Summary

Environmental science emerged from the fields of natural history and medicine during the Enlightenment. Today, it provides an integrated, quantitative, and interdisciplinary approach to the study of environmental systems. Environmental studies are incorporating more of the social sciences in order to understand human relationships, perceptions and policies towards the environment. This entry collection features information about design and technology for improving environmental quality in every aspect.

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Topic Review
Membranes Used as Separators in Microbial Fuel Cells
Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are electrochemical devices focused on bioenergy generation and organic matter removal carried out by microorganisms under anoxic environments. In these types of systems, the anodic oxidation reaction is catalyzed by anaerobic microorganisms, while the cathodic reduction reaction can be carried out biotically or abiotically. Membranes as separators in MFCs are the primary requirements for optimal electrochemical and microbiological performance.
  • 847
  • 29 Nov 2021
Topic Review
Reaction Mechanism of Olefins
Light olefins (C2-C4) are important C-building blocks which are currently used to produce a variety of chemicals, such as elastomers, medicines, cosmetics, detergents, solvents, etc. They can be produced by steam cracking, fluid catalytic cracking of naphtha, direct/indirect conversion of synthesis gas (CO + H2) or by hydrogenation of CO2 using H2 from renovable energy sources. However, the catalytic production of light olefins from CO2 is difficult due to the chemical inactivity of CO2 molecule, the high C-C coupling barrier and the necesity to limit the formation of C-C bond and methane. Therefore, the catalysts required for this reaction must to be multifunctional and have an optimized amount of active sites. 
  • 1.4K
  • 29 Nov 2021
Topic Review
Climate Change Concerns of Saudi Arabian Farmers
Climate change is a serious threat to the sustainability of global agriculture and food supply that necessitates taking appropriate action for building resilient food production systems and preserving rural economies. In this regard, farmers’ beliefs and concerns about the effects of climate change on agriculture may influence their adoption of adaptation and mitigation practices to address this emerging issue. 
  • 1.6K
  • 29 Nov 2021
Topic Review
Anion Exchange Membranes with Inorganic Fillers
Anion exchange membrane fuel cells (AEMFC) are clean energy conversion devices that are an attractive alternative to the more common proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs), because they present, among others, the advantage of not using noble metals like platinum as catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction. The AEMs are the central element of many technologically relevant devices, first and foremost alkaline membrane fuel cells (FC). These fuel cells can significantly reduce the amount of noble metal catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and may represent the future of FC development.
  • 1.1K
  • 29 Nov 2021
Topic Review
Antiviral Response Against Infectious Bronchitis Virus in Poultry
Infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) is the causative agent of multi-systemic infection in the respiratory, reproductive and renal systems, which is similar to the symptoms of various viral and bacterial diseases reported in chickens. Currently, the live attenuated and killed vaccines are applied for the control of IBV infection; however, the continual emergence of IB variants with rapidly evolving genetic variants increases the risk of outbreaks in intensive poultry farms.
  • 534
  • 27 Nov 2021
Topic Review
Pyrolysis and Gasification Mechanism of Biomass
Biomass can be converted to energy by using thermochemical and biochemical methodsecology; environmental; biomass; pyrolysis. Biochemical methods, including anaerobic digestion and fermentation, constitute the transformation of cellulose and hemicellulose into biofuel at the stages of hydrolysis and fermentation. At present, biochemical methods are cost-intensive, and involve problems with using lignin-rich biomass.
  • 2.7K
  • 26 Nov 2021
Topic Review
Adsorption of Pesticides onto Clay Minerals
Adsorption of pesticides onto natural clay mineral relies on the use of adsorbents with minimal treatment beyond their preparation to provide a narrow size distribution and homoionic form by exchanging the naturally occurring interlamellar cations (in the case of smectites) by some alkaline (Na+ or K+) or alkaline earth (Ca2+or Mg2+) cation. Additional modifications include organophilization, intercalation with metal polycations and pillaring.  The adsorption capacity and strength of pesticides onto homoionic, organophilic and intercalated/pillared clay minerals depend on the chemical nature of the pesticide, surface area, and pore volume. Electrostatic interactions, hydrogen and coordinative bonds, surface complexations, and hydrophobic associations are the main interactions between pesticides and clay minerals.
  • 951
  • 29 Nov 2021
Topic Review
Food Security and Transition towards Sustainability
For decades, food security and sustainability have been considered separate concerns, with the concept of food security having a more significant connotation with sustainability dimensions such as environmental, economic, and social–cultural aspects that interpret human well-being. Food security is highly connected to food sustainability and environmental protection. Additionally, food security exists when all people at all times have physical, economic, and social access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food. 
  • 1.3K
  • 26 Nov 2021
Topic Review
Extremely Fast Charging Stations for Electric Vehicles
The charging station is useful in this interest to make the EVs functional. It is up to the general customer to adopt EVs and the utility grid to inject more renewables into grid so that the energy EV draws is clean. But fast charging stations are rarely found at home.
  • 632
  • 25 Nov 2021
Topic Review
Urban Green Space and Residents’ Mental Health
As an important part of urban built environment, urban green space has long been recognized in the fields of promoting residents’ mental health. The mediators can be divided into environmental factors, outdoor activity, and social cohesion. From the perspective of heterogeneity, both individual characteristics (e.g., age and gender) and group characteristics (e.g., level of urban development and urban density) of residents are considered to be the cause of various mediating effects. Types of urban green space tend to affect residents’ mental health through different paths.
  • 768
  • 25 Nov 2021
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