Search Results (469)

The conversion of agro-industrial co-products and unsold organic plant-based residues into black soldier fly (BSF; Hermetia illucens (L. 1758)) proteins was assessed for use in organic post-weaning piglet diets in Belgium. A total of 72 crossbred female piglets (Landrace × Pietrain) were enrolled in a 5-week feeding trial. Experimental diets consisted of a common energy core (81.2% of the feed) and a protein core (18.8%) composed of organic soybean meal, pea meal, and potato protein, partially replaced by defatted BSF meal at inclusion levels of 15%, 25%, and 35%. All diets were formulated to be isoenergetic and isonitrogenous, with standardized ileal digestibility values for lysine, methionine, threonine, and tryptophan held constant. Incorporating 15% defatted BSF meal can substitute conventional organic protein sources without compromising growth performance in post-weaning piglets. However, economic modelling based on a cumulative feed conversion ratio expressed on a dry matter (DM) basis showed that break-even prices for organic BSF meal remained well below the price of the control protein nucleus (€1039·t⁻¹, excluding VAT), indicating that economic parity could not be achieved at typical market prices under the observed feed efficiency. Full article

Anaerobic digestion (AD) is an important method for sewage sludge (SS) stabilization and methane recovery. Fe compounds are widely present in SS because they are commonly used for phosphorus removal and organic matter (OM) capture in wastewater treatment plants. Endogenous Fe occurs in different forms, but the roles of these forms in SS AD remain unclear. This study systematically compared the effects of FeCl₃, Poly-FeCl₃, Fe₃O₄, FeOOH, and Fe₅HO₈·4H₂O on AD. The results showed that FeCl₃ and Poly-FeCl₃ decreased methane yield by 9.90% and 11.92%, respectively, whereas Fe₃O₄, FeOOH, and Fe₅HO₈·4H₂O increased it by 18.54%, 15.23%, and 15.09%. The analysis suggested that flocculating salts FeCl₃ and Poly-FeCl₃ groups increased sludge particle size, decreased SCOD concentrations by 10.21% and 12.41%, as well as F₄₂₀ by 16.88% and 28.63%, respectively, thereby inhibited the methanogenesis process. In contrast, Fe₃O₄, FeOOH, and Fe₅HO₈·4H₂O enhanced methane production by promoting OM hydrolysis, with SCOD concentrations increased by 12.71%, 8.99%, and 7.47%, respectively. XRD, CV, and EIS results showed that Fe₃O₄ likely promoted methanogenesis through a stable Fe(III)/Fe(II) cycle and electron transfer. Although FeOOH and Fe₅HO₈·4H₂O also underwent Fe(III)/Fe(II) conversion, their promoting effects were weaker than that of Fe₃O₄, possibly because the lack of a bulk mixed-valence structure reduced the efficiency of continuous electron transfer. This study highlights that the chemical form of Fe in SS fundamentally determines its effects on AD performance. Full article

The pervasive contamination of aquatic environments by microplastic particles necessitates the development of rapid, cost-effective and field-deployable detection methodologies to complement established but laboratory-bound spectroscopic techniques such as Fourier-transform infrared and Raman microscopy. The demand for field-suitable methods with a broad accessibility comes from researchers themselves. In this review we systematically examine recent advances in optical methods for microplastics identification with a particular emphasis on birefringence as a key diagnostic feature of partially crystalline synthetic polymers. In particular, we analyze three complementary technological directions: liquid crystal-based sensors that exploit orientational order disruptions at interfaces for label-free microplastics detection; polarization holographic imaging combined with machine learning for high-throughput particle classification; and on-chip polarization light microscopy enabling compact and portable analyzing systems. Liquid crystal platforms demonstrate exceptional sensitivity to submicron particles and enable real-time visualization of microplastics aggregation at aqueous interfaces, though they currently lack polymer-specific chemical identification. Conversely, smart polarization holography integrated with Stokes polarimetry and deep learning algorithms achieves over 90% accuracy in distinguishing microplastics from natural particles while processing up to 10,000 particles per minute. Emerging on-chip polarized light microscopy offers a pathway toward miniaturized, low-cost devices suitable for field applications. By synthesizing insights from foundational studies, this review identifies convergent interdisciplinary trends—particularly the integration of artificial intelligence with multimodal optical imaging—and outlines persistent challenges including standardization, interference from natural organic matter, and the transition from laboratory prototypes to robust field-deployable instruments. The systematization of birefringence-based approaches aims to guide future research towards integrated monitoring systems capable of addressing water quality concerns. Full article

This review is part of a series of studies on short-lived radionuclide accumulation in aquatic organisms following nuclear weapons testing, routine facility discharges, and accidental releases. It examines the pathways of uptake, accumulation, and internal redistribution of ¹²⁵Sb, ¹³¹I, ¹⁴¹Ce, and ¹⁴⁴Ce in fish representing different ecological groups. The analysis combines published literature data with our original findings obtained from studies conducted in the cooling pond of the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant and the Kaniv Reservoir during the post-accident period. It has been established that radionuclide accumulation is governed by their physicochemical properties, environmental speciation, and the trophic characteristics of fish. ¹²⁵Sb demonstrates high bioavailability and accumulates in internal organs, gills, roe, and muscle depending on its chemical form in the aquatic environment. ¹³¹I is characterized by high solubility, rapid incorporation into biological processes, and transient retention in tissues. ¹⁴¹Ce and ¹⁴⁴Ce exhibit low mobility, strong association with particulate matter, and preferential accumulation in the gastrointestinal tract, external, and mineralized tissues. At the same time, the presence of ¹⁴⁴Ce in the muscle tissue of carnivores and piscivores suggests possible trophic transfer and does not exclude potential manifestations of limited biomagnification of this radionuclide under conditions of elevated environmental contamination. It has been determined that the ratio of ¹²⁵Sb to ¹⁴⁴Ce can be used to identify contamination sources: their co-occurrence is interpreted as evidence of fuel particle input, explaining their predominant localization in the gastrointestinal tract and, to a lesser extent, in external tissues. Conversely, their separate detection reflects differences in mobility and bioavailability. It has been shown that the principal pathways for the uptake of the investigated radionuclides by fish are particle ingestion and absorption from the dissolved phase; thus, trophic dilution predominates over biomagnification, although trophic transfer of ¹⁴⁴Ce cannot be excluded. Full article

Oil shale in situ conversion provides an important pathway for developing medium- to deep-buried, low-grade, and thin oil shale resources. Among the available approaches, the in situ conversion technology triggered by the topochemical reaction method, hereafter referred to as the TSA method, induces local oxidation reactions of pyrolysis residuals, fixed carbon, and reactive organic matter through preheating and oxygen-containing gas injection. The released in-formation heat then supports continued kerogen cracking and reaction-front propagation. This review summarizes the TSA method from a process-oriented perspective, linking reaction mechanisms, engineering controls, geochemical process identification, pilot tests, economic–environmental constraints, and scale-up evaluation. Existing studies indicate that the TSA method has formed a technical chain involving reaction initiation, heat/reaction-front propagation, oil and gas recovery, and process monitoring. Pilot tests provide evidence for operational feasibility, but not yet for full commercial feasibility. Thermal simulation results show that oil and gas generation and expulsion become significant above ~350 °C, and that 375–425 °C can be used as an important reference window for temperature control rather than a fixed optimum for all oil shale reservoirs. Geochemical indicators can provide complementary constraints for identifying reaction progress, especially when calibrated with produced oil and gas. Further development should focus on fracture-network control, heat-transfer enhancement, oxygen-supply regulation, multi-well coordination, equipment reliability, economic evaluation, groundwater protection, and CO₂ emission accounting. These issues are critical for advancing the TSA method toward larger-scale, low-carbon, and well-regulated application. Full article

Soil degradation driven by inappropriate soil management is a serious global challenge, while climate change-induced yield declines are increasing the conversion of natural ecosystems to agricultural land. This review examines how soil structure influences soil health, focusing on organo-mineral complexes derived from microbial biomass and soil organic carbon-to-clay (SOC/Clay) ratio as an indicator of structural quality. Regenerative agriculture based on conservation farming practices helps mitigate SOC depletion and aligns with the nature-based solutions framework. In Hokkaido, Japan, 10 years of clean agricultural applications (cover crops and organic matter application) increased SOC storage in farmland affected by volcanic eruption. This was associated with improved bulk density, porosity, cation exchange capacity, and phosphate absorption capacity, indicating improved soil health. The increased SOC rose SOC/Clay ratio to levels comparable with unaffected farmland (≥1/13). When the SOC/Clay ratio exceeded 1/13 (soil carbon storage level of 30 t C/ha/15 cm), carbon sequestration rate became negative. This suggests that improved soil health and structural quality may promote carbon saturation and stimulate microbial decomposition of existing SOC. While the threshold for SOC/Clay ratio varies depending on soil type, vegetation type, climatic conditions, and land use, changes in the SOC/Clay ratio can provide insights into changes in soil health and structural quality. Full article

This study investigated the effects of different inclusion levels of defatted black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens: BSF) larval meal on growth performance, haematological and biochemical blood parameters, and nutrient digestibility in piglets. Forty-eight male piglets weaned at 28 days of age ((Landrace × Large White) × (Piétrain)) were randomly assigned to three experimental treatments. Each treatment included eight pens with two piglets per pen. Diets were formulated to be isoenergetic and isoproteic, containing defatted BSF meal as a partial replacement for fishmeal and soybean meal: Control (0% BSF), BSF3% (3% inclusion), and BSF6% (6% inclusion). Over the whole experimental period, dietary treatment did not significantly affect final body weight, average daily gain, average daily feed intake, or feed conversion ratio, although feed intake differed during the 7–28-day period. Red and white blood cell parameters were not influenced by diet. Apparent total tract digestibility of dry matter and organic matter increased at the 6% inclusion level, while crude protein and crude fat digestibility were not affected. These results indicate that defatted BSF meal can be used as a sustainable alternative protein source in piglet diets, maintaining growth performance and health status. Full article

Rapid urbanization imposes significant pressure on riverine water environments, yet the evolution of hydrochemical characteristics and dissolved organic matter (DOM) in rivers across urbanization gradients within developing regions, such as the Huaibei Plain, remains inadequately understood. Thus, this study investigates the hydrochemical and DOM characteristics of rivers across distinct urbanization gradients (suburban, peri-urban, and urban) in this area. Using an excitation–emission matrix coupled with a parallel factor analysis (EEM-PARAFAC) and hydrochemical analyses, we found that while rock weathering is the primary major ion source, human activities distinctly alter water profiles. Agriculturally dominated suburban rivers had significantly higher nitrate (NO₃⁻) concentrations than those in urban and peri-urban rivers. Their DOM was predominantly humic-like (C1, C3) with a high humification index (HIX), indicating a substantial input of soil-derived humic substances driven by runoff from the agricultural catchment. Conversely, urban and peri-urban rivers exhibited higher chloride (Cl⁻) concentrations due to domestic sewage. Their DOM was dominated by protein-like components (C2 and C4, averaging 65–68%), with high biological indices (BIX) reflecting autochthonous origins. Correlation analysis confirmed these anthropogenic impacts: NO₃⁻ positively correlated with humic-like components and HIX, while Cl⁻ strongly correlated with protein-like components. These findings confirm that DOM components and spectral indices are effective tracers of anthropogenic disturbance and hold promise for monitoring and predicting water quality, thus providing a scientific basis for improved water resource management and restoration strategies. Full article

Under the context of global change, forest cover, as a critical component of terrestrial ecosystems, exerts a profound influence on regional ecological security and sustainable development through its spatiotemporal evolution. Current research on forest cover change primarily focuses on pattern description and single-factor driver analysis, with insufficient in-depth exploration of the interactions among multiple factors and their associated nonlinear mechanisms. To address this gap, this study focuses on the Wumeng Mountain area, a typical ecologically fragile karst region in Southwest China. By comprehensively employing methods such as Theil–Sen Median trend analysis, land use transfer matrix, standard deviation ellipse, and spatial autocorrelation analysis, this study systematically reveals the spatiotemporal evolution characteristics of forest cover from 1985 to 2024. On this basis, an integrated eXtreme Gradient Boosting–SHapley Additive exPlanations (XGBoost-SHAP) model is introduced to construct an indicator system comprising 16 driving variables, including elevation, slope, aspect, temperature, precipitation, soil type, soil pH, soil thickness, soil organic matter, soil moisture content, GDP, population, distance from water, distance from railway, distance from grade highway, and distance from government. This model quantifies the influence intensity of each driving factor on forest change. The main findings are as follows: (1) From 1985 to 2024, the forest cover rate in the Wumeng Mountain area significantly increased from 54.7% to 60.2%, exhibiting a “high-low-high” heterogeneous spatial distribution pattern along the northeast-southwest axis; (2) Forest increase primarily originated from the conversion of cropland and grassland, with contribution rates reaching 93.58% and 5.9%, respectively, indicating an overall trend of “increase in low-value areas and decrease in high-value areas”; (3) Forest cover change is driven by both natural and anthropogenic factors, with dominant driving factors exhibiting phased replacement over time. Overall, this is manifested as long-term stable constraints exerted by natural background factors, alongside strong disturbances from anthropogenic factors such as social-economic, and transportation-related activities. Natural factors remain the primary driving force behind changes in forest cover. The core findings of this study elucidate the complex driving factors of forest change in karst mountainous areas, thereby providing scientific support for the precise management of regional forest resources, the planning of ecological restoration projects, and the implementation of sustainable development strategies. Full article

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are a class of molecules or free radicals with strong oxidizing properties. They have attracted increasing attention in soil research in recent years because of their perceived importance in many soil biochemical processes. Previous reviews of ROS in soil mainly focused on their impacts on carbon emissions and organic pollutant remediation, with few descriptions of the mechanisms responsible for ROS generation, and a comprehensive understanding of their environmental effects is still lacking. Therefore, the present review provides details on the sources and underlying generation mechanisms of ROS in soil. These mechanisms include inputs via atmospheric deposition, metal–mineral reactions, root exudation, microbial metabolism, enzymatic reactions and various organic matter transformations. In contrast to previous reviews, we also discuss mutual conversion between different types of ROS in soil. The impacts of ROS on the soil environment are further explored, such as element cycling, pollutant degradation, and the growth and reproduction of plants and microorganisms, in order to provide a systematic understanding of the various processes involving ROS in soil, thereby guiding better soil management decisions. Finally, we highlight future research trends, suggesting that the advancement of in situ detection methods is crucial for establishing the precise contribution of abiotic ROS processes to global soil carbon and nutrient models. Full article

Understanding how land management influences soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) dynamics is critical for improving ecosystem resilience and carbon sequestration potential in semiarid rangelands. This study used classical field- and laboratory-based methods to assess soil organic carbon (SOC), organic matter (OM), and N content at 13 sites across four ecological provinces in eastern Oregon, USA. Treated sites—where traditional rangeland restoration and management practices had been applied to them (i.e., juniper removal, sagebrush removal, post-fire grass seeding, and land conversion to pasture)—were paired with adjacent untreated control sites. Soil samples were collected at two depths, 0 to 10 cm and 15 to 25 cm and analyzed for C, N, OM, bulk density (BD), soil volumetric water content (SVWC), porosity, and texture. Soil C and N stocks were calculated on an area basis (t ha⁻¹), and statistical analyses were conducted using one-way ANOVA and correlation tests. Treated sites generally exhibited higher soil C, N, and OM content compared to untreated sites, particularly in the upper 10 cm of soil. Data obtained from the two soil depths (0 to 10 cm and 15 to 25 cm) were averaged and assumed to represent the top 30 cm of the soil profile, corresponding to the effective rooting zone at each field. The site where sagebrush removal was followed by grass seeding exhibited the highest soil C and N stocks (115.8 t C ha⁻¹ and 9.2 t N ha⁻¹, respectively). This site also had the highest OM content (9.53%), which was observed in the topsoil layer (0 to 10 cm) across all sites and depths. Strong positive correlations between C and N were detected across all sites (mean r = 0.92), while negative correlations were observed between soil C and bulk density at several locations. Results suggest that vegetation management practices such as woody plant removal and grass establishment can enhance soil C storage and nutrient retention in semiarid rangeland ecosystems. These findings provide baseline data to inform land management strategies aimed at improving soil health and carbon sequestration potential in the Pacific Northwest region in the USA. Full article

Understanding the development characteristics and controlling factors of organic-rich shales in carbonate platform settings is essential for predicting their distribution and assessing their natural gas exploration potential. However, the mechanisms governing the accumulation of such shales in these specific sedimentary environments remain poorly constrained, and the lack of integrated petrological and geochemical studies limits accurate evaluation of their resource potential. The key objective of this study is to investigate the development characteristics and formation mechanisms of organic-rich shales within intraplatform depressions. To address this objective, we conducted a comprehensive petrological and geochemical analysis of the Cambrian Shuijingtuo Formation organic-rich shale deposits deposited in a carbonate platform setting, particularly from Well EYY3 in Western Hubei, Central Yangtze region. The obtained results indicate that total organic carbon (TOC) contents in the Shuijingtuo Formation can reach up to 4.77%, with a thickness of approximately 9.5 m for shales containing over 2% TOC. Vertically, TOC content exhibits a rapid increase at the base, followed by a gradual decline toward the top, reflecting the evolution of depositional environments. The characteristics of organic-rich shale indicate a significant presence of carbonate minerals, which increase in concentration, alongside tuff lenticular bodies and lithological transition surfaces between tuff and shale. While the longitudinal variation of SiO₂ content in shale is subtle, there is a slight increase in land-sourced clasts and excess silica, and TOC has a significant positive correlation. At the base of the Shuijingtuo Formation, redox parameters, including U-EF and Mo-EF, display a rapid increase followed by a gradual decrease. Conversely, changes in Ni-EF, which indicate paleoproductivity, are less pronounced, and their correlation with TOC is relatively poor. These findings suggest that rapid sea-level rise associated with Cambrian transgressions was the main factor influencing organic matter enrichment in the carbonate platform depressions. This rise supplied nutrients and silica-rich organisms, altering the biological landscape and fostering anoxic conditions in the intraplatform depressions, promoting organic-rich shale formation. As sea levels declined, water circulation became restricted, leading to oxidation of shallow water bodies, decreased paleoproductivity, and shale deposits transitioned to tuff. Therefore, organic-rich shale can also be developed on carbonate platforms, with its formation primarily controlled by fluctuations in sea level. During highstand periods, intraplatform depressions may serve as favorable zones for shale gas exploration. Full article

Municipal wastewater represents an underutilized secondary biomass resource rich in organic carbon and nutrients that can be valorized through biotechnological conversion. In this study, we developed an integrated multi-microbial biorefinery platform to transform municipal wastewater into value-added biofuel via sequential bacterial treatment, microalgal biomass generation, and fungal-assisted harvesting. Wastewater was first pretreated with Bacillus subtilis to enzymatically hydrolyze complex organic substrates and enrich the medium with bioactive metabolites, including auxins and gibberellins. The conditioned wastewater was subsequently used to cultivate Chlorella vulgaris, followed by biomass recovery using Trichoderma viride pellets as a sustainable bioflocculant. The integrated consortium significantly enhanced nutrient removal efficiency and promoted algal biomass accumulation, lipid enrichment, and biodiesel productivity compared to monoculture controls. Elevated hydrolytic enzyme activities (cellulase, protease, and amylases) facilitated organic matter conversion into bioavailable substrates, while increased phytohormone levels stimulated algal growth and lipid biosynthesis. Additionally, fungal bioflocculation substantially improved biomass recovery efficiency, reducing the need for energy-intensive harvesting technologies. This work highlights the potential of a biotechnology-driven approach for integrating wastewater remediation with biofuel production. By integrating microbial metabolism, enzymatic transformation, and sustainable separation processes, the proposed biorefinery system suggests a potentially low-carbon approach for simultaneous environmental remediation and biomass valorization, although further life cycle and energy balance analyses are required to validate this aspect. Full article

To promote sustainable biomass recycling and support food security, Tenebrio molitor (TM) larvae can serve as an eco-friendly source of food and feed. This study compared the survival, growth performance, and nutritional composition of TM larvae fed five diets. The control (CON) diet contained distillers’ dried grains with solubles (DDGS) and wheat bran (WB), while the experimental diets included 10–40% lignocellulose-rich organic products from rewetted peatlands (LPRP) replacing WB, with DDGS adjusted to maintain equivalent protein levels (about 21%). A total of 2500 larvae were divided into five replicates per treatment (100 larvae each). Survival exceeded 90% across all groups. Larvae fed the CON diet had a higher final body weight than those on the 30% and 40% LPRP diets (p < 0.05), with no significant differences among the CON and 10% and 20% LPRP groups. The feed conversion ratio (fresh matter) was significantly lower in the CON and 10% LPRP groups than in the other groups (p < 0.05). Larvae fed the 10% LPRP diet showed slightly higher crude protein content (55.8%) compared to the control group (54.8%) and the other treatment groups, whereas those fed the 30% LPRP diet had the highest numerical total amino acid content. Taken together, these results indicate that incorporating 10% LPRP with DDGS and WB provides the best overall balance between growth performance and nutritional quality for TM larvae, supporting sustainable production and circular economy goals. Full article

Water-soluble carbohydrate (WSC) is the key to producing quality forage silage and an important energy source for ruminants. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of different silages used as roughage sources [whole-plant sugarcane silage (WSS) vs. elephant grass silage (EGS)] with varying levels of WSC on silage quality, buffalo growth performance, apparent digestibility, rumen fermentation, and microbial communities. Sixteen healthy male crossbred buffaloes were randomly divided into two treatment groups, with eight buffaloes/treatment. One group was fed whole-plant sugarcane silage, and the other group was fed elephant grass silage. Compared with EGS, WSS had higher WSC, lactic acid, and ethanol, but lower pH, ammonia nitrogen, propionic acid, and butyric acid (BA) contents (p < 0.05). Potential probiotics (e.g., Lactiplantibacillus and Hanseniaspora) were more abundant in WSS than in EGS (p < 0.05). Moreover, the feed conversion rate was higher in HWS (p < 0.05). However, rumen fermentation parameters were unaffected by diet (p > 0.05). Moreover, feeding WSS had lower dry matter digestibility (DMD), organic matter digestibility (OMD), and lower acid detergent fiber digestibility (ADFD) (p < 0.05). After WSS feeding, ruminal Treponema_2 was strongly associated with DMD, OMD, and ADFD (p < 0.05), and also showed positive correlations with BA and PA contents in WSS (p < 0.05). Additionally, rumen Ruminiclostridium_5 and Pseudozyma was associated with DMD and ADFD after being fed EGS (p > 0.05), respectively, but the Pseudozyma was associated with BA (p < 0.05) and Clostridium_sensu_stricto_11 (p > 0.05) in EGS. Our findings indicated that WSS exhibited superior fermentation quality and harbored potential beneficial microbes, whereas EGS showed higher apparent nutrient digestibility in buffalo but also contained undesirable bacteria (e.g., Clostridium_sensu_stricto_11). Future research should investigate the long-term effects of WSS feeding on buffalo health, immunity, and production performance, as well as its impact on rumen microbiota stability, to fully assess its potential as a safe and sustainable roughage source. Full article