Improve Material Efficiency Research Articles

The high adsorption performance of banana (Musa ABB Cv. Kluai ‘Namwa’) beaded materials modified with zinc and magnesium oxides for cadmium removal

Wastewater contaminated with cadmium is a concern because of its toxicity, persistence, and bioaccumulation to the environment, ecosystem, and human health, so it is required to remove cadmium(II) ions before releasing them to receiving water. Banana powder beads (BPB), banana powder doped ZnO beads (BPZB), banana powder doped MgO beads (BPMB), and banana powder doped ZnO + MgO beads (BPZMB) were synthesized as the novel cadmium adsorbents, and their characterizations, cadmium adsorption performances, cadmium adsorption patterns and mechanisms, thermodynamic study, and reusability were investigated. BPMB had the highest specific surface area of 16.60 m2/g and the smallest pore size of 1.69 nm than other materials. BPB was an amorphous structure, whereas BPZB, BPMB, and BPZMB were crystalline structures presenting their specific metal oxide peaks of ZnO or MgO. They were coarse surfaces and had a spherical shape consisting of C, O, Ca, Cl, and Na. Their main functional groups were O–H, C–H, C=O, C–O, and N–H. The points of zero charge of BPB, BPZB, BPMB, and BPZMB were 5.37, 6.75, 9.87, and 9.43. The cadmium removal efficiencies of BPB, BPZB, BPMB, and BPZMB were 89.18%, 96.62%, 99.59%, and 97.85%, and their qm values were 90.09, 232.56, 454.55, and 303.03 mg/g, respectively. Thus, the metal oxide helped to improve material efficiency, especially MgO. The Freundlich and pseudo-second-order kinetic models were good fit models for describing their adsorption patterns and mechanisms. The increasing temperature affected to decrease their cadmium adsorptions. They could be reused in more than 3 cycles of more than 73% of cadmium adsorption. The electrostatic interaction played an important role in describing their cadmium adsorptions. Therefore, BPBM was a good cadmium adsorbent for application in industrial wastewater treatment since it had a higher performance of cadmium adsorption than other materials.

From public policy towards the green energy transition: Do economic freedom, economic globalization, environmental policy stringency, and material productivity matter?

The green energy transition is essential to addressing climate change and ensuring sustainable development, yet it faces numerous challenges related to securing financing, implementing effective public policies, and improving material efficiency. This study aims to elucidate the complex interaction of these factors by investigating the impact of economic freedom, economic globalization, environmental policy stringency, and material productivity on the green energy transition in OECD countries for the period 1995-2020. Despite widespread theoretical discussion, the effects of these factors, which act as drivers for each other, have been neglected. The study contributes to Sustainable Development Goals 7, 8, 9, and 12 by focusing on affordable and clean energy, decent work and economic growth, industry innovation, and responsible consumption and production. Using the Westerlund and Edgerton cointegration approach, the study finds a long-run relationship between these variables. The long-run estimators, RCCE and AMG, are used to assess the magnitude of this relationship. The results show that increased economic freedom positively affects the green energy transition in the Republic of Korea. In contrast, economic globalization is negatively impacting the transition in Spain, Italy, and Portugal. Stricter environmental policies are encouraging green energy adoption in Slovenia and Korea. Material productivity is supporting the green energy transition in both the OECD panel and in individual countries such as the Czech Republic, Spain, and Hungary. The study recommends policy measures to encourage green energy adoption, including establishing industrial standards for recycling, increasing material productivity, and strengthening renewable energy-based production processes. While environmental policies have proven effective in some countries, the overall framework across OECD countries is inadequate. Policymakers are called upon to critically review and improve current policies by balancing the implementation of disincentives that increase costs for polluting activities with subsidies that reduce the financial burden of the green energy transition. The study emphasizes the need for a balanced approach to regulation. Excessive regulation or excessively pro-market policies can hinder the green energy transition. It is therefore important for policymakers to find a middle ground that promotes environmental sustainability while promoting economic freedom.

Examining the influence of sintering temperatures on the efficiency of 3D-printed natural zeolite for methylene blue dye adsorption

Additive manufacturing technology, with its potential for improved material efficiency, cost reduction, and capability to fabricate complex structures, is increasingly being leveraged in environmental engineering applications. This study harnesses this technology for fabricating natural zeolite adsorbents using an extrusion-based 3D printer, examining the influence of different sintering temperatures (300, 600, 900, and 1200 °C) on the adsorbents' properties. The study finds that samples sintered at 300 °C disintegrated in water, while those at 1200 °C underwent melting, changing their shape. Focus was then shifted to samples sintered at 600 °C (3D-Ze-600) and 900 °C (3D-Ze-900), with the former displaying a remarkable methylene blue (MB) adsorption efficiency of 82.5%, significantly higher than the latter's 20.1%. This disparity in adsorption performance is closely linked to the difference in porosity; the 600 °C samples exhibited a notably higher apparent porosity, which was instrumental in their enhanced adsorption capability. In contrast, the 900 °C samples, despite their lower porosity, showed diminished adsorption efficiency. XRD analysis further revealed that the superior performance of the 600 °C samples could be attributed to their preserved crystalline structure, which was altered in the 900 °C samples. These findings highlight the critical role of sintering temperature in determining the structural and functional properties of 3D-printed zeolites, demonstrating their potential as efficient adsorbents in wastewater treatment and offering valuable insights for optimizing the fabrication process for environmental applications.

Integration of Sustainable and Net-Zero Concepts in Shape-Memory Polymer Composites to Enhance Environmental Performance.

This review research aims to enhance the sustainability and functionality of shape-memory polymer composites (SMPCs) by integrating advanced 4D printing technologies and sustainable manufacturing practices. The primary objectives are to reduce environmental impact, improve material efficiency, and expand the design capabilities of SMPCs. The methodology involved incorporating recycled materials, bio-based additives, and smart materials into 4D printing processes, and conducting a comprehensive environmental impact and performance metrics analysis. Significant findings include a 30% reduction in material waste, a 25% decrease in energy consumption during production, and a 20% improvement in shape-memory recovery with a margin of error of ±3%. Notably, the study highlights the potential use of these SMPCs as biomimetic structural biomaterials and scaffolds, particularly in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. The ability of SMPCs to undergo shape transformations in response to external stimuli makes them ideal for creating dynamic scaffolds that mimic the mechanical properties of natural tissues. This increased design flexibility, enabled by 4D printing, opens new avenues for developing complex, adaptive structures that support cell growth and tissue regeneration. In conclusion, the research demonstrates the potential of combining sustainable practices with 4D printing to achieve significant environmental, performance, and biomedical advancements in SMPC manufacturing.

A superstructure-based model for the evolution of park-wide water infrastructure

Industrial parks are crucial to improve material efficiency, economic growth, as well as environmental protection. The increasing demand of freshwater poses a significant challenge for the sustainable development for industrial parks. This work reviews the evolution process of park-wide water infrastructure. A superstructure-based model was used to address the trade-off between water reuse and its impact on the wastewater treatment for the evolutionary state of water infrastructure. In the evolution process of park-wide water infrastructure, five scenarios were defined based on the evolution process of water infrastructure. For wastewater treatment system, centralized or decentralized wastewater treatment plants were deployed according to the evolutionary process of park-wide water infrastructure. The relationship among freshwater consumption, wastewater treatment, and discharge quality were investigated by optimizing the configuration of park-wide water infrastructure. The results indicate that the cost of park-wide water infrastructure with centralized wastewater treatment plant is lower than that with decentralized wastewater treatment plants. Improving the effluent standards for centralized wastewater treatment increases the total cost. For regeneration and reuse, improving the effluent standard for centralized wastewater treatment does not necessarily increase the total cost. The findings indicate that improvement in the discharge standard of centralized wastewater treatment depends on the specifications of the centralized wastewater treatment.

Advancing urban sustainability transitions: A framework for understanding urban complexity and enhancing integrative transformations

Rapid urbanization and industrialization with their negative repercussions draw attention to the need for urban sustainability. This research built on the urban systems understanding linked with resource utilization, environmental effects, people-environment interactions, and adaptive management by integrating quantitative modelling of urban metabolism with a qualitative investigation into human responses. A hybrid methodology was applied in a typical industrial city of Jinchang, China, which exemplified a model of how complex urban dynamics link to and inform sustainability transitions. The study found that Jinchang City had taken on an unsustainable trajectory underpinned by continuous growth of material consumption, whereas a potential for sustainability transitions was also observed in decoupled negative material outputs, improved material efficiency, and environment regeneration collectively. The challenges in industrial cities have been framed in terms of development model lock-in, conceptual and institutional constraints, innovation and human capital deficiencies, and governance failure. The research proposed a government-led transformation system that integrates multi-level and multi-perspective transformations and management employing discipline insights to facilitate urban sustainability transitions. This involves governance, economic and technological innovations, social transformations, and implementations, in which urban governance and public engagement are essential elements for adapting to undesirable difficulties and exploring locally appropriate strategies. This research provided a theoretical and empirical basis along with scientific and policy implications, which contributed to the developing interdisciplinary knowledge on the understanding of complex urban systems and provided insights into real-world sustainability solutions.

Dynamic material flow analysis of construction materials in Saudi Arabia: Strategies for sustainability of residential buildings

Globally, the expansion of building infrastructure has serious environmental implications due to emissions from cement and steel. The construction industry uses the vast majority of cement and steel produced globally and locally. Consequently, this paper proposes a model to estimate and mitigate future material flow emissions into residential buildings in Saudi Arabia. First, a dynamic material flow model is used to quantify material flows and stock in residential buildings. The evolution of Saudi housing stock and related steel and cement are simulated from 1950 to 2100. Second, various strategies such as material efficiency improvement, lifetime extension, and reducing production emissions are simulated to reduce emissions caused by cement and steel. The findings indicate that implementing substantial material efficiency improvements can result in 33 %–46 % reductions of cumulative steel and cement emissions from 2023 to 2100, respectively. Furthermore, improving material efficiency measures could result in over 80 % reductions in emissions for steel over the same period. Reducing the ratio of clinker to supplementary cementitious materials in cement to 75 % could reduce cumulative cement emissions by 129 million tCO2e (17 %). Adoption of high material efficiency practices in cement use, low clinker cement, and waste as fuel can reduce emissions by 70 %. The findings of this study contribute to a better understanding of future emissions from building materials used in residential buildings, as well as the impact of emission mitigation strategies on future emissions, which will help decision-makers and researchers develop policies and research.

AI-Driven Prediction of Compressive Strength in Self-Compacting Concrete: Enhancing Sustainability through Ultrasonic Measurements

This study investigates the application of artificial intelligence (AI) to predict the compressive strength of self-compacting concrete (SCC) through ultrasonic measurements, thereby contributing to sustainable construction practices. By leveraging advancements in computational techniques, specifically artificial neural networks (ANNs), we developed highly accurate predictive models to forecast the compressive strength of SCC based on ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV) measurements. Our findings demonstrate a clear correlation between higher UPV readings and improved concrete quality, despite the general trend of decreased compressive strength with increased air-entraining admixture (AEA) concentrations. The ANN models show exceptional effectiveness in predicting compressive strength, with a correlation coefficient (R2) of 0.99 between predicted and actual values, providing a robust tool for optimizing SCC mix designs and ensuring quality control. This AI-driven approach enhances sustainability by improving material efficiency and significantly reducing the need for traditional destructive testing methods, thus offering a rapid, reliable, and non-destructive alternative for assessing concrete properties.

Decarbonizing rotary kiln–induction furnace based sponge iron production

The direct carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from the iron and steel sector are nearly 7 % of the global CO2 emissions from energy use. India is the world's second-largest producer of steel and the largest sponge iron producer. India produces one-third of the global sponge iron, mostly from rotary kilns using coal as an energy source, resulting in higher energy and emission intensities than the global average. This study evaluates major options for CO2 abatement in the rotary kiln–induction furnace process for steel production. Based on the mass and energy balances of a typical sponge iron plant, this study evaluates the techno-economic potential of nine major decarbonization measures. The proposed decarbonization measures include improved energy efficiency, improved material efficiency, renewable energy use, and fuel substitution. Marginal abatement and green premium curves are generated by incorporating the dependency of different measures. Depending upon the set of options chosen, carbon abatement is in the range of 55.8 %–99.2 %. It is observed that 11.5 %–20.6 % of decarbonization potential can be achieved without any additional cost to the customer. These findings are insightful for policymakers and industry stakeholders and provide a foundation for designing and implementing a net-zero pathway for the sector.

DESIGN AND FABRICATION OF CIVIL 3D PRINTER

The advent of 3D printing technology has revolution- ized the construction industry, offering innovative so- lutions for rapid, cost-effective, and sustainable build- ing practices. This research paper presents a compre- hensive study on the manufacturing and fabrication of a 3D concrete printer tailored for large-scale construc- tion applications. The paper outlines the design princi- ples, mechanical and electrical systems, material con- siderations, and software integration necessary for the development of an efficient and reliable 3D concrete printer. Key components of the printer, including the frame, extrusion system, and control mechanisms, are meticulously designed to ensure precision, stability, and durability. Advanced materials such as high- performance concrete mixes are formulated to meet the unique requirements of 3D printing, balancing workability, strength, and setting time. The integration of sensors and automation technology facilitates real- time monitoring and control, enhancing the accuracy and consistency of the printed structures. The implementation phase involved extensive testing and validation, highlighting the printer’s capability to construct complex geometries and large-scale ele- ments with minimal human intervention. Results indi- cate significant improvements in construction speed, cost savings, and material efficiency compared to tra- ditional methods. The paper concludes with a discus- sion on potential applications, challenges, and future directions for 3D concrete printing technology in the construction industry.

Multinational dynamic steel cycle analysis reveals sequential decoupling between material use and economic growth

Decoupling material use from economic growth is a prerequisite for alleviating the adverse effects of anthropogenic material use and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. In this study, we combine dynamic material flow analysis with decoupling analysis to examine the relationship between the iron and steel cycle and economic growth in 23 industrialized countries from 1860 to 2018. Specifically, we employ both the quadratic and asymptotic functions to fit the relationship of per capita steel flow/stock indicators at six life cycle stages, including domestic production and apparent consumption of iron ore, pig iron, crude steel, finished steel, and fabricated steel, as well as in-use stock, against per capita GDP. A sequential decoupling between steel flow/stock indicators and GDP growth along the iron and steel cycle is evident. The historical dynamics of the comparative advantage of material flow indicators depict the wave-like geographic diffusion of industrialization. The mechanisms underlying the evolution of material-economy relationship can be attributed to resource endowments, industry policies, trade effects, and lock-in effect of in-use stock. Understanding this phenomenon can facilitate policy-making to promote dematerialization and improve material efficiency in developing countries.

The Trade-Off between Extended Lifetime and Resource Utilization Efficiency - a Critical Analysis of Battery Second-Use Concepts Using Materials Flow Analysis

Sustainability and environmental concerns have recently led to heavy investment in the electrification of transport. A major implication of this transition is a surge in demand for batteries, the state-of-the-art energy technology for electric vehicles. While electric vehicles are locally free of emissions, battery production and end-of-life management still challenge its status as an economically, socially, and environmentally sustainable technology. Among these challenges are the globally unequal distribution of raw materials and associated geopolitical, supply and trade-related concerns as well as the high costs and environmental risks of batteries’ waste management. Furthermore, landscape disruption, biodiversity loss, and concerns over child labor and other human rights abuses haunt the mining of raw materials.The circular economy promises to remedy many of these issues, by essentially allowing economic growth without the consumption of raw materials. It has enormous potential for the European Union in particular, as it has a growing trade deficit of raw materials due to a lack of resource deposits on the continent. Therefore, independence from them is expected to boost its international competitiveness. Besides reducing raw material dependence and thus supply risks, the circular economy promises to stimulate business model and product innovation, to meet the demands for recyclable and more durable products as well as recycling goals, further strengthening competitiveness.In the case of electric vehicles, recycling processes have been established to allow the regeneration of battery-grade raw materials from batteries. Furthermore, models of extending the battery’s life cycle by applying it in a secondary application with less demanding energy and power requirements have recently been proposed, termed “second use”. This delays the point in time when a battery is recycled. Materials-break-even-points (BEP), the points in time at which an economy can achieve independence from raw materials and thus reach circularity, can be a tool of analysis for the overall effect of this delay. Second use increases the duration until the BEP, while at the same time reducing the annual demand for primary raw materials. Despite the shift in BEP, it is frequently argued that the extended battery lifetime and the reduction in primary materials demand improve resource utilization. We argue, however, that second use could have undesirable side effects. This is because due to the capacity and voltage fade occurring over a battery’s lifespan and the improvements in material efficiency through advances in research and development over time, the average amount of raw material required for the storage of one unit of energy increases relative to a scenario where the battery is recycled earlier. Hence, the overall amount of material invested in the circular economy would be larger in a scenario with second use compared to a scenario without second use. Depending on the battery technology in question and thus the materials involved, this trade-off between the amount of material invested in the economy and the use span of a battery could play out differently with respect to economic, social, and environmental effects.In this work, this trade-off is investigated for a scenario involving different shares of LFP-based lithium-ion batteries, NCX-based lithium-ion batteries, and other technologies, with a focus on the raw materials Ni, Co and Li. Technology-specific scenarios are investigated, as different technologies require different raw materials, impacting the material flow rate over time. Furthermore, different technologies exhibit a varying degree of voltage and capacity fade over their lifetime, thus affecting the resource utilization efficiency in a second-use scenario. To this end, dynamic material flow analysis is applied, and the societal, economic, and ecological consequences of our findings are discussed from a critical perspective.The insights provided by this analysis are first and foremost a contribution toward understanding the principles that determine the long-term resource efficiency of a battery circular economy. These principles are vital for policymakers when envisaging political goals and incentive schemes for the transition toward a circular economy. The findings are also vital for actors from the battery and automotive industry when developing end-of-life strategies for electric vehicle batteries, as ensuring the most efficient use of battery raw materials improves resource availability and minimizes their products' environmental and societal impact.

The material implications and embodied emissions of clean power transition in Guangdong, China from 1978 to 2050

The national and regional carbon neutrality ambition necessitates clean power transition but also requires significant amount of generation, transmission, and storage infrastructure for renewables. Understanding the consequent material implications and embodied emissions of such energy infrastructure development with a system perspective at various geographical scales is thus important for maximizing emissions reduction and minimizing trade-offs among climate, resource, and waste targets. Previous research along this line, however, often focuses on individual subsystems (e.g., power generation) or individual technologies (e.g., wind energy) on a global or national scale. Here, we combined a dynamic material flow analysis model, life cycle assessment database, and scenario analysis to characterize stocks, flows, and embodied emissions of six bulk materials and thirteen critical materials associated with clean power transition from 1978 to 2050 in Guangdong province, China. We show that Guangdong's clean power transition leads to a total material stock increase from 2.9 Mt in 1980 to 45.6 Mt in 2018 and further to 95.7 Mt in 2050 under the basic renewable energy scenario (BES). The material stock in both generation and storage subsystems will grow over time, whereas that in the transmission subsystem will peak at approximately 2040 and then gradually decline. The massive expansion of wind and nuclear energy will result in a drastic rise in materials use, especially for cement and steel. A higher proportion of renewables increases energy infrastructure embodied emissions but reduces overall emissions. Future mitigation efforts and policy should not only address operational emissions through energy structure adjustment, but also curb the embodied emissions through infrastructure lifetime extension, material efficiency improvement, and material production decarbonization.

Wild Wood Gridshells: Mixed-Reality Construction of Nonstandard Wood

Irregular wood is often downcycled despite having significant embedded strength. Reintegrating this wood into structural assemblies can improve material efficiency in the built environment. This work implemented material logic in a design-to-fabrication workflow for building structures using bifurcated tree branches to leverage this potential (Figure 1). This process is demonstrated through the design and construction of a prototype. A user-oriented computational interface is proposed that manages irregular geometries, matching and optimization algorithms, and structural simulation for design iteration. The demonstrated workflow, which concludes with augmented reality (AR) assisted fabrication, facilitates designing with varying materials, enabling upcycling a wide range of nonstandard building elements. At scale, this methodology can significantly reduce the environmental impact of construction.

Reshaping of thin steel parts by cold and warm flattening

Approximately half of global steel production is dedicated for manufacturing sheets. Due to global warming, geopolitical instabilities and rising raw material costs, recycling sheet metal is increasingly important. Conventional recycling has inefficiencies, therefore improving material efficiency and adopting circular economy strategies is necessary to halve CO2 emissions by 2050. This paper presents a review of sheet metal reuse techniques and introduces an innovative remanufacturing framework of curved steel sheet, with a special focus on the automotive sector and car-body panels. To support the framework presented, an experimental procedure on small-scale samples was carried out. The material tested was DC 0.4 steel parts (0.8 mm thick) characterized by different curvature radii. The material was reshaped and flattened under different conditions to understand the effect of the process variables onto the final quality of the remanufactured parts. The experiments showed that even parts with small curvatures can be flattened and reshaped with success. Lastly, to support the general remanufacturing framework presented, some flattening simulations of a large car-body are presented, revealing the importance of implementing a dwelling stage in the process and the advantage of performing such process with heated tools.

Bioinspired Super Thermal Insulating, Strong and Low Carbon Cement Aerogel for Building Envelope.

The energy crisis has arisen as the most pressing concern and top priority for policymakers, with buildings accounting for over 40% of global energy consumption. Currently, single-function envelopes cannot satisfy energy efficiency for next-generation buildings. Designing buildings with high mechanical robustness, thermal insulation properties, and more functionalities has attracted worldwide attention. Further optimization based on bioinspired design and material efficiency improvement has been adopted as effective approaches to achieve satisfactory performance. Herein, inspired by the strong and porous cuttlefish bone, a cement aerogel through self-assembly of calcium aluminum silicate hydrate nanoparticles (C-A-S-H, a major component in cement) in a polymeric solution as a building envelop is developed. The as-synthesized cement aerogel demonstrates ultrahigh mechanical performance in terms of stiffness (315.65MPa) and toughness (14.68MJ m-3 ). Specifically, the highly porous microstructure with multiscale pores inside the cement aerogel greatly inhibits heat transfer, therefore achieving ultralow thermal conductivity (0.025W m-1 K-1 ). Additionally, the inorganic C-A-S-H nanoparticles in cement aerogel form a barrier against fire for good fire retardancy (limit oxygen index, LOI ≈ 46.26%, UL94-V0). The versatile cement aerogel featuring high mechanical robustness, remarkable thermal insulation, light weight, and fire retardancy is a promising candidate for practical building applications.

A comparative assessment of value chain criticality of lithium-ion battery cells

As the global transport sector ramps up the transition towards electromobility, the value chain of raw materials for lithium-ion battery (LIB) development is becoming crucial. Assessing the criticality of material value chains identifies potential supply risks within these value chains and can better inform battery technology development. This study uses the ESSENZ method to systematically assess eleven (11) criticality aspects of ten (10) LIB cells. The criticality scores of the LIB cells are evaluated by aggregating the criticality scores of eleven (11) constituent value chains. These criticality scores are further complemented by twelve (12) environmental midpoint impacts performed using life cycle assessments. For the value chains, cobalt dominates the criticality scores in political stability, mining capacity, trade barriers, the feasibility of exploration projects, and the occurrence of co-production. Lithium dominates the criticality scores in demand growth, concentration of reserves, concentration of production, and primary material used. Nickel dominates the criticality scores in price volatility, while natural graphite dominates the criticality scores in company concentration. We further explain in our results the reasons driving the criticalities in the value chains. For the comparative LIB cell assessment, we developed a quadrant matrix chart depicting the relative performance of the LIB cells based on their aggregated elemental criticality and environmental impact scores. This analysis identifies LIB cells with low value chain criticality and environmental scores and those that need improvements on either the criticality or the environmental impact scores. We propose a series of measures, such as the transition towards cobalt-free batteries, material efficiency improvements, and end-of-life recycling to alleviate the criticality and environmental impacts associated with these LIB cells. This research emphasizes the need to include all sustainability dimensions for comprehensive and holistic insights to positively shape the course of action towards sustainable LIB production systems.

Decarbonization Prospects for the European Pulp and Paper Industry: Different Development Pathways and Needed Actions

The pulp and paper industry (PPI) has several opportunities to contribute to meeting prevailing climate targets. It can cut its own CO2 emissions, which currently account for 2% of global industrial fossil CO2 emissions, and it has an opportunity to produce renewable energy, fuels, and materials for other sectors. The purpose of this study is to improve understanding of the decarbonization prospects of the PPI. The study provides insights on the magnitude of needed annual renewal rates for several possible net-zero target years of industrial fossil CO2 emissions in the PPI and discusses decarbonization opportunities, namely, energy and material efficiency improvement, fuel switching, electrification, renewable energy production, carbon capture, and new products. The effects of climate policies on the decarbonization opportunities are critically evaluated to provide an overview of the current and future business environment of the European PPI. The focus is on Europe, but other regions are analyzed briefly to widen the view. The analysis shows that there are no major technical barriers to the fossil-free operation of the PPI, but the sector renovates slowly, and many new opportunities are not implemented on a large scale due to immature technology, poor economic feasibility, or unclear political environment.

Reactive blue 4 adsorption efficiencies on bagasse and bagasse fly ash beads modified with titanium dioxide (TiO2), magnesium oxide (MgO), and aluminum oxide (Al2O3)

Wastewater contaminated by dyes is concerned because of their toxicity to aquatic organisms as well as damaging water source scenery and creating water pollution from the death of aquatic plants from lack of sunlight. Thus, wastewater treatment is highly recommended below water quality standards before discharging to the water body. Eight dye adsorbent materials of bagasse beads (BB), bagasse fly ash beads (BFB), bagasse beads mixed titanium dioxide (BBT), bagasse fly ash beads mixed titanium dioxide (BFBT), bagasse beads mixed magnesium oxide (BBM), bagasse fly ash beads mixed magnesium oxide (BFBM), bagasse beads mixed aluminum oxide (BBA), and bagasse fly ash beads mixed aluminum oxide (BFBA) were synthesized and their sizes of surface area, pore volumes, pore sizes, surface morphologies, chemical compositions, and functional groups were investigated by Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET), Zetasizer Nano, Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy and Focus Ion Beam (FESEM-FIB), Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectrometer (EDX), and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) techniques. Batch experiments were used to investigate reactive blue 4 (RB4) dye removal efficiencies, and their adsorption isotherms and kinetics were studied. BFBM illustrated the highest surface area and the smallest pore size with comparing to other materials. The pore sizes of all dye adsorbent materials were classified into mesoporous sizes that corresponded to particle size analysis (PSA). All dye adsorbent materials had a spherical shape with coarse surfaces. Five main elements of oxygen, carbon, calcium, chlorine, and sodium, and five main function groups of O–H, C O, N O, C–H, and C–O–C were detected in all materials. For batch tests, they could remove RB4 dye by more than 71%, and BFBM represented the highest RB4 dye removal efficiency at 93.78%. Freundlich model was good explained the adsorbent pattern of almost materials except for BB and BFB, and the pseudo-second-order kinetic model well explained their adsorbent mechanisms. Therefore, the addition of metal oxide is recommended for improving material efficiency, and all dye adsorbent materials are good to offer for further industrial applications. • Bagasse and bagasse fly ash were used to synthesize dye adsorbent materials. • All dye adsorbent materials had highly RB4 removal efficiency of more than 71%. • The addition of metal oxides of TiO 2 , MgO, and Al 2 O 3 increased material efficiencies. • Almost materials corresponded to Freundlich and pseudo-second-order kinetic models. • Dye adsorbent materials were potential materials for further industrial applications.

Exploring the potential of circular economy to mitigate pressures on biodiversity

The effects of circular economy on biodiversity are poorly understood. This study provides observations on approaches for assessing circular economy and illustrates, with a Finnish case study, the potential of circular economy to mitigate pressures on biodiversity. The case study focuses on the construction and real estate sectors, as well as the forest industry. The findings imply that circular economy actions that reduce the extraction of virgin raw materials and relieve land use pressures are effective. Improving material efficiency, increasing the cascading use of wood, and optimizing the use and reuse of materials and products, as well as extending the lifetime of buildings and optimizing space use, have good potential for mitigating pressures on biodiversity in Finland. However, as forest utilization has a major impact on Finnish biodiversity, certain actions that possibly increase the use of forest resources (e.g., replacing fossil-based, concrete, or steel materials with wood-based solutions) may impair biodiversity if biodiversity-enhancing forest management practices are not utilized. Assessing the biodiversity impacts of circular economy is challenging, and the need for further research and the development of indicators and assessment methods is clear.