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Fulltext Scalable mesoporous biochars from bagasse waste for Cu (II) removal: Process optimisation, kinetics and techno-economic analysis

Bongosia JG, Al-Gailani A, Kolosz BW, Loy Chun Minh A, Lock SSM, Cheah KW, et al.

J Environ Manage, 2024 Nov;370:122558.
PMID: 39303585 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.122558

As the world faces the brink of climatological disaster, it is crucial to utilize all available resources to facilitate environmental remediation, especially by accommodating waste streams. Lignocellulosic waste residues can be transformed into mesoporous biochar structures with substantial pore capacity. While biochars are considered a method of carbon dioxide removal (CDR), they are in fact an environmental double-edged sword that can be used to extract metal ions from water bodies. Biochars possess high chemical affinities through chemisorption pathways that are tuneable to specific pH conditions. This work demonstrates how biochars can be enhanced to maximise their surface area and porosity for the removal of Cu (II) in solution. It was found that bagasse derived mesoporous biochars operate preferentially at high pH (basic conditions), with the 1.18 mKOH/mSCB material reaching 97.85% Cu (II) removal in 5 min. This result is in stark contrast with the majority of biochar adsorbents that are only effective at low pH (acidic conditions). As a result, the biochars produced in this work can be directly applied to ancestral landfill sites and carbonate-rich mine waters which are highly basic by nature, preventing further metal infiltration and reverse sullied water supplies. Furthermore, to assess the value in the use of biochars produced and applied in this way, a techno-economic assessment was carried out to determine the true cost of biochar synthesis, with possible routes for revenue post-Cu being removed from the biochar.
Exploring the impact of industrialization and electricity use on carbon emissions: The role of green FinTech in Asian countries using an asymmetric panel quantile ARDL approach

Kakar SK, Ali J, Wang J, Wu X, Arshed N, Le Hien TT, et al.

J Environ Manage, 2024 Nov;370:122970.
PMID: 39426172 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.122970

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to investigate how industrialization, financial development, electricity consumption, trade openness, and green FinTech affect on carbon emissions asymmetrically in Asian countries.
DESIGN: Method/Approach: The study examined 29 years of panel data from 39 Asian countries from 1995 to 2022, sourced from World Development Indicators (WDI) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The study constructs a green financial technology index using principal component analysis (PCA). The study utilizes an Asymmetric Panel Quantile Autoregressive Distributive Lag (A-QARDL) model with pooled mean group (PMG) specifications to explore effects that exhibit cross-sectional homogeneous in the long-run, but heterogeneous in the short-run effects.
FINDINGS: Industrialization and financial development have a strongly asymmetric impact on carbon emissions. Industrialization causes an increase in carbon emissions at various quantiles, while green FinTech plays a crucial role in mitigating these carbon emissions. Trade openness and domestic credit to the private sector also help reduce carbon emissions.
RESEARCH LIMITATIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: The study emphasizes the significance of employing green FinTech techniques and using renewable energy sources to meet sustainable industrialization and sustainability goals in Asian countries. The policy consequences include promoting environmentally friendly industrial practices, encouraging green financial investments, and boosting government financing for private sector research and development to mitigate carbon emissions.
ORIGINALITY/VALUE: The study employs robust modeling to analyze the role of green FinTech to enhance industrial sustainability. Both Industrialization and deindustrialization have an impact on economic emissions, and the potential of green FinTech's to promote sustainability contributes to the environment protection strategy.
Toxic metal pollution and associated health risk in nonferrous metal smelting soil containing clay minerals

Cai K, Du J, Yan L, Luan Z, He Y, Shen J, et al.

J Environ Manage, 2024 Nov;370:122909.
PMID: 39405840 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.122909

Given the research situation of toxic metals (TMs) pollution in farmland soil, it is very critical to study the clay influence on TMs environmental behavior to meet the aim of lowering TMs pollution. This research explores the association among clay minerals and TMs and the health risks in TMs combined polluted farmland of northern China. In this study, agricultural soil, wheat grain, and atmospheric sediments from nonferrous metal smelting (NMS) areas were collected and investigated to determine the effect of clay minerals on TMs. The results show that the content ranges of Cd (0.199 mg/kg ∼1.98 × 102 mg/kg), Pb (0.228 × 102 mg/kg ∼ 4.87 × 103 mg/kg), Cu (0.187 × 102 mg/kg ∼ 4.57 × 103 mg/kg), and Zn (0.559 × 102 mg/kg ∼ 3.04 × 103 mg/kg) in the agricultural soil. In particular, Cd has reached heavy pollution by the high pollution index (6.74). The findings indicate that Cd and Pb in wheat grain were influenced by their exchangeable fractions in soil, according to a significant relationship between Cd and Pb in soil and wheat grain. XRD-SEM suggests that TMs come from atmospheric sediments associated with NMS emissions by microsphere signatures with surface burn marks. Meanwhile, Geographical detector indicated that clay was the primary contributor to spatial distribution of Cd and Pb. In addition, XRD results showed that I/S (a mixed layer of illite and smectite), illite, chlorite, and kaolinite co-existed. Whereas the clay minerals with this ratio did not demonstrate better adsorption capacities for Cd and Pb due to the Cd percentage of the residual fraction being less than 9%. The result of negative correlation between exchangeable Cd and clay minerals implies that illite, chlorite, and kaolinite may preferentially adsorb Cd and Pb. It is similar to the relationship between Cd and Pb in wheat grain and illite, chlorite, and kaolinite. In addition, the health assessment result show that the negative correlation between clay minerals and the noncarcinogenic hazard quotient (HQ) and indicate that clay minerals could reduce the noncarcinogenic risk of Pb and Cd for children. Our findings provide a potential mechanism and application of clay minerals for the remediation of soil contaminated with TMs.
Unpacking the environmental quality through the effects of natural resources, renewable energy consumption, banking development and industrial value addition: An empirical evidence from BRICS countries

Bashir MA, Qing L, Dewil R, Xi Z, Razi U, Jingting L

J Environ Manage, 2024 Sep;367:122058.
PMID: 39106799 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.122058

This study explores the association between natural resources rent, industrial value addition, banking development, renewable energy consumption, total reserves and environmental quality in the dynamic context of BRICS nations from 1995 to 2019. BRICS economies are responsible for global greenhouse gas emissions and confront pressing environmental challenges, including biodiversity loss and pollution. For the dependent variable, the environmental quality, the study constructed a composite index using PCA for all environmental indicators where interdependencies among variables are prevalent. Besides this, the study incorporates two interaction terms to determine the indirect influence of natural resource rent and banking development on environmental quality through the mediating role of industrial value addition. By applying the CS-ARDL technique, the outcomes of the study reveal that natural resources rent, industrial value addition, and total reserves positively influence ENQ, indicating the adverse consequences of industrial sectors on environmental quality and continued environmental degradation due to resource-intensive industrial production, underscoring the urgency of sustainable resource management. In contrast, banking development and renewable energy consumption negatively influence ENQ, signifying the positive role of developed banking sectors in supporting eco-friendly projects and enhancing environmental quality. This study offers valuable insights for policy interventions to foster a more sustainable future.
Corrigendum to 'Unpacking the environmental quality through the effects of natural resources, renewable energy consumption, banking development and industrial value addition: An empirical evidence from BRICS countries' [J. Environ. Manage. 367, September 2024, 122058]

Adnan Bashir M, Qing L, Dewil R, Xi Z, Razi U, Jingting L

J Environ Manage, 2024 Aug 16.
PMID: 39153948 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.122221
Heating up the divide: Climate change and the quest for inclusive growth in urban China

Liu X, Liu J, Afthanorhan A, Hao Y

J Environ Manage, 2024 Aug 29;369:122269.
PMID: 39213845 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.122269

Climate change has profoundly affected human production and development, and also brought new challenges to China's goal of achieving inclusive economic growth. Using the data of 273 cities in China from 2001 to 2019, this research evaluates the impact of climate change on urban inclusive economic growth by constructing a temperature bin variable according to the daily average temperature. It is found that with the temperature bin [18 °C, 21 °C) as the benchmark group, both temperature rise and fall have a negative influence on inclusive economic growth. Notably, the adverse effects of high temperatures (above 27 °C) are statistically and economically significant, exhibiting a trend of increasing magnitude. The mechanism test shows that high temperature affects the inclusive growth level of the urban economy mainly by exacerbating the urban‒rural income gap. The heterogeneity analysis found that cities located in hot regions, southern regions or coastal areas are more sensitive to high temperatures and experience more prominent effects. This research holds significant practical implications for China to achieve a win‒win situation of balanced economic development and climate governance.
Soft information monitoring along the supply chain: Customer geographic proximity and firms' ESG performance

Cao L, Lau WY, Shaharuddin SS

J Environ Manage, 2024 Sep 02;369:122302.
PMID: 39226815 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.122302

Previous research ignored the characteristics of environmental, social, and governance (ESG). ESG is soft information. Geographical proximity is important for external stakeholders to monitor firms' soft information. This study examines the impact of customer geographic proximity (CGP) on firms' ESG performance. We hand-collect data on the geographical distance of 29,111 pairs of Chinese A-share listed companies and their top-five customers from 2009 to 2022. First, we find that CGP promotes firms' ESG performance. The results still hold after considering the exogenous influence of the introduction of high-speed rail on CGP. Second, cross-sectional analysis shows that CGP exerts a more pronounced influence on firms with severe information asymmetry. Third, impact channel tests indicate that CGP promotes firms' ESG performance by increasing firms' cash flows. Fourth, the impact of CGP is more obvious when customers have stronger risk management motivation. Collectively, this study provides new insights into factors affecting firms' ESG performance.
Fulltext Challenges and practices on waste management and disposal during COVID-19 pandemic

Hantoko D, Li X, Pariatamby A, Yoshikawa K, Horttanainen M, Yan M

J Environ Manage, 2021 May 15;286:112140.
PMID: 33652254 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.112140

The COVID-19 pandemic has imposed a global emergency and also has raised issues with waste management practices. This study emphasized the challenges of increased waste disposal during the COVID-19 crisis and its response practices. Data obtained from the scientific research papers, publications from the governments and multilateral organizations, and media reports were used to quantify the effect of the pandemic towards waste generation. A huge increase in the amount of used personal protective equipments (facemasks, gloves, and other protective stuffs) and wide distribution of infectious wastes from hospitals, health care facilities, and quarantined households was found. The amount of food and plastic waste also increased during the pandemic. These factors caused waste treatment facilities to be overwhelmed, forcing emergency treatment and disposals (e.g., co-disposal in a municipal solid waste incinerator, cement kilns, industrial furnaces, and deep burial) to ramp up processing capacity. This paper discussed the ways the operation of those facilities must be improved to cope with the challenge of handling medical waste, as well as working around the restrictions imposed due to COVID-19. The study also highlights the need for short, mid, and longer-term responses towards waste management during the pandemic. Furthermore, the practices discussed in this paper may provide an option for alternative approaches and development of sustainable strategies for mitigating similar pandemics in the future.
COP 28 Policy Perspectives: Achieving Environmental Sustainability through FDI, Technological Innovation Index, Trade Openness, Energy Consumption, and Economic Development in N-11 Emerging Economies

Abbass K, Zafar MW, Khan F, Begum H, Song H

J Environ Manage, 2024 Sep 04;369:122271.
PMID: 39236618 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.122271

Despite remarkable success in attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) to achieve maximum economic growth, the Next-11 emerging economies grappling with an undesirable situation of environmental degradation have become a hot topic at COP28. Researchers have long focused on this connection, emphasizing the urgent need for international and national environmentalists to promote sustainable development (SD) in these rapidly growing economies under the United Nations (UN) Framework Convention on Climate Change action plans. As a result, this study examines the role of FDI in the N-11 emerging economies, focusing on energy usage and technological innovation within the theoretical framework of the Halo-Haven hypothesis, covering the period from 1990 to 2022. We utilize ARDL, FMOLS, and DOLS techniques to analyze both short-term dynamics and long-term equilibrium relationships, effectively managing heterogeneity, time dynamics, and cross-sectional dependence issues to produce comprehensive results. The long-term analysis supports the haven hypothesis, demonstrating an affirmative relationship between FDI, economic growth, and carbon emissions, whereas energy usage is negatively associated with carbon emissions. Furthermore, the D-H test established a reciprocal causal relationship between variables such as FDI, economic growth, trade openness, and environmental pollution. However, we found a one-way causal correspondence in the usage of green energy, the technological innovation index, and carbon emissions. Given the mixed findings, policymakers should focus on attracting FDI to the green energy sector while reinforcing regulations and implementing stringent oversight for FDI in energy-intensive industries. This approach will ensure that such investments adhere to high environmental standards, thereby benefiting future generations.
Fulltext Secondary transmission of SARS-CoV-2 through wastewater: Concerns and tactics for treatment to effectively control the pandemic

Thakur AK, Sathyamurthy R, Velraj R, Lynch I, Saidur R, Pandey AK, et al.

J Environ Manage, 2021 Jul 15;290:112668.
PMID: 33895445 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.112668

The SARS-CoV-2 virus has spread globally and has severely impacted public health and the economy. Hand hygiene, social distancing, and the usage of personal protective equipment are considered the most vital tools in controlling the primary transmission of the virus. Converging evidence indicated the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater and its persistence over several days, which may create secondary transmission of the virus via waterborne and wastewater pathways. Although, researchers have started focusing on this mode of virus transmission, limited knowledge and societal unawareness of the transmission through wastewater may lead to significant increases in the number of positive cases. To emphasize the severe issue of virus transmission through wastewater and create societal awareness, we present a state of the art critical review on transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater and the potential remedial strategies to effectively control the viral spread and safeguard society. For low-income countries with high population densities, it is suggested to identify the virus in large scale municipal wastewater plants before following up with one-to-one testing for effective control of the secondary transmission. Ultrafiltration is an effective method for wastewater treatment and usually more than 4 logs of virus removal are achieved while safeguarding good protein permeability. Decentralized wastewater treatment facilities using solar-assisted disinfestation methods are most economical and can be effectively used in hospitals, isolation wards, and medical centers for reducing the risk of transmission from high local concentration sites, especially in tropical countries with abundant solar energy. Disinfection with chlorine, sodium hypochlorite, benzalkonium chloride, and peracetic acid have shown potential in terms of virucidal properties. Biological wastewater treatment using micro-algae will be highly effective in removal of virus and can be incorporated into membrane bio-reaction to achieve excellent virus removal rate. Though promising results have been shown by initial research for inactivation of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater using physical, chemical and biological based treatment methods, there is a pressing need for extensive investigation of COVID-19 specific disinfectants with appropriate concentrations, their environmental implications, and regular monitoring of transmission. Effective wastewater treatment methods with high virus removal capacity and low treatment costs should be selected to control the virus spread and safeguard society from this deadly virus.
Effective waste management through Co-pyrolysis of EFB and tire waste: Mechanistic and synergism analysis

Mong GR, Liew CS, Idris R, Woon KS, Chong WWF, Chiong MC, et al.

J Environ Manage, 2024 Sep;368:122172.
PMID: 39137640 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.122172

Driven by the need for solutions to address the global issue of waste accumulation from human activities and industries, this study investigates the thermal behaviors of empty fruit bunch (EFB), tyre waste (TW), and their blends during co-pyrolysis, exploring a potential method to convert waste into useable products. The kinetics mechanism and thermodynamics properties of EFB and TW co-pyrolysis were analysed through thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The rate of mass loss for the blend of EFB:TW at a 1:3 mass ratio shows an increase of around 20% due to synergism. However, the blend's average activation energy is higher (298.64 kJ/mol) when compared with single feedstock pyrolysis (EFB = 257.29 kJ/mol and TW = 252.92 kJ/mol). The combination of EFB:TW at a 3:1 ratio does not result in synergistic effects on mass loss. However, a lower activation energy is reported, indicating the decomposition process can be initiated at a lower energy requirement. The reaction model that best describes the pyrolysis of EFB, TW and their blends can be categorised into the diffusion and power model categories. An equal mixture of EFB and TW was the preferred combination for co-management because of the synergistic effect, which significantly impacts the co-pyrolysis process. The mass loss rate experiences an inhibitive effect at an earlier stage (320 °C), followed by a promotional impact at the later stage (380 °C). The activation energy needed for a balanced mixture is the least compared to all tested feedstocks, even lower than the pyrolysis of a single feedstock. The study revealed the potential for increasing decomposition rates using lower energy input through the co-pyrolysis of both feedstocks. These findings evidenced that co-pyrolysis is a promising waste management and valorisation pathway to deal with overwhelming waste accumulation. Future works can be conducted at a larger scale to affirm the feasibility of EFB and TW co-management.
Integrated energy informatics technology on microalgae-based wastewater treatment to bioenergy production: A review

Yu KL, Ong HC, Zaman HB

J Environ Manage, 2024 Sep;368:122085.
PMID: 39142099 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.122085

The production of renewable biofuel through microalgae and green technology can be a promising solution to meet future energy demands whilst reducing greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions and recovering energy for a carbon-neutral bio-economy and environmental sustainability. Recently, the integration of Energy Informatics (EI) technology as an emerging approach has ensured the feasibility and enhancement of microalgal biotechnology and bioenergy applications. Integrating EI technology such as artificial intelligence (AI), predictive modelling systems and life cycle analysis (LCA) in microalgae field applications can improve cost, efficiency, productivity and sustainability. With the approach of EI technology, data-driven insights and decision-making, resource optimization and a better understanding of the environmental impact of microalgae cultivation could be achieved, making it a crucial step in advancing this field and its applications. This review presents the conventional technologies in the microalgae-based system for wastewater treatment and bioenergy production. Furthermore, the recent integration of EI in microalgal technology from the AI application to the modelling and optimization using predictive control systems has been discussed. The LCA and techno-economic assessment (TEA) in the environmental sustainability and economic point of view are also presented. Future challenges and perspectives in the microalgae-based wastewater treatment to bioenergy production integrated with the EI approach, are also discussed in relation to the development of microalgae as the future energy source.
Fulltext Assessment of microplastics in highland rock salts of Northern Borneo

Mohan Viswanathan P, Mishra A, Singam DR, John J

J Environ Manage, 2024 Sep;368:122207.
PMID: 39180824 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.122207

Mountain salts produced from the highland region in NE Sarawak have a market value and also provide basic income to the communities. During the salt-making process, microplastics (MPs) may enter into commercial table salts from various sources, which has not been explored yet. Hence, the current research investigates the presence of MPs in the rock salts produced from the highland saline water in two different locations (L1 and L2) in NE Sarawak. Among the brine water and rock salt samples analysed, the highest concentrations of MPs were detected from the salt samples. It has been revealed that both the water and salt samples have the highest concentration of MPs occurring within the size range of 1-1000 μm. Transparent MPs are the most common colour observed in both salt and water samples, followed by white, blue, red, and black. The most prevalent shapes of MPs are fibers, which account for almost 47% in water samples and 87% in salt samples. Based on the ATR-FTIR study, polyethylene (PE) is the most prevalent polymer observed in salt samples, followed by polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET). In water samples, PP is the most dominating polymer, followed by PE and PS. Through SEM microphotographs, fiber-type MPs have smooth surfaces, fragment-type MPs have rough edges, and sheet-type MPs have layered surfaces. EDX analysis revealed that carbon (C) and oxygen (O) are the most abundant elements, followed by aluminium (Al) and sodium (Na) in MPs. Based on the results, it is inferred that the MPs in the rock salts are mainly sourced from the different stages of salt-making production. This preliminary study shed light on the presence and characteristics of MPs in rock salts in this region. The research outcomes could support sustainable management plans to improve the salt quality and enhance the market value.
Electric vehicle eco-driving strategy at signalized intersections based on optimal energy consumption

Jayson T, Bakibillah ASM, Tan CP, Kamal MAS, Monn V, Imura JI

J Environ Manage, 2024 Sep;368:122245.
PMID: 39173300 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.122245

Electric vehicles (EVs), which are a great substitute for gasoline-powered vehicles, have the potential to achieve the goal of reducing energy consumption and emissions. However, the energy consumption of an EV is highly dependent on road contexts and driving behavior, especially at urban intersections. This paper proposes a novel ecological (eco) driving strategy (EDS) for EVs based on optimal energy consumption at an urban signalized intersection under moderate and dense traffic conditions. Firstly, we develop an energy consumption model for EVs considering several crucial factors such as road grade, curvature, rolling resistance, friction in bearing, aerodynamics resistance, motor ohmic loss, and regenerative braking. For better energy recovery at varying traffic speeds, we employ a sigmoid function to calculate the regenerative braking efficiency rather than a simple constant or linear function considered by many other studies. Secondly, we formulate an eco-driving optimal control problem subject to state constraints that minimize the energy consumption of EVs by finding a closed-form solution for acceleration/deceleration of vehicles over a time and distance horizon using Pontryagin's minimum principle (PMP). Finally, we evaluate the efficacy of the proposed EDS using microscopic traffic simulations considering real traffic flow behavior at an urban signalized intersection and compare its performance to the (human-based) traditional driving strategy (TDS). The results demonstrate significant performance improvement in energy efficiency and waiting time for various traffic demands while ensuring driving safety and riding comfort. Our proposed strategy has a low computing cost and can be used as an advanced driver-assistance system (ADAS) in real-time.
Green horizons: Overcoming political risks with strategic environmental management and financial innovation

Khan N, Karim S, Chan LF, She L

J Environ Manage, 2024 Sep;368:122224.
PMID: 39178790 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.122224

The impact of political risk and financial development has been widely studied in the context of sustainable environmental practices. However, their effects on green finance and sustainable finance initiatives have not been thoroughly explored. This paper fills this gap by examining the influence of the political risk financial development index on green finance across 21 OECD economies from 1990 to 2020. Unit root and cointegration tests reveal that variables are stationary at first difference, and there is a long-run cointegration among them. For the primary analysis, we employed the novel MMQR approach, which demonstrates that the financial development index enhances green finance, while the political risk index diminishes it across all quantiles - upper, median, and lower. Robustness analysis using BSQR further confirms these findings. Policies aimed at fostering financial development and reducing political risk should acknowledge the growing significance of green finance in OECD economies.
How does technological innovation moderate the environmental impacts of economic growth, natural resource rents and trade openness?

Ehigiamusoe KU, Dogan E, Ramakrishnan S, Binsaeed RH

J Environ Manage, 2024 Dec;371:123229.
PMID: 39522189 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.123229

The objective of this study is to unravel the linear impacts of economic growth, technological innovation, natural resource rents and trade openness on carbon emissions in Malaysia during 1980-2021. It also unveils the moderating role of technological innovation on the impacts of economic growth, natural resource rents and trade openness on carbon emissions. It further analyses the nonlinear relationship between technological innovation and carbon emissions. It estimates the parameters with the Autoregressive Distributed Lag model technique. The results of the linear model reveal that economic growth, natural resource rents and trade openness contributes to carbon emissions while technological innovation mitigates carbon emissions. The disaggregated analysis of natural resource rents indicates that oil rents, natural gas rents and coal rents intensify carbon emissions while mineral rents and forest rents do not contribute to carbon emissions. The disaggregated analysis of trade openness shows that exports worsen carbon emissions while imports have tenuous effect. The disaggregated analysis of technological innovation indicates that innovation by non-residents mitigate carbon emissions while innovation by residents do not alleviate carbon emissions. Moreover, evidence from the interaction model reveals that technological innovation can favourably mitigate the adverse impacts of economic growth and trade openness on carbon emissions albeit it cannot alleviate the impact of natural resource rents on carbon emissions. Besides, the nonlinear model indicates a U-shaped relationship between technological innovation and carbon emissions. Unlike previous studies that typically focused on the direct impacts of these variables, this study unravels the impacts of the disaggregated components as well as provides insights into the moderating and nonlinear effects of technological innovation on carbon emissions. The implication of this study is that efforts to achieve a carbon-neutral economy should consider the direct and indirect impacts of economic growth, technological innovation, natural resource rents and trade openness. It is recommended for Malaysia to encourage technological innovation in her quest to abate the adverse environmental impacts of economic activities.
Fulltext The impact of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) rating disparities on corporate risk: The mediating role of financing constraints

Bao X, Sadiq M, Tye W, Zhang J

J Environ Manage, 2024 Dec;371:123113.
PMID: 39481154 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.123113

As global concerns over climate change and sustainability grow, Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) factors have become critical in evaluating corporate practices. In China, the increasing adoption of ESG ratings by investors has highlighted discrepancies in these ratings, which may impact corporate risk. While extensive research exists on ESG performance, the effects of ESG rating disparities on corporate risk, particularly in Chinese enterprises, remain underexplored, especially the mediating role of financing constraints. Utilizing data from Chinese A-share listed companies from 2015 to 2022, this study examines the impact of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) rating disparities on corporate risk, focusing on the mediating role of financing constraints. The findings indicate that discrepancies in ESG ratings significantly increase corporate risk, particularly in non-state-owned enterprises and heavily polluting industries, while having no significant impact on state-owned enterprises. Discrepancies in governance ratings exert the greatest impact on corporate risk, underscoring the critical role of corporate governance. Financing constraints further exacerbate the impact of rating discrepancies on corporate risk. These results provide new insights into enhancing the ESG rating system and mitigating corporate risk, offering a foundation for relevant policy-making.
Harnessing bio and (Photo)catalysts for microplastics degradation and remediation in soil environment

Adamu H, Bello U, IbrahimTafida U, Garba ZN, Galadima A, Lawan MM, et al.

J Environ Manage, 2024 Nov;370:122543.
PMID: 39305881 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.122543

Soil pollution by microplastics (MPs) is an escalating environmental crisis with far-reaching consequences. However, current research on the degradation and/or remediation of MPs has mainly focused on water-simulated environments, with little attention given to soil MPs. Therefore, the review explores such terrestrial territory, exploring the potential of biodegradation and novel photocatalytic technologies for MPs degradation/remediation in soil. This review comprehensively investigates the potential of biological and photocatalytic approaches for soil MPs degradation and remediation. A temporal analysis of research from 2004 to 2024 highlights the increasing focus on this critical issue. The review explores the biocatalytic roles of diverse enzymes, including cutinase, PETase, MHETase, hydrolase, lipase, laccase, lignin peroxidase, and Mn-peroxidase, in MPs degradation. Strategies for enzyme engineering, such as protein engineering and immobilization, are explored to enhance catalytic efficiency. The potential for developing enzyme consortia for optimized MP degradation is also discussed. Photocatalytic remediation using TiO2, ZnO, clay, hydrogel, and other photocatalysts is examined, emphasizing their mechanisms and effectiveness. Computational modeling is proposed to deepen understanding of soil MPs-catalyst interactions, primarily aiming to develop novel catalysts tailored for soil environments for environmental safety and sustainable restoration. A comparative analysis of biological and photocatalytic approaches evaluates their environmental implications and the potential for synergistic combinations, with emphasis on soil quality protection, restoration and impact on soil ecosystems. Hence, this review accentuates the urgent need for innovative solutions to address MPs pollution in soil and provides a foundational understanding of the current knowledge gaps, as well as paves the way for future research and development.
Fulltext Reforestation of tropical rainforests as a negative emissions technology in Malaysia: An environmental and economic sustainability assessment

Saharudin DM, Jeswani HK, Azapagic A

J Environ Manage, 2024 Dec;371:123250.
PMID: 39547020 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.123250

Forest carbon sequestration is a promising negative emissions technology as it is relatively simple and inexpensive. Its potential for climate mitigation could be particularly high in tropical rainforests as they can store more carbon at a faster rate. However, the understanding of its sustainability is limited due to the scarcity of studies. Focusing on reforestation, this work is the first to present an extensive environmental and economic assessment of forest CO2 sequestration in a tropical rainforest country such as Malaysia. Life cycle assessment (LCA) and life cycle costing (LCC) are combined to evaluate the sustainability of reforestation with four tropical tree species: keruing (Dipterocarpus spp.), meranti (Shorea leprosula), rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) and kapok (Ceiba Pentandra). Considering the horizon of 60 years, the system boundaries comprise site infrastructure, land clearing, tree planting and growing, and forest management. The dynamics of greenhouse gas (GHG) and other air emissions are also considered over the period, including carbon sequestration and land use change, nitrous oxide and ethylene emissions. All tree species lead to a net-negative GHG emissions, ranging from -558 to -808 kg CO2 eq./t CO2 removed, with kapok having the highest and rubber the lowest sequestration potential. The latter has the highest values in 13 other impact categories considered, while keruing is the best option for 12 impacts. The main environmental hotspot for all species is the forest management stage. The LCC range from -US$17 to US$12/t CO2 removed. Reforestation on lands available in Malaysia could remove 105.9-473.3 Mt CO2 over 60 years, or 1.8-7.9 Mt CO2/yr, equivalent to 7.4-33 % of the agricultural emissions. Rubber and kapok could generate US$640 M and US$8.06 bn in profits over 60 years from latex and fibre, respectively. Therefore, reforestation has a significant potential to help tropical countries, such as Malaysia, achieve net-negative emissions, while at the same time boosting the economy.
Tradeoffs among yield, cadmium bioavailability, nitrous oxide emission and bacterial community stability: Effects of iron-modified woody peat and nitrification inhibitors on soil-vegetable systems

Cao X, Hu X, Efrizal E, Hayati I, Yang J, Tan C, et al.

J Environ Manage, 2024 Dec;372:123379.
PMID: 39550941 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.123379

Cadmium (Cd) pollution leads to soil degradation, decreases crop yield and affects human health through the food chain. Iron-modified woody peat (IMP) is an organic passivation material that significantly affects the migration of heavy metals in soil. Nitrification inhibitors are widely used to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This study investigated the effects of the IMP and nitrification inhibitors dicyandiamide (DCD) and 3, 4-dimethylpyrazole phosphate on Cd content and form, crop yield, nitrous oxide (N2O) emission and bacterial communities in soil-lettuce systems. The simultaneous additions of IMP and DCD substantially reduced the soil available Cd content by 22.6 % and significantly promoted the lettuce yield by 42.9 %. Lettuce yield was significantly and negatively correlated with soil available Cd (correlation coefficient = -0.52). The simultaneous applications of IMP and nitrification inhibitors stimulated N2O emission risk by enhancing the soil NH4+-N contents and the relative abundances of Firmicutes, which could also decrease soil bacterial community stabilities. Therefore, tradeoffs among yield, Cd bioavailability, N2O emission and bacterial community stability should be comprehensively considered when evaluating the combined performances of IMP and nitrification inhibitors.

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