Evaluation and selection strategy for green supply chain using interval-valued q-rung orthopair fuzzy combinative distance-based assessment

Environment, Development and Sustainability - Environmental deterioration and global warming has created a substantial impact on international companies to incorporate eco-friendly, green supply...     

Silica nanoparticles synthesis and applications in agriculture for plant fertilization and protection: a review

Environmental Chemistry Letters - The rapidly rising population is calling for the production of more food, yet biotic and abiotic stresses caused by pests and climate change...     

Leachate characterization in semi-aerobic and anaerobic sanitary landfills: A comparative study

This study analyzes and compares the results of leachate composition at the semi-aerobic Pulau Burung Landfill Site (PBLS) (unaerated pond and intermittently aerated pond) and the anaerobic Kulim Sanitary Landfill in the northern region of Malaysia. The raw samples were collected and analyzed for twenty parameters. The average values of the parameters such as phenols (1.2, 6.7, and 2.6 mg/L), total nitrogen (448, 1200, and 300 mg/L N-TN), ammonia-N (542, 1568, and 538 mg/L NH₃-N), nitrite (91, 49, and 52 mg/L NO₂^?-N), total phosphorus (21, 17, and 19 mg/L), BOD₅ (83, 243, and 326 mg/L), COD (935, 2345, and 1892 mg/L), BOD₅/COD (0.096,0.1124,0.205%), pH (8.20, 8.28, and 7.76), turbidity (1546, 180, and 1936 Formazin attenuation units (FAU)), and color (3334, 3347, and 4041 Pt Co) for leachate at the semi-aerobic PBLS (unaerated and intermittently aerated) and the anaerobic Kulim Sanitary Landfill were recorded, respectively. The obtained results were compared with previously published data and data from the Malaysia Environmental Quality Act 1974. The results indicated that Pulau Burung leachate was more stabilized compared with Kulim leachate. Furthermore, the aeration process in PBLS has a considerable effect on reducing the concentration of several pollutants. The studied leachate requires treatment to minimize the pollutants to an acceptable level prior to discharge into water courses.     

Biosorption of Pb(II) and Cr(III) from aqueous solutions: breakthrough curves and modeling studies

The sorption capacity parameters obtained for batch studies provide useful information about biosorption system. However, such data fail to explain the process under continuous-flow conditions. The present study is an attempt to explore the biosorption of Pb(II) and Cr(III) by straw from local wheat (Triticum aestivum). The biosorbent has been characterized by using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and surface area and elemental analyses and found to be porous and polyfunctional. S-shaped breakthrough curves were obtained at different column heights for the both metal ions. Various breakthrough parameters and saturation times have been determined. The column data have been successfully used to study the Bohart–Adams' bed depth service time (BDST) model and Yoon and Nelson's model. It was found that BDST model quite efficiently explained the whole column data whereas Yoon and Nelson model could explain it below 90 % breakthrough concentration. The predicted and calculated BDST parameters were in agreement with each other. Yoon and Nelson's constant decreased with an increase in the column height for both metal ions. Effect of change in flow rate on the Pb(II) biosorption has also been discussed with respect to BDST approach.     

Mode choice model for vulnerable motorcyclists in Malaysia

OBJECTIVE: In developing countries, motorcycle use has grown in popularity in the past decades. Commensurate with this growth is the increase in death and casualties among motorcyclists in these countries. One of the strategic programs to minimize this problem is to reduce motorcyclists exposure by shifting them into safer modes of transport. This study aims to explore the differences in the characteristics of bus and motorcycle users. It identifies the factors contributing to their choice of transport mode and estimates the probability that motorcyclists might change their travel mode to a safer alternative; namely, bus travel. METHODS: In this article, a survey of 535 motorcycle and bus users was conducted in seven districts of Selangor state, Malaysia. A binary logit model was developed for the two alternative modes, bus and motorcycle. RESULTS: It was found that travel time, travel cost, gender, age, and income level are significant in influencing motorcyclists' mode choice behavior. The probability of motorcycle riders shifting to public transport was also examined based on a scenario of a reduction in bus travel time and travel cost. CONCLUSIONS: Reduction of total travel time for the bus mode emerges as the most important element in a program aimed at attracting motorcyclists towards public transport and away from the motorcycle mode.     

Role of casting and curing conditions on the strength and drying shrinkage of greener concrete

The shrinkage of cement-based materials is a critical dimensional property that needs proper attention as it can influence the corresponding characteristics especially when the preparation of such cement-based material is done in hot weather. Studies have shown that the casting or curing conditions influence the performance of concrete. However, there is limited understanding of the combined role of casting temperature and curing conditions, especially for concrete made with unconventional binders. In this study, five supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) were utilized as the substitute of the ordinary Portland cement (OPC) at different ratios to produce greener concrete and improve its characteristics and sustainability. The influence of four casting temperatures (i.e., 25 °C, 32 °C, 38 °C, and 45 °C) and two curing regimes (i.e., covering of samples using wet burlap and applying curing compound on the surface of samples) on the corresponding compressive strength and drying shrinkage at various ages was studied. The outcomes of this research revealed that the composition of the binders has a substantial impact on the characteristics of concrete. In addition, the casting temperature and curing regimes also have a huge role on the compressive strength of concrete produced with binary binders. For example, the compressive strength at 3 days of concrete made at 25 °C made with binary binders was reduced up to 31% compared to that made with only OPC as the binder when cured using wet burlap. Nonetheless, less than 38 ℃ was suitable to minimize the durability issues in the studied blended cement mixes.

     

Taurine modulates dynamics of oxidative defense,secondary metabolism,and nutrient relation to mitigate boron and chromium toxicity in Triticum aestivum L. plants

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The present study was undertaken to appraise the efficacy of exogenous taurine in alleviating boron (B) and chromium (Cr) toxicity. Taurine protects...     

A novel multi-model data-driven ensemble approach for the prediction of particulate matter concentration

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Accuracy in the prediction of the particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) concentration in the atmosphere is essential for both its monitoring and...     

Identification of the processes controlling groundwater quality in shallow aquifers of Moradabad city,west Uttar Pradesh,India

Environment, Development and Sustainability - Present study has been carried out to identify the processes controlling groundwater quality of Moradabad city, Uttar Pradesh. A total 188 groundwater...