Waste Products Research Articles

Circular Economy and Water Resources Management

Objective: Present the Circular Economy of water as a regenerative system that maintains the value of the water resource in the economy for as long as possible, minimizing losses and the production of waste. Theoretical Framework: The research is based on the concepts of Circular Economy applied to water resources, highlighting the role of efficient and regenerative management in the context of a global problem of water scarcity. Method: A narrative review of the literature was carried out with research in databases such as Science Direct, Capes and Research Gate. Relevant articles on the topics of circular economy and water resources were selected. Results and Discussion: Significant interactions between water systems and all sectors of society were identified, as well as major opportunities to create additional value through the application of Circular Economy principles. The benefits observed include environmental factors such as water protection; social factors such as ensuring the supply of drinking water; and economic factors from strategic decision-making for implementation in the water sector. Research Implications: The adoption of the Circular Economy in water resources provides a viable model to meet the growing demand for water while promoting environmental sustainability, social equity and economic viability. Originality/Value: This study highlights the Circular Economy as an innovative and sustainable solution for water resource management, offering insights on how to apply its principles to maximize value and minimize environmental impacts.

Leaves to Lifestyle: Raising Awareness of Responsible Production Through Eco-Print Training in Yosowilangun, Gresik

The dimension of Responsible Consumption and Production encompasses the conscientious manufacturing process of a product, with a focus on minimizing waste and residues that may pose environmental risks. Strategically situated within an industrial region, Gresik plays a pivotal role in advancing Sustainable Development Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production. This research endeavors to achieve a dual objective. Firstly, it aims to raise awareness about the significance of responsible production in Yosowilangun, Gresik, one of the busiest villages in the area. Additionally, the research seeks to economically empower women residing in this village. The Eco-Print fabrication employed in this study goes beyond utilizing random waste materials; instead, it leverages the recycling of dried leaves waste, a readily available resource in Gresik. Acknowledging certain limitations, such as the scale of prototype production and the ongoing nature of the study due to the gradual nature of awareness-raising efforts, this research introduces a novel aspect by uniquely applying recycled leaf waste in textile production. This approach, not extensively explored in the industry, opens a new avenue for sustainable manufacturing and women's empowerment in developing regions. The product resulting from this research is not only environmentally friendly but also holds the potential to improve the socio-economic well-being of women in Yosowilangun Village.

Mining and industrial processing wastes of phosphate rocks in Egypt: potentiality of rare earth elements

Abstract Globally, Egypt ranked the eighth position in the production of phosphorus with about 5 million tons annually. Phosphate ore is considered one of the commonest sources of rare earth elements (REEs). Mining and industrial processes (beneficiation) of phosphate ore produce huge amounts of wastes in different sizes. The present study aims to evaluate the potentiality of the phosphate ore wastes as a source of rare earth elements (REEs). The study targeted some phosphate production sites in Egypt, including: Abu Tartur, West and East El-Sebaiya phosphate mines, in addition to the fertilizers factory in Assiut. The collected waste samples, during 2023, were analyzed in terms of mineralogical composition using XRD (X-Ray Diffraction) and chemical composition using XRF (X-Ray Fluorescence). The results of chemical analysis recorded the highest concentrations of Y, Ce, La, Nd, Sc, Sm, U, and Th in Abu Tartur waste samples, while the lowest concentrations were recorded in the fertilizers factory waste samples. These wastes contain higher concentrations of REEs than the Algerian and USA wastes. Furthermore, an enrichment of the mostly environmental hazardous elements As, Cr, Cd, Pb, and Se are detected in Abu Tartur and West and East El-Sebaiya. Thus, the wastes from the industry and mining processing of phosphate represented a vital economic source for the production of REEs. The use of wastes for production of trace and rare earth elements represents an economic and environmental add value for phosphate industry.

Imprint of ancestral and modern threats in human mind – experience of fear, disgust, and anger

IntroductionThreats to our survival are often posed by the environment in which humans have evolved or live today. Animal and human ancestors developed complex physiological and behavioral response systems to cope with two types of threats: immediate physical harm from predators or conspecifics, triggering fear, and the risk of infections from parasites and pathogens leading to the evolution of the behavioral immune system (BIS) with disgust as the key emotion. Here we ask whether the BIS has adapted to protect us from pandemic risks or poisoning by modern toxic substances.MethodsWe have developed a survey comprised of 60 vignettes describing threats evoking fear and disgust belonging to one of the three main categories of threats: (1) ancestral, (2) modern, and (3) pandemic of airborne disease. Each vignette was evaluated on a 7-point Likert scale based on fear, disgust, and anger. Respondents also completed an assessment battery.ResultsThe results show that the strongest fear is triggered by modern threats (electricity, car accidents), while the highest disgust is evoked by ancient threats (body waste products, worms). Disgust does not respond to modern threat stimuli such as toxic substances or radioactivity as these evoke mainly fear and anger. A discriminant factor analysis classified nine out of 10 pandemic disgust vignettes into the ancestral disgust category, convincingly assigning the pandemic disgust threats to the ancestral type. Gender, age, and type of education were significant moderators of emotional responses across all threat categories.DiscussionOur study reveals that while fear is more context-dependent, particularly triggered by modern threats, disgust operates on an evolutionarily hardwired basis, making it less effective against contemporary risks. Furthermore, disgust experienced during a pandemic outbreak is more closely aligned with ancestral disgust-related threats tapping into evolutionary ancient survival circuits of the BIS. However, as disgust declines with age, the brain must adaptatively shift the emotional processing from disgust to fear to protect older adults from contamination risks. Finally, our study reveals that pandemic fear is better predicted by specific behaviors rather than general anxiety, suggesting a need for new assessments.

Chemical and Enzymatic Mechanosynthesis of Organocatalytic Peptide Materials Based on Proline and Phenylalanine.

In recent years, mechanosynthesis of peptides through either chemical or enzymatic routes has been accomplished. In part, this advancement has been driven due to the organocatalytic properties of peptide-based biomaterials. In this work, we report the merging of chemical and enzymatic protocols under mechanochemical conditions to synthesize peptide materials based on L-proline and L-phenylalanine. Compared to traditional step-by-step peptide synthesis in solution, our mechanochemical approach combining peptide coupling reagents with the proteolytic enzyme papain offers a more sustainable route by reducing the number of synthetic steps, shortening reaction times, increasing chemical yields, and minimizing waste production. Notably, the mechanosynthesized peptides exhibited organocatalytic activity in the asymmetric aldol reaction between cyclohexanone and 4-nitrobenzaldehyde.

Polyphenolic compounds in Sauvignon Blanc - from grapes to wine

At harvest, the metabolic composition of wine grapes reflects the accumulated effect of the environmental conditions, the stresses endured, and viticultural manipulations applied during the growing season. The role of the winemaker is to extract and nurture this “metabolite potential” throughout the winemaking process. However, it is typically difficult to relate this grape potential to that of the eventual wines. In this study, a holistic view of Sauvignon Blanc grape and wine polyphenolic compounds was attempted by measuring these compounds from different matrices, from ripe grape tissues up to the final wine, including the submatrices, such as juice, pomace and sediment. Sauvignon Blanc vines from one vineyard block were manipulated to yield berries with distinctly different phenolic potentials by creating a high light (HL) or a low light (LL) microclimate in the fruiting zone of the canopy during the growing season. The analyses of the HL and LL berries and wines, as well as concomitant analyses of the phenolic compounds in the submatrices, allowed their tracing as they were (i) transferred from one matrix to another, (ii) lost as waste products, or (iii) affected by different winemaking practices (skin contact and/or fermentation in contact with the juice sediment) implemented in the experimental design. In berries, flavonols showed the largest increase due to sun exposure (HL treatment) but were absent from the juice samples at all juice processing stages. They were however detected in the juice sediment, together with high concentrations of organic acids and sugars. Juice processing was noted for dramatic fluctuations in metabolite concentrations suggesting intense metabolic activity in this pre-fermentation matrix. Both skin contact and sediment contact treatments delivered wines with higher concentrations of coutaric acid (the ester formed from coumaric and tartaric acid) and the flavanol catechin while epicatechin concentrations was unaffected. The higher catechin concentrations did not lead to increased perceived bitterness in the wines, except in the sediment contact treatments. The total phenolic compound concentration of wine from LL (low phenolic potential) grapes was comparable to wine from HL (high phenolic potential) grapes, when skin contact, or sediment contact treatments were employed. From a sensory perspective, the sediment contact decreased the fruity aromas of Sauvignon Blanc, while the skin contact treatment enhanced the sensorial properties of the wines made from the LL grapes, allowing increased extraction from the skin-accumulated impact compounds.

Comparative analysis of torrefaction and hydrothermal carbonization of kitchen waste for sustainable biofuel production

Comparative analysis of torrefaction and hydrothermal carbonization of kitchen waste for sustainable biofuel production

Interpretable Intelligent Fault Diagnosis for Heat Exchangers Based on SHAP and XGBoost

Heat exchangers play an important role in offshore oil and gas production and offshore low-temperature waste heat power generation. Heat exchanger health management mainly relies on performance parameter monitoring; however, accurate fault mode identification remains a challenge and the diagnostic results are difficult to interpret. This paper proposed an interpretable intelligent diagnosis method for heat exchangers based on Shapley Additive exPlanation and eXtreme Gradient Boosting. Firstly, secondary parameters characterizing the health state of heat exchangers are constructed based on online monitored data such as pressure and temperature. Then, the multi-dimensional feature vector is constructed by integrating the online monitored data and secondary parameters. The XGBoost fault diagnosis model for leakage and scaling faults is established with the multi-dimensional feature vector as the input. To improve the model performance on diagnosis, a grid search optimization algorithm is adopted. After the fault diagnosis of a heat exchanger is completed, the SHAP method is introduced to analyze the contribution of features by quantifying their influence on the fault diagnosis results. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed method is verified by the heat exchanger fault simulation experiment. The proposed method achieved a diagnosis accuracy of 99.79%, which has better performance than the traditional fault diagnosis method.

Cost-Effective Production of Bacterial Cellulose and Tubular Materials by Cultivating Komagataeibacter sucrofermentans B-11267 on a Molasses Medium

An original design of a simple bioreactor was used to fabricate two tubular, 200 cm long BC structures by culturing Komagataeibacter sucrofermentans B-11267 on a molasses medium. In addition, a tubular BC-based biocomposite with improved mechanical properties was obtained by combining cultivation on the molasses medium with in situ chemical modification by polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). Moreover, the present study investigated the BC production by the K. sucrofermentans B-11267 strain on the media with different molasses concentrations under agitated culture conditions. The dynamics of sugar consumption during the cultivation were studied by HPLC. The structure and physicochemical properties of BC and tubular BC structures were characterized by FTIR spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Thus, the findings indicate that K. sucrofermentans B-11267, when cultivated in a molasses medium, which is such a cheap waste product in the sugar industry, forms a significant amount of BC with a high crystallinity degree. The BC tubular structures demonstrated great potential for their application in biomedicine as artificial blood vessels and conduits for nerve regeneration.

Composting Urban Biowaste: A Potential Solution for Waste Management and Soil Fertility Improvement in Dolisie, Congo

Population growth, urbanization, and changing consumption patterns are contributing to an increase in household waste production, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. Composting of biowaste presents a sustainable solution by reducing the volume of waste sent to landfills while enriching the soil. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the suitability of solid household biowaste for composting in market garden crops in Dolisie (the Republic of Congo). Specifically, the study aimed to (i) assess the production and management practices of solid household waste in relation to socio-economic factors, (ii) analyze the chemical composition of solid household biowaste and its concentration of trace elements (TEs), and (iii) determine the potential phytotoxicity of solid household biowaste across different production seasons. In this study, wastes were collected from 40 households over a 60-day period, with daily sorting conducted during both the dry and wet seasons. Using a completely randomized design, various compost application rates were incorporated into the soil to conduct a germination test. The quality of the biowaste and compost was evaluated through physicochemical analyses. Results showed that approximately 90% of high-income households received regular waste collection services and practiced waste separation in contrast to middle- and low-income households. The composition of the biowaste was primarily composed of fruit and vegetable scraps, with slight contamination by chromium and cadmium. Temperature, pH, and humidity levels showed similar trends during compost formation in both the rainy and dry seasons. Germination rates were above 80% in all treatments across both seasons, indicating that the compost was mature. Overall, all physicochemical parameters of the compost met established quality standards, and trace element concentrations were below the recommended thresholds. The study concluded that biowaste, once converted into compost, can be safely applied to agricultural soils without posing any risk of phytotoxicity or contamination to crops.

Immobilization of Enzymes in Polymeric Materials Based on Polyamide: A Review

The immobilization of enzymes in polyamide-based polymeric materials through covalent bonding is an established technique to stabilize and reuse biocatalysts in industrial processes. Traditionally, enzymes are immobilized using crosslinking agents that activate functional groups on both the support and the enzyme, creating strong bonds that securely anchor the enzyme to the surface. While effective for maintaining enzyme activity over multiple cycles, this method can reduce catalytic efficiency due to rigid binding and involves complex activation steps. Recently, in situ immobilization approaches have emerged as promising alternatives. In this method, enzymes are directly entrapped within the polymer matrix during the synthesis of the polyamide support, such as nylon, simplifying the process and offering enhanced control over enzyme distribution. For instance, studies have demonstrated that in situ immobilization can improve enzyme stability by protecting it within the polymeric network, while reducing production costs and waste. This review explores the ability of polyamide as a support material for immobilization of enzymes, analyzing key techniques, performance across applications, and future strategies to optimize polymer-enzyme interactions for industrial use.

Scorpionism in the State of Bahia, Brazil: A More Neglected Problem During the Pandemic?

During the confinement in the COVID-19 pandemic, there was an increase in the production of urban waste, increasing the risk of accidents caused by scorpions. We sought to determine the clinical and epidemiologic aspects of scorpionism records in the 7 mesoregions of the State of Bahia, Brazil, examining differences in periods before and during the pandemic. Data were obtained from SINAN, Brazil's Notifiable Diseases Information System (January 2010-December 2021). Measures of morbidity (incidence and lethality) and mortality were evaluated, comparing the averages before (2018 and 2019) and during the pandemic (2020 and 2021). Sociodemographic data (ie, gender, age group, and race) and conditions of care (ie, time, classification, and evolution) were compared by mesoregion. A total of 159,982 cases of scorpionism were registered, with a higher proportion in the prepandemic period (P<0.05) and a higher average incidence in the Center South of Bahia (267.32; n=82,059; 51.29%). Most cases occurred in mixed-race individuals (61.73%), females (n=81,292; 51.22%), and individuals between 20 and 39 y of age (n=48,876; 30.55%) and most cases were classified as mild (n=136,816; 85.52%), were attended in <1 h (n=81,941; 51.22%), and progresses to cure (n=142,082; 88.81%). There were 263 deaths (0.16%), with a mortality rate of 1.77/100,000 inhabitants and a lethality of 0.16%. It is suggested that during the COVID-19 pandemic, despite the upward curve of accidents, social isolation measures and collective fear may have decreased the search for medical care after a scorpion sting, reducing notifications of the condition in the State of Bahia.

Drowning in Our Progress? Tackling the Growing Menace of Urban Floods in India

A recent key challenge called urban flooding has grasped Indian cities, collectively impacted by climate change and unsustainable infrastructural developments. Major cities throughout the country e.g., Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata and Chennai, as well as smaller cities like Vadodara and Guwahati, are facing increased frequency and intensity of floods. Extreme rainfall events, urban sprawl, and inadequate infrastructure drive this. Further, this can solely be a consequence of heavy rainfall but, is intricately linked to man-made alterations like encroachment on water bodies, antiquated drainage systems, and a surge in population leading to higher waste production. The fast-paced urbanisation in the last few decades has resulted in the decline of natural water bodies that once soaked the excess downpours of monsoon seasons. Additionally, drainage systems in many cities were designed for lesser rainfall, and are incapable of coping with the increased intense rainfall in shorter spells. Accumulation of waste and siltation in the drainage systems have further multi-folded the urban inundation issues in India. Due to this the incurred economic losses and human fatalities in the country remain difficult to believe. Collective awakening of stakeholders for climate-resilient urban infrastructure, proper waste management, and upgrading drainage outdated systems can reduce the inflated risks of urban flooding in India.

Sustainable material as a column filler in soft clay bed reinforced with encased column: numerical analysis

Soil reinforcement is one of the techniques used to enhance the engineer characteristics of the soil. Various techniques can be employed to stabilise problematic soils, such as soft clay. These include the utilisation of portland cement, lime, fly ash, ground freezing, jet grouting, prefabricated vertical drains, and thermal approaches. Similarly, stone columns are one of the most popular methods for enhancing soil and have been adopted across the world to enhance bearing capacity and minimise total and differential settlements of structures built on soft clay. Additionally stone columns serving as vertical drains, thus accelerate consolidation process. But with higher demand of construction material and depletion of natural resources, there is a need of using waste products as a substitute to existing construction materials. In this paper, manufacturing waste like steel slag is used as a sustainable material for column infill and can be affordable and also address the current environmental concern which by removing solid waste… A series of numerical investigation was carried out to study the various behavioural characteristics of virgin soft clay bed, clay bed installed with ordinary steel slag column and also with encased steel slag column. A comparison was made among all for studying the various parameters such as settlement, excess pore water pressure, stress concentration ratio & lateral deformation of columns.

Journal Review: Effectiveness of Supplementary Feed Ingredients on Egg Productivity and Body Weight Gain of Balibangtan Superior Hens

Feed is a major determining factor in the success of layer and broiler farming. The nutritional content of the feed must meet the requirements to increase livestock productivity. To improve chicken performance, we use additional feed. This review aims to determine the effectiveness of feed ingredients as a feed supplementation for chickens by using production waste, forage, household waste, forage, and enzymes to increase the growth and production of KUB chickens. Ingredients that can be used as feed additives include coconut pulp, pumpkin waste flour, papaya leaf waste, teak leaf extract, moringa leaves, tilapia plants, betel leaf juice, BS4, selenium chitosan, phytase, xylooligosaccharide, kesum leaf flour, sago pulp, spinach waste, and BSF maggot. The results of this review showed that the most effective feed ingredient was the supplementation of teak leaf extract (Tectona grandis), with a protein content of 4.9%, being the most effective feed ingredient in increasing egg productivity up to 15%. The supplementation of kesum leaf flour, with an average body weight gain of 426.97 g/head, is the most effective feed ingredient for increasing body weight growth in KUB chickens.

Blastocyst-Derived Lactate as a Key Facilitator of Implantation

The blastocyst develops a unique metabolism that facilitates the creation of a specialized microenvironment at the site of implantation characterized by high levels of lactate and reduced pH. While historically perceived as a metabolic waste product, lactate serves as a signaling molecule which facilitates the invasion of surrounding tissues by cancers and promotes blood vessel formation during wound healing. However, the role of lactate in reproduction, particularly at the implantation site, is still being considered. Here, we detail the biological significance of the microenvironment created by the blastocyst at implantation, exploring the origin and significance of blastocyst-derived lactate, its functional role at the implantation site and how understanding this mediator of the maternal–fetal dialogue may help to improve implantation in assisted reproduction.

Analysis of Carbon Emission Reduction Potential in the Pilot of a "Zero-free City" in Chongqing

The construction of "zero-free cities" is an effective plan to achieve the carbon peak plan, reduce pollution and carbon emissions, and promote a circular economy. Based on the WARM model and Emission factor method, the total carbon emission reduction of solid waste sources and disposal in each field during the implementation of the zero-free city policy in Chongqing （2017-2021） was calculated, and the total carbon emission reduction of solid waste in each field in 2025 was predicted by scenario. The results showed that： ① After the implementation of cleaner production and green manufacturing policies in Chongqing, the generation intensity of general industrial solid waste decreased to 0.20 t·（104 yuan）-1 in 2021, and the carbon emission reduction in the industrial sector had been increasing since 2020. Due to the growth of the economy and living level, the per capita production of food waste, domestic waste, and e-waste increased, failing to reduce emissions at the source in these areas. In addition, the promotion of green food and organic agricultural products and the restriction of the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides could be strengthened to further reduce source emissions in the agricultural field. ② General industrial solid waste, construction waste, and straw were the key areas to achieve carbon emission reduction, and their carbon emission reductions were predicted to increase to 2 796.64×104, 538.54×104, and 99.07×104 t in 2021. Respectively, reducing the landfill volume in the above fields is the key to emission reduction. In the field of daily life, the collection and transportation of solid waste should be improved, the sorting process and disposal facilities should be refined, and the resource recycling rate should be improved to reduce its carbon emissions. Due to the improvement of the collection level and the application of straw feed and fertilizer, the carbon emission reduction of straw and agricultural film is generally rising, and the proportion of straw and livestock manure directly returned to the field should be reduced in the agricultural field, and the allocation of biomass disposal facilities to promote the co-disposal of the two may be the best means of carbon emission reduction. ③ In 2025, the predicted carbon emission reductions in Chongqing under the BAU scenario and the PLAN scenario were 2 289.78×104 and 2 750.31×104 t, respectively, indicating that the upgrading and transformation of local industries and the large-scale scale of the renewable resources industry have achieved good carbon reduction benefits. With the construction and improvement of various waste disposal facilities in 2025, the carbon emission reduction of the solid waste disposal process in various fields will continue to increase, but the carbon emissions of hazardous waste, municipal sludge, and livestock and poultry manure will still be in a state of growth due to the possible increase in total output in the future.

Toward Sustainable Mining: Repurposing Benguerir’s Phosphate Mine Waste Rock for Road Subgrade Construction

Natural aggregates are widely consumed worldwide by the road construction industry. Particularly in the phosphate sector, reducing industrial waste and conserving non-renewable natural resources can be achieved by utilizing unusual industrial wastes and by-products in road construction procedures. Road construction may find use for Phosphate Mine Waste Rocks (PMWR) as an alternate secondary raw material source. However, there are currently limitations on the use and valuation of these materials due to the Moroccan Guide for Road Earthworks (GMTR), which classifies them as waste products and so unsuitable for use in road building. Phosphate waste rocks are naturally existing sedimentary rocks that have mainly been mechanically fragmented, despite their designation. The purpose of this study is to assess PMWR’s essential characteristics for application in road construction. At the Moroccan phosphate mine location of Benguerir, samples have been collected from screening stockpiles. Then, using international testing standards, environmental and health behaviours, chemical, mineralogical, physical, and geotechnical behaviours, these samples were analysed. The materials’ suitability for use in subgrade layer was validated by laboratory and field experiments, hence allowing for their reclassification as conventional materials.

Metagenomic and proteomic insights into graphene oxide-boosted anaerobic co-fermentation of food waste and sewage sludge for volatile fatty acids production

Metagenomic and proteomic insights into graphene oxide-boosted anaerobic co-fermentation of food waste and sewage sludge for volatile fatty acids production

Investigation of moisture content and higher heating value in refuse-derived fuel from agricultural residues using statistical modelling

&lt;p&gt;There is an increasing interest in using agricultural residues and wastes for energy production due to concerns regarding climate change and energy security issues. One of the alternative fuels considered is Refuse-derived fuel (RDF) from biomass, which has a Higher Heating Value (HHV) comparable to coal. This study aims to investigate the relationship between the moisture content and the HHV value. Palm kernel shells (PKS), coconut husks (CH), and coconut shells (CS) were blended at various ratios (10%–80%) and moisture levels (5%, 7%, 10%). The HHV was analyzed through a proximate analysis, with JMP Pro 17.0 modelling the HHV against the moisture content. Then, the Tukey-Kramer analysis identified the optimal energy ratio, thus providing insights into maximizing the RDF efficiency. The result showed that the highest HHV was 21.617 MJ/kg with the RDF2 formulation. Notably, the RDF2 energy content was less than 4% of that of coal, thus demonstrating the potential of utilizing agricultural waste to produce solid fuel with a positive environmental impact.&lt;/p&gt;