Research Transcripts in Energy

Techno-Economic Perspectives on CCUS Deployment for Reducing Process-Related CO₂ Emissions in Cement-Based Construction

Chaithrashree R, Navaneetha Hombali BN — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The construction sector, and cement production in particular, is a major contributor to global CO₂ emissions, with a significant share coming from process-related sources which cannot be fully addressed by conventional measures such as efficiency improvements or substitution of materials. As mitigation strategies are reaching their limits, carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) has emerged as a key path to achieve deep decarbonisation of the cement industry, which is being seen as a representative case for the wider hard-to-reach construction sector. This study presents a systematic literature review of CCUS technologies relevant for cement and concrete, based on a screening process informed by PRISMA and drawing on peer reviewed literature, technical reports and industrial case studies. The principal carbon capture pathways include pre-combustion, post-combustion, oxy-fuel combustion, and chemical looping. These pathways are evaluated alongside CO₂ utilization and storage routes such as mineral carbonation, carbonation curing, and CO₂-based construction materials. The review finds that post-combustion capture and mineral carbonation currently exhibit the highest technological readiness for near-term deployment, while emerging approaches offer long-term potential despite higher energy and cost barriers. CCUS-enabled materials also show benefits in durability, resource efficiency, and carbon permanence, though adoption remains constrained by economic, infrastructural, and regulatory challenges. Overall, the findings indicate that CCUS is essential for decarbonizing hard-to-abate construction processes, and its effective deployment will require coordinated technological innovation, supportive policy frameworks, and standardized acceptance criteria for CO₂-modified materials.

Investigations on Effect of Different Strategies for Air Pollution Treatment with Plants as Air Filter: A CFD Analysis

Mukesh Kumar Ahirwar, Sachin Kumar Nikam, V. N. Bartaria — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The objective of the present research work is to investigate the effect of implementing various types of plant panels on air quality characteristics, such as the removal of particulate matter (PM10) particles, using CFD simulation. This study finds the inclusion of three different types of plant filter panels, such as blocking, parallel, and zigzag forms. CFD simulation was performed using ANSYS Fluent, considering steady state conditions within a range of 0.5-2.0 m/s for air inlet velocities. It was found that the zigzag arrangement of panels has resulted in highly turbulent and mixed flow, as compared to the parallel configuration, which resulted in smooth flow, and the blocking configuration has produced low-velocity zones of recirculation. Besides this, it was also revealed through CFD simulation that PM10 mass flow was lowest for zigzag, minimum for blocking panels, and intermediate mass flow of PM10 particles for parallel. In summary, it was gathered that zigzag panels yielded superior filtration, uniform air flow as compared to the other two configurations, especially in the velocity range of 1-1.5 m/s.

An Analysis of Solar Modulation of Cosmic Rays and Their Significance on Earth's Climate

Hirak Sarkar, Aniket Saha — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Earth receives markedly higher solar irradiance during periods of high solar activity than during quiet conditions, and this variation has been considered here to study its bearing on galactic cosmic rays (GCRs) and, in turn, on climate. GCRs, being high-energy charged particles, get modulated by the heliospheric magnetic field carried outward by the solar wind, giving rise to the well-known anti-correlation, seen in neutron monitor data, between cosmic ray intensity and solar activity indices such as sunspot number, following an approximately 11-year cycle corresponding to half of the solar magnetic cycle. Modulation processes differ for positively and negatively charged particles and also vary with solar magnetic polarity. Here, the effects of outward and inward heliospheric field configurations, and of both solar magnetic polarities, on cosmic ray modulation have been examined, drawing on a literature-based synthesis of publicly archived solar, cosmic ray, and climate datasets, viz. WDC-SILSO, NMDB, and standard instrumental temperature compilations. Modulation of the terrestrial cosmic ray flux is considered as a possible solar influence on climate, acting through atmospheric ion production and electrical conductivity. Cloud nucleation associated with cosmic ray flux is also discussed, along with the balancing evidence from CERN's CLOUD experiment, which indicates that the amplification mechanism linking microphysical effects to macroscopic climate response is, at best, only partly quantified. Daily and monthly sunspot numbers over approximately two centuries are analysed, together with the open solar magnetic flux and the 6–12-month lag observed between solar and cosmic ray variability. The correlation between sunspot number and global surface temperature (GST) is found to lie in the range r ≈ 0.5-0.7 for the pre-1980 record, weakening markedly thereafter, consistent with a growing dominance of greenhouse-gas forcing. The results, taken together, contribute to a more balanced understanding of the possible role of solar-modulated cosmic rays in climate variability.

Optimization and Cost Analysis of Electrocoagulation for Phenolic Syntan Removal from Synthetic Tannery Wastewater

Amit Kumar, Kriti Kumari, Debolina Basu — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Syntans are phenol-based synthetically produced tanning agents used in tanneries for improving the filling, grain properties and dyeing property of the hide. A significant portion of syntans emanating in the tannery effluents along with other heterocyclic aromatic compounds have high pollution load and imposes severe environmental impact. Hence, the present study adopted an Electrocoagulation (EC) method with perforated aluminum electrodes for the removal of phenolic syntan (PS) from PS bearing synthetic tannery wastewater. The one-variable-at-a-time (OVAT) experimental analysis was performed to optimize the PS removal efficiency. The OVAT experiments were studied to understand the impact of operating parameters, i.e. initial pH (3 - 7), current density (5.8 - 23.6 mA/cm²), and initial phenolic syntan (PS) concentration (0.25 - 1.5 g/L). The mixing speed was maintained at 200 rpm in each experiment. The results demonstrated that the EC process could efficiently remove PS (83.43%) from synthetic wastewater at the following operating condition: initial pH= 4, current density= 17.64 mA/cm² and initial PS concentration= 0.25 g/L, and electrolysis time = 90 minutes. The cost analysis showed the economic feasibility of EC techniques with a total cost of $3.46/m³ and demonstrated the need for a balance between the EC unit effectiveness and operating costs for economically viable wastewater treatment in the tannery sector. The study provided valuable information for improved sustainable and economical effluents treatment techniques in tanneries.

Development and Experimental Assessment of an Induction-Heated Sanitary Waste Incineration System

Tripti Gupta, Khushi Ramawat, Naina Sharma — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The recent developments in energy and environmental engineering show the significance of decentralized and energy-efficient systems to the safe handling of sanitary waste. Inappropriate disposal of the used sanitary napkins causes contamination of the environment, toxic gases, and health hazards to the people. The paper is a design, fabrication, and experimental analysis of a portable sanitary napkin incinerator that was designed under the purview of energy-efficient systems. The proposed incinerator of 61 cm x 10 cm x 8 cm size, uses electric-heating technology. The system works under a 2000 W nichrome heating coil operating at 230 V with a sanitary napkin capacity of 5-10 in a cycle. Trials conducted in the laboratory showed full combustion in 170 to 200 s per batch. The evaluation of performance revealed that there was a mean waste mass decrease of about 91 % with the residual inert ash mass of between 3.4 g to 5.1 g per cycle which proves that the performance of volume reduction was achieved. Operating temperatures of 800-1050°C were maintained during combustion. The filtration unit containing activated carbon and gravel was intended to reduce different pollutants. Approximate fabrication cost of the prototype was INR 8,000-12,000, while the operating electricity cost was about INR 2–4 per cycle depending on operating time and local electricity tariff. The results show that energy- efficient systems can be successfully incorporated in small scale incineration system to provide a sustainable resolution to the use of decentralized sanitary waste in the field of environmental engineering.

Prospect of Using Genetically Modified Plants in Constructed Wetlands for Wastewater Treatment

Ranajit Basu, Samir Bajpai, Ajay Vikram Ahirwar — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Constructed wetlands (CWs) are built to work like natural wetlands. They can remove pollutants from wastewater through physical, chemical, and biological processes. Commonly occuring wetland plants often have limited ability to take up pollutants, especially heavy metals. This is because, they do not have the advanced mechanisms found in transgenic plants. Conventional plants also find it difficult to break down hazardous organic contaminants, making them less effective against complex industrial pollutants and persistent substances. Genetically modified macrophytes, however, can be enhanced with genes that improve capacity to uptake metals, tolerate stress, and to break down pollutants. These improvements enable better contaminant removal, even under tough conditions. They also widen the range of pollutants that can be treated, all while keeping the wetland’s structure intact. This paper reviews currently ongoing researches on using genetically modified (GM) plants in constructed wetlands, drawing from sources like ScienceDirect, ResearchGate, and Elsevier, and using keywords such as ‘genetically modified plants’, ‘constructed wetlands’ and ‘wastewater treatment.’ The review also includes official documents from India and other countries. It prominently shows the proven and likely benefits in treatment efficiency, examines ecological and biosafety risks of releasing transgenic macrophytes, and points out knowledge gaps and future research priorities.

Preface: Recent Advances in Environmental Protection and Sustainable Engineering

Ravindra R. Navthar, Sandip A. Kale, Amevi Acakpovi — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000