Terms Of Environmental Impact Research Articles

Crashworthiness optimisation and environmental impact assessment of a redesigned passenger coach integrating lean design-for-X framework

The transportation industry focuses on reducing vehicle weight for fuel economy and emissions. This emphasis promotes the use of coaches, which raises concerns about passenger safety in frontal collisions. The proposal is to correlate the crashworthiness of coaches with the replacement of fibreglass composite materials by a state-of-the-art polymer (DCPD). Based on the ECE R29 standard, FEM models solved by Pamcrash® assess the vehicle's crashworthiness. Cross-referencing these results with the Eco-Design X technique, two models are evaluated in terms of environmental impact. The LeanDfX methodology involves multiple analyses for design domains, including model optimisation, manufacturing processes, and eco-design. On a performance scale of 0% to 100%, different ‘X’ domains are evaluated. The Eco-Design study allowed the assessing the environmental impacts of the proposed solution compared to the original models, is conducted using Simapro v9.2.0.2 and the ReCiPe 2016 methodology. The novel design proposed modifications to the models resulted in significant structural behaviour improvements for driver's physical integrity. The cross results of Design-for-Crashworthiness and Design-for-Eco-Design using the innovative LeanDfX framework provide a new perspective to be integrated into the automotive industry. The use of DCPD is expected to lead to a more crashworthy and environmentally friendly design, while ensuring passenger safety.

Traditional Atlantic Diet and Its Effect on Health and the Environment

The universal call to action for healthier and more sustainable dietary choices is the framework of the United Nations's Sustainable Development Goals. The Atlantic diet, originating from the northwest of the Iberian Peninsula, represents an example of a traditional diet that aligns with these principles. To explore a 6-month intervention based on the Atlantic diet's effects on metabolic and environmental health, assessing metabolic syndrome (MetS) incidence and the carbon footprint. The Galician Atlantic Diet study was a 6-month randomized clinical trial designed to assess the effects of this regional traditional diet on families' eating habits. The study was conducted from March 3, 2014, to May 29, 2015, at a local primary health care center in the rural town of A Estrada in northwestern Spain and involved a multisectoral collaboration. Families were randomly selected from National Health System records and randomized 1:1 to an intervention or control group. This secondary analysis of the trial findings was performed between March 24, 2021, and November 7, 2023. Over 6 months, families in the intervention group received educational sessions, cooking classes, written supporting material, and foods characteristic of the Atlantic diet, whereas those randomized to the control group continued with their habitual lifestyle. The main outcomes were MetS incidence, defined per National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III guidelines, and carbon footprint emissions as an environmental metric using life cycle assessment with daily dietary intake as the functional unit. Initially, 250 families were randomized (574 participants; mean [SD] age, 46.8 [15.7] years; 231 males [40.2%] and 343 females [59.8%]). The intervention group included 126 families (287 participants) and the control group, 124 families (287 participants). Ultimately, 231 families completed the trial. The intervention significantly reduced the risk of incident cases of MetS (rate ratio, 0.32; 95% CI, 0.13-0.79) and had fewer MetS components (proportional odds ratio, 0.58; 95% CI, 0.42-0.82) compared with the control condition. The intervention group did not have a significantly reduced environmental impact in terms of carbon footprint emissions compared with the control group (-0.17 [95% CI, -0.46 to 0.12] kg CO2 equivalents/person/d). These findings provide important evidence that a family-focused dietary intervention based on a traditional diet can reduce the risk of incident MetS. Further research is needed to understand the underlying mechanisms and determine the generalizability to other populations, taking into account regional cultural and dietary variations. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02391701.

Research review on performance evaluation of a parabolic trough solar collector for hot water generation

This experimental study aimed to examine the impact of many parameters, including concentration ratio, optical efficiency, and thermal efficiency, on the performance of the trough solar collector. In the present day, nations throughout the globe exhibit a collective preoccupation with the issue of environmental pollution and its consequential impacts. However, it remains imperative for these nations to secure adequate energy resources in order to facilitate the progress and advancement of their respective countries. The utilization of conventional techniques, particularly those involving coal, fossil fuels, and organic matter, to generate the necessary energy yields a significant level of air pollution, which serves as the primary catalyst for global warming. The utilization of non-conventional methods for energy production is deemed more favorable in terms of environmental impact. However, the lack of economic viability serves as the primary deterrent for impoverished and emerging nations in adopting such non-conventional techniques. The geographical conditions have a significant role in determining the viability of nonconventional sources such as solar energy and wind energy. This study involved an analysis of the performance of a solar trough collector, with subsequent calculations of its efficiencies.

Evaluating the efficiency of CCHP systems in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region: An optimal strategy based on improved mother optimization algorithm

A novel approach is presented in this research to improve the design of a combined cooling, heating, and power (CCHP) system. The focus of the study is on a gas turbine system that can provide efficient power, cooling, and heating. The efficacy of the proposed technique is evaluated based on four parameters, namely energetic, exergetic, economic, and environmental features. To achieve superior and optimal results, an Improved Mother Optimization Algorithm (IMOA), a recently developed metaheuristic algorithm, is employed. This study provides a comprehensive guide for enhancing the performance, efficiency, and sustainability of CCHP systems. A practical case study was conducted to evaluate the proposed methodology in rural areas of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China, over a period of one year. The simulation results reveal that the Gas Engine (GE) and the boiler components play a significant role in utilizing fuel energy, contributing 65 % and 35 %, respectively to the overall utilization. The analysis of the destruction rate of profile highlights that heat dissipation, mechanical losses, and electrical losses are the primary sources of energy losses within the system. When comparing the proposed IMOA with existing techniques, it is evident that the IMOA achieves a noteworthy 10 % reduction in energy consumption and a remarkable 15 % increase in overall efficiency of system. Furthermore, in terms of environmental impact, the IMOA leads to a substantial 20 % reduction in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions compared to traditional optimization methods. The economic analysis results demonstrate that the IMOA-based approach not only improves cost-effectiveness by 25 %, but also yields an estimated return on investment (ROI) that is 18 % higher than alternative optimization techniques. Moreover, the proposed method with minimum fuel usage of 0.200 L/h, compared with Improved Butterfly Optimizer (IBO) with 0.201 L/h, Modified Mayfly (MM) algorithm with 0.205 L/h, Developed Owl Search (DOS) algorithm with 0.211 L/h, and Improved Owl Search (IOS) algorithm methods with 0.207 L/h, provides better results.

Fabrication of metal matrix composites with negative thermal expansion zinc pyrophosphate filler

We fabricated Cu matrix composites with low thermal expansion and high thermal conductivity using Zn2P2O7-based negative thermal expansion (NTE) filler. Magnesium and aluminum co-doped Zn2−x−yMgxAlyP2O7 exhibits large NTE over a wide temperature range including room temperature. While achieving high density of the phosphate filler using spark plasma sintering and its uniform dispersion by an ultrasonic process, we reduced thermal expansion of the Cu matrix composites and retained their high thermal conductivity. Particularly, the 30 vol. %-Zn1.70Mg0.25Al0.05P2O7/Cu composite had a linear expansion coefficient as low as 5.1 ppm/K at temperatures of 300–400 K. The results reported herein demonstrate that Zn pyrophosphates, which are superior in terms of environmental impact and cost, are effective for controlling the thermal expansion of metals and are expected to support widely diverse engineering applications in the future.

Integrated biorefinery for bioethanol and succinic acid co-production from bread waste: Techno-economic feasibility and life cycle assessment

In this study, an advanced decarbonization approach is presented for an integrated biorefinery that co-produces bioethanol and succinic acid (SA) from bread waste (BW). The economic viability and the environmental performance of the proposed BW processing biorefinery is evaluated. Four distinctive scenarios were designed and analysed, focusing on a plant capacity that processes 100 metric tons (MT) of BW daily. These scenarios encompass: (1) the fermentation of BW into bioethanol, paired with heat and electricity co-generation from stillage, (2) an energy-optimized integration of Scenario 1 using pinch technology, (3) the co-production of bioethanol and SA by exclusively utilizing fermentative CO2, and (4) an advanced version of Scenario 3 that incorporates carbon capture (CC) from flue gas, amplifying SA production. Scenarios 3 and 4 were found to be economically more attractive with better environmental performance due to the co-production of SA. Particularly, Scenario 4 emerged as superior, showcasing a payback period of 2.2 years, a robust internal rate of return (33% after tax), a return on investment of 32%, and a remarkable net present value of 163 M$. Sensitivity analysis underscored the decisive influence of fixed capital investment and product pricing on economic outcomes. In terms of environmental impact, Scenario 4 outperformed other scenarios across all impact categories, where global warming potential, abiotic depletion (fossil fuels), and human toxicity potential were the most influential impact categories (−0.344 kg CO2-eq, −16.2 MJ, and −0.3 kg 1,4-dichlorobenzene (DB)-eq, respectively). Evidently, the integration of CC unit to flue gas in Scenario 4 substantially enhances both economic returns and environmental sustainability of the biorefinery.

Gate-to-gate approach in life cycle assessment of steel pipe products

The iron and steel industry is of great strategic importance in Indonesia and is expected to continue its growth. One sector within this industry that is projected to see increased production is the steel pipe manufacturing sector. However, the significant emissions produced during steel pipe production have prompted many countries to seek ways to reduce these emissions. One such method is the implementation of the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) technique, which assesses the environmental impact and serves as a valuable decision-making tool alongside other important methods. This approach aims to enhance sustainable production and consumption effectively and efficiently. In a specific case study, two types of steel pipe products were analyzed using LCA, focusing on various stages from material transportation to steel pipe production and delivery. The study assessed the environmental impact using the midpoint impact category, which includes factors like Global Warming Potential (GWP), Photochemical Ozone Creation Potential (POCP), Acidification Potential (AP), and Ecological Toxicity Potential (ETP) using the CML2001 characterization methods. The findings revealed that the production of SAWH pipes has a higher environmental impact in terms of GWP, AP, and POCP compared to HFW pipes, while HFW pipes had a greater ETP value. GWP was identified as the most significant potential impact for both products, with the pipeline production stage contributing the most to GWP. Overall, these results offer an initial understanding of the sustainability levels of steel pipe production, serving as a foundation for the development of pollution control measures to maintain the competitiveness of the industrial plant.

Complementary waste heat utilization from data center to ecological farm: A technical, economic and environmental perspective

The waste heat recovery technology of data center has attracted the attentions for energy conservation and emission reduction in recent years. This paper presents a new scheme which uses heat recovery technology to link the data center and the agricultural sector. The detailed system design, technical validation, and environmental and economic analysis show that the project can fully absorb a large amount of waste heat in the data center, and use the air source heat pump (ASHP) to transport heat to an ecological farm, reducing the consumption of electric energy and promoting the development of agriculture and animal husbandry. In a case study of China Brain Green Data Center, the dynamic payback period is about 3.4 years, and the cumulative net present value will reach $666 k. In terms of environmental impact, the proposed ASHP-based complementary utilization scheme can save 676 MWh of electricity for the data center and 88 MWh of electricity for the ecological farm in each year, which is equivalent to reducing coal by 230 tons and reducing CO2 emissions by 168 tons. Therefore, from the perspective of economic and environmental benefits, this new complementary waste heat utilization technology realizes a win-win development.

Techno-environmental and economic assessment of color removal strategies from textile wastewater

The textile industry is one of the most chemical-intensive processes, resulting in the unquestionable pollution of more than a quarter of the planet's water bodies. The high recalcitrant properties of some these pollutants resulted on the development of treatment technologies looking at the larger removal efficiencies, due to conventional systems are not able to completely remove them in their effluents. However, safeguarding the environment also implies taking into account indirect pollution from the use of chemicals and energy during treatment. On the other hand, the emerged technologies need to be economically attractive for investors and treatment managers. Therefore, the costs should be kept under control. For this reason, the present study focuses on a comparative Life Cycle Assessment and Life Cycle Costing of four scale-up scenarios aiming at mono and di-azo reactive dyes removal from textile wastewater. Two reactors (sequencing batch reactor and two-phase partitioning) were compared for different reaction environments (i.e., single anaerobic and sequential anaerobic-aerobic) and conditions (different pH, organic loading rates and use of polymer). In accordance with the results of each scenario, it was found that the three technical parameters leading to a change in the environmental profiles were the removal efficiency of the dyes, the type of dye eliminated, and the pollutant influent concentration. The limitation of increasing organic loading rates related to the biomass inhibition could be overcame through the use of a novel two-phased partitioning bioreactor. The use of a polymer at this type of system may help restore the technical performance (84.5 %), reducing the toxic effects of effluents and consequently decreasing the environmental impact. In terms of environmental impact, this is resulting into a reduction of the toxic effects of textile effluents in surface and marine waters compared to the homologous anaerobic-aerobic treatment in a sequencing batch reactor. However, the benefits achieved for the nature comes with an economic burden related to the consumption of the polymer. It is expected that the cost of investment of the treatment with the two-phase partitioning bioreactor rises 0.6–8.3 %, depending on market prices, compared to the other analyzed sequential anaerobic-aerobic technologies. On the other side, energy and chemical consumption did not prove to be limiting factors for economic feasibility.

Nitrous oxide splurge in a tertiary health care center and its environmental impact: No more laughing stock.

Nitrous oxide has been an integral part of surgical anesthesia for many years in the developed world and is still used in developing countries such as India. The other main concerns in low-resource countries are the lack of an advanced anesthesia gas-scavenging system and modular surgical theatres. As a greenhouse gas that has been present in the atmosphere for more than 100 years and damages the ozone layer, nitrous oxide is three times worse than sevoflurane. Here, we conducted an observational study to quantify the annual nitrous oxide consumption and its environmental impact in terms of carbon dioxide equivalence in one of busiest tertiary health care and research centers in Northern India. Data related to nitrous oxide expenditure' from the operation theatre and manifold complex of our tertiary care hospital and research center from 2018 to 2021 were collected monthly and analyzed. The outcomes were extracted from our observational study, which was approved by our institutional ethics board (INT/IEC/2017/1372 Dated 25.11.2017) and registered prospectively under the Central Registry (CTRI/2018/07/014745 Dated 05.07.2018). The annual nitrous oxide consumption in our tertiary care hospital was 22,081.00, 22,904.00, 17,456.00, and 18,392.00 m3 (cubic meters) in 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021, respectively. This indicates that the environmental impact of nitrous oxide (in terms of CO2 equivalents) from our hospital in 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021 was 13,016.64, 13,287.82, 10,289.94, and 10,841.24 tons, respectively. This huge amount of nitrous oxide splurge is no longer a matter of laughter, and serious efforts should be made at every central and peripheral health center level to reduce it.

Synthesis of Acetylsalicylic Acid – An Environmentally Friendly Approach

Background: The aim of this study was to compare the yields of acetylsalicylic acid synthesis based on the traditional approach and green chemistry approach. Green chemistry is one of the most important approaches in pharmaceutical sustainability. The reagents used for the acetylsalicylic acid synthesis can be environmentally harmful, so there is a need for a better and safer alternative. Methods: We conducted five syntheses based on the traditional approach and five syntheses based on the green chemistry approach. The synthesis process was identical except for one part – traditional synthesis used sulfuric acid and green chemistry synthesis used phosphoric acid. After synthesis, theoretical and experimental yields were calculated. The obtained products were tested using high performance liquid chromatography.Main findings: The theoretical yield of acetylsalicylic acid in both reactions was determined as 3.896 g. Traditional synthesis gave us a mean yield of 3.113 g (79.8%). Green chemistry synthesis gave us a mean yield of 3.104 g (79.4%). The quality of both products was confirmed by the above-mentioned chromatography method. There was no statistically significant difference between the means of the product masses (p=0.8220).Principal conclusions: Phosphoric acid can be used as a safe alternative to acetylsalicylic acid synthesis instead of sulfuric acid. As phosphoric acid is much safer than sulfuric acid in terms of environmental impact, these findings can be used in the pharmaceutical industry setting to obtain a better, cleaner and safer alternative to acetylsalicylic acid synthesis.Key words: acetylsalicylic acid, synthesis, green chemistry, medicinal chemistryArticle processing history:Received July 19, 2023 Revised November 7, 2023 Accepted November 21 , 2023 ORCID IDs of the authors: L.G. 0009-0005-9137-6218M.K. 0000-0003-3904-4994Corresponding author:Assistant Professor Martin Kondža, PhD; Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Mostar, Matice hrvatske bb, 88000Mostar, Bosnia and HerzegovinaE‒mail: martin.kondza@farf.sum.baCite this article as: Golemac L, KondžaM. Synthesis of acetylsalicylic acid –an environmentally friendly approach. Annals of Biomedical and Clinical Research. 2023;2:100 -108 . https://doi.org/Copyright © School of Medicine, University of Mostar 2023

Assessing the circular re-design of prefabricated building envelope elements for carbon neutral renovation

Buildings and the construction industry at large are significant contributors to the catastrophic climate breakdown. The built environment is responsible for 37% of the total global carbon emission, of which about a third arises from the energy used to produce building and construction materials, usually referred to as embodied carbon. One of the key strategies to reduce the environmental impact of buildings is to significantly improve their energy efficiency, which is referred to as deep renovation. Prefabricated building envelope elements intended to prevent heat loss through the building envelope are considered a key deep-renovation technology. Connecting prefabricated elements to a building reflects a potential stream of waste if applied linearly with severe negative environmental impact in terms of natural resource depletion and exposure to pollutants. This article reports on a quantitative Design for Disassembly (Dfd) indicator to assess future recovery potential and, subsequently, its impact on embodied carbon emission of the circular redesign of three different prefabricated building envelope elements. Although none of the redesigned elements are yet considered 100% circular, the development of these three prefabricated building envelope elements showcases that the environmental impact can be substantially reduced following a well-structured and dedicated innovation process. The reduction of the environmental impact is indicated by lower quantities of embodied carbon up to 50% and an improved design for disassembly, reflecting a higher reuse potential of building materials and components. Several limitations and directions for further research were identified to advance the development of circular, prefabricated deep-renovation building envelope elements.

Assessing nitrous oxide emissions and productivity of cropping systems for biogas production using digestate and mineral fertilisation in a coastal marsh site

Significant greenhouse gas emissions during substrate cultivation reduces the potential environmental benefits of biogas production. This study investigates the productivity of different cropping systems and their environmental impact in terms of nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions under the environmental conditions of the coastal marsh regions (Northern Germany) with heavy clay soils, in a 2-year field trial (April 2009-March 2011). Treatments included four cropping systems (perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne, PR) ley, continuous maize (Zea mays), a rotation (CR1) of spring wheat (Triticum aestivum), Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum, IR) and maize, and a rotation (CR2) of maize, winter wheat and IR; two sources of N (nitrogen) fertilizers (calcium ammonium nitrate, and biogas residue (BR)), and three levels of N fertilizer applications (control, moderate, high). Nitrous oxide emissions were determined for the unfertilized and highly fertilized cropping systems comprising PR ley, CR1 and CR2. Cumulative annual N2O emissions varied across the treatments, ranging from 0.82 to 3.4 kg N2O-N ha−1 year−1. Under high N fertilizer applications, PR ley incurred higher N2O-N losses compared to other tested cropping systems, and IR cover crop caused relatively high N2O-N emissions in a short vegetation period. The study observed wide range of yield-scaled emissions (0.00–5.60 kg N2O-N (Mg DM)−1) for different crops, emphasizing the variability in N2O emissions linked to cropping systems. The N2O-N emission factors for the three cropping systems were found to be low to moderate for all treatments, ranging from 0.03% to 0.53% compared to IPCC default Tier 1 N2O-N EFs. The lower emissions in the study were associated with prolonged high soil moisture conditions (water filled pore space >70%.), indicated by its negative correlation with N2O-N fluxes. Low dry matter and N yield of PR and of the wheat-IR sequence after BR application compared to other crops indicated a low N use efficiency. The estimation of N2O-N emissions based on N surplus was not promising specifically for the coastal study site where high groundwater level and organic matter in the soils were the predominant drivers for N2O-N emissions.

A comparative life cycle assessment of ETICS and ventilated façade systems with timber cladding

The aim of this work is to evaluate the environmental impact of different solutions for building facade retrofitting. Based on Sustainable Construction, this study is carried out by applying the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology based on ISO 14044:2006 standard requirements. A “cradle-to-grave” life cycle analysis is developed for each solution, comprising the extraction of raw materials to the disposal phase, and then a comparative analysis was performed by considering the same functional unit: 1 m2 of building facade for a 40-year time horizon. Four retrofit solutions are assessed: two External Thermal Insulation Composite Systems (ETICS), differing only in the insulation material, expanded polystyrene (EPS), and insulation corkboard (ICB); and two ventilated facade systems with different types of timber cladding, thermally modified timber, and painted timber. The data included in the inventory phase is mostly taken from technical documentation and from the Ecoinvent database, complemented with scientific literature and estimations when necessary. The LCA was performed using the SimaPro software applying both EPD (2018) and ReCiPe 2016 Endpoint (H) methods. Results of this study show that, phase-wise, the production and maintenance of the components materials have higher contribution in terms of environmental impact. On the other hand, by comparing the various solutions, the ventilated facade retrofit solution with heat treated timber cladding is the one that shows the highest environmental impact in almost every single category, whereas the cladding solution with painted timber finish is the one that shows the best environmental performance.

Solid–Liquid Separation and Its Environmental Impact on Manure Treatment in Scaled Pig Farms—Evidence Based on Life Cycle Assessment

Recently, there has been a significant focus on the issue of pollution caused by livestock and poultry rearing, which is recognized as a prominent contributor to nonpoint source pollution in the agricultural sector. This study employed the life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology to evaluate the environmental impact of several pig manure processing scenarios with the aim of determining the appropriate solid–liquid separation tool for large-scale pig farms. The findings indicate that the utilization of a screw extruder for solid–liquid separation in Scenario 2 has a lower environmental impact. In contrast to Scenario 1, Scenario 2 exhibits reduced environmental potential in the areas of global warming, human toxicity, acidification, and eutrophication. Specifically, the global warming, human toxicity, acidification, and eutrophication impacts decreased by 56%, 81%, 83%, and 273%, respectively, due to the implementation of solid–liquid separation. The type of solid–liquid separation equipment used during the processing of swine manure, as well as the subsequent treatment, have a significant impact on environmental emissions. Compared to Scenario 2, Scenario 3, which utilizes a centrifugal microfilter for solid–liquid separation, exhibits a lower environmental impact in terms of human toxicity, resulting in a reduction of 0.736 kg DCB-eq. In general, solid–liquid separation is a viable and environmentally friendly method for the disposal of waste from large-scale pig farms. The adoption of this method is highly recommended. During its implementation, careful consideration should be given to factors such as separation efficiency and pollution emissions. It is crucial to select appropriate equipment for solid–liquid separation to effectively process the waste.

A Hybrid Architectural Model for Monitoring Production Performance in the Plastic Injection Molding Process

Monitoring production systems is a key element for identifying waste and production efficiency, and for this purpose, the calculation of the Key Performance Indicator (KPI) Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) is validly recognized in the scientific literature. The collection and analysis of the cause of the interruption of the plants is particularly useful in this sense. The use of Internet of Things (IoT) technology in order to automate data collection for the purpose of calculating the OEE and the causes of interruption is effective. Furthermore, the existing literature lacks research studies that aim to improve the data quality of important process data that cannot be collected automatically. This study proposes the use of IoT technologies to request targeted and intelligent information inputs from the operators directly involved in the process, improving the completeness and accuracy of the information through the real-time and smart combination of manual and automated data. The Business Process Model and Notation (BPMN) methodology was used to analyze and redesign the collection data process and define the architectural model with a deep knowledge of the specific process. The proposed architecture, designed for application to a plastic injection molding production line, comprises several elements: the telemetry of the injection molding machine, an intervention request system, an intervention tracking system, and a human–system interface. Furthermore, a dashboard was developed using the Power BI software, 2.122.746.0 version, to analyze the information collected. Reducing the randomness of manual data makes it possible to direct production efficiency efforts more effectively, helping to reduce waste and production costs. Reducing production costs appears to be strongly linked to reducing environmental impacts, and future studies will be able to quantify the benefits obtained from the solution in terms of environmental impact.

Recycling of glass waste and spent alkaline batteries cathodes into insulation materials

Expanded glass with thermal and acoustic insulation properties are obtained from a foaming blend composed of 97% glass waste and 3% expanding agent. This latter is a blend of carbon and manganese oxides, recovered from exhausted alkaline batteries. The samples are produced after heating the mixture in a ventilated furnace at temperatures between 850 and 950 °C, for times between 15 and 60 min. Mechanical, thermal and acoustic properties are characterized as a function of process parameters. The glass foam samples have densities in the range of 290–350 kg/m3, porosity of 86–90%, thermal conductivity values of 107–120 mW m−1 K−1, noise reducing factors of 0.2–0.3 and compressive strengths up to 4.6 MPa. Although the resulting insulating performances are not as outstanding as those of polymer foams or mineral wool, these materials can emerge as competitive candidates for applications requiring low weight and moderate thermal and acoustic insulation properties, in combination with non-flammability and high temperature load bearing-capacity. Moreover, the use of 100% recycled raw materials limits the energy and the resource required for their production, if compared to those needed for the extraction, transportation, and processing of primary raw materials, making these foams attractive also in terms of environmental impact.

Experimental study on brick performance using quartz material and woods ash

Traditional building using clay bricks is a cornerstone of modern civilization. Traditional brickmaking hurts the environment via clay mining and power-hungry fires. This article describes the results of a quartz and wood ash brick experiment to address these issues and promote sustainable construction. We will test their mechanical properties, water absorption, and durability to determine whether they can replace clay bricks in terms of environmental impact and resource efficiency. Quartz and wood ash are being considered for brick manufacture owing to their cost-effectiveness and environmental advantages. The performance of bricks made with these materials is yet unknown. To fill this gap, this research will examine the structural and thermal characteristics of quartz-and-wood-ash bricks for building applications. This research helps the construction industry achieve or surpass performance standards while reducing brick manufacturing's environmental impact. This study examines utilising quartz and wood ash as brick raw materials to improve sustainability and performance. Quartz, wood ash, and ordinary clay are burned to make brick samples according to industry requirements. These materials are tested for brickmaking, utilising many performance characteristics. Brick conduct was identified during the investigation. Bricks using powdered quartz, wood ash, cement, and sand were evaluated for compressive strength and water absorption. They made bricks. Most bricks were made by mixing and casting these four elements. According to estimations, quartz, wood ash, cement, and sand made up 45 %, 15 %, and 15 % of each component, respectively. After the final brick was laid, the fresh bricks were tested. Water absorption and compressive strength vary greatly between 7- and 14-day-cured bricks. Compressive strength rose greater after 14 days than 7.

Decarbonization Pathways, Strategies, and Use Cases to Achieve Net-Zero CO2 Emissions in the Steelmaking Industry

The steelmaking industry is responsible for 7% of global CO2 emissions, making decarbonization a significant challenge. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of current steel-production processes, assessing their environmental impact in terms of CO2 emissions at a global level. Limitations of the current pathways are outlined by using objective criteria and a detailed review of the relevant literature. Decarbonization strategies are rigorously evaluated across various scenarios, emphasizing technology feasibility. Focusing on three pivotal areas—scrap utilization, hydrogen integration, and electricity consumption—in-depth assessments are provided, backed by notable contributions from both industrial and scientific fields. The intricate interplay of technical, economic, and regulatory considerations substantially affects CO2 emissions, particularly considering the EU Emissions Trading System. Leading steel producers have established challenging targets for achieving carbon neutrality, requiring a thorough evaluation of industry practices. This paper emphasizes tactics to be employed within short-, medium-, and long-term periods. This article explores two distinct case studies: One involves a hot rolling mill that utilizes advanced energy techniques and uses H2 for the reheating furnace, resulting in a reduction of 229 kt CO2-eq per year. The second case examines DRI production incorporating H2 and achieves over 90% CO2 reduction per ton of DRI.

Impact of the 50 biggest pharma companies: a review of Environmental report aspiring to NetZero

Abstract Background Pharmaceutical companies have a considerable environmental impact in terms of waste disposal, CO2 emissions, plastic usage, and air pollution, water and energy consumption (including those related to transportation and refrigeration of drugs). According to data from 2019, pharmacological firms’ CO2 emissions are 13% greater than those of the car industry. To follow a greener path, pharmaceutical companies should primarily invest in sustainable production and supply, standard criteria, rewards programs, and staff training. This review aims to examine how pharmaceutical businesses incorporate environmental sustainability concerns into their operations, regulations, and communications. Methods We selected the top 50 pharmaceutical companies by revenue using the drugdiscoverytrends.com database. We collected the 2021 ESG report for each company, examining the following aspects: the inclusion of a ‘sustainability’ section or a downloadable sustainability report; the disclosure of the company production and carbon footprint; the existence of concrete measures to limit CO2 emissions, save water and energy, and reduce the effect of transportation. Data were analyzed through descriptive statistics to assess the sustainability of companies. Results Preliminary results indicate that each organization has a different level of importance for the topic of sustainability. Companies focused on CO2 production, few on other areas such as water needs or impact on biodiversity. Logistics correspond to the most impactful carbon footprint. Future forecasts and the path to NetZero emissions will also be emphasized, possibly comparing them with upcoming ESG 2022 reports. Conclusions The first results of our review show that the 50 biggest pharmaceutical companies have a different kind of interest towards environmental-friendly actions. Those with the highest revenues seem to be more careful towards the green issues, but the route to NetZero is still far to be achieved. Key messages • The environmental impact of pharmaceutical companies is greater than other industries. They must balance their business goals with environmental sustainability to reach NetZero as soon as possible. • The future goal of public health will be to monitor the environmental impact of drug production.