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Pollution from plastics is a major issue in the current context, prompting the scientific community to focus its efforts on recycling these materials. Mechanical recycling emerges as the most popular due to its practicality and cost‐effectiveness. In fact, with the increase in environmental awareness, the adoption of new circular economy models, stricter regulations mandating disposal and recycling, and lower costs compared to other recycling techniques, this type of recycling is taking a predominant role over other method. However, the presence of a variety of products of different polymeric nature, the introduction of new biodegradable products, and the complexity of multilayer packaging combining different polymers, without concrete solutions for recycling create a heterogeneous range of materials that leaks into the environment. The scientific literature is actively addressing these challenges, and this review aims to explore the latest strategies for enhancing the mechanical recycling of new and challenging polymer systems. Specifically, it explores the recycling of materials originally designated for landfill, incineration or composting, focusing on advancements in management of these previously overlooked and problematic system. This underexplored perspective seeks to offer new insights and innovative solutions that can transform polymer waste management and advance more sustainable recycling practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon fibers (CFs) are experiencing a growing demand owing to their low specific weight, exceptional mechanical properties, superior temperature, and corrosion resistance, however, their sustainability and energy consumption during manufacturing is still a challenge. Therefore, reclamation of waste CFs and their reformatting has gained significant attention. Herein, we synthesized a chemically degradable vitrimer matrix by curing bisphenol‐A diglycidyl ether (BADGE) with 2‐aminophenyl disulfide (2‐AFD) and further utilized the matrix for the development of CF reinforced composites (CFRCs) through vacuum‐assisted resin infusion molding (VARIM) process. The obtained vitrimeric system and its composites show excellent mechanical, self‐adhering, shape‐memory, and reprocessing properties. Meanwhile, the developed CFRP vitrimer composites can be rapidly dissolved in thiol solvent (1‐octanethiol), resulting in the efficient recycling of CFs. X‐ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and Raman spectroscopy validate that the chemical structure of the recycled fibers closely resembles the structure of the original CFs. The recycled CFs were further used to prepare second generation composite materials with excellent thermal, dynamic, and mechanical properties for nonstructural applications (e.g., sports, automotive, etc.). Thus, with an effective CF recycling method, this study can assist in preparing reliable, long‐term functional, recyclable, and high‐performance composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of New Food Industry is the property of NFI LLC. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In Sri Lanka, the management of Construction & Demolition (C&D) waste poses a major problem, leading to environmental degradation and depletion of resources. This study aims to tackle these issues by examining the implementation of Circular Economy (CE) strategies within the construction industry of Sri Lanka. The focus is on reducing waste generation and maximizing resource utilization during the demolitions and repurpose, as well as material recovery and production stages of the building project life cycle. These stages are crucial in terms of waste generation and resource consumption. A qualitative approach was employed in this research, utilizing the Delphi technique to gather insights through a series of three rounds of expert interviews. In the first round, 17 experts were involved, followed by 15 in the second round, and 12 in the final round. The data collected from these interviews were analysed using manual content analysis methods. Based on the research findings, a total of 14 C&D Waste Management (WM) issues were identified specifically in the Demolitions and Repurpose Stage in Sri Lanka. For each issue, suitable strategies were proposed to overcome them effectively. Furthermore, the study examined the impact of CE strategies on minimizing these issues within the context of the project management iron triangle. Similarly, the Material Recovery and Production Stage of the building presented eight C&D WM issues, each accompanied by corresponding strategies to address them. The research also explored the influence of CE strategies in mitigating these issues, considering the project management iron triangle. During the demolitions and repurpose stage, CE strategies focus on reducing waste generation and optimizing resource utilization. This involves carefully deconstructing buildings to salvage and recover materials that can be reused or repurposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review explores the state‐of‐the‐art of thermoelectric materials, covering different crystalline structures and material families (e.g., chalcogenides, Zintl phases, skutterudites, clathrates, oxides, half‐Heusler, organic–inorganic composites, metal–organic frameworks, and silicides). It examines their corresponding thermoelectric properties while considering the synthesis methods employed, paying significant attention to those that particularly follow sustainable routes. Additionally, the work addresses current challenges in the field, such as enhancing stability at high temperatures and reducing manufacturing costs. The understanding gained in this field opens avenues for designing more efficient and sustainable devices to convert waste heat into electrical energy, thereby advancing cleaner technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Managing environmental performance of waste dump facilities in mining complexes is an integral part of long-term production planning. Sustainable long-term production scheduling solutions are desired to mitigate risk and return the environment to a productive post-mining state. A simultaneous stochastic optimisation framework for long-term production scheduling in mining complexes is developed that integrates waste management and progressive reclamation. The waste dump placement schedule is jointly optimised with the extraction sequence, destination policy, and stockpiling decisions in a single stochastic mathematical programming framework. This includes the timing of progressive reclamation activities in parallel with production to enhance waste dump rehabilitation. Uncertainty related to the production of acid rock drainage is quantified by simulating geochemical properties of waste and managing the blending of uncertain waste properties within the optimisation framework. With respect to the framework for simultaneous stochastic optimisation, contextual bandits are explored to improve the metaheuristic solution approach and solve the corresponding large-scale optimisation model. The framework is tested in a multi-mine copper-gold mining complex leading to improved environmental performance. Risk of acid rock drainage is decreased by 52.5% in the waste dump facilities. Reclamation planning activities for meeting environmental requirements are scheduled prior to closure. The solution approach more effectively improves the objective function with contextual bandits leading to a 24% improvement in the study presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Industrial processes often generate substantial amounts of wastewater with significant thermal energy content, which is typically discarded as waste. A promising approach to increase energy efficiency and advance sustainable resource management is waste water heat recovery. Utilizing a phase change material (PCM) to extract waste heat from wastewater and transfer it to cold water is an innovative method that separates the demand and supply of heat, while also integrating storage and transmission within a single heat exchanger (HE). A 3D numerical model of PCM‐based HE is developed and simulated. The thermal behavior of PCM and preheating of cold water are investigated in this study. In order to increase the thermal conductivity of the PCM, fins are strategically positioned. Around 71.13% of melting time is reduced by adding fins. Further, the 10° orientation of the fins is also numerically observed and it is found that it helps to improve natural circulation of molten PCM. Thus, melting time is reduced by 34% compared to the vertical fin. A 3.5°C–4.5°C temperature rise in cold water is obtained with the inclined fin, which is 14.28% higher than the vertical fin model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Livestock manure and crop residues are significant sources of phosphorus. However, the ineffectiveness of current processing technologies often leads to the suboptimal recovery of this phosphorus, causing considerable resource wastage and environmental pollution. Recently, global research has increasingly been focused on the resource recovery of organic waste materials using hydrothermal carbonization technology. This study investigated variations in phosphorus forms in the hydrochar produced from swine manure and rice straw, employing diverse hydrothermal carbonization conditions and applying the Box–Behnken response surface methodology and Hedley's phosphorus fractionation method. The results indicated that inorganic phosphorus predominates in the hydrochar, with organic phosphorus comprising 5–30% of the total phosphorus. Furthermore, the study found that the available phosphorus content, as measured by NaHCO3 extraction, decreased as the reaction time and temperature of the hydrothermal carbonization process increased. The concentrations of H2O-P and NaHCO3-P fractions decreased with increasing reaction times and temperatures but increased with a higher swine manure-to-straw ratio. Conversely, the concentrations of NaOH-P and HCl-P fractions showed an increasing trend with rising reaction temperature, prolonging reaction time, andusing a high swine manure-to-straw ratio. Consequently, this study offers vital theoretical and practical insights into the resource utilization of livestock manure and crop straw, significantly contributing to the challenges of waste management and environmental sustainability in agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article evaluates the presence of innovative technologies and maturity levels in an eco-industrial park focused on energy and material recovery. The park comprises four entities as follows: a central company and three manufacturing units specializing in energy and material waste recovery. This study proposes a measurement model supported by following four constructs: innovative technologies, maturity level, energy recovery, and materials recovery. Each construct is evaluated through four categorical indicators. The assessment involved five managers and practitioners using a five-point Likert scale. The primary findings highlight a notable deficiency in the application of innovative technologies and a need for digital maturity in the park management body. Furthermore, the study reveals that material recovery holds greater significance and exhibits higher performance compared with energy recovery in the park's operational strategy. In conclusion, the study suggests a series of strategic actions to enhance the application of innovative technologies and elevate the maturity level of management, thereby addressing the identified deficiencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the pyrolysis process applied to various non-utilized waste materials, specifically focusing on separated plastics from municipal waste, wood waste (including pallets and window frames), paper rejects, and automotive carpets. Different combinations of these waste materials were subjected to pyrolysis, a process involving high-temperature treatment (600 °C) in a nitrogen atmosphere. The resulting products, including biochar, gas, and liquid fractions, as well as the residual waste materials, underwent comprehensive analysis. The evaluation of pyrolysis products emphasizes their quality, energy content, and potential applications. Notably, the pyrolysis gas derived from the combination of separated municipal plastics and waste wood exhibited the highest calorific value at 49.45 MJ/m3. Additionally, Mixture 2, consisting of plastic and wood waste, demonstrated the highest calorific value for the pyrolysis condensate, reaching 30.62 MJ/kg. Moreover, Mixture 3, benefiting from biochar utilization as a sorbent, displayed the highest iodine value at 90.01 mg/g. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biochar and humic substances are prevalent redox pools in the environment, which is critical to electron transfer in geochemical cycles and pollution control processes. The dissolution of biochar and the sorption of humic substances on biochar have the potential to redistribute redox substances, consequently altering the redox properties of solid and liquid phases. However, studies have often focused on either sorption or dissolution separately, overlooking the mutual effects and not involving redox properties. Herein, molecular interactions between biochar and humic acid (HA) and variations in their redox properties were elucidated using UPLC Orbitrap MS and mediated electrochemical measurement. The dissolution of biochar was far greater than the sorption of HA constituents, and HA enhanced the dissolution of biochar through molecular exchange. But preferential sorption of oxygenated aromatics to pine char (pi500) mainly by hydrogen bonding and higher saturated molecules to starch char (st700) mainly by hydrophobic interactions caused the oxygenated functional groups on biochar to increase (1 ~ 1.5 times). Thus the Electron exchange capacities (EEC) of pi500 and st700 turned to 1 ~ 3 times, and the EEC of HA decreased ca. 50%. Absorption (partition) caused more sorption of HA constituents to pi500 than to st700, while larger surface area resulted in higher EEC of st700 with sorbed HA. The enrichment of redox constituents on biochar is promising for its long-term use in waste reclamation and pollution control. The findings can aid in the understanding of variations in redox properties under interactions between pyrolytic and natural organic matter. Highlights: The dissolution of biochar was far more than the sorption of HA constituents. Dissolution of biochar was enhanced by humic acid through molecular exchange. Sorbed redox constituents increased biochar EEC to 1~3 times. Oxygenated aromatics were sorbed to pine biochar mainly by hydrogen bonding. Higher saturated molecules were sorbed to starch biochar mainly by hydrophobic interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The primary objective of this research endeavour is to scrutinize the condition and calibre of the atmospheric milieu, subterranean water sources, and municipal solid waste in the city of Coimbatore. It has boasted a population of 1.60 million inhabitants and spanning across a land area of 246.8 square kilometres, holds a prominent status as a renowned metropolis within the southern state of Tamilnadu. Recognized as the "pump city," Coimbatore stands as India's fastest-growing urban centre, serving as a pivotal hub for industries such as textiles, commerce, education, information technology, healthcare, and the manifestation of various sectors. The escalation of municipal solid waste (MSW) generation coupled with improper disposal practices has posed significant environmental challenges in urban areas, paying urgent attention. In order to evaluate the soil quality, influenced by the disposal of solid waste at the Vellalore dumping yard, an indepth investigation of soil properties was conducted. Despite the concerted efforts, made by the municipal corporation, the implementation of proper municipal solid waste management practices in Coimbatore remains deficient. This essay endeavours to delve into the topic of water and air contamination, engendered by this predicament. In adherence to established protocols, comprehensive examinations were conducted to analyse the physicochemical properties of water and air samples. It was noticed, that air samples are within the standard limits before the reclamation of legacy waste by a green cover and water contamination has also brought into the desirable range with the green belt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low-temperature mechanical chemical devulcanization is a process that can produce reclaimed rubber with exceptional mechanical properties. However, the inadequacy and low efficiency of the devulcanization have significantly restricted its application. To address the issues, alcoholic amines, including hydroxyethyl ethylenediamine (AEEA), ethanolamine (ETA), and diethanol amine (DEA), are utilized as devulcanizing agents to promote the devulcanization process. Careful characterizations are conducted to reveal the devulcanizing mechanism and to depict the performances of reclaimed rubbers. Results show that the amine groups in the devulcanizing agents can react with sulfur after the crosslink bonds are broken by mechanical shear force, thus blocking the activity of sulfur and introducing hydroxyl groups into the rubber chains. The incorporation of alcoholic amines can enhance the devulcanizing degree and devulcanizing efficiency, reduce the Mooney viscosity, and improve the mechanical and anti-aging performance. When using DEA as the devulcanizing agent, the sol content of reclaimed rubber increases from 13.1% to 22.4%, the devulcanization ratio increases from 82.1% to 89.0%, the Mooney viscosity decreases from 135.5 to 83.6, the tensile strength improves from 14.7 MPa to 16.3 MPa, the retention rate of tensile strength raises from 55.2% to 82.6% after aging for 72 h, while the devulcanization time is shortened from 21 min to 9.5 min, compared with that without using alcoholic amines. Therefore, alcoholic amines exhibit remarkable advantages in the devulcanization of waste rubber, thus indicating a promising direction for the advancement of research in the area of waste rubber reclamation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The amount of waste generated globally is rising along with the growth of the population, including biological waste, which reaches billions of tons every year. An enormous amount of food waste (FW) is produced throughout the food production chain, which threatens human health and the environment. Waste-to-biogas conversion, as a prime example of waste-to-energy technology, offers a simple approach to simultaneously address the issue of the rising demand for renewable energy sources. Anaerobic digestion (AD) of FW produces biofuel, bioenergy, and fertilizers. In addition to providing a sustainable waste management alternative to landfills, the creation of hydrogen through resource recovery and waste material conversion processes can be used to produce renewable fuels. To be taken seriously as a candidate for manufacturing hydrogen, it must be economically feasible, cutting costs and providing a sustainable waste management option. This article reviews the literature and provides a techno-economic analysis of the possibilities for producing biogas and hydrogen fuel from several types of FW. Additionally, recommendations for improving waste-to-biogas and hydrogen technology are provided as part of a comprehensive solution for potential renewable energy. • Reduced FW production has a positive environmental impact. • Generation of biofuel and bioenergy FW are covered. • Research gaps and technical challenges are addressed before commercialization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three-dimensional (3D) printing is rapidly converging with the foundry industry in the recent years and tends to increase more in upcoming years. 3D printing is largely used for making sand molds and printing process uses sand which is imported. This sand in terms of costing is very high in comparison to Indian sand used in sand metal casting. Thus, waste generated from the printer is not affordable and increases the initial printing cost. To reuse the sand, reclamation is the solution which is effective and will reduce the initial printing cost. As the initial cost decreases printing process can be used for mass production of molds and cores. This paper presents a study of reclamation done on two types of waste sand printed and loose sand. It also suggests a range of temperature for reclamation of both the type of waste sand. Thermal process of reclamation is used as the binder used in the printing process is furan base. As furan binder evaporates at a certain temperature, the sand can be reclaimed and reused. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Release of complex waste in environment due to massive industrialization is a major threat globally. Anthracene is a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon generally released as a waste from petrochemical industries. It may bioaccumulate in food chain which results into nephrotoxicity in humans. Thus, there is a necessity to clean up the contaminated site efficiently. Bioremediation is ecofriendly technique for waste reclamation however it consumes more time. Thus, nanotechnology has exploded with unique properties of nanomaterials. Bio-based nanoparticles (NPs) synthesis is a recent and agro ecologically friendly approach for remediating environmental waste. For the first time present study reports Fusarium proliferatum WC416 isolated from refinery effluent for the synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs). Moreover, biosynthesized ZnO NPs used for their photocatalytic efficiency to remove anthracene at varying concentration. During synthesis of ZnO in aqueous medium showed a characteristic peak at 365 nm as analyzed by Ultraviolet–visible spectrum. The formation of NPs was further confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), transmission electron microscope (TEM), and energy-dispersive x-ray (XRD). Morphologically the synthesized ZnO NPs were found to be in irregular polygonal shapes. Moreover, ZnO NPs showed photocatalytic activity for removal of anthracene upto 65 ± 0.03%, p value = 0.00032 at 100 ppm followed by 50.7% ± 0.02%, p value = 0.00023 at 250 ppm and 40.83 ± 0.03%, p value = 0.00042 at 500 ppm within 6 hr duration. Anthracene transformation during photocatlytic activity was confirmed by GC MS analysis, and the products were detected as 1,2 benzene carboxylic acid (m/z 166) and salicylic acid (m/z 138). Phytotoxicity effect of synthesized ZnO NPs on seed germination index of Phaseolus moonga and Vigina radiata was also studied to promote sustainable and biocompatible nano-agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, the large amount of waste produced is a significant problem for the environment and for the people who live near the deposits of by-products obtained from technological processes. Limited storage capacity, as well as the uncontrolled disposal of waste or industrial by-products from landfills, are growing concerns for environmental protection. The recovery of waste can be carried out to obtain new inorganic materials, known under several names, including geopolymers, alkaline activated materials. Aluminosilicate sources can come from industrial by-products such as silica fume, slag, fly ash, etc. In the formulation of this material, the type, ratios and concentrations of the compounds in the mixture are very important to the properties of the new inorganic materials. Prior to synthesis, a compressive analysis of the source materials must be performed to identify the minerals present and their amount relative to the total mass. The aim of this study is the formulation and characterization of new alkaline activated materials with the replacement of cement and establishing the influence of the properties of raw materials over final products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To decrease the usage of petroleum asphalt and improve waste recovery, two different groups of recycled oils were selected to improve the low-temperature performance of asphalt binders in cold region. The multiple stress creeps recovery (MSCR) test, linear amplitude sweep (LAS) test and bending beam rheometer (BBR) test were performed to evaluate the rheological properties of recycled oil modified asphalt (ROMA). The thermal stress and double edge notched tension (DENT) tests were employed to characterise the low-temperature cracking resistance and ductile resistance of the ROMA, respectively. The results of this study showed that recycled oils significantly improved the low-temperature and fatigue performance of asphalt, which is manifested in a drop in the low-temperature critical cracking temperature of asphalt by 3°C, increase in crack tip opening displacement (CTOD) by 72.8%, and extension of fatigue life by 178.9%. The addition of recycled oils reduced the percentage of large molecule size (LMS) while increasing the percentage of medium molecule size (MMS) of the asphalt, which contributes to the better low-temperature performance of the ROMA. The results from this study provide insights into the reclamation of waste oils and developing the low-temperature modifier of asphalt pavements in cold region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Duluth Complex (DC) contains sulfide‐rich magmatic intrusions that represent one of the largest known economic deposits of copper, nickel, and platinum group elements. Previous work showed that microbial communities associated with experimentally‐weathered DC waste rock and tailings were dominated by uncultivated taxa and organisms not typically associated with mine waste. However, those experiments were designed for kinetic testing and do not necessarily represent the conditions expected for long‐term environmental weathering. We used 16S rRNA gene methods to characterize the microbial communities present on the surfaces of naturally‐weathered and historically disturbed outcrops of DC material. Rock surfaces were dominated by diverse uncultured Ktedonobacteria, Acetobacteria, and Actinobacteria, with abundant algae and other phototrophs. These communities were distinct from microbial assemblages from experimentally‐weathered DC rocks, suggesting different energy and nutrient resources in environmental samples. Sulfide mineral incubations performed with and without algae showed that photosynthetic microorganisms could have an inhibitory effect on autotrophic populations, resulting in slightly lower sulfate release and differences in dominant microorganisms. The microbial assemblages from these weathered outcrops show how communities develop during weathering of sulfide‐rich DC rocks and represent baseline data that could evaluate the effectiveness of future reclamation of waste produced by large‐scale mining operations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article is a book review of "Class, Whiteness, and Southern Literature" by Jolene Hubbs. The book examines the representation of poor white southerners in literature throughout the twentieth century, analyzing how these portrayals uphold white middle and upper-class superiority. Hubbs argues that these stereotypes contribute to exclusionary models of whiteness. The book explores works by various authors who challenge these tropes and offer alternative portrayals of poor whites in the South. The review praises the book's analysis but notes that it may be challenging for readers unfamiliar with some of the referenced works. It also suggests further exploration of how contemporary southern writers, both Black and white, engage with and reinterpret the works of their predecessors. [Extracted from the article]

• Assessment of the recovered plastics from material recovery facilities (MRFs) • Composition of #3–7 plastic bales can vary between MRFs. • Polypropylene (PP) is the most abundant plastic in #3–7 bales. • More data required to understand seasonal variability in bale composition. • Differences in melt flow rate across MRFs can impact plastic processing. Plastic recycling rates are still low in the United States (U.S.), with less than 10% of municipal solid waste (MSW) plastic being recycled. Most unrecycled plastics are identified by Resin Identification Codes (RIC) from #3–7, which are commonly destined for landfill or waste-to-energy facilities (WTE). Therefore, the composition and quality of outbound bales containing #3–7 plastics were assessed to understand the potential to increase recycling rates. Three bales were sourced from three different Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) located in the United States. Each bale was manually sorted and characterized for quality and performance via multiple plastic characterization techniques. Considerable differences in bale composition were observed between MRFs, which correlated with the technology used by each MRF in the sorting process. The differences were substantial in the residual levels of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) and high-density polyethylene (HDPE), which are highly desired for mechanical recycling processes and not expected in #3–7 plastics bales. Traditional recycling processes including washing, extrusion, and injection molding of the sorted material were employed prior to the physical, thermal, and molecular characterization. Despite differences in bale composition by plastic type, some polymer properties were similar across MRFs. This research suggests that landfill-diverted mixed plastic waste can be utilized in the mechanical recycling of currently unrecycled materials, as processes can be designed to work with consistent polymer properties. It also highlights the need to upgrade the sorting systems to prevent waste feedstocks, which can be recycled with current technologies, from contaminating other plastic streams or reach landfills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers reviews on a several products in fluids and solids handling: DENIOS' FALCON full-size funnel for efficient IBC totes refilling, Kaeser Compressors' i.Comp 8 and 9 oilless air compressors for high-performance applications.

With the growing volume of waste rubber products, the pressures on the environment and resources become increasingly serious. The reclamation of waste rubber products is one of the practical methods to meet this challenge. Therefore, the application of reclaimed rubber (RR) attracts researchers' attention. In this work, different contents of natural rubber (NR) matrix are replaced by RR and the reinforcing behavior of the RR phase is discussed. The results show that the crosslinking density, Payne effect and 100% modulus increase with increase in RR content in the NR/RR blends when the RR content is not more than 60 phr, and then drop when the RR content gets to 80 phr. It is inferred that both the NR and the RR constitute co‐continuous phases when the RR content is 60 phr, and the RR phase is the only continuous phase when its content reaches 80 phr, which can be confirmed by SEM observation. Besides, the curing rate is enhanced with increase of the RR content. It is also found that structures with high crosslinking density appear when the RR is incorporated into the NR matrix. Finally, it is proposed that carbon black in the RR, a structure with high crosslinking density and a continuous rubber matrix are important factors influencing the reinforcement behaviour in RR filled rubber composites. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is an editorial for the special issue of the journal Foods titled "Plant Extracts: From Extract Technology to Health Benefits." The issue includes four research papers and two reviews that discuss the valorization of food by-products through the extraction of plant special metabolites. The articles highlight the use of green extraction methods, such as microwave hydrodiffusion and gravity, water bath-assisted extraction, and encapsulation techniques, to recover bioactive compounds from various sources. The studies explore the potential health benefits of these extracts, including their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective effects. The editorial emphasizes the importance of further research in this area and provides valuable contributions for readers interested in sustainable and eco-friendly extraction methods. [Extracted from the article]

Systems to safely store, handle, treat and dispose of medical (healthcare) waste are well developed in the 21st century. Yet, across many parts of the Global South (low-income and middle-income countries) such systems, resources and knowhow are lacking; to the extent that medical waste could pose a serious threat to the health, safety and lives of millions of healthcare workers and waste handlers who frequently interact with this category of materials. We present here a novel scope and dimension to investigating specifically the risks and hazards to people who come into contact with medical waste, focusing on activity types and established medical practice. A systematic scoping review of evidence (PRISMA-Scr) was used to critically analyze, compare and summarize data. Prevalent combinations of hazards, exposure and risk are semi-quantitatively scored and ranked. Our results signpost three core topics posing a major risk to human health: (1) Open, uncontrolled burning and rudimentary incineration of medical waste by waste handlers who have to make difficult choices between burning or discarding on land (e.g. in dumpsites) from where it risks pathogen infection; (2) A small but non-negligible trade in reused medical equipment (e.g. hypodermic needles), proliferated by a cohort of waste reclamation specialists (sub-group of waste pickers); and (3) The mismanagement of medical sharps at the point of generation, handling and storage in the Global North and South. A combination of immediate action and further research are recommended to address and inform on these topics which threaten the health and mortality of millions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents an evaluation of the use of drilling tailings in reclamation and development of physical and chemical properties of degraded soils. Composites with drilling wastes and other wastes, useful for the reclamation of degraded soils and their reconstruction in devastated areas, were used in the tests. Comparative objects were anthropogenic soil fertilized with NPK and manure at a dose of 30 Mg/ha + NPK. The research shows that the tested anthropogenic soil was characterized by very poor sorption properties, and especially the composites with the participation of the tested waste improved the described properties. The composite with sewage sludge from ZA Puławy had a more favorable (by approx. 20%) effect on the sorption capacity of the reclaimed anthropogenic soil than the composite with municipal sewage sludge from Lublin. The effect of the tested composites on reducing the hydrolytic acidity of the reclaimed soil was similar, but much more favorable than that of manure. The results of the conducted research confirmed that drilling wastes have environmentally valuable properties, but due to their unbalance, they should not be used alone, but in composites with properly selected other wastes, such as manure or sewage sludge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Landfill biomining (LFBM) has been proposed as a viable method for the reclamation of legacy waste dumpsites as well as the subsequent recovery of valuable resources and land value spaces. Despite these advantages, the potential of LFBM faces a significant challenge due to the composition, characteristics and end-use of the excavated materials. This paper assesses the composition of the excavated waste obtained during the LFBM operation of the four legacy waste heaps at the Boragaon dumpsite in North-East India and determines the physicochemical characteristics crucial for the material and energy recovery from the key reclaimed fractions. The compositional analysis revealed that the proportion of combustible and non-combustible fractions decreases from the youngest heap HP4 to the oldest heap HP1 due to variations in the consumption habits of the local community and the inadequate recycling of recyclable materials. However, the proportion of fine fraction (FF) shows an increasing trend from HP4 to HP1, suggesting enhanced biodegradation of easily degradable waste over the years. The proximate and energy content analysis suggest that refuse-derived fuel (RDF) preparation is the most suitable valorization option for the combustible fractions since surface defilements are too high for good quality material recovery. The elevated amount of organic matter and leachable heavy metals indicate that unrestricted reuse of FF as earth-fill material can cause long-term settlements and groundwater contamination, respectively. Even though every dumpsite is different in characteristics, the findings of this case study can assist in developing new strategies for recycling excavated waste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Power Generation Technology is the property of Power Generation Technology Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Printed, flexible, and hybrid electronic technologies are advancing rapidly leading to remarkable developments in smart wearables, intelligent textiles, and health monitoring systems. Flexible electronics are typically fabricated on petroleum‐derived polymeric substrates. However, in the light of global environmental concerns regarding fossil raw materials, there is a need to drive the production of flexible electronics devices based on sustainable materials. Additionally, there is a need to reduce the quantity of electronic waste by developing material recovery and recycling technologies. Here, a fully biobased and biodegradable substrate tailored for printed flexible electronic applications is developed. Based on a nanocomposite of cellulose nanofibril (CNF) and hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC), the substrate shows excellent mechanical and optical properties for printed flexible electronics applications. High‐resolution screen printing of conductive ink and typical electronics assembly processes are possible to realize on the substrate. An electrocardiograph (ECG) device is fabricated on the cellulosic substrate as a technology demonstrator and its performance is confirmed on human volunteers. Last, end‐of‐life scenarios are studied for printed electronic devices where device degradation and subsequent material recovery concepts are presented. This work demonstrates that sustainable plant‐derived materials can play a big role toward a green transition in the electronics industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Featured Application: The potential use of bacteria and their enzymes for the degradation of plastic waste and the recovery of value-added products considering bio-up recycling for the circular economy. A polyethylene terephthalate (PET)-degrading bacterium identified as Stenotrophomonas maltophilia PRS8 was isolated from the soil of a landfill. The degradation of the PET bottle flakes and the PET prepared as a powder were assessed using live cells, an extracellular medium, or a purified cutinase-like enzyme. These treated polymers were analyzed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The depolymerization products, identified using HPLC and LC-MS, were terephthalic acid (TPA), mono(2-hydroxyethyl)-TPA (MHET), and bis(2-hydroxyethyl)-TPA (BHET). Several physicochemical factors were optimized for a better cutinase-like enzyme production by using unique single-factor and multi-factor statistical models (the Plackett–Burman design and the central composite design software). The enzyme was purified for homogeneity through column chromatography using Sephadex G-100 resin. The molecular weight of the enzyme was approximately 58 kDa. The specific activity on para nitrophenyl butyrate was estimated at 450.58 U/mg, with a purification of 6.39 times and a yield of 48.64%. The enzyme was stable at various temperatures (30–40 °C) and pH levels (8.0–10.0). The enzyme activity was significantly improved by the surfactants (Triton X-100 and Tween-40), organic solvent (formaldehyde), and metals (NiCl2 and Na2SO4). The extracellular medium containing the cutinase-type enzyme showed a depolymerization yield of the PET powder comparable to that of Idonella skaiensis IsPETase and significantly higher than that of Humicola insolens thermostable HiCut (HiC) cutinase. This study suggests that S. maltophilia PRS8 is able to degrade PET at a mesophilic temperature and could be further explored for the sustainable management of plastic waste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phosphorus is a crucial resource for the agricultural industry, but its limited supply requires recovery from waste materials before it is lost and leads to eutrophication. Dairy manure is rich with phosphorus, and the growth and consolidation within the dairy industry has led to dairy manure management becoming a significant concern. Hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) and membrane distillation (MD) were investigated as an alternative to treat dairy manure and recover nutrients, specifically phosphorus and nitrogen. HTC is a thermal treatment process that converts organic matter into a hydrochar analogous to a low-grade coal, and MD is a thermally-driven separation process that can utilize low-grade waste heat from HTC, thus the two processes are synergetic. A byproduct of the HTC process is the aqueous product (HAP) that contains the water-soluble nutrients and organic components of dairy manure. In this work, the efficacy of MD to concentrate the nutrients in the presence of dissolved organic carbon was assessed. Samples included synthetic nutrient-rich streams as well as HAP produced at HTC temperatures ranging from 200 °C to 260 °C. In each case, the nutrients were successfully concentrated in the feed loop with rejections >99%. Dissolved carbon was found to foul the MD membrane at levels proportional to its hydrophobicity, with little fouling observed for glucose and substantial fouling observed for HAP solutions created at higher temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Australian warship HMAS Perth (I) was sunk during the Battle of the Sunda Strait in 1942, claiming the lives of 353 men. It was not until 2017 that Indonesian and Australian authorities conducted a joint archaeological survey of the site. They found that Perth had been salvaged on an industrial scale, with less than 40% of the vessel remaining. The discovery devastated those with an emotional connection to Perth, and, following strong Australian government advocacy, informed Indonesia's decision to establish a maritime conservation zone, the nation's first, around the site. Although the 80 years since Perth sank have been characterized by a lack of official engagement, this article proposes that the recent destruction of Perth is not the end, but the beginning, of a new era of bilateral cooperation, founded on the recognition that the wreck has historical significance for Australia as well as potential benefits for local communities in Indonesia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The first step in reintroducing plastic waste into the recycling cycle is to use material recovery facilities (MRFs). However, while the composition and types of plastic waste are changing over time, the layout of MRFs does not always adapt to this change. In this paper, an existing MRF in Southern Italy was chosen as a reference to evaluate its current performance and to estimate possible improvements in sorting through a specific upgrade. First, an analysis of the amount, composition, and sources (in terms of type of waste and distance from the MRF) of the input waste was conducted. The composition of the input waste was then compared with the amount of selected output waste streams in order to calculate the current sorting efficiency of each stream and compare it with the values obtained from the upgrade. Lastly, the current performance of the plant was compared with a previous assessment of the same MRF in order to highlight possible variation. Results showed how the incoming waste was mainly composed of packaging plastic waste, and that some plastic waste not yet selected by the plant ended up in specific output streams. Therefore, the current performance of the MRF resulted high for PET and PE bottles (80.2% and 92.8%, respectively), in contrast to mixed or flexible packaging, where the efficiency achieved lower values (55–50%). These values were caused by a weakness in the 2D flow sorting line, which the upgrade mostly addressed. The upgraded configuration increased the production of recyclable waste from 34.32% to 50.39%, especially due to the recovery of small flexible packaging films in PE and biopolymers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ecological restoration of lands degraded by the mining industry constitutes for the coming years an interesting theme and a challenging field of application in landscape architecture, and this both from a qualitative point of view, through the interesting objectives of the disciplines involved in restoration, and from a quantitative point of view, through the large number of different situations and by expanding the portion of the landscape that can be involved. In the case of waste dumps, ecological restoration aims at concepts for improving the quality of anthropogenic protosoils, identifying cultivation directions and identifying and applying technologies for arranging the dumps for this purpose. The ecological restoration of waste dumps resulting from mining operations depends on the geographical area in which they are located, on the local climate, on the properties of the materials that make up the dump, on local or social interest, etc. This article presents a proposal for the ecological restoration of the West Berbeşti waste dump, for this purpose, the specific stages of the planning and implementation of a restoration program being completed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A life cycle assessment (LCA) was conducted to evaluate the total environmental impact of state-of-the-art waste-to-energy (WtE) in Belgium with respect to recovered energy utilization and addition of carbon capture and storage (CCS). Four energy output scenarios were modeled on Umberto LCA software using primary data of mass and energy flows surrounding the six incinerators at the considered WtE plant and predefined processes from the Ecoinvent 3.6 database. The normalized LCA results suggest that by utilizing all the recovered energy as high-pressure steam, the WtE plant can avoid an equivalent annual environmental impact value of approximately 21200, 36800, 6700, 15800, 37000, and 6900 average European citizens in the impact categories 'climate change,' 'freshwater and terrestrial acidification,' 'freshwater eutrophication,' 'photochemical ozone creation,' 'respiratory effects, inorganics,' and 'terrestrial eutrophication,' respectively. The 'Electricity and Steam with CCS' scenario resulted in the most avoided environmental impact in the impact category 'climate change.' However, in all other impact categories, it resulted in less avoided environmental impact compared to the 'Steam' scenario. The comparative analysis showed that 19 out of the 24 LCA results varied by more than 50% between a region-specific and a region- and fuel-specific model, thus quantifying the influence of scenario uncertainty, introduced by the normative choice of substituted processes in LCA modeling. This study exemplifies the environmental benefit WtE technology can realize by substituting conventional energy production processes that are reliant on fossil resources, while performing its primary function that is reducing the volume of non-recyclable waste, destroying hazardous organic components it contains, and recovering useful materials from it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The EU legislation put the focus on the material recovery of waste while energy recovery is not elaborate enough and all thermochemical conversion technologies are classified in the same category regardless of the final products, which can hamper overall sustainability. Therefore, this research analyses technologies for recovery of plastic waste to review the existing EU legislation and technology classifications. Most important LCA impact categories from the legislation point of view were identified and used in the analysis. As alternative thermochemical recovery technologies are not widely used, their inventories were modelled based on an extensive literature review. Results show that pyrolysis of plastic waste has 46%, 90%, and 55%, while gasification up to 24%, 8%, and 91%, lower global warming, abiotic depletion, and cumulative energy demand-related impacts, respectively, compared to incineration with CHP generation. Incineration-based scenarios show lower impacts only in the acidification potential category which is dependent on energy mixes of substituted energy vectors which are quickly changing due to the energy transition. Thus, alternative thermochemical recovery technologies can help in reaching sustainable development goals by lowering environmental impacts and import dependence. But, before considering new investments, the substitution of less environmentally sustainable fuels in facilities like cement kilns needs to be looked upon. Results of this analysis provide levelized results for environmental and resource sustainability based on which current legislative views on individual thermochemical recovery technologies may be re-examined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of post-mining wastes in the reclamation of an open pit may act as a source of pollution that has a very strong impact on the groundwater environment. One such facility in Poland is the CTL Maczki-Bór S.A. sand mine filled with waste rock from hard coal mines. The current hydrodynamic conditions in the Quaternary aquifer causes that the wastes are in the bottom part of the open pit under the constant influence of groundwater. Due to the sub-level nature of the pollution source, the author of the study modified the classic rank-weight method of assessing the groundwater vulnerability to pollution in order to adapt it to the atypical type of the pollutant emitter. An individual approach was proposed by modifying the range of parameters as well as the assigned ranks and weights. Six key parameters were indicated, i.e. the thickness of the aeration zone, the thickness of the saturation zone, the filtration coefficients of the deposits in both of these zones, the recharge of the aquifer and the surface topography. The correctness of weight selection was verified by sensitivity analysis in the sensitivity variant of one parameter. It has been proposed to classify the groundwater vulnerability to 5 classes from moderately high to extremely high. For theoretical and effective weights, the obtained values of the index of groundwater vulnerability to pollution allowed to divide the area of the reclaimed open pit into two zones with high and very high groundwater vulnerability to pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]