Metal-organic framework-based electrocatalysis (EC) technology has emerged as an innovative approach for completely mineralising large, non-recyclable textile colouring agents in water. This process generates intermediate reactive species, such as superoxide and hydroxyl radicals, resulting in clean and environmentally friendly products, making it an attractive, pollution-free solution. For this study, a semiconductor-based composite material with a type II heterostructure was developed to serve as a photoanode, enhancing the generation of reactive radicals for effective wastewater treatment. Different concentrations of composite materials featuring ZIF-67 nanosheets were synthesised on Co2MnO4 nanorods using a one-step hydrothermal process on a titanium (Ti) metal. The electrochemical cell was constructed with this Ti/Co2MnO4@ZIF-67 anode, employing the EC method to degrade reactive brilliant blue (KN-R). The resulting electrode exhibited a large electroactive area, low charge transfer resistance, and exceptional electrochemical (EC) performance. The optimal composite anode achieved an 85.28% removal rate of reactive brilliant blue KN-R within 2 h and showed practical sustainability over five cycle tests. The EC process also analysed and discussed the mechanism based on radical trapping experiments. This work highlights the construction of Ti/Co2MnO4@ZIF-67 materials with a type II heterojunction, offering valuable insights into catalytic techniques for purifying organic wastewater.

Cathode carbon is a hazardous byproduct generated during aluminium electrolysis. Converting this waste into an adsorbent offers an effective method for reducing sludge volume and improving waste management. In this study, cathode waste was dissolved in sodium hydroxide and heated to 90°C under magnetic stirring. After filtration, the remaining solids were treated with a mixture of water and sulfuric acid, stirred again, filtered, and washed with distilled water until the filtrate reached neutral pH. The morphology and chemical composition of the produced adsorbent were characterized using SEM, XRD, and XRF. Adsorption experiments determined that the optimal adsorbent doses for benzene, toluene, and para-xylene were 0.8, 0.6, and 0.2 g/L, respectively. The adsorbent showed capacities of 12.043 mg/g for benzene, 8.48 mg/g for toluene, and 10.775 mg/g for para-xylene, with removal efficiencies of 77%, 97%, and 86%. The fitting results indicated that adsorption of benzene and toluene followed the Langmuir model, while para-xylene was better described by the Freundlich model. The findings demonstrate that cathodic-waste–derived carbon adsorbent is highly effective for removing petroleum hydrocarbons from contaminated water and offers strong potential for water and wastewater treatment applications.

Waste management is a global priority that affects public health, environmental quality, and the aesthetics of society. Rapid urbanisation and population growth have intensified the challenges in solid waste generation and its management. In Kochi City, Kerala, issues persist due to legacy waste. This study introduces the household waste control index (HWCI), a qualitative tool structured around three indicators: input, process, and output, to assess household waste management. A study among 384 households in Kochi City reveals that waste management practice remains suboptimal, underscoring the importance of fostering community engagement and social awareness to improve waste control practices. This study aligns local waste management strategies with the United Nations sustainable development goals (SDGs) through a mixed-method approach, combining household surveys with statistical analysis. The findings identify awareness, accessibility of waste facilities, and community participation as key factors influencing sustainable practices. The results directly support SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), while indirectly contributing to SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), and SDG 13 (Climate Action). Incorporating public perception into municipal waste management provides actionable insights to advance Kochi’s progress toward sustainability.

This study explored the viability of monitoring or low-discharge extraction wells surrounded by clusters of cylinders filled with reactive media to remediate contaminated groundwater. A numerical finite-difference model simulated leakage from a hypothetical waste storage facility above an unconfined aquifer. Linear arrays of clusters around a central monitoring (non-pumped) or low-discharge extraction well were evaluated for contaminant plume containment and removal capability. Pumping schemes involved one or more downgradient extraction wells and an upgradient injection well. Without pumping, a minimum of seven clusters, with centres spaced 1.5 m apart, effectively contained and removed the contaminant plume. The most effective low-discharge schemes, extracting less water to remove the plume, were a 1.5-m-spaced three-extraction well scheme, followed by a single-extraction well scheme. Lacking a well along a downgradient extension of the contaminant plume’s long axis, two-extraction well schemes were less effective overall. The modelled configuration – reactive cylinders around a central monitoring or low-discharge well in the same borehole – is novel, with capability for in situ remediation; performance monitoring; low-discharge extraction; exchanging spent media cartridges; and accommodating a fluctuating water table. Results outlined above indicate that passive or low-discharge reactive cylinder clusters may be viable at some sites with narrow contaminant plumes.

This study aims to determine strategies to improve the design of sanitary drainage systems (SDS) in high-rise buildings within the Ghanaian construction industry. A literature review was conducted to identify 19 key indicators related to SDS, which guided the development of a questionnaire to validate the study’s objective. A total of 310 participants with experience in high-rise SDS in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana were sampled. These participants included plumbing contractors, plumbing instructors, building services engineers, and site engineers. The purposive sampling method was used to select respondents based on their expertise. The study identified several major strategies for improving SDS design. These include adequate ventilation, provision of access points, use of high-quality pipework materials, use of long-radius bends or de-aerators at the base of stacks, air-tight joints, adequate pipe support, appropriate pipe sizing, and post-installation testing of the system. As there are currently no known studies on SDS in high-rise buildings in Ghana, this study contributes to the existing body of knowledge by addressing the design of SDS in high-rise buildings in the Greater Accra Region. This inform policy, design standards, and construction practices.

Given that sustainable development goals and construction waste are major challenges to achieving net-zero targets, the construction industry still needs to address them through various approaches, including the poorly explored novel idea of waste prevention. The paper seeks a holistic understanding of construction waste prevention (CWP) through an exploratory study of construction waste management and CWP. The study uses a systematic literature review and a survey of relevant construction industry practitioners from Kenya and Nigeria. The emergent ideas generated three major conceptual elements, which were organised into a framework, based on their contribution to CWP understanding, nature, and functionality. The outcome was used to conceptualise the CWP hierarchy. The major limitations resulted from the dynamics of survey research, the scarcity of relevant literature, and the challenges of the COVID-19 era. The paper introduces the first conceptualisation of the nature and functionality of CWP, laying the groundwork for additional research into the possibilities, implementation, and benefits. Results of analysis are developed into an initial model of CWP, thereby addressing a gap and providing a basis for the articulation and operationalisation of waste prevention in the construction industry.

Over the past decades, solid waste production in Middle Eastern Arab countries has dramatically increased, characterised by several factors including rapid urbanisation, prevalent food waste practices, diverse culture, lack of planning for solid waste processes, insufficient equipment, and lack of funding. This review analyses the current solid waste trends by presenting specific details regarding solid waste statistics, including its sources, types, composition, recycling, and composting rates. Findings reveal that organic matter constitutes approximately 50%–65% of the total solid waste, which directly reflects the social behaviour of communities. In addition, income level is a key factor influencing waste generation, as higher-income countries tend to produce more waste per capita. The review highlights the efforts of the Arab governments, which mainly consist of several pilot projects that are not sustainable or effective in the long term. It is recommended that proper disposal and collection plans be prioritised in municipality’s agendas. In addition, the development and continuous monitoring of treatment, recycling, and composting facilities should leverage the high organic waste content. Furthermore, strengthening co-operation between the informal sector, private companies, and governments is essential to achieving long-term sustainability in the solid waste management sector in the Middle East and North Africa region.

Lignin, a renewable and low-cost by-product of the paper industry, has emerged as a promising modifier for sustainable asphalt production. This study investigates the effects of kraft lignin and black liquor on the mechanical, rheological, and aging properties of bitumen and asphalt mixtures. Adding 20% black liquor and 9% kraft lignin reduced the optimum binder content by 6.63% and 2.69%, respectively, while enhancing Marshall stability by 19.7% and 17.9%. These improvements are attributed to the rich organic composition of black liquor, promoting stronger binder interactions. Aging tests confirmed better oxidative stability, and storage stability tests showed minimal temperature differences (≤2°C), indicating good uniformity. The use of lignin led to a 12% reduction in penetration, higher softening points (59.2°C for black liquor, 61.0°C for kraft lignin), and improved viscosity and fire point–enhancing workability and safety. Although ductility decreased, it stayed within acceptable limits. Machine learning models–Gradient Boosting, Random Forest, Decision Tree, and Linear Regression–were applied to predict Marshall stability using lignin content, bitumen percentage, and temperature. Among them, Gradient Boosting showed the highest accuracy with a strong correlation (R = 0.9030). Lignin-modified binders offer environmental benefits and enhance asphalt durability, promoting greener pavement solutions.

In general, the river sand is used as fine aggregate, leading to large-scale riverine mining, causing multi-faceted stresses, such as embankment erosions, water pollution, and landslides. To abate such problems, new materials must replace the sand. Many projects use construction and demolition waste (CDW) as a recycled coarse aggregate for concrete. In the field of fine aggregate, similar advanced studies have yet to be explored further. The work aims to reuse waste materials as recycled fine aggregate (RFA) in mortar and to reduce the volume of natural sand that is quarried from the river. Based on several test results, the performance of ferrosilicon slag (FSS) and CDW, as RFA in mortar, is found satisfactory; the optimal percentage of sand replacement for both was determined by the experimental study, and a cost-effective analysis has been performed further. The recommended replacement of CDW and FSS, as RFA, was found to be 35% each. As per the results obtained, the cost of CDW is found to be Rs 3918.18 per cubic metre, which is less than the specified amount in Arunachal Pradesh schedule of rates (APSR), whereas for FSS it is found to be Rs 4290.58, which is slightly more than the APSR.