Researchers have discovered how to convert discarded plastics into valuable carbon-based materials, including graphene, nanotubes, and porous carbon. These materials show promise for use in environmental remediation, batteries, and supercapacitors.
Researchers used boron isotope fingerprinting to track the release of boron from two glass compositions. The findings show that the formation of a protective altered layer controls long-term contaminant release, with magnesium-driven secondary mineral precipitation enhancing dissolution rates.
Researchers have identified a previously unknown bacterium in the Natronincolaceae family that plays a crucial role in converting organic waste into renewable natural gas. The newly discovered microbe tolerates high ammonia levels, allowing it to thrive in systems where other methane producers would fail.
A new method to recycle PA-66, a type of polymer found in fishing nets and automotive parts, has been developed. The process involves introducing melamine into melted waste, resulting in a nylon material with improved properties that can be reprocessed up to three times.
A new composite material made from a recyclable polymer infused with microscopic droplets of liquid metal alloy can be broken down through a simple chemical process, freeing the metal for reuse. The material also has self-healing properties, allowing it to be cut, rearranged, and bonded back together using only heat and pressure.
Two WPI projects harness AI to transform waste into energy and improve recycling. A digital twin simulates a complex chemical process, while an AI-powered robotic system identifies materials for recycling. These innovations aim to reduce municipal solid waste and support the circular economy.
Researchers used boron isotope fingerprinting to study how boron moves within dissolving glass. They found that diffusion through an altered surface layer becomes a key mechanism controlling the release of boron from glass over time.
Critical raw materials are projected to grow from 1 million tonnes in 2022 to between 1.2 and 1.9 million tonnes by 2050. Europe can recover more of these essential materials by improving collection, design, and recycling of waste electrical and electronic equipment.
Researchers from The University of Osaka develop a groundbreaking synthetic method to incorporate boron-rich carboranes into aromatic compounds, eliminating complex steps and hazardous conditions. This 'dump-and-stir' technique enables large-scale production using inexpensive aryl bromides and chlorides.
Researchers at Wuzhou University and Guangzhou University in China explored gemstone polishing waste as a possible additive in cement. Their study found that the waste significantly enhances thermal conductivity up to 159% and reduces electrical resistivity by up to 94% in cement, revealing an unexpected potential for 'smart' materials.
The Australian National University (ANU) has developed a technology that can recover untapped critical resources such as copper and lithium from mining waste. The BERST system, inspired by nature, uses nanotechnology to separate and extract high-purity minerals and metals, while turning dirty water into clean water.
A new study found that nearly half of UK households underestimate how much plastic they throw away each week, with online shoppers being the most unconscious consumers. The research calls for supermarkets to change infrastructure and systems to promote reuse and refill schemes.
A new gas-solid separation method promises cleaner and cheaper recycling of critical elements. The technique uses flash Joule heating to extract REEs in seconds without water or acids, achieving over 90% purity and yield for REE recovery.
Research highlights that wealthy countries waste more food, but urbanization is narrowing this gap. Global food waste has increased by 24% since 2004, with rising waste in middle-income countries driven by economic growth and urbanization.
A team of researchers at Rice University has developed a faster and cleaner method for recovering aluminum from bauxite residue, or red mud, by using a brief electrical pulse and chlorine gas. The process, called flash Joule heating, selectively vaporizes toxic metals while retaining almost all the aluminum.
Researchers developed a new behavioral model for waste separation, incorporating external factors and demographic variables. The Theory of Planned Behavior + External influences + Heterogeneity (TPB + E + H) framework increases explanatory power and provides a flexible platform for policy-level interventions.
A new technique uses ground-based observations and DART data to calculate safe asteroid deflection spots. The method takes into account asteroid shape, surface topology, rotation, and mass to minimize the risk of pushing the asteroid through a 'gravitational keyhole'.
Researchers found that caustic alkaline waste in corroded metal barrels off Los Angeles created extreme environments mirroring natural hydrothermal vents. The discovery suggests the waste has persisted for over half a century, joining DDT as a persistent pollutant with long-term environmental impacts.
Microbial communities around alkali waste barrels have low diversity and are dominated by alkalophilic bacteria, similar to those found at hydrothermal vents. The ecological effects of caustic alkaline waste dumping are expected to take thousands of years to cease.
Researchers at Ohio State University discovered that adding an electrical jolt to fermentation increases the yield and speed of platform chemicals from industrial food waste. Combining two bacterial species also enhances targeted chemical production and produces hydrogen gas as a byproduct, reducing waste and greenhouse gas emissions.
Researchers from Edith Cowan University have developed a method to incorporate waste plastics into pavement material, offering a dual benefit of improving road strength and reducing plastic pollution. The study highlights the potential for repurposing household plastics to create more sustainable and resilient roads.
A new study found that fostering lasting habits of frugality is more effective in reducing household food waste than short-term interventions or nudges. Long-standing tendencies to conserve resources were the strongest predictor of food-saving behavior.
Researchers at the University of Sharjah have developed a novel waste-to-carbon technology that utilizes shrimp shells and heads to produce activated carbon. The material exhibits excellent CO2 capture performance and long-term stability, offering a promising candidate for industrial carbon capture applications.
A new UConn study finds that composting programs can reduce organic waste in landfills by 30% per household per week. However, the cost of implementing and maintaining these programs is often too high, making them unfeasible for many municipalities.
Researchers at the University of Illinois have developed a nanocatalyst that converts food waste into sustainable aviation fuel. The team's findings, published in Science Advances, demonstrate the production of an alternative to traditional jet fuel using non-noble metal carbide catalysts.
Researchers are developing a new system to use nuclear waste to produce valuable tritium, which could power over 500,000 homes for six months. The system uses a particle accelerator to jump-start atom-splitting reactions in the waste, producing more tritium than traditional fusion reactors.
In US cities once marked as 'hazardous,' ambulances often take longer to arrive than in previously favored areas. The study analyzed 236 urban areas and found that 7.06% of residents in Grade D tracts lacked rapid access to emergency medical services, compared to 4.36% in Grade A tracts.
A new study from the University of Vaasa demonstrates that fuels refined from waste and industrial by-products can significantly reduce emissions in existing engine applications. Renewable naphtha and marine gas oil, derived from crude tall oil and recycled lubricants respectively, offer efficient and cleaner combustion options.
Researchers have developed a novel polymer nanocomposite from COVID-19 waste masks, achieving record-high thermal conductivity and electromagnetic shielding. The closed-loop upcycling strategy reduces environmental impact and cost, paving the way for sustainable electronics and circular economy applications.
Researchers in Spain and Italy design a new type of asphalt that uses recycled materials from cigarette butts to improve its crack resistance. The additive increases the material's ductility and flexibility, while also reducing manufacturing temperature and energy consumption.
Researchers at KIMS developed a highly durable non-precious metal-based hydrogen evolution catalyst, enabling the production of clean hydrogen by directly utilizing waste alkaline wastewater. The technology reduces costs and environmental pollution, with potential applications in mobility and power industries.
The BfR emphasizes that vitamins and minerals are essential but unnecessary additional intake can lead to health issues. The institute also discusses various health risks associated with food supplements, including plant-based ingredients.
A team at Binghamton University has developed a process to convert food waste into biodegradable plastic, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and offering a sustainable alternative. The process utilizes bacteria to synthesize polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) plastic, which can be harvested and shaped into various products.
A recent study published in Nature reveals that over 16,000 chemicals are present in plastics, with at least 4,200 posing health and environmental hazards. The research outlines three key strategies for making plastics safer: removing hazardous chemicals, increasing transparency, and designing simpler chemically assessed plastics.
A new dual-spectroscopy technique, Surface Plasmon-Enhanced Dual Spectroscopy (SPEDS), has been developed to detect hazardous chemicals in complex environments. This approach combines SERS and P-DUS, achieving molecular-level specificity while maintaining real-time responsiveness.
A new recycling technology has been developed to turn used tires into raw materials for rubber and nylon, achieving high selectivity of up to 92% and a yield of 82%. The process uses dual catalysis to convert waste rubber into valuable chemicals.
An interdisciplinary team at Flinders University has developed a safer and more sustainable approach to extract and recover gold from ore and electronic waste. The new method uses a low-cost and benign compound to extract gold, which can then be selectively bound to a novel sulfur-rich polymer, allowing for high-purity gold recovery.
Australians waste 7.6 million tonnes of food annually, with poor label design and inconsistent packaging being key reasons for this problem. Clearer date labels and storage advice could drastically reduce edible food waste.
A nationwide study reveals that methane leaks from energy-intensive states like Texas lower air quality for people in neighboring states. Strong environmental regulations are shown to reduce hazardous gas leaks and improve safety.
Researchers have discovered a new method to enhance brain waste clearance by precisely stimulating the lymphatics under skin on the neck and face. This non-invasive approach may offer a safer alternative to current treatments for age-related neurological disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease.
Scientists develop sustainable alternative to cement, using recycled glass and construction waste to create durable and green construction material. The breakthrough innovation offers practical applications in urban infrastructure development and disaster-prone regions.
Researchers developed a new method to identify hazardous chemicals in sewage sludge and electronic waste, revealing toxic compounds like PFAS, bisphenols, and phthalates. The study highlights the need for better monitoring tools and treatment strategies to address circular economy goals.
Researchers have developed record-breaking efficient all-organic solar cells that can be safely incinerated like regular plastics, reducing environmental impact. The new cells achieve more than twice the power conversion efficiency of previous models, overcoming major challenges in film-type solar cell technology.
Research from the University of Adelaide found that nutrition-conscious consumers have habits reducing food waste, with 1030 Australians surveyed.
The study evaluates Hengshui City's 'zero-waste city' initiative, which integrates biogas production, electricity generation, heat recovery, and organic fertilizer manufacturing. The project achieves significant emission reductions, with a 64% decrease in CO2 equivalent emissions per year.
Researchers at the University of Michigan have developed new membranes for desalination that can help eliminate brine waste and produce more sustainable freshwater. The membranes are packed with charge and increase conductivity, allowing them to move more salt with less power.
A study suggests that perceived stress and depression are key factors in the relationship between insomnia and hazardous drinking. Insomnia can lead to heavy drinking through stress, while drinking can lead to insomnia through depression.
A new AI-powered training platform is being developed to simulate pipeline incidents and provide real-world scenarios for pipeline operators. The platform will use artificial intelligence to create a realistic environment where teams can practice handling hazardous conditions and responding to emergencies.
A research project at the University of Tennessee is developing a method to turn mixed wood waste into a densified material with high strength and toughness. The approach involves removing lignin and compressing the wood, resulting in a substance comparable to steel.
A professor argues that profit-driven policies on waste are exacerbating global inequalities, blaming consumers while industry produces more waste. The book 'Waste: The Basics' calls for responsible consumption and production, regulatory incentives, and national regulations to hold industry accountable for product waste and contamination.
A new enzyme discovered can extract high-value molecules from lignin, a forestry by-product, using a hydrogen peroxide-driven process. This breakthrough could support the development of green chemistry 'enzyme factories' to produce valuable chemicals.
A new study reveals that blockchain-powered freshness tracking can minimize food waste and increase efficiency in retail supply chains. Smart contracts can ensure fair pricing and compensation for suppliers, creating a win-win scenario.
New research suggests converting whey waste into a valuable food product is feasible with significant industry-wide potential. Only a small number of cheese manufacturers have adopted innovative technologies and business models to upcycle whey, highlighting the need for clearer incentives and enabling conditions.
Researchers developed a recycling process for cement waste into a low-carbon, high-strength material that can replace traditional Portland cement. The new cement blend reduces carbon intensity and enables new uses for construction and demolition waste.
Researchers assessed the environmental impact of five waste-to-nutrition technologies in France, finding that their efficiency is variable. They compared these technologies with existing waste recovery methods, such as anaerobic digestion and composting.
A research project from Politecnico di Milano proposes a novel method to recycle used vegetable oil into valuable resources like bio-lubricants and air purification devices. The project optimizes waste treatment processes while reducing waste and promoting European independence in critical raw material supply.
Researchers have successfully demonstrated the environmental benefits of turning CO₂ emissions into key chemical ingredients for essential consumer goods. The study found that waste CO₂ can be part of the solution rather than the problem, reducing GWP by around 82% for paper mill emissions.
Researchers from Shinshu University investigated erythritol slurry as a promising heat transfer medium for thermal storage and transport. Their findings could help guide the design of industrial waste heat recovery systems, advancing energy efficiency and carbon neutrality.
Researchers at TU Wien have developed a process to recover nickel from spent batteries and convert it into a nanocatalyst that reduces CO2 into valuable methane. This innovation has the potential to reduce waste and provide a sustainable fuel source.
A new PEC strategy converts PS waste into valuable products, offering a promising solution for sustainable plastic waste treatment. The researchers achieved efficient oxidative degradation of PS under sunlight illumination.