Treatment System Research Articles

Decentralized sanitation alternatives in cities of the global south—A case of constructed wetlands in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe

Constructed wetlands have emerged as a sustainable alternative for decentralized wastewater treatment in developing countries which face challenges with urbanization and deteriorating infrastructure. This paper discusses the key factors affecting the implementation of constructed wetlands in developing countries. A case study research design was adopted, which focused on Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. A mixed-method approach was adopted for the study. Spatial analysis was conducted to identify potential sites for constructed wetlands in the city of Bulawayo. Semi structured interviews were conducted, with relevant stakeholders, such as town planners, civil engineers, NGO representatives, community leaders, and quantity surveyors. The findings reveal that political reforms, public acceptance, land availability, and funding are crucial for the successful implementation of constructed wetlands. Additionally, four sites were identified as the most favorable preliminary locations for these systems. The paper captures all the key factors relevant to the implementation of constructed wetlands (CWs) with a closer look at policy and the role it plays in the adoption of decentralized wastewater treatment systems. Formulating policy around the decentralized sanitation systems was considered imperative to the success of the systems whether in implementation or in operation. The paper adds to knowledge in the subject of sustainable wastewater treatment alternatives for developing countries. However, further research can be conducted with a different methodology to ascertain the applicability of the systems in developing urban cities considering other important aspects in the implementation of wastewater treatment systems.

Efficient conversion from food waste to composite carbon source through rapid fermentation and ceramic membrane filtration

Anaerobic fermentation of food waste (FW) produces a broth rich in small-molecule organic substances, which has the potential as a composite carbon source for denitrification in wastewater treatment. In this study, the idea was tested by optimizing the fermentation process at different hydraulic residence time (HRT), refining fermentation broth through ceramic membrane filtration, and comparing the performance of fermentation filtrate and other commercial carbon sources. A short HRT of 3 days was a suitable fermentation condition with 88% polysaccharide degradation. Acetic acid contributed 40% of soluble chemical oxygen demand in the fermentation broth, followed by ethanol, propanol, lactic acid, and propionic acid, and the five products accounted for 80%. Ceramic membrane filtration can recover more than 70% of dissolved organic matter and more than 60% of small molecular organic matter and simultaneously remove 99% of SS, 41% of total nitrogen, and 62% of total phosphorus. At the rapid degradation stage, the denitrification rates reached 6.68–10.39 mg NOx−-N/(g VSS·h), which was on par with commercial carbon sources. The short fermentation and the rapid membrane separation were integrated to create an efficient treatment system, which provided a feasible pathway to utilize FW combining wastewater treatment.

Application of Fluorescent Composite Materials as a Sustained Release System in Treatment of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a multifactorial disease characterized by oxidative stress and follicular dysfunction, leading to menstrual irregularities, hyperandrogenism, and infertility. Traditional drug delivery methods often result in drug loss and side effects on normal tissues. To address these issues, we synthesized two novel Co(II)-containing coordination polymers (CPs), {[Co(L)(H2O)2]·2H2O}n (1) and {[Co(L)(H2O)2]·1.5H2O}n (2), through the reaction of the T-shaped ligand (4 - 3'-pyridyl-,6 - 4'-carboxylphenyl)picolinic acid (H2L) with Co(NO3)2·6H2O via a solvothermal process. Fluorescence spectroscopy revealed that the fluorescence emission of the CPs originates from the ligand, indicating their potential application as blue fluorescence materials. Subsequently, we encapsulated these CPs with hyaluronic acid (HA) and carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS) hydrogels to create two types of metal gel particles carrying spironolactone (HA/CMCS-CPs@spironolactone). SEM and TEM analyses showed that the material consists of tightly stacked sheet-like structures with an average size of approximately 100nm. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) indicated that the material begins to decompose at around 115°C, demonstrating good thermal stability. We assessed the inhibitory effects of these materials on oxidative stress induced by PCOS. The results showed that both types of spironolactone-loaded metal gel particles significantly reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, particularly the particles constructed with CP2. HA/CMCS-CP1@spironolactone reduced MDA levels by approximately 17% and 46% at low and high concentrations, respectively, while HA/CMCS-CP2@spironolactone decreased MDA levels by about 55% and 39% at high and low concentrations, respectively. Therefore, the novel drug delivery system reported in this study has the potential to become a safe and effective option for the localized treatment of PCOS.

Removal of Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Organic Matter, and Heavy Metals from Pig-Farming Wastewater Using a Microalgae-Bacteria Consortium.

Wastewater generated by the pork industry urgently requires the implementation of low-cost, high-benefit, and efficient treatment systems. Accordingly, a microalgae-bacteria consortia-based treatment system is proposed for the removal of contaminants released, by the pork-producing industry, in swine wastewater. In this study, different inoculum concentrations of the microalgae-bacteria consortium were tested to document variation in the removal of nutrients from the wastewater. At varying concentrations, it was efficient and did not present a significant difference in the removal kinetics. The treatment with the greatest amount of inoculum removed close to 87% of total nitrogen, approximately 70% of orthophosphate, and 77% of chemical oxygen demand. Removals of 84% iron, 44% copper, and 48% manganese were also obtained. These results demonstrate that microalgae-bacteria consortia are an economically viable and environmentally desirable option for the efficient treatment of wastewater from the pork industry.

Lymphatic targeting of cilnidipine by designing and developing a nanostructured lipid carrier drug delivery system

Objective The objective of current research is to design, develop, and optimize a cilnidipine (CLN) nanostructured lipid carrier (NLC)-based drug delivery system for the effective treatment of hypertension (HT). Significance Oral administration of CLN-loaded NLC (CLN NLC) containing glyceryl monostearate (GMS) as a solid and isopropyl myristate (IPM) as a liquid lipid may show remarkable lymphatic uptake through payer patches. Methods The emulsification probe sonication technique was used followed by optimization using 32 factorial designs. Results The optimized batch showed a mean particle size of 115.4 ± 0.22 nm with encapsulation efficiency of 98.32 ± 0.23%, polydispersity index (PDI) of 0.342 ± 0.03, and zeta potential (ZP, ζ) was −60.5 ± 0.24 which indicate excellent physical stability. In vitro studies showed a controlled release of CLN NLCs. Pharmacokinetics studies determined the C max of NLCs (373.47 ± 15.1) indicates 2.3-fold enhancement compared with plain drug (160.64 ± 7.63). Pharmacodynamic studies indicated that CLN NLCs were maintaining systolic blood pressure in a controlled manner without any signs of side effects. Conclusion CLN NLCs significantly improved lymphatic delivery and proved to be effective in the treatment and management of HT. It has been proved that CLN NLCs are found to be better than any traditional CLN dosage form due to enhancement in solubility, absorption, bioavailability, intestinal permeability, avoidance of first-pass metabolism, P-glycoprotein efflux and reduction in dose-related side effects, achievement of controlled and sustained release action.

Mitoxantrone release from Fmoc-protected amino acids coated magnetic carbon nanotubes: Computational and experimental study for cancer treatment

Nanoparticles have a high potential for use as drug carrier systems in cancer treatment to reduce severe side effects, as in the treatment of many other diseases. Due to their unique properties, carbon-based nanoparticles such as carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are among the most frequently used nanoparticles in drug carrier systems. In this study, magnetic single-walled CNTs (mCNTs) were synthesized, characterized, coated and their ability to carry the anticancer drug mitoxantrone (MTO) was investigated using computational and experimental methods. First, the mCNT coating capabilities of Fmoc-protected amino acids, Fmoc-Cys(trt)-OH and Fmoc-Trp-OH were demonstrated by Raman spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Then, full-atom molecular dynamics simulations of MTO-CNT complexes in explicit water were used to understand Fmoc-amino acid and MTO loading experiments at the molecular level. Binding free energies calculated by the Molecular Mechanics/Poisson-Boltzmann Surface Area method suggested MTO-CNT complex stability even at elevated temperatures up to 350 K that can be achieved due to external magnetic stimuli. Drug loading at pH 9 and releases at physiological (pH 7.4) and lysosomal pH (pH 5.5) were carried out for uncoated and coated mCNTs. The drug release and characterization results showed that coated mCNTs have pH-responsive drug release, enhanced dispersibility, and superparamagnetic properties so they promise to be beneficial for MTO delivery in cancer treatment. Cell viability results demonstrated that the mCNT-Fmoc-Cys samples had higher cell viability compared to the mCNT and mCNT-Fmoc-Trp groups.

Can molecular oscillation technology be used as an alternative to acid injection to prevent the clogging of emitters in drip irrigation systems?

AbstractIn this study, molecular oscillation technology (Merus ring), developed to prevent calcification, biofilm formation and corrosion in piping in industrial water treatment systems, was compared as an alternative to acid injection to prevent the clogging of emitters by chemicals, and fresh and saline water were compared on the basis of system performance parameters (coefficient of variation, distribution uniformity, Christiansen uniformity, emission uniformity) and economic aspects. The results revealed that both acid injection and the Merus ring in saline and fresh water resulted in significantly higher average emitter flow rates than the control treatment. Both the Merus ring and the acid injection achieved higher performance parameters with fresh water than with saline water. Acid injection was found to be more effective in preventing clogging of the emitters than the Merus ring when saline water was used. Compared with fresh water, saline water increases emitter clogging. The economic analysis revealed that the Merus ring was more economical ($204.3 ha−1) than acid injection with both fresh water ($318.2 ha−1) and saline water ($578.6 ha−1). Therefore, the Merus ring could be a reliable and environmentally friendly alternative to acid injection to prevent the clogging of emitters in drip systems when saline water is used.

Sewage Treatment Equipment Supply Chain Collaboration and Resilience Improvement Path Analysis: Collaborative Decision-Making, Information Sharing, Risk Management

Since the dawn of the 21st century, supply chains (SCs) have faced an array of unprecedented challenges, encompassing economic volatility, escalating geopolitical conflicts, intensified trade disputes, and persistent environmental degradation. These challenges have imposed immense pressures on SCs, amplifying both the risks and occurrences of disruptions. In response to these critical demands, there has been a substantial increase in academic, industrial, and governmental focus on the resilience and recovery capabilities of SCs. In this context, the supply chain (SC) for sewage treatment equipment has been significantly affected. This study aims to systematically investigate collaborative strategies and mechanisms for bolstering the resilience of manufacturing SCs within the sewage treatment sector, with particular attention to collaborative decision-making, information sharing, and risk mitigation throughout the SC lifecycle. Following a comparative analysis of various methodologies, this paper employed the structural equation model (SEM) and subsequently conducted a comprehensive survey of manufacturers specializing in glass fiber sewage treatment systems, yielding 385 valid responses. Through this data, a structural equation model was developed to analyze pathways for resilience enhancement. A thorough analysis of the results indicates that Supply Chain Collaboration (SCC) and collaborative decision-making are instrumental in strengthening Glass Fiber Sewage Treatment Supply Chain Resilience (SCR) through the implementation of effective information sharing and risk management practices. These findings contribute to the theoretical framework of SCC and SCR by clarifying the influence of collaborative practices while also providing practical guidance for the governance and strategic management of sewage treatment equipment enterprises and their associated SCs. The conclusions drawn from this study can guide us in establishing a more resilient and sustainable SC ecosystem, making it more directive and capable of mitigating complex disruptions.

Review of Lipid Nanoparticles for Breast Cancer Management: Targeting Strategies and Clinical Perspective

Abstract: Chemotherapy, a conventional breast cancer treatment, has limitations due to its nonspecific mechanisms and undesirable side effects. Lipid-based nanoparticles (LNPs) have emerged as a versatile and superior platform for targeted breast cancer treatment, offering several distinct advantages over traditional therapies. This class of nanocarriers, which includes solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs), nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs), and liposomes, enhances the bioavailability and stability of therapeutic agents while minimizing systemic toxicity. LNPs can be engineered to precisely target breast cancer cells by exploiting tumor-specific markers, enabling selective delivery of chemotherapeutic agents and reducing off-target effects. SLNs provide controlled drug release and improved drug retention within the tumor, while NLCs offer higher drug-loading capacities and better stability. Liposomes, with their flexible design, allow for the encapsulation of both hydrophilic and hydrophobic drugs and can be modified for active targeting through surface functionalization. These lipid-based carriers also address the challenges of multi-drug resistance (MDR) by enhancing intracellular drug concentration and overcoming efflux mechanisms. In this review, we focus on lipid-based nanoparticles- a subtype of nanoparticles, and their potential advantages as drug delivery systems for breast cancer treatment. Results revealed that lipidbased nanoparticles have shown potential in breast cancer management, these include improved drug efficacy, enhanced ability to overcome cancer therapy resistance, and effective drug carrier for co-loaded drugs.

China and Shanghai Cooperation Organization: Reconsideration and Improvement of Multilateralizing Effect of Most Favored Nation Clause in BIT

Since the Maffezini case, debates upon the application of the Most-Favored-Nation (MFN) clause have never stopped. Research from the perspective of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) can test the way for further advancement of this issue. The analysis on the international investment arbitration cases involving the SCO states may shed some light on the crucial point on dispute. At present, the bilateral investment treaties (BIT) between China and other states of the SCO are in an urgent need of renewal in order to meet the interests of deepening investment cooperation. Problems of fragmentation of the interpretation method and of unpredictability of the interpretation conclusion of the MFN clauses manifested in international investment disputes involving SCO states will provide concrete preventative suggestions on the updating of the wording of MFN clauses. Under SCO framework, the multilateral effect of the MFN clause can play a model role for other regional integration organizations to build an integrated and multilateral investment treatment system in the fragmented and bilateralism-based framework of international investment law, and in fact promote investment facilitation for regional organizations.

Evaluation of the Efficiency of Hospital Wastewater Treatment Systems and Stations in the Atlantic and Littoral Departments of Benin

Evaluation of the Efficiency of Hospital Wastewater Treatment Systems and Stations in the Atlantic and Littoral Departments of Benin

Enhancement of livestock wastewater treatment by a novel wooden-modified biocarrier

Intensive livestock wastewater poses threat to ecosystem. A novel wooden-modified biocarrier was applied in this study to enhance the livestock wastewater treatment in anoxic-aerobic systems. Compared to the ordinary polyethylene (PE) biocarrier, the novel wooden-modified biocarrier improved the biomass owing to its rough surface and porous side wall, and had better nitrogen removal ability. The biomass of wooden-modified biocarrier was 6.3 ± 1.1 and 36.4 ± 17.0 times that of PE biocarrier in anoxic and aerobic condition, respectively. The removal rates of ammonia nitrogen and total nitrogen of this novel biocarrier on specific biofilm's aera eventually stabilized at 0.64 ± 0.10 and 0.94 ± 0.21 g N/m2/d, respectively. Notably, this wooden-modified biocarrier was conducive to increase nitrogen removal by simultaneous nitrification and denitrification to some extent. The biofilm on novel modified biocarrier had higher extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) contents than activated sludge (AS), and the proportions of polysaccharides (PS) in EPS from biocarrier were more than those from AS. Compared to PE biocarrier and AS, the wooden-modified biocarriers enhanced the enrichment of nitrifying and denitrifying bacteria, and promoted the membrane transport and aerobic nitrogen metabolism. This study confirmed the superiority of wooden-modified biocarrier and provided reference for the treatment of high concentration sewage in full-scale project.

Photothermal Fe3O4 nanoparticles induced immunogenic ferroptosis for synergistic colorectal cancer therapy

Photothermal therapy (PTT) is a promising non-invasive treatment that has shown great potential in eliminating tumors. It not only induces apoptosis of cancer cells but also triggers immunogenic cell death (ICD) which could activate the immune system against cancer. However, the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TIME) poses a challenge to triggering strong immune responses with a single treatment, thus limiting the therapeutic effect of cancer immunotherapy. In this study, dual-targeted nano delivery system (GOx@FeNPs) combined with αPD-L1 immune checkpoint blocker could inhibit colorectal cancer (CRC) progression by mediating PTT, ferroptosis and anti-tumor immune response. Briefly, specific tumor delivery was achieved by the cyclic arginine glycyl aspartate (cRGD) peptide and anisamide (AA) in GOx@FeNPs which not only had a good photothermal effect to realize PTT and induce ICD, but also could deplete glutathione (GSH) and catalyze the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) from endogenous H2O2. All these accelerated the Fenton reaction and augmented the process of PTT-induced ICD. Thus, a large amount of tumor specific antigen was released to stimulate the maturation of dendritic cells (DCs) in lymph nodes and enhance the infiltration of CD8+ T cells in tumor. At the same time, the combination with αPD-L1 has favorable synergistic effectiveness against CRC with tumor inhibition rate over 90%. Furthermore, GOx@FeNPs had good magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) capability under T2-weighting owing to the presence of Fe3+, which is favorable for integrated diagnosis and treatment systems of CRC. By constructing a dual-targeted GOx@FeNPs nanoplatform, PTT synergistically combined with ferroptosis was realized to improve the immunotherapeutic effect, providing a new approach for CRC immunotherapy.

Sustainability and dialysis: the 4 main points for a green dialysis

Dialysis represents a big challenge for the environmental sustainability, because it is bound to high consumption of water and electricity, hazardous waste incineration and subsequent greenhouse gas emissions. In recent years, it has been recognized the urgent need to preserve our environment together with the people’s health, starting from making dialysis greener. This awareness has led to a new paradigm in the history of dialysis, the concept of Green Nephrology. The Italian Society of Nephrology published 10 affordable actions in the Position Statement with the aims to increase awareness, propose joint actions and coordinate industrial/social interactions. Starting from these, there are four key points to pave the way for environmental sustainability: 1) Sustainable technologies (i.e., machines, filters, water treatment systems, acid concentrates, lighter materials, electronic patient record); 2) Green dialysis centers; 3) Environmental improvement project, using tools to define targets and their monitoring; 4) Nurse role, as he is the main environmental sustainability promoter. To achieve Green Nephrology it’s necessary a partnership between all the stakeholders of the healthcare system. Since the growing awareness of the problem and the existence of ways to solve it, it’s time to act and the effective way to do it is to implement all the solutions provided in this article in an immediate future.

The LTAR Cropland Common Experiment at the Kellogg Biological Station.

The Kellogg Biological Station Long-term Agroecosystem Research site (KBS LTAR) joined the national LTAR Network in 2015 to represent a northeast portion of the North Central Region, extending across 76,000 km2 of southern Michigan and northern Indiana. Regional cropping systems are dominated by corn (Zea mays)-soybean (Glycine max) rotations managed with conventional tillage, industry-average rates of fertilizer and pesticide inputs uniformly applied, few cover crops, and little animal integration. In 2020, KBS LTAR initiated the Aspirational Cropping System Experiment as part of the LTAR Common Experiment, a co-production model wherein stakeholders and researchers collaborate to advance transformative change in agriculture. The Aspirational (ASP) cropping system treatment, designed by a team of agronomists, farmers, scientists, and other stakeholders, is a five-crop rotation of corn, soybean, winter wheat (Triticum aestivum), winter canola (Brassicus napus), and a diverse forage mix. All phases are managed with continuous no-till, variable rate fertilizer inputs, and integrated pest management to provide benefits related to economic returns, water quality, greenhouse gas mitigation, soil health, biodiversity, and social well-being. Cover crops follow corn and winter wheat, with fall-planted crops in the rotation providing winter cover in other years. The experiment is replicated with all rotation phases at both the plot and field scales and with perennial prairie strips in consistently low-producing areas of ASP fields. The prevailing practice (or Business as usual [BAU]) treatment mirrors regional prevailing practices as revealed by farmer surveys. Stakeholders and researchers evaluate the success of the ASP and BAU systems annually and implement management changes on a 5-year cycle.

Unraveling the pharmaceutical footprint and risks of combining different aquaculture modes and tailwater treatment systems

Aquatic environments serve as repositories for pharmaceuticals, and intensive aquaculture is becoming a significant contributor to the discharge of aquaculture wastewater. The cyclical footprint of pharmaceuticals between the aquatic environment and aquaculture has emerged as a global concern. The environmental occurrence and risk assessment of pharmaceuticals in the aquatic environment via various aquaculture modes, as well as the pharmaceutical removal efficiency in different tailwater treatment systems, have been studied through yearly investigations. Thirty-four pharmaceuticals were detected in the aquaculture environment, and the dominant pharmaceuticals were enrofloxacin, sulfamethoxazole, amantadine, and florfenicol. The highest concentration of pharmaceuticals was found in the fish pond (3826 ± 29.6 ng/L) under the greenhouse aquaculture mode, especially in the early and late aquaculture stages, and the same trend was observed in the pond aquaculture mode. The tailwater removal efficiency was greater in summer months than other months, and the treatment efficiency of the recirculating treatment system was more stable. During the aquaculture period, a low risk was observed for most pharmaceuticals, except for enrofloxacin, sulfamethoxazole, ciprofloxacin and ofloxacin, which had at medium to high risk. High-risk pharmaceuticals show a high potential to contaminate the surrounding aquatic environment and adversely affect associated biota. Reassuringly, the ecological risks of the detected pharmaceuticals can be effectively reduced after tailwater treatment. This study provides valuable data for the growing system to assess risk in aquaculture and serves as a reference to establish quality standards for aquatic products.

ESSAI DE TRAITEMENT BIOLOGIQUE DES HUILES LUBRIFIANTES USAGÉES RÉCUPÉRÉES DANS DES GARAGES DE KINSHASA À L’AIDE DES URINES HUMAINES ET KAOLIN EN RÉPUBLIQUE DÉMOCRATIQUE DU CONGO

In the various car garages of Kinshasa (in the Democratic Republic of Congo), the lack of consideration of environmental standards is the basis of the voluntary and/or accidental discharges of used oils directly into the environment without any prior treatment. These used hydrocarbons are pollutants that can cause major environmental problems due to their toxicity. The aim of this study is to treat used lubricating oils from car garages biologically in order to reduce their toxic potential. To this end, an aerobic biological treatment system was set up by mixing 4L of used oils with IL of urine, 2Kg of active Kaolin and 20L of water. The reduction in the toxicity of hydrocarbons was assessed through acute toxicity tests on the species Gambusia Affinis and microbiological analyses before and after biological treatment of these oils. The results obtained on the toxicity before treatment of these oils revealed that the LC50 was around ±3 ml/g of used oils to say that the pollutant is very toxic. After biological treatment, the LC50 rise to around ±66.7 ml/g for the treated oils, which represents a significant reduction in toxicity and ranks these treated oils in the order of less toxic effluents. The microbiological analyses of the used oils before their treatment did not show any bacteria; on the other hand, the analyses after treatment made it possible to highlight the presence of bacterial colonies whose identification revealed the following bacteria: Citrobacter, Enterobacter, Klebsiella and Pseudomonas, which are mostly lipolytic. This study thus allowed to treat used oils thanks to microorganisms and the intrinsic properties of urine and Kaolin.

Pollution resistance and removal efficiency of mesophytic plants of polluted water bodies

With the development of cities and economic growth, the eutrophication of urban park landscape water has become a hot topic in environmental governance and research at home and abroad. Using indoor water pollution simulation experiments, the decontamination and pollution resistance performance of six aquatic plants were studied. The research results found that all six aquatic plants can reduce the pH value of eutrophic water bodies. The pH of the Lythrum salicaria L. (Q) and Iris tectorum Maxim (Y) treatment systems was the lowest which are 7.34 and 7.48, respectively. They were significantly lower than the control group (CK). The content of nitrogen and phosphorus elements were reduced by six types of plants in the wastewater. After the completion of the experiment, the total nitrogen (TN) removal efficiency of Y was as high as 66.2%, and its content decreased from 9.49 to 3.21 mg/l. The removal rates of total phosphorus (TP) by six types of plants ranged from 59.1 to 81.3% and they were significantly higher than the CK. Among them, the removal rate of TP in wastewater by Y treatment exceeded 80%, which is superior to other plants and significantly different from CK. After the completion of the experiment, the content of chlorophyll a (chl a) in the water treated with Y was the lowest (6.6 mg/l). It was significantly lower than the other treatments (P<0.05). The contents of chl a in Y decreased by 37.1% compared to the initial level. Compared to CK, it is 54.1% lower and the content of chl a in CK showed an increasing trend with time delay. Overall analysis shows that the microsystems formed by the six plants all have a certain improvement effect on water quality, effectively inhibiting the proliferation of algae in eutrophic water bodies. Among them, planting iris has the best effect. Bangladesh J. Bot. 53(3): 757-763, 2024 (September) Special

Solar and Wind Energy Feasibility for a Water Treatment and Recirculation System Intended for Carniculture: Comparative Study Between the Cities Of Monteiro and Sousa – Paraíba – Brazil

Objective: This article presents a comparative study of renewable solar and wind energy production capacity between Monteiro and Sousa cities, located in the semi-arid region of Paraíba state, Brazil, to analyze the feasibility of using solar panels and/or wind turbines for energy supply in a water recirculation and treatment model applied to carciniculture. Method: A hypothetical-deductive method was employed and a bibliographic character was adopted in the research, taking as basis technical-scientific work information. Additionally, the research also presents quantitative theory, since it makes use of quantifiable results presented from measurable data that need to be properly expressed. A composite system was proposed, initially consisting of six identical units exposed in Figure 1, disposed under a roof, over which photovoltaic plates are placed for the supply of electrical energy to the hydraulic pumps contained in the system. The modeling study was based on wind speed and solar irradiance data in the cities of Monteiro and Sousa, with coordinates latitude -37.1214299 and longitude -7.8983769, and latitude -38.2285597 and longitude -6.7671611. These information were extracted from the Terraclimate database, using scripts written in Java and Python languages for extraction and processing. To predict wind power energy, the average wind speed in meters per second was used for each month, from January 1st, 2010 to December 31st, 2020. For modeling of photovoltaic power prediction, the average short-wave irradiance (W/m²) per month was considered, during the same period. To establish the monthly mean temperature, the average temperatures in Celsius were considered for the period from January 1st, 2010 to December 31st, 2020. For verification of the sufficiency of wind and photovoltaic systems for energy production maintenance, the energy demand of the System of Carciniculture was compared with the energy production by each of the sources considered, and based on the analysis made, it was defined which is the best energy production systemto be used and the best city where the defined system will be installed. Results and conclusions: The results show that the use of solar energy is economical, reduces social impacts generating employment and elevates environmental awareness, and has low environmental impact. The study found that solar energy generation capacity is sufficient and most suitable to keep the shrimp farming system running throughout the year, with observed variations between 226.8 kWh/month and 299.7 kWh/month in Souza city, and between 232.2 kWh/month and 369.0 kWh/month in Monteiro city, quantities more than enough for energy supply of the shrimp culture system, which presents a demand of 207.4 kWh/month. Implications of the research: The study points out that renewable energy can be an alternative more economical than other methods of energy generation, which could be a positive response to environmental and economic problems affecting the northeastern region, especially along the São Francisco River transposition, where Monteiro and Souza cities are among the last to receive it. Originality/Value: The use of solar energy is a viable solution for providing energy to shrimp culture. Additionally, the study also points out that this method may be more economical than other methods of energy generation.

Effects of Water Injection in Diesel Engine Emission Treatment System—A Review in the Light of EURO 7

Water in the engine/combustion chamber is not a novel phenomenon. Even humidity has a major effect on internal combustion engine emissions and can thus be considered the first invisibly present emission technology. With modern techniques, the problematic aspects of water, such as corrosion and lubrication issues, seem to disappear, and the benefits of water’s effect in combustion may also be enhanced in the context of EURO 7. The current study examines the literature on the effects of water on diesel combustion in chronological sequence, focusing on changes over the last three decades. Then it analyzes and re-evaluates the water effect in the current technology and the forthcoming Euro 7 regulatory context, comparing the conclusions with current automotive applications and mobility trends, in order to show the possible benefits and prospective research avenues in this sector. Techniques introducing water to combustion could be a major approach in terms of the EURO 7 retrofit mandate, as well as a feasible technique for concurrent nitrogen oxides and particulate reduction.