ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY UPCYCLING APPROACH TO INCREASE IMPACT RESISTANCE OF REINFORCED CONCRETE STRUCTURES: USE OF INDUSTRIAL WASTE AS CONSERVATION MATERIAL
Within the scope of sustainable cities and responsible consumption, which are among the goals of sustainable development, it is aimed to contribute to life safety, defense industry, protection from disasters and economy with the new generation environmental building technologies and materials to be developed in the field of construction. It is a critical issue to protect reinforced concrete structures, piers, bridge piers, overpasses against impacts, and to reduce the damages and economic losses in disaster situations. Reinforced concrete scaffolding is the load-bearing component of the structure and its impact resistance is crucial to the overall safety of the concrete structure. Therefore, there is a need to develop technologies that can protect structures against explosion and impact loads. Within the scope of the project, environmentally friendly and low-cost concrete materials with industrial waste glass, aluminum, plastic material additives, which can be used in columns, which are the most important part in the strength of reinforced concrete structures to prevent explosion and impact damage, were produced and their strengths were analyzed. The use and design of these materials in the strength of concrete creates the originality of the project. When the results obtained in the project were examined, it was observed that the steel fiber concretes with the addition of waste glass, aluminum ring, disc, beverage can and plastic bottle were resistant to high pressure when compared with the control groups without additives, and the change in surface height after the impact test, visual analysis and load-time graphics showed this. It is seen that the additives have a cushioning effect against the impact, absorbing the energy against the force by 87.6% and increasing the strength significantly. In this project, where it is aimed to increase the strength of concrete structures by using the impact energy absorption feature of waste glass, plastic and aluminum, products with high added value are developed, contributing to the literature and the construction sector. With the large-scale use of the project, the costs spent on the disposal of waste materials will be reduced, the upcycling based on re-using the waste products will be contributed, and the loss of life and property due to impacts and explosions will be prevented.
Investigating the Effects of Temperature and Carbon Dioxide Levels on Nannochloropsis oceanica Using a Hemocytometer Counting Method
Climate changes that include ocean acidification and global warming are serious problems in the ecosystem, affecting marine phytoplankton, including Nannochloropsis oceanica. In the effort to further explore the impact of rising temperature and carbon dioxide (CO₂) concentrations on oceanic ecosystems, the phytoplankton Nannochloropsis oceanica was used as a model organism. This study explored the effect of temperature change and CO₂ concentration on the growth of Nannochloropsis oceanica, achieving 243 samples that were tested with three different temperatures (24 degrees Celsius (°C), 28°C, 32°C) and CO₂ concentrations (0 milliliter (ml)/min, 0.4 ml/min, 0.6 ml/min), utilizing a hemocytometer counting method. Results indicate that the CO₂ concentration has a significant effect on the population of Nannochloropsis oceanica. But the temperature doesn't affect a lot. The Nannochloropsis oceanica in the lowest temperature and highest concentration of CO₂ in its environment had the highest population growth, and in the highest temperature and lowest concentration of CO₂, it had the lowest population growth. Results show the serious negative effect of climate change on the cosystem and the importance of environmental protection. Population blooms due to excess CO₂ taking up ocean resources causing dangerous ecological imbalances.
Climate Change Brings New Novel Virus
1. Research Motivation Have you ever seen news stating that spring is gradually disappearing from the Korean Peninsula? The characteristics of the four seasons are disappearing due to the impact of global warming. As supporting evidence, droughts and heatwaves continue during the rainy season, and unexpected heavy rainfall occurs during autumn. These abnormal temperature phenomena are greatly affecting agriculture. Crops wither due to untimely cold spells or summer droughts, and the proliferation of bacteria and pests worsens. We need to conduct a thorough investigation and response to such weather phenomena. Carbon is known to be the main culprit behind these abnormal temperature phenomena. We want to explore how carbon affects climate change and understand the implications it has. 2. Research Objectives The consequences of climate change, such as deforestation and rising sea levels, will cause significant damage to society as a whole. This will also have a profound impact on the survival of all living organisms on Earth. Unless industrialization is halted, global warming will continue, making it crucial to gain a proper understanding and find accurate alternatives. The damages caused by global warming are expanding the habitats of mosquitoes, which is expected to have an impact on the spread of mosquito-borne diseases. This can also influence the emergence of novel viruses similar to COVID-19. By examining past outbreaks of diseases transmitted by mosquitoes, we aim to predict and understand such occurrences, as well as explore ways to minimize global warming. 3. Expected Benefits Based on this research, a focused exploration of the ecological impacts of global warming can provide essential data to understand the effects of climate anomalies on us and prepare for them. As these phenomena are expected to worsen over time, it will be possible to develop measures to minimize the damage caused by bacterial infections and agricultural losses.
Desert to Fertile Land: Developing TEPA‐modified montmorillonite clay as an efficient CO2 adsorbent to enhance soil fertility
Global warming is a phenomenon in which the Earth's overall temperature rises as a result of increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Among the major greenhouse gases, carbon dioxide (CO2) is the primary greenhouse gas that contributes significantly to global warming [1,2]. The concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is rising due to human activities such as burning fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas), as well as changes in land use and vegetation [3]. Carbon dioxide and other gases, such as methane and nitrogen monoxide absorb infrared radiation and redirect it back to Earth, warming the planet [4]. This rise in temperature can impact ecosystems, climate, water resources, agriculture, public health, and societies in general [5]. To combat global warming and reduce carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere, many countries around the world, including Saudi Arabia, are working to achieve a vision to reduce carbon emissions by reducing their carbon emissions by 278 million tons per year by 2030 in line with the Paris Agreement, for climate. The Kingdom is committed to generating 50% of its electrical energy from renewable sources by 2030. In addition to the shift in the local energy mix, the Saudi Green Initiative is implementing a number of ambitious programs and projects to reduce emissions. These programs include investing in new energy sources, promoting energy efficiency, and expanding carbon capture and storage programs [6]. Through these initiatives, the Kingdom will be able to achieve its climate goals and establish a sustainable future (Figure 1). In addition, the Paris Climate Change Agreement includes 196 countries and the European Union, covering most of the world. This agreement aims to achieve carbon neutrality by taking measures to reduce carbon dioxide emissions [7].