Explore the vast range of titles available.

The utilization of industrial by-products as stabilizers is gaining attention from the sustainability perspective. Along these lines, granite sand (GS) and calcium lignosulfonate (CLS) are used as alternatives to traditional stabilizers for cohesive soil (clay). The unsoaked California Bearing Ratio (CBR) was taken as a performance indicator (as a subgrade material for low-volume roads). A series of tests were performed by varying the dosages of GS (30%, 40%, and 50%) and CLS (0.5%, 1%, 1.5%, and 2%) for different curing periods (0, 7, and 28 days). This study revealed that the optimal dosages of granite sand (GS) are 35%, 34%, 33%, and 32% for dosages of calcium lignosulfonate (CLS) of 0.5%, 1.0%, 1.5%, and 2.0%, respectively. These values are needed to maintain a reliability index greater than or equal to 3.0 when the coefficient of variation (COV) of the minimum specified value of the CBR is 20% for a 28-day curing period. The proposed RBDO (reliability-based design optimization) presents an optimal design methodology for designing low-volume roads when GS and CLS are blended for clay soils. The optimal mix, i.e., 70% clay blended with 30% GS and 0.5% CLS (exhibiting the highest CBR value) is considered an appropriate dosage for the pavement subgrade material. Carbon footprint analysis (CFA) was performed on a typical pavement section according to Indian Road Congress recommendations. It is observed that the use of GS and CLS as stabilizers of clay reduces the carbon energy by 97.52% and 98.53% over the traditional stabilizers lime and cement at 6% and 4% dosages, respectively.

Traditional soil stabilization techniques, such as cement and lime, are known for their menacing effect on the environment through heavy carbon emissions. Sustainable soil stabilization methods are grabbing attention, and the utilization of biopolymers is surely one among them. Recent studies proved the efficiency of biopolymers in enhancing the geotechnical properties to meet the requirements of the construction industry. The suitability of biopolymer application in different soils is still unexplored, and the carbon footprint analysis (CFA) of biopolymers is crucial in promoting the biopolymers as a promising sustainable soil stabilization method. This study attempts to investigate the out-turn of cross-linked biopolymer on soils exhibiting different plasticity characteristics (Medium & High compressibility) and to determine the Embodied carbon factor (ECF) for the selected biopolymers. Guar (G) and Xanthan (X) biopolymers were cross-linked at different proportions to enhance the geotechnical properties of soils. Atterberg’s limits, Compaction characteristics, and Unconfined Compressive Strength were chosen as performance indicators, and their values were analyzed at different combinations of biopolymers before and after cross-linking. The test results have shown that Atterberg’s limits of the soils increased with the addition of biopolymers, and it is attributed to the formation of hydrogels in the soil matrix. Compaction test results reveal that the Optimum Moisture Content (OMC) of biopolymer-modified soil increased, and Maximum Dry Density (MDD) reduced due to the resistance offered by hydrogel against compaction effort. Soils amended with biopolymers and cured for 14, 28, and 60 days have shown an appreciable improvement in Unconfined Compressive Strength (UCS) results. Microlevel analysis was carried out using SEM (Scanning Electron Microscopy) and FTIR (Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy) to formulate the mechanism responsible for the alteration in targeted performance indicators due to the cross-linking of biopolymers in the soil. The embodied energy in the production of both Guar and Xanthan biopolymers was calculated, and the obtained ECF values were 0.087 and 1.67, respectively.

In the transition towards a circular economy, redesigning construction materials for enhanced sustainability becomes crucial. To contribute to this goal, this paper investigates the integration of carbonated aggregates (CAs) and basalt fibre-reinforced polymers (BFRPs) in concrete infrastructures as an alternative to natural sand (NS) and steel reinforcement. CA is manufactured using accelerated carbonation that utilizes CO2 to turn industrial byproducts into mineralised products. The structural performance of CA and BFRP-reinforced concrete simply supported slab was investigated through conducting a series of experimental tests to assess the key structural parameters, including bond strength, bearing capacity, failure behavior, and cracking bbehaviour. Carbon footprint analysis (CFA) was conducted to understand the environmental impact of incorporating BFRP and CA. The results indicate that CA exhibits a higher water absorption rate compared to NS. As the CA ratio increased, the ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV), compressive, tensile, and flexural strength decreased, and the absorption capacity of concrete increased. Furthermore, incorporating 25% CA in concrete has no significant effect on the bond strength of BFRP. However, the load capacity decreased with an increasing CA replacement ratio. Finally, integrating BFRP and 50% of CA into concrete slabs reduced the slab’s CFA by 9.7% when compared with steel-reinforced concrete (RC) slabs.

Carbon footprint analysis method was employed to evaluate the ecological benefits of the straw collection, transportation, and storage system based on the case of Laifa Straw Recycling Company, and the emergy-based carbon emission indicator system was also set up to assess the relationship between input resource and carbon emission. In the condition of collecting 2 × 10 8 kg of straw production, the carbon emission of the artificial model (7.26 × 10 3 t CO 2eq ) and mechanical model (6.11 × 10 3 t CO 2eq ) was greatly lower than that of the straw burned in the field (2.78 × 10 5 t CO 2eq ). According to the emergy-based carbon emission indicator system, the carbon emission of straw recycling system was mainly triggered from labor input, which could be reduced by adjusting the resource structure. The ratio of carbon emission to environmental loading rate (ELR CO2 ) and ratio of carbon emission to emergy sustainability index ( ESI CO2 ) of the artificial model were 90.75E+6 kgCO 2eq and 1.52E+6 kgCO 2eq , respectively, which were higher than that of the mechanical model, 55.55E+6 kgCO 2eq and 1.22E+6 kgCO 2eq . It was obviously that the mechanical model had weaker influence on environmental loading than that of the artificial model and presented promising sustainable development ability in the case of mitigating carbon emissions.

This study introduces the structural models and operational characteristics of several typical integrated energy system scenarios, and analyzes the mathematical models and working principles of the main equipment in the New Energy-Combined Cooling Heating and Power (NE-CCHP) system. Combined with the characteristics of the integrated energy system and the deficiencies of the existing energy system evaluation system, the direct and indirect carbon emissions of the integrated energy system during its life cycle are analyzed from the perspective of the carbon footprint, and a set of multidimensional evaluation index system dominated by the carbon footprint is established through the “Pressure-State-Response” model. The evaluation system combines the environmental, energy, reliability, economic and social aspects of the system to evaluate the performance of the integrated energy system. The hierarchical analysis method (AHP), CRITIC method and scorecard model were combined. The AHP method and CRITIC method were used to calculate the subjective and objective weight values respectively, and then the dynamic combination weight method was used to calculate the combination weights, and then the comprehensive score of the system was calculated based on the scorecard model. A construction project in a region of Xinjiang was selected as the research object for the study.

This paper presents an economic impact analysis and carbon footprint study of a hydrogen-based microgrid. The economic impact is evaluated with respect to investment costs, operation and maintenance (O&M) costs, as well as savings, taking into account two different energy management strategies (EMSs): a hydrogen-based priority strategy and a battery-based priority strategy. The research was carried out in a real microgrid located at the University of Huelva, in southwestern Spain. The results (which can be extrapolated to microgrids with a similar architecture) show that, although both strategies have the same initial investment costs (EUR 52,339.78), at the end of the microgrid lifespan, the hydrogen-based strategy requires higher replacement costs (EUR 74,177.4 vs. 17,537.88) and operation and maintenance costs (EUR 35,254.03 vs. 34,877.08), however, it provides better annual savings (EUR 36,753.05 vs. 36,282.58) and a lower carbon footprint (98.15% vs. 95.73% CO2 savings) than the battery-based strategy. Furthermore, in a scenario where CO2 emission prices are increasing, the hydrogen-based strategy will bring even higher annual cost savings in the coming years.

Globally, in rural areas, the agricultural sector is almost the largest sector in terms of spatial land use. Therefore, agricultural sector outputs and practices are among the key sectors that have impacts on global climate change. Thus, sustainable-based implementation of agricultural activities will play an active role in the process of combating climate change. This study is a regional and product-based inventory in determining a sectoral road map in order to ensure the efficiency of energy use in the agricultural sector and to support sustainable development. The aim of this research is to determine energy efficiency, cost analysis and carbon emissions of the research which is based on grape cultivation in Tekirdağ, Türkiye, conducted during the 2022 period. The research data were obtained based on a face-to-face survey conducted with farmers. This study analyzed the influence of energy equivalent of each stage of agricultural mechanisation level on grape production. According to the findings of this current research, the diesel fuel consumption values per unit area of the inputs in grape cultivation period including the stages such as soil tillage (92.5 l/ha), fertilization (21 l/ha), pruning (5 l/ha), spraying (22.8 l/ha), and harvesting (25.5 l/ha) were computed. Energy input (EI) of chemical fertilization was calculated as 18,163.6 MJ/ha, diesel fuel 4992.02 MJ/ha, spraying 1261 MJ/ha, mechanisation 265.8 MJ/ha, and human labor 56.26 MJ/ha. Total energy consumption per grape production area was calculated as 24,513.77 MJ/ha while energy output (EO) was 85,255 MJ/ha. According to the carbon footprint analysis, it was determined that the highest value was realised in the spraying process with an emission value of 5286.62 kgCO2/ha. The total carbon emission value was determined as 6329.65 kgCO2/ha.

The present work addresses the issue on power consumption in finish hard turning of die steel under nanofluid-assisted minimum quantity lubrication condition. This study also aims to assess the propitious role of minimum quantity lubrication using graphene nanoparticle-enriched radiator green coolant-based nano-cutting fluid for machinability improvement of hardened steel. The hard turning trials are performed based on design of experiments by considering the geometrical parameters (insert’s nose radius) and machining parameters (cutting speed, axial feed, depth of cut). Combined approach of central composite design—analysis of variance, desirability function analysis, and response surface methodology—have been subsequently employed for analysis, predictive modeling, and optimization of machining power consumption. With a motivational philosophy of “Go Green-Think Green-Act Green”, the work also deals with energy-saving carbon footprint analysis, economic analysis, and sustainability assessment under environmental-friendly nanofluid-assisted minimum quantity lubrication condition. Results showed that machining with nanofluid-minimum quantity lubrication provided an effective cooling-lubrication strategy, safer and cleaner production, environmental friendliness, and assisted to improve sustainability.

This article reports a carbon footprint analysis of bioelectricity generation from cattle manure obtained from feedlot systems in the Brazilian Central-West region. The analyses were performed by applying two different energy source scenarios: Sc1—using external energy in an anaerobic digestion (AD) plant; and Sc2—recirculating part of the energy generated in a combined heat and power (CHP) plant, with two approaches (allocation and system expansion) for sharing impacts between the products and co-products obtained in the cycle. In addition, the generation of electricity from manure was compared with generation from natural gas (reference system). The greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions were calculated using data from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Guidelines and the SimaPro software. Sc2 was the best scenario, since the energy recirculation from the system reduces emissions from the AD plant by up to 83.61%. Both scenarios with system expansion present emissions ≈4.5 times greater than when allocation was applied, because allocation splits emissions between products obtained, removing the production chain’s responsibility for the co-products generated. The manure management was responsible for more than 65% of emissions in both scenarios, making emissions in both scenarios higher than the reference system. There is a need to improve distribution logistics of AD-CHP plant products in the Central-West region, since bioenergy generation can mitigate GHG emissions from livestock activity by turning manure residue cost into a gain, and generating products with energy and market value, to make the process more efficient and environmentally friendly.

Biogas production is widely recognized as an effective solution for addressing agricultural waste treatment in rural areas. However, its development is often hindered by economic and environmental constraints. This study combined emergy evaluation and carbon footprint analysis methods to establish a new environmental radius assessment model for evaluating the ecological performance and optimization direction of an agricultural waste biogas production system, using a biogas production company in China as a case study. Compared with the straw return model and straw power generation model, the results of emergy indicators and carbon accounting showed that the biogas production model had a lower environmental load and higher economic output and level of emergy sustainability. Additionally, the biogas production system was found to reduce 0.47 kg of carbon emissions per 1 kg of agricultural waste utilized. The application of the biogas production model in rural areas had high ecological sustainability and carbon emission reduction benefits. Environmental radius assessment results confirmed that the reasonable changes in resource collection distance could further enhance the ecological sustainability, carbon mitigation ability, and economic benefits of the biogas production system. The environmental radius assessment method offers a new approach to the location planning of agricultural waste biogas utilization companies in rural areas.