Hasil untuk "Environmental effects of industries and plants"

Kanchana Anbazhagan, Nagarajan Deivanayagampillai and Nithya Thanagodi

The interdependency between the water and energy infrastructure represents the core challenge of resource management. Effective decision-making for water-energy-food (WEN) scenarios requires robust tools. Traditional Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) approaches are undermined by uncertainty because they assume perfect and complete information, which rarely occurs in Water-Energy Nexus (WEN) issues. Classical models oversimplify the complex interconnections between water and energy systems and therefore result in suboptimal decision-making approaches. Although fuzzy and intuitionistic models are efforts towards uncertainty modelling, they also fall short of fully capturing the dynamics of real-world scenarios. They are inefficient in addressing conflicting and uncertain information, which hinders the practical implementation of these techniques. In addition, the lack of a platform that unites MCDM with integrated uncertainty management increases decisionmaking complications. To bridge these gaps, the current study proposes a new framework that integrates D-number-based multi-criteria analysis with Dempster-Shafer theory (DST) for WEN decision-making. The integration of DST rigorously enhances the ability of DST to process complete, uncertain, and conflicting information for WEN decision-making. The study also compared the performance of the Random Forest and Optimized Artificial Neural Network models.

Rubie Lyn C. Barrientos, John Gerald A. Pilar

The mining industry has intimate ties to the environment, economy, and society. Its life cycle impacts communities in both positive and negative ways, affecting the community. This research investigated the experiences of miners from the Sipalay Mine, which was owned by Maricalum Mining Corporation, formerly Marinduque Mining Industrial Corporation. Using a qualitative approach and ethical research standards, ten purposively selected informants shared their stories. The informants demonstrated resilience by adjusting to challenging situations, striving for a better life, implementing mitigation strategies, and finding contentment in their current circumstances. Following the closure of the mine, former miners faced unemployment and limited resources, but they positively turned to self-determination, exploiting their resource management and entrepreneurial talents. This study proposed the ENCOMTRACOM (Engagement Community, Transitioning Community) collaborative model to ensure sustainable development. This model promotes community involvement, fosters economic growth through livelihood projects, encourages stakeholder collaboration, and facilitates effective communication. Moreover, three layers of scaffolding frameworks: (1) the challenges miners faced post-closure, including unemployment and resource scarcity; (2) the miners’ strengths in resource management, entrepreneurship, and training; and (3) their ability to build resilience through community support, safer livelihoods, and skill development. Overall, the Sipalay miners have demonstrated their adaptability by striving for improvement, reducing risks, and finding fulfillment. This research advocates for the development of future programs on community assistance, entrepreneurship training, and collaboration among universities, local government, and NGOs. While this study may be limited for researchers, this research provides valuable insights for future initiatives on sustainable recovery in post-mining communities.

Anuj Ranjan, V. Rajput, Sudhir S. Shende et al.

Zinc (Zn) is a vital micronutrient required for optimal plant growth and soil fertility. Its use in the form of nanoparticles (NPs) has gained significant attention in agricultural applications. Green synthesized Zn‐based NPs offer an eco‐friendly solution to several conventional problems in agriculture. Several plants, bacteria, fungi and yeast have shown significant potential in fabricating Zn NPs that can provide environmentally friendly solutions in agriculture and the approach is aligned with sustainable agricultural practices, reducing the dependency on harmful agrochemicals. Zn‐based NPs act as plant growth promoters, enhance crop yield, promote resilience to abiotic stressors and are efficient crop protection agents. Their role as a smart delivery system, enabling targeted and controlled release of agrochemicals, further signifies their potential use in agriculture. Because agriculture requires repeated applications hence, the toxicological aspects of Zn NPs cannot be ignored. Zn NPs are reported to cause phytotoxicity, including root damage, physiological and biochemical disturbances, and genotoxic effects. Furthermore, exposure to Zn NPs poses risks to soil microbiota, and aquatic and terrestrial organisms potentially impacting the ecosystem. The green synthesis of Zn‐based NPs has a promising aspect for advancing sustainable agriculture by reducing agrochemical use and improving crop productivity. Their diverse applications as plant growth promoters, crop protectants and smart delivery systems emphasize their potential. However, the toxicological aspects are essential to ensure the standardization of doses for their safe and effective use. Further research would help address such concerns and help in developing viable and eco‐friendly solutions for modern agriculture. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.

Sagar Mozumder, Mahfuza Parveen and A.B.M. Kamal Pasha

The present study assessed the changes in land use and land cover to correlate the variations in the land surface temperature of Chattogram City. To analyze land use land cover (LULC) change and determine its effects on land surface temperature in the city area, temporal Landsat (5,7 ETM+ and 8,9 OLI) imageries from four time periods (2007, 2012, 2017, and 2022) were used. To assess the correctness of the picked random pixels, current ground truth data gathered from several sources was applied. Raster data has been utilized to identify the places that are influenced year-round in the green space (i.e., vegetation cover) and to examine the remote sensing image categorization for the green area using satellite images. These enable the study to explain the causes of the degradation and alteration of green space throughout time. The study identified that urbanization has resulted in a significant rise (about 2840 hectares, 16.74%) in urban land between 2007 and 2022, causing a loss of vegetative land (about 656 hectares, 3.85%). Additionally, the research concentrated on the actual affected area and attempted to forecast the cities’ land use in 2037, which revealed a large loss of vegetation by that year. The research has the potential to be utilized as a reference in the future.

Huanyu Li, Ning Zhang, Jian Yang et al.

Recycled aggregate concrete is prone to significant drying shrinkage, which hinders its broader adoption and the sustainable recycling of construction and demolition waste. This study presents a novel internal curing strategy using activated coconut biochar (10%–30%) and hemp fiber (10–30 mm) to simultaneously address shrinkage and strength deficits. Experimental findings demonstrate that mix-sized biochar improves both the fresh and hardened properties of the concrete when compared to using small or large biochar particles alone. Notably, while the incorporation of biochar reduces fluidity due to water absorption and increased inter-particle friction, both flexural and compressive strengths were enhanced – by up to 34% and 28%, respectively – with increasing biochar content and fiber length, as a result of matrix densification and fiber-bridging effects. The synergy between biochar and hemp fibers facilitates internal curing by lowering the local water–cement ratio during hardening and promoting cement hydration through both internal curing and nucleation effects. Despite a rapid early-stage increase in drying shrinkage, the combined addition of biochar and hemp fiber ultimately achieves a remarkable reduction of up to 96%. Furthermore, increasing biochar dosage and fiber length enhances matrix compactness, substantially reducing water absorption. This, in turn, improves resistance to chloride penetration by obstructing ion transport pathways. Concrete modified with 30% biochar and 30 mm-long hemp fibers demonstrates significant potential for carbon emission reduction, achieving decreases of 4.4 kg CO2 eq./m3/MPa in compressive scenario and 23.8 kg CO2 eq./m3/MPa in flexural scenario. Overall, this study advances the understanding of shrinkage mitigation mechanisms and offers a scalable pathway for the development of high-performance, low-carbon recycled aggregate concrete.

V. K. Sonawane, S. K. Gharde, K. S. Ghodekar, A. M. Raut and Amine Assouguem

Cotesia flavipes is an important hymenopteran larval parasitoid that belongs to the family Braconidae. Its usage in pest management strategies is promising due to its parasitic impact on the larval stage of lepidopteran pests. The current investigation aims to determine the optimal host age for the parasitoid’s mass proliferation and augmentative releases. The experiments showed that the female C. flavipes parasitizes all larval age groups of Sesamia inferens. Among all the larval ages, C. flavipes preferred second to third instars for parasitism during the spring (up to 90%) and kharif (up to 80%) seasons. There was no substantial difference in the development period between stinging, cocoon production, and the adult emergence of parasitoids. The age of the host has a substantial impact on adult longevity, with females taking longer than males. Thus, larval instars (second and third) are also recommended for high-quality mass-rearing larval parasitoids, especially C. flavipes, due to their strong parasitism and high net reproductive rate. Therefore, the second and third instars of S. inferens will recommend the mass rearing of C. flavipes and the release of these parasitoids in the field as a successful bio-control program.

Yu Lei, Jorn de Vos, Huub Rijnaarts et al.

The occurrence of micropollutants in the aquatic environment shows potential adverse effects towards ecosystems, such as estrogenic effects on the sexual development of fish and the resistance of microorganisms to antibiotics. Constructed wetlands (CWs) can be used as a post-treatment technology to remove micropollutants from the effluent of conventional wastewater treatment plants. Life Cycle Assessment was performed to assess the environmental and economic impacts of two constructed wetlands (i.e. sand-based CW and bark and biochar-based CW), and compared these impacts with other selected wastewater treatment technologies (i.e. ozone and activated carbon-based technologies). Regarding the removal efficiency of MPs, the bark and biochar-based CW showed a higher removal range than other technologies, though a fluctuation of removals exists due to the effect of seasonality. The CW scenarios require larger land to obtain the desired MP removal efficiencies than other technologies. Despite this, using bark and biochar as support matrices can reduce the land use of the CW system (0.51 m2/m3) compared with sand (0.58 m2/m3). The Global Warming Potential and overall treatment costs of the CW scenarios (i.e. the bark and biochar-based CW with 148 g CO2 equivalent/m3 and 0.14 €/m3; the sand-based CW with 108 g CO2 equivalent/m3 and 0.12 €/m3) rank in the middle among the studied technologies. The findings of this research provide valuable support for the decision-making process in selecting a nature-based technology working as a post-treatment of WWTPs for MP removal.

Nurul Ainina Nadhirah Tajurahim, Salwa Mahmood, Nor Hasrul Akhmal Ngadiman et al.

Tissue engineering has emerged as a promising field for regenerative medicine, aiming to develop biomimetic scaffolds that can have significant implications for reducing environmental impact across various aspects of medical research. This research presents a life cycle assessment (LCA) of the synthesis and characterization of biomaterials of Polyethylene Glycol Diacrylate (PEGDA) filled with Aramid Nanofiber (ANFs) for tissue engineering scaffolds using Digital Light Processing (DLP). The present research introduces a novel approach by integrating LCA principles to evaluate the environmental impact of the developed biomaterials. It was conducted using Life Cycle Assessment For Experts (LCA FE) software following the ISO 14040 and 14044 requirements. The research systematically analyzes the eco-friendliness of the PEGDA/ANFs scaffolds, considering the system boundary from cradle to gate, materials extraction, and fabrication processes. Besides, this research also aims to contribute to the development of sustainable biomaterials for tissue engineering applications by achieving a careful balance between scaffold performance and ecological considerations. The findings present the environmental impact categories that are considered in LCA, among which are global warming potential (GWP), acidification potential (AP), eutrophication potential (EP), and human toxicity potential (HTP). The highest contribution to the fabrication of PEGDA/ANFs for 3D tissue engineering scaffolds comes from GWP. The research also provides insights into optimizing biomaterial design by considering both efficiencies in tissue regeneration and environmental impact, promoting the development of greener practices in regenerative medicine.

Kamarou Faré Kondo, Ibrahim Tchakala, Wèré Gédéon Sambienou, Masamaéya Dadja-Toyou Gnazou and Daouda Mama

Headwaters, considered strategic zones for preserving water resources and crucial for evaluating water quality and streamflow, have been increasingly subjected to anthropogenic pressure in recent years. This pressure, exerted by human activities, has notable negative repercussions on the quality of both water and soil resources. This study aims to assess the contamination of water resources in the headwaters of the Copargo municipality by trace metals (arsenic, cadmium, mercury, and lead). To this end, water samples were collected during two sampling campaigns conducted during the high-water (August 2023) and low-water (November 2023) periods. 42 sampling sites were selected, comprising 9 wells, 7 boreholes, 25 rivers, and 1 dam. These samples were properly preserved and transported to the laboratory for analysis of trace metals, arsenic, cadmium, mercury, and lead using Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES), according to the EPA 6010B method. The results indicate that the concentrations of arsenic, cadmium, mercury, and lead measured in water resources during the high-water period are significantly higher than those observed during the low-water period (p<0.05). Regarding the water quality of Beninese drinking water standards, the concentrations of trace metals in the water from wells, boreholes, and rivers are generally below the established thresholds, except for mercury. Specifically, mercury concentrations of 1.56 μg.L-1, 1.67 μg.L-1, and 1.79 μg.L-1 in well, borehole, and river water, respectively, exceed the Beninese standard of 1 μg.L-1. Furthermore, the results reveal that the average concentrations of arsenic (0.9 μg.L-1), cadmium (0.71 μg.L-1), and lead (0.32 μg.L-1) are slightly higher in groundwater than in surface waters, where they are 0.71 μg.L-1, 0.2 μg.L-1, and 0.31 μg.L-1, respectively. In contrast, surface water’s average mercury concentration is higher (0.9 μg.L-1) than groundwater (0.8 μg.L-1). The contamination and pollution indices calculated indicate that 88.89% of the wells, 14.3% of the boreholes, and 46.15% of the rivers exhibit a moderate level of contamination (1 < DC < 3), while only one borehole (14.3%) shows a high contamination level (DC = 4.28). Regarding the pollution load index, all water resources studied show a low level of pollution. Despite the low observed contamination, the mercury concentrations suggest that most of the water resources in the municipality are unsuitable for human consumption. Although water resource contamination is relatively low, the toxicological risk remains concerning due to the cumulative nature of trace metals. This situation underscores the need for a modeling study of pollutant transfer to enable dynamic monitoring and better prediction of the quality of these water resources.

Hongxu Huang, Ruike Lyu, Cheng Feng et al.

The feasible region assessment (FRA) in industrial virtual power plants (VPPs) is driven by the need to activate large-scale latent industrial loads for demand response, making it essential to aggregate these flexible resources for peak regulation. However, the large number of devices and the need for privacy preservation in coal mines pose challenges to accurately aggregating these resources into a cohesive coal mine VPP. In this paper, we propose an efficient and reliable data-driven approach for FRA in the coal mine VPP that can manage incomplete information. Our data-driven FRA algorithm approximates equipment and FRA parameters based on historical energy dispatch data, effectively addressing the challenges of imperfect information. Simulation results illustrate that our method approximates the accurate feasible operational boundaries under dynamic and imperfect information conditions.

M. Siegrist, C. Hartmann

The production of food, especially meat, has a high environmental impact. Many believe that the introduction of alternative proteins could substantially reduce animal meat consumption, resulting in a more sustainable food system. In this review, we critically evaluate the challenges and barriers that need to be overcome to ensure that these alternative proteins have the desired effects. We focus on conventional plant-based proteins (e.g., pulses, soy, and legumes), highly processed meat analogs (e.g., Quorn and the Impossible Burger), cultured meat, and insects. For a majority of consumers, meat seems to be too attractive to be substituted by plant proteins, cultured meat, or insects. There are certainly niche markets for these products, but worldwide meat consumption is still likely to grow in the future. We argue that technological solutions alone are not sufficient to substantially reduce meat consumption and that additional measures are needed.

M. Heydari, K. Carbone, F. Gervasi et al.

In recent years, there has been growing interest in bioactive plant compounds for their beneficial effects on health and for their potential in reducing the risk of developing certain diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and neurodegenerative disorders. The extraction techniques conventionally used to obtain these phytocompounds, however, due to the use of toxic solvents and high temperatures, tend to be supplanted by innovative and unconventional techniques, in line with the demand for environmental and economic sustainability of new chemical processes. Among non-thermal technologies, cold plasma (CP), which has been successfully used for some years in the food industry as a treatment to improve food shelf life, seems to be one of the most promising solutions in green extraction processes. CP is characterized by its low environmental impact, low cost, and better extraction yield of phytochemicals, saving time, energy, and solvents compared with other classical extraction processes. In light of these considerations, this review aims to provide an overview of the potential and critical issues related to the use of CP in the extraction of phytochemicals, particularly polyphenols and essential oils. To review the current knowledge status and future insights of CP in this sector, a bibliometric study, providing quantitative information on the research activity based on the available published scientific literature, was carried out by the VOSviewer software (v. 1.6.18). Scientometric analysis has seen an increase in scientific studies over the past two years, underlining the growing interest of the scientific community in this natural substance extraction technique. The literature studies analyzed have shown that, in general, the use of CP was able to increase the yield of essential oil and polyphenols. Furthermore, the composition of the phytoextract obtained with CP would appear to be influenced by process parameters such as intensity (power and voltage), treatment time, and the working gas used. In general, the studies analyzed showed that the best yields in terms of total polyphenols and the antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of the phytoextracts were obtained using mild process conditions and nitrogen as the working gas. The use of CP as a non-conventional extraction technique is very recent, and further studies are needed to better understand the optimal process conditions to be adopted, and above all, in-depth studies are needed to better understand the mechanisms of plasma–plant matrix interaction to verify the possibility of any side reactions that could generate, in a highly oxidative environment, potentially hazardous substances, which would limit the exploitation of this technique at the industrial level.

Hanane Joudaki, Negar Aria, Roya Moravej et al.

Microbial phytases are enzymes that break down phytic acid, an anti-nutritional compound found in plant-based foods. These enzymes which are derived from bacteria and fungi have diverse properties and can function under different pH and temperature conditions. Their ability to convert phytic acid into inositol and inorganic phosphate makes them valuable in food processing. The application of microbial phytases in the food industry has several advantages. Firstly, adding them to animal feedstuff improves phosphorus availability, leading to improved nutrient utilization and growth in animals. This also reduces environmental pollution by phosphorus from animal waste. Secondly, microbial phytases enhance mineral bioavailability and nutrient assimilation in plant-based food products, counteracting the negative effects of phytic acid on human health. They can also improve the taste and functional properties of food and release bioactive compounds that have beneficial health effects. To effectively use microbial phytases in the food industry, factors like enzyme production, purification, and immobilization techniques are important. Genetic engineering and protein engineering have enabled the development of phytases with improved properties such as enhanced stability, substrate specificity, and resistance to degradation. This review provides an overview of the properties and function of phytases, the microbial strains that produce them, and their industrial applications, focusing on new approaches.

R. S. Riseh, M. G. Vazvani, Mohadeseh Hassanisaadi et al.

Climate changes, drought, the salinity of water and soil, the emergence of new breeds of pests and pathogens, the industrialization of countries, and environmental contamination are among the factors limiting the production of agricultural products. The use of chemicals (in the form of fertilizers, pesticides and fungicides) to enhance products against biotic and abiotic stresses has limitations. To eliminate the effects of agricultural chemicals, synthetic agrochemicals should be replaced with natural substances and useful microorganisms. To be more effective and efficient, plant biocontrol bacteria need a coating layer around themselves to protect them from adverse conditions. Whey protein, a valuable by-product of the cheese industry, is one of the important natural polymers. Due to its high protein content, safety, and biodegradability, whey can have many applications in agriculture and encapsulation of bacteria to resist pests and plant diseases. This compound is a rich source of amino acids that can activate plant defense systems and defense enzymes. Considering the amazing potentialities of formulation whey protein, this review attends to the efficiency of whey protein as coating layers on fruit and vegetables and in the packaging system to increase the shelf life of agricultural products against phytopathogens.

Ivone Lima Santos, A. M. Rodrigues, E. Amante et al.

The increased international interest in the properties of soursop (Annona muricata) alerts us to the sustainability of productive chain by-products, which are rich in phytochemicals and other properties justifying their industrial application in addition to reducing the environmental impact and generating income. Chemical characteristics of soursop by-products are widely known in the scientific community; this fruit has several therapeutic effects, especially its leaves, enabling it to be used by the pharmaceutical industry. Damaged and non-standard fruits (due to falling and crushing) (30–50%), seeds (3–8.5%), peels (7–20%), and leaves, although they constitute discarded waste, can be considered as by-products. There are other less cited parts of the plant that also have phytochemical components, such as the columella and the epidermis of the stem and root. Tropical countries are examples of producers where soursop is marketed as fresh fruit or frozen pulp, and the valorization of all parts of the fruit could represent important environmental and economic perspectives. Based on the chemical composition of the fruit as well as its by-products and leaves, this work discusses proposals for the valorization of these materials. Soursop powder, bioactive compounds, oil, biochar, biodiesel, bio-oil, and other products based on published studies are presented in this work, offering new ideas for opportunities for the regions and consumers that produce soursop.

I. Guemra, F. Adoui, E. Sabba et al.

Background: Chickpeas, rich in protein and fiber, are essential in a healthy diet, as the plant-based cheese industry responding to environmental demands. The objectives of current study were dual-folded: to scrutinize the impact of diverse treatments on the physicochemical and functional characteristics of chickpea flour, and to assess the suitability of this chickpea flour as a raw material for the formulation of a plant-based cheese analogue. Methods: Soaking at room temperature for 15 h, boiling for 20 min, roasting at 180 °C for 30 min, and germination for 24 h were utilized for a chickpea variety harvested from Constantine of Algeria in 2021. The effects of these treatments were investigated with regard to the chemical composition and functional features of chickpea flour. Additionally, The suitability of chickpea flour for the development of plant-based cheese analog was ascertained by analyzing its color properties, texture profile, and sensory evaluation. ANOVA (XLSTAT 2014) and Tukey’s pairwise comparison test at the 5% significance level (p<0.05) were applied to perform statistical analysis. Results: All used treatments resulted in significant enhancements (p<0.05) in crude fat content and Emulsifying Capacity, along with significant reductions in swelling and Foaming Capacity, which was notably high in raw chickpea flour with 142.06%. Moreover, roasting reduced significantly moister content and exerted a positive effect on Water Absorption Capacity. However, the remaining chemical composition parameters and functional characteristics failed to reveal significant changes following the applied treatments. In texture profile analysis, chickpea cheese analogs exhibited lower values of hardness and cohesiveness in comparison with the commercial cheese. The chickpea cheese analogues received lower scores  compared to the commercial cheese based on the sensory evaluation. Conclusion: Each treatment manifested distinct impacts on the chemical composition and functional properties of raw chickpea flour. Chickpea cheese analogue failed to be well-received by consumers.

Abdul Rasool Khoso, Gu Jintu, Shahnaz Bhutto et al.

Pakistan, which is located in Southeast Asia, is one of the nations that is most susceptible to the effects of climate change, as seen by the increased frequency of floods and droughts. Variations in climate have a negative impact on a number of areas, such as the agricultural industry, groundwater levels, dietary resources, soil quality and organic matter content, public health, and poverty rates. This study's main goal is to evaluate the impact of climate change and the adaptations farms have made in response to variations in precipitation and temperature. Pakistani farmers have responded to climate change by implementing a variety of adaptive techniques. These tactics include changing the way that fertilizer is used, changing crop varieties, using pesticides, improving seed quality, diversifying the farm, planting shade trees, changing irrigation techniques, engaging in off-farm activities, and migrating both permanently and temporarily. As an additional adaptive step, some farmers have turned to asset sales. Additionally, research indicates that agricultural households in wetland areas experience less volatility in climate than those in arid regions.

S. Chumachenko, O. Lunova, Rustam Murasov et al.

The difficult situation in eastern Ukraine has made the problem of assessing potential man-made threats more urgent. Among the many industrial enterprises that suffered damage as a result of hostilities, the most environmentally hazardous ones were identified, namely: Yasinivka, Avdiivka, and Yenakiieve coke-chemical plants; Yenakiieve, Makiiivka, and Donetsk metallurgical plants; Alchevsk metallurgical plant; Lysychansk oil refinery; Donetsk state chemical plant; Sloviansk, Luhansk, Vuhlehirsk, and Myronivka thermal power plants; chemical industry enterprises such as Severodonetsk Azot plant and Horlivka Styrol plant. The work proposes a method for assessing threats to critical infrastructure objects from enemy attacks. By applying graph theory and probability theory, the proposed method allows for obtaining quantitative assessments of threats and analyzing possible scenarios to develop cascading effects of emergencies. This helps determine the potential consequences of an attack and evaluate the risks associated with damaging critical infrastructure. The proposed model is based on a structural-logical approach that considers the inter- relationships between different components of the natural-technological geosystem. It will enable obtaining more objective and reliable results when assessing potential military-technological threats to CIOs and analyzing possible cascading effects in the event of damage to these objects. Developing such a model is essential in improving the approaches to assessing threats to CIOs, providing more accu- rate forecasts, and effective risk management. The results of this research can be useful for practical applications in developing strate- gies for the security of CIOs in the context of armed conflict. The results obtained in this work can be useful in developing models for assessing ecological and technological threats to critical infrastructure objects, particularly in the context of military operations. This method will improve the level of protection and help develop effective strategies to counter potential threats to critical infrastructure.