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The work aims to optimize an industrial greener extraction process of chemical components in wood waste from the paper industry. Extracts from a mixture of two species (Picea abies and Abies alba) were studied. Several parameters were found to play a key role in the extraction yield: to the conventional parameters such as the chemical composition of the extracting medium or the temperature, a key criterion was the choice of a process procedure in order to take into account the absorption of the solvent by the wood. The implementation of several operating modes, namely solid-liquid single-batch extraction, countercurrent extraction, percolation extraction, near supercritical, and supercritical fluid extraction is discussed in terms of yield and ease of implementation when scaling up. [Display omitted] • Wood by-products valorisation as bioactive components source. • Comparison of liquid, near supercritical, supercritical extraction processes. • Single batch, cascade of reactors, column, and near supercritical/supercritical extraction methods assessment. • Higher yield,14.4 g/100 g dry-wood, obtained by single batch solid-liquid extraction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Waste production from schools changes depending on the level of institutions. • High rate of positive answers but unsuccessful sorting indicate lack of practice. • Recycling capture rates do not differ significantly between school types. • There is a strong positive correlation between capture rates of some recyclables. • The success of recycling is higher if it is is supported with specific programmes. In this study, the waste generation at the educational institutes chosen from four different levels (kindergartens, primary, secondary and high schools) in Istanbul was measured on-site and the contents of the waste thrown into the recycling bins were determined to specify capture rates. Separation and weighing processes were performed at 16 spots in high schools, 12 spots in secondary schools, 7 spots in primary schools and 7 spots in kindergartens. A survey was conducted to determine the students' awareness of recycling in these schools. It was revealed that the wastes produced from educational institutes are organics (36.4 %), paper (24 %), plastics (14.4 %), glass (8.1 %), metals (4.8 %) and miscellaneous (12.3 %). The survey results indicate that 93 % of the participants think recycling is important, 71 % of them throw their waste into suitable waste bins and 59 % of them know the location of the recycling bins. At the primary school level, a very high rate of paper waste (92.3 %) was reported in plastic bins while plastic waste collected in these bins remained only 5.7 %. It was also seen that glass waste captured in glass bins and metal waste in metal bins remain very low rates (20.9 % and 29.2 %, respectively) at the secondary school level. At the high school level, it was determined that the most commonly captured wastes in glass, plastics and paper bins are glass (47.5 %), plastic (43.2 %) and paper (32.5 %), respectively. Correlation analyses indicated a high positive correlation (p < 0.05) between particular types of waste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many substances looks black often means that these substance can completely absorb ultraviolet radiation and Visible incident light (UV). Ultraviolet and visible light account for 57 % of the incident energy of the sun. There are many substances that looks black, but have not been paid attention in the field of photothermal interface evaporation. Based on the above discussion, this paper selects the waste black round plastic lunch box and a piece of black garbage bag as solar photothermal materials to make a solar desalination device, and proves that these black garbage can be recycled and reused to make an interface solar evaporator. In this paper, a 2D desalination device with photothermal interface evaporation for solar thermal conversion was successfully fabricated using only black round plastic lunch box as photothermal material and polyester cloth as water delivery channel. In addition, a black garbage plastic bag as the only solar photothermal conversion material has also been reused in the preparation of 3D evaporators. Using the radiation cooling film as the diffuse reflection substrate, the 3D device makes the incident sunlight reflected from the radiation cooling film and polyester cloth to the black garbage plastic bag many times, making the whole evaporation device. It can reabsorb solar incident light many times. After testing, the solar energy absorption rate of the 3D evaporator is as high as 96.6 %, and the steam output is as high as 8.96 kg m−2 h−1. • A number of matters that appears black are not been concerned in the field photothermal evaporation。 • Black round plastic lunch box and a piece of black garbage bag are recycled as solar absorber. • These black kitchen wastes are confirmed that can be recycled and re-used • By taking advantage of radiative cooling film, solar energy can be muti-reflected and muti-reabsorbed • The high solar absorbance of 96.6 % and steam output of 8.96 kg m−2 h−1 can be achieved [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reuse of waste papers by conversion into valuable carbon materials has received considerable attention for diverse applications such as energy storage and water purification. However, traditional methods for converting waste papers into materials with suitable properties for specific applications are often complex and ineffective, involving consecutive carbonization and activation steps. Herein, we propose a simple one-step microwave (MW)-assisted synthesis for preparing waste paper-derived porous carbons (WPCs) for energy storage and water purification. Through a 30-min synthesis, WPCs with graphitic structure and high specific surface area were successfully produced. The fabricated WPCs exhibited outstanding charge storage capability with a maximum specific capacitance of 237.7 F g -1 . Additionally, the WPC demonstrates a high removal efficiency for various dyes, achieving a maximum removal efficiency of 95.0% for methylene blue. The developed one-step MW synthesis not only enables the production of porous carbon from waste paper, but also offers a viable approach to address solid waste management challenges while simultaneously yielding valuable materials., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

[Display omitted] • The alcohol yields achieved were 41.3 wt% and 48.5 wt% from the corrugated box and A4 paper. • Cellulose exhibited the conversion rate of 100 %, with alcohol substances achieving a yield of 71.2 wt% and a selectivity of 89.4 % within 6 h. • The mechanism of cellulose hydrolysis and the catalytic effect of CuMgAlO x were explored. • Multiple techniques were utilized to analyze the alcoholysis pathways and mechanisms of cellulose in waste paper. In an effort to valorize under-exploited cellulose sources like waste paper for sustainable energy production, this study investigates a catalytic process to convert these materials into low-carbon alcohols. We explored the conversion efficiency of various cellulose materials, including corrugated box, A4 paper, and pure cellulose, under the influence of a CuMgAlO x catalyst. Our findings indicate that at 360 °C for 6 h, the conversion rates were substantial, yielding 70.1 % for corrugated box, 85.2 % for A4 paper, and 100 % for cellulose. The respective alcohol selectivities achieved were 54.7 %, 83.0 %, and 89.4 %, with alcohol yields of 41.3 wt%, 48.5 wt%, and 71.2 wt%. Notably, the absence of the catalyst led predominantly to the production of sugars and lipids, whereas the catalytic conditions facilitated the formation of alcohols. The study also examined the effects of temperature and reaction time on cellulose conversion. It was found that a complete conversion was possible at 320 °C within 1 h, with extended temperature and time improving the alcohol yield. The development of a kinetic model for the cellulose conversion process has allowed for accurate predictions of the transformations under varied conditions, which offers a strategic framework for reaction optimization. Furthermore, the role of the CuMgAlO x catalyst was elucidated through the examination of model compounds, demonstrating its capability in converting cellulose intermediates such as sugars, lipids, and ketones into alcohols. This research highlights a potent strategy for the production of high-value, eco-friendly green fuels from readily available paper products and cellulose biomass, marking a significant advancement in chemical engineering and sustainable energy resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemical Looping Combustion (CLC) is a carbon capture technology that uses an oxygen carrier to transfer the oxidizing agent to the fuel for combustion. This study used different machine learning algorithms, Artificial neural network and Response surface methodology to estimate the surface region process performance and optimize the process condition for the CLC of different solid fuels waste paper, plastic waste, and sugarcane bagasse blends. Based on the combustion efficiency, CO 2 yield and CO 2 capture efficiency responses, A high performance correlation (R2 > 0.8) was obtained for all the combustion parameters analyzed. The perturbation plot derived from the RSM analysis indicated that the most significant input parameters include the steam to fixed carbon, blend ratio and the fuel reaction temperature. The CLC process was optimized using RSM. For blends of SCB/WP, the best operating conditions were found to be 800 °C, a solid flow rate of 197.7 kg/h, an oxygen carrier to fuel ratio of 1.1, a steam to fixed carbon ratio of 2.16, and a blend ratio of 1. Similarly, for blends of SCB/PW, the optimal operating conditions were 800 °C, a solid flow rate of 199.4 kg/h, an oxygen carrier to fuel ratio of 1.3, steam to fixed carbon ratio of 2, and a blend ratio of 0.3. The optimum combustion performance was found to be 0.98, 0.78, and 0.96 for SCB/WP and 0.99, 0.62, and 0.96 for SCB/PW, respectively. • The process performance of the CLC of MSW/biomass blend was compared using ANN and RSM. • The optimal blend ratios for SCB/WP and SCB/PW blends were 1 (25% WP) and 0.3 (42.5% PW). • The combustion performance of the WP improved by 6.2% and 3.5% in terms of combustion efficiency and CO 2 yield, respectively. • The most significant input factors were discovered to be the blend of fuels ratio and the steam to fixed carbon ratio. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wood has always been an indispensable material in human society throughout history. Its efficient utilization is even more crucial today in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). However, its production, trade, use, and recycling are seldom systematically assessed, with Germany being an exception due to the extensive work conducted by the University of Hamburg and the Thünen Institute over the years. To provide a more precise account of wood use, this study employs oven-dry metric tonne as the reference unit to construct a static wood flow based on the material flow analysis and wood resource balance in Germany in 2020. The Sankey diagrams comprehensively visualize the flow and stock of wood in various sectors, including forests, sawmills, pulp mills, buildings, energy, and waste. Results showed that forest felling volume exceeded growth due to significant wood demand and export, while forest carbon sinks increased because more hardwood was retained in German forests. The building and construction sector was the largest consumer of primary wood products, accounting for 52.1 % of the total, followed by furniture (29.5 %) and packaging (14.0 %). All waste paper was used to produce recycled fiber pulp, whereas only 14 % of waste wood was employed in particle board production. The woody biomass energy, amounting to 142.4 TWh, provided approximately 4.4 % of Germany's primary energy consumption, with around half of it used in private households. In addition to apparent data, this study also uses resource allocation, carbon storage, and cascade potential as examples to demonstrate that wood flow is applicable for further in-depth analysis, supporting wood efficient utilization. It can even be applied to any country and period with sufficient data and conversion factors, but here, they also prevented this study from comprehensively describing past and future wood flows. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paper sludge (PS) from paper mills has a significant potential for bioethanol production. In this study, waste-paper-containing PS is used as the raw material for bioethanol production because the annual waste paper utilization rate has increased globally. Although PS does not require delignification, the antiseptics and deinking agents in waste paper-containing PS inhibit enzymatic reactions such as saccharification and fermentation. Their removal is important, but it has not yet been reported. Using subcritical water pretreatment, the selective decomposition of enzyme inhibitors in PS is examined without the generation of other enzyme inhibitors. The optimum pretreatment conditions are identified as 240 °C, 3.3 MPa, 3 min, and pH 4.5. Glucose was obtained in 71% yield from pretreated 5 wt% PS using cellulase, which is 5.5 times higher than that from unpretreated PS. This is because the reactivity of the pretreated PS increases with increasing surface area of the cellulose fibers, and the cellulase inhibitors are decomposed by subcritical water. Next, semi-simultaneous saccharification and fermentation treatments are performed to produce bioethanol from waste-paper-containing PS. The bioethanol yield based on cellulose after 96 h is 68% for PS pretreated with subcritical water, whereas the bioethanol yield is 6% for unpretreated PS. Therefore, subcritical water pretreatment increases the bioethanol yield by 11 times. The proposed method may enable the use of large amounts of PS as ethanol feedstock in future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to a shortage of resources, exploring new biomass fillers has become critical for paper making. In this study, we reported an eco-friendly strategy for fabricating low-cost and efficient recycled paper with high mechanical properties using corrugated cardboard waste paper and harmless municipal sludge (HMS). First, the characteristics of HMS, including the particle size, pH, specific surface area, organic functional groups and organic component content, were analyzed. Then, the influence of the amount of HMS on the properties of the recycled paper was studied. Finally, the strengthening mechanism of biomass filling recycled paper was discussed. The results showed that HMS, a biomass filler for recycled paper preparation, exhibited excellent physical and chemical properties, with a median particle size of 6.395 μm, a surface area of 39.974 m2 g−1 and organic functional groups. The tensile index of the recycled paper with 30 % HMS was 13.10 Nm/g, which was 16.4 % greater than that of the unfilled paper and showed better thermal stability. This excellent performance could be attributed to the uniform distribution of HMS on the fiber surface, which improved the accessibility of hydrogen bond formation between fibers. Thus, this study proved that HMS was an excellent biomass filler for producing recycled paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Collection, as the first stage of the recycling process, and pre-processing to increase waste stream purity constitute key operations for achieving high recycling rates and a closed loop in the circular economy. For wastepaper recycling in Hong Kong, it is the semi-formal-informal recycling (SFIR) sector that plays a central role in both stages. This study analyses the so far little explored SFIR stakeholder network in Hong Kong and sheds light on value chains, recovered waste paper quantities and the impact of policies on the sector. The findings show that SFIR stakeholders reclaim 55.6 t/recycling station/month of wastepaper and thereby achieve about a 5.7 times higher reclaim rate than the formal-private recycling system. Critical to this achievement is the SFIR transaction network, which enables its stakeholders to develop a value chain and thereby generate an added value of around 1900 HKD (243.9 USD/t) for wastepaper. Given limited circular structures in Hong Kong, financial subsidies are critical to sustain the SFIR's operations over the short-term. However, over the long-term legalization and integration of its stakeholders are necessary to ensure an economically and socially sustainable wastepaper recovery system in Hong Kong. [Display omitted] • Qualitative & quantitative analysis of the semi-formal-informal recycling (SFIR) sector. • The SFIR's wastepaper value chain achieves a cumulative added value of 1900 HKD/t. • The SFIR recovered 5.7 times higher capacities than the formal system in 2021. • Financial support can enhance the SFIR sector's recovery capacities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Ecological Footprint (EF) model is an effective tool for determining the resource consumption demand of human activities and whether natural assets are overutilized. The EF calculation method has certain theoretical and methodological importance for low-carbon campus construction. With the development of science and technology, some parameters in traditional EF calculation methods need to be modified. Based on the definition of fossil energy land and the latest average grain yield, this paper revised the calculation parameters of the EF method in six aspects: absorbed gas, electricity, agricultural products, aquatic products, livestock products, and paper. This paper applied the calculation method before and after improvement to Henan Polytechnic University. The EF of the campus according to calculations was 28,358.41 gha, and the per capita EF was 0.657 gha/person using the improved calculation method. Compared with the unimproved method, the improved method resulted in a substantial decrease in EFs, which can be explained by three reasons. First, the fossil energy land was divided into forestland and pasture land. Second, the average yield was recalculated using the latest statistical database of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization. Finally, the utilization of waste pulp in the paper industry was considered. The calculated results were also analyzed and compared with those of other universities, Worldwide Fund for Nature and Enhancing Universities'Sustainability Teaching and Practices through Ecological Footprint. The improved calculation results can better reflect the actual situation of the campus, improve the rationality of EF calculation, and provide a reference for EF at the campus level. Accordingly, the current situation of campus resource consumption can be explained, further providing a basis for proposing an EF reduction scheme for green campus construction. [Display omitted] • Some parameters have been modified in the improved ecological footprint calculation method. • The fossil energy land was divided into forestland and pasture land in the improved calculation method. • The latest average grain yield used in the improved calculation method. • The calculated results were analyzed and compared with those of WWF and EUSTEPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metagenomics has revolutionized access to genomic information of microorganisms inhabiting the gut of herbivorous animals, circumventing the need for their isolation and cultivation. Exploring these microorganisms for novel hydrolytic enzymes becomes unattainable without utilizing metagenome sequencing. In this study, we harnessed a suite of bioinformatic analyses to discover a novel cellulase-degrading enzyme from the camel rumen metagenome. Among the protein-coding sequences containing cellulase-encoding domains, we identified and subsequently cloned and purified a promising candidate cellulase enzyme, Celcm05-2, to a state of homogeneity. The enzyme belonged to GH5 subfamily 4 and exhibited robust enzymatic activity under acidic pH conditions. It maintained hydrolytic activity under various environmental conditions, including the presence of metal ions, non-ionic surfactant Triton X-100, organic solvents, and varying temperatures. With an optimal temperature of 40 °C, Celcm05-2 showcased remarkable efficiency when deployed on crystalline cellulose (> 3.6 IU/mL), specifically Avicel, thereby positioning it as an attractive candidate for a myriad of biotechnological applications spanning biofuel production, paper and pulp processing, and textile manufacturing. Efficient biodegradation of waste paper pulp residues and the evidence of biopolishing suggested that Celcm05-2 can be used in the bioprocessing of cellulosic craft fabrics in the textile industry. Our findings suggest that the camel rumen microbiome can be mined for novel cellulase enzymes that can find potential applications across diverse biotechnological processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid increase in solid waste along with urbanisation, especially arising from the industrial and agricultural sectors, sparks concern from the public regarding their adverse impact on human and environmental wellness. Therefore, waste biorefinery is the current interest that aligns with the concept of 'waste-to-wealth'. The conversion of waste into valuable products such as cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) is an alternative method of circular waste management as CNCs have various applications. Their non-toxicity, biocompatibility, excellent mechanical strength, and load-bearing properties render them a good reinforcement agent for packaging films, sensors, and scaffolds. Nonetheless, the lack of studies on the comparison of waste sources and the complex parameters for the extraction of CNCs hinders the development of CNC extraction from waste products. This review paper compares and organizes the information from previously published scientific papers and reports on waste product sources, methods, parameters, and environmental effects of the derivation of CNCs from waste. Previously, no thorough reviews have been done closely on the sustainability aspect of CNC extraction from waste products. Through this review, it shows that there is a positive trend where novel CNC extraction routes are discovered to improve the yield, environmental friendliness, performance, and cost. However, most of the studies did not specify the environmental impacts of the extraction routes, limiting their feasibility for conventional applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Composite materials have been widely used because of their superior properties compared to those of the original material. Separation of the constituent materials is not easy in the recycling process, and such an effort lowers economic viability. As such, this study employed a pyrolysis as a valorizing method for the composite material. Disposable paper cup waste (DPCW) was chosen as the model compound for paper-plastic composites. To offer green/sustainable features, CO2 was employed as a raw and reactive material in the pyrolysis process. It was proved that DPCW primarily composed of cellulose (outer layer) and polyethylene (inner layer). In the single-stage and multistage pyrolysis of DPCW, the CO2 reactivity in the homogeneous reaction of CO2 and DPCW-derived volatiles was not rapid. To accelerate the reaction kinetics governing the reactivity of CO2, the catalytic pyrolysis of DPCW over Ni/SiO2 was performed. The formation of syngas increases significantly, suggesting that CO2 reactivity was catalytically enhanced. The generation of syngas (enhanced by CO2) was inversely related to the DPCW oil generation, indicating that more carbon was assigned from the oil to the gaseous pyrogenic products. The study results would offer a strategic means to valorize paper-plastic composites and CO2 into energy through pyrolysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focused on the co-fermentation of food waste and tissue paper to produce ethanol, which will eliminate the need for additional nitrogen sources and nutrients, thereby reducing production costs. In response to the inhibitory effect of the high concentrations of glucose present in mixed-substrate hydrolysates on xylose fermentation, a co-fermentation process using Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Candida shehatae was proposed. This approach reduced the fermentation time by 24 h, increased the xylose utilization rate to 88%, and improved the ethanol yield from 41% to 46.5%. The impact of external conditions and corresponding optimization were also analyzed in this process. The optimum conditions were a 1:3 ratio of Saccharomyces cerevisiae to Candida shehatae, a pH of 5, and shaking at 150 r/min, and by employing dynamic temperature control, the ethanol production was increased to 21.98 g/L. Compared to conventional processes that only use Saccharomyces cerevisiae, this method enhanced the ethanol yield from 41% to 49%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of household waste-derived materials for wastewater treatment has double environmental benefit due to the availability of simultaneous disposal of household waste and wastewater. In this work, we report the facile production of phosphorus-rich carbon from waste paper as a potential adsorbent for the disposal of uranium (VI)-containing nuclear wastewater. A simple phosphoric acid activation-carbonization strategy is developed to effectively transform waste paper into carbon. The phosphorus content of the obtained carbon reaches 8.55 at% and large pores with sizes ranging from 2 to 100 nm are observed. Batch and column adsorption experiments verify that waste paper-derived carbon can efficiently adsorb uranium (VI) from aqueous solution under weakly acidic conditions. The maximum amount of uranium adsorption on the carbon attains 492 mg g−1 at pH 4.6, and adsorption of uranium (VI) on the carbon quickly reaches the equilibrium within 20 minutes. The distribution coefficient of uranium (VI) on waste paper-derived carbon is as high as 128 L g−1. The carbon can be reused for five times with uranium (VI) adsorption efficiencies above 89% and can be used for dynamic adsorption of uranium (VI) in a fix-bed column. Kinetics, thermodynamics and DFT calculations reveal a surface complexation mechanism between uranium (VI) ion and ionized phosphoric acid group. Moreover, to avoid the generation of secondary polluted water during the treatment of uranium-containing nuclear wastewater, a water-saving method is developed for the adsorption preparation and a water-free combustion method is employed for the disposal of uranium-containing spent adsorbent instead of recycling. This study demonstrates the good application potential of household waste-derived materials in wastewater treatment and provides more clues for the amalgamation of multifold subjects. [Display omitted] • The integration of wastes recycling and wastewater treatment. • Facile production of phosphorus-rich carbon from waste paper. • High uranium adsorption efficiency and good selectivity. • Investigation of the mechanism based on DFT calculation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Xylanase finds extensive applications in diverse biotechnological fields such as biofuel production, pulp and paper industry, baking and brewing industry, food and feed industry, and deinking of waste paper. Here, polyethylene glycol (PEG)-phosphate aqueous two-phase system (ATPS) was applied for the purification of an alkaline active and thermotolerant xylanase from a marine source, Cladophora hutchinsiae (C. hutchinsiae). In the purification process, the effects of some experimental factors such as PEG concentration and PEG molar mass, potassium phosphate(K2HP04) concentration, and pH on xylanase distribution were systematically investigated. Relative enzymatic activity and purification factor obtained were 93.21% and 7.18, respectively. A single protein band of 28 kDa was observed on SDS-PAGE. The optimum temperature and pH of xylanase with beechwood xylan were 30 °C and 9.0, respectively. The Lineweaver-Burk graph was utilized to determine the Km (4.5 ± 0.8 mg/mL), Vmax (0.04 ± 0.01 U) and kcat (0.001 s−1) values of the enzyme. It was observed that the purified xylanase maintained 70% of its activity at 4 °C and was found stable at pH 4.0 by retaining almost all of its activity. Enzymatic activity was slightly enhanced with Na+, K+, Ca2+ and acetone. The highest increase in the reducing sugar amount was 53.6 ± 3.8, for orange juice at 50 U/mL enzyme concentration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Oily wastewater, WS, and WP collaborative treatment was considered and explored. • An inverse beetles-like structure was formed by dual wastes and acrylic resin without modification. • Hydrophobic acrylic resin could capture and coalesce oil droplets to enhance oil interception. • High flux and separation efficiency were achieved for both immiscible oil/water mixtures (> 99.5 %, > 4160 L m−2 h−1) and oil-in-water emulsions (> 96.8 %, > 1340 L m−2 h−1). Oily wastewater and solid wastes such as waterworks sludge (WS) and waste paper (WP) are usually treated separately. With the continuous promotion of the concept of waste-control-waste, the exploration of the collaborative treatment is worth considering. To address this gap, herein, a green and scalable strategy was developed to fabricate a hierarchical porous waterworks sludge and waste paper-based cellulose aerogel (WS 0.6 /WPC aerogel) with inverse beetles-like structure for enhanced and rapid oily wastewater treatment. Low-cost raw material and facile fabrication process allowed large-scale application of WS 0.6 /WPC aerogel. Significantly, underwater superoleophobic background composed of WS and WPC and hydrophobic bumps constructed of acrylic resin formed an inverse beetles-like structure. During emulsion separation, besides the high pore tortuosity of as-designed aerogel, the special hydrophobic bumps could capture and aggregate oil droplets, thus enhancing the interception ability of the aerogel, resulting in desirable separation efficiency for both immiscible oil/water mixtures and surfactant-stabilized oil-in-water emulsions with high fluxes. Therefore, this work provides insights for the exploration of wastes-based advanced membranes for efficient and rapid oily wastewater remediation, as well as recycling and utilization of solid wastes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research on the recovery of low-grade thermal energy carried away by boiler flue gas is significant for sugar mills. This paper designs a waste heat recovery system based on sugar plant flue gas, integrating absorption refrigeration cycle and the organic Rankine cycle, and the effects of nine working fluids on the system are investigated. The aim is to realize the multi-form conversion of energy. The performance of the system is evaluated in terms of energy, exergy, and economic metrics. Multi-objective optimization is performed with the method of the NSGA-II genetic algorithm. The results show that Butane is the most suitable working fluid for ORC. The exergy efficiency of the system is 32.125% before optimisation, with an increased space cooling capacity of 15820.56 MW per year for the sugar mill. The exergy destruction analysis of the system reveals that the generator accounts for the highest proportion of exergy destruction (50.8%). The entire system shows the LCOE is as low as 0.0406$/kWh under the optimized condition. The optimized system can obtain an estimated annual electricity sales revenue of $136,300, and the sugar mill can save $308,600 in cooling costs. In addition, the payback period can be shortened to 5.79years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The challenge of global climate change has drawn people's attention to the issue of carbon emissions. Reducing the use of petroleum-derived materials and increasing the use of biodegradable materials is a current focus of research, especially in the packaging materials industry. This study focused on the use of environmentally friendly plastics and waste paper as the main materials for packaging films. Poly(butylene succinate- co -lactate) (PBSL) was modified with maleic anhydride (MA) to form a biobased compatibilizer (MPBSL), which was then blended with a mixture (WPS) of waste-paper powder (WP) and silica aerogel powder (SP) to form the designed composite (MPBSL/WPS). The modification of PBSL with MA improved interfacial adhesion between PBSL and WPS. The structure, thermal, and mechanical properties, water vapor/oxygen barrier, toxicity, freshness, and biodegradability of MPBSL/WPS films were evaluated. Compared with the PBSL/WP film, the MPBSL/WPS film exhibited increased tensile strength at break of 4–13.5 MPa, increased initial decomposition loss at 5 wt% of 14–35 °C, and decreased water/oxygen permeabilities of 18–105 cm3/m2·d·Pa. In the water absorption test, the MPBSL/WPS film displayed about 2–6 % lower water absorption than that of the PBSL/WP film. In the cytocompatibility test, both MPBSL/WPS and PBSL/WP membrane were nontoxic. In addition, compared with PBSL/WP film and the control, the MPBSL/WPS film significantly reduced moisture loss, extended the shelf life, and prevented microbial growth in vegetable and meat preservation tests. Both MPBSL/WPS and PBSL/WP films were biodegradable in a 60-day soil biodegradation test; the degradation rate was 50 % when the WP or WPS content was 40 wt%. Our findings indicate that the composites would be suitable for environmentally sustainable packaging materials. [Display omitted] • An environmentally friendly PBSL/WPS film for packing material is successfully fabricated. • Increase of recycling waste paper and PBSL utilization can reduce carbon emissions. • MPBSL/WPS films have comparable properties to pure PBSL. • A formula of MPBSL/WPS products are sustainable and economic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Simulation model developed for an anaerobic digester in Aspen Plus. • Organic feeds like cow dung, banana stem, and waste paper pulps are used. • Parameters like PTT, HRT, and F/W ratios are optimized for BioHydrogen production. • Sequence of influencing parameter is: PTT > HRT > F/W. • Optimal BioHydrogen yield obtained is 24.59% (CD), 25.27% (BS), and 24.21% (WPP). A simulation model was developed for biohydrogen production from organic feeds such as cow dung (CD), banana stem (BS), and waste paper pulps (WPP). Data from the model was used to generate a design of experiment (DoE) that analysed the data and optimizes the input parameters for optimized biohydrogen yield. Three input parameters taken for optimization were pretreatment temperature (PTT), hydraulic retention time (HRT), and feed-to-water (F/W) ratio. Results showed the optimal sequence of influencing parameters is PTT > HRT > F/W ratio. The optimal value of PTT was 75 ℃ for all feeds. In contrast, the HRT and F/W ratios were 13.1 days and 0.5 ratio for CD, 16.6 days and 1.5 ratio for BS, and 11.7 days and 1.4 ratio for WPP. At the same time, the optimal biohydrogen yield was 24.59 % (CD), 25.27 % (BS), and 24.21 % (WPP). Therefore, the current simulation and optimization had convincing results in optimizing commercial plants' biohydrogen production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current research focuses on the efficiency of energy recovery from non-hazardous organic wastes. It entails the generation of low-chloride refuse-derived fuel (RDF) from municipal solid waste (MSW) through moderate pyrolysis of combustible components. The moderate pyrolysis settings and composition ratio of biogenic/non-biogenic content from MSW combination (food waste, plastic waste, and paper waste) had a significant impact on the thermochemical characteristics and fuel behavior of RDF. Furthermore, pyrolysis with optimal MSW composition was studied to reduce toxic elements (chlorides, sulphides, and nitrides) and enhance the energy value in RDF by utilizing potassium-rich (waste orange peels (OP); banana peels (BP); and maize cob (MC)) and calcium-rich species (waste animal bone meal (ABM); egg shells (ES); and mussel shells (MS)) as natural additives. The results showed that increasing the pyrolysis temperature maximized the carbon concentration with reduced oxygen moieties (low O/C ratio), indicating a high energy value as the oxygenates were eliminated during moderate pyrolysis. The RDF treated at 400 °C (SF4-400) with MSW composition of 55% non-biogenic carbon and 45% biogenic carbon resulted in HHV of 29.22 MJ kg−1, the lowest ash concentration (0.96%), and a densified microstructural surface. The addition of natural maize cob additive into MSW (SF4-400-MC) yielded the maximum HHV (33.07 MJ kg−1) with considerable reductions in chlorides (71.43%), sulphides (87.50%), and insignificant nitrides content, all of which meet ASTM RDF quality criteria Grade I. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Incinerated sewage sludge ash (ISSA) and waste glass (WG) produced in large quantities from municipal solid wastes are either not recycled or are used in relatively low-value applications. Here, we reported a scalable strategy to rapidly convert them, along with waste paper (WP), into novel foamed glass-ceramics (FGCs) by low-temperature sintering, considerably reducing environmental impact and manufacturing cost. The Fe 2 O 3 in ISSA and cellulose in WP were used as precursors to trigger the self-foaming process at low temperatures by carbon-enhanced ferric reduction when WG formed the softened matrix without chemical additives. This study analyzed the foaming mechanism, physical properties of FGCs, and variable importance assisted by thermodynamics and machine learning. The resulting FGCs with 20 wt% ISSA content and 10 wt% WP addition exhibited the excellent properties of a geometric density of 0.76 ± 0.02 g/cm3, volume water absorption of 14.35 ± 2.48%, and compressive strengths of 7.15 ± 0.88 MPa by a short holding (5 min) at a low firing temperature of 850 °C. The successful synthesis and mechanistic study provide new insights into the development of waste-derived high-performance FGCs. [Display omitted] • A scalable strategy was proposed to efficiently upcycle municipal solid wastes into porous glass-ceramics. • Carbon-enhanced ferric reduction supported self-foaming process at low temperatures. • High-temperature viscosity and surface tension aided the design of process conditions. • Contribution of experimental variables to physical properties was quantified by machine learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents the results of the study of the morphological composition of municipal solid waste (MSW) from the landfill of Atyrau city, and the waste's energy characteristics and presence of microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi and viruses. This study was carried out under a government order to determine the feasibility of recycling accumulated and incoming waste into electricity and its hazard to the environment and the workers involved in handling it. At the moment, there is no MSW recycling in Kazakhstan, which has led to the accumulation of more than 125 million tons of waste with an annual increase of 5 million tons. The research included four major cities (Almaty, Shymkent, Atyrau and Astana), which were selected not only on the basis of population, but also because the cities were located in different climatic zones. Samples were collected at the city landfills: 10 samples with an average distance of 100 m from each other were collected to provide a maximum coverage of both recently received waste and long-time stored waste. The research showed that neither climatic conditions nor the population size had a significant impact on MSW density, the values of which ranged from 120.1 kg/m3 to 145.4 kg/m3, as this indicator directly depends on the quality of life. The mass of the combustible fraction ranged from 39.41% to 54.62% and was mainly represented by plastic, textile and paper waste. The average value for the four cities was 50.30%. The higher calorific value fell in the range of 24.22–30.49 MJ/kg, with an average value of 26.71 MJ/kg. Microbiological studies showed little difference in average composition regardless of climatic conditions. Thus, no sharp differences in MSW composition, its energy characteristics and microbiological composition were found. The results of this study may be useful for optimising MSW recycling and disposal processes, as well as for developing measures to reduce their negative impact on the environment and human health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study assessed quality of briquettes produced from bagasse (B), corn husk (CH), and cassava roots (CR) using banana peels (BP), wastepaper (WP), and clay soil (CS) as binders. Mixing ratios were established from carbonized materials, and briquettes physical and combustion properties were determined. Weak shatter resistance appeared in WP, CS briquettes had best tumbling resistances while WP briquettes had better water penetration. CS briquettes (3:1:1) had low (2.7%) moisture content (MC), and 1:3:1 had low (28%) volatile matter (VM) while the highest was 41% for 2:2:1. Ash content (AC) for 2:2:1 was the highest (41%) with highest heating value (HV). BP briquettes for 0:4:1 (CH:CR:BP) had the lowest MC (4.9%), whereas 2:2:1 (B:CH:BP) had the highest VM (41.5%). AC (15.5%) for 1:3:1 was the highest while 2:2:1 (CH:CR) had the highest HV. WP briquettes 1:3:1 (B:CH) had the lowest MC (2%) and 3:1:1 had highest VM (35%), while the highest AC appeared for 4:0:1. The 2:2:1 (B:CR:WP) briquette yielded the highest HV (25.5 MJ/Kg). All materials were suitable for briquetting, although their qualities are sensitive to weather conditions. Together with BP briquettes, WP briquettes 2:2:1 (B:CR:WP) produce the best results, especially when using CR and CH feedstocks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Waste paper and tyre are typical solid wastes with distinct composition. Their pyrolysis could generate varied volatiles that may interact with each other or with resulting char. In this study, the co-pyrolysis of waste paper and tyre was investigated at 400 and 600 ºC, with the focus on understanding the interaction of the volatiles on evolution of the products. The results show that the interaction of the volatiles at 400 ºC forms more gaseous products like CO and CO 2 , while the interactions of the heavier organics at 600 ºC forms more oil (49.3% vs 42.6%). The interaction of the volatiles also affects the generation of sulfur-containing organics and diminishes the paper-derived aldehydes and ketones or the heavy organics with the π-conjugated structures in the oil. In addition, the volatile-char interactions exist and form the char of higher carbon content through promoting carbonization and deoxygenation reactions, generating char of higher thermal stability and higher hydrophilicity via tailoring functional group, pore structures and morphologies of the char. [Display omitted] • Interaction of volatiles in co-pyrolysis of waste paper and tyre exists. • Co-pyrolysis promotes formation of gases at 400 ℃ while oil at 600 ℃ via condensation. • Paper-derived intermediates capture CH x * /H* radicals, minimizing CH 4 /H 2 formation. • Volatiles interactions interfere formation of S-containing organics and aldehydes/ketones. • Co-pyrolysis affects composition, stability, functionality and morphologies of char. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enzymes derived from microbial sources have gained increasing popularity in industrial applications over the past decades. Despite the high production cost, alkaline proteases have wide applications in industries such as tanneries, food production, and detergents. In recent years, there has been a shift towards utilizing natural carbon sources for cultivating microorganisms and extracting proteases in order to reduce production costs. This study aimed to investigate the biochemical and kinetic properties of protease enzymes obtained from Aspergillus niger cultivated in a paper waste medium and compare with the enzyme produced in a basal medium. Glucose is a more favorable carbon source compared to cellulose, so paper waste was pretreated with cellulose-degrading bacteria to convert cellulose into smaller carbohydrates. After the growth of A. niger in basal and combinational media, the enzymatic properties were compared between the extracted enzymes by using casein as substrate. The results demonstrated that A. niger could produce protease enzymes in the paper waste medium similar to the basal medium with more than 5-fold cost saving. The specific activity of the enzymes isolated from the basal and paper waste media was calculated to be 184.95 ± 10.56 U ml−1 and 169.88 ± 11.05 U ml−1, respectively. Carbon sources did not affect the optimum pH and temperature of the protease enzyme, which were found to be 8 and 37 °C, respectively. This study provides valuable insights into the production of alkaline protease from A. niger using a combinational medium (paper waste pretreated by cellulose-degrading bacteria), offering a cost-effective approach for industrial applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main part of companies in Bulgaria are built, however in the 70s, and upgraded last decade. The country supplies around 80 % of its supplies of paper, paperboard and pulp with own production. Integrated treatment of wastes is a priority for realizing closed life cycle of materials. The aim of the present work is to investigate the composition and other important characteristics of biomass wood ash wasted from paper industry. The correlations and associations among the chemical characteristics are also studied to find some basic trends and important relationships between two similar wastes from different enterprises. It was proved that all samples taken contained Ba, Cr, Mn, Ni, Co, Al, Fe, Cu and Zn far below the legal limits for such type of products. A product has a certain anti-acidic effect. The other positive result was that the content of iron is between 34 to 60 mg per 1 kg dry waste. The microscopic photos confirmed that the particles are close to the nano-size materials. The content of the elements C, N, H is in good quantities and ratios, which is a prerequisite for their use as a soil improver. By the results of this study, it was confirmed that all samples produced as a result of the thermal treatment and final low water content achieved are free from pathogen microorganisms and different weed seeds, affecting the yield and soil sustainability. That allows determining the optimal ratio between the used components with a view to obtain products with desired thermal stability and physico-chemical properties as soil improvers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rewritable paper (RP) which takes advantages of stimuli-responsive color-changing materials/smart materials and can be used multiple times has been demonstrated to hold potential to reduce human waste of paper and alleviate the increasingly severe environmental issues. To make the RP closer to the way that people are accustomed to reading and more practical for daily life, interest and effort toward smart materials with clearly visible or naked-eye color-switching properties are particularly important. In this review, depending upon the stimulation protocol, five types of stimuli (thermo-, water-related-, light-, stress-, and electric-field-) smart chromogenic materials and systems with visible color switching applied in light absorptive display for RP are focused on. In each section, different stimulus-chromic molecules and their corresponding systems are discussed to explore the design concepts, methodologies, working mechanisms, and pros and cons of various chromogenic materials used in light absorptive RP. In addition, the challenges and prospects are sketched to provide strategies to explore more smart materials for high-performance RP and its relative techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports an innovative study that aims to address key issues in the efficient recycling of wastepaper cellulose. The research team utilized the temperature-responsive upper critical solution temperature (UCST) polymer P(NAGA-b-DMA) in combination with the LytA label's affinity for choline analogs. This innovative approach enabled them to successfully develop a novel soluble immobilized enzyme, P(NAGA-b-DMA)-cellulase. This new enzyme has proven highly effective, significantly enhancing the degradation of wastepaper cellulose while demonstrating exceptional stability. Compared with the traditional insoluble immobilized cellulase, the enzyme showed a significant improvement in the pH, temperature stability, recycling ability, and storage stability. A kinetic parameter calculation showed that the enzymatic effectiveness of the soluble immobilized enzyme was much better than that of the traditional insoluble immobilized cellulase. After the immobilization reaction, the Michaelis constant of the immobilized enzyme was only increased by 11.5%. In the actual wastepaper degradation experiment, the immobilized enzyme was effectively used, and it was found that the degradation efficiency of wastepaper cellulose reached 80% of that observed in laboratory conditions. This novel, thermosensitive soluble immobilized cellulase can efficiently catalyze the conversion of wastepaper cellulose into glucose under suitable conditions, so as to further ferment into environmentally friendly biofuel ethanol, which provides a solution to solve the shortage of raw materials and environmental protection problems in the paper products industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Waste tissue paper is utilized as a solar absorber and vapor generator. • Excellent evaporation rate of 1.58 Kg m−2h−1 and photothermal efficiency of 82 %. • Salts and organic dye water purification ability were also analyzed. • Offering flexibility and salt rejection capability. • Prototype solar still has been constructed to show the practical application. The lack of water is becoming a severe threat to society. An advanced free source-based technology called Solar thermal interfacial evaporation (STE) has been developed to address this issue. This renewable-based technique is a sophisticated water purification method that is both environmentally benign and cost-effective. In this study, we have converted the waste tissue paper into a highly stable solar thermal evaporator, which brings a high evaporation rate of 1.58 Kg m−2h−1 under one sun illumination. The device shows an excellent photothermal conversion efficiency of 82 %, delivering a high freshwater conversion. Moreover, the device's purification ability was tested with salt water, and dye water solution demonstrated excellent purifying properties. For long-term practical usage of the device, the device brings excellent flexibility and compressibility. A prototype solar still was constructed to demonstrate the device's real-time application behaviour under direct solar illumination. Nearly 160 ml of freshwater was collected from the solar still having an area of ∼ 0.06 m2 under varying natural solar illumination with an average radiation of 416.66 W m−2 under 4 h. CCS STE may become an ideal choice for solar steam-generating applications because of its minimalistic design, high efficiency, waste material, widespread availability, and low cost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Selective enrichment of La(III) by green material as an industrial raw material is of great research interest. In this study, the selective interaction between P and La(III) was utilized, and waste paper (WP) modified with phytic acid (PA) was used to adsorb La(III) from water using a simple one-pot method. The adsorption capacity was 237.23 mg g−1 (30 °C, pH = 5, initial concentration of 200 mg L−1). The equilibrium isotherm fitted the Langmuir isotherm model well. The adsorption equilibrium was reached after 15 min. The adsorption kinetics followed the pseudo-second-order kinetic model, indicating that the adsorption mechanism of the material towards La(III) is single-layer chemisorption. It selectively adsorbed La(III) from four coexisting substances (Pb, Ni, Cu, and Co). After six cycles, the adsorption efficiency of the adsorbent material remained at 60%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Three industrial yeast strains compared in high-solids paper sludge fermentation. • Highest ethanol titre of 101.8 g/L achieved using paper sludge from virgin pulping. • Xylose utilisation by engineered strain Cellusec® 1.0 improved ethanol titre by 10.3%. • Required enzyme dosage reduced by 50% using cellulase-secreting strain Cellusec® 2.0. Reported ethanol titres from hydrolysis-fermentation of the degraded fibres in paper sludge (PS) waste, generally obtained under fed-batch submerged conditions, can be improved through fermentation processes at high solids loadings, as demonstrated in the present study with two industrial PS wastes at enzyme dosages appropriate for solids loadings up to 40% (w/w). The industrial yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain Ethanol Red®, was compared to two genetically engineered S. cerevisiae strains, namely Cellusec® 1.0 and Cellusec® 2.0, capable of xylose utilisation, and xylose utilisation and cellulase production, respectively. High-solids batch fermentations were conducted in 3 L horizontal rotating reactors and ethanol titres of 100.8 and 73.3 g/L were obtained for virgin pulp and corrugated recycle PS, respectively, at 40% (w/w) solids loading using Ethanol Red®. Xylose utilisation by Cellusec® 1.0 improved ethanol titres by up to 10.3%, while exogenous cellulolytic enzyme requirements were reduced by up to 50% using cellulase-producing Cellusec® 2.0. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Geopolymer concrete has been developed as a means of reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions due to concrete manufacturing, which account for around 5-10% of the total global CO2 emissions. Additionally, this innovative material aims to utilize industrial waste as a sustainable resource. This study concentrates on developing a geopolymer mortar composition comprising 70% fly ash and 30% metakaolin. The mixture also includes 14 molars of sodium hydroxide, sodium silicate, saturated surface dry sand, water at a volume of 10% of the mix, and 1.5% superplasticizer. The solution-to-solid materials ratio was established at 0.55 while the ratio between sodium silicate and sodium hydroxide was established at 2.5:1. The geopolymer mortar was enhanced by rice husk fibers at varying volume percentages of 1%, 1.5%, and 2%. Additionally, waste paper, in the form of paper ash, was introduced as filler at a volume percentage of 5%. Following the demolding process, the specimens were cured in the controlled environment of an oven, with the temperature set at 60 °C for a period of 24 hr. Subsequently, the cured samples were stored for 7 and 28 days and then were tested. When different amounts of rice husk fibers were mixed in with a fixed amount of 5% paper ash, the flexural resistance of the geopolymer mortar increased significantly. After 7 days of curing, it was seen that the flexural strength experienced an increase of 4%, 13%, and 25%, and a further increase of 11%, 18%, and 31% after 28 days of curing. The results of the impact test showed a notable enhancement in impact resistance and energy absorption when incorporating paper ash and rice husk fibers. Specifically, the initial crack results exhibited a 50% rise, while the specimen failure after 28 days of curing showed a 66% improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]