M3 Of Water Research Articles

Tectonic activation and the risk of Ilisu Dam collapse to Iraq through modelling and simulation using HEC-RAS

Floods caused by dam failures can cause huge losses of life and property, especially in estuarine areas and valleys. In spite of all the capabilities and great improvements reached by man in the construction of dams and their structures, they will remain helpless before the powerful forces of nature, especially those related to tectonic activation, and the occurrence of earthquakes of different intensities.The region extending from the Ilisu Dam in Turkey to the Mosul Dam in Iraq was chosen as an area for this study, and the HEC-RAS application was used to simulate the collapse of the Ilisu Dam due to a major earthquake, to know the magnitude of the risks and losses that could result from this. The Ilisu Dam was built very close to a highly tectonically active fault system, particularly the East Anatolian Fault (EAF), which is one of the largest tectonically active faults in the world with a length of 500 km. This region has witnessed past and present earthquakes of high magnitude (M > 7), especially in the EAF, so the construction of the Ilisu Dam near the EAF fault system is of great concern, as it was built in a basin with very complex seismic activity and geology.Using the HEC-RAS simulation application, the study found that the flood resulting from the collapse of the Ilisu Dam would reach the edges of the Mosul Dam Lake in just 13 h. With a flow of more than 100,000 m3/s, more than 10 billion m3 of water will flow into the Mosul Dam Lake within four days of the disaster. This will lead to the collapse of the Mosul Dam and direct the flood wave of the collapse of these dams towards Baghdad through Mosul, Tikrit, and Samarra. This could pose risks to all Iraqi cities located within the Iraqi sedimentary plain (Mesopotamia), from south of the Mosul Dam up to Basra, in a scenario similar to Noah’s Flood.

Statistical assessment for reusing permeate from dewatering water treatment sludge process: more sustainability in environmental sanitation.

Sludge from water treatment plants (WTPs) is usually processed by physicochemical clarification followed by thickening, which results in the production of an effluent from dewatering/drying sludge processes that can potentially impact the environment. This paper assessed the viability of employing sludge dewatering water from a water treatment sludge plant (WTSP) in São Paulo State, Brazil, for reuse purposes. Water quality variables were monitored in the effluent and receiving stream. The data were analyzed by paired samples Student t-test (parametric significance test), paired samples Wilcoxon signed rank test (non-parametric significance test), and principal component analysis (multivariate analysis). Despite the distribution of data, typically not Gaussian, both Student and Wilcoxon methods agreed in 9 out of 10 studied parameters regarding the influence of WTSP discharge on waterbody; only for total manganese the Wilcoxon approach provided better fit than Student. Principal component analysis helped to evince correlations among all variables. Results provided useful information for understanding the vocation of WTSP effluent for reuse. For direct non-potable reuse, recirculating the final effluent back to the WTP for two months saved 92,000 m3 of water, the volume of drinking water demanded by the city (n = 292,000 inhabitants) in approximately 30h.

Environmental impact of intravenous versus oral administration materials for acetaminophen and ketoprofen in a French university hospital: an eco-audit study using a life cycle analysis.

The combination of acetaminophen with a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug is the cornerstone of perioperative multimodal analgesia. These drugs can be administered intravenously or orally as premedication, consistent with the concept of pre-emptive and preventive analgesia. We aimed to assess the environmental impact of their intravenous and oral administration in a French university hospital. We carried out a life cycle assessment to determine the amount of greenhouse gas emissions and depletion of water resources resulting from the oral vs intravenous administration of 1g acetaminophen and 50mg ketoprofen. We assessed two schemes of intravenous administration, depending on the use of the same or a different infusion set for each drug. At our centre, the intravenous administration of both drugs was associated with the emission of 444-556g CO2 equivalent (CO2e), and with 9.8-12.2 L of water waste. The oral administration of both drugs generated 8.36g of CO2e emissions and consumed 1.16 L of water. At a national level, the switch from intravenous to oral premedication of the drugs could avoid the emission of 2,900-3,700 tons of CO2e and the waste of 58,000-74,000 m3 of water each year. This eco-audit indicates that oral administration of acetaminophen and ketoprofen results in significantly lower carbon emissions and water consumption than intravenous administration. These findings highlight the importance of using the oral route for most patients, limiting intravenous administration for those with specific needs because of higher environmental impact and cost.

Analysis of Water Production Factors of Gas Wells in Sulige Gas Field

Abstract The Sulige gas field, characterized by its low porosity and poor permeability, faces challenges in managing the complex gas-water distribution, which has become a growing concern as the field develops. This complexity, coupled with the varied and intricate nature of water production, has impacted the field’s efficiency. To tackle this issue, a study was carried out on water-producing gas wells within the field, examining the production mechanisms, main factors, and distribution patterns. The study found that in the field’s central region, the gas-water ratio in water-producing wells is relatively stable, with some wells yielding over 0.8m3 of water per day. The water sources include formation water, pore water, and water from the wellbore edges and bottom, as well as industrial water usage. Understanding these factors helps mitigate the negative impact of water production on field development and provides guidance for managing similar gas fields effectively.

A multi-objective optimization decision-making methodology for fostering synergies in the water-energy-food nexus

Current decision-making methods within the water-energy-food nexus (WEFN) encounter challenges in practicality, portability, scalability, and accuracy. Optimization methods, integrating site-specific data, offer promise for achieving desired outcomes and enhancing practical decision implementation within WEFN systems. However, these methods still struggle with solving multi-objective and multi-constraint problems, poor performance, and decision-making difficulties. This study developed an optimization method for WEFN systems, which integrates an evolutionary algorithm, swarm intelligence algorithm, multistage evolutionary algorithm, and post-optimization theories to address these issues. Performance results demonstrated that the proposed algorithm outperformed traditional metaheuristic optimization algorithms. Specifically, it excelled in tackling high-dimensional constrained problems, surpassing the classical NSGA series algorithms with a 1.34-fold improvement in the comprehensive performance metric HV. Subsequently, this algorithm combined with knee point post-optimization theory was applied to a typical arid region known for food and energy production. Compared with the business-as-usual scenario, the optimized schemes enhance agricultural benefits, saving 13.3 billion m3 of water over the entire planning period. Meanwhile, sustainable energy implementation would yield potential carbon emission reduction benefits of around 2.8 billion CNY. In summary, the proposed method would successfully provide a paradigm for the synergetic decision-making of WEFN systems.

Evolution of global water footprints of crop production in 1990–2019

Abstract Crop production has the largest water footprint (WF) of all economic sectors and ranks as a leading cause of water scarcity. Despite this, our understanding of historical changes in global WFs of crops remains limited. In this study, we analyse the recently published dataset on green and blue WFs of 175 individual crops in 1990–2019. We explore the main changes in unit WFs (expressed in m3t−1 yr−1) and WFs of production (m3 yr−1) and connect the observed changes to various physical and socio-economic drivers. We find that nearly 80% of crops reduced global average unit WFs (required less water per tonne) as crop yields improved and cultivation centred around more productive areas. However, the total WF of crop production increased by 30% as these productivity gains were insufficient to compensate for cropland expansion of mostly water-intensive crops. Close to 90% of the increase occurred between 2000–2019 likely driven by accelerated economic growth, globalisation, changing diets, and production of first-generation biofuels. Among crops, we observe the largest increases for oil palm fruit, soya beans, and maize as they became the main providers of crop-based nutrients, animal feed, and biofuels for the modern economy. Among regions, most of the increase occurred across the tropics, mainly in Indonesia, Brazil, and Nigeria. However, India, China, and the USA had the largest WFs of production over the study period. Humanity consumed 6.8 trillion m3 of water (87.1% green) to produce crops in 2019. This number is likely to increase in the future which may exacerbate already existing environmental and socio-economic issues. Thus, it is important to transition to more water-sustainable agrifood systems. Much potential still exists in increasing crop water productivity, shifting production to less water-scarce geographies, and rethinking our dietary and industrial consumption patterns.

Enhancing hexavalent chromium removal from textile effluent with low-cost adsorbent: simulation and a techno-economic study

AbstractThis paper simulated hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) adsorption using cocoa pod husk biosorbent in a fixed bed column using Aspen Adsorption. This study was designed to show the effectiveness of computational methods in designing, optimising and evaluating the scaled-up adsorption process using low-cost adsorbents. To the best of our knowledge, the economic analysis of Cr(VI) removal using biosorbent adsorption columns with the assistance of Aspen Adsorption and response-surface methodology (RSM) has not been performed previously. Design Expert and RSM were used to optimise and describe the effect of flow rate and initial concentration on breakthrough and saturation times. The breakthrough time was improved by a higher bed height (2.0 m), a wider diameter (2.0 m), and lowering the flow rate (0.010 L/s). The initial concentration had no effect (1.00 mol/L). The predicted breakthrough and saturation time were 29,360 s and 313,351 s, respectively. Two scenarios were economically compared over 20 years. Scenario 1 (1-day breakthrough time) costs $746,585 and Scenario 2 (4-week breakthrough time) costs $1,538,319. This is because Scenario 2 used a taller, wider column which required a greater amount of adsorbent, and 387,873 m3 of water were processed, respectively. Processed water was dependent on the flow rate and breakthrough time. It was concluded that cocoa pod husk could be an efficient adsorbent and the adsorption process can be successfully simulated and optimised. The use of alternative low-cost adsorbents should be encouraged. The economic study showed that simulation and RSM data could successfully be used for economic analysis. Graphical abstract

Submersible solar powered pump system design for sustainable agriculture using

Current climate change has many implications for people's livelihoods, one of which is the lack of seasonal rainfall, leading to drought, which in turn reduces agricultural yields. Therefore, people have to plant dry season crops, and in the dry season, crops have to rely on water from rivers and streams. But some areas where there is no stagnant water or stagnant water are very dry. So, our team did experimental research and studied the feasibility of using solar groundwater pumping systems in agriculture. It will cover the design, control, and know the strengths and weaknesses of the system, and its suitability to be used in our country, especially in the eight Northern provinces. In this research, we designed and used a Submersible solar-powered pump system, after installation, the system will work automatically without the need to turn it on and off. The panel size used is 330 watts, two panels serial connection for a total of 660 watts; the Submersible solar-powered pump is 400 watts, 48 voltages, Automatic control system, Groundwater depth 68 meters, the diameter of the surface pipe 0.1 meters, The diameter of the suction pipe has a cross-sectional area of 0.025 meters. Experimentation shows the water pump deep at 30 m can absorb more water than 25 m deep. The capacity of the system to be used for agriculture in one day can use 6.13 m3 of water, which is enough for cultivation in an area of 8,000 m2 or more, depending on the type of crop grown. The power generated per day is 3,142 W and is used at 3.14 kWh per day as well or 94.24kWh per month which is sufficient for the use of the system. In cash compared to the electricity consumption from the Electricity du Laos is 39,000 LAK per month. The maximum amount of water collected is 6.13 m3 per day or 184 m3 per month, which is 646,644 LAK per month compared to the water supply system, in the analysis of the cost of installation is 31 months or 2 years and 7 months.

Synergistic ionic liquid encapsulated MIL-101 (Cr) metal-organic frameworks for an innovative adsorption desalination system

The transformations of brackish water into freshwater employing porous materials such as metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) show a great potential for a green environment. But the adsorption-based desalination slows down due to slow water adsorption/desorption rates and inadequate water storage capacity in conventional adsorbents. Therefore, the restructuring of porous MOFs increases water storage and transfer rates. This paper presents a comprehensive investigation on the fabrication of ionic liquid encapsulated MIL-101 (Cr) MOFs (metal-organic frameworks), and its interactions with water for desalination applications. Firstly, the pristine MIL-101 (Cr) is encapsulated with various types/amounts of ionic liquids. Next, these MOFs are characterized via SEM (Scanning electron microscope), FTIR (Fourier transform infrared), XRD (X-ray diffraction), TGA (Thermal gravimetric analysis), N2 adsorption techniques. The water adsorption on these MOFs is performed experimentally for a wide temperature (30–80 °C) and pressure (0 < P/Ps < 0.95) ranges. The effects of the size (or type) as well as the encapsulation ratio of ionic liquids on water adsorption behaviors are conducted. Based on the experimentally proven water adsorption (isotherms and kinetics) data, an AD (adsorption desalination) system is modelled and simulated. Finally, the AD performances in terms of the specific daily water production (SDWP) and performance ratio (PR) are parametrically studied with respect to various regeneration temperature (50–80 °C) and cycle times (100 s–1000 s). It is found that by ionic liquid encapsulation, the water uptakes/offtake rates are expedited up to 48% (for adsorption)/55% (for desorption), respectively. In addition, the water transfer (Δq) improves up to 45% more than the parent MIL-101(Cr) MOFs. Furthermore, the SDWP increases from 38 to 56 m3 of water per tonne of MOFs per day at the regeneration temperature of 70 °C. The simulation results also show that the ionic-liquid-encapsulated MIL-101 (Cr) MOFs generates water (>25 m3 water per tonne of IL-MOFs) at the regeneration temperature of 50 °C and is potential for the next generation desalination applications.

Prediction of key performance indicators of multi-effect vacuum membrane distillation systems integrated with PVT and Organic Rankin Cycle

The study presented a numerical simulation conducted using MATLAB® to analyze the performance of a poly-generation system. This system comprises solar collectors, a Photovoltaic-Thermal (PVT) system, an Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC), and a multi-effects vacuum membrane distillation (V-MEMD) system. The study investigates the impact of changes in operating conditions of the water stream on the performance of the V-MEMD system. The optimal performance values observed include a water flux of up to 13 kg/ m2·h, a GOR of 5.5, a SEEC of 49 kWh/ m3, and a STEC of 145 kWh/ m3, with each parameter reaching its optimum at different operational settings. The paper explores the impact of different working fluids in the ORC system on water and power generation. It also discusses recent research on combined PVT and ORC systems in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, considering the region's specific meteorological conditions. The findings reveal that the highest electricity generation occurs in June, with the ORC system producing 18,540 kWh when R123 is used and the PVT system generating 13,536 kWh. The cumulative electricity output for the year reaches 266,564 kWh. Moreover, the V-MEMD system produces 1333 m3 of water over the year, with the highest water yield of 178 m3 observed in June.

Innovative Energy Sustainable Solutions for Urban Infrastructure: Implementing Micro-Pumped Hydro Storage in Singapore’s Multi-Level Carparks

As part of the initiative to achieve Singapore’s Green Plan 2030, we propose to investigate the potential of utilizing micro-pumped hydroelectric energy storage (PHES) systems in multi-level carparks (MLCP: a stacked car park that has multiple levels, may be enclosed, and can be an independent building) as a more environmentally friendly alternative to traditional battery storage for a surplus of solar energy. This study focuses on an MLCP with a surface area of 3311 m2 and a height of 12 m, considering design constraints such as a floor load capacity of 5 kN/m2 and the requirement for a consistent energy discharge over a 12 h period. The research identifies a Turgo turbine as the optimal choice, providing a power output of 2.9 kW at a flow rate of 0.03 m3/s with an efficiency of 85%. This system, capable of storing 1655.5 m3 of water, can supply power to 289 light bulbs (each consuming 10 W) for 15.3 h, thus having the capacity to support up to three MLCPs. These results underscore the environmental advantages of PHES over conventional batteries, highlighting its potential for integration with solar panels to decrease carbon emissions. This approach not only aligns with Singapore’s green initiatives but also promotes the development of a more sustainable energy infrastructure.

ДЕЙСТВИЕ ОРГАНИЧЕСКИХ И МИНЕРАЛЬНЫХ УДОБРЕНИЙ И ИХ СОЧЕТАНИЕ ПРИ ВНЕСЕНИИ ПОД КАРТОФЕЛЬ НА ЧЕРНОЗЕМАХ ЗАКАМЬЯ РЕСПУБЛИКИ ТАТАРСТАН

. The purpose of the research is to evaluate the effect of organic and mineral fertilizers and their combination on the yield and quality indicators of potato tubers during irrigation on chernozem soils of the Republic of Tatarstan. The research was carried out in 2021-2022 in Kama zone on leached chernozem of medium loamy granulometric composition. The medium-early variety of Gala potatoes served as the material for research. The experiment was performed to study the effect of organic and mineral fertilizers and their combination by creating the following nutrition backgrounds: mineral fertilizers with a rate of application of N60P60K90 d.v. kg/ha (general background); organic fertilizer (manure 60 t/ha); general background + manure 60 t/ha; general background + organic fertilizer (siderate); general background + siderate + straw; general background + organic matter (manure 60 t/ha) + straw; organic fertilizer (manure 60 t/ha + siderate + straw); natural background (control). The weather conditions in both years of research were both satisfactorily favorable for the growth and development of potatoes. In the budding and tuber formation phase, artificial sprinkling was carried out at the rate of 300 m3 of water per 1 ha, thereby the potato agrocenosis was fully provided with productive moisture. On average, over two years, the highest yield was achieved in variant 7 (background + manure + straw), and it amounted to 38.8 t/ha, which is 20.6 t/ha more than in the control, in other experimental variants this difference ranged from 10.46-18.8 t/ha. The dry matter content in tubers during the application of various types of fertilizers was lower by 0.49...1.49% than in the control, starch – by 0.25...0.79%. On average, over 2 years, the highest protein and vitamin C content was in variant 6 – 2.95% and 21,24 mg%, respectively, which is higher than the control by 0.37% and 3.03 mg%.

Metamodeling life cycle assessment to explore interactions in the water-energy nexus of desalination processes

The relationships within the Energy-Water nexus are inherently complex, necessitating sophisticated methods to optimize and manage these interactions effectively. Metamodeling emerges as a crucial technique in abstracting these complex relationships into a manageable analytical form. This study adopts a systematic approach to construct Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) metamodels, aimed at examining the interactions within the water-energy nexus of various desalination technologies. A critical aspect of the developed methodology is the selection of sampling points that align with LCA scenarios through a tailored designed experiment (DoE) model. These scenarios, which include Reverse Osmosis (RO), Electrodialysis (ED), and Multi-Effect Distillation (MED), are evaluated using a set of indicators the Energy-Water nexus, across tradeoff nexus policies. The results signify the impact of considering the Energy-Water Nexus on optimizing desalination processes, compared to evaluating energy and water metrics independently. In policies where nexus considerations were not integrated—focusing solely on cumulative energy or exclusively on water footprint—the RO with Wind Turbine (RO[WT]) scenario emerged as the optimal solution. This configuration consumed 7.540 MJ and 1.654 m³ of water and a carbon footprint of 0.719 kg CO2eq per cubic meter of desalinated water. Conversely, policies that incorporate a nexus approach favor the adoption of MED with Thermal Solar (MED[TS]) scenario. Characterized by its moderate energy consumption of 2.226 MJ, and a water footprint of 2.226 m³, per cubic meter. These findings illustrate the critical role of employing Energy-Water Nexus frameworks through metamodeling in minimizing the environmental impacts associated with desalination processes.

Perspective of Water-Use Programs in Agriculture in Guanajuato

Integrated agricultural water management (IAWM) encompasses multiple factors, necessitating the evaluation of performance across programs and involved entities and local consideration in different regions. This study analyzes the relation of allocation budgets and government agency programs in relation to the average annual availability of groundwater in Guanajuato State. Documentary investigation was conducted on public programs, aquifer availability, and agricultural land types over the period from 2017 to 2023. In the last six years, the amounts allocated to government programs from subsidies and donations have increased by 40%, leading to enhanced agricultural productivity in the state. Considering the agricultural types (rain-fed, irrigated, and protected) as separate variables, simple linear regression explains 97.8% of the variability in the DMA, indicating a decrease of 78.2 million m3 and an increase in irrigated agriculture. The estimator for the budget allocated to public programs is −2.21 × 10−7, indicating that even if the resources allocated to government programs related to the use and exploitation of water in the agricultural sector increase, the DMA will continue to decrease. Regarding the agriculture area type, the estimator has a value of −0.00237, indicating that each rain-fed or irrigated agriculture unit established would result in an approximate reduction of 2370 m3 of water in the DMA. Taking this into account, it is imperative to formulate strategies that consider intersectoral links, with a focus on prioritizing essential actions in rain-fed areas for water capture and/or irrigated agricultural areas for food production, which comprise 52% of the total land dedicated to the agricultural sector, and specifically targeting actions that promote groundwater management.

Stability of Soils to Water Erosion when Treated with Polyacetonitrilebased Polymer

The anti-erosion effect of an anionic polymer based on polyacetonitrile, "VPRG reagent (dry hepane)", has been studied when its solution was applied to the surface of agro-black earth, sand and clay in laboratory conditions. It has been found that the use of VPRG has a clearly positive effect only on the anti-erosion stability of agro-black earth; a weak positive effect was observed on clay, and an increase in the amount of washed-off material was noted on sand relative to the standard. It has been confirmed that an increase in the concentration of VPRG leads to an increase in the anti-erosion stability of agro-black earth, but reduces it for clay and sand relative to the standard. It has been concluded that the optimal dose of VPRG application corresponds to 106 kg/ha when dissolved in 10 m3 of water for agro-black earth and clay.

Assessment of carbon footprint of potable water production: A case from Bangladesh

Carbon footprint (CF), a measure of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, is currently a global concern because of its significant effects on climate change. Understanding GHG emissions from potable water production is important because water treatment and distribution consume much energy while emitting a significant amount of GHG. With economic and population growth, water demand has increased, resulting in higher GHG emissions. This study aims to assess the CF of potable water production in Bangladesh, focusing on the country’s economic capital, Chattogram. This study estimates and compares the CF of the treatment, distribution, and consumption phases. It also estimates the CF of different water treatment plants (WTPs) during the treatment phase. WTPs use electricity for a full-scale operation, during which approximately 4.5 million m3 of raw water of varying turbidity is treated. This study calculates a country-specific GHG emission factor for Bangladesh’s electricity generation method as different sources produce different quantities of GHGs. This study also considers the energy consumed to distribute water from the WTPs to household rooftop tanks in the distribution phase. For the consumption phase, the study considers the energy consumption for domestic water treatment, which involves boiling of a portion of treated water for drinking purposes. The study estimates that approximately 0.18, 0.27, and 17.52 kg CO2 equivalent (CO2-eq) are emitted in the treatment, distribution, and consumption phases, respectively, for the production of 1 m3 of water. Boiling at the consumption phase alone generates 97.48% of the total CF. The daily CFs for surface water and groundwater use in 2017 were 16,387.78 and 34,092.08 kg CO2-eq, respectively; those in 2022 were 83,769.25 and 2130.97 kg CO2-eq, respectively. The outcome of this study will assist stakeholders and policymakers in the progress of SDG-13 and in effective planning and operational decision making for sustainable water systems.

Impact of organic and nanoparticle-selenium fortified larval weaning diet on survival, growth, gastrointestinal, and (GPx) activity of European Sea Bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) Larvae

The study involved three groups of six broodstock with a 1:1 male-to-female ratio. They were injected with 13 µg/kg LHRHa to stimulate spawning. We fed the broodstock three diets: a control diet without selenium, a diet containing 0.3 mg of nano-selenium /kg (N-Se), and a diet containing 4 mg of organic selenium /kg (O-Se). The broodstock diet consisted of equal parts of dry feed (45% protein), sardines, and squid. After being laid, the eggs were obtained from the collection ponds at the General Authority for Fisheries Development's fish hatchery and incubated until hatching. The larvae were given a micro diet containing 51.7% crude protein and live food (Rotifer and Artemia). Rotifer density increased from 5/ml to 15/ml by day 22 dph, Artemia nauplii increased from 0.2 to 4 ind./ml, from 7 to 35 dph then decreased to 0 at 55 dph, and micro-diets increased from 100-200 µ at 16 dph to 200-400 µ at 23-40 dph to 300-500 µ at 55 dph, and 500-1000 µ until the experiment ended. Three different diets in three replicates were tested: A micro diet free of selenium as a control diet (C), A micro diet with 0.3 mg of nano selenium (N-Se) kg-1, and A micro diet supplemented with organic selenium 4 mg (O-Se). Each group was taken from the three Broodstock groups respectively. Sixteen days after hatching, the three experimental micro diets were introduced to the larvae and continued for 76 days post-hatch. Larvae (260,000 per tank) were placed in fiberglass tanks with 4 m3 of water at a temperature of 19±2°C for optimal conditions. The larvae fed the N-Se diet had significantly better survival rates (75.0 ± 1.2 %), final body weight (240.0 ± 5.8 mg), weight gain (239.00 ± 5.8 mg), average daily gain (3.98±0.1mg), total length (39.0±0.06 mm), specific growth rate (9.133±0.04 %/day), feed intake (471.67±0.01 mg), and better feed conversion ratio (1.97±0.01) than the other groups (P < 0.05). The group provided with N-Se also had the highest levels of glutathione peroxidase enzyme (GPx) content in the whole larval body, whereas the control diet without Se supplementation recorded the lowest value of (14.8 ± 0.1 U/mg protein). The number and length of folds in the stomach and esophagus of sea bass post-larvae fed on diets fortified with selenium in both forms, nanoparticles or organic, showed a significant (P < 0.05) enhancement on the larval gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Moreover, selenium has an anti-inflammatory action in sea bass post-larvae. This study concluded that using N-Se as an antioxidant supports the growth and survival of European seabass D. labrax, gastrointestinal development and antioxidant efficacy during critical weaning.

Establishment and analysis of online energy baseline for water purification plants: A case study in Kaohsiung city, Taiwan

Water and energy are closely linked and are crucial for national security and economic development. Most water providers prioritise the stability of water supply and aim to reduce energy consumption under the premise of a stable supply. The average energy required to supply water in Taiwan in one of the lowest worldwide. In the Kaohsiung area, the average energy used by a water purification plant to provide 1 m3 of water is 0.32 kWh/m3, lower than the world average of 0.37 kWh/m3. However, the most energy-consuming plant (Weng Park water purification plant) uses eight times as much energy as the least energy-consuming plant (Pingding water purification plant). Most studies focus on the energy required to provide 1 m3 of water. This study combined attributes of four plants, such as the amount of energy consumed, quantity of water supplied, purified, and collected, and weather data. These data were used to model energy baselines for water providers. Artificial intelligence was imported into Microsoft Azure machine learning to train the model, which was verified using another Kaohsiung plant and one overseas to establish an online energy baseline modelling system that can be applied in various water purification plants.

The use of CO2 for the treatment of alkaline tunnel construction wastewater: Efficiency and influencing factors

Alkaline wastewater from tunnel construction can cause environmental problems when draining into water streams like rivers and lakes. Research interest in the neutralization of alkaline wastewater using CO2 based on the carbon utilization concept has been increasing. In this study, the effects of key parameters such as the flow rate (FR) of CO2, initial water temperature (T), pH, and turbidity (TURB) on CO2 neutralization of alkaline wastewater were investigated through laboratory experiments and field tests using alkaline wastewater collected from the Yunnan Dianzhong Water Diversion Engineering, China. Results revealed that 1.5 L min−1 was the optimal flow rate for CO2 gas. The water pH (p < 0.001) and TURB (p < 0.001) significantly affected the neutralization performance of CO2. The pH, TURB, electrical conductivity and total dissolved solids of alkaline wastewater can be effectively reduced by CO2. The least time required for the treatment was noted at a T, pH, and TURB of 20 °C, 10.5, and 80 NTU, respectively. Laboratory and field stability experiments have shown CO2 to be effective in reducing the pH of alkaline wastewater and consistently maintaining its pH within the discharge standard compliance range (6–9). A cost saving of $0.26 per 1 m3 of water was achieved comparing with neutralization of alkaline wastewater using citric acid. In summary, this study for the first time explored the efficiency and potential influencing factors for the treatment of alkaline tunnel construction wastewater using CO2. It proves the effectiveness and economic benefits of the proposed technology.

Water scarcity footprint and water saving potential for large-scale green hydrogen generation: Evidence from coal-to-hydrogen substitution in China

Green hydrogen generated via water electrolysis using photovoltaics or wind has begun to scale up in the process of achieving the global net-zero goal, but there is a lack of research on its impact on the scarcity of water resources and water saving potential. A water resources impact assessment framework for green hydrogen scale-up development is established, integrating the product water footprint and regional water footprint scarcity impacts and advancing the study of the water resources impacts on green hydrogen from water conservation as well as from a sustainable context. The research framework specifies the cradle-to-gate life cycle water consumption of hydrogen production, establishes the water scarcity footprint based on the available water remaining (AWARE) model, quantifies the water saving intensity and potential of the green hydrogen alternative to traditional hydrogen production, and proposes quantitative indicators of the water saving benefit. Taking the regions of 31 provinces in China as a case study, the wind-to‑hydrogen scenario and the solar-to‑hydrogen scenario will generate approximately 68.86×108 m3 and 126.10×108 m3 water scarcity footprints, respectively. Under the coal-to‑hydrogen baseline scenario, approximately 1.68×108 m3 and - 0.57×108 m3 of water saving potential will be generated. In addition, the water saving intensity decreases from west to east. According to the adjusted quantitative indicators of water saving benefits, the wind-to‑hydrogen scenario in China can reach 40.22×108 m3eq and the water saving benefit is more obvious in northern regions such as Hebei, Ningxia and Inner Mongolia. The methodological framework can be applied to other countries or regions to assess the sustainable impacts of green hydrogen production on water resources in a given region.