A new method developed by scientists at Argonne National Laboratory and Cornell University converts used HDPE into a fully recyclable and potentially biodegradable material. The approach uses catalysts to break polymer chains, making the material easier to decompose.
A new study suggests that a sustainable plastics economy is possible by increasing recycling rates to 74% and using innovative production methods, such as carbon capture and utilization. This would require a fundamental shift in the way plastics are produced, consumed, and disposed of.
A team of NYU Abu Dhabi researchers has developed a highly-efficient, organic solvent-free method to convert polyethylene-based plastic bags and polypropylene-based surgical masks into carbon dots. The process can upcycle single-use plastics contaminated with organic waste, reducing harm to ecosystems.
Researchers identified a gene linked to Parkinson's Disease also contributes to cell debris buildup in the brain. Autophagy disruption leads to toxic waste accumulation and neuron death, hallmarks of the disease. The discovery could pave the way for new, more effective treatments by targeting autophagy.
The study found that the US uses mostly synthetic graphite, which is produced from fossil fuel industry by-products, while natural graphite is sourced from mines and imported. The researchers suggest increasing domestic production and recycling of graphite-containing products to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Scientists at Rice University have developed a new technique using the 'flash Joule' method to transform plastic waste into high-value carbon nanotubes and hybrid nanomaterials. This process is more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly than traditional methods, making it a promising solution for recycling plastic waste.
Researchers identified a rare neurological disease in three children associated with mutations in the ATG4D gene, which plays a crucial role in cellular recycling. The study suggests that this genetic variation may lead to insufficient cellular recycling, causing speech and motor impairment.
Researchers produced biogas from apple pomace, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and generating electricity and heat. The bioenergy recovery can supply 19% of the anaerobic reactor's energy needs, contributing to public policy and cutting fossil fuel consumption.
A team of A*STAR scientists has successfully upcycled waste polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic into polymer electrolytes, key components for safer lithium-ion batteries. The study achieved room temperature conductivity comparable to existing commercial systems and showed promising performance in repeatedly charged and discharged ...
Researchers have developed a shellac-based coating to improve the gas barrier properties of moulded pulp materials, making them suitable for food packaging. The coating, combined with nanofibrillated cellulose, provides superior water resistance and thermal stability, while preserving environmental sustainability.
Researchers decipher metabolic mechanisms of Comamonas testosteroni to digest complex carbons, enabling potential for biotechnology platforms that recycle plastic waste. The study reveals a novel approach to upcycle plastic waste into industrially relevant polymers.
A new textile technology developed by the University of Michigan enables invisble, indelible sorting labels for clothing recycling. This innovation increases efficiency and precision in recycling processes, addressing the challenge of sorting complex fabrics.
A team of researchers developed an efficient strategy to recycle lead from discarded car batteries, creating a new market for recycled lead in high-tech equipment. The resulting photodetectors show excellent stability and fast response speeds, with potential applications in optical communication, chemical analysis, and imaging.
The study highlights technological innovations to accelerate green transformation of textiles, including sustainable materials, manufacturing technologies, and recycling methods. These developments aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and water consumption, minimizing environmental impacts.
A new report by the University of Portsmouth found that UK coastal city residents face infrastructure challenges and accessibility barriers when trying to reduce their single-use plastic waste. Despite being concerned about plastic use, consumer behavior often contradicts these beliefs.
Researchers developed a new photo-oxidation method to efficiently synthesize pharmaceutical intermediates and polyurethane from perchloroethylene, a common dry cleaning solvent. The method yields high-quality compounds with minimal environmental impact, offering a promising alternative for sustainable chemical recycling.
Two UMass Lowell researchers, Meg Sobkowicz-Kline and Akshay Kokil, have received $1 million in grants to redirect plastic waste and develop a sustainable circular economy. Their projects focus on improving plastic film packaging recycling and creating a future workforce for plastics, aiming to increase recycling rates and reduce waste.
Scientists at Umea University found a new transporter controlling bacterial cell wall integrity and resistance to antibiotics. The discovery sheds light on muropeptide recycling and its role in bacteria's ability to thrive.
Researchers at RMIT University have developed a method to remove rust from nanomaterial MXene, extending its lifetime and making it suitable for recyclable batteries. The innovation uses high-frequency sound waves to restore the material's electrical conductivity, paving the way for up to three times longer battery life.
Researchers from Australian National University have developed a new plant-inspired technology to extract valuable minerals, metals, and nutrients from resource-rich wastewater. This approach could offset 13.4% of global agricultural demand for phosphorus, nitrogen, and potassium, and provide electricity for 158 million households.
Researchers at NREL developed a framework to compare the performance of various plastics recycling technologies. They examined technical metrics such as material quality and retention, as well as environmental metrics including energy use and greenhouse gas emissions.
A team from the University of Cambridge has created a solar-powered reactor that can transform two waste streams, CO2 and plastics, into valuable products. The system produces syngas for sustainable liquid fuels and glycolic acid for the cosmetics industry, offering a promising step towards a circular economy.
A team of researchers at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln has discovered that certain microorganisms, such as Halteria, can eat high numbers of chloroviruses, which are known to infect green algae. This finding suggests that virovory, a virus-only diet, can support physiological growth and even population growth in an organism.
Researchers have developed a new method for recycling high-density polyethylene (HDPE) into fully recyclable and biodegradable material. The approach uses catalysts to cleave polymer chains, reducing carbon emissions and pollution associated with HDPE.
A new study from the University of Portsmouth explores how to improve sustainable disposal of electronic waste. Researchers found that using metaphorical language, such as comparing battery pollution to Olympic swimming pools, increased recycling rates among consumers.
A new recycling process has been developed to convert Nylon-6 into ε-Caprolactam with over 95% selectivity and 90% yield, eliminating the need for solvents or toxic chemicals. This breakthrough offers a promising solution for managing plastic waste.
A study found that story-writing activity increased children's knowledge on marine plastic litter and promoted proactive behaviors. Children mostly focused on preventing the problem from worsening, with solutions including adequate disposal and recycling.
A WVU engineer has developed a technology that can treat urine on site rather than at a centralized wastewater treatment facility, allowing for the recovery of nitrogen as a valuable fertilizer. The approach enables quick treatment and promotes the reduction of nutrient discharge into lakes and rivers.
Researchers found a way to use phthalates in plasticizers as mediator for chemical reaction, allowing for electrochemical recycling without heat. The process reduces hydrochloric acid release and improves efficiency.
Researchers have developed a chemical-biological method to upcycle polyethylene waste into valuable and complex compounds of pharmacological interest. Genetically engineered fungi convert carboxylic diacids derived from PE waste into natural products, including asperbenzaldehyde, citreoviridin, and mutilin.
A research team from USTC has discovered a novel method to amplify the relative phase in optical interference by leveraging non-linear effects. This breakthrough could lead to improved measurement accuracy in quantum optics and precision applications.
A new study highlights the complexity of chemicals in plastics, which could undermine the effectiveness of a global plastics treaty. The diversity of chemicals in plastics poses challenges to recycling and waste management, making it difficult to ensure the integrity and safety of products over extended lifetimes.
A recent study identifies over 10,000 chemical substances used in plastic production, highlighting the complexity of plastics and their negative impacts on human and ecosystem health. The diversity of chemicals makes it difficult to achieve standardized plastic formulations, posing challenges to recycling and pollution solutions.
Top 300 Fortune 500 firms made 72% of plastic pollution commitments, focusing on recycling over virgin plastic reduction; study finds this approach insufficient to address the plastics crisis.
Researchers found emerging organophosphate esters (OPEs) at higher concentrations than legacy brominated flame retardants (BFRs) in settled dust from informal end-of-life vehicle recycling sites in Vietnam. Chlorinated OPEs were specifically identified as a major contaminant, possibly released from vehicle upholstery and fabrics.
Researchers at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz develop an electrochemical technique to recover halogens without burning carbon structures, reducing emissions and stabilizing energy supplies. The project aims to contribute to a circular economy of halogens and reduce dependence on fossil reserves.
Researchers at KTH Royal Institute of Technology have developed a new kind of wood-based degradable plastic with semi-structural strength, enabling the replacement of fossil-based materials in home construction and furnishing. The material can be broken down without harming the environment, allowing for recycling and reuse of fibers.
Plant cells use a complex 'hub and spoke' system to recycle organelles, involving specialized vesicles and molecular mechanisms. The discovery sheds light on the role of autophagy in plant stress tolerance.
Researchers developed an electrochemical technique to recycle highly valuable homogeneous catalysts, extending their life cycle. The method uses an electrical field to separate catalysts from mixtures and bind them to a surface, allowing for reuse and reducing energy consumption.
Researchers develop two-stage approach converting mixed plastic waste into polyhydroxyalkanoates, a family of bioplastics suitable for medical materials. The hybrid process combines metal ion-promoted oxidation and bioconversion via genetically modified soil bacterium, enabling efficient recycling of commonly used plastics.
Researchers have made a breakthrough in plastics recycling by developing a technology that can convert mixed plastics into biodegradable products, reducing the need for costly separations. The process uses chemical oxidation and biological processes to break down plastics into smaller building blocks that can be consumed by microorgani...
Major chemical companies are backing pyrolysis plants to expand plastics recycling, but environmentalists remain skeptical. The process converts plastic waste into hydrocarbon feedstocks that can be turned into plastics again, making up for the shortcomings of traditional recycling which captures only about 9% of plastics in the US.
Researchers at University of Toronto Engineering use supercritical carbon dioxide to recover lithium, cobalt, nickel and manganese from end-of-life lithium-ion batteries. The process matches conventional extraction efficiency while using fewer chemicals and generating less secondary waste.
A Japan Science and Technology Agency research group developed high-performance catalysts for efficient synthesis of value-added chemicals from polyester and vegetable oil. These catalysts enable nearly 100% selectivity in converting polyester into raw materials, offering a promising solution to chemical recycling.
Researchers at WVU are resurrecting discarded electronics, recovering minerals, and making new products for national defense. The technology also has promise beyond national defense, including community-level e-waste recycling and space applications.
A new study improves the ability to process mixed plastics using pyrolysis, generating fuel as a byproduct. Researchers found one catalyst that can convert LDPE and PET waste into valuable liquid fuels.
Researchers from Japan have developed a simple method to recycle polyester into cross-linked polymers that retain their strength and properties. The new upcycling system uses commonly available materials and a mixing and heating process to create highly recyclable, high-value materials.
A new method allows researchers to study the contents of lysosomes in mice, enabling them to identify molecules involved in diseases such as Batten disease. By using genetically engineered mice with a molecular tag, scientists can selectively collect and analyze lysosomes, providing valuable insights into the causes of these diseases.
Researchers developed a simple, fraud-resistant method to evaluate recycled content in new plastic products by adding a fluorescent tag. The technique was successfully tested on various polymers and colors, identifying the percentage of recycled material in real-world products.
The need to reduce diabetes care product waste is a pressing issue, with disposable devices generating enormous amounts of plastic. Experts, including Professor Lutz Heinemann, are exploring strategies to increase recycling and sustainability in the industry.
Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh have identified a universal mechanism for lysosomal repair, known as the PITT pathway, which helps maintain cellular longevity. The study reveals that damaged lysosomes are quickly repaired through the PITT pathway, but defects in this process can contribute to age-related diseases such as Al...
A Virginia Tech research team has developed a new method for recycling polystyrene, which is widely used in Styrofoam but rarely recycled. The process involves exposing the material to ultraviolet light and adding a chemical catalyst, creating a valuable product called diphenylmethane (DPM) that can be used in various industries.
A Japanese team has introduced a molecular cage with 'caps' that can confine certain rare-earth-metal ions, including lanthanum and europium, for isolation or recycling. The critical feature of the cage is its two 'caps' that cover the openings and bind to the ions through hydrogen bridges and electrostatic interactions.
Researchers at Lund University have developed a new method for studying Huntington’s disease by reprogramming skin cells into aged neurons. The results show several defects that explain some of the disease mechanisms in neurons from patients with Huntington’s disease, including problems with protein breakdown and recycling. This innova...
Researchers developed a new enzyme that can degrade poly(ethylene) terephthalate (PET), a common plastic used in bottles. The enzyme, HotPETase, is thermostable and selectively breaks down PET, offering a potential solution to the global plastic waste challenge.
A new study reveals that droughts in the Amazon rainforest can lead to a ripple effect, causing widespread damage and biodiversity loss. The research team used network analysis to understand the complex workings of the forest's moisture recycling system.
Jianhua Zhao's five-year, $2.4 million grant will focus on proteolysis, the process cells use to break down and recycle unused proteins, with implications for cancer treatment. Cryogenic electron microscopy (Cryo-EM) will be used to study protein recycling and its structures, opening new avenues for cancer research.
Researchers at ORNL developed a theory that thylakoids help plants tolerate harsh conditions, while a digital platform informs on hydropower development. AI-powered neutron scattering can also accelerate experiments, and e-waste recycling is being explored.
A team of researchers developed a low-energy and efficient way to harvest and concentrate valuable chemicals from microalgae, which can be grown on waste materials. This membrane-based process enables continuous extraction and concentration of secreted metabolites, paving the way for large-scale bio-factories.
A team of scientists from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory has designed a new material system to overcome the challenges of mixed-plastic recycling. They created customized polydiketoenamine (PDK) plastics that can be recycled efficiently and indefinitely, providing a low-carbon manufacturing solution for plastic products.