Environmental Science and Pollution Research最新文献

In recent years, coffee capsule waste has been generated on an increasingly large scale worldwide, but disposing of it in an environmentally sustainable and economical manner still poses major challenges. This work maps the original scientific production focused on the valorization of coffee capsule waste through a bibliometric review based on scientific articles published in the last 10 years (from 2014 to 2024) in the Scopus database. The review identified different ways of valuing coffee capsule waste, including the development of composite materials, composting, energy production, jewelry and decorative items, and the construction of supercapacitors and sensors. Some significant aspects were also emphasized: (i) this subject has a high potential for further growth; (ii) the published articles considered only part of the components of the coffee capsule waste; and (iii) most of the published articles were based on laboratory-scale experiments. Thus, the valorization of coffee capsule waste requires even more development. To address these challenges, manufacturers, consumers, researchers, governments, and the recycling industry should make a joint effort to develop innovative solutions that enable the complete valorization of coffee capsule waste in an environmentally friendly way.

The rapid urbanization, industrial growth, and socio-cultural activities along riverbanks in hilly cities are transforming land use and intensifying water infrastructure challenges. Paonta Sahib, a culturally significant town in Himachal Pradesh on the Yamuna River, along the foothills of the Himalayas exemplifies these pressures due to its religious tourism, industrialization, and mining activities. This study explores sustainable riverfront development at Paonta Sahib, addressing socio-cultural, environmental, and technical concerns essential for eco-sensitive urban planning. A Strength, Weakness, Opportunity and Threat (SWOT) analysis highlights strengths such as Paonta Sahib's strong cultural identity and economic potential, alongside weaknesses like limited water infrastructure and unregulated land use. Opportunities for eco-sensitive zoning and circular economy practices are proposed as strategies to mitigate environmental impacts, with financial projections indicating a 68 million INR annual cost recovery over a 35-year development period. Additionally, pollutant scenario analysis is recommended to support effective water quality management. Findings emphasize the importance of collaborative efforts between local authorities, technical experts, and communities to address the extreme hydrological, environmental, and planning challenges faced by riverbank cities. This balanced approach seeks to enhance Paonta Sahib's urban identity while preserving ecological integrity, offering a model for sustainable development in similar hilly settlements. The proposed framework aims to guide future policies for resilient riverfront urbanization, emphasizing adaptive planning, community engagement, and infrastructure that support both economic growth and environmental sustainability.

Produced water management is a significant challenge for the oil and gas industry. Due to the large volumes and complex composition of this water, treatment requires special attention, resulting in high costs for companies in the sector. Naphthenic acids, known for their recalcitrance, add a layer of complexity to the treatment process. Benzoic acid, a simple aromatic carboxylic acid, has been extensively studied due to its structural similarity to naphthenic acids, highlighting its importance in developing treatment strategies. Advanced oxidative processes, such as UV/H $_2^{}$ O $_2^{}$ , have emerged as promising alternatives for the degradation of recalcitrant organic pollutants. This study aims to enhance the UV/H $_2^{}$ O $_2^{}$ process through experiments, kinetic mechanisms, and mathematical models that allow the simulation of various experimental conditions, providing a clearer and more economical approach to produced water treatment in the oil and gas industry. The results indicate that the oxidation of benzoic acid by the UV/H $_2^{}$ O $_2^{}$ process achieved removals between 12.29 and 83.56% in a batch reactor over 120 min. Additionally, the influence of solution pH and H $_2^{}$ O $_2^{}$ concentration was significant, with better removal rates observed at pH 3. The molar extinction coefficient of benzoic acid was also found to be pH-dependent, indicating a greater photon absorption capacity at lower pH. The mathematical model developed for the UV/H $_2^{}$ O $_2^{}$ process accurately predicted experimental data and process variable effects, offering valuable insights into reaction kinetics and the influence of experimental conditions.

ZnO-Co₃O₄ material was successfully synthesized by the co-precipitation method and used as a catalyst for the removal of diclofenac sodium (DCF). ZnO-Co₃O₄ exhibited higher catalytic activity in the catalytic process compared to the photocatalytic processes. Under optimum conditions, the activation of peroxymonosulfate (PMS) by ZnO-Co₃O₄ achieved approximately 99% removal of DCF, confirming the effective adsorption and activation of PMS. Quenching experiments indicated that the reactive oxygen species (ROS) responsible for the degradation of DCF by the ZnO-Co₃O₄/PMS system are singlet oxygen (¹O₂) and superoxide radicals (O₂^•-). The activation of PMS by ZnO-Co₃O₄ was associated with the coexistence and interaction between Co(II) and Co(III), as well as the formation of oxygen vacancies (V₀) in ZnO. Cobalt leaching was negligible, and the degradation rate remained constant after four cycles, indicating the excellent stability and reusability of the ZnO-Co₃O₄ catalyst. Additionally, eight degradation products of DCF were identified by LC-ESI-MS, and their toxicity was evaluated using ECOSAR software (version 2.2). In conclusion, the ZnO-Co₃O₄/PMS system is a promising catalytic process for the degradation of organic molecules.

Agro-processing industries generate a substantial quantity of biomass wastes. Conversion of these wastes into valuable material could be profitable considering both environmental and economic aspects. Among various biomass conversion methods, hydrothermal conversion can be used for co-production of biofuel and other valuable materials like carbon quantum dots (CQDs) and activated carbons. This study investigates the applicability of hydrothermal conversion in simultaneous production of biofuel and carbon quantum dots from biowastes obtained from flour mill. Water soluble CQDs of average size ranging between 4.67 and 4.88 nm were produced from various biowastes generated during wheat processing. Hydrochars obtained during the conversion exhibited calorific values between 12.95 and 25.94 MJ/kg. The influence of the composition of feedstock on hydrochar properties was also investigated. This study revealed that hydrothermal conversion technique could lead to the production of high-value materials along with the proper management of agro-industrial wastes, paving the way for a circular economy and bioeconomy. This would also help to mitigate environmental problems caused by open dumping and burning of the biowastes.

The health of humans, the economy, and the marine ecology are all seriously threatened by marine litter. Therefore, quantifying the scope of the issue is gaining more and more attention. Studying beach litter accumulation is one of the approaches to investigating its flows into the marine environment. This study assessed beach litter composition and abundance in a clam culture area in Can Thanh Town, Can Gio District, during a daily moon cycle. From the higher beach limit (bushes or rocks), a transect with a length of 50 m parallel to the seawater line and a width of 10 m was set to collect all litter. The litters were then cleaned, weighted, and classified according to NOAA's marine debris guidance, with modifications to the litter category list. As a result, the dominant materials collected were plastic, accounting for more than 90% of all items found throughout the surveys. A total of 3617 items weighing 21,456.674 g were recorded, corresponding to an accumulation rate of 0.24 items/day.m² (1.43 g/day.m²). Despite the research location's low population density, most items were made of foam and bottle wrappers. Brand auditing showed that PepsiCo, Coca-Cola, and Tan Hiep Phat were the top three recognized brands in the beverage industry. This raises an issue in managing beach litter in Can Thanh Town, and the source of such litter could be the mishandling of litter drifting in from other places.

In the Johor River Basin, a comprehensive analysis was conducted on 24 water environmental parameters across 33 sampling sites over 3 years, encompassing both dry and wet seasons. A total of 396 water samples were collected and analyzed to calculate the Water Quality Index (WQI). To further assess water quality and pinpoint potential pollution sources, multivariate techniques such as principal component analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis (CA), alongside spatial analysis using inverse distance weighted (IDW) interpolation, were employed. According to the National Water Quality Standard, most of the analyzed physicochemical components fall within Classes II and III, albeit with varying concentrations. However, certain sites exhibited levels of BOD₅, TSS, and nutrients such as total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) that exceeded the threshold level of water quality standards, signaling pollution from diverse sources. Notably, all trace elements, with the exception of copper (Cu) and nickel (Ni), remained within the acceptable limits set by WHO guidelines and the National Water Quality Standard. PCA revealed parameter groupings linked to factors such as soil erosion, salinity, wastewater discharge, and fecal contamination, which are key determinants of water quality. The cluster analysis categorized the 33 sampling sites into three distinct clusters, each reflecting the geological setting and varying levels of pollution. The IDW-based spatial distribution indicated significant water quality degradation as the river flows downstream, particularly in regions experiencing rapid agricultural, industrial, and residential development. These activities contribute to the breakdown of organic matter and the release or overflow of wastewater into nearby river systems. This study highlights the effectiveness of integrating data-driven methodologies for surface water quality assessment, offering valuable insights for sustainable watershed management.

Various novel technologies are currently under development aimed at improving bio-methane output to tackle challenges related to process stability, biogas production, and methane quality in the anaerobic digestion (AD) process. The management of substrate type, temperature, pH, hydraulic retention time (HRT), organic loading rate (OLR), and inoculum origin is essential for ensuring process effectiveness, minimizing inhibition, and maximizing production of biogas and methane yield. The review emphasizes sustainability, focusing on the environmental and economic benefits of anaerobic digestion, including the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, the minimization of landfill waste, and the provision of renewable energy sources. The range of process of variables such as carbon-nitrogen (C:N) ratio (13.6-32.5), temperature (30-56 °C), pH (6-8.5), HRT (3-30 days), and OLR (1-10 g VS m³ day^-1) were discussed. The review examined recent technologies and innovative methods that improve the productivity of anaerobic digestion, increase biogas output, and advance process management. Several obstacles remain to be addressed, including substrate availability and quality, management of process parameters, and the handling of digestate for sustainable bio-methane production. The final section of the review emphasizes the necessity to optimize process parameters, ensure sustainability, address existing issues, and initiate further research to improve the performance of the AD process for a more sustainable and circular economy. Anaerobic digestion has the potential to significantly contribute to climate change mitigation, waste elimination, and the provision of a sustainable energy source for the future.

The aim of this study is to perform a comparative analysis of Italian and Spanish regulations for construction and demolition (C&D) waste management, to produce recycled aggregates (RAs). Furthermore, this study seeks to compare the results derived from the examination of leaching test results from RAs collected in both countries to identify the most critical pollutants. Our research involved a comprehensive comparison and analysis of waste management regulations in Italy and Spain, highlighting both commonalities and disparities. Approximately 40 certificates pertaining to the release of pollutants from RAs were collected, by employing the boxplot methodology to scrutinize the most critical parameters. The key findings of this study indicate that both Italy and Spain maintain stringent waste management regulations, although their implementation and enforcement practices exhibit notable differences. Spain lacks specific regulations for C&D waste recovery, instead applying limit values defined for the disposal of inert waste. The results derived from the elaboration of leaching test analysis suggest that the composition and characteristics of RAs are largely similar between the two countries. As concerns the data analysis, total chromium, sulfate, and selenium emerged as the most critical parameters for both countries. This work can prove valuable for policymakers in devising effective C&D waste management strategies, potentially paving the way for the implementation of new End-of-Waste (EoW) criteria in Spain and revisions to those recently proposed in Italy.

Extending unfrozen water availability is critical for stress-tolerant bioremediation of contaminated soils in cold climates. This study employs the soil-freezing characteristic curves (SFCCs) of biostimulated, hydrocarbon-contaminated cold-climate soils to efficiently address the coupled effects of unfrozen water retention and freezing soil temperature on sub-zero soil respiration activity. Freezing-induced soil respiration experiments were conducted under the site-relevant freezing regime, programmed from 4 to - 10 °C at a seasonal soil-freezing rate of - 1 °C/day. The effects of unfrozen water retention on extending soil respiration activity emerged at the onset of soil-freezing. The unfrozen water effect became significant below 0 °C (correlation r = 0.83-0.94) and comparable to the temperature effect (correlation r = 0.82-0.90), successfully demonstrating the coupled effects on sub-zero respiration activity. Soil CO₂ respiration modelling based on the temperature dependency only (Arrhenius and Q₁₀ models) did not accurately describe sub-zero respiration activity associated with increased unfrozen water retention in treated contaminated soils. The shifted SFCCs of the treated soils, expressed as a function of soil temperature (T) and unfrozen water content (θ), served as a key framework for efficiently developing the sub-zero respiration model (SFCC-RESP). The developed SFCC-RESP model closely approximated the changes in soil respiration rates influenced by T and θ in the treated soils (R² = 0.94-0.98) and described the abrupt decrease and subsequent stabilization in CO₂ production during the transition to the deeply frozen soil phase. The SFCC-RESP model integrated with soil thermal models (TEMP/W) can be used to produce spatial distributions of T, θ, and CO₂ production in the treated soil matrix, providing a tool to approximate the abundance of unfrozen habitable niches when developing cold-tolerant bioremediation strategies.