Environment-friendly Technology Research Articles

Removal Of Pharmaceuticals from Municipal Wastewater Using Malaysian Ganoderma Lucidum Fungal Strain

Emerging contaminants are currently a serious issue primarily because conventional wastewater treatment plants are unable to eliminate them. Environmental pollution caused by various emerging pollutants (particularly pharmaceutical active compounds) in wastewater poses a significant threat to public health and ecological balance. In 21st century, bioremediation is regarded as the most environmental friendly and cost-effective treatment technology. In this study, we investigated the removal efficiency of 19 popular pharmaceutical active compounds (PhACs) from municipal wastewater using Malaysian Ganoderma lucidum fungal strain (G. lucidum). The initial and final concentrations of each compound were determined using liquid chromatography time of flight mass spectrometry (LC-TOF/MS), and the percentage of removal was calculated. In this study, experimental results revealed diverse removal efficiencies for the investigated PhACs in municipal wastewater. The PhACs Azithromycin, doxycycline, clindamycin, ciprofloxacin, sulfamethoxazole, loratadine, and citalopram, showed remarkable removal rates of 90% and above in municipal wastewater, indicating their potential for effective treatment. Conversely, trimethoprim, ketoprofen, diclofenac, venlafaxine, dexamethasone, atenolol, propranolol, losartan, valsartan, metoprolol, fluconazole, and carbamazepine, demonstrated varying removal efficiencies, suggesting the need for further optimization in wastewater treatment processes for these compounds. This study highlights the importance of understanding the biodegradation of different PhACs in municipal wastewater to develop efficient and targeted bioremediation treatment strategies using local fungal strain of G. lucidum. Overall, this study provides promising suggestions for the bioremediation of pharmaceuticals from wastewater.

Stability of THAI in situ combustion process in reservoirs with layers of grading permeabilities and porosities: Detailed qualitative investigations

The world-wide reserves of heavy oil, tar sand, and bitumen, etc., outweigh those of conventional oil by a factor of 7/3. Given that the conventional reserves are being rapidly depleted, the need to develop and produce the unconventional resources has never been so critical. However, the proven most efficient and environmentally-friendly technology, namely the THAI process, still requires further study, and it has no documented design procedures that factor in the non-ideal geological features of heavy oil and bitumen reservoirs. Throughout the literature, there is little reported on the effects of gradations in reservoir petro-physical parameters on the performance of the THAI process. Consequently, this work reports the results of numerical simulations for four different kinds of reservoirs, each having progressive gradations in permeabilities and porosities. The major findings from this in depth study include:(i) In terms of the temperature distribution, regardless of the permeability and porosity gradations, the high temperature zone is always skewed towards the highest permeabilities and porosities zone. Furthermore, it is found that, in any model in which the shoes of the VI wells have no direct communication pathway with the highest permeabilities and porosities zones of the reservoirs, the high temperature zones occur in two chambers, otherwise, there is one high temperature zone.(ii) It is found that generally, the combustion front tends to be lopsided in favour of the most permeable and porous zone. In the case of a bottom-up progressive increase in permeabilities and porosities (model L1), the single combustion front has greatest advance horizontally at the top and axially in the middle of the reservoir, while in model L2 (the converse of model L1), the combustion fronts propagated in two chambers before the chambers overlapped in the toe region of the HP well where it advanced fastest. Therefore, the combustion zone in model L1 was far more stable than in model L2.(iii) It is found that the combustion fronts in model L3, with the lowest permeabilities and porosities at the centre in the longitudinal direction, propagated in two chambers that overlapped each other around the toe region of the HP well and advanced greatest in the HP well and on either lateral edge of the reservoir. In model L4, which has lateral gradation in permeabilities and porosities, however, the thinner edge of the wedge-shape combustion front had advanced fastest along the vertical mid-plane where the HP well was located. Thus, the combustion zone in model L3 was far more stable than that in model L4.(iv) It is found that in all the models except model L4, there exist rich oil saturation zones in the most permeable and porous regions located ahead of the mobile oil zone (MOZ) of each reservoir. These are formed due to restrictions in the pathways via which the mobilised oil can drain into the HP well. In model L4, the HP well is already in the most permeable zone and consequently, the fluids that favourably reach there are rapidly gravity-drained into the HP well.

Towards sustainable initiatives: Evidence from green finance mitigating ecological footprint in East Asia and Pacific nations

Green finance serves as a bridge between development and ecological sustainability. It provides a roadmap for countries to accomplish sustainable development goals by simultaneously curbing their ecological footprint. Green financing prioritizes eco-friendly technologies, sustainable behaviors, renewable energy, and green infrastructure, promoting positive changes. This study examines the role of green finance on the ecological footprint of 11 East Asian and Pacific countries from 2000 to 2023. This study uses different diagnostic tests to prove the existence of cross-sectional dependency, non-normality, and slope heterogeneity. The coefficients are estimated using the fully modified ordinary least squares (FMOLS) approach and panel quantile regression at different quantiles. The results show the validity of an inverted U-shaped relationship between green finance and the ecological footprint. Further analysis explores that at the middle quantile, all selected countries except Mongolia and the Philippines, while the FMOLS approach shows that all countries’ green finance reduces their ecological footprint. Additionally, globalization reduces the ecological footprint, while economic growth, industrialization, and urbanization increase the ecological footprint. This study recommends that to fight against climate change, the selected countries should focus more on green finance. Financial institutions should provide funds only for environment-friendly technologies.

FTIR Characterization of Bioactive Functional Groups Present in Crude Extract of Mycoherbicides Produced from Consortium Culture of Rhizosphere Fungal Isolates

ABSTRACT Consortium culture can be a relatively cheap and environment-friendly technology for producing secondary metabolites like pesticides (herbicides). This study produced some metabolites from a consortium culture of fungal isolates obtained from the rhizospheres of Panicum maximum, Ipomoea involucrata and Amaranthus viridis. The isolates from rhizospheres of the above-named plants were co-cultured using Czapek broth and were incubated in an incubator shaker for 28 days. The co-culture combinations were: Aspergillus welwitschiae and Trichoderma hamatum (consortium 1), Aspergillus welwitschiae and Aspergillus aculeatus (consortium 2), and Aspergillus aculeatus and Trichoderma hamatum (consortium 3). Crude extracts from each consortium were characterized using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). The FTIR results showed that consortium 1 had peak spectra range from 418.57 cm−1 (S–S stretch of aryl disulfides) to 3462.34 cm−1 (alcohol, aliphatic primary amine), consortium 2 had peak spectra range from 420.5 cm−1 (halo compound) to 3456.65 cm−1 (alcohol, aliphatic primary amine) and consortium 3 had peak spectra from 457.14 cm−1 (halo compound) to 3448.84 cm−1 (alcohol, aliphatic primary amine). Some of the compounds produced by the consortia were pesticidal in nature and are hence, considered a potential technology in developing organic pesticides.

Revisiting the Application of Ultrasonic Technology for Enhanced Oil Recovery: Mechanisms and Recent Advancements

Ultrasonic technology, which has been receiving increasing attention from the petroleum industry, has emerged as a promising environmentally-friendly technology due to its high adaptability, simple operation, low cost, and lack of pollution; the mechanisms of this technology are clarified herein. At the same time, this paper presents a comprehensive review of the impact of ultrasound on enhanced oil recovery (EOR) by removing plugs, reducing oil viscosity, and demulsifying crude oil, while highlighting the latest advancements in this field. Lastly, this paper delves into the challenges and prospects associated with the industrial implementation of power ultrasound. The objective of this review is to provide a comprehensive overview of recent advancements, serving as a valuable reference for future investigations on ultrasound-assisted EOR. Oil field results demonstrate that oil production increased by 26.5% to 100%, water cut decreased by 5% to 96%, the success rate ranged from 75% to 90%, and the effect can last for a duration of 4 h to 12 months.

Advances in strawberry postharvest preservation and packaging: A comprehensive review.

Strawberries spoil rapidly after harvest due to factors such as the ripening process, weight loss, and, most importantly, microbial contamination. Traditionally, several methods are used to preserve strawberries after harvest and extend their shelf life, including thermal, plasma, radiation, chemical, and biological treatments. Although these methods are effective, they are a concern from the perspective of safety and consumer acceptance of the treated food. To address these issues, more advanced environment-friendly technologies have been developed over the past decades, including modified and controlled atmosphere packaging, active biopolymer-based packaging, or edible coating formulations. This method can not only significantly extend the shelf life of fruit but also solve safety concerns. Some studies have shown that combining two or more of these technologies can significantly extend the shelf life of strawberries, which could significantly contribute to expanding the global supply chain for delicious fruit. Despite the large number of studies underway in this field of research, no systematic review has been published discussing these advances. This review aims to cover important information about postharvest physiology, decay factors, and preservation methods of strawberry fruits. It is a pioneering work that integrates, relates, and discusses all information on the postharvest fate and handling of strawberries in one place. Additionally, commercially used techniques were discussed to provide insight into current developments in strawberry preservation and suggest future research directions in this field of study. This review aims to enrich the knowledge of academic and industrial researchers, scientists, and students on trends and developments in postharvest preservation and packaging of strawberry fruits.

Biomimetic solar evaporator for continuous clean water production with synergistic organic dye wastewater remediation

Solar-driven water evaporation is recognized as an environment-friendly technology for sustainable clean water generation, serving the needs of both desalination and wastewater purification. However, its practical application is constrained by challenges such as single functionality and significant salt accumulation. Inspired by the transpiration of vascular plant, this work introduces a scalable and cost-effective biomimetic evaporator (PyCOF/Tri-Layers), consisting of a biomimetic hierarchical fibrous membrane (Tri-Layers) and a composite photothermal layer (PyCOF). Furthermore, the PyCOF composite, featuring an aloe-like flower structure, enhances the light trapping (95.1 %) through multiple scattering, realizing simultaneous desalination and azo dye degradation. Based on the PyCOF/Tri-Layers evaporator, we demonstrate a suspended multi-section hanging evaporation structure sustaining a consistent evaporation rate of approximately 1.41 kg m−2 h−1 over 15 days without salt accumulation, achieving above 99.3 % removal of dye pollutants within 120 min under one sun irradiation. Moreover, in outdoor experiments, the improved evaporator realizes a daily clean water yield rate of 8.73 kg m−2 d−1, and the collected water is suitable for supporting crop cultivation within an integrated solar desalination-cultivation system. This work not only provides a one-stone-two-birds approach for generating clean water from polluted seawater, but also presents promising possibilities for offshore self-sustainable agriculture production.

Response surface study on continuous supercritical hydrothermal synthesis of nano-zirconia: Scale-up from laboratory to industrialization

Commercial interest in nanomaterials and their applications lead to the development of many new methods for mass production. Among them, supercritical hydrothermal synthesis (SCHS) is a highly efficient and environmental-friendly technology. In this work, an advanced industrialized device for SCHS was used to verify the synthesis of nano-zirconia particles. The influencing laws and mechanisms of different material parameters (precursor type, precursor concentration, and pH) and process parameters (reaction temperature, reaction pressure, residence time, and Reynolds number) of nano-zirconia synthesis were studied. For the first time, the state changes of zirconium precursors and the precipitation behavior of nano-zirconia particles were in-situ observed by a high-speed camera. Central composite design (CCD) of response surface methodology (RSM) was adopted to investigate interactive effects of reaction temperature (200–420 °C), reactant concentration (0.01–0.6 mol L−1), alkali ratio (0–5) and flow rate (3–15 mL min−1), with particle size (APS), crystal form ratio (k) and reactant conversion rate (α) serving as response values. The influence of key process parameters follows an order of reaction concentration > reaction temperature > system flow > alkali ratio for APS, alkali ratio > system flow > reaction temperature > reaction concentration for k, and reaction temperature > alkali ratio > system flow > reaction concentration for α, respectively. The optimal process parameters were then obtained and further verified at lab and industrial scale. Zirconia powders with particle sizes of 4.98 nm and 8.74 nm were synthesized, respectively, indicating five hundred times magnification of continuous SCHS of nano zirconia from laboratory to industrialization.

Varying removal of emerging organic contaminants in drinking water treatment residue-based biofilter systems: Influence of hydraulic loading rates on microbiology

Drinking water treatment residue (DWTR)-based biofilter is an environment-friendly and cost-effective technology for eliminating nutrients and emerging organic contaminants (EOCs) from natural water. This study explored the removal efficiencies of five trace-level EOCs and the associated microbial response of biofilm in two identical DWTR-based biofilters under varying hydraulic loading rate (HLR) conditions over six months of operation. The results showed that the most recalcitrant EOC (carbamazepine) was mainly removed by DWTR adsorption (7.8–11.0 ng g−1), while the response of the biofilm community to HLR significantly affected the degradation of 17α-ethinylestradiol, sulfamethoxazole, roxithromycin, and sulfathiazole (P < 0.001). A higher HLR significantly stimulated the production of extracellular polymeric substance and increased the stochasticity and diversity of community assembly, improving denitrification and the removal efficiency of DWTR-based biofilm for biodegradable roxithromycin (80 %) and sulfamethoxazole (76 %). In contrast, lower HLR led to carbon limitation and exerted substrate selection pressures, resulting in more deterministic and stable community assembly, with keystone species such as Bacillus enriched in EOC degradation-related functional genes. Moreover, co-occurrence network analysis revealed a simpler but more intensive interaction network among EOC degraders under the lower HLR condition. This interaction network facilitated the co-metabolism of influent organic carbon and the removal of more recalcitrant contaminants, 17α-ethinylestradiol (48 %) and sulfathiazole (37 %). This study offered a novel insight into biofilter management from a hybrid perspective of environmental microbiology and engineering science, highlighting the dynamic adaptation of microbes to specific EOC degradation under varying HLR conditions.

Numerical analysis of transport phenomena in a steam reforming reactor with optimal multi-segments catalyst distribution

The contemporary industrial trends pursue alternative energy sources, to substitute fossil fuels. The current direction is induced by concerns regarding exhausting natural resources and the environmental impact of the technologies rising globally. Conventional technologies have a dominant share of the current energy market. The most crucial issue with current technology is the emission of greenhouse gases and their negative impact on climate. One of the possible approaches to limit the issue of emissions is the steam reforming of natural gas, leading to the production of hydrogen. Fuel cells are a robust technology, able to conduct a catalytic conversion of hydrogen and oxygen, for the direct production of electrical energy. Fuel cells are one of the most environment-friendly technologies to this day, as their exhaust gases mostly consist of steam. Currently, almost 50% of the hydrogen produced is acquired via hydrocarbons reforming. The process described in the presented analysis occurs between methane and steam. The presented numerical analysis regards small-scale reactors, which are more suitable when it comes to the processing of distributed or stranded resources for hydrogen production To optimize the small-scale unit’s performance, the macro-patterning strategy is introduced. Steam reforming has a strong endothermic character and tends to produce unfavorable thermal conditions. The process enhancement is acquired by introducing non-catalytic regions to the catalytic insert geometry. The non-catalytic segments are introduced to suppress the reaction locally, decreasing the magnitude of temperature gradients. Unification of the temperature distribution is proven to increase the reforming’s effectiveness. The presented analysis introduces a new approach to the catalytic insert division, to investigate if a complete temperature field unification is possible. The catalytic insert is simultaneously divided along the reactor’s radius and length, resulting in a set of concentric rings, placed along the reactor’s axis. The calculations are conducted using in-house numerical procedure, coupled with a genetic algorithm. The algorithm optimizes the process effectiveness by modification of the segment’s alignment and porosity.

Processing of hemp and cannabis residue into non-adhesive chipboards and wall panels

As woods are dwindling and agriculture waste burning causes severe air pollution and releases greenhouse gases, processing Hemp and lignocellulosic surplus materials into chipboards and other construction elements may substitute timber and reduce environmental pollution. The presented environmental-friendly technology can potentially process hemp and recycle residual materials into industrial woodchip boards and structural elements without the use of hazardous expensive resins. By applying cold plasma pre-treatment followed by the pressing stage acceptable wood chip standard physical properties are achieved. The irradiation dosage is probably optimal since once exceeding the dosage applied, wood disintegration starts; the process improvement may be related to the pressing configuration. Since the pressing temperature and duration are probably higher than required, the element that may still be aligned is the pressing pressure. Moreover, the positive correlation between sample strength and pressing pressure did not reach a steady state value even when pressing the sample to the maximum possible pressure allowed in the existing equipment (5.5 tons). It is suggested that a significant strength improvement will be attained by increasing the pressing pressure and decreasing the pressing temperature. It is assumed that 20 tons/m2 pressing pressure will be sufficient to attain the desired properties.

Passivation of cold-sprayed zinc-coated steel bars in simulated concrete pore solution

Hot-dip galvanized coating is proved to be effective in preventing chloride ion induced corrosion on steel bars, however, highly-toxic substances generated during the plating process seriously pollute the surrounding environment. Cold-sprayed zinc as an environment-friendly technology is an alternative to the hot-dip galvanized technology, but it has not been applied to steel bars in the alkaline environment of concrete. This study first fabricated the cold-sprayed zinc-coated steel bars, and then investigated the influences of Ca2+ concentration and pH on the passivation of zinc-coated steel bars in the simulated concrete pore solutions through electrochemical tests, microstructure examination, and element composition analysis. The experimental results show that passive film can be generated on the surface of cold-sprayed zinc-coated specimens in the simulated concrete pore solutions with pH = 12.5 and Ca2+ concentration above 0.8 g/L, but Ca2+ concentration determines the density and quality of the passive film. The passive film can resist the attack of chloride ions up to 0.2 mol/L. Compared with hot-dip galvanized coating, more large-sized and compacted crystals are generated on the surface of cold-sprayed zinc coating. Thus, it is feasible to apply cold-sprayed zinc technology to provide corrosion protection for steel bars in the concrete.

Shaping a greener tomorrow: Analysing the impact of environment-friendly technology on ecological footprints in emerging asian economies

The impact of environment-friendly technology on environment quality is an unsettled debate having generated more heat than light. Given this context, the study explores the impact of environment-friendly on ecological footprints using the Environmental Kuznets Curve framework. Utilizing Panel Autoregressive Distributive Lag model for aggregate ecological footprint doesn't show the evidence of environment-friendly technology improving environmental quality. However, disaggregated analysis reveals significant reductions in footprints related to Built-up, Crop, Fishing Grounds, and Grazing lands, with positive impacts observed on Forest and Carbon footprints. We also estimate the turning points of per capita income, confirming heterogeneous and footprint-specific Kuznets curves. Notably, we show that environment-friendly technology plays a crucial role in delaying depletion in Built-up land and contracting the depletion phase of Fishing Grounds along the Kuznets curve trajectory. The study, therefore, underscores the importance of environment-friendly technology in addressing environmental challenges and promoting environmental sustainability.

High Porous Activated Carbon Electrode Derived from Watermelon Peel Biomass Exposed with DC Glow Discharge Plasma Applied for Super Capacitors

The growing demand for sustainable and environmentally-friendly technologies has spurred the exploration of innovative methods for waste management and resource utilization. Among the various bio-wastes generated globally, watermelon peel emerges as a significant contributor. To characterize carbon materials in the presence of functional groups, for morphological analysis, and intensity, we subjected activated fruit peel carbon to X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and Raman studies. Furthermore, we examined its electrochemical performance. Another method used to assess wettability is the contact angle. Watermelon-rind-activated carbon was exposed to a DC glow discharge oxygen and air plasma with a 450 V applied potential. The air-treated carbon demonstrated a noteworthy capacitance of 1669 F g−1 at 0.5 mA g−1 in a 2 M KOH electrolyte. Our study found that the properties of the activated carbon were enhanced through cold plasma treatment. This research provides valuable insights into the potential resources of fruit peels and proposes a novel adsorbent with cost-effective advantages in supercapacitors, which could provide effective energy storage for portable gadgets, electric cars, and renewable energy systems, thus presenting a solution for sustainable waste management.

Simultaneous removal of methylene blue and Cr(VI) in a dual-chamber photocatalytic microbial fuel cell with WO3/MoS2/FTO photocathode

Carbon felt was used as the anode and WO3/MoS2/FTO (fluorine-doped tin oxide) was used as the photocathode in a photocatalytic microbial fuel cell (PMFC). The photoelectric performance of the WO3/MoS2/FTO photocathode and the removal efficiency of methylene blue (MB) and Cr(VI) mixed pollutants were systematically investigated in the cathode chamber. The results showed that after 12 h of light irradiation in the PMFC with WO3/MoS2/FTO as the photocathode, the removal rates of MB and Cr(VI) were 84.56 and 68.11 %, respectively, which were much higher than those using WO3/FTO as a photocathode (55.57 % and 45.26 %, respectively). The corresponding maximum output power was 33.14 mW/m2, which was 1.85 times that of the WO3/FTO photocathode PMFC. These results can be attributed to the fact that WO3 is an n-type semiconductor and MoS2 is a p-type semiconductor. Analysis of trapping experiments showed that the composite of WO3 and MoS2 formed a Z-scheme heterojunction, which improved the separation efficiency of the photoelectric carriers and enhanced the pollutant removal efficiency of the photocathode. PMFCs are a new and environment-friendly technology for removing pollutants thereby providing an experimental basis for future engineering applications.

Numerical simulation of fluidized bed: A bibliometric analysis of research progress and prospects

This study employed bibliometric analysis, reviewing 3763 papers related to numerical simulation of fluidized bed published between 1990 and 2023 from the Web of Science Core Collection database. The research findings indicate an upward trend in the development of numerical simulation studies of fluidized bed. This phenomenon is closely linked to the enhancement of computational capabilities, the widespread application of fluidized bed technology, and the continuous advancement in simulation methodologies. Particularly since 2009, this field has experienced significant growth. Journals such as “POWDER TECHNOLOGY”, “CHEMICAL ENGINEERING SCIENCE” and “CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL” were the most prolific. Current research hotspots included multi-scale simulation methods, data-driven approaches and machine learning, improvements in multiphase flow models, coupling multi-physical field simulations, application of environment-friendly technologies, research on new materials and energy sources. The primary research fields are chemical engineering, energy & fuels, mechanics and thermodynamics. These insights serve as valuable guidance and references for researchers.

In situ extraction and enrichment of multiple amino acids by integrated mechanochemical extraction and aqueous two-phase system

A highly efficient and environment-friendly extraction technology was established to extract and enrich multiple amino acids (AAs) in situ by deep eutectic solvent (DES)-assisted mechanochemical extraction (MCE) and aqueous two-phase system (ATPS). Firstly, the DES was prepared from betaine and ethylene glycol in a 1:2 M ratio. Then, a series of conditions were evaluated by single-factor and multifactor experiments to select the optimum experimental parameters. The highest extraction yields of AAs were obtained by DES-assisted MCE and ATPS enrichment, including that the amount of DES was 0.97 mL, the milling time was 4.88 min, the amount of salt was 8 g, and the solid-to-liquid ratio was 0.055 g mL−1. After extracting, the diluted AA extracts were analyzed by a high-performance liquid chromatography-fluorescence detector after pre-column derivatization with 6-aminoquinolyl-N-hydroxysccinimidyl carbamate. The methodological validation demonstrated the proposed method exhibited satisfactory limits of detection ranged from 0.11 to 0.82 ng mL−1, reliable interday precision (%RSD) of 0.014–0.067 % for retention time and 1.29–3.34 % for the peak area, acceptable reproducibility with %RSD below 4.1 %, and good %recovery between 90.3 % and 122.5 % at three spiked concentrations. The surface morphology of raw, only ground, and DES-ground sample powders was tested by scanning electron microscopy to further explore the changes in the physicochemical properties of samples. By comparing with other AAs extraction methods, the developed method is not only eco-friendly, but greatly improves the yield of free AAs extracted from chrysanthemum.

Linking clean energy consumption, globalization, and financial development to the ecological footprint in a developing country: Insights from the novel dynamic ARDL simulation techniques

Developing countries have been facing economic difficulties for over three and a half decades due to numerous factors, including fossil fuel consumption and dwindling biocapacity. It is necessary to pinpoint the factors that may be culpable for poor environmental quality leading to a rising ecological footprint (EFP). This study explores the effect of clean energy, financial development (FDV), and globalization on the EFP in a developing country using the novel dynamic ARDL simulation techniques and the bootstrap causality test. The findings suggest that green energy has no meaningful impact on the EFP. Globalization and FDV significantly reduce the EFP by 0.25% and 0.08%, respectively. Besides, the findings confirm the existence of the EKC hypothesis. Furthermore, the causality results affirm a unidirectional causality from globalization and FDV to EFP, while economic growth drives globalization. Also, a one-way causality flows from globalization to FDV, just as FDV Granger causes green energy. In line with the findings, the study recommends that public policies focus on funding environmental-friendly technologies and green innovations. The funding must be on recently developed energy-saving technologies that can ensure complementarity between increased economic growth and environmental deterioration.

Innovation in higher education institutions towards sustainability using LED technology

Purpose There is a growing urgent concern in involving higher education institutions (HEIs) towards an international effort in implementing a more suitable role as conductors of sustainable development. This paper/study aims to present the application of light emiting diode (LED) technology in an HEI assuming technology innovation as part of a larger institutional innovation management strategy addressing multiple dimensions in sustainability. Design/methodology/approach Investments in LED technology are analyzed for their impact on consumption results and quantitative comparisons between 2008 and 2022 are impaired with detailed information on the types of luminaires and the amount of installed energy. Findings The collected data shows a clear economic advantage of using LED technology, and the results subsidize institutional planning, considering not only ongoing technological innovation, but also educational components and community involvement in the organization sustainability strategy. Research limitations/implications The study is limited to a specific HEI and further comparative research should be carried out. Practical implications A holistic approach on sustainability objectives encourages further investment in environmental-friendly technology, example to other HEIs. Social implications The strategic vision of innovation is confirmed with the involvement of the community, at various levels, such as the academic community, local community, scientific international community. Originality/value This study addresses the lack of examples in the literature of structural planning and management systems that see sustainability as a strategy built in HEIs. The elaboration of an environmental sustainability plan places environmental sustainability at the confluence of themes such as education, investigation, use of natural resources, waste separation. For each topic are listed measures, actions, environment improvements, institution improvements and their results.

Mycofiltration of Aqueous Iron (III) and Imidacloprid Solutions, and the Effects of the Filtrates on Selected Biomarkers of the Freshwater Snail Helisoma duryi

To alleviate the burden of water contamination, a newly developed form of bioremediation known as mycofiltration can be employed. Mycofiltration is an environment-friendly technology involving the treatment of contaminated water by passing it through a network of saprophytic fungal mycelium. A mycofilter made of Pleurotus ostreatus was used for the removal of iron (III) and imidacloprid from aqueous solutions. Batch mycofiltration, at a dosage of 1 g of mycofilter per 50 mL, was performed on iron (III) solutions of different concentrations (0.99, 10.7, 22.9, and 27.72 mg/L) and pH (3.3, 7 and 11). For column mycofiltration, the mycofilter was packed into pyrex columns (3.3 × 15 cm) to desired bed heights. Iron (III) and imidacloprid solutions of 18.99 mg/L and 234.70 ng/L, respectively, were filtered at a constant flow rate. Thereafter, Helisoma duryi snails were exposed for 96 h to the respective filtrates, and their catalase and acetylcholinesterase activities were assessed. Batch mycofiltration showed iron (III) removal rates as high as 85%. Column mycofiltration showed removal rates of 94 and 31% for iron (III) and imidacloprid, respectively. Catalase activity was significantly reduced (p < 0.05) in the snails exposed to iron (III) or imidacloprid filtrates, compared to the snails exposed to the non-mycofiltered media. A significantly higher acetylcholinesterase activity was induced by iron (III) filtrates in comparison with the non-mycofiltered media (p < 0.05). There were no significant differences in acetylcholinesterase activity (p > 0.05) in the snails exposed to mycofiltered and non-mycofiltered imidacloprid media. Mycofilter characterisation using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrophotometry revealed significant changes in transmittance intensity in the mycofilters used for the iron (III) vs the ones used for the imidacloprid solutions. Mycofiltration was found to improve water quality although iron (III) was removed more effectively than imidacloprid.