Emission Analysis Research Articles

A Viability Study of Thermal Pre-Treatment for Recycling of Pharmaceutical Blisters

Pharmaceutical packaging is one of the most used packaging types which contains aluminum and plastics. Due to increasing amounts of waste and rising environmental concerns, recycling approaches are being investigated. Since blisters usually contain a balanced amount of plastics and metals, most of the approaches focus on recycling only one material. Therefore, more sustainable recycling approaches which recover both plastic and aluminum fractions are needed. This study investigates the thermal behavior and degradation mechanisms of plastic-rich and aluminum-rich pharmaceutical blisters using various analytical techniques. Structural characterization revealed that plastic-rich blisters have a thicker profile with plastic and aluminum layers, while aluminum-rich blisters consist of plastic layers between aluminum sheets. Thermal degradation analysis showed two main stages for both types: plastic-rich blisters (polyvinyl chloride) exhibited significant weight loss and long-chain hydrocarbon formation between 210 and 285 °C, and aluminum-rich blisters (polyamide/nylon) degraded from 240 to 270 °C. Differential Scanning Calorimetry and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy analyses confirmed the endothermic behavior of such a transformation. The gas emissions analysis indicated an increased formation of gasses from the thermal treatment of plastic-rich blisters, with the presence of oxygen leading to the formation of carbon dioxide, water, and carbon monoxide. Thermal treatment with 5%O2 in the carrier gas benefited plastic-rich blister treatment, reducing organic waste by up to 80% and minimizing burning risk, leveraging pyrolytic carbon for protection. This method is unsuitable for aluminum-rich blisters, requiring reduced oxygen or temperature to prevent pyrolytic carbon combustion and aluminum oxidation.

Исследование методов и современных технических решений очистки аэрозольных выбросов промышленности

The analysis and characterization of aerosol emissions into the atmosphere are given, the ways of formation of primary and secondary aerosols are considered. The process of atmospheric aging of aerosols, which has a negative impact on the environment, is considered. The functional links between aerosol emissions, their source and impact on climate and public health are presented. The possible influence of the reactions of liquid and solid aerosol particles on the properties of atmospheric air is considered. The main methods of purification of industrial aerosol emissions are considered: adsorption purification, thermal and catalytic neutralization, chemisorption and absorption purification. The ways of increasing the efficiency of adsorption processes, for example, the separation of adsorbent in the apparatus, are analyzed. The essence of the process of thermal neutralization of gas mixtures is described, it is established that thermal installations based on the direct combustion method work more efficiently when combining thermal and catalytic neutralization methods, designs of combined equipment are presented, and ways to increase the intensity of the apparatus are considered. The process of gas purification based on the absorption process is considered. It is determined that absorption plants for cleaning gases from harmful components are the most effective and efficient due to the high level of technical implementation of the process. The development and improvement of the main absorber equipment is aimed at achieving maximum cleaning efficiency with an optimal pressure drop that determines energy consumption. The analysis shows the negative impact of natural and anthropogenic aerosols on the environment. In order to correctly solve the problem, information on the sources, composition and properties of aerosols is needed to select the most effective and economically profitable cleaning method, which will help reduce the anthropogenic load on the atmosphere.

Fossil Diesel, Soybean Biodiesel and Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil: A Numerical Analysis of Emissions Using Detailed Chemical Kinetics at Diesel Engine Like Conditions

Nowadays, emissions from internal combustion engines are a relevant topic of investigation, taking into account the continuous reduction of emission limits imposed by environmental regulatory agencies around the world, obviously as the result of earnest studies that have pointed out the impact on the human health of high levels of contaminants released into the environment. Over recent years, the use of biofuels has contributed to attenuating this environmental issue; however, new problems have been raised, such as NOx emissions tend to increase as the biofuel percentage in the fuel used in engines increases. In this research, the emissions of a compression ignition internal combustion engine modeled as a variable volume reactor with homogeneous combustion were numerically investigated. To analyze the combustion process, a detailed kinetics model tailored specifically for this purpose was used. The kinetics model comprised 30,975 chemical reactions involving 691 chemical species. Mixtures of fuel surrogates were then created to represent the fuel used in the Brazilian fuel marketplace, involving (i) fossil diesel—“diesel A”, (ii) soybean diesel—“biodiesel”, and (iii) hydrotreated vegetable oil— “HVO”. Surrogate species were then selected for each of the aforementioned fuels, and blends of those surrogates were then proposed as mixture M1 (diesel A:biodiesel:HVO—90:10:0), mixture M2 (diesel A:biodiesel:HVO—85:15:0), and mixture M3 (diesel A:biodiesel:HVO—80:15:5). The species allowed in the kinetics model included all the fuel surrogates used in this research as well as the target emission species of this study: total hydrocarbons, non-methane hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, methane, nitrogen oxides, carbon dioxide, soot, and soot precursors. When compared to experimental trends of emissions available in the literature, it was observed that, for all the proposed fuel surrogates blends, the numerical approach performed in this research was able to capture qualitative trends for engine power and the target emissions in the whole ranges of engine speeds and engine loads, despite the CO and NOx emissions at specific engine speeds and loads.

Prospects for Long-Distance Cascaded Liquid—Gaseous Hydrogen Delivery: An Economic and Environmental Assessment

As an important energy source to achieve carbon neutrality, green hydrogen has always faced the problems of high use cost and unsatisfactory environmental benefits due to its remote production areas. Therefore, a liquid-gaseous cascade green hydrogen delivery scheme is proposed in this article. In this scheme, green hydrogen is liquefied into high-density and low-pressure liquid hydrogen to enable the transport of large quantities of green hydrogen over long distances. After long-distance transport, the liquid hydrogen is stored and then gasified at transfer stations and converted into high-pressure hydrogen for distribution to the nearby hydrogen facilities in cities. In addition, this study conducted a detailed model evaluation of the scheme around the actual case of hydrogen energy demand in Chengdu City in China and compared it with conventional hydrogen delivery methods. The results show that the unit hydrogen cost of the liquid-gaseous cascade green hydrogen delivery scheme is only 51.58 CNY/kgH2, and the dynamic payback periods of long- and short-distance transportation stages are 13.61 years and 7.02 years, respectively. In terms of carbon emissions, this scheme only generates indirect carbon emissions of 2.98 kgCO2/kgH2 without using utility electricity. In sum, both the economic and carbon emission analyses demonstrate the advantages of the liquid-gaseous cascade green hydrogen delivery scheme. With further reductions in electricity prices and liquefication costs, this scheme has the potential to provide an economically/environmentally superior solution for future large-scale green hydrogen applications.

Comprehensive analysis of particle emissions from miniature turbojet engine

Emission of particulate matter from jet engines contribute to deterioration of air quality in the vicinty of the airports and to formation of contrails in higher layers of the atmosphere. This article presents the results of the measurements of particle emissions from a miniature jet engine GTM-120 fueled conventional aviation fuel Jet A-1. Analysis of particle size distribution, number, mass and volume emission indexes has been made, as well as the analysis of the emission intenisty and mass emission rate. Obtained results were related to LTO cycle phases. The results shows, that the particle number concentration was the lowest for low engine loads, with characteristic diameter of 69.8 nm and the particles concentration of 7.7 x 106 particles/cm3. For thrust increase, the characteristic diameter is smaller, and the particles distribution is no longer single-mode. The highest particles concentration for cm3 is for 100% thrust and is equal to 1.55 x 107 particles, with characteristic diameter of 34 nm.

Granular insights into occupant behaviours and CO2 emissions in the UK

Addressing global climate change necessitates a deep understanding of the sources of CO2 emissions, particularly at the individual level. While existing research has explored in depth the behavioural awareness of individual/household carbon emissions and its overall impacts, there remain significant research gaps in the understanding of how behavioural adjustments, influenced by individual factors, can be made to achieve carbon emission reductions under the current market mechanisms. This study aims to fill this gap by providing a detailed analysis of the carbon emissions associated with various activities of residents. Utilising the UK Time Use Survey, we applied path analysis and t-statistics to dissect how distinct occupant behaviours and their characteristics impact CO2 emissions. Our findings reveal age is a predominant driving factor in employment, studying, and media consumption, while gender significantly impacts household and care-related activities, and income levels influence emissions from hobbies and transportation. These insights highlight the importance of developing carbon reduction strategies that are developed on an individual behavioural basis to reach behavioural adjustments. Our analysis provides quartile results for different behaviours, aiding policymakers in devising carbon reduction strategies tailored to occupants' emissions profiles. Meanwhile, using scenario analysis, the policy has a carbon reduction potential ranging from 29.59% to 75.36%. Overall, our study offers empirical data and granular insights that can inform targeted interventions and policy formulations aimed at promoting carbon neutrality by focusing on the specific behaviours of individual occupants.

Analysis of emission of volatile organic compounds and thermal degradation in investment casting using fused deposition modeling (FDM) and three-dimensional printing (3DP) made of various thermoplastic polymers.

The study examined the degradation process of various types of polymers used to form models using the fused deposition modeling (FDM) and three-dimensional printing (3DP) methods and used in the investment casting method. Commercial filaments made of polylactide (PLA), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene terpolymer (ABS), high-impact polystyrene (HIPS), polyamide 12 (PA12), poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), and polypropylene (PP) were used to produce gypsum molds. The assessment included organic volatile compounds (VOCs) released during mold heating and model degradation, which is characteristic of this technological process. The screening qualitative chromatographic analysis of decomposition products sampled from various points of the production hall made it possible to define potential threats related to the processing of selected polymers and the necessary preventive measures. Furthermore, passive diffusion-type samplers were used at the sampling stage of VOCs emitted to the gaseous phase to reduce nuisance and user interference. Studies have been completed to characterize the thermoplastic polymer degradation process. The coupled thermogravimetry (TGA) with analysis of gaseous products by infrared spectroscopy with Fourier transformation (FT-IR) has been used. The presented results are the first to compare and rate the use of this still-developing novel aspect of castings by the method of fused models.

Carbon Peak Control Strategies and Pathway Selection in Dalian City: A Hybrid Approach with STIRPAT and GA-BP Neural Networks

Mitigating the rate of global warming is imperative to preserve the natural environment upon which humanity relies for survival; greenhouse gas emissions serve as the principal driver of climate change, rendering the promotion of urban carbon peaking and carbon neutrality a crucial initiative for effectively addressing climate change and attaining sustainable development. This study addresses the inherent uncertainties and complexities associated with carbon dioxide emission accounting by undertaking a scenario prediction analysis of peak carbon emissions in Dalian, utilizing the STIRPAT model in conjunction with a GA-BP neural network model optimized through a genetic algorithm. An analysis of the mechanisms underlying the influencing factors of carbon emissions, along with the identification of the carbon emission peak, is conducted based on carbon emission accounting derived from nighttime lighting data. The GA-BP prediction model exhibits significant advantages in addressing the nonlinear and non-stationary characteristics of carbon emissions, attributable to its robust mapping capabilities and probabilistic analysis proficiency. The findings reveal that energy intensity, tertiary industry value, resident population, and GDP are positively correlated with carbon emissions in Dalian, ranked in order of importance. In contrast, population density significantly reduces emissions. The GA-BP model predicts carbon emissions with 99.33% accuracy, confirming its excellent predictive capability. The recommended strategy for Dalian to achieve its carbon peak at the earliest is to adopt a low-carbon scenario, with a forecasted peak of 191.79 million tons by 2033.

Ship emission variations during the COVID-19 from global and continental perspectives

The COVID-19 pandemic and the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) 2020 fuel-switching policy have profoundly impacted global maritime activities, leading to unprecedented changes in shipping emissions. This study aimed to examine the effects from different scales and investigate the underlying drivers. The big data model Ship Emission Inventory Model (SEIM) was updated and applied to analyze the spatiotemporal pattern of global ship emissions as well as the main contributors in 2019 and 2020. Overall, ships emitted NOx, CO, HC, CO2, and N2O declined by 7.4 %–13.8 %, while SO2, PM2.5, and BC declined by 40.9 %–81.9 % in 2020 compared with 2019. The decline in CO2 emissions indicated a comparable reduction across vessel tonnages. Ship emissions occurring at cruising status accounted for over 90 % of the ship's CO2 emission reduction. Container ships, chemical tankers, and Ro-Ro vessels were the primary contributors to the emission reductions, with container ships alone responsible for 39.4 % of the CO2 decrease. The ship's CO2 emissions variations revealed the decline-rebound patterns in response to the pandemic. Asian-related routes saw emissions drop in February 2020, followed by a rebound in May, while European and American routes experienced declines starting in May, with a recovery in August. Further analysis of CO2 emission in Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) showed high temporal consistency between vessel CO2 emissions, sailing speeds, and international trade volumes across continents, and exhibited heterogeneity in main contributing ship type of emission reduction on continental scale. Our study reveals the short-term fluctuation characteristics of global ship emissions during the pandemic, particularly focusing on their spatiotemporal evolution and the inherent disparities. The results highlight the correlation between global ship emissions and trade, as well as the operational status of ships, and their rigidity.

Effects of High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) and Additives Fuel Blends on Diesel Engine’s Performance and Emissions and NOx Prediction using Boosted Tree Model

The rising demand for eco-friendly and sustainable fuel options has prompted the investigation of alternative energy sources. This study explores the use of blends of High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE), and 7% biodiesel (B7) with additives as a substitute for diesel fuel. The research involves comparing three different mix ratios of HDPE and additives with a conventional B7 blend: a control of 100% B7, a mix of 90% B7 with 10% HDPE, and a blend of 85% B7 with 10% HDPE and 5% additives. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was employed to identify the fuels' functional groups. The study also measured key performance metrics, including brake-specific fuel consumption (BSFC), brake power (BP), and exhaust emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbons (HC), and carbon dioxide (CO2). A Boosted Tree Model was used to establish a prediction and analysis of NOx emissions. The findings indicate that incorporating additives into the HDPE blend positively influences both engine performance and emissions. The combination of HDPE and additives with B7 resulted in reduced emissions across various engine loads and speeds, decreasing hydrocarbon and carbon-containing emissions. The Boosted Tree Model, with a configuration of 4 leaf nodes, demonstrated strong predictive accuracy, with a coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.86 and a root-mean-square error (RMSE) of 0.38 for the training dataset, and R2 of 0.97 with RMSE of 0.16 for the validation dataset. The study underscores the benefits of integrating HDPE and additives into diesel blends, highlighting their potential to lower emissions and supporting the search for viable alternative fuels.

Thermal and emission analysis of waste plastic and microalgae biodiesel as a potential power source for diesel engines: A sustainable approach.

The future of diesel engines is greatly influenced by ongoing research on alternative fuels. Renewable fuels have been researched and adopted by several nations to encourage the production and use of biodiesel. This study examines the energy conversion of waste plastic biodiesel and Spirulina microalgae biodiesel at a 20% blending ratio to analyze the behavior of a one-cylinder, 4-stroke diesel engine running at 1500rpm with a compression ratio of 17.5. The authors evaluated, analyzed, and compared the engine's combustion, performance, and emission at an incremental engine load of 25% from 25 to 100%. The findings demonstrated that the biodiesel fuel samples generated somewhat poorer efficiency but reduced emissions from the engine. At 100% load, the percentage differences between the diesel and blended fuel samplesranged from 2.4 to 7.3% for BTE, 2.9 to 16.5% for BSFC, and 1.0 to 4.62% for BSEC; however, the PM, SO2, and CO2 emissions were reduced by 1.6-28.8% except for NOx emissions, which are increased by up to 9.4%. Pure diesel exhibits the best performance characteristics; however, pure biodiesel exhibits the best emission characteristics. The 20% blended fuels showed promising results, as they exhibited comparable or slightly improved BTE values compared to their respective pure biodiesel fuels. The findings indicate that Spirulina microalgae biodiesel and waste plastic biodiesel have the potential to be utilized as substitute fuels for diesel engines; however, for the greatest performance and lowest emissions, their blending ratios and engine operating conditions must be optimized.

Analysis of greenhouse gas emissions using forest biomass as fuel in the drying process of agricultural crops

Greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere, primarily resulting from the use of fossil fuels, have become an increasing concern regarding global warming. Given this scenario, it is necessary to develop actions that help reduce the gases emitted by different sectors. Forest biomass, as an alternative fuel, contributes to the sustainability of consuming sectors, as forests help remove carbon from the atmosphere, compensating for CO2 emissions, and it is also a source with excellent energy potential. Therefore, the present study aims to analyze gas emissions from the use of forest biomass as a renewable fuel during the drying process of agricultural crops, verifying whether the emissions comply with the limits established by legislation. The results indicate emission values exceeding the limits established by FEPAM Technical Guideline No. 001/2018, but in compliance with CONAMA Resolution No. 436/2011 for CO, with 1,439.61 mg/Nm³ for the Kepler furnace and 2,135.80 mg/Nm³ for the FOJS 24ª210V. Both are within the stipulated limits for NOx emissions, with 107.59 mg/Nm³ for the Kepler furnace and 127.34 mg/Nm³ for the FOJS 24ª210V. Forest biomass is an excellent alternative; however, it is important to conduct further studies to analyze the structural characteristics of furnaces, as well as the use of different types of biomasses, considering their physical and chemical characteristics, to achieve good efficiency while reducing gas emissions.

Fluorenyl-corroles: Characterization, photophysical, photobiological, and DNA/BSA-binding properties of novel examples

In this study, it was evaluated the photophysical, electrochemical, photobiological, and DNA/BSA-binding properties of fluorenyl corrole derivatives H3MFluCor and H3TFluCor. Absorption and emission analyses were corroborated by theoretical calculations performed using time-dependent density functional theory, which revealed natural transition orbitals densities concentrated around the tetrapyrrolic macrocycle in all cases. The experimental studies indicated that the corroles H3MFluCor and H3TFluCor are stable in solution and exhibited photostability primarily in DMSO(5%)/Tris-HCl (pH 7.4) buffer. The generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and log POW values highlight their potential application in photobiological methods, as these corroles effectively generate ROS with more lipophilic characteristics. Furthermore, their binding capacity towards double-stranded DNA and bovine serum albumin (BSA) was also evaluated by spectroscopic techniques and molecular docking calculations. The interactive profile with biomolecules indicates that the corrole derivatives H3MFluCor and H3TFluCor tend to binding into the minor grooves of DNA through secondary forces, which are particularly pronounced at site III of the BSA, likely due to the static interactions.

Carbon dioxide emission evaluation of biochar based vegetation concrete for ecological restoration projects

Vegetation concrete is increasingly being used for slope stabilization in highways, green roofing in urban developments, and erosion control in coastal areas due to its sustainable solutions for enhancing landscape aesthetics, mitigating pollution, and protecting the environment. However, the environmental and economic impacts of different mix proportions, particularly concerning CO2 emissions, remain insufficiently explored. This study aimed to identify the optimal mix proportions of vegetation concrete through laboratory testing that minimize CO2 emissions while ensuring compatibility with plant growth and cost-effectiveness. The vegetation concrete mix were prepared using different quantities of biochar (5 %, 10 %, and 15 %) and cement content (4 %, 8 %, and 12 %) by weight to evaluate their impact on porosity, unconfined compressive strength (UCS), alkalinity, plant compatibility, cost-effectiveness, and CO2 emissions from raw materials. The results indicate that increasing the biochar content from 0 % to 15 % led to a 16 % reduction in porosity and a 92 % increase in UCS of vegetation concrete. Similarly, increasing the cement content from 0 % to 12 % resulted in an 11 % decrease in porosity and a substantial 200 % increase in the UCS of vegetation concrete. Moreover, the addition of 5 % biochar had a beneficial effect on plant growth, however, increasing the biochar content beyond this level adversely impacted plant development. Based on laboratory test results, the recommended optimal mix for vegetation concrete includes a mix of 5 % biochar, 8 % low-alkaline sulfoaluminate cement, 6 % sawdust, and 6 % ferrous sulfate. The analysis of CO2 emission of the materials studied showed that cement contributed the most to CO2 emissions, followed by biochar, sawdust, water, and soil. Notably, the utilization of sulfoaluminate cement led to a 31.8 % reduction in CO2 emissions compared to Portland cement, while also lowering the overall cost of vegetation concrete by 24.7–33.8 %. This research underscores the necessity of scientifically establishing relationships between the composition of plant-based concretes and their environmental and economic performance. In summary, this study identifies optimal mix proportions for vegetation concrete, leveraging low-alkaline sulfoaluminate cement and biochar to minimize CO2 emissions, enhance landscape aesthetics, and ensure compatibility with plant growth, thus emphasizing its potential as a sustainable and cost-effective construction material.

Analysis and forecast of emissions associated with electricity consumption in hospitals: Encouraging a net zero healthcare roadmap in Brazil

In several countries, the concept of Net Zero Healthcare (NZH) has gained prominence within the healthcare domain as a response to national commitments on climate change. NZH plays a crucial role in advocating for customized commitments and objectives to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across diverse healthcare units, serving as a catalyst for decarbonization strategies in both the public and private sectors. This paper addresses the absence of primary research on NZH in Brazil while asserting its substantial potential to support GHG-curbing initiatives. This is the first study to establish a foundational knowledge base for decarbonization initiatives in Brazilian healthcare sector, focused on assisting in the sustainability roadmap of a University Hospital situated in Northeast Brazil. The major contribution of this study is the quantification of the GHG emissions associated with the electricity consumption at the hospital, which serves as a gateway to a comprehensive GHG inventory of the entire unit. The hospital's GHG emissions are then registered for 2017-2023. Methodologically, this study employs a comprehensive framework encompassing data processing of the electric mix, calculation of emission factors via life cycle assessment, forecasting algorithms, and data visualization. GHG emissions from electricity consumption at the hospital amounted to approximately 230 t CO2e annually (2017-2023 average value). Short-term forecasts supported by SARIMA models projected emissions of 271.9 t CO2e in 2024, with 92% originating from off-peak consumption. The significance of this research is the potential to provide new insights into shaping strategies for a viable NZH roadmap in Brazil.

Development and properties of cost-effective self-sensing Ultra-High Performance Fiber-Reinforced Concrete (UHPFRC) incorporating steel slags

This study examined the electrical and self-sensing capacities of ultra-high performance fiber-reinforced concrete （UHPFRC） with and without steel slag powder. The inclusion of steel slags provides a reliable way to enhance the electrically conductive and self-sensing capabilities of UHPFRC, which is composed of cement, silica fume, and steel fiber. The conductibility of UHPFRC and its response to external loading were investigated. Additionally, through 3D analysis of fiber structure and pore distribution, the conductive mechanisms were revealed. The results show that the addition of steel slags powder (SSP) can improve both mechanical properties and flowability. The maximum fractional change in electrical resistivity under compressive and flexural loads reached 37.6 % and 54.1 %, respectively. However, the conductive model under compressive loading differs from that under flexural loading. Furthermore, an analysis of carbon emissions and material costs revealed that using SSP reduced carbon emissions by 45.2–96.4 % and lowered costs by 41.8–88.8 %, making this approach both economically and environmentally advantageous.

An Infrastructure’s emissions assessment tool: AMICO - Account Method of Infrastructures embodied CarbOn

Abstract In 2013, the UK Infrastructure Carbon Review report highlighted how the infrastructure sector contributed to the national total emissions and, therefore, had a key role in contributing to the national reduction, adopting targeted strategies to reduce them. The main objective of AMICO’s research project: “Account Method of Infrastructures embodied CarbOn”, is the development of a tool for the analysis and parametric evaluation of carbon emissions (Embodied Carbon, EC) and energy resource requirements (Embodied Energy, EE) related to the design and construction of infrastructures (railway tunnels, bridges, highways …) AMICO tool is designed to be used for tendering, contract start-up and construction of infrastructure by Webuild Group (Italian Joint Stock Company) as part of a research project funded by MIMIT - Ministry of Business and Made in Italy, with the scientific support of the Politecnico di Torino (Department of Architecture and Design). AMICO aims to assess potential impacts in terms of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) and potential primary energy resource needs over the infrastructure life cycle and at different design process stages, allowing designers and constructors to evaluate decarbonisation in their choices. AMICO is currently organised into two calculation models: 1. An Excel spreadsheet file, divided into worksheets containing algorithms for accounting of EC and EE, organised into two usage models: Basic, which will be used for tenders and the early design stage, and Advanced, which will be used in the detailed design or construction stage. 2. A code for the BIM environment that accounts for impacts (EE and EC) related to infrastructure systems (as defined by UNICLASS) combined and concurrently with design in the BIM environment (this section is not the focus of this paper). An innovation aspect is sharing a database of environmental data about materials and processes (transportation, construction, demolition) directly related to the Bill of Quantity without using Life Cycle Assessment software. The database will be integrated into the Datalake to speed up and optimise infrastructure design and construction work. You can set the database to the location of the work. Through data digitisation, AMICO is designed to be as automated, easy to fill in, and intuitive as possible.

Diminishing marginal returns and sufficiency in health-care resource use: an exploratory analysis of outcomes, expenditure, and emissions

Increasing health expenditure in low-income countries is associated with rapid gains in health status. Less attention has been paid to the possibility of diminishing marginal returns to health expenditure at high levels of spending, or to the relationship between health-care greenhouse gas emissions and outcomes. Our study aimed to investigate the existence, scale, and implications of diminishing marginal returns to health-care expenditure and emissions. Segmented (piecewise) regression analysis was used to explore the relationship between two measures of health outcome from the Global Burden of Disease project (mortality amenable to health care [MAH] and health-adjusted life expectancy [HALE]), four aggregates of health expenditure per capita from the WHO Global Health Expenditure Database, and health-care sector greenhouse gas emissions per capita derived from a 2020 study by Lenzen and colleagues. Turning point knots-points at which the elasticity or velocity of increasing returns to expenditure and emissions changed substantially-were estimated and countries in the vicinity of these knots identified. Rapidly increasing returns (improvements in population health as measured by MAH and HALE) to health expenditure were estimated in low-income and lower-middle-income countries; at levels of spending above approximately US$500 per capita, these returns start to slow. At levels of spending above those seen in high-income countries such as Italy (approximately US$3400), there is little or no evidence of further health returns to additional spending or to increasing health-care greenhouse gas emissions. Dramatic improvements in population health outcomes could be achieved by additional investment in health expenditure in low-income countries. Conversely, continuing growth in health expenditure in high-income countries will, by itself, be unlikely to yield rapid improvements in health outcomes. Our findings inform the emerging debate on the importance of sufficiency within planetary boundaries-low-income countries need rapid growth in health expenditure, whereas high-income countries could potentially achieve better health outcomes at substantially lower levels of resource use. None.

Optimizing hybrid renewable energy based automated railway level crossing in Bangladesh: Techno-economic, emission and sensitivity analysis

The railway system in Bangladesh, particularly the level crossing system, needs significant advancements, including a shift towards using renewable energy to power these crossings. As a solution, this study proposes optimal hybrid systems powered by renewable energy on an automated railway level crossing system, which is reliable, efficient, and sustainable. The main contribution of this study is to introduce an optimal hybrid renewable energy-based automated railway level crossing system in Bangladesh, focusing on technical and economic evaluation, emissions, and sensitivity assessment using HOMER Pro. The proposed system examines the optimal outcome for a 1 kW vertical-axis wind turbine and a 0.440 kW photovoltaic system at five selected locations. The results reveal satisfactory net present cost values amounting to USD 8495, USD 8505, USD 8564, USD 8262, and USD 8357 for Narayanganj, Cox’s Bazaar, Noakhali, Dinajpur, and Rajshahi respectively. Moreover, HOMER Pro indicates that the photovoltaic-wind turbine–grid-connected model offers a lower Cost of Energy which is around 0.03 USD/kWh compared to other configurations. The Internal Rate of Return for the selected locations are 20 %, 33.7 %, 31.5 %, 5.2 %, and 4.6 % for Narayanganj, Cox’s Bazaar, Noakhali, Dinajpur, and Rajshahi, respectively. The developed structure is projected to have a payback period ranging from 4.57 to 13.29 years across the five selected locations. Furthermore, the proposed systems reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 44.23 % compared to a grid-only system. Additionally, sensitivity analysis is performed by varying wind speed and solar irradiation to emphasize the robustness of the proposed systems.

Comprehensive analysis of emissions from wood and cow dung burning using chemometrics and two-dimensional gas chromatography

Biomass burning is a global source of climate- and health-affecting emissions. The impacts of biomass burning emissions (BBE) are tied to their complex and variable chemical makeup. For instance, the nitrogen content of BBE influences their capacity to absorb light, and therefore affect the Earth's radiative budget. Factors such as temperature, biomass type, or air flow rate during the combustion all modify the composition of BBE, making accurate characterization challenging. Herein, for the first time, principal component analysis (PCA) was applied to emissions gathered during laboratory-based combustion of wood and cow dung biomass in a tube furnace. A thermal desorption two dimensional time-of-flight gas chromatography mass spectrometry (TD-GC × GC-ToF-MS) setup was employed to separate and identify chemical species. By combining these techniques with a feature selection algorithm, we determined that low temperature and air flow rate lead to greater feature separation on PCA scores plots. Of the 729 variables used to construct the plots, 61 were identified as significant. These species - including sugars such as d-Allose and melezitose, as well as tracers such as levoglucosan and guaiacol - significantly differentiated emissions from wood versus cow dung biomass, especially at lower temperatures. In particular, combustion of either fuel at 0.2 slpm and 500 °C, lead to 20 times the variability in levoglucosan peak area over more efficient furnace parameters. Chemical species evolved only from dung burning contained on average 0.595 nitrogen atoms versus 0.515 for wood, indicating that a higher nitrogen content of the base fuel may not necessarily translate into emission of unique nitrogen containing species, potentially causing the underestimation of dung burning impacts. Overall, TD-GC × GC-ToF-MS coupled to PCA reliably separated emissions from wood and dung biomass while simultaneously identifying significant chemical features, displaying the suitability of this combination of techniques towards characterizing complex BBE matrices in the future.