Mineral Products Research Articles

Phosphate and illite colloid pose a synergistic risk of enhanced uranium transport in groundwater: A challenge for phosphate immobilization remediation of uranium contaminated environmental water

The phosphorus-containing reagents have been proposed to remediate the uranium contaminated sites due to the formation of insoluble uranyl phosphate mineralization products. However, the colloids, including both pseudo and intrinsic uranium colloids, could disturb the environmental fate of uranium due to its nonnegligible mobility. In this work, the transport pattern and micro-mechanism of uranium coupled to phosphate and illite colloid (IC) were investigated by combining column experiments and micro-spectroscopic evidences. Results showed that uranium transport was facilitated in granular media by forming the intrinsic uranyl phosphate colloid (such as Na-autunite) when the pH > 3.5 and CNa+ < 10 mM. Meanwhile, the mobility of uranium depended greatly on the typical water chemistry parameters governing the aggregation and deposit of intrinsic uranium colloids. However, the attachment of phosphate on illite granule increased the repulsive force and enhanced the dispersion stability of IC in the IC-U(VI)-phosphate ternary system. The non-preequilibrium transport and retention profiles, HRTEM-mapping, as well as TRLFS spectra revealed that the IC enhanced uranium mobility by forming the ternary IC-uranyl phosphate hybrid, and acted as the coagulation preventing agent for uranyl phosphate particles. This observed facilitation of uranium transport resulted from the formation of intrinsic uranyl phosphate colloids and IC-uranyl phosphate hybrids should be taken into consideration when evaluating the potential risk of uranium migration and optimizing the in-situ mineralization remediation strategy for uranium contaminated environmental water.

Complementary and Alternative Medicine for Menopausal Symptoms Management

Menopause is the permanent cessation of menstruation for a complete 12 consecutive months while post-menopause is the period following menopause marked by changes in hormonal status. Studies stated that menopausal women experience symptoms like hot flashes/flushes, night sweats, sleep disturbances, sexual dysfunction, mood disorders, weight gain and cognitive decline which overall affect their lives. Though hormonal therapies are used for symptom management, it was found to have some side effects and increase the chance of cancer. Complementary and alternative medicines (CAM) have a positive impact on the same management. Relaxation, biofeedback, meditation, aromatherapy, use of mineral products and other methods like traditional Chinese medicines, reflexology, acupuncture, acupressure and homeopathy are found to be effective in controlling menopause-related symptoms. We should make them aware of these complementary and alternative medicines. Keywords: Menopause, post-menopause, complementary and alternative medicine.

Mine Water Use in Kazakhstan: Data Issues, Risks, and Regulations

Kazakhstan experiences medium-high water stress, intensified by the rapid expansion of mining operations. Due to the scarcity of public data on water use in Kazakhstan’s mining, we use a case study to make inferences about industry-level water use. Specifically, we apply the ICMM water accounting framework and assess water use at one of Kazakhstan’s new copper mines. We find that this mine has managed to achieve a high level of water reuse and minimal impact on water quality. Yet, the company has a relatively high share of water entrained in waste and a high rate of increase in freshwater withdrawals. Our estimates suggest that the operation of this mine has resulted in a 1.5% increase in withdrawals of Kazakhstan’s extractive industries. Considering that during the last decade, the number of mining companies increased by 50%, we can conclude that the cumulative water impacts of mining in Kazakhstan have been substantial. The forthcoming uptake of critical minerals production may further strain Kazakhstan’s water resources. Thus, the rapidly increasing mine water use and rising risks due to climate change and the sharing of water with neighboring countries call for urgent strengthening of Kazakhstan’s water governance and institutions.

Electrochemical, gravimetric, quantum chemical and computational investigations on an effective synthetic chlorinated cyclic imide derivative as a corrosion inhibitor for carbon steel in sulfuric acid solution

Although many different human activities such as the oil and gas sector, mineral production, utilities, transportation, etc. depend on the utilization of steel and its alloys, they are highly susceptible to corrosion, especially in acidic media. Hence, processing entails substantial material expenditures due to metal losses. In this regard, the inhibitory characteristics of the synthetic heterocyclic derivative (3aR,7S,7aS)-4,5,6,7,8,8-hexachloro-1,3-dioxo-1,3,3a,4,7,7a-hexahydro-2H-4,7-methanoisoindol-2-yl)benzenesulfonamide (MBSI) was studied against corrosion of C-steel in 0.5 M H2SO4 at 25-55 °C. The structure of the synthesized molecule was confirmed by FTIR, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, and MS. Weight-loss, potentiodynamic polarization, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, electrochemical frequency modulation measurements as well as theoretical analyses were employed in this investigation. The results showed that the investigated MBSI compound functions as an efficient inhibitor with a physical adsorption nature on the surface of carbon steel. MBSI concentration causes the inhibition efficiency to rise, reaching a maximum of 94% for the steel alloy corrosion at 37 × 10−6 M and 25°C. The synthesized compound was suggested to act as a mixed-type inhibitor. SEM surface analysis showed the construction of a protective layer at the carbon steel surface. DFT-based quantum chemical indices provided more insight into the inhibitory mechanism. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were also applied to predict the conformational adsorption change of the inhibitor on the iron surface. In addition, thermodynamic and kinetic parameters were calculated. The experimental results are largely consistent with the theoretical results.

Coordinated Control of Carbon Emission Reduction and Air Quality Improvement in the Industrial Sector in Hunan Province

Climate warming and air pollution are the main environmental problems in China. This study used China's Carbon Accounting Database, energy economic model, and air quality model to analyze the potential carbon emission peaking path and synergistic air quality improvement gain in the industrial sector in Hunan Province. Based on China's Carbon Accounting Database and the local industry/energy statistical yearbooks in Hunan, the total CO2 emissions in Hunan Province in 2019 were 310.6 Mt, of which the industrial sector accounted for over 70% of the emissions, mainly from the production and supply of electricity, steam, and heat; the production of non-metallic minerals; and the smelting and pressing of ferrous metals. Three potential industrial carbon emission peaking scenarios were analyzed using the LEAP energy economic model, including the business-as-usual scenario (peaking by 2030), moderate emission reduction scenario (peaking by 2028), and aggressive emission reduction scenario (peaking by 2025), by employing different economic growth rates, energy technology progress, and energy structures of the industrial sector. Furthermore, by combining the anthropogenic air pollutant emission inventory and the regional air quality model WRF-Chem, we analyzed the air quality improvement associated with various carbon emission peak paths. The results showed that the annual mean concentrations of major air pollutants had decreased in the three scenarios, especially in the Chang-Zhu-Tan Region. The aggressive emission reduction scenario was the most effective scenario, followed by the moderate emission reduction scenario and the business-as-usual scenario. Manufacturing was the sector with the most significant synergistic effect of pollution and carbon reduction. When carbon emission peaks were achieved, the annual average concentrations of PM2.5 and PM10 in Hunan Province could be synergistically reduced by 0.6-1.8 μg·m-3 and 1.8-8.9 μg·m-3, respectively. Our findings offer important insights into carbon emission peaking and can provide useful information for potential mitigation actions.

Crystal induced arthropathies-a comparative study of 40 patients with apatite rheumatism, chondrocalcinosis and primary synovial chondromatosis.

Introduction: Apatite rheumatism (AR), chondrocalcinosis (Ch-C), and primary synovial chondromatosis (prSynCh) are regarded as distinct clinical entities. The introduction of the non-staining technique by Bély and Apáthy (2013) opened a new era in the microscopic diagnosis of crystal induced diseases, allowing the analysis of MSU (monosodium urate monohydrate) HA (calcium hydroxyapatite), CPPD (calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate) crystals, cholesterol, crystalline liquid lipid droplets, and other crystals in unstained sections of conventionally proceeded (aqueous formaldehyde fixed, paraffin-embedded) tissue samples. The aim of this study was to describe the characteristic histology of crystal deposits in AR, Ch-C, and prSynCh with traditional stains and histochemical reactions comparing with unstained tissue sections according to Bély and Apáthy (2013). Patients and methods: Tissue samples of 4 with apatite rheumatism (Milwaukee syndrome), 16 with chondrocalcinosis, and 20 with clinically diagnosed primary synovial chondromatosis were analyzed. Results and conclusion: Apatite rheumatism, chondrocalcinosis, and primary synovial chondromatosis are related metabolic disorders with HA and CPPD depositions. The authors assume that AR and Ch-C are different stages of the same metabolic disorder, which differ from prSynCh in amorphous mineral production, furthermore in the production of chondroid, osteoid and/or bone. prSynCh is a defective variant of HA and CPPD induced metabolic disorders with reduced mineralization capabilities, where the deficient mineralization is replaced by chondroid and/or bone formation. The non-staining technique of Bély and Apáthy proved to be a much more effective method for the demonstration of crystals in metabolic diseases than conventional stains and histochemical reactions.

Power Systems and Power Electronics using the DEMATEL Method

Energy and research on energy systems places a focus on all facets of electrical energy, as well as innovation in energy production and delivery, alternative resources, and efficient devices. Systems and equipment for converting, providing, and utilising energy as a kind of electricity are the subject of research initiatives. Power electronics are now a more integral part of power systems, enhancing quality and efficiency and fostering the gradual materialization of intelligent, efficient energy. Many different types of power electronics exist in power systems. The architectural study of changing electrical transformed from one medium to another is known as power electronics. Fields such as electronics reprocess or recover more than 80percent of the entire of the electricity produced at a world average rate of 3.4 billion kilowatts per hour each year. Power electronics converters, sometimes referred to as power converters or switching converters, are used to process or convert electrical energy. Electricity comes in two flavours: AC power and DC power. The distribution system is divided into AC distribution systems and DC distribution systems based on the type of power it uses. Power system analysis is an essential part of electrical power system design. Calculations and simulations are performed to verify that the electrical system, including the system components, is properly specified to perform as planned, withstand the expected stress, and be protected from failures. Advantages of Power Electronics: High power density electricity. Improved efficiency up to 99% in energy conversion. Because to its efficiency and dependability, switching power supply are also being used in medical devices with acoustically sensitive applications. Power system reliability, in general, relates to problems like service interruption and power outages. This is frequently described as a goal to try relying on codes specifically relevant to the consumer. SAIFI, SAIDI, and CAIDI are common dependability index values for US applications. DEMATEL (Decision Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory) They are divided into analysis using the Nonmetal mineral product industry, General equipment manufacturing, Mining and washing of coal, Textile industry, Food manufacturing industry It is the interaction between the factors Visualized and assesses dependent relationships Through the structural model Also deals with identifying important. Power Electronics in Power Systems, Power Electronics in Transportation Systems, Energy Conservation, Heating &amp; Lighting Control and Renewable Energy Integration Power Systems and Power Electronics in Power Electronics in Power Systems is got the first rank whereas is the Energy Conservation is having the Lowest rank. Power Systems and Power Electronics in Power Electronics in Power Systems is got the first rank whereas is the Energy Conservation is having the Lowest rank.

28 Investigating the effects of Chromium Propionate supplementation on reproductive performance of beef cows

Abstract The objective of this study was to explore the effects on reproductive performance of beef cows supplemented with Chromium Propionate during the post-partum and breeding periods. A total of 955 multiparous suckled beef cows located at eight locations were enrolled in the study. Within location cows were stratified based on parity, body condition score (BCS), and days postpartum (DPP) and randomly assigned to one of two treatments: 1) Control- supplementation of a mineral product at 113 g animal/d (n = 484 cows; 16 experimental units); or 2) CrP - supplementation of mineral product at 113 g animal/d containing Chromium Propionate (0.4% animal/d, KemTRACE, Kemin Industries; n = 471 cows; 16 experimental units). Mineral supplementation was offered starting at 45 d pre-breeding, during the breeding season, and until weaning for a total of approximately 150 d. Cows were enrolled in a fixed-time artificial insemination (TAI) using the 7-d CO-Synch+CIDR protocol followed by natural service with clean-up bulls 7 d after TAI, for a 70-d total breeding season. Pregnancy diagnosis was performed by ultrasonography 55 d after TAI and again approximately 40 d after the end of the breeding season. Cow body weight (BW) and BCS were recorded at the beginning of the experiment (d -45), at the initiation of the TAI protocol (d -10), at each pregnancy diagnosis (d 55 and 110), and at weaning (d 150). Mineral intake was estimated based on the difference in weight between offered mineral and refusals. Data were analyzed using the GLIMMIX, for binomial data, and MIXED, for continuous data, procedures of SAS. Cow initial BW and DPP were similar (P &amp;gt; 0.10) between treatments (584 ± 198 kg and 78 ± 3 d, respectively). Estimated mineral intake was similar (P = 0.52) between treatments (119.6 ± 10.3 g and 124.5 ± 10.4 g animal/d, for Control and CrP, respectively). Supplementation of CrP did not influence estrus expression (58.3% vs 61.0% ± 2.5 %; P = 0.45), TAI pregnancy rates (63.1% vs 60.1 % ± 2.9 %; P = 0.56), or final breeding season pregnancy rates (94.2% vs 94.7% ± 2.9 %; P = 0.86), for CrP and Control, respectively. Chromium Propionate supplementation did not affect (P &amp;gt; 0.10) final cow BCS and BW (5.2 ± 0.03; 562.9 ± 169.93 kg). In conclusion, Chromium Propionate supplementation delivered via an oral mineral supplement during the pre-breeding and breeding periods did not influence reproductive performance and changes in BW and BCS of beef cows.

Preface

Providing the national and world economy with mineral raw materials is an integral part of development and scientific and technological progress. The modern world is moving to new forms of interaction, concentrating its trends on digitalization, computerization and automation of all processes of human life. However, these trends require the use of strategically important minerals (coal, natural gas, ores of ferrous and non-ferrous metals, rare earth metals, construction raw materials, etc.), as well as critical raw materials, the list of which is supplemented every year in accordance with the trends of scientific and technological progress and the development of the state’s economy.About half of the industrial potential of Ukraine and up to 20% of its labor resources are related to the mining and use of minerals. Due to the export of mineral raw materials and products of their processing, Ukraine receives about 60% of the total amount of export revenues. At the same time, the subsoil of Ukraine still has a significant potential for building up the mineral and raw material base.The issue of mining and processing of minerals during the war requires special attention in Ukraine. The conference “Challenges of ensuring Ukraine’s mineral resources in the context of post-war reconstruction - 2023” is designed to contribute to solving the urgent issues of reconstruction and modernization of Ukraine after the end of the war and the country’s integration into the European Union.List of the committee members who organized the conference is available in the pdf.

몽골의 희토류 개발환경 분석

This paper identifies the development value and production potential of Mongolia’s Rare Earth Elements(REEs) through Mongolia’s laws and determines whether Mongolia can be one of the alternatives to China. As industrial advancement and the era of carbon neutrality arrive, the usage and value of rare earth elements, which are used as essential raw materials for various high-tech industries, continue to increase. At a time when countries such as the United States, Japan, and Europe did not realize the importance of REEs, China monopolized the REEs industry for a long time by purchasing REEs mines around the world or investing heavily in and developing areas where rare earth elements were believed to be buried.&#x0D; Mongolia’s REEs are receiving attention as one of the alternatives to reduce China’s market dominance. However, the lack of Mongolia’s laws and infrastructure, proper geological surveys, and confidence in foreigners investing in Mongolia due to frequent policy changes are factors that impede development. In order to improve this, the Mongolian government continues to invite many foreign investors, making efforts to attract investment in the Mongolian mining sector, and is discussing restoring the foreign investment environment and improving the legal environment. It is believed that analysis of related laws is also important for Korea to cooperate with Mongolia in mineral development and production. In addition, Mongolia’s efforts to build infrastructure and the fact that it is seeking cooperation with Korea, the United States, and Japan are helping to create a foundation for future investment in Mongolia, which will enhance the possibility of REEs development.

Improvement of the methods for determining ore losses when designing cement raw material deposit mining by surface miner combines

Relevance. The need to optimize production of cement raw materials and reduce the cost of processing raw materials. A surface miner combine allow high selective mining of a deposit, which helps to reduce moisture content of cement raw materials and reduce energy costs in a cement plant. In open-cast mining of cement raw materials deposits with the use of the surface miner combines, the increase in economic efficiency of mining operations can be achieved by determining the rational values of ore losses and dilution. Aim. To determine rational level of cement raw material losses during field development by surface miners. Objects. Cement industry quarries excavated with of the surface miner combines. Methods. Technical and economic analysis of the cement plant Beočin (Serbia), summation and synthesis of materials, sources and data available in the public domain, as well as calculations to determine the amount of loss and dilution of mineral resources at ore–rock contact for mining conditions of the quarry for extracting cement raw materials. Results. The main problems that arise during mining quarries for extracting cement raw materials have been identified. It concerns the determination of the volume of losses and dilution of mineral resources at the ore–rock contact for mining conditions of the quarry for extraction of cement raw materials. The authors present and substantiate conclusions about further effective application of optimal mining technology, with the use of the surface miner combines, which allows reducing the cost of production of minerals and specific operating costs of transporting carbonate rocks compared to the traditional technology of mining works at 50–60%.

Transforming Mining Waste to Wealth: A Novel Process for the Sustainable Recovery and Utilization of Iron Tailings through HCl Leaching and MOFs Absorption

Rapid economic development and increased demand for mineral products in China have led to extensive extraction of various ores, resulting in significant environmental challenges associated with the generation of industrial solid waste, particularly iron tailings. Despite being a major mining nation, China faces issues of wasteful practices, with substantial amounts of valuable elements lost during the processing of iron ore. This study addresses the urgent need for sustainable solutions by proposing an innovative approach for the recovery of valuable elements from iron tailings. The proposed process involves a sequential application of acid leaching, chemical precipitation, and Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) ion adsorption. The pre-treated iron tailings were leached in HCl solution with pH 1.5 at 70 °C for 2 h, and the co-leaching efficiency of 98.1% V, 98.2% Mo, 99.3% Fe, and 98.7% Mg was obtained. Chemical precipitation is then employed to isolate Fe, Mg V, and Mo and promote the formation of targeted compounds, ensuring concentration and purity. The integration of MOF ion adsorption, known for its high surface area and tunable pore structures, provides an efficient platform for selectively capturing and recovering target ions. 97.7% V and 96.3% Mo were selectively extracted from Zirconium 1,4-carboxybenzene metal-organic framework (UiO-66) adsorption system with pH 5.0 at 30 °C for 6 h, and 91.7% V and 90.3% Mo were selectively extracted from 2-methylimidazole zinc salt metal-organic framework (ZIF-8) adsorption system with pH 5 at 30 °C for 6.0 h. This three-stage process offers an efficient method for the recovery of valuable elements from iron tailings.

Surface crack treatment of concrete via nano-modified microbial carbonate precipitation

As a new concrete crack patching technology, microbial self-healing slurries offer favourable characteristics including non-pollution, ecological sustainability and good compatibility with concrete. In this paper, a nano-sio2-modified microbial bacteria liquid, combined with sodium alginate and polyvinyl alcohol, was used to prepare a nano-modified microbial self-healing slurry. This slurry was used to coat concrete under negative pressure in order to verify its restoration effect, and the micromorphology of the resulting microbial mineralization products was observed. The results revealed that patching the concrete using the nano-modified microbial slurry significantly improved its permeability, and increased its carbonization resistance by three times in comparison with the control group. Through a combination of Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) observation, it was determined that the microbial mineralization reaction products were mainly calcite crystals, which, integrated with the nano-sio2, sodium alginate and polyvinyl alcohol at the microscopic level, filled the internal pores of concrete, thus improving its durability.

The potential of ferrihydrite-synthetic humic-like acid composite as a soil amendment for metal-contaminated agricultural soil: Immobilization mechanisms by combining abiotic and biotic perspectives

In-situ passivation technique has attracted increasing attention for metal-contaminated agricultural soil remediation. However, metal immobilization mechanisms are mostly illustrated based on metal speciation changes and alterations in soil physicochemical properties from a macroscopic and abiotic perspective. In this study, a ferrihydrite-synthetic humic-like acid composite (FH-SHLA) was fabricated and applied as a passivator for a 90-day soil incubation. The heavy metals immobilization mechanisms of FH-SHLA were investigated by combining both abiotic and biotic perspectives. Effects of FH-SHLA application on soil micro-ecology were also evaluated. The results showed that the 5%FH-SHLA treatment significantly decreased the DTPA-extractable Pb, Cd and Zn by 80.75%, 46.82% and 63.63% after 90 days of incubation (P < 0.05), respectively. Besides, 5% FH-SHLA addition significantly increased soil pH, soil organic matter content and cation exchange capacity (P < 0.05). The SEM, FTIR, and XPS characterizations revealed that the abiotic metal immobilization mechanisms by FH-SHLA included surface complexation, precipitation, electrostatic attraction, and cation-π interactions. For biotic perspective, in-situ microorganisms synergistically participated in the immobilization process via sulfide precipitation and Fe mineral production. FH-SHLA significantly altered the diversity and composition of the soil microbial community, and enhanced the intensity and complexity of the microbial co-occurrence network. Both metal bioavailability and soil physiochemical parameters played a vital role in shaping microbial communities, while the former contributed more. Overall, this study provides new insight into the heavy metal passivation mechanism and demonstrates that FH-SHLA is a promising and environmentally friendly amendment for metal-contaminated soil remediation.

RETRACTED ARTICLE: Digital transformation, green innovation, and carbon emission reduction performance of energy-intensive enterprises

Digital transformation and green innovation are powerful initiatives to achieve carbon peaking, carbon neutrality targets and high-quality economic development. Using a sample of high energy-consuming listed enterprises from 2012 to 2021, a double fixed-effect model is constructed to verify the effect of green innovation on the carbon emission reduction performance of high energy-consuming enterprises, and digital transformation is used as a moderating variable to analyze the inner mechanism of green innovation affecting the carbon emission reduction performance of high energy-consuming enterprises under the effect of digital transformation. The empirical results show that green innovation can significantly improve the carbon emission reduction performance of energy-consuming enterprises, while digital transformation positively moderates the effect of green innovation on the carbon emission reduction performance of energy-consuming enterprises. When considering the industry heterogeneity, the moderation effect of digital transformation is significant in the chemical raw materials and chemical products manufacturing industry and the electricity and heat production and supply industry, but the petroleum processing and coking and nuclear fuel processing industry, the non-metallic mineral products industry, the ferrous metal smelting and rolling processing industry and the non-ferrous metal smelting and rolling processing industry are not yet significantly affected by green innovation and digital transformation. The findings of the study provide empirical evidence to promote the improvement of carbon emission reduction performance of energy-intensive enterprises in China and to achieve the "double carbon" target.

Chestnut-Inspired Hollow Hydroxyapatite 3D Printing Scaffolds Accelerate Bone Regeneration by Recruiting Calcium Ions and Regulating Inflammation.

This study aims to overcome the drawbacks associated with hydroxyapatite (HAP) dense structures after sintering, which often result in undesirable features such as large grain size, reduced porosity, high crystallinity, and low specific surface area. These characteristics hinder osseointegration and limit the clinical applicability of the material. To address these issues, a new method involving the preparation of hollow hydroxyapatite (hHAP) microspheres has been proposed. These microspheres exhibit distinctive traits including weak crystallization, high specific surface area, and increased porosity. The weak crystallization aligns more closely with early mineralization products found in the human body and animals. Moreover, the microspheres' high specific surface area and porosity offer advantages for protein loading and facilitating osteoblast attachment. This innovative approach not only mitigates the limitations of conventional HAP structures but also holds the potential for improving the effectiveness of hydroxyapatite in biomedical applications, particularly in enhancing osseointegration. Three-dimensional printed hHAP/chitosan (CS) scaffolds with different hHAP concentration gradients were manufactured, and the physical and biological properties of each group were systematically evaluated. In vitro and in vivo experiments show that the hHAP/CS scaffold has excellent performance in bone remodeling. Furthermore, in-scaffold components, hHAP and CS were cocultured with bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells to explore the regulatory role of hHAP and CS in the process of bone healing and to reveal the cell-level specific regulatory network activated by hHAP. Enrichment analysis showed that hHAP can promote bone regeneration and reconstruction by recruiting calcium ions and regulating inflammatory reactions.

Dynamic Analysis on Carbon Metabolism of the Northern Region of China Under the Background of Carbon Emission Trading Policy

The launch of the national carbon emissions trading market in China is a policy to carry out the Beautiful China initiative and to establish a low-carbon economic development system that promotes carbon emission and waste reduction. In order to detect the carbon metabolic processes of the pilot and nonpilot municipalities or provinces in the northern region of China， the theory of urban carbon metabolism and the methods of input-output analysis and ecological network analysis were introduced and used. The results showed that the direct carbon emissions of Beijing and Tianjin had decreased， but their embodied carbon emissions had increased since 2012. The direct and embodied carbon emissions of the pilot sectors in Beijing and Tianjin had the same trend； specifically， the emissions of the sectors of mining and washing of coal， extraction of petroleum and natural gas， and manufacture of non-metallic mineral products decreased significantly， but the sectors of production and supply of electric power and steam with high carbon emission increased. The same trend of the embodied carbon emission intensities of sectors with that of their embodied carbon emissions verified that the embodied added values were not growing with the promotion of the carbon emission trading market. Subsequently， the embodied carbon emission of the pilot sectors in all the municipalities and provinces of the northern region were all contributed mainly by the emissions embodied by a path length less than 6； therefore， it showed that more attention should be paid to the trade among sectors with a path length less than 6 and reducing their carbon emissions. Furthermore， from 2007 to 2012， products or service trading among sectors mostly concentrated on sectors within one municipality or province， and these products or services had the characteristics of low carbon emission. Since 2012， the integration development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei urban agglomeration and the new regional economic patterns established in the northern region both promoted the trading across provinces and across sectors. This research is based on the background of the carbon emission trading policy and aims to build a methodology to identify the key actors and paths in a metabolic system. This could provide a scientific basis for regional policy implementation and regional long-term sustainable development.

Comparative efficacy of hydroxychloride and organic sources of zinc, copper, and manganese on egg production and concentration of trace minerals in eggs, plasma, and excreta in female broiler breeders from 42 to 63 weeks of age

Comparative efficacy of hydroxychloride (HC) and organic (OR) sources of Zn, Cu and Mn on performance of broiler breeders (BB) between 42 and 63 weeks of age (WOA) was investigated. A total of 408 ♀ Ross 708 and 48 ♂ Yield Plus cockerels were placed in pens (17 ♀ and 2 ♂) housed in 2 rooms (12 pens/room) and allocated to one of 2 diets in a completely randomized block design (n=12). The diets had similar nutrient specifications but differed in Zn, Cu, and Mn sources: 1) HO, a blend of 80% HC and 20% OR sources, and 2) OR, 100% OR sources. Birds were fed and managed according to breeder guidelines. The egg count was recorded daily and categorized as normal or abnormal. Egg yolk color, albumen height, Haugh unit, eggshell thickness, and eggshell breaking strength were assessed every 4 wk. Individual hen body weight (BW) was recorded at 5-wk intervals to determine BW uniformity. At 52 and 63 WOA, the eggs and excreta samples were collected. At the end of the trial, 4 hens per pen were bled for plasma concentration of trace minerals and organs (liver, gizzard, spleen, kidney, and thymus) weight. There were no interactions between source and age on any parameters (P > 0.05). There were no main effects of source on egg production, eggshell quality, BW, and organs weight (P > 0.05). Hens fed HO diets had darker yolk compared to those fed OR diets (P = 0.014). The concentration of Zn in the eggs of OR BB was higher (P = 0.022) than for HO birds. However, there were no dietary effects on the concentration of trace minerals in the egg, plasma, and excreta (P > 0.05). The results indicated that a mixture of HC and O as sources for Zn, Cu, and Mn was as effective as OR sources in supporting egg production, egg quality, and trace mineral utilization in broiler breeders.

The impact on downstream policy implementation for mineral export products in Indonesia: marine transportation point of view

Indonesia is a country with abundant natural resources, particularly for metal mineral mining. In 2020, Indonesia is recorded to have approximately 1.2 billion tons of bauxite ore reserves, which made Indonesia the 6th largest owner of bauxite reserves in the world. Apart from bauxite, around 52% or 72 million tonnes of world nickel reserves are also located in Indonesia. However, most of the bauxite and nickel mining production have been exported in the form of ore or concentrate, which has a much lower selling value compared to the processed products. Therefore, the Indonesian government imposed a ban on the export of unprocessed minerals through Law Number 3 of 2020. The export ban is intended for mineral mining products, especially bauxite and nickel, to be processed first into semi-finished goods or finished goods, to provide added value in terms of foreign exchange for Indonesia. This study aims to determine the impact on the implementation of the downstream program, especially for nickel mineral product from marine transportation point of view. The method used in this study is optimizing non-linear programming to determine the type and number of fleets needed to transport nickel from the mine site to the smelter and its processed products from the smelter to the importing country by considering the minimum unit transport costs. The output of this research is the configuration of the sea transport fleet required for the implementation of the mineral product downstream program as well as the potential added value of transporting those processed products into the Indonesia‘s balance of payment.

Unveiling greenwashing in Colombian manufacturing: A machine learning approach

Greenwashing is the misleading use of environmental claims to market non-eco-friendly products, a growing concern as environmentally conscious consumers seek eco-friendly options. This study aims to identify factors that allow the detection of “greenwashing” practices in Colombian companies across various industrial sectors holding certifications such as ISO14001, the Colombian environmental seal, the district environmental excellence program, or international/regional environmental certifications. We employed a quantitative, cross-sectional methodology using three machine learning algorithms (Decision Tree Classification, Random Forest, Logistic Regression) and the double machine learning technique to identify causal effects and significant variables. Additionally, a greenwashing indicator was formulated, considering two variables: (a) Presence of a comprehensive solid waste management plan, and (b) Presence of a water usage and conservation program. Our findings reveal substantial variations in the adoption of environmental management practices across diverse industrial sectors and regions in Colombia. It is noteworthy that our research emphasizes that: (i) companies with an environmental contingency plan and a monitoring program are less likely to engage in greenwashing; (ii) expenses for personnel dedicated to environmental protection activities and the investment and expenses related to air and climate protection also reduce the likelihood of greenwashing; (iii) companies in the manufacturing of non-metallic mineral products sector are more likely to engage in greenwashing. It was also found that a significant proportion of Colombian industrial companies with environmental certifications do not fully embrace sustainable practices, implying limited effectiveness of environmental certifications in the country (56,09%). This research contributes to the taxonomy of greenwashing by delving into various types identified in the literature. It sheds light on selective disclosure, emphasizing that mere certification without tangible actions can constitute greenwashing. The broadened concept of decoupling now includes not only meeting shareholder expectations but also failing to meet those set by certifications. Attention deflection involves diverting focus toward certifications rather than real investments in environmental practices. Deceptive manipulation occurs when certifications create a misleading perception without concrete actions. Additionally, dubious authorizations and labels are revealed, showcasing the vulnerability of eco-labels to fraud. The study enriches existing categories, viewing certifications as potential instruments for greenwashing, reinforcing the need for substantial, measurable actions to validate sustainability claims.