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The deep processing of lignocellulose feedstock (including waste from the woodworking industry, agriculture, and agro-industry) allowing the high-added value products to be obtained is one of the key scientific problems. Lignocellulose biomass is a potential feedstock for the production of heat, electricity, fuel, chemicals, and other bioderived products. The liquefaction is considered to be one of the most promising ways to convert lignocellulose biomass into liquid fuels. During the liquefaction, lignocellulose ...

The study addresses a challenge in planetary exploration, focusing on landslide susceptibility on the Lunar South Pole Region (LSPR), fundamental for future lunar missions. Features like permanently shadowed regions and water ice deposits attract scientific attention but issues related to rugged terrain and dynamic geological processes must also to be considered. The photointerpretation of data from Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) mission, allowed to create a landslides inventory map. The Frequency Ratio (FR) m...

Reducing air pollution is a major objective of road transport, the most important consequence of this reduction being the decrease in the number of illnesses and, implicitly, a better quality of human life. To achieve this goal, researchers- efforts have been directed towards reducing the quantities and treating the exhaust gases of vehicles equipped with internal combustion engines. It is important to note that the reduction of environmental pollution must also aim at decreasing the emissions of particles that ar...

Hydrogen can originate from various geological processes and its ability to migrate to near-surface layers makes soil gas analysis crucial for identifying subsurface accumulations. Current methods using portable analysers are often insufficient for precise determination, highlighting the need for gas chromatography in controlled laboratory settings. Hydrogen's high mobility and chemical reactivity make it difficult to maintain stable soil gas samples from collection to analysis. To address this challenge, an exper...

Most modern heat pump installations can only generate a maximum temperature of 50-55-C. This temperature potential is not sufficient to integrate them with existing convective and radiator-based space heating systems in severe climates. This paper discusses the findings from an experimental study evaluating the efficiency of a fan coil-based air heating system. Using a peaking boiler fueled by natural gas from the main supply has been shown to be the most cost-effective method for generating thermal energy with pe...

The research aims to identify changes in the biometric measurements and demographic structure of game ducks living on Lake Engure. Game management in Latvia as well as the entire Northern Europe is an important segment of the economy, which has rich and ancient traditions. Although a small segment of society perceives game management as the killing of animals, which is not the case, it should be understood that it represents an economic activity resulting in limiting the animal population, which can increase rapid...

In climate change, drought, and water scarcity, the natural functioning of river systems largely depends on the proper distribution of water resources. Accurate determination of hydrological characteristics is essential for the sustainable management of water resources and provides information on the status and potential of water systems. Water management must be implemented in such a way as to meet the needs of man and the economy. At the same time, measures are taken to protect the quantitative characteristics o...

Micromorphological features of salt-affected soils in the Cis-Baikal and Trans-Baikal regions (south of East Siberia, Russia) are considered. When studying morphogenesis of these soils, pedofeatures of soluble salts and gypsum serve as indicators of modern and former stages of soil formation. Comparative-geographical, micromorphological, and chemical methods have been applied to study soil salinization. Chemical analyses attest to the presence of gypsum and soluble salts in solonchaks of both regions. However, the...

The optimal solution of intensification and ecologisation of agricultural production is achieved in adaptive-landscape farming systems. To solve the problems of adaptive landscape agriculture, classical methods of soil-landscape mapping and new methods of remote diagnostics of intra-field heterogeneity were combined to identify features that will further improve the efficiency of producing maps of groups and types of land and increase their accuracy. Identification of the spectral characteristics of groups and typ...

On the background of regional climate changes, an increase in the frequency and intensity of extreme droughts has been observed in many regions of Europe in recent years, and this trend is expected to continue in the future. While common in southern Europe, including Bulgaria, drought can adversely affect human life and economic activities. Extreme droughts lead to water scarcity, restricting the availability of irrigation water for agricultural purposes. In the regions where irrigation is vital for sustaining cro...

A new biocatalyst based on glucose oxidase immobilized on Fe3O4 magnetite nanoparticles modified with chitosan and sodium tripolyphosphate was synthesized. Magnetite nanoparticles were obtained by mixing solutions of FeCl2 and FeCl3 with ammonia while heating to a temperature of 65 ?C. To stabilize the nanoparticles and ensure the presence of amino groups on their surface, chitosan and sodium tripolyphosphate were sequentially deposited on magnetite. Immobilization of glucose oxidase on the support was carried out...

The groundwaters draining in the continental shelf area can be an unconventional resource of fresh water for drinking, irrigation, and industrial purposes in water-scarce coastal areas. Recently, possible offshore sources of such groundwater in the coastal zone have been subject of increased investigation and description. The aim of the present research is to identify similar, available for use, potential sources of Offshore Frehsened Groundwater (OFG) in the area of the shelf of the Northern part of the Bulgarian...

Basalt fiber-reinforced metal-polymer composites represent a cutting-edge class of materials that merge the robustness of metal with the pliability of polymer. Originating from natural volcanic rocks, basalt fibers possess remarkable mechanical properties, such as high tensile strength, resistance to extreme temperatures, and chemical inertness. Integrating basalt fibers into a polymer matrix like epoxy or thermoplastic resins significantly boosts the composite's resistance to dynamic impacts and its energy absorp...

The recent advances in current status and major mechanisms of water quality worsening, assessment of evaluation criteria and the influencing factors were reviewed. The changes in the atmosphere, the periodicity of the occurrence of extreme hydrological situations has been increasing in recent years. In the natural conditions of Slovakia, periods without rain are lengthening and the incidence of precipitation of extreme intensity and abundance is increasing. Hydrological extremes are generally manifested in the for...

Old buildings, in particular, those coming from the first half of 20th century often suffer with increased dampness in masonry coming from different sources. Some of them, however, have aesthetically rendered valued facades which are worth saving. For the design of new alternative mortars for renovation interventions, it is essential to obtain properties of original renders. Mechanical properties of mortars are in general assessed on standardized test samples; however, this approach cannot be always well applicabl...

The result of the survey carried out on the territory of the Sofia-city municipality is presented, in relation to the application of the Program for the protection, sustainable use and restoration of soils as a limited and non-renewable natural resource. The obtained data on the Chomic Luvisols nearby the area of Kremikovtsi debate the basic physical and chemical soil characteristics. The priority task on the soil protection in the region aimed at the sustainable development, restoration and improvement of the soi...

The purpose of this research is to conduct a research on soil pollution in the village of Koshtove (Mitrovica/Kosovo), from the sanitary landfill, in this landfill all waste from the cities of Mitrovica, Vushtria and Skenderaj are collected. The growth of population and industry also increases the amount of waste, this study aims to study the level of soil pollution from the sanitary landfill of Koshtova, the village in the western part of the city of Mitrovica. This area has been clean, by the river Iber, the con...

The drainage challenges of a large settlement encompass both urban areas and adjacent agricultural and industrial zones. Surface runoff from increasingly impermeable subcatchments flows into the underground gravitational closed conduits drainage network of the settlement during rapid storm events, a phenomenon effectively modeled using hydrodynamic simulation tools such as SWMM. Meanwhile, excess precipitation water that fails to infiltrate the soil accumulates predominantly on agricultural lands outside the settl...

This research investigates the increasing use of alternative fuels in internal combustion engines, a phenomenon that has experienced significant growth in recent decades due to the heightened interest in reducing atmospheric pollution. Although the pollution level associated with alternative fuels is generally lower compared to fossil fuels, it is essential to emphasize that the pollutant impact of alcohol-based fuels depends on various factors, such as engine technology, mixture composition, fuel quality, and usa...

In the context of the pressure to reduce the production of CO2 emissions in cement manufacturing, cement plants are significantly changing their product portfolios. Changes in the composition of cement products also lead to changes in their properties. This paper focuses on the monitoring and non-standard evaluation of initial volume stability. Several different types of currently used cements produced in various cement plants in the Czech Republic and Slovakia in 2022 and 2023 were tested using the -initial volum...

The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of plant parasitic nematodes in the main potatoe growing area in Ajara and to show whether altitu-dinal gradient affects nematode diversity and community structure along three contrasting altitudinal localities of Ajara: Kobuleti (10 m.a.s.l), Shuakhevi (450 m.a.s.l) and Khulo (950 -1800 m.a.s.l). The first part of this study is to assess for the first time the taxonomic and ecological structure of plant parasitic and free-living nematodes in agroecosystems of K...

The dynamics of human society is directly related to the dependence on automation, and we can no longer produce almost anything without industrial automation. Automation is often associated with the industrial field, but automation has penetrated many areas of everyday life. Domains such as environmental protection, global trade, car, naval or rail traffic (increasingly intense), agriculture, construction and last but not least the medical field are some examples in which automation is present and in which they ha...

In isolated areas without access to the grid where it is necessary to operate certain equipment, such as the operation of a valve in a mining area or some gates on a irrigation canals, an installation with fotovoltaic supply can be used. Considering the intermittent operation regime of the driven equipment, a solar-powered drive installation can be designed, and by storing the energy in a battery, operation can be ensured during the night as well. Thus, the PV power system must be sized (PV peak power, battery and...

The increasing focus on sustainability necessitates the examination of environmental impacts across all sectors, including pyrotechnics. Pollutant emissions have been extensively studied, but information on sustainability in the pyrotechnics sector is scarce. Thus, a Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) to study two widely used pyrotechnic devices: bangers and shells was carried out, in order to analyze the environmental footprint and detect points where action can be taken. Using SimaPro software and the Product Environment...

The core insulators of vacuum insulation panels are mostly made from inorganic raw materials with a high SiO2 content, either in the form of nanoparticles or microfibers, while the proportion of organics is usually up to 3 %. The contribution is devoted to the study of reaction to fire in hybrid insulation materials made from a combination of nano SiO2-based particulate raw materials and organic-based fibrous raw materials, where the total proportion of organics is significantly greater than 3 %. Considering that ...

The Danube has been a traditional trade route in Europe since ancient times. Transport on the Danube has many economic and environmental advantages. By using the river as a transport route, logistics costs can be reduced, and delivery times optimized. Another feature of the Danube is its connection to the North Sea and maritime transport via the Rhine-Main-Danube Canal. In addition, waterborne transport produces less carbon dioxide than road or rail transport, helping to reduce environmental impact and promote sus...

Construction using 3D printer technology seems to be not just a passing trend and a growing number construction companies are approaching this new construction methodology. Although construction processes with printers are becoming standardized, it is also true that many other aspects must be considered in the design phase. Better this construction methodology becomes known, more architects and engineers will have to learn how to design these constructions, in the methods of statics, systems, etc. A very important...

During summer-autumn 2023 hydrophysical, hydrochemical, and hydrobiological measurements had been done on six small upland Armenian lakes. For the first time colored dissolved organic matter (CDOM) and methane (CH4) - emission were observed. Studied lakes are on 1479-3312 m a.s., has maximal depth up to 12 m with groundwater springs input. Anoxic conditions were noticed on the lake bottom in August but changed to oxygen in October. Conductivity range was 0-231 ?S cm-1, TDS - 3-102 mg l-1, pH - 6.4-9.4 for surfaces...

This review provides an overview of the diversity of macromycetes (fungi with visible fruiting bodies) in Mtirala national park beech forests, highlighting their ecological roles and significance within these ecosystems. Mtirala National Park is a protected area in Adjara region, Western Georgia. It is part of the Colchic Rainforests and Wetlands, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Mtirala National Park Colchic broad-leaved and mixed forests include sweet chestnut and Oriental beech woods. Mount Mtirala is one of the m...

Brown Coal Research Institute j. v. c. (VUHU) from July 2023, together with scientific teams from several European countries, participates as part of the EU research program in the solution of the REECOL project, which deals with the reclamation of areas affected by mining in European coal basins. This paper includes the results achieved in the preparation of the first sub-research report of the project, which deals with degraded soils. On the basis of archival data and own research, the concept of "soil degradati...

There is a worldwide ecological problem of anthropogenic eutrophication. The problem is especially serious one for the ecosystems of lakes, water-storage basins, and closed seas, such as the Baltic Sea. The eastern part of the sea is the Neva Bay. The water area is totally located within the administrative border of St. Petersburg and is influenced by the megacity. There is monitoring of the total nitrogen and phosphorus inflow into the Neva Bay with water of the Neva River and its spill streams. Nevertheless, the...

Heat pumps are important due to their efficiency and a target of climate neutrality. They also reduce the emissions of carbon dioxide. This article deals with the smart mini hybrid heat pump, which is planned to use for heat gain in summer, energy accumulation in the ground storage, and further consumption in winter. This heat pump can get heat from the surroundings or solar collectors. Heat pump water-water has been used in this article. Its input and output parameters were measured, a coefficient of performance ...

Hydrological droughts are formed by different processes, but how strong and heterogeneous they are, leading to different manifestation and characteristics of the droughts. Droughts have no distinct starting date, but different methods gives a course of action that may help to identify dry signals and possible drought conditions for early warning. We choose hydrological drought indices that are applicable for Bulgarian conditions. Using statistical methods, minimum flow, deficits and spatial characteristics can be ...

With the development of food production technologies, the consumers attention has turned to products with specific nutritional and health-promoting properties. For this necessity, today's manufacturers have turned their attention to fortified foods, and a raw material that is found in great diversity and that can be used to enrich food is represented by mushrooms. The purpose of this study consists in determining how the addition of different concentrations of crued polysaccharides extracted from mushrooms and add...

One of the main monitored parameters related to road traffic safety is the visibility of road facilities and how they are perceived by drivers. Areas where visibility is suddenly limited, or where road sections become unclear due to inadequate design and technological arrangements, pose significant safety risks. Monitoring the optical properties of the applied coating surface, particularly its retroreflection and colour, is crucial for traffic safety. The paper describes research leading to the design of a system ...

The increasing flow of traffic passing through cities on a daily basis, especially those cities that have a difficult situation with bypass, raises concerns about the air quality in sections of the transport corridors, as well as in the city as a whole. Heavy metal pollution is a serious environmental concern, especially in urban and suburban areas where vehicle emissions contribute to air and soil pollution. The aim of the study is to assess the extent of heavy metal contamination in snow samples collected at dif...

Soil moisture, soil temperature, nutrient availability, and land use practices affect the GHG emissions from soils. In this study, the aim is to determine and analyse GHG emissions from agricultural soils in five monitoring sites. The mobile spectrophotometer Picarro G2508 is used for the quantification of N2O, CH4, and CO2 soil flux across five monitoring sites used for agricultural production during the growing seasons from 2017 to 2023. Findings reveal significant variations in GHG emissions across the monitori...

The present research evaluated a facade alternative to reduce the indoor temperature of buildings in the Ecuadorian Amazon (Yantzaza, Ecuador). Three scale models were compared: one with a gabion facade and leafy vegetables (onion, lettuce, basil, chamomile, and cabbage), one with a gabion facade only, and one with a clay brick (traditional) facade. Thermal data from inside the models were analyzed in March (warmest month) and January (coldest month). The results showed that between 13:00 and 15:00 in January and ...

This study aimed to investigate carbon storage dynamics in pure pine, oak, and mixed forests within a one-hectare area. Tree samples were collected to measure their weight, size, and density. Each type of forest was estimated how much carbon is hold per hectare. The findings revealed significant differences in carbon storage capacities among them. Pure oak forests emerged as the top carbon reservoirs, with 57% of their trees' mass comprising carbon. Pure pine forests followed closely with 51% carbon storage. Inter...

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of several extraction methods on the content of bioactive compounds of polyphenolic structure and antioxidant properties of petals from marigold flowers (Calendula officinalis). Ethanolic extracts prepared using maceration, turbo-extraction and bead-beating techniques were investigated for total phenolics, flavonoids and tannins, and antioxidant activities as measured by FRAP and DPPH assays, as well. The results showed that the highest phenolic content (1316.367...

Gypsum composites are promising building materials, but they have disadvantages such as low strength and water resistance. To improve these properties, a self-reinforcement method can be used, where the gypsum matrix is reinforced with crystals other than gypsum. One type of such crystals is ettringite. To obtain a self-reinforced gypsum composite, it is necessary to maintain a high pH environment and sufficient ions to form ettringite. In this work high-calcium fly ash, which is a waste product of coal combustion...

If a few years ago climate change was a new and fanciful concept and not everyone was aware of its entire action range, today we are witnessing increasingly pronounced climate change. At the European Union level are many political initiatives in order to mitigate the climate change so the next generations to have the same changes to a good environment. All the efforts must be put into shifting the development to a more sustainable one. There are different drivers that interfere with the climate. Among energy, tran...

Every day, human activities generate large amounts of solid waste. To ensure the quality of the environment, waste must be further treated to prevent it from accumulation in landfills. In the case of materials that cannot be recycled or reused, such as municipal solid waste, burning in waste incineration plants to generate heat or electricity appears to be the appropriate solution of such waste disposal. However, combustion processes generate residues, such as bottom or fly ash, which must be stored. Fly ash gener...

The lignocellulosic biomass is produced worldwide in large quantities, which may contribute to environmental changes, global warming, wildfires, ocean and sea level rise. Recent research demonstrated efficacy of the thermal reconversion of black liquor, which represents a waste resulted from wood Kraft pulping, into gaseous (syngas), liquid (bio-oil) and solid (bio-char) final products through the pyrolysis process. This review describes the physical chemical and energy features of black liquor required for its va...

Technological advance has assured humanity-s desire to increase its quality of life, anyway humanity is currently confronted with several global challenges, their complexity bases on their interconnectedness, and on fast changes in technological field. Present space activities are directed to explore the potential of diverse celestial bodies to have hosted life. In this context the Moon Village Association, MVA has as its main objective creating a global informal forum for governments, industry, academia for debat...

Reproducing the hydrological process of river runoff is a fundamental part of water resources planning and management. Finding a mathematical model to reproduce the runoff time series aims not only to extract maximum information from the limited available data, but also to extrapolate into the future by representatively generating the historical runoff process. Almost all management decisions are based on forecasts. Our present is characterized by the increasingly frequent occurrence of hydrometeorological process...

This paper presents the experimental evaluation of the effectiveness of a newly developed two-coat system (TCS) for the protection and repair of concrete. The optimized system consists of a penetrating layer of modified low-viscosity resin of BPA (bisphenol A) type and a top coat based on aliphatic polyisocyanate resin of HDI (hexametyl diisocyanate) type. TCS was applied to reference concrete specimens, which were subjected to various tests to evaluate their basic physical properties, mechanical strength, hygric ...

Waste management is a current and future challenge due to the increasing volume of waste. The amount of waste generated directly correlates with production and consumption patterns. The current level of natural resource utilization exceeds the Earth's capacity for replenishment. Therefore, humanity must take action to mitigate the consequences of rampant natural resource consumption. One way to achieve this goal is to increase the level of waste recycling. However, the amount of waste actually recycled is signific...

The presented paper focuses the issue of finding new sources of phosphorus fertilizers to be used in conventional agriculture. Various types of pellets for heating purposes were tested. Based on the determination of phosphorus (P) content in ash obtained from the combustion of pellets produced from plant waste generated during the production of seed materials, it was found out that getting P from this ash is more effective than getting P from the ash of wooden pellets that are commonly used as fuel in households. ...

Due to the increase of global concerns over environmental degradation, the search for sustainable energy sources has led to increased utilization of renewable fuels such as biogas and biodiesel. Despite their advantages in terms of sustainability, challenges persist in their efficient utilization. An easy method to approach these challenges is addressing the characteristics of flames produced during these fuels- combustion. This study aims to address these challenges by developing a MATLAB-based flame analysis too...