Carbon Dioxide Generation Research Articles

Impact of innovation in marine energy generation, distribution, or transmission-related technologies on carbon dioxide emissions in the United States

This study contributes to the energy economics literature by inspecting the association between innovation in marine energy generation, distribution, or transmission-related technologies and carbon dioxide emissions, with the gross domestic product per capita, expansionary monetary policy, trade openness, international collaboration in green technology development, and renewable energy consumption in the United States from 1990Q1 to 2018Q4. First, results from the canonical co-integration regression estimator, dynamic ordinary least squares estimator, and fully modified ordinary least squares estimator indicated that innovation in marine energy generation, distribution, or transmission-related technologies helps reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Second, the findings indicated that renewable energy consumption and international collaboration in green technology development were negatively associated with carbon dioxide emissions. Third, trade openness, expansionary monetary policy, and gross domestic product per capita were positively associated with carbon dioxide emissions. Fourth, the Granger causality test confirmed two-way causality between international collaboration in green technology development and carbon dioxide emissions. Fifth, the findings also showed that there exists a one-way causality between innovation in marine energy generation, distribution, or transmission-related technologies and carbon dioxide emissions, gross domestic product per capita and carbon dioxide emissions, expansionary monetary policy and carbon dioxide emissions, and trade openness and carbon dioxide emissions.

Development of effervescence-assisted switchable polarity solvent homogeneous liquid-phase microextraction for the determination of permethrin and deltamethrin in water samples prior to gas chromatography-flame ionization detection.

An effervescent tablet-assisted switchable polarity solvent-based homogeneous liquid-phase microextraction combined with gas chromatography with flame ionization detection has been conducted for the separation, preconcentration, and detection of permethrin and deltamethrin in the river water specimens. Triethylamine (TEA) was utilized as the switchable polarity solvent in this method. The switching process was carried out by the dissolution of an effervescent tablet including an effervescency agent (sodium carbonate) and a proton donor agent (citric acid). Changing the pH of the specimen solution enhanced the conversion of TEA into protonated triethylamine carbonate through the tablet that generated carbon dioxide bubbles in situ. Finally, the addition of sodium hydroxide changed the ionization state of TEA and separated the two phases. Influential factors in the extraction were investigated. According to optimal situations, the limit of detection and the limit of quantification were 0.16 and 0.5 μg L-1 for permethrin and 0.03 and 0.1 μg L-1 for deltamethrin, respectively. The preconcentration factor was 194 in river water samples and inter- and intra-day precision (relative standard deviation %; n = 5) was <5%. The extraction recovery was obtained in the range of 93.0%-97% for permethrin and deltamethrin in water samples.

Potential for hydrogen production from sustainable biomass with carbon capture and storage

Low-carbon hydrogen is an essential element in the transition to net-zero emissions by 2050. Hydrogen production from biomass is a promising bio-energy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) scheme that could produce low-carbon hydrogen and generate the carbon dioxide removal (CDR) envisioned to be required to offset hard-to-abate emissions. Here, we design a BECCS supply chain for hydrogen production from biomass with carbon capture and storage and quantify, at high spatial resolution, the technical potential for hydrogen production and CDR in Europe. We consider sustainable biomass feedstocks that have minimal impacts on food security and biodiversity, namely agricultural residues and waste. We find that this BECCS supply chain can produce up to 12.5 Mtons of H2 per year (currently ∼10 Mtons of H2 per year are used in Europe) and remove up to 133 Mtons CO2 per year from the atmosphere (or 3% of European total greenhouse gas emissions). We then perform a geospatial analysis to quantify transportation distances between where biomass feedstocks are located and potential hydrogen users, and find that 20% of hydrogen potential is located within 25 km from hard-to-electrify industries. We conclude that BECCS supply chains for hydrogen production from biomass represent an overlooked near-term opportunity to generate carbon dioxide removal and low-carbon hydrogen.

Climate mitigation efficacy of anaerobic digestion in a decarbonising economy

Anaerobic digestion (AD) is at the interface of biowaste management, energy generation, food production and land-based carbon dioxide removal. Strategic deployment of AD requires careful scoping of interactions with prospective alternative biowaste management, energy generation technologies and land uses to ensure effective delivery of climate neutrality and circularity. There remains a need to assess the greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation efficacy of AD in the context of future alternative (counterfactual) processes associated with differential rates of decarbonisation across energy, waste management and land (including agriculture) sectors. To address this gap, prospective life cycle assessment (LCA) is applied to AD deployment scenarios across three decarbonisation contexts, using the UK as an example. Food waste prevention and diversion to animal feed always achieve more GHG mitigation than AD, even with sustainable intensification of food and feed production. Compared with maize- or grass-biomethane transport fuel, solar electricity generation can avoid 16 times more fossil energy and afforestation can mitigate six times more GHG per hectare of land occupied. Transport biomethane is currently the most effective biogas use for GHG mitigation, but large-scale combustion of biogas for electricity or industrial heat generation is the most effective long-term option as transport is electrified and bioenergy carbon capture & storage (BECCS) is deployed. Prioritising waste prevention and diversion to animal feed (including via insect meal) instead of maximising AD deployment could simultaneously: offset an additional 10–15% of national GHG emissions; meet an additional 2–4% of national energy demand; free enough arable land to provide 20–21% of national recommended protein and kcal intake. However, AD is likely to remain the best option to manage substantial volumes of residual food wastes and manures that will remain available even if ambitious projections on waste prevention and diet change are realised.

Estimation of greenhouse gas emissions of a tropical reservoir in Colombia

Abstract Tropical reservoirs are generally flooded in soils with a high content of organic matter. This, combined with high temperatures, favors the generation of carbon dioxide and methane by biological degradation, contributing to the impact on climate change. A tropical reservoir in Colombia was monitored for 7 years in the pre-fill, fill and post-fill stages, for the last of these during the day and night. Emissions from diffusive fluxes at the surface of the water were measured using a floating static chamber, while inverted funnel methodology was used to measure the fluxes by bubbling. The samples collected in the field were analyzed in the laboratory using a gas chromatograph with a mass detector. The results showed average emissions of 70892.51±41079.16-ton CO2eq/year for pre-filling; 178254.53±105838.01-ton CO2eq/year for filling; and 466946.57-ton CO2eq/year for post-filling (for 5 years), concluding that the weather conditions and the filling percentage had an impact on the generation of greenhouse gases at filling and post-filling stages, as did the organic matter present in the area of influence of the sampling point. Higher greenhouse gas emissions were found during the day compared to the results at night, indicating that temperature affects these processes especially in tropical reservoirs.

ECOLOGICAL DUE DILIGENCE - MAINSTREAM IN INSURANCE

Introduction. In today's world, environmental problems related to accidents, natural disasters and catastrophes have been exacerbated by environmental pollution caused by the ongoing russian-Ukrainian war, which continues to this day. At the state level, in this situation, of course, it is difficult to use instruments of influence, as in Ukraine there is no legal framework that would serve as a foundation for legislative regulation of environmental insurance. Given this positioning in this context, environmental insurance becomes especially relevant, which is preceded by environmental due diligence - the mainstream of the world. Purpose. Identify the importance of environmental due diligence for the world community and prove that it is mainstream in insurance in today's world. Method (methodology). The research used such methods as logical, which allowed to analyze scientific works in the field of environmental due diligence; analysis and synthesis, which made it possible to identify factors influencing the mainstream in insurance; graphical, which allowed to interpret the results in a visual form. Results. The stages of development of climate policy in the world are determined. Emphasis is placed on decarbonisation, which includes such areas as resources (renewable energy sources, restrictions on mining, abandonment of coal generation, capture, use and storage of carbon dioxide, hydrogen energy), infrastructure (implementation and application of «green» tools), markets and carbon pricing (CO2 tax (carbon tax, transboundary carbon tax), greenhouse gas emission allowance trading system, and a combination of these approaches; carbon reporting), consumers (abandonment of internal combustion engines, limitation of emissions in the air transport sector) emission control in the maritime transport sector), investments (attraction of investment funds in "green" technologies). Direct and indirect impacts on the environment due to active hostilities are characterized. Recommendations for «green» reconstruction of the affected regions of Ukraine due to the full-scale invasion of russia are given.

Leaf vein-inspired engineering of MXene@SrSn(OH)6 nanorods towards super-tough elastomer nanocomposites with outstanding fire safety

The progress of super-robust, high ductile polymeric nanocomposite with superior safety have been caught increasing eyesight for the application in electronic products. In this article, strontium hydroxystannate (SSO) nanorods were in-situ fabricated on the surface of titanium carbide (Ti 3 C 2 T x ) MXene nanosheets (MSSO) for improving fire safety and mechanical property of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) to further applications of portable devices. With biomimetic method, the tensile robustness and toughness of TPU-2.0MSSO was enhanced by 46% and 126%, respectively. In addition, the TPU-MSSO nanocomposites performed leaf vein-inspired hierarchical structure during the stretching behavior, resulting 55% enhancement of elongation at break. Furthermore, the fire safety was systematically evaluated, and the peak heat release rate (pHRR) decreased by 37.31%. Above all, hazardous pyrolysis products of TPU during the combustion were also efficiently reduced, especially the generation of carbon oxide (CO) and carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) were decreased by 96.04% and 89.85% when the additive of MSSO was only 2 wt%. As a result, ternary catalytic effect and labyrinth structure improved the safety of TPU in modern electronic products. Hence, this leaf vein-inspired TPU-MSSO nanocomposites not only exhibit superior toughness but also reinforce fire safety while facing thermal runaway, which was significant to destroy the formation of thermal disaster chain and maintain further applications of additional products for portable devices, and package materials for flexible electronics. • Leaf vein-inspired nanostructure was prepared via SSO nanorods in-situ growing on Ti 3 C 2 T x . • TPU-2.0MSSO nanocomposite shows up exceeding improvement of toughness reaching 126%. • The pHRR of TPU-2.0MSSO was reduced by 37.31% with a low heat release. • The production of CO and CO 2 were reduced by 96.04% and 89.85% using 2 wt% MSSO. • MSSO offers a method for enhancing toughness and safety for flexible electronics.

Carbon dioxide generation rates and subjects’ perception of air quality of office activities under various ambient temperatures

Indoor carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration is an important parameter that has been used to characterize and design indoor air quality and building ventilation. In indoor spaces, the primary source of CO2 is occupants, and the rate is always related to occupants’ activities intensity. However, the CO2 generation rates required by many applications were currently calculated by metabolic rates using equations given in the ASHRAE Handbook, which were based on the average of adults from Europe and North America that are several decades old. In addition, the ambient temperatures may also affect CO2 generation rates by affecting human metabolic reactions but were not considered. There is little systematic experimental determination of human CO2 generation rates at different activity levels and various ambient temperatures. This study experimentally determines Chinese office people’s CO2 generation rates by 28 college students (14 women and 14 men) aged 20~30, while conducting office tasks (sitting and typing, standing and typing, walking at 1 km/h, and walking at 2 km/h) at 20, 23, 26, and 29 ℃. CO2 generation rates increase significantly as activity levels increase, and slightly increased with increasing ambient temperature. With activity intensity increases, the gender and temperature differences also grow.

Supramolecular Polymerization: Personal History and Outlook Towards a Sustainable Future

2020 was a very special year for polymer science as the 100-year anniversary of its initiation by Staudinger. The past 100 years have been a prosperous time for polymer science, filled with discovery and innovation. Since plastics are lightweight, mechanically robust, and cheap, their use has proliferated, becoming pervasive in all sectors of society and ushering in the so-called heyday of plastics. At the same time, however, the plastics and rubbers developed by polymer science have caused catastrophic damage to the environment as long-lasting wastes continue to accumulate in the disposable age. Incinerating these materials generates carbon dioxide, which accelerates global warming while dumping them into the ocean results in their eventual disintegration into microplastics, small pieces that are consumed and accumulate in the food chain. As of 2015, only 9% of the 6300 million metric tons of plastics produced had been recycled,1 and unless far-reaching policies are adopted in the next decade to change the social structure that has so far been dependent on disposable polymers, global warming will continue to accelerate and it will certainly be difficult to pass on livable earth to future generations. Although this crisis is widely acknowledged, society has thus far been unable to give up such convenient and cheap materials. If we fail to shift our economic priorities or invent new materials as alternatives, it will be impossible to escape from this plastic world.

Determining the amount of ‘green’ coke generated when co‐processing lipids commercially by fluid catalytic cracking

AbstractCo‐processing biogenic feedstocks in oil refineries will reduce the greenhouse gas emissions normally associated with fossil‐derived transportation fuels. The fluid catalytic cracker (FCC) within a refinery is a robust processing unit and will probably be a preferred insertion point if biocrudes, produced by the liquefaction of biomass, are co‐processed within a refinery. Fluid catalytic cracking results in a wide range of intermediate products which can be upgraded to gasoline, diesel, heavy fuel oil and liquified petroleum gas blendstocks. Coke is also produced and provides heating for feedstocks, the endothermic catalytic cracking reactions and the regeneration of the FCC catalyst. However, coke combustion also generates carbon dioxide and is a significant source of refinery greenhouse gas emissions. As detailed here, the continuous nature of the process makes the physical evaluation of any biogenic coke fraction, via methods such as C14 isotope analysis, quite challenging. However, quantifying the stack gases provides one way of assessing the renewable content of the carbon dioxide derived from coke combustion. The hourly data from 1 year of commercial operation was assessed using linear and Bayesian ridge regression to quantify the burning coefficient of the coke when co‐processing lipids at the FCC. When a bootstrap method was used to reduce the uncertainties of the coefficients, this allowed us to quantify the renewable (green) fraction of the coke component, indicating the reduction in carbon dioxide emissions when commercially co‐processing biogenic feedstocks. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley &amp; Sons, Ltd

МЕТОДИЧЕСКИЕ ПОДХОДЫ К МОНИТОРИНГУ УГЛЕРОДА-14 ДЛЯ КОНТРОЛЯ ЕГО РАДИАЦИОННОГО ВОЗДЕЙСТВИЯ НА ПЕРСОНАЛ И НАСЕЛЕНИЕ

Purpose: Analysis of the current regulatory and methodological framework on control of doses from intake of 14C for the personnel and the public living in the control area of the nuclear power plant (NPP). Identifying the most informative methods of controlling radiation impact of 14C on a human being. Material and methods: Research literature on radiation impact of naturally occurring 14C; 14C entering the environment as a result of nuclear weapon tests; and 14C entering workplaces and the control area of NPP has been reviewed. Dose coefficients and other radiation characteristics of 14C provided in IAEA, ICRP and UNSCEAR publications have been summarized. Results: According to UNSCEAR, annual radiation burden caused by global 14C is the highest one (about 80 %) among radiation burdens associated with four critical naturally occurring cosmogenic radionuclides: 3H (0.01 µSv/year), 7Be (3.0 µSv/year), 14C (12 µSv/year) and 24Na (0.2µSv/year). The main way of 14C intake is the alimentary one when this isotope enters the human body with food. Dose from this kind of intake of global 14C can reach 40 µSv. The annual dose caused by aerogenic (inhalation) way of intake of global 14C does not exceed 1 µSv. The most informative methods of dose assessment for the personnel of NPP and the public living in the control area involve measurement of content of 14C in top soil, vegetation and food products. Conclusions: Significant amount of 14C enters the environment within the control area during operation of NPP, which causes the public radiation dose exceeding the dose from global 14C. The most informative objects characterizing content of technogenic 14C in the control area of NPP are top soil (humus) and vegetation. The liquid scintillation spectrometry involves sample preparation by burning of samples in oxygen with capturing of generated carbon dioxide and its transfer into organic solvent. This is the most technologically viable method for mass control of 14C content in samples of top soil and vegetation.

The Effect of Seawater on The Compressive Strength and Split Tensile Strength in Self Compacting Geopolymer Concrete

Fly ash is a kind of trash that may degrade the quality of the air. As a result, it is critical that it be used as an ecologically beneficial material. Although cement is the most often used construction material, its manufacturing generates carbon dioxide, which may degrade air quality. The aim of this research was to evaluate the compressive strength and split tensile strength of self-compacting geopolymer concrete (SCGC) cured in seawater, as well as to compare SCGC with and without saltwater. In this research, a cylindrical specimen with a diameter of 10 cm and a height of 20 cm was utilized as the specimen. Fly ash is used in proportion to fine and coarse aggregates at a ratio of 1: 0.65: 1.5. Using a 0.4 activator to binder ratio. The molarity ranges utilized were 11 M, 12 M, 13 M, 14 M, and 15 M. Compressive strength and split tensile strength tests were conducted on 28-day-old concrete. The findings indicated that when the molarity of SCGC treated with seawater increased from 11 to 15 M, the compressive and split tensile strengths increased. Compressive strength values were greatest in SCGC treated at room temperature when an activator of 13 M was used, and compressive strength values dropped in SCGC treated at room temperature when an activator greater than 13 M was used

Analysis of Carbon Dioxide Capturing Technologies and their technology developments

Nowadays, we are experiencing daily growth in the consumption of non-renewable energy resources such as oil and gas. Utilizing these energy sources leads to the production of large amounts of carbon dioxide. The emission of this greenhouse gas into the atmosphere accelerates the global warming and its irreparable consequences. Therefore, it is vital to overcome this phenomenon through elimination of the generated carbon dioxide. This could be achieved by focusing on the existing research experiences in this field and considering proposed methods for eliminating this emission. In addition, the removed carbon dioxide gas could be used in the over-harvesting process of hydrocarbon reservoirs. This study will use VOSviewer software for Bibliometric analysis of carbon dioxide capture technologies and identify gaps that could help researchers gain insight and determine future research trends. We will also review the registered patents for carbon capture technologies and identify the inventors and companies involved in patents. The results suggest that the supply of energy from renewable energy sources and the application of energy policy, decision-making methods, and commercialization methods can significantly contribute to the development and evolution of carbon capture technologies. Also, the high number of patents filed by companies reveals that carbon capture technologies are on the way to commercialization.

Control of Electric Nozzles for Feeding Plants with Carbon Dioxide in Protected Ground

The task of supplying plants in vegetable farms of the Russian Federation is relevant today. There is an urgent question about the implementation of carbon dioxide fertilization of plants in protected soil structures. The low concentration of carbon dioxide in the cultivation of plants serves as a factor limiting the yield. (Research purpose) The research purpose is to develop an algorithm for the microprocessor for supplying carbon dioxide to protected ground structures using electric nozzles. (Materials and methods) Since the content of carbon dioxide in the atmospheric air is only 0.03 percent, it is necessary to create an installation capable of dosing carbon dioxide. With insufficient air exchange, the CO2 content in greenhouses as a result of its intensive absorption by plants can fall below 0.01 percent and photosynthesis practically stops. The article presents the calculation to reduce the cost of protected crops using a carbon dioxide generation plant. The domestic and foreign literature have been analyzed. The article compares the characteristics of the injectors. There were described the method of calculating the number of injectors and the method of supplying carbon dioxide to the plants of the protected ground. (Results and discussion) The article presents the electrical equipment used in the installation. The electrical principle scheme of the installation includes the Mitsubishi FX2N microcontroller. The microcontroller is controlled by an algorithm for the supply of carbon dioxide. (Conclusions) It is possible to solve the problem of lack of carbon dioxide when growing plants by supplying gas with electric nozzles to the construction of a protected ground with direct control by a microcontroller. The use of electromagnetic nozzles makes it possible to dose the supplying of plants with CO2.

Eggshell Valorization: Membrane Removal, Calcium Oxide Synthesis, and Biochemical Compound Recovery towards Cleaner Productions

As climate change continues to rank high among issues of global concern, industries such as agriculture and construction continue to unearth possible ways to curb carbon dioxide generation and encourage the use or reuse of a variety of by-products and waste materials, fostering the implementation of cleaner technologies. Eggshells form a notable component of this waste, making up more than 7.6 million metric tonnes annually. Research works involving the calcination of eggshells have often been done by burning both shell and its constituent proteins and membrane to produce calcium oxide, CaO. This novel research investigated a cleaner means of CaO synthesis by recovering the shell membrane and some valuable chemical compounds from eggshells before calcination. Atomic absorption (AA), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray fluorescence analysis (XRF), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Ultra-performance-liquid chromatography quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS), and RGB color analysis were all employed. Acetic and Nitric acid was used to weaken the shell-membrane bond, thereby aiding membrane separation. Shell membrane was easily separated after 17 minutes of soaking time. Calcium oxide, CaO was synthesized from separated shells after calcination for 3 hours at 900 ℃. 99% CaO with an RGB value of 253 was produced. Collagen, as well as other chemical compounds, were recovered. Eggshell was successfully valorized for CaO production. The shell membrane, collagen, and other recovered compounds, which would have been burnt off and left as an impurity in the CaO, can now the put to more profitable use.

Carbon dioxide levels in initial nests of the leaf-cutting ant Atta sexdens (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Claustral foundation of nests by Atta sexdens Forel (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) involves great effort by its queens, solely responsible for the cultivation of the fungus and care for her offspring at this stage. The minimum workers, after 4 months, open access to the external environment to foraging plants to cultivate the symbiotic fungus, which decomposes the plant fragments and produces gongilidea nodules as food for the individuals in the colony. Colony gas exchange and decomposition of organic matter in underground ant nests generate carbon dioxide (CO2) emitted into the atmosphere. We described the carbon dioxide concentration in colonies in the field. The objective was to evaluate the carbon dioxide concentration in initial A. sexdens colonies, in the field, and their development. The CO2 level was also measured in 4-month-old colonies in the field, using an open respirometric system fitted with an atmospheric air inlet. The CO2 level of the respirometric container was read by introducing a tube into the nest inlet hole and the air sucked by a peristaltic pump into the CO2 meter box. The CO2 concentration in the initial colony was also measured after 4 months of age, when the offspring production (number of eggs, larvae, pupae and adult workers) stabilized. Ten perforations (15 cm deep) was carried out in the adjacent soil, without a nest of ants nearby, to determine the concentration of CO2. The composition of the nests in the field was evaluated after excavating them using a gardening shovel and they were stored in 250 ml pots with 1 cm of moistened plaster at the bottom. The CO2 concentration was higher in field nest than in adjacent soil. The concentration of carbon dioxide in A. sexdens nests in the field is higher than in those in the soil, due to the production of CO2 by the fungus garden and colony.

Investigation on mechanical properties and water stability of porous polyurethane concrete

Abstract Porous polyurethane concrete (PPUC) is a novel material for permeable pavements and is considered as an alternative to porous asphalt or porous cement concrete. However, studies of the mechanical properties of PPUC are still insufficient. In this study, the comprehensive mechanical properties and water stability of PPUC with different gradations and polyurethane dosages were investigated, and its water damage mechanism was preliminarily explored. The results show that the flexural strength and Marshall stability of PPUC can more easily reach the index in the standards of porous cement concrete or porous asphalt, while the compressive strength and abrasion resistance are the weak points of its mechanical properties and need to be further optimized. The mechanical properties and water stability of PPUC were effectively improved by increasing the polyurethane dosage and using continuously graded aggregates. PPUC is more susceptible to water damage because water reacts with the residual isocyanate groups within the polyurethane film to generate carbon dioxide gas, which reduces the cohesion and adhesion performance of polyurethane film. This study provides a comprehensive understanding of the mechanical properties of PPUC and an initial insight into the mechanism of water damage.

Mitigating energy production-based carbon dioxide emissions in Argentina: the roles of renewable energy and economic globalization.

The energy sector of Argentina is predominantly reliant on fossil fuels. Consequently, such fossil fuel dependency within the nation's power sector, in particular, has aggravated the environmental qualityin Argentina by amplifying the nation'senergy production-based carbon emissionlevels. However, keeping into consideration the international commitments pledged byArgentinaunder the Paris Accord and the Sustainable Development Goals agenda, it is pertinent for this South American countryto curb its energy production-based emissionofgreenhouse gases, especially carbon dioxide. Against this milieu, this study examines the impacts of renewable electricity generation, economic globalization, economic growth, and urbanization on carbon dioxide emissions generated from the production of electricity and heat in the context ofArgentina. Using annual frequency data from 1971 to 2016, recent econometric methods are applied to control for multiple structural breaks in the data. The major findings from the ecnometric analyses affirmed long-run associations between renewable electricity generation, economic globalization, economic growth, urbanization, and energy production-based carbon dioxide emissions in Argentina. Besides, enhancing renewable electricity output shares is found to curb these emissions while economic globalization and urbanization are witnessed to boost them. Moreover, renewable electricity generation and economic globalization are found to jointly reduce the energy production-related carbon dioxideemissions in Argentina. The results also validate the authenticity of the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC)hypothesis. Finally, the causality analysis reveals evidence of unidirectional causalities running from renewable electricity generation, economic globalization, economic growth, and urbanization to energy production-related carbon dioxide emissions in Argentina. In line with these findings, this study recommends several viable policies which can be implemented to help Argentina control the growth of its energy production-based carbon dioxideemissions.

A pH-responsive fluorometric and colorimetric system based on silicon quantum dots and 4-nitrophenol for urease activity detection

In this paper, we proposed a dual-signal fluorometric and colorimetric system based on silicon quantum dots (SiQDs) and 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) for pH and urease sensing. SiQDs with fluorescence emission of 460 nm were prepared via aqueous-phase synthesis. As the pH of the system gradually increased, the absorption band of 4-NP at 400 nm increased and a color reaction from colorless to yellow occurred. The absorption of 4-NP overlapped quiet well with the fluorescence excitation spectrum of SiQDs, which can effectively quench the fluorescence of SiQDs. Therefore, the change of fluorescence and absorption intensities could be used to quantify pH value. The fluorometric and colorimetric pH-sensing systems both exhibited a linear respond to pH ranging from 6.0 to 7.8 with an interval of 0.2 pH unit. Urease could specifically hydrolyze urea to generate carbon dioxide and ammonia, causing an obvious increase of the pH value. Thus, urease could also be detected quantitatively by the above dual-signal pH sensing system. The linear ranges of the fluorometric and colorimetric methods for urease detection were both 2–40 U L-1. The limits of detection were 1.67 and 1.07 U L-1, respectively. More importantly, this established dual-signal system has been successfully exploited in the detection of urease in real samples with satisfactory recoveries. Compared with other traditional single-signal assay strategies, the results obtained by dual-signal methods are more accurate and reliable.

Deficit in Leadership Qualities Negating Efforts in Curtailing Climate Change

Continuing generation of carbon dioxide by some nations in flagrant disobedient to the Paris Agreement of 2015 on greenhouse gas emission limitation is a matter of great concern to those who know the negative impact of climate change on the planet and human immunity in particular. The disobedient to the content of the Paris Agreement of 2015 is observed to be a resultant effect of deficit in the qualities of leaders of countries. Therefore, this paper examined the literature on climate change with a view to extracting what could be done to bring the nations acting against the interest of the world in limiting greenhouse gas generation to cooperate and collaborate with other nations in making the planet better for the living. It discovered that the collaborative efforts displayed by the World Health Organisation and individual nations in combating COVID-19 should be adopted to combat climate change as it has shown that no nation is independent of other nations in solving the problem of climate change since action/inaction of a nation has effects across the globe and that heads of countries must be educated and persuaded to be humane and relate with all human race as one to address climate change and make the planet a save abode for the livings.