Healthcare contributes considerably to global greenhouse gas emissions, with operating theatres amongst the most energy-intensive hospital environments. While carbon footprints have been quantified for several surgical procedures, the environmental impact of hand surgery, characterised by high case volumes and short procedures, remains poorly studied. This study aims to quantify carbon emissions of hand surgery procedures. This single-centre observational pilot study quantified the carbon emissions associated with hand surgery procedures performed during two half-day theatre lists at a UK NHS hospital. Data was collected under the Greenhouse Gas Protocol Scopes and emissions calculated using UK Government greenhouse gas conversion factors. Data collected included theatre electricity and heating, anaesthetic use, staff and patient transport, waste incineration, supply-chain emissions, and instrument sterilisation. Five trauma hand surgery cases were analysed. Case-level emissions ranged from 8.32 to 22.56kg CO2. When combined at a list level, total emissions were substantial, reaching 311.36kg CO2 and 285.30kg CO2 per half-day list. Purchased electricity (Scope 2) was the largest contributor, followed by heating and anaesthetic gases (Scope 1). Scope 3 emissions were largely attributed to staff travel and single-use consumable supply-chain emissions, while waste disposal and reusable instrument sterilisation contributed comparatively little. Individual hand surgery procedures have a relatively low carbon footprint, but the cumulative emissions at list-level are large. Theatre energy use, heating and staff transport represent key targets for emission reduction. Interventions focusing on energy-efficient infrastructure, renewable energy, greener staff travel, and reduced reliance on single-use consumables may result in meaningful environmental benefits. Larger multicentre studies with improved energy metering are needed to refine estimates and guide sustainable surgical practice. Quantifying the carbon emissions associated with common hand surgery procedures may help hand surgery teams and healthcare organisations identify opportunities to reduce emissions.

Miniaturized design for the extraction of antidepressants from postmortem blood using disposable in-tip cellulose paper device: A sustainable and low carbon foot print approach.

Abstract This study addresses the environmental and operational challenges posed by electric arc furnace dust (EAFD), a hazardous residue of steel production. With the growing adoption of electric arc furnace (EAF) technology due to its lower carbon footprint, the management of EAFD becomes increasingly critical. The research focuses on a multi-step hydrometallurgical treatment to recover valuable metals—primarily zinc and lead—from EAFD while enabling the recycling of iron-rich residues back into the steelmaking process. The proposed hydrometallurgical process involves an initial chloride removal step to prevent interference during subsequent zinc recovery operations, followed by selective acidic leaching using sulfuric acid to solubilize zinc while minimizing the dissolution of iron, which remains in the solid phase. The remaining residue then undergoes brine leaching with sodium chloride solutions to extract lead, and the dissolved lead is subsequently recovered via precipitation as carbonate compounds using sodium carbonate, enabling the recycling of the brine solution for further use in the process. Chloride removal and selective acid leaching were carried out using a previously established method, extracting up to 70% of zinc from the EAFD. Furthermore, experimental results show that optimal conditions for lead extraction are 20 °C, 100 g/L NaCl, and pH 3, achieving over 90% lead removal. Finally, the lead can be fully recovered by precipitation with sodium carbonate. The proposed process minimizes environmental impact, supports circular economy principles, and enhances the sustainability of steel production by valorizing EAFD. Graphical Abstract

The production of organic coffee (Coffea arabica L.) under shade contributes to mitigating climate change, as it generates lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions than conventional cultivation, thereby reducing its carbon footprint (CF). This study estimated the CF of coffee produced by the Comon Yaj Noptic SPR de RL cooperative in the municipality of La Concordia, Chiapas, Mexico, with the aim of identifying critical emission points and opportunities for environmental improvement. Information was collected from 161 plots through visits and interviews with producers, and wet milling data was integrated using emission factors from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The CF was estimated per kilogram of green coffee produced, considering emissions from plot management to the packaging of the final product. In the primary stage (plot management to parchment coffee), CF was 0.401 ± 0.079 kg CO2e, with variability associated with altitude, plantation age, and planting density. The main sources were pulp decomposition (0.262 kg) and wastewater (0.078 kg) due to methane and nitrous oxide emissions. During processing (roasting, grinding, and packaging), CF was 0.415 kg CO2e, with roasting being the main source (0.304 kg), followed by packaging (0.086 kg) and grinding (0.009 kg). The average CF for the entire production chain was 0.816 kg CO2e, with a range of 0.758–1.271 kg CO2e, showing consistency and low impact compared to conventional systems. The results confirm that shade-grown organic coffee has low CF and show high sustainability potential. However, opportunities for improvement were identified, such as the use of clean energy, efficient wastewater management, and the use of pulp as a by-product.

Since the last few years, the practices of reuse and repair products to extend their useful life and reduce waste generation gained interaction. As well as strongly promoting recycling, maximizing the materials industrialization to convert waste into new resources. Therefore, two controversial materials are currently discussed (Glass and Plastic). In 2020, 385 million tons of Plastic were produced globally, compared to 143 million tons of Glass. In 2020, the per capita consumption of Glass was 32 kg yearly, compared to Plastic at 105 kg yearly. However, the manuscript aims to discuss the use of Plastic versus Glass to learn about each material, its benefits, and disadvantages to make a perspective criticism. The methodology is investigative collecting from investigation articles statistics from 2017 to 2022. The results show that the choice between Glass or Plastic depends on very particular factors, such as the specific application in which it is required and the manufacturer's or end user's preferences. Moreover, it is important to highlight that, compared to Plastics, Glass has fewer negative impacts on climate change since it has a lower carbon footprint. However, a comprehensive approach is required to minimize the Glass effects on climate change due to its high energy consumption, including efficient production practices. It is recommended that each country define market statistics for the recovery, recycling, and industrialization of Glass, Plastic, and other items such as cardboard, paper, and aluminum cans to promote waste recovery and prevent surrounding pollution globally.

Alkali-activated cementitious materials (AACMs) are recognized as promising green building materials and a viable alternative to traditional cement due to their low carbon footprint, high durability, and superior mechanical properties. These materials primarily utilize industrial by-products such as coal gangue, steel slag, and gasification slag. The alkali activation process offers an environmentally friendly pathway for the construction industry. To address the need for the large-scale utilization of bulk solid wastes, this study established a ternary solid waste synergy system comprising coal gangue, steel slag, and gasification slag. The preparation and performance optimization of AACMs based on this system were investigated. An optimal mix proportion was identified through orthogonal experiments, and the influence of various factors on the mechanical properties at different curing ages was analyzed. The results indicate that the fluidity of all AACMs meets the requirements for general backfilling applications. Among the alkali activators, Na2SO4 had the smallest effect on fluidity. Under single-activator conditions, sodium silicate (water glass) and sodium hydroxide exerted a greater influence on strength development compared to anhydrous sodium sulfate. For the composite activator system, the significance of parameters affecting compressive strength followed the order: silicate modulus > alkali activator content. The maximum 28-day unconfined compressive strength reached 7.653 MPa with a mix proportion of 55% coal gangue, 45% steel slag, and 5% gasification slag, as well as a silicate modulus of 1.2 and a water glass content of 8%. This represents increases of 540.95% and 299.25% compared to the non-activated group and single-activator groups, respectively. Microstructural analysis revealed that the enhanced integrity and strength of AACMs are attributed to pore-filling by hydration products, predominantly C–S–H and C–A–S–H gels. This study successfully developed high-performance AACMs based on a coal gangue–steel slag–gasification slag ternary system, elucidating the critical regulatory role of silicate modulus in composite activators and the underlying microstructural strengthening mechanisms. The findings provide a theoretical foundation and technical support for the high-value, large-scale utilization of bulk industrial solid wastes in building materials.

Catalytic pyrolysis of lignin, the most abundant natural aromatic polymer, offers a route to obtain value-added products with a low carbon footprint. In such a process, the lignin structure undergoes decomposition through an intricate network of reaction routes. Despite the use of model compounds to gain insights into the decomposition pathways, the formation mechanism of coke and its role in critically affecting catalyst performance remain poorly understood. Herein, we use operando electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy together with ex situ pulsed EPR experiments and density functional theory (DFT) calculations to understand coke formation in catalytic pyrolysis of phenol over HFAU and HZSM-5 zeolites. Our results pinpoint that coke formation is heavily influenced by zeolite topology. The large cages in HFAU facilitate the initial formation of linear configurations that grow to extended structures, whereas the narrower channels in HZSM-5 promote the formation of more linear structures. These results provide comprehensive mechanistic insights into coke formation and growth that are relevant for the development of lignin valorization strategies and for the general phenomenon of coke formation in zeolites and beyond.

Remediation of Pb2+-contaminated groundwater in mining areas using zeolite derived from lithium porcelain clay tailings.

ObjectivesTo determine whether a novel urine collection device (the ‘Pee-in-Pot (PiP)’) produces the same rates of reportable urine culture results as standard of care (SOC) urine collection. To determine whether the PiP produces comparable microscopy results to SOC urine collection. To estimate the carbon footprint of the PiP compared to SOC urine collection.DesignA prospectively designed, single-centre, paired comparison study.SettingA district general hospital in Southwest England, including antenatal clinical, accident and emergency, medical and surgical ward environments.ParticipantsAdults aged 18 or over.InterventionsUrine passed through the PiP device before being decanted into a 10 mL boric acid tube for microscopy and culture, compared with the same urine contained only in a sterile plastic vessel before being decanted into a boric acid tube for microscopy and culture.Primary outcome measureThe proportion of positive urine culture results.Secondary outcome measuresThe proportion of heavy mixed growth culture results. Comparison of particle counts: all small particles, bacteria, red blood cells and white blood cells.ResultsMicroscopy was performed for 1353 paired samples, of which 808 paired samples both underwent culture. Overall, urine cultures were positive in 9.3% (75/808) and 10.0% (81/808) of PiP and control cases, respectively. Overall matching between PiP and control arms for reportable positive culture results was 98.5% (796/808), with a Cohen’s Kappa test coefficient (κ) of 0.9149 (almost perfect agreement). There was no significant difference in the rate of positive urine culture results between testing arms for any organisms (margin of non-inferiority prospectively defined as ±2.5% for Escherichia coli positive cultures). For microscopy, there was agreement in meeting culture thresholds for 1308 of 1353 paired samples with a difference in culturing rates of 0.00517 (95% CI −0.0045 to 0.015, ie, high level of agreement). The estimated base case carbon footprint of PiP testing was 95g CO2e compared to 270g CO2e for SOC testing.ConclusionsThis study found the PiP to be non-inferior for routine urine microscopy and culture testing and to have a lower carbon footprint compared with SOC urine testing.

The world's cumulative photovoltaic (PV) installation surpassed 2 terawatt (TWp) in 2024, with annual installation expected to reach 1 TWp by 2030. As the industry reaches grid parity worldwide and becomes one of the main energy sources, we explore how the PV supply chain and industry could be decarbonised to maximise climate benefits and ensure its role as an even lower‐carbon energy source. Despite a significantly lower carbon footprint than coal electricity, there remains significant potential to further reduce PV emissions by over 80%. For example, 38% of it originated from electricity consumption – the combustion of fossil fuels in electricity generation. In this work, we expand upon a previous publication and propose a stepwise approach to reach significantly low electricity emissions below 1 gCO 2 ‐eq/kWh. This is accomplished by reducing embodied emissions in PV modules through the use of low‐emissions electricity, recycled and/or green materials and by reducing effective emissions over the module lifetime by increasing the electricity generation using high‐yield mounting structures at high‐insolation locations, improving module stability and enhancing module efficiency. Finally, we consider the impact of using this low‐emissions electricity from PV to power the manufacturing of PV modules, aiming to reach <1 gCO 2 ‐eq/kWh.

Light olefins are primary building blocks for various value-added chemicals and have become an indispensable part of our daily lives. Steam and fluid catalytic cracking are traditional methods for production of light olefins, which are highly energy-intensive, amounting to significant CO2 emissions. In light of the above aspects, the increasing demand for light olefins needs to be met through environmentally sustainable, energy efficient, and on-purpose production routes having lower carbon footprint. Among them, selective catalytic dehydration of renewable alcohols to light olefins offers an attractive on-purpose production route. Recent advances covering catalysts and processes in the production of light olefins from ethanol, C3 and C4 alcohols have been analyzed in this article. The narrative encompasses chemical composition of each catalytic system, role of supports and reaction parameters. A short overview regarding production scenarios of short-chain alcohols from renewable feedstocks has been discussed at the beginning of each section.

Prolonged exposure to adverse conditions affects the performance and promotes the degradation of reinforced concrete (RC) structures, requiring repair and strengthening to preserve their integrity and functionality. Synthetic fibers, including carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) and glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP), are frequently employed for retrofitting owing to their superior strength-to-weight ratio and simple installation. Natural fibers, such as kenaf, have been increasingly incorporated into fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) composites as sustainable alternatives in the construction industry due to their lightweight nature and low carbon footprint. Yet, many investigations focused on synthetic fibers, thus, the purpose of this study is to develop finite element (FE) models for RC beams and columns retrofitted with CFRP, GFRP and kenaf fiber reinforced polymer (KFRP), to examine the impact of natural fibers and comparing the findings with those derived from synthetic fibers. The models consider element types, mesh discretization, solution methodologies, and nonlinearities. Concrete behavior is represented using Concrete Damage Plasticity (CDP), whereas fiber laminates employ the Hashin damage model. The FE model's load-displacement behavior, ultimate strength, and failure mechanisms were verified against existing experimental and numerical findings. The findings indicate that FRP wrapping substantially enhances the load-carrying capacity of RC beams, with ultimate load increases ranging from approximately 13% for KFRP to 66% for CFRP, whereas the corresponding improvements for RC columns are notably smaller, remaining below 7%. Although KFRP exhibits lower mechanical performance than GFRP and CFRP, its sustainability and cost-effectiveness support its use in applications where environmental and economic considerations are prioritized.

The construction industry is one of the major causes of degradation of the environment, as this industry utilizes a large quantity of natural resources and also emits a large quantity of CO₂. In addition to this, burnt clay bricks also play a major role in the degradation of the environment. Rice Husk Ash, which is abundantly available in nature, also contains a large quantity of silica. In a similar way, fly ash, which is available in industrial form, can also be used to develop bricks that are more friendly to the environment. In this project, bricks that are more friendly to the environment and possess higher strength will be developed by using a combination of optimized amounts of Rice Husk Ash and fly ash instead of burnt clay bricks. In this context, a combination of Rice Husk Ash and fly ash will be developed to identify the maximum combination that can provide higher strength and sustainability to bricks with minimum water absorption. In addition to this, durability tests will also be carried out to identify the water absorption capacity of bricks. In addition, a comparative study on the emission of CO₂ will be made to assess the sustainability of the eco-friendly bricks over the burnt clay bricks. The findings revealed that the RHA-fly ash bricks made from the optimized mixture have higher strength, good durability, and a very low carbon footprint. Keywords: Eco-friendly bricks, Rice Husk Ash (RHA), Carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions, Carbon footprint reduction, Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)

Optimized hybrid deep learning model for accurate prediction of effluent quality in wastewater treatment plants.

The environmental burden associated with conventional cement-based materials has intensified research for sustainable alternatives with lower carbon footprints. For this, gypsum-based composites reinforced with agricultural waste, such as wheat straw, offer a promising solution. However, their mechanical performance is governed by nonlinear and complex interactions among multiple mixture parameters. This study proposes a comprehensive machine learning (ML) framework to predict the compressive and flexural strength of wheat straw reinforced gypsum composites. A dataset comprising 161 experimental samples was used and five ML models: artificial neural network, Gaussian process regression (GPR), random forest, extreme gradient boosting, and support vector machine, were used. Model performance was assessed using tenfold cross-validation with multiple statistical metrics along with Taylor diagram analysis. Among the evaluated models, GPR demonstrated superior predictive capability for both compressive and flexural strength, while providing uncertainty quantification that enhances reliability for engineering applications. Feature importance and SHapley Additive exPlanations analyses were employed to improve model interpretability, revealing gypsum strength as the most influential parameter, with water-related parameters, wheat straw content, and chemical additives contributing secondary effects. The proposed ML-based framework provides acceptable and interpretable predictions, offering the optimization of sustainable gypsum composites while reducing experimental efforts and supporting environment-friendly construction.

Halide perovskite materials have spread in solar cells and photodetectors because of their excellent possibilities for tuning their absorption wavelengths, ease of fabrication, and low carbon footprint. However, their main drawbacks are related to their short device lifetime and stability problems in addition to limited efficiency at certain wavelength. For this reason, in this letter, we design a metasurface that can be integrated into a particularly long-life, stable, and sustainable perovskite solar cell with the aim of enhancing its performance under indoor conditions. The metasurface has been designed and numerically simulated to enhance the halide perovskite response at the typical emission wavelengths of indoor LEDs. Adjusting the response of these solar cells to those specific spectral ranges by metasurfaces may create novel energy harvesting devices.

Social media has become a prominent digital environment associated with adolescents' food preferences and the environmental impacts of their diets. This study aimed to examine the relationship between social media usage habits, food choice motivations, and the environmental impact of the diet, specifically the carbon footprint, in adolescents. This cross-sectional study was conducted with 216 adolescents aged 14-18 years in Istanbul between January and April 2025. Data were collected using the Food Choice Questionnaire (FCQ) and a 24 h dietary recall. The dietary carbon footprint was calculated by mapping 24 h dietary recall data to emission factors from the Data FIELDS database and scientific literature. Of the participants, 60.6% were female. Females had significantly higher rates of being influenced by social media in food choices (p < 0.001) and total FCQ scores (p = 0.025) compared to males. Regarding social media platforms, TikTok usage was associated with higher ethical concern and mood scores (p < 0.001), while Instagram usage was associated with weight control (p = 0.012). Daily internet use of 180 min was associated with higher price (p = 0.001) and weight control (p = 0.003) motivations. Notably, a significant negative correlation was found between health motivation and carbon footprint (r = -0.173, p = 0.011). Multivariate regression analysis confirmed that an increase in health score was associated with a reduction in carbon footprint (β = -0.204, p = 0.003), independent of gender, BMI, and social media influence. Social media platforms serve as a relevant digital environment associated with adolescents' food preferences. The finding that health-oriented choices are associated with lower carbon footprints indicates that promoting healthy eating on social media will benefit both individual and planetary health.

There are studies in the literature on metal cleanliness, but unfortunately, many of them do not comply with environmental regulations such as using more cleaner procedures, having a lower carbon footprint, etc. This study was majorly involved adding 50% primary ingots and 50% machining chip to the liquid baths to investigate the more effective use of scrap as raw material. The bifilm index was used to quantify liquid metal cleaning, and in order to settle for with regulations, the ultrasonic degassing method (UST) was carried out with two different durations of 90 s and 180 s to examine the change in melt quality without adding any salt flux, the increase in metal cleanliness and how this increase could be examined in terms of mechanical properties. While the values of yield and tensile strength had high regression coefficients of R2 = 0.94 and 0.93, respectively, the elongation at break values reached a much more reliable regression coefficient of R2 = 0.9998, and the equations corresponding to the obtained second-degree polynomials were shared. As a result, it has been concluded that the mechanical properties of the cast materials namely values of strength of yield, tensile and elongation at break could be increased in the as-cast conditions to roughly 130 MPa, 190 MPa and 4%, respectively with lowered bifilm index to 40 mm, thus this scenario shows that increasing tensile properties could be significantly procured with a decrease in the bifilm index.

As a sustainability-oriented mode of education, cross-border digital education has distinct advantages, including a low carbon footprint associated with decreased student and staff commute times and expanded accessibility for disadvantaged learners. However, the intrinsic mechanisms by which globally mobile talent, including international students and transnational professionals, utilize their global skills and networks to create sustainable EdTech entrepreneurial initiatives need further investigation. Based on dynamic capability theory and resource orchestration logic, this study examines how human and social capital shape entrepreneurial engagement through resource integration capability (RIC) via PLS-SEM analysis of data collected from 318 transnationally mobile actors. The study finds that neither form of capital has a direct association on entrepreneurial entry; instead, both are associated with entrepreneurial entry indirectly through RIC, allowing mobile talent to combine and allocate knowledge, networks, and digital technologies across institutional and cultural boundaries. The study examines how cross-border EdTech entrepreneurship works towards creating inclusive and equitable quality education, as well as global partnerships, through scalable, adaptable, and low-carbon educational services, while meeting objectives 4 and 17 of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. This study reveals the transformation process centered around RIC, highlighting the need to create innovative ecosystems that transition from talent attraction to talent empowerment. The findings underline the importance of RIC in translating global mobility into sustainable digital education solutions.

This study explores a solar-driven hybrid desalination approach developed for Saudi Arabian climatic conditions, combining adsorption desalination (AD) based on a silica gel/CaCl2 composite with an ejector (EJ) and a HDH system. The proposed integration aims to enhance vapor utilization and reuse condenser heat to generate additional distillate. Two operating modes are examined, including a productivity-focused strategy that activates evaporator/condenser heat recovery (HR) when cooling is not required. Compared to raw silica gel (SG), the composite adsorbent improves adsorption cycle performance, raising the COP from about 0.38-0.43 to 0.55-0.63, and increasing SCP from roughly 130-240 W/kg to 320-675 W/kg. Without HR, the full AD-EJ-HDH system achieves SDWP of 52-100 m3/ton·day with GOR of 2.40-2.75 over the year. In HR-enabled operation, SDWP increases to 81-140 m3/ton·day and GOR rises to 2.7-2.95, reflecting stronger internal heat reuse and improved vapor management. Techno-economic results show that the solar-driven unit cost for AD-EJ-HDH decreases from winter values (2.7-2.9 $/m3) to a minimum around June (1.53 $/m3), while waste heat operation reduces the cost further to 0.49 $/m3 in June (rising to ~0.76-0.80 $/m3 in winter). With HR, the full AD-HR-EJ-HDH reaches around 1.44 $/m3 (solar, June) and 0.38-0.40 $/m3 (waste heat, summer), confirming the advantage of desalination-focused HR operation when cooling is not required. Finally, compared with SWRO, the AD-HR-EJ-HDH configuration delivers an approximately 90% lower carbon footprint on the same environmental assessment basis. The study highlights the environmental benefit of the intensified SG/CaCl2 hybrid configuration.