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Search results for: SUSTAINABILITY
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Exergy and Energy Analyses of Microwave Dryer for Cantaloupe Slice and Prediction of Thermodynamic Parameters Using ANN and ANFIS Algorithms
PublicationThe study targeted towards drying of cantaloupe slices with various thicknesses in a microwave dryer. The experiments were carried out at three microwave powers of 180, 360, and 540 W and three thicknesses of 2, 4, and 6 mm for cantaloupe drying, and the weight variations were determined. Artificial neural networks (ANN) and adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference systems (ANFIS) were exploited to investigate energy and exergy indices of...
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Agri-food waste biosorbents for volatile organic compounds removal from air and industrial gases – A review
PublicationApproximately 1.3 billion metric tons of agricultural and food waste is produced annually, highlighting the need for appropriate processing and management strategies. This paper provides an exhaustive overview of the utilization of agri-food waste as a biosorbents for the elimination of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from gaseous streams. The review paper underscores the critical role of waste management in the context of a...
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Soil burial degradation of chemically compatibilized poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate)/thermoplastic starch/poly(ε-caprolactone)/cellulose biocomposites
PublicationDeveloping bio-blends and biocomposites has become a widespread strategy to combat plastic pollution in line with sustainability principles and decarbonization necessities. Although chemically modified ternary and quaternary biocomposites are developing rapidly because of their broader processing and performance windows than single matrix and binary counterparts, a few have been reported about their biodegradation. Herein, diisocyanates-based...
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Management Strategy for Seaports Aspiring to Green Logistical Goals of IMO: Technology and Policy Solutions
PublicationRecently, because of serious global challenges including the consumption of energy and climate change, there has been an increase in interest in the environmental effect of port operations and expansion. More interestingly, a strategic tendency in seaport advancement has been to manage the seaport system using a model which balances environmental volatility and economic development demands. An energy efficient management system...
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Scarabaeidae as human food – A comprehensive review
PublicationRising global population and sustainable protein demand have sparked interest in unique food sources. Entomophagy, or insect consumption, presents a solution and Scarab beetles, part of the Scarabaeidae family, offer a novel food option. The comprehensive review underscores their potential as human food, with strong nutrition, low environmental impact, and the ability to ease strain on conventional agriculture. Nutritional analysis...
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Green and Sustainable Membranes: A review
PublicationMembranes are ubiquitous tools for modern water treatment technology that critically eliminate hazardous materials such as organic, inorganic, heavy metals, and biomedical pollutants. Nowadays, nano-membranes are of particular interest for myriad applications such as water treatment, desalination, ion exchange, ion concentration control, and several kinds of biomedical applications. However, this state-of-the-art technology suffers...
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Active learning on stacked machine learning techniques for predicting compressive strength of alkali-activated ultra-high-performance concrete
PublicationConventional ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) has excellent development potential. However, a significant quantity of CO2 is produced throughout the cement-making process, which is in contrary to the current worldwide trend of lowering emissions and conserving energy, thus restricting the further advancement of UHPC. Considering climate change and sustainability concerns, cementless, eco-friendly, alkali-activated UHPC (AA-UHPC)...
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Microcrystalline Cellulose Management in the Production of Poly(ether-urethane)s- Structure, Morphology, and Thermal Characteristic
PublicationIn response to the demand of polymer industry for reducing the use of synthetic chemicals, eco-friendly materials are investigated. In the presented study, bio-based poly(ether-urethane)s were prepared by using microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) and polyether polyol and 1,3-propanediol derived from corn sugar. A step towards sustainability was taken by incorporating bio-based compounds and cellulose, consequently, bio-waste are utilized...
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Three-dimensional numerical investigation of hybrid nanofluids in chain microchannel under electrohydrodynamic actuator
PublicationEnergy efficiency enhancement methods have received considerable attentionwithin the industry and scientific community, owing to the rising concern ofglobal energy sustainability. The present article attempts to scrutinize the effectsof electrohydrodynamics and nanofluids on the rate of heat transfer and fluidflow in the 3-D chain microchannels. Improved heat exchangers (e.g., chainmicrochannel) would have a key role in increasing...
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Capital Structure and Firm Performance Global Financing Decisions among Listed Companies
PublicationIn the complex world of finance, understanding the relationship between a company's capital structure and its overall performance is crucial. This book offers a comprehensive exploration of the interdependence between capital structure decisions and business performance, with a specific focus on German-listed companies. It provides valuable insights into the intricate dynamics of corporate finance. Through a blend of theoretical...
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Machine-learning methods for estimating compressive strength of high-performance alkali-activated concrete
PublicationHigh-performance alkali-activated concrete (HP-AAC) is acknowledged as a cementless and environmentally friendly material. It has recently received a substantial amount of interest not only due to the potential it has for being used instead of ordinary concrete but also owing to the concerns associated with climate change, sustainability, reduction of CO2 emissions, and energy consumption. The characteristics and amounts of the...
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Coordination of planning regulations at the edge of water and land. Conflicts within planning policy for urban blue space in small and medium-sized Polish port cities and possible directions of change
PublicationLand-sea integration is crucial for effective marine spatial planning and coastal zone management. Coordination of marine and land planning should ensure ecological sustainability of the coastal area, enable cross-coast investments and promote well-being of the society. A critical element for achieving sustainable development of marine and coastal area is the integration of marine and land planning on the verge of sea waters and...
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ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY MATERIALS IN ARCHITECTURE � MODERN TRENDS AND DEVELOPMENT DIRECTIONS
PublicationFor a long time the interest in environmentally friendly materials in architecture is no longer limited to the use of renewable and natural substances such as wood, stone, straw, or reusable materials, such as metals or glass. Today the so-called naturals and the materials compatible with the idea of sustainability constantly appear on the market in new forms. Increasing awareness of the necessity to limit the building sector’s...
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Hydrochar-nanoparticle integration for arsenic removal from wastewater: Challenges, possible solutions, and future horizon
PublicationArsenic (As) contamination poses a significant threat to human health, ecosystems, and agriculture, with levels ranging from 12 to 75% attributed to mine waste and stream sediments. This naturally element is abundant in Earth's crust and gets released into the environment through mining and rock processing, causing ≈363 million people to depend on As-contaminated groundwater. To combat this issue, introducing a sustainable hydrochar...
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Structure versus hydrolytic and thermal stability of bio-based thermoplastic polyurethane elastomers composed of hard and soft building blocks with high content of green carbon
PublicationNowadays, sustainability plays a key role in the design and synthesis of new materials. One of the methods for the preparation of green materials is incorporation into their structure the monomers with a high content of green carbon. Therefore, the aim of this work was to investigate the influence of the type and molecular mass of two bio-based polyester polyols and bio-glycol on the properties of aliphatic partially bio-based...
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Sustainable energy consumption – Empirical evidence of a household in Poland
PublicationThere is an expected increase in the demand for electricity from households in European countries. The outcome of the growing proportion of renewable energy sources in the energy supply mix should result in improved customer awareness regarding their electricity usage. Additionally, they must assume a more proactive role in overseeing their electricity usage. Innovation and pollution management have become crucial catalysts for...
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Polysaccharide nanocomposites in wastewater treatment: A review
PublicationIn modern times, wastewater treatment is vital due to increased water contamination arising from pollutants such as nutrients, pathogens, heavy metals, and pharmaceutical residues. Polysaccharides (PSAs) are natural, renewable, and non-toxic biopolymers used in wastewater treatment in the field of gas separation, liquid filtration, adsorption processes, pervaporation, and proton exchange membranes. Since addition of nanoparticles...
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Tetracycline degradation for wastewater treatment based on ozone nanobubbles advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) – Focus on nanobubbles formation, degradation kinetics, mechanism and effects of water composition
PublicationPresence of pharmaceuticals, especially antibiotics, in industrial and domestic effluents causes serious damage to the environment. Classic wastewater treatment processes, in particular conventional biological treatment methods, are not sufficient to rapidly eliminate antibiotics. Typically, Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOPs) based on activation of hydrogen peroxide, ozone or persulfate for formation of particular type of radical...
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Optimizing nature-based solutions for urban flood risk mitigation: A multi-objective genetic algorithm approach in Gdańsk, Poland
PublicationNature-based Solutions (NbS) have emerged as a sustainable approach to managing flood risks by enhancing natural water retention and reducing surface runoff in urban areas. As climate change and rapid urbanization exacerbate flood hazards, optimizing the spatial deployment of NbS is crucial for improving urban resilience and mitigating flood impacts. This study presents a comprehensive optimization framework for the spatial allocation...
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Sewage sludge co-pyrolysis with agricultural/forest residues: A comparative life-cycle assessment
PublicationThis study aims to determine the sustainability and energy efficiency of co-pyrolysis scenarios as treatment processes for municipal sewage sludge through a life cycle assessment (LCA). In addition, sensitivity and energy recovery analyses are conducted to determine the possible methods for optimizing the co-pyrolysis process from a circular bioeconomy perspective. Corncob and wood residue have been selected as potential co-feed...
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DEFORMATIONS OF INNOVATIVE COLD-FORMED GEB SECTIONS
PublicationPermanent urban growth of the world of today world implies demanding challenges for the steel construction industry. Nowadays, one of the most important issues is the cost optimization of steel structures. Since the weight of building materials is a major component of the total cost, engineers and designers try to reduce structural weight, without compromising durability and sustainability of a steel structure. Therefore, light...
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Nowe rozwiązania metodyczne i techniczne w zakresie techniki mikroekstrakcji do fazy stracjonarnej
PublicationSample preparation has been recognized as a critical step of the analytical process, being even considered as the bottleneck of the overall process. Enrichment of target compounds, transfer of the analytes into a solvent compatible with the analytical instrumentation, minimization of potential interferences, and efficient sample clean-up, are among the main aims of sample preparation techniques. In this regard, liquid-liquid extraction...
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Fire Protection and Materials Flammability Control by Artificial Intelligence
PublicationFire safety has become a major challenge of materials developers because of the massive production of organic materials, often combustibles, and their use for different purposes. In this sense, fire safety is critically considered in the development of engineering materials [1, 2]. The multiplicity of parameters contributing to the development of formulation of flame-retardant materials from one side and the sustainability concerns...
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The potential of urban agriculture in the revitalisation of a metropolis
PublicationIn Poland, the topic addressing urban areas of agricultural production and gardening activity is still viewed in two main blocks: 1) a shift of the urbanized zone’s boundaries, causing dispersion of suburban buildings as well as creates conflict zone between the residential area and the production and post-production zones; 2) a socially contentious issue of restructuring the inner-city complexes of former employee allotments....
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Underground Water Level Prediction in Remote Sensing Images Using Improved Hydro Index Value with Ensemble Classifier
PublicationThe economic sustainability of aquifers across the world relies on accurate and rapid estimates of groundwater storage changes, but this becomes difficult due to the absence of insitu groundwater surveys in most areas. By closing the water balance, hydrologic remote sensing measures offer a possible method for quantifying changes in groundwater storage. However, it is uncertain to what extent remote sensing data can provide an...
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Recent advances on magnetic carbon-related materials in advanced oxidation processes of emerging pollutants degradation
PublicationRecently, carbon-related materials have been proposed to improve the charge separation of the photogenerated carriers in the semiconductor matrices’ and surface properties. Carbon-related materials may act as co-catalysts, enhancing the pollutants adsorption on the surface, improving the charge carriers separation and photocatalyst stability and providing more active centres for photocatalytic reactions. This review summarizes...
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Thermomechanical and Fire Properties of Polyethylene-Composite-Filled Ammonium Polyphosphate and Inorganic Fillers: An Evaluation of Their Modification Efficiency
PublicationThe development of new polymer compositions characterized by a reduced environmental impact while lowering the price for applications in large-scale production requires the search for solutions based on the reduction in the polymer content in composites’ structure, as well as the use of fillers from sustainable sources. The study aimed to comprehensively evaluate introducing low-cost inorganic fillers, such as copper slag (CS),...
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Macro-nutrients recovery from liquid waste as a sustainable resource for production of recovered mineral fertilizer: Uncovering alternative options to sustain global food security cost-effectively
PublicationGlobal food security, which has emerged as one of the sustainability challenges, impacts every country. As food cannot be generated without involving nutrients, research has intensified recently to recover unused nutrients from waste streams. As a finite resource, phosphorus (P) is largely wasted. This work critically reviews the technical applicability of various water technologies to recover macro-nutrients such as P, N, and...
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High performance ozone nanobubbles based advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) for degradation of organic pollutants under high pollutant loading
PublicationAdvanced Oxidation Processes (AOPs) have proven to be an effective solution for chemical wastewater treatment, particularly for degradation of organic pollutants, especially dyes. Ozonation is recognized as one of the most prevalent AOPs. Nevertheless, some cases show a lowered efficiency of O3 utilization which is attributed to its inadequate distribution in the treated water causing low residence time, low mass transfer coefficient...
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Educating planners in Europe: A review of 21st century study programmes
PublicationEducation for urban, regional and spatial planning has become a regular subject throughout most European nations; this can be attributed in part to European policies promoting planning and spatially balanced development, but also to the recognition that planning can support sustainability. Nevertheless, there is lingering and justifiable concern about the status, profile and recognition of planning as a profession in its own right...
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Effect of slag coal ash and foamed glass on the mechanical properties of two-stage concrete
PublicationTwo-stage concrete (TSC) is known by various names such as colcrete, Polcrete, preplaced aggregate concrete and prepacked concrete. It is different from traditional concrete in two fundamental ways, namely method of construction and mix proportion. Two-stage concrete (TSC) is defined as firstly, coarse aggregates are placed into the formwork and grout is applied to fill in the between coarse aggregate particles voids. Secondly,...
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Current status and future success of renewable energy in Pakistan
PublicationMismatch between energy demand and supply from last two decades has been increasing because of the domination of expensive imported oil in energy mix of Pakistan. To import crude oil Government paid US $ 9 billion in 2008–2009 to meet the energy demands...
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Balancing Energy Inputs/Outputs and GHG Emissions for Sustainable Wastewater Treatment – a Case Study
PublicationThe aim of the study is a model-based evaluation of the selected operating modes and technological upgrades on the energy balance and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in a large wastewater treatment plant in the city of Slupsk (northern Poland). The considered scenarios focus on energy savings for aeration, increasing energy recovery via biogas cogeneration and reduction of the CO2 equivalent emission from both direct processes (related...
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CSR – A FASHION OR REAL COMMITMENT? THE CASE OF POLISH LISTED COMPANIES
PublicationThis article, without claiming to be the ultimate reference, aims at assessing the social commitment of the large and solid financially, listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange (WSE), Polish companies, on the eve of the implementation of the EU directive on disclosure of non-financial and diversity information (2014/95/EU). The selected companies seem perfect to form a vanguard of CSR in Poland, but the results of the analysis indicate...
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Durability and mechanical properties of seashell partially-replaced cement, Journal of Building Engineering 2020-09-03 | Journal article |
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Computational Complexity and Its Influence on Predictive Capabilities of Machine Learning Models for Concrete Mix Design
PublicationThe design of concrete mixtures is crucial in concrete technology, aiming to produce concrete that meets specific quality and performance criteria. Modern standards require not only strength but also eco-friendliness and production efficiency. Based on the Three Equation Method, conventional mix design methods involve analytical and laboratory procedures but are insufficient for contemporary concrete technology, leading to overengineering...
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Protect our right to light
Publication“The struggle for light” is how the Swiss architect Le Corbusier described the history of architecture in 1935. Today, with the skies crowded out by buildings in modern cities, those words should ring in the ears of policymakers and planners. Skyscraper construction is booming. China is the leader, last year completing 88 of the 143 buildings around the world that are taller than 200 metres (see ‘Vertical growth’). As the nation’s...
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Biophilic Design: A Trend Watch
PublicationDuring the 20th century, many people migrated to cities for employment and economic opportunities, abandoning farming and natural landscapes so their direct connection to the countryside and nature was lost. This process continues to this day with unprecedented urban growth, in fact, it’s estimated 68% of the world population will live in urban areas by 2050. Due to the evolutionary disposition of humans, when people live in an...
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Influence of Different Biofuels on the Efficiency of Gas Turbine Cycles for Prosumer and Distributed Energy Power Plants
PublicationThe efficiency of a gas turbine can be affected by the use of different biofuels usually with a relatively Lower Heating Value (LHV). The paper evaluates the impact of calorific value of fuel on turbine performance and analyzes the possibilities of optimizing turbine construction from the point of view of maximum efficiency for a particular fuel. The several variants of design of small power microturbines dedicated to various biofuels...
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Complementary green analytical procedure index (ComplexGAPI) and software
PublicationIt is not easy to find appropriate tools for the evaluation of the “green”nature of analytical methodologies which involve the use of compounds, materials, or chemicals manufactured prior to the analytical step. Here, we propose a new metric for the evaluation of analytical procedures based on the GAC attributes. The proposed solution expands on the well-known green analytical procedure index by adding additional fields pertaining...
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Cement kiln dust
PublicationThe volume of cement production in the world has remained at the level of approxi mately 4.1 billion tons/year. The cement production process is energy intensive and is the world’s leading emitter of carbon dioxide. Therefore, the main activities cement plants are aimed at introducing technologies changes in production of clinkier.The construction industry is responsible for the majority of CO2 emissions to the atmosphere: the...
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Sustainable Investing. Socio-Economic Impacts of Exchange-Traded Funds
PublicationSustainable Investing: Socio-Economic Impacts of Exchange-Traded Funds examines the social and economic effects of sustainable investing ETFs and their impacts on the global financial system. The book presents the key issues with regard to sustainable investing, discussing exchange-traded funds mechanisms and categories in comparison to competing investment funds. The book outlines the theoretical determinants of ETF markets development...
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Coffee Wastes as Sustainable Flame Retardants for Polymer Materials
PublicationDevelopment of green flame retardants has become a core part of the attention of material scientists and technologists in a paradigm shift from general purpose to specific sustainable products. This work is the first report on the use of coffee biowastes as sustainable flame retardants for epoxy, as a typical highly flammable polymer. We used spent coffee grounds (SCG) as well as SCG chemically modified with phosphorus (P-SCG)...
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Computer-Aided Greenery Design—Prototype Green Structure Improving Human Health in Urban Ecosystem
PublicationIncreasing population and urbanization, with climate change consequences, such as rising temperatures, influence public health and well-being. The search to improve the quality of life in cities becomes one of the priority objectives. A solution can be found in the role of greenery in an urban environment and its impact on human health. This opens a path toward experimentation on microclimate green structures that can be inserted...
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Thermal Instability of Choline Chloride-Based Deep Eutectic Solvents and Its Influence on Their Toxicity─Important Limitations of DESs as Sustainable Materials
PublicationDeep eutectic solvents (DESs) have become a hot topic in many branches of science due to their remarkable properties. They have been studied in a wide variety of applications. In particular, choline chloride (ChCl)-based DESs are one of the most commonly used representatives of these fluids. Nevertheless, in order to apply DESs in some fields, it is essential to guarantee their stability, reusability, and biocompatibility. In this...
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Microbial fuel cell applications for removal of petroleum hydrocarbon pollutants: A review
PublicationBioelectrochemical systems (BESs) are considered as the potential approaches to remediate the environments contaminated by hydrocarbons. This review addresses the application of BESs particularly microbial fuel cells (MFCs) in degradation of petroleum hydrocarbons, including BTEXs, from soil, water, wastewater and sediments. Details on reactor design and critical issues are discussed. Aspects on electrodes, redox mediators and...
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Modified GAPI (MoGAPI) Tool and Software for the Assessment of Method Greenness: Case Studies and Applications
PublicationThe green analytical procedure index (GAPI) has been widely used to assess the greenness of different steps in analytical methodology. In the GAPI index, the different stages of the chemical analysis process are depicted using five pentagrams divided in subsections, labeled green, yellow, or red according to the degree of greenness. This GAPI tool provides a quick overview of the environmental impact and safety of the procedure....
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Towards sustainable catalyst-free biomass-based polyurethane-wood composites (PU-WC): From valorization and liquefaction to future generation of biocomposites
PublicationA substantial aspect of materials engineering lies in the responsible process of designing polymer-based materials. Due to environmental pollution, excessive consumption of natural resources, and increasing environmental awareness of society, there is a massive need for polyurethane (PU) materials with reduced environmental impact. To date, research on catalyst-free polyurethane-wood composites (PU-WC) has demonstrated a huge potential...
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Small Urban Hacks - Big Impact! Tackling major urban challenges through acupunctural smallness
PublicationSmall urban hacks, acupunctural action and process-oriented planning approaches might appear to address quite a socio-romantic attitude towards our urban environments. In this chapter, our aim is to remedy such a biased view, demonstrating the impact and potential of smallness in the context of major urban challenges. Small urban hacks and their multi-faceted and creativity-driven approaches of small is beautiful are selected from...
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Recycled rubber wastes-based polymer composites with flame retardancy and electrical conductivity: Rational design, modeling and optimization
PublicationPolymer recycling techniques experience a maturity period of design and application. Rubbers comprise a high proportion of polymer wastes, highly flammable and impossible to re-melt. Polymer composites based on ground tire rubber (GTR) and ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA) containing carbon black (CB) (1–50 phr), with variable EVA/GTR weight composition (10/90, 25/75, 50/50, 75/25 and 90/10), and processing temperature (Low:...