Pub Date : 2026-01-29DOI: 10.1016/j.nxsust.2026.100253
Erewari Ukoha-Onuoha , Ibiba Taiwo Horsfall
Sustainable water management is essential for tackling water scarcity, food security, and environmental degradation amid climate change. Wastewater reuse in agriculture is a vital strategy, with varied implementation and outcomes globally. This review synthesizes global findings on wastewater reuse evolution, focusing on technology, impacts, and governance from a sustainability viewpoint. The analysis reveals significant benefits, such as reduced freshwater use, nutrient recovery, increased agricultural yield, and contributions to circular economy and Sustainable Development Goal 6. Nonetheless, challenges persist, including public health risks, soil salinization, contaminants, high costs, regulatory issues, and social acceptance. Comparative studies indicate that water stress, economic capacity, and institutional strength significantly affect reuse system sustainability. A notable gap exists in sub-Saharan Africa, where informal and poorly regulated wastewater reuse is prevalent. The review underscores the necessity for integrated management, suitable technologies, digital monitoring, and unified policy frameworks to enhance sustainable wastewater reuse for irrigation.
{"title":"The evolution of wastewater reuse for irrigation: Lessons learned and future directions","authors":"Erewari Ukoha-Onuoha , Ibiba Taiwo Horsfall","doi":"10.1016/j.nxsust.2026.100253","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.nxsust.2026.100253","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Sustainable water management is essential for tackling water scarcity, food security, and environmental degradation amid climate change. Wastewater reuse in agriculture is a vital strategy, with varied implementation and outcomes globally. This review synthesizes global findings on wastewater reuse evolution, focusing on technology, impacts, and governance from a sustainability viewpoint. The analysis reveals significant benefits, such as reduced freshwater use, nutrient recovery, increased agricultural yield, and contributions to circular economy and Sustainable Development Goal 6. Nonetheless, challenges persist, including public health risks, soil salinization, contaminants, high costs, regulatory issues, and social acceptance. Comparative studies indicate that water stress, economic capacity, and institutional strength significantly affect reuse system sustainability. A notable gap exists in sub-Saharan Africa, where informal and poorly regulated wastewater reuse is prevalent. The review underscores the necessity for integrated management, suitable technologies, digital monitoring, and unified policy frameworks to enhance sustainable wastewater reuse for irrigation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100960,"journal":{"name":"Next Sustainability","volume":"7 ","pages":"Article 100253"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146090244","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-28DOI: 10.1016/j.nxsust.2026.100248
Md. Arif Hossen , Md. Bashirul Islam , Obaid A. Alharbi , Md. Nour Hossain , Asiful Hoque , Azrina Abd Aziz , Yunus Ahmed
Micro/nanoplastics (MNPs) are pervasive environmental pollutants with significant ecological and health risks, prompting urgent research into sustainable degradation technologies. Photo-driven advanced oxidation processes (AOPs), including photolysis, photo-Fenton, and photocatalysis, have emerged as promising strategies for the oxidative breakdown of MNPs into less harmful compounds. Certain systems have demonstrated the capacity to achieve complete mineralization under optimized conditions. This review critically evaluates recent advances in these processes, integrating mechanistic insights, performance metrics, and environmental implications. Photolysis harnesses light to generate carbon-centered radicals and reactive oxygen species (ROS), while photo-Fenton and photocatalytic systems enhance ROS production through synergistic chemical and light-driven reactions. Recent breakthroughs include 100 % mineralization of polystyrene nanoplastics within minutes using photoelectro-Fenton and full degradation of PVC under visible-light-driven photocatalysis processes. The efficiency of these processes is further enhanced by co-factors such as inorganic minerals, organic acids, and halogen species, which promote ROS generation and surface oxidation. Despite these advances, critical challenges remain, including incomplete mineralization, potential formation of toxic intermediates, catalyst recyclability, methodological inconsistencies, and scalability limitations. Future research must focus on elucidating degradation pathways, developing selective and value-added conversion strategies, engineering visible-light-responsive, green-synthesized catalysts, integrating biological systems, and standardizing analytical protocols. By synthesizing recent progress and identifying key knowledge gaps, this review provides a comprehensive roadmap toward sustainable and scalable MNPs remediation technologies.
{"title":"Recent advances in degradation of micro/nanoplastics by sustainable photo-driven processes: A comprehensive review","authors":"Md. Arif Hossen , Md. Bashirul Islam , Obaid A. Alharbi , Md. Nour Hossain , Asiful Hoque , Azrina Abd Aziz , Yunus Ahmed","doi":"10.1016/j.nxsust.2026.100248","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.nxsust.2026.100248","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Micro/nanoplastics (MNPs) are pervasive environmental pollutants with significant ecological and health risks, prompting urgent research into sustainable degradation technologies. Photo-driven advanced oxidation processes (AOPs), including photolysis, photo-Fenton, and photocatalysis, have emerged as promising strategies for the oxidative breakdown of MNPs into less harmful compounds. Certain systems have demonstrated the capacity to achieve complete mineralization under optimized conditions. This review critically evaluates recent advances in these processes, integrating mechanistic insights, performance metrics, and environmental implications. Photolysis harnesses light to generate carbon-centered radicals and reactive oxygen species (ROS), while photo-Fenton and photocatalytic systems enhance ROS production through synergistic chemical and light-driven reactions. Recent breakthroughs include 100 % mineralization of polystyrene nanoplastics within minutes using photoelectro-Fenton and full degradation of PVC under visible-light-driven photocatalysis processes. The efficiency of these processes is further enhanced by co-factors such as inorganic minerals, organic acids, and halogen species, which promote ROS generation and surface oxidation. Despite these advances, critical challenges remain, including incomplete mineralization, potential formation of toxic intermediates, catalyst recyclability, methodological inconsistencies, and scalability limitations. Future research must focus on elucidating degradation pathways, developing selective and value-added conversion strategies, engineering visible-light-responsive, green-synthesized catalysts, integrating biological systems, and standardizing analytical protocols. By synthesizing recent progress and identifying key knowledge gaps, this review provides a comprehensive roadmap toward sustainable and scalable MNPs remediation technologies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100960,"journal":{"name":"Next Sustainability","volume":"7 ","pages":"Article 100248"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146090243","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-22DOI: 10.1016/j.nxsust.2026.100249
Jean Marie Ndayiragije , Athanase Nkunzimana
Flash floods are recurrent and among the most destructive disasters in Burundi, affecting many people and causing significant socio-economic damage every year. The aim of this article is to provide an overview of the influencing factors of flash floods, assess their implications for human life, and highlight mitigation measures. The results indicate that the main drivers of flash flooding in Burundi are a combination of climate change, geo-hydrological conditions, a rapidly growing population, and competitive socio-economic activities such as construction, land cover change and land use that hinder water infiltration, leading to rapid runoff. Flash floods destroyed houses and schools, damaged nine drinking water sources in Cibitoke, causing deaths and injuries. The floods also led to the spread of water and sanitation-related diseases in Bujumbura, resulting in economic losses, widespread displacement of people across plain provinces of Makamba, Bubanza, Cibitoke, Rumonge, Bujumbura Municipality, and Bujumbura Rural. Furthermore, flash floods triggered landslides, fragmentation of riverbanks, and degradation of aquatic ecosystems and the environment. Although it is nearly impossible to eliminate the frequency and occurrence of hydro-climatological-related catastrophes, their adverse consequences on human life can be mitigated. Therefore, to lessen the socio-economic burdens of flash floods, it is essential to implement proper management and operation of dams and reservoirs, and regular maintenance of existing drainage systems. Inclusive disaster training and awareness for the indigenous populations, poverty eradication measures, and public access to the early warnings and real-time information. Moreover, we highly recommend the rehabilitation of hydrometeorological stations to record weather data, the advancement of flood prediction studies, and the promotion of climate change mitigation measures.
{"title":"Overviewing the influencing factors of flash floods and assessing their impacts on human life with a focus on Burundi, mitigation measures","authors":"Jean Marie Ndayiragije , Athanase Nkunzimana","doi":"10.1016/j.nxsust.2026.100249","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.nxsust.2026.100249","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Flash floods are recurrent and among the most destructive disasters in Burundi, affecting many people and causing significant socio-economic damage every year. The aim of this article is to provide an overview of the influencing factors of flash floods, assess their implications for human life, and highlight mitigation measures. The results indicate that the main drivers of flash flooding in Burundi are a combination of climate change, geo-hydrological conditions, a rapidly growing population, and competitive socio-economic activities such as construction, land cover change and land use that hinder water infiltration, leading to rapid runoff. Flash floods destroyed houses and schools, damaged nine drinking water sources in Cibitoke, causing deaths and injuries. The floods also led to the spread of water and sanitation-related diseases in Bujumbura, resulting in economic losses, widespread displacement of people across plain provinces of Makamba, Bubanza, Cibitoke, Rumonge, Bujumbura Municipality, and Bujumbura Rural. Furthermore, flash floods triggered landslides, fragmentation of riverbanks, and degradation of aquatic ecosystems and the environment. Although it is nearly impossible to eliminate the frequency and occurrence of hydro-climatological-related catastrophes, their adverse consequences on human life can be mitigated. Therefore, to lessen the socio-economic burdens of flash floods, it is essential to implement proper management and operation of dams and reservoirs, and regular maintenance of existing drainage systems. Inclusive disaster training and awareness for the indigenous populations, poverty eradication measures, and public access to the early warnings and real-time information. Moreover, we highly recommend the rehabilitation of hydrometeorological stations to record weather data, the advancement of flood prediction studies, and the promotion of climate change mitigation measures.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100960,"journal":{"name":"Next Sustainability","volume":"7 ","pages":"Article 100249"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146037963","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-22DOI: 10.1016/j.nxsust.2026.100252
Muhamad Soffi Bin Manda , Mohd Ruzaimi Mat Rejab , Shukur Abu Hassan , Mat Uzir Bin Wahit , Joseph Selvi Binoj , Brailson Mansingh Bright , Siti Safarah Binti Amirnuddin , Alamry Ali , Kheng Lim Goh
{"title":"Corrigendum to “Effect of environmental exposure on long-term tensile strength of tin slag polymer concrete” [Next Sustain. 5 (2025) 100139]","authors":"Muhamad Soffi Bin Manda , Mohd Ruzaimi Mat Rejab , Shukur Abu Hassan , Mat Uzir Bin Wahit , Joseph Selvi Binoj , Brailson Mansingh Bright , Siti Safarah Binti Amirnuddin , Alamry Ali , Kheng Lim Goh","doi":"10.1016/j.nxsust.2026.100252","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.nxsust.2026.100252","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":100960,"journal":{"name":"Next Sustainability","volume":"7 ","pages":"Article 100252"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146037961","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Flooding in the Teesta River floodplain of northern Bangladesh poses significant socio-economic and environmental challenges due to monsoonal rainfall, low-lying topography, and dynamic riverine processes. This study presents a participatory flood vulnerability assessment integrating GIS-based Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Frequency Ratio (FR) models with community-level insights to delineate flood-prone areas and evaluate local adaptive capacity. Topographical, hydrological, and environmental datasets, including Landsat 8 imagery, Digital Elevation Model (DEM), land use and land cover (LULC), drainage density, soil texture, and rainfall, were compiled and analyzed to generate flood vulnerability maps for 2000, 2010, and 2022. Flood vulnerability increased between 2000 and 2022, with low vulnerability areas decreasing (2809.87 → 2476.45 km²) and high to very high zones expanding (607.76 → 761.22 km² and 441.30 → 654.87 km²), while river areas declined (922.09 → 823.81 km²). Validation using field data showed 85 % agreement, confirming model reliability. Participatory assessment of community adaptive capacity highlighted variations in resilience across four dimensions: Built Environment, Organization and Institution, Socioeconomic Status, and Science and Technology, with technological enhancement and social engagement identified as key strategies for improving flood preparedness. This integrated approach highlights the value of merging geospatial modeling with community insights to strengthen local disaster risk reduction efforts and guide effective policy-making in highly flood-prone deltaic areas.
{"title":"Participatory flood vulnerability assessment in the Teesta floodplain of Bangladesh using GIS-based AHP and frequency ratio models","authors":"Md. Moniruzzaman Monir, Subaran Chandra Sarker, Shapla Akhter","doi":"10.1016/j.nxsust.2026.100251","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.nxsust.2026.100251","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Flooding in the Teesta River floodplain of northern Bangladesh poses significant socio-economic and environmental challenges due to monsoonal rainfall, low-lying topography, and dynamic riverine processes. This study presents a participatory flood vulnerability assessment integrating GIS-based Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Frequency Ratio (FR) models with community-level insights to delineate flood-prone areas and evaluate local adaptive capacity. Topographical, hydrological, and environmental datasets, including Landsat 8 imagery, Digital Elevation Model (DEM), land use and land cover (LULC), drainage density, soil texture, and rainfall, were compiled and analyzed to generate flood vulnerability maps for 2000, 2010, and 2022. Flood vulnerability increased between 2000 and 2022, with low vulnerability areas decreasing (2809.87 → 2476.45 km²) and high to very high zones expanding (607.76 → 761.22 km² and 441.30 → 654.87 km²), while river areas declined (922.09 → 823.81 km²). Validation using field data showed 85 % agreement, confirming model reliability. Participatory assessment of community adaptive capacity highlighted variations in resilience across four dimensions: Built Environment, Organization and Institution, Socioeconomic Status, and Science and Technology, with technological enhancement and social engagement identified as key strategies for improving flood preparedness. This integrated approach highlights the value of merging geospatial modeling with community insights to strengthen local disaster risk reduction efforts and guide effective policy-making in highly flood-prone deltaic areas.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100960,"journal":{"name":"Next Sustainability","volume":"7 ","pages":"Article 100251"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146037962","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-19DOI: 10.1016/j.nxsust.2026.100250
God’sable Sitsofe Koku Aidam , Richard Opoku , Eunice Akyereko Adjei , Francis Davis , David Kofi Oppong , Amos Narh
Hybrid-electric propulsion systems are being explored as a promising way to improve the environmental performance of regional aircraft. This paper examines the potential for retrofitting hybrid-electric propulsion systems into existing regional aircraft, aiming to improve sustainability and efficiency in regional aviation. By integrating electric powertrains with traditional combustion engines, the study highlights advancements in power distribution across different flight phases and considers alternative energy storage solutions such as supercapacitors, fuel cells, and SAF-based systems. The paper addresses technical and operational challenges, including power density, system weight, and regulatory hurdles, while exploring the potential benefits of reduced fuel consumption and emissions. Studies have shown that hybrid electric propulsion has a potential emission reduction of 10–60 %, depending on the flight mission and hybrid configuration, with a retrofitted parallel configuration achieving 17.6 % fuel savings. The study emphasizes the importance of a collaborative approach to research and development, promoting a pathway for achieving substantial environmental benefits in regional air travel.
{"title":"Hybrid-electric propulsion retrofits in regional aviation – A review","authors":"God’sable Sitsofe Koku Aidam , Richard Opoku , Eunice Akyereko Adjei , Francis Davis , David Kofi Oppong , Amos Narh","doi":"10.1016/j.nxsust.2026.100250","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.nxsust.2026.100250","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Hybrid-electric propulsion systems are being explored as a promising way to improve the environmental performance of regional aircraft. This paper examines the potential for retrofitting hybrid-electric propulsion systems into existing regional aircraft, aiming to improve sustainability and efficiency in regional aviation. By integrating electric powertrains with traditional combustion engines, the study highlights advancements in power distribution across different flight phases and considers alternative energy storage solutions such as supercapacitors, fuel cells, and SAF-based systems. The paper addresses technical and operational challenges, including power density, system weight, and regulatory hurdles, while exploring the potential benefits of reduced fuel consumption and emissions. Studies have shown that hybrid electric propulsion has a potential emission reduction of 10–60 %, depending on the flight mission and hybrid configuration, with a retrofitted parallel configuration achieving 17.6 % fuel savings. The study emphasizes the importance of a collaborative approach to research and development, promoting a pathway for achieving substantial environmental benefits in regional air travel.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100960,"journal":{"name":"Next Sustainability","volume":"7 ","pages":"Article 100250"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146037960","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-14DOI: 10.1016/j.nxsust.2026.100247
Anil Kumar Vinayak, Garima Chauhan
Polyethylene (PE) is the most widely produced plastic worldwide, yet remains among the least effectively recycled, highlighting a persistent gap between production volume and material circularity. This review addresses three central questions: (i) which structural and systemic constraints most strongly limit PE circularity across its life cycle, (ii) how these constraints interact to influence recyclate quality and material flows, and (iii) to what extent existing recycling strategies respond to these constraints in practice. The review integrates peer-reviewed literature and open-access policy and technical reports published between 2000 and 2025 with emphasis on studies after 2020, focusing on PE-specific material properties, additive systems, degradation behavior, recycling performance, and governance structures. Studies were included if they explicitly addressed PE and provided empirical, technical, or policy-relevant insights into one or more of these constraint domains. Using a systematic constraint-mapping methodology, six interdependent technical, economic, regulatory, and behavioral constraints were identified that collectively limit recyclate quality, restrict closed-loop applications, and reinforce persistent downcycling. Recycling technologies were evaluated both on technical performance and their capacity to function under these systemic constraints. The findings demonstrate that restricted circularity is driven less by technological gaps than by misalignment between polymer design, additive complexity, market incentives, and policy frameworks. These insights have direct practical and policy relevance, highlighting the need for quality-oriented recycling metrics, harmonized regulations, and design-for-recycling strategies. A focused case study of Alberta, Canada, illustrates how regional infrastructure, regulatory conditions, and investment patterns shape practical recycling performance and reinforce the importance of context-sensitive circular economy interventions.
{"title":"Circularity in polyethylene waste management through multidimensional integration","authors":"Anil Kumar Vinayak, Garima Chauhan","doi":"10.1016/j.nxsust.2026.100247","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.nxsust.2026.100247","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Polyethylene (PE) is the most widely produced plastic worldwide, yet remains among the least effectively recycled, highlighting a persistent gap between production volume and material circularity. This review addresses three central questions: (i) which structural and systemic constraints most strongly limit PE circularity across its life cycle, (ii) how these constraints interact to influence recyclate quality and material flows, and (iii) to what extent existing recycling strategies respond to these constraints in practice. The review integrates peer-reviewed literature and open-access policy and technical reports published between 2000 and 2025 with emphasis on studies after 2020, focusing on PE-specific material properties, additive systems, degradation behavior, recycling performance, and governance structures. Studies were included if they explicitly addressed PE and provided empirical, technical, or policy-relevant insights into one or more of these constraint domains. Using a systematic constraint-mapping methodology, six interdependent technical, economic, regulatory, and behavioral constraints were identified that collectively limit recyclate quality, restrict closed-loop applications, and reinforce persistent downcycling. Recycling technologies were evaluated both on technical performance and their capacity to function under these systemic constraints. The findings demonstrate that restricted circularity is driven less by technological gaps than by misalignment between polymer design, additive complexity, market incentives, and policy frameworks. These insights have direct practical and policy relevance, highlighting the need for quality-oriented recycling metrics, harmonized regulations, and design-for-recycling strategies. A focused case study of Alberta, Canada, illustrates how regional infrastructure, regulatory conditions, and investment patterns shape practical recycling performance and reinforce the importance of context-sensitive circular economy interventions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100960,"journal":{"name":"Next Sustainability","volume":"7 ","pages":"Article 100247"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145976985","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-09DOI: 10.1016/j.nxsust.2026.100246
Samuel Adjei-Nimoh , Eugene Appiah-Effah , Kofi Akodwaa-Boadi , Barbara Gyapong-Korsah
In the context of water scarcity and the post-COVID-19 pandemic, treating greywater from handwashing stations for reuse is essential and climate-resilient. This study evaluated sand and gravel filters with passive chlorination for greywater treatment. Greywater from a standalone handwashing station at Ejisu, Ghana, was collected as influent. Influent and filtrates were analysed for physico-chemical and microbial quality using American Public Health Association (APHA) and HACH protocols. Setups I and II, utilising sand media, effectively improved the physico-chemical quality and pathogen removal. Significant differences in filtrate quality were observed for BOD5, nitrate, turbidity, and COD removal (p < 0.05) across all treatment setups. Post-treatment analysis revealed phosphate concentrations in the filtrates of Setups I, II, and the control were all within regulatory limits. Filter run time was estimated as 44 days for Setup I, 45 days for Setup II, and 53 days for the control (Setup III). A paired-sample t-test indicated a significant difference in flow rates and filter run times across all treatment setups. Treated water from Setup I was the most suitable for handwashing, highlighting the effectiveness of low-cost greywater treatment technologies and the importance of media selection and system design. Its simplicity makes it ideal for schools, healthcare facilities, informal settlements, and during WASH emergencies. To scale-up the technology, modular designs, locally sourced materials, and community training for operation and maintenance should be prioritised.
{"title":"Design and evaluation of a scalable decentralised greywater treatment technology for reuse, towards climate and WASH resilient urban communities","authors":"Samuel Adjei-Nimoh , Eugene Appiah-Effah , Kofi Akodwaa-Boadi , Barbara Gyapong-Korsah","doi":"10.1016/j.nxsust.2026.100246","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.nxsust.2026.100246","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In the context of water scarcity and the post-COVID-19 pandemic, treating greywater from handwashing stations for reuse is essential and climate-resilient. This study evaluated sand and gravel filters with passive chlorination for greywater treatment. Greywater from a standalone handwashing station at Ejisu, Ghana, was collected as influent. Influent and filtrates were analysed for physico-chemical and microbial quality using American Public Health Association (APHA) and HACH protocols. Setups I and II, utilising sand media, effectively improved the physico-chemical quality and pathogen removal. Significant differences in filtrate quality were observed for BOD<sub>5</sub>, nitrate, turbidity, and COD removal (p < 0.05) across all treatment setups. Post-treatment analysis revealed phosphate concentrations in the filtrates of Setups I, II, and the control were all within regulatory limits. Filter run time was estimated as 44 days for Setup I, 45 days for Setup II, and 53 days for the control (Setup III). A paired-sample t-test indicated a significant difference in flow rates and filter run times across all treatment setups. Treated water from Setup I was the most suitable for handwashing, highlighting the effectiveness of low-cost greywater treatment technologies and the importance of media selection and system design. Its simplicity makes it ideal for schools, healthcare facilities, informal settlements, and during WASH emergencies. To scale-up the technology, modular designs, locally sourced materials, and community training for operation and maintenance should be prioritised.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100960,"journal":{"name":"Next Sustainability","volume":"7 ","pages":"Article 100246"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145938877","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-08DOI: 10.1016/j.nxsust.2025.100239
Afi Laeticia Awaga, Yan Yan, Wei Xu, Xin Ji
Environmental management has become one of the most critical components of port operations worldwide as seaports go green. This study, therefore, employed the super-efficiency SBM-DEA (Slack-Based Measure Data Envelopment Analysis) model and the Malmquist productivity index to assess the green operational efficiency of seven major container ports in West Africa in the context of sustainable development. In addition to being part of the Belt and Road program, the container ports were chosen due to their significance in promoting international trade in West Africa. Quay length, labor population, terminal area, and energy consumption are input indicators. On the other hand, container throughput, sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions, particulate matter (PM2.5), carbon dioxide (CO2), phytoplankton biodiversity, Leq24, and petroleum hydrocarbons are among the output indicators. These indicators reflect the economic, operational, social, ecological, and environmental components of sustainable port operations. The analysis's findings indicate that, in terms of green operational efficiency, four of the seven container ports are efficient, while three are inefficient. Phytoplankton biodiversity (PP), energy consumption, terminal area, petroleum hydrocarbon (PH), Leq24, container throughput, and SO2 emissions are some elements that impact inefficient ports. Moreover, it has been demonstrated that low levels of technical efficiency, pure technical efficiency, and scale efficiency over the study time impede the increase in the total factor productivity of container ports' green operational efficiency. To tackle these problems, investing in green infrastructure, implementing energy-efficient technologies, and investing in green technologies are recommended.
{"title":"Evaluating green operational efficiency of West African container ports along the belt and road initiative using super-efficiency SBM-DEA and Malmquist productivity index","authors":"Afi Laeticia Awaga, Yan Yan, Wei Xu, Xin Ji","doi":"10.1016/j.nxsust.2025.100239","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.nxsust.2025.100239","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Environmental management has become one of the most critical components of port operations worldwide as seaports go green. This study, therefore, employed the super-efficiency SBM-DEA (Slack-Based Measure Data Envelopment Analysis) model and the Malmquist productivity index to assess the green operational efficiency of seven major container ports in West Africa in the context of sustainable development. In addition to being part of the Belt and Road program, the container ports were chosen due to their significance in promoting international trade in West Africa. Quay length, labor population, terminal area, and energy consumption are input indicators. On the other hand, container throughput, sulfur dioxide (SO<sub>2</sub>) emissions, particulate matter (PM2.5), carbon dioxide (CO<sub>2</sub>), phytoplankton biodiversity, Leq24, and petroleum hydrocarbons are among the output indicators. These indicators reflect the economic, operational, social, ecological, and environmental components of sustainable port operations. The analysis's findings indicate that, in terms of green operational efficiency, four of the seven container ports are efficient, while three are inefficient. Phytoplankton biodiversity (PP), energy consumption, terminal area, petroleum hydrocarbon (PH), Leq24, container throughput, and SO2 emissions are some elements that impact inefficient ports. Moreover, it has been demonstrated that low levels of technical efficiency, pure technical efficiency, and scale efficiency over the study time impede the increase in the total factor productivity of container ports' green operational efficiency. To tackle these problems, investing in green infrastructure, implementing energy-efficient technologies, and investing in green technologies are recommended.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100960,"journal":{"name":"Next Sustainability","volume":"7 ","pages":"Article 100239"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145938944","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-03DOI: 10.1016/j.nxsust.2025.100244
A.O. Fajingbesi , A. Lateef , L. Azeez , D. Mishra
This research reports biosynthesis of AgNPs using pomegranate peel extract and the mechanism of synthesis for potential applications in controlling insects and microbial contamination in stored foods. AgNPs was characterized by UV-Vis spectrophotometry, FTIR, GC-MS, XRD, SEM and HRTEM. The extract successfully synthesized spherical-shaped AgNPs with maximum absorbance at 418 nm and sizes of 7–30 nm. The GC-MS analysis showed several phytochemicals found in the extract and colloidal AgNPs with antimicrobial, insecticidal, antiviral, anticancer and antioxidant potentials. The GC-MS chromatogram of AgNPs showed formation of new compounds which could have been formed through nanocatalysis of the components of the peel extract and may represent new clues about the phytochemical fingerprints of biosynthesized nanoparticles. The synthesized nanoparticles exhibited potent antibacterial activities against multidrug resistant Escherichia coli, Bacillus licheniformis, B. subtilis, Proteus mirabilis, Klebsiella oxytoca and B. megaterium with MIC of 60 µg/ml, and antifungal activities of 78.51–80.95 % against Aspergillus niger, A. fumigatus, A. flavus and Fusarium solani at 100 µg/ml. Exposure to AgNPs triggered leaching of DNA and proteins from the bacterial cells. The AgNPs also killed bean weevils (40–90 %), and could therefore be exploited in combating spoilage caused by microorganisms and insects in food products. Herein, we report for the first time, that AgNPs-functionalized jute sack exhibited 100 % antifungal activities at AgNPs inclusion levels of 25–42.5 µg/ml and anti-weevil activity of 90 % at 25 µg/ml compared to inactivity by the non-functionalized sacks. These results highlight the potential roles of the biosynthesized AgNPs in enhancing public health, food safety and security.
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