Special Issue "Low Carbon Technologies and Sustainability"

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainable Engineering and Science".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2021.

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Jonathan Oti
E-Mail Website1 Website2
Guest Editor
Faculty of Computing, School of Engineering, Engineering and Science, University of South Wales, Pontypridd CF37 1DL, UK
Interests: low-carbon technology; sustainability; cement; concrete; bricks; blocks; geopolymers; soil stabilization; suppression of expansion; freezing and thawing; waste utilization; microstructural analysis; life cycle inventory; ground granulated blastfurnace slag; pulverized fuel ash; silica fume
Special Issues and Collections in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue, which is particularly geared towards stimulating the debate on Low-Carbon Technologies and Sustainability, aims to help identify engineering problems, define and implement appropriate solutions, and evaluate their contribution to sustainable development. Sustainability and sustainable development have environmental, social, and economic dimensions and require a multi-disciplinary approach in order to examine, explore, and critically engage with issues and advances in these and related areas. We encourage original research articles on the three pillars of sustainable development, carbon footprints, resilience technologies, energy management, governance and sustainability, sustainability assessment and policies, renewable technologies, infrastructures, life cycle inventories, sustainable solid waste, sustainable construction materials and methods, sustainable transportation infrastructure, and sustainable water infrastructure. Papers submitted to this Special Issue will be subject to a rigorous peer review procedure with the aim of rapid and wide dissemination of research results, developments, and applications.

Dr. Jonathan Oti
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All papers will be peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • environmental sustainability;
  • economical sustainability;
  • social sustainability;
  • carbon footprint;
  • resilience technologies;
  • energy management;
  • governance and sustainability;
  • sustainability assessment and policies;
  • renewable technologies;
  • infrastructures;
  • life cycle inventory;
  • sustainable solid waste;
  • sustainable construction materials and methods
  • sustainable transportation infrastructure
  • sustainable water infrastructure

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

Article
Microstructure and Physical-Mechanical Characteristics of Treated Kaolin-Bentonite Mixture for Application in Compacted Liner Systems
Sustainability 2021, 13(4), 1617; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13041617 - 03 Feb 2021
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 451
Abstract
Treated bentonite-rich soils used as liner materials in landfills may provide an effective solution to the problems of increased void ratios upon swelling at reduced suction as well as desiccation cracking when suction is increased during desaturation. Accordingly, this study provides an understanding [...] Read more.
Treated bentonite-rich soils used as liner materials in landfills may provide an effective solution to the problems of increased void ratios upon swelling at reduced suction as well as desiccation cracking when suction is increased during desaturation. Accordingly, this study provides an understanding of the evolution of void ratio of the mixed materials during swelling at three different suction levels upon saturation as well as the soil water retention (SWR) during desaturation. For the treatment process, low quantity of cement binder whose production leverages raw material resources with efficient dry-process kilns and the benefit of lower energy consumption were used. Results indicated increased mixed soils’ strength irrespective of increased fines content due to thixotropy. The mixed soils exhibited almost equal values of void ratios at different hydration stages, suggesting that slightly reduced expansion mostly affects the subsequent phases of moisture ingress at full saturation compared to the natural soils. Lower values of void ratio obtained at full saturation also suggests possible reduced infiltration of water into landfills. The observed increased moisture retention within the osmotic suction zone and a decrease in the same as the fines content increased in the mixed soils can aid contaminant encapsulation while also reducing desiccation cracking. The findings of this research are intended to serve as a benchmark for further studies using other sustainable materials for treatment of mixed soils. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Low Carbon Technologies and Sustainability)
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Article
The Strength Characterisation of Concrete Made with Alumina Waste Filler
Sustainability 2020, 12(24), 10235; https://doi.org/10.3390/su122410235 - 08 Dec 2020
Viewed by 466
Abstract
This study covers an in-depth investigation into the properties and practicality of the utilization of up to 40% Alumina Waste Filler (AWF) as a partial Portland Cement (PC) replacement material. AWF is a by-product from the recycling of aluminium, produced when salt slag [...] Read more.
This study covers an in-depth investigation into the properties and practicality of the utilization of up to 40% Alumina Waste Filler (AWF) as a partial Portland Cement (PC) replacement material. AWF is a by-product from the recycling of aluminium, produced when salt slag is smelted and cleaned. Its use in concrete will lessen the landfill requirements for AWF disposal, and reduce the strain of the growing requirements and cost of PC. The results obtained from this study showed that the addition of AWF to the concrete mix caused a reduction in the compressive and tensile splitting strength values, and a less-workable concrete was achieved for every increase in the quantity of AWF added to each mix. The addition of AWF influenced the hydration reaction process and reduced the cumulative production of the heat of hydration over time, whilst the permeability of the concrete decreased. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Low Carbon Technologies and Sustainability)
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Article
Strength and Swell Performance of High-Sulphate Kaolinite Clay Soil
Sustainability 2020, 12(23), 10164; https://doi.org/10.3390/su122310164 - 05 Dec 2020
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 509
Abstract
Expansion of soils has been found to produce significant negative economic and environmental impact on various civil engineering infrastructure. This impact is more deleterious in soils containing sulphates, when treated with calcium-based stabilizers such as Lime and/or Portland cement (PC). The reported study [...] Read more.
Expansion of soils has been found to produce significant negative economic and environmental impact on various civil engineering infrastructure. This impact is more deleterious in soils containing sulphates, when treated with calcium-based stabilizers such as Lime and/or Portland cement (PC). The reported study investigated the strength and swell characteristics of Kaolinite clay artificially induced with high levels of Gypsum (sulphate) contents after stabilization with CEM I (PC), which is a calcium-based stabilizer. An optimum stabilizer content/Gypsum dosage, aimed at investigating the maximum magnitude of expansion possible using high levels of 10, 15 and 20% Gypsum contents (4.7, 7 and 9.3 wt.% sulphate) stabilized with calcium-based content of 7, 8, 9 and 10 wt.%. This was expected to provide further understanding on the mechanisms behind high sulphate-bearing clay soils, and the impact of sulphate and calcium content on strength and swell characteristics. The research outcomes showed that the introduction of sulphate to a Kaolinite clay soil reduces the compressive strength of the stabilised product by a factor range of 6–47% at 28 days curing age, while the swell behaviour is mainly dependent on both the sulphate content and curing age. Furthermore, the observed result suggests an 8 wt.% binder content to produce maximum magnitude of expansion (swell) with a high Gypsum content of 10% by weight. This finding is of economic importance, as it is expected to serve as a benchmark for further research on the stabilized clay systems, at high sulphate levels using sustainable binder materials. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Low Carbon Technologies and Sustainability)
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