Climate change and pest outbreaks are increasingly threatening conifer-dominated forests in Northern Europe, highlighting the need for greater species diversity to improve resilience. This study assessed early establishment success of six tree species: European aspen ( Populus tremula ), hybrid aspen ( P. tremula × P. tremuloides ), silver birch ( Betula pendula ), Norway spruce ( Picea abies ), Scots pine ( Pinus sylvestris ), and hybrid poplar ( P. trichocarpa × P. maximowiczii ), across seven sites in southern Sweden. Sites were categorized as either forest land (continuous forest cover >100 years) or forested arable land (former arable land afforested with Norway spruce for 40–70 years). Over three years, we monitored survival, height, and diameter growth. All experimental sites were fenced to exclude browsing. Wood ash was applied to a subset of hybrid poplars to assess its effect on establishment in acidic soils. Our results showed that hybrid aspen, birch, and European aspen had high survival and growth on forest land. On forested arable land, untreated Norway spruce, Scots pine, and hybrid poplar showed low survival, likely due to competition from dense vegetation. However, ash-treated poplar improved survival to approximately 80% and showed strong growth on forested arable sites. Principal Component Analysis indicated overall higher establishment success on forest land for most species, whereas hybrid poplar performed similarly on forest and forested arable land when wood ash was applied. These findings underscore the importance of matching species to site conditions during early establishment and provide empirical evidence to inform species selection for forest regeneration under similar site conditions in southern Sweden. • Site type strongly influenced establishment success of broadleaved trees. • Hybrid aspen and silver birch had the highest survival and early growth on forest land. • Norway spruce and Scots pine performed poorly on forested arable land. • European aspen performed similarly at both site types, demonstrating flexibility. • Results highlight species-site matching for reforestation in southern Sweden.

• Carbonic anhydrase reliably enhances carbon capture under eco-friendly conditions • Textile contactors promote liquid wicking for efficient CO 2 reactive absorption • Bifunctional reactive dyes offer a scalable enzyme immobilization approach • Enzyme catalysis shows potential to enhance ex situ mineralization • Biocatalytic textiles offer a diverse and practical platform for CO 2 mitigation Biocatalytic textiles were developed and tested as high-efficiency gas-liquid contactors for reactive CO 2 absorption using eco-friendly solvents catalyzed by carbonic anhydrase. The testing in lab to bench-scale systems with various configurations showed that biocatalytic textiles are durable and compatible with multiple different alkaline CO 2 absorption solvents across wide working concentrations, including secondary amines, carbonates, amino acids, and abundant natural water sources like pH-adjusted seawater and spring water. Biocatalytic textile contactors proved to be remarkably robust across diverse conditions, delivering similar percent CO 2 capture regardless of inlet CO 2 concentrations. By controlling gas and liquid flows, packing height and mode of enzyme delivery, single-pass CO 2 absorption efficiencies up to 95% were achieved at lab scale. Biocatalytic textiles were able to withstand repeated washing and drying, immersion and shaking in heated solvents, ambient dry storage for many months, and continuous solvent flow testing for hundreds of hours without performance reduction. Integrated bench unit testing with aqueous MDEA solvent and biocatalytic textile packing modules achieved a CO 2 adsorption rate increase of over 200% at low 1.8 L/G when compared to traditional steel structured packing. A straightforward enzyme crosslinking technology based on fiber reactive dyes developed in the course of this work makes fabrication and scale up possible using established textile manufacturing infrastructure, and a solvent composition based on seawater and wood ash extract offers potential for ex-situ mineralization of CO 2 to permanent solid carbonates for utilization or storage.

Engineering and durability characteristic of POFA-FA-GGBS geopolymer mortars activated with wood ash lye under ambient curing

The binding effect of biochar with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and their derivatives: Role in carbon sequestration and pollutant removal efficiency.

Radical-Induced Abiotic Humification of Food Waste and Wood Ash into Fulvic-Like Fertilizer within 1 Hour

Over the years, excessive energy consumption is one of the major problems associated with burnt brick production. This study assessed the characteristics of burnt bricks containing sawdust and wood ash as additive. Trial test was prepared from standard mix. It was done in different percentage of additives (0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40% and 50%) blend of sawdust and wood ash. One hundred and thirty- two (132) brick samples were cast out of which 99 were used for compressive strength. Specimen samples were fired at temperature 1100oC. The result obtained showed that the highest compressive strength obtained in the control samples with 6.05 N/mm2, sawdust with 3.05 N/mm2 and wood ash 1.58 N/mm2 when fired at 1100oC. It was observed that there was a decrease in compressive strength as the percentage of sawdust increases and wood ash increases. The research concluded that regarding the compressive strength, the samples met the requirement specified by (IS: 1077) at temperatures of 800oC, 900oC, 1000oC and 1100oC considered to have good resistance to abrasion. Bricks with those parameters are suitable for use in the construction of building as a walling material. It was also concluded that samples with additives are more stabilized before firing than the control, though higher strength was obtained in the control than samples with additives and both met the standard specification. It is recommended that the firing temperature of bricks made with sawdust and wood ash should not exceed 1100oC to avoid distortion.

Objective: Maraş powder is a smokeless tobacco product made by combining dried Nicotiana rustica leaves with wood ash and is used by placing it in the lower lip. In addition to nicotine’s local and systemic effects, excess free radicals contribute to oxidative injury. This study aimed to compare the oxidative stress markers and antioxidant vitamin levels among Maraş powder users, smokers, and healthy controlsMethod: We enrolled 32 male Maraş powder users ( 1–2 grams, 3–6 times/day for at least one year), 32 male cigarette smokers (≥1 pack/day for at least one year), and 32 healthy male controls from Kahramanmaraş and nearby villages. After fasting (12 h) and abstaining from tobacco use for 8 h, venous blood samples were collected in the morning (08:00–10:00). Serum was stored at −80 °C. Using commercial colorimetric kits, Total Oxidant Status (TOS), Total Antioxidant Status (TAS), total thiol, and native thiol levels were measured. Vitamin A, C, and E levels were measured by ELISA. Statistical tests included Shapiro–Wilk, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and Kruskal–Wallis tests, with significance set at p < 0.05.Results: No significant differences were observed in the TAS, TOS, total thiol, or native thiol levels among the three groups (all p > 0.05). In contrast, vitamin A, C, and E levels differed significantly among the groups (p = 0.01 for vitamin A; p = 0.05 for vitamin C; p = 0.02 for vitamin E). Vitamin A levels were highest among Maraş powder users, and vitamin C and E levels were lowest among cigarette smokers.Conclusion: Although Maraş powder and cigarette smoking did not significantly affect global oxidative stress markers or thiol levels in this sample, smoking was associated with lower vitamin C and E levels. Maraş powder users exhibited elevated vitamin A levels. Findings suggest that different forms of tobacco exposure may exert distinct effects on the antioxidant vitamin status. Future studies with larger sample sizes and dietary controls are required.

Qiangduo Tibetan paper is a typical intangible cultural heritage in the Shangri-La region of Yunnan, China, mainly handmade from two local fibrous plants, Stellera chamaejasme and Wikstroemia canescens. This study focuses on the correlations among its surface properties, water absorption and dry heat durability, which are critical for heritage conservation. Four paper samples (Z1–Z4) were investigated via micromorphology, physicochemical property testing and dry heat aging (105 °C, 216 h). The results show that the two raw materials lead to distinct fiber and pore structures: Stellera chamaejasme paper has coarser fibers and loose pores, while Wikstroemia canescens paper has finer and denser fibers. All samples present a near-neutral to weakly alkaline pH (6.87–7.56) and favorable water absorption, jointly regulated by fiber structure and alkaline wood ash fillers. After dry heat aging, all samples undergo whiteness loss, tensile index decay and slight acidification, with extremely significant changes (p < 0.001). Notably, Stellera chamaejasme paper exhibits much higher aging resistance, with whiteness and tensile index retention reaching 77.97%–93.07% and 71.46%–74.77% respectively, far superior to Wikstroemia canescens paper. The mechanism lies in the high flavonoid content and low lignin level in Stellera chamaejasme fibers, which enhance antioxidant stability and reduce yellowing, whereas the opposite composition accelerates degradation in Wikstroemia canescens paper. This study provides a scientific basis for the conservation, inheritance and targeted application of Qiangduo Tibetan paper, supports the sustainable protection of handmade paper cultural relics, and enriches the application of surface science in cultural heritage conservation.

The impact of anaerobic digestate and wood ash amendments on the indigenous 14C-phenanthrene catabolism in soil.

A pot experiment was conducted at the Experimental Farm, School of Agricultural Sciences, Medziphema Campus, Nagaland University during 2023 and 2024 using a completely randomized design with three replications and 11 treatments: Control, Absolute Control, Wood Ash (WA), Poultry Manure (PM), Rice Residue (RR), Vermicompost (VC), Soybean Residue (SR), and combinations (WA+PM, WA+RR, WA+VC, WA+SR) to evaluate the role of Organic Materials for Improving Growth and Yield of Mungbean (Vigna radiata L.) in Acid Soil of Nagaland. Each pot contained 11 kg soil, treated with corresponding organic amendments and incubated for one month before sowing pre-soaked seeds. Observations on plant growth parameters were recorded at different growth stages (25DAS, 50DAS, and harvest), along with yield attributes and yield. Results revealed significant positive effects of all organic amendments on growth and yield parameters. T₉ (wood ash + vermicompost) recorded the highest plant height, branches per plant, leaves per plant (25 DAS, 50 DAS, harvest), pods per plant, pod length, seeds per pod, seed yield (g pot⁻¹), and stover yield (g pot⁻¹), statistically at par with T₇ (wood ash + poultry manure). The lowest performance was observed in the absolute control, indicating the adverse effect of untreated acid soil on mungbean growth. Among single amendments, vermicompost (T₆) was most effective. The study indicates that combining wood ash with nutrient-rich organic manures, especially vermicompost, is an effective approach to ameliorate aluminium toxicity and enhance the growth and yield of mungbean in acid soils.

This study investigated the development and performance evaluation of an eco-friendly fire-retardant coating for wood surfaces formulated from eggshell ash, oyster shell ash, rice husk ash, wood ash, cornstarch, and sodium silicate. Previous studies have demonstrated that calcium carbonate–rich shell wastes, such as oyster and eggshells, can significantly reduce flammability and delay ignition when applied as fire-retardant coatings for wood materials (Dusaran, 2024; Atienza & Cruz, 2021; Wang et al., 2021) [20, 6, 60]. In addition, silica-rich rice husk ash has been reported to enhance fire resistance by forming a protective thermal barrier during heat exposure, particularly when combined with biodegradable binders (Breboneria et al., 2023; Basri et al., 2021) [14, 10]. Natural polymers such as starch have also been identified as effective intumescent materials capable of forming char layers that limit flame propagation (Carvalho et al., 2023) [15]. Despite these findings, limited research has explored the combined use of multiple waste-derived ashes and bio-based binders in a single sustainable fire-retardant coating formulation. An experimental research design was employed using three coating formulations with varying material ratios, which were applied to wood samples and compared with an untreated control. Fire-retardant performance was evaluated based on flame spread, flammability, and time-to-ignition tests conducted under controlled conditions. The results showed that all treated samples exhibited improved fire resistance compared to untreated wood. Among the formulations, Sample 2 demonstrated the most effective performance by delaying ignition for up to 190 seconds, preventing flame spread (0.00 cm), and exhibiting self-extinguishing behavior, whereas the untreated sample ignited within 50 seconds and showed rapid flame propagation. The findings confirm the synergistic fire-retardant effects of calcium-based shell ashes, silica-rich rice husk ash, and the intumescent behavior of cornstarch within a sodium silicate matrix. This study concludes that the developed multi-ash coating presents a viable, low-cost, non-toxic, and environmentally sustainable alternative to conventional synthetic fire-retardant coatings while promoting waste utilization and enhanced fire safety for wood-based materials.

ABSTRACT Ferrazo (Vilagarcía de Arousa, Pontevedra, Spain) – in the northwest of the Iberian Peninsula – is a complex Roman site originally located on the seashore including a cetaria (fish-salting factory). The extremely good preservation of this site offered the possibility of enlarging our current knowledge about fish-salting production in northwest Iberia, where these productive sites dedicated to marine resource exploitation were frequently established along the coastal areas during the Roman Period. We present the archaeological excavation record and the results of a multidisciplinary analysis after systematic sampling of a salting vat content. Our multidisciplinary approach combines ichthyofaunal studies, scanning electron microscopy Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (SEM-EDX), conventional analytical pyrolysis (Py-GC-MS), thermally assisted hydrolysis and methylation (THM-GC-MS), archaeobotanical analysis, and AMS radiocarbon dating. Sardina pilchardus is the almost exclusive fish species preserved within the vat involved in fish-salting, which were processed entirely, in accordance with ichthyofaunal remains and chemical markers. The presence of fragments of charred wood might be related to the addition of wood ash during the production process.

Seren Village has abundant organic waste potential, particularly banana peel waste generated from banana-processing MSME activities and wood ash resulting from household firewood combustion. To date, this waste has not been optimally utilized and is often discarded, thereby posing potential environmental problems. This study aims to process banana peel waste and wood ash into an innovative, environmentally friendly shoe polish made from natural materials, while also enhancing the economic value and welfare of the community. The research employed a descriptive qualitative method with a case study approach. Data were collected through observation, interviews, and documentation involving the women’s Family Welfare Empowerment Group (PKK) of Seren Village as the target participants. The shoe polish production process includes drying and grinding banana peels, mixing them with a wood ash solution that functions as a natural coloring agent, adding supporting materials, and heating the mixture until a ready-to-use shoe polish is obtained. The results indicate that the shoe polish produced from banana peels and wood ash has a solid texture, is slightly coarse, non-glossy, and has a relatively fast drying time of approximately one minute. In addition, the product shows good resistance to water splashes and does not damage the surface of shoes. The use of natural ingredients makes this shoe polish safer for health. The utilization of this waste has the potential to support MSME development, reduce environmental pollution, and sustainably improve the welfare of the Seren Village community.

Influence of anaerobic digestate and wood ash on phenanthrene bioaccessibility and mineralisation in soil.

Removal of hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide in biogas using low-cost and eco-friendly extruded adsorbent derived from rubber wood ash

This study developed hybrid epoxy composites reinforced with snail shell-derived nanoparticles and either wood ash (WA) or wood charcoal (WC) microparticle. Snail shell nanoparticles were synthesized via ball milling whereas wood-based reinforcement were prepared through pyrolysis. Composites with 3–15 wt% reinforcement were fabricated using hand lay-up method. The mechanical and wear properties, water absorption, density and flammability characteristics were evaluated against the control, while microstructure analysis was investigated by SEM. Results showed significant property enhancement, with key improvements exceeding 50% in major properties investigated. Wood charcoal-based hybrid composites outperformed their wood-ash counterparts, especially in hardness and tensile strength. Specifically, the 9 wt% wood charcoal hybrid composites yielded the optimal tensile properties, demonstrating a 16.6% and 88.6% increase in tensile strength and tensile modulus, respectively, compared to the control sample. For hardness and impact strength, the 3 wt% and 15 wt% wood-charcoal hybrid composites yielded the optimal properties, yielding a 42.0% and 39.0% increase in hardness and impact strength, respectively, compared to the control sample. Conversely, the 3 wt% wood ash-based composites yielded excellent flexural properties, exhibiting a 21.1% and 70.7% increase in strength and modulus, respectively, compared to the unreinforced epoxy matrix composites. These results indicate that these bio-composites, particularly the 9 wt% wood charcoal hybrid, are promising materials for biomedical applications, pending further cytotoxicity and antimicrobial testing.

This study investigates the gel characteristics of alkali-activated materials (AAMs) synthesized using wood ash (WA), and metakaolin (MK) as solid precursors. The research explores the influence of precursor type and sodium hydroxide (NaOH) concentrations in the alkali activator solution on the resulting physicochemical, microstructural, mechanical, and radiological properties of gels. The alkaline activators were prepared by mixing sodium hydroxide solutions (6 M and 12 M) with a sodium silicate (water glass) solution at a volume ratio of 1.5. The physicochemical characteristics of raw materials and AAMs were thoroughly analyzed using X-ray fluorescence (XRF), Diffuse Reflectance Infrared Fourier Transform (DRIFT) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with EDS elemental mapping. FTIR analysis confirmed the formation of an amorphous gels geopolymer network. XRD revealed the presence of characteristic crystalline phases (quartz, calcite) within an amorphous matrix. Mechanical properties, such as compressive strength, depended on precursor type and alkali molarity: metakaolin (12 M) reached ~14 MPa, while wood ash showed ~4 MPa (6 M) and ~0.5 MPa (12 M) due to high CaO, low Si and Al, and unfavorable SiO2/Al2O3 (5.71) and Na2O/Al2O3 (3.19) ratios. Furthermore, this research estimates radiological doses by quantifying radionuclide content via gamma-spectrometry. Alkali activation significantly reduced radiological hazard parameters, with radium equivalent activity (Raeq) decreasing to 238.0 Bq/kg and the external hazard index (Hex) to 0.643 for A12MK, while the annual effective dose rate for A12WA was only 0.265 nSv/y-all values remaining well below the recommended safety limit of 370 Bq/kg (≤1 mSv/y). The decrease in activity concentration index (Iγ), Raeq, and Hex with increasing NaOH concentration indicates effective radionuclide immobilization within the geopolymer matrix, confirming the suitability of these alkali-activated materials for safe use in construction from a radiation protection perspective.

The high cost of imported chemicals and foreign exchange volatility pose significant challenges to the deployment of Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) in the Niger Delta. This study evaluates the technical and economic viability of locally sourced EOR agents against foreign synthetic alternatives. The crude oil used was characterized as heavy, with a density of 0.931 g/cm³, an API gravity of 20.6°, and a high Total Acid Number (TAN) of 3.02 mg KOH/g. A comparative laboratory analysis was conducted using synthetic agents (NaOH, SDS, and Xanthan gum) against a locally formulated ASP slug consisting of wood ash (alkaline), Codiaeum variegatus (surfactant), and potato peel powder(polymer). Core flooding results showed that the foreign ASP slug recovered 6.4 ml of oil, while the locally sourced slug achieved a competitive recovery of 6.1 ml. However, economic modeling using a Benefit-Cost Ratio (BCR) revealed a significant disparity. The foreign project was limited by a $100,000+ importation cost, yielding a BCR of 1.78. In contrast, the local ASP slug, utilizing waste-to-wealth materials and incurring zero importation duties, achieved a BCR of 4.06. This demonstrates that the locally sourced agents are 2.28 times more economically viable than imported alternatives, providing a sustainable and cost-effective pathway for enhancing heavy oil recovery in the Niger Delta.

The present study introduces an ultrasensitive CO2 gas sensor developed from waste wood ash, which is utilized as a substitute in clay to form wood ash/clay composites aimed at cleanroom air quality regulation. Optimized compositions {(wood ash; x = 0, 5, 10, 15 wt %) and clay (100-x wt %)} were synthesized via a bottom-up solid-state reaction method, sintered at 1050 °C for 3 h, and labeled CWA0, CWA5, CWA10, and CWA15, respectively. SEM analysis revealed that CWA15 exhibited the highest porosity, while HRTEM confirmed interplanar spacing corresponding to SiO2 (quartz, hexagonal), CaAl2Si2O8 (anorthite, triclinic), and AlKSi2O6 (leucite, tetragonal), aligning well with XRD results. EDAX verified elemental presence including C, O, Na, Mg, Al, Si, Zr, K, Ca, and Fe. UV–vis analysis showed that CWA15 had the lowest band gap (∼3.36 eV). XPS identified surface-active sites associated with Oads deficiencies, while BET confirmed meso-porosity (pore diameter ∼ 3.802 nm) in CWA15, contributing to rapid CO2 adsorption. The thin-film CWA15 sensor demonstrated exceptional CO2 sensing performance, achieving the highest S.R. of ∼ 3.58 and a detection limit (LOD) of ∼81 ppm, with fast response and recovery times (TRes/TRec = 10.17 s/11.5 s). These significant features make it highly effective for real-time monitoring in cleanrooms. This work highlights the development of a sensitive CO2 gas sensor that offers sustainable potential for air quality control.

Initial impacts of forest management on forest floor greenhouse gas fluxes in hemiboreal coniferous forests on drained nutrient-rich organic soils