Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference on Water Energy Food and Sustainability (ICoWEFS 2023)

Iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) are micronutrients commonly linked to nutritional deficits. Inadequate intakes of Fe can be linked to impaired cognition, weakness and fatigue or pathologies such as anemia. As for Zn, cell damages, stunting or increases in infection susceptibility can occur. In Portugal, an enrichment workflow with foliar sprays was performed, to increase Fe and Zn contents in two organically produced tomato cultivars. A total of 4 foliar sprays with a mixture of Maxiblend (concentrations of 1–7 kg/ha) and Zitrilon 15% (concentrations of 0.40–2.0 kg/ha), were applied during the production cycle. At harvest, mineral enrichment was assessed by µ-EDXRF, while total soluble solids (TSS) were measured with a refractometer. At harvest, Apple cultivar showed increases of 1.17–1.27 fold for Fe and 1.33–1.38 fold for Zn. For Chucha, Fe values increased by 1.10–2.05 fold, while Zn increased by 1.51–1.99 fold. Brix values at harvest ranged between 4.6 and 5.0° Brix and 4.2 and 4.9° Brix for Apple and Chucha cultivars respectively. Significant differences occurred only in Chucha. In conclusion, the applied agronomic approach can increase both minerals in both cultivars. For both cultivars T3 surpassed the toxicity threshold, limiting a continuous application. Complementary, both cultivars presented different responses to the applied concentrations, with Apple cultivar needing higher concentrations than Chucha to present mineral increases. The applied workflow did not negatively impact Brix values. Overall cultivar variability in organically produced tomatoes must be taken into consideration to maximize results.

Zinc deficiency affects the population worldwide, being developed several strategies to mitigate this health problem, such as agronomic biofortification. The absence of an adequate amount of Zn affects growth, immunity, and reproductive system. Accordingly, a technological itinerary for Zn agronomic biofortification was outlined using grapes Vitis vinifera cv. Moscatel (i.e., with irrigation), aiming the optimization of the Zn content, and the determination of potential implications in some quality parameters. Along the production cycle, three foliar applications of ZnSO4 and ZnO fertilizers were performed at the concentrations of 0, 450 and 900 g ha─1 (with the control being sprayed with water). At harvest, all biofortified grapes showed an increase in Zn content (greater at maximum concentrations of 900 g ha─1), with ZnO-grapes achieving a 4.2-fold increase. Through the tissue analyses (µ-EDXRF) a Zn accumulation in the seeds was found after the application of Zn fertilizers. Moreover, sugar analyses presented mainly glucose and fructose within the range of 7.70–13.22% and 8.26–14.09% respectively, with no significant differences between the biofortified and control grapes. Also, in the colorimetric parameters accessed, no significant changes were observed in Moscatel grapes. It was concluded, that Zn biofortification was effective increasing the Zn amount with both fertilizers and additionally without negatively impacting the quality parameters.

The aim of this study is to understand the influence of knowledge, motivations and behaviors on food wasted by households in Portugal and to provide suggestions for a communication strategy to raise awareness to this issue and promote food waste reductions. Data was collected through a survey made available online and distributed using the snowball sampling technique yielding a final sample of 376 answers. Three hypotheses were formulated to test the correlation of the amount of food wasted with knowledge about the impacts of food waste, and motivations and behaviors to reduce food waste. The results show that the amount of food wasted is not significantly correlated with knowledge but is moderately correlated with motivations and behaviors. Most respondents have already adopted behaviors to reduce food waste to some extent. However, weekly planning and the use of the freezer can be further incentivized. Motivations to reduce food waste include social, financial and environmental concerns, by this order, and the majority of respondents feels guilty when wasting food. Communication strategies may be more effective if they focus on promoting anti-food waste behaviors, involve all stakeholders of the food supply chain and provide positive messages instead of guilty feelings. The results apply to a segment of the population living in Portugal characterized by having a university degree, no children in the household and living mostly in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area. Further research is needed to segment consumers according to their socio-demographic characteristics, motivations, and behaviors regarding food waste to enable the design of tailored communication strategies.

Entomophagy is currently increasing in popularity due to its potential as a sustainable alternative to conventional meat. However, acceptability of entomophagy amongst European consumers is still low. The aim of this study was to determine the factors affecting the acceptability of insect burgers (relative to plant and beef burgers) amongst consumers in Ireland through an affective sensory test. A total of 29 naïve consumers participated in a blind liking test which was conducted in isolated sensory booths. The beef burger received the highest overall liking score (7.03 ± 1.84) followed by the plant (6.31 ± 1.69) and lastly the insect burger (6.24 ± 1.66). Qualitative findings, however, revealed that the most negative comments were made for the plant burger. Participants’ meat attachment and perception of entomophagy had a significant effect (p < 0.05) on the acceptance of the insect burgers. The lower the meat attachment and the more positive participants’ entomophagy perception was, the more inclined they were to accept the insect burger. The taste, texture, and appearance of the burgers also significantly affected participants’ overall liking of them. Future interventions should focus on improving the sensory attributes of insect-containing foods and expanding the study to a representative sample of the population.

Food industries have been developing more sustainable preservation processes that maintain the nutritional value of foods and meet consumers’ demands by providing safe and healthy products with a long shelf-life. Thus, it was necessary to study and take on challenges throughout the production process. The goal of this work was to evaluate the effect of pulsed electric fields (PEF) on the apple puree quality and to present a model that supports investment decisions taken by Portuguese agri-food companies on using PEF equipment to pasteurize the fruit product. PEF treatment (E = 10 kV/cm and q = 644 kJ/kg) was applied to apple puree at a laboratory scale. The processing conditions established resulted in 5-log CFU/g reduction of Escherichia coli. Puree PEF-treated and stored at 4 °C for 30 days was compared to puree without treatment regarding aerobic bacteria and yeast and mold. Moreover, financial viability assessment was developed using Banco de Portugal data (year 2021) for the classification of economic activities, namely 10320. The results of the technical and financial analysis indicate PEF pasteurization is suitable for upgrading pasteurization process. The investment required on PEF equipment for upgrading pasteurization process under study showed an internal rate of return of 21.54% and a payback of 4 years. In what concerns the final product, PEF treatment ensures the microbial stability of puree for at least 30 days. In conclusion, this study established the PEF conditions for puree non-thermal pasteurization and also showed a suitable model to support a decision investment on PEF technology.

The aim of this paper is to analyze the scientific production in the last decade (2011–2022) related to sustainable indicators (environmental, economic, social and ESG—Environmental, Social and Governance) in agribusiness. As methodology, a bibliometric study was carried out on articles from Scopus database. Afterwards, the most cited articles, journals and countries were analyzed, as well as a thematic analysis of the keywords. Results indicate that research on sustainable indicators of agribusiness has increased over time. In last years, the number of scientific papers on these topics has been increasing, probably associated with the approval of the United Nations for Sustainable Development (known as 2030 Agenda, approved in 2015). Italy is the country with most publications, the highest number of citations, and with the largest collaboration network. Most papers are published in 2 journals of higher impact and LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) is cited as the most usual method to assess the impact of business. Regarding the indicators to evaluate the sustainability of agribusiness, there is a greater predominance of environmental indicators compared to economic and social indicators.

World population growth and climate change are two factors that are increasingly impacting on the availability of nutritious and value-added food for human nutrition. One of the many causes of climate change is greenhouse gases, many of which come from the area of meat production for human consumption. On the other hand, the production of pastures to feed animals makes heavy use of water resources. As such, it is necessary to find alternatives to animal protein production, and macroalgae, among others, have been consumed worldwide for a long time, especially in the East. However, in western countries the growing interest in macroalgae and its introduction into the diet has been increasing, most likely because of the growing adherence to “plant-based diets”. This article aims to review the potential of macroalgae in human food, its health benefits, and risks, as well as to demonstrate its potential as a sustainable animal protein substitute.

This paper proposes a methodology for visualizing satellite-based machine learning (ML) datasets to understand the visual components that will be used as inputs for developing ML models. The proposed methodology uses t-Distributed Stochastic Neighbor Embedding (T-SNE) methods to create visualizations of satellite images leveraging models that were pre-trained in ImageNet. T-SNE is a self-supervised learning tool used to transform high-dimensional spaces into two- or three-dimension embeddings, making it easier to visualize a broad dataset in a single image or space. The methodology is demonstrated using the LUCAS Topsoil Analysis dataset with satellite images from Sentinel-2. The dataset was constructed using the TerraSense Toolkit (TSTK). The T-SNE visualization tool aims to improve ML research by providing a clearer visual understanding of satellite-based datasets.

Soil degradation is being exacerbated not only by population growth but also by the increasing frequency of forest fires that are recurrent in Portugal. There is a need to remediate degraded soils by using sustainable approaches, such as the valorization of biomass into biochar. To address this need, a soil incubation assay was performed with biochar produced at two pyrolysis temperatures (450 and 550 °C) in four application rates (0, 3, 6 and 10%) and three mean particle sizes (S < 0.5 mm, M = [0.5;3.15] and L > 3.15 mm). The pH, electrical conductivity (EC), water holding capacity (WHC) and soil respiration were examined. The pH increased for all treatments to neutral values (5–7) and the water holding capacity increased by 69–225% when compared to the control soil. The soil respiration increased in all treatments, being directly proportional to the application rate of biochar thus showing positive microbial responses. Biochar application significantly improved key-physicochemical properties of the soil aiming at reduced irrigation demands and higher agronomic quality.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of high-pressure processing (HPP) combined with natural extract on physical–chemical (Total soluble solids (TSS), moisture, pH, water activity (aW), color parameters) and microbiological characteristics (Total mesophilic aerobic microorganisms count at 30 °C, molds and yeast count at 37 ºC) of apple puree, during 90 days under refrigerated conditions. Three processes were applied: HPP (600 MPa, 3 min) with and without the addition of propolis extract (2.5% w/w); and conventional pasteurization (75 ºC, 10 min), as a reference method in the industry. The results showed that immediately after the application of the three processes, the load of aerobic microorganisms decreased from 3.40 to < 1 Log CFU/g. At the end of the shelf-life study, in all treatments, the count of aerobic microorganisms and of molds and yeasts was less than 2 and 1 Log CFU/g, respectively. Likewise, in the evaluation of TSS, moisture and aW no significant differences were found between processes. In the color analysis, HPP increased the stability over the shelf-life but promoted a higher initial change. The addition of extract enhanced color and pH stability, being the only treatment in which the product’s color did not change significantly during shelf-life. In conclusion, HPP is a good alternative to conventional pasteurization in the production of apple puree. The addition of propolis enhances the quality of puree while providing differentiation to the product.

Nowadays, the consumer demands for foods more natural, with reduced or without synthetic additives in their formulation and with health benefits, improving their life quality. In response, the Food Industry has been investigating a wide range of natural ingredients/compounds that bring not only a nutritional but also a food improvement. Some of these benefits compounds have been studied in a natural matrix, the macroalgae. The present study aimed to evaluate the impact of infusion in one brown and green macroalgae, Fucus vesiculosus and Ulva sp., respectively. In both macroalgae, the ratio of solid:liquid (w:v) applied were 1:16 and 1:50 and two time of infusion (5 and 15 min), was also studied. After the infusion total phenolic content (TPC), antioxidant capacity expressed by the scavenging of the free radical DPPH and the reducing power capacity of Fe (III), were also determined. By the obtained results in both macroalgae infusion extracts, the solid–liquid ratio of 1:16 (w:v) for 15 min, contributed to extract a higher content of TPC (36.52 mg GAE/100 g and 157.64 mg GAE/100 g in Ulva sp. and Fucus, respectively). Also, Fucus, showed a superior value of DPPH and FRAP, 62.8 2% and 41.77 mM FeSO4/g respectively. This indicated that using a simple treatment as infusion, an interesting and potential extraction of benefits compounds, as antioxidants and the phenolic it achieves. Thus, allied to the nutritional composition, the macroalgae is an alternative of using the “bioactive rich infusion” as a potential food and/or ingredient to be included in Mediterranean Food.

Moringa leaves have become popular as a dietary supplement and herbal medicine. Therefore, it would be of nutritional benefit to determine the appropriate extraction method and solvent that would promote the extraction with high biological activity and high yield of active compounds to produce nutraceuticals. In this study, an evaluation of two methods of extracting bioactive compounds from Moringa oleifera leaves was proposed. In this evaluation, some parameters were compared, such as the yield, the content of extracted phenolic compounds, the antioxidant activity and the quantity of vitamins extracted and preserved in the extracts. Three types of solvents: water, ethanol (EtOH) and ethyl acetate (Act) were used at two different temperatures and different extraction times. The average extraction yield in the hot bath shows an increase of 13.2% when compared to vacuum pressure bath extraction. In terms of phenolic compound content and antioxidant activity, the average increase was 4.9% and 4.3%, respectively. Vitamins were detected in the samples and, due to their polarity, they were mostly found in the solvent with the presence of ethanol (50% and 100% of EtOH). The solvent with the presence of ethyl acetate (50% and 100% of Act) showed low yield and low solubility with the compounds of interest in the extractions, such as phenolic compounds and vitamins. The positive effect of low pressure on the extraction of fat-soluble vitamins was observed.

The Camellia genus stands out as one of the most prevalent plant groups across Asia. Its exquisite flowers, valued as adornments, and its role in tea production have led to a surge in cultivating plants from this genus, notably focusing on Camellia sinensis, in recent years. However, this escalated cultivation has inadvertently led to a rise in by-product generation, potentially exerting detrimental effects on the environment. To mitigate this, strategies for waste reduction are imperative. Thus, it becomes essential to embrace novel principles of bio-refinery and circular bioeconomy, prioritizing the utilization of natural resources like eco-friendly solvents and residual biomass. This study homes in on the husk of Camellia sp. seeds, selected for its abundant phytochemical content and potent antioxidant properties. The study characterized the fundamental composition of the husk used as the primary material and through hydrothermal extraction (autohydrolysis), a sustainable approach applying subcritical water conditions, the husk samples were processed for the solubilization of different compounds. Towards understanding the technique's impact, varying solid-to-liquid ratios—1:8 (w:v) and 1:30 (w:v)—were employed, while maintaining a constant temperature of 160 °C. The resulting extracts underwent different analyses via distinct spectrophotometric methodologies. Total phenolic compound content (TPC) is assessed using the Folin-Ciocalteu method, while TEAC, DPPH, and FRAP assays gauge extract antioxidant capacities. The findings emphasized that elevating the solid-to-liquid ratio from 1:8 to 1:30 (w:v) correlates with heightened phenolic compounds and enhanced antioxidant activity.

The pressure imposed by the increase of world’s population and climate change makes it imperative to find sustainable strategies to optimize food resources and decrease waste production based on circular economy principles. This work evaluated the potential of fig tree leaves to reduce the oxidation of sunflower oil when exposed to frying temperatures. The bioactive compounds extracted directly from fig tree leaves were incorporated into the oil at a ratio of 12.5% (m/m), with the assistance of ultrasounds. The supplemented oil was characterized in terms of its total phenolic content (TPC), which was determined using the Folin-Ciocalteu method, and its antioxidant capacity, which was evaluated using both the 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay and the ferric reduction antioxidant power (FRAP) assay. Also, the color of the oil and the oxidation products (K232 and K270) were analyzed.Supplementing the oil with fig tree leaves resulted in a higher antioxidant capacity compared to the control, as demonstrated by the DPPH assay (5128 ± 466 vs. 1106 ± 407 µM Trolox eq/kg oil), as well as lower levels of primary and secondary oxidation products. The results suggest that fig tree leaves can be a valuable source of antioxidant compounds with the capacity to improve the nutritional value and oxidative stability of sunflower oil under frying temperatures.

The relationship between energy and environment has been known for a long. Nevertheless, the synergy among energy and environmental management systems is still few explored in the literature. In this sense, the objective of the present work is to shed light on the barriers found in the literature for the integrated implementation of the ISO 50001 and ISO 14001 international standards. A systematic search of scientific papers was developed in several databases, such as Scopus, ScienceDirect and Web of Sciences among others. After discarding book chapters and articles non-related to ISO 50001 and ISO 14001 integrated management systems, 14 papers were selected, in which a total of 30 barriers were mentioned. Classifying similar barriers, 13 categories were obtained. With 20%, the most referred barrier was the scarcity of resources, including financing, data, and time; followed by deficient leadership strategies and/or commitment, with 13%. The results of this research show that management teams need to become aware that the synergy between energy and environmental management systems can bring competitive advantages in the medium and long term, by optimizing resources, increasing efficiency, and achieving sustainability. The findings presented can also contribute to policymakers and certification bodies for promoting sustainable development.

Political and economic crises and issues such as global warming, decreased fossil fuel reserves, environmental pollutions and acid rains are just some of the problems caused by improper energy consumption. Energy efficiency optimization with the right policy and definition of accurate scientific methods proven in energy consumption includes planning, enforcement, organizing permanent control, and continuously reviewing technology upgrades. Additionally, developing legal solutions to implement these programs prevents the destruction and waste of energy resources and reduces the side effects of improper energy consumption. The shape of the city and its components can affect the city’s quality and its spaces, as well as the air quality change, creating a particular climate in their area, causing phenomena such as heat islands, dust, rain, albedo, atmospheric inversion, and some others. By making changes in the shape of the city, both on a large scale and a micro-scale, atmospheric currents and, consequently, air quality in cities can be improved. Urban morphological indicators, including building height, building type, occupancy level, segmentation, block size, block shape, density, and urban green, can affect the weather and climate conditions outside and inside the building and, thus, the energy demand in the areas. By creating effective reforms in the model of configuration of the urban regions, including the pattern of land fragmentation, the physical characteristics of buildings, the network of passages and open spaces, it is possible to increase the energy efficiency of buildings in the long term in the regional(synoptic) climatic conditions of the city and the neighbourhood.

Synthetic gas (syngas) can be generated from various carbon-rich sources, such as biomass and waste materials, using a process known as gasification. Syngas is a relatively low-energy fuel gas suitable for use in compression ignition (diesel) internal combustion engines (ICE). Utilizing syngas in engines holds promise for lowering greenhouse gas and hydrocarbon emissions. For instance, it can be combined with diesel in dual fuel engines (DFE). If implemented in heavy machinery, this approach can have a significant impact on reducing the demand for fossil fuels across various economic sectors and lessening their usage in engines. This study aims to provide a concise overview of the potential applications of syngas in DFE, addressing challenges related to syngas impurities and the emissions associated with this utilization.

Combining hydrogen and carbon dioxide to produce sustainable biofuels seems to be an important alternative for the decarbonization of the transport sector, which is highly dependent on fossil fuels and, consequently, has significant CO2 emissions. Currently, much of the world's hydrogen production comes from steam reforming (SMR) of natural gas. However, interest in the production of hydrogen from a renewable source has grown and leveraged the improvement of technologies, such as water electrolysis and biomass gasification. Carbon capture, sequestration, use and storage (CCUS) technologies, in addition to limiting the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere, also contribute to the use of CO2 as a raw material in the production of fuels. CO2 can be captured from the exhaust gases of conventional power plants or non-energy sectors, as well as captured directly from the air (DAC). In this sense, this article describes some possibilities to produce sustainable biofuels (biokerosene, biohydrogen and biomethane) from a technological platform of thermochemical-electrochemical integration and the Power-to-Liquids (PtL) route. The article also shows an overview of the use of renewable energy in the transport sector, especially in the European Union (EU).

The footwear industry, although contributing positively to the Portuguese economy, generates a lot of residues including chromium tanned leather wastes. This study presents results on the slow pyrolysis of these residues at particle sizes between 5 and 6.3 mm and temperatures inside the reactor ranging from 444 to 875 °C. For this range of temperatures, char yield decreased from 36.2 to 28.1% and gas yield increased between 33.2 and 47.6%. The liquid phase yield was highest at 444 °C (30.6%) and then decreased to 24.3% at 875 °C. As the operating temperature increased, there was an increase in the ash content (15.8 to 21.6%) and a decrease in volatiles content (20.9–3.7%) of biochars. The higher heating values (HHV) of the chars were between 21.9 and 23.1 MJ/kg. Preliminary results show that an increase in particle size leads to a rise in char yield. The infrared analysis of the liquid phase indicated the presence of water, alcohols, phenols, carboxylic acids, alkanes, alkenes, and aromatics. The liquid phases had an average water content of 43%, densities between 1110 and 1120 kg/m3 and the HHV between 12.7 and 15.1 MJ/kg. The gases produced were analysed by gas chromatography. For 538 °C, the production of H2, CO, CH4 and CO2 was, respectively, 1.00, 0.37, 0.18 and 1.37 mol/kg of leather. At 875 °C, H2 was the most produced gas (2.74 mol/kg leather), followed by CO, CO2 and CH4 with quantities of 1.40, 1.26 and 0.42 mol/kg leather.

Considered an agricultural product of great socioeconomic interest in northeastern Brazil, the cashew nut has as one of its main by-products the kernel. This inner part of the nut is industrialized through processes that consume, most of the time, environmentally aggressive energy resources, such as firewood and LPG fossil gas. Being the nutshell a bio-waste of these processes, we evaluated the potential application of this material to replace firewood and LPG, in its solid state in natura and in the form of syngas resulting from its thermal gasification process. The cashew nut processing has a thermal fuel consumption between 2 and 7 GJ per ton of processed cashew kernel, depending on whether the fuel is LPG or firewood. The resulting emissions reach values between 142 and 727 kg of CO2eq per ton of processed kernel, respectively. Given the quantities of nutshell produced in the processing process, it was calculated that the nutshells have a potential to provide between 28.5 and 45.7 GJ per ton of kernel in the form of solid fuel. If gasified, they can provide up to 33.69 GJ per ton of kernel, values much higher than the energy needs of the processes involved. These results allow us to conclude that the nutshell has good potential for energy utilization in agro-industrial processes, both as a substitute for firewood and LPG gas.

With natural catastrophes such as storms, floods, and wildfires occurring throughout the globe as a direct result of climate change, the whole built environment industry must undergo a drastic transformation. In addition, human activities have caused many communities to struggle with challenges such as energy security, resource depletion, air quality, and public health. This paper aims to investigate the energy performance of a lecture Hall on a university campus in Cairo, Egypt. The energy consumption is monitored using a Fluke power quality analyzer over a period of time in the winter season. Results are analyzed to find potential opportunities to minimize the building’s energy consumption and carbon footprint. This paper highlights the potential to mobilize university buildings towards reaching Net zero carbon campuses by 2050 while producing a ripple effect that can result in adopting climate actions within the local communities and governments.

The energy transition in the industrial sector, as well as the way energy is produced and consumed in areas heavily dependent on electricity, dictates that it is urgent to change this scenario by resorting to methodologies based on the circular economy, to mitigate waste and reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, with the aim of local energy production, in the context of applying the “United Nations Sustainable Development Goals”. The research presented in this work intends to analyze the weaknesses and strengths that the plastic processing industry suffers, with the aim of becoming more competitive and efficient in the use of energy, as well as less waste generating, through the application of a methodology of management, such as the circular economy. It was through participation in an international project DEMOLA and applying its methodology based on management tools such as the Mind Map, PESTEL, and SWOT analysis supported by an interdisciplinary team of researchers, and they had a plastic company, as a case study. The results extracted should be disseminated throughout the industrial sector. Finally, conclusions are presented from the study carried out, achieving an improvement in the efficiency and sustainability of the company chosen as a case study and a contribution to sustainable development.

In the era of new economy, digital finance, a technology-driven version of finance, is crucial to achieving sustainable development goals. Digital finance leads to an increase in the use of energy, which may be a threat to the environment if the sources of energy are dominated by non-renewable ones. Hence, it is crucial to study the nexus of digital finance, energy consumption, and sustainable development. The objective of the study is to investigate the impacts of digital finance, renewable energy, and non-renewable energy consumption on sustainable development in 13 emerging economies over the period of 2011–2021 using Driscoll-Kraay standard error method. The findings of the study reveal that digital finance enhances sustainable development, whereas non-renewable energy consumption hinders it. In addition, foreign direct investment inflows, natural resource rent, and unemployment have detrimental impact on sustainable development, while trade openness promotes it. Based on the findings, the study proposes that emerging economies should promote digital finance, reduce non-renewable energy consumption, and design environment-friendly foreign direct investment policies to foster sustainable development.

Mixed matrix membranes (MMM) are heavily studied and the main concern by researchers is the difficulty to obtain a high selectivity membrane with low defects, mainly interfacial voids due to the poor interaction between polymer matrix and filler. The functionalization of zeolite surface in PolyEtherSulphone (PES)/Silico-AluminoPhosphate-34 (SAPO-34) led to membranes with higher compatibility. Recently, the use of ionic liquids in the particles surface to improve the gas permeability and separation efficiency has presented advanced results. Although, the cost and environmental issues on Ionic Liquids (ILs) still represent a limit to its use. The Deep Eutectic Solvents (DESs) present an alternative route to replace ILs, with low-cost and environmentally friend. This paper aims to study the potential use of choline chloride/urea, a DES mixture, in ratio 1:2, to replace ILs as a post-healing methodology, showing a 20% increase in CO2 permeability in PES membranes and 15% increase in CO2/N2 selectivity in PES/SAPO-34 membranes due to an increase in compatibility between polymer and zeolite promoted by the post-treatment using DES.

The non-irrigated areas of the southwest of Spain need the introduction of profitable and diverse crop alternatives, as traditional crops are at the limit of their profitability. For this reason, the implementation of the cultivation of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants has been studied, as they improve the productive diversity of the agricultural sector in Extremadura, the capacity to obtain new products and indirectly increase the stability of the rural population. The exclusive use of one part of the plant leads to the generation of a high volume of plant waste, so the energetic use of this waste can be a key to competitive improvement. Specifically, an energy study of the pyrolysis and combustion process of waste from the production of lemon verbena (Aloysia citrodora) and oregano (Origanum virens) has been carried out by means of Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), Differential Thermogravimetry curve (DTG) and pyrolysis and combustion indexes, with the aim of comparing the results with other biomass waste.

A large amount of existing legislation, agreements and treaties, the main one being the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, must be a permanent reference to reduce the consequences of the Urban Heat Island Effect that manifests itself in cities and allow populations to live more efficiently, healthier buildings and less waste of energy (heat, cold and electricity). In this context, a building will be presented as a case study and after carrying out a survey of inefficiency anomalies, both energetic and constructive, it will be possible to implement several actions that increase its energy efficiency. In addition, it will be a reference in reducing energy consumption and will be healthier and more energetically autonomous through renewable sources.

Acorns are a nut that can be found across Portugal, particularly in the Alentejo region where the raising and feeding of Iberian Pigs is most present. Despite this contribution, they’re often ignored by the general population and therefore go to waste. While there are different attempts at reviving its use among people, this paper aims to explore and demonstrate the results of using acorn syngas in a dual-fuel diesel engine, as an alternative option. To determine the effectiveness of acorn syngas in dual-fuel engine applications, the engine was first run using diesel exclusively in 1000, 1500, and 2000 rpm cycles for 20 min each, and then the same parameters were applied when running the diesel engine in dual-fuel mode using the produced acorn syngas. The results overall illustrate a decrease in the amount of diesel fuel consumed by the engine, as well as a decrease in the intake air flow and the exhaust gas flow. While the obtained results demonstrate a lot of potential for the use of this often-ignored biomass, more studies should be conducted to further determine its viability in dual-fuel engine applications.

The growing increase in intensive swine production has huge environmental impacts. In addition to the high organic load and nutrients, swine effluents have large amounts of suspended solids, which hinder and limit several treatment technologies. Solid–liquid separation using filtration or centrifugation is often used as pre-treatment to reduce suspended solids, also reducing other critical parameters. In this work, pig farming effluents were filtrated using a biological filter composed of Arundo donax biomass and the filtrated effluents were characterized to evaluate removal of contaminants. Total suspended solids (TSS) initially at 336.5 mg/L were eliminated, and biomass filtration was also able to remove 48% of chemical oxygen demand (COD), 49% of total nitrogen (TN) and 87% of total phosphorus (TP). The Arundo donax biomass after the effluent filtration showed an increase of ash, carbon and hydrogen contents. Calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg) and phosphorus (P) were the mineral components strongly reduced in the filtered effluent and concentrated in the filter biomass. Through this pre-treatment, the effluent reached a composition more compatible to valorization by anaerobic digestion or production of microalgae, without requiring extensive dilution. The biomass filter can be often replaced and recycled through composting, to obtain biofertilizers for agronomical applications. This pre-treatment approach promotes circular economy in swine production units.

Over the last decades, district heating has been under development, especially the technologies like heat pumps, solar thermal and cogeneration. However, there is still a long way to go regarding regulation, legislation and market liberalization, which varies across countries and regions. The objective of this work is to investigate the potential benefits of decentralized district heating systems in residential areas. By studying a case study of EnergyLab Nordhavn, a residential area in Copenhagen, Denmark, the paper compares the market outcomes of decentralized systems such as community markets to the centralized pool market currently in practice, under the EMB3Rs platform. The study focuses on key market outputs such as dispatched production, revenues, and daily consumption patterns. Additionally, the paper examines the impact of advanced features such as flexible heat consumption and network awareness in the market. The results of this research suggest that decentralized district heating systems have the potential to improve market outcomes and increase energy efficiency in residential areas.

The potential impact of climate change on the energy sector has prompted the engineering community to take a closer look. In view of this, it is inevitable to assume that the world faces the great challenge of investing in new alternative energy sources and trying to predict the next cycles in their production processes. The present work approaches this issue in order to project the production of this type of energy, using a standard emissions scenario and different time horizons. Based on the energy matrix and the energy supply in Portugal and on the climate projections, the work aims to verify the potential of energy production from renewable sources in future scenarios. The methods used were based on the analysis of hydro, wind and solar production cycles between the years 2008 and 2020. The comparison of these cycles with the climate data of the same period allows to obtain statistical projection models for the periods 2041–2070 and 2071–2100 for the emission scenario RCP8.5. At this stage, only the relationships between projections of future climate and water production are presented. The results indicate a reduction in hydropower production by 2100, which could be up to 12%.

Solar energy is called to meet electricity demands for isolated, off-grid communities in Africa. However, solar electric energy is intermittent and can be stored, for a limited amount of time, in batteries, which are expensive and cause serious environmental impacts at the end of their lifetime. Conversion of the surplus electric energy to green hydrogen through water electrolysis and back to electricity, when needed, using electrolyser-fuel cells systems, is examined as a potential solution to meet the water-energy-food nexus in Southern Africa. In the framework of the Agrivoltaics concept, the main constrains, opportunities and parameters to consider its applicability are presented and discussed, in terms of its technical, economic, environmental and social impacts. In the second phase of this work the developing of a PEM electrolyser for connection to a solar PV power source and a fuel cell device, for a stand-alone application, is proposed, ensuring high reliability and energy conversion efficiencies, as well as adequate transient response and a competitive cost. It is intended as a low-carbon energy system, realising the potential for synergy in the Agrivoltaic concept, aligned with global and regional sustainability goals.

Protected areas are implemented to safeguard natural and cultural values. Their level of protection largely dictates which socio-economic activities are allowed. Protected areas where nature protection objectives co-exist with socio-economic activities are exposed to their potential anthropogenic impacts, such as land use changes. Land use changes are an important driver of land degradation in protected areas. This study analyses the potential impact of land use changes in Lithuanian Regional and National Parks by analysing changes in vegetation cover. In a multitemporal analysis, this was done by calculating the Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), a proxy commonly applied to infer vegetation change. NDVI values above 0.66 represent dense vegetation, which we selected to be analysed. NDVI was calculated using Landsat Imagery in a fiver year interval from 1990 to 2020. The analysis was done in Google Earth Engine and ArcGIS 10.8 platforms. The results show a general increase in dense vegetation cover from 1990 to 2020, although at different magnitudes in each park. Changes in comparison to 2020 were analysed, and the results suggest that until 2010/2015, there was an increase in dense vegetation cover. After this, most parks show stagnation or even a decrease. Principal analysis showed that most parks were clustered except Kauno Marios, Pajuris, Kursiu Nerija and Dzūkija parks.

Biomass gasification and pyrolysis are thermochemical conversion technologies with significant potential for the future development of a sustainable energy system worldwide, which can help to replace several fuels and chemicals currently provided by fossil fuels. Gasification and pyrolysis generate solid, liquid, and gaseous products. The gas is a mixture of gases composed mainly of CO, CO2, H2, CH4, N2, and small concentrations of impurities that are relevant and can have significant drawbacks in its subsequent use as fuel. Among those impurities are included tars, particulate matter, nitrogen-based compounds (NH3, HCN), sulfur-based compounds (H2S, COS), hydrogen halides (HCl, HF), and trace metals (Na, K). Thus, cleaning syngas is an essential process to get a gas with suitable characteristics before use in further applications such as internal combustion engines, gas turbines, hydrogen production, and other chemical applications. In this context, this work presents a review of the main wet cleaning systems that have been developed for syngas cleaning and conditioning. For wet cleaning, wet scrubbers are generally used, and this is a relatively mature and highly effective process. The main drawbacks are the generation of a residual liquid stream that is difficult to treat and eliminate, and the decrease in energy efficiency, by cooling the syngas. Therefore, this review critically examines the significant challenges in syngas wet cleanup and discusses its major recent advances.

In the past decades seaweeds consumption changed from traditional uses such as food and fertilizer to other biotechnological applications, boosting a growing economic activity. Therefore, since the end of the Second World War, seaweeds’ aquaculture has been replacing the traditional harvest, accounting for 99.5% of the available biomass in 2020. Nevertheless, in different parts of the globe, this change has happened at different pace. On the other hand, commercial aquaculture only covers a little more than fifteen species, the ones that are economically viable. Asia, notably China, dominates the seaweeds cultivation with over 97.5% and 70% of the market share, respectively. Europe and America are still engaged in the harvesting of wild seaweeds, but this traditional activity has some sustainability implications for the resource. As to Portugal, the activity is still emergent, consistent with little interest among the population in consuming seaweeds. The ongoing investment in research and in the development of pilot scale farming projects in Europe, America, and parts of Africa, however, are enhancing commercial seaweed aquaculture. We expect that these innovative approaches may soon raise the attractiveness of seaweeds aquaculture outside Asia.

Pallets are used extensively in the supply chain for the transportation of goods between suppliers, manufacturers, distributors, and retailers. This article reviews pallet production, its mechanical properties related to material options (according to European standards and industrial applications) and management systems. In the global supply chain, polymer, metal, and composites pallets compete in line with the concept of sustainable development. The supply chain requires pallets according to specific characteristics, such as sizing, maximum load capacity, durability (lifespan), cost and more information is needed about their environmental impacts. Some types of pallets (stringer and blocks) can have several configurations, number, width and spacing. Furthermore, the pallets management system is divided in three models; EMP (extensive management of pallets), TPO (transfer pallet’s ownership) and PR (pallet rent), where suppliers, distributors and retailers select the most suitable option. The systematic review of the literature identified 15 documents with the key methodological elements, such as, specifications, inventory data, goals, and system boundaries for a life cycle assessment of pallets.

The use of biolubricants is becoming important, as the incipient industrialization is requiring alternatives for petrol-based products. Thus, a double transesterification from vegetable oils could provide biolubricants for these purposes, apart from other interesting by-products like fatty acid methyl esters, glycerol or methanol (which can be re-used in the system). Consequently, this synthesis could adjust to the concept of biorefinery, which is highly appreciated due to its implication with green chemistry or circular economy, contributing to sustainability. However, one challenge related to these biolubricants is their low oxidative stability, which can alter the properties of these products during storage. To avoid it, some interesting antioxidants like tert-butylhydroquinone (TBHQ) or propyl gallate (PG) could be added to biolubricants to keep their main properties during oxidation. The aim of this work was to assess the effectiveness of TBHQ and PG in a biolubricant based on cardoon oil through double transesterification with methanol and pentaerythritol. It was proved that PG was more effective than TBHQ, obtaining higher oxidative stabilities at lower concentrations (exceeding 11 h at 500 ppm, whereas TBHQ required 2000 ppm to obtain a similar value). In contrast, the combined use of TBHQ and PG did not offer any synergistic effect.

The decrease in air quality in cities is now an object of concern, as a large part of the population lives in these areas. Problems related to mental health are on the rise. Around 20% of children and adolescents worldwide have some mental health problem, with suicide being the second leading cause of death among young people aged 15 to 29. This study aimed to evaluate the air quality in two distinct areas in Portugal and to analyze its impact on the mental health of higher education students. Data collection consisted in assessment of air quality, in two different areas of one municipality of Portugal, a green one, with no traffic and characterized by being a forested area and one with the presence of road traffic. The second moment consisted of the application of a questionnaire addressed to all university students who participated in the study. We found that in both areas, PM2.5 concentrations exceeded the exposure limit value and PM10 only exceeded the limit value in the area with traffic. It was found that students had higher values of negative emotional symptoms in the zone with road traffic, when compared to the green zone. The monitoring of atmospheric pollutants is a fundamental tool in the identification, assessment and resolution of air quality problems, quantifying the levels of atmospheric pollutants and ensuring that they are within the limits tolerated by human health and ecosystems, through the implementation of measures within the scope of air quality management.

In recent decades there has been a significant increase in atmospheric concentrations of hazardous substances, resulting from urban and industrial activities. The good quality of the air we breathe is considered a basic requirement for human health and well-being. The possible effects on human health, derived from these emissions from large industrial sources, have been a long-standing concern, especially when these activities are located in the vicinity of urban areas, where housing is present. This study aimed to evaluate the Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) in the homes of individuals residing near the industrial zone of Alpiarça, as well as analyzing individual’s perceptions of AQ and the prevalence of symptoms/diseases. The sample consisted of 8 dwellings and the 14 occupants who lived in them. Data collection consisted of two investigation moments: evaluation of environmental parameters (CO, CO2, PM0,5, PM1,0, PM2,5, PM5,0, PM10, PMTotals and ultrafine particles) and meteorological variables (temperature and relative humidity); application of a questionnaire to the inhabitants of the evaluated residences. It can be concluded that it’s necessary to take measures to improve the AQ in some of the evaluated dwellings as improve air renewal systems in order to make this renewal more efficient and effective, opting whenever possible for natural ventilation.

Deteriorating Air Quality (AQ) is one of the most severe health problems for people living in cities. The increasing use of road transport, the expansion of industry and domestic heating contribute significantly to the worsening of this problem. The AQ indicates the level of pollution in the air we breathe, which is caused by various chemical substances present in the air, which, in turn, change the natural composition of the atmosphere. This study aimed to: evaluate the concentration of atmospheric pollutants and particles—carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, ultrafine particles, PM2.5, PM10 and PMTotals—and the meteorological variables—temperature and relative humidity—in two distinct areas, one urban and one rural; analyze the ambient AQ in these areas in order to investigate whether there are significant differences between them. Assessments were performed twice a day (morning and afternoon) at each site for 1 week (7 days). They were carried out in periods of thirty minutes, with sampling each minute. We found that the concentrations of pollutants vary depending on the area and that PM10 exceeded the legally established exposure limit value. Since pollutants act globally and not just in the place where they originate and can cause harmful effects on health and climate, creation of low-emission zones for road traffic, reinforcement of green infrastructure consolidation of the cycling network, among others can be strategies that gradually reduce the values reached.

The agricultural sector is currently facing several challenges, and needs to evolve to a more sustainable system. Consumers have a major role to play in this transformation. In this sense, this study aims to explore Portuguese consumers’ receptiveness and willingness to pay (WTP) for innovative and more sustainable food. Particularly, for apples produced in an innovative and sustainable way, making using of algae from the Portuguese coast. Additionally, the impact of information provided to consumers about the consequences of consuming this new product, on their receptiveness and willingness to pay, is tested: focusing on health benefits of the new product vs. on the environmental benefits. To this end, an online questionnaire was conducted in Portugal in July 2022. From a sample of 411 valid answers and 396 apple consumers, a wide majority (86.9%) were receptive to this innovative and sustainable apples and was willing to pay a price premium of 0.35 €/kg compared to the conventional apples (average price of 1.95 €/kg for sustainable apples, compared to 1.60 €/kg for conventional apples). This WTP was not influenced by the type of information provided in terms of benefits of the new product (health vs. environment) but the acceptance for the innovative apple increased with the provision of information. Additionally, some respondent’s ecological consumption habits and socioeconomic characteristics demonstrated to be statistically significant for the WTP. These results indicate that consumers are aware of the need to move towards a more sustainable food sector and value this innovative (and more sustainable) apples.

Sustainability in education is becoming more and more important nowadays, as future professionals (especially in STEM disciplines) should consider a sustainable approach when developing their tasks. Indeed, many steps such as the so-called Sustainable Development Goals have been taken by institutions and governments. On the other hand, engagement of students in STEM subjects is equally important, in order to improve their knowledge and skills and to promote these disciplines at higher educational levels. In that sense, the role of universities is vital in order to offer a wide and varied educational offer at different levels, such as university or master degrees, but also in exhibitions where the engagement of students in STEM disciplines applied to sustainability is equally important. The aim of this work was to propose a pedagogical guide to explain (in scientific exhibitions) how active carbons work to improve the yield of biogas production in sewage sludge biodigestion. Thus, a comparison between active carbon as “bacteria hotel” and typical insect hotels could be interesting to attract the interest of a wide range of audience (between primary education to undergraduate students or public in general). As a result, the methodology and the main resources required to carry out this exhibition were exposed, and students showed a general interest and understanding of the subject.

The restrictive measures during the Covid pandemic resulted in an unexpected growth in e-commerce, which growth has continued since the epidemic. The growth of e-commerce also increased the number of last mile parcel delivery transactions. The growth of last mile parcel logistics also resulted in an increasing number of cars, emissions and traffic problems. City governments introduce restrictive measures against increased environmental burdens, which imposes an additional burden on parcel logistics providers. Collaboration among last-mile service providers can assist boost productivity while at the same time lowering harmful environmental effects. However, there is little service provider cooperation in this industry. This study analyses the development of cooperation between service providers based on an examination of a Central-Eastern European Courier, Express, Parcel (CEP) market, which has market characteristics that can be referred to as typical for this area such as: a small number of dominant service providers; a large number of small service providers who are usually subcontractors of the dominant ones; individualistic operation. The market structure of the example country being presented is oligopoly, which is typical of the CEP market of the countries in the region. The analysis of the Hungarian market is supplemented by the creation of a model that simulates cooperation, which shows that the quantity of delivery vehicles, the distance travelled by the trucks, and the degree of environmental impact brought on by all of this can be decreased.

The planning of effective and optimized beach nourishment interventions needs to be supported by numerical modelling predictions of the spatio-temporal evolution of the nourishment and the surrounding native beach. The topo-bathymetry of an urban oceanic beach was monitored immediately after a 1 million m3 sand nourishment and two months later. The coastal stretch has two types of backshore alongshore: dune and seawall. A process-based numerical model, XBeach—surfbeat mode, was applied to simulate the beach morphdynamics during the two months between surveys. The model was settled on the post-nourishment topo-bathymetry and forced with synoptic hydrodynamic data. Its performance was evaluated through indicators of impact and error. According to a frequently applied classification for numerical morphodynamic models, the model performance was evaluated as reasonable in the coastal stretch extreme sectors and good in the inner sector. The results suggest that the morphological evolution observed was not only due to the erosive incident waves but also to a readjustment to the beach natural profile following the sand deposition.

Intense population growth has significantly impacted the quality and access to water, resulting in increased production and release of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs), such as pharmaceutical compounds. Catalytic wet peroxide oxidation (CWPO) is a promising technology for the removal of CECs that relies on the use of solid catalysts to accelerate the reaction, its reactivity and stability depending greatly on the catalyst used. This work aims to compare three typically studied catalysts: a clay-based, a carbon-based and a hybrid material, consisting in carbon-shell metal nanoparticle structure. Hybrid catalysts combine the benefits of metal-based catalysts (high activity) and carbon-based catalysts (low leaching), indicating to be a suitable choice. However, it is highlighted that the development of proper solutions for treatment and reuse of waters must pass through detailed identification and quantification of CECs, allowing better catalyst evaluations under real scenario conditions.

Human activity has a direct or indirect impact on the environment and, therefore, a protection policy focused on prevention is crucial and implies a prior assessment of environmental impacts, before taking decisions. Thus, minimizing damage to the environment by weighing ecological consequences/impacts, for example, of master plans, or large-scale urban planning projects or considering environmental values within the scope of the decision-making process, is fundamental. This procedure constitutes a strategic instrument for sustainability which was given the designation of Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA). In the present work, a methodology developed to obtain the Strategic Environmental Assessment and the Environmental Report of a detailed urban plan is presented. The goal is to contribute to the integration of environmental sustainability considerations in the development of a detailed urban plan, to detect and enhance opportunities, minimize strategic risks, encourage stakeholders’ involvement and public discussion in decision-making processes, and contribute to sustainable strategic planning. The methodology was applied to the Detailed Urban Plan of Vale da Cabrita in Leiria used as a case study. In conclusion, the detailed urban plan developed induces, in general, significant positive impacts in the study area. Planning and management guidelines were proposed that will allow a reduction/mitigation of the potential negative impacts and associated risks, as well as a governance framework for this purpose. The work also reveals the need for deeper integration of certain aspects of sustainable development, in order to positively influence local territorial strategic development.

In recent years, the concept of sustainable construction has been promoted by demand and by regulations. Several methodologies to assess the sustainability of the construction have been spread across the world, by several countries for almost all continents. This study focuses on the most used construction sustainability assessment methodologies, which were compared with the Portuguese methodology, LiderA. It was found that the LiderA is the sustainability system with the greatest number of relevant criteria, considering the three dimensions of sustainability, environment, economy and social. Considering the 5 phases of the construction life cycle, the importance to apply these methodologies in construction is crucial in the early phases. It can help to draft the sustainability classification of the building. To apply the LiderA was used a residence of students, a building composed of apartments, in the phase of planning. All of the 40 criteria from the LiderA were classified from F to A++, according to the project of the residence of students. The final classification, as it was projected, was A, meaning that the building has an environmental performance 50% higher than usual practice. The category of criteria with the highest contribution was the category of quality of service and resilience, with a percentage of achievement greater than 50%. The local dynamics and the resources category were the categories with the lowest contribution, and they have the potential to be reevaluated by the building promoter, since it has the potential to improve the sustainability classification of the residence of students.

Wind energy plays an unavoidable role in the Portuguese electricity sector. Despite the several environmental advantages associated to this infrastructures and technological advances to make wind turbines quieter, they still produce sounds resulting from their mechanics and aerodynamics, in particular infrasound and low frequency noise. The aim of this study was to access the levels of infrasound and low frequency noise that the Guarda city population was exposed to. A total of 134 measurements were carried out in 67 points of urban areas. CESVA SC420 sound level meter (with “FFT Analysis” module) was used. Based on the measurements taken, infrasound and low frequency noise were calculated. The statistical analysis of the results was carried out using the IBM SPSS software. Statistically significant differences were found between the northern and north-western zones of the city compared to the western zone, regarding infrasound and infrasound exposure and low frequency noise. Regarding the low frequency noise there were no statistically significant differences between the various areas of the city. It was also possible to see that with the increase of air speed, there was also an increase in sound pressure levels. It was possible to conclude that the infrasound results are higher than the low frequency noise results. Although the infrasound frequency is below the audible threshold, it can bring problems to human health.

This article presents a carbon footprint (greenhouse gas emissions) and cumulative energy demand assessment of plastic products produced at Neutroplast in 2020 and 2021. Neutroplast produces nutraceutical, pharmaceutical and personal care products. A cradle-to-gate assessment was performed, aiming at identifying hotspots and opportunities for environmental improvement. The results show that polymers are the main contributors to environmental impacts (mainly high-density polyethylene, largest input at Neutroplast). Therefore, using alternative materials with lower carbon footprint and cumulative energy demand has the greatest potential to reduce impacts. Production at Neutroplast can also reduce impacts with increase in renewable electricity production.

With the aim of protecting our planet, the United Nations defined 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), which requires the involvement of all countries to make an endeavour to achieve better living conditions. In this regard, stakeholders such as governments, regional and international organizations, and civil society need to work together to make efforts to meet these objectives. In addition, Higher Education Institutions have a crucial role, not only in developing research and disseminating SDG practices but also in intervening in society. This paper presents a collaborative project led by a Higher Education Institute and targeted to the school community. With the objective of strengthening consciousness for the development of good practices related to SDG, a workshop was prepared and implemented with primary school teachers. Besides providing knowledge about SDG, several hands-on experiments were presented to teachers to be reproduced with their students. Based on participant observation and enquiry forms applied to teachers and students, it was verified that the project was effective in enhancing recognition of teachers and students about the importance of providing good practices related to SDG. It is concluded that collaboration between higher education institutions and schools can trigger the implementation of sustainable development practices in the community.

Bridges, due to their unique nature, are fundamental components of the road network. They have an important role in sustainable economic development as they are structures that allows to overcome obstacles created by nature, making circulation faster and safer. Climate action is one of the Sustainable Development Goals that The United Nations Development Programme defined, in 2015. Climate change is increasing the severity and frequency of climate-related extreme weather events around the globe. One of the parameters that enhances the global warming is the greenhouse gas emissions. For the past century, almost all internal combustion engines have been powered on petroleum fuels. Transportation is one of the most important contributors of greenhouse gases. In this paper it´s presented a methodology that allows the quantification of the life cycle costs and enhances the emission mitigation comparing different material alternatives of reinforced concrete roadway bridges. For the different material solutions, utilizing a probabilistic deterioration model, the lifetime of the different materials is computed, and the repair is scheduled. The methodology allows to define, and rank, the alternatives considering the user costs (vehicle operating costs; time costs; accidents costs, and toll costs) quantifying the correspondent vehicle greenhouse gases emission.

The Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) establishes improvements to buildings’ comfort conditions and energy performance, bringing them closer to buildings with almost zero energy needs, namely the Nearly Zero Energy Building (NZEBs). The assessment tools for sustainable construction, more recognized internationally, are LEED and BREEAM, and in Portugal is the LiderA. The application of those tools promotes energy efficiency and decarbonization of buildings, as referred to in the Portuguese Long-Term Strategy for Building Renovation (LTRS-PT) until 2050. In this case, a house representative of the construction of the period between 1971 and 1980 in Portugal was chosen to evaluate environmental sustainability using LiderA. In the current conditions, the LiderA rating class of the house was D. To improve the performance of the building were identified balanced rehabilitation solutions without excessive automation. The presented solutions should avoid transforming the house into a complicated device with operational difficulties or specialized operation. In this way, the proposed interventions in the building and systems are based on renewable sources, prioritizing energy and water efficiency. Furthermore, as a contribution to the health and well-being of the occupants, we considered measures related to indoor air quality (IAQ) and noise minimization. In addition, the encouragement of native species has contributed to ecological enhancement. With that proposals, the house rating class using LiderA improved from class D to class A+.

Human activities generate byproducts and wastes that need to be valorised. This paper presents a comparative study on the valorisation of different natural byproducts, of vegetal and mineral origin, through their transformation into adsorbent materials. A series of byproducts (European wood pellets, African natural woods, natural charcoal, lignocellulosic ash, perlite and vermiculite minerals and expanded clay), as received and after smooth activation processes, were tested for adsorption from liquid phase. The aqueous phase tests were carried out with representative molecules from several classes of hazardous compounds such as dyes, pesticides and pharmaceuticals. The molecules selected were methylene blue (MB), acid yellow 17 (AY 17), (4-chloro-2-methyl-phenoxy) acetic acid (MCPA), 4-nitrophenol (4N) and sodium diclofenac (SD). The results obtained with this set of natural, alternative and non-conventional low-cost adsorbents were interesting, particularly in the case of adsorbents of vegetal origin, natural woods and also in the case of lignocellulosic ash. Regarding the soft chemical modification, it has been shown to be a process that allows the preparation of materials with improved performance for some adsorptive/adsorbent systems, namely natural woods/(AY 17; MB; 4N) and natural charcoal and lignocellulosic ash/all the adsorptives. Note that the adsorption processes were relatively fast, with an equilibrium time of around 24 h. In conclusion, the byproducts analysed, some of them after soft activation, present a potential for valorisation through their use as adsorbents for hazardous polluting compounds from the aqueous medium at a temperature of 25 °C.

In Portugal there are 22 Football Associations—which correspond to 18 districts of the mainland, one in Madeira island and three in the Azores. One of the main tasks of the Football Associations is certifying the sport infrastructures to its official competitions: futsal, football, and beach football. Over the last years, the Technical Council of Leiria Football Association has developed an innovative web platform for Sport Infrastructure Management, used in official competitions, named (in Portuguese) “GIDO—Gestão de Infraestruturas Desportivas Online”. Based on a user-friendly interface, this platform enables the observation of the sport infrastructure characteristics over time, the infrastructures management and promotes benchmarking between them. Additionally, this platform is the best way to optimize the travel time between any geographic point and a sport infrastructure and to know which clubs use that sports infrastructure.

Earth-based construction materials, such as adobe, rammed earth, and compressed stabilized earth blocks, have been utilized for centuries, and are now experiencing renewed interest due to the pressing environmental threat posed by greenhouse gas emissions. Their economic attractiveness, widespread availability, recyclability, and superior engineering characteristics, including thermal conductivity, insulation, and moisture absorption, make them vital to sustainable development in civil engineering. By combining these time-honored materials with cutting-edge construction methods developed thanks to rapidly advancing technology, civil engineering is on the verge of a paradigm shift. This study provides a comprehensive exploration of the history of earth-based construction materials from the past to the present, delving into the challenges and potential solutions associated with their use in modern construction.

Recent years have seen widespread building activity, which has resulted in widespread environmental damage, significant CO2 emissions, and the waste of valuable natural resources throughout the world. Construction is one of the most energy-intensive industries in the European Union (EU), using about 40% of the union's total energy and producing 36% of its GHG emissions. According to the International Green Building Council, over 35% of all landfill waste is made up of CDW, while the construction sector is responsible for more than half of all materials removed worldwide. To avoid these problems, authorities have drafted laws and developed plans to lessen the ecological toll of building supplies through Green Building (GB) concept, Circular Economy (CE), life cycle assessment (LCA) and life cycle costing (LCC) methods. Portuguese law on the harmonization of regulations for the sale, manufacture, and disposal of construction materials is mostly lifted verbatim from its European Union counterpart. This research contributes an eco-efficiency framework for CDW management and CDW use in green building and circular economy concept in Portugal, which is consistent with the principle of Eco-efficiency.

Bioeconomy development has established a new paradigm by which fossil-based products and associated services are replaced by sustainable, renewable, circular biobased materials, which will ensure the preservation of natural resources and ecosystems, while ensuring both an economical and a societal balance. A successful implementation of Bioeconomy requires the availability of appropriate public policies and governance mechanisms. Given the multisectorial nature of Bioeconomy, the adequacy of public policies and governance mechanisms will require a framework exploiting synergetic and complementary aspects from agriculture, energy, environment and social areas. Due to its inherent complexity, a successful implementation of Bioeconomy strategies shall consider interministerial cooperation, policy coherence, coordination between local, regional, national, EU, international stakeholders and integration of scientific knowledge provided by Academia and Research driven projects, involving multiple stakeholders from industry, private and public sectors, policy makers, etc. This work reviews the current status of European and National policies supporting Bioeconomy and reflects on some of the gaps that need to be addressed to ensure a successful implementation of the Bioeconomy sector.

Africa's rising population is increasing pressure on natural resources, resulting in biodiversity loss and affecting the ecosystem. Some African countries are promoting 3D Printing technologies to respond to the rising demand for affordable houses, allowing a more efficient use of natural resources, as well as reducing waste and environmental impacts. This paper gives a brief outline of the digitalization progress in some African countries, with a particular focus on the key role that 3D printing (3DP) can play in revolutionizing construction, converting it into a more sustainable and efficient one. This work also addresses the potential that new printable earthen-based material formulations can bring to foster sustainability and circularity in the built environment. Digitalization can be a major force in advancing Africa's economic development, assisting construction companies in enhancing productivity and efficiency, creating new job opportunities, and accelerating sustainable development goals. Moving forward towards Construction 4.0 will require a multifaceted strategy, including investing in education and training, getting government support, Industry-University collaborations, infrastructure development, establishing public–private partnerships, and fostering IT innovation and sustainability.

Over centuries, raw earth materials have been used, together with traditional vernacular techniques, to create the first shelters built by humankind. Real vernacular architecture, often partially buried in the ground, was the result of a trial-and-error basis across thousands of years, using surrounding local materials. This paper gives a brief overview of the use of raw earth as a construction material across cities in Europe (Portugal, France and Germany), Africa (Morocco) and America. The investigation was conducted through photographic records, documentary information and research literature. Opportunities for technological innovation are also highlighted, using earth as a base material for a more sustainable construction. The evolution of construction techniques over time allowed pointing out positive and negative aspects from a sustainability view. The main techniques identified were half-timber construction (mixed techniques), adobes and rammed earth, as well as earth coatings and screeds, usually combined wooden structures. Today, adopting sustainable solutions to mitigate climate change is critical, preserving earth resources and the environment by using low-carbon construction materials combined with sustainable construction technologies and practices. Using the earth as a construction material has great potential to address current architectural challenges, and 3D printing stands out as a promising technological innovation towards a more resource-efficient and sustainable built environment.

The main objective of this study was to evaluate the use of pervious pavements as an alternative to save potable water in university buildings. A case study was conducted in six university buildings of the Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC) in Florianópolis, Brazil. The water consumption of each building was obtained through analysis of water bills and downscaled to daily consumption based on average estimates of the weekly and weekend consumption. Then, based on the water end-use profiles and the rainfall data of the city, a stormwater harvesting system was modelled. The system consists of a pervious pavement parking lot connected to an underground stormwater tank and an upper tank. The stormwater is then provided by gravity towards end-uses such as toilets, cleaning, and gardens. As a main result, potable water savings potentials of 31.39 to 75.14% were obtained, depending on the building and scenario evaluated. In conclusion, pervious pavement is a good alternative for a continuously growing impervious urban context, aligning a broad water dissipation approach and enabling the use of stormwater in buildings.

Treatments to be applied for water purification must be dynamically adaptable to any raw water conditions. Currently, treatments are applied based on standards that are generally correct but not optimized for the circumstances of each drinking water treatment plant (DWTP), neither for critical events. This work presents a methodology for the creation of an Artificial Intelligence (AI) water treatment model, based on reinforcement learning techniques, that provides suggestions about the most efficient treatments for various raw water conditions, increasing their resilience to climate and water related risks. The model has been developed, optimised and validated in a DWTP replica. The results and evaluation of the model are promising as a first approach of a decision support system for drinking water treatments suggestion to be applied to 4.0 DWTPs, although next versions may include more water quality parameters to characterize raw water.

The Water-Energy-Food (WEF) Nexus represents the most fundamental requirements for human existence. It is essential for social welfare and thus is a top strategic priority in the management of water related stakeholders, which enables security and sustainability of the WEF limited resources. In previous publications following Boltzmann entropy, we prove that the WEF resources are linked by information, across the regional administrative nodal network (municipalities, districts, and states) system. We suggest the Volume (normalized WEF expenditures product) as the nexus holistic measure from high to low Volume nodes. The node’s Volume with its household income combined density allows for a decision-making policy tool on a node’s Welfare Mass (WM—product of Volume and density). This enables the aiming at balancing regulation of the system welfare. The intervention to balance household WEF consumption inequality, in conjunction with the subjective attitude uses big data mining and analytics approach vis a vis water availability, yields a computer-based decision-support system (DSS) for defunding/subsidizing actions to over/under respective consumption leads to activating regulatory policy instrument. This WEFH inputs across a region welfare imbalanced nodal network, is quantified and visualized to derive recommendations for policy driven interventions to regional ascribed nodes’ WM source/sink terms. We show that Israel’s administrative districts of temporal WEF expenditures follow the nexus features.

Currently, the scarcity of potable water is a worldwide problem that makes it necessary to explore alternative sources for non-potable uses, such as the reuse of treated wastewater. The present study aimed to investigate and compare the application of several tertiary treatment technologies, and its combinations, in the production of reusable wastewater (RWW). A novel advanced oxidation technology in the water treatment field, Non-Thermal Plasma (NTP), was also studied and included in this comparative study. Pilot and industrial scale tests were carried out under real conditions in an urban WWTP. RWW were obtained with diverse qualities fitted to different urban uses. NTP applied in best operating optimized conditions allowed for a 3.2 log-reduction in Escherichia coli present in secondary effluent. A comparative cost analysis also showed that NTP is a competitive technology for disinfection in comparison with the other tested.

Impacts of climate change represent a serious challenge for the agricultural sector and expose the need for suitable solutions for its adaptation. Nature Based Solutions (NbS) are a key component to address climate change and challenges related to food and water security and biodiversity loss. The aim of this work is to present and test a methodological framework for prior indication of agricultural NbS for the water-food security nexus in the context of climate change. The study case is Nova Friburgo, a municipality located in the mountainous region of Rio de Janeiro State, highly vulnerable to the impacts of extreme weather events and an important center of food production. The method consists of an integrated environmental assessment that includes the synergies and trade-offs between ecosystem services and a water-food security nexus assessment, as well as the assessment of the implementation of NbS in public policies of the municipality of Nova Friburgo. The survey of NbS in the literature resulted in the selection of twenty-six NbS for agricultural management of water and food security (water-food security nexus). The most suitable NbS considering the integrated environmental assessment and the governance assessment were soil conservation practices, agroforestry/integrated crop-livestock-forestry system and organic agriculture. Agricultural zoning and agritourism received the highest score in terms of governance. The methodology was able to identify the most appropriated NbS for the study case. However, prior indication of NbS needs to be discussed with local decision makers, considering the local environmental, socioeconomic, and political factors.

The irradiation with ultraviolet (UV) light is a treatment which is often used for the inactivation of waterborne organisms. UV-C radiation impacts directly on the organisms DNA, hindering their reproduction. The objective in this study is determining the efficacy of a UV treatment, using LEDs as a source of UV-C light, for the inactivation of phytoplanktonic organisms present in two reservoirs of the Province of Cadiz (Spain). Samples of surface water were subjected to UV irradiation using a collimated beam reactor equipped with UV-LED lamps. The treatment efficacy was determined, calculating the growth inhibition by means of monitoring the fluorescence throughout an incubation period and, additionally, quantifying the inactivation of viable organisms by means of the most probable number (MPN) method. The results regarding the growth inhibition showed, in general, significant but weak efficacy for the treatment of green algae, requiring UV doses between 109 and 712 mJ cm−2 for inhibiting their growth a 90%. In the case of cyanobacterial growth, there was not, in general, significant effect of the UV treatment. On the other hand, by means of the MPN method, levels of inactivation greater than 2 log-reductions were determined with UV doses of 25 mJ cm−2. The results obtained in this study indicate that the UV-LED treatment with high UV doses may be effective for the inactivation of green algae, but ineffective for the inactivation of cyanobacteria in the range of UV doses applied in this study.

The emission of sulfur oxides into the atmosphere is one of the major concerns derived from the maritime transport. To reduce their impact on the environment and the human health, the last update of the MARPOL Annex 6 established a limit of 0.5% of sulfur in in the fuel as of 2020. Nevertheless, ships can use fuel with higher sulfur content if they are equipped with an exhaust gas cleaning system, also known as scrubber. In the case of open-loop scrubbers, seawater is put in contact with the exhaust gas and then released into the ocean. This washwater absorbs the sulfur oxides efficiently, as well as other substances such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAHs), and increases int temperature by the contact with the hot exhaust gas. For this reason, the discharge of the washwater may concern to the aquatic environment and compromise the human activities. The objective in this study is to analyze the data recorded by the Continuous Emission Monitoring System of a ship during a series of commercial voyages, with the purpose of determining the potential threats derived from the discharge of scrubber washwater into the ocean. Data revealed that the washwater was discharged at pH below 4, a concentration of PAHs greater than 13 µg/L and temperature 7 °C greater than the recipient seawater. The discharge of washwater is especially concerning during the arrival and departure maneuvers, due to the releasing of acid, PAHs enriched and hot water into enclosed water bodies.

Drinking water for human consumption is one of the most important natural resources that humanity must preserve. In different countries water management is carried out in different ways. While in countries with more scarce water resources the concern is water abstraction in others, where water is abundant, the concerns go further, from microbiological criteria to chemical parameters with increasingly reduced parametric values based on epidemiological studies. In low-income countries, the demand for drinking water, and its distribution, has revealed serious failures in water supply, with dire consequences in terms of public health for some communities. Now, these regions need a strategic plan for water management, from awareness raising among the poor on water saving to policy measures for improving aquifer water abstraction and investments in the water storage and distribution system. New technologies to obtain water suitable for human consumption are emerging, replacing conventional practices that can endanger the health of consumers, with solar thermal distillation standing out as a sustainable technique that can reach everyone in the most remote locations. Finally, building water networks should also be checked and maintained by consumers so that water from the public network, or other water storage systems, is fit for human consumption.

Rainwater harvesting systems may supply users with contaminated water if certain precautions are not taken. This study aims to quantify the levels of total coliforms and Escherichia. coli in rainwater at the beginning of runoff from a fibre cement roof located in Florianópolis, southern Brazil. Samples of roof runoff were collected, and physical–chemical parameters were quantified in addition to the microbiological ones. Finally, the existence of a possible correlation between these parameters was assessed. The results of laboratory tests were statistically described and submitted to correlation analysis. The analyses showed the existence of total coliforms in 100% of the samples and that E. coli can highly contaminate the roof runoff once some samples reach the test's detection limit (2419.6 NMP/100 mL). Furthermore, correlations between E. coli and the parameters pH, turbidity and apparent colour were observed. The study shows the importance of using first flush devices or techniques for rainwater treatment in rainwater harvesting systems to reduce users’ health risks.

This work consists in exploring the preparation, characterisation and application of adsorbents based on lignocellulosic materials obtained from waste from the paper pulp industry, namely “Knots and Rejects - KR” and “Primary Sludge - PS”. These carbon materials were prepared by carbonisation under nitrogen flow, N2, and by chemical activation with the activating agent phosphoric acid, H3PO4. The materials were characterised by FTIR and point of zero charge (pHpzc). Selected samples were applied to reduce the conductivity and colour of an effluent from the pulp industry (Biotek, S.A.—Vila Velha de Rodão). The application of these materials showed that some of the samples have the potential to reduce the conductivity of the effluent as well as to diminish its colour. It was possible to reduce the conductivity between 13.2% (KR600) and 20.3% (PS600), with the best results obtained with the samples prepared from PS waste. More interesting results were also observed in terms of colour attenuation of the effluent, with values ranging from 7.3% (KR600) to 69.1% (PS-H3PO4). Also in this case, the best results were obtained with the samples prepared from the PS waste. These results validate the strategy adopted and place it within a typical circular economy approach.

Faced with the globally installed water crisis, Portugal and Brazil have problems related to extreme hydrological events. The paper presents a first stage of research that comparatively analyzes the water resources governance systems in Portugal and Brazil, seeking to carry out a comparative diagnosis of the political systems and forms of territorial organization. In addition to differences related to territorial and demographic dimensions, Portugal and Brazil have different forms of state organization. The first is a unitary State and the second a federation, and this difference is the main starting point for this research. Conceptual, approach and arrangement differences between the two systems are pointed out. As a result, it is noticed that the differences found bring consequences to the water governance systems of each country. Between the differences appointed in both systems, the most significant is the level of the social participation specially during decision process of occurrence of extreme hydrological events.

Water is at the core of sustainable development and is critical for human survival itself. However, due to failures in public supply networks, a significant amount of water is lost, highlighting the need for a reliable and robust leak detection and location system. Thus, it is important to find ways to improve efficiency in water use, being the reduction of water losses in water supply systems a decisive factor to achieve this goal, which implies the adoption of an active and responsible attitude, to ensure proper management and sustainability of this essential natural resource, increasingly scarce. This article has as its main goal to present an analysis of concepts and methods, through a literature review, and to propose a strategy for planning the reduction and control of water losses in water supply systems, which, admittedly, allows the achievement of economic gains and greater ecological efficiency, leading to an overall improvement of the service. In summary, the implementation of an integrated strategy for water losses management is a reliable option from several perspectives, which justifies its implementation by water companies, with the necessary contextual adaptations and specificities.