This work contributes to the recycling of technical black plastic particles, for example from the automotive or electronics industries. These plastics cannot yet be sorted with sufficient purity (up to 99.9%), which often makes economical recycling i...
We report the design, implementation and test of a Mid-Infrared spectrometer proof-of-concept that utilizes an uncooled micro-bolometer array, sensitive in the 3–14 µm spectral range, integrated in a conventional optical dispersive spectr...
This study was conducted in a riparian buffer bordering a 1 km segment of a headwater stream crossing a pasture site located in southern Québec (Canada). Three species were planted (black walnut (Juglans nigra L.), bur oak (Quercus macrocarpa...
The global plastics crisis has recently focused scientists’ attention on finding technical solutions for the ever-increasing oversupply of plastic waste. Black plastic is one of the greatest contributors to landfill waste, because it cannot be sorted...
30 November 2022
Black plastic film mulching is a common practice for potato production in the arid area of Northwest China. Many studies have reported the significant positive effect of black plastic film mulch on potato harvest, while the effect of black plastic fi...
High tunnels are economical season extension tools for strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa) growers in nonmajor strawberry producing states in the United States (US), where grower competitiveness can be increased by off-season crop production. Six June-b...
Microplastics (<5 mm) are an emerging threat to marine ecosystems and organisms, including fish. Recent studies have ranked the Black Sea as one of the most plastic-polluted European seas. Although there is evidence of microplastic ingestion in va...
Plastic pollution is a global concern that has a significant impact on marine life. Plastic is widely used and has become a pervasive pollutant in marine environments. Plastic contamination has been documented both in marine environments and biota. P...
Plastic and rubber based composites containing carbon black (CB) were investigated for the potential to release CB nano-particulates under stress conditions into food simulants. Nanocomposites were exposed to thermal, chemical, and mechanical stress,...
Black fungi are an ecological group of melanized fungi specialized in extremotolerance and assumed to be among the most stress-resistant eukaryotes on Earth. Multi-omics studies have provided significant evidence that they have a peculiar response to...
Marine plastic pollution represents a critical ecological challenge, exerting long-lasting impacts on ecosystems, biodiversity, and human well-being. This study introduces the DEEP-PLAST project, an integrated AI-based framework designed for the dete...
A carbon-balance model based on mechanistic and allometric relationships (CroBas) was used to assess the effects of competition in C allocation in jack pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb.), a shade-intolerant species, and black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.)...
In this study, the construction and test of tapered plastic optical fiber (POF) sensors, based on an intensity modulation approach are described. Tapered fiber sensors with different diameters of 0.65 mm, 0.45 mm, and 0.35 mm, were used to measure va...
The formation of yeast film on the brine of black table olives during fermentation in plastic barrels on an industrial-scale could be critical for the quality of the product. In order to prevent the formation of yeast film on the brine surface, a str...
Interest in organic sweetpotato production in the United States has been growing as consumers and producers are becoming increasingly concerned about how their food is cultivated. Thus, there is a growing need for information on sweetpotato productio...
Incineration remains Europe’s main practice for plastic packaging waste treatment, primarily due to the limitations of mechanical recycling technology. Consequently, research and development of more sustainable and flexible approaches are of hi...
This study explores the engineering characteristics of Black cotton soil (BCS) stabilized with natural lime, volcanic ash (VA), and their mixtures. Based on the available literature, the stabilization of VA-BCS is limited. Laboratory tests conducted...
Native to South Africa, Bush tea is a plant that thrives in various climates. Cultural practices such as mineral nutrition, fertigation, pruning, and harvesting have been shown to influence bush tea’s quality, growth, and yield. This study set...
The identification of black polymers which contain about 0.5 to 3 mass percent soot or black master batch is still an essential problem in recycling sorting processes. Near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) of non-black polymers offers a reliable and fast...
Weeds are a challenge, particularly in organic agriculture, due to restrictions on the application of synthetic herbicides and chemicals. A preliminary cultivar evaluation trial of organic sweetpotato was conducted in 2015 at Tennessee State Universi...
A protein-based material created from a new approach using whole defatted larvae of the Black Soldier fly is presented. The larvae turn organic waste into their own biomass with high content of protein and lipids, which can be used as animal feed or...
Southern blight, a disease caused by the soil-borne fungus Sclerotium rolfsii (S. rolfsii), is favored by the hot and humid conditions of the southeastern United States, posing a significant challenge to hemp production in Tennessee. Black plastic mu...
As the global demand for electronic equipment continues to grow, many devices are being replaced more frequently, resulting in a rapid rise in electronic waste (e-waste), now the fastest growing waste stream worldwide. Motivated by this, the objectiv...
Due to the expansion in the global population, there is an increase in animal protein demand and waste generation. Currently, food waste derived from supermarkets, etc., which is used to produce biogas, is collected separately and can contain (micro)...
In this work, the content of recycled polyethylene (rPE) and pigment (Cp), the antioxidant content (CAO) and ratio (RAO), and the peak internal air temperature (PIAT) of the rotational-molding cycle were optimized. Their combined influence on the mec...
This research focuses on the mechanical properties of polypropylene (PP) blended with recycled PP (rPP) at various concentrations. The rPP can be added at up to 40 wt% into the PP matrix without significantly affecting the mechanical properties. MFI...
Insect pests show phenotypic plasticity as a function of resource availability and limiting conditions. Although Rhynchophorus palmarum displays high variation in certain morphological traits, it is still not clear how and which of these are being fi...
Four styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) compounds were prepared to investigate the influence of the plasticizer polarity on the mechanical stability of the filler network using simultaneous mechanical and dielectric analysis. One compound was prepared wi...
Greenhouse microclimate and crop response of winter cucumber cycles grown in unheated Mediterranean greenhouses with representative combinations of passive heating systems (fixed, plastic screen with and without black mulch; movable thermal screen wi...
23 February 2021
Background: Differential exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals, including phthalate diesters, may contribute to persistent racial/ethnic disparities in women’s reproductive health outcomes. We sought to characterize sources of gestational exposu...
Using manure in potato production has been considered for its potential environmentally friendly effects. Two years of field experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of different kinds of fertilizer and soil surface treatments on potato gro...
A three-year experiment evaluated the beneficial effects of independent and combined practices on thermal conditions inside high tunnels (HTs), and further investigated the temperature impacts on lettuce production. Specific practices included mulchi...
Five types of tissues, including the liver, kidney, intestine, lung, and heart, were collected from black-spotted frogs and bullfrogs to study the tissue-specific accumulation of organophosphorus flame retardants (PFRs) and plasticizers. Thirteen PFR...
Despite more studies being carried out to know the impacts associated with plastic debris and much effort being spent on marine ecosystems, the impacts of plastics on terrestrial and freshwater species remain largely unknown. Here, we explored the pr...
(1) Background: Black plastics pose a general problem in sustainability issues, as the recycling is hampered by the black colour disguising the type of plastics in the NIR scanner on the garbage sorting belt, as the black colour absorbs NIR radiation...
The rubber industry uses phthalates as plasticizers in technical rubber goods due to their excellent compatibility, low volatility and cost-effectiveness. Growing concerns over their environmental and health impact have driven the search for sustaina...
Plastic contamination in the environment is common but the characterisation of plastic ingested by fish in different environments is lacking. Hence, a meta-analysis was conducted to identify the prevalence of plastic ingested by fish globally. Based...
The influence of molecular structure (acrylonitrile content) and formulation (carbon black and plasticizer dosage) on the rheological and mechanical properties of HNBR composites was systematically studied, with further discussion on ozone resistance...
Enzyme-induced calcite precipitation (EICP) emerges as a highly effective and well-established technique within bio-cementation approaches, offering notable advantages over traditional methods. Conversely, lime, known for its accessibility, cost-effe...
The main measures to improve potato cultivation in eastern China are film mulching and drip irrigation. However, the film can cause soil pollution and inhibit plant growth because of non-degradable polyethylene, which is the main component of the fil...
This paper concentrates on a study of a novel multi-sensor aided method by using acoustic and visual sensors for detection, recognition and separation of End-of Life vehicles’ (ELVs) plastic materials, in order to optimize the recycling rate of autom...
Weed control in urban and peri-urban orange orchards is challenging due to operational and legislative restrictions. Tillage, besides from negatively affecting soil fertility and microorganisms, is demanding for humans. On the other hand, herbicides...
Lately, the interest in researching microplastics in the Black Sea has increased, highlighting areas of accumulation in which the amounts of microplastics are alarming, such as seafood consumed by the population. The Black Sea has special characteris...
Calcium lignosulfonate in the amount 30 phr was incorporated into rubber compounds based on pure NBR and an NBR carbon black batch, in which the content of carbon black was 25 phr. Glycerine, as a cheap and environmentally friendly plasticizer, was a...
This study investigated the influence of hydrocarbon feedstock composition evolved from slow pyrolysis of polypropylene (PP) and polystyrene (PS) and plasma gas flow rate on the carbon black and hydrogen production yields and quality. The temperature...
The use of plastics in horticulture is reviewed with respect to its sustainability based on the traditional criteria of triple Rs (reduce, reuse, and recycling) plus a re-place strategy, taking into account possible alternatives. Hail (and insect) ne...
Soil mulching materials play an important role in regulating the greenhouse crop microclimate, as they influence light distribution, plant physiological activity, and crop yield. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of two plastic mulche...
Spectral remote sensing enables efficient acquisition of large-scale land surface information and is a key approach for monitoring soil salinity content (SSC). However, surface mulching significantly alters the spectral reflectance responses of cropl...
The aim of this study was to evaluate the growth and flowering characteristics of three Oncidesa cultivars under four distinct canopy treatments in a greenhouse environment. The control canopy treatment (canopy D) involved covering the greenhouse wit...
The soybean–maize strip intercropping system enhances soybean yield while maintaining maize production, improving nitrogen use efficiency, and fostering intercropping mutualism. However, vigorous weed growth in warm and humid regions competes f...
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