A revelatory study of how climate change will affect
individual economic decisions, and the broad impact of those
choices Selected by Publishers Weekly as
one of its Top Ten books in Business and ...Economics for Spring
2021 It is all but certain that the next century will be
hotter than any we've experienced before. Even if we get serious
about fighting climate change, it's clear that we will need to
adapt to the changes already underway in our environment. This book
considers how individual economic choices in response to climate
change will transform the larger economy. Using the tools of
microeconomics, Matthew E. Kahn explores how decisions about where
we live, how our food is grown, and where new business ventures
choose to locate are impacted by climate change. Kahn suggests new
ways that big data can be deployed to ease energy or water
shortages to aid agricultural operations and proposes informed
policy changes related to public infrastructure, disaster relief,
and real estate to nudge land use, transportation options, and
business development in the right direction.
The utilization of renewable lignocellulosic biomasses for bioenergy synthesis is believed to facilitate competitive commercialization and realize affordable clean energy sources in the future. Among ...the pathways for biomass pretreatment methods that enhance the efficiency of the whole biofuel production process, the combined microwave irradiation and physicochemical approach is found to provide many economic and environmental benefits. Several studies on microwave-based pretreatment technologies for biomass conversion have been conducted in recent years. Although some reviews are available, most did not comprehensively analyze microwave–physicochemical pretreatment techniques for biomass conversion. The study of these techniques is crucial for sustainable biofuel generation. Therefore, the biomass pretreatment process that combines the physicochemical method with microwave-assisted irradiation is reviewed in this paper. The effects of this pretreatment process on lignocellulosic structure and the ratio of achieved components were also discussed in detail. Pretreatment processes for biomass conversion were substantially affected by temperature, irradiation time, initial feedstock components, catalyst loading, and microwave power. Consequently, neoteric technologies utilizing high efficiency-based green and sustainable solutions should receive further focus. In addition, methodologies for quantifying and evaluating effects and relevant trade-offs should be develop to facilitate the take-off of the biofuel industry with clean and sustainable goals.
•Fundamental and characteristic of microwave assisted pretreatment were introduced.•Effects of microwave irradiation on the lignocellulosic biomass reviewed.•Combination of microwave physicochemical methods obtained higher efficiency.•Energy and economic aspects of microwave-physicochemical methods evaluated.
Currently, the development of alternative and green energy sources has been being strongly pushed aiming to recoup the lack of fossil energy, to meet the ever-increasing demand of energy use in ...modern society, and to palliate concerns regarding environmental pollution and global climate change. Therefore, producing energy from biomass sources has recently been of great interest because biomass is considered as a reliable and ubiquitous source. Indeed, the conversion of biomass into furan derivatives through the catalytic production process is emerging as a fascinating and promising method. Being one of the furan-based compounds, 2-Methylfuran (MF) is known as a critical platform substance and an ideal green solution on the pathway of finding alternative fuels because the MF properties are similar to those of fossil fuels and MF could be generated from renewable biomass source. In this review paper, the process of MF synthesis from biomass through catalyst reactions was thoroughly analyzed. More importantly, the pyrolysis and oxidation progress of MF was also critically presented aiming to clarify the applicability of MF to internal combustion engines. Finally, the performance, the characteristics of combustion, and pollutant formation of internal combustion engines fueled with MF were discussed in detail. In general, MF could become a promising alternative fuel for internal combustion engines although studies on the engine durability, compatibility to materials, tribology behaviors should be further carried out in the future.
•Catalyst-based MF synthesis from biomass through furfural was critically presented.•Pyrolysis progress, combustion, and ignition behaviors were thoroughly analyzed.•Key characteristics of engines fueled with MF-based fuels were discussed in detail.•Economic aspect, existing challenges, and future perspective were mentioned.
The hydrogen (H2) economy has been recognized globally from a socio-economic, and environmental viewpoint. Hydrogen can be produced using technologies such as electrolysis, thermochemical, ...photoelectrochemical, and biological methods. Biological methods help in waste management and energy production simultaneously. To make the biohydrogen process economic and viable at a commercial scale there is a need to utilize renewable raw materials efficiently. Improved reactor designs and advanced genetic improvements using metabolic pathways developments are mandated to improve microbial adaptation to the harsh process conditions. Finally, this review aimed to fill the void among technical and applied research and review the current advances in genetic engineering and metabolic pathway developments to improve H2 productivity.
•Hydrogen is an efficient and renewable source of energy.•Lignocellulosic and organic waste is a futuristic source of hydrogen production.•Waste management with energy production can be achieved simultaneously.•The significance of molecular engineering and synthetic biology are discussed.•There is a need to work on integrated technologies and improved reactor design.
•Biodiesel production from non-edible sources has been reviewed.•The potential of waste cooking, animal, vegetable and algae oil is reviewed.•The yield depends on the reaction temperature and time, ...molar ratio and amount of catalyst.•The total production cost is influenced by catalysis and feedstock type.•Glycerol is considered as the main by-product with various beneficial applications.
Biodiesel has privileges than conventional diesel fuel because of its low toxicity, renewability, and eco-friendly properties. Biodiesel is produced from various edible and non-edible sources via transesterification process. Non-edible sources such as waste cooking oil (WCO), algal oil, non-edible vegetable oil, and waste animal oil are commonly used to produce biodiesel due to their low cost and no dependency on the food chain. The production process is influenced by several factors such as reaction temperature and time, alcohol to oil molar ratio, and catalyst type and concentration. The analyses of economic aspects of biodiesel production are crucial to reduce the cost of biodiesel production by finding alternatives to available technologies, catalyst, and feedstock. Moreover, the biodiesel production cost is affected by factors such as the type of raw material, by-product selling price, operation and labor cost, the catalyst, and the reaction type. Besides, crude glycerol is a major by-product of biodiesel production with yields ranging between 8% and 10%. Crude glycerol could be used as a beneficial material to produce biopolymers, hydrogen, ethanol, and fuel additive through pyrolysis and gasification processes. Therefore, this review focuses on the recent finding in transesterification of non-edible sources for biodiesel production as well as its economic aspects, fuel properties, and by-products applications. Finally, the economic aspects and process optimization of biodiesel production should be considered as important factors in order to enhance the economic sustainability of biodiesel production.
The continuous demands for reducing environmental impact and energy consumption are the major driving factors for the development of natural fiber (NF)‐reinforced composites (NFRCs). The huge demand ...for sustainable materials in industries leads to the usage of NFs in product developments. These NFs are more attractive due to their lightweight, cost‐effectiveness, ease of availability, and environmentally friendly aspects. Green composites are the best alternatives in place of petroleum‐based composites which meet the current industrial requirements. In recent years, researchers are more focused on the development of NF composites as a potential candidate in real‐life applications due to economic advantages. This review gives a brief overview of NFs introduction, types, economic aspects, and the recent developments in NFRCs with an analysis of mechanical, thermal, and dielectric properties. Moreover, the water absorption behavior, applications, and challenges in using NFs are also studied in this review. Additionally, this review will motivate the researchers for further developments and exist as foundation literature for upcoming researchers.
A strategy of using critical fluxes to control organic fouling of polyamide thin film composite (PA-TFC) forward osmosis (FO) membranes during wastewater reclamation was developed for FO mode. This ...work was a comprehensive investigation with various organic foulants covering complex mixtures as well as single foulants. The foulants were alginate (ALG), Humic acid (HA), and Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA) and the study covered different concentration (40; 80; 120; 160 mg/L). Our results indicated that there was a single value of critical flux, 35 LMH for 160 mg/L and single foulant. However the presence of mixed foulants i.e., ALG + BSA, ALG + HA, HA + BSA, at an overall foulant concentration of 160 mg/L gave rise to foulant-foulant-membrane interactions that caused a significant decrease in critical flux values to 25–30 LMH. Using these results as a guide, long-term tests in which there was no fouling or negligible fouling were successfully implemented. Operating below critical flux maintains a sustainable operation with the characteristic of full reversibility, which is vital if chemical cleaning is to be minimized. Characterization of fouling around critical values was made through physico-chemical analyses including SEM, EEM, aggregate size, zeta potential, and FTIR. It was found that FO fouling became irreversible when operated at a flux ≥35 LMH for single foulants and fluxes of 25 LMH and 30 LMH for ALG + BSA and HA + BSA foulants respectively, being a foulant concentration of 160 mg/L; such conditions are favorable for the formation of the cohesive and compact cake layer. Economic assessments based on specific energy consumption facilitated the production of guidelines for practical design and operation.
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•A guide of critical fluxes for fouling control was proposed successfully.•Foulant-foulant-membrane interaction was noticed in the complex foulants.•Foulant concentration was a vital key in the change of critical flux values.•The morphology of fouling layer was strong dependence on the initial flux.•Energy saving-potential was obtained at operation below critical flux values.
Limestone calcined clay cement (LC3) has gained attention in the research paradigm, and useful data is available in scattered form, necessitates comprehensive review to provide global insight into ...important research questions, i.e., micro-macro response, and environmental implications, keeping in view the future research directions. In this regard, the current article provides a comprehensive insight into LC3, focusing on its micro-macro mechanisms and critically examining different aspects such as chemical composition, hydration chemistry with special attention on phase assemblage, impacts of various salts and carbonation, rheological properties, mechanical behavior, high-temperature exposure, and compatibility with different admixtures. Additionally, this article explores the sustainable and environmentally friendly applications of LC3, with an emphasis on its economic and environmental advantages highlighted by pertinent data and lifecycle assessments (LCA). Comprehensive data was gathered from a micro-macro perspective considering SCMs from different regional sources, and comparisons were drawn with Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC). Further, comparative economic and environmental aspects for different grades of LC3 and OPC were evaluated and analyzed considering energy demand, cost-effectiveness, and energy efficiency. The micro-macro characteristics of LC3 are found to be majorly dependent on its constituent, particularly clinker composition and alumina content in SCMs, which varies regionally. This review study outlines the critical research directions, i.e., enhancement of mechanical behavior and rheology, incorporation of super plasticizers and waste materials for resource conservation, and improvement of carbonation resistance for durability to make LC3 a sustainable and first-choice cement.
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•Hydration chemistry and phase assemblage of SCMs were critically discussed.•Effect of SCMs on rheological, mechanical, and durability properties•Environmental implications and potential research areas were discussed.•Potential application of LC3 in various fields of construction was determined.•LCA showed LC3 a cost-effective blend with low carbon footprints.
•A theoretical framework is developed and consolidated for value creation in circular business models.•Social dimension of circular business model is perceived as crucial for value creation.•The ...contextual factors are found to be determining the nature of value creation.•The managerial practices are accounted for mediating the influence of the contextual factors on value creation.•Building sector provides robust opportunities for shared value co-creation.
A circular business model represents a holistic system of co-evolving managerial practices for collective value creation, delivery and capture, which provide solutions for sustainable development. Previous research on circular business models aimed to understand value creation mostly in terms of a single managerial practice or in a relatively isolated manner. In particular, little is known regarding the system of managerial practices that creates value. Accordingly, this study proposes a theoretical framework characterized by a set of managerial practices in connection with relevant internal and external contextual factors for creating value within a circular business model. The framework was used in a specific case of a small medium-sized enterprise (SME) operating in building sector, which can be considered a great example of circular economy put into practice. Therefore, the explorative nature of the case allows for deep probing that helps consolidating the framework. Among the main results, essential outcomes included configuring and adapting the company’s business model to particular internal and external contextual factors; valorization of local waste by harmonizing managerial practices, and socio-cultural and socio-economic settings, as well as sustainable behaviours among the actors of supply chain. This study contributes to the field of circular business models research by adopting a broader, interdisciplinary approach toward the concept of value creation. Further, it provides managers with a roadmap for creating value by enhancing the degree of circularity within a given context.
Water is the primary factor for life on earth, and its demand is continuously increasing significantly. Therefore, freshwater scarcity is one of the world's critical challenges due to the depletion ...and contamination of its reservoirs. Climate change, irrational exploitation, and waste disposal from various sources to the natural water reserves are the major causes of the contamination. Moreover, the increased utility of desalination systems has also magnified the production of rejected brine, whose disposal in water bodies and land will also result in a hazardous situation for future generations. Therefore, it is necessary to adopt sustainable approaches in the present for the welfare of future generations. Given the same, the concept of zero liquid discharge (ZLD) has emerged as a strong alternative for freshwater production in the most sustainable manner. It is a dual-purpose technology of fresh water production with dry salts from the brine by preventing the brine discharge into the environment. The sustainability of ZLD desalination systems can be further increased by using solar energy to fulfill their energy requirement. Hence, various technical and economic aspects of ZLD desalination technologies are presented in this review, along with the discussion on the feasibility of solar energy to achieve ZLD. An analysis is carried out on the impact of solar energy on the energy, economic and environmental potential of ZLD desalination technologies, whose outcome shows wind-aided intensified evaporation, reverse osmosis, and electrodialysis metathesis have higher potential compared to rest technologies.
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