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Due to its superior behaviour, membrane separation has been applied widely towards water and wastewater treatment. Compare to polymeric counterparts, ceramic membrane has become innovation technology nowadays as it can be used both separation and adsorption application. The conventional ceramic membrane made from alumina, however, in view of its high-cost output. As a result, exploring to a cheap ceramic material derived from clay and waste is gaining attention. In this study, hydroxyapatite derived from cow bone waste and kaolin were used as the main materials for the fabrication of ceramic hollow fibre membrane via phase inversion and sintering technique. The membrane composition was varied through kaolin:hydroxyapatite ration into three composition (40:0, 0:40, 20:20). Result showed the ceramic membrane fabricated from 20 wt% kaolin and 20 wt% hydroxyapatite induces excellent performance at water flux of 10168.5 L/m².h and mechanical strength at 13.33 MPa.

Efficiency improvement of the industrial scale solar cells to capture sunlight as an important renewable energy source is attracting significant attention to prevent the consumption of a finite supply of unsustainable fossil fuels. ZnO nanoparticles decorated with an imine-linked receptor have been used in the fabrication of a photocathode based on dye-sensitized solar cells for the purpose of photovoltaic efficiency enhancement. Various characterization techniques have been employed to investigate the structural, morphological, and optical behaviors of the solar cell having ZnO nanoparticles and ZnO nanoparticles decorated with an organic ligand as a photocathode layer. The decorated nanoparticles have a stable wurtzite structure and an average grain size of ∼45 nm, confirmed by the TEM image and XRD through the Scherrer equation. The ZnO sample emits wide peaks in the visible range, and the emission intensity of the ZnO-DOL sample increases along with a red-shift (0.38 eV) in the band gap. This shift can be explained using deep level transition, surface plasmon energy of a surfactant, and coupling of ZnO with local surface plasmon energy. UV-vis absorption spectra together with photoluminescence spectra confirm the higher absorption rate due to organic ligand decoration on ZnO nanoparticles. The greatest solar power-to-electricity conversion efficiency (η) of 3.48% is achieved for the ZnO-DOL sample. It is enhanced by 3.13% as compared to that of the ZnO-based solar cell. The ZnO-DOL device exhibits a higher external quantum efficiency (EQE), responsivity (R λ), and photocurrent-to-dark current ratio; this confirms the improvement in the solar cell performance.

Poly (citric acid)-grafted-MWCNT (PCA-g-MWCNT) was incorporated as nanofiller in polyethersulfone (PES) to produce hemodialysis mixed matrix membrane (MMM). Citric acid monohydrate was polymerized onto the surface of MWCNTs by polycondensation. Neat PES membrane and PES/MWCNTs MMMs were fabricated by dry-wet spinning technique. The membranes were characterized in terms of morphology, pure water flux (PWF) and bovine serum albumin (BSA) protein rejection. The grafting yield of PCA onto MWCNTs was calculated as 149.2%. The decrease of contact angle from 77.56° to 56.06° for PES/PCA-g-MWCNTs membrane indicated the increase in surface hydrophilicity, which rendered positive impacts on the PWF and BSA rejection of the membrane. The PWF increased from 15.8Lm−2 h−1 to 95.36Lm−2 h−1 upon the incorporation of PCA-g-MWCNTs due to the attachment of abundant hydrophilic groups that present on the MWCNTs, which have improved the affinity of membrane towards the water molecules. For protein rejection, the PES/PCA-g-MWCNTs MMM rejected 95.2% of BSA whereas neat PES membrane demonstrated protein rejection of 90.2%. Compared to commercial PES hemodialysis membrane, the PES/PCA-g-MWCNTs MMMs showed less flux decline behavior and better PWF recovery ratio, suggesting that the membrane antifouling performance was improved. The incorporation of PCA-g-MWCNTs enhanced the separation features and antifouling capabilities of the PES membrane for hemodialysis application.

Methylene blue (MB) is a dye pollutant commonly present in textile wastewater. We investigate and critically evaluate the applicability of BaTiO3/GO composite for photodegradation of MB in synthetic wastewater under UV–vis irradiation. To enhance its performance, the BaTiO3/GO composite is varied based on the BaTiO3 weight. To compare and evaluate any changes in their morphologies and crystalline structures before and after treatment, BET (Brunauer–Emmett–Teller), XRD (X-ray diffraction), FTIR (Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy), SEM (scanning electron microscopy) and TEM (transmission electron microscopy) tests are conducted, while the effects of reaction time, pH, dose of photocatalyst and initial MB concentration on its photodegradation by the composite are also investigated under identical conditions. The degradation pathways and removal mechanisms of MB by the BaTiO3/GO are elaborated. It is evident from this study that the BaTiO3/GO composite is promising for MB photodegradation through ·OH. Under optimized conditions (0.5 g/L of dose, pH 9.0, and 5 mg/L of MB concentration), the composite with 1:2 dose ratio of BaTiO3/GO has the highest MB degradation rate (95%) after 3 h of UV vis irradiation. However, its treated effluents still could not comply with the discharge standard limit of less than 0.2 mg/L imposed by national environmental legislation. This suggests that additional biological treatments are still required to deal with the remaining oxidation by-products of MB, still present in the wastewater samples such as 3,7-bis (dimethyl-amino)-10H-phenothiazine 5-oxide.

<title>Abstract</title> Indoor air quality is crucial for human health and well-being, directly influencing respiratory function and overall comfort. Poor indoor air quality can lead to various health issues, including respiratory problems, allergies, and the exacerbation of pre-existing conditions, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a healthy indoor environment. This study aims to examine the synergistic impact of filter integration and botanical solution in enhancing air quality. A botanical indoor air biofilter (BIAB) rig that utilises the low-cost Internet of Things approach was developed. The air quality parameters are particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5) and particulate matter 10 (PM10), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), carbon dioxide (CO₂), air temperature and relative humidity (RH). The smart sensors operated on RS485 Modbus protocol was integrated into the BIAB to monitor the real-time fluctuations of air quality parameters. A total of 5 combinations of parametric studies are tested, ranging from the usage of botanical plants, carbon filters, coconut husk, and granular activated carbon (GAC). These combinations were designed to assess the impact of different filtration configurations on the overall effectiveness of the system in reducing air pollutants. Results show that Case 3 (integrating botanical plants and a primary carbon filter) has the highest average reduction rate on PM2.5 with 5.36 µg/m³ per minute and VOCs with 4.13 µg/m³ per minute, respectively. However, Case 5 (integrating additional GAC) contributes to the highest reduction of PM10 concentration, with an average reduction rate of 5.23 ppm per minute.

The pressing need to mitigate climate change has led to the widespread adoption of photovoltaic (PV) solar panels as a renewable energy solution. However, the increasing disposal of end-of-life solar panels presents significant environmental challenges, as they contain valuable elements that can potentially be recycled and reused. This article reviews a novel approach to waste valorization and recycling within the circular economy framework by harnessing valuable elements from retired solar panels as alternative construction materials, thereby contributing to building climate resilience. Through case studies in China, Japan, Brazil, US, Germany, and Brazil, this study explores the feasibility and benefits of repurposing elements such as silicon, glass, and metals from decommissioned solar panels for construction applications. Key findings indicate that significant quantities of these materials can be recovered through efficient recycling processes, offering a sustainable solution to reduce waste and promote resource efficiency. Numerical assessments reveal that up to 90 % of silicon and 95 % of glass from end-of-life solar panels can be effectively recycled, thereby minimizing the environmental footprint associated with their disposal. Moreover, this approach not only diverts waste from landfills but also reduces the demand for virgin materials, thus conserving natural resources and lowering carbon emissions. The incorporation of recycled materials into construction projects enhances the circularity of the economy by closing material loops and promoting a regenerative approach to resource management. Furthermore, the utilization of recycled materials in construction enhances the resilience of built environments to climate change impacts by reducing energy consumption, mitigating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and enhancing structural durability. Overall, this article underscores the potential of waste valorization and recycling from solar panels to contribute to a sustainable and resilient built environment, aligning with broader efforts to address climate change and advance circular economy in waste sector.

In the face of escalating climate change impacts, Southeast Asia is witnessing a growing urgency to fortify regional cities against extreme temperatures and the exacerbating effects of El Niño events. This work delves into the role of urban water technologies in bolstering heat-resilient infrastructure across the region. This work also assesses urban water technologies that can contribute to the development of heat-resilient infrastructure in urban areas. This involves examining innovative approaches that can help mitigate the impacts of extreme temperatures on water infrastructure and enhance its resilience to climate change. They include green infrastructure, decentralized water systems, and advanced cooling technologies that have the potential to improve the resilience of urban water infrastructure to heat stress and extreme temperatures. Through empirical studies, this study underscores the imperative for proactive measures to enhance urban resilience in the region. The implications of this work offer practical insights for policymakers, urban planners, and stakeholders to bolster climate resilience in the region, emphasizing the role of water technologies in mitigating risks and enhancing adaptive capacity. By integrating urban technologies such as advanced cooling systems and green infrastructure, cities in the southeast Asia region not only can mitigate heat-related risks but also foster sustainable development pathways.

No abstract is provided for this article.