5th International Conference on Recycling and Reuse (R&R2024),

5-6 July, 2024, Istanbul, Türkiye

RECYCLING AND REUSE, 2024

5th INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE

ON
RECYCLING AND REUSE

BOOK OF PROCEEDINGS

Editors

Naim Sezgin
Uğur Emre Temelli
Ali Serdar Gültek

İstanbul / TÜRKİYE

July 5-6, 2024

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 5th International Conference on Recycling and Reuse (R&R2024),
5-6 July, 2024, Istanbul, Türkiye

5th International Conference on Recycling and Reuse

R&R 2024 (Istanbul, Türkiye)

Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa
Environmental Engineering Department

Chair and Co-Chair of Organization

PROF. DR. Hüseyin SELÇUK
PROF. DR. Semih NEMLİOĞLU

289 p.
ISBN 978-625-00-7790-0

All rights reserved © 2024

No subject or language corrections were done on papers by editors.

Authors are individually responsible for their papers.

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Preface
The 5th International Conference on Recycling and Reuse (R&R2024) was held in 5-6 July, 2024,
Istanbul, Türkiye under the organization of one of the leading universities of Türkiye, Istanbul University
Cerrahpaşa. After COVID-19 pandemic related delay, there was a huge interest on the conference. The
main theme of R&R2024 was “Low Carbon Economy and Sustainable Development”. The conference
brought together engineers, scientists, practitioners and other environmental professionals from many
countries all over the world to exchange emerging ideas and to investigate key issues such as: integrated
waste management; novel applications for reuse and recycling; renewable energy sources and green
technologies.
104 oral and poster presentations from 30 countries and 228 authors (100 Turkish, and 128 foreign authors
(56% of authors are international)) as well as three plenary lectures and three invited talks from eminent
researchers have been scheduled in an intensive two-day program. Presentations were performed under
hybrid conditions, both onsite, and online. Most importantly, over 40 young master and doctoral students
participated in the conference. The participation of about 20 young researchers was subsidized by R&R,
2026 organization through fee remission.
The organizers would like to express their thanks to the keynote speakers for their excellent presentations.
Special thanks should also be addressed to the members of the Scientific Committee. Moreover, we are
very grateful to the members of the Organizing Committee as well as to our Sponsors who made the R&R,
2024 Conference a great success. It is also worth to mention that presented contributions, both oral and
posters, could be submitted as full research papers to the journals; special issue of Journal of
Environmental Chemical Engineering (JECE) (the concept of the special issue: Novel Technologies to
Minimize Industrial Carbon Footprint), and regular issues of International Journal of Hydrogen Energy
(IJHE), Engineering Science and Technology, an International Journal (JESTECH), and International
Journal of Global Warming (IJGW) which provided special efforts to publish the selected conference
papers. Finally, we thank all participants without whom the R&R, 2024 Conference would not have been
possible.
We would like to welcome you at the forthcoming 6th International Conference on Recycling and Reuse
(R&R, 2026).
December 2024, Istanbul

Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Selçuk Prof. Dr. Semih Nemlioğlu

Chair of R&R2024 Co-Chair of R&R2024

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Committees
Organizing Committee of International Conference on Recycling and Reuse, 2024 (R&R2024)

Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Selçuk-Chair

Prof. Dr. Semih Nemlioğlu-Co-Chair

Organizing Committee Members

• Prof. Dr. Dr. Yusuf Güneş

• Prof. Dr. Nilgün Balkaya
• Assoc. Prof. Dr. Naim Sezgin
• Assist. Prof. Dr. Ali Serdar Gültek
• Assist. Prof. Dr. U. Emre Temelli
• Assist. Prof. Dr. Muhammed İberia Aydın
• Dr. Burak Yüzer
• Research Assist. Dr. Gülay Arslan Çene
• Research Assist. Ayşe Elif Ateş
• Research Assist. Tolgahan ÖZTÜRK
• Dr. Bektaş Karakelle
• Mr. Görkem Yüksel
• Ms. Bilge Özdoğan Cumalı
• Ms. Şeyma Zengin
• Ms. Sümeyye Bektaş
• Ms. Yaren Araz
• Mr. Rıza Evren Kilci
• Ms. Ülkü Emer
• Mr. Akın Gök

Scientific Committee

Prof. Dr. Idil ARSLAN ALATON Istanbul Technical University (ITU), Turkiye
Prof. Dr. Ahmad Zaharin ARIS University of Putra, Malaysia
Prof. Dr. Nuri AZBAR Ege University, Turkiye
Prof. Dr. Fatoş GERMIRLI BABUNA Istanbul Technical University (ITU), Turkiye

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Prof. Dr. Nilgün BALKAYA Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa (IUC), Turkiye
Prof. Dr. Bilsen Beler BAYKAL Istanbul Technical University (ITU), Turkiye
Dr. Serena CAUCCI United Nations University, Germany
Prof. Dr. Fehiman ÇINER Nigde Omer Halisdemir University, Turkiye
Prof. Dr. Emine ÇOKGÖR Istanbul Technical University (ITU), Turkiye
Prof. Dr. Nadim COPTY Bogazici University, Turkiye
Prof. Dr. Damià Barceló CULLERÈS Catalan Institute for Water Research, ICRA, Spain
Prof. Dr. Burak DEMIREL Bogazici University, Turkiye
Prof. Dr. İbrahim DINÇER Ontario Technical University, Canada
Prof. Dr. Ahmed EL-NEMR National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries, Egypt
Prof. Dr. Ayşen ERDINÇLER Bogazici University, Turkiye
Prof. Dr. Despo FATTA-KASSINOS University of Cyprus, Cyprus
Prof. Dr. Chaouki GHENAI University of Sharjah, U.A.E.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hatice INAN Gebze Technical University (GTU), Turkiye
Prof. Dr. Hayrettin GÜÇLÜ INSEL Istanbul Technical University (ITU), Turkiye
Prof. Dr. Nalan KABAY Ege University, Turkiye
Prof. Dr. Kurunthachalam KANNAN Wadsworth Center, USA
Prof. Dr. Ahmet KARAGUNDUZ Gebze Technical University (GTU), Turkiye
Prof. Dr. Reza KERACHIN University of Tahran, Iran
Prof. Dr. Bülent KESKINLER Gebze Technical University (GTU), Turkiye
Prof. Dr. Sardar KHAN University of Peshawar, Pakistan
Prof. Dr. Mehmet KITIS Süleyman Demirel University
Prof. Dr. George KYZAS International Hellenic University, Greece
Prof. Dr. Mohd TALIB LATIF Universiti Kebangsaan, Malaysia
Prof. Dr. Ming-Chun LU National Chung Hsing University, Taiwan
Prof. Dr. Riffat NASEEM MALIK Quaid-i-Azam University, Pakistan
Dr. S. Venkata MOHAN CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (CSIR-IICT), India
Prof. Dr. Marina NEOPHYTOU Cyprus University of Technology, Cyprus İ
Prof. Dr. Hatice ESER OKTEN Izmir Institute of Technology, Turkiye
Prof. Dr. Patryk OLESZCZUK University of Maria Skłodowska-Curie in Lublin, Poland
Prof. Dr. Ozlem KARAHAN OZGUN Istanbul Technical University (ITU), Turkiye
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mashallah REZAKAZEMI University of Shahrood, Iran
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Valentin ROMANOVSKI University of Virginia, USA
Prof. Dr. Mohtada SADRZADEH University of Alberta, Canada
Prof. Dr. Güray SALIHOGLU Bursa Uludağ University, Turkiye
Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Selçuk Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa (IUC), Turkiye
Dr. Sabry Mohamed Nesiem SHAHEEN Bergische Universität , Germany

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Prof. Dr. Erkan ŞAHINKAYA Medeniyet Universtiy, Turkiye
Prof. Dr. Yücel TAŞDEMIR Burda Uludağ University, Turkiye
Dr. Hai Nguyen TRAN Duy Tan University, Vietnam
Prof. Dr. Çiğdem YANGIN Istanbul Technical University (ITU), Turkiye
Prof. Dr. Zhiguo YUAN University of Queenzland, Australia
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Adem YURTSEVER Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa (IUC), Turkiye
Prof. Dr. Anastasia ZABANIOTOU Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

PREFACE IV
COMMITTEES V
TABLE OF CONTENTS VIII
CONFERENCE PHOTOS and SPONSORS XVI
CONFERENCE PROGRAM XVII
PRESENTATIONS Page
WASTE ANIMAL BONES-BASED CATALYSTS FOR CLEAN HYDROGEN
PRODUCTION: OPTIMIZATION OF THE WATER-GAS SHIFT 1-6
PERFORMANCE BY THERMOCHEMICAL TREATMENT
U. Iriarte Velasco, J.L. Ayastuy, I. Sierra, A.J. Reynoso, M.A. Gutierrez Ortiz
EFFECT OF THE ACID TREATMENT ON THE TEXTURAL PROPERTIES OF
SLUDGE BIOCHAR PREPARED IN STEAM ATMOSPHERE 7-13
Irene Sierra, Eva Epelde, Andrés T. Aguayo, Unai Iriarte-Velasco
CARBON FOOTPRINT REDUCTION-ORIENTED MEDICAL WASTE
VALORIZATION: NOVEL PROCESS DESIGN, THERMODYNAMIC MODEL 14-15
DEVELOPMENT AND LIFE CYCLE OPTIMIZATION
Jianzhao Zhou, Jingzheng Ren, Chang He
THE METHOD PROPOSAL FOR THE REUSE OF BATTERY PACKS USED BY
ELECTRIC VEHICLES 16-22
Tuba Güven Zurnacı, Firat Kaçar
DECISION MODELS FOR INDUSTRIAL CLEANER PRODUCTION AND
WASTEWATER REUSE 23
Mehmet Kitis, Emrah Ozturk, Elif Simsek Yesil, Pınar Hasanoglu Ozturk
TRANSFORMING SINGLE-USE MATRIX TRAYS TO CEILING TILES USING
LEGO-INSPIRED CONNECTORS TO ACTIVATE CIRCULAR ECONOMY 24
Ahmed K. Ali
SHIFT FROM LINEAR TO CIRCULAR ECONOMY: CASE STUDIES 25-31
Syeeda Khatoon, Syed Asghar Mehdi, Syed Taha Asghar
RECYCLING OF MANUFACTURING WASTE GLASS FIBERS AND PET
POWDER MATERIALS TO LIGHTWEIGHT POLYMERIC COMPOSITE PARTS 32-36
FOR USAGE IN AUTOMOTIVE APPLICATIONS
Gülnur Başer, Rümeysa Zeynep Kabaca
UPCYCLING OF CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS AND PRODUCTS 37-43
Olumide Fasanmi, Juan Ferriz-Papi
TOURISM AND ISSUE OF CLIMATE CHANGE FROM INDIA`S PERSPECTIVE 44
Shahina Perween, Arif Gulzar Hajam

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SUSTAINABLE APPROACHES FOR PHARMACEUTICAL EFFLUENT
TREATMENT CONTAMINATED WITH CIPROFLOXACIN, A SECOND 45
GENERATION FLUOROQUINOLONE ANTIBIOTIC
Idil Arslan Alaton, Cigdem Yangin Gomec
CIRCULAR ECONOMY: 3 D PRINTING 46-51
Syeeda Khatoon, Umme Kulsum, Shahina Parveen
THE YEAST YARROWIA LIPOLYTICAJMY775 AS A BIOFACTORY FOR
PRODUCING Γ‑DECALACTONE (PEACH AROMA) AND FOR PRODUCING
USEFUL LIPIDS BY RECYCLING HYDROPHOBIC POLLUTANTS AND USED 52
OILS AS SUBSTRATES
Doria Naila Bouchedja, Wadie Nabil Abdo AL Mualad, Abderrahmen Selmania,
Abdelgani Boudjellal
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF GOLDEN HORN DREDGING
Anil Sila Barut, Nilay Elginoz, Gulen Iskender, Dilek Eren Akyuz, Fatos Germirli 53-57
Babuna
A SUSTAINABLE ROADMAP IN SELECTING THE PROPER
TREATMENT/DISPOSAL METHOD FOR WASTEWATERS/WATER /WASTES 58-62
Fatos Germirli Babuna, Burcin Atilgan Turkmen
APPRAISING ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF A RESTAURANT 63-67
Elif Hilal Arikan, Burcin Atilgan Turkmen, Gulen Iskender, Fatos Germirli Babuna
ENVIRONMENTAL BURDENS OF READY-MIXED CONCRETE, PAVING
STONE AND KERBSTONE MANUFACTURING: A CASE STUDY IN 68-71
ISTANBUL, TURKEY
Eda Nurhat, Bilge Bas, Fatos Germirli Babuna
LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT OF ANAEROBIC DIGESTION FOR THE
ORGANIC FRACTION OF MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE 72-77
Hayrunnisa Omran - Burcin Atilgan Turkmen - Fatos Germirli Babuna
STRATEGIES TO IMPROVE LIFE CYCLE ENVIRONMENTAL
SUSTAINABILITY FOR A SUPERMARKET 78-82
Sezen Kahveci, Burcin Atilgan Turkmen, Fatos Germirli Babuna
POLYHYDROXYALKAONATE PRODUCTION FROM PICKLE BRINE
WASTEWATER BY MIXED MICROBIAL CULTURE 83
Beste Kaya, Merve Askin, Gülsüm Emel Zengin, Goksin Ozyildiz, Didem Güven,
Güçlü İnsel, Emine Cokgor
WASTEWATER-BASED EPIDEMIOLOGY FOR THE DETECTION OF
PATHOGENS IN DAKAR, SENEGAL
Seynabou Coundoul, Nouhou Diaby, Abou Abdallah Malick Diouara, Seydou Niang, 84-85
Sophie Déli Tene, Sarbanding Sane, Modou Dieng, Papa Samba Diop, Bécaye Sidy
Diop, Samba Cor Sarr
ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY OF ARTICHOKE PRODUCTION WITH
NUTRITIONAL PERSPECTIVE: EVALUATION OF FUNCTIONAL UNIT 86
SELECTION IN LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT
Hülya Şahin Akkurt, Bilge Baş, Fatma Gülen İskender, Fatos Germirli Babuna
LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT OF RECYCLED AGGREGATE CONCRETE
PRODUCTION: A HYPOTHETICAL CASE STUDY IN TURKIYE 87-91
Özge Babalık, Bilge Baş, Gulen İskender, Fatos Germirli Babuna, Caglar Goksu, Alper İlki

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LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT (LCA) OF RESIDENTIAL BUILDING
RETROFITTING: A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW 92-96
Firdevs Emine Sezer, Burcin Atilgan Turkmen, Fatos Germirli Babuna
STRATEGIES TO LOWER ENVIRONMENTAL BURDENS OF SINGLE-USE
POLYPROPYLENE PLASTIC CUPS 97-101
Wael Assali, Burcin Atilgan Turkmen, Fatos Germirli Babuna
IS STRUVITE THE PROBLEM OR THE SOLUTION? CHALLENGES AND
OPPORTUNITIES IN WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANTS 102
Didem Güven, Goksin Ozyildiz, Emine Çokgör, Güçlü İnsel
DEVELOPMENT OF TYRE VALUE CHAIN IN TOGO WITH FOCUS OF
DESIGNING AND IMPLEMENTING A TYRE RECYCLING PLANT 103
Mona Maria Narra, Djangbadjoa Gbiete, Satyanarayana Narra, Komi Agboka
SUSTAINABLE RECONSTRUCTION IN SYRIA: UTILIZING RECYCLED
CONCRETE AGGREGATE FROM WAR-DAMAGED BUILDINGS 104
Abdulkader Rashwani, Bakry Kadan
PRODUCTION OF FUELS BY THERMO-CHEMICAL CONVERSION OF
PLASTIC WASTE: IMPACT OF TEMPERATURE, CATALYSTS
CHARACTERISTICS AND WATER ADDITION 105
Gabriel Blázquez, Mónica Calero, María Ángeles Martín-Lara, Mario Muñoz-Batista,
Antonio Pérez, Rafael R. Solís
HYDROGEN PRODUCTION FROM POST-CONSUMER PLASTIC WASTE: H 2
FROM PLASTIC PROJECT 106
Mónica Calero, Gabriel Blázquez, Antonio Pérez, Rafael Rodríguez-Solís, M.Ángeles
Martín-Lara, Mario Jesús Muñoz
EXAMINING DOMESTIC WASTE SEPARATION BEHAVIORS IN ISTANBUL
BY USING CORRESPONDENCE ANALYSIS 107
Gülay Arslan Çene, Mehmet Şamil Güneş, Coşkun Parim, Erhan Çene
EFFICIENT UTILIZATION AND REUSE OF CACO 3 PARTICLES FOR
ORGANIC MATTER REMOVAL 108
Gülay ARSLAN ÇENE, Elif SOYER
PRODUCTION OF NANOCRYSTALLINE AND MICRO/NANOFIBRILLATED
CELLULOSES FROM WASTES GENERATED DURING COTTON SPINNING 109
Sedat Ondaral, Gökhan Tandoğan, Kıymet Kübra Denge, Uğur Gündoğan
UTILISING RAW RECLAIMED MINE WATER SLUDGE AS AN ADSORBENT
FOR PB(II) ADSORPTION: MODELLING MASS TRANSFER EFFECTS 110
Nokuthula Nchabeleng, Evans Chirw, Hendrik Brink
RECYCLING OF PLASTIC WASTE IN A DEVELOPING COUNTRY:
CHALLENGES AND EMERGING SOLUTIONS FROM RECYCLERS’ 111
PERSPECTIVES
Issam A. Al-Khatib - Ayah Alassali
INVESTIGATION OF CO 2 AND SO 2 ADSORPTION CAPACITY AND
MORPHOLOGY OF CALCINED EGGSHELL 112
Sena Erkent, Barış Gürel, Karani Kurtuluş, Murat Varol, Savaş Özün, Kamil Ekinci,
Sema Yurdakul
INVESTIGATION OF COMBUSTION KINETICS OF RAW AND TORREFIED 113
ROSE PULP, AND CHICKEN MANURE MIXTURES WITH LOCAL LIGNITE

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Sena Erkent, Mehmet Çınar, Barış Gürel, Karani Kurtuluş, Murat Varol, Savaş Özün,
Kamil Ekinci, Sema Yurdakul
WASTE-DERIVED LEAD SORBENT: A TAGUCHI-TOPSIS HYBRID
APPROACH FOR SORBENT MIX DESIGN 114-120
Ebtesam Al Ghafri, Mohamed Hamouda, Hilal El-Hassan , Munjed Maraqa
CONCRETE WITH ADDITIONS OF FILM PELLETS VS CONVENTIONAL
CONCRETE. BENDING STRESSES BEHAVIOR 121
Fernando Israel Olmedo Zazo, María Isabel Prieto Barrio, Alfonso Cobo Escamila,
Cristina Pavón Rodriguez
DISTRICT-SCALE ANALYSIS OF ISTANBUL'S HISTORICAL
SIGNIFICANCE, SEISMIC RISKS AND NATURAL GAS INFRASTRUCTURE 122-129
CHALLENGES: SOLUTIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Ali Serdar Gültek, Ugur Emre Temelli
ENHANCING DISASTER RESILIENCE AND ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECTION: DISTRICT-LEVEL INSIGHTS FROM METROPOLITAN 130-131
SEWAGE INFRASTRUCTURE AND URBAN CHALLENGES
Ugur Emre Temelli, Ali Serdar Gültek
TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE: EXPLORING THE NEXUS OF
CARBON EMISSIONS AND ECONOMIC GROWTH 132
Yazhini, A., Malaisamy, A., Vidhyavathi A.
EXPLORING UTILIZATION OPPORTUNITIES FOR BLENDED DENIM
TEXTILE WASTES 133
İsmail İvedi
INTERFACIAL SOLAR WATER DESALINATION USING PHOTOTHERMAL
MATERIAL BASED ON BIOMASS WASTE 134
Mahmoud Maleki, Farzaneh Arabpour Roghabadi, Seyed Mojtaba Sadrameli
UTILIZATION OF WASTE WHEY AND ITS HYDROLYSATES TOWARDS
MICROBIAL PRODUCTION OF HYALURONIC ACID 135
Anna Trusek
THE POTENTIAL OF POZZOLANS AS WASTE RECOVERY MATERIAL: A
CASE STUDY OF CANINE EXCRETA 136-140
Rosalina Gonzaleza, Esteban Melo, Martin Molina
ENVIRONMENTAL AND ECONOMIC IMPACT ASSESSMENT OF PERVIOUS
GEOPOLYMER CONCRETE PAVEMENT WITH RECYCLED AGGREGATES 141-147
Faiz Habib Anwar, Hilal El-Hassan, Mohamed Hamouda
EXPLORING DIVERSE DIMENSIONS OF ETHNOGRAPHIC
RESEARCH IN CONSTRUCTION 148-149
Majid Al Jahdhami, Linda Leow
INNOVATIVE REUSE OF TREATED WASTEWATER IN CONCRETE:
PATHWAYS TO SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION PRACTICES 150
Aaqib Ali, Mehvish Bilal, Mubashir Aziz, Syed Umair Ali Naqvi
SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES OF DISASTER DEMOLITION
WASTE RECYCLING: COMPUTATIONAL WASTE PREDICTION APPROACH 151-152
Ugur Emre Temelli, Naim Sezgin, Bilge Ozdogan Cumali, Rıza Evren Kilci, Semih
Nemlioglu
DEVELOPMENT OF FRP COMPOSITE PALLETS VIA PULTRUSION METHOD BY 153
USING OF MANUFACTURING WASTE GLASS FIBERS

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Mert İlkmen, Yaşar Engin Balaman
MITIGATING ENVIRONMENTAL RISKS IN HYDROGEN PRODUCTION
THROUGH RELIABILITY ENGINEERING: A CASE STUDY ON AN 154-158
ELECTROLYSIS SITE
Ali Serdar Gültek
EVALUATION OF NATURAL RADIOACTIVITY LEVELS FOR
SUSTAINABLE SETTLEMENT SELECTION IN CENTRAL ANATOLIA 159
REGION IN TURKIYE
Naim Sezgin, Namik Aysal, Bilge Ozdogan Cumali, Semih Nemlioglu
HOW NATURAL CATASTROPHES AND PLASTIC WASTE MANAGEMENT
IMPACT AGRICULTURAL SOILS AND FARMLANDS' LEVELS OF 160
MICROPLASTICS AND NANOPLASTICS?
Maria-Paraskevi Belioka, Dimitrios Achilias
RECOVERY OF POLYHYDROXYALKANOATES (PHAS) FROM TEXTILE
INDUSTRY EFFLUENTS 161
Seferhan Yılmaz, Özlem Karahan Özgün
DETERMINATION AND UTILIZATION OF CONSTRUCTION AND
DEMOLITION WASTE AFTER A POSSIBLE AEGEAN EARTHQUAKE: THE 162
CASE OF MILAS DISTRICT
Ugur Emre Temelli
EVALUATION OF NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENTATION STRATEGY FOR
BIOLOGICAL TREATMENT OF TEXTILE WASTEWATER 163-167
Saidou Kinda, Naim Sezgin
DETERMINATION OF HEAVY METAL POLLUTION LEVELS IN SURFACE
SOIL SAMPLES 168
Naim Sezgin, Semih Nemlioglu, Nilgun Balkaya
NANOPARTICLE-ENHANCED STRATEGIES FOR ANIONS CONTROL IN
EFFLUENT TREATMENT: A CASE STUDY 169-173
Naim Sezgin
ANALYSIS OF THE PROGRESS FOR TURKIYE IN ACHIEVING
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOAL 7 174
Bilge Ozdogan Cumali, Naim Sezgin
EVALUATION OF THE NATURAL RADIOACTIVITY LEVEL AND THEIR
RADIOLOGICAL PARAMETERS OF DENIZLI PROVINCE 175
Bilge Ozdogan Cumali
CREATING GREEN VALUE THROUGH SUSTAINABILITY 176-177
Duygu Toplu Yaşlıoğlu, Esin Bengü Ceran, Uğur Emre Temelli
SUSTAINABLE TECHNOLOGIES FOR THE TREATMENT OF PLASTIC
WASTE IN THE EUROPEAN UNION 178
Danilo Lins Sant’Ana de Lima, Roger Martins de Oliveira Gomes , Luiz Antônio
Magalhães Pontes
THERMAL POLLUTION REDUCTION USING 45° UPWARD INCLINED
THERMAL OUTFALL 179-184
Semih Nemlioglu, Fatma Djamaa, Bilge Ozdogan Cumali, Naim Sezgin
CHARACTERIZATION OF WASTE MARBLE FINES AND THEIR ADDITION 185
TO CONCRETE MIXES FOR CIRCULAR ECONOMY

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Carlos García-Negrete, Daniela Beltrán-Guzmán, Luisa Peñate-Vásquez, Jesús
López-Figueroa, William Montiel-Cardozo, Plinio Cantero-López
COMPETITIVE ADSORPTION OF AQUEOUS SELENIUM & PHENOL
SPECIES ON TO ACTIVATED CARBON 186
Mehvish Bilal, Muhammad S. Vohra, Tariq Mohammed, MS Al‐Suwaiyan
REACTIVE DYE EFFLUENT TREATMENT WITH PEROXIDE– ASSISTED
OZONATION: LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT FOR SELECTED PROCESSES 187-191
Kubra Doğan, Burcin Atilgan Turkmen, Idil Arslan Alaton, Fatos Germirli Babuna
HYDROGEN GENERATION POTENTIAL OF AUTOCLAVED AERATED
CONCRETE PRODUCTION 192-195
Semih Nemlioglu, Sinan Oguz Terzi, Naim Sezgin, Bilge Ozdogan Cumali, Ugur Emre
Temelli
VALORIZATION OF CORK WASTE IN PARTICLEBOARD PRODUCTION
WITH INNOVATIVE BINDER 196-197
Aleksander Hejna, Mateusz Barczewski, Jacek Andrzejewski, Adam Piasecki, Rupali
Tiwari, Ľuboš Krišťák
A STUDY OF MANAGEMENT OF SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAIC (PV) WASTE IN
INDIA 198-202
Dr. Krantisagar More, Ms. Baby D. Kamble
CHALLENGES IN WASTE RECYCLING INDUSTRIES IN INDIA 203-208
Ms. Baby D. Kamble, Dr. G.D. Borde, Dr. Krantisagar More
INTEGRATING CARBON CAPTURE SYSTEM INTO CO-GASIFICATION OF
PLASTIC WASTE AND BIOMASS: MINIMIZATION OF SIMULATION BASED 209-210
LIFE CYLE ENDPOINT VALUE
Qiming Qian, Jingzheng Ren, Chang He, Catherine Azzaro-Pantel
GLOBAL WARMING AND SOIL POLLUTION 211
Nilgün Balkaya, Sema Arıman
THE ROLE OF HYDROGEN IN MITIGATING THE IMPACTS ON THE
ENVIRONMENT OF GLOBAL WARMING 212
Sema Arıman, Nilgün Balkaya, Mashallah Rezakazemi
ECOLOGICAL RISK ASSESSMENT OF HEAVY METALS IN SEDIMENT
FROM GOLDEN HORN ESTUARY, SEA OF MARMARA 213
Sema Arıman, Nilgün Balkaya
PUBLIC AWARENESS OF MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES: A CASE
STUDY 214
Nilgün Balkaya, Vasif Abakarov
TREATMENT OF REAL PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY WASTEWATER BY
PHOTOCATALYTIC ELECTROOXIDATION (Ti-ZnCl 3 ) PROCESS AND 215-218
EVALUATION OF HYDROGEN PRODUCTION
Ayşe Elif Ateş, İberia Aydın, Serdar Aydın, Sinan Ateş, Hüseyin Selçuk
THE EFFECT OF ELECTRODE TYPE ON TREATMENT EFFICIENCY IN THE
TREATMENT OF PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY WASTEWATER WITH 219-222
DIFFERENT ADVANCED OXIDATION PROCESSES
Ayşe Elif Ateş, Serdar Aydın
TÜRKIYE’S MITIGATION AND ADAPTATION STRATEGIES IN
COMBATING CLIMATE CHANGE 223-228
Nilay Tulukcu Yıldızbaş, Huseyin Selçuk, Aynur Aydın, Yusuf Güneş

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ADVANCING URBAN WATER SUSTAINABILITY THROUGH GREYWATER
REUSE AND STORMWATER MANAGEMENT TECHNOLOGIES 229
Hatice İnan
INTEGRATING CIRCULAR ECONOMY PRINCIPLES FOR AGRICULTURAL
SUSTAINABILITY: NUTRIENT RECOVERY FROM URBAN AND RURAL 230
WASTES
Hatice İnan, Elif Oztekin
PRODUCTION OF HYDROGENATED WATER FROM BRACKISH WATER
VIA ELECTRODIALYSIS PROCESS 231
Burak Yuzer, Yusuf Bicer
REJECTING MICROPLASTICS WITH A GRAVITY-DRIVEN DYNAMIC
MEMBRANE FILTRATION SYSTEM FROM WASHING WASTEWATER OF A
PLASTIC RECYCLING FACILITY 232-236
Emine Busra Colakoglu, İbrahim Uyanık, Hatice Elbir, Hamdi Mihciokur, Erkan
Sahinkaya, Adem Yurtsever
WASTE ENERGY RECOVERY AND WASTEWATER REUSE BY CLOSED-
CYCLE WASHING SYSTEM IN TEXTILE DYEING INDUSTRY: FROM 237
SURFACE RESPONSE MODELING TO FULL-SCALE APPLICATION
Yaren Araz, Ayşe Elif Ateş, Hüseyin Selçuk
REMOVAL of Cr (VI), Cu (II), Ni (II), and Zn (II) FROM AQUEOUS SOLUTION
BY TEA FACTORY PRODUCTION WASTE (WASTE TEA) 238
Burcu Ergene, Nilgün Balkaya
REMOVAL OF REACTIVE TEXTILE DYE FROM AQUEOUS SOLUTION BY
HDTM-MODIFIED ALUM SLUDGE 239
Nazan Büker, Nilgün Balkaya
ENHANCING SUSTAINABILITY IN TEXTILE SMES THROUGH
MATERIALITY ASSESSMENT AND STRATEGIC IMPLEMENTATION 240
Akın Emrecan Gök - Hüseyin Selcuk - Ahmet Feyzioğlu
LOW-CARBON AND ZERO DISCHARGE TECHNOLOGIES IN THE TEXTILE
INDUSTRY: A REVIEW 241-245
Huseyin Selcuk
A BASIS APPROACH TO PAPER MACHINE SPEED EFFECT ON STRENGTH
PROPERTIES AND BASIS WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION: A RECYCLED 246-251
PAPERBOARD MILL CASE STUDY
Ahsen Ezel Bidik Dal, Mete Hancı
SALT RECOVERY FROM THE DYEING WASTEWATER BY PHOTO-FENTON
OXIDATION FOR ECONOMICAL ZERO DISCHARGE IN THE TEXTILE 252
INDUSTRY
Huseyin Selçuk, Sümeyye Bektaş, Şeyma Zengin, Ayşe Elif Ateş
DEVELOPMENT OF AN INTEGRATED WATER RECYCLING SYSTEM FOR
THE COTTON TEXTILE INDUSTRY AND INVESTIGATION OF ITS IMPACT 253
ON PRODUCT QUALITY
Ülkü EMER
THE FIRST STEP TOWARDS ZERO DISCHARGE FOR SUSTAINABLE
WATER MANAGEMENT IN FIVE TEXTILE DYEHOUSES THROUGH 254
WASTEWATER AND SALT RECYCLING
Ülkü Emer, Fatma Betül Silinmez

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ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT IN TURKEY: A CRUCIAL TOOL
FOR TRANSITIONING TO A LOW CARBON ECONOMY AND SUSTAINABLE 255
DEVELOPMENT
Aynur Aydın, Yusuf Güneş
ASSESSMENT OF CALCIUM AND MAGNESIUM-RICH INDUSTRIAL
SLUDGE AS POTENTIAL RAW MATERIALS 256
Naim Sezgin, Semih Nemlioğlu, Hüseyin Selçuk
THERMAL WASTEWATER OUTFALL INITIAL DILUTION IMPROVEMENT
BY NOZZLE DOWNWARD INCLINATION 257
Bilge Ozdogan Cumali, Semih Nemlioglu
PHOTO-FENTON OXIDATION AS A TREATMENT METHOD FOR
PHARMACEUTICAL WASTEWATER: OPTIMIZATION AND ANALYSIS OF 258
DICLOFENAC REMOVAL AND TOXICITY
Ayşe Elif ATEŞ, Ender ÖZTÜRK, Hüseyin SELÇUK, Sinan ATEŞ
TOWARDS NET ZERO UNIVERSITY CAMPUSES: DETERMINATION OF
GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS FROM A COMMON STUDY CENTER IN 259
ISTANBUL TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY (ITU) AYAZAĞA CAMPUS
Feriha Kamile Özcan - Kadriye Elif MAÇİN - Ebru Acuner - Börte Köse Mutlu
APPLICATION OF SPECTROSCOPY IN PLASTIC MANAGEMENT 260
Raziyeh Pourdarbani
CARBON REDUCTION STRATEGIES FOR HERITAGE CITIES: A CASE
STUDY OF IBB, YEMEN INTEGRATING GIS, BIM, AND RENEWABLE 261
ENERGY SOLUTIONS
Basema Qasim Derhem Dammag, Dai Jian, Abdulkarem Qasem Dammag
X-RAY ADSORPTION STUDIES OF CHROMIUM IN SWARF DURING
PYROLYSIS 262
Ning Shen, Zhi-Ning Zhang, Cheng Yi Fang, Yong-Xiang Xue, Yu-Syuan Lin, Hsin-Liang
Huang
ENHANCED ABSORPTION OF METAL IONS FROM WASTEWATER BY
BIOWASTE/IONIC LIQUID 263
Chao-Ho Wu, Lu-Yu Weng, Feng-Rui Guo, Fu-En Fan, Yen-Wei Chiang, Hsin-Liang Huang
THERMODYNAMIC, THERMOGRAVIMETRIC, AND KINETIC ANALYSIS
OF MAIZE AND SUNFLOWER WASTES FOR ENERGY RECOVERY 264
Agapi Vasileiadou
RENEWABLE AND NON-RENEWABLE CO2 EMISSIONS VIA BIOMASS
WASTES AND LIGNITE CO-FIRING 265
Agapi Vasileiadou
SMALL-SCALE BIOGAS PLANT ENHANCEMENT BY MICROALGAE AND
OPERATION UPGRADE USING LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT 266
Kadriye Elif Maçin, Niama Saadate, İrem Fırtına Ertiş, Mahmut Altınbaş

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WASTE ANIMAL BONES-BASED CATALYSTS FOR CLEAN HYDROGEN

PRODUCTION: OPTIMIZATION OF THE WATER-GAS SHIFT
PERFORMANCE BY THERMOCHEMICAL TREATMENT
U. Iriarte Velasco1*, J.L. Ayastuy2, I. Sierra1, A.J.Reynoso2, M.A. Gutierrez Ortiz2
1
Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU,
Vitoria-Gasteiz, 01006, Spain.
2
Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of the Basque Country
UPV/EHU, Leioa, 48940, Spain.
*Corresponding author: unai.iriarte@ehu.eus
ORCID Code: 0000-0001-6269-6427 (only corresponding author)

ABSTRACT
This study is aimed at investigating the utilization of agro-industrial residue, specifically waste animal
bones, in the synthesis of Ni catalysts designed for the high-temperature Water-Gas Shift (WGS) reaction.
The WGS reaction is pivotal for eliminating CO from H2-rich streams supplied to Proton Exchange
Membrane fuel cells. Initially, pork chops were subjected to a meat removal process, followed by
calcination at 500 ºC, yielding a precursor material. This precursor was subjected to combined chemical
and physical activation before incorporating the Ni phase. Chemical activation was conducted using
K 2 CO 3 or H 2 SO 4 , while physical activation was performed under oxidative (air) or inert (He) atmosphere.
Thermogravimetric analyses coupled with mass spectrometry provided insights into the reactions
undergone by the chemically treated precursors. The resulting solids were loaded with Ni, and nine
catalysts were synthesized and tested in the WGS reaction.

Keywords: Water-Gas Shift (WGS) reaction, Carbon monoxide, Methane, Agro-industrial residue, Ni
catalysts

INTRODUCTION
Historically, animal skeletal remains have been considered waste, especially those from pigs, which are
the most common type of livestock in the European Union. Remarkably, the EU generates an annual
production exceeding 140 million swine heads (URL 1). The thermochemical transformation of discarded
animal osseous matter represents an opportunity for the synthesis of biochar, mainly composed of apatite
(Rojas-Mayorga et al., 2015).

Apatite-based materials have found application across diverse domains, including the remediation of
pollutants in both liquid and gaseous mediums, catalytic systems, electrochemistry, and biomedical
applications (Yang et al., 2020; Goodman et al., 2021). Consequently, the utilization of waste animal
bones, an abundant and economically viable resource, for the production of porous materials appears both
economically viable and environmentally sustainable.

In the contemporary landscape of fuel cell technology, it is imperative to purify hydrogen streams,
ensuring a reduction in CO content to levels below 50 ppm (Adducci et al., 2021). In this regard, the

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Water-Gas Shift reaction (WGS) stands as the initial step in mitigating CO content within the reformer
gas supplied to fuel cells.

The efficacy of the catalyst supported on bone char relies on the chemical and physical characteristics of
the support, which can affect metal dispersion and speciation. These features are dependent on the
conditions applied during the thermochemical conversion of waste bone. In this regard, it is scarce the
amount of studies examining the impact of chemical activation of bone char derived apatite on its catalytic
performance.

This study is aimed at assessing the potential of widely available waste bones as an efficient catalytic
support. A set of innovative nickel catalysts supported on thermochemically activated bone char was
synthesized. The waste animal bones were subjected to chemical treatment using either K 2 CO 3 or H 2 SO 4 ,
followed by heating under oxidative or inert atmospheres at varying temperatures. During activation,
thermogravimetric analysis coupled with mass spectrometry (TG-MS) was employed to examine the gases
released. TG-MS was performed with two purposes: (i) to investigate the reactions that occur during the
thermal treatment of chemically treated samples and (ii) to identify the optimal treatment temperature.
The prepared biochars were impregnated with Ni (10% w/w), and the resulting catalysts were thoroughly
characterized and tested in the Water-Gas Shift (WGS) reaction.

MATERIAL METHOD
The catalytic support was prepared from pork chop bones. First, bones were cleaned from meat, cut into
pieces of 2-5 cm and calcined in air flow at 500 ºC (with a heating rate of 5 ºC/min) for 2 h. Particles in
the 0.09-0.25 mm size range were selected. This material will be referred as precursor (HAp).

Thermogravimetric (TG) analyses were performed using a Setsys Evolution (Setaram) thermal analyser.
Chemically treated precursor samples were heated in an inert (helium) or oxidizing (air) atmosphere, at a
heating rate of 5 ºC/min. The exhaust gases were analyzed on-line by a mass spectrometer (MKS, Cirrus
LM99).

Various supports were prepared by the activation of the precursor using chemical treatment, H 2 SO 4 (S) at
0.2 mmol H2SO4 /g precursor or K 2 CO 3 (K) at 5 mmol K2CO3 /g precursor (solutions stirred at 20 ± 2 ºC for 24 h),
followed by physical activation in inert (N) or oxidative atmosphere (A) and temperature. For instance,
KA350 refers to the biogenic precursor impregnated with K2CO3 and calcined in air atmosphere at 350
ºC. Part of the precursor was not further modified to be used as a reference (Ni/HAp). Ni was loaded (10%
w/w) onto the above supports by wet impregnation and calcined at 450 ºC for 2 h (10 ºC/min, in air flow).
A porosimeter (ASAP 2010 Micromeritics) was used to determine the textural properties of the materials
by nitrogen adsorption-desorption at 78 K. The crystalline structure of the support and the catalysts was
analyzed by XRD using a Philips PW1710 diffractometer.

The WGS performance was studied in a downflow fixed bed stainless steel reactor (Di=13.3 mm;
length=305 mm). Catalyst activity tests (0.1 g diluted in silicon carbide particles) were carried out at
atmospheric pressure with a total flow rate of 200 mL/min STP (GHSV=120,000 h-1). Two different feed
compositions were tested: (i) CO/H 2 O/He= 1/2/97 (in vol.%), representative of an ideal WGS mixture;
and (ii) CO/H 2 O/CO 2 /H 2 /He= 5/46/4/31/14, representative of a realistic reformer outlet stream.
The CO conversion and yields (Yi) to H 2 and CH 4 were calculated according to equations (1)-(3):

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𝐹𝐹𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶,𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 −𝐹𝐹𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶,𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜
𝑋𝑋𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 (%) = 100 × (1)
𝐹𝐹𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶,𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖

𝐹𝐹𝐻𝐻2,𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 − 𝐹𝐹𝐻𝐻2,𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖
𝑌𝑌𝐻𝐻2 (%) = 100 × (2)
𝐹𝐹𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶,𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖

𝐹𝐹𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶4,𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜
𝑌𝑌𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶4 (%) = 100 × (3)
𝐹𝐹𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶,𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 + 𝐹𝐹𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶2,𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖

RESULTS and DISCUSSION

Thermogravimetric analysis coupled to MS
Thermogravimetric (TG) analysis showed different weight-loss profile depending on the heating
atmosphere. Results were discussed in detail elsewhere (Sierra et al., 2023) and revealed that different
reactions and processes take place during the thermal activation of chemically impregnated samples.
Mass spectrometry analyses of TG exhaust gases were used to identify those reactions. Results are shown
in Figure 1. In general, the release of water, CO 2 and H 2 during the heat treatment of chemically treated
biochar was more intense as compared to non-chemically treated counterparts, thus confirming the
effective activation of the precursor by the applied procedure.
Release of water
When heating in inert atmosphere the H 2 O signal shows a main desorption peak, ascribed to the release
of adsorbed water, and a shoulder near 250 ºC, attributed to the loss of lattice water (Chakraborty et al.,
2011). Under oxidative atmosphere, additional peaks in the 300-900 ºC range appear, which are assigned
to the intensification of the dehydroxylation of P-OH groups of bioapatite (Eq. (4)), which takes place
mainly in the 300-700 ºC range (Tanaka et al., 1997):

2 P−OH ↔ P−O−P + H 2 O (g) (4)

Release of CO 2
When heating in inert atmosphere, the release of CO 2 begins at 200 ºC and progressively increases in the
200-700 ºC range. It was highest for samples treated with K 2 CO 3 , suggesting that the formation of
CO/CO 2 arises, partly, from the thermal decomposition of carbonates (Eq. 5), and also from carbon
gasification (Eq. (6)), reaction that takes place above 600 ºC (Ren et al., 2011). Moreover, the occurrence
of the Boudouard reaction, in which CO2 reacts with carbon (Eq. (7)) should not be discarded (Soni et al.,
2009).

CO 3 2- ↔ CO 2 + O2- (5)
H 2 O + C ↔ CO + H 2 (6)
CO 2 + C ↔ 2 CO (7)

When heating is carried out in oxidative atmosphere, again, the release of CO 2 is highest for K 2 CO 3 -
treated samples. Of interest is that CO 2 peaks coincide with the release of H 2 O. The appearance of
CO 2 /H 2 O peaks in the 300-600 ºC range (Fig. 1) suggests the occurrence of combustion reactions (Eq. 8-
9).

C + O 2 ↔ CO 2 (8)

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2 H + 2 O2 ↔ H2O (9)
The previous treatment with H 2 SO 4 would remove C and OH- during the impregnation step, before the
thermal activation, which would explain the observed lower release of H 2 O and CO 2 .
Release of H 2
As shown in Figure 1, the signal of H 2 was the highest for the sample treated with K 2 CO 3 and heated in
inert atmosphere. The impregnation with K2CO3 (an additional source of carbon) may increase the release
of H2, through the reaction of OH- ions with carbon (Eq. (10)).

6 OH- + 2 C ↔ 3 H 2 + 2 CO 3 2- (10)

The P-OH functionalities of bioapatite, and the OH- ions formed from carbonates should provide the
required OH- ions for the above reactions. The release of H 2 was much lesser during heating in oxidative
atmosphere. A small peak is observed for K 2 CO 3 treated sample at around 450 ºC, much lower than the
H 2 detection temperature in inert atmosphere (> 600 ºC) and no release at all for the acid treated sample.

H2O release H2 release

Arbitrary units

Arbitrary units

100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900
Charing Temperature, ºC
CO2 release

H2SO4 OXIDIZING atmosphere

H2SO4 INERT atmosphere
Arbitrary units

K2CO3 OXIDIZING atmosphere

K2CO3 INERT atmosphere
Untreated INERT atmosphere
Untreated OXIDIZING atmosphere

100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900

Charing Temperature, ºC

Figure 1. Compounds released during the heat treatment in inert (He) and oxidizing (air) atmosphere of
precursor treated in H 2 SO 4 (red) or K 2 CO 3 solution.
Textural properties
The non-activated (reference) catalyst (Ni/HAp) showed a S BET of 70.8 m2/g and an average pore diameter
(d pore ) of 15.1 nm (Table 1). The activation significantly modified the support properties (S BET : 2.0-90.9
m2/g). Overall, heating in inert atmosphere deteriorated the textural properties (decreased S BET ) of the
biochar due to the collapse of the pores. On the contrary, heating in air atmosphere at low temperature
(350 ºC) increased the specific surface area, especially by the acid treatment. However, an increase of the

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charring temperature up to 550 ºC caused the collapse of the small pores and the formation of new
macropores, as revealed by the increase of the average pore size, i.e. from 14 to 30 nm and from 11 to 25
nm for alkali and acid treated samples, respectively.
Relationship among the released species and catalytic performance
The analysis of TG-MS data indicates that the combustion reactions of carbonaceous constituents within
bone char lead to a significant release of CO 2 , potentially contributing to the collapse of its porous
structure. Additionally, a noteworthy release of water is observed, attributed to the dehydroxylation of
hydroxyapatite in bone char. While these reactions appear to adversely affect the textural properties of the
obtained biochar, their impact on catalytic performance is not necessarily detrimental. Table 1 data reveals
that biochar activation in an inert atmosphere has the most pronounced negative effect on WGS
performance (except Ni/SN600, X CO = 99.0 %). For instance, catalysts derived from K 2 CO 3 -treated
biochars (Ni/KN600 and Ni/KN800) achieved a maximum of 20% CO conversion.

Table 1. Textural characteristics and WGS performance of Ni supported on activated bone-char catalysts
(T in ºC).
S BET d pore X CO , max X CO,max Y H2 (Y CH4 )
Catalyst
(m2/g) (nm) (%) (T) (%)(1)
Ni/HAp 70.8 15 99 97 (350) -146 (49)
Ni/KA350 77.5 14 98 n/a n/a
Ni/KA550 33.2 30 98 89 (375) 54 (11)
Ni/KN600 14.5 28 20 n/a n/a
Ni/KN800 2.0 48 22 n/a n/a
Ni/SA350 90.9 11 98 99 (325) -25 (19)
Ni/SA550 45.7 25 98 81 (425) 27 (3)
Ni/SN600 36.6 32 99 56 (425) -60 (14)
Ni/SN800 9.5 19 18 n/a n/a
(1)
For a real reformer outlet composition.
The catalysts exhibiting the highest activity under ideal WGS conditions were further assessed under
realistic conditions, involving a feed containing both CO 2 and H2. A comparison between Ni/SA350 and
Ni/SA550 indicates that methanation was hindered with an increase in heating temperature (Y CH4 =19%
vs. 3%). Interestingly, the Ni/KA550 catalyst exhibited the highest hydrogen yield.
The significant release of H 2 O and CO 2 during the physical activation up to 550 ºC in an oxidative
atmosphere suggested the combustion of carbon constituents within bone char and dehydroxylation of the
precursor's hydroxyapatite. These reactions appeared to promote the development of catalysts with
improved yield to hydrogen (i.e. WGS reaction) over methanation. Notably, the alkali-treated sample
(Ni/KA550) exhibited the most balanced catalytic behavior, achieving WGS equilibrium conversion at
375 ºC (X CO,eq ≈ 90%), while achieving the highest hydrogen yield (Y H2 =54%) and a fivefold reduction
in methane yield (Y CH4 =11 vs. 49%) compared to the reference, non-activated catalyst.
CONCLUSIONS
Heating in inert atmosphere was found to adversely impact the catalyst due to the collapse of the porous
structure. Heating in air produced the most active catalysts for CO conversion. Regarding the chemical
treatment, it significantly modified the selectivity to hydrogen. Results suggested that heating at least at
550 ºC was required to produce WGS selective catalyst. For instance, for a realistic feed containing H 2
and CO 2 in the feed, catalyst Ni/KA550 achieved a net hydrogen production (Y H2 = 54%) and limietd
methane podruction (Y CH4 =11%). These values represent a significant improvement of the catalitic

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performance as compared to the non-chemically activated counterpart (-146 % and 49 %, respectively).
These results indicate the beneficial influence of the combustion reactions, involving carbon and
hydrogen, during physical activation, which take place preferentially over other reactions.
The proven efficacy of waste bone, readily available in large quantities, as an effective catalytic support,
holds promise as a solution to burgeoning environmental challenges.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT
This study was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness/Ministerio de
Economia y Competitividad (PID2019-106692RB-I00) and the Basque Government (GV-2018-00038)
The technical support provided by SGIker of the UPV/EHU is gratefully acknowledged.

REFERENCES
Adduci G., Martinez-Diaz D., Sanz-Villanueva D., Caravella A., Calles J A., Sanz R., Alique D., (2021)
Stability of electroless pore-plated Pd-membranes in acetic acid steam membrane-reformers for
ultra-pure hydrogen production, Fuel Processing Technology, 212, 106619.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuproc.2020.106619
Chakraborty R., Bepari S., Banerjee A., (2011) Application of calcined waste fish (Labeo rohita) scale
as low-cost heterogeneous catalyst for biodiesel synthesis, Bioresource Technology,102,3, 3610-
3618. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2010.10.123.
Goodman P.A., Li H., Gao Y., Lu Y.F., Stenger-Smith J.D., & Redepenning J., (2013) Preparation and
characterization of high surface area, high porosity carbon monoliths from pyrolyzed bovine bone
and their performance as supercapacitor electrodes. Carbon, 55, 291-298.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbon.2012.12.066
Ren H., Zhang Y., Fang Y. & Wang Y., (2011) Co-gasification behaviour of meat and bone meal char
and coal char. Fuel Processing Technology, 92:298-307.
Rojas-Mayorga C.K., Silvestre-Albero J., Aguayo-Villarreal I.A., Mendoza-Castillo D.I., Bonilla-
Petriciolet A., (2015) A new synthesis route for bone chars using CO2 atmosphere and their
application as fluoride adsorbents, Microporous and Mesoporous Materials, 209, 38-44,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.micromeso.2014.09.002.
Sierra I., Ayastuy J.L., Gutiérrez-Ortiz M.A., Iriarte-Velasco U., (2023) A study on the impact of the
reaction mechanism of the thermochemical activation of bone char (by pyrolysis and
carbonization), Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis, 171, 105973.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaap.2023.105973
Soni C.G., Wang Z., Dalai A.K. et al., (2009) Hydrogen production via gasification of meat and bon
meal in two-stage fixed bed reactor system. Fuel 88:920–925.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2008.10.037
URL 1 https://Ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained. 2022
Tanaka H., Watanabe T., Chikazawa M., (1997) FTIR and TPD studies on the adsorption of pyridine, n-
butylamineand acetic acid on calcium hydroxyapatite. J Chem Soc Faraday Trans 93:4377–4381
https://doi.org/10.1039/a705896i
Yang Y., Sun C., Lin B., Huang Q., (2020) Surface modified and activated waste bone char for rapid and
efficient VOCs adsorption, Chemosphere, 256, 127054.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.127054.

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EFFECT OF THE ACID TREATMENT ON THE TEXTURAL PROPERTIES OF

SLUDGE BIOCHAR PREPARED IN STEAM ATMOSPHERE

Irene Sierra1, Eva Epelde2, Andrés T. Aguayo2, Unai Iriarte-Velasco1*

1
University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Chemical Engineering,
01006, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain
2
University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of Chemical
Engineering, 48940, Leioa, Spain
*Corresponding author: unai.iriarte@ehu.eus
ORCID Code: 0000-0001-6269-6427 (only corresponding author)

ABSTRACT
Sewage sludge-derived porous biochar was prepared through physical activation with steam, using an
integrated and cost-effective procedure that does not require the usual pre-carbonization step. The
activation was conducted in a wide range of temperature (500-900 ºC). The effect of the acid treatment
was studied, focusing on: (i) the sequence (either after the physical activation or before it, thus resulting
in a combined chemical and physical activation), and (ii) its effect on the textural properties of the
materials. The porosity is maximized when sludge biochar is subjected to acid post-treatment, since the
removal of the inorganic matter results in pore unblocking. The dissolution of inorganic matter is more
effective after the steam activation, because the porous structure generated facilitates the access of the acid
to the interior of the particles. The drawback of this higher efficiency is the achievement of a lower sludge
yield. Regarding the acid pre-treatment, high temperatures (above 800 ºC) are required to take advantage
of the combined chemical and physical activation.

Keywords: Sewage sludge, Steam, HCl, Biochar

INTRODUCTION
Sewage sludge is the unavoidable residue from wastewater treatment plants, which are used to purify the
wastewater produced in households, industry and public facilities. Since sewage sludge is composed of
the substances responsible for the toxic and pathogenic nature of wastewater, its management is an issue
of particular concern. The traditional options to manage sewage sludge include land filling, incineration,
ocean discharge and composting. Nevertheless, owing to the increasingly stringent environmental
regulations, along with the growing demand for the recovery of energy and materials from sludge, there
is an increasing interest in the search of alternative treatment methods.

Among these strategies, the treatment of sewage sludge by means of a thermochemical procedure in an
oxygen-limited atmosphere (pyrolysis) represents an economical and environmentally friendly alternative.
The solid fraction obtained (biochar or sludge carbon) is a porous material with a wide range of
applications. Biochar derived from sludge can be used in water and wastewater treatment in different
ways, such as an adsorbent for the removal of many contaminants (dyes, heavy metals and emerging
pollutants), or as a catalyst in advanced oxidation processes to degrade recalcitrant pollutants (Gopinath,

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2021). Sewage sludge-derived biochar can also be used to remove gas pollutants such as H 2 S, SO 2 and
NOx (Xiao, 2022), and as a soil amendment (Lehmann, 2009).
The optimal physicochemical properties of biochar depend on the desired application, and can be adjusted
by means of the preparation method. The usual preparation procedure can be either physical or chemical.
Physical activation usually comprises two stages: a pre-carbonization of sludge at intermediate
temperature (400-700 ºC), followed by an activation with a gas at high temperature. The most common
activation gas is steam, owing to its capacity to produce a wide pore size distribution (Grifoni, 2019).
Regarding the chemical activation, the precursor (either sludge or pre-carbonized sludge) is mixed with a
chemical reagent (an acid, an alkali or a salt) and then is heated up to a high temperature under an inert
atmosphere.

Many studies have shown the advantages of performing an acid treatment in the preparation of biochar,
such as the increase in the porosity due to the removal of inorganic matter (Xiao, 2022), and the
introduction of functional groups on the surface of biochar (Wang, 2019). Nevertheless, the optimum acid
washing sequence (before or after the thermal step) remains unclear, since the comprehensive studies
comparing pre- and post-washing are scarce. In this regard, although it has been reported that the post-
washing may be less effective because the thermal treatment increases the stability of the inorganic
fraction (i.e., lowers the propensity towards leaching) (Smith, 2009), our previous comprehensive study
revealed that post-washing was more effective in increasing the porosity of biochar prepared by physical
activation of sewage sludge with CO 2 (Sierra, 2017). However, when the acid washing is performed before
the activation, sewage sludge is subjected to a combined physical and chemical activation process, thus
taking advantage of the reactions and processes favoured by the acid during the thermal stage. In this
regard, the combined activation is a promising preparation procedure of biochar not sufficiently studied
(Wang, 2019).

This study addresses the preparation of sludge carbon through a procedure that combines physical
activation with steam in a wide range of temperature (500-900 ºC) and acid treatment with HCl (using
different sequences of acid washing). The preparation method does not require the usual pre-carbonization
step (Singh, 2020), thus resulting in a reduction of the preparation cost. The investigation is focused on
analyzing the textural properties of the materials.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Preparation of Sludge Biochar
Biochar was prepared from anaerobically digested and dewatered sewage sludge collected from an urban
wastewater treatment plant. Raw sludge was dried in a convection oven (48 h at 105 ºC), and particles
within the 0.5-1.0 mm size range were selected. Three different preparation procedures were investigated:
(i) physical activation only, using steam; (ii) acid treatment before the physical activation (acid-pretreated
samples); and (iii) acid treatment after the physical activation (acid washed or post-washed samples).
Acid-pretreated samples were not rinsed with water before the thermal treatment, to be subjected to a
combined physical and chemical activation process.

The thermal treatment was conducted in a quartz tube furnace, under a steam flow. Temperature was
increased from room temperature to 500-900 ºC, using a heating rate of 15 ºC/min. Samples were soaked
at the final temperature for 30 min, and then cooled down under a flow of N 2 . To carry out the acid
treatment, the impregnation ratio was established at 60 mmol/g precursor (dry sewage sludge). The acid
treatment was performed adding 1 g of the precursor to 20 cm3 of a HCl solution (3 M). The solutions

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were introduced in 50 cm3 vials and stirred at 150 rpm in a reciprocating shaker at room temperature (20
± 2 ºC) for 48 h. Samples were then filtered, transferred to a convection oven and dried at 80 ºC for 24 h.
The obtained samples of biochar were washed with distilled water.

The samples of biochar prepared by physical activation only in steam atmosphere (SCS) were coded based
on the temperature: for example, SCS-500 was prepared at 500 ºC. The samples subjected to acid washing
were coded according to temperature and washing sequence, either prior to (P) or after (A) the thermal
treatment. For example, PSCS-500 (acid pretreatment + thermal treatment at 500 ºC) and SCSA-500
(thermal treatment at 500 ºC + acid washing).

Characterization of Sludge Biochar

The textural properties were determined by N 2 adsorption/desorption at 77 K (ASAP 2010,
Micromeritics). Prior to measurements, samples were outgassed under N 2 flow at 200 ºC for 15 h. Specific
surface area was determined using the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) method. Surface area in the
mesopore and macropore range was obtained using the Barrett, Joyner & Halenda (BJH) method, whereas
values in the micropore range were calculated based on the t-plot method. The ash content was measured
heating the samples at 815 ºC for 1 h in air atmosphere (UNE 32004 standard).

RESULTS and DISCUSSION

Production Yield of Biochar
Table 1 summarizes the results of production yield (partial and overall) for samples of sludge biochar. The
yield of the physical treatment (Y phys ) was calculated from the sample weight before and after the
treatment. The yield of the acid treatment (Y acid ) was obtained by dividing the mass of the sample after
and before the treatment with HCl. Finally, the overall yield of sludge carbon (Y SC ) was obtained as the
product of the aforementioned individual yields.

Table 1. Data of Overall and Partial Yields of Sludge Biochar

Sample Y phys Y acid Y SC Ash Content
(wt% (wt% (wt% (wt%)
) ) )
SCS-500 59.3 - 59.3 63.1
SCS-600 57.4 - 57.4 65.7
SCS-700 55.1 - 55.1 69.0
SCS-800 47.6 - 47.6 75.9
SCS-900 47.0 - 47.0 82.0
SCSA-500 59.3 47.9 28.4 38.6
SCSA-600 57.4 48.5 27.8 41.3
SCSA-700 55.1 47.3 26.1 45.3
SCSA-800 47.6 46.6 22.2 51.0
SCSA-900 47.0 48.4 22.7 55.3
PSCS-500 55.5 66.3 36.8 46.8
PSCS-600 52.9 66.3 35.1 50.1
PSCS-700 50.0 66.3 33.2 53.7
PSCS-800 43.2 66.3 28.6 68.8
PSCS-900 39.5 66.3 26.2 75.8

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As expected, an increasing activation temperature leads to a decrease in Y phys , as a consequence of the
higher decomposition, volatilization or gasification of sewage sludge constituents and/or incorporated
species. It is remarkable that Y phys is lower for the acid pretreated samples (PSCS series), which is partly
attributed to the removal of non-volatile matter by the acid. Moreover, the acid pretreated samples are
subjected to a combined physical and chemical activation process, which may result in the occurrence of
additional reactions during the thermal treatment. Concerning Y acid , it is higher for the pretreated samples
(66 wt% vs. approx. 50 wt%), thus leading to a higher overall yield. This result evidences the higher
efficiency of the acid washing when it is performed after the steam activation, although it has the drawback
of the lower yield obtained.

Textural Properties
Table 2 summarizes the textural properties of the prepared samples of sludge biochar. The materials
possess a hierarchical porous structure, with pores in the micro-, meso- and macropore range.

Table 2. Textural Properties of Sludge Biochar

Sample S BET S micro S meso S macro
(m2/g 2/
(m g (m 2
/g (m2/g)
) ) )
SCS-500 45.1 6.90 9.74 26.0
SCS-600 40.3 9.23 28.9 1.54
SCS-700 61.7 14.7 36.6 3.05
SCS-800 93.4 25.4 50.7 3.63
SCS-900 113 20.9 64.6 2.22
SCSA-500 33.0 5.22 20.1 4.45
SCSA-600 241 64.3 107 5.10
SCSA-700 250 29.8 172 5.10
SCSA-800 323 103 155 6.70
SCSA-900 266 59.9 129 8.30
PSCS-500 9.10 1.83 5.58 0.855
PSCS-600 5.61 2.08 3.35 0.950
PSCS-700 101 81.1 8.91 0.909
PSCS-800 149 94.5 31.9 1.23
PSCS-900 179 98.9 45.0 1.78

Regarding the samples prepared by physical activation only (SCS series), S BET increases with temperature,
and the highest value is obtained at 900 ºC (113 m2/g). In general, both micro- and mesoporosity increase
with temperature. Regarding the SCSA series (acid washing after steam activation), the optimum value of
S BET corresponds to 800 ºC (323 m2/g). This value represents about a three-fold increase compared to the
best value of SCS series, with the advantage of the lower temperature required (800 vs. 900 ºC). SCSA-
800 also possesses the highest microporosity (103 m2/g, four times larger than the best value of SCS
series). When comparing SCS and SCSA series, it is evident that the acid washing results in a significant
enhancement of the porosity at temperatures up to 600 ºC. The values of S BET of SCSA samples are 2-6
fold larger than the corresponding SCS samples. This increase is especially evident in the micro- and
mesopore range. It is hypothesized that the acid washing is effective to make visible the pores generated
during the activation step, hidden due to pore blockage.

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When analyzing the effect of the acid, it should be taken into account that the increase in the specific
surface area may be due only to the removal of inorganic matter (essentially non porous). In this regard,
the use of the corrected S BET parameter has been proposed, as given by Eq. 1 (Ros, 2006). This parameter
does not take into account the contribution of the inorganic fraction to the S BET :

𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 𝑆𝑆𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵
𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 𝑆𝑆𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵 = (1)
1−𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎ℎ 𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐 (𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓)

Figure 1 displays the corrected values of SBET. According to the results, the corrected values of S BET of
the samples subjected to acid washing after the steam activation are higher than those of SCS series in the
temperature range of 600-800 ºC. These results reflect that the improvement in the specific surface area is
not only due to the mere removal of the inorganic fraction, but also to alterations in the porous structure,
such as the aforementioned pore unblocking.

Figure 1. Corrected Values of BET Specific Surface area as a Function of Temperature.

The effect of the acid pretreatment (PSCS series) is different depending on the activation temperature. At
temperatures lower than or equal to 600 ºC, it has a detrimental effect, since there is an important decrease
in S BET (Table 2). This detrimental effect is also observed in the case of the corrected S BET (Figure 1). It
is hypothesized that the removal of certain inorganic constituents before the activation step would result
in a lower extent of several reactions and processes during the thermal treatment (such as the well known
thermal decomposition of carbonates), thus leading to a lower pore generation. This negative effect would
not be offset by the reactions favoured by the acid during the thermal step, owing to the low temperature
employed.

In contrast, the acid pre-washing has a beneficial effect at temperatures above 700 ºC. This positive effect
can be observed in S BET , with the maximum value corresponding to PSCS-900 (179 m2/g). Nevertheless,
the most visible effect of the pre-washing is the enhancement of the micropore structure (Table 2),
resulting in materials with high degree of microporosity (for example, S micro is 98.9 m2/g for PSCS-900
and 20.9 m2/g for SCS-900). Figure 1 reveals that at 700 ºC the corrected S BET of SCS and PSCS samples
is very similar. At higher temperatures (800-900 ºC), the values of PSCS are higher than those of SCS. At

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800 ºC the corrected S BET of SCSA sample is still higher than that of PSCS, whereas at the highest
temperature (900 ºC) the value of PSCS sample is the highest of all the samples. This behaviour suggests
that high temperatures are required for the occurrence of specific reaction mechanisms involving HCl
(during the combined physical and chemical activation) that result in the development of the porous
structure.

CONCLUSION
The porosity is maximized when sludge biochar is subjected to acid post-treatment, since the removal of
the inorganic matter results in pore unblocking. The dissolution of inorganic matter is more effective after
the steam activation, since the porous structure generated facilitates the access of the acid to the interior
of the particles. The drawback of this higher efficiency is the achievement of a lower sludge yield.
Regarding the acid pre-treatment, high temperatures (above 800 ºC) are required to take advantage of the
combined chemical and physical activation.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
This study was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness/ Ministerio de
Economia y Competitividad (PID2019-106692RB-I00) and the Basque Government (GV-2018-00038)
The technical support provided by SGIker of the UPV/EHU is gratefully acknowledged.

REFERENCES
Gopinath A., Divyapriya G., Srivastava V., Laiju A.R., Nidheesh P.V. and Kumar M.S. (2021) Conversion
of Sewage Sludge into Biochar: A Potential Resource in Water and Wastewater Treatment.
Environmental Research, 194, 110656. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2020.110656
Grifoni M., Pedron F., Rosellini I. and Petruzzelli G. (2019). From waste to resource: Sorption properties
of biological and industrial sludge. In: Prasad, M.N.V., Favas, P.J.D., Vithanage, M. and Mohan,
S.V. (eds) Industrial and municipal sludge. Oxford: Butterworth-Heinemann, pp 595-621.
Lehmann J. and Joseph S. (2009). Biochar for environmental management. Science and technology.
London: Routledge.
Ros A., Lillo-Ródenas M.A., Fuente E., Montes-Morán M.A., Martín M.J. and Linares-Solano A. (2006).
High Surface Area Materials Prepared from Sewage Sludge-based Precursors. Chemosphere, 65,
132-140. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2006.02.017
Sierra I., Iriarte-Velasco U., Gamero M. and Aguayo A.T. (2017) Upgrading of Sewage Sludge by
Demineralization and Physical Activation with CO 2 : Application for Methylene Blue and Phenol
Removal. Microporous and Mesoporous Materials, 250, 88-99. Doi:
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.micromeso.2017.05.020
Singh S., Kumar V., Dhanjal D.S., Datta S., Bhatia D., Dhiman J., Samuel J., Prasad R. and Singh J. (2020)
A Sustainable Paradigm of Sewage Sludge Biochar: Valorization, Opportunities, Challenges and
Future Prospects. Journal of Cleaner Production, 269, 122259. Doi:
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.122259
Smith K.M., Fowler G.D., Pullket S. and Graham N.J.D. (2009) Sewage Sludge-based Adsorbents: A
Review of their Production, Properties and Use in Water Treatment Applications. Water Research,
43, 2569-2594. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2009.02.038
Wang J. and Wang S. (2019) Preparation, Modification and Environmental Application of Biochar: A
Review. Journal of Cleaner Production, 227, 1002-1022. Doi:
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.04.282

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Xiao Y., Raheem A., Ding L., Chen W.H., Chen X., Wang F. and Lin S.-L. (2022) Pretreatment,
Modification and Applications of Sewage Sludge-derived Biochar for Resource Recovery - A
Review. Chemosphere, 287, 131969. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.131969

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CARBON FOOTPRINT REDUCTION-ORIENTED MEDICAL WASTE

VALORIZATION: NOVEL PROCESS DESIGN, THERMODYNAMIC MODEL
DEVELOPMENT AND LIFE CYCLE OPTIMIZATION
Jianzhao Zhou1, Jingzheng Ren1,2,3, Chang He4
1
Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR,
China.
2
Research Center for Resources Engineering Towards Carbon Neutrality, The Hong Kong Polytechnic
University, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China.
3
Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Research Institute for Advanced Manufacturing, The Hong
Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China.
4
School of Materials Science and Engineering, Guangdong Engineering Centre for Petrochemical Energy
Conservation, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China.
*Corresponding author: jzhren@polyu.edu.hk
ORCID Code: 0000-0002-9690-5183
ABSTRACT
The growing global population and heightened focus on healthcare have precipitated a surge in medical
waste generation. However, traditional waste disposal methods such as landfill and incineration are
increasingly recognized as unsustainable. On the one hand, such waste usually harbours a considerable
proportion of energy-rich components while their effective utilization remains lacking; On the other hand,
substantial greenhouse gas emissions are associated with conventional disposal methods. To mitigate this
challenge, waste valorization emerges as a viable solution. One prominent approach involves converting
waste into high value-added energy through thermochemical conversion. However, significant carbon
emissions persist due to the limited conversion rate. In response, this study proposes an integrated
approach, combining plasma gasification-based hydrogen production with absorption-based carbon
dioxide capture, to achieve low-carbon conversion of medical waste into high-demand hydrogen. Based
on the well-established thermodynamic model, high-fidelity simulations have been performed for the
designed process. Leveraging life cycle assessment, the total carbon emission (TCE) of whole system is
comprehensively quantified. Toward minimization of TCE, the key operational variables across main units
such as plasma gasification, water gas shift reaction, and steam cycles have been optimized by employing
the heuristic algorithm. Comparative analysis reveals that, although the proposed process exhibits slightly
higher indirect carbon emissions compared to an optimized plasma gasification hydrogen production
process (excluding carbon capture), direct carbon emissions are significantly reduced. Overall, the carbon
reduction efficiency is notably enhanced. This study aims to provide valuable insights for the advancement
of medical waste management practices through design, simulation, and optimization of the novel process.

Keywords: Medical waste, Waste-to-energy, Process development, Life cycle optimization, Carbon
reduction

(Acknowledgement: The work described in this paper was supported by a grant from Research Grants
Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China-General Research Fund (Project ID:
P0042030, Funding Body Ref. No: 15304222, Project No. B-Q97U) and a grant from the Environment

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and Conservation Fund (ECF) (Project ID: P0043333, Funding Body Ref. No: ECF 51/2022, Project No.
K-ZB5Z)).

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THE METHOD PROPOSAL FOR THE REUSE OF BATTERY PACKS USED

BY ELECTRIC VEHICLES
Tuba Güven Zurnacı1*, Prof.Dr.Fırat Kaçar2
1,2
Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Engineering Faculty, Environmental Engineering Department, 34320,
Avcilar, Istanbul, Turkey
*Corresponding author: tubaguveniu@gmail.com
ORCID Code: 0009-0006-4277-8023

ABSTRACT
In today's rapidly growing electric vehicle production landscape, the existence and nature of
reuse/recycling methods for expired battery packs in electric vehicles remain unclear. This article defines
the possibility of utilizing battery packs post-automotive use and outlines the procedures for their second
life cycle, along with specifying reuse methods.

The article delineates procedures for the second life cycle of battery packs, offering a roadmap for
reusing/repurposing. Critical to this endeavour is the standardization of interfaces and software, a strategic
move aimed at streamlining the reuse process and enhancing compatibility across diverse battery pack
models and manufacturers.

By advocating for consistent interfaces for both battery components and Battery Management System
(BMS) software, the article champions a unified approach that fosters interoperability and simplifies the
reuse process for stakeholders. This emphasis on standardization not only facilitates efficient repurposing
but also bolsters the resilience of electric vehicle ecosystems.

In the broader context of the electric vehicle industry, the article underscores the pivotal role of regulations
and collaborative efforts in driving sustainable practices. By extending their lifespan through repurposing
and recycling, stakeholders can contribute to the advancement of the circular economy while mitigating
the environmental impact of EV production and disposal. As the world embarks on a journey towards
sustainable mobility, the reuse of electric vehicle battery packs stands as a beacon of innovation and
environmental stewardship.

Keywords: Battery Packs, Circular Economy, Reusing of the Battery Packs, Repurposing of the Battery
Packs

INTRODUCTION
The rapid increase in the production and adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) has accelerated the
advancement of high-voltage battery packs. By 2023, it is projected that around 40 million electric
passenger vehicles will be on the roads, highlighting a significant shift towards sustainable transportation.
This transition is influenced not only by market preferences but also by worldwide efforts towards
environmental preservation and the promotion of green energy adoption.

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The article highlights the crucial influence of regulations in shaping the practices of electric vehicle
manufacturers, especially regarding recycling and reuse. Governments are actively promoting the
integration of recyclable materials and systems, signalling a growing awareness of the environmental
impact associated with electric vehicle components.

A key challenge addressed in the article is the unresolved question of the reusability of battery packs,
particularly given their critical role in both vehicle volume and cost. The performance status of the battery
pack in electric vehicles is determined through the monitoring of State of Charge (SoC) and State of Health
(SoH) values.

Vehicle manufacturers commonly provide a minimum 8-year or 100,000-mile lifespan warranty for
battery packs. After these periods, replacement of the battery pack is recommended. The specified
warranty durations generally correspond to SoH values decreasing to the range of 70-80%.

Once the warranty period provided by the vehicle manufacturers expires, batteries complete their first life
cycle and prepare for recycling or reuse methods for the second life cycle. A symbolic representation is
available in Figure 1.

Having the battery health at around 70% is a good starting point for other applications. As indicated in
Figure 2, there is a certain lifespan independent of the battery chemistry for the second life cycle before
recycling. The necessity for standardized approaches to reusing becomes apparent, highlighting the need
for comprehensive strategies that go beyond the vehicle's first life cycle.

Figure 1: The stages of the battery life cycle Figure 2: Utilization phases of different
automotive battery chemistries

The article also investigates the potential advantages of commonality in components across different
battery packs, aiming to simplify the reuse process. This exploration, coupled with an examination of
battery management system features, seeks to pave the way for standardized practices and enhanced
sustainability in the industry.

In conclusion, the article emphasizes the pressing need for sustainable strategies in managing EV battery
packs throughout their lifecycle.

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MATERIAL METHOD
The method section of the article outlines the infrastructure methods and procedures required for the
second life of a battery pack that has completed its first life cycle.

Figure 3 shows the progression of this process from picking battery packs to its recycling.

Figure 3: Workflow of Reusing / Recycling of the Battery Packs

To progress the process mentioned in Figure 3, special agreements must be made between restructuring
or recycling companies and OEMs. There are very few companies in the market that will reconstruct
battery packs. The relevant companies must have very high technical capabilities, be knowledgeable about
automotive processes and be able to conduct negotiations at the OEM level. Looks like a business for
years to come.

Collection of Battery Packs

The collection of battery packs from relevant warehouses is a challenging and costly process. The
optimum storage condition for lithium-ion batteries is -20 to 25 °C to minimize losses. Therefore, it is
necessary to store the packs at room conditions before and after transportation. Internationally recognized
as a prerequisite in transportation, UN 38.3 sets the standard for the air, land, and sea transportation of
lithium-ion cells or battery packs.

Checking of Battery Pack which was finalized first life

The following procedures should be followed during the inspection stage:
Stage 1:
● Manufacturer, part number, technical specifications (capacity, energy density, operating
voltage, maximum current, maximum power, charge & discharge & storage temperatures,
etc.) of the Cell/Module/Battery pack should be collected and examined.
● BMS communication protocol and version control should be reviewed.
● Schematics, layouts, installation, and operational information should be examined.
● The service history of the Cell/Module/Battery pack should be reviewed.
Stage 2:

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● Visual inspections should be conducted.

Stage 3:
● OCV, internal resistance, capacity, mass, State of Charge (SoC), State of Health (SoH),
dimensions, high-voltage isolation measurement, and checks should be performed.
● BMS and related components should be checked.
● High-voltage components should be checked (contactor, fuse, connector, etc.)

Repair / Maintenance
It is the stage of resolving an issue identified during the battery pack inspections. Maintenance should be
evaluated in three separate categories:

● Low-Risk Level Damages: Damages that will not affect any safety parameters. Repairing these
damages does not require a retest of the battery pack.
● Medium-Risk Level Damages: Damages at the subsystem level that do not occur at the battery pack
level.
● High-Risk Level Damages: Damages that affect safety parameters at the battery pack level. The reuse
company may direct the pack towards recycling or reconfiguration based on high testing and
maintenance costs or depending on the extent of the damage.

Start Point of the Second Life - Restructuring

According to research studies, the refurbishment costs for battery packs intended for reuse vary between
$15/kWh and $150/kWh. This situation will lead to additional costs and time losses. Opting for direct
recycling rather than the battery pack reconfiguration method is often preferred due to the rising extra
costs and time losses.

Start Point of the Second Life -Reusing

Many battery packs will undergo replacement as they no longer meet users' performance expectations.
Technically sound battery packs, without any issues, can continue to their second life cycles without the
need for any repair or maintenance. This method is referred to as the direct-use approach.

Recycling
In cases where the use of battery packs is not possible due to cost, functionality, or performance-related
reasons, battery packs should be disassembled down to the cell level. However, some adhesives used in
the production of battery packs or certain cell assembly methods are not suitable for recycling. Regulations
also do not encourage the use of methods that allow recycling at the cell level.

Standardization
There are two methods for multiple battery packs to continue into the second life cycle by being connected
in series or parallel. In the first method, all the batteries connected in series or parallel must be identical,
while the other method allows for the connection of batteries from different manufacturers in series or
parallel. The first method is technically easier for process management, but it is not advantageous when a
system setup requiring high power is needed, as it may require waiting for the start of the second life cycle
for many battery packs. It would be more reasonable for every battery pack that has completed its first life
cycle to start its second life cycle as soon as possible. Otherwise, additional costs such as storage costs
and regular maintenance will continue to accrue.

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To facilitate the combination of different battery packs, some components and battery pack voltage need
to be standardized. This way, a unique process won't have to be conducted for each battery pack. HV and
LV connectors have a common interface to decrease costs for second-life applications.

Battery Management System

The main Battery Management System (BMS) inside the battery pack communicates with the Vehicle
Control Unit (VCU) and has a mutual information exchange. In the second life cycle of used battery packs,
The main BMS must consistently communicate and exchange data with the controller overseeing the
system. Each BMS should have a standardized opening protocol and a standard for transitioning between
states.

Figure 4 suggests a flow diagram related to BMS state transitions. With the standardization of the state
transition protocol in BMS, all packages from reuse companies can be operated using the same protocol.

Figure 4: BMS Workflow

The Battery Management System (BMS) must be made mandatory for monitoring the information
provided below related to the battery pack:

OEM Informations Battery Pack Maximum Power

Battery Pack Identification Number Battery Pack Energy Capacity

Permissible Cell Temperature Cell Temperature

Allowable Battery Pack Voltage SoC

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Categorization
One of the significant challenges in the parallel charging of different battery packs is the State of Charge
(SoC) variations that arise due to the varying capacities of the packs. According to research studies, the
following categorization has been created, and it is recommended to parallel connect battery packs
according to this categorization:

RESULTS and DISCUSSION

The article's discussion section reveals that battery packs, after automotive use, often retain 70% of their
capacity, suggesting potential for second-use cycles. UN 38.3 regulations pose challenges, defining a new
pack if over 20% is replaced, necessitating costly retesting.

The article suggests using different packs in parallel for system design, but managing this scenario may
be challenging. Specific protocols for charging and discharging should be proposed to address potential
issues and it should be proofed.

The recommendation is to use common interfaces and software at the sub-component level to enhance
standardization and simplify process management for recycling companies. The article primarily focuses
on defining processes and methods, serving as groundwork for various standards, emphasizing the
importance of these definitions for facilitating recycling and reuse in the battery pack domain.

CONCLUSION
In conclusion, the article establishes clear procedures for the reuse and recycling of battery packs,
suggesting potential standardization through publications or regulatory integration. The article proposes
standardizing interfaces or software to streamline recycling processes and reduce costs, addressing the
current divergence in pack technologies.

To expedite the initiation of the second life cycle, the article recommends grouping battery packs based
on capacity values and employing voltage-sharing methods. Alternative uses for battery packs in their
second life cycle are explored, with a call for more detailed studies on recycling practices. The article
concludes by validating proposed methodologies through simulations, demonstrating the practical
applicability of these approaches and emphasizing the need for ongoing research in battery pack recycling.

REFERENCES
Cready E., Lippert J., Pihl J., Weinstock I., Symons P. and Jungst R .G., (2003) Technical and Economic
Feasibility of Applying Used EV Batteries in Stationary Applications: A Study for the DOE
Energy Storage Systems Program, U.S. Department of Energy, Sandia National Laboratories, Final
Report SAND2002-4084, Albuquerque, Livermore
Elkind E.N., Hecht S., Horowitz C., Weissman,S. (2014) REUSE AND REPOWER - How to Save Money
and Clean the Grid with Second-Life Electric Vehicle Batteries, CLEE, Emmett Institute, Final
Report, California
Gernant, E., Seuster, F., Duffner, F., Jambor, M., König, M. and Mauler, L., (2022) Understanding the
Automotive Battery Life Cycle,https://newsroom.porsche.com/dam/jcr:5a063b1d-7d12-4072-
94ee-

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e4c479cd1621/Understanding%20the%20Automotive%20Battery%20Life%20Cycle_C_Porsche
%20Consulting_2022.pdf, [Ziyaret Tarihi: 25 Nisan 2023]
GÜVEN ZURNACI, T., (2023) Elektrikli Otomobillerde Kullanılan Batarya Paketlerinin Yeniden
Kullanımı İçin Yöntem Önerilmesi, Master, Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa.
Irle, R., (2022) Global EV Sales for 2022, https://www.ev-volumes.com/, [ Ziyaret Tarihi: 06 Nisan 2023]
Neubauer J., Smith K., Wood E. and Pesaran A., (2015) Identifying and Overcoming Critical Barriers to
Widespread Second Use of PEV Batteries, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Technical
Report NREL/TP-5400-63332, Golden
Neubauer J.S., Pesaran A., Williams B., Ferry M., Eyer J., (2012) A Techno-Economic Analysis of PEV
Battery Second Use Repurposed-Battery Selling Price and Commercial and Industrial End-User
Value, SAE International 2012-01-0349 (2012)
MCALEER, B., (2022) Electric Car Battery Life: Everything You Need to Know ,https://www.carand
driver.com/reserch/a31875141/electric-car-battery-life/, [ Ziyaret Tarihi: 25 Nisan 2023 ]
UNECE, 2015, ST/SG/AC.10/11/Rev.6

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DECISION MODELS FOR INDUSTRIAL CLEANER PRODUCTION AND

WASTEWATER REUSE
Mehmet Kitis1, Emrah Ozturk2, Elif Simsek Yesil1, Pınar Hasanoglu Ozturk3
1
Dept. of Environmental Engineering, Suleyman Demirel University, Isparta, Turkey
2
Dept. of Environmental Protection Technologies, Isparta University of Applied Sciences, Isparta, Turkey
3
Dept. of Environmental Protection Technologies, Duzce University, Duzce, Turkey.
*Corresponding author: mehmetkitis@sdu.edu.tr
ORCID Code: 0000-0002-6836-3129
ABSTRACT
Best available techniques (BAT) are employed in industries for cleaner production and wastewater reuse.
However, the issue to tackle is the selection of the optimum and most proper BATs to implement in the
facilities, considering the extensive list of BATs and their implementation costs. The major uncertainties
encountered during BAT selection are the determination and quantification of the evaluation criteria and
application of a widely accepted systematic method. Unfortunately, such a globally accepted, systematic
and default BAT selection method does not currently exist. Various research studies and industrial full-
scale applications employ different BAT selection/decision methods and use different environmental and
economic evaluation criteria. This problem can be solved by the application of systematic and analytical
approaches such as multi-criteria decision-making methods (MCDMs). Use of MCDMs should also be
accompanied with the feedbacks of industry experts, facility technical personnel and academicians to
further improve BAT selection process. This study evaluated and compared about 15 different MCDMs
in terms of BAT selection. A total of 40 novel evaluation criteria under 7 main groups were introduced,
which may be modified based on various sectors. Comparison of MCDMs indicated that in addition to
environmental benefits and economic savings other evaluation criteria should also be added to BAT
decision-making process. By the combination of various MCDMs, a new decision model incorporated
into a software can be developed. Our experiences on full-scale industrial cleaner production and
wastewater reuse applications will also be shared in this work.

Keywords: BAT, cleaner production, decision model, industry, sustainability, wastewater reuse

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5-6 July, 2024, Istanbul, Türkiye

TRANSFORMING SINGLE-USE MATRIX TRAYS TO CEILING TILES

USING LEGO-INSPIRED CONNECTORS TO ACTIVATE CIRCULAR
ECONOMY
Ahmed K. Ali
Texas A&M University College Station, Texas,77843, United States.
*Corresponding author: ahali@tamu.edu
ORCID Code: 0000-0002-9513-7389
ABSTRACT
The electronics and automotive industries face significant challenges in dealing with waste streams and
by-product disposal to transition to a circular economy paradigm shift. Packaging items made from
polymers to transport and protect sensitive electronic parts are typically difficult to recycle, have no value,
and companies pay to landfill it. The JEDEC single-use plastic matrix trays are primarily used in
automated test & assembly processes to transport Integrated Chips (IC) and circuit board components
representing a large volume and consistent waste stream. The use of matrix trays is expected to increase
due to the integration of more IC components into everyday products and this projected increase demands
additional efforts towards mitigating the single-use waste-flow of plastics.

This study presents an alternative approach of reusing matrix trays as secondary materials for suspended
ceiling tiles by adding value through design and industrial symbiosis. Ceiling tiles also known as drop
ceilings, false ceilings, suspended ceilings, or grid ceilings are highly common in modern construction
and architecture in both residential and commercial applications. Matrix Trays are stackable within the
same device family and maker’s model. The term "matrix" indicates that ICs are nested into pockets in
fixed-position rows and columns. These distinct features make the trays ideal for repurposing with
minimal modifications by applying the concepts of modular design, design for assembly, and LEGO-
inspired connection methods. Creative design concepts were tested in a novel modular ceiling tile product.
A proof of concept designed and built represents the opportunity of the ceiling system design process that
includes the design, composition, and validation of the product. Environmental and economic impacts
compared creative reuse to current conventional recycling, combustion, and landfilling practices with
available data. The results validate a workflow for reusing single-use plastic waste streams and
demonstrate that the architectural reuse of trays as modular ceiling tiles has environmental, economic, and
social benefits. A circular economy system could be activated through an industrial symbiosis between
the electronic and the building product industries, which could ultimately mitigate the increasing
landfilling crisis of plastics.

Keywords: JEDEC Matrix Trays, Single-use plastic, Circular Economy, Industrial Symbiosis, Waste

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SHIFT FROM LINEAR TO CIRCULAR ECONOMY: CASE STUDIES

Syeeda Khatoon1, Syed Asghar Mehdi2*, Syed Taha Asghar3
1
Dr. Syeeda Khatoon, Associate Professor, Department of Economics, Aligarh Muslim University, India*
2
Dr. Syed Asghar Mehdi, Associate Professor, Department of Management, Mewar University, Rajasthan, India
3
Syed Taha Asghar, B.Tech. MCE, Delhi Technological University, New Delhi, India

*Corresponding author: syeedaasghar@gmail.com

ABSTRACT
The rise in consumerism and disposable products is choking our planet and exhausting it simultaneously.
If the current trends were to continue, we would need three planets by 2050. The urgent need to shift to a
circular economy is to be realized as early as possible. This paper discusses and analyzes different sectors
that are starting to be involved in circular economy process at world level in general and Turkish economy
in particular thereby overcoming the challenges of limited knowledge in this field regarding potential of
circular economy and also limited strategy in place for creating it.

Keywords: Circular economy, Linear economy, Turkiye

WHY THE SHIFT FROM LINEAR TO CIRCULAR ECONOMY MATTERS?

The linear economy system is built on the model of raw material extraction from nature, converting them
into products and design then discarding them as waste (UNDP 2023). The concept of circular economy
is based on three principles, namely, (a) Eradicate waste and pollution, (b) Reuse products and materials
till they achieve their highest value, (c) Refurbish nature (Ellen MacArthur Foundation,2020).

Hence, circular economy is a model in which production and consumption related activities also
encompasses reusing, regenerating, improving, recycling, and sharing materials and products as long as
they can be utilized (European Parliament, 2023), thereby, extending the life cycle of product. Circularity
thus signifies the decoupling of economic growth from resource consumption and production. Therefore,
circular economy also tackles other problems like pollution, climate change and loss of biodiversity (Ellen
MacArthur Foundation). In the introduction section, basic information, literature information (knowledge
of previous studies), scientific gap (requirement) and purpose should be written.

INITIATIVES TO CIRCULAR ECONOMY

• There are initiatives to use regenerative agriculture towards the production of organic cotton and other
natural fibres in textiles and garment sector, further using natural colorings and dye, thereby preserving
the environment as well as the health of consumers.
• The Colorifix, a UK-based biotech company, moving away from conventional textile dyeing laced with
toxic petrochemicals and other harmful substances, instead, have developed an entirely biology-based
process to produce, deposit, and fix pigments onto textiles. Such the process requires up to 90% less
water and 70% less energy, as well as non-use of any hazardous chemicals (Ellen MacArthur
Foundation, 2021).

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• The new technologies are being developed to support the circular approach towards technology turned
abandoned garments into high-quality fibers as the new sources of raw material for further production
of long-lasting high-quality garments or clothing (UNDP 2023).
• Regenerative Materials for building and construction are also in use. As per the EPA’s estimates, out
of 600 million tons of construction and demolition (C&D) debris in the United States in 2018, over 455
million tons of C&D debris were put to re-use, and just under 145 million tons were discarded to
landfills (EPA 2021).
• Nokia subscribing to circular practices as it says it has processed 5,870 metric tons of obsolete products
and parts in the year 2020. Out of these, combined weight of 570 metric tons from the 79,400 items
were reused. Further, around 5,250 metric tons of old equipment was dispatched for energy and
materials recovery and 50 tons were discarded to landfill, thereby resulting, 99 percent of the material
content in Nokia’s products were put fit for utilization (Nokia Communications Press Services, 2024).
• Electronics with its growing influence in daily life is leading to rapid growth of E-waste. EPA has taken
the initiative by running the voluntary Sustainable Materials Management (SMM) Electronics
Challenge in US that aims to promote responsible electronics recycling; wherein electronics
manufacturers, brand owners and retailers are focused to take the challenge to send used collected
electronics to third-party certified electronics recyclers. The participants to this challenge had reused or
recycled 176,494 tons of electronics in the year 2020, and as a result reducing the equivalent of nearly
500,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions (EPA, 2021).
• The household waste is another roadblock towards the circular economy. It is estimated that two billion
tons of household waste are thrown away every year as per the ‘The World Counts’. The food waste
analysis presented by the ReFED's, ReFED, a nonprofit organization in US dedicated to ending food
loss and waste by advancing data-driven solutions, estimates that an annual investment of $18 billion
can reduce food waste by 21 million tons each year. Moreover, it would also reduce greenhouse gas
emissions, save water, and recover the greater quantity of meals for people in need as well as create
jobs every year. By such an estimate it will help achieve national and international goals to reduce food
waste by 50% by the year 2030 (ReFED, 2023).
• The company, ‘Apeel’ (Apeel Sciences is an American food technology company based in California)
follows the circular approach by doing away with single-use shrink wrap plastic packaging on fresh
fruit and veg, while at the same time tackling food waste. The Apeel packaging is a layer of edible,
plant-based coating applied to fresh products that augments the natural defences of fruit and vegetables,
resulting in slowing down both the major sources of spoilage, namely, water loss and oxidation (Ellen
MacArthur Foundation).
• Aquaculture, or fish farming, is another initiative towards the circular approach. Aquaculture has the
huge potential in solving the rising demand for healthy, protein-rich foods globally. The sustainably
and responsibly Aqua culture also checks any further exploitation of wild fish populations, without
depleting natural resources such as fresh water and arable land as well as reducing harm to the
environment. Aquaculture also produces one of the lowest greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions among
all farming of animal proteins (Global Salmon Initiative, 2023).
• As one of the practitioners of circular practices, the Swedish furniture maker IKEA is already aligning
itself on environmentally friendly practices in both the design of products and operational processes.
Out of the total IKEA’s furniture, a considerable 60% is based on renewable materials and more than
10% contains recycled materials. The IKEA’s furniture also comes with spare parts and fittings to
prolong the life of products. It also sells pre-owned furniture in-store with the buy-back scheme for old
furniture (Nokia Leadership Articles, 2024).
• Another brighter circular initiative taken by the German government on May 1st, 2023, by approving
and promoting Deutschland ticket, a €49 per month ticket valid throughout Germany on the

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Bundesbahn’s regional trains and as the response almost 10 million of these tickets had been sold one
month later, including adding 700,000 new customers. Similar initiatives were taken by the French
government on May 23rd, 2023 by banning the short-haul domestic flights, for private jets and
commercial airlines, where a train journey under two and half hours is available on the same route
(Nokia Leadership Articles, 2024).
• There were numerous examples of circular initiatives that include companies using waste of another
industry as the low-cost raw materials to produce completely new items or in demand items or even
high-end items. Such the examples include Elvis & Kresse, which uses the discarded fire hoses as raw
materials and turns them into luxury handbags and accessories. Another company, ROKA London’s
canvas bags are produced by using the recycled plastic bottles that would otherwise end up as non-
degradable plastic waste. The telecommunications operator Orange’s OSCAR program towards its
circular objectives, invites refurbished equipment in tenders and expects vendor partners to work with
approved local recyclers as far as possible (Nokia Leadership Articles, 2024).

COUNTRIES LEADING ON CIRCULAR ECONOMY

• Vanuatu, the island nation, is the most circular country, wherein its domestic consumption was
estimated to be 59 percent circular in 2021 much ahead to next in the list, the Netherlands, with 24.5
percent circular (UNDP Climate Promise, 2021).
• Kosovo, promoting green transition, BOOST programme aiming help businesses tackle global
challenges, climate change, and inculcating sustainable green practices (UNDP Press Release, 2022).
• Ghana, tackling urban waste management through promoting building houses made of recycled plastic
waste (UNDP Blog, 2021).
• Jordan, acquiring new reusable skills, aiding businesses entrepreneurship and community leadership
(UNDP Stories, 2020).
• Philippines, passing the bill requiring large manufacturers to limit usage of plastic packaging and share
the cost of managing plastic waste (UNDP Climate, 2023).
• Mexico, targeting the improved connectivity of circular economy solutions with the climate action plans
through developing and implementing training programmes towards circular economy roadmap for
implementing the country’s updated NDC (Nationally Determined Contributions) (UNDP Climate
Promise, 2023).
EUROPEAN UNION (EU) CIRCULAR INITIATIVES
European Union (27) Member States is aiming and moving towards new EU wide rules on packaging in
November 2022, that targets towards reducing packaging waste and improve packing design, with the
initiative such as clear labelling to promote reuse and recycling; transition to biobased, biodegradable and
compostable plastics (European Parliament, 2023).
The EU generated on average 189 kg per person of packaging waste in 2021.On EU’s objectives to create
a circular economy by 2050, the EU Parliament adopted to revised rules in November 2023. The EU has
recycled around 64% of packaging waste in 2021 and about 80% of packaging waste was recovered or has
been treated in one way or another (European Parliament Topics, 2023). The EU is banning certain micro-
plastics and single-use plastics as per the resolution adopted on 13 September 2018 (European Parliament
Topics, 2018).
The European Commission taking the note from the European Environment Agency that highlighted on
the textile purchases in the EU generated about 270 kg of CO 2 emissions per person in 2020, which
signifies the textile products consumed generated greenhouse gas emissions of 121 million tonnes in the

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EU member states. The European Commission on the initiative towards circular economy action plan in
the textile sector, presented the new strategy in March 2022 for establishing better durable textiles, put in
place the use of repairable, reusable and recyclable textiles; tackle fast fashion and at the same time
directives for the manufacturers to adopt to eco-design requirements, clarity of information on the circular
objectives as well as to take steps to minimize their carbon and environmental footprints.
There were proposals by the MEPs within the EU for keeping in tougher checks against the excessive
production and consumption of textiles and safeguarding the human, labor, environmental and animal
welfare. The EU Parliament in 2018 also issued the directions for the waste management in the sector that
calls for the measures for disposal of hazardous chemicals, the manufacturers to take responsibility for
their products, help buyers to make sustainable textiles’ choices, respect ecological criteria and inspire
new innovative business models (European Parliament Topics, 2020a).
Electronic devices and electrical equipment are an inherent part of daily life, despite the Electronic and
electrical waste or the e-waste is rapidly growing. The EU estimates that less than 40% e-waste is recycled
whereas the e-waste rose from 7.6 million tonnes in 2012 to 13.5 million tonnes in 2021. The European
Commission action plan in March 2020 adopted to improving reusability in general by adopting to the
rights to make repairs easier and cheaper, the directions for the USB Type-C common charger, as well as
adoption of rules on the collection, treatment and recycling of electrical and electronic equipment
(European Parliament Topics, 2020b).
Further, keeping the consideration of an estimated 20% of food is lost or wasted in the EU, the European
Commission adapted to ‘Farm to Fork Strategy’ presented on 20 May 2020 towards making EU food
system more robust and resilient to future crises. The strategy’s key goals include reduction in the use of
pesticides, fertilisers, sales of antimicrobials along with the increase in agricultural land to be used for
organic farming (European Parliament Topics, 2020c).
The Buildings and Construction accounts for more than 35% of total EU wastes. The European
Commission has set the directives to increase the lifespan of buildings, set reduction targets for the carbon
footprint of materials and establish minimum requirements on resource and energy efficiency (European
Commission).
CIRCULAR APPROACH IN TURKEY
Turkey is a strong proponent of moving towards the circular economy. The country envisaged and created
the platform, ‘Turkey Materials Marketplace’(TMM) – a circular economy project, established by BCSD
(Business Council for Sustainable Development) Turkey in collaboration with EBRD (The funds aims to
support projects in Turkey, Azerbaijan, Moldova, Romania and Kyrgyz) in April 2016 to facilitate cross-
industry materials reuse among Turkish companies. It continues to expand and currently has 60 members
on its platform.
Turkey Materials Marketplace (TMM) has brought companies together around the circular economy. The
recent example being the bringing together of Turkey’s leading companies ‘Organik Kimya’ and
‘Akçansa’, who have collaborated around the notion of circular reuse through the assistance of TMM.
Organik Kimya from the chemicals industry is able find the way for productive use for its disposable
sludge along with economic opportunities, through the collaborated partnership with Akçansa, Turkey’s
leading cement manufacturer that meets 10% of Turkey’s cement need as well as 12.5% of Turkey’s total
cement and clinker export). This collaboration has given rise to recyclable use of Organik Kimya’s
treatment sludge as alternative fuels in Akçansa’s cement manufacturing.
Another example of the circular efforts of TMM platform is the collaboration of ‘PepsiCo’, the company
producing energy by converting organic wastes in its biogas plant; and Aromsa, dealing with food waste

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management. This collaboration has enabled 20 tons of food waste generated by Aromsa being utilized by
PepsiCo in energy production.
There have been other instances as well in the ever-growing e-waste management. Exitcom, the services
company in the field of recovery of light, fluorescent, cartridge, toner and battery are offering its integrated
facility that treats WEEE Groups (WEEE Groups is Dutch Spanish company committed with the
environment) and also provides data and archival complete formatting services to its clients in order to
facilitate the management of electronic wastes.
Anadolu Etap towards its sustainable approach is into sustainable plantation and in order to meet out the
demand of good quality raw material for fruit juice concentrate production as well as of the fresh fruit
industry. Anadolu Etap is the only company in Turkey to publish the Sustainable Agriculture Principles
and has both Global G.A.P and Best Agriculture Practices Certificates to its credits.
However, much initiative is needed around Turkey’s current 87% of municipal waste being land filled.
The municipal waste recovery rate remains the top priorities of the country. On the brighter side Turkey’s
Industrial waste recovery is far quicker compared to municipal waste recovery in Turkey. The hazardous
industrial waste recovery has increased by 68%, and non-hazardous industrial waste recovery has
increased by 30% in the last couple of years. Turkey also holds huge potential and an increased installed
capacity of renewable energy sources. (Turkey Circular Economy Platform, 2024).

CONCLUSION
The World is focused on the urgent need to shift from linear to the circular economy. Despite this urgent
need, material extraction is increasing every year, with circularity declining from 9.1 percent in 2018 to
7.2 percent in 2023(UNDP Climate Promise, 2023). This indicates that the world is still using new non
used materials thereby contributing more to the solid waste despite the focus on circularity otherwise.
However, the fact remains that transition from linear to circular business models or systems takes its own
time and finance, which the particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), as well as other
organizations may find it difficult. For instance, a smallholder farmer making the transition from
conventional cotton production to organic cotton production may take around three years that is also true
for regenerative practices. Apart from time, adequate investment and finance, there are other elements that
are still required like knowledge transfer, community-building, and training throughout the transition
period. This calls for the comprehensive strategy to be undertaken by the state and the local governments
sector wise to plug the gaps in recyclables and reuses.

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Turkey Circular Economy Platform (2024), https://donguselekonomiplatformu.com/en/ , Accessed on March 25,
2024
UNDP (2023), What is circular economy and why does it matter? UNDP Global Climate Promise, News and Stories,
April 24, 2023, https://climatepromise.undp.org/news-and-stories/what-is-circular-economy-and-how-it-
helps-fight-climate-change, Accessed on March 23, 2024
UNDP Blog (2021), Ghana tackles urban waste management, October 11, 2022, https://www.undp.org/blog/ghana-
tackles-urban-waste-management, Accessed on March 23, 2024
UNDP Climate (2023), The Philippines is going Circular, April 28, 2023,https://undp-climate.exposure.co/the-
philippines-is-going-circular, Accessed on March 23, 2024
UNDP Climate Promise (2021), Circular Economy Opportunities: Vanuatu, January 13, 2021,

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https://climatepromise.undp.org/research-and-reports/circular-economy-opportunities-vanuatu, Accessed
on March 23, 2024
UNDP Climate Promise (2023), State of Climate Ambition, April 24, 2023, https://climatepromise.undp.org/news-
and-stories/what-is-circular-economy-and-how-it-helps-fight-climate-change, Accessed on March 23, 2024
UNDP Press Release (2022), BOOST x Kosovo acceleration programme announces grant awardees, December 21,
2022,https://www.undp.org/kosovo/press-releases/boost-x-kosovo-acceleration-programme-announces-
grant-awardees, Accessed on March 23, 2024
UNDP Stories (2020), Recycling waste and creating opportunities for women, March 9,
2020,https://stories.undp.org/recycling-waste, Accessed on March 23, 2024

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RECYCLING OF MANUFACTURING WASTE GLASS FIBERS AND PET

POWDER MATERIALS TO LIGHTWEIGHT POLYMERIC COMPOSITE
PARTS FOR USAGE IN AUTOMOTIVE APPLICATIONS
Dr. Gülnur Başer1*, Rümeysa Zeynep Kabaca2
1
Metyx Composites-Telateks A.Ş., Manisa,45030, Turkey
2
Marmara University Faculty of Technology, Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Turkey
*Corresponding author: gulnur.baser@telateks.com
ORCID Code: 0009-0003-5976-9666

ABSTRACT
In this study, the structural performance of recycled PET foams that were developed as a core material
from PET wastes from core-kit manufacturing process is studied. Compression molding under heat
method was used to manufacture recycled PET cores by using waste PET foam powders. Unsaturated
polyester resin was used as a binder to collect and bond PET powders to get a compact form. Binder was
mixed with waste PET powder and the blend was compressed under the heat with a pressure in a mold.
The various powder/binder mixing ratios as 50/50, 60/40, 78/22 were used to see effect of mixing ratio on
density and flexural strength. Moreover, waste short glass fibers were added to mixture to increase strength
of core material. The results reveal that flexural strength and density decreases with the increasing of
powder content in mixing. In addition, it is noticed that sandwich composite structure prepared with
recycled cores shows better bending and shear properties than those of sandwich composites prepared
with virgin foam core materials. The results presented here may serve as utilization of foam core wastes
from core-kit manufacturing process by recycling via compression molding applications.

Keywords: PET foam, Sandwich composites, Recycled composite, Glass fiber waste, Recycled core

INTRODUCTION
With the technological developments in recent years, the properties expected from materials have also
increased. In the buildings where modern engineering materials are used, besides the mechanical
properties, lightness has gained a lot of importance. Researchers have introduced many new engineering
materials to the use of the industry with their studies. After the WWII, the great revolutions in the industry
led to the development of composite materials and then the development of new materials made with these
materials. Composite materials are basically new materials that are formed by combining two or more
materials without mixing them completely. With the onset of the space age, composite materials alone
were not enough to meet the demands of the industry. The researchers produced sandwich materials by
taking advantage of the high mechanical properties of the composites and combining the composites with
ultra-light core materials (Jack R. Vinson, 1999). Sandwich structures are kinds of structures that were
developed to enhance the lightweight properties of structures (Al-Khazraji et al., 2023). Sandwich
structures find application in many sectors today with their superior properties and replaceable material
properties. The most common areas where sandwich structures are used are; aviation, wind turbines,
transportation, construction applications and marine. (Vinson et el., 2005). These structures are widely
used in industry for their lightweight with low density, especially in wind turbine blade manufacturing

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applications. Sandwich structures are comprised of top and bottom skins separated by a core layer. In
Figure 1, the formation of the sandwich structure is shown schematically.

Figure 1. Schematic view of sandwich structure formation (Amir et al., 2021).

Fiber reinforced plastics are used in manufacturing sandwich structures such as the top and bottom skins
since the demand for lightweight structures with advanced materials made the researchers seek alternatives
for producing sandwich structures (White et al., 2021). In sandwich structures, aluminum, nomex or
thermoplastic honeycomb or foam materials are generally used as core material according to the usage
area (Composites World, 2023). Most commonly core materials used in manufacturing composite
sandwich structures are foams of PET, PVC, PU. Composite sandwich structures form the main
components of large-area parts such as wind turbine blades. In order to facilitate the production processes
of these large-area structures, core materials are subjected to several mechanical processes. In processes
such as cutting, grooving, drilling, plastic foams generate large amounts of waste.

In this work, core materials for composite sandwich panels were manufactured from PET foam wastes in
powder form. Unsaturated polyester resin was used as a binder to collect and bond PET powders to get a
compact form. Mixing of binder and PET powders compressed in a heated mold under identified pressures
to get plates with several thickness. The current paper reports on a method to manufacture a recycled core
material where it can be used as core material in composite sandwiches. The physical and flexural
properties were evaluated and compared with virgin cores. The results reveal that increasing foam powder
content in powder/binder mixing decreases flexural strength and density. In addition, it is noticed that
sandwich composite structure prepared with recycled cores shows better bending and shear properties than
those of sandwich composites prepared with virgin foam core materials.

MATERIAL METHOD
During the processing of PET foams in the form of logs with CNC (Computer Numerical Control)
machines, waste powders of different sizes emerge. These waste powders can be reused as a stand- alone
material by combining them in different products as filling material or by reprocessing. Different
production processes can be used to recycle waste powders into products alone. In this study, PET foam
powders and liquid unsaturated polyester resin were mixed and the waste PET powders were turned into
foam again. The properties of unsaturated polyester resin and foam powders are given in the Table 1.

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Table 1. Properties of PET foam and unsaturated liquid polyester resin

Typical properties for PET powder foam Standard/ Unit Value
Density ISO845/ kg/m³ 100
Thermal conductivity at 10 °C EN 12667/ W/m.K 0.034
Typical properties for unsaturated liquid Standard/ Unit Value
polyester resin
Density ISO 1675/ g/cm3 1,118
Viscosity Brookfield® ISO 2555/ cP 1000
Heat Deflection Temperature (HDT) ISO 0075-A 102 °C
ISO 0075-B 121 °C

PET foam powder & binder were mixed in several powder/binder ratios (50/50, 60/40, 78/22) and placed
into a metal mold with the dimensions of 250x250x6 mm. Mixing was compressed under optimum heat
and pressure (Figure 2). Optimum temperature and pressure values were identified as 120°C and 55 bar
respectively. Moreover, chopped glass fibers are also added mixing and the blend consisting powder,
binder and glass fibers was subjected to same compression process to achieve a plate reinforced with glass
fiber.

Figure 2. Representation of preparation of recycled core plates

Prepared plates were subjected to physical and mechanical tests. For density test ASTM D2734, for
flexural test ASTMD790 test standards were used.

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RESULTS and DISCUSSION

Density and flexural strength values were compared of the core plates with different powder/binder weight
ratios such as 50/50, 60/40, 78/22. Results reveals that increasing of PET powder content in binder/powder
mixing decreases core plate density and flexural strength as expected (Figure 3). The flexural strength
value was measured as 16,5 MPa of the plate prepared with the mixing of %50 binder, 25% foam powder,
25% chopped glass fiber which is close to that of plate with 78% foam content.

Figure 3. a) Flexural strength - PET foam content curve b) Density - PET foam content curve

A sandwich structure was produced by using the recycled PET foam material as the core material.
Recycled foam containing 78% waste PET is used in this sandwich structure. The sandwich panel was
produced by vacuum infusion method. Polyester resin was used in the sandwich panel production. The
plies construction and test results of the sandwich panel are shown in the table below (Table 2-Table 3).

Table 2. Construction that make up the sandwich panel

Construction Ply
LT600 3 plies
Core (%78 PET foam + UPES recycled foam) -
LT600 3 plies

Table 3. Test results of sandwich panel

Parameter Test Properties of virgin foam sandwich Properties of recycled
Standard panel sandwich panel

Core Shear ASTM C393 3,63 MPa 4,11 MPa

Ultimate Stress
Density ASTM D2734 0,760 g/cm3 1,363 g/cm3

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CONCLUSION
The results reveal that flexural strength and density decreases with the increasing of powder content in
mixing. Addition of glass fiber into mixing did not affect flexural properties of recycled core plate. In
addition, it is noticed that sandwich composite structure prepared with recycled cores shows better bending
and shear properties than those of sandwich composites prepared with virgin foam core materials. The
results presented here may serve as utilization of foam core wastes from the core-kit manufacturing
process by recycling via compression molding applications. This recycling work suggests a method to
allow to get rid of the costly waste disposal process by reusing the large amount of waste generated in
large volume sandwich production processes.

REFERENCES

Jack R. Vinson, (1999). The Behavior of Sandwich Structures of Isotropic and Composite Materials.
Taylor & Francis Routledge.
Mustafa S. Al-Khazraji, Sadeq H. Bakhy, Muhsin J. Jweeg, (2023). Modal Analysis of Specific Composite
Sandwich Structures Engineering & Technology J 41 (01), 13-22, DOI:
10.30684/etj.2022.133585.1195.
Jack R. Vinson, O.T. Thomsen et al. (eds), (2005). Sandwich Structures: Past, Present, And Future,
Sandwich Structures 7: Adv. with Sandwich Structures & Mat, 3–12.
Abd Latif Amir, Mohamad Ridzwan Ishak, Noorfaizal Yidris, Mohamed Yusoff Mohd Zuhri, Muhammad
Rizal Muhammad Asyraf, (2021). Potential of Honeycomb-Filled Composite Structure in
Composite Cross-Arm Component: A Review on Recent Progress and Its Mechanical Properties,
Polymers, 13, 1341.
R. White, V.R. Machavaram, (2021). Vertically-aligned short E-glass fibre core sandwich composite:
Production and evaluation, Journal of Sandwich Structures & Materials Volume 24, Issue 1.
Composites World, 2023. Honeycomb cores: The basics.
(https://www.compositesworld.com/articles/honeycomb- cores-the-basics), Visiting date
April.14,2023.

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UPCYCLING OF CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS AND PRODUCTS

Olumide Fasanmi1*, Juan Ferriz-Papi1

1
University of Salford, M5 4WT, Manchester, United Kingdom.
*Corresponding author: o.o.fasanmi@edu.salford.ac.uk
ORCID Code: 0009-0000-0699-0314

ABSTRACT
Urbanization and population growth are driving an increase in construction activities, leading to a rise in
construction and demolition waste (CDW). The construction industry is responsible for 9 Gtpa of global
waste, generated at various stages in the building lifecycle. To reduce environmental impacts, the industry
must move away from a wasteful linear way of working and adopt a circular economy, where materials
never become waste. The circular economy involves directly reusing or recycling materials and
components. However, the market for construction materials and products is challenged by insufficient
information, poor perception of secondary materials, and inconsistent information on quality. The
availability of traceable data can improve end-user confidence, increase public acceptance of secondary
materials, and promote circularity. This paper identifies the data required to improve reusability and
upcycling of construction materials and products at end-of-life. Starting with an awareness of the problem
through a literature review of articles, documents, technical reports, and government guidelines, existing
research gaps around this matter are identified, and a synthesis of required data at the end of the life of
products is presented. With this information, it is developed an initial proposal of a framework for
decision-making processes at the end-of-service life for buildings and infrastructures to be applied in pre-
demolition audits. This forms part of a bigger study that adopts the design science methodology, covering
this way the first two stages. This paper's outcome will help identify the data required in conducting end-
of-life assessments for buildings, using pre-demolition audits, which will be useful in describing the
reusability and recyclability aspects of construction assets. This could ultimately enable data-driven
applications to support more accurate decision-making procedures for waste recovery in different
scenarios in the construction industry.

Keywords: pre-demolition audit; upcycling; construction materials; construction product; design science.

INTRODUCTION
According to Li et al. (2022) the construction industry will continue to dominate the raw materials
consumption among other sectors until 2060. The problem with the construction industry is that a
considerable quantity of waste is generated across the stages from design to construction, and operations,
but the highest waste volumes come from demolition at the end of service life, which has now become a
burden environmentally, economically, and socially (Ginga et., 2020; Osmani, 2011). Activities in the
construction industry are accountable for producing 9 Gtpa of waste globally and account for a third of
the total waste that is generated in EU countries. According to the data from the European Union (EU)
(2023), over 807million tonnes of construction and demolition waste (CDW) was produced among the 27
countries in Europe in 2020 and there is a projected growth from $108.74 billion in 2021 to $142.92 billion

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by 2028 in the global construction and demolition market at compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of
4.0% (GOV.UK, 2021).

Byers et al., (2024) state that reused products and components are only about 1% from deconstruction.
Comprehensive material inventories are useful in accounting for the estimated waste from the demolition
of the building, pre-demolition audit is a practical tool to conduct material inventory. Ehlert et al. (2019)
assert that pre-demolition audits are essential for resource management and controlled demolition but
beyond this is the need to account for the material and promote recovery for the material with useful life
inside. Following the design science strategy, this paper aims to cover two differentiated stages:
a) Stage 1. Identification of data sets required in the applications of pre-demolition audits for adequate
decision-making on waste management and recovery.
b) Stage 2. Development of a framework proposal for decision-making processes at the end-of-
service life for buildings and infrastructures to be applied in pre-demolition audits.

MATERIAL METHOD
Design Science Research (DSR), as proposed by Simon, (1996), is a pragmatic research approach that
encourages the creation of innovative solutions to real-world issues. Geerts, (2011) states that Design
science is a common methodology in engineering and architecture and is focused on creating an artifact
(Artifact, 2010) which could be concepts, models, methods, or instantiations (March and Smith, 1995).
DSR is aimed at solving an unresolved problem in a unique way that is more efficient and effective
(Hevner et. al., (2004). Johannesson and Perjons (2021) affirm that many practical problems can be solved
using artifacts. An ‘artifact’ is illustrated as an artificial object developed by people to solve practical
difficulties (Johannesson & Perjons, 2012). The artifacts can be actual objects or diagrams, a set of
instructions, or an information and communication technology solution. Following this principle, a
framework for decision-making processes at the end of service life for buildings and infrastructure can be
termed an artifact in DSR. Therefore, a step-by-step process is defined to develop an initial flow map for
pre-demolition audits, and the results from the first two stages are presented in this paper. Design science
methodology allows the development of a predictive model for practical application to the research
problem. It defines a cyclic development and assessment process that first outlines a problem in the
construction industry, then proposes that a new method or expertise can solve that problem, and finally
evaluates whether the new solution is effective for the intended users and in the proposed environment
(Adegoke & Ang, 2019; Baskerville et al., 2018; Kehily & Underwood, 2017). The DSR process is shown
in Figure 1.

Figure 1. Design Science Process (Baskerville et al., 2018; Kehily & Underwood, 2017).

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The project is divided into five phases according to the design science strategy, which are the following:
Phase 1 – Awareness of the problem: the research method for this phase is made following a literature
review which is used to produce the research gaps and identify the problem. Vaishnavi and Kuechler
(2008) affirm that multiple sources are required to create an awareness of the problem. This was done
through a literature review of articles, documents, technical reports, and government guidelines, existing
research gaps around this matter are identified, and a synthesis of required data at the end of the service
life of products is presented.
Phase 2 – Suggestion: the suggestion is a proposal drawn from the findings in the literature review. The
proposal that is created from the literature review includes diagrams and a flow map for a pre-demolition
audit developed to address the research problem for construction materials and products at the end of
service life for buildings.
This paper covers part of the work developed in phases one and two of design science research, presenting
a summary of data required at the end of life for final destiny evaluation obtained from the literature
review, and the framework proposal for the pre-demolition audit process.

RESULTS and DISCUSSION

The proposed framework for decision-making processes at the end-of-service life for buildings and
infrastructures to be applied in pre-demolition audits is presented in Figure 3. The proposed framework
takes into consideration the roles of each stakeholder and their interactions with material data in the
demolition process and how this can support a pre-demolition audit. The details of the symbols are shown
in Figure 2:

Figure 2. Flowchart symbols and meaning.

The proposed pre-demolition flow map was drawn from the results derived from the literature review of
articles, documents, legislation, and technical reports on the pre-demolition audit. The initial flow map
was presented in consultation meetings with project partners. Further inputs were taken to improve the
proposal and subjected to more scrutiny using different scenarios that could play out with the changes in
the construction industry such as lack of building documentation or incomplete information. The European
Union Construction & Demolition Waste Management Protocol including guidelines for pre-demolition
and pre-renovation audits of buildings was a critical guide followed in development. Some of the
regulations consulted are the Building Safety Regulation, Site Waste Management Plan Regulations 2008,
control of Substances Hazardous to Health, control of Asbestos Regulation 2012, The Construction

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(Design and Management) Regulations (CDM) 2015, Waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2011,
Hazardous Waste Regulations 2005, and Waste Management Hierarchy Directive 2008/98/EC.

Figure 3. Propose pre-demolition flow map. Source: Author’s own

The circles on the left side of the flow map represent the stakeholders and the stage at which their input is
required, the first stakeholder is the property owner while the waste facility manager will be the last on

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the chain of command but a strong collaboration is required among all the stakeholders for a successful
implementation of the flow map to achieve the desire upcycling of materials and products at end-of-life
of building. The phases of the waste audit are covered in the flow map, the desk study starts immediately
after the property owner indicates interest in demolishing the building by providing the waste auditor with
the necessary document that will be used to apply for a demolition permit from the Government and
preliminary report on the property. After the desk study, a field study is mandatory to complement the
findings from the desk study to account for the changes that were not recorded on the building document
and the changes in the building environment which will not be covered by any existing document. The
surroundings will have changed from other developmental plans that need to be considered when
developing the site waste management plan and deciding on the demolition method. The waste auditor
will generate the inventory of materials during the site visit and desk study which will identify all the
materials and products and special attention to the hazardous materials that will require specialist removal.
A recommendation on the suitable demolition process should made in the report and the best upcycling
option for materials and products following the waste hierarchy created by the European Union guidelines
on demolition with a focus on direct reuse or preparing for reuse before recovery and other options.
Recommendation for testing may be required if an accurate decision cannot be made after visual inspection
during the site visit, samples will be taken for non-destructive testing or as may be required. Treatment
suggestions for recovered materials and quality certification for secondary materials and products will be
part of the report that will be submitted to the management as the outcome of the pre-demolition audits.

CONCLUSION
This study provides the findings from the literature review on pre-demolition audits and through design
science methodology developed a framework that will digitalise the process for conducting a pre-
demolition audit toward the reuse of construction materials and products which is based on the
deliberations made throughout the research analysis. This research aims to make both real-world and
scholarly contributions by discovering problems with the upcycling of construction materials and products
at the end of service life which is accountable for the largest volume of waste by identifying the datasets
required in the application of pre-demolition audits for decision-making in waste recovery. The recovery
rate for CDW might be high but are mostly for low-value purposes which is downcycling. Pre-demolition
audits are presented as solutions to downcycling and challenges facing materials and products at the end-
of-service life. Moreso, pre-demolition audits will increase user’s confidence in secondary materials and
be a fundamental part of building construction, deconstruction, and reconstruction projects. This study
proposes a framework for decision-making processes at the end-of-service life for buildings and
infrastructures to be applied in pre-demolition audits. The framework proposes a novel and more efficient
method for the pre-demolition audit and reuse process for buildings at end-of-service life in a built
environment, specifically an information-driven approach.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
This research was funded by Horizon Europe (grant agreement number 101058580, 2022) and by Innovate
UK as part of the UK Guarantee programme for UK Horizon Europe participation (project number
10038579).

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TOURISM AND ISSUE OF CLIMATE CHANGE FROM INDIA`S

PERSPECTIVE
Shahina Perween1*, Arif Gulzar Hajam2
1
Economics, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, UP,202002 India
2
Government Degree College, Dooru, Anantnag, J&K, India.
*Corresponding author: shahin_saggi@yahoo.co.in
ORCID Code: 0000-0002-2579-552X

ABSTRACT
The ecology, climate change, and tourism issues are the main topics of this study. Tourism and climate
change are intertwined. The physical environment is changing due to climate change, which disrupts
people's social and economic lives. Research is still needed, especially to understand the effects of various
tourism development models in tropical environments.

This study precisely explores the environmental and climate related impacts of tourism in India. A few
selected works of literature that will be reviewed for this study are those by Peters (2007) exploring direct
as well as indirect link of Climate change with tourism. (Grim et al. 2018) examined the decline in eco-
efficiency caused by tourism. According to research by Lenzen et al. (2018), out of 160 nations worldwide,
India ranked fourth for tourism-related carbon emissions, with the United States, China, and Germany
being the top three emitters, etc. The annual data used from 1990 to 2023 was chosen as it provides
sufficient data points and allows for the appropriate analysis. Secondary data gathered from multiple
organizations for the study. Various research approaches are employed to fully achieve the study's aims.

The perception of climate change was similar in India. Climate Research and Services (2020), by IMD
reports that 12 of the 15 warmest years in the previous 50 years have occurred between 2006 and 2020.
India ranked seventh among the nations most impacted by climate change globally (Global Climate Risk
Index, January 25, 2021). If we wish to keep our country carbon neutral, the whole tourism sector must
act to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It is important to have a variety of strategies for financing the
acquisition of low-carbon. The lack of literature and the availability of data impose restrictions. The
relationship between climate change and tourism will catch the interest of national and international
researchers. To keep our nation carbon free, responsible, and sustainable tourism would emphasize
reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and as a result, every aspect of tourism would need to change.

Keywords: Tourism, Climate Change, India, Environment, Sustainable tourism

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SUSTAINABLE APPROACHES FOR PHARMACEUTICAL EFFLUENT

TREATMENT CONTAMINATED WITH CIPROFLOXACIN, A SECOND
GENERATION FLUOROQUINOLONE ANTIBIOTIC
Idil Arslan Alaton*, Cigdem Yangin-Gomec
Istanbul Tehnical University School of Civil Enginerring, Department of Environmental Engineering, Ayazaga
Campus, Maslak, Istanbul, 34469, Turkey.
*Corresponding author: arslanid@itu.edu.tr

ABSTRACT
The effective elimination of pharmaceuticals including antibiotics from the aquatic and terrestrial
environment remains a challenging waste management problem. In this work, sustainable treatment
approaches were examined for pharmaceutical effluent contaminated with the second generation
fluoroquinolone antibiotic ciprofloxacin (called “Cipro” herein). Within this scope, two alternative
treatment methods were investigated for Cipro concentrations being potentially observed in
water/wastewater/waste containing antibiotic formulations. Ferrous iron-activated peroxide advanced
oxidation (Fe/peroxide) was applied to a medium-range Cipro concentration sample (up to 2 mg/L), and
anaerobic digestion was applied to raw chicken waste with a relatively high-level, externally added Cipro
concentration (up to 15 mg/L). In the case of Fe/peroxide (peracetic acid-PAA, persulfate-PS and
hydrogen peroxide-HP) treatments, an optimum peroxide concentration (Fe(II): peroxide molar ratio)
existed for all studied Fe/peroxide treatment systems. Under the examined reaction conditions, PS
outperformed the other two peroxides in terms of Cipro removal rates. Besides, the Fe/HP process was
appreciably slower in terms of Cipro abatement rates than Fe/PS and Fe/PAA. In pure water, higher total
organic carbon (TOC) removals were obtained for Fe/PAA and Fe/PS (around 60%) than for Fe/HP [Fe(II)
= 100 µM; HP = 200 µM; pH =5.0, T = 22 oC] for which TOC removal after 60 min was only 43%.
Fe/PAA resulted in the highest TOC removal (62%), although Fe/PAA contributed to a surplus initial
TOC of 4.8 mg/L. For Cipro removal from tap water (TOC = 3.8 mg/L; pH = 7.8; adjusted to pH = 5.5
for the Fenton experiments) with Fe/PAA treatment, Cipro and TOC removal rates decreased by a factor
of 2.25 in terms of kCipro (apparent first-order Cipro removal rate constant), and from 62% to 37% in
terms of TOC removals (t = 60 min). Acute toxicity (% relative V. fischeri inhibition) being originally
48% in tap water spiked with 2 mg/L Cipro, decreased to 32% after 60 min Fe/PAA treatment exhibiting
slight fluctuations as the reaction progressed. On the other hand, anaerobic degradation showed almost
complete COD removal and substantial biogas recovery from chicken waste bearing Cipro. Moreover,
Cipro exhibited a slight inhibition on anaerobic consortia with a substantial methane yield during
biodegradation. Soluble COD removals were observed in the range of 60-67% at increasing Cipro
concentrations from 2 to 15 mg/L and cumulative biogas production was suppressed about 30% in the
bioreactor with the highest Cipro concentration. Experimental results indicated that Fe/peroxide treatment
and anaerobic degradation were potential, promising candidates for the sustainable treatment of
fluoroquinolone antibiotics.

Keywords: Acute toxicity, Anaerobic degradation, Ciprofloxacine, Fe-activated peroxide, Sustainable

treatment

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CIRCULAR ECONOMY: 3 D PRINTING

Syeeda Khatoon1, Umme Kulsum2, Shahina Parveen 3
1
Dr. Syeeda Khatoon, Associate Professor, Department of Economics, Aligarh Muslim University, India*
2
Dr. Umme Kulsum, Professor, Department of Economics, Tika Ram Degree College, Aligarh, India
3
Dr. Shahina Parveen, Assistant Professor, Department of Economics, Aligarh Muslim University, India
*Corresponding author: syeedaasghar@gmail.com

ABSTRACT
The increasing emphasis on circularity has contributed to wider acceptability and popularity of 3D
Printing or the Additive Manufacturing (AM) because the materials used in 3D printing are in general
recycled material. The 3D printing technologies has the wide-ranging processing ability from variety of
polymers, metals, ceramics and composites. The 3D printing also referred as third industrial revolution,
because the product can be created, designed and manufactured anywhere at any time without the need
for mass production in factories. It is thus the exemplary shift towards establishing the low-cost supply
chain and eventually the circular economy goals. The paper is an attempt to highlight some of the 3 D
printing models because challenge is limited knowledge in this field. The potential of circular economy
is grossly under realized and as the result there is very little strategy in place for creating it. It calls for
the researches for better understanding of the benefits and impacts of circular economy measures,
particularly for climate and biodiversity

HOW TO LINK 3D PRINTING WITH CIRCULAR ECONOMY

Chuck Hull is a central figure in the annals of 3D printing. His invention of the Stereolithography
Apparatus (SLA) in 1984 and the STL file format in 1987 laid the foundation for modern 3D printing
technology. His establishment of 3D Systems in 1987 by releasing first commercial SLA printers further
propelled the industry forward by commercializing these innovations (Protolabs Networks Guides,
2024). Further, the increasing emphasis on circularity has contributed to wider acceptability and
popularity of 3D Printing or the Additive Manufacturing (AM) because the material used in 3D printing
are generally recycled material.

Metal Additive Manufacturing technologies offer impressive capabilities for recycling and reusing
materials, which can significantly reduce waste and costs. Around 95% of the unused powder can
typically be reclaimed and reused in future builds. The remaining 5% of unused powder, which is not
suitable for direct reuse, can be sent to centralized recycling facilities to process the powder to produce
virgin-grade material. Although metal AM currently faces some limitations, there is ongoing
development in recycling technologies that involves breaking down scrap metal and machining chips to
create new alloys or powders right at manufacturer’s place (Kaushik, A & Garg, R, 2023).
Polylactic acid (PLA) is another example of a bio-based polymer with several environmental benefits
and can be derived from total renewable resources like corn, potatoes, and sugarcane, PLA is
compostable under industrial conditions, which makes it a more sustainable alternative to traditional
petroleum-based plastics (Wu, Y.; Gao, X.; Wu, J.; Zhou, T.; Nguyen, T.T.; Wang, Y; 2023).

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Several companies are leading the way in additive manufacturing with a focus on diverse material
options, including recycled or renewable feedstocks, more such companies are needed committing to
AM workflow.
Infinite Material Solutions, an innovative 3D printing materials supplier has come out with a new water-
soluble 3D printing filament that helps in the making of lightweight, soft, and porous, parts similar to a
sponge. Named Caverna filaments, and is said to be “world’s first extrudable thermoplastic with a water-
soluble, co-continuous, microporous morphology”, the company claims that it can help produce quality
design separators, footwear, and personal protective equipment (PPE), porous tooling for the production
of vacuum-formed parts, and the vast range of applications within filtrations (Everett, 2021b).
The plastics used in 3D printing are generally recycled plastics. The distributed plastics recycling to
produce filament for 3D printing could help towards lower economic and environmental cost, in contrast
to the currently plastics being still recycled at low rates in centralised recycling facilities (M. Despeisse,
M. Baumers, P. Brown, F. Charnley, S.J. Ford, A. Garmulewicz, S. Knowles, T.H.W. Minshall, L.
Mortara, F.P. Reed-Tsochas, J. Rowley; 2017).
Reflow, a 3D printing filament vendor, from Amsterdam has produced the range of ecological
friendly ‘Seaglass’ translucent materials made from plastics wastes (Everett, 2021a).
AquaSys 180, that had come up with the filament which is able to withstand atmospheric temperatures
of up to 180 degrees Celsius and is compatible with a wide range of build materials. There are
additionally several other companies, like EnvisionTEC, Sartomer (a subsidiary of Arkema), who are
offering the 3D printing support for producing circular friendly 3D printing molds across a range of
industrial applications (Everett, 2021b).
3 D PRINTING MATERIALS
3D printers use a range of materials, each suited to different types of projects and applications. The
below are some examples of the most generally used 3 D printing materials (Builtin, 2024):
1. Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS): ABS is often used for functional parts and prototypes
because of its strength and durability. This is the same material that creates the LEGOs.
2. Carbon Fiber Filaments: The material is exceptionally strong and lightweight, making it ideal for
applications where both high strength and low weight are crucial, such as aerospace or
automotive parts.
3. Conductive Filaments: These materials are infused with conductive particles, allowing them to
conduct electricity, paving the way for innovative applications like flexible electronics and
wearable technology. However, these materials are still developing and may have limitations in
conductivity and printability.
4. Flexible Filaments: Flexible filaments are known for their elasticity and durability. These
filaments can create objects that bend and stretch, such as flexible phone cases, wristbands, or
even shock-absorbing parts.
5. Metal Filament: Metal filaments combine fine metal (steel, brass, bronze and copper) powders
with a binder material. While they don’t have the same properties as pure metal, they can achieve
a metal-like finish and some metallic properties.

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6. Wood Filament: Wood filaments mix glue polymer with fine wood particles to print objects with
wood-like appearance and texture. The final look can vary based on print settings and
temperature, resulting in finishes that mimic different types of wood.

ADDITIVE VERSUS TRADITIONAL MANUFACTURING

In Additive manufacturing, objects are created by successively adding material layer by layer and has
only been around since 1980. Prior to these manufacturing methods generally referred to traditional
manufacturing (Protolabs Networks Guides), which often involve subtractive processes such as milling,
turning, or drilling, where a part is cut from a larger block of material. Additive manufacturing generally
results in less material wastage compared to traditional methods (TWI Technical Knowledge).

TYPES OF 3D PRINTERS
The three main types of 3D printers can be outlined as SLA printers or Stereolithographic which use a
laser to cure or solidify liquid resin layer by layer; SLS printers or Selective Laser Sintering use a laser
to sinter (fuse) powdered material, usually nylon or other polymers, into a solid structure; and, the most
commonly used printers are FDM printers that work by releasing thermoplastic filament through a heated
nozzle. The filament is melted and deposited by layers to print the object (Builtin Guide). There are
additionally other Printers, namely, DLP Printers (Digital Light Processing), PolyJet Printers, Laminated
Object Manufacturing (LOM) and EBM Printers (Electron Beam Melting).

APPLICATIONS OF 3D PRINTING
AEROSPACE: GE Aviation's switch to 3D printing for manufacturing fuel nozzles of certain jet engines
is a great example of how additive manufacturing can revolutionize traditional processes. By printing
the nozzles as a single piece instead of assembling them from 20 separate cast parts, they’re achieving
several significant benefits, the primary being 75% reduction in manufacturing costs (D’Aveni, R, 2015).
The LEAP engine, developed by GE Aviation, is another fascinating example of advanced manufacturing
techniques in aerospace. The 3D-printed cobalt-chrome fuel nozzles in the LEAP engine are notable for
their 25 percent reduced weight and enhanced strength compared to traditional components (Builtin
Guide).

ELECTRONICS: Optomec and other companies are at the forefront of developing advanced methods
for printing electronic circuits and micro batteries directly onto surfaces of consumer electronic devices
(D’Aveni, R, 2015).
JEWELLERY: Nervous System's 3D printed ceramic jewelry is a great example of how technology can
push the boundaries of design, creating complex and unique pieces that traditional methods might not
be able to achieve (Rosenkrantz J, 2018). On the other hand, Plaato’s approach with 3D printing
prototypes is a smart move for optimizing their design by creating and testing numerous prototypes
before committing to more costly manufacturing processes (FormLabs, 2024).
EDUCATION: 3D printing has transformed the educational landscape by allowing students to bring their
concepts to life in a tangible way. With the ability to quickly and affordably create prototypes, students
can experiment, iterate, and refine their designs more effectively. Universities often incorporate courses
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related to 3D printing, such as Computer-Aided Design (CAD) and 3D design, into their curricula and
research (3D Printing.com, 2020a).
AUTOMOBILES: Local Motors has made significant strides in 3D printing automotive parts, achieving
the capability to print a complete roadster—including wheels, chassis, body, roof, interior seats, and
dashboard—in just 48 hours. Although the drivetrain is not yet printable, this advancement highlights
the potential of 3D printing technology in the automotive industry. When fully integrated, the roadster
is expected to be priced around $20,000. The decline in costs for 3D equipment and materials is
diminishing the traditional methods' advantages related to economies of scale (D’Aveni, R, 2015).
Automobile engineers worldwide are already leveraging 3D printing to restore classic cars, such as the
Australian project that revived a Delage Type-C by printing parts that had been out of production for
decades (3D Printing.com, 2019).
Ford's use of recycled 3D printing material for fuel-line clips for F-250 trucks, is a great example of
applying 3D printing towards making manufacturing more sustainable. The Horizon 2020 BARBARA
(Biopolymers with Advanced functionalities for Building and Automotive parts processed through
Additive Manufacturing) project is particularly notable for its focus on turning food waste into valuable
3D printing materials. The collaborating team of 11 partners from across Europe, the project not only
reduces waste but also provides eco-friendly alternatives to traditional materials by utilizing by-products
from pomegranate, lemon, almond shells, and corn (Everett, 2021a).
HEALTHCARE: The transformative impact of 3D printing on healthcare and related fields is truly
remarkable. In hearing aids, the U.S. hearing aid industry’s shift to 100% additive manufacturing by
building each unit independently as per individual needs and design, within less than 500 days
demonstrates a significant move toward more adaptable and personalized solutions (D’Aveni, R, 2015).
In dentistry, dental resins enable cost-effective, in-house production of various items, including (a)
Dental Models: For diagnostics and treatment planning; (b) Biocompatible Surgical Guides: For precise
placement of implants; & (c) Orthodontic Models: For creating retainers and aligners. This technology
not only improves the fit and comfort of dental devices but also accelerates production and reduces costs
(Dental FormLabs, 2024). In Prosthetics and Organ Development, the use of 3D printing to produce
prosthetics, such as the 10,000 hip replacements made by GE Additive, showcases the technology’s
ability to deliver durable, customized, and cost-effective solutions. The precision and personalization
offered by 3D printing are invaluable in creating prosthetics that meet individual needs through the
process of 3D Modeling of using the recipient's anatomical data and Bioink Printing by layering living
cells and polymer gel to build organs. If the technology is successfully implemented, it will solve the
problem of organ donation. In response to COVID-19, pandemic, 3D printing played a critical role in
supplying PPE and repairing ventilators. Hospitals and other facilities leveraged 3D printing to quickly
produce masks, face shields, and other protective gear, showcasing the technology's flexibility and speed
in crisis situations. 3D printing continues to evolve, with ongoing research and development aimed at
improving materials, expanding capabilities, and enhancing the precision of printed medical devices and
implants as a key player in the future of healthcare (Builtin, 2024).
HOUSES: 3D printing is making significant strides in addressing the global housing crisis, particularly
through initiatives by nonprofits and cities aiming to provide affordable and sustainable housing
solutions. New Story, a nonprofit focused on improving living conditions, has pioneered the use of 3D
printing to build affordable homes for underserved communities. Their work began with the first 3D-
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printed homes in Mexico and has expanded to other countries including Haiti, El Salvador, and Bolivia
(Louise, N, 2021).
FOOD: Additive manufacturing has already been around in the food industry for quite some time albeit
the 3D food printers are considered relatively slow. We have the examples of restaurants like Food Ink
and Melisse using the additive manufacturing. (3D Printing.com, 2017).
EYEWEAR: The Luxexcel VisionEngine 3D printer uses a UV-curable acrylate monomer to print two
pairs of lenses per hour that require no polishing or post-processing of any kind. The lens can be created
completely customized with better distance clarity as well as better vision up close (3D Printing.com,
2020b).
FOOTWEAR: We have the example of “digital foam” where an entire shoe insole for can be 3D printed
from only one material, but can be manipulated for cushioning or rigidity in different areas as per the
products’ requirements or depending on the wearer's feet; as opposed to conventional shoe insoles that
involves multiple input materials, with lesser flexibility of manipulation (Hendrixson, S, 2024).

CONCLUSION
3D modeling and printing technology's capacity for precision and customization is indeed
revolutionizing various industries. The 3D modeling software’s ability for high Precision, Detailed
Customization and Tailored Solutions is impacting positively across various Sectors. The 3D printing
also referred as third industrial revolution, because the product can be created, designed and
manufactured anywhere at any time without the need for mass production in factories. ssThe 3D printing
technologies has the wide-ranging processing ability from variety of polymers, metals, ceramics and
composites.It is thus the exemplary shift towards establishing the low-cost supply chain and eventually
the circular economy goals.

REFERENCES
3D Printing.com, (2017). 4 Famous Restaurants that Use 3D Printers, https://3dprinting.com/food/4-famous-
restaurants-that-use-3d-printers/, Accessed on April 30, 2024.
3D Printing.com, (2019). 3D Printing as a Production Technology, https://3dprinting.com/3d-printing-use-
cases/3d-printing-as-a-production-technology/, Accessed on May 22, 2024.
3D Printing.com, (2020a). 3D Printing in Education, https://3dprinting.com/3d-printing-use-cases/3d-printing-
in-education/, Accessed on June 12, 2024.
3D Printing.com, (2020b). 3D Printed Lenses for Smart Glasses, https://3dprinting.com/3d-printing-use-
cases/3d-printed-lenses-for-smart-glasses/, Accessed on June 12, 2024.
Builtin (2024). 3D Printing: What it is, How It Works and Examples. https://builtin.com/3d-printing, Accessed
on June 10, 2024.
D’Aveni, R, (2015). The 3-D Printing Revolution, Harvard Business Review. https://hbr.org/2015/05/the-3-d-
printing-revolution, Accessed on April 20, 2024.
Dental FormLabs, (2024). High-Accuracy 3D Printing Materials for Dental Labs and Practices, Dental Formlabs.
https://dental.formlabs.com/asia/materials/, Accessed on June 20, 2024.
Everett, H (2021a), Circular Economy 3D Printing: Opportunities To Improve Sustainability In AM, 3D

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PrintingIndustry, https://3dprintingindustry.com/news/circular-economy-3d-printing-opportunities-to-
improve-sustainability-in-am-190425/, Accessed on April 20, 2024
Everett, H (2021a), Circular Economy 3D Printing: Opportunities To Improve Sustainability In AM, 3D
PrintingIndustry, https://3dprintingindustry.com/news/circular-economy-3d-printing-opportunities-to-
improve-sustainability-in-am-190425/, Accessed on April 20, 2024
Everett, H (2021b), Infinite Material Solutions Launches New Water-Soluble Thermoplastic For 3d Printed
Microporous Parts, https://3dprintingindustry.com/news/infinite-material-solutions-launches-new-water-
soluble-thermoplastic-for-3d-printed-microporous-parts-190705/, Accessed on April 20, 2024
FormLabs, (2024). Guide to 3D Printing, Formlabs. https://formlabs.com/asia/3d-printers/, Accessed on May
20, 2024.
Hendrixson, S (2024), Additive Manufacturing Will Aid and Accelerate the Circular Economy,
https://www.additivemanufacturing.media/additive-manufacturing-will-aid-and-accelerate-the-circular-
economy/ accessed on March 12, 2024)
Kaushik, A & Garg, R, (2023). Additive Manufacturing: A Boost to Circular Economy, Anveshan, Special
Issue, April-May 2023. https://www.geetauniversity.edu.in/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Additive-
Manufacturing-A-Boost-to-Circular-.pdf, Accessed on May 25, 2024.
Louise, N, 2021) (2021), This non-profit startup is building 3-D printed homes in poor communities; already
built 2,200 homes in 4 countries, Tech Startups, https://techstartups.com/2021/12/19/non-profit-startup-
building-affordable-zero-waste-3-d-printed-homes-poor-communities/, Accessed on April 20, 2024
M. Despeisse, M. Baumers, P. Brown, F. Charnley, S.J. Ford, A. Garmulewicz, S. Knowles, T.H.W. Minshall,
L. Mortara, F.P. Reed-Tsochas, J. Rowley, (2017): Unlocking value for a circular economy through 3D
printing: A research agenda, Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Volume 115, Pg 75-84,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2016.09.021.
Protolabs Networks Guides by Hubs. 3D Printing. https://www.hubs.com/guides/3d-printing/ Accessed on June
20, 2024.
Rosenkrantz, J, (2018). Inside Nervous System’s 3D Printed Ceramic Jewelry, Formlabs.
https://formlabs.com/asia/blog/nervous-system-developing-3d-printed-ceramic-jewelry/, Accessed on
April 20, 2024.
TWI Technical Knowledge. What is 3D Printing? - Technology Definition and Types. https://www.twi-
global.com/technical-knowledge/faqs/what-is-3d-
printing#:~:text=3D%20printing%20is%20an%20additive,printing%20creates%20less%20material%20
wastage., Accessed on May 20, 2024.
Wu, Y.; Gao, X.; Wu, J.; Zhou, T.; Nguyen, T.T.; Wang, Y. (2023) Biodegradable Polylactic Acid and Its
Composites: Characteristics, Processing, and Sustainable Applications in Sports. Polymers 2023, 15,
3096. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15143096, Accessed on June 20, 2024.

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THE YEAST YARROWIA LIPOLYTICAJMY775 AS A BIOFACTORY FOR
PRODUCING Γ‑DECALACTONE (PEACH AROMA) AND FOR PRODUCING
USEFUL LIPIDS BY RECYCLING HYDROPHOBIC POLLUTANTS AND
USED OILS AS SUBSTRATES
Doria Naila Bouchedja1*, Wadie Nabil Abdo AL Mualad1, Abderrahmen Selmania2, Abdelgani Boudjellal1

Institut de la Nutrition de l’Alimentation et des Technologies Agro‑Alimentaires (INATAA), Laboratoire de

1

Biotechnologie et Qualité des Aliments (BioQuAl), Université Frères Mentouri-Constantine1(UFMC1), Route

de Ain el Bey, 25000 Constantine,Algeria.
2
Centre de Recherche en Biotechnologie (CRBt), Nouvelle Ville Ali Mendjeli, 25000 Constantine, Algeria
*Corresponding author: naila.bouchedja@umc.edu.dz
ORCID Code: 0000-0002-5623-4821

ABSTRACT
The non-conventional yeast Yarrowia lipolytica has become more useful in the field of biotechnology and
its many applications, because it contains an excellent enzyme system that enables it to degrade and
assimilate a wide range of substrates. Consequently, the production of single-cell oil that could potentially
be used as sources of edible oils and/or biodiesel, could be obtained by recycling hydrophobic waste as a
low-cost culture medium, via the micro-organism in question. Thanks to its enzymatic system, Yarrowia
lipolytica can also be used in the production of flavour molecules such as γ-decalactone (γ-DL), molecule
that gives foods the certified natural peach flavour when produced by microbial biotechnology. In the
current study, we were interested to investigate the potential of yeast Y.lipolytica JMY775 with different
carbon substrates, especially, to study its ability to degrade oils waste for single-cell oil production, and
in an other hand, its ability to produce γ-decalactone by biotransformation of castor oil through batch
cultivation in bioreactor. So, the strain showed a high ability to hydrolyse the carbon substrate and to grow
in the fermentation medium. Meanwhile, the cells changed their morphological properties from the yeast-
like shape to pseudo-mycelial shape, suggesting its feasibility and suitability for biotransformation
processes. On the same boat, the strain was able to accumulate flavour compound (γ-DL) in the
biotransformation medium with an intense oily-peachy aroma in the amount of about 460 mg/L extracted
after 5 days of cultivation. Concerning, single cell oil and recycling hydrophobic pollutants, the strain
showed a high ability to grow on different carbon substrates, accumulate lipids, and efficiently decolorize
the black dye (about 90%) in the presence of olive-mill waste, suggesting its feasibility and suitability for
bioremediation of hydrophobic wastes with the simultaneous production of lipid-rich biomass. The
profiles of fatty acids were not strictly dependent on carbon substrates but also on the strain, which it
showed a clear biomodification effect on the substrate’s lipids used to a higher degree. Most of the fatty
acids of the microbial lipid were unsaturated and corresponded mainly to oleic, and linoleic acids. These
results confirm that Y. lipolytica is a valuable microorganism in the field of environmental, food and
bioindustry biotechnology. Which can be very useful as a source of production of value-added molecules.

Keywords: Yarrowia lipolyticaJMY775, Single-cell oil, γ-decalactone, Bio-transformation, Bio-

recycling

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ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF GOLDEN HORN DREDGING

Anil Sila Barut1*, Nilay Elginoz2, Gulen Iskender1, Dilek Eren Akyuz3, Fatos Germirli Babuna1
1
Istanbul Technical University, Civil engineering Faculty, Environmental Engineering Department, Maslak
34469, Istanbul, Turkey
2
IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute, Life Cycle Management, Valhallavägen 81, 114 27 Stockholm,
Sweden
3
Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa, Civil Engineering, Avcilar, 34320 Istanbul, Turkey

*Corresponding author: silanilbarut@gmail.com

ABSTRACT
Inadequate infrastructure, principally due to unplanned industrialization and population growth, leads to
pollution of water resources. Even if the contamination sources that cause water pollution are prevented
over time, the sediment becomes a polluted and contributes to water pollution. Inevitable pollution can
guide extreme conditions and reduce biodiversity in a water body. In some cases, reductions may also
occur in the depths of water bodies, with streams feeding water sources and pollutants from the surface.
In these situations, serious measures should be taken to prevent the loss of water mass. However, if these
methods, which are applied to protect the environment and the integrity of the water body, are not
appropriately applied, they can cause undesirable effects and cause more challenging problems. Therefore,
a dredging project that is not implemented carefully will result in adverse environmental impacts. In this
study, the environmental impacts of the dredging works applied to Golden Horn, Istanbul are evaluated to
find out the best strategy. The dredging activities are performed both for pollution control and to prevent
the Golden Horn from being completely filled. The study includes dredging works conducted between
2016-2020. Life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology is applied to find out the environmental impacts.
The management status of the dredged materials, which were applied at the beginning of the dredging
works in the Golden Horn, namely the sludge dams established in the quarries, and the dewatering of the
dredged materials, which started to be applied later, and their disposal in the sanitary landfill facilities
were examined. In addition, the effects of producing bricks with dredged material as an alternative method
were investigated. In order to evaluate the environmental impacts of the dredging works, 1 m3 of dredged
material is chosen as the functional unit. The system boundaries have been chosen to cover the extraction
and transportation of the raw materials to be applied in each process, starting with the removal of the
dredged material, its transportation, dewatering, removal and beneficial use. The GaBi software and
CML2001 methodology are used to carry out the modelling. The impact categories under investigation
are global warming (GWP), abiotic depletion-fossil (ADP fossil), abiotic depletion-elements (ADP
elements), acidification (AP), eutrophication (EP), ozone depletion (ODP), human toxicity (HTP),
freshwater aquatic eco-toxicity (FAETP) and marine aquatic eco-toxicity (MAETP) potentials. As a result
of the life cycle assessment applied, it has been shown that the environmental impact of the disposal
method in the sludge dams, which is the first method applied in the Golden Horn, is the most depending
on the preparation of the removal area. As a result of the introduction of the landfill method, it has been
concluded that although the applied methods require electricity consumption, it is more advantageous than
the disposal case in sludge dams. Furthermore, the impacts of brick production with dredged material were

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compared with traditional clay brick production, and it was concluded that brick production with sediment
was an advantageous method.

Keywords: Dredging, Environmental Impacts, Life Cycle Assessment, Global Warming, Toxicity

INTRODUCTION
Natural water bodies are polluted due to various reasons such as discharging domestic and industrial
wastes. In some cases, water resources may begin to fill up. One of the most frequently applied methods
to control sediment pollution is dredging. Currently, dredging is the term given to the removal of sediment
by using floating excavators (dredgers) with the presence of water when there is a sufficient amount of
water depth for dredgers, and habitat destruction is avoidable. Dredging can be done either mechanically
with buckets or hydraulically through pumping, without draining or diverting the water on the top of the
sediment.

The dredging process has initially been adopted for navigational concerns, but presently purposes of this
process cover a wider area as environmental dredging, dredging for mining, etc. Dredging is also used to
prevent water bodies from being filled with materials such as sediment brought in by the water sources
that feed them. The management of dredged materials depends on their contamination status. Dredged
materials with high pollutant content can be treated by physical, chemical and biological methods or
disposed of in specially established facilities for the removal of these materials. During the implementation
of a dredging project, it is possible for pollutants to leak from the sediment or present in the fine-grained
particles of the sediment to diffuse into the water body, and emissions to water and air depending on the
equipment used in the dredging works. Therefore, dredging activities can cause unwanted environmental
burdens.

The environmental impacts of products (Sezginer at al., 2002; Ozsahin et al., 2022; Ozkan et al., 2018;
Saad et al., 2019), processes (Karacal et al., 2019), and services (Djati et al., 2018) can be objectively
quantified by using life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology. Thus, some studies present that the
environmental impacts of dredging in various geographical areas through LCA methodology (Hou et al.,
2014; Bates et al., 2015; Favara and Skance 2017; Woods et al., 2016; Barjoveanu et al 2018; Zhou et al.,
2021; Ferrans et al., 2022).

In this context, the primary purpose of this study is to evaluate the environmental impacts of remedial
studies, which started to be implemented and continued uninterruptedly in the Golden Horn, Istanbul by
using LCA methodology. The aim of these remedial studies is to determine the possible effects in terms
of dredging and removal of dredged substances and to make suggestions for the development or
improvement of the application method. An appraisal of LCA outcomes based on the disposal to a nearby
landfill, disposal to an old mine, and brick production is conducted to find out the best option.

MATERIAL METHOD
Environmental impacts of dredging and disposal of Golden Horn sediment are conducted by following
• goal and scope definition;
• inventory analysis;
• impact assessment;
• interpretation
steps according to ISO 14040:2006 and 14044:2006 (ISO, 2006a; b).

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CML 2001 – Jan 2016 Impact Assessment Method (Guinee et al., 2001) is used to find out the listed
environmental impacts of: Global warming (GWP), abiotic depletion-fossil (ADP fossil), abiotic
depletion-elements (ADP elements), acidification (AP), eutrophication (EP), ozone depletion (ODP),
human toxicity (HTP), freshwater aquatic eco-toxicity (FAETP) and marine aquatic eco-toxicity
(MAETP) potentials.

The functional unit is chosen as 1 m3 of dredged material. Actions such as dredging, site preparation, clay
extraction and transportation, geotextile production, rock extraction, and transportation are covered for
disposal in old mining areas. The dredged material is loaded onto trucks and taken to be stored in
Alibeykoy Quarries in the disposal into old mines. For the storage of dredged materials, the disposal area
has been prepared beforehand; that is, sludge dams have been created. The dredged materials are
transported mechanically and stored in these dams. Dredging, dewatering, transportation, etc. are
considered for the disposal to landfill. Dredging, dewatering, transportation, Ca(OH) 2 and SiO 2
productions, and energy requirements are included for the brick production.

RESULTS and DISCUSSION

The results obtained are given in Table 1.

Table 2. Environmental impacts of alternatives per functional unit

Environmental impact Disposal to old Disposal to Brick Production
(unit) mine sanitary landfill
GWP (kg CO 2 -eq.) 1.05E+04 5.71E+03 1.56E+04
AP (kg SO 2 -eq) 7.86E+01 7.28E+01 5.57E+01
EP (kg Phosphate-eq) 1.94E+01 1.95E+01 1.67E+01
ODP (kg R11-eq) 4.28E-11 5.36E-13 1.66E-10
ADP element (kg Sb-eq) 7.97E-04 1.90E-05 2.09E-05
ADP fosil ( MJ) 1.02E+05 1.81E+03 3.21E+05
FAETP (kg DCB-eq.) 5.49E+00 2.40E+00 9.91E+00
HTP (kg DCB-eq) 6.49E+03 6.38E+03 5.95E+03
MAETP(kg DCB-eq) 4.02E+04 4.56E+03 8.69E+04

The environmental impacts of disposal into old mines, which is the first method applied in the Golden
Horn, is mostly generated due to the preparation of the removal area. Landfilling generates few unwanted
environmental impacts than disposal into old mines. Furthermore, the impacts of brick production with
dredged material were compared with traditional clay brick production, and it was concluded that brick
production with sediment is an environmentally friendly method among the other alternatives.

CONCLUSION
The results clearly show that the production of bricks with dredged material is more environmentally
friendly than the current landfill practice. At the same time, the results indicate that the current landfill
application is a more moderate option than the disposal at quarries, which is the first implemented method
for sediment management.

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REFERENCES
Barjoveanu, G., De Gisi, S., Casale, R., Todaro, F., Notarnicola, M., & Teodosiu, C. (2018). A
life cycle assessment study on the stabilization/solidification treatment processes for
contaminated marine sediments. Journal Of Cleaner Production, 201, 391-402. doi:
10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.08.053
Bates, M., Fox-Lent, C., Seymour, L., Wender, B., & Linkov, I. (2015). Life cycle assessment for dredged
sediment placement strategies. Science Of the Total Environment, 511, 309-318. doi:
10.1016/j.scitotenv.2014.11.003
Djati, R. A. P., Cahayanti, S. R., Chairani, E., Koestoer, R. H., & Hartono, D. M. (2018). When LCA
applies to health service industry. Journal of Environmental Science and Sustainable Development,
1(1), 40-62.
Favara, P., & Skance, O. (2017). Overview of LCAs as Applied to Remediation Projects. Retrieved
12 October 2021, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-409548-9.10084-3
Ferrans L, Nilsson A, Schmieder F, Pal D, Rahmati-Abkenar M, Marques M, Hogland W. Life Cycle
Assessment of Management Scenarios for Dredged Sediments: Environmental Impacts Caused
during Landfilling and Soil Conditioning. Sustainability. 2022; 14(20):13139.
https://doi.org/10.3390/su142013139
Guinee, JB., Gorrèe, M., Heijungs, R., Huppes, G., Kleijn, GR., van Oers, RL., Wegen-er, L., Sleeswijk,
A., Suh, S., de Haes, HA., Udo de Bruijn, H., van Duin, HR., Huijbregts, MAJ.: Life Cycle
Assessment, an Operational Guide to the ISO Standards. Part 2a: Guide. In Kluwer Academic
Publishers, Dordrecht (2001).
Hao Zhou, Weijun Zhang, Liqin Li, Meiyi Zhang, Dongsheng Wang, Environmental impact and
optimization of lake dredged-sludge treatment and disposal technologies based on life cycle
assessment (LCA) analysis, Science of The Total Environment, Volume 787, 2021, 147703, ISSN
0048-9697, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.147703.
Hou, D., Al-Tabbaa, A., Guthrie, P., Hellings, J., & Gu, Q. (2014). Using a hybrid LCA method to evaluate
the sustainability of sediment remediation at the London Olympic Park. Journal Of Cleaner
Production, 83, 87-95. doi: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2014.07.062
ISO, 2006a, Life Cycle Assessment - Requirements and Guidelines. 2006, International Standard
Organization: Geneva, Switzerland.
ISO, 2006b, Life Cycle Assessment - Principles and Framework. 2006, International Standard
Organization: Geneva, Switzerland.
Karacal, PN., Elginoz, N., Germirli Babuna F. (2019) Environmental Burdens of Cataphoresis Process.
Desalination and Water Treatment, 172:301-308, (2019) doi: 10.5004/dwt.2019.24800
Ozkan, E., Elginoz, N., Germirli Babuna, F. (2018) Life cycle assessment of a printed circuit board
manufacturing plant in Turkey. Environmental Science and Pollution Research. 25;26801–26808,
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-017-0280-z
Ozsahin, B., Elginoz, N., Germirli Babuna, F. (2022) Life cycle assessment of a wind farm in Turkey.
Environmental Science and Pollution Research 29, 71000–71013. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-
022-20783-0
Saad, A., Elginoz, N., Germirli Babuna, F., Iskender, G. (2019) Life cycle assessment of a large water
treatment plant in Turkey. Environmental Science and Pollution Research. 26 (15): 14823-14834,
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-018-3826-9
Sezginer, I., Atilgan, Turkmen B., Germirli Babuna, F. (2022) Environmental impacts arising from the

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5-6 July, 2024, Istanbul, Türkiye
production of two surface coating formulations. Clean Technologies and Environmental Policy.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10098-022-02288-z.
Woods, J., Veltman, K., Huijbregts, M., Verones, F., & Hertwich, E. (2016). Towards a meaningful
assessment of marine ecological impacts in life cycle assessment (LCA). Environment
International, 89-90, 48-61. doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2015.12.033

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A SUSTAINABLE ROADMAP IN SELECTING THE PROPER TREATMENT /

DISPOSAL METHOD FOR WASTEWATERS / WATER / WASTES
Fatos Germirli Babuna1*, Burcin Atilgan Turkmen2
1
Istanbul Technical University, Civil Engineering Faculty, Environmental Engineering Department, 34469
Maslak, Istanbul, Turkey.
2
Bilecik Seyh Edebali University, Chemical Engineering Department, 11230, Bilecik, Turkey.

*Corresponding author: germirliba@itu.edu.tr

ORCID Code: 0000-0003-0365-2373 (only corresponding author)

ABSTRACT
The current approach used to find out the proper treatment / disposal method for wastes / wastewaters /
waters depends on evaluation of two factors: i. technical feasibility; ii. economic feasibility. The first stage
in technical feasibility is lab-scale experiments performed on waste / wastewater / water samples. The
results of this stage are then used to shape the following stage of pilot-scale experimental studies. Both
stages of technical feasibility evaluation concentrate on efficiencies of treatment / disposal alternatives.
Economic feasibility studies are carried out on the alternatives obtained with the technical feasibility
results to reach a treatment / disposal method for wastes / wastewaters / waters. As evident, this approach
does not consider cross media effects. Furthermore, sustainability has no place in this whole sequence. In
this context the aim of this study is to put forth a roadmap amalgamating the sustainability concept with
technical and economic feasibility in selecting the proper treatment / disposal method for wastes /
wastewaters / waters. The proposed roadmap addresses life cycle assessment methodology for
sustainability perspective. Using this methodology eases the thought train for the decision makers and will
led to robust conclusions.

Keywords: Sustainability, Environmental Impacts, Treatment, Disposal, Life Cycle Assessment

INTRODUCTION
Sustainable development is defined as development that meets current needs while maintaining future
generations' ability to meet their own. It involves balancing economic, social, and environmental factors
to ensure that development is both equitable and environmentally sustainable (UN, 1987).

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a global call to action to end poverty, protect the
environment, and ensure that everyone has peace and prosperity. In 2015, all United Nations Member
States adopted them as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The SDGs are made up of
17 interconnected goals and 169 targets that aim to address major global challenges such as poverty,
inequality, climate change, environmental degradation, peace, and justice (UN General Assembly, 2015)
The significant impacts that waste management has on the environment, society, and economy make it
closely related to a number of SDGs for example Clean Water and Sanitation (SDG #6), Sustainable Cities
and Communities (SDG #11), Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG #12), Climate Action

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(SDG #13), Life Below Water (SDG #14) and Life on Land (SDG #15) (Rodic-Wiersma and Wilson,
2017).

Selecting the proper treatment and disposal method for waste is crucial in achieving sustainability goals.
Current understanding of environmental practices emphasizes the evaluation of technical and economic
feasibility in choosing treatment / disposal methods applicable to waste / water / wastewaters. Technical
feasibility mainly depends on the lab-scale treatability experiments followed by pilot-scale ones performed
on waste / wastewater / water samples (Karahan et al., 2002; Kutluay et al., 2004). Technical feasibility
yields the efficiencies of treatment / disposal alternatives (Dulkadiroglu et al., 2002; Erdogan et al., 2004).
Economic feasibility of the alternative technologies with highest efficiencies dictates the applicable
treatment / disposal practice. Although the concept of sustainability has gained great importance in the
planning of human activities today, there is no input regarding sustainability in the mentioned approach.
In this context, selecting the proper treatment / disposal alternative can only be possible with a road map
that includes sustainability as well as technical and economic feasibility.

The concept of sustainability can be a part of the evaluation process through life cycle assessment (LCA)
methodology that quantifies environmental impacts. By adopting LCA it is possible to find out the levels
of various environmental impact categories such as global warming, eutrophication, acidification, human
toxicity, freshwater / terrestrial / marine ecotoxicities, abiotic depletion of elements and fossils etc. The
environmental impacts of products (Sezginer et al., 2022) and processes (Karacal et al., 2019; Ozkan et
al., 2018; 2020) are addressed by LCA. Besides operation of treatment plants (Sahin Akkurt et al., 2020;
Saad et al., 2019; Yalamacilar et al., 2021) are investigated in terms of environmental impacts. Strategies
such as using renewable energy sources instead of fossil ones are developed to reduce unwanted
environmental impacts. Appraisals on environmental impacts of renewable energy generation are
investigated via LCA (Ozsahin et al., 2022; Atilgan Turkmen and Germirli Babuna, 2024). There are
pioneering studies that unites lab-scale treatability outcomes with environmental impacts obtained by LCA
(Dogan et al., 2023; 2024).

In this context the objective of this study is to establish a roadmap that merges sustainability concept with
technical and economic feasibility in selecting the proper treatment / disposal method for wastes /
wastewaters / waters.

MATERIAL METHOD
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a method that evaluates the environmental impacts of all stages of a
product's life cycle, from raw material extraction to production, use, and disposal. LCA aims to provide a
comprehensive evaluation of a product's environmental performance and identify areas for improvement
(Muralikrishna and Manickam, 2017).

International standards ISO 14040/44 (ISO 2006 a; b). provides the guidelines, framework, and
specifications needed to perform and report life cycle assessments. An LCA study consists of four stages:
definition of the goal and scope, inventory analysis, impact assessment and interpretation of the results.
The goal and scope of an assessment are to specify the extent to which the product life cycle will be
examined and the purpose for which the assessment will be used. The description of material and energy
flows within the product system, including its interactions with the environment, consumed raw materials,
and emissions to the environment, is provided by inventory analysis. Impact assessment uses information

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from inventory analysis. This step includes a detailed analysis of the indicator results for each impact
category. Normalization and, in the end, weighting are used to determine each impact category's relative
importance. A life cycle's interpretation entails a critical analysis, a determination of the sensitivity of the
data, and the presentation of the findings (Azapagic, 2010).

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION ON HOW TO ESTABLISH A SUSTAINABLE ROADMAP FOR

TREATMENT / DISPOSAL METHODS

The following steps can be applied to bring together treatability with sustainability for water / wastewater:
• Running lab and pilot scale treatability experiments for water / wastewater samples
• Evaluating treatability experiments according to the targeted pollutant removal efficiencies to put
forth the alternatives
• Prioritization of environmental impacts by decision makers.
• Reevaluation of alternatives based on prioritization of impacts via LCA
• Economic feasibility of alternatives to obtain the best alternative
A similar roadmap can be prescribed for wastes:
• Sorting wastes
• Defining treatment / disposal / reuse alternatives
• Prioritization of environmental impacts by decision makers.
• Reevaluation of alternatives based on prioritization of impacts through LCA
• Economic feasibility of alternatives to obtain the best alternative
One should keep in mind that, in order to adopt the mentioned methodology, it is important to properly
define the system boundaries of LCA.

CONCLUSION
This study presents a roadmap that introduces sustainability concept with technical and economic
feasibility during the selection of treatment / disposal methods for wastes / wastewaters / waters. With the
help of this roadmap robust decisions can be made while managing the wastes / wastewaters / waters.

REFERENCES
Atilgan Turkmen B, Germirli Babuna F. (2024). Life Cycle Environmental Impacts of Wind Turbines: A
Path to Sustainability with Challenges. Sustainability. 2024; 16(13):5365.
https://doi.org/10.3390/su16135365
Azapagic, A. (2010). Life cycle assessment as a tool for sustainable management of ecosystem services.
In Ecosystem Services (Vol. 30, pp. 140-168): The Royal Society of Chemistry.
Dulkadiroglu H, Eremektar G, Dogruel S, Uner H, Germirli-Babuna F, Orhon D. (2002) In-plant control
applications and their effect on treatability of a textile mill wastewater. Water Sci Technol.
2002;45(12):287-95.
Dogan, K., Atilgan Turkmen, B., Germirli Babuna, F., Koba Ucun, O. & Arslan Alaton, I., (2023) Merging
treatability results and sustainability assessment: a segregated textile dyehouse effluent.
International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology, 2023. 20(10): p. 11165-11176.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-023-05107-0

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5-6 July, 2024, Istanbul, Türkiye
Dogan K, Atilgan Turkmen B, Arslan-Alaton I, Germirli Babuna F. (2024) Life Cycle Assessment as a
Decision-Making Tool for Photochemical Treatment of Iprodione Fungicide from Wastewater.
Water. 2024; 16(8):1183. https://doi.org/10.3390/w16081183
Erdogan, AO., Orhon, HF., Dulkadiroglu, H., Dogruel, S., Eremektar, G., Germirli Babuna, F., Orhon, D.
(2004). Feasibility Analysis of In-Plant Control for Water Minimization and Wastewater Reuse in
a Wool Finishing Textile Mill. Journal of Environmental Science and Health, Part A, 39(7), 1819–
1832. https://doi.org/10.1081/ESE-120037880
ISO, 2006a, Life Cycle Assessment - Requirements and Guidelines. 2006, International Standard
Organization: Geneva, Switzerland.
ISO, 2006b, Life Cycle Assessment - Principles and Framework. 2006, International Standard
Organization: Geneva, Switzerland.
Karacal, PN., Elginoz, N., Germirli Babuna F. (2019). Environmental Burdens of Cataphoresis Process.
Desalination and Water Treatment, 172:301-308, doi: 10.5004/dwt.2019.24800
Karahan, O., Dulkadiroglu, H., Kabdasli, I., Sozen, S., Germirli Babuna, F., & Orhon, D. (2002). Effect
of Ozonation on the Biological Treatability of a Textile Mill Effluent. Environmental Technology,
23(12), 1325–1336. https://doi.org/10.1080/09593332508618440
Kutluay, G., Germirli Babuna, F., Eremektar, G., Orhon D. (2004) Treatability of Water-Based Paint
Effluents, Fresenius Environmental Bulletin, Vol. 13(10), 1057-1060, 2004.
Muralikrishna, I. V., & Manickam, V. (2017). Chapter Five - Life Cycle Assessment. In I. V.
Muralikrishna & V. Manickam (Eds.), Environmental Management (pp. 57-75). Butterworth-
Heinemann. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-811989-1.00005-1
Ozkan, E., Bas, B., Elginoz, N., Germirli Babuna, F. (2020) Environmental sensitivity of printed circuit
board manufacturing to Cu recycling rate, transportation and various energy sources. International
Journal of Global Warming, 20(3):237-248, DOI: 10.1504/IJGW.2020.106596.
Ozkan, E., Elginoz, N., Germirli Babuna, F. (2018) Life cycle assessment of a printed circuit board
manufacturing plant in Turkey. Environmental Science and Pollution Research. 25;26801–26808,
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-017-0280-z.
Ozsahin, B., Elginoz, N., Germirli Babuna, F. (2022) Life cycle assessment of a wind farm in Turkey.
Environmental Science and Pollution Research 29, 71000–71013. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-
022-20783-0
Rodic-Wiersma, L., & Wilson, D. (2017). Resolving Governance Issues to Achieve Priority Sustainable
Development Goals Related to Solid Waste Management in Developing Countries. Sustainability,
9, 404. https://doi.org/10.3390/su9030404
Saad, A., Elginoz, N., Germirli Babuna, F., Iskender, G.: Life cycle assessment of a large water treatment
plant in Turkey. Environmental Science and Pollution Research. 26 (15): 14823-14834,
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-018-3826-9 (2019).
Sahin Akkurt H., Elginoz, N., Iskender, G., Germirli Babuna, F.: Environmental Burdens of a Large Water
Treatment Plant: The Operational Phase in 17th Inter-national Conference on Environmental
Science and Technology, CEST, 1-4 September 2021. CEST2021_00677, Athens, Greece (2021).
Sezginer, I., Atilgan, Turkmen B., Germirli Babuna, F. (2022) Environmental impacts arising from the
production of two surface coating formulations. Clean Technologies and Environmental Policy.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10098-022-02288-z.
UN. (1987). The Report of World Commission on Environment and Development, United Nations.
UN General Assembly. (2015). Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,

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A/RES/70/1, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57b6e3e44.html [accessed 3 November
2023].
Yalamacilar, B., Elginoz, N., Germirli Babuna, F. (2021) Benchmarking industrial water purification
systems with the aid of life cycle assessment. Desalination and Water Treatment. 211:422–431,
doi: 10.5004/dwt.

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APPRAISING ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF A RESTAURANT

Elif Hilal Arikan1*, Burcin Atilgan Turkmen2, Gulen Iskender1, Fatos Germirli Babuna1
1
Istanbul Technical University, Civil Engineering Faculty, Environmental Engineering Department, 34469
Maslak, Istanbul, Turkey.
2
Bilecik Seyh Edebali University, Chemical Engineering Department, 11230, Bilecik, Turkey.

*Corresponding author: elifhilalarikan@gmail.com

ORCID Code: [0000-0002-0259-1495]

ABSTRACT
The food industry consumes a large quantity of natural resources and contributes significantly to
environmental pollution. Restaurants play an important role in the food industry. As a result, it is necessary
to investigate the environmental sustainability of restaurants. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to
evaluate the possible environmental impacts of a restaurant, as well as to suggest energy-saving measures
and waste reduction and treatment options. The study has been carried out according to the LCA
methodological guidelines in ISO 14040/14044 standards. The system is modelled using GaBi 7.3,
background data is taken from the Ecoinvent database, and environmental impacts are converted into
impact categories using the CML 2001 method. The functional unit is defined as “1000 service”. The
system boundary includes food storage, food preparation, and food serving, and final disposal of the
wastes. The following environmental impacts are estimated: Global warming (GWP), abiotic depletion
(ADP fossil and ADP elements), acidification (AP), eutrophication (EP), freshwater aquatic ecotoxicity
(FAETP), human toxicity (HTP), ozone depletion (ODP), photochemical ozone creation (POCP) and
terrestrial ecotoxicity (TETP) potentials. The findings indicate that the largest contributor to
environmental effects is energy consumption. Electricity consumption is the largest contributor to ADP
elements, ADP fossil, AP, EP, FAETP, GWP, HTP, MAETP, and TETP. Natural gas is the largest
contributor to ODP, and the consumption of hard coal is the largest contributor to POCP. When waste
disposal options were evaluated, the results showed that anaerobic digestion provided more reduction than
composting except for ADP fossil and ODP.

Keywords: Environmental Impacts, Sustainability, Food Sector, Life Cycle Assessment, Waste
Management, Restaurant

INTRODUCTION
Restaurants, a significant sector within the food industry, are increasingly adopting sustainability
practices. Many are now focusing on reducing their environmental impacts. The key challenge is
identifying effective ways to minimize these negative effects.

Implementing the environmental life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology can help pinpoint appropriate
energy-saving measures, as well as waste reduction and treatment strategies for restaurants. While
numerous studies have addressed food waste (Bernstad and la Cour Jansen 2012; Kim and Kim 2010; Xu
et al., 2015; Yeo et al., 2019; Scherhaufer et al., 2018; Amicarelli et al., 2021; Fei et al., 2022). Only a

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limited number have specifically applied LCA to restaurants (Baldwin et al., 2011; Calderón et al., 2018;
Bahadiroglu et al., 2024).

This study aims to develop strategies to reduce a restaurant’s environmental impacts through the use of
LCA by concentrating on energy consumption together with various waste management alternatives. The
study is intended for a wide audience, including public and private sector employees, engineers, scientists,
students, and policymakers, focusing on those with an interest in life cycle and environmental impact
assessments of restaurants.

MATERIAL METHOD
The study focuses on a restaurant in a shopping mall in Bakırkoy, Istanbul, serving traditional Turkish
dishes like kebabs and grilled meats. The location of the restaurant is illustrated in Figure 1.

Figure 1. The location of the restaurant

On average, it serves 140 customers daily. Conducted for the year 2019, the data are gathered through on-
site investigations, measurements, and discussions with the restaurant manager. Inputs include electricity,
natural gas, food items, and packaging materials, while outputs consist of organic waste, waste oil, and
various solid wastes like glass, plastic, paper, and metal. All data are presented for 1000 services, based
on the restaurant’s daily service capacity.

The study is performed according to ISO 14040/14044 standards (ISO 2006 a; b). LCA is conducted by
using GaBi software with the CML 2001 method (Guinee et al., 2002).

Data collected from this restaurant cover food procurement, storage, preparation, cooking, and waste
disposal. Due to insufficient information obtained from the actual site, the production of food ingredients
is excluded from the analysis. Missing data are supplemented through measurements, on-site
investigations, and scientific literature. The functional unit is 1000 meal servings.

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The system boundary of this study includes the processes from the purchase and transportation of
materials, such as food and cleaning supplies, to the disposal of waste generated by the restaurant.
However, the production of food ingredients is not a part of the study. The scope covers food storage,
preparation, cooking, and serving, with a particular focus on waste collection, transportation, and disposal.
Various waste management options are considered for the restaurant's waste.
Five different life cycle scenarios are developed, each with unique system boundaries:
• Scenario 0: All waste, except waste oil, is sent to landfill. Waste oil is collected and send to
recovery facilities. This scenario covers energy consumption, ingredient transportation, waste
collection and transportation, and waste disposal. No water reduction or renewable energy use is
applied. This scenario represents the current situation.
• Scenario 1: Returnable waste is sent back to suppliers, while the rest is directed to a landfill.
• Scenario 2: Returnable waste is sent to suppliers, and recyclable waste is processed at recycling
facilities, with the remainder going to landfill. Returnables are excluded from the system boundary.
• Scenario 3: Returnable waste is sent back, recyclables go to recycling facilities, and organic waste
is processed via anaerobic digestion. The remaining waste is sent to landfill. This scenario differs
from Scenario 2 due to the treatment of organic waste.
• Scenario 4: Similar to Scenario 3, but organic waste is composted instead of being sent to
anaerobic digestion. The rest of the process remains the same and recyclables are sent to recycling
facilities.

RESULTS and DISCUSSION

The listed environmental impact categories are investigated for the mentioned scenarios: Global warming
(GWP), abiotic depletion (ADP fossil and ADP elements), acidification (AP), eutrophication (EP),
freshwater aquatic ecotoxicity (FAETP), human toxicity (HTP), ozone depletion (ODP), photochemical
ozone creation (POCP) and terrestrial ecotoxicity (TETP) potentials.
The results are tabulated in Table 1.
Table 1. Environmental Impacts of the Restaurant under Investigation

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The findings indicate that the largest contributor to environmental impacts is the energy requirement.
Electricity consumption is the largest contributor to ADP elements, ADP fossil, AP, EP, FAETP, GWP,
HTP, MAETP, and TETP. This outcome is a result of Turkey's energy grid as coal and lignite have high
shares in grid.

Natural gas is the largest contributor to ODP, and the consumption of hard coal is the largest contributor
to POCP.

When waste disposal options are evaluated, the results show that landfilling is not a preferrable option.
Besides anaerobic digestion provided more reduction in unwanted environmental impacts than
composting except for ADP fossil and ODP.

Changing electricity source from grid to renewable energy lowers the environmental impacts.

CONCLUSION
This study evaluates the environmental impacts of a restaurant in Istanbul using LCA. Key findings
highlight that electricity is the major contributor to various environmental impacts, primarily due to the
reliance on coal and lignite in Turkish energy grid.
Compared to landfill disposal, anaerobic digestion and composting are obtained to reduce all the impacts
except AP and GWP.
The study suggests reducing electricity consumption, switching energy source from grid to renewable
energy, and returning waste to suppliers to lower the restaurant’s environmental impacts.
It recommends similar LCA studies for other restaurants in Turkey, predicting that combined results could
greatly contribute to sustainability efforts.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The authors of this study would like to sincerely thank Dr. Aysegul Nuhoglu for the support she provided
during the data collection phase.

REFERENCES
Amicarelli, V., Lagioia, G., & Bux, C. (2021). Global warming potential of food waste through the life
cycle assessment: An analytical review. Environmental Impact Assessment Review, 91, 106677.
Bahadiroglu, M., B. Atilgan Turkmen, F. Germirli Babuna and G. Iskender (2024) How to Lower the
Environmental Burdens of a Restaurant, in book: Climate Change and Natural Resources:
Environmental Management and Sustainable Development, eds. H. Gokcekus and Y. Kassem,
Springer, book series Environmental Earth Sciences_8394 (in press).
Baldwin, C., Wilberforce, N., & Kapur, A. (2011). Restaurant and food service life cycle assessment and
development of a sustainability standard. International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment, 16(1),
40–49. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11367-010-0234-x
Bernstad, A., la Cour Jansen, J. (2012). Review of comparative LCAs of food waste management systems–
current status and potential improvements. Waste management, 32(12), 2439-2455.
Calderón, L. A., Herrero, M., Laca, A., & Díaz, M. (2018). Environmental impact of a traditional cooked
dish at four different manufacturing scales: from ready meal industry and catering company to
traditional restaurant and homemade. International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment, 23(4), 811–
823. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11367-017-1326-7
Fei, X., Jia, W., Chen, T., & Ling, Y. (2022). Life cycle assessment of food waste anaerobic digestion

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with hydrothermal and ionizing radiation pretreatment. Journal of Cleaner Production, 338,
130611.
Guinee, JB., Gorrèe, M., Heijungs, R., Huppes, G., Kleijn, GR., van Oers, RL., Wegen-er, L., Sleeswijk,
A., Suh, S., de Haes, HA., Udo de Bruijn, H., van Duin, HR., Huijbregts, MAJ.: Life Cycle
Assessment, an Operational Guide to the ISO Standards. Part 2a: Guide. In Kluwer Academic
Publishers, Dordrecht (2002).
ISO, (2006a) Life Cycle Assessment - Requirements and Guidelines, International Standard Organization,
Geneva, Switzerland2006, vol. BS EN ISO 14040:2006.
ISO, (2006b) Life Cycle Assessment - Principles and Framework," International Standard Organization,
Geneva, Switzerland 2006, vol. BS EN ISO 14040:2006.
Kim, M. H., & Kim, J. W. (2010). Comparison through a LCA evaluation analysis of food waste disposal
options from the perspective of global warming and resource recovery. Science of the total
environment, 408(19), 3998-4006.
Scherhaufer, S., Moates, G., Hartikainen, H., Waldron, K., & Obersteiner, G. (2018). Environmental
impacts of food waste in Europe. Waste management, 77, 98-113.
Xu, C., Shi, W., Hong, J., Zhang, F., & Chen, W. (2015). Life cycle assessment of food waste-based biogas
generation. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 49, 169-177.
Yeo, J., Chopra, S. S., Zhang, L., & An, A. K. (2019). Life cycle assessment (LCA) of food waste
treatment in Hong Kong: On-site fermentation methodology. Journal of environmental
management, 240, 343-351.

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ENVIRONMENTAL BURDENS OF READY-MIXED CONCRETE, PAVING

STONE AND KERBSTONE MANUFACTURING: A CASE STUDY IN
ISTANBUL, TURKEY
Eda Nurhat1, Bilge Bas2*, Fatos Germirli Babuna1
1
Istanbul Technical University, Civil Engineering Faculty, Environmental Engineering Department, 34469
Maslak, Istanbul, Turkey.
2
Istanbul Bilgi University, Civil Engineering Department, Eski Silahtaraga Elektrik Santralı, Kazım Karabekir
Cad. No: 2/13, Eyupsultan 34060 Istanbul, Turkey.
*Corresponding author: bilge.bas@bilgi.edu.tr
ORCID Code: 0000-0002-6273-9527 (only corresponding author)

ABSTRACT
The objective of this study is to appraise the environmental impacts of ready-mixed concrete, paving stone
and kerbstone manufacturing by adopting life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology. The functional unit
for ready mixed concrete manufacturing is defined as 1 m3 ready-mixed concrete. 1 m3 concrete paving
stone and 1 m3 concrete kerbstone are defined as the functional unit for paving stone and kerbstone
manufacturing LCA studies, namely. CML2001 method is adopted as the life cycle impact assessment
(LCIA) methodology. The impact categories examined are: abiotic element consumption potential
(AECP), abiotic fossil consumption potential (AFTP), acidification potential (AP), eutrophication
potential (EP), freshwater aquatic ecotoxicity potential (FAETP), global warming potential (GWP),
human toxicity potential (HTP), marine aquatic ecotoxicity potential (MAETP), ozone layer depletion
potential (ODP), photochemical ozone creation potential (POCP) and terrestrial ecotoxicity potential
(TETP). The results obtained shows that cement caused more than 75% of the calculated impacts for all
the production processes.

Keywords: Environmental Impacts, Ready-Mixed Concrete, Paving Stone, Kerbstone, Life Cycle
Assessment

INTRODUCTION
Concrete and concrete products are widely used and demanded today. Along with this ever-increasing
requirement, concrete and concrete products also cause a spectrum of undesirable environmental effects
ranging from consumption of natural resources and energy to the generation of greenhouse gas emissions
during their production, maintenance and demolition stages (Marinković, 2013).

Life cycle assessment (LCA) is a quantitative methodology that reveals the environmental impacts of
products, processes and services, and helps to develop strategies to reduce those environmental effects
through environmental management applications, supply chain optimization as well as supporting
sustainable design and environmental labelling (Hauschild et al., 2018).

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One of the most important issue in LCA studies is the origin of the data used in modelling. When actual
data gathered from the manufacturing facilities are used, robust results can be obtained (Jasper et al.,
2022). There are literature studies on LCA of various products with the data collected from the actual
production site (Jasper et al., 2022; Sezginer et al., 2022; Ozkan at al., 2018; 2020).

Environmental impacts of concrete (conventional and with recycled material content) and concrete
products are previously investigated in literature using LCA methodology (Kleijer et al., 2017; Xing et
al., 2022; Bajpai et al., 2020; Oliver-Solà et al., 2009; Hossain et al., 2016). However, one of the most
important aspects in getting a robust output from LCA methodology is to establish the model on data
obtained from actual site. Thus, to obtain case specific solutions, site specific data should be used. This
fact is valid for the manufacturing of concrete and concrete products as well.

In this context, the objective of this study is to appraise the environmental impacts of ready-mixed
concrete, paving stone and kerbstone manufacturing in a manufacturing facility located in Istanbul,
Turkey. For this purpose, primary data is collected from the mentioned plant and by using this data, a LCA
study is conducted.

MATERIAL METHOD
In this study, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology is adopted by following the ISO 14040/14044
(ISO 2006 a; b) to quantify the environmental impacts of ready-mixed concrete, paving stone and
kerbstone production. Therefore, the conducted investigation covers the main four stages of a LCA study:
• goal and scope definition,
• inventory analysis,
• impact assessment and
• interpretation of the results.

In the LCA of ready mixed concrete, paving stone and kerbstone, the selected functional units are 1 m3
ready mixed concrete, 1 m3 concrete paving stone and 1 m3 concrete kerbstone, namely.
Selected system boundaries for ready mixed concrete, concrete paving stone and concrete kerbstone
production are listed below:
• Extraction of raw materials, transportation of raw materials from supplier to the production site,
concrete production, washing of the mixers when they arrived at plant and transportation and
processing of waste materials to a sanitary landfill are in the system boundaries of ready mixed
concrete manufacturing.
• Extraction of raw materials, transportation of them to the site, paving stone production, varnishing,
packaging stages are within system boundary of concrete paving stone production.
• Raw material extraction and transportation to the manufacturing site, kerbstone production,
packaging are covered in the system boundary of concrete kerbstone production.

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The paving stone under investigation has dimensions of 165 mm x 200 mm x 60 mm and kerbstone has a
size of 120 mm x 300 mm x 700 mm. In Figure 1, main material inputs for the mentioned production
processes are listed. Besides, required energy input for the production processes is also considered.

Figure 1. Material inputs of ready-mixed concrete, paving stone and kerbstone production
GaBi Education 9.2.1.68 software and database is used for modelling and background data. LCIA method
of CML 2001 (Guinee et al., 2001) is applied. The following impact categories are considered: abiotic
element consumption potential (AECP), abiotic fossil consumption potential (AFTP), acidification
potential (AP), eutrophication potential (EP), freshwater aquatic ecotoxicity potential (FAETP), global
warming potential (GWP), human toxicity potential (HTP), marine aquatic ecotoxicity potential
(MAETP), ozone layer depletion potential (ODP), photochemical ozone creation potential (POCP) and
terrestic ecotoxicity potential (TETP).

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The highest share in all environmental impact categories for the three products are of cement input. In
other words, more than 90 % of ODP, FAETP, HTP, AECP, MAETP and GWP are generated due to
cement requirement for ready-made concrete. Transportation contributes approximately 12% of AFCP
and EP for ready-mixed concrete. For both paving stone and kerbstone manufacturing, cement has more
than 90 % share in ODP, AECP, FAETP, HTP, GWP and MAETP.

CONCLUSION
The principal result of this study that investigates the environmental impacts of ready-mixed concrete,
paving stone and kerbstone manufacturing via LCA, points out that the cement input as the main cause of
considered environmental impacts.

REFERENCES
Bajpai, R., Choudhary, K., Srivastava, A., Sangwan, K. S., & Singh, M. (2020). Environmental impact
assessment of fly ash and silica fume based geopolymer concrete. Journal of Cleaner Production,
254, 120147.

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5-6 July, 2024, Istanbul, Türkiye
Guinee, JB., Gorrèe, M., Heijungs, R., Huppes, G., Kleijn, GR., van Oers, RL., Wegen-er, L., Sleeswijk,
A., Suh, S., de Haes, HA., Udo de Bruijn, H., van Duin, HR., Huijbregts, MAJ.: Life Cycle
Assessment, an Operational Guide to the ISO Standards. Part 2a: Guide. In Kluwer Academic
Publishers, Dordrecht (2001).
Hauschild, M. Z., Rosenbaum, R. K., & Olsen, S. I. (2018). Life cycle assessment (Vol. 2018). Springer
International Publishing, Cham. https://doi. org/10.1007/978-3-319-56475-3.
Hossain, M. U., Poon, C. S., Lo, I. M., & Cheng, J. C. (2016). Evaluation of environmental friendliness
of concrete paving eco-blocks using LCA approach. The International Journal of Life Cycle
Assessment, 21, 70-84.
ISO, (2006a) Life Cycle Assessment - Requirements and Guidelines. 2006, International Standard
Organization: Geneva, Switzerland.
ISO, (2006b) Life Cycle Assessment - Principles and Framework. 2006, International Standard
Organization: Geneva, Switzerland.
Jasper, F. B., Späthe, J., Baumann, M., Peters, J. F., Ruhland, J., & Weil, M. (2022). Life cycle assessment
(LCA) of a battery home storage system based on primary data. Journal of cleaner production, 366,
132899.
Kleijer, A. L., Lasvaux, S., Citherlet, S., & Viviani, M. (2017). Product-specific Life Cycle Assessment
of ready-mix concrete: Comparison between a recycled and an ordinary concrete. Resources,
Conservation and Recycling, 122, 210-218.
Marinković, S. B. (2013) 3 - Life cycle assessment (LCA) aspects of concrete, Editor(s): F. Pacheco-
Torgal, S. Jalali, J. Labrincha, V.M. John, In Woodhead Publishing Series in Civil and Structural
Engineering, Eco-Efficient Concrete, Woodhead Publishing, Pages 45-80, ISBN 9780857094247,
https://doi.org/10.1533/9780857098993.1.45.
Oliver-Solà, J., Josa, A., Rieradevall, J., & Gabarrell, X. (2009). Environmental optimization of concrete
sidewalks in urban areas. The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment, 14, 302-312.
Ozkan, E., Elginoz, N., Germirli Babuna, F. (2018) Life cycle assessment of a printed circuit board
manufacturing plant in Turkey. Environmental Science and Pollution Research. 25;26801–26808,
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-017-0280-z
Ozkan, E.; Bas, B.; Elginoz, N.; Germirli Babuna, F. (2020) Environmental sensitivity of printed circuit
board manufacturing to Cu recycling rate, transportation and various energy sources. International
Journal of Global Warming. Vol. 20, pp. 237–248. DOI: 10.1504/IJGW.2020.106596.
Sezginer, I., Atilgan, Turkmen B., Germirli Babuna, F. (2022) Environmental impacts arising from the
production of two surface coating formulations. Clean Technologies and Environmental Policy.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10098-022-02288-z
Xing, W., Tam, V. W., Le, K. N., Hao, J. L., & Wang, J. (2022). Life cycle assessment of recycled
aggregate concrete on its environmental impacts: A critical review. Construction and Building
Materials, 317, 125950.

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LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT OF ANAEROBIC DIGESTION FOR THE

ORGANIC FRACTION OF MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE
Hayrunnisa OMRAN 1*, Burcin ATILGAN TURKMEN 2, Fatos GERMIRLI BABUNA 1
1
Istanbul Technical University, Civil Engineering Faculty, Environmental Engineering Department, 34469
Maslak, Istanbul, Turkey
2
Bilecik Seyh Edebali University, Engineering Faculty, Chemical Engineering Department, 11230, Bilecik,
Turkey
*Corresponding author: gozutok21@itu.edu.tr
ORCID Code: 0009-0007-9070-9759

ABSTRACT
Fruitful information can be produced when waste management systems are subjected to the life cycle
assessment (LCA) technique. With the information provided, a sensible management plan that lessens the
undesirable effects on the environment can be determined. In this study, an actively working anaerobic
digestion plant which is fed with organic fraction of municipal solid waste collected from whole city of
Sakarya is assessed in terms of LCA approach. The present study employs a functional unit corresponding
to 1 kWh of electricity produced by the facility as the basis for all calculations and analyses. Investigated
environmental impact categories can be listed as: Global warming potential (GWP), acidification potential
(AP), human toxicity potential (HTP), ADP abiotic depletion potential-elements (ADP elements), abiotic
depletion potential-fossil (ADP fossil), eutrophication potential (EP), marine aquatic ecotoxicity potential
(MAEP), ozone depletion potential (ODP), freshwater aquatic ecotoxicity potential (FAETP), terrestrial
ecotoxicity potential (TETP), human toxicity potential (HTP), photochemical ozone creation potential
(POCP). According to the results revealed by the study; the combined heat and power (CHP) unit bears the
most load for all impact categories assessed for operational activities. The construction of the AD plant,
CHP unit, and composting facility has a major impact that raises the overall influence of managing the
organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW), even though operating activities have larger
cumulative impacts.

Keywords: Sustainability, Environmental Impacts, Life Cycle Assessment, Anaerobic Digestion, Organic
waste

INTRODUCTION
A product's or service's entire life cycle as well as processes are considered in terms of the environmental
impacts generated by life cycle assessment. This includes the extraction and acquisition of raw materials,
production of energy and materials, usage, end-of-life care, and final disposal. Using such a systematic
overview and viewpoint, it is possible to identify and maybe avoid the transfer of a potential environmental
impact between life cycle stages or specific activities. The ability to identify and mitigate the effects of
transitioning from one life cycle stage to another or from a stage that results in increased burdens for other
associated processes or stages is the primary advantage of adopting a life cycle approach.

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The International Standardization Organization (ISO) has standardized and approved the Life Cycle
Assessment (LCA) mechanism under ISO14040 and ISO14044 (ISO1040:2006a, ISO1044:2006b). The
standards provide a consistent framework to guarantee that all assessments are accomplished in the same
extent. As a result, it is possible to compare various sorts of studies which is carried out in the frame of
these standards. One can objectively obtain environmental impacts of a product (Sezginer et al., 2022;
Atilgan Turkmen and Germirli Babuna, 2024; Ozsahin et al., 2022), process (Karacal et al., 2019) or
service (Osorio-Tejada et al., 2024) by following LCA methodology. Such an activity will ease developing
strategies to reduce unwanted environmental impacts.

The most recent World Bank data states that the average daily trash produced worldwide is 0.74 kg per
person (Kaza et al., 2018). The composition of this waste includes paper, cardboard, plastic, metal, glass,
rubber, leather, wood, food and green materials. The largest proportion of this waste is comprised of food
and green waste on a global scale, representing 44 % of the total (Kaza et al., 2018). The term "organic
waste" encompasses a range of materials, including food scraps (including kitchen garbage) from homes,
restaurants, caterers, and retail establishments, biodegradable garden and park debris, food waste, and
equivalent types of waste generated from food factories (Jurgensen et al., 2020). The principal future of
organic waste is biodegradability. Treatment of this organic portion can be done through anaerobic
digestion. The process of anaerobic digestion allows for the generation of energy and a nutritious by-
product. The process is carried out by a variety of different microbial groups, each performing a specific
stage of the overall digestion process. In the absence of oxygen, complex organic matter is broken down
in a series of distinct phases, namely hydrolysis, acidogenesis, acetogenesis and methanogenesis. At the
hydrolysis stage, the responsible microorganisms hydrolyse polymeric materials into monomers which are
smaller, including glucose and amino acids. Subsequently, these monomers are converted via specific
metabolic processes into hydrogen and acetic acid in the acidogenis stage. In final phase, methane-
producing bacteria facilitate the transformation of hydrogen, carbon dioxide and acetates into methane
(Verma, 2002).

The aim of this study is to assess the environmental sustainability of an anaerobic digestion facility located
in Sakarya, Turkey, using a life cycle approach.

MATERIAL METHOD
A real time actively working integrated waste management facility located in Sakarya is chosen as data
source (Figure 1).

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Figure 1. The location of the assessed facility and its aerial viewpoint (Google Earth Image 17.03.2024)

As a general procedure, the solid waste stored in curbside containers from all districts of Sakarya City is
collected by the municipality and transferred to the facility (Figure 2).

The primary functions of the facility can be delineated as the separation of recyclable and organic fractions
of mixed waste, the production of refuse-derived fuel (RDF) from a portion of the recyclables, the
operation of the current sanitary landfill situated in close proximity to the facility, the collection of landfill
gas, the generation of electricity through the production of methane, the biological treatment of sorted
organics, and the generation of electricity and compost.

Anaerobic digestion plant which is the main focusing point of this assessment is consisting of many
different plants and units including three semi-dry anaerobic digesters where biogas is produced.
Through combined heat and power unit, in six natural gas engines, electricity is produced and sold to city
grid within the scope of national incentives. Other bio products of the digesters are liquid digestate and
solid digestate. Liquid part is sent to nearby wastewater treatment plant and solid fraction which is called
digestate cake is furtherly processed to produce compost.

Figure 2. Commingled Waste at Entrance of the Facility

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This study employs the use of a functional unit, 1 kWh of electricity produced from biogas, for the
calculation and analysis of all data collected from the site in first hand.

All input and output data are gathered from facility for whole year from April 2022 to April 2023 and
embodied in the software which used in LCA studies as modelling toll commonly.

Gabi V10.8 is the chosen software. Moreover by benefiting from the CML (Centre of Environmental
Science at Leiden University) 2001 method (Guinee et al, 2002), this study focused on impact categories
of global warming potential (GWP), acidification potential (AP), human toxicity potential (HTP), ADP
abiotic depletion potential-elements (ADP elements), abiotic depletion potential-fossil (ADP fossil),
eutrophication potential (EP), marine aquatic ecotoxicity potential (MAEP), ozone depletion potential
(ODP), freshwater aquatic ecotoxicity potential (FAETP), terrestrial ecotoxicity potential (TETP), human
toxicity potential (HTP), photochemical ozone creation potential (POCP).

Abovementioned impact categories are investigated for anaerobic digestion facility in terms of
construction and operation stages, separately.

Calculations includes raw material and energy inputs and wastes resulting from construction activities of
anaerobic digestion reactors, combined heat and power unit (CHP) and composting facility. Likewise,
impacts that operational activities are responsible are assessed in this study and demonstrated dividedly.
These operations are biomass preparation, anaerobic digestion, biogas cleaning, CHP, dewatering,
composting respectively as in real process.

System boundaries can be explained as: the municipality collects mixed municipal solid garbage and
delivers it to the integrated facility's entrance from throughout Sakarya.

RESULTS and DISCUSSION

This study examines the environmental life cycle of an anaerobic digestion facility that processes 12.90
tons of organic household waste per hour and produces 1 kWh of electricity from its biogas.

Details of the facility can be outlined as follows: Conveyor belts are used to move garbage to mechanical
sorting, where biowaste and other recyclable materials are separated. Then, during the biomass preparation
stage, recirculated digester sludge and other types of organic waste are combined with organic fraction of
municipal solid waste (OFMSW).

Recirculated heat from gas engines powers reactors while microorganisms in digesters anaerobically break
down organic materials. Following the predetermined retention period, digestate is pulled out from the
end of the basins and biogas is collected via pipes from the reactor tops. After that, digestate is sent to
dewatering unit for separation of solid and liquid phase with the help of screw press and decanter systems.
At this plant, polyacrylamide is also added to the digestate to enhance separation efficiency. The
wastewater treatment plant close to the facility receives the liquid phase.

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The solid phase, referred to as the digestate cake, is treated further in the composting unit.
A diesel-powered compost turner is used in composting facilities to carry out open-air composting.
Additionally, the wastewater that settles on this unit's floor is gathered and transferred to a wastewater
treatment facility. However, collected biogas is cleaned before being fed into the gas engines of CHP
units. Electricity and heat are produced in this unit. The power is sold to city grid and the heat is used for
numerous purposes in the plant.

For the investigated eleven impact categories total environmental burdens regarding the construction and
operation phases of the anaerobic digestion facility is shown in Table 1.

Results of the assessment indicate that the overall GWP impact of the construction and operation process
is 0.29 kg CO 2 equivalent (eq.) per functional unit (fu). Such a value is obtained mostly due to direct
emissions and electricity consumption of CHP units.

Producing 1 kWh of electricity from 12.9 tons/hour OFMSW creates 3.2E-07 kg Sb equivalent impact as
part of the ADP- elements.

The complete process of OFMSW management results in an acidification potential of 1.78E-03 kg SO 2

equivalent. The composting procedure is identified as a significant contributor to this impact.
Table 1. Overall Environmental Burdens of Construction and Operation of the Facility
Impact Category Operation, % Construction, %
ADP Elements 38.8 61.2
ADP Fossil 89.2 10.8
AP 94.9 5.1
EP 96.5 3.5
FAETP 71.0 29.0
GWP 96.7 3.3
HTP 31.4 68.6
MAETP 7.6 28.4
ODP 84.6 15.4
POCP 86.5 13.5
TETP 29.5 70.5

CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

It is obvious that making a real analysis using the current data of an actively operating plant will ease the
strategy development for lowering the environmental impacts. With the data obtained, such analyses can
also be adopted for other existing facilities in order to manage organics, which is a wasted resource in our
country, in a sustainable way as it deserves. However, it should be kept in mind that each facility has its
own characteristics. Thus, the results obtained in this study can be used as a rough guide for other premises
but not directly applied to them. Instead, a similar examination run with real data, is required to get solid

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outcomes for these installations. The study has shown that the critical points of biogas produced from
organic wastes by anaerobic digestion in terms of environmental impacts.

REFERENCES
Atilgan Turkmen B, Germirli Babuna F. Life Cycle Environmental Impacts of Wind Turbines: A Path to
Sustainability with Challenges. Sustainability. 2024; 16(13):5365.
https://doi.org/10.3390/su16135365
Google Earth Image 2024. Accessed 17.03.2024.
Guinee, JB., Gorrèe, M., Heijungs, R., Huppes, G., Kleijn, GR., van Oers, RL., Wegen-er, L., Sleeswijk,
A., Suh, S., de Haes, HA., Udo de Bruijn, H., van Duin, HR., Huijbregts, MAJ.: Life Cycle
Assessment, an Operational Guide to the ISO Standards. Part 2a: Guide. In Kluwer Academic
Publishers, Dordrecht (2002).
Kaza, Silpa; Yao, Lisa C.; Bhada-Tata, Perinaz; Van Woerden, Frank. (2018). What a Waste 2.0: A
Global Snapshot of Solid Waste Management to 2050. Urban Development;. © Washington, DC:
World Bank.
ISO. (2006a). Life Cycle Assessment - Principles and Framework. Retrieved from Geneva, Switzerland.
ISO. (2006b). Life Cycle Assessment - Requirements and Guidelines. Retrieved from Geneva,
Switzerland.
Jürgensen M., Gilbert J., Ramola A. (2020). Global Assessment of Municipal Organic Waste Production
and Recycling. ISWA Publications
Karacal, PN., Elginoz, N., Germirli Babuna F. (2019). Environmental Burdens of Cataphoresis Process.
Desalination and Water Treatment, 172:301-308, doi: 10.5004/dwt.2019.24800
Osorio-Tejada, J.L., Llera-Sastresa, E. & Scarpellini, S. Environmental assessment of road freight
transport services beyond the tank-to-wheels analysis based on LCA. Environ Dev Sustain 26, 421–
451 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-022-02715-7
Ozsahin, B., Elginoz, N. & Germirli Babuna, F. Life cycle assessment of a wind farm in Turkey. Environ
Sci Pollut Res 29, 71000–71013 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-022-20783-0
Sezginer, I., Atilgan, Turkmen B., Germirli Babuna, F. (2022) Environmental impacts arising from the
production of two surface coating formulations. Clean Technologies and Environmental Policy.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10098-022-02288-z.
Verma, S. (2002). Anaerobic Digestion of Biodegradable Organics in Municipal Solid Wastes.
Columbia, USA

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STRATEGIES TO IMPROVE LIFE CYCLE ENVIRONMENTAL

SUSTAINABILITY FOR A SUPERMARKET
Sezen Kahveci1, Burcin Atilgan Turkmen2*, Fatos Germirli Babuna1
1
Istanbul Technical University, Civil Engineering Faculty, Environmental Engineering Department, 34469
Maslak, Istanbul, Turkey.
2
Bilecik Seyh Edebali University, Chemical Engineering Department, 11230, Bilecik, Turkey.

*Corresponding author: burcin.atilganturkmen@bilecik.edu.tr

ORCID Code: 0000-0003-3220-3817 (only corresponding author)

ABSTRACT
The retail sector with major environmental impacts, needs to ensure its environmental sustainability by
implementing eco-friendly practices in response to increasing awareness of environmental issues. Waste
management and energy conservation are two critical considerations for sustainable supermarkets. The
aim of this study is to improve strategies to lower the unwanted environmental impacts generated by a
supermarket. Life cycle assessment methodology is adopted by using GaBi 7.3 software with CML 2001.
ISO 14040/44 Standards are applied. The following environmental impact categories are examined:
Global warming potential (GWP), abiotic depletion potential-fossil (ADP fossil), abiotic depletion
potential-elements (ADP elements), acidification potential (AP), eutrophication potential (EP), freshwater
aquatic ecotoxicity potential (FAETP), human toxicity potential (HTP), ozone depletion potential (ODP),
photochemical ozone creation potential (POCP) and terrestrial ecotoxicity potential (TETP). Modelling is
performed based on the data collected from a supermarket for about a year. Energy consumption and waste
management practices are known as the major sources of environmental impacts arising from
supermarkets. Due to this fact, this study is mostly concentrated on focused on the effects of energy
requirement and waste management. The supermarket generated 6.6 tons/year food waste the energy
consumption is about 437.6 MWh/year. Energy consumption has more than 96% share in the examined
environmental impact categories. Adopting a new energy system with substantial savings in terms of
lighting, HVAC, cold room and refrigerated vertical cabinets is observed to lower energy requirements by
50%. This act in turn reduces the environmental impacts significantly. As waste management scenarios,
landfilling, anaerobic digestion and composting are considered. The sanitary landfills turned out to
generate more unwanted environmental impacts than both composting and anaerobic digestion.

Keywords: Environmental Impacts, Supermarket, Energy Conservation, Renewable Energy, Life Cycle
Assessment

INTRODUCTION
The concept of sustainability is becoming increasingly important to both consumers and businesses.
Sustainability for the food sector is appraised in literature (Bahadiroglu et al., 2024). Supermarkets have
a significant environmental impact, ranging from the products they sell to how they operate their stores
Bürgin and Wilken, 2021). With growing concern over environmental sustainability issues, the sector has
begun to examine and report on supermarkets' environmental impacts, as well as efforts to mitigate these

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impacts (GFS, 2016). One of the most effective ways for supermarkets to become more sustainable is to
reduce food waste. Food waste is a major financial loss and a waste of natural resources that happens
throughout the whole food supply chain (D'Adamo et al., 2023; Brancoli et al., 2017). Another important
way supermarkets can improve sustainability is to reduce their energy consumption (Tassou, 2011).
Supermarkets primarily use electricity to power air conditioning and food refrigeration (Franco and Cillari,
2021). Environmental evaluation of refrigeration together with the heating and air conditioning systems
for a supermarket is stated in the literature (Tsimpoukis et al., 2021).

Using life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology as a tool to find out the environmental impacts of
products (Sezginer et al., 2022), processes (Karacal et al., 2019) or services (Aydin and Dincer, 2022),
results in beneficial outcomes in terms of developing environmentally friendly strategies.
There are studies in literature dealing with LCA of food waste originating from the food retail sector
(Mondello et al., 2017); fresh fruit and vegetables surplus and waste potential in supermarkets (Cakar,
2022); energy and water use of cold storage and refrigerated displays in supermarkets (Burek and Nutter,
2020).

In this context, the objective of this study is to evaluate the environmental effects of a wholesale retail
supermarket in Turkey and to create mitigation plans for those effects.

MATERIAL METHOD
LCA methodology have been used to examine environmental impacts. The research has been carried out
following the ISO 14040/14044 (ISO 2006 a; b). According to these standards, there are four main stages
of LCA:
• goal and scope,
• inventory analysis,
• impact assessment and
• interpretation
of the results. Two different topics were covered in the study: energy management and waste management.
The annual market data is based on 437,566 kWh of electricity consumption in the study for energy
management and 6600 kg of food waste generated in the study for food waste management.
The scope of the study is from gate to gate. In this study, the energy used for market operation is taken
into account when modelling energy management. Food waste management involves disposing of food
waste generated as a result of market operations.

This study collects information from a Turkish grocery chain that provides both wholesale and retail
services. In Istanbul, four example grocery stores with sales areas of 1000 m2 or greater are chosen. Energy
data are collected for one year. The majority of the background data are from the Ecoinvent database
(Ecoinvent, 2013).

In energy management, lighting, HVAC, cold rooms, and refrigerated cabinets are used to minimize
environmental impacts. According to the collected data over a year, a market with an average sales area
and technical staff uses 437,567 kWh of electricity annually.

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GaBi software (Sphera, 2017) is used for modelling. The environmental impacts are estimated using the
CML 2 Baseline 2001 January 2016 update (Guinee et al., 2001) methodology. Accordingly, the following
environmental impact categories are investigated: Global warming potential (GWP), abiotic depletion
potential-fossil (ADP fossil), abiotic depletion potential-elements (ADP elements), acidification potential
(AP), eutrophication potential (EP), freshwater aquatic ecotoxicity potential (FAETP), human toxicity
potential (HTP), ozone depletion potential (ODP), photochemical ozone creation potential (POCP) and
terrestrial ecotoxicity potential (TETP).

RESULTS and DISCUSSION

Annual consumption of electricity (437,567 kWh) is mostly allocated for lightning, then comes cold room.
The mentioned energy consumption points require more than 74 % of the electricity input.
Return-disposal records provided access to food waste data generated in grocery stores. The waste data
from four Istanbul wholesale-retail markets with a sales area of at least 1000 m2 served as the foundation
for this investigation. In a year, these markets generated an average of 43549 kg of food and non-food
waste, with 60.2% being food waste, 39.8% being non-food waste, and the packaging fraction accounting
for 6% of total waste.

Energy consumption has more than 96% share in the examined environmental impact categories.
Therefore, strategies for lowering energy consumption if of importance. Details on energy conservation
can be found in literature (Kahveci et al., 2024).

Adopting a new energy system is found to cause considerable energy savings for lighting, HVAC, cold
room and refrigerated vertical cabinets. It is possible to reduce energy requirement by 50 % by applying
these measures. Furthermore, such an action reduces the environmental impacts substantially. For wastes
landfilling, anaerobic digestion and composting are investigated. Sending wastes to sanitary landfills
created more unwanted environmental impacts in comparison with composting and anaerobic digestion.

CONCLUSION
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the waste and energy related environmental impacts of
supermarkets and to identify strategies to reduce their environmental impacts by examining a wholesale-
retail grocery store in Türkiye. Based on waste and energy management, it is discovered that the
environmental impacts of grocery store operations is primarily generated due to energy management. With
the help of energy conservation actions 50 % reductions in energy requirement can be achieved that in
turn lowers the unwanted environmental impacts considerably. On the other hand, the wastes should be
directed to either composting or anaerobic digestion

REFERENCES
Aydin, M. I. and Dincer, I. (2022) A life cycle impact analysis of various hydrogen production methods
for public transportation sector, International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, Volume 47, Issue 93,
Pages 39666-39677, ISSN 0360-3199, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2022.09.125
Bahadiroglu, M., Atilgan Turkmen, B., Germirli Babuna, F., Iskender, G. (2024) How to Lower the

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5-6 July, 2024, Istanbul, Türkiye
Environmental Burdens of a Restaurant, in book: Climate Change and Natural Resources:
Environmental Management and Sustainable Development, eds. H. Gokcekus and Y. Kassem,
Springer, book series Environmental Earth Sciences_8394 (in press).
Burek, J. and Darin W. Nutter, (2020). Environmental implications of perishables storage and retailing,
Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Volume 133, 2020, 110070, ISSN 1364-0321,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2020.110070.
Bürgin, D. and R. Wilken, (2021). How supermarkets can contribute to sustainable development through
pricing, ESCP Impact Paper No 2021-13-EN, ESCP Research Institute of Management (ERIM).
Brancoli, P., K. Rousta, and K. Bolton, (2017). Life cycle assessment of supermarket food waste,
Resources, Conservation and Recycling, Vol. 118, pp. 39-46, 2017/03/01/ 2017.
Cakar, B. (2022) Bounce back of almost wasted food: Redistribution of fresh fruit and vegetables surpluses
from Istanbul's supermarkets, Journal of Cleaner Production, Volume 362, 2022, 132325, ISSN
0959-6526, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2022.132325.
D'Adamo, I., S. Desideri, M. Gastaldi, and K. P. Tsagarakis, (2023). Sustainable food waste management
in supermarkets, Sustainable Production and Consumption, vol. 43, pp. 204-216, 2023/12/01/
2023.
Ecoinvent (2013). Ecoinvent Database v3.1 [Online].
Franco A, Cillari G. (2021) Energy Sustainability of Food Stores and Supermarkets through the
Installation of PV Integrated Plants. Energies. 14(18):5678. https://doi.org/10.3390/en14185678
GFS, (2016). Global Food Security Workshop: The UN Sustainable Development Goals and the UK food
retail and manufacturing business, London, 2016.
Guinee, JB., Gorrèe, M., Heijungs, R., Huppes, G., Kleijn, GR., van Oers, RL., Wegen-er, L., Sleeswijk,
A., Suh, S., de Haes, HA., Udo de Bruijn, H., van Duin, HR., Huijbregts, MAJ. (2001). Life Cycle
Assessment, an Operational Guide to the ISO Standards. Part 2a: Guide. In Kluwer Academic
Publishers, Dordrecht.
ISO, (2006a) Life Cycle Assessment - Requirements and Guidelines, International Standard Organization,
Geneva, Switzerland2006, vol. BS EN ISO 14040:2006.
ISO, (2006b) Life Cycle Assessment - Principles and Framework," International Standard Organization,
Geneva, Switzerland 2006, vol. BS EN ISO 14040:2006.
Kahveci, S., Atilgan Turkmen, B., Germirli Babuna, F. (2024). Proper Energy Management for a
Supermarket, in book: Climate Change and Natural Resources: Environmental Management and
Sustainable Development, eds. H. Gokcekus and Y. Kassem, Springer, book series Environmental
Earth Sciences- Chapter 34 (in press).
Karacal, PN., Elginoz, N., Germirli Babuna F. (2019). Environmental Burdens of Cataphoresis Process.
Desalination and Water Treatment, 172:301-308, doi: 10.5004/dwt.2019.24800
Mondello G, Salomone R, Ioppolo G, Saija G, Sparacia S, Lucchetti MC. (2017). Comparative LCA of
Alternative Scenarios for Waste Treatment: The Case of Food Waste Production by the Mass-
Retail Sector. Sustainability. 2017; 9(5):827. https://doi.org/10.3390/su9050827
Sezginer, I., Atilgan, Turkmen B., Germirli Babuna, F. (2022) Environmental impacts arising from the
production of two surface coating formulations. Clean Technologies and Environmental Policy.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10098-022-02288-z.
Sphera, " GaBi V7.3 software and database," 2017.
Tassou, S.A., Y. Ge, A. Hadawey, and D. Marriott, (2011). Energy consumption and conservation in food
retailing, Applied Thermal Engineering, vol. 31, no. 2, pp. 147-156, 2011/02/01/ 2011.
Tsimpoukis, D., Evangelos Syngounas, Dimitrios Petsanas, Georgios Mitsopoulos, Stavros Anagnostatos,

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Evangelos Bellos, Christos Tzivanidis, Michail Gr. Vrachopoulos, (2021) Energy and
environmental investigation of R744 all-in-one configurations for refrigeration and heating/air
conditioning needs of a supermarket, Journal of Cleaner Production, Volume 279, 123234, ISSN
0959-6526, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.123234.

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POLYHYDROXYALKAONATE PRODUCTION FROM PICKLE BRINE
WASTEWATER BY MIXED MICROBIAL CULTURE
Beste Kaya*, Merve Askin, Gülsüm Emel Zengin, Goksin Ozyildiz,

Didem Güven, Güçlü İnsel, Emine Cokgor

Istanbul Technical University, Istanbul,34467, Turkey.

*Corresponding author: kayabe15@itu.edu.tr

ORCID Code: 0000-0001-6158-4132

ABSTRACT
This study investigates the potential of utilizing pickle brine wastewater (PBWW) as a substrate for poly-
hydroxyalkanoate (PHA) production. PBWW has high organic content with 19000 mg/L of COD, and
high salinity with 39700 mg/L of chloride concentration. The organic acid composition of the PBWW
with 1040 mg/L of acetic acid, 5700 mg/L of propionic acid, 8400 mg/L of lactic acid and 500 mg/L of
succinic acid makes it preferable feedstock for PHA production. A Sequencing Batch Reactor (SBR)
operating with a cycle duration of 12 hours and a sludge retention time (SRT) of 4 days was operated to
assess PHA storage capacity using pickle brine wastewater. The microbial culture, obtained from a pickle
industry wastewater treatment plant, was first acclimated to the feed solution, prepared with diluted pickle
brine wastewater (3800 mg COD/L) with pH adjusted to 6. SBR was operated at constant a temperature
of 22°C. The SBR achieved high COD and volatile fatty acid (VFA) removal efficiencies of 85% and
100% respectively. The maximum volumetric PHA production reached 0.61 g PHA/L/h, with a PHA
content of 59% (wt) and a maximum PHA concentration of 3030 mg COD/L. Hydroxybutyrate was
identified as the major PHA fraction. Modeling studies elucidated the impact of high salinity on PHA
process kinetics, revealing adverse effects on heterotrophic growth, propionate degradation, lactic acid
degradation as well as decay rates within the SBR system acclimated to pickle brine wastewater. This
research underscores the potential of utilizing pickle brine wastewater as a cost-effective and sustainable
feedstock for PHA production, while highlighting the importance of salinity effects in process optimizatn
and modeling.

Keywords: Biopolymers; kinetics; PHA; high salinity wastewater; mixed microbial culture

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5-6 July, 2024, Istanbul, Türkiye
WASTEWATER-BASED EPIDEMIOLOGY FOR THE DETECTION OF
PATHOGENS IN DAKAR, SENEGAL
Seynabou Coundoul1,2, Nouhou Diaby 1, Abou Abdallah Malick Diouara 2, Seydou Niang 1,

Sophie Déli Tene 2, Sarbanding Sane 2, Modou Dieng 3, Papa Samba Diop 4, Bécaye Sidy Diop 5,

Samba Cor Sarr 6

1
Laboratoire de Traitement des Eaux Usées (LATEU) de l’Institut Fondamental d’Afrique Noire (IFAN),
Université Cheikh Anta DIOP, 33 Rte de la Corniche Ouest Dakar, Sénégal
2
Groupe de Recherche Biotechnologies Appliquées & Bioprocédés environnementaux (GRBA-BE), École
Supérieure Polytechnique (ESP) – Université Cheikh Anta DIOP, B.P 5085 Dakar - Fann, Sénégal
3
Laboratoire d’Analyses et Essais (LAE), Laboratoire Eau – Énergie – Environnement – Procédés Industriels
(LE3PI), École Supérieure Polytechnique (ESP), Université Cheikh Anta DIOP (UCAD), B.P 5085 Dakar -
Fann, Sénégal
4
Office national de l’Assainissement, Sénégal
5
Delvic Sanitation Initiatives, Sénégal
6
Ministère de la Santé et de l’Action sociale, Sénégal
*Corresponding author: seynaboucoundoul@esp.sn
ORCID Code: 0009-0002-2610-1240

ABSTRACT
The circulation of pathogens in wastewater and its outlets constitutes a potential risk of epidemic
outbreaks. To anticipate this risk, wastewater-based environmental monitoring could be considered. It is
a tool for detecting and monitoring pathogens in the environment. Commonly, the amount of pathogens
found in wastewater reflects contamination levels within the community. Despite its importance in
developing disease prevention and response strategies, its use still needs to better understood especially in
developing countries. This study aimed to assess the presence of specific pathogens in wastewater and
recreational beach water in order to contribute to the prevention of the emergence or re-emergence of
diseases.

Thus, wastewater samples and faecal sludge were taken at the treatment plants’ entrances and in the
receiving environment (the sea) from June to December 2023. Total nucleic acid (TNA) extraction was
performed with the ZymoBIOMICSTM DNA/RNA Miniprep Kit according to the manufacturer's
instructions. TNAs were subjected to multiplex qPCR using SeeGene AllplexTM kits targeting 34
gastrointestinal pathogens. The GoTaq® Enviro Wastewater SARS-CoV-2 Systems kit (Promega) was
used for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Our preliminary analysis of 51 samples, revealed a significant presence of bacteria (96.08%, n=49),
parasites (84.31%, n=43) and viruses (68.63%, n=35). Among the 34 targeted pathogens, only 14.7%
(n=5) were not detected. Certain samples showed the simultaneous presence of pathogens, with
Aeromonas and Shigella spp being the most predominant bacteria at 96.08% and 80.39%, respectively.

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Norovirus GII was the dominant virus at 68.63%, and Blastocystis hominis and Giardia lamblia were the
main parasites at 80.39% and 76.47%, respectively. The SARS-CoV-2 virus was detected in 65% (n=26)
out of the 40 samples analyzed.

These preliminary data not only reveal the persistence of certain pathogens in the community, but also
highlight the potential of that wastewater and bathing water as sources of information on the circulation
of pathogens of interest and with epidemic potential. Therefore, this valuable epidemiological tool could
serve as an adjunct to clinical surveillance in order to prevent future epidemics.

Keywords: Wastewater-based-epidemiology, Pathogens, bacteria, parasites and viruses

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ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY OF ARTICHOKE PRODUCTION
WITH NUTRITIONAL PERSPECTIVE: EVALUATION OF FUNCTIONAL
UNIT SELECTION IN LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT
Hulya Sahin Akkurt1*, Bilge Bas2, Fatma Gulen Iskender2, Fatos Germirli Babuna1
1
Department of Environmental Engineering, Istanbul Technical University, Maslak, Istanbul, 34469, Turkey.
2
Istanbul Bilgi University, Civil Engineering Department, Eski Silahtaraga Elektrik Santralı, Kazım Karabekir
Cad. No: 2/13, Eyupsultan 34060 Istanbul, Turkey.
*Corresponding author: sahinhul@itu.edu.tr
ORCID Code: 0009-0009-2291-8895

ABSTRACT
Choosing a proper functional unit is one of the most important issues in obtaining reliable environmental
impacts via life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology. Artichoke farming has environmental impacts on
soil, biodiversity, water bodies and air as the other agri-foods. LCA methodology can be used to evaluate
the environmental impacts of agricultural products and there are some previous examples of its usage for
the artichoke production as well. In those studies, agricultural area based functional units and weight based
functional units are used. However, one of the main functions of artichoke is its nutritional benefit in
human diet. Therefore, while assessing sustainability of artichoke farming, the nutritional benefit should
be considered. By doing so, a better function of the product can be included while evaluating its
environmental impacts through LCA methodology, which is named as nutritional LCA (nLCA). In nLCA,
inclusion of nutritional value is provided by usage of functional units covering nutritional aspects.
Different types of nutritional functional units are available in the literature with different level of
complexities. They can be based on only one nutritional parameter, multiple nutritional parameters,
nutritional ingredients of food and dietary guidelines specific to countries and also may consider quality
of the nutritional content as well.

In this study, the usage of various nutritional functional units to evaluate the environmental impacts of
artichoke farming are critically appraised. By this aim, a previous LCA study on artichoke farming is
selected as the base case. The results of the mentioned study are used for a re-evaluation of the results
after modifying the functional unit for different nutritional indexes. Since the selected base case is in Italy,
quoted as the top artichoke producer country, required nutritional values and dietary guidelines are used
from Italian food ingredient databases and national dietary guidelines. The results are discussed in terms
of characteristics of considered functional units and application of nLCA methodology.

Keywords: Artichoke, Agri-food, Sustainability, Nutritional LCA, Life Cycle Assessment

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5-6 July, 2024, Istanbul, Türkiye

LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT OF RECYCLED AGGREGATE CONCRETE

PRODUCTION:
A HYPOTHETICAL CASE STUDY IN TÜRKİYE

Ozge Babalik1*, Bilge Bas2, Gulen Iskender1, Fatos Germirli Babuna1, Caglar Goksu3, Alper Ilki4
1
Faculty of Civil Engineering, Department of Environmental Engineering, Istanbul Technical University, Sarıyer,
Istanbul, 34469, Türkiye
2
Department of Civil Engineering, Istanbul Bilgi University, Eski Silahtaraga Elektrik Santralı, Kazım Karabekir
Cad. No: 2/13, Eyupsultan, Istanbul,34060, Türkiye
3
Disaster Management Institute, Disaster and Emergency Management, Istanbul Technical University, Sarıyer,
Istanbul, 34469, Türkiye
4
Faculty of Civil Engineering, Department of Civil Engineering, Istanbul Technical University, Sarıyer, Istanbul,
34469, Türkiye
*Corresponding author: ozgebabalik@gmail.com
ORCID Code: 0000-0002-5954-8834

ABSTRACT
Construction and demolition waste (CDW) generation is an important environmental issue due to being
produced in huge amounts with increasing rates through the years. Conventional waste management
practice for CDW is using landfills for storage of those waste after separation of some of the recyclable
parts. There are practices of reusing CDW in road, drainage and other construction works and recycling it
by using in production of concrete as aggregate material in other words in production of recycled aggregate
concrete (RAC); however, the recycling rates are not so high globally. Istanbul is a metropolitan city with
intense urban regeneration activities. Therefore, continuous generation of CDW that mostly ends up at
landfills takes place in Istanbul. In this study, a hypothetical case study is generated to evaluate the
environmental impacts of RAC production in Istanbul and Kocaeli using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)
methodology. Normal aggregate concrete (NAC) is also evaluated through another hypothetical case study
as a benchmark. The results are obtained for the following environmental impact categories: abiotic
element depletion potential (ADP elements), abiotic fossil depletion potential (ADP fossil), acidification
potential (AP), photochemical ozone creation potential (POCP), ozone layer depletion potential (ODP),
global warming potential (GWP), eutrophication potential (EP), freshwater aquatic ecotoxicity potential
(FAETP) and terrestrial ecotoxicity potential (TETP). According to the results, environmental impacts of
RAC are found to be lower for all the impact categories except the EP. Values close to each other are
attained for EP of RAC and NAC.

Keywords: Life Cycle Assessment; Recycled Aggregate; Concrete; Building Demolition; Construction
and Demolition Waste.

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INTRODUCTION
The seismic risk of the building stock in Istanbul, which is located in an active earthquake zone, is high
(Aydogdu et al., 2023). Together with this fact, considering the high population density as well, urban
transformation activities in this metropolitan area have accelerated generation of considerable amount of
demolition wastes.

Concrete and concrete products industry is a resource and energy intensive sector, which ends up in
generating high unwanted environmental impacts especially in terms of global warming (Santosh et al.,
2022). In the literature, there are numerous attempts to develop more sustainable concrete by using
different materials such as waste plastic aggregates, fly ash, recycled glass powder, waste latex paint, etc
(Naran et al., 2022). In addition, recycled aggregate concrete (RAC), which is concrete with natural
aggregate replacement with recycled aggregate is studied as a waste management methodology for
construction and demolition waste (CDW) (Marinković et al., 2010 & 2013; Imtiaz et al., 2021; Xing et
al., 2022).

Since the inclusion of those replacement materials in concrete formula and production requires additional
processes, it is crucial to elucidate that if those innovative products are sustainable. Life Cycle Assessment
(LCA) is a valuable tool for quantitative assessment of environmental impacts of
products/processes/services through their lifetime starting from raw material extraction till their end-of-
life (EoL) (Hauschild et al., 2018). This methodology is used for assessment of the environmental impacts
of concrete with waste content (Gursel et al., 2016; Bianco et al., 2021; Fernando et al., 2021) including
recycled aggregate concrete (RAC) production in the literature (Marinković et al., 2010 & 2013; Imtiaz et
al., 2021; Xing et al., 2022). In those studies, it is determined that recycled aggregate usage as a
replacement of natural aggregate in concrete production lowers the potential environmental impacts.
However, this result is not universal and should be evaluated specific to the case using primary data.
Therefore, LCA is used to determine the potential environmental impacts of RAC production for a
hypothetical case study in Istanbul and Kocaeli. Here, it is aimed to investigate the efficiency of producing
RAC in terms of environmental impacts and if so, presenting the potential of this alternative solution for
the management of enormous amount of CDW generated in Istanbul due to intensive urban transformation
activities and possible post-earthquake demolition waste as well (SKD Türkiye, 2024).

MATERIAL AND METHOD

In this study, ISO 14040/14044 guidelines (ISO 2006 a; b) which define life cycle assessment
methodology; and its application, is followed. According to this, goal and scope definition of the LCA
study (Stage 1) is followed by life cycle inventory analysis (Stage 2), life cycle impact assessment (Stage
3) and interpretation of the results (Stage 4).

The goal of this study is determining the environmental impacts of usage of recycled aggregate from
building demolition in concrete production. System boundaries are cradle-to-gate covering three main
steps of RAC production:
● the building demolition,

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● recycling aggregate from building demolition,
● raw material extraction and supply for other inputs of the RAC, and RAC production (Figure 1).

Figure 1. Main steps of RAC production (Icons: Flaticon (2024))

The functional unit was chosen as 1 m³ RAC in the C40-C50 range (Goksu et al., 2018). Primary data is
produced by some assumptions and calculations using characteristics of an existing building for the
calculation of the possible amount of CDW, using literature for the building demolition and concrete
recycling processes and, collecting data from a concrete production plant in Kocaeli. RAC mixing formula
is provided from Goksu et al. (2018). For the background data, GaBi Professional database is used.
For further evaluation of the results, a case study of normal aggregate concrete (NAC) produced with
natural aggregate production is also evaluated with a separate LCA study as a benchmark. NAC production
consists of raw material extraction from a stone pit in Istanbul, crushing & screening and concrete
production steps (Figure 2). For the benchmark study, functional unit was chosen as 1 m³ NAC. NAC
mixing formula is based on Goksu et al. (2018). For the background data, GaBi Professional database is
used.

Figure 2. Main steps of RAC production (Icons: Flaticon (2024))

GaBi v4.3 software used for the calculations. CML2001 methodology (Guinee et al., 2001) is used as the
life cycle impact assessment methodology. Results were obtained in the following midpoint environmental
impact categories: Abiotic element depletion potential (ADP elements), abiotic fossil depletion potential
(ADP fossil), acidification potential (AP), photochemical ozone creation potential (POCP), ozone layer
depletion potential (ODP), global warming potential (GWP), eutrophication potential (EP), freshwater
aquatic ecotoxicity potential (FAETP) and terrestrial ecotoxicity potential (TETP).

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

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According to the hotspot analysis results for RAC, it is determined that the cement had contribution (4%-
98%) to almost all considered environmental impact categories. Transportation was especially prominent
for the ODP (93%). Also, superplasticizer input contributed to 75% of the total EP. Crushed sand
manufacturing had 10 to 20 % shares in ADP fossil, FAETP & TETP. Contributions of sand (below
1%-%2), aggregate no: 2 (below 1%-5%), electricity & diesel (below 1%-3%) and water (below 1%) were
relatively low.

For the NAC production, cement was again the main hotspot for all considered environmental impact
categories (58%-96%) except EP and ODP. Contribution of transportation varied between below 1% to
9% for the considered environmental impact categories. Superplasticizer contributed to 70% of the total
EP. Crushed sand manufacturing had shares between 9 to 19 % in FAETP, ADP fossil and TETP.
Explosive was prominent especially for ODP (92%). Contributions of sand (below 1%-%2), aggregate
(below 1%-9%), electricity (below 1%-8%) and diesel (below 1%-3%) and water (below 1%) were
relatively low.

When the results for RAC and NAC compared generally, it is determined that the environmental impact
of RAC is lower for all the impact categories considered except EP category, where similar results were
obtained.

CONCLUSION
Total results for the considered environmental impact categories showed that environmental impact of
RAC was determined less than NAC for all considered environmental impact categories, except for the
EP category. Also, hotspot analysis results of environmental impact categories, which shows the
contribution of each process to the total calculated environmental impact in considered environmental
impact categories, shows a similar pattern for both RAC and NAC, mainly dominated by cement
production.
As this is a hypothetical case study and the results obtained are case specific, it is recommended to run
similar LCA studies for other cities with different characteristics or for cities those are located in different
earthquake zones in Türkiye.

REFERENCES
Aydogdu, H. H., Demir, C., Comert, M., Kahraman, T., & Ilki, A. (2023). Structural Characteristics of the
Earthquake-Prone Building Stock in Istanbul and Prioritization of Existing Buildings in Terms of
Seismic Risk-A Pilot Project Conducted in Istanbul. Journal of Earthquake Engineering, 28(6),
1660–1684. https://doi.org/10.1080/13632469.2023.2247481.
Bianco, I., Tomos, B. A. D., & Vinai, R. (2021). Analysis of the environmental impacts of alkali-activated
concrete produced with waste glass-derived silicate activator–A LCA study. Journal of cleaner
production, 316, 128383.
Fernando, S., Gunasekara, C., Law, D. W., Nasvi, M. C. M., Setunge, S., & Dissanayake, R. (2021). Life
cycle assessment and cost analysis of fly ash–rice husk ash blended alkali-activated concrete.
Journal of environmental management, 295, 113140.
Flaticon (2024). Icons are made by Uniconlab. Retrived from: www.flaticon.com. Date of access: 09
September 2024. (Figure 1 & Figure 2).

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Goksu, C., Akkaya, Y., Saribas, I., Ilki, A., (2018). Geri Dönüştürülmüş Agrega İle Elde Edilen Betonun
Mekanik Özellikleri. Actual Problems in Manufacturing Building Materials and Ways of Their
Solution, October 26, Baku. (In Turkish).
Guinee, J. B., Gorrèe, M., Heijungs, R., Huppes, G., Kleijn, G.R., van Oers, R.L., Wegen-er, L., Sleeswijk,
A., Suh, S., de Haes, HA., Udo de Bruijn, H., van Duin, HR., Huijbregts, MAJ.: Life Cycle
Assessment, an Operational Guide to the ISO Standards. Part 2a: Guide. In Kluwer Academic
Publishers, Dordrecht (2001).
Gursel, A. P., Maryman, H., & Ostertag, C. (2016). A life-cycle approach to environmental, mechanical,
and durability properties of “green” concrete mixes with rice husk ash. Journal of Cleaner
Production, 112, 823-836. Hauschild, M. Z., Rosenbaum, R. K., & Olsen, S. I. (2018). Life cycle
assessment (Vol. 2018). Springer International Publishing, Cham. https://doi. org/10.1007/978-3-
319-56475-3.
Imtiaz, L., Rehman, S., Alaloul, W., Nazir, K., Javed, M., Aslam. F., Musarat. M., (2021). Life Cycle
Impact Assessment of Recycled Aggregate Concrete, Geopolymer Concrete, and Recycled
Aggregate-Based Geopolymer Concrete. Sustainability, 13, (1-19).
ISO, (2006a) Life Cycle Assessment - Requirements and Guidelines. 2006, International Standard
Organization: Geneva, Switzerland.
ISO, (2006b) Life Cycle Assessment - Principles and Framework. 2006, International Standard
Organization: Geneva, Switzerland.
Marinković, S. B. (2013) 3 - Life cycle assessment (LCA) aspects of concrete, Editor(s): F. Pacheco-
Torgal, S. Jalali, J. Labrincha, V.M. John, In Woodhead Publishing Series in Civil and Structural
Engineering, Eco-Efficient Concrete, Woodhead Publishing, Pages 45-80, ISBN 9780857094247,
https://doi.org/10.1533/9780857098993.1.45.
Marinković, S., Radonjanin V., Malešev, M., Ignjatović, I. (2010). Comparative environmental
assessment of natural and recycled aggregate concrete, Waste Management, 30 (11), 2255–2264.
Naran, J. M., Gonzalez, R. E. G., del Rey Castillo, E., Toma, C. L., Almesfer, N., van Vreden, P., & Saggi,
O. (2022). Incorporating waste to develop environmentally-friendly concrete mixes. Construction
and Building Materials, 314, 125599.
SKD Türkiye (The Business and Sustainable Development Council, Türkiye) (2024). Guide for the
Management of Demolition Waste Resulting from Urban Transformation, Earthquake and
Possible Disasters (In Turkish) Retrieved from: https://www.skdturkiye.org/files/yayin/yikinti-
atiklari-yo-netimi-rehberi-26-haziran-2024-low.pdf. Date of Access: 11th July 2024.
Xing, W., Tam, V. W., Le, K. N., Hao, J. L., & Wang, J. (2022). Life cycle assessment of recycled
aggregate concrete on its environmental impacts: A critical review. Construction and Building
Materials, 317, 125950.

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LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT (LCA) OF RESIDENTIAL BUILDING

RETROFITTING: A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW
Firdevs Emine Sezer1*, Burcin Atılgan Turkmen2, Fatos Germirli Babuna1
1
Istanbul Technical University, Civil Engineering Faculty, Environmental Engineering Department, 34469,
Maslak, Istanbul, Türkiye
2
Bilecik Seyh Edebali University, Chemical Engineering Department, 11230, Bilecik, Türkiye
*Corresponding author: sezerf@itu.edu.tr
ORCID Code: 0000-0002-4169-3064

ABSTRACT
Recently, life cycle assessment (LCA) studies have become popular in the construction sector in order to
improve sustainability through lowering the environmental impacts. The aim of this study is a
comprehensive assessment of the studies that perform LCA for evaluating the environmental impacts
generated by residential buildings in different life cycle stages. Various tools are used to perform life cycle
analyses of residential buildings such as SimaPro, Gabi, Umberto NXT LCA Software, OpenLCA,
TEAM™ 5.2, EIO-LCA (Economic Input-Output Life Cycle Assessment), One Click LCA, CCalc2 and
Athena Impact Estimator. There are literature studies compared results from the different tools, these
studies showed that the tool selection might affect the outcomes of the LCA study. This review includes
LCA analysis evaluating the retrofit applications for energy efficiency and seismic vulnerability in
residential buildings. A variety of implementations such as thermal insulation material alternatives,
efficient lighting systems, photovoltaic modules, lighting systems for decrease energy consumption are
evaluated in the LCA studies. Seismic retrofit LCA studies comprehend comparison of structural retrofit
alternatives. More studies are needed to evaluate the environmental impacts of reinforcement applications
that increase seismic resistance while ensuring energy efficiency.

Keywords: Environmental impact, Building, Sustainability, Energy efficiency, Seismic retrofit.

INTRODUCTION
Buildings are responsible for 37% of global greenhouse gas emissions, making the construction sector
important in meeting the Paris Agreement commitments on climate change (United Nations Environment
Programme, 2022).

Life cycle assessment (LCA) studies have become more popular in the construction sector in order to
quantify environmental impacts and therefore improve sustainability. LCA aids in identifying potential
changes related to different life cycle stages and enhancement of environmental profiles (Bueno and
Fabricio, 2018).

Various software tools are used to perform life cycle analyses of residential buildings. Some LCA tools
are SimaPro, Gabi, Umberto NXT LCA Software, OpenLCA, TEAM™ 5.2, EIO-LCA (Economic Input-
Output Life Cycle Assessment), One Click LCA, CCalc2. Building specific LCA tools are Athena Impact
Estimator, BEES, EQUER, ECOSOFT, LEGEP-Life Cycle Assessment, Envest 2, BeCost (Anand and
Amor 2017).

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Pamu et al. (2022) evaluated the environmental impacts of a residential building construction phase in
India using Open-LCA software that free LCA software. Silva et al. (2017) compared GaBi, OpenLCA,
SimaPro and Umberto NXT in terms of modeling principles by a gate-to-gate product system modelling.
Emami et al. (2019) compared the estimates from Simapro and Gabi for the embodied environmental
impacts of materials used two residential buildings in Finland to detect the uniformities and
inconsistencies. The study showed that the used tool affects the results substantially. Important
discrepancies were determined for evaluated all the impact categories. The difference was around 15%, in
the most widely assessed category of Climate Change, and were more than 40% in the other impact
categories (Emami et al., 2019).

Increasing the energy performance of existing residential buildings in Türkiye considering the
environmental impacts of the retrofitting technique used, has created the firsthand need for LCA studies.
The high energy costs and negative environmental effects resulting from the use of non-renewable
resources in residential buildings also motivated the necessity of applying environmental LCA of the
buildings (Batal, 2019). The environmental impacts of a concrete reinforced wainscoting building during
the construction and end-of-life phases are investigated (Sonmez et al., 2024). The usage of alternative
insulating materials are observed to change certain environmental impact categories. Furthermore,
reflections of the end-of-life alternatives are monitored in quantified environmental impacts. However,
one should not forget the case specific nature of the LCA outcomes.

In this context, the aim of this study is run a comprehensive assessment of the studies that involves LCA
of building retrofitting. For this purpose, environmental impacts in different life cycle stages generated by
residential buildings and retrofitting activities are covered.

MATERIAL METHOD
LCA is a systematic evaluation methodology that addresses the environmental impacts that may be
generated from a product/ process/ service. Assessing the environmental impacts of the product, process
or service from raw material supply to disposal is based on the cradle-to-grave approach.

Literature search is conducted within the Science Direct database. The advanced search in the title, abstract
or customized keywords are used with the keywords “building” AND “life cycle assessment” AND
“retrofit”. 13 review articles and 66 research articles are obtained from the filtering. The review
determined that 44 studies evaluated the retrofitting of residential buildings for energy efficiency purposes.
Second search is applied with the keywords that “life cycle assessment” AND “seismic” AND “retrofit”
AND “residential buildings”. 136 results are obtained from the search. Conference Abstract, Book
chapters, Encyclopedia and other types are not included in the screening whereas 15 review articles and
42 research articles are screened. Historic buildings are beyond the scope of this study. Year and country
are not limited in the research.

RESULTS and DISCUSSION

Geng et al. (2017) examined the literature using bibliometric methods. Based on comprehensive analysis
of keywords, it was determined that most of the journal articles were on energy (521), followed by
materials (388), sustainability (304), carbon (299) and technology (180). It has been stated that the
technologies with the highest number of publications on technology are heating, photovoltaic, insulation
and ventilation, respectively (Geng et al., 2017).

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Atmaca and Atmaca (2022) determined the annual CO 2 emissions per m2 building area within the scope
of the manufacturing, transportation, use, renovation and demolition stages of a new reinforced concrete
residential building in Gaziantep. The highest contribution to carbon emissions (79.24 % of the total
carbon footprint) was made by residents' daily energy use. The life cycle carbon footprint of the building
built in Turkey was 56.62% higher than the European Union average values (Atmaca and Atmaca, 2022).
It has been determined that carbon emissions of the building can be reduced by applying basic carbon
reduction strategies such as insulation (9.77 kg CO 2 eq/m2/year) and renewable energy sources (1.86 kg
CO 2 eq/m2/year), high-efficiency heating, cooling, ventilation and air conditioning systems (2.05 kg CO 2
eq./m2/year), LED lighting (2.4 kg CO 2 eq./m2/year), rainwater management (0.55 kg CO 2 eq/m2/year)
(Atmaca ve Atmaca, 2022). Beccali et al. (2013), investigated a building with reinforced concrete and
masonry block walls examined the effect of a series of retrofit applications to reduce energy consumption,
including the embodied energy of materials, during the operational phase of a house.

Gaspar et al. (2015) compared the impact associated with demolition in Portugal with a renovation
scenario of a detached reinforced concrete house from the late 1960s. Demolition and construction of a
new house, partial demolition of the house and major renovation were considered in this study. In the
scenario of building a completely new house, the gross floor is increased by 49 %. The environmental
impacts of the ongoing use, renovation and demolition of a building built in 1962 and construction of a
new building were compared (Storck et al, 2023).

A life cycle assessment (LCA) analysis of three seismic retrofit alternatives for reinforced concrete
structures (reinforced concrete column sheathing, beam attenuation and shear walls) was conducted
(Salgado et al, 2020). Thibodeau, Bataille and Sie (2019) analyzed 41 LCA studies order to examine LCA
approaches for residential building rehabilitation studies.

Tetteh et al. (2022) put forth literature, through quantitative, text-mining approaches for global research
on green retrofitting of existing buildings. 5,288 related bibliographic records retrieved from Scopus to
analyze with the scientometric mapping technique. Results showed that ‘‘energy efficiency” retrofitting
has become the highest research priority. Topics such as ‘‘energy efficiency”, ‘‘residential buildings”,
‘‘historic buildings”, ‘‘building energy retrofit”, and ‘‘carbon emissions” have received considerable
attention in the research.

Pohoryles et al. (2022) examined integrated seismic and energy retrofitting solutions. The environmental
impact related to seismic risk is compared with the impact after thermal retrofit, with and without seismic
retrofit of reinforced concrete residential buildings in Italy (Belleri & Marini, 2016). Prefabricated façade
elements are applied at retrofitting processes. applying the prefabricated elements, especially on the
building envelope improved thermal performance in many studies. According to Garay et al. (2017), using
a prefabricated external insulation composite system boosted the wall's thermal resistance by five times.

In another study (Martinez et al., 2017), prefabricated timber panel system provided seven times increase
in the wall's thermal resistance. Wood-based prefabricated facade is used commonly for building retrofit
solutions (Yu et al., 2021).

CONCLUSIONS
Literature has limited number of environmental assessment studies of residential building retrofit
applications. Environmental impacts can be reduced by retrofitting instead of demolish and new building
Common retrofit applications for energy efficiency are thermal insulation, redesigning HVAC system,

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lighting improvements, and photovoltaic panels usage. Seismic retrofit applications includes reinforced
concrete column sheathing, beam attenuation and shear walls. More studies are needed to evaluate the
environmental impacts of reinforcement applications that increase seismic resistance while ensuring
energy efficiency.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
This study is conducted with the financial support obtained from Istanbul Technical University Scientific
Research Projects Coordination Unit (Project No: 43700).

REFERENCES
Anand, C. K., & Amor, B. (2017). Recent developments, future challenges and new research directions in
LCA of buildings: A critical review. Renewable and sustainable energy reviews, 67, 408-416.
Atmaca, A., Atmaca, N. (2022). Carbon footprint assessment of residential buildings, a review and a case
study in Turkey. Journal of Cleaner Production, 130691.
Batal, L. (2019). Use of LCA for buildings. Lund University Master’s thesis.
Beccali M., Cellura M., Fontana M., Longo S., Mistretta M. (2013). Energy retrofit of asingle-family
house: life cycle net energy saving and environmentalbenefits, Renewable Sustainable Energy
Rev. 27, pp. 283–293. Available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2013.05.040.
Belleri, A., & Marini, A. (2016). Does seismic risk affect the environmental impact of existing
buildings?. Energy and Buildings, 110, pp.149-158.
Bueno, C., & Fabricio, M. M. (2018). Comparative analysis between a complete LCA study and results
from a BIM-LCA plug-in. Automation in construction, 90, 188-200.
Emami, N., Heinonen, J., Marteinsson, B., Säynäjoki, A., Junnonen, J. M., Laine, J., & Junnila, S. (2019).
A life cycle assessment of two residential buildings using two different LCA database-software
combinations: Recognizing uniformities and inconsistencies. Buildings, 9(1), 20.
Garay, R, Arregi B, Elguezabal P. (2017). Experimental thermal performance assessment of a
prefabricated external insulation system for building retrofitting. Procedia Environ. Sci;38:155–
61.
Gaspar, P. L., Santos A.L. (2015). Embodied energy on refurbishment vs demolition: asouthern Europe
case study, Energy Build. 87, pp. 386–394. Available at:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2014.11.040
Geng, S., Wang, Y., Zuo, J., Zhou, Z., Du, H., & Mao, G. (2017). Building life cycle assessment research:
A review by bibliometric analysis. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 76, 176-184.
Martinez, R. G., Ayucar, J. B., Goikolea, B. A. (2017). Full scale experimental performance assessment
of a prefabricated timber panel for the energy retrofitting of multi-rise buildings. Energy
Procedia;122: pp. 3–8.
Pamu, Y., Kumar, V. S. S., Shakir, M. A., & Ubbana, H. (2022). Life Cycle Assessment of a building
using Open-LCA software. Materials today: proceedings, 52, 1968-1978.
Pohoryles, D. A., Bournas, D. A., Da Porto, F., Caprino, A., Santarsiero, G., & Triantafillou, T. (2022).
Integrated seismic and energy retrofitting of existing buildings: A state-of-the-art review. Journal
of Building Engineering, 61, 105274.
Salgado, R. A., Apul, D., & Guner, S. (2020). Life cycle assessment of seismic retrofit alternatives for
reinforced concrete frame buildings. Journal of Building Engineering, 28, 101064.
Silva, D., Nunes, A. O., da Silva Moris, A., Moro, C., & Piekarski, T. O. R. (2017, June). How important

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is the LCA software tool you choose Comparative results from GaBi, openLCA, SimaPro and
Umberto. In Proceedings of the VII Conferencia Internacional de Análisis de Ciclo de Vida en
Latinoamérica, Medellin, Colombia (pp. 10-15).
Sonmez, C., Elginoz, N., Germirli Babuna, F., (2024). Environmental Impacts of a Concrete Reinforced
Wainscotting Structure. In book series Environmental Earth Sciences, Climate Change and Natural
Resources, Environmental Management and Sustainable Development, Huseyin Gokcekus and
Youssef Kassem (Eds), Chapter 5, Springer (in press).
Storck, M., Slabik, S., Hafner, A., & Herz, R. (2023). Towards Assessing Embodied Emissions in Existing
Buildings LCA—Comparison of Continuing Use, Energetic Refurbishment versus Demolition and
New Construction. Sustainability, 15(18), 13981.
Tetteh, M. O., Darko, A., Chan, A. P., Jafari, A., Brilakis, I., Chen, W., ... & Yevu, S. K. (2022).
Scientometric mapping of global research on green retrofitting of existing buildings (GREB):
Pathway towards a holistic GREB framework. Energy and Buildings, 277, 112532.
Thibodeau, C., Bataille, A., & Sié, M. (2019). Building rehabilitation life cycle assessment methodology–
state of the art. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 103, pp. 408-422.
United Nations Environment Programme. 2021 Global Status Report for Buildings and Construction:
Towards a Zero‑emission, Efficient and Resilient Buildings and Construction Sector. Nairobi
(2021).
Yu, S., Liu, Y., Wang, D., Bahaj, A. S., Wu, Y., & Liu, J. (2021). Review of thermal and environmental
performance of prefabricated buildings: Implications to emission reductions in China. Renewable
and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 137, 110472.

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STRATEGIES TO LOWER ENVIRONMENTAL BURDENS OF SINGLE-USE

POLYPROPYLENE PLASTIC CUPS
Wael Assali1*, Burcin Atilgan Turkmen2, Fatos Germirli Babuna1
1
Istanbul Technical University, Civil Engineering Faculty, Environmental Engineering Department, 34469
Maslak, Istanbul, Turkey.
2
Bilecik Seyh Edebali University, Chemical Engineering Department, 11230, Bilecik, Turkey.

*Corresponding author: assali19@itu.edu.tr

ORCID Code: 0009-0002-9767-0942

ABSTRACT
Environmental impacts resulting from the production, use and consumption of plastics have attracted
global attention in recent years. The widespread use of single-use plastic products has become one of the
major environmental issues in many countries. Therefore, the objective of this study is to develop
strategies to reduce the environmental impacts of polypropylene (PP) single-use plastic cups utilized for
carrying liquids through an extensive life cycle assessment from a cradle-to-grave perspective. The
functional unit is set as 200,000 cups made of polypropylene, each with a volume of 200 ml. The system
boundaries of this study include the steps of obtaining PP granules, transporting PP granules to the
producer, production of cups and packaging of the final product. The following environmental impacts
are estimated: global warming (GWP), abiotic depletion-fossil (ADP fossil), abiotic depletion-elements
(ADP elements), acidification (AP), eutrophication (EP), ozone depletion (ODP), human toxicity (HTP),
freshwater aquatic eco-toxicity (FAETP), marine aquatic eco-toxicity (MAETP) and terrestrial eco-
toxicity (TETP) potentials. The results reveal that some categories had higher environmental impact
values, particularly due to high energy consumption during the PP production phase and the long transport
distance of PP granules from Saudi Arabia to Turkey. The findings of this research will contribute to the
current knowledge on plastic pollution and sustainability and provide valuable information for consumers,
businesses and policymakers.

Keywords: Environmental Impacts, Life Cycle Assessment, Polypropylene, Global Warming,

Management Strategy

INTRODUCTION
The packaging industry holds immense global significance. On the other hand, the food and beverage
sector have an annual growth rate of 3.7 % in 2022 (Qolbi, Wasi’atul, 2023). Such an increasing trend has
reflected the elevated requirement for food and beverage packaging due to consumer behaviors and mainly
online delivery. Among food and beverage packaging materials, plastics are widely used. There are
significant drawbacks associated with plastic production, consumption, and disposal. According to today's
conception of environmental issues, there has been a notable global focus on the unwanted impacts of
plastic waste. This issue has emerged as a critical global challenge (Heidbreder, 2019).
One particular contributor to this issue is the widespread use of single-use plastic cups, which further
exacerbates the problem of plastic pollution.

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Life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology is a useful tool that leads to objective outcomes in terms of
quantifying the environmental impacts. Based on the findings of LCA that yield a robust appraisal,
strategies that lower unwanted environmental impacts can be developed (Sezginer et al., 2022; Ozsahin et
al., 2022; Ozkan et al., 2018; Atilgan Turkmen and Germirli Babuna, 2024; Saad et al., 2019). There are
studies in literature that deal with LCA of various plastics (Mermertaş and Germirli Babuna, 2019;
Kousemaker et al., 2021). However, the outcomes are case specific.

This study seeks to undertake a thorough LCA of polypropylene single-use plastic cups to quantify and
assess their environmental impacts from a cradle-to-grave perspective. By doing so hotspots in the life
cycle are obtained and strategies to reduce unwanted environmental impacts are put forth. The target
audience for this research includes decision-makers in relevant industries, such as food packaging
manufacturers, regulatory bodies, and researchers engaged in LCA for the packaging sector. Establishing
a dependable database and promoting LCA practices for plastic food packaging can provide a solid basis
for informed decision-making and sustainability initiatives.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

ISO 14040:2006 and 14044:2006 (ISO 2006 a; b) are followed for LCA. Ecoinvent database (Ecoinvent,
2023) and GaBi software (Sphera, 2023) are used. CML 2001 (Guinee et al., 2001) is adopted. Investigated
impact categories are global warming (GWP), abiotic depletion-fossil (ADP fossil), abiotic depletion-
elements (ADP elements), acidification (AP), eutrophication (EP), ozone depletion (ODP), human toxicity
(HTP), freshwater aquatic eco-toxicity (FAETP), marine aquatic eco-toxicity (MAETP) and terrestrial
eco-toxicity (TETP) potentials. The functional unit is 200,000 cups, each with a volume of 200 ml made
of polypropylene (PP). The data is obtained from an actual production facility.

INVESTIGATED PLANT
The production process employed for the production of food packaging at the facility involves a series of
meticulously designed stages. These stages illustrated in Figure 1, are integrated to ensure the quality and
functionality of the final product:
Mixing and Drying Stage: In this initial stage, raw PP material undergoes a mixing and drying process
within an oven at a temperature of 65°C. Here, the raw material can also be blended with recycled and
cracked material sourced from the breaking unit.
Extrusion Moulding Process:Following the mixing and drying phase, the dried raw material is melted and
passed through an extrusion moulding machine. This process results in the formation of a plastic roll sheet,
ready for the next step.
Forming Process:The plastic roll sheet is softened at approximately 200°C, enhancing its flexibility.
Subsequently, pressure and vacuum mechanisms are employed to stretch and shape the plastic roll into
the desired configuration. The product's form is preserved as the material cools down.
Cutting and Separation: Individual products are cut out using a die-cutting process at a designated station.
A robotic system then collects and arranges these products.
Transportation and Packaging: A specialized unit is responsible for separating and transporting the
products for final packaging.
Recycling and Waste Management: During the thermoforming process, a "skeleton" byproduct is
generated. This material is transferred to grinders as post-production waste and is subsequently reused to
produce film in the form of flakes.

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Quality Control: Throughout the entire production process, a dedicated quality control department
meticulously monitors and ensures the quality and consistency of the finished products.

Figure 1. Production flowchart of the plant (Isık Plastik, 2022)

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RESULTS and DISCUSSION
In order to find out strategies to lower the unwanted environmental impacts, three different scenarios are
considered. The first scenario examines the transportation of PP with different means and routes via sea
and highway routes instead of highways only while keeping other factors constant. The second scenario
is on using solar energy and wind energy instead of grid mix electricity. In the last scenario, polylactic
acid (PLA) is chosen as an alternative to traditional polypropylene, with modifications made to
transportation methods and routes to accommodate the new source of PLA from Tekirdag in Turkey
instead of Saudi Arabia.

Changing the transportation routes for PP granules by sea and highway demonstrates significant positive
environmental effects throughout various impact categories. With this arrangement in transportation, a
notable 41% decline in ADP elements is obtained. The positive environmental impact also affected ADP
fossil, with a 20% decrease. Optimizing transportation causes 13, 10, 19, 28, 26, 13, 45, 19 and 22 %
reductions in AP, EP, FAETP, GWP, HTP, MAETP, ODP, POCP and TETP respectively.

Using solar energy and wind energy instead of grid mix electricity results in the following findings: Solar
energy, while generally increasing certain impact categories like ADP and ODP, demonstrates notable
reductions in EP and MAETP. However, wind energy consistently outperforms solar energy across all
environmental impact categories.

CONCLUSION
Due to increased demand, production facilities in the plastic industry are considering the concept and
practices of sustainability. As a result, it is critical to steer the development of this sector toward
environmentally sustainable approaches, addressing issues such as raw material and energy consumption,
climate change, and other environmental impacts.

This study evaluated the environmental sustainability of the disposable plastic cup product over its entire
life cycle. According to the results, polypropylene granule production and transportation contribute
significantly to the majority of environmental impacts. Changing the transportation routes for PP granules
from sea to highway has significant positive environmental effects across multiple impact categories.
Using solar and wind energy instead of grid-mixed electricity generally increases certain impact categories
such as ADP and ODP while significantly reducing EP and MAETP. Future LCA studies on single-use
plastic materials should focus on innovative materials and production trends, as well as opportunities to
reduce environmental impacts.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The authors would like to thank the Turkish Scientific and Technological Council (TUBITAK) for
software and database financial support (Project number: 122N016).

REFERENCES
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Ecoinvent. (2023). Ecoinvent Database v.3.9.1. from Swiss Centre for Life Cycle Inventories: St Gallen,
Switzerland
Guinee, JB., Gorrèe, M., Heijungs, R., Huppes, G., Kleijn, GR., van Oers, RL., Wegen-er, L., Sleeswijk,
A., Suh, S., de Haes, HA., Udo de Bruijn, H., van Duin, HR., Huijbregts, MAJ. (2001) Life Cycle
Assessment, an Operational Guide to the ISO Standards. Part 2a: Guide. In Kluwer Academic
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Heidbreder, L. M., Bablok, I., Drews, S., & Menzel, C. (2019). Tackling the plastic problem: A review on
perceptions, behaviors, and interventions. Science of the Total Environment, Vol. 668, 1077–1093,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.02.437
Isık Plastik. (2022). Işık Plastik - Plastic Sheet Manufacturer. https://www.isikplastik.com/en
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Kousemaker TM, Jonker GH, Vakis AI. LCA Practices of Plastics and Their Recycling: A Critical
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Mermertaş, M., Germirli Babuna, F (2019) Life Cycle Environmental Impact Analysis of HDPE
Packaging Materials for Different Disposal Options, N. Balkaya, S. Guneysu, eds. in book:
Recycling and Reuse Approaches for Better Sustainability, Springer, DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-
95888-0_5, ISBN 978-3-319-95888-0, 55-61, January 2019.
Ozsahin, B., Elginoz, N., Germirli Babuna, F. (2022) Life cycle assessment of a wind farm in Turkey.
Environmental Science and Pollution Research 29, 71000 – 71013,
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-022-20783-0
Ozkan, E., Elginoz, N., Germirli Babuna, F. (2018) Life cycle assessment of a printed circuit board
manufacturing plant in Turkey. Environmental Science and Pollution Research. 25;26801–26808,
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-017-0280-z
Qolbi, Wasi’atul. (2023). Bisphenol A (BPA) Content in Food and Beverage Plastic Packaging
Perspective of Food Law and Consumer Protection. Veteran Law Review, Volume:6, Issue:1, P-
ISSN:2655-1594, E-ISSN:2655-1608
Saad, A., Elginoz, N., Germirli Babuna, F., Iskender, G. (2019) Life cycle assessment of a large water
treatment plant in Turkey. Environmental Science and Pollution Research. 26 (15): 14823-14834,
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-018-3826-9
Sezginer, I., Atilgan, Turkmen B., Germirli Babuna, F. (2022) Environmental impacts arising from the
production of two surface coating formulations. Clean Technologies and Environmental Policy.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10098-022-02288-z
Sphera. (2023). GaBi V10.7 software and database.

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IS STRUVITE THE PROBLEM OR THE SOLUTION? CHALLENGES AND

OPPORTUNITIES IN WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANTS
Didem Güven*, Goksin Ozyildiz, Emine Çokgör, Güçlü İnsel

Istanbul Technical University, Maslak, Istanbul, 34469, Turkey.

*Corresponding author: didemnl@yahoo.com

ORCID Code : 0000-0001-6597-2693

ABSTRACT
Struvite scaling is a common problem in sludge digesters of biological wastewater treatment plants. This
situation is related to the high concentration of phosphorus and nitrogen released in sludge digestion
process. On the contrary, struvite is a valuable compound and there are several applications available for
the recovery of through the crystallisation process. The use of struvite as a fertiliser in agriculture has
gained popularity in recent years due to its slow release of nitrogen and phosphorus to the soil. This study
focuses on the challenges associated with scaling problem (struvite) observed in equipment parts and
dewatering effluent lines. Dosing ferric chloride into the anaerobic digester as a remedial action to combat
the problem of scaling is known to be the common approach. In this study, FeCl3 dosing was applied to
the full-scale digester at increasing flow rates from 200 to1000 L/day to control phosphorus released in
digester. Steady-state simulations were carried out to simulate struvite formation. Sumo2S was used to
calculate the main precipitates; struvite, bruchite and vivianite. The nitrogen and phosphorus
concentrations in the dewatering effluent were also predicted together with the precipitate formations in
the anaerobic sludge digester, so that a simulation that can predict the current situation quite accurately
was performed. Struvite was found to be the dominant species in the dewatering effluent, consistent with
the XRF measurements. This study also introduces the opportunities related with the nitrogen and
phosphorus in treatment plants in terms of resource recovery. The struvite recovery potential was
calculated to be 100-150 kg per day. Thus, it is predicted that an annual income of 5000-7500 € can be
generated for the plant by marketing the products recovered from the WWTP as a highly efficient and
slow-release fertiliser (100 €/tonne) in agricultural applications. In addition, chemical costs to reduce the
return phosphorus loads from dewatering effluent are avoided when struvite is recovered after anaerobic
digesters.

Keywords: Scaling problem, Struvite formation, Precipitation Modeling, Resource Recovery

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DEVELOPMENT OF TYRE VALUE CHAIN IN TOGO WITH FOCUS OF
DESIGNING AND IMPLEMENTING A TYRE RECYCLING PLANT.
Mona-Maria Narra1*, Djangbadjoa Gbiete1, Satyanarayana Narra1, Komi Agboka2
1
University of Rostock, Rostock, 18059, Germany.
2
Universite de Lomé, Lomé, 01BP1515, Togo.

*Corresponding author: mona-maria.narra@uni-rostock.de

ORCID Code : 0000-1234-5678-9876

ABSTRACT
In the frame of the joint project “Waste2Energy: hybrid energy from waste as a sustainable solution for
Ghana”, a tyre recycling plant is being under construction in Davié, north of Lomé, Togo. To establish the
supply chain for the planned tyre recycling plant, a deep understanding of the tyre value chain within the
country is needed. Togo’s vehicle fleet is rapidly increasing, a baseline study shows that Togo’s vehicle
growth stood at 6% per year, with new vehicles accounting for only 3% of the imported vehicle fleet
(source). The greater Lomé area accounts for more than 2/3 of the country's vehicle fleet. Togo's car fleet
is estimated at around 350,000 vehicles in circulation, with a rate of increase that has gone from barely
7,000 vehicles a year just 7 years ago to more than 20,000 a year at present. New vehicles account for only
3% of all imported vehicles in Togo annually. As most vehicles users use used tyres for their vehicles, in
combination with bad road situations, the tyres have a fairly limited lifespan (6-8 months on average). The
number of two-wheeled vehicles (mopeds, bikes, etc.) is estimated to be nearly one million. Based on the
assumption that the average driver changes tyres regularly throughout the year, the number of used tyres
available would be at least 400,000 from mopeds, 600,000 used motorbike tyres, 600,000 used car tyres
and 300,000 used truck tyres per year respectively. Approximately 75% are replaced either because of
serious damage or have reached advanced levels of wear. These calculations give a potential of 27,080
tonnes of used tyres available per year.

In order to evaluate the used tyres value chain and End-of-Life tyres value chain two methodological
approaches were adopted, 1.) the empire-industive method based on direct observation and 2.) the
hypothetico-deductive method based on the interviews (nearly 200 used-tyre dealers). As a result of the
study, the used tyre business in Togo is well organized and even associations exist. Treatment for End-of-
Life tyres is an artisanal niche-aspect and is nearly non-existent. End-of-Life tyre recycling is either done
through simple dumping, open burning for metal recovery or mainly through meat processing activities.
Proper tyres disposal and recycling activities are not available in Togo, leading to environmental concerns.
Improperly discarded tyres can become breeding grounds for disease carrying mosquitoes or contribute to
air and soil pollution through open burning, posing severe risks for the population. As these issues are not
yet addressed at all in Togo, and hardly addressed in other West-African countries demanding investment
in tyre recycling facilities.

Keywords: End-of-Life tyres, Recycling, tyre value chain, Togo

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5-6 July, 2024, Istanbul, Türkiye

SUSTAINABLE RECONSTRUCTION IN SYRIA: UTILIZING RECYCLED

CONCRETE AGGREGATE FROM WAR-DAMAGED BUILDINGS
Abdulkader Rashwani1*, Bakry Kadan2
1
Sham University, Aleppo, Azaz, Syria
2
Free Aleppo University, Aleppo, Azaz, Syria

*Corresponding author: rashwani@gmail.com

ORCID Code : 0000-0001-7196-880X

ABSTRACT
The Syrian civil war has generated millions of tons of rubble, predominantly from reinforced concrete
structures. Rapid and sustainable reconstruction is crucial, with millions of displaced refugees anticipating
returning. This study investigates the feasibility of utilizing recycled concrete aggregate (RCA) from
wardamaged buildings in Syria. Through comprehensive material testing and concrete mix design, we
demonstrate the viability of RCA as a partial replacement for natural aggregates in new concrete
production. Our findings show that up to 50% replacement with RCA maintains comparable concrete
performance, offering a valuable resource for sustainable infrastructure redevelopment. This research
provides crucial data and recommendations for incorporating RCA into various construction applications,
paving the way for a more resilient and resourceefficient reconstruction effort in Syria.

Keywords: Reconstruction, Resilience, Resource Efficiency

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5-6 July, 2024, Istanbul, Türkiye

PRODUCTION OF FUELS BY THERMO-CHEMICAL CONVERSION OF

PLASTIC WASTE: IMPACT OF TEMPERATURE, CATALYSTS
CHARACTERISTICS AND WATER ADDITION
G. Blázqueza, M. Calero, M.A. Martín-Lara*, M.J. Muñoz-Batista, A. Péreza, R.R. Solís
1
University of Granada, Department Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Science, Granda, 18071 Spain.

*Corresponding author: marianml@ugr.es

ORCID Code: 0000-0001-9515-7307

ABSTRACT
With inadequate recycling rates, plastic waste has been increasing at an alarming rate. The production of
fuels from plastic waste is a viable approach to managing plastic waste that has difficult mechanical
recycling options. Plastic waste can be broken down into its molecular components, including hydrogen,
and hydrocarbons (gasoline-, diesel-type), etc., by using thermo-chemical processes. To optimize the
selectivity of desired components (e.g. hydrogen yields, properties of liquid fractions, and reaction rates),
Ru-based samples and the interaction with different supports, as well as optimizing temperature and water
concentration were studied. As a reference, product yields were determined in the thermal conversion
(pyrolysis) without the use of any catalysts or water under an inert atmosphere of nitrogen.
Results showed that when temperature increased, the char yield decreased (until 5.19 wt.%) and the gas
yield increased (until 34.87 wt.%). Then, Ru-related nanoparticles (Ru0 and RuO2) at ~1% mass loading
were deposited onto four different supports, i.e. commercial activated carbon (712.8 m2 g-1), commercial
zeolite HZSM-5 (319.31 m2 g-1), commercial titania P25 (48.3 m2 g-1), and graphitic carbon nitride CN
(12.5 m2 g-1). The highest concentration of H2 in the outlet gas was found with the catalyst 1%Ru/P25,
reaching 50.6 % (vol.), a higher value if compared to the test carried out with the respective support
without Ru. With the aim of rising the H2 produced, some water reforming tests were performed by
saturating the inlet with water. In this sense, very promising results were obtained with the catalyst
1Ru/CN catalyst, reaching 77.2% (vol.) of H2. In addition to N2 physisorption experiments, the work is
completed with a characterization scheme including XPS, XRD and SEM, which provide information
about chemical, electronic, and morphologic properties, which help to understand catalytic-activity
relationship.

Keywords: Catalysts, Fuels, Plastic Waste, Recycling, Thermo-Chemical Conversion

Acknowledgments: Grant PID2022-139014OB-I00 funded by MCIN/AEI/ 10.13039/501100011033 and

by ERDF A way of making Europe.

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HYDROGEN PRODUCTION FROM POST-CONSUMER PLASTIC WASTE:

H2FROMPLASTIC PROJECT
M. Calero*, G. Blázquez, A. Pérez, R. Rodríguez-Solís, M.A. Martín-Lara, M.J. Muñoz
1
University of Granada, Department Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Science, Granda, 18071 Spain.

*Corresponding author: mcaleroh@ugr.es

ORCID Code : 0000-0001-8029-8211

ABSTRACT
Today, most plastics are still produced from fossil-based feedstock. Transitioning to a circular, climate
neutral economy demands investment and innovation from the plastics value chain to develop new
business models for reuse, produce more recycled plastics and new feedstocks that are less dependent on
fossil-based oil and gas.

The general objective of the H2FROMPLASTIC project is to develop a novel recycling process for mixed
plastics from municipal solid waste using a system based on two stages: 1) pyrolysis of plastic waste and
2) light-assisted steam reforming of the pyrolytic gas with steam water to optimize hydrogen production.
For this, the characteristics of the plastic waste to be used in the process will first be studied, particularly
its composition, moisture content and dirt. Next, an extensive stage will be dedicated to the development
of heterogeneous catalysts to be used in the steam reforming process, which will be fully characterized to
provide their chemical, structural and morphological properties. The pyrolysis process will be designed
in two stages (conventional pyrolysis and light-assisted steam reforming) to produce a gas fraction with
high hydrogen content. In this stage, all the parameters that influence the pyrolysis and reforming process
will be analyzed looking for a synergy that allows optimizing the process as a whole. The combination of
thermal energy and light in the field of catalysis is a great alternative to optimize several reactions
including the gas steam reforming to produce hydrogen.

Finally, a study of the environmental and techno-economic impact will be carried out to provide a real
perspective for the implementation of the process on an industrial scale.

Keywords: Hydrogen, Light-assisted, Plastic Waste, Pyrolysis, Recycling

Acknowledgments: Grant PID2022-139014OB-I00 funded by MCIN/AEI/ 10.13039/501100011033 and

by ERDF A way of making Europe.

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EXAMINING DOMESTIC WASTE SEPARATION BEHAVIORS IN ISTANBUL

BY USING CORRESPONDENCE ANALYSIS
Gülay Arslan Çene1*, Mehmet Şamil Güneş2, Coşkun Parim2, Erhan Çene2
1
Marmara University, Istanbul,34854, Turkey.
2
Yıldız Technical University, Istanbul,34320, Turkey.

*Corresponding author: gulay.arslan@marmara.edu.tr

ORCID Code: 0000-0003-1983-266X

ABSTRACT
Examining and comprehending the elements that impact waste recycling behaviour is crucial for
enhancing domestic waste management separation practices. The recycling of used products represents a
vital improvement in sustainability for households and related locations. Domestic waste separation relies
on residents, whose behaviour in waste separation significantly influences the outcome of waste
management efforts, whether successful or unsuccessful for the related country. While domestic waste
separation is common in numerous countries, its adoption remains uncommon in Turkey. Even though
there is limited research on household recycling behaviour in metropolitan cities such as Istanbul, gaining
insight into these factors can pave the way for more efficient recycling programs. To this end, this paper
investigates the factors altering the behaviour of individuals in the separation of domestic waste in a system
for the collection of recyclable waste in Istanbul, Türkiye. The waste recycling behaviour study data was
collected by Istanbul Municipality with a detailed questionnaire (face to face) to 50000 people (2023).
Correspondence analysis, also known as reciprocal averaging, is a valuable multivariate statistical
technique in data science used to visualize and understand relationships between categories. It involves
creating a graph to display the relationships between two or more data points, providing a clear visual
representation of the data. With this aim, Correspondence analysis with Euclid Distance was used to
examine household domestic recycling behaviours, visualize the current behavioural direction with the
help of two-dimensional maps, and display the cluster structures constructed. As a result, district-based
waste separation behaviours have been determined, and it is aimed to reveal the structures of these
reasonings with district characteristics.

Keywords: Waste management, Recycling, Recycling behavior, Correspondence analysis

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EFFICIENT UTILIZATION AND REUSE OF CACO 3 PARTICLES

FOR ORGANIC MATTER REMOVAL
Gülay Arslan Çene*, Elif Soyer

Marmara University, Istanbul,34854, Turkey.

*Corresponding author: gulay.arslan@marmara.edu.tr

ORCID Code : 0000-0003-1983-266X

ABSTRACT
This study examines the use of microfiltration membranes in conjunction with adsorbent-assisted filtration
systems to remove natural organic matter. The adsorbent particles used were calcium carbonate (CaCO3)
particles synthesized in the laboratory using a Ca(OH)2 slurry and CO2 gas. The water was filtered
through the microfiltration membrane using both dead-end and cross-flow filtration modes.

During each filtration cycle, we sampled the membrane permeate and concentrate streams and established
a mass balance for organic matter. We exhausted the adsorption capacity of the particles prepared with
Ca(OH)2 solution and converted the CaCO3 particles into CaCl2 form by adding HCl to the membrane.
To reduce membrane fouling, we added CO2 gas and KOH/NaOH to the solution medium, which allowed
the CaCO3 particles to reform in the solution medium.

The treatment performance parameters include the concentration of organic matter in both the permeate
and solution media, the volume of permeate (water flux), the repeated use of CaCO3 particles, and the
reduction in organic matter concentration with or without the need for coagulant or powdered activated
carbon.

Keywords: Natural organic matter, Membrane filtration, Calcium Carbonate Particles, Particle Recycle

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PRODUCTION OF NANOCRYSTALLINE AND MICRO/NANOFIBRILLATED

CELLULOSES FROM WASTES GENERATED DURING COTTON SPINNING
Sedat Ondaral1, Gökhan Tandoğan2*, Kıymet Kübra Kaya Denge3, Uğur Gündoğan3
1
Karadeniz Technic University, Trabzon,61080, Turkey.
2
Uludağ University, Bursa and 16059, Turkey.
3
Kipaş Textile Bussines Inc. R&D Center, Kahramanmaraş, 46100, Turkey.
*Corresponding author: gtandogan@kipas.com.tr

ABSTRACT
In Turkey, where cotton is used extensively in the textile and ready-made clothing industry, a significant
amount of agricultural and cellulose-rich wastes are generated in enterprises and yarn production.
Currently, since these residues cannot be used in yarn production, they are either mixed into animal feed
or used in mushroom cultivation, and their added value and unit values are relatively low. Approximately
100 tons/month of this waste is used as feed in our enterprises, and it is estimated that the region has an
average waste capacity of 1,500 tons/month. It is estimated that the potential amount of this waste in our
country is around 15,000 tons/month. Integration of cotton waste into high-value nano- and microscale
materials is a promising path to promote a more sustainable future in materials science.

This work aims to seamlessly integrate nano/micro cellulosic materials into industrial applications and
provide an environmentally responsible alternative to traditional petroleum-based polymers. Obtaining
high value-added nanocrystalline cellulose and microfibrillated cellulose from the waste materials in
question, using the products as reinforcement materials in the production of plastic composites and
cardboard, and measuring the performance of plastic and cardboard materials using nanocrystalline
cellulose have been characterized.

Keywords: Nanocrystalline cellulose, Gin waste, Paper production, Plastic production

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UTILISING RAW RECLAIMED MINE WATER SLUDGE AS AN ADSORBENT

FOR PB(II) ADSORPTION: MODELLING MASS TRANSFER EFFECTS
Nokuthula Nchabeleng, Evans Chirw, Hendrik Gideon Brink*

Department of Chemical Engineering University of Pretoria.

*Corresponding author: deon.brink@up.ac.za
ORCID Code: 0000-0002-4699-6152

ABSTRACT
Contamination of water sources by heavy metals, such as Pb(II), presents a significant environmental
challenge. A key focus in the remediation of contaminated water sources is employing sustainable
wastewater treatment processes. Adsorption emerges as a preferred technology due to its simplicity, robust
nature, and relative low cost.

In this study, the use of a water remediation waste by-product (Reclaimed Mine Water Sludge) is explored
for its applicability as an adsorbent for Pb(II) contaminated aqueous solutions. The focus of this study lies
in understanding the mass transfer effects inherent in the adsorption process. Adsorption includes a series
of steps, starting with the transport of the adsorbate from the bulk liquid phase to the boundary layer,
followed by movement to the adsorbent surface (external mass transfer, EMT), and finally, diffusion
through the material's pores to the active sites (internal mass transfer, IMT).

This study aims to identify the rate determining step by investigating the impact of varying average particle
diameters—1 mm, 2 mm, and 3 mm—on the adsorption kinetics, particularly on the time required to
achieve equilibrium and maximum Pb(II) removal efficiency. It is observed that at set conditions: same
initial Pb(II) concentration, temperature, adsorbent dosage and adsorbate solution pH, adsorption kinetics
are notably faster for 1 mm adsorbate particles compared to 3 mm particles. Twice the amount of contact
time is required to reach equilibrium (90 to 180 minutes). The longer contact time required for equilibrium
underscores the influence of internal and/or external mass transfer effects. Crank’s mass transfer model is
used to quantify the effective diffusivity providing operational parameters required for design of the
process.

This research provides a sustainable remediation option by valorisation of a waste sludge that may be
utilised in continuous flow processes thereby contributing to environmentally sound water treatment
practices.

Keywords: Adsorption kinetics, Mass transfer, Reclaimed Mine Water Sludge, Pb(II) remediation.

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RECYCLING OF PLASTIC WASTE IN A DEVELOPING COUNTRY:

CHALLENGES AND EMERGING SOLUTIONS FROM RECYCLERS’
PERSPECTIVES
Issam A. Al-Khatib1*, Ayah Alassali2
1
Institute of Environmental and Water Studies, Birzeit University, P. O. Box 14, Birzeit, West Bank, Palestine
2
Hamburg University of Technology, Institute of Circular Resource Engineering and Management, Blohmstraße
15 D-21079 Hamburg, Germany
*Corresponding author: ikhatib@birzeit.edu
ORCID Code: 0000-0001-9303-0927

ABSTRACT
The study delves into the complexities of plastic waste recycling in a developing context, with a particular
focus on the challenges and potential solutions as perceived by recyclers operating in the state of Palestine.
Utilizing a combination of surveys and interviews with 40 recyclers, the research aims to comprehensively
evaluate the present state and future prospects of plastic recycling in the region. Key findings highlight
the predominance of small to medium-sized recycling enterprises, with approximately 50% categorized
as having a small company size (1 to 10 employees) and 40% as medium-sized (10 to 50 employees).
These enterprises are primarily engaged in processing flexible polyolefin and various other polymers,
while PET recycling remains notably absent. Notably, PET bottles constitute approximately 22% of
collected plastic waste, indicating untapped opportunities for recycling due to its abundance and successful
processing models in more developed nations. However, none of the surveyed recyclers is currently
involved in processing plastic packaging waste from household or dumpsite collections. The study also
offers practical recommendations to augment plastic recycling efforts, including governmental support for
recycling initiatives, community awareness campaigns promoting effective sorting and collection
practices, investment in advanced production technologies, and the establishment of specialized recycling
facilities and licensed collection services. By emphasizing the importance of regulatory frameworks,
public engagement, and infrastructural enhancements, the study advocates for a holistic approach to
overcoming the barriers hindering plastic recycling in Palestine. Ultimately, it provides valuable insights
into the prevailing dynamics of plastic waste management and presents actionable strategies to cultivate a
more sustainable recycling ecosystem in the region, ensuring long-term environmental and economic
benefits.

Keywords: Plastic waste recycling, Developing country, Challenges, Emerging solutions, Recyclers'
perspectives

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INVESTIGATION OF CO 2 AND SO 2 ADSORPTION CAPACITY AND

MORPHOLOGY OF CALCINED EGGSHELL
Sena Erkent1, Barış Gürel2, Karani Kurtuluş2, Murat Varol3, Savaş Özün4, Kamil Ekinci5, Sema
Yurdakul1*
1
Department of Environmental Engineering, Süleyman Demirel University, Isparta, Türkiye.
2
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Süleyman Demirel University, Isparta, Türkiye.
3
Department of Environmental Engineering, Akdeniz University, Antalya, Türkiye.
4
Department of Mining Engineering, Süleyman Demirel University, Isparta, Türkiye.
5
Department of Department of Agricultural Machinery, Isparta University of Applied Sciences, Isparta, Türkiye.

*Corresponding author: semayurdakul@sdu.edu.tr

ORCID Code: 0000-0002-1728-1588
ABSTRACT
Within the scope of the study, preliminary experiments were carried out to determine the calcination
parameters of raw Eggshell (ES). In these preliminary experiments, different calcination temperatures
(850, 900, 950 oC), different holding times (30, 60, 180 min), and different particle sizes (2800, 1700,
1180, 850, 600, 425, 212, 150, 106, 90 µm) were examined. It was observed that there was no significant
increase in adsorption capacity with increasing temperature. Since the experimental results using ten
particle diameters gave similar results, the study was continued with four different particle sizes
(2,8,8+1,7mm, 600+425µm, 212+150µm, and 106+90µm) to reduce the workload. As a result of the
preliminary experiments, the optimum holding time for these four different particle sizes was selected as
30 minutes. The heating temperature was chosen as 900°C, and the experiments in the rest of the study
were carried out with these four selected particle sizes and calcination operating parameters. The CO2
adsorption capacities of four different particle sizes of pre-calcined samples were calculated by non-
isothermal carbonation experiments performed in a 13% CO2 atmosphere at a 10 oC/min heating rate in
a TG device. The adsorption capacity of calcined ES was between 0.10-0.33 g CO2/g calcined ES for
different particle diameters. Four different particle sizes of calcined ESs were also used for SO2
adsorption. After the sulfonation process in the horizontal furnace for 5 and 20 min holding times, the
adsorption capacity of calcined ESs was in the range of 35.56-78.04 mgSO2/gES and 64.17-76.37
mgSO2/gES for different particle diameters, respectively. Furthermore, the study also examined raw,
calcined, carbonated, and sulfonated ES with SEM-EDS and XRD. Adsorption capacity results and
morphological investigations of the samples supported each other.

Keywords: GHG, Eggshell, SEM-EDS, XRD, CO 2 , SO 2

Acknowledgment: This study was funded by the Scientific and Technological Research Council of
Turkey (TUBITAK) ARDEB 1001 Grant No 123MO67.

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INVESTIGATION OF COMBUSTION KINETICS OF RAW AND TORREFIED

ROSE PULP, AND CHICKEN MANURE MIXTURES WITH LOCAL LIGNITE
Sena Erkent1, Mehmet Çınar1, Barış Gürel2, Karani Kurtuluş2, Murat Varol3, Savaş Özün4, Kamil
Ekinci5, Sema Yurdakul1*
1
Department of Environmental Engineering, Süleyman Demirel University, Isparta, Türkiye
2
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Süleyman Demirel University, Isparta, Türkiye.
3
Department of Environmental Engineering, Akdeniz University, Antalya, Türkiye.
4
Department of Mining Engineering, Süleyman Demirel University, Isparta, Türkiye.
5
Department of Department of Agricultural Machinery, Isparta University of Applied Sciences, Türkiye.
*Corresponding author: semayurdakul@sdu.edu.tr
ORCID Code: 0000-0002-1728-1588

ABSTRACT
In this study, 48 fuel blends were prepared by using raw and torrefied forms of chicken manure (CM),
rose pulp (RP), local Kale lignite (L), and their blends in different ratios by weight (100%CM, 100%RP,
100%L, 40%CM + 40%RP + 20%L, 37%CM + 37%RP + 26%L, 33%CM + 33%RP + 34%L) to determine
the combustion characteristics and indices of these fuel mixtures. Experiments were carried out using
Polymer Laboratories Brand TG-1500 model TGA Device in the 25-1000 oC temperature range, 40
ml/min dry air atmosphere, and four different heating rates (5oC/min; 10oC/min; 15oC/min; 20oC/min).
The Fllyn-Wall-Ozawa method was applied to the calculation of the activation energies of the prepared
fuel mixtures. As the biomass content increased in raw and torrefied blends, the activation energies of the
blends were increased both in raw and tırrefied fuel mixtures. Since biomass samples are more reactive
than lignite, they can burn more easily. Furthermore, the activation energies of the torrefied samples were
found to be lower than their raw forms.

Keywords: Biomass, Chicken manure, Rose pulp, Combustion indices, Combustion characteristics.

Acknowledgment: This study was funded by the Scientific and Technological Research Council of
Turkey (TUBITAK) ARDEB 1001 Grant No 123M067.

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WASTE-DERIVED LEAD SORBENT: A TAGUCHI-TOPSIS HYBRID

APPROACH FOR SORBENT MIX DESIGN
Ebtesam Al Ghafri, Mohamed Hamouda*, Hilal El-Hassan, Munjed A. Maraqa
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, UAE University, Al Ain, 15551, United Arab Emirates
*Corresponding author: m.hamouda@uaeu.ac.ae
ORCID Code: 0000-0003-1797-4904

ABSTRACT
Industrial by-product materials such as fly ash and ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS) used in
geopolymer composites have received attention due to their promising performance and impact on
sustainability. This study aimed to develop and evaluate a fly ash-slag blended geopolymer sorbent for
lead (Pb2+) removal from wastewater. The material mix consists of single and binary blends of fly ash and
slag activated by sodium hydroxide alone or combined with sodium silicate. The Taguchi method was
performed to formulate geopolymer mixes considering four factors, each having four levels of variation:
fly ash-to-slag ratio (FA), total waste material content (WMC), molarity of sodium hydroxide solution
(M), and sodium silicate-to-sodium hydroxide ratio (SS/SH). The geopolymer sorbent was evaluated
against several criteria, categorized into synthesis and performance criteria. The performance criteria were
assigned the highest weight given their importance in this study. The Taguchi-TOPSIS hybrid approach
was employed to aggregate the response criteria identifying the optimal mix for superior sorption capacity
of lead. The results revealed that the optimum mix comprised FA of 33%, WMC of 1050 kg/m3, SH of 10
M, and SS/SH of 3. This investigation demonstrated that the notable removal efficiency of this geopolymer
sorbent, coupled with its eco-friendly synthesis from industrial by-products, establishes it as a sustainable
candidate for sorption applications.
Keywords: Waste-based sorbents, Taguchi, TOPSIS; geopolymer, optimization

INTRODUCTION
Water contamination is a significant threat to the environment and human health, driven primarily by
anthropogenic sources. Among the water pollutants, heavy metals are a major global concern due to their
bio-accumulative nature and harmful effects (Sharma et al., 2023). Essential heavy metals are generally
harmless at low concentrations, but non-essential heavy metals such as lead (Pb2+) are toxic even at trace
levels. Industrial activities contribute significantly to heavy metal contamination, demanding effective
treatment methods to control their impact on water bodies and ecosystems.

Among the various treatment methods, sorption is frequently used due to its simplicity, cost-effectiveness,
and ability to remove contaminants. High-quality sorbents like zeolites and activated carbon are effective
but can be costly and have some other limitations. To address these issues, researchers are exploring low-
cost sorbents made from waste or by-products such as algae (Chlorella Vulgaris), eggshells, coconut
shells, and geopolymer composites (Al-Harahsheh et al., 2015; Al-Zboon et al., 2011; El-Naas et al., 2007;
Hamouda et al., 2020; Sekar et al., 2004; Tan et al., 2020; Tsai et al., 2006).

Geopolymer composites, which are inorganic polymers made from alkali activators and aluminosilicate
materials, offer a sustainable and environmentally friendly solution for heavy metal removal from

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industrial wastewater. The use of aluminosilicate materials not only helps in waste management but also
reduces carbon footprint by 25% (Das et al., 2022), making geopolymer composites a sustainable option
for water treatment.
MATERIALS METHODS
Materials
The aluminosilicate materials including class F fly ash and slag were obtained from local sources (Ashtech
Ltd and Emirates Cement Company, respectively). The specific gravity of the fly ash was 2.32, with
particle size ranging from 0.2 to 40 μm. As for the slag, it had a specific gravity of 2.70 and a particle size
ranging from 2 to 80 μm, as documented in prior research (El-Hassan and Ismail, 2018; Zuaiter et al.,
2022). For the alkali activator solution, grade N sodium silicate, with a chemical composition of 26.3%
SiO 2 , 10.3% Na 2 O, and 63.4% H 2 O was utilized. Additionally, sodium hydroxide flakes (purity of 97-
98%) were dissolved in a specific amount of water, depending on the required molarity to prepare sodium
hydroxide solution.
Design Approach
The Taguchi method, developed by Genichi Taguchi in the late 1940s (Atil and Yakut, 2000), is a valuable
statistical tool for single-parameter optimization in industrial decision-making. This method was used for
the design of geopolymer mixes, helping to minimize the number of required mixes to be cast. For a
comprehensive optimization process, considering multiple criteria, the Technique of Order Preference by
Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) was implemented in a hybrid manner with the Taguchi method to
identify the optimum mix. Using the TOPSIS method, weights were assigned to each criterion based on
their importance, allowing for the calculation of closeness coefficients (CI). The CI was then utilized in
Taguchi to generate the signal-to-noise ratios (S/N ratios) that were used to optimize the target value. Six
criteria were considered in the optimization process grouped into performance criteria—including sorption
capacity, carbon footprint, and cost— and synthesis criteria, which include mechanical properties such as
setting time, flowability, and abrasion resistance.
Mixture Synthesis
The Taguchi method was employed for the proportioning of geopolymer composite mixes. Four mix
design parameters including fly ash-to-slag ratio (FA), total waste material content (WMC), the molarity
of sodium hydroxide solution (M), and sodium silicate-to-sodium hydroxide ratio (SS/SH) were chosen
to investigate their impact on the performance of the geopolymer composites for sorption of lead (Pb2+).
The four levels assigned to each parameter were determined following a series of initial experiments.
Additionally, this method simplified the experiments, reducing the number of required mixes from 256 to
16. Using the L16 array and matching it with the factors and their levels, the proportions for the 16
geopolymer composites were determined as presented in Table 1.

Sample Preparation
The geopolymer was prepared under ambient conditions. First, sodium hydroxide flakes were mixed with
water to achieve specific molarities (8, 10, 12, and 14 M), and, if applicable, sodium silicate was added to
the solution. After cooling to room temperature, the alkaline activator solution was mixed with the by-
product materials (slag and fly ash) for 3 minutes. The flowability and setting time tests were performed
and the resulting paste was cast into molds, compacted using a vibrating table for up to 10 seconds, covered
with a plastic sheet, and left to cure for 24 hours under laboratory conditions. The specimens were
demolded and stored in sealed plastic bags for 28 days, after which the abrasion resistance test was
conducted. As for sorption, the geopolymer sorbent was prepared by crushing and sieving on 0.3-0.6 mm
sieves. The crushed geopolymer was washed overnight with deionized water and oven-dried at 100℃ for
2 hours.

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Table 1. Geopolymer mixture constituents

Mix A B C D
FA %* WMC M SS/SH ratio
1 100 1000 8 0
2 100 1050 10 1
3 100 1100 12 2
4 100 1150 14 3
5 67 1000 10 2
6 67 1050 8 3
7 67 1100 14 0
8 67 1150 12 1
9 33 1000 12 3
10 33 1050 14 2
11 33 1100 8 1
12 33 1150 10 0
13 0 1000 14 1
14 0 1050 12 0
15 0 1100 10 3
16 0 1150 8 2
*Fly ash mass percent of the total binder mass

Test Method
For the sorption study, the lead (Pb2+) solution containing approximately 100 mg/L was prepared by
dissolving precise amounts of analytical-grade metal salt (Lead II Nitrate) in deionized water. To prevent
metal precipitation during the sorption study, the final pH of the solution was maintained within the range
of 5.0 to 5.7. In 50 ml plastic centrifuge tubes, 50 ml of the metal solution was added with 0.07 g of
geopolymer powder, these values were chosen based on data derived from preliminary experiments. The
tubes were subjected to end-over-end mixing for 5 days at the ambient laboratory temperature of 20°C, to
ensure the achievement of equilibrium. Afterward, the tubes were centrifuged, and 15 ml of the
supernatant was collected and analyzed using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy
(ICP-OES). Simultaneously, the final pH and released cations from the geopolymer (Ca, Na, Mg, Si, and
K) were monitored to elucidate the sorption process. The geopolymer sorption capacity was quantified
using Equation 1.
(𝐶𝐶� − 𝐶𝐶𝑒𝑒 ) × 𝑉𝑉 (1)
𝑞𝑞(𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚/𝑔𝑔) =
𝑚𝑚
Where; C o is the initial concentration of the metals (mg/l); C e is the remaining concentration of the metal
(mg/l); q is the quantity uptake by geopolymer (mg/g); V is the solution volume (L) and m is the
geopolymer mass (g).
The total cost and carbon footprint for each mix were calculated by adding the cost and carbon footprint
of the individual constituents to produce 1 m3 of paste, respectively, as indicated in Equation 2 and 3.
$ $ 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘 (2)
𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 � 3 � = � 𝑈𝑈𝑈𝑈𝑈𝑈𝑈𝑈 𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 � � 𝑥𝑥 𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀 𝑐𝑐𝑜𝑜𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 𝑄𝑄𝑄𝑄𝑄𝑄𝑄𝑄𝑄𝑄𝑄𝑄𝑄𝑄𝑄𝑄𝑄𝑄 � 3 �
𝑚𝑚 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘 𝑚𝑚

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𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘 (3)
𝐶𝐶𝑂𝑂2 � 3 � = � 𝑈𝑈𝑈𝑈𝑈𝑈𝑈𝑈 𝐶𝐶𝑂𝑂2 � � 𝑥𝑥 𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀 𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐 𝑄𝑄𝑄𝑄𝑄𝑄𝑄𝑄𝑄𝑄𝑄𝑄𝑄𝑄𝑄𝑄𝑄𝑄 � 3 �
𝑚𝑚 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘 𝑚𝑚
Furthermore, the synthesis criteria including flowability, setting time, and abrasion resistance of the
geopolymer composites were evaluated based on ASTM C230 (ASTM, 2003), C191 (ASTM, 2008), and
C1747 (ASTM, 2013) standards, respectively. The results of all criteria were integrated into the
optimization process, with performance criteria assigned a weight of 10, while flowability, setting time,
and abrasion resistance for the synthesis criteria were weighted at 7, 6, and 9, respectively. These weights
were assigned based on the direct and significant influence each criterion has on the main objective of this
study, which is identifying the optimal mix for superior sorption capacity of lead.

RESULTS and DISCUSSION

Sorption experiments were conducted to calculate the uptake capacity for the 16 mixes. As presented in
Figure 1, the uptake capacity for lead ranged between 58.83 to 62.78 mg/g, highlighting the efficiency of
the geopolymer in removing this metal. Also, the results reveal that mixes with pure fly ash content
consistently exhibited a higher uptake capacity compared to those composed solely of slag, suggesting a
slight preference for fly ash in enhancing the sorption performance. Moreover, the analysis of the released
cations indicates an ion exchange process. The carbon footprint and cost of the geopolymer mixes were
calculated, as shown in Figure 2. It was evident that increasing the slag content, SS/SH ratio and SH
molarity increased the CO 2 emission, owing to their high carbon footprint. As for the cost, the fly ash and
slag had the same market price, hence, the replacement of fly ash with slag had no effect on the cost of
the mix. In contrast, the cost associated with the alkali activator solution is considerably higher compared
to the waste materials used. Despite this, the geopolymer composite primarily consists of waste materials,
with the solution contributing to a lesser extent.

Table 2 summarizes the results of the synthesis criteria. In general, the initial setting time increased in
proportion to the fly ash content, meaning higher amounts of fly ash in the mix resulted in longer setting
times. As for the flowability, most mixes showed significant flowability (> 250 mm), except for mixes 7,
8, 13, and 14, which had flows of less than 150 mm. These particular mixes were characterized by a high
SH molarity of 12-14 M and a low SS/SH ratio of 0-1. This suggests that achieving flowability in a mix
requires either a high fly ash content, low SH molarity, and/or a high SS/SH ratio. Moreover, the results
of the abrasion resistance showed that the mixes containing 100% fly ash were more susceptible to
abrasion, with losses ranging from 25% to 83%. In contrast, mixes with 100% slag demonstrated the
highest abrasion resistance.

After getting the results for all the criteria, the results were integrated into the Taguchi-TOPSIS hybrid
optimization process based on the assigned weights for each criterion. According to the S/N ratios
generated using Taguchi, it was found that the optimum geopolymer mix consisted of a 33% FA, 1050
kg/m3 BC, an M value of 10, and an SS/SH ratio of 3.

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65.0

Uptake Capacity (mg/g)

63.0

61.0

59.0

57.0

55.0
Fly ash 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
content % 100% 67 33 0%
Mix
% %
Figure 1. Geopolymer Uptake Capacity of Lead

300 700
Cost CO2
250 600
500

CO2 (kg/m3)
200
Cost ($/m3)

400
150
300
100
200
50 100
0 0
Fly ash 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
100% 67% 33% 0%
content Mix
% Figure 2. Geopolymer Carbon Footprint and Cost

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Table 2. Synthesis Criteria Results
Initial setting time Flow Abrasion
Fly ash Mix
content % No. (%, mass loss after
min mm
500 revolutions
1 240 250 82.9
2 8 250 50.5
100%
3 500 250 29.4
4 550 250 25.1
5 102 250 42.5
6 72 250 27.8
67%
7 240 148 24.2
8 3 100 21.4
9 36 250 30.0
10 46 250 31.4
33%
11 31 250 25.7
12 36 250 20.8
13 3 100 21.7
14 67 100 13.0
0%
15 15 250 25.7
16 10 250 26.6

CONCLUSIONS
In this paper, the potential of fly ash-slag blended geopolymer sorbents for effective lead (Pb2+) removal
from wastewater was investigated. The following conclusions were drawn:
● The Taguchi method significantly streamlined the experimental efforts required to determine the
optimal geopolymer mix, reducing the number of required tests from 256 to 16.
● The developed geopolymer proved to be an efficient sorbent for lead (Pb²⁺), achieving an uptake
capacity ranging from 58.8 to 62.8 mg/g.
● Taguchi-TOPSIS identified the optimum geopolymer mix for a lead metal (Pb²⁺) removing
sorbent.
● Ongoing research is dedicated to further exploring experimental conditions to optimize the
performance of the geopolymer.
● Future studies will include comparative analyses with common sorbents, such as granular activated
carbon (GAC), to assess the relative efficacy of the geopolymer.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The authors acknowledge the financial support from the UAE University. The staff and lab personnel at
the UAE University are acknowledged for their support throughout this project.

REFERENCES
Al-Harahsheh, M.S., Al Zboon, K., Al-Makhadmeh, L., Hararah, M., Mahasneh, M., 2015. Fly ash based
geopolymer for heavy metal removal: A case study on copper removal. Journal of Environmental
Chemical Engineering 3, 1669–1677. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2015.06.005
Al-Zboon, K., Al-Harahsheh, M.S., Hani, F.B., 2011. Fly ash-based geopolymer for Pb removal from

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aqueous solution. Journal of Hazardous Materials 188, 414–421.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2011.01.133
ASTM, 2013. Standard Test Method for Determining Potential Resistance to Degradation of Pervious
Concrete by Impact and Abrasion, C1747, West Conshohocken. PA: ASTM International.
ASTM, 2008. Standard Test Methods for Time of Setting of Hydraulic Cement by Vicat Needle, C191,
West Conshohocken. PA: ASTM International.
ASTM, 2003. Standard Specification for Flow Table for Use in Tests of Hydraulic Cement, C230, West
Conshohocken. PA: ASTM International.
Atil, H., Yakut, U., 2000. A Different Approach of Experimental Design: Taguchi Method. Pakistan J. of
Biological Sciences 3, 1538–1540. https://doi.org/10.3923/pjbs.2000.1538.1540
Das, S., Saha, P., Prajna Jena, S., Panda, P., 2022. Geopolymer concrete: Sustainable green concrete for
reduced greenhouse gas emission – A review. Materials Today: Proceedings 60, 62–71.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matpr.2021.11.588
El-Hassan, H., Ismail, N., 2018. Effect of process parameters on the performance of fly ash/GGBS blended
geopolymer composites. Journal of Sustainable Cement-Based Materials 7, 122–140.
https://doi.org/10.1080/21650373.2017.1411296
El-Naas, M.H., Al-Rub, F.A., Ashour, I., Al Marzouqi, M., 2007. Effect of competitive interference on
the biosorption of lead(II) by Chlorella vulgaris. Chemical Engineering and Processing: Process
Intensification 46, 1391–1399. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cep.2006.11.003
Hamouda, M.A., Sweidan, H., Maraqa, M.A., El-Hassan, H., 2020. Mechanistic Study of Pb2+ Removal
from Aqueous Solutions Using Eggshells. Water 12, 2517. https://doi.org/10.3390/w12092517
Sekar, M., Sakthi, V., Rengaraj, S., 2004. Kinetics and equilibrium adsorption study of lead(II) onto
activated carbon prepared from coconut shell. Journal of Colloid and Interface Science 279, 307–
313. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcis.2004.06.042
Sharma, A., Grewal, A.S., Sharma, D., Srivastav, A.L., 2023. Chapter 3 - Heavy metal contamination in
water: consequences on human health and environment, in: Shukla, S.K., Kumar, S., Madhav, S.,
Mishra, P.K. (Eds.), Metals in Water, Advances in Environmental Pollution Research. Elsevier,
pp. 39–52. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-323-95919-3.00015-X
Tan, T.H., Mo, K.H., Ling, T.-C., Lai, S.H., 2020. Current development of geopolymer as alternative
adsorbent for heavy metal removal. Environmental Technology & Innovation 18, 100684.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eti.2020.100684
Tsai, W.T., Yang, J.M., Lai, C.W., Cheng, Y.H., Lin, C.C., Yeh, C.W., 2006. Characterization and
adsorption properties of eggshells and eggshell membrane. Bioresource Technology 97, 488–493.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2005.02.050
Zuaiter, M., El-Hassan, H., El-Maaddawy, T., El-Ariss, B., 2022. Properties of slag-fly ash blended
geopolymer concrete reinforced with hybrid glass fibers. Buildings 12, 1114.
https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings12081114

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CONCRETE WITH ADDITIONS OF FILM PELLETS VS CONVENTIONAL

CONCRETE. BENDING STRESSES BEHAVIOR
Fernando Israel Olmedo Zazo, María Isabel Prieto Barrio, Alfonso Cobo Escamila, Cristina Pavón Rodriguez
Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Madrid, 28940, Spain.
*Corresponding author: fi.olmedo.zazo@upm.es

ORCID Code: 0000-0002-3400-817X

ABSTRACT
Plastic is one of the most produced materials each year. Of the millions of tons produced annually, only
10% is recycled and up to 80% ends up accumulated, often without control in nature. Film pellets are one
of the 4 major types of waste into which plastics can be divided. When talking about construction,
reinforced concrete is the material that comes to mind for everyone. Its production requires many natural
resources. For years we have been working on incorporating different waste into concrete to reduce the
raw materials needed. Film pellets can be incorporated as a partial substitute for gravel. The characteristics
of the base materials are very different, so the resulting concretes will have different performances. These
differences can make them more suitable for diverse applications. This study focuses on studying the
differences in behavior against bending stresses of a conventional concrete compared to a concrete with
film pellets.

Keywords: Sustainable concrete, Film pellets, Bending stresses, Absorbed energy

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DISTRICT-SCALE ANALYSIS OF ISTANBUL'S HISTORICAL

SIGNIFICANCE, SEISMIC RISKS AND NATURAL GAS INFRASTRUCTURE
CHALLENGES: SOLUTIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Ali Serdar Gültek1*, Ugur Emre Temelli2
1
Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa Vocational School of Technical Sciences, Private Security and Protection
Program, Istanbul, Turkiye.
2
Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa Vocational School of Technical Sciences, Civil Defense and Firefighting
Program, , Istanbul, Turkiye.
*Corresponding author: sgultek@iuc.edu.tr
ORCID Code: 0000-0003-2869-086X

ABSTRACT
Istanbul served as the capital of the Eastern Roman and Ottoman Empires. The city's historical peninsula,
recognized for its illustrious past, is known for its rich heritage and has been a hub of diverse cultures,
religions, and communities. Recognized for its cultural significance, this area was inscribed on the
UNESCO World Heritage List in 1985. Over time, Istanbul has expanded its commercial and residential
areas, extending beyond the Fatih district into Beyoğlu and Üsküdar. Situated in a region prone to seismic
activity, Istanbul has a history marked by earthquakes and fires. These events led to the widespread use of
timber structures, valued for their flexibility, lightness, and affordability. However, this shift also resulted
in significant fires in densely populated areas with many wooden buildings. Alongside entirely timber
structures, buildings with wooden floors and roofs, combined with structural elements of concrete, brick,
or stone, have endured through the ages. In addition to earthquakes, natural disasters like hurricanes such
as Katrina, floods, and landslides, as seen in Japan's Saga region, pose significant challenges to
infrastructure. These events cause extensive damage to wastewater, clean water, and electricity networks,
as well as to facilities processing oil and natural gas. This disruption to the gas transmission network
infrastructure worsens environmental pollution, negatively impacting sustainability and economic
circularity. Natural gas is the preferred energy source in urban and industrial settings due to its economic
advantages. Gas installations and appliances, installed with engineering expertise, have helped reduce fire
risks for heating and cooking in buildings. This increased use of natural gas has also led to decreased
emissions in urban areas. In areas where the gas network does not reach, LNG tanks are used for storage,
while densely populated areas receive gas through pipe networks. Pressure reducing stations are located
in neighbourhoods along the main network branches, with equipment at building entrances regulating gas
pressure within installations. These units are equipped with safety mechanisms that automatically stop gas
flow if pressure drops due to potential leaks. Additionally, seismic sensors in the field trigger the shutdown
of the gas supply in the primary distribution network during disasters.

In the event of a ruptured pipe segment, released gas may ignite into a jet flame, potentially leading to
explosions. Nearby individuals face risks of injury or fatalities, and the spread of fire to neighbouring
structures can result in building fires. Efforts to prevent irreversible cultural losses are crucial, particularly
in historical areas like Fatih, Beyoğlu, and Üsküdar, where timber buildings are abundant.

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Literature includes scientific studies, such as simulations demonstrating the aftermath of burning historical
neighbourhoods with wooden structures, similar to those found in Kyoto, renowned for its comparable
building stock and ancient heritage. This study will use the EPA’s ALOHA program to simulate energy
release from pipe rupture and gas fires, along with analysing the thermal radiation effects on buildings.
The aim of the study is to contribute to the preservation of cultural values and historical heritage.

Keywords: disaster management; risk management; gas pipeline fire; cultural heritage; gas dispersion
modelling.

INTRODUCTION
Istanbul's historical peninsula, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1985, stands as a testament to
centuries of cultural exchange and architectural marvels. However, the city's historical districts, including
Fatih, Beyoğlu, and Üsküdar, are also prone to seismic activity, presenting unique challenges for modern
infrastructure development. This paper examines how Istanbul can modernize its gas infrastructure while
safeguarding its invaluable historical assets against potential risks, such as gas leaks and fires.

Post-earthquake fires are a common phenomenon for built environment in urban areas of cities. There is
a continuing effort to establish a database to keep records of these incidents led by Himoto followed by
Horasani, Koraltürk, Schellhous and most recently by Vitorino. The 49 earthquakes are listed in the
database listing date, location, magnitude, and number of ignitions. Besides the infrastructure for
delivering natural gas and electricity, stoves, furnaces, and other heated surfaces are found to be the major
causes of post-earthquake fires.

These fires affect standing buildings after an earthquake. Song et al. performed a nonlinear analysis of
steel-frame structures by considering explosion and secondary fire, Della Corte et al. conducted a
comprehensive study for steel frames, Li and Wang numerically and experimentally studied resistance of
steel members of structures, Bhargava et al. Studied resistance of reinforced concrete frames, Liu et al.
Tested applications of carbon fiber coverings on concrete beams, Pucinotti et al. focused on the mechanical
behavior of joints made by steel–concrete composites, Ervine et al. and Wen et al tested damaged beams,
Miao and Chen tested damaged frames, Jiang et al. examined structural conditions leading to collapse,.
Istanbul, situated within a seismically active region, bears witness to a history profoundly shaped by
earthquakes and fires, leaving lasting marks on its architectural identity. The city's historical heart,
including districts like Fatih, has long favored timber structures esteemed for their adaptability and cost-
effectiveness, embodying centuries-old building practices rooted in local materials and craftsmanship.
However, the prevalence of timber construction in densely populated historical areas has significantly
heightened fire risks, posing formidable challenges to urban safety and preservation efforts.

Timber, valued for its historical relevance and practicality, inherently increases the vulnerability to fire
outbreaks. In Istanbul's tightly knit historical districts, characterized by closely clustered buildings, the
risk of fire spreading rapidly is pronounced. Such incidents not only jeopardize invaluable cultural heritage
but also imperil lives and disrupt community cohesion. The introduction of modern utilities, including
natural gas infrastructure, into these historical precincts further complicates the risk landscape,
necessitating meticulous planning and adaptation to historical contexts.

The integration of natural gas, for instance, offers economic benefits and environmental advantages but
requires careful consideration of historical building materials and construction techniques to ensure safety.
Ongoing initiatives encompass the deployment of fire-resistant coatings, advanced detection systems, and

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tailored community education programs to address the unique challenges of safeguarding Istanbul's
architectural heritage.

Effectively addressing these challenges demands a balanced approach to urban planning and disaster
management. This approach encompasses robust fire safety strategies, such as zoning regulations, building
codes, and innovative technologies specifically designed for historical contexts. Research into fire
dynamics in timber structures and the development of customized fire prevention measures are pivotal for
fostering sustainable urban development in Istanbul's historical districts. Istanbul's urban fabric, shaped
by its seismic history and architectural heritage, underscores the imperative for integrated strategies that
uphold both cultural significance and urban resilience. By synergizing historical preservation with
innovative fire safety measures and sustainable urban planning practices, Istanbul can sustain its vibrancy
while safeguarding its rich architectural legacy for future generations. Natural gas has become a primary
energy source in Istanbul's urban and industrial sectors, offering economic advantages and reduced
emissions. However, ensuring the safety of gas installations in historical districts presents unique
challenges, given the need to preserve architectural integrity while implementing modern safety measures.
Pressure reducing stations and seismic sensors play crucial roles in mitigating risks associated with gas
leaks and potential explosions in these sensitive urban environments.

MATERIAL METHOD
IGDAS is the pipeline operator of Istanbul’s natural gas infrastructure. The gas distribution process in
Istanbul is as follows:. At the Marmara Ereğlisi LNG Terminal, liquefied natural gas (LNG) arriving from
countries like Algeria and Nigeria is regassified and injected into the system. At the RMS Station in
Esenyurt, the pressure of the natural gas entering Istanbul is reduced from 70 bars to 20 bars. Here, the
natural gas is filtered, measured, analyzed, odorized, and heated. From here, the natural gas is distributed
to the European side of Istanbul. Natural gas is transported through two 30-inch pipes, each 106 kilometers
long, laid at a depth of approximately 100 meters under the Sea of Marmara. It travels from Avcılar
Ambarlı to the Pendik coast, then onwards to the Anatolian side of Istanbul. At the odorization stations in
Pendik and Esenyurt, certain chemicals are mixed with the natural gas to add a distinct odor. Thioethers
and thiols are generally used for odorization, and these substances give the gas a smell similar to rotten
garlic.

New lines can be connected to the existing network or gas can be injected into them using the Tie-in and/or
Hot-Tap methods. This process, called hot tapping, is performed without interrupting the supply of natural
gas in the main line.Valves in valve chambers on the network control the flow of natural gas circulating
in the steel pipelines. Valve chambers are specifically constructed underground. The natural gas pressure
reaching the district regulator at 20 bar is reduced to 4 bar, filtered, and then sent to the polyethylene (PE)
distribution lines.

After the district regulator, natural gas is transported to service boxes through PE pipes with diameters of
125 millimeters, 110 millimeters, and 63 millimeters. Laying the natural gas network street by street within
the complex infrastructure of a giant metropolis like Istanbul is a very challenging undertaking.

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Natural gas from the district regulator at 4 bars is delivered to the end user through service boxes. The
natural gas pressure is then further reduced to 21 mbar or 300 mbar depending on the user's specific needs
and supplied to the installation.

Researchers at Bogazici University, Earthquake Engineering Department developed a software tool named
Earthquake Loss Estimation Routine (ELER) within NERIES project JRA3 work package. It provides
rapid estimation of earthquake shaking and losses in the Euro-Mediterranean region. The code can be used
to assess possible earthquake hazards and also to analyse predicted losses by an earthquake that includes
pipeline damage estimation and economic loss estimation.

Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality conducted a study within Updating The Probable Earthquake Loss
Estimation in Istanbul Project. The ELER tool was used to simulate 15 different earthquake scenarios
from a Mw=7,5 scenario earthquake and ground motion and assessments were realized aimed at probable
damages in buildings and infrastructure and consequent life loss and casualties. All 39 districts of the city
were studied and number of expected pipe ruptures in historical centers of city are listed in Table 1.

Table 1. Number of expected pipe ruptures in districts of Istanbul

Number of damaged natural
District gas pipeline section
Beyoğlu 3
Fatih 11
Üsküdar 6

Researchers in the United States of America developed the ALOHA model of EPA. It is supported by the
Emergency Response Division1 (ERD), a division within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA) in collaboration with the Office of Emergency Management of the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Its primary purpose is to provide emergency response personnel
estimates of the spatial extent of some common hazards associated with chemical spills. ALOHA provides
estimates of the spatial extent of some of the hazards associated with the short-term accidental release of
volatile and flammable chemicals. ALOHA deals specifically with human health hazards associated with
inhalation of toxic chemical vapors, thermal radiation from chemical fires, and the effects of the pressure
wave from vapor-cloud explosions.

The jet fire analysis in ALOHA is designed to address the thermal radiation hazards associated with gases
and aerosols released from pressurized tanks and pipes which ignite before the vapors disperse downwind.
Jet fires differ from flash fires in that they completely burn immediately upon release at the surface of a
fuel-rich core. Jet fires differ from fireballs in that jet fires are associated with sustained releases, while
fireballs are associated with an explosive tank rupture due to overpressurization. The Jet Fire model in
ALOHA can be applied to an upward vertical jet release: a pipe oriented vertically or a hole at the top of
a tank. The method in ALOHA is based on an empirical solid flame model. Fuel released from the pipe or
tank expands, mixes with air, and burns on its surface emitting intense thermal radiation that propagates

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outward. The thermal energy incident upon a distant target is a product of the emissivity of the flame
surface, the geometric view factor, and the transmissivity of the atmosphere to thermal radiation.
The emissive power of the flame, E, is calculated in Equation 1;

𝑓𝑓𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟 𝑄𝑄ℎ𝑐𝑐
𝐸𝐸 = Eq.1
𝐴𝐴

where Q is the mass discharge rate (kg s-1), ∆hc is the heat of combustion (J kg-1), and A is the surface area of the
flame (m2), frad is the fraction of heat radiated from the flame surface. Further details of the calculation are available
in the technical documentation of the model.

The simulation results for the thermal radiation of a pipeline rupture scenario are shown is Figure 1. In the
scenario, transfer pressure of natural gas P=400 kPa and pipe dimater D=65 mm. The red zone in Figure
1a represents the extent of heat flux that would be lethal for human beings which is 10 kW/m2. Variation
of heat flux from jet fire that would occur at the ruptured pipe is shown in Figure 1b.
35

30
P=4 bar, D=65 mm
Heat Flux (kW/m2)

25

20

15

10

0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
Distance (m)
Figure 1. a) Thermal radiation threat zone, b) variation of heat flux with distance from source

Bartlett reviewed factors affecting the burning behaviour of wood for application to tall timber
construction. Sustained smouldering ignition has been found to occur around heat fluxes of 5 to 10 kW/m2
typically at surface temperatures around 200°C [24]. Accordingly, timber façade of a building that is 10
metres away from the jet fire will be exposed to critical heat fluxes in the ignition range

DISCUSSION and CONCLUSION

Several international case studies offer valuable lessons for Istanbul in integrating modern gas
infrastructure with cultural heritage preservation:

•Rome, Italy: Employed trenchless technology and advanced mapping to minimize disturbance to
archaeological sites during gas network installation.
•Kyoto, Japan: Implemented earthquake early warning systems linked to automatic gas shut-off valves,
enhancing seismic safety in historical districts.
•Edinburgh, Scotland: Utilized small-diameter pipes and collaborated with heritage experts to blend gas
infrastructure with the city's UNESCO-listed Old Town.
•Prague, Czech Republic: Developed specialized drilling techniques and 3D mapping for infrastructure
planning under historical buildings.

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•Vienna, Austria: Integrated gas infrastructure with existing catacombs and implemented remote
monitoring systems for enhanced safety and preservation.

Incorporating smart grid technology offers Istanbul a proactive approach to enhance gas safety in historical
districts. Real-Time monitoring by deploying smart sensors to monitor gas parameters and environmental
conditions continuously. Automated Shut-Off Systems by integrating valves that respond to sensor data,
particularly during seismic events detected by Istanbul's earthquake warning system. Predictive
Maintenance by using data analytics to forecast and prevent infrastructure failures, minimizing disruptions
in historical areas. Load Balancing and Adaptive Management by implementing systems to optimize gas
flow and pressure based on historical usage patterns and structural characteristics. Integration with Seismic
Monitoring by linking smart grid technology with existing seismic monitoring systems to ensure rapid
response and safety. Istanbul's natural gas infrastructure has not yet implemented the technologies utilized
in the aforementioned cities.

Istanbul is reliant on traditional methods of gas pipeline installation and in the early stages of
implementing smart grid technologies, with pilot projects and research initiatives underway. While there
is no widespread adoption of smart grid technologies across the entire city, there are promising
developments that indicate a growing interest in this area. By integrating smart grid technology into
Istanbul's historical districts, the city can achieve a balance between modern infrastructure needs and
cultural heritage preservation. Lessons learned from international case studies underscore the importance
of tailored solutions, stakeholder engagement, and adaptive management in safeguarding Istanbul's
historical assets for future generations. These technologies will foster in identifying potential hazards,
developing mitigation strategies, and integrating smart grid technology with urban planning and heritage
management frameworks

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ENHANCING DISASTER RESILIENCE AND ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECTION: DISTRICT-LEVEL INSIGHTS FROM METROPOLITAN
SEWAGE INFRASTRUCTURE AND URBAN CHALLENGES
Ugur Emre Temelli1, Ali Serdar Gültek2
1
Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa Vocational School of Technical Sciences, Civil Defense and Firefighting
Program, Büyükçekmece Istanbul,34500, Turkiye
2
. Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa Vocational School of Technical Sciences, Private Security and Protection
Program, Büyükçekmece Istanbul,34500, Turkiye
*Corresponding author: etemelli@iuc.edu.tr
ORCID Code: 0000-0002-6894-0723

ABSTRACT
Istanbul has been a trading center for hundreds of years due to its geographical location. This population,
especially those with low income levels migrating from villages to cities, settled in the districts of
Esenyurt, Küçükçekmece, Bağcılar, and Beylikdüzü, located just outside the city center axis.
Istanbul, located in the region where active faults have a devastating effect, has been affected by
earthquakes and fires throughout history. In the last Gölcük and Düzce earthquakes in 1999, it was
observed that this unplanned urbanization caused significant damage to the infrastructure lines after the
earthquake. In these districts where intense industry is located, there are many water treatment facilities,
especially textile factories and organized industrial zones.

As a result of damage to the sewer network after a possible disaster, sewage is released uncontrollably.
Damages to the sewer lines, which are connected to each other as a network, block the active and
undamaged system and cause the wastewater in the sewer to backflow in the opposite direction of the
flow. In addition, damage to the infrastructure causes the clean water system to mix with sewage and the
usable water to be polluted. Additionally, the resulting collapses also affect the transportation network and
pose an obstacle to emergency response teams. This problem negatively affects environmental hygiene
and makes living conditions difficult after the disaster. Especially the heavy odor and the formation of
flies and insects increase the number and damage of infectious diseases. At the same time, it further
negatively affects the psychology of people affected by the disaster.
After the Kahramanmaraş earthquake disaster that took place on February 6, 2023, it was determined that
some buildings were completely destroyed, there were many heavily damaged buildings, and many
moderately and slightly damaged buildings.
It has also been observed that sewage leakage occurs in closed areas due to damage to the sewage systems
in slightly damaged buildings. In this environment where disaster victims were left homeless, the need for
toilets was an important problem in ensuring environmental hygiene. ISearch and rescue units that came
to help with post-disaster search and rescue efforts were also negatively affected by these problems.

In order to minimize the effects of wastewater-related environmental pollution, public health, and hygiene
problems on disaster victims, mobile/fixed toilet cabins and septic tank installation areas should be
planned primarily in gathering areas. All these elements require an integrated disaster planning based on
risk management. The outputs of a model such as ELER, which can analyze the infrastructure system in

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the region in parallel with the planning in question, enable the prioritization of plan components.
Accordingly, it will be a tool with which the local administration can make more accurate decisions about
investments such as which neighborhoods' pipes will need to be replaced with corrugated pipes or
alternative lines will need to be installed in advance by fast bypass.

In this study, larger-scale predictions on risk and disaster management will be presented by evaluating the
simulation outputs with the ELER program for processes such as collapse, clogging, and pipe breakage
that may occur in the infrastructure sewer system. The aim of the study is to contribute to environmental
pollution and public health.

Keywords: disaster management, risk management, sewage, earthquake, public health, fluid mechanics

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TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE: EXPLORING THE NEXUS OF

CARBON EMISSIONS AND ECONOMIC GROWTH
Yazhini, A1*, Malaisamy, A2 , Vidhyavathi A1
1
Department of Agricultural Economics, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu-641003,
India
2
Department of Agricultural Economics, Agricultural College and Research Institute, Madurai, Tamil Nadu-
625104, India
*Corresponding author: yazhi224@gmail.com

ABSTRACT
Climate change significantly affects various industries and economic sectors. This paper emphasis the
growing focus on low-carbon agriculture to achieve SDG 13- Climate action. It explores the relationship
between carbon emissions in India's agricultural production and its economy, analysing differences
between production-based and consumption-based agricultural emissions. The secondary data are sourced
from different portals: World emission clock, FAO stat, GHG platform. The Tapio decoupling study on
India's economic growth and agricultural GHG emissions (1993-2022) found strong negative decoupling-
negative growth with rising emissions (2001, 2003, 2010, 2011, 2013) and strong decoupling- economic
growth despite declining emissions (2002). CO2 and N2O showed strong negative decoupling (2013,
2014, 2017) while methane displayed strong negative decoupling (1999, 2008, 2011, 2013, 2018), with
weak decoupling otherwise i.e. stable economic growth while agricultural GHG’s emissions increased at
a slower rate than GDP. The Structural Vector Auto Regressive model, impulse response functions and
variance decomposition resulted that an immediate increase in Carbon Emissions Intensity (CEI) initially
reduces agricultural trade and agricultural GDP, with effects diminishing over time but persisting in the
long run. The decline in GVA over time affects CEI and agricultural net exports (NE), both decreasing.
Lowering Carbon Emission Intensity (CEI) positively impacts agricultural Gross Value Added (GVA). It
enhances resilience to climate change, ensuring long-term viability and fostering sustainable growth in
agricultural net exports and GVA. Trade Adjusted Carbon Emission indicated that India emerges as a net
carbon exporter in agricultural crop trade (basmati rice, non-basmati rice, maize, wheat) highlighting its
production advantages and trade capabilities. In livestock exports (goat and cattle meat), India imports
carbon. Conversely, India exports carbon in buffalo and chicken meat trade. The AFLOU (Agricultural
Forest and Other Land Use) sector represents one of the low-cost strategies for attaining net-zero emissions
(2070) in India by promoting efficient production methods that reduce energy use and Greenhouse gas
emissions.

Keywords: Agricultural GHG’s emission, Economic growth, Impulse Response Functio, Trade adjusted
carbon emission

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EXPLORING UTILIZATION OPPORTUNITIES FOR BLENDED DENIM

TEXTILE WASTES
İsmail İvedi

Roteks Tekstil İhr. San. ve Tic. A.Ş., Izmir, 35620, Turkey.

*Corresponding author: ismailivedi@roteks.com.tr

ABSTRACT
The textile industry's high production volume, driven by consumer demand, generates significant waste,
highlighting the urgency of adopting a circular economy model.The concept of 'waste' refers to materials
deemed useless or unfit for further purpose following their initial use or the completion of a process.
Textile waste encompasses leftover materials and discards generated at all stages of production, from
spinning and weaving to dyeing, finishing, and garment manufacturing.

Fabric waste recycling plays a central role in establishing a circular economy for textiles. By recovering
valuable resources from waste, this practice promotes resource efficiency and reduces reliance on virgin
materials.The high production volume of the textile industry, driven by consumer demand, generates
significant waste. To address this environmental impact, a circular economy model with efficient textile
recycling is crucial. However, challenges persist, including the commercial viability of low-grade
materials, high recycling costs, and difficulties separating fiber blends. This study specifically explores
the challenges of recycling blended denim wastes which specifically includes two or more different fiber
in their composition that are currently difficult to recycle mechanically.

To overcome these limitations and unlock the full potential of textile recycling, developing eco-friendly
processing methods and innovative recycling solutions for these complex waste streams is critical for the
denim sector and the textile industry as a whole. This study delves into the challenges hindering denim
waste recycling, a critical factor for both the textile industry and ecosystem.

Keywords: Denim, Waste, Repurposing, Sustainability

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INTERFACIAL SOLAR WATER DESALINATION USING PHOTOTHERMAL

MATERIAL BASED ON BIOMASS WASTE
Mahmoud Maleki, Farzaneh Arabpour Roghabadi*, Seyed Mojtaba Sadrameli

Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran

*Corresponding author: arabpour@modares.ac.ir

ABSTRACT
Water desalination through interfacial solar steam generation (ISSG) has been introduced as a sustainable,
green, and low-cost technology to overcome the potable water supplying challenges. In this technology,
three main processes of sun-photons absorption by photothermal materials, heat generation and
management, and water transferring are integrated. The photothermal materials that harvest the sun-
photons are the heart of the device that can be used from different natural and synthetic sources. In this
work, high-performance, low-cost, environmentally friendly solar steam generation systems are fabricated
using a biomass photothermal material that is extracted from the pyrolysis waste of Linseed grains.
Remarkably, the floating device not only desalinates water using sunlight as the renewable source of
energy, but also its photothermal material is from the waste of a renewable source. The photothermal
material is coated on the hydrophilic felt and fixed on the top surface of a closed-cell polyurethane foam
(PU) that acts as the support and thermal insulator to make the device floating and also prevent heat losses.
Water transfers into the surface controllably through the felt that covers the PU foam side walls. The
mesoporous structure of the extracted biomass waste photothermal with a surface area of 720.325 m2.g-1
and a total porosity surface of 420.251 m2.g-1 provides high light absorption through photon scattering
and interfacial evaporation. Using biomass light absorber and engineering of the structure, system with a
water evaporation rate of 1.56 kg/m2h corresponding to the efficiency of 92% is achieved. Addition to the
high photothermal efficiency, the eco-friendly biomass based device shows no significant change in its
performance through operation for 40 times desalination of Persian Gulf water.

Keywords: Solar water desalination, biomass waste, photothermal material, floating

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UTILIZATION OF WASTE WHEY AND ITS HYDROLYSATES TOWARDS

MICROBIAL PRODUCTION OF HYALURONIC ACID
Anna Trusek

Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Department of Chemistry, Group of Micro, Nano and
Bioprocess Engineering, Wybrzeze Wyspianskiego 27, 50-370 Wroclaw, Poland
*Corresponding author: anna.trusek@pwr.edu.pl
ORCID Code: 0000-0002-3886-7166

ABSTRACT
Whey is the liquid remaining after the formation of casein curds and is the main protein by-product of the
dairy industry, accounting for as much as 85-95% of milk volume. Whey contains approximately 55 g/L
lactose and 7 g/L protein. By-products from food processing, brewing, etc., can be used as a carbon and
nitrogen source for microbial culture. Using by-products is a direction according to the circular economy
principles. Additionally, as it was seen producing hyaluronic acid (HA) is significantly cheaper.

HA of great interest in medicine and cosmetology can be obtained most economically in a microbial way.
The study shows that the Streptococcus zooepidemicus strain produces HA in a quantity that depends
significantly on the medium. Glucose and tryptose concentration of 60 g/L and 30 g/L, respectively,
allowed obtaining HA in culture in the concentration of 18.6 g/L. Further studies have shown that it is
possible to replace partially commercial protein preparations with whey or its hydrolysate. It was indicated
that, among the preparations tested, the proteolytic enzymes derived from Aspergillus oryzae,
Flavourzyme® (Novozymes Corp.), showed the highest specificity to whey proteins. Both whey proteins
and their enzymatic hydrolysates, in addition to lactose (whey sugar), were used by Streptococcus
zooepidemicus as a source of carbon and energy. In particular, whey-containing protein enzyme
hydrolysate promotes increased hyaluronic acid production. Replacing 30 % of the volume of the standard
culture medium, rich in glucose and tryptose, with whey after enzymatic hydrolysis resulted in an 11 %
higher concentration of hyaluronic acid. No effect of the medium composition on the molecular weight of
HA produced was shown, which was 470 +/- 140 kDa.

Keywords: whey, hyaluronic acid, medium optimization, circular economy, Streptococcus

zooepidemicus

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THE POTENTIAL OF POZZOLANS AS WASTE RECOVERY MATERIAL: A

CASE STUDY OF CANINE EXCRETA
Rosalina Gonzalez1*, Esteban Melo1, Martin Molina1
1
Universidad de La Salle-Bogotá, Engineering Faculty, Environmental and Sanitary Engineering Department,
Carrera 2 # 10-70 Bogotá, Colombia
*Corresponding author: rogonzalez@unisalle.edu.co
ORCID Code: 0000-0002-5860-657X

ABSTRACT
Each year 2,010 million tons of municipal solid waste are generated in the world. This waste will increase
by 70% between now and 2050. On the other hand, in the last five years, more families have decided to
have a dog or a cat in their homes rather than children. Latin America contributes 730 million animals.
This is an important fact because the management of pet excreta is inadequate. It is commonly disposed
of outdoors in the streets or placed in a plastic bag. Due to the high numbers and the sanitary risk associated
with the parasites in the excreta. It was decided to take advantage of the potential use of pozzolans as a
stabilizer agent for the waste and use it in road construction. A trial supported by four companies was
carried out, using a proportion of 1:1 canine excreta: inert soil and 15% of pozzolan material until the
homogenization of the 3 components. After 8 days, test tubes were prepared, and afterward, breakage tests
and washing toxicological analyses were carried out on the tubes. The results showed a resistance of 33.81
Ton/m2, the mitigation and encapsulation of odors, and up to 1 month after the preparation of the tubes,
negative results of toxicity using an ecotoxicological test. These results indicate highly satisfactory goals
because the resistance is adequate to pedestrian roads, the technique is a source of waste recovery for
construction purposes (circular economy) and avoid the health risk due the change of the material.

Keywords: Circular Economy, Solid Waste Disposal, Organic Pathogenic Material

INTRODUCTION
Waste management is a huge problem, especially in America Latina, where according to FAO and UNEP,
2021, approximately 33% of it is not managed and produces risks to the environment. 45% of the
population does not have sanitary landfills. It means that the solid waste does not have appropriate places
to be disposed of. The problem is the risks to the environment (including people).

The World Bank indicates that this waste or so-called "garbage" will increase by 70% in 25 years (Mena,
M, 2022). Organic waste represents on average 50% of the waste generated by countries in the region, but
it is the waste that is least managed. Its lack of specific treatment causes an unjustified generation of
greenhouse gasses - such as methane -, and the production of leachates and diminishes the quality of other
recyclable materials that are also in the trash (UNEP, 2018). The composition of this material is mainly
food waste (plants and animals), but there is an increase of pets that generate solid waste from their excreta.
The White Mountain Group, 2023 indicates that in recent years the Latin America region has the highest
growing index which is near eight hundred million pets with a 45% of the world. Those pets generate
daily, between 300-600 gr of excreta (Limpieza de Málaga, 2021), which means 480 million Kg daily.
That is a big problem, considering the information about landfills presented before. Generally, this
material is directly disposed of on the parks or streets or placed in a plastic bag that ends in a landfill

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without treatment. Calabrese, G., 2012, indicates the parasites are the main factor to consider when a
disposal system of this kind of material is developed. Because he had found: toxocariasis, hydatidosis,
hookworm, giardiasis, and leptospirosis, being the latter a disease with worldwide distribution, endemic
behavior, and epidemic outbreaks on several continents. For this reason and keeping in mind that compost
systems are not feasible due the parasites presence, it was decided to use pozzolans to encapsulate the
unmanageable material. The pozzolans are siliceous or siliceous and aluminous materials that in finely
divided form and in the presence of moisture, chemically react with calcium hydroxide at ordinary
temperatures to form compounds having cementitious properties. They form compounds of low solubility
that have agglomerating properties. There are both natural (ACI 232.1R) and artificial (fly ash, ACI
232.2R, and silica fume, ACI 234R) pozzolans (American Concrete Institute, 2023). According to Apoza,
2024, the pozzolans improve the strength, density and durability of the concrete, control of efflorescence
and alkali-silica reaction decrease. Having in mind that there is a problem that is not solved yet, related to
the management of the organic waste of animal excreta and the scientific analysis have not made a
previous test. This study aimed to analyze the use of pozzolans to immobilize the animal excreta,
especially the dog one, to determine the valorization potential of this waste, as construction material. All
of this is framed into the circular economy, which according to UN, 2023, pp.1, is “one of the current
sustainable economic models, in which products and materials are designed in such a way that they can
be reused, remanufactured, recycled or recovered, as long as possible”.

MATERIAL METHOD
To use the pozzolans as a material for the valorization of canine excreta in this study; there was an
agreement established between Universidad de La Salle, Bogotá (academia), Environmental and Sanitary
Engineering Program, Ingelabsp, which is a company that develops geotechnical soil studies, laboratory
tests of soil, concrete, and pavements, concrete mix designs with Portland cement, design emulsions,
study, design, supply and construction with new pozzolanic materials, Maderplast a recycling company,
promoter of Circular Economy and The Dog Guide School of the National Police of Colombia ESGAC,
where it was obtained the canine excreta, during a visit in 2023, due the canine population is more than
100 dogs.

It should be noted, that at the time of the visit, dog excrement is removed from the dogs' kennels, using
water, which arrives at the wastewater treatment plant, which must bring the water to the conditions
required by the wastewater standards of the environmental regulation, which implies high costs due to the
high organic load.

So, the idea was to change the destination of waste from water to a useful construction material at the
ESGAC. It was taken 10 kg of waste and saved it in a new plastic container. Figure 1 shows images of
this sampling procedure. The container was moved to Universidad de La Salle to make the cement material
and the Civil and Environmental Engineering Laboratory test.

Figure 1. Sampling of 10 Kg of canine excreta from the dogs' kennels at the ESGAC

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One week later, Ingelabsp went to Universidad de La Salle, supplied the pozzolanic material
(commercially known as D-STB WAY), and with its team of engineers, where they made the mixture to
make the cement composition. It used a proportion of 1:1 dog excreta: inert soil from excavation (a typical
soil found in the civil engineering lab was used). After that, the pozzolanic material was added in a 10%
proportion of the soil plus the excreta, until it was evident the homogenization of the 3 components (pre-
stabilized mixture). Figure 2 shows the characteristics of the mixture. 8 days later, 5% more of the
pozzolanic material was added to prepare the analysis test tubes.

Figure 2. Homogenate material composed by 1:1 dog excreta: inert soil from excavation and 15% of
this weight of pozzolanic material

Afterward, breakage soil resistance tests were made at Ingelabs facilities. The analyses made were: Proctor
(I.N.V. E 141 – 13) and Compressive strength (I.N.V. E 614 – 13), using a mold that is a cylinder with a
capacity of 197 cm3 (0.007 ft3) with an internal diameter of 50.00 ± 0.41 mm (1.97 ± 0.02") and a height
of 100 ± 0.15 mm (3.94 ± 0.006"), made of metal. A Hammer must have a free fall of 291 ± 1 mm (11.5
± 0.05") above the elevation of the stabilized material. With these materials, some test tubes were made
by triplicate and subjected to pressure to determine the resistance. Figure 3 shows the analysis.

Figure 3. Breakage soil resistance test at Ingelabs facilities. Source: Ingelabs, 2023
In addition, washing toxicological analyses were carried out on the test tubes, using the ToxTrak™
Method 0 to 100% inhibition, which indicates the percent inhibition (% I) as a relative measurement.
According to Hach, 2024: “this method is based on the reduction of resazurin, by bacterial respiration,
based on the fact that toxic substances can inhibit the rate of resazurin reduction”.

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RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Results of the resistance and compressive strength tests are shown in Table 1 and Figure 4. It achieved a
resistance of 33.81 Ton/m2 when the mixture of 1:1 canine excreta and soil excavation was mixed with
15% of pozzolanic material. To get that, a compressive strength of 33.52 Ton/m2 of air was applied (Figure
4). This resistance obtained is suitable for pedestrian walkways according to Ingelabs, 2023. In addition,
an interesting finding occurred was the mitigation and encapsulation of odors. In addition, up to 1-month
negative results were found using the Ecotox test with the ToxTrak™ Method, indicating the
encapsulation and chemical change of the material was made and no toxicity was found, avoiding the
parasites' worry. This evidence shows highly satisfactory results for the use of the technique as a source
of waste recovery for construction purposes.
Table 1. Resistance test (triplicate). Source: Ingelabs, 2023

DRY AGE
TEST POZZOLANIC RESIST.
WEIGHT VOL.cm3 HUM.
TUBE # % DAYS Ton/m2
g/cm3
1 15 1,420 196,35 19,88% 7 38,57
2 15 1,406 196,35 20,19% 7 32,14
3 15 1,413 20,94% 7 30,72
Mean 1,413 33,81

Figure 4. Compressive Strength of the test tubes. Source: Ingelabs, 2023

CONCLUSION
The trial, to establish the possibility of incorporating the canine excreta waste and stabilizing it for the
construction of roads was successful. The pozzolanic material used generated an encapsulation, chemical
change and avoided toxicity of the canine excreta. It eliminated the odor in minutes and subsequent
contamination demonstrated by the ecotoxicology test. The technique used is a source of waste recovery
for construction purposes. However, it is recommended to carry out longer-duration tests on the
toxicological issue and other mixtures to achieve more resistance of the material.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Universidad de la Salle, Bogotá
Ingelabs
Maderplast

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The Dog Guide School of the National Police of Colombia ESGAC

REFERENCES
American Concrete Institute. (2023). Pozzolan. Obtenido de
https://www.concrete.org/tools/frequentlyaskedquestions.aspx?faqid=688 Apoza. (2024).
Pozzolans. Obtenido de https://apoza.asn.au/pozzolans
FAO and UNEP. (2021). Global assessment of soil pollution: Report. Rome.
doi:https://doi.org/10.4060/cb4894en
Hach. (2024). Set de reactivos para toxicidad ToxTrak. Obtenido de https://co.hach.com/set-de-reactivos-
para-toxicidad-toxtrak-25-49-tests/product-downloads?id=53559873186
Ingelabs. (2023). Prueba De Estabilización De Pasivo Ambiental De Excremento De Caninos Mezclado
Con Un Suelo Arcilloso Con Tecnología Puzolánica. Acacías.
Limpieza de Málaga. (12 de agosto de 2021). ¿Qué hacer con las heces de perros? Obtenido de
https://limpiezademalaga.es/que-hacer-con-las-heces-de-perros/
Mena, M. (29 de marzo de 2022). Un mundo de residuos . Obtenido de Statista:
https://es.statista.com/grafico/27140/desechos-solidos-municipales-generados-per-capita-al-ano/
UN. (2023). Circular Economy. Obtenido de
https://www.un.org/sites/un2.un.org/files/circular_economy_14_march.pdf
UNEP. (9 de octubre de 2018). Un tercio de los residuos de América Latina y el Caribe termina en
basurales o en el medio ambiente. Obtenido de https://www.unep.org/es/noticias-y-
reportajes/comunicado-de-prensa/un-tercio-de-los-residuos-de-america-latina-y-el-caribe

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ENVIRONMENTAL AND ECONOMIC IMPACT ASSESSMENT OF PERVIOUS

GEOPOLYMER CONCRETE PAVEMENT WITH RECYCLED AGGREGATES
Faiz Habib Anwar, Hilal El-Hassan, Mohamed Hamouda,*,

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, UAE University, Al Ain, 15551, United Arab Emirates
*Corresponding author: m.hamouda@uaeu.ac.ae
ORCID Code: 0000-0003-1797-4904

ABSTRACT
The release of greenhouse gases and the extensive utilization of natural resources in concrete production
pose environmental and economic threats. Pervious concrete (PC) pavements were designed to reduce
urban stormwater drainage. A sustainable PC pavement alternative is replacing cement and natural
aggregates (NA) with supplementary cementitious materials (SCM) and recycled concrete aggregates
(RCA). This research assessed Pervious Geopolymer Concrete (PGC) with RCA for environmental and
economic impacts. The research compares feasible mixtures with alternative cement and aggregate
replacements against economic and environmental parameters. The environmental impact assessments
relied mainly on the mix components' global warming potential (GWP). Permeability, GWP, and cost
were evaluated using a multifunctional performance index to establish the ideal blend. Ground granulated
blast-furnace slag (GGBS) and fly ash (FA) were used as SCM. Eight PGC mixes were made with 10%
and 15% design porosities, 1:0 and 1:1 GGBS:FA binder ratios, and 0% and 100% RCA. A control mix
with 100% cement and NA at each design porosity was included. Despite all mixes meeting ACI 522R-
10 PC strength standards, the 1:1 GGBS:FA and 100% RCA mix had the lowest GWP (75.42 ton CO2eq)
and the highest cement mix (343.94 ton CO2eq). The cement mix cost 53.31 USD/m3, whereas 1:0
GGBS:FA and 100% NA cost 99.27 USD/m3. The 1:1 GGBS:FA and 100% RCA mix performed best at
both porosities. This blend balanced permeability and GWP well. These data demonstrate that SCM and
RCA may improve PC manufacturing sustainability while retaining performance and economic
feasibility.
Keywords: Pervious concrete, geopolymer, replacement, environmental, cost

INTRODUCTION
Concrete, the most widely used building material, has serious economic and environmental challenges
(M. Uratani & Griffiths, 2023). Its production depletes natural resources, uses a lot of energy, and
increases greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, polluting the air. (Gupta et al., 2020). Eco-friendly alternative
materials, including industrial waste-derived supplementary cementitious materials (SCM) such as ground
granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBS) and fly ash (FA), might reduce cement consumption in concrete
(Anwar et al., 2021). Complete cement replacement with alkali-activated binders produces sustainable
geopolymers (GP) by activating precursors like GGBS and FA with alkaline-activated solutions (AAS)
like NaOH and Na 2 SiO 3 (Adil et al., 2020). Additionally, exploiting natural aggregates (NA) for concrete
manufacturing has environmental risks (Bastidas-Martı´nez et al., 2022). Recycled concrete aggregate
(RCA), sourced from construction and demolition waste (CDW), is a viable alternative, providing
adequate performance (Mehrabi et al., 2021). Impermeable pavement systems, used on 3% of the planet,
intensify environmental challenges such as stormwater runoff, groundwater recharge, and urban heat
islands (Elizondo-Martínez et al., 2020). Pervious concrete (PC), a sustainable urban drainage system,
helps mitigate these issues by allowing air and water percolation through its porous structure. It has a
permeable network of empty spaces to aid stormwater management, comprising of pore diameter of 2 to

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8 mm, void content of 15 to 30%, permeability range of 1.3 to 12 mm/s, and compressive strength of 2 to
28Mpa (Chandrappa & Biligiri, 2016). The sustainability of PC can be further enhanced by replacing
cement and NA with SCM and RCA, creating Pervious Geopolymer Recycled Aggregates Concrete
(PGRAC). Studies show that the resultant material will exhibit adequate performance for pavement use.
For instance, Pervious geopolymer concrete (PGC) made with GGBS and 50% RCA produced a material
with satisfactory performance, attaining values of 68.5, 2.67, and 5.65Mpa for compressive, tensile, and
flexural strength, respectively (Manhanpally et al., 2023). Another study indicated that PGRAC produced
with GGBS and FA as the binder blend and 100% RCA, resulted in material with compressive strength of
2.9 – 10 Mpa and adeqaute permeability, signifying the potentility of this material (Sata et al., 2013).

Evaluating this material in terms of environmental and economic viability is crucial for enhanced
sustainability, ensuring a balance between performance, environmental impact, and cost. This study
focused on conducting compressive strength tests, permeability tests, and environmental and economic
impact assessments on various viable mixes with different cement and aggregate replacement levels. The
assessment included factors such as global warming potential (GWP) and cost. Cement-based PC was also
used to compare against PGC mixes. This information is crucial for understanding the environmental
footprint and economic feasibility of PC produced with SCM and RCA while maintaining acceptable
performance.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Materials and Sample Preparations
PGC mixes were produced with GGBS and class F FA complying with ASTM C989 (ASTM C989, 2010)
and ASTM C618 (Astm C618, 2023), while Ordinary Control mixes utilized Portland cement (ASTM
C150, 2012). Crushed dolomitic limestone from 4 to 10mm was used as natural and recycled aggregate.
Alkaline activator solution (AAS) was made 24 hours before PGC manufacture using sodium silicate (SS)
and 10M sodium hydroxide (SH) in a 1.5 SS/SH ratio. The ACI 522R-10 approach was used to make all
PC combinations with 10% and 15% porosity. Ten mixes were made. Control mixes were cement, NA,
and water. In PGC mixes, GGBS, FA, NA, RCA, and AAS were mixed. NA was replaced with RCA at
0% and 100%, and GGBS with FA at 0% and 50%, while higher FA replacements considerably affected
mechanical properties (Ramzi & Hajiloo, 2022). The mix identifier "PxyzR" specifies design porosity (x),
binder blend (y), and RCA NA replacement rate (z). For example, "P10FS0R" is a PGC with 10% design
porosity, 50% FA replacing GGBS, and 100% NA.

Dry cement, GGBS, FA, and aggregates were mixed for 2 minutes. AAS solution was progressively added
to PGC dry components while control mixes received water. The ingredients were blended for 3 more
minutes. The concrete was cast in a controlled lab environment at 23 ± 2°C and 45 ± 5% relative humidity.
Two layers of PC were manually compressed with 25 blows between layers in molds. The investigations
used steel molds for compressive strength (100 mm cubic molds) and permeability (100 mm diameter ×
200 mm height cylindrical molds).

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Table 1: Mixture proportions of PC mixes

Mix Mix Porosity Cement GGBS FA NCA RCA SS SHp Water
No. Designation (%) (kg/m3) (kg/m3) (kg/m3) (kg/m3) (kg/m3) (kg/m3) (kg/m3) (kg/m3)
1 PC10 10 491 0 0 1541 0 0 0.0 197
2 P10S0R 10 0 475 0 1592 0 128 26.7 58.3
3 P100S100R 10 0 475 0 0 1525 128 26.7 58.3
4 P10FS0R 10 0 180 180 1545 0 97 20.1 43.9
5 P10FS100R 10 0 180 180 0 1480 97 20.1 43.9
6 PC15 15 372 0 0 1541 0 0 0.0 149
7 P150S0R 15 0 370 0 1606 0 99 20.7 45.3
8 P15S100R 15 0 370 0 0 1537 99 20.7 45.3
9 P15FS0R 15 0 165 165 1606 0 89 18.5 40.5
10 P15FS100R 15 0 165 165 0 1538 89 18.5 40.5

Test Methods
The compressive strength was determined using cubic samples following BS EN 12390-3 (BS EN 12390-
3, 2019), measured at 28 days. Permeability coefficient (k) was determined using modified falling head
permeability with cylindrical samples measuring 100 mm by 50 mm, as per the procedures in ACI 522R-
10(ACI Committee 522, 2010). The k was calculated based on Darcy's law principles (El-Hassan et al.,
2019).
Impact Assessment
The environmental and economic impact assessments were calculated by multiplying the GWP and cost
values of each mix component (as listed in Table 2) by the mixture proportions (as detailed in Table 1)
(Alzard et al., 2021). For example, the impact of the P10S0R mix was calculated as follows:
GWP) = ((0.898x0)+(0.0416x475)+(0.027x0)+(0.0052x1592)+(0.00066x0)+(0.47x128)+
(1.12x26.7+ (0.01258x58.3)) = 118.82
Cost = ((0.076x0)+(0.01x475)+(0.007x0)+(0.06x1592)+(0.06x0)+(0.653x128)+(0.291x26.7)+
(0.003x58.3)) = 99.27
Table 2: Assessment parameters
S/N Materials Cost (USD/kg) GWP
1 Cement 0.076 0.898
2 NCA 0.01 0.0052
3 RCA 0.007 0.00066
4 FA 0.06 0.027
5 GGBS 0.06 0.0416
6 SHpowder 0.653 1.12
7 SS 0.291 0.47
8 Water 0.003 0.01258

Multifunctional Performance Index

The criterion combinations included; PI-1 is k and GWP, PI-2 is k and cost, and PI-3 is k and GWP and
cost, used to identify the best concrete mix using a multifunctional performance index (MPI).
Permeability, GWP, and cost were studied in this research. The blend with the best test value for each
criterion received a weighted rating (Wi) 1.00. After multiplying the measure by five, the numeric index
(Ni) and score (Sn) were obtained. The mix with the highest score, Sn, max, was named, and the

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performance index (PI) was calculated. Considering the factors, the blend with the greatest PI value was
best. (Alzard et al., 2021). The performance index

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Performance of PC
The compressive strength decreases with increasing RCA replacement, regardless of design porosity and
binder blend, as depicted in Figure 1(a). For example, there's a 55% reduction in compressive strength,
from 37.8 MPa to 17.1 MPa, for P10S0R and P10S100R, respectively. This decrease may be attributed to
a weaker bond between the GP paste and RCA (El-Hassan et al., 2023). Furthermore, mixes with 100%
GGBS blend outperformed those with 50% FA inclusion and control mixes, regardless of design porosity.
For instance, there's a 32% reduction in compressive strength, from 37.8 MPa to 25.8 MPa, for P10S0R
and P10FS0R, respectively, which may be due to the porous nature of FA (Sinsiri et al., 2010). Similarly,
an increase in design porosity led to a decrease in compressive strength, irrespective of binder blend and
RCA replacement, attributed to the increased presence of pore spaces in the mix. For instance, a 33%
decrease was observed in P15S0R compared to P10S0R. Despite the decrease in strength, all mixes
demonstrated adequate strength performance, meeting the strength requirements of PC.

40 4.5
35 4
30 3.5
3
"f’c" (MPa)

25
K (mm/s)

2.5
20 2
15 1.5
10 1
5 0.5
0
0
P10FS0R
P10FS100R

P15FS0R
P15FS100R
PC10

PC15
P10S0R
P10S100R

P15S0R
P15S100R

(a) Compressive Strength (b) Permeability

Figure 1. Performance of PC mixes

The results shown in Figure 1(b) indicated that all mixes satisfied the permeability criteria of PC,
demonstrating adequate hydraulic performance. The permeability increased with higher rates of RCA
usage. For example, there was a 136% increase in P10FS100R mixes compared to P10FS0R, likely due
to the porosity of RCA. This porosity can lead to greater air entrapment within the concrete (Aliabdo et
al., 2018). FA inclusion also increased permeability, regardless of design porosity and RCA replacement,
compared to 100% GGBS and control mixes. A 5% increase was observed in P15FS0R compared to
P15S0R, possibly due to the porous nature of FA. This trend was consistent with design porosity, where
an increase corresponded to a rise in permeability for both PGC and control mixes. Notably, the control
mixes containing Portland cement demonstrated higher permeability responses than GP mixes at both
design porosity levels, indicating that cement-based mixes inherently possess greater porosity than GP
mixes.

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Impact Assessment
Figure 2(a) shows that RCA concrete mixes had smaller GWP than NA mixes, indicating their
sustainability. GWP was 6% lower in P10S100R than in P10S0R. Based on the binder blend, cement-
based mixes had the greatest GWP, 451.41 and 343.94 for 10% and 15% porosity mixes, respectively,
showing cement's environmental effect. FA addition lowered GWP in PGC mixtures by 25% in P10FS0R
compared to P10S0R. This shows FA has a lesser environmental impact than GGBS (Table 2). Increased
design porosity reduced GWP by increasing pore space, which minimizes binder usage. For instance,
P15S0R decreased by 20% from P10S0R. FA inclusion, RCA substitution, and design porosity created a
more environmentally friendly material. PC mix costs are shown in Figure 2 (b). Table 2 shows that RCA
replacement mixes were cheaper than NA mixes since RCA is cheaper. This is seen by P10FS100R's 6.5%
cost decrease over P10FS0R. The control mixes with cement had the lowest cost at both porosities since
they had no alkaline solution. PGC mixes with 100% GGBS cost more than those with 50% FA,
demonstrating that FA's porous characteristic lowered binder content and cost. For instance, P10FS0R
costs 21% less than P10S0R. Increased design porosity lowers cost since pores reduce material content.
Multifunctional Performance Index
Figures 1(b) and 2 show permeability, GWP, and cost data used to compute the MPI to determine the best
mix for each criterion. Since all mixtures satisfied the PC's strength criteria, compressive strength was not
included (ACI Committee 522, 2010). According to Table 4, the best mixes met all requirements with
100% RCA replacement and FA inclusion (P10FS100R and P15FS100R), independent of design porosity.
Based on the criteria, mixes with 100% GGBS and RCA replacement (P10S100R and P15S100R) were
second best, demonstrating that RCA replacement is the most crucial aspect in material sustainability.
Cement-containing control mixtures were least preferred. Thus, SCM and RCA may develop a more
sustainable PC with acceptable performance and little environmental and economic effect.
500 120

400 100
GWP (kg CO2 eq)

Cost (USD/kg)

80
300
60
200 40
100 20
0
0
P10FS0R
P10FS100R

P15FS0R
P15FS100R
PC10

PC15
P10S0R
P10S100R

P15S0R
P15S100R

(a) GWP (b) Cost

Figure 2. Impact Assessment of PC

Table 4. Multifunctional Performance Index

Mix PI-3 PI-4 PI-8
1 PC10 7.51 56.96 10.34
2 P10S0R 27.92 29.94 20.65
3 P100S100R 57.54 61.16 44.94
4 P10FS0R 38.88 39.49 36.36
5 P10FS100R 100 100 100
6 PC15 15.91 100 24.76
7 P150S0R 54.84 51.52 46.65

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8 P15S100R 77.38 71.74 70.46

9 P15FS0R 65.45 59.05 60.76
10 P15FS100R 100 88.56 100

CONCLUSION
Based on the experiments and analysis conducted, the following conclusions were drawn
1. All cement and geopolymer mixes met the PC requirements as per ACI 522R-10 at both porosities.
2. FA inclusion, RCA replacement, and increased design porosity resulted in a more sustainable
material with reduced environmental impact and cost.
3. Mixes made with SCM and RCA exhibited low GWP compared to mixes with cement and NA at
both porosities, while mixes made with cement and NA had lower costs than mixes with
geopolymer and RCA.
4. From the performance index, PGC mixes with FA inclusion and 100% RCA had the best overall
performance at both porosities, showing the potential of SCM and RCA in PC production for
enhanced sustainability while maintaining acceptable performance levels and economic feasibility

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ACI Committee 522. (2010). 522R-10: Report on Pervious Concrete. Technical Documents, 38.
Adil, G., Kevern, J. T., & Mann, D. (2020). Influence of silica fume on mechanical and durability of
pervious concrete. Construction and Building Materials, 247, 118453.
Aliabdo, A. A., Abd Elmoaty, A. E. M., & Fawzy, A. M. (2018). Experimental investigation on
permeability indices and strength of modified pervious concrete with recycled concrete
aggregate. Construction and Building Materials, 193, 105–127.
Alzard, M. H., El-Hassan, H., & El-Maaddawy, T. (2021). Environmental and Economic Life Cycle
Assessment of Recycled Aggregates Concrete in the United Arab Emirates. MDPI,
Sustainability, 13.
Anwar, F. H., El-Hassan, H., & Hamouda, M. A. (2021, October). A meta-analysis on the performance
of pervious concrete with partial cement replacement by supplementary cementitious materials.
ZEMCH 2021, Dubai, UAE.
ASTM C150. (2012). Standard Specification for Portland Cement. ASTM International.
https://doi.org/10.1520/C0150-07
Astm C618. (2023). Standard Specification for Coal Ash and Raw or Calcined Natural Pozzolan for Use
in Concrete. ASTM International. https://doi.org/10.1520/C0618-23E01
ASTM C989. (2010). Standard Specification for Ground Granulated Blast-Furnace Slag for Use in
Concrete and Mortars. ASTM International. https://doi.org/10.1520/C0989-06
Bastidas-Martı´nez, J. G., Reyes-Lizcano, F. A., & Rondon-Quintana, H. A. (2022). Use of recycled
concrete aggregates in asphalt mixtures for pavements: A review. Journal of Traffic and
Transportation Engineering (English Edition), 9(5), 725–741.
BS EN 12390-3. (2019). Testing hardened concrete. Compressive strength of test specimens. British
Standards Institution.
Chandrappa, A. K., & Biligiri, K. P. (2016). Pervious concrete as a sustainable pavement material –
Research findings and future prospects: A state-of-the-art review. Construction and Building
Materials, 111, 262–274.
El-Hassan, H., Kianmeh, P., & Zouaoui, S. (2019). Properties of pervious concrete incorporating
recycled concrete aggregates and slag. Construction and Building Materials, 212, 164–175.

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El-Hassan, H., Kianmehr, P., Tavakoli, D., El-Mir, A., & Dehkordi, R. S. (2023). Synergic effect of
recycled aggregates, waste glass, and slag on the properties of pervious concrete. Developments
in the Built Environment, 15. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dibe.2023.100189
Elizondo-Martínez, E.-J., Andres-Valeri, V.-C., Jato-Espino, D., & Rodriguez-Hernandez, J. (2020).
Review of porous concrete as multifunctional and sustainable pavement. Journal of Building
Engineering, 27, 100967.
Gupta, S., Mohapatra, B. N., & Bansal, M. (2020). A review on development of Portland limestone
cement: A step towards low carbon economy for Indian cement industry. Current Research in
Green and Sustainable Chemistry, 3, 100019.
M. Uratani, J., & Griffiths, S. (2023). A forward looking perspective on the cement and concrete
industry: Implications of growth and development in the Global South. Energy Research &
Social Science, 97, 102972. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2023.102972
Manhanpally, N., Nagarajan, P., Saha, S., & Raja I, Y. (2023). Mechanical and durability characteristics
of GGBS-Dolomite geopolymer concrete using recycled coarse aggregates. Materials Today:
Proceedings. https://doi.org/doi.org/10.1016/j.matpr.2023.04.217
Mehrabi, P., Shariati, M., Kabirifar, K., Jarrah, M., Rasekh, H., Trung, N. T., Shariati, A., & Jahandari,
S. (2021). Effect of pumice powder and nano-clay on the strength and permeability of fiber-
reinforced pervious concrete incorporating recycled concrete aggregate. Construction and
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Ramzi, S., & Hajiloo, H. (2022). The Effects of Supplementary Cementitious Materials (SCMs) on the
Residual Mechanical Properties of Concrete after Exposure to High Temperatures—Review.
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Sata, V., Wongsa, A., & Chindaprasirt, P. (2013). Properties of pervious geopolymer concrete using
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Sinsiri, T., Chindaprasirt, P., & Jaturapitakkul, C. (2010). Influence of fly ash fineness and shape on the
porosity and permeability of blended cement pastes. International Journal of Minerals,
Metallurgy, and Materials, 17, 683–690.

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EXPLORING DIVERSE DIMENSIONS OF ETHNOGRAPHIC

RESEARCH IN CONSTRUCTION
Majid Al Jahdhami*, Linda Leow

Military Technological College, Muscat, Oman.Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

*Corresponding author: majid.aljahdhami@mtc.edu.om

ABSTRACT
Ethnographic Research offers a unique and invaluable approach to enhancing the design and planning
process in the construction industry. By immersing researchers in the real-world contexts and lived
experiences of stakeholders (especially end-users), ethnography provides deep insights into the
complexities, challenges, and opportunities that shape Construction Projects.

My recent Ethnographic Research-based study addresses a recognized problem whereby design intention
is often wrongly assumed to be an accurate prediction of future end-user action, resulting in lower-than-
expected building performance when measured quantitatively through Post Occupancy Evaluation
surveys.

The issue with the adoption of current approaches to incorporating sustainability practices in building
design indicates that more attention is paid to environmental sustainability and less to the social dimension
of sustainability, despite the widely accepted definition of sustainability having an explicit anthropocentric
focus that emphasizes human needs. The data-enriched reports from this ground-breaking Research have
served to effectively illustrate the associated challenges faced by end-users' daily life in the built
environment. Furthermore, my Research has revealed an illuminating fact - that the influences of cultural
and contextual factors extend beyond the intentions of design for sustainability.

In a wider context, Ethnographic Insights can inform the Design and Planning process in the following
ways: Understanding stakeholder perspectives and behaviors, identifying context-specific challenges and
uncovering opportunities for waste reduction, where Ethnographic Research can contribute to the effective
incorporation of the Ideal Waste Hierarchy (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Dispose), a guiding principle for
sustainable waste management. Within this context, specifically related to Recycling and Reuse, a
promising strategy in the Design and Planning process, ie. “Designing for Adaptability”, which involves
intentionally planning and designing buildings to accommodate future changes in use or function with
minimal renovations or modifications. This approach aims to extend a building's lifespan and reduce the
need for demolition and new construction by creating flexible and adaptable spaces
.
Other related research on the potential of ER for Construction indicates that ethnographic research can
enhance sustainability at the design & planning stage in several aspects. The most important of which is:
understanding users’ needs and behaviour, contextual insights, identifying potential challenges,
collaborative design process, and informing sustainable and inclusive design. Ethnographic research may
enhance these important aspects in various forms, some in the form of a tool, some in the form of a
solution, some in the form of added value, and some in the form of best practice.

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Keywords: Design for Adaptability, Ethnographic Research, Ideal Waste Hierarchy, Recycling and
Reuse, Post-Occupancy Evaluation

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INNOVATIVE REUSE OF TREATED WASTEWATER IN CONCRETE:

PATHWAYS TO SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION PRACTICES
Aaqib Ali1*, Mehvish Bilal1 , Mubashir Aziz1,2, Syed Umair Ali Naqvi1,2,
1
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals,
Dhahran, 31261, Saudi Arabia.
2
Interdisciplinary Research Center for Construction and Building Materials, King Fahd University of Petroleum
and Minerals, Dhahran, 31261, Saudi Arabia.
*Corresponding author: g202210600@kfupm.edu.sa

ORCID Code: 0000-0001-6621-0885

ABSTRACT
In light of escalating global water scarcity and the pressing need for sustainable construction practices,
this study explores the use of treated wastewater in concrete production—a vital measure towards
sustainable development and water conservation in the construction industry. With a significant portion
of the world projected to face severe water shortages by 2025, alternative solutions for water usage in
industrial applications, including concrete production, are urgently needed. This paper presents
comprehensive research on the substitution of freshwater with various types of treated wastewater in
concrete mixtures. By examining domestic, industrial, and black and grey wastewaters, this study
evaluates the feasibility of using these alternatives without compromising the structural integrity and
durability of concrete. We explore how different treatment levels (primary, secondary, tertiary) impact the
mechanical properties such as compressive strength, setting time, and durability of the resultant concrete.
Our findings indicate that tertiary treated wastewater performs comparably to conventional freshwater in
concrete applications, showing enhanced early-age strength and satisfactory durability. Notably, the use
of treated wastewater not only preserves scarce freshwater resources but also reduces the environmental
burden of wastewater disposal. Moreover, the incorporation of treated wastewater in concrete aligns with
low-carbon economy objectives by reducing the energy and resource intensity traditionally associated
with concrete production. This research contributes to the body of knowledge by providing a viable
solution to the dual challenges of water scarcity and sustainable construction, supporting the advancement
of recycling and reuse practices in industrial applications. The study also underscores the importance of
continued research into the suitability of various treated wastewaters for concrete production. Thereby, it
aims to standardize practices that could be adopted universally. This would foster a more sustainable and
resource-efficient construction industry.

Keywords: Sustainable Construction, Wastewater Reuse, Concrete Production, Water Conservation,

Environmental Impact

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SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES OF DISASTER DEMOLITION
WASTE RECYCLING:
COMPUTATIONAL WASTE PREDICTION APPROACH
Ugur Emre Temelli1, Naim Sezgin2, Bilge Ozdogan Cumali2, Rıza Evren Kilci3, Semih Nemlioglu2
1
Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa Vocational School of Technical Sciences, Civil Defense and Firefighting
Program, Büyükçekmece Istanbul,34500, Turkiye.
2
Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Faculty of Engineering, Department of Environmental Engineering,
34320, Avcilar, Istanbul, Turkiye.
3
Municipality of Avcilar, Vice-Mayor,34500, Buyukcekmece, Istanbul, Turkiye
*Corresponding author: etemelli@iuc.edu.tr
ORCID Code: 0000-0002-6894-0723

ABSTRACT
Production amounts and contents of solid waste generally vary depending on factors such as the
development levels of countries, their populations, construction activities (building construction,
demolition activities and materials used in construction, etc.) and traditions. Construction and demolition
waste (CDW), which has a large share, constitutes 36% of the amount of solid waste generated in European
countries, 60% in the United States, and 30-40% in China. CDWs are also formed because of natural
disasters such as floods, earthquakes and landslides, resulting in larger amounts of waste. Having a
heterogeneous structure, CDWs are a mixture of different materials, including inert, non-inert, non-
hazardous, and hazardous wastes, as well as heavy mineral fraction wastes (MFWs) such as bricks, tiles
and concrete. 86% of CDWs consist of mineral fraction wastes, while the rest consists of bricks, concrete,
etc., which vary depending on the type of construction. They may also include materials such as metal,
glass, bitumen and organic materials. Moreover, one of the main challenges in CDW management is the
lack of relevant policies such as green design, waste minimization, use of recyclable materials and
producer-based responsibility systems. These challenges prevent the identification, separate collection,
and recovery of high economic value materials in CDWs. Having legal regulations for CDWs in each
country, especially encouraging sustainable practices and encouraging the recovery of valuable materials,
are important steps for the management of CDWs. With the circular economy approach, it becomes
important to reintroduce the materials contained in CDWs to the market. CDWs, which generally consist
of inert materials, can be used as alternative raw materials in various production processes such as road
paving, construction foundation filling, paving and paving stone production, and ready-mixed concrete
production. Thus, for a circular economy, effective management, and a holistic approach to accurately
identify and evaluate the potential of CDWs waste materials suitable for reuse, recycling or recovery are
essential. It is very important to develop plans for the evaluation of materials contained in CDWs,
especially in large quantities that may occur during natural disasters.

In this study, the volumetric and mass amounts of CDWs formed by emergency-heavily damaged-
collapsed houses (USDCH), moderately damaged houses (MDH) and lightly damaged houses (LDH) due
to earthquakes centered in Kahramanmaraş and Hatay were investigated. Calculations were made for 11

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provinces on February 6, 2023, using different scenarios in the literature. In addition, the amount of CDW
that may arise due to the expected Istanbul Earthquake was also estimated in the study. This research is
thought to have an important place in that it provides estimates of the CDW amounts that may occur in
various scenarios both under normal conditions and during disasters and contributes to the circular
economy through the sustainable management of these wastes.

Keywords: Construction and demolition waste, Disaster management, Environmental impact, Recycling,
Risk management

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DEVELOPMENT OF FRP COMPOSITE PALLETS VIA PULTRUSION

METHOD BY USING OF MANUFACTURING WASTE GLASS FIBERS
Mert İlkmen*, Yaşar Engin Balaman

Metyx Composites-Telateks A.Ş., Manisa,45030, Turkey

*Corresponding author: mert.ilkmen@metyx.com
ORCID Code: 0009-0001-4563-5101

ABSTRACT
This paper presents a comprehensive study on the design, manufacturing, and performance evaluation of
FRP (fiber reinforced plastic) composite pallets aimed at addressing the limitations of conventional pallet
materials such as wood and metal. FRP composite pallets were developed by using waste and scrap glass
fibres from textile manufacturing process with unsaturated polyester resin. Pultrusion method was used
for manufacturing of pallet profiles. Compression molding process was used to develop pallet wedges
with chopped glass fiber scraps. Utilizing fiberglass scraps and waste helps divert these materials from
landfills, contributing to waste reduction and promoting a more sustainable approach to manufacturing.
Comparative analyses with conventional pallet materials were carried out to quantify the advantages of
FRP composite pallets in terms of durability, longevity, and overall lifecycle cost. The results showed
better mechanical performance and reusability compared to wooden pallets. A 35% reduction in composite
pallet weight and a 20% reduction in height was achieved. The decrease in weight resulted in a decrease
in the environmental impact during transportation, and the decrease in height resulted in a 15% increase
in efficiency as more products could be transported in one operation. When composite pallets were used
instead of wooden pallets, which are scraped after 3 uses, the number of pallets used decreased from
50,000 per year to 2,600. The reusability of composite pallets prevented the use of 750,000 mt of wooden
planks. In conclusion, the development of pallets using FRP composites represents a significant
advancement in material handling technology, offering enhanced performance, durability, and
environmental sustainability compared to traditional pallet materials. Future research directions may focus
on further optimization of manufacturing processes, integration of smart sensors for real-time monitoring,
and life cycle assessment to quantify the environmental benefits of FRP composite pallets.

Keywords: FRP pallets, Composites, Reuse, Glass fiber waste, Sustainability

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MITIGATING ENVIRONMENTAL RISKS IN HYDROGEN PRODUCTION

THROUGH RELIABILITY ENGINEERING: A CASE STUDY ON AN
ELECTROLYSIS SITE
Ali Serdar Gültek
Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa Vocational School of Technical Sciences, Private Security and Protection
Program, Istanbul, Turkiye.
*Corresponding author: sgultek@iuc.edu.tr
ORCID Code: 0000-0003-2869-086X

ABSTRACT
This study investigates the critical role of reliability engineering in mitigating environmental risks
associated with hydrogen production processes, focusing on an electrolysis site. In the evaluated site,
hydrogen gas is produced through alkaline water electrolysis, stored in pressurized tanks, and transferred
via compressors.

In the event of compressor failure, a spare compressor is automatically activated, demonstrating the first
layer of redundancy in the system. Furthermore, redundant safety measures are also implemented to ensure
operational resilience. In the worst-case scenario, if the interlock safety switch malfunctions, the hydrogen
gas produced from the electrolysis cell, which will continue to operate, will be discharged into the
atmosphere through the bypass line. Potential consequences of hydrogen gas release may include
explosions and subsequent environmental hazards.

The reliability concept aims to minimize environmental risks by focusing on the durability and operability
of equipment in the electrolysis field. To evaluate the environmental impact, explosion energy, blast
effects, and simulation scenarios were calculated and analyzed using the EPA's ALOHA model.

Keywords: hydrogen generation; electrolysis; reliability; explosion; ammonia; gas dispersion modelling.

INTRODUCTION
The transition towards clean energy sources is crucial for combating climate change. Hydrogen, a versatile
fuel with minimal environmental impact at the point of use, has emerged as a promising contender.
However, ensuring the safety of hydrogen production processes remains a key concern. Reliability
engineering in ensuring the environmental safety associated with hydrogen production facilities pose a
critical role, specifically focusing on electrolysis sites.

Electrolysis, the process of splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen using electricity, is a widely explored
method for hydrogen production. While clean at the point of use, the process itself necessitates careful
consideration of potential safety hazards. Al Douri and Groth highlight the need for improved risk
assessment methods in water electrolysis. Calabrese et al. reviewed hydrogen production, storage,
transport and utilization processes comprehensively.

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A potential scenario where a critical equipment failure, such as a malfunction in the hydrogen gas removal
system, could lead to a series of cascading events with severe environmental consequences. Khan and
Abbasi explain the domino effect in chemical plants, where an accident in one unit can trigger a chain
reaction of accidents in nearby units, causing significant damage. Khan and Abbasi extended their work
to highlight the need for improved risk assessment in fertilizer plants. Yarandi et al modeled the
consequences of an ammonia leak in a slaughterhouse.

Reliability engineering focuses on the durability and operability of equipment within the electrolysis
system. Deshpande and Modak studied how Reliability Centered Maintenance (RCM) can improve
maintenance practices in a steel mill's vacuum degassing system. Unlike traditional planned or unplanned
maintenance. Abubakar et al studied a new method for optimizing chemical process design and operation
that considers variability and uncertainty.

By implementing preventative maintenance schedules and real-time system monitoring, unforeseen

situations can be identified and addressed before they escalate into critical incidents. Martins et al reported
an application that improved preventative maintenance in a transformer company.

To quantify the potential environmental impact of a hydrogen gas explosion, the study utilizes the EPA's
ALOHA model. This model allows researchers to simulate the blast effects and explosion energy
associated with such incidents. Hutama et al assessed the risk of a pertalite storage tank at a fuel terminal.
Rawool studied the potential dangers of fertilizer production due to accidental releases. Ko simulated a
hydrofluoric acid leak from a storage tank using ALOHA software to assess the resulting hazards. Barjoee
et al investigated the consequences of a toluene leak using two software programs, ALOHA and PHAST.
By prioritizing proactive reliability engineering practices and implementing robust safety protocols, the
risks associated with hydrogen production can be significantly mitigated.

MATERIAL METHOD
In the evaluated site, hydrogen gas is produced through alkaline water electrolysis, stored in pressurized
tanks, and transferred via compressors. In the event of compressor failure, a spare compressor is
automatically activated, demonstrating the first layer of redundancy in the system. Furthermore, redundant
safety measures are implemented to ensure operational resilience; if the spare compressor fails, a third
compressor is promptly engaged to maintain hydrogen production. However, in the rare occurrence of all
compressors failing, an interlock safety switch is deployed to swiftly cut off electrical current to the
facility, halting the electrolysis unit. Despite these safeguards, a brief waiting period may be required for
the complete removal of gases formed during the process, particularly in large-scale facilities. In order to
facilitate gas removal, a dedicated bypass line is installed to discharge any remaining gas to the
atmosphere. In the worst-case scenario, if the interlock safety switch malfunctions, the hydrogen gas
produced from the electrolysis cell, which will continue to operate, will be discharged into the atmosphere
through the bypass line.

Numerous number of research conducted by different parties to assess the reliability of compressor units,
mainly based on the analysis of failure data and structural reliability theory. Yu et al investigated the
significant impact of the operating conditions on the precise forecasting of the performance parameters.
Researchers in the United States of America developed the ALOHA model of EPA. It is supported bythe

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Emergency Response Division1 (ERD), a division within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA) in collaboration with the Office of Emergency Management of the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Its primary purpose is to provide emergency response personnel
estimates of the spatial extent of some common hazards associated with chemical spills. ALOHA provides
estimates of the spatial extent of some of the hazards associated with the short-term accidental release of
volatile and flammable chemicals. ALOHA deals specifically with human health hazards associated with
inhalation of toxic chemical vapors, thermal radiation from chemical fires, and the effects of the pressure
wave from vapor-cloud explosions. ALOHA uses a single model which produces identical source strength
estimates for holes and pipes regardless of which rupture type its user chooses. Further details of the
calculation are available in the technical documentation of the model.

RESULTS AND FINDINGS

If the interlock safety switch malfunctions, the hydrogen gas produced from the electrolysis cell, which
will continue to operate, will be discharged into the atmosphere through the bypass line at a flow rate of
128 cubic meters per hour. Potential consequences of hydrogen gas release may include explosions and
subsequent environmental hazards. Simulation result of hydrogen release from the bypass line are shown
in Figure.1a. In the event of a hydrogen gas explosion, it is plausible that the ensuing pressure surge may
inflict damage on the 2-ton capacity ammonia tank situated outside the adjacent facility. Blast effect
simulation result for ignition of hydrogen gas release is shown in Figure.1b. Under such circumstances, a
cascading effect may occur, wherein the rupture of the tank's bottom pipe could lead to the dispersal of
gas over a volume of 2500 cubic meters, posing a toxic gas cloud threat to the surrounding geography and
settlements within kilometers. Simulation result of ammonia gas dispersion is shown in Figure.2.

(a) (b)

Figure 1. (a) Simulation result of hydrogen release from the bypass line, (b) Blast effect simulation result
for ignition of hydrogen gas release

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Figure 2. Simulation result of ammonia gas dispersion

CONCLUSION
This study highlights the critical importance of reliability engineering in mitigating environmental risks
associated with hydrogen production through electrolysis. The case study of an electrolysis site
demonstrates the potential for catastrophic consequences when multiple safety systems fail, underscoring
the need for robust, redundant safety measures and proactive maintenance strategies.

By prioritizing reliability engineering and robust safety protocols, the hydrogen industry can minimize
environmental risks while maximizing the potential of this clean energy source. This approach is essential
for building public trust and ensuring the sustainable growth of hydrogen as a key player in the global
energy transition.

REFERENCES
Abubakar, U., Sriramula, S., & Renton, N. C. (2015). Reliability of complex chemical engineering
processes. Computers & Chemical Engineering, 74, 1-14.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compchemeng.2014.12.013
Al-Douri, A., & Groth, K. M. (2024). Hydrogen production via electrolysis: State-of-the-art and research
needs in risk and reliability analysis. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 63, 775-785.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2024.03.188
Barjoee, S. S., Elmi, M. R., Varaoon, V. T., Keykhosravi, S. S., & Karimi, F. (2022). Hazards of toluene
storage tanks in a petrochemical plant: modeling effects, consequence analysis, and comparison of
two modeling programs. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 29(3), 4587-4615.
Calabrese M, Portarapillo M, Di Nardo A, Venezia V, Turco M, Luciani G, Di Benedetto A. Hydrogen
Safety Challenges: A Comprehensive Review on Production, Storage, Transport, Utilization, and
CFD-Based Consequence and Risk Assessment. Energies. 2024; 17(6):1350.
https://doi.org/10.3390/en17061350
Deshpande, V. S., & Modak, J. P. (2002). Application of RCM for safety considerations in a steel plant.
Reliability Engineering & System Safety, 78(3), 325-334. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0951-
8320(02)00177-1
Hutama, A. Y., Yustinah, Y., Redjeki, A. S., & Fithriyah, N. H. (2024, July). Analysis of the Impact of
Fire on Oil Storage Tanks at PT X: ALOHA Model Approach for Vapor Cloud Explosion
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EVALUATION OF NATURAL RADIOACTIVITY LEVELS FOR

SUSTAINABLE SETTLEMENT SELECTION IN CENTRAL ANATOLIA
REGION IN TURKIYE
Naim Sezgin1, Namik Aysal2, Bilge Ozdogan Cumali1, Semih Nemlioglu1*
1
Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Faculty of Engineering, Department of Environmental Engineering, Avcilar,
Istanbul, 34320, Turkiye
2
Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Faculty of Engineering, Department of Geological Engineering,
Buyukcekmece, Istanbul, 34500, Turkiye.
*Corresponding author: snemli@iuc.edu.tr
ORCID Code: 0000-0002-9938-4651

ABSTRACT
Choosing a suitable settlement is an extremely important issue so that people can live in an
environmentally sound manner. In terms of environmental factors, in choosing suitable settlements to
sustain life, in addition to anthropological pollutants, the natural conditions of the environment, such as
the natural radioactivity level in the surface soil, should also be taken into consideration for the protection
of human health. Natural radioactivity in surface soil can sometimes reach health-threatening levels in
some parts of the world compared to other places. Places where this situation may be encountered include
regions where uranium and thorium elements are more abundant and naturally the concentrations of
radioactive isotopes Ra226, Th232, and K40 are high. In order to prevent the buildings to be constructed
to provide shelter in settlements from being exposed to high natural radioactivity and to ensure the proper
disposal of excavation soil that will be generated during building construction, the most appropriate
approach is to determine the natural radioactivity levels in the surface soil in the selection of the settlement
and not to choose unsuitable areas for settlement.

Due to the presence of uranium mineral deposits in the Central Anatolia Region of Turkey, some parts of
it have the potential to have high natural radioactivity in the surface soil. In this study, the activation
concentration measurement results of Ra226, Th232, and K40 isotopes in the surface soil in all districts
in the Central Anatolia Region of Turkey were mapped and the radioactivity indices Raeq, Dose Rate, and
Hex were calculated and their levels were discussed in terms of radioactivity safety, and a sustainable
settlement in the region suitable for environmental conditions was determined. Suggestions are presented
to ensure this. It was understood that the activation concentrations of Ra226, Th232, and K40 isotopes in
the surface soil in the region were 87.55 Bq/kg, 137.55Bq/kg and 1650.05 Bq/kg, respectively.

Keywords: Natural radioactivity, Settlement, Sustainability

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HOW NATURAL CATASTROPHES AND PLASTIC WASTE MANAGEMENT

IMPACT AGRICULTURAL SOILS AND FARMLANDS' LEVELS OF
MICROPLASTICS AND NANOPLASTICS?
Maria-Paraskevi Belioka1*, Dimitrios S. Achilias1
1
Lab of Polymer and Colours Chemistry and Technology, Department of Chemistry,
Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece.
*Corresponding author: mpelioka@chem.auth.gr
ORCID Code: 0009-0008-2040-5888

ABSTRACT
Microplastics (MPs, less than 5 mm in diameter) are widely distributed, and because of their slowrate of
degradation, they are considered a serious environmental problem. In this study, our aim was to
assess,based on available data, if MPs, after natural catastrophes and weathering occurrences brought on
by climate change, pose a new risk to the health of the soil in agroecosystems and farmlands. There is
concern that global warming will unavoidably have an influence on the environmental fate of MPs because
plastic pollutionand climate change are two of the main environmental concerns. Currently, concerns
have been raised regarding the breakdown of plastic products into micro and nanosized particles, because
of the ineffective plastic waste management. To be more precise, we looked at the fate of environmental
MPs after natural disasters and natural phenomena. The main ways that MPs are released intothe
environment are through melting ice, which releases them into the ocean; wind-driven
sedimentation,which disperses them from shorelines into nearby bodies of water; and soil accumulation
brought on by drought, which finally accumulates them. Thus, in this review, we examined the most recent
findings on MP in soils and farmlands, such as the processes by which plants absorb MPs and NPs from
the soil or the mechanisms of natural phenomena like storms, water runoff, and winds that carry plastics
and microplastics into the oceans. To prioritize regions for mitigation policy implementation, it is critical
to pinpoint the precise microplastics’ transport mechanisms and the locations where trash is created. In
order to show the historical and contemporary circumstances as well as forecasts and scenarios of global
plastic waste management from now until 2060, we used continent-level data on trash management.
Moreover, we evaluated the ecological dangers that MPs pose to soil interactions, pointed outinformation
gaps, and made recommendations for further study. This study, finally, presents a potential future scenario
of estimates on the destiny, transport and occurrence of plastic waste in aquatic habitats, highlighting the
different factors who provoque the microplastics’ transport into water and the necessity of a rational
management of plastic waste.

Keywords: microplastics, nanoplastics, plastic pollution, agricultural soils, farmlands, plastic waste management

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RECOVERY OF POLYHYDROXYALKANOATES (PHAS)

FROM TEXTILE INDUSTRY EFFLUENTS
Seferhan Yılmaz*, Özlem Karahan Özgün

Istanbul Technical University, Istanbul, 34467, Turkey.

*Corresponding author: yilmazsef@itu.edu.tr

ORCID Code: 0000-0002-4426-1662

ABSTRACT
Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are biologically produced thermoplastics derived from various feedstocks.
Their bio-based and biodegradable nature makes them an attractive renewable alternative to conventional
petroleum-based plastics, produced by different microorganisms. Wastewater that has high organic carbon
content is a promising source for PHA production. However, for industrial wastewaters, it is not always
feasible to use the entire wastewater for recovery. Instead, specific streams may hold significant potential
for valorisation.

The textile finishing industry is a highly water-intensive sector, where deeper investigation into recovery
options is needed due to the significant organic carbon content in specific streams. This study aims to
recover the carbon content of textile wastewater through PHA production using mixed cultures. A COD-
rich textile wastewater stream was examined to determine the efficiency of PHA production by mixed
microbial cultures under different operating conditions in continuous Sequencing Batch Reactors (SBRs).
Maximum PHA storage of mixed cultures was determined by accumulation tests. Moreover, the extraction
of PHA (PHB, PHV and PH2MV) was performed using sodium hydroxide (NaOH), sodium hypochlorite
(NaClO) and waste NaOH from textile bleaching process in the context of reuse. Different biomass pre-
treatment methods (fresh, dried and lyophilized) were tested to determine optimal conditions for pre-
processing steps. The maximum PHA storage was observed to be 35% dry cell weight (DCW) in the
accumulation tests. In the extraction studies, waste NaOH from textile bleaching process showed lower
efficiencies when compared to the highest vales achieved using NaOCl.

Keywords: PHA extraction, Textile wastewaters, mixed microbial culture, biopolymer, wastewater
valorization

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DETERMINATION AND UTILIZATION OF CONSTRUCTION AND

DEMOLITION WASTE AFTER A POSSIBLE AEGEAN EARTHQUAKE: THE
CASE OF MILAS DISTRICT
Ugur Emre Temelli

Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa Vocational School of Technical Sciences, Civil Defense and Firefighting
Program, Buyukcekmece Istanbul,34500, Turkiye.
*Corresponding author: etemelli@iuc.edu.tr
ORCID Code: 0000-0002-6894-0723

ABSTRACT
During periods when cities did not undergo rapid population growth, waste was not deemed a significant
concern due to the limited quantity generated and the abundance of available storage space. However, the
acceleration of industrialization and urbanization, particularly following the Industrial Revolution, has led
to both an increase in the quantity and a diversification of waste within cities. Consequently, shortcomings
in the infrastructure and areas designated for waste storage and disposal have emerged, making the
management of solid waste one of the foremost challenges facing modern societies. These difficulties in
waste management contribute to numerous environmental issues. Despite variations in waste generation
today driven by factors such as a country's level of development, population size, construction activities,
materials utilized in construction, and cultural practices, Construction and Demolition Waste (CDW)
constitutes a significant portion of this waste. Effectively managing CDW presents various challenges,
including limited landfill capacity, substantial land and transportation expenses, and the associated
environmental risks.

Preparation of plans based on various scenarios, especially in the management of construction and
demolition wastes arising from buildings that are demolished/will be demolished as a result of disasters
such as earthquakes, will contribute to reducing the environmental risks caused by these wastes. The fact
that these wastes contain recyclable/reusable materials such as bricks, sand, wood, glass, plastic and metal
shows that these wastes have economic value. Therefore, it is important to prepare plans for the
management of these wastes, such as disposal and recovery/reuse plans based on different scenarios and
to reveal the cost analysis.

In this study, the approximate mass and volumetric amounts of construction debris wastes that may be
generated in Milas district due to the expected Aegean earthquake were calculated and the amounts of
scrap iron waste (SIW) and mineral fraction waste (MFW) that may be generated within these wastes were
determined. The transportation and recovery costs that may be incurred for SIW and MFW recovery / raw
material use in cement factories were calculated.

Keywords: Disaster management, Risk management, Cement; Earthquake, Construction and demolition
waste, scrap iron waste

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EVALUATION OF NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENTATION STRATEGY FOR

BIOLOGICAL TREATMENT OF TEXTILE WASTEWATER
Saidou Kinda, Naim Sezgin*
Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Engineering Faculty, Environmental Engineering Department, 34320,
Avcilar, Istanbul, Turkey
*Corresponding author: nsezgin@iuc.edu.tr
ORCID Code: 0000-0003-3614-5861

ABSTRACT
In recent years, rapid population growth, agricultural expansion, urbanization, industrialization, and
climate change have severely depleted drinkable and usable water resources, making access increasingly
difficult. These challenges pose serious economic, social, environmental, and public health concerns. As
a result, industries are striving to minimize their water usage. Discharge standards have become more
stringent, and alongside carbon footprint, water footprint has gained significant importance. Consequently,
industries aim to reduce their water footprints by reusing water in their processes as much as possible,
making water reuse an essential practice.

The textile industry is an important component of the economic development of many countries. However,
the textile industry is one of the industries with the highest water consumption and large amounts of
wastewater production. In particular, various dyes and chemicals in wastewater make it difficult to
biologically treat these wastewaters. In this study, solutions to nutrient deficiencies encountered in the
biological treatment of textile industry wastewaters were theoretical examined by synthetic fertilizers,
such as diammonium phosphate (DAP). In this context, theoretical and cost studies were carried out
regarding nitrogen and phosphorus supplementation. In this analyses, calculation was carried out so that
the COD/N/P ratio would be 100/5/1. According to the study results, using 187.5 kg of Diammonium
Phosphate (DAP) under the specified conditions was found to be optimal for addressing nutrient
deficiencies in biological wastewater treatment in terms of efficiency.

Keywords: Textile industry, Wastewater treatment, Nutrient deficiency, Diammonium Phosphate

INTRODUCTION
The textile industry is recognized worldwide as a significant driver of economic development. For
developing countries, this sector plays a crucial role in creating employment, increasing export capacity,
and contributing to national income (Islam et al., 2022). Globally, the textile and apparel sectors make up
more than 60% of total exports from developing countries (OECD, 2008). However, this economic
contribution is overshadowed by high water consumption and negative environmental impacts. Textile
production processes, such as dyeing, bleaching, washing, and finishing, rely heavily on water, leading to
the generation of large amounts of polluted wastewater (Babu et al., 2007). The discharge of these
wastewater streams, containing large amounts of chemicals, directly into water sources without proper
treatment poses a major environmental issue (Sandin et al., 2018). Textile wastewater typically contains
components like dyes, heavy metals, detergents, oils, and various toxic chemicals. The complex structures
of synthetic dyes make them difficult to remove through conventional physical and chemical treatment
methods (Khattab et al., 2020). These chemicals not only contribute to water pollution but also have toxic

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effects on living organisms (Hassaan and El Nemr, 2017). Degradation products of azo dyes, in particular,
are known to have carcinogenic and mutagenic effects (Ghaly et al., 2014).

Biological treatment of wastewater is an environmentally friendly method that uses natural processes.
During biological treatment, microorganisms break down organic pollutants through biochemical
processes to purify the water (Sanchis-Perucho et al., 2023). However, wastewater from the textile
industry often lacks nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus that microorganisms require, reducing the
efficiency of biological treatment and negatively impacting treatment performance (Bidu et Al., 2022).
Studies aimed at addressing nutrient deficiencies generally recommend the addition of external sources
containing nitrogen and phosphorus. These nutrients can be sourced from natural resources or alternatives
such as animal manure or synthetic fertilizers.

In this study, the issue of nutrient deficiency in a biological wastewater treatment plant at a textile factory
was examined, and a scenario was developed to improve the treatment plant’s performance based on the
wastewater characterization. This scenario evaluated an option including synthetic fertilizer such as
diammonium phosphate (DAP).

MATERIAL METHOD
In this study, which examines nutrient supply strategies for the biological treatment of textile wastewater,
a scenario was developed based on the wastewater from a textile factory located in Sakarya province.
Within the study, the wastewater characterization was first determined. Then, to address the nutrient
deficiency issue in the current biological treatment system and to ensure stable operation, the required
nutrient amounts based on the wastewater characterization were calculated with a COD/N/P ratio of
100/5/1, and a nutrient supply scenario was developed. Additionally, the cost of providing supplementary
nutrients according to this scenario was determined, and an economic analysis was conducted.

Water Mass Balance and Wastewater Characterization of the Facility

The water mass balance of the textile factory under study, including the amounts of water used in various
processes and the resulting wastewater values, is provided in Table 1. As shown in Table 1, the majority
of wastewater in the facility is generated in the fabric and yarn dyeing and finishing units (408 m³/day).
Wastewater from other processes, as well as from domestic use, is treated in the facility’s biological and
subsequent chemical treatment plants. The treatment system includes an equalization tank equipped with
a screen and rotary disk, an extended aeration activated sludge system, and coagulation-flocculation and
sedimentation units for chemical treatment. Additionally, a sludge thickening system is in place for the
generated treatment sludge. The analysis results of the raw wastewater produced in the facility are
presented in Table 2. All analyses were conducted in accredited laboratories.

Upon examining Table 2, it is observed that the ideal C/N/P ratio required for aerobic biological treatment
is 600/3/1 instead of the recommended 100/5/1. Consequently, there is a nutrient deficiency in the current
biological treatment system, and the imbalance between carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus negatively
impacts treatment efficiency. Due to this imbalance, the quantities of chemicals used in the chemical
treatment units have increased to meet the desired discharge standards (the COD outlet concentration must
be 225 mg/L as per the relevant standard, necessitating an overall treatment efficiency of 85%). This
situation raises the operating costs of the treatment system, leading to economic challenges.

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Table 1. Water Mass Balance
Purpose of use Process Amount Wastewater Amount
(m3/day) (m3/day)
Process Water Fabric and Yarn Dyeing and Finishing 420 408
Utility Water Domestic 200 160
Cooling Water Dyeing and Finishing 15 14
Other 28 18
Total 663 600

Table 2. Analysis of raw wastewater

Parameters Results Unit
Flow rate 600 m3/day
COD 1500 mg/L
BOD 5 500 mg/L
Conductivity 1400 uS/cm
Color 800 Pt-Co
TSS 550 mg/L
pH 8
Total Nitrogen 7,5 mg/L
Total Phosphorus 2,5 mg/L
Ammonia 0,3 mg/L
Oil and Grease 5 mg/L
o
Temperature 31 C

Calculation of Required Nutrient and DAP Amount

To achieve a COD/N/P ratio of 100/5/1 in the biological aeration tank of the facility (the ratio was
calculated as 600/3/1 based on wastewater analysis) and an 85% treatment efficiency, the equations
provided below (Eq. 1-6) have been used. These equations are provided for calculating the necessary
amount of N and can similarly be applied for calculating P. For P, Equation 2 uses a (1/100) ratio. Given
that 100 kg of synthetic DAP fertilizer contains 18 kg of N and 46 kg of P, the required amount of DAP
has been calculated using the equations below (Eq.5 and 6). Market research indicates that DAP fertilizer
is sold in 50 kg packages, with a price per package of approximately 2000 TL or around 54 Euros at the
current exchange rate. Thus, the cost of the DAP fertilizer required for the biological treatment system has
been determined. The necessary amount of DAP fertilizer has been calculated for both N and P. The
greater of the two calculated DAP amounts is taken as the required amount.

𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 10−6 𝑚𝑚3

𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 (𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛 𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡 𝑏𝑏𝑏𝑏 𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟)(𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑) = 𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 � 𝐿𝐿
� (10−3 )𝑥𝑥 𝑄𝑄 �𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑� 𝑥𝑥 𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅 𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸 (85%) (1)
kg kg 5 kg N
𝑇𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑒 𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡 𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟 𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 𝑁𝑁 �day� = COD (day) x (100 kg COD) (2)
𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 10−6 𝑚𝑚3
𝑇𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑒 𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐 𝑁𝑁 𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 𝑃𝑃 �𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑� = 𝑇𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑒 𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟 𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤 𝑁𝑁 � 𝐿𝐿
� (10−3 )𝑥𝑥 𝑄𝑄 �𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑� (3)

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kg kg
𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷 𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 𝑁𝑁 𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 𝑃𝑃 �day� = 𝑇𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑒 𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡 𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟 𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 𝑁𝑁 𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 𝑃𝑃 �day� −
𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘
𝑇𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑒 𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐 𝑁𝑁 𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 𝑃𝑃 �𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 � (4)
kg DAP kg 100 kg DAP
𝑇𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑒 𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟 𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷 𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓 𝑁𝑁 � day
� = 𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷 𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 𝑁𝑁 (day) x ( 18 kg N
) (5)
kg DAP kg 100 kg DAP
𝑇𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑒 𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟 𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷 𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓 𝑃𝑃 � day
� = 𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷 𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 𝑃𝑃 (day) x ( 46 kg P
) (6)

RESULTS and DISCUSSION

In this study, the nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) deficiencies in the biological wastewater treatment plant
of the textile factory under investigation and the amount of DAP fertilizer required to address these
deficiencies were calculated using Equations 1-6. The calculated values and the total cost of the DAP
fertilizer are presented in Table 3.

Table 3. The calculated N, P and DAP amounts and total DAP cost
Parameters Amounts Unit
COD (needs to be removed) 765 (kg COD/day)
The total required amount of N 38.25 (kg N/day)
The current N 4.5 (kg N/day)
Deficiency of N 33.75 (56.26 mg/L) (kg N/day)
The total required amount of P 7.65 (kg P/day)
The current P 1.5 (kg P/day)
Deficiency of P 6.15 (10.25 mg/L) (kg P/day)
The required amount of DAP for N 187.5 (kg DAP/day)
The required amount of DAP for P 13.37 (kg DAP/day)
Selected DAP amount 187.5 (kg DAP/day)
1 kg Cost of DAP 1.08 (URL 1) Euro
Total Cost of DAP 202.5 Euro/day

According to the information presented in Table 3, the required amounts of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus
(P) for the biological treatment plant to operate ideally and achieve the targeted treatment efficiency are
33.75 kg/day and 6.15 kg/day, respectively. The amount of synthetic fertilizer (DAP) needed to address
this N and P deficiency has been calculated as 187.5 kg/day. The daily cost for this amount of DAP is
approximately 202.5 Euros, based on the current exchange rate.

CONCLUSION
This study addresses the issue of nutrient deficiency observed in the aerobic biological treatment of textile
industry wastewater, one of the largest users of process water and wastewater generators globally. For this
purpose, the characterization of raw wastewater from a textile company and the required amounts of
nutrients (N and P) based on the targeted treatment efficiency were determined. Additionally, the amount
of synthetic DAP fertilizer required to address this nutrient deficiency and the total daily cost were
calculated. In these calculations, a COD/N/P ratio of 100/5/1 was considered. Based on the results from
the calculations performed in this study, it was determined that the system requires 33.75 kg of N and 6.15
kg of P per day. The required amounts of DAP to meet the daily N and P needs were calculated as 187.5
kg and 13.37 kg of DAP, respectively. As expected, the amount of N in DAP fertilizer is lower, but since
the system requires more N, the required amount of DAP was determined based on the calculated N needs.
The cost of the daily DAP required was estimated to be approximately 202.5 Euros. Based on the results

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of this study, the additional nutrients required for biological treatment in the textile industry can be
supplied through DAP and similar applications. It is considered that the cost of this process is more
economical than the total cost of chemicals and other operating expenses needed for chemical treatment,
provided that the required biological treatment efficiency is achieved.

REFERENCES
Babu, B. R., Parande, A. K., & Kumar, P. T. (2007). Cotton textile processing: Waste generation and
effluent treatment. The Journal of Cotton Science, 12(1), 141-153.
Bidu, J., Selemani, J., & Njau, K., (2022) Improving biological treatment of textile wastewater. Water
Pract Technol 17:456–468. https://doi.org/10.2166/wpt.2021.083
Ghaly, A. E., Ananthashankar, R., Alhattab, M., & Ramakrishnan, V., (2014). Production,
characterization and treatment of textile effluents: A critical review. Journal of Chemical
Engineering & Process Technology, 5(1), 1-18, http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/2157-7048.1000182
Hassaan, M. A., & El Nemr, A. (2017). Health and environmental impacts of dyes: mini review.
Egyptian Journal of Aquatic Research, 43(3), 231-238, DOI: 10.11648/j.ajese.20170103.11
Islam, M. T., Jahan, R., Jahan, M., Howlader, M. S., Islam, R., Islam, M. M., Hossen M. S., Kumar, A.,
Robin, A. H., (2022 ). “Sustainable Textile Industry: An Overview,” Non-Metallic Mater. Sci.,
vol. 4, no. 2, pp. 15–32.
Khattab, T. A., Abdelrahman, M. S., and Rehan, M., (2020) Textile dyeing industry: environmental
impacts and remediation Environ. Sci. Pollut. Res. 27 3803–18, DOI: 10.1007/s11356-019-07137-z
OECD. (2008). Trade policy and the textile and clothing industry. OECD Working Papers, 3, 1-29.
Sanchis-Perucho , P., Aguado, D.,, Ferrer, J., Seco, A., Robles, A., (2023). Evaluating resource recovery
potential and process feasibility of direct membrane ultrafiltration of municipal wastewater at
demonstration scale, Environmental Technology & Innovation,Volume 32, 103252, ISSN 2352-
1864, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eti.2023.103252.
Sandin, G.; Peters, G.M. (2018) Environmental impact of textile reuse and recycling—A review. J.
Clean. 184, 353–365
URL 1: https://www.hepsiburada.com/gubretas-dap-18-46-50-kg-pm-HBC000011ZFR5, (Visiting date
June 24, 2024).

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DETERMINATION OF HEAVY METAL POLLUTION LEVELS

IN SURFACE SOIL SAMPLES
Naim Sezgin*, Semih Nemlioglu, Nilgun Balkaya

Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa, Faculty of Engineering, Department of Environmental

Engineering, 34320 Avcilar, Istanbul, Turkey
*Corresponding author: nsezgin@iuc.edu.tr
ORCID Code: 0000-0003-3614-5861

ABSTRACT
The concentration of heavy metals in soil serves as a critical indicator of anthropogenic pollution,
especially in areas with dense human habitation such as university campuses. Exceeding certain threshold
levels of heavy metals can pose significant risks to both the environment and human health. To evaluate
the extent of heavy metal contamination, various pollution indices such as enrichment factors and geo-
accumulation indices are calculating in soil samples. These indices provide valuable insights into the
degree of contamination and help assess the potential environmental impact of heavy metal pollution in
the study area.

In this research, the presence of heavy metals in soil samples collected from 27 distinct locations within
Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa Avcilar Campus were investigated. The study focused on specific heavy
metals such as As, Co, Cr and Ni. Sampling was conducted from the surface down to a depth of 20cm to
assess the distribution of these metals within the study area soil profile. The maximum amount of As, Co,
Cr and Ni were determined 20.8, 60.9 81.0, 139.6 mg/kg, respectively. By analysing the data collected
from soil samples across multiple points within the campus, this study aims to contribute to our
understanding of heavy metal pollution in urban environments and facilitate the development of effective
mitigation strategies to safeguard environmental and human health.

Keywords: Heavy Metal, Soil Pollution, Enrichment Factor, Geo-accumulation Index

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NANOPARTICLE-ENHANCED STRATEGIES FOR ANIONS CONTROL IN

EFFLUENT TREATMENT: A CASE STUDY
Naim Sezgin
Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Engineering Faculty, Environmental Engineering Department, 34320, Avcilar,
Istanbul, Turkey
*Corresponding author: nsezgin@iuc.edu.tr
ORCID Code: 0000-0003-3614-5861
ABSTRACT
Efficient anions removal from industrial effluents is a critical environmental challenge, particularly in
sectors where excess fluoride ions are prevalent, necessitating advanced treatment solutions. This study
highlights a novel approach utilizing manganese ferrite (MnFe 2 O 4 ) nanoparticles (NPs) to address this
issue, offering an innovative and effective solution for fluoride mitigation in wastewater. The targeted
industrial effluent originates primarily from the galvanotechnic industry, where fluoride contamination
poses significant risks to environmental and human health. Fluoride ions in water systems arise not only
from natural geological sources within the Earth’s crust but also from various industrial activities,
including semiconductor manufacturing, electroplating, steel production, glassmaking, fertilizers, and
ceramics. These industries often discharge wastewater containing elevated fluoride concentrations,
exceeding permissible levels for safe disposal. Therefore, the development of efficient and sustainable
treatment technologies for anions such as fluoride removal is of paramount importance to mitigate
potential environmental and health hazards

The manganese ferrite (MnFe 2 O 4 ) nanoparticles were synthesized using a simple microwave-induced
combustion method, offering a novel nano sized adsorbent for fluoride removal in this study. The
experimental investigation focused on assessing the influence of adsorbent dosage and contact time on the
adsorption process under batch conditions. The study identified the optimal dosage and contact time for
fluoride removal using these nanoparticles, 1.5 g/L and 60 minutes, respectively. These findings
underscore the effectiveness of manganese ferrite (MnFe 2 O 4 ) nanoparticles as an adsorbent for mitigating
fluoride contamination in industrial wastewater, particularly in the galvanotechnic industry.

Keywords: Adsorption, Fluoride Removal, Manganese Ferrite, Nanoparticle

INTRODUCTION
Fluoride ions can be found not only in the Earth’s crust but also industrial wastewater such as
semiconductor, electroplating, steel, glass manufacturing, fertilizers and ceramics industries (Sun et al.,
2023). As known, because of fluoride is one of the hazardous chemicals, it can lead to be some negative
effects on human health by exposure through drinking water (Zhang et al., 2020). Actually, a small amount
of fluoride in drinking water is useful for bone and teeth development (as per WHO; 0,6 mg/L) but more
than 1,5 mg/L fluoride can cause some problems for human health such as dental and skeletal fluorosis,
lesions of the endocrine glands, thyroid, liver and neurological damage. Therefore, the World Health
Organization (WHO) guidelines recommended an optimal fluoride concentration level in the range of 1-
1.2 mg/L at the 1984 (Chen et al., 2021). As a consequently, removal of excessive fluoride from water and
wastewater is of important for human health. Because of fluoride has high toxicity, its discharge

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concentration from wastewater treatment plants was regulated by many countries such as US EPA (as 4
mg/L), and Iran (2 mg/L). Nevertheless, high fluoride levels were reported by many researcher and
UNICEF in the world groundwater especially Africa, Asia and Turkey. It was reported by Oruc (2008)
that the fluoride concentrations in surface and groundwater of different part of Turkey between 1,5 mg/L
and 13,70 mg/L (Un et al., 2013).

There are many fluoride removal methods from aquatic environment such as ion exchange, precipitation,
electrodialysis, reverse osmosis, nanofiltration and ultrafiltration and adsorption. Adsorption and
precipitation methods are commonly uses for fluoride removal from water and wastewater. In generally,
chemical reagents like CaO are used for fluoride removal using precipitation method but very big amount
treatment sludge occurs in this method. Also, this method is known as economical for more than 10 mg/L
fluoride concentrations in wastewater and theoretically minimum limit concentration of fluorite is about
2 mg/L for treatment processes using this method. Considering these and similar reasons, adsorption
method is more effective than chemical precipitation method. additionally, adsorption method has been
more friendly about environmentally, more economical, more simple and more low cost than other
methods (Lv, 2007). Many adsorbents which are synthetics or natural are used for adsorption method.
Zeolites, bio sorbents, clay, activated carbon, fly ash, hydrogels, and nanomaterials are able to use as
adsorbents. In the last years, nanomaterials are applied as an adsorbent for wastewater treatment
experiments because of their properties such as highly surface area, easy synthesis methods, easy operation
and highly adsorption capacities (Sezgin, 2018).

In this study, manganese ferrite (MnFe 2 O 4 ) nanoparticles (NPs) were used for fluoride removal from
industrial wastewater which were collected from galvanotechnic industry. This NPs which is a novel
nanosized adsorbent were synthesized by means of a simply microwave-induced combustion method to
use in the fluoride removal process as adsorbent. Experimental studies were conducted to determine the
effects adsorbent dosage and contact time. on adsorption under batch conditions in this study.

MATERIAL METHOD
The industrial wastewater used in this study was collected from the intake section of the Galvanoteknik
Industrial Site treatment plant, located in the Ikitelli Organized Industrial Zone, Istanbul. Wastewater
samples were taken at two different times, and fluoride concentrations were measured between 7.3 and
12.5 mg/L. All chemicals used in the synthesis of NPs were of analytical grade and sourced from Merck.
The NPs were synthesized through a microwave-assisted combustion synthesis process and this method
described in a previous study by Sezgin (2018).

In the study on the removal of fluoride from wastewater using magnetic NPs, the wastewater samples were
initially stored in a laboratory environment for a certain period to allow the self-precipitating solids to
settle after being collected from the treatment plant. After settling, the samples from the clear phase were
filtered using an AP40 filter with a 47 mm diameter and a 0.7-micron pore size. A 20 mL portion of the
filtered wastewater was transferred into 100 mL volumetric flasks and prepared for experimental studies.
Prior to the experiments, the pH of the wastewater was measured, and it’s found nearly 2 then fluoride
analyses were conducted using ion chromatography (Method 4110 from APHA, 2010). For the
experimental studies, all samples were mixed in a Gallenkamp orbital incubator at 25°C with a stirring
speed of 150 rpm, following adjustments to dosage and contact time, as required by the experimental
conditions. After the experiments, the NPs were separated from the aqueous solutions using a magnet, and

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the samples were filtered through 0.22-micron filters. Subsequently, the samples were injected into the
ion chromatograph for analysis. To separate the NPs from the aqueous medium after the adsorption
studies, a strong neodymium magnet (40x5 mm) with a powerful magnetic field, shown in Figure 1, was
used. The efficiency fluorite removal studies by means of NPs were calculated using fallow Equation:

(𝐶𝐶0 −𝐶𝐶𝑒𝑒 )
𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅 𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸 = × 100
𝐶𝐶0
where, Co, initial fluorite concentration (mg/L); Ce, fluorite concentrations in the solution after the
experiment (mg/L).

Figure 1. The neodymium magnet (40x5 mm)

RESULTS and DISCUSSION

In this study, which investigated fluoride adsorption from wastewater using magnetic nanoparticles (NPs),
an image of the nanoparticles synthesized via the microwave combustion method is presented in Figure 2.
The surface area of the NPs was determined to be 28.95 m²/g using BET analysis, as described in the
previous study conducted by Sezgin (2018).

Figure 2. The manganese ferrite (MnFe 2 O 4 ) nanoparticles (NPs)

Effects of NPs dosage on fluoride removal

To determine the effect of nanoparticle (NP) dosage used as an adsorbent on fluoride removal from
industrial wastewater, various amounts of NPs were added to the wastewater samples at concentrations
of 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, and 6.0 g/L, while keeping other parameters constant. The experiments were
conducted with a contact time of 24 hours and at the actual pH of the wastewater (approximately 2). The
results obtained from the experimental studies are presented in Figure 3. As seen in Figure 3, the removal
efficiency of fluoride ions increased with rising NP dosages up to 1.5 g/L, after which it reached a

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saturation point. Therefore, the optimal dosage of the adsorbent was determined to be 1.5 g/L. At this
dosage, the fluoride ion removal efficiency was calculated to be 74.84%.

Figure 3. The effect of NPs dosage (pH=2, speed=150 rpm and t=24 hours)

Effect of contact time on fluoride removal

In this experimental investigation, the effect of contact time on the adsorption of fluoride ions using NPs
was studied over various durations, including 10, 30, 60, 120, and 1440 minutes. Determining the optimal
contact time is crucial for understanding the adsorption kinetics, feasibility, and equilibrium of the system
under practical conditions (Sezgin 2018). The results showing the influence of contact time on fluoride
adsorption are presented in Figure 4. As shown in Figure 4, there is no significant increase in fluoride
removal efficiency beyond the 60-minute mark. Based on these findings, it can be concluded that
equilibrium is reached at 60 minutes, making this the optimal contact time for the experiments.
Additionally, the removal efficiency of fluoride ions at 60 minutes was calculated to be 80.68%.

Figure 4. The effect of contact time (pH=2, speed=150 rpm and NPs dosage=1.5 g/L)

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CONCLUSION
In this study, which investigated the effects of dosage and contact time on fluoride removal from industrial
wastewater using magnetic nanoparticles, manganese ferrite (MnFe 2 O 4 ) nanoparticles (NPs) were used
as the adsorbent. These NPs were chosen due to their higher surface area-to-amount ratio compared to
other adsorbents. The NPs were synthesized using the microwave combustion method, one of the simplest
synthesis techniques. Previous results indicated that the synthesized nanoparticles had a surface area of
28.95 m²/g according to BET analysis. Based on the experimental results, the optimal conditions were
determined to be a dosage of 1.5 g/L of NPs and a contact time of 60 minutes. As a result, it was concluded
that effective fluoride removal from wastewater can be achieved using these inexpensive and easily
synthesized NPs as adsorbents. Given that the wastewater used in the study contained multiple pollutants
and that fluoride and other pollutants were in competition, it is believed that even more effective removal
could be achieved in future studies using synthetic wastewater and fluoride-sensitive nanoparticles.

REFERENCES
Chen, X., Wan, C., Yu, R., Meng, L., Wang, D., Chen, W., Duan, T., Li, L., (2021) A novel carboxylated
polyacrylonitrile nanofibrous membrane with high adsorption capacity for fluoride removal from water. J.
Hazard. Mater., 411, 125113, Doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.125113.
Lv, L., (2007) Defluoridation of drinking water by calcined MgAl-CO3 layered double hydroxides, Desalination
208, 125–133.
Sezgin, N., (2018) Removal of copper from industrial wastewater using manganese ferrite nanoparticles: evaluation
of equilibrium and kinetic model. Environmental Engineering & Management Journal, 9, 2147-2156.
Sun, Y., Zhang, C., Ma, J., Sun, W., Shah, K.J., (2023) Review of fluoride removal technology from wastewater
environment. Desalination and Water Treatment, 299, 90–101.
Doi: https://doi.org/10.5004/dwt.2023.29668
Un, U.T., Koparal, A.S., Ogutveren, U.B., (2013) Fluoride removal from water and wastewater with a bach
cylindrical electrode using electrocoagulation. Chemical Engineering Journal 223, 110–115.
Doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2013.02.126
Zhang, L., Zhao, L., Zeng, Q., Fu, G., Feng, B., Lin, X., Liu, Z., Wang, Y. Hou, C., (2020) Spatial distribution of
fluoride in drinking water and health risk assessment of children in typical fluorosis areas in north China.
Chemosphere, 239, 124811. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2019.124811

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ANALYSIS OF THE PROGRESS FOR TURKIYE IN ACHIEVING

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOAL 7
Bilge Ozdogan Cumali*, Naim Sezgin
Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Engineering Faculty, Environmental Engineering Department, 34320, Avcilar,
Istanbul, Turkey
*Corresponding author: bilgeeozdogan@gmail.com
ORCID Code: 0000-0001-7579-7120

ABSTRACT
In recent years, urbanization and population growth worldwide have increased energy demand. The increase in
energy demand leads to rapid depletion of energy resources and carbon emissions due to the use of fossil fuels.
Therefore, a shift towards more cost-effective, sustainable, and environmentally friendly energy sources has become
imperative. Efficient use of energy resources, preference for renewable energy, consideration of green energy
policies, and utilization of eco-friendly technologies play a significant role in countries' stable development and
achieving sustainability goals. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), introduced by the United Nations in
2015 as a continuation of the Millennium Development Goals, encompass environmental, economic, and social
issues on a broader scale and are applicable to all countries. These goals provide a roadmap, aiming for global
partnership for sustainable development and addressing various challenges by 2030. Since 2016, the United Nations
has measured countries' performance in achieving the 17 SDGs through the Sustainable Development Goals Index
(SDGI). Among them, Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG 7) focuses on ensuring access to affordable, reliable,
sustainable, and modern energy for all, including ensuring energy supply security, increasing the share of renewable
energy in total energy production and consumption, and developing energy efficiency practices to reduce energy
intensity.

The United Nations has defined 5 targets and 6 indicators for SDG 7. In this study, it was evaluated Turkey's current
status within the scope of SDG 7 according to the criteria determined by Sustainable Development Goals Index
(SDGI) and the statistical office of the European Union (Eurostat). Additionally, Turkey's energy potential, the
share of renewable energy in its energy mix, access to clean fuels and technologies, energy efficiency, and
consumption are compared with other countries.

Keywords: Development, Energy efficiency, Energy potential, SDG 7, Sustainable energy

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EVALUATION OF THE NATURAL RADIOACTIVITY LEVEL AND THEIR

RADIOLOGICAL PARAMETERS OF DENIZLI PROVINCE
Bilge Ozdogan Cumali*

Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa, Faculty of Engineering, Department of Environmental

Engineering, 34320 Avcilar, Istanbul, Turkey
*Corresponding author: bilgeeozdogan@gmail.com
ORCID Code: 0000-0001-7579-7120

ABSTRACT
Naturally occurring radionuclides, cosmic radiation and artificial radionuclides constitute environmental
radioactivity. Radionuclides such as uranium (238U)/radium (226Ra), thorium (232Th) and potassium
(40K) found in the earth's crust constitute the main source of environmental radioactivity. Radioactivity
formations in soil vary according to geological and chemical structure. In general, the majority of living
things are affected by natural radioactivity of terrestrial origin. Although the radiation emitted by natural
radioactive isotopes in the soil cannot be prevented, the source of the radiation and the contact time of the
living being with the source are important. Radionuclides, especially those found in soil, play an important
role in their transport to other environmental media such as air and water. This situation becomes an
important element in terms of protecting the environment and public health and even in the planning of
settlements. In the study, the measurement results of 238U/226Ra, 232Th, 40K activity concentrations in
the surface soil of Denizli province, was used. Considering that it will help to plan the settlement of the
region in an environmentally and sustainable manner, environmental radiological parameters, radium
equivalent activity (Raeq), dose rate (DR), annual effective dose equivalent (AEDE) were calculated and
the results obtained were compared with the limit, recommended or world average values.

Keywords: Natural radioactivity, Radiological parameter, Soil radiation

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CREATING GREEN VALUE THROUGH SUSTAINABILITY

Duygu Toplu Yaşlıoğlu1*, Esin Bengü Ceran1, Uğur Emre Temelli2
1
Istanbul University, School of Business, Avcilar Istanbul,34320, Turkiye
2
Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa Vocational School of Technical Sciences, Civil Defense and Firefighting
Program, Buyukcekmece Istanbul,34500,
*Corresponding author: duygut@istanbul.edu.tr
ORCID Code: 0000-0002-5637-8999

ABSTRACT
In the contemporary business landscape, the imperative to merge innovation with sustainability has
become a central strategic priority. This paper explores the concept of Value Innovation, originally coined
by W. Chan Kim and Renée Mauborgne in their landmark book "Blue Ocean Strategy," and redefines it
within the framework of sustainable business practices. Value innovation is the cornerstone of strategic
innovation, which emphasizes both innovation and value. Focusing only on value creation (for example,
by reducing costs) can create value without changing old habits. However, this value will not achieve the
goal of differentiation. Innovation without value often tends to be technology-based, market-leading, or
ahead of the curve, aiming at what buyers are willing to accept and pay for. Blue ocean creation is achieved
by creating new market areas, avoiding competition, prioritizing value innovation, implementing strategic
planning, and expanding the target audience.

This paper proposes a model that integrates value innovation with sustainability, in which companies not
only seek to differentiate themselves through unique value propositions but also commit to environmental
stewardship and social responsibility. This model emphasizes the creation of 'green value' that benefits
consumers, the environment, and society at large. The study assesses how industry leaders have adopted
sustainable practices and how innovative initiatives are pushing the boundaries of the market with
sustainable solutions.

In this study, the sustainability reports and annual reports of companies operating in different sectors in
Turkey, which have been at the forefront in terms of sustainability activities in their industry and also
stand out with their innovation efforts, were examined. In this context, the data obtained from the reports,
sustainability initiatives, and value innovation impacts of the enterprises were determined and in line with
these determinations, it has been tried to reveal which key factors created green value. According to this,
a model proposed that how companies are not only committing to sustainability but are also using it as a
core element of their value innovation strategies. They create new market opportunities and competitive
advantages by integrating environmental and social considerations into their business models, products,
and services.

Our findings show that the combination of value innovation and sustainability leads to improved economic
and environmental performance in an interdependent manner. Companies that adopt this integrated
approach achieve higher consumer satisfaction, increase market share, and report improved environmental
outcomes. This paper contributes to the theoretical discourse by providing a conceptual framework for

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sustainable value innovation and provides practical implications by highlighting strategies and best
practices that can be adopted by companies aiming to achieve sustainability and competitive advantage
simultaneously.

The findings of this study are profound and suggest a shift towards a more holistic view of innovation that
includes sustainability as a key component of value creation. The research opens avenues for further
exploration into how businesses can leverage technological advancements, stakeholder engagement, and
regulatory frameworks to foster an ecosystem where value innovation and sustainability are inextricably
linked.

Keywords: Sustainability, Value innovation, Green value, Project management

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SUSTAINABLE TECHNOLOGIES FOR THE TREATMENT OF PLASTIC

WASTE IN THE EUROPEAN UNION
Danilo Lins Sant’Ana de Lima1, Roger Martins de Oliveira Gomes1, Luiz Antônio Magalhães Pontes1,2*
1
Universidade Federal da Bahia, Escola Politécnica, R. Prof. Aristídes Novis 2, Salvador, BA 40210-630, Brasil
2
Instituto Brasileiro de Tecnologia e Regulação, R. Dr. José Peroba 349, Salvador, BA 41770-235, Brasil.
*Corresponding author: danilolins97@gmail.com
ORCID Code: 0009-0007-3922-6487

ABSTRACT
The indiscriminate disposal of plastic waste worldwide has led to unresolved serious environmental
problems. An analysis of the impacts of landfill disposal and plastic waste treatment highlights the urgency
of adopting sustainable technologies that promote a circular economy. This work analyses the new
technologies used for managing the destination of plastic waste in the European Union (EU), classifying
them based on environmental impacts and proposing solutions to mitigate the problem. The assessment
involved evaluating the processes and volumes of plastic waste disposed of in landfills and subjected to
various treatment methods for potential reuse. Quantification data were obtained from official government
platforms, and the technological impact information was obtained from relevant literature. It is observed
that the EU is at the forefront of seeking sustainability in solid waste management, with frequent and strict
legislation. It was verified that plastic waste treated annually by the EU reached 39 million tons in 2020,
encouraging more research in the region and contributing to 50% of globally published scientific papers
on plastic waste management. As a result, it was verified that recycling technologies are the most efficient
method for waste recuperation, followed by energy recovery. In contrast, the incineration and landfilling
of plastic waste must be discontinued. On the other hand, waste already deposited in old landfills has
shown to be an unsolved problem that requires adequate and sustainable treatment or maintenance.
Analysis of Eurostat's 46 solid waste categories revealed that 8 contain plastic waste. Among them, the
quantities were calculated to determine the most critical category that still uses landfills for final disposal.
Notably, Household and Similar Wastes (5Mt), Mixed and Undifferentiated Materials (2.3Mt), and Plastic
Wastes (0.59Mt) emerged, showing chemical and physical properties for more sustainable treatments.
Packaging waste, in particular, is contained in several categories and represents 39 wt% of the total plastic
waste treated, with still 3.6 Mt disposed of in landfills, which can be more easily treated through recycling.
Incineration has been discontinued and represents 2% of the total treated. The energy recovery represents
34% of plastic waste treated (13.3 Mt). It was verified that mechanical recycling was the most
environmentally friendly technology, along with reducing waste and reusing. However, there are
limitations to its use as many of the untreated materials present technological difficulties for mechanical
recycling. The most viable solutions involve strategies that combine mechanical and chemical recycling
with new technologies being developed to enable these processes.

Keywords: Plastic waste, European Union, Sustainability, Recycling

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THERMAL POLLUTION REDUCTION USING 45° UPWARD INCLINED

THERMAL OUTFALL
Semih Nemlioglu1*, Fatma Djamaa2, Bilge Ozdogan Cumali1, Naim Sezgin1
1
Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Faculty of Engineering, Department of Environmental Engineering, 34320,
Avcilar, Istanbul, Turkey
2
Université 8 Mai 1945-Guelma, Department of Ecology and Environmental Engineering, Guelma, Algeria

*Corresponding author: snemli@iuc.edu.tr

ORCID Code: 0000-0002-9938-4651

ABSTRACT
In many industrial applications, seawater is used as cooling water in open circuit systems. This method is
used especially in thermal power plants and nuclear power plants, as it is more economical on the
shoreline. However, the thermal water generated in the cooling process takes the form of wastewater and
when discharged into the sea, it can cause local and large-scale thermal pollution, and very large flow rate
thermal wastewater discharges may even have the risk of contributing to global warming. For this reason,
dilution of thermal wastewater with thermal outfalls can often be used to reduce thermal pollution from
harmful to tolerable levels. Thermal marine outfalls are designed to achieve the required dilution in the
shortest distance and at the smallest depth, depending on the marine environment in which the discharge
is made. In this case, preventing the discharged wastewater from hitting the seabed in the design of the
thermal outfall also emerges as an important factor in achieving the desired dilution. Directing the thermal
discharge nozzle upwards and ensuring the dilution of the impact point on the sea surface in the most
optimal conditions is important for successful design.

In this study, the change of impact point dilution and plume characteristics depending on the depth change
of the discharge of thermal wastewater from a 45° upward inclined circular nozzle into a stagnant seawater
environment without density stratification were experimentally investigated in physical laboratory model
for a densimetric Froude number of approximately 20. The geometric and dilution parameters required to
achieve the desired impact point dilution under suitable conditions, even in shallow sea conditions, were
obtained experimentally in graphic form in this study.

Keywords: Thermal outfalls, Thermal pollution, Sustainability

INTRODUCTION
The method of discharging domestic or industrial wastewater, with or without treatment, into the receiving
ambient (such as sea, lake) through diffusers is referred to as discharge. Discharges from industrial
activities such as desalination facilities established in coastal areas and nuclear and thermal power plants
are seen as the important sources of marine and coastal thermal pollution points. Power plants require
large amounts of water for open circuit cooling water systems. The water that has completed the cooling
cycle is discharged back to the receiving ambient having higher temperature. This situation both increases
the temperature of the receiving ambient and affects the aquatic ecosystem by changing its physical,
chemical and biological properties. Thermal pollution caused by cooling water discharge affects plankton,

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benthos and fish communities negatively, as well as tourism and the fishing sector. The increase in
temperature in the receiving ambient causes different species in the region to become dominant species,
thus negatively affecting the ecological balance and even the operation of the plant. In addition, the re-
entry of the discharged thermal water into the system can affect the cooling efficiency of the power plant
(Durán-Colmenares et al., 2016; Wu et al., 2023).

When the density of the discharged wastewater is lower than the density of the receiving ambient, the
wastewater moves towards the water surface. This is due to the positive buoyancy of the wastewater.
Domestic wastewater and thermal wastewater show positive buoyant properties in the receiving ambient
(Nemlioglu, 2006; Darama, 2009; Djamaa, 2016). In addition to the importance of the design of the
discharge facility to reduce the distribution and concentration of the discharged thermal wastewater in the
receiving ambient, it is also important to protect the receiving ambient. Under different discharge
conditions, mixing and dispersion properties of thermal jets can be examined with both integral models
such as CORMIX, VISJET, USEPA Visual Plumes and experimental models and related predictions can
be made (Mohammadian et al., 2020).

Facilities that discharge thermal wastewater by locating in shallow areas with low flow rates have to
perform a very sensitive discharge into an almost stagnant, homogeneous and shallow water ambient with
a short pipeline. Surface boundary interaction is especially important for thermal wastewater discharge
dilutions in economically preferred shallow areas. It is very important to establish the necessary
experimental parameters for the designer of the initial dilution, which is the most important and
controllable first stage in dilution mechanisms, in these adverse conditions, to determine the behavior of
wastewater and to estimate the initial dilution depending on distance (Djamaa, 2016; Temelli et al., 2017).
In this study, where thermal discharge is carried out in the form of free wastewater jets and the wastewater
jet is visually determined by gradually decreasing the discharge depth, the effects of water surface
boundary interactions on the initial dilutions of thermal wastewater discharge are evaluated.

MATERIAL METHOD
In this study, the receiving ambient is represented by a Plexiglas experimental tank (76.5 cm x 196 cm x
119.5 cm) filled with water at a determined temperature, a homogeneous and stagnant environment, and
the discharge is represented by an artificial thermal wastewater jet made from a circular nozzle colored
with Rhodamine B, with a discharge temperature difference of ΔT 0 = +5°C, directed 45° upwards with
respect to the horizontal, and realized at defined velocities. First, the flow was photographed when a stable
regime was achieved by ensuring that the thermal water jet reached the water surface freely. A series of
temperature sensors connected to a mobile mechanism were immersed into the jet and the temperature
distribution in the jet profile and the jet centerline coordinates were determined by the scanning method.
Two-dimensional jet trajectories were obtained by photographing the shapes obtained along the jet length
section every 3 seconds, from the moment the discharge started until it reached a steady state. The images
obtained as a result of this digital photo capturing process were used to determine the trajectory of the jet
until and after it became stable, and the jet-plume formation status. The summary of thermal water
discharge experiments is given in Table 1. The experiments were carried out under laminar flow (L)
conditions around the discharging nozzle (Reynolds number, Re is lower than 2000); however, all jets
turned into turbulent flow regime within a few nozzle diameters.

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Table 1. Summary of Thermal Water Discharge Experiments

Experiments T0 Ta d H ρa ρ0 q u0 Regime
F Re
Numbers (°C) (°C) (cm) (cm) (kg/m3) (kg/m3) (mL/min) (m/s) of Flow
FD-45-01-A 29.0 24.0 0.5 50 24.64 997.610 996.220 240 0.2037 1269 L
FD-45-01-B 29.3 24.3 0.5 50 25.42 997.536 996.230 240 0.2037 1269 L
FD-45-01-C 28.1 23.1 0.5 50 25.99 997.829 996.579 240 0.2037 1269 L
FD-45-02-A 29.1 24.1 0.5 20 25.51 997.586 996.289 240 0.2037 1269 L
FD-45-02-B 29.2 24.2 0.5 20 25.47 997.561 996.259 240 0.2037 1269 L
FD-45-02-C 28.2 23.2 0.5 20 25.94 997.805 996.550 240 0.2037 1269 L
FD-45-03-A 29.1 24.1 0.5 15 25.51 997.586 996.289 240 0.2037 1269 L
FD-45-03-B 29.2 24.2 0.5 15 25.46 997.561 996.259 240 0.2037 1269 L
FD-45-03-C 28.5 23.5 0.5 15 25.79 997.733 996.464 240 0.2037 1269 L
FD-45-04-A 29.0 24.0 0.5 10 24.64 997.610 996.220 240 0.2037 1269 L
FD-45-04-B 29.0 24.0 0.5 10 24.64 997.610 996.220 240 0.2037 1269 L
FD-45-04-C 28.3 23.3 0.5 10 25.89 997.781 996.522 240 0.2037 1269 L
FD-45-05-A 29.1 24.1 0.5 5 25.51 997.586 996.289 240 0.2037 1269 L
FD-45-05-B 28.8 23.8 0.5 5 25.65 997.660 996.377 240 0.2037 1269 L
FD-45-05-C 28.4 23.4 0.5 5 25.84 997.757 996.493 240 0.2037 1269 L

In each set of experiments, the nozzle diameter (d) was selected as 0.5 cm and the water height above the
discharge port (H) was selected as 50 cm, 20 cm, 15 cm, 10 cm and 5 cm. Each set of experiments (FD-
45-01, 02, 03, 04 and 0.5) was repeated three times (A, B, C). The densimetric Froude number (F) was
selected to be close to 20, which is necessary for providing economic discharge conditions in practice.
The density Froude number used in the literature by Roberts (1997) and Brooks (1972) is given in Equation
1.

u
F= (1)
�g′0 d

Where, u is the velocity (m/s) (u=4q/(πd2), q: flow rate) and g ′0 is the effective gravitational acceleration
(m/s2). Densimetric Froude numbers were adjusted using theoretically determined flow rates with a
preliminary approach according to the density of pure water. Before each experiment, samples were taken
from the discharge water and the receiving ambient and their densities were measured (Equation 2).

ρa -ρ0
g '0 =g (2)
ρa

Where, g is the gravitational acceleration (9.81 m/s2), ρ a is value of the ambient density, and ρ 0 is value
of the discharged wastewater.

The artificial thermal wastewater jet conditioned with the initial discharge temperature value T 0 , the initial
temperature difference is ΔT 0 = T 0 – T a . Temperature values within the jet cross-section were measured
locally and the highest value within the cross-section was selected (ΔT m = T m – T a ). As a result of the

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experiments carried out, the initial dilution expression of thermal pollution along the thermal wastewater
jet centerline is given in Equations 3 and 4.

∆T
S1 = ∆T 0 (3)
m
T −T
Sm = T 0 −Ta (4)
m a

Where, T m , local maximum temperature difference, ΔT, temperature difference discharged to the
receiving ambient (ΔT 0 =T 0 -T a ), T a , temperature of the ambient; T 0 , temperature of the discharged
wastewater, ΔT m is the highest temperature difference value in any section of the jet (occurs at the jet
center). Horizontal and vertical coordinates obtained from the measurements will express the jet centerline
trajectory as (x, y) (Figure 1).

Figure 1. Experimental thermal wastewater jet profile.

RESULTS and DISCUSSION

The positive buoyant jet images obtained as a result of the experiments carried out according to Table 1
are presented in Figure 2, and the geometric parameters of the jet according to the water surface impact
point values are presented in Table 2. Table 2 shows the normalized values of the impact point horizontal
distance values (x i /dF), vertical distance values (y i /dF) and impact point dilution values (S i /F). In all
experiments, the lower surface of the jet remained free, and since the Coanda effect did not occur between
the jet and the bottom. So all of the jets did not connect with the bottom. In the experiments, local
maximum temperature differences and their locations were determined by three-dimensionally scanned
cross-sectional temperature measurements in heated water jets by contact of thermal sensors. Since the
local maximum temperature differences are in the middle of the heated water jets, this part is defined as
the jet centerline. As the H/dF value decreases, the jet hits the water surface earlier. Thus, the x i /dF values
also decrease. In addition, it was found that the y i /dF values are smaller than the H/dF values due to the
limited water depth of the jets that show positive buoyancy.

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a. H=50cm b. H=15cm c. H=5cm

Figure 2. Longitudinal distribution of thermal water discharge jets according to discharge depth.

Table 2. Changes of the jet depending on water surface impact point values.
Experiments
H/dF x i /dF y i /dF S i /F
Numbers
FD-45-01-A 4.0585 1.9481 4.0504 0.6997
FD-45-01-B 3.9337 1.9354 3.9179 0.7565
FD-45-01-C 3.8480 1.9625 3.8403 0.7696
FD-45-02-A 1.5707 1.2543 1.5600 0.4900
FD-45-02-B 1.5679 1.2408 1.5628 0.4789
FD-45-02-C 1.5421 1.1412 1.5267 0.4590
FD-45-03-A 1.1783 0.9407 1.1602 0.4000
FD-45-03-B 1.1759 0.9033 1.1704 0.3928
FD-45-03-C 1.1631 1.0080 1.1476 0.3956
FD-45-04-A 0.8117 0.6981 0.8036 0.2780
FD-45-04-B 0.8117 0.6424 0.8036 0.2670
FD-45-04-C 0.7725 0.6953 0.7571 0.2799
FD-45-05-A 0.3920 0.3998 0.3841 0.1704
FD-45-05-B 0.3898 0.3820 0.3820 0.1725
FD-45-05-C 0.3870 0.4489 0.3715 0.1560

Depending on the decrease in discharge depths, the vertical positions of the centerlines in the impact point
depths and density currents have also decreased in direct proportion to the size of the depths. While the
centerlines moved along the horizontal axis after the impact point, a downward movement was observed
in their positions. It was assumed that the effect of this movement resulting from the hydraulic jump
decreased as the depth value decreased, and the centerline after the impact point became parallel to the
horizontal axis as the shallowing increased. With the shallowing of the depth, the vertical dilution values
in the jet centerline also took smaller values compared to the freest state (H=50 cm) and according to the
experimental results at deeper depths among the examined depths.

CONCLUSION
In this study, laboratory physical model experimental investigation of the impact point dilution
performances of 45° upward inclined single thermal wastewater jets on the water surface was carried out.
As a result of the study, it was determined that 45° upward inclined thermal wastewater discharges are

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applicable in shallow ambient conditions and to prevent bottom interaction and that this economically
more favorable condition can be used in the design. In the study, it was determined that thermal water
discharge from a single circular port into a stagnant and density-stratified ambient can be diluted with the
free movement of the jet when the discharge is made deeper under conditions of 45° upward inclined and
bottom-jet interaction, but it is possible to provide the desired dilution depending on the densimetric
Froude number in the impact point dilutions of the discharges made in increasingly shallower conditions.
In the future, similar studies can be carried out in co-current, counter-current or cross flow conditions and
in the receiving ambient with density stratification. Studies can also be carried out for single or multi-port
diffusers and dilution variations in limited conditions can be presented to designers.

REFERENCES
Brooks, N.H. (1972) Dispersion in Hydrologic and Coastal Environments. Final report, National Coastal
Pollution Research Program U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Corvallis, Oregon 97330.
Darama, S. (2009) Yogun Atiksu Desarjinin Birinci Seyrelmesinde Gorunur Sacak Modelinin
Uygulanmasi (Application of Visual Plumes Model on Dense Wastewater Discharge Initial
Dilution), in Turkish, Master thesis, Institute of Science, Istanbul University.
Djamaa, F. (2016) Sig Sulara Bosaltim Yapan Isil Deniz Desarjlarinin Birinci Seyrelmesinin Incelenmesi
(An Investigation on Initial Dilution of Thermal Marine Outfalls Discharging into Shallow
Receiving Waters), in Turkish, PhD thesis, Institute of Science, Istanbul University.
Durán-Colmenares, A., Barrios-Piña, H., Ramírez-León, H. (2016) Numerical Modeling of Water
Thermal Plumes Emitted by Thermal Power Plants. Water, 8 (11), 482.
https://doi.org/10.3390/w8110482
Mohammadian, A., Kheirkhah Gildeh, H., Nistor, I. (2020) CFD Modeling of Effluent Discharges: A
Review of Past Numerical Studies.Water, 12 (3), 856. https://doi.org/10.3390/w12030856
Nemlioglu, S. (2006) Yayicilardan Desarj Edilen Yogun Atiksularin Hidrodinamiginin ve Karismasinin
Deneysel Olarak Incelenmesi (Experimental Studies of the Hydrodynamics and Mixing of Dense
Wastewater Discharges from Diffusers), in Turkish, Project Report, The Scientific Council of
Turkiye (TUBITAK), Project No. 647-1793, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
Roberts, P.J.W., Ferrier, A., Daviero, G. (1997) Mixing in Inclined Dense Jets. Journal of Hydraulic
Engineering. 123 (8), 693-699. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9429(1997)123:8(693)
Temelli, U.E., Sezgin, N., Djamaa, F., Nemlioglu, S. (2017) An Investigation on Initial Dilution of
Thermal Wastewater Discharges into Shallow Receiving Waters With 60° Inclination.
Desalination and Water Treatment, 93, 355-360. https://doi.org/10.5004/dwt.2017.21503
Wu, J., Kong, J., Laws, E.A., Liu, X., Wang, C., Chen, J., Chen, M., Yao, Q., Wang, Y., Zhen, Y., Li, C.,
Huang, B. (2023) The Link Between Marine Thermal Discharges and Nemopilema Nomurai
Blooms Around Nuclear Power Plants. Ecosystem Health Sustainability, 9.
https://doi.org/10.34133/ehs.0009

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CHARACTERIZATION OF WASTE MARBLE FINES AND THEIR ADDITION

TO CONCRETE MIXES FOR CIRCULAR ECONOMY
Carlos García-Negrete1*, Daniela Beltrán-Guzmán2, Luisa Peñate-Vásquez2, Jesús López-Figueroa1,

William Montiel-Cardozo1, Plinio Cantero-López3

1
Facultad de Ciencias e Ingenierías, Universidad del Sinú – Elías Bechara Zainúm, Montería 230001, Colombia.
2
Grupo Gnocix, Universidad del Sinú – Elías Bechara Zainúm, Montería 230001, Colombia.
3
Departamento de Ciencias-Químicas, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Universidad Andrés Bello, Viña del Mar
2531015, Chile.
*Corresponding author: carlosgarcian@unisinu.edu.co
ORCID Code: 0000-0001-7985-7995

ABSTRACT
Several challenges in terms of climate change and circular economy feed the current and growing demand
for sustainable new materials. In the case of construction industry, carbon emissions and natural resource
depletion are issues of special concern. Additionally, waste marble fines (WMF), which are currently
produced during the processing of naturally available marble rock worldwide are becoming a potential
risk of contamination for the environment. Therefore, there is great interest in developing WMF for use
in concrete mixes. In this work, a WMF sample was collected from a marble cutting industry in Montería
city (Colombia) and characterized by the combined use of X-ray fluorescence (FRX), X-ray diffraction
(DRX), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The sample was then tested as an additive (with 0%,
3%, 7%, and 10% of WMF respect to cement content) in the preparation of concrete mixes. Results showed
that WMF sample is mainly composed of calcite and quartz phases, along with minor amounts of Fe2O3,
MgO, Al2O3, P2O5 and MnO. Particle sizes were typically between 10 µm and 20 µm but submicron
particles with a plate-like shape were also observed. It was also found some improvements in the
compressive strength of concrete mixes after 28 days of curing, particularly with both 3 % and 7 %
additions of WMF. However, the increase in the WMF content from 0 % to 10 % did not produce an
improvement in the compressive strength, showing that there is a limit for the beneficial addition of these
WMF to concrete mixes. Further analyses by means of Fourier-Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR)
suggest that the WMF content may contribute to accelerate the hydration through a pozzolanic reaction.
However, at higher WMF content, the excess of Ca(OH)2 initially produced could remain in the concrete
mixes.

Keywords: Sustainability, concrete, marble, recycling

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COMPETITIVE ADSORPTION OF AQUEOUS SELENIUM & PHENOL

SPECIES ON TO ACTIVATED CARBON
Mehvish Bilal, Muhammad S. Vohra*, Tariq Mohammed, MS Al‐Suwaiyan
Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals (KFUPM),
Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia
*Corresponding author: g202210380@kfupm.edu.sa

ABSTRACT
Though the metal species selenium is a micro-nutrient needed by all humans, however its over-exposure
and related health concerns demand a stringent discharge control. To make the matter more complex, the
wastewater streams from the petroleum refineries also contain toxic organic co-pollutant phenol, which
would render the treatment of such mixed streams difficult because of the synergistic effects under a
competitive environment. The present work conducted a focused and systematic investigation to realize
the potential feasibility of Filtrasorb granular AC (FSGAC) based adsorption process for the respective
application. The competitive adsorption of selenite, selenate, and phenol followed a pattern of removal
efficiency of phenol (98 %) > selenite (71%) >selenate (60%). The RSM based modelling results yielded
non-linear models for phenol and selenite, and a linear model for selenate removal. The respective
statistical fitting parameters also showed good correlations. In summary, the results from the present work
show that even under a highly competitive tertiary adsorption system, phenol does adsorb efficiently on
FSGAC, followed by SeO 3 and SeO 4 removal.

Keywords: SeO 3 , SeO 4 , Phenol, Granular Activated Carbon (GAC), Adsorption

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REACTIVE DYE EFFLUENT TREATMENT WITH PEROXIDE – ASSISTED

OZONATION: LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT FOR SELECTED PROCESSES
Kubra Dogan1, Burcin Atilgan Turkmen2, Idil Arslan Alaton1*, Fatos Germirli Babuna1
1
Istanbul Technical University, Civil Engineering Faculty, Environmental Engineering Department, 34469
Maslak, Istanbul, Turkey.
2
Bilecik Seyh Edebali University, Chemical Engineering Department, 11230, Bilecik, Turkey.
*Corresponding author: arslanid@itu.edu.tr
ORCID Code: 0000-0003-4241-5100

ABSTRACT
In this study 100 % Reactive Red 21 (RR21) dye removal from discrete textile wastewater with the
treatment of ozone alone; ozone/sodium persulphate; and ozone/sodium percarbonate are investigated in
terms of the unwanted environmental impacts. In RR21 removal studies, the type of chemical used in
treatment, the chemical concentration and the amount of electricity consumption vary. Accordingly, the
environmental impact assessment is examined for each treatment alternative by adopting life cycle
assessment methodology. The results indicate that 1.390 kWh /m3 electricity input for the generation of
ozone without persulphate or percarbonate addition yields the most sustainable alternative in terms of
abiotic depletion-elements (ADP-elements), abiotic depletion-fossil (ADP-Fossil), acidification potential
(AP), eutrophication potential (EP), freshwater aquatic ecotoxicity (FAETP), global warming potential
(GWP), human toxicity potential (HTP), marine aquatic ecotoxicity (MAETP), ozone depletion potential
(ODP), photochemical ozone creation potential (POCP) and terrestrial ecotoxicity potential (TETP)
categories.

Keywords: Reactive Red 21, Green Oxidants, Textile Dyehouse Effluent, Peroxide-Assisted Ozonation,
Life Cycle Assessment,

INTRODUCTION
The textile industry is known as one of the most water-and chemical-intensive industries worldwide and
the major environmental pollution issue of this sector is its complex, persistent organic carbon content and
strong color (Correia et al., 1994; Orhon et al., 2009; 2003; Ghaly and Ananthashankar, 2013). These
properties make the efficient and economic treatment of textile dyehouse effluent a rather difficult task as
dye containing textile wastewaters have many unwanted environmental impacts (Rawat et al., 2018;
Berradi et al., 2019; Al-Tohamy et al., 2022; Arora 2014; Sikaily et al., 2012). Until now, several treatment
alternatives have been proposed for recalcitrant color and organic carbon removals; however, most of the
time with a limited success. Besides, advanced treatment methods such as membrane operations,
adsorption, coagulation and chemical precipitation are not so suitable for the abatement of water soluble
dyes such a fiber reactive dyes, since these only partially remove hydrophilic dye molecules and ultimately
cause a more serious solid waste management problem due to pollution transfer from the water to the solid
(adsorbent, coagulant, etc.) phase. As aforementioned, reactive dyestuffs are of utmost commercial
importance and known for their extreme resistance to light, heat, chemical oxidation and biodegradation.
On the other hand, so-called “Advanced Oxidation Processes (abbreviated as AOPs)” have particularly

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proven to be successful in the degradation of dyestuffs and used dye auxiliary chemicals (Perkowski et
al., 2000; Abdi et al., 2020; Sun et al., 2020). One can find literature work on this subject (Oguz and
Keskinler 2007; Arslan et al., 1999; Ince and Gonenc 1997; Kurbus et al., 2003; Razali et al., 2018;
Krawczyk et al., 2020). Among the chemicals used in AOPs, “green” per-oxides, such as the well-known
Hydrogen Peroxide (HP) as well as Persulfate (PS), Peracetic Acid (PAA) and Percarbonate (PC), have
more recently received considerable attention due to their low prices, ease of storage and use, as well as
oxidative efficiency. Peroxides have been used combined with metals/metal oxides/ions, powerful
oxidants such as ozone (O3) or were activated thermally (at elevated temperatures), electrochemically,
sonolytically by power ultrasound, photo¬chemically by short ultra-violet (UV-C) light, etc to form
reactive oxygen species. A serious obstacle of AOPs is their high operating cost due to
electricity/energy/chemicals consumption as well as the potential hazard of the used chemicals and formed
oxidative degradation products. Hence, it is important to evaluate the sustainability of the selected AOPs
in more detail using appropriate tools specially developed for this purpose.

Life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology objectively quantifies the environmental impacts generated by
products (Sezginer at al., 2022), processes (Karacal et al., 2019) or services (Wolfson et al., 2019). Hence
one can use this methodology to find out the most sustainable alternative. There are LCA studies
performed on treatment plants, renewable energy production (Ozsahin et al., 2022; Atilgan Turkmen and
Germirli Babuna, 2024) etc. Pioneering studies that adopts LCA methodology to treatability studies, can
be found as well (Dogan et al., 2023; 2024). In this context, the objective of this study is to reveal the
alternative treatment method that has the lowest unwanted environmental impacts for segregated textile
effluent containing Reactive Red 21 dye (RR21) via LCA. Ozone alone; ozone/sodium PS; and
ozone/sodium PC are the examined treatment alternatives resulting in 100 % color removal.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Life Cycle Assessment is applied in accordance with ISO 14040/14044 (ISO 2006 a; b). Thus, goal and
scope definition; inventory analysis; impact assessment; and interpretation of the results stages are
conducted. The production of chemicals used for treatment, if required the transportation of chemicals to
the site are considered within the system boundaries. The functional unit is defined as 1 m3 treated effluent.
The environmental impacts investigated by CML 2 methodology (Guinee et al., 2002) are: Global
warming potential (GWP); abiotic depletion potential (ADP fossils and elements); acidification potential
(AP); eutrophication potential (EP); freshwater aquatic ecotoxicity (FAETP); human toxicity potential
(HTP); ozone depletion potential (ODP); photochemical ozone creation potential (POCP); and terrestrial
ecotoxicity potential (TETP).

RESULTS and DISCUSSION

Figure 1 presents changes in normalized absorbance values (color; here: Peak absorbance at 520 nm) as a
function of the applied, specific (initial TOC-TOC 0 -based) ozone dose for selected ozonation processes.
From Figure S1/X it is evident that color removal was practically complete (> 95%) at an ozone dose of
2.5-2.6 mg O 3 /mg TOC 0 (ca. 1.5-2.0 min ozonation time) for ozone only and ozone/PS processes.
However, at least 4.8-5.2 mg O 3 /mg TOC 0 (ca. 2.5-3.0 min ozonation time) was needed for color removal
with the ozone/PC process. The reason could be associated with differences in ozone chemistry (direct
molecular ozone/free radical chain reactions initiated by enhanced ozone decomposition, etc.) that is

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affected by the reaction pH (alkaline), the presence and type of added peroxides (PS, PC) as well. Details
are given elsewhere (papers).

Figure 1. Changes in color (normalized peak absorbance at 520 nm) for ozone and ozone/peroxide
treatments of synthetic RR21 dyebath effluent. Experimental Conditions: RR21 concentration = 100
mg/L; TOC = 25 mg/L; ozone feed rate = 72 mg/min; pH=11.0; 1.5 mM PS/PC.
Besides color, the TOC parameter was also followed during treatment of RR21 dyebath effluent with O 3 ,
PS/O 3 and PC/O 3 processes under selected, optimized reaction conditions (1.5 mM peroxide
concentration and ozonation only at a feed rate of 72 mg/min). Results indicated that TOC removals in the
range of 36-38 % could be reached at a specific ozone dose range of 40-60 mg O 3 /mg TOC 0 (Arslan-
Alaton et al., 2023; Arslan-Alaton and Koba-Ucun, 2023). Among the selected treatment combinations,
PS/O 3 appeared to be faster and slightly higher (38%) in terms of TOC abatement, followed by O 3 only
(36%) and PC/O 3 (31%), due to differences ozone chemistry and thus reaction pathway/dominant active
oxidant involvement. All the details related to the TOC results are available in a former research paper
(Arslan-Alaton et al., 2023; Arslan-Alaton and Koba-Ucun, 2023).

The experimental conditions summarized in Table C were selected and evaluated in terms of sustainability
by using LCA methodology. The selection criterion was practically complete (> 95%) color removal for
ozonation and peroxide-assisted ozonation processes in the presence of varying peroxide concentrations
(0-6.00 mM).

It should also be noted here that all ozonation/peroxide/ozonation processes resulted fast and complete
color and fair TOC removals; however, PS/O3 appeared to be kinetically superior to O3 only, whereas
PC/O3 was the slowest among the three ozonation processes as explained above. Still, it was selected for
LCA since PC which decomposed to carbonate and hydrogen peroxide in the reaction solution is a
ubiquitous chemical in the reactive dyeing process (used for dye fixation and as a alkali pH buffer).

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The results of LCA show that only by ozonation that requires 1.390 kWh/m3 energy to generate ozone as
the most sustainable alternative for the following impact categories: ADP-elements and fossil, AP, EP,
FAETP, GWP, HTP, MAETP, ODP, POCP and TETP.

CONCLUSION
This study investigates the environmental impacts related to the treatability outcomes of 100 % (RR21)
dye removal from segregated textile effluent by applying ozone only; ozone/sodium PS; and ozone/sodium
PC with LCA methodology. In RR21 treatability, the chemical used and its concentration and the amount
of energy requirement differ. Only ozonation application that has 1.390 kWh/m3 energy input turns out as
the most sustainable alternative for the impact categories of ADP-elements and fossil, AP, EP, FAETP,
GWP, HTP, MAETP, ODP, POCP and TETP.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The authors are thankful to Istanbul Technical University Research Fund for their financial support.

REFERENCES
Abdi M, Balagabri M, Karimi H, Hossini H, Rastegar SO. Degrada¬tion of Crystal Violet (CV) From
Aqueous Solutions Using Ozone, Peroxone, Electroperoxone, and Electrolysis Processes: A
Comparison Study. Appl Water Sci. 2020; 10:168.
Al-Tohamy R, Ali SS, Li F, Okasha KM, Mahmoud YA, et al. A Critical Review on The Treatment of
Dye-Containing Wastewater: Ecotoxicological and health concerns of textile dyes and possible
remediation approaches for environmental safety. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf. 2022; 231: 113160.
Arora S. Textile Dyes: It’s Impact on Environment and its Treatment. J Bioremediation Biodegrad. 2014;
05: 146.
Arslan I, Balcioglu IA, Tuhkanen T. Advanced Oxidation of Synthetic Dyehouse Effluent by O3,
H2O2/O3 and H2O2/UV Pro¬cesses. Environ Technol. 1999; 20: 921-931.
Arslan-Alaton, I., Koba-Ucun, O. & Farasat, S. Reactive dye effluent treatment with peroxide-assisted
ozonation: Effects of persulfate, peracetic acid and percarbonate. Korean J. Chem. Eng. 40, 2692–
2700 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11814-023-1454-7
Arslan-Alaton, I., Koba-Ucun, O. Treatment of Reactive Dye Hydrolysates with UV-C- and Ozone-
Activated Percarbonate and Persulfate. Int J Environ Res 17, 58 (2023).
https://doi.org/10.1007/s41742-023-00548-4
Atilgan Turkmen B, Germirli Babuna F. Life Cycle Environmental Impacts of Wind Turbines: A Path to
Sustainability with Challenges. (2024) Sustainability. 2024; 16(13):5365.
https://doi.org/10.3390/su16135365
Berradi M, Hsissou R, Khudhair M, Assouag M, Cherkaoui O, El Bachiri A, et al. Textile Finishing Dyes
and Their Impact on Aquatic Environs. Heliyon. 2019; 5: e02711.
Correia VM, Stephenson T, Judd SJ. Characterisation of Textile Wastewaters - a Review. Environ
Technol, 1994; 15: 917-929.
Dogan, K., Atilgan Turkmen, B., Germirli Babuna, F., Koba Ucun, O., Arslan Alaton, I. (2023). Merging
treatability results and sustainability assessment: a segregated textile dyehouse effluent. Int. J.
Environ. Sci. Technol. 20, 11165–11176 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-023-05107-0
Dogan K, Turkmen BA, Arslan-Alaton I, Germirli Babuna F. Life Cycle Assessment as a Decision-
Making Tool for Photochemical Treatment of Iprodione Fungicide from Wastewater. Water. 2024;
16(8):1183. https://doi.org/10.3390/w16081183

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Ghaly AE, Ananthashankar R. Production, Characterization and Treatment of Textile Effluents: A Critical
Review. J Chem Eng Process Technol. 2013; 05: 1-18.
Guinee, JB., Gorrèe, M., Heijungs, R., Huppes, G., Kleijn, GR., van Oers, RL., Wegen-er, L., Sleeswijk,
A., Suh, S., de Haes, HA., Udo de Bruijn, H., van Duin, HR., Huijbregts, MAJ.: Life Cycle
Assessment, an Operational Guide to the ISO Standards. Part 2a: Guide. In Kluwer Academic
Publishers, Dordrecht (2002).
Ince NH, Gönenc DT. Treatability of a Textile Azo Dye by H2O2/UV. Dye Environ Technol. 1997; 18:
179-185.
Karacal, PN., Elginoz, N., Germirli Babuna F. (2019). Environmental Burdens of Cataphoresis Process.
Desalination and Water Treatment, 172:301-308, doi: 10.5004/dwt.2019.24800
Kurbus T, Le Marechal AM, Vončina DB. Comparison of H2O2/UV, H2O2/O3 and H2O2/Fe2+
Processes for the Decolorisation of Vinylsulphone reactive dyes. Dye Pigment. 2003; 58: 245-252.
Krawczyk K, Wacławek S, Kudlek E, Silvestri L, Kukulski T, et al. UV-Catalyzed Persulfate Oxidation
of an Anthraquinone Based Dye. Catalysts. 2020; 10: 456.
Perkowski J, Kos L, Ledakowicz S. Advanced Oxidation of Textile Wastewaters. Ozone Sci Eng. 2000;
22: 535-550.
Rawat D, Sharma RS, Karmakar S, Arora LS, Mishra V. Ecotoxic Potential of a Presumably Non-Toxic
Azo Dye. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf. 2018; 148: 528-537.
Razali NA, Abidin CZA, Ong SA, et al. Optimization of Ozonation Process Implement Sodium Persulfate
Using Azo Dyes. J Adv Res Mater Sci. 2018; 46: 10-21.
Sezginer, I., Atilgan, Turkmen B., Germirli Babuna, F. (2022) Environmental impacts arising from the
production of two surface coating formulations. Clean Technologies and Environmental Policy.
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Sikaily A El, Khaled A, El Nemr A. Textile Dyes Xenobiotic and Their Harmful Effect. Non-Conventional
Text Waste Water Treat. 2012; 31-64.
Sun K, Yuan D, Liu Y, Song Y, Sun Z, Liu R. Study on the Efficiency and Mechanism of Direct Red 80
Dye by Conventional Ozonation and Peroxone (O3/H2O2) Treatment. Sep Sci Technol. 2020; 55:
3175-3183.
Oguz E, Keskinler B. Comparison among O3, PAC adsorption, O3 / HCO3-, O3/H2O2 and O3/PAC
Processes for the Removal of Bomaplex Red CR-L Dye from Aqueous Solution. Dye Pigment.
2007; 74: 329-334.
Orhon D., Germirli Babuna F., Karahan O. (2009) Management of Textile Wastewaters, in Industrial
Wastewater Treatment by Activated Sludge book, IWA Publishing, Volume 8, Chapter 8, DOI:
https://doi.org/10.2166/9781780401836, ISBN electronic: 9781780401836.
Orhon, D., Kabdasli, I., Germirli Babuna, F., Sozen, S., Dulkadiroglu, H., Dogruel, S., Karahan Gul, O.,
Insel, G. (2003). Wastewater Reuse for the Minimization of Fresh Water Demand in Coastal
Areas—Selected Cases from the Textile Finishing Industry. Journal of Environmental Science and
Health, Part A, 38(8), 1641–1657. https://doi.org/10.1081/ESE-120021486
Ozsahin, B., Elginoz, N. & Germirli Babuna, F. (2022) Life cycle assessment of a wind farm in Turkey.
Environ Sci Pollut Res 29, 71000–71013 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-022-20783-0
Wolfson, A., Dominguez-Ramos, A. & Irabien, A. From Goods to Services: The Life Cycle Assessment
Perspective. J Serv Sci Res 11, 17–45 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12927-019-0002-9

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HYDROGEN GENERATION POTENTIAL OF AUTOCLAVED AERATED

CONCRETE PRODUCTION
Semih Nemlioglu1*, Sinan Oguz Terzi2, Naim Sezgin1, Bilge Ozdogan Cumali1, Ugur Emre Temelli3
1
Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Faculty of Engineering, Department of Environmental Engineering, 34320,
Avcilar, Istanbul, Turkey
2
Varna Free University Varna Free University “Chernorizets Hrabar”, PhD-Student, Department of Construction
of Buildings and Facilities, Faculty of Architecture, 84 Yanko Slavchev Str., 9007, Varna, Bulgaria
3
Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Vocational School of Technical Sciences, Civil Defense and Firefighting
Program, 34500, Buyukcekmece, Istanbul, Turkiye

*Corresponding author: snemli@iuc.edu.tr

ORCID Code: 0000-0002-9938-4651

ABSTRACT
In parallel with the rapidly increasing population and urbanization in the world, the number of building
constructions and therefore the building materials produced are also increasing significantly. Autoclaved
aerated concrete (AAC) is also produced in increasing amounts due to its many positive properties. AAC
production can be sustained in a highly controlled manner. On the other hand, ventilation output also
occurs as a result of the change during AAC production. Currently, during AAC production, hydrogen
consumption is released into the atmosphere as an emission. It is possible to produce both more and less
hydrogen gas, which is lighter than the atmosphere, compressed under suitable conditions, and can reduce
the gas emissions that occur during environment friendly AAC production. Because of this reason, the
amount of hydrogen gas, which is one of the renewable energy sources, that can be produced during AAC
production will be revealed and Turkey’s hydrogen gas production theoretical potential that can be
obtained through AAC production was discussed.

Keywords: Hydrogen, Autoclaved aerated concrete, Renewable energy, Environment friendly

production, Gas emission

INTRODUCTION
Nowadays population and urbanization in the world rapidly increase. Parallel to these cases, the number
of building constructions and therefore the production of building materials are also gradually increasing
significantly. Autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC), like other construction materials, is also produced in
increasing amounts due to its many positive properties. Its lower density, good thermal and acoustic
insulations, relatively lower carbon footprint comparing other many constructional materials etc. can be
taken into account as some of its important advantages (Tkach et al., 2018; Siemon, 2021).

Aerated concrete (AC) or cellular is a lightweight, noncombustible cement-based material manufactured

from a mixture of portland cement, fly ash, or other sources of silica, quick lime, gypsum, water, and
aluminum powder/paste. This material can be autoclaved for accelerated strength gain, in which case it is

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referred to as autoclaved AC (AAC). The air pores in AC are usually 0.1 to 1 mm in diameter and are
formed by a few different methods. The most common technique is the addition of aluminum powder at
approximately 0.2% to 0.5% by weight of cement. Approximately 80% of the volume of the hardened
material is made up of pores, including 50% being air pores and 30% being micropores (Mobasher, 2012;
Narayanan and Ramamurthy, 2000). During gas forming stage of AAC production in order to create air
pores, hydrogen gas is released from the raw material mixture (Wang et al., 2016; Kamal, 2020). As a
consequence, ventilation output of AAC manufacture process can result in a direct hydrogen gas emission
in to the atmosphere. According to the increased amount of AAC production, increment of hydrogen gas
release could be directly expected.

Worldwide production capacity of AAC was estimated as more than 450 million m3 per year in 2018
(Foudad and Schoch, 2018). Yearly AAC production of Turkiye, which is one of the important actors of
AAC production, is given in Fig. 1 according statistics of Turkish Statistical Institute, TUIK (TUIK, 2023).
Fig. 1 also shows a linear increase of AAC production between 2005-2023 (2020 is N/A) as predicted
from the trend-line, and AAC production is in the range of 1.25, 2.60, and 2 million tons as minimum,
maximum, and average, respectively. It could be expected that the AAC production (hydrogen generation
as well) in the world and Turkiye increment can be higher in the near future. As a result of this projection,
AAC production related theoretical hydrogen generation estimation is an important issue in order to
maintain a sustainable and environment-friendly constructional material production.

Fig. 1. AAC production of Turkiye (data source: TUIK, 2023)

MATERIAL METHOD
In this study, the theoretical hydrogen gas generation estimation of AAC production was performed. In
the production of AAC, the amount of hydrogen gas generated depends on the amount of aluminum
powder used. When aluminum powder reacts with water, hydrogen gas is released, creating pores in the
concrete. To calculate the volume of hydrogen gas produced, we can refer to the aluminum used and the
chemical reaction.

The reaction is as follows (Holt and Raivio, 2005; Wu et al., 2020):

2 Al + 3 Ca(OH) 2 + 6 H 2 O → 3 CaO · Al 2 O 3 · 6 H 2 O + 3 H 2 ↑ (gas) (1)

Equation 1 shows that 2 moles of Al produce 3 moles of H₂ gas. This reaction can be used to estimate the
amount of hydrogen gas generated in concrete.

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1. Amount of Aluminum Powder: Typically, aerated concrete includes aluminum powder at about
0.2% - 0.5% of the cement weight. For example, for a 1-ton (1000 kg) cement-based mixture, about
2 - 5 kg of aluminum powder is added.
2. Molecular Weights and Volume Calculation:
o Molar mass of aluminum: 27 g/mol
o Molar mass of hydrogen: 2 g/mol
o Under standard conditions, 1 mole of gas occupies 22.4 liters.

For instance, if 2 kg of aluminum is used for a 1-ton aerated concrete mix: (2000 g Al/27 g/mol) ≈
74 mol Al

According to the reaction, 74 mol of Al would produce approximately (74×3/2)=111 mol H 2 gas.

3. Hydrogen Gas Volume: For 111 moles of H 2 under standard conditions:

111×22.4≈2486 liters=2.5 m3

Therefore, approximately 2.5 m3 of hydrogen gas is produced per ton of aerated concrete. This amount
can vary based on the proportion of aluminum powder and other mix variables.

RESULTS and DISCUSSION

According to current yearly AAC production of Turkiye on average, 2 million tons, this production value
results in more or less 5 million m3 of hydrogen gas generation is possible according to Eq. 1. Because of
the fact that hydrogen is a lighter gas comparing lower atmosphere, it should be considered that leak of
hydrogen from the production process should be possible. Even so, under the ideal conditions 5 million
m3 of hydrogen gas generation is a good renewable energy potential indicator for AAC production
technology. Similar approaches can easily show significant results for worldwide AAC production
evaluations.

CONCLUSION
As one of the important producers, Turkiye has approximately 2 million tons of AAC production. To show
Turkiye’ s AAC related theoretical hydrogen gas generation capacity would be an important indicator to
evaluate this specific environmental-friendly production. This study shows that under ideal conditions
approximately 5 million m3 of hydrogen gas generation is possible in Turkiye. This kind of approach can
also be performed locally or worldwide taking into account to evaluate potential of renewable energy
source specification of hydrogen gas. When taken into account increased amount of urbanization and AAC
production need in the near future, hydrogen generation of the production process should be arranged with
a gas collection system for a sustainable construction material production.

REFERENCES
Fouad, F.H., Schoch, T., (2018) AAC in the USA–A Second Look. CE/Papers, 2(4), E1-E6. Doi:
https://doi.org/10.1002/cepa.902
Holt, E., Raivio, P., (2005) Use of Gasification Residues in Aerated Autoclaved Concrete. Cement and
Concrete Research, 35(4), 796-802. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconres.2004.05.005

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Kamal, M.A., (2020) Analysis of Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (AAC) Blocks with Reference to Its
Potential and Sustainability. Journal of Building Materials and Structures, 7, 76-86. Doi:
https://doi.org/10.34118/jbms.v7i1.707
Mobasher, B. (2012). Mechanics of fiber and textile reinforced cement composites. CRC press. (2012)
ISBN: 13: 978-1-4398-0661-6.
Narayanan, N., Ramamurthy, K., (2000) Structure and Properties of Aerated Concrete: a Review. Cement
and Concrete Composites, 22(5), 321-329. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0958-9465(00)00016-0
Siemon, D.L. (2021) Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (AAC): An Alternative Sustainable Construction
Material, MSc Thesis, School PF Postgraduate Studies, University of Lagos.
Tkach, E., Solovyov, V. and Tkach, S. (2018). Production of Environmentally Friendly Aerated Concrete
with Required Construction and Operational Properties. In: MATEC Web of Conferences (Vol.
143, p. 02010). EDP Sciences. https://doi.org/10.1051/matecconf/201814302010
Turkish Statistical Instıtute (TUIK) (2023). Annual Industrial Products (PRODCOM) Statistics.
(https://data.tuik.gov.tr/Bulten/Index?p=Yillik-Sanayi-Urun-(PRODCOM)-Istatistikleri-2023-
53637) (Visiting date Nov. 2, 2024)
Wang, Z., Song, Y., Li, B., (2016) An Attempt to Reduce Materials Cost of Autoclaved Aerated Concrete
Production. The Open Civil Engineering Journal, 10(1), 323-333. Doi:
10.2174/1874149501610010323
Wu, R., Dai, S., Jian, S., Huang, J., Lv, Y., Li, B., Azizbek, N., (2020) Utilization of the Circulating
Fluidized Bed Combustion Ash in Autoclaved Aerated Concrete: Effect of Superplasticizer.
Construction and Building Materials, 237, 117644. Doi:
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2019.117644

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VALORIZATION OF CORK WASTE IN PARTICLEBOARD PRODUCTION

WITH INNOVATIVE BINDER
Aleksander Hejna1*, Mateusz Barczewski1, Jacek Andrzejewski1, Adam Piasecki2, Rupali Tiwari3,
Ľuboš Krišťák3
1
Institute of Materials Technology, Poznan University of Technology, Piotrowo 3, Poznan, 61-138, Poland
2
Institute of Materials Engineering, Poznan University of Technology, Jana Pawła II 24, Poznan, 61-138, Poland
3
Department of Wood Technology, Faculty of Wood Science and Technology, Technical University in Zvolen,
T.G. Masaryka 24, Zvolen, 960 01, Slovakia
*Corresponding author: aleksander.hejna@put.poznan.pl
ORCID Code: 0000-1234-5678-9876

ABSTRACT
Currently, in addition to plastic waste, electronic waste, or batteries, a robust emphasis is being placed on
the efficient management of municipal waste, which people are producing more and more. One of the
groups of municipal waste is bulky waste, i.e., waste that does not fit into commonly used garbage
containers. This mainly includes furniture, upholstered goods, carpets, rugs, bicycles, or baby carriages.
Simultaneously, the environmental awareness of the society is noticeably growing, which is expressed by
the development of 9R Principle - Refuse, Rethink, Reduce, Reuse, Repair, Refurbish, Remanufacture,
Repurpose, Recycle, Recover. All of these activities are aimed at extending the life of products and their
parts, which represents a further step from a linear economy to a Circular Economy in relation to processes
involving the efficient use of materials, such as recycling or energy recovery. Commonly applied energy
production from waste is the lowest level of circularity. In the current situation, a favorable alternative,
allowing to achieve both financial and environmental benefits, is to recycle bulky waste and use it in
further production processes to reduce the consumption of primary and natural resources. Therefore, it is
vital to look for opportunities for further use of this type of waste, enabling them to be kept in a loop,
which will be an important step towards the Circular Economy.

The presented study aimed to investigate the possibility of producing novel particleboards with potential
use in the construction, building, or furniture sector from cork waste, particularly engineered wood and
polyurethane (PU) foams from post-consumer furniture products. Materials have been prepared by
compression molding technology with the application of innovative binder composed of diisocyanate and
inorganic salt, whose in situ decomposition led to the gas generation providing porous structure of final
composites, and produced compounds strengthening the interfacial bonding inside the material. The
impact of applied formulations on the structure (density, porosity, chemical structure, surface wettability),
mechanical (static and dynamic), and thermal insulation performance of resulting composites have been
explored. Presented results indicated that by the proper engineering of materials' composition, the
compromise between the weight, mechanical performance and other functionalities required by the
particular applications can be found. Generally, it was proven that the proposed method of bulky waste
management may yield materials with performance comparable to the commercially available solutions,
which could provide novel ways for its efficient utilization.

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Keywords: Waste management, Bulky waste, Cork, Particleboard, Circular Economy

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 A STUDY OF MANAGEMENT OF SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAIC (PV) WASTE IN
INDIA
Dr. Krantisagar More1, Ms. Baby D. Kamble2
1
Department of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Institute of Chemical Technology, Matunga, Mumbai-
400018, India
2
Department of Commerce & Management, Savitribai Phule Pune University,Maharashtra, India

Corresponding and presenting author: bebikamble22@gmail.com; krantisagarm@gmail.com

ORCID Code: 0009-0006-6423-6751

ABSTRACT:
The transition to renewable energy is crucial for combating climate change, but addressing the full
spectrum of environmental impacts requires comprehensive waste management solutions. This study
examines the management of solar photovoltaic (PV) waste in India, emphasizing the need for effective
strategies as the country faces an estimated accumulation of 2.95 billion tonnes of solar panel waste from
2020 to 2047. To mitigate the adverse effects on living organisms and the environment, it is essential to
develop sustainable solutions for the end-of-life (EOL) phase of solar PV panels. India's E-waste
management rules under the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) guidelines of 2016 aim to handle
solar PV waste. However, contemporary research has largely focused on energy efficiency and installation
rather than EOL management strategies, particularly in developing countries. This study addresses this
gap by exploring India's current policies, technological solutions, and stakeholder roles in recycling and
disposing of PV waste. A significant finding is the projected recover-ability rate of 60% to 90% from end-
of-life solar panels. The study highlights the importance of a cluster model for solar PV waste collection
and disposal, emphasizing the need for robust regulatory frameworks, public-private partnerships, and
innovative recycling technologies. The cluster model, which integrates traditional concepts with modern
approaches, is essential for effective PV waste management. However, the implementation of this model
requires further legal and practical efforts. The research reveals that improved solar PV waste management
can significantly reduce pollution and promote sustainability. By strengthening the existing model and
encouraging new start-ups focused on sustainable PV waste management, India can enhance its
environmental resilience. Despite relying on a snowball sampling method, the study identifies root
problems and provides actionable recommendations for better waste management practices.
In conclusion, this research underscores the urgent need for strategic planning in managing solar PV waste
in India. Enhanced understanding and implementation of efficient waste management strategies will
support India's sustainable energy transition and contribute to achieving the targets set out in the Paris
Agreement.
Keywords: Solar PV Waste_1, Cluster Model_2, Solar Waste Policy_3, Recycling PV Waste_4, Startups
in Collection and Recycle_4 PV Waste_5.

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INTRODUCTION

The global shift towards renewable energy is critical for combating climate change and reducing carbon
emissions. Solar photovoltaic (PV) technology plays a pivotal role in this transition. However, like other
technologies, solar PV panels have a limited lifespan, typically 25-30 years, after which they generate
significant waste. In India, the rapid deployment of solar energy systems has raised concerns about the
management of PV waste, which is projected to accumulate to 2.95 billion tonnes between 2020 and 2047.

PV waste contains valuable materials like silver, silicon, aluminum, and hazardous substances like lead
and cadmium, which require appropriate disposal or recycling. However, managing end-of-life (EOL)
solar panels in developing nations, including India, has not received as much attention as PV installation
and energy efficiency.

This paper explores India’s current solar PV waste management policies and technological strategies,
identifying areas for improvement. The focus is on establishing effective end-of-life strategies that align
with India's ambitious solar energy targets.

BACKGROUND AND LITERATURE REVIEW

Growth of Solar Energy in India

India’s solar energy sector has grown rapidly, driven by initiatives such as the Jawaharlal Nehru National
Solar Mission (JNNSM) and the aim to achieve 100 GW of solar power capacity by 2022. As of 2023,
India had installed over 67 GW of solar energy capacity, making it one of the largest solar markets
globally. However, with the increasing deployment comes the challenge of managing large volumes of
solar PV waste.

PV Waste Generation and Composition

Solar PV panels typically contain materials like glass (75%), aluminum (10%), silicon (3%), and small
amounts of hazardous elements like cadmium and lead (Figure 1). These materials, if not properly handled,
can cause environmental damage. At the same time, valuable materials can be recovered through efficient
recycling processes. Table 1 illustrates the estimated PV waste accumulation in India between 2020 and
2047.
Table 1. Estimated PV Waste Generation in India

Year Estimated PV Waste (Million Tonnes)

2020 0.05

2025 0.20

2030 0.50

2040 1.50

2047 2.95

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Recycling and Recovery Rates
Research indicates that up to 90% of materials from solar panels can be recovered through advanced
recycling techniques. However, the actual recovery rate in India remains much lower due to inadequate
infrastructure and policy implementation (Table 2).

Table 2. Global Comparison of Solar PV Panel Recoverability Rates

Country Recoverability Rate (%)

European Union 90%

United States 80%

India 30%

REGULATORY FRAMEWORK
E-Waste Management Rules and EPR Guidelines
India’s E-waste (Management) Rules 2016, which include Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)
provisions, cover solar PV waste. These rules mandate producers to ensure the collection, transportation,
and safe disposal of PV panels. However, gaps in enforcement, monitoring, and stakeholder collaboration
limit the effectiveness of these regulations.
Cluster Model for Solar PV Waste Management
A cluster model involves the collaboration of multiple stakeholders, including producers, recyclers, and
government agencies, to create localized hubs for waste collection and recycling. This approach can help
overcome logistical challenges and ensure efficient waste management at the community level. The model

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has been successfully implemented in European nations and shows promise for India, where public-private
partnerships (PPP) could enhance operational efficiency.

CHALLENGES IN MANAGING SOLAR PV WASTE IN INDIA

Several challenges impede the management of solar PV waste in India, including:

• Lack of Awareness: Solar PV waste management is not widely recognized as a critical issue
among policymakers, producers, or consumers.
• Limited Recycling Infrastructure: India has few facilities capable of recycling solar PV panels,
and the existing ones are often inadequately equipped.
• Inadequate Policies: Although India has implemented the E-waste (Management) Rules 2016,
there is no specific legislation dedicated to solar PV waste management.

TECHNOLOGICAL AND POLICY SOLUTIONS

Technological Innovations
Advanced technologies such as thermochemical treatment, hydrometallurgical extraction, and laser
cutting can improve the efficiency of PV waste recycling. Innovations in recycling technologies can
increase recoverability rates and reduce environmental hazards. India needs to invest in R&D for these
solutions to become mainstream.

Policy Recommendations

This study recommends the following actions to improve solar PV waste management in India:

• Strengthening the E-waste (Management) Rules to include specific provisions for solar PV
waste.
• Incentivizing Recycling Startups through tax breaks and subsidies.
• Public-Private Partnerships to develop localized solar waste management clusters.
• International Collaboration to adopt best practices from countries with advanced PV waste
management systems.

CONCLUSION
The management of solar PV waste in India is an emerging challenge that requires immediate attention.
With proper strategic planning, India can harness the opportunities in the recycling and recovery of PV
panels, creating a sustainable and environmentally resilient future. By implementing innovative
technologies, enhancing regulatory frameworks, and fostering public-private partnerships, India can
reduce its PV waste burden and lead the way in sustainable solar energy management.

REFERENCES
International Renewable Energy Agency (2020), End-of-Life Management of Solar Photovoltaic Panels,
International Renewable Energy Agency .
Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (2022), Solar Energy in India: Annual Report,Government of
India.
E-Waste (Management) Rules (2016), Government of India.
European Commission. (2019) Best Practices for Solar PV Waste Management.
Singh, A. Gupta,R., and Sharma,M (2023) "Challenges and Opportunities in PV Waste Recycling in

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 India," Journal of Cleaner Production.
Kumar, P. and Rao,L.(2021)"Extended Producer Responsibility and Solar PV Waste Management in
India," Renewable Energy Journal.
Sica, D Malandrino,o.Supino,S., (2022), "Circular Economy Strategies for Solar Photovoltaic Waste
Management: A Global Perspective," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, .
Tiwari, S., Patel, K and Joshi, H. (2021), "Solar PV Panel Waste: A New Challenge for India’s Waste
Management System," Waste Management Research.
Weckend, S., Wade, A., and Heath, G. (2018), End-of-Life Management of Photovoltaic Panels: A Global
Perspective, National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).
Jain, R., and Tripathi, S.(2020), "Sustainable Approaches for Solar PV Waste Management in Developing
Countries," Journal of Sustainable Development Studies.

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CHALLENGES IN WASTE RECYCLING INDUSTRIES IN INDIA

Ms. Baby D. Kamble1, Dr. G.D. Borde2, Dr. Krantisagar More3
1
Padmshri Vikhe Patil New Science, Arts and Commerce College, Pravaranagar, Loni kd, Ahmednagar-
413713, Maharashtra, India
2
Department of Commerce & Management, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune- 411007, Maharashtra,
India
3
Department of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Institute of Chemical Technology,
Matunga, Mumbai- 400018, India
Corresponding and presenting author: bebikamble22@gmail.com; gorakb@gmail.com,
krantisagarm@gmail.com
ABSTRACT
This paper provides an in-depth analysis of the challenges faced by the waste recycling industry in India
and emphasizes the need for innovative technical solutions and research and development for circular
economy. It evaluates issues related to waste segregation and quality, economic measures aligned with the
principles of circular economy, and optimization of waste resource management. The research highlights
significant obstacles such as the lack of industrial policies, poor waste quality, and the need for improved
infrastructure and resources. Using a case study approach due to the absence of a comprehensive sample
frame, the study identifies key demands such as formal markets, skilled human resources, and better
financial support. The findings indicate that while the potential for recycling is high, actual recycling and
composting rates remain low. The study underscores the necessity for a legal framework and structural
improvements to advance the recycling sector in India.
Keywords: Micro waste recycling industry_1, Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF)_2, Material Recovery Facility
(MRF)_3, Recycling technologies_4.

INTRODUCTION
"India is a developing country with the second-largest population in the world, totalling 1.38 billion
people. Currently, according to government estimates, approximately 65 million tons of waste is generated
annually in India, out of which 62 million tons is Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) comprising recyclable
materials such as organic waste, paper, plastic, wood, glass, etc. Only 75-80% of municipal waste is
collected, and of this, only 22-28% is processed and treated. The remaining MSW is dumped in landfills.
By 2031, MSW generation is expected to rise to 165 million tons, and by 2050, it is projected to reach 436
million tons. The biggest challenge faced by recycling plants is their diversity. India has about 7,500 plastic
recyclers (both registered and unregistered), 312 registered e-waste recyclers/dismantlers, and 5 registered
construction and demolition waste recycling units. Some of these units were operational before the
notification of the national waste management rules. These figures are insufficient to cover the volume of
recyclable waste generated in our country."
The significance of these challenges extends far beyond the realm of waste management itself.
Environmental impacts are profound: uncollected and improperly managed waste often ends up in
landfills, where it can leach toxins into the soil and water, or be incinerated, releasing harmful pollutants
into the air. These practices contribute to soil and water contamination, air pollution, and increased

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greenhouse gas emissions, exacerbating climate change and negatively impacting public health.
Economically, the inefficiencies in the recycling sector translate into lost opportunities. Valuable materials
that could be recovered and reused are instead discarded, leading to increased demand for raw materials
and higher production costs.
The economic potential of the recycling industry is substantial, with estimates suggesting that improving
recycling processes could create thousands of jobs and generate significant revenue. However, current
inefficiencies hinder this potential, contributing to a cycle of economic waste. The interplay between these
environmental and economic impacts underscores the urgency of addressing the challenges faced by the
waste recycling industry in India. Reforming waste management practices, investing in better recycling
technologies, and enhancing public awareness are crucial steps toward a more sustainable and
economically viable future. By tackling these issues, India can improve environmental quality, stimulate
economic growth, and move closer to achieving its sustainability goals.

PREVIOUS STUDIES
Previous studies have not adequately addressed the structure of the rapidly evolving recycling industry,
the diversity in capital investments, and the cost-benefit analysis of recycled and reused materials.
Ultimately, less emphasis has been placed on the importance of skilled labor in enhancing recycling
efficiency.

RESEARCH PROBLEMS
How to build the existing market system?

What challenges do waste recycling industries face in India?

OBJECTIVES
1. To gain a detailed understanding of the current market dynamics and growth opportunities in waste
management.

2. To identify issues and challenges in implementing a waste management economy.

3. To focus on the current market dynamics and growth opportunities for the recycling industry, and on
recycling costs within the context of waste management.

4. To handle unaddressed areas and provide a more coherent view of the challenges and opportunities in
the recycling sector.

5. To evaluate data from aggregated recycling industries, private sector records, and databases
maintained by official sources.

MATERIAL METHOD

RESEARCH DESIGN
This study employs a qualitative research design, utilizing a case study approach to collect data from key
stakeholders in the recycling industry. Due to the absence of a comprehensive sample frame, the method
involves identifying relevant participants through referrals from initial contacts.

DATA COLLECTION

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Data was collected through semi-structured 30 interviews with industry professionals, including waste
management experts, recycling facility operators, and policymakers. Additionally, secondary data from
industry reports, various publications of the Central, State and Local Governments, published records,
statistics, historical documents, academic literature and online data sources were analysed to complement
the primary data.
DATA ANALYSIS
Thematic analysis was used to identify recurring themes and patterns related to the challenges and needs
of the recycling industry. In the Thematic analysis researcher used Immersion , Transcription of interviews,
Inductive/Deductive Approaches, NVivo software, Mind Mapping Techniques Final Analysis and Report
Writing Contextualization: Themes are placed back into the context of the research question and broader
theoretical framework to interpret their significance., Supporting Evidence: Each theme is backed up by
quotes or examples from the data to demonstrate their validity and relevance. This approach helped in
gaining a deep understanding of the issues and potential solutions.

LIMITATIONS
A limitation of this study is its reliance on snowball sampling, which may make it challenging to achieve
a comprehensive overview of the entire industry. Future research should consider studying larger samples
and using quantitative methods to verify findings, as well as to develop more broadly applicable
conclusions.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION:

Figure 1. Challenges in Waste Recycling Industries (Source: Data Collected from Survey and interviews)

Number of Recycling Industries: The analysis from 2014 to 2024 reveals a clear shortage of small,
medium, and large recycling industries, despite the growing number of industries during this period.

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Investment: Despite increasing investments in recycling industries between 2014 and 2024, there has not
been a corresponding significant increase in financial investment for small, medium, and large recycling
businesses.

Skilled Human Resources: The number of skilled workers in recycling industries has increased from
2014 to 2024. Since 2016, the Indian government’s skill development training program has been training
waste collectors, leading to increased technology use. However, trained manpower in the recycling
industry is still lacking despite various cleanliness initiatives.

Digitization: Considering the growing economy in the recycling industry from 2014 to 2024, there has
been no significant progress in digitalization related to financial registration, accounting, industry
registration, pollution generation, carbon credits, and industry reporting.

Formal Markets: Reflecting on the formal markets in the recycling industry from 2014 to 2024, the EPR
(Extended Producer Responsibility) policy adopted by India, coupled with the current issue of insufficient
raw material supply, has led to misuse of raw materials in the formal market. Key issues identified include
problems related to dry waste streams, overall dry waste status, existing market shortcomings, market
cycles, demand for recyclable dry waste items, non-recyclable items, market price fluctuations, and
definitions and regulations concerning dry waste.

Technology Development: Despite the increasing needs and related technology markets in the recycling
industry from 2014 to 2024, many technologies in the Indian recycling industry remain underdeveloped
and unimplemented.

Government Policies: The Indian government has established committees to address solid waste, related
pollution, and the SWM (Solid Waste Management) Act 2016 and its annual amendments from 2014 to
2024. However, challenges such as establishing an effective waste management system, detailed records
of each waste component, and effective market establishment at the local level are yet to be fully
addressed. Issues include the minimum and maximum limits for commissions and dry waste pricing set
by the government.

Education: There appears to be a lack of development in technology, science, arts, and trade branches
within the waste recycling industry. New educational policies should incorporate waste recycling into the
education system in various ways.

Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Policy: India adopted the EPR policy at the Paris Conference,
which mandates that producers take responsibility for the packaging materials or waste they create. This
policy needs to be made more effective to encourage proactive steps from the recycling industry and ensure
that funds are used more effectively through EPR rather than CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility).
Effective implementation of EPR policy is still lacking in India.

Sustainable Marketing: Producers generate various types of unnecessary waste to boost advertising and
sales. The government has not yet fully promoted sustainable packaging and restricted producers to
adopting sustainable packaging practices.

Human Resource Development: The production industry currently requires trained human resources.
The available workforce is often uneducated, untrained, and ineffective, leading to lower wages and high
turnover. Although the Skill India program provides training facilities, the local workforce cannot afford

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to attend training sessions. There is a need for effective training centers provided by contractors to ensure
that workers can benefit and retain their skills.

Research and Development: Indian researchers are lagging in surveying waste quality, classification,
pollution, producer and consumer habits, survey tools, and technology. There is a need to establish an
independent research department and develop various technologies similar to those in China to accelerate
the waste market.

Definition of Recycling: The Solid Waste Management Act 2016 contains some errors, primarily lacking
a clear definition of recycling. The government needs to study and define recycling and other related terms
properly.

Accounting and Auditing: Currently, financial transactions recorded by industrial enterprises in India are
mainly cash-based, and auditing does not fully reflect the current state due to a lack of proper records.
Entrepreneurs should have their financial records audited.

Environmental Accounting and Auditing: The pollution recorded by industrial enterprises in India is
not substantial, and due to a lack of effective recycling policies, auditing does not accurately reflect
pollution levels. Entrepreneurs should have their environmental records audited.

Labor Facilities: Workers in the recycling industry in India are not local and are often required to perform
harmful tasks. The industry should adopt new policies and provide basic facilities such as housing, safety
kits, schools for workers' children, anganwadis (childcare centers), on-site toilets, dining areas, and a
healthy environment.

Recycling Costs: Machines do not operate effectively according to waste quality. Recycling industries
need to conduct local research to select equipment and control recycling costs.

MRF/RDF Plants: Waste sorting plants in India are inefficient and have low sorting capacity.

Pollution Regulations: MRF (Material Recovery Facility) and RDF (Refuse Derived Fuel) plants and the
recycling industry in India contribute significantly to air pollution. A special committee should be
established to control pollution.
Brief overview Global Standards or Practices.:

By examining global best practices and standards, it becomes evident that India has significant room for
improvement. Advancing its recycling industry not only involves increasing recycling rates but also
adopting more effective waste management policies and technologies. Learning from successful
international models can guide India toward achieving better environmental outcomes and economic
benefits. Addressing these challenges is crucial for aligning India’s waste management practices with
global standards and fostering a more sustainable and prosperous future.

CONCLUSIONS
The examination of the recycling industry in India from 2014 to 2024 highlights significant areas of
concern and opportunity. Despite a rise in the number of recycling industries, there remains a stark
shortage of small, medium, and large-scale facilities. Investment in these industries has not proportionately
increased, reflecting a gap between financial input and actual industry growth. Although there has been
progress in developing skilled human resources through government training programs, the industry still

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faces a shortage of adequately trained workers. The lack of advancement in digitization and technology
development further exacerbates the challenges faced by the sector. Formal markets are hampered by
issues related to raw material supply and inefficiencies in the implementation of the Extended Producer
Responsibility (EPR) policy. Government policies and educational initiatives need to address these gaps
more effectively, with a particular focus on defining recycling terms and improving the training and
resources available to workers. Additionally, enhancing research and development, refining waste
management practices, and enforcing stricter pollution controls are crucial for the sector's sustainable
growth. Overall, a concerted effort is needed to address these multifaceted challenges and leverage
opportunities for improving the efficiency and effectiveness of India's recycling industry.

REFERENCES
Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India (2020). Feasibility study of cluster
level dry waste management A Case of Maharashtra Research Study 2018-19, Maharashtra: Ministry
of Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India.
Agnihotri, D. A. K. (2022). MSW Management: The pitiable situation of Municipal Solid Waste
Management. The Energy and Resources Institute, 14 September
Ahuja, R.( 2021). INDIAN FERROUS SCRAP MARKET OVERVIEW. International Trade
Administration, 5 March.
Anon.( n.d.) Feasibility study of cluster level dry waste management A Case of Maharashtra, Research
Study - 2018-19, s.l.: s.n.
Cole Rosengren, &. R. L. ed. (2019). What does ‘recycling’ actually mean?. Wastedive, 3 April.
Central Pollution Control Board -Delhi, (2021). Annual Review Report-2015-16 and Annual Report-
2020-21. CPCB-Delhi.
Eriksen MK, A. T. (2019). Characterisation of source-separated, rigid plastic waste and evaluation of
recycling initiatives: Effects of product design and source-separation system. Waste Management.
15 March, Volume 87:161-172.
Luthra, S. (2022). ‘There is a strong domestic demand for scrap and metals’. Mint, 16 May.
Rathi, V. (2019). Why recycling is not a bankable venture in India. Sustainability Outlook, 29
October.
Silpa Kaza, L. Y. P. B.-T. a. F. V. W. (n.d.) What a Waste 2.0, A Global Snapshot of Solid Waste,
Management to 2050 . ISBN (paper): 978-1-4648-1329-0, ISBN (electronic): 978-1-46481347-4.

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INTEGRATING CARBON CAPTURE SYSTEM INTO CO-GASIFICATION OF

PLASTIC WASTE AND BIOMASS: MINIMIZATION OF SIMULATION
BASED LIFE CYLE ENDPOINT VALUE
Qiming QIAN1, Jingzheng REN1*, Chang He2, Catherine Azzaro-Pantel3
1
Research Institute for Advanced Manufacturing, Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, The Hong
Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR, China
2
School of Materials Science and Engineering, Guangdong Engineering Centre for Petrochemical Energy
Conservation, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China.
3
Laboratoire de Génie Chimique, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, INPT, UPS, Toulouse, France.
*Corresponding author: jzhren@polyu.edu.hk

ABSTRACT
Plastic waste has become a global concern due to its increasing accumulation in landfills and improper
disposal. To effectively mitigate pollution and harness the thermochemical potential of waste materials,
this study proposes a thermo-conversion system that integrates a carbon capture and sequestration unit to
produce low-carbon hydrogen from a mixture of plastic waste and biomass. The core system is modeled
in Aspen Plus, while the carbon dioxide removal unit is simulated in Aspen HYSYS using a blended
solvent, MDEA/PZ, in a two-column process. A single-objective optimization framework is implemented
by connecting the simulator with the MATLAB platform using the particle swarm optimization algorithm.
The variables being optimized include the mass fraction of biomass to plastics, temperature of the
gasification process, steam to feed mass ratio, oxygen-to-feed mass ratio, and mass flow rate of steam in
the water gas shift reaction to enhance hydrogen yield. The objective function is presented as the
simulation-based life cycle value calculated using the ReCiPe 2016 endpoint model. The system boundary
includes foreground and background inventories, covering direct process emissions, utility streams, and
plastic waste/biomass collection and transportation. Missing data for background inventories are
supplemented using the Eco-invent database. The minimum life cycle endpoint value obtained is 271 mPt
per kilogram low-carbon hydrogen produced, with a corresponding levelized cost of hydrogen is $2.4/kg.
Higher biomass fraction, gasification temperature, steam-to-feed ratio, and lower oxygen-to-feed ratio are
found to improve the life cycle endpoint value. Furthermore, methane emissions contribute significantly
to global warming potential, exceeding carbon dioxide by approximately 100 times. Finally, reducing
electricity and heat consumption and implementing integration measures to minimize energy usage are
crucial.

Keywords: Waste-to-energy, Life cycle assessment, Process simulation, Optimization, Low-carbon

hydrogen

Fundings: The authors would like to express their sincere thanks to the financial support from the Research Institute for Advanced
Manufacturing (RIAM) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (project code: 1-CDK2, Project ID: P0050827), a grant from Research
Grants Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China-General Research Fund (Project ID: P0046940, Funding Body Ref.
No: 15305823, Project No. B-QC83), a grant from the Environment and Conservation Fund (ECF) (Project ID: P0043333, Funding Body
Ref. No: ECF 51/2022, Project No. K-ZB5Z), and a grant from the PROCORE-France/Hong Kong Joint Research Scheme sponsored by the

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Research Grants Council of Hong Kong and the Consulate General of France in Hong Kong (Ref. No. F-PolyU501/22 for the Hong Kong
part and 49387ZA for the French part).

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GLOBAL WARMING AND SOIL POLLUTION

Nilgün Balkaya1*, Sema Arıman2
1
Istanbul University Cerrahpasa, Istanbul,34320, Türkiye.
2
Samsun University, Samsun, 55000, Türkiye.
*Corresponding author: nbalkaya@iuc.edu.tr
ORCID Code: 0000-0002-9117-6241
ABSTRACT
Soil systems play a pivotal role in sustainable development due to their diverse functions, encompassing
biomass production (food, feed, fiber, and fuel), habitat provision for biodiversity, water and air
purification, greenhouse gas mitigation, carbon sequestration, regulation of precipitation extremes, and
support for cultural, recreational, and human health activities. The latest Intergovernmental Panel on
Climate Change (IPCC) report suggests that the average global temperature may increase between 1.1 and
6.4 °C by 2090–2099 compared to temperatures from 1980–1999, with the most likely increase falling
between 1.8 and 4.0 °C (Edenhofer et al., 2014). Accordingly, future climate change will manifest through
temperature rises and extreme weather events like heavy rainfall, droughts, frosts, storms, and coastal sea
level rise, exacerbating threats to soil health such as erosion, compaction, reduced fertility, and diminished
agricultural output, thereby compromising food security and environmental sustainability. Moreover, the
emission and sequestration of greenhouse gases, biogenic volatile organic compounds, aerosols, and
biophysical feedback effects like albedo and evapotranspiration influence soils' contribution to climate
regulation. The most commonly suggested solution for reducing climate change risk and averting the peak
fossil fuel risk is gradually shifting from fossil fuel to non-fossil fuel energy sources. On the other hand,
concerned about the potential effects of climate change on human well-being, attempts are being made to
adapt strategies for climate change. In this study, the possible impacts of global warming on soil health
are reviewed. Possible adaptation options to minimize climate change impacts on soil are also discussed.

Keywords: Global warming, Soil, Pollution, Adaptation strategies

Edenhofer, O., Pichs-Madruga, R., Sokona, Y. (2014). Climate change 2014: mitigation of climate change

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THE ROLE OF HYDROGEN IN MITIGATING THE IMPACTS ON THE

ENVIRONMENT OF GLOBAL WARMING
Sema Arıman1*, Nilgün Balkaya2, Mashallah Rezakazemi3
1
Samsun University, Samsun, 55000, Türkiye
2
Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Istanbul,34320, Türkiye
3
Shahrood University of Technology, Shahrood, 9WVR+757, Iran
*Corresponding author: sema.ariman@samsun.edu.tr
ORCID Code: 0000-0001-7201-9243

ABSTRACT
Global warming, primarily fueled by the combustion of fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas, has
long been acknowledged as a significant threat to civilization. The burning of fossil fuels contributes to
70% of total carbon emissions, and human activity and energy consumption are the primary causes of
climate change. Increasing population, changing consumption habits, and the consequent increase in the
need for energy contribute to the widespread use of fossil fuels and the accumulation of CO2 in the
atmosphere. According to the IPCC, greenhouse gas levels have significantly increased over the past six
decades. Climate change has led to a global mean surface temperature increase of approximately 0.3–
0.6°C over the past century, with projections indicating continued elevation (Edenhofer et al., 2014).
Therefore, taking into account concerns about the potential impacts of global climate change on the
environment and human health, there is a need to take measures to mitigate the adverse effects of global
climate change. Considering that one of the most important causes of global warming is the energy sector,
it is obvious that energy production should be carried out using technologies that allow less greenhouse
gas formation. To limit the global temperature increase to 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels by the end of
this century, achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 or earlier is essential. Hydrogen can be crucial in
transitioning to a net-zero energy system, particularly in the transport and heavy industry sectors. This
study aims to review the role of hydrogen in mitigating the impacts on the environment of global warming.
In this review, the impacts of global warming on the environment and types of hydrogen production are
discussed first. The potential of hydrogen to mitigate the negative impacts of global warming on the
environment is assessed with a focus on hydrogen produced using renewable energy.

Keywords: Global warming, Environment, Pollution, Hydrogen energy

Edenhofer, O., Pichs-Madruga, R., Sokona, Y. (2014). Climate change 2014: mitigation of climate change

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ECOLOGICAL RISK ASSESSMENT OF HEAVY METALS IN SEDIMENT

FROM GOLDEN HORN ESTUARY, SEA OF MARMARA
Sema Arıman1, Nilgün Balkaya2*
1
Samsun University, Samsun, 55000, Türkiye
2
Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Istanbul,34320, Türkiye
*Corresponding author: nbalkaya@istanbul.edu.tr
ORCID Code: 0000-0002-9117-6241

ABSTRACT
Effective environmental management practices for pollutants rely on a clear understanding of chemicals’
environmental fate and ecological risks. Heavy metals are key geochemical elements in soil and sediment,
with their distribution influenced by shale deposition and human activities. Heavy metals are among the
major environmental pollutants due to their toxicity, persistence, and non-biodegradable nature.
Anthropogenic sources of heavy metals in aquatic environments include industrial and domestic
wastewater, urban and agricultural runoff, and mining and smelting operations. With the rapid
development of industry and agriculture, heavy metal pollution has become a significant threat to the
health of regional ecosystems and a joint research focus in geography, environmental science, and marine
science. When heavy metals enter aquatic environments, they tend to be adsorbed by suspended particles
and settle to the bottom sediment. However, these pollutants can be re-released into the water from the
sediment. Heavy metals can accumulate in benthic organisms and in plants. Therefore, the presence of
heavy metals in aquatic environments is of concern. This study aims to determine the quality of the
sediment and evaluate the potential ecological risks posed by selected heavy metals in the Golden Horn
Estuary, Sea of Marmara, Türkiye. In this study, anthropogenic contamination of Ni, Zn, Cr, Cu, As, Pb,
Cd, and Hg in the sediment of the Golden Horn was evaluated using several indices, such as Sediment
Quality Guidelines, Geo-accumulation Index, Sediment Enrichment Factor, Metal Pollution Index, and
Potential Ecological Risk Index. The results of this study, examining the distribution characteristics and
pollution status of heavy metals in the Golden Horn Estuary, may provide the necessary guidance for
pollution control, ecological restoration, and the beneficial use of dredged sediment from the estuary.

Keywords: Heavy metal, Golden Horn Estuary, Sediment quality, Ecological risk

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PUBLIC AWARENESS OF MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES: A CASE

STUDY
Nilgün Balkaya1*, Vasif Abakarov1
1
Istanbul University Cerrahpasa, Istanbul,34320, Türkiye.
*Corresponding author: nbalkaya@iuc.edu.tr
ORCID Code: 0000-0002-9117-6241
ABSTRACT
Marine pollution is one of the most significant environmental problems today. Marine and coastal
environments around the world face the threat of increasing pollution every day. Anthropogenic sources
such as domestic and industrial wastewater discharges, urban and agricultural runoff, solid waste, tourism,
and marine traffic contribute to pollution in marine and coastal environments. Marine pollution has
substantial negative impacts on marine ecosystems and human health. Thus, protecting marine and coastal
environments from pollution is of utmost importance. Protection and sustainable use of oceans, seas, and
marine resources are crucial for sustainable development. Goal 14 of the United Nations Sustainable
Development Goals addresses ‘Life below Water’, aiming to conserve and sustainably use the oceans,
seas, and marine resources for sustainable development. Implementing technological and legal measures
to prevent and protect marine and coastal environments from pollution is of great importance. However,
technical and legal measures alone are insufficient. Public support and engagement are also essential.
Raising public awareness about marine pollution is a vital component of global efforts to protect these
environments. Raising public awareness through communication, education, and campaigns can spur
community efforts to protect marine and coastal environments. This study aimed to determine the public’s
level of awareness (knowledge, perception, and consciousness) about marine pollution. A survey study
was carried out in Istanbul, the largest city in Türkiye. The Avcılar district was selected as the study area
in Istanbul, and the residents of the district were randomly surveyed using the personal interview method
(a face-to-face written questionnaire). The data obtained from the surveys were statistically evaluated.

Keywords: Public awareness, Marine and coastal environments, Pollution, Protection, Sustainability

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TREATMENT OF REAL PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY WASTEWATER

BY PHOTOCATALYTIC ELECTROOXIDATION (Ti-ZnCl 3 ) PROCESS AND
EVALUATION OF HYDROGEN PRODUCTION
Ayşe Elif Ateş1, İberia Aydın2, Serdar Aydın1, Sinan Ateş1, Hüseyin Selçuk1
1
Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Engineering Faculty, Environmental Engineering Department, 34320, Avcilar,
Istanbul, Turkey
2
Yıldız Technical University, Istanbul, 34220, Turkey.

*Corresponding author: ayseelif.ates@iuc.edu.tr

ORCID Code: 0000-0001-5391-7478

ABSTRACT
Since the pharmaceutical industry is one of the industries with a wide range of production, wastewater
characterization varies. Different pharmaceutical active ingredients are used in the production processes,
and mixing these ingredients in the process is not desired as it will spoil the purity of the drug. To prevent
this, process equipment is washed using intense water during drug production. The wastewater released
during the production process and washing process has an intense pollution load. For this reason, advanced
oxidation processes that can break down drug active ingredients are used. In this study, real pharmaceutical
industry wastewater was purified by photocatalytic electrooxidation process using TiO 2 /ZnCl 3 coated
electrodes. Photocatalytic electro oxidation process is a process that requires energy, and it is aimed to
provide the energy need with renewable energy. For this reason, the treatment was carried out using a two-
compartment reactor and the hydrogen gas formed during the treatment was collected. Hydrogen
production has been tried to achieve energy gain within the scope of sustainability. As a result of the study,
92% COD removal efficiency was achieved. Response surface modeling (RSM) and ANOVA analysis
were performed to evaluate COD removal efficiencies. Thus, removal efficiency under conditions other
than operating conditions can be seen in 3D graphics. In addition, the suitability of working conditions
was evaluated by ANAOVA analysis. pH, time and current were used as variables in the study. Variants
were studied in both light and dark conditions. Additionally, because of the study, toxicity analysis was
performed using daphnia magna. The study contributes to the literature in terms of both wastewater
treatment and energy recovery.

Keywords: Hydrogen, Pharmaceutical Industry Wastewater, Photocatalytic

INTRODUCTION
The pharmaceutical industry produces medical products for many areas around the world and uses
significant amounts of water during the production phase. The water used in these processes is
contaminated with various chemicals such as drug active ingredients, antibiotics, hormones, solvents and
dyes and turns into wastewater. Photocatalytic treatment, one of the advanced oxidation methods, is based
on the mineralization of pollutants under sunlight (or UV light) using photocatalysts (Kanakaraju, D.,
2014). It is seen in the literature that it is effective in removing pollutants known as active pharmaceutical
compounds from pharmaceutical industry wastewater (Khan, W.Z., 2016).

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Photocatalysts used in photocatalytic treatment are semiconductor materials and are usually titanium
dioxide. Photocatalytic materials are activated under sunlight and as a result, they produce free radicals.
These radicals react with the pollutants and cause them to oxidize. It attracts attention from researchers
due to its high efficiency in removing pollutants that are difficult to decompose (Saravanathamizhan, R.,
2021, Solanki, C.S., & Parmar, N., 2020 ). In this study, photocatalytic treatment of real pharmaceutical
industry wastewater using TiO 2 /ZnCl 3 coated anode was investigated. Photocatalytic treatment is used in
the treatment of wastewater in different industries such as pharmaceutical, textile, food and agriculture.
Researchers are working to produce less costly photocatalytic for future studies. The development of more
effective and economical photocatalysts will allow the method to be widely used in other industries.

MATERIAL METHOD
In the photocatalytic system given in Figure 1, stainless steel was used as the cathode and TiO 2 /ZnCl 3
coated stainless steel was used in the anode compartment. As a result of the characterization analysis of
raw pharmaceutical industry wastewater, COD value was found as 13487 mg/L. In the study, the effect of
voltage on COD removal efficiency according to time, pH and UV intensity was investigated. Hydrogen
production was evaluated volumetrically by collecting hydrogen from the cathode compartment. The
system was operated cyclically.

Figure 1. Photocatalytic electrooxidation process used for the treatment of pharmaceutical industry
wastewater

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RESULTS and DISCUSSION
In this study, photocatalytic treatment of real pharmaceutical industry wastewater was studied using
TiO 2 /ZnCl 3 coated stainless steel anode and stainless-steel cathode. In this study, the effect of voltage on
COD removal efficiency according to pH, time and UV intensity was investigated. In the study,
photocatalytic treatment of real pharmaceutical industry wastewater was studied using TiO 2 /ZnCl 3 coated
stainless steel anode and stainless-steel cathode. In the study, the effect of voltage on COD removal
efficiency according to pH, time and UV intensity was investigated. In Figure 2b, approximately pH 3
increased the treatment efficiency. Although the increase in voltage increased COD removal efficiency, it

a. b.

c.
Figure 2. COD removal efficiency

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varies according to pH value. In Figure 2c, as voltage and UV intensity increase, treatment efficiency
increases. As seen in Figure 2a, treatment efficiency increases with increasing voltage, but when the
situation is evaluated with time variable, increasing voltage did not change the treatment efficiency much
in 15-minute studies. However, when the time was extended, increasing voltage in 75 minutes increased
the treatment efficiency from approximately 60% to 93%.

CONCLUSION
The photocatalytic treatment of pharmaceutical industry wastewater, particularly with the use of
TiO 2 /ZnCl 3 coated stainless steel anodes and stainless-steel cathodes, has shown promising results in this
study. The observed effects of voltage, pH, time, and UV intensity on COD removal efficiency provide
valuable insights into the optimization of this process. When compared with findings from other studies,
several interesting trends and differences emerge that deepen our understanding of the photocatalytic
treatment’s potential and limitations.

REFERENCES
Kanakaraju, D., Glass, B.D., & Oelgemöller, M. (2014). Titanium dioxide photocatalysis for
pharmaceutical wastewater treatment. Environmental Chemistry Letters, 12, 27-47.
Khan, W.Z., Najeeb, I., Ishtiaque, S., & Jabeen, S. (2016). Photodegradation of Real Pharmaceutical
Wastewater With Titanium Dioxide, Zinc Oxide, And Hydrogen Peroxide during UV
Treatment. IOSR Journal of Engineering, 06, 36-46.
Saravanathamizhan, R., Perarasu, V.T., & Dhandapani, B. (2021). Advanced oxidation process for
effluent treatment in textile, pharmaceutical, and tannery industries. Photocatalytic Degradation
of Dyes.
Solanki, C.S., & Parmar, N. (2020). Treatment of Waste Water from the Pharmaceutical Industry by Tio2
based Photocatalysis: an advanced oxidation Method.

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THE EFFECT OF ELECTRODE TYPE ON TREATMENT EFFICIENCY IN

THE TREATMENT OF PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY WASTEWATER
WITH DIFFERENT ADVANCED OXIDATION PROCESSES
Ayşe Elif Ateş1*, Serdar Adın1
1
Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Engineering Faculty, Environmental Engineering Department, 34320, Avcilar,
Istanbul, Turkey
*Corresponding author: ayseelif.ates@iuc.edu.tr

ORCID Code: 0000-0001-5391-7478

ABSTRACT
The pharmaceutical industry discharges high amounts of wastewater due to intensive water use. Due to
the wide production range and the chemicals used in production, they have toxic properties due to the
active pharmaceutical ingredients and discharging them without purification can cause ecological
problems that are difficult to compensate for. For this reason, researchers are trying different methods to
treat this wastewater containing persistent organic pollutants at both an economical and dischargeable
level. These methods are generally advanced oxidation processes and 80-90% COD removal is achieved.
Within the scope of the study, it was tried to purify real pharmaceutical industry wastewater using copper,
titanium, aluminum, steel and iron electrodes. Current, pH, temperature and time were used as variables
to select the most efficient process in terms of treatment efficiency and cost. In addition to COD and
organic matter removal, at the end of the study, the optimum process was selected, toxicity analysis was
performed and dischargeability was interpreted. Literature studies have focused on purification, but
specific drug active ingredient removal studies are limited. At the end of the study, the degradation of the
active ingredient diclofenac in the optimum process was investigated. By using titanium electrodes, 96%
COD and 92% organic matter removal was achieved. Additionally, diclofenac was degraded at >99% rate
at the end of the process. The study results show that treated wastewater can be discharged to the urban
wastewater treatment plant because of the use of titanium electrodes. In addition, sludge measurement was
made because of this process, and it was determined that it was the process with the lowest sludge volume.

Keywords: pharmaceutical industry, electro-oxidation, toxic

INTRODUCTION
Although pharmaceutical industry products are critical to human life, chemicals, pharmaceuticals,
hormones and heavy metals released during the production phase can be quite dangerous for the
environment and ecosystem (K, S., & Matli, C.S., 2024). To prevent these chemicals from mixing into
nature, they need to be broken down in wastewater treatment plants and brought into harmless form. Since
traditional treatment processes cannot provide complete breakdown of drug active ingredients in the
treatment of pharmaceutical industry wastewater, researchers generally use advanced oxidation methods.
One of these methods is electro-oxidation, which is a method frequently used by researchers to break down
resistant pollutants (Verma, M., & Haritash, A.K., 2020). Complete breakdown of these pollutants is
important for environmental sustainability as well as for public health. In the electro-oxidation process,
electrical energy is passed through two poles, the anode and cathode, in water to produce radicals, and

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these radicals react with pollutants and break them down. This method makes toxic wastewater non-toxic
and removes pollutants from wastewater that cannot be treated with biological treatment (Ganthavee, V., &
Trzcinski, A.P., 2023). Due to these advantages, COD removal efficiency was investigated in the study
using Ti cathodes versus Cu, GRP and Ti anodes. The study compares the effects of different electrodes
on treatment efficiency. In addition, pH, temperature and current were determined as variables in the study
and the effects of current and temperature depending on pH were investigated.

MATERIAL METHOD
The COD value of pharmaceutical industry wastewater is 8.6 g/L. Graphene-titanium, titanium-titanium
and copper titanium were used as anode and cathode in electro-oxidation, respectively. The effects of
different variables were investigated in the study and the variables were pH, temperature and current. The
effects of these variables on COD removal efficiencies were investigated. pH was studied in the range of
5-9, temperature between 25-45 and current between 0.2-1.

RESULTS and DISCUSSION

COD removal by electrooxidation method in the treatment of pharmaceutical industry wastewater was investigated.
As a result of the study, it was observed that higher treatment efficiency was obtained with anode: cathode Copper-
titanium electrodes. When the electrodes used in the study are examined separately, it is seen that the removal
efficiency increases at neutral pH values close to the raw pH. However, the removal efficiency decreases at pH 5
and pH 9. In addition, although the removal efficiency increases with the current increase, this situation changes
depending on the pH. The highest COD removal efficiency was obtained at pH 6.9 with 1A current. When the effect
of temperature is investigated, it does not affect the removal efficiency as much as pH. The increase in temperature
changes COD removal at trace rates.

a.

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b.

c.
Figure 1. COD removal efficiencies in pharmaceutical industry wastewater treatment, a) Grp-Ti, b) Ti-
Ti, c) Cu-Ti (Anode: Cathode)

CONCLUSION
In the study conducted by Kermet-Said et al., real pharmaceutical industry wastewater was treated by
electro-oxidation using Cu-Ti electrodes. As a result of the study, approximately 75% COD removal
efficiency was obtained. In the study, pH was 5.31, current density was 46 mA/cm and time was 17.19
minutes. In the study, the highest treatment efficiency was found to be 96%. The reason for the high
treatment efficiency in the study was the higher current and time. In addition, the optimum pH was found
to be 6.9 in the study, and it is seen in Figure 1 that the treatment efficiency was low at low pH values.

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REFERENCES
Ganthavee, V., & Trzcinski, A.P. (2023). Removal of pharmaceutically active compounds from wastewater using
adsorption coupled with electrochemical oxidation technology: A critical review. Journal of Industrial and
Engineering Chemistry.
Kermet-Said, H., & Moulai-Mostefa, N. (2015). Optimization of Turbidity and COD Removal from Pharmaceutical
Wastewater by Electrocoagulation. Isotherm Modeling and Cost Analysis. Polish Journal of Environmental
Studies, 24(3).
K, S., & Matli, C.S. (2024). Advanced Oxidation Treatment of Emerging Pollutants from Pharmaceutical Industrial
Wastewaters – A Review. Ozone: Science & Engineering.
Verma, M., & Haritash, A.K. (2020). Review of advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) for treatment of
pharmaceutical wastewater. Advances in Environmental Research, 9, 1-17.

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TÜRKIYE’S MITIGATION AND ADAPTATION STRATEGIES IN

COMBATING CLIMATE CHANGE
Nilay Tulukcu Yıldızbaş1, Huseyin Selçuk2, Aynur Aydın1, Yusuf Güneş1*
1
Istanbul University Cerrahpasa, Faculty of Forestry, Department of Forest Engineering, Department of
Environmental and Forest Law, Istanbul, 34320, Sariyer, Türkiye.
2
Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Engineering Faculty, Environmental Engineering Department, 34320, Avcilar,
Istanbul, Türkiye

*Corresponding author: gunesy@iuc.edu.tr

ORCID Code: 0000-0002-6711-5967
ABSTRACT
Climate change is considered one of the most important problems of today. It shows extremely different
characteristics from existing problems in terms of its causes, results and the range of impact. Although it
does not matter the aspects of the climate change problem (e.g., political, social, economic and
environmental, etc.) and its possible consequences on the sustainability of the global ecosystem, it is
extremely important, in terms of the measures that need to be taken, to both fight against climate change
(mitigation) and adaptation to climate change are important. Discussing Türkiye's efforts combatting
climate change, the policies it has followed the strategies it has developed in terms of combating climate
change and adaptation to the consequences of climate change, and the targets it has determined based on
these, reveal the focuses on this article. The current study aim to investigate the intersection between issues
highlighted in legislation and policy documents regarding climate mitigation and adaptation policies in
Türkiye. In line with this objective, strategic documents such as the Twelfth National Development Plan,
the Draft Law on Climate Change, the Green Deal Action Plan, the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism
(CBAM), and Türkiye’s Nationally Determined Contribution were analyzed. The results indicate that
Türkiye prioritizes adaptation policies and strategies over mitigation efforts.

Keywords: Climate change, law and policy, strategy, Türkiye, adaptation and mitigation.

INTRODUCTION
Climate change occurs over extended periods, resulting in significant shifts in average weather patterns,
such as increased warmth or altered precipitation, distinguishing it from short-term weather variability.
The magnitude of future climate change will largely depend on global greenhouse gas emissions, with
substantial reductions needed to limit temperature rise to 2°C; otherwise, an increase of 5°C or more could
occur by the century's end, driven by both human activities and natural processes (Climate Knowledge
Portal, 2022; Öztürk, 2002). It is acknowledged that climate change encompasses not only the
environmental aspect but also issues of social justice and economic development. (Erbil and Öğüt Erbil,
2019). Since the beginnig of the climate change, several policy and strategy have been developed and
several conventions have been entered into power, to combat against climate change and adapt its
outcomes. Of which mitigation and adaptation are two main concept comes out at global scale. In
developed countries, mitigation is prioritized, while in developing countries such as China, Brazil, and
India, including Türkiye, adaptation policies are prioritized (Özışık, 2020). On the other hand, Türkiye

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has taken a position both at global and national level to take mitigation measures and develop adaptation
strategies. Of course combatting against climate change refers at first reducing emissions at first hand
through carbon sequestiring from atmosphere and minimizing carbon emission due to developing best
technologies. On the other hand, if climate change occurs, which seems quite possible, Türkiye have been
developing adaptation policy and straregy to adapt the Country to changing climate in the long run (Öner,
20023). The current study aims to provide an in-depth understanding of Türkiye 's efforts in combating
climate change and to contribute to the implementation of relevant policy documents and legislation for
improved practices. In this context, understanding Türkiye's global position regarding emission reduction
measures and adaptation strategies is essential. The study seeks to explore the intersection between climate
mitigation and adaptation policies in Türkiye and the issues highlighted in relevant legislation and policy
documents. In this way, the effectiveness of existing strategies is examined, with a focus on identifying
opportunities to enhance Türkiye 's resilience in addressing climate change.

MATERIAL METHOD
A qualitative policy and legislation analysis approach was used in the study. Basic strategic documents were
examined to examine and evaluate climate change combat and adaptation strategies. These documents are: Twelfth
National Development Plan, Draft Law on Climate Change Green Deal Action Plan, Carbon Border Adjustment
Mechanism (CBAM), Türkiye 's Nationally Determined Contribution, Long-Term Climate Change Strategy
Transition towards Circular Economy and Low Carbon Economy, Capacity Building and Awareness Raising
National Emission Trading System (ETS) and Carbon Pricing Instruments, Data Collection and Reporting Air
Quality Management and Emission Reduction Urban Infrastructure, Water Efficiency Strategy Document and
Action Plan, Waste Management and Zero Waste Target Regional Development, Rural Development Democratic
Good Governance Based on Justice Multilateral Development Cooperation, Sustainable Development Goals,
Regulation on Monitoring Greenhouse Gas Emissions. relevant documents were examined regarding Türkiye’s
compliance with national and global climate change mitigation targets. Selection criteria for these documents
included their relevance to national climate policies and their role in shaping legal and strategic frameworks. Data
were collected through a review of publicly available policy documents and content analysis This approach allowed
the identification of recurring themes and gaps in Türkiye’s climate policy framework.

RESULTS and DISCUSSION

National Climate Change Policy and Strategy and Combatting Against It
Turkiye developed a series of policy measures addressing climate change starting from top to down, from
national development plans to action plans and strategies. Also enacted a special regulation on how to
calculate carbon emission and certify them to trade and drafted also a draft law on climate change. Also
the Country specified some emission reduction targets and net zero emission in all sectors in total. The
relevant policy actions, documents, and legislation are generally outlined as follows (Table 1).

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Table 1: Relevant Policy Actions, Documents, and Legislation

Policy Actions, Documents, and Content
Legislation
Twelfth National Development Plan It outlines Türkiye 's strategies and priority targets regarding
climate change. It is a crucial document aimed at aligning
with sustainable development goals. However, it does not
include evaluation criteria to measure the feasibility of the
targets and strategies.
Draft Law on Climate Change This draft law provides a legal framework for combating
climate change. Its applicability should be evaluated.
Green Deal Action Plan This plan encompasses actions to help Türkiye meet its
environmental targets within the context of the European
Green Deal.
Carbon Border Adjustment Border carbon pricing could affect Türkiye’s exports. This
Mechanism (CBAM) mechanism can be utilized to enhance the effects of climate
policies.
Türkiye’s Nationally Determined Türkiye has defined its national contribution in accordance
Contribution with international commitments.
Long-Term Climate Change This strategy outlines policies for combating climate change
Strategy in line with 2050 targets.
Transition towards Circular This includes strategies for resource efficiency and waste
Economy and Low Carbon management.
Economy
Capacity Building and Awareness This aims to raise public awareness about climate change.
Raising
National Emission Trading System Emission trading systems and carbon pricing mechanisms
(ETS) and Carbon Pricing aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Instruments
Data Collection and Reporting Data collection and reporting systems are necessary to ensure
the effectiveness of climate policies.
Air Quality Management and Strategies should be developed for improving air quality and
Emission Reduction controlling emissions.
Urban Infrastructure Urban infrastructure needs to be made resilient to climate
change.
Water Efficiency Strategy This aims to manage water resources and enhance efficiency.
Document and Action Plan
Waste Management and Zero Waste The zero waste target includes strategies for waste
Target management.
Regional Development Regional development strategies should be developed to
combat climate change.
Rural Development The resilience of rural areas to climate change should be
enhanced.
Democratic Good Governance Ensuring justice and participation in climate policies is
Based on Justice essential.
Multilateral Development International collaborations play a significant role in
Cooperation combating climate change.

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Sustainable Development Goals Türkiye's efforts to achieve sustainable development goals

should be integrated with strategies related to climate change.
Regulation on Monitoring This includes regulations for monitoring and reporting
Greenhouse Gas Emissions greenhouse gas emissions.

Türkiye's Combatting Against Climate Change

Combatting against climate change refers both mitigation and adaptation efforts of Türkiye at both
national and regional scale within the Country. As summarized below mitigation refers how to cut
emission at national scale and contribute global climate change mitigation efforts on its own scale.
Whereas adaptation mechanism refers how to orient the future of Türkiye as a whole to a newly changing
ecosystem for all aspects of its survival, such as food security, energy, national security, migration, water
needs, agriculture, all manufacturing industry, etc.

Türkiye’s Mitigation Policy and Strategy

Türkiye’s mitigation policy refers taking policy measures to combat agaist climate change by reducing
carbon emissions. As referred above, the Country has taken several policy measures starting NDP to draft
law and emission regulation to action plans several sectors and municipalities. “Türkiye becoming a Party
to the Paris Agreement accelerated the national efforts in the context of climate response. As a result of
Türkiye’s first Climate Council held on 21-25 February 2022, adopted 217 recommendations, 76 of which
were priority, to create a vision for Türkiye’s 2053 Net Zero Emission Target, and all recommendations
were shared with the public. These recommendations served as a basis for the preparations for the Climate
Law, Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Action Plans, and Long-Term Climate Change Strategy
.” “The Twelfth Development Plan 2024-2028 includes, in the section “Environmental Protection”,
roadmaps on reducing GHG emissions and strengthening climate adaptation actions, and measures
regarding formulating relevant strategies and roadmaps, by considering national circumstances in the
framework of the Paris Agreement and Türkiye’s Nationally Determined Contributions. The Medium-
Term Programme (MTP) for 2024-2026 includes a “Green Transformation” section which states that In
line with the 2053 Net Zero Emission Target and national development priorities, the green transformation
process will be accelerated through an approach that supports the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions,
enhances climate change adaptation capacity, and prioritizes equitable transformation “The Action Plan
deals with seven main mitigation sectors namely energy, industry, buildings, transport, waste, agriculture
and LULUCF. Electricity generation was covered under the energy sector while energy consumption in
other sectors were addressed under the relevant sectors. When preparing the Action Plan, topics such as
sectoral incentives, financing needs, technology, capacity-building and training activities were discussed
under the strategies and actions of the relevant sectors for the sake of integrity. As a result of the meetings
and studies conducted during the preparations for the Action Plan, it was decided to give separate headings
for “just transition and carbon pricing mechanisms”, under which the relevant strategies and actions would
be detailed. Attention was paid to mainstream equal social opportunities in the strategies and actions for
all sectors .”
“There are 49 strategies under the Action Plan comprised of 9 chapters in total, and 260 actions under
these strategies (Table 3). The strategies lay down the actions required in different areas on a sectoral

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basis, including legislation, technical infrastructure, technology, finance, capacity building, training and
public awareness (Table 4). Various monitoring indicators as well as responsible institutions and
organizations were designated for each action under the strategies. There are a total of 47 responsible
institutions and organizations under the Action Plan”.

Türkiye’s Adaptation Policy and Strategy

The IPCC’s Fourth Assessment Report presents Türkiye’s situation within the Mediterranean Basin under
a scenario where global temperatures increase by 2°C. According to the report, the Mediterranean Basin
is expected to experience a temperature rise of 1°C to 2°C, with droughts becoming more critical. It also
indicates an increase in the number of hot days, particularly in inland areas, leading to severe heatwaves.
Türkiye 's average temperature is projected to rise by approximately 2.5°C to 4°C. In Türkiye’s First
National Communication on Climate Change, prepared in 2007, the impacts of climate change in the
country were identified as rising summer temperatures, decreased winter rainfall in western regions,
depletion of surface water, an increase in drought occurrences, soil degradation, coastal erosion, and
heightened flooding risks. These changes are expected to have negative consequences on water and soil
resources, which are essential for food production and security, and, in turn, adversely affect rural
development projections. Furthermore, the severity of these impacts is anticipated to increase over time.
For instance, projections indicate that by the end of the century, surface water in the Gediz and Büyük
Menderes Basins may decline by as much as 50%, resulting in water shortages for agricultural, domestic,
and industrial applications. While the effects of climate change in Türkiye are anticipated to create
considerable threats in the future, strategic planning could also offer potential opportunities. It is essential
to examine the pressures on natural and water resources, along with the challenges or prospects for sectors
dependent on climate, especially given the evident impacts such as diminishing water resources, drought,
desertification, and ecological deterioration. The National Climate Change Adaptation Strategy and
Action Plan focuses on five main areas: water resources management, the agricultural sector and food
security, ecosystem services, biodiversity and forestry, natural disaster risk management, and public
health, all grounded in technical and scientific research as well as participatory processes.

CONCLUSION
Climate change is a reality that proves its reasons and impacts and outcomes at global level. As a concept,
climate change refers to change its aspects such as average of temperature, humidity and rainfall patterns
in the long run at both regional or global over seasons, years or decades.

This study emphasizes the need for consistency and comprehensiveness in legislation on mitigation and
adaptation strategies in climate change policies in Türkiye. Although Türkiye has made significant
progress in adaptation, it still needs stronger mitigation measures. These approaches should particularly
include strengthening the integration between sectors, raising public awareness and strengthening
institutional capacity. Focusing on policy approaches in this direction is important to achieve long-term
sustainability. Future research should focus on evaluating the effectiveness of the implemented strategies
and exploring opportunities for enhancing Türkiye's resilience to climate change.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The authors thank the reviewers who provided valuable feedback that improved this paper.

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Erbil, T., & Öğüt Erbil, A. (2019). A Review of the Climate Change Related Activities of
Regional Development Agencies Between 2010-2017 in Turkey. Planlama 2019;29(1):10–22 |
doi: 10.14744/planlama.2019.59144.
MEUC (Ministry of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change) (2024). The Climate
Change Mitigation Strategy and Action Plan (2024-2030).
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ADVANCING URBAN WATER SUSTAINABILITY THROUGH GREYWATER

REUSE AND STORMWATER MANAGEMENT TECHNOLOGIES
Hatice Inan
Gebze Technical University, Environmental Engineering Department, Kocaeli, 41400, Türkiye
*Corresponding author: inan@gtu.edu.tr
ORCID Code: 0000-0002-0149-7317
ABSTRACT
Climate change and population increase are threatening urban water sustainability. This study analyzes
how greywater reuse and stormwater management affect urban water system sustainability. Using fresh
surface water, digging deeper groundwater, building dams, and desalting seawater to increase water supply
is sometimes environmentally detrimental and inefficient. Thus, "Water Conservation," "Water
Management (including Stormwater)," and "Wastewater Reuse (Greywater)" are crucial for future water
sustainability. AI and IoT can optimize such processes. AI models predict water quality and demand,
making greywater reclamation more dynamic and efficient. Continuous monitoring of water quality and
flow using IoT networks and sensors allows adaptive management. AI and IoT improve monitoring and
management, decreasing waste and increasing resource efficiency.

The study defines greywater and compares innovative on-site treatment technologies to established
approaches. It examines multi-story stormwater recycling devices and their water conservation
possibilities. Greywater reuse and stormwater management can reduce water use significantly. The study
found that AI and IoT will improve sustainability and provide resilient water scarcity and urban flooding
solutions. Technology can transform urban water systems, making cities smarter and more sustainable.

Keywords: Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), Sustainability, Urban Water
Technologies

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INTEGRATING CIRCULAR ECONOMY PRINCIPLES FOR AGRICULTURAL

SUSTAINABILITY: NUTRIENT RECOVERY FROM URBAN AND RURAL
WASTES
Hatice Inan1*, Elif Oztekin2
1
Gebze Technical University, Environmental Engineering Department, Kocaeli, 41400, Türkiye
2
Zonguldak Bulent Ecevit University, Environmental Engineering Department, Zonguldak, 67100, Türkiye
*Corresponding author: inan@gtu.edu.tr
ORCID Code: 0000-0002-0149-7317

ABSTRACT
In the face of escalating climate change and rapid urbanization, agricultural sustainability is increasingly
threatened by shifts in land use, reduced crop yields, and diminished biodiversity. The projected world
population of 10 billion by 2050 further exacerbates the demand for food, clean water, and other resources,
intensifying pressure on agricultural systems. Addressing these challenges requires innovative solutions
that integrate circular economy principles to create sustainable, closed-loop systems for waste
management and resource utilization.

This study explores the potential of repurposing urban and rural wastes to support agricultural
sustainability through nutrient recovery and renewable energy production. Urban wastes, including sludge
from wastewater treatment plants and source-separated yellow and brown waters, are rich in essential
nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Similarly, rural wastes like cattle, swine, and
poultry manure offer significant nutrient content. By evaluating the nutrient profiles and reuse potential
of these waste streams, this research assesses their suitability as fertilizers and energy sources, considering
both environmental and economic impacts.

The findings highlight the benefits of adopting circular economy strategies in agricultural practices,
demonstrating how waste materials can be transformed into valuable resources. This includes reducing
greenhouse gas emissions through effective CO 2 capture and utilizing carbon clean technologies. The
circular economy effect enhances soil fertility, reduces reliance on chemical fertilizers, promotes resource
efficiency, and supports renewable energy generation, contributing to environmental sustainability. By
integrating waste management with agricultural systems, this study underscores the potential for circular
economy principles to foster long-term agricultural sustainability and resilience against climate change.

Keywords: Agriculture, Circular Economy, Nutrients, Sustainability

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PRODUCTION OF HYDROGENATED WATER FROM BRACKISH WATER

VIA ELECTRODIALYSIS PROCESS
Burak Yuzer*, Yusuf Bicer
Division of Sustainable Development (DSD), College of Science and Engineering (CSE), Hamad Bin Khalifa
University (HBKU), Education City, Qatar Foundation (QF), Doha, Qatar
*Corresponding author: byuzer@hbku.edu.qa
ORCID Code: 0000-1234-5678-9876

ABSTRACT
Hydrogen gas is a clean and renewable energy carrier. It has been used in synthesizing numerous
chemicals, producing ammonia fertilizer, refining petroleum products, metallurgy, and food processing
industries for many years. Besides the mentioned sectors, when hydrogen is dissolved in water and utilized
by humans, animals, and plants, it offers numerous advantages for human health, livestock, and
agricultural crop cultivation. Hydrogenated water has scientifically provided multiple advantages in
enhancing human health, improving the well-being of farming animals, and promoting the growth of
agricultural products, thereby opening avenues for further investigation. Hydrogenation is the process of
enriching water with hydrogen molecules, which can be accomplished through the direct dissolution of
hydrogen gas into water. This study aims to produce hydrogenated water from simulated brackish
groundwater, utilizing electrodialysis (ED) processes. The ED cell produces deionized water and
simultaneously generates hydrogen gas from the electrolyte solution at the cathode side. The produced
hydrogen gas is then separated from the electrolyte and injected into the deionized water, producing
hydrogenated water. In this study, the brackish water was simulated using Na 2 SO 4 solution, and the initial
conductivity of the solution was adjusted to 21 mS/cm for the testing of deionization and hydrogen
generation with the ED process. The conductivity of 500 mL solution was decreased to 1 mS/cm in 70
min with 5 cell pairs composed of standard anion and cation exchange membranes. The ED cell produced
32 mg H 2 gas at the rate of 0.46 mg H 2 gas /min during the desalination process. Since the solubility of
H 2 gas is about 1.6 milligrams of H₂ per liter of water, it is obvious that an adequate amount of H 2 gas can
be generated to produce hydrogenated water with ED process. The ED process helps to reduce operational
costs and the cost of produced hydrogenated water compared to conventional methods.

Keywords: Hydrogenated Water, Brackish Water, Electrodialysis, Ion-Exchange, Energy and Exergy
Efficiency

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REJECTING MICROPLASTICS WITH A GRAVITY-DRIVEN DYNAMIC

MEMBRANE FILTRATION SYSTEM FROM WASHING WASTEWATER OF A
PLASTIC RECYCLING FACILITY
Emine Büşra Çolakoğlu1, İbrahim Uyanık2, 3*, Hatice Elbir1, Hamdi Mıhçıokur2, 3, Erkan Şahinkaya4,
Adem Yurtsever5
1
Erciyes University, Institute of Natural and Applied Science, Kayseri,38030, Türkiye
2
Erciyes University, Environmental Engineering Department, Kayseri,38030, Türkiye
3
Erciyes University, Research and Application Center for Environmental Problems and Cleaner Production,
Kayseri,38030, Türkiye
4
Istanbul Medeniyet University, Bioengineering Department, İstanbul, 34700, Türkiye
5
Istanbul University Cerrahpasa, Environmental Engineering Department, Istanbul,34320, Türkiye

*Corresponding author: iuyanik@erciyes.edu.tr

ORCID Code: 0000-0003-4850-6708

ABSTRACT
This research aimed to apply a gravity-driven dynamic membrane (GD-DM) filtration system to treat
the washing water containing microplastics (MP) from a plastic recycling facility. A 9 L volume
rectangular plexiglass reactor was used in the GD-DM system with 100, 200, and 300 µm stainless
steel meshes as the support layer. Batch experiments were conducted to investigate cake layer
formation with constant water height (50 cm). Primary and secondary sludges were taken from an
industrial wastewater treatment plant to create a DM layer. Influent and effluent samples and the added
sludge were taken to measure suspended solids (SS). A dynamic layer was successfully created at each
mesh size (100-200-300). While the flux started with 4.760 LMH and decreased suddenly to 17 LMH
in the 100 µm mesh module, it was decreased to 34 LMH for 200 µm mesh. In the experiment
conducted with a 300 µm sieve, although the final flux was around 14 LMH, turbidity decreased only
from 1100 to 800 NTU. In addition, the MP content of the influent and effluent samples was also
examined because the wastewater used in these experiments contained microplastics. The most
observed shape of microplastics in the influent samples was fiber. However, it was observed that the
increase of these fibers in the effluent water was due to the accumulation of these microplastics in the
dynamic membrane layer, which contributes to the production of DM.

Keywords: Plastic recycling facilities, Washing water treatment, Microplastics, Dynamic membrane,
gravity-driven reactor

INTRODUCTION
Recently, dynamic membranes (DMs) have been considered as an emerging technology in wastewater
treatment (Hou et al., 2017). DM is based on the formation of a cake layer on a supporting membrane,
where suspended solids or colloids accumulate and act as a secondary membrane/barrier. This layer
formed on a support material (large size) act as the main barrier in the removal of pollutants. In current
DM research, mesh (nylon or stainless steel), woven or non-woven fabric are widely used. In the DM
process, it has become a preferred treatment system in recent years due to its advantages such as using
relatively lower cost materials compared to conventional membranes (MF, UF, etc.), using gravity as the

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driving force, and having low energy requirements (Li et al., 2018; Poerio et al., 2019). In a study about
DM, it was aimed to remove micro-particle pollutants in synthetic wastewater by establishing a laboratory-
scale DM system operating with continuous filtration flux. While the turbidity of the inlet water was
approximately 195 NTU, it was determined as <1 NTU after 20 minutes of filtration. This result showed
that DM filtration increased the filtration resistance and TMP and that a wastewater containing
microparticles contributed to the treatment of wastewater by forming DM (Li et al., 2018b). When using
gravity as the driving force, usually polymeric membranes are used. There are studies about pretreatment
for seawater desalination, river water treatment, drinking water treatment, and gray water treatment, and
there are very few studies in which a support layer is used (Pronk et al., 2019). In a study that proved that
dynamic membranes are more advantages than polymeric membranes with a gravity-operated nylon sieve,
it was shown that this support layer coated with nanofibers by electrospinning provided a similar removal
efficiency at a higher flux than a polymeric membrane (Chen et al., 2022). Therefore, new studies are
needed for dynamic membranes operating with gravity. Microplastics, called plastic particles smaller than
5 mm, are among the most notable pollutants in recent studies. Although there are many sources of
microplastics (Golwala et al., 2021), one of the most important of these is the washing waters formed in
plastic recycling facilities (PRFs). In a study conducted with the conventional activated sludge (CAS)
process, it was found that the quality of the granular activated carbon (GAC) added reactor effluent was
better than the CAS system (Altieri et al., 2021). In another study, plastic contaminated wastewater was
treated with a flocculant synthesized from waste polystyrene (PS), good effluent quality was obtained
(Ozdemir and Yel, 2023). Therefore, we used washing water generated in PRFs containing microplastics
in a GD-DM reactor to examine dynamic layer formation.

MATERIAL METHOD
PRF wastewater samples were taken from the wash water of one facility that only recycles mixed plastics,
and the experimental procedures were initiated. The dynamic layer was formed by mixing the pre-
sedimentation (15,000 to 25,000 mg/L) and final clarifier (3,500-5,000 mg/L) sludges taken from Kayseri
Organized Industrial Zone Wastewater Treatment Plant at optimum ratios as in our previous study (Elbir
et al., 2024). Stainless steel meshes with different sizes (100, 200 and 300 µm) were used as the support
layer (active area: 0.016-0.018 m2). The reactor is a rectangular plexiglas material with a height of 0.6 m
(active height: 50 cm). The maximum capacity of the reactor is 9 L (Figure 1). COD (1500-2000 mg/L),
TSS (2000-4000 mg/L), pH (6-7) and conductivity (1400-1500 µs/cm) analyses were carried out on
samples taken from PRF effluent. Constant water height or pressure (50 cm) were used in all experiments.
Experimental studies were carried out as follows: PRF wastewater + sludge were added to the reactor with
a magnetic stirrer to provide mixing. After complete mixing was achieved, samples were taken from the
effluent of the reactor to measure effluent parameters and the flux. SS and MP samples were taken before
the experiment started and at certain intervals during the experiment. Flux, water volume passing through
the membrane per m2 area per hour (L/m2.h) (LMH), turbidity (NTU, WTW TURB 430IR turbidimeter)
and pH (Hach HQ40D) were measured with a pH probe. SS (mg/L) in reactor and the effluent was
analyzed according to Standard Methods (SS: 2540). The microplastics in the influent and the effluent
samples were calculated by applying the procedure specified inÇolakoğlu and Uyanık (2024). The
dynamic layer was examined using an optical microscope (LEICA, DM750M).

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Figure 1. Experiment design

RESULTS and DISCUSSION

The first batch study conducted with PRF wastewater on a 100 µm sieve, it was observed that the initial
flux suddenly decreased from 3,717 LMH to 18 LMH (Figure 2-a). It was a complete fouling as in the
next batch experiment conducted with a 200 µm sieve. A sudden flux decrease occurred from 1,990 LMH
to 34 LMH, and approximately 1.1 L of water was filtered (Figure 2-b). It is thought that the reason for
the sudden flux decrease is due to the high SS concentration (1,500 mg/L) of PRF wastewater. Since the
layer formation was rapid in these experiments, no turbidity other than the initial turbidity data could be
measured. Since the SS concentration was high in PGDT wastewater, a control experiment was conducted
on a 300 µm sieve and 8 L of water was filtered during the experiment (Figure 2-c). It was observed that,
after the formation of the cake layer, more MPs was measured in the effluent wastewater than in the inlet
wastewater. The pressure formed on the layer caused the MPs to escape from the module, thus preventing
the MPs to be rejected and accumulating in the reactor. DM layer and effluent samples were examined
with a microscope, and it was observed that particles and fibers were dominant as MP shapes, and the
fibers were attached to the DM layer (Figure 3).

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4,000 1200 2,500 1200
Flux (LMH)
3,500 Flux (LMH) 1000
Turbidity (NTU) 1000 2,000
3,000 Turbidity (NTU)

Turbidity (NTU)
Turbidity (NTU)
800 800

Flux (LMH)
2,500
Flux (LMH)

1,500
2,000 600 600
1,500 1,000
400 400
1,000
200 500 200
500
0 0 0 0
0 1 2 3 0 1 2 3
Filtered water (L) Filtered water (L)

6,000 1200
5,000 1000

Turbidity (NTU)
4,000 800
Flux (LMH)

3,000 Flux (LMH) 600

Turbidity (NTU)
2,000 400
1,000 200
0 0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Filtered water (L)

Figure 2. Flux performances of meshes: a) 100 µm, b) 200 µm and c) 300 µm

Figure 3. 100 µm: Dynamic membrane (cake layer)

CONCLUSION
It is the first study using a GD-DM reactor and real MP rich wastewater to remove MPs. A dynamic layer
was created at each stainless-steel mesh module and flux values decreased to around 15-35 LMH values.
MP rich cake layer could not be stable as the pressure is high, it resulted to observe MP fibers in effluent.
As a result of MP characterization, it was determined that the most common shapes were particles and
fibers. The effect of microplastics on dynamic layer formation requires more research.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
This study was supported by Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) under
the Grant Number 122Y255. The authors thank to TUBITAK for their supports.

REFERENCES
Altieri, V. G., De Sanctis, M., Sgherza, D., Pentassuglia, S., Barca, E., & Di Iaconi, C. (2021). Treating and reusing
wastewater generated by the washing operations in the non-hazardous plastic solid waste recycling process:
Advanced method vs. conventional method. Journal of Environmental Management, 284, 112011.
Chen, G., Wen, J., Yu, Y., Liu, M., & Liu, G. (2022). Dynamic membranes with sparse nanofibers as the skeletons
yield better and more stable effluent quality without sacrificing the flux in bioreactors. Journal of Membrane
Science, 650, 120414.
Çolakoğlu, E. B., & Uyanık, İ. (2024). Plastic waste management in recycling facilities: Intentionally generated
MPs as an emerging contaminant. Waste Management, 181, 79-88.
Elbir, H., Uyanık, İ., Çolakoglu, E. B., Sahinkaya, E., & Yurtsever, A. (2024). Pre-coating of stainless-steel mesh
support material with wastewater treatment plant sludges in a dynamic membrane filtration process. Journal
of Water Process Engineering, 64, 105673.
Golwala, H., Zhang, X., Iskander, S. M., & Smith, A. L. (2021). Solid waste: An overlooked source of microplastics
to the environment. Science of the Total Environment, 769, 144581.
Hou, C., Shen, J., Zhang, D., Han, Y., Ma, D., Sun, X., ... & Liu, X. (2017). Bioaugmentation of a continuous-flow
self-forming dynamic membrane bioreactor for the treatment of wastewater containing high-strength
pyridine. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 24, 3437-3447.
Li, L., Xu, G., & Yu, H. (2018). Dynamic membrane filtration: formation, filtration, cleaning, and applications.
Chemical Engineering & Technology, 41(1), 7-18.
Li, L., Xu, G., Yu, H., & Xing, J. (2018b). Dynamic membrane for micro-particle removal in wastewater treatment:
performance and influencing factors. Science of the Total Environment, 627, 332-340.
Ozdemir, N. C., & Yel, E. (2023). Synthesis of a New Flocculant from Waste Polystyrene: Plastic Recycling
Industry Wastewater Treatability. Water, Air, & Soil Pollution, 234(2), 88.
Poerio, T., Piacentini, E., & Mazzei, R. (2019). Membrane processes for microplastic removal. Molecules, 24(22),
4148.
Pronk, W., Ding, A., Morgenroth, E., Derlon, N., Desmond, P., Burkhardt, M., ... & Fane, A. G. (2019). Gravity-
driven membrane filtration for water and wastewater treatment: a review. Water research, 149, 553-565.

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WASTE ENERGY RECOVERY AND WASTEWATER REUSE BY CLOSED-

CYCLE WASHING SYSTEM IN TEXTILE DYEING INDUSTRY: FROM
SURFACE RESPONSE MODELING TO FULL-SCALE APPLICATION
Yaren ARAZ, Ayşe Elif ATEŞ, Hüseyin SELÇUK*
Istanbul University Cerrahpasa, Istanbul,34320, Turkey.
*Corresponding author: hselcuk@iuc.edu.tr
ORCID Code: (0000-1234-5678-9876

ABSTRACT
In this work, a new closed-loop washing system for the textile dyeing industry was developed to recover
waste energy and recycle the huge amount of washing wastewater in the textile dyeing industry. To this
end, the new VeritasT.M. ion exchange/adsorption process was used to treat and reuse the hot wash
effluent from the dyeing process (Figure 1.). UV/Cl and UV/H 2 O 2 advanced oxidation processes were
carried out to achieve a closed loop regeneration of the mentioned VeritasT.M. process. The advanced
oxidation processes were optimised using surface response modelling and the optimised conditions
achieved in the lab scale work were used to implement the system in a textile factory located in Kırklareli,
Turkey. In the new recovery process, 92% of waste energy and 98% of wash effluent recovery were
achieved in the full-scale application. Data from the full-scale treatment plant show that this innovative
process also contributes significantly to the reduction of the carbon footprint of the entire cotton-synthetic
textile dyeing industry.

Figure 1. Closed-cycle washing system in the textile dyeing industry

Keywords: Closed-loop washing system_1, UV / H 2 O 2 oxidation_2, Waste energy recovery_3

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REMOVAL of Cr (VI), Cu (II), Ni (II), and Zn (II) FROM AQUEOUS

SOLUTION BY TEA FACTORY PRODUCTION WASTE (WASTE TEA)
Burcu Ergene, Nilgün Balkaya*
Istanbul University Cerrahpasa, Istanbul,34320, Türkiye.
*Corresponding author: nbalkaya@iuc.edu.tr
ORCID Code: 0000-0002-9117-6241
ABSTRACT
For sustainable development, one of the most important resources is water. An increase in the world
population, a drastic increase in water resource consumption, droughts, and global warming face human
beings in water crises all over the world. Water pollution exacerbates the current situation. Nowadays,
water resources are polluted by various sources, such as agricultural runoff, domestic and industrial
wastewater, urban runoff, and mining. Water pollutants include nutrients, heavy metals, pesticides,
detergents, etc. Heavy metals are one of the important environmental pollutants that enter the environment
as a result of various human activities. They are a hazard to aquatic ecosystems because of their
accumulation in sediments, water, and biota. Therefore, it is of great importance that wastewater
containing heavy metals is properly treated before it is discharged into the water environment. There are
various methods for heavy metal removal from wastewater. Adsorption is one alternative method used in
heavy metal removal from wastewater. However, commercial activated carbon, used extensively as an
adsorbent, is comparatively expensive.

This study was aimed at investigating the adsorptive removal of heavy metal ions (Cr (VI), Cu (II), Ni
(II), and Zn (II)) from aqueous solution by tea factory production waste (waste tea). In the study, the effect
of adsorbent particle size, adsorbent dosage, contact time, pH, and temperature on Cr (VI), Cu (II), Ni (II),
and Zn (II) adsorption with tea factory production waste was investigated in a batch system. The
equilibrium data were fitted using various isotherm models, including Freundlich and Langmiur. The
results of the present study showed that the waste tea efficiently removed heavy metals from aqueous
solutions.

Keywords: Adsorption, Heavy metals, Waste tea, Metal plating wastewater, Isotherms

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REMOVAL OF REACTIVE TEXTILE DYE FROM AQUEOUS SOLUTION BY

HDTM-MODIFIED ALUM SLUDGE
Nazan Büker, Nilgün Balkaya*
Istanbul University Cerrahpasa, Istanbul,34320, Türkiye.
*Corresponding author: nbalkaya@iuc.edu.tr
ORCID Code: 0000-0002-9117-6241
ABSTRACT
Nowadays, water resources are polluted by various substances due to an increase in population,
industrialization, and agricultural practices. Industrial activity is one of the primary sources of water
pollution. The discharge of untreated or inadequately treated industrial wastewater into aquatic
environments causes potentially serious implications for human health and aquatic life. One of the
industries causing huge damage to the environment is the textile industry. This industry sector has also
had a strong impact on climate change. The textile industry's wastewater contains toxic pollutants such as
synthetic dyes and heavy metals. Various synthetic dyes, such as azo dyes, reactive dyes, and disperse
dyes, are used in the textile industry.

Various methods, such as coagulation/flocculation, adsorption, and biological treatment, are used for
synthetic dye removal from wastewater. Adsorption is a promising method for dye removal from
wastewater because it has some important advantages, such as low energy costs and high efficiency.
Activated carbon is widely used as an adsorbent worldwide. However, commercial activated carbon is a
relatively expensive material for the adsorption process. Therefore, it needs low-cost materials. In this
study, the removal of reactive textile dye (Remazol Blue RR) from an aqueous solution by hexadecyl
trimethyl ammonium bromide (HDTMA)-modified alum sludge was aimed at. Alum sludge is a by-
product produced during drinking water treatment. Hexadecyl trimethyl ammonium bromide is a cationic
surfactant. In the present study, the effects of the various operational parameters on the adsorption of
Remazol Blue RR were investigated in the batch system. The equilibrium sorption data were modeled
with Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms.

Keywords: Adsorption, Reactive dyes, HDTMA, Alum sludge, Isotherms

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ENHANCING SUSTAINABILITY IN TEXTILE SMES THROUGH

MATERIALITY ASSESSMENT AND STRATEGIC IMPLEMENTATION
Akın Emrecan Göka1*, Huseyin Selçuk1, Ahmet Feyzioğlu2
1
Istanbul University Cerrahpasa, Engineering Faculty, Environmental Engineering Department, 34320, Avcilar,
Istanbul, Türkiye
2
Marmara University, Faculty of Technology, Mechanical Engineering, Istanbul, 34854, Turkey.
*Corresponding author: akinemrecan.gok@ogr.iuc.edu.tr
ORCID Code: 0000-0001-8147-1100

ABSTRACT
With the increasing environmental and social challenges, sustainability has gained substantial importance
in the business realm. The textile industry, known for its significant carbon and water footprints, is a
pivotal sector for sustainability initiatives. This study focuses on identifying and prioritizing sustainability
strategies for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) within the textile industry through an in-depth
materiality assessment. The research methodology incorporated extensive surveys and active stakeholder
engagement, involving both internal and external stakeholders such as employees, suppliers, customers,
and local communities. To ensure a thorough and systematic evaluation, the materiality assessment was
conducted in alignment with the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Standards. Data were gathered from
four textile SMEs situated in Ankara, Gaziantep, and Kahramanmaraş, Turkey. These companies
underwent a rigorous four-week process that included sustainability training, a detailed assessment of
existing practices, and the development of customized sustainability goals and action plans. Analysis
revealed notable similarities in sustainability priorities among the firms, with key focus areas including
product quality and technology, sustainable supply chain, energy management, and corporate governance.
Common priorities encompassed enhancing product quality, boosting customer satisfaction, mitigating
environmental impacts, and fostering transparency and accountability.

The findings of this study offer critical insights into the sustainability challenges and strategic
methodologies within the textile sector. By identifying and prioritizing essential sustainability issues,
SMEs can formulate more effective strategies to improve their sustainability performance and reporting.
This research presents a practical framework for SMEs in the textile industry to navigate the intricacies of
sustainability integration, ensuring their operations contribute positively to environmental, social,
financial and governance dimensions. Ultimately, this study highlights the necessity of tailored
sustainability strategies and stakeholder engagement to drive sustainable development within the textile
industry.

Keywords: Materiality Assessment, Textile Industry, Corporate Sustainability, SDGs, Sustainability

Strategy

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LOW-CARBON AND ZERO DİSCHARGE TECHNOLOGİES IN THE TEXTİLE

INDUSTRY: A REVİEW

Huseyin Selcuk*
*
Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Engineering Faculty, Environmental Engineering Department, 34320,
Avcilar, Istanbul, Turkey
*Corresponding author: hselcuk@iuc.edu.tr

ABSTRACT
Climate change is a global threat and thus both the 2005 Kyoto Protocol and the 2009 Copenhagen Summit
are attempts to set binding obligations on industrialized countries to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases
(GHG). On the other hand, half of the world’s population will be living in areas facing water scarcity by
as early as 2025, and some 700 million people could be displaced by intense water scarcity by 2030. Thus
wastewater reuse and zero-discharge approaches in all water massive industries are getting more popular
for sustainable industrial development. The textile industry is one of the biggest GHG emitters and water
massive industry on Earth. Many processes and products that go into the making of fibers, textiles and
apparel products not only consume huge amount water but also significant quantities of fossil fuel because
almost all wet textile processes such as bleaching, mercerizing, dyeing, washing/scouring, finishing, use
hot water. The estimated consumption for an annual global production of 60 billion kilograms of fabrics
consume about 1 trillion kilowatt hours of electricity and up to 9 trillion liters of water. The direct carbon
footprint contribution of manufacturing plants from yarn to customer could reach up to 12.5 kg of CO 2
per kg of fabric. As a result, today textile sectors account for approximately 10 percent of the total carbon
impact. In this work, promising low carbon and low water footprint smart technologies in the textile
manufacturing chain were reviewed for sustainable and economical textile production.

Keywords: Circular economy, low-carbon, zero-discharge, textile industry

INTRODUCTION
Carbon emissions and water sustainability are two of the most urgent challenges facing the world. To
understand how water waste results in excessive carbon emissions in the textile industry, we’ve done
detailed research to analyzes this relationship and summarized it in a different recycling approaches. The
product carbon footprint refers to using life cycle assessment (LCA) to focus on the quantification of
greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions throughout the product's life cycle. The results of a product carbon
footprint are usually presented as a total absolute value of life-cycle carbon dioxide-equivalent (CO 2 e)
emissions measured as metric ton. Product carbon footprint is based on LCA, which is a method to
quantify the environmental and human-health impacts associated with products and services. The
boundaries of LCA evaluations broadly include the processing of raw materials, production,
transportation, consumer-use, and end-of-life scenarios, which may include recycling of materials and
water. Textile industry is one of the most polluting industry and its detrimental ecological footprint is
caused by high water, energy and chemical use and waste generation during production, laundering and
disposal stages (Niinimaki et all, 2020; Solis et all, 2023, 2024). Due to energy intensive production,

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cleaning and disposal methods, textile sectors account for approximately 10 percent of the total carbon
emission (European Parliament, 2021). In addition, textile industry generates huge amount hazardous
wastewater and thus it is estimated that around 20% water pollution is caused by textile dyeing and
finishing processes (Morlet et al., 2017).

WHO estimation indicates that around 4 billion people will face water shortage by 2050, the best strategy
to mitigate water scarcity is to shift water consumption model from water linear economy to a more
sustainable circular economy. In addition, 13% of total electricity consumption is used for water delivery
and treatment. The energy requirement, combined with emissions from the resulting sewage, water has
about 10.6 kg/m3 water of carbon emissions. This carbon foot print level is much higher in water
consuming industries such as textile because large amount of hazardous wastewater is generated, and some
part of heat energy is lost with wastewater. The textile industry is one of the high-water-usage (4% of
world available fresh water) and water-polluting industries across the globe because of various industrial
wet textile processes which consume substantial amounts of fresh water and generate huge amount warm
wastewater containing numerous hazardous chemicals such as inorganic finishing agents, surfactants,
chlorine compounds, salts, dyes, biocides, enzymes. The estimated consumption for an annual global
production of 60 billion kilograms of fabrics consume about 1 trillion kilowatt hours of electricity and up
to 9 trillion liters of water (Zaffalon, 2010). In addition, huge amount of salt and some other toxic
chemicals are discharged in the environment. Theoretically circular economies do not produce any waste,
as all raw materials are recycled and re-used continuously forming an infinite closed material loop.

Revers osmosis (RO) membrane system is one of the most common commercial method to get soft process
water from brackish textile wastewaters. However not only its investment cost is high (over 6 years
repayment) but also its operational cost due to the energy consumption (over 3 kWh/m3). Otherwise RO
brine is an environmental issue and still needs a solution even in coastal areas. In addition, all of salt used
and some of the heat energy are lost along with the wastewater. The circular economy helps create a
regeneration loop for all natural resources including water and energy (Catherine, 2017). In the other
words, the circular economy is a closed-loop system and thus it has become more and more popular in the
textile industry. In the textile industry, huge amount of salt, water and hydrothermal energy resource losses
occur in the wet textile processes such as mercerizing, bleaching, dyeing, washing. Thus close-loop textile
treatment processes have become urgent environmental issues to reduce total carbon and water footprints
of textile production in a circular economy concept.

RESULTS and DISCUSSION

CO2 footprint of textile products
The textile sector is one of the most significant contributors to GHG emissions worldwide. The production
method, materials used, and transportation are only a few of the many variables that affect how much
CO2e is produced in the textile sector. According to Quantis a leading environmental sustainability
consultancy, over 90% of the emissions for apparel come from four activities: dyeing, washing/scouring
and finishing, fabric preparation, yarn preparation, and fiber production (Figure 1).

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Figure 1. Carbon footprint of textile industry

Research trends for sustainable textile production

The studies about sustainable textile production started in 200s and have gained great momentum in recent
years especially in the countries where the textile industry is widespread (Figure 2). because European
counties have introduced carbon tax in recent years in order to mitigate global warming and now the
average carbon tax rate among European countries is around 49.23 euro per ton CO 2 e.

Figure 2. The trend of sustainable textile Figure 3. Energy recovery in the textile industry

Along with the carbon tax in the textile production, energy recovery and various green energy use practices
have been started in the industry. Heat energy, water and salt are some most important sources used for
the manufacturing of textile products. The carbon footprint resulting from these three sources is very high.
Therefore, in recent years, research in the textile industry focuses on the wastewater recycling (or zero
discharge), close-loop salt usage, and waste heat energy recovery systems (Figure 3-5).

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Figure 4. Zero waste in the textile industry Figure 5. salt recovery works in the literature

Carbon reduction method in the textile industry

Wind, hydropower and solar energy sources are available largest green energy systems to reduce carbon
footprint in the textile industry. Solar energy is the 3rd largest renewable energy resource after wind and
hydropower. Solar energy’s economic viability along with vast availability on site next to the industry
contributed to its unprecedented growth in recent years. Textile industries in some solar countries such as
Turkiye, Italy, have already transformed their energy system to solar energy to reduce some part energy
based carbon footprint level of textile production. However, the carbon footprint of textile industry is still
very high due to the chemical, energy and water consumptions in the dyeing, finishing, washing/scouring,
mercerizing, sizing wet textile processes. Thus new technologies to be developed for these textile
treatment processes or all recycling and carbon reduction methods to be performed in these processes are
vital to reduce carbon footprint of the textile production. Following new approaches are found to be
promising to reach carbon free textile production.
• Use of green energy sources such as solar, wind
• Development energy efficient mercerizing or caustic recovery system.
• Application close-cycle water softening methods instead of energy consuming membrane
technology.
• Develop close-loop dyeing system for energy and salt recoveries together with water reuse
• Application close-loop washing/scouring technologies for water, energy and detergent recoveries
• Apply new ecological low carbon methods in the sizing process.
• Develop new waterless dyeing cleaning methods in the textile production.
• Develop smart ecological textile products to reduce carbon footprint of textile products in use and
disposal stages.
• Use clean environmentally friendly chemicals such as dyes, detergent est. to reduce indirect
carbon level of textile products.
• Apply clean and energy efficient textile product recycle technologies.

CONCLUSION
Among industries, textile industry is the 5th industry which is responsible GHG emissions. Dyeing,
mercerizing, sizing, washing/scouring are the energy, chemical and water consuming processes which cause
high carbon footprint in the textile production. Numerous initiatives, including eco-friendly
materials/chemical use, close-loop textile processes, circular economy models, and sustainable textile
practices, have been proposed to address practical solution to the issue of GHG emissions in the textile sector.
Some businesses have also taken in consideration to lessen their carbon footprint, like investing in renewable
energy sources, reduction of chemical and water consumptions, apply energy efficient recycling and reuse

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methods and cutting back on the usage of synthetic fibers. Due to high energy consumption, very high
investment and operating costs, hazardous membrane concentrate issue and their high carbon footprint levels,
membrane technologies which are currently the only solution in wastewater recycling, are not a sustainable
wastewater reuse method in the textile industry. Therefore, on-site recycling and reuse systems should be
considered in all wet textile processes. Close-cycle washing/scouring, NaOH free energy efficient
mercerizing, waterless dyeing, close-loop chemical usages are some promising low-carbon technologies that
should be considered for a sustainable textile production.

References
Catherina W., (2017) A circular economy handbook for business and supply chains: repair, remake,
redesign, rethink, London, United Kingdom; New York, NY: pp 1-293.
Kusumlata Ambade B., Kumar A., Gautam S., (2024) Sustainable Solutions: Reviewing the Future of
Textile Dye Contaminant Removal with Emerging Biological Treatments. Limnological
Review, 24(2), pp. 126–149
Morlet A., Opsomer R., Herrmann S., (2017) A new textiles economy: Redesigning fashion’s future. UK:
Ellen MacArthur Foundation, 20, pp. 1–150.
Niinimäki K., Peters G., Dahlbo H., Perry P., Rissanen T., Gwilt A., (2020) The environmental price of
fast fashion, Nature reviews | Earth & EnvironmEnt , 11, pp 11-18
Solis M., Tonini D., Scheutz C., Biganzoli F., Huygens D., (2024) Contribution of waste management to
a sustainable textile sector. Waste Management, 189, pp. 389–400.
Solis M., Huygens D., Tonini D., Fruergaard Astrup T., (2023) Management of textile waste in Europe:
An environmental and a socio-economic assessment of current and future scenarios. Resources,
Conservation and Recycling, 207, pp. 107693.
Zaffalon V., (2010) Low Carbon Intelligent Operations for Textile Industry in APEC Economies
PROJECT MIDTERM REPORT.

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A BASIS APPROACH TO PAPER MACHINE SPEED EFFECT ON STRENGTH

PROPERTIES AND BASIS WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION: A RECYCLED
PAPERBOARD MILL CASE STUDY
Ahsen Ezel Bidik Dal 1*, Mete Hancı2
1
Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Forest Faculty, Department of Forest Industry Engineering, 34473, Sariyer,
Istanbul, Turkey
2
MRS Paper&Board Company, Balikesir, 10010, Turkey.
*Corresponding author: ahsenezel.bildik@iuc.edu.tr
ORCID Code: 0000-0002-9525-2993

ABSTRACT
The increasing use of waste paper and higher recycling rates in cardboard production present challenges
in maintaining strength properties of final products. Burst resistance testing is a common method for
quality control in cardboard production. The current research examines the burst index of paper and
cardboard products with varying basis weights produced in a recycled paperboard mill. The tests were
conducted in quality control laboratories, and the relationship between paper machine speed and burst
index was analyzed over a one-month period. The results indicate a direct relationship between machine
speed and basis weight, with both factors increasing proportionally to the burst index. Notably, in the 450
g/m² production line, the highest burst index (1.295 KPA*m²/g) was achieved at a machine speed of 200
m/min. This suggests a direct proportionality between machine speed and burst index. The findings
support the hypothesis that drying speed, influenced by machine speed, is a critical factor affecting burst
index. Furthermore, inconsistencies in basis weights were observed to be directly proportional to machine
speed, indicating that the weight profile significantly affects the burst index.

From a sustainability and environmental perspective, the implications of this study are significant.
Improved strength properties in recycled cardboard mean less material is needed to achieve the same
performance, reducing the demand for virgin resources. Enhanced durability of recycled products can also
extend their lifecycle, reducing waste and the frequency of recycling cycles. Optimizing production
processes to maximize the strength and quality of recycled paperboard supports more efficient use of raw
materials and energy, contributing to lower greenhouse gas emissions and less environmental impact. This
research underscores the role of process optimization in promoting sustainable manufacturing within the
paper and cardboard industry.

Keywords: Recycled paper, Paperboard mill, Strength loss, Burst index, Grammage distribution.

INTRODUCTION
Paper and paperboard production is a significant global industry, contributing to both economic growth
and environmental impact. Due to limited natural resources, the importance of producing paper and
cardboard from recycled materials has increased. Recycling process not only reduces environmental
destruction but also promotes reusability, making it a preferred choice for raw material. Hence the growing
demand for paper, coupled with environmental concerns, has prompted the industry to explore sustainable
production methods, including the use of recycled materials (Bajpai, 2014; Kumar et al., 2020).

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Consequently, the paper industry has sought alternative raw materials beyond wood, with waste paper
emerging as one of the most economical and sustainable sources (Miranda et al., 2010; Blanco et al., 2013;
Gonzalez-Garcia et al., 2020). Recycling paper not only helps reduce the environmental impact but also
provides a cost-effective raw material for the industry (Bhardwaj et al., 2019; Dumanli et al., 2021).
Recycling one ton of paper can save 17 trees, 7,000 gallons of water, and enough energy to power an
average American home for six months (Bajpai, 2014; Bhardwaj et al., 2019; Worrell et al., 2008).
Additionally, it reduces methane emissions from landfills, contributing to climate change mitigation
(Miranda et al., 2010; Villanueva & Wenzel, 2007; Zhang et al., 2021).

Despite the benefits, using recycled paper in cardboard production presents challenges, particularly in
maintaining the strength and quality of the final product. One of the critical quality parameters in
cardboard production is burst resistance, indicating the material's ability to withstand pressure without
rupturing. Burst resistance is essential for ensuring the durability and reliability of paper products,
especially in packaging applications where mechanical strength is crucial (Nazhad & Sodtivarakul, 2010;
Bajpai, 2016). Due to over use of cellulose, fiber collapse and occurs because of repeated chemical and
mechanical treatments during wetting and drying processes (Li et al., 2010; Nazhad, 2005; Hubbe et al.,
2021). Consequently, the main challenge in recycling is the loss of resistance properties in the final product
(Bystörm & Lars, 1997; Hubbe et al., 2007). Previous studies have highlighted the importance of
optimizing various production parameters to improve the quality of recycled paper products. For instance,
the drying speed during production significantly affects the burst resistance of paper. Faster drying speeds
can enhance fiber bonding, leading to stronger paper products (Ozcan, 2017; Parker, 2006; Chen et al.,
2022). However, the relationship between machine speed and burst resistance in the context of recycled
paper production remains underexplored. Moreover, paper recycling has significant environmental
benefits. It conserves natural resources, saves energy, and reduces greenhouse gas emissions. Research
indicates that recycling processes are inherently more efficient than producing paper from virgin cellulose,
requiring less energy and fewer resources, which translates to lower operational costs and reduced
environmental impact (Miranda et al., 2010; Blanco et al., 2013; Bajpai, 2014; Sharma et al., 2021).
Furthermore, advancements in recycling technology have debunked the myth that recycled paper is of
inferior quality, demonstrating that it can match or even surpass the quality of paper from virgin cellulose,
depending on the recycling process and paper grade (Bajpai, 2014; Garg et al., 2008; Walker et al., 2020).
The findings of current study will contribute to the ongoing efforts to improve the sustainability and
efficiency of the paper recycling industry.

The current study aims to investigate the burst index of cardboard products with different grammage
produced in a paper mill and compare these results with the machine speeds used during production. By
understanding the relationship between machine speed and burst index, this research seeks to provide
insights into optimizing production processes to enhance the improved strength properties of paper
products.

MATERIAL METHOD
The study was conducted in the quality control laboratory of a paper and cardboard production factory
located in Balıkesir, Turkey. The observation period spanned from April 1, 2024, to April 30, 2024,
allowing for comprehensive data collection across various production runs with different grammage.
During the observation period, paper samples with different grammage (350 g/m2, 400 g/m2, 425 g/m2,
450 g/m2, 460 g/m2, and 500 g/m2) were collected directly from the production line. The grammage of
each sample was verified using a precision balance, ensuring compliance with the TAPPI T410 standard.

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This step confirmed that the samples' grammage corresponded to their designated categories (Blanco et
Calibration logs were maintained and reviewed periodically to detect any deviations (Nazhad &
Sodtivarakul, 2010; Parker, 2006). The sampling process adhered to the factory's standard procedures to
ensure consistency and reliability. Each sample was labeled and stored under controlled conditions to
prevent any alteration in their properties before testing, maintaining the validity of the study (ISO
2758:2014; TAPPI T410). Each paper sample was subjected to the burst resistance test concerning the
Frank PTI-12 Bursting Strength Tester, index value measured in kPa*m²/g (Smithers, 2023). The tester
was regularly calibrated to maintain accuracy throughout the study (ISO 2758:2014).
The production machine speed for each sample was documented. The machine speed, measured in meters
per minute (m/min), was critical for analyzing its correlation with the burst resistance of the paper samples
(Ozcan, 2017; Parker, 2006). The collected data were analyzed using statistical software to determine the
relationship between machine speed and burst resistance. Descriptive statistics were calculated for all
variables, and correlation analysis was performed to identify significant trends. Linear regression models
were developed to quantify the relationship between machine speed and burst resistance (Soleimani et al.,
2017; Villanueva & Wenzel, 2007). These findings underscore the necessity for manufacturers to fine-
tune their production processes (Zhang et al., 2021).

RESULTS and DISCUSSION

Results indicated a clear correlation between grammage and burst resistance. Higher grammage samples
exhibited higher burst resistance values, suggesting greater strength and durability. The burst resistance
values ranged from 0.890 kPam²/g to 1.295 kPam²/g.

Table 1. Burst Resistance Results of Samples

Grammage Machine Speed Burst Resistance
(g/m²) (m/min) (kPa*m²/g)
350 150 0.890
400 160 0.950
425 170 1.000
450 200 1.295
460 180 1.100
500 190 1.200

The relationship between grammage (basis weight) and burst resistance index is critical in understanding
the structural integrity and durability of paper products. Grammage, which measures the weight of paper
per unit area, directly influences the paper's mechanical properties, including its burst resistance. Higher
grammage generally correlates with increased strength and durability, making it suitable for more
demanding applications (Chen et al., 2022; Sharma et al., 2021). Conversely, lower grammage may be
preferable for cost-efficiency and specific uses where high strength is not required. The burst resistance
index, indicating the material's ability to withstand pressure before rupturing, is a key parameter for
assessing the quality and performance of paper and cardboard products. By analyzing the burst resistance
across various grammage, we can identify optimal production conditions that balance strength, cost, and
environmental sustainability, thereby enhancing the overall efficiency and effectiveness of recycled paper

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manufacturing processes (Dumanli et al., 2021; Walker et al., 2020). The study's analysis of burst
resistance across various grammage reveals significant insights into the performance characteristics of
recycled paper products. The burst resistance of each sample was measured at different machine speeds,
showing notable trends and variances based on each grammage classification.

(a) (b)
Figure 1. (a) 350 g/m², (b) 400 g/ m² cardboard grammage and burst index relations

Figure 1 (a), In production with grammage between 318 g/m² and 337 g/m², the burst index continuously
increased with the machine speed 240 m/min. The changes in additive rates used in production have been
effective in this trend. The effect of machine speed on burst index is most clearly seen in Figure 1(b). In
that case machine speed was 205 m/min. It is observed that as the machine speed increases, the burst index
also increases significantly. This trend suggests that higher machine speeds enhance the bonding and
alignment of fibers, leading to improved structural integrity and greater resistance to bursting. The
consistent rise in burst index values with increasing machine speeds highlights the importance of
optimizing production parameters to achieve superior mechanical properties in paper products.

(a) (b)
Figure 2. (a) 425 g/m², (b) 450 g/ m² cardboard grammage and burst index relations

As seen in Figure 2 (a), there is an inverse relationship between machine speed and burst index. However
machine speed was 188 m/min. This inverse proportionality is primarily due to the fluctuating changes in
the additive rates used during production, which negatively affected fiber bonding and alignment. In
Figure 2 (b), the main reason why the burst index fluctuates at points where the machine speed remains
constant is due to pauses in the machine caused by paper breakage. In that case, machine speed was 195
m/min. When the machine restarted after a breakage, the conditions are not always identical to those before

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the interruption, resulting in variations in the quality and structural integrity of the paper. Additionally,
the reintroduction of materials and the adjustments made to resume production can further contribute to
these fluctuations in the burst index.

(a) (b)
Figure 3. 460 g/m² cardboard burst index and 193 m/min, 170 m/min machine speed chart

As seen in Figure 3 (a), in productions with grammage between 416 g/m² and 423 g/m², the addition of
various can additives adversely affected the parallel relationship between machine speed and burst index.
These varying additives disrupted the uniformity of fiber bonding and alignment, leading to
inconsistencies in burst resistance despite changes in machine speed. This disruption indicates that the
type and amount of additives play a crucial role in maintaining a consistent burst index and highlights the
importance of optimizing additive use to ensure stable product quality. In Figure 3 (b), machine speed and
burst index values are inversely proportional due to the variability of grammage values in production. The
standard deviation shows that the additives used during production caused changes in weight values.
Additionally, there were occasional pauses in the machine due to paper breakage, leading to changes and
fluctuations in the grammage until production restarted. These interruptions and inconsistencies in the
production process affected the overall fiber bonding and alignment, resulting in a decrease in burst
resistance at higher machine speeds. This highlights the importance of maintaining stable production
conditions and carefully controlling additive use to ensure consistent product quality.

CONCLUSION
The findings from current study underscore the importance of optimizing both machine speed and
grammage to enhance the burst resistance of cardboard products. The observed positive correlation
between machine speed and burst resistance suggests that increasing production speeds can improve the
quality of the final product. The variability in burst index values across different grammage highlights the
significant impact of raw material composition and production conditions. For instance, fluctuations in
the additive rates during production can lead to inconsistencies in the burst resistance, as evidenced by the
data. Finding suggests that maintaining consistent additive ratios and closely monitoring the production
process can help achieve more uniform quality in the final products.

In summary, the current study provides valuable insights into the relationship between machine speed,
grammage, and burst resistance in cardboard production. The findings can help manufacturers optimize

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their production processes to produce stronger and more durable paper products, thereby enhancing the
sustainability and efficiency of the paper recycling industry. Future research could build on these results
by exploring the effects of different types of recycled materials and additives on the burst resistance and
other quality parameters of paper products.

REFERENCES
Bajpai, P. (2014). Recycling and Deinking of Recovered Paper. Patiala, India: Elsevier Insights.
Bajpai, P. (2016). Biermann's Handbook of Pulp and Paper: Volume 2: Paper and Board Making. Elsevier.
Bhardwaj, N., Kumar, B., & Verma, P. (2019). A detailed overview of xylanases: an emerging biomolecule for
current and potential applications. Bioresources and Bioprocessing.
Blanco, A., Miranda, R., & Monte, M. C. (2013). Critical points in the development of efficient paper recycling
processes. Tappi Journal, 12(6), 45-51.
Bystörm, S., & Lars, R. (1997). Fiber strength in relation to paper recycling. Nordic Pulp & Paper Research
Journal, 12(4), 245-251.
Chen, J., He, Z., & Wang, Z. (2022). Influence of drying temperature on the physical properties of recycled paper.
Cellulose Chemistry and Technology, 56(1-2), 43-48.
Dumanli, A. G., et al. (2021). Advances in paper-based electronics. Advanced Materials, 33(25), 2005460.
Garg, S., et al. (2008). Wheat straw pulp as a reinforcing aid for recycled softwood pulp. Journal of Applied
Polymer Science.
Gonzalez-Garcia, S., et al. (2020). Environmental performance of biomass-based composites: A review of the
current state of life cycle assessment. Journal of Cleaner Production, 277, 124109.
Hubbe, M. A., Venditti, R. A., & Rojas, O. J. (2007). What happens to cellulosic fibers during papermaking and
recycling? A review. Bioresources, 2(4), 739-788.
Hubbe, M. A., et al. (2021). Recycled paper: An overview of its applications, environmental benefits, and impact
on the circular economy. Bioresources, 16(3), 4875-4920.
Kumar, R., et al. (2020). Sustainable production and applications of emerging nanomaterials in paper industry: A
review. Carbohydrate Polymers, 240, 116350.
Li, K., Lin, Y., & Jones, G. (2010). The effects of recycling on the properties of OCC fiber. BioResources, 5(2),
884-900.
Miranda, R., Blanco, A., & Monte, M. C. (2010). An integrated approach for the characterization of mixed office
paper recycling. Waste Management, 30(2), 266-277.
Nazhad, M. M. (2005). Recycled fiber quality—A review. Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry, 11(3),
316-329.
Nazhad, M. M., & Sodtivarakul, P. (2010). Fiber fractionation and paper recycling. In R. A. Young & M. Akhtar
(Eds.), Environmentally Friendly Technologies for the Pulp and Paper Industry (pp. 201-220). New
York: Wiley.
Ozcan, A. (2017). The effects of drying parameters on paper properties. Journal of Applied Polymer Science,
134(6), 4447-4455.
Parker, C. (2006). Factors affecting paper drying efficiency. Paper Technology, 47(3), 17-22.
Sharma, A., et al. (2021). Paper recycling: Research, development, and advances. Journal of Cleaner Production,
278, 123870.
Villanueva, A., & Wenzel, H. (2007). Paper waste – Recycling, incineration or landfilling. A review of existing
life cycle assessments. Waste Management, 27, S29-S46. doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2007.02.019
Walker, T. R., et al. (2020). Environmental benefits of recycling: An international review. Waste Management,
113, 129-141.
Worrell, E., Price, L., Martin, N., & Farla, J. (2008). The potential for energy efficiency improvements in the US
pulp and paper industry. Energy, 25(8), 769-784.
Zhang, H., et al. (2021). Sustainable recycling of waste paper: A review of current practices and perspectives.
Journal of Cleaner Production, 282, 124506.

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SALT RECOVERY FROM THE DYEING WASTEWATER BY PHOTO-

FENTON OXIDATION FOR ECONOMICAL ZERO DISCHARGE IN THE
TEXTILE INDUSTRY
Sümeyye BEKTAŞ, Şeyma ZENGİN, Ayşe Elif ATEŞ, Hüseyin SELÇUK*
1
Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Engineering Faculty, Environmental Engineering Department, 34320, Avcilar,
Istanbul, Turkey
*Corresponding author: hselcuk@iuc.edu.tr
ORCID Code: (0000-1234-5678-9876

ABSTRACT
The high amount of water used in production processes in the textile industry has encouraged the industry
to use sustainable methods. The inevitable increase in the speed of the production portfolio of the textile
industry has also increased wastewater consumption in the industry. Whole water used in the wet processes
in the industry reaches the wastewater treatment plant with its intense dye, salt, and chemical content.
Especially dyes, salt and hardness remaining in the biologically treated textile wastewater prevent the
reuse of wastewater in the industry. Thus, the reverse osmosis (RO) membrane technology is only
commercially available method to reuse biologically treated textile wastewaters however around 40%
membrane brine generation from the RO process limits its application in the textile industry. Since the
obstacles to the reuse of secondary treated textile wastewater are their color, hardness and salinity contents,
in recent years many works have focused on the treatment and reuse of the segregated softening and dyeing
wastewaters which are the main sources of these parameters. To achieve an economical zero wastewater
discharge in the textile industry, in this study, the Fenton and Photo-Fenton processes were performed to
reuse saline dyeing wastewater. The response surface modeling (RSM) program was used to optimize the
process according to the treatment variables such as FeSO4 and H2O2 concentrations, temperature and
time. The results of the study show that the Photo-Fenton treatment not only enables the close-loop use
of salt in the dyeing process but also allows 90% recovery of the hydrothermal waste energy in the dyeing
production line.

Keywords: Salt recovery, textile, Photo-Fenton oxidation

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DEVELOPMENT OF AN INTEGRATED WATER RECYCLING SYSTEM FOR

THE COTTON TEXTILE INDUSTRY AND INVESTIGATION OF ITS IMPACT
ON PRODUCT QUALITY
Ülkü EMER
Environmental Engineer, Gümüşsu Treatment Plant, Denizli, Turkey
*Corresponding author: ulkuemer@gumussuaritma.com.tr

ABSTRACT
The only solution proposed for the water scarcity issue in the textile sector has been the highly expensive
reverse osmosis system. However, no solution has been offered for the saline water waste produced by
this system. Therefore, in 2009, Gümüşsu R&D developed an economically integrated wastewater
recycling system specific to the Denizli textile sector, aiming for zero wastewater discharge, which had
never been done before. In this recycling system, wastewater from the existing textile wastewater
treatment system was treated using an integrated advanced treatment system developed at a pilot scale and
then reused in textile processes.

Methods such as chemical coagulation treatment, investigation of activated carbon absorption, particle
analysis, and selection of appropriate membrane systems were utilized in the study, with a focus on their
application in textile processes and the measurement of product quality. Various treatment methods
including ozonation, adsorption, color removal agents, coagulation, ultrafiltration (UF), nanofiltration
(NF), and reverse osmosis (RO) membranes were investigated for wastewater treatment in the project.
Alternative treatment options post-biological treatment or preceding membrane systems were explored on
a laboratory scale. An integrated pilot plant has been established.

It was observed that the zeolite filtration in the pre-filtration unit had no effect on color and COD removal.
However, it was noted that after sand and zeolite filtration, the AKM value decreased by 30% to 50%. In
the applied pre-treatment system, hardness and conductivity remained unchanged, but hardness was
removed by approximately 99.9% with NF, while COD removal efficiency increased by 95%. Thus, it
was revealed that wastewater could be reused without the need for RO, using the NF system. Additionally,
it was observed that the color value was removed with 99.9% efficiency after the NF system. With UF,
the AKM value was reduced by 50%. COD and color removal efficiencies were approximately 24% and
33%, respectively. Biologically treated wastewaters were subjected to chlorination before being fed to the
AK unit. When pre-chlorination was applied, the color removal efficiency increased to 88%, and the COD
removal efficiency increased to 56%. The effect of pH on the AK process was investigated within the pH
range of 6.5 to 8.0. It was observed that the AK process operated more efficiently at lower pH values. For
color removal in wastewater, a coagulation process with decolorant was carried out on wastewater samples
taken from the activated sludge process. It was noted that at high decolorant concentrations, the COD
value increased.

Keywords: Cotton textile industry, integrated water recycling, recycling

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THE FIRST STEP TOWARDS ZERO DISCHARGE FOR SUSTAINABLE

WATER MANAGEMENT IN FIVE TEXTILE DYEHOUSES THROUGH
WASTEWATER AND SALT RECYCLING
Ülkü EMER
Fatma Betül SİLİNMEZ

Gümüşsu Treatment Plant Denizli,TURKEY

Corresponding author: ulkuemer@gumussuaritma.com.tr

arge@gumussuaritma.com.tr

ABSTRACT
Textile dyeing facilities are among the most highly polluting industries. This is mainly because
dyestuffs and chemicals used in manufacturing processes are extracted from water wells and
contaminate the water used as input. Recycling treated water for diminishing and depleting water
resources is an expensive solution. To cover the investment costs of wastewater recycling, it is essential
to obtain products and/or generate energy from the wastewater, thereby ensuring sustainable water
management in textile dyeing facilities. Gümüşsu Treatment Plant applied to the South Aegean
Development Agency (GEKA) Clean Production Financial Support Program with the aim of making a
strong start for sustainable water management by installing decolorization, recycling and salt recovery
systems in its existing treatment plant.

Keywords: Clean production; new recycling and reuse technologies; sustainable textile manufacturing;
zero wastewater discharge

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5-6 July, 2024, Istanbul, Türkiye

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT IN TURKEY: A CRUCIAL TOOL

FOR TRANSITIONING TO A LOW CARBON ECONOMY AND
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Aynur Aydın*, Yusuf Güneş
Istanbul University Cerrahpaşa, Istanbul,34320, Turkey.
*Corresponding author: aynur.aydin@iuc.edu.tr

ABSTRACT
The transition to a low carbon economy is essential for achieving sustainable development, especially in
mitigating climate change and reducing environmental degradation. Environmental Impact Assessment
(EIA) is a critical tool in this transition, evaluating the potential environmental impacts of proposed
projects or policies before they are implemented. This process ensures that environmental considerations
are integrated into decision-making processes alongside economic and social factors, promoting
sustainable and responsible development. In Turkey, the importance of EIA has increased due to the
country's unique environmental challenges and its commitments to international agreements. Rapid
industrialization and urbanization in Turkey have intensified environmental pressures, making the EIA
process indispensable for planning and executing development projects sustainably. Turkey's EIA
framework is governed by the Environmental Law No. 2872 and the Environmental Impact Assessment
Regulation. These regulations require that certain projects, particularly those with significant
environmental impacts, undergo a comprehensive EIA process. The steps in this process include screening
to determine if an EIA is required, scoping to identify key environmental issues, impact analysis to assess
potential impacts and explore alternatives, public participation to engage stakeholders and gather input,
and decision-making where the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization reviews the EIA report and
public comments to decide on project approval. Despite a robust framework, Turkey faces challenges in
effectively implementing EIA. These include insufficient enforcement, limited public awareness, and
occasional political and economic pressures that can undermine the EIA process. Additionally, there is a
need for better integration of EIA findings into broader policy and planning frameworks to ensure tangible
environmental benefits.

In conclusion, Environmental Impact Assessment is crucial for Turkey's transition to a low carbon
economy and sustainable development. By thoroughly evaluating environmental implications and
incorporating stakeholder input, Turkey can promote development that meets current needs without
compromising future generations' ability to meet their own. Strengthening the EIA process, addressing
challenges, and leveraging improvement opportunities will be key to achieving Turkey's sustainability
goals and balancing economic growth with environmental protection.

Keywords: Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), Sustainable Development, Low Carbon Economy,
Turkey, Environmental Policy

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5-6 July, 2024, Istanbul, Türkiye

ASSESSMENT OF CALCIUM AND MAGNESIUM-RICH INDUSTRIAL

SLUDGE AS POTENTIAL RAW MATERIALS
Naim Sezgin, Semih Nemlioglu, Huseyin Selçuk*
Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Faculty of Engineering, Department of Environmental Engineering, Avcilar,
Istanbul, 34320, Turkiye
*Corresponding author: hselcuk@iuc.edu.tr

ABSTRACT
Groundwater is widely used for industrial purposes in many factories and plants, often sourced from wells
located near the facility. Groundwater is used in various industrial activities such as textile production,
building material manufacturing, and the processing of natural and artificial stones. Groundwater typically
contains hardness ions. Before being used in industrial processes, groundwater undergoes softening
through methods such as ion exchange resins. To reuse the ion exchange resins, they are regenerated with
water containing high amounts of sodium chloride. Consequently, this regeneration process results in
wastewater rich in calcium and magnesium. Similarly, the marble processing industry also produces
wastewater rich in calcium and magnesium. To reuse this wastewater in processes, it undergoes
precipitation with various chemicals, resulting in sludge with high calcium and magnesium content. Due
to their content, these sludges have the potential to be used as alternative raw materials in the production
of construction materials or construction chemicals. This study examines the potential use of textile
industry regeneration wastewater sludge and marble processing industry treatment sludge as alternative
raw materials for the production of construction materials or construction chemicals.

Keywords: Regeneration, Treatment sludge, Recycling, Alternative raw material

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5-6 July, 2024, Istanbul, Türkiye

Thermal Wastewater Outfall Initial Dilution Improvement by Nozzle Downward

Inclination
Bilge Ozdogan Cumali1*, Semih Nemlioglu1
1
Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Faculty of Engineering, Department of Environmental Engineering, 34320,
Avcilar, Istanbul, Turkey

*Corresponding author: bilgeeozdogan@gmail.com

ORCID Code: 0000-0001-7579-7120

ABSTRACT
Thermal wastewater outfalls are critical for safely discharging heated effluents into marine environments, ensuring
compliance with environmental regulations and minimizing ecological impacts. Initial dilution is a key parameter
for evaluating the effectiveness of wastewater diffusion, particularly in marine environments. Because of
constructional requirements and positive buoyancy of thermal plumes, most of thermal wastewater outfalls were
arranged as singular or multi-port diffusers with one or more series of horizontal circular discharge nozzles.
Experimental studies show that centerline trajectory length increment of buoyant effluent jets may result in initial
dilution increment. One of the jet trajectory increment methods is reported as application of a nozzle downward
inclination in the literature. However, it is too difficult to find enough detailed designation guidance about use of
this method for thermal wastewater outfall diffusers.

This study investigates the effects of downward inclination of a thermal discharge from a singular nozzle at a fixed
depth on the initial dilution performance comparing its horizontal discharge condition. The research examines the
behavior of thermal wastewater discharged into a stagnant seawater body without density stratification. By varying
the downward inclination angle of the nozzle relative to the horizontal plane, the study evaluates changes in the
initial dilution levels achieved. US EPA the Visual Plumes model system-UM3 model was employed to analyze the
interaction of thermal plumes with surrounding water under different nozzle configurations. Results indicate that
nozzle downward inclination can slightly increase the initial dilution of a thermal wastewater jets comparing its
horizontal discharge condition for a stagnant and unstratified receiving water and a constant discharge point depth.
This result shows that there is a potential to improve best available technique for thermal wastewater outfall diffuser
design. This dilution improvement method may also support a sustainable industrial cooling water discharge for
existing systems under suitable conditions when the downward inclination of nozzle technique applied on diffusers.

Keywords: Thermal outfalls, Initial Dilution, Thermal pollution, Sustainability

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5-6 July, 2024, Istanbul, Türkiye

PHOTO-FENTON OXIDATION AS A TREATMENT METHOD FOR

PHARMACEUTICAL WASTEWATER: OPTIMIZATION AND ANALYSIS OF
DICLOFENAC REMOVAL AND TOXICITY

Ayşe Elif Ateş1, Ender Öztürk1, 2, Hüseyin Selçuk1, Sinan Ateş1

1
Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Engineering Faculty, Environmental Engineering Department, 34320, Avcilar,
Istanbul, Turkey

*Corresponding author: ayseelif.ates@iuc.edu.tr

ORCID Code: 0000-0001-5391-7478

ABSTRACT
The discharge of wastewater from domestic sources, hospitals, and pharmaceutical industries constitutes
a significant contributor to the presence of pharmaceuticals in the environment. While considerable
research has been conducted on removing pharmaceutical contaminants from domestic and hospital
wastewater, studies addressing the treatment of actual pharmaceutical industry wastewater and its
subsequent detoxification remain relatively scarce. This research investigates the treatment of
pharmaceutical wastewater using photo-Fenton oxidation, optimized through response surface
methodology (RSM), and assesses its post-treatment toxicity on Daphnia magna under varying process
conditions. Three-dimensional graphical representations were utilized to more effectively identify optimal
treatment conditions. Key parameters, including diclofenac (DCF) concentration, Daphnia magna
toxicity, total organic carbon (TOC), and color, were monitored to evaluate the treatment's efficiency. The
RSM-based quartic model demonstrated a high suitability for predicting TOC and color removal during
solar photo-Fenton oxidation of pharmaceutical wastewater. Under optimal conditions—pH 2.87, 0.297 g
FeSO₄/L, 4.38 g H₂O₂/L, and a reaction time of 101 minutes—removal efficiencies exceeding 99% for
DCF, 94% for TOC, and 81% for color were achieved. Additionally, the LD₅₀ value, reflecting toxicity,
significantly improved from 20% to 90% following treatment.

Keywords: Photo-Fenton oxidation, Pharmaceutical Industry Wastewater, Toxicity

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5-6 July, 2024, Istanbul, Türkiye

TOWARDS NET ZERO UNIVERSITY CAMPUSES: DETERMINATION OF

GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS FROM A COMMON STUDY CENTER IN
ISTANBUL TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY (ITU) AYAZAĞA CAMPUS
Feriha Kamile Özcan1, Kadriye Elif Maçin2*, Ebru Acuner3, Börte Köse Mutlu2
1
Istanbul Technical University, Sustainability Office, Istanbul, 34469, Türkiye.
2
Istanbul Technical University, Department of Environmental Engineering, Istanbul, 34469 Türkiye.
3
Istanbul Technical University, Energy Institute, Energy Planning and Management, 34469, İstanbul, Türkiye.
*Corresponding author: macin@itu.edu.tr
ORCID Code: 0000-0002-5989-7954

ABSTRACT
Universities account for about 2% of national GHG emissions in the USA and China. Currently, more
than 200 million students (8 million in Türkiye) in the world are enrolled in higher education. The
detrimental effect of universities can be minimized with the approach of sustainable infrastructure and by
utilizing sustainable campus management. The complex systems of universities make them a great
reference for sustainable development design. Thus, the aim of this study is to calculate the current carbon
footprint of Istanbul Technical University (ITU) Common Study Center-A (CSC-A), largest study
center/building in the campus after the library, as a green campus case study and give recommendations
for reaching/fitting the 2048 carbon neutral target/declaration. The policy recommendations can also be
adopted by other universities in Türkiye working towards their carbon neutrality.

The relevant activities in CSC-A in the year 2021 were identified for the carbon footprint calculation.
These activities were divided into 3 scopes as defined in the Greenhouse Gas protocol. While natural gas
emissions were included under scope 1 emissions, the emission caused by electricity consumption is under
scope 2 emissions. Scope 3 emissions were limited to water consumption, waste generation and material
use containing food, paper and plastic consumption. The necessary data regarding the activities was
obtained from related university units and utility bills. The CO2 equivalent of emissions was calculated
using national emission factors derived from IPCC and ecoinvent databases. Results showed that CSC-A
released 2,088,082 kg CO 2 eq greenhouse gasses in 2021. This value can be reduced to 188,843 kg CO2eq
through various management systems within the scope of the ITU's carbon neutral target for 2048.
Gradually switching to solar energy from grid power will result in a decline in scope 2 emissions from
333,899 kg CO 2 eq to 183,203 kgCO 2 eq in 2038 and 2048. Recycling the packaging waste and recovering
the food waste in an anaerobic digestion instead of sending it to landfill may provide a total savings of
614,174 kg CO 2 eq in scope 3 until 2048. In addition, a saving of 978,191 kgCO 2 eq can be achieved in
scope 3 by altering the consumption and nutrition habits (plastic, paper and food). Additional offset
activities in the building (CSC-A) will be discussed to ensure that the university meets its carbon neutral
target by 2048.

Keywords: Greenhouse gases, Carbon footprint, Carbon neutral, Higher education institution,
Sustainability

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5-6 July, 2024, Istanbul, Türkiye

APPLICATION OF SPECTROSCOPY IN PLASTIC MANAGEMENT

Raziyeh Pourdarbani
University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Dept. of Biosystems Engineering, Ardabil, Iran
*Corresponding author: r_pourdarbani@uma.ac.ir
ORCID Code: 0000-0003-0766-8305

ABSTRACT
Cost-effective production, extraordinary properties of plastics and their unique role in various uses such
as packaging of food and industrial goods, automotive, aviation-marine industries, construction and many
other industries have caused the removal of this group of materials. It is not a reasonable option due to the
pollution caused by their waste. Hereupon, the plastic waste distribution management chain has been
seriously investigated and optimized by experts in the field of environment and polymer. Until 2015, about
1 ton of plastic was produced per person. Per capita consumption of plastics in developed countries is
more than in developing countries. However, due to the establishment of the waste management chain, in
developed countries the share of lost and unmanaged plastic waste is very low. There are growing concerns
about the vast amounts of plastic waste left untouched, while there is still much uncertainty about the exact
environmental impacts and risks micro plastics pose to human health.

Identifying the type of plastic part using infrared spectroscopy is one of the most common laboratory
methods to determine the type of plastic materials. This method uses the principle that different chemical
bonds absorb infrared radiation at different frequencies. Mixing different polymers together may reduce
the properties of recycled materials. The near infrared (NIR) region of the electromagnetic spectrum can
be used to screen a variety of plastics. However, the middle infrared region (MIR) offers significant
advantages for the identification of plastics and other components such as fillers, plasticizers, surfactants,
coatings or free agents. Furthermore, NIR cannot be used to identify plastics containing even small
amounts (more than 2% or 3%) of carbon black. This represents a good proportion of recycled plastics.

Spectroscopy can identify which polymer species may be part of a recycled composition and,
consequently, if the behaviour of the material from the mixture is well characterized, can be used to
identify which compositions are most suitable for specific applications. It can also be used to initiate
material quality control to minimize manufacturing waste by identifying materials that are unlikely to
achieve the required end properties and may be better suited for other applications. By combining spectral
data and advanced chemometric methods of automated data analysis, fully automated sorting systems can
be developed that can significantly improve the efficiency of plastic recycling plants.
Keywords: Plastic; Waste management; Spectroscopy.

Keywords: Plastic, Waste management, Spectroscopy

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5-6 July, 2024, Istanbul, Türkiye

CARBON REDUCTION STRATEGIES FOR HERITAGE CITIES: A CASE

STUDY OF IBB, YEMEN INTEGRATING GIS, BIM, AND RENEWABLE
ENERGY SOLUTIONS
Basema Qasim Derhem Dammag1*, Dai Jian1, Abdulkarem Qasem Dammag1,2
1
Department of Architecture & Urban Planning, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing, 100124, China..
2
Department of Engineering and Architecture, Ibb University, Ibb, Yemen.
*Corresponding author: bassma.dammag@gmail.com
ORCID Code: 0000-1234-5678-9876

ABSTRACT
The ancient city of Ibb, Yemen, renowned for its rich cultural heritage, faces significant environmental
challenges, particularly in terms of carbon emissions. This study aims to explore and implement carbon
reduction strategies tailored for heritage cities, using Ibb as a case study. Through a comprehensive
analysis of the city's current carbon footprint, the research identifies key sources of emissions and proposes
sustainable practices that align with the conservation of its historical and architectural integrity. The study
employs a combination of Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Building Information Modelling
(BIM), and renewable energy integration to develop a framework for carbon reduction. Preliminary
findings suggest that integrating green infrastructure and enhancing energy efficiency in historical
buildings can substantially mitigate carbon emissions. This research not only contributes to the
environmental sustainability of heritage cities but also provides a replicable model for similar urban areas
globally. The outcomes of this study are expected to inform policymakers and conservationists in adopting
holistic approaches to heritage conservation and environmental management.

Keywords: Carbon Reduction, Heritage Cities, Renewable Energy Integration, Urban Environmental
Management, Ancient City of Ibb

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5-6 July, 2024, Istanbul, Türkiye

X-RAY ADSORPTION STUDIES OF CHROMIUM IN SWARF DURING

PYROLYSIS
Ning Shen, Zhi-Ning Zhang, Cheng Yi Fang, Yong-Xiang Xue, Yu-Syuan Lin, Hsin-Liang Huang*
Department of Safety, Health and Environmental Engineering, National United University, Miao-Li 360302,
Taiwan
*Corresponding author: hlhuang@nuu.edu.tw
ORCID Code: 0000-1234-5678-9876

ABSTRACT
Swarf waste, discarded from high-speed steel-cutting processes, contains grinding oil and steel chips. The
grinding oil in swarf waste can be recovered by pyrolysis. Iron and chromium are the main metal species
in steel chips of swarf waste. Chromium is present in its oxidized state of Cr(III) and Cr(VI) in the
environment. Cr(III) is one of the essential elements, but its concentration in wastewater is limited by law.
However, Cr(VI) is toxic to cells and has high fluidity, potentially harmful to the environment. In this
study, the speciation of chromium is investigated during pyrolysis. Pyrolysis of the swarf wastes is
occurred at 625 to 1473 K within four hours. The endothermic oxidized reaction of the swarf waste is
occurred at 625 to 1000 K by the thermogravimetry analyzer (TGA). The high-magnification SEM
micrographs of the swarf wastes show the round particles formed at 673 and 1073 K. The round particles
may melt, observed in swarf waste at 1473 K. FeCr 2 O 4 and Cr 2 O 3 are the major chromium species in the
swarf waste at 673 K by the least-square fitted X-ray absorption near-edge structural (XANES) spectrum.
Approximately 50% of FeCr 2 O 4 is converted to Cr 2 O 3 in the swarf waste at 1073 K during thermal
treatments. Interestingly, the compounds were FeCr 2 O 4 and Cr 2 O 3 at 1073 K as well as at 1473 K. By
extended X-ray absorption fine structural (EXAFS) spectroscopy, the bound distance of Cr-O is 2.01 Å
with CNs (Coordinated Numbers) of 3.4, 3.9 and 4.1 at 673, 1073 and 1473 K, respectively, which was
little perturbed.

Keywords: Swarf waste, Chromium, XANES, EXAFS

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5-6 July, 2024, Istanbul, Türkiye

ENHANCED ABSORPTION OF METAL IONS FROM WASTEWATER BY

BIOWASTE/IONIC LIQUID
Chao-Ho Wu, Lu-Yu Weng, Feng-Rui Guo, Fu-En Fan, Yen-Wei Chiang, Hsin-Liang Huang*
Department of Safety, Health and Environmental Engineering, National United University, Miao-Li 360302,
Taiwan
*Corresponding author: hlhuang@nuu.edu.tw
ORCID Code: 0000-1234-5678-9876

ABSTRACT
The Cr(VI) and Cu(II) ions are often found in the electroplating wastewater. Inhaling high concentrations
of Cr(VI) causes nasal mucosal pain, nasal congestion, runny nose, and breathing problems. Excessive
absorption of Cu(II) in humans causes liver, kidney, and central nervous system damage. Adsorption can
treat a large of wastewater and is inexpensive when using the appropriate adsorbent. Approximately 6,800
tons of water chestnut shell waste are discarded annually in Taiwan. Most water chestnut shell wastes are
disposed of by incineration. In this study, the biochar is derived from water from water chestnut shell
waste in a hypoxic state. The porous biochar is used as an adsorbent for metal ions. The biochar is modified
by an ionic liquid, a green solvent, to enhance the absorbed effectivities. Ionic liquids have high thermal
stability and extraction selectivity. Therefore, they can be used in extraction. The weight ratios of
biochar/ionic liquid are 3, 5, and 7 for absorption of Cr(VI) and Cu(II) solution at pH 4, respectively.
Combining the Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy data, C-
OH and COO-H of biochar interact with Cu(II) to form oxides. Furthermore, Cr(VI) reduction occurs due
to interaction with biochar. Because the pH of the metal solution changes from 8.91 to 4.12 during the
extraction, the speciation of metal ions is also affected. Therefore, the biochar/ionic liquid weight ratio of
7 has the highest adsorption capacity. The interactions between ionic liquid and metal ions are also found.
The ionic liquid plays a vital role in the extraction.

Keywords: Biochar, Ionic liquid, Absorption, Wastewater

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5-6 July, 2024, Istanbul, Türkiye

THERMODYNAMIC, THERMOGRAVIMETRIC, AND KINETIC ANALYSIS

OF MAIZE AND SUNFLOWER WASTES FOR ENERGY RECOVERY
Agapi Vasileiadou1,2,3
1
Department of Energy Systems, School of Technology, University of Thessaly, Geopolis, Regional Road
Trikala-Larissa, GR-41500 Larissa, Greece
2
Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Democritus University of Thrace, 67100
Xanthi, Greece
3
Department of Mineral Resources Engineering, University of Western Macedonia, 50100 Kozani, Greece
*Corresponding author: agvasileiadou@gmail.com, agvasileiadou@uth.gr
ORCID Code: 0000-0002-7069-3987

ABSTRACT
Due to the increased demand for sustainable renewable bioenergy and the need for a better waste
management system with the 9Rs strategies (refuse, rethink, reduce, reuse, repair, refurbish,
remanufacture, repurpose, recycle, and recover), it is essential to seek alternative environmentally friendly
fuels. Biomass fuel is a major global source of clean energy, contributing significantly to sustainable
development. Biomass fuels have the potential to decrease CO 2 emissions due to their zero-carbon
footprint. Globally, agricultural land occupies 36.9% of the land area (year 2018). Maize production has
an upward trend, reaching 1,148,487,291 metric tons worldwide in 2019, while sunflower production
reached 55,913,000 metric tons in the same year. The aim of this work is to investigate the quality
characteristics of these wastes for potential sustainable biofuels using several analyses: thermodynamic
analysis, kinetic analysis, thermogravimetric analysis and differential thermogravimetric analysis,
proximate analysis, ultimate analysis, energy content analysis. The results of the current study showed
that the energy and volatile content of the sunflower wastes and maize wastes were found to be increased
(~19 MJ/kg and ~16 MJ/kg, respectively, volatiles ~80 wt.%), and ash content extremely decreased (~10
wt.% and ~3 wt.%, respectively). The highest decomposition temperature and decomposition rate revealed
in sunflower husk and maize leaves (284 oC and 7 %/min, 285 oC and 6 %/min, respectively). The total
weight loss was found to be more than 95% in maize wastes and more than 90% in sunflower husk wastes.
The lowest activation energy was found on sunflower husk wastes (~56 kJ/mol). The Gibbs free energy
ranged from 162 kJ/mol to 202 kJ/mol (avg. 180 kJ/mol). The results showed that maize and sunflower
wastes are promising for bioenergy production. Further studies should be performed about seasonal
variation, storage, and optimal additives.

Keywords: Biomass residues, Thermodynamic analysis, Characterization, Waste to energy, Kinetic

modelling

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5-6 July, 2024, Istanbul, Türkiye

RENEWABLE AND NON-RENEWABLE CO 2 EMISSIONS VIA BIOMASS

WASTES AND LIGNITE CO-FIRING
Agapi Vasileiadou1,2,3
1
Department of Energy Systems, School of Technology, University of Thessaly, Geopolis, Regional Road
Trikala-Larissa, GR-41500 Larissa, Greece
2
Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Democritus University of Thrace, 67100
Xanthi, Greece
3
Department of Mineral Resources Engineering, University of Western Macedonia, 50100 Kozani, Greece
*Corresponding author: agvasileiadou@gmail.com, agvasileiadou@uth.gr
ORCID Code: 0000-0002-7069-3987

ABSTRACT
Large volumes of organic waste, such as agricultural, industrial, and urban solid waste, remain unused and
are discarded as waste. Due to the sustainable development goals, the circular economy, and the policy
for reduced and zero CO 2 emissions until 2030 and until 2050, respectively, it is crucial to find alternative
ways to treat these wastes. Biomass absorbs CO 2 during growth and emits the same amount during
combustion, resulting in a zero-carbon footprint. Biomass co-combustion could eliminate COx, SOx and
sometimes NOx emissions. The main scope of this work is to investigate and categorize CO 2 emissions
resulting from biomass waste co-combustion with lignite as renewable and non-renewable. For this reason,
corn (maize) waste, sunflower waste, and Greek lignite were used in this experimental study. Different
mixes of biomass residue and lignite (70:30, 50:50, 30:70, in wt.%) were examined. Several experimental
(such as higher heating value determination, proximate, ultimate analysis, thermogravimetric analysis, and
derivative thermogravimetric analysis) and theoretical analyses, using the results of the experimental
analyses, such as maximum CO 2 emissions/produced MJ, CO 2 emissions/kg fuel, renewable and non-
renewable CO 2 emissions per produced MJ. According to the results, the biomass residue co-combustion
with lignite could reduce CO 2 emissions, the % reduction of non-renewable CO 2 emissions is higher than
the percentage of biomass in the blend. Composite solid fuel (waste and lignite), generally have superior
fuel quality characteristics e.g. higher calorific value, volatile matter, lower ash content, and lower
emissions compared to coal. More studies should be performed in order to find the optimal solid composite
fuel (optimal mixes) using cutting-edge technologies (e.g. artificial intelligence) for large-scale
combustion.

Keywords: CO 2 emissions; waste to energy; co-firing; CO 2 reduction; fuel characterization

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5-6 July, 2024, Istanbul, Türkiye

SMALL-SCALE BIOGAS PLANT ENHANCEMENT BY MICROALGAE AND

OPERATION UPGRADE USING LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT
Kadriye Elif Maçin1*, Niama Saadate1, İrem Fırtına Ertiş2,, Mahmut Altınbaş1
1
Istanbul Technical University, Department of Environmental Engineering, Istanbul, 34469 Türkiye.
2
Gebze Technical University, Faculty of Engineering Chemical Engineering Department Gebze, Kocaeli, 41400
Türkiye
*Corresponding author: macin@itu.edu.tr
ORCID Code: 0000-0002-5989-7954

ABSTRACT
The increase in demand for these biogas plants is the consequence of the new planetary orientations
towards renewable energies and circular economy to rationalize resource use and protect the environment's
degradation. One of the potential sources of renewable energy for the future is microalgae. However, their
environmental benefit is still unclear. The current work aims to study ways to improve the operation of
the biogas production facility (BEEO GAZ), located in Istanbul Technical University, both with and
without microalgae as a feedstock, in order to maximize its energy production and reduce its
environmental impact.

The life cycle assessment method was used in three scenarios to compare their environmental impacts.
The functional unit was defined as 1 ton of food waste. In addition to the existing scenario 1, including
anaerobic digestion and cogeneration, scenario 2 proposes the incineration of the biogas residue, and
scenario 3 suggests, in addition to incineration, a microalgae culture to produce biomass that will feed the
anaerobic digester. Life cycle assessment was conducted in accordance with ISO 14040 and ISO 14044
standards. Upstream burdens were not taken into consideration by the study's zero-burden assumption.
An attributional approach was used to solve the multifunctionality problem. ReCiPe was followed as the
impact evaluation method.

Increasing energy production and reducing environmental impact can be achieved by operating a biogas
plant according to scenario 3, as revealed by the results. Indeed, the scenario 3 allows an increase in energy
production of 15% and a significant reduction in environmental impacts, in particular by avoiding the
emission into the atmosphere of a quantity of around 92 tons of CO 2 eq/year and consequently the
significant reduction of the effects on climate change. This scenario contributes to reducing the degree of
acidity of the soil by reducing the impact of 0.61 kg of SO 2 eq/tons of food waste treated compared to the
scenario 1 while scenario 2 presents an impact value of -0.45 kg of SO 2 eq/tons food waste. Consequently,
microalgae has the potential to be utilized as a feedstock for biogas plants, enhance operation of plants
and providing an alternative a sustainable option to meet future energy demand.

Keywords: Anaerobic digester, food waste, green campus, life cycle assessment, microalgae

266