Search Results (7,602)

The mechanical performance of hemp-containing denim fabrics depends not only on fibre selection but also on how fibre composition is translated into yarn and fabric structure. Substituting part of the cotton warp with hemp is one possible step toward more sustainable denim production, but this study makes no independent sustainability claim (i.e., no life-cycle assessment was performed) and instead focuses solely on mechanical behaviour. This study comparatively evaluated eleven denim fabrics produced with 100% cotton or cotton/hemp-blended (69/31) warp yarns and different rigid, elastane-core and PET/PTT+elastane dual-core weft yarns. Grab tensile strength and tear strength were assessed in warp and weft directions and interpreted together with structural parameters. The results showed that mechanical response was governed by the combined effect of warp composition, weft architecture and structural compactness rather than by fibre substitution alone. Fabrics containing hemp in the warp did not show a uniform mechanical gain or loss across the sample set; instead, their tensile and tear behaviour depended on the associated weft design and fabric construction. Core-engineered weft yarns, particularly dual-core structures, altered the balance between tensile and tear response, indicating that yarn architecture played an important role in load distribution and deformation behaviour. Overall, the findings show that the mechanical design of hemp-containing denim fabrics should be approached through an integrated fibre–yarn–fabric perspective. Full article

The transition from conventional silica nanoparticle (SiNP) production based on purified alkoxysilanes and high-temperature flame hydrolysis of silicon tetrachloride to renewable and waste-derived silicon resources requires more than precursor substitution. It requires a mechanistic understanding of how feedstock mineralogy, silicon speciation, impurity chemistry, and processing history propagate through dissolution, nucleation, condensation, gelation, aging, drying, and pore evolution to determine material performance, environmental burden, and manufacturing feasibility. Although previous reviews have established the technical feasibility of producing silica from secondary resources, their predominant organization by feedstock, synthesis route, or application provides limited ability to explain why nominally similar processes generate materials with markedly different structural and functional properties. This review addresses these through a resource-pull, feedstock-to-function framework that links resource chemistry and process design to critical material attributes, application-specific specifications, sustainability, and scale-up requirements. Agricultural residues, industrial by-products, geothermal resources, waste glass, and fluorosilicate streams are critically compared according to silicon form and phase, reactivity, impurity profile, compositional variability, purification demand, and attainable product quality. Particular attention is given to waste-derived alkaline silicate systems, in which molecular, oligomeric, and colloidal silica coexist and therefore require characterization beyond bulk SiO₂ concentration. Established and emerging processing strategies, including controlled combustion and alkaline extraction, alkali fusion, ambient-pressure drying, microwave and mechanochemical activation, biogenic and biomimetic templating, and continuous processing, are evaluated according to their mechanistic effects, technological maturity, structural control, and demands for energy, reagents, water, solvents, effluent treatment, and capital. Across these routes, gelation and aging emerge as critical transfer stages through which feedstock composition is translated into network connectivity, pore architecture, shrinkage behavior, and ultimately functional performance. Evidence from secondary-source aerogels further shows that properly controlled waste-derived systems can attain BET surface areas of approximately 350–500 m² g⁻¹, within the textural range of many alkoxide-derived materials, indicating that feedstock variability, impurity management, and process control are more important constraints than an inherently lower performance ceiling. On this basis, this review proposes a minimum evidence framework comprising feedstock traceability, intermediate-speciation and colloidal characterization, silicon mass balance, gelation and aging metrics, application-specific qualification criteria, performance-normalized life cycle and techno-economic assessment, process analytical control, and staged pilot validation. Collectively, these principles provide a mechanistically grounded basis for moving sustainable silica synthesis beyond isolated proof-of-concept demonstrations toward reproducible, scalable, application-matched, and commercially credible manufacturing platforms. Full article

Road tunnels are highly carbon-intensive due to material use, energy-intensive construction, and long service lives, yet major gaps remain regarding emission hotspots, construction method comparisons, and regional differences, particularly in Central and Eastern Europe. This article combines a PRISMA 2020-guided systematic literature synthesis with a Polish case-study life-cycle assessment (ISO 14040/14044, cradle to grave, functional unit of 1 m of tunnel, 100-year horizon) using Ecoinvent factors and the Polish energy mix, covering material production, construction, operation, maintenance, and end of life. The literature synthesis found substantial variability in tunnel carbon emissions, ranging from 1500 to 22,062 t CO₂-eq per lane-kilometer depending on the construction method, tunnel type, and region. Material production was the largest contributor to construction-phase emissions (70–95%), with concrete and steel responsible for over 90% of material-phase impacts and 75–80% of construction-phase emissions, while operational energy use dominates over the full life cycle. Concrete and steel substitution (e.g., GFRP bars and calcium sulfoaluminate cement) offers the greatest construction-phase reduction potential, while operational measures, such as LED lighting, demand-controlled ventilation, and renewable energy, can cut long-term energy use by 30–50%. For Poland, low-carbon concrete, prefabrication, and renewable electricity could reduce tunnel emissions by 40–60%. These findings highlight pathways for decarbonizing tunnel infrastructure through material innovation, energy-efficient operation, and circular economy principles. Full article

The textile dyeing and printing (TDP) industry in Zhejiang Province faces significant pressure to reduce conventional pollutants and carbon emissions. Dyeing and finishing (DF) are key links in energy consumption and pollutant emissions in the TDP industry. However, the trade-offs between pollution reduction and carbon mitigation remain poorly understood. This study evaluated five synergistic technology pathways using a hybrid life cycle assessment (LCA) approach. The pathways included low-carbon energy substitution, waste heat recovery, advanced wastewater treatment, intelligent process control, and integrated application. The IMPACT 2002+ method was used to quantify 7 environmental impact categories. The results showed that no single technology pathway achieved optimal performance across all categories. Scenario 3 (advanced wastewater treatment) reduced eutrophication potential by 54.97% but increased global warming potential by 18.00%. Scenario 5 (integrated application) achieved the best overall performance. It reduced non-renewable energy consumption by 30.90%, global warming potential by 32.69%, acidification potential by 26.08%, and eutrophication potential by 40.00%. The synergy coefficient of Scenario 5 was 1.08, indicating strong pollution-reduction synergy. Extrapolation to the provincial level showed reductions of 40% for COD, 39.76% for ammonia nitrogen, 40.78% for SO₂, 10.67% for NOx, and 14% for VOCs. These findings demonstrate that systematic technology integration can resolve the trade-offs inherent in individual pollution control measures under the conditions evaluated in this Zhejiang-based case study. This study provides scientific guidance for technology selection and policy formulation in the DF industry. Full article

Construction on very soft peaty clay remains a major geotechnical challenge due to its high compressibility and low-bearing capacity. The deep mixing method (DMM) is widely adopted for in situ stabilization using cement; however, environmental concerns associated with cement production have driven the search for sustainable alternatives such as geopolymers using low-carbon materials. Existing studies predominantly rely on dried peat, processed precursors such as fly ash or calcined ground rice husk ash (RHA), and high concentrations of alkali activators such as sodium silicate (Na₂SiO₃) and sodium hydroxide (NaOH), which increase both environmental and economic burdens. This study develops a novel waste-based geopolymer incorporating untreated brick kiln-derived RHA, activated solely with low-concentration NaOH, while completely eliminating Na₂SiO₃. The avoidance of precursor pre-treatment and Na₂SiO₃ significantly reduces processing energy, cost, and associated environmental emissions. A systematic investigation was conducted to determine the optimum mixing time for maximizing strength under field-relevant conditions. Mechanical performance was evaluated using unconfined compressive strength tests considering variations in binder content, curing duration (7, 28 days), alkali concentration (6, 3 M), and alkali-to-binder ratio (0.3, 0.5, 0.7). Failure characteristics were examined, and an integrated framework combining cost analysis, life cycle assessment, and grey relation analysis was employed to optimize mix design. The optimized geopolymer achieved 2.2 times higher strength than cement-treated soil, with 25% cost reduction and more than 85% reduction in environmental impact. These findings demonstrate a scalable and sustainable solution for stabilizing highly organic soils, while promoting the valorization of supplementary cementitious materials without energy-intensive preprocessing. Full article

This study presents an integrated approach for sustainable food supply chain design by evaluating how sourcing geography and logistics network structure influence Global Warming Potential (GWP) in a multi-echelon Mexican cold chain integrating Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Linear Programming (LP) network optimization. Three soy products are evaluated: edamame from China, tofu from the U.S., and textured vegetable protein (TVP) modeled as a soy-based alternative. Results are calculated using a cradle-to-retailer system boundary, normalized to 100 g of delivered protein. Four network configurations are evaluated, varying sourcing geography, port selection, and warehouse allocation. Distribution-stage emissions are minimized through LP optimization, while upstream emissions are incorporated as exogenous LCA parameters. Sourcing geography, distribution-network design, and protein density significantly affect GWP per functional unit, with domestic sourcing yielding the lowest impacts for all products and network configurations. Tofu under the baseline configuration exhibits the highest GWP (1.2236 kg CO₂e/100 g protein), whereas TVP with domestic sourcing exhibits the lowest (0.1146 kg CO₂e/100 g protein), representing a 90.64% difference. The integrated approach provides a decision-support framework for lower-emission sourcing and distribution in emerging-economy food supply chains. Full article

Building Information Modelling (BIM) and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) are increasingly integrated to support environmental assessment in the built environment. However, applications to existing and heritage buildings remain fragmented, and the contribution of Heritage Building Information Modelling (HBIM) to Life Cycle Assessment is still poorly defined. This study presents a systematic review of 41 peer-reviewed publications retrieved from Scopus and reported according to the PRISMA 2020 guidelines, combining bibliometric, thematic and workflow-oriented analyses. Studies were selected according to predefined eligibility criteria based on relevance to HBIM-LCA integration. Three main BIM–LCA workflow typologies are identified: manual/export-based, plug-in-based and IFC-enabled interoperability approaches. While these workflows have progressively improved automation and data exchange, their application to existing and heritage buildings remains largely scenario-driven and focused on comparing refurbishment, retrofit, adaptive reuse and reconstruction alternatives. The review shows that HBIM distinctive contribution does not lie in environmental calculation methods, but in its ability to structure knowledge related to existing assets, including conservation state, intervention history, information provenance, uncertainty and life cycle transformations. However, current HBIM information structures remain only partially aligned with LCA requirements, particularly regarding service life, end-of-life scenarios and knowledge management. Semantic technologies emerge as a promising pathway towards knowledge-level interoperability. Limitations are related to the heterogeneity of the reviewed studies and the predominance of qualitative evidence. Digital-Green Heritage Workflows integrating HBIM, LCA and semantic technologies enable more transparent, life cycle-oriented and sustainable heritage conservation. Full article

Magnesium oxychloride (MOA) adhesive plywood represents a novel inorganic matrix panel technology that eliminates organic volatile compounds from the adhesive system and avoids high-temperature hot pressing, potentially offering significant carbon footprint advantages. This study presents a comparative life cycle carbon footprint assessment of conventional urea–formaldehyde (UF) plywood and MOA plywood manufactured in China, using 1 m³ of a finished panel as the functional unit under a cradle-to-grave system boundary, comprising the production stage (Modules A1–A3)—explicitly including forestry operations (silviculture, felling, extraction/forwarding, loading and log haulage) and veneer manufacture within Module A1, now reported as a disaggregated inventory and delimited in a system boundary diagram—and the end-of-life stage (Modules C2–C4), evaluated across three end-of-life (EOL) scenarios: incineration, landfill, and mechanical recycling. Foreground data (process energy, adhesive formulation, transport distances) are metered/primary data collected over a full production year at a single large-scale plywood plant in Suqian, Jiangsu; background data are from ecoinvent v3.9.1 (cut-off), characterised with IPCC AR6 GWP100. Results indicate that MOA plywood generates approximately 253 kg CO₂-e/m³ at the production stage (A1–A3), compared with 301 kg CO₂-e/m³ for UF plywood, a reduction of 15.8% (47.5 kg CO₂-e/m³). Contribution analysis attributes virtually the entire gap to process energy (steam 65.7%, electricity 34.3%), while adhesive raw materials and inbound transport cancel to within rounding, demonstrating that the advantage is a process energy rather than a green chemistry phenomenon. A parameter-specific one-at-a-time analysis and a 200,000-run Monte Carlo simulation with triangular distributions show no reversal of the UF–MOA ranking in any of the 200,000 realisations within the adopted uncertainty ranges, with an approximately 56 kg CO₂-e/m³ median advantage (5th–95th percentile of about 31–85). Under EOL incineration, MOA plywood retains a substantial advantage even after the newly quantified burden of flue gas HCl neutralisation (13.3 kg CO₂-e/m³) and inorganic residue management (0.9 kg CO₂-e/m³) arising from the chloride content of the Sorel cement binder are charged to the MOA system. Under landfill, both products behave similarly, as wood carbon dynamics dominate. A break-even analysis shows that the service life of MOA plywood would have to fall below 25.3 years (against a 30-year reference) for its cradle-to-gate advantage to be erased. These findings clarify the lifecycle trade-offs of inorganic adhesive plywood and provide actionable data for environmental product declarations and procurement frameworks. Full article

The rapid transition toward electrified mobility and climate neutrality has prioritized the structural and environmental optimization of battery electric vehicle (BEV) subsystems. While vehicle lightweighting enhances operational efficiency, the production phase of structural enclosures and battery cells frequently introduces severe environmental and economic impacts and supply chain vulnerabilities. This study presents a comprehensive cradle-to-gate environmental life cycle assessment (LCA), life cycle costing (LCC), and semi-quantitative social assessment of alternative battery housing materials and battery cell architectures. To achieve a functionally accurate comparison, alternative materials, including a novel recyclable thermoplastic acrylic sheet molding compound (SMC), commercial thermoset SMCs, aluminum (AlMg₃), and stainless steel, are evaluated using an analytical stiffness- and strength-equivalent methodology across three real-world geometric demonstrators. Simultaneously, lithium iron phosphate (LFP) liquid electrolyte prismatic cells and solid-state polymer pouch cells are assessed. Material-level results indicate that, while aluminum minimizes the structural mass, primary aluminum manufacturing exhibits the highest global warming potential and processing costs. Conversely, Polytec SMC and Elium SMC achieve the lowest environmental impacts alongside competitive total production costs. At the cell level, prismatic LFP architectures display superior environmental performance compared to solid-state pouch cells, which suffer from energy-intensive processing and lower volumetric capacity normalization. Demonstrator-level aggregation reveals that the electrochemical cells heavily dominate the environmental and economic footprint of the complete assembly, with the housing accounting for less than 5% of the total global warming potential (GWP) and 1% of the total costs. The social assessment reveals moderate and comparable performance across all systems, with slight advantages for thermoplastic composite-based configurations in terms of circularity potential and innovation perception. Overall, the study highlights the critical importance of the cell architecture and manufacturing processes in determining battery system sustainability, while demonstrating the relevance of lightweight composite housings in reducing the structural mass with a minimal environmental penalty. Full article

Biochar (BC) and hydrochar (HC) have attracted increasing attention as sustainable soil amendments for improving soil water retention and mitigating agricultural water stress. This review synthesizes and compares the current state of knowledge on the production, physicochemical properties, and hydraulic performance of slow-pyrolysis BC, hydrothermal carbonization hydrochar (HTC HC), and hydrothermal liquefaction hydrochar (HTL HC). The mechanisms governing soil water retention are first examined, followed by a comprehensive review of the effects of amendment properties, feedstock type, thermochemical conversion conditions, particle size, application rate, and soil characteristics on field capacity, permanent wilting point, plant-available water, and water-holding capacity. The available evidence demonstrates that BC generally provides the most consistent improvement in soil hydraulic properties, particularly in coarse-textured soils, whereas the performance of HTC HC is considerably more variable and strongly dependent on hydrothermal conversion conditions and soil characteristics. HTL HC remains largely unexplored but shows promising hydraulic performance and exceptional resistance to biodegradation. Apparently contradictory findings among published studies are shown to arise largely from interactions among feedstock and conversion conditions, resulting amendment properties, soil characteristics, application conditions, and differences in hydraulic evaluation, highlighting the need for integrated mechanistic frameworks rather than interpretation based on individual factors. A comparative assessment of the three materials further considers ecotoxicity, biodegradation, life-cycle assessment, and techno-economic analysis. Overall, BC is currently the most mature soil amendment technology, HTC HC offers important advantages for wet biomass utilization, and HTL HC represents a promising but underdeveloped alternative. Future research should emphasize standardized evaluation methods, long-term field validation, and integrated mechanistic approaches linking production conditions, amendment properties, soil characteristics, and application conditions to enable predictive, application-specific design of carbonaceous soil amendments for sustainable soil water management. Full article

Woody biomass is often promoted as a low-carbon energy source in global decarbonization efforts. However, LCA (life cycle assessment) evaluations of woody biomass-to-energy systems show very different environmental performance. Variations in technology and methodology across investigations can cause these inconsistencies. This review paper analyzes methodologies of LCAs of woody biomass conversion routes such as combustion, combined heat and power, gasification, pyrolysis, torrefaction-assisted systems, and new bioenergy with carbon capture configurations. A systematic literature review was conducted using Scopus, SpringerLink, and ScienceDirect, identifying 4272 records, of which 98 studies were retained for detailed analysis following the application of defined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Functional unit selection, from biomass mass per unit to power or heat per unit, is highly variable, affecting comparability. Forest carbon stock fluctuations, infrastructure, and end-of-life treatment are inconsistently included in cradle-to-grave system boundaries. Static GWP100 methods are often used in biogenic carbon removal without considering temporal carbon dynamics. The importance of pretreatment steps like drying, pelletizing, and torrefaction cannot be overstated, even though they have a direct impact on the quality of the fuel, the efficiency of transportation, and the effectiveness of the conversion process downstream. The large range of stated emission levels for comparable technologies is further influenced by logistics assumptions, plant scale, and allocation mechanisms in cogeneration systems. The review synthesizes these methodological differences and proposes a harmonization methodology to increase woody biomass LCA transparency and comparability. By identifying important sources of outcome variability, this study helps policymakers, project developers, and industry stakeholders evaluate biomass energy investments and bring clarity to environmental decisions. Full article

Fruit and vegetable waste (FVW) from large-scale retail is an abundant, relatively homogeneous feedstock for black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae, an alternative to composting. This study assessed, by life cycle assessment (LCA), the environmental performance of a pilot plant producing 15-day-old larvae as animal protein and tested whether the additive conditioning of the FVW changes that performance. Three substrates were compared (FVW with 20% bakery waste, 20% bran, and 2% sawdust, respectively) using climate change (GWP100a, IPCC 2007), economic allocation, Monte Carlo simulation, and transport distance sensitivity. The scenario ranking depended on the functional unit: per Mg of waste, the sawdust substrate was lowest (39.75 kg CO₂eq), whereas, per kg of protein, the bran substrate was best (8.87 kg CO₂eq, ~66% below bakery waste). Electricity, additive, and starter diet dominated the footprint. The conditioning additive, not the waste itself, governed sustainability; the bran–bakery waste difference was statistically discernible. Full article

Integrated watershed sustainability assessments are still incipient in Ecuador, where scarce and heterogeneous data are limiting factors. This study introduces the Watershed Sustainability Index (WSI) to the Chibunga Basin in Chimborazo, Ecuador, marking its first application in this region. A key aspect of this study is the development of a clear and reproducible method for applying the index, particularly in inter-Andean basins where data are limited. The four dimensions—Hydrology, Environment, Life, and Policy—were assessed through the Pressure–State–Response (PSR) framework by combining secondary statistics, field sampling, GIS land-use analysis, and a two-round Delphi consultation with ten experts to operationalize the institutional (Policy) component. The basin scored 0.38 (low sustainability), with a critical Hydrology dimension (0.08), poor Policy dimension (0.33), moderate–low Life dimension (0.42), and moderate Environment dimension (0.67). The central finding goes beyond these scores: the operationalized PSR framework pinpointed where the management cycle breaks down in practice. Systematically null response scores reveal that unsustainability stems from the failure to translate an existing regulatory framework into formal institutional action, rather than from regulatory absence or physical water scarcity alone, further constrained by unfavorable socioeconomic conditions. The procedure turns the WSI from a scoring tool into a diagnostic one, providing a replicable reference for data-scarce Andean basins. Full article

The growing environmental impact of the construction sector is driving a shift toward sustainable design practices, in which digital technologies are integrated to enable designers to make informed decisions from the early design stages. In this study, a DSS is developed that combines BIM, VPL and TPL to identify the optimal wall stratigraphy for the building envelope. The process is structured into sequential phases, in which Autodesk Revit v2026.06.24.01, Dynamo v.3.6.1 and Python v3.9 are integrated within an end-to-end workflow. In the first phase, wall stratigraphies are modelled in BIM, and parametric variations in layers are allowed alongside customisation of the material database. In the second phase, an automated workflow calculates a set of indicators covering thermal performance, environmental assessments (LCA, MRc2 LEED and mandatory national requirements), and economic evaluations (LCC). In the third phase, indicators are imported into an automated Dynamo-based MCDM, where a hybrid AHP/PROMETHEE analysis is applied and results are directly integrated into BIM, thereby supporting sustainability-focused decisions. The tool is validated on different sustainable wall stratigraphies in warm-climate contexts. The hybrid solution is ranked first, followed by rammed earth, while platform frame and X-LAM are ranked lower. Full article

Liquid Air Energy Storage (LAES) is a promising large-scale storage technology for supporting the sustainable integration of intermittent renewable electricity into power grids, particularly when electricity storage is combined with waste-heat valorization, cryogenic cold recovery, and reduced exergy degradation. In this thermodynamic sense, the present study proposes a sustainability-oriented framework for the comparative and parametric exergetic analysis of LAES systems, integrating the liquefaction and discharge stages within a unified analysis. The assessment focuses on thermodynamic resource efficiency and exergy performance rather than on a complete economic, environmental, or life-cycle evaluation. The objective is to identify the components and operating parameters that most strongly influence performance and to quantify the reductions in exergy destruction and losses achieved through configuration changes and parameter variation. Three Linde–Hampson-based liquefaction configurations are compared, including arrangements with external and intermediate auxiliary pre-cooling. Improved heat-exchanger integration and temperature matching increase the structural liquefaction exergetic indicator from 7.95% in the baseline configuration to 19.28% in the two-RHX configuration. The discharge stage is assessed parametrically with respect to cryogenic pumping pressure, turbine inlet temperature, and expansion architecture. Single-stage and two-stage adiabatic expansions are compared with an ideal isothermal benchmark. The adiabatic configurations provide mechanical-work recovery together with recoverable cooling potential, whereas the isothermal case gives the highest work-recovery benchmark. Under the reference conditions, using the aggregated compressor representation adopted for the main parametric analysis, the two-stage adiabatic configuration reaches a global exergetic efficiency of 15.92% for the improved Linde–Hampson-based chain and 24.87% for the selected Claude–Heylandt reference block. Full article