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- ItemDegradation of glyphosate in water by the application of surface corona discharges(Bristol : IWA Publishing, 2021) Zocher, Katja; Gros, Peter; Werneburg, Matthias; Brüser, Volker; Kolb, Juergen F.; Leinweber, PeterGlyphosate (GLP) is one of the most widely applied herbicides, and is found ubiquitously in the environment. The removal of glyphosate from waste water and soil is challenging and can be achieved with chemical or biological methods, which, nevertheless, suffer from different disadvantages. The application of a physical plasma for the removal of GLP in water was examined by the application of surface corona discharges in a wire-to-cylinder setup filled with argon. The plasma was ignited at the liquid surface without any additives. By applying a photometric method, GLP was detected after derivatisation with fluorenyl methoxycarbonyl chloride, whereas phosphate was determined with ammonium molybdate. A GLP degradation rate of 90.8% could be achieved within a treatment time of 30 minutes with an estimated energy efficiency of 0.32 g/kWh.
- ItemDevelopment of Biorefineries in the Bioeconomy: A Fuzzy-Set Qualitative Comparative Analysis among European Countries(Basel : MDPI, 2021) Ding, Zhengqiu; Grundmann, PhilippThis study aims to identify the configurational conditions that characterize the establish-ment of biorefineries in 20 European countries. After determining the conditions which support a bioeconomy transition, secondary data from national sources are used to represent their existing conditions within respective countries. Then, a fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis is em-ployed to compare and contrast the effect of varying combinations of the selected conditions on the development of biorefineries. The conditions chosen include coherent bioeconomy strategies, network intensity of regional bioclusters, intellectual capital, and natural resource availability. Our results reveal that the configuration of a coherent bioeconomy strategy, sizable public spending on R&D, abundant biomass supply, and a high level of network intensity is sufficient to explain the pro-nounced biorefineries development among some European countries. We recommend that countries with fragmented approaches review and redesign the policy and regulatory framework to create a holistic and consistent bioeconomy strategy, taking into account the configurations of conditions as an important prerequisite. In particular, factors such as the lack of best practice examples, the low level of public spending on research and development, the economic capacities for a skilled workforce in addition to the sustainable supply of raw materials should be addressed as focal points.
- ItemProzessstabilisierung bei hohem Sekundärbrennstoffeinsatz durch Sauerstoffeindüsung bei Drehofenanlagen der Zementindustrie(Düsseldorf : VDZ gGmbH, 2015) Hoenig, Volker; Bodendiek, NilsHauptziel dieses Forschungsvorhabens war es, die Auswirkungen der Sauerstoffanreicherung von Drehofenflammen in Zementklinkerproduktionsanlagen auf das Produkt Klinker, den Ofenbetrieb und den Alternativbrennstoffeinsatz sowie auf die Abgaszusammensetzung zu evaluieren.
- ItemEvaluating Evaporative Cooling Assisted Solid Desiccant Dehumidification System for Agricultural Storage Application(Basel : MDPI, 2022) Hussain, Ghulam; Aleem, Muhammad; Sultan, Muhammad; Sajjad, Uzair; Ibrahim, Sobhy M.; Shamshiri, Redmond R.; Farooq, Muhammad; Usman Khan, Muhammad; Bilal, MuhammadThe study aims to investigate Maisotsenko cycle evaporative cooling assisted solid desiccant air‐conditioning (M‐DAC) system for agricultural storage application. Conventional air‐conditioning (AC) systems used for this application are refrigeration‐based which are expensive as they consume excessive amount of primary‐energy. In this regard, the study developed a lab‐scale solid silica gel‐based desiccant AC (DAC) system. Thermodynamic performance of the developed system was investigated using various adsorption/dehumidification and desorption/regeneration cycles. The system possesses maximum adsorption potential i.e., 4.88 g/kg‐DA at higher regeneration temperature of 72.6 °C and long cycle time i.e., 60 min: 60 min. Moreover, the system’s energy consumption performance was investigated from viewpoints of maximum latent, sensible, and total heat as well as latent heat ratio (LHR), which were found to be 0.64 kW, 1.16 kW, and 1.80 kW, respectively with maximum LHR of 0.49. Additionally, the study compared standalone DAC (S‐ DAC), and M‐DAC system thermodynamically to investigate the feasibility of these systems from the viewpoints of temperature and relative humidity ranges, cooling potential (Qp), and coefficient of performance (COP). The S‐DAC system showed temperature and relative humidity ranging from 39 °C to 48 °C, and 35% to 66%, respectively, with Qp and COP of 17.55 kJ/kg, and 0.37, respectively. Conversely, the M‐DAC system showed temperature and relative humidity ranging from 17 °C to 25 °C, and 76% to 98%, respectively, with Qp and COP of 41.80 kJ/kg, and 0.87, respectively. Additionally, the study investigated respiratory heat generation rate (Qres), and heat transfer rate (Qrate) by agricultural products at different temperature gradient (∆T) and air velocity. The Qres and Qrate by the products were increased with ∆T and air velocity, respectively, thereby generating heat loads in the storage house. Therefore, the study suggests that the M‐DAC system could be a potential AC option for agricultural storage application.
- ItemGovernance Strategies for Improving Flood Resilience in the Face of Climate Change(Basel : MDPI, 2018) Driessen, Peter P. J.; Hegger, Dries L. T.; Kundzewicz, Zbigniew W.; van Rijswick, Helena F. M. W.; Crabbé, Ann; Larrue, Corinne; Matczak, Piotr; Pettersson, Maria; Priest, Sally; Suykens, Cathy; Raadgever, Gerrit Thomas; Wiering, MarkFlooding is the most common of all natural disasters and accounts for large numbers of casualties and a high amount of economic damage worldwide. To be ‘flood resilient’, countries should have sufficient capacity to resist, the capacity to absorb and recover, and the capacity to transform and adapt. Based on international comparative research, we conclude that six key governance strategies will enhance ‘flood resilience’ and will secure the necessary capacities. These strategies pertain to: (i) the diversification of flood risk management approaches; (ii) the alignment of flood risk management approaches to overcome fragmentation; (iii) the involvement, cooperation, and alignment of both public and private actors in flood risk management; (iv) the presence of adequate formal rules that balance legal certainty and flexibility; (v) the assurance of sufficient financial and other types of resources; (vi) the adoption of normative principles that adequately deal with distributional effects. These governance strategies appear to be relevant across different physical and institutional contexts. The findings may also hold valuable lessons for the governance of climate adaptation more generally.
- ItemSupportive Business Environments to Develop Grass Bioeconomy in Europe(Basel : MDPI, 2021) Orozco, Richard; Mosquera-Losada, María Rosa; Rodriguez, Javier; Adamseged, Muluken Elias; Grundmann, PhilippGrasslands cover almost half of the total European agricultural area and are the source of a wide range of public goods and services. Yet, their potential to produce innovative bio-based products, such as paper and plastic, remains widely untapped. We employ a multiple case study approach and implement the Business Environment Framework by Adamseged and Grundmann (2020) on eighteen alternative grass-based businesses to investigate the interdependencies between these successful business models and their business environments. The subsequent analysis reveals that the deployment of funds and policies to support alternative grass-based products remains low in most regions of Europe. Our findings highlight that aligned funding mechanisms that incorporate and promote the specific benefits generated by grass-producing and grass-processing businesses are key to overcoming the barriers related to the competition of bio-based products with the established fossil-fuels-based economic system. To make alternative grass-based markets more dynamic, increasing consumer awareness through adequate marketing is perceived as an important aspect. Capacity building and alignment efforts need to be strengthened and coordinated at local and higher levels to enable the replication and scale-up of novel grass-based businesses in Europe and beyond.
- ItemMachine Learning for Determining Interactions between Air Pollutants and Environmental Parameters in Three Cities of Iran(Basel : MDPI, 2022) Rad, Abdullah Kaviani; Shamshiri, Redmond R.; Naghipour, Armin; Razmi, Seraj-Odeen; Shariati, Mohsen; Golkar, Foroogh; Balasundram, Siva K.Air pollution, as one of the most significant environmental challenges, has adversely affected the global economy, human health, and ecosystems. Consequently, comprehensive research is being conducted to provide solutions to air quality management. Recently, it has been demonstrated that environmental parameters, including temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, air pressure, and vegetation, interact with air pollutants, such as particulate matter (PM), NO2, SO2, O3, and CO, contributing to frameworks for forecasting air quality. The objective of the present study is to explore these interactions in three Iranian metropolises of Tehran, Tabriz, and Shiraz from 2015 to 2019 and develop a machine learning-based model to predict daily air pollution. Three distinct assessment criteria were used to assess the proposed XGBoost model, including R squared (R2), Root Mean Squared Error (RMSE), and Mean Absolute Error (MAE). Preliminary results showed that although air pollutants were significantly associated with meteorological factors and vegetation, the formulated model had low accuracy in predicting (R2PM2.5 = 0.36, R2PM10 = 0.27, R2NO2 = 0.46, R2SO2 = 0.41, R2O3 = 0.52, and R2CO = 0.38). Accordingly, future studies should consider more variables, including emission data from manufactories and traffic, as well as sunlight and wind direction. It is also suggested that strategies be applied to minimize the lack of observational data by considering second-and third-order interactions between parameters, increasing the number of simultaneous air pollution and meteorological monitoring stations, as well as hybrid machine learning models based on proximal and satellite data.
- ItemHousehold Disposal of Pharmaceuticals in Low-Income Settings: Practices, Health Hazards, and Research Needs(Basel : MDPI, 2023) Gwenzi, Willis; Simbanegavi, Tinoziva T.; Rzymski, PiotrPharmaceuticals are widely used in Africa due to the high burden of human and animal diseases. However, a review of the current practices and pollution risks arising from the disposal of pharmaceuticals in low-income settings in Africa is still lacking. Therefore, the present review examined the literature to address the following questions: (1) what are the key factors driving the accumulation of unused and expired pharmaceuticals?, (2) what are the current disposal practices for unused and expired pharmaceuticals, and wastewater (feces and urine) containing excreted pharmaceuticals?, (3) what are the potential environmental and human health hazards posed by current disposal practices?, and (4) what are the key research needs on the disposal of pharmaceuticals in low-income settings? Evidence shows that, in low-income settings, wastewater comprising predominantly of feces and urine containing excreted pharmaceuticals often end up in on-site sanitation systems such as pit latrines, septic tanks, and the environment in the case of open defecation. Unused and expired pharmaceuticals are disposed of in pit latrines, household solid waste, and/or burned. The pollution risks of current disposal practices are poorly understood, but pharmaceutical pollution of groundwater sources, including those used for drinking water supply, may occur via strong hydrological connectivity between pit latrines and groundwater systems. Potential high-risk pollution and human exposure hotspots are discussed. However, compared to other environmental compartments, the occurrence, dissemination, fate, and human health risks of pharmaceuticals in the pit latrine-groundwater continuum are still understudied. Future research directions are discussed to address these gaps using the Source-Pathway-Receptor-Impact-Mitigation (SPRIM) continuum as an organizing framework.
- ItemClosing Blank Spots and Illuminating Blind Spots in Research on Emerging Contaminants: The Source–Pathway–Receptor–Impact–Mitigation (SPRIM) Continuum as an Organizing Framework(Basel : MDPI, 2023) Gwenzi, WillisEmerging contaminants (ECs) include: (1) high-technology rare earth elements, (2) nanomaterials, (3) antibiotic/antimicrobial resistance, (4) microplastics, and (5) synthetic organic chemicals, which are currently unregulated. ECs continue to attract considerable research and public attention due to their potential human and ecological health risks. However, an organizing conceptual framework for framing research on ECs is currently missing. Lacking a conceptual framework, only a few aspects are frequently well-studied (i.e., bandwagon/Matthew effect), while other equally important topics receive only cursory attention. In this Editorial perspective, the Source–Pathway–Receptor–Impact–Mitigation (SPRIM) continuum is proposed as an organizing framework to guide research on ECs. First, a description of the SPRIM continuum and its components is presented. Compared to the prevailing and seemingly ad hoc approach predominant in research on emerging contaminants, the potential novelty of applying the proposed SPRIM continuum framework is that it addresses the bandwagon, or Matthew, effect. As a decision-support tool, the SPRIM continuum framework serves a dual function as (1) a checklist to identify key knowledge gaps and frame future research, and (2) a primer for promoting the collaborative research and application of emerging big data analytics in research on emerging contaminants. Collectively, it is envisaged that the SPRIM continuum framework will provide a comprehensive and balanced understanding of various aspects of emerging contaminants relative to the current approach. The challenges of the SPRIM continuum framework as a framing and decision-support tool are also discussed. Future research directions on ECs are discussed in light of the SPRIM continuum concept. This Editorial closes with concluding remarks and a look ahead. The issues discussed are cross-cutting or generic, and thus relate to several groups of ECs, including emerging organic contaminants (EOCs), which are the focus of the current Special Issue. This Special Issue, entitled ‘Emerging Organic Contaminants in Aquatic Systems: A Focus on the Source–Pathway–Receptor–Impact–Mitigation Continuum’, calls for high-quality contributions addressing several aspects of EOCs in aquatic systems. As a Guest Editor, I welcome and look forward to several high-quality contributions addressing at least one component or the entire spectrum of the SPRIM continuum.
- ItemAnthropogenic Land Use Change and Adoption of Climate Smart Agriculture in Sub-Saharan Africa(Basel : MDPI, 2022) Tione, Sarah Ephrida; Nampanzira, Dorothy; Nalule, Gloria; Kashongwe, Olivier; Katengeza, Samson PilanazoCompelling evidence in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) shows that Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) has a positive impact on agricultural productivity. However, the uptake of CSA remains low, which is related to anthropogenic, or human-related, decisions about CSA and agricultural land use. This paper assesses households’ decisions to allocate agricultural land to CSA technologies across space and over time. We use the state-contingent theory, mixed methods, and mixed data sources. While agricultural land is increasing, forest land is decreasing across countries in SSA. The results show that household decisions to use CSA and the extent of agricultural land allocation to CSA remain low with a negative trend over time in SSA. Owned land and accessing land through rental markets are positively associated with allocating land to CSA technologies, particularly where land pressure is high. Regarding adaptation, experiencing rainfall shocks is significantly associated with anthropogenic land allocation to CSA technologies. The country policy assessment further supports the need to scale up CSA practices for adaptation, food security, and mitigation. Therefore, scaling up CSA in SSA will require that agriculture-related policies promote land tenure security and land markets while promoting climate-smart farming for food security, adaptation, and mitigation.