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AbstractNowadays, researchers are focusing on the methods of using recycled industrial/agricultural wastes as raw materials, which are not only economically but also environmentally useful. In the recent years, many scholars have conducted research on the rational use of rice husks (RHs) and found that RHs are rich in inorganic/organic components and used in combination with the certain building materials to produce new green composite building materials. This paper studies the method of using RH processed products and the sodium silicate solution (liquid glass) made from RH ash to produce cheap wood substitute composite materials, which can be improved the insulation performance of the wall greatly. Obtained results are determined by comparing with the properties of standard polymer composite materials such as particleboards, chipboards, and medium‐density fiberboards (MDF). The significance of the work is pointing out by solving the problem of recycling large‐tonnage agricultural waste and reproduce products with the consumer's value.

Abstract Mitigating the effects of environmental deterioration requires a focus on not just CO2 emissions from energy consumption, but also environmental pollution from industry sectors. To reach this goal, recent studies have extended ecological footprint (EF) analysis to identify the ecological drivers of various key industry sectors. The role of the phosphorus (P) industry on the EF within the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) framework for China is the emphasis of this study. Autoregressive distributive lag (ARDL) as well as the impulse response function and robustness analysis were used to consider a time from 1985 to 2018. The study verifies the EKC hypothesis for China in both the long and the short run, and indispensable determinants are proposed to be included to assure the model’s fitness and robustness when conducting EF analysis of industry sectors. Energy consumption–based carbon emissions have been verified as the dominant contributor to EF, but P use and urbanization have a significant lagged positive influence on EF in the short run. P exports, in particular, have been highlighted as a critical driver of the EF of China’s P industry. The conducted frequency domain causality test reinforced the above findings and demonstrated bidirectional causality at different frequencies. This work suggests that formulating plausible P export policies to alleviate the conflict between the output of China’s P industry and the environmental sustainability of this industry are necessary. In this context, “multidisciplinary, multidimensional, and practical solutions” are most desirable for sustainable P management.

Abstract In this study, parallel, bench-scale, mesophilic and thermophilic, dry, semi-continuous anaerobic digestion (DScAD) of Korea food waste (FW, containing 22% total solids (TS) and 20% volatile solids (VS)) was investigated thoroughly under varying operational conditions, including hydraulic retention times (HRTs) and organic loading rates (OLRs). The aim was to evaluate the start-up, stability, overall removal efficiency, and inhibitory effects of toxic compounds on process performance over a long-term operation lasting 100 days. The results from both digesters indicate that the simultaneous reduction of VS and the production of gas improved as the HRT decreased or the OLR increased. The highest average rates of VS reduction (79.67%) and biogas production (162.14 m 3 biogas/ton of FW, 61.89% CH 4 ), at an OLR of 8.62 ± 0.34 kg VS/m 3 day (25 days of HRT), were achieved under thermophilic DScAD. In addition, the average rates of reduction of VS and the production of biogas in thermophilic DScAD were higher by 6.88% and 16.4%, respectively, than were those in mesophilic DScAD. The inhibitory effects of ammonia, H 2 S, and volatile fatty acids (VFAs) on methane production was not clear from either of the digesters, although, apparently, their concentrations did fluctuate. This fluctuation could be attributed to the self-adaptation of the microbial well. However, digestion that was more stable and faster was observed under thermophilic conditions compared with that under mesophilic conditions. Based on our results, the optimum operational parameters to improve FW treatment and achieve higher energy yields could be determined, expanding the application of DScAD in treating organic wastes.

In this work, a new strategy has been proposed where the waste paper, and their possible emissions are buried into the bricks to induce porosity and reduce the atmospheric pollution. The resulting porous bricks have been proved experimentally to have good durability, low density, low thermal conductivity and acceptable compressive strength comparing with the commonly used bricks. Different mixing percentages of a waste paper weight to wet clay have been tested, and a percentage of 1:10 seems to meet the usual standard for severe weather requirements. Many advantages have been achieved; enchantment the thermal insulation of the brick, increasing number of brick produced per ton of clay, reducing waste and their determinate effects, small reduction in the energy required to produce fired brick and producing homogeneous properties through the brick by properly initial mixing waste paper with wet clay. All these factors result in obtaining good brick characteristics with advantage of reducing waste. The procedures of measuring density, specific heat and thermal conductivity have been verified by obtaining experimental and theoretical values of thermal conductivity of the samples and good agreement has been observed.

Waste-printed circuit boards (WPCBs) account for approximately 3–6 wt% of total electronic waste. Due to their content of thermosetting materials and added brominated fire retardants, their recycling and disposal is difficult and not eco-friendly. Pyrolysis as a thermal degradation process may assist in the solution of this problem. In addition, using biomass as an additive can upgrade the bio-oil and fix bromines in the char. In this study, cotton stalk (CS) is chosen as an additive and kinetic of the pyrolysis of three samples namely: PCB, CS, and CS:PCB (50:50) were investigated by the thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA) at heating rates of 5, 10, and 15 K/min. Three non-isothermal methods: FWO, KAS, and Starink were found in good agreement with the TGA data; however, the FWO method was more efficient in the description of the degradation mechanism of solid-state reactions. For CS and CS:PCB (50:50), α was increased from 0.2 to 0.9 with the FWO method, and calculated Eα values were found in the range of 121.43–151.88 and 151.60–105.67 kJ/mol in zone 1, while 197.06–79.22 and 115.90–275.06 kJ/mol in zone 2, respectively. Whereas, for PCB in zone 1, Eα values were found to be in the range of 190.23–93.88 kJ/mol. The possible decomposition mechanism was determined by the Criado method, which was in agreement with the mechanism model for reaction order n = 3. The oil product was also analyzed using Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy analysis.

This paper compares the policy, regulatory and institutional (PRI) settings of Radioactive Waste (RW) and Carbon Dioxide (CO2) disposal for selected countries. This comparison is premised on the following arguments: (a) the policy/political acceptance of nuclear power and coal power with Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) technology to redress the climate change challenge will be essentially determined by the efficacy of the PRI settings; and (b) the existing discussion on these technologies is largely neglectful of the significance of these settings. The comparison suggests that: (a) while the overall PRI settings for RW and CO2 disposal are generally fuzzy, discordant and fragmented, they are relatively well defined for RW disposal than for CO2 disposal; and (b) PRI settings for RW and CO2 disposal cannot be analysed in isolation from broader settings for nuclear and coal-CCS power, and – more importantly – in isolation from macro-level energy, economic, environmental and socio-political policy settings.

In the Indian subcontinent power generation is mainly dependent upon the thermal power units and coal is burnt as a fuel for the production of heat and electricity. In India, bituminous and sub-bituminous coals are used which contain over 40% of ash. At present, 80-90 million tons of fly ashes are generated from 85 existing coal based thermal power plants. Coal contains trace metals of which mercury is most toxic for humans and aquatic fauna. The problem of mercury in the society is not new, but in recent years the Indian subcontinent has gained the reputation of being "a dumping ground for mercury". This study focuses on mercury in fly ash and its releases to the atmosphere and soils cross the country. The utilisation of coal ash in India is also addressed although it is still in its nascent stage. About 10% of produced fly ashes are used in India whereas in Western countries its use is typically over 70%. Regulations from India's Ministry of Environment and Forestry should increase coal fly ash utilisation, although this would require that cost-effective new technology is put to use. As to the release of Hg from ashes disposed of in the environment, the scarce literature suggests that this is negligible or zero, and less problematic than wet or dry deposition of Hg from flue gases.

Abstract Since the field of environmental assessment tools for buildings is vast, the aim of this study is to clarify that field by analysing and categorising existing tools. The differences between the tools are discussed and the current situation within the tools is critically analysed. However, the comparison of the tools is difficult, if not impossible. For example, the tools are designed for assessing different types of buildings, and they emphasise different phases of the life cycle. In addition to environmental aspects, sustainable building includes economic and social aspects. The shift from green building to sustainable building and the future requirements are challenging for building environmental assessment tools. Furthermore, the benefits of using the tools should be analysed — how the tools and their results have affected decision making?

AbstractThis paper examines household responses to sustainability issues and adoption of energy saving technologies. Our example of solar hot water systems highlights the complexity and variability of responses to low-carbon technologies. While SHW systems have the potential to provide the majority of household hot water and to lower carbon emissions, little research has been done to investigate how SHW systems are integrated into everyday life. We draw on cultural understandings of the household to identify passive and active users of SHW systems and utilize a model that illustrates how technology use is dependent on inter-relations between cultural norms, systems of provision, the material elements of homes, and practice. A key finding is that households can be ill-prepared to make the most of their SHW systems and lack post-installation support to do so. Thus, informed and efficient use of SHW systems is hit and miss. Current policy is largely aimed at subsidizing purchase and installation on the assumption that this is sufficient for emission reduction goals. Our analysis provides evidence to the contrary. Areas we highlight for policy and practice improvement are independent pre-purchase advice, installation quality, and practical guidance on system operation and interaction with patterns of hot water use.