This review summarizes and organizes the literature on life cycle assessment (LCA), life cycle energy analysis (LCEA) and life cycle cost analysis (LCCA) studies carried out for environmental evaluation of buildings and building related industry and sector (including construction products, construction systems, buildings, and civil engineering constructions). The review shows that most LCA and LCEA are carried out in what is shown as “exemplary buildings”, that is, buildings that have been designed and constructed as low energy buildings, but there are very few studies on “traditional buildings”, that is, buildings such as those mostly found in our cities. Similarly, most studies are carried out in urban areas, while rural areas are not well represented in the literature. Finally, studies are not equally distributed around the world.

Life cycle assessment (LCA) and life cycle energy analysis (LCEA) of buildings and the building sector: A review

Spectroscopy is the study of matter interacting with electromagnetic radiation (e.g., light). The electromagnetic spectrum in Figure 1 illustrates the many different types of electromagnetic radiation, including gamma rays (γ-rays), X-rays, ultraviolet (UV) radiation, visible light, infrared (IR) radiation, microwaves, and radio waves. The frequency (ν) and wavelength (λ) ranges associated with each form of radiant energy are also indicated in Figure 1.

Introduction to Spectroscopy

There are number of water purification techniques but the adsorption is one of the most simplest, effective and economical method for wastewater purification. In this article a large number of solid adsorbents such as Natural adsorbents, Agricultural Wastes, Industrial wastes, Biomass, Nanoadsorbents: Carbon based nanomaterials, Nobel metal based nanomaterials, Metal oxide based nanomaterials, Spinel ferrite based nanomaterials, Nanocomposites, Dendritic polymers; Geopolymer cement have been discussed for the removal of different pollutants from waste water. Removal of Fluoride, Phosphate, Nitrate and Radionuclides from wastewater has also been reviewed in this article. Adsorption isotherm models, kinetic models, thermodynamic parameters and adsorption mechanism have also been discussed. The present article lists different type of adsorbents and reviews state-of-the-art of the removal of different pollutants from water. The efforts have been made to discuss the sources of contamination and toxicities of pollutants. Adsorption mechanisms responsible for pollutants removal by different adsorbents have been reviewed. Attempts have also been made to point out the advantages and drawbacks of adsorbents and the future research needs in the area of water purification by adsorbents.

Water purification by using Adsorbents: A Review

Production of bricks from waste materials – A review

The primary aim of modern biorefineries is the efficient conversion of lignocellulosic materials into valuable products. Sugars and oils can be converted into valuable chemicals, but processing of lignin is still a challenge. A vast amount of lignin is incinerated to produce process steam and energy, and only a very small part is used for the production of value-added products. Technical lignins are isolated as by-streams in lignocellulosic refineries, e.g., as kraft, soda, organosolv, and hydrolysis lignins, as well as lignosulphonates. They have a modified structure and contain impurities that are dependent on the processing method. The structure and the composition of technical lignins restrict their subsequent applications. This paper reviews limiting factors in utilization of technical lignins. Four major classes of problems are identified, and approaches to overcoming these problems are suggested.

https://bioresources.cnr.ncsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/BioRes_06_3_3547_Vishtal_K_Challeng_Indust_Appl_Techn_Lignins_1744.pdf

Challenges in industrial applications of technical lignins

Application of agro-waste for sustainable construction materials: A review

Development of sustainable construction material using industrial and agricultural solid waste: A review of waste-create bricks

Globally, India is the leading producer of fruits. Fruits after consumption leave a peel which is a nuisance to the environment as a solid waste. In this article, commonly available large volume-fruit peels (FP) (viz. banana, orange, citrus, lemon and jackfruit) were investigated for surface, physical and chemical characteristics with a view to propose their valorization in detail. Each FP was characterized by proximate and ultimate analysis, porosity, particle density, bulk density, point of zero charge (pH pzc ), surface pH, surface charges, water absorption capacity, BET surface area, scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and TGA/derivative of thermogravimetric. The BET surface area of FP is very less, between 0.60 and 1.2 m 2 /g. The pH pzc and surface pH values of orange peel (OP), citrus peel (CP), lemon peel (LP) and jackfruit peels (JFP) are in the range of 3-4. The pH pzc value and surface pH of banana peel (BP) is closer to 7. The order of surface acidity is OP > LP > CP > JFP > BP. From TG curves it is clear that FPs are stable below 150°C. The results will be useful for rational design, when FP is used as a substrate for bioactive compounds, phenolic antioxidants, organic acids, enzymes, biofertilizer, production of energy and as adsorbents.

/pdf/fruit-peel-waste-characterization-and-its-potential-uses-2samrq6kzi.pdf

Fruit peel waste: characterization and its potential uses

The choice of activating agent for the thermochemical production of high-grade activated carbon (AC) from agricultural residues and wastes, such as feedstock, requires innovative methods. Overcoming energy losses, and using the best techniques to minimise secondary contamination and improve adsorptivity, are critical. Here, we review the importance and influence of activating agents on agricultural waste: how they react and compare conventional and microwave processes. In particular, adsorbent pore characteristics, surface chemistry interactions and production modes were compared with traditional methods. It was concluded that there are no best activating agents; rather, each agent reacts uniquely with a precursor, and the optimum choice depends on the target adsorbent. Natural chemicals can also be as effective as inorganic activating agents, and offer the advantages that they are usually safe, and readily available. The use of a microwave, as an innovative pyrolysis approach, can enhance the activation process within a duration of 1–4 h and temperature of 500–1200 °C, after which the yield and efficiency decline rapidly due to molecular breakdown. This study also examines the biomass milling process requirements; the influence of the dielectric properties, along with the effect of washing; and experimental setup challenges. The microwave setup system, biomass feed rate, product delivery, inert gas flow rate, reactor design and recovery lines are all important factors in the microwave activation process, and contribute to the overall efficiency of AC preparation. However, a major issue is a lack of large-scale industrial demonstration units for microwave technology.

https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/11/22/6204/pdf

A review of chemicals to produce activated carbon from agricultural waste biomass

Fruit peel waste (FPW) is abundantly available from the agricultural and food processing industry and has been studied in recent past as an adsorbent. This paper critically reviews the reported work and investigates various FPW-pollutant systems. The study includes statistics of FPW generation, modification, characterization, adsorption ability, recovery/regeneration, and modeling (isotherms, kinetics, and thermodynamics) of batch adsorption. It is found that orange and banana peels are the most extensively studied adsorbents, whereas Pb2+ and methylene blue are the most efficiently removed pollutants, the Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption isotherms provide the best fit in most of the cases, and in general, pseudo-second-order kinetics is followed. There are very limited column studies and no report on commercial plant. Though the reproducibility of the results is poor, FPW has a great potential in the wastewater treatment due to its abundant and cheap availability. FPW can be used for removal of heavy metals and dyes; however, removal of organic and gaseous impurities needs further investigation.

Sachin A. Mandavgane

Papers

Application of agro-waste for sustainable construction materials: A review

Development of sustainable construction material using industrial and agricultural solid waste: A review of waste-create bricks

Fruit peel waste: characterization and its potential uses

A review of chemicals to produce activated carbon from agricultural waste biomass

Fruit peel waste as a novel low-cost bio adsorbent