Research progress on the extraction and separation technology of V and Ti in vanadium-titanium slag: A review.

Metallurgical slags generated from ironmaking, steelmaking, ferroalloy production, and molten salt electrolysis are increasingly recognized as secondary resources for critical raw materials, particularly rare earth elements (REEs) such as scandium, yttrium, and light REEs, which are incorporated into complex silicate, aluminate, and fluoride phases formed at high temperatures. This review critically evaluates hydrometallurgical routes for REE recovery across a wide range of slag systems, including blast furnace, basic oxygen furnace, electric arc furnace, bauxite residue–derived, FCC catalyst, and molten salt electrolytic slags, covering direct leaching approaches (acidic, alkaline, and ammoniacal), hybrid roast–leach processes (sulfation, chlorination, and alkali roasting), and downstream separation techniques such as selective precipitation and solvent extraction. Particular emphasis is placed on the role of slag mineralogy, phase assemblage, and glassy matrices in controlling leaching kinetics, selectivity, and impurity co-dissolution, with silicate-rich slags identified as the most challenging systems due to their polymerized structure, which limits reagent accessibility and often requires thermal pretreatment to achieve recoveries above 80–90%, typically at high reagent consumption (>50–300 kg/t). Comparative evaluation reveals that reported performance is frequently dominated by recovery metrics, while key parameters such as selectivity, reagent intensity, and process integration remain underreported, such that high extraction efficiencies do not necessarily translate into industrial feasibility. The main limitations across existing approaches include silica gel formation, extensive co-dissolution of matrix elements, and the generation of secondary residues, all of which negatively impact process stability and economic viability; moreover, most reported systems remain constrained by poor selectivity, high reagent intensity, and lack of continuous pilot-scale validation, limiting their industrial transferability. Future progress, therefore, depends on shifting from isolated process optimization to integrated, mineralogy-driven process design, supported by reduced reagent consumption, simplified separation flowsheets, and validation under industrially relevant conditions, positioning metallurgical slags as strategic secondary resources capable of supporting diversified and resilient REE supply chains within circular economy systems.

A flow system designed with solenoid micro-pumps is introduced for spectrophotometric determination of total tannins based on the Folin– Denis reaction. The procedure minimizes the main drawbacks related to the AOAC batch procedure, i.e. interferences from reducing species in the samples, high reagent consumption and waste generation, and low sampling rate. Linear response was observed for tannic acid concentrations in the range 2–100 mg L−1, with a detection limit (99.7% confidence level) of 0.3 mg L−1. The sampling rate and coefficient of variation (n = 10) were estimated as 75 measurements per hour and 1.1%, respectively. Results of determination of total tannin in tea, beer and wine samples were in agreement with those achieved by the batch reference procedure at the 95% confidence level. In comparison to the batch procedure, the reagent consumption and effluent generation were 83 and 60-fold lower, respectively.

A flow system designed with solenoid valves is proposed for determination of weak acid dissociable cyanide, based on the reaction with o-phthalaldehyde (OPA) and glycine yielding a highly fluorescent isoindole derivative. The proposed procedure minimizes the main drawbacks related to the reference batch procedure, based on reaction with barbituric acid and pyridine followed by spectrophotometric detection, i.e., use of toxic reagents, high reagent consumption and waste generation, low sampling rate, and poor sensitivity. Retention of the sample zone was exploited to increase the conversion rate of the analyte with minimized sample dispersion. Linear response (r = 0.999) was observed for cyanide concentrations in the range 1-200 microg L(-1), with a detection limit (99.7% confidence level) of 0.5 microg L(-1) (19 nmol L(-1)). The sampling rate and coefficient of variation (n = 10) were estimated as 22 measurements per hour and 1.4%, respectively. The results of determination of weak acid dissociable cyanide in natural water samples were in agreement with those achieved by the batch reference procedure at the 95% confidence level. Additionally to the improvement in the analytical features in comparison with those of the flow system with continuous reagent addition (sensitivity and sampling rate 90 and 83% higher, respectively), the consumption of OPA was 230-fold lower.

Background: Denpasar City, as a prominent tourism hub in Bali, faces significant urban environmental challenges due to rapid land conversion, increasing population, and growing tourism activities. In 2023, Denpasar produced the highest volume of waste in Bali, reaching 357,985.69 tons/year, reflecting the strain on waste management systems and environmental sustainability. Methods: This study uses a quantitative approach through spatial analysis using QGIS and literature review. The variables analyzed include land cover, population, tourist attraction (DTW) distribution, and annual waste generation across four sub-districts in Denpasar. Findings: The analysis revealed that South Denpasar has the largest area (49.89 km²), highest population (311,590 people), highest waste generation (111,080.23 tons/year), and the most tourist attraction units (28 DTWs). Despite this, it has the lowest population density compared to other sub-districts. These conditions highlight the environmental burden experienced by this region, particularly in waste management and land use pressure due to its tourism-related activities. Conclusion: The city of Denpasar faces complex challenges in achieving its vision as a sustainable Tourism City. The integration of the Balinese local wisdom value of palemahan, emphasizing harmonious human–environment relationships, is crucial to address the physical, biological, and social environmental issues arising from unregulated waste and land use. Furthermore, the dense population and high tourism activity call for future research on their impact on water and air quality. Novelty/Originality of this article: This study offers a spatially grounded analysis of the interrelation between tourism, population pressure, and waste generation in Denpasar. It uniquely incorporates traditional environmental values (palemahan) as a cultural approach to addressing urban ecological challenges.

As an archipelagic country, Indonesia has great potential in the fisheries sector. As a free trade zone, Batam is important in exporting fishery products. One of the fishery export products in Batam City is gonggong snails. It is a favorite seafood item in Riau Islands Province and has high economic value. However, previous studies focused more on the content of gonggong snails and their industrial feasibility; there has been no specific research on the analysis of gonggong snail exports in Batam City, even though gonggong snails are one of Batam City's export products. In this research, we will forecast the freight on board (FoB) value for gonggong exports in Batam City using a discrete-time Markov chain with two states: above and below the moving average. There are several types of moving averages, including simple moving averages and weighted moving averages. An initial analysis will determine the moving averages' type and duration following the Gonggong export FOB data in Batam. The data used is the Gonggong export FoB data for Batam City from January 2020 to November 2023. Based on this data, the transition probability matrix will be calculated based on the number of export transitions below and above the Weighted Moving Average 6 (WMA 6) value. Limiting probability from the Markov chain will be used to predict the long-term FOB value of fishery product exports up to steady-state conditions. It was found that steady-state conditions would be reached after 17 months, with a probability of FOB exports below WMA6 of 55.06% and FOB exports above WMA6 of 44.94%.

Final disposal Bantargebang is the largest final disposal in Indonesia which is located in the city of Bekasi with the DKI Jakarta service area. DKI Jakarta’s waste generation in September 2022 is 5948,98 tons/day to 8773,76 tons/day, due to limited land issues and DKI Jakarta’s high waste generation every day. DKI Jakarta needs waste management and determination of the right technology. Mapping waste generation aims to display visual data on waste distribution, to facilitate the determination of DKI Jakarta waste management policies both from sources and at final disposal. Clustering uses the K-mean method using 40,514 data sets of waste generation. The real data on waste generation was obtained from recording directly at the final disposal Bantargebang weighbridge facility with waste sources from DKI Jakarta (West Jakarta, East Jakarta, Central Jakarta, South Jakarta and North Jakarta) for 30 working days with operating hours 24 hours/day. An average waste generation was obtained of 7,512 tonnes/day with a total of 1301 trucks/day. The number of clusters obtained was 3 with 43 members, where cluster 0 had 20 members, cluster 1 had 14 members and cluster 2 had 9 members and the distance performance value showed 0.399.

Waste generation in Spain. Do Spanish regions exhibit a similar behavior?

Objective: This study aims to investigate waste management practices at temple sites in Bali, Indonesia, with the overarching goal of reducing carbon emissions and promoting environmental sustainability amidst increasing waste generation and frequent ceremonial events. Theoretical Framework: The study relies on key theoretical concepts from environmental science, waste management, tourism studies, and sustainability. These include population dynamics and waste generation, principles of sustainable waste management, and the intersection of cultural tourism with environmental conservation. Method: This study employs a comprehensive methodology that involves the analysis of waste composition and generation using the Indonesian National Standard (SNI) 19-3964-1994. Additionally, we collected data through interviews and expenditure assessments to evaluate existing waste management practices and understand visitor behaviours. Results and Discussion: Analysis revealed significant quantities of waste generated at temple sites, with Watu Klotok Temple emerging as the largest contributor, producing 449.87 kg of waste. Other significant contributors included Tanah Kilap Tampel, Saraswati Temple, Mutering Jagat Sidakarya Temple, Jagatnatha Temple, and Pucak Mangu Temple. Predominantly, organic waste accounted for 84.33% of total waste, while plastic and food waste constituted 4.08% and 11.59%, respectively. We observed a strong positive correlation between visitor numbers and waste generation, underscoring the urgent need for sustainable waste management practices to mitigate environmental impact and reduce carbon emissions. Research Implications: The results of this study have both practical and theoretical implications for waste management strategies and environmental conservation efforts in Bali's cultural landscape. This research's recommendations, such as promoting locally sourced fruits and implementing waste segregation programmes, have broader implications for waste management policies and practices in similar contexts. Originality/Value: This research contributes to the existing literature by providing empirical evidence on waste management practices at temple sites in Bali and quantifying the potential for carbon emissions reduction. This study's interdisciplinary approach highlights its relevance and value in tackling environmental issues in culturally significant regions and advancing sustainable development practices.

In the process of petrochemical, coal chemical, and pharmaceutical industries, a large amount of azeotrope is usually produced. The traditional method of separating azeotrope consumes a lot of energy. Therefore, it is of great significance to develop a low energy consumption and high efficiency method of separating azeotrope to achieve economic benefits and reduce energy consumption. The use of microwave fields for enhanced distillation processes to separate azeotrope is currently of great interest. In this paper, the mechanism of azeotropic formation is reviewed from three aspects: experimental studies, quantum chemical calculations and molecular simulations, and the influence of cluster structure on azeotropic formation is analyzed. Then the paper discusses the experimental study of microwave‐enhanced distillation process to separate azeotrope and the molecular simulation process, and the mechanism of microwave‐assisted azeotropic separation and the feasibility of industrialization are analyzed. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI).

Research progress of integrating electrical impedance sensors with microfluidic chips in cell detection

Environmental protection and sustainability is one of the major concerns in present scenario. Continuous release of harmful waste and contaminants due to improper industrialization and unchecked urbanization possesses greatest threat to mankind directly in short as well as long term and also puts a tremendous pressure on the natural resources. Unscientific and ill-management of urban and industrial wastes and contaminants has handed over the ecology and environment to the hand of endangered sustainability. So it is the time to make correction and remediate the polluted NR in such a way that brings a sustainable and habitable ecosystem for the future generations. Waste generation has a positive correlation with the economic development which is much observed in the Western countries and also in developing countries like India. Waste generation in India shows different trends, and urbanization plays a significant role in waste generation. In India total solid waste generation is about 42 million tons/year. Hazardous waste treatment requires more effective and green technologies. In this context microorganism plays a promising role. The unique nature of microorganisms can be used effectively for resurrecting the environment. Microorganism can act as magic bullets for bioremediation of contaminated sites and biodegradation purposes. Now a day microorganisms are effectively used together with nanotechnology, termed as nano-bioremediation to clean up radio active wastes. Moreover, the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in combating pollution in extreme polluted condition makes the microorganism a boon to human welfare. This chapter gives an insight into different types of wastes and explains how microorganism can be used effectively for waste management (WM) and sustaining our environment in a greener way.

Qatar currently has one of the highest per capita municipal waste generation in the world. The continuous increase in household wastes, and overfilled landfills threaten available spaces for urban development programmes in the country. Consequently, this study examined the lifestyle factors that have led to high municipal solid waste generation in the country. Data were gathered from both primary and secondary sources. Considering the sociocultural factors in the country, the convenience sampling technique was adopted. Thus, questionnaires were administered via online survey. At the end of the survey, 68 responses were received, and utilized for the study. The analysis of Data used the descriptive and inferential statistical tools via the SPSS 24 software. Descriptive tools used are frequency tables, bar-diagrams, line graphs, pie charts, averages, and relative importance index while Pearson Correlation was used to make inferences. The study observed a direct relationship between the increasing population in Qatar and the high municipal solid waste generation; and that 50% of the respondents have household sizes of between 4-7 persons. Over 90% of the respondents have university education. The RII result of 3.514 out of 5 showed that kitchen waste accounts for over 70% of the household wastes in Qatar. This is followed in rank by nylon wastes while plastic wastes ranked third. Other waste components are paper and cardboard, glass, and wood and furniture. The calculated average daily waste generated per capita is 1.135 kg. The study gathered that the municipalities, at no cost to the residents, mostly collect household wastes and most of the respondents do not sort their household wastes before disposal. With a Pearson Correlation coefficient value of 0.305 at 0.05 significant level, the study indicated a moderate positive relationship between household size and waste generated from the households. Other socio-economic lifestyle variables such as income level, education factor, and age did not prove to have such significant relationship with municipal solid waste in the area. The study recommended that in addition to coordinated sensitization programmes of waste sorting from the source, the government should set a weight limit of 7kg/household per day. Any household whose wastes exceed this set level should be charged for per kilogram on the extra weight at the end of each month.

Introduction The healthcare sector contributed 5.2% of global greenhouse gas emissions in 2019, up from 4.9% in 2018.1,2 These emissions are from a variety of sources. Data from England suggest that inhaled anaesthetic agents contribute to 2% of the total emissions from the health system.3 In addition, up to 4.2% of a nation's waste generation may be attributable to healthcare,4 and operating rooms (ORs) produce approximately 20% of all waste in a hospital.5 Thus the field of anaesthesiology and intensive care has an important role to play in helping countries decrease the carbon footprint of their health systems and protect the future environmental sustainability healthcare. The World Health Organization defines an environmentally sustainable health system as one which 'would improve, maintain or restore health, while minimising negative impacts on the environment'.6 Recognising the importance of rapid action, the European Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care (ESAIC) created a Declaration focused on achieving greater environmental sustainability across anaesthesiology and intensive care in Europe. This Declaration presents a shared European perspective of what is feasible and achievable within this field. It builds on the existing Helsinki Declaration for Patient Safety,7 and is intended as a guide for countries across Europe to build into their own healthcare plans. This Declaration is based on the European Union's strong commitment to tackle climate change. The European Green Deal aims to achieve climate neutrality by 2050 and reduce emissions by 55% by 2030 (compared to 1990).8 In addition, the EU is also proposing regulation to decrease the use of fluorinated gases (F-gases), which are potent greenhouse gases that account for 2.5% of total EU greenhouse gas emissions.9 This is relevant to ESAIC because inhaled anaesthetic agents may be comprised of hydrofluorocarbons, which are F-gases.10,11 To be both acceptable and feasible in practice, the transition towards environmental sustainability must consider the timelines for development and availability of environmentally-friendly alternatives – for medicines, devices and equipment. It is also possible that there are conflicting interests between environmental and patient safety goals – for example in the use of heating, ventilation and cooling to ensure a high ventilating rate in the OR. Moreover, the clinical importance of certain drugs may be in conflict with their environmental burden. Therefore, multidisciplinary dialogue is essential to ensure any proposed changes in practice are feasible, safe and always serve the best interests of patients and society as a whole. It is also important to keep in mind that hospitals being asked to become more environmentally sustainable are coping with other parallel pressures, including staff shortages, unreliable supply of materials due to complex global supply chains, and the cumulative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic (such as backlogs in elective care12). Any plans to transition to environmental sustainability must thus be adapted to each context and be accompanied by comprehensive training and communication with all relevant personnel. Methodology Experts and members of the ESAIC Sustainability Committee met to develop position statements aligned to each of the areas outlined in Figure 1 below, as well as staff well-being. Iterative drafts of these position papers were shared among subcommittee members for review and discussion, using a Delphi approach. This Declaration was drafted to serve as a companion piece to these position papers.ESAIC's declaration for sustainability within anaesthesiology and intensive care The Declaration is focused on key areas where the greatest gains may be made in terms of environmental sustainability: medication use, energy use, and circularity in processes and waste. (Figure 1)Fig. 1: Priority areas to improve environmental sustainability within anaesthesiology and intensive care (not all the priorities listed in Figure 1 are discussed in this Declaration).Medication use The global warming potential over 100 years (GWP100) of volatile anaesthetics is much greater than that of carbon dioxide, the reference greenhouse gas.13,14 Therefore, making conscious and sustainable decisions with regards to medication use is thus essential to minimise the carbon footprint of anaesthetic practice. RecommendationsDiscourage the use of nitrous oxide and desflurane and favour the use of anaesthetics with the lowest GWP where possible, including intravenous anaesthesia. Use halogenated agents at the lowest possible fresh gas flow (FGF) during the induction and steady phase of anaesthesia (set FGF in a low-flow technique, aiming to achieve minimal-flow, <0.5 lpm whenever safe and technically feasible). Consider the need for stockpiling emergency use medications, with careful monitoring of stockpiles to balance patient safety and efforts to reduce waste. Energy use Hospital heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems (HVAC) comprise between 90 and 99% of the overall energy use in ORs.15 Energy conservation efforts must therefore focus on HVAC system management. Preventing energy waste generated with fossil fuels should also be considered, especially when designing new facilities. Proper insulation and introducing passive building concepts can also significantly reduce energy consumption and energy waste in clinical practice.16 Efficient use of lighting is also important. RecommendationsMake consistent efforts to reduce energy consumption from HVAC, including setting systems to 6 air changes per hour when ORs are not in use, and maintaining temperatures at 18°C – 23°C with a relative humidity of 30–60% (though the burn unit OR optimum temperature range is 24°C to 30°C). Ensure hospitals have their own renewable energy production sources when feasible: photovoltaic, thermo-solar and geothermal are readily available depending on the geographical location. Reduce energy use from lighting in hospitals through the use of LED bulbs and automatic sensors. Encourage the use of hand water sensors to promote hand washing and save water, and use reclaimed water instead of drinking water when not intended for human use (cooling systems, warming circuits, or toilet flushing). Circularity in processes and waste Twenty percent of all hospital waste is produced in its ORs.5 General waste accounts for almost half of total OR waste,5 and up to 25% of the latter is generated by anaesthetists.17 Waste production derives from multiple practices, such as opening and not using surgical packs, trays and instruments18 and unused sterile towels, gloves or disposable gowns.19 This is often referred to as 'overage'.19 Data have shown that when OR staff actively monitor the rate of unused material that becomes non-valid for human use, overage rate and associated costs decrease.20 Waste management of pharmaceuticals is also of concern, for example, intravenous propofol accounts for 45% of wasted anaesthetic medication, which is not biodegradable and has demonstrated toxicity to aquatic organisms.21 RecommendationsIf applicable, consider purchasing reusable or reprocessed equipment instead of disposable ones. Avoid single-use items that do not provide a clear benefit in patient care. Reduce the amount of waste generated, minimising the need for recycling, energy intensive treatment, or disposal in landfill. Educate staff on waste management, encouraging waste segregation and recycling. Consider the use of urine collective bags or waste water filters to reduce the amount of pharmaceutical pollution in sewage water. The way forward Climate change is a defining issue for our generation. We are facing an environmental crisis in which we have a small but significant part to play. It is our hope that this Declaration can be used by European anaesthesiologists and intensive care physicians to present to health authorities, politicians, policy-makers and hospital-level stakeholders to help persuade them to implement sustainability approaches both locally and nationally. Our efforts to make our care more sustainable will, however, only bear fruit if we manage to engage with broader communities and work across different disciplines. We thus welcome other healthcare stakeholders and organisations to endorse this Declaration and to join ESAIC in our initiative to improve sustainability of anaesthesiology and intensive care in Europe. By working together, we can achieve this vision of enhanced sustainability for the benefits of our patients, our society and our planet. Signed at Euroanaesthesia 2023Prof. Wolfgang Buhre Incoming President, European Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care (ESAIC)Prof. Edoardo De Robertis President, European Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care (ESAIC)Prof. Patricio Gonzalez-Pizarro Chairperson of Sustainability Committee, European Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care (ESAIC)

Environmental sustainability, once primarily associated with large corporations, is now a growing focus for small-scale enterprises (SSEs). These businesses are vital to global economic development, contributing around 40% to GDP in emerging economies and generating more than 50% of employment opportunities, according to the International Finance Corporation (IFC). However, despite their economic significance, the environmental impact of SSEs cannot be overlooked. Collectively, they contribute to issues such as high energy consumption, waste generation, and improper resource utilization. Adopting green practices offers SSEs an opportunity to address these challenges while unlocking significant benefits. Sustainable operations can lead to cost savings through reduced resource usage, improved brand reputation among eco-conscious consumers, and enhanced compliance with increasingly stringent environmental regulations. Furthermore, green initiatives align businesses with global sustainability goals and prepare them for future resource and market demands. This chapter delves into how small-scale businesses can effectively incorporate sustainable practices into their operations. It examines the specific challenges they face, such as financial constraints and lack of awareness, and offers practical strategies to overcome these hurdles. Ultimately, it underscores the importance of sustainability as a strategic imperative for long-term success in the evolving global marketplace. Keywords: Green Practices, Small-Scale Enterprises, Sustainability.

Selective lithium leaching from spent lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries is significant for promoting environmental and economic sustainability. However, it still faces issues such as low solid‐liquid ratio, high reagent consumption, high lithium loss and concomitant secondary waste. Herein, two short‐flow lithium recovery strategies based on iodine targeted redox are proposed for the sustainable recycling of spent LFP. Iodine achieves high lithium leaching efficiency of 93.48% at high solid‐liquid ratio (500 g L −1 ) under ambient condition and further enhanced to &gt;99% via acid washing. The lithium leaching process is controlled by product layer diffusion. Distinguish from H 2 O 2 /S 2 O 8 2− induced lattice collapse and reconstruction, iodine triggers delithiation through mild oxidation of Fe(II), preserving FePO 4 with high crystallinity for direct regeneration. Strategy I proposes an innovative synthesis of lithium iodide trihydrate (LiI·3H 2 O) using spent LFP and iodine, without introducing external cations, achieving a considerable net profit of 23.66$ kg −1 . Strategy II establishes an I − /I 3 − redox‐mediated electrochemical regeneration system to circularly leach lithium from spent LFP for Li 2 CO 3 production, with low GHGs emissions and energy consumption. This work achieves high atom economy, providing an innovative paradigm for spent LFP batteries recycling with economic competitiveness and low‐carbon footprint.