One of the most important issues in developing sustainable management strategies and incorporating ecodesigns in production, manufacturing and operations management is the assessment of the sustainability of business operations and organizations' overall environmental performance. The book presents the results of recent studies on sustainability assessment. It provides a solid reference for researchers in academia and industrial practitioners on the state-of-the-art in sustainability appraisal including the development and application of sustainability indices, quantitative methods, models and frameworks for the evaluation of current and future welfare outcomes, recommendations on data collection and processing for the evaluation of organizations' environmental performance, and eco-efficiency approaches leading to business process re-engineering.

In this updated and expanded second edition, new literature has been added on contaminant fate in the soil-subsurface environment. In particular, more data on the behavior of inorganic contaminants and on engineered nanomaterials were included, the latter comprising a group of emerging contaminants that may reach the soil and subsurface zones.

New chapters are devoted to a new perspective of contaminant geochemistry, namely irreversible changes in pristine land and subsurface systems following chemical contamination. Two chapters were added on this topic, focusing attention on the impact of chemical contaminants on the matrix and properties of both liquid and solid phases of soil and subsurface domains. Contaminant impacts on irreversible changes occurring in groundwater are discussed and their irreversible changes on the porous medium solid phase are surveyed. In contrast to the geological time scale controlling natural changes of porous media liquid and solid phases, the time scale associated with chemical pollutant induced changes is far shorter and extends over a human lifetime scale ."

Past, Present, and Future Industrial Biotechnology in China, by Zhenjiang Li, Xiaojun Ji, Suli Kan, Hongqun Qiao, Min Jiang, Dingqiang Lu, Jun Wang, He Huang, Honghua Jia, Pingkai Ouyuang, and Hanjie Ying.- Organic Chemicals from Bioprocesses in China, by Jin Huang, Lei Huang, Jianping Lin, Zhinan Xu, and Peilin Cen.- Biofuels in China, by Tianwei Tan, Jianliang Yu, Jike Lu, and Tao Zhang.- Bioreactors and Bioseparation, by Siliang Zhang, Xuejun Cao, Ju Chu, Jiangchao Qian, and Yingping Zhuang.- Environmental Biotechnology in China, by Shuang Jiang Liu , Lei Liu , Muhammad Tausif Chaudhry , Lei Wang , Ying Guang Chen , Qi Zhou , He Liu , and Jian Chen.- Traditional Chinese Biotechnology, by Yan Xu , Dong Wang , Wen Lai Fan , Xiao Qing Mu, and Jian Chen.- Modern Biotechnology in China, by Qing-Zhao Wang and Xue-Ming Zhao.

The book provides the most up-to-date information available on various biotechnological processes useful in the pulp and paper industry. The first edition was published in 2011, covering a specific biotechnological process or technique, discussing the advantages, limitations, and prospects of the most important and popular processes used in the industry. Many new developments have taken place in the last five years, warranting a second edition on this topic. The new edition contains about 35% new material covering topics in Laccase application in fibreboard; biotechnology in forestry; pectinases in papermaking; stickies control with pectinase; products from hemicelluloses; value added products from biorefinery lignin; use of enzymes in mechanical pulping.

This edited volume focuses on the characterization, reclamation, bioremediation, and phytoremediation of salt affected soils and waterlogged sodic soils. Innovative technologies in managing marginal salt affected lands merit immediate attention in the light of climate change and its impact on crop productivity and environment. The decision-making process related to reclamation and management of vast areas of salt affected soils encompasses consideration of economic viability, environmental sustainability, and social acceptability of different approaches. The chapters in this book highlight the significant environmental and social impacts of different ameliorative techniques used to manage salt affected soils. Readers will discover new knowledge on the distribution, reactions, changes in bio-chemical properties and microbial ecology of salt affected soils through case studies exploring Indian soils. The contributions presented by experts shed new light on techniques such as the restoration of degraded lands by growing halophyte plant species, diversification of crops and introduction of microbes for remediation of salt infested soils, and the use of fluorescent pseudomonads for enhancing crop yields.

Landslides in sensitive clays represent a major hazard in the northern countries of the world such as Canada, Finland, Norway, Russia, Sweden and in the US state of Alaska. Past and recent examples of catastrophic landslides at e.g. Saint-Jean-Vianney in 1971, Rissa in 1979, Finneidfjord in 1996 and Kattmarka in 2009 have illustrated the great mobility of the remolded sensitive clays and their hazardous retrogressive potential. These events call for a better understanding of landslide in sensitive clay terrain to assist authorities with state-of-the-art hazard assessment methods, risk management schemes, mitigation measures and planning. During the last decades the elevated awareness regarding slope movement in sensitive clays has led to major advances in mapping techniques and development of highly sophisticated geotechnical and geophysical investigation tools. Great advances in numerical techniques dealing with progressive failure and landslide kinematic have also lead to increase understanding and predictability of landslides in sensitive clays and their consequences. This volume consists of the latest scientific research by international experts dealing with geological, geotechnical and geophysical aspects of slope failure in sensitive clays and focuses on understanding the full spectrum of challenges presented by landslides in such brittle materials.

This book brings together a collection of writings over the past half century from Professor Paul Rogers. As a leading peace researcher he has gained an international reputation for the critical, independent and rigorous analysis of international security and the underlying causes of global conflict. His work on the responses to 9/11 and the continuing failure of the war on terror, in particular, has shown prescience that has attracted widespread attention. Moreover, he has coupled his academic analysis with a determination to communicate widely beyond the university environment. With many thousands of radio and television interviews, hundreds of public lectures and a world-wide following for his web publishing, this extramural engagement consistently seeks to raise the level of public debate on international security issues. - Provides a radically different perspective on global security, based on 50 years of analysis- Uniquely integrates economic, environmental and security analysis into a single overview - Cogently demonstrates the urgent need to rethink our entire approach to global security

This book focuses on ecological wisdom inspired restoration engineering through theories, hypotheses, policies, practical understanding, and case studies. Understanding nature's processes is a prerequisite for the healthy and sustainable functioning of a habitable Earth. As such, the book provides a guide for readers seeking to understand and build sustainable, urban socio-ecological systems using restoration technologies based on wisdom. Motivated by recent rapid advances in restoration engineering, such as the role of green building materials in urban infrastructures, and developing sustainable landscapes to benefit the environment, economy and communities, it is an essential reference on the most promising innovative technologies. It discusses engineering methods and practices in the restoration of soil, water, heritage sites, and other ecosystems, as well as the development and applications of green building materials. It presents a holistic and systematic approach that utilizes natural resources and the concept of ecological wisdom to reap sustainable environmental, economic and social benefits to fulfill the concept of living in harmony with nature. This book is a valuable resource for civil- and environmental engineering researchers as well as organizations engaged in eco-restoration practices.

Due to various issues in the world including rapid urbanization and industrial processes, waste generation has reached levels that are becoming detrimental to the environment and the global population. Waste management has remained a challenging issue for many professional sectors as it is directly linked to an organization's performance; however, the implementation of efficient and cost-effective waste minimization plans is the first step in improving the global environment. Innovative technologies in waste management are emerging and can help professionals looking to implement more efficient methods of pollution control. The Handbook of Research on Waste Diversion and Minimization Technologies for the Industrial Sector is a pivotal reference source that provides vital research on the application of modern pollution-control methodologies in industrialized environments. While highlighting topics such as life cycle assessment, bioremediation, and thermal waste treatment, this publication explores environmental risk reduction scenarios as well as sustainable waste-collecting solutions. This book is ideally designed for researchers, industrialists, environmentalists, practitioners, policymakers, scientists, students, and academicians seeking current research on innovative advancements in waste minimization techniques.

This monograph provides an international perspective on pit lakes in post-mining landscapes, including the problem of geogenic acidification. Much has been learned during the last decade through research and practical experience on how to mitigate or remediate the environmental problems of acidic pit lakes. In the first part of the book, general scientific issues are presented in 21 contributions from the fields of geo-environmental science, water chemistry, lake physics, lake modeling, and on the peculiar biological features that occur in the extreme habitats of acidic pit lakes. Another chapter provides an overview of methods currently used to remediate acidic pit lakes and treat outflowing acidic water. The second part of the book is a collection of regional surveys of pit lake problems from three European countries and Australia, and case studies of various individual representative lakes. A final case study provides an innovative approach to assessing the economic value of new pit lakes and balancing the costs and benefits, a valuable tool for decision makers.

This book focuses on tritium as a fuel for fusion reactors and a next-generation energy source. Following an introduction of tritium as a hydrogen radioisotope, important issues involved in establishing safe and economical tritium fuel cycles including breeding for a fusion reactor are summarized; these include the handling of large amounts of tritium: confinement, leakage, contamination, permeation, regulation and tritium accountancy, and impacts on surrounding areas. Targeting and encouraging the students and technicians who will design and operate fusion reactors in the near future, this book offers a valuable resource on tritium science and technology.

Unter Zugrundelegung neuester Daten der ErnAhrungs- und Landwirtschaftsorganisation der Vereinten Nationen (FAO) zeigt die Autorin die maAgeblichen Aspekte der weltweiten WaldzerstArung in Akonomischer, Akologischer und sozialer Hinsicht auf; zahlreiche regionale und internationale WaldschutzmaAnahmen werden vor dem Hintergrund der Diskussion um eine rechtlich verbindliche Waldschutzkonvention auf ihre Wirksamkeit hin untersucht. Angesichts der weltwirtschaftlichen Verflechtungen des Forstsektors und des Holzhandels ist ein weiterer Untersuchungsschwerpunkt die Frage, ob und ggfs. inwieweit durch unilaterale auAenhandelspolitische Instumente in Form von VerwendungsbeschrAnkungen und Kennzeichnungsregelungen fA1/4r Holz in vAlkerrechtlich zulAssiger Weise EinfluA auf die Vernichtung der weltweiten WaldbestAnde ausgeA1/4bt werden kann und darf.

The protection of clean water, air, and land for the habitation of humans and other organisms has became a pressing concern amid the intensification of industrial activities and the rapidly growing world population. The integration of environmental science with engineering principles has been introduced as a means of long-term sustainable development. The Handbook of Research on Advancements in Environmental Engineering creates awareness of the role engineering plays in protecting and improving the natural environment. Providing the latest empirical research findings, this book is an essential reference source for executives, educators, and other experts who seek to improve their project's environmental costs.

Environmental reform by governmental, intergovernmental agencies, private firms and industries and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) is a worldwide phenomenon. This definitive collection showcases an introduction to Ecological Modernisation Theory; state-of-the-art review essays by key international scholars and a selection of the key articles from a quarter-century of social science scholarship. It is aimed at students, researchers and policymakers interested in a deep understanding of contemporary environmental issues

The book covers a wide range of materials used in biocomposite products, from biopolymer, wood fiber, wood, and non-wood species. It discusses the preparation of the material, processing and end applications, and also reviews wood quality improvement through different types of treatments.

Technology has long been an essential consideration in public discussions of the environment, with the focus overwhelmingly on creating new tools and techniques. In more recent years, however, activists, researchers, and policymakers have increasingly turned to mobilizing older technologies in their pursuit of sustainability. In fascinating case studies ranging from the Early Modern secondhand trade to utopian visions of human-powered vehicles, the contributions gathered here explore the historical fortunes of two such technologies-bicycling and waste recycling-tracing their development over time and providing valuable context for the policy successes and failures of today.

This book delves into the biotechnological applications of Quorum sensing (QS)- a peculiar gene-regulatory process of some microorganisms. Quorum Sensing allows a large bacterial population to work together in a coordinated manner to carry out metabolic activities, which individual bacterium cannot. The different chapters describe how, associating bioremediation process with energy generation is an economical proposal, for reducing pollution and managing biowastes. The book discusses how QS can be exploited for biotechnological applications in generating bioproducts, bioenergy, bioremediation, biosensors, health and agricultural activities. It further highlights how QS is becoming an integral part of synthetic biology for genetic circuits for producing: (i) novel products, (ii) biosensors, (iii) bioactive molecules, etc. The book is divided into different sections for a clear understanding of the applicability of QS in, the Environment, Energy, Agriculture and Health sectors.

This book highlights the importance of various emerging technologies that are used to clean up the environment from pollution caused by human activities. It assesses several existing applied and environmental microbiological techniques and introduces new technologies through applied aspects. Select topics covered include municipal wastewater treatment, environmental microorganisms, metal pollutants in the environment, and biogeochemical cycling.

This book will help the reader expand further into chemical engineering and become a licensed professional engineer (PE), which can offer a tremendous boost to one's career, as there are certain career opportunities available only to licensed engineers. Licensure demonstrates high standards of professionalism, knowledge, and ability. Because of the work experience requirement, PE examinees have generally been out of school for some time. This book summarizes the theoretical background of topics covered in the exam, which will help potential examinees refresh their memories on subjects they may not have been exposed to since their undergraduate classes. Another advantage of using this book to prepare for the PE exam is that two or three "logical distractors" (answers that result from common mistakes) are included among the answer choices for each problem. The solutions to the problems also explain why the logical distractors are incorrect. Research has shown that this is an efficient teaching tool. Thus, the inclusion of these logical distractors and their explanations will give individuals a better foundation in the subject matter in a shorter period of time. Although this book is intended primarily to help engineers prepare for the PE environmental engineering examination, it will also be useful in undergraduate engineering courses that cover environmental engineering topics.

Eve E. Buckley's study of twentieth-century Brazil examines the nation's hard social realities through the history of science, focusing on the use of technology and engineering as vexed instruments of reform and economic development. Nowhere was the tension between technocratic optimism and entrenched inequality more evident than in the drought-ridden Northeast sertao, plagued by chronic poverty, recurrent famine, and mass migrations. Buckley reveals how the physicians, engineers, agronomists, and mid-level technocrats working for federal agencies to combat drought were pressured by politicians to seek out a technological magic bullet that would both end poverty and obviate the need for land redistribution to redress longstanding injustices. Scientists planned and oversaw huge projects including dam construction, irrigation for small farmers, and public health initiatives. They were, Buckley shows, sincerely determined to solve the drought crisis and improve the lot of poor people in the sertao. Over time, however, they came to the frustrating realization that, despite technology's tantalizing promise of an apolitical means to end poverty, political collisions among competing stakeholders were inevitable. Buckley's revelations about technocratic hubris, the unexpected consequences of environmental engineering, and constraints on scientists as agents of social change resonate with today's hopes that science and technology can solve society's most pressing dilemmas, including climate change.

Based on the "International Symposium of Molecular Environmental Soil Science at the Interfaces in the Earth's Critical Zone," this book focuses on the Critical Zone supporting life at the Earth's surface with emphasis on the new and emerging subject area of molecular environmental soil science. Advances in research methodology, the use of synchrotron radiation in particular, are extensively reviewed. Roles of microbes, biomolecules, and environmental nanoparticles in mineral transformations, metal cycling, degradation of natural and anthropogenic organic compounds are also extensively reviewed. It is unique in terms of facilitating the integration of contributions from traditionally separate disciplines and adding a molecular and nanoparticle (therefore chemical) dimension to a field of endeavour that has traditionally been viewed on a different scale (dimension). It will also contribute to identifying knowledge gaps, providing future research directions and promoting research and education at the molecular level in this extremely important and challenging area of science for years to come. The IUPAC Project Committee noted that the Conference identifies, and builds on, the need to view and understand the Critical Zone at the molecular level. The book will be an invaluable reference for research and education.

Transdisciplinary research (TR) is an emerging field of research in the knowledge society. It relates science and policy in addressing issues such as: global and local environmental concerns migration new technologies public health socio-cultural change This handbook provides, for the first time, a structured overview of the manifold experiences gained in these fields. Twenty-one projects from all over the world present their research approaches, structured along the three phases of a TR project: problem structuring problem investigation bringing results to fruition Referring to these projects, cross-cutting challenges of TR are discussed, such as: integration participation values and uncertainties learning from case studies management education A systematic positioning of transdisciplinary research in the development of sciences and humanities, and 15 propositions for enhancing transdisciplinary research situate the contributions in a larger, systematised context. The handbook gives researchers and students an overview of the state of the art in transdisciplinary research. Audience Written for students, researchers, and project managers who are planning or are involved in problem-driven, transdisciplinary projects, or are working on the interface of science, society and politics.