Pub Date : 2025-12-15DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2025.147220
Isabella Johanna Limbrunner, Klaus Menrad, Agnes Emberger-Klein
Thanks to their environmentally friendly properties, bio-based insulation materials can positively contribute to reducing CO2 emissions. Despite this, private homeowners often opt for conventional alternatives, which is reflected in the low market share of bio-based insulation materials, e.g., in Germany. To analyze the factors influencing the installation of bio-based insulation materials by private homeowners, this paper uses an expanded version of the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). A total of 1194 private homeowners in Germany who have already realized or planned insulation activities were surveyed via an online panel. The findings indicate that Perceived Environmental Knowledge and Environmental Concern are significant predictors for Subjective Norm, Attitude, and Perceived Behavioral Control, which in turn have a significant positive influence on Intention. In addition, the Perceived Effectiveness of Support Programs is identified as having a significant but negative influence on Intention. The behavior of installing bio-based insulation materials is positively influenced by both Intention and Perceived Behavioral Control. The results support policymakers and marketers in developing marketing and education campaigns and feed into approaches for promotion measures for bio-based insulation materials.
{"title":"Extending the theory of planned behavior: Factors influencing private homeowners’ decisions to install bio-based insulation in Germany","authors":"Isabella Johanna Limbrunner, Klaus Menrad, Agnes Emberger-Klein","doi":"10.1016/j.jclepro.2025.147220","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jclepro.2025.147220","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Thanks to their environmentally friendly properties, bio-based insulation materials can positively contribute to reducing CO<sub>2</sub> emissions. Despite this, private homeowners often opt for conventional alternatives, which is reflected in the low market share of bio-based insulation materials, e.g., in Germany. To analyze the factors influencing the installation of bio-based insulation materials by private homeowners, this paper uses an expanded version of the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). A total of 1194 private homeowners in Germany who have already realized or planned insulation activities were surveyed via an online panel. The findings indicate that Perceived Environmental Knowledge and Environmental Concern are significant predictors for Subjective Norm, Attitude, and Perceived Behavioral Control, which in turn have a significant positive influence on Intention. In addition, the Perceived Effectiveness of Support Programs is identified as having a significant but negative influence on Intention. The behavior of installing bio-based insulation materials is positively influenced by both Intention and Perceived Behavioral Control. The results support policymakers and marketers in developing marketing and education campaigns and feed into approaches for promotion measures for bio-based insulation materials.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":349,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Cleaner Production","volume":"538 ","pages":"Article 147220"},"PeriodicalIF":10.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145760466","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}
The growing challenges of urban food waste accumulation and the urgent demand for low-carbon energy transition highlight the need for integrated solutions that couple waste management with renewable energy utilization. However, most existing studies have not fully achieved an effective integration of high-efficiency energy utilization and resource circularity, leading to limited energy recovery and weak system synergy. To address these issues, this study proposes a novel microgrid system that couples PV power generation with food waste treatment to achieve efficient energy utilization and resource valorization. The system incorporates anaerobic digestion for biogas production, biogas power generation, waste heat recovery, and the use of residual heat for insect protein production. A comprehensive system framework is created, with subsequent optimization of parameters and refinement of the energy dispatch strategy to improve performance. The proposed system achieves multi-stage energy cascade utilization, maximizing waste-derived energy recovery and reducing energy losses compared with conventional microgrids. The optimized LCOE for the grid-connected mode is 0.075 $/kWh, representing a 17.58 % reduction compared to the isolated mode. Optimization results reveal that the grid-connected mode achieves LOLP of 5.91 %, CO2 emissions of 163 t/year and insect protein production of 7.17 t/year, whereas the isolated mode yields an LOLP of 0.42 %, CO2 emissions of 45 t/year, and insect protein production of 10.56 t/year. Compared with recent studies on PV–biogas-based microgrids, the proposed system achieves a significantly lower LCOE, demonstrating strong techno-economic advantages and providing a scalable pathway for the development of high-efficiency microgrids aligned with circular economy principles.
{"title":"Power load analysis and configuration optimization of a hybrid microgrid integrating food waste-to-biogas and photovoltaics","authors":"Liangqi Chen , Ziyang Cheng , Huifeng Yue , Jiangfeng Wang , Juwei Lou , K.J. Chua","doi":"10.1016/j.jclepro.2025.147295","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jclepro.2025.147295","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The growing challenges of urban food waste accumulation and the urgent demand for low-carbon energy transition highlight the need for integrated solutions that couple waste management with renewable energy utilization. However, most existing studies have not fully achieved an effective integration of high-efficiency energy utilization and resource circularity, leading to limited energy recovery and weak system synergy. To address these issues, this study proposes a novel microgrid system that couples PV power generation with food waste treatment to achieve efficient energy utilization and resource valorization. The system incorporates anaerobic digestion for biogas production, biogas power generation, waste heat recovery, and the use of residual heat for insect protein production. A comprehensive system framework is created, with subsequent optimization of parameters and refinement of the energy dispatch strategy to improve performance. The proposed system achieves multi-stage energy cascade utilization, maximizing waste-derived energy recovery and reducing energy losses compared with conventional microgrids. The optimized <em>LCOE</em> for the grid-connected mode is 0.075 $/kWh, representing a 17.58 % reduction compared to the isolated mode. Optimization results reveal that the grid-connected mode achieves <em>LOLP</em> of 5.91 %, CO<sub>2</sub> emissions of 163 t/year and insect protein production of 7.17 t/year, whereas the isolated mode yields an <em>LOLP</em> of 0.42 %, CO<sub>2</sub> emissions of 45 t/year, and insect protein production of 10.56 t/year. Compared with recent studies on PV–biogas-based microgrids, the proposed system achieves a significantly lower <em>LCOE</em>, demonstrating strong techno-economic advantages and providing a scalable pathway for the development of high-efficiency microgrids aligned with circular economy principles.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":349,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Cleaner Production","volume":"538 ","pages":"Article 147295"},"PeriodicalIF":10.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145753184","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 : 2025-12-15DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2025.147307
Wenrui Xu , Youjun Xie , Fan Wang , Zhiyu Luo , Gang Ma , Yiran Li , Yingjie Li , Guangcheng Long , Zhuo Tang
In this study, the two critical aspects of nanoindentation techniques—deconvolution methods and loading parameters—for characterizing sodium aluminosilicate hydrate (N-A-S-H) in fly ash based geopolymers were experimentally investigated. Three prevailing deconvolution methods, i.e., Gaussian Mixture Models (GMM), Probability Density Functions (PDF), and Cumulative Distribution Functions (CDF), are employed to separate the gel phase and capture its micromechanical properties and proportions. Meanwhile, novel indicators were introduced to assess the effectiveness of deconvolution models. The optimal number of phases (K) was determined using information-theoretic and clustering quality metrics, including the Bayesian Information Criterion, silhouette coefficient, and Calinski–Harabasz index. Furthermore, the Bin Size Index was utilized to optimize the bin size for PDF models, ensuring robust histogram representation. Results indicate that the GMM demonstrates superior fitting quality when the optimal K is 6. The PDF model demonstrated optimal performance under K = 4, with bin sizes of 2.0 GPa and 0.15 GPa for elastic modulus and hardness, respectively. The CDF model achieved an optimal balance between model complexity and fitting accuracy at K = 4. Furthermore, comparative analysis reveals that GMM is superior in clustering capability among the other two deconvolution methods. By utilizing this method, the influences of loading parameters on test results were further studied. It was found that the increase in the holding load leads to a decrease in elastic modulus and hardness with a more concentrated distribution and an increased gel phase proportion, but overlooks local microstructural characteristics. Extended holding times induce creep deformation, creating larger indentation areas that underestimate hardness and affect unloading analyses. A power function relationship exists between mechanical properties and indentation depth, with holding load exerting significantly greater influence than holding time on penetration depth. Based on a comprehensive evaluation of indentation depth, model accuracy, and microstructural preservation, a loading regime of 5 mN for 10 s was identified as optimal for N-A-S-H gel characterization.
{"title":"Evaluation of deconvolution methods and loading parameters in nanoindentation characterization of sodium aluminosilicate hydrate gel in fly ash based geopolymers","authors":"Wenrui Xu , Youjun Xie , Fan Wang , Zhiyu Luo , Gang Ma , Yiran Li , Yingjie Li , Guangcheng Long , Zhuo Tang","doi":"10.1016/j.jclepro.2025.147307","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jclepro.2025.147307","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In this study, the two critical aspects of nanoindentation techniques—deconvolution methods and loading parameters—for characterizing sodium aluminosilicate hydrate (N-A-S-H) in fly ash based geopolymers were experimentally investigated. Three prevailing deconvolution methods, i.e., Gaussian Mixture Models (GMM), Probability Density Functions (PDF), and Cumulative Distribution Functions (CDF), are employed to separate the gel phase and capture its micromechanical properties and proportions. Meanwhile, novel indicators were introduced to assess the effectiveness of deconvolution models. The optimal number of phases (<em>K</em>) was determined using information-theoretic and clustering quality metrics, including the Bayesian Information Criterion, silhouette coefficient, and Calinski–Harabasz index. Furthermore, the Bin Size Index was utilized to optimize the bin size for PDF models, ensuring robust histogram representation. Results indicate that the GMM demonstrates superior fitting quality when the optimal <em>K</em> is 6. The PDF model demonstrated optimal performance under <em>K</em> = 4, with bin sizes of 2.0 GPa and 0.15 GPa for elastic modulus and hardness, respectively. The CDF model achieved an optimal balance between model complexity and fitting accuracy at <em>K</em> = 4. Furthermore, comparative analysis reveals that GMM is superior in clustering capability among the other two deconvolution methods. By utilizing this method, the influences of loading parameters on test results were further studied. It was found that the increase in the holding load leads to a decrease in elastic modulus and hardness with a more concentrated distribution and an increased gel phase proportion, but overlooks local microstructural characteristics. Extended holding times induce creep deformation, creating larger indentation areas that underestimate hardness and affect unloading analyses. A power function relationship exists between mechanical properties and indentation depth, with holding load exerting significantly greater influence than holding time on penetration depth. Based on a comprehensive evaluation of indentation depth, model accuracy, and microstructural preservation, a loading regime of 5 mN for 10 s was identified as optimal for N-A-S-H gel characterization.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":349,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Cleaner Production","volume":"538 ","pages":"Article 147307"},"PeriodicalIF":10.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145760464","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}
The integration of sustainability into business operations increasingly requires firms to align environmental strategies with customer value. This study examines how external and internal motivations influence the implementation of customer-oriented green actions through four core firm-specific practices: environmental management systems (EMS), sustainable supplier selection, product eco-design, and green human resource management (HRM). We propose a moderated mediation model to explore how different types of motivation influence green action enactment, both directly and indirectly through internal capabilities. The model is empirically tested using structural equation modeling (SEM) on a large cross-sectoral sample of 879 Italian firms. Results show that external motivations have a more substantial impact on eco-design and HRM, whereas internal motivations have a more significant influence on EMS and supplier selection. All four practices significantly enhance customer-oriented green actions, with supplier selection being the most impactful. The moderating role of firm size reveals that eco-design is more relevant for smaller firms, while HRM plays a stronger role in larger organizations. This study contributes to the environmental management literature by providing an integrated view of how motivational drivers and firm-level practices interact to promote sustainability-oriented customer engagement. The findings offer actionable insights for managers, particularly in aligning sustainability practices with customer-facing value creation, and for policymakers aiming to design targeted incentives that support sustainable transformation across various firm types and sizes.
{"title":"From motivation to implementation: A firm-level model of customer-oriented green actions","authors":"Angelo Paletta , Daniele Scarpi , Genc Alimehmeti , Eleonora Foschi","doi":"10.1016/j.jclepro.2025.147273","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jclepro.2025.147273","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The integration of sustainability into business operations increasingly requires firms to align environmental strategies with customer value. This study examines how external and internal motivations influence the implementation of customer-oriented green actions through four core firm-specific practices: environmental management systems (EMS), sustainable supplier selection, product eco-design, and green human resource management (HRM). We propose a moderated mediation model to explore how different types of motivation influence green action enactment, both directly and indirectly through internal capabilities. The model is empirically tested using structural equation modeling (SEM) on a large cross-sectoral sample of 879 Italian firms. Results show that external motivations have a more substantial impact on eco-design and HRM, whereas internal motivations have a more significant influence on EMS and supplier selection. All four practices significantly enhance customer-oriented green actions, with supplier selection being the most impactful. The moderating role of firm size reveals that eco-design is more relevant for smaller firms, while HRM plays a stronger role in larger organizations. This study contributes to the environmental management literature by providing an integrated view of how motivational drivers and firm-level practices interact to promote sustainability-oriented customer engagement. The findings offer actionable insights for managers, particularly in aligning sustainability practices with customer-facing value creation, and for policymakers aiming to design targeted incentives that support sustainable transformation across various firm types and sizes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":349,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Cleaner Production","volume":"538 ","pages":"Article 147273"},"PeriodicalIF":10.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145760465","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 : 2025-12-15DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2025.147160
Dan Chen , Kai-rui Guo , Wei Zeng , Fu-hai Wang
Scientifically optimizing the ecological security network and formulating differentiated ecological restoration strategies are the spatial realization path of regional ecological civilization construction and provide ecological foundation guarantee for regional sustainable development. This study establishes a systematic framework for the Three Gorges Reservoir Area (TGRA) that integrates the assessment of ecological security functions, the construction of ecological security network, the analysis of their dynamic coupling coordination, and spatial zoning and grading for optimized management. By integrating landscape ecology with complex network theory, this study identifies key ecological restoration areas, prioritizes restoration levels, and proposes zone-specific optimization strategies based on the coupling coordination relationship between watershed ecological security function and network structure. The results showed that ecological security network exhibits small-world properties with strong local connectivity in the TGRA. High function-structure coupling coordination zones predominantly aligned with ecological sources and major corridors, while low-coordination areas overlapped with human construction zone, revealing dynamic evolution characteristics of ecological security network under conservation-development conflicts. We identified the Zhongliang and Tongluo Mountain areas as priority restoration zones due to severe function-structure discordance. A key finding is that structural enhancement of the watershed ecological security network must precede the improvement of its ecological security function. These insights advance the integration of landscape ecology with network science and provide a actionable framework for spatial ecological restoration.
{"title":"Zoning-grading optimization of watershed ecological security network integrating function and structure: A case study in the Three Gorges Reservoir Area","authors":"Dan Chen , Kai-rui Guo , Wei Zeng , Fu-hai Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.jclepro.2025.147160","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jclepro.2025.147160","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Scientifically optimizing the ecological security network and formulating differentiated ecological restoration strategies are the spatial realization path of regional ecological civilization construction and provide ecological foundation guarantee for regional sustainable development. This study establishes a systematic framework for the Three Gorges Reservoir Area (TGRA) that integrates the assessment of ecological security functions, the construction of ecological security network, the analysis of their dynamic coupling coordination, and spatial zoning and grading for optimized management. By integrating landscape ecology with complex network theory, this study identifies key ecological restoration areas, prioritizes restoration levels, and proposes zone-specific optimization strategies based on the coupling coordination relationship between watershed ecological security function and network structure. The results showed that ecological security network exhibits small-world properties with strong local connectivity in the TGRA. High function-structure coupling coordination zones predominantly aligned with ecological sources and major corridors, while low-coordination areas overlapped with human construction zone, revealing dynamic evolution characteristics of ecological security network under conservation-development conflicts. We identified the Zhongliang and Tongluo Mountain areas as priority restoration zones due to severe function-structure discordance. A key finding is that structural enhancement of the watershed ecological security network must precede the improvement of its ecological security function. These insights advance the integration of landscape ecology with network science and provide a actionable framework for spatial ecological restoration.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":349,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Cleaner Production","volume":"538 ","pages":"Article 147160"},"PeriodicalIF":10.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145760468","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 : 2025-12-15DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2025.147333
Xudong Wang , Xujia Ming , Jiaqi Su , Mengyu Chen , Xianguo Li , Dahai Zhang
Acidified food waste is often characterized by low anaerobic digestion (AD) efficiency during the treatment process, significantly hindering its effective recycling and utilization. Ethanol pre-fermentation can significantly improve the AD stability of food waste by biologically regulating the acidogenic pathway. In this study, the introduction of distillers’ grains eliminated the negative effects of acidification on food waste during ethanol pre-fermentation. The pre-fermentation stage involved ethanol-type and butyric acid-type fermentation, and the activity of the electron transport system was significantly enhanced. After pre-fermentation, 443.23 ± 11.39 mL/g VSS of methane was produced, representing a 24.45% increase. Pre-fermentation improved the utilization of organic matter during AD. The removal rates of volatile suspended solids and total chemical oxygen demand were increased by 49.98% and 28.45%, respectively. Metagenomic analysis showed that pre-fermentation facilitated carbohydrate and amino acid metabolism, promoting the hydrolysis of macromolecular organic matter and providing a more available substrate for acidogenesis. Additionally, pre-fermentation facilitated the expression of genes related to acetic acid production. It also enhanced the methanogenesis pathways involving acetate, methanol, and methyl compounds. This study revealed the mechanism by which the pre-fermentation affects the AD metabolic process, thereby paving a novel pathway for the resource utilization of acidified food waste.
{"title":"Metabolic mechanism of ethanol pre-fermentation to enhance anaerobic digestion of acidified food waste","authors":"Xudong Wang , Xujia Ming , Jiaqi Su , Mengyu Chen , Xianguo Li , Dahai Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.jclepro.2025.147333","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jclepro.2025.147333","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Acidified food waste is often characterized by low anaerobic digestion (AD) efficiency during the treatment process, significantly hindering its effective recycling and utilization. Ethanol pre-fermentation can significantly improve the AD stability of food waste by biologically regulating the acidogenic pathway. In this study, the introduction of distillers’ grains eliminated the negative effects of acidification on food waste during ethanol pre-fermentation. The pre-fermentation stage involved ethanol-type and butyric acid-type fermentation, and the activity of the electron transport system was significantly enhanced. After pre-fermentation, 443.23 ± 11.39 mL/g VSS of methane was produced, representing a 24.45% increase. Pre-fermentation improved the utilization of organic matter during AD. The removal rates of volatile suspended solids and total chemical oxygen demand were increased by 49.98% and 28.45%, respectively. Metagenomic analysis showed that pre-fermentation facilitated carbohydrate and amino acid metabolism, promoting the hydrolysis of macromolecular organic matter and providing a more available substrate for acidogenesis. Additionally, pre-fermentation facilitated the expression of genes related to acetic acid production. It also enhanced the methanogenesis pathways involving acetate, methanol, and methyl compounds. This study revealed the mechanism by which the pre-fermentation affects the AD metabolic process, thereby paving a novel pathway for the resource utilization of acidified food waste.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":349,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Cleaner Production","volume":"538 ","pages":"Article 147333"},"PeriodicalIF":10.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145760461","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}
Microplastics released into the environment represent a threat to marine, freshwater, and terrestrial ecosystems. Current Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA) methods inadequately address plastic litter, leading to an underestimation of the overall impact of plastic products on ecosystem quality. This study contributes to the MarILCA working group's efforts to incorporate plastic litter impacts into LCIA by investigating microplastic emissions across various environmental compartments and on three different types of ecosystems: Marine, Freshwater and Terrestrial.
Regionalized multimedia Characterization Factors (CFs) are calculated following two different approaches: 1- the surface approach, indicating the proportion of species lost over an area (in PDF·m2·yr/kg) and 2- the species approach, quantifying the proportion of species lost from the global ecosystem (in PDF·yr/kg or species·yr/kg). They are calculated for midpoint and endpoint levels and focus on physical effects on biota. A fate model based on SimpleBox4Plastic adapted to USEtox is developed to characterize the fate of 14 different polymers across 5 sizes and 9 environmental compartments on continental and global scales in 8 world regions. Fate Factors (FFs) are computed and combined with Exposure and Effect Factors (EEFs) for terrestrial, aquatic, and sedimentary species, alongside Species Distribution Factors (SDFs). The developed CFs are tested in an illustrative example that assesses the impacts of biodegradable and non-biodegradable agricultural mulch film on ecosystem quality.
The endpoint CFs calculated range from 1.87E-04 and 2.95E+04 PDF⸱m2⸱year/kgemitted for the surface approach and 1.57E-19 and 5.14E-08 PDF⸱year/kgemitted for the species approach. Low-density microplastics (MPs) exhibit similar CFs compared to high-density MPs, but for different reasons. Low-density MPs tend to accumulate in the water column, where the EEF is higher due to higher exposure via feeding, while high-density MPs accumulate in sediments, where the concentration of species is greater. Larger size microplastic emissions typically correspond to higher CFs due to longer degradation times. The species approach has a higher influence on the variation of CFs across regions. Case study results indicate that physical effects on biota exhibit a small contribution to ecosystem quality (0.34–2.40 % of the overall impact) for the different mulch film scenarios.
The developed CFs can be integrated into emission inventories, enhancing LCAs of plastic products and facilitating informed decisions regarding plastic use.
{"title":"Regionalized characterization factors for microplastic emissions in life cycle assessment considering multimedia fate modelling","authors":"Juliette Louvet , Joris T.K. Quik , Anne-Marie Boulay","doi":"10.1016/j.jclepro.2025.147217","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jclepro.2025.147217","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Microplastics released into the environment represent a threat to marine, freshwater, and terrestrial ecosystems. Current Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA) methods inadequately address plastic litter, leading to an underestimation of the overall impact of plastic products on ecosystem quality. This study contributes to the MarILCA working group's efforts to incorporate plastic litter impacts into LCIA by investigating microplastic emissions across various environmental compartments and on three different types of ecosystems: Marine, Freshwater and Terrestrial.</div><div>Regionalized multimedia Characterization Factors (CFs) are calculated following two different approaches: 1- the <em>surface</em> approach, indicating the proportion of species lost over an area (in PDF·m<sup>2</sup>·yr/kg) and 2- the <em>species</em> approach, quantifying the proportion of species lost from the global ecosystem (in PDF·yr/kg or species·yr/kg). They are calculated for midpoint and endpoint levels and focus on physical effects on biota. A fate model based on SimpleBox4Plastic adapted to USEtox is developed to characterize the fate of 14 different polymers across 5 sizes and 9 environmental compartments on continental and global scales in 8 world regions. Fate Factors (FFs) are computed and combined with Exposure and Effect Factors (EEFs) for terrestrial, aquatic, and sedimentary species, alongside Species Distribution Factors (SDFs). The developed CFs are tested in an illustrative example that assesses the impacts of biodegradable and non-biodegradable agricultural mulch film on ecosystem quality.</div><div>The endpoint CFs calculated range from 1.87E-04 and 2.95E+04 PDF⸱m<sup>2</sup>⸱year/kg<sub>emitted</sub> for the surface approach and 1.57E-19 and 5.14E-08 PDF⸱year/kg<sub>emitted</sub> for the species approach. Low-density microplastics (MPs) exhibit similar CFs compared to high-density MPs, but for different reasons. Low-density MPs tend to accumulate in the water column, where the EEF is higher due to higher exposure via feeding, while high-density MPs accumulate in sediments, where the concentration of species is greater. Larger size microplastic emissions typically correspond to higher CFs due to longer degradation times. The species approach has a higher influence on the variation of CFs across regions. Case study results indicate that physical effects on biota exhibit a small contribution to ecosystem quality (0.34–2.40 % of the overall impact) for the different mulch film scenarios.</div><div>The developed CFs can be integrated into emission inventories, enhancing LCAs of plastic products and facilitating informed decisions regarding plastic use.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":349,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Cleaner Production","volume":"538 ","pages":"Article 147217"},"PeriodicalIF":10.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145760467","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}
Soil clay minerals significantly affect the environmental behavior of heavy metal(loid)s (HMs) and have outstanding potential in pollution restoration. However, the stability effectiveness of original clay minerals on HMs still needs to be improved, creating a knowledge gap in their direct application for multi-metal polluted environments. The behavior of soluble organic matter (DOM) released by biochar ageing on the surface of clay minerals and its impact on the mineral-mediated HMs stabilization process are of great environmental significance. In this study, we systematically investigated the interfacial interaction between biochar-derived DOM and typical soil clay mineral montmorillonite (Mt) and its effect on Pb/As stability through experiments combined with ligand and charge distribution (LCD) model and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The results showed selective fractionation of biochar-derived DOM on Mt, particularly adsorption affinity for humic-like substances. DOM adsorption increased the surface charge density and available binding sites of Mt, thereby enhancing its adsorption capacity for Pb and As. LCD modeling explained the complexing behavior of metal ions in the DOM-Mt system, where >60 % of the binding state Pb(II) existed in the MT-DOM-Pb complexing form with pH < 3, while at higher pH, the direct endosphere complex morphology dominates. Furthermore, DFT calculations confirmed and predicted that DOM adsorption and Fe doping significantly enhanced the adsorption of Pb(II) and As(III). Specifically, Pb(II) is preferentially fixed primarily by interlayer adsorption, while As(III) adsorption occurs preferentially by surface complexation. These findings bridge the knowledge gap between DOM-clay interactions and multi-metal stabilization, providing insights into the geochemical processes and offering a scientific basis for designing green remediation materials capable of simultaneously immobilizing multiple HMs.
{"title":"Synergistic stabilization of lead and arsenic by biochar-derived dissolved organic matter and iron-doped mediated montmorillonite: Molecular mechanism and environmental implications","authors":"Wenshun Ke , Dang Ling , Huijuan Song , Liang Peng , Wenyan Gao , Feng Zhu , Haixia Liang , Shengguo Xue","doi":"10.1016/j.jclepro.2025.147330","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jclepro.2025.147330","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Soil clay minerals significantly affect the environmental behavior of heavy metal(loid)s (HMs) and have outstanding potential in pollution restoration. However, the stability effectiveness of original clay minerals on HMs still needs to be improved, creating a knowledge gap in their direct application for multi-metal polluted environments. The behavior of soluble organic matter (DOM) released by biochar ageing on the surface of clay minerals and its impact on the mineral-mediated HMs stabilization process are of great environmental significance. In this study, we systematically investigated the interfacial interaction between biochar-derived DOM and typical soil clay mineral montmorillonite (Mt) and its effect on Pb/As stability through experiments combined with ligand and charge distribution (LCD) model and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The results showed selective fractionation of biochar-derived DOM on Mt, particularly adsorption affinity for humic-like substances. DOM adsorption increased the surface charge density and available binding sites of Mt, thereby enhancing its adsorption capacity for Pb and As. LCD modeling explained the complexing behavior of metal ions in the DOM-Mt system, where >60 % of the binding state Pb(II) existed in the MT-DOM-Pb complexing form with pH < 3, while at higher pH, the direct endosphere complex morphology dominates. Furthermore, DFT calculations confirmed and predicted that DOM adsorption and Fe doping significantly enhanced the adsorption of Pb(II) and As(III). Specifically, Pb(II) is preferentially fixed primarily by interlayer adsorption, while As(III) adsorption occurs preferentially by surface complexation. These findings bridge the knowledge gap between DOM-clay interactions and multi-metal stabilization, providing insights into the geochemical processes and offering a scientific basis for designing green remediation materials capable of simultaneously immobilizing multiple HMs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":349,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Cleaner Production","volume":"538 ","pages":"Article 147330"},"PeriodicalIF":10.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145760469","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 : 2025-12-14DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2025.147341
Xiao Huang , Yafeng Wang , Shuai Wang , Junhe Chen , Xiaodan Wang , Eryuan Liang , Jiahao Ma , Xiaofeng Wang
Under the pressures of climate change and intensified human activities, maintaining the stability of social-ecological system (SES) has become a core challenge for sustainable development. As a crucial link between ecosystems and human societies, vegetation cover plays a key role in regulating SES stability; however, its boundary threshold and regulatory mechanism remain unclear, posing an obstacle to integrated social-ecological governance. The Yarlung Zangbo River Basin (YZRB), a key ecological function area and the economic center of Tibet, exhibits pronounced social-ecological coupling. Therefore, this study focused on the YZRB, employed network analysis to construct SES and clarify its variation patterns with fractional vegetation cover (FVC). Threshold regression models were then applied to identify the threshold effect of FVC on SES stability, followed by structural equation modeling to uncover the dominant driving pathways of SES stability across FVC threshold. The results showed that elevated FVC not only enhanced SES connectivity and cohesion but also reduced its vulnerability. However, this positive effect was not unlimited, as the impact of FVC on SES stability exhibited a threshold effect: moderate increases in FVC contributed to SES stability, whereas exceeding the threshold (FVC >0.72) could lead to negative impacts. Furthermore, the dominant driver of SES stability shifted from ecosystem services (ES) to climatic factors when FVC exceeded the threshold, underscoring the need for differentiated governance strategies. This study provides a scientific basis for integrated social-ecological governance in the YZRB and an adaptive research framework for sustainable development in similar regions worldwide, helping to advance SES research from theoretical exploration to practical application.
{"title":"Threshold effect and underlying mechanism of vegetation cover change on social-ecological system stability: Implications for regional sustainable development","authors":"Xiao Huang , Yafeng Wang , Shuai Wang , Junhe Chen , Xiaodan Wang , Eryuan Liang , Jiahao Ma , Xiaofeng Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.jclepro.2025.147341","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jclepro.2025.147341","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Under the pressures of climate change and intensified human activities, maintaining the stability of social-ecological system (SES) has become a core challenge for sustainable development. As a crucial link between ecosystems and human societies, vegetation cover plays a key role in regulating SES stability; however, its boundary threshold and regulatory mechanism remain unclear, posing an obstacle to integrated social-ecological governance. The Yarlung Zangbo River Basin (YZRB), a key ecological function area and the economic center of Tibet, exhibits pronounced social-ecological coupling. Therefore, this study focused on the YZRB, employed network analysis to construct SES and clarify its variation patterns with fractional vegetation cover (FVC). Threshold regression models were then applied to identify the threshold effect of FVC on SES stability, followed by structural equation modeling to uncover the dominant driving pathways of SES stability across FVC threshold. The results showed that elevated FVC not only enhanced SES connectivity and cohesion but also reduced its vulnerability. However, this positive effect was not unlimited, as the impact of FVC on SES stability exhibited a threshold effect: moderate increases in FVC contributed to SES stability, whereas exceeding the threshold (FVC >0.72) could lead to negative impacts. Furthermore, the dominant driver of SES stability shifted from ecosystem services (ES) to climatic factors when FVC exceeded the threshold, underscoring the need for differentiated governance strategies. This study provides a scientific basis for integrated social-ecological governance in the YZRB and an adaptive research framework for sustainable development in similar regions worldwide, helping to advance SES research from theoretical exploration to practical application.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":349,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Cleaner Production","volume":"538 ","pages":"Article 147341"},"PeriodicalIF":10.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145753199","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 : 2025-12-14DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2025.147320
Hao Sun, Huixing Nan, Hui Zhou, Lu Liu, Lingjun Wei, Mingwei Li, Shuhui Li
To mitigate the environmental burden of incinerated sewage sludge ash (ISSA, a polluting municipal waste often landfilled) and reduce reliance on petroleum-based plastics, this study valorizes ISSA as a reinforcing filler for biodegradable polylactic acid (PLA). A key challenge for PLA/ISSA composites is poor interfacial compatibility, which compromises their mechanical performance. To resolve this problem, two surface modification strategies were developed: silane treatment (yielding M-ISSA) and alkali pretreatment coupled with silane treatment (yielding M-OH-ISSA). PLA composites with 15 wt% modified/unmodified ISSA were fabricated. Mechanical tests revealed that unmodified PLA/ISSA underperformed neat PLA, whereas both modified composites showed enhancements, with the alkali/silane strategy achieving optimal results: PLA/M-OH-ISSA reached a tensile strength of 55.20 MPa, flexural strength of 67.08 MPa, and elongation at break of 2.88 %. Microstructural analyses confirmed reduced ISSA agglomeration and stronger interfacial adhesion with PLA, facilitating efficient stress transfer within the matrix. In addition to performance gains, 15 wt% ISSA reduces virgin PLA consumption and costs, and the filler itself has a near-zero embodied carbon (unlike energy-intensive synthetic fillers). This simple, scalable strategy enables high-performance PLA composites, aligning with cleaner production and circular economy principles, to advance waste valorization and bioplastics.
{"title":"Effect of silane and alkali/silane surface treatments on incinerated sewage sludge ash-reinforced polylactic acid composites: Mechanical properties and interfacial compatibility","authors":"Hao Sun, Huixing Nan, Hui Zhou, Lu Liu, Lingjun Wei, Mingwei Li, Shuhui Li","doi":"10.1016/j.jclepro.2025.147320","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jclepro.2025.147320","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>To mitigate the environmental burden of incinerated sewage sludge ash (ISSA, a polluting municipal waste often landfilled) and reduce reliance on petroleum-based plastics, this study valorizes ISSA as a reinforcing filler for biodegradable polylactic acid (PLA). A key challenge for PLA/ISSA composites is poor interfacial compatibility, which compromises their mechanical performance. To resolve this problem, two surface modification strategies were developed: silane treatment (yielding M-ISSA) and alkali pretreatment coupled with silane treatment (yielding M-OH-ISSA). PLA composites with 15 wt% modified/unmodified ISSA were fabricated. Mechanical tests revealed that unmodified PLA/ISSA underperformed neat PLA, whereas both modified composites showed enhancements, with the alkali/silane strategy achieving optimal results: PLA/M-OH-ISSA reached a tensile strength of 55.20 MPa, flexural strength of 67.08 MPa, and elongation at break of 2.88 %. Microstructural analyses confirmed reduced ISSA agglomeration and stronger interfacial adhesion with PLA, facilitating efficient stress transfer within the matrix. In addition to performance gains, 15 wt% ISSA reduces virgin PLA consumption and costs, and the filler itself has a near-zero embodied carbon (unlike energy-intensive synthetic fillers). This simple, scalable strategy enables high-performance PLA composites, aligning with cleaner production and circular economy principles, to advance waste valorization and bioplastics.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":349,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Cleaner Production","volume":"538 ","pages":"Article 147320"},"PeriodicalIF":10.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145753200","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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