Carbon and methane fluxes from typical pasture-based beef cattle production systems in the Southeastern USA.

The use of co-calcined rice husk (RH) and red mud (RM) in cement mortar was investigated in this study. The effects of these additives on mechanical properties, electromagnetic shielding performance and environmental benefits were systematically analysed. The addition of calcined RH and RM notably improved the compressive strength of the cement mortar and exhibited strong electromagnetic wave absorption capabilities, particularly in the mid-frequency range. Under optimal conditions (5% dosage with RH and RM co-calcined at 800°C), the compressive strength increased by 3.03% at 7 days and by 8.33% at 28 days as compared with the control mortar. The material exhibited six absorption bandwidths spanning from low to high frequency, with the strongest absorption peak at 10.73 GHz, a reflection loss of −37.8 dB and an absorption bandwidth of 0.71 GHz (<−10 dB). Based on the principles of sustainable design, RH and RM, as agricultural and industrial wastes, were repurposed to develop a cement-based composite material that balances structural strength and electromagnetic absorption.

BackgroundSeaweed is a nutrient-dense, sustainable, and underutilized food source. Despite its growing popularity, little is known about its consumption and related perceptions during pregnancy.AimTo (1) explore perceptions of health, environmental concerns, and seaweed consumption among pregnant individuals; (2) characterize their seaweed consumption patterns; and (3) identify factors shaping their attitudes and choices regarding seaweed.MethodsData were collected via an online survey developed for this study, incorporating items from the Health Consciousness Scale and questions assessing perceptions, consumption patterns, and attitudes related to seaweed among 120 pregnant participants across all trimesters. Descriptive and qualitative analyses were conducted.ResultsIn terms of health perceptions, most respondents (91.7%) reported being actively engaged in their health, and a majority (81.7%) agreed that the healthfulness of foods greatly influences their dietary choices. Regarding seaweed consumption, 70.8% of participants had consumed seaweed at least once during pregnancy. In addition, 60.0% of respondents expressed a positive attitude toward seaweed.ConclusionsIncorporating seaweed into dietary recommendations during pregnancy may offer both nutritional and environmental benefits. Future research should prioritize rigorous safety assessments to establish evidence-based guidance for seaweed consumption among pregnant individuals.

This study presents a comparative assessment of four microgrid configurations for rural communities in Southern Italy, with Puglia as a representative case. Using a scenario-based techno-economic model combining MATLAB R2024a and Python 3.12.7 simulations, the analysis evaluates systems based on second-life electric vehicle (EV) batteries, new lithium-ion batteries, and diesel-dominated setups, focusing on economic performance, environmental impact, and renewable integration potential. The results show that storage technology selection critically shapes both cost-effectiveness and sustainability outcomes. Second-life EV batteries emerge as the most balanced option, combining affordability and environmental benefits. These systems enable renewable penetration above 90% while maintaining a levelized cost of storage (LCOS) of EUR 0.12/kWh. Over a 20-year horizon, they achieve a positive net present value (NPV), with annual diesel consumption reduced to just 3200 l, significantly cutting greenhouse gas emissions. This highlights the potential of circular economy strategies, such as battery repurposing, to support low-carbon rural energy transitions. New lithium-ion batteries offer slightly higher technical performance, but their competitiveness is limited without policy support. The LCOS rises to EUR 0.18/kWh, reducing financial attractiveness despite marginal improvements in loss of load probability and lower diesel reliance. Premium storage technologies may therefore be most suitable where reliability is paramount and subsidies are available. By contrast, the diesel-dominated scenario illustrates the economic and environmental costs of fossil dependency. It consumes nearly 28,000 L of fuel annually, produces ~90 tons of carbon dioxide (tCO2) emissions, and achieves only 48% renewable penetration, resulting in a strongly negative NPV. Overall, the findings confirm that second-life EV batteries provide a practical, sustainable, and cost-effective pathway for rural electrification in Southern Italy and comparable Mediterranean regions. Realizing their potential will require supportive policies for battery reuse, safety, and recycling infrastructure.

Driven by the high contents of organic materials in municipal solid waste (MSW) by 70% in Iran and the growing demand for mineral fertilizer, refinement of the composting technology is imperative. In the pursuit of environmental sustainability, further investigation into the life cycle assessment of the composting process and end-of-life waste management must be conducted. Hence, this study scrutinized the environmental burdens of the composting plant operation from cradle to gate. Since 50% of the raw MSW was not converted to compost, its final disposal was evaluated based on incineration, landfill, and integrated approaches. The results indicated marine and freshwater ecotoxicity of the composting process (> 50.4 kg 1,4-DB eq). Heavy metal and gas emissions during the MSW decomposition were the pivotal parameters for most impact categories. CO2 emission intensified climate change by 3523 kg CO2 eq; however, waste incineration led to emission savings of 98.75%. The environmental benefits of incineration were observed in 13 impact categories alongside a net-negative value for natural land transformation. Landfilling also induced savings in freshwater eutrophication and metal depletion by 98.67% and 99.08%, respectively. Unlike previous studies relying on generalized data, this study uses detailed, plant-level operational data and scenario-based modeling from Sistan and Baluchestan province. This approach provides realistic impact estimates and decision-relevant insights.

The growing accumulation of plastic waste in coastal regions like Pangkajene and Islands Regency has become a pressing environmental concern due to inadequate waste management systems. This study proposes an innovative solution by utilizing post-consumer plastic waste (PET, HDPE, and LDPE) combined with local Pinrang sand to produce lightweight, eco-friendly paving blocks. The experimental method involved melting shredded plastic and blending it with sand in various ratios (1:1, 1:2, 1:3), then molding and testing the compressive strength based on SNI 03-0691-1996 standards. Results showed that the 1:1 composition achieved the highest average compressive strength of 9.84 MPa among plastic-based samples, while conventional blocks reached up to 34.80 MPa. Plastic waste paving blocks met Class D criteria, suitable for light-use pavements, while conventional ones met Class B. Although the mechanical strength of plastic-based blocks was lower, their environmental benefits and lighter weight make them suitable for garden paths and pedestrian areas. This study affirms the potential of integrating plastic waste into construction materials, offering a sustainable and practical response to local waste challenges

The increasing demand for sustainable energy solutions in rural areas has prompted the utilization of biogas and bio-slurry as alternative resources. This study aims to evaluate the economic feasibility of household-level biogas systems by integrating Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA), Net Present Value (NPV), Benefit-Cost Ratio (BCR), and Undiscounted Payback Period (UPBP), complemented with sensitivity analysis. Primary data were collected from 16 households operating biogas systems, while secondary data supported the estimation of cost and benefit components. Results show that biogas adoption provides positive economic returns, with average NPV reaching Rp 12,749,000, BCR above 1.0, and UPBP within four years, indicating financial viability. Sensitivity analysis reveals that variations in LPG prices and livestock numbers significantly affect economic outcomes, demonstrating the importance of market and production factors in ensuring project sustainability. The findings conclude that household biogas systems are economically feasible and resilient under certain conditions. Future studies are suggested to expand the scope by incorporating environmental and social benefits, as well as exploring scalability at the community level.

This study aims to enhance biogenic elemental sulfur (S0bio) recovery efficiency in Simultaneous Nitrogen and Sulfur Removal (SNSR) processes for dual environmental and economic benefits. The addition of thiosulfate to redirect reaction pathways in a Thiobacillus denitrificans-augmented SNSR system elucidates its regulatory mechanism on S0bio yield and stability. Under low sulfide loading (100 mg/L S2-), 30 mg/L S2O32- amendment achieved peak S0bio yield of 69.85% at 36 h, with sulfur conversion efficiency 3.03-fold higher than the high-loading non-inhibited group (NI). The target pathway (S2-→ S0bio) intensity increased by 0.53-1.05-fold, while the competing pathway (S2-→ S2O32-) was inhibited (0.10-0.28-fold reduction). Thiosulfate enabled the S0bio generation pathway to dominate over S2-→ SO42-during early-stage low-sulfide SNSR, reaching a maximum contribution of 55.32%. Additionally, the fluorescence intensity contribution of soluble microbial products (SMP) reached a peak of 49.81%, while concurrent measurements showed significant increases in viable cell count and viability (averaging 2.17-fold and 3.18-fold higher than those in the non-thiosulfate-amended groups, respectively). Thiosulfate synergistically drives efficient S0bio stabilization through dual mechanisms: (1) enhancing Thiobacillus denitrificans bioactivity to intensify key reaction kinetics; (2) optimizing sulfur speciation transformation to establish target-pathway dominance. This work provides technical insights for resource recovery from sulfur-laden wastewater and stable S0bio reclamation.

To investigate and validate the feasibility of extracting rare earth metals from coal-mining byproducts in the Lugansk People’s Republic. This involves analyzing the mineralogical composition of accumulated waste at coal mines and examining the biochemical processes taking place within. Methods: Conducting experiments on biochemical acid leaching of waste rock samples using a culture of sulfate-reducing Thioferrooxidans microorganisms. Additionally, a pure culture of Thioferrooxidans microorganisms will be obtained through established microbiological techniques. Results: A method has been developed and a technology has been proposed for obtaining the rare metals of gallium and germanium from coal-mine waste rock through the natural processes of sulfuric acid formation within the rock. Experimental results indicated that the leaching efficiency of germanium reached 1.6 mg/kg of rock while gallium achieved up to 2 mg/kg of waste rock. This suggests that such waste can be regarded as a potential source of metal-bearing raw materials, providing both environmental and economic benefits for the region. Practical significance: The proposed method will facilitate the utilization of waste rock, thereby minimizing the adverse environmental impacts associated with waste and promoting the production of rear earth metals.

This study investigates the mechanisms through which tourists' willingness to pay and sustainable resource management policies influence revenue generation from sustainable aquatic services, with particular emphasis on the moderating function of perceived environmental benefits. Employing a quantitative research design, data were collected via structured surveys from 385 participants, comprising aquatic tourism stakeholders and tourists across Southeast Asia. Analytical procedures included exploratory factor analysis, multiple linear regression, and moderation analysis utilizing SPSS software. The findings demonstrate robust support for all hypothesized relationships. High willingness to pay (β = 0.642, p < .001) and strong sustainable resource management policies (β = 0.711, p < .001) significantly enhance revenue generation. Critically, perceived environmental benefits exert a significant moderating influence, amplifying the effect of willingness to pay on revenue at medium (β = 0.485, p < .001) and high levels (β = 0.721, p < .001), while rendering it insignificant at low levels (β = 0.112, p = .007). The study advances theoretical understanding by integrating Triple Bottom Line theory with the Theory of Planned Behavior, thereby elucidating how perceived environmental benefits transform ethical consumer intentions into tangible economic outcomes within sustainable aquatic tourism contexts. These findings offer empirical evidence for policymakers and tourism operators seeking to harmonize ecological integrity with financial sustainability.

The road construction sector is increasingly striving to reduce its environmental footprint while advancing circular economic goals. Conventional asphalt mixtures depend on virgin aggregates and bitumen, which significantly contribute to emissions and resource depletion. This study addresses the issue by assessing the environmental performance of asphalt mixtures incorporating secondary raw materials—reclaimed asphalt, recycled fishnets, and cellulose fibres. A cradle-to-gate life cycle assessment was conducted on four mixtures, using the ReCiPe 2016 Midpoint (H) impact assessment methodology. The results along with the hotspot and sensitivity analyses show that reclaimed asphalt offers the most consistent environmental benefits, notably mitigating climate change and resource depletion impacts by replacing virgin aggregates. Recycled fishnets, despite addressing marine plastic waste, showed higher toxicity and eutrophication burdens due to energy-intensive processing. Cellulose fibres reduced climate impacts but increased land use and terrestrial ecotoxicity. Results highlight that the environmental benefits of introducing recycled materials are incremental rather than transformative at the production stage, and that the influence of supply-chain logistics can outweigh differences among mixtures. Although the cradle-to-gate perspective provides valuable insights for material selection and procurement, future studies should include use and end-of-life phases, where larger environmental benefits may emerge for certain mixtures.

Abstract Magnesium oxychloride cement (MOC) is recognized for its superior mechanical performance and environmental benefits. Yet, the phase evolution of MOC in aggressive environments, particularly with chloride and sulfate exposure, remains insufficiently understood. A novel thermodynamic database with self‐consistency is constructed in this study to reveal the degradation mechanism of hardened MOC paste exposed to solutions of NaCl, CaCl 2 , Na 2 SO 4 , MgSO 4 , and natural brine environments, accounting for both chemical attack and leaching effects. The predicted phase assemblages are validated through x‐ray diffraction data from published sources and additional experiments. The results reveal that MOC degradation in saline media is governed by three interrelated factors: (i) leaching dominates the degradation process, with chemical attack playing a secondary role; (ii) chloride/sulfate concentrations dictate the thresholds for phase transformation; and (iii) reaction pathways and secondary phase evolution are shaped by the competition between Ca 2+ /Na + and Mg 2+ ions. The present work delivers novel thermodynamic perspectives on MOC degradation and lays a theoretical foundation for its optimization in marine and saline environments.

Phospholipase C has become a pivotal biocatalyst in agricultural and food chemistry, enabling efficient degumming while producing diacylglycerol as a nutraceutical. Over the past two decades, more than 40 microbial, plant, and mammalian PLCs have been characterized, revealing conserved catalytic frameworks but broad diversity in regulatory domains and substrate scope. Advances in protein engineering have yielded thermostable variants active above 70 °C and pH 3.5 and 10.0, while enzymatic routes cut energy use by up to 70% compared with chemical methods. This Perspective presents a comprehensive synthesis that integrates food engineering, sustainability, and enzyme biotechnology. It summarizes PLC's evolutionary origins, structure-function relationships, and production strategies and highlights rational mutagenesis, directed evolution, and AI-guided redesign improving catalytic stability and process compatibility. Industrial applications─including oil refining, dairy optimization, and functional lipid generation, demonstrate measurable efficiency gains and environmental benefits, positioning PLC as a model enzyme for sustainable bioprocessing within a circular bioeconomy.

ABSTRACT With the growing demand for sustainable and biodegradable adhesives, castor oil has gained attention as a promising bio‐based raw material due to its hydroxyl functionality, low toxicity, and environmental benefits. In this study, a solvent‐free pressure‐sensitive adhesive (CO‐PSA) with a high castor oil content (55 wt%) was synthesized via controlled functionalization of castor oil (trifunctional to difunctional) and polymerization with isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI). FTIR confirmed the target chemical structure of CO‐PSA by comparing the structures of the starting material, intermediates, and final product. The optimal CO‐PSA formulation (CO‐PSA‐3) exhibited outstanding adhesive performance: initial tack for an 11# steel ball, 180° peel adhesion strength of 12.26 N/25 mm, and static shear holding power of 25 h. Wettability tests confirmed good surface interaction (water contact angle < 80° for all formulations), ensuring effective substrate bonding. Thermal analysis (DSC/TGA) indicated good thermal stability (initial thermal degradation temperature: 266°C) and flexibility at low temperatures (glass transition range: −70°C to −32°C). Degradation studies showed that CO‐PSA undergoes complete alkaline hydrolysis within 2 h, forming nanoscale degradation products (~90 nm in diameter). The high–castor‐oil (55 wt%), solvent‐free, and degradable CO‐PSA formulation developed in this study can serve as an environmentally friendly alternative to petroleum‐derived adhesives, advancing sustainable adhesive technologies for the packaging industry and related sectors.

Air-assisted sprayers are widely used in orchards to ensure deep canopy penetration and effective pesticide coverage, yet excessive or misdirected airflow often causes spray drift and ground losses. This study evaluated spray deposition efficiency, drift, and environmental performance of a novel double-tower orchard sprayer (DIVENT) equipped with two independently driven axial fans allowing separate airflow adjustment on each side. Field experiments were conducted in apple orchards under crosswind conditions using the following three airflow emission scenarios (air volume to the LEFT/RIGHT side of sprayer): symmetrical (100%/100%), compensating crosswind (30%/100%), and one-sided (0%/100%). Measurements of spray deposition within the canopy, ground losses, and off-target deposition drift were performed using fluorescent tracer, and power consumption was recorded to estimate fuel use and CO2 emissions. The compensating airflow setting significantly improved spray targeting, reducing both in-orchard ground losses and off-target drift by up to 60%, while maintaining uniform canopy coverage comparable to the conventional symmetrical mode. The one-sided emission scenario achieved the highest drift reduction (67.8%) and the lowest power and CO2 emissions, though at the cost of reduced canopy deposition. Overall, the study demonstrates that independent fan control allows effective adaptation of spraying to weather and canopy conditions, providing substantial environmental and energy benefits without compromising spray efficiency.

Despite extensive research on industry 4.0 and circular economy (CE). There is limited research on nexus between artificial intelligence (AI) and circular economy. AI seems to be driving force for revolutionizing in businesses and industries for unlocking economic, environmental, and social benefits. We investigated how AI transform from linear to circular business models. Authors selected 105 peer-reviewed articles from Web of Science database by using bibiliometric analysis. Authors analyzed the data by using VoSviewer Software. The four core clusters were identified, (1) circular economy a pathway to sustainable business management, (2) big data models enhance CE outcomes, (3) I4.0 technologies leads to future of CE and (4) digitalized supply chains for sustainable development. This review advances our understanding on AI and circular economy in the existing literature due to less focus by prior scholars. More importantly, this review contributes to shifting the focus to technological perspective within circular economy, diverging from traditional linear model based on economic views. This review suggested companies should adopt AI as it plays a pivotal role in facilitating the shift to a circular economy by reshaping and enhancing existing models of product design, manufacturing, consumption, repair, regeneration, recovery, and end-of-life management while simultaneously improving the efficiency of waste management. This research provides fresh perspectives on AI and CE to better understand AI as an opportunity rather than cost due to ongoing fourth industrial revolution.

Chemical recycling technologies are gaining attention, yet their environmental benefits remain debated due to high energy demand, low yields, and limited data quality. This study conducts a comparative life cycle assessment of a 130 kg/h pyrolysis plant converting post-industrial packaging waste into high-value chemicals. Its environmental performance is benchmarked against waste incineration and virgin chemical production. The chemical recycling process emits 1.4 kgCO2-eq/kg feedstock, 50 % lower than for incineration. Considering product substitutions, emissions of the recycling process are reduced up to ‑0.9 kgCO2-eq. Compared to virgin production, the chemical recycling process provides a suitable alternative, generating up to 40 % less CO2 emissions. It also results in lower impacts on acidification and fossil fuel depletion, although freshwater and marine eutrophication are higher than those of fossil-based production. The results show high dependency on data and methodological assumptions that can reduce the emissions by up to 64 % but can increase them by 114 %.

Sustainable end-of-life management of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) is essential for minimizing environmental impact and enhancing supply chain resilience. Here, we present a novel H+/OH- switchable reversible coordination chemistry mechanism that utilizes a cost-effective, recyclable K4Fe(CN)6 aqueous solution for highly efficient and selective recovery of critical metals from various spent LIB cathodes. Under H+-rich acidic conditions, the LiCoO2 (LCO) cathode demonstrates a high Li leaching efficiency of 96.57%, while cobalt selectively reacts with K4Fe(CN)6 to precipitate as K0.5H1.5CoFe(CN)6·H2O. Subsequent OH--rich base treatment facilitates the stepwise recovery of cobalt from K0.5H1.5CoFe(CN)6·H2O to form CoOOH, achieving a 95.18% recovery efficiency and K4Fe(CN)6 regeneration. In situ powder X-ray diffraction and time-dependent Raman spectroscopy reveal the dynamic crystal structural evolution and reversible coordination chemistry between Co─O bonding in LiCoO2/CoOOH and Co─N bonding in K0.5H1.5CoFe(CN)6·H2O, driven by the H+/OH- pair in the K4Fe(CN)6 solution. This strategy is applicable for recovering critical metals from a wide range of LIBs cathodes (e.g., NCMs, LFP), offering significant techno-economic and environmental benefits, and lays the foundation for sustainable critical metals recycling from urban minerals beyond spent LIBs.

Abstract Sustainable end‐of‐life management of lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs) is essential for minimizing environmental impact and enhancing supply chain resilience. Here, we present a novel H + /OH − switchable reversible coordination chemistry mechanism that utilizes a cost‐effective, recyclable K 4 Fe(CN) 6 aqueous solution for highly efficient and selective recovery of critical metals from various spent LIB cathodes. Under H + ‐rich acidic conditions, the LiCoO 2 (LCO) cathode demonstrates a high Li leaching efficiency of 96.57%, while cobalt selectively reacts with K 4 Fe(CN) 6 to precipitate as K 0.5 H 1.5 CoFe(CN) 6 ·H 2 O. Subsequent OH − ‐rich base treatment facilitates the stepwise recovery of cobalt from K 0.5 H 1.5 CoFe(CN) 6 ·H 2 O to form CoOOH, achieving a 95.18% recovery efficiency and K 4 Fe(CN) 6 regeneration. In situ powder X‐ray diffraction and time‐dependent Raman spectroscopy reveal the dynamic crystal structural evolution and reversible coordination chemistry between Co─O bonding in LiCoO 2 /CoOOH and Co─N bonding in K 0.5 H 1.5 CoFe(CN) 6 ·H 2 O, driven by the H + /OH − pair in the K 4 Fe(CN) 6 solution. This strategy is applicable for recovering critical metals from a wide range of LIBs cathodes (e.g., NCMs, LFP), offering significant techno‐economic and environmental benefits, and lays the foundation for sustainable critical metals recycling from urban minerals beyond spent LIBs.

To address the dual challenges of climate change and air pollution, an urban-scale decision-making framework is required in China to quantify energy-environment-health co-benefits, thereby addressing the limitations of existing macro-level research. This study proposes a novel analytical framework integrating scenario prediction, dynamic downscaling, pathway optimization, and benefit evaluation. The framework combines the provincial-level Global Change Analysis Model (GCAM-China) with a municipal-level dynamic downscaling model, a high-resolution emission inventory (Gridemis), the Scenario Model Intercomparison Project (ScenarioMIP), and an air quality and health assessment model. This approach effectively translates national climate goals into heterogeneous, sector-specific, municipal-scale emission pathways. It quantifies energy structure transitions, pollutant mitigation, and health co-benefits under various policy mixes while also considering future climate-related risks. Applied to the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, the results show that synergistic efforts for carbon neutrality and stringent air quality policies will drive the regional energy system from coal dominance to a diversified, cleaner structure. By 2060, this optimized pathway could reduce major air pollutant emissions by 30-88%, promote a more equitable distribution of environmental and health benefits, and significantly lower premature mortality risks. This study provides a practical tool for energy and environmental policy, offering broad applicability for other regions.