Pub Date : 2026-01-26DOI: 10.1016/j.clet.2026.101155
Yutong Jiang , Chenghua Zhang , Kaiwen Feng , Zhihui Zheng , Jing Yan , Hairong Wang , Lei Lan , Hailiang Lu
Accurate carbon accounting is essential for equitable global carbon trading, particularly in energy-intensive industries. Existing online monitoring systems enable real-time tracking of flue gas parameters but are often hindered by high costs and low accuracy. To address these challenges, this study proposes a carbon emission monitoring method based on the average flow velocity across the flue cross-section. Simulation results indicate that positioning sensors within the central 0.375D to 0.625D region (where D is the flue diameter) minimizes radial velocity deviations and improves measurement uniformity. A customized laboratory platform validated the proposed method, achieving a 5 % average error between measured and actual emissions. Field verification in a cement plant further demonstrated a relative error of 3.58 % compared with the traditional equal-area method. This method significantly reduces the number of required flow sensors while maintaining comparable accuracy, offering a cost-effective and reliable solution for industrial carbon emission monitoring.
{"title":"A carbon emission monitoring method based on the average velocity across flue cross-sections","authors":"Yutong Jiang , Chenghua Zhang , Kaiwen Feng , Zhihui Zheng , Jing Yan , Hairong Wang , Lei Lan , Hailiang Lu","doi":"10.1016/j.clet.2026.101155","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.clet.2026.101155","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Accurate carbon accounting is essential for equitable global carbon trading, particularly in energy-intensive industries. Existing online monitoring systems enable real-time tracking of flue gas parameters but are often hindered by high costs and low accuracy. To address these challenges, this study proposes a carbon emission monitoring method based on the average flow velocity across the flue cross-section. Simulation results indicate that positioning sensors within the central 0.375D to 0.625D region (where D is the flue diameter) minimizes radial velocity deviations and improves measurement uniformity. A customized laboratory platform validated the proposed method, achieving a 5 % average error between measured and actual emissions. Field verification in a cement plant further demonstrated a relative error of 3.58 % compared with the traditional equal-area method. This method significantly reduces the number of required flow sensors while maintaining comparable accuracy, offering a cost-effective and reliable solution for industrial carbon emission monitoring.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34618,"journal":{"name":"Cleaner Engineering and Technology","volume":"31 ","pages":"Article 101155"},"PeriodicalIF":6.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146090680","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 : 2026-01-21DOI: 10.1016/j.clet.2026.101153
Gurbir Kaur , José María Fernández , Íñigo Navarro-Blasco , Sara Pavia , José Ignacio Álvarez
This study explores the recycling of red mud (RM), an iron-rich and highly alkaline residue from the Bayer alumina refining process, as a partial substitute for cement and its valorisation as a low-cost multifunctional photocatalyst within cementitious composites. RM was incorporated as a partial cement substitute (≤15 wt%) in mortars in both oven-dried and thermally treated forms (300 °C and 600 °C), and its effect on hydration, workability, strength, microstructure, leaching behaviour, and embodied CO2 emissions was assessed. The photocatalytic activity of RM mortars was examined through nitrogen oxide (NOx) abatement under solar and visible light irradiation. The role of RM in modulating light absorption and its impact on the photocatalytic efficiency of titanium dioxide (TiO2)-coated mortars was also assessed. Regardless of RM type, partial substitution up to 10 % maintained early-age strength comparable to control mix, whereas higher replacement levels reduced long-term mechanical performance due to limited pozzolanic activity of RM and increased macroporosity of matrix. RM incorporation enhanced photocatalytic efficiency, achieving >8 % NOx removal, fulfilling Class 3 air-purification criteria. TiO2 coated RM samples showed 51 % higher visible-light NOx abatement than control, attributed to strong interactions between TiO2 and RM's hematite phase. Environmental safety was confirmed by >99 % immobilisation of trace elements and controlled alkali release. Moreover, 15 % RM substitution reduced CO2 emissions (∼12 %), costs (∼7 %), and life-cycle costs (∼3.5 %), emphasising its dual environmental and economic advantages. Collectively, these findings highlight RM as a high-value additive that couples waste valorisation with photocatalytic air-pollution mitigation, offering a scalable route toward greener construction materials.
{"title":"Photoreactive red mud cementitious composites for environmental remediation","authors":"Gurbir Kaur , José María Fernández , Íñigo Navarro-Blasco , Sara Pavia , José Ignacio Álvarez","doi":"10.1016/j.clet.2026.101153","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.clet.2026.101153","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study explores the recycling of red mud (RM), an iron-rich and highly alkaline residue from the Bayer alumina refining process, as a partial substitute for cement and its valorisation as a low-cost multifunctional photocatalyst within cementitious composites. RM was incorporated as a partial cement substitute (≤15 wt%) in mortars in both oven-dried and thermally treated forms (300 °C and 600 °C), and its effect on hydration, workability, strength, microstructure, leaching behaviour, and embodied CO<sub>2</sub> emissions was assessed. The photocatalytic activity of RM mortars was examined through nitrogen oxide (NO<sub>x</sub>) abatement under solar and visible light irradiation. The role of RM in modulating light absorption and its impact on the photocatalytic efficiency of titanium dioxide (TiO<sub>2</sub>)-coated mortars was also assessed. Regardless of RM type, partial substitution up to 10 % maintained early-age strength comparable to control mix, whereas higher replacement levels reduced long-term mechanical performance due to limited pozzolanic activity of RM and increased macroporosity of matrix. RM incorporation enhanced photocatalytic efficiency, achieving >8 % NO<sub>x</sub> removal, fulfilling Class 3 air-purification criteria. TiO<sub>2</sub> coated RM samples showed 51 % higher visible-light NO<sub>x</sub> abatement than control, attributed to strong interactions between TiO<sub>2</sub> and RM's hematite phase. Environmental safety was confirmed by >99 % immobilisation of trace elements and controlled alkali release. Moreover, 15 % RM substitution reduced CO<sub>2</sub> emissions (∼12 %), costs (∼7 %), and life-cycle costs (∼3.5 %), emphasising its dual environmental and economic advantages. Collectively, these findings highlight RM as a high-value additive that couples waste valorisation with photocatalytic air-pollution mitigation, offering a scalable route toward greener construction materials.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34618,"journal":{"name":"Cleaner Engineering and Technology","volume":"30 ","pages":"Article 101153"},"PeriodicalIF":6.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146022633","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 : 2026-01-20DOI: 10.1016/j.clet.2026.101154
Abdullah Miah, Md Jahidul Islam
Rapid urbanization and global population growth lead to a rise in plastic waste (PW) worldwide, making recycling a global challenge. A sustainable approach using PW in concrete industry may minimize the adverse effects. Integration of PW in concrete impacts mechanical performance, particularly compressive strength (CS). In addition, identifying the exact contribution of plastic remains difficult, particularly due to its heterogeneous characteristic and complex interactions within the concrete matrix. Hence, this study provides a comprehensive machine learning (ML) technique to predict the CS of plastic aggregate concrete (PAC). Considering this, a wide range of datasets comprising 612 experimental test outcomes was compiled from 74 literature sources. Seventeen widely adopted ML models including linear, tree-based, ensemble, and neural network algorithms were developed using eight influential input parameters. Among all models, MLPNN outperformed showing highest accuracy (R2 = 0.826), with more than 75% of training and 70% of testing predictions falling within a minor error range. The narrow 95% Confidence Interval of ±0.9928 MPa further demonstrates low prediction variability. The sensitivity analyses using SHAP, ICE, and feature importance reported that dry unit weight, W/C ratio, and plastic aggregate (PA) addition are most impactful parameters. Results show that PA replacement up to 5% can maintain or slightly enhance CS, whereas higher additions (up to 20%) may reduce strength by around 5 MPa. This investigation offers a sustainable approach to concrete design using PW with the help of ML, which can be further enhanced through a GUI-based practical application and utilized by designers for PAC.
{"title":"Plastic waste in concrete: Data-driven insights into strength behavior","authors":"Abdullah Miah, Md Jahidul Islam","doi":"10.1016/j.clet.2026.101154","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.clet.2026.101154","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Rapid urbanization and global population growth lead to a rise in plastic waste (PW) worldwide, making recycling a global challenge. A sustainable approach using PW in concrete industry may minimize the adverse effects. Integration of PW in concrete impacts mechanical performance, particularly compressive strength (CS). In addition, identifying the exact contribution of plastic remains difficult, particularly due to its heterogeneous characteristic and complex interactions within the concrete matrix. Hence, this study provides a comprehensive machine learning (ML) technique to predict the CS of plastic aggregate concrete (PAC). Considering this, a wide range of datasets comprising 612 experimental test outcomes was compiled from 74 literature sources. Seventeen widely adopted ML models including linear, tree-based, ensemble, and neural network algorithms were developed using eight influential input parameters. Among all models, MLPNN outperformed showing highest accuracy (R<sup>2</sup> = 0.826), with more than 75% of training and 70% of testing predictions falling within a minor error range. The narrow 95% Confidence Interval of ±0.9928 MPa further demonstrates low prediction variability. The sensitivity analyses using SHAP, ICE, and feature importance reported that dry unit weight, W/C ratio, and plastic aggregate (PA) addition are most impactful parameters. Results show that PA replacement up to 5% can maintain or slightly enhance CS, whereas higher additions (up to 20%) may reduce strength by around 5 MPa. This investigation offers a sustainable approach to concrete design using PW with the help of ML, which can be further enhanced through a GUI-based practical application and utilized by designers for PAC.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34618,"journal":{"name":"Cleaner Engineering and Technology","volume":"30 ","pages":"Article 101154"},"PeriodicalIF":6.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146022707","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.clet.2026.101152
Qiaohui Peng , Haibo Meng , Yi Liu , Nannan Wu , Na Duan , Dongdong Zhang
Bamboo waste is an abundant renewable biomass, yet its direct use as fuel is limited by high moisture and low calorific value. Developing efficient valorization strategies is therefore essential for sustainable energy and environmental applications. This study aimed to evaluate superheated steam (SHS) torrefaction as a dual-purpose approach to upgrade bamboo waste into solid biofuel and cationic dye adsorbent. Bamboo waste was torrefied at 200–300 °C for 15–60 min. The solid products were characterized for physicochemical and fuel properties, as well as adsorption performance. The most severe treatment (300 °C, 60 min) yields biomass with the lowest weight yield of 41.25 wt% and HHV (28.72 MJ/kg) similar to coal, while a milder condition (300 °C, 15 min) balanced energy yield and combustion performance, making it suitable as a direct fuel. On the other hand, torrefied bamboo obtained under moderate conditions (250 °C, 15 min) exhibited abundant oxygen-containing functional groups and achieved a maximum adsorption capacity of 118.7 mg/g for methylene blue. These findings suggest that SHS torrefaction efficiently upgrades bamboo waste into high-quality biochar with potential applications in affordable energy and chemisorption-driven cationic pollutant removal.
{"title":"Dual valorization of bamboo waste via superheated steam torrefaction: Efficient bioenergy production and pollutant adsorption","authors":"Qiaohui Peng , Haibo Meng , Yi Liu , Nannan Wu , Na Duan , Dongdong Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.clet.2026.101152","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.clet.2026.101152","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Bamboo waste is an abundant renewable biomass, yet its direct use as fuel is limited by high moisture and low calorific value. Developing efficient valorization strategies is therefore essential for sustainable energy and environmental applications. This study aimed to evaluate superheated steam (SHS) torrefaction as a dual-purpose approach to upgrade bamboo waste into solid biofuel and cationic dye adsorbent. Bamboo waste was torrefied at 200–300 °C for 15–60 min. The solid products were characterized for physicochemical and fuel properties, as well as adsorption performance. The most severe treatment (300 °C, 60 min) yields biomass with the lowest weight yield of 41.25 wt% and HHV (28.72 MJ/kg) similar to coal, while a milder condition (300 °C, 15 min) balanced energy yield and combustion performance, making it suitable as a direct fuel. On the other hand, torrefied bamboo obtained under moderate conditions (250 °C, 15 min) exhibited abundant oxygen-containing functional groups and achieved a maximum adsorption capacity of 118.7 mg/g for methylene blue. These findings suggest that SHS torrefaction efficiently upgrades bamboo waste into high-quality biochar with potential applications in affordable energy and chemisorption-driven cationic pollutant removal.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34618,"journal":{"name":"Cleaner Engineering and Technology","volume":"30 ","pages":"Article 101152"},"PeriodicalIF":6.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146022634","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}
The accelerating pace of urban redevelopment has significantly increased the demand for pile removal, presenting critical challenges in maintaining ground stability and ensuring construction accuracy. This study presents a comprehensive methodology for achieving controlled, uniform strength characteristics in backfilled zones following pile extraction. This methodology combines the simultaneous penetration and injection of a cement-bentonite (CB) slurry with mechanical mixing using an optimized auger system. Through field implementation involving the removal of 350–400 mm diameter, 20 m deep prestressed concrete piles in cohesive clay ground conditions, the methodology achieved a mean unconfined compressive strength of over 100 kN/m2 at 87 % of the sampling locations. Cores sampled 26 days after backfilling and tested 28 days after backfilling achieved a characteristic strength (mean minus one standard deviation) of 85–95 kN/m2 depending on the location. This demonstrates improved uniformity (coefficient of variation 12–19 %). Laboratory mixing tests determined the optimal water-to-cement ratio to be between 500 and 600 percent, based on the pile body-to-perimeter soil ratio. Field validation with 45 new pile installations (1000 mm in diameter) adjacent to backfilled zones maintained positional accuracy within acceptable tolerance limits (≤100 mm). The highest eccentricity values were observed in the approximate 3–8 % overlap range. However, given that only 5 piles exhibited partial overlap, no statistical threshold can be established from this dataset. This observation is purely descriptive and indicative and is intended solely as a practical caution for future projects, not as a validated design criterion. This methodology provides a reliable solution for urban redevelopment projects involving cohesive clay ground conditions, with pile diameters ranging from 350 to 1000 mm and depths up to 20 m. New piles should be installed no earlier than 28 days after backfilling. Long-term performance beyond 90 days remains to be verified.
{"title":"Advanced backfilling technology for maintaining pile installation precision in urban redevelopment","authors":"Haruka Kiyotomo , Yuji Taya , Masahiro Ueda , Shinya Inazumi","doi":"10.1016/j.clet.2026.101150","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.clet.2026.101150","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The accelerating pace of urban redevelopment has significantly increased the demand for pile removal, presenting critical challenges in maintaining ground stability and ensuring construction accuracy. This study presents a comprehensive methodology for achieving controlled, uniform strength characteristics in backfilled zones following pile extraction. This methodology combines the simultaneous penetration and injection of a cement-bentonite (CB) slurry with mechanical mixing using an optimized auger system. Through field implementation involving the removal of 350–400 mm diameter, 20 m deep prestressed concrete piles in cohesive clay ground conditions, the methodology achieved a mean unconfined compressive strength of over 100 kN/m<sup>2</sup> at 87 % of the sampling locations. Cores sampled 26 days after backfilling and tested 28 days after backfilling achieved a characteristic strength (mean minus one standard deviation) of 85–95 kN/m<sup>2</sup> depending on the location. This demonstrates improved uniformity (coefficient of variation 12–19 %). Laboratory mixing tests determined the optimal water-to-cement ratio to be between 500 and 600 percent, based on the pile body-to-perimeter soil ratio. Field validation with 45 new pile installations (1000 mm in diameter) adjacent to backfilled zones maintained positional accuracy within acceptable tolerance limits (≤100 mm). The highest eccentricity values were observed in the approximate 3–8 % overlap range. However, given that only 5 piles exhibited partial overlap, no statistical threshold can be established from this dataset. This observation is purely descriptive and indicative and is intended solely as a practical caution for future projects, not as a validated design criterion. This methodology provides a reliable solution for urban redevelopment projects involving cohesive clay ground conditions, with pile diameters ranging from 350 to 1000 mm and depths up to 20 m. New piles should be installed no earlier than 28 days after backfilling. Long-term performance beyond 90 days remains to be verified.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34618,"journal":{"name":"Cleaner Engineering and Technology","volume":"30 ","pages":"Article 101150"},"PeriodicalIF":6.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145977443","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 : 2026-01-12DOI: 10.1016/j.clet.2026.101149
Sitong Bie , Yang Yang , Haiping Liu , Jie Li , Hongsheng Yang , Xiaotong Qiao
To enhance the photocatalytic performance of titanium dioxide (TiO2) in degrading vehicle emissions on pavement surfaces, this study synthesized reduced graphene oxide-titanium dioxide (rGO-TiO2) composites with varied reduced graphene oxide (rGO) doping ratios via hydrothermal method. The microstructure and optical properties of the composites were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and ultraviolet–visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV–Vis DRS). Results showed that rGO incorporation significantly improved the visible-light utilization and photocatalytic efficiency of TiO2. Targeting cold-region applications, an rGO-TiO2 photocatalytic asphalt mixture and a dedicated vehicle emission degradation test system were developed, with the composite applied as a water-based coating on asphalt specimens. Degradation experiments revealed optimal performance at 5.0 wt% rGO doping and 667 g/m2 coating spray amount. Low-temperature environments notably reduced degradation efficiency for hydrocarbons (HC) and carbon monoxide (CO) but had minimal impact on nitrogen oxides (NO). This research demonstrates the potential of rGO-TiO2 modified materials for developing sustainable, eco-friendly pavements in cold regions.
{"title":"Photocatalytic degradation of vehicle emissions using reduced graphene oxide-titanium dioxide modified pavement materials in cold regions","authors":"Sitong Bie , Yang Yang , Haiping Liu , Jie Li , Hongsheng Yang , Xiaotong Qiao","doi":"10.1016/j.clet.2026.101149","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.clet.2026.101149","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>To enhance the photocatalytic performance of titanium dioxide (TiO<sub>2</sub>) in degrading vehicle emissions on pavement surfaces, this study synthesized reduced graphene oxide-titanium dioxide (rGO-TiO<sub>2</sub>) composites with varied reduced graphene oxide (rGO) doping ratios via hydrothermal method. The microstructure and optical properties of the composites were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and ultraviolet–visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV–Vis DRS). Results showed that rGO incorporation significantly improved the visible-light utilization and photocatalytic efficiency of TiO<sub>2</sub>. Targeting cold-region applications, an rGO-TiO<sub>2</sub> photocatalytic asphalt mixture and a dedicated vehicle emission degradation test system were developed, with the composite applied as a water-based coating on asphalt specimens. Degradation experiments revealed optimal performance at 5.0 wt% rGO doping and 667 g/m<sup>2</sup> coating spray amount. Low-temperature environments notably reduced degradation efficiency for hydrocarbons (HC) and carbon monoxide (CO) but had minimal impact on nitrogen oxides (NO). This research demonstrates the potential of rGO-TiO<sub>2</sub> modified materials for developing sustainable, eco-friendly pavements in cold regions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34618,"journal":{"name":"Cleaner Engineering and Technology","volume":"30 ","pages":"Article 101149"},"PeriodicalIF":6.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145977440","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 : 2026-01-11DOI: 10.1016/j.clet.2026.101148
Jaspreet Kaur , Sibel Irmak
Wrapping materials used for farm animal feeds (e.g., bales) are mostly polyethylene-based plastics which are required to be removed from the bales before feeding the farm animals. Feeding cattle without removing the plastic binding on the bales (grinding bales with wrap) causes serious problems on animal health. In the present study, the bioplastics were developed from low-grade woody biomass and low-value/non-edible proteins (poultry feathers keratin) as main ingredients. The bioplastic formulations were also composed of starch and glycerol in low quantities. The mixture containing biomass/feather ratio of 5/0.9 (w/w) and starch/glycerol ratio of 3.75/1 (w/w) resulted in a good bioplastic. Addition of PVA to the formulation in a small quantity (PVA/starch: 1/20, w/w) improved physical properties of the bioplastics (smoother and more even surface) while decreasing the carbohydrate content (starch or biomass) of the formulations resulted in fragile films. The bioplastics developed were susceptible to degradation in open environmental conditions as having high water absorption (95 %) and high transparency (1.74) values. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) showed that the bioplastics developed were thermally stable until 75 °C and not decomposed until 200 °C. These bioplastics also showed high digestibility in the rumen microbes (>95 %) indicating they are edible and digestible for farm animals. One of the promising bioplastics withstood one year in a barn-like wooden room without considerable changes in its structure and with no degradation. However, this bioplastic completely degraded in 4 months in open environmental conditions.
{"title":"Bioplastics from renewable waste: Safe and edible wrapping materials for farm animal feeds","authors":"Jaspreet Kaur , Sibel Irmak","doi":"10.1016/j.clet.2026.101148","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.clet.2026.101148","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Wrapping materials used for farm animal feeds (e.g., bales) are mostly polyethylene-based plastics which are required to be removed from the bales before feeding the farm animals. Feeding cattle without removing the plastic binding on the bales (grinding bales with wrap) causes serious problems on animal health. In the present study, the bioplastics were developed from low-grade woody biomass and low-value/non-edible proteins (poultry feathers keratin) as main ingredients. The bioplastic formulations were also composed of starch and glycerol in low quantities. The mixture containing biomass/feather ratio of 5/0.9 (w/w) and starch/glycerol ratio of 3.75/1 (w/w) resulted in a good bioplastic. Addition of PVA to the formulation in a small quantity (PVA/starch: 1/20, w/w) improved physical properties of the bioplastics (smoother and more even surface) while decreasing the carbohydrate content (starch or biomass) of the formulations resulted in fragile films. The bioplastics developed were susceptible to degradation in open environmental conditions as having high water absorption (95 %) and high transparency (1.74) values. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) showed that the bioplastics developed were thermally stable until 75 °C and not decomposed until 200 °C. These bioplastics also showed high digestibility in the rumen microbes (>95 %) indicating they are edible and digestible for farm animals. One of the promising bioplastics withstood one year in a barn-like wooden room without considerable changes in its structure and with no degradation. However, this bioplastic completely degraded in 4 months in open environmental conditions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34618,"journal":{"name":"Cleaner Engineering and Technology","volume":"30 ","pages":"Article 101148"},"PeriodicalIF":6.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145977441","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 : 2026-01-10DOI: 10.1016/j.clet.2026.101146
Rihan Efendi , Mehdi Parian , Saeed Chehreh Chelgani
Rising interest in lithium-ion batteries as a key energy-storage option underscores the pressing need to develop recycling approaches that are both environmentally responsible and high-performing, especially for black mass rich in recoverable graphite and cathode active materials (CAMs). Froth flotation is the well-known technique for separating ultrafine CAM particles from graphite. Flotation beneficiation operates on the principle of surface properties, while binders in the batteries complicate the separation process. This study introduces magnetic-assisted flotation (MAGFLO) as a novel and environmentally friendly approach to enhance the flotation-based recycling of blackmass for nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) batteries. The MAGFLO leverages CAMs' magnetic susceptibility and hydrophilicity to improve their separation from non-magnetic and hydrophobic graphite, thereby reducing dependence on thermal/chemical surface modifications. The MAGFLO system was implemented as a retrofit setup, and experiments were conducted using an electromagnet with different setups (voltage: 10, 20, or 30) across various flotation cells (steel and stainless-steel) and configurations. Flotation results indicated that the magnetic properties of CAM particles could enhance their separation from graphite. SEM analysis revealed that fine CAM particles adhered to graphite particles, potentially influencing process efficiency. However, particle entrapment could be minimized by using magnetic field pulsation (the “on/off interval” mode of the electromagnet). The steel cell generally showed a higher separation efficiency with over 90 % CAM recovery. Overall, MAGFLO demonstrated strong potential as a sustainable and scalable approach for future industrial recycling applications.
{"title":"Magnetic-flotation: a sustainable solution for the flotation recycling of batteries’ blackmass","authors":"Rihan Efendi , Mehdi Parian , Saeed Chehreh Chelgani","doi":"10.1016/j.clet.2026.101146","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.clet.2026.101146","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Rising interest in lithium-ion batteries as a key energy-storage option underscores the pressing need to develop recycling approaches that are both environmentally responsible and high-performing, especially for black mass rich in recoverable graphite and cathode active materials (CAMs). Froth flotation is the well-known technique for separating ultrafine CAM particles from graphite. Flotation beneficiation operates on the principle of surface properties, while binders in the batteries complicate the separation process. This study introduces magnetic-assisted flotation (MAGFLO) as a novel and environmentally friendly approach to enhance the flotation-based recycling of blackmass for nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) batteries. The MAGFLO leverages CAMs' magnetic susceptibility and hydrophilicity to improve their separation from non-magnetic and hydrophobic graphite, thereby reducing dependence on thermal/chemical surface modifications. The MAGFLO system was implemented as a retrofit setup, and experiments were conducted using an electromagnet with different setups (voltage: 10, 20, or 30) across various flotation cells (steel and stainless-steel) and configurations. Flotation results indicated that the magnetic properties of CAM particles could enhance their separation from graphite. SEM analysis revealed that fine CAM particles adhered to graphite particles, potentially influencing process efficiency. However, particle entrapment could be minimized by using magnetic field pulsation (the “on/off interval” mode of the electromagnet). The steel cell generally showed a higher separation efficiency with over 90 % CAM recovery. Overall, MAGFLO demonstrated strong potential as a sustainable and scalable approach for future industrial recycling applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34618,"journal":{"name":"Cleaner Engineering and Technology","volume":"30 ","pages":"Article 101146"},"PeriodicalIF":6.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145977438","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.clet.2026.101144
Wenke Wang , Kang Li , Yang Liu , Tao Zheng , Zhiyan Zhou
The green and low-carbon (GL) industry, which has become a strategic industry prioritized by the Chinese government in this era of green transformation, is vital for achieving China's carbon peaking and neutrality goals. To achieve sustainable and healthy development of the GL industry, it is indispensable to improve the efficiency of financial resources and financial market's incentive mechanisms. This paper introduces a comprehensive research framework that combines DEA, Tobit regression, and a SD model to evaluate the financial support efficiency (FSE) of China's GL industry and analyzed the evolutionary trends of various financial factors on FSE. The results reveal that the efficiency of financial resource allocation in the GL industry is not yet optimal, and pure technical efficiency (PTE) is the key factor restricting firms from effectively achieving comprehensive efficiency. The overall FSE demonstrated a slight downward trend, which was predominantly related to the small decline in comprehensive technical efficiency (TE). Bank loans and corporate bond financing negatively impact the FSE of GL firms, whereas equity and internal financing exert a significant positive effect. The study proposes corresponding policy recommendations, including enriching financing channels, improving the internal management of firms, and performing appropriate government functions.
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Pub Date : 2026-01-08DOI: 10.1016/j.clet.2026.101145
Akinwale T. Ogunrinde , Paul Adigun , Dairaku Koji , Xian Xue , Syed Shameer , Salman Zare
This study enhances wind energy resource assessment under climate change by applying a robust bias correction framework to NEX-GDDP-CMIP6 projections for ten wind farm stations across Africa at 150-m hub heights. We assessed wind speed, wind power density, variability, and capacity factor under SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5 scenarios for 2041–2070 and 2071–2100. Model performance shows regional disparities, with higher accuracy in East and Southern Africa (correlations 0.86–0.96) than in North and West Africa (correlations 0.63–0.73). Baseline analysis highlights North Africa's Sahara-Sahel and East Africa's highlands as high-potential regions (6–8 m/s, 100–300 W/m2), while Central and West Africa exhibit lower resources (1–3 m/s, <50 W/m2). Weibull-based bias correction reduces errors to near-zero (±0.017 m/s), achieving correlations above 0.7 and up to 70 % reduction in root mean square error (RMSE), with East African stations showing the greatest error reduction. Future projections indicate significant regional and seasonal variability. East African coastal stations (Lamu, Zanzibar) and selected West African sites project capacity factor increases over 30 % and wind power density gains of 80–90 % under SSP5-8.5, while North African stations face minimal or negative changes. Seasonal trends show West Africa's winter gains (+23.5 % wind speed, +90 % power density) contrasted by autumn declines, and North Africa's summer improvements offset by winter reductions. Wind speed variability decreases at some stations, aiding grid stability, but increases at others, requiring advanced forecasting. Exceptional winter capacity factor gains (>100 %) highlight East and West African potential. This study provides guidance for wind farm site selection, supporting Africa's renewable energy transition.
本研究通过对nex - gdp - cmip6预测应用强大的偏差校正框架，加强了气候变化下的风能资源评估。nex - gdp - cmip6预测为非洲10个风电场站提供了150米枢纽高度。我们评估了2041-2070年和2071-2100年SSP2-4.5和SSP5-8.5情景下的风速、风力密度、变率和容量因子。模型性能显示出区域差异，东非和南部非洲（相关性0.86-0.96）的准确性高于北非和西非（相关性0.63-0.73）。基线分析强调，北非的撒哈拉-萨赫勒地区和东非高地是高潜力地区（6-8米/秒，100-300瓦/平方米），而中非和西非的资源较低（1-3米/秒，50瓦/平方米）。基于威布尔的偏差校正将误差降低到接近于零（±0.017 m/s），实现了高于0.7的相关性，并将均方根误差（RMSE）降低了70%，其中东非站的误差降低幅度最大。未来的预测显示出显著的区域和季节变化。在SSP5-8.5下，东非沿海站（Lamu，桑给巴尔）和选定的西非站点的项目容量系数增加了30%以上，风力发电密度增加了80 - 90%，而北非站的变化很小或为负。季节性趋势显示，西非冬季的增长（+ 23.5%的风速，+ 90%的功率密度）与秋季的下降形成对比，北非夏季的增长被冬季的减少所抵消。风速变异性在一些站点减少，有助于电网的稳定，但在其他站点增加，需要提前预测。冬季运力系数的提高（100%）突出了东非和西非的潜力。本研究为风电场选址提供指导，支持非洲的可再生能源转型。
{"title":"Future wind energy potential for wind farm development in Africa based on bias-corrected NEX-GDDP-CMIP6 wind projections","authors":"Akinwale T. Ogunrinde , Paul Adigun , Dairaku Koji , Xian Xue , Syed Shameer , Salman Zare","doi":"10.1016/j.clet.2026.101145","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.clet.2026.101145","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study enhances wind energy resource assessment under climate change by applying a robust bias correction framework to NEX-GDDP-CMIP6 projections for ten wind farm stations across Africa at 150-m hub heights. We assessed wind speed, wind power density, variability, and capacity factor under SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5 scenarios for 2041–2070 and 2071–2100. Model performance shows regional disparities, with higher accuracy in East and Southern Africa (correlations 0.86–0.96) than in North and West Africa (correlations 0.63–0.73). Baseline analysis highlights North Africa's Sahara-Sahel and East Africa's highlands as high-potential regions (6–8 m/s, 100–300 W/m<sup>2</sup>), while Central and West Africa exhibit lower resources (1–3 m/s, <50 W/m<sup>2</sup>). Weibull-based bias correction reduces errors to near-zero (±0.017 m/s), achieving correlations above 0.7 and up to 70 % reduction in root mean square error (RMSE), with East African stations showing the greatest error reduction. Future projections indicate significant regional and seasonal variability. East African coastal stations (Lamu, Zanzibar) and selected West African sites project capacity factor increases over 30 % and wind power density gains of 80–90 % under SSP5-8.5, while North African stations face minimal or negative changes. Seasonal trends show West Africa's winter gains (+23.5 % wind speed, +90 % power density) contrasted by autumn declines, and North Africa's summer improvements offset by winter reductions. Wind speed variability decreases at some stations, aiding grid stability, but increases at others, requiring advanced forecasting. Exceptional winter capacity factor gains (>100 %) highlight East and West African potential. This study provides guidance for wind farm site selection, supporting Africa's renewable energy transition.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34618,"journal":{"name":"Cleaner Engineering and Technology","volume":"30 ","pages":"Article 101145"},"PeriodicalIF":6.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146022631","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}
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