Environmental Problems Research Articles

Research progress in tolerance of petroleum hydrocarbon pollutant-degrading strains

Petroleum hydrocarbon pollution has become one of the global environmental problems, posing a serious threat to the environment and human health. Microbial remediation plays an important role in the remediation of petroleum hydrocarbon-contaminated environment. Nevertheless, the stress factors present in the environment polluted by petroleum hydrocarbons limit the effectiveness of microbial remediation. This paper reviews the common stress factors in petroleum hydrocarbon-polluted environment and the response mechanisms of microorganisms to these factors. Furthermore, we introduce the methods to improve microbial tolerance, such as irrational modification, rational modification based on systems biology tools or tolerance mechanisms, and the construction of microbial consortia. The application of these methods is expected to improve the viability and remediation efficiency of microorganisms in petroleum hydrocarbon-contaminated environment and provide new perspectives and technical support for environmental remediation.

Enhancing engineering design, scientific creativity, and decision-making skills in prospective science teachers through engineering design-based robotics coding applications

ABSTRACT Background Engineering design-based robotics coding applications are innovative approaches in science education that can enhance key skills among prospective science teachers. Addressing global environmental issues within these applications provides a unique context for developing engineering design skills, scientific creativity, and decision-making abilities. Purpose This study aimed to determine the effects of engineering design-based robotics coding applications, conducted within the context of global environmental issues, on the engineering design skills, scientific creativity, and decision-making abilities of prospective science teachers. Sample The research was conducted with prospective science teachers at a state university in Turkey during the 2022–2023 academic year. Design and methods The study employed the convergent parallel design of mixed research methods. Quantitative data were collected using the ‘Engineering Design Skills Scale’, ‘Scientific Creativity Scale’, and ‘Decision-Making Skills Scale’. Qualitative data were gathered through a ‘Semi-Structured Interview Form’. Results The findings revealed that engineering design-based robotics coding applications significantly improved the engineering design skills, scientific creativity, and decision-making abilities of prospective science teachers. Conclusions These results suggest that integrating such applications into science teacher education, particularly in the context of global environmental issues, can play a vital role in equipping future educators to address environmental challenges. This study underscores the importance of innovative approaches in teacher education to strengthen prospective teachers’ ability to develop solutions to environmental problems.

Functional analysis and modification of anti-lipopolysaccharide factor (ALF) from the freshwater crab Sinopotamon henanense and preparation of a novel ShALF6-2 K-AgNPs complex.

Overuse of antibiotics has led to the emergence of drug-resistant bacteria and environmental problems. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) can potentially replace antibiotics. Therefore, it is possible to create composite nanostructures with synergistic bactericidal properties by combining AgNPs and AMPs. In this study, a novel anti-lipopolysaccharide factor 6, named ShALF6, was identified in the freshwater crab Sinopotamon henanense. Full-length ShALF6 is 654 bp long and contains a typical lipopolysaccharide-binding domain spanning from Cys51 to Lys72. ShALF6 is highly expressed in hemocytes and responds to infection by the gram-negative bacterium Aeromonas hydrophila. ShALF6 inhibited the growth of gram-negative bacteria by binding to them and disrupting their cell membranes. To alter the charge of ShALF6, the negatively charged glutamic acid (E) in the sequence was replaced with a positively charged lysine (K) and the modified protein was named ShALF6-2 K. The bacteriostatic activity of ShALF6-2 K was significantly enhanced by an increase in the protein's cations. ShALF6-2 K showed high binding efficiency after 36 h of co-incubation with AgNPs and modifying the surface potential of the AgNPs. ShALF6-2 K-AgNPs exhibited synergistic inhibition with enhanced effectiveness against gram-negative bacteria. Finally, the cytotoxicity of ShALF6-2 K-AgNPs was investigated. The combination of ShALF6-2 K and AgNPs significantly reduced the toxic effects of AgNPs on the cells. This study provides theoretical and experimental bases for the development of novel bioactive AMP-coated composite AgNPs.

Review on the application of biomass-based aerogels in the field of thermal insulation.

The continuous progression of industrialisation and the burgeoning global population have precipitated the non-renewable energy crisis and exacerbated environmental problems, thereby stimulating a huge demand for production of environmentally friendly materials. Typically, biomass-based aerogels (BAs) derived from cellulose, chitosan (CS), lignin, and alginate have been gradually captivating the attention of researchers owing to their high specific surface area, substantial porosity, low density, porous architecture, and biodegradability. In this review, we demonstrate the sustainability of BAs by contrasting the overall advantages or disadvantages of BAs with those of synthetic alternatives in terms of cost, insulation performance, and planetary boundaries. In addition, the aerogels based on biomass in recent years are summarized, including thermal insulation mechanisms, the raw materials, test methods, preparation approaches (focusing on the use of crosslinking and drying methods in the preparation process), as well as the wide-ranging applications. Furthermore, we offer the incisive insights into the challenges and prospective opportunities for BAs. The up-to-date summary and discussion will be beneficial to the development of functional BAs, which can improve resource utilization efficiency, thereby catalyzing the advancement of green technology.

The technological advancement environmental regulations and their impact on energy efficiency and CO2 emissions

Environmental rules and regulations are essential instruments the government administration uses to control environmental problems in this era of advanced technologies and smooth economic growth. This paper aims to examine how environmental regulations, both mandatory and incentive-based, impact on carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in the presence of urbanization, foreign trade, economic growth and energy efficiency (EE) in logistics transportation. The influence of explicating factors on dependent variables, such as the highest, lowest, and mean, is estimated using the quantile regression model. We applied a number of econometric techniques like unit root test, panel co-integration, quantiles regression (CO2), quantiles regression (Energy efficiency), endogeneity test, and finally, we applied the robustness test to verify the results. This research uses quantile regression to estimate the influence of environmental regulations on releasing carbon dioxide and energy efficiency, using panel data of China’s thirty provinces from 2005 to 2019. Environmental policies in the Ningxia, Qinghai, and Hainan provinces impose higher pollution penalties, which significantly impact reducing CO2 emissions. These regions release more environmental regulations, and in the provinces that fall between the 25th and 50th percentiles, mandatory environmental regulations significantly lower CO2 emissions. Incentive environmental regulations regarding the environment have a more significant effect on energy efficiency in the 50th–75th, 75th–90th, and higher 90th percentile groups since these groups have made more significant investments in research and development. Meanwhile, the Yunnan, Heilongjiang, and Xinjiang provinces have higher energy efficiency levels due to mandatory environmental legislation. The results provide the correct information to the government to implement effective environmental regulations to achieve sustainable development goals.

Computational simulation of graphene/h-BN nanopores for single-molecule herbicide sensing.

The growing world population and climate change are key drivers for the increasing pursuit of more efficient and environmentally-safe food production. In this scenario, the large scale use of herbicides demands the development new technologies to control
and monitor the application of these compounds, due to their several environmental and health-related problems. Motivated by all these issues, in this work, a hybrid graphene/boron nitride nanopore is explore to detect/identify herbicide molecules (Glyphosate, AMPA, Diuron, and 2,4-D). Solid-state nanopores based on 2D materials have been widely explored as novel generation sensors capable of single-molecule resolution. The present investigation combines the density functional theory (DFT) and non-equilibrium Green's function (NEGF) method to assess the interaction of each herbicide with the nanopore and how its interaction modulates the device's electronic
transport properties. The device's sensitivity spreads from 9.0 up to 27.0% when probed at different gate voltage values. Overall, the proposed device seems to be sensitive and selective to be considered as a promising single-molecule herbicide sensor.

Application of molten salt thermoelectric effect in biomass preparation of hydrogen-rich gas, porous biochar and molten salt regeneration.

Hydrogen production from biomass pyrolysis is attractive since it allows for green hydrogen production through feedstock and thermal conversion. However, the key limiting factors for hydrogen production are the high oxygen content, uneven heating of biomass pellets during the slow heating process, and insufficient depolymerization due to low reaction temperatures (low gas yields and low hydrogen content). To address these challenges, fast pyrolysis of super Arundo in NaOH-Na2CO3 molten salt was carried out in this paper at 450°C, 550°C and 650°C. Considering the sustainable operation and environmental problems caused by the consumption of molten salt, electrochemical electrolysis was proposed to regenerate the molten salt. The experimental results show that at 650°C, the thermal conversion of biomass in the alkaline molten salt can prepare abundant hydrogen and simultaneously capture CO2 in situ. Compared to conventional (salt-free) pyrolysis, the percentage of H2 pyrolysis in molten salt increased from 13.11% to 81.53%, while CO2 decreased from 28.68% to 2.07%. It is noted that the mass of H in the gas exceeds the amount of H in the biomass by a factor of 1.67. This indicates that the molten salt was involved in the biomass conversion. Besides, the pyrolyzed carbon (PC) prepared in this molten salt pyrolysis system has a high specific surface area (1960.07m2/g) with many hydroxyl functional groups. Some carbon material is also produced during electrochemical molten salt regeneration, resulting from CO32- generated from the C component (C, CO, CO2) entering the molten salt and re-separated to form OH- and C. Experimental results exhibit that the regeneration ratio of NaOH reaches 24.76%. The coupling of molten salt thermochemistry and electrochemistry realized carbon-negative utilization of low-carbon resources, this study provides practical guidance for the continuous application of molten salt including regeneration/recycling of molten salt and high-value utilization of waste molten salt.

Introduction of Hydrosphere Environmental Problems in Lower Secondary School Chemistry Lessons

Introduction of Hydrosphere Environmental Problems in Lower Secondary School Chemistry Lessons

SERS and ECL dual-mode sensing of bacterial lipopolysaccharide based on bifunctional DNA strands mediated transformation from Au@Ag nanocubes to silver nanoclusters.

Bacterial contamination is a very serious health and environmental problem, with the main source of toxicity being lipopolysaccharides in the cell walls of Gram-negative bacteria. Therefore, the development of effective analytical methods is crucial for the detection of lipopolysaccharide content. This work facilitates the efficient generation of precisely adjustable dual-mode signals for LPS detection in surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) and electrochemiluminescence (ECL) by inducing anisotropic morphological evolution of Au@Ag nanocubes (Au@AgNCs) through poly-cytosine (poly-C) DNA. In the presence of LPS, the released probe triggers rolling circle amplification (RCA) and generates cyclic poly-C DNA, which subsequently induces the etching of Ag composites on Au@AgNCs. This etching process leads to changes in both the morphology and composition of Au@AgNCs composite materials, resulting in a decrease in SERS signals. The poly-C DNA was subsequently adsorbed with Ag+ and then reduced to silver nanoclusters (AgNC) by NaBH4, serving as an ECL signal source. Under optimal experimental conditions, both SERS and ECL demonstrated linear ranges spanning from 1 fg/mL to 1 ng/mL, with detection limits of 0.29 fg/mL and 0.14 fg/mL, respectively. Moreover, the SERS-ECL dual-mode sensor facilitates the accurate discrimination of Gram-negative bacteria in diverse real samples. It demonstrates promising applications in the areas of food safety, water quality monitoring, and clinical bacterial detection.

Pseudomonas simiae WCS417 Strain Enhances Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) Plant Growth Under Alkaline Conditions.

Iron (Fe) deficiency is among the most important agronomical concerns under alkaline conditions. Bicarbonate is considered an important factor causing Fe deficiency in dicot plants, mainly on calcareous soils. Current production systems are based on the use of high-yielding varieties and the application of large quantities of agrochemicals, which can cause major environmental problems. The use of beneficial rhizosphere microorganisms is considered a relevant sustainable alternative to synthetic fertilizers. The main purpose of this work has been to analyze the impact of the inoculation of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) seedlings with the WCS417 strain of Pseudomonas simiae, in the presence or absence of bicarbonate, on plant growth and other physiological parameters. To conduct this research, three different inoculation methods were implemented: root immersion, foliar application, and substrate inoculation by irrigation. The results obtained show the ability of the P. simiae WCS417 strain to induce medium acidification in the presence of bicarbonate to increase the SPAD index and to improve the growth and development of the tomato plants in calcareous conditions provoked by the presence of bicarbonate, which indicates that this bacteria strain could have a great potential as an Fe biofertilizer.

The Implementations and Strategies of Learning Based on Ecoliteracy in Boarding Schools in Reaching SDG for Classy Education

Objective: This research discusses strategies and implementation of ecoliteracy-based learning in Islamic boarding schools. It shows that ecoliteracy-based learning is needed to develop life skills that can be applied in social life. Theoretical Framework: Ecoliteracy is understanding and applying environmental knowledge and awareness in everyday life. Ecoliteracy learning includes the implications of ecological knowledge, socio-political knowledge, knowledge of environmental problems, cognitive abilities, and environmentally responsible behavior. Method: The method used in this research is qualitative with an exploratory descriptive design. Data was obtained using observation techniques, interviews, documentation studies, and focused group discussions. Results and Discussion: All schools where this research was conducted have implemented the Independent Curriculum, consisting of 61.1% at the independent learning level, 22.2% at the independent change level, and 16.7% at the independent sharing level. Research Implications: The implementation of ecoliteracy-based learning in Islamic boarding schools has been implemented by 1) providing reading materials with natural and environmental themes, 2) providing assignments to compose texts with environmental and natural themes, 3) using nature as a learning resource, 4) getting used to activities carried out in the context of building a character who cares about the environment through daily routine activities, such as class pickets, clean Friday activities, the habit of community service, recycling plastic waste into eco-bricks, 5) example from school principals and teachers, 6) motivation and an invitation from school principals and teachers to students to maintain and maintain a clean environment, 7) schools provide adequate infrastructure, such as trash cans, hand washing facilities, etc. Originality/Value: In implementing ecoliteracy-based learning, as many as 72.2% of teachers have provided ecology-oriented texts in their learning. Ecoliteracy learning can make a positive contribution to a sustainable life in an Islamic boarding school-based school environment to realize quality education. Ecoliterate learning is a strategy for realizing SDG quality education.

The Application of GIS Technology in Environmental Management in Ghana

This article traces the evolution of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) from the early days of cartography into contemporary time, within the context of environmental decision-making. The quantitative revolution influenced the development of cartography. In the 1970s computerized mapping and GIS automated cartography. The format and management of spatial data got transformed in the 1980s with the development of geo-query in GIS. In the 21st century GIS included social perspectives in managing GIS data bases. The technology was introduced into higher educational institutions of Ghana in the 1990s. Government departments recognized it to be an important tool for resolving spatial problems. Its potential for consensus building is yet to be fully exploited because the technology was considered to be complex. This was solved by shifting from generating GIS codes, to graphical interface and spatial model applications. From its initial focus of mapping and spatial database management, GIS now concentrates on varied degrees of complexity in modeling. Uses to which the technology has been put in Ghana include mapping the spatial distribution of Buruli Ulcer; using Digital Elevation Model (DEM) in geospatial and hydrological modeling to delineate drainage and watershed to predict flood prone areas in parts of Accra; and, in groundwater projects to select well sites for drilling bore holes. It was concluded that continued application of GIS in Ghana and other parts of the world could result in rare and timeless solutions being found to spatial and environmental problems that confront humanity.

Design of Power Economic Dispatch Method Integrating Differential Evolution and PSO

As energy demand continues to grow and environmental problems become increasingly serious, optimizing the economic dispatch of the power system is crucial to ensuring the sustainability and economic benefits of energy supply. To ensure the safe operation of the power system, reduce power generation costs as much as possible, and develop a method that can adapt to the needs of different power systems, the experiment combines the differential evolution algorithm with the power economic dispatch problem and proposes a method based on improved differential evolution. Electric power economic dispatch method with particle swarm optimization algorithm. The experiment first introduces a moderate interference strategy to appropriately adjust the position of the particles; then combines the local mutation strategy to enhance the searchability of the differential evolution algorithm in the solution space and achieve good economic dispatch. The results show that when running on the F11 test set and F21 test set, when the system iterates to the 26th and 32nd times respectively, the loss function of the method constructed in the experiment begins to have a minimum value and remains stable thereafter. In addition, on the F11 test set, when the number of iterations is 150, this method has a minimum time of 0.153s. While running the loop for the first time on System 1, the total cost of this approach was only $1.01× 104. Through the actual operation of power generation equipment, under the operation of this method, the power system can ensure optimal operating power of each power generation equipment unit based on ensuring optimal cost. It can be seen from the above results that this method provides power system operators and decision-makers with a new tool to help them maximize cost-effectiveness while ensuring system stability and meeting power demand. In addition, the method's superior convergence and stability can effectively improve the solution's accuracy and speed and has strong practicality and promotion value.

Research of Electrical Characteristics of Elements of Solar Power Plants

The article presents the results of studies of the features of solar power plants. A full description of installation and dismantling in rural conditions is given. The set of features of renewable energy sources, as well as ways to solve environmental and economic problems, is analyzed. The results of the study show that Central Asia has great potential for the development of "green energy". This will create new jobs and improve the environmental situation in the region.

Implementation of sustainability in human resource management: A literature review

Orientation: Truly, organisations face the challenge of implementing sustainability in their daily activities.Research purpose: This article examines the ways in which sustainability has been implemented in human resource management (HRM).Motivation for the study: Sustainability has become increasingly important in organisations, particularly regarding HRM.Research approach/design and method: This study used qualitative methodology and collected data by means of an integrative literature review that retrieved appropriate and relevant journal articles from the Business Source Ultimate database, as one of the EBSCOhost databases.Main findings: The findings suggest that green human resource management (GHRM) was the most frequently implemented concept and was combined with rare cases of corporate social responsibility (CSR) implementation. Sustainable human resource management (SHRM) was seldom implemented.Practical/managerial implications: Interestingly, contemporary studies revealed the circular economy (CE) as an economic sustainability dimension in HRM, and likewise, the ascendance of sustainable development goals (SDGs) in HRM. Regarding the process of sustainability implementation in HRM, some links have been established between sustainability dimensions and HRM, but the incorporation of sustainability into HRM was not evident from the reviewed literature.Contribution/value-add: This article ends with a discussion of some insights for future research. Moreover, the selection of sustainability and HRM in this article was significant given that sustainability can contribute towards a way of addressing and solving environmental, social and economic problems associated with organisations’ activities that could be fixed by HR. This demonstrates the existing strong compatibility between sustainability and HRM because HRM could fit in each sustainability dimension.

Study of Environmental Problems after the Completion of Underground Coal Mining on the Western Slopes of the Middle Urals

Study results of disturbed lands ecological state in the course of underground coal mining in the coal-saturated areas of the Kizelovsky Coal Basin in the Perm Krai are presented. Types and areas of technogenic landscape objects formed in the course of coal industry enterprises activity are revealed. The complex of works on acceleration of the ecological balance restoration on the territory subjected to long-term technogenic impact of coal mining enterprises is offered.

Determination of Desalinated Sea Water Usage Possibilities in Muscari armeniacum (Grape Hyacinth) Cultivation

In the current period of time, many environmental problems have occurred in the world with the population increase, industrialization and construction, along with migration from rural areas to urban areas. Among the environmental problems that occur due to all these developments; the decrease in potable and usable freshwater resources, global warming, climate change and drought are the leading environmental problems. This study was carried out in the open field of a private apartment building in Izmir, Turkey to determine the possibility of using desalinated seawater in the cultivation of Muscari armeniacum Leichtlin ex Baker. Depending on the purpose of the study, Muscari armeniacum Leichtlin ex Baker was grown using desalinated seawater and tap water (control). To determine the effect of desalinated seawater on plant growth, leaf length, leaf width, root length, underground part weight, number of bulblets and upper part weight were measured. It was observed that Muscari armeniacum Leichtlin ex Baker plants showed normal growth when desalinated seawater was used throughout the experiment. According to the statistical analysis, the difference between desalinated sea water and tap water was significant only in leaf length and leaf width parameters. While the average leaf length was 54.47 cm and leaf width were 5.71 mm in tap water (control), the average leaf length was 53.47 cm and leaf width were 5.19 mm in desalinated sea water treatment. The effect of irrigation water sources on other parameters was statistically insignificant. As a result of the study, desalinated seawater can be used for the cultivation of Muscari armeniacum Leichtlin ex Baker. It is recommended that studies evaluating the possibilities of using desalinated sea water in the cultivation of different ornamental plant species will contribute to the literature.

Addressing the Uncertainties in the Environmental Analysis, Modeling, Source and Risk Assessment of Emerging Contaminants

Emerging contaminants (ECs) have become a growing source of worry for environmental researchers and stakeholders in recent decades. Compared with conventional pollutants, ECs can pose environmental risks even at a trace level. The analysis of ECs is typically significantly more challenging than that of conventional pollutants because of their trace amounts and diverse chemical structures. For sound environmental management, it is necessary to perform a comprehensive study of these pollutants. Global concern has increasingly grown over the occurrence, fate, environmental modeling, and risk assessment of such contaminants. Due to the dearth of knowledge in this area, various unc3ertainties inevitably exist in the investigation of ECs. Environmental problems cannot be precisely understood due to the ubiquitous uncertainties in environmental research. Uncertainties and their sources have been reviewed in this study, including spatial and temporal variability, uncertainty in sample collection and analysis, uncertainty in environmental modeling, uncertainty in risk assessment, and uncertainty in source characterization. Some suggestions to reduce uncertainties are summarized. An awareness of uncertainty is necessary for us to have a more accurate understanding and contribute to sound environmental decision-making and management. In addition, more work remains to be performed to reveal the uncertainties in the analysis and risk assessment of ECs.

PROBLEMS OF ENVIRONMENTAL SECURITY AND WATER SUPPLY NEEDS IN THE CENTRAL ASIAN REGION

he last decade in the Central Asian region has been characterized by a steady trend of increasing fresh water needs due to the expansion of agricultural activities and the growth of population consumption. At the same time, the growth of consumption is ensured exclusively by increasing the anthropogenic load on available water resources, which causes a multiple increase in the risks of environmental disasters and problems with water supply and ensuring water security of the countries of the region. The article uses the method of complex assessment (balance method) of assessing the level of water resources availability in the context of countries, content analysis of regulation of water use of transboundary rivers, factor analysis of the growth of regulation of water flows of the main rivers (Amu Darya and Syr Darya basins, hereinafter abbreviated as BAM) and project analysis of the growth of anthropogenic pressure on the resource base of the region. The study notes that the uncoordinated use of water resources for national development and projects to overcome the environmental problems of shallowing of the Aral Sea only lead to an aggravation of the situation. The conclusions are based on the assessment of projects and strategies for overcoming the environmental catastrophe of the Aral Sea and the construction of new artificial water drainage infrastructure in the countries of the lower reaches of transboundary rivers.

Solution for Environmentally Friendly Silver Surface Magnetron Sputtering Color Titanium Film Layer Technology

Silver is an elegant white precious metal, but it is easily oxidized by O3, SO2, and H2S in the air, turning yellow or dark, which affects its decorative effect. The existing silver coating, primarily prepared through the electroplating process, poses serious environmental pollution problems. It is necessary to seek new, green, and environmentally friendly coating processes while also enhancing the color palette of silver jewelry coatings. Titanium film layers were deposited on Ag925 and Ag999 surfaces using magnetron sputtering coating technology. The effects of sputtering time, substrate surface state, reaction gas type and time, and film thickness on the color of the film layers were studied, and the anti discoloration performance of the obtained film layers under the optimal process was tested. The experimental results show that when the sputtering time varies from 5 to 10 minutes, injecting argon, oxygen, and nitrogen into the coating chamber yields rich colors such as purple with a red tint, blue, yellow green, yellowish purple, and blue purple. The precise control of gas injection time has a significant impact on the color of the film layer. In terms of anti tarnish performance, the film showed good stability in the artificial sweat immersion test. From an environmental perspective, the magnetron sputtering titanium film process has no harmful gas or liquid emissions, which aligns with the sustainable development trend of the jewelry industry and holds great promise for application. This study has improved the visual effect and practical performance of the product, providing important theoretical basis and experimental data support for the application of environmentally friendly silver surface vacuum magnetron sputtering titanium thin film coating technology.