Recycling Plant Research Articles

Feasibility of establishing a waste recycling plant in the north of Najaf city and supporting the sustainable environment

The increase in population growth, industrial progress in various fields, rising income, and improved living standards have led to societal development, and consequently, an increase in consumer needs and demands. This has resulted in irrational resource consumption and a significant increase in waste quantities, posing a major threat to the environment and human health, this research came as an attempt to enhance sustainability, create investment opportunities, solve the problem of resource shortages, and eliminate waste in an emerging country like Iraq. A feasibility study was prepared based on the technical study and conducting meetings with officials in Najaf Governorate. A set of conclusions and recommendations were reached, the most important of which were the following. By reviewing the extracted financial ratios, it became clear that the project has a high economic feasibility that is beyond comparison, and the reason can be justified by the huge amount of waste present in the targeted area, in addition to the fact that Iraq is a new experience in such industries related to sustainable development and an industry that provides resources and raw materials for other industries that are considered of great importance and are in demand in Iraq and other neighboring countries, The most important recommendations were Starting to refer the project to an investment company according to the government conditions of the Najaf Governorate Investment Authority and generalizing the successful experience to the governorates of Iraq, and giving this project the utmost importance when compared to other projects as it provides the basic and important resources for local industries, and this is consistent with Iraq’s strategy of focusing on industry and establishing industrial cities.

Tracing the EoL Tyre Management Chain in Togo with Focus on Implementing a Tyre Recycling Plant

As part of the “Waste2Energy: hybrid energy from waste as a sustainable solution for West-Africa” project, a tyre recycling plant is being constructed in Davié, north of Lomé, Togo. Understanding the tyre management chain is crucial for establishing the plant’s supply chain. This study aimed to highlight the gaps in and the importance of tyre recycling in Togo while assessing the potential of EoL tyres for the implementation of a tyre recycling plant. Togo’s vehicle fleet, predominantly concentrated in Lomé, is rapidly increasing at a rate of 6% per year, reaching an estimated 285,000 vehicles. Due to economic constraints and limited new tyre availability, most vehicle users opt for used tyres, which have a limited lifespan due to poor road conditions. An investigation of EoL tyre quantities and management chains in Togo was carried out. To evaluate the used and end-of-life tyre management chains, both direct observation and interviews with approximately 200 used-tyre dealers were conducted. The study revealed that, on average, drivers replace tyres every 7.4 months, generating between 30,525 t/a and 78,000 t/a of used tyres, 75% of which are replaced due to severe damage or wear. While the used tyre business is well organized, end-of-life tyre treatment is nearly non-existent, often involving dumping, open burning for metal recovery, or use in meat processing, causing environmental and health risks. To address these challenges, an 8 t/hr capacity tyre recycling plant is planned, based on estimated tyre availability and development opportunities for sustainable recycling in Togo.

Standoff Identification of Plastic Waste Using a Low-Cost Compact Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) Detection System.

We report the standoff/remote identification of post-consumer plastic waste by utilizing a low-cost and compact standoff laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (ST-LIBS) detection system. A single plano-convex lens is used for collecting the optical emissions from the plasma at a standoff distance of 6.5 m. A compact non-gated Czerny-Turner charge-coupled device (CCD) spectrometer (CT-CCD) is utilized to analyze the optical response. The single lens and CT-CCD combination not only reduces the cost of the detection system by tenfold, but also decreases the collection system size and weight compared to heavy telescopic-based intensified CCD systems. All the samples investigated in this study were collected from a local recycling plant. All the measurements were performed with only a single laser shot which enables rapid identification while probing a large number of samples in real time. Furthermore, principal component analysis has shown excellent separation among the samples and an artificial neural network analysis has revealed that plastic waste can be identified within ∼10 ms only (testing time) with accuracies up to ∼99%. Finally, these results have the potential to build a compact and low-cost ST-LIBS detection system for the rapid identification of plastic waste for real-time waste management applications.

Assessment of immune status markers during occupational lead exposure

The immune system is sensitive to the effects of environmental factors, and according to numerous studies, lead has an immunotoxic effect. At the same time, there is evidence of the multidirectional nature of the impact of lead on the immune system, determined by the degree of exposure to this heavy metal, which makes it current to study changes in immunological markers in workers of a modern lead recycling plant, taking into account levels and complexity of exposure. In the era of personalized medicine, monitoring the potential influence of occupational factors exposure on the immune system can facilitate a personalized approach to the prevention of work-related health conditions. The aim of the study: to evaluate changes in immune status markers among employees of lead recycling plant. The main group – 62 men working at a lead recycling plant, the control group – 47 men not exposed to occupational factors. Laboratory examination included a determination of the lead blood level, a clinical blood test, the serum levels of IL- 1â, IL- 10, IL- 8, MCP-1, C3 and C4 complement components, IgA, IgM, IgG. In the main group, compared to the control group, a higher number of neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, higher levels of IL-8, C3 and C4 components of the complement system, and lower levels of IgM were detected. In the main group, the following changes in markers were significantly more often detected in comparison with reference values: an increase in the C3 component of complement (51.6% in the main group compared to 12.5% in the control group), decreased IgG (24.2% compared to 6.2%) and increased IgA (22.6% compared to 6.2%). Associations were identified between the lead blood level and the number of lymphocytes, the level of IgG, between work experience in contact with lead and the level of MCP-1 and C3 complement components. The results of the studies revealed the presence of changes in the immune status markers of workers at a lead recycling plant, which demonstrate a proinflammatory effect of lead and an influence on the humoral immune status. The identified changes in immunological parameters may underlie the mechanisms of formation of pathological conditions associated with lead exposure, which determines the relevance of continuing research to assess dynamic changes in immunological parameters and develop a system for monitoring the immune status of workers exposed to lead and its compounds to optimize preventive measures.

Photo-modified and photo-degradable starch/Fe3O4/TiO2 nanocomposite: exploring the feasibility of reducing workforce by magnetic recycling.

Plastics are known for their durability and long decomposition time in the environment, which make plastic recycling an effective approach to mitigate plastic waste risks. However, the global plastic recycling rate is less than 10% mainly due to the labor-intensive and time-consuming nature of the manual recycling process, which poses high health risks and costs. Therefore, the development of a fast, effective, and operational process in current recycling plants is crucial to address the environmental concerns associated with plastics. In the current study, the feasibility of starch/Fe3O4/TiO2 bio-nanocomposite (SFT) as photo-modifiable and photo-degradable was investigated to reduce the workforce in recycling packaging material. The SFT was modified by different UV-C exposure times, which significantly altered its functional properties. The UV-C exposure increased the hydrophobicity of the SFT films and led to a homogenous distribution of Fe3O4/TiO2 nanoparticles (FT). It also increased tensile strength (TS) and decreased elongation at break (EB) of the films. It seems that producing shorter polymer chains, creating new linkages among the polymeric chains, and the homogenous distribution of FT in the matrix of biopolymer by UV-C are the main reasons for these changes. Moreover, the photo-degradation of SFT specimens increased significantly with longer UV-C exposure times. The utilization of magnetic properties in bio-based nanocomposites holds promising potential for streamlining labor-intensive processes in waste recycling plants. However, the inappropriate visual properties of SFT remain a significant obstacle that requires further attention to enable its commercial viability.

Production and changeover control of textile and PET recycling

Circular economies have become a strong candidate for addressing environmental challenges by managing end-of-life products to reduce landfill waste. We herewith focus on the recycling of PET from plastic waste and textiles. This paper focuses on recycling PET from plastic waste and textiles and proposes a model for controlling plant operations, emphasizing Quality-Based Changeovers over cleaning to ensure production continuity. This paper also identifies technological and managerial challenges in PET recycling plants as raised in the related literature, such as the need for technology improvement, more effective collection routes and sorting processes, and devoted managerial strategies. Since a relevant industrial need is to manage the changeovers, we develop a model to control the operative management of the plant and to find the feedstock quality to be processed at a given time for profit maximization. A discrete event simulation model is built to represent the behavior of the system under an approximate state-based control policy, i.e. a two-threshold policy. Numerical results and sensitivity analysis highlight the impact of cleaning costs on system behavior, offering insights into optimal operational conditions.

Recycling plant nutrients in mixing several organic to serve hydroponic cultivation of vegetables and herbs, enhancing circulatory economy

Abstract Urine, rich in Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), and Potassium (K), shows promise as a nutrient solution for cultivation, benefiting both nutrition and waste management. This study focuses on producing plant nutrients from human urine using biochar to absorb urine, soybeans meal residue, biogas waste, and fish heads & bones. These nutrients were evaluated against Vietnamese standards (TCVN). The nutrient solutions were tested on green mustard and Gynostemma pentaphyllum in a hydroponic system. Results indicated that the nutrient solution from desorbed human urine reached a maximum solute concentration of 2343.3 ppm after 15 days, surpassing other materials. Though slightly lower in total nitrogen compared to fish heads & bones (68.2 mg/l vs 69.5 mg/l), urine nutrients had higher total P2O5 and available potassium (171.8 mg/l and 592.5 mg/l, respectively). The urine solution performed comparably to soybeans meal residue and the inorganic Hoagland solution. Green mustard treated with urine solution had the best dry content, vitamin C, and low heavy metals. For Gynostemma pentaphyllum, the urine solution yielded the highest saponins, flavonoids, and minerals. Economic analysis of hydroponic models using urine solution showed significant promise, indicating its viability in hydroponics.

How digital platforms can be leveraged to enable closed material loops – An example of the steel supply chain

Increasing demands for limited natural resources accelerate rethinking their usage and processing. A focal point of interest lies in the steel industry, given its substantial contribution to emissions and the notable attribute of steel being fully recyclable. Hence, closing material loops to ensure the preservation of material value and supply security is of substantial importance. Yet, until today, supply chains are still characterized by interrupted information streams that prevent circular material flows. Digital platforms are attributed to overcoming these shortcomings due to their ability to moderate ecosystems and render technological connectivity. However, industrial companies lack knowledge of how digital platforms can be used to design closed material loops. Therefore, this paper is built on a longitudinal case study of a joint venture between a recycling and steel melting plant company aiming at creating a digital platform to close the material flow of steel. Six design priorities, structured along the three core building blocks of digital platform ecosystems and the four core dimensions of collective action theory (CAT), have been derived to guide managers in designing digital platforms for the CE-specific context. This study presently contributes to understanding the relationship between digital platforms and CE.

Effect of alkaline rice straw fibers content and curing ages on static mechanical properties of cemented lithium mica tailings backfill

Alkaline rice straw fibers (ARSF), as a widely available and recyclable plant fiber source, can provide new insights for improving the mechanical properties of backfill and the treatment of agricultural waste resources research. Different amounts of ARSF were prepared to enhance the cemented lithium mica tailings backfill (CLMTB), and uniaxial compression strength (UCS) tests and Brazilian splitting tensile strength tests were conducted to study the influence of ARSF on the static mechanical properties of CLMTB samples. Firstly, the flowability of mortars with different ARSF content was tested, the results showed that the flowability decreased by a maximum of 5.4 %, which met the construction requirements of cement mortar in the construction process. The UCS showed an increasing trend and then reduced with the increased ARSF content, with 0.15 % being the optimal content, showing a maximum increase of 14.2 %. Under Brazilian splitting loading conditions, the tensile strength gradually increased with the increased ARSF content, with 0.60 % being the optimal content. The UCS of the CLMTB samples showed exponential growth with increased curing age. Additionally, there was a linear functional relationship between the curing age and the tensile strength of the CLMTB samples. The experimental results indicate that the ARSF improved the toughness and changed the failure mode of the CLMTB samples. In the meantime, it increased the residual bearing capacity and the peak tensile strain of the CLMTB samples.

Socially adaptive cognitive architecture for human-robot collaboration in industrial settings.

This paper introduces DAC-HRC, a novel cognitive architecture designed to optimize human-robot collaboration (HRC) in industrial settings, particularly within the context of Industry 4.0. The architecture is grounded in the Distributed Adaptive Control theory and the principles of joint intentionality and interdependence, which are key to effective HRC. Joint intentionality refers to the shared goals and mutual understanding between a human and a robot, while interdependence emphasizes the reliance on each other's capabilities to complete tasks. DAC-HRC is applied to a hybrid recycling plant for the disassembly and recycling of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) devices. The architecture incorporates several cognitive modules operating at different timescales and abstraction levels, fostering adaptive collaboration that is personalized to each human user. The effectiveness of DAC-HRC is demonstrated through several pilot studies, showcasing functionalities such as turn-taking interaction, personalized error-handling mechanisms, adaptive safety measures, and gesture-based communication. These features enhance human-robot collaboration in the recycling plant by promoting real-time robot adaptation to human needs and preferences. The DAC-HRC architecture aims to contribute to the development of a new HRC paradigm by paving the way for more seamless and efficient collaboration in Industry 4.0 by relying on socially adept cognitive architectures.

Towards Expanding the Use of Paper Made from Recycled and Non-Woody Plants: Enhancing the Print Quality through the Application of Nano-Modified Offset Inks

This study aims to investigate the feasibility of using paper made from eco-friendly recycled and non-woody plants in graphic technology, particularly in offset printing. Instead of changing the composition or modifying the surface properties of the paper, the focus was on enhancing the print quality by modifying the printing ink. By modifying the printing inks, the quality of the prints on recycled and non-woody paper can be optimized, which in turn reduces the need for paper made from primary fibers. This approach can expand the use of alternative materials in graphic technology and design. The objective was to optimize the print quality on these sustainable materials. Five types of uncoated paper were used, with high-quality uncoated offset paper based on virgin fibers serving as a reference. Laboratory tests of the basic and surface properties were carried out to measure the paper quality parameters that are important for offset printing. The influence of the paper composition on its optical and colorimetric properties was also investigated. The interaction between the selected papers and offset inks was examined through measurements of adhesion parameters and ink transfer, i.e., the paper’s ability to accept the ink. To enhance the applicability of the investigated papers as printing substrates in the graphic industry, SiO2 and TiO2 nanoparticles were added to the offset inks. The influence of the paper composition on the colorimetric properties of the prints was also investigated. The print uniformity, as an important quality characteristic, was determined by measuring the mottling index. The research findings indicate that incorporating SiO2 and TiO2 nanoparticles into offset inks can enhance the interaction between the paper and ink, leading to improved print quality. This study provides new perspectives on the possibilities of using recycled and non-woody plant paper in offset printing without significantly compromising the quality of the print.

Analysis of Introducing Plastic Waste Enzymatic Recycling for Sustainable Waste Management in Latvia

Economic growth, urbanisation, and consumer consumption habits have contributed to the yearly increase in the municipal solid waste amount. A significant portion of household waste consists of plastic materials and packaging, which currently cannot be fully and endlessly recycled, does not decompose in nature, and degrades into micro- and nanoparticles entering the soil, air, aquatic environments, and organisms. According to an OECD report from 2022, the amount of plastic waste produced globally is expected to triple by 2060, with around half being landfilled and less than one-fifth being recycled. As waste volumes are going to increase, the need to ensure appropriate waste recycling technology is addressed in this study by introducing enzymatic plastic waste recycling in Latvia. Enzymatic recycling has an advantage over mechanical recycling technology because it can depolymerise plastics without degrading the quality of the material. The methodology applied in this study includes data analysis of the waste amount in Latvia, analysis of the existing plastic recycling plant operation, life cycle assessment of existing and proposed methods, and socio-economic impact evaluation. The proposed solution meets the objectives of promoting sustainable plastic waste recycling through the introduction of enzymatic recycling; therefore, it aligns with the European Union’s targets to follow circular economy principles.

Persistent environmental lead exposures disrupting black children’s neurodevelopment and quality of life trajectories: an under-recognized ACE in the hole

Persistent environmental lead exposures disrupting black children’s neurodevelopment and quality of life trajectories: an under-recognized ACE in the hole

A Communication-Efficient Federated Learning Framework for Sustainable Development Using Lemurs Optimizer

The pressing need for sustainable development solutions necessitates innovative data-driven tools. Machine learning (ML) offers significant potential, but faces challenges in centralized approaches, particularly concerning data privacy and resource constraints in geographically dispersed settings. Federated learning (FL) emerges as a transformative paradigm for sustainable development by decentralizing ML training to edge devices. However, communication bottlenecks hinder its scalability and sustainability. This paper introduces an innovative FL framework that enhances communication efficiency. The proposed framework addresses the communication bottleneck by harnessing the power of the Lemurs optimizer (LO), a nature-inspired metaheuristic algorithm. Inspired by the cooperative foraging behavior of lemurs, the LO strategically selects the most relevant model updates for communication, significantly reducing communication overhead. The framework was rigorously evaluated on CIFAR-10, MNIST, rice leaf disease, and waste recycling plant datasets representing various areas of sustainable development. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed framework reduces communication overhead by over 15% on average compared to baseline FL approaches, while maintaining high model accuracy. This breakthrough extends the applicability of FL to resource-constrained environments, paving the way for more scalable and sustainable solutions for real-world initiatives.

Considering the Size Distribution of Elements in Particle Matter and Oxidation Potential: Association before and after Respiratory Exposure

Oxidation potential (OP), reflecting the redox activities of particle matter (PM), is considered an optimal measure to explain the biological effects of PM exposure. However, the size resolution of the relationship between OP and chemical composition in PM, especially how the relationship changes after respiratory exposure, has not been well investigated. In this study, size-resolved indoor PM10 samples were collected from a waste recycling plant from November to December 2021 using an Anderson eight-stage cascade impactor. OP, measured by a dithiothreitol (DTT) assay (defined as OPDTT), and elements, determined by inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) in size-resolved PM, were determined to check their relationships and the related human exposure risk. The results indicated that compared with PM0.4 and PM0.4–2.1, PM2.1–10 contributed the most to total OPDTT and its bound elements contributed the most to potential health risks, both before and after respiratory exposure. The association between OPDTT and the elements varied with PM size. Pearson correlation analysis showed that the PM0.4- and PM0.4–2.1-bound elements were moderate-to-strongly positively correlated with OPvDTT (r: 0.60–0.90). No significant correlation or dose–response relationship was found in PM2.1–10. After respiratory exposure, several PM0.4- and PM0.4–2.1-bound elements had a moderate-to-strongly positive correlation with deposition fluxes of OP (defined as OPFlux) (0.69–0.90). A generalized linear model analysis showed that the interquartile range (IQR) increase in the PM-bound elements (ng h−1) was associated with a 41.7–58.1% increase in OPFlux. Our study is a special case that enriches the knowledge of the association between OPDTT and the chemical composition of PM of different sizes, especially after respiratory exposure, but the generalizability of the findings to other settings or types of PM may be limited. The associations among OPDTT, other chemical compositions of PM, and human exposure risk merit further research.

Overcoming the Limitations of Organocatalyzed Glycolysis of Poly(ethylene terephthalate) to Facilitate the Recycling of Complex Waste Under Mild Conditions.

Although multiple methods have been reported in the literature for the chemical recycling of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET), large-scale depolymerization is not yet widely employed. The main reasons for the limited adoption of chemical recycling of PET are the harsh conditions required and the lack of selectivity. In this study, the organocatalytic glycolysis of PET mediated by organic bases at low temperatures is studied, and routes to avoid the deactivation of the catalyst are explored. It is shown that the formation of terephthalic acid by uncontrolled hydrolysis leads to issues which can be resolved using potassium tert-butoxide as a cocatalyst. Finally, complex PET waste obtained from a mechanical recycling plant was depolymerized under optimized conditions, obtaining bis(2-hydroxyethyl) terephthalate yields >90% in less than 15 min at only 100 °C. These results open the way to efficient recycling of PET-enriched waste streams under milder conditions.

Assessment Of Occupational Exposure To Lead, Cadmium And Arsenic In A Lead-Acid Battery Manufacturing And Recycling Plant In Algeria

Introduction: Plants manufacturing and recycling lead-acid batteries emit this metal and other metal and metalloid particles into the air, which can be transported and deposited on various surfaces, exposing workers and even nearby populations. Occupational metal contamination is a cause for concern because of their potential accumulation in the environment and in living organisms, leading to long-term toxic effects.The aim of this study was to assess Cd, As and Pb levels in the whole blood of 170 people working in a lead battery manufacturing and recycling plant in eastern Algeria, and in that of 50 non-occupationally exposed controls. Metal compound levels were determined using ICP-MS. Lead was the most prominent element in the workers' blood (521.24 µg/L) compared to the controls (23.08 µg/L), confirming that lead exposure is significantly higher compared to other elements. The average and median concentrations of Cd and As in the blood did not exceed the biological exposure indices for both populations. Cadmium levels were significantly higher in the blood of exposed workers compared to the controls. However, there was no significant correlation between blood lead levels and cadmium levels in exposed subjects. For arsenic, although the mean and median values ​​were within the normal range, the maximum and 95th percentile exceeded the normal value. There was also no significant correlation between lead and arsenic concentrations in the blood of workers. The results of this study highlight the alarming working conditions that the employees of this factory face.These conditions lead to significant lead exposure and potentially to other elements such as Cd and As.

LyondellBasell makes FID to construct first of its kind recycling plant in Germany

LyondellBasell makes FID to construct first of its kind recycling plant in Germany

District heating based on exhaust gas produced from end-of-life tires in Erzincan: Thermoeconomic analysis and optimization

This paper presents the thermoeconomic analysis and optimization of the Erzincan Waste Tire Recycling and Power Plant (EWTRPP) in Turkey and its waste heat-based district heating (DH) system. A thermoeconomical method, namely the specific exergy costing (SPECO), is applied to allocate cost flows through subcomponents of an actual existing plant. Besides, the obtained thermoeconomic results are improved by using an optimization method, namely non-dominant sorting genetic algorithm (NSGA-II), considering the temperature of the exhaust gas discharged to the atmosphere (T25), the thermal conductivity value of the insulation material (ki) and pipe roughness value (s). The energy and exergy efficiencies of the existing plant are found to be 27.37% and 35.57%, respectively, considering the data of the actual plant. Moreover, the energy and exergy efficiencies of the waste heat-based DH system are found to be 43.08% and 55.99%, respectively. The total cost rate of the overall system is deduced 13.98 $/hby means of SPECO method. According to the results of the NSGA-II optimization method, the exergy efficiency and total cost rate of the overall system are evaluated as 6.93% and −2.51 $/h, respectively. Furthermore, it is also proposed that 1304 dwellings can be heated owing to the DH system utilizing the existing exhaust gas.

Thermoactivated cement from construction and demolition waste for pavement base stabilization: A case study in Brazil.

Construction and demolition waste (CDW) worldwide generation accounts 10 billion tonnes yearly. The major fraction is landfilled requiring innovative recycling methods to reduce the associated environmental impacts and to increase its circularity. Our study demonstrated the feasibility of using different CDW fines to develop recycled cements and optimized the content of CDW recycled cements with well-graded crushed stone (WGCS) for use as pavement base layer. We scaled up the study obtaining CDW cement and aggregates from a local recycling plant, as well as pilot pavement sections designed, constructed and field deflections measured. As results, the CDW cement pastes exhibited accumulated heat values of up to 111 J g-1 and achieved a compressive strength of approximately 16 MPa. The unconfined compressive strength and resilient modulus (RM) achieved using CDW cement and WGCS were 2-3 and >3000 MPa, respectively. The sections constructed using CDW cement exhibited intermediate behaviour compared to those obtained using reference materials (6% Portland cement-WGCS and a conventional granular base made using WGCS). The deflection decreased over time owing to the pozzolanic reaction.