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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...

Peatlands are crucial carbon sinks, but their degradation through extraction and drainage results in substantial greenhouse gas emissions and ecosystem disruption. This study investigates groundwater level dynamics in a 16.4-hectare extracted peatland in Central Latvia to assess hydrological conditions relevant for restoration. Groundwater levels were monitored from May 2023 to May 2024 using TD-Diver loggers installed in six wells. The data reveal pronounced spatial and seasonal variability, with precipitation an...

This study investigates the influence of meteorological variables on evapotranspiration (ET) using a novel lysimeter design. ET was measured with three specially constructed lysimeters made from water containers equipped with geotextile bags filled with sand and colonized by grass cover (Red fescue and Perennial ryegrass). The use of geotextile lysimeters provides a simple and robust tool for ET quantification under outdoor conditions and also reflects the structural principle of evaporation beds (ET-beds), used f...

This study evaluates the radioecological condition of soils in the vicinity of major industrial enterprises in Georgia, focusing on contamination by radionuclides (K-40, Cs-137, Sr-90) and heavy metals. Three key industrial regions: Rustavi (metallurgical and chemical industries), Bolnisi (polymetallic mining), and Gardabani (energy production) were selected as research sites. Spectrometric analysis was performed using the Atomtex Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometer (ICPE-9820) in compliance with GOST standards. T...

The rational use of natural resources is an urgent task not only in the oil and gas sector, but also in all sectors of production. This paper presents procedures for the preparation and purification of extracted oil-containing wastewater and stormwater from suspended solids, as well as various salts dissolved in water with the supply of coagulant solutions: iron sulfate or aluminum sulfate and soda ash to adjust the pH value. The conducted research and measures for the treatment of stormwater and carbonaceous wast...

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...

The accumulation of glass waste has become a significant environmental concern worldwide, with millions of tons of glass discarded annually. Although glass is 100% recyclable, a substantial proportion still ends up in landfills due to inefficient collection systems, high processing costs, or limited market demand for recycled glass. In recent years, researchers and environmental policymakers have intensified efforts to identify alternative applications for this inert but non-biodegradable material, particularly in...

Sheep farms in the Banat Mountain area, to be economically efficient, need to use the plant resources of the pasture at optimal parameters, without degrading natural environmental factors through good consumption management practices. The new models of sustainable management of the use of plant resources for sheep feed are intended to contribute to reducing the impact of sheep exploitation on pastures on the natural environment through good practices for obtaining efficient meat and milk production from ?urcana sh...

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...

Land improvements refer to measures and works carried out on agricultural or non-agricultural land to increase its value, sustainability and productivity. These improvements are intended to optimize land use, increase efficiency and support economic development. The purpose of this research was to describe the redesign of an irrigation canal, to present the necessary measurements, and to record the results. In this study, we have presented the steps necessary for measuring an irrigation canal and for drawing up lo...

The present article assesses the reliability of a water supply system that is fed by one of the large dams in Bulgaria and supplies water to three large settlements in the northeastern part of the country. The system consists of a water main with a length of about 25 km and three pumping stations. For each of the settlements that are supplied by this water supply system, the water has to be pumped by pumping stations to the pressure reservoirs. In recent years, the region has been experiencing significant drought,...

Industrial Control Systems (ICS) are foundational to critical national infrastructure, operating vital processes in sectors such as water treatment, power generation, oil and gas, and manufacturing. As these systems become increasingly integrated with information technology through the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), they face growing risks from cyber threats. As Bulgaria accelerates the integration of renewable energy infrastructure, particularly solar, wind, and gas-to-power systems, the cybersecurity of t...

Higher education must equip graduates with competencies that transcend disciplinary boundaries. This paper examines research literacy as a foundational pillar of sustainable higher education, with a focus on integrating Earth science and social science through interdisciplinary research. Drawing on bibliometric analysis of global, European, and Latvian publications, curriculum reviews, and survey data, the study identifies significant disparities in the way research methodology is taught and applied across institu...

This paper starts from an economic reality regarding the transportation situation and aims to introduce a scientific approach in a field that, in our country, has received more interest from a legislative perspective than a technical one. Transportation, in its broadest sense, has developed alongside human civilization and has incorporated throughout history all elements of its technical and scientific progress. However, in addition to the major benefits that have established transportation as a standalone and hig...

In light of the current challenges faced by rescuers during intervention operations, it is essential to place special emphasis on modernizing training infrastructure. Rescuers are often exposed to difficult and unpredictable conditions, whether operating in surface industries or underground environments. Adequate training and constant updates of training equipment are fundamental to ensuring both efficiency and safety in emergency interventions. The use of modern equipment and advanced technologies not only enhanc...

The purpose of this research is to identify the existing environmental problems at the level of the analyzed region and to propose possible solutions to reduce these problems. The main methods used in the creation of the article are the documentary research carried out with the help of the secondary analysis of quantitative data within the Research Center "Business management and entrepreneurial development" within the University, as well as a questionnaire on the perception of residents on environmental pollution...

We are interested in mushrooms mainly for two reasons: for the substances they contain and for their natural abilities. Therefore, they are used as food, as sources of health-promoting and medicinal substances, and as agents for restoring, strengthening, and revitalizing the environment. These are the main reasons why we must continually deepen our knowledge of mushrooms and use them wisely. Among the mushrooms used in remediation processes is Ganoderma lingzhi, originally from China. The physiological activity of...

Since July 2023, the research institute VUHU has been the investigator of the European reclamation project REECOL. The first part of the paper summarizes the results of the successful completion of the working package WP3, which was led by VUHU and finished in 2024. Within four sub-tasks, the current reclamation situation in the individual project countries was mapped. The main part of the paper evaluates the research within the framework of another working package WP5 focused on short-term and long-term monitorin...

In these article, we discusses the analysis of the profitability of investments in energy storage batteries, in the context of injection policies in the grid in Romania. The study compares the compensation and energy sale regimes for prosumers and producers depending on the installed capacity, thus showing the impact of market prices and tax regulations on the return of investment (ROI). The case study has three scenarios, each with specific formulas for calculating ROI depending on the price of the stored energy ...

With rapid urbanization and growing populations, cities around the world are facing multiple challenges related to the environment, public health and quality of life of citizens. In this context, green infrastructure appears not only as a solution but also as a way to revitalize urban spaces by restoring natural ecosystems and improving the vitality of urban areas. Green infrastructure encompasses a network of natural and semi-natural elements that are integrated into urban planning and management. It includes a v...

Investing in ensuring the quality and safety of movement on highways is not a one-time process. Institutions charged with ensuring quality crossing surfaces must constantly monitor and repair the highway network so that it remains in the best possible condition. Because the funds available to maintain the highway network are limited, it is essential that decisions taken to maintain and rehabilitate the highway network are spent justifying each intervention. Layer management systems at the network and project level...

The most effective way to ensure drinking water quality and protect public health is the implementation of a preventive, risk-based approach to water supply management. This approach encompasses all stages, from the water source to the consumer, and can be applied across all water supply systems, regardless of their size. The EU Drinking Water Directive (Directive (EU) 2020/2184) emphasizes the importance of this concept. This study assesses and analyzes the risk of groundwater contamination at the water supply so...

The article discusses possible ways to increase the potential of small-scale mining of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia). Currently, their share in the structure of the country-s mining sector does not exceed 1-2 percent, compared with 15-30 percent in a number of foreign countries. The article shows that for the development of small-scale mining in the region, having a large number of different potential small-scale deposits, there is a need to develop a scientifically based concept of their use, with changes in a ...

The sludge layer formed during the first stage of French vertical flow constructed wetlands is a crucial component in achieving high removal efficiencies of water pollution, including suspended solids, chemical oxygen demand, nitrogen, and phosphorus. In the Czech Republic, persistent challenges with insufficient sludge layer development on the first stage have limited treatment performance due to the combined sewerage system. To address this, a pilot-scale experiment was conducted focusing exclusively on the form...

Agroecology, which merges ecological principles with agricultural practices, offers a pathway to food security while ensuring environmental sustainability. However, its implementation faces challenges stemming from ineffective ecological resource monitoring, predetermined climate conditions, and insufficient real-time data for precision farming and well-informed decision-making. The aimed first, to develop models that monitor soil health and predict crop yields under different agroecological conditions powered by ...

Practicing rural tourism in mountain areas represents an essential element in their sustainable development, offering economic, social and environmental opportunities that contribute to the revitalization of these regions, the reduction of economic gaps and the value of natural and cultural heritage. This study aims to identify the impact that the development and promotion of rural tourism has on rural mountain communities. The article makes an innovative contribution to understanding how responsible tourism activ...

All nuclear power plants in Slovakia can effectively prevent emergencies caused by technical or human error. Before commissioning, they must demonstrate to the Nuclear Supervisory Authority that the plant can respond to even extremely unlikely events. The design of the plant has safety systems that will prevent damage to nuclear fuel and the release of radioactive substances so as not to endanger human health and the environment. The maximum design accident for a WWER-440 reactor is a rupture of the main circulati...

In the presented scientific work, a scenario forecast for the long-term perspective of water level changes in Lake Balkhash, one of the largest drainless lakes in Central Asia, is carried out. The study takes into account the impact of projected climatic changes based on CMIP6 data and the impact of socio-economic factors, including water management activities. A water balance model was used as the main tool to quantify the role of surface inflow, precipitation and evaporation in shaping the hydrological regime of...

As a result of rapid climate change, forest ecosystems are transforming, leading to insect outbreaks, such as the large pine weevil (Hylobius abietis L.). In Europe, the pine weevil is considered one of the most significant pests of coniferous trees, causing substantial financial losses estimated at around - 120 million annually. To limit or reduce the impact of this pest, it is essential to take preventive measures; otherwise, in unprotected stands, the extent of damage can reach 60-80%. Damage caused by the weev...

The modern lifestyle exerts a range of negative effects on human health, while the growing prevalence of chronic diseases and the state of contemporary therapies highlight the critical need for healthy nutrition. A significant portion of both food products and pharmaceutical preparations currently in use contain synthetic ingredients, many of which are associated with adverse side effects. Consequently, global demand for natural, ecologically clean food products and therapeutic agents has increased substantially, ...

In this study, the extraction efficiency of rhenium ions in the form of perrhenate (ReO4?) from model aqueous solutions was investigated using a binary ion-exchange system based on KU-2-8 (strongly acidic cation-exchange resin) and AV-17-8 (strongly basic anion-exchange resin). The ion exchangers were separately weighed and combined in varying molar ratios (6:0, 5:1, 4:2, 3:3, 2:4, 1:5, and 0:6), and were immobilized within a chemically resistant polypropylene mesh bag to maintain phase separation while allowing s...

This study examines the morphological characteristics and shoreline dynamics of sandy beaches along the Burgas coast, one of the most diverse and human-impacted regions of the Bulgarian Black Sea. By integrating high-resolution Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) photogrammetry, GIS-based morphometric analysis, and historical shoreline data spanning the 1980s to 2025, the research provides a comprehensive assessment of coastal evolution over the past century. Five representative beaches, Sarafovo, Atanasovska Kosa, Burga...

Achieving efficient energy systems has become a challenge for researchers, as many engineering applications combine convective heat transfer in fluid saturated porous media, such as nuclear reactors, hydrogen production and storage, underground disposal of waste, food processing and storage, solar power collectors or geothermal systems. For this purpose, it is essential to calculate energy losses and identify methods that involve minimal costs. The paper presents a problem of free convection for a fluid flow throu...

Hybrid energy systems are a fundamental component of the future of energy resources. They are applicable across various sectors of industry and daily life. This study examines the integration of a photovoltaic system within a smart grid of charging stations for electric vehicles. The hybrid system consists of solar panels, inverters and an injection point. By simulating solar panels in simulator and analysis, the generated power over time is assessed based on solar irradiation data for a specific geographical loca...

The significant growth of the global population that has happened in the last years strains even more the present fragile balance between the produced and consumed resources, if the current rate of development is to be maintained without change the harmful and the negative effects caused by the global warming will only amplify.The increase of the water level, the desertification of fertile lands and the greenhouse gas effects are only a few of the problems we already need to resolve, because of this the transition...

The European Union (EU) Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) plays a crucial role in agricultural and economic development in the Member States. In the future, CAP support instruments must foster sustainable agriculture, with economic, social and environmental goals achieved through synergy. It would be increasingly important to assess the effectiveness of support payments in terms of their economic, social, and environmental dimensions. Accordingly, the present research aims to evaluate CAP support payments' soc...

The objective of the paper is to develop a methodology for arable land planning, taking into account the modern trends in agricultural machinery technologies and the contemporary environmental requirements for soil cultivation. It was found that design standards for arable land can be developed in the direction of: plot area up to 150 ha; working stroke over 1200 m; and aspect ratio up to 11. The study was based on two groups of spatial planning projects: two projects according to the existing design standards for...

The growing demand for refractory rare metals, such as niobium, necessitates the development of efficient extraction methods from alternative sources, including industrial waste from metallurgical plants enriched with niobium and zirconium. This study investigates the solvent extraction of niobium from a fluoride-sulfuric acid solution obtained by leaching rare-metal-containing waste from titanium-magnesium production. The efficiency of niobium recovery using a trialkyl phosphine oxide-based extractant (Cyanex 923...

The article considers the systematic errors of estimation of reserves and average contents of useful component in exploration of alluvial deposits of nesting, tape, etc. structures. The article identifies and evaluates the main components of systematic errors in the assessment of mineral content, useful and harmful components in alluvial deposits based on theoretical, experimental and generalized published works: insufficient density of the exploration network; error due to unrepresentative sample size. These erro...

Connected to the vision of bringing space closer to human beings, space tourism starts to become a new exciting free-time spending possibility allowing experiencing new unknown courageous activities linked to the possibility of viewing Earth from space. There are various types of space tourism such as orbital, suborbital and lunar ones. At the same time a big provocation for space tourists is to feel weightlessness and floating in space as the unique chance to contribute in a personal manner to advance science. As...

Urbanization and increasing traffic intensity contribute significantly to heavy metal pollution in urban environments, posing potential risks to public health and ecosystems. This study investigates the spatiotemporal variations of zinc concentrations in snow water within Jelgava, Latvia, from 2020 to 2024. A total of 59 sampling sites in Jelgava and an additional site in Mezciems were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) to determine zinc concentrations and identify potential pollu...

Specialization of production according to existing resources and the availability of sheep involves the use of new production systems, their readaptation to the demand for raw materials and the availability of feed resources. Depending on the existence of resources and the typology of sheep farms in the research area, production systems can be specialized for producing lamb, young sheep, and sheep reconditioned on pastures, and producing milk-meat in pastoral systems through the seasonal use of alpine pastures or ...

The aim of the study was to develop and validate analytical methods for the detection and quantification of arsenic species (As(III), DMA, MMA and As(V)) in different environmental matrices, including drinking water, surface water, groundwater, and sediments. The experimental tests were performed on a HPLC 1260 Infinity II coupled with an ICP-MS 7850 Agilent. For aqueous matrices, the method was validated within a working range of 10-50 microg/L using an Agilent G3154-65002 guard column and an Agilent G3154-65001 ...

The development, implementation, monitoring, evaluation and revision of the EU policies on agriculture, including environmental and the common agricultural policy, plant protection, sustainable use of fertilizers, pesticides and veterinary drugs, requires comprehensive and reliable statistical knowledge. The introduction of Regulation (EU) 2022/2379 on agricultural input and output statistics poses a challenge as it brings significant changes to the system in Latvia by not only broadening the range of inputs and i...

The transition to renewable energy sources is a key strategy for reducing carbon emissions and ensuring energy sustainability. This study explores the integration of photovoltaic (PV) systems for hydrogen production and storage in Constan?a County, Romania. The region benefits from high solar potential, making it an optimal location for implementing solar energy solutions. The proposed system converts solar energy into electricity through photovoltaic panels, which is then used to power an electrolyzer for hydroge...

In this paper, the authors analyze methods and technologies that contribute to the efficiency of an agricultural holding, in accordance with the principles of sustainable agriculture. The aim is to identify modern techniques (crop rotation, use of organic fertilizers, efficient irrigation, digitalization of agricultural processes, minimum sowing) that reduce the ecological footprint, as well as to compare traditional practices with modern methods of sustainable cultivation. The paper highlights solutions capable o...

A significant part of the built environment and historical architectural heritage in the EU consists of masonry structures. These old structures often undergo severe decay, reaching a critical state of deterioration and becoming highly susceptible to natural disasters, especially in earthquake-prone areas. Some of the structures hold architectural and historical value. Modernizing, repairing, and reusing the existing built environment, alongside efforts in extending its service lifespan, are among the most effecti...

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...

This study examines the travel behaviour of university students and academic staff at four Slovak universities, focusing on differences in transport mode choice and perceptions of mobility factors within the broader context of sustainable mobility in Europe. An online survey was conducted among university participants, assessing their primary travel modes and the perceived importance of five key factors travel cost, travel time, parking availability, environmental impact, and sharing using a five-point Likert scal...