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Topic Review
Municipal Solid Waste Landfilling Approaches
Finding a sustainable approach for municipal solid waste (MSW) management is becoming paramount. However, as with many urban areas in developing countries, the approach applied to MSW management in Karachi is neither environmentally sustainable nor suitable for public health. Due to adoption of an inefficient waste management system, society is paying intangible costs such as damage to public health and environment quality. In order to minimize the environmental impacts and health issues associated with waste management practices, a sustainable waste management and disposal strategy is required. 
  • 1.6K
  • 25 Mar 2022
Topic Review
Removal of Oil Pollutants in Soil
Oil-contaminated soil is one of the most concerning problems due to its potential damage to humans, animals, and the environment. In recent years, surfactant foam and nanoparticles have shown high removal of oil pollutants from contaminated soil. Researchers provide an overview on the remediation of oil pollutants in soil using nanoparticles, surfactant foams, and nanoparticle-stabilized surfactant foams. In particular, the fate and transport of oil compounds in the soil, the interaction of nanoparticles and surfactant foam, the removal mechanisms of nanoparticles and various surfactant foams, the effect of some factors (e.g., soil characteristics and amount, nanoparticle properties, surfactant concentration) on remediation efficiency, and some advantages and disadvantages of these methods are evaluated.
  • 1.6K
  • 13 Feb 2023
Topic Review
Enhancement of Anaerobic Digestion Process with Biochar
Anaerobic digestion (AD) process is usually limited by factors such as process inefficiencies from substrate-induced instability, poor quality digestate, and poor management of effluent and emissions. Biochar, which is a highly porous carbonaceous material produced from the pyrolysis of biomass is an affordable accelerant that can be used to improve the efficiency of the AD process. Biochar has large specific surface area (SSA), high porosity, and abundant surface functional groups which allows for adsorption and ion exchange thereby removes free ammonia and ions and curbs their deleterious effect on the AD process. The performance of biochar in the AD process usually depends on its properties which are a function of pyrolysis conditions and the type of feedstock used in its production. However, these conditions/properties are not well understood. Additionally, the various mechanisms through which biochar enhances the performance of anaerobic digestion process. Accordingly, this research provides valuable insights into the utilization of biochar as an accelerator to enhance the AD process, addressing crucial factors such as optimal pyrolysis conditions, biochar dosage, and feedstock selection. Additionally, it delves into the mechanisms through which biochar positively influences the AD process, particularly by influencing microbial communities, reducing VFA levels, and mitigating the negative effects of ammonia. The research also highlights areas for further research in applying biochar for anaerobic digestion.
  • 1.6K
  • 24 May 2023
Topic Review
Sol–Gel Processing of Corrosion Barrier Coatings
The sol–gel method produces glass and ceramic materials at lower temperatures than the corresponding products molded by melting. This method uses alkoxides, water, catalyst, and solvent. Depending on the relationship between alkoxide/water and the kind of catalyst, one can obtain a one-dimensional, two-dimensional, or three-dimensional network where one takes fibers, thin films, or bulk materials. Some years ago, scientists attempted to produce coatings on metals to protect against corrosion.
  • 1.6K
  • 27 Jul 2022
Topic Review
Physical and Mental Health Impacts of Nitrogen Oxide
Nitrogen oxides (NOx) are gaseous pollutants contributing to pollution in their primary form and are also involved in reactions forming ground-level ozone and fine particulate matter. Thus, NOx is of great interest for targeted pollution reduction because of this cascade effect. To achieve a holistic understanding of the correlation between NOx and human health, both the physical and mental health implications must be accounted for. The following content is intended to be illustrative in nature, and not exhaustive of all research conducted in the field. 
  • 1.6K
  • 24 Jun 2022
Topic Review
Acid-Resistant Thin-Film Composite Nanofiltration Membrane
Membrane filtration technology has attracted extensive attention in academia and industry due to its advantages of eco-friendliness related to environmental protection and high efficiency. Polyamide thin-film composite nanofiltration (PA TFC NF) membranes have been widely used due to their high separation performance. Non-acid-resistant PA TFC NF membranes face tremendous challenges in an acidic environment. Novel and relatively acid-resistant polysulfonamide-based and triazine-based TFC NF membranes have been developed, but these have a serious trade-off in terms of permeability and selectivity. Hence, how to improve acid resistance of TFC NF membranes and their separation performance in acidic environments is a pivotal issue for the design and preparation of these membranes.
  • 1.5K
  • 12 Jan 2023
Topic Review
Membrane Technologies in Dairy Industry
Membrane technologies can be used in the dairy industry for many applications, such as milk clarification or fractioning and a concentration increase in specific components or the separation of them, since they cover a huge range of pore sizes (from 0 to 2 μm) and MWCOs (from 1 to 100,000 Da). For instance, MF can be used for fat globule (10 μm) fractionation as well as bacteria and spore (1 μm) removal. UF can be used for casein micelles (100 nm) or serum protein (10 nm) separation, whereas NF and RO can be used for lactose (1 nm), salt (0.1 nm) and water recovery.
  • 1.5K
  • 18 Nov 2021
Topic Review
Reuse of Municipal Solid Waste in Construction
Society is highly dependent on natural resources such as rocks (aggregates) and minerals. Although they are an abundant resource on the planet, their recovery is slow in terms of human lifespan, and from this fact, they are considered non-renewable resources. The construction industry currently consumes around 3000 million tons of natural resources annually and is responsible for 34% of greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere. An alternative to reduce this over-extraction is the substitution of aggregates and cement for municipal solid waste (MSW), which represents the application of the circular economy principles. This approach and the waste management hierarchy are described, with a focus on the Latin America and the Caribbean situation. MSW is composed of several fractions, such as organic waste, paper, cardboard, metals, plastic, and glass, among other valuable materials. Areas of opportunity for their reuse in the construction industry have been demonstrated worldwide: a) plastics as substitutes for aggregates or reinforcing fibers, or replaced construction elements such as bricks; b) glass in the production of concrete, mortar, and asphalt pavement; c) paper as a hygrothermal and lighting regulator in buildings, among others.  
  • 1.5K
  • 20 Dec 2022
Topic Review
Present Status of Biocomposite Materials
Since the complete replacement of fossil-based products is not feasible due to cost and performance, bio-based composite materials may have bio-based polymers, bio-based reinforcement, and fillers, or both, while having other ingredients from fossil fuel sources. As for reinforcement, nature can offer wooden and non-wooden fibers (bast, leaf, seed, core, grass, and reed) as composite reinforcements. Cellulosic non-wooden fibers offer tensile strengths ranging from 80 MPa for sisal to 938 MPa for ramie. Applications of biocomposites in structures and infrastructures have proven useful in terms of their moderate mechanical properties, lower cost, availability, biodegradability, and environmental considerations.. Hemp has been used in composite materials. However, it presents challenges; hemp fibers contain a high level of moisture, as plant-based sources are hydrophilic in nature. Its mechanical, thermal, and physical properties, such as tensile strength, wettability, flammability, and swelling, vary. These properties change with changes in plant anatomy, fiber processing conditions, growth conditions, and experimental methods.
  • 1.5K
  • 09 Jan 2023
Topic Review
Residual Biomass Resources in Kazakhstan
Agricultural, animal and municipal solid waste are available to produce energy in Kazakhstan based on combustion technologies; however, animal waste and agricultural are the main potential sources with 61.02% and 38.34% of the theoretical total biomass potential energy analyses, respectively. Inadequate disposal of residual biomass can cause soil contamination, compromise the quality of water resources and promote environmental disturbances among species. As a consequence, the residual biomass before its final disposal needs to undergo an appropriate treatment process to reduce its potential environmental risk. Residual biomass from agricultural, animal and solid waste has been considered for energy production in Kazakhstan, to be incorporated into existing fuel storage and handling systems and be co-fired. Energy valorization from residual biomass would also be a key component in waste management into valuable products in a circular economy.
  • 1.5K
  • 01 Nov 2022
Topic Review
Treatment Wetlands in Natural Swimming Ponds
Natural swimming ponds using treatment wetlands (TWs) as an element of treatment of swimming water are an ecologically beneficial alternative to conventional pools. Unlike conventional swimming pools, in natural swimming ponds, the water treatment avoids the use of chemical methods and is based on the phenomenon of water self-purification and the rhizofiltration capacity of repository macrophytes in TWs of the regeneration zone, as well as on typical physical filtering processes (e.g., straining, sedimentation, or flotation), physicochemical filtration (physical and chemical adsorption, mainly of phosphorus), and biological filtration (nitrification and denitrification). 
  • 1.5K
  • 30 May 2023
Topic Review
Solar Energy Technologies' Sustainable Development towards Solar Photovoltaics
Renewable energy was available in rural areas in the form of wind farms, solar plants, biomass plants and others. In urban contexts, particularly with the use of solar energy technologies called solar energy systems in buildings, such as solar thermal and photovoltaic (PV). The viewpoints on solar energy technologies for sustainable development is  particular to emphasis on photovoltaic (PV), as well as the solar energy technology performance, in order to ascertain worldwide solar energy adoption trends. 
  • 1.5K
  • 29 Apr 2022
Topic Review
Up-Flow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket
The interest in research on up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactors is growing. Although the state of research on UASB is to be considered advanced, there are still several points that will be developed in future research such as the consolidation of the results obtained on a semi-industrial or real scale, the use of real matrices instead of synthetic ones.
  • 1.5K
  • 21 Oct 2021
Topic Review
Design, Construction and Maintenance of Green Roofs
Urbanisation affects the water cycle and heat balance in a negative way. Vegetated roofs have the potential to minimise the effects of urbanisation. Converting concrete and tiles roofs into green roofs can increase green urban areas and has the potential to reverse such effects, so the design, construction and maintenance of green roofs are very important.
  • 1.4K
  • 20 Oct 2022
Topic Review
Vertical Barriers for Land Contamination Containment
Soil pollution is one of the major threats to the environment and jeopardizes the provision of key soil ecosystem services. Vertical barriers, including slurry trench walls and walls constructed with soil mix technology, have been employed for decades to control groundwater flow and subsurface contaminant transport.
  • 1.4K
  • 30 Jan 2022
Topic Review
Microbial Desalination Cell Performance Indicators and Limiting Factors
Microbial desalination cells (MDCs) are promising bioelectrochemical systems for desalination using the bacteria-generated electricity from the biodegradation of organic wastes contained in the wastewater. Instead of being a sustainable and eco-friendly desalination technology, the large-scale application of MDC was limited due to the high installation cost of the metal-catalyst-coated cathode electrode and the poor performance of the cathode in long-term operation due to catalyst fouling.
  • 1.4K
  • 01 Nov 2022
Topic Review
Electronic Nose and Traditional Methods of Ammonia Detection
Ammonia (NH3) represents a perilous gas that poses a substantial hazard to both human well-being and the environment, particularly within agricultural regions. Agricultural activities constitute a primary source of ammonia emissions. Thus, effective monitoring and measurement of ammonia sources in agriculture are imperative for mitigating its adverse impact. However, not all existing ammonia detection methods are suitable for discerning the low concentrations typically encountered in agricultural ammonia volatilizing (ranging from 0.01 to 5 parts per million). Consequently, curtailing ammonia volatilization from farmland assumes paramount importance, with real-time monitoring serving as a crucial mechanism for assessing environmental contamination and minimizing agricultural ammonia losses. Deploying appropriate detection methodologies ensures that requisite measures are taken to safeguard human health and the environment from the deleterious repercussions of ammonia exposure.
  • 1.4K
  • 09 Aug 2023
Topic Review
Analysis Existing Mosque Buildings in the UAE
According to the World Economic Forum, the building sector is responsible for 40% of global energy consumption and 33% of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and this is expected to increase due to population growth and the subsequent impact on the environment, economy and health. To tackle the problem, countries have set new construction codes, policies and regulations for the construction of new buildings in an effort to make them greener. However, there is a need to enhance the status of the existing buildings, especially mosques, as they are the main contributors to energy usage and water consumption in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
  • 1.4K
  • 01 Nov 2023
Topic Review
Tree Information Modeling
Tree Information Modeling (TIM) is conceived as a digital representation of the physical and functional characteristics of a tree. It is a framework following the same tree description system (TDS) to create the digital twins of trees in real life. This framework enables easier data exchange and knowledge-sharing about trees cross multiple related professions such as urban forestry, arboriculture, and botanic plant modeling. With interdisciplinary cooperations in TIM applications, decision-making and supporting tools can be developed to guide trees' planning and life-long management.
  • 1.4K
  • 08 Dec 2022
Topic Review
Sustainable Manufacturing 4.0
The manufacturing industry has undergone numerous revolutions over the years, with a unanimous acceptance of the greater benefits of being sustainable. The present industrial wave—Industry 4.0—by using its enabling technologies and principles holds great potential to develop sustainable manufacturing paradigms which require balancing out the three fundamental elements—products, processes, and systems. Yet, numerous stakeholders, including industrial policy and decision makers, remain oblivious of such potential and requirements. Thus, this bibliometric study is aimed at presenting an overview of the broad field of research on the convergence of sustainable manufacturing and Industry 4.0 under the umbrella of “Sustainable Manufacturing 4.0”, which has yet to be developed. 
  • 1.4K
  • 17 Jan 2022
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