Global Environmental Issues Research Articles

Microplastics and Invasive Alien Plants: A Change in Soil Ecology Deliberately Impacts the Aboveground Productivity of the Crops

Plastic is considered an emerging agroecological pollutant while biological invasion has also become a global environmental issue. Therefore, the contamination of microplastics and the occurrence of Solidago canadensis L. invasion in the agroecosystem may be a severe hazard to soil and plant functioning, reducing yield and perhaps indirectly harming human health. Microplastic contamination adversely affects the soil ecosystems in terms of soil carbon pools and their turnover. Invasive plants compete with agronomic crops, have allelopathic effects by secreting allelochemicals, and have detrimental effects on the productivity of the crops. However, their interaction had significant negative effects on the soil as well as the crop's physiological and biochemical properties. Thus, the interactive response created a big gap in how they raise concerns about crop potential yield and entering into the food web that ultimately affects human health.

The Effects of Heavy Metal Pollution on Soil Nitrogen Transformation and Rice Volatile Organic Compounds under Different Water Management Practices.

One of the most concerning global environmental issues is the pollution of agricultural soils by heavy metals (HMs), especially cadmium, which not only affects human health through Cd-containing foods but also impacts the quality of rice. The soil's nitrification and denitrification processes, coupled with the release of volatile organic compounds by plants, raise substantial concerns. In this review, we summarize the recent literature related to the deleterious effects of Cd on both soil processes related to the N cycle and rice quality, particularly aroma, in different water management practices. Under both continuous flooding (CF) and alternate wetting and drying (AWD) conditions, cadmium has been observed to reduce both the nitrification and denitrification processes. The adverse effects are more pronounced in alternate wetting and drying (AWD) as compared to continuous flooding (CF). Similarly, the alteration in rice aroma is more significant in AWD than in CF. The precise modulation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) by Cd remains unclear based on the available literature. Nevertheless, HM accumulation is higher in AWD conditions compared to CF, leading to a detrimental impact on volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The literature concludes that AWD practices should be avoided in Cd-contaminated fields to decrease accumulation and maintain the quality of the rice. In the future, rhizospheric engineering and plant biotechnology can be used to decrease the transport of HMs from the soil to the plant's edible parts.

Unexplored Nexus of Political freedom, Economic Growth, Economic conditions and CO2 emission in Asian Country

The promotion of sustainable environmental development is at the forefront of world leaders' policy agendas. The human race is currently confronted with a formidable challenge in the form of a global environmental issue. In each nation, political institutions are responsible for formulating and implementing policy agendas. This study's objective is to examine the relationship between the current state of political institutions, environmental emissions, and development indicators, taking into account the impact of diverse economic conditions such as a free economy, a fluctuating economy, a degraded economy, and an improved economy. Over the course of twenty-four years, from 1998 to 2021, information for this study was collected from ten different ASEAN nations. The panel data methodology is utilized in order to answer the research question. Estimates that account for fixed effects indicate that there is a significant positive correlation between economic growth and CO2 emissions. It is also evident that CO2 emission levels are higher in Asian economies that are more volatile, such as Indonesia and Thailand, while they are lower in economies that have improved, such as Singapore. This is one of the earliest studies conducted on the subject at hand. This study's findings will serve as a guide for implementing environmental policy.

Association Between Long‑Term Exposure to Air Pollution and the Rate of Mortality After Hip Fracture Surgery in Patients Older Than 60 Years: Nationwide Cohort Study in Taiwan.

To enhance postoperative patient survival, particularly in older adults, understanding the predictors of mortality following hip fracture becomes paramount. Air pollution, a prominent global environmental issue, has been linked to heightened morbidity and mortality across a spectrum of diseases. Nevertheless, the precise impact of air pollution on hip fracture outcomes remains elusive. This retrospective study aims to comprehensively investigate the profound influence of a decade-long exposure to 12 diverse air pollutants on the risk of post-hip fracture mortality among older Taiwanese patients (older than 60 years). We hypothesized that enduring long-term exposure to air pollution would significantly elevate the 1-year mortality rate following hip fracture surgery. From Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database, we obtained the data of patients who underwent hip fracture surgery between July 1, 2003, and December 31, 2013. Using patients' insurance registration data, we estimated their cumulative exposure levels to sulfur dioxide (SO2), carbon dioxide (CO2), carbon monoxide (CO), ozone (O3), particulate matter having a size of <10 μm (PM10), particulate matter having a size of <2.5 μm (PM2.5), nitrogen oxides (NOX), nitrogen monoxide (NO), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), total hydrocarbons (THC), nonmethane hydrocarbons (NMHC), and methane (CH4). We quantified the dose-response relationship between these air pollutants and the risk of mortality by calculating hazard ratios associated with a 1 SD increase in exposure levels over a decade. Long-term exposure to SO2, CO, PM10, PM2.5, NOX, NO, NO2, THC, NMHC, and CH4 demonstrated significant associations with heightened all-cause mortality risk within 1 year post hip fracture surgery among older adults. For older adults, each 1 SD increment in the average exposure levels of SO2, CO, PM10, PM2.5, NOX, NO, NO2, THC, NMHC, and CH4 corresponded to a substantial escalation in mortality risk, with increments of 14%, 49%, 18%, 12%, 41%, 33%, 38%, 20%, 9%, and 26%, respectively. We further noted a 35% reduction in the hazard ratio for O3 exposure suggesting a potential protective effect, along with a trend of potentially protective effects of CO2. This comprehensive nationwide retrospective study, grounded in a population-based approach, demonstrated that long-term exposure to specific air pollutants significantly increased the risk of all-cause mortality within 1 year after hip fracture surgery in older Taiwanese adults. A reduction in the levels of SO2, CO, PM10, PM2.5, NOX, NO, NO2, THC, NMHC, and CH4 may reduce the risk of mortality after hip fracture surgery. This study provides robust evidence and highlights the substantial impact of air pollution on the outcomes of hip fractures.

From white pollution to green coating—PS/PANI anti-corrosive coatings from waste PS foams

Polystyrene (PS) foam is a major component of “white pollution”, which has become a global environmental issue. How to solve the problem of white pollution has caused extensive research all around the world. In this paper, a simple way to transform waste polystyrene foam into green anti-corrosion coating was proposed through a seed polymerization method of polyaniline (PANI). PS foam was dissolved in aniline and ethyl acetate solution, afterwards PANI seeds and ammonium persulfate (APS) was added in, then the polymerization was initiated to form PS/PANI composites which could be used as the anti-corrosive coating. The physical properties and anti-corrosion performance of the coatings were detailed discussed. According to electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) results, the PS/PANI coatings have great corrosion resistance. When the mass percentage of aniline to PS was 30 % in the synthesis process, the protection efficiency of the products reached 99.99 % and the polarization resistance reached 6.524 × 106 Ω in 3.5 wt% NaCl solutions. Under the same condition, the charge transfer resistance was 2.81 × 103 Ω.In a word, this paper provides a new route for recycling wasted polystyrene foam. The wasted PS foams known as “white pollution” were used as a main raw material for production of “green anti-corrosion coatings”. This simple processing method is in line with the sustainable development strategy and economic system construction.

Analisis Laporan Keberlanjutan Studi Komparasi Bank Syariah Indonesia dan Maybank Islamic Berhad 2019-2022

This study emphasizes the importance of focusing on the sustainability and alignment of Sharia compliance disclosures in the context of Islamic Financial Institutions. Sustainability reporting is becoming increasingly crucial in the financial sector due to growing awareness of global environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues. The initiative encourages Islamic Financial Institutions (IFIs) to increase transparency and accountability in their sustainability practices.&#x0D; &#x0D; This study tries explicitly to compare the Sustainability Report Analysis between Bank Syariah Indonesia and Maybank Islamic Berhad for 2019-2022. In this way, the study provides a deeper understanding of how these two institutions manage sustainability and disclosure of Sharia compliance.&#x0D; &#x0D; By aligning Sharia compliance with sustainability goals, IFIS can actively create a more responsible and ethical financial sector. This will contribute to broader sustainable development efforts, including sustainable economic growth, environmental protection, and Social Empowerment.&#x0D; &#x0D; This kind of research is essential to ensure that IFIs and other financial institutions understand and adhere to sustainability and Sharia compliance in a balanced manner to balance financial, ethical, and sustainability goals in their services to society.

Preparation and characterization of biomass-ash composites derived from incinerated sewage sludge fly ash after hydrothermal treatment

With the increasing prominence of global environmental issues and the growing demand for sustainable development, biomass composites have attracted widespread attention as candidates for environmentally friendly and renewable construction materials. In this study, environmentally friendly biomass-ash composites (BACs) were fabricated using hydrothermally activated incinerated sewage sludge ash (HT-ISSA) as filler and straw powder with waste sawdust as the biomass matrix for hot pressing. An investigation was conducted into the effect of HT-ISSA on the physical properties of the composite, including the bending strength, compressive strength, and thermal conductivity. The composite prepared with 15 wt% HT-ISSA demonstrated an exceptionally high bending strength (30.60 MPa), compressive strength (44.76 MPa), and low thermal conductivity (0.2380 W/m·K). The enhanced physical properties of the BAC material are attributable to the change caused by hydrothermal treatment of the filler phase. Due to the introduction of hydrated calcium silicate, the cohesion performance of the filler significantly improved, thus leading to strong adhesion and penetration within the matrix. The obtained BAC is applicable for packaging and insulation materials, thus providing an effective solution for the economical and environmentally friendly recycling of incinerated sewage sludge ash and other bulk solid waste. Additionally, it contributes novel insights into alleviating the current shortage of forest resources.

Bioremediation to Overcome Microplastic Contamination in The Water Environment

Microplastics are a global environmental issue that is receiving increasing attention. Microplastic particles, which are plastic fragments measuring less than 5 mm, are widely distributed worldwide and have negative impacts on the environment, living organisms, and human health. Bioremediation is one method to address this problem, using living organisms to remove microplastics from the environment. Bioremediation involves the use of living organisms, such as bacteria, algae, worms, and other organisms, to clean up or degrade microplastics that are widely dispersed in the environment. This article explains the concept and role of bioremediation in addressing microplastic contamination, the factors influencing its effectiveness, and the advantages and challenges of using bioremediation. This article is a systematic literature review. The data used in this research consist of 23 scientific articles, with 21 indexed in Scopus and 2 indexed in Google Scholar. Through this article, it is hoped to obtain comprehensive insights into the future potential of sustainable bioremediation technology in addressing the issue of microplastic contamination in aquatic environments.

An Overview of Anaerobic Digestion of Cow Dung

In the past decade, governments and development agencies have contributed significantly to society through anaerobic digestion technology (ADT). Anaerobic digestion technology (ADT) has become an important tool in the fight against global poverty and environmental issues, leading to positive change in communities around the world. The technology works as a wet or dry process, depending on its classification. The process is complex and yields multiple benefits, such as creating a natural fertilizer that can be used to help crops grow, as well as generating renewable energy sources. It is common knowledge that many household-sized digesters installed in different areas are one-stage digesters. One-stage digesters do not require a separate pre-treatment stage before the digestion process. This makes them simpler and more cost-effective to install and operate than traditional two-stage digesters. Thus, some drawbacks are associated with these systems since they feed on just one type of feedstock. Many researchers fail to adequately address interactions critical to ADT’s operation, including interactions among growth factors and operating parameters. In a single-stage and one-substrate digester, researchers commonly neglect to study the digester feeding and operational conditions. Anaerobic digestion was the subject of this review, covering research conducted between 2001 and 2022. The study identified a significant drawback associated with mono-digestion and single-stage digestion. The findings illustrate that mono-substrate and single-stage digestion are worthwhile approaches, even though they have their challenges. However, adding a further digestion stage can significantly improve biogas production.

Preface

The 4th International Conference on Environmental and Sustainability Development (4th ICESD) was held on November 21, 2023, hosted by the Doctoral Program in Environmental Science at Universitas Sebelas Maret, Indonesia. The conference was conducted online through Zoom and broadcasted on YouTube to enhance accessibility for dissemination. The theme of this international conference was “Comprehensive Approaches to Address Global Environmental Issues: Integrating Science, Policy, and Best Practice.” The conference is part of the ICESD series, held annually since 2020.During the general assembly meeting, five invited speakers from Russia, Malaysia, and Indonesia delivered talks related to the conference theme. For the parallel sessions, a total of 92 submissions were received, and only 68 papers were accepted for presentation at the conference. The authors of these papers came from various countries, including Indonesia, Malaysia, Oman, Japan, and China. The presentations were divided into six rooms, covering four different topics: biodiversity and conservation, climate and environment, sustainable development approaches, and waste management and environmental engineering.Experts, academics, practitioners, stakeholders, and communities shared ideas and views that inspired real action in maintaining and creating sustainable harmony for our Earth amidst the challenges of global climate change, environmental degradation, decreased biodiversity, and global warming. Through discussions, research, and strong collaboration, this international seminar promoted an in-depth understanding of the complex relationship between global climate change, environmental sustainability, and efforts to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).List of The 4th ICESD Committee is available in this Pdf.

Effectiveness of activated zeolite adsorber in decreased soot emission and increased oxygen concentration from combustion smokes of polyvinyl chloride plastic

Polyvinyl Chloride plastic waste is becoming an increasingly urgent global environmental issue. Combustion PVC plastic waste can have significant negative impacts on human health. To overcome these problems, this research was conducted by utilizing zeolite as an adsorbent for PVC combustion smokes. The research methodology is zeolite activation, adsorber design and gas adsorption process through dry adsorption method which is the core of this research. This study will evaluate oxygen concentration and soot emissions. Before being given a zeolite adsorbent, the oxygen concentration produced in PVC combustion smokes was only 17.2% with high soot levels as evidenced by the blackened smoke color. Furthermore, after being given an adsorbent in the form of activated zeolite as much as 283.5 grams, the oxygen concentration produced increased significantly to 20.9% followed by a decrease in soot emission levels as evidenced by changes in the color of whitened smoke. Based on the test results related to the increase in oxygen concentration and the decrease in soot emission levels, it can be concluded that activated zeolite has a high effectiveness in carrying out the PVC combustion smoke adsorption process by producing particles of carbon and oxygen within the normal threshold in the air.

A Comprehensive Analysis of Technology in Aeroponics: Presenting the Adoption and Integration of Technology in Sustainable Agriculture Practices

Aeroponics is a soilless farming method in which plants are grown by sprinkling a nutrient-rich fluid over their roots. Aeroponics has changed as a result of technology, which now offers advantages including automated nutrient supply, environmental management, and plant health monitoring. A key area of concern in light of the rising global food demand, climate change, and environmental issues is sustainable agriculture. This article highlights the integration of technology, sustainability, and socio-economic elements in modern agriculture by methodically examining the development of aeroponics practices from conventional ways to innovative modern techniques. When agronomic practices are viewed historically, they show a shift from labor-intensive, antiquated techniques to precision-based, technology-driven processes. Even though they were sustainable, traditional methods frequently had efficiency and scalability issues. A big change came with the arrival of the Green Revolution, which brought synthetic inputs and high-yield crop varieties. However, a reevaluation towards more sustainable practices was spurred by the approaches' long-term ecological implications. Precision agriculture, which makes use of sensor-based monitoring systems, artificial intelligence (AI), satellite and drone technologies, is a major feature of modern agronomy breakthroughs. According to the systematic research, Industry 4.0 and sensor technology are the most often used technologies in aeroponics. Numerous advantages, including time efficiency and sustainability, have come from these technologies. On the other hand, the research focused on power dependence and technical complexity as the primary obstacles in technology-assisted aeroponics.

Boosting nitrate electroreduction reactivity with a 3D Cu-Pd bimetallic flow-through electrode

NO3− pollution in water and wastewater is a pressing global environmental issue, leading to the deterioration of water quality and an increased risk to human health. Herein, we present a three-dimensional (3D) flow-through electrode composed of electrodeposited Cu-Pd bimetallic catalysts on a nickel foam. The Cu-Pd bimetallic particles exhibited cluster-like shapes on the surface of the nickel foam. This electrode design enhanced the electrochemical activity of the NF/Cu63Pd37 electrode for NO3− reduction, as evidenced by linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) measurements. By tailoring the Cu-Pd ratio (Cu:Pd 0.63:0.37), the NF/Cu63Pd37 electrode showed the highest reactivity of NO3− reduction and selectivity (43.1 %) toward N2. Importantly, the NF/Cu63Pd37 electrode not only achieved over 99 % NO3− removal but also exhibited a higher kinetic rate constant of 1.44 h−1 in the flow-through mode. In contrast, in the flow-by mode, NO3− removal was 67.5 % with a lower reaction rate constant of 0.30 h−1. Furthermore, the NF/Cu63Pd37 electrode exhibited a reduced energy consumption (EEO) of 6.86 kWh m−3 order−1 in the flow-through mode, contrasting with 13.66 kWh m−3 order−1 in the flow-by mode. Moreover, the results also demonstrated successful NO3− remediation across various initial pH values (pH 3, 6, 9, and 11) and NO3− concentrations (100, 200, and 300 mg L−1). The results of this study highlight that the 3D Cu-Pd bimetallic flow-through electrode, with its high reactivity in reducing NO3−, marks a significant advancement in efficiently treating nitrate-contaminated water.

Porphyrin-based frameworks and derivatives for the oxygen reduction reaction

The global energy crisis and environmental pollution issues caused by the continuous consumption of fossil fuels are increasingly becoming severe. Developing clean and sustainable hydrogen (H2) energy and corresponding storage and conversion devices have attracted increasing attention. The utilization of H2 energy highly depends on the fuel cell (FC). However, the slow kinetics of oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) on the cathode of FC cannot be improved without efficient catalysts. Currently, precious metal platinum (Pt) and its alloys are commonly used catalysts for ORR process. However, the scarcity and high cost of Pt hinder their large-scale practical application. To replace typical Pt-based catalysts, non-precious metal electrocatalysts have been investigated for ORR. Inspired by the catalytic ORR active center Fe porphyrin of cytochrome c oxidase in nature, metalloporphyrin-based frameworks and their derivatives have become promising electrocatalysts due to their abundant conjugated electronic structure, tunable functional groups, and large specific surface area. First, this review briefly introduces porphyrins and catalytic ORR mechanisms. Second, recent progress on porphyrin-based ORR catalysts including porphyrin-based frameworks, framework@substrate composites, and framework-based derivatives was summarized. Porphyrin-based frameworks mainly include metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), covalent organic frameworks (COFs), hydrogen-bonded organic frameworks (HOFs), and polymers constructed with porphyrin building blocks. Porphyrin-based framework@substrate composites were usually assembled and constructed to improve the electron transfer rate of frameworks. To further improve the conductivity, framework-based derivatives, usually named metal, nitrogen-doped carbon (M-N-C) materials, were synthesized through pyrolyzing frameworks at high temperatures. Finally, research challenges and directions of porphyrin-based electrocatalysts for ORR were discussed. This review is meaningful and enlightening for designing and developing other porphyrin-based electrocatalysts for ORR.

A study of converter configurations for vehicular applications

Renewable energy sources like hydro, wind, geothermal and solar along with fuel cells are nowadays solutions to the global energy crisis, environmental issues, and fossil fuel exploitation. The nature of the output of these renewable sources is D.C. The role of DC-DC converters in the integration of energy sources with microgrids is vital. These converters find their major applications in power generation, energy systems, vehicular applications, portable electronic devices, aerospace, etc. These converters help to boost the voltage and improve the reliability, stability, efficiency, and performance of the system. This study gives a brief overview of three DC-DC converters of non-isolated topology. They are: Clamped H-type boost DC-DC converter, Multi-Port Dual-Active-Bridge DC-DC Converter, and Four-Phase Interleaved Four-Switch Buck-Boost Converter. This study will make researchers learn and make their concept clear about the operation, performance, and usage of these converters.

Remote Sensing-Based Water Quality Parameters Retrieval Methods: A Review

Water quality is a sensitive global environmental issue, as it is important for long-term economic development and environmental sustainability. It is a general descriptor of water properties in terms of physical, chemical, thermal, and/or biological characteristics. Laboratory analysis is used to measure and analyze water quality parameter, however, it is a conventional, time-consuming, and expensive approach often providing discrete data at a single point in space and time and making it difficult to characterize a larger waterbody, while remote sensing methods is a cost effective and accurate methods of water quality monitoring with a high spatial and temporal resolution for large area of waterbodies. To this end, this review focused on novel findings in the field of water quality estimation using remote sensing techniques, and the result revealed that remote sensing method has used to retrieve water quality parameters which are optically active (Chlorophyll-a, Secchi Disk depth, Water temperature, Turbidity, Total Suspended Matter, Electrical conductivity, Sea Surface Salinity and Colored Dissolved Organic Matter), and optically non active (Dissolved Oxygen, Chemical Oxygen Demand, Biochemical Oxygen Demand, Total Nitrogen, Ammonia Nitrogen and Total Phosphorus). Various properties (spectral, spatial and temporal, etc.) of the more commonly employed multi spectral and hyper spectral sensors of both satellite and non-satellite-born data sources are tabulated to be used as a sensor selection guide. Furthermore, this paper summarizes the commonly used different retrieval algorisms (analytical, empirical, and artificial intelligence/machine learning (AI/ML)) employed in evaluating and quantifying the water quality parameters. As a whole, remote sensing technology is a permissible method for water quality monitoring across the world in its spatio-temporal coverage, accuracy, and its cost effectiveness

Willingness of Ibadan residents to plant trees to commemorate social events

Trees in cities contribute significantly to human health and environmental quality, thus, planting trees to Commemorate Social Events (CSEs) can be a unique green gift that celebrate people while also restoring urban environmental quality. This research examined respondents’ willingness to plant trees to CSEs in order to promote sustainable greening of Ibadan. A multistage random sampling procedure was used to obtain primary data from 450 respondents from five purposively selected local government areas. Data were subjected to descriptive statistics and logit regression analysis. Results showed that 57.8% respondents were male, 56.2% were married and 95.3% had formal education. Furthermore, 62.1% stated that trees were present in their environment; 78.4% agreed that trees are valuable and useful resources, and thus they are willing to plant trees to CSEs. The following factors were mentioned by respondents as motivating factors for tree planting: guaranteed investment after retirement (60.5%), knowledge of global environmental issues (67.9%), guaranteed alternative source of income (73.5%), and securing of land from land grabbers (63.5%). Age (-0.030) had a significant influence on willingness to plant trees to CSEs. Residents believe that tree planting is a good initiative; however, incentives should be provided to increase individual participation.

Study of Foaming Morphology in Microcellular Injection Molded TPU/MWCNT Composites under Gas Counter Pressure

Due to the global environmental issues, microcellular injection molding (MuCell) process with the advantages of the energy saving, environmentally friendly and light weighting has become more and more popular in industry. In order to improve the common defects of uneven cell size and cell rupture in MuCell, this study aims to ameliorate the issues of excessively large open-cell structure and density reduction caused by cell rupture in MuCell with thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU). TPU 1185A supplied by BASF was selected as the material, to which multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) were added and a gas counter pressure (GCP) control was applied, subsequently. The cell structure change was observed via scanning electron microscope (SEM). The results showed that adding nanotubes to TPU can increase the viscosity of the polymer melt and lower the average cell size, which will significantly reduce the number of cells with a diameter greater than 100 μm. With the GCP technique employed, the overall cell size was further reduced as well as the number of cells with a diameter greater than 100 μm, and the cell density was further increased.

Mechanism testing of the empowerment of green transformation and upgrading of industry by the digital economy in China

With the continuous advancement of industrialization, global environmental problems are becoming increasingly severe. Maintaining economic growth while improving the environment has been an important issue for many countries, especially developing countries. As industry is a major source of environmental pollution, industrial green transformation and upgrading have become particularly important. In the era of the digital economy (DE), there is a new path for industrial green transformation and upgrading. Based on provincial data on industry from 2008 to 2021, a difference-in-differences (DID) model was constructed to analyze the environmental and economic benefits. New pathways for trade-offs between environmental improvement and economic growth in China are presented. In addition, new ideas are concerning global environmental issues and economic issues in the DE are presented. The present study indicates that the DE has reduced the intensity of pollution emissions and elevated total factor productivity (TFP), which has helped to promote industrial green transformation and upgrading. Further mechanism testing showed that the DE has promoted industrial green transformation and upgrading by improving the utilization of energy and resources and promoting technological innovation. Considering the utilization of energy and resources, the DE has decreased China’s total industrial consumption of energy and coal, reduced industrial water consumption, and reduced the share of coal consumption and increased the share of clean energy consumption in China’s total industrial energy consumption; these effects have optimized the efficiency and structure of China’s energy utilization to contribute to the green transformation and upgrading of industry. Regarding technological innovation, the development of the DE has increased industrial innovation output and R&amp;amp;D input. Furthermore, it has promoted innovation with respect to green processes, accelerating technological innovation, and realized industrial green transformation and upgrading.

Graphene oxide-induced CuO reduction in TiO2/CaTiO3/Cu2O/Cu composites for photocatalytic degradation of drugs via peroxymonosulfate activation

Contamination of water bodies is a global environmental and human health issue. Conventional water treatment systems cannot efficiently eliminate organic contaminants, particularly drugs. Photocatalysis is a promising, environmentally friendly oxidation process for the removal of such compounds. A key point is the choice of material to be used as photocatalyst. Here, TiO2/CaTiO3/Cu2O/Cu composites were fabricated by adding different amounts (x) of graphene oxide (GO) (x wt% = 1, 3, and 5 %) to CaCu3Ti4O12 powder using the solid-state synthesis method. The produced pellets were sintered under inert nitrogen atmosphere at 1100 °C for 3 h. X-ray diffraction analysis showed that the Cu metal amount was increased upon GO addition, and the UV–Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy showed that the spectral response was extended to the visible range. Then, high performance liquid chromatography assessment of paracetamol degradation by a photocatalytic cell using TiO2/CaTiO3/Cu2O/Cu composites with different GO amounts showed that the removal efficiency was increased upon introduction of 0.5 mM peroxymonosulfate (PMS) as active component to generate SO4‾ radicals. After 3 h under visible light, 96 % of 10 ppm paracetamol was degraded by the composite with 3 % of GO (1 cm2 surface photocatalyst) compared with 50 % by the composite without GO in the same experimental conditions (PMS in 210 mL of aqueous solution). Free radical trapping and the acute toxicity of potential degradation by-products were also investigated. Our results indicate that TiO2/CaTiO3/Cu2O/Cu with 3 % GO displays long-term stability and durability for the photocatalytic removal of pharmaceutical pollutants from wastewater.