Cleaner Production Research Articles

Simplified efficiency calibration methods for scintillation detectors used in nuclear remediation

Our study introduces innovative methods to address waste reduction and enhance resource efficiency in nuclear cleanup processes. We focus on sustainable nuclear technology, aligning with goals for cleaner production and environmental protection. We developed two novel methods, termed “oversimplified” and “simplified,” for easily determining the photopeak efficiency of NaI(Tl) scintillation detectors. These methods, along with a “general” solution method, were validated with calibrated radioactive sources such as 241Am, 57Co, 133Ba, 137Cs, and 60Co, and were used to commission a NaI(Tl) scintillation detector system at Chalk River Laboratories (CRL) for nuclear remediation. The system demonstrated high accuracy, making it suitable for screening unstable isotopes at contaminated sites. This screening tool significantly reduces the number of soil samples requiring detailed characterization, thereby lowering operational costs. The NaI(Tl) detector system was calibrated for near-contact geometry, which is commonly used at CRLs. Detection limits were established for this configuration. By improving the efficiency calibration of scintillation detectors, our study advances sustainable nuclear remediation practices, promoting environmental sustainability and cleaner production processes.

Continuous recovery of tellurium and cadmium from simulated CdTe leachates using a fixed-bed-column adsorption system

Rare element resource (Te) loss and heavy metal (Cd) pollution, derived from waste photovoltaic CdTe cells, have attracted considerable attention in the cleaner production and environmental protection field. However, there are several technical barriers in conventional adsorption strategies for the continuous recovery Te(Ⅳ) and Cd(Ⅱ) due to single-component recovery, inefficient adsorbent utilization and less automation. Herein, this work presented a fixed-bed-column adsorption system for the continuous adsorption recovery of tellurium and cadmium from a simulated CdTe leachate using functional sludge-based adsorption fillers (LDO/SF and EDTA@LDH/SF) that prepared from water-processing sludge via hydrothermal synthesis, thermal activation and surface modification technologies. Breakthrough curves were analyzed for adsorption columns, considering initial concentration, flow rate, and filler height, with parameters evaluated using the Thomas and BDST models to determine the optimal separation parameters. During the continuous adsorption process, the column adsorption system with the filler layer height of 4 cm and liquid delivery rate of 1 mL/min can be used for continuous separation of more than 1000 mL of a simulated CdTe leachate and exhibits adsorption efficiencies of more than 96% and 82% for Te(Ⅳ) and Cd(Ⅱ), respectively. More importantly, the elution procedure was used to treat the column adsorption system with ion adsorption acceptances of 83% and 90% for Te(Ⅳ) and Cd(Ⅱ), respectively. Meanwhile, the functional sludge-based fillers demonstrated great regeneration and recycling capabilities, thus maximizing the utilization of adsorbents and saving treatment costs. This study has established a robust technical solution for the continuous recovery of tellurium and cadmium from simulated leachates, providing a practical framework for evaluating the efficiency of adsorption filler columns in actual applications.

Multi-sectoral efforts are required for decarbonising the building sector: a case in Hong Kong

Decarbonising the building sector involves collaborative efforts from multiple sectors. Previous studies only focused on carbon mitigation within individual measures, impeding the interconnections within various stages, contributing sectors, and measures. We propose an innovative “stage-sector-measure” framework for evaluating the carbon mitigation effects of the building sector and apply it to Hong Kong. Results show carbon emissions of Hong Kong’s building sector will decrease by 84.4% in 2050. Electricity is the most significant contributing sector, accounting for 71.8% of accumulative mitigation effects of Hong Kong’s building sector. Regarding measures, cleaner production of concrete and steel represents 62.9% of mitigation effects in material production stage, while alternative fuel mix and carbon capture and storage account for 42.2–87.7% of those in other stages. By clarifying the relationships among the stages, contributing sectors, and measures, we identify the mitigation mechanism of the building sector and reveal the significance of multi-sectoral efforts in its decarbonisation.

Revolutionizing Food Quality and Safety: Recent Advances in Clean-Label Technology

The rising incidence of foodborne illnesses and scandals, coupled with heightened consumer awareness of the negative impacts of artificial ingredients, has driven a significant shift toward clean label products—foods defined by simple, recognizable ingredients and minimal processing. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of clean label technology, exploring its historical evolution, key definitions, applications, and current market trends. It also examines consumer behavior toward clean label products and the marketing strategies employed by brands to foster transparency. Drawing on 61 peer-reviewed references published between 2020 and 2024, this narrative review integrates findings from academic research and industry reports to offer a holistic perspective on clean label practices. Key challenges hindering the implementation of clean label technologies, such as the effectiveness of natural preservatives, the impact of ingredient removal on sensory qualities, and the financial implications of transitioning to clean label practices, are discussed. The findings underscore the necessity for the food industry to address these challenges to ensure the sustained growth of the clean label movement, aligning with consumer preferences for healthier and more transparent food options.

A low-carbon dual-functional evaporator with photothermal and catalytic properties for enhanced VOCs removal during water evaporation

Solar interface distillation technologies are widely used for seawater desalination, wastewater treatment, and clean water production. However, during evaporation, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the water often evaporate coincidently with the water vapor, presenting a major pollutant challenge. Combining solar evaporation with advanced oxidation processes (AOP) is a potential solution for simultaneous water purification and VOC degradation. Herein, a dual-functional sponge photothermal evaporator (MBC-SA/MS) was designed to assess the efficacy of this approach. A simple porous sponge embedded with a composite catalyst, comprising MoO3−x, BiOCl, and CNT, was able to demonstrate simultaneous photothermal evaporation and catalytic degradation. MBC-SA/MS exhibited exceptional photothermal conversion efficiency and robust catalytic activity, achieving an evaporation rate of 2.1 kg m−2 h−1 under 1.0 sun intensity. Effective mitigating of phenol emissions was observed through persulfate activation resulting in 90 % phenol degradation. Life cycle assessment (LCA) confirmed this evaporator system had low environmental impact and was sustainable. This research presents a new compelling strategy for tackling VOC pollution and simultaneously enhancing water purification via solar interfacial evaporation.

Dynamic feed scheduling for optimised anaerobic digestion: An optimisation approach for better decision-making to enhance revenue and environmental benefits

Anaerobic digestion (AD) offers a sustainable solution for clean energy production, with the potential for significant revenue enhancement through enhanced decision-making. However, the complexity and limited flexibility of AD systems pose challenges in developing reliable optimisation methods. Changing feeding strategies provides opportunities for efficient feedstock utilisation and optimal gas production, especially in volatile gas markets.To provide better decision-making tools in AD for energy production, we propose an integrated site model for the dynamic behaviour of the AD process in a biomethane-to-grid system and optimise production based on predicted gas prices. The model includes methods for optimal feed co-digestion strategies and integrates these results into a scheduling model to identify the optimal feedstock acquisition, feeding pattern, and potential gas storage operation considering feedstock availability, properties, sustainability, and fluctuating gas demand under different pricing variations.The methodology was tested on a 150 tonnes per day farm-scale AD plant in the UK, processing energy crops and manure considering both environmental (global warming potential) and economic objectives. The results showed strong adaptability of the proposed feeding schedule to the general trend of gas prices over time. To address the challenge of immediate price peaks, typically unattainable due to the system's sluggish behaviour and high retention times, the impacts of on-site storage were explored, leading to annual revenue increases ranging from 2 % to 7.4 %, depending on the pricing scheme, which translates to a significant boost in terms of revenue.

Semantic Web and its role in facilitating ICT data sharing for the circular economy: An ontology survey

The environmental pressure, CO2 emissions (including embodied energy) and delivery risks of our digital infrastructures are increasing. The exponentially growing digitisation of services that drive the transition from industry 4.0 to industry 5.0 has resulted in a rising materials demand for ICT hardware manufacturing. ICT devices such as laptops and data servers are being used on average for 3 and 4–5 years respectively (van Driel (2020)), while research shows that they should last 7 years before replacement (Journal of Cleaner Production 69 (2014), 10–16). A solution is to transition from a linear to a circular economy (CE), through which materials that were previously disposed of as waste are re-entered back into product life-cycles through processes such as reuse, recycling, remanufacturing, repurposing. However, the adoption of the CE in the ICT sector is currently limited due to the lack of tools that support knowledge exchange between sustainability, ICT and technology experts in a standardised manner and the limited data availability, accessibility and interoperability needed to build such tools. Further, the already existing knowledge of the domain is fragmented into silos and the lack of a common terminology restricts its interoperability and usability. These also lead to transparency and responsibility issues along the supply chain. For many years now, the Semantic Web has been known to provide solutions to such issues in the form of ontologies. Several ontologies for the ICT, materials and CE domains have been build and successfully utilised to support processes such as predictive maintenance. However, there is a lack of a systematic analysis of the existing ontologies in these domains. Motivated by this, we present a literature survey and analysis of, but not limited to, existing ontologies for ICT devices such as laptops, materials and the CE. In addition, we discuss the need for findable, accessible, interoperable, reusable (FAIR) data in the CE, different factors such as data privacy and security that affect this and the role of ontologies.

Valorization of Eggshell as Renewable Materials for Sustainable Biocomposite Adsorbents—An Overview

The production and buildup of eggshell waste represents a challenge and an opportunity. The challenge is that uncontrolled disposal of generated eggshell waste relates to a sustainability concern for the environment. The opportunity relates to utilization of this biomass resource via recycling for waste valorization, cleaner production, and development of a circular economy. This review explores the development of eggshell powder (ESP) from eggshell waste and a coverage of various ESP composite sorbents with an emphasis on their potential utility as adsorbent materials for model pollutants in solid–liquid systems. An overview of literature since 2014 outlines the development of eggshell powder (ESP) and ESP composite adsorbents for solid–liquid adsorption processes. The isolation and treatment of ESP in its pristine or modified forms by various thermal or chemical treatments, along with the preparation of ESP biocomposites is described. An overview of the physico-chemical characterization of ESP and its biocomposites include an assessment of the adsorption properties with various model pollutants (cations, anions, and organic dyes). A coverage of equilibrium and kinetic adsorption isotherm models is provided, along with relevant thermodynamic parameters that govern the adsorption process for ESP-based adsorbents. This review reveals that ESP biocomposite adsorbents represent an emerging class of sustainable materials with tailored properties via modular synthetic strategies. This review will serve to encourage the recycling and utilization of eggshell biomass waste and its valorization as potential adsorbent systems. The impact of such ESP biosorbents cover a diverse range of adsorption-based applications from environmental remediation to slow-release fertilizer carrier systems in agricultural production.

Experimental analysis of concrete with partial cement replacement using incinerated hospital waste ash

The annual production of medical waste from healthcare facilities in Pakistan is around 250,000 tons. An effective waste management system is essential for disposing of hazardous medical waste, and incineration is considered the most effective and accessible technology. Disposal of medical waste ash in landfills without proper treatment could lead to groundwater contamination due to leachate. This research paper aims to evaluate the feasibility of using hospital waste ash obtained from the National Cleaner Production Center (NCPC) in Rawalpindi as a partial replacement for cement. The primary variable in this study was the amount of hospital waste ash (0%, 3%, 7%, and 10% by weight of cement), while the amount of cementitious material, water-to-cement ratio, and fine and coarse aggregate content were kept constant. A total of 36 cubes were cast, with nine cubes for each replacement level for curing periods of 7, 14, and 28 days. The slump value and density of fresh concrete decreased with the increase in the proportion of hospital waste ash in the mix. The compressive strength of mixes with 3% hospital waste ash was higher than that of the control mix. The best results (20.13 MPa) were obtained from the 3% mix after 28 days of curing, while the result obtained with the 7% mix was nearly equal to that of the control mix.

Considering Embodied Greenhouse Emissions of Nuclear and Renewable Power Plants for Electrolytic Hydrogen and Its Use for Synthetic Ammonia, Methanol, Fischer-Tropsch Fuel Production.

Recent concerns surrounding climate change and the contribution of fossil fuels to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions have sparked interest and advancements in renewable energy sources including wind, solar, and hydroelectricity. These energy sources, often referred to as "clean energy", generate no operational onsite GHG emissions. They also offer the potential for clean hydrogen production through water electrolysis, presenting a viable solution to create an environmentally friendly alternative energy carrier with the potential to decarbonize industrial processes reliant on hydrogen. To conduct a full life cycle analysis, it is crucial to account for the embodied emissions associated with renewable and nuclear power generation plants as they can significantly impact the GHG emissions linked to hydrogen production and its derived products. In this work, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of the embodied emissions associated with solar photovoltaic (PV), wind, hydro, and nuclear electricity. We investigated the implications of including plant-embodied emissions in the overall emission estimates of electrolysis hydrogen production and subsequently on the production of synthetic ammonia, methanol, and Fischer-Tropsch (FT) fuels. Results show that average embodied GHG emissions of solar PV, wind, hydro, and nuclear electricity generation in the United States (U.S.) were estimated to be 37, 9.8, 7.2, and 0.3 g CO2 e/kWh, respectively. Life cycle GHG emissions of electrolytic hydrogen produced from solar PV, wind, and hydroelectricity were estimated as 2.1, 0.6, and 0.4 kg of CO2 e/kg of H2, respectively, in contrast to the zero-emissions often used when the embodied emissions in their construction were excluded. Average life cycle emission estimates (CO2 e/kg) of synthetic ammonia, methanol, and FT-fuel from solar PV electricity are increased by 5.5, 16, and 49 times, respectively, compared to the case when embodied emissions are excluded. This change also depends on the local irradiance for solar power, which can result in a further increase of GHG emissions by 35-41% in areas of low irradiance or reduce GHG emissions by 21-25% in areas with higher irradiance.

Micron-Scale Vertical MoS2/Porous g-C3N4 Piezocatalyst via a Precursor's Supramolecular Self-Template Architecture: Degradation and Hydrogen Evolution.

Piezocatalysis can effectively harvest various kinds of mechanical energy with high entropy from the environment and drive some redox reactions without light irradiation, where MoS2- and g-C3N4-based piezocatalysts are recent research hotspots. This study constructs an architecture of ordered melamine hydrochloride-cyanuric acid/MoO42- supramolecular precursor via self-assembly, serving as a self-template for in situ tight growth of vertically aligned micron-scale MoS2 on porous foam-like g-C3N4(CMx) under S vapor with a bioinspired rooting and sprouting-like process. Experiments, DFT calculations, and finite element simulations collectively confirm the high piezoresponse of the CMx with high exposure of active sites and enhanced mechanical energy collection. The vertical interfaces and built-in electric fields in the composite induce efficient charge carrier separation and transfer. The optimized CM0.77 efficiently degrades various organic dyes and antibiotic under dark ultrasound [rhodamine B (RhB): 0.47 s-1, methyl orange (MO): 0.05 s-1, methylene blue (MB): 0.21 s-1, and tetracycline hydrochloride (TC): 0.03 s-1] and achieves hydrogen evolution (2431 μmol·g-1·h-1). Under simulated water flow (10 L/min), the expanded CM0.77/Al2O3 porous foam ceramic (CM/alumina ceramic) purifier device degrades 95% of 400 mL of RhB within 25 min. The developed ordered vertical MoS2/g-C3N4 piezocatalyst demonstrates rapid pollutant degradation and efficient hydrogen evolution under water flow and ultrasound, providing new insights for constructing multidimensional piezoelectric composites for environmental remediation and clean energy production.

Technological Innovation, Trade Openness, Natural Resources, and Environmental Sustainability in Egypt and Turkey: Evidence from Load Capacity Factor and Inverted Load Capacity Factor with Fourier Functions

The environmental degradation in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region leads to significant challenges regarding economic sustainability and the attainment of sustainable development goals (SDGs). The extensive use of fossil fuels in the region, as well as rapid urbanization and economic growth, has led to significant carbon emissions, together with unprecedented ecological footprints compromising environmental sustainability. The study aims to elucidate the influence exerted by technological innovation, trade openness, and natural resources on environmental sustainability in Turkey and Egypt for the period 1990–2022. In assessing the empirical relations, the study employed the Fourier function incorporate estimation techniques, that is, Fourier ADF for unit root test, Fourier ARDL, and Fourier NARDL for long-run and short-run elasticities of technological innovation (TI), trade openness (TO,) and natural resources rent (NRR) on load capacity factor (LCF) and inverted LCF (ILCF); finally, the directional causality evaluate through Fourier TY causality test. The results revealed that both Turkey and Egypt have severe environmental problems due to their high carbon emissions and ecological footprints. Technological change and international trade separately negatively affect environmental sustainability; however, these negative impacts have mixed character. On the one hand, technology can improve efficiency and reduce ecological footprints by obviating the use of high-impact processes or allowing cleaner production systems. In the same vein, trade openness helps transfer green technologies more quickly, but it can also lead to unsustainable resource extraction and pollution. The findings of the paper propose that in order to move forward, Turkey and Egypt need strategic policy shifts to ensure environmental sustainability, including transitioning towards renewable energy from fossil fuels while bolstering their capacity for energy efficiency. Policymakers must balance economic development with environmental conservation to reduce the harmful effects of climate degradation and help safeguard continued economic survival in the face of increasing climatic instability. This research helps to inform policy and investment decisions about how the SDGs can be achieved and how they are relevant for sustainable development in the MENA region.

How Can Industrial SMEs Achieve Sustainability through Cleaner Production? Green Marketing’s Role as a Mediator

For small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) seeking to adhere to sustainable standards and gain a sustained competitive edge, green marketing and cleaner production are increasingly imperative. Green marketing has grown a lot in popularity in the present market, which makes it possible to rebrand and repackage existing products. This study looks at how green marketing in Algerian industrial SMEs might help achieve sustainability through cleaner production. Data analysis was performed using Smart PLS 4 softwareV.4.1.0.8 and structural equation modeling. With a mediation effect of 47.4%—higher than the direct impact of cleaner production on sustainability—the study’s conclusion is that green marketing strongly mediates the relationship between cleaner production and sustainability. This suggests that by combining green marketing with cleaner production methods, SMEs can reap significant profits. In accordance with their financial and environmental goals, SMEs can effectively incorporate cleaner production methods and green marketing with the help of the research’s practical recommendations.

The role of phase saturation in depressurization and CO2 storage in natural gas hydrate reservoirs: Insights from a pilot-scale study

The natural gas recovery and CO2 storage in natural gas hydrate (NGH) reservoirs is a promising integrated strategy for implementing clean energy production and CCUS. However, the fundamental characteristics (phase saturation) of NGH reservoirs on the feasibility and efficiency of the above-integrated processes remain unclear. In this study, we synthesized methane hydrate-bearing sediments (MHBS) with varying hydrate saturation (SH = 18–66 %) and aqueous saturation (SA = 7–92 %) at marine NGH conditions (T = 283.8 K, P = 11.0 MPa). The effect of phase saturation on depressurization-induced hydrate dissociation, and subsequent CO2 storage and hydrate restoration by CO2/N2 injection was investigated. The water-saturated MHBS with high SA can promote faster MH dissociation during the depressurization stage and prevent secondary hydrate formation, but a slower MH dissociation during the later stage due to slow heat transfer. A relatively high SH (> 63 %) results in sustained low temperatures due to insufficient heat supply slowing down MH dissociation. The CH4/CO2/N2 mixed hydrates (Mix-H) formation and CO2 storage in depleted MHBS after CO2/N2 injection initially increase and then decrease with post-mining SA (peak at SA = 54.5 %). The rate of Mix-H formation decreases as the post-mining SA increases. Higher pre-mining SH and CO2/N2 injection rate facilitates rapid gas phase mixing within the sediments, thereby improving the kinetics and homogeneity of Mix-H formation and hydrate-based CO2 storage efficiency. MHBS with relatively low SH and SA exhibit enhanced safety for the integrated process, offering reduced depressurization-induced sediment subsidence and increased hydrate restoration ratios (∼85 %) by Mix-H formation.

Co–Ni bimetallic oxide with tuned surface oxygen vacancies efficiently electrocatalytic reduction of nitrate to ammonia

The electrocatalytic reduction reaction of nitrate (NO3−) to ammonia (NH3) provides an efficient and clean NH3 production method, which has the potential to replace the traditional industrial preparation methods. However, the limited activity and Faraday efficiency (FE) of existing catalysts impede the practical application of this technology. Herein, in this work, a high-performance catalyst with high NH3 yield and FE was fabricated. Co–Ni bimetallic oxide (NiCo2O4) catalysts with tuned surface oxygen vacancies (OVs) contents were prepared by changing the heating rate during calcination, NiCo2O4 calcined at a heating rate of 5 °C/min (NiCo2O4-5) possessed the highest surface OVs content. Experimental studies showed that NiCo2O4 with higher surface OVs had better NO3RR activity, inhibited the production of nitrite (NO2−), and exhibited higher selectivity to NH3. Among prepared catalysts, NiCo2O4-5 demonstrated superior performance in electrocatalytic reduction of NO3− to NH3, achieving a high NH3 FE (94.4 %) and yield (193.2 mmol/h g−1) at a suitable applied voltage. Besides, in situ Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis suggested that NiCo2O4-5 preferentially followed the NO3RR pathway as follows: *NO3 → *HNO3 → *NO2 → *HNO2 → *NO → *HNO → *N → *NH → *NH2 → *NH3.

NiO@GaN nanorods-based core-shell heterostructure for enhanced photoelectrochemical water splitting via efficient charge separation

Remarkable properties of III-V semiconductors, particularly GaN nanostructured based photoelectrodes offers a potential attention in the field of photoelectrochemical water splitting (PEC-WS) for clean and sustainable hydrogen production, due to its wide bandgap, magnificent optoelectrical properties. However, the presence of inevitable surface states in GaN nanorods (NRs) leads to low solar-to-hydrogen (STH) conversion efficiency with poor stability, thereby severely limiting their practical application in PEC-WS, which can be effectively alleviated by constructing a hybrid heterostructures. Herein, we present the development of interfacial engineering of a type-II core-shell heterostructure based on p-NiO nanoparticles (NPs) loaded on n-GaN NRs photoelectrodes for PEC-WS. We assessed the impact of the NiO NPs shell density on core GaN NRs, finding that the optimized NiO@GaN NRs photoelectrode achieved a photocurrent density (Jph) of 1.38 mA/cm² at 1.23 V versus RHE and an excellent applied bias photo-to-current conversion efficiency (ABPE) of ∼0.39 %, which was 3.8 (Jph) and 4.8 (ABPE)-fold times higher than the pristine GaN NRs photoanode under 1-Sun illumination. The type-II p-n heterojunction band alignment between core-shell NiO@GaN NRs photoelectrode effectively reduced the photogenerated carrier recombination rate through surface states passivation and boost the light absorption and harvesting capacity. This facilitates a significant charge separation and transfer at the photoanode/electrolyte interface leading to enhanced redox reactions, resulting in improved PEC-WS and STH performances. These findings offer a promising strategy to design and fabricate highly efficient III-V hybrid heterostructure photoelectrodes for futuristic PEC-WS-based green energy applications.

The mitochondrial genome of Lavandula angustifolia Mill. (Lamiaceae) sheds light on its genome structure and gene transfer between organelles

BackgroundLavandula angustifolia holds importance as an aromatic plant with extensive applications spanning the fragrance, perfume, cosmetics, aromatherapy, and spa sectors. Beyond its aesthetic and sensory applications, this plant offers medicinal benefits as a natural herbal remedy and finds use in household cleaning products. While extensive genomic data, inclusive of plastid and nuclear genomes, are available for this species, researchers have yet to characterize its mitochondrial genome. This gap in knowledge hampers deeper understanding of the genome organization and its evolutionary significance.ResultsThrough the course of this study, we successfully assembled and annotated the mitochondrial genome of L. angustifolia, marking a first in this domain. This assembled genome encompasses 61 genes, which comprise 34 protein-coding genes, 24 transfer RNA genes, and three ribosomal RNA genes. We identified a chloroplast sequence insertion into the mitogenome, which spans a length of 10,645 bp, accounting for 2.94% of the mitogenome size. Within these inserted sequences, there are seven intact tRNA genes (trnH-GUG, trnW-CCA, trnD-GUC, trnS-GGA, trnN-GUU, trnT-GGU, trnP-UGG) and four complete protein-coding genes (psbA, rps15, petL, petG) of chloroplast derivation. Additional discoveries include 88 microsatellites, 15 tandem repeats, 74 palindromic repeats, and 87 forward long repeats. An RNA editing analysis highlighted an elevated count of editing sites in the cytochrome c oxidase genes, notably ccmB with 34 editing sites, ccmFN with 32, and ccmC with 29. All protein-coding genes showed evidence of cytidine-to-uracil conversion. A phylogenetic analysis, utilizing common protein-coding genes from 23 Lamiales species, yielded a tree with consistent topology, supported by high confidence values.ConclusionsAnalysis of the current mitogenome resource revealed its typical circular genome structure. Notably, sequences originally from the chloroplast genome were found within the mitogenome, pointing to the occurrence of horizontal gene transfer between organelles. This assembled mitogenome stands as a valuable resource for subsequent studies on mitogenome structures, their evolution, and molecular biology.

Examining the evolution trajectory of construction and demolition waste in China: An empirical analysis based on spatial metrology and the environmental Kuznets curve

Curbing the increasing construction and demolition waste (C&DW) is critical for achieving China's goals of cleaner production and environmental sustainability. This paper based on the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) and combining spatial econometrics with the GM (1,1) model, predicts key time points that will change the growth trend of C&DW and explores measures to reduce production. The results indicate that: (1)As of 2022, more than 87% of China's regional C&DW is unevenly distributed and agglomeration exists. More than 50% of the regions exhibit “high-high” agglomeration, which can lead to an inevitable inter-regional transfer of C&DW, but the central region has formed a “segregation zone”. (2) The evolution trajectory of C&DW shows a “growth-decline-regrowth” pattern, with points of change for regrowth occurring when GDP per capita reaches 142,914.24. Construction enterprises and consumption levels contribute significantly to C&DW, while the opposite is true for education, market competition, and transportation. (3) More than 95% of regions will experience C&DW regrowth during 2036–2040. Economic development is no longer considered to play a leading role in C&DW reduction measures. Even if the economic growth rate is increased by 10%, 30%, or even 50%, C&DW will enter the era of full-scale regrowth only three years earlier on average. This paper aims to shift the current focus of C&DW forecasting from solely on model innovation to accurately calculating the timing of future C&DW regrowth by verifying the EKC hypothesis application. This approach fills the gap in the quantitative analysis of long-term C&DW forecasting and provides new empirical cases for the theory of environmental economics. Furthermore, it addresses potential obstacles for decision-makers in achieving “zero waste cities”, thereby promoting global cleaner production and environmental sustainability.

Changes in household use of disinfectant and cleaning products during the first lockdown period in France

BackgroundFew studies evaluated the use of Household Disinfectant and Cleaning Products (HDCPs) during the COVID-19 pandemic, but no population-based cohorts used longitudinal data. We studied changes in HDCPs during the first lockdown, based on longitudinal data from the French population-based NutriNet-Santé and CONSTANCES cohorts.MethodsBased on standardized questionnaires on household cleaning tasks in 2018–2019 and around the first lockdown in France (March17-May3 2020), we compared the duration of weekly use of HDCPs (< 1 day/week, < 10 min/week; 10-30 min/week; > 30 min/week) and the household cleaning help (yes/no) before and during the lockdown period by Bhapkar and McNemar’s tests. Moreover, we assessed self-reported changes in the frequency of HDCPs during the lockdown from before (unchanged/increased).ResultsAnalyses were carried on 31,105 participants of NutriNet-Santé (48 years, 75% women, 81% ≥ high school diploma) and 49,491 of CONSTANCES (47 years, 51% women, 87% ≥ high school diploma). During the lockdown, compared with 2018–2019, duration of HDCPs use increased (> 30 min; NutriNet-Santé: 44% versus 18%; CONSTANCES: 63% versus 16%) and household help decreased (NutriNet-Santé: 5% versus 40%; CONSTANCES: 3% versus 56%). Regarding the frequency of HDCPs use, 55% of participants of NutriNet-Santé (57% women/49% men) and 83% of CONSTANCES (86% women/81% men) reported an increased use since the beginning of the lockdown, significantly higher among women (p < 0.0001).ConclusionsThe frequency and duration of weekly use of HDCPs has significantly increased since the pandemic. As the use of HDCPs is associated with health issues, further studies are now needed to evaluate the potential health impacts of these changes.

Highly efficient CO2 mineralization: Mechanisms and feasibility of utilizing electrolytic manganese residue as a feedstock and implementing ammonia recycling

Electrolytic manganese residue (EMR) and CO2 emissions from the electrolytic manganese metal (EMM) production process present significant challenges to achieving cleaner production within the industry. Given the high capacity for CO2 sequestration and the stability of the sequestered forms, CO2 mineralization methods utilizing minerals or industrial residues have garnered considerable research interest. The efficacy of such methods is fundamentally dependent on the properties of the materials employed. EMR, due to its calcium sulfate dihydrate (CaSO4·2H2O) content, possesses an intrinsic potential for CO2 solidification. In this study, we propose a novel method for CO2 mineralization utilizing EMR, coupled with NH3·H2O recycling. Experimental results indicated that under conditions of a reaction temperature of 55 °C and a pH of approximately 8, each ton of EMR can sequester 0.16 t of CO2, with equilibrium achieved within 10 min. The mineralization mechanism was elucidated using SEM, TG curves, and XRD analyses, which revealed that Ca2+ ions are initially leached from CaSO4·2H2O in the EMR, subsequently precipitating with CO32− ions to form CaCO3. This CaCO3 layer effectively covers the surface of CaSO4·2H2O, inhibiting further Ca2+ release and stabilizing the reaction equilibrium. Furthermore, the ammonia in the solution is regenerated into NH3·H2O, facilitating its reuse and preventing secondary pollution. The utilization of EMR for CO2 mineralization not only mitigates carbon emissions in the EMM production process but also promotes environmentally sustainable practices in the industry. This study highlights a promising pathway towards achieving carbon neutrality and cleaner production in electrolytic manganese production.