Optimization of extraction techniques for processing and utilization of Cyperus Dichrostachus A. Rich Plant as fiber

The Textile industry is an important contributor to the GDP of countries worldwide. Both natural and synthetic fibers are the main raw materials for this sector. Environmental concerns, depletion of non-renewable resources, the high price of oil and limited oil reserves with consumer demand is driving research into cheap, biodegradable, sustainable, renewable and abundantly available green materials. Natural fibers are of the good substitute sources for swapping synthetic fibers and reinforcing polymer matrices because of their contributions in maintaining of ecology, nature of disposal, low energy requirement for processing and sustainability. The current research emphases on evaluating and determining the best extraction methods to process and treat cyperus Dichrostachus A.Rich plant in order to make the fiber suitable for variety of applications. Cyperus Dichrostachus A.Rich plant was treated with two conditions (cold and warm conditions) using statistically planned tests. Process conditions were optimised using central composite design methodology with the experimental design. Under optimised conditions, the strength and fiber yield of CDA fibers were significantly compared. The strength and fiber yield of the fiber was at maximized with optimized conditions and use for valorisation applications.

A Novel Geopolymer Foam Based On ZSM-5 Zeolite Fabricated Using Templating Emulsion/Chemical Foaming Method and Its Application in Batch and Continuous Dye Removal Systems

Geopolymers as sustainable and environmentally friendly “green materials”, can be synthesized by utilizing waste material and by-products. A porous geopolymer foam adsorbent based on ZSM-5 zeolite was prepared using templating emulsion/chemical foaming method in different conditions and used for dye removal in batch and continuous systems. The parameters affecting the dye adsorption including temperature, concentration, and pH, kinetics, isotherm, and thermodynamics of the process were investigated. The results of the geopolymer foam synthesis showed that thermal pretreatment of the zeolite has a positive effect on the strength and adsorption capacity. Moreover, the increase in sodium silicate more than the stoichiometric reduces the strength and adsorption capacity. The findings obtained from the batch adsorption process showed that the adsorption kinetics of the pseudo-second-order model and the adsorption isotherm of the Temkin model is adjusted with the experimental data. Thermodynamic results indicated that the process of dye adsorption with geopolymer foam is exothermic. The results from continuous experiments indicated more compatibility of the adsorption process with the models of Thomas and Bohart-Adams. The maximum adsorption capacity of methylene blue in batch and continuous processes was 9.82 and 8.17 mg/g. The adsorbent reduction was performed successfully by chemical and thermal processes.

Research Trends on Climate Change and Circular Economy from a Knowledge Mapping Perspective

The circular economy (CE) has been proposed as a potentially significant catalyst to enhance the current response to the global climate crisis. The objective of this study was to investigate the scientific literature of the research between climate change and CE adopting a knowledge mapping approach. Based on a total of 789 peer-reviewed publications extracted from Scopus, we found that research on climate change and CE is continually growing and interdisciplinary in nature. Europe notably leads scientific production. Keyword evolution shows that CE has been influenced by more lines of research than climate change. We also found that waste management is the CE approach most associated with climate change, mitigation is the climate action most impacted by CE, and food is the most reported greenhouse gas (GHG)-emitting material. However, there are knowledge gaps in the integration of the social dimension, the promotion of climate change adaptation, and the association of sustainable development goal (SDG) 13. Finally, we identified four potentially valuable directions for future studies: (i) CE practices, (ii) bioeconomy, (iii) climate and energy, and (iv) sustainability and natural resources, in which carbon recovery technologies, green materials, regional supply chains, circular agriculture models, and nature-based solutions are promising themes.

Solution-processable orange-red thermally activated delayed fluorescence emitters with 3,6-disubstituted carbazole for highly efficient OLEDs with low efficiency roll-off

The progress of orange-red thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) emitters for solution-processed organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) is still lagged behind blue and green materials in terms of device efficiency. In...

Green Synthesis of Semiconductors and Environmental Applications

This chapter focuses on advancements in the green synthesis approach for nanomaterials and their environmental applications. The eco-friendly, cost-effective, and simple synthesis of inorganic nanoparticles on the environmental applications are discussed. The first section presents an introduction with the basic topics of the green materials synthesis. The second section summarizes the green chemical methods through different routes (precipitation synthesis, electrospinning synthesis, reflux condensation synthesis, hydrothermal, microwave-assisted hydrothermal methods) and the green routes using biological systems from biosynthetic process to synthesize nanoparticles and biosynthesis of passivating nanofilms using spontaneous formation. In the third section, the environmental and energy applications of nanomaterials, including solar cells, photocatalysis, and biohydrogen production are discussed. Therefore, the scientific community can experience the relation of the achieved nanomaterials with their plentiful application possibilities onto the environmental remediation.

Green Nanomaterials for Photocatalytic Degradation of Toxic Organic Compounds

In recent years, nanomaterials as photocatalysts have gained much popularity for the removal of organic pollutants from tainted water using photodegradation, since the available chemical, physical, and biological methods often are time consuming, involve high cost and dumping complications, sometimes posing serious threat to both human health and environmental elements. Use of nanomaterials is less expensive and does not, in general, form aggregated macromolecules. In addition, nanotechnology for waste-water treatment demolishes or alters the risky chemical wastes to harmless end products like H2O and CO2. Nanomaterials synthesized from natural resources or prepared using green synthetic routes are receiving surge of interest as our consciousness to ecological environment and safety rises. ‘Green’ materials of this kind might also show unique strength features and exceptional biodegradability, along with their other notable advantageous properties like minimum threat to environment, efficient recyclablity and low cost compared to synthetic nanomaterials. Such green nanomaterials can also serve as nanocatalysts to treat toxic organic pollutants in a safer way, including photodegradation to less or non-toxic products. This article reviews latest developments on the synthesis of some promising green nanomaterials aiming towards their efficient uses as photocatalysts for degradation of organic pollutants. Strategies to find new green materials as photocatalysts by modification of technologies, and development of novel methodologies for safer treatment of organic pollutants will also be discussed.

Project management relationship to green innovation processes in sustainable fabric companies

The concept of green innovation refers to innovation that seeks to make radical or progressive improvements to products or processes that contribute to sustainable development. Green innovation can improve the global image of a business and lead to better market performance. Green innovation projects can contribute to economic growth and a positive quality of life without negatively affecting the environment. Consequently, this study aims to examine the relationship between the development of green materials resulting from green innovation and project management. To achieve the research objective, we conducted a multi-case study with companies developing green innovation derived textile. The findings show that the firms surveyed do not use formal project management to execute their green innovation projects and that their project management is intuitive. Although the companies surveyed are concerned with sustainable development and strive to innovate to satisfy their customers responsibly, their project management practices are informal. This study contributes to the practice. It is possible to introduce project management into enterprises to enhance green innovation while adapting practices or using less formal and bureaucratic techniques.

Behavior of Cementitious Materials under the Effect of an Eco-Cement Based on Dredged Sludge

This paper attempts to simulate the use of green materials from the silt in a dam, and reduce the harmful impacts of siltation on Algerian dams affected by frequent droughts and irregular rainfalls, which are resulted from climate change. These harsh weather conditions are the main cause of water erosion in Algeria, leading to a high silting level in many dams across the country. Therefore, it is necessary to dredge the considerable volumes of sludge in the dam areas. This paper treats the sludge dredged from the K’sob dam, and adds the treated sludge into cement, creating a hybrid binder that can be used in composition of cementitious materials. Specifically, the sludge extracted from the K’sob dam was characterized chemically, physically, mineralogically, and mechanically, and introduced both as a substitute of cement and a component in the mixture of ordinary concrete/mortar. The sludge was firstly activated through calcination, and added to cement at the mass dosages of 10%, 15%, and 20% separately. The mechanical behavior, especially that under compression, of cementitious materials (concrete/mortar) based on the treated sludge was studied through lab tests. The test results show that this technical innovation gives the finished product three major properties, namely, high strength, economy, and a beneficial ecological impact. The results obtained are encouraging and promise an optimal exploitation of the sludge from similar dam areas.

Preparation and Characterization of Regenerated Cellulose Membrane Blended with ZrO2 Nanoparticles

It is of great significance to search for efficient, renewable, biodegradable and economical membrane materials. Herein, we developed an organic-inorganic hybrid regenerated cellulose membrane (ZrO2/BCM) with excellent hydrophilic and anti-fouling properties. The membrane was prepared by introducing ZrO2 particles into an N-Methylmorpholine-N-oxide(NMMO)/bamboo cellulose(BC) solution system by the phase inversion method. The physi-chemical structure of the membranes were characterized based on thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The modified regenerated cellulose membrane has the excellent rejection of bovine serum albumin (BSA) and anti-fouling performance. The membrane flux of ZrO2/BCM is 321.49 (L/m2·h), and the rejection rate of BSA is 91.2%. Moreover, the membrane flux recovery rate after cleaning with deionized water was 90.6%. This new type of separation membrane prepared with green materials holds broad application potential in water purification and wastewater treatment.