HHV) is one of the most important parameters in determining the quality of the fuels. In this study, comparatively large datasets of ultimate and proximate analysis are constructed to be used in HHV estimation of several classes of fuels, including char & fossil fuels, agricultural wastes, manure (chicken, cow, horse, sheep, llama, and pig), sludge (like paper, paper-mil, sewage, and pulp), micro/macro-algae's, wastes (RDF and MSW), treated woods, untreated woods, and others (non-fossil pyrolysis oils) between the HHV range of 4.22–55.55 MJ/kg. The relationships of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atomic ratios for fuel classes are illustrated by using ternary plots, and the effects of elemental composition on HHV was analyzed with the extensive dataset. Then, the ultimate (U) and ultimate & proximate (UP) datasets were utilized separately to estimate the HHV by using artificial neural networks (ANN). Hyperparameter optimization was carried out and the best performing ANNs were determined for each dataset, which yielded R2 values of 0.9719 and 0.9715, respectively. The results indicated that while ANNs trained by both datasets perform remarkably well, utilization of U dataset is sufficient for HHV estimation. Finally, the best performing ANN models for both U and UP datasets are given in a directly utilizable format enabling the accurate estimation of HHV of any fuel for optimization of fuel processing and waste management operations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]