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Liquid ammonia dyeing emerges as an environmentally benign and sustainable option for the textile industry, characterized by a minimal ecological impact. However, its adoption is hampered by certain limitations, such as suboptimal dye exhaustion and issues with color uniformity, which present significant hurdles to its widespread industrial application. Building on the premise that the addition of water to an ethanol solvent can enhance reactive dye exhaustion in cotton fiber dyeing, this study delves into the dyeing behavior of ramie fiber using a water-liquid ammonia mixture with Reactive Red 195. The incorporation of water into the liquid ammonia solution was observed to marginally decrease the color strength (K/S value) of the dyed ramie fiber, compared to the dyeing with anhydrous liquid ammonia. This reduction is likely due to the diminished expansion of the amorphous regions within the fiber. However, the color levelness of the dyed ramie fiber was enhanced by the addition of water to the liquid ammonia. To decipher the influences on the dyeing process, the Taguchi method, utilizing an orthogonal array (L16), was applied. The analysis revealed that the dye mass factor was the predominant influencer (79.08 %), followed by the liquor ratio factor (18.53 %), with both factors demonstrating statistically significant effects (p

A limited selection of natural dyes’ color impedes the development of textile dyeing with natural plant dyes. Inspiring by the conventional coloration of textiles with a combination of three synthetic dyes generally, the present work is to investigate the broadening color shade of dyed wool fiber with ternary natural dye combinations of madder red (MR), gardenia yellow (GY), and gardenia blue (GB) without mordants in a decamethylcyclopentasiloxane (D5) medium. The wool yarn was wetted in an aqueous solution of pH 3 to own a 300% pickup rate, followed by immersion in a D5 medium containing 2% of alcohol ethoxylate (AEO-3) and solid natural dyes at 90°C for 90 min for coloration. The colorfastness to washing was achieved at a 4–5 for fading and a 5 rating for staining for all colors. The XRD patterns and TGA analysis confirmed that the dyeing procedure did not affect the crystallinity nature and stable thermal tendency. SEM images and cross-sections showed that the dyeing procedure did not damage the morphological structure of the wool fiber surface, and the dyes were evenly distributed. Finally, many color shades of dyed fibers were prepared with various dyes’ ratios.

Improper management of agro-industrial food waste represents a significant issue due to the associated uncontrolled release of climate-altering gases, total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs) and odours. The present study proposes an innovative solution to mitigate these emissions with supercritical carbon dioxide impregnation, employed to load R-Carvone into patches made from compostable pouches directly applied on two matrices: pork fat and tomato peel and seeds. Under optimized operating conditions (33 °C, 200 bar, 2 bar min-1) patches with 54 % R-Cav were produced, resulting in reduced CO2 and TVOCs emissions up to 200 and 0.2 ppm per gram, and reduced associated odour annoyance.

Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) play a crucial role in the water cycle. These facilities ensure the balance of the ecosystem and avoid significant negative effects on the environment and human health. However, they also exert negative pressures. Among these, odours and odorous compound emissions, principally hydrogen sulphide (H2S), require more attention. Prolonged exposure to odour emissions produces negative effects on exposed populations, such as nausea, headaches, and other related respiratory problems. The perception of odours is also considered a sign of a polluted environment and therefore the first cause of complaints. In this context, there is a need to characterize and control odour emissions. Currently, among the odour treatment processes, biological ones show the greatest potential for future development, as they are cheaper and more sustainable for the environment. However, decomposition by microorganisms with oxidative properties produces carbon dioxide, which is one of the main greenhouse gases and contributes to global warming. The research presents and discusses the application and validation of an advanced sustainable biological-based system aimed at treating odours and avoiding the release of GHG into the ambient air, thus ensuring clean air and mitigating climate change according to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the Agenda 2030. In-depth and extensive experimental activities are carried out and reported to validate the proposed system, consisting of an integration of a Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor (MBBR) and an algal Photobioreactor (aPBR). System performance has been evaluated under different operating conditions, with reference to H2S removal efficiencies and CO2 abatement rates and subsequent conversion to usable biomass. The analyses also included the determination of the concentration of odours according to EN 13725:2022. The results obtained confirm the efficiency of the proposed system in reducing odours and biofixation of CO2, promoting a novel advanced and environmentally friendly solution in odour treatment.

Municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills release different gaseous compounds in ambient air, including greenhouse gases and VOCs, with relevant effects in terms of contribution to global warming and odour annoyance. The accurate characterization and monitoring of these emissions is thus of fundamental importance to avoid negative impacts and for identifying and evaluating the effectiveness of mitigation measures. Currently, different and no universally accepted and standardized methods have been validated for the measurement of these emissions from landfill (landfill gas, LFG). The most widely-used techniques for the identification of emission rates from areal sources are known as “hood methods”. However, these methods are not particularly accurate for sampling LFG. Moreover, conventional approaches for LFG sampling frequently neglect the evaluation of fugitive emissions from crucial points of biogas network (i.e.: wells, drains, pipeline), which can be also interested by leakages and can thus result in significant emission of LFG into the atmosphere. For the abovementioned reasons, the development of specific methods for the assessment of the LFG emissions is of great interest to overcome the related issues. In the present work, an integrated and advanced approach for the monitoring and mapping of MSW landfill gas emissions has been presented and validated. The proposed procedure integrates multiple approaches to provide a complex and polyvalent survey of the landfill, also including the evaluation of the landfill terrain morphology and the presence of possible non-homogeneous areas. The experimental activities were carried out at a complex MSW landfill located in Central Italy (Lazio Region) and were organized into four steps: (i) identification and characterization of the fugitive emissions from landfill cover, by Flux Chamber device in different points of a geo-localized grid on landfill body; (ii) characterization of landfill terrain morphology and of possible fugitive emissions from biogas wells and other points considered relevant in the network, by using remote sensing with surveys implemented with drone equipped with RGB, multispectral and thermal cameras together with topographic measurements with GNSS receivers; (iii) integration of the geo-referenced results, including the Digital Terrain Model (DTM), the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), the thermographic mapping and the point monitoring results on landfill cover; (iv) elaboration of maps of the emissions levels for the different investigated compounds and the identification of critical points/areas. The results were elaborated and discussed (i) for the evaluation of the emissions from the investigated landfill, (ii) for proving the accuracy of the proposed procedure with cross-validation approaches and (iii) for extending the proposed procedure to a wider application for different types of landfills.

The continuous increase in the generation of municipal solid waste (MSW) worldwide represents a major challenge for global sustainability efforts. In accordance with the Sustainable Development Goals and the principles of the circular economy, it is essential to manage MSW involving environmental aspects that require careful control to prevent potential environmental impacts. Among the MSW, the organic fraction stands out as a highly fermentable mixed matrix that demands special attention due to the quantities produced and the different management phases it undergoes, including collection, transportation, and treatment. In particular, the collection phase emerges as a linchpin for the overall success of waste management assessment. Various methodologies for the collection of the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW) are currently employed, with door-to-door collection being a prevalent approach in many European countries. This method includes the specific collection of the organic fraction, strategically placed in designated surface or underground containers. The time and modalities of organizing the collection of the organic fraction are not universally defined but rather determined by the collection service operator. In Italian regulations, the only indication is that the collected waste must be delivered to the treatment plant within 72 hours of collection, emphasizing the urgency and efficiency required in waste management operations. Notably, one of the primary environmental pressures linked to the management of the OFMSW is the production of odorous emissions, which can significantly impact the surrounding environment and community well-being. The research presents and discusses the variation in time of the odour emissions of the OFMSW, aiming to quantify the potential odour production occurring between the collection phase of the OFMSW and their delivery to the plant and therefore provides a useful tool to reduce potential odour impacts and direct towards suitable management strategies. Intensive experimental activities were conducted, considering different samples of OFMSW. Characterization of the principal chemical-physical parameters and odour concentration at different times of the investigated OFMSW were performed. Statistical studies, applying multivariate analysis techniques, were conducted to identify potential correlations between the investigated parameters. Preliminary results indicate a notable increasing trend in odour concentration over time, with an inverse correlation between odour concentration and humidity and a direct correlation with temperature. The research provides valuable insights into the factors influencing odour production in the management of OFMSW.

Population growth is closely linked to the increase in the number of citizens who consume resources and thus to the production of municipal solid waste (MSW). Integrated waste management is a key element for sustainable urban development and environmental protection. Reduction, reuse, recycling, and energy recovery are fundamental actions to implement the principles of community management strategy and circular economy, reducing the quantity of waste to be disposed of in landfills and the consequent impacts on the environment. For this purpose, the separate collection phase represents the most important action. Odour emissions from MSW management are among the main negative pressures perceived by the population. Odour emissions originate mainly from the decomposition of the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW), which occurs during the collection, transport, and treatment phases of the waste, and are the cause of many complaints. Therefore, the control of odour emissions in the treatment of municipal waste represents a key action in all the management phases and for all involved actors, which must be carried out to preserve air quality, health, and well-being of the population. The research presents and discusses the development and evaluation of advanced powdered bioactivators aimed at reducing the odorous emissions produced by the separate collection of OFMSW in surface street containers. The bioactivators used consist of a mixture of spores, microorganisms, enzymes, and nutrients. An extensive experimental plan and program have been carried out. Different bioactivators have been studied and analyzed. The concentration of odours emitted at different investigated times were carried out according to UNI EN 13725:2022. The bioactivators investigated showed different behaviors on the odours, including “masking” and abatement, depending on their composition and over time. The research aims to be a useful study for operators in the waste management sector to avoid odour impacts and as a basis for the development of technologies and methods for managing odorous emissions.

Fluorescent brightening agent OB-1 (OB-1) is often used in plastic goods because of its non-toxic nature, chemical stability, remarkable heat resistance, and light stability. Raw OB-1 is challenging to use in textiles using the exhaustion method. This study used a novel method using raw OB-1 powder to whiten polyester fabric in water and decamethylcyclopentasiloxane (D5). The Taguchi approach investigated the interaction between whitening process parameters such as temperature, OB-1 mass, water: D5 ratio, and treatment time with four levels. The study shows that the temperature and water: D5 ratio during the whitening process significantly affect the whiteness of polyester fabric (P

Deep shade dyeing of ramie fibre is challenging due to its high degree of polymerisation, orientation, and crystallinity. The present work involved pre-treating ramie fibre with a solution containing a mixture of NaOH and alcohol in order to improve its dyeing ability. Based on the first screening results, it has been shown that iso-propanol is the optimal alcohol solvent for modifying ramie fibres with a mixture of NaOH solution, resulting in greater levels of dye exhaustion (E%), dye fixation rate (F%), total dye fixation efficiency (T%), and K/S values. Subsequently, the orthogonal array experimental technique (L16) was utilised to optimise the treatment conditions, and it was determined at a temperature of 25 °C, using a NaOH solution with a concentration of 140 g/L, a liquid ratio of 1:2 for the volume ratio of NaOH solution to iso-propanol solvent, and a treating period of 3 min. The treated samples were subjected to a range of analytical techniques, including XRD, FTIR, TGA, and SEM; these analyses conclusively verified that the samples' properties were altered due to the optimal combination treatment. The combination solution-treated samples had significantly higher barium values compared to the other samples, suggesting an ideal mercerisation treatment. The colourfastness to washing values exhibited satisfactory results for the treated samples. Besides, a handle assessment of raw ramie fabric and treated ramie fabric was conducted to enhance the practical application feasibility.

The presence in seawater of low-molecular-weight polyethylene (PE) and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), synthetic polymers with high chemical resistance, has been demonstrated in this study for the first time by developing a novel methodology for their recovery and quantification from surface seawater. These synthetic polymer debris (SPD) with very low molecular weights and sizes in the nano- and micro-metre range have escaped conventional analytical methods. SPD have been easily recovered from water samples (2 L) through filtration with a nitrocellulose membrane filter with a pore size of 0.45 μm. Dissolving the filter in acetone allowed the isolation of the particulates by centrifugation followed by drying. The isolated SPD were analysed by 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H NMR), identifying PE and PDMS. These polymers are thus persisting on seawater because of their low density and the ponderal concentrations were quantified in mg/m3. This method was used in an actual case study in which 120 surface seawater samples were collected during two sampling campaigns in the Mediterranean Sea (from the Gulf of Salerno to the Gulf of Policastro in South Italy). The developed analytical protocol allowed achieving unprecedented simplicity, rapidity and sensitivity. The 1H and 13C NMR structural analysis of the PE debris indicates the presence of oxidised polymer chains with very low molecular weights. Additionally, the origin of those low molecular weight polymers was investigated by analysing influents and effluents from a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) in Salerno as a hot spot for the release of SPD: the analysis indicates the presence of low molecular weight polymers compatible with wax-PE, widely used for coating applications, food industry, cosmetics and detergents. Moreover, the origin of PDMS debris found in surface seawater can be ascribed to silicone-based antifoamers and emulsifiers.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been detected in soils worldwide, suggesting that soil serves as a substantial reservoir for these compounds. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of the origin of PFAS contamination in soil and sediment, as well as the environmental impacts associated with the distribution of PFAS in these mediums. In this review, we also discuss the effects of PFAS on soil microbes, plants, the terrestrial food web, sediment microbes, and benthic microorganisms. The highest concentration of PFAS was found in soils exposed to aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF), the PFAS manufacturing plants, and biosolids, compared to landfills, atmospheric deposition, and industrial discharge, which are the other three sources. Exposure to PFAS has demonstrated negative effects on the richness, diversity, and population structure of bacterial species. It has been observed to interfere with the regular functioning of soil microorganisms, microbes, and benthic organisms in sediment. Nevertheless, the current data is insufficient to grasp the complete spectrum of effects comprehensively. Moreover, the accumulation of PFAS in plants, vegetables, and earthworms is a cause for concern, as they can eventually enter the food chain through trophic transfer processes. Finally, we discuss the challenges and possible strategies that can be implemented to restrict the dispersion of PFAS in sediments and soil.

Odour annoyance in urban contexts is of particular concerns and requires effective monitoring in order to avoid complaints from citizens.The research presents an advanced and integrated odour monitoring system, which combines analytical, senso-instrumental and citizen science tools, for the continuous and proactive characterization of the odours in ambient air to prevent odour annoyance. The on-site validation of the system was implemented integrating data collected by IOMSs and air quality station with 768 reports collected by a newly designed Citizen Science APP. A maximum density of 329 signals per 0.01 km2 was recorded at south-west of the odour sources investigated.

Fluorescent whitening agent OB-1 (OB-1) has non-toxicity, chemical stability, exceptional heat resistance, and light stability, and it is widely used in plastic products. However, raw OB-1 is difficult to apply in textiles by exhaustion process. The present investigation employed raw OB-1 without adding an auxiliary to bestow a whitening effect on polyester fabric in a sustainable medium of decamethylcyclopentasiloxane (D5). The Taguchi methodology was employed to optimize the whitening parameters. An L16 orthogonal array was utilized to investigate the optimal conditions for whitening temperature, whitening time, and OB-1 mass, with four whiteness levels. The signal-to-noise ratio was optimized using a larger-is-better approach to enhance the parameter responses. The study analyzed the main effect and interaction plot of multiple factors. The findings indicate that the temperature of the whitening process significantly impacts the whiteness of the polyester fabric (P

Abstract There has been a lot of attention on water pollution by dyes in recent years because of their serious toxicological implications on human health and the environment. Therefore, the current study presented a novel polyethylene glycol-functionalized graphene oxide/chitosan composite (PEG-GO/CS) to remove dyes from aqueous solutions. Several characterization techniques, such as SEM, TEM, FTIR, TGA/DTG, XRD, and XPS, were employed to correlate the structure–property relationship between the adsorption performance and PEG-GO/CS composites. Taguchi’s (L25) approach was used to optimize the batch adsorption process variables [pH, contact time, adsorbent dose, and initial concentration of methyl orange (MO)] for maximal adsorption capacity. pH = 2, contact time = 90 min, adsorbent dose = 10 mg/10 mL, and MO initial concentration = 200 mg/L were found to be optimal. The material has a maximum adsorption capacity of 271 mg/g for MO at room temperature. With the greatest R2 = 0.8930 values, the Langmuir isotherm model was shown to be the most appropriate. Compared to the pseudo-first-order model (R2 = 0.9685), the pseudo-second-order model (R2 = 0.9707) better fits the kinetic data. Electrostatic interactions were the dominant mechanism underlying MO sorption onto the PEG/GO-CS composite. The as-synthesized composite was reusable for up to three adsorption cycles. Thus, the PEG/GO-CS composite fabricated through a simple procedure may remove MO and other similar organic dyes in real contaminated water.

Abstract The typical textile dyeing process calls for a wide range of operational parameters, and it has always been difficult to pinpoint which of these qualities is the most important in dyeing performance. Consequently, this research used a combined design of experiments and machine learning prediction models’ method to offer a sustainable and beneficial reactive cotton fabric dyeing process. To be more precise, we built a least square support vector regression (LSSVR) model based on Taguchi's statistical orthogonal design (L27) to predict exhaustion percentage (E%), fixation rate (F%), and total fixation efficiency (T%) and color strength (K/S) in the reactive cotton dyeing process. The model's prediction accuracy was assessed using many measures, including root mean square error (RMSE), mean absolute error (MAE), and the coefficient of determination (R2). Principal component regression (PCR), partial least square regression (PLSR), and fuzzy modelling were some of the other types of regression models used to compare results. Our findings reveal that the LSSVR model greatly outperformed competing models in predicting the E%, F%, T%, and K/S. This is shown by the LSSVR model's much smaller RMSE and MAE values. Overall, it provided the highest possible R2 values, which reached 0.9819.

This investigation reported a mixture of natural dyes by employing the D5 solvent as a green penetration dyeing system for wool fiber. The ideal dyeing conditions were determined by conducting an in-depth analysis of the following variables: AEO-3 concentration, aqueous pick-up rate, solution pH, dyeing time, temperature, dye mass, and dye fixation percentage. Tensile strength and elongation were measured to learn more about the mechanical characteristics of the wool yarn after it was dyed in D5 solvent and water. The suggested dyeing parameters for wool yarn are 2% of AEO-3, 400% of the wool aqueous pick-up rate at pH 3, 90 °C temperature, and 90-min duration. This was determined by calculating the K/S value and the dye fixing rate. A washfastness of 4–5 on the fading scale and a stainfastness of 5 across the board were acquired. MR and GB dyes obtained a high dye fixation rate within 90–100%; however, GY dye achieved about 50% dye fixation rate. X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) verified that the original and dyed wool fiber showed no change in interplanar distance in crystallinity and stable thermal tendency due to the dyeing process. The morphology of the wool's surface was not altered throughout the dyeing process, and the colors were spread uniformly over the fiber in SEM pictures and cross-sections. Finally, natural dyes in a D5 solvent media may be used to produce a ternary color, laying the groundwork for natural dyes to be further industrialized.

Abstract Despite the widespread interest in electrospinning technology, very few simulation studies have been conducted. Thus, the current research produced a system for providing a sustainable and effective electrospinning process by combining the design of experiments with machine learning prediction models. Specifically, in order to estimate the diameter of the electrospun nanofiber membrane, we developed a locally weighted kernel partial least squares regression (LW-KPLSR) model based on a response surface methodology (RSM). The accuracy of the model's predictions was evaluated based on its root mean square error (RMSE), its mean absolute error (MAE), and its coefficient of determination (R 2). In addition to principal component regression (PCR), locally weighted partial least squares regression (LW-PLSR), partial least square regression (PLSR), and least square support vector regression model (LSSVR), some of the other types of regression models used to verify and compare the results were fuzzy modelling and least square support vector regression model (LSSVR). According to the results of our research, the LW-KPLSR model performed far better than other competing models when attempting to forecast the membrane's diameter. This is made clear by the much lower RMSE and MAE values of the LW-KPLSR model. In addition, it offered the highest R2 values that could be achieved, reaching 0.9989.

Food loss (FL) and food waste (FW) have become severe global problems, contributing to resource inefficiency and environmental degradation. Approximately 6% of greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) are derived from FW, which is usually discarded in landfills, emitting methane, a gas that is 28 times more harmful than CO2. Diverting the path of FW towards the energy industry represents a promising avenue to mitigate the environmental impact and save resources while generating energy substitutes. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) approach was utilized to conduct a systematic literature review on 10 different conversion processes used to convert FL and FW into energy. Anaerobic bioconversion integrated with pyrolysis emerges as a potential eco-friendly and promising solution for FW management, nutrient recovery and energy production in various forms, including biogas, heat, biohydrogen and biochar. Despite its potential, the anaerobic digestion of FW still faces some challenges related to the production of intermediate harmful compounds (VOCs, NH3, H2S), which necessitate precise process control and optimization. Nonetheless, converting FW into energy can provide economic and environmental benefits in the context of the circular economy. This review offers insightful information to stakeholders, academics and policymakers who are interested in utilizing FW as a means of producing sustainable energy by summarizing the important findings of ten different waste-to-energy processing methods and their potential for improved energy recovery efficiency.

This study aims to present an overview of incorporating the Water Framework Directive into Italian law through Law 152/06. Subsequently, it will focus on a case study involving 34 rivers in the Salerno Province, utilizing data obtained from ARPA Campania. This work analyses the macro pollution indicators of the observed rivers using two aggregated indexes, namely PLM and PLMeco. These indexes were introduced by Italian legislation in 1999 and 2006, respectively. The results show the quality of the river and the variations observed over the years in the Province of Salerno, utilizing non-parametric tests.

Abstract Natural materials, especially natural colorants, have achieved global prominence and might be regarded as an environmentally beneficial alternative to hazardous synthetic dyes. The color limitation of natural dyes hinders their application in textiles. The present work aims to prepare more color shades of wool yarns via dyeing with ternary natural dye mixtures without adding mordants. In this study, a sustainable dyeing approach for wool yarn was evaluated with three natural dyes, madder red (MR), gardenia blue (GB), and gardenia yellow (GY), by following an industrial dyeing procedure in the absence of a mordant. In the beginning, a preliminary assessment of dye stabilities was carried out, and it was found that the three natural dyes were sensitive to temperature and acid (degradation tendency). Then, the dyeing behavior was systematically evaluated, including a single natural dye, a binary natural dye mixture, and a ternary natural dye mixture. The results of wool yarn dyeing with a single natural dye show that the dye exhaustion percentage (E%) of MR, GY, and GB was in the ranges of 78.7–94.1%, 13.4–44.1%, and 54.8–68.5%, respectively. The dyeing results of wool yarns dyed with binary and ternary natural dye mixtures (a color triangle framework of dyed wool yarn) were characterized by colorimetric values (L*, a*, b*, C*, h, and K/S), and are presented to enlighten various colorful shades. Finally, color uniformity and colorfastness tests confirmed the vital contribution of natural dyes toward wool yarn coloration. Particularly, colorfastness to washing confirmed the stability of natural dyes with reference to the lower amount of dyes released into the effluent, which is beneficial for the environment. Overall, this study provides a good background for enhancing the industrialization trend of natural dyes by modulating their dyeing scheme.

Membrane materials might be used for face protection because they can decontaminate the inhaled air from particle pollution and viruses like the SARS-Cov0-2 which damages our respiration system. In this study, plyethersulfone membranes (PES) were synthesized with green solvent at room temperature and its filtration effectiveness was investigated against nano-bacteria (size 0.05 to 0.2 µm) by measuring their Bacterial Filtration Efficiency (BFE) and micro aerosol size (0.3 µm), and Particulate Filtration Efficiency (PFE). The average SARS-CoV-2 diameters are between 50 nm to 160 nm. A series of experiments were performed to accomplish between 0.03 to 0.21 µm PES sponge like diameters so that can be used for SARS-CoV-2 filtration. Results showed that nanofiltration/ultrafiltration could filter 99.9% of bacteria and aerosol from contaminated air the size of the Covid-19 molecule.

This study introduces an innovative approach to enhancing membrane distillation (MD) performance by developing bead-containing superhydrophobic sulfonated polyethersulfone (SPES) nanofibers with S-MWCNTs. By leveraging SPES’s inherent hydrophobicity and thermal stability, combined with a nanostructured fibrous configuration, we engineered beads designed to optimize the MD process for water purification applications. Here, oxidized hydrophobic S-MWCNTs were dispersed in a SPES solution at concentrations of 0.5% and 1.0% by weight. These bead membranes are fabricated using a novel electrospinning technique, followed by a post-treatment with the hydrophobic polyfluorinated grafting agent to augment nanofiber membrane surface properties, thereby achieving superhydrophobicity with a water contact angle (WCA) of 145 ± 2° and a higher surface roughness of 512 nm. The enhanced membrane demonstrated a water flux of 87.3 Lm−2 h−1 and achieved nearly 99% salt rejection efficiency at room temperature, using a 3 wt% sodium chloride (NaCl) solution as the feed. The results highlight the potential of superhydrophobic SPES nanofiber beads in revolutionizing MD technology, offering a scalable, efficient, and robust membrane for salt rejection.

The low fixation rate and colorfastness of natural dyes limit their practical application in modern textile coloration. Further, hazardous mordants are used in conventional natural dyeing to achieve better fixation and colorfastness. Herein, a green, sustainable, and environmental benign fixation process of natural dye was developed using a non-aqueous medium in the absence of mordants to enhance the fixation rate and colorfastness of the dyed fabric. The process was executed by the treatment of the cacao husk extracts/decamethylcyclopentasiloxane (D5) dyed cotton fabric with a cationic dye-fixation agent (CFA)/D5 microemulsion. The conditions of optimal dye fixation process including water content, fixation time, fixation temperature, and CFA mass were determined by using L9 orthogonal array. Significant improvements in the fixation rate (95.03%) and color strength (15.26) were found after CFA treatment under the optimal conditions. Although the light fastness of the CFA-treated dyed fabrics was poor, the colorfastness to rubbing and washing were remarkable. The cacao husk extracts natural functional dye significantly enhanced the UV resistance of the dyed fabric, and the CFA treatment improved the crease recovery characteristic of the dyed fabric. The stiffness of the fabric decreased slightly after dyeing and CFA treatment. Consequently, this study paved the way for the sustainable and green dyeing process.

Abstract In this study, the synthesis, and chemical-physical characterization of self-assembled positively charged multi-walled carbon nanotubes/graphene oxide (f-MWCNTs)/(GO)-nanohybrids into adsorptive PLA-based membranes were investigated. The application of the innovative PLA/f-MWCNTs/GO membrane was investigated for the removal of nutrients such as nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) from both synthetic and real wastewater by performing various characterization and performance tests. The positively charged nanohybrid was prepared by electrostatic self-assembly of positively charged f-MWCNTs and negatively charged GO. The amount of nanohybrid loading in the nanocomposite membranes varied from 0 to 6 wt%, and its effects on nutrient removal and water flux were investigated. It is demonstrated that with the addition of only 1.5 wt% f-MWCNT/GO nanohybrid into the PLA matrix, the water flux increased by 74% when compared to the unmodified membrane. Also, up to 90.1 ± 3.4% and 71.3 ± 3.1% removal rates of ammonium-nitrogen (NH4 +-N) and phosphate (PO4 3−-P) ions were achieved using raw wastewater, respectively. The obtained results confirm the practical usability of the proposed innovative material for membrane fabrication in real wastewater treatment applications and can open doors to efficient and sustainable methods for nutrient removal.

This review summarizes current knowledge on sediment dredging to control eutrophication. Emphasis has been given to the effectiveness and environmental impacts of dredging, the release of nutrients from sediment, and the response of cyanobacterial bloom after dredging. Dredging is an effective method, although its effectiveness is mainly dependent on the external load. This method can improve lake conditions by reducing the TP, TN, Chl-a, P-flux, SRP flux, and cyanobacterial bloom. An important emphasis must be focused on maintaining external loading. Combining dredging with other restoration methods, such as LMB addition, is often more effective than dredging alone.

The cultivation of microalgae for carbon capture and utilization (CCU) emerged as sustainable and effective platform to reduce GHGS and produce valuable biomass. In the study, systematic comparison of two identical algal photo-bioreactors (PBRw and PBRp), with white and purple led lights respectively, has been implemented. Carbon removals up to 98% has been obtained, with PBRp supporting enhanced cultivation conditions, higher CO2 removals and increased biomass production (up to 855 mg d−1 of dry algal biomass). The results demonstrate the potential of the proposed solutions as sustainable strategy to increase the applicability of algal photo-bioreactors for carbon capture and utilization.

Microencapsulation methods in product development may result in innovative products with improved stability, functionality, and active chemical release (s). Microcapsules may be made out of biopolymers instead of synthetic polymers because of their biodegradability, lower production costs, and greater accessibility. The potential of biopolymers-based microencapsulation technology in sustainable textiles is substantial despite this field only getting started. This short review explores the role of biopolymers such as chitosan, gelatin, alginate, and cellulose in microencapsulation-mediated sustainable textile technology. The long-term effects of using microencapsulation made from biopolymers are also discussed, with an eye toward sustainability.

Abstract For many centuries, traditional grass cloth has been used as an important raw material for home textiles in China, but its market can be expanded by incorporating color. Reactive Red 2 (R2), Reactive Blue 194 (B194), and Reactive Orange 5 (O5) were used in this work to explore the dyeing behavior of sustainable traditional grass fiber using industrial dyeing methods. Initially, an L16 (4^4) orthogonal design was schematically applied to carry out the dyeing process and it was determined that the total dye fixation rate (T%) of B194 dye was the best among the three dyes. Accordingly, a statistical Taguchi technique was analyzed on a larger scale to optimize the dyeing process parameters (salt concentration, fixation time, fixation temperature, and solution pH) of B194, in which solution pH was found to be the most influential factor in achieving the highest T%. This phenomenon was also verified using analysis of variance (ANOVA), where the solution pH was found to be the biggest contributor (50%) and statistically significant (p

Abstract An advanced concept of aerobic membrane bioreactors (MBRs) for highly efficient wastewater treatment has been disclosed by introduction of an electro and encapsulated self-forming dynamic biomembrane (e-ESFDM). The biological filtering membrane is intercalated between two woven polyester fabrics as supports that assist the formation and protect the biomembrane. The innovative architecture of the e-ESFDM in combination with electrocoagulation processes resulted in efficient and cost-effective wastewater treatment and control of the membrane fouling. The performance of the e-ESFDMBR was compared to a yet highly efficient ESFDMBR, where the electric field was not present. The ESFDM-based reactors both showed comparable results in the removal of organic matter, in terms of COD and DOC. On the other hand, e-ESFDMBR exceeded the performance of the ESFDMBR in the reduction of nitrogen- and phosphorous-containing pollutants, responsible for eutrophication processes in the environment, and recalcitrant molecules, such as humic-like substances. In addition, an extremely low fouling rate was observed for the e-ESFDM bioreactor. Insights on the biological processes involved in the developed MBR were provided by investigations on the microbiological diversity found in reactor mixed liquor, ESFDM layer and treated wastewater.

Abstract Recent advances in wastewater treatment processes have resulted in high removal efficiencies for various hazardous pollutants. Nevertheless, some technologies are more suitable for targeting specific contaminants than others. We comprehensively reviewed the recent advances in removing hazardous pollutants from industrial wastewater through membrane technologies, adsorption, Fenton-based processes, advanced oxidation processes (AOP), and hybrid systems such as electrically-enhanced membrane bioreactors (eMBRs), and integrated eMBR-adsorption system. Each technology’s key features are compared, and recent modifications to the conventional treatment approaches and limitations of advanced treatment systems are highlighted. The removal of emerging contaminants such as pharmaceuticals from wastewater is also discussed.

Abstract In this work, Eucommia ulmoides leaf extract (EUOLstabilized silver nanoparticles (EUOL@AgNPs) incorporated sulfonated polyether sulfone (SPES)/polyethersulfone (PES) electrospun nanofiber membranes (SP ENMs) were prepared by electrospinning, and they were studied for the removal of lead (Pb(II)) and cadmium (Cd(II)) ions from aqueous solutions. The SP ENMs with various EUOL@AgNPs loadings were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscope, thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and contact angle (CA) measurements. The adsorption studies showed that the adsorption of Cd(II) and Pb(II) was rapid, achieved equilibrium within 40 min and 60 min, respectively and fitted with non-linear pseudo-second-order (PSO) kinetics model. For Cd(II) and Pb(II), the Freundlich model described the adsorption isotherm better than the Langmuir isotherm model. The maximum adsorption capacity for Cd(II) and Pb(II) was 625 and 370.37 mg g−1 respectively at neutral pH. Coexisting anions of fluoride, chloride, and nitrate had a negligible influence on Cd(II) removal than the Pb(II). On the other hand, the presence of silicate and phosphate considerably affected Cd(II) and Pb(II) adsorption. The recyclability, regeneration, and reusability of the fabricated EUOL@AgNPs-SP ENMs were studied and they retained their high adsorption capacity up to five cycles. The DFT measurements revealed that SP-5 ENMs exhibited the highest adsorption selectivity for Cd(II) and the measured binding energies for Cd(II), Pb(II), are 219.35 and 206.26 kcal mol−1, respectively. The developed ENM adsorbent may find application for the removal of heavy metals from water.

Given the carcinogenic properties of formaldehyde-based chemicals, an alternative method for resin-finishing cotton textiles is urgently needed. Therefore, the primary objective of this study is to introduce a sustainable resin-finishing process for cotton fabric via an industrial procedure. For this purpose, Bluesign® approved a formaldehyde-free Knittex RCT® resin was used, and the process parameters were designed and optimized according to the Taguchi L27 method. XRD analysis confirmed the crosslinking formation between resin and neighboring molecules of cotton fabric, as no change in the cellulose crystallization phase. Several machine learning models were built in a sequence to predict the crease recovery angle (CRA), tearing strength (TE) and whiteness index (WI). Assessment of modelling was evaluated through the use of various metrics such as root mean square error (RMSE), mean absolute error (MAE), and the coefficient of determination (R2). Results were compared to those from other regression models, such as principal component regression (PCR), partial least squares regression (PLSR), and fuzzy modelling. Based on the results of our research, the LSSVR model predicted the CRA, TE, and WI with substantially more accuracy than other models, as shown by the fact that its RMSE and MAE values were significantly lower. In addition, it offered the greatest possible R2 values, reaching up to 0.9627.

Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) is a powerful tool that has the potential to reveal the extent of an ongoing disease outbreak or to predict an emerging one. Recent studies have shown that SARS-CoV-2 concentration in wastewater may be correlated with the number of COVID-19 cases in the corresponding population. Most of the recent studies and applications of wastewater-based surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 applied the “gold standard” real-time quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) detection method. However, this method also has its limitations. The paper aimed to present recent improvements and applications of the PCR-based methods for SARS-CoV-2 monitoring in wastewater. Furthermore, it aimed to review alternative methods utilized and/or proposed for the detection of the virus in wastewater matrices. From the review, it was found that several studies have investigated the use of reverse-transcription digital polymerase reaction (RT-dPCR), which was generally shown to have a lower limit of detection (LOD) over the RT-qPCR. Aside from this, non-PCR-based and non-RNA based methods have also been explored for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater, with detailed attention given to the detection of SARS-CoV-2 proteins. The potential methods for protein detection include mass spectrometry, the use of immunosensors, and nanotechnological applications. In addition, the review of recent studies also revealed two types of emerging methods related to the detection of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater: i) capsid-integrity assays to infer about the infectivity of SARS-CoV-2 present in wastewater, and ii) alternative methods for detection of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOCs) in wastewater. The recent studies on proposed methods of SARS-CoV-2 detection in wastewater have considered improving this approach in one or more of the following aspects: rapidity, simplicity, cost, sensitivity, and specificity. However, further studies are needed in order to realize the full application of these methods for WBE in the field.

Odours emissions sources are always closer to residential areas since their increasing expansion towards industrial contexts. The need of an effective solution to characterize the real odour annoyance perceived by the exposed population is thus of fundamental importance to avoid complaints and increase the quality of life in the areas surrounding industrial centres. The characterization of the odour emissions can be implemented with analytical, sensorial and senso-instrumental techniques. However, in order to have a complete and effective characterization, the implementation of integrated approaches is rising as preferred method since the need to take into account simultaneously emissive, sociological and morphological aspects. The present study aims to report the development and application of a novel integrated method for the proactive characterization of odour annoyance in urban areas. The system has been implemented with a tailor-made design with regards to a sensitive municipality in which are located significant odour emissions plants. The proposed approach integrates analytical, sensorial and senso-instrumental techniques. The main feature is related to the validation of odour annoyance data collected from citizens with the data collected from Instrumental Odour Monitoring Systems (IOMSs), Air Quality and meteorological stations. Data from citizens are collected by a novel mobile APP. All the collected data are continuously elaborated for the creation and validation of interactive maps able to proactively identify possible undesirable conditions before the occurrence of odour annoyance events. The results of the real application of the proposed method demonstrated the importance of applying the citizen science approach to increasing the social engagement and of validating sensorial data with meteorological data by applying near-real-time dispersion models.

The paper presents and discusses the development and application of different odour monitoring models (OMMs) for the classification and quantification of odour emissions with Instrumental Odour Monitoring Systems (IOMSs). Feed-forward neural network and linear discriminant analysis were considered for the classification of different type of odours, while feed-forward neural network and partial least square were investigated for the odour quantification. The prediction accuracy of the models was examined by analyzing different data extracted from the sensors’ response curve (at rise, intermediate and peak period). The application has been carried out in a complex petroleum refinery plant. A total of 44 potential odour sources were monitored and grouped into 7 different classes. Results highlight that the feed-forward neural network prevails in terms of high prediction capability having an architecture with three layers (input, hidden and output) of respectively 14-8-7 for odour classification, and of 14-8-1 for odour quantification, at =0.982 R2. Meanwhile, the most useful data were found using the peak period. The research contributes to the understanding of IOMS applications, providing data on refinery plant odour emissions and applicable mathematical models to ensure great data reliability. The study highlights the influence of the pattern recognition algorithms in the Odour Montoring Model (OMM) elaboration and suggests the utility of promoting the implementation of flexible and adaptable IOMS.

The research presents the microalgal lipids production from odour treatment emissions as innovative platform for resource recovery. The study investigated the sequential treatment of xylene and the production of microalgal lipids that are of interest for biodiesel production. The effect of inlet gas flowrate was assessed in a moving bed bioreactor treating xylene, a mean maximum ECxyl of 0.32±0.25 g xyl m-3 h-1, corresponding to a RExyl of 93% and PCO2 of 4±2.6 g CO2 m-3 h-1, when working with an inlet gas flowrate of 1.0 L min-1. On the other hand, the PBR recorded a maximum mean ECCO2 was 4.86±1.42 g CO2 m-3 h-1 corresponding to a RE CO2 of 33.8%. Simultaneously lipids were produced at a maximum mean calculated rate of 5.5 g lipids m-3 d-1, as biomass showed a lipid concentration of 12.7%. The results show the feasibility of producing in a circular economy perspective lipid from odour treatment emissions.

Abstract The conventional dyeing process requires a substantial amount of auxiliaries and water, which leaches hazardous colored effluents to the environment. Herein, a newly developed sustainable spray dyeing system has been proposed for cotton fabric in the presence of reactive dyes, which has the potential to minimize the textile dyeing industries environmental impact in terms of water consumption and save significant energy. The results suggest that fresh dye solution can be mixed with an alkali solution before spray dyeing to avoid the reactive dye hydrolysis phenomenon. After that, drying at 60–100 °C, wet fixation treating for 1–6 min, and combined treatments (wet fixation + drying) were sequentially investigated and then dye fixation percentages were around 63–65%, 52–70%, and above 80%, respectively. Following this, fixation conditions were optimized using L16 orthogonal designs, including wet fixation time, temperature, dye concentration, and pH with four levels where the “larger-the-better” function was selected to maximize the dye fixation rate. Additionally, the color uniformity and wash and rubbing fastnesses were at an acceptable level when both treatments were applied. Finally, the dyes were hydrolyzed after wet fixation, and the hydrolysis percentages were enhanced after the drying process.

The rate of municipal solid waste (MSW) generation in developing countries is continuously growing in proportion to the gross national product. Landfilling, incineration, composting, and waste to energy (WtE) have a brief history as management strategies for MSW in India. Economic evaluation via cost benefit analysis (CBA) of MSW is establishing the most appropriate treatment/disposal strategy and it is often a major concern for solid waste management (SWM) policymakers. Thus, this study aims to analyze the municipal solid waste management (MSWM) activities in India’s capital, Delhi, and the CBA of MSWM systems to identify the major problems and limitations involved. Sixty-six samples totaling 6,600 kg were collected and analyzed at random from various locations, including the sources of generation, composting plants, and disposal sites. Storage, collection, transportation, and recycling information were gathered from departments such as Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), New Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC), Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), and self-surveys. The total costs of each MSW option were calculated for cost analysis. The results revealed a high organic moisture content, indicating the possibility of composting and bio-methanation, except for waste from commercial, institutional area and restaurants that can be used to develop Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF). It was also revealed that only about 80% of the garbage generated in Delhi is collected. In terms of treatment and disposal, the MCD has proposed additional facilities such as disposal through sanitary landfills with linings, as well as a system for leachate collection and disposal. Furthermore, construction and demolition waste are used in the construction of various pavement components, such as base coarse, surface coarse, and so on. The total social value added by garbage trade operations in Delhi is expected to be INR 358.7 crores (approximately 46.60 million USD) between 2017 and 2020. Recycling saves the municipal budget about INR 17.6 crores (approximately 2.3 million USD per year).

A microbial fuel cell (MFC) is a system that can generate electricity by harnessing microorganisms’ metabolic activity. MFCs can be used in wastewater treatment plants since they can convert the organic matter in wastewater into electricity while also removing pollutants. The microorganisms in the anode electrode oxidize the organic matter, breaking down pollutants and generating electrons that flow through an electrical circuit to the cathode compartment. This process also generates clean water as a byproduct, which can be reused or released back into the environment. MFCs offer a more energy-efficient alternative to traditional wastewater treatment plants, as they can generate electricity from the organic matter in wastewater, offsetting the energy needs of the treatment plants. The energy requirements of conventional wastewater treatment plants can add to the overall cost of the treatment process and contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. MFCs in wastewater treatment plants can increase sustainability in wastewater treatment processes by increasing energy efficiency and reducing operational cost and greenhouse gas emissions. However, the build-up to the commercial-scale still needs a lot of study, as MFC research is still in its early stages. This study thoroughly describes the principles underlying MFCs, including their fundamental structure and types, construction materials and membrane, working mechanism, and significant process elements influencing their effectiveness in the workplace. The application of this technology in sustainable wastewater treatment, as well as the challenges involved in its widespread adoption, are discussed in this study.

The discharge of large volumes of oily wastewaters without sufficient treatment poses a huge risk on the environment. The main objective of this study was to investigate the capability of electro-coagulation/flotation (ECF) process for the removal of oil from industrial oily wastewater via different electrodes' configuration. These included anode-cathode-anode-cathode (ACAC), anode-cathode-cathode-anode (ACCA), and cathode-anode-anode-cathode (CAAC) electrode configurations. The impact of other operational conditions such as treatment time (30, 60, and 90 min), current density (50, 100 and 200 A/m2), and initial pH (4, 7, 10) was also investigated. Results showed that the up to 30.3% increase in oil removal can be achieved by optimizing the treatment time in the ACCA configuration. Similarly, it was found that operating at higher CD higher than 100 A/m2 resulted in a minor increase in oil removal in the same configuration. Optimal oil removal efficiency of 82% was achieved when the ECF system operated at a current density 100 A/m2, a treatment time of 90 min, an initial wastewater pH of 7, and using ACAC electrodes' configuration. An operational electrical energy consumption of 3.4 kWh/m3 and a treatment cost of USD 0.26/m3 were also reported for this configuration. It was concluded that oil removal using ECF process are very sensitive to changes in the electrode configuration, and an optimum configuration can be chosen by considering the time and cost of treatment.

In the light of the spread of treated wastewater use for irrigation, trace heavy metals pose a great risk to humans and aquatic life. An integrated electrochemical-adsorption (i.e. EC-AD) hybrid system was investigated for the removal of iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), and copper (Cu) traces from synthetic wastewater mimicking industrial wastewater. Slag, a by-product produced in steel industries, was utilized as the adsorbent. The performance of the EC-AD hybrid system was evaluated at mass to wastewater volume ratio (i.e. M/V) ranging from 0.01 to 0.07 g/mL, current density (CD) ranging between 5 and 15 A/m2 and treatment time ranging between 60 and 120 minutes. Furthermore, process kinetics (pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order, Elovich, adsorption kinetic models, and Weber-Morris intraparticle diffusion), and adsorption isotherms (Langmuir and Freundlich) were investigated to provide adsorption mechanisms that reflect the interaction between EC and AD processes in the hybrid system. The results indicated that Freundlich isotherm was able to fit the linearized data points compared to Langmuir with Fe and Zn. In addition, kinetic models suggested chemisorption as the predominant removal mechanism of Fe, Zn, and Cu using slag for the EC-AD system. Results showed that the use of EC-AD significantly enhanced the removal efficiency of heavy metal traces from wastewater, reaching 99%.

The advancement in water treatment technology has revolutionized the progress of membrane bioreactor (MBR) technology in the modern era. The large space requirement, low efficiency, and high cost of the traditional activated sludge process have given the necessary space for the MBR system to come into action. The conventional activated sludge (CAS) process and tertiary filtration can be replaced by immersed and side-stream MBR. This article outlines the historical advancement of the MBR process in the treatment of industrial and municipal wastewaters. The structural features and design parameters of MBR, e.g., membrane surface properties, permeate flux, retention time, pH, alkalinity, temperature, cleaning frequency, etc., highly influence the efficiency of the MBR process. The submerged MBR can handle lower permeate flux (requires less power), whereas the side-stream MBR can handle higher permeate flux (requires more power). However, MBR has some operational issues with conventional water treatment technologies. The quality of sludge, equipment requirements, and fouling are major drawbacks of the MBR process. This review paper also deals with the approach to address these constraints. However, given the energy limitations, climatic changes, and resource depletion, conventional wastewater treatment systems face significant obstacles. When compared with CAS, MBR has better permeate quality, simpler operational management, and a reduced footprint requirement. Thus, for sustainable water treatment, MBR can be an efficient tool.

This work provides a brief overview of the application of Sewage Sludge-Derived Biochar (SSBC) for the removal of micropollutants from aqueous solutions and wastewater. A particular emphasis is placed on the adsorption efficiency of SSBC regarding the Priority Substances defined under the scope of the EU Water Framework Directive.

The characterization and quantification of the odour emissions in wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) represents a fundamental step in order to identify potential odour problems and establish the best and most appropriate odour management tools. Nowadays odour emissions in WWTP are characterized by the use of sampling techniques which take samples directly from the gaseous phase: i.e. when the emission and consequently the potential problem are already present. The definition of proactive tools for the assessment of potential odour emissions from the emitting sources can prevent the occurrence of potential significant odours events and as consequence complaints. The research presents and describes a novel system, called H2Odour, useful to measure the potential Odour Emission Capacity (OEC) directly from liquids. The system has been designed and developed to standardize the stripping phase of gaseous samples, ensuring the maximization of the odour compounds transfer from the liquid to the gaseous phase. The application on a real full scale WWTP is highlighted. H2Odour represents a novel, proactive device to prevent potential critical situations, allowing a preliminary characterization of the maximum potential odour emissions directly from the liquid phase and through this control activity, leading to a greater environmental and social acceptability of the WWTP.

Odours emissions from various facilities such as wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), are becoming one of the main issues to face down for the plant operators to avoid complaints and potential impact, especially for the plants located nearby to the residential areas. The need to implement odour control strategies, for instance by using treatment technologies, is therefore a key point in the management of the plant. Moreover, in a world increasingly concerned about sustainability and environmental preservation, the identification of environmentally friendly odour treatment technologies is to be recommended and prescribed. The research presents the development of an advanced sustainable biotechnology-based control system able to treat odour and greenhouse gas emissions (GHG), with the aim to guarantee a sustainable process. The performance of the advanced biotechnology system is highlighted in terms of CO2 capture and reduction, by analysing different operating conditions (e.g. CO2 inlet load, L/G liquid:gas ratio and light intensity). The result shows that the proposed technology can capture up to 80% of CO2 concentration, produce microalgae biomass (742 mg l-1) and potentially biodegrade aromatic substances such as VOCs. The proposed advanced biotechnology system proves to be effective sustainable treatment process for the fixation of CO2, but further studies are necessary for evaluate the treatment efficiency of VOCs. The information presented in this research will be of interest to anyone involved with carbon capture and utilization (CCU) technology.

Oil refinery and petrochemical plants are of crucial importance to enhance world economy. Besides the related considerable economic impact of this industries, the population and governments pose towards a great attention which boosted the necessity of developing effective tools for the control of the associated environmental pressures, without hindering economy growth. Among the environmental aspects of key relevance in the refinery sector, air quality and atmospheric pollution in terms of odour emissions, especially in the last years, have become a priority concern in the management of the plants. The monitoring and control of the odour emissions are thus needed in order to prevent potential impact and avoid complaints from the exposed population. Nowadays, senso-instrumental methods by using Instrumental Odour Emissions Systems (IOMSs) represents the most attractive tool for the monitoring of environmental odours, allowing the possibility to obtain real-time and continuous information’s, to support the decision-making process and for the implementation of proactive approach. No universally accepted regulation or standardized procedure exist at present and limited data are available in the scientific and technical literature with reference to these systems for the odour monitoring control in the oil refinery plants. In the CEN/TC264 ‘Air Quality’ standardization committee, a specific working group (WG41) is currently working to produce a validation procedure for the IOMSs. The research presents and discusses an advanced instrumental odour monitoring system device useful for the continuous characterization of the odour emissions in complex oil refinery and petrochemical plants. The influence of the use of different feature extraction methods in the odour monitoring model elaboration, in terms of classification, is analysed. Results demonstrate the existence of considerable differences in terms of correct classification percentage, in the use of different feature extraction methods. The importance and usefulness of having a fully-developed flexible system that allows to select and compare automatically different settings options, as the different feature extraction methods, in order to guarantee the best training model, is highlighted. Results demonstrated the high reliability of the system in recognizing artificial gas samples, with characteristics similar to the emissions from refinery plants.

Using an environmentally friendly approach for eliminating methylene blue from an aqueous solution, the authors developed a unique electrospun nanofiber membrane made of a combination of polyethersulfone and hydroxypropyl cellulose (PES/HPC). SEM results confirmed the formation of a uniformly sized nanofiber membrane with an ultrathin diameter of 168.5 nm (for PES/HPC) and 261.5 nm (for pristine PES), which can be correlated by observing the absorption peaks in FTIR spectra and their amorphous/crystalline phases in the XRD pattern. Additionally, TGA analysis indicated that the addition of HPC plays a role in modulating their thermal stability. Moreover, the blended nanofiber membrane exhibited better mechanical strength and good hydrophilicity (measured by the contact angle). The highest adsorption capacity was achieved at a neutral pH under room temperature (259.74 mg/g), and the pseudo-second-order model was found to be accurate. In accordance with the Langmuir fitted model and MB adsorption data, it was revealed that the adsorption process occurred in a monolayer form on the membrane surface. The adsorption capacity of the MB was affected by the presence of various concentrations of NaCl (0.1–0.5 M). The satisfactory reusability of the PES/HPC nanofiber membrane was revealed for up to five cycles. According to the mechanism given for the adsorption process, the electrostatic attraction was shown to be the most dominant in increasing the adsorption capacity. Based on these findings, it can be concluded that this unique membrane may be used for wastewater treatment operations with high efficiency and performance.

There is a great demand for biodegradable hydrogel, and cellulose enriched wastes materials are widely used to serve this purpose for various advance applications (e.g., biomedical and environmental). Sugarcane bagasse is cellulose-enriched agro-waste, abundantly grown in Bangladesh. This study aimed to treat sugarcane bagasse-based agro-waste using a sustainable and ecofriendly approach to produce hydrogel with super-swelling capacity for adsorption of copper, chromium, iron ions, methylene blue and drimaren red dyes. To increase the swelling property of hydrogels, copolymerization of hydrophilic monomers is an effective technique. Therefore, this study aimed to prepare hydrogel via free radical graft-copolymerization reaction among acrylamide, methyl methacrylate and treated bagasse in the presence of N,N-methylene-bis-acrylamide as a crosslinker and potassium persulphate as an initiator. To obtain maximum yield, reaction conditions were optimized. It was found that hydrogel obtained from chemically treated sugarcane bagasse showed maximum water absorption capacity of 228.0 g/g, whereas untreated bagassebased hydrogel could absorb ~50 g/g of water. Maximum adsorption capacity of 247.0 mg/g was found for copper ion. In addition, organic pollutant removal from industrial effluent also showed good performance, removing >90% of methylene blue and 62% of drimaren red dye, with shorter kinetics. The biodegradability study showed that after 90 days of exposure, the hydrogels degraded to about 43% of their own mass. Therefore, the produced hydrogel could be an alternative adsorbent to remove pollutants and also for other potential applications.