Search Results (8,437)

Increasing global water scarcity has intensified the adoption of water reuse as a sustainable strategy, particularly in regions affected by drought and pressure on natural resources. This paper presents a systematic review of the application of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) in water reuse projects, focusing on research trends, methodological approaches, and opportunities for improvement. A systematic search was conducted in Web of Science, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar for studies published from 2020 onwards using combinations of the keywords “life cycle assessment”, “LCA”, “water reuse”, “water recycling”, and “wastewater recycling”. Twelve studies were selected from 57 records identified, based on predefined eligibility criteria requiring quantitative LCA of water reuse systems. The results reveal a predominance of European research, reflecting regulatory advances and strong academic engagement in this field. The most frequently assessed impact categories were global warming, eutrophication, human toxicity and ecotoxicity, highlighting the environmental relevance of reuse systems. Energy consumption and water transport were identified as critical hotspots, especially in scenarios involving long distances and fossil-based energy sources. Nevertheless, most studies demonstrate that water reuse is environmentally viable, particularly when renewable energy and optimized logistics are applied. The review also emphasizes the need to better integrate economic and social dimensions and to adapt LCA methodologies to local conditions. Overall, the findings confirm LCA as a robust decision-support tool for sustainable planning and management of water reuse systems. Full article

Landfills serve as a primary disposal method for municipal solid waste in China, with over 20,000 operational sites nationwide; however, long-term operations risk leachate leakage and groundwater contamination. Amid intensifying climate change and human activities, understanding contaminant evolution mechanisms in landfills has become critically urgent. Focusing on a representative plain-based landfill in North China, this study integrated field investigations and groundwater monitoring to establish a monthly coupled groundwater flow–solute transport model (using MODFLOW and MT3DMS codes) based on site-specific hydrogeological boundaries and multi-year monitoring data, analyzing spatiotemporal plume evolution under the coupled impacts of precipitation variability (climate change) and intensive groundwater extraction (human activities), spanning the historical period (2021–2024) and future projections (2025–2040). Historical simulations demonstrated robust model performance with satisfactory calibration against observed water levels and chloride concentrations, revealing that the current contamination plume exhibits a distinct distribution beneath the site. Future projections indicate nonlinear concentration increases: in the plume core zone, concentrations rise with precipitation, whereas at the advancing front, concentrations escalate with extraction intensity. Spatially, high-risk zones (>200 mg/L) emerge earlier under wetter conditions—under the baseline scenario (S0), such zones form by 2033 and exceed site boundaries by 2037. Plume expansion scales positively with extraction intensity, reaching its maximum advancement and coverage under the high-extraction scenario. These findings demonstrate dual drivers—precipitation accelerates contaminant accumulation through enhanced leaching, while groundwater extraction promotes plume expansion via heightened hydraulic gradients. This work elucidates coupled climate–human activity impacts on landfill contamination mechanisms, proposing a transferable numerical modeling framework that provides a quantitative scientific basis for post-closure supervision, risk assessment, and regional groundwater protection strategies, thereby aligning with China’s Standard for Pollution Control on the Landfill Site of Municipal Solid Waste and the Zero-Waste City initiative. Full article

Aflatoxin contamination of maize by Aspergillus section Flavi constitutes a major health and economic concern. While biological control using non-toxigenic strains has proven effective, the increasing global food demand underscores the need for alternative carrier materials to replace seeds and grains. The aims of the present study were (1) to develop an innovative macroporous starch polymer in which the biocontrol agent can grow and be transported to fields where the bioformulate is applied, and (2) to evaluate the effectiveness of this new formulate in reducing AF contamination in maize kernels in field trials, in comparison with the traditional formulate based on long-grain rice as a substrate. Several methods and different starch sources were tested, and the formulation consisting of 10% maize starch, 0.5% citric acid, 3% sucrose, 0.3% urea, and distilled water was the most effective. Furthermore, this bioformulate demonstrated a performance comparable to that of the traditional long-grain rice-based formulation, reducing AF accumulation by up to 81% in maize kernels under field conditions. The implementation of this macroporous starch polymer-based formulation, in combination with the biological control agent A. flavus AFCHG2, would not only reduce aflatoxin contamination in maize kernels but also minimise the use of food-grade seeds and grains for industrial purposes, thereby preserving their availability for human and animal nutrition. Consequently, this development could enhance the availability of these substrates for food and feed use, thereby contributing to improved safety and food security. Full article

Accurate lightning data are critical for disaster warning and climate research. This study systematically compares the Fengyun-4A Lightning Mapping Imager (FY-4A LMI) satellite and the Advanced Time-of-arrival and Direction (ADTD) lightning location network in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (BTH) region (April–August, 2020–2023) using coefficient of variation (CV) analysis, Welch’s independent samples t-test, Pearson correlation analysis, and inverse distance weighting (IDW) interpolation. Key results: (1) A significant systematic discrepancy exists between the two datasets, with an annual mean ratio of 0.0636 (t = −5.1758, p < 0.01); FY-4A LMI shows higher observational stability (CV = 5.46%), while ADTD excels in capturing intense lightning events (CV = 28.01%). (2) Both datasets exhibit a consistent unimodal monthly pattern peaking in July (moderately strong positive correlation, r = 0.7354, p < 0.01) but differ distinctly in diurnal distribution. (3) High-density lightning areas of both datasets concentrate south of the Yanshan Mountains and east of the Taihang Mountains, shaped by topography and water vapor transport. This study reveals the three-factor (climatic background, topographic forcing, technical characteristics) coupled regulatory mechanism of data discrepancies and highlights the complementarity of the two datasets, providing a solid scientific basis for satellite-ground data fusion and regional lightning disaster defense. Full article

Rice–crab co-culture systems (RC) represent promising sustainable intensification approaches, yet their nitrogen (N) cycling and optimal fertilization strategies remain poorly characterized. In this study, we compared RC with rice monoculture system (RM) across four N gradients (0, 150, 210, and 270 kg N·hm⁻²), assessing N dynamics in field water and N distribution in soil. The results showed that field water ammonium nitrogen (NH₄⁺-N) concentrations increased nonlinearly, showing sharp increases beyond 210 kg N·hm⁻². Notably, crab activity in the RC altered the N transformation and transport processes, leading to a prolonged presence of nitrate nitrogen (NO₃⁻-N) in field water for two additional days after tillering fertilization compared to RM. This indicates a critical window for potential nitrogen loss risk, rather than enhanced retention, 15 days after basal fertilizer application. Compared to RM, RC exhibited enhanced nitrogen retention capacity, with NO₃⁻-N concentrations remaining elevated for an additional two days following tillering fertilization, suggesting a potential critical period for nitrogen loss risk. Post-harvest soil analysis revealed contrasting nitrogen distribution patterns: RC showed enhanced NH₄⁺-N accumulation in surface layers (0–2 cm) with minimal vertical NO₃⁻-N redistribution, while RM exhibited progressive NO₃⁻-N increases in subsurface layers (2–10 cm) with increasing fertilizer rates. The 210 kg N·hm⁻² rate proved optimal for the RC, producing a rice yield 12.08% higher than that of RM and sustaining high crab yields, while avoiding the excessive aqueous N levels seen at higher rates. It is important to note that these findings are based on a single-site, single-growing season field experiment conducted in Panjin, Liaoning Province, and thus the general applicability of the optimal nitrogen rate may require further validation across diverse environments. We conclude that a fertilization rate of 210 kg N·hm⁻² is the optimal strategy for RC, effectively balancing productivity and environmental sustainability. This finding provides a clear, quantitative guideline for precise N management in integrated aquaculture systems. Full article

The green transformation of the shipping industry urgently requires zero-carbon power, and hydrogen-powered ships such as hydrogen fuel cell ships face bottlenecks in in situ hydrogen production and storage and transportation. Methanol steam reforming (MSR) online hydrogen production is suitable for ship scenarios, reducing costs and increasing efficiency while helping achieve zero carbon throughout the entire lifecycle, which has important practical significance. The key technology for MSR technology is the performance of the catalyst. A series of Cu_1−xMn_xAl₂O₄ catalysts were successfully synthesized and applied for hydrogen production in this study. The catalyst structure was characterized using physicochemical techniques including XRD, SEM, and EDS. Hydrogen production performance was evaluated in a fixed-bed reactor under the following conditions: a liquid hourly space velocity (LHSV) of 20 h⁻¹, a water-to-methanol molar ratio of 3:1, and a reaction temperature range of 275 °C–350 °C. The results demonstrate that A-site Mn substitution significantly enhanced the catalytic performance. In addition, XRD analysis revealed that Mn incorporation effectively suppressed the formation of segregated CuO phases. However, excessive substitution (x is 0.9) led to the generation of an MnAl₂O₄ impurity phase. Finally, the Cu_0.7Mn_0.3Al₂O₄ catalyst achieved a methanol conversion of 68.336% at 325 °C, with a hydrogen production rate of 5.611 mmol/min/g_cat, and maintained CO selectivity below 1%. The results demonstrate that the hydrogen production catalyst developed in this study is a promising material for meeting the requirements of online hydrogen sources for ships. Full article

We used chlorophyll fluorescence techniques to investigate seasonal variations in photosystem II (PSII) quantum yield in five-year-old saplings of the sclerophyllous Peumus boldus Molina (evergreen) and Colliguaja odorifera Molina (semideciduous) planted in a semiarid site with a Mediterranean-type climate. Chlorophyll fluorescence rise kinetics (OJIP) were monitored monthly for one year (September 2024 to September 2025). With this information, we estimated the relative deviation of the performance index (PI_ABS) of each species from the average PI_ABS in each season (denoted as ∆PI_ABS). P. boldus was associated with destruction of PSII reaction centers and incapacity for electron transport, i.e., higher values of parameters ABS/RC (effective antenna size of an active reaction center) and F₀ (minimal fluorescence), whereas C. odorifera was associated with higher photosynthetic performance i.e., higher values of PI_ABS, PI_TOT (total performance index), F_V/F₀ (ratio between variable and minimal fluorescence), and F_V/F_M (maximum quantum yield of primary PSII photochemistry). P_IABS exhibited a 52 and 38% reduction (i.e., −∆PI_ABS) during spring and winter in P. boldus, but an increase (i.e., +∆PI_ABS) of 52 and 37% in the same seasons for C. odorifera. P. boldus was considerably more depressed during the winter–spring season than the summer months. This suggests that PSII function in P. boldus is more sensitive to low temperatures in winter and spring than the lack of water and high temperatures during summer. Full article

The impacts of land use on stormwater runoff quality and Best Management Practices to mitigate these impacts have been investigated since the 1970s, yet challenges remain in providing a modeling approach that concomitantly considers contributions from different land use types. In densely developed urban areas, a buildup/washoff approach is often applied, while in rural areas, some type of erosion modeling is employed, as the processes of detachment, entrainment, and transport are fundamentally different. This study presents a coupled modeling approach within PCSWMM, integrating exponential buildup/washoff for impervious surfaces with the Modified Universal Soil Loss Equation (MUSLE) for pervious areas, including construction sites, to characterize water quality in the large mixed urban–rural Sparrovale catchment in Geelong, Australia. The watershed includes an innovative cascading system of 12 online NbS wetlands along one of the main tributaries, Armstrong Creek, to manage runoff quantity and quality, as well as 16 offline NbS wetlands that are tributary to the online system. A total of 78 samples for Total Suspended Solids (TSS), Total Phosphorus (TP), and Total Nitrogen (TN) were collected from six monitoring sites along Armstrong Creek during wet- and dry-weather events between May and July 2024 for model validation. The data were supplemented with six other catchment stormwater quality datasets collected during earlier studies, which provided an understanding of water quality status for the broader Geelong region. Results showed that average nutrient concentrations across all the sites ranged from 0.44 to 2.66 mg/L for TP and 0.69 to 5.7 mg/L for TN, spanning from within to above the ecological threshold ranges for eutrophication risk (TP: 0.042 to 1 mg/L, TN: 0.3 to 1.5 mg/L). In the study catchment, upstream wetlands reduced pollutant levels; however, downstream wetlands that received runoff from agriculture, residential areas, and, importantly, construction sites, showed a substantial increase in sediment and nutrient concentration. Water quality modeling revealed washoff parameters primarily influenced concentrations from established urban neighborhoods, whereas erosion parameters substantially impacted total pollutant loads for the larger system, demonstrating the importance of integrated modeling for capturing pollutant dynamics in heterogeneous, urbanizing catchments. The study results emphasize the need for spatially targeted management strategies to improve stormwater runoff quality and also show the potential for cascading wetlands to be an important element of the Nature-based Solution (NbS) runoff management system. Full article

The agricultural industry faces increasing environmental degradation due to the intensive use of conventional chemical fertilizers, leading to water pollution and alterations in soil composition. In addition, root-knot and cyst nematodes are major constraints to cucumber production, causing severe root damage and yield losses worldwide, underscoring the need for sustainable alternatives to conventional fertilization and pest management. Under greenhouse conditions, a four-month cultivation trial evaluated vegetable oil-, micronutrient-, and activated flavonoid-based biostimulants, applying Key Eco Oil^® (Miami, USA) via soil drench (every 15 days) combined with foliar sprays of CropBioLife^® (Victoria, Australia) and KeyPlex 120^® (Miami, USA) (every 7 days). Results showed reduced parasitic nematodes by 66% in soil and decreased gall formation by 41% in roots. Chlorophyll fluorescence and infrared gas analysis revealed higher oxygen-evolving complex efficiency (38%), increased PSII electron transport, improved the fluorescence decrease ratio, also known as the vitality index (Rfd), and higher CO₂ assimilation compared to conventional treatments. Processed cucumbers showed higher sugar and nearly double ascorbic acid content, with improved flesh consistency and color. Therefore, the application of these bioactive products significantly reduced nematode infestation while enhancing plant growth and physiological performance, underscoring their potential as sustainable tools for crop cultivation and protection. These results provide evidence that sustainable bioactive biostimulants improve plant resilience, productivity, and nutritional quality, offering also an environmentally sound approach to pest management. Full article

The high salt content in saline–alkali soil has a significant impact on plant nutrient absorption and water transport, severely inhibiting crop growth. Through esterification reactions, silicic acid is grafted onto humic acid to form an organic silicon fertilizer (OSiF). The unique Si-O-C bond in the material endows this new type of organic silicon-based fertilizer with the ability to effectively alleviate the harm of high-salt soil to plants. In this study, a soil column experiment was designed to systematically evaluate and compare the effects of organic silicon fertilizers with different organic silicon contents (0%, 5%, and 10%) and traditional compound fertilizers on soil water characteristics, salt ion concentration, pH value, and electrical conductivity. The results showed that the addition of an appropriate amount of organic silicon fertilizer could significantly reduce the activity of salt ions in the soil solution. Experimental data indicated that the 5% and 10% organic silicon fertilizers had the most significant effect on the consumption of major salt ions such as sodium and chloride ions. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis revealed that the reaction of Si-O-C bonds in the soil with Lewis bases led to a shift in the valence state of the 1S electrons of silicon atoms, providing a theoretical basis for the mechanism by which silicon fertilizers alleviate high-salt stress. Full article

This study investigates the effects of saline reclaimed water recharge on soil salt accumulation and water migration in Xinjiang, China, aiming to provide scientific guidance for the sustainable utilization of reclaimed water in arid regions. Indoor vertical infiltration simulation experiments were conducted using reclaimed water with varying salinity levels (0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 g L⁻¹) to evaluate their impacts on soil water–salt distribution and infiltration dynamics. Results showed that irrigation with saline reclaimed water increased soil pH and significantly enhanced both the infiltration rate and wetting front migration velocity, while causing only minor changes in the moisture content of the wetted zone. When the salinity was 2 g L⁻¹, the observed improvement effect was the most significant. Specifically, the cumulative infiltration increased by 22.73% after 180 min, and the time required for the wetting peak to reach the specified depth was shortened by 21.74%. At this salinity level, the soil’s effective water storage capacity reached 168.19 mm, with an average moisture content increase of just 6.20%. Soil salinity increased with the salinity of the irrigation water, and salts accumulated at the wetting front as water moved downward, resulting in a characteristic distribution pattern of desalination in the upper layer and salt accumulation in the lower layer. Notably, reclaimed water recharge reduced soil salinity in the 0–30 cm layer, with salinity in the 0–25 cm layer decreasing below the crop salt tolerance threshold. When the salinity of the reclaimed water was ≤2 g L⁻¹, the salt storage in the 0–30 cm layer was less than 7 kg ha⁻¹, achieving a desalination rate exceeding 60%. Reclaimed water with a salinity of 2 g L⁻¹ enhanced infiltration (wetting front depth increased by 27.78%) and desalination efficiency (>60%). These findings suggest it is well suited for urban greening and represents an optimal choice for the moderate reclamation of saline-alkali soils in arid environments. Overall, this study provide a reference for the water quality threshold and parameters of reclaimed water for urban greening, farmland irrigation, and saline land improvement. Full article

High regeneration energy demand remains a critical barrier to the large-scale deployment of ethanolamine-based (MEA-based) CO₂ capture. This study adopts an Al₂O₃ ceramic-membrane heat exchanger (CMHE) to recover both sensible and latent heat from the stripped gas. Experiments confirm that heat and mass transfer within the CMHE follow a coupled mechanism in which capillary condensation governs trans-membrane water transport, while heat conduction through the ceramic membrane dominates heat transfer, which accounts for more than 80%. Guided by this mechanism, systematic structural optimization was conducted. Alumina was identified as the optimal heat exchanger material due to its combined porosity, thermal conductivity, and corrosion resistance. Among the tested pore sizes, CMHE-4 produces the strongest capillary-condensation enhancement, yielding a heat recovery flux (q value) of up to 38.8 MJ/(m² h), which is 4.3% and 304% higher than those of the stainless steel heat exchanger and plastic heat exchanger, respectively. In addition, Length-dependent analyses reveal an inherent trade-off: shorter modules achieved higher q (e.g., 14–42% greater for 200-mm vs. 300-mm CMHE-4), whereas longer modules provide greater total recovered heat (Q). Scale-up experiments demonstrated pronounced non-linear performance amplification, with a 4 times area increase boosting q by only 1.26 times under constant pressure. The techno-economic assessment indicates a simple payback period of ~2.5 months and a significant reduction in net capture cost. Overall, this work establishes key design parameters, validates the governing transport mechanism, and provides a practical, economically grounded framework for implementing high-efficiency CMHEs in MEA-based CO₂ capture. Full article

Tubular pump systems (TPSs) represent a critical class of large-scale turbomachinery for low-head water transport, where mechanical reliability is often challenged by complex internal flow dynamics. Pressure pulsations in pump systems induce vibrations that adversely affect performance, emphasizing the need for effective control mechanisms to ensure stable operation. In tubular pumps, unsteady pressure pulsations are typically driven by rotor–stator interactions; however, the behavior of these pulsations in the absence of impeller rotation remains poorly understood. In this study, a novel comparative investigation is conducted to elucidate the effect of impeller rotation on pressure pulsations characteristic by examining two scenarios: normal impeller operation at rated speed and a completely stationary (zero-speed) impeller condition. Experiments were performed on a model low-head tubular pump, measuring dynamic pressures at four key locations across a range of flow rates. Time–frequency analysis using the continuous wavelet transform (CWT) and the wavelet coherence transform (WTC) was applied to delineate the unsteady pressure features. The results demonstrate that under normal rotation, pressure pulsations are dominated by pronounced periodic components at the impeller’s rotational frequency and its harmonics, with the strongest fluctuation amplitudes observed near the impeller outlet region. In contrast, with the impeller held stationary, these distinct periodic peaks vanish, replaced by broadband, irregular fluctuations. Crucially, WTC analysis revealed that significant coherence between the two operational states was confined to low frequencies (≈16.7–50 Hz), particularly at the impeller inlet, highlighting the presence of low-frequency dynamics likely associated with system-scale hydraulic compliance or inlet flow non-uniformity, independent of impeller rotation. These findings confirm the pivotal role of impeller rotation in generating periodic pressure pulsations while providing new insight into the underlying unsteady flow mechanisms in tubular pumps. Full article

Pipeline leakage is a common issue in many pressurized pipeline systems, with significant hazards, making it a current research hotspot. To reveal the fundamental characteristics of leakage in straight pipelines and 90° elbows transporting different media and thereby predict leakage locations, this paper conducts numerical calculations of the internal flow, while also predicting the pipeline leakage location monitoring model. The study finds that under air medium conditions, the nonlinear function model demonstrates excellent prediction accuracy, with R² > 0.99 for the water₃ condition. Under water medium conditions, the model’s fitting performance gradually weakens with increasing inlet pressure, with R² dropping to 0.77. For a bent pipe, when air is used as the medium, the pressure peak at the large bend angle increases significantly under high inlet pressure. In contrast, when water is the medium, the local pressure reconstruction effect in the bent pipe exhibits a linear strengthening trend as the inlet pressure increases. Full article

Higher education institutions face a critical methodological challenge in pursuing net-zero commitments: Within the amount ofhe emissions related to Scope 3, including indirect emissions from water consumption, waste disposal, business travel, and mobility, employees commuting represents 50–92% of campus carbon footprints, yet reliable quantification remains elusive due to fragmented data collection and governance silos. The present research investigates how purposeful integration of the Home-to-Work Commuting Plan (HtWCP)—mandatory under Italian Decree 179/2021—into the Climate Neutrality Plan (CNP) could constitute an innovative strategy to enhance emissions accounting rigor while strengthening institutional governance. Stemming from the University of Genoa case study, we show how leveraging mandatory HtWCP survey infrastructure to collect granular mobility behavioral data (transportation mode, commuting distance, and travel frequency) directly addresses the GHG Protocol-specified distance-based methodology for Scope 3 accounting. In turn, the CNP could support the HtWCP in framing mobility actions into a wider long-term perspective, as well as suggesting a compensation mechanism and paradigm for mobility actions that are currently not included. We therefore establish a replicable model that simultaneously advances three institutional dimensions, through the operationalization of the Avoid–Shift–Improve framework within an integrated workflow: (1) methodological rigor—replacing proxy methodologies with actual behavioral data to eliminate the notorious Scope 3 data gap; (2) governance coherence—aligning voluntary and regulatory instruments to reduce fragmentation and enhance cross-functional collaboration; and (3) adaptive management—embedding biennial feedback cycles that enable continuous validation and iterative refinement of emissions reduction strategies. This framework positions universities as institutional innovators capable of modeling integrated governance approaches with potential transferability to municipal, corporate, and public administration contexts. The findings contribute novel evidence to scholarly literature on institutional sustainability, policy integration, and climate governance, whilst establishing methodological standards relevant to international harmonization efforts in carbon accounting. Full article