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Deployment of Green Technologies for Sustainable Environment II

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A special issue of Environments (ISSN 2076-3298).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 December 2023) | Viewed by 20878

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Dr. Chihhao Fan

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Guest Editor

Department of Bioenvironmental Systems Engineering, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Sec. 4, Roosevelt Road, Taipei 10617, Taiwan
Interests: river pollution control and water quality management; assessment of carrying capacity of water bodies; strategy for TMDL (total maximum daily load) implementation; watershed management; environmental chemistry; water and wastewater treatment; advanced oxidation processes; impact of macromolecule on AOP treatment efficiency; photo-catalytic oxidation of disinfection by-products in drinking water; transport and fate of environmental contaminants; quality assurance and conservation of agro-environment
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Dr. Shu-Yuan Pan

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Guest Editor

Department of Bioenvironmental Systems Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10673, Taiwan
Interests: waste-to-resource technology; integrated watershed management; ecological engineering; electrokinetic separation; CO₂ mineralization; life cycle assessment; system optimization
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

To simultaneously solve the dilemmas of energy demand, waste management, and greenhouse gas emission for communities globally, the development and deployment of green technologies should be a viable step towards environmental sustainability. The development of green technology could reduce carbon dependency, promote resource and energy efficiency, and lessen environmental degradation. This would result in the improvement of human well-being and social equity, while significantly reducing environmental risks and ecological scarcities towards the Sustainable Development Goals. The scope of green technologies includes but is not limited to green agriculture, green tourism, green building, green transportation, green energy, green infrastructure (engineered natural systems), and green water treatment.

This Special Issue collects original research and critical reviews about scientific and technical information on recent advances in the deployment of green technologies for a sustainable environment. The primary areas of interest of this Special Issue include but are not limited to (1) green agriculture for sustainable materials management; (2) waste-to-energy and -resource supply chain, such as (co-)anaerobic digestion of agricultural and/or organic wastes for a circular bioeconomy; (3) green infrastructure and/or engineered natural systems for nutrient control; (4) green separation technologies for the recovery of value-added resources; (5) smart technology for real-time monitoring, control, and assessment; and (6) strategic management by optimizing the utilization efficiency of food, energy, land, and/or water resources.

Prof. Dr. Chihhao Fan
Dr. Shu-Yuan Pan
Guest Editors

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Keywords

green agriculture
green tourism
green building
green transportation
green energy
green infrastructure (engineered natural systems)
advanced water treatment
smart technology
waste biorefining for circular bioeconomy
food, water, energy, and land nexus

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Published Papers (10 papers)

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Research

9 pages, 1727 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Innovative Pavement Materials: Utilizing Corn Stover and Fly Ash in Geopolymers

by Anu Paneru, Viral Sagar, Mohammad Tarikuzzaman, Joan G. Lynam, Stephen T. Gordon II and Shaurav Alam

Environments 2024, 11(9), 192; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments11090192 - 7 Sep 2024

Viewed by 898

Abstract

The development of each nation is evaluated by its infrastructure, and each nation is competing with the others in infrastructure advancement, especially in the construction of roadways, since they play a vital role in the economic and social development of the nation. The conventional materials used for road construction are concrete and asphalt, which pose significant environmental challenges. This research gives insight into the potential of fly ash (FA) and corn stover (CS) in synthesizing geopolymer, as an alternative material for the construction of roads. This study examines the impact of three FA and CS mixture percentages and the particle size of CS on the compressive strength and porosity of geopolymer. The results indicate that incorporating larger amounts of CS in fly ash-based geopolymer may decrease the compressive strength of the geopolymer. Smaller CS particle sizes also tend to lead to lower compressive strength. Porosity of the geopolymer tended to increase with the incorporation of higher percentages of CS, particularly for smaller corn stover sizes. As a fine aggregate replacement for geopolymer, CS incorporation has the potential to reduce mined aggregate obtained from a process that harms the environment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Deployment of Green Technologies for Sustainable Environment II)

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20 pages, 9721 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Effectiveness of Waste Tire Pyrolysis Oils (WTPOs) as Rejuvenating Agents for Asphalt Materials

by Ahmed S. El-Ashwah and Magdy Abdelrahman

Environments 2024, 11(8), 176; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments11080176 - 17 Aug 2024

Viewed by 1082

Abstract

The continuous increase in solid waste materials, such as waste tires, underscores the critical importance of recycling them to mitigate environmental impact and promote sustainable resource management. This research study evaluated the effectiveness of utilizing waste tire pyrolysis oils (WTPOs) as recycling agents for asphalt materials. The chemical composition and thermal behavior of WTPO were analyzed using Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Mechanically, the prepared WTPO binders were assessed by measuring dynamic viscosity and changes in high- and intermediate-temperature performance grades. Additionally, the cracking susceptibility of the binders was evaluated using the Glover-Rowe (G-R) parameter. The findings indicated that WTPOs might contain water and light aromatics in varying percentages, depending on the pyrolysis process. Incorporating WTPOs enhanced the workability of asphalt mixtures and ensured a high degree of blending between recycled/aged asphalt and raw binder. A 12% WTPO dosage was identified as the most effective for enhancing fatigue and low-temperature cracking resistance, facilitating improved interactions between the virgin binder and recycled asphalt materials. Finally, utilizing WTPOs as rejuvenating agents in pavement construction supports sustainable practices by recycling waste materials and significantly improving the performance and durability of asphalt mixtures. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Deployment of Green Technologies for Sustainable Environment II)

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12 pages, 1717 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Leaching Performance of Nanotechnology-Induced High-Arsenic-Bearing Tooeleite-like Mineral Nanowaste

by Arindam Malakar, Sanjit Das, Samirul Islam, Rajneesh Singh and Sugata Ray

Environments 2023, 10(10), 185; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments10100185 - 20 Oct 2023

Viewed by 1897

Abstract

For arsenic decontamination from groundwater, arsenic crystallization is becoming adopted due to its sustainability and economic benefits. However, arsenic crystallization technology is a two-step process, which makes it complex and generates hazardous waste. Successful efforts toward making it a single-step process are presented here. The addition of nanorods and ball-milled zinc sulfide nanoparticles to arsenic-contaminated water result in highly monodispersed and high-arsenic-containing mineralized nanowaste with a crystalline structure similar to the mineral Tooeleite ((Fe³⁺₆(As³⁺O₃)₄SO₄(OH)₄·4H₂O)). This study reports the results of a short-term stability test based on a toxicity characteristic leaching procedure and a long-term stability test of the mineralized synthetic nanowaste produced from water treatment. The Tooeleite-like mineralized nanowaste passed short-term stability tests. Arsenic in the leachate were found to be 1.1 ± 0.2 mg L⁻¹ and 4.8 ± 0.3 mg L⁻¹ from waste generated by the nanorod and ball-milled nanoparticles, respectively. The crystallinity was well preserved, as observed from the post-stability-test diffraction patterns, consequently proving that the waste product can be non-hazardous and therefore would not require any secondary treatment before final disposal. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Deployment of Green Technologies for Sustainable Environment II)

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23 pages, 3691 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Assessment of Load Losses Caused by Harmonic Currents in Distribution Transformers Using the Transformer Loss Calculator Software

by Vicente León-Martínez, Elisa Peñalvo-López, Joaquín Montañana-Romeu, Clara Andrada-Monrós and Laura Molina-Cañamero

Environments 2023, 10(10), 177; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments10100177 - 7 Oct 2023

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2178

Abstract

Transformer load losses cause various adverse effects, such as derating, a decreased lifetime, and greenhouse gas emissions. In this paper, the load losses caused by non-linear loads on distribution transformers are analyzed. For this study, the load loss expressions provided by the IEEE Standard C57.110 and ANSI/UL 1561-1562 were adapted to the usual case where the transformer currents differ in each phase. The novel load loss expressions adapted from the IEEE Standard C57.110 were applied using the software known as the “Transformer Loss Calculator” (TLC), implemented with LabVIEW. For the application of new load loss expressions, carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions were determined by multiplying the load losses by the emission factors of each country. The experimental results are based on the recordings made by a FLUKE 435 Series II analyzer on the second of two 1000 kVA transformers, feeding real residential distribution networks with very differently distorted loads. An analysis of these transformers shows that the annual energy losses and CO₂ emissions obtained from the adapted load loss expressions could be more than 5% of those determined by the original IEEE and ANSI Standard expressions. Due to these percentage loss and emission differences, it is advisable to use the TLC software in transformer monitoring instruments. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Deployment of Green Technologies for Sustainable Environment II)

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21 pages, 5411 KiB

Open AccessArticle

When the Household Becomes Environmentally Friendly—Dynamic Simulation of Hybrid Energy System’s Feasibility

by Erlanda Atvare, Armands Gravelsins, Edgars Kudurs, Stelios Rozakis and Dagnija Blumberga

Environments 2023, 10(9), 164; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments10090164 - 20 Sep 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1537

Abstract

Decentralized electricity production at household scale, particularly by solar panels, has recently grown due to increased technology feasibility and financial support programs. Further development in this field requires the introduction and efficient use of energy storage technologies. This research aims to evaluate the benefits and economic justification of implementing energy storage systems in private households by using system dynamics modelling. Household electricity consumption is a dynamic problem; therefore, the system dynamics approach allows the development of an exploratory model that accounts for the causal relationships and feedback loops in the system. Specifically, an hourly consumption model is developed to analyze the electricity costs in four scenarios: (1) a standard grid-connected system, (2) a PV system with net metering, (3) a grid-connected system with a connected battery, and (4) a grid-connected system with a combined PV and battery storage system. The structure of the build system dynamics model is described with a Latvian context case. It is found that in Latvian climate-specific conditions, the profitability of installing PV and PV and battery systems in private households in Latvia is justified by both summer and winter conditions. The developed model can be used to analyze the real electricity profiles of specific households, determining the profitability of installing energy-efficient solutions, and is adaptable for analyzing the situations of other countries or accumulation systems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Deployment of Green Technologies for Sustainable Environment II)

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19 pages, 4337 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Maceration of Waste Cork in Binary Hydrophilic Solvents for the Production of Functional Extracts

by Umut Şen, Catarina Viegas, Maria Paula Duarte, Elisabete Muchagato Maurício, Catarina Nobre, Ricardo Correia, Helena Pereira and Margarida Gonçalves

Environments 2023, 10(8), 142; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments10080142 - 9 Aug 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1952

Abstract

Waste-grade cork samples of Quercus cerris were subjected to maceration extraction using 7 different solvents, including pure water (I), pure acetone (II), 75% aqueous ethanol (III), 75% aqueous methanol (IV), 75% aqueous acetone (V), 50% aqueous acetone (VI), and 25% aqueous acetone (VII). The extract yields, extract compositions, as well as antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of the extracts were analyzed. The results showed that maceration extraction was highly efficient, particularly with binary solvents resulting in up to 6% extract yield and up to 488 mg GAE/g extract total phenolic content. The extracts exhibited a variable antioxidant activity determined by DPPH and FRAP methods as well as antimicrobial activity against gram-positive bacteria and fungus determined by agar diffusion test. The CIELAB color parameters of extracts were correlated with maceration time, and the correlation was highest with pure water extracts. The FT-IR spectra of acetone-extracted cork revealed six key markers of phenolic compounds with the presence of peaks at approximately 2920 cm⁻¹, 2850 cm⁻¹, 1609 cm⁻¹, 1517 cm⁻¹, 1277 cm⁻¹, and 1114 cm⁻¹. The overall results suggest that the maceration of waste cork in binary solvents and pure acetone are green alternatives to conventional Soxhlet extraction for the production of polar extracts. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Deployment of Green Technologies for Sustainable Environment II)

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11 pages, 1098 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Factors Influencing Ammonia Concentrations above Corn Fields after Dairy Manure Application

by Jessica F. Sherman, Eric O. Young and William E. Jokela

Environments 2023, 10(8), 140; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments10080140 - 8 Aug 2023

Viewed by 1452

Abstract

Ammonia-nitrogen (NH₃-N) loss from agriculture decreases crop yield potential and environmental quality. Incorporating animal manures by chisel plowing (CP) can reduce NH₃ loss but may increase crop residue loss compared to lower disturbance incorporation methods and vertical tillage (VT). Few studies have evaluated VT efficacy for incorporating manure and reducing NH₃ concentrations compared to traditional tillage tools, such as CP. Six trials during 2013 to 2016 were conducted to evaluate the impacts of manure incorporation method (CP, VT, or broadcast) and weather conditions at the time of application on NH₃-N concentrations at a dairy research farm in central Wisconsin, USA. Passive samplers measured NH₃-N concentrations at 30-cm above the ground during the first 0 to 24 and 24 to 48 h post-manure application/incorporation. Average NH₃-N concentrations for CP and VT were 44 to 86% of broadcast and similar for most trials, while crop residue coverage for VT was greater than CP (39 and 22% of control plots, respectively). Concentrations of NH₃-N were correlated with the amount of plot area covered by manure for the first (r = 0.56, p < 0.0001) and second measurement periods (r = 0.85, p < 0.0001). Results show that VT had comparable NH₃-N concentration reductions to CP while conserving more crop residue. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Deployment of Green Technologies for Sustainable Environment II)

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16 pages, 2184 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Circular Economy Potential of Spent Hens’ Co-Products and By-Products in Italy by Material Flow Analysis

by Vera Amicarelli, Paola Geatti and Christian Bux

Environments 2023, 10(8), 137; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments10080137 - 2 Aug 2023

Viewed by 2565

Abstract

Eggs represent one of the most consumed animal products worldwide. In Europe, over 366 million laying hens and 6.1 Mt of derived eggs have been estimated in 2020, and Italy represents the fourth largest producer (41 million hens and 0.79 Mt of eggs). Egg production has been identified as relatively environmental-friendly, but several environmental concerns have been recently raised considering the inefficient spent hens’ management. Spent hens are generally euthanized and composted or incinerated, producing greenhouse gases while at the same time significant nutrients are lost. First, the research reviews the egg supply chain characteristics and the alternative spent hens’ valorization pathways. Then, using the material flow analysis, the research quantifies and qualifies the consistencies of laying hens and protein content included in spent hens across Italy, providing a comprehensive assessment of the national scenario under an environmental and circular perspective. Furthermore, the research develops an inventory of the spent hens’ co-products and by-products in Italy, focusing on the flows of proteins for further environmental studies. The research has highlighted that over 13,948 t of proteins could be extracted, distinguishing between those embedded within offal, feathers and blood. In addition, spent hens can be used for human consumption, as well as for material or energy recovery through anaerobic digestion or microbial fermentation. Results are addressed to farmers, who are required to boost their environmental performances, and public authorities, who must implement sustainable strategies to collect spent hens. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Deployment of Green Technologies for Sustainable Environment II)

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17 pages, 4442 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Feasibility for the Recovery of Excavated Soils in Compressed Earth Blocks as a Sustainable Building Material

by Mazhar Hussain, Hafida Zmamou, Antony Provost, Angélique Mahieu, Nathalie Leblanc, Daniel Levacher, Elise Chenot and Abdoulaye Kane

Environments 2023, 10(8), 131; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments10080131 - 1 Aug 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2561

Abstract

Soil is continuously excavated for development activities in urban and rural areas and treated as waste. This study investigates the characteristics of urban soils excavated from earthworks of buildings in the Brittany region of France for their perspective reuse in earthen construction materials to valorize soil waste and provide a sustainable building material locally. Excavated soil from earthwork activities was taken from the Brittany region of France from three different locations. Soil suitability for compressed earth blocks was investigated based on their granulometry, consistency limits, and mineralogy. Finally, compressed earth blocks with dimensions of 4 × 4 × 16 cm³ were manufactured with different formulations and compacted dynamically. Flexural and compressive strength tests were performed on bricks to observe their mechanical behavior. Grain size analysis of soil samples shows that the percentage of clay in the landfill stockpile of excavated soils varies between 13% and 16%, while at some local sites, the percentage of clay goes up to 57%. The grain size of soils varies from the recommended zone. The plasticity of soil samples ranges from 17.3% to 20.4%. The plasticity index and clay content of the soil show that these soils are inactive clays with a lesser possibility of swelling and shrinkage. Mineralogical analysis of soil shows the absence of water-sensitive clay minerals, while quartz, kaolinite, and illite are major minerals present in soils. Linear shrinkage in bricks ranges from 0.6% to 2.2% and is considerably higher for clayey soils. Mechanical testing of earth bricks shows that the compressive strength of earth blocks ranges from 0.92 MPa to 2.22 MPa while the flexural strength ranges from 0.25 to 0.74 MPa. A mixture of sandy and clayey soils shows good strength due to improved granulometry. Earth bricks with soils from some stockpiles, excavation sites, and soil mixture show compressive strength higher than 1 MPa, which is recommended strength by international standards, and offer the opportunity to produce sustainable building materials locally. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Deployment of Green Technologies for Sustainable Environment II)

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14 pages, 2601 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Surface-Modified Activated Carbon Fibers by a Facile Microwave Technique for Enhancing Hydrocarbon Adsorption

by Jin-Young Lee and Byung-Joo Kim

Environments 2023, 10(3), 52; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments10030052 - 13 Mar 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3395

Abstract

Evaporative emissions from automobiles, which mainly consist of hydrocarbons, are a major source of air pollutants. As such, prevention means are required to minimize such emissions. Evaporative emissions are collected using adsorbents, where the adsorption capacity is directly influenced by the ratio of oxygen-containing functional groups, which have high polarity. This study investigated the effect of controlling the oxygen functional group (OFG) on the hydrocarbon adsorption/desorption performance of activated carbon fiber (ACF) in adsorbents. We used microwave heating to remove OFG on the ACF surfaces. The removal of surface OFG by microwave heating was analyzed using scanning electron microscopy-energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscope (SEM-EDS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), thermogravimetric–infrared gas analysis (TGA-IR), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). According to microwave heating, textural properties were analyzed using N₂/77K adsorption/desorption isotherms. The hydrocarbon adsorption/desorption performance of the ACF was evaluated according to a modified ASTM D5228. Compared to the untreated ACF, the butane working capacity of the modified (non-polarized) ACF was increased by up to 20% (adsorption capacity 27%). Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Deployment of Green Technologies for Sustainable Environment II)

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