Search Results (60,237)

Lignite-derived activated carbon (L-AC) was fabricated via a microwave-assisted KOH activation process using a low-rank Mae Moh lignite and explored its potential as an adsorbent solid for post-combustion CO₂ capture. Optimization of the KOH ratio, microwave irradiation power, and activation time gave rise to a product with a BET surface area of 1349 m² g⁻¹ and total pore volume of 0.78 cm³ g⁻¹, which represented 165 times and 78 times enhancement compared with that of the initial lignite, respectively. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) images proved the formation of a hierarchical macropore–mesopore–micropore structure, whereas Raman (Iᴰ/Iᴳ = 1.83) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy analyses revealed a graphitic-like structure rich in defects with the existence of C=O and C–O–C functional groups involved in the Lewis acid–base interaction between L-AC and CO₂ molecules. Dynamic fixed-bed breakthrough tests performed at temperatures of 298, 328, and 353 K under post-combustion relevant conditions (CO₂ concentration: 15%, pressure: 1 atm) yielded CO₂ equilibrium uptake capacities of 47.34, 34.37, and 21.34 mg g⁻¹, respectively, with outstanding cyclic stability achieved after six consecutive adsorption–desorption cycles of temperature swing adsorption–desorption at 393 K. Among the seven nonlinear kinetic models, the Avrami, FL-PFO, and general-order models exhibited the highest fitting accuracy (R² = 0.9994–0.9998), suggesting that CO₂ adsorption onto L-AC proceeds through heterogeneous, multi-stage adsorption kinetics. A Weber–Morris intra-particle diffusion analysis identified a three-stage sequential transport mechanism in which mesopore diffusion constitutes the primary rate-limiting step. Thermodynamic parameters confirmed spontaneous (ΔG° = −24.20 to −26.87 kJ mol⁻¹), exothermic (ΔH° = −9.42 kJ mol⁻¹), and entropy-assisted adsorption (ΔS° = +49.93 J mol⁻¹ K⁻¹) consistent with a physisorption mechanism, corroborated by a low activation energy of 9.11 kJ mol⁻¹. These findings demonstrate the viability of low-rank lignite as a low-cost precursor for the scalable synthesis of high-performance carbonaceous CO₂ adsorbents for post-combustion capture applications. Full article

Conventional ureolytic microbial soil stabilization can generate ammonium-containing by-products and may show reduced treatment uniformity in deep soils where mass transport is limited. This study investigated the feasibility of using facultatively anaerobic yeast to stabilize loess under aerobic and anaerobic curing conditions. Specimens were prepared using a single-mixing method and cured for 3, 7, 14, and 28 days. Unconfined compression tests, unconsolidated–undrained triaxial tests, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and acid-washing analysis were conducted. Yeast treatment increased the unconfined compressive strength of loess to 99.8–109.9 kPa under aerobic curing and 89.1–95.7 kPa under anaerobic curing, compared with 81.3 kPa for untreated loess. Cohesion increased from 25.30 kPa to 27.24–33.14 kPa, whereas the internal friction angle remained within 37–39°. Microstructural observations revealed fibrous and film-like bonding materials between soil particles, while no obvious newly formed crystalline calcium carbonate was detected. The acid-washing results also indicated no evident net increase in calcium carbonate content. The strengthening effect was therefore attributed mainly to particle bonding associated with polymeric or extracellular-polymeric-substance-like products, rather than extensive calcium carbonate precipitation. These results demonstrate the potential of yeast as an environmentally friendly biological agent for loess stabilization. Full article

The extreme environment characterized by repeated freeze–thaw cycles poses a severe challenge to the stability and durability of loess in engineering applications. This study systematically investigates the improvement of Weinan loess using a plant-based bio-cement (BC) combined with fly ash (FA) under extreme freeze–thaw environments. Through unconfined compressive strength tests, permeability tests, calcium carbonate content measurements, and microscopic analyses (SEM and XRD), the mechanical properties, microstructural evolution, and crack development characteristics of the improved loess were comprehensively evaluated. The results demonstrate that BC-FA modification significantly enhances the mechanical strength and impermeability of loess. The unconfined compressive strength of the 7% FA-amended specimen increased by 201.6% compared to untreated loess, while the permeability coefficient decreased by 61.58%. Freeze–thaw-induced deterioration predominantly occurred within the first five cycles, with a maximum peak strength reduction of 33.29%, after which the soil structure gradually stabilized beyond ten cycles. Microscopic observations revealed that biomineralized calcium carbonate crystals (calcite, aragonite, and vaterite) filled pores and bridged soil particles, forming a continuous cementation network. Furthermore, a novel Crack Identification Method Based on Multi-Feature Mechanical Responses (CIMBMFMR) was proposed, which establishes a quantitative mapping between mechanical degradation, micro-damage, and crack evolution, offering superior accuracy and physical interpretability over traditional image-based techniques. The BC-FA system exhibits notable low-carbon and eco-friendly advantages, providing a promising green solution for loess reinforcement in seasonally frozen regions. Full article

Drought poses a major threat to ecosystem stability in arid regions. In Xinjiang, China, vegetation dynamics are highly sensitive to hydroclimatic variability, yet the evolution of drought and its ecological impacts remain insufficiently quantified. Using meteorological observations from 86 stations (1962–2021), drought dynamics were characterized using the Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI) combined with run theory, while MODIS products (2001–2021) were used to quantify vegetation phenology and productivity. Results indicate that despite a regional warming–wetting trend, more than 97% of Xinjiang exhibits a significant increase in drought frequency and intensity after 1997, with pronounced spatial heterogeneity concentrated in southern Xinjiang. Vegetation phenology shows a significant shift, with spring onset advancing at a rate of −1.9 days decade⁻¹ and growing season length increasing by +3.8 days decade⁻¹. Vegetation productivity derived from MODIS shows strong spatial variability, with GPP and NPP exhibiting consistent increasing trends, particularly in northern Xinjiang. Multi-scale analysis reveals strong scale dependence in drought–vegetation interactions, where short-term drought (SPEI-3 and SPEI-6) exerts the strongest influence on vegetation dynamics, while long-term drought (SPEI-12) primarily controls ecosystem stability and post-drought recovery. Correlation and extreme-event analyses further indicate that seasonal drought and phenological shifts jointly regulate ecosystem productivity by altering water availability and carbon uptake periods. These results highlight a warming–wetting but drought-intensifying regime in Xinjiang and emphasize the dominant role of seasonal drought in regulating vegetation functioning under climate change. Full article

The Upper Oligocene–Lower Miocene Alibonca Formation retains an essential record of intricate relationships among carbonate platform evolution, volcanic–sedimentary inflow, and high-purity silica deposition. This study examines the stratigraphic structure, paleoenvironmental development, and industrial viability of the Ağın diatomite deposits using comprehensive sedimentological, mineralogical, and geochemical investigations. Stratigraphic evidence indicates that the formation commenced with Early Miocene alluvial fan and shallow restricted marine sub-basin sedimentation prior to evolving into a significant marine incursion. This marine phase created a resilient carbonate platform structure consisting of reef-core, fore-reef, and back-reef sub-environments. Simultaneously, vigorous regional synsedimentary volcanism introduced high-flux silica pulses into the basin, acting as a major catalyst for diatom proliferation and high biological productivity within a restricted sub-basin setting. Geochemical analyses indicate that these bright white, diatomite deposits formed in conjunction with potassium-rich clays in a relatively deep, low-energy, and confined sub-basin of the Alibonca Sea. The high concentration of bulk SiO₂ and low trace element baselines are consistent with a high-purity deposional system and a low total rare earth element (ΣREE) abundance. However, their relatively high Al₂O₃ and K₂O contents indicate significant volcanic and terrigenous detrital input together with authigenic clay mineral formation during diatomite deposition, classifying the deposits as clay-bearing (argillaceous) diatomites rather than exceptionally pure diatomites. Chemical Index of Alteration (CIA) values indicate moderate continental chemical weathering under mostly hot and humid paleoclimatic conditions. The rapid terrestrial runoff and nutrient influx stimulated significant diatom growth before the ultimate late Early Miocene marine regression, transforming the area into a subaerial, volcanically influenced terrestrial environment. The Ağın deposits exemplify intra-platform marine silica sinks, demonstrating how tectonic–magmatic influences can surpass typical carbonate factory conditions to provide economically valuable biogenic mineral resources. Full article

Existing residential buildings constructed under earlier thermal-design standards often lack effective external solar control systems. Building envelope retrofits must extend beyond mere cooling load reductions; instead, they require a holistic evaluation of summer heat rejection, winter solar gain preservation, transmitted solar exposure, and retrofit-induced embodied carbon. This study develops a screening-level method for climate-adaptive passive shading retrofits. The workflow integrates hourly solar-position reconstruction, facade irradiance mapping, shading geometry interception, and a reduced-order 2R2C thermal network. NSGA-II is used to generate Pareto-optimal alternatives, CV-TOPSIS is applied to identify representative trade-off solutions, and a life-cycle-informed carbon payback check within an A1–A4 + B6 boundary is used to test whether operational carbon savings can offset the upfront carbon of shading components and glazing replacement. Five Chinese cities—Haikou, Shanghai, Beijing, Lhasa, and Urumqi—are selected to represent the transition from cooling- to heating-dominated climates. For comparative screening, the reduced-order model shows acceptable agreement with an EnergyPlus benchmark, with NMBE, CV(RMSE), and $R^2$ values of +2.11%, 28.25%, and 0.804, respectively. The selected solutions reveal strong climate dependence in both shading morphology and carbon performance. For instance, Haikou exhibits the largest annual electricity savings (2030.3 kWh/yr) and the shortest Carbon Payback Period (1.8 years). In Lhasa, by contrast, the CV-TOPSIS-selected compromise scheme reduces the transmitted solar exposure proxy but increases annual energy use by 706.1 kWh/yr, indicating that this selected compromise, rather than fixed shading in general, is not carbon-effective within the defined boundary. The proposed method supports climate-specific retrofit screening by jointly considering heating–cooling balance, solar radiation conditions, and regional grid carbon intensity. Full article

Limiting anthropogenic carbon emissions within vegetation carbon sequestration capacity is essential for urban sustainability. However, previous studies frequently neglected spatial dependency among cities, leading to uncertainties in understanding whether local carbon footprint pressure (CFP) is shaped only by local conditions or also by neighboring cities. This study analyzes the spatial patterns of CFP across Chinese cities from 2000 to 2019 and further investigates its driving factors using cross-sectional data for 2019. Spatial analysis methods, an extended STIRPAT model, and spatial econometric models are combined to diagnose the socioeconomic, environmental, and spatial mechanisms of CFP. Results indicate that the mean center of CFP’s standard deviation ellipse shifted from northwest to southeast during 2000–2019, reflecting a spatial redistribution of carbon-emission pressure on vegetation carbon sequestration. The 2019 driver analysis shows that carbon-emission intensity, used here as an inverse proxy for technology-related emission efficiency, is the most influential factor: a 1% increase in carbon-emission intensity is associated with an approximate 1.2% increase in local CFP. Affluence, vegetation carbon sequestration, precipitation, temperature, and forest cover also shape CFP distribution patterns. Crucially, the study identifies significant spatial spillover effects: a 1% reduction in the carbon-emission intensity of neighboring cities is associated with at least a 0.8% reduction in local CFP. These findings suggest that CFP is jointly shaped by local socioeconomic development, ecological endowments, and inter-city spatial interactions. The study highlights the need to integrate local emission reduction, carbon-sink protection, and regional collaboration into urban climate governance. Full article

Against the backdrop of global climate change and carbon neutrality strategies, land use carbon emissions have become a prominent topic amid regional efforts toward low-carbon transformation. However, existing studies on land-use carbon emissions have predominantly focused on humid and economically developed regions, while the unique carbon metabolism pathways of arid oasis–desert ecosystems, which are characterized by extremely low environmental carrying capacity and high sensitivity to land-use disturbance, remain largely unexplored. This study takes the oasis urban cluster in the Tarim Basin in southern Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region as the research object. This region belongs to a typical oasis–desert composite ecosystem, with a simple structure and low environmental carrying capacity (reflected by sparse vegetation cover <20%, annual precipitation <100 mm, extremely limited water resources, and high sensitivity to land disturbance). Its carbon metabolism pathway (i.e., the dynamic balance between carbon sources and sinks induced by land-use change) is fundamentally different from that in humid areas, and thus merits dedicated investigation. This study selects the period from 2000 to 2020 as the research period, which completely covers the acceleration period of urbanization and agricultural expansion in the Tarim Basin oasis urban cluster since the advancement of China’s Western Development Initiative. The data have a temporal resolution of 5 years (samples in 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015, 2020) and a spatial resolution of 30 m for land use and prefecture level for socio-economic indicators. Based on this, to fill the above-mentioned research gap, a research framework integrating the carbon emission coefficient accounting method, landscape pattern index, spatial autocorrelation analysis and geographic detector is adopted. Specifically, this study aims to systematically quantify the spatio-temporal evolution of land use carbon emissions and identify the most robust driving factors in the Tarim Basin oasis urban cluster by integrating multiple models, an approach that has not been previously applied to arid oasis regions. The research results show: (1) Based on the carbon emission coefficient method, total carbon emissions increased from 1.4455 million tons to 22.364 million tons, following a ‘slow-then-fast’ trajectory. In terms of temporal evolution, the study period can be further divided into three sub-stages: 2000–2005 (slow diffusion, with emission center skewed toward the northern energy-intensive zone), 2005–2015 (rapid restructuring, characterized by a ‘unipolar surge’ in Aksu and spread to the central oasis belt), and 2015–2020 (high-intensity stabilization, forming a cross-regional emission belt). Meanwhile, the land use structure has undergone a significant transformation. Construction land and cultivated land have continued to expand, while ecological land has significantly shrunk, resulting in a complex transformation pattern of oasis–desert ecotone. (2) The overall landscape became increasingly fragmented and diversified, the integrity of ecological space was damaged, and the regional carbon sink function was weakened. (3) The spatial autocorrelation analysis indicates that the spatial distribution of carbon emissions shows a heterogeneous pattern, forming a high-emission concentration area centered around Aksu-Bayingol. However, the global Moran’s I index is negative (such as −0.171 in 2020, p > 0.05), suggesting that carbon emissions have not formed a significant spatial clustering. (4) Carbon emissions are dominated by human and economic factors, and the interaction of factors is significant. The geographic detector identifies population density (average q value 0.904) and the proportion of construction land (average q value 0.858) as the key determinants of spatial variation in carbon emissions, reflecting the sensitive response of the human-nature system of arid zones to the urbanization process. These findings not only clarify the spatio-temporal features and driving forces of land use carbon emissions in the Tarim Basin oasis urban cluster, but also provide a replicable analytical framework for carbon-emission research in other arid and semi-arid regions worldwide. Based on these findings, we discuss the unique driving mechanisms of carbon emissions in arid regions, conclude that construction land expansion and population density are the dominant factors, and recommend a three-tier zoning governance system (carbon source control zone, carbon sink enhancement zone, coordinated development zone) for low-carbon spatial planning in arid areas. Full article

This paper investigates the role of investors’ interests in green development of firms, i.e., investors’ green attention (IGA), in affecting corporate carbon emissions, using panel data of Chinese listed manufacturing firms from 2011 to 2022. The results show that investors’ green attention significantly reduces firms’ carbon emissions, and the effect remains robust under various specifications. Mechanism analysis reveals that this carbon-reducing effect is partially mediated by enhanced green innovation (GI), indicating that investor attention encourages firms to invest in environmentally friendly technologies. This study identifies the distinct governance role of capital market forces, provides rigorous causal evidence for the emission reduction effect of investors’ green attention through a quasi-natural experiment design, and offers actionable policy insights for advancing market-oriented environmental governance under China’s dual carbon goals (peak carbon and carbon neutrality). Full article

Green hydrogen is commonly assessed as a renewable fuel or long-duration storage option, but its value as a critical-load restoration resource remains less developed, particularly when produced from curtailed renewable electricity. This study develops a planning-oriented framework to assess green hydrogen for critical-load restoration by linking renewable curtailment, proton-exchange membrane electrolysis, hydrogen storage, fuel-cell reconversion, critical Energy Not Served (ENS) reduction, economic valuation, and carbon-footprint savings. The framework is applied to the Dominican Republic power system as a representative insular case with rapid renewable expansion and limited flexibility. Using monthly preliminary real-operation reports from OC-SENI, the reference case considers 196.46 GWh/year of curtailed non-conventional renewable electricity in 2025, producing 3.78 kt H₂/year and 65.5 GWh/year of recoverable electricity. Under the reference screening assumptions, a 25 t H₂ storage module would provide 433.29 MWh of usable electricity, fully covering 6 h and 12 h restoration windows for the 30 MW illustrative critical-load case and reducing critical ENS by 60.2% during a 24 h event. The recovered electricity could avoid 43.5 ktCO₂/year under the SENI combined-margin grid-displacement case, with higher avoided operational emissions under the diesel-backup displacement sensitivity. Full article

The fracture–cave carbonate reservoir in Unit S91 of the Tahe Oilfield is jointly controlled by strike-slip fault activity, karstification, and later-stage fracture development, resulting in reservoir spaces characterized by strong heterogeneity, strong discreteness, and multi-scale superimposition. The inter-well connectivity of this type of reservoir is not governed by the size of a single fracture–cave body or local fracture density, but rather by the spatial configuration among the main controlling fault, the associated fracture network, and the fracture–cave reservoir bodies. As the reservoir enters the middle–high-water-cut development stage, the production differential between dominant connecting channels and weakly connected fracture–cave bodies further enlarges, leading to marked heterogeneity in the remaining oil distribution. Integrating post-stack seismic data, fracture prediction, RGB attribute fusion, production performance, and numerical simulation data, this paper constructs a main fault-controlled fracture–vug coupling probability (MFC-FVCP) model under the constraint of the main controlling fault. Unlike conventional multi-attribute fusion methods that mainly enhance seismic anomaly visualization, the MFC-FVCP model transforms the main fault constraint, fracture connectivity, and fracture–cave reservoir-body effectiveness into a unified coupling probability. The model uses three core components—the main fault response field, the fracture attribute response field, and the fracture–cave reservoir body response field—to characterize the fault-control effect, fracture-network continuity, and effective reservoir-body response, respectively. By evaluating the coupling probability, the inter-well connectivity potential is assessed, the dominant connectivity areas where fractures and fracture–cave bodies synergistically develop under the constraint of the main controlling fault are identified, and potential remaining oil targets are clarified. The predicted connectivity pattern was further constrained by production performance, nitrogen injection response, and staged oil saturation simulation, which improves the reliability of remaining oil enrichment prediction. The results show that the T74 layer is the dominant development interval of fracture–cave reservoir bodies in Unit S91. These fracture–cave bodies are mainly distributed along the main controlling fault and associated fracture zones in beaded, chain-like, and banded patterns, exhibiting distinct fault-and-fracture control characteristics. Potential point A near well TK858XCH features both good reservoir physical properties and insufficient sweep efficiency, making it a key target for subsequent injection–production adjustment and remaining oil tapping. The MFC-FVCP model can incorporate static seismic responses, fracture–cave spatial structures, and dynamic development responses into a unified evaluation framework, providing a quantitative basis for characterizing inter-well connectivity and identifying remaining oil enrichment areas in fracture–cave carbonate reservoirs. Full article

This study examines the relationship between environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance and corporate tax avoidance and investigates whether carbon performance serves as a transmission mechanism linking the two. Using an international panel of 15,840 firm-year observations from 1584 listed firms across 52 countries during the 2015–2023 period, the analysis employs random-effects generalized least squares (GLS), mediation analysis, instrumental variable (2SLS), and System Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) estimations. The results show that stronger ESG performance is associated with lower book–tax differences (BTD), indicating reduced corporate tax avoidance. Carbon performance is positively associated with ESG performance and partially mediates the ESG–tax avoidance relationship, explaining approximately 14% of the total effect. Additional analyses reveal that the Environmental pillar is the primary driver of this mediation mechanism, while the relationship is stronger among firms with higher governance quality. The findings remain robust to alternative measures of tax avoidance and sustainability performance, lagged specifications, instrumental variable estimation, and dynamic panel models. Overall, the study provides international evidence that environmental performance represents an important, though partial, pathway through which ESG engagement promotes more responsible corporate tax behavior, offering practical implications for policymakers, investors, and corporate managers seeking to strengthen sustainability, transparency, and fiscal accountability. Full article

Rapid urban expansion has increasingly reshaped the carbon budgets of urban agglomerations through land use change. However, the role of functional heterogeneity within construction land remains insufficiently considered when examining the spatial differentiation of construction expansion-related carbon increases. Using the Pearl River Delta Urban Agglomeration in China as the study area, this research traced the spatiotemporal changes in land use carbon budgets between 2000 and 2024, evaluated how the expansion of construction land contributed to the growth of regional carbon emissions, and further examined the spatial associations between six construction land functional categories and expansion-related carbon increases over the period of 2010–2024. The results show the following. (1) During 2000–2024, approximately 15,200 km² of land experienced use transitions, representing 28.2% of the regional land area. These transitions generated an accumulated increase of 15.46 million t in net carbon emissions, largely driven by the conversion of cultivated land, forest land, and other non-construction land into construction land. (2) Approximately 96.2% of the carbon increase from land use transitions was attributed to the conversion of other land use types into construction land, confirming construction land expansion as the dominant pathway of regional carbon increases. (3) From 2010 to 2024, expansion-related carbon increases showed significant spatial clustering, with high-value clusters mainly concentrated in the Guangzhou–Foshan–Dongguan–Shenzhen corridor and low-value clusters in peripheral areas. (4) Functional space variables were further associated with the spatial differentiation of carbon increases. Industrial and transportation spaces showed the strongest spatial associations, and their interaction showed the strongest explanatory effect, while GWR results revealed stronger local associations in peripheral areas and weaker associations in core areas. These findings provide empirical support for carbon-focused land use governance, functional optimization of construction land, and differentiated territorial spatial regulation in rapidly urbanizing urban agglomerations. Full article

The energy management (EM) of smart multi-carrier energy hub (SMCEH) systems for cost and emission reduction remains a challenging problem due to the diversity of renewable energy resources (RERs), varying load demands, and the stochastic nature of these resources. This paper addresses the EM problem of SMCEHs to minimize operational costs and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions using the particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm. The studied SMCEHs are designed to simultaneously supply electrical, cooling, and thermal demands. The hub system comprises wind turbines (WTs), photovoltaic (PV) panels, gas turbines (GT), electric chillers (EC), gas boilers (GBs), absorption chillers (AC), battery storage systems, and thermal storage units. To assess system performance and the impact of key technologies, three case studies are investigated: (i) EM of SMCEHs without RERs, (ii) EM of SMCEHs with RERs, and (iii) EM of SMCEHs with RERs and an integrated carbon capture unit (CCU). These scenarios enable a systematic evaluation of the role of renewable integration and carbon capture in enhancing system performance. The results demonstrate that incorporating RERs into SMCEHs leads to a substantial reduction in both operational costs and GHG emissions. Furthermore, the integration of a CCU provides additional emission reductions, underscoring its effectiveness in supporting the low-carbon operation of SMCEHs. The obtained results show that integrating RERs into SMCEH decreases the total cost and emissions by 64.12% and 7.95%, respectively, compared to the scenario without RERs. Furthermore, the integration of the CCU into SMCEHs provides a 39.36% reduction in total costs and a 72.57% decrease in CO₂ emissions. The suggested energy management solution promotes a sustainable and low-carbon emission system by maximum utilization of the RERs and CCU. Full article

Brewery wastewater is a high-strength industrial effluent containing substantial organic, suspended, and colloidal fractions and therefore requires multistage treatment. This study evaluated sedimentation, prefiltration, coagulation, ceramic membrane filtration, and reverse osmosis (RO) polishing for improving the quality of actual brewery wastewater under short-term laboratory conditions. The acidic wastewater had chemical oxygen demand (COD), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD₅), and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) values of 48,230 mg O₂/L, 34,160 mg O₂/L, and 6492 mg C/L, respectively. Three configurations were investigated: mechanical treatment; PIX 113 coagulation followed by ceramic microfiltration (MF), ultrafiltration (UF), or fine UF; and an integrated UF-RO system. Performance was assessed using contaminant removal, relative permeate flux (J/J₀), particle size analysis, dynamic light scattering, and zeta potential. Sedimentation and prefiltration provided limited treatment, whereas coagulation effectively destabilized colloids; a PIX 113 dosage of 2 mL/L was selected as a favorable compromise among the tested dosages. Among the ceramic membrane-based trains, the train ending with the 1 kDa membrane produced the highest-quality permeate, with overall COD, BOD₅, and DOC removals of 78.2%, 88.7%, and 49.8%, respectively. The tested sedimentation–prefiltration–coagulation-50 kDa UF-RO train achieved the highest overall removals: 97.9% COD, 98.6% BOD₅, and 94.0% DOC. The overall removals of chloride and nitrate ions in this train were 92.5% and 68.5%, respectively. The results indicate that coagulation-assisted ceramic membrane filtration followed by RO can substantially improve permeate quality. The novelty of the work lies in linking coagulation-assisted ceramic membrane filtration and RO polishing with particle-size and electrokinetic characterization, thereby clarifying the role of each treatment barrier and identifying an effective laboratory-scale train for upgrading high-strength brewery wastewater. Full article