Conservation AI—the deliberate application of artificial intelligence technology to achieve conservation goals—has great potential to boost productivity, make existing conservation actions more efficient, and enable entirely new areas of activity. However, it also comes with risks, including AI being used by bad actors; high material demand for energy, land, and water; biases in training datasets;

Humans have caused pervasive wildlife habitat loss by transforming most of the Earth's terrestrial surface, while unexpectedly limited species have consequently gone extinct. The concept of time‐lagged extinction (i.e., an extinction debt) potentially explains this paradox, but the starting time of the process is difficult to estimate. Herein, by projecting extinction risk backward onto human perturbation

Evaluating the effectiveness of freshwater protected areas (FPAs) is crucial for improving their performance, yet evidence remains limited. Using remote sensing and field surveys from 2001 to 2017, we examined FPA coverage, their efficacy in preventing species decline and habitat deterioration, and strategies to enhance FPA effectiveness for the critically endangered Yangtze finless porpoise (Neophocaena

Horseshoe crabs are unique living fossils that have remained almost unaltered through 400 million years of global change. They face rapid worldwide declines under increasing anthropogenic pressure. Using comprehensive geographic and genomic sampling combined with approaches that integrate DNA with environmental and climatic datasets, we assessed the population genetic structure, demographic histories

Typically, Western Science approaches the study of complex systems by examining the component parts outside of their contextual relationships. In contrast, Indigenous people continue to advocate the need for land and seascape approaches that include all aspects of life, particularly the special relationship between Kin (people), Country, and Knowledge. Globally, Indigenous people are lobbying for environmental

Ferrihydrite and lepidocrocite, as abundant iron oxides in vanadium-titanium (V-Ti) magnetite, play a crucial role in regulating the migration and transformation of V species, particularly V(IV) and V(V), in the environment. This study investigated the effects of pH, iron oxide dosage, and light exposure on the immobilization of these V species by ferrihydrite and lepidocrocite through batch experiments

Diethyl phthalate (DEP) is a chemical widely used in various materials. As a phthalic plasticizer, DEP has become a new pollutant in environment water. In this study, a double grounded dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma was used to degrade DEP in wastewater. By adding packing materials into the discharge space, a new type of packed bed DBD plasma system was formed to enhance the discharge effect

The growing environmental concerns associated with the high carbon emissions of ordinary Portland cement (OPC) production, and the accumulation of industrial and marine waste materials, necessitate innovative solutions in the construction industry. This study evaluates the environmental feasibility of recycling industrial byproduct slag (BFS) and waste oyster shell powder (OSP) as alternative materials

Water contamination by nitrate and phosphate ions remains a critical environmental and public health challenge, largely driven by agricultural runoff and industrial activities. In this study, the adsorption capacity of nickel-doped calcium alginate beads (Ni-CaAlg) as a novel adsorbent for the dual removal of nitrate and phosphate ions from water has been investigated. Incorporating nickel ions into

As a key link in the upstream of the hydrogen energy industry chain, a hydrogen refilling station is critical to ensure the safety and sustainable development of hydrogen energy, to deeply analyze the coupling relationship between the causative factors of fire and explosion accidents in hydrogen refilling station, and to put forward practical preventive measures and control risks. In this paper, firstly

Photo-Fenton membranes exhibit exceptional self-cleaning and anti-fouling performances, making them promising for oil/water separation applications. However, the practical use of photo-Fenton catalytic reaction is limited as it requires an acidic environment. In this study, a polyethersulfone (PES)/Fe3S4@Al2O3 membrane was fabricated using nonsolvent-induced phase separation. This resulted in a photo-Fenton

The distribution of actual industrial process data is complex, and variations in data distribution caused by equipment wear and changing operating conditions can easily lead to model mismatch, presenting a severe challenge to fault diagnosis methods that assume data follows a Gaussian distribution. In this context, we propose a novel fault detection method based on generative models in this paper.

This study aims to optimize a solar Photovoltaic (PV) and thermoelectric (TE) unit utilizing the Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm II (NSGA-II). The system incorporates a hybrid nanofluid jet, composed of water and ND-Co3O4 nanoparticles. Optimization, conducted in Python, utilizes data from an extensive 3D numerical model. Key factors under consideration include solar irradiation, the jet’s

In this paper, an alkali/acid procedure of coal fly ash (CFA) treatment was developed and analyzed: a desilication method involving high concentration of NaOH and high-pressure HCl leaching of mullite-type CFA. Effects of NaOH concentration (425–450 g/L), of the solid-to-liquid (S/L) ratio (10–15), and of desilication duration (20–60 min) on the dissolution of amorphous silica from the surface of aluminosilicate

Molybdenum tailings (MoT) are solid waste generated during the production process of metallic molybdenum, posing significant potential hazards to the surrounding environment during storage. This study used MoT to partially replace natural sand to prepare subgrade materials, and investigated the optimal ratio of subgrade materials through orthogonal experiments. The leaching behavior of heavy metals

Co-pyrolysis of waste plastic and biomass presents great perspectives for sustainable and clean waste recycling. Unifying the distribution and generation mechanism of co-pyrolysis products of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and cellulose (CE) solely through macroscopic experiments is challenging. In this study, the synergetic effect mechanism of co-pyrolysis of PVC and CE was comprehensively analyzed through

In this study, red mud (RM)-based composites were successfully designed and synthesized using the following three methods: chemical calcium impregnation (RM-PCa), electrochemical precipitation loading (RM-ECa), and calcium carbide slag coagulation (RCS). In particular, RM-ECa was introduced as a novel technique in this study. Systematic adsorption experiments were conducted to evaluate the phosphorus

The continuous explosion of combustible gas expands the scope of a disaster and causes severe damage. However, current research lacks an understanding of the mechanism of continuous explosions. To address this gap, this study independently designed and built a visual experimental platform to test the critical concentration for methane’s continuous explosion. The dynamic characteristics of methane explosions

Extensive studies have focused on precipitative recovery of magnesium from seawater desalination concentrate, but much less from brackish groundwater desalination concentrate (BWDC). The current work investigated the feasibility of a new three step process for complete Ca and Mg removal from BWDC, to enhance water recovery, while producing pure CaCO3 and Mg(OH)2 to offset treatment costs. Step 1 involved

In order to realize the hazard-free and resource utilization treatment of heavy metal-enriched biomass generated from phytoremediation, this study attempts to separate heavy metals and obtain heavy metal worry-free biochar by combining leaching pretreatment and pyrolysis. The results showed that the 0.1 mol/L glacial acetic acid solution could effectively extract heavy metals in raw phytoremediation

In this study, microwave pyrolysis, two-stage acid leaching, precipitation and chemical etching methods were carried out for resource recovery from spent c-Si solar modules. Compared with conventional pyrolysis, microwave pyrolysis should be a better pretreatment process, because it can provide higher aluminum recovery rate and would not alter the surface structure and composition of c-Si solar modules

As the typical pollutants from marine LNG engines, CH4 and NOx can be addressed simultaneously through the nonthermal plasma-catalyst method. To reveal the mechanism behind the plasma-catalyst removal of CH4 and NOx, an experimental and chemical kinetic study was performed under the LNG engine exhaust environment. Specifically, a plasma-catalyst experiment was performed over the newly designed combined

Much received wisdom in the conservation literature is that individual connections across community boundaries undercut natural resource management. However, when multiple communities access the same resource, these long‐distance relationships could generate interdependence and trust to motivate engagement in collective action to manage the resource. To test this, we interviewed 1317 people in 28 fishing

Many alien species are safe in their native ranges, but some are threatened. This creates a conundrum for conservation and invasion science. We analyzed the distributions, introduction pathways, threats, and conservation strategies of threatened mammals with alien populations globally. We reassessed their hypothetical IUCN Red List category including the alien part of the range. Among 230 alien mammals

Oyster reefs are often referred to as the temperate functional equivalent of coral reefs. Yet evidence for this analogy was lacking for the European native species Ostrea edulis. Historical data provide a unique opportunity to develop a robust definition for this ecosystem type, confirm that O. edulis are large‐scale biogenic reef builders, and assess its current conservation status. Today, O. edulis

Bioleaching offers a green and sustainable alternative for recovering valuable metals from waste printed circuit boards (WPCBs). This study is the first to use Bacillus thuringiensis, Macrococcus caseolyticus, and Cellulosimicrobium funkei for extracting copper and gold from WPCBs. Two-step bioleaching with C. funkei (with cells) achieved 40 % copper recovery within 3 days, while spent medium bioleaching

This study has focused on the characterization, recovery and treatment of apple processing wastes, which are important in terms of sustainability and circular economy. Apple processing wastewater (AW) was noted for its acidity (pH 4.2), high chemical oxygen demand (COD) (114 g/L), total solids (TS; 13.5 %) and oil/grease content (16.5 g/L), as well as the presence of valuable fatty acids and phenolics

The steel cold-rolling process generates a considerable amount of cold-rolling oily sludge (CROS), which has been classified as hazardous waste in Chinese "National Hazardous Waste List" due to its significant impact on human health and the environment. This study developed a co-processing method using iron ore sintering technology to achieve harmless disposal and resource utilization of CROS. TG-DSC-MS

Efficient utilization of low-grade waste heat is pivotal for advancing energy savings and emissions reduction in power stations. However, the heat and water contained in flue gas and slurry post wet flue gas desulfurization (WFGD) have traditionally been underutilized. The flash-heat pump-heat exchanger (FHH) system and heat exchanger-heat pump (HH) system were proposed, employing heat exchangers (HE)

Indoor air pollution can be extensively reduced by using a molecular air filtration system. However, widely utilized synthetic polymer-based filtration medium can lead to waste management difficulty after use. Consequently, this work aimed to synthesize highly efficient air nano-filters derived from renewable and biodegradable resources namely EFB and Pulp. The study successfully presented an air filter

In recent years, the advanced Fenton-like oxidation technology based on peracetic acid (PAA) has attracted increasing attention, while accelerating the cycle of Fe(III)/Fe(II) remains a limitation for widespread PAA/Fe(III) system application. Herein, in this study, the dual mechanism of UV synchronous acceleration of Fe(III)/Fe(II) cycling and activation of PAA was systematic investigated with the

Manure biogas slurry is a widely used liquid fertilizer in crop cultivation, but its associated microbial risks have been underexplored. To address this knowledge gap, we conducted a 120-day field study, systematically investigating the effects of varying dosages and frequencies of biogas slurry irrigation on the spatial and temporal dynamics of exogenous microorganisms, antibiotic-resistant genes

This study introduces a novel strategy for hydrogen sulfide (H2S) production from natural pyrrhotite (NP), presenting a cost-effective and environmentally sustainable method for treating contaminated dirty acid wastewater (DW) in non-ferrous metal smelting processes. Under the conditions of liquid-solid ratio of 31.25, sulfuric acid concentration of 1.4 M, reaction temperature of 75 ℃, reaction time

Photovoltaic (PV) system, integral to the renewable energy landscape, occupies a pivotal role within the modern energy frameworks. With the rapid development of PV technology, timely and precise fault diagnosis of PV arrays has become particularly significant. However, the performance of fault diagnosis model is seriously affected by the data imbalance that usually exists in PV arrays. To address this

Green innovation and capacity transfer are pivotal for achieving energy transition. However, discussions on their inherent connections remain limited. This paper examines the relationship between capacity transfer and green innovation, utilizing China’s carbon intensity target policy as context. We analyze a comprehensive panel dataset comprising 1755,630 observations from energy-intensive projects

Phthalate organic pollutants are widespread in the environment and have carcinogenic, immunotoxic and reproductive toxicity to various life systems, causing ecological risks and threatening human health. Electro-Fenton catalysis represents the promising technology to produce super-active •OH for tackling severe water environment pollution issues, whereas it suffers from low atomic efficiency, poor

During the 1,4-butanediol (BDO) production by maleic anhydride direct hydrogenation method, large amounts of crude n-butanol liquor containing a small amount of methanol, tetrahydrofuran, and water is generated. This article proposes four processes based on extractive distillation and heteroazeotropic distillation for the first time, including conventional extractive distillation process with single

The reversible hydrogen storage nature of metal hydride (MH) is widely accepted for the development of MH based energy devices like energy storage, hydrogen compressors, etc. For efficient working of such devices, the appropriate thermal management of canister is very important i.e. extraction and supply of heat during hydrogenation and dehydrogenation, respectively. The accumulation of heat reduces

The study evaluated the membrane fouling behavior of a dual-charged nanofiltration (NF) membrane in treating acid mine drainage (AMD) after neutralization. After 10 h of fouling, the membrane demonstrated an 89.52 % recovery rate and exhibited excellent retention ability for divalent ions (91.21 % Mg2+, 89.24 % Ca2+, 91.51 % Mn2+, 93.72 % SO42-), as well as outstanding anti-pollution performance. Membrane

Being a low-energy, reusable, and environmentally friendly degradation technology, photocatalysis has excellent application prospects in textile dye wastewater degradation. In this study, we combine the advantages of photocatalysis and membrane technology to prepare photocatalytic membranes that immobilize the photocatalyst and alleviate membrane pollution. Dual-precursor graphitic carbon nitride (U6M1)

In order to address the unclear mechanism of dust generation during coal cutting by picks at the current driving face, experiments on dust generation at different drilling speeds were conducted using a self-built experimental apparatus for coal cutting dust. Numerical simulations were also employed to further analyze the dust generation mechanism during coal cutting by cutter picks. The research findings

The feasibility of establishing an anaerobic digestion power plant for producing electricity, heat, and bio-fertilizer using a combined heat and power system using municipal solid waste in Sanandaj has been designed and simulated. The optimal condition for biogas production will be identified using an experimental design, and subsequently, modeling under optimal conditions was performed using Aspen

Modern multistage batch plants, characterized by products processed through a series of stages with competing processing units, face challenges in optimizing scheduling and considering inserted events such as breakdowns and maintenance operations simultaneously in current highly dynamic and volatile market. It necessitates robust scheduling tools for efficiency, flexibility, and safety. Previous mathematical

Porous fluorinated polyurethane membranes show tremendous application potential in organic solvent adsorption. However, the solubilization of fluorinated monomers remain the main obstacle during their polymerization. In this work, we launched a new strategy combining high internal phase emulsion with thiol-ene click chemistry for the facile fabrication of porous fluorinated polyurethane membranes for

Low solubility and slow oxygen transport in the electrolyte lead to poor hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) generation performance through oxygen reduction reactions (ORR) at traditional submerged cathodes. Herein, we fabricated a Janus-gas diffusion electrode with asymmetric wettability, high gas permeability, and abundant catalytic active sites using HNO3-modified graphite felt as the substrate, polytetrafluoroethylene

Despite extensive studies in quantifying the life-cycle carbon emissions of construction projects, the establishment of system boundaries and the allocation of carbon emissions among various stakeholders are rarely reported, undermining the credibility of the carbon calculation process and the viability of decision. Accordingly, this study is aimed to developed a multilevel framework for road project

Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), as a pollutant, is widely distribution in the environment. Owing to its stable C-F bond and high toxicity, PFOA seriously threatens ecological and biological health. In this paper, three-dimensional (3D) gliding arc plasma discharging in gas-liquid phase is used to degrade PFOA in the artificially polluted water. We obtain that the defluorination rate reaches 50.37 %

Risk assessment plays a vital role in facilitating the safety and sustainability of green hydrogen production. This study presents a risk assessment method incorporating causal qualitative analysis of System Theoretic Process Analysis (STPA) and Event Tree Analysis (ETA), and quantitative analysis of FBN. Based on the flexible adaptation of the typical STPA analysis process, the topology of STPA-ETA-based

Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) is widely used for restaurant fuel while it may cause severe explosion due to its flammable and explosive properties such as the "6·21" explosion in China in 2023 (31 deaths and 7 injuries). Many studies have been conducted to analyze and predict LPG explosion overpressure while limited attempts the structure damage mechanization which is essential for assessing secondary

The thermal decomposition and combustion characteristics of solid composite propellants can vary significantly under different environmental pressures; however, a quantitative method for assessing their thermal hazards is lacking. This study investigates the thermal decomposition mechanisms of hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene/ammonium perchlorate/aluminium powder (HTPB/AP/Al) and hydroxyl-terminated

Methane has a wide range of applications in several industries. However, it also exhibits flammable and explosive properties, which pose a potential hazard. This study used calcium alginate to make ordinary dry water powder have a stable network gel structure, and urea was added to enhance further dry water powder’s chemical inhibition. A visual test system verified the explosion suppression effect

Nanofiltration membrane process has been investigated for the recovery of phenolic compounds from residual pickle industries, such as residual table olive fermentation brines. Two polyamide membranes were considered: NF245 and NF270 (DOW Chemical). Tests were performed varying the transmembrane pressure (TMP) and crossflow velocity (CFV) from 5 to 15 bar and from 0.5 to 1.5 m·s−1, respectively. The

To achieve sustainable development, it is crucial to prioritize green polygeneration systems capable of generating diverse energy outputs, including electricity, heat, and distilled water, with enhanced efficiencies, reduced costs, and environmentally friendly advantages. Therefore, this study explores an innovative integration for a solar-powered desalination system to present an eco-friendly desalination

Under the background of China's "double carbon" goal, coal mining must become a systematic project that takes into account both economic strategy and environmental protection strategy. The destruction of groundwater artesian field caused by the development of overburden failure caused by large-scale coal mining activities is aggravating the ecological vulnerability of mining areas in China. In this

The article presents a study on the synergistic effect of electrooxidation in activating persulfate (PDS) with iron phosphide (Fe3P) for the simultaneously removal of organic (phenol) and inorganic (As) pollutants. The removal efficiencies and kinetics of pollutants removal in a developed EF/Fe3P/PDS system with combination of electro-Fenton (EF) and PDS activation were explored. The optimal conditions

Graphene oxide-modified pressure-driven membranes are attractive due to their enhanced water flux and mechanical properties. However, the large-scale use of membranes such as ultra-filtration (UF) is hindered due to the challenges in bulk production of graphene oxide at an affordable cost. The present work reports the application of ultra-dispersible graphene oxide (UDGO) synthesized through a single-step

Highly stable phase change materials with superior thermal properties and reliability are of utmost need for waste heat recovery applications. Due to low supercooling, non-corrosivity, and low phase separation, organic phase change materials are preferred for thermal energy storage over inorganic phase change materials. Despite their other advantages, the limited heat conductivity of organic phase

The large utilization of red mud (RM) presents many challenges due to its high alkalinity, which is attributed to the presence of CaO and Na2O. High phosphorus oolitic hematite (HPOH) is a typical refractory ore for Fe and P separation. During the direct reduction of HPOH to produce direct reduced iron (DRI) and achieve simultaneous dephosphorization, sodium or calcium salts are typically added as