Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management最新文献

Bio-based composites were widely considered as a replacement for various synthetic fiber-based composites due to their availability and their environmentally friendly, biodegradable, and sustainable properties. In this study, microcrystalline cellulose was prepared from Pandanus fascicularis Lam fibers through bleaching and ultrasound assisted acid hydrolysis using sodium hypochlorite and sulphuric acid. The obtained Pandanus fascicularis Lam fiber microcrystalline cellulose was characterized by morphology, thermal and chemical analysis. The density and chemical composition of the obtained microcrystalline cellulose was also identified by suitable methods. The methodology effectively yielded Pandanus fascicularis Lam fiber microcrystalline celluloses with a mean dimension of 471.6 nm and a crystallinity index of 70.2%. Furthermore, thermal analysis techniques verified the microcrystalline cellulose’s thermal stability up to 272 °C. Functional groups in Pandanus fascicularis Lam fiber microcrystalline cellulose was identified using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The assessment of microcrystalline cellulose’s properties and surface morphology by Scanning electron microscopy, Transmission electron microscopy and Atomic force microscopy substantiates the utilization of microcrystalline cellulose as a reinforcing agent in bio composites for lightweight structural applications. The novelty of this work lies in transforming an unexploited coastal biowaste into functional microcrystalline cellulose, thereby contributing to sustainable material development.

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Packaging, a vital part of daily life, significantly contributes to global waste, requiring effective management. This study addresses the packaging waste issue in Türkiye, examining the roles of individuals and institutions in waste management. It offers a novel contribution by combining nationally representative data with sociodemographic analysis to identify behavior patterns that can inform targeted policy and education strategies. A nationwide online survey comprising 22 questions was conducted between April and June 2023, reaching 1,022 participants across all 81 provinces of Türkiye. The data were analyzed through sociodemographic cross-tabulations by age, education, and income level. The survey reveals that while awareness of packaging waste is widespread across all demographics, active participation in waste management remains limited. For instance, although over 75% of participants claimed to recognize recycling symbols, only 45% reported regularly separating packaging waste. The findings suggest that higher education levels correlate with increased awareness and more responsible waste management practices, highlighting the importance of education in improving these practices. Notably, among postgraduate respondents, 39% reported using cloth bags instead of plastic, compared to only 21% among primary school graduates. The introduction of fees for plastic bags has led to a notable reduction in their usage and a rise in the use of reusable cloth bags, reflecting a growing environmental consciousness among the public. The primary goal of recycling packaging waste is to mitigate environmental harm and conserve resources. Efficient waste separation at the source is identified as critical for enhancing time and cost efficiency in waste management. The study concludes that public awareness campaigns and local government initiatives promoting source separation can significantly boost the recycling potential of packaging waste in Türkiye, contributing to both economic and environmental sustainability. This study provides a novel, data-driven perspective on the link between education, behavioral trends, and recycling potential in a developing country context, offering insights that can inform future policy and waste management strategies.

The global expansion of reverse osmosis (RO) desalination plants over the past decade has resulted in a significant accumulation of discarded membranes, which are non-biodegradable and environmentally problematic. Repurposing spent RO elements into nanofiltration (NF) or ultrafiltration (UF) membranes offers a sustainable management strategy. In this study, a used RO membrane from a small desalination unit in Hurghada was subjected to cleaning and chemical modification. Surface cleaning with hydrochloric acid (pH 2) and sodium hydroxide (pH 12) effectively removed inorganic deposits, with acid showing higher efficiency. Conversion to NF was achieved by partial degradation of the polyamide layer using oxidizing agents, including sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), and potassium permanganate (KMnO₄), applied at concentrations of 1000–7000 ppm·h. The optimum performance was obtained with 3000 ppm·h NaOCl treatment, yielding salt rejection of 92–95.4% and water fluxes of 20.1–26 L/m²·h for NaCl, MgSO₄, Na₂SO₄, and MgCl₂. Compared with the untreated membrane, flux increased nearly threefold while rejection remained comparable. Stability over 24 h confirmed NaOCl’s suitability for controlled degradation. The combined process of cleaning followed by polyamide modification provides a reliable method for recycling spent RO membranes, enhancing flux performance, and reducing their environmental footprint.

This paper explores sustainable waste management solutions by repurposing Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) bottles for 3D printing through a blend of hands-on experimentation and community-driven initiatives. This study presents a practical solution for reducing plastic waste by converting discarded PET bottles—commonly regarded as a significant environmental hazard due to their non-biodegradability—into functional 3D-printed products. The research employs a comprehensive methodology that includes all phases of the recycling process: collection, shredding, drying, extrusion, and 3D printing. In parallel, a Sustainability Mobile Lab (Sust-Lab) was established to engage the community through educational outreach and interactive demonstrations, fostering a deeper understanding of plastic recycling. Surveys indicate a notable shift in public attitudes toward sustainable waste practices, highlighting the importance of community participation in driving environmental change. The findings underscore the potential of recycled 3D printing to create a closed-loop system where PET waste is transformed into functional products, contributing to circular economy principles. This research provides valuable insights for advancing effective recycling strategies and emphasizes the role of collective action in achieving long-term sustainability goals, with implications for both academia and broader societal efforts.

Addressing the persistent challenges of pavement distress from increased traffic loads and insufficient maintenance, this study explores a dual-modifier asphalt system that combines crumb rubber derived from end-of-life tires with bio-modifiers extracted from Delonix Regia seeds. The selected modifiers provide complementary benefits: crumb rubber enhances elasticity and fatigue resistance while also contributing to sustainable tire waste management, while Delonix seed extract improves binder adhesion and structural integrity due to its porous and fibrous morphology. The investigation focuses on optimizing crumb rubber particle sizes and analysing the combined action of both modifiers on mixture performance. Key mechanical indicators such as Marshall stability, indirect tensile strength, resilient modulus, and fatigue life were evaluated. Results show that a 10% addition of 0.30 mm crumb rubber and Delonix seeds significantly increased Marshall stability by 75% and extended fatigue life by 91.38% relative to control mixture. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) revealed improved binder–aggregate bonding and uniform filler dispersion. These findings reinforce the practical potential of hybrid bio-waste asphalt technologies, demonstrating quantifiable improvements in strength and durability while reducing reliance on petroleum-based additives. Future research should include chemical interaction studies, large-scale performance validation, and optimization of treatment methods to further enhance applicability.

In the current environmental crisis, where there is an urgent need to protect natural resources, minimize carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions, and reduce microplastic pollution, this study suggests a novel approach. It recommends incorporating textured recycled microplastics, of uniform size and shape, into low-impact technologies used for rainwater management, such as permeable concretes, which will increase their environmental benefits within a circular economy. The present study evaluated the effects of partial substitution of natural coarse aggregate (0 to 9%) and gamma dose (0 to 1000 kGy) of recycled polycarbonate from electronic waste (recycled e-Polycarbonate) on the mechanical, hydraulic, physical and environmental performance of permeable concrete. The results, derived from experimental tests and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), were analysed by two Multiple Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) methods (TOPSIS and VIKOR). Both models found that the concretes that have outstanding permeability, supported by a solid porous structure, and that also have desirable attributes such as low density and low GHG emissions, are the mixtures: 9% 0 kGy, 6% 1000 kGy and 9% 500 kGy. Demonstrating that the higher percentage of recycled e-Polycarbonate (9%) analysed, improves the efficiency of the material and that it can be used both irradiated and not. These three alternatives, based on their characteristics – permeability (9–10 mm/s), compressive strength (12.5–13 MPa), porosity (19–21%), density (1680–1779 kg/m³) and GHG emissions (between 343 and 346 kgCO₂eq/m³, according to the GWP-total indicator) – focus on pedestrian applications (squares, bike lanes or sports areas) where the required permeability is 6–12 mm/s with a compressive strength between 10–15 MPa. They also meet the requirements of the ACI Committee 522 report, including the use of synthetic materials such as those that can be used to increase toughness.

The effectiveness of cement in solidifying sludge contaminated with organic matter and heavy metals is often limited. To overcome this challenge, a novel treatment method combining an ionic soil stabilizer (ISS) with vacuum preloading was developed and systematically evaluated against the conventional cement-based approach. This study assessed the water stability of solidified sludge under repeated dry–wet cycles and conducted heavy metal leaching tests to evaluate performance. Key indicators such as cumulative relative mass loss, strength degradation, unconfined compressive strength, and the exudation behavior of heavy metals were analyzed to comprehensively determine the durability and stability of the solidified sludge. Results demonstrated that the ISS–vacuum preloading technique significantly outperformed the cement–vacuum preloading method, offering improved solidification strength and reduced environmental risk. The integration of an appropriate dosage of ISS notably enhanced the mechanical integrity and long-term immobilization of heavy metals, indicating its promising application in sustainable sludge stabilization.

As sustainable agriculture becomes increasingly vital for food security and environmental conservation, understanding the factors that influence agricultural waste recycling behavior is imperative. This study examines the impact of environmental literacy, policy awareness, and environmental concerns on farmers’ willingness to recycle agricultural waste in Ghana. Building on the Stimulus-Organism-Response (SOR) model, the study adopted the partial least squares structural equation modeling to assess data from 386 farmers in Ghana. The results show that environmental literacy significantly enhances farmers’ attitudes, environmental concern, and policy awareness, which in turn shape recycling intentions. Moreover, the study revealed that attitudes have a positive influence on farmers’ recycling intentions. Attitude also played a significant mediating role between environmental literacy, policy awareness, and recycling intentions. While policy awareness did not directly influence recycling behavior, its indirect effect through attitude was significant. Additionally, environmental concern shows a strong effect on farmers’ intention to recycle. The findings highlight the pivotal role of environmental literacy in motivating pro-environmental behavior among agricultural stakeholders and offer policy recommendations to support sustainable waste management.

A large group of industrial and municipal waste are glassy in nature. One of the main directions of their use is thermal treatment, which aims to melt them (solid waste) or sinter (powdered waste). Fine grained glass cullet as well as silica fly ash was the subject of our research. During heating of glassy powders, high sintering dynamics is observed along with the accompanying glass devitrification process. Our objective in this research was to partially or entirely decouple the simultaneous occurrence of glass crystallization reaction and the sintering process during the heat treatment of glassy wastes. We divided an experiment onto two parts, first we compared the effects of thermal treatment on glass in the form of: pressed powder and a bulk glass. In the second experiment the influence of the powder sample density on the progress of glass crystallization was analysed. Results of our study indicate that physical sintering of glassy powders can lower the devitrification temperature of this material. However, physical sintering is accompanied by shrinkage, which when high density is achieved can limit the expansive growth process of grains formed during devitrification.

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