A national-scale high-resolution CCUS-shared pipeline layout for retrofitting multisectoral plants via onshore-offshore geological storage.

Carbon capture utilization and storage (CCUS) is an indispensable process to mitigate climate change. However, a precise and feasible CCUS layout with realistic geospatial connectivity is essential to support the prospective deployment of multisectoral plants on a national scale. This study proposed an onshore-offshore CCUS source-sink matching model, distinguished by CO2 source-sink dataset enhancement, realistic pipeline network optimization, and onshore-offshore geospatial connectivity to accurately map China's high-resolution CCUS layout. The findings showed that China's multisectoral CCUS supply potential of coal-fired power, steel, cement, and coal chemicals was approximately 1.75, 0.77, 0.56, and 0.23 Gt/a CO2, respectively. A complete geospatial connectivity pattern was established by connecting 1186 multisectoral CO2 sources with 307 onshore and 22 offshore storage sites via the shared pipeline network of 80,700 km, involving plant-level cost heterogeneity, industry competition, and CCUS cluster identification. This model can be applied to other countries or globally to enhance CCUS layout strategies.

Environmental sustainability and waste conversion of Prosopis juliflora fibre-reinforced ZnO nanofiller particulates PLA composite- mechanical and thermal analysis.

The presence of large quantities of Prosopis juliflora (PJ) fibers in natural habitats presents substantial threats to the environment and economies of numerous developing countries. Utilizing natural fibers in polymer composites can effectively enhance their characteristics. The primary objective of this study is to create a composite material by combining Prosopis Juliflora (PJ) fiber with a polylactic matrix that has been combined with zinc oxide nanofillers. The fabrication process will involve the hand layup technique. In order to have a comprehensive understanding of the mechanical characteristics, thermal behavior, and thermal stability of the PJ composite, it is necessary to undertake additional investigations. The results showed that the inclusion of zinc oxide filler enhanced the tensile strength (67.29 MPa), flexural strength (64.27 MPa), compressive strength (56.79 MPa), and impact energy (34 J) in sample S5. Additionally, the thermal properties, including thermal conductivity, thermal expansion, and short-term heat resistant capacity, were also improved by the addition of zinc oxide filler in sample S5. The deterioration temperature of the PJ composite was determined to be between 312 and 342 °C using thermogravimetric analysis. The failure mode of the PJ composite was investigated using scanning electron microscopy.

Spontaneous water oozing of a soft drain bed via energy-free atmospheric water harvesting.

Atmospheric water harvesting has emerged as an efficient strategy for addressing the global challenge of freshwater scarcity. However, the in being energy-consuming water-collecting process has obstructed its practicality. In this work, a soft drain bed, which was composed of hydrophilic cloth and hygroscopic gel, has been demonstrated to capture atmospheric water effectively, followed by converting it into liquid water spontaneously and sustainably, under all-weather humidity conditions. Under the optimal working condition of 30°C with a relative humidity level of 75%, the bed can provide a spontaneous water oozing ability of 1.25 g (liquid water)/hour within the 8 h of working time. More importantly, after 5 working cycles, 80% of the oozing ability can be reserved, suggesting the high potential for practical freshwater supply application. The proposed design strategy is expected to provide new hints for the development of future energy-saving decentralized freshwater supply systems.

Developing multifunctional cellulose derivatives for environmental and biomedical applications: Insights into modification processes and advanced material properties.

The growing bioeconomic demand for lightweight, eco-friendly materials with functional versatility and competitive mechanical properties drives the resurgence of cellulose as a sustainable scaffold for various applications. This review comprehensively scrutinizes current progressions in cellulose functional materials (CFMs), concentrating on their structure-property connections. Significant modification methods, including cross-linking, grafting, and oxidation, are discussed together with preparation techniques categorized by cellulose sources. This review article highlights the extensive usage of modified cellulose in various industries, particularly its potential in optical and toughening applications, membrane production, and intelligent bio-based systems. Prominence is located on low-cost procedures for developing biodegradable polymers and the physical-chemical characteristics essential for biomedical applications. Furthermore, the review explores the role of cellulose derivatives in smart packaging films for food quality monitoring and deep probes into cellulose's mechanical, thermal, and structural characteristics. The multifunctional features of cellulose derivatives highlight their worth in evolving environmental and biomedical engineering applications.

Principles and research progress of physical prevention and control technologies for algae in eutrophic water.

The abnormal reproduction of algae in water worldwide is prominent in the context of human interference and global climate change. This study first thoroughly analyzed the effects of physical factors, such as light, temperature, hydrodynamics, and operational strategies, on algal growth and their mechanisms. Physical control techniques are safe and have great potential for preventing abnormal algal blooms in the absence of chemical reagents. The focus was on the principles and possible engineering applications of physical shading, ultrasound, micro-current, and ultraviolet (UV) technologies, in controlling abnormal algal reproduction. Physical shading can inhibit or weaken photosynthesis in algae, thereby inhibiting their growth. Ultrasound mainly affects the physiological and biochemical activities of cells by destroying the cell walls, air cells, and active enzymes. Micro-currents destroy the algal cell structure through direct and indirect oxidation, leading to algal cell death. UV irradiation can damage DNA, causing organisms to be unable to reproduce or algal cells to die directly. This article comprehensively summarizes and analyzes the advantages of physical prevention and control technologies for the abnormal reproduction of algae, providing a scientific basis for future research. In the future, attempts will be made toward appropriately and comprehensively utilizing various physical technologies to control algal blooms. The establishment of an intelligent, comprehensive physical prevention and control system to achieve environmentally friendly, economical, and effective physical prevention and control of algae, such as the South-to-North Water Diversion Project in China, is of great importance for specific waters.

Competition for engineering tenure-track faculty positions in the United States.

How likely are engineering PhD graduates to get a tenure-track faculty position in the United States? To answer this question, we analyzed aggregated yearly data on PhD graduates and tenure-track/tenured faculty members across all engineering disciplines from 2006 to 2021, obtained from the American Society of Engineering Education. The average likelihood for securing a tenure-track faculty position for engineering overall during this 16-year period was 12.4% (range = 10.9-18.5%), implying that roughly 1 in 8 PhD graduates attain such positions. After a significant decline from 18.5 to 10.9% between 2006 and 2014 (R2 = 0.62; P < 0.05), a trend consistent with a period of rising competition, the outlook has since stabilized between 11.3 and 12% (R2 = 0.04; P > 0.05). Given that most engineering PhD graduates will never secure a tenure-track faculty position, emphasizing alternative career tracks during doctoral training could align expectations better with reality.

Enhancing municipal solid waste leachate treatment efficiency: AI-based prediction of electrocoagulation/flocculation recovery using iron electrodes.

This study addresses a gap in municipal leachate (MUPL) treatment by introducing a pioneering application of artificial intelligence (AI) in the electrocoagulation/electroflocculation (EC/EF) process utilizing iron electrodes. The overarching aim is to demonstrate the efficacy of AI, particularly a multi-layer perceptron (MLP)-based feed-forward artificial neural network (ANN) incorporating the Levenberg-Marquardt (LMb) algorithm, in predicting and optimizing EC/EF outcomes for turbidity (TDY) removal. The research methodology involved experimentation and robust ANN data modeling. The significance of this work emerges from the successful integration of AI, showcasing its potential in advancing wastewater, demonstrated through a strong positive correlation (0.994) between the ANN model predictions and experimental outcomes. The study achieves a remarkable 99.4% TDY removal at an electrolysis time of 10 min and contributes valuable insights into the critical parameters influencing the EC/EF process. Results from the ANN modeling exhibit high predictive accuracy, supported by elevated R-squared values and minimal mean square error. Statistical analyses underscore the significance of key process parameters, highlighting the influential roles of current intensity and settling time. The study emphasized the favourable impact of maintaining an acidic pH range, as it reduced electrostatic repulsion between particles, facilitating pollutant agglomeration, and identified electrolysis time as a key factor in enhancing treatment efficiency, supported by a strong positive correlation between electrolysis time and TDY reduction. Energy cost savings were realized by not requiring temperature elevation. Achieving a 99.4% TDY removal translates to substantial reductions in other pollutants present in the MUPL, thereby elevating water quality and ensuring compliance.

Micro/nanoengineered agricultural by-products for biomedical and environmental applications.

Agriculturally derived by-products generated during the growth cycles of living organisms as secondary products have attracted increasing interest due to their wide range of biomedical and environmental applications. These by-products are considered promising candidates because of their unique characteristics including chemical stability, profound biocompatibility and offering a green approach by producing the least impact on the environment. Recently, micro/nanoengineering based techniques play a significant role in upgrading their utility, by controlling their structural integrity and promoting their functions at a micro and nano scale. Specifically, they can be used for biomedical applications such as tissue regeneration, drug delivery, disease diagnosis, as well as environmental applications such as filtration, bioenergy production, and the detection of environmental pollutants. This review highlights the diverse role of micro/nano-engineering techniques when applied on agricultural by-products with intriguing properties and upscaling their wide range of applications across the biomedical and environmental fields. Finally, we outline the future prospects and remarkable potential that these agricultural by-products hold in establishing a new era in the realms of biomedical science and environmental research.

Global WWTP Microbiome-based Integrative Information Platform: From experience to intelligence.

Domestic and industrial wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are facing formidable challenges in effectively eliminating emerging pollutants and conventional nutrients. In microbiome engineering, two approaches have been developed: a top-down method focusing on domesticating seed microbiomes into engineered ones, and a bottom-up strategy that synthesizes engineered microbiomes from microbial isolates. However, these approaches face substantial hurdles that limit their real-world applicability in wastewater treatment engineering. Addressing this gap, we propose the creation of a Global WWTP Microbiome-based Integrative Information Platform, inspired by the untapped microbiome and engineering data from WWTPs and advancements in artificial intelligence (AI). This open platform integrates microbiome and engineering information globally and utilizes AI-driven tools for identifying seed microbiomes for new plants, providing technical upgrades for existing facilities, and deploying microbiomes for accidental pollution remediation. Beyond its practical applications, this platform has significant scientific and social value, supporting multidisciplinary research, documenting microbial evolution, advancing Wastewater-Based Epidemiology, and enhancing global resource sharing. Overall, the platform is expected to enhance WWTPs' performance in pollution control, safeguarding a harmonious and healthy future for human society and the natural environment.

Climate change induced water stress and future semiconductor supply chain risk.

Climate change is a driver of water stress risk globally. Semiconductor manufacturing requires large volumes of water. Existing research at the intersection of water stress risk and semiconductor manufacturing offers snapshots of current conditions but has not investigated how future climate scenarios may impact semiconductor supply chain security. This study combines location data for semiconductor manufacturing facilities with data on specific customer-supplier networks and with data for global water stress risk under three climate scenarios for the years 2030 and 2040. Results suggest that 40 percent of existing facilities, 24-40 percent of facilities under construction, and 40-49 percent of facilities announced since early 2021 are in basins of high- or extremely high water stress risks in 2030 and 2040. Network dynamics mean that water stress risks could cascade from individual firms or regions of concern to systemically throughout the network, thus negatively impacting semiconductor supply chain security globally.

An In Situ Evaluation of Different CAM Plants as Plant Microbial Fuel Cells for Energy Recovery in the Atacama Desert.

Excess energy derived from photosynthesis can be used in plant microbial fuel cell (PMFC) systems as a sustainable alternative for the generation of electricity. In this study, the in situ performance of CAM (Crassulacean acid metabolism) plants in Calama, in the Atacama Desert, was evaluated for energy recovery using PMFCs with stainless steel AISI 316L and Cu as electrodes. The plant species evaluated included Aloe perfoliata, Cereus jamacaru, Austrocylindropuntia subulata, Agave potatorum, Aloe arborescens, Malephora crocea, and Kalanchoe daigremontiana. Among the plant species, Kalanchoe daigremontiana demonstrated significant potential as an in situ PMFC, showing a maximum cell potential of 0.248 V and a minimum of 0.139 V. In addition, the cumulative energy for recovery was about 9.4 mWh m-2 of the electrode. The use of CAM plants in PMFCs presents a novel approach for green energy generation, as these plants possess an inherent ability to adapt to arid environments and water-scarce areas such as the Atacama Desert climate.

China's public health initiatives for climate change adaptation.

China's health gains over the past decades face potential reversals if climate change adaptation is not prioritized. China's temperature rise surpasses the global average due to urban heat islands and ecological changes, and demands urgent actions to safeguard public health. Effective adaptation need to consider China's urbanization trends, underlying non-communicable diseases, an aging population, and future pandemic threats. Climate change adaptation initiatives and strategies include urban green space, healthy indoor environments, spatial planning for cities, advance location-specific early warning systems for extreme weather events, and a holistic approach for linking carbon neutrality to health co-benefits. Innovation and technology uptake is a crucial opportunity. China's successful climate adaptation can foster international collaboration regionally and beyond.

Robust optimisation of combined rainwater harvesting and flood mitigation systems.

Combined large-scale rainwater harvesting (RWH) and flood mitigation systems are promising as a sustainable water management strategy in urban areas. These are multi-purpose infrastructure that not only provide a secondary, localised water resource, but can also reduce discharge and hence loads on any downstream wastewater networks if these are integrated into the wider water network. However, the performance of these systems is dependent on the specific design used for its local catchment which can vary significantly between different implementations. A multitude of design strategies exist, however there is no universally accepted standard framework. To tackle these issues, this paper presents a two-player optimisation framework which utilises a stochastic design optimisation model and a competing, high-intensity rainfall design model to optimise passively-operated RWH systems. A customisable tool set is provided, under which optimisation models specific to a given catchment can be built quickly. This reduces the barriers to implementing computationally complex sizing strategies and encouraging more resource-efficient systems to be built. The framework was applied to a densely populated high-rise residential estate, eliminating overflow events from historical rainfall. The optimised configuration resulted in a 32% increase in harvested water yield, but its ability to meet irrigation demands was limited by the operational levels of the treatment pump. Hence, with the inclusion of operational levels in the optimisation model, the framework can provide an efficient large-scale RWH system that is capable of simultaneously meeting water demands and reducing stresses within and beyond its local catchment.

Fabrication of cationic cellulose nanofibrils/sodium alginate beads for Congo red removal.

Congo red is hard to remove from dye wastewater due to its structure stability and high chemical oxygen demand. In this study, cationic cellulose nanofibrils (CCNF) prepared from herb residues was physically crosslinked with sodium alginate (SA) in the presence of calcium ions, and the obtained CCNF/SA beads were used to adsorb Congo red. Results showed that CCNF/SA beads with porous internal structure were beneficial to adsorption. The maximum adsorption capacity of Congo red could reach to 518.4 mg/g, which was superior to most cellulose-based adsorption materials. Furthermore, the equilibrium adsorption isotherms and XPS analysis indicated the adsorption for Congo red was a physical process, and hydrogen bond and electrostatic adsorption were proposed as dominant adsorption mechanism. In addition, the Congo red removal efficiency of the beads was still higher than 70% after three cycles. Therefore, this high efficiency and green beads have great potential as adsorbents for anionic dyes removal.

Significance of MnO2 Type and Solution Parameters in Manganese Removal from Water Solution.

A very low concentration of manganese (Mn) in water is a critical issue for municipal and industrial water supply systems. Mn removal technology is based on the use of manganese oxides (MnOx), especially manganese dioxide (MnO2) polymorphs, under different conditions of pH and ionic strength (water salinity). The statistical significance of the impact of polymorph type (akhtenskite ε-MnO2, birnessite δ-MnO2, cryptomelane α-MnO2 and pyrolusite ß-MnO2), pH (2-9) and ionic strength (1-50 mmol/L) of solution on the adsorption level of Mn was investigated. The analysis of variance and the non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis H test were applied. Before and after Mn adsorption, the tested polymorphs were characterized using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope techniques and gas porosimetry analysis. Here we demonstrated the significant differences in adsorption level between MnO2 polymorphs' type and pH; however, the statistical analysis proves that the type of MnO2 has a four times stronger influence. There was no statistical significance for the ionic strength parameter. We showed that the high adsorption of Mn on the poorly crystalline polymorphs leads to the blockage of micropores in akhtenskite and, contrary, causes the development of the surface structure of birnessite. At the same time, no changes in the surfaces of cryptomelane and pyrolusite, the highly crystalline polymorphs, were found due to the very small loading by the adsorbate.

Creating a Nanoscale Lateral Junction in a Semiconductor Monolayer with a Large Built-in Potential.

The ability to engineer atomically thin nanoscale lateral junctions is critical to lay the foundation for future two-dimensional (2D) device technology. However, the traditional approach to creating a heterojunction by direct growth of a heterostructure of two different materials constrains the available band offsets, and it is still unclear if large built-in potentials are attainable for 2D materials. The electronic properties of atomically thin semiconducting transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) are not static, and their exciton binding energy and quasiparticle band gap depend strongly on the proximal environment. Recent studies have shown that this effect can be harnessed to engineer the lateral band profile of a monolayer TMD to create a lateral electronic junction. Here we demonstrate the synthesis of a nanoscale lateral junction in monolayer MoSe2 by intercalating Se at the interface of an hBN/Ru(0001) substrate. The Se intercalation creates a spatially abrupt modulation of the local hBN/Ru work function, which is imprinted directly onto an overlying MoSe2 monolayer to create a lateral junction with a large built-in potential of 0.83 ± 0.06 eV. We spatially resolve the MoSe2 band profile and work function using scanning tunneling spectroscopy to map out the nanoscale depletion region. The Se intercalation also modifies the dielectric environment, influencing the local band gap renormalization and increasing the MoSe2 band gap by ∼0.26 ± 0.1 eV. This work illustrates that environmental proximity engineering provides a robust method to indirectly manipulate the band profile of 2D materials outside the limits of their intrinsic properties.

[Method for the determination of tetrachloromethane, trichloroethane, 1,1,2-trichloroethane, and tetrachloroethene in the air at workplaces]. / Metoda oznaczania tetrachlorometanu, trichloroetenu, 1,1,2-trichloroetanu i tetrachloroetenu w powietrzu na stanowiskach pracy.

BACKGROUND: Chemical substances from the halogenated aliphatic hydrocarbons group are used in industry, e.g., as intermediates in syntheses, auxiliaries, solvents in degreasing processes, and laboratory tests. Due to their harmful effects on human health and the environment, their use is often banned or limited to certain industrial uses only. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A sorbent tube containing 2 layers (100/50 mg) of coconut shell charcoal was used as a sampler for air sampling. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry technique and the use of HP-5MS column (30 m × 0.25 mm × 0.25 µm), an oven temperature ramp program from 40°C to 250°C and selected ion monitoring mode were chosen for the determination. RESULTS: The established chromatographic conditions enable the simultaneous determination of tetrachloromethane, trichlorethane, 1,1,2-trichloroethane and tetrachloroethene in the concentration range 2-100 µg/ml. The average desorption coefficients obtained were: 0.97 for tetrachloromethane, 0.96 for trichloroethene, 0.96 for 1,1,2-trichloroethane and 0.96 for tetrachloroethene. CONCLUSIONS: The calculation of the substance concentration in the analyzed air requires the determination of the amount of substances trapped by the sorbent tube, the desorption coefficient and the air sample volume. Adequate dilution of the extract makes it possible to determine tetrachloromethane, trichloroethene, 1,1,2-trichloroethane and tetrachloroethene in ranges corresponding to 0.1-2 times the maximum admissible concentrations in the workplace air. This article discusses the issues occupational safety and health, which are the subject matter of health sciences and environmental engineering research. Med Pr. 2023;74(1):53-62.

Membrane Surface Modification via In Situ Grafting of GO/Pt Nanoparticles for Nitrate Removal with Anti-Biofouling Properties.

Nanofiltration processes for the removal of emerging contaminants such as nitrate are a focus of attention of research works as an efficient technique for providing drinking water for people. Polysulfone (PSF) nanofiltration membranes containing graphene oxide (GO)/Pt (0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1 wt%) nanoparticles were generated with the phase inversion pathway. The as-synthesized samples were characterized by FTIR, SEM, AFM, and contact angle tests to study the effect of GO/Pt on hydrophilicity and antibacterial characteristics. The results conveyed that insertion of GO/Pt dramatically improved the biofouling resistance of the membranes. Permeation experiments indicated that PSF membrane embracing 0.75 wt% GO/Pt nanoparticles had the highest nitrate flux and rejection ability. The membrane's configuration was simulated using OPEN-MX simulating software indicating membranes maintaining 0.75 wt% of GO/Pt nanoparticles revealed the highest stability, which is well in accordance with experimental outcomes.

Activated sludge process enabling highly efficient removal of heavy metal in wastewater.

Activated sludge process was a low-cost alternative method compared to the conventional physicochemical process for the treatment of heavy metal-containing wastewater. In the present study, the removal efficiency of Pb2+, Cu2+, and Ni2+ from wastewater by a sequencing batch reactor (SBR) activated sludge system was investigated, and the mechanism was revealed by static adsorption experiment of activated sludge. The results showed that the activated sludge in the SBR system was effective in removing Pb2+ and Cu2+ from wastewater at 10 mg·L-1 initial concentration, with a removal efficiency of 83.1 ~ 90.0% for Pb2+ and 74.3 ~ 80.6% for Cu2+, respectively. However, the removal efficiency for Ni2+ was only 0 ~ 6.2%. Static adsorption experiments showed that the adsorption capacity of activated sludge for three heavy metals was shown as Pb2+ > Cu2+ > Ni2+. When the initial concentration was 20 mg·L-1, the equilibrium adsorption capacity of activated sludge for Pb2+, Cu2+, and Ni2+ was 18.35 mg·g-1, 17.06 mg·g-1, and 8.37 mg·g-1, respectively. The main adsorption mechanisms for Pb2+ and Cu2+ were ligand exchange, electrostatic adsorption, and surface organic complexation processes, but Ni2+ removal mechanism mainly included electrostatic adsorption and surface organic complexation processes, showing that Ni2+ removal was inhibited in the presence of Pb2+ and Cu2+. The physicochemical properties and microbial diversity of activated sludge were greatly affected by the heavy metals in the SBR system, and genus Rhodobacter was found to be dominant bacteria enabling resistance to heavy metal ions.