Douti Biyougue Nang , Ebenezer Ebo Yahans Amuah , Arkoh Abena Jennifer , Samuel Kojo Abanyie , Kwame Anokye , Peace Ankor
{"title":"Management practices and perception of waste face masks in university hostels and halls and potential risks: Recommendations for future preparedness","authors":"Douti Biyougue Nang , Ebenezer Ebo Yahans Amuah , Arkoh Abena Jennifer , Samuel Kojo Abanyie , Kwame Anokye , Peace Ankor","doi":"10.1016/j.grets.2025.100214","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.grets.2025.100214","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The COVID-19 pandemic significantly increased the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), particularly face masks, which led to considerable waste management challenges. This study examined the management practices, perceptions, and potential risks associated with waste face masks among students at C. K. Tedam University of Technology and Applied Sciences. Data were collected from 150 respondents using semi-structured questionnaires and a convenience sampling approach. The results showed that 67% of students used surgical masks, while 33% used fabric masks. Daily mask usage indicated that 92% of the students used between 1–5 masks, while 8% used 6–10 masks. Also, 76% of respondents disposed of their masks with general waste, while 24% separated them before disposal. Disposal methods included burning (48%), dumping at designated sites (22%), and using public waste containers (30%). Also, 73% of the respondents believed improper disposal posed health risks, and 42% recognized potential environmental harm, such as pollution. In assessing agreement on waste management practices using a seven-point Likert scale, 51.3% strongly agreed that managing face mask waste at the hostel level should be encouraged, while 24.0% agreed, and 13.3% were neutral. Irregular waste collection (mean score: 4.27) was identified as a key barrier to proper disposal. The findings underscored the need for interventions, such as the provision of designated PPE waste bins, awareness campaigns to educate students on proper disposal practices, and improvements in waste collection frequency. These measures were crucial for reducing health and environmental risks and for enhancing preparedness for future public health emergencies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100598,"journal":{"name":"Green Technologies and Sustainability","volume":"3 3","pages":"Article 100214"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143878773","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Dayana Nascimento Dari, Lidya Fernandes da Silva, Antônio Mairton Bezerra Lima Júnior, Isabelly Silveira Freitas, Francisco Izaias da Silva Aires, José Cleiton Sousa dos Santos
{"title":"Spent coffee grounds: Insights and future prospects for bioenergy and circular economy applications","authors":"Dayana Nascimento Dari, Lidya Fernandes da Silva, Antônio Mairton Bezerra Lima Júnior, Isabelly Silveira Freitas, Francisco Izaias da Silva Aires, José Cleiton Sousa dos Santos","doi":"10.1016/j.grets.2025.100213","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.grets.2025.100213","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Coffee is the second most consumed beverage in the world and the second most traded commodity, behind only petroleum. Spent coffee grounds (SCG), a solid residue generated after coffee preparation, are produced on a large scale but are still underutilized. Its valorization can bring environmental, economic, and social benefits, boosting the circular bioeconomy. This bibliometric review analyzed 403 articles published in the Web of Science over more than 10 years, highlighting the revaluation of SCG and its integration into biorefineries as a sustainable strategy. With the advancement of biorefineries, studies indicate the possibility of almost complete recovery of SCG, although research in this area is still limited. Several studies report its application in producing biocomposites, bioplastics, biofuels, adsorbents, and food additives, reducing the environmental footprint and promoting sustainable alternatives to petroleum-derived materials. The valorization of SCG reduces costs, minimizes waste, and boosts the bioeconomy, but most studies are still in the laboratory phase and need to be scaled up for industry. The SCG biorefinery has the potential to produce high-value bioactive compounds and bioenergy on a large scale, increasing its economic viability. In conclusion, future research should focus on producing biochar, biogas, bioactive extraction via the SCG biorefinery, and improving geopolymer materials for green construction.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100598,"journal":{"name":"Green Technologies and Sustainability","volume":"3 4","pages":"Article 100213"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143895397","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Investigation of structural mechanics of chemical free pre-treated jute fabric","authors":"Neaz Morshed , Md. Abdul Hannan , Md. Dulal Hosen , Zakaria Ahmed , Shamsuzzaman Sheikh , Ashfia Tasnim , Sharmin Sultana , Alamgir Hossain , Md. Golam Murshed","doi":"10.1016/j.grets.2025.100208","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.grets.2025.100208","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study explores the development of a chemical-free pretreatment on jute fabrics, as a benign alternative to traditional chemical pretreatment processes. Jute fabric samples were pretreated using non-chemical at 130°C for 1 hour in lab deep machine. The absorbency, color strength (K/S values), whiteness, CIELAB values, FTIR, SEM analysis, tensile strength and fastness of the treated fabrics to rubbing, washing and perspiration were evaluated. The chemical-free method (6.5 seconds vs. 4.1 seconds for water droplet absorption) demonstrates comparable absorbency to conventionally pretreated samples, boosted color strength (K/S 18.2 vs. K/S 15.8 for reactive dyes), and slightly reduced whiteness (149 vs. 159.1). Analysis of FTIR showed that hydrogen bonding was reduced, with minimal cellulose degradation after modeling, and surface roughness increased according to SEM analysis, enabling better diffusion of the absorbed dye. The chemical-free treated samples exhibited better dry rubbing fastness (3–4 vs. 3) and wash fastness ratings of 3–4 for color change and 3–5 for staining, which were comparable to those of conventionally dyed samples. The chemical-free samples had good elongation at peak (8.0% vs. 7.7%) and a slightly higher tensile strength (149.7 N vs. 147.5 N). These findings suggest that pretreatment without chemicals is a sustainable and eco-friendly method of preparing jute fabric while preserving or enhancing key mechanical and coloring qualities.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100598,"journal":{"name":"Green Technologies and Sustainability","volume":"3 3","pages":"Article 100208"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143936624","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Aamir Sohail , Mohd Syakirin Rusdi , Mohd Zulkifly Abdullah , Sakhr M. Sultan
{"title":"Numerical investigation of the thermal performance of PV system under variable wind speeds and ambient temperatures in the tropical climate of Malaysia","authors":"Aamir Sohail , Mohd Syakirin Rusdi , Mohd Zulkifly Abdullah , Sakhr M. Sultan","doi":"10.1016/j.grets.2025.100210","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.grets.2025.100210","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This research utilized three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to simulate the fluid flow and thermal behaviour surrounding a standalone monocrystalline silicon PV module. The investigation concentrated on the precise determination of the PV module’s temperature, which is a critical factor that affects its power generation capabilities. The simulations incorporated the absorption of solar energy within the PV cells and systematically evaluated the resulting heat transfer mechanisms. Before conducting the analyses, a detailed mesh refinement study and thorough model validation were undertaken to ensure the precision and credibility of the findings. Our study provides a more detailed analysis of temperature distributions, offering a comprehensive evaluation of PV panel temperature variations, an aspect not thoroughly explored in previous research. A solar panel was positioned at a 15° angle for all cases. The study examined variations in environmental temperature of 300 K, 303 K, and 305 K, and a wind velocity ranging from 0.5 to 6 m/s was considered for all three atmospheric temperature conditions. CFD investigations found that the temperatures of PV modules are greatly affected by the surrounding temperature and air velocities. For a heat flux of 600 W/m<sup>2</sup>, a substantial reduction of 15 °C in temperature was noted for increasing wind velocity from 1 m/s to 3 m/s. Numerical studies showed that raising the wind speed from 0.5 m/s to 4 m/s significantly lowers the temperature of the PV panel; however, any further increases beyond this point have a minimal added impact. These results highlighted how environmental conditions significantly affect PV conversion efficiency and emphasized the need to consider these while optimizing and designing solar systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100598,"journal":{"name":"Green Technologies and Sustainability","volume":"3 3","pages":"Article 100210"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143882923","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Slaughterhouse effluents and soil quality: A review","authors":"Lisiane Brichi , Gustavo Pereira Valani , Gabriela Pittoli Lyra , Tamara Maria Gomes , Fabrício Rossi","doi":"10.1016/j.grets.2025.100207","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.grets.2025.100207","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The increased demand for food and water in a growing population leads to the need for sustainable food security strategies, in which the reuse of agro-industrial effluents may play an important role in addressing this challenge. However, only a few studies have focused on the impact of irrigation with slaughterhouse effluents on soil quality. Thus, this study aims to compile, classify, analyze, and discuss bibliometric data and soil quality assessments in studies on irrigation with slaughterhouse effluent. A bibliography research was conducted on the Web of Science and Scopus databases and a total of 29 records were selected and analyzed. Bibliometric aspects were evaluated and information about the methodological description of the experiment, the effluent and about soil quality was also extracted from the database. Australia, New Zealand, Brazil and Nigeria are the countries with the most publications from 1970 onwards, with the first two countries having scientific cooperation with each other. These studies assessed mainly chemical soil properties, from which total/available N, total/available P and exchangeable K the ones that most positively affected soil quality. Soil physical and biological indicators of soil quality were less frequently investigated and therefore further research is needed, since they contribute to the correct understanding of soil health and strategic decision-making aimed at maintaining crop productivity and ecosystem services provided by the soil.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100598,"journal":{"name":"Green Technologies and Sustainability","volume":"3 4","pages":"Article 100207"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143927938","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Valorization of dredged sediments: Influence of sediment content on mechanical properties and environmental behavior","authors":"Bader Bouzar, Yannick Mamindy-Pajany, Nor-edine Abriak, Mahfoud Benzerzour","doi":"10.1016/j.grets.2025.100209","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.grets.2025.100209","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study explores the valorization of marine sediments as a substitute for natural sand in cementitious matrices for maritime applications. The results indicate that increasing sediment content leads to higher water-accessible porosity, resulting in materials that are less dense than the reference ones. However, mechanical performance remains acceptable for many maritime applications, even at high substitution rates exceeding 50%. The microscopic analysis confirms that the sediment is mainly composed of quartz — similar to natural sand — the physical properties of the two materials diverge considerably. The sediment exhibits higher porosity, greater water absorption, and lower bulk density, largely due to its finer particle size distribution and more heterogeneous morphology. The sediment morphology influences both the fresh and hardened states of the mortars, particularly impacting porosity and workability. Compressive strength tests identified the optimal formulation containing 60% sediment, achieving compressive strengths of 17 MPa at 7 days, 31 MPa at 28 days, and 35 MPa at 90 days in freshwater curing, with comparable results in saltwater. The material also demonstrated a robust dynamic modulus, suitable for long-term applications. Environmental assessments, including leaching tests performed according to NF EN 12457-2, confirmed that the sediment-based mortars are inert. All concentrations of trace metals and anions remained well below the regulatory thresholds for inert waste, even after 90 days of curing. The results further show that the sediment does not release harmful pollutants in marine or terrestrial environments, making it environmentally safe.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100598,"journal":{"name":"Green Technologies and Sustainability","volume":"3 4","pages":"Article 100209"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143886748","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Saurabh Singh , Nilesh Mali , Aman Jain , Giriraj Tailor , Nelson Joseph P.
{"title":"A review: Biogenic synthesis of Ca, Mg, Si nano fertilizers and their foliar studies on legume crops production","authors":"Saurabh Singh , Nilesh Mali , Aman Jain , Giriraj Tailor , Nelson Joseph P.","doi":"10.1016/j.grets.2025.100206","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.grets.2025.100206","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Biogenic synthesis of essential nutrients elements based nano fertilizers has been synthesized via green route methods to produce nano-sized fertilizers for require crops. In this methods leverages natural sources, such as plant parts, bacteria, and fungi are used and protect to environment from chemical fertilizers and constructs environmental friendly efficient fertilizers. The nano scale of these fertilizers allows for better nutrient uptake, potentially leading to improved agricultural yields and reduced environmental impact. By utilizing biogenic methods, the production process minimizes the use of harmful chemicals, aligning with sustainable bio based practices. This review investigates the current advancements in biogenic production macronutrient based NPs and their foliar application on crops. They explores the utilization of biological sources, particularly plant extracts, in the creation of macronutrient based nanoparticles. This review also explores the current advancements in the foliar application of nanofertilizers within the agricultural sector and particular focus on calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), and silicon (Si). The review emphasizes how these biogenically synthesized nanofertilizer contribute to improved plant growth and soil health and focusing on their ability to enhance nutrient efficiency and reduce environmental impact.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100598,"journal":{"name":"Green Technologies and Sustainability","volume":"3 3","pages":"Article 100206"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143878772","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Georgy Lazorenko , Anton Kasprzhitskii , E.A. Yatsenko , Li Wensheng , Sandeep Chaudhary
{"title":"Towards coal mining waste valorization: Gangue as resource for the production of geopolymer and related alkali-activated materials","authors":"Georgy Lazorenko , Anton Kasprzhitskii , E.A. Yatsenko , Li Wensheng , Sandeep Chaudhary","doi":"10.1016/j.grets.2025.100205","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.grets.2025.100205","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The high rate of coal production leads to the formation of huge amounts of waste and byproducts, including coal gangue (CG), which has become the largest industrial residue in the energy industry. Among new management strategies, recycling and valorization of CG to produce alkali-activated binder systems promises environmental and economic benefits, including carbon emission reduction, stabilization of contaminated or inert coal mining waste, and reduced consumption of primary resources used in the construction sector. This paper provides a critical and comprehensive review of earlier studies on using coal gangue as a resource for geopolymers and related alkali-activated materials (AAMs). More specifically, this review summarizes the physicochemical features of CG and discusses the main factors influencing the performance of AAMs based on them. The possible engineering uses of these materials are also covered. Additionally, it is important to note the limitations of coal gangue to make AAMs and identify where further research is needed.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100598,"journal":{"name":"Green Technologies and Sustainability","volume":"3 3","pages":"Article 100205"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143791836","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Tareq Jamal Chy , Khairul Hasan , Asif Bin Alam Seum , Khayrun Nahar Mitu
{"title":"Integrating surface and subsurface influences to assess groundwater potential in a rapidly urbanizing temperate region: A Geographic Information System-Analytical Hierarchy Process (GIS-AHP) case study of Shelby County, Tennessee","authors":"Tareq Jamal Chy , Khairul Hasan , Asif Bin Alam Seum , Khayrun Nahar Mitu","doi":"10.1016/j.grets.2025.100204","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.grets.2025.100204","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The overutilization of groundwater and the significant weather transformations over the years have placed immense strain on global groundwater reserves. As the demand for potable water across the world for human consumption, agricultural, and industrial use grows, so does the necessity to assess the groundwater potential and productivity of aquifers. In recent years, geographic information system based studies have become increasingly prominent in groundwater exploration due to its promptness and the direct data it provides on the resource for further development. Therefore, the present study was conducted with the objective of demarcating the groundwater potential zone of Shelby County, Tennessee. To this end, Geographic Information System (GIS) and Analytical Hierarchical Process (AHP) techniques were employed to create 8 thematic layers, such as elevation, slope, drainage density, lineament density, rainfall, land cover, soil group, and porosity. Weights allocated to the various classes of the thematic maps were based upon insight via the AHP method. The exploration of Shelby County’s groundwater revealed a stratification of five distinct potentials – very low, low, moderate, high, and very high – with the moderate zone occupying the greatest portion at 62.5%. The low and high zones followed at 8.92% and 28%, respectively, and the very low and very high potentials were only observed in tiny, isolated sections. These findings can grant policymakers the insight needed to make prudent, sustainable decisions in regards to the management of the study area’s groundwater resources.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100598,"journal":{"name":"Green Technologies and Sustainability","volume":"3 3","pages":"Article 100204"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143808799","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Farheen Bano , Abirbhav Sanyal , Vandana Sehgal , Ritu Gulati , Gaurav Singh , Jente Broeckx , Ibrahim Hafeezur Rehman , Raf Theunissen , Tomas Crols , Shu Yang
{"title":"Building urban climate resilience: An inclusive approach to heat stress mapping and capacity building in Ayodhya, India","authors":"Farheen Bano , Abirbhav Sanyal , Vandana Sehgal , Ritu Gulati , Gaurav Singh , Jente Broeckx , Ibrahim Hafeezur Rehman , Raf Theunissen , Tomas Crols , Shu Yang","doi":"10.1016/j.grets.2025.100203","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.grets.2025.100203","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Urban areas are increasingly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, necessitating robust and inclusive approaches to enhance resilience, which in turn demands sufficient public and governmental awareness and understanding of climate change. This study focuses on Ayodhya, a fast-developing city in India, and employs a comprehensive methodology to build climate resilience through capacity building of faculty, students, stakeholders, and dissemination efforts targeting the public and school children. The methodology integrates training workshops, collaborative projects, and public outreach to foster an understanding of climate resilience principles and practices.</div><div>By empowering local communities and institutions with knowledge and tools to address climate challenges, the study demonstrates significant improvements in preparedness and adaptive capacity. A key component of the research involved heat stress mapping in Ayodhya, utilizing Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to identify high-risk areas and analyze patterns of heat exposure. Future projections of heat stress and temperature, validated with participatory in-situ measurements, were generated using climate models, providing critical data to inform adaptive strategies.</div><div>Key findings include significant improvements in preparedness and adaptive capacity, driven by a multi-faceted approach to capacity building. The paper highlights two primary outcomes: detailed results on heat exposure in Ayodhya, obtained through GIS mapping and climate models, and the analysis of methodologies employed for capacity building. Heat stress mapping identified high-risk areas and patterns of heat exposure and validated with participatory in-situ measurements. The paper underscores the importance of inclusive and participatory methods in urban climate resilience planning and offers a replicable model for other rapidly urbanizing regions facing similar challenges.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100598,"journal":{"name":"Green Technologies and Sustainability","volume":"3 3","pages":"Article 100203"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143777595","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}