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Gdańsk University of Technology

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Publications from the year 2023

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  • Study on effective front region thickness of PCM in thermal energy storage using a novel semi-theoretical model
    • Rafał Andrzejczyk
    • Muhammad Saqib
    • Tomasz Kowalczyk
    • Hafiz Muhammad Ali
    2023 Full text INTERNATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS IN HEAT AND MASS TRANSFER

    Thermal energy storage in mobile applications, particularly battery of electric vehicles, is currently gaining a lot of importance. In this paper, a semi-theoretical time-dependent mathematical model of the phase change in a double shell thermal energy storage module has been developed where the inner tube is a heat exchange surface. An effective front region thickness for the melting and solidification process has been studied. The proposed model is calibrated based on our experimental data. The purpose of such a model is to enable the optimization of the geometry of the energy storage modules in terms of the PCM to the TES container mass ratio and enhancement of phase change rate. In addition, results obtained for a single tube can be used in the bundle of tubes in shell and tube TES design. The results have shown that for the larger diameter of the module (smaller difference between the working tube and shell diameter) the optimal working time is around 2000 s.

  • Study on Microstructure-Property Relationship of Inconel 617 Alloy/304L SS Steel Dissimilar Welds Joint
    • Amit Kumar
    • Krishna Guguloth
    • Shailesh M. Pandey
    • Dariusz Fydrych
    • Sachin Sirohi
    • Chandan Pandey
    2023 METALLURGICAL AND MATERIALS TRANSACTIONS A-PHYSICAL METALLURGY AND MATERIALS SCIENCE

    Welding of Inconel 617 (IN617) alloy and austenitic 304L SS steel has been attempted using the autogenous Laser Beam Welding (LBW) process. Characterization of dissimilar weldments was performed on either side of the fusion boundaries. The metallographic results showed that the inhomogeneous microstructure formation for weld metal contained columnar and cellular dendrites near the interface, whilst the columnar, cellular and equiaxed types of dendrites were in the weld centre. The energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) studies revealed the white layer near the interface on both sides of the fusion line, as well as a significant change in the concentration of alloying elements (Fe, Cr, Ni, Co, and Mo). The weld metal accompanied by Cr, Ti and Mo precipitates evolved in the inter-dendritic spaces. The Cr and Mo-rich M23C6 and Mo-rich M6C phases in IN617 heat-affected zone (HAZ) were found in SEM/EDS and EPMA studies. The 304L SS side showed a distinct HAZ, whilst on the IN617 side, no distinct HAZ was seen. Samples were prepared from the dissimilar weldments to evaluate their mechanical properties, such as tensile strength and hardness. The microhardness plot showed the non-uniformity in hardness along the weldments. The weld metal hardness was 253 ± 10 HV. The tensile test of the welded joint results was compared with the base metals. The tested results exhibited that the failure of the specimen from 304L SS base metal (BM) or from weld metal with tensile strength was marginally lower than the Inconel 617 base metal but significantly higher than the 304L SS BM. The fracture surface study revealed the presence of Mo and Cr segregation in inter-dendritic spaces, which impoverished the tensile properties. The order of impact toughness was measured as follows: 304L SS BM > 304L SS HAZ>IN617 BM>weld metal>IN617 HAZ. The IN617 HAZ was recognised as the weakest area of the weldments in terms of impact strength. The welded joint was considered safe for AUSC application because the stress-rupture properties were evaluated in between base metals data.

  • Study on transmission quality in cellular 4G and 5G networks between 2019–2021: Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the level of provided services by operating base transceiver stations
    • Przemysław Falkowski-Gilski
    • Tadeus Uhl
    2023 Full text Zeszyty Naukowe Akademii Morskiej w Szczecinie

    The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly limited user mobility, not least among students. Remote learning had a particular impact on resource allocation in relation to using terrestrial cellular networks, especially 4G systems in urban agglomerations. This paper presents the results of a quality evaluation of an outdoor environment, carried out between 2019 and 2021 on the campus of a technical university. Annual studies are conducted using our own custom-built mobile application, installed on 50 mobile devices (i.e., smartphones) running Android OS. This study aims to determine the impact of reduced user mobility on access parameters in mobile networks, that is, both download and upload throughput as well as delay (ping), with a particular focus on serving base transceiver stations (BTSs). This research scenario involves long-term evolution (LTE) compatible user equipment (UE) that operates under four Polish mobile network operators (MNO), which includes roaming connections and the newly launched 5G standard.

  • Substancje groźne, niebezpieczne i pożyteczne. Tom 2. Związki organiczne
    • Aleksander Kołodziejczyk
    • Aleksandra Kołodziejczyk
    2023

    Streszczenie W drugim tomie prezentowanej książki przedstawione zostały informacje nt. związków organicznych, ich występowania, otrzymywania, właściwości oraz zagrożeń jakie one stwarzają, a także korzyści, jakich dostarczają. Do związków organicznych zaliczane są te substancje, które zawierają atom lub atomy węgla, z pewnymi wyjątkami (szczegóły w książce). Szacunkowo, liczba znanych związków organicznych sięga kilkudziesięciu milionów (wg PubChem), a rocznie przybywa ich około 200 tys. W związkach organicznych obok węgla i wodoru najczęściej występują także tlen, azot i siarka, dlatego te pięć pierwiastków nazwano pierwiastkami organicznymi. Połączenia organiczne, które zawierają jeszcze inne atomy bezpośrednio związane z atomami węgla noszą nazwy wynikające z ich obecności np. związki z atomami metali nazywane są związkami metaloorganicznymi. Do najczęściej spotykanych należą też związki halogenoorganiczne, siarkoorganiczne czy fosforoorganiczne. Od ich nazw zatytułowane zostały poszczególne rozdziały książki. Z racji bardzo zróżnicowanych edukacyjnie potencjalnych czytelników książki poprzedzono je omówieniem głównych grup związków organicznych, a więc węglowodorów, alkoholi, eterów, związków karbonylowych, kwasów karboksylowych i ich pochodnych. Szczególny nacisk został położony na zagrożenia, jakie stwarzają najniebezpieczniejsze z nich, a także sposoby ochrony przed nimi. Przed przystąpieniem do pisania tej książki z niektórych zagrożeń nie zdawali sobie sprawy nawet jej autorzy, chemicy organicy z długoletnim doświadczeniem. Przykładem może być eteromania, nałóg narkotyzowania się eterem dietylowym, bardzo rozpowszechniony w okresie międzywojennym. Znamiennym przykładem ogromnego zagrożenia jest siarczan dimetylu, popularny odczynnik używany w laboratoriach chemicznych i biochemicznych. Powszechnie wiadomo, że jest to substancja szkodliwa, ale mało kto wie jak bardzo – był rozważany jako potencjalny gaz bojowy.

  • Succinite, Baltic Amber: A Chemical Masterpiece of Nature
    • Ewa Wagner-Wysiecka
    2023 Full text Journal of Gems & Gemmology

    Succinite, Baltic amber, is one of the most appreciated fossil resins. Its beauty has fascinated people since prehistoric times. It is a substance, and also gemstone, whose uniqueness is due to its compelling, though still not fully understood, physicochemical nature. In this article, some facts about the physical and chemical properties of succinite in order to find an answer for questions about the unique properties of this resin, such as color, transparency, texture etc., are discussed. These properties are among the factors that determine the choice of Baltic amber as a gemstone. Commonly known properties of succinite, but also some less obvious features, have been linked to the organic and inorganic chemical composition and structural factors, including the sophisticated supramolecular structure masterfully created by nature. Changes of the properties of succinite used as a jewelry stone are discussed as a reflection of changes in its physicochemical nature. In this light, some methods that can be used to identify succinite (i.e., infrared spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy) and their relevance to the classification of fossil resins are briefly discussed. This article highlights an important point: only by understanding the chemical and physical nature of the material we able to identify, modify and effectively use the goods that have been given to us by mother nature.

  • Suitableness of SLM Manufactured Turbine Blade for Aerodynamical Tests
    • Janusz Telega
    • Piotr Kaczynski
    • Małgorzata Śmiałek-Telega
    • Piotr Pawłowski
    • Ryszard Szwaba
    2023 Full text Materials

    settingsOrder Article Reprints Open AccessArticle Suitableness of SLM Manufactured Turbine Blade for Aerodynamical Tests by Janusz Telega 1,*ORCID,Piotr Kaczynski 1ORCID,Małgorzata A. Śmiałek 2ORCID,Piotr Pawlowski 3ORCID andRyszard Szwaba 1ORCID 1 Institute of Fluid Flow Machinery Polish Academy of Sciences (IMP PAN), Fiszera 14, 80-231 Gdansk, Poland 2 Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Ship Technology, Institute of Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering, Gdansk University of Technology, Narutowicza 11/12, 80-233 Gdansk, Poland 3 Institute of Fundamental Technological Research Polish Academy of Sciences (IPPT PAN), Pawinskiego 5B, 02-106 Warsaw, Poland * Author to whom correspondence should be addressed. Materials 2023, 16(7), 2866; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16072866 Received: 27 February 2023 / Revised: 24 March 2023 / Accepted: 29 March 2023 / Published: 4 April 2023 (This article belongs to the Topic Additive Manufacturing: Design, Opportunities, and Applications) Download Browse Figures Versions Notes Abstract This paper describes some insights on applicability of a Selective Laser Melting and Direct Metal Laser Sintering technology-manufactured turbine blade models for aerodynamic tests in a wind tunnel. The principal idea behind this research was to assess the possibilities of using ‘raw’ DLMS printed turbine blade models for gas-flow experiments. The actual blade, manufactured using the DLMS technology, is assessed in terms of surface quality (roughness), geometrical shape and size (outline), quality of counterbores and quality of small diameter holes. The results are evaluated for the experimental aerodynamics standpoint. This field of application imposes requirements that have not yet been described in the literature. The experimental outcomes prove the surface quality does not suffice to conduct quantitative experiments. The holes that are necessary for pressure measurements in wind tunnel experiments cannot be reduced below 1 mm in diameter. The dimensional discrepancies are on the level beyond acceptable. Additionally, the problem of ‘reversed tolerance’, with the material building up and distorting the design, is visible in elements printed with the DLMS technology. The results indicate the necessity of post-machining of the printed elements prior their experimental usage, as their features in the ‘as fabricated’ state significantly disturb the flow conditions.

  • Superconductivity in a breathing kagome metals ROs2 (R = Sc, Y, Lu)
    • Karolina Górnicka
    • Michał Winiarski
    • Dorota I. Walicka
    • Tomasz Klimczuk
    2023 Full text Scientific Reports

    We have successfully synthesized three osmium-based hexagonal Laves compounds ROs2 (R = Sc, Y, Lu), and discussed their physical properties. LeBail refinement of pXRD data confirms that all compounds crystallize in the hexagonal centrosymmetric MgZn2- type structure (P63/mmc, No. 194). The refined lattice parameters are a = b = 5.1791(1) Å and c = 8.4841(2) Å for ScOs2, a = b = 5.2571(3) Å and c = 8.6613(2) Å for LuOs2 and a = b = 5.3067(6) Å and c = 8.7904(1) Å for YOs2. ROs2 Laves phases can be viewed as a stacking of kagome nets interleaved with triangular layers. Temperature-dependent magnetic susceptibility, resistivity and heat capacity measurements confirm bulk superconductivity at critical temperatures, Tc, of 5.36, 4.55, and 3.47 K for ScOs2, YOs2, and LuOs2, respectively. We have shown that all investigated Laves compounds are weakly-coupled type-II superconductors. DFT calculations revealed that the band structure of ROs2 is intricate due to multiple interacting d orbitals of Os and R. Nonetheless, the kagome-derived bands maintain their overall shape, and the Fermi level crosses a number of bands that originate from the kagome flat bands, broadened by interlayer interaction. As a result, ROs2 can be classified as (breathing) kagome metal superconductors

  • Superconductivity in Bismuth Pyrochlore Lattice Compounds RbBi2 and CsBi2: The Role of Relativistic Effects
    • Sylwia Gutowska
    • Bartlomiej Wiendlocha
    • Tomasz Klimczuk
    • Michał Winiarski
    2023 Full text Journal of Physical Chemistry C

    Superconducting properties of two bismuthide intermetallic compounds, RbBi2 and CsBi2, were studied by means of experimental measurements and ab initio calculations. We show that in both compounds, the superconductivity emerges from the pyrochlore Bi lattice and its formation is heavily influenced by relativistic effects. Based on our analysis of the effect of spin–orbit coupling on the electron–phonon coupling, we suggest a possible criterion for finding new superconducting materials by looking for structures featuring relativistically stabilized hypervalent networks of heavy p-block elements.

  • Superconductivity of Ta-Hf and Ta-Zr alloys: Potential alloys for use in superconducting devices
    • Tomasz Klimczuk
    • Szymon Królak
    • Robert J. Cava
    2023 Full text Physical Review Materials

    The electronic properties relevant to superconductivity are reported for bulk Ta-Hf and Ta-Zr body centered cubic alloys, in a large part to determine whether their properties are suitable for potential use in superconducting qbits. The body centered cubic unit cell sizes increase with increasing alloying. The results of magnetic susceptibility, electrical resistivity, and heat capacity characterization are reported. While elemental Ta is a type I superconductor, the alloys are type II strong coupling superconductors. Although decreasing the electron count per atom is expected to increase the density of electronic states at the Fermi level and thus the superconducting transition temperature (Tc) in these systems, we find that this is not sufficient to explain the significant increases in the superconducting Tc’s observed.

  • Superhydrophobic and superoleophilic melamine sponges impregnated with deep eutectic solvents for oil spill cleanup
    • Patrycja Makoś-Chełstowska
    • Edyta Słupek
    2023 SEPARATION AND PURIFICATION TECHNOLOGY

    The extensive extraction of oil from the bottom of seas and oceans and its transportation by tankers increase the risk of potential environmental disasters associated with hydrocarbon fractions entering water reservoirs. Therefore, this paper presents the preparation of a simple impregnation of a melamine sponge with deep eutectic solvents (DES), which can be obtained from natural sources, including coconut oil, palm kernel oil, seed oils, mammalian milk, and substances commonly used in pharmacological and physiological studies. A preselection method based on the COSMO-RS model was used to select the most suitable DES among 760 solvents. The selected DES were prepared and impregnated on melamine sponge (MS). Structural and surface analyses were performed by DES-MS. The process parameters that affect the sorption capacity of DES-MS and the affinity tests were performed for specific oil groups. The highest absorption capacities were obtained for MS impregnated with tetraethylammonium chloride and decanoic acid in a 1:2 M ratio. The prepared new DES-MS were characterized by very high sorption capacities ranging from 40.9 to 99.8 g/g, as well as superhydrophobicity (water contact angle 151°), superoleophobicity (oil contact angle 0°), low density (0.177 g/cm3), high porosity (88.25 %), high thermal, mechanical, and chemical stability, and the possibility of multiple regenerations without loss of sorption capacity. In addition, the preparation of DES-MS is simple and involves little time and consumption of toxic organic solvents. These results indicate that DES-MS may be a “green” and low-cost alternative to current approaches for removing oil from water.

  • Suppressors of lapC mutation identify new regulators of LpxC, which mediates the first committed step in lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis
    • Akshay Maniyeri Suresh
    • Alicja Wieczorek
    • Aravind Ayyolath
    • Weronika Sugalska
    • Gracjana Klein-Raina
    • Satish Raina
    2023 Full text INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES

    Gram-negative bacteria, such as Escherichia coli, are characterized by an asymmetric outer membrane (OM) with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) located in the outer leaflet and phospholipids facing the inner leaflet. E. coli recruits LPS assembly proteins LapB, LapC and LapD in concert with FtsH protease to ensure a balanced biosynthesis of LPS and phospholipids. We recently reported that bacteria either lacking the periplasmic domain of the essential LapC protein (lapC190) or in the absence of LapD exhibit an elevated degradation of LpxC, which catalyzes the first committed step in LPS biosynthesis. To further understand the functions of LapC and LapD in regulating LPS biosynthesis, we show that the overproduction of the intact LapD suppresses the temperature sensitivity (Ts) of lapC190, but not when either its N-terminal transmembrane anchor or specific conserved amino acids in the C-terminal domain are mutated. Moreover, overexpression of srrA, marA, yceJ and yfgM genes can rescue the Ts phenotype of lapC190 bacteria by restoring LpxC amounts. We further show that MarA-mediated suppression requires the expression of mla genes, whose products participate in the maintenance of OM asymmetry, and the SrrA-mediated suppression requires the presence of cardiolipin synthase A.

  • Surfactants application in sample preparation techniques: Insights, trends, and perspectives
    • Khrystyna Vakh
    • Stanislawa Koronkiewicz
    2023 TRAC-TRENDS IN ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY

    Since the implementation of Green Chemistry into analytical practice, significant efforts have been made to improve the sustainability of chemical analysis. These include reducing the use of hazardous chemicals and solvents, minimizing waste, and improving energy efficiency. Surfactants can be applied in chemical analysis as an environmentally friendly alternative to conventional solvents and chemicals. The use of surfactants can increase extraction efficiency by improving solubility, increasing selectivity, and reducing organic solvent consumption. In addition, surfactants can also reduce interference with the sample matrix and improve limits of detection. This review covers recent developments in surfactant-based extraction techniques, highlighting the use of surfactants in both liquid-phase and solid-phase extraction. The main principles of surfactant-based extraction methods are discussed, as well as their application as assisting agents or surface modifiers. The effects of deep eutectic solvents on surfactants micellization and the application of biocompatible surfactants are also discussed.

  • Suspended-sediment transport related to ice-cover conditions during cold and warm winters, Toudaoguai stretch of the Yellow River, Inner Mongolia, China
    • Shui-Xia Zhao
    • Quancheng Zhou
    • Wen-Jun Wang
    • Ying-Jie Wu
    • Chao Lin
    • Qiang Quan
    • Parisa Radan
    • Youcai Tuo
    • Tomasz Kolerski
    2023 Full text ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS

    The presence of winter ice in cold regions changes the water level, flow rate, velocity distribution, and other parameters of the river, which in turn affects the sediment concentration and channel evolution. Based on data obtained from Toudaoguai Hydrological Station from 1959 to 2021, this study examines the characteristics of the ice regime during cold and warm winters and the water and sediment transport processes along the Yellow River in Inner Mongolia in the context of climate change. The Mann–Kendall test and trend analysis were applied to define the years of temperature mutations and their trends, and the temperature mutation point was determined to be the 1987/1988 season. The study considers the effect of climate change on the combination of hydrological and hydraulic conditions. Therefore, trends in suspended sediment transport, ice type formation, water discharge, and storage in different ice flood seasons (November 1 to March 31, from 1998 to 2021) were attained. Based on the cumulative negative air temperature, winters were categorized into three types, warm, normal, and cold (52.2%, 17.4%, and 30.4%, respectively). Strong and weak grades further divide cold and warm winters, and statistical analyses were used to examine the characteristics of ice, water discharge, channel storage, and sediment transport. The duration of open water, freeze-up, ice cover, and breakup periods were calculated, and the relationship between the suspended sediment transport rate and discharge rate in these various ice periods was defined. The obtained relations show that the suspended sediment rate during the ice cover and first drift was smaller than that during the open water and post-breakup conditions. For the ice cover period, the sediment transport rate was on average approximately four times smaller than the freeze-up condition and six times smaller than the open water condition. The reduced sediment transport rate in the freeze-up period can be attributed to the weakened vertical turbulent mixing and increased flow resistance.

  • Sustainability objectives and collaboration lifecycle in cluster organizations
    • Anna Lis
    • Małgorzata Rozkwitalska
    • Adrian Lis
    2023 Full text Quality and Quantity

    In our paper, we combine two issues, collaboration in cluster organizations and sustainability, aiming to answer the question: Does complex governance structure of cluster organizations support members in formulating and reaching sustainability objectives? Based on four case studies of cluster organizations and a still novel abductive approach, we present the ways in which sustainability was executed in their functioning. Our study shows that the role of cluster organizations in formulating and reaching sustainability objectives varied with regard to their collaboration life cycle. The “Formation” stage laid the foundations for collaboration and relational governance, the “Growth” stage aimed at improving the economic performance of cluster members, while the “Extension” stage impacted more cluster stakeholders with regard to the economic, social and environmental sustainability objectives. Nevertheless, stakeholders' self-interest induced collaboration, whereas relational governance was its essential feature. Moreover, the potential of cluster organizations' governance structures was not fully exploited in the context of sustainability, their structures have played a role in raising awareness, but it was more the competitive factors that drove companies to engage in an activity because they wanted to stay in the market, change the conditions and keep up with trends. Our research also provides practical implications for various cluster organizations’ stakeholders.

  • Sustainable bioethanol production from first- and second-generation sugar-based feedstocks: Advanced bibliometric analysis
    • Claudia Elisa Cesar Guimaraes
    • Francisco Simao Neto
    • Viviane de Castro Bizerra
    • Jean Gleison Andrade do Nascimento
    • Roberta Bussons Rodrigues Valério
    • Paulo Gonçalves de Sousa Junior
    • Rafael Leandro Fernandes Melo
    • Ada Amelia Sanders Lopes
    • Ajay S. Desai
    • Muhammad Bilal
    • Wojciech Smułek
    • Teofil Jesionowski
    • José Cleiton Sousa dos Santos
    2023 Bioresource Technology Reports

    Bioethanol is produced from carbohydrate-containing feedstocks through fermentation. Based on a bibliometric review of studies published between 2012 and 2021, we analyzed those on sustainable bioethanol production. The Web of Science main collection yielded 1647 publications, which were analyzed using VOSViewer, CiteSpace, and ArcMap software. More than half of these publications originated from some Asian countries, corresponding to 63.6 %, with India being the most participatory country. The most studied area was energy fuels, and Bioresource Technology (Elsevier) was the journal that published most on the topic, while Universiti Tenaga Nasional in Malaysia had the most interactions. Four emerging trends were identified, in mention: enzymatic hydrolysis, alternative process arrangements, use of the bacterium Zymomonas mobilis and structural features. In conclusion, it was found that the studies generally identified more advantages than disadvantages, and the research showed a positive trend, but there are still existing obstacles, which may be overcome through improved processes.

  • Sustainable Chemically Modified Mater-Bi/Poly(ε-caprolactone)/Cellulose Biocomposites: Looking at the Bulk through the Surface
    • Aleksander Hejna
    • Mateusz Barczewski
    • Paulina Kosmela
    • Olga Mysiukiewicz
    • Agnieszka Tercjak
    • Adam Piasecki
    • Mohammad Saeb
    • Marek Szostak
    2023 Full text Research Square

    Sustainable polymer composites are progressively under development in a technological paradigm shift from "just use more and more" to "convert into value-added products". The bio-based blends based on Mater-Bi bio-plastic (A) and poly(ε-caprolactone) (B), at a weight ratio of 70:30 (A:B) were developed, followed by the addition of UFC100 cellulose (C) filler to yield 70/30 (w/w) (A:B)/C sustainable biocomposites. The effects of chemical modification of C with three diisocyanates, i.e., hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI), methylene bisphenyl isocyanate (MDI), or toluene diisocyanate (TDI) on the surface properties of biocomposites was evaluated by water contact angle and surface roughness detected by atomic force microscopy (AFM). Biocomposites containing C modified with HDI, MDI, or TDI revealed contact angle values of 93.5°, 97.7°, and 92.4°, respectively, compared to 88.5° for reference blend, indicating enlarged hydrophobicity window. This action was further approved by increased fracture surface roughness and miscibility detected by microscopic observation (scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and AFM) and in-depth oscillatory rheological evaluation. Correspondingly, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analyses showed more residue and higher melting temperatures for biocomposites, more promisingly with MDI and TDI modifiers. In conclusion, either incorporation or diisocyanate modification of C affects both surface and bulk properties.

  • Sustainable Development of Water Housing Using the Example of Poland: An Analysis of Scenarios
    • Emilia Miszewska
    • Maciej Niedostatkiewicz
    • Radosław Wiśniewski
    2023 Full text Sustainability

    At the turn of the 20th and 21st centuries, Polish cities began the process of returning to live by water. There is a growing interest in water reservoirs not only as places for recreation, but also as new areas suitable for living, at the very center of the city. Unfortunately, due to the lack of appropriate legal regulations, the dynamic development of floating homes (FHs) is starting to raise increasing concerns in Poland. Regardless of the potential direction of development in water construction in Poland (growth, stabilization, or regression), the question arises of “how to make the potential vision of the future of water construction in Poland consistent with the idea of sustainable development (SD)”. In order to try to answer this question, the authors of this publication indicate the future limitations of formulating a strategy for the development of houses on water in Poland, according to different domains of SD. These domains are the economic, socio-cultural, and environmental spheres. Using the states of surrounding scenarios method (SSSs for short), we developed future scenarios for FHs (an optimistic scenario, a pessimistic scenario, a surprise scenario, and the most probable scenario). Then, using five inferential methods, we defined the constraints that should be taken into account when strategizing for water construction in accordance with the values of SD.

  • Sustainable development requires risky decisions - problematic 300 ton overweight transport passing a bridge
    • Mikołaj Miśkiewicz
    • Andrzej Kozakiewicz
    • Łukasz Pyrzowski
    • Bartosz Sobczyk
    2023 Full text

    Oversize load passages over bridges are one of the research issues related to sustainable development that engineering and scientific teams around the world have to deal with . The article presents the scope of activities that enabled the passage of an oversized vehicle with a total weight of over 300 tons over a reinforced concrete slab. The bridge load capacity is 30 tons. In order to assess the capacity of the bridge, detailed visual inspection, inventory, tests during a load test, field and laboratory tests of concrete, location and inventory of reinforcement, static and strength calculations were carried out. Unfortunately, the tests done during the passage of an oversize vehicle on the bridge showed that the actual weight of the set were greater than originally declared. Fortunately, it turned out that there were still some reserves in the structure load-bearing capacity and the over-weighted vehicle entered the bridge without any damage to its structure.

  • Sustainable Investing. Socio-Economic Impacts of Exchange-Traded Funds
    • Ewa Lechman
    • Adam Marszk
    2023

    Sustainable Investing: Socio-Economic Impacts of Exchange-Traded Funds examines the social and economic effects of sustainable investing ETFs and their impacts on the global financial system. The book presents the key issues with regard to sustainable investing, discussing exchange-traded funds mechanisms and categories in comparison to competing investment funds. The book outlines the theoretical determinants of ETF markets development and the effects of their diffusion, both at the investor and firm levels, as well as financial system, entire economy, and society levels. The book presents various possible implementations of sustainable investing, and covers the methodological aspects of their identification and categorization. Hybrid investment products—such as exchange-traded funds that combine the investment features of mutual funds with the trading features of stocks—are one of the most rapidly growing categories of investment funds with their total global value reaching almost $5 trillion. The book examines the linkages between ETFs and the FinTech sector in the context of sustainable development, as well as global sustainable development policies in relation to their effects on the popularity of sustainable investing. The book concludes with a discussion of the significance for other entities that may be affected, such as policy makers and recipients of funds invested through sustainable investment strategies.

  • Sustainable nitrogen removal in anammox-mediated systems: Microbial metabolic pathways, operational conditions and mathematical modelling
    • Hussein Al-Hazmi
    • Lu Xi
    • Dominika Derwis
    • Joanna Majtacz
    • Michael Badawi
    • Jacek Mąkinia
    2023 SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT

    Anammox-mediated systems have attracted considerable attention as alternative cost-effective technologies for sustainable nitrogen (N) removal from wastewater. This review comprehensively highlights the importance of understanding microbial metabolism in anammox-mediated systems under crucial operation parameters, indicating the potentially wide applications for the sustainable treatment of N-containing wastewater. The partial nitrificationanammox (PN-A), simultaneous PN-A and denitrification (SNAD) processes have demonstrated sustainable N removal from sidestream wastewater. The partial denitrification-anammox (PD-A) and denitrifying anaerobic methane oxidation-anammox (DAMO-A) processes have advanced sustainable N removal efficiency in mainstream wastewater treatment. Moreover, N2O production/emission hotspots are extensively discussed in anammox-based processes and are related to the dominant ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and denitrifying heterotrophs. In contrast, N2O is not produced in the metabolism pathways of AnAOB and DAMO-archaea; Moreover, the actual contribution of N2O production by dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium (DNRA) and DAMO-bacteria in their species remains uncertain. Thus, PD-A and DAMO-A processes would achieve reduction in greenhouse gas production, as well as energy consumption for the reliability of N removal efficiencies. In addition to reaction mechanisms, this review covers the mathematical models for simultaneous anammox, partial nitrification and/or denitrification (i.e., PN-A, PD-A, and SNAD). Promising NO3 − reduction technologies by endogenous PD, sulfur-driven autotrophic denitrification, and DNRA by anammox are also discussed. In summary, this review provides a better understanding of sustainable N removal in anammox-mediated systems, thereby encouraging future investigation and exploration of the sustainable N bio-treatment from wastewater.