Cement production accounts for 5%-8%of global CO2emissions,prompting industry interest in carbonation—the natural reabsorption of atmospheric CO2by concrete—as a climate mitigation strategy.Recent studies sugg...Cement production accounts for 5%-8%of global CO2emissions,prompting industry interest in carbonation—the natural reabsorption of atmospheric CO2by concrete—as a climate mitigation strategy.Recent studies suggest carbonation could offset approximately 50%of process emissions,positioning concrete infrastructure as vast carbon reservoirs.However,systematic analysis reveals fundamental limitations challenging this assumption.Cement production generates concentrated CO2pulses during manufacturing while carbonation proceeds slowly through diffusion-limited processes spanning decades,creating critical temporal asymmetry.When properly accounted for through time-adjusted climate assessments,this mismatch reduces claimed benefits by 30%-60%compared to conventional global warming potential calculations.Moreover,synthesis of published experimental data across 99 scenarios demonstrates that 52%exhibit less than 50%probability of achieving net emission reductions,with compressive strength penalties often requiring additional binder use that erodes nominal carbon gains.Critically,this perspective exposes three systematic failures in current climate accounting:①temporal frameworks treating decades-delayed absorption as equivalent to immediate emission avoidance,②selective reporting obscuring widespread performance failures,and③policy prioritization allocating resources to slow,uncertain processes while proven alternatives remain underutilized.By integrating sector-scale projections,lifecycle timing analyses,and comprehensive performance distributions under consistent boundaries,this cross-study synthesis reveals patterns invisible when research remains fragmented—establishing evidence-based hierarchies for near-term decarbonization.In contrast,proven alternatives demonstrate superior performance:supplementary cementitious materials offer 11%-34%emission reductions through direct clinker substitution,structural design optimization achieves 18.5%reductions without compromising safety,and service life extension strategies enable 75%total reduction potential by 2100—far exceeding carbonation-dependent pathways.Consequently,while carbonation remains chemically viable,its slow kinetics,performance uncertainty,and temporal misalignment with climate targets necessitate policy recalibration prioritizing transparent temporal accounting and proven alternatives over uncertain future absorption processes.展开更多
Increased access to pharmaceuticals necessitates proper disposal practices to prevent environmental contamination.Irresponsible disposal leads to the infiltration of pharmaceuticals,which can potentially affect the so...Increased access to pharmaceuticals necessitates proper disposal practices to prevent environmental contamination.Irresponsible disposal leads to the infiltration of pharmaceuticals,which can potentially affect the soil's engineering and agricultural properties.Literature focusing on this topic is limited,which is the motivation of this study.The main aim of this study is to assess the impact of increasing concentrations of pharmaceutical(diclofenac)in pore water on the compressibility and strength characteristics of Malaysian residual soil and potential implications affecting the safety and stability of urban infrastructure.This aim is achieved using a series of standard laboratory experiments to determine one-dimensional(1D)consolidation,direct shear strength,stress-dilatancy,and critical-state behaviors of compacted residual clay samples.The experiments also examined the compressibility and volume change behaviors of normally consolidated soil samples(consolidated at four different initial consolidation pressures)upon sudden infusion of diclofenac solution under time-controlled infusion.The results show that the diclofenac solution significantly influences the response of the residual soil samples,including volume change,strength,and dilatancy behaviors.However,the extent of this influence depends on factors such as the drug matrix,concentration,and type of cations,clay mineralogy,and the significance of the diffused double layer surrounding the clay particles.Further studies employing a more comprehensive range of drugs,soil types,and real-world contamination scenarios(a combination of multiple contaminants)are recommended.The outcomes from this study can inform policy decision-makers on waste disposal regulations(UN-SDG 12)and help develop new or revised long-term design limits to address pharmaceutical intrusion(UN-SDG 11).展开更多
A recent landmark report published in Nature(Maus and Werner,2024)has highlighted the extensive impact of global mining on the environment and communities,particularly in the context of increasing demand for minerals ...A recent landmark report published in Nature(Maus and Werner,2024)has highlighted the extensive impact of global mining on the environment and communities,particularly in the context of increasing demand for minerals and metals driven by the rise in clean energy technologies.This report illuminates not only the wide-ranging ecological and societal ramifications of global mining but also casts a spotlight on pressing concerns such as data scarcity and the sector’s opacity.By providing a comprehensive evaluation of the mining industry’s footprint,it intricately connects the growing need for raw materials with environmental sustainability and community welfare.展开更多
The"Blue Circle"vision,initiated by Zhejiang Province in China,represents a groundbreaking advancement in addressing marine plastic waste.Far more than just an innovative concept,it embodies a future-forward...The"Blue Circle"vision,initiated by Zhejiang Province in China,represents a groundbreaking advancement in addressing marine plastic waste.Far more than just an innovative concept,it embodies a future-forward approach to managing marine plastic waste,revealing the untapped potential in what was previously considered mere debris.This initiative,marrying scientific innovation with advanced technology,has been rightfully acknowledged with the prestigious2023 United Nations"Champions of the Earth"award,recognizing its innovative strategy in environmental stewardship(http://gffzz1898b0ff0edb4459swu9fx6pb0qnx6qbf.ffgz.tsg.suse.edu.cn/a/202310/31/WS65406475a31090682a5eb9ee.html).展开更多
HOW DID SUNGAI LEMBING PAVE ITS PATH TO A GREEN EVOLUTION?Sungai Lembing,a resource-based town situated in Pahang,Malaysia,has historically positioned itself as a pivotal hub in the global tin mining sector.Geological...HOW DID SUNGAI LEMBING PAVE ITS PATH TO A GREEN EVOLUTION?Sungai Lembing,a resource-based town situated in Pahang,Malaysia,has historically positioned itself as a pivotal hub in the global tin mining sector.Geologically,Sungai Lembing’s history dates back to the Paleozoic and Mesozoic eras.These eras were marked by the closure of the Tethyan Ocean and the convergence of continental landmasses from the eastern part of the Gondwana continent.This complex geological background resulted in a wide variety of mineral resources.展开更多
摘要Cement production accounts for 5%-8%of global CO2emissions,prompting industry interest in carbonation—the natural reabsorption of atmospheric CO2by concrete—as a climate mitigation strategy.Recent studies suggest carbonation could offset approximately 50%of process emissions,positioning concrete infrastructure as vast carbon reservoirs.However,systematic analysis reveals fundamental limitations challenging this assumption.Cement production generates concentrated CO2pulses during manufacturing while carbonation proceeds slowly through diffusion-limited processes spanning decades,creating critical temporal asymmetry.When properly accounted for through time-adjusted climate assessments,this mismatch reduces claimed benefits by 30%-60%compared to conventional global warming potential calculations.Moreover,synthesis of published experimental data across 99 scenarios demonstrates that 52%exhibit less than 50%probability of achieving net emission reductions,with compressive strength penalties often requiring additional binder use that erodes nominal carbon gains.Critically,this perspective exposes three systematic failures in current climate accounting:①temporal frameworks treating decades-delayed absorption as equivalent to immediate emission avoidance,②selective reporting obscuring widespread performance failures,and③policy prioritization allocating resources to slow,uncertain processes while proven alternatives remain underutilized.By integrating sector-scale projections,lifecycle timing analyses,and comprehensive performance distributions under consistent boundaries,this cross-study synthesis reveals patterns invisible when research remains fragmented—establishing evidence-based hierarchies for near-term decarbonization.In contrast,proven alternatives demonstrate superior performance:supplementary cementitious materials offer 11%-34%emission reductions through direct clinker substitution,structural design optimization achieves 18.5%reductions without compromising safety,and service life extension strategies enable 75%total reduction potential by 2100—far exceeding carbonation-dependent pathways.Consequently,while carbonation remains chemically viable,its slow kinetics,performance uncertainty,and temporal misalignment with climate targets necessitate policy recalibration prioritizing transparent temporal accounting and proven alternatives over uncertain future absorption processes.
基金supported by the Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia under the Fundamental Research Grant Scheme for the project titled“Mechanism governing the influenceof pharmaceutical wastes on water retention and hydraulic conductivity of clays”(Project Code:FRGS/1/2023/TK06/MUSM/02/2)。
摘要Increased access to pharmaceuticals necessitates proper disposal practices to prevent environmental contamination.Irresponsible disposal leads to the infiltration of pharmaceuticals,which can potentially affect the soil's engineering and agricultural properties.Literature focusing on this topic is limited,which is the motivation of this study.The main aim of this study is to assess the impact of increasing concentrations of pharmaceutical(diclofenac)in pore water on the compressibility and strength characteristics of Malaysian residual soil and potential implications affecting the safety and stability of urban infrastructure.This aim is achieved using a series of standard laboratory experiments to determine one-dimensional(1D)consolidation,direct shear strength,stress-dilatancy,and critical-state behaviors of compacted residual clay samples.The experiments also examined the compressibility and volume change behaviors of normally consolidated soil samples(consolidated at four different initial consolidation pressures)upon sudden infusion of diclofenac solution under time-controlled infusion.The results show that the diclofenac solution significantly influences the response of the residual soil samples,including volume change,strength,and dilatancy behaviors.However,the extent of this influence depends on factors such as the drug matrix,concentration,and type of cations,clay mineralogy,and the significance of the diffused double layer surrounding the clay particles.Further studies employing a more comprehensive range of drugs,soil types,and real-world contamination scenarios(a combination of multiple contaminants)are recommended.The outcomes from this study can inform policy decision-makers on waste disposal regulations(UN-SDG 12)and help develop new or revised long-term design limits to address pharmaceutical intrusion(UN-SDG 11).
摘要A recent landmark report published in Nature(Maus and Werner,2024)has highlighted the extensive impact of global mining on the environment and communities,particularly in the context of increasing demand for minerals and metals driven by the rise in clean energy technologies.This report illuminates not only the wide-ranging ecological and societal ramifications of global mining but also casts a spotlight on pressing concerns such as data scarcity and the sector’s opacity.By providing a comprehensive evaluation of the mining industry’s footprint,it intricately connects the growing need for raw materials with environmental sustainability and community welfare.
基金Graduate Research Excellence Scholarship(GRES)from Monash University Malaysia。
摘要The"Blue Circle"vision,initiated by Zhejiang Province in China,represents a groundbreaking advancement in addressing marine plastic waste.Far more than just an innovative concept,it embodies a future-forward approach to managing marine plastic waste,revealing the untapped potential in what was previously considered mere debris.This initiative,marrying scientific innovation with advanced technology,has been rightfully acknowledged with the prestigious2023 United Nations"Champions of the Earth"award,recognizing its innovative strategy in environmental stewardship(http://gffzz1898b0ff0edb4459swu9fx6pb0qnx6qbf.ffgz.tsg.suse.edu.cn/a/202310/31/WS65406475a31090682a5eb9ee.html).
摘要HOW DID SUNGAI LEMBING PAVE ITS PATH TO A GREEN EVOLUTION?Sungai Lembing,a resource-based town situated in Pahang,Malaysia,has historically positioned itself as a pivotal hub in the global tin mining sector.Geologically,Sungai Lembing’s history dates back to the Paleozoic and Mesozoic eras.These eras were marked by the closure of the Tethyan Ocean and the convergence of continental landmasses from the eastern part of the Gondwana continent.This complex geological background resulted in a wide variety of mineral resources.