Consumption Of Fossil Fuels Research Articles

Tree transpiration-inspired 3D-printed wastewater processors with hybrid nanocellulose for a broad range of oil-based effluents.

Tree transpiration-inspired 3D-printed wastewater processors with hybrid nanocellulose for a broad range of oil-based effluents.

Coupling genome-wide continuous perturbation with biosensor screening reveals the potential targets in yeast isopentanol synthesis network.

Coupling genome-wide continuous perturbation with biosensor screening reveals the potential targets in yeast isopentanol synthesis network.

Environmental policy and the evolution of revenue efficiency in global oil and gas companies

Environmental policy and the evolution of revenue efficiency in global oil and gas companies

Energy-efficiency of community supported agriculture farms and conventional vegetable production

Given the multiple challenges agriculture faces today, approaches that ensure both food security and the sustainable use of agroecosystems are urgently needed. The concept of community supported agriculture (CSA) is a promising attempt to address all three sustainability dimensions, but empirical research is still limited. Energy efficiency of farming systems is one important aspect when describing their ecological sustainability. This case study compares three CSA farms with three conventional farms, all focusing on vegetable production. Life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology was used to incorporate all relevant energy flows related to vegetable production, including all upstream activities from cradle to farmgate. CSA-farms showed energy return of investment (EROI) factors of 0.13–0.44, while EROI of conventional farms was between 0.02 and 0.69. Energy inputs, particularly fuels, electricity and fertilizer were major determinants, and related to size and structure of farms, while high yield could partially compensate for high energy inputs. CSA farms thereby tended to show relatively low consumption of fossil energy sources, partly due to on-farm electricity production by photovoltaic. Therefore, the performance of CSA regarding EROI of non-renewable energy sources (NRE) was relatively higher (0.17–0.76 compared to 0.05–0.78 for conventional farms). To further improve the energy efficiency, CSA farms need to improve their balance of inputs and outputs (e. g. reduced consumption of fossil fuels without compromising yields). However, CSA reached high energy efficiency if lifecycle costs of distribution were included (EROI = 0.6–3.1), which is likely to be lower in conventional farms with long supply chains and heavy processing. Moreover, CSA also provides additional ecological (e.g., fostering biodiversity, reduction of food loss and waste), social (e.g., education, transparency) and economic benefits (e.g., guaranteed sales). These benefits, as well as a more comprehensive assessment of energy efficiency of different production systems including more farms, need to be considered to better understand the potential contribution of CSA to a transformation toward sustainable food systems.

The Impact of Global Warming and Climate Change on Agriculture and Food Security of the World and Iran

Climate change and global warming caused by the increase of atmospheric greenhouse gases (GHG) are some of the most important challenges of recent years and future generations. With the beginning of the industrial revolution and changes in human life, the human need for energy and consumption of fossil fuels has increased the emission of GHGs. Climate change is one of the most important challenges facing agriculture and food security at the global level. An increase in temperature, change in rainfall pattern, occurrence of droughts, and frequent floods can lead to a decrease in the yield of agricultural products and finally food insecurity. Developing countries are more at risk due to weak agricultural infrastructure. As a country, Iran is located in the arid and semi-arid region of the world and is under the influence of serious climate changes. There are problems such as frequent droughts, reduction of water resources, increase in temperature, and change of precipitation pattern in Iran. These problems can lead to a decrease in the production of agricultural products, a decrease in water resources for agriculture and drinking water, and an increase in economic and social issues. To face this challenge, solutions such as cultivating crops resistant to drought and heat, improving the management of water and soil resources management, developing new agricultural technologies, and promoting sustainable agricultural patterns are necessary. Also, international cooperation and investment in agricultural infrastructure can be helpful. The training of farmers in adaptation methods is also of great importance. By applying appropriate strategies, food security can be strengthened against threats caused by climate change.

Leafy ZIF-Derived Bi-Metallic Phosphate-Mxene Nanocomposites for Overall Water Splitting.

Electrocatalytic water splitting is a significant method of hydrogen production to overcome energy scarcity and tackle the environmental pollution caused by the extreme consumption of fossil fuels. This work directs the focus on the development of an efficient catalyst toward hydrogen and oxygen evolution reactions (HER and OER). Herein, a highly active and robust bi-metallic phosphate nanocomposite supported on Mxene is derived from an in situ technique, using a 2D (leafy) zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF 67) and phosphorus-doped nickel hydroxide [P-Ni(OH)2] as a primary precursor for the first time. The synergy between the reaction mechanism leads to the formation of highly porous, needle-like morphology with a layer boundary interface. A remarkable performance of the catalyst is obtained with significantly low overpotential and excellent stability toward HER and OER. In conjunction with structural merits and catalytic activity, excellent performance is attributed to the optimized porosity owing to the 2D/3D conducting interface channel. The theoretical and experimental insights on the study affirm the conducive nature of the catalyst for overall water splitting. This finding exposed a new avenue for the chemistry between MOF and phosphate with conducting substrate to develop a highly active electrocatalyst for HER and overall water splitting.

The Impact of Sustainable Financial Development and Green Energy Transition on Climate Change in the World’s Highest Carbon-Emitting Countries

The increasing risks posed by climate change have turned CO2 emissions into a pressing global issue, prompting the widespread adoption of sustainable development policies. This study investigates the empirical drivers of CO2 emissions across 15 of the world’s highest carbon-emitting countries from 2000 to 2021, using a range of advanced panel data techniques. The core explanatory variables include green energy transition (GET), fossil fuel consumption (FFC), financial development (FD), mineral resource consumption (MRC), energy intensity (EI), and information and communication technology (ICT). By employing cross-sectional dependence tests, CIPS and CADF unit root tests, cointegration techniques (Westerlund and Dickey-Fuller), and Driscoll-Kraay standard error (DKSE) estimators, the study ensures robust and reliable inference. The findings reveal that a 1% increase in GET and FD leads to a 1.59% and 4.51% decrease in CO2 emissions, respectively, while higher energy efficiency (EI) also significantly reduces emissions. In contrast, greater use of fossil fuels, mineral resources, and ICT expansion contributes positively to emissions. These results demonstrate the critical role of financial systems, clean energy investments, and energy efficiency in mitigating environmental degradation. The study offers targeted policy insights for countries aiming to balance economic growth with climate goals and highlights the need for enhanced technology transfer and financing mechanisms in low- and middle-income countries.

Electrochemical Cross‐Coupling Reactions

AbstractThe last few decades have seen an increase in the significance of green and sustainable synthetic processes for the synthesis of fine chemicals in an attempt to minimize the consumption of fossil fuels and other limited resources. Electrical power offers a cost‐effective, eco‐friendly, and intrinsically safe alternative to conventional reagents for creating new synthetic pathways. In this regard, in recent years, there has been a rapid advancement in the field of electrochemically cross‐coupling reactions. Therefore, this review aims to give a thorough overview of synthetic approaches concentrating on processes that bring new conceptual advancements and the present state of mechanistic understanding, as well as attempts to provide an overview of the area from the past two years (From March 2023 to Jan 2025). Sections are divided according to the kind of bond being constructed, such as C−C bond formation, C−X (hetero), and X−Y (hetero–hetero) bond formation. This instructional review aims to advance the fields of electrochemistry, radical chemistry, and oxidative/reductive cross‐coupling reactions.

Optimization of a macro-algae-based biodiesel supply chain: a multi-objective approach

The rising consumption of fossil fuels and the emission of greenhouse gases have made sustainable energy generation an absolute necessity. With its ability to be produced from a variety of biomass sources, including non-edible ones like macro-algae, animal fat and used cooking oil, biofuels have the potential to provide a sustainable energy alternative to non-renewable sources. Macro-algae serves as a cost-effective and accessible solution for energy generation. Accelerated biodiesel supply chain development is essential to support large-scale sustainable production. This research focuses on designing an optimized and sustainable supply chain for third-generation biodiesel production from macro-algae. The main contribution lies in developing a multi-objective optimization model that minimizes supply chain costs and environmental impacts while addressing critical factors such as transportation logistics, facility placement and the impact of advertising on biodiesel demand. The proposed strategy effectively reduces supply chain costs and environmental impacts. Advertising promotes biodiesel as an alternative to fossil fuels, thereby influencing its demand. The proposed multi-objective optimization model is implemented using the Genetic Algorithm. Three macro-algae species (Ulva fasciata, Cystoseira indica and Gracilaria corticata) are strategically integrated into an extensive network of bio-refineries, biodiesel depots, multi-extraction centres and diverse supply sources. The findings highlight substantial costs associated with biofuel supply chain installation, with production facilities accounting for 61.6% of the biodiesel setup costs. Biofuel supply chain installation contributes 69.8% of the total environmental impact. A numerical example and sensitivity analysis of essential factors are conducted to assess the model’s practicality and validity.

Does Intermediate Input Trade Liberalization Reduce Firm Air Pollution? Evidence From China's Accession to the WTO

ABSTRACTTrade and environmental protection are significant issues concerning sustainable development. This paper merges the Chinese enterprise pollution database from 1998 to 2007 with industry input tariffs. Utilizing China's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) as a quasi‐natural experiment, we employ a differences‐in‐differences strategy to examine the effects and mechanisms of intermediate input trade liberalization on firm air pollution. Our findings indicate that trade liberalization significantly reduces the total sulfur dioxide emissions and per unit output sulfur dioxide emissions of firms. In terms of mechanisms, we find that factor substitution and technology spillover effects of imported intermediate inputs play a crucial role. Trade liberalization increases the importation of intermediate inputs by enterprises, substituting for the consumption of fossil fuels. Furthermore, technology spillover effects lead to capital‐biased technological progress for firms. We also observe that the emission reduction effects of trade liberalization are more pronounced for high‐productivity, low‐energy‐consumption, and capital‐intensive firms. Finally, our empirical evidence shows that environmental regulations and trade liberalization interact, and imposing high emission charges on firms enhances the emission reduction effects of imported intermediate inputs. This paper emphasizes the importance of developing countries implementing trade liberalization reforms for environmental protection.

A systematic literature review of environmental assessments of citrus processing systems, with a focus on the drying phase.

Citrus processing results in a considerable quantity of citrus waste that must be treated in an environmentally friendly manner to minimise its overall impact and address the issue of resource circularity. The phase having the greatest environmental impact is the drying phase, since it requires a significant input of energy and time. This phase is essential for many valorisation strategies, as it facilitates the storage and transportation of citrus waste. To gain insight into the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of drying techniques, a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) was conducted in this study based on PRISMA statement. Eleven articles were reviewed, to understand the energy requirements and the environmental impacts associated with the process, along with the economical profitability. To that end, attention was focussed upon single- and multi-indicator LCAs. Results from the SLR showed that the drying phase makes citrus waste low valuable for energy valorisation employing gasification, with heat generation efficiency between 21% and 25%, or to produce biodiesel, with the impact greater than in conventional diesel usage for a vehicle. Sustainable practices in which the drying phase has a lesser impact include incineration and animal feed. In both cases, dehydration was performed with an industrial direct kiln, requiring the consumption of fossil fuels. Indeed, citrus waste has low thermal potential (low heating value<4MJ*kg-1), and its use for thermal energy would result in lower environmental performance than natural gas. Moreover, using citrus waste as a feed additive for livestock is feasible, provided that the distance between the livestock and citrus processing facilities is assessed for sustainability.

Rancang Bangun Kompor Biomassa Otomatis Berbasis Sensor Suhu dan Mikrokontroler

Continuous consumption of fossil fuels can cause fuel prices to rise and potentially cause shortages. One alternative renewable energy that can replace fossil fuels is biomass pellets. The use of manual biomass pellet stoves has constraints in controlling the amount of biomass burned, the amount of heat released by the stove, combustion efficiency, safety, and wasteful use of pellets. The purpose of this study was to develop a biomass stove using an automatic control system as a substitute for gas or electric stoves. This stove has the same principle and working method as gas stoves in general, but the pellet fuel is solid. This technology controls the temperature through the integration of temperature sensors, fan blowers, screw feeders, and heat insulators automatically. The results showed that the stove temperature value with the coefficient of determination value from sensor calibration 1 was R2 = 0.9945, sensor calibration 2 obtained the value R2 = 0.9956, the R2 value in sensor calibration 3 was 0.9946, and sensor calibration 4 obtained the value R2 = 0.9927. In the system response test, the device was able to reach a temperature of 300°C in 450 to 780 seconds. Stability testing for setting points 100°C, 200°C, and 300°C were 0.98, 0.82, and 0.53, respectively. The accuracy of the device was 92%. In the execution speed test, it took 2.5 to 4 seconds for the pellets to enter the fuel furnace.

Photothermal Catalysis of Cellulose to Prepare Levulinic Acid-Rich Bio-Oil.

As a carbon-neutral and renewable raw material, cellulose can be transformed into biomass fuels to reduce the dependence on fossil fuels and carbon dioxide emissions. In view of harsh reaction conditions, low selectivity of product, and easy deactivation of the catalyst, this study studied the use of photothermal catalytic technology to convert cellulose into bio-oil rich in levulinic acid. It was discovered that a synergistic effect between heating and photocatalysis is present in cellulose degradation. Different metals were loaded on carbon nanotubes doped with titanium dioxide to prepare different photothermal catalysts, and their catalytic effects on cellulose were compared. It was found that TiO2-CNT loaded with platinum metal exhibited the highest catalytic performance. By adopting Pt/TiO2-CNT as the catalyst, the conversion rate of bio-oil reached 99.44%, and the selectivity of LA reached 44.41% at 220 °C for 3 h. As the photothermal catalysis increased the H/C ratio and decreased the O/C ratio of the liquid product, the calorific value reached 21.01 MJ/kg. This study can promote the further industrial application of lignocellulose to prepare fuel oil and decrease the environmental pollution caused by the massive consumption of fossil fuels.

Direct Electrooxidation of Ethylene to Ethylene Glycol over 90% Faradaic Efficiency Enabled by Cl- Modification of the Pd Surface.

Direct electrochemical ethylene-to-ethylene glycol (C2H4-to-EG) conversion can potentially reduce the consumption of fossil fuels and the emission of carbon dioxide (CO2) compared with the traditional thermo-catalytic approach. Palladium (Pd) prepared by electrodeposition is represented as a promising electrocatalyst; however, it exhibits low Ethylene glycol (EG) current density (<4 mA cm-2), Faradaic efficiency (<60%), and productivity (<10 μmol h-1), hindering practical applications. Herein, we report a nanodendrite palladium catalyst supported on a large-area gas diffusion electrode. This catalyst gives high EG current density (12 mA cm-2) and productivity (227 μmol h-1) but low Faradaic efficiency (65%). With further Cl- ions modification, Faradaic efficiency increased to a record-high value of 92%, and EG current density (18 mA cm-2) and productivity (∼340 μmol h-1) were also promoted. Experimental data suggest that the strong electron-withdrawing feature of Cl- reduces the oxidation ability of in situ generated Pd-OH species, inhibiting EG overoxidation to glycol aldehyde. Meanwhile, Cl- alters EG adsorption configuration─from parallel and dual-site coordination to vertical and single-site coordination─over the Pd surface, thus preventing C-C bond cleavage of EG to CO2. In addition, Cl- adsorption facilitates the generation of Pd-OH active species to improve catalytic activity. This work demonstrates the great potential of surface ion modification for improving activity and selectivity in direct electrochemical C2H4-to-EG conversion, which may have implications for diverse value-added chemicals electrosynthesis.

Elucidating the Chirality-Induced Spin Selectivity Effect of Co-Doped NiO Deposited on Ni Foam for Highly Stable Zn-Air Batteries.

The urgent need to alleviate global warming and limit the consumption of fossil fuels has prompted the development of rechargeable Zn-air batteries (ZABs) considering their superior energy density, safety, and cost-effectiveness. However, the sluggish reaction kinetics of the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and the unfavorable properties of conventional OER catalysts (including low electrical conductivity and the use of active site-blocking binders) hinder the development of practically viable ZABs. Herein, we report a distinct approach for directly synthesizing cobalt-doped nickel oxide (Co-NiO) with a chiral structure on porous Ni foam via a one-step hydrothermal process. The chirality-induced spin selectivity (CISS) boosts the OER kinetics, while Co doping elevates the electrical conductivity and the abundance of active sites on the catalyst. The chiral Co-NiO demonstrates an OER current density of 10 mA cm-2 at 1.58 V versus the reversible hydrogen electrode, outperforming both achiral Co-NiO and undoped NiO. Furthermore, a chiral Co-NiO-based rechargeable ZAB demonstrates a high open-circuit potential (1.57 V), a low charge/discharge overpotential (0.71 V), and excellent stability for 960 h (40 days) because the CISS effect mitigates the production of the corrosive singlet oxygen. These results represent a prominent pathway for the advancement of ZABs using the low-cost oxygen evolution catalyst modulated by the CISS effect and heteroatomic doping.

Thermal management of sodium-oxygen-hydrogen (Na-O-H) thermochemical water splitting for sustainable hydrogen production

Thermal management of sodium-oxygen-hydrogen (Na-O-H) thermochemical water splitting for sustainable hydrogen production

Dynamic Performance Investigation of Solar‐Driven Vapor Absorption Cooling System for Urban Areas

ABSTRACTSolar energy in urban areas due to excessive air conditioning usage in buildings may significantly reduce the consumption of fossil fuels. This study uses TRNSYS to undertake the thermal performance analysis of solar‐driven vapor absorption cooling systems for several urban cities in Pakistan with varying climatic conditions. Two separate solar collectors—flat plate collector (FPC) and evacuated tube collector (ETC)—are used to simulate the cooling system. The system's performance is evaluated based on the solar fraction (SF) and primary energy savings. The results of simulation showed that ETC would be a better choice regarding the selection of solar collector as the system with ETC achieved a higher SF and primary energy saving (). The SF ranges from 13% to 78% and 13% to 64% for ETC and FPC, respectively. The primary energy saving ranges from 75% to 93% and 75% to 96% with flat plate and ETC, respectively. For both flat plate and ETCs, increasing the collector area increased the SF and primary energy savings while increasing the capacity of thermal storage decreased the SF and primary energy savings. For varying thermal storage volumes, the SF varies very little when using flat plate collector but significantly when using ETC. The best thermal performance was recorded in Peshawar based on the SFs and primary energy saving.

The Impact of Forest Rents on Ecological Footprints in China: The Moderating Role of Government Effectiveness

Forests serve as the lungs of our planet, yet their mismanagement causes environmental problems and threatens global sustainability. Global forest footprints continue to increase, requiring studies to investigate and provide solutions. This study aims to establish how forest rents and government effectiveness shape forest footprints in China. Specifically, it assesses the impact of forest rents (FRs), fossil fuel consumption (FFC), foreign direct investment (FDI), economic growth (GDP), population (POP), and ecological footprints (EFFs) while considering the moderating role of government effectiveness (GEFF). This study used quantile regression, ordinary least squares, and Granger causality tests for a comparative analysis. This study found that forest rents significantly increase ecological footprints, but the impact diminishes at higher quantities, an indication that environmental policies can mitigate their adverse effects. Moreover, GEFF plays a crucial role in reducing EFFs across all quantiles, signifying the relevance of effective governance in achieving sustainability. Again, while FFC and FDI contribute to environmental sustainability, economic growth exacerbates ecological degradation, particularly at higher quantiles. The Granger causality test further indicates that forest rents and government effectiveness drive ecological changes, while population growth exerts a bidirectional influence on sustainability. These findings provide critical insights for policymakers and emphasize the need for robust governance, sustainable forest management, and eco-friendly economic strategies.

The Impact of Fossil Fuel Consumption, Renewable Energies, and Economic Growth on Environment Change in Lithuania

The world is approaching a critical juncture beyond which climate change may become irreversible, threatening the entitlement of current and future generations to a healthy and sustainable planet. Therefore, this study assesses the impact of fossil fuels, renewable energy, and economic growth on carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in Lithuania, using data from 1996 to 2020. The Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) bound test is employed to examine the long-term relationship between these variables. Additionally, the ARDL model is used to evaluate the individual effects of each variable on CO2 emissions. Surprisingly, the findings reveal that fossil fuels reduce the harmful impact of carbon emissions in Lithuania, while investment in renewable energy mitigates and alleviates these emissions. However, economic growth is positively and significantly associated with an increase in carbon emissions, suggesting that emissions will rise as the economy expands. These results advocate for policies that promote sustainable economic growth, foster the adoption of environmentally friendly investments, and enhance resilience to mitigate CO2 emissions and address climate change in Lithuania.&amp;nbsp;

Influence of Electrolyte Composition on the Semiconductor-Electrolyte Interface (SEI) Built-In for Enhanced Photoelectrochemical (PEC) Processes.

The relentless consumption of fossil fuels and soaring CO2 emissions have plunged the world into an energy and environmental crisis. As society grapples with these challenges, the demand for clean, renewable, and sustainable energy solutions has never been more urgent. However, even though many efforts have been made in this field, there is still room for improvement concerning efficiency, material stability, and catalytic enhancement regarding kinetics and selectivity of photoelectrochemical (PEC) processes. Herein, we provide the experimental proof for the enhancement of the photocurrent efficiency by the critical focus on semiconductor-electrolyte interface (SEI) properties. By tailoring electrolyte composition, researchers can unlock significant improvements in catalytic efficiency and stability, paving the way for advanced PEC technologies. In this study, we investigate the influence of electrolyte composition on SEI properties and its impact on PEC performance. By employing electrolytes enriched with carbonates, borates, sulphates, and alkali cations, we demonstrate their profound role in optimising photoelectrochemical CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) efficiency. Central to this work is Cu2O-an affordable, highly promising photocatalyst. While its potential is undeniable, Cu2O's inherent instability and diverse reduction products, ranging from CH3OH to CO, HCOOH, CH3COOH, and CH3CH2OH, have hindered its widespread adoption in PEC CO2 reduction (CO2RR). Our approach leverages a straightforward yet powerful electrodeposition method, enabling a deeper exploration of SEI dynamics during photocatalysis. Key parameters, such as carbonate concentration, local pH, alkali cation presence, anionic geometry, CO2 solubility, and electrolyte conductivity, are systematically investigated. The findings reveal the formation of a unique "rigid layer" at the photocatalyst surface, driven by specific cation-anion interactions. This rigid layer plays a pivotal role in boosting PEC performance, offering a new perspective on optimising, among other PEC processes, CO2RR catalytic efficiency. This profound study bridges a critical knowledge gap, shedding light on the dual influence of cations and anions on SEI properties and PEC CO2RR. By unravelling these intricate interactions, we provide a roadmap for designing next-generation PEC systems. These insights pave the way for sustainable energy advancements, inspiring innovative strategies to tackle one of the most pressing challenges of our time.