Reduce Water Consumption Research Articles

Fresh Broccoli in Fortified Snack Pellets: Extrusion-Cooking Aspects and Physical Characteristics

The aim of the study was to obtain a new type of potato-based snack pellets fortified with fresh broccoli addition and to estimate their extrusion-cooking parameters (processing stability) and selected physical properties. In this work, fresh broccoli was added at varying levels (10, 20, and 30%) to potato-based pellets—a half-product for expanded ready-to-eat food snacks. The obtained results showed that the assessed variables: moisture content, screw speed, and amount of added fresh broccoli, have significantly affected the extrusion-cooking process and final product physical properties. Accordingly, increasing fresh broccoli by up to 30% induced higher efficiency of the extrusion-cooking process, lower energy consumption, a lower expansion index, lower bulk density values, and proper durability. Application of fresh broccoli may also significantly reduce water consumption during processing and save energy due to the omission of the vegetable drying step. We recommend the application of up to 30% fresh broccoli in newly developed extruded snack pellet formulations. Fresh broccoli, a valuable vegetable source of health-promoting substances, may be an attractive additive in snack pellet half-products with no negative effect on processing.

Decision Support Strategies for Household Water Consumption Behaviors Based on Advanced Recommender Systems

Water is one of the most important factors that can influence human health. Therefore, constant monitoring of water consumption is essential to maintain a balance of water demand. A recommendation system represents a major challenge, but with huge potential for the water industry, providing consumers the most efficient ways to conserve water based on their data collected from smart water meters. This paper proposes a novel recommendation system design architecture that promotes water conservation behavior among residential consumers from urban areas. We analyzed 480,000 data samples from several households with different profiles to generate personalized recommendations for each household and encourage consumers to adopt measures to raise awareness and reduce water consumption. Moreover, data were collected from three different measurement points in the household (cold_sink, hot_sink, and toilet), with a sampling time of 60 s. The proposed recommendation system implements collaborative filtering combined with a set of rules to generate recommendations based on the consumption patterns of similar households. The results are promising, offering personalized feedback that could help change the consumption behavior of households if the recommendations made are followed.

Water consumption rationalization using demarketing strategies in the Gaza Strip, Palestine

Water access is a critical public policy problem that many people face worldwide. As demand for fresh water rises and supply declines, a growing number of regions and localities, including cities, will be compelled to respond to water shortages. Therefore, this paper aims to examine the rationalization of water consumption utilizing demarketing strategies in the Gaza Strip (GS), Palestine. The population under study comprises the residents of the GS, amounting to approximately 2.1 million (2021) individuals. A survey among 372 respondents living and working in the five GS governorates, using a stratified random sample approach to mirror the population distribution, finds a significant relationship between consumer attitudes toward reducing water consumption and 5 key marketing variables (product, price, place, promotion, and people). Furthermore, four moderators reinforced these relationships, i.e., the perceived role of laws and legislations, perceived moral obligation, perceived water right, and institutional sentiment toward the water authority's management of water resources. Additionally, age, education level, marital status, and monthly income influence the effect of the demarketing mix on consumer attitudes toward reducing water consumption. This study informs managerial action and policy-making about the key variables to modulate in order to improve consumers' attitudes toward water rationalization and thus intrinsically motivate consumers to curb water consumption.

Application of Organic Fertilizers Optimizes Water Consumption Characteristics and Improves Seed Yield of Oilseed Flax in Semi-Arid Areas of the Loess Plateau

Organic fertilizers are an important source of nutrients for improving farmland fertility. To explore high-yield, efficient and green production technology for oilseed flax in dryland agricultural areas, a field split plot experiment was conducted in the semi-arid area of the Loess Plateau in northwest China from April to August in 2020 and 2021. The study compared and analyzed the effects of different nutrient sources and their application rates on water consumption characteristics, grain yield and water use efficiency of oilseed flax. The main plots were fertilizer types (sheep manure, chicken manure and chemical fertilizer), while the subplots were fertilizer application rates (sheep manure: S1-12,500 kg·hm−2 and S2-25,000 kg·hm−2; chicken manure: C1-5800 kg·hm−2 and C2-11,600 kg·hm−2; chemical fertilizer: F1-N 112.5 kg·hm−2, P 75 kg·hm−2, K 67.5 kg·hm−2 and F2-N 225 kg·hm−2, P2O5 150 kg·hm−2, K2O 135 kg·hm−2). The results showed that compared with chemical fertilizers, organic fertilizers significantly increased the soil water storage capacity of the 0–160 cm soil layer during the whole growth period of oilseed flax and significantly reduced water consumption. During two growing seasons, the application of 25,000 kg·hm−2 sheep manure significantly reduced water consumption during the seedling-bud period and green fruit period-maturity period of oilseed flax by 16.13% and 23.19% compared with CK, respectively. Thousand-grain weight, yield and water use efficiency were significantly increased by 14.70%, 48.32% and 61.29%, respectively. These results indicate that the application of 25,000 kg·hm−2 sheep manure can significantly increase soil water storage capacity of the 0–160 cm soil layer, reduce water consumption during the whole growth period of oilseed flax and thus improve grain yield and water use efficiency of oilseed flax. It is a suitable fertilization technology for the high-yield, efficient and green production of oilseed flax in the semi-arid areas of northwest Loess Plateau.

Comparison of the gill and gut microbiomes of common carp (Cyprinus carpio) and zebrafish (Danio rerio) and their RAS environment

Recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) are increasingly being used to grow fish, as intensive water reuse reduces water consumption and environmental impact. RAS use biofilters containing nitrogen-cycling microorganisms that remove ammonia from the aquaculture water. Knowledge of how RAS microbial communities relate to the fish-associated microbiome is limited, as is knowledge of fish-associated microbiota in general. Recently, nitrogen-cycling bacteria have been discovered in zebrafish and carp gills and shown to detoxify ammonia in a manner similar to the RAS biofilter. Here, we compared RAS water and biofilter microbiomes with fish-associated gut and gill microbial communities in laboratory RAS housing either zebrafish (Danio rerio) or common carp (Cyprinus carpio) using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. The phylogeny of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria in the gills and the RAS environment was investigated in more detail by phylogenetic analysis of the ammonia monooxygenase subunit A (amoA). The location from which the microbiome was sampled (RAS compartments and gills or gut) had a stronger effect on community composition than the fish species, but species-specific differences were also observed. We found that carp- and zebrafish-associated microbiomes were highly distinct from their respective RAS microbiomes, characterized by lower overall diversity and a small core microbiome consisting of taxa specifically adapted to the respective organ. The gill microbiome was also defined by a high proportion of unique taxa. Finally, we found that amoA sequences from the gills were distinct from those from the RAS biofilter and water. Our results showed that the gut and gill microbiomes of carp and zebrafish share a common and species-specific core microbiome that is distinct from the microbially-rich RAS environment.

Assessment of CO2 fracturing in China's shale oil reservoir: Fracturing effectiveness and carbon storage potential

Shale oil resources are abundant in China, and their large-scale development plays a critical role in the national energy strategy. Hydraulic fracturing is widely employed for shale oil extraction, but the large-scale water consumption in this process poses serious environmental concerns. In recent years, CO2 fracturing has been proposed as an alternative method to improve fracturing effectiveness, reduce water consumption, and simultaneously store CO2 underground. This is the first field-testing study in China to systematically analyze the CO2 fracturing technology and quantitatively evaluate its recovery efficiency and CO2 storage capacity in the shale oil wells in Jianghan Basin. We designed and conducted a comparative investigation of hydraulic fracturing, CO2-water fracturing, and CO2 methanol-based fracturing techniques in terms of the effectiveness of fracturing, water saving, and CO2 storage. The results showed that CO2 methanol-based fracturing was most effective in eliminating the need for freshwater consumption on site and storing CO2, with an effective CO2 storage rate as high as 82.5%, suggesting a promising direction for carbon offset in the oil and gas industry. CO2-water fracturing reduced freshwater consumption and also effectively stored CO2 at an effective storage rate of up to 79.5%, making it more efficient than hydraulic fracturing but less so than CO2 methanol-based fracturing. The research provides a valuable reference for the development and practice of waterless fracturing for shale resources, and also sheds light on the potential of carbon storage in the oil and gas industry to achieve the carbon neutrality goal of China.

Water consumption by rinse-off cosmetic products: The case of the shower.

This article measures and discusses the effects of different shower gels on the consumption of water used during a shower. A sensory panel was created for quantifying water consumption associated with the use of shower gels. Fifteen French panellists were recruited (age: 59 ± 7, height: 163 cm ± 9 and weight: 68 kg ± 20) and trained to assess rinsed skin in a standardized way. Effective panellists were then asked to assess 25 shower gels covering the variety of existing products on the market. Results showed that the average volume was 4.77 L for heating the water and wetting the body and 4.15 L for rinsing the shower gel off the full body. We observed a significant shower gel effect (p < 0.0001) with the water volume needed to rinse the 25 shower gels ranging 3.21 L to 5.65 L. This paper demonstrates the impact of shower gel formulation on water consumption during a shower. It thus demonstrates the importance of formulating shower gels to reduce the total amount of water needed to shower. It also introduces the distinction between 'useful water' which refers strictly to the volume of water objectively needed to rinse off a product and the 'used water' which refers to the total shower volume of water. This distinction helps to better strategize actions in order to reduce water consumption from rinse-off cosmetic products used during showers.

#6825 ECOLOGICAL APPROACH FOR KIDNEY REPLACEMENT THERAPY IN CRITICAL CARE: SLED MAY BE A STRATEGY

Abstract Background and Aims Dialysis has an enormous environmental impact, not only for disposable consumables, but also for the water and energy consumption. Despite increasingly evidence regarding comparable outcomes between continuous kidney replacement therapy (CKRT) and slow low efficiency dialysis (SLED), ecological-based endpoints are not frequently evaluated. Literature in critical care concerning the environmental impact of these techniques is scarce. We aimed to determine the waste production, water and energy consumption in SLED and CKRT and identify the technique with higher environmental impact. Method We conducted a cross-sectional, observational, single-center study in patients with acute kidney injury requiring kidney replacement therapy admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU). We analyzed the waste weight of each dialysis technique (Fresenius Medical Care 5008 for SLED and Baxter Prismaflex for CKRT) before and after the treatment. We estimated the water consumption of a SLED session with a Qd of 300 ml/min for 8 hours and 12 hours sessions, considering a Reverse Osmosis (RO) system with a 50% rate water rejection and a CKRT session for an 80Kg patient, with a Qd of 1300 mL/h and a reposition solution flow of 500 mL/h. Both techniques included a disinfection volume of 14 L. Results A SLED session produced 1600 g of waste (1200 g was hazardous and 400 g was non-hazardous waste). A CKRT session produced 2700 g of waste, not considering the substitution solution volume, which can vary up to a maximum of 15000 g/treatment. Waste consumables for each technique are discriminated in Table 1. The unpurified water consume of 8-hours and 12-hours SLED treatment was 237 L and 345 L, respectively. For CKRT, we estimated a consume of 43.2 L a day and 129.6 L for a 72-hour treatment. SLED had an energy consumption of 5.71 kW and 8.43 kW, for 8-hours and 12 hours treatment, respectively. The CKRT consumed about 12 to 14.4 kW per day. Conclusion Our study highlights the quantity of waste produced, water and power consumption of dialysis techniques in the critical patient. CKRT produces more hazardous waste, that generates a larger carbon footprint. Hazardous waste cannot be recyclable and implies specific management and disposal, which is more expensive and laborious than non-hazardous. CKRT has also a higher power consumption due to treatment duration and technology used to generate electricity. SLED has higher water consumption, nevertheless, current strategies used in hemodialysis units could also be implemented in UCI to minimize this effect. For example, the rejected water can be reused to agriculture and toilet flushing; more efficient water purification system with a lower proportion of rejected water can also reduce water consumption. SLED has unequivocal clinical benefits in the critical patient and, from an ecological perspective, seems to be a more sustainable option.

Highly Stable Polymer-Enhanced Pickering Foams for Hydraulic Fracturing Applications

Foams have been used as fracking fluids for decades, but their thermodynamic instability has always restricted subsurface applications, particularly in harsh reservoir conditions. Therefore, this study comprehensively investigated the role of commonly used stabilizers in foaming behaviors, including the surfactant (APG), nanoparticle (CNCs), and polymer (XG), and their stabilizing behavior at the interface was also explored using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Our findings indicated that the 0.5% XG-enhanced Pickering foam (0.5% APG + 1.0% CNCs) would be an exceptional fluid for fracking applications. The formation of APG–CNC–XG gel-like networks among bubbles significantly improved the stability of this liquid foam, and the liquid half-life could be extended by nearly 24 h, while the foam can last for several days at 80 °C. Using MD simulations, we showed that the coexistence and intramolecular interactions among APG, CNCs, and XG molecules generate a stronger hydrogen bonding network in the thin film, significantly reducing water mobility, corresponding to the experimental observations. To explore the potential of foams as fracking fluids, the sand-carrying capacity of two types of foams was also evaluated; the polymer-enhanced Pickering foam was able to suspend the sands for more than a day without participation. In the lab fracturing test, despite requiring a higher breakdown pressure, the polymer-enhanced Pickering foam reduces water consumption by almost 20%. Moreover, the highly viscous foam also induced the wing-shaped fracture with a wider width along the hole. The deep insights gained from this study will advance the application of foams as the fracking fluid in unconventional oil/gas reservoirs.

Biofloc technology as part of a sustainable aquaculture system: A review on the status and innovations for its expansion

AbstractIncreased food demand, reflecting a rising global human population, attaining 8 billion in 2022, has furthered the intensification of farmed aquatic animal production. Intensification practices can be resource demanding for micro and macronutrients, dedicated feeds, fossil fuels, chemotherapeutics, and water. Water replaces evaporative losses and may be used to dilute nutrient‐rich wastewater. As an alternative to wastewater discharge, biofloc technology (BFT) uses microbes to manage nutrient levels in production systems. A microbial community grown at high densities can assimilate waste metabolites for growth. This is promoted by increasing the carbon–nitrogen (C:N) ratio using a combination of aquafeed fed to the fish and an additional carbohydrate source, for example, starch, molasses, or bran. The microbial biomass offers a continuous and additional food source to the farmed animal, thus reducing the need for finished aquafeeds and lowering the feed conversion ratio. Although the approach relies on multiple interacting species, BFT can be deployed in relatively low technology settings. This review considers the basis of BFT and identifies areas for innovation and expansion. For example, control of light quantity and quality can influence the biofloc and hence the growth of cultured species. Research on biofloc aquaculture is dominated by studies using tilapia and shrimp, but the technology could be applied to other species, particularly species that are tolerant of biofloc conditions and not highly carnivorous. Biofloc may be a useful biosecurity tool for all or part of the life cycle, and meals made from dried biofloc may enhance the production of cultured species. The key benefits of BFT can potentially be seen in reduced water consumption, lower feed requirements, and improved fish health. This review differs from current review papers in proposing the use of a life cycle assessment in conjunction with BFT, which may be a useful tool for describing and communicating the relative benefits of biofloc systems and their wider environmental impact. This study will serve as a useful knowledge base of BFT information for students, researchers, and stakeholders alike, offering a central source of the main aspects around the culturing of biofloc, key parameters, common species used, areas of potential improvement, and a discussion on where the future of BFT may lie.

An Active Drying Sensor to Drive Dairy Cow Sprinkling Cooling Systems

The use of sprinkling with ventilation to cool dairy cows is considered an appropriate practice to reduce the negative effects of heat stress. However, due to climate change, water will increasingly become a limited resource, so we need to make water use more and more efficient. For this purpose, an active drying sensor has been developed in order to time the sprinkling cooling system. The sensor reproduces the thermal response of a cow, considering both sensible and latent heat exchange, and is located in the feeding alley, about two meters above the floor. This allows the fabric of the sensor (simulating the fur) to be wetted by the sprinkler, and blown by the fan. The water content of the sensor fabric during the drying time is monitored by measuring its electrical conductivity, allowing the estimation of the time the fur becomes dry. Another two specifically designed instruments are presented, the first to estimate the fur’s water content after spraying, and the second to detect the time the fur became dry. Sensor output, interpreted through a simplified model, gave a predicted drying time with an error ranging between −11.4% and +14.8% (R2 = 0.789). In the commercial barn where the experiments were conducted, the use of the sensor allowed an estimated reduction in water consumption of about 57%, with respect to the fixed timing normally used. As a perspective, the sensor could be used to assess cows’ heat stress level.

Evapotranspiration and crop coefficient of Physalis peruviana cultivated with recycled paper as mulch

The application of soil mulching has been widely used to increase crop production; however, few research studies have comprehensively evaluated the use of recycled paper as soil mulch and its effects in relation to water savings and crop coefficients. The objective was to evaluate the effects of mulching with recycled paper on evaporation and evapotranspiration of Physalis peruviana and to determine the crop coefficients in its development stages. The study was carried out in two cultivation cycles at the Lysimetric Station of Viçosa, MG, Brazil. The experiments were set up in a randomized block design with four replicates, where four lysimeter treatments were applied: P. peruviana cultivation without recycled paper mulch (C); P. peruviana cultivation with recycled paper mulch (CP); lysimeter with only recycled paper mulch (P); and lysimeter cultivated with Bahiagrass (G). Irrigation and drainage volumes in each lysimeter were measured daily to calculate crop evapotranspiration (ETc), reference evapotranspiration (ETo) and, therefore, the crop coefficients (Kc). In addition, crop phenology, fruit characteristics, gas exchange, yield and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) were also evaluated. For the first cultivation cycle, over 218 days, the values of water consumption in the lysimeters C, CP, P and G were 405, 291, 88 and 444 mm, respectively. For the second cycle, over 206 days, the values of water consumption were 416, 279, 94 and 331 mm, respectively. Recycled paper significantly reduced water consumption, especially in the initial and late-season stages, also reducing Kc values. The Kc values for P. peruviana were 0.25, 0.55, 1.05 and 0.46 in cultivation with mulch and 0.45, 0.85, 1.35 and 0.48 in cultivation without mulch for the initial, development, mid-season and late-season stages, respectively. NDVI can be used to estimate the Kc values of P. peruviana. Recycled paper mulch reduced water consumption by 30.6% and increased gas exchange and yield of P. peruviana in cycles 1 and 2, respectively.

Nocturnal versus diurnal transpiration in rice plants: Analysis of five genotypes grown under different atmospheric CO2 and soil moisture conditions

The role of nocturnal transpiration in plant growth is debatable, presumably due to the soil moisture-dependent characteristics of transpiration. To address this issue, we analyzed the relationship between nocturnal and diurnal transpiration and plant growth across various soil moisture and atmospheric CO2 levels. We investigated the ratio of nocturnal to diurnal transpiration under eight soil moisture conditions (30 %, 35 %, 40 %, 50 %, 60 %, 80 %, 100 %, and 120 % [w/w]) and three CO2 concentrations (approximately 407, 610, and 843 ppm) in five rice genotypes (cv. Nipponbare, IRAT109, NERICA 1, Taichung 65 [T65], and DV85). The total plant biomass increased linearly with increase in diurnal transpiration but showed a saturated response to increase in nocturnal transpiration, suggesting that nocturnal transpiration did not contribute to growth when the soil water content was above 60 %. CO2 enrichment did not decrease the nocturnal transpiration rate (En) but decreased the diurnal transpiration rate (Ed), thereby causing an increase in the En /Ed value. The En /Ed value was the lowest when the soil water content was approximately 50 %. The graphical curves representing the change in En /Ed values plotted along with the soil water content showed a V-shaped pattern for all genotypes examined. Furthermore, the patterns of variation of En /Ed values with respect to changes in soil moisture contents were similar under different CO2 concentrations. Therefore, we concluded that suppression of nocturnal transpiration in the absence of drought would be an important target for reducing water consumption without compromising biomass production, and estimation of the En /Ed values will help in selecting individuals showing low nocturnal transpiration regardless of the CO2 concentration in the environment.

The water pivot: transforming unsustainable consumption to valuing water as a resource for life

Water is a resource essential for all life and on which society depends but undervalues. This paper presents theories on methods to pivot from linear, extractive uses of water to considering water as a high value, circular resource. Analysis of the literature, which is primarily focused at the abstractor scale, has highlighted the prioritization of human water rights over environmental needs without incorporating the ramifications of environmental degradation and the complexities of applying a market-driven approach to a heterogeneous resource particularly at the domestic consumer level. A discussion of the relationship between society and water, in particular mechanisms that have been used to reduce water consumption, highlights the complexity of this issue and the need to consider fairness and equity at the global and local scales. A comparison of global, urban water supply and sanitation costs shows the extensive variation in the amounts of water consumed and the prices paid at the domestic consumer scale. Finally, a series of hypotheses are presented that, with local development, testing and refinement, are posited to bring about change in the value society places on water.

Exploring Influencing Factors and Innovative Solutions for Sustainable Water Management on Green Roofs: A Systematic Quantitative Review

Green roofs are becoming popular in urban areas due to their potential benefits, including energy efficiency, urban heat island mitigation, and stormwater management. However, their water consumption can negatively impact water resources. Therefore, carefully managing the water consumption of green roofs is crucial to ensure they do not exacerbate existing water scarcity issues. This review explores the influencing factors and innovative solutions that increase the sustainability of water management on green roofs. A systematic quantitative review was conducted on published studies on green roofs. The review highlighted that while small-scale experimental studies are almost saturated, large-scale monitoring studies are still lacking. Modelling and assessing green roof settings based on climatic conditions and water availability and consumption are essential for successful water management. Using integrated technologies and sensing systems can increase water management efficiency and sustainability. Rainwater may be sufficient as a water source for green roofs in wet climates, while irrigation is still needed in other climates. Phytoremediation and biosorption can potentially increase runoff water quality. Improving hydrological performance by increasing rainwater retention and reducing water consumption capacity can reduce demand for other water resources and effectively manage small storms, mitigating pressure on city infrastructure and increasing water quality. Seeking non-potable sources, such as greywater, or harvesting enough rainwater to be used for irrigation during dry weather periods is highly advantageous for improving the sustainability of green roofs.

Optimal planting pattern of cotton is regulated by irrigation amount under mulch drip irrigation.

It is of great importance to explore agronomic management measures for water conservation and cotton yield in arid areas. A four-year field experiment was conducted to evaluate cotton yield and soil water consumption under four row spacing configurations (high/low density with 66+10 cm wide, narrow row spacing, RS66+10H and RS66+10L; high/low density with 76 cm equal row spacing, RS76H and RS76L) and two irrigation amounts (CI:conventional drip irrigation; LI:limited drip irrigation) during the growing seasons in Shihezi, Xinjiang. A quadratic relationship was observed between the maximum LAI (LAImax) and seed yield. Canopy apparent transpiration rate(CAT), daily water consumption intensity (DWCI) and crop evapotranspiration (ETC) were positively and linearly correlated with LAI. The seed yields, lint yields, and ETC under CI were 6.6-18.3%,7.1-20.8% and 22.9-32.6%higher than those observed under LI, respectively. The RS66+10H under CI had the highest seed and lint yields. RS76L had an optimum LAImax range, which ensured a higher canopy apparent photosynthesis and daily dry matter accumulation and reached the same yield level as RS66+10H; however, soil water consumption in RS76L was reduced ETC by 51-60 mm at a depth of 20-60 cm at a radius of 19-38 cm from the cotton row,and water use efficiency increased by 5.6-8.3%compared to RS66+10H under CI. A 5.0<LAImax<5.5 is optimum for cotton production in northern Xinjiang, and RS76L under CI is recommended for high yield and can further reduce water consumption. Under LI, the seed and lint yield of RS66+10H were 3.7-6.0% and 4.6-6.9% higher than those of RS76L, respectively. In addition, high-density planting can exploit the potential of soil water to increase cotton yields under water shortage conditions.

Optimization of the Plate Heat Exchanger Used for Milk Precooling

Abstract The article deals with the adjustment of the flow rate of milk and water by a plate heat exchanger, which is used for precooling milk. First, measurements of the parameters of the device in the stable were carried out. Subsequently, the plate heat exchanger was measured in the laboratory. Water at 35 °C was used instead of milk. Different flow ratios of cooling water and cooled water (instead of milk) were set. From the measured values, changes in the temperature of cooled water were calculated depending on its flow rate at a constant ratio of cooling water and cooled water. It was found that in the measured range, there are flow values at which temperature change is maximal. This dependence applies to all selected cooling water and cooled water flow ratios: (0.8, 0.9, 1.0, 1.1, 1.2.). The results show that with the same amount of cooling water, it is possible to achieve greater cooling of milk by 0.7 to 1.6 °C, or to achieve a reduction in water consumption. The device on the farm was modified to allow the flow of milk and cooling water to be changed. The optimal values found were set, and verification measurements were performed. The saving of 4.8% of cooling water was confirmed.

Europe’s Water Crisis: From Overshadowed to Potentially Catastrophic

Water crises and scarcity can be seen as a result of the recent heat wave in Europe. The problem has been occurring in many countries for many years, so from a general point of view the water crisis may seem normal. However, Europe's drought and water crisis is now reported to be the worst in 500 years. Water crises could be chartered as national priorities that, at worst, could spark conflict on a global scale. Unfortunately, at the same time, the water crisis not only overshadowed by major political issues, but also other environmental issues. In order to better understand and analyze the global water crisis and climate change, green theory is used as a theoretical basis for the discussion. Through green theory, we can understand that Europe's water crisis is a cause of its own actions, becoming an environmental injustice through its effects. To solve the water crisis, Europe can participate in the 2023 UN Water Conference and implement reductions in water consumption. Europe's future depends on how successful it is in finding the best solutions. If left unchecked, Europe's future could be bleak.

A Sustainable Approach to Dyed Cotton Fabric Stripping Using Ozone

Sodium hydrosulfite is conventionally used for the color stripping of reactive dyes in the textile industry. However, research has been focused on eco-friendly processes to reduce wastewater generation in recent years. This study is aimed at estimating the color stripping efficacy of ozone according to reactive dyes’ chromophore groups. The dyed cotton-knitted fabric with three reactive dyes that have phthalocyanine (Reactive blue 21), diazo (Reactive black 5) and monoazo (Reactive yellow 84) chromophores was treated with ozone. The effect of the experimental parameters (pH, ozone dose and treatment time) was examined on the dyed fabric samples in terms of lightness and bursting strength properties. The results show that the decolorization efficiency of ozone varies with the type of chromophore group. The maximum color removal was achieved for the Reactive blue 21 dye of the phthalocyanine group at optimum process conditions (pH 3, Ozone dose 7 g/h, exposure time 40 min) followed by the reactive dyes that have dioazo and monoazo chromophore groups, respectively. The bursting strength of the fabric sample decolorized using ozone remained stable throughout the study. Moreover, the ozone-stripping effluent meets the environmental quality standards and can be reused up to at least four cycles without affecting the stripping efficiency. Hence, it can provide a sustainable alternative to reduce water consumption in the textile sector.

Using nonlinear ultrasonic measurements to estimate parameters of the sedimentation of slurry solid phase in thickener

Purpose. Improvement of the method for estimating sedimentation process parameters of the slurry solid phase particles in thickener on the basis of measurements of the nonlinear characteristics of ultrasonic waves propagating in a controlled medium. Methodology. The following methods were used: analysis of scientific results and practical developments; methods of mathematical statistics for evaluating the results of experiments; methods of analytical synthesis; methods of numerical modeling for the synthesis and analysis of a mathematical model. Findings. It was established that the nonlinearity of the process of propagation of ultrasonic waves in ore slurry, which is determined by the number and size of crushed ore particles in it, can be estimated by determining the amplitudes of several harmonics of the measured acoustic signal. This approach allows maintaining the productivity of the desliming process in accordance with the characteristics of the ore suspension, without allowing the loss of valuable components. Obtaining real-time information about the characteristics of the particle sedimentation process in the ore suspension at the initial stage enables reducing the duration of transitional processes in the control system. Originality. The method for estimating the parameters of the deposition of the solid phase of the pulp in the thickener has been improved, which is based on the fact that the nonlinearity of the process of propagation of a controlled ultrasonic signal in the thickener; this leads to modulation of the generated ultrasonic packet and, consequently, the appearance of higher harmonics. To obtain a more accurate estimate of the nonlinearity of this process, all the values obtained must be normalized to represent only the relative changes in the acoustic nonlinear response. Practical value. A system for automatic control of the thickener operation is proposed, which uses nonlinear ultrasonic measurements to estimate the parameters of the sedimentation of the solid phase of the pulp in the thickener. According to the results of industrial tests of the system of automatic control of the thickener based on ultrasonic control devices, it was established that its use as part of the automated control system for the technological processes of beneficiation of iron ore raw materials at the ore beneficiation factory of the Northern mining works will allow reducing water consumption by 3.5 % and iron-magnetite losses by 0.6–0.7 %.