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Surface treatment waste (HW17) contains a large amount of toxic and corrosive components, which may be harmful to the public health if improper disposal. To understand its metabolism is a prerequisite for the management optimization. In this study, the metabolic network for HW17 in Chengdu city (Sichuan Province, Southwestern China) is constructed by fusion of administrative data and web textual data to identify the associated issues through an investigation of the waste flow and direction. On such basis, a dual-objective mixed-integer linear programming model, with three scenarios (cost minimization, risk minimization, both the cost and risk minimization), is established to optimize the metabolic network for enhancing the management efficiency. The results show that the total HW17 in 2019 is 32,846.14 tons in Chengdu city. Of this, 0.4% of HW17 does not have downstream metabolic paths, and only 23.51% of it is completely disposed. About 78.08% of the generated HW17 is transported outside the metropolitan area of Chengdu city for disposal, highlighted by an open-loop feature. After optimization, the network cost reduces by 3.91% among the three scenarios, and risk decreases by 87.85%. In view of these results, this study further discusses the capacities of the recycling centers and disposal centers, as well as the limitations and uncertainty. Managerial implications are proposed, to lay a foundation for the improvement of waste management sustainability. [Display omitted] • Surface treatment waste is an environmental hazard with expensive recycling. • A metabolic network was constructed for surface treatment waste flow in Chengdu. • Dual-objective mixed-integer linear programming model for cost/risk minimization. • Delicate balance among cost/risk, spatial agglomeration & infrastructure capacity. • Potential to improve efficiency and sustainability of waste management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change is the most critical challenge to achieve sustainability, disrupting national economies and human lives, especially in vulnerable countries. However, there has been limited research assessing the "climate resilience of sustainability" — the capacity of national sustainability to withstand and recover from the impacts of climate change — over time and space. To bridge this gap, we quantify the climate resilient performance of sustainability (including social, economic, and environmental sub-resilient performance and comprehensive performance) in 37 sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries. We employed a coupling coordination degree model and panel regression to analyze the synergy between sub-dimensional resilience and explore the association between climate resilience of sustainability and other variables, respectively. Our findings indicate that while current development in most SSA countries lacks resilience, the score gap of climate resilience of sustainability between these countries is narrowing. On average, coastal countries exhibit lower performance in terms of the resilience of sustainability to climate change compared to inland countries. Moreover, the climate resilient performance among the three dimensions for all income groups reached an intermediate-coordinated state in 2018. However, most SSA countries exhibited an asymmetric level of sustainability and its climate resilience. Furthermore, we identified significant correlations between variables such as governance, gross domestic product, population, and precipitation with the climate resilience of sustainability. The insights from this study emphasize the need to prioritize climate resilience of sustainability and provide a reference for researchers and policymakers worldwide, to shape a long-term, prosperous, and resilient future under climate change. [Display omitted] • First evaluating climate resilience of sustainability across sub-Saharan African countries. • Coastal countries performed poorer than did the inland countries. • Climate resilience increased in social and economic dimensions while decreased in environmental dimension. • Population-, economy-, and governance-related variables correlated with climate resilience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to explore consumers' perception, their purchase intention and willingness to pay for carbon-labeled products through a questionnaire survey. By taking Chengdu as a case study city, the results show that urban consumers had an overall low perception on carbon-labeled products. While most consumers indicated their intentions to buy carbon labeled products, the level of product premium they were willing to accept was relatively low. The acceptance level on such low carbon products had a significant impact on consumers' perception on carbon-labeled products. Perceived benefits significantly influenced purchase intention in relation to carbon-labeled products. Perceived consumers’ effectiveness, occupation, and income level had a significant effect on the willingness to pay for carbon-labeled products. From policy point of view, this study may provide valuable policy insights to develop a carbon labeling system and promote carbon-labeled products in China so that low-carbon consumption can be fostered in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A carbon reduction labelling scheme is an effective policy tool for motivating enterprises or organizations to reduce their life-cycle-based carbon emissions to benefit the environment. This paper uses system dynamics to model enterprises' compliance with a combined government policy instrument for a carbon reduction labelling scheme, that is, government subsidies and economic sanctions. A case study of paper enterprises in China is provided to demonstrate the application of the proposed model in which two optional technological plans to reduce the enterprises' carbon emissions are examined. The technological plans are categorized as a low-cost and high-cost plan. The simulation results show that both the technological plans are vulnerable to the combined policy making, and the high-cost plan shows superior environmental performance for carbon emissions reduction. However, the enterprises are more inclined to choose the low-cost plan because of superior economic performance. The study offers insights to help enterprises select optimal actions on carbon emissions reduction and to inform government of possible sustainable policy design to promote low-carbon development. The model limitations are discussed as a basis for further improvements in low-carbon development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study allocates the CO 2 emissions to China's 41 industries/sectors under the constraint of carbon emission intensity in reaching the 2030 reduction target. An integrated method based on input-output analysis and entropy weighting is proposed for the allocation. The results show that the production and distribution of electric power and heat power should undertake the largest shares, with CO 2 emission reductions of 1825.98 million tons and 2673.69 million tons, respectively, corresponding to the carbon emission intensity reductions of 65% and 60%. The study further proposes a carbon reduction labeling scheme, to discriminate the emissions reduction obligations that the 41 industries/sectors should undertake. In addition, policy implications are provided to enhance their emissions reduction efficiency. Limitations of this approach are discussed so that future research directions can be identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a multi-objective optimization model for a green supply chain management scheme that minimizes the inherent risk occurred by hazardous materials, associated carbon emission and economic cost. The model related parameters are capitalized on a big data analysis. Three scenarios are proposed to improve green supply chain management. The first scenario divides optimization into three options: the first involves minimizing risk and then dealing with carbon emissions (and thus economic cost); the second minimizes both risk and carbon emissions first, with the ultimate goal of minimizing overall cost; and the third option attempts to minimize risk, carbon emissions, and economic cost simultaneously. This paper provides a case study to verify the optimization model. Finally, the limitations of this research and approach are discussed to lay a foundation for further improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China is experiencing a stage of rapid urban development. The energy consumption and related carbon dioxide emissions of households continue to increase. This paper calculates direct and indirect carbon dioxide emissions of households based on the input–output method in China from 1996 to 2012. The results reveal that there were more total carbon dioxide emissions from urban households than from rural households, far more indirect emissions from urban households than from rural households, slightly more direct emissions from urban households than from rural households, and differences in direct carbon dioxide emissions from various fuels and in indirect emissions from various sectors between urban and rural households. To examine the causal relationship between urbanization and the carbon dioxide emissions of households, cointegration and Granger causality tests are applied. A unidirectional causal relation was found running from urbanization to both direct and indirect household carbon dioxide emissions, and the direct and indirect carbon dioxide emissions of households would increase 2.9% and 1.1%, respectively, for every increase of one percent in urbanization. We discuss the reasons of why the development of urbanization will lead to more household direct and indirect carbon dioxide emissions, and suggest certain policy implications for urbanization and carbon dioxide emissions based on the results of this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Receptor models are, rarely utilized in soil but are often used to identify pollutant sources and quantify their contribution. This paper focuses on the soil in oasis farmland. A geochemical baseline is used to assess the pollution of the soil, and then three models are tentatively utilized to apportion heavy metals and compare the sources, the contributions and the operation effects. Pollution assessment indicated that the farmland soil of Wuwei was lightly contaminated by heavy metals. Source apportionments suggested that atmospheric deposition contributed the most pollution (53.95%–65.35%). The three models supplemented each other, and the grouped principal component analysis/absolute principal component scores (GPCA/APCS) was outstanding. GPCA/APCS and UNMIX suggested that agricultural activities were the prime anthropogenic source (51.06%–61.56%), followed by the combustion of fossil fuels (coal and oil) (27.92%–28.66%) and building materials-related activities source (10.52%–20.29%). Fertilizers and pesticides (67.88%–74.81%) contributed more than traffic emissions (25.19%–32.12%) in agricultural activities. Similar results were acquired via positive matrix factorization (PMF), while industrial activity was the highest individual contributor (29.91%). Therefore, combining these three models was the most effective approach, and more attention should be paid to mitigating the pollution caused by the use of fertilizers and pesticides as well as the industrial activities in Wuwei. The results of this study could provide reference in reduction of heavy metal pollution in farmland soil. Image 1057569 • Evaluating pollution by background values based on geochemical baseline. • Apportioning heavy metal source by GPCA/APCS, PMF and UNMIX. • GPCA/APCS model was optimal. • Fertilizers, pesticides and industrial activities were large contributor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainability in cross-border logistics requires issues such as fragmented management to be addressed. Particular challenges arise in cross-border logistics in modular construction (CLMC) because supervision is inefficient, primarily due to continued use of paper-based documentation. Researchers have developed digital platforms that integrate accurate prefabricated module location information but their centralized operation creates information security issues such as tampering. Blockchain technology can overcome this limitation but relies on user participation. This study, therefore, develops a blockchain-based supervision (BBS) model with incentives for application in CLMC. The BBS model is developed using a design science research approach to enhance supervision of CLMC and motivate users to share data promptly, and then a prototype system is developed and evaluated in a CLMC case. The results show that the system brings a positive change in product accountability (df = 8, t = 0.6601, p = 0.528) compared with current paper-based recording process (df = 8, t = 0.0035, p = 0.997), and a positive change in data traceability (df = 8, t = 1.468, p = 0.180) compared with existing process (df = 8, t = 0.042, p = 0.967). In addition, this study obtains higher scores (552) than others in evaluating the incentive mechanisms. The security analysis is also discussed through data immutability, non-repudiation, authentication, and authorization. The findings of this study pave the way for a tamper-proof, incentive-enabled supervision mechanism in modular construction. • A scope on supervising operations of Cross-border Logistics in modular construction. • A blockchain-based supervision (BBS) model with incentives is proposed. • A point-based incentive mechanism with reputation and financial incentives. • A two-layer supervision mechanism for logistics preparation, execution, and completion. • A prototype is implemented and validated via Hyperledger Fabric. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The solid-liquid separation ability of adsorbents is of great significance for improving the recovery efficiency and reducing the cost. Herein, a novel floating-magnetically responsive silica adsorbent (FMSA) was prepared and applied to the adsorption of cationic dyes from aqueous solution. FMSA with self-floating and magnetic response properties exhibited great solid-liquid separation ability and adsorption performance for cationic dyes. According to the Langmuir model, the theoretical saturated adsorption capacity of FMSA for Basic Blue 7 (BB-7) and Crystal Violet (CV) reached 1632.55 mg g−1 and 1587.23 mg g−1, respectively. Thermodynamic experiments manifested that the adsorption was a spontaneous endothermic process with increasing entropy. After 5 adsorption-desorption processes, FMSA's adsorption capacity for BB-7 and CV remained above 80%, indicating that it has satisfactory stability and reusability. Furthermore, the pH effect, isotherm, kinetics, ion interference experiments and characterization analysis manifested that the adsorption was mainly chemical adsorption with an ion exchange process. This research aims to bring some inspiration for the combined use of floating separation and magnetic separation to achieve more flexible, efficient and energy-saving solid-liquid separation. [Display omitted] • A floating-magnetically responsive silica adsorbent was successfully developed. • Obtained adsorbent has both self-floating ability and magnetic response properties. • FMSA showed great reusability and resistance to ion interference. • BB-7 and CV were efficiently removed in a wide pH range. • Powerful electrostatic interaction and ion exchange ensure efficient adsorption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Power-to-gas (P2G) technology is considered as a new approach for clean energy consumption and energy conversion. However, because this technology must be combined with other energy systems to build a stable energy system, a reasonable income distribution method is necessary to guarantee this integration. Firstly, the operation optimization model of the park integrated energy system (PIES) and park independent energy system (PINES) with P2G are constructed for the first stage optimization, with the objective of maximizing net income. Secondly, the energy system performance evaluation indicators are developed to assess the system quantitatively in terms of the economic and environmental aspects. Thereafter, the income distribution models based on Shapley value and the improved Shapley value with operational risk factor are created, and the total income is optimally distributed at the second stage based on the first-stage optimization results. Finally, an industrial park in a province of China is selected for case analysis. The results show that (1) PIES can complement different systems, integrate the demands in heat, electricity, and gas, while realizing the electricity-gas-heat/electricity conversion and heat-electricity complementarity. (2) Income distribution using an improved Shapely value method is proposed, it overcomes the one-sidedness of transaction volume and lack of differences among participants, reflects the actual operational risk and the degree of contribution of participants to the whole system, and promotes the incentives of cooperation. (3) Based on the improved income distribution model, the income of the PS, P2G, and HS are redistributed. The income of P2G increased by ¥7,450, which reflects the important collaborative value of P2G. The willingness of system cooperation increased by 742.392%. Therefore, the proposed operation optimization and income distribution model can enhance the incentives of participants want to cooperate under the premise of ensuring the maximum net income of the PIES. Moreover, it can be used as reference for the formulation of an optimal operation plan and income distribution of the complex energy system and it can provide a way to promote clean energy production. • The role of P2G as a new energy conversion way is studied. • The two-stage optimization model is constructed. • The first stage is operational optimization. • The second stage is income distribution. • The improved Shapley value method is applied in park integrated energy system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Regenerative electric boiler (REB) can convert electricity into heating, improve the grid-connected space of wind power plant (WPP), and is an effective way of solving the severe problem of abandoned wind power in China. To achieve a synergistically coordinated optimization between the supply side and the user side, incentive-based demand response (IBDR) is implemented for decentralized thermal load while price-based demand response (PBDR) is implemented for the electrical load and centralized thermal load. The study then integrates WPP, REB, conventional gas turbine (CGT) and IBDR into a hybrid energy system (HES). Next, the uncertainty scenarios of wind speed are simulated using the Latin hypercube sampling method, and Kantorovich distance based on the values predicted using auto-regressive and moving average mode. Then a multi-objective optimization model for HES operation is proposed based on the objectives of maximizing economic revenue and minimizing the level of risk. Finally, an industrial park in northern China is selected for sample analysis. The results show: (1) if the power output of WPP is converted into heating, the economic benefits increase significantly, with certain risks attached. The REB can store energy during off-peak periods and dispense energy during peak periods. The smooth net power output curve is preferable for decreased operational risk. (2) PBDR can smooth the demand curves of electrical and thermal load. The peak-to-valley ratios of the electrical load and thermal load decrease by 1.207 and 1.500. (3) IBDR can provide more reserve service for a HES while simultaneously satisfying different load demands and yielding optimal operation results with the implementation of PBDR. The peak-to-valley ratios of the net power curves are 1.242 (IBDR alone) and 1.214 (IBDR and PBDR). Overall, the proposed optimization model could give full play to the coupling effect of centralized thermal load and decentralized thermal load, which would provide feasible tools for decision-makers to create an optimal operation plan. • Wind power plant is used to satisfy centralized thermal load by regenerative electric boiler. • Latin hypercube sampling method and Kantorovich distance are used to produce uncertainty scenarios. • Different demand response ways of electrical (decentralized-centralized thermal) load are comparatively discussed. • Multi-objective optimization model for hybrid energy system satisfying electrical (thermal) load is proposed. • Thermal-electrical coupling feature of four operation scenarios for hybrid energy system is evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Competitive costs and eco-friendliness have prompted solid waste-based recycling to become a hot topic of sustainability for energy storage devices. The closed-loop model, which combines the efficient recovery of solid waste with the preparation of energy storage materials, is considered as a tremendous potential sustainable development strategy. However, large-scale issues including environmental hazards, valuable ingredients, quantity and distribution remain due to the complex nature of solid waste properties, resulting in delays in its industrial applications. This review provides a systematic overview of the regeneration of various solid wastes into energy storage materials from the point of view of processing techniques and value-varying approaches. First, a summary of the solid waste classification and disposal procedures is provided, and the pros and cons of the disposal procedures are analyzed considering the resources and the environment. Moreover, the reactivation process of the resource cycle is detailed according to the regeneration of different battery energy storage materials (lithium-ion battery, sodium-ion battery, lithium-sulfur battery, supercapacitor, fuel cell, etc.), including waste recycling and high-value material regenerated processes. In addition, a comprehensive evaluation of various types of energy storage batteries is carried out from the perspectives of economy, environment, technological difficulty, application status, and development potential, to provide a feasible reference for the future regeneration of suitable energy storage batteries. Finally, the main challenges of recycling solid wastes into energy storage materials are summarized as "two Highs and four Lows". This review has systematically reviewed and summarized research from technological feasibility and potential advantages in the regeneration of energy storage materials from multiple solid waste sources. A comprehensive analysis was conducted, involving the classifications, technologies, environmental impact, economic benefit and the main challenges, which concentrated on the disposal of solid waste (industrial wastes, municipal wastes, and natural wastes) and the resynthesize of energy storage materials (lithium-ion batteries, sodium-ion batteries, lithium-sulfur batteries, supercapacitors, and fuel cells). Based on the obtained insights, this regeneration model is thought to alleviate resources famine, but in the future, the government and appropriate researchers should focus on solving current problems, including high secondary pollution, high technological difficulty, low material performance, low economic benefit, low industrialized application, and low policy support. [Display omitted] • The current status and disposal method of solid wastes is summarized. • Regenerating energy storage materials from solid wastes are classified. • The advantages and disadvantages of regenerating different materials are compared. • The main challenges are summarized as "two Highs and four Lows". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Due to high-speed and extensive economic development, increasing urbanization, and booming industry in China, there is a growing public concern over PM 2.5 pollution. The identification of possible sources of PM 2.5 is a basis for studying air pollution. In this paper, the contribution of PM 2.5 from both combustion and non-combustion sources is calculated using the selected tracers of SO 2 , CO and NO 2. Changes in the characteristics of natural and anthropogenic PM 2.5 sources were analyzed by combining the use of satellite imagery and the Hybrid Single Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory (HYSPLIT) model. The results showed that the PM 2.5 in Xi'an and Lanzhou originated from combustion sources, the contribution of non-combustion sources increased from east to west, high values appeared in Zhangye and Jiuquan (over 70%). In Lanzhou, Zhangye and Jiuquan, PM 2.5 was mainly from anthropogenic sources during non-episode periods, and from natural sources (namely, dust storms) during episode days, and the proportion from natural sources increased from east to west. In addition, in our research, although the sources of PM 2.5 in the four cities are different, they all face the problem of excessive PM 2.5 concentration, and its pollution control problem is worth studying. Graphical abstract Image [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rapidly increased discharges of various complex dyeing wastewaters, adsorbents are required to own more properties such as cost-effectiveness, amphoteric ability, and rapid solid-liquid separation ability, to treat dyeing wastewaters. A multi-functional adsorbent was synthesized by co-grafting m-phenylenediamine and sodium allyl sulfonate on the surface of a low-cost base-material: hollow glass microsphere (HGM). Characterization results indicated the surface roughness and –Si–OH groups of HGM were increased by NaOH corrosion; functional groups such as aromatic-rings, –NH 2 , and –HSO 3 − were grafted on the surface of HGM. The synthesized adsorbent showed amphoteric attraction abilities for anionic acid green 25 and cationic basic fuchsin dyes. Kinetics and isotherms studies suggested the PSO model and Langmuir model were most satisfactory for adsorption processes, the theoretical maximum adsorption capacities for acid green 25 and basic fuchsin reached 454.55 and 588.24 mg g−1, respectively. The mechanism investigations indicated the electrostatic attraction, π-π stacking, and hydrogen bonds were the potential interaction forces between dyes and adsorbents. The synthesized material owns self-floating ability due to the hollow structure of HGM, over 95.7% of adsorbents were collected at water surface via the self-floating process in 12 min, which was beneficial to the solid-liquid separation process and the reuse of adsorbents. The technologies developed by these research efforts can serve as templates for synthesizing multi-functional adsorbents for complex wastewaters decontaminations. [Display omitted] • First demonstration of an amphoteric self-floating adsorbent. • The adsorption capacities of anionic/cationic dyes reached 454.55/588.24 mg g−1. • Electrostatic force, π-π stacking, hydrogen bond were dominant adsorption mechanisms. • Over 95.7% of adsorbents were collected at the water surface within 12 min. • The multi-functional adsorbent is beneficial for cleaner production of dyeing goods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dust storms that occur frequently during the spring in the arid and semiarid regions of northwest China can significantly increase PM 10 loadings in the local area and its surroundings, and impair environmental ecology, human activity and health. Based on the monitoring data of PM 10 and backward trajectories of air parcels calculated by the Hybrid Single Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory model in Jiayuguan, Jinchang and Lanzhou during the spring seasons from 2014 to 2017, trajectory cluster analysis was used to identify the major transport pathways of PM 10 , and concentration-weighted trajectory and trajectory sector analysis were applied to identify the potential sources and quantify regional transported contributions. The results showed that there were major transport pathways coming from three directions: the northwestern pathways (for Jinchang and Lanzhou), the western pathways (for Jiayuguan and Lanzhou), and the northern pathways (for Jiayuguan and Jinchang). The corresponding potential dust sources for these pathways were the northwesterly sources, the westerly sources and the northerly sources, respectively. In addition, the northern Tibetan Plateau was another important source affecting Jiayuguan. There were distinct differences among the regional transport contributions from various directions. The PM 10 concentrations (percentages) that exogenous dust sources contributed to Jiayuguan, Jinchang and Lanzhou decreased in a sequence from west to east at 47 μg/m3 (29.8%), 40 μg/m3 (27.1%) and 26 μg/m3 (17.3%), respectively, which were attributed predominantly to the long-range transport of dust sources with the remainder coming from local or nearby emissions. The above decreasing tendency was in accordance with the distance effect from the dust sources to the receptor sites. Image 1001 • Using receptor models to identify transport pathways and sources of PM 10. • The contributions of northwesterly, westerly and northerly sources were greater. • The regional contributions of PM 10 in three cities decreased from west to east. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]