The current decade has witnessed the rise of empirical research in the domain of ecological footprint which has become a major scholarly area among environmental researchers. However, many key factors determining ecological footprint have been inadequately dealt within the existing body of knowledge. The current research aims to explore the association between economic complexity, human capital, renewable energy generation, urbanization, economic growth, export quality, trade and ecological footprint for the top ten economic complex countries. This study applied panel data estimators, for instance, fully modified ordinary least squares (FMOLS), dynamic ordinary least squares (DOLS) and the system-GMM long-run estimators from 1980 to 2017. The long-run estimates reveal that economic complexity, economic growth, export quality, trade and urbanization increase ecological footprint. Human capital and renewable energy generation help to mitigate ecological footprint. We conclude that investment in more renewable energy generation and its consumption and efficient use of human capital will improve economic complexity, export quality, and environment in developed and developing countries.
The optimization of process parameters for decomposition of kitchen waste into mature, stable compost was investigated using response surface methodology (RSM). RSM and central composite designs were applied to evaluate and optimize the key factors namely fly ash, bulking agent for moisture optimization and temperature, inoculum size and lime concentration for C/N optimization, which affect the stability of compost. Moisture and C/N ratio were selected as response variables. The experimental data of response variables were fitted into quadratic polynomial model using the multiple regression analysis and found it was statistically significant quadratic model. Box-Behnken design under RSM was used to optimize their interaction between bulking agent (40 %) and fly ash (15 %) has significant effect on moisture optimization and temperature (35°C), lime (3 %), and inoculum size (10 %) were the best for C/N ratio optimization and compost maturity. These optimized conditions were used and recorded the 50 % moisture reduction, and 8.43 C/N was achieved; indicates the stable and mature compost in minimum time. A significant correlation was also found between C/N ratio, humic acid, fulvic acid and degree of polymerization during compost formation. It was fleetingly concluded that optimization of compost parameters promote the decomposition rate and humification process.
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