Environmental Technologies to Treat Rare Earth Elements Pollution: Principles and Engineering

Rare earth elements (REE) have applications in various modern technologies, e.g., semiconductors, mobile phones, magnets. They are categorized as critical raw materials due to their strategic importance in economies and high risks associated with their supply chain. Therefore, more sustainable practices for efficient extraction and recovery of REE from secondary sources are being developed. This book, Environmental Technologies to Treat Rare Earth Elements Pollution: Principles and Engineering: presents the fundamentals of the (bio)geochemical cycles of rare earth elements and which imbalances in these cycles result in pollution.overviews physical, chemical and biological technologies for successful treatment of water, air, soils and sediments contaminated with different rare earth elements.explores the recovery of value-added products from waste streams laden with rare earth elements, including nanoparticles and quantum dots. This book is suited for teaching and research purposes as well as professional reference for those working on rare earth elements. In addition, the information provided in this book is helpful to scientists, researchers and practitioners in related fields, such as those working on metal/metalloid microbe interaction and sustainable green approaches for resource recovery from wastes. ISBN: 9781789062229 (Paperback) ISBN: 9781789062236 (eBook) ISBN: 9781789062243 (ePUB)

Modified materials based on layered minerals as ameliorants for the remediation of podzol in the industrial barren

Layered silicates, such as serpentine and vermiculite, have properties that make it possible to use materials based on them as components of environmental technologies. The possibility of soil remediation in industrially contaminated area, formed due to the long-term exposure to emissions from copper-nickel production (Monchegorsk, Murmansk region), was studied. Two materials were used as ameliorants in our study: expanded vermiculite and granular serpentine sorbent, a waste after using the purification technology of highly concentrated solutions from metals. These materials have a high sorption activity to several metals, a high specific surface area, the ability to retain moisture, and are available in quantities sufficient to work on the remediation of large areas. A study of the physicochemical properties of industrially polluted soil and ameliorants, direct phytotoxicity testing of podzol and its mixtures with expanded vermiculite and the serpentine sorbent (test plants - common oat Avna satva L. and red clover Trifolium pratnse L.) were carried out. The study results showed that the proposed materials were effective additives for increasing the pH of acidic soil, sorption and precipitation of Al and potentially toxic metals - Cu, Ni, Pb, Fe, and improving the soil hydrophysical and agrochemical characteristics. A positive response of test plants to the introduction of ameliorants into industrially contaminated soil was noted.

Management of enterprises of the agro-industrial complex of the economy in the conditions of globalization transformations

At the present stage of economic development, the agro-industrial sector of Ukraine is one of the most important parts of the economic systems of most countries with market economies. It is developing in conditions of high energy security, the use of a wide range of agronomic techniques, greening based on the use of modern energy and environmental technologies, methods and ways of managing agro-industrial enterprises. The production base of the agro-industrial sphere is based on an extensive infrastructure network and a system of research support for its development. Ways of development of the agro-industrial sector of Ukraine include balanced and interconnected structural restructuring of all its branches, maximum introduction into production of the most important achievements of scientific and technological progress, world experience, the most progressive forms of economy and organization of production. property, including the deepening of land ownership relations and the introduction of mechanisms for the realization of property rights; privatization of processing enterprises; restructuring of enterprises and forms of management; development of cooperation; introduction of market management methods - management and marketing; state regulation of the agricultural economy through more efficient use of price levers, financial and credit and tax systems; development of markets for agricultural products, material and technical resources and services; intensification and diversification of foreign economic activity, etc. The priority of the development of the agro-industrial sector of Ukraine and its leading industries makes it possible to provide the population with foodstuffs, industry with raw materials, and foreign trade with export goods.

The Characterization of Ukrainian Volcanic Tuffs from the Khmelnytsky Region with the Theoretical Analysis of Their Application in Construction and Environmental Technologies

(1) The mineral deposits are the base resources of materials used in building and environmental engineering applications, especially available locally. Two wells of volcanic tuff deposits in the Khmelnytsky region of Ukraine were investigated in this regard. (2) Physical-mechanical, chemical, and mineralogical analyses of the core samples were carried out. (3) The tuff samples were characterized by visible colour, low compressive strength (4.34–11.13 MPa), and high water absorption (30%). The dominant minerals of the upper horizon were chlorite, pyroxene, kaolinite, quartz, hematite, and calcite, while those of the lower horizon included analcime, quartz, hematite, and calcite. (4) The studied volcanic tuffs seem to be only partly useful for construction applications, and considering their visible colour, the exterior decoration of engineering objects could be possible. The peculiarity of the minerals of the upper horizon is that their crystals consist of Fe2+. An analysis of existing scientific data made it possible to say that these minerals can be considered as an alternative to expensive metallic iron in reducing the toxicity of chromium, uranium, and halogenated organic compounds. The significant presence of hematite allows the application of tuffs to technologies of water purification from As5+, As3+, Cr6+, Cr3+, U6+, Sb5+, and Se4+ oxyanions.

Do Double-Edged Swords Cut Both Ways? The Role of Technology Innovation and Resource Consumption in Environmental Regulation and Economic Performance

The Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) is one of the significant regions with the strongest economic vitality in China. This study focuses on environmental regulation in the eleven Greater Bay Area cities to explore the relationship between it and economic performance for the period 2000–2016. In doing so, we employ spatial panel models (including the spatial instrumental variable method) to investigate the nonlinear relationship between economic growth and environmental regulation. We confirm the existence of a U-shaped relationship between economic growth and environmental regulation in the Greater Bay Area. In the first half of the inverted U shape, the higher the economic development level, the stronger the environmental regulation strength; however, the latter begins to decrease after the peak point. The doubled-edged sword does not cut both ways. This paper verifies that technology innovation and resource consumption are two important mechanisms. Further, we find that both economic growth and environmental regulation have negative spatial externalities; innovation has a positive impact on the environmental regulation of the local city as well as surrounding cities, while resource consumption is on the contrary. In conclusion, this paper provides policy recommendations to further promote economic growth and environmental technologies, and to enhance energy efficiency in GBA.

Water resources management in Kazakhstan in conditions of their shortage

The current situation in the water sector of Kazakhstan is one of the important problems in the country’s environmental protection system. One of the priorities of the sustainable development policy is to ensure the well-being of the population, the introduction of environmental technologies, the creation of environmentally friendly water resources, providing the regions of the country with clean water, and much more. Important changes have taken place in the country’s water sector, and positive dynamics are beginning to be determined not only by intentions, but also by real actions aimed at improving the quality of fresh water and the entire water fund. The purpose of this article is to identify the problems of effective water use and renewal of water resources and the features of the transition to sustainable development of Kazakhstan’s economies in the context of globalization. In the context of globalization, the nature of the correlation between water management and the strategic directions of water resources management in the country is radically changing.

A Field Study for Sustainable Community Empowerment through Appropriate Technology of Water Purification and the Concept of Feces Standard Money in Hatphain Village, Lao PDR

The application of appropriate technologies in a developing country is an opportunity to introduce green technology which may lead people to imagine a better life. This point is at the intersection of appropriate technology and sustainable development. This research focuses on Hatphain village where there is no clean water, sewage system, or power lines. Two environmental technologies (an unpowered water purification system, Ongdalsaem and an eco-toilet system, BeeVi toilet) were introduced, based on the concepts of the environmental self- sustainable village and feces Standard Money (fSM). We found that the Ongdalsaem was effective in reducing the concentration of nitrogen and lead in the water in Hatphain. The BeeVi water-free toilet was installed, allowing urine and feces to be separated and used as compost. We strived to spread ideas of sustainability using new eco-circulation experiences and encouraging learning about environmental technology through practical and playing facilities that residents managed themselves.

Environmental protection of a coal-mining region

Research objective is to substantiate the relevance of mining transition to eco-friendly technologies of subsurface use. Methods of research include analyzing theory and practice of environmental technologies application and carrying out a multifactor experiment. Results. An efficiency criterion for mineral resources extraction technologies is proposed that involves reducing the effect made by the by-products of mining and processing enterprises on the state of the environment. The problem is considered of minimizing the environmental damage from storing silt coal in dumps and storages by utilizing their components. The mechanism of environmental pollution has been formulated. Aspects of metal recovery from beneficiation tailings in a disintegrator mill are investigated. A reduced threat to living matter is predicted by implementing the concept of radical waste-free processing of substandard mineral raw materials. The need to improve the processes of crushing, fine grinding, and classification of minerals in mills to reduce the waste of coal production, harmful to the environment, is noted. Conclusions and scope of the results. Deteriorated conditions of mineral deposits development raise the risk of man-made impact on the environment in coal-mining regions. The global human population grows resulting in increased resources production to respond to resource needs. The growing threat to living matter can be reduced by radical measures, the non-waste processing of substandard mineral raw materials being the priority. The research results can be helpful in the development of deposits of solid metal-containing technologically exposed ores