This volume explores recent research trends and achievements in environmental pollution remediation (e.g. water, air, soil), and compiles critical and constructive papers and reviews with a focus on advances in bioremediation and green technology solutions for waste minimization, waste management and pollution control. The book is timely, as the need for researchers and engineers to develop sustainable and green eco-friendly remediation technologies is increasing with a growing global population, stressed agricultural systems, and an environment impacted by climate change. A key focus of the book is on the efficient use of agricultural waste residues as viable substrates for creating materials for environmental clean-up, and the possible conversion of these pollutants to sustainable bioresources. The volume will be of interest to sustainability researchers, environmental engineers, industry managers and agricultural scientists.

We've reached an environmental crisis point with plastic, and it's time to take action. But is it possible to make positive changes without radically changing your lifestyle? Absolutely! This practical book suggests eco-friendly alternatives to plastic, including budget options, high-street substitutes and DIY ideas to help you drastically reduce your plastic consumption. With 101 simple ways to use less plastic, you'll find it easy to take the first step and make a difference.

By the end of the 1970s, contaminated sites had emerged as one of the most complex and urgent environmental issues affecting industrialized countries. The authors show that small and prosperous Switzerland is no exception to the pervasive problem of sites contamination, the legacy of past practices in waste management having left some 38,000 contaminated sites throughout the country. This book outlines the problem, offering evidence that open and polycentric environmental decision-making that includes civil society actors is valuable. They propose an understanding of environmental management of contaminated sites as a political process in which institutions frame interactions between strategic actors pursuing sometimes conflicting interests. In the opening chapter, the authors describe the influences of politics and the power relationships between actors involved in decision-making in contaminated sites management, which they term a "wicked problem." Chapter Two offers a theoretical framework for understanding institutions and the environmental management of contaminated sites. The next five chapters present a detailed case study on environmental management and contaminated sites in Switzerland, focused on the Bonfol Chemical Landfill. The study and analysis covers the establishment of the landfill under the first generation of environmental regulations, its closure and early remediation efforts, and the gambling on the remediation objectives, methods and funding in the first decade of the 21st Century. The concluding chapter discusses the question of whether the strength of environmental regulations, and the type of interactions between public, private, and civil society actors can explain the environmental choices in contaminated sites management. Drawing lessons from research, the authors debate the value of institutional flexibility for dealing with environmental issues such as contaminated sites.

This book covers various aspects of microbial biotechnology to produce bioenergy. It focuses on production of biofuels from plant and microbial biomass including agri-food residues and other wastes. It educates readers about various biomass resources, major aspects of production of renewable energy and fuels based on biochemical conversion routes. There is special focus on the microbial system and biotechnological processes as well as process optimization and industrial scale-up. The book brings together current challenges and potential solutions to enhance biomass to biofuel bioconversion. It is relevant for researchers, academicians, students as well as industry professionals working on biomass-based biorefineries.

This book uncovers, explores and analyses the cultural and social factors and values that lie behind waste making, recycling and disposal in the Asia Pacific region, where impressive economic growth has led to significant increases in production, consumption and concomitant waste production. This volume demonstrates the immense scope of waste as a multi-sectoral phenomenon, covering discussions on food, menstrual products, sewage, electronics, scrap, nuclear waste, plastics, and even entire villages as they are submerged underwater by dam building, considered expendable in favour of economic growth. It discusses the wide range of approaches and contexts through which people interact with waste, including socio-economic analysis, participatory observation, laboratory science, art, video, installations, literature and photography. Case studies focusing on India, China and Japan, in addition to other regional examples, demonstrate the ubiquity of waste, materially and geographically. It examines the duality of waste management, fostering community building while simultaneously excluding marginalised groups; how it can be linked to efforts creating circular economies, to then reappear in oceanic garbage patches; or technical waste repurposed for high-tech laboratory research before being discarded once again. This timely and wide-ranging collection of essays will be an important read for scholars, researchers and students in sustainability, development studies, discard studies, and social and cultural history, particularly focusing on countries in the Asia-Pacific.

E. Dijkgraaf and R. H. J. M. Gradus 1. 1 Introduction In 2004 Elbert Dijkgraaf nished a PhD-thesis 'Regulating the Dutch waste market' at the Erasmus University Rotterdam. It was interesting that not much is published about the waste market, although it is a very important sector from an economic and environmental viewpoint. In 2006 we were participants at a very interesting conf- ence on Local Government Reform: privatization and public-private collaboration in Barcelona organized by Germa ` Bel. It was interesting to notice that researchers from Spain, Scandinavian countries, the UK and the USA were studying this issue as well. From this we brought forward the idea to publish a book about the waste market. Because of its legal framework we want to focus on Europe. In this chapter we give an introduction to this book. In the next paragraph we present a short overview of the waste collection market. Since 1960 the importance of the waste sector has increased substantially both in the waste streams and the costs of waste collection and treatment. Furthermore, we discuss policy measures to deal with these increases and give an overview of the different measures in - countries. In the last paragraph we present different chapters of our book. 1. 2 Empirical Update of the Waste Collection Market The Dutch case provides a nice example why studying the waste market is int- esting from an economic point of view.

This report is a useful tool for countries starting to recycle aggregates or construction and demolition waste. It contains the latest developments in this field, introduces a completely new approach to the procedure of proportioning concrete mixtures with recycled aggregate, references recent publications, opinions and discrepancies in relation to the durability of recycled concrete, such as freeze-thaw standards, studies of chloride penetration and diffusion, and sulfate attacks, the use of the fine fraction <4mm, quality assurance of concrete recycled aggregate, sustainability and recycling construction waste and global impact assessment of urban renewal based on sustainable recycling strategies for construction and demolition waste. This volume will be of interest to recyclers, researchers and consumers.

This book outlines the physical and chemical foundations of high-temperature processes for producing silicon, manganese and chromium ferroalloys, alloys of molybdenum, vanadium, titanium, alkaline earth and rare earth metals, niobium, zirconium, aluminum, boron, nickel, cobalt, phosphorus, selenium and tellurium, iron-carbon alloys by carbon, silicone and aluminothermic methods. The chapters introduce the industrial production technologies of these groups of ferroalloys, the characteristics of charge materials, and the technological parameters of the melting processes. A description of ferroalloy furnaces is given in detail. Topics such as waste recycling, fines agglomeration technologies, and environmental issues are considered.

This book covers state-of-the-art technologies, principles, methods and industrial applications of electronic waste (e-waste) and waste PCB (WPCB) recycling. It focuses on cutting-edge mechanical separation processes and pyro- and hydro-metallurgical treatment methods. De-soldering, selective dismantling, and dry separation methods (including the use of gravity, magnetic and electrostatic techniques) are discussed in detail, noting the patents related to each. The volume discusses the available industrial equipment and plant flowsheets used for WPCB recycling in detail, while addressing potential future directions of the field. This practical, comprehensive, and multidisciplinary reference will appeal to professionals throughout global industrial, academic and government institutions interested in addressing the growing problem of e-waste. Covers principles, methods and industrial applications of e-waste and PCB recycling; Details state-of-the-art mechanical separation processes and pyro- and hydro-metallurgical treatment methods; Describes the available industrial equipment used and plant flowsheets for PCB recycling and addresses potential future developments of this important field.

This title includes a number of Open Access chapters. This new book provides a multiperspective look at research into many elements of remediating environmental hazards connected to sewage and landfill leachate. Sewage and landfill leachate treatments include various processes that are used to manage and dispose of the liquid portions of solid waste. Untreated leachate and sewage are hazards to the environment if they enter the water system. The goal of treatment is to reduce the contaminating load to the point that leachate and sewage liquids may be safely released into groundwater, streams, lakes, and the ocean. Around the world, however, huge volumes of contaminated water from sewage and landfill leachate is still pumped directly into water systems, especially in the world's developing nations. Aside from the damage to marine environments and fisheries that this causes, it also jeopardizes the world's vulnerable water resources. This compendium volume explores effective sewage management, which is essential for nutrient recycling and for maintaining ecosystem integrity. It looks at a range of technologies that are available for the treatment of sewage and landfill leachate. The editor, himself a respected and experienced researcher in this field, includes chapters that cover biological treatments, reverse osmosis, and chemical-physical processes. This volume offers important research that will help us both assess our existing treatment facilities, as well as build better, more effective ones for the future.

This book gives an overview of electronic waste (e-waste) management and the latest technological aspects of recycling and disposal of obsolete electronic components while minimizing the environmental impact of toxic chemicals and heavy metals from e-waste. As electronics become more accessible worldwide, this effect generates up to 50 tonnes of e-waste that is only set to increase every year. The chapters in this book explore different strategies through recycling practices, green computing, and eco-friendly approach in handling e-waste through government policies to mitigate the growing side effects of e-waste. This book caters to researchers, policymakers, and industrial practitioners who are interested in more sustainable practices in e-waste management.

This book introduces advanced or emerging technologies for conversion of wastes into a variety of high-value chemicals and materials. Energy and resources can be recovered from various residential, industrial and commercial wastes, such as municipal wastewater and sludge, e-waste, waste plastics and resins, crop residues, forestry residues and lignin. Advanced waste-to-resource and energy technologies like pyrolysis, hydrothermal liquefaction, fractionation, de-polymerization, gasification and carbonization are also introduced. The book serves as an essential guide to dealing with various types of wastes and the methods of disposal, recovery, recycling and re-use. As such it is a valuable resource for a wide readership, including graduate students, academic researchers, industrial researchers and practitioners in chemical engineering, waste management, waste to energy and resources conversion and biorefinery.

Polymer-Carbonaceous Filler-Based Composites for Wastewater Treatment serves as the first book to offer a concise treatment of the use of these materials in the treatment of wastewater. It provides a systematic and comprehensive account of recent developments and encompasses novel methods for the synthesis of carbonaceous derivatives-based fillers for polymer composites, their characterization techniques, and applications for the remediation of water contamination. This book seeks to: Introduces novel concepts in wastewater treatment with poly-carbonaceous composites Describes modern fabrication methods and characterization techniques Presents information on processing, safety, and disposal Discusses current research, future trends, and applications Filling the void for a one-stop reference book for researchers, this work includes contributions from leaders in the industry, academia, government, and private research institutions across the globe. Academics, researchers, scientists, engineers and students in the fields of materials and polymer engineering and wastewater treatment will benefit from this application-oriented book.

This book discusses the scientific process of biomass compaction, focusing on pressing chamber parameters and their influence on the quality of extrusions from biomass. It yields new knowledge in the field of wood biomass pressing technology and contains a thorough and detailed theoretical analysis of the pressing chamber of pressing machines and the influence they have on the resulting quality of extrusions. Coverage includes the proposal and evaluation of experimental research dealing with the definition of different pressing chamber parameters in pressing machines and their effects on the quality of extrusions; definition and specification of the dependencies of chamber parameters based on the resulting quality of extrusion, given by the mechanical indicators of quality, are also explored. Furthermore, the work describes the design and manufacture of an experimental pressing stand, which allows for experiments to be performed determining the effects that some technological, material, and construction parameters have on the resulting quality of extrusions. The desired pressing method, length, and conicity of the pressing chamber are experimentally determined through the uniaxial compaction of wood biomass where results and dependencies are expressed graphically. Biomass Compaction: The Effects of Pressing Chamber Design Parameters on Extrusion Quality will be a welcomed resource for researchers and engineers working for producers of solid biofuels from biomass, densification (briquetting, pelleting), or compacting machines producers, as well as technology plant operators and those working in the biomass treatment area.

The extensive safety restrictions imposed globally due to the COVID-19 pandemic have brought significant changes to almost all environmental parameters. The largest pandemic of the century has left an indelible mark on all aspects of human life and the environment. This book revolves around COVID-19 and its influence on all biotic and abiotic components on earth, with a focus on the regulatory role of air quality during the pandemic, environmental toxicity and susceptibility to COVID-19, and the impact of the lockdown on different ecosystems. The book fundamentally explains the biology of SARS-CoV-2 and the pathophysiology and epidemiology of COVID-19. Dedicated chapters highlight the ongoing global cutting-edge research on COVID-19, control and safety measures, and public health concerns. COVID-19 and Emerging Environmental Trends: A Way Forward is aimed at graduate and postgraduate students as well as researchers in environmental and medical science, health and safety, and ecology. This book offers a multiperspective and multidisciplinary approach to the discussion of the pandemic as well as emerging environmental issues, current trends, and a way forward. As humanity stands face-to-face with the largest global crisis in recent times, this book helps readers to easily understand its various aspects from a beginner's perspective, without going into the intricate technicalities of medical science or environmental science, and beautifully juxtaposes critical issues with lucid language and flexible scientific explanations.

Plastic is one of the widely used polymers around the globe since its discovery. It is highly impossible to think the ease of life without the aid of plastic. Every year billion tons of plastic waste gets accumulated in the environment and leads to death of both marine and terrestrial animals. Plastic is very durable and needs around 1000 years to degrade under the natural environment. The present book illustrates the importance and significance of the bioremediation to tackle the problem of plastic waste. Previously, we have reported elite rhizobacterial isolates (Lysinibacillus fusiformis strain VASB14/WL and Bacillus cereus strain VASB1/TS) of Avicennia marina Vierh (Forsk.) from the West Coast of India with the potential to degrade plastic (polythene). The present book attempted to address the bioremediation scenario of plastic waste (including micro plastic) using microbes with bacteria in particular. Various strategies used to tackle with the plastic waste were highlighted with case studies of plastic waste management, including in vitro, in situ and ex situ with a special reference to biodegradation technology. After the biodegradation of the plastic using microbes, the generated plastic (polythene) degradation products (PE-DPs) were also documented using GC-MS technique followed by their deleterious effect on both animal and plant systems. The book also enhances the awareness of the plastic-free society and also suggests some alternative materials to be used instead of plastic. Lastly, the book suggests/recommends the strategies to be followed by the lawmakers in the government organizations/non-government organizations/social organizations to frame the regulations and guidelines to implement at mass level to reduce the generation of plastic waste.

This book highlights current efforts and research on waste management, processing and valorization, particularly in Asia-Africa countries. Chapters 1-2 highlight the overview of plastic waste management and the production of waste plastic oil (WPO). Chapters 3-5 discuss the landfill characterization and application of incineration and composting for waste processing. A new achievement in adsorbent production is highlighted in Chapters 6 and 7 while Chapters 10 and 11 focus on sewage characteristic and its utilization using microalgae. Enzyme production using waste is covered by Chapters 10-12. Chapter 13-14 dedicated to the advances in production of bioenergy. The book concludes with a discussion on life cycle analysis for solid waste management (Chapter 15).

A major contribution to the environmental policy debate, this is the first book to examine the legal, technical, and planning initiatives employed in Europe to avoid land disposal of toxic waste. Although largely ignored in the U.S. until now, safer alternatives to land disposal exist in Europe. By studying and implementing the best of these methods, the authors argue, the United States can begin to resolve its own toxic waste problem, a problem that has reached crisis proportions.

This book presents a broad range of technologies for sustainable agrochemistry, e.g. semiochemicals for pest management, nanotechnology for release of eco-friendly agrochemicals, and green chemistry principles for agriculture. It provides a concise introduction to sustainable agrochemistry for a professional audience, and highlights the main scientific and technological approaches that can be applied to modern agrochemistry. It also discusses various available technologies for reducing the negative impacts of agrochemicals on the environment and human health.

This book explores an escalating modern-day crisis; managing waste in a sustainable way. The central question posed is whether advancing a circular economy provides a way to shift waste management practices towards more sustainable approaches. It begins with an in-depth analysis of the nature of waste management and the prevailing crisis, followed by a discussion about the circular economy in terms of its requirements and the challenges of implementation. The book then moves on to propose a framework that sets out how to establish the policy changes needed to advance a circular approach to waste management. Next, the book outlines complex issues in multilevel systems for advancing a circular economy through examining the contemporary situation in Belgium and Norway. It ends by bringing together the issues revealed in these case studies and draws insights for governments advocating circular approaches. The book will be a valuable resource to scholars, students, practitioners and policy makers interested in developing more sustainable methods of waste management.

In this second edition of a bestseller, authors Paul H. Brunner and Helmut Rechberger guide professional newcomers as well as experienced engineers and scientists towards mastering the art of material flow analysis (MFA) from the very beginning to an advanced state of material balances of complex systems. Handbook of Material Flow Analysis: For Environmental, Resource, and Waste Engineers, Second Edition serves as a concise and reproducible methodology as well as a basis for analysis, assessment and improvement of anthropogenic systems through an approach that is helpfully uniform and standardized. The methodology featured in this book is a vital resource for generating new data, fostering understanding, and increasing knowledge to benefit the growing MFA community working in the fields of industrial ecology, resource management, waste management, and environmental protection. This new second edition takes into account all new developments and readers will profit from a new exploration of STAN software, newly added citations, and thoroughly described case studies that reveal the potential of MFA to solve industrial ecology challenges.

Provides insight into the application of applied ecology for bioremediation of radioactive wastes Discusses species selection criteria for tailings radioactivity consolidation Explains safe treatment of radioactive ore processing plants tailings Illustrates the role of ethnobotany in selection of most appropriate species to effectively use in bioremediation Focusses on experimental outcomes

Reflecting the concerns over environmental sustainability, there has been an increasing focus on the protection of our water resources and on the proper management of our waste. Our economic growth can only be sustainable when it does not represent a threat to human health and to fauna, flora, and eco-system in the long-term. A long-term resilience, new business and economic opportunities, and environmental sustainability can be achieved through circular economy model that offers us a world of opportunity to rethink and redesign our economic activities and consumption patterns. With an aim to give the reader a new perspective on this issue, this book covers European Union's water and waste management legislation and the Czech Republic's transposition of this legislation, and includes a comparative analysis of the performances of the EU Member States on the implementation of new water and waste management policy strategies.

This book highlights ways to evaluate circular economy using global standard and footprints the way global firms are using to ensure the measurement of the impact. It presents various case studies from different sectors with the efforts made to contribute to circular economy and at the same time its contribution to minimize carbon and water footprints.