Pub Date : 2025-12-13DOI: 10.1016/j.clet.2025.101124
Ivo Reetz , Francina Izquierdo , Grau Baquero , Anna Bacardit
This study evaluates zeolite-based tanning systems as sustainable alternatives to conventional methods from both life cycle and end-of-life perspectives. Zeolite formulations combined with masking agents, hydrotropic substances, and vegetable tanning compounds were tested for biodegradability, compostability, and environmental impact. Results show that zeolite-tanned leathers achieved biodegradability rates above 94 % and complete compostability within 10–28 days, outperforming glutaraldehyde (54 %) and chromium tanning (6 %). Hydrolysable tannins such as tara enhanced compostability, whereas condensed tannins (mimosa) inhibited degradation. Life cycle assessment showed zeolite systems reduced global warming potential by 54 %, ecotoxicity by 76 %, and carcinogenic toxicity by 98 % compared with chrome tanning, while also eliminating heavy metal contamination in compost. These results highlight the importance of holistic evaluation of tanning chemistries, where environmental trade-offs extend beyond carbon footprint to include toxicity, land use, and circularity. Overall, zeolite-based tanning stands out as a viable pathway for large-scale, chrome-free leather production aligned with sustainable development and circular economy principles.
{"title":"Zeolite versus other tanning systems: A life cycle and end-of-life perspective","authors":"Ivo Reetz , Francina Izquierdo , Grau Baquero , Anna Bacardit","doi":"10.1016/j.clet.2025.101124","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.clet.2025.101124","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study evaluates zeolite-based tanning systems as sustainable alternatives to conventional methods from both life cycle and end-of-life perspectives. Zeolite formulations combined with masking agents, hydrotropic substances, and vegetable tanning compounds were tested for biodegradability, compostability, and environmental impact. Results show that zeolite-tanned leathers achieved biodegradability rates above 94 % and complete compostability within 10–28 days, outperforming glutaraldehyde (54 %) and chromium tanning (6 %). Hydrolysable tannins such as tara enhanced compostability, whereas condensed tannins (mimosa) inhibited degradation. Life cycle assessment showed zeolite systems reduced global warming potential by 54 %, ecotoxicity by 76 %, and carcinogenic toxicity by 98 % compared with chrome tanning, while also eliminating heavy metal contamination in compost. These results highlight the importance of holistic evaluation of tanning chemistries, where environmental trade-offs extend beyond carbon footprint to include toxicity, land use, and circularity. Overall, zeolite-based tanning stands out as a viable pathway for large-scale, chrome-free leather production aligned with sustainable development and circular economy principles.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34618,"journal":{"name":"Cleaner Engineering and Technology","volume":"30 ","pages":"Article 101124"},"PeriodicalIF":6.5,"publicationDate":"2025-12-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145738403","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 : 2025-12-12DOI: 10.1016/j.clet.2025.101136
Majid Dekamin , Amin Toranjian , Mehdi Shafiei
Efficient water and resource management is crucial in semi-arid agriculture, where irrigation practices strongly affect productivity, profitability, and environmental outcomes. This study applied the Material Flow Cost Accounting (MFCA) framework to compare potato production under sprinkler and furrow irrigation in Iran. MFCA has rarely been applied to potato production, and the hidden economic, energy, and environmental costs of different irrigation systems in semi-arid regions remain largely unexplored. Results showed that sprinkler irrigation required less water (9110 m3 ha−1 vs. 13587 m3 ha−1) and fertilizers (300 vs. 350 kg N ha−1), while achieving a higher yield (40000 vs. 27500 kg ha−1). Economically, sprinkler irrigation reduced production costs ($1304.2 ha-1 vs. $1531.2 ha-1), increased gross incomes ($8088 vs. $6196 ha−1), and improved the benefit-to-cost ratio (7.7 vs. 5.05). Hidden costs were also lower ($1392 ha−1 vs. $2227 ha−1). Energy analysis further confirmed the efficiency of sprinkler systems, with lower input energy (102,743 vs. 131,990 MJ ha−1), higher positive output energy (144000 vs. 99000 MJ ha−1), and a positive net energy balance (11581 vs. −82628 MJ ha−1). MFCA-adjusted Energy Ratio (1.11 vs. 0.37), energy productivity (0.39 vs. 0.21 kg MJ−1), and specific energy (2.57 vs. 4.80 MJ kg−1) all favored sprinkler irrigation. Although limited to farm-level processes in one region, the findings demonstrate that sprinkler irrigation provides significant environmental, economic, and energy benefits, offering a sustainable pathway for potato production in semi-arid areas. Overall, the MFCA framework effectively revealed internal inefficiencies, quantified recoverable loss costs, and provided complementary insight beyond conventional economic and energy metrics. The findings indicate that while sprinkler irrigation improves productivity and resource-use efficiency, its adoption remains sensitive to financing structures. These results underscore the need for supportive credit mechanisms and targeted subsidies to facilitate efficient irrigation transitions and maximize both economic and environmental benefits.
在半干旱农业中，有效的水资源和资源管理至关重要，因为灌溉做法对生产力、盈利能力和环境结果有很大影响。本研究应用物料流成本核算（MFCA）框架比较了伊朗喷灌和沟灌下的马铃薯产量。MFCA很少应用于马铃薯生产，半干旱地区不同灌溉系统的潜在经济、能源和环境成本在很大程度上仍未得到探索。结果表明，喷灌需水量较少（9110 m3 ha - 1比13587 m3 ha - 1），化肥用量较少（300比350 kg N ha - 1），但产量较高（40000比27500 kg ha - 1）。从经济角度来看，喷灌降低了生产成本（分别为1304.2公顷-1美元和1531.2公顷-1美元），增加了毛收入（分别为8088美元和6196公顷-1美元），提高了效益成本比（分别为7.7美元和5.05美元）。隐性成本也较低（分别为1392美元和2227美元）。能量分析进一步证实了喷水灭火系统的效率，其输入能量较低（102,743 vs. 131,990 MJ ha - 1），输出能量较高（144,000 vs. 99000 MJ ha - 1），净能量平衡为正（11581 vs. - 82628 MJ ha - 1）。mfca调整后的能量比（1.11 vs. 0.37）、能量生产率（0.39 vs. 0.21 kg MJ - 1）和比能（2.57 vs. 4.80 MJ kg - 1）均有利于喷灌。虽然仅限于一个地区的农场层面的过程，但研究结果表明，喷灌提供了显著的环境、经济和能源效益，为半干旱地区的马铃薯生产提供了一条可持续的途径。总体而言，MFCA框架有效地揭示了内部效率低下，量化了可收回的损失成本，并提供了超越传统经济和能源指标的补充见解。研究结果表明，虽然喷灌提高了生产力和资源利用效率，但其采用对融资结构仍然敏感。这些结果强调需要支持性信贷机制和有针对性的补贴，以促进有效的灌溉转型，并最大限度地提高经济和环境效益。
{"title":"Energy and economic analysis of potato production under furrow and sprinkler irrigation systems using material flow cost accounting","authors":"Majid Dekamin , Amin Toranjian , Mehdi Shafiei","doi":"10.1016/j.clet.2025.101136","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.clet.2025.101136","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Efficient water and resource management is crucial in semi-arid agriculture, where irrigation practices strongly affect productivity, profitability, and environmental outcomes. This study applied the Material Flow Cost Accounting (MFCA) framework to compare potato production under sprinkler and furrow irrigation in Iran. MFCA has rarely been applied to potato production, and the hidden economic, energy, and environmental costs of different irrigation systems in semi-arid regions remain largely unexplored. Results showed that sprinkler irrigation required less water (9110 m<sup>3</sup> ha<sup>−1</sup> vs. 13587 m<sup>3</sup> ha<sup>−1</sup>) and fertilizers (300 vs. 350 kg N ha<sup>−1</sup>), while achieving a higher yield (40000 vs. 27500 kg ha<sup>−1</sup>). Economically, sprinkler irrigation reduced production costs ($1304.2 ha<sup>-1</sup> vs. $1531.2 ha<sup>-1</sup>), increased gross incomes ($8088 vs. $6196 ha<sup>−1</sup>), and improved the benefit-to-cost ratio (7.7 vs. 5.05). Hidden costs were also lower ($1392 ha<sup>−1</sup> vs. $2227 ha<sup>−1</sup>). Energy analysis further confirmed the efficiency of sprinkler systems, with lower input energy (102,743 vs. 131,990 MJ ha<sup>−1</sup>), higher positive output energy (144000 vs. 99000 MJ ha<sup>−1</sup>), and a positive net energy balance (11581 vs. −82628 MJ ha<sup>−1</sup>). MFCA-adjusted Energy Ratio (1.11 vs. 0.37), energy productivity (0.39 vs. 0.21 kg MJ<sup>−1</sup>), and specific energy (2.57 vs. 4.80 MJ kg<sup>−1</sup>) all favored sprinkler irrigation. Although limited to farm-level processes in one region, the findings demonstrate that sprinkler irrigation provides significant environmental, economic, and energy benefits, offering a sustainable pathway for potato production in semi-arid areas. Overall, the MFCA framework effectively revealed internal inefficiencies, quantified recoverable loss costs, and provided complementary insight beyond conventional economic and energy metrics. The findings indicate that while sprinkler irrigation improves productivity and resource-use efficiency, its adoption remains sensitive to financing structures. These results underscore the need for supportive credit mechanisms and targeted subsidies to facilitate efficient irrigation transitions and maximize both economic and environmental benefits.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34618,"journal":{"name":"Cleaner Engineering and Technology","volume":"30 ","pages":"Article 101136"},"PeriodicalIF":6.5,"publicationDate":"2025-12-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145791203","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 : 2025-12-11DOI: 10.1016/j.clet.2025.101132
Mohd Ikhwan Muhammad Ridzuan, Nur Nabihah Rusyda Roslan, Ahmad Zairi Mohd Zain, Norhafidzah Mohd Saad, Muhamad Zahim Sujod
This paper presents a Fault Rates Alpha-Tolerance Monte Carlo Simulation (FRAT-MCS) method for evaluating reliability in electrical distribution networks. Conventional Monte Carlo Simulation can produce results that differ significantly from actual utility fault data, leading to unreliable estimates of system performance. To address this, FRAT-MCS introduces upper and lower tolerance bounds on the number of interruptions for each network component. This ensures that simulated fault counts remain close to expected values based on real fault rates. The method also uses time-varying load profiles and daily fault probability curves. These features allow the simulation to reflect how demand and fault likelihood change over 24 h. The approach is tested on IEEE distribution test systems and compared with two other Monte Carlo methods. Results show that FRAT-MCS produces reliability indices with smaller standard deviations and tighter confidence intervals. This indicates improved precision and stronger repeatability. The method avoids generating unrealistic extreme interruption patterns while still capturing meaningful year-to-year variability. Statistical tests confirm that FRAT-MCS delivers stable and consistent outcomes across multiple simulation runs. These characteristics make FRAT-MCS suitable for network planning, regulatory reporting, and decision-making where reliable and reproducible reliability estimates are essential.
{"title":"Fault Rates Alpha-Tolerance of Monte Carlo Simulation (FRAT-MCS) for Reliability Performance of Power System Network","authors":"Mohd Ikhwan Muhammad Ridzuan, Nur Nabihah Rusyda Roslan, Ahmad Zairi Mohd Zain, Norhafidzah Mohd Saad, Muhamad Zahim Sujod","doi":"10.1016/j.clet.2025.101132","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.clet.2025.101132","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This paper presents a Fault Rates Alpha-Tolerance Monte Carlo Simulation (FRAT-MCS) method for evaluating reliability in electrical distribution networks. Conventional Monte Carlo Simulation can produce results that differ significantly from actual utility fault data, leading to unreliable estimates of system performance. To address this, FRAT-MCS introduces upper and lower tolerance bounds on the number of interruptions for each network component. This ensures that simulated fault counts remain close to expected values based on real fault rates. The method also uses time-varying load profiles and daily fault probability curves. These features allow the simulation to reflect how demand and fault likelihood change over 24 h. The approach is tested on IEEE distribution test systems and compared with two other Monte Carlo methods. Results show that FRAT-MCS produces reliability indices with smaller standard deviations and tighter confidence intervals. This indicates improved precision and stronger repeatability. The method avoids generating unrealistic extreme interruption patterns while still capturing meaningful year-to-year variability. Statistical tests confirm that FRAT-MCS delivers stable and consistent outcomes across multiple simulation runs. These characteristics make FRAT-MCS suitable for network planning, regulatory reporting, and decision-making where reliable and reproducible reliability estimates are essential.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34618,"journal":{"name":"Cleaner Engineering and Technology","volume":"30 ","pages":"Article 101132"},"PeriodicalIF":6.5,"publicationDate":"2025-12-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145738402","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 : 2025-12-11DOI: 10.1016/j.clet.2025.101130
Ning Ding , Guolong Zong , Lidong Ren , Yanshen Song , Dianyuan Ding
In the context of escalating global climate change, achieving carbon neutrality has become a shared objective for the international community. However, current research on carbon neutrality mechanisms in ecological river engineering projects is limited, and systematic quantification of their carbon emissions and sinks is still lacking. This study used life cycle assessment, combining carbon emission coefficients with i-Tree Eco simulations to evaluate emissions from three typical river projects, assess native trees' carbon sequestration, and estimate neutrality timelines under various planting scenarios. Results indicated that ecological concrete revetment (T1) had the highest carbon emissions at 127,740.65 kg CO2e for the 1350-m river channel in Yizheng, China, followed by the geotextile gabion bag revetment (T2) at 75,058.62 kg CO2e and the wooden pile fence revetment (T3) at 1640.06 kg CO2e. Concrete accounted for 15–45 % of T1's emissions, and geotextile gabions contributed 27–67 % of T2's, confirming these construction materials as primary factors. Regarding carbon sequestration benefits, results using the i-Tree Eco model showed that Triadica, Magnolia denudata, and Cinnamomum camphora performed optimally, with gross carbon sequestration rates of 136.51 kg CO2e/yr, 134.00 kg CO2e/yr, and 91.78 kg CO2e/yr, respectively. For planting configurations, both the double-row arrangement of Triadica (with spacing configurations of 3–5 m × 3 m) and the mixed planting of Magnolia denudata with Triadica (with spacing configurations of 4–5 m × 3 m) demonstrated optimal carbon sequestration performance. To achieve carbon neutrality with trees, T1 required approximately 8–10 years, T2 needed 5–6 years, and T3 required one year. These findings offer significant implications for achieving carbon neutrality objectives in hydraulic engineering systems. However, it should be noted that the conclusions are derived from conditions specific to sandy loam soil in Yizheng City and a northern subtropical climate. Their applicability to other regions necessitates further validation through localized tree species and site-specific conditions.
在全球气候变化日益加剧的背景下，实现碳中和已成为国际社会的共同目标。然而，目前对生态河流工程碳中和机制的研究还很有限，缺乏对生态河流工程碳排放和汇的系统量化。本研究采用生命周期评估方法，结合碳排放系数和i-Tree生态模拟，对3个典型河流项目的碳排放进行了评估，评估了原生树木的碳固存能力，并估算了不同种植情景下的中性时间线。结果表明，在宜政1350 m河道中，生态混凝土护岸（T1）的碳排放量最高，为127,740.65 kg CO2e，其次是土工布格网护岸（T2），为75,058.62 kg CO2e，木桩护岸（T3）为1640.06 kg CO2e。混凝土占T1排放量的15 - 45%，土工织物格宾网占T2排放量的27 - 67%，证实了这些建筑材料是主要因素。在固碳效益方面，利用i-Tree生态模型的结果显示，三甘树（Triadica）、白玉兰（Magnolia denudata）和樟树（Cinnamomum camphora）表现最佳，总固碳率分别为136.51 kg CO2e/yr、134.00 kg CO2e/yr和91.78 kg CO2e/yr。在种植配置上，三甘草双排（间距配置为3 ~ 5 m × 3 m）和白玉兰与三甘草混种（间距配置为4 ~ 5 m × 3 m）的固碳效果最佳。为了实现树木的碳中和，T1需要大约8-10年，T2需要5-6年，T3需要1年。这些发现为实现水力工程系统的碳中和目标提供了重要的意义。但值得注意的是，这些结论是根据仪征市砂壤土特有的条件和北亚热带气候得出的。它们在其他地区的适用性需要通过本地化树种和特定地点条件进一步验证。
{"title":"Quantitative analysis for ecological rivers to achieve carbon neutrality in the water network area of south China","authors":"Ning Ding , Guolong Zong , Lidong Ren , Yanshen Song , Dianyuan Ding","doi":"10.1016/j.clet.2025.101130","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.clet.2025.101130","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In the context of escalating global climate change, achieving carbon neutrality has become a shared objective for the international community. However, current research on carbon neutrality mechanisms in ecological river engineering projects is limited, and systematic quantification of their carbon emissions and sinks is still lacking. This study used life cycle assessment, combining carbon emission coefficients with i-Tree Eco simulations to evaluate emissions from three typical river projects, assess native trees' carbon sequestration, and estimate neutrality timelines under various planting scenarios. Results indicated that ecological concrete revetment (T1) had the highest carbon emissions at 127,740.65 kg CO<sub>2</sub>e for the 1350-m river channel in Yizheng, China, followed by the geotextile gabion bag revetment (T2) at 75,058.62 kg CO<sub>2</sub>e and the wooden pile fence revetment (T3) at 1640.06 kg CO<sub>2</sub>e. Concrete accounted for 15–45 % of T1's emissions, and geotextile gabions contributed 27–67 % of T2's, confirming these construction materials as primary factors. Regarding carbon sequestration benefits, results using the i-Tree Eco model showed that <em>Triadica</em>, <em>Magnolia denudata</em>, and <em>Cinnamomum camphora</em> performed optimally, with gross carbon sequestration rates of 136.51 kg CO<sub>2</sub>e/yr, 134.00 kg CO<sub>2</sub>e/yr, and 91.78 kg CO<sub>2</sub>e/yr, respectively. For planting configurations, both the double-row arrangement of <em>Triadica (</em>with spacing configurations of 3–5 m × 3 m) and the mixed planting of <em>Magnolia denudata</em> with <em>Triadica (</em>with spacing configurations of 4–5 m × 3 m) demonstrated optimal carbon sequestration performance. To achieve carbon neutrality with trees, T1 required approximately 8–10 years, T2 needed 5–6 years, and T3 required one year. These findings offer significant implications for achieving carbon neutrality objectives in hydraulic engineering systems. However, it should be noted that the conclusions are derived from conditions specific to sandy loam soil in Yizheng City and a northern subtropical climate. Their applicability to other regions necessitates further validation through localized tree species and site-specific conditions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34618,"journal":{"name":"Cleaner Engineering and Technology","volume":"30 ","pages":"Article 101130"},"PeriodicalIF":6.5,"publicationDate":"2025-12-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145925756","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 : 2025-12-09DOI: 10.1016/j.clet.2025.101134
Sophie L. Bretagne , Michael Chipps , Ian Doggett , Michael C.J. Bradwell , Heide Hardiman , Jim Harris , Francis Hassard
Cryptosporidium oocysts are resilient protozoan pathogens that resist conventional disinfection, posing significant challenges to drinking water quality. Filtration processes like slow sand filters (SSFs) effectively remove these oocysts, but limited data exist on their fate in SSFs, particularly following maintenance practices such as skimming. This study examined the spatial and temporal distribution of inactivated Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts in pilot-scale SSF operated under two skimming regimes: dry skimming and underwater skimming. The underwater skim approach offers benefits in terms of production volume gains and reduced downtime, but pathogen removal has not been comprehensively assessed using this approach. Across two 4-day dosing periods, oocyst breakthrough was lower under UWS (UWS: 7.6 % vs DS: 47.0 % of filtrate samples were positive for oocysts). In addition, core samples were collected at six time points to track oocyst retention and vertical migration. In both underwater skim and dry skim slow sand filters, most oocysts were captured in the top 100 mm of the filter, gradually moving downward over time. Notably, underwater skim filters retained more oocysts in the upper layers than dry skim filters, resulting in lower breakthrough frequency. Although skimming did remove some oocysts in both regimes, the majority were rendered undetectable in situ through processes such as predation, enzymatic digestion, and natural decay—evidenced by the increasing proportion of oocyst-like bodies and their near-complete absence from the filtrate. Thus, underwater skim is a viable alternative to dry skim for Cryptosporidium removal, sustaining filter performance by trapping oocysts in the upper layers and maintaining similar rates of oocyst degradation. These insights support improved SSF maintenance strategies that enhance pathogen removal.
隐孢子虫卵囊是一种有弹性的原生动物病原体，可抵抗常规消毒，对饮用水质量构成重大挑战。像慢砂过滤器（ssf）这样的过滤过程可以有效地去除这些卵囊，但是关于它们在ssf中的命运的数据有限，特别是在进行撇油等维护操作之后。本研究考察了在干式和水下两种脱脂方式下，中试规模SSF中灭活的小隐孢子虫卵囊的时空分布。水下脱脂方法在产量增加和减少停机时间方面具有优势，但使用这种方法去除病原体的效果尚未得到全面评估。在两个4天的给药期间，UWS下的卵囊突破率较低（UWS: 7.6% vs DS: 47.0%的滤液样本卵囊阳性）。此外，在6个时间点采集岩心样本，跟踪卵囊潴留和垂直迁移。在水下脱脂和干式脱脂慢沙过滤器中，大多数卵囊被捕获在过滤器顶部100毫米处，随着时间的推移逐渐向下移动。值得注意的是，与干式脱脂过滤器相比，水下脱脂过滤器在上层保留了更多的卵囊，从而导致较低的突破频率。虽然在两种方法中撇去了一些卵囊，但大多数卵囊通过捕食、酶消化和自然腐烂等过程无法在原位检测到——卵囊样体比例的增加和它们几乎完全从滤液中消失就是证据。因此，水下脱脂是去除隐孢子虫的可行替代方法，通过在上层捕获卵囊来维持过滤性能，并保持类似的卵囊降解率。这些见解支持改进SSF维护策略，增强病原体清除。
{"title":"Underwater skimming improves retention and degradation of Cryptosporidium oocysts in slow sand filters","authors":"Sophie L. Bretagne , Michael Chipps , Ian Doggett , Michael C.J. Bradwell , Heide Hardiman , Jim Harris , Francis Hassard","doi":"10.1016/j.clet.2025.101134","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.clet.2025.101134","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Cryptosporidium</em> oocysts are resilient protozoan pathogens that resist conventional disinfection, posing significant challenges to drinking water quality. Filtration processes like slow sand filters (SSFs) effectively remove these oocysts, but limited data exist on their fate in SSFs, particularly following maintenance practices such as skimming. This study examined the spatial and temporal distribution of inactivated <em>Cryptosporidium parvum</em> oocysts in pilot-scale SSF operated under two skimming regimes: dry skimming and underwater skimming. The underwater skim approach offers benefits in terms of production volume gains and reduced downtime, but pathogen removal has not been comprehensively assessed using this approach. Across two 4-day dosing periods, oocyst breakthrough was lower under UWS (UWS: 7.6 % vs DS: 47.0 % of filtrate samples were positive for oocysts). In addition, core samples were collected at six time points to track oocyst retention and vertical migration. In both underwater skim and dry skim slow sand filters, most oocysts were captured in the top 100 mm of the filter, gradually moving downward over time. Notably, underwater skim filters retained more oocysts in the upper layers than dry skim filters, resulting in lower breakthrough frequency. Although skimming did remove some oocysts in both regimes, the majority were rendered undetectable <em>in situ</em> through processes such as predation, enzymatic digestion, and natural decay—evidenced by the increasing proportion of oocyst-like bodies and their near-complete absence from the filtrate. Thus, underwater skim is a viable alternative to dry skim for <em>Cryptosporidium</em> removal, sustaining filter performance by trapping oocysts in the upper layers and maintaining similar rates of oocyst degradation. These insights support improved SSF maintenance strategies that enhance pathogen removal.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34618,"journal":{"name":"Cleaner Engineering and Technology","volume":"30 ","pages":"Article 101134"},"PeriodicalIF":6.5,"publicationDate":"2025-12-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145925750","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 : 2025-12-08DOI: 10.1016/j.clet.2025.101131
Rawan Alsaqqar, Ahmad Abuelrub
Hybrid Renewable Energy Systems (HRES) provide a sustainable and reliable solution for electrification in remote regions while reducing dependence on fossil fuels and minimizing environmental impact. This study develops an integrated optimization framework for designing an HRES composed of photovoltaic generation, diesel backup, and hydrogen storage components. The framework employs the emerging Golden Jackal Optimization (GJO) algorithm and compares its performance with the established Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) method used as a benchmark. The optimization minimizes the Total Net Present Cost (TNPC) while satisfying reliability and renewable energy portion (REP) constraints. Results show that GJO achieves slightly lower TNPC and improved convergence compared to PSO, demonstrating higher efficiency and robustness. Increasing REP from 0.1 to 0.9 enhances system sustainability by significantly reducing CO2 emissions, although it raises TNPC by 39 %. The proposed framework provides a practical and scalable approach for cost-reliable design of hydrogen-integrated hybrid energy systems supporting Jordan's renewable energy goals.
{"title":"Optimization of hybrid renewable energy systems: Reliability, cost, and environmental trade-offs using PSO and GJO algorithms","authors":"Rawan Alsaqqar, Ahmad Abuelrub","doi":"10.1016/j.clet.2025.101131","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.clet.2025.101131","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Hybrid Renewable Energy Systems (HRES) provide a sustainable and reliable solution for electrification in remote regions while reducing dependence on fossil fuels and minimizing environmental impact. This study develops an integrated optimization framework for designing an HRES composed of photovoltaic generation, diesel backup, and hydrogen storage components. The framework employs the emerging Golden Jackal Optimization (GJO) algorithm and compares its performance with the established Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) method used as a benchmark. The optimization minimizes the Total Net Present Cost (TNPC) while satisfying reliability and renewable energy portion (REP) constraints. Results show that GJO achieves slightly lower TNPC and improved convergence compared to PSO, demonstrating higher efficiency and robustness. Increasing REP from 0.1 to 0.9 enhances system sustainability by significantly reducing CO<sub>2</sub> emissions, although it raises TNPC by 39 %. The proposed framework provides a practical and scalable approach for cost-reliable design of hydrogen-integrated hybrid energy systems supporting Jordan's renewable energy goals.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34618,"journal":{"name":"Cleaner Engineering and Technology","volume":"30 ","pages":"Article 101131"},"PeriodicalIF":6.5,"publicationDate":"2025-12-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145738401","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 : 2025-12-08DOI: 10.1016/j.clet.2025.101129
Tina Kegl , Yee Van Fan , Lidija Čuček
The widespread use of plastics has resulted in significant environmental challenges, including pollution, landfill accumulation, and harm to ecosystems and human health. As concerns over plastic waste intensify, biodegradable plastics have emerged as promising alternatives that can decompose under specific conditions and contribute to a circular economy. This review examines how biodegradable plastics can help address these issues, beginning with the distinction between biodegradable polymers, which are long-chain molecules, and biodegradable plastics, which are end-use materials created by blending these polymers with additives and fillers. It explores common biodegradable polymers, their origins, production processes, and key physical and chemical properties. Further, the review covers both the compounding stage, in which polymers and additives are combined, and the subsequent product development and processing steps involved in manufacturing of biodegradable plastics. A criterion is proposed to assess and rank biodegradable plastics based on their biodegradability. The review also discusses applications and the sustainability of their value chains. Key challenges to widespread adoption, such as technological limitations, economic concerns, and environmental or health risks, are highlighted. Finally, the review stresses the importance of advancing biomass cultivation, polymer development, processing techniques, and degradation methods to unlock the full potential of biodegradable plastics. Overall, it emphasizes the need for continued innovation to promote sustainable materials and improve plastic waste management.
{"title":"The role of biodegradable plastics in a sustainable economy: Progress and challenges","authors":"Tina Kegl , Yee Van Fan , Lidija Čuček","doi":"10.1016/j.clet.2025.101129","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.clet.2025.101129","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The widespread use of plastics has resulted in significant environmental challenges, including pollution, landfill accumulation, and harm to ecosystems and human health. As concerns over plastic waste intensify, biodegradable plastics have emerged as promising alternatives that can decompose under specific conditions and contribute to a circular economy. This review examines how biodegradable plastics can help address these issues, beginning with the distinction between biodegradable polymers, which are long-chain molecules, and biodegradable plastics, which are end-use materials created by blending these polymers with additives and fillers. It explores common biodegradable polymers, their origins, production processes, and key physical and chemical properties. Further, the review covers both the compounding stage, in which polymers and additives are combined, and the subsequent product development and processing steps involved in manufacturing of biodegradable plastics. A criterion is proposed to assess and rank biodegradable plastics based on their biodegradability. The review also discusses applications and the sustainability of their value chains. Key challenges to widespread adoption, such as technological limitations, economic concerns, and environmental or health risks, are highlighted. Finally, the review stresses the importance of advancing biomass cultivation, polymer development, processing techniques, and degradation methods to unlock the full potential of biodegradable plastics. Overall, it emphasizes the need for continued innovation to promote sustainable materials and improve plastic waste management.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34618,"journal":{"name":"Cleaner Engineering and Technology","volume":"30 ","pages":"Article 101129"},"PeriodicalIF":6.5,"publicationDate":"2025-12-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145737874","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 : 2025-12-08DOI: 10.1016/j.clet.2025.101135
Thomas Xiong , Guanzheng Chen , Wenyi Cai , Lingyan Zha , Guangliu Xu , Aojiang Wang , Yuan Wei , Xiangyue Lu , Shiwei Wei , Dayi Lai , Jingjin Zhang , Hua Bao
Plant Factories with Artificial Lighting (PFALs) are crucial for year-round, climate-resilient urban agriculture, addressing food security and sustainability challenges. However, the high construction costs and energy demands limit its wide application. In this work, we design and tested a low-cost and energy efficient container farm, through mobile racks with reflective materials, an adaptive environmental control system, and an IoT framework (RS485, Modbus RTU) for automated operation, costing $ 900 m−2 in terms of building area (at a construction cost of $ 12,500 for a 14.09 m2 of building area). This container farm achieves efficient use of light, heat, and water, while providing photoperiod-synchronized environmental control to support leafy greens cultivation. The measured yield over a 50-day trial produced 95 kg of Frillice lettuce across 15.56 m2 of cultivation area with an energy consumption of 43 kWh·day−1 (72 % LEDs, 14 % HVAC, 14 % other) and demonstrated 11.4 L·day−1 water recovery via HVAC condensate (measured during seedling phase only). Our works provide a scalable, cost-effective approach for PFAL deployment, opening up possibilities for sustainable urban food production.
{"title":"Design and development of a low-cost and energy-efficient container farm for leafy greens","authors":"Thomas Xiong , Guanzheng Chen , Wenyi Cai , Lingyan Zha , Guangliu Xu , Aojiang Wang , Yuan Wei , Xiangyue Lu , Shiwei Wei , Dayi Lai , Jingjin Zhang , Hua Bao","doi":"10.1016/j.clet.2025.101135","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.clet.2025.101135","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Plant Factories with Artificial Lighting (PFALs) are crucial for year-round, climate-resilient urban agriculture, addressing food security and sustainability challenges. However, the high construction costs and energy demands limit its wide application. In this work, we design and tested a low-cost and energy efficient container farm, through mobile racks with reflective materials, an adaptive environmental control system, and an IoT framework (RS485, Modbus RTU) for automated operation, costing $ 900 m<sup>−2</sup> in terms of building area (at a construction cost of $ 12,500 for a 14.09 m<sup>2</sup> of building area). This container farm achieves efficient use of light, heat, and water, while providing photoperiod-synchronized environmental control to support leafy greens cultivation. The measured yield over a 50-day trial produced 95 kg of Frillice lettuce across 15.56 m<sup>2</sup> of cultivation area with an energy consumption of 43 kWh·day<sup>−1</sup> (72 % LEDs, 14 % HVAC, 14 % other) and demonstrated 11.4 L·day<sup>−1</sup> water recovery via HVAC condensate (measured during seedling phase only). Our works provide a scalable, cost-effective approach for PFAL deployment, opening up possibilities for sustainable urban food production.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34618,"journal":{"name":"Cleaner Engineering and Technology","volume":"30 ","pages":"Article 101135"},"PeriodicalIF":6.5,"publicationDate":"2025-12-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145738400","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 : 2025-12-01DOI: 10.1016/j.clet.2025.101127
Tilia Dahou, Lwhathanysh Urbaez Terrero, Lisa Gribal, Sylvie Valin
In order to facilitate gasification of heterogeneous waste such as solid recovered fuel (SRF), a pre-treatment by hydrothermal carbonisation (HTC) is considered. This study uses a model material approach to represent SRF and study its behaviour during HTC, and in particular the hydrochar properties (yield, ash content, LHV, apparent density, carbon concentration, fixed carbon, inorganic content). HTC experiments were conducted at temperatures between 200 and 280 °C on one SRF and seven model materials (waste wood, cardboard, polyethylene, PET, polyamide, PVC and waste tyres) selected to represent the variety of materials and compositions. When comparing HTC behaviours of the resources, various profiles appear: biomass-based, reactive plastics (PET and PVC) and non-reactive plastics (PA, PE, waste tyres), which however show some physical transformations (melting, formation of powder). Results show that HTC of SRF is mainly controlled by the degradation of lignocellulosic molecules (in particular cellulose and hemicellulose), but that degradation is itself enhanced by the increase in acidity induced by the degradation of plastics (PET and PVC). The LHV and C content of SRF hydrochar are higher than those of the initial SRF (increase by 48 and 36 percentage points after HTC at 240 °C, respectively), while fixed carbon is not significantly affected in these conditions. The apparent density is improved (doubled after HTC at 240 °C) due to an increase of the apparent density of most of the model materials, including non-reactive ones. All these changes could be positive for an easier gasification of the hydrochar compared to the initial SRF. Finally, N content is unchanged (it leaves the solid in the same proportions as C), and Cl and S contents decrease, as for model materials.
{"title":"Hydrothermal carbonisation of solid recovered fuel – a model material approach","authors":"Tilia Dahou, Lwhathanysh Urbaez Terrero, Lisa Gribal, Sylvie Valin","doi":"10.1016/j.clet.2025.101127","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.clet.2025.101127","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In order to facilitate gasification of heterogeneous waste such as solid recovered fuel (SRF), a pre-treatment by hydrothermal carbonisation (HTC) is considered. This study uses a model material approach to represent SRF and study its behaviour during HTC, and in particular the hydrochar properties (yield, ash content, LHV, apparent density, carbon concentration, fixed carbon, inorganic content). HTC experiments were conducted at temperatures between 200 and 280 °C on one SRF and seven model materials (waste wood, cardboard, polyethylene, PET, polyamide, PVC and waste tyres) selected to represent the variety of materials and compositions. When comparing HTC behaviours of the resources, various profiles appear: biomass-based, reactive plastics (PET and PVC) and non-reactive plastics (PA, PE, waste tyres), which however show some physical transformations (melting, formation of powder). Results show that HTC of SRF is mainly controlled by the degradation of lignocellulosic molecules (in particular cellulose and hemicellulose), but that degradation is itself enhanced by the increase in acidity induced by the degradation of plastics (PET and PVC). The LHV and C content of SRF hydrochar are higher than those of the initial SRF (increase by 48 and 36 percentage points after HTC at 240 °C, respectively), while fixed carbon is not significantly affected in these conditions. The apparent density is improved (doubled after HTC at 240 °C) due to an increase of the apparent density of most of the model materials, including non-reactive ones. All these changes could be positive for an easier gasification of the hydrochar compared to the initial SRF. Finally, N content is unchanged (it leaves the solid in the same proportions as C), and Cl and S contents decrease, as for model materials.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34618,"journal":{"name":"Cleaner Engineering and Technology","volume":"29 ","pages":"Article 101127"},"PeriodicalIF":6.5,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145623839","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 : 2025-12-01DOI: 10.1016/j.clet.2025.101122
N. Lakshmaiya , T. Raja , D. Yuvarajan
Natural fiber–reinforced composites are attracting attention as sustainable alternatives to synthetic materials, but improving their strength, wear resistance, and water stability remains challenging. The present study focuses on developing silane-treated jute–sisal hybrid fiber-reinforced polyester composites enhanced with plant-derived cellulose microfillers to improve their mechanical, tribological, and hydrophobic performance. The main objective was to strengthen fiber–matrix interfacial bonding and enhance overall composite durability by combining hybrid natural fibers with chemical surface modification. The novelty of this work lies in the integration of silane surface treatment with cellulose microfiller reinforcement, which establishes strong Si–O–Si and Si–O–C bonds that improve adhesion, reduce voids, and minimize water diffusion—an approach not widely reported for hybrid natural fiber composites. The composites were fabricated by hand lay-up with cellulose contents of 0–6 wt%, followed by curing at 120 °C. Among all configurations, the G3 composite (4 wt% cellulose) exhibited the highest tensile strength (115.5 MPa), flexural strength (137.2 MPa), interlaminar shear strength (28.8 MPa), and impact energy (5.16 J), showing a 51 % improvement over the untreated system. The G4 composite (6 wt% cellulose) demonstrated the lowest wear rate (0.38 mm3 N−1 m−1) and coefficient of friction (0.014), while fracture toughness improved by 340 % and energy release rate by 224 % compared with neat polyester. Water absorption decreased to 23.2 %, indicating enhanced interfacial sealing and moisture resistance. The correlation between fiber hybridization, silane bonding, and filler dispersion confirms a strong synergistic effect. The developed composites offer a sustainable, high-strength, and wear-resistant material suitable for lightweight structural and tribological applications in automotive, aerospace, and defense sectors.
{"title":"Effect of silane-treated jute/sisal cellulose reinforcement on the mechanical, tribological, and hydrophobic behavior of polyester composites","authors":"N. Lakshmaiya , T. Raja , D. Yuvarajan","doi":"10.1016/j.clet.2025.101122","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.clet.2025.101122","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Natural fiber–reinforced composites are attracting attention as sustainable alternatives to synthetic materials, but improving their strength, wear resistance, and water stability remains challenging. The present study focuses on developing silane-treated jute–sisal hybrid fiber-reinforced polyester composites enhanced with plant-derived cellulose microfillers to improve their mechanical, tribological, and hydrophobic performance. The main objective was to strengthen fiber–matrix interfacial bonding and enhance overall composite durability by combining hybrid natural fibers with chemical surface modification. The novelty of this work lies in the integration of silane surface treatment with cellulose microfiller reinforcement, which establishes strong Si–O–Si and Si–O–C bonds that improve adhesion, reduce voids, and minimize water diffusion—an approach not widely reported for hybrid natural fiber composites. The composites were fabricated by hand lay-up with cellulose contents of 0–6 wt%, followed by curing at 120 °C. Among all configurations, the G3 composite (4 wt% cellulose) exhibited the highest tensile strength (115.5 MPa), flexural strength (137.2 MPa), interlaminar shear strength (28.8 MPa), and impact energy (5.16 J), showing a 51 % improvement over the untreated system. The G4 composite (6 wt% cellulose) demonstrated the lowest wear rate (0.38 mm<sup>3</sup> N<sup>−1</sup> m<sup>−1</sup>) and coefficient of friction (0.014), while fracture toughness improved by 340 % and energy release rate by 224 % compared with neat polyester. Water absorption decreased to 23.2 %, indicating enhanced interfacial sealing and moisture resistance. The correlation between fiber hybridization, silane bonding, and filler dispersion confirms a strong synergistic effect. The developed composites offer a sustainable, high-strength, and wear-resistant material suitable for lightweight structural and tribological applications in automotive, aerospace, and defense sectors.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34618,"journal":{"name":"Cleaner Engineering and Technology","volume":"29 ","pages":"Article 101122"},"PeriodicalIF":6.5,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145623840","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}
扫码关注我们
求助内容：
应助结果提醒方式：
京公网安备 11010802042870号