Search Results (7,835)

Olive leaves are an abundant agro-industrial by-product rich in oleuropein, yet they remain largely underutilized. The objective of this study is to a) develop a green microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) method for an oleuropein-rich extract, b) encapsulate it into edible natural zeolite to form OLE@NZ nanohybrids, and, c) evaluate their application in fortified salt and active gelatin films. MAE using only water at 96 °C for 5 min yielded a dry extract with 25.4% (w/w) oleuropein and a total phenolic content of 781 mg GAE/100 mL. The extract was successfully adsorbed onto clinoptilolite-type zeolite and the resulting nanohybrids showed strong antioxidant activity (EC_50,DPPH = 2.74 mg, TPC = 426 mg GAE/g). A fortified salt containing 5% w/w OLE@NZ fully preserved the nanohybrid’s antioxidant activity. Extruded gelatin films incorporating 5–15% OLE@NZ exhibited a concentration-dependent increase in antioxidant activity (up to 14-fold higher than the blank film), together with a 5- to 7-fold enhancement, while maintaining good mechanical properties. The total phenolic content of the films correlated linearly with nanohybrid loading, with phenolic recovery of 68% both at 5 and 10% loading and 58% at 15%). Overall, these findings demonstrate that MAE is a rapid, and environ-mentally friendly approach for obtaining oleuropein-rich olive leaf extract (OLE), while OLE@NZ nanohybrids provide effective antioxidant additives for functional salt formulations and active gelatin films, supporting a circular bioeconomy strategy. Full article

The potato chip processing (PCP) industry generates huge amounts of wastewater heavily polluted with organic matter and nutrients. The current treatment technology of PCP wastewater uses dissolved air flotation (DAF) and an activated sludge sequential batch reactor (SBR); both consume large amounts of chemicals and represent energy-intensive systems. This study explores the utilization of algae for the sustainable treatment of PCP wastewater, nutrient recovery, and algal biomass production. Conical flasks (1-L) and 6-L transparent plastic bottles were used as lab-scale algae photobioreactors (APBRs). Raw wastewater, an anaerobically pre-treated effluent and a DAF–SBR or shortly SBR effluent were used in the first, second, and third APBR. Three feed volumes from each source (150 mL, 300 mL, and 500 mL for first and second APBR and 400 mL, 600 mL, and 800 mL for third APBR) to a fixed volume of algal seed (200 mL) were tested to select the optimal feed volume and harvest time using a 1-L APBR. System performance and impact of water characteristics on quantity and quality of algal biomass were explored at pre-selected feed volume and harvest time in 6-L APBRs. All experiments were carried out in a growth chamber with continuous light (148.75 μmol.m⁻².S⁻¹). The results showed that 150 mL is the optimal feed volume for the first and second APBR at 10 days and 9 days growth cycles. An amount of 500 mL and 6 days were selected as the optimal feed volume and growth cycle for the third APBR. The average dry biomass yields at the pre-selected optimal conditions were 65.3 ± 11.4, 69.9 ± 12.0, and 100.6 ± 11.7 mg/L.d in the first, second, and third APBR, respectively. The first APBR achieved removals of 99.2 ± 0.4%, 98.7 ± 0.8%, 89.1 ± 4.3%, and 97.5 ± 1.4% for turbidity, COD, TKN, and TP, respectively, on average. Corresponding removal in the second APBR is 97.6 ± 2.6%, 91.6 ± 7.5%, 93.6 ± 4.5%, and 96.1 ± 1.4%, respectively, while the third APBR achieved 98.5%, 76.2%, and 97.0%, respectively. Additionally, the results of protein content and amino acids profiles indicate significant impacts of feed water quality on both parameters. The protein content was 30.64%, 32.53%, and 35.65% in the first, second, and third APBR, respectively. Similarly, the amino acids profile indicated a significant higher percentage of the amino acids in the third reactor compared with the first and second reactor. Full article

Dust accumulation on photovoltaic (PV) modules reduces power generation efficiency, and traditional water-based cleaning is impractical in arid regions. Inspired by the classical acoustic phenomenon of Chladni figures—specifically the mechanism where an acoustic standing wave field drives the regular migration and accumulation of particles—this study proposes a waterless dust removal method using low-frequency ultrasonic vibration via piezoelectric excitation. Impedance analysis identifies optimal electromechanical coupling at 28 kHz. Experiments demonstrate that higher driving voltages accelerate cleaning, with recovery rates saturating beyond 125 V. Notably, intense friction and collisions between particles within high-density dust layers consume substantial kinetic energy, significantly multiplying the required cleaning time. Macroscopic transport analysis reveals that dust removal relies on the synergy of vibration-induced adhesion decoupling and gravity-driven transport. Sufficient tangential gravity is crucial for macroscopic particle removal, and tilt angles above 30° provide the necessary downward driving force to ensure smooth particle sliding. Under optimal conditions, the system achieves an over 97% short-circuit current recovery at a low power consumption of ~10 W, providing a theoretical basis for waterless PV self-cleaning systems. Full article

This study focused on a three-dimensional cross-linked hydrophobic association (PS) hydrogel framework. Phytic acid (PA) was selected as both a dopant and an antifreeze agent, and it was combined with an ethylene glycol/water binary solvent to construct a dual antifreeze system. The resulting composite conductive hydrogel, E/PS/PA-PPy, exhibited synergistically enhanced electrical conductivity, mechanical strength, and antifreeze properties. At a PA concentration of 0.1 M, a structurally uniform and ordered three-dimensional network was formed. The PS/PA-PPy hydrogel exhibited an elongation at break of 2595.7% and a high conductivity of 1.8 S/m, while maintaining excellent flexibility and adhesion. Owing to the synergistic antifreeze effect, the freezing point of the E/PS/PA-PPy hydrogel was reduced to −42.3 °C, and after 35 days of room-temperature storage, the weight loss was less than 7%, indicating outstanding water retention. The assembled flexible strain sensor exhibited a sensitivity of 2.09, with response and recovery times both less than 0.25 s. Notably, it exhibited good cyclic stability and accurately monitored human movements. Furthermore, the sensing performance remained stable without significant attenuation even at −20 °C. The results demonstrate the broad application prospects of the hydrogel in flexible electronics such as wearable health monitoring systems and human–machine interfaces in extreme environments. Full article

Hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) of wet biomass faces a fundamental tradeoff between higher heating value (HHV) and energy recovery (ER), where conditions that enhance carbon densification often reduce solid-phase energy retention. This study investigates whether co-biomass selection combined with citric acid (CA) catalysis can overcome this tradeoff in HTC of water hyacinth (WH), an invasive aquatic feedstock. WH was co-processed with wheat straw (WS), rice husk (RH), and chicken manure (CM) at 240–270 °C, with CA-assisted experiments performed at 240 °C. Individual feedstock HTC confirmed the HHV–ER tradeoff, and co-HTC without catalysis failed to resolve it. CA addition improved carbon densification but reduced ER when applied to WH alone. The WH–CM–CA system uniquely achieved a concurrent HHV of 21.3 MJ kg⁻¹ and ER of 95.8%, with synergistic effects of 50.0% and 29.7%, respectively. FTIR and elemental analysis indicated that Maillard-type condensation between WH-derived sugars and CM-derived amino acids drove preferential solid-phase carbon retention. These findings demonstrate that resolving the HHV–ER tradeoff requires coupling CA catalysis with biochemical complementarity between carbohydrate-rich and protein-rich feedstocks. This approach provides a practical route for hydrochar production with high energy density and recovery for waste-to-energy applications, supporting circular and low-carbon valorization of invasive aquatic biomass and livestock waste streams. Full article

Eucalypt plantations have expanded across tropical, subtropical, and temperate regions and now play an important role in the global supply of wood and renewable biomass, while remaining at the center of debates on water use, biodiversity, and socio-economic trade-offs. This review examines whether these plantations can deliver ecological, social, and technological benefits under appropriate management. This review synthesizes evidence from nearly 200 peer-reviewed papers, technical reports, and books covering environmental services, livelihood outcomes, and emerging bio-based applications of Eucalyptus species. The literature shows that well-planned plantations can deliver clear benefits. High biomass production supports carbon sequestration, while improvements in soil structure, nutrient cycling, and the recovery of degraded lands are frequently reported. Effects on water, often described in general terms as negative, vary widely with climate, soils, stand age, and previous land use, and are documented to play roles in biodrainage, salinity control, erosion reduction, and local microclimate regulation under suitable conditions. From a socio-economic perspective, Eucalyptus, a widely planted species, supports rural development by generating income, strengthening value chains for wood products and bioenergy, and offering smallholders a fast-growing resource. Technological work on materials and bioproducts, including nanocellulose, essential-oil formulations, biochar-based applications, and wood vinegar, further illustrates this versatility. Overall, while outcomes remain site-specific and dependent on governance, the evidence indicates that, under science-based management and careful landscape planning, eucalypt plantations can contribute to climate mitigation, rural livelihoods, and the circular bioeconomy. Full article

Critical infrastructure restoration (CIR) is a disaster-management and sustainability challenge because prolonged disruption of energy, water, transport, communications, healthcare, and public-administration services can amplify social, economic, and environmental losses. This PRISMA 2020-reported systematic review synthesizes post-2016 scientific literature and official policy, legal, standards, and technical documents on CIR and AI decision support. The review identified 55 records, removed 1 duplicate, excluded 1 ineligible record, and retained 53 core sources for qualitative synthesis, including 31 scholarly publications and 22 official documents. Manual screening was used; no automated screening or AI-assisted exclusion tools were applied. The results are organized around four research questions covering regulatory frameworks, recovery practices, supporting systems, and AI model families. The synthesis shows that CIR is shaped by layered governance through NIS2, the CER Directive, the AI Act, and national measures; by operational recovery practices such as continuity planning, cyber crisis coordination, interdependency mapping, and model-supported restoration; by digital platforms including SCADA/ICS, IoT sensing, GIS/common operating pictures, decision-support systems, simulation environments, and digital twins; and by AI methods ranging from classical machine learning and computer vision to reinforcement learning and generative assistants. However, evidence maturity remains uneven, with many AI applications still simulation-based, sector-specific, or weakly validated in real restoration settings. The review contributes an integrated CIR-oriented framework showing that AI creates practical value when embedded in interoperable, human-supervised, regulation-aware, and empirically validated restoration architectures that support sustainable service continuity rather than isolated automation. Full article

River water quality assessments are commonly conducted under conventional anthropogenic pressures; however, the long-term environmental impacts of armed conflicts remain insufficiently understood. This study addresses this gap by evaluating the persistence of war-related heavy metal contamination and its associated human health risks in the Tigris River, Mosul, a post-conflict urban system. The results revealed that Cd, Pb, Cr, and Ni concentrations exceeded WHO guideline values across most sites, while Zn remained within acceptable limits. The highest contamination levels were observed in the central urban zone (Zone 3), which was directly affected by military activities. Hazard quotient (HQ) values for Cd and Pb exceeded the safe threshold (HQ > 1) at all sites, identifying them as dominant contributors to toxicity. The cumulative hazard index (HI) reached extremely high levels (>300 in 2022 and >200 in 2023), indicating severe non-carcinogenic health risks despite a slight temporal improvement. Spatially, contamination increased from upstream to downstream, with midstream and downstream areas acting as critical hotspots. Temporally, although pollutant levels declined in 2023, they remained significantly above safe limits, demonstrating limited natural recovery. Overall, the findings provide clear evidence of the long-term persistence of conflict-related contamination and its sustained risks to human health. This study highlights the need for targeted remediation strategies and offers a transferable framework for assessing water quality in conflict-affected river systems.: Full article

Milk thistle (Silybum marianum) oil production generates substantial quantities of seed cake, an underutilized by-product with potential as a source of nutrients and bioactive compounds. This study aimed to characterize milk thistle cakes from two industrial sources (MTC1 and MTC2) and their corresponding seeds (MTS1 and MTS2), focusing on compositional properties, fatty acid profile, and antioxidant activity assessed using the DPPH scavenging assay. Proximate analysis showed that the cakes retained significant residual oil (9.26–14.51 g 100 g⁻¹) and protein (16–19 g 100 g⁻¹), with low water activity (<0.33), indicating good storage stability. Fatty acid analysis revealed a predominance of polyunsaturated fatty acids (49–52%), mainly linoleic acid (C18:2 n-6), confirming their nutritional value. Differences between industrial sources indicated variability associated with raw material and processing conditions. Extraction solvent significantly affected bioactive compound recovery from the oil fraction. Dichloromethane extracts exhibited higher total phenolic content (up to 8.87 mg GAE g⁻¹) and stronger DPPH radical scavenging activity (up to 28.07%) compared to hexane extracts, which may be attributed to a greater extraction of moderately polar phenolic compounds, including flavonolignan-type constituents potentially associated with silymarin complex. Overall, milk thistle cake represents a promising raw material for the recovery of natural antioxidants and valuable lipids, supporting its application in functional food or feed products and sustainable biorefinery processes. Full article

Polymer microsphere flooding is an effective enhanced oil recovery (EOR) technology. Its primary mechanism is characterized by a dynamic cycle of “migration, plugging, breakthrough, and remigration”, which enables effective in-depth profile control and selective plugging. However, constructing accurate mathematical models and obtaining stable numerical solutions for this process remain challenging. Based on the black-oil framework, a three-phase, five-component mathematical model is developed for water-microsphere dispersed system, including oil, gas, water phases and two microsphere components (pre-swollen and post-swollen), and accounting for swelling kinetics, adsorption, and water phase permeability reduction. The model is numerically solved using a fully implicit finite-difference scheme, and validated by numerical tests and a field-scale application. The numerical simulation results demonstrated an overall agreement rate of approximately 85% with experimental data. Mechanistic comparisons indicated that polymer microsphere flooding significantly improves sweep efficiency and oil recovery. Field-scale application further showed that polymer microsphere flooding, compared with conventional water flooding, increases the recovery factor by 3.49 percentage points, reduces the maximum water cut by about 9.34 percentage points, and raises the average daily oil production rate over the entire development period by 7.5 m³. The proposed model can provide theoretical basis for the field application of polymer microsphere flooding for in-depth profile control. Full article

Polyethylene (PE) microplastics are increasingly recognized as a critical environmental and food-safety concern; however, routine monitoring remains limited by conventional methods that are labor-intensive, time-consuming, and difficult to translate into rapid, on-site screening. Here, we report a machine learning-guided electrochemical fingerprinting platform for rapid PE microplastic detection using a chitosan–PE interfacial film coupled with electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and coulometry. The platform generated concentration-dependent electrical fingerprints in artificial ocean water, captured through Bode, Nyquist, and charge–time responses. Quantification was achieved across 1–256 ng/mL with strong linearity (R² = 0.976) and an ultralow LoD of 0.1 ng/mL, demonstrating high analytical sensitivity. Practical applicability was validated through spike–recovery in ocean water (R² = 0.967) and shrimp-derived matrices with matrix-matched normalization, yielding recoveries of 90–105% across low, mid, and high spike levels. Under the tested particle set, PE produced stronger responses than non-target polypropylene (PP) and polystyrene (PS), supporting empirical polymer discrimination. Machine learning classification using impedance-derived features achieved an AUC = 0.98, with 100% correct identification of Low and 95.24% correct identification of High samples. Overall, this electrochemical–ML framework enables rapid, sensitive, and matrix-tolerant PE microplastic screening in environmental water and seafood-related matrices, offering a promising pathway toward portable microplastic monitoring. Full article

A study was conducted on the construction of sulfonated poly(aryl ether ketone) nanomicelles and their dispersion–displacement synergistic behavior in deep oil recovery. Unlike conventional surfactant systems, inorganic nanoparticle-based EOR materials, and polymeric nanofluids that mainly rely on interfacial tension reduction, wettability alteration, or viscosity regulation, this study constructs self-assembled sulfonated poly(aryl ether ketone) nanomicelles that integrate a rigid aromatic backbone, ionizable sulfonic acid groups, nanoscale dispersion, and interfacial regulation within one polymeric architecture. Sulfonated poly(aryl ether ketone) nanomicelles were prepared by combining polymer sulfonation with solvent-induced self-assembly, and their structural features, dispersion stability, interfacial behavior, porous-media transport, and displacement performance were systematically evaluated. Spectroscopic characterization confirmed the successful introduction of sulfonic acid groups into the polymer backbone. The resulting nanomicelles exhibited an average hydrodynamic diameter of 117.8 nm, a polydispersity index of 0.186, and a zeta potential of −38.6 mV in deionized water, while a value of −27.4 mV was still maintained at a salinity of 150,000 mg/L, indicating good electrostatic stability under highly mineralized conditions. Further evaluation showed that the 0.30 wt% system retained a transmittance of 97.4% after 15 d of static standing, and its particle size remained at 151.7 nm even under 120 °C and 150,000 mg/L, demonstrating favorable thermal–salinity tolerance. At the same concentration, the oil–water interfacial tension decreased to 6.9 mN/m at 1800 s, while the contact angle of oil-aged quartz was reduced from 118.4° to 58.7°, indicating effective regulation of both the oil–water interface and the solid surface wettability. During microscopic displacement, the residual oil area fraction decreased from 32.8% after water flooding to 14.6%, and cluster-like oil, corner oil, and film-like oil were reduced from 14.6%, 9.8%, and 8.4% to 5.9%, 4.2%, and 4.5%, respectively. In core flooding, the incremental oil recovery reached 13.2%, the final water cut decreased to 81.2%, and the injection pressure increased only from 0.42 MPa to 0.68 MPa. These results indicate that sulfonated poly(aryl ether ketone) nanomicelles promote deep residual-oil mobilization through the combined effects of stable dispersion, interfacial regulation, and effective transport, with 0.30 wt% identified as the preferred concentration range. The main scientific contribution of this work is to establish a structure–dispersion–interface–transport–displacement relationship for SPAEK nanomicelles under deep-reservoir conditions, providing a polymeric nanomicelle-based strategy distinct from conventional surfactant, sulfonated polymer, and nanoparticle flooding systems. Full article

The transition to climate neutrality necessitates a profound transformation of mining systems. In this context, this study focuses on reviewing the role of circular economy models in transforming mining systems. Circular models propose reconfiguring systems into climate-neutral and more resource-efficient configurations. A synthesis of recent literature highlights several circular strategies frequently addressed throughout the mining life cycle. These include waste recovery, secondary resource recovery, water reuse, and the integration of renewable energy. The outcomes of circular approaches have the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and resource consumption. They can also help improve the system’s efficiency through the creation of new economic value streams. Large scale implementation remains constrained because of economic, technological, and governance factors. In light of these findings, the paper recommends an integrated conceptual framework. It ties circular strategies to decarbonization pathways and sustainability outcomes. It does so because the circular economy is not merely a supporting approach but a necessary mechanism to enable the transition to climate-neutral and regenerative mining systems. Full article

This study investigates the influence of inside-trapped water and remedial grouting on the vertical bearing behaviour of suction bucket foundations in sand through 1 g laboratory model tests. The tests were designed to compare the relative responses of different trapped-water and grouting conditions under the same model scale, sand preparation procedure, and loading protocol. Two target trapped-water conditions were considered: a condition without an observable continuous water layer beneath the bucket lid and a condition with an initial trapped-water thickness of approximately 2 cm. These conditions were controlled and verified before loading using the scale attached to the transparent bucket wall and the underwater camera monitoring system. The results show that inside-trapped water modifies the vertical load-transfer path between the bucket lid and the internal soil plug. When a water layer exists beneath the lid, direct lid–soil plug contact is weakened, and the foundation resistance relies more strongly on skirt-side resistance and the resistance mobilized near the bucket rim. Under cyclic vertical loading, the trapped-water case exhibited larger cumulative displacement and a lower post-cyclic bearing response than the no-trapped-water case. The secant cyclic stiffness showed a continuous increase in the no-trapped-water case, whereas a rise-then-fall trend was observed in the trapped-water case, which may be associated with cyclic densification, soil plug disturbance, changes in lid–soil plug contact, and possible local pore pressure development. Remedial grouting filled the trapped-water space beneath the bucket lid and partially restored the lid–soil plug load-transfer path. Under the present model test conditions, the post-cyclic dimensionless bearing capacity of the grouted cases increased by approximately 13–16% relative to the ungrouted trapped-water case. The grouting cases with different bentonite contents showed similar recovery trends within the limited dataset, suggesting that the improvement was mainly related to filling and sealing the trapped-water space rather than to the intrinsic strength of the grout material. Full article

This study developed high-oxygen-barrier active bilayer packaging films by combining corona-treated low-density polyethylene (LDPE) with chitosan/glycerol (CS/Gl) and carvacrol@natural zeolite (CV@NZ) nanohybrid layers using industrially scalable processes. LDPE film was surface-activated via ambient-pressure corona treatment (0.75 s/cm² at 45 kV, 30 W) and assembled with solution-cast CS/Gl or CS/Gl/CV@NZ monolayers via hot-pressing (110 °C, 1 min). Corona treatment enabled robust interfacial adhesion, evidenced by statistical equivalence between monolayer and bilayer mechanical properties. Incorporation of 10 wt.% CV@NZ nanohybrid increased elastic modulus by 60% (to ≈2970 MPa) and tensile strength by 30% (to ≈50 MPa). The LDPE-CS/Gl film achieved a 64-fold reduction in oxygen permeability; CV@NZ incorporation maintained excellent barrier performance (22-fold reduction). Antioxidant potency increased 16-fold upon CV@NZ incorporation. The LDPE-CS/Gl/CV@NZ film demonstrated exceptional antibacterial activity (5.08–5.30 log reductions; >99.999% kill) against both Listeria monocytogenes and Escherichia coli—substantially exceeding additive effects—confirming synergistic action between chitosan and carvacrol. In fresh minced pork preservation (8 days, 4 °C), the active film achieved a 1.73 log reduction in Total Viable Count (98.2% inhibition) and extended microbiological shelf life from 6 to beyond 8 days (33% increase). The bilayer configuration utilizes only 40% of the total thickness as biopolymer, aligning with circular economy principles. Unlike conventional high-barrier films (e.g., PA/PE) which require complex compatibilization for recycling, the water-soluble chitosan layer in this bilayer design can be readily separated from the LDPE backbone, enabling recovery of a pure polymer stream. This work demonstrates a feasible pathway for developing next-generation active packaging that combines a high oxygen barrier, potent antioxidant activity, and exceptional antimicrobial efficacy through industrially scalable manufacturing. Full article