182 research outputs found
Sustainable Environmental Technologies
No full textThis Topic Reprint will discuss the latest technological developments and cutting-edge research in “sustainable/green technologies”, especially in areas like waste-to-energy, sustainable materials, green technology for environmental remediation, renewable/clean energy, greenhouse gas reduction, climate change mitigation, resource recovery, natural resource management, and AL/ML use in environmental sustainability, with the goal of addressing the most pressing environmental issues facing our society. In this Reprint, leading experts in this field shared their research findings, key challenges, and future prospects for advancing these technologies across various sectors in the field of environmental sustainability to provide technological solutions to create a more sustainable and resilient planet for future generations
Definition and Validation of Vineyard Management Zones Based on Soil Apparent Electrical Conductivity and Altimetric Survey
No full textIn the current context of increasing costs of production factors, it is essential to optimize
the management of available resources, seeking to incorporate technologies that improve knowledge
of the variables involved in the agronomic production process. The aim of this study is to define and
validate management zones (MZ) in a 3.3 ha vineyard located near Évora, in the South of Portugal. A
contact sensor (“Veris 2000 XA”) was used to map soil apparent electrical conductivity (ECa) and a pre cision altimetric survey of the field was carried out with a global navigation satellite system receiver
(GNSS). The results of these surveys were submitted to geostatistical treatments that allowed the defi nition of three MZ (less, intermediate, and more productive potential). The validation of such MZ was
carried out by laboratory analysis of soil samples (texture, pH, organic matter—OM, moisture content,
phosphorous, potassium, exchange bases, and cation exchange capacity—CEC), measurements of soil
compaction (cone index—CI) with an electronic cone penetrometer, and through indices (Normalized
Difference Vegetation Index—NDVI, and Normalized Difference Water Index—NDWI) obtained by
remote sensing (RS) using Sentinel-2 satellite images. All these parameters (soil parameters and
RS indices) proved the validity of the MZ (of less, intermediate, and more productive potential)
defined from the ECa and altimetric survey. This validation attests to the interest of expeditious
technological tools for monitoring ECa as a fundamental step in implementing smart agronomic
decision-making processes
Biodegradable Polymer–Clay Nanocomposite Fire Retardants <i>via</i> Emulsifier-free Emulsion Polymerization
No full textPoly(butyl acrylate) (PBA)/sodium silicate (SS) nanocomposites were prepared via emulsifier-free emulsion technique in presence of Cu(II)/glycine chelate complex and ammonium persulfate (APS) initiator. The strongly hydrophobic PBA was intercalated into the hydrophilic SS layer. Since the interlayers of silicate were filled with sodium cations, the hydrophilic properties were enhanced and lead to high degree of swelling. The formation of the PBA/SS nanocomposite was confirmed by infrared spectra (IR). Furthermore, as evidenced by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), the composite so obtained was found to have nanoscale structure. X-ray diffraction (XRD) was used to characterize the nanoscale dispersion of the layer silicate and useful for measurement of d-spacing in interlayer system. It was found from thermogravimetric analysis that PBA/SS nanocomposites had more thermal stability as compared to raw PBA due to intercalation. Burning test of the nanocomposites performance exhibited a flame retardant property, which was also verified from cone calorimeter analysis. For its commercialization, the ecological friendly nature was studied via biodegradation and was found to have better biodegradability than the raw PBA.</jats:p
Geochemical Appraisal of Acid Mine Drainage around the Jaintia Hills Coalfield, Meghalaya, India
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Uranium and Fluoride Removal from Aqueous Solution Using Biochar: A Critical Review for Understanding the Role of Feedstock Types, Mechanisms, and Modification Methods
No full textUranium (U) and fluoride (F−) are the major global geogenic contaminants in aquifers and pose serious health issues. Biochar, a potential adsorbent, has been widely applied to remediate geogenic and anthropogenic contaminants. However, there is a lack of research progress in understanding the role of different feedstock types, modifications, adsorption mechanisms on physico-chemical properties of biochar, and factors affecting the adsorption of U and F− from aqueous solution. To fill this lacuna, the present review gives insight into the U and F− removal from aqueous solution utilizing biochar from various feedstocks. Feedstock type, pyrolysis temperature, modifications, solution pH, surface area, and surface-charge-influenced biochar adsorption capacities have been discussed in detail. Major feedstock types that facilitated U and F− adsorption were crop residues/agricultural waste, softwood, grasses, and animal manure. Low-to-medium pyrolyzing temperature yielded better biochar properties for U and F− adsorption. Effective modification techniques were mainly acidic and magnetic for U adsorption, while metal oxides, hydroxides, alkali, and magnetic modification were favourable for F− adsorption. The major mechanisms of U adsorption were an electrostatic attraction and surface complexation, while for F− adsorption, the major mechanisms were ion exchange and electrostatic attraction. Lastly, the limitations and challenges of using biochar have also been discussed
COMPARATIVE STUDY OF ENERGY, UTILIZATION AND EMISSION
No full textNatural or artificial energy is the first essential component for development. That is why man always tries his best for the utilization of all possible sources of energy for the fulfillment of his every day needs. Due to this reason today we are getting the most new and advanced sources of energy which compensate certain amount of energy problems due to the limitations of organic fuel sources. This project is aimed to see the different sources of energy, then for requirement how it is utilized by different conversion methods and during conversion unwanted thing comes in the form of waste and emission which is most challenging to the present society. We look in this project how; we can make a balance cycle by regeneration of waste and pollution because this is practical example of the beautiful earth. In this report we analyze the total fuel energy basically (coal) utilized in India to meet the required demand and thus amount of emission generate by the combustion of coal in different power plants. Then in the next part how the emissive gases and waste can be controlled and re-utilized for various industrial or other applications. Due to which there may be the maximum utilization of waste and emission control can possible. After various analysis and calculation it is found that the use of natural gas for power plants and for other industrial application is more beneficial over the coal and diesel which generates 10 to 15% less emission by consuming half of fuel rate
Synthesis, characterization, and properties of intercalated poly(2‐ethyl hexylacrylate)/silicate nanocomposites: XRD, TEM, IR, TGA, superabsorbency, pressure‐sensitive adhesion, and biodegradation
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