Environmental Progress & Sustainable Energy最新文献

The diffusion of solar energy systems in urban areas is often slow, especially in Southeast European countries, where social acceptance is critical. Unlike wind energy, there is less research on the social acceptance of solar energy, a form of energy with a high socio-political acceptance. This study explores the social acceptance of solar energy technologies by households in Istanbul, which accounts for 10% of Turkey's greenhouse gas emissions and aims to transition into a greener city. A social acceptance framework, rooted in psychological theories and existing literature, guided the study. The primary data on attitudes toward the acceptance of solar energy technologies, perceived behavioral control, social norms, and factors based on personal norms were collected in person from households. Multiple linear regression analysis identified significant predictors of the acceptability of solar energy systems. Social norms, perceived cost, perceived risk, perceived benefit, and climate change were significant predictors of social acceptance. Social norms had the highest positive impact and perceived cost had the highest negative impact on the social acceptance of solar energy technologies. Our findings suggest that while renewable energy policy should focus on the cost and macro-economic context, it should not ignore the importance of social norms.

Selecting optimal materials and construction methods is vital for sustainable infrastructure. This review explores how integrating Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) methods Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS), and Fuzzy Logic with Building Information Modeling (BIM) enhances decision-making in Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM)-based additive manufacturing. Unlike earlier reviews that treat BIM, Additive Manufacturing (AM), or MCDM separately, this work uniquely examines AI-augmented MCDM models driven by real-time BIM data, improving lifecycle assessment and sustainability. Recent case studies report material waste reductions of 30%–40%, surface quality improvements of 10%–30%, and labor cost savings of 15%–25% using these integrated approaches. We also discuss interoperability solutions like IFC-AM extensions and middleware that bridge BIM and AM tools. By comparing MCDM methods and highlighting empirical benefits, this review provides practical insights and outlines future research directions to advance digital, resource-efficient, and low-carbon construction.

This study addresses the dual challenge of waste management and sustainable energy by investigating the utilization of sanitary-waste-derived syngas in a dual-fuel Reactivity-Controlled Compression Ignition (RCCI) engine. Sanitary waste, co-gasified with CO₂, produces hydrogen-rich syngas, offering a novel route for both waste valorization and partial diesel displacement. The engine was operated under varying load conditions using different diesel-syngas injection strategies (DS2–DS10), with syngas port-injected and diesel directly injected. A combined energy and exergy analysis was performed to evaluate combustion behavior, emission characteristics, entropy generation, and the sustainability index. The results revealed that the DS2 blend (2 ms syngas injection) delivered the most balanced performance, achieving only a 4.1% reduction in exergy efficiency compared to diesel while limiting exergy destruction and entropy generation. Higher syngas fractions such as DS10 degraded performance, leading to an 18.45% drop in exergy efficiency and a 36.26% increase in entropy generation. Compared to diesel, DS2 showed minor losses in BTE (4.68%) and exhaust energy (3.72%) but enabled a net improvement in environmental sustainability metrics. The novelty of this work lies in demonstrating the viability of sanitary-waste syngas as a co-fuel in RCCI mode, supported by integrated thermodynamic and sustainability assessments, extending beyond conventional biomass syngas applications by addressing the energy-exergy trade-offs of hydrogen-rich waste-derived fuels.

Fly ash is one of the most troublesome industrial solid wastes in China, and the large amounts stockpiled in many regions urgently need value-added utilization. Owing to its honeycomb structure and high surface area, fly ash shows potential as a water treatment material. However, the commonly used ceramic-particle preparation process suffers from high energy consumption and low porosity. This study explored the process optimization of foamed fly ash filler, aiming to develop a non-sintered, porous substrate for water treatment. The results showed that using a certain power plant's fly ash as the raw material, with a ratio of 70% fly ash, 30% cement, and a 60% water to cement ratio, animal protein was used as the foaming agent; the foamed fly ash filler had the best performance. Its apparent density was 762.8 kg/m³, specific surface area was 8.75 m²/g, 1-hour water absorption rate was 37.25%, and the combined crushing and wear rate was 4.23%. In nitrogen and phosphorus adsorption tests, the non-sintered filler achieved removal rates of 66.58% for phosphorus and 52.59% for ammonia nitrogen, outperforming the commonly used substrates of sintered ceramic particles and natural quartz sand. The non-sintering route can promote large-scale resource utilization of fly ash and deliver environmental benefits by reducing waste and energy use.

Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) are prominent green energy sources that generate power 50%–60% more efficiently than internal combustion engines. They emit only heat and water, avoiding carbon emissions, but their operating temperatures are limited by membrane hydration, flooding prevention, and material deterioration. A good heat management system boosts PEMFC's performance and flexibility. Most systems use air cooling under 2 kW and liquid cooling beyond 5 kW. Conventional air- and liquid-cooled systems have parasitic power, cost, maintenance, leakage, reliability, and portability concerns. We aim to solve air- and liquid-cooled system problems with innovative passive and hybrid solutions. This study explores innovative thermal management systems (TMS) like heat pipes, heat spreaders, PCMs, metal foam thermal management, microchannel heat sinks, and integrated cooling technologies for mid-range power applications (10–100 W and up). The presented work articulates both active and passive cooling systems in detail, followed by phase change materials (PCMs) and metal foam-based cooling systems. Thermal management systems incorporating PCMs minimize coolant pump requirements, improve water removal, and distribute reactants. PCMs cause system design, flow instability, working fluid leaks, and durability concerns. On the other hand, metal foam flow fields improve PEMFC performance over other cooling systems, but their pressure dips, humidity balance, electrolyte dehydration, and complexity make them challenging to deploy. Hybrid nanofluids, PCMs, metal foams, and hybrid cooling systems may increase application-specific cooling. This report advises more investigation in these areas. Understanding PEMFC thermal dynamics enhances system efficiency and longevity, enabling fuel cell commercialization and mainstream use.

Due to their multiple properties, including flexibility, lightness, and strength, thermoplastics are an essential material in the development of processes at both industrial and domestic levels. However, thermoplastics are often derived from polymers synthesized using non-renewable petroleum resources. This has environmental consequences. The following research is proposed as the first environmental and economic impact evaluation of the extrusion and molding process of polypropylene (PP) generated by an industrial site for monobloc plastic chair production, through a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Cost Analysis (CA) methodology. The analysis was conducted using SimaPro v10.1 software, Ecoinvent v3.10 database, and ReCiPe 2016 v1.07 impact assessment method. This study proposes multiple mitigative scenarios applicable to reduce the business-as-usual impact. Primary data was collected in 2024. The results show a significant environmental impact reduction caused by the substitution of the virgin PP with the recycled PP (−39%), a lower one generated by the substitution of the Italian country energy mix with the adoption of renewable energy sources (−12%), and a global added reduction obtained summarizing the two alternatives (−55%). The economic impacts are, instead, slightly influenced by the change in input raw materials, due to similar market costs. However, the cost reductions associated with the change in energetic source can be considered not negligible, excluding the plant design and commissioning costs. This research provides decision-makers with valuable guidance for implementing PP production plants, promoting sustainability and a circular economy. Advancing these prerogatives supports the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDGs 3, 11, and 13.

Biodiesel derived from Jatropha curcas presents a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels due to its non-edible nature and suitability for marginal lands. To improve both yield and environmental performance, this study investigates an innovative two-step ultrasound-assisted biodiesel production process combined with Taguchi optimization. Key parameters including oil-to-methanol molar ratio, reaction time, and catalyst dosage were optimized using the Taguchi method, while a laboratory-scale Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) was conducted using the ReCiPe Midpoint 2016 method. Under optimized reaction conditions, a biodiesel yield of 91.2% was achieved, with a methyl ester content of 97.8%, satisfying EN 14214 standards. LCA results revealed that the transesterification step was the main contributor to environmental impacts, notably climate change and toxicity. This study highlights a scalable and environmentally friendly approach to biodiesel production, aligning with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and 13 (Climate Action).

The atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) concentration has reached its elevated peak, a severe threat to the world. Post-combustion CO₂ capture is the most crucial method to mitigate CO₂ emissions. Recently, the biomass-based adsorbent used in the adsorption technique has grabbed the great attention of the scientific communities. The adsorbent-packed post-combustion carbon capture unit can easily integrate with the existing working system without affecting efficiency. In the present research study, an experimental investigation has been conducted on biomass-derived adsorbent to explore the feasibility of CO₂ adsorption performance from the exhaust of a compression ignition (CI) engine. As a first step, rice husk is chosen as a suitable raw material to produce activated carbon using simultaneous carbonization and activation. As a second step, the prepared activated carbon material is subjected to distinctive characterization and analytical approaches to determine its surface aspects and physical and chemical characteristics. As a third step, the sample is loaded in-built of the capture unit and connected to the system. The main findings of the experimental test results are compared using the adsorbent capture efficacy with two distinct test fuels employed in the CI engine. The experimental outcomes show that the maximum CO₂ adsorption is achieved by about 24% and 28% for D2 quality diesel and Jatropha methyl ester biodiesel fuel operations, respectively, at normal operating conditions.

The ever-increasing global food requirement, food waste and loss, climate change, and energy and food insecurities have forced researchers around the world to think about sustainable development. This study has been designed to test a novel air cavity enabled renewably powered domestic solar dryer (DSD) for potato slices drying under natural convection (NC) and forced convection (FC) modes. The effect of potato slice thicknesses (3, 4, and 5 mm) on the performance of the DSD under NC and FC modes has also been presented. The average final moisture content of potato slices was 6.43% and 11.2% (wb) under NC and FC modes, respectively. The drying behavior of potato slice samples was found to be in accordance with the Midilli-Kucuk model. The total cost and embodied energy of the DSD under NC and FC modes were found to be INR 1557.14 ($18.68) and 126.84 kWh, and INR 1788.14 ($21.45) and 157.87 kWh, respectively. Drying rate, effective moisture diffusivity, heat transfer coefficients, thermal and exergy efficiencies were higher for 4 mm thick potato slice samples drying under both modes. The performance of the DSD under NC mode was found to be more desirable for potato slice samples drying.

This study examines the impact of gender inequality (GIQ) on energy poverty (EP) across Southeast Asia (SA), Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), and European Union (EU) countries over the period 2000–2020 using the Panel Mean Group (PMG) estimation method. The findings reveal that a 1% increase in GIQ leads to a 1.09% rise in EP in SA and a 0.14% increase in SSA, while in the EU, GIQ significantly mitigates EP. Renewable energy consumption (REN) has a strong negative effect on EP, particularly in SA (−0.66%). Additionally, economic development exhibits a non-linear relationship with EP, where early growth phases may exacerbate deprivation before reversing at higher income levels. These results highlight that gender disparities, even when moderated by economic and energy policy factors, remain a critical determinant of energy access outcomes. Policymakers are urged to adopt gender-sensitive energy strategies, enhance women's inclusion in energy governance, and increase investments in renewable infrastructure to bridge access gaps and promote inclusive development.