Electrospun Nanofibers for Scheming Water Pollution

Water pollution is one of the key global problems which require immediate attention. Worldwide, it is predicted that more than 50% of countries will encounter water scarcities by 2025 which will increase to 75% by 2075. Each year more than 5 million people die due to water-borne diseases. The threat due to pollution by industries, exponential population growth, urbanization, by pathogenic microorganisms from human and animal waste, etc. The rise in water pollution and its subsequent effects on human health and environment is a matter of great concern. The water pollutants ought to be removed to improve water quality for human use. Nanoparticles or zero dimensional materials have been extensively studied since long, whereas one dimensional material (nanorods, nanotubes, nanowires, or nanofibers) have recently grabbed a lot of interest from global researchers. Nanofibers having large aspect ratio are grabbing incredible attention owing to dependency of physical property on directionality having high porosity and surface area as compared to normal fibers.

Dynamics of the Exponential Population Growth System with Mixed Fractional Brownian Motion

This paper examines the dynamics of the exponential population growth system with mixed fractional Brownian motion. First, we establish some useful lemmas that provide powerful tools for studying the stochastic differential equations with mixed fractional Brownian motion. We offer some explicit expressions and numerical characteristics such as mathematical expectation and variance of the solutions of the exponential population growth system with mixed fractional Brownian motion. Second, we propose two sufficient and necessary conditions for the almost sure exponential stability and the k th moment exponential stability of the solution of the constant coefficient exponential population growth system with mixed fractional Brownian motion. Furthermore, we conduct some large deviation analysis of this mixed fractional population growth system. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first paper to investigate how the Hurst index affects the exponential stability and large deviations in the biological population system. It is interesting that the phenomenon of large deviations always occurs for addressed system when 1 / 2 < H < 1 . Moreover, several numerical simulations are reported to show the effectiveness of the proposed approach.

Cost–Benefit Analysis of Pumped Hydroelectricity Storage Investment in China

In this study, the energy scenario in China was analyzed by retracing the trend of exponential population growth, gross domestic product (GDP), and electricity production and consumption. A forecast up to 2050 was made based on the history and forecasts of other field studies. It was possible to deduce data on pollutants in terms of CO2 equivalent (CO2-eq) emitted over time if there were no changes in the way energy was produced. Moreover, different scenarios were hypothesized for the use of pumped hydroelectricity storage plants, namely 4.5%, 6%, 8%, 11%, and 14% (percentage of electricity compared to requirements in 2050), to balance variable renewable energy sources and avoid curtailment, thereby reducing the use of energy produced by coal-fired plants. For this implementation, direct and indirect costs and benefits were considered, with interesting results obtained from an economic standpoint and very positive results from environmental, social, and territorial perspectives.

Desirable and Sustainable: Consolidating strategies for developing sustainable products

<p>Society’s consumption, economic systems, and exponential population growth is creating more material waste than it can process. Mass production plays a large part in this unsustainable material consumption resulting in ecosystems collapsing. This thesis was done in partnership with SUPER Design Studios (SUPER), a registered design company founded by the author. The thesis was started in response to the need for everyone and everything to be waste-free while acknowledging that current sustainable alternatives were not bringing us closer to this goal. The objective of this thesis is to explore and propose a new Sustainable Product Development Strategy (SPDS) to create products that are effortlessly and enjoyably sustainable. The research starts with an analysis of current sustainable product development practices; followed by interviews with sustainability industry experts focusing on the opportunities, barriers and difficulties they find working within the field. The research found that the perceived issues with sustainable products are not inherent in the products but can be attributed to flawed approaches typically used in their development. To address this issue a new SPDS was identified, by combining successful product development strategies. The SPDS encompasses a focus on three key domains. Firstly, the development team needs to be empowered and encouraged in a sustainable mindset. Secondly, the project brief needs to put the customer and environmental needs at equal importance. Thirdly, a business mindset which motivates collaboration with external individuals including stakeholders, customers and other key disciplines, needs to be developed. The SPDS was trialled through validating and conceptualising a sustainable toothbrush product using a hybrid circular economy and subscription business model. This development encompassed strategies that utilised the SPDS methodology including design thinking, competitor analysis, a thematic analysis of secondary research, case studies, tree analysis, expert interviews and customer surveys. Overall a strong case was made for using the SPDS for the development of successful and sustainable products. The sustainable toothbrush concept is presented in the accompanying business case which proposes that SUPER goes ahead with further development and research to create the first of a new generation of sustainable products utilising the SPDS methodology. The hope is that applying the SPDS will create successful sustainable products that outcompete conventional products, leading to industry competitors following suit and in doing so replace the sustainable product industry.</p>

Desirable and Sustainable: Consolidating strategies for developing sustainable products

<p>Society’s consumption, economic systems, and exponential population growth is creating more material waste than it can process. Mass production plays a large part in this unsustainable material consumption resulting in ecosystems collapsing. This thesis was done in partnership with SUPER Design Studios (SUPER), a registered design company founded by the author. The thesis was started in response to the need for everyone and everything to be waste-free while acknowledging that current sustainable alternatives were not bringing us closer to this goal. The objective of this thesis is to explore and propose a new Sustainable Product Development Strategy (SPDS) to create products that are effortlessly and enjoyably sustainable. The research starts with an analysis of current sustainable product development practices; followed by interviews with sustainability industry experts focusing on the opportunities, barriers and difficulties they find working within the field. The research found that the perceived issues with sustainable products are not inherent in the products but can be attributed to flawed approaches typically used in their development. To address this issue a new SPDS was identified, by combining successful product development strategies. The SPDS encompasses a focus on three key domains. Firstly, the development team needs to be empowered and encouraged in a sustainable mindset. Secondly, the project brief needs to put the customer and environmental needs at equal importance. Thirdly, a business mindset which motivates collaboration with external individuals including stakeholders, customers and other key disciplines, needs to be developed. The SPDS was trialled through validating and conceptualising a sustainable toothbrush product using a hybrid circular economy and subscription business model. This development encompassed strategies that utilised the SPDS methodology including design thinking, competitor analysis, a thematic analysis of secondary research, case studies, tree analysis, expert interviews and customer surveys. Overall a strong case was made for using the SPDS for the development of successful and sustainable products. The sustainable toothbrush concept is presented in the accompanying business case which proposes that SUPER goes ahead with further development and research to create the first of a new generation of sustainable products utilising the SPDS methodology. The hope is that applying the SPDS will create successful sustainable products that outcompete conventional products, leading to industry competitors following suit and in doing so replace the sustainable product industry.</p>

Degradation of Bisphenol-A: A Contaminant of Emerging Concern Using Catalytic Ozonation By Activated Carbon Impregnated Nanocomposite-Bimetallic Catalyst

Rampant water pollution events and rising water demand caused by exponential population growth and depleting freshwater resources speak of an impending water crisis. The inability of conventional wastewater treatment systems to remove Contaminants of Emerging Concern (CEC) such as Bisphenol-A (BPA) beckons for new and efficient technologies to remove them from wastewater and water sources. Advanced oxidation processes such as ozonation are primarily known for their capability to oxidize and degrade organic entities in water but optimum mineralization levels were hard to achieve. In this study, we synthesized an activated carbon impregnated nanocomposite-bimetallic catalyst (AC/CeO2/ZnO) and used it along with ozonation to remove BPA from water. The catalyst was characterized using BET, XRD, FESEM, Raman spectra, and DLS studies. Catalytic ozonation achieved TOC removal 25% higher than non-catalytic ozonation process. The degradation pathway of BPA was proposed using LC-MS/LC-Q-TOF studies that found six main aromatic degradation byproducts. Catalytic ozonation and non-catalytic ozonation followed similar degradation pathways. The formation of persistent aliphatic acidic byproducts in the treated sample made TOC removal above 61% difficult.

Ecological experience in Aotearoa's deathscapes.

<p><b>Death is a land-use issue and therefore a landscape issue. This design-led research explores reshaping the way we experience death through our engagement with it ecologically and socially. </b></p> <p>Globally and in Aotearoa, exponential population growth and death has increased pressures of urbanisation on cemeteries and the lands’ capacity for burial. Aotearoa’s young colonial history means the majority of our dead lie in a mono-functional, socially and ecologically vacant lawn-cemetery typology from Europe. These prevailing cemeteries hide death by sanitising the visceral qualities of landscapes above ground, whilst poisoning them below. </p> <p>Karori Cemetery in Wellington will reach full capacity in less than five years, with others in New Zealand following close behind. This research will explore Te Ahumairangi in the Wellington Town Belt as the site of a new forested public space cemetery. Existing landscape conditions have the potential to be interwoven with alternative burial methods that can allow for a greater frequency of burial in an urban environment constrained for burial space. </p> <p>The thesis proposes that reinterpretation is needed in making Aotearoa’s South Pacific deathscapes unique. The end-of-life methods of natural burial, aquamation and cremation can be explored for their potential to address capacity pressures, pollutants and the negative impacts of lawnscape cemeteries on the landscape. It explores how designing the process of these burial methods in the landscape has the potential to alter experiential, ecological, social and sacred richness of death spaces. </p> <p>The research sheds light on these considerations, findings and underexplored relationships, through a type of ecological-experience fieldwork to counter current practice. The uncovered range of potentials in landscapes of death can be tapped to catalyse the discipline of landscape architecture and cemetery planning into action.</p>

Ecological experience in Aotearoa's deathscapes.

<p><b>Death is a land-use issue and therefore a landscape issue. This design-led research explores reshaping the way we experience death through our engagement with it ecologically and socially. </b></p> <p>Globally and in Aotearoa, exponential population growth and death has increased pressures of urbanisation on cemeteries and the lands’ capacity for burial. Aotearoa’s young colonial history means the majority of our dead lie in a mono-functional, socially and ecologically vacant lawn-cemetery typology from Europe. These prevailing cemeteries hide death by sanitising the visceral qualities of landscapes above ground, whilst poisoning them below. </p> <p>Karori Cemetery in Wellington will reach full capacity in less than five years, with others in New Zealand following close behind. This research will explore Te Ahumairangi in the Wellington Town Belt as the site of a new forested public space cemetery. Existing landscape conditions have the potential to be interwoven with alternative burial methods that can allow for a greater frequency of burial in an urban environment constrained for burial space. </p> <p>The thesis proposes that reinterpretation is needed in making Aotearoa’s South Pacific deathscapes unique. The end-of-life methods of natural burial, aquamation and cremation can be explored for their potential to address capacity pressures, pollutants and the negative impacts of lawnscape cemeteries on the landscape. It explores how designing the process of these burial methods in the landscape has the potential to alter experiential, ecological, social and sacred richness of death spaces. </p> <p>The research sheds light on these considerations, findings and underexplored relationships, through a type of ecological-experience fieldwork to counter current practice. The uncovered range of potentials in landscapes of death can be tapped to catalyse the discipline of landscape architecture and cemetery planning into action.</p>

Integrated Renewable Energy Systems in Fruit and Vegetable Processing Industries: A Systematic Review

The exponential population growth will put great pressure on natural resources, agriculture, energy systems and waste production. New business models and innovative technological approaches are necessary to tackle these challenges and achieve the energy transition targets set by the European Commission. Renewable energy technologies and processes such as solar photovoltaic, solar thermal and anaerobic co-digestion have become a subject of interest and research as a solution that could be fully implemented in industries and solve several environmental and economic problems. This paper discusses the possibility of integrating and complement these technologies to maximize renewable energy production and circularity. The review was performed with a funnel approach aiming to analyze broad to specific subjects. Beginning with a literature review on the various definitions of circular economy, bioeconomy, and circular bioeconomy, ultimately proposing a single definition according to an industrial and academic scope combination, followed by a systematization and assessment of data and literature regarding energy systems present state and projections. The next phase was to assess data and literature of the fruit and vegetable processing industry from an energy consumption and biowaste production perspective to consequently discussing technologies that could help manage problems identified throughout this review. This paper culminates in propounding an Integrated Renewable Energy System conceptual model that promotes energy and waste circularity, envisioning how industries could be designed or redesigned in the future, coupled with a circular bioeconomy business model.

Performance Characteristics of a Cooking Stove Improved with Sawdust as an Insulation Material

In developing countries, energy demand from biomass has increased due to exponential population growth. This has translated into voluminous quantities of wood being used. The situation is exacerbated by the popular use of inefficient stoves with low thermal insulation, hence contributing to deforestation. In this study, the performance of a cooking stove improved with sawdust as an insulation material was assessed. An insulated fire stove prototype of 26 cm saucepan diameter was designed, constructed, and cast with sawdust and clay in a ratio of 1 : 1 (as the first layer) and sawdust alone as the second layer. The developed stove was tested using a water boiling test to establish its operating performance. The thermal efficiency of the stove was assessed using indigenous wood fuels used in rural Uganda (Senna spectabilis, Pinus caribaea, and Eucalyptus grandis). Computational fluid dynamics was used to simulate the temperature and velocity fields within the combustion chamber and for generating temperature contours of the stove. Obtained results indicated that S. spectabilis had the highest thermal efficiency of 35.5 ± 2.5%, followed by E. grandis (25.7 ± 1.7%) and lastly P. caribaea (19.0 ± 1.2%) in the cold start phase when compared with traditional stoves. The stove remained cold as hot air was restricted to the combustion chamber with decreasing temperature contours toward the outer wall up to the ambient temperature. The velocity flow remained constant as the chamber was colored green throughout due to the shielding of the stove with sawdust as insulation. The heat flux generated indicated that a thick layer of 6 cm or more could ensure good insulation, and this could be further reduced by introducing more sawdust. The designed stove has the potential to reduce biomass consumption and emissions when compared to traditional cookstoves. The inclusion of a chimney draught in the fire stove prototype could reduce smoke and increase thermal efficiency. Further studies should focus on minimizing the thickness of the clay-sawdust (first) layer and increasing the thickness of the sawdust layer to reduce the weight of the fire stove.