Freshwater is one of the most essential needs of society. Due to the limited amount of potable water on Earth, guaranteeing the supply of clean water to society is a major challenge. By utilizing abundant sunshine, solar still could be utilized to provide the necessary amount of drinking water in remote locations. The issue of restricted daily production inspires researchers to investigate novel ways for enhancing the thermal performance of desalination techniques while lowering expenses. In this work, the scholars improved a unique distillation method related to solar stills. The authors presented a novel improvement to the vertical distiller design to enhance the exposure area while decreasing the thickness of the water layer as much as possible. Thus, two rotational discs (flat type) covered with wick were integrated into the vertical distiller basin at 1.5 rpm and 5 cm water depth. Furthermore, providing vacuum via a fan with an external condenser. Besides, various rotating speeds (from 400 to 2000 rpm) were tested to determine the perfect fan speed that provides the maximum yield. The experimental findings revealed that the modified vertical distiller produced more pure water than the conventional distiller. Moreover, the rotation of wick discs and vacuum fan enhanced the yield of distillers enormously. Besides, the highest distiller performance was obtained at 1.5 rpm (wick disc speed) and 1600 rpm (fan speed, 10 min ON, and 10 min OFF). Moreover, the daily freshwater output was 19.1 L/m² day for MDSVD without the fan and 23.65 L/m² day for MDSVD with the fan. So, the yield of MSSVD without/with vacuum fan was improved by 548.65% and 660.45%, respectively, over that of CTD. The best thermal efficacy for MDSVD without/with vacuum fan was 77.47% and 84.05%, respectively. Lastly, the average cost of freshwater was 0.021, 0.0177, and 0.0164 $/L for CTD, MDSVD without/with vacuum fan, respectively.

This work aims to use a solid agro-industrial residue (passion fruit shells—PF) to manufacture different activated carbons (ACs) capable to retain Cr³⁺, Cu²⁺, and Ni²⁺ on synthetic wastewater. The PF was carbonized and chemically activated with three precursors, giving rise to three ACs: phosphoric acid ([Formula: see text]), sodium acetate ([Formula: see text]), and potassium hydroxide (ACKOH). The ACs were characterized by SEM, ASAP, FTIR, and pH-PZC. The adsorption phenomena were studied by kinetic and isotherm models. The efficiency of the process was investigated in mono- and multimetallic solution with two-way ANOVA and Tukey test at 95% confidence interval. The physical-chemical modifications in the solid increased the surface area, the porosity, and the heterogeneity. The phenomena had a better fit to the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and to the Freundlich isotherm model. Analyzing the interaction between the ACs and the composition of the solutions, the selectivity of the solid and the competition for activated sites were verified. Efficiencies higher than 95% were obtained for Ni²⁺, 80% for Cu²⁺, and 70% for Cr³⁺. The viability of the process in mono- and multimetallic solutions opens the possibility of integrated management of metallic wastewater and agro-industrial residues.

Nanoparticles (NPs) are an emerging tool for mitigating environmental stresses. Although beneficial roles of NPs have been reported in some plants, there is little data on magnesium (Mg)-NPs in alleviating drought stress. Therefore, the field experiment was conducted to study changes in biochemical attributes and essential oil (EO) compositions of yarrow (Achillea millefolium L.) plants under drought stress and Mg-NPs in 2016 and 2017. Irrigation regimes were used in two levels as well-watered (irrigation intervals of 7 days) and drought stress (irrigation intervals of 14 days) conditions, and Mg-NPs were sprayed on leaves in four levels (0, 0.1, 0.3, and 0.5 g L⁻¹). The results showed drought stress led to increased electrolyte leakage (EL), proline, carotenoid, anthocyanin, and total flavonoid content (TFC). However, flowers yield and EO yield were lower in plants exposed to drought stress as compared to well-watered conditions. The 0.3 and 0.5 g L⁻¹ Mg-NPs were more effective in alleviating drought stress by enhancing these traits. Heat map results showed that EL and TSS represented the high variability upon different treatments. The GC and GC/MS results represented that α-pinene (8.60–12.20%), 1,8-cineol (9.03–14.02%), camphor (6.84–9.80%), α-bisabolol (8.54–18.81%), chamazulene (14.23–22.50%), and caryophyllene oxide (7.20–9.80%) were the min EO constitutes of yarrow plants. Totally, drought decreased monopertens but increased sesquiterpenes of EO. To sum up, foliar applied Mg-NPs in a range of 0.3–0.5 g L⁻¹ can be recommended as effective tool to improve plant yield through changes in biochemical attributes of yarrow plants.

Macrozoobenthos and submerged macrophytes interact closely. However, studies in China have focused on the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, where shallow lakes are concentrated, rather than on temperate lakes. To clarify the responses of taxonomic and functional groups of macrozoobenthos in temperate lakes to changes in submerged macrophyte biomass (BMₐc) on a large scale, 19 temperate lakes within Baiyangdian Lake were investigated in this study. The BMₐc differed greatly across the 19 lakes, and Potamogeton crispus was the dominant species. According to the BMₐc, the 19 lakes were divided into 4 groups. One-way analysis of variance and Pearson correlation analysis showed that the water environmental parameters were different among the 4 groups, and the BMₐc was significant correlated with all the physical and chemical parameters of water bodies (except for water depth). Forty-one taxa of macrozoobenthos were identified in the 19 lakes, with oligochaetes, Hirudinea, gastropods, crustaceans, chironomid larvae, and aquatic insects (excluding chironomid larvae) represented by 9, 1, 4, 2, 19, and 6 species, respectively. Chironomid larvae and oligochaetes dominated by density, and gastropods and chironomid larvae dominated by biomass. Canonical correspondence analysis showed that the BMₐc was the most important factor affecting the macrozoobenthos community structure in group 1 to group 4. Macrozoobenthos with low pollution tolerance values were mainly found in areas with high BMₐc, while species with high pollution tolerance values were mainly distributed in areas with low BMₐc and high nutrient contents. Different taxonomic and functional groups of macrozoobenthos responded differently to changes in BMₐc. As BMₐc increased, density and biomass of oligochaetes and chironomid larvae tended to decrease, while those of gastropods and aquatic insects tended to first decrease and then increase. Collectors had more species than any other functional group in group 1 to group 4. As BMₐc increased, density and biomass of collectors gradually decreased, while density of predators, shredders, and scrapers tended to first decrease and then increase.

The problems are associated with microplastic (MP) pollution of global concern. However, little is known about the pollution characteristics and sources of MPs in urban green-belt soils. Therefore, this study investigated MP pollution in 11 sampling sites (22 green belts) in Shihezi City. The results showed that the abundance of MPs (0.02–5.00 mm) ranged from 287 ± 100 items/kg dw to 3227 ± 155 items/kg dw (mean + SD). Fibers (69.9%) accounted for the majority of MPs, and the MPs were mainly black (36.7%) and 0.02–0.5 mm (64.8%). The main types of MPs were polystyrene (PS) and polyethylene (PE). Compared with agricultural soil, the color and composition of green-belt soil MPs are diverse, which means that the source of green-belt soil MPs is more diverse. In different types of green-belt soil, MP pollution of industrial green land is more serious. Through cluster analysis and spatial distribution, fragments and fibers were found to have similar sources, mainly originating from food and textile industrial activities. This study provides important information for revealing MP pollutions in urban green-belt soils.

Oil fume is always considered as a major source of indoor air pollution. This article aims to examine the effects of cooking oil fume as environmental pollution on the health of Chinese women by using the data obtained from China Labor force Dynamic Survey (CLDS). In order to estimate the effect of environmental pollution on the human health, we utilize probit model approach and baseline regression method. The results showed that oil fume has a significant negative impact on the health indicators of “physical pain, health impact on work and injury.” By conducting endogeneity analysis, our results show the robustness and indicate that oil fume has a robust effect on the women health. Heterogeneity analysis show that heavier oil fume has a negative impact on the subjective health of middle-aged and young women, while it has a significant negative impact on the objective health of middle-aged women. Analysis of the impact mechanism reveal that heavier oil fumes will reduce women’s sleep quality and will lead to the poorer health. Based on our study findings, this study proposes policy recommendations from the perspectives of the use of smoke extraction equipment, cooking methods, and sleep quality to reduce the negative impact of cooking fumes on women’s health.

Heavy metals are often stored in the sediment of lakes or reservoirs and are easily released to the overlying water in the case of strong wind, which greatly affects the water environment of lakes or reservoirs. The conventional investigation of heavy metals in lakes has been relatively extensive, but there is no numerical model for heavy metals released into overlying water with suspended sediment under hydrodynamic action. In this paper, laboratory experiments were carried out, and it is found that the concentration of heavy metals (Cr, Cu, Cd) often begins to stabilize after the concentration of total suspended solids (TSS) reaches a stable level. With the increase of flow velocity (3.2 to 14 cm/s), the final equilibrium concentration of TSS, Cr, Cu, and Cd will also increase from 174 to 1102 mg/L, 0.72 to 1.14 μg/L, 2.34 to 10.45 μg/L, and 0.13 to 0.35 μg/L, respectively. Based on lattice Boltzmann method (LBM), a numerical model of heavy metal released into overlying water under hydrodynamic conditions is established. Compared the simulated data with measured data, the average [Formula: see text] of LBM model can be reached at 0.827, higher than 0.711 of traditional simulation model. The development of the numerical model is conducive to the prediction of lake or reservoir environment and also provides a theoretical basis for heavy metal treatment in reservoirs.

Blockchain Technology (BCT) is expanding day by day and is used in all pillars of life and projects. In this research, we survey applicable BCT in project management for the first time. We presented a Resource-Constrained Time–Cost-Quality-Energy-Environment Tradeoff Problem by considering BCT, Risk and Robustness (RCTCQEETPBCTRR) in project scheduling. We utilize hybrid robust stochastic programming, worst case, and Conditional Value at Risk (CVaR) to cope with uncertainty and risks. This type of robustification and risk-averse is presented in this research. A real case study is presented in a healthcare project. We utilize GAMS-CPLEX to solve the model. Finally, we analyze finish time, conservative coefficient, the confidence level of CVaR, and the number of scenarios. The most important research result is that applying BCT decreases cost, energy, and pollution and increases quality. Moreover, the total gap between RCTCQEETPBCTRR and without BCT is approximately 2.6%. When compacting finish time happens or if the conservative coefficient increases to 100%, costs, energy, and pollution environment increase, but quality decreases. If the confidence level of CVaR increases, the cost, energy, and environment function functions grow up, and quality is approximately not changed.

The reduced graphene oxide supported Zn-doped Bi₂MoO₆ nanocomposites (ZnₓBi₂₋ₓMoO₆/RGO) are synthesized by an easy one-step solvothermal method for the rapid degradation of ciprofloxacin (CIP). Characterization analyses show that Bi₂MoO₆ nanosheets are uniformly supported on RGO, for which the agglomeration of Bi₂MoO₆ is effectively inhibited, leading to more exposure of surface active sites. The degradation rate of Zn₀.₁Bi₁.₉MoO₆/RGO₅ on CIP reached 90% after 120 min of visible light irradiation, which was 10.4 times the rate of unsupported Bi₂MoO₆. Zn doping and RGO loading synergistically reduce the recombination rate of photogenerated electron–hole pairs and result in the enhanced photocatalytic performance. Compared with previously reported catalysts, Zn₀.₁Bi₁.₉MoO₆/RGO₅ can get higher degradation efficiency with shorter time and less dosage. In addition, after five cycles, the degradation efficiency is maintained at about 85%, showing perfect cycling stability of Zn₀.₁Bi₁.₉MoO₆/RGO₅. Photocatalytic mechanism suggests that the photogenerated •O₂⁻ and h⁺ are main species for degrading CIP based on ZnₓBi₂₋ₓMoO₆/RGO complex.

This study investigates the effect of China’s national Five-Year Plan for environmental protection (FYPEP) on corporate green innovations based on the two-way fixed effect model and panel data about the green patents of China’s publicly listed corporations during 1990–2020. Furthermore, the heterogeneity of these green innovations is further discussed with reference to the types of innovation, enterprise ownership, and the location of the corporations. It is found that FYPEP significantly induced corporation green innovations at regional and industrial levels. Heterogeneity analysis indicates that the inductive effect of FYPEP is stronger on green utility model patents than on green invention patents. State-owned enterprises react to green innovation policies more significantly than do private businesses. The inductive effect of FYPEP is stronger in Eastern China than in mid- and Western China. From the perspective of government intervention, this research renders a new framework for the formulation of policies of national environmental protection and corporate green innovation.