Chabazite from Campanian Ignimbrite Tuff as a Potential and Sustainable Remediation Agent for the Removal of Emerging Contaminants from Water

The technological performance of a chabazite-rich rock belonging to the Campanian Ignimbrite formation, outcropping in the nearby of San Mango sul Calore (southern Italy), has been evaluated for the sorption and release of ibuprofen sodium salt after a surface modification of the starting geomaterial using two different chlorinated surfactants. Equilibrium sorption isotherms and in vitro loading tests demonstrated that the maximum sorption capacities of this geomaterial reach up to 24.5 and 13.5 mg/g, respectively, for zeolite modified with cetylpyridinium and benzalkonium. These results, obtained by non-linear mathematical modeling of the experimental curves, are definitely compatible with the concentrations of the most common non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (such as ibuprofen) in wastewaters, which have been recently considered as contaminants of emerging concern. This investigation also encourages a new possible sustainable exploitation of the lithified yellow facies of Campanian Ignimbrite, although future developments will be focused on using more stable and eco-friendlier two-tailed surfactants.

Design and technological optimization of rubber-reinforced thin-layer movable joints in the structure of a pipeline vibration-isolating compensator

Thin-layer rubber-metal elements have been widely used in various fields of technology, including helicopter construction, support parts for bridges, shock absorbers in industrial and civil construction. Their work reliability is determined by the design and technological performance features, which require experimental testing and parametric optimization. The article presents the samples and basic models testing results which were aimed at increasing the strength indicators stability of the adhesive ``rubber-metal'' joints and ensuring the failure-free operation of a rubber-metal product in the structure of a pipeline vibration-isolating compensator.

Study of changes in the technological performance of raw cotton when storing

The results of the experiments showed that with an increased density of raw cotton that occurs in the lower layers of the bundle and an increase in its shelf life, an increase in the mass fraction of defects and trash in the fibre is observed. It was found that with an increase in the density of raw cotton more than 250 kg/m3, the mass fraction of defects and weeds in the fibre increases by almost 10 %, the damage to seeds by 6 %, the staple mass length decreases by 3 %, and the proportion of short fibres by 9 %. The increase in the shelf life of the fibre also negatively affects the quality of the fibre and seeds and, most importantly, cotton for grades III–V. An increase in the mass fraction of flaws and trash in the fibre, in turn, affects the unevenness of the yarn and the quality category of the resulting yarn.

Sustainable waste management in the Indonesian medical and health-care industry: technological performance on environmental impacts and occupational safety

PurposeSustainable waste management (SWM) leads to human safety by eliminating dangerous substances, increasing cost efficiency and reducing environmental impacts. Integrating social, economic and environmental factors is the standard for successfully implementing SWM. However, prior studies have not incorporated the triple bottom line with technological performance and occupational safety in establishing SWM. To drive sustainability in waste management, this study aims to provide a set of SWM attributes and identify a causality model based on the interrelationships among the attributes.Design/methodology/approachThis study used the Delphi method to list the relevant attributes and the decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) involving 18 experts from the medical and health-care industry to present the interrelationships indicating the group of cause–effect attributes of SWM.FindingsThe study selected 5 aspects and 20 criteria as the relevant attributes of SWM. The cause group consists of environmental impacts and occupational safety, with positive values of 27.031 and 24.499, respectively. The effect group includes technological performance, economic performance and social performance. In particular, the challenges and practices of technological performance are linked to environmental impacts and occupational safety.Practical implicationsThe top four criteria for industrial improvement are green practices, government policy and rules, the awareness of workers and waste separation and collection. These results present deeper insights into theoretical and managerial implications.Originality/valueThis study contributes to addressing the challenges and practices of SWM in technological performance leading to environmental impacts and occupational safety. Studies on the technological performance aspect in the causality relationships between environmental impacts and occupational safety are lacking. This study describes SWM using qualitative information and quantitative data.

FLAT SIEVE SEPARATORS WITH ANNULAR PNEUMATIC SEPARATION DUCT

The search for the optimal variant of the structural ar-rangement of flat-screen separators by centrifugal-air sepa-rators with annular pneumatic separation ducts is a promis-ing direction in the development of new equipment. This will significantly improve the technological performance of grain cleaning plants. It may be considered a promising direction for such research. Therefore, it is necessary to look for new options for the layout of grain cleaning ma-chines to increase their technological efficiency. Several variants of technological schemes for the operation of ex-isting flat-sieve separators with a centrifugal-air separator with an annular pneumatic separation ducts are proposed. The technological process of the modernized grain clean-ing plant based on the A1-BIS-100 plantis described. The main parameters of the gravity transporting device are de-termined; they fully ensure the operability of the modern-ized plant.

Bioaccumulation of Fluoride in Plants and Its Microbially Assisted Remediation: A Review of Biological Processes and Technological Performance

Fluoride is widely found in soil–water systems due to anthropogenic and geogenic activities that affect millions worldwide. Fluoride ingestion results in chronic and acute toxicity, including skeletal and dental fluorosis, neurological damage, and bone softening in humans. Therefore, this review paper summarizes biological processes for fluoride remediation, i.e., bioaccumulation in plants and microbially assisted systems. Bioremediation approaches for fluoride removal have recently gained prominence in removing fluoride ions. Plants are vulnerable to fluoride accumulation in soil, and their growth and development can be negatively affected, even with low fluoride content in the soil. The microbial bioremediation processes involve bioaccumulation, biotransformation, and biosorption. Bacterial, fungal, and algal biomass are ecologically efficient bioremediators. Most bioremediation techniques are laboratory-scale based on contaminated solutions; however, treatment of fluoride-contaminated wastewater at an industrial scale is yet to be investigated. Therefore, this review recommends the practical applicability and sustainability of microbial bioremediation of fluoride in different environments.

China’s technological performance as reflected in patents

Various concepts for the comparison of countries by patent indicators have been developed for the comparison of countries based on patent indicators. These concepts are generally based on the application of patents in several important markets or the family size of patent applications. A specific observation is the limited transfer of PCT applications of Chinese origin, affecting all these concepts. Transnational patents prove to be a convenient and appropriate tool for making country comparisons by technology, particularly with respect to adequately consider China’s specific patent behaviour. Therefore the phenomenon of limited transfer of China’s PCT applications is analysed for transnational patents. This observation can be associated with lower patent values or with a decreasing export dynamic. The Chinese transfer rates vary considerably by technology as well as by the reason for lower transfer rates. It proves to be more adequate to take limited transfer rates into account.

Downcycling and Upcycling in Rehabilitation and Adaptive Reuse of Pre-Existing Buildings: Re-Designing Technological Performances in an Environmental Perspective

The abandonment of the built heritage, as a result of functional or technological obsolescence or as a consequence of cultural, social, and economic trends, is steadily increasing. This great number of buildings, worldwide spread, offers a huge opportunity to reduce the environmental impacts related to the construction industry. Nonetheless, the recovery and reuse interventions that require the implementation of residual technological performance, to accommodate new uses, are not always environmentally neutral. Therefore, a new design approach needs to be developed so as to improve the buildings’ technological performance and enhance resources and energy already incorporated in buildings. The circular economy principles in the building sector, performance-based building design together with downcycling and upcycling theories are applied to develop a methodology aiming to reduce the environmental impacts within the rehabilitation and refurbishment design process. Starting from the building analysis phase (historical, material, construction) residual performance is evaluated; then the design phase demonstrates that, according to downcycling and upcycling design strategies applied on building components and materials, it is possible improving the building to the required new uses while minimizing transformations and effectively reducing related environmental impacts. The reduction of environmental impacts depends on a careful assessment of the residual technological and structural performance that the building still provides, by involving limited performance implementations to balance rehabilitation needs and environmental protection goals.