Article
Environmental Sciences
Ricardo Gomez-Garcia, Debora A. Campos, Cristobal N. Aguilar, Ana R. Madureira, Manuela Pintado
Summary: Food agro-industrial by-products have high bioresource utilization value, which can be sustainably managed and utilized through biotechnological processes and methods to benefit humans and improve global sustainability.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Carlos E. Costa, Aloia Romani, Jose A. Teixeira, Lucilia Domingues
Summary: Resveratrol was successfully synthesized from lactose using engineered Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Process optimization and a two-stage method increased the production yield, and production from cheese whey was also achieved. This is the first report on resveratrol production from lactose, which is significant in utilizing dairy wastes and establishes a foundation for future lactose-based resveratrol production.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
A. R. Pasandin, E. Nardi, N. Perez-Barge, E. Toraldo
Summary: The possibility of using a lignin-rich industrial byproduct as a partial substitute for asphalt emulsions in road pavements was analyzed in order to promote a circular economy and sustainable development. After conducting various tests, it was concluded that the optimal substitution percentage is 5%, resulting in an enhanced mixture with improved water resistance, resistance to permanent deformation, indirect tensile strength, and stiffness compared to the control mixture.
CONSTRUCTION AND BUILDING MATERIALS
(2022)
Review
Agricultural Engineering
Rozi Sharma, Arti Mishra, Deepak Pant, Piyush Malaviya
Summary: Microalgae have great potential in removing contaminants from wastewaters, recovering resources, and enhancing wastewater management efficiency.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Environmental Studies
Steve Griffiths, Benjamin K. Sovacool, Jinsoo Kim, Morgan Bazilian, Joao M. Uratani
Summary: Industrial decarbonization is a major challenge, with hydrogen offering potential solutions. However, the application of hydrogen still faces various logistical and cost challenges, despite its abundance and potential.
ENERGY RESEARCH & SOCIAL SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Thermodynamics
Wenqi Zhang, Renjie Zhou, Shuaifei Gao, Yinfeng Wang, Lin Zhu, Ying Gao, Yuezhao Zhu
Summary: The study found that the process of gasification coupled with melting can effectively achieve the clean disposal of hazardous solid wastes. Specifically, increasing the content of Chinese medicine residue (CMR) can promote the gasification and melting characteristics, leading to efficient production of gasification residues and syngas. Additionally, the leachability of heavy metals inside the melting slags met the established criteria, suggesting the harmless disposal of hazardous wastes.
Review
Microbiology
Bjoern Gutschmann, Boyang Huang, Lara Santolin, Isabel Thiele, Peter Neubauer, Sebastian L. Riedel
Summary: The United Nations has defined 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), emphasizing the fight against climate change and the protection of oceans and forests. In this context, the sustainable production of bioplastics is gaining importance, with local feedstock selection and the utilization of animal by-product streams seen as crucial factors in reducing production costs.
MICROBIOLOGICAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ma. Isabel Sanchez-Contreras, Sandra Morales-Arrieta, Patrick U. Okoye, Rosa Angelica Guillen-Garces, P. J. Sebastian, Dulce Maria Arias
Summary: This study investigated the potential of a mixed microalgae culture to remove nutrients and organic matter from industrial effluents while producing carbohydrate-rich biomass. Different hydraulic retention times (HRT) resulted in varying inorganic carbon profiles, N:P ratios, and microbial changes in the culture, affecting nutrient removal efficiencies and carbohydrate content. The optimal HRT for achieving high biomass production and COD removal efficiency was found to be 8 days, with a consistent carbohydrate content of 57% without additional carbon source.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Rina Yoshioka, Kengo Nakamura, Ryota Sekiai, Jiajie Wang, Noriaki Watanabe
Summary: Enhanced weathering of industrial Ca-rich silicate byproducts in croplands has the potential for large-scale atmospheric CO2 removal; however, the effectiveness of such systems is still uncertain due to unrealistic prediction models and inadequate consideration of soil dynamics on fluid chemistry.
FRONTIERS IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
(2022)
Review
Plant Sciences
Zhumei Du, Fuyu Yang, Jiachen Fang, Seishi Yamasaki, Tetsuji Oya, Damiao Nguluve, Hajime Kumagai, Yimin Cai
Summary: This paper provides a comprehensive review of the importance and application prospects of forageable natural woody plants in livestock production. It introduces the nutritional composition of woody plant feed resources, clean fermentation technologies, and the interaction mechanism between microbial co-occurrence networks. These findings offer a sustainable solution for improving the production efficiency of livestock and producing high-quality livestock products.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Fahad Asiri, Kung-Hui Chu
Summary: Converting waste into healthy proteins can solve waste management and feed supply issues, benefiting the aquaculture industry.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Luciano Rodrigues Viana, Pierre-Luc Dessureault, Charles Marty, Jean-Francois Boucher, Maxime C. Pare
Summary: Canada is a major producer of oat grains and oat flakes, generating significant amounts of residue during production. This study used life cycle assessment (LCA) to evaluate the environmental impacts of oat flake production in northeastern Canada and compared two agro-industrial symbiosis scenarios for disposing of agricultural residues. The results showed that the production and use of synthetic fertilizers contributed the most to the environmental impacts of oat flake production. Transforming residues into animal feed was found to have environmental advantages in certain provinces, but this could vary depending on factors such as electricity sources and assumptions made for avoided products. The choice of industrial symbiosis chains should consider regional economic characteristics and methodological parameters.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Dongmei Jiang, Changfei Gao, Lifen Liu, Tingting Yu, Yihua Li, Hongbo Wang
Summary: In this study, low-cost and robust ceramic membranes (CM) were customized using solid wastes as the matrix, and copper/cobalt-rich precursors. The composite membrane exhibited excellent purification performance and significant heavy metal removal ability. The successful preparation and application of these environment-oriented multifunctional CM provide a promising strategy for resource recovery from solid wastes.
SEPARATION AND PURIFICATION TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Karpagam Subramanian, Shauhrat S. Chopra, Weslynne S. Ashton
Summary: Industrial symbiosis promotes collaboration between traditionally unrelated industries by using waste from one as a raw material for another. To enhance sustainability, it is essential for firms to be aware of potential costs and benefits of new exchanges. Previous assessments have primarily focused on environmental and financial implications, neglecting social implications, highlighting the need for a comprehensive life cycle sustainability assessment of IS.
JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL ECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Elena Angon, Francisco Requena, Javier Caballero-Villalobos, Miguel Cantarero-Aparicio, Andres Luis Martinez-Marin, Jose Manuel Perea
Summary: This study demonstrates the improvement of meat quality by using feed rich in agro-industrial by-products and analyzes the importance of quality labels for Spanish consumers. Most Spanish consumers prefer beef from Spain with lower prices and more quality labels.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Decio F. Alves-Lima, Carmina F. Rodrigues, Carolina T. Pinheiro, Licinio M. Gando-Ferreira, Margarida J. Quina, Abel G. Ferreira
Summary: The study demonstrates that [TOMA(+)][Cl-] is effective in extracting Zn(II) but not Cr(III). Removal efficiency of Cr(III) is low compared to Zn(II). In the presence of Zn(II), removal efficiency of Cr(III) is enhanced. NaOH proves to be an efficient agent for removing Zn(II) from the ionic liquids.
CANADIAN JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Agronomy
Andreia F. Santos, Ana M. Verissimo, Pedro Brites, Filipe M. Baptista, Jose C. Gois, Margarida J. Quina
Summary: This study evaluates the performance of different soil amendments, including dried sewage sludge, green liquor dregs mixed with sewage sludge, raw sewage sludge, and commercial organic fertilizer, on lettuce crops. The results show that using dried sewage sludge and green liquor dregs mixed with sewage sludge as soil amendments increases lettuce productivity and meets ideal nitrogen and calcium levels, similar to commercial fertilizer.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Eva Domingues, Eryk Fernandes, Telma Vaz, Joao Gomes, Sergio Castro-Silva, Rui C. Martins, Rosa Quinta-Ferreira, Licinio M. Ferreira
Summary: The combination of Fenton process and ion exchange is a promising approach for the treatment of cumbersome industrial wastewaters, as it can remove iron sludge and reduce COD effectively.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Rui Boavida-Dias, Joao R. Silva, Andreia D. Santos, Rui C. Martins, Luis M. Castro, Rosa M. Quinta-Ferreira
Summary: This study evaluated the performance of three wastewater treatment systems and found that the sequencing batch moving bed biofilm reactor (SBMBBR) had the best removal efficiency for COD, TC, and TN. The moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR) produced less biomass and the activated sludge (AS) treatment generated the highest amount of sludge.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Carolina Vicente, Joao R. Silva, Andreia D. Santos, Rosa M. Quinta-Ferreira, Luis M. Castro
Summary: This study evaluates a new, reliable, efficient, and sustainable process to treat highly polluted cork boiling wastewater. By combining physicochemical treatment and electrocoagulation, high removal efficiencies can be achieved, particularly in terms of total nitrogen removal.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Andreia D. Santos, Joao R. Silva, Luis M. Castro, Rosa M. Quinta-Ferreira
Summary: Empirical kinetic models were used to describe and establish the kinetics of anaerobic digestion of pig slurry. The Weibull model was found to be the most suitable for predicting the kinetic parameters, with the lowest errors and highest goodness of fit.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Andreia D. Santos, Joao R. Silva, Luis M. Castro, Rosa M. Quinta-Ferreira
Summary: This study evaluates the methane production potential of pig slurry anaerobic digestion using two different substrate to inoculum ratios (SIR 0.65 and 1) and compares it with theoretical predictions. The results show that a higher SIR of 1 produced more biogas with higher methane content compared to a lower SIR of 0.65, with an SMP of 0.568 NL CH4/g VS and an average methane content of 83% achieved in the experiment. The estimated value presented a deviation of just 2.96% during the assay with a SIR of 1.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Rafaela P. Rodrigues, Licinio M. Gando-Ferreira, Margarida J. Quina
Summary: Winery residues have high potential for the formulation of new products and can be used for energy production or biofertilizers. There is a need to transition from lab-scale to industrial-scale technologies in this sector.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Bianca Miguel De Souza-Chaves, Morgana Bosio, Marcia Dezotti, Maria Emilia Quinta-Ferreira, Rosa M. Quinta-Ferreira, Enrico Mendes Saggioro
Summary: The study found that the electrochemical oxidation process can effectively remove pharmaceutical residues from water bodies, but the removal efficiency is significantly lower in municipal and industrial wastewater. Additionally, residual compounds may have adverse effects on neuronal activity over time.
JOURNAL OF WATER PROCESS ENGINEERING
(2022)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Andreia F. Santos, Paula Alvarenga, Licinio M. Gando-Ferreira, Margarida J. Quina
Summary: Water resources face global pressure, leading to scarcity and degradation of freshwater quality. European directives suggest that increasing the reuse of treated wastewater, reducing impacts on water bodies, and promoting water recycling can relieve pressure on water resources in urban areas. Besides addressing water supply challenges, wastewater treatment systems demonstrate environmental stewardship and innovative practices. The use of reclaimed water for agricultural irrigation is gaining interest, especially in drought-prone Europe, and it may restore nutrients to natural biogeochemical cycles. This review emphasizes the importance of water reuse, current legislation, and existing technologies in wastewater treatment systems for producing reclaimed water for agricultural irrigation.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Rafaela P. Rodrigues, Ana M. Sousa, Licinio M. Gando-Ferreira, Margarida J. Quina
Summary: The optimization of phenolic compounds extraction from grape pomace using solvents was studied. Ethanol and acetone were found to be the best solvents for extraction. The main extraction parameters were optimized using a central composite design. The optimized conditions for ethanol extraction were 60°C temperature, 1.5 hours extraction time, and 25 mL/gdryGP liquid-solid ratio. For acetone extraction, the optimal conditions were 50°C temperature, 1.5 hours extraction time, and 25 mL/gdryGP liquid-solid ratio. The yields of phenolic compounds were increased by three-stage extraction.
Review
Environmental Sciences
Joao R. F. Santos, Rafaela P. Rodrigues, Margarida J. Quina, Licinio M. Gando-Ferreira
Summary: Value-Added Compounds (VACs) in winery wastewater (WW) have potential for integration into existing processes or products. This study conducted a bibliometric analysis and literature review to explore the trends and strategies for recovery of VACs from WW. Membrane processes were identified as a promising technology, and the importance of circular economy and biorefinery in knowledge transfer was highlighted.
Review
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Denner Deda, Helena Gervasio, Margarida J. Quina
Summary: Higher education institutions (HEI) worldwide are striving to assess and minimize their environmental impacts for sustainability. This paper conducts a bibliometric analysis to benchmark the sustainability of HEI in terms of key areas, impacts, and barriers. The analysis reveals that HEI have not systematically adopted life cycle assessment (LCA) in their assessments, with a primary focus on carbon emissions calculation. Lack of internal information and managerial commitment are the main barriers to LCA adoption in HEI.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
B. S. Bandarra, C. Mesquita, H. Passos, R. C. Martins, P. A. L. F. Coelho, J. L. Pereira, M. J. Quina
Summary: This study evaluated the mechanical behavior and environmental hazardous potential of municipal solid waste incineration bottom ash (IBA), including ecotoxicity assessment, to explore its potential for safe utilization.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Andreia F. Santos, Abel G. M. Ferreira, Margarida J. Quina
Summary: Sewage sludge from urban wastewater treatment is a pressing environmental, economic, and social issue. This study investigates the use of green liquor dregs from the pulp and paper industry as an adjuvant of drying to develop a product for agricultural applications. The research findings show that the addition of green liquor dregs can reduce the shear resistance of anaerobically digested sludge, making it more manageable for sludge handling.
CLEAN TECHNOLOGIES
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Yui Kawasaki, Sayaka Nagao-Sato, Misa Shimpo, Kahori Fujisaki, Emi Yoshii, Rie Akamatsu, Petra Warschburger
Summary: This study qualitatively describes sustainable dietary behaviors (SDBs) that Japanese and German adults can implement in their lives, and quantitatively compares the similarities and differences in understanding SDBs between the two samples. The study found that Japanese participants were more focused on food waste prevention, while German participants were more focused on solving environmental problems.
RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND RECYCLING
(2024)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Kechun Chen, Yuan Ding, Liming Yang, Zhihao Wang, Haoxuan Yu, Difan Fang, Yufa Feng, Liying Hu, Chenxi Xu, Penghui Shao, Xubiao Luo, Liang Chen
Summary: This study proposes a targeted repair scheme for the recovery of graphite anodes from spent LIBs by systematically characterizing and analyzing the structure and composition of spent graphite (SG). The results show that the repair scheme achieves effective SG repair and the repaired graphite anode displays excellent lithium storage performance.
RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND RECYCLING
(2024)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Takao Ueda, Shigeki Koyanaka, Tatsuya Oki
Summary: Fires caused by accidental crushing of batteries are a serious issue in the e-waste recycling process. A new in-line sorting system that uses X-ray scanning and deep learning has been developed to accurately detect batteries. Through a validation study, the system achieved higher accuracy compared to other existing programs.
RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND RECYCLING
(2024)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Hannes Geist, Frank Balle
Summary: Research on circular economy often lacks empirical data, especially in the theory of circular process design and design for remanufacturing. This study systematically collected and analyzed engineering data on seven remanufacturing processes in the European automotive remanufacturing industry for the first time, providing empirical support for circular engineering challenges, potentials, and solutions.
RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND RECYCLING
(2024)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Xiaojing Li, Fan Lue, Nanlin Liao, Hua Zhang, Na Yang, Pinjing He
Summary: This study assesses and predicts the greenhouse gas emissions on the timeline as waste treatment technologies develop in Shanghai from 1991 to 2025 using the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology. The findings demonstrate that GHG emission has reached net-zero in 2019 owing to the application of alternative technologies and waste segregation.
RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND RECYCLING
(2024)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Bingchun Liu, Haoyang Wang, Xiaoqin Liang, Yibo Wang, Zijie Feng
Summary: The expansion of the photovoltaic market has resulted in a significant increase in PV waste. Therefore, conducting scientific research to determine the importance of the circular economy for sustainable growth in the PV industry is essential. The study demonstrates that accurate prediction of PV installed capacity and quantifying the importance of recycling in balancing the supply and demand of raw materials can be achieved through a multi-factor installed capacity prediction model and recovery potential prediction.
RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND RECYCLING
(2024)
Review
Engineering, Environmental
Chuanzhen Zhang, Baojing Gu, Xia Liang, Shu Kee Lam, Yi Zhou, Deli Chen
Summary: Reactive nitrogen is crucial for agriculture and human nutrition, but mismanagement can have detrimental effects on human health and ecosystem services, hindering the achievement of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. Progress towards nitrogen-related targets varies across countries, highlighting the need for integrated management to achieve overall synergies.
RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND RECYCLING
(2024)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Alessandro Gatto, Marijke Kuiper, Corina van Middelaar, Hans van Meijl
Summary: This study examines the economic and environmental effects of transitioning towards more circular food systems in the European Union (EU27) by feeding animals with low-opportunity-cost feed and better utilizing local feed resources. The results show that providing subsidies for circularity and promoting the use of low-cost feed can increase animal production, but also have negative impacts on land use and emissions. On the other hand, promoting domestic feed sourcing through import tariffs can decrease animal production and greenhouse gas emissions in agriculture. However, complementary policies are needed to mitigate drawbacks and enhance benefits of a more circular agri-food system.
RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND RECYCLING
(2024)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Jinbo Zhang, Liu Chen, Yulei Xie, Pingjian Yang, Zheng Li, Huaicheng Guo, Yang Zhang, Lirong Liu
Summary: This study examines the impact of carbon taxes on low-carbon development and climate change mitigation. By constructing a cross-system bi-layer model, the study finds that reasonable carbon taxes can promote the stability of the energy network, reduce carbon emissions and air pollutants, and optimize production efficiency and the structure of the energy system. This study contributes to a better understanding of the effects and implementation pathways of carbon taxes.
RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND RECYCLING
(2024)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Konstantin Born, Mehmet Metehan Ciftci
Summary: Increasing recycling of metals is important for reducing reliance on mining, but it cannot fully meet future metal demand. Primary production of metals is expected to continue rising, highlighting the need for alternative circular economy strategies such as demand reduction and mitigating harmful impacts of primary metal production.
RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND RECYCLING
(2024)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Yinqiu Ma, Lin Huang, Jiahui Li, Wei Cao, Yumei Cai
Summary: Afforestation and reforestation, such as China's Grain for Green Program, have shown to effectively mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and contribute to carbon sink capacity. This study highlights the significant carbon potential of the program and its potential application in other countries to reduce CO2 in the atmosphere.
RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND RECYCLING
(2024)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Arlind Dervishaj, Kjartan Gudmundsson
Summary: This paper reviews digital tools for supporting the Circular Economy (CE) in the built environment and provides suggestions. The study identifies limitations in the functionalities of current tools, including a lack of representative data for LCA and underdeveloped circularity indicators. Further development is needed in terms of interoperability aspects, integration of more sources of data for LCA and circularity, and possibilities for a comprehensive evaluation of design choices.
RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND RECYCLING
(2024)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Mohamadreza Y. Azarfam, Anuj Maheshwari, Frank D. Blum, Siddhesh Chaudhari, Clinton Switzer, Ranji Vaidyanathan, Jay C. Hanan, Sudheer Bandla
Summary: This study introduces a feasible method for manufacturing recycled composites using post-consumer carpets and recycled resin. The resulting composites have impressive strength and modulus, surpassing commercial thermoplastics and making them suitable for structural applications. This research presents a promising approach to address carpet landfilling and reduce reliance on additives.
RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND RECYCLING
(2024)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Pujiang Shi, Tianle Huang, Hong Kit Lim, Chiew Kei Tan, Jong-Min Lee, Chor Yong Tay
Summary: This study developed a highly porous bioadaptive 3D sponge-like construct from plastic materials in discarded keyboards for advanced in vitro applications. The findings demonstrate the potential of using discarded keyboards as a waste-to-resource feedstock to achieve waste reduction and maximize value-capture.
RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND RECYCLING
(2024)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Kuo-Jui Wu, Hailing Qiu, Caiyan Huang, Anthony S. F. Chiu, Ming-Lang Tseng
Summary: Government resource allocation practices for achieving carbon neutrality should be guided by dynamic system theory to identify potential dynamics. Carbon intensity control dynamics have a significant influence on other dynamics.
RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND RECYCLING
(2024)