Pub Date : 2026-03-21DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2026.148030
Hyo Young Kim, Yujin Jung, Wonjae Choi
The expansion of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is vital for achieving net-zero in the aviation sector. Some major aviation fuel-producing countries with advanced SAF production capabilities remain highly dependent on imported energy resources, which substantially complicates SAF supply chains, increases greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from SAF production, and requires a differentiated analytical approach. This study examines the implications of such conditions by selecting South Korea as a representative case. To assess the implications of energy import dependence on SAF's life cycle GHG emissions, a Well-to-Wake assessment is conducted for three representative SAF production pathways: used cooking oil (UCO), tallow, and e-fuel. In energy-importing countries, SAF derived from UCO and e-fuels generates up to 66.7% and 44.0% higher life cycle GHG emissions, respectively, compared to energy-self-sufficient nations, primarily due to differences in hydrogen supply pathways. UCO- and tallow-based SAF achieve life cycle GHG emissions more than 77% lower than those of conventional jet fuel (82.71 kg-CO2-eq./GJ) across all hydrogen and electricity production pathways, whereas e-fuel-based SAF achieves lower emissions only when green or yellow hydrogen imported in the form of ammonia is utilized. Policymakers should position UCO-based SAF as the core component of the SAF mix, while for e-fuel-based SAF, they should prioritize the pathways of hydrogen as the key variable to establish a roadmap that minimizes uncertainty. These results are applicable to other countries that rely on energy imports for fuel production.
{"title":"Well-to-Wake greenhouse gas emissions of sustainable aviation fuels: Implications from South Korean case for energy-importing countries with fuel production capacity","authors":"Hyo Young Kim, Yujin Jung, Wonjae Choi","doi":"10.1016/j.jclepro.2026.148030","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2026.148030","url":null,"abstract":"The expansion of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is vital for achieving net-zero in the aviation sector. Some major aviation fuel-producing countries with advanced SAF production capabilities remain highly dependent on imported energy resources, which substantially complicates SAF supply chains, increases greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from SAF production, and requires a differentiated analytical approach. This study examines the implications of such conditions by selecting South Korea as a representative case. To assess the implications of energy import dependence on SAF's life cycle GHG emissions, a Well-to-Wake assessment is conducted for three representative SAF production pathways: used cooking oil (UCO), tallow, and e-fuel. In energy-importing countries, SAF derived from UCO and e-fuels generates up to 66.7% and 44.0% higher life cycle GHG emissions, respectively, compared to energy-self-sufficient nations, primarily due to differences in hydrogen supply pathways. UCO- and tallow-based SAF achieve life cycle GHG emissions more than 77% lower than those of conventional jet fuel (82.71 kg-CO<sub>2</sub>-eq./GJ) across all hydrogen and electricity production pathways, whereas e-fuel-based SAF achieves lower emissions only when green or yellow hydrogen imported in the form of ammonia is utilized. Policymakers should position UCO-based SAF as the core component of the SAF mix, while for e-fuel-based SAF, they should prioritize the pathways of hydrogen as the key variable to establish a roadmap that minimizes uncertainty. These results are applicable to other countries that rely on energy imports for fuel production.","PeriodicalId":349,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Cleaner Production","volume":"15 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":11.1,"publicationDate":"2026-03-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147492827","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-21DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2026.148060
Cheng Huang, Xiaoping Liu, Yunbo Zhai, Hongkui He, Changlan Hou, Jian Hu, Yin Zhou, Tao Liu
This study innovatively developed a series of functionalized oxalic acid-based deep eutectic solvents (DESs) and achieved efficient conversion of waste activated sludge (WAS) into high-value 5-methylfurfural (5-MF) chemical through systematic modulation of functional groups (-Cl, -COOH, -CH3, -C=C, -OH) in hydrogen bond acceptors (HBAs). For the first time, the structure-activity relationship between DES functional group characteristics and catalytic performance was elucidated through an integrated experimental and theoretical analysis, revealing that -Cl modified DES markedly enhanced sludge conversion efficiency (5-MF yield: 10.51‰) due to its unique electronic effects and hydrogen bonding interactions. The DES effectively disrupted the extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) network of sludge through hydrogen bonding, facilitating the release of biomacromolecules (proteins, polysaccharides) and key metal ions (Mn, Cr, Mg, etc.). Further investigation demonstrated that the DES-metal synergistic catalytic system markedly promoted the isomerization-dehydration pathway of sludge carbohydrate, while DES itself participated in subsequent esterification/hydrogenolysis reactions as a proton carrier, enabling HMF conversion to 5-MF. Notably, this study innovatively established a DES/organic solvent biphasic reaction system, which not only increased the 5-MF yield to 14.89‰ through in situ extraction strategy but also improved product separation efficiency, demonstrating economically viable benefits (1.17 $/t WAS). This work provides an integrated "solvent design-catalysis-separation" strategy for sludge valorization, offering mechanistic insights and foundational knowledge for future scale-up studies.
{"title":"Tailoring hydrogen bond acceptors in deep eutectic solvents for efficient hydrothermal production and biphasic recovery of 5-methylfurfural from waste activated sludge","authors":"Cheng Huang, Xiaoping Liu, Yunbo Zhai, Hongkui He, Changlan Hou, Jian Hu, Yin Zhou, Tao Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.jclepro.2026.148060","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2026.148060","url":null,"abstract":"This study innovatively developed a series of functionalized oxalic acid-based deep eutectic solvents (DESs) and achieved efficient conversion of waste activated sludge (WAS) into high-value 5-methylfurfural (5-MF) chemical through systematic modulation of functional groups (-Cl, -COOH, -CH<sub>3</sub>, -C=C, -OH) in hydrogen bond acceptors (HBAs). For the first time, the structure-activity relationship between DES functional group characteristics and catalytic performance was elucidated through an integrated experimental and theoretical analysis, revealing that -Cl modified DES markedly enhanced sludge conversion efficiency (5-MF yield: 10.51‰) due to its unique electronic effects and hydrogen bonding interactions. The DES effectively disrupted the extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) network of sludge through hydrogen bonding, facilitating the release of biomacromolecules (proteins, polysaccharides) and key metal ions (Mn, Cr, Mg, etc.). Further investigation demonstrated that the DES-metal synergistic catalytic system markedly promoted the isomerization-dehydration pathway of sludge carbohydrate, while DES itself participated in subsequent esterification/hydrogenolysis reactions as a proton carrier, enabling HMF conversion to 5-MF. Notably, this study innovatively established a DES/organic solvent biphasic reaction system, which not only increased the 5-MF yield to 14.89‰ through in situ extraction strategy but also improved product separation efficiency, demonstrating economically viable benefits (1.17 $/t WAS). This work provides an integrated \"solvent design-catalysis-separation\" strategy for sludge valorization, offering mechanistic insights and foundational knowledge for future scale-up studies.","PeriodicalId":349,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Cleaner Production","volume":"19 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":11.1,"publicationDate":"2026-03-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147492484","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-21DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2026.148039
Wilhelmina Seyome Ahiaku, Yusheng Kong
Mining remains vital to Ghana's economy but continues to cause environmental degradation and social inequality in host communities. Although mining firms increasingly implement Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives, their effects on community well-being remain uncertain. This study examines how CSR dimensions influence residents' quality of life (QoL) through community resilience and the mediating role of the Social License to Operate (SLO). It further explores how green mining practices and government involvement moderate these relationships. Guided by stakeholder and resilience theories, data were collected from 1120 respondents across five mining communities in the Ashanti and Western Regions of Ghana. Using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) and Artificial Neural Networks (ANN), the study identifies both linear and non-linear associations. Results show that environmental CSR has the strongest positive effect on QoL, while community adaptation is the most influential resilience factor. SLO partially mediates the CSR–QoL relationship, and both green mining and government involvement strengthen these effects. The findings provide theoretical and practical insights for aligning CSR initiatives with resilience-building and sustainable community development goals.
{"title":"Corporate social responsibility, community resilience, and quality of life in mining communities: Moderating roles of green mining and governance","authors":"Wilhelmina Seyome Ahiaku, Yusheng Kong","doi":"10.1016/j.jclepro.2026.148039","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2026.148039","url":null,"abstract":"Mining remains vital to Ghana's economy but continues to cause environmental degradation and social inequality in host communities. Although mining firms increasingly implement Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives, their effects on community well-being remain uncertain. This study examines how CSR dimensions influence residents' quality of life (QoL) through community resilience and the mediating role of the Social License to Operate (SLO). It further explores how green mining practices and government involvement moderate these relationships. Guided by stakeholder and resilience theories, data were collected from 1120 respondents across five mining communities in the Ashanti and Western Regions of Ghana. Using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) and Artificial Neural Networks (ANN), the study identifies both linear and non-linear associations. Results show that environmental CSR has the strongest positive effect on QoL, while community adaptation is the most influential resilience factor. SLO partially mediates the CSR–QoL relationship, and both green mining and government involvement strengthen these effects. The findings provide theoretical and practical insights for aligning CSR initiatives with resilience-building and sustainable community development goals.","PeriodicalId":349,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Cleaner Production","volume":"59 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":11.1,"publicationDate":"2026-03-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147496123","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-21DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2026.148034
Óliver Silva Costa Barreto, Edna dos Santos Almeida, Diego Lima Medeiros
Surfactants are used in a variety of industries due to their surface tension reduction properties. This study aims to evaluate the environmental performance of surfactin, from raw material extraction to the factory gate at an industrial scale, using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) according to ISO 14040/44 standards. The OpenLCA 2.0.0 software and Ecoinvent 3.8 database were used for this analysis. The production of 1 kg of 89% w/w purified surfactin was assessed across seven scenarios, varying the fermentation medium and surfactin concentration, considering six environmental categories. Contribution analyses highlighted that utility consumption (electricity, air pumping, and steam), the carbon source used as a substrate, and surfactin yield, which ranged from 5 to 26% w/w, were the most significant variables for the assessed categories. Alternative scenarios were proposed, including the use of residual carbon sources, 16% w/w substrate-to-surfactin optimal conversion rate, and electricity supplier substitution from grid to photovoltaic power plants. These combined proposals demonstrated favorable results for the majority of the assessed categories, reducing fossil energy consumption (72%), global warming (72%), ozone depletion (51%), water consumption (40%), and ecotoxicity (3%) compared to the most favorable of the seven base scenarios. Expanding the system boundary to compare multiproduct scenarios for the production of Linear Alkylbenzene Sulfonate (LAS) surfactant and waste disposal versus surfactin production from residual carbon sources revealed that the carbon footprint of surfactin can be lower than that of the multiproduct LAS scenario. Thus, the findings highlight viable pathways for mitigating the environmental impacts associated with the life cycle of surfactin production.
{"title":"Surfactant life cycle assessment: The environmental performance of surfactin produced by Bacillus Subtilis","authors":"Óliver Silva Costa Barreto, Edna dos Santos Almeida, Diego Lima Medeiros","doi":"10.1016/j.jclepro.2026.148034","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2026.148034","url":null,"abstract":"Surfactants are used in a variety of industries due to their surface tension reduction properties. This study aims to evaluate the environmental performance of surfactin, from raw material extraction to the factory gate at an industrial scale, using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) according to ISO 14040/44 standards. The OpenLCA 2.0.0 software and Ecoinvent 3.8 database were used for this analysis. The production of 1 kg of 89% w/w purified surfactin was assessed across seven scenarios, varying the fermentation medium and surfactin concentration, considering six environmental categories. Contribution analyses highlighted that utility consumption (electricity, air pumping, and steam), the carbon source used as a substrate, and surfactin yield, which ranged from 5 to 26% w/w, were the most significant variables for the assessed categories. Alternative scenarios were proposed, including the use of residual carbon sources, 16% w/w substrate-to-surfactin optimal conversion rate, and electricity supplier substitution from grid to photovoltaic power plants. These combined proposals demonstrated favorable results for the majority of the assessed categories, reducing fossil energy consumption (72%), global warming (72%), ozone depletion (51%), water consumption (40%), and ecotoxicity (3%) compared to the most favorable of the seven base scenarios. Expanding the system boundary to compare multiproduct scenarios for the production of Linear Alkylbenzene Sulfonate (LAS) surfactant and waste disposal versus surfactin production from residual carbon sources revealed that the carbon footprint of surfactin can be lower than that of the multiproduct LAS scenario. Thus, the findings highlight viable pathways for mitigating the environmental impacts associated with the life cycle of surfactin production.","PeriodicalId":349,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Cleaner Production","volume":"60 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":11.1,"publicationDate":"2026-03-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147492530","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-21DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2026.148044
Song Qing, Gang Zhang, Haipeng Nan, Tuo Xie, Huan Wang, Xiaonan Dang
Under the time-varying coupling of time-of-use electricity tariffs and water-demand patterns, variable-speed pumping stations often exhibit a mismatch between water-volume allocation and unit operation, constraining energy- and water-saving performance. This study proposes a two-level multi-objective closed-loop framework of “water-volume decomposition–intra-day operation–feedback correction” to coordinate the trade-offs among operating cost, efficiency, and water spillage. At the upper level, a price–efficiency-driven water-volume decomposition model allocates the daily water demand into hourly discharges aligned with the high-efficiency region of the pump units, avoiding “low-price yet low-efficiency” configurations. At the lower level, an intra-day unit-scheduling model incorporating operating cost, overall efficiency, and daily water spillage is solved using the Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm III, and a pseudo-weight method is used to extract executable unit on/off and speed schedules. A feedback mechanism based on pattern recognition of excess discharge and convex penalty functions treats discharge violations as soft constraints coupled with time-of-use price period weights and specific energy consumption, thereby dynamically revising the upper-level allocation and forming a “decomposition–execution–feedback–reconstruction” loop. A case study of an intake pumping station serving a large irrigation district in Northwest China shows that, while ensuring water-supply security, the proposed method reduces daily operating cost by about 0.56 %, decreases daily water spillage by 48 %, and increases average daily operating efficiency by 1.13 % compared with empirical dispatch. Relative to a single-level optimization benchmark, the closed-loop framework further improves overall performance and provides a scalable pathway for cost-effective and cleaner operation of variable-speed pumping stations under time-of-use price conditions.
{"title":"Optimal operation strategy for energy saving and cost reduction in variable-speed pumping stations: A bi-level multi-objective closed-loop control method coupling water-volume decomposition with intraday operation","authors":"Song Qing, Gang Zhang, Haipeng Nan, Tuo Xie, Huan Wang, Xiaonan Dang","doi":"10.1016/j.jclepro.2026.148044","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2026.148044","url":null,"abstract":"Under the time-varying coupling of time-of-use electricity tariffs and water-demand patterns, variable-speed pumping stations often exhibit a mismatch between water-volume allocation and unit operation, constraining energy- and water-saving performance. This study proposes a two-level multi-objective closed-loop framework of “water-volume decomposition–intra-day operation–feedback correction” to coordinate the trade-offs among operating cost, efficiency, and water spillage. At the upper level, a price–efficiency-driven water-volume decomposition model allocates the daily water demand into hourly discharges aligned with the high-efficiency region of the pump units, avoiding “low-price yet low-efficiency” configurations. At the lower level, an intra-day unit-scheduling model incorporating operating cost, overall efficiency, and daily water spillage is solved using the Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm III, and a pseudo-weight method is used to extract executable unit on/off and speed schedules. A feedback mechanism based on pattern recognition of excess discharge and convex penalty functions treats discharge violations as soft constraints coupled with time-of-use price period weights and specific energy consumption, thereby dynamically revising the upper-level allocation and forming a “decomposition–execution–feedback–reconstruction” loop. A case study of an intake pumping station serving a large irrigation district in Northwest China shows that, while ensuring water-supply security, the proposed method reduces daily operating cost by about 0.56 %, decreases daily water spillage by 48 %, and increases average daily operating efficiency by 1.13 % compared with empirical dispatch. Relative to a single-level optimization benchmark, the closed-loop framework further improves overall performance and provides a scalable pathway for cost-effective and cleaner operation of variable-speed pumping stations under time-of-use price conditions.","PeriodicalId":349,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Cleaner Production","volume":"85 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":11.1,"publicationDate":"2026-03-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147492529","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-21DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2026.147950
Maojun Wang, Xinlong Wei, Jiawei Ding, Fuping Lu, Ramon Gonzalez, Aiqin Shi, Yu Li
GRAS-certified Bacillus amyloliquefaciens TCCC 111018 (B.amyloliquefaciens TCCC 111018) has food industry potential for enzyme production, but its clean production is limited by excessive non-target extracellular proteins, raising purification costs and wastewater organics. Here, we developed a dual-plasmid CRISPR/Cas9n system in BA1 (a derivative of B.amyloliquefaciens TCCC 111018) and achieved 93% single-gene deletion efficiency, 40% gene cluster deletion efficiency, and 80% chromosomal insertion efficiency for a 1.06-kb alkaline protease gene. Mass spectrometry analysis of BA5 (a derivative of BA1) fermentation supernatants identified native extracellular proteins, enabling targeted knockout to generate strain BA15. Introduction of plasmid pLY-3-aprE into BA5 and BA15 yielded BA17 and BA24. Compared to BA17, BA24 demonstrated a 29.13% increase in alkaline protease activity. Furthermore, using the split green fluorescent protein (split-GFP) system combined with fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) analysis, excessive heterologous protein secretion was identified as the rate-limiting step. Strain BA15 was employed to express sucrose isomerase and aminopeptidase, respectively. The activity of sucrose isomerase reached 1.78-fold that of the control strain, while that of aminopeptidase was 2.06-fold. Additionally, both the turbidity and protein content of the fermentation supernatant were significantly decreased. Systematic knockout of extracellular non-target proteins not only boosts target enzyme yields but also reduces organic matter in fermentation wastewater. This approach mitigates the environmental footprint of enzyme manufacturing and offers a viable technical pathway for clean production in the industrial enzyme sector.
{"title":"Development and application of a CRISPR/Cas9n system for deleting multiple secretion-related protein genes in Bacillus amyloliquefaciens to facilitate industrial enzymes clean production","authors":"Maojun Wang, Xinlong Wei, Jiawei Ding, Fuping Lu, Ramon Gonzalez, Aiqin Shi, Yu Li","doi":"10.1016/j.jclepro.2026.147950","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2026.147950","url":null,"abstract":"GRAS-certified <em>Bacillus amyloliquefaciens</em> TCCC 111018 (<em>B.amyloliquefaciens</em> TCCC 111018) has food industry potential for enzyme production, but its clean production is limited by excessive non-target extracellular proteins, raising purification costs and wastewater organics. Here, we developed a dual-plasmid CRISPR/Cas9n system in BA1 (a derivative of <em>B.amyloliquefaciens</em> TCCC 111018) and achieved 93% single-gene deletion efficiency, 40% gene cluster deletion efficiency, and 80% chromosomal insertion efficiency for a 1.06-kb alkaline protease gene. Mass spectrometry analysis of BA5 (a derivative of BA1) fermentation supernatants identified native extracellular proteins, enabling targeted knockout to generate strain BA15. Introduction of plasmid pLY-3-<em>aprE</em> into BA5 and BA15 yielded BA17 and BA24. Compared to BA17, BA24 demonstrated a 29.13% increase in alkaline protease activity. Furthermore, using the split green fluorescent protein (split-GFP) system combined with fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) analysis, excessive heterologous protein secretion was identified as the rate-limiting step. Strain BA15 was employed to express sucrose isomerase and aminopeptidase, respectively. The activity of sucrose isomerase reached 1.78-fold that of the control strain, while that of aminopeptidase was 2.06-fold. Additionally, both the turbidity and protein content of the fermentation supernatant were significantly decreased. Systematic knockout of extracellular non-target proteins not only boosts target enzyme yields but also reduces organic matter in fermentation wastewater. This approach mitigates the environmental footprint of enzyme manufacturing and offers a viable technical pathway for clean production in the industrial enzyme sector.","PeriodicalId":349,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Cleaner Production","volume":"11 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":11.1,"publicationDate":"2026-03-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147492527","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-21DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2026.148075
Siyu Luo, Yihsu Chen, Liliana Xochi Hinojoza, J. Elliott Campbell
Composting has emerged as a key methane mitigation strategy. California has enacted one of the world’s most ambitious organic waste diversion mandates (SB 1383), requiring a 75% reduction in landfill disposal by 2025 compared to 2014 waste disposal levels. While previous studies have demonstrated the climate benefits of this unprecedented regional shift to composting, limited attention has been given to the logistical feasibility of delivering compost to croplands under real-world infrastructure. A critical knowledge gap remains in understanding the spatial alignment between waste generation, processing capacity, and cropland demand. Here we develop a geospatial optimization model that simulates statewide compost logistics using detailed road routing and facility-level data. The model estimates mass-weighted average haul distances of 46 km for organic waste and 80 km for compost, capturing regional variation in supply and demand. Results show that minimizing cost and emissions while meeting diversion targets requires distributing compost from coastal cities to inland agricultural regions. Nearly 70% of compost is allocated to Southern California and the San Joaquin Valley — regions prioritized for soil restoration. These findings provide a system-level foundation for planning compost infrastructure to support California’s climate and waste diversion goals.
{"title":"Geospatial optimization of compost distribution for cropland under California’s organic waste diversion strategy","authors":"Siyu Luo, Yihsu Chen, Liliana Xochi Hinojoza, J. Elliott Campbell","doi":"10.1016/j.jclepro.2026.148075","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2026.148075","url":null,"abstract":"Composting has emerged as a key methane mitigation strategy. California has enacted one of the world’s most ambitious organic waste diversion mandates (SB 1383), requiring a 75% reduction in landfill disposal by 2025 compared to 2014 waste disposal levels. While previous studies have demonstrated the climate benefits of this unprecedented regional shift to composting, limited attention has been given to the logistical feasibility of delivering compost to croplands under real-world infrastructure. A critical knowledge gap remains in understanding the spatial alignment between waste generation, processing capacity, and cropland demand. Here we develop a geospatial optimization model that simulates statewide compost logistics using detailed road routing and facility-level data. The model estimates mass-weighted average haul distances of 46 km for organic waste and 80 km for compost, capturing regional variation in supply and demand. Results show that minimizing cost and emissions while meeting diversion targets requires distributing compost from coastal cities to inland agricultural regions. Nearly 70% of compost is allocated to Southern California and the San Joaquin Valley — regions prioritized for soil restoration. These findings provide a system-level foundation for planning compost infrastructure to support California’s climate and waste diversion goals.","PeriodicalId":349,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Cleaner Production","volume":"14 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":11.1,"publicationDate":"2026-03-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147492528","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-21DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2026.148054
Štefan Bojnec, Imre Fertő
Agri-environmental schemes (AES) are central policy instruments designed to promote environmentally friendly agricultural practices by financially supporting the adoption of sustainable land management. While a substantial body of research examines how AES influence environmental outcomes and overall farm performance, far less is known about their direct effects on farm-level variable input costs, particularly in terms of energy, fertilizer, and crop protection expenditures. Existing studies typically analyse eco-efficiency or broad economic-environmental indicators, leaving a critical empirical gap regarding whether and how AES reshape the cost structure of farms during and after adoption. This study addresses this gap by estimating the causal impact of AES participation on key variable input costs using Slovenian Farm Accountancy Data Network data and a Differences-in-Differences (DID) design with staggered adoption, supported by robustness and sensitivity analyses. The findings indicate that AES participation leads to significant reductions in pesticide and energy costs, while fertilizer expenditures tend to increase in the short term before stabilizing or declining over time. These patterns suggest that AES trigger structural adjustments in production—such as reduced tillage intensity and transitions to organic or biological inputs—that can initially raise some input costs but contribute to longer-term sustainability. The study therefore offers new empirical evidence on the cost implications of AES, improving understanding of how environmental policy instruments affect farm-level economic decisions. These insights are essential for designing AES that support both environmental objectives and the economic viability of farmers, particularly in regions where sustainability transitions may involve short-term trade-offs.
{"title":"Agri-environmental schemes reduce variable input costs: Evidence from Slovenian farms","authors":"Štefan Bojnec, Imre Fertő","doi":"10.1016/j.jclepro.2026.148054","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2026.148054","url":null,"abstract":"Agri-environmental schemes (AES) are central policy instruments designed to promote environmentally friendly agricultural practices by financially supporting the adoption of sustainable land management. While a substantial body of research examines how AES influence environmental outcomes and overall farm performance, far less is known about their direct effects on farm-level variable input costs, particularly in terms of energy, fertilizer, and crop protection expenditures. Existing studies typically analyse eco-efficiency or broad economic-environmental indicators, leaving a critical empirical gap regarding whether and how AES reshape the cost structure of farms during and after adoption. This study addresses this gap by estimating the causal impact of AES participation on key variable input costs using Slovenian Farm Accountancy Data Network data and a Differences-in-Differences (DID) design with staggered adoption, supported by robustness and sensitivity analyses. The findings indicate that AES participation leads to significant reductions in pesticide and energy costs, while fertilizer expenditures tend to increase in the short term before stabilizing or declining over time. These patterns suggest that AES trigger structural adjustments in production—such as reduced tillage intensity and transitions to organic or biological inputs—that can initially raise some input costs but contribute to longer-term sustainability. The study therefore offers new empirical evidence on the cost implications of AES, improving understanding of how environmental policy instruments affect farm-level economic decisions. These insights are essential for designing AES that support both environmental objectives and the economic viability of farmers, particularly in regions where sustainability transitions may involve short-term trade-offs.","PeriodicalId":349,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Cleaner Production","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":11.1,"publicationDate":"2026-03-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147492828","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-21DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2026.148062
Delong Liu, Yunxing Wu, Youzhu Zhao, Mo Li, Qiuxiang Jiang, Zilong Wang
Rapid economic growth intensifies risks in water-energy-carbon (W-E-C) systems. To address existing research gaps in the comprehensive evaluation of the risk resilience of W-E-C systems, this study proposes a novel analytical framework from a complex network perspective to assess the structural resilience of water-energy-carbon systems. Using China as a case study, an empirical analysis is conducted to demonstrate the applicability of the proposed framework. The study employs a multi-regional input-output (MRIO) model combined with water-energy-carbon footprint data to quantify embodied W-E-C footprint flows at both provincial and sectoral levels and to construct corresponding flow networks. Network structural resilience is assessed using indicators of hierarchy, assortativity, transmissivity, and clustering. The results indicated: (1) Embodied W-E-C footprints exhibit contrasting evolutionary transfer patterns. Spatially, flows generally shift from western and northern regions to eastern and southern regions. Over time, embodied water footprints transition from cross-regional to adjacent transfers, whereas embodied energy-carbon footprints show an opposite trend. At the sectoral level, agriculture is the main outflow sector for embodied water footprints, while the chemical industry and metal products manufacturing dominate embodied energy-carbon outflows, with construction and services acting as major inflow sectors. (2) Clear differences in synergy exist between provincial and sectoral levels: provincial W-E-C synergies strengthen during 2002-2017 with an emerging north-south divergence, whereas intersectoral synergies remain insignificant. (3) Structural resilience improves in interprovincial W-E-C networks but shows limited change in intersectoral energy-carbon networks, while a gradual decline is observed in intersectoral water footprint networks. The core contribution of this study lies in providing, for the first time, a methodological framework for assessing the resilience of coupled resource systems within the context of economic transition. Its empirical findings can offer data-driven and policy-relevant insights for optimising resource trade patterns, enhancing the risk resilience of the W-E-C systems, and advancing sustainable development.
{"title":"Structural resilience and synergistic nexus in China's embodied water-energy-carbon footprints flow networks","authors":"Delong Liu, Yunxing Wu, Youzhu Zhao, Mo Li, Qiuxiang Jiang, Zilong Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.jclepro.2026.148062","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2026.148062","url":null,"abstract":"Rapid economic growth intensifies risks in water-energy-carbon (W-E-C) systems. To address existing research gaps in the comprehensive evaluation of the risk resilience of W-E-C systems, this study proposes a novel analytical framework from a complex network perspective to assess the structural resilience of water-energy-carbon systems. Using China as a case study, an empirical analysis is conducted to demonstrate the applicability of the proposed framework. The study employs a multi-regional input-output (MRIO) model combined with water-energy-carbon footprint data to quantify embodied W-E-C footprint flows at both provincial and sectoral levels and to construct corresponding flow networks. Network structural resilience is assessed using indicators of hierarchy, assortativity, transmissivity, and clustering. The results indicated: (1) Embodied W-E-C footprints exhibit contrasting evolutionary transfer patterns. Spatially, flows generally shift from western and northern regions to eastern and southern regions. Over time, embodied water footprints transition from cross-regional to adjacent transfers, whereas embodied energy-carbon footprints show an opposite trend. At the sectoral level, agriculture is the main outflow sector for embodied water footprints, while the chemical industry and metal products manufacturing dominate embodied energy-carbon outflows, with construction and services acting as major inflow sectors. (2) Clear differences in synergy exist between provincial and sectoral levels: provincial W-E-C synergies strengthen during 2002-2017 with an emerging north-south divergence, whereas intersectoral synergies remain insignificant. (3) Structural resilience improves in interprovincial W-E-C networks but shows limited change in intersectoral energy-carbon networks, while a gradual decline is observed in intersectoral water footprint networks. The core contribution of this study lies in providing, for the first time, a methodological framework for assessing the resilience of coupled resource systems within the context of economic transition. Its empirical findings can offer data-driven and policy-relevant insights for optimising resource trade patterns, enhancing the risk resilience of the W-E-C systems, and advancing sustainable development.","PeriodicalId":349,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Cleaner Production","volume":"113 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":11.1,"publicationDate":"2026-03-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147492979","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-21DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2026.148057
Jihao Li, Jiantong Zheng, Yang Gu, Lu Wang, Peipei Zhang, Huixiang Zhang, Rongyang Fan, Ai-Yun Ni, Haijun Tan
Accurate detection and efficient removal of metal ions from wastewater are critical for environmental protection. However, existing materials often face challenges in integrating the dual functions of highly sensitive detection and efficient adsorption. In this study, a bifunctional aerogel bead, designated as SA@UiO-66-(OH)2/(COOH)2, was successfully prepared by incorporating the metal-organic framework (MOFs) UiO-66-(OH)2/(COOH)2, which contains abundant functional groups, into a sodium alginate (SA) matrix. This composite simultaneously achieves rapid and highly sensitive fluorescence detection of Al3+, with a response time of 30 s and a detection limit of 0.79 μM, and high-capacity adsorption of Pb2+, exhibiting a maximum adsorption capacity of 335.8 mg/g. These results overcome the limitations of single-function materials. Moreover, by encapsulating the powder within SA-based aerogel beads, the material was converted into macroscopic beads that are easily recoverable and exhibit good mechanical strength. This approach effectively addresses key practical bottlenecks in water treatment, namely difficulties in material separation and poor stability. Based on experimental and characterization data, the mechanisms underlying detection and adsorption were thoroughly investigated. Furthermore, when applied to practical water samples such as tap water, lake water, and river water, the aerogel beads maintained high recovery rates for Pb2+. In summary, this work presents a material capable of efficiently detecting Al3+ and effectively removing Pb2+ from water, offering a promising strategy for the synergistic management of multiple pollutants in real-world water treatment scenarios.
{"title":"“Two-in-one” luminescent MOFs/sodium alginate aerogel beads for sensitive detection of Al3+ and efficient enrichment of Pb2+ in water","authors":"Jihao Li, Jiantong Zheng, Yang Gu, Lu Wang, Peipei Zhang, Huixiang Zhang, Rongyang Fan, Ai-Yun Ni, Haijun Tan","doi":"10.1016/j.jclepro.2026.148057","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2026.148057","url":null,"abstract":"Accurate detection and efficient removal of metal ions from wastewater are critical for environmental protection. However, existing materials often face challenges in integrating the dual functions of highly sensitive detection and efficient adsorption. In this study, a bifunctional aerogel bead, designated as SA@UiO-66-(OH)<sub>2</sub>/(COOH)<sub>2</sub>, was successfully prepared by incorporating the metal-organic framework (MOFs) UiO-66-(OH)<sub>2</sub>/(COOH)<sub>2</sub>, which contains abundant functional groups, into a sodium alginate (SA) matrix. This composite simultaneously achieves rapid and highly sensitive fluorescence detection of Al<sup>3+</sup>, with a response time of 30 s and a detection limit of 0.79 μM, and high-capacity adsorption of Pb<sup>2+</sup>, exhibiting a maximum adsorption capacity of 335.8 mg/g. These results overcome the limitations of single-function materials. Moreover, by encapsulating the powder within SA-based aerogel beads, the material was converted into macroscopic beads that are easily recoverable and exhibit good mechanical strength. This approach effectively addresses key practical bottlenecks in water treatment, namely difficulties in material separation and poor stability. Based on experimental and characterization data, the mechanisms underlying detection and adsorption were thoroughly investigated. Furthermore, when applied to practical water samples such as tap water, lake water, and river water, the aerogel beads maintained high recovery rates for Pb<sup>2+</sup>. In summary, this work presents a material capable of efficiently detecting Al<sup>3+</sup> and effectively removing Pb<sup>2+</sup> from water, offering a promising strategy for the synergistic management of multiple pollutants in real-world water treatment scenarios.","PeriodicalId":349,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Cleaner Production","volume":"27 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":11.1,"publicationDate":"2026-03-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147493032","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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