Wastewater is contaminated water that must be treated before it may be transferred into other rivers and lakes in order to prevent further groundwater pollution. Over the last decade, research has been conducted on a wide variety of contaminants, but the emerging contaminants are those caused primarily by micropollutants, endocrine disruptors (EDs), pesticides, pharmaceuticals, hormones, and toxins, as well as industrially-related synthetic dyes and dye-containing hazardous pollutants. Most emerging pollutants did not have established guidelines, but even at low concentrations they could have harmful effects on humans and aquatic organisms. In order to combat the above ecological threats, huge efforts have been done with a view to boosting the effectiveness of remediation procedures or developing new techniques for the detection, quantification and efficiency of the samples. The increase of interest in biotechnology and environmental engineering gives an opportunity for the development of more innovative ways to water treatment remediation. The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of emerging sources of contaminants, detection technologies, and treatment strategies. The goal of this review is to evaluate adsorption as a method for treating emerging pollutants, as well as sophisticated and cost-effective approaches for treating emerging contaminants.
Using the parametrically designed battery pack in Grasshopper, a Voronoi grain-based discrete element model was established in the three-dimensional distinct element code, incorporating progressively increasing grain equivalent diameters. A grain-based stress corrosion model, enhanced with an improved stress corrosion theory, was further proposed to simulate both the direct shear characteristics and shear creep behaviour of unsaturated sandstone under varying normal stresses. The mesoscopic parameters, including the contact properties between grains and the stress corrosion parameters, were then calibrated. This ensured that the model could accurately reproduce the mechanical properties of sandstone observed in laboratory tests. The modelling results indicated that tensile cracks were the dominant cracks generated during the shear process under various saturations and normal stresses, along with a few shear cracks. A significant negative correlation was observed between the joint roughness coefficient (JRC) and the ratio of long-term to peak shear strength. Additionally, increased normal stress or decreased saturation were both found to accelerate the time-dependent failure process, leading to a shorter time-to-failure under constant shear loading. We summarize that the proposed model effectively characterizes the direct shear and creep behaviour of unsaturated sandstone at varying roughnesses and normal stresses.
The article analyzes the applicability of hydrodynamic scaling laws in the design of fins for swimming humanoid robots intended to perform demanding and high‑risk underwater tasks in hydraulic engineering and sanitary technology. It is demonstrated that fin length plays a crucial role in the efficiency of rapid locomotion, which may be applied to tasks such as delivering equipment to divers in caissons or transporting materials in underwater environments. The presented mathematical relationships provide a tool supporting the selection of optimal fin parameters in engineering practice. The proposed modeling algorithms can be applied not only in the context of humanoid robots but also to human swimming, thereby extending the range of potential applications. Calculations are presented for the propulsion generated by the fins of a humanoid robot of the Morphobot type. The robot’s design enables transformation from a humanoid to a sirenoid configuration by replacing the lower body segment with a tail module integrated with a monofin. It is shown that the use of a single monofin attached to both legs eliminates functional redundancy, whereas integration of the monofin with a dedicated tail module increases reliability. The highest level of functional redundancy is achieved when two separate fins are mounted on each leg in elongated boots reaching mid‑calf, equipped with fastening straps and buckles. This solution, referred to as hybrid mounting, ensures functional redundancy by allowing task continuation even in the event of the loss of one fin. Keywords: fin hydrodynamics, scaling laws, humanoid robots, underwater construction, hydraulic engineering, sanitary technology, bioinspired design, robot locomotion, underwater safety, aquatic robotics
Digitalization and sustainability are important topics for manufacturing industries as they are affecting all parts of the production chain. Various initiatives and approaches are set up to help companies adopt the principles of the fourth industrial revolution with respect sustainability. Within these actions the use of modern maintenance approaches such as Maintenance 4.0 is highlighted as one of the prevailing smart & sustainable manufacturing topics. The goal of this paper is to describe the latest trends within the area of maintenance management from the perspective of the challenges of the fourth industrial revolution and the economic, environmental and social challenges of sustainable development. In this work, intelligent and sustainable maintenance was considered in three perspectives. The first per- spective is the historical perspective, in relation to which evolution has been presented in the approach to maintenance in accordance with the development of production engineering. The next perspective is the development perspective, which presents historical perspectives on maintenance data and data-driven maintenance technology. The third perspective, presents maintenance in the context of the dimensions of sustainable development and potential opportunities for including data-driven maintenance technology in the implementation of the economic, environmental and social challenges of sustainable production.
Abiotic stresses, caused by climate change pose a huge threat to agriculture. In particular, climate change related drought stress will have large negative impact on crop growth, development and eventually production. As the changes in the weather patterns have a direct impact on farmers' capability to grow crops, the urgency of improving farmers' adaptive capacity should be addressed to minimize the potential negative impacts of climate change. Availability of adaptation technologies that would reduce crop production losses is of utmost importance in attaining climate change resilient crops. One potential adaptive measure is the use of crop varieties resilient to climate change related stresses. Various breeding technologies have been used to develop new durable crops, if not, enhanced or improve the ability of crops to survive under adverse environmental conditions, brought about by the changes in climate. One of the most sustainable strategies to mitigate these effects to agriculture is the development of climate resilient crops. Crops that can thrive under extreme weather conditions as effects of the changing climates. Conventional breeding may not be enough to develop new breeds of crops with better durability to abiotic stresses such as drought, salinity, submergence, high and low temperatures. Thus, other strategies as stand-alone or in combination with conventional breeding, are explored to enhance genetic variability for improving tolerance to abiotic stresses. These are the biotechnological approaches including marker assisted breeding, mutation breeding, genetic engineering and genome editing. These technologies offer a better future for developing climate change resilient crops.
P. C. Fiorini, Charbel J. Chiappetta Jabbour, H. Latan
et al.
Anchored in the resource-based view, this research analyzes the relationships between green information systems (Green IS), green human resource management (GHRM), and green supply chains (GSCM). It then examines the effects of these relationships on the environmental and financial performance of organizations. To meet the proposed objectives, a survey was carried out with 211 Brazilian companies, with the data analysis stage employing the structural equation modeling technique. The main findings include that green information systems play an important role in supporting green supply chain practices, and indirectly contribute to environmental and financial performance by facilitating organizational processes. Furthermore, our results reveal that human resources partially mediate the relationship between information systems and green supply chains, through employee engagement in environmental management and rewards based on environmental performance. This study also brings a number of theoretical and practical contributions. In terms of theory, it highlights a previously unexplored relationship between the prevailing concepts of Green IS, GSCM, and GHRM, and their impacts on firm performance, which enriches the body of knowledge in the IS, HR, and engineering management fields. For practitioners, this study reveals how they can strategically articulate HR, IS, and supply chain functions to support sustainability strategies. The findings clarify that blending technical (IS) and soft (HR) skills is pivotal to developing valuable GSCM capabilities to support and improve companies’ performance.
The pervasive occurrence of emerging contaminants (ECs) in sewage sludge (SWS) poses significant safety challenges concerning the processing, disposal, and secure application, ultimately jeopardizing both human health and the ecological environment. To comprehensively comprehend the evolutionary trajectories, present state, and research advancements in the field of ECs in SWS, a systematic was conducted, scrutinizing the annual publication quantity, disciplinary distribution, core authors, involved nations/regions, pertinent keywords, and citation status of 2082 research publications related to ECs in SWS from 1990 to 2023. The results indicate a substantial upward trajectory in the research literature pertaining to ECs in SWS. The study of ECs in SWS encompasses 78 disciplines, including Environmental Sciences, Environmental Engineering, and Water Resources. China, Spain, and the USA ranked among the top three countries in terms of both total publications and citation frequency. The majority of publications were published in reputable high-impact journals such as Science of the Total Environment, Chemosphere, and Bioresource Technology. Based on high-frequency keywords, co-occurrence networks of keywords, and keywords burst analysis, it is found that the occurrence and environment behavior of ECs in SWS (ARGs, microplastics, PPCPs, and POPs), the detection and analytical methods, the impact on SWS treatment and disposal processes, and the accumulation and ecological risks in plants and soil during SWS land utilization, are the main research directions and hot topics in this field. In the future, the study of the impact of SWS treatment technologies on ECs removal is expected to receive increased research attention.
This comprehensive study explores the realm of organic photovoltaics, a pivotal green energy technology, tracing its journey from early theoretical concepts to its current status as a promising avenue for sustainable energy production. The research meticulously examines the series of developmental milestones in the conversion of solar energy into electrical power, with a specialized focus on the evolution, technological advancements, and the inherent challenges faced by organic solar cells. Delving into the foundational aspects of organic photovoltaics, this paper reviews the initial discovery and subsequent enhancements in material science that have significantly influenced the efficiency and practicality of organic solar cells. It provides a detailed analysis of the various organic materials used over the years, including small molecules and polymers, discussing their light-absorbing capabilities, charge transport properties, and the innovative engineering behind the architectures of organic photovoltaic devices. A substantial portion of the study is dedicated to highlighting the unique advantages of organic photovoltaics, such as their lightweight nature, flexibility, and potential for low-cost production through roll-to-roll processes. These benefits are juxtaposed with the current limitations of organic photovoltaic technology, including comparatively lower efficiency and lifespan issues, to present a balanced perspective on the current state of organic photovoltaic development. Furthermore, the paper explores the environmental impact of organic solar cells, emphasizing their role in reducing carbon footprint and dependency on fossil fuels. It assesses the lifecycle analyses of organic photovoltaics, from manufacturing to disposal, to underscore their potential as an eco-friendly alternative to traditional photovoltaic technologies. In addressing the future prospects of organic photovoltaics, the research outlines the ongoing efforts in material innovation, device engineering, and scalability challenges. It discusses the role of interdisciplinary collaboration in overcoming the technical hurdles and enhancing the commercial viability of organic photovoltaics. The potential for integration of organic photovoltaics s into the urban landscape, wearable technology, and portable power sources is also explored, highlighting the versatile applications of organic solar cells in meeting the diverse energy needs of the modern world. In conclusion, this paper not only provides a thorough historical overview and current state analysis of organic photovoltaics but also forecasts the exciting advancements on the horizon. By identifying the critical factors for the success of organic photovoltaics and proposing strategic directions for future research, this study contributes valuable insights into the ongoing quest for renewable energy solutions. It calls for increased investment and research focus on organic photovoltaics as a key player in the global transition towards a sustainable and energy-efficient future.
Environmental pollution from organic and inorganic pollutants poses a threat to the ecosystem. Pollutant's prevalence and persistence have increased significantly in recent years. In order to enhance the quality of naturally accessible water to a level suitable for human consumption, a number of techniques have been employed. In this context, the use of cutting-edge nanotechnology to classical process engineering paves the way for technical encroachments in advanced water and wastewater technology. Nanotechnology has the potential to ameliorate the quality, availability, and viability of water supplies in the long run by facilitating reuse, recycling and remediation of water. The promising role of nanotechnology in wastewater remediation is highlighted in this paper, which also covers current advancements in nanotechnology-mediated remediation systems. Moreover, nano-based materials such as nano-adsorbents, photocatalysts, nano-metals and nanomembranes are discussed in this review of recent breakthroughs in nanotechnologies for water contaminant remediation.
Understanding plant biology and related microbial ecology as a means to phytoremediate soil and groundwater contamination has broadened and advanced the field of environmental engineering and science over the past 30 years. Using plants to transform and degrade xenobiotic organic pollutants delivers new methods for environmental restoration. Manipulations of the plant microbiome through bioaugmentation, endophytes, adding various growth factors, genetic modification, and/or selecting the microbial community via insertion of probiotics or phages for gene transfer are future areas of research to further expand this green, cost-effective, aesthetically pleasing technology—phytoremediation.
Roberta Stefanini, Arianna Paini, Giuseppe Vignali
ABSTRACTPlastic or bioplastic? Which is the least impactful flexible packaging solution for the environment? In literature, few works try to answer this question, and most of them are focused on food packaging applications, comparing only polylactic acid (PLA) with polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or other virgin plastics. Besides these lacks in the literature, this work aims at contributing to the scientific knowledge, helping in the meanwhile packaging companies to choose the best solution also for hygienic and sanitary applications as far as the environmental impact is concerned. The study is focused on the life cycle assessment of four solutions made of maize starch, PLA and polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT), low‐density polyethylene (LDPE) and a recycled LDPE (R‐LDPE). The functional unit was a flexible packaging containing 10 sanitary towels. Primary data were retrieved thanks to an Italian company, whereas secondary data were extracted from the Ecoinvent 3.7 database. The SimaPro 9.4 software has been used to calculate the global warming, water consumption, acidification and abiotic depletion of elements and fossil fuels of each packaging solution. The results show that the raw materials and packaging production are the most impactful phases during the life cycle of plastics and bioplastics packaging, if compared to the distribution phase, the auxiliary materials involved and the final disposal. Great benefits could be gained using recycled plastics, which allow to reduce the extraction of virgin materials and overall appear as the best solution from an environmental point of view to package also sanitary products.
Kurella Bhanu Revathi, Mimansa, Mankani Aishwarya
et al.
Heavy metals cause alarming levels of environmental and health problems and among them Cadmium has become a threat to organisms and natural resources like soil and water alike. It accumulates in living systems thereby causing oxidative stress. Efforts are made for bioremediation of heavy metals by employing biosorption, which is a well-known economic method for removal and in the current study Selaginella bryopteris was used as biosorbent. The biosorption capacity was optimized by its physicochemical parameters such as pH, dosage, contact time, and temperature. Cadmium-induced Reactive Oxygen Species levels and the antioxidant potential of S. bryopteris in ameliorating them were studied in Drosophila melanogaster. Water-quality analysis was performed using Chemical Oxygen Demand(COD) and Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) and effect of S.bryopteris on these parameters were also analyzed. Further the concentration of Cadmium via colorimetric assay and Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy(AAS) was employed to quantify the Cadmium in lake water samples before and after treatment with biosorbent. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) were performed to characterize the surface properties for adsorptive removal of metal ions, and antioxidant studies were conducted to assess the role of S. bryopteris in suppressing oxidative stress.
The multidisciplinary approach outlined in this paper aims to assess the correlation between geophysical and social vulnerability for disaster risk reduction. To achieve this, two multi-criteria methods based on Geographic Information Systems (GIS) techniques have been integrated to assess the risk to natural hazards in the North-East Development Region. The Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) was utilized to conduct a comprehensive hazard analysis, including floods, landslides, and earthquakes. The Principal Component Analysis (PCA) method was applied to examine the spatial distribution of social vulnerability at the Local Administrative Unit (LAU level), utilizing 24 variables to generate 6 principal components. Based on these results a Regional Risk Index (RRI) was developed using the bivariate method, combining the multi-hazard distribution with social vulnerability. The results showed that the north-eastern part of the region presents the highest risk, encompassing 10.68% of administrative units. These results can contribute to the design of risk reduction programs and policies.
Sulfur-based autotrophic denitrification (SAD) and pyrite-based autotrophic denitrification (PAD) are important technologies that address nitrate pollution, but high sulfate production and low denitrification efficiency, respectively, limit their application in engineering. A bio-denitrification reactor with sulfur and pyrite as filler materials was studied to remove NO3--N from nitrate contaminated water. At an influent NO3--N concentration of 50 mg/L, NO3--N removal efficiency of the sulfur/pyrite-based bioreactor was 99.2%, producing less NH4+-N and SO42- than the sulfur-based bioreactor, even after long-term operation. Denitrification performance was significantly related to environmental variable, especially dissolved oxygen. Proteobacteria and Epsilonbacteraeota were the predominant phyla in the sulfur/pyrite-based bioreactor, and fewer dissimilatory nitrate reductions to ammonia process-related bacteria were enriched compared to those in the sulfur-based bioreactor. Sulfur-pyrite bio-denitrification provides an efficient alternative method for treatment of nitrate contaminated water.
Purpose The study was devoted to conceptualize, develop and evaluate a collector-cum-chopper for in situ paddy straw degradation at the farmer’s field level. The intention was to increase the amount of straw cut at size below 5 cm for nutrient recycling.Method A paddy straw collector-cum-chopper comprised of three sub-systems i.e. straw collection and conveying unit, straw chopping device and discharging mechanism was designed and developed. The performance evaluation, economic assessment of paddy straw collector-cum-chopper and fertility status of soil was recorded.Results The results revealed that operating the machine at 40% moisture content, forward speed 3 kmph and 40 cm height of cut resulted into percentage of paddy straw <5 cm, 5-10 cm, 10-15 cm and > 15 cm as 63.5 %, 8.12 %, 6.44 % and 17.92 percent. At such a condition, it consumed 5.78 lh-1, 7.82 kWh-ton-1 energy at 2.06 tonnesh-1 productivity. The operating cost was Rs.694.6 h-1, break-even point 556 hours per annum, annual utility 1146 tonnes, pay-back period 1 year and unit cost of paddy straw chopping as Rs.58.44 per tonne. The mixing of the treated paddy straw with the soil bolstered NPK and organic carbon by 64.61%, 48.36%%, 74.32% and 54.54% with respect to 38.37%, 34.91%, 38.69%, 43.33% treated paddy straw kept above the soil.Conclusion The study provides an opportunity to bolster nutrient content of the soil, restrict the dependence on hazardous chemical fertilizers and protect the environment.
Homa Moghimi, Tayebeh Sharifi, Zohreh Latifi
et al.
Background: Emotional divorce is an unpleasant event in married life that involves emotional, cognitive, behavioral, social, and even economic changes. In this regard, the use of new therapeutic approaches to improve and repair emotional divorce is increasing. The present study aims to compare the effectiveness of group therapy of enriching marital relationships and forgiveness on interpersonal motivations related to the wrongdoing of women involved in emotional divorce.
Methods: The method of the present study was experimental with pre-test, post-test design and follow-up with a control group. The statistical population of the study included all women with emotional divorce who were referred to clinics affiliated to Isfahan Welfare Organization to receive family counseling services in 2020-2021. Using purposive sampling method, 60 women were selected and randomly divided into three groups of first experiment (n = 20), second experiment (n = 20), and control (n = 20). The experimental groups received the marital relationship enrichment intervention in seven sessions and forgiveness intervention in nine sessions over two months. Guttman Emotional Divorce Questionnaire and McCullough et al. Transgression-Related Interpersonal Motivations (TRIM) scale were used to collect data. Data were analyzed using repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA).
Findings: Training in enrichment of marital relationships and forgiveness was effective on revenge and avoidance of women involved in emotional divorce. Moreover, a significant difference was found between the two educational interventions in the post-test and follow-up stages, so that the relationship enrichment treatment was more effective on the avoidance component and the forgiveness intervention was more effective on the revenge component.
Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, the interventions can be used as an effective solution to improve the psychological performance of couples with emotional divorce in family counseling centers, specialized clinics, and premarital educational centers.
Environmental technology. Sanitary engineering, Medicine
W. A. M. A. N. Illankoon, Chiara Milanese, Maria Cristina Collivignarelli
et al.
The quantity of organic waste generated by agricultural sectors is continually increasing due to population growth and rising food demand. Rice is the primary consumable food in Asia. However, many stakeholders follow a linear economic model such as the “take–make–waste” concept. This linear model leads to a substantial environmental burden and the destruction of valuable resources without gaining their actual value. Because these by-products can be converted into energy generating and storage materials, and into bio-based products by cascading transformation processes within the circular economy concept, waste should be considered a central material. This review examines the composition of rice straw, bran, and husks, and the procedures involved in manufacturing value-added goods, from these wastes. Moreover, starting with an extensive literature analysis on the rice value chains, this work systematizes and displays a variety of strategies for using these by-products. The future development of agricultural waste management is desirable to capitalize on the multi-functional product by circulating all the by-products in the economy. According to the analysis of relevant research, rice straw has considerable potential as a renewable energy source. However, there is a significant research gap in using rice bran as an energy storage material. Additionally, modified rice husk has increased its promise as an adsorbent in the bio-based water treatment industry. Furthermore, the case study of Sri Lanka revealed that developing countries have a huge potential to value these by-products in various sectors of the economy. Finally, this paper provides suggestions for researchers and policymakers to improve the current agriculture waste management system with the best option and integrated approach for economic sustainability and eco- and environmental solution, considering some case studies to develop sustainable waste management processes.
The development of the Internet of Things, drones, and new social media platforms opened up an unprecedented space for the autonomy of human society. It promoted the formation of a new form of social relations and social field— cyber society (Jones, 1995). The cyber society has already become a digital twin of the actual society and even the extensions. It reconstructed the whole society through impacting social control and social norms. In this context, it is of great theoretical and practical significance to expand the field of social governance from traditional society to cyber society. As a vital information carrier, data records all activities in reality and cyber society. At present, cheaper and more accessible data storage, analysis, sharing, and distribution tools brought an explosive and exponential growth of the global data volume. Both governments and business companies have realized the massive value of big data. They took their respective advantages to dig out information for business management and social governance decision-makings from massive and unstructured big data. With artificial intelligence technologies such as machine learning, image identification, and natural language processing, we achieved significant advancements in data collection, processing, optimization, and prediction. These advancements allow us to observe the social operation mechanisms from big data that help the decision-makers improve the modernization level of social governance. In this context, the role of big data in social governance has become a hot topic in the current management research. As an essential field of social governance, modernizing the systems and capacities of environmental governance is an important dimension. Meanwhile, the field of environmental governance offers a broader space for applying big data and artificial intelligence due to its characteristics of multiple spatial-temporal scales, complex interaction effects between pollutants and polluting media, and high uncertainties involving stakeholders (Zhong et al., 2021). A systemic understanding of the role of big data and artificial intelligence in promoting the transformation of environmental governance is in line with national strategic needs and has cross-field demonstration significance. Up to now, most research on big data in environmental governance has been case studies, explaining the technical paths of particular application scenarios. They revealed the partial picture but failed to form systemic thinking. This paper puts forward a conceptual framework for the role of big data in environmental governance. The frontier application scenarios that deserve attention are summarized to elaborate the framework. It also highlights research frontiers of interest to scholars from a wide range of disciplines. Finally, from the viewpoint of system engineering, this paper specifies strategies that should be taken to cope with the challenges in China’s practices.