Strategies for Sustainable Production of Hydrogen Peroxide via Oxygen Reduction Reaction:From Catalyst Design to Device Setup

An environmentally benign,sustainable,and cost-effective supply of H_(2)O_(2)as a rapidly expanding consumption raw material is highly desired for chemical industries,medical treatment,and household disinfection.The electrocatalytic production route via electrochemical oxygen reduction reaction(ORR)offers a sustainable avenue for the onsite production of H_(2)O_(2)from O2 and H2O.The most crucial and innovative part of such technology lies in the availability of suitable electrocatalysts that promote two-electron(2e^(–))ORR.In recent years,tremendous progress has been achieved in designing efficient,robust,and cost-effective catalyst materials,including noble metals and their alloys,metalfree carbon-based materials,single-atom catalysts,and molecular catalysts.Meanwhile,innovative cell designs have significantly advanced electrochemical applications at the industrial level.This review summarizes fundamental basics and recent advances in H_(2)O_(2)production via 2e^(–)-ORR,including catalyst design,mechanistic explorations,theoretical computations,experimental evaluations,and electrochemical cell designs.Perspectives on addressing remaining challenges are also presented with an emphasis on the large-scale synthesis of H_(2)O_(2)via the electrochemical route.

Keratinous and corneous-based products towards circular bioeconomy: A research review

Keratins and corneous proteins are key components of biomaterials used in a wide range of applications and are potential substitutes for petrochemical-based products. Horns, hooves, feathers, claws, and similar animal tissues are abundant sources of α-keratin and corneous β-proteins, which are by-products of the food industry. Their close association with the meat industry raises environmental and ethical concerns regarding their disposal. To promote an eco-friendly and circular use of these materials in novel applications, efforts have focused on recovering these residues to develop sustainable, non-animal-related, affordable, and scalable procedures. Here, we review and examine biotechnological methods for extracting and expressing α-keratins and corneous β-proteins in microorganisms. This review highlights consolidated research trends in biomaterials, medical devices, food supplements, and packaging, demonstrating the keratin industry's potential to create innovative value-added products. Additionally, it analyzes the state of the art of related intellectual property and market size to underscore the potential within a circular bioeconomic model.

Absorptive Capacities for Sustainability Technologies:Perspectives from the BRICS and China

For the development process in the rapidly growing economies, knowledge transfer and technology cooperation are becoming important issues. Research and technological competences are key indicators for the absorptive capacity of sustainability technologies and for the ability to export them. These issues are analyzed empirically for Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS). Sustainability related research in BRICS is mostly carried out within broader, more sector oriented programmes. Specialization patterns of international patents and in foreign trade indicate various strengths and weaknesses of the BRICS countries. The differences within the countries imply that the analysis must proceed at a technology specific level. China has considerable capabilities in technologies such as photovoltaics, solar thermal or buildings. There is a strong need for strategic positioning of the countries and for coordination of the various policy fields involved.

THE PROSPECTIVE OF NEW TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT FOR SUSTAINABLE ELECTRIC POWER SUPPLY IN CHINA

China is a large developing country with rapid growth rate. To the year 2050, its electric power will be increased by six to eight times, reaching 1.5—1.8 TW total installed capacity. The development can not only rely on the existing technology, it is crucial to accelerate the new technology development. This article discusses the perspective of various new technologies from the available energy resources and the required increase of electric power.

Energy-saving performance investigation on sustainable architecture design of open-plan housing in temperate region

With the increasing requirement of a higher living quality and the growing awareness of energy saving, how to improve the indoor comfort level and to reduce the expenditure of energy and slow down the rate of natural resource consumption is becoming increasingly important. The theory of open-plan housing is able to provide a more flexible and adaptive space for the users and bring sustainable and economic benefit in the way of making full use of construction materials. Sustainable architecture design, as a method to respond the phenomenon, is able to low down the building＇ s energy consumption and has enormous potentials in creation of sustainable living environment and a high-quality dwelling condition. The primary aim of this research is to create a new sustainable architecture design method for occupancy by integrating openplan housing theory and application of sustainable technologies. Numerical simulation by computer program is applied in order to investigate and evaluate the possibility of this method in teruas of improving indoor comfort level and energy-saving capacity.

Emergency Housing Solutions after Earthquakes:Innovative Technologies and Resilience Strategies

The international research project,developed through the collaboration between the University of Chieti and Pescara“G.d'Annunzio”and theÉcole Nationale d'Architecture of Marrakech,aims to explore new strategies for emergency housing,with a focus on technological innovation and the resilience of temporary shelters.The main goal of the research is to define a more efficient housing module for post-earthquake scenarios,based on the analysis of the most advanced international solutions for first-response shelters.This study has made it possible to identify both the strengths and weaknesses of existing proposals,leading to the development of a housing model capable of improving living conditions during emergency phases.The objective is to propose an innovative housing module that not only addresses immediate post-disaster needs but is also adaptable to the specific socio-cultural characteristics of the affected populations.As a result of this work,the“DIVA-Variable Dimension Emergency Shelter”project was developed.This housing model stands out for its ability to adapt to the needs of different emergency phases,offering a versatile and customizable solution that effectively addresses post-earthquake challenges while ensuring respect for cultural specificities and improving quality of life.

Making rainfed agriculture sustainable through environmental friendly technologies in Pakistan:A review

Pakistan is an agricultural country spreading over an area of about 79.6 million hectares(Mha)with an arid and semi arid climate.Of 79.6 Mha,about 23 Mha is suitable for crop production and nearly 25 percent of the total cultivated area is designated for rainfed agriculture.Unfortunately,rain-fed agriculture is constrained with multifarious problems such as moisture stress,soil erosion and crusting,nutrient deficiency,depletion and poor nutrient use efficiency,and weed infestation limiting the yield potential of these lands.In addition,deforestation and poor crop husbandry techniques are commonly noticed features.To meet the food requirements,farmers bring all the available pieces of lands under plough including steep slopes.Farming on steep slopes if not managed on scientific lines,results in severe erosion.The problems faced by the farmers are due to the unsustainable practices they adopt to practice dryland agriculture,limiting the productive potential of these important ecosystems.However,their potential can be improved by adopting suitable rainwater harvesting techniques;employing scientific soil and water conservation methods and using sustainable agricultural practices.This paper highlights some important issues associated with the rainfed agriculture of Pakistan.Working strategies for realizing optimum and sustainable yields have been outlined while conserving both land and water resources.

Techniques and Methods for Urban Regeneration and Quality Improvement for Suburbia

The paper is based on the results of two research experiences： an European research titled ＂Improving the Quality of Suburban Building Stock＂ （COST Action TU0701 ） and an Italian National Research project called ＂Renovation, Regeneration and Valorization of Social Housing Settlements Built in the Suburban Areas in the Second Half of Last Century＂ （PRIN 2010-2012）. The paper summarizes the researches outputs whose main aim was to illustrate the potentialities of different strategies for the improvement of suburbs. In order to implement different strategies for the refurbishment of suburban areas, researches were aimed firstly at the identification of several case studies that are representatives of the European panorama because of their typology, construction and state of physical and social deterioration. The final result was a collection of examples for the urban regeneration, gathered from case studies but offering a wide-scale of applications on public housing complexes. The paper highlights different approaches and strategies taken by different countries towards the methodologies of assessing, refurbishing and adding new value to the suburban areas, in view of increasing not only the quality of buildings but also the quality of public spaces and services, for a better quality of life of the citizens.

GREENBOX Horticulture, an Alternative Avenue of Urban Food Production

In response to the pressure on food security caused by rising global population and urbanization, the Yang Laboratory at the University of Connecticut has developed the so-called GREENBOX technology that allows crop growth in individual climate-controlled boxes in urban warehouse environments and other enclosed structures. A GREENBOX unit is a thermally insulated modular structure with LED artificial lighting, soilless (hydroponic) cultivation platform, and complete environmental controls. Multiple GREENBOX units can be integrated into a large production system at various scales. This study evaluated the applicability of the GREENBOX technology in the urban warehouse environment by studying the environmental parameters and productivity. We carried greenhouse growth simultaneously for reference. We grew Butterhead Rex lettuce (Lactuca sativa) over 30-day growing cycles in summer (July-August, 2020) and winter (December, 2020-January, 2021) in an experimental greenhouse and two protocol GREENBOX units located in the high ceiling headhouse of the experimental greenhouse at Storrs, Connecticut. We collected environmental data, including light, temperature, and relative humidity and crop growth data, including wet and dry biomass in the two production systems. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the environmental and biomass data. Results indicated that the GREENBOX could provide desired environmental conditions to sustain crop growth over summer and winter. The Daily Light Integral, controllable at the grower’s discretion, in the GREENBOX, ranged between 32.48 - 36.70 mol/m2·d at crop canopy height. The mean daily temperature and relative humidity in the GREENBOX fell within the optimal ranges of 17˚C - 29˚C and 40% - 60%, respectively. Regardless of seasons, lettuce crops were all healthy and grew to full size over the 30-day cycle. Measured productivity followed similar patterns, similar across both growing locations but higher over summer than winter for both systems. Our study indicated that the GREENBOX technology has a high potential in urban horticulture because it does not require arable land like greenhouses and can utilize existing urban structures for sustainable food production.

Co-management: transformation of community affair model in Chinese nature reserves

This article analyzes the application of co-management in establishing and zoning nature reserves, explains two types of participatory models, explains the main content and steps required to implement a co-management program, and suggests future direction of co-management. In China, great progress has been achieved since 1956 when the first nature reserve was established. However, conflicts between nature reserve officials and community members, and differences be-tween conservation and utilization of natural resources suggest that the traditional community affair model is unfit to some de-gree. A more workable and economically sustainable model is recommended. Co-management appears to be the preferred management model. International conservation organizations have carried out projects in Chinese nature reserves in recent years, and co-management is thought to be an effective approach to resolve conflicts coming from community and to improve nature reserves management.

On SD-oriented mechanism of technological innovation

If one enterprise just takes technological innovation as the way for economic profit but not the combinationalprofit of economy, society and ecology, it will never survive in this fierce competition market. Based on the relationshipbetween technological innovation and sustainable development, this paper brings forward that technological innovationmust take the sustainable1 development of society as the fundamental goal. Technological innovation should be the realimpulse for the development of society, economy and ecology. On the basis of the analysis on previous technologicalinnovation impetus mechanism, combined with the influential factors, this paper puts forward SD-oriented mechanism oftechnological innovation.

Continuous-flow photochemistry: An expanding horizon of sustainable technology

Understanding the unique characteristics of continuous-flow photochemistry will lead to a paradigm shift in the way we enhance sustainability and wellbeing.In this mini-review,we first provide a succinct overview of working principles of this technique and discuss several recent synthetic protocols.Then,emphasis is given to those representative examples which address environmental issues such as indoor air pollutants and water contamination.Finally,recent progress made using this technique to deal with rising CO2 emission,solar energy utilization and biomedical equipment is described.It is believed that this mini-review could inspire more chemists to utilize this technique in their research,either in the academic or industrial field.

THE WISTER EDUCATION CENTER AND GREENHOUSE Uniting Program and Process,History and Mission,Architecture,and Sustainability on the Swarthmore College

Swarthmore College honors its Quaker principles by educating students to be responsible world citizens and through good stewardship of its land and building resources.Today this tradition of citizenship and stewardship is reflected in the College’s purchasing of sustainable power and construction choices.The new 5,200 square foot Wister Education Center and Greenhouse for The Scott Arboretum of Swarthmore College is the most recent and far-reaching green building on campus and serves as a model for integrating sustainable design with the function,mission,and architec­ture of the institution.

THE MIND,BODY&SPIRITS INSPIRED DINING ORGANIC RESTAURANT

INTRODUCTION The new Mind,Body&Spirits Inspired Dining Organic Restaurant,located at 301 S.Main Street in downtown Rochester,MI,opened in November of 2008.It is located on the southwest corner of S.Main Street and W.Third Street.It is housed in an existing two-story brick building with a full basement and has a New Greenhouse/Kitchen/Restrooms/Dining Deck Addition located in the former rear parking lot area to the west.

Preface:special issue on green chemistry

The growing up of green chemistry has now a history of more than twenty years,with a blooming development demonstrated by its great contribution to sustainable development and economical benefit to our society.It is well accepted that green chemistry is the development and utilization of a