Rapid Industrialization Research Articles

In situ nitrogen-doped graphene-TiO2 nano-hybrid as an efficient photocatalyst for pollutant degradation.

To solve environmental-related issues (wastewater remediation, energy conservation and air purification) caused by rapid urbanization and industrialization, synthesis of novel and modified nanostructured photocatalyst has received increasing attention in recent years. We herein report the facile synthesis of in situ nitrogen-doped chemically anchored TiO2 with graphene through sol-gel method. The structural analysis using X-ray diffraction showed that the crystalline nitrogen-doped graphene-titanium dioxide (N-GT) nanocomposite is mainly composed of anatase with minor brookite phase. Raman spectroscopy revealed the graphene characteristic band presence at low intensity level in addition to the main bands of anatase TiO2. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis disclosed the chemical bonding of TiO2 with graphene via Ti-O-C linkage, also the substitution of nitrogen dopant in both TiO2 lattice and into the skeleton of graphene nanoflakes. UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy analysis established that the modified material can efficiently absorb the longer wavelength range photons due to its narrowed band gap. The N0.06-GT material showed the highest degradation efficiency over methylene blue (MB, ∼98%) under UV and sulfamethoxazole (SMX, ∼ 90.0%) under visible light irradiation. The increased activity of the composite is credited to the synergistic effect of high surface area via greater adsorption capacity, narrowed band gap via increased photon absorption, and reduced e-/h+ recombination via good electron acceptability of graphene nanoflakes and defect sites (Ti3+ and oxygen vacancy(Vo)). The ROS experiments further depict that primarily hydroxyl radicals (OH•) and superoxide anions (O2•-) are responsible for the pollutant degradation in the process redox reactions. In summary, our findings specify new insight into the fabrication of this new material whose efficiency can be further tested in applications like H2 production, CO2 conversion to value-added products, and in energy conservation and storage.

The African fulcrum to bend the curve of the climate crisis to a just transition

From a current impact of under 4% of global greenhouse gas emissions, rapid industrialization and population growth in Africa could dramatically change the continent’s emissions profile. In this study, we develop an analytic framework to quantify future scenarios and project that, in mid- and green-growth scenarios, Africa’s emissions would amount to just 4%–13% of the planned carbon savings in major economies. However, in a high-growth scenario without climate-conscious development, African emissions could jeopardize global mitigation efforts. Less than 20 nations could account for 80%–90% of the continent’s emissions, highlighting the critical role of green growth pathways centered on rapid clean energy adoption in just a few countries to transform the continent’s energy landscape. A 20-fold increase in investment and project completion rates is required to meet the renewable energy targets in these countries’ Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). Our analysis underscores the need for nuanced country-specific strategies that prioritize equity and financial support for optimal climate and development progress in Africa.

State-of-the-art review on hydrogen's production, storage, and potential as a future transportation fuel.

Global energy consumption is expected to reach 911 BTU by the end of 2050 as a result of rapid urbanization and industrialization. Hydrogen is increasingly recognized as a clean and reliable energy vector for decarbonization and defossilization across various sectors. Projections indicate a significant rise in global demand for hydrogen, underscoring the need for sustainable production, efficient storage, and utilization. In this state-of-the-art review, we explore hydrogen production methods, compare their environmental impacts through life cycle analysis, delve into geological storage options, and discuss hydrogen's potential as a future transportation fuel. Combining electrolysis to make hydrogen and storing it in porous underground materials like salt caverns and geological reservoirs looks like a good way to balance out the variable supply of renewable energy and meet the demand at peak times. Hydrogen is a key component of our sustainable economy, and this article gives a broad overview of the process from production to consumption, touching on technical, economic, and environmental concerns along the way. We have made an attempt in this paper to compile different methods for the production of hydrogen and its storage, the challenges faced by current methods in the manufacturing of hydrogen gas, and the role of hydrogen in the future. This review paper will serve as a very good reference for hydrogen system engineering applications. The paper concludes with some suggestions for future research to help improve the technological efficiency of certain production methods, all with the goal of scaling up the hydrogen economy.

Using Waste Foundry Sand As Sustainable Construction Material

India's rapid industrialization and urbanization have led to substantial waste generation, posing significant environmental challenges. Among these wastes, the byproducts of metal industries, such as waste foundry sand (WFS), offer potential solutions for sustainable construction. This study investigates the feasibility of using WFS as a partial replacement for fine aggregate in M20 grade concrete. The experimental program involved incorporating WFS at varying percentages (0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, and 50% by weight) and assessing the impact on the compressive strength of concrete, complemented by the addition of a plasticizer (1% by weight of cement). The results demonstrated that up to 20% replacement of fine aggregate with WFS significantly enhances the compressive strength of concrete, achieving increases of 40.4% and 56.5% for 7 and 28 days of curing, respectively. Beyond 20% replacement, the compressive strength declined. This research highlights the potential for utilizing industrial waste in concrete production, promoting sustainable construction practices by reducing the reliance on natural resources and addressing waste management challenges.

Driving Factors of NOx Emissions in China: Insights from Spatial Regression Analysis

China’s rapid industrialization and urbanization have led to significant nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions, contributing to severe atmospheric pollution. Understanding the driving factors behind these emissions is crucial for effective pollution control and environmental management. Therefore, this study is an attempt to provide insights into the influence of socioeconomic factors and explore spatial dependencies of NOx emissions in China in 2022 employing spatial regression models (SRMs). Among the SRMs considered, the spatial Durbin model (SDM) is identified as the most suitable for analyzing regional NOx emissions. The study highlights the importance of controlling electricity consumption and vehicle emissions for addressing air pollution in Chinese regions. Specifically, a one billion kilowatt-hour increase in electricity consumption leads to approximately 549.6 tons of NOx emissions, and an increase of 1000 vehicles in a region results in an average increase of 7113.4 tons of NOx emissions in the same region. Furthermore, per capita consumption expenditure (PCEXP) and research and development (R&D) expenditure exhibit negative direct and spillover impacts. Contrary to previous studies, this research finds that changes in urban population density do not have a significant direct or indirect effect on NOx emissions within the studied areas. Moreover, we conducted additional investigations to assess the effectiveness of government action plans in reducing NOx emissions. Specifically, we evaluated the impact of Phases 1 and 2 of the Clean Air Action Plan, launched in 2013 and 2018, respectively, on the socioeconomic drivers of NOx emissions. Therefore, the data were modeled for the years 2013 and 2017 and compared to the results obtained for 2022. The findings indicate that over the entire period (2013–2022), the emission controls mandated by the action plan resulted in significant reductions in the impact of many of the studied NOx drivers. In conclusion, based on the results, this study presents recommendations to mitigate NOx emissions.

Integrating Building Management Systems in High-Rise Structures using Building Information Modeling

Rapid industrialization and population growth in urban areas has resulted in scarce land resources thus changing builtform tremendously. Complex construction such as high-rise structures are becoming an essential requirement in urbanareas. Efficient Building Management System (BMS) such as fire safety, heating ventilation and air-conditioning,security, and surveillance along with the operation and maintenance is crucial for high-rise construction projects. Theconstruction industry is one of the most labor-intensive industries in the world with a human centric managementapproach. With the advent of computer technologies, planning and management of building systems in a constructionproject have become easier. The concept of Building Information Modeling (BIM) to manage building managementsystems in construction projects is gaining popularity. In this study, an integrated framework is proposed that includesnumerous aspects of building management systems in high-rise structures with a dynamic BIM model. This proposedframework was explored with a case illustration of a multi-story building. Preliminary results of the model arepresented herewith.

A study on green education in India: A pathway to sustainable development

This study explores the integration of green education in India as a crucial pathway to sustainable development. Given the country's rapid industrialization and urbanisation, environmental education is essential for raising awareness and promoting sustainable practices among the younger population. The research examines current initiatives such as the National Green Corps and the Green Schools Programme, which aim to embed environmental consciousness in the education system. However, significant challenges such as resource constraints, inadequate curriculum integration, and insufficient teacher training hinder the effectiveness of these programs. The study suggests a multifaceted approach to address these challenges, including stronger policy support, innovative teaching methods, public-private partnerships, and community involvement. By enhancing green education, India can better equip its youth to address environmental issues, fostering a culture of sustainability that is essential for the country's long-term environmental health.

Comparative Study of Conventional Structure and Mivan Structure Using ETABS

Abstract: With rapid urbanization and industrialization, the demand for construction has surged to accommodate this expanding population. However, limited land availability has necessitated vertical construction over horizontal expansion. MIVAN technology has emerged as a viable solution, employing concrete instead of traditional masonry walls, particularly suitable for high-rise buildings. In this study, conventional and MIVAN structures with varying wall thicknesses is analyzed and compared using ETABS software with Response Spectrum analysis. Results show significant decreases in displacements, story drifts and time period in MIVAN structures, particularly with a wall thickness of 300mm for I-shaped structures. Additionally, MIVAN structures with 300mm walls exhibit higher story shear and stiffness, indicating better performance under seismic conditions compared to other shapes. Thus, MIVAN technology with 300mm walls in I-shaped structures offers superior seismic resilience in tall buildings.

마을아카이브 활동을 통한 마을공동체 성장에 대한 연구

In the process of rapid industrialization, Korea has lost its appearance as a community and an atmosphere that places more importance on individual safety has spread, facing various social problems. In this study, the growth of the village community was examined through changes in emotions, perceptions, and attitudes of members who participated in village archive activities in the area of Haebangchon in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. The research survey was conducted as a literature study, participatory observation, and a qualitative case study through in-depth interviews. The archiving activities of Haebangchon are holding independent meetings based on village community meetings, and in the process, it was found that sense of community and community capacity were improved. In addition, meaningful archiving activities to ‘themselves’ turned out to be important by asking various questions, rather than aiming at the resources they archive.

Transformasi Ekologis dan Sosial di Amerika: Dampak Kebijakan Ekonomi terhadap Lingkungan dari Era Kolonial hingga Abad ke-21 M

This research explores ecological and social transformation in the Americas with a focus on the impact of economic policies on the environment from the colonial era to the present. Through historical analysis, this research examines how economic policies implemented by colonial powers, governments, and the private sector have influenced the continent's natural ecosystems and social structures. It found that intensive exploitation of natural resources, the introduction of unsustainable agricultural practices, and rapid industrialization have resulted in significant environmental degradation, including deforestation, loss of biodiversity, and pollution. In addition, economic policies have also triggered profound social changes, such as mass migration, urbanization, and changes in society's work structure. This study highlights the importance of a more sustainable and inclusive economic approach to reduce negative impacts on the environment and society. Thus, this research provides important insights for policy makers in designing economic strategies that are more harmonious with ecological sustainability and social welfare.

Non-Faradaic Impedimetric Detection of Heavy Metal Ions via a Hybrid Nanoparticle-DNAzyme Biosensor.

Due to rapid industrialization, novel water-quality monitoring techniques for the detection of highly toxic and hazardous heavy metal ions are essential. Herein, a hybrid noble nanoparticle/DNAzyme electrochemical biosensor is proposed for the simultaneous and label-free detection of Pb2+ and Cr3+ in aqueous solutions. The sensor is based on the combination of a two-dimensional naked-platinum nanoparticle film and DNAzymes, whose double-helix configuration disassembles into smaller fragments in the presence of target-specific heavy metal ions. The electrochemical behavior of the fabricated sensor was investigated with non-faradaic electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), resulting in the successful detection of Pb2+ and Cr3+ well below their maximum permitted levels in tap water. So far, there has been no report on the successful detection of heavy metal ions utilizing the non-faradaic electrochemical impedance spectroscopy technique based on advanced nanomaterials paired with DNAzymes. This is also one of the few reports on the successful detection of chromium (III) via a sensor incorporating DNAzymes.

The health and economic burden of ozone pollution on Alzheimer's disease and mild cognitive impairment in China

Ozone pollution is increasingly recognized as a serious environmental threat that exacerbates dementia risks, including Alzheimer's Disease (AD) and Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). Amid rapid industrialization, China faces significant air quality challenges. However, there has been a scarcity of detailed studies assessing the health and economic impacts of ozone pollution on these conditions. This study aims to address this gap by utilizing the BenMap-CE tool and incorporating parameters obtained from systematic reviews of epidemiological studies, official statistics, and weighted averages, to accurately quantify the effects of ozone exposure in China. This research evaluated the health and economic burdens at both national and provincial levels, focusing on the additional impacts attributed to increased ozone levels. The results reveal that in 2023, compared to 2015, ozone pollution contributed to approximately 110,000 new cases (5.6 per 10,000) of AD and 1.6 million new cases (81.7 per 10,000) of MCI, imposing significant economic costs of about US $1200 million for AD and US $18,000 million for MCI, based on 2015 dollar values. Additionally, our projections indicate that reducing the 2023 ozone concentrations to 70 μg/m3 could significantly curb these conditions, potentially preventing over 210,000 new AD cases (10.7 per 10,000) and 2.9 million (148.1 per 10,000) MCI cases. Such reductions are projected to yield substantial economic benefits, estimated at US $2200 million for AD and US $34,000 million for MCI (2015 dollar values). These findings underscore the profound implications of ozone pollution on public health and the economy in China, highlighting the urgent need for effective ozone management strategies to mitigate these impacts.

Corporate Social Responsibility: Environmental Concern Through the Application of Communitarian Citizenship Thinking

Environmental awareness is an integral part of the sustainability of ecosystems worldwide that are starting to be damaged due to rapid industry. The rise of industrial companies in Indonesia impacts environmental damage and has drawn criticism from the community, so corporate social responsibility was formed, which is a form of corporate commitment to its social environment to maintain environmental sustainability and empowerment of the surrounding community. Ideologically, environmental damage is inseparable from the muscular liberalism that pays little attention to ecological elements. This paper seeks to raise an alternative study of communitarian CSR that understands environmental awareness. Communitarianism focuses on the social reality that must be maintained and cared for to raise collective consciousness, including environmental elements. This paper uses a literature study to examine the understanding of communitarianism. The knowledge gained from the literature search is that communitarianism provides a different perspective from liberalism regarding self and environment, so it is interesting to apply communitarian thinking in companies to implement environmental awareness as an alternative to solving environmental problems where this condition indicates the need for a movement based on communal awareness in reforestation. The more communal awareness of nature is built on the impact of community pressure on the government to make a rule that pays attention to environmental problems.

Reusable MIL-100(Fe)-polyacrylonitrile-TiO2 nanofiber webs for adsorption and decomposition of toluene

Due to rapid industrialization and urbanization, addressing the pressing issue of environmental pollution, particularly indoor air quality, demands innovative solutions. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs), notably toluene, are prevalent indoor pollutants that necessitate effective adsorption and removal strategies due to their adverse health impacts. Here, we propose a novel method for crafting a multifunctional air-filter membrane capable of simultaneous toluene adsorption and photocatalytic degradation across diverse light conditions, thus facilitating the development of a reusable air filtration system. This study outlines the successful synthesis of an air filter membrane by illustrating the in-situ growth of MIL-100(Fe) particles on polyacrylonitrile (PAN) nanofibers loaded with TiO2 nanoparticles, resulting in the formation of a PTF membrane. The PTF membrane exhibits an exceptional toluene adsorption efficiency of 98 % and a high toluene capacity of 383.94 mg g−1 (4.166 mmol/g), with a corresponding partition coefficient (PC) of 38.39 L/g ± 1.41. Notably, its design enables functionality, demonstrating impressive photocatalytic degradation efficiencies of 62.3 %, 71.3 %, and 80.2 % under UV, visible, and combined UV–visible light, respectively. This high efficiency is attributed to the PTF membrane’s reduced bandgap and enhanced light-absorption capabilities. Under the combined light conditions, the PTF membrane achieved the highest space–time yield (STY) of 0.197 mol/g/h and the highest reaction kinetic rate for toluene degradation, determined to be 6.34 × 10-8, surpassing the performance observed under individual UV and visible light sources. Moreover, the regeneration cycle of the PTF membrane demonstrates minimal efficiency loss, ensuring prolonged performance. The developed PTF membranes demonstrate notable stability and resilience even under the most extreme humid conditions, suggesting their strong potential for future applications in air filtration. This innovative approach offers a straightforward and environmentally friendly method for fabricating metal–organic framework (MOF)-based photocatalytic filters tailored to indoor VOC purification systems. This study is expected to significantly advance efforts aimed at improving and managing air quality, thereby fostering a healthier and more sustainable environment.

Design and Implementation of Energy Harvesting and Pollution Control System using Nano Tree

In today's globalized society, energy consumption is a fundamental pillar of societal advancement and evolution. Street lighting applications consume a lot of electricity with the benefit of preventing accidents and ensuring the safety of pedestrians at night. The main considerations in the present field of technologies are automation, power consumption, and cost-effectiveness. Alongside, rapid industrialization and urbanization have resulted in an exponential increase in air pollution causing adverse effects on living beings and deterioration of fossil fuels. Hence, the use of regenerative sources of energy is crucial to facilitate the high power demand. The proposed system presents the development of a Nano tree using the Arduino board to collect renewable solar energy from the environment used for street light illumination by using sensors at minimum electrical energy consumption. The Nano tree can be used as an alternative to streetlights with the addition of LED strips along with an accumulation of gaseous pollutants. If the pollutant level exceeds the limit an alert will also be sent to the pollution control authority of the adjacent industry. The Nano Tree is the concept of an autonomous street light with atmospheric monitoring capability.

An Agile Approach for Adopting Sustainable Energy Solutions with Advanced Computational Techniques

In the face of the burgeoning electricity demands and the imperative for sustainable development amidst rapid industrialization, this study introduces a dynamic and adaptable framework suitable for policymakers and renewable energy experts working on integrating and optimizing renewable energy solutions. While using a case study representative model for Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) to demonstrate the challenges and opportunities present in introducing optimization methods to bridge power supply deficits and the scalability of the model to other regions, this study presents an agile multi-criteria decision tool that pivots on four key development phases, advancing established methodologies and pioneering refined computational techniques, to select optimal configurations from a set of Policy Decision-Making Metrics (PDM-DPS). Central to this investigation lies a rigorous comparative analysis of variants of three advanced algorithmic approaches: Swarm-Based Multi-objective Particle Swarm Optimization (MOPSO), Decomposition-Based Multi-objective Evolutionary Algorithm (MOEA/D), and Evolutionary-Based Strength Pareto Evolutionary Algorithm (SPEA2). These are applied to a grid-connected hybrid system, evaluated through a comprehensive 8760-hour simulation over a 20-year planning horizon. The evaluation is further enhanced by a set of refined Algorithm Performance Evaluation Metrics (AL-PEM) tailored to the specific constraints. The findings not only underscore the robustness and consistency of the SPEA2 variant over 15 runs of 200 generations each, which ranks first on the AL-PEM scale, but the findings also validate the strategic merit of combining multiple technologies and empowering policymakers with a versatile toolkit for informed decision-making.

Hierarchical mesoporous TiO2/starch-based microparticles used as an efficient and reusable adsorbent for removal of water-soluble dye

The widespread use of organic dyes in various industrial applications, driven by rapid industrialization, has become a significant environmental concern. Thus, highly efficient and reusable adsorbent for removal of pollutant dyes have gained increasing attention in water treatment. In this study, we present TiO2 nanoparticle-embedded mesoporous starch-based microparticle (TiO2@MSMP) with hierarchical rose-like structure were synthesis by using acetone precipitation of short-chain glucan (SCG) obtained from waxy maize starch. The resulting TiO2@MSMP exhibits an A-type crystalline polymorph and mean particle size of approximately 2 μm, displaying a type IV adsorption isotherm with a mean pore diameter of 19 nm and an average surface area of 12.34 m2/g. The adsorption ability of TiO2@MSMP towards methyl orange (MO) and crystal violet (CV) were 85.8 mg/g and 103.8 mg/g, respectively. The reusability of TiO2@MSMP was achieved by UV irradiation, which resulted in photodegradation of the adsorbed dye over 80 % while maintaining good absorption ability and structural stability during the recycling process. Given its cost-effectiveness, high adsorption capacity, and excellent reusability, TiO2@MSMP holds promise as an effective and environmentally friendly adsorbent with significant potential for removing dyes from aqueous solutions and purifying water.

Systematic coupling and multistage interactive response of the urban land use efficiency and ecological environment quality

Rapid urbanization and industrialization have greatly contributed to boosting regional economic growth and mitigating the problem of poverty, but blind expansion of cities and towns has not only caused the inefficient use of urban land resources but also caused the deterioration in the urban ecological environment. Within the current context of emphasizing high-quality development, achieving synergy between the efficient use of urban land and ecological environmental protection is an urgent task for promoting new urbanization construction. In this study, cities in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River (URYR) were adopted as the research object, a theoretical analysis framework for the urban land use efficiency (ULUE) and ecological environment quality (EEQ) was established, the ULUE was measured by using the Slacks-Based Measure (SBM) model, the coupling coordination and interactive corresponding response relationship between the ULUE and EEQ were analyzed, and the influencing factors of the coupling coordination between these two systems were explored by using the random forest model. The following conclusions can be obtained: in 2020, compared with those in 2006, both the ULUE and EEQ were improved, and the two systems exhibited interactions and significant spatiotemporal heterogeneity. The coupling coordination degree (CCD) between the ULUE and EEQ could facilitate maintaining the original state, and the transfer of the CCD exhibited a significant spatial correlation with the state of neighbouring cities. The effect of the ULUE on the EEQ indicated nonlinear characteristics, while the effect of the EEQ on the ULUE was manifested as inhibition initially and then promotion. The random forest regression results showed that the population density, landscape agglomeration and connectivity, market conditions, government intervention, and industrial institutions are the key influencing factors of the CCD. Finally, this study provides policy implications for innovative urban land use modelling, environmental regulation, and industrial transformation and upgrading.

Adaptive tetralactam macrocycle based polymers for efficient and rapid removal of organic micropollutants with wide scope

With the rapid urbanization and industrialization of human society, water pollution issues caused by the increasing types and quantities of organic micropollutants have become increasingly severe. It is very urgent but also challenging to develop the rapid and efficient method for water purification with a wide removal scope. Herein, a cross-linked polymer adsorbent was fabricated by adaptive tetralactam macrocycle for rapid and efficient removal of multiple types of organic micropollutants in water, including dyes, pharmaceuticals, pesticides, and hormones. The removal efficiencies for the 20 tested organic micropollutants with diverse structures, sizes, and charges are all larger than 95.9 % and approaching 99.9 %, and most of the adsorption processes were finished within 5 min. The well-preorganized and adaptive cavity of tetralactam macrocycle endows the polymer adsorbent with excellent adsorption performance even in extreme conditions. Moreover, the tetralactam macrocycle-crosslinked polymer adsorbent could be regenerated easily and the performance was maintained after 6 cycles. It is demonstrated that the as-developed polymer has great potential in the removal of various hazardous organic pollutants in water.

The Decline of Paget’s Disease of Bone and Domestic Coal Use—A Hypothesis

The cause of Paget’s disease of bone (PDB) is unknown. It emerged as a distinct entity in Britain in the late nineteenth century when it was prevalent, and florid presentation not uncommon. Epidemiological surveys in the 1970s showed that Britain had a substantially higher prevalence of PDB than any other country. Studies in the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries have documented an unexplained change in presentation, with a greatly reduced prevalence and less severe disease than formerly. The emergence of PDB in Britain coincided with rapid industrialization which, in turn, was driven by the use of coal for energy. In the home, bituminous coal was customarily burnt on an open hearth for heating. Using data on coal production, population size, and estimates of domestic use, the estimated exposure to domestic coal burning rose threefold in Britain during the nineteenth century and began to fall after 1900. This pattern fits well with the decline in PDB documented from death certification and prevalence surveys. Colonists moving from Britain to North America, Australia and New Zealand established coal mines and also used coal for domestic heating. PDB was found in these settler populations, but was largely absent from people indigenous to these lands. In all parts of the world PDB prevalence has fallen as the burning of coal in open hearths for domestic heating has reduced. The nature of the putative factor in coal that could initiate PDB is unknown, but possible candidates include both organic and inorganic constituents of bituminous coal.