Environmental impact of highway construction and repair materials on surface and ground waters. Case study: crumb rubber asphalt concrete

The practice of incorporating certain waste products into highway construction and repair materials (CRMs) has become more popular. These practices have prompted the National Academy of Science, National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) to research the possible impacts of these CRMs on the quality of surface and ground waters. State department of transportations (DOTs) are currently experimenting with use of ground tire rubber ( crumb rubber) in bituminous construction and as a crack sealer. Crumb rubber asphalt concrete (CR-AC) leachates contain a mixture of organic and metallic contaminants. Benzothiazole and 2(3H)-benzothiazolone (organic compounds used in tire rubber manufacturing) and the metals mercury and aluminum were leached in potentially harmful concentrations (exceeding toxic concentrations for aquatic toxicity tests). CR-AC leachate exhibited moderate to high toxicity for algae ( Selenastrum capriconutum) and moderate toxicity for water fleas ( Daphnia magna). Benzothiazole was readily removed from CR-AC leachate by the environmental processes of soil sorption, volatilization, and biodegradation. Metals, which do not volatilize or photochemically or biologically degrade, were removed from the leachate by soil sorption. Contaminants from CR-AC leachates are thus degraded or retarded in their transport through nearby soils and ground waters.     

Assessment of the current municipal solid waste management system in Tehran,Iran: challenges and opportunities for sustainable development

Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management - With over 9 million population, challenges of waste management system (WMS) of Tehran can offer some lessons to other middle-income cities. Despite...     

Adsorptive Removal of Lead from Water Using a Novel Cysteine-Bentonite/Poly(vinyl alcohol)/Alginate Nanocomposite

Journal of Polymers and the Environment - Adsorptive removal of toxic metals from water using materials with high removal capability and sufficient environmental degradability is of great...     

Development of Cellulose Aerogel as a New Material for the Reduction of Harmful Substances in Cigarette Smoke

The current study proposes a novel and improved cigarette filtration design comprising cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) and powdered activated carbons (PACs) with different dry matter contents. The proposed filter samples were primarily analyzed to verify their applicability as cigarette filters via measurements and standard tests, such as SEM, BET, DSC, and airflow permeability analysis. The results were compared with the cellulose acetate (CA) sample used as a conventional cigarette filter. The preliminary results indicated noticeable improvement compared to the reference CA. Also, the cigarettes were tested using a smoking machine, and the filtered smoke was analyzed using GC–MS to evaluate the filters' performance in reducing the harmful substances present in the smoke. The results showed that the filters made of CNF and PAC significantly decreased the toxic substances compared with the reference but did not affect the nicotine substantially and therefore will not negatively impact the trance level of smokers.

     

Feedstocks,catalysts, process variables and techniques for biodiesel production by one-pot extraction-transesterification: a review

Environmental Chemistry Letters - Biodiesel is a sustainable alternative to petroleum diesel. The main bottlenecks in the commercialization of biodiesel are production costs and suitable industrial...     

Biopolymer-based membranes from polysaccharides for CO2 separation: a review

Environmental Chemistry Letters - The application of natural biopolymers such as polysaccharides for the fabrication of bio-based membranes has recently attracted attention for CO2...     

Impacts of COVID-19 on Sustainable Development Goals and effective approaches to maneuver them in the post-pandemic environment

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - In the pursuit of constructing a sustainable world for all through the instrumental seventeen Sustainable Development Goals, the COVID-19 pandemic...     

A review on solar-powered cooling systems coupled with parabolic dish collector and linear Fresnel reflector

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Solar energy is the most sustainable and free source to manage the world energy demand. One aspect of solar-driven energy supply can be observed in...     

A hybrid statistical decision-making optimization approach for groundwater vulnerability considering uncertainty

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Recognizing the vulnerable areas for contamination is a feasible way to protect groundwater resources. The main contribution of the paper is...     

Phosphorus removal and recovery: state of the science and challenges

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Phosphorus is one of the main nutrients required for all life. Phosphorus as phosphate form plays an important role in different cellular processes....