Hazardous Waste Generation Research Articles

Evironmentally friendly comprehensive utilization of retired waste electrolytes of aluminum electrolysis by calcification leaching

Low energy consumption and environmentally friendly recycling methods can extract high-added value and high-demand elements from retired waste fluorinated aluminum electrolytes (RWE-Al), which is crucial for alleviating resource shortages and environmental hazards. This study aims to develop a method for recovering fluorine and aluminum from RWE-Al through calcium leaching transformation combined with acid leaching. Compared to the traditional high-temperature roasting transformation and high-concentration alkali-metal-salt leaching process, this new process only involves one step of low-temperature leaching, purification of fluorine, carbonization of excess calcium, and evaporation extraction of aluminum, avoiding the generation of high energy consumption and secondary hazardous waste (F-containing liquid/ residue). Fluorine and aluminum are effectively separated and purified with extraction rates exceeding 96%. The effects of leaching temperature, CaO addition coefficient, liquid–solid ratio, and leaching time on the leaching process were systematically studied. The effects of acid concentration, liquid–solid ratio, time, and temperature on the acid-leaching process were also investigated. In summary, the comprehensive utilization of RWE-Al by this new process has proved to be feasible.

Evaluating Household Hazardous Waste Generation, Composition, and Health Risks in an Urban Municipality

This study aimed to assess the generation rate and composition of household hazardous waste (HHW) in Nakhon Si Thammarat Municipality, Thailand. A questionnaire survey was conducted to collect data on HHW generation and disposal practices from households in the municipality. Soil samples were collected and analyzed for heavy metals (cadmium, chromium, mercury, nickel, and lead) and PCBs contamination. The potential health risks from ingestion exposure associated with heavy metals and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) contamination in the soil were evaluated. The result revealed that in 2023, the HHW generation rate was 11.95 kg/household/year, with the highest percentages occurring of electronic waste (17.40%), fluorescent lamps (16.98%), spray cans (12.38%), cleaning products (11.30%), and engine oil and lubricant oil products (9.87%). The majority of residents (92.90%) disposed of hazardous waste and general waste together in public waste containers. However, the health risk assessment indicated that the levels of heavy metals and PCBs in the soil were within the safe acceptable range for residents, with a total lifetime cancer risk from ingestion exposure of less than 1E-06 for both adults and children. The findings highlight the need for improved waste separation practices and the implementation of effective hazardous waste management strategies to minimize potential health risks and environmental impacts. This study serves as a basis for developing targeted interventions and policies to enhance household hazardous waste management in the municipalities and similar urban areas in Thailand. Doi: 10.28991/HEF-2024-05-03-011 Full Text: PDF

Unlocking the Impact of Chemicals on the Health and Safety of Pharmaceutical Workers: A Concise Review

The paper presents a concise review of the historical development of the pharmaceutical industry and the problems related to chemical exposure on the health and safety of employees. The industry has greatly improved healthcare worldwide, but it is one of the riskiest due to problems like exposure to dangerous chemicals. Herein, we provide evidence of the health repercussions of pharmaceutical exposure. The paper notes that a diversified approach is required to address these issues. Firstly, there is a need to extensively examine and understand the degree of chemical exposure and its long-term health implications. Tighter laws are necessary to implement higher environmental and safety standards, whereas employee education and training will help to raise awareness of possible hazards. Green chemistry and sustainable methods will curb or mitigate the use of hazardous chemicals and waste generation. Moreover, there is a need to promote sustainable and safer work cultures through safer behaviours, increased public awareness, and community interaction. Pharmaceutical companies must commit to continuous enhancement of their operations, decrease the risks associated with chemical exposure, and put worker and environmental health first. This strategy contributes to a safer and more sustainable pharmaceutical future by being in line with the industry’s commitment to innovation and safety.

Measures toward effective management of hazardous solid waste at Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology (HCMUT)

Abstract Hazardous waste (HW) management poses significant challenges in Vietnam, particularly within higher education institutions (HEIs), despite regulatory advancements. This study focuses on the effective management of HW at Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology (HCMUT), considering the risks posed by HW generation and the need for sustainable practices. This research aims to explore and propose comprehensive strategies for HW categorization, storage, transportation, treatment, and disposal within HEIs, emphasizing sustainable management practices to mitigate adverse health and environmental impacts. Adopting an Environmental Systems Analysis framework, this study employs expert interviews and a SWOT analysis to assess the current state of HW management at HCMUT. Structured interviews probe experts on key challenges, strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats, providing insights for strategic interventions. The investigation reveals critical issues in HW management at HCMUT, including commendable execution of procedures but persisting ambiguities in regulations, financial challenges, and difficulties in controlling input data. The SWOT analysis identifies internal strengths, weaknesses, and external opportunities and threats, guiding proposed solutions. Addressing identified challenges, this study proposes a tailored HW management process integrating educational initiatives and a structured Handbook on Hazardous Solid Waste Management for HCMUT. These recommendations aim to enhance awareness, compliance, and sustainability in HW management, contributing to effective risk mitigation and sustainable practices within HEIs.

Environmental performance and trends of the world's semiconductor foundry industry

AbstractThe semiconductor foundry industry faces the challenge of reducing its high environmental impact, mainly due to its energy‐ and water‐intensive processes and significant generation of waste. To date, no other study has focused on the assessment of the environmental performance and related historical trends of this industry as a whole. Methodologically, the first step was to analyze and process a large quantity of economic, production, and environmental data, available in the Corporate Social Responsibility reports of a companies’ sample, highly representative of the entire world's foundry industry (about 70% of the global revenue of the related sector). It was thus possible to calculate, using a common manufacturing index (MI) and after appropriate data processing, some key performance indicators, along a significant decade (2012–2021), marked by deep political, economic, and health crises. Some of the main findings of this study are that, over this 10‐year period, the increases in technological capacity (patents), wafer production, and revenue (400%, 183%, and 172%, respectively) are matched by a significant increase in hazardous waste generation per MI (20%; 239% in absolute value) and a much larger increase in general waste generation per MI (135%; 568% in absolute value). The indicators of energy, water, and revenue per MI are substantially unchanged. A substantial decrease occurs in GHG1&2 emissions per MI (−32%), mainly due to significant investments in renewable energy sources. The findings of this research could help and guide upcoming sustainability policy decisions and encourage business‐to‐business collaboration and the adoption of better environmental production practices.

Effect of glass waste powder and date palm seed ash based sustainable cementitious grouts on the performance of semi-flexible pavement

Cement plays a pivotal role in the production of semi-flexible pavement (SFP), however, it contributes to 8 % of global carbon dioxide emissions. Consequently, reducing cement usage in grout production for porous asphalt mixtures is highly desirable to mitigate the overall carbon footprint. Additionally, the substantial generation of agricultural, industrial, and hazardous waste often ends up in environmental disposal without recycling. This research aims to repurpose glass waste powder (GWP) and date palm seed ash (DPSA) as partial substitutes for cement in SFP, aiming to curtail environmental pollution from cement production, decrease costs, and enhance waste and landfill management. Novel cement grouts were formulated by partially replacing Portland cement with GWP and DPSA at varying ratios (10 %, 20 %, and 30 %). These grout blends were assessed for flow characteristics and compressive strength. Furthermore, SFP samples were prepared by integrating 5 % styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS)-modified bitumen into a porous asphalt structure, subsequently filled with predefined cement grouts. Comparative analysis of compressive strength, Marshall stability, skid resistance, and moisture damage resistance indicated that SFP specimens modified with GWP and DPSA exhibited superior performance over conventional counterparts. Optimal results were achieved with a combination of 20 % GWP and 10 % DPSA replacement ratio, yielding denser microstructure, enhanced skid resistance, and improved adhesion and tensile strength, thereby enhancing overall SFP performance.

Data-driven approaches linking wastewater and source estimation hazardous waste for environmental management

Industrial enterprises are major sources of contaminants, making their regulation vital for sustainable development. Tracking contaminant generation at the firm-level is challenging due to enterprise heterogeneity and the lack of a universal estimation method. This study addresses the issue by focusing on hazardous waste (HW), which is difficult to monitor automatically. We developed a data-driven methodology to predict HW generation using wastewater big data which is grounded in the availability of this data with widespread application of automatic sensors and the logical assumption that a correlation exists between wastewater and HW generation. We created a generic framework that used representative variables from diverse sectors, exploited a data-balance algorithm to address long-tail data distribution, and incorporated causal discovery to screen features and improve computation efficiency. Our method was tested on 1024 enterprises across 10 sectors in Jiangsu, China, demonstrating high fidelity (R² = 0.87) in predicting HW generation with 4,260,593 daily wastewater data.

Screening recombinant and wildtype solventogenic Clostridium species for in vivo transformation of methylglyoxal and acetol to 1,2-propanediol

Bioproduction of industrially relevant chemicals such as 1,2-propanediol (1,2-PD) is central to decarbonization of the economy. Currently, 1,2-PD is produced from fossil-derived feedstocks, contributing to CO2 emission and generation of hazardous wastes. In this study, Clostridium beijerinckii NCIMB 8052 (Cbei), C. pasteurianum ATCC 6013 (Cpas), and Clostridium tyrobutyricum ATCC 25755 (Ctyro) were screened for the ability to transform methylglyoxal and acetol—precursors of 1,2-PD—to 1,2-PD in cultures exogenously supplemented with both compounds. Only Cbei transformed methylglyoxal to 1,2-PD (0.08 g/L). Subsequently, multiple recombinant strains of Cbei were engineered to express methylglyoxal-targeting aldo-keto reductases [mgR, yeaE, yhdN (from Cpas), yqhD, and ydjG (from Enterobacter hormaechei UW0SKVC1), and glycerol dehydrogenase (gldA; from Ctyro]. With exogenous supplementation of methylglyoxal, the growth of the control strain of Cbei was impaired. Conversely, Cbei_ydjG, Cbei_yqhD, and Cbei_gldA showed 19.3 %, 130 % and 162 % enhanced growth following methylglyoxal challenge, respectively, whilst producing 0.100, 0.032, and 0.042 g/L 1,2-PD. Wildtype or recombinant strains of Cbei, Cpas, and Ctyro transformed ∼100 % of exogenously supplemented acetol to 1,2-PD. Cbei_mgsA+mgR co-expressing methylglyoxal synthase (mgsA) and mgR (both from Cpas) produced up to 88 % more butanol on both glucose and lactose than the control strains.

Progress and Perspective for "Green" Strategies of Catalytic Plastics Conversion into Fuels by Regulating Half-Reactions.

Nowadays, plastic waste threatens public health and the natural ecosystems of our lives. It is highly beneficial to recycle plastic waste in order to maximize the reuse of its contained carbon sources for the development of other valuable products. Unfortunately, traditional techniques usually require significant energy consumption and result in the generation of hazardous waste. Herein, the up-to-date developments on the "green" strategies under mild conditions including electrocatalysis, photocatalysis, and photoelectrocatalysis of plastic wastes are presented. During the oxidation of plastics in these "green" strategies, corresponding reduction reactions usually exist, which affect the property of catalytic plastics conversion. Particularly, we mainly focus on how to design the corresponding half reactions, such as the water reduction, carbon dioxide reduction, and nitrate reduction. Finally, we provide forward-looking insight into the enhancement of these "green" strategies, the extension of more half reactions into other organic catalysis, a comprehensive exploration of the underlying mechanisms through in situ studies and theoretical analysis and the problems for practical applications that needs to be solved.

Innovative strategy for comprehensive utilization of vanadium slag: Maximizing valuable metals recovery and minimizing hazardous waste generation

Compared to traditional methods, which faced challenges such as enormous toxic waste and low efficiency, self-pressure acid leaching (SPAL) presented a promising solution for the cleaner production of vanadium slag (VS). Under controlled conditions, the structure of vanadium slag (VS) could be disrupted by SPAL. Meticulous optimization of the SPAL process parameters had resulted in remarkable recovery efficiency: 97.72 % for vanadium, 86.09 % for chromium, 90.27 % for manganese, and 94.73 % for iron at 433 K. Mechanism studies revealed that titanium and silicon followed a "dissolution before precipitation" mechanism and ultimately enriched in the non-toxic residue. Importantly, due to the absence of extra oxidants, all metal ions in the leaching solution remained in a low valence state, effectively eliminating the generation of toxic V(V) and Cr(VI). This approach holds significant promise for the efficient and environmentally friendly recovery of valuable metals from VS, while minimizing the production of toxic waste.

A waste extended input-output-based Transformer-LSTM method for analyzing hazardous waste reduction patterns: A case study of shanghai

Population growth, economic development, and industrialization have resulted in a notable surge in the hazardous waste (HW) generation, consequently leading to adverse effects on human health and environmental safety. In this work, a Waste Extended Input-Output-based Transformer-Long Short-Term Memory (WEIO-TL) method was developed to simulate the HW generation patterns of various economic industries in the supply chain and generate the desired strategies for reducing HW generation. The WEIO-TL method was applied to Shanghai to identify its HW reduction path and potential by 2035. Multiple scenarios were designed to investigate the impacts of different degrees of economic and technological development on HW generation. The primary results indicated that the economic proportion of each key industry and the technological innovation capability were the main factors influencing the HW generation in Shanghai. The six key industries identified by the WEIO were the chemical industry (CI), other services (OS), transportation equipment (MTE), computers, communication, and other electronic equipment (MCCOEE), wholesale and retail trades (WRT), and construction (C). HW generation would peak at 1570.9 kt in 2025 and subsequently decrease to 949.0 kt by 2035 under the optimal scenario based on the optimal TL model (R2 and RMSE values of 0.976 and 5.968), associated with industry structure optimization (i.e., part of high-polluting industries would be shifted to service) and technological innovation capability improvement. The results of the study will serve as a theoretical foundation to guide other cities toward achieving "zero waste."

Living review framework for better policy design and management of hazardous waste in Australia

The significant increase in hazardous waste generation in Australia has led to the discussion over the incorporation of artificial intelligence into the hazardous waste management system. Recent studies explored the potential applications of artificial intelligence in various processes of managing waste. However, no study has examined the use of text mining in the hazardous waste management sector for the purpose of informing policymakers. This study developed a living review framework which applied supervised text classification and text mining techniques to extract knowledge using the domain literature data between 2022 and 2023. The framework employed statistical classification models trained using iterative training and the best model XGBoost achieved an F1 score of 0.87. Using a small set of 126 manually labelled global articles, XGBoost automatically predicted the labels of 678 Australian articles with high confidence. Then, keyword extraction and unsupervised topic modelling with Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) were performed. Results indicated that there were 2 main research themes in Australian literature: (1) the key waste streams and (2) the resource recovery and recycling of waste. The implication of this framework would benefit the policymakers, researchers, and hazardous waste management organisations by serving as a real time guideline of the current key waste streams and research themes in the literature which allow robust knowledge to be applied to waste management and highlight where the gap in research remains.

Keberlanjutan pengelolaan limbah bahan berbahaya dan beracun melalui co-processing di industri semen

Background: One of environmental problem in industrial activities is hazardous waste management. Co-processing in cement industry is ex-pected to be a solution of hazardous waste management. Methods: The research was conducted at cement factory which has been doing co-processing activities. Findings: Co-processing activities needs to be evaluated regarding the sustainability. To fulfill sustainable co-processing activities, hazardous waste management by cement industry requires analysis of economic benefits, social acceptability, and environmental requirements. Based on the research, it can be concluded that PT. ITP and PT. HI in co-processing activities can be said to meet the rules of sustainability. Conclusion: PT. ITP has conducted hazardous waste management for 41 hazardous waste gen-erators, 22 types of hazardous waste, and 7,861.23 tons of hazardous waste. PT. HI has conducted hazardous waste management for 71 hazardous waste generators, 53 types of hazardous waste, and 59,494.91 tons of hazardous waste. The average efficiency per year obtained from (1) the use of alternative raw materials of 1.5% for PT.ITP and 4.24% for PT. HI (2) alternative fuel usage of 3.41% and for PT.ITP and 8.23% for PT.HI. Hazardous waste management spend less cost if managed through co-processing. For the community, co-processing activities provide jobs opportunity. The stakeholders accept the existence of co-processing activi-ties at the cement plant as a hazardous waste management service with mean score of 76% and has a frequency of 39% for per-ception strongly agreed. Co-processing has fulfilled environmental requirements consisting of compliance with air quality stand-ards, dioxin, furans, suitability of hazardous waste type, and product SNI compliance.

Implementing Circular Economy Principles to Enhance Safety and Environmental Sustainability in Manufacturing

The global manufacturing sector is confronted with mounting challenges related to safety hazards and environmental sustainability. In response, there has been a growing emphasis on adopting circular economy principles as a transformative approach to address these pressing issues. This review explores the implementation of circular economy principles within manufacturing processes to enhance safety and environmental sustainability. Circular economy principles prioritize resource efficiency, waste reduction, and the continual use of materials within closed loops. By shifting from the traditional linear "take-make-dispose" model to a circular approach, manufacturing facilities can significantly mitigate safety risks associated with hazardous waste generation and disposal. Moreover, the adoption of circularity fosters a culture of preventive measures, reducing the likelihood of workplace accidents and improving overall safety standards. Furthermore, integrating circular economy principles into manufacturing operations contributes to environmental sustainability by minimizing resource depletion and pollution. Through strategies such as product redesign for recyclability, remanufacturing, and waste valorization, manufacturers can reduce their reliance on virgin materials and curb emissions. This transition towards circularity not only diminishes the environmental footprint of manufacturing activities but also creates opportunities for cost savings and innovation. However, the successful implementation of circular economy principles in manufacturing requires a concerted effort from stakeholders across the value chain. Collaboration among manufacturers, suppliers, policymakers, and consumers is essential to overcome barriers such as technological limitations, regulatory constraints, and behavioral change resistance. Embracing circular economy principles holds immense potential for enhancing safety and environmental sustainability in manufacturing. Through systematic integration and collaboration, the manufacturing sector can pave the way towards a safer, more sustainable future.

Intensifikasi Pengolahan Limbah Cair Laboratorium Melalui Proses Koagulasi dan Adsorpsi Studi Pengolahan Limbah Cair Laboratorium dengan Metode Kombinasi Fisika-Kimia

Laboratory is one of the generators of hazardous liquid waste derived from chemicals used in practice and research. The waste is very dangerous when discharged into the environment because of the pollutants it contains. Therefore, it is necessary to treat the waste before it is disposed of to minimize the impact of pollution caused by the waste. The study aims to compare the effectiveness of zeolite adsorbents and activated carbon in reducing COD, TSS, and Cr heavy metals. Waste treatment is carried out by coagulation and adsorption methods. The adsorption process is performed using two types of adsorbents: zeolite and activated carbon. This study was carried out by variing the mass of the adsorbents at the time of complaining for 120 minutes in batches. Variations in the masses of the used 3, 5, 7, and 10 grams of adsorbenes. The results of the study showed that the more adsorbanes used, the higher the reduction of pollutant levels. The use of 10 grams of activated carbon adsorbents can reduce TSS pollutants levels of 92%, COD 95%, Cr 65%, and pH 5,0-6,38.

Direct determination of high-concentration As(III) by UV high-reference differential absorption spectroscopy for cleaner As(III) removal promotion via sulfurization

The current methods for determining high-concentration As(III) in the high-acid matrix from the copper smelting industry are complex, time-consuming, and costly. This limits effective modulation of sulfurizing agent dosage for As(III) removal via sulfurization, aggravating hazardous waste generation. Herein, a simple, rapid, and nondestructive UV high-reference differential absorption spectroscopy was developed to directly determine high-concentration As(III) in simulated high-acid wastewater. Time-dependent density functional theory calculations indicated that the spectral curve redshift with As(III) concentration increasing was related to the decrease of electron transition energies and energy gaps. When using high-reference solutions, the least redshift in the maximum absorption wavelength and the highest upper limit of linear fitting concentration could be obtained. Therefore, the piecewise quantitative linear model of differential absorbance and concentration was established under high-reference. The quantitative range of the model within 0.06–20.00 g/L As(III) with a mean relative error of < 5.0 % and standard recovery rates within 98.0 %-104.0 % indicated high accuracy. Additionally, the relative standard deviations of < 1.5 % (n = 5) revealed good precision. All results indicated the high feasibility of the developed method in alleviating linear deviation caused by redshift and absorption saturation. Furthermore, it has potential significance in saving sulfurizing agent dosage and reducing hazardous waste generation from the source, thereby facilitating a cleaner process for removing As(III) via sulfurization.

A robust data analytical method to investigate sequence dependence in flow-based peptide synthesis.

Computer-assisted methods, which hold the promise to transform synthetic organic chemistry, are often limited by experimental data lacking in quality, diversity, and quantity. In solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS), automated flow chemistry is well-suited to deliver such data, which is key for prediction and optimization of sequence-dependent "difficult couplings", and insights obtained in flow-SPPS can be transferred to batch-SPPS. The current data analysis techniques rely on the height and the width of fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl (Fmoc) deprotection peaks and perform well under standard conditions. Yet any deviation in parameters (e.g. temperature, flow rate, resin loading) leads to incomplete capture of information and exclusion from the dataset. Here, we present a flexible and robust processing and analysis method that is based on the Gaussian shape of the deprotection peaks to overcome these challenges, which drastically increases the interpretable size of our data set. Using this straightforward method retains the full information and data quality while the generation of hazardous dimethylformamide solvent waste is reduced by 50%. Overall, this work highlights how the interplay between synthetic and computational analysis enables the collection of high-quality data even under non-ideal, non-standard conditions.

Greening the pathways: a comprehensive review of sustainable synthesis strategies for silica nanoparticles and their diverse applications.

Silica nanoparticles (SiNPs) have emerged as a multipurpose solution with wide-ranging applications in various industries such as medicine, agriculture, construction, cosmetics, and food production. In 1961, Stöber introduced a ground-breaking sol-gel method for synthesizing SiNPs, which carried a new era of exploration both in academia and industry, uncovering numerous possibilities for these simple yet multifaceted particles. Inspite of numerous reported literature with wide applicability, the synthesis of these nanoparticles with the desired size and functionalities poses considerable challenges. Over time, researchers have strived to optimize the synthetic route, particularly by developing greener approaches that minimize environmental impact. By reducing hazardous chemicals, energy consumption, and waste generation, these greener synthesis methods have become an important focus in the field. This review aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the various synthetic approaches available for different types of SiNPs. Starting from the Stöber' method, we analyze other methods as well to synthesis different types of SiNPs including mesoporous, core-shell and functionalized nanoparticles. With increasing concerns with the chemical methods associated for environmental issues, we aim to assist readers in identifying suitable greener synthesis methods tailored to their specific requirements. By highlighting the advancements in reaction time optimization, waste reduction, and environmentally friendly precursors, we offer insights into the latest techniques that contribute to greener and more sustainable SiNPs synthesis. Additionally, we briefly discuss the diverse applications of SiNPs, demonstrating their relevance and potential impact in fields such as medicine, agriculture, and cosmetics. By emphasizing the greener synthesis methods and economical aspects, this review aims to inspire researchers and industry professionals to adopt environmentally conscious practices while harnessing the immense capabilities of SiNPs.

The relevance of sustainable laboratory practices.

Scientists are of key importance to the society to advocate awareness of the climate crisis and its underlying scientific evidence and provide solutions for a sustainable future. As much as scientific research has led to great achievements and benefits, traditional laboratory practices come with unintended environmental consequences. Scientists, while providing solutions to climate problems and educating the young innovators of the future, are also part of the problem: excessive energy consumption, (hazardous) waste generation, and resource depletion. Through their own research operations, science, research and laboratories have a significant carbon footprint and contribute to the climate crisis. Climate change requires a rapid response across all sectors of society, modeled by inspiring leaders. A broader scientific community that takes concrete actions would serve as an important step in convincing the general public of similar actions. Over the past years, grassroots movements across the sciences have recognized the overlooked impact of the scientific enterprise, and so-called Green Lab initiatives emerged seeking to address the environmental footprint of research. Driven by the voluntary efforts of researchers and staff, they educate peers, develop sustainability guidelines, write scientific publications and maintain accreditation frameworks. With this perspective we want to advocate for and spark leadership to promote a systemic change in laboratory practices and approach to research. Comprehensive evidence for the environmental impact of laboratories and their root-causes is presented, expanded with data from a current case study of the University of Groningen showcasing annual savings of 398 763 € as well as 477.1 tons of CO2e. This is followed by guidelines for sustainable lab practices and hands-on advice on how to achieve a systemic change at research institutions and industry. How can we expect industry, politics, and society to change, if we as scientists are not changing either? Scientists should lead by example and practice the change they want to see.

LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT OF SCENARIOS FOR END-OF-LIFE MANAGEMENT OF LITHIUM-ION BATTERIES FROM SMARTPHONES AND LAPTOPS

Recycling lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) is a solution to minimise the environmental problems caused by the consumption of natural resources and the generation of hazardous waste. This paper aims to assess the potential environmental impacts and benefits of four scenarios for recycling LIBs from smartphones and laptops using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). The methodological approach followed four steps: i) scenario modelling representing the current and future situations of LIBs End-of-Life (EoL) management from smartphones and laptops; ii) estimating smartphones, laptops and respective LIBs waste generation; iii) mapping representative recycling options; and iv) assessment of potential environmental impacts using LCA with 16 ILCD midpoint categories. The results revealed that hydrometallurgical recycling in Brazil could be less harmful than pyrohydrometallurgical recycling in Europe in 12 impact categories. The benefits of recycling are mainly of Co and Ni recovery. Results of scenarios indicate that the more optimistic scenario, which includes expanding Reverse Logistics to 50% of collection, internal recycling to 75%, and reducing of LIBs waste sent to landfills in 44%, had the best environmental performance in all 13 impacts categories. For the Climate change category, scenario 4 presents net environmental benefits of -1.83E+05 kgCO2eq while scenarios 1, 2 and 3 do not present a net environmental benefit. Scenarios assessment shows that more significant environmental benefits are achieved when the formal collection rate is increased, and the less impactful technology option makes the recovery of materials. These results can help decision-makers promote the management and recycling more sustainable of LIBs waste.