Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Josep Anton Farre, Carles Mateu, Merce Teixido, Luisa F. Cabeza
Summary: This study evaluates the scientific literature on automated vacuum waste collection systems through a bibliometric analysis. It finds a scarcity of scientific literature but several patents on the topic. The literature mainly focuses on energy use, gas emissions, and cost-benefit analysis. The study also presents the market status and environmental studies summary, identifies active companies, and provides a complete list of automated vacuum waste collection systems. Most of the environmental-related literature uses life cycle assessment methodology to evaluate different case studies.
APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL
(2023)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Namra Mir, Shoukat Alim Khan, Anil Kul, Oguzhan Sahin, Emircan Ozcelikci, Mustafa Sahmaran, Muammer Koc
Summary: Recycling construction and demolition waste (CDW) to produce green construction materials is essential for decarbonizing the built environment. The study focuses on the life cycle assessment (LCA) of CDW-based self-healing geopolymers, aiming to optimize the environmental implications of the production process and product. The developed geopolymer binder can replace ordinary Portland cement (OPC) in conventional concrete to mitigate its significant global warming impacts.
CONSTRUCTION AND BUILDING MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Marta Rossi, Alessandra Papetti, Michele Germani
Summary: The study compares the environmental impact and occupational risks of three municipal waste collection methods in Italy. The smart bins system proves to be more environmentally effective, with lower residual waste flow. It also reduces the transport phase impact by about 60% and exhibits acceptable occupational risks, unlike door-to-door collection which has poor ergonomics conditions.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Josep Anton Farre, Noelia Llantoy, Marta Chafer, German Gomez, Luisa F. Cabeza
Summary: As the demand for a more sustainable environment increases, the study of waste management strategies worldwide is also on the rise. This study compares different waste collection systems in an airport and finds that a pneumatic collection system with the innovative AutoWaste compact central unit can reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Ao Zhou, Huinan Wei, Henghui Guo, Wenjie Zhang, Tiejun Liu, Dujian Zou
Summary: The extensive use of underground space in China has led to a significant amount of engineering sediment waste, which occupies 60% of construction waste. This waste is usually randomly dumped, causing land resource occupation and hindering sustainable development. To address these issues, this study proposes recycling engineering sediment waste through calcination and using it as a substitute for cement in concrete construction. Optimal calcination conditions are evaluated using the strength activity index method. Mechanical tests and life cycle assessments are conducted to determine the mechanical properties, environmental impact, and economic benefits of the concrete with varying substitution rates. A multi-criteria analysis method is used to comprehensively evaluate the concrete's performance in terms of strength, global warming potential, energy consumption, and economic cost. Quantitative evaluations are performed to assess the effect of calcined engineering sediment on the pozzolanic activity, cement hydration, CH content, and microstructure of the concrete. The results show that concrete with 50% substitution of calcined engineering sediment exhibits superior environmental performance and economic benefits compared to reference concrete. This work provides an effective method for converting sediment waste into valuable resources to prepare concrete with low environmental impact and good mechanical performance, promoting resource conservation and contributing to the sustainability of the built environment.
RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND RECYCLING
(2023)
Review
Construction & Building Technology
Haoran Lei, Le Li, Wei Yang, Yadong Bian, Chun-Qing Li
Summary: This paper analyzes the applications of life cycle assessment in circular economy for the built environment, highlighting the necessity of incorporating life cycle assessment. It discusses overcoming the inherent limitations of the methods, and proposes a transition towards a circular and sustainable future for the built environment.
JOURNAL OF BUILDING ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Andrea Barni, Claudio Capuzzimati, Alessandro Fontana, Marco Pirotta, Saara Haenninen, Minna Raeikkoenen, Teuvo Uusitalo
Summary: Due to the depletion of natural resources, increased energy use, and environmental, economic, and social imbalance, organizations are striving to identify strategies for reducing their impacts on sustainability. However, many manufacturing industries struggle in identifying the key elements that influence their contributions to sustainability and managing the calculation of these effects. This article aims to incorporate sustainability practices into manufacturing by developing a set of key performance indicators (KPIs) for assessing and improving environmental and economic management practices.
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Ann Francis, Albert Thomas
Summary: This paper introduces a system dynamics-based methodological framework for Dynamic Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment (D-LCSA) in the building sector, which addresses the current issue of sustainability assessment focusing primarily on the environmental dimension. The case study results in India demonstrate that ignoring time-dependent dynamic aspects leads to underestimating the overall sustainability impacts.
SUSTAINABLE CITIES AND SOCIETY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Studies
YuLing Tsai, Bart Julien Dewancker, Athina Ardhyanto
Summary: With the rapid development of globalization, industrialization, urbanization, and informatization, economic activities are concentrated in cities, leading to imbalanced resource distribution between urban and rural areas. The declining fertility rate has also resulted in the abandonment of education-related architectures in both areas. This research analyzes two educational architectures and their redesign programs to evaluate the relationship between space and local community, as well as the impact of different revitalization approaches on interaction patterns. The study shows that spatial characteristics influence people's perception of public space and their interaction with it, and effective redesign can promote both regional development and environmental sustainability by utilizing space and enhancing human-environmental interactions.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
I Bianchi, A. Forcellese, M. Marconi, M. Simoncini, A. Vita, V Castorani
Summary: This study evaluates the environmental impact of an innovative technology for reclaiming carbon fiber prepreg scraps, showing a significant reduction in environmental impacts compared to traditional composite production processes. The innovative process can effectively recycle waste materials and produce recycled composite parts, demonstrating a more sustainable manufacturing alternative for composite products.
SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS AND TECHNOLOGIES
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Aiman Ziout, Mohammed Alkahtani, Abd Elatty E. Abd Elgawad, Bashir Salah
Summary: This paper investigates the environmental benefits of remanufacturing, using window-mount air conditioner as a case study. The study adopts a life cycle assessment approach, and provides an authentic example for comparing the environmental burden of remanufacturing processes with the process of manufacturing new products.
APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL
(2022)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Constantinos A. A. Balaras, Andreas I. I. Theodoropoulos, Elena G. G. Dascalaki
Summary: Data collection and large-scale urban audits are challenging and time-consuming processes. Geographic information systems can extract and combine relevant data to facilitate the decision-making process for building renovations and sustainability assessment. This study presents an open-access tool that automates the audit process for extracting information about the built environment, analyzing building characteristics, evaluating energy performance, assessing the potential for installing photovoltaics, and quantifying ground permeability. A case study demonstrates the data collection and processing, showing promising results. The method is easily replicable and relies on open data and non-commercial tools.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yash Aryan, Atul Kumar, Shubham, Sukha Ranjan Samadder
Summary: The study evaluates the environmental and economic burden of waste collection practices in Dhanbad city, India. Alternative methods were suggested to optimize resource utilization and maximize material recovery. The impacts were assessed for different scenarios, with the baseline scenario having the highest environmental impacts.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Najeeb Ullah, Syeda Asma Bano, Ume Habiba, Maimoona Sabir, Andleeb Akhtar, Samreen Ramzan, Ayesha Shoukat, Muhammad Israr, Sher Shah, Syed Moazzam Nizami, Majid Hussain
Summary: A comprehensive life cycle assessment was conducted for the matchsticks industry in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan to quantify environmental footprint, water footprint, and cumulative energy use. The study revealed significant environmental impacts from the transport of certain raw materials, and suggested measures such as reducing transport distances and promoting industrial forestry near industrial zones to minimize environmental footprint.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Qiaoxuan Li, Srinivasa Raghavendra Bhuvan Gummidi, Maud Lanau, Bailang Yu, Gang Liu
Summary: The spatiotemporal dynamics of urban built environment stocks are crucial for the circular and low-carbon transition of cities. However, the characterization of these stocks has been limited. This study combines geospatial data and historical maps to quantify the spatially and temporally refined stocks of buildings and infrastructure in Odense, Denmark, from 1810 to 2018. The results show that the built environment stock in Odense has significantly increased over the past two centuries, reflecting the urban development, industrialization, infrastructure development, socioeconomic characteristics, and policy interventions in the city.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Xiaojian Liu, Bei Wang, Yayun Ma, Xiangyang Zhou, Juan Yang, Yuehui He, Jingjing Tang, Fanyun Su, Wan Yang
Summary: This study proposes a combined process of reduction roasting of herb-medicine residue and oxalic acid leaching to improve the recovery efficiency of lithium from spent lithium-ion batteries. By utilizing the reducing gas produced from the pyrolysis of herb-medicine residue, the layered structure of the cathode powder is destroyed and converted into Li2CO3, Ni, Co, and MnO. Additionally, selective extraction of lithium is achieved using oxalic acid, and the efficiency and kinetics of lithium extraction are improved under the combined action of herb-medicine residue and oxalic acid.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Muxina Konarova, Nuno Batalha, Gabriel Fraga, Mohamed H. M. Ahmed, Steven Pratt, Bronwyn Laycock
Summary: This study presents a proof of concept for a technology that integrates PET recovery from mixed plastic waste and plastic pyrolysis. By depolymerizing PET into TPA using a low volatility oil as medium, it achieves low-pressure operation and a selective separation and recovery of TPA from the product mix. Full PET conversion and high TPA recovery were achieved, making it an effective solution for processing mixed waste streams and improving the yield and quality of liquid product from thermal pyrolysis compared to untreated feedstock.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Zhenhua Sun, Jing Li, Xuejiang Wang, Siqing Xia, Jianfu Zhao
Summary: This study investigated the influence of in-situ formed MgFe2O4 on the hydrothermal treatment of swine manure. The results showed that the in-situ formation of MgFe2O4 improved the dehydration and decarboxylation of organic components in swine manure, thereby improving its carbonization degree. Furthermore, it enhanced the stabilization of heavy metals and the retention of phosphorus. MgFe2O4 modified hydrochars exhibited remarkable adsorption capacity for Pb(II) and Cu(II) without any leaching of heavy metals.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Yijing Jiang, Boyang Leng, Jingxin Xi
Summary: The increased generation of municipal solid waste has had a significant impact on the economy, environment, and public health. The current waste treatment process has limitations. By developing a comprehensive social costing model, this study assesses the impacts of municipal solid waste management throughout its life cycle and provides policymakers with best practices and feasibility information.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Marina Hernandes de Paula e Silva, Ricardo Coser Mergulha, Jose Geraldo Vidal Vieira, Andrea Brasco Pampanelli, Rodrigo Salvador, Diogo Aparecido Lopes Silva
Summary: This study developed and implemented a self-assessment tool to assist companies in decision-making processes for establishing circular flows based on Lean Manufacturing and Circular Economy principles. The tool utilized a maturity model and was applied to nine companies of varying characteristics. The findings revealed that certain companies showed higher maturity in water-waste and chemical-emissions management, with larger enterprises focusing on these strategies. However, many companies lacked sufficient training and employee awareness prior to seeking cleaner alternatives, and comprehensive actions to manage the product lifecycle were lacking. To address these gaps, the tool provided tailored recommendations for each company to improve their processes, products, and value chain.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Gamze Dogdu, Turgay Pekdemir, Sanaz Lakestani, Seyda Karabork, Osman Cavus
Summary: This paper presents data on food waste associated with mini size food packaging services, highlighting the difficulties in emptying the food and consumer wastefulness as the main causes. These findings have significant implications for the sustainability of food and relevant packaging.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Qingxia Li, Xin Kong, Yuxin Chen, Jianan Niu, Jia Jing, Jin Yuan, Yifeng Zhang
Summary: This study investigates how to enhance methane production from food waste after hydrothermal pretreatment. The results demonstrate a significant increase in methane yield when zero-valent iron and magnetite are used together, and high organic loading is favorable for methane production. Microbial diversity analysis further reveals the dominant pathways and metabolic processes involved in methane generation.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
D. H. H. Sim, I. A. W. Tan, L. L. P. Lim, E. T. Lau, B. H. Hameed
Summary: The development of controlled-release fertilizer formulation is important for preventing environmental pollution caused by nutrient leaching and volatilization. This study combined biochar-based fertilizer with encapsulation technology to improve the nutrient release mechanism. Optimal conditions for synthesizing urea-impregnated biochar (UIB) were determined using central composite design, and the release of nitrogen was described by mathematical models. Results showed that encapsulated UIB (EUIB) achieved complete release of nitrogen in water and exhibited improved water retention in sandy-textural soil. Therefore, EUIB derived from peppercorn waste has the potential to be used as a sustainable controlled-release fertilizer for agriculture.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Yuchuan Wang, Neslihan Akdeniz
Summary: Incorporating biochar into composting systems can increase compost temperatures. This study developed a heat transfer model for a biochar-amended co-composting system and found that biochar increased thermal conductive losses but also enhanced microbial activity, resulting in an overall increase in total heat unit. When biochar was applied on the surface, it mainly functioned as an insulator.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
George Tsalis, Birger Boutrup Jensen, Jessica Aschemann-Witzel
Summary: This paper empirically explores the relationship between retail price promotions and household food waste. The results show that households with a higher proportion of discount food purchases and environmental awareness tend to waste less food, while larger households and those lacking food handling skills tend to waste more food.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Lukas Friederici, Arne Koch, Patrick Martens, Jana Pantzke, Sebastiano Di Bucchianico, Thorsten Streibel, Christopher P. Rueger, Ralf Zimmermann
Summary: The increasing demand for lightweight materials has led to a rise in fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP) production. However, the properties and compositional range of FRPs pose challenges to recycling strategies. Pyrolysis has emerged as a promising method for separating the fibers from the polymer matrix. This study investigated the pyrolysis process using thermal analysis and high-resolution mass spectrometry, and also assessed the toxicity of the recovered fibers using an in vitro model.
Review
Engineering, Environmental
Devika Kannan, Shakiba Khademolqorani, Nassibeh Janatyan, Somaieh Alavi
Summary: This paper introduces Smart Waste Management (SWM) that applies Industry 4.0 technologies in waste management. A framework called SWM4.0 is developed, which highlights the importance of smart people, smart cities, smart enterprises, and smart factories in achieving successful waste management. The paper also suggests future research directions and managerial implications.