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The chemical characteristics of mine tailings, organic amendments (doses), and plants are the critical factors that must be evaluated and monitored to ensure the sustainability of phytostabilization. The aim of this study was to evaluate the mobility of copper (Cu) in mine tailings (MT) of the Zone Central of Chile to which commercial humic substances were added, examining their effect on the uptake of Atriplex halimus. Two commercial humic substances (HS1 and HS2) extracted from leonardite (highly oxidized lignite), of different pH and total organic carbon, were evaluated by adsorption curve for Cu. In columns, soluble Cu, pH, and electrical conductivity in leachates were evaluated for MT, MT + HS1, and MT + HS2, and HS1 and HS2 in doses of 120 mg kg-1. In pot assay, seeds were germinated directly in MT and cultivated for 140 days with the addition of HS2 in 120 and 240 mg kg-1. Mine tailing presents high concentration of Cu (2016 ± 223 mg kg-1, pH 6.3 ± 0.1). The results of sequential extraction indicate that Cu is associated with the sulfide fraction of low risk of mobility. The amount of Cu sorbed by HS1 was higher than that sorbed by HS2, and both humic substances showing better fit to the Freundlich than Langmuir model. Lixiviation of Cu was significantly lower in MT + HS1 (0.166 ± 0.043 mg kg-1) and MT + HS2 (0.157 ± 0.018 mg kg-1) than in MT (0.251 ± 0.052 mg kg-1). Copper concentration in plants reached 185.8 ± 37.8 mg kg-1 in the roots and 32.6 ± 7.4 mg kg-1 in the aerial parts cultivated in MT without effect of the humic substance addition in Cu uptake nor growth. Copper concentrations in the aerial parts were adjusted to sufficient or normal levels in plant. A good management of mine tailings through phytostabilization could consider an adequate mixture of humic substances (to avoid leaching of metals) and an organic amendment that provides essential nutrients and increases biomass generation.

This project aims to enlarge the impact of small-scale run-of-the-river hydropower for Turbulent. Turbulent has designed a unique low-head vortex hydropower turbine that creates renewable energy from the flowing of water. To find design opportunities, the company is analysed using stakeholder value mapping, a SWOT analysis, user interviewing, and Business Model Canvases. Independent Power Producers (IPPs) and Single Households are identified as interesting user groups to design for. The insights gained from interviews with IPPs are grouped in a strategic roadmap. The main insights for the IPP market revolve around the topics of partnerships, feasibility and viability studies, certification, manufacturing, and product offering. For the single household market, a new way of working is proposed, where local contractors do most of the contact with single household clients. A customer journey for both single household clients as well as contractors is made to design a website. This website is used to test the market demand for single household turbines. Potential clients can pre-order a pico turbine (less than 5 kW) on this website (turbulentpico.be). Different price points are tested. It is found that there is enough demand for pico turbines that the design and engineering phase of the pico turbines can be started. It is recommended to start Turbulent Pico as a separate company. ; Strategic Product Design

Voor het beheer van verharde oppervlakken wordt hier aandacht geschonken aan de betekenis en de voordelen van toepassing van DOB: Duurzaam OnkruidBeheer op verhardingen

Synthesis of cork-derived ceria ecoceramic, an emerging porous catalyst, for enhancing solar thermochemical water splitting.

Bridgeman (2017) describes the important role of population growth in contributing to environmental problems. The present essay argues that population is an important component of human impact on the environment, but it must be considered in combination with consumption rates. A place-based approach, examining the local context for reproductive decisions, is necessary to assess population growth as a contributor to environmental impact and to develop appropriate behavioral interventions. (PsycINFO Database Record

A non-fullerene acceptor with a high relative dielectric constant (εr) over 9 is developed. It offers an efficiency of 8.5%, which is the best result for organic solar cells employing high εr materials. Further research should focus on morphology optimization to make high εr practically useful in devices.

Differences between the expected and the actual performance of buildings have been attributed partly to the influence of occupants; post-occupancy evaluations have thus gained more importance in the last years. There are a variety of methods to evaluate the performance of buildings. However, many of them are expensive, time consuming, intrusive or require expert knowledge, and thus, it has been difficult to embed them in practice. This investigation seeks to categorise the methods according to their purpose and usability to provide feedback. This study aims at linking different types of evaluation methods to different purposes for monitoring buildings. The objective is providing with the information needed to set up and carry out the monitoring of a building in-use. This overview was based on the experience of the authors in a number of non-domestic and domestic case studies, and on literature review. The study shows that the selection of the evaluation methods should be made according to the objective of the evaluation, the depth and nature of the study, the audience of the feedback, and the resources available for the evaluation. The relationship between all these factors have been studied and represented visually for a better comprehension of the methods.

Abstract The rapidly growing construction industry has accelerated water and energy scarcity in China, threatening its sustainable development. This study integrates multi-regional input-output (MRIO) and data envelopment analysis (DEA) to investigate the water-energy nexus in the construction industry at the provincial level through the entire industrial supply chain. Results show that the construction industry accounts for 8.97% and 27.20% of virtual water and embodied energy in China, respectively. The western area experiences the most energy- and water-intensive construction processes given its backward economy and outdated technological development. The northern area faces great challenges with regard to energy intensity improvements, whereas the central regions suffer from large pressure relating to inefficient water use. The manufacture of non-metallic mineral products, smelting, and the pressing of metals are the largest suppliers of virtual water and embodied energy. The efficiency assessment results demonstrate that Jiangsu and Zhejiang are two DEA-effective regions. China has achieved a relatively high level of scale efficiency but suffers from backward technology.

Spatial planning has to deal with trade-offs between various stakeholders’ wishes and needs as part of planning and management of landscapes, natural resources and/or biodiversity. To make ecosystem services (ES) trade-off research more relevant for spatial planning, we propose an analytical framework,which puts stakeholders, their land-use/management choices, their impact on ES and responses at the centre. Based on 24 cases from around the world, we used this framing to analyse the appearance and diversity of real-world ES trade-offs. They cover a wide range of trade-offs related to ecosystem use, including: land-use change, management regimes, technical versus nature-based solutions, natural resource use, and management of species. The ES trade-offs studied featured a complexity that was far greater than what is often described in the ES literature. Influential users and context setters are at the core of the trade-off decision-making, but most of the impact is felt by non-influential users. Provisioning and cultural ES were the most targeted in the studied trade-offs, but regulating ES were the most impacted. Stakeholders’ characteristics, such as influence, impact faced, and concerns can partially explain their position and response in relation to trade-offs. Based on the research findings, we formulate recommendations for spatial planning.