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Confronted with the fast social development, the speed of garbage generation has increased. Therefore, from every aspect, especially staying green and healthy, it is urgent and vital to ensure accurate and stable garbage classification. In the field of garbage classification, household garbage has a large volume and the classification process still requires manual intervention. Besides, most of the current studies focus on industrial waste and medical waste, while the existing studies on household garbage are not effective enough. Furthermore, these studies are mostly trained and validated in self-built datasets, making the experimental results insufficiently representative and severely limiting the development of research. Aiming to facilitate the study of household garbage classification, this paper proposes a simple yet effective network model (FConvNet) to improve classification performance. In this paper, an effective convolution block with fused convolution is designed to enhance the potential correlation of the features in the spatial dimension, and then a lightweight symmetric structure is constructed to infer more information about the feature representation. The experiments on public datasets have justified the effectiveness of FConvNet with accuracy rates of 95%, 95% and 97%, achieving better performance on public datasets compared to baselines. Additionally, an online system based on the WeChat mini program framework is designed to provide convenient household garbage classification services and enable the collection of uploaded images to perform model optimizations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Whether the oilfield sewage index can reach the reinjection specification is a crucial issue that is urgently need to be solved in polymer flooding systems. Thus the coagulability and floc morphology development of dual coagulants was systematically studied in different pH oily wastewaters. Acidification improved the deprotonation ability of coagulant. Hydrophobic associative polyaluminum silicate-poly dimethyl diallyl ammonium chloride (PASSC-PD) resolved the problem of excessive acid addition. The dual coagulants prepared not only preserved the high charge density of polyaluminum silicate (PASS) itself but also made it have the hydrophobic association and strong bridging ability. Besides, PASSC-PD was compared with hydrophobic associative polyaluminum silicate (PASS-C), PASS, and poly dimethyl diallyl ammonium chloride (PDMDAAC) pertaining to the polymer flooding oily sewage of Daqing Oilfield. The coagulation result demonstrated that PASSC-PD exhibited more advantageous turbidity and oil removal efficiencies than PASS-C, PASS, and PDMDAAC. The floc morphology result showed that adding dual coagulant made the petal-like floc of oily sewage larger at the pH value of 6. Furthermore relevant results evidenced that the coagulant had more successful fruits of turbidity removal of 96.5% and oil removal of 96.3% under weak acid conditions. These can satisfy the reinjection condition of oily sewage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports a nanomixed valence FeWO 4 -coated 2D Ti 3 C 2 MXene (FW-MX) photocatalyst synthesised by a simple hydrothermal method. Ciprofloxacin, the main target pollutant, exhibited superior adsorption performance and high catalytic activity in the light-assisted Fenton system. In just 1 h, the removal rate of ciprofloxacin reached an impressive 76.89% using a minimal amount of FW-MX (10 mg). Meanwhile, the material exhibited good stability. Furthermore, the successful formation of mixed-valent FeWO 4 accelerated the rate-limiting step of Fe(III)/Fe(II) conversion, thereby enhancing the reactivity of the in situ photo-Fenton system. In the light-assisted Fenton system, FW-MX demonstrated greater potential compared to other common antibiotics, as FW-M100 exhibited superior photoreduction performance for heavy metal ions under the photo-Fenton oxidation system. This could further advance the practical application of AOPs technology in industrial wastewater treatment. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the effects of different sintering methodology on grain formation, density, and hardness of blended leach residue (B‐LR) pellets is investigated. For the first time, the flash sintering (FS) method, an environmentally friendly process, is used to make multiphase ceramic composites using B‐LR under 100 V/mm at 675∘$^\circ $C. The outcomes of this study revealed that the FS process is faster and more energy‐efficient than the conventional sintering (CS) methods performed at 800°C for 4 h. The formation of abnormal grain growth is prevented by FS in B‐LR material composition after it is exposed to a max power absorption 61.4 mW/mm3 and whole FS is completed less than 100 s. Besides, FS method does not lead to any melting on grain boundaries due to excessive joule heating, compared with the CS sample. It is noted that FS also provides better density and hardness values for this material system along with compositional integrity in this multiphase system. The significant outcome of this study is reducing lead volatility and emission by decrement on the sintering temperature. Ultimately, this study has planned the practicality of reusage and recycle of this material with green, safe, and eco‐friendly methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study proposed biodiesel production from refined, bleached, and deodorised palm oil via transesterification using black pepper seed-KOH catalyst. A heterogeneous industrial waste catalyst, notably black pepper seed-KOH, was proposed because it can offer sustainability in biodiesel production. While among first generation oil feedstocks, palm oil stands out due to its high productivity because more palm oil can be generated per land area than others. Despite the most common use of the pseudo-first-order kinetic model in biodiesel studies, limited attention has been given to the second-order and reversible kinetics studies. Therefore, catalyst characterization encompassed SEM, EDX, TGA, PSA, FTIR, and basicity tests were first performed. Then, transesterification was executed at different temperatures (50–70 °C), 240-minute reaction time, 6:1 methanol-to-oil ratio, 5 wt% catalyst loading, and 200 rpm to obtain the best fit kinetic model and thermodynamic data. The results displayed a pseudo-irreversible first-order kinetics. Activation energy and pre-exponential factor were determined as 61.5195 kJ mol−1 and 1.1367 × 107 min−1. While, thermodynamic value was calculated, ΔH = 58.7528 kJ mol−1, ΔS = − 0.0850 kJ mol−1 K−1 and ΔG = 86.2157 to 87.9162 kJ mol−1. Therefore, the transesterification was defined as an endothermic, endogenic, and non-spontaneous reaction. This study demonstrates the black pepper seed-KOH's efficacy in biodiesel production and enhances understanding of kinetic and thermodynamic parameters governing the transesterification process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The amount of industrial waste is increasing along with the rise in industrial production. Therefore, reusing or recycling this harmful waste is quite a significant issue for waste management. A suitable use for industrial wastes is to incorporate them in concrete, the most widely used material in the world. In this study, grinding swarf, which had not been used in cementitious composites before, and metal shavings produced in the computer numerical control (CNC) milling process were used. The effects of these wastes on the strength and durability of cement mortars were investigated by using them separately and in hybrid forms. Flowability, fresh unit weight, compressive strength, flexural strength, water absorption and high-temperature effect tests were conducted on mortar samples. Although the wastes exhibited a positive contribution when used alone, they yielded the highest contribution when combined. When the waste materials were used in a hybrid form, they increased compressive strength, flexural strength and high-temperature resistance by 29%, 12.98% and 49.50%, respectively. Owing to their physical and chemical composition, metal shavings showed fibre effects, while grinding swarf improved strength and durability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study synthesized three distinct variants of titanium dioxide quantum dots (TS) using an advanced precipitation method, fine-tuning the calcination temperatures to TS1 = 290 °C, TS2 = 300 °C, and TS3 = 350 °C. These modifications aimed to explore the relationship between calcination temperature and the material properties of the quantum dots. Comprehensive characterization techniques such as XPS, TEM, and XRD were employed. These analyses revealed high crystallinity and purity of the TS catalysts alongside their unique elongated morphological structure. Further, notable differences were found as the surface area, band gap energy, and crystallite size at these varying calcination temperatures were meticulously measured. Specifically, at 290 °C, the surface area was 357.14 m2/g, the band gap energy was 3.20 eV, and the crystallite size was 4.0 nm. At 300 °C, these values altered to 325.20 m2/g, 3.15 eV, and 5.0 nm, respectively, and at 350 °C, they further changed to 262.23 m2/g, 3.07 eV, and 6.5 nm. The photocatalytic efficacy of these quantum dots in degrading Vat Green dye, a common pollutant in industrial effluents, was investigated. Utilizing a 100-W xenon photoreactor, the photodegradation process was assessed under simulated and natural sunlight conditions. Intriguingly, a direct correlation was observed between the increase in crystallite size of the TS samples and a decrease in their photocatalytic activity. The effectiveness of this degradation process was evaluated by the COD limits prescribed by the environmental regulations of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Additionally, the study was extended to include the sustainability aspect by recycling the TS samples up to 10 times and assessing their enduring efficacy using FTIR, TOC, and COD analyses. The study evaluated the photocatalytic process's energy consumption and financial costs, focusing on the mineralization efficiency of the Vat Green dye and its antibacterial activity against various bacteria, yeast, and fungi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Novel approach for plastic waste detection with the outperformance than others. • Experiment with the dataset from the real conveyor of plastic waste sorting. • Explanation for the outperformance of fine-tuning DETR compared to other methods. • An end-to-end plastic waste sorting process without hand-designed postprocessing. Every year human discharges about 350 million tons of plastic waste into the environment and can be projected to triple in 2060 without any attempts to change situation. From 1970 to 2019, an estimation of 130 million tons of plastic waste was accumulated into the rivers, lakes and sea, while only 27 % is recycled and utilized. Moreover, waste treatment plants in most places around the world are using out-of-date technology, may pose a threat to the health of the workers. Therefore, it is essential to modernize these systems for protecting human health. This paper proposes fine-tuning DETR, which applies Artificial Intelligent in plastic waste sorting system. Consequently, this study analyzed the applicability of fine-tuning DETR in the domain of plastic waste categorization and its potential drawbacks. For fair experiment and evaluation, model candidates were trained and evaluated on an industrial plastic waste dataset. The fine-tuning DETR outperformed other candidates in the context of critical indicators, from accuracy (25.1 mAP), processing speed (28 FPS) to computational cost (GFLOPs 86). Furthermore, fine-tuning DETR possesses the capability of autonomous operation without requiring human intervention, distinguishing this candidate from other prevalent algorithms. Our research demonstrates that, fine-tuning DETR specifically and Transformer-based algorithms in general, are entirely suitable and hold significant potential for large-scale application in holistic plastic waste sorting systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The highly produced bisphenol A can disrupt the homeostasis of the endocrine system. • Previous finding confirmed a higher concentration of bisphenol A in the young persons. • Conventional methods for bisphenol A elimination are not cost-efficient. • Plants naturally develop an efficient mechanism for contaminant removal. • Various advanced strategies can be applied to eliminate bisphenol A. Bisphenol A (BPA) accumulates in the environment at lethal concentrations because of its high production rate and utilization. BPA, originating from industrial effluent, plastic production, and consumer products, poses serious risks to both the environment and human health. The widespread aggregation of BPA leads to endocrine disruption, reactive oxygen species-mediated DNA damage, epigenetic modifications and carcinogenicity, which can disturb the normal homeostasis of the body. The living being in a population is subjected to BPA exposure via air, water and food. Globally, urinary analysis reports have shown higher BPA concentrations in all age groups, with children being particularly susceptible due to its occurrence in items such as milk bottles. The conventional methods are costly with a low removal rate. Since there is no proper eco-friendly and cost-effective degradation of BPA reported so far. The phytoremediation, green-biotechnology based method which is a cost-effective and renewable resource can be used to sequestrate BPA. Phytoremediation is observed in numerous plant species with different mechanisms to remove harmful contaminants. Plants normally undergo several improvements in genetic and molecular levels to withstand stress and lower levels of toxicants. But such natural adaptation requires more time and also higher concentration of contaminants may disrupt the normal growth, survival and yield of the plants. Therefore, natural or synthetic amendments and genetic modifications can improve the xenobiotics removal rate by the plants. Also, constructed wetlands technique utilizes the plant's phytoremediation mechanisms to remove industrial effluents and medical residues. In this review, we have discussed the limitations and futuristic advancement strategies for degrading BPA using phytoremediation-associated mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dye in industrial wastewater is one of the most serious environmental concerns due to its potentially harmful effects on human health. Many industrial dyes are carcinogenic, toxic and teratogenic. Removal and recovery of hazardous dyes from the effluents requires efficient adsorbents. In this study, magnetic adsorbent MnFe2O4-NH2-HKUST-1 was synthesized to remove methylene blue and crystal violet dyes from aqueous solutions. The synthesized adsorbent was characterized using FTIR, XRD, BET, VSM, SEM, TGA and Zeta potential techniques. The effect of different parameters such as pH, contact time, and adsorbent dosage on the removal of dyes was investigated. The dye adsorption process was investigated by UV–Vis spectrophotometry. The maximum adsorbent capacity was obtained as 149.25 mg/g for methylene blue and 135.13 mg/g for crystal violet. The adsorption equilibrium isotherm and kinetic models were plotted and results showed that the adsorption process for both dyes is a collection of physical and chemical adsorption based on langmuir and freundlich isotherm models, and follows the pseudo-second-order adsorption kinetics. This study shows that magnetic adsorbent MnFe2O4-NH2-HKUST-1 has a good potential for removal of methylene blue and crystal violet dyes from water in a short time (5 min) and it is easily separated from the solution by a magnetic field due to its magnetic property. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Improper management of agricultural and industrial cotton wastes causes environmental pollution and worsens the climate change challenge. Green recycling of cotton could contribute to a circular economy. One of the economic values of cotton wastes lies in their bioactive components. Two types of cotton wastes—agricultural and industrial—of the species Gossypium barbadense L. Giza 95 were targeted in the current study, aiming to maximize their medicinal value and investigate the anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, and antioxidant activities of their phytochemical extracts. Phytochemical extraction was performed using different solvents extraction. An anti-inflammatory effect was tested in carrageenan-induced acute edema in a rat paw model. A carbon tetrachloride chronic model of liver injury was used for the assessment of hepatoprotective potential. Liver enzymes (AST and ALT), oxidative stress markers (MDA and GSH), inflammatory biomarkers (C-reactive protein), and histopathological features were investigated. As a result, ethyl acetate proved to be the solvent of best choice to extract the gossypin polyphenolics, where the extracted amount reached 14,826.2 µg/g, followed by butanol (8751.4 µg/g extract). The chloroform (CHCL3) fraction showed the highest amounts of gossypol (190.7 µg/g extract), followed by petroleum ether. Cotton waste's composition analysis showed a wide range of components, including 33 metabolites such as gossypetin, polyphenolics, and other metabolites that possess therapeutic effects. Both chloroform extract and industrial waste extracts showed superior anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective effects in comparison to other extracts. All tested extracts (ethyl acetate, chloroform, and industrial waste) showed proper antioxidant activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This manuscript proposes a method for effective discharging method of pulsed energy in industrial effluents. The proposed approach is based on the dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) and Electro hydraulic Plasma Discharge (EHPD). The objective function of the proposed approach is minimizing the concentration of the ethylene blue (MB) dye in the industrial waste water. Using DBD and EHPD technique, treating such industrial effluents before mixing to the running water can effectively prevent polluting the water bodies and human health. It is one of the tertiary waste water treatments, which can also degrade biological substances. DBD technique is one of the advanced oxidation technique to de-color MB dye and the EHPD reactor is a strong and extremely efficient method for the degradation of MB. By then, the proposed model is implemented in the MATLAB platform and the implementation is calculated with the present procedure. The study concludes that the DBD and EHPD method outperforms other methods in terms of degradation efficiency. De-colorization of methylene blue (MB) took just 15 s using a 3 KV, 50μs pulse. • Hybrid method using optimal power quality enhancement. • Honey Badger Algorithm (HBA). • Golden Jackal optimization (GJO). • Electro hydraulic Plasma Discharge (EHPD). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antibacterial isothiazolinones are refractory organic pollutants towards biodegradation, existing in reverse osmosis concentrated water and other relevant industrial wastewater, which need to be decomposed before getting discharged into a water body. Herein, we synthesized Gd-doped flower-like hierarchical BiOCl (PGE-BiOCl) with promoted visible light response using a facile solvothermal method. The pseudo-first-order rate constant of 1,2-benzisothiazolinone-3-one (BIT) degradation was enhanced 6.49-fold by PGE-BiOCl (k = 0.610 h-1) compared to BiOCl (k = 0.094 h-1) under simulated visible light. It is mainly due to the synergistic effect of abundant Ovs, highly exposed (110) dominant crystal planes, and Gd doping of PGE-BiOCl. The scavenger experiments and EPR characterizations indicated that O2•- was the dominant radical in the degradation system. The DFT calculation further confirmed the existence of O 2p orbitals near the Fermi level, which may narrow the band gap of BiOCl and improve the charge carrier separation efficiency. This work offered a promising approach for the preparation of an effective solar light-driven photocatalyst for the degradation of refractory organic pollutants in water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bioremediation is one of the cheapest and easy method for biological treatment for most kind of industial wastewater. Bioremediation potential of the Phanerochaete chrysosporium for industrial wastewater from Industrial Zone Wastewater plant in Mardin, Turkey, was evaluated. The chemical oxygen demand (COD) and total organic carbon (TOC) reduction efficiencies of P. chrysoporium of on wastewater studied using biomarkers such as catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), Thiobarbituric Acid (TBARS) and reduced glutathione (GSH) levels in Dreissena polymorpha. The level of TBARS, a marker of lipid peroxidation was found to be high because of wastewater exposure after treatment. TBARS levels decreased (from 20.2 to 31.6 and from 20.8 to 37.5). GSH levels (from 52.3 to 15.9), CAT levels (from, 119.7 to 15.3 and from 91.1 to 13.4) SOD levels (from 3.8 to 0.9 and from 3.4 to 1.2) and GPX activity (from 177.2 to 104.4 and 174.2 to 100.5) decreased in the wastewater exposure groups during 24 and 96th hour compared to the control groups. GSH levels, CAT, SOD and GPX activity increased after treatment by P. chrysosporium. Results indicate that industrial wastewater caused oxidative stress in Dreissena polymorpha. The findings revealed that the highest removal efficiency for COD and TOC, at 86.3 % and 80.3 % respectively, occurred in the 1/20 diluted medium. P. chrysosporium has proven to be effective in the bioremediation of wastewater from the Industrial Zone Changes in biochemical parameters before and after bioremediation showed that antioxidant parameters such as CAT, SOD, GPx activities and GSH and TBARS levels can be used as biomarker to evaluate bioremediation efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Textile industry wastewater containing toxic dyes and high COD poses environmental hazards and requires treatment before discharge. This study addresses the challenge of treating complex textile wastewater using a novel integrated system. The system combines sedimentation, screening, adsorption, and an optimized solar photo-Fenton process to provide a sustainable treatment solution. A novel parabolic collector with a larger absorber tube diameter enhances solar radiation utilization at lower catalyst concentrations. This design is versatile, treating all types of wastewaters, especially those that contain colors, smells, solid and suspended materials, in addition to its importance for the treatment of difficult substances that may be present in industrial and sewage wastewaters that are difficult to dispose of by traditional treatment methods. Multivariate experiments optimized key photo-Fenton parameters (pH, catalyst dose, etc.) achieving significant pollutant removal (85% COD, 82% TOC, complete color) under specific conditions (pH 3, 0.2 g/L Fe(II), 1 mL/L H2O2, 40 °C and 100 L/h flow rate after 60 min irradiation). Kinetic modeling revealed second-order reaction kinetics, and multivariate regression analysis led to the development of models predicting treatment efficiency based on process factors. The key scientific contributions are the integrated system design combining conventional and advanced oxidation technologies, novel collector configuration for efficient utilization of solar radiation, comprehensive process optimization through multivariate experiments, kinetic modeling and predictive modeling relating process factors to pollutant degradation. This provides an economical green solution for textile wastewater treatment and reuse along with useful design guidelines. The treatment methodology and modeling approach make valuable additions for sustainable management of textile industry wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Danube is a significant transboundary river on a global scale, with several tributaries. The effluents from industrial operations and wastewater treatment plants have an impact on the river's aquatic ecosystem. These discharges provide a significant threat to aquatic life by deteriorating the quality of water and sediment. Hence, a total of 16 Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) compounds were analyzed at six locations along the river, covering a period of 12 months. The objective was to explore the temporal and spatial fluctuations of these chemicals in both water and sediment. The study revealed a significant fluctuation in the concentration of PAHs in water throughout the year, with levels ranging from 224.8 ng/L during the summer to 365.8 ng/L during the winter. Similarly, the concentration of PAHs in sediment samples varied from 316.7 ng/g in dry weight during the summer to 422.9 ng/g in dry weight during the winter. According to the Europe Drinking Water Directive, the levels of PAHs exceeded the permitted limit of 100 ng/L, resulting in a 124.8% rise in summer and a 265.8% increase in winter. The results suggest that the potential human-caused sources of PAHs were mostly derived from pyrolytic and pyrogenic processes, with pyrogenic sources being more dominant. Assessment of sediment quality standards (SQGs) showed that the levels of PAHs in sediments were below the Effect Range Low (ERL), except for acenaphthylene (Acy) and fluorene (Fl) concentrations. This suggests that there could be occasional biological consequences. The cumulative Individual Lifetime Cancer Risk (ILCR) exceeds 1/104 for both adults and children in all sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rare earth elements (REEs) are critical in modern electronics, yet sustainable, effective recovery technologies for REEs are scarce. Herein, we develop a sustainable and cost-effective neodymium (Nd) extraction technology from electronic waste using a carboxylate functionalized nanocellulose (CFNC). We demonstrate a solution-processed synthesis of CFNC from a cost-effective, readily available cellulose precursor without harsh conditions or complicated procedures. We show that Nd precipitates as Nd-CFNC complex, which can be easily separated from the solution by centrifugation. As low as 150 ppm of Nd3+ concentration is sufficient to form the precipitate instantaneously. We observe the removal of ~252 ± 5 mg of Nd3+ per gram of CFNC, which, to our knowledge, provides the highest removal capacity at the shortest contact time of a few seconds. We explore the effect of ionic strength, pH, and temperature on the performance of CFNC. As a real-time application, we demonstrate Nd recovery from a NdFeB magnet present in waste electronic equipment. The removal using CFNC is speedy, efficient, and selective. Solar-driven electrodeposition is used to recover Nd/Nd2O3. We envision that our material will provide a low-cost, promising, sustainable technology for removing other RREs from e-waste, mines, and industrial wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Petrochemicals contribute to environmental issues, with concerns ranging from energy consumption and carbon emission to pollution. In contrast, microbial biorefineries offer eco-friendly alternatives. The solvent-tolerant Pseudomonasputida DOT-T1E serves as a suitable host for producing aromatic compounds, specifically l-phenylalanine and its derivative, 2-phenylethanol (2-PE), which find widespread applications in various industries. Results: This study focuses on enhancing 2-PE production in two l-phenylalanine overproducing strains of DOT-T1E, namely CM12-5 and CM12-5Δgcd (xylABE), which grow with glucose and glucose-xylose, respectively. To synthesize 2-PE from l-phenylalanine, these strains were transformed with plasmid pPE-1, bearing the Ehrlich pathway genes, and it was found higher 2-PE production with glucose (about 50–60 ppm) than with xylose (< 3 ppm). To understand the limiting factors, we tested the addition of phenylalanine and intermediates from the Ehrlich and shikimate pathways. The results identified intracellular l-phenylalanine as a key limiting factor for 2-PE production. To overcame this limitation, a chorismate mutase/prephenate dehydratase variant—insentive to feedback inhibition by aromatic amino acids—was introduced in the producing strains. This led to increased l-phenylalanine production and subsequently produced more 2-PE (100 ppm). Random mutagenesis of the strains also produced strains with higher l-phenylalanine titers and increased 2-PE production (up to 120 ppm). The improvements resulted from preventing dead-end product accumulation from shikimate and limiting the catabolism of potential pathway intermediates in the Ehrlich pathway. The study explored agricultural waste substrates, such as corn stover, sugarcane straw and corn-syrup as potential C sources. The best results were obtained using 2G substrates at 3% (between 82 and 100 ppm 2-PE), with glucose being the preferred sugar for 2-PE production among the monomeric sugars in these substrates. Conclusions: The findings of this study offer strategies to enhance phenylalanine production, a key substrate for the synthesis of aromatic compounds. The ability of P.putida DOT-T1E to thrive with various C-sources and its tolerance to substrates, products, and potential toxicants in industrial wastes, are highlighted. The study identified and overcome possible bottlenecks for 2-PE production. Ultimately, the strains have potential to become efficient microbial platforms for synthesizing 2-PE from agro-industrial waste materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pharmaceuticals and household chemicals are neither fully consumed nor fully metabolized when routinely used by humans, thereby resulting in the emission of residues down household drains and into wastewater collection systems. Since treatment systems cannot entirely remove these substances from wastewaters, the contaminants from many households connected to sewer systems are continually released into surface waters. Furthermore, diffuse contributions of wastewaters from populations that are not connected to treatment systems can directly (i.e., through surface runoff) or indirectly (i.e., through soils and groundwater) contribute to contaminant concentrations in rivers and lakes. The unplanned and unmonitored release of such contaminants can pose important risks to aquatic ecosystems and ultimately human health. In this work, the contaminant fate model HydroFATE is presented, which is designed to estimate the surface-water concentrations of domestically used substances for virtually any river in the world. The emission of compounds is calculated based on per capita consumption rates and population density. A global database of wastewater treatment plants is used to separate the effluent pathways from populations into treated and untreated and to incorporate the contaminant pathways into the river network. The transport in the river system is simulated while accounting for processes of environmental decay in streams and in lakes. To serve as a preliminary performance evaluation and proof of concept of the model, the antibiotic sulfamethoxazole (SMX) was chosen, due to its widespread use and the availability of input and validation data. The comparison of modelled concentrations against a compilation of reported SMX measurements in surface waters revealed reasonable results despite inherent model uncertainties. A total of 409 000 km of rivers were predicted to have SMX concentrations that exceed environmental risk thresholds. Given the high spatial resolution of predictions, HydroFATE is particularly useful as a screening tool to identify areas of potentially elevated contaminant exposure and to guide where local monitoring and mitigation strategies should be prioritized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water scarcity is a significant global issue caused by the prolonged disregard and unsustainable management of this essential resource by both public and private bodies. The dependence on fossil fuels further exacerbates society's bleak environmental conditions. Therefore, it is crucial to explore alternative solutions to preserve our nation's water resources properly and promote the production of biofuels. Research into the utilization of E. crassipes to remove heavy metals and generate biofuels is extensive. The combination of these two lines of inquiry presents an excellent opportunity to achieve sustainable development goals. This study aims to develop a sustainable wastewater treatment system and generate biohydrogen from dry, pulverized E. crassipes biomass. A treatment system was implemented to treat 1 L of industrial waste. The interconnected compartment system was built by utilizing recycled PET bottles to generate biohydrogen by reusing the feedstock for the treatment process. The production of biological hydrogen through dark fermentation, using biomass containing heavy metals as a biohydrogen source, was studied. Cr (VI) and Pb (II) levels had a low impact on hydrogen production. The uncontaminated biomass of E. crassipes displayed a significantly higher hydrogen yield (81.7 mL H2/g glucose). The presence of Cr (IV) in E. crassipes leads to a decrease in biohydrogen yield by 14%, and the presence of Pb (II) in E. crassipes leads to a decrease in biohydrogen yield of 26%. This work proposes a strategy that utilizes green technologies to recover and utilize contaminated water. Additionally, it enables the production of bioenergy with high efficiency, indirectly reducing greenhouse gases. This strategy aligns with international programs for the development of a circular economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focuses on using activated fly ash to preparate silica aerogel by the acid solution–alkali leaching method and ambient pressure drying. Additionally, to improve the performance of silica aerogel, C6H16O3Si (KH-570) and CH3Si(CH3O)3 (MTMS) modifiers were used. Finally, this paper investigated the factors affecting the desilication rate of fly ash and analyzed the structure and performance of silica aerogel. The experimental results show that: (1) The factors affecting the desilication rate are ranked as follows: hydrochloric acid concentration > solid–liquid ratio > reaction temperature > reaction time. (2) KH-570 showed the best performance, and when the volume ratio of the silica solution to it was 10:1, the density of silica aerogel reached a minimum of 183 mg/cm3. (3) The optimal process conditions are a hydrochloric acid concentration of 20 wt%, a solid–liquid ratio of 1:4, a reaction time of two hours, and a reaction temperature of 100 °C. (4) The optimal performance parameters of silica aerogel were the thermal conductivity, specific surface area, pore volume, average pore size, and contact angle values, with 0.0421 W·(m·K)−1, 487.9 m2·g−1, 1.107 cm3·g−1, 9.075 nm, and 123°, respectively. This study not only achieves the high-value utilization of fly ash, but also facilitates the effective recovery and utilization of industrial waste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the substantial volume of waste produced and the potential for high-value bioactive compounds to be extracted from potato peel, the valorization of industrial waste of potato processing industry is the subject of this research. The study presents an innovative technique for efficient extraction of 4-hydroxybenzoic acid (P-HBA), a valuable bioactive molecule, from potato peel extract by utilizing molecularly imprinted chitosan beads (MICB). The MICB was synthesized using environmentally benign cross-linkers such as Tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS), Sodium triphosphate (STPP), while P-HBA was is used as a template. The MICB was investigated using FTIR, SEM, and EDAX. Adsorption studies were conducted to optimize parameters like adsorbent dose, solution concentration, time and pH. A recovery rate of 95.07 % is recorded from a synthetic P-HBA solution when measured by HPLC while from the actual potato processing industrial effluent the same is 40 %. The adsorption capacity of MICB is 67.5 mg g−1 and specific binding capacity is 20.62 mg g−1 which remained unchanged for six consecutive cycle reuse. This is the first study to report uptake of a bioactive molecule from actual potato processing industry waste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The evolution of regulatory perspectives regarding the health and nutritional properties of industrial hemp-based products (Cannabis sativa L.) has pushed research to focus on the development of new methods for both the extraction and formulation of the bioactive compounds present in hemp extracts. While the psychoactive and medicinal properties of hemp-derived cannabinoid extracts are well known, much less has been investigated on the functional and antimicrobial properties of hemp extracts. Within the hemp value chain, various agricultural wastes and by-products are generated. These materials can be valorised through eco-innovations, ultimately promoting sustainable economic development. In this study, we explored the use of waste from industrial light cannabis production for the extraction of bioactive compounds without the addition of chemicals. The five extracts obtained were tested for their antimicrobial activity on both planktonic and sessile cells of pathogenic strains of the Candida albicans, Candida parapsilosis, and Candida tropicalis species and for their antioxidant activity on HT-29 colon cancer cells under oxidative stress. Our results demonstrated that these extracts display interesting properties both as antioxidants and in hindering the development of fungal biofilm, paving the way for further investigations into the sustainable valorisation of hemp waste for different biomedical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Citrus fruits are one of the most widely used fruits around the world and are used as raw fruits, but are also processed into products such as beverages, and large amounts of by-products and waste are generated in this process. Globally, disposal of citrus waste (CW) through simple landfilling or ocean dumping can result in soil and groundwater contamination, which can negatively impact ecosystem health. The case of Korea is not much different in that these wastes are simply buried or recycled wastes are used as livestock feed additives. However, there are many reports that CW, which is a waste, has high potential to produce a variety of products that can minimize environmental load and increase added value through appropriate waste management. In this study, we aim to explore the latest developments in the evaluation and valorization of the growing CW green technologies in an effort to efficiently and environmentally transform these CW for resource recovery, sustainability, and economic benefits. Recent research strategies on integrated biorefinery approaches have confirmed that CW can be converted into various bioproducts such as enzymes, biofuels and biopolymers, further contributing to energy security. It was found that more efforts are needed to scale up green recovery technologies and achieve diverse product profiling to achieve zero waste levels and industrial viability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heterogeneous photocatalysis–self-Fenton technology is a sustainable strategy for treating organic pollutants in actual water bodies with high-fluent degradation and high mineralization capacity, overcoming the limitations of the safety risks caused by adding external iron sources and hazardous chemicals in the homogeneous Fenton reaction and injecting high-intensity energy fields in photo-Fenton reaction. Herein, a photo-self-Fenton system based on resorcinol–formaldehyde (RF) resin and red mud (RM) was established to generate hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in situ and transform into hydroxy radical (•OH) for efficient degradation of tetracycline (TC) under visible light irradiation. The capturing experiments and electron spin resonance (ESR) confirmed that the hinge for the enhanced performance of this system is the superior H2O2 yield (499 μM) through the oxygen reduction process (ORR) of the two-step single-electron over the resin and the high concentration of •OH due to activation effect of RM. In addition, the Fe2+/Fe3+ cycles are accelerated by photoelectrons to effectively initiate the photo-self-Fenton reaction. Finally, the possible degradation pathways were proposed via liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). This study provides a new idea for environmental recovery in a waste-based heterogeneous photocatalytic self-Fenton system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bark residues from Douglas fir are an abundant resource that is currently used primarily in low-value energy recovery or is landfilled. Bark extractives are rich in diverse compounds like terpenes, fatty acids, phenols, and sugars with potential uses in a variety of high value applications. The study explores the potential of enzymatic hydrolysis to improve phenolic compounds from Douglas fir bark. It also assesses differences in chemical composition among rhytidome, phloem, and comingled bark fractions from an industrial waste pile. Phloem fractions exhibit higher yields of extractives, rhytidome fractions have elevated lignin levels, while the comingled fraction lies between the two except in ash content which was higher than in the separated fractions. Fungal decay tests with Gloeophyllum trabeum and Coniophora puteana on extract treated wood suggest potential for growth inhibition in extracts, about 58–31 % and 30–7% mass loss (in average) respectively, but due to high mass loss at low concentrations an enzymatic modification approach seems crucial for enhanced inhibition. Growth responses in whole-cell fermentation approach display variability depending on the participating microorganisms. Enzymatic hydrolysis with beta-glucosidase improved the antioxidant properties of bark extracts and holds promise for altering the chemical composition and enhancing bioactivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The non-aromatic, heterocyclic hexamine is one of the most refractory pollutants in some industrial effluents and food-grade plastics. This compound and its derivatives harm human health with limited options for eco-friendly biological treatment. This study reports the characterization of two rapid hexamine-removing bacterial isolates, Micromonospora citrea SRCHD01 and Micrococcus luteus SRCHD02, from wastewater of Hexamine producing plant at Vishakapatnam, India. The former is a structured biofilm former while the latter is a weak biofilm former with both isolates dividing faster under immobilized conditions. Isolate SRCHD01 could reduce 200 mg/L hexamine to 84.91 mg/L in 24 h with associated Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) reduction of 99% from an initial concentration of 8028.93 mg/L within 120 h, making it the fastest hexamine-removing bacteria reported till date. The investigation opens a new avenue for studying the bioremediation of hexamine in biofilm reactors ensuring environmental protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the context of ongoing rapid industrialization, the increasing deposition of industrial waste has arisen as a persistent global challenge, necessitating immediate attention and subsequent implementation of sustainable remedies. This study convenes on the efficacy of industrial wastes, namely fly ash and ground granulated blast furnace slag, as geopolymer concrete synthesizers in conjunction with the incorporation of reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) aggregates as a replacement for natural coarse aggregates varying over 25% to 100%. Under 7 days of ambient curing, employing 14M NaOH and a 50% RAP replacement, the mix achieved significant strengths of 41.80 MPa in compression and 4.72 MPa in flexure, affirming its suitability for pavement quality concrete (PQC). Through this study, the phenomenon of efflorescence could also be explored, which was particularly significant during the winter seasons. Furthermore, the declining coefficient of determination (R2) with the rise in RAP, observed in the correlation between compressive strength and ultrasonic pulse velocity (USPV), likely signified increased variability in the mixture at higher replacement levels. Assessment of long-term performance in terms of resistance to surface abrasion established the mix as durable, depicting minimal depth of wear (0.081 mm). Furthermore, results of the rapid chloride penetration test (RCPT) demonstrated that the presence of adhered asphalt in RAP aggregates reduces porosity and enhances resistance. Microstructural study was additionally conducted to comprehend the importance of adhered asphalt in impeding crack propagation. ANOVA established a highly significant relationship between the interaction of curing age and RAP fractions with the strength characteristics of the mix. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electric arc furnace slag (EAF) and sandstone waste (SW) are two of the most abundantly generated industrial wastes whose utilization as precursors and supplementary cementitious materials has not been exhaustively studied. The current research study comprehensively investigates the effects of incorporating varying proportions (0–90%) of re-melted EAF as a co-additive on the engineering properties of elevated (80 °C) and ambient (30 °C) cured alkali-activated SW-based binders. Extensive laboratory tests were conducted to assess the physio-mechanical and durability performance of the resulting alkali-activated materials (AAM). Detailed mineralogical and microstructural characterization of SW, EAF, and alkali-activated samples was carried out using sophisticated analytical techniques. Results advocated that irrespective of the curing temperatures, SW-based AAM showed improved setting behavior, compressive strength, water absorption, and porosity characteristics with the increment of EAF at all substitution levels due to the concomitant development of CASH-CSH-NASH gel phases. Overall, it can be inferred that EAFs as a pozzolanic material successfully augmented the properties of SW-based alkali-activated binders, providing an efficient solution for disposal and negative environmental impacts associated with industrial wastes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Warm mix asphalt mixtures became attractive paving mixes by reducing the production temperature to around 25–40 °C as compared to that of conventional hot mix asphalt (HMA). This study aims to evaluate the warm mix asphalt (WMA) using wax-based additives by incorporating two types of industrial wastes. The potential application of low calcium fly ash (FA), i.e. class F type and marble dust (MD), has been evaluated by varying different percentage. The cylindrical samples were prepared and assessed for moisture susceptibility by being subjected to Marshall stability, retained Marshall stability (RMS), indirect tensile strength (ITS) and tensile strength ratio (TSR) tests. Furthermore, the samples were also evaluated for finding the refusal density, Cantabro loss and the rutting performance. A scanning electron microscope (SEM) was also used to evaluate the size and microstructure of the filler particles. The results revealed that the inclusion of fillers into mixes had significant improvement in the mechanical properties and lowered the rutting value with FA and MD addition. The warm mix additive and fillers used were also useful in reducing the binder content of the mixes. The mixing temperature was found to be in the range of 120–130 °C using the warm mix additive. The optimum usage of FA and MD can be up to 5% based on the evaluation. The statistical results reported that there was a significant difference between FA-based and MD-based WMA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Engineered geopolymer composites (EGC) have emerged as a more environmentally friendly alternative to conventional engineered cementitious composites (ECC). These composites offer high mechanical and durability features. However, there is a lack of research on EGC, particularly with basic oxygen furnace (BOF) slag as a precursor and iron ore tailings (IOT) as a partial replacement to fine aggregate. Despite their effectiveness as industrial waste products in conventional concrete, this study aimed to determine the optimal compositions of fly ash (FA), steel fibres (SF), and IOT by varying their percentages. Overall, 150 mix combinations were tested, including six binder combinations, five combinations of fine aggregates, and five percentage variations in SF. Finally, one optimum mix was selected for each binder combination, based on the ultimate compressive strength values corresponding to the six optimal mixes. The compressive strengths of all the mixes were evaluated at both 7 and 28 days of curing, involving three replicate samples after oven curing (initial 24 h) followed by subsequent ambient curing until their respective ages. The highest observed compressive strength after 28 days was 41.77 MPa for 50 mm cubes. This strength was achieved with a composition of 60% FA, 1.5% SF, and 45% IOT. An increase in IOT percentage led to a nearly linear increase in strength, while the strength peaked at 1.5% for steel fibres. The addition of BOF slag significantly enhanced the compressive strength compared to mixes with full FA. A 40% fly ash replacement with BOF slag resulted in an average strength that was 39% higher than the combination with 100% fly ash. However, the strength growth decreased after a 10% replacement. Analysis of variance was conducted using the design of experiments methodology to determine the significance of the parameters and their interactions. All three independent parameters were found to be statistically significant, while their interactions were not. Utilizing Taguchi's analysis method with the L25 orthogonal array, it was concluded that IOT percentage was the most influential parameter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Saccharum spontaneum, popularly known as Kashful (KF) is a seasonal perennial grass with thin culms, mostly an abundantly growing shrub during the autumn season in southern Asia. It is used as no-cost scavenger to convincingly arrest methylene blue, a recalcitrant dye from colored effluent. FTIR, FESEM-EDX, and BET surface area characterize the material well whereas the surface activity was evaluated from zero-point charge (pHZPC = 6.720). FTIR highlights the presence of polyphenolic and carboxylate moieties. The surface texture is rod-like with intermittent non-homogeneous pores with occasional fractures. The equilibrium reaches within 60 min with the maximum adsorption capacity of 20.917 mg/g. The fibrous powder of kashful stalk (KFS) follows pseudo-second-order (R2 = 0.999 for linear and R2 = 0.985 for non-linear) kinetics and both Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm model (for linear, Langmuir R2=0.995; for non-linear, R2 = 0.994 for both Langmuir and Freundlich model). The uptake process was spontaneous (ΔG= −3.077 kJ/mol) and endothermic (ΔH = 17.815 kJ/mol). 1:1 methanol could regenerate the dye-loaded material in up to 55% and onward efficiency was conducive for three consecutive cycles. Industrial effluent analysis suggests a real-time removal of ∼55% in the first cycle. Saccharum spontaneum could be exercised to solve environmental problems related to colored water. Saccharum spontaneum, also known as wild sugarcane is an abundantly available long grass with relatively slender culms; usually 100–150 cm tall, grows in the autumn season (August-October) in the south-east part of Asia, and displays steady tillering. Being a non-preferred meal for local herbivores, the material lies abandoned as bio-waste. At the same time, the search for a newer and cleaner alternative for wastewater treatment is on the rise. In line with the waste-to-wealth protocol for a sustainable environment, we have demonstrated the facile uptake of a recalcitrant dye methylene blue (20.917 mg/g) using its stalks powder. The present method is free from any hazardous chemical activation, acid-base treatment, or pyrolysis. With the ability to treat industrial effluent, the material highlights an impactful application in a lab-to-land fashion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Industrial wastewater has detrimental impacts on aquatic ecosystems and the environment. Among the significant contributors to water pollution are organic dyes, which are frequently released into untreated outflow water. Hence, effective degradation of these dyes and their derivatives using heterogeneous photocatalysts is imperative before discharge. In this study, we successfully synthesized a novel nanocomposite by g-C3N4 coupled with TiO2 and decorated it with Ni followed by cost-effective methods. Immaculate g-C3N4 coupled with TiO2 (TiO2+) and modified with nickel (Ni+) was synthesized through melamine calcination followed by hydrothermal processing. Characterization through diverse electro-analytical techniques, including X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET), was conducted on the novel photocatalysts. XRD results revealed their high crystallinity, enhanced through modification. The effectiveness of these photocatalysts in degrading the organic dye methylene blue (MB) under UV–Vis light was thoroughly investigated. It also investigated how the results were affected by important factors involving contact time, dye and photocatalyst dosages, pH, and reusability. Among the photocatalysts, the composite g-C3N4-TiO2s, decorated with Ni, exhibited exceptional performance, displaying substantial degradation efficacy. The findings demonstrate that the novel g-C3N4-based photocatalysts are highly efficient at degrading organic dyes, so the work is expected to be the best contribution in the photodegradation study of organic contaminants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water-based paint sludge generated from the automotive industry is considered a hazardous waste due to its high carbon content and is challenging and costly to manage. This study investigates the management of water-based paint sludge through the composting process, considering its high carbon content. The water-based paint sludge was composted in five separate reactors with the addition of treatment sludge from the same industry as co-substrate and inoculum, as well as sunflower stalks as a bulking agent. The ratio of paint sludge added to the compost mixtures varied between 40% and 80%. The highest temperature was achieved in reactors where industrial sludge was added, and the bulking agent was used at a rate of 20% (R3 and R5). The most efficient composting process was conducted with the addition of 60% water-based paint sludge, 20% treatment sludge, and 20% sunflower stalks (w/w, wet weight basis) (R3). During this process, reductions in organic matter content were observed due to organic matter mineralization, resulting in a decrease in moisture during the maturation phase and consequently reducing waste volumes. The composting process can be a useful tool in addressing the challenges of paint sludge management. Utilizing the composting process not only reduces waste volumes, thereby minimizing environmental impacts, but also offers a sustainable approach to paint sludge management by lowering disposal costs. It is also possible to achieve more effective results by composting paint sludge with different recipes and the use of various bulking agents. Implications: Composting is a method that can be used to achieve stabilization, reduce the quantity, and enable biodrying of water-based paint sludge generated from the automotive industry. In this study, different ratios of paint sludge were mixed with treatment sludge from the same industry as co-substrate and inoculum, while sunflower stalks were added as a bulking agent, and a composting process was conducted. The addition of industrial wastewater treatment sludge and sunflower stalks has increased the efficiency of the paint sludge composting process. In the management of paint sludge, the composting process has emerged as a significant alternative that reduces disposal costs and environmental impacts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Lime peel, obtained from juice factory waste, is considered as a source of pectin. Lime peel pectin samples, extracted by three extraction procedures of 90 °C heating for 120 min, 90 °C heating for 90 min and then 32 min of ultrasound, and 80 °C heating for 60 min and then 22 min of ultrasound, and purified by two methods using ethanol and sodium caseinate (SC), were prepared and characterized. RESULTS: The results showed that the purification method significantly affected the lime pectin samples properties. Pectin samples purified with SC had a transparent and film‐like appearance, whereas the ethanol‐purified pectin samples showed an amorphous and opaque appearance. Pectin samples purified with ethanol showed higher extraction recovery (approximately 20%), whereas the lowest pectin yield was observed for the purification with SC (approximately 10%). Although SC purification did not enhance the pectin yield, it diminished the level of 'non‐pectin' components and resulted in purer pectin. The bands at 1045–1076 cm−1, relating to neutral sugars, had higher intensities in ethanol‐purified pectin samples, indicating their higher sugar contents. Also the samples purified with SC exhibited more thermal stability, probably as a result of the presence of protein in their structure. CONCLUSION: In the present study, under the same or varying extraction conditions, the most important element distinguishing pectins in terms of appearance, physicochemical, thermal and Fourier transform infrared characteristics was the type of purification method. Purification with SC may result in pectins with more non‐esterified galacturonic acids from the homogalacturonan fraction. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A novel gravity model integrating multilayer network for waste trade is executed. • Multilayer network results show new patterns challenge the North-South pattern. • Northern waste havens indicate a recycling market for textile and metal scrap waste. • PHH is better supported for highly connected hubs and havens in SDT waste. • Stringent waste management policies reduce exports and imports in SDT waste. Waste management is an international enterprise, and it is important to understand global flows of recyclable materials. The Pollution Haven Hypothesis (PHH) suggests that waste moves from high income nations with stringent environmental policy to low income nations with less environmentally stringent policy, by exploiting low labor and regulatory costs. This paper assesses the PHH thesis for slag/dross and textiles (SDT) wastes in PHH through novel integration of the multilayer network and gravity models. The multilayer network model generates network effect that quantifies interlayer connections of multiple waste trade networks. Instead of North-South movement of waste, North-North, South-South, and even South-North are shown. Results from the gravity model indicate that stringent waste management policies reduce both waste exports and imports. PHH is not found for slags/dross where high income countries are importing the waste, contradicting PHH. On the other hand, PHH is more evident between highly connected hubs and havens in SDT waste trade networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]