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We study a newsvendor problem with greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions at the disposal stage regulated by a cap-and-trade policy. We first consider a synchronous version of the problem where the replenishment period and the emission assessment period are the same. For this problem, we propose simple algorithms to derive the optimal quantity and cost for both continuous and discrete demand distributions. We show that ignoring the carbon tax may lead to large overcost, especially when the GHG quota is small. For a normally distributed demand, we also show that the demand standard deviation has a non-linear and non-monotonic effect on the order quantity. We then investigate an asynchronous version of the problem where replenishment decisions occur at a higher frequency than the quota allocation. We formulate this lot sizing problem as a Markov decision process and solve it with a dynamic programming algorithm whose complexity is assessed. Through a numerical experimentation and theoretical results, we demonstrate how and when the flexibility of the optimal dynamic replenishment decisions allows to reduce costs. When approaching the end of the time horizon, the uncertainty reduction allows the decision maker to adopt a riskier policy and order larger quantities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In La Moitié de la Gloire, Axel Mayenfisch's documentary about the 1952 Swiss expedition to Chomolungma (Mount Everest), André Roch recalls how the retreating climbers simply abandoned much of their gear, either leaving it where it was or "throwing it into holes [crevasses]." Roch's tale was by no means unusual, as mountaineers at that time gave little thought to what became of their waste. By the 1970s, however, climbers were becoming increasingly aware of their impact on the environment. The resulting change of attitude led many mountaineering organizations to take concrete steps to protect the mountains (e.g., cleanup campaigns) and to issue waste management guidelines for trips into the high mountains. The Union internationale des associations d'alpinisme 1982 Kathmandu Declaration—a charter of ten principles for achieving greater harmony with the mountain environment—was an important milestone in this process. Drawing on documents held in the extensive archives of the Union internationale des associations d'alpinisme, the current paper retraces the path that led to the Kathmandu Declaration and the process by which the environment became an important aspect of the aforementioned organization's work. It also examines the hypothesis that the organization has progressively adopted a conservationist stance toward protecting nature; its aim is to reconcile environmental protection and economic development (especially tourism). The history of the Kathmandu Declaration supports this hypothesis, as it shows how the notion of sustainable development, which emerged in the 1980s, came to dominate conceptions of mountain protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to describe and understand the experiences and impact of the Paralympic School Day program on disability-related perceptions of rural high school students. Methods: Ninth- and tenth-grade physical education classes from a rural high school participated in the Paralympic School Day event. Of the 68 who attended the event, 42 students furnished assent and consent to participate. Data from reflective writing responses were analyzed inductively using a three-step approach. Findings: The analysis revealed three interrelated themes: (a) "I didn't expect it to be fun": preconceptions and reality of trying parasport, (b) "Anyone can play a sport": developing new perceptions of disability, and (c) "I never realized how blessed I was": persistence of ableist framing. Discussion: As a result of participants interacting with and learning from athletes with physical disabilities, they developed an understanding of parasport and a new paradigm through which to view individuals with disabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Social cohesion is positively associated with littering control behavior. • Subjective social status mediates the association. • We adapt collective efficacy theory to the study. Littering is a serious social issue in China, even though residents disapprove of this behavior. When residents live in communities with high social cohesion, residents may stop other residents from littering; this is referred to as littering control behavior. We use collective efficacy theory to discuss the association between perceived social cohesion and littering control behavior in China. Perceived social cohesion consists of social relationship density, social trust, and social support, which can promote littering control behavior and thus achieve collective efficacy. Using binary logistic regression and mediation analyses, we address this question via the 2018 wave of the China Labor-force Dynamics Survey (n = 4808). We find that perceived social cohesion is positively associated with littering control behavior. We also find that subjective social status may be a mediating mechanism through which perceived social cohesion promotes littering control behavior. For governments, policies to stop littering should address social cohesion and improve residents' subjective social status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• 0.613 kg/cap/d based on sampling of the waste generated in 81 communities. • Average waste composition is 68 % biowaste, 23 % recyclable and 9 % other. • MSW collection frequency is once a week for 40 % of the rural population. • Household biowaste use reduces the amount of waste to be managed by up to 64 %. • Recyclable waste is barely recovered and is centralized in urban areas. Municipal solid waste management is one of the greatest challenges for environmental sustainability and well-being in developing countries, where the infrastructure and financial resources required to carry out such services are often lacking. The design of solutions that adequately respond to local needs must be based on quality information about the quantity and composition of the generated waste and current management practices. This study evaluated domestic waste generation and its management in 81 communities in Ecuador based on sampling at the source and population surveys. An average household waste generation value of 0.613 kg/cap/d was obtained, of which biowaste accounted for 68 % of the total generation, followed by 23 % recyclable material and 9 % other non recyclable waste. Even though some councils have set up differentiated collection systems for inorganic material in urban areas, these systems are still absent in many rural areas, which explains why waste is not separated in 70 % of the studied communities. Furthermore, only 70 % of the rural population in the country has a waste collection service, and waste in some communities is still thrown into water bodies or burned. Rural populations often use biowaste at home by composting it or as animal feed, which are good practices that should be considered in the diagnosis reports and incorporated into waste management planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Recycled textiles are used to scavenge mechanical energy. • Silk-based TENG generated high output when contacting PVC film. • Devices are Integrated into shoe insoles to harvest energy from walking and jumping. • Rayon-based TENG generated the higher output while jumping on PVC coil mat. Textiles are an integral part of daily life globally, but their widespread use leads to significant waste generation. Repurposing these discarded fabrics for energy harvesting offers a sustainable solution to both energy demand and textile waste management. In this study, Textile-based Triboelectric Nanogenerators (T-TENGs) were developed using recycled cloth as tribopositive layers and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) film as the tribonegative layer, with aluminum foil tape serving as electrodes. Five different recycled textiles were evaluated, and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS) analysis revealed a correlation between yarn structure and carbon content, leading to enhanced triboelectric performance. Silk-based TENG (S-TENG) demonstrated the highest output, with 320.76 V and 8.73 µA, while exhibiting stable performance over 10,000 cycles. Practical applications were explored by integrating T-TENGs into shoe insoles for energy harvesting during walking and jumping, with rayon-based TENG generating up to 208.52 V on a PVC coil mat. This work highlights the dual benefits of waste reduction and sustainable energy applications, making a compelling case for advanced technologies where recycled textiles function as frictional materials to harvest mechanical energy from human motion and convert it into electrical energy for use in flexible sensors and wearable devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Unit-based pay-as-you-throw (PAYT) waste tariffs were first examined in Nepal. • People's WTP is estimated as NRs 36.1 for 1 L, NRs 42.14 for 20 L recyclable bags. • Tenants are likelier to adopt PAYT mechanisms than house owners. • PAYT incentivizes behavioral change to reduce waste by 52% at no additional charge. • Municipalities revenues are projected 326% more than existing fixed-based tariffs. Many cities in developing countries are searching for financially motivated behavior-based alternatives, such as pay-as-you-throw (PAYT) tariff mechanisms, over conventional methods. This study explores the determinants and readiness for willingness-to-pay (WTP) for introducing unit-based PAYT tariff structures in Kathmandu, Nepal. Two distinct colored volume-based recyclable plastic bags (1 L and 20 L) waste collection systems were introduced, and their acceptability was assessed using the contingent valuation method (CVM) spike model. The findings from a survey of 401 households revealed that the public shows their willingness to replace existing fixed tariff structures with PAYT systems, with WTP values of NRs 36.1 and NRs 42.14 (USD 0.28 and 0.32) for each 1 L and 20 L bags, respectively. Income, age, sex, family size, and household status were the key determinants. Tenants were more willing to pay than homeowners. The PAYT system has a substantial additional revenue generation of 326 % compared to conventional fixed tariff structures and reduces the financial burden of waste financing for public entities. Innovative PAYT tariff structures are also expected to be an effective tool not only from a revenue generation perspective, but also as a financially motivated behavioral tool for waste segregation, reduction, and recycling for sustainable waste management in developing countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The food recovery hierarchy (FRH) concept is assessed from an eMergy perspective. • EMergy confirms the validity of the FRH concept. • Recovering the nutritional value of food should be prioritized. • Saved and invested eMergy along the FRH exhibit non-linear behaviour. The food recovery hierarchy (FRH) is an important concept widely used worldwide as a guideline for food waste management policies. It consists of different options for food waste management hierarchically organized, in which source reduction is the most preferable option, followed by food donation, feeding animals, industrial use, composting, energy recovery, and landfilling. The most common approaches used in the literature to validate the FRH concept consider both, a user-side and donor-side perspectives. While the former are typical of methods such as life cycle assessment and ecological footprint that are extensively explored in the literature, the latter is typical of methods such as eMergy accounting (EMA), a perspective that remains unexplored. This study aims to overcome that literature gap by discussing: (i) The validity of FRH concept under an EMA perspective; (ii) The differences on saving natural resources depending on the adopted FRH option; (iii) Obtaining a mathematical model representing the saved emergy as a function of invested emergy. Results show that the FRH is confirmed under the EMA lens as expressed by the proposed emergy return index (ERI). The most preferable options within FRH are by far more efficient in saving emergy than the least preferable options (about 250 times better). The obtained model EMS=2.44E+22/EMI 0.51 describes the relation between the invested and saved emergy along the FRH hierarchy. Insights are presented to promote discussions on existing ERIs cluster within the FRH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Valorization is needed for post-harvest biomass from tomato agriculture (TPR) • TPR is rich in lignocellulosic materials and extractable compounds. • TPR requires use with other materials to be a competitive product alternative. • Full use of TPR can require coordination with other valorization methods. • Tomato plant residue valorization is an integrative endeavor. Considerations for the modification of agricultural practices and waste management to improve environmental sustainability remain a subject of great importance. Prioritization of intensive mass food production to meet the demand of an increasing human population has introduced a multitude of environmental issues due to, among other factors, the large volumes of waste output. Tomato production in greenhouses, for example, generates tonnes of bio-waste per hectare each harvest including green tomato plant residues (i.e. , stems, leaves, branches). Giving value to these green tomato plant residues collected during the growing cycle and after harvest has not proven straightforward despite a massive yearly release of tonnes of carbon dioxide from stems and leaves disposed on landfills. This paper aims to summarize current research in tomato plant residue valorization and to identify considerations for future valorization strategies. Peer reviewed articles, scientific books and governmental, economic and statistical reports on the topic of tomato plant residues were collected and analyzed. Focuses included traditional valorization approaches, bio-refinement strategies and conversion of fiber-rich residues into high value packaging materials. Initiatives for sustainable agriculture, their market relevance, and the strengths and weaknesses of using tomato plant residues in these valorization approaches are discussed. Overall, it was concluded that valorization of tomato plant residues would be a highly integrative endeavor that would require coordination from multiple levels in the agricultural production chain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microplastic pollution is a significant environmental issue caused by unsustainable plastic use and disposal. These tiny plastic particles (<5 mm) have been found in virtually every environmental compartment, and their environmental removal is currently deemed unfeasible. Microplastics have received a lot of attention over the past decade due to concerns over their ecological and health effects. However, limited research has been done on the management of microplastics. Microplastic pollution is directly related to total plastic pollution, so reducing environmental plastic waste is crucial for reducing microplastics. Overall plastic pollution can be reduced by different strategies including, effective plastic waste management encompassing the 4Rs (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Recover) along with upcycling, implementing policies that govern the entire lifecycle of plastics promoting a circular economy for plastics, enhancing treatment technologies and clean-up, creating public awareness and developing sustainable alternatives. However, the multifaceted nature of microplastic contamination cannot be properly addressed by employing these strategies independently, leading to the limited effectiveness of these strategies. Therefore, a multidisciplinary approach integrating the above strategies to limit the environmental plastic input and reduces the plastic waste already accumulated is crucial. This manuscript provides a framework for effective management of microplastics and provides comprehensive discussions of each strategy within the framework including the potential measures by governments, international organizations and the public to reduce plastic waste. Moreover, it provides recommendations for improving the legislative framework and identifies the research gaps in the microplastic clean-up technologies and sustainable plastic alternatives that need to be addressed to improve management of environmental microplastics. HIGHLIGHTS: Management of microplastics is dependent on the management of overall plastic waste. Policies and regulations should address both municipal and industrial plastic wastes Technologies for microplastics removal can improve plastic cleanup. International and industrial cooperation is crucial for reducing environmental MPs. Long-lasting solutions need a multidisciplinary approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reduction and effective use of waste generated by various economic activities has become a global issue that goes beyond individual countries. Agriculture as an integral part of the economy also contributes to environmental pollution, although the waste from various agricultural activities is mostly safe and recyclable. That quality enables agricultural waste reintegration into the economy (through appropriate processing) and provides opportunities for utilizing its full potential. In that sense, the aim of the study is to analyse the waste trends for the period 2016 -- 2020, to compare the waste generated by agriculture in Bulgaria with one of the other member states of the European Union as well as to present good examples of its innovative use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study set out to examine how feeding local ewes a diet including cactus fruit waste, or "cactus silage," affected their milk production and quality as well as how well their lambs did while nursing. On a farm, researchers studied the feeding habits of the Sardi breed, a native sheep species. The animals were divided into two groups; one was given a standard diet (CD) and the other cactus silage (SD). We The milk production was tracked every day and the milk composition features were analyzed every week. There was a 14.8% increase in milk yield, with the SD diet producing an average of 31.15 kg and the CD diet 27.14 kg. A significantly significant difference (p<0.05) in SD was seen in the average daily gain (ADG) of lambs during the lactation period when contrasted with the CD lot. In contrast to the CD lot 154 g/d ADG, the SD lot was 199 g/d. With the exception of fat content, which shown more variability for both treatments (p<0.05), the treatments did not impact the density, freezing point, or protein levels of the milk samples. There was significant fluctuation in the physicochemical properties of ewe's milk over the weeks of lactation, with values ranging from very high (p < 0.001) to very high (p<0.01). Cactus silage (SD) may be a good alternative to the conventional feed for female sheep, according to the research, since it has no discernible negative impact on their productivity. Cactus silage is a cost-effective alternative to other feeds for sheep in arid regions, thus it is reasonable to consider it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concept of short-lived climate pollutions (SLCPs) has been developed as part of global warming mitigation policies to identify the human-made atmospheric compounds that contribute to positive radioactive forcing. Numerous evident shows that there are those pollutants cause negative impact like climate change. Despite the extensive research in this area, the potential emissions of SLCPs from the waste management sector at the city level have not been thoroughly explored. This study aimed to reveal the material flow of domestic waste in Semarang City. The waste management system was assessed using a literature survey and the potential emissions of SLCPs from waste management were analysed from a life cycle assessment perspective. This study used emission quantification tool (EQT), developed by the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES), to calculate the greenhouse gas emissions from domestic solid waste management. While collecting data from existing literature, the author performed a MFA for the current conditions, which is based on the latest available data from 2022. The result showed that the current waste management system in Semarang City has several issues, such as a significant amount of unmanaged waste and the burning of waste, which contribute to high emissions of SLCPs. For the first time, this study demonstrated that by implementing advanced technologies such as incinerators and separating organic from inorganic waste, it is possible to achieve a substantial reduction in black carbon and methane emissions in Semarang City. These findings offer valuable insights for policymakers and contribute to the development of tailored waste management strategies that effectively mitigate SLCP emissions, setting a precedent for other urban areas facing similar challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the last decade, Morocco has experienced increased population, urban expansion, and improper environmental management, leading to a significant rise in waste production. This situation has exacerbated waste landfill issues, particularly in coastal areas such as Kenitra province, in the north-western part of Morocco. In this region, landfills have been responsible for the degradation and pollution of air, soil, and water resources. Therefore, identifying suitable sites for waste landfills is essential for achieving sustainable environmental management in the study area. The objective of this study was to provide, for the first time, a map of suitable waste landfill sites in Kenitra province. To achieve this objective, a database consisting of nine parameters was collected from environmental and socio-economic sources. The data was gathered and spatialized using various techniques. Subsequently, the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) and geographic information system (GIS) were employed to generate the final map of suitable waste landfill sites. The results indicate that the study area can be classified into four categories: 78% of the area is not suitable for landfill development, while areas classified as less suitable, moderately suitable, and highly suitable constitute 1%, 17%, and 4% of the surface, respectively. On the basis of these findings, three potential landfill locations that meet stringent environmental, social, and technical criteria have been proposed. This work represents the first attempt at improving landfill management in Kenitra province. The combination of AHP and GIS techniques offers a novel approach to landfill site selection. However, additional studies could be conducted, taking into account the results of this study, other parameters, and new data that may become available in the future. The map of suitable landfill sites provides a scientific foundation and could aid in developing the management strategies to mitigate pollution and guide territorial planning in the study area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyethylene (PE), including high‐density polyethylene (HDPE) and low‐density polyethylene (LDPE), makes up a significant part of post‐consumer plastics in municipal solid waste, presenting challenges for traditional recycling methods due to a wide range of melt flow properties and poor interfacial adhesion between the different resin, which often leads to low quality products (downcycling). In this study, a method is proposed to modify the molecular structure of post‐consumer PE (rHDPE and rLDPE) and their blends by using a straightforward organic peroxide crosslinking technique with 1 phr of dicumyl peroxide (DCP). Different rHDPE/rLDPE blend weight ratios (0/100, 20/80, 40/60, 50/50, 60/40, 80/20, and 100/0) were prepared using a combination of co‐rotating twin‐screw extrusion and pulverization. The final parts were produced via rotomolding where both the forming and crosslinking processes occurred concurrently. Subsequently, the materials were characterized in terms of chemical, thermal, and mechanical properties. It was found that the tensile strength (228%), tensile modulus (345%), flexural strength (145%), and flexural modulus (251%) increased by crosslinking the 80% wt. rHDPE (x‐rHDPE). Conversely, the gel content increased by 17%, thermal resistance by 37.2%, and the impact strength by 93% with 80% wt. rLDPE (x‐rLDPE). It can be concluded that a balance between the properties occurs as the addition of DCP improved both the interfacial adhesion and melt properties of rHDPE/rLDPE blends. This innovative approach represents a simple and straightforward method to upcycle mixed plastics (PE) streams, especially for rotomolding applications. It also offers promising avenues for sustainable waste management and material reuse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ever-increasing market demand and the rapid uptake of the technologies of electronics create an unavoidable generation of high-volume electronic waste (e-waste). E-waste is embedded with valuable metals, alloys, precious metals and rare earth elements. A substantial portion of e-waste ends up in landfills and is incinerated due to its complex multi-material structure, creating loss of resources and often leading to environmental contamination from the release of landfill leachates and combustion gases. Conversely, due to the ongoing demand for valuable metals, global industrial and manufacturing supply chains are experiencing enormous pressure. To address this issue, researchers have put multifaceted efforts into developing viable technologies and emphasized right-scaling for e-waste reclamation. Several conventional and emerging recycling technologies have been recognized to be efficient in recovering metal alloys, precious and rare earth metals from e-waste. The recovery of valuable metals from e-waste will create an alternative source of value-added raw materials, which could become part of supply chains for manufacturing. This review discusses the urgency of metal recycling from e-waste for sustainability and economic benefit, up-to-date recycling technologies with an emphasis on their potential role in creating a circular economy in e-waste management. This article is part of the discussion meeting issue 'Sustainable metals: science and systems'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article analyses the problem of plastic waste in the context of transition to a circular economy, which is one of the priorities of the European Union's policy. The author emphasises the introduction of restrictions on the use of plastic products, starting with Directive 2008/98/EC, which establishes a basic framework for waste management, including plastic, with a focus on recycling and the transition to a circular economy, in order to achieve targets by 2025, 2030 and 2035. The main focus is on Directive 2019/904 on the reduction of the use of single-use plastic products, which aims to reduce the negative impact of plastic on the environment. The Directive provides for a ban on certain types of single-use plastic goods, including plastic lids that must remain attached to containers during use. The article analyses the importance of harmonising the legislation of the EU member states in the process of implementing this Directive, as differences in national laws may lead to legal conflicts. The economic challenges for countries with less developed waste management systems, which may have difficulty meeting the requirements within the established timeframe, are also considered. The article emphasises the need to introduce new technologies and environmentally sustainable consumption patterns to ensure effective implementation of the Directive. Examples of initiatives aimed at reducing the use of single-use plastic, such as the deposit system for plastic bottles in Germany and the Swiss ReCircle programme, are also discussed. Ukraine is also implementing measures to reduce plastic waste, but legislative initiatives need to be further developed to achieve global environmental goals. The article emphasises the importance of raising legal awareness among citizens and businesses for a successful transition to a circular economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The poultry industry has seen significant growth in response to the expanding global population, resulting in an increased demand for white meat. Recently, agricultural by-products derived from poultry have gained attention for their potential use in various applications. However, the large-scale utilization of by-products like keratin faces challenges such as low thermoplasticity and difficulty in dissolving keratin, as well as limited knowledge about the properties and processability of the resulting products. To address these issues, both chemical and biological methods are employed to extract keratin and produce different products. One promising strategy is the bioconversion of these by-products into valuable materials using enzymes. A small peptide product obtained through enzymatic biodegradation can be used in green biotechnology for industrial applications as a feed additive or a significant protein source. This review aims to discuss the eco-friendly fermentation process for feather by-products and their multifunctional applications in areas such as water purification, cosmetics, and biomedical uses. Additionally, it addresses the challenges associated with the utilization of chicken feathers and proposes possible solutions to overcome them. [Display omitted] • Adding value to agro-industrial waste can be accomplished through bioconversion. • Byproduct utilization is hindered by nutritional, technological, and economic obstacles. • Chicken feathers are a huge bioresource for developing multifunctional materials. • Keratin-derived materials hold promise to replace petro-based materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fiber-reinforced polymer composites, reaching a production of approximately 2.56 million tons in 2023 in Europe, display unique properties, yet they are disposed of at their end of service by conventional methods such as landfill and incineration. Here, we review the recycling of fiber-reinforced polymer wastes in the construction industry, with emphasis on fiber-reinforced polymer composites, recycling methods, and applications of carbon and glass fiber polymer composites in civil engineering. Recycling methods include mechanical, thermal, and chemical techniques. Applications comprise the use in fine fillers, coarse and fine aggregates, macro-fibers, alkali-activated materials, geopolymers, asphalt composites, and cement composites. We discuss workability, mechanical properties including compressive, flexural and tensile properties, durability, and surface modification. Future applications include three-dimensional concrete printing, self-sensing cement composites, self-heating and energy harvesting cement composites, and electromagnetic shielding. We propose a waste management hierarchy, considering the source of composites and their intended applications, to improve circularity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper focuses on Slovakia's compliance performance in the EU law implementation since its accession in 2004. It explores the use of the infringement procedure launched by the European Commission against the Slovak Republic. The article pursues three primary objectives. Firstly, it evaluates Slovakia's non-compliance since joining the EU, using quantitative indicators to compare non-compliance with EU directives in various policy areas. Secondly, it examines if factors known to impact compliance in existing literature also apply to Slovakia. Thirdly, the study delves into environmental infringements in Slovakia, underlining the prominence of environmental concerns and the country's substantial number of related infringement proceedings, including those involving the Court of Justice of the European Union. This analysis contributes insights into understanding compliance gaps within problematic policy areas, specifically environmental policy like waste management, in the Slovak context. The authors' findings indicate that the roots of environmental non-compliance can be traced to how the environmental agenda is prioritised by political elites and officials within the state administration, as well as the interplay of various factors emanating from wider political and social landscapes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents an energy-efficient biochar kiln that produces biochar from agricultural crop residues. The kiln is designed to be easy to operate and has minimal requirements for special operations. It works by heating biomass in a combustion chamber using recirculated pyrogas. The study optimized the process parameters and economics of producing biochar from wheat straw using Response Surface Methodology (RSM) based on Central Composite Design (CCD). The sustainable pyrolyzer had a thermal efficiency of 43.69%, with steady-state operation at 517.68 ± 98.18 °C. It produced an average of 54.57 ± 1.86 kg of biochar per batch, using 36.96 ± 3.66 kg of subabul (Leucaena leucocephala) as fuel and 179.61 ± 2.87 kg of wheat straw as feedstock. Subabul is chosen as a fuel due to its rapid growth, high calorific value, low moisture content, efficient combustion, and minimal smoke emission. The thermogravimetric index (TGI) and calorific value of WSB were 7.14 and 25.91 ± 0.74 MJ/kg, respectively. The benefit–cost ratio and payback period were 2.27 ± 0.16 and 4.92 ± 0.44 months, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A study of the energy potential from agro-industrial waste of Mangifera indica L. in the city of Zamora, Michoacán is presented, considering its use through solid biofuels. This research is composed of three stages: (a) the qualitative and quantitative diagnosis of the waste disposal of M. indica, spatiotemporally (b) the physicochemical characterization of the waste collected from 14 processing companies using characterization techniques, as well as proximal analysis of the moisture content, ash, volatiles, fixed carbon, and calorific value, and (c) estimation of the energy potential to spatially and temporally define the final energy disposition and possible use of the analyzed waste. The results show the ash content of mango residues below 3.5%, while the volatile material was 82.9%, the fixed carbon content was below 17%, and the polymeric compounds showed 27.24% cellulose, 10.46% for hemicellulose, and for lignin 5.78%. The presence of carbon was also identified in the order of 44.61%, hydrogen in 6.53%, oxygen in 48.11%, nitrogen of 0.74%, and the sulfur recorded was below the range of 0.01%. The calorific value was estimated from 17.5 to 19.28 MJ/kg; the available energy potential on the order of 0.5 TJ/day for 4 months. This proposal not only shows a case study of the bioenergy potential available, but it can also encourage addressing future research related to the use and valuation of agro-industrial waste, which, like in the Zamora region, there are many more in Mexico, and they are so diverse and productive that the energy potential is relevant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Outgassing of human-landed objects on the Moon create high-density local atmospheres. • Airlocks, rovers, landers, backpacks, mining of ice, and trash were considered. • Backpacks, airlock releases, and landers can create locally collisional atmospheres. • Anthropogenic water makes an assessment of the natural environment difficult. • Gas releases from mining operations and trash to gas are uncertain at present. Outgassing from materials, whether through the ascent/descent stages of lunar vehicles, airlock depressurizing, rover or astronaut suit outgassing, may cause an effect of unwanted accumulation of volatiles at the surface and exosphere. This is especially important at (or proximal) to permanently shadowed regions (PSRs) at the lunar poles. Herein, we provide estimates of expected outgassing from various human-landed objects on the Moon, including backpacks, airlocks, rovers, landers, trash and mining operations. Astronaut suits produce some level of oxygen outgassing (Helou et al., 2022), which may transport and condense in these PSRs, even in micro- cold traps (Glavin et al., 2010).We estimate the outgassing from drill mining and trash-to-gas conversion assuming a specific technology is operating. These outgassing systems can create local, temporary atmospheres in the vicinity (∼100 km radius) of the sources. The atmosphere may be particularly high within meters of the source. To obtain column densities for these temporary atmospheres, we first bracket ranges for the gas number loss as a function of time. We then derive the maximum distance traveled and the time the released molecules remain in the exosphere for a single ballistic hop, assuming the molecules are ejected from the surface of the object at its surface temperature. In some cases, such as the astronaut backpack and the rover, the temperature is that of the source. Given this information, an average and peak local exospheric density and column density can be estimated. We find that backpacks, airlock releases, and the Starship lander can create relatively high-density local atmospheres, with local near-lander outgassing water densities exceeding 107/cm3. This local water exosphere is over 106 times greater than the LADEE-derived lower limit of the natural water exosphere at ∼3/cm3. Thus, the anthropogenic temporary water exosphere will likely dominate the environment near the lander, making an assessment of the natural exospheric water environment difficult. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]