Pub Date : 2026-03-15Epub Date: 2026-01-27DOI: 10.1016/j.resconrec.2026.108809
Na Gong, David C. Dunand
We present a sustainable pyrometallurgical strategy for recycling spent LiNi₀.₆Co₀.₂Mn₀.₂O₂ (LNCMO) and LNCMO + 10% LiFePO₄ (LFP) through direct hydrogen reduction to Ni-Co-Mn(-Fe) master alloys for steelmaking. In LNCMO, Ni and Co oxides reduce concurrently at ∼480 °C, while Mn oxide reduces more gradually via a MnO intermediate before dissolving into the Ni-Co matrix to form a face-centered-cubic (FCC) Ni-Co-Mn alloy, with ∼2–4 wt.% of Mn lost by volatilization. Li₂O forms at ∼600 °C then volatilizes by 900 °C. With 10% LFP, decomposition begins at lower temperature (∼310 °C), and Fe enters the FCC alloy near 400 °C. Li₂O forms at ∼560 °C and either volatilizes or forms Li₃PO₄ inclusions. Metallography confirms a nearly fully reduced, interconnected FCC metallic network facilitating H2/H2O transport. Reduced Ni-Co-Mn(-Fe) is remelted with Fe and Fe-Cr to produce a Fe-(18–19)Cr-(8–9)Ni-3Co-(2–3)Mn alloy matching 304-grade stainless steel, with Co expected to enhance mechanical and corrosion resistance. This hydrogen-based route offers a scalable, low-CO₂ alternative to carbothermic recycling.
{"title":"Recycling lithium-ion-battery cathode oxides into master alloys for stainless steel via hydrogen reduction","authors":"Na Gong, David C. Dunand","doi":"10.1016/j.resconrec.2026.108809","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.resconrec.2026.108809","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>We present a sustainable pyrometallurgical strategy for recycling spent LiNi₀<sub>.</sub>₆Co₀<sub>.</sub>₂Mn₀<sub>.</sub>₂O₂ (LNCMO) and LNCMO + 10% LiFePO₄ (LFP) through direct hydrogen reduction to Ni-Co-Mn(-Fe) master alloys for steelmaking. In LNCMO, Ni and Co oxides reduce concurrently at ∼480 °C, while Mn oxide reduces more gradually via a MnO intermediate before dissolving into the Ni-Co matrix to form a face-centered-cubic (FCC) Ni-Co-Mn alloy, with ∼2–4 wt.% of Mn lost by volatilization. Li₂O forms at ∼600 °C then volatilizes by 900 °C. With 10% LFP, decomposition begins at lower temperature (∼310 °C), and Fe enters the FCC alloy near 400 °C. Li₂O forms at ∼560 °C and either volatilizes or forms Li₃PO₄ inclusions. Metallography confirms a nearly fully reduced, interconnected FCC metallic network facilitating H<sub>2</sub>/H<sub>2</sub>O transport. Reduced Ni-Co-Mn(-Fe) is remelted with Fe and Fe-Cr to produce a Fe-(18–19)Cr-(8–9)Ni-3Co-(2–3)Mn alloy matching 304-grade stainless steel, with Co expected to enhance mechanical and corrosion resistance. This hydrogen-based route offers a scalable, low-CO₂ alternative to carbothermic recycling.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21153,"journal":{"name":"Resources Conservation and Recycling","volume":"228 ","pages":"Article 108809"},"PeriodicalIF":10.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146072567","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-15Epub Date: 2026-01-27DOI: 10.1016/j.resconrec.2026.108811
Wang Li , Alexandra Schmuck , Louis Van Caelenberg , Virginie Decottignies , Hy Boui Chang , Adeline Dupas , Peter Ragaert , Shreyash Anil Gujar , Marcel C P van Eijk , Steven De Meester
Currently, bio-based and compostable plastic packaging is generally not sorted at material recovery facilities (MRFs) due to its limited market penetration. Instead, such bioplastics are criticised for contaminating other target streams, such as PET bottles at MRFs, yet there is limited evidence to support these claims. This work aims to fill this knowledge gap with a focus on polylactic acid (PLA) packaging waste, by applying a mathematical model to predict the material flow of PLA within MRFs and evaluates the economic viability of bioplastic sorting under different market penetration grades. Our model shows that under current market penetration, the predicted presence of PLA in the PET bottle stream is 7.8 ppm, which is below the suggested threshold concentration without degrading PET recycling (1000 ppm). This still holds true even under high market penetration conditions (200 ppm), assuming that the sorting sequence is adapted to accommodate variations in input waste composition at MRF. The sorting cost of PLA decreases from 906 EUR/t at current market penetration to 170 EUR/t when 1% of post-consumer PLA packaging material is reached at MRF input streams, with an expected break-even point at 2.4%. Moreover, the required PLA volume decreases with increasing near-infrared spectroscopy NIR sorting efficiency alongside the expansion of PLA packaging applications. Furthermore, labour cost, market demand for recovered PLA, and landfill/incineration gate fees are key parameters that substantially affect the cost model result. Overall, the findings from this work suggest that PLA present at MRFs pose no significant issue in current sorting practices, whereas investing in PLA sorting only makes economic sense under strong market growth scenarios of PLA, to achieve circular bioeconomy goals and recycled content targets.
{"title":"Modelling material flows and cost-benefit of sorting PLA packaging waste in material recovery facilities under different market penetration scenarios","authors":"Wang Li , Alexandra Schmuck , Louis Van Caelenberg , Virginie Decottignies , Hy Boui Chang , Adeline Dupas , Peter Ragaert , Shreyash Anil Gujar , Marcel C P van Eijk , Steven De Meester","doi":"10.1016/j.resconrec.2026.108811","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.resconrec.2026.108811","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Currently, bio-based and compostable plastic packaging is generally not sorted at material recovery facilities (MRFs) due to its limited market penetration. Instead, such bioplastics are criticised for contaminating other target streams, such as PET bottles at MRFs, yet there is limited evidence to support these claims. This work aims to fill this knowledge gap with a focus on polylactic acid (PLA) packaging waste, by applying a mathematical model to predict the material flow of PLA within MRFs and evaluates the economic viability of bioplastic sorting under different market penetration grades. Our model shows that under current market penetration, the predicted presence of PLA in the PET bottle stream is 7.8 ppm, which is below the suggested threshold concentration without degrading PET recycling (1000 ppm). This still holds true even under high market penetration conditions (200 ppm), assuming that the sorting sequence is adapted to accommodate variations in input waste composition at MRF. The sorting cost of PLA decreases from 906 EUR/t at current market penetration to 170 EUR/t when 1% of post-consumer PLA packaging material is reached at MRF input streams, with an expected break-even point at 2.4%. Moreover, the required PLA volume decreases with increasing near-infrared spectroscopy NIR sorting efficiency alongside the expansion of PLA packaging applications. Furthermore, labour cost, market demand for recovered PLA, and landfill/incineration gate fees are key parameters that substantially affect the cost model result. Overall, the findings from this work suggest that PLA present at MRFs pose no significant issue in current sorting practices, whereas investing in PLA sorting only makes economic sense under strong market growth scenarios of PLA, to achieve circular bioeconomy goals and recycled content targets.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21153,"journal":{"name":"Resources Conservation and Recycling","volume":"228 ","pages":"Article 108811"},"PeriodicalIF":10.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146072639","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-15Epub Date: 2026-01-31DOI: 10.1016/j.resconrec.2026.108824
Jiawei Huang, Yinqiao Wang, Sunkyu Park, Kai Lan
Paper sludge, a solid waste from paper mills, is a promising feedstock for producing sustainable bioproducts and decarbonizing the pulp and paper industry. This study developed a life cycle assessment and techno-economic analysis to explore the environmental and economic feasibility of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) produced from paper sludge with carbon capture and storage (CCS). The analysis is integrated with full-scale process design and rigorous simulation models developed in Aspen Plus. Our results show that, with CCS, the global warming potential (GWP) of SAF reaches negative carbon at –166.4 to –108.7 g CO2eq/MJ with a minimum fuel selling price (MFSP) of $8.0–$10.0/gasoline gallon equivalent (GGE). Without CCS, the GWP increases to 38.8–71.6 g CO2eq/MJ, but the MFSP decreases to $5.2–$7.0/GGE. SAF production from paper sludge with CCS offers a potential solution to advance the decarbonization of the aviation sector and pulp and paper industries toward net-zero emissions.
造纸污泥是一种来自造纸厂的固体废物，是生产可持续生物产品和脱碳制浆造纸工业的有前途的原料。本研究开发了生命周期评估和技术经济分析，以探索采用碳捕获和储存（CCS）技术从纸污泥中生产可持续航空燃料（SAF）的环境和经济可行性。该分析与Aspen Plus开发的全尺寸工艺设计和严格的仿真模型相结合。我们的研究结果表明，采用CCS， SAF的全球变暖潜能值（GWP）在- 166.4至- 108.7 g CO2eq/MJ时达到负碳，最低燃料销售价格（MFSP）为8.0 - 10.0美元/汽油加仑当量（GGE）。没有CCS， GWP增加到38.8 ~ 71.6 g CO2eq/ GGE，而MFSP降低到5.2 ~ 7.0美元/GGE。利用CCS技术从纸污泥中生产SAF，为推动航空业和纸浆造纸行业实现净零排放的脱碳提供了一个潜在的解决方案。
{"title":"Life-cycle assessment and techno-economic analysis of negative carbon sustainable aviation fuels from paper sludge","authors":"Jiawei Huang, Yinqiao Wang, Sunkyu Park, Kai Lan","doi":"10.1016/j.resconrec.2026.108824","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.resconrec.2026.108824","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Paper sludge, a solid waste from paper mills, is a promising feedstock for producing sustainable bioproducts and decarbonizing the pulp and paper industry. This study developed a life cycle assessment and techno-economic analysis to explore the environmental and economic feasibility of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) produced from paper sludge with carbon capture and storage (CCS). The analysis is integrated with full-scale process design and rigorous simulation models developed in Aspen Plus. Our results show that, with CCS, the global warming potential (GWP) of SAF reaches negative carbon at –166.4 to –108.7 g CO<sub>2</sub>eq/MJ with a minimum fuel selling price (MFSP) of $8.0–$10.0/gasoline gallon equivalent (GGE). Without CCS, the GWP increases to 38.8–71.6 g CO<sub>2</sub>eq/MJ, but the MFSP decreases to $5.2–$7.0/GGE. SAF production from paper sludge with CCS offers a potential solution to advance the decarbonization of the aviation sector and pulp and paper industries toward net-zero emissions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21153,"journal":{"name":"Resources Conservation and Recycling","volume":"228 ","pages":"Article 108824"},"PeriodicalIF":10.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146078780","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The effective recovery of copper from waste printed circuit boards (WPCBs) is crucial for promoting circularity in the electronic sector and mitigating resource loss. This study identifies and evaluates thirteen pre-treatment methods—classified as mechanical, thermal, chemical, and innovative—using 23 technical, environmental, and economic indicators. A multi-criteria decision analysis (based on the Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solutions, TOPSIS) was applied under four weighting scenarios to reflect different prioritisation strategies. Results show that automated disassembly consistently ranks highest when technical and environmental performance is prioritised, while manual dismantling prevails under cost-sensitive conditions. Sensitivity analysis confirms the robustness of these rankings, highlighting trade-offs between efficiency, environmental impact, and economic feasibility. Although still mostly at the laboratory scale, automated disassembly shows strong potential for efficient, low-impact copper recovery, and scaling with artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics could drive sustainable e-waste management and ease copper supply constraints.
{"title":"From e-waste to resource: Identifying the optimal pre-treatment for copper recovery from waste PCBs","authors":"Moisés Gómez , Daniel Peña-Torres , Melanie Colet-Lagrille , Katherine Jaramillo , I.M.S.K. Ilankoon , Xianlai Zeng","doi":"10.1016/j.resconrec.2026.108821","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.resconrec.2026.108821","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The effective recovery of copper from waste printed circuit boards (WPCBs) is crucial for promoting circularity in the electronic sector and mitigating resource loss. This study identifies and evaluates thirteen pre-treatment methods—classified as mechanical, thermal, chemical, and innovative—using 23 technical, environmental, and economic indicators. A multi-criteria decision analysis (based on the Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solutions, TOPSIS) was applied under four weighting scenarios to reflect different prioritisation strategies. Results show that automated disassembly consistently ranks highest when technical and environmental performance is prioritised, while manual dismantling prevails under cost-sensitive conditions. Sensitivity analysis confirms the robustness of these rankings, highlighting trade-offs between efficiency, environmental impact, and economic feasibility. Although still mostly at the laboratory scale, automated disassembly shows strong potential for efficient, low-impact copper recovery, and scaling with artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics could drive sustainable e-waste management and ease copper supply constraints.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21153,"journal":{"name":"Resources Conservation and Recycling","volume":"228 ","pages":"Article 108821"},"PeriodicalIF":10.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146078783","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-15Epub Date: 2026-01-30DOI: 10.1016/j.resconrec.2026.108816
Jintao Yang , Fang-He Zhao , Manchun Li , Penghui Jiang , Zhepeng Hu
Current understanding of low-carbon food distribution is limited by the lack of observed grain flow data and forward-looking scenario analysis. In this study, we construct China’s interprovincial rice distribution network for 2020 using 30,524 observed trade records. We then project provincial rice supply and demand dynamics for 2030 under four Shared Socioeconomic Pathway (SSP) scenarios, employing the Global Agro-Ecological Zones (GAEZ) and Future Land Use Simulation (FLUS) models. Subsequently, a scenario-based linear programming framework is applied to explore optimized low-carbon trade configurations. Results indicate that, compared to simulations focused solely on minimizing transport costs, observed trade flows capture substantial long-distance interprovincial exchanges that cost-based models tend to overlook. Moreover, optimized flows could reduce total carbon emissions from rice distribution by 16.1%-20.5% in 2030. These findings offer robust empirical and modeling evidence to inform the reconfiguration of grain distribution systems and support region-specific adaptation strategies under future climate change.
{"title":"Reconfiguring China’s interprovincial rice distribution to support low-carbon goals under climate change","authors":"Jintao Yang , Fang-He Zhao , Manchun Li , Penghui Jiang , Zhepeng Hu","doi":"10.1016/j.resconrec.2026.108816","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.resconrec.2026.108816","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Current understanding of low-carbon food distribution is limited by the lack of observed grain flow data and forward-looking scenario analysis. In this study, we construct China’s interprovincial rice distribution network for 2020 using 30,524 observed trade records. We then project provincial rice supply and demand dynamics for 2030 under four Shared Socioeconomic Pathway (SSP) scenarios, employing the Global Agro-Ecological Zones (GAEZ) and Future Land Use Simulation (FLUS) models. Subsequently, a scenario-based linear programming framework is applied to explore optimized low-carbon trade configurations. Results indicate that, compared to simulations focused solely on minimizing transport costs, observed trade flows capture substantial long-distance interprovincial exchanges that cost-based models tend to overlook. Moreover, optimized flows could reduce total carbon emissions from rice distribution by 16.1%-20.5% in 2030. These findings offer robust empirical and modeling evidence to inform the reconfiguration of grain distribution systems and support region-specific adaptation strategies under future climate change.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21153,"journal":{"name":"Resources Conservation and Recycling","volume":"228 ","pages":"Article 108816"},"PeriodicalIF":10.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146078782","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-15Epub Date: 2026-01-21DOI: 10.1016/j.resconrec.2026.108804
Bahareh Nasiri, Mark Hughes
The study integrates an inflow-driven dynamic material flow model to estimate both the quantity and quality of wood outflows using lifetime distributions. It also assesses the cascading potential of wood under two scenarios: one with cascading and one without. The model builds upon the dynamic-stock-model Python package, which the authors further developed to incorporate material quality. As input, the model uses the gross floor area of houses built in Finland between 1966 and 2020.
The findings underscore the crucial role of decay functions and the selection of their variables, highlighting the need for continued research to refine these aspects. The scenarios and lifetime effects reveal that wood cascading has a greater effect on reducing total wood outflows than merely extending the lifetime of buildings. Furthermore, the cascade scenario (30 % reuse and 70 % recycling) shows a great potential for cascading in the wood sector, highlighting its effectiveness in minimizing wood waste compared to the non-cascading scenario.
{"title":"Lifetime effects on wood waste generation and the cascading potential of waste wood from Finnish houses","authors":"Bahareh Nasiri, Mark Hughes","doi":"10.1016/j.resconrec.2026.108804","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.resconrec.2026.108804","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The study integrates an inflow-driven dynamic material flow model to estimate both the quantity and quality of wood outflows using lifetime distributions. It also assesses the cascading potential of wood under two scenarios: one with cascading and one without. The model builds upon the dynamic-stock-model Python package, which the authors further developed to incorporate material quality. As input, the model uses the gross floor area of houses built in Finland between 1966 and 2020.</div><div>The findings underscore the crucial role of decay functions and the selection of their variables, highlighting the need for continued research to refine these aspects. The scenarios and lifetime effects reveal that wood cascading has a greater effect on reducing total wood outflows than merely extending the lifetime of buildings. Furthermore, the cascade scenario (30 % reuse and 70 % recycling) shows a great potential for cascading in the wood sector, highlighting its effectiveness in minimizing wood waste compared to the non-cascading scenario.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21153,"journal":{"name":"Resources Conservation and Recycling","volume":"228 ","pages":"Article 108804"},"PeriodicalIF":10.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146014922","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-15Epub Date: 2026-02-03DOI: 10.1016/j.resconrec.2026.108827
Wang Jian , Li Fei , Wang Yibin
Developing grain import strategies to alleviate the pressure of China’s imports on global environment is an important sustainability challenge in the coming decades; however, insufficient attention has been paid to the net impact on the global environment and the trade-off between different environmental consequences. Therefore, this study employed the WITCH-GLOBIOM and GAEZ models to evaluate the net environmental impact of China's future grain imports under different import strategies—keep status quo (KSQ), greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction (GER), and aims at cropland saving (CLS)—and proposed a sustainable import strategy. It is found that China’s grain imports will peak in 2035 at around 26.07∼160.8 Mt. Compared with domestic production, import of grains excluding rice (CER) is projected to cumulatively reduce GHG emissions by 59.96∼75.52 Mt CO2eq during 2021–2050, while rice imports will lead to an increase of -5.32∼59.83 Mt CO2eq. Imported grains will consume about 1.86–12.6 Mha more cropland than domestic production, which increases the risk of global deforestation and grassland clearing. The trade-offs between GHG emissions and cropland saving can be addressed by adopting a cropland-saving strategy for CER imports and a GHG emission reduction strategy for rice imports. Producing more rice domestically would both reduce stress on the global environment and increase China’s food self-sufficiency. This study aims to identify and compare environmentally preferable import patterns and propose a more sustainable strategy portfolio under multiple scenarios.
{"title":"Addressing global environmental consequences of China's grain imports","authors":"Wang Jian , Li Fei , Wang Yibin","doi":"10.1016/j.resconrec.2026.108827","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.resconrec.2026.108827","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Developing grain import strategies to alleviate the pressure of China’s imports on global environment is an important sustainability challenge in the coming decades; however, insufficient attention has been paid to the net impact on the global environment and the trade-off between different environmental consequences. Therefore, this study employed the WITCH-GLOBIOM and GAEZ models to evaluate the net environmental impact of China's future grain imports under different import strategies—keep status quo (KSQ), greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction (GER), and aims at cropland saving (CLS)—and proposed a sustainable import strategy. It is found that China’s grain imports will peak in 2035 at around 26.07∼160.8 Mt. Compared with domestic production, import of grains excluding rice (CER) is projected to cumulatively reduce GHG emissions by 59.96∼75.52 Mt CO<sub>2</sub>eq during 2021–2050, while rice imports will lead to an increase of -5.32∼59.83 Mt CO<sub>2</sub>eq. Imported grains will consume about 1.86–12.6 Mha more cropland than domestic production, which increases the risk of global deforestation and grassland clearing. The trade-offs between GHG emissions and cropland saving can be addressed by adopting a cropland-saving strategy for CER imports and a GHG emission reduction strategy for rice imports. Producing more rice domestically would both reduce stress on the global environment and increase China’s food self-sufficiency. This study aims to identify and compare environmentally preferable import patterns and propose a more sustainable strategy portfolio under multiple scenarios.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21153,"journal":{"name":"Resources Conservation and Recycling","volume":"228 ","pages":"Article 108827"},"PeriodicalIF":10.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146110280","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-15Epub Date: 2026-01-10DOI: 10.1016/j.resconrec.2026.108787
Zhuoer Li, Mihaela Banu, Daniel R. Cooper
Production of fiber-reinforced polymer composites is materially-inefficient and energy-intensive. This study identifies improvement opportunities by conducting a material flow and energy analysis of the 2024 global composite supply chain. Bayesian inference is used to reconcile production material flow data extracted from academic and grey literature (e.g., industry reports) with data noise assigned using a Pedigree Matrix, generating balanced mass flows with quantified uncertainty. Supply chain energy requirements are determined by coupling the material flows with feedstock and process energy intensities collected from LCA literature and databases.
In 2024, around 12.2 Mt of composites entered use, requiring around 2030 PJprimary to produce and generating approximately 2.5 Mt of manufacturing scrap. Component production from feedstocks accounted for 45% of primary energy demand (60:40, thermoset:thermoplastic), followed by resin (40%) and fiber (15%) production. This study discusses opportunities and challenges in transitioning to lower-energy production, including alternatives to energy-intensive oil-based feedstocks and more efficient manufacturing processes. Energy attributable to system material losses (determined using input–output analysis) rivaled those of the largest end-use sectors. This study examines strategies to increase system-level material utilization by boosting closed-loop recycling of mass-production scrap (e.g., from injection molding) and shifting from low-yield (semi-)manual processes to automated manufacturing (e.g., pultrusion).
{"title":"Mapping the global flow of fiber-reinforced polymer composites and supply chain energy requirements","authors":"Zhuoer Li, Mihaela Banu, Daniel R. Cooper","doi":"10.1016/j.resconrec.2026.108787","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.resconrec.2026.108787","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Production of fiber-reinforced polymer composites is materially-inefficient and energy-intensive. This study identifies improvement opportunities by conducting a material flow and energy analysis of the 2024 global composite supply chain. Bayesian inference is used to reconcile production material flow data extracted from academic and grey literature (e.g., industry reports) with data noise assigned using a Pedigree Matrix, generating balanced mass flows with quantified uncertainty. Supply chain energy requirements are determined by coupling the material flows with feedstock and process energy intensities collected from LCA literature and databases.</div><div>In 2024, around 12.2 Mt of composites entered use, requiring around 2030 PJ<sub>primary</sub> to produce and generating approximately 2.5 Mt of manufacturing scrap. Component production from feedstocks accounted for 45% of primary energy demand (60:40, thermoset:thermoplastic), followed by resin (40%) and fiber (15%) production. This study discusses opportunities and challenges in transitioning to lower-energy production, including alternatives to energy-intensive oil-based feedstocks and more efficient manufacturing processes. Energy attributable to system material losses (determined using input–output analysis) rivaled those of the largest end-use sectors. This study examines strategies to increase system-level material utilization by boosting closed-loop recycling of mass-production scrap (e.g., from injection molding) and shifting from low-yield (semi-)manual processes to automated manufacturing (e.g., pultrusion).</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21153,"journal":{"name":"Resources Conservation and Recycling","volume":"228 ","pages":"Article 108787"},"PeriodicalIF":10.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145929111","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-15Epub Date: 2026-01-31DOI: 10.1016/j.resconrec.2026.108808
Mikalai Filonchyk , Michael P. Peterson , Haowen Yan , Liang Zhou , Lifeng Zhang , Yi He , Shuwen Yang
Coal-fired power plants are one of the primary sources of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions worldwide, releasing approximately 13.6939 GtCO2eq annually. This study analyses GHG emissions from 2422 coal-fired power plants (6525 units) with a total installed capacity of 2125 GW. Using a bottom-up approach, CO2, CH4, and N2O emissions are calculated based on individual plant characteristics, including capacity, coal type, and load factor. The findings indicate a predominance of subcritical coal-fired power plants, the least efficient, with specific emissions of 6.95 MtCO2eq/GW. Bituminous coal is the largest emission source, accounting for 41 % of global GHG emissions from coal power. Significant regional disparities were identified with over 70 % of global coal power emissions originating from China, India, and the United States. China alone accounts for more than half (52 %) of total emissions. Special attention is given to power plants using unknown types of coal that are responsible for 31 % of emissions, highlighting substantial gaps in monitoring systems. The results indicate that while advanced coal technologies, including ultra-supercritical units and carbon capture and storage (CCS), can reduce emissions to some extent, their mitigation potential within the existing coal fleet remains limited relative to the goals of the Paris Agreement.
{"title":"Global greenhouse gas emissions from coal-fired power plants","authors":"Mikalai Filonchyk , Michael P. Peterson , Haowen Yan , Liang Zhou , Lifeng Zhang , Yi He , Shuwen Yang","doi":"10.1016/j.resconrec.2026.108808","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.resconrec.2026.108808","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Coal-fired power plants are one of the primary sources of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions worldwide, releasing approximately 13.6939 GtCO<sub>2</sub>eq annually. This study analyses GHG emissions from 2422 coal-fired power plants (6525 units) with a total installed capacity of 2125 GW. Using a bottom-up approach, CO<sub>2</sub>, CH<sub>4</sub>, and N<sub>2</sub>O emissions are calculated based on individual plant characteristics, including capacity, coal type, and load factor. The findings indicate a predominance of subcritical coal-fired power plants, the least efficient, with specific emissions of 6.95 MtCO<sub>2</sub>eq/GW. Bituminous coal is the largest emission source, accounting for 41 % of global GHG emissions from coal power. Significant regional disparities were identified with over 70 % of global coal power emissions originating from China, India, and the United States. China alone accounts for more than half (52 %) of total emissions. Special attention is given to power plants using unknown types of coal that are responsible for 31 % of emissions, highlighting substantial gaps in monitoring systems. The results indicate that while advanced coal technologies, including ultra-supercritical units and carbon capture and storage (CCS), can reduce emissions to some extent, their mitigation potential within the existing coal fleet remains limited relative to the goals of the Paris Agreement.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21153,"journal":{"name":"Resources Conservation and Recycling","volume":"228 ","pages":"Article 108808"},"PeriodicalIF":10.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146079309","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-15Epub Date: 2026-01-24DOI: 10.1016/j.resconrec.2026.108810
Jinglin Li , Endian Hu , Kailun Chen , Li Lin , Jingwen Chang , Ke Liu , Yukun Zhao , Jianguo Jiang
Escalating plastic consumption and inadequate waste management intensify global environmental pressures. This study developed multivariate nanometallic catalysts without precious metals for real-world plastic waste conversion into hydrogen via microwave catalysis. The process achieved abundant gas yields and high-purity solid carbon nanotubes with negligible liquid byproducts. The hydrogen yields were 52.59 mmol/g, which significantly exceeding that of conventional pyrolysis, accompanied by 9-fold improved energy efficiency and a low carbon footprint of 0.046 kg CO₂-eq/kg plastic (GWP₁₀₀). The enhancement arises from multi-level reaction mechanism. At the molecular level, microwave-driven activation of methyl groups within polymer chains and preferential symmetric-bond alignment. This resulted in hydrogen radical generation and bond configuration evolution at atomic level. Concurrently, microwave-induced modulation of catalyst interplanar spacing mitigates lattice distortion and enhances ion transport at surface level. These synergistic effects showed the fundamental advantages of microwave, offering a sustainable route for plastic waste management coupled with clean energy production.
不断增加的塑料消费和不适当的废物管理加剧了全球环境压力。本研究开发了不含贵金属的多元纳米金属催化剂，用于现实世界中塑料垃圾的微波催化制氢。该工艺获得了丰富的气体产量和高纯度的固体碳纳米管，而液体副产物可以忽略不计。氢气产率为52.59 mmol/g，显著超过常规热解，能源效率提高9倍，碳足迹低至0.046 kg CO₂-eq/kg塑料（GWP₁₀）。这种增强是由多层反应机制引起的。在分子水平上，微波驱动的聚合物链中的甲基活化和优先的对称键排列。这导致了氢自由基的产生和键构型在原子水平上的演化。同时，微波诱导的催化剂面间距调制减轻了晶格畸变，增强了离子在表面水平的输运。这些协同效应显示了微波的根本优势，为塑料废物管理和清洁能源生产提供了一条可持续的途径。
{"title":"Microwave-driven molecular activation enables efficient hydrogen recovery via low-carbon plastic recycling","authors":"Jinglin Li , Endian Hu , Kailun Chen , Li Lin , Jingwen Chang , Ke Liu , Yukun Zhao , Jianguo Jiang","doi":"10.1016/j.resconrec.2026.108810","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.resconrec.2026.108810","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Escalating plastic consumption and inadequate waste management intensify global environmental pressures. This study developed multivariate nanometallic catalysts without precious metals for real-world plastic waste conversion into hydrogen via microwave catalysis. The process achieved abundant gas yields and high-purity solid carbon nanotubes with negligible liquid byproducts. The hydrogen yields were 52.59 mmol/g, which significantly exceeding that of conventional pyrolysis, accompanied by 9-fold improved energy efficiency and a low carbon footprint of 0.046 kg CO₂-eq/kg plastic (GWP₁₀₀). The enhancement arises from multi-level reaction mechanism. At the molecular level, microwave-driven activation of methyl groups within polymer chains and preferential symmetric-bond alignment. This resulted in hydrogen radical generation and bond configuration evolution at atomic level. Concurrently, microwave-induced modulation of catalyst interplanar spacing mitigates lattice distortion and enhances ion transport at surface level. These synergistic effects showed the fundamental advantages of microwave, offering a sustainable route for plastic waste management coupled with clean energy production.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21153,"journal":{"name":"Resources Conservation and Recycling","volume":"228 ","pages":"Article 108810"},"PeriodicalIF":10.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146023956","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
扫码关注我们
求助内容：
应助结果提醒方式：
京公网安备 11010802042870号