Eco-friendly Development Research Articles

Cascaded utilization of magnetite nanoparticles@onion-like carbons from wastewater purification to supercapacitive energy storage.

Developing high-performance carbon-based materials for environmental and energy-related applications produces solid waste with secondary pollution to the environment at the end of their service lives. It is still challenging to utilize these functional materials in a sustainable manner in different fields. In this study, we demonstrate a cascaded utilization of an Fe3O4@onion-like carbon (Fe3O4@OLC) structure from wastewater adsorbents to a supercapacitor electrode. The structure was formed by carbonizing Fe3O4@oleic acid monodisperse nanoparticles into interconnected Fe3O4@OLCs and subsequent insufficient acid etching. The hollow OLCs in the outside region of the hybrid structure provide high surface area and the encapsulated Fe3O4 nanoparticles in the inside region offer high ferromagnetism. The three-dimensionally interconnected graphitic layers are advantageous for efficient separation and high conductivity. As a result, the maximum saturation adsorption capacity of insufficiently etched interconnected Fe3O4@OLCs can reach up to 90.2 mg g-1 and they can be efficiently separated under a magnetic field. Furthermore, the hybrid structure is thermally transformed into N-doped HOLCs, which are demonstrated to be a high-performance supercapacitor electrode with high specific capacitance and high electrochemical stability. The cascaded utilization of the hybrid structure in this study is meaningful for eco-friendly development of functional materials for environmental and energy storage applications.

Optimization of power performance and combustion stability of ultra-lean combustion in hydrogen fuel engines through combined turbulent jet ignition and variable valve timing

Although pure hydrogen engines can achieve zero carbon and extremely low NOx emissions under ultra-lean combustion conditions, there are limitations with combustion stability and power performance. This paper combines turbulent jet ignition (TJI) and variable valve timing (VVT) technology, which not only improves the power output of pure hydrogen engines under ultra-lean combustion conditions but also ensures the engine’s stable operation. Therefore, this research reveals the working characteristics of TJI engines under lean conditions through numerical methods and explores the optimization characteristics of VVT on engine power performance and stability through experiments. The results indicate that TJI utilizes strong turbulence and multiple-point ignition to improve the efficiency of the mixture and combustion speed, ensuring reliable ignition capability under ultra-lean operating and achieving a stable and effective combustion process. According to the experimental results, the combination of TJI with VVT technology can ensure engine cyclic-variability of less than 1.5 % and the maximum values of Brake mean effective pressure (BMEP) and Brake thermal efficiency (BTE) are 4.5 bar and 41.6 %, respectively. This innovative technology combination not only enables the efficient and eco-friendly development of the transportation industry but also holds significant importance for promoting carbon-free fuels and environmental protection in the future.

Eco-friendly Development of New Biodegradable and Renewable Polymers Based on Di(meth)Acrylated and Acrylamidated Monomers Derived from Limonene Dioxide

Eco-friendly Development of New Biodegradable and Renewable Polymers Based on Di(meth)Acrylated and Acrylamidated Monomers Derived from Limonene Dioxide

Eco-friendly development of intrinsically antibacterial and mechanically robust self-healing hydrogels using alginate and oval proteins: Advancing periodontitis treatment

A novel approach for fabricating self-healing, intrinsically antibacterial hydrogels for potential periodontitis treatment is presented in this study. Self-healable hydrogels are promising substitutes for brittle hydrogels due to their excellent durability and stability. Drug-loaded regenerative hydrogels have shown good outcomes but face challenges, specifically in managing the development of drug resistance. The hydrogels were prepared by incorporating bioactive oval proteins and hydroxyapatite into polyvinyl alcohol using a simple synthesis method with eco-friendly crosslinkers (oxidized alginate, borax, and divalent metal salts). The synthesized hydrogels exhibited excellent self-healing properties, mechanical robustness, and malleability. Furthermore, characterization techniques confirmed successful crosslinking and interactions within the network. The hydrogels demonstrated significant water absorption, tunable degradation, and potent antibacterial activity against E. coli, S. aureus and P. gingivalis. In vitro studies confirmed good cytocompatibility with epithelial and fibroblasts cells. Wound healing assays further supported the potential of these hydrogels for tissue regeneration applications. This approach offers a promising alternative to traditional drug-loaded hydrogels, overcoming limitations of cost and potential for resistance.

Digital Economy, Green Dual Innovation and Carbon Emissions

The digital economy serves as a pivotal catalyst for sustainable and eco-friendly development. This study employs a suite of advanced econometric models, including the fixed effects, mediation, threshold and moderation model, to elucidate the intricate dynamics by which the digital economy influences carbon emissions through the lens of green innovation. Building on the existing research on digital economy, green technology innovation and carbon emissions, this paper takes a dual-innovation perspective and divides green technology innovation into disruptive green technology innovation and incremental green technology innovation. And from the government and the public level, it explores how social concerns affect the effect of digital economy on carbon emissions. The analysis is grounded in a comprehensive dataset encompassing a decade of provincial-level data from 2011 to 2021 across China’s 30 provinces. The benchmark regression outcomes indicate the digital economy’s ability to substantially cut down carbon emissions; the threshold effect and mediating effect models demonstrate that a single-threshold effect exists and that disruptive and progressive green technological innovations mediate such ability. Additional research reveals that the digital economy’s impact on carbon emissions could be positively moderated by public and governmental attention. Eastern and western regions in China, as well as those with high levels of foreign investment and low levels of technological transaction activity, are more affected by the digital economy in terms of carbon emission reduction. Our conclusions offer practical recommendations for digital economy’s coordinated advancement and carbon emissions mitigation, and guide local governments to achieve sustainable development goals (SDGs).

Industrial significance and economics of hemicellulose bioconversion for sustainable ecofriendly development: A state-of-art review

Industrial significance and economics of hemicellulose bioconversion for sustainable ecofriendly development: A state-of-art review

Preparation of lignin-based porous carbon through thermochemical activation and nitrogen doping for CO2 selective adsorption

Preparing CO2 adsorbents from biomass feedstock has garnered considerable attention due to its potential for fostering sustainable, economic, and eco-friendly development. Introduction of nitrogen-containing functional groups can enhance the affinity for CO2 of biochar but also inevitably affect the pore structure. The challenge lies in ascertaining and regulating the effect of N-doping on the pore structure. In this work, lignin was activated using KOH, and then followed by urea N-doping through pyrolysis or hydrothermal methods. At small dosages of KOH (the mass ratio of KOH/lignin = 0.25), in addition to introducing nitrogen-containing functional groups, urea modification boosted pore volume of <1 nm favorable for CO2 adsorption through etching carbon skeleton, while the small dosage of KOH reduced its inherent corrosive hazards. Correlation analysis showed that the dominant influencing factor for CO2 adsorption at ambient temperature and pressure was the pore volume with pore size of 0.6–0.8 nm, whereas nitrogen content (especially N-5 content) was the main influencing factor at high temperatures (50 °C) and low pressures (0.15 bar). The peak enhancement of the C–N bond under the CO2 adsorption at 50 °C by in situ diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform test indicated that the nitrogen-containing functional groups have a chemisorption effect on CO2. The adsorbent PK-0.25-HU exhibited adsorption capacity of 4.46 mmol/g (25 °C, 1 bar), 2.97 mmol/g (50 °C, 1 bar). Dynamic separation coefficient of CO2/N2 reached 93.82 in a gas mixture of CO2/N2 = 15 %/85 %.

Environmental governance in Pakistan: Perspectives and implications for the China-Pakistan economic corridor plan

Environmental governance (EG), climate-resilient development, and environmental sustainability are interlinked phenomena. It is in this context that an evaluation of Pakistan's EG was carried out in order to establish policy insights into the environmental sustainability of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Plan 2017–2030. A questionnaire survey approach (targeting various stakeholder groups), using a multi-criteria decision analysis of ‘Best’ and ‘Worst’ method and an integrated EG framework were used. An important finding is that responsiveness was ranked as best and equity as worst EG themes for CPEC sustainability. Similarly, criteria transparency is considered to be the best aspect and criteria access to information/knowledge the worst. Other aspects scoring highly included e.g. monitoring and evaluation; stakeholder's communication and collaboration in governance processes; mechanisms to ensure that means and rationales of decisions making are transparent for eco-friendly development under the CPEC Plan; stakeholders' input integration in planning and policy implementation; stakeholders capacity building to deal with environmental and CC concerns of CPEC development. Criteria scoring poorly included e.g., effective mechanisms to resolve conflicts between federal and provincial Environmental Protection Agencies and implementation of environmental laws in letter and spirit, as well as marginalized stakeholders' participation in the decision-making process. In this context, the Government needs to establish an effective EG system to ensure environmentally friendly and climate-resilient development (CRD) in the country.

Computer-aided drug design supporting sunscreen research: a showcase study using previously synthesized hybrid UV filter-antioxidant compounds.

Although quantum mechanical calculations have proven effective in accurately predicting UV absorption and assessing the antioxidant potential of compounds, the utilization of computer-aided drug design (CADD) to support sustainable synthesis research of new sunscreen active ingredients remains an area with limited exploration. Furthermore, there are ongoing concerns about the safety and effectiveness of existing sunscreens. Therefore, it remains crucial to investigate photoprotection mechanisms and develop enhanced strategies for mitigating the harmful effects of UVR exposure, improving both the safety and efficacy of sunscreen products. A previous study conducted synthesis research on eight novel hybrid compounds (I-VIII) for use in sunscreen products by molecular hybridization of trans-resveratrol (RESV), avobenzone (AVO), and octinoxate (OMC). Herein, time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) calculations performed in the gas phase on the isolated hybrid compounds (I-VIII) proved to reproduce the experimental UV absorption. Resveratrol-avobenzone structure-based hybrids (I-IV) present absorption maxima in the UVB range with slight differences between them, while resveratrol-OMC structure-based hybrids (V-VIII) showed main absorption in the UVA range. Among RESV-OMC hybrids, compounds V and VI exhibited higher UV absorption intensity, and compound VIII stood out for its broad-spectrum coverage in our simulations. Furthermore, both in silico and in vitro analyses revealed that compounds VII and VIII exhibited the highest antioxidant activity, with compound I emerging as the most reactive antioxidant within RESV-AVO hybrids. The study suggests a preference for the hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) mechanism over single-electron transfer followed by proton transfer (SET-PT) in the gas phase. With a strong focus on sustainability, this approach reduces costs and minimizes effluent production in synthesis research, promoting the eco-friendly development of new sunscreen active ingredients. The SPARTAN'20 program was utilized for the geometry optimization and energy calculations of all compounds. Conformer distribution analysis was performed using the Merck molecular force field 94 (MMFF94), and geometry optimization was carried out using the parametric method 6 (PM6) followed by density functional theory (DFT/B3LYP/6-31G(d)). The antioxidant behavior of the hybrid compounds (I-VIII) was determined using the highest occupied molecular orbital (εHOMO) and the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (εLUMO) energies, as well as the bond dissociation enthalpy (BDE), ionization potential (IP), and proton dissociation enthalpy (PDE) values, all calculated at the same level of structural optimization. TD-DFT study is carried out to calculate the excitation energy using the B3LYP functional with the 6-31G(d) basis set. The calculated transitions were convoluted with a Gaussian profile using the Gabedit program.

Mapping scholarly publications of energy conservation and emission reduction in support of the sustainable development goals (SDGs)

In light of continuous advancements in science and technology, the global economy is experiencing rapid growth. However, this growth has been accompanied by significant depletion of natural resources and environmental degradation. Consequently, there is a burgeoning global emphasis on energy conservation, emissions reduction, and sustainable development. In this study, based on the Science Citation Index Expanded (SCIE) and Social Science Citation Index (SSCI) databases from 1990 to 2022, a statistical analysis of energy conservation and emission reduction in alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)-related publications was undertaken using biblimometric methods. The findings reveal that (1) In recent years, there has been a discernible increase in global research on this subject, especially since 2009, with a sustained trend of exceeding 100 publications per annum. China prominently contributing to this domain, the proportion reached 34.2%, reflecting a growing emphasis on eco-friendly development trends. (2) Due to the burgeoning significance of energy conservation and emission reduction, there has been a notable escalation in research efforts pertaining to “Energy and Fuels,” “Environmental Science” and “Green and Sustainable Science and Technology” and other related subjects. (3) Regarding the keyword analysis, “renewable energy” as the most frequently encountered term, often paired with “CO2 emissions.” This association underscores the pivotal role of renewable energy technologies in advancing green development initiatives and mitigating emissions. (4) China, United States and United Kingdom occupy central positions in terms of both paper publication volume and collaborative networks, collectively accounting for about 54.7%, and these countries are pivotal contributors to the scholarly discourse on sustainable development and environmental conservation. (5) From 1990 to 2022, the top 20 cited articles predominantly address diverse sub-goals of Sustainable Development Goal 7, with a common emphasis on enhancing energy efficiency, sustainability and renewable energy. These findings furnish valuable analytical insights for subsequent researchers investigating energy conservation and emission reduction as well as sustainable development endeavors.

VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE OF JODHPUR: A RESILIENT APPROACH TO SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENT

Sustainable architecture is the application of principles that contribute in the evolution of building designs and processes that reduce the negative environmental effects of construction. When contemplating Jodhpur's vernacular architecture, it becomes clear that traditional construction methods correspond to basic green design principles such as using energy-efficient locally available materials and resources. Many traditional aspects of Jodhpur architecture can be easily incorporated into contemporary environments to provide a sustainable atmosphere and natural accompaniment. This study presents the scope of eco-friendly development of the city by using traditional construction techniques and materials, built forms, and fabric with a thorough analysis of the hot and dry climate of the area. It also encompasses the use of this local architecture to help create an energy- efficient thermal comfort zone in similar climatic conditions in any part of the world. This work is an attempt to reclaim the ideals about good architecture towards this setting, in not only terms of identifying the hot and arid climate but also in terms of producing a design philosophy relevant to the manner of living in a conventional city.

Exploring Symbiosis: Innovatively Unveiling the Interplay between the Cold Chain Logistics of Fresh Agricultural Products and the Ecological Environment

Cold chain logistics are crucial for reducing agricultural product loss, yet the environmental impact of energy and packaging consumption, among others, demands attention, making the search for eco-friendly development modes essential. Based on data from 30 provinces in China from 2015 to 2021, this study analyzes the basic correlation between the development of cold chain logistics of fresh agricultural products (CCLFAP) and the ecological environment (EE) by using a random forest regression model in comparison with the XGBoost model. Correlation heatmaps were used to analyze the relationships between the cold chain logistics of fresh agricultural products and various factors of the ecological environment. The generalized additive model was then used to establish the connection between cold chain logistics and the ecological environment, identifying significant factors impacting EE. The results demonstrate that a higher development level of cold chain logistics corresponds to a better development trend of EE. The economic efficiency and technical aspects of cold chain logistics for fresh agricultural products are closely related to ecological pressures and responses. The number of employees in the logistics industry, the trading volume of fresh agricultural products, the number of refrigerated vehicles, and the capacity of the cold room have significant positive correlations with the ecological environment, while the per capita consumption of fresh agricultural products, the number of cold chain logistics patent applications, and the road density had significant negative correlations with the ecological environment. The effects of the number of cold chain logistics enterprises and the freight turnover of agricultural products transported by the cold chain on the ecological environment fluctuated. These findings contribute to reducing climate and environmental emergencies throughout the life cycle, offering sustainable development solutions for the fresh agricultural product cold chain logistics industry.

Catalytic polymer self-cleavage for CO2 generation before combustion empowers materials with fire safety

Polymeric materials, rich in carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen elements, present substantial fire hazards to both human life and property due to their intrinsic flammability. Overcoming this challenge in the absence of any flame-retardant elements is a daunting task. Herein, we introduce an innovative strategy employing catalytic polymer auto-pyrolysis before combustion to proactively release CO2, akin to possessing responsive CO2 fire extinguishing mechanisms. We demonstrate that potassium salts with strong nucleophilicity (such as potassium formate/malate) can transform conventional polyurethane foam into materials with fire safety through rearrangement. This transformation results in the rapid generation of a substantial volume of CO2, occurring before the onset of intense decomposition, effectively extinguishing fires. The inclusion of just 1.05 wt% potassium formate can significantly raise the limiting oxygen index of polyurethane foam to 26.5%, increase the time to ignition by 927%, and tremendously reduce smoke toxicity by 95%. The successful application of various potassium salts, combined with a comprehensive examination of the underlying mechanisms, underscores the viability of this strategy. This pioneering catalytic approach paves the way for the efficient and eco-friendly development of polymeric materials with fire safety.

Bank competition, government interest in green initiatives and carbon emissions reduction: An empirical analysis using city-level data from China

Finance plays a pivotal role in the transition to a sustainable economic development model. In China, the banking sector, a key component of its financial landscape, operates within an increasingly competitive environment, exerting profound effects on the efficient allocation of resources. This paper employs instrumental variables regression and text analysis techniques to meticulously examine the impact of bank competition on carbon emissions and elucidate the underlying mechanisms. We also investigate the synergistic influence of government engagement in green initiatives and bank competition on carbon emissions reduction, drawing insights from data encompassing Chinese cities during the years 2006 to 2019. Our empirical analysis unveils a significant carbon emissions reduction effect resulting from bank competition. This effect is primarily driven by the facilitation of green innovation and the promotion of manufacturing servitization. Notably, this impact is more pronounced in cities that are not dependent on resource extraction and those situated outside regional financial centers. Additionally, the level of government interest in green initiatives amplifies the carbon reduction effect of bank competition. This paper contributes to the enhancement of the banking market structure, aligning it with eco-friendly development goals.

Ag Doping and rGO Coupling of TiO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; within Polysiloxane Matrix for the Ecofriendly Development of High-Performance Cotton Fabric

In this work, TiO2 was applied to cotton fabric by a sol–gel-hydrothermal process. A combination of 3-(trihydroxysilyl) propyl methylphosphonate monosodium salt solution (TPMP) and (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTES) was used as a matrix to enhance the interfacial interaction between TiO2 and surface of the cotton fibres. During the hydrothermal treatment, silver nitrate (AgNO3) or reduced graphene oxide (rGO) were added to produce Ag-doped TiO2- or rGO-coupled TiO2-coated textiles. The successful application of all investigated components on cotton fabric was confirmed by the analysis of SEM and EDS. The results of UPF determination and self-cleaning activity showed excellent performance of both studied nanocomposite coatings, whereas the use of rGO proved to be better than Ag.

Evaluating the impact of the innovation efficiency of high-tech industry on carbon emissions: a case study of the manufacturing industry in China.

Amid China's economic shift to high-quality development, addressing environmental challenges like greenhouse gas emissions and manufacturing pollution, there is a crucial demand for sustainable and eco-friendly development strategies. This study aims to investigate the impact of innovation efficiency in the high-tech industry on carbon emissions. It seeks to explore regional differences, mechanisms, and the influence of energy consumption structures in achieving sustainable development goals. Utilizing data from 30 provinces spanning 2009 to 2020, the study employs the DEA-Malmquist index model, spatial and temporal classification evaluation, and a panel measurement model to assess the efficiency of innovation and development in high-tech industries and their relationship with carbon emissions. The results indicate several key findings: (1) The overall operational efficiency of high-tech industry innovation and development in China is steadily increasing. However, there are distinct characteristics observed among provinces and cities, reflecting diverse input and output types. (2) High-tech industry innovation efficiency significantly contributes to carbon emission reduction, and there is regional heterogeneity in this impact. The central and western regions exhibit greater effects compared to other provinces and cities. (3) The optimization of the energy structure is identified as a mechanism through which high-tech industry innovation efficiency reduces carbon emissions. Moreover, different intervals of high-tech industry innovation efficiency yield varying effects on carbon emissions. This research underscores the importance of fostering high-tech industry innovation efficiency as a means to reduce carbon emissions. It also identifies key areas for future policy development and resource allocation, emphasizing the support needed for low-carbon technology research and development.

Balancing low-carbon and eco-friendly development: coordinated development strategy for land use carbon emission efficiency and land ecological security.

Correctly identifying and handling the relationship between land use carbon emission efficiency (LUCEE) and land ecological security (LES) are important to promote carbon neutrality in the overall layout of ecological civilization construction. This study takes 30 provinces in China as the research unit and measures the level of LUCEE and LES in each province in the period from 2011 to 2020 via a super-efficient slack-based measure model considering undesirable output. The coupling coordination degree (CCD) of LUCEE and LES is calculated, and its spatiotemporal evolution pattern is explored by kernel density estimation and standard deviational ellipse (SDE). The Dagum Gini coefficient is used to study spatial regional differences and the sources of differences. Results show that (1) China's LUCEE exhibited a downward and then an upward trend, as well as a spatial pattern of "high in the west and low in the east" with obvious regional differences. The LES experienced a positive transformation of "less secure → basically secure → more secure" nationwide, with no apparent regional differences. (2) The kernel density curves showed a continuous increase in CCD in general, while interprovincial differences increased, then decreased, and shifted from multipolar to bipolar differentiation. (3) The migration of SDE centers in CCD demonstrated a path of "southeast → southwest → northeast," and the ellipticity increased from 0.167 to 0.173, showing a trend of concentrated distribution. (4) The overall Gini coefficient of the national CCD indicated a decreasing trend, but imbalances remained, with the largest annual average value in the western region (0.120) and the smallest in the northeast (0.044). The main source of regional disparity was the intensity of transvariation. Accordingly, this study proposes targeted regional development strategies to promote low-carbon sustainable land use and improve the ability of land ecosystems to prevent security risks.

Developments and Prospects of Farmland Application of Biogas Slurry in China-A Review.

Biogas slurry (BS) is an attractive agricultural waste resource which can be used to regulate soil microbial communities, enhance nutrient absorption capacity of crops, promote plant-soil interactions, and consequently, increase crop productivity. Presently, BS discharge is not environmentally friendly. It is therefore necessary to explore alternative efficient utilization of BS. The use of BS as fertilizer meets the requirements for sustainable and eco-friendly development in agriculture, but this has not been fully actualized. Hence, this paper reviewed the advantages of using BS in farmland as soil fertilization for the improvement of crop production and quality. This review also highlighted the potential of BS for the prevention and control of soil acidification, salinization, as well as improve microbial structure and soil enzyme activity. Moreover, this review reports on the current techniques, application methods, relevant engineering measures, environmental benefits, challenges, and prospects associated with BS utilization. Lastly, additional research efforts require for optimal utilization of BS in farmlands were elucidated.

The impacts of high-speed railway on environmental sustainability: quasi-experimental evidence from China

With growing concerns over resource depletion and environmental degradation, the role of high-speed railways in fostering a transition towards sustainable energy sources has gained prominence. Against this background, we treat the opening of high-speed railways as a quasi-natural study, analyze data from Chinese industrial enterprises and 285 prefecture-level cities to investigate the impact of high-speed railways on environmental sustainability, specifically focusing on fossil fuel consumption and carbon emissions. Our results unequivocally demonstrate that the introduction of high-speed railways has been instrumental in promoting eco-friendly development, as evidenced by a notable reduction in traditional resource consumption and carbon emissions along the railway routes. This inhibitory effect has strengthened over time and with increasing distance from the railway. Additionally, we identify significant spatial spillover and spatial conduction effects resulting from high-speed railway operations. Heterogeneity tests reveal that third-tier cities, non-megacities, and mature resource-based cities are particularly receptive to these sustainable impacts. Besides, Mechanism analysis suggests that accelerated elements flow, enhanced technological innovation, improved labor productivity, and upgrading of industrial structure serve as potential pathways leading to eco-sustainability. These findings highlight the environmentally friendly attributes of high-speed railways and underscore the pressing need for effective policy measures to facilitate a global transition towards renewable energy, both in China and worldwide.

Financing Public Projects for Eco-Friendly Development Supporting Sustainable Initiatives for Tomorrow's Generations

Financing Public Projects for Eco-Friendly Development Supporting Sustainable Initiatives for Tomorrow's Generations