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In the era of Industry 4.0, IoT technologies are fundamental for enabling real-time monitoring, operational transparency, and resource efficiency in industrial environments. This paper presents an IoT-based system for monitoring Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), integrating machine-level data to assess availability, performance, and quality in production processes. By combining OEE metrics with real-time energy consumption data, the system supports circular economy goals through reduced energy usage per unit,...

Wastewater filtration is a physical or mechanical process used to remove impurities from wastewater. It initially involves the removal of suspended solids, bacteria and debris, leading to water clarification and producing safer water for discharge or reuse. Biofiltration adds the microbial metabolism of pollutants to the simple physical removal of solids. Common biofilter materials include inert media such as plastic, ceramic or zeolite, selected for their high surface-to-mass ratio, as biofilm-based processes occ...

Arsenic (As) and antimony (Sb) are highly toxic, carcinogenic elements from the same group of periodic system. They occur naturally as oxyanions, predicting their affinity to anionactive adsorbents in aqueous environment. The differences in adsorption properties of arsenate (AsO43-) and antimonate (Sb(OH)6-) were tested on natural adsorbents (zeolite, biochar, birnessite, hydrated ferric oxides - HFO) in their original and iron (Fe) or manganese (Mn) - modified forms, using the model solutions of AsO43- and SbO43-...

The use of binders in pelletization is important not only for optimizing the mechanical properties of the pellets but also for improving their combustion behavior. Binders can affect the calorific value, ash formation and emissions during energy conversion. An important factor in efficient pellet production is ensuring appropriate flow properties of the mixture, which impact dosing uniformity, process stability and the overall energy requirements. This study investigates the effects of four binders - flour, starch...

The environmental impact of the long-standing fossil fuel, namely coke as a reducing agent has been a challenge in the pyrometallurgical industry for decades. The threats that it poses have become increasingly unbearable. Few attempts on different biochar have been conducted and their impact on the quality of slag investigated. More improvements are still underway for industrial scale use. The current project evolves on the reducing capabilities that spent malt waste biochar in the reduction zone during carbotherm...

The purpose of the study is the evaluation of the bioeconomic potential of Western Romania in terms of determining the main agricultural and forestry products and the amount of available organic waste and by-products that can be integrated into the circular bioeconomy. The NUTS 2 administrative region West Romania consists of four counties: Timi?, Arad, Cara?-Severin and Hunedoara, which in total have more than 1.8 million hectares (ha) of agricultural land and large forested areas- a significant but not well expl...

The circular economy represents a systemic change in the economic model towards more efficient use of resources, reduction of environmental externalities and support of innovation. This article analyses the economic impacts and opportunities associated with the implementation of the principles of the circular economy in the European and Czech contexts. Based on a systematic literature review, analysis of strategic documents and selected empirical studies, the macroeconomic benefits, impacts on the labour market, b...

The circular economy represents a real opportunity to support the sustainable development of rural communities by promoting efficient resource use, waste reduction, and the creation of resilient local economic chains. The generation of new jobs and, consequently, economic development, the reduction of waste quantities and the sustainable valorization of local resources, the promotion of ecological agriculture and bioeconomy, the development and promotion of sustainable forms of tourism, and the reduction of pollut...

Particulate pollutants are generated at all stages of the preparation of the moulding and core mixture, during the handling of raw materials, during mixing and preparation of the moulding mixture in the mixers, during the moulding process itself, and during both manual and machine moulding. The reason for the generation of a relatively large amount of dust in all the operations associated with the manufacture of moulds and cores is the moulding mixture used, the basis of which is abrasive, i.e. sand, whether quart...

Lately, the waste black liquor generated through paper manufacturing, has been increased in amounts, which represents a threat to the environment and human health. On the other hand, there is a great concern related to the energy crisis occurring all over the world. The use of fossil fuels through the combustion process generates greenhouse gas emissions being harmful to the environment. For this reason, the principle of the circular economy must be taken into account, ``nothing is lost, everything is transformed'...

Adapting to a Circular Economy (CE) within the context of ongoing digital transformation calls for a significant rethinking of educational models. Future professionals must be prepared with technical knowledge and the ability to think in systems and adapt to emerging digital environments. This research tends to analyse how different digital tools (i.e., digital platforms, blockchain, digital twins, the Internet of Things, and artificial intelligence) can be effectively integrated into educational practices support...

Microalgae are increasingly recognized for their potential in nutrient recovery from wastewater. This study investigated the effect of physical pretreatment of dairy wastewater on the growth and nutrient assimilation of Scenedesmus subspicatus. Cultures were maintained for 14 days in three media: standard Bristol medium, untreated dairy wastewater, and physically pretreated dairy wastewater. Chlorophyll-a content and magnesium concentration were monitored on days 0, 7, and 14 to evaluate algal growth and nutrient ...

Food industry generates high amounts of waste that can be valorized to produce energy by fermentation and conversion in biogas. This paper aimed to study the effects of biomass type (vegetal, animal and mix) and fermentation temperature (35, 40, 45 degrees Celsius) on methane concentration and energy production in a biogas plant in Suceava, Romania. An I-optimal mixture-process design was used for mathematical modelling of the data. The optimization of factors was performed by using desirability function and setti...

The volatile fatty acids (VFAs) are a valuable source of hydrogen on fuel industry or precursors of polyhydroxyalkanoates, a highly in trend and non-toxic bioplastics. However, the VFAs generation costs are expensive. Therefore, this study proposed a recycling solution of the waste activated sludge (WAS) into VFAs by non-conventional treatment with tandem steps of energic and slow oxidation in alkaline media by hybrid treatment with ozone and sodium percarbonate (SPC), followed by semi-aerobic fermentation at 22oC...

Horizontal composite tanks represent critical components in industrial applications where achieving an optimal balance between mechanical performance, material efficiency, and environmental impact is essential. This study investigates the environmental performance of structurally optimized glass-fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) horizontal tanks featuring progressive rib thickness configurations. The composite laminate optimization was carried out through advanced numerical simulations in ANSYS Mechanical 2024 R1, c...

Carrot pomace is considered a promising by-product due to its health-benefit nutrients such as fibers, vitamins, polyphenols, carotenoids, and minerals. Incorporating pasta with healthy ingredients such as carrot pomace could be a good idea to enhance its nutritional value. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of carrot pomace on durum wheat flour dough rheological properties. In this study, carrot pomace from four varieties was used. Carrot pomace was incorporated at levels varying from 0 to 12%. D...

The growing amount of waste and the pressure to transition to a sustainable and circular economy create the need to modernize waste management through technological innovations. This article focuses on the analysis of selected innovative technologies and waste processing, namely plasma gasification, hydrothermal carbonization, chemical recycling of plastics, robotic sorting systems using artificial intelligence and biological processes such as enzymatic degradation of plastics. Based on a systematic literature sea...

This study evaluates the environmental performance of two CNC machining strategies-three-axis and five-axis milling-used in the production of an aluminum wheel upright for a Formula Student vehicle. A process-based gate-to-gate Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) was carried out using Sphera GaBi software and the Ecoinvent 3.9.1 database, focusing exclusively on impacts associated with the manufacturing technologies. The analysis included detailed measurements of electricity consumption, machine time, machining operation ...

Since Latvia acceded to the European Union (EU) in 2004, the natural resources tax (NRT) has been constantly amended to comply with EU regulations and directives. Particularly significant amendments to the NRT Law have been made concerning the circular economy, pollution reduction and sustainable use of resources. Considering that environmental protection requirements become increasingly stringent and sustainable development is a priority of EU and Latvian policies, there is a possibility that the NRT will be exte...

Cupola furnaces are still considered the most suitable furnace units for cast iron melting. Typical exhaust gas from a cupola furnace contains CO, SO2 and NOx. A relatively large amount of dust emissions are emitted from the cupola furnace. These are formed during melting in the cupola furnace. These emitted particles can contain CaO, FeO, Pb, MnO, MgO, SiO2 and Zn. Crushing and mechanical abrasion during charge preparation and charging generate particles, some of which are emitted immediately. Dust is also genera...

The utilization of renewable materials has raised worldwide interest regarding biodegradable polymers, proving important scientific, ecological, and economic relevance. Biopolymers are versatile materials used in various applications due to their high strength, low weight, and minimal environmental impact. However, their characterization for understanding their properties requires extensive experimental measurement. In this context, conventional research is improved by the integration of artificial intelligence (A...

Public-private partnerships (PPPs) are increasingly promoted as collaborative tools for advancing circular economy (CE) strategies with climate-neutral outcomes. However, current research at the intersection of PPPs, circularity, and decarbonization remains fragmented, scattered across sectors, and lacking conceptual synthesis. This study proposes a systematic review of the literature to map how PPPs support circular practices and whether these initiatives report climate-related benefits. Using Scopus as the prima...

Pyrite tailings from operating industrial facilities, beyond their primary component, frequently contain valuable base metal minerals (e.g., Co, Ni, Cu) that are in constant demand and are critical for 'green energy' technologies. Despite the comparatively low concentration of Ni and Co in these tailings, their overall reserves are potentially significant. The objective of this study was to investigate the recovery of nickel, cobalt, and copper from leach sulfuric solutions derived from nickel-cobalt-bearing pyrit...

Brewer-s spent yeast is a valuable by-product of the food industry that can be used for the extraction of bioactive compounds like beta-glucan. This paper aimed at establishing the optimal addition level of beta-glucan extracted from brewer spent yeast in pasta made of wheat flour with different protein content. For this purpose, dough texture, pasta nutritional composition, cooking behavior, pasta firmness and color were evaluated. The increase of beta-glucan level resulted in a proportional decrease of cooked pa...

In light of the gradual transition toward sustainable and green economy, the valorization of various agricultural residues has been drawing more attention. The leftover products from agricultural processing can be easily turned into a CO2-neutral biofuel. The subsequent deployment of nutrient-rich ash as fertilizer helps to keep a closed cycle of minerals and promote circular economy. This practice, however, comes with its drawbacks: excessive particulate matter (PM) emissions being among the most alarming. The pr...

This study focuses on the structural and material optimization of a composite airbox for a Formula Student vehicle from the perspective of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). Three evolutionary airbox generations are analyzed, each differing in geometry, number of parts, and material configuration, while maintaining the same primary manufacturing technology, in which the core structural material is a carbon fiber prepreg cured in an autoclave. The design optimization includes shell geometry simplification, integration of...

Ash accumulating in a power plant-s ash pond represents a significant environmental burden for both nature and the people living nearby. For several years, we have been exploring the potential use of fungi, particularly the oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus), in the remediation and filtration process to ultimately achieve the revitalization of the ash pond site. The ash is mixed into a substrate based on European beech (Fagus sylvatica) wood chips, with the addition of two production strains of oyster mushroom....

The study examined the sorption properties of beech, chestnut, and pine sawdust, as well as pine pellets, focusing on their ability to remove heavy metal ions from aqueous solutions. The kinetics of sorption were analyzed using CuSO4-5H2O and FeSO4-7H2O solutions (10?5-10?- M) over 1, 2, 4, 24, and 48 hours. Sorbents were modified with HCl and NaCl, and their efficiency was evaluated by measuring pH and electrical conductivity before and after sorption. Chestnut sawdust demonstrated the highest sorption capacity, ...