Organic waste upsurges with rapid urbanization and incessant population growth. To restrain this trend and lessen environmental impacts, sustainable management of food waste imposes an ambitious target of resource recovery and mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. This study quantifies environmental impacts and socio-economic benefits of municipal solid waste (MSW) management as a proof-of-concept case study for the Lima, Peru. Economic feasibility and life cycle assessment studies were used to compare the efficiency of segregated organic waste for scenarios such as landfilling and composting. Resource recovery, GHG emissions, and revenues are assessed to decide the environmental contour and downstream strategies. It was found that composting has less environmental impact in 11 out of 12 life cycle impact categories (ReCiPe method) during collection, processing, and distribution of 1 ton of waste as functional unit. Composting resulted in 40% less climate impact with global warming potential (GWP) of 476.20 kg CO2eq whereas landfilling showed 785.81 kg CO2eq GWP. Additionally, organic waste to compost conversion rate of 13%, can bring positive upshots to economy and society. This study is instrumental in MSW management, decision-making, and mitigate climate change in line with United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN-SDGs) for sustainable society. © 2025 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.

Lithium cobalt oxide (LiCoO2) cathodes, comprising 70% of global cobalt and over 1/4th of lithium production, are crucial for recycling to support a sustainable circular economy for critical metals. This study presents an industry-oriented recycling process at technology readiness level-4, involving phosphoric acid leaching of LiCoO2 cathodes. The process was optimized by using response surface methodology with a central composite design, examining five factors at three levels. The parameters, temperature, and concentrations of H3PO4 and H2O2 were identified as key factors influencing the selective leaching of lithium and precipitating >99% cobalt as Co3(PO4)2. The activation energy for lithium dissolution suggests that the leaching process follows an intermediate-controlled mechanism. Lithium was subsequently recovered as Li3PO4 by adding a 10% stoichiometric excess of Na3PO4 and adjusting the filtrate pH to above 12. The profitability of the recycling process is demonstrated by a 39.6% return on investment and a 9.7% internal rate of return.

Elevated fluoride (F⁻) levels in groundwater, primarily due to geogenic processes, pose significant health risks, including dental and skeletal fluorosis and neurological disorders. This study aimed to quantify source-dependent F⁻ exposure at the community level in selected tropical dry regions of Andhra Pradesh, India. These locations include Chintal Cheruvu, Rompicharala, Shantamangalur, Thimmapur, and Nadendla. Community surveys and drinking water sample analyses were conducted in these regions. Dental Fluorosis Index (DFI) was used to estimate exposure levels across age and sex groups. Findings of surveys indicate that groundwater consumption with high F⁻ (4.3 mg/L) results in the highest exposure dose (0.62 mg/kg/day), with Chintal Cheruvu identified as the most affected. A strong positive correlation was observed between exposure dose, water F⁻ content, and the Community Fluorosis Index (CFI), with R² values of 0.98 and 0.97, respectively. Dental fluorosis prevalence exceeded 80% across all age groups, and household surveys revealed 100% unawareness of F⁻ exposure risks. Though there exist many ways to determine the impact of fluoride, the hierarchy of regions may change with the type of parameter chosen. To address this, we developed the Fluoride Impact Index (FII), a multi-criteria index computed considering various parameters indicating the impact of fluoride in a region. The magnitude of FII for Chintal Cheruvu is 0.563 which is highest among the considered regions indicating that it is most impacted region that needs remedial measures first in the hierarchy. Rompicharala with FII as 0.252, Nadendla (0.223), Shantamangalur (0.214), and Thimmapur (0.188) follows the hierarchy. These findings highlight the urgent need to raise awareness about F⁻ exposure risks and to identify sustainable alternative water sources. Immediate interventions, including human health risk assessments using the USEPA approach and the provision of safe drinking water, are critical to achieving SDG-6 of safe drinking water for all by 2030. © 2024

The present study employs the Taguchi statistical design for optimizing the photodegradation process of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) films by varying five significant parameters i.e., catalyst loading (%), exposure time (in days), pH, size of the films (cm x cm), and temperature (℃), simultaneously to determine the maximum photodegradation on LDPE. The physiochemical, morphological, and molecular structural changes were observed in all-nanocomposite (LDPE and catalyst samples) before and after degradation. One way-ANOVA (Analysis of Variance) results demonstrated that catalyst loading, and exposure time were the most influential factors and contributed 65 % and 25 %, respectively to determine the degradation rate. Further, a kinetic study was performed to determine the photo-degradation rate, and it follows first-order photo-kinetics model. The maximum photodegradation was observed for that LDPE sample that was loaded with 12 % catalyst with a pH of 6 at 45°C that was exposed to the UV light for 10 days in a photoreactor, it degraded most efficiently with a weight loss of 16.25 %. Additionally, recyclability studies confirmed that stability and reusability of TiO2 as a photocatalyst for carrying out degradation experiments upto three consecutive cycles. Moreover, there is a high co-relation between predicted and experimental data with R2> 0.96, which demonstrates the effectiveness of the prediction with the maximum degradation of LDPE film. © 2025 The Authors

The incineration fly ash (IFA) resulting from municipal solid waste combustion is laden with heavy metals, necessitating proper treatment not only for environmental management but also to reclaim the metal values. The surge in non-traditional metals like cobalt as emerging contaminant within IFA samples further attracts to address this issue. In response, the hydrometallurgical recycling of a cobalt-bearing IFA has been studied. Thereby, approximately 98 % zinc and 96 % cobalt were leached using a 1.0 mol/L H 2 SO 4 solution at 90 °C and 1 h of leaching time. In-depth analysis of the leaching process unveiled metals' dissolution primarily via the ion-exclusion mechanism, as evidenced by lower diffusion coefficients (between 10 ?9 and 10 ?11  m 2 /s) and activation energies (9.6–14.9 kJ/mol). Above 99 % separation of zinc from the cobalt-bearing leach liquor was achieved by extraction with 1.0 mol/L D2EHPA at an equilibrium pH below 3.0, followed by stripping with a 2.0 mol/L H 2 SO 4 solution. Cobalt, remained in the raffinate was efficiently precipitated by adding a 20 % excess dosage of oxalic acid to the stoichiometric ratio of C 2 O 4 2? :Co 2+, resulting in only 5 mg/L cobalt left in the solution when precipitation occurred at a pH of 2.8. Additionally, the conversion of CoC 2 O 4 to high-purity Co 3 O 4 was conducted through heat-treatment at 600 °C. The resulting Co 3 O 4 was mixed with Li 2 CO 3 at a Li/Co molar ratio of 1.1, yielding a LiCoO 2 precursor that exhibited good electrochemical properties with a capacity of 128 mAh/g, thus affirming the high quality of the recycled cobalt. A comprehensive life-cycle assessment of the recycling process revealed that cobalt precipitation alone contributes approximately 50 % of the total global warming potential (GWP = 4.2624 kg CO 2 -eq). Notably, this value is remarkably lower than the GWP reported for primary cobalt production, highlighting the environmentally-friendly approach of this recycling endeavor.

The present study quantifies the environmental and sustainability impacts associated with municipal solid waste management (MSWM) in India which plays a vital environmental issue in recent times. The upsurge in population has resulted in massive waste generation, leading to a concerning rise in the level of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Therefore, the sustainable management of MSW has been discussed and highlights the conversion of MSW into refuse-derived fuel (RDF) to identify its potential for generating electricity in waste-to-energy (WtE) plants. The life cycle assessment (LCA) study has been done to identify and compare the environmental impacts associated with different scenarios (SC) as SC1: landfilling without energy recovery, SC2: open burning and SC3: processing of RDF in WtE plant by considering the nine impact categories from the inventory data obtained over a period of 12 consecutive months (Jan 2021–Jan 2022). The results exhibited that the global warming potential caused by emissions of GHG are in the order of SC1 (1188 kg CO eq) > SC2 (752 kg CO eq) > SC3 (332 kg CO eq), respectively from 1 t of MSW. It is concluded that the WtE plant can help in the reduction of environmental issues, strengthening the capacity of electricity generation and improving the aesthetic view of the city which is socially acceptable as well. Thus, WtE technology can help in achieving sustainable development goal 12 to regenerate the sustainable secondary resources for the twenty-first century and minimize global climate change. Graphical Abstract: (Figure presented.)

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) produce renewable energy from organic matter in presence of electrochemically active anaerobes at the anode and cathode oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). The ORR catalyst is pivotal for power generation and the overall cost of constructing an MFC. This study uses a synthesized novel LaFeO 3 perovskite electrocatalyst as an alternative to the conventional Pt/C cathode catalyst which enhances ORR activity in a pH-neutral electrolyte. LaFeO 3 -based air cathode MFC produced 726.43 mWm ?2 of maximum power density and is comparable to the commercial Pt/C catalyst i.e., 775 mWm ?2. Furthermore, it has achieved 2.3 mAm ?2 of the maximum current density and 556 mV of voltage. The improved catalytic activity of the synthesized LaFeO 3 is associated with a large number of active sites, oxygen vacancies, and its mesoporous nature. Therefore, LaFeO 3 perovskite was able to catalyze ORR with an electron transfer of 3.8 in a neutral medium which is close to superior indirect four-electron pathways. It is highlighted that LaFeO 3 perovskite iscost-effectiveand has comparable electrochemical properties with Pt/C which is evident in its scale-up potential of MFCs for green energy synthesis.

Segregation of waste is a key component of the waste management system. To attain high-quality recycled plastics, reduce pollution, and for a cleaner environment, sorting waste is vital. Manual sorting of waste can be inefficient due to human error and difficulty in separating different plastic types. It also causes several health issues for the workers. In medium- to high-volume factories, automated technology plays a critical role in the sorting of plastic materials. Accordingly, in this chapter, we have focused on different types of automated sorting techniques like direct and indirect sorting of plastics from municipal solid waste. The use of robots in sorting materials, such as plastic, paper, metals, glass, etc., from municipal solid waste can reduce manufacturing costs and energy consumption while facilitating the creation of secondary raw materials. This chapter is set forth by critically evaluating the different types of segregation technologies and their efficiency. By combining artificial intelligence (AI), deep learning, and robotics, we’re creating a more automated and eco-friendly way to manage waste, ensuring a healthier future for generations to come.

The manufacturing of recyclable products and an efficient recovery of resources such as chemicals, materials, and energy from waste streams are the key enablers of the circular economy. This book highlights the efficient management of waste into resources through the introduction of advanced technology able to convert waste into a secondary resource. It describes different technologies and urban mining tools used to recover materials from different types of waste. It also emphasizes that natural materials are limited though demand for the materials continues to increase, and how that demand can be sustainably fulfilled by secondary resources materials that come from urban mining.

The recoveryRecovery of heavy metals from municipal solid wasteMunicipal solid wasteincinerated fly ashIncinerated fly ash (MSW-IFA) before its final disposal is highly desirable for sustainableSustainable waste management and resource recoveryRecovery. RecyclingRecycling of zinc via leaching-solvent extractionSolvent extraction techniques has been studied, therefore yielding > 90% efficiency of zinc dissolution at a H2SO4 concentration of 1.5 mol/L, a temperature of 90 °C, a S/L ratio of 150 g/L, a time of 2 h, and a stirring speed of 300 rpm. Further, zinc was efficiently extracted using 0.6 mol/L D2EHPAD2EHPA at an equilibrium pH of 2.0 and an organic-to-aqueous phase ratio of 1. Finally, the highly pure zinc solution could be quantitatively stripped in a solution containing 1.5 mol/L H2SO4. This could lead to a circular economy of zinc with MSW-IFA as a possible secondary source. © The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society 2024.

The manufacturing of recyclable products and an efficient recovery of resources such as chemicals, materials, and energy from waste streams are the key enablers of the circular economy. This book highlights the efficient management of waste into resources through the introduction of advanced technology able to convert waste into a secondary resource. It describes different technologies and urban mining tools used to recover materials from different types of waste. It also emphasizes that natural materials are limited though demand for the materials continues to increase, and how that demand can be sustainably fulfilled by secondary resources materials that come from urban mining. © 2025 World Scientific Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Plastics have become one of the most integral parts of our day-to-day lives; however, after use, plastic waste accumulates on land and in water bodies, which wreaks havoc in the environment by releasing toxic gases. As the usage of plastic increases, it will result in the depletion of natural resources and greater difficulties in managing plastic waste. Accordingly, in this chapter, we focus on various types of resources, such as fuel, gas, energy, and electricity, which are recovered from plastic waste through different waste management technologies such as primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary recycling. This chapter is set forth by critically evaluating different types of plastic waste technologies, the products, and their byproducts formed during tertiary treatment. Material and resource recovery of different types of waste plastics through gasification and pyrolysis offers significant environmental benefits by promoting resource extraction and reducing the associated environmental impacts linked to the extraction process. © 2025 World Scientific Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Perovskite oxides, particularly LaFeO3 (LFO), have gained significant attention due to their diverse applications in catalysis, energy storage, solar cells, and environmental remediation. However, the environmental impacts associated with their production remain largely unexplored. The present study demonstrates a comprehensive life cycle assessment (LCA) of experimentally synthesized LFO nanoparticles (NPs) by a hydrothermal method against 7 mainstream synthesis routes, focusing on their environmental and resource implications. The mass and specific surface area were kept as functional units in the cradle-to-gate LCA study that utilizes TRACI midpoint and ReCiPe end point methods to quantify the environmental impacts associated with LFO NPs synthesis routes and precursors. Key environmental indicators such as greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, cumulative energy demand (CED), and health impacts are assessed using LCA methodologies. Furthermore, sensitivity analysis is conducted to identify critical factors influencing LCA and to prioritize areas for improvement in synthesis chemistry. It is revealed that green synthesis produced the highest environmental impact, with a global warming (GW) potential of 33.52 kg of CO2eq and ecotoxicity (ET) of 30.32 CTUe for 1 kg of LFO NPs. However, microwave, sonication and hydrothermal synthesis produced 38-52% less environmental impact compared to green synthesis. The experimental lab-scale inventory data and LCA analysis fill in the existing data gaps and aid future studies on the sustainable synthesis of LFO NPs and other ABO3 type perovskites for industrial settings. © 2024 American Chemical Society

Emerging organic contaminants present in the environment can be biodegraded in anodic biofilms of microbial fuel cells (MFCs). However, there is a notable gap existing in deducing the degradation mechanism, intermediate products, and the microbial communities involved in degradation of broad-spectrum antibiotic such as triclosan (TCS). Herein, the possible degradation of TCS is explored using TCS acclimatized biofilms in MFCs. 95% of 5 mgL−1 TCS are been biodegraded within 84 h with a chemical oxygen demand (COD) reduction of 62% in an acclimatized-MFC (A-MFC). The degradation of TCS resulted in 8 intermediate products including 2,4 -dichlorophenol which gets further mineralized within the system. Concurrently, the 16S rRNA V3–V4 sequencing revealed that there is a large shift in microbial communities after TCS acclimatization and MFC operation. Moreover, 30 dominant bacterial species (relative intensity >1%) are identified in the biofilm in which Sulfuricurvum kujiense, Halomonas phosphatis, Proteiniphilum acetatigens, and Azoarcus indigens significantly contribute to dihydroxylation, ring cleavage and dechlorination of TCS. Additionally, the MFC was able to produce 818 ± 20 mV voltage output with a maximum power density of 766.44 mWm−2. The antibacterial activity tests revealed that the biotoxicity of TCS drastically reduced in the MFC effluent, signifying the non-toxic nature of the degraded products. Hence, this work provides a proof−of−concept strategy for sustainable mitigation of TCS in wastewaters with enhanced bioelectricity generation. © 2024 Elsevier Ltd

In recent times, perovskite oxides have recognized to be an ideal alternative to platinum-based oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) electrocatalysts due to their excellent stability, cost-effectiveness, and tailorable properties. Herein, an ABO3 type LaFeO3 perovskite was doped at its B-site to form electrochemically active LaFeB′O6 (B′=Cr, Zn, Co) by one-pot hydrothermal synthesis process. Due to the synergistic effects of increased surface area and electrochemically active sites, Cr-doped LaFeO3 largely improves the mass transfer kinetics for ORR in both conditions, alkaline (0.1 M KOH) and acidic (0.5 M H2SO4) with a positive onset Eon of 0.80 and 0.81 V (vs Ag/AgCl). Similarly, a half-wave (E1/2) potential of 0.68 and 0.63 V (vs Ag/AgCl), which was comparable to the commercial 20 % Pt/C. Moreover, the La-based perovskites were able to catalyze ORR with an electron transfer number (n)>3.6 signifying the superior 4-electron pathway. Doped and undoped LaFeO3 exhibited remarkable stability in the chronoamperometry studies with a relative current of 92–95 % sustained over 8 h. Additionally, the La-based electrocatalysts was unaffected by the crossover effect of methanol in both acidic and basic conditions, contrary to the commercial 20 % Pt/C. The present work serves as a useful strategy to maximize the efficiency and reliability in perovskites for energy-related electrocatalytic applications and for alternative fuel generation. © 2024 Wiley-VCH GmbH.

Microplastics (MPs) are identified ubiquitously in various environmental compartments ranging from marine, freshwaters, sediments and terrestrial ecosystems including biotic components. Due to its smaller size (<5 mm), poor capture rate, and challenges in environmental removal, MPs contamination is a serious problem for the entire world. In the past decade, numerous techniques have been developed and put to use in order to track and measure MPs, identify the type of polymer, and characterise the particle’s shape, size and colour. The chapter provides an overview on the separation, identification and quantification procedures in MP analysis, with emphasis on potential ways ahead and remaining challenges. The analytical protocol largely varies with nature of MPs, its abundance and the type of environment sample. Additionally, advanced quantification techniques such as Pyrolysis coupled with Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (Py-GC-MS) and AI supported automated image analysis have been discussed. Therefore, standardization of MPs analytical techniques on the basis of the research aim will aid in obtaining a more comprehensive picture. © 2024 American Chemical Society.

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The present study is comprised of a hydrometallurgical process investigated for the recovery of critical metals viz. nickel (Ni) and cadmium (Cd) from spent Ni-Cd batteries with a focus on solvent extraction of Cd-ions. The leaching performed at 5 (w/v)% pulp density using 2.0 M HSO with 7 (v/v)% HO for 6 h duration at 90°C yielded the maximum leaching efficiency of >91% Ni and >99% Cd along with a significant quantity of Fe (>87%). Iron was subjected to hydrolytic precipitation to its complete removal (below 10 ppm in the solution) from the leach liquor at a pH of ~3.5. After that, the Ni-Cd-containing solution was contacted with di-(2-ethylhexyl) phosphoric acid (D2EHPA) to study the extraction behavior as a function of extractant concentration, equilibrium pH, and organic-to-aqueous (O:A) phase ratio. At an equilibrium pH of 3.3, a significant quantity of Ni (>18%) was co-extracted with ~73% Cd by contacting 20 (v/v)% D2EHPA, which was completely scrubbed by contacting 15 g/L CdSO solution at an O:A ratio of 2. The scrubbed organic containing 14.4 g/L Cd was then recovered by stripping with 1.5 M HSO solution at an O:A ratio of 1, yielding >99% Cd into the aqueous phase. Further, Ni was recovered from the raffinate by adding soda ash at NaCO:Ni ratio = 2.5, temperature = 50°C, and time = 1 h, which was analyzed to be NiCO.2Ni(OH) with purity >99.9%. The experimental results showed the potential of hydrometallurgical tools for the recovery of critical metals from spent Ni-Cd batteries.

Improper management of plastics showed a significant impact on climate change and biodiversity loss. Around 400 million tonnes of plastic waste (PW) have been generated so far and are projected to be doubled by 2040. Despite having plastic management rules worldwide, only 12% of PW is recycled and reused and the remaining waste directly enters the terrestrial and aquatic environment, leading to plastic pollution. It is noted that ?1.7 GT of greenhouse gases releases into the environment during the production and incineration stages of plastics, demonstrating a higher carbon footprint and leading to climate change. To overcome these issues, it is mandatory to curtail single-use plastics from everyday use and enhance the recycling option from the production to disposal stages, bringing circularity to the plastic industry. This paper recommends limiting the use of virgin plastics from fossil carbon and endorsing recycling and reusing PW as a secondary resource that can minimize the ?3.0 kg CO 2 emission per kg of plastics. Further, to promote a low-carbon economy in the plastic manufacturing process, the CO 2 feedstock from fossil carbon can also be replaced by direct carbon capture and storage processes such as the power to x technology. This paper advocates setting up stepping milestones for a circular transformation in plastic industries that can reduce the carbon footprint by 25% and fulfill the target of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

The mismanagement of consumer-discarded plastic waste (CDPW) has raised global environmental concerns about climate change. The COVID-19 outbreak has generated ?1.6 million tons of plastic waste per day in the form of personal protective equipment (masks, gloves, face shields, and sanitizer bottles). These plastic wastes are either combustible or openly dumped in aquatic and terrestrial environments. Open dumping upsurges emerging contaminants like micro-nano plastics (MNPs) that directly enter the ecosystem and cause severe impacts on flora and fauna. Therefore, it has become an utmost priority to determine sustainable technologies that can degrade or treat MNPs from the environment. The present review assesses the sources and impacts of MNPs, various challenges, and issues associated with their remediation techniques. Accordingly, a novel sustainable circular model is recommended to increase the degradation efficiency of MNPs using biochemical and biological methods. It is also concluded that the proposed model does not only overcome environmental issues but also provides a sustainable secondary resource to meet the sustainable development goals (SDGs).

Mining is an important activity at the present time that causes severe environmental stress. The heavy metals (metalloids) easily released into the environment, surface water and groundwater contamination, and soil and air pollution are also potential risks to human health. Due to the stringent environmental rules and global thirst for achieving Sustainable Development Goals, human negligence cannot be affordable in the long run. It is time to recognize the need for people connected with safe and sustainable mining activities of lucrative precious metals like gold. Therefore, in this chapter, we assess the risks caused by the primary mining of gold and discuss mitigation routes involving various factors.

The exponential advancement of technology, along with our demanding consumption habits, has ended up in an alarming growth in electronic waste (e-waste) creation, posing a severe environmental risk. This chapter highlights the environmental implications of e-waste as well as government attempts to promote responsible waste management, sustainable consumption, and separation of raw materials from these wastes. Dangerous chemicals, including Hg, Pb, and Cd, along with brominated flame retardants (BFRs) are released into the atmosphere during illegal disposal or informal recycling of e-waste, eventually building up in our ecosystem and disrupting the normal ecological cycle. It results in heavy metal contamination in the soil and water, emissions in the air, as well as negative impacts on human lives such as reproductive abnormalities and respiratory disease. The government policy like extended producer responsibility (EPR) implementation frameworks emphasize the collection and recycling systems and promote the sus-tainable waste management practices. EPR requires producers to take responsibility for their goods complete life cycle, including proper disposal and recycling. Collab-oration among governments, manufacturers, consumers, and recycling sectors is required to manage e-waste effectively. Thus, environmental risks can be reduced by adopting ecosystem-friendly practices in sustainable e-waste management and nurturing a circular economy.

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Renewable Energy Solutions for Fueling the Future. Green hydrogen, which is produced by using renewably generated electricity that splits water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen, holds significant promise to meet global energy demand while contributing to climate action goals. Currently, the production of green hydrogen is not yet economical or efficient enough. The key to solving this problem is through the development of innovative electrocatalysts. This book reviews recent research and perspectives on these essential areas of focus and provides must-have information for moving new research in green energy forward.

Improper management of inert plastic waste causes severe threats to the environment and leads to global climate change. The thermochemical combustion process adequately converts the plastic waste into a potential energy resource as refuse-derived fuel (RDF), however, to get maximum energy yield, it is required to optimize the combustion process. Therefore, the physio-chemical and thermal characteristics of multilayer plastics (MLPs) and their blends with different biomass are determined under non-isothermal conditions. Five representative samples S 1 to S 5 which includes MLPs and their blend with biomass were selected for this study. Thermogravimetric analysis was used to perform the combustion process with temperatures ranging from 30 °C to 1000 °C. It is noted that sample S 1 has 77.87 % volatile matter, 8.30 % ash content, and 0.01 % sulfur and shows a higher energy potential of 27.10 MJ/kg with minimum environmental emissions, demonstrating good agreement with the RDF I category. Thermo-kinetic parameters using the Coates-Redfern integral method demonstrated that the co-combustion follows a diffusion–reaction mechanism. The sequence of activation energy (E a ) and Gibbs energy (?G) follows in the order of S 4  > S 5  > S 1  > S 2  > S 3. Moreover, the maximum E a and ?G required for the decomposition of these samples are in the range of 101–142 kJ/mol and 115–120 kJ/mol, respectively. It is concluded that the optimized S 1 sample shows similar characteristics to conventional fuels and can be directly co-processed in cement industries or waste-to-energy plants. The obtained results can help in modeling and designing the thermochemical reactor for bench-scale operations.

Human activities inevitably results in waste. Generated Municipal solid waste (MSW) simply collected and dumped which causes environmental problems and health hazards. Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) - A bio-fuel obtained from dry residue of waste. Conversion of MSW to RDF substitutes fossil fuels, reduces burden of land filling, reduction in emission, volume reduction of MSW, hygiene etc. Waste to Energy (WtE) plant evaluated by plant visit, data collection, sample collection and literature review. Detailed analysis has been carried out of MSW, RDF, Fly Ash, Bottom Ash and stack emission sample. MSW processed by mechanical processes as manual segregation, splitting, shredding, magnetic separation and air density separation to prepare RDF which shows upgradation in properties for utilization as fuel. 1 MT of MSW processed to yield RDF 0.6-0.65 MT. Characteristics of RDF shows calorific value-2684 kcal/kg, moisture content-26 % and ash content-24 %. WtE plant designed to process 400 TPD MSW to generate power at 9 MWH rating. The company has signed a power purchase agreement at INR 7.07/kw. Cost benefit analysis carried out considering capital investment, term loan, interest rate, manpower cost, raw material cost, fixed cost, processing cost etc. Comparison of strengths and opportunities with weakness and threats in (SWOT) analysis makes project interesting in waste management and energy sector. The economic evaluation shows Cost Benefit ratio (CBR)- 1.83, Internal Rate of Return (IRR)- 13.09 % and Net Present Value (NPV)- 9.41 crore which means project is viable and positive. Results from this study will support policy makers and local authorities to decide, design and develop approaches for resource and energy recovery from MSW. © 2023 IEEE.

This book delves into the anthropogenic activities responsible for environmental hazards, their compensation, and potential mitigation strategies. It sheds light on the major contributors to the climate change issues aggravated by non-sustainable practices for the overexploitation of natural resources. Critical topics such as high emissions in primary mining, the recovery of energy-critical metals by urban mining, solid waste management, and forest conservation are explored, offering insights into the urgent challenges we face. Amidst the rapid demand for resources and the expansion of human habitats, the book emphasizes the need for new approaches to natural resource management and introspection of our actions. Experts in the field discuss existing anthropogenic environmental hazards in detail, alongside environmental compensation, and effective mitigation approaches. The book begins with a chapter dedicated to risk assessment in primary mining activities for precious metals, proposing potential routes for mitigation. Chapter 2 focuses on assessing and mitigating the environmental footprints of energy-critical metals used in permanent magnets. In Chapter 3, a case study examines sustainable resource utilization through end-of-life room air conditioner recycling. Additional chapters provide critical insights into: The environmental impacts of e-waste and government policies for responsible management Hazards associated with industrial effluents and corresponding mitigation strategies The role of roadside plants in phytoremediation of heavy metal pollution Sustainable utilization of anthropogenic coal fly ash through mechanical and chemical activation Environmental damages resulting from the mismanagement of municipal solid waste Environmental problems and remediation strategies for anthropogenic biomass waste Challenges in sustainable municipal solid waste management and suggestionsfor environmental risk mitigation The book concludes with a chapter discussing collaborative governance and non-monetary compensation mechanisms for sustainable forest management. Given its breadth, this book serves as an indispensable resource for researchers, policymakers, and environmental professionals seeking sustainable approaches to tackle pressing environmental challenges. © The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2023.

The present study demonstrates the accelerated rate of photo-degradation in low-density polyethylene (LDPE) films using nanomaterials like titanium dioxide (TiO2) in a photochemical reactor, an efficient, environmentally benign, and sustainable chemical. The effect of various parameters such as source of light, catalyst loading, pH, and temperature was investigated to achieve maximum degradation on a laboratory scale. The surface morphology with molecular and chemical structure changes in the nanocomposite films was monitored before and after degradation using various analytical techniques. It is found that the degradation reaction rate is greatly affected by pH and temperature and follows the first-order photo-thermal kinetics reactions. The calculated activation energies for the different properties range from 77.6 kJ/mol for carbonyl group formation to 55 kJ/mol for vinyl group formation at an optimum pH of 4 and temperature of 30 °C, respectively. The optimized sample's storage modulus (Esm) increased from 17.76 to 210 MPa, demonstrating the loss of tensile strength after irradiation and increased elasticity. Thus, it clearly demonstrated that the LDPE sample loaded with 12% catalyst and exposed to 288 h at pH 4 and 30 °C temperature degraded most efficiently with 6.25% weight loss. In addition, there is a high correlation between the area of degradation and carbonyl index with R2 > 0.96, which helps in validating the fact that during the degradation process, there is volatilization of degradation products that leads to the formation of 0.523 mm (in length) of holes (microscopic analysis). This study brings new insights into reducing plastic pollution by minimizing waste prevention and generation at the source by promoting the usage of intermediates (formed during degradation) as a secondary material for producing new plastic products. © 2023 Elsevier B.V.

This study quantifies the environmental impacts associated with municipal solid waste management (MSWM) in Rajkot city, India using the life cycle assessment (LCA). Presently, around 0.2 million tonnes of municipal solid waste (MSW) is generated annually in Rajkot city and non-segregated MSW is preferably sent to open dumping. However, 70?80% of the total cost of MSWM is employed in the collection and transportation which is sent to a centralized material recovery facility (MRF). Accordingly, the research hypothesis is built-up focusing on the current practice of MSWM to develop an environmentally sound and economical practice. Henceforth, four integrated scenarios (SC) comprise (i) SC1 open dumping of MSWM; (ii) SC2 a combination of anaerobic digestion (AD), composting, incineration, landfilling without energy recovery, and MRF; (iii) SC3 a combination of AD, composting, incineration, landfilling with energy recovery, and MRF, and (iv) SC4 a combination of AD, composting, landfilling with energy recovery, and MRF is examined using the LCA. The results exhibit the environmental impacts due to the potential emissions of greenhouse gases of tested scenarios following the subsequent order; SC1 (17600 kg CO 2eq ) > SC2 (1500 kg CO 2eq ) >> SC3 (511 kg CO 2eq ) >>> SC4 (285 kg CO 2eq ). Based on the results analysis, mandatory source segregation along with decentralized MRF is highly recommended where waste is converted as secondary resource materials. This study highlights the suitability for sustainable management of MSW for middle-income Indian cities and helps to achieve the targets of sustainable development goals.

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Renewable energy, by means of energy capture, storage, and transmission, is able to fulfil the catastrophic energy demand worldwide but requires suitable storage devises. Rechargeable batteries are prominent to do so. However, based on the capability of energy storage, Ni-Cd, Pb-acid, and Li-ion batteries are the most important and remained in wider use among others. Therefore, a large number of batteries is being spent after completion of their life span, and this needed to be handled in proper manner. The landfill disposal may cause severe environmental problems like soil, ground, and water pollution with the hazardous and toxic contents therein (like Cd, Ni, Co, KCl). Additionally, such kind of disposal is a huge loss of resources as to the criticality and strategic importance of these metals due to their crustal abundance and geopolitical scenario. Efficient recycling of spent batteries can lead toward the sustainable solution of this problem via conservation of primary ores by recovery of metals, waste minimization, and recycling. Recycling of spent battery is in trend and has been a global topic for environmentalists and metallurgists. Several research works have been done that clearly indicate the economic and environmental interests in this area. Therefore, we attempt, in this chapter, to investigate and discuss the recycling processes for the extraction, separation, and recovery of metals from not only a technological perspective but also the related environmental issues.

Incessant generation and mismanagement of industrial waste, resource scarcity, and environmental degradation have created non-sustainability in human life. Though industrial wastes are hazardous or non-hazardous in nature based on their source, open dumping disposal is commonly done for both types of waste. The adversity associated with waste enhances the environmental and health impacts. However, this waste has the potential to recycle and minimize resource scarcity. The circular economy works on the concept of reuse, recycling, and recovery to convert waste into a resource. Thus, industrial waste can benefit the environment and economic growth to build industrial ecology. However, the opportunities and challenges associated with industrial ecology for the reuse and recycling of waste have to be identified and preserved. Therefore, this study has identified challenges associated with waste, analyzed their impact, and industrial regulations, prioritized their criticality, and developed solution strategies to alleviate them. Two case studies on industrial byproducts, i.e., fly ash and red mud, based on different income groups are discussed in this study. It highlights the circular economy has minimized waste generation and enhanced the recovery of secondary resource materials. In addition, this study supports achieving the sustainable development goals (SDGs) 11 and 12 to build a sustainable industrial ecosystem.

Triclosan (TCS) is an antimicrobial agent used widely in pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs). The extensive use of TCS in PPCPs has increased over the past few decades and its sizeable production and consumption are causing adverse effects on the environment and humans. TCS has been made into the list of emerging micropollutants (EMPs) due to its omnipresence in water resources, and even in biological samples such as urine and breast milk. Therefore, it is imperative not only to understand the current status of TCS pollution, but their occurrence, exposure routes, and environmental risks to identify remediation technologies for mitigating TCS. Present review targets to provide the cumulative data on the abundance of emerging TCS in water resources and its associated health burdens, simultaneously. It is identified that TCS remediation can be achieved through advanced physical and chemical methods such as enzyme oxidation and ozonation. However, there are drawbacks such as high energy consumption and the formation of toxic by-products. Therefore, the article endeavors to provide an in-depth understanding of the biological remediation of TCS by microbial degraders as well as its superiority over other remediation techniques. Insights into the various microbial communities such as bacteria, algae, and fungi and their unique bioremediation mechanisms are comprehensively summarised. Moreover, challenges associated with existing bioremediation methods and future perspectives are also discussed in the present work.

The incessant population has increased the production and consumption of plastics, paper, metals, and organic materials, which are discarded as solid waste after their end of life. The accumulation of these wastes has created growing concerns all over the world. However, conventional methods of solid waste management i.e., direct combustion and landfilling have caused several negative impacts on the environment (releasing toxic chemicals and greenhouse gases, huge land use) besides affecting human health. Therefore, it is requisite to determine sustainable alternative technologies that not only help in mitigating environmental issues but also increase the economic value of the discarded solid wastes. This process is known as urban mining where waste is converted into secondary resources and thereby conserves the natural primary resources. Thus, this review highlights the technological advancements in the valorization process of discarded wastes and their sustainable utilization. We also discussed several limitations of the existing urban mining processes and further the feasibility of valorization techniques was critically analyzed from a techno-economical perspective. This paper recommends a novel sustainable model based on the circular economy concept, where waste is urban mined and recovered as a secondary resource to support the united nations sustainable development goals (SDGs). The implementation of this model will ultimately help the developing countries to achieve the target of SDGs 11, 12, and 14.

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Electrical and electronic equipment (EEEs) has made our life easy and comfortable, but after its end of life, it becomes electronic waste (e-waste). The e-waste comprises metals and organic and inorganic materials, wherein some of the material present in the EEEs are toxic and hazardous and turn out to be an emerging contaminant in the geo-environment. However, some materials have economic value, and if it is recycled and recovered appropriately (scientifically), it could be used as a secondary resource in the sustainable world. Several studies have been conducted for the safe management and handling of e-waste and have demonstrated that e-waste could act as a boon or a curse, depending on how it has been handled. Therefore, this chapter introduces the global perspective of e-waste and its different types, the environmental and health effects of e-waste, and its management.

Water reclamation includes the processing of water obtained from different sources to generate a new water appropriate for other purposes like groundwater replenishment, agriculture and land irrigation, potable water supplies, industrial facilities, and environmental restoration. Recycled water can be applied for diverse perspectives to share the burden of freshwater sources. In many areas of the world, the entire potential of using reclaimed water is not yet explored. Moreover, different national and international bodies defined different guidelines for reclaimed water specific to the particular use. This chapter details the sources, treatment technologies, reusability, regulations/guidelines of different global authorities, and the possible issues connected with economic, environment, and the public health.

The leather-making process necessitates large amounts of water and consequently generates tons of liquid waste as leather tannery wastewater (TWW) is disposed of directly in the open environment. Open disposal of untreated TWW into the natural environment causes an accumulation of various polluting compounds, including heavy metals, dyes, suspended solids inorganic matter, biocides, oils, tannins, and other toxic chemicals. It thus poses potential hazards to the environment and human health. This study primarily focuses on providing in-depth insight into the characteristics, treatment strategies, and regulatory frameworks for managing TWW in leather processing industries. Different technologies of conventional physico-chemical (equalization, coagulation, and adsorption), advanced approaches (Fenton oxidation, ozonation, cavitation), thermo-catalytic and biological treatments available to treat TWW, and their integrative approaches were also highlighted. This review also sheds light on the most frequently applied technologies to reduce contaminant load from TWW though there are several limitations associated with it such as being ineffective for large quantities of TWW, waste generation during treatment, and high operational and maintenance (O&M) costs. It is concluded that the sustainable alternatives applied in the current TWW technologies can minimize O&M costs and recirculate the treated water in the environment. The exhaustive observations and recommendations presented in this article are helpful in the industry to manage TWW and recirculate the water in a sustainable manner. Graphical abstract: [Figure : see fulltext.]

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are biopolymeric intracellular inclusions that serve as carbon and energy storage compounds for diversified microorganisms. PHAs are synthesized by a variety of bacterial strains such as Alcaligenes latus, Azotobacter vinelandii, Pseudomonas sp., and Escherichia coli under limited oxygen but sufficient availability of carbon source. Rubber-like nature along with biocompatibility, biodegradability, eco-friendly, renewable, and biological production features make the PHAs as promising alternatives to synthetic plastics which can mitigate plastic-waste disposal mediated environmental pollutions. However, carbon source requirement driven high production cost and low yield limit the large-scale production of bioplastics and so as to its wider applications. For minimization of production cost, many researchers focused on utilization of waste/by-product based carbon sources for PHA biosynthesis. On the other hand, several other researchers emphasized on the exploitation of genetically engineered microbes and plants to address the low yield issues. Consequently, these attempts of improvements will be helpful in making the bioplastics more competitive than the conventional ones in long run. In addition to their common use as bioplastic, PHAs are widely used in various fields, including medical, pharmaceutical, agro-industries, textiles, households, etc. This chapter provides an overview of classification, structural components and properties of microbial PHAs, progresses in PHA biosynthesis, highlighting different biosynthetic pathways, role of various substrates, microorganisms, and experimental parameters on PHA biosynthesis. Recent advancements in enhancing the physico-chemical properties of PHAs and trends in agro-industrial applications of PHAs have also been discussed. Futuristic approaches to overcome the challenges associated with the yield and improved mechanical properties of PHA are also recommended in this chapter.

Ceramic gasifier wastewater (CGWW) contains organic toxic substances such as phenolic compounds and direct disposal of CGWW into the ground and surface water causes severe environmental impacts. Therefore, phenol removal from CGWW is utmost important to safeguard the natural water resources. Adsorption technique using activated carbon is employed to lessen the impacts of phenol. However, the pollution load on CGWW is very high and necessitates pretreatment using coagulation-flocculation process. Further, the sanctity of each parameter on phenol removal has to study by varying all-dominating parameters simultaneously and determined its significance. Therefore, Taguchi's L9 orthogonal array (OA) design is used in this study to optimize the carbon adsorption process on CGWW. The most governing parameters are time (30?60 min), temperature (30?60 °C) and liquid to solid, L/S (5?15) ratio and it is prioritized in the following order L/S>Temperature>Time. The optimized experimental conditions, i.e., time 30 min., temperature 45 °C at L/S 5 was predicted and that demonstrated 96% phenol removal from CGWW. The predicted results of Taguchi's OA is compared with an experimental analysis showed a good agreement (R2 > 0.97) with each other and vital significance. Accordingly, it is concluded that the Taguchi method is a promising, efficient, and cost-effective technique for the industry to minimize the experiments and maximize the phenol removing efficiency.

The management of post-consumer discarded plastic wastes (PCPW) creates new challenges in developing countries due to the lack of amenities, technological interventions, and associated negative environmental externalities. The fate of untreated recyclable and non-recyclable plastic wastes lies in open dumping along with other solid waste, and improper management leads to environmental externalities such as pollution, global climate change, and health issues. Additionally, open dumping upsurges the emerging microplastics and nano plastics (MNPs) contaminants. The externalities depend on the waste generating sources (household, industries, commercial), waste composition, and its characteristics. However, urban mining can minimize environmental externalities where waste plastics can convert into potential anthropogenic resources and also helps in achieving the target of sustainable development goals (SDGs 11 & 12). Moreover, various treatment technologies that help in the sustainable utilization of plastic wastes are extensively reviewed in this study and evaluate the costs benefits arising during various stages of treating plastic waste through recycling (R), incineration (I), and landfilling (L). The recycling of plastic waste has demonstrated the lowest impact on global warming potential (GWP) and total energy use (TEU), followed by landfilling and incineration (R < L < I). Nevertheless, when energy is recovered from inert (non-recyclable) plastic waste in the form of fuel or by its utilization in construction purposes, the environmental impacts are more negligible (Incineration < Landfilling). Therefore, this study determines the significance of circular economy with legislative approach and standards on plastic waste management, which help in reducing environmental externalities besides yielding a secondary resource as energy and materials through urban mining. A sustainable plastic waste management (SPWM) model is proposed for developing countries to convert plastic waste into resources and use it as a sustainable tool in urban mining.

There is a dire need to replace the chemical buffers that regulate the redox environment in single-stage anaerobic digestion of food waste. Hence, the applicability of grass clippings as an eco-friendly buffering agent and biomass during the anaerobic co-digestion of food waste was explored. A focus was primarily given on the effects of grass clippings on the redox environment and acidogenesis. Concomitantly the production of volatile fatty acids, hydrogen and methane in mesophilic conditions was monitored. Organic load and substrate-to-inoculum ratio were kept constant in all the experiments, and no chemical buffer was used. The results revealed that the redox environment was regulated with 10% grass clippings by inhibiting rapid pH drop in the digester. The addition of 2, 4, and 6% grass clippings promoted acidogenesis with increased production of acetic and butyric acids, whereas 8 and 10% grass clippings promoted solventogenesis with ethyl alcohol production. Hydrogen generation from the experiments with grass clippings was in the range of 27–30% of the total biogas, which was marginally higher than the control (25%). Methane concentration was negligible in the biogas generated from all experiments. The acidification rate, VFA production/consumption rate, specific hydrogen yield, hydrogen conversion efficiency, and volatile solids removal were maximum and minimum in the reactors with 6 and 10% grass clippings, respectively. From the above results, it can be concluded that adding grass clippings to food waste would regulate the sudden pH changes and enhance the production of value-added biochemicals, making the process cost-effective. Graphic abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.]. © 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.

Population explosion–mediated demand has led to an unprecedented increase in the consumption of natural resources across the globe. Most of the nonrenewable natural resources have failed to meet the ever-increasing demand, resulting in a gradual widening of the supply and demand gap. Therefore, in the recent decades, the mainstream research focus has aimed at developing technological solutions to recover secondary resources from anthropogenic wastes or waste streams. This chapter discusses about the technical possibilities and the bottlenecks associated with the recovery of cellulose, polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA), and extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) from sewage sludge. Basic resource recovery techniques involve biochemical, physicochemical, and some of the previously unexploited biological processes. The important applications of sludge-derived cellulose fibers for the production of cellulose nanocrystals and cellulose nanofibers, recovered PHA for biopolymer synthesis, and extracted EPS application as a bioflocculant, along with other diversified application prospective have also been deliberated in this chapter. The sources and extraction methods of various resources to be recovered are highlighted in this chapter that can be helpful in choosing the suitable extraction methods depending on the sources from which the secondary resources are to be recovered and the intended use of the recovered resources. The recovery of secondary resources from waste sources is a very essential practice from the global sustainability view point.

The huge number of fatalities due to the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has imposed an unprecedented pressure on existing burial facilities. Thus, mass burial is being used in different parts of the world to cope with this unusual situation. As a dead body might be contagious for at least hours, if not days, there is a need to manage/design/construct the mass burial considering the safe handling of coffins and other environmental, social, economical and ethical/dignity aspects. However, the guidelines of the World Health Organization do not thoroughly address the potential risk associated with groundwater pollution due to mass burial construction. Hence, the present study discusses the potential risk of groundwater pollution in mass burial sites and sheds light on the factors that control the survival/retention of bacteria and viruses in porous media. Furthermore, using the available knowledge on designing/monitoring of municipal/industrial waste disposal sites, a cost-effective and simple construction method of mass burial is proposed to mitigate its potential environmental impact.

Automobiles production is increasing at a faster rate due to rapid globalization and industrialization. However, after the end of life of automobiles, huge amounts of waste is generated. One of the wastes is used tires. Worldwide, ?1 billion tonnes of used tires are generated as a waste every year. However, the processing of the waste tires is extremely challenging due to their complex structure and varied composition. Therefore, either it has been directly thrown or burned on landfill. Thus, inadequate management of used (waste) tires causes adverse impact to the environment and social life. Hence, formal processing of waste tires needs extensive research in front of the scientific community. In this regard, gasification and pyrolysis techniques are being used to vaporize the waste tires into fuel and energy. This chapter describes the environmental impacts associated with waste tires if it is not processed properly and energetic valorization of waste tires into fuel and energy.

Phytoextraction is the most promising technique and commonly used to remove heavy metals from the geo-environment. It is nonintrusive, cost-effective, and fast emerging technology. Different types of weeds such as Ipomoea carnea, Jatropha curcas, Trianthema portulacastrum, Cynodon dactylon, Typha angustifolia, Phyllanthus reticulatus, Echinochloa colonum, Vetiveria nemoralis, Amaranthus viridis, and Eleusine indica are being utilized to remediate the soil from heavy metals such as cadmium, chromium, lead, and mercury. The extraction of the heavy metals is basically done by root and shoot of weeds. These weeds have interlinked physiological and molecular interaction with the heavy metals (HMs). However, uptake capacities of HMs from the weeds are getting reduced due to interaction between plants genotype and its environment. Therefore it necessitates understanding the HM tolerance mechanism in the plants. In this context, this chapter gives overview of different types of weeds used for heavy metal extraction, physiological and molecular mechanism involve in phytoextraction process, and improvising weeds for increasing phytoextraction processes.

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Hydrometallurgical extraction of strategic metals from exhausted Li-ion batteries has been explored using sequential application of biodegradable oxalic acid and sulfuric acid solutions. Following L25 orthogonal design of experiment (DoE), optimized extraction of > 99% Li and Cu with organic acid was achieved using a HCO concentration of 0.25 mol L, solid–liquid ratio of 10%, HO at 0.5%, temperature of 80°C, and duration of 90 min. Subsequently, leaching of the residual mass in mineral acid yielded 99% efficiency of Ni, Co, and Mn at the optimal condition of HSO concentration of 3.0 mol L, solid–liquid ratio of 6%, HO at 2%, temperature of 60°C, and duration of 120 min. Fitting of the kinetic data using a logarithmic rate law revealed that, except for Cu that followed an intermediate-controlled mechanism with E = 27.6 kJ mol, all the other metals exhibited a diffusion-controlled mechanism with E < 12 kJ mol. Not only does this study demonstrate selectivity that will be beneficial to downstream processing, but the use of DoE also makes it applicable industrially.

With growing awareness to protect the urban environment and fulfill the soaring demand for critical metals, recycling of postconsumer Li-ion batteries has become imperative to deal in a sustainable manner. In this context, a two-step leaching of the exhausted LiNi x Co y Mn z O 2 cathode material was studied by sequential application of both organic and mineral acids. To optimize the experimental parameters of both steps, leaching was conducted using the L25 orthogonal array design. In the first-step leaching, lithium and copper was selectively leached into oxalic acid at the optimal condition of C 2 H 2 O 4 ( OA ), 0.25 M; pulp density ( PD 1 ), 10%; H 2 O 2 dosage ( HPD 1 ), 0.5%; temperature ( T 1 ), 80 °C; and time ( t 1 ), 90 min. The parametric influences for achieving more than 99% efficiency of lithium and copper followed the order: t 1 >  HPD 1 >  OA  >  PD 1 >  T 1 and t 1 >  T 1 >  OA  >  HPD 1 >  PD 1, respectively. Residual metal-oxalates of cobalt, nickel, and manganese were subsequently dissolved into sulfuric acid solutions. Approximately 99% of all remaining metals could be leached at the optimal condition of H 2 SO 4 ( SA ), 3.0 M; pulp density ( PD 2 -), 6%; H 2 O 2 dosage ( HPD 2 ), 2%; temperature ( T 2 ), 60 °C; and time ( t 2 ), 120 min. The parametric influences on sulfuric acid leaching of metals followed the order as: SA  >  HPD 2 >  t 2 >  PD 2 >  T 2. Leaching followed logarithmic rate law and exhibition of the diffusion-controlled mechanism was revealed through the values of apparent activation energy determined to be E a (Li), 9.7 kJ/mol; E a (Cu), 22.3 kJ/mol; E a (Co), 9.5 kJ/mol; E a (Ni), 11.2 kJ/mol; and E a (Mn), 6.2 kJ/mol. This study successfully demonstrated the applicability of OA in the selective leaching of LiNi x Co y Mn z -type cathode materials, eliminating the need for copper and lithium separation from leach liquor of SA -medium. The present process offers two-fold advantages that securing the secondary supply for critical metals, and providing an environmentally sustainable route for waste valorization in a circular economy.

A global estimate for the generation of solid waste is projected to be ~1.3 billion tonnes/year. This volume is supposed to further increase up to 2.2 billion tonnes/year by the mid of 2030. In this context, the effective treatment and disposal of solid waste around the globe is becoming of utmost importance. Moreover, sustainable management of solid waste is not only necessary to solve the disposal issues but also beneficial in terms of energy production. Developed countries have already adopted technologies for utilization of their solid waste in energy production, heat generation, conversion to biofuel, compost preparation and as the metal reservoir. In contrast, developing countries are still struggling to manage their solid waste as an alternative resource. Amongst all other ways of solid waste management, the waste-to-energy (WtoE) technology is better suitable for developing countries in terms of building up their energy resources. In this chapter, the status of solid waste in the developing nations along with their WtoE options is being discussed. Moreover, the cost estimation has marked as significant tool to identify suitable WtoE option for developing countries. © 2020, Springer Nature Switzerland AG.

Coal, oil, and natural gas are major conventional energy sources in the world but limited in amount. However, these sources create several environmental and health impacts during energy extraction processes. Coal mining and exploration, transportation, energy/electricity generation processes cause negative environmental externalities. Notably, electricity generation from coal alone emits approximately 60% of the global CO, which has been projected as 36.4 GtCO in 2016. This scenario would be more challenging for developing nations to balance the increasing economic and industrial growth along with climate change issue. Therefore, alternative energy resources are recommended for the sustainable modern society to fulfill global energy demand with minimum environmental impacts.

In accordance with the Paris Climate Agreement (COP21) and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), India is greatly focused on deployment of renewable energy (RE) for supplementing the energy requirements of the country. The present article assesses the validity of the promises offered by RE technologies in India and its necessary action to understand the gap between setting goals and the ground situation, which can also show a pathway to other developing countries. Therefore, the long-term projection perspectives on RE growth have been made using the India Energy Security Scenario-2047. In order to achieve the set target for emissions reduction of greenhouse gases (GHGs) i.e., 1209 MT CO in support of SDGs to the 2005 level by 2030, three renewable growth scenarios have been tested for transitioning the Indian energy system. Accordingly, the regression analysis reveals that the most desirable growth scenario will require a steady rise of RE contribution in the overall energy mix of India by 2030 from the current ~21% to 68% of the installed capacity. In this view, the present study highlights the exploration of new alternatives in long-term energy planning, and less on one-sided scenario to achieve the emissions’ reduction target.

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