It is well-known that soil is subject to many natural and human-induced threats, which contribute to its degradation and loss. In addition, sampling for scientific studies and professional activities increases soil loss, because the samples—often in excessive amount—are never restored to the original place. Here, we propose to call “hidden erosion” this unwelcome form of erosion. A rough estimation

The aim of this study is to evaluate the potential of red mud applied as an adsorbent in the removal of dyes from the textile industry; the adsorption process was optimized using both response surface methodology and desirability function. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), point of zero charge (pHPZC), nitrogen physisorption and thermogravimetric analysis techniques were

The objective of this paper is to conduct a comparative analysis of the real and potential CO2 emission intensity in China’s agricultural sector. In order to perform this goal, this paper combines the concept of the meta-frontier efficiency and the directional distance function to process empirical work. This methodology allows for the incorporation of technological heterogeneities into the efficiency

In this work, graphene modified with sodium dodecyl sulfate was used to remove Fe (III) and Al (III) from wastewater. Morphological and spectrophotometrical characterization was done to confirm synthesis. Modified graphene performance was studied; pH effect, time of maximal sorption, maximal concentration of absorbent and concentration of ions were studied, as well. Sorption kinetic studies and isotherm

Soil protection and sustainable agriculture have become a key issue in Common Agricultural Policy. Emphasis is being placed on climate-smart agriculture, nature-friendly agricultural technologies and implementation of a range of nature-based measures to protect soil, retain water in landscape, etc. Recent agricultural policy is mostly based on qualitative assessment of the current state and impacts

This work describes preparation of bacterial cellulose membranes and their use as filters for water remediation. The samples were tested as filters using natural specimens that were extracted from the Igarassu River basin in Pernambuco, Brazil, and using suspensions with a high load of Escherichia coli and raw industrial effluents from the dairy and textile industries. The bacterial cellulose membrane

The production of biochar is one of the new methods used in the recycling of organic wastes. The use of biochar may increase carbon storage in the soil for longer periods of time. In this study, carbon and nitrogen contents of different sizes of tomato harvest residue biochar (TB) produced at different temperatures and holding times were determined. TB produced at five different temperatures (300,

This study reports the development and performance evaluation of a portable household ceramic water filter with activated carbon and magnetic treatment unit. Three levels of percentage composition of clay sawdust 60–40, 50–50 and 40–60% by volume were used. Potable water is rarely available in most rural areas of Nigeria, and drinking contaminated water could cause waterborne and water-related diseases

In this paper, zwitterionic polysulfobetaine@Fe3O4 (PSBMA@Fe3O4) nanoparticles were synthesized via covalent grafting and free radical polymerization and characterized. The PSBMA@Fe3O4 noparticles had a zeta potential of − 36 mV (pH 6.3), which guaranteed the high colloidal stability. The as-synthesized nanoparticles were employed as a nanofiller to prepare superior antifouling polysulfone hybrid hollow

Hydrophobic polyvinylidene fluoride membrane was reformed to the hydrophilic membrane by incorporating synthesized titanium dioxide nanoparticles using Cajanus cajan seed extract. Spectroscopic and microscopic techniques characterized the composite membrane. The X-ray diffraction confirms the anatase phase of titanium dioxide nanoparticles of crystalline size 15.89 nm. The effect of titanium dioxide

The original version of this article unfortunately contained a mistake.

The concept of environmental sustainable development is in fact a response to the environmental and social damaging effects. Urban sustainable development is one of the foundations for achieving environmental sustainable development and social justice; thus, the location allocation of urban facilities has to be optimized. Location allocation models are among the most widely used methods in GIS spatial

Heavy metal pollution threatens aquatic systems worldwide, and mining activities are an important pollution source. Currently, the treatment of polluted water using a cost-effective technology that can purify multiple pollutants and is sustainable, environmentally friendly, and simple is a major challenge. The in situ preparation of Mg–Al layered double hydroxides (LDHs) and the concurrent treatment

Abstract Oceans and seas are of paramount importance to the health of planet Earth and human kind. Marine ecosystems should be defended against attack of polluting agents by continuous monitoring; the means of such monitoring should be as green as possible, i.e. based on sensors manufactured by biocompatible and easily disposable raw materials. In this study, we lay the basis for the future development

In order to evaluate the possible human health risk by phyto-accumulation of five heavy metals, viz. Cr, Cd, Cu, Pb and Ni, four Brassica species, namely B. campestris, B. juncea, B. napus and B. nigra, were grown under field conditions irrigated with 100% (undiluted) and 50% (diluted) wastewater (WW). The groundwater treatment was taken as control. WW irrigations (50% and 100%) were found to increase

Prediction of urban growth is often crucial in urban planning decisions. In this paper, we integrated the whole process of urban growth prediction by SLEUTH simulation for Dhaka Metropolitan Development Plan area of Bangladesh for the year of 2035. SLEUTH requires a rigorous preparation of five data inputs, i.e., slope, exclusion area, urban extent, road network and hillshade. This paper improvised

Air pollution nowadays is a serious threat to life. In terms of the global air quality, nitrogen dioxide is one of the prominent pollutants as per the reports of the World Health Organization. Nitrogen dioxide is the cause of about 92% of the asthma cases. Epidemiological studies have unfolded nitrogen dioxide contribution to mortality. Apart from the significant health effects, it also plays a role

In this study, the performance of electro-peroxymonosulfate and electro-peroxydisulfate methods in biologically stabilized leachate nanofiltration concentrate treatment was investigated. To increase treatability and biodegradability of the concentrated leachate was aimed. Central composite design was applied for the optimization of process parameters and development of mathematical model. Variance

Recently, with the growth and development of distributed generation (DGs) and energy storage systems (ESSs), as well as smart control equipment, microgrids (MGs) have been developed. Microgrids are comprised of a limited number of constitutive parts, including loads, DGs, ESSs, and electric vehicles (EVs). This paper presents a novel scheme to manage active and reactive powers, based on DGs, ESSs,

The generation and management of wastes constitute today one of the major challenges of societies due not only to the huge amounts that are produced, but also to the need of implementing new treatments that can be more sustainable at an environmental level. The present work explored the production, management and policies adopted in the treatment of relevant typologies of solid wastes in Portugal,

Building energy performance assessment technique has become a new paradigm that plays a significant part in reducing world energy demand and greenhouse gas emissions. However, there exists a global proliferation of diverse models for assessing and benchmarking buildings. This paper proposes a single building energy performance assessment model that considered several factors that affect office building

Application of accurate gas sampler and analyzers is the most reliable method for measuring cement kiln stack gas composition; however, both are very prone to frequent maintenance due to the presence of very fine dust particles in kiln stack gas. Reliable soft sensors are necessary for online concentration estimation of required components during down time of sampler or analyzer. Since accurate first

A type of rayon-based commercial activated carbon fibers (ACFs), named as KF1500, was modified by thermal chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method to remove nitrate in aqueous solution. Acetonitrile (vapor) was introduced to dope positive charge nitrogen species on it. The sample was ded as KF-8ST10-8AN20-9.5HT30-8ST30 (8ST10; steam activation at 800 °C with 10 mL water, 8AN20; thermal CVD treatment

Environmental effects of concretes produced from partial replacement of cement and sand with coal ash were investigated. Oxide composition of coal ash and cement was determined with X-ray fluorescence spectrometer, while particle size and shape were determined using scanning electron microscope. Concrete mixtures were produced by replacing cement and sand with coal ash at 10, 20, 30 and 40%. Their

A series of graphitic carbon nitrides (g-C3N4) were prepared using different precursors; these g-C3N4-supported CoOx catalysts exhibited different catalytic performances in toluene catalytic combustion reaction. The structure of samples was detected by XRD, TEM, SEM, XPS, H2-TPR, nitrogen adsorption and desorption technique, to build up the structure–performance relationship and uncover the key property

This study details the development of mixed anaerobic culture capable of degrading high concentrations of chlorophenols; 4-chlorophenol (MCP), 2,4-dichlorophenol (DCP) and pentachlorophenol (PCP) were used for that purpose. The role of glucose concentration and the relative potential of mixed culture for acclimatization of different chlorophenols under anaerobic conditions were studied. Methane production

A prior prediction of oxides of nitrogen, i.e., NOX (sum of NO and NO2), in diesel exhaust while treating with electric discharge-based nonthermal plasma (NTP) technique, would assist the researchers in planning the resources required for the treatment. In this present study, the performance of different regression-based models, i.e., linear, support vector regression and Gaussian process regression

In this study, aluminum, iron, calcium and magnesium existing in thermal power plant fly ash were leached by the method of hydrochloric acid with 20% acetic acid. Then, solvent extraction and precipitation methods were applied for recovery processes. The effects of acid concentration, reaction time, and temperature on leaching of iron, aluminum, calcium, and magnesium were investigated considering

Abstract Microalgae have received considerable attention in recent years due to their significant potential in contaminants removal from wastewater and can be used as a sustainable feedstock for biofuel production. However, existing researches on microalgae are mainly focused on inorganic nutrients (i.e., nitrogen and phosphorus) removal, while oil as one of the major pollutant classes has been lack

The aim of this study was to remove Basic Red 13 dye by electrochemical oxidation with Ti/Pt anodes and to numerically optimize the operating conditions such as current density (5–20 mA/cm2), flow rate (10–50 mL/min), initial pH (2–9) and supporting electrolyte concentration (10–100 mM) by using response surface methodology. Chemical oxygen demand analysis which was chosen as a response was performed

Abstract The prediction of the future position of the shoreline is of great importance in planning studies in coastal areas, in making effective decisions in coastal management, and in determining changes occurring on the coast. In this study, coastal change analyses were performed in two different study areas (the Gulf of Izmit and the Göksu Delta) by using satellite images of different dates, and

Abstract This study investigated the performance of commercial activated carbon modified with Ag/Fe nanoparticles for colour removal and chemical oxygen demand reduction from methylene blue dye wastewater under visible light irradiation. Central composite design of the response surface methodology was used to optimize the operating conditions with a minimum number of experiments. There are three operating

Abstract Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is problematic because it corrodes the sewer system pipelines, industrial and home appliances and causes foul smelling in surrounding. On the other side, waste tires are also increasing solid waste and their appropriate disposal is quite challenging. Therefore, this study was conducted with dual aim to employ waste tire derived rubber particles (TDRP) for efficient removal

Abstract Pollution of water resources particularly surface water and rivers may affect human health and the environment seriously. So it is essential to find an efficient solution to control the pollution at rivers in order to reduce damages for consumers and protect the environment. At this research, a mathematical model is proposed to manage pollutant entrance to the river from several resources

Abstract Here, we investigate how to improve the energetic potential of different sludge and scum from water and sewage treatment plants through co-combustion of their blends. We collected samples in Curitiba, Brazil, from: (a) anaerobic sewage treatment sludge; (b) aerobic sewage treatment sludge; (c) sewage treatment scum; (d) drinking water treatment sludge. We characterized the samples in terms

Abstract The change in the amount of erosion, sedimentation and permeability is directly related to the change in the physical and chemical properties of soil, especially for marl formation (MF). Any hydrological modeling should be verified with land use (LU) and surface parameters of MF. For this purpose, soil hydrological response (HR) and soil loss were estimated for different LU units in Iran’s

Abstract In Arequipa (Peru), a small-scale tannery industry cannot afford costly or complicated methods for effluent treatment. In this work, we designed and tested a bubble column bioreactor for tannery effluent treatment based on the native filamentous fungi Penicillium citrinum and Trichoderma viride. The bioreactor construction used low-cost materials, with an easy-to-handle design. The parameters

The article listed above was initially published with incorrect author name for N. Enayatizamir. Through this correction, it is corrected.

Abstract Clayey soils rich in smectite are commonly utilized for the construction of liner materials in engineered landfills owing to their low hydraulic conductivity. However, due to the high swelling potential of such clayey soils, their hydraulic conductivities are adversely influenced by desiccation cracking. In addition to cracks, the hydraulic conductivity of the clayey soils might also be affected

Abstract Bacteria are involved in many vital biogeochemical functions in aquatic ecosystems. Owing to their small size and high growth rates, they tend to be highly responsive to any changes in their environment. This potential to reflect any kind of environmental change makes them sensitive indicators towards the effect of pollutants in aquatic systems. The present study focused on investigation of

Abstract The Dexing Copper Mine, the largest open cast copper mine in China, is located along the upper reaches of the Le’an River, which flows into Poyang Lake, the largest freshwater lake in China. The spatial distribution, potential risk, and phytotoxicity of Cu, Pb, Ni, Cr, and As were investigated in sediments, floodplain soils, and two native hygrophilous grasses of the river. The results showed

Abstract A simple and rapid method for determination of azinphos-methyl, parathion-methyl and ethoprofos, group of organophosphorus pesticides in wastewater matrices, is presented. A chemometric approach for the optimisation of vortex-assisted dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction experimental conditions prior to liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry detection was applied. In this method, a high-density

Abstract Constructed wetlands are artificial wetland units, designed for adopting the principle of natural wetlands for purifying wastewater. Well-designed and well-constructed wetlands play an important role not only in reduction in organic compound/impurities, but also in coliform reduction in wastewater. The three small laboratory-scale units were control, Typha and plant species design based on

Abstract Soil contamination is an increasing global problem. Efforts are underway to minimize the release of contaminants and develop effective bioremediation strategies. Contaminated soil can be treated by phytoremediation that is dependent on the contaminant and soil properties and plant growth rate. In recent decades, soil microbes have been used successfully to enhance the capacity of plants to

Abstract The rate of urbanisation in Nsukka, Nigeria, is a trending phenomenon that is characterised by an overwhelming influence on the environment. Twenty-one dust and soil samples were collected from points strategically located on major roadsides in Nsukka and analysed for hazardous trace elements. The ecological and potential human health risks of the samples were estimated, and the pollution

Abstract Arsenic in alkaline wastewater often takes place from gold mining process and creates a major problem to ecosystems and human health. In alkaline condition for arsenic removal, the application of adsorbent with a high positive surface charge is necessary. The current study is focused on the synthesis and characterization of an eco-friendly FeAl12-polyoxocations intercalated nano-bentonite

Abstract Based on the hypothesis that the electrodeposition conditions may have effects on the developed electrode’s oxidation performance, the present study aimed at investigating the effects of a graphite/PbO2 anode preparation conditions (current intensity, Pb(NO3)2 concentration, HNO3 concentration, and temperature) on leachate treatment efficiency. Synthesis conditions were varied to improve the

Abstract This study was performed to explore the contents and stability of heavy metals and metalloids in Tajan River water. Water chemistry software (HSC model) was applied to obtain Eh–pH diagrams. The correlation between various parameters and cluster analysis were carried out by the MVSP software. According to the results, the contents of heavy metals were relatively low and in the prescribed limits

Abstract Wastewater sludge generated from agro-industrial wastewater treatment plants is accepted as a good option for land application as a soil conditioner and substitute mineral fertilizers. However, the quality of the sludge sometimes posed a threat to the surroundings. The objective of the study is to evaluate the biochemical characteristics and fertilizer potential of brewery wastewater sludge

Abstract The morphology of a series of Bi–B co-doped titanium oxide photocatalysts and its optical properties were characterized. The results suggested that boron and bismuth as co-dopants were incorporated into the framework of titanium matrix. For the B and Bi-doped TiO2 samples, surface area decreased while the Bi content increased. Based on the photoluminescence spectra, a decrease in recombination

Abstract Microwave spectroscopy has been identified as a novel and inexpensive method for the monitoring of water pollutants. Integrating microwave sensors with developed coatings is a novel strategy to make the sensing system more specific for a target contaminant. This study describes the determination of copper and zinc concentration in water in both laboratory-prepared and acquired mine water samples

Abstract Air pollution was predicted in this study by using multiple linear regression and 42 different artificial neural network models in Iğdır/Turkey. Daily air quality data for the years 2016–2018 have been used in the modeling. In the prediction of the particulate matter which has 10 μm or less in diameter (PM10) concentration, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, nitrogen monoxide, ozone, nitrogen

Abstract Phenol is among the most distributed pollutants; phenol biodegradation is one of the most efficient and cost-effective pollutants degradation technologies. To estimate phenol-degradation activity of actinobacterium Rhodococcus opacus 1CP, the pollutant-degrading microorganism, evaluation of the activity of phenol hydroxylase and other systems for phenol degradation was performed in this study

Abstract Diesel exhaust emission soot (DEES) is waste soot particle that has been explored as an adsorbent for a dye rhodamine B (RB). DEES successfully adsorbed the RB from its aqueous solution. Equilibrium was achieved in 90 min. Basic medium (pH > 7) was more favorable than an acidic medium for the adsorption of RB. The study of kinetic of adsorption reveals that both pseudo-first-order and second-order

Abstract This work reports a comparison study between an intelligent aeration-controlled Anoxic/Oxic system and a conventional continuing aeration Anoxic/Oxic system for the removal of major containment, which includes the performance of major containments treatment, microbial kinetics and microbial communities by high-throughput sequencing tool. The results showed that at the end of low dissolved

Abstract The present study was designed to investigate the manifestations of diallyl phthalate (DAP)-induced oxidative stress in Spirodela polyrhiza. Plants were exposed to varying concentrations of DAP, viz. 10, 20, 40, 80, 100, 200, 400 ppm for 7 days under in vitro conditions. Biochemical analysis after harvesting revealed various phytotoxic effects of DAP on S. polyrhiza which was quite evident

Abstract Vacuum treatment of activated sludge results in sludge degassing. The aim of the study was to determine what happens with sludge flocs and bacterial cells during degassing process and to answer why the sludge settles differently after degassing. Sludge settling properties before and after degassing of activated sludge were taken under consideration. It was found that during vacuum degassing

Seawater intrusion into coastal aquifers is a global problem as it limits the freshwater availability in coastal regions. A study has been conducted with the aims to identify the processes controlling seawater/freshwater distribution and demarcate potential freshwater zones in an aquifer along the coast of Bay of Bengal. Sixty-eight groundwater samples were collected from 900 sq. km spread along the

Worldwide, pharmaceutical and personal care products are increasingly being used and produced and their presence in various water bodies has attracted significant attention amongst the public and scientists. Classified as emerging pollutants, these pharmaceutical and personal care products ultimately accumulate in and contaminate natural water bodies through several pathways. In this study, a photocatalytic

Vermicomposting is an efficient technology to treat organic wastes and recover nutrients for agricultural purposes. The aim of this work was to assess the feasibility of vermicomposting to treat onion waste and the resulting vermicompost as an agricultural input. Onion waste from the food industry was mixed with cow dump and vermicomposted for 154 days at the pilot scale. The evolution of temperature