Minimize Waste Production Research Articles

Cyclability Improvement of Recycled Graphite Materials in Lithium-Ion Batteries Via Conductive Polymer Coating

In recent years, lithium-ion batteries have been widely adopted in electric vehicles and electronics. However, the growing number of retired lithium-ion batteries poses a significant environmental challenge, generating substantial material waste and potential pollution. In most commercial batteries, graphite is the prevalent choice for anode material, owing to its high electrical conductivity and mechanical stability. Therefore, recycling graphite from spent lithium-ion batteries is a potential solution to eliminate the waste and meet the increasing demand.While considerable attention has been directed toward recovering metallic components of the spent lithium-ion batteries, limited effort has been dedicated to recycling graphite. Some previously developed methods include the pyrometallurgy process and hydrometallurgy process. However, due to high energy consumption and environmental pollutions, these methods have not been applied in large scales. Additionally, graphite particles have experienced various aging mechanisms during charge and discharge cycles, such as the formation of a solid electrolyte interface (SEI) and the intercalation of solvent molecules, potentially leading to structural alterations and degradation. Hence, it is advisable to implement surface treatment to enhance capacity stability if the recycled graphite does not perform optimally following the recovery treatment.In this study, we developed a simple process to recycle spent graphite utilizing aqueous and organic wash with N-Methylpyrrolidone (NMP) and toluene, followed by surface coating with the conductive polymer poly(9,9-dioctylfluorene-co-fluorenone-co-methylbenzoic ester) (PFM). The surface coating served as a protective layer of graphite particles and a charge transport agent to enhance conductivity. The morphologies and structures of the pristine, recycled, and PFM-coated recycled graphite samples were measured by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis.To investigate the impact of employing PFM as a binder, electrochemical tests were done using anodes with both recycled graphite and PFM-coated recycled graphite. In recycled-graphite||NMC532 full cell testing, cells with PFM-coated recycled graphite exhibits higher coulombic efficiency (>99.90%) than cells without PFM coating at a rate of 0.33 C. A capacity retention of 77.49% was achieved for PFM-coated cells after 300 cycles, whereas the ones without coating have a capacity retention of 70.21% in average. Rate tests were also conducted on both the cells with and without PFM-coating. It shows that both types of cells support high-rate cycling. About 85% of charge capacity was delivered for cycling at 1 C for both cells with and without PFM-coating.Overall, the recycling method can be easily operated with minimal waste production, low energy consumption, and low economical costs. The PFM coating on the recycled graphite particles leads to enhancement of mechanical strength and efficiency in battery cycling.Fig. A, The process scheme of recycling graphite; B, Pictures of an electrode from spent lithium-ion batteries (left) and an electrode fabricated with recycled graphite (right); C, Capacity retention of recycled graphite without PFM coating (blue) and with PFM coating (green); D, Coulombic Efficiency of recycled graphite without PFM coating (blue) and with PFM coating (green). Figure 1

Recyclable Biomimetic Sunflower Pollen-based Photocatalyst for Enhanced Degradation of Pharmaceuticals.

Recent trends in addressing the impending water crisis focus on the development of innovative water treatment methods. This work utilizes pollen as a core template to synthesize highly efficient onion-like photocatalysts for pollutant mineralization. The study showcases a novel electrochemical synthesis method that maintains the structural integrity of pollen, resulting in increased surface area and enhanced photocatalytic activity. After 90-min of visible light irradiation, over 99% mineralization is achieved. These hybrid photocatalysts demonstrate exceptional stability and efficacy in degrading pollutants. The used photocatalysts can be recycled into biopellets with an ash content of less than 7% (weight), moisture content of less than 8% (weight), and a calorific value of ≈22.1±0.3MJkg-1. Additionally, the resulting ashes serve as effective peroxymonosulphate activators for pollutant mineralization. This process offers sustainable waste management while minimizing waste production, providing a practical solution for water purification. The efficacy of this approach in pollutant removal is underscored by mineralization rates exceeding 99%.

Exploring the potential of hydrophobic deep eutectic solvent functionalized magnetic nanoparticles as sorbent in micro-extraction towards emerging pollutants in various matrices

Emerging pollutants pose an increasing threat to environmental quality and human health, necessitating significant advancements in analytical methodologies. Hydrophobic deep eutectic solvent (HDES) functionalized magnetic nanoparticles (MNP) or MHDES represent a promising advancement in the field of micro-extraction for pollutant detection across diverse matrices. This review explores the synthesis, characterization, and application of MHDES as sorbents for the efficient extraction and preconcentration of emerging pollutants, including pharmaceuticals, pesticides, plasticizers, and heavy metals. The functionalization of MNP with HDES addresses the challenges of agglomeration and stability, enhancing their performance in non-polar compound extraction. Additionally, the application of the AGREEprep greenness metric tool highlights the environmental benefits of this method, emphasizing reduced solvent usage, lower energy consumption, and minimal waste production. This novel approach not only improves the efficacy and selectivity of pollutant detection but also broadens the applicability of MHDES in environmental monitoring and health risk assessment, offering a greener and more sustainable solution for analytical chemistry.

A novel closed-loop biotechnology for recovery of cobalt from a lithium-ion battery active cathode material.

In recent years, the demand for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) has been increasing rapidly. Conventional recycling strategies (based on pyro- and hydrometallurgy) are damaging for the environment and more sustainable methods need to be developed. Bioleaching is a promising environmentally friendly approach that uses microorganisms to solubilize metals. However, a bioleaching-based technology has not yet been applied to recover valuable metals from waste LIBs on an industrial scale. A series of experiments was performed to improve metal recovery rates from an active cathode material (LiCoO2; LCO). (i) Direct bioleaching of ≤0.5 % LCO with two prokaryotic acidophilic consortia achieved >80 % Co and 90 % Li extraction. Significantly lower metal recovery rates were obtained at 30 °C than at 45 °C. (ii) In contrast, during direct bioleaching of 3 % LCO with consortia adapted to elevated LCO levels, the 30 °C consortium performed significantly better than the 45 °C consortium, solubilizing 73 and 93 % of the Co and Li, respectively, during one-step bioleaching, and 83 and 99 % of the Co and Li, respectively, during a two-step process. (iii) The adapted 30°C consortium was used for indirect leaching in a low-waste closed-loop system (with 10 % LCO). The process involved generation of sulfuric acid in an acid-generating bioreactor (AGB), 2-3 week leaching of LCO with the biogenic acid (pH 0.9), selective precipitation of Co as hydroxide, and recirculation of the metal-free liquor back into the AGB. In total, 58.2 % Co and 100 % Li were solubilized in seven phases, and >99.9 % of the dissolved Co was recovered after each phase as a high-purity Co hydroxide. Additionally, Co nanoparticles were generated from the obtained Co-rich leachates, using Desulfovibrio alaskensis, and Co electrowinning was optimized as an alternative recovery technique, yielding high recovery rates (91.1 and 73.6% on carbon felt and roughened steel, respectively) from bioleachates that contained significantly lower Co concentrations than industrial hydrometallurgical liquors. The closed-loop system was highly dominated by the mixotrophic archaeon Ferroplasma and sulfur-oxidizing bacteria Acidithiobacillus caldus and Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans. The developed system achieved high metal recovery rates and provided high-purity solid products suitable for a battery supply chain, while minimizing waste production and the inhibitory effects of elevated concentrations of dissolved metals on the leaching prokaryotes. The system is suitable for scale-up applications and has the potential to be adapted to different battery chemistries.

Cold-pressed camelina oil deacidification using short path molecular distillation: An optimization study and comparison with conventional techniques

In this research, the impact of short-path molecular distillation (SPMD), as a green and solventless method, in the deacidification of cold-pressed camelina oil (CPCO) was investigated. Physical refining of crude vegetable oils with high free fatty acids (FFA) content leads to healthier oils, preventing excessive oil loss and minimizing waste production. Using central composite design approach-based response surface methodology (RSM-CCD) analysis, optimized SPMD process parameters were determined and verified. The investigated factors were evaporation temperature (ET: 160–200 °C), feed flow rate (Q: 0.50–3.00 mL/min), and feed temperature (FT: 80–120 °C). Deacidification efficiency (DE) and distillate-to-feed mass ratio (D/F) were selected as the separation performance responses. In addition, to monitor the qualitative effect of the SPMD, peroxide value (PV) and total polar compounds (PC) were designated as the complementary responses. The optimized values for ET, Q, and FT could be considered to be 200 °C, 0.50 mL/min, and 100 °C, respectively. At the optimum operating conditions, DE, D/F, PV, and PC were determined as 63.27 %, 5.78 %, 24.5 meq/kg, and 11.4 wt%, respectively. The SPMD were compared with conventional fractional distillation (FD), steam stripping distillation (SSD), and alkali neutralization (AN). It was validated that SPMD could efficiently and sustainably deacidify the CPCO. Additionally, the effect of two successive SPMD treatments at the optimum conditions was also examined. By double deacidification, the DE, D/F, PV, and PC values were 74.34 %, 6.88 %, 27.6 meq/kg, and 16.0 wt%, respectively.

Comparative Study of Microwave, Pulsed Electric Fields, and High Pressure Processing on the Extraction of Antioxidants from Olive Pomace.

Olive oil production is characterized by large amounts of waste, and yet is considerably highly valued. Olive pomace can serve as a cheap source of bioactive compounds (BACs) with important antioxidant activity. Novel technologies like Pulsed Electric Fields (PEF) and High Pressure (HP) and microwave (MW) processing are considered green alternatives for the recovery of BACs. Different microwave (150-600 W), PEF (1-5 kV/cm field strength, 100-1500 pulses/15 µs width), and HP (250-650 MPa) conditions, in various product/solvent ratios, methanol concentrations, extraction temperatures, and processing times were investigated. Results indicated that the optimal MW extraction conditions were 300 W at 50 °C for 5 min using 60% v/v methanol with a product/solvent ratio of 1:10 g/mL. Similarly, the mix of 40% v/v methanol with olive pomace, treated at 650 MPa for the time needed for pressure build-up (1 min) were considered as optimal extraction conditions in the case of HP, while for PEF the optimal conditions were 60% v/v methanol with a product/solvent ratio of 1:10 g/mL, treated at 5000 pulses, followed by 1 h extraction under stirring conditions. Therefore, these alternative extraction technologies could assist the conventional practice in minimizing waste production and simultaneously align with the requirements of the circular bioeconomy concept.

Iridium-catalysed reductive allylic amination of α,β-unsaturated aldehydes.

Allylic amination is a powerful tool for constructing N-allylic amines widely found in bioactive molecules. Generally, allylic alcohols and unsaturated hydrocarbons have been considered for allylic amination reactions to minimize waste production. Herein, we present an iridium-catalysed method for reductive allylic amination of α,β-unsaturated aldehydes with amines to afford N-allylic amines under air conditions. This protocol is demonstrated to provide products from many substrates (41 examples) in moderate-to-excellent yields. This synthetic methodology is also highlighted by the synthesis of drug molecules, optically pure products, as well as scale-up experiments.

Lateral Displacement Behavior of IBS Precast Concrete Elements Reinforced with Dual System

Throughout history, the construction industry has been a significant contributor to construction waste, presenting an ongoing challenge in efficiently managing this waste to mitigate environmental pollution. The Industrialized Building System (IBS) stands out as a construction approach that utilizes prefabricated components made from various waste materials, implemented with machinery and formwork, leading to minimal waste production. The potential failure of IBS blockwork columns under lateral loads is a significant concern, and the deformation of these columns is crucial in assessing overall structural performance against lateral forces. This study focuses on examining the deformation and flexibility of components in IBS blockwork columns when subjected to lateral loads. Using Finite Element Modeling (FEM), a 1:5 scale prototype model of the dual-reinforced system IBS Block Work Column is analyzed. The IBS Block Work Column, comprising four prefabricated components assembled in the form of a crucifix plan to enhance lateral stability, is subjected to FEM analysis and experimental investigations. The study aims to explore the impact of four different shapes of reinforcement on deformation resistance. The findings suggest that employing a dual-reinforced system in the IBS Block Work Column enhances its resistance to lateral loads compared to a column with conventional reinforcement. Moreover, the assembled IBS Block Work Column exhibits greater stiffness than a single prefabricated component when subjected to lateral loads. Doi: 10.28991/CEJ-2024-010-01-020 Full Text: PDF

Battery Electrode-Based Lithium Recovery from Geothermal Brines

Driven by the electrification of transport sector the demand of lithium for battery application is increasing exponentially. The major sources for lithium are continental brines and hard minerals where the production comes along with consumptive water requirements and energy intensive processing and extraction. Therefore, it is of tremendous importance to consider alternative, non-conventional, sources and to develop more efficient and environmentally benign Li extraction methods. Geothermal brines can have significant Li concentrations (150–240 mgLi+ L−1)[1] and could represent an attractive sustainable lithium source. Implementing electrochemical methods for lithium extraction offers further advantages of high Li-selectivity, minimal waste production and low water consumption.[2] Here, we present a dual-ion battery type setup for the selective electrochemical Li-adsorption and desorption from geothermal brines. The chloride concentration in brines is a thousand times higher than that of Li+, hence, both species can be captured at opposite electrode sides. In the dual-ion setup presented in this work, Li+ are stored in a Li-selective LiFePO4(LFP) battery electrode and Cl− are stored using bismuth oxychloride (BiOCl) as counter electrode that has shown excellent Cl− storage capabilities and chemical stability in chloride-ion batteries and desalination batteries.[3] In the second step, both ions are released in a recovery solution to yield a Li-rich solution that could be further processed into battery-grade lithium hydroxide or carbonate. The stability of LFP in aqueous solutions and high Li -selectivity makes it a favored candidate for the electrochemical recovery of Li from natural solutions, where a diverse mixture of cations and anion is present.[4] Therefore, we examined the stability of the electrodes in brine solutions by XRD, indicating good reversibility and no intercalation of competitor ions. In addition, the Li-selectivity in extraction/recovery experiments was analyzed by ICP-OES and influences of different process parameters (e.g. current density, pH, temperature) were investigated. The results demonstrate that the LFP/BiOCl dual-ion battery setup is a feasible and promising low cost method for environmentally friendly Li extraction from geothermal brines.

Development and Applications of Water-Compatible Reactions: A Journey to Be Continued.

ConspectusThe pursuit of novel and eco-friendly methods in organic synthesis is gaining prominence, with a strong emphasis on green transformations using renewable and sustainable resources. Among these environmentally conscious approaches, water-compatible reactions stand out for their many advantages. Water, as a solvent, offers unmatched abundance, cost-efficiency, and environmental compatibility compared to organic solvents. Its use eliminates the need for complex protection and deprotection steps for reactive functional groups in multistep synthesis and enables the use of water-soluble substrates like proteins and carbohydrates. Water-compatible reactions also provide opportunities to combine with enzymes, resulting in chemoenzymatic transformations that can increase efficiency. Additionally, these reactions facilitate site-specific modification and the bioconjugation of biomolecules, leading to bioconjugate therapeutics.Over nearly three decades, our research group has been dedicated to developing innovative water-compatible methodologies and concepts. This Account provides a comprehensive overview of our contributions since 1994. Our central strategy revolves around integrating green chemistry principles into our methods, focusing on (i) developing reactions that can operate under mild conditions, including room temperature, atmospheric pressure, and physiological pH; (ii) designing atom-economical reactions that minimize waste production; (iii) replacing toxic and flammable organic solvents with eco-friendly alternatives like water and ethanol; and (iv) reducing reliance on metals or halogenated compounds in specific reactions.In this Account, we detail our achievements in developing efficient methodologies in aqueous media, highlighting their scope, limitations, asymmetric control, and applications for synthesizing complex molecules and functionalizing peptides and proteins. Mechanistic investigations underlying these developments are also discussed when applicable. Furthermore, we offer insights into the reasoning behind our work and address future opportunities and challenges in this area of research. We hope that this Account will inspire continued interest and foster new breakthroughs. By exploring innovative and broadly applicable strategies that expand the water-compatible synthetic toolbox, we aim to pave the way for the truly green and sustainable synthesis of complex molecules and pharmaceuticals.

Disassembly and Repairability of Mechatronic Products: Insight for Engineering Design

Abstract Designing mechatronic products requires interdisciplinary skills and as products become more complex, the design of mechatronic systems plays a critical role. To minimize waste production and pollution, a shift toward a circular economy is necessary, with mechatronic products being particularly impacted by such policies. Repairing plays a key part in achieving a circular economy. Through repairability, the product lifespan can be extended, and combined with maintenance the rate of product replacement can be reduced. Within this context, the goal of this paper is to propose a design methodology (based on the EN 45554:2020 standard) for generating and implementing eco-design rules for disassembly and repair. The methodology has four phases, the first one is the identification of target components (those that are more likely to fail during the lifespan). The second phase encompasses the experimental disassembly analysis which can be manual or virtual. The third phase is the assessment of the disassemblability index which includes the analysis of parameters that affect the disassembly phase. The last phase is the implementation of the eco-design methodology for all the components that do not meet the minimum repairability requirements. A case study of electro-mechanical ovens is presented, targeting replaceable components. The results show that the use of this framework and the eco-design actions derived from it are successful in improving the repairability of the product and increasing the disassemblability index (30% on average) through a virtual analysis. A sensitivity analysis has been conducted to study the impact of parameter weight modification. This research contributes to advancing repairability and supporting the circular economy paradigm in mechatronic product design.

Preliminary Characterization of Alumina-Forming Austenitic–Type Advanced Alloys as Structural Materials for LFRs

The lead-cooled fast reactor (LFR) is one of the most promising Generation-IV nuclear designs currently under development in Europe, China, and the United States. LFRs can ensure enhanced performance and minimal waste production thanks to a closed fuel cycle, but they also have some issues that need to be addressed. One of the most critical is the long-term degradation process initiated in structural materials exposed to liquid Pb. The present state of the art has shown that commercial austenitic steels, such as American Iron and Steel Institute 316L and 15-15Ti can be adopted as structural materials in Pb environments up to 480°C, beyond which they start to experience the dissolution of constituting alloying elements (Ni, Cr, and Fe) if not protected by a coating or by surface modification. In more recent years, a lot of research effort has been done in order to develop new coating technologies and new base materials for operation with liquid Pb at higher temperatures. Among the newest alloys, alumina-forming austenitic (AFA) steels have gained interest in the research community because of their promising corrosion resistance results even at temperatures of 600°C. In this framework, an experimental campaign has been run at the Research Center ENEA of Brasimone that aims to characterize the behavior of two different AFA steels (with low and high Ni content in their composition) in static Pb at 650°C and 750°C with a moderate low oxygen concentration (10−6 wt %). After exposure, the AFA steels were characterized from the point of view of the morphology and composition, and the results are presented and discussed here.

Chiroptical Recognition of Carboxylates with Charge-Neutral Double-Stranded Zinc(II) Helicates.

Chirality analysis of small molecules for the determination of their enantiopurity is nowadays ruled by streamlined chromatographic methods which utilize chiral stationary phases. Chiroptical probes which rely on host-guest interactions are so far overshadowed by the latter but have the benefit of depending only on common spectroscopic techniques such as CD spectroscopy to distinguish enantiomers and to quantify their ratio. Interest into this receptor-based approach is constantly rising because non-invasive high-throughput screenings with a minimal waste production can be performed. In this study we investigate the possibility to utilize metal-based containers in form of charge-neutral helicates able to recognize anions for this purpose. Key building block of the helicates are triazole units which show rotational freedom and give rise to either a meso-structure or a racemic mixture of the right- and left-handed complex. A chiroptical response of the probe is observed upon recognition of chiral mono- or dicarboxylates and chirality analysis of tartrate is conducted by CD spectroscopy.

Application of local wisdom in handling waste in coastal settlements as an effort to minimize waste production

Application of local wisdom in handling waste in coastal settlements as an effort to minimize waste production

Techno-Economic Optimization of SOC Design and Operating Conditions in a Solid Oxide Fuel Cell-Gas Turbine Hybrid System

In a circular economy, highly efficient energy conversion systems are paramount to maximize resource utilization and minimize waste production, including carbon dioxide emissions. Solid oxide fuel cell-gas turbine hybrid systems, which can reach efficiencies of greater than 75%-LHV, have demonstrated to be a promising technology on the way to cleaner power generation. During the energy transition period, solid oxide fuel cell-gas turbine hybrid systems are likely to be operated on natural gas, however, their scalability allows these systems to reach very high efficiencies even at small scales, enabling the use of distributed resources such as biogas. In this presentation the authors will discuss key performance and economic metrics of small-scale (10 MW) advanced solid oxide fuel cell-gas turbine hybrid systems and their relation to cell design and system design elements. Current challenges in solid oxide fuel cell development include thermal cell management and production cost. This presentation presents findings of how cell design parameters influence thermal gradients and specific solid oxide cell costs on a $/kW-basis under hybrid system operating conditions. Moreover, specific cell components are identified, and effects will be discussed that can synergistically reduce thermal stress and specific cell cost at the same time. Informed by this analysis, the optimized cell design is integrated into a solid oxide fuel cell-gas turbine hybrid system in order to provide a comprehensive analysis of system operating conditions under consideration of thermal cell gradients, and new insights into economics and levelized cost of electricity are provided. The presentation will discuss the impact of fuel utilization, operating voltage, and operating pressure upon the heat integration, system’s operating window, and power output. A discussion of economic parameters will highlight cost driving factors to inform research on the next generation of solid oxide cells.

Evaluation of integrated waste management by using of Waste Reduction Model (WARM)- (Case study of Amol-Noor region, Iran)

Lack of proper municipal solid management in the Northern provinces of Iran has led to damages to the natural resources, health, environment, social and economic conditions. Construction of solid waste processing plants such as compost and incineration, ignoring essential elements in waste management, cannot be as a successful strategy to solve the solid waste problems. Integrated management as a suitable and well-proved solution in many developed countries was proposed for Mazandaran province as a more reliable strategy to replace the existing conditions. In this paper, the results of study conducted for Amol and Noor region have been analyzed. Minimizing waste production, maximizing recycling and reuse, processing organic waste through digestion or composting process, producing refusing derived fuel (RDF) and using it in the waste incineration plants or Neka cement plant and finally disposing less than 10% of the waste in landfill is the proposed solution to improve the existing waste conditions. Implementing the proposed integrated management over a period of 20 years will lead to preventing from economic and environmental damages due to the loss of valuable natural resources and the release of various pollutants from landfills which is evaluated to be equivalent of about 28 billion dollars also, saving resources and energy estimated to be about 38 billion dollars.

Zero Waste Lifestyle: Gaya Hidup Ramah Lingkungan di Kalangan Anak Muda di Kota Makassar

Increased waste production has an impact on environmental problems. This has attracted social attention these days, through preventive efforts to reduce the amount of waste. One of the efforts in dealing with such a problem is by applying a zero waste lifestyle. While the existing literatures paid more attention to provide an understanding of the importance of protecting the environment and how to deal with it, this article discusses environmentally friendly lifestyle among youth.
 This qualitative research was conducted in the city of Makassar, South Sulawesi, between August and December 2022. There are ten informants involved in this study who have practiced zero waste lifestyle. They vary according to sex (eight women and two men), age (between 22 and 33 years), and status (three college students, two freelancers, a government employee, a bulk store employee, a public organizing staff of WALHI South Sulawesi, a content writer, and anentrepreneur. This study combined in-depth interview and observation as data our collection methods.
 The study shows that a zero waste lifestyle is present as a one of the efforts to the environmental problem today, aimed to minimize waste production. There are several reasons why some applies a zero waste lifestyle, namely: knowledge, environmental awareness, and thrifting. The practice of applying zero waste lifestyle is based on the 6R’s of theenvironmental sustainability concept which include rethink, refuse, reduce, reuse, rot, and recycle. But, it is not easy to practice a zero waste lifestyle, there are some obstacles faced by those who practice this kind of lifestyle. These obstacles are unsupportive environment and the assumption that a zero waste lifestyle is complicated and is an expensive way of life. Despite the fact that practicing zero waste lifestyle is not an easy and requires one’s strong commitment to apply, but when this become habit, it may have a considerable impact on oneself and others when everyone thinks the same way.

Additive manufacturing of weft knitted and braided fabric structures with fused deposition modeling

Additive manufacturing (AM), also commonly called three-dimensional (3D) printing, allows fabrication of complex objects within a limited time frame with minimal waste production. The purpose of this research is to design, 3D print, and analyze the mechanical properties of fabric structures. Two different fabric types are considered for this work: weft knit fabric and braided fabric structures. A single yarn and weft knitted fabric structure were designed, fabricated and weft knitted fabrics are tested. Different designs of braided structures such as diamond braid, regular braid, Hercules braid, triaxial braid, and bi-furcated braid are designed, fabricated, and tested. Poly(lactic) acid (PLA) filaments were used to print the fabric structures. Mechanical properties and morphological structures were studied using the printed structures. The results showed that weft knitted fabrics possess a good ductile response before failure showing a tensile displacement in the range of 12–15 mm, and the peak force exhibited is nearly 250 N. On the other hand, the maximum flexural displacement is approximately 10 mm, and the load is in the range of 15–22 N in the wale direction, and 85–95 N in the course direction. Braided structures showed that they can bear significant amount of compressive load having displacement at failure of more than 25 mm. Optical microscope (OM) analysis showed that the yarns contain voids and cracks that contributed to the failure of the samples. The additively manufactured weft knitted fabric structures can be used in wearable, filtration, and geotextiles applications whereas the circular braided structures can be used in shock absorption applications.

Assessment of the disassemblability of electric bicycle motors for remanufacturing

In 2021, sales of electric bicycles in Germany increased compared to the previous year, leading to a 43% share of electric bicycles in the total German bicycle market. The German Bicycle Industry Association (ZIV) expects this growth to continue and that by 2025 every second bicycle sold in Germany will have an electric motor. Therefore, due to the increasing number of sales, both the built-in resources and the possible treatments after the use phase need to be considered regarding sustainable market development. In this context, remanufacturing is one promising end-of-life strategy that enables a new life cycle of products and components, thus reducing the consumption of natural resources and minimizing waste production. The used products are restored to their original conditions by disassembling, cleaning, sorting, reworking, and reassembling. Disassembly is a decisive process step as it creates the prerequisites for all further steps in the process chain and significantly determines the economic feasibility of a remanufacturing process. Therefore, this paper aims to evaluate the ease of disassembly of electric bicycle motors and thus determine their suitability for remanufacturing. To evaluate the disassemblability, the ease of Disassembly Metric (eDiM), a quantitative assessment method for evaluating disassembly effort, was adapted to the needs of the electric bicycle motors. The method was finally applied to five electric bicycle motors from established manufacturers and assessed their ease of disassembly. The results show that the electric bicycle motors can be disassembled without significant damage and classified as suitable for remanufacturing.

Improving collagen processing towards a greener approach: current progress

AbstractThe high market demand for collagen as a biomaterial has prompted additional studies into improved methods of collagen extraction without sacrificing the overall quality of collagen. The use of clean technology for sustainable collagen extraction has recently gained popularity due to its efficiency and minimal waste production. This review focuses on improving collagen processing based on three essential steps: pre‐treatment (fermentation, high shear mechanical homogenisation, ultrasound), extraction (ultrasound‐assisted extraction, microwave‐assisted extraction, physical‐aided extraction, and supercritical fluid technology), and recovery (ultrafiltration). This review also summarises the benefits and drawbacks of the emerging green technologies used in each step to obtain collagen. This study shows that these clean technologies eliminate the need for excessive chemicals and shortens processing time. However, each collagen‐processing step must be carefully controlled to preserve structural integrity, which influences collagen's properties and hence its uses for further applications. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI).