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A tunnel sprayer has distinct recycling systems, which save a significant portion of the applied pesticide. Its performance is directly or indirectly influenced by various constructional parameters of the recycling system (nozzle spacing, nozzle angle, tunnel opening, and fin pitch) because they influence the movement of spray droplets, characteristics of the droplets, and recycling rate of the system. Therefore, the effect of these parameters was investigated for improvement in the tunnel sprayer’s performance. In this study, four adjustment mechanisms were developed for selected parameter’s regulation and tested using a hybrid tree (artificial and natural leaf). The non-significant results of spatial spray distribution revealed its accuracy and potential ability for maintaining spray uniformity across the tree canopy, except in the central zone of both trees. By considering the poor spray deposits at the central zone of both trees, the statistical analysis was carried out for spray deposits maximization and recycling rate minimization. The spray deposits varied from 1.016 × 10 − 4 to 2.944 × 10 − 4 µg/mm 2 and offered better plant protection. The sprayer saved up to 42.36% of the applied pesticide, which ensures economical farm operations and saves the environment. The optimized values for input parameters (i.e., X1: 350 mm, X2: 42.5 degrees, X3: 1100 mm, and X4: 41 mm) would improve the efficiency of the tunnel sprayer and conserve costly input resources.

Hazardous waste poses a significant threat to the environment. Improper disposal of hazardous waste generated from residents’ daily activities can substantially burden the environment. Expired medicine and waste batteries pose the most significant risks to Chinese residents regarding hazardous waste exposure. Approximately 15,000 tons of expired medicine and 3 million tons of waste batteries are generated annually, further exacerbating the environmental burden. Research on hazardous waste generated by residents’ daily lives has received significant attention in China. Most studies have concentrated on enhancing the structure of recycling equipment and conducting theoretical analyses of recycling strategies. However, further research is required to conduct a comprehensive design process study specifically tailored to the characteristics of the Chinese community. Based on the findings from a questionnaire survey conducted among Chinese residents, this survey showed that more than 90% of the participants intended to recycle used batteries and expired medications. However, it was observed that only 30% of the residents were currently engaged in voluntary sorting and recycling practices for these items. Given the prevailing circumstances, this study proposes a design framework to enhance recycling awareness among Chinese residents. The system design scheme is based on the design framework and includes the cooperation of residents and community workers. This recycling system scheme includes a recycling bin 3D model and a WeChat mini-program design. This recycling system facilitates the dissemination of scientific knowledge about hazardous waste through a WeChat mini-program. Moreover, implementing a user-point reward mechanism has proven effective in incentivizing resident participation in recycling activities. Building upon the comprehensive design framework, this study seamlessly integrates green design principles into the daily lives of Chinese residents.

PURPOSE: Informal recycling is one of the most significant activities within waste management systems in low-income countries. The main aspect of a number of recently implemented waste management systems has been to organise the informal recycling sector. The implementation of formalisation is expected to eliminate social problems related to the informal sector, but this has not been precisely measured and evaluated. A lack of methodology to assess social impacts persists, as does the comparison of different formalisation approaches. The goal of this work is to develop a methodological procedure for assessing the contribution of formalised recycling systems in low-income countries in terms of social impacts, in comparison with informal systems. METHODS: Some existing social assessment approaches were evaluated by a review of literature. This investigation focuses on the development of the social life cycle assessment approach, the analysed social aspects, proposed indicators and characterisation models within this framework. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: This study proposes an approach for the social assessment of recycling systems based on formalisation approaches in low-income countries oriented towards the social life cycle assessment methodology (sLCA). The approach developed considers 3 social impact categories, 9 social subcategories and 26 semi-quantitative indicators for the assessment of the social impacts on formalised recyclers. It includes a characterisation procedure that takes into consideration the application of a score system and the calculation of average scores at both the indicator and subcategory levels. CONCLUSIONS: This research shows that it would be feasible to apply a sLCA-based methodology to evaluate recycling systems based on formalisation of the informal sector. The impact categories and subcategories identified represent the social problems of informal recyclers. The 26 semi-quantitative indicators and the proposed characterisation approach attempt to measure the social impacts that currently are only qualitatively assumed. The applicability and validation of the indicators and characterisation procedure will be determined by further research. The methodology developed will be tested using data from three recycling systems in Peruvian cities.

Background Wolfberry is well-known for its high nutritional value and medicinal benefits. Due to the continuous ripening nature of Goji berries and the fact that they can be commercially harvested within a few weeks, their phytochemical composition may change during the harvesting process at different periods. Result The involved molecular mechanisms of difference in fruit quality of ripe Lycium barbarum L. harvested at four different periods were investigated by transcriptomic and metabolomics analyses for the first time. According to the results we obtained, it was found that the appearance quality of L. barbarum fruits picked at the beginning of the harvesting season was superior, while the accumulation of sugar substances in L. barbarum fruits picked at the end of the harvesting season was better. At the same time the vitamin C and carotenoids content of wolfberry fruits picked during the summer harvesting season were richer. Ascorbic acid, succinic acid, glutamic acid, and phenolic acids have significant changes in transcription and metabolism levels. Through the network metabolic map, we found that ascorbic acid, glutamic acid, glutamine and related enzyme genes were differentially accumulated and expressed in wolfberry fruits at different harvesting periods. Nevertheless, these metabolites played important roles in the ascorbate–glutathione recycling system. Ascorbic acid, phenolic substances and the ascorbate–glutathione recycling system have antioxidant effects, which makes the L. barbarum fruits harvested in the summer more in line with market demand and health care concepts. Conclusion This study laid the foundation for understanding the molecular regulatory mechanisms of quality differences of ripe wolfberry fruits harvested at different periods, and provides a theoretical basis for enhancing the quality of L. barbarum fruits.

Northern cities in China have frequently suffered from ice and snow disasters. On the other hand, Harbin mainly relies on coal-fired plants for heating during the winter time. However, coal-fired plants produce a significant amount of air pollution through the production of numerous hazardous gases. This thesis proposed an urban energy recycling system that uses waste gas from heating facilities to recycle waste heat and reduce air pollution in northern cities during the winter. This research made a hypothesis that wintertime ice and snow on city streets could be melted by using waste heat of waste gases from heating industries. The methodology of this research can be divided into three parts: Firstly, the principle of the energy recycling system is designed based on investigation. Secondly, a simulation experiment is used to analyze the system’s difficulties. According to the experiment, when an icy road is far away from the heating industry, ice melting efficiency is low. Finally, this research proposed a method for system improvement based on the findings of the experiment. The system’s environmental and social benefits will likely lead to its future application in northern Chinese cities even if there are many application-related difficulties, such as the high cost of construction.

This study assessed the knowledge, attitudes and practices on food waste of selected households in the northern province of the Philippines. The results of the assessment were used as bases for formulation of a recycling system. A total of one hundred rural households were selected using stratified equal allocation sampling technique. Data were collected through the use of researcher-made questionnaire with Cronbach's Alpha at .82, and was supplemented by observations. Factor analysis, Pearson r, and point-biserial correlation were used to yield findings in the study. Results show that a number of factors discourage the respondents' participation in the reduction and recycling of food waste, such as lack of facilities, insufficient training, and information dissemination. Household size (r=.199, p<0.05), monthly income (r=.282, p<0.01; r=-.217, p<0.05), and planning (r=-.243, p<0.05) influences the way the participants manage household food waste. On the other hand, age, educational attainment, and sex, do not significantly affect the way the household-participants manage food waste. One strategic and feasible solution is a compulsory food waste recycling system (FWRS) for private households to combat this pressing issue on food waste. This proposed framework is composed of four major moves that require the collaboration of various sectors and stakeholders in the community, and is expected to suggest valuable policy amendments including significant decrease in wastage of consumable agricultural products. Without doubt, the ongoing over generation of food waste is a serious global setback that needs to be urgently addressed.t

An engineered strain for the conversion of D-fructose to allitol was developed by constructing a multi-enzyme coupling pathway and cofactor recycling system in Escherichia coli. D-Psicose-3-epimerase from Ruminococcus sp. and ribitol dehydrogenase from Klebsiella oxytoca were coexpressed to form the multi-enzyme coupling pathway for allitol production. The cofactor recycling system was constructed using the formate dehydrogenase gene from Candida methylica for continuous NADH supply. The recombinant strain produced 10.62 g/l allitol from 100 mM D-fructose. To increase the intracellular concentration of the substrate, the glucose/fructose facilitator gene from Zymomonas mobilis was incorporated into the engineered strain. The results showed that the allitol yield was enhanced significantly to 16.53 g/l with a conversion rate of 92 %. Through optimizing conversion conditions, allitol was produced effectively on a large scale by the whole-cell biotransformation system; the yield reached 48.62 g/l when 500 mM D-fructose was used as the substrate.

In this study, a diversified waste recycling system and a green processing technology are proposed. This research not only finds feasible solutions to alleviate environmental problems of plastic pollution and straw burning but also provides new reuse methods for oyster shell waste and hogwash oil. The developed noval biocomposite material is conducive to the green development of express industry. This paper evaluates the performance of materials from many aspects: X-ray computed tomography characterization, fundamental physical properties, mechanical properties, microscopic morphology, SEM morphology, and comprehensive performance of products. Two kinds of products with economic value are found. One is sample 4, which is suitable for making granular products due to its low cost (0.328$/500 g). Another is sample 13, which is suitable for manufacturing green packaging materials due to its excellent mechanical properties (tensile strength 14.15 MPa; elongation at break 12.68%; Young’s modulus 8189.89 MPa). Based on the experimental results, the process of the composite is simulated to study the different strengthening mechanisms of arabic gum and poly(methyl vinyl ether-alt-maleic anhydride). Arabic gum uses chemical reaction and principle of similarity and intermiscibility to fuse with biomass to form homogeneous hybrid in the form of liquid gel. Poly(methyl vinyl ether-alt-maleic anhydride) indirectly adheres filler to the matrix through ring-opening reaction and structural similarity. The new emulsification system caused by arabic gum promotes the arabic gum and nano-fluid coupling cross-linking system to produce a decentralized cross-linked network and inhibit the pernicious molecular chain entanglement.

The widespread use of polyolefin plastics in modern societies generates huge amounts of plastic waste. With a view toward sustainability, researchers are now seeking novel and low-cost strategies for recycling and valorizing polyolefin plastics. Herein, we report the successful development of a photothermal catalytic recycling system for transforming polyolefin plastics into liquid/waxy fuels under concentrated sunlight or xenon lamp irradiation. Photothermal heating of a Ru/TiO 2 catalyst to 200–300 °C in the presence of polyolefin plastics results in intimate catalyst-plastic contact and controllable hydrogenolysis of C-C and C-H bonds in the polymer chains (mediated by Ru sites). By optimizing the reaction temperature and pressure, the complete conversion of waste polyolefins into valuable liquid fuels (86% gasoline- and diesel-range hydrocarbons, C 5 -C 21 ) is possible in short periods (3 h). This work demonstrates a simple and efficient strategy for recycling waste polyolefin plastics using abundant solar energy. Sustainable recycling of waste plastics is of highly strategic significance. Here, the authors report a photothermal recycling system for transforming polyolefin plastics into high-selectivity liquid fuels through the synergistic utilization of ultraviolet, visible, and near-infrared irradiation.

The forthcoming global energy transition requires a shift to new and renewable technologies, which increase the demand for related materials. This study investigates the long-term availability of lithium (Li) in the event of significant demand growth of rechargeable lithium-ion batteries for supplying the power and transport sectors with very-high shares of renewable energy. A comprehensive assessment that uses 18 scenarios, created by combining 8 demand related variations with 4 supply conditions, were performed. Here this study shows that Li is critical to achieve a sustainable energy transition. The achievement of a balanced Li supply and demand throughout this century depends on the presence of well-established recycling systems, achievement of vehicle-to-grid integration, and realisation of transportation services with lower Li intensity. As a result, it is very important to achieve a concerted global effort to enforce a mix of policy goals identified in this study. The long-term availability of lithium in the event of significant demand growth of rechargeable lithium-ion batteries is important to assess. Here the authors assess lithium demand and supply challenges of a long-term energy transition using 18 scenarios, developed by combining 8 demand and 4 supply variations.