A new distributed recycling system using microwave irradiation recovers 97% of manganese oxide and zinc from spent alkaline batteries, outperforming conventional methods. The system's potential to reduce annual energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions in Japan is estimated at 26,500 GJ and 1.54 Gg-CO2 eq, respectively.
A team of WVU researchers has developed a biodegradable composite material using cotton fibers from recycled mattresses, with the goal of replacing single-use plastics. The new material will be created through 3D printing and can be used to produce various consumer products, such as beverage straws and disposable packaging.
Researchers develop a novel direct-repairing method to regenerate degraded LiCoO2 cathode materials, restoring electrochemical performance and reducing environmental impact. The proposed method significantly shortens recycling processes, lowers costs, and offers high economic viability.
Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology have developed a thermochemical recycling method that produces gas containing carbon atoms from mixed waste, which can be used to create new plastic products. The process eliminates the need for fossil raw materials and achieves negative emissions.
A team of scientists from A*STAR and NTU Singapore have developed technology to transform expired solar cells into enhanced thermoelectric material, which harvests heat and converts it into electricity. The technology achieved a record-high thermoelectric figure of merit of 0.45 at 873 K.
The study reveals alternative strategies such as reducing virgin materials, reusing products, and extending product life spans to build sustainable product life cycles. Key challenges remain in developing PV and battery recycling methods, with current research focusing on lab-scale methods.
Researchers develop crosslinked polymers that can be triggered to degrade by light, offering a promising approach for producing sustainable plastics. The method uses a vanillin derivative and recovers up to 60% of the monomers without loss of quality.
SourceWiley·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 13, 2022
Researchers discovered Zophobas morio 'superworms' can survive on polystyrene diet, suggesting they can derive energy from it. The worms' gut microbes are believed to play a crucial role in breaking down the plastic material.
Global mismanagement of phosphorus is causing twin crises, with skyrocketing fertilizer prices and pollution damaging biodiversity. The '50, 50, 50' goal aims to reduce global phosphorus pollution by 50% and increase recycling by 50%, while adopting more efficient use in agriculture.
Researchers at USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences have elucidated the structure of a small protein carrying GABA into neurons using cryogenic electron microscopy. This breakthrough could lead to more effective drugs for conditions such as epilepsy, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, Parkinson's disease, and autism spectru...
A study in Macao explores the potential for urban mining, analyzing building material stock-flow process and future trends. The research establishes a dynamic MFA model to clarify driving forces of urban building resources, providing data support for recycling and waste management.
Researchers turn mixed plastic waste from F-150 trucks into graphene, then reuse it to create enhanced polyurethane foam with increased tensile strength and noise absorption. The circular recycling process has potential to reduce weight and increase fuel economy in the automotive industry.
Environmental advocates argue that chemical recycling doesn't eliminate single-use plastics, which remain a significant pollution concern. The Biden administration is seeking comment on exempting industry processes from Clean Air Act regulations, amid growing state legislation encouraging advanced recycling.
A team of scientists has developed a method to extract precious metals like gold and platinum-group metals from electronic waste using the Picasso pigment, Prussian blue. This technique shows promise in improving the recycling of valuable metals from nuclear and electronic wastes.
The study reveals that US landfilled plastic waste is worth $4.5-9.9 billion and has an embodied energy equivalent to 12% of industrial sector energy consumption. The researchers estimate 44 million metric tons of plastic waste in the US, highlighting the need for better recycling techniques.
Researchers developed novel cofactor engineering strategies to enhance NADPH, FAD(H2), and SAM supply, re-localization, and recycling in yeast. This led to the efficient synthesis of phenolic acids, providing a sustainable platform for complex natural product production.
Researchers developed an enzyme that can break down plastic waste in hours, making it a promising solution for the world's plastic problem. The enzyme, called FAST-PETase, has the potential to revolutionize recycling and reduce global landfill waste by billions of tons.
The study found that freshwater pearl mussels significantly affected biofilm bacterial dynamics, particularly with increased Bacteroidales and Clostridiales abundance. The presence of mussels also alleviated nitrogen deficiencies by recycling nutrients.
Researchers discovered that lipid droplets play a crucial role in mitochondrial recycling, and impairing DGAT1 activity leads to reduced recycling and increased cell stress. The study provides new insights into iron homeostasis and its impact on cellular metabolism.
Researchers at Rice University have developed a method to turn treated plastic waste into an effective carbon dioxide sorbent, capable of removing CO2 from flue gas streams. The process involves heating plastic waste in the presence of potassium acetate, producing particles with nanometer-scale pores that trap CO2 molecules.
Researchers at the University of South Australia have developed a novel approach to rubber recycling that repurposes end-of-life tyres into concrete for residential constructions. The study found that crumb rubber concrete is a safe, green alternative with higher impact resistance, toughness, and ductility compared to conventional conc...
Researchers at Northwestern University have developed a new technique to break down polyester plastic waste into its fundamental components. This process, called upcycling, has the potential to remove microplastics from rivers and oceans.
Wind turbine blades made from glass fibre-reinforced polymer can serve up to 25 years before ending up in landfills. Lithuanian researchers have proposed a method to break down these composites, extracting usable materials like phenol and fibre for reuse.
Scientists have discovered that the onset of microbial fertilizer factories on the Earth's seafloor roughly 2.6 billion years ago was a crucial step in the rise of oxygen levels during the Great Oxidation Event. This recycling process fueled photosynthetic bacteria, which increased oxygen production and paved the way for complex life t...
Researchers at the University of Bath have developed a simple and rapid chemical recycling process for polycarbonates, breaking down plastic waste within 20 minutes at room temperature. The new process can convert waste into its chemical constituents, preserving product quality over an infinite number of cycles.
Scientists at Hokkaido University have developed an electrochemical method to recycle waste CO2 while producing molecules useful for drug development. The method utilizes an electron added to either the CO2 molecule or another molecule in the solution, making it easier to react with each other.
A new study from Chalmers University of Technology outlines an optimized recycling process for electric vehicle batteries, reducing thermal treatment times to just 30 minutes and operating at room temperature. This process can increase the efficiency of metal recovery, lower environmental impacts, and reduce costs.
Rice University scientists have developed a method to extract rare earth elements from fly ash, bauxite residue, and electronic waste using flash Joule heating. This process improves yields and reduces the use of strong acids, making it a more sustainable solution for recycling these materials.
Researchers discovered that deficient mitophagy leads to human disease and developed a method to analyze mitochondrial recycling in diseased muscle. Pharmacological activation of mitophagy reversed the progression of mitochondrial muscle disease, offering potential treatment for this condition.
Researchers at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill have developed a method to break down plastics and create stronger, more valuable materials. By modifying carbon-hydrogen bonds, they can expand the life span of single-use plastics into high-value polymers.
A new study by NYU Tandon professor Nikhil Gupta explores the recyclability of lithium-ion and lead-acid batteries, highlighting the need for a circular economy approach. While lead acid batteries have a high recycling efficiency, lithium-ion batteries pose significant challenges due to their rapidly evolving chemistry and cell design.
A new study proposes a sustainable recycling method for PPE waste using pyrolysis, a medium-temperature reaction that reduces plasticized medical-protection garb into chemicals and petroleum. The method avoids landfill use and incineration, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 35.42%.
Researchers at Hiroshima University discovered that a broccoli compound, DIM, induces controlled cell death and recycling of cellular components in fission yeast. The study suggests that targeting the nuclear envelope could be an early target for future anti-cancer treatments.
Researchers at West Virginia University have created a simple microwave catalytic process to upcycle single-use plastics into high-value benzene, toluene, and xylene. This technology aims to increase the recycling rate of plastic waste and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by providing an alternative source of petrochemical materials.
Researchers at Penn State have been awarded a $3.4 million contract from the REMADE Institute to develop a flexible, two-stage chemical recycling process for mixed plastic waste. The process aims to decompose multiple types of plastic and convert them into valuable chemicals that can be used to create new products.
Researchers at the University of Auckland have developed a shipping container-based unit to disinfect N95 masks and other PPE, allowing for potential reuse and recycling. The method uses dry heat, which is effective in killing SARS-CoV-2 and bacteria, while minimizing environmental harm.
Researchers at IAPP discovered that photon recycling improves light emission efficiency by a factor of ~5, significantly increasing photovoltage. This process enables perovskite solar cells to approach the upper limit of 34% efficiency in single-junction semiconductors.
Researchers explore circular economy approaches to improve battery recycling efficiency and purities of raw materials. A promising approach is 'Design for Recycling', which aims to standardize screw connections and design materials for automated disassembly and reduced solvent use.
In 2021, researchers made notable discoveries, such as the identification of pain-causing proteins in snake venom and the development of bite-sized protein structures that can be felt with the tongue. The year also saw significant progress in plastics recycling and molecular editing, which holds promise for medicinal chemists.
Researchers at MIT developed a selective separation process using sulfidation to target rare metals like cobalt in lithium-ion batteries. The approach reduces energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions compared to traditional liquid-based separation methods.
Researchers detected emerging synthetic antioxidants in e-waste recycling dust, including hindered phenol and sulfur antioxidants. The study highlights the need for further research on their environmental behaviors and toxicities.
A new computational method has been developed to accurately predict oxide reactions at high temperatures, even without experimental data. This approach combines quantum mechanics with machine learning to design clean carbon-neutral processes for steel production and metal recycling.
A new study has found that serpentinite plays a crucial role in recycling oxygen in the Earth's tectonic plates. The research, led by Cornell University scientists, reveals that the oxidation state of the mantle is controlled by the subduction system's thermodynamic conditions and geometry.
Researchers at Virginia Tech and Arizona State University develop strategies to recycle polyurethane foams, exploring life cycle thinking and stakeholder engagement. They aim to create viable systems for recovering, recycling, and redistributing these materials as part of a circular economy.
A new nanotechnology developed by Penn State researchers selectively recovers neodymium and other rare earth elements from electronic waste using plant cellulose. The process is environmentally friendly and can separate neodymium in seconds, making it a sustainable solution for recycling.
Researchers at UNM's AIM Center have discovered how SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus interferes with the autophagy process, a vital cellular mechanism for recycling debris and invading microorganisms. The study found that the virus hijacks cellular membranes to evade immune systems.
A comprehensive assessment of polyurethane in the US reveals complexities that affect its recovery and recycling. The study highlights opportunities to enhance circularity and increase bio-based content of polyurethanes.
Acetobacterium woodii bacteria can efficiently metabolize CO2 into formate, providing a sustainable alternative to oil-based products. This process can be genetically modified to produce ethanol or lactic acid, enabling the recycling of CO2 and carbon monoxide.
Researchers at University of Illinois have developed an electrochemical process to recover valuable metals from spent lithium-ion battery electrodes. The method produces high-purity coatings of cobalt and nickel with approximate purities of 96.4% and 94.1%, respectively.
A University at Buffalo study found that a specific messaging strategy in PSAs increased recycling intention among New Yorkers who struggle with proper recycling. The research used the theory of planned behavior to develop an effective video, targeting those who feel uncertain about their own recycling abilities.
Researchers found that a battery's chemistry can affect its environmental impact, with cobalt being a common material that requires more energy to mine and has negative effects on the environment. Replacing cobalt with nickel can alleviate concerns, but there are tradeoffs involved. The study suggests that reusing batteries before recy...
Scientists at Tokyo Institute of Technology have developed an environmentally friendly process to chemically recycle bio-based plastics into fertilizers. The process, which uses ammonia to break down the plastics, produces nitrogen-rich molecules that can be used as fertilizer, showing promising results in plant growth experiments.
Researchers at KTH Royal Institute of Technology developed an ultrasound-assisted extraction method for valuable metals from electric car batteries, reducing extraction time by 50% and increasing metal ion recovery. The new process uses gentler acids and eliminates the need for harsh chemicals.
A novel manganese-based catalyst has been developed to efficiently deconstruct commercial and end-of-life polyurethane (PU) materials into monomeric building blocks. This process enables the creation of virgin polymeric material with the same characteristics as the original material, promoting a circular plastic economy.
Researchers have developed a computational model demonstrating that climate-neutral plastics can be produced through a combination of plastic recycling, biomass, and carbon capture utilization. This approach reduces greenhouse gas emissions by up to 53% compared to current fossil-based manufacturing practices.
A new study suggests that combining circular technologies can help achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions in the production of plastics. By using recycling, biomass utilization and carbon capture, it is possible to reduce the lifecycle emissions of plastics, making them a more sustainable option.
Researchers at RMIT University have developed a clean and cost-effective way to upcycle used plastic into high-value products such as carbon nanotubes and clean liquid fuel. The two-step process converts organic waste into charcoal, which is then used as a catalyst to upcycle the plastic.
A new recycling system has been developed to decompose epoxy resins in an aqueous solution of glutathione, allowing for the recovery of recyclable materials. The system shows promise for promoting the reuse of carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRP) and reducing environmental pollution.
A new project at Lehigh University aims to improve waste-to-energy conversion processes using AI and spectroscopy. The team will develop a rapid detection and analysis system for municipal solid waste streams, enabling real-time characterization and process control.
The EPFL team proposes a nature-inspired approach to recycling plastics by mimicking protein assembly. This method could break down synthetic polymers into different color-coded components, similar to proteins in nature. By applying this concept, the researchers aim to develop a sustainable circular economy for plastic recycling.