The limited recycling and uncontrolled landfilling of End-of-Life (EoL) Lithium-ion Batteries (LiBs) pose significant environmental risks, including the contamination of soil and potential long-term harm to ecosystems. Heavy metals such as Copper (Cu), Cobalt (Co), and Nickel (Ni) present in EoL-LiBs, when improperly disposed of, can exacerbate soil degradation and impact soil health. Despite their relevance, there is a lack of comprehensive studies as on date in this area. This study explores the environmental sustainability implications of EoL-LiB disposal by investigating the impact of Cu, Co, and Ni in relevant concentrations (3, 6, and 9% w/w) on the geotechnical and micro-structural characteristics of clayey soil over different time intervals (15th, 30th, 45th, 60th and 90th days). The results highlight a notable alteration in soil properties, with significant reductions in Atterberg’s limits, indicating a decrease in soil plasticity and long-term soil stability. The maximum increase in the coefficient of consolidation (77% for Cu, 54% for Co, and 65% for Ni) and permeability (84% for Cu, 46% for Co, and 68% for Ni) suggests a concerning acceleration in soil settlement, while the shear strength decreases by 34, 11, and 27% for Cu, Co, and Ni-contaminated soils, respectively. These findings underscore the severe environmental impacts of high contamination rates, with Cu-contaminated clays exhibiting the highest degradation. The field emission scanning electron microscopy analysis reveals significant alterations in the soil’s microstructure, further emphasizing the detrimental effects of improper EoL-LiB disposal. Given the increasing reliance on Cu in LiBs due to its essential role in battery performance, enhancing recycling efforts is crucial. Efficient recycling can mitigate environmental risks, promote a circular economy, and align with global sustainability goals by reducing the ecological footprint of battery waste and fostering sustainable resource management.

Eco-friendly antiscalants have recently attracted considerable interest, particularly focusing on the progression of their structures and assessing their effectiveness. Polyaspartic acid (PASP) and a novel derivative, PASP 2-aminoethane sulfonic acid (PASP-SEA), were produced via condensation polymerization. Additionally, two other green antiscalants were included for comparative evaluation: sodium carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) and a citric acid-sodium citrate blend (CA-SC). The inhibition efficiency (IE) of PASP, PASP-SEA, CMC, and CA-SC was assessed through static testing. The saline solution was brine from a reverse osmosis unit supplied by brackish water at 80% recovery. The optimal doses at pH 8.2 and Langelier Saturation Index 2.9 were determined to be 1, 0.25, 0.5, and 5 mg L− 1, respectively. At an antiscalant dose of 1 mg L− 1 and pH 7.07, the IE values were 94, 100, 38, and 29% respectively. Performance improved for all antiscalants with rising ionic strength from 0.321 to 0.363 using NaCl, with IE ranking as PASP-SEA > PASP > CMC > CA-SC. Dynamic testing was performed on PASP and PASP-SEA, revealing a significantly lower scaling rate for PASP-SEAP. PASP and PASP-SEA were characterized using ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectrometer for functional groups, Thermo-gravimetric analysis for thermal properties, Gel permeation chromatography/size exclusion chromatography for average molecular weight, and biodegradability was evaluated using the biochemical oxygen demand method. X-ray diffraction and Scanning electron microscope analyses illustrated crystal deformation. Furthermore, each antiscalant underwent an economic assessment.

Swine solid slurry (SSS) exerts pressure on land and poses environmental risks due to nutrient overload. This study developed a phosphorus extraction and recovery process to address these issues. SSS exhibited low phosphorus bioavailability and high metal contamination. Treatment with 0.1 M H₂SO₄ at an H⁺/P ratio of 4.0 achieved 99.8% phosphorus extraction. The purified solution (2nd ) yielded a precipitate with higher phosphorus and calcium levels than the raw leachate, demonstrating effective iron separation. Adjusting the 2nd solution to pH 7.5 resulted in 86.2% phosphorus recovery. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, optical emission spectrometry, and X-ray diffraction analyses confirmed that the recovered material was rich in macronutrients and had reduced toxic metal levels compared to raw SSS. These findings highlight the potential for converting SSS into a valuable phosphorus resource, promoting sustainable nutrient recycling and improved waste management. Future work should improve the physical quality of the recovered phosphorus. The current sludge form has high moisture content, limiting reuse and transport. A fluidized-bed reactor could produce low-moisture granules with better handling and practicality.

The assessment of reservoir water quality is essential for ecosystem preservation and sustainable water resource management. Chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) serves as a key bioindicator of phytoplankton dynamics and trophic status in aquatic ecosystems. This study applied Generalized Additive Mixed Models to investigate the environmental drivers of Chl-a variations in two interconnected subtropical off-stream reservoirs, Ren-Yi and Lan-Tan, in Taiwan. Water temperature and rainfall were identified as primary determinants of Chl-a fluctuations in both reservoirs. However, Ren-Yi Reservoir exhibited stronger external nutrient loading effects, with ammonia and total phosphorus significantly influencing Chl-a levels. These findings coincide with elevated chemical oxygen demand, total phosphate, and total nitrogen concentrations in the Ba-Zhang River, the main inflow source. In contrast, Lan-Tan Reservoir was more influenced by depth-driven variations, reflecting thermal stratification and internal nutrient cycling. Seasonal variations in Chl-a were more pronounced in Ren-Yi Reservoir due to direct riverine inputs, while Lan-Tan exhibited attenuated but noticeable seasonal fluctuations, highlighting the importance of regulatory effect of inflow connectivity. A key finding was that dataset size influenced model performance, with seasonality emerging as a crucial factor in the larger dataset (300 data points), revealing intensified seasonal variations. This underscores the need to incorporate seasonality in predictive models. The study demonstrates that external and internal factors regulate Chl-a concentrations, emphasizing targeted reservoir management strategies. Proactive measures, such as reducing Ba-Zhang River nutrient inflows, optimizing hydrological regulation, and real-time monitoring, are recommended to mitigate phytoplankton blooms and enhance water quality. These insights contribute to a deeper understanding of Chl-a dynamics in interconnected reservoirs, informing sustainable water management strategies.

This research assesses how effectively alkaline-activated persulfate removes 1,2-dichloroethane (1,2-DCA) and trichloroethylene (TCE) from groundwater, while examining the underlying mechanisms. The results show that while the degradation efficiency of 1,2-DCA (4.2 × 10-4 M) ranges from 42 to 96%, TCE (4.2 × 10-4 M) is completely degraded by persulfate (4.2 × 10-2 M) after 120 h. The alkaline conditions (pH > 11) improve the degradation of 1,2-DCA but hinder TCE breakdown, leading to the formation of vinyl chloride through dehydrochlorination of 1,2-DCA. The degradation patterns for 1,2-DCA and TCE align with pseudo-first-order kinetics. The highest rate constant for 1,2-DCA oxidation is 6.3 × 10-6 s-1 at pH 13 whereas the highest rate constant for TCE removal is 2.5 × 10-5 s-1 at pH 3. Electron paramagnetic resonance analysis reveals the presence of both SO4-· and ·OH in the alkaline-activated persulfate system. Although alkaline persulfate generates more sulfate radicals and highly oxidative hydroxyl radicals, the elevated pH reduces oxidation reduction potential (ORP), which limits contaminant removal. For each unit increase in pH, the ORP value decreases by approximately 49.9 mV. Additionally, the presence of chloride (0.05-0.40 M) and carbonate (0.01-0.27 M) diminishes the degradation rates of both pollutants, with carbonate having a more substantial inhibitory effect under alkaline conditions. When both 1,2-DCA and TCE are present, alkaline conditions suppress TCE degradation, and acidic conditions reduce 1,2-DCA removal. This study highlights the importance of pH, ORP, and anion interactions in the effectiveness of alkaline-activated persulfate in treating chlorinated organic compounds in groundwater.

In this study, we investigated the transformation of hazardous residues, including fly ash, silica gel, bottom ash, and sludge, from a laboratory waste incineration system at the Sustainable Environment Research Center into compressed concrete paving units (CCPU). The raw fly ash was washed twice with water to remove Cl−. The secondary washed fly ash (SWFA) was then mixed with silica gel, bottom ash, and sludge using various formulations designed through response surface methodology (RSM) in Design Expert 8.0.6 software. The mixed materials were subsequently melted at 1,400 °C. The results of the RSM analysis indicated that the optimal conditions were achieved when the encapsulating phase (silica gel) comprised 60% of the total sample, while the washed fly ash constituted 10% of the encapsulated phase (SWFA, bottom ash, and sludge). This configuration minimized the amount of unmelted materials and maximized the percentage of mass reduction. The slag with optimal melting properties was combined with cullet, clay, cement, and water, then molded, cured, and transformed into CCPU. The physical properties of specimens met the standards for Grade-A CCPU, and the leaching availability results indicated that metals were effectively encapsulated within the CCPU. Overall, the CCPU provides adequate physical strength and will not contribute to environmental pollution when recycled.

In this study, the adsorption of dibenzothiophene sulfone (DBTO) was investigated using clay minerals as adsorbents. Raw bentonite (BR) and raw activated clay (ACR) were impregnated with Fe3+ and Fe6+, creating bentonite-Fe3+ (BF3), bentonite-Fe6+ (BF6), activated clay-Fe3+ (ACF3), and activated clay-Fe6+ (ACF6). The surface functional groups, surface morphology, and surface area of the raw and modified adsorbents were studied through Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, a scanning electron microscope, and Brunauer, Emmett, and Teller analysis, respectively. Batch experiments on simulated oil were done to test the effect of adsorption time (0.5–24 h), adsorption dosage (0.3–1.5 g), and adsorption temperature (30–50 °C). The results of the experiments showed the suitability of the pseudo-second order kinetic model on the clay adsorbent and sulfone system. This suggests that chemisorption is the rate-limiting step of the reaction. Equilibrium isotherms indicated the adherence of DBTO onto BR and BF3 to the Freundlich model, implying the heterogeneous adsorption of the sulfones onto the adsorbents. The systems of DBTO with BF6, ACR, ACF3, and ACF6 showed a better fit with the Dubinin-Radushkevich model. This denotes that adsorption happens through the filling of sulfones of the micropores on the adsorbent. Lastly, thermodynamic studies revealed the endothermic and non-spontaneous nature of the clay adsorbents and sulfone systems. The experiments showed that the impregnation of Fe3+ and Fe6+ lowered the desulfurization ability of the adsorbents. This could be due to the iron ions being hard acids and the sulfones being soft bases, thus showing lower compatibility than the raw counterparts of the adsorbents. Comparison with related studies showed that the prepared adsorbents, namely BF3 (5.1 mg g−1) and BF6 (6.4 mg g−1), had a higher adsorption capacity than Ni2+-loaded activated carbon (4.9 mg g−1) and activated clay (4.1 mg g−1). The study shows that BR (7.2 mg g−1) is the best-performing adsorbent, which can be set as the direction for future research. This study is a step toward the commercialization of oxidative desulfurization methods.

Circular utilization of distillery byproducts is crucial, and pyrolysis has emerged as a viable technology for converting them into fuels and high-value chemicals. This review investigates the thermochemical reactions of byproducts generated during the grain fermentation process. We begin by discussing the physicochemical properties of these byproducts as they relate to their potential conversion into fuels. Subsequently, we explore various thermochemical processes for biomass-to-energy conversion, including the influence of reaction conditions and catalysts. The intricate interactions between cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, and protein during pyrolysis are then examined. These interactions, particularly the Maillard reaction between proteins and carbohydrates and vapor–solid interactions, significantly impact the reaction pathways and ultimately the yield and quality of bio-oil, a key product of the pyrolysis process. Understanding these interactions, as evidenced by studies demonstrating the influence of levoglucosan, furfural, and hydroxyacetic acid on product yields, is essential for optimizing pyrolysis processes of distillery byproducts and maximizing the efficiency of biomass energy conversion. By elucidating the theoretical foundation and scientific basis for optimizing the energy conversion of distillery byproducts, this review aims to contribute to the development of sustainable and environmentally friendly practices within the brewing industry.

Following publication of the original article [1], it was noticed that the author name Md Irfanul Haque Siddiqui appeared incorrectly as Mohd. Haque Irfanul Siddiqui. The author group has been updated above and the original article has been corrected.

The applications of advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) for controlling microcontaminants are essential to meet the water quality criteria for potable or nonpotable water reuses. The objective of this study is to demonstrate the application of light emitting diode (LED) as a possible light source to substitute traditional low-pressure mercury lamp (LPUV) in UV/H2O2 processes in treating precursors of disinfection byproducts (DBPs) and pharmaceutical and personals care products (PPCPs) in wastewater. The results of this study revealed that UV fluence plays the most crucial role in the efficiency of UV/H2O2. At the same time, the initial concentration of H2O2, dissolved organic carbon (DOC), and turbidity had minimal effects, except that poor efficiency result of UV/H2O2 was observed at a solution with low DOC concentration (2.4 mg L−1). Although the concentrations of organic matter decreased after UV/H2O2 treatment, the concentration of precursors of DBPs increased in the early stage of the photolysis process and decreased after that; moreover, the profiles of precursors for trihalomethanes and haloacetic acids were different. A comparison between LPUV and UVC-LED as light sources revealed that, at a fixed UV fluence input into the UV/H2O2 process, the trends and efficiencies in the degradation of organic matter and DBP precursors were similar. Meanwhile, the photoelectric conversion efficiency of UVC-LED should be improved for future applications in water treatment. Based on the UV/H2O2 treatment results on synthetic PPCPs wastewater solution, this study showed the effectiveness of UV/H2O2 to degrade micro organic contaminants.