Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management最新文献

This study focuses on the essential task of monitoring the strength of structural concrete in construction and rehabilitation projects. The conventional non-destructive testing (NDT) approach offers an indirect estimation of concrete compressive strength. However, the existing models lack the ability to address the estimation of compressive strength in concrete mixtures containing bottom ash (BA) and recycled coarse aggregate (RCA). This study aims to bridge this gap by accurately estimating the compressive strength of such concrete using the ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV) technique. To achieve this objective, various concrete specimens with different cement content, water–cement ratios (w/c), recycled coarse aggregate, and bottom ash contents through weight batching, were prepared. UPV and compressive strength measurements were taken on cylindrical concrete specimens after 28 and 90 days of curing. The analysis revealed an exponential relationship between the compressive strength and UPV, with a high correlation coefficient across the evaluated concrete mixes, independent of the curing time. Ultimately, two robust models were developed to predict the compressive strength of concrete mixes containing different percentages of RCA and BA, respectively, at 28 and 90 days of curing. These models offer valuable insights and practical tools for ensuring the structural integrity of concrete in construction and rehabilitation projects involving bottom ash and recycled coarse aggregate.

The prevalent use of lithium-ion cells in electric vehicles poses challenges as these cells rely on rare metals, their acquisition being environmentally unsafe and complex. The disposal of used batteries, if mishandled, poses a significant threat, potentially leading to ecological disasters. Managing used batteries is imperative, necessitating a viable solution. The remedy lies in implementing robust battery recycling systems. This paper explores diverse disposal methods, particularly focusing on their relevance within the automotive industry, while also acknowledging other potential applications. By adopting a closed-loop approach, this system not only addresses the waste issue but also circumvents environmental costs linked to the extraction and production of new raw materials. Consequently, it not only resolves waste concerns but also mitigates environmental strain and conserves resources. It was described the use of used batteries as energy storage devices. This is an innovative approach to extend battery life cycle, reduce waste and provide cost-effective energy storage solutions. This practice is particularly important for large-scale energy storage systems, such as those used in conjunction with renewable energy sources such as solar and wind energy. The work pays significant attention to battery thermal regimes, which refer to the various temperature conditions in which batteries operate. These systems significantly impact battery performance, lifespan, safety and efficiency. Understanding and managing these thermal regimes is critical to optimizing the use of batteries in a variety of applications, including electric vehicles, portable electronics and renewable energy storage.

Graphical Abstract

The net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions strategy aims to avoid emissions from all economic sectors by 2050. Although the reduction of GHGs has been considered an urgent issue in all industrial divisions, there are still gaps in climate change mitigation strategies and policies in other sectors, such as waste, accounting for 3–5% of GHG emissions generation which are emitted from landfills, waste transport, waste treatment processes, and incinerators (Clark et al. in Nat Clim Chang 6:360–369, 2016; Masson-Delmotte V, Zhai AP, Connors C P, S. Berger, N. Caud, Y. Chen, L. Goldfarb, M.I. Gomis, M. Huang, K. Leitzell, E. Lonnoy, J.B.R., and Matthews TKM, T. Waterfield, O. Yelekçi, R. Yu, and B. Zhou (eds) (2021) Climate Change 2021: the physical science basis. editor, contribution of working group I to the sixth assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change;). Waste management is a worldwide issue related to the circular economy. The share of the waste sector in the UK for GHG emissions generation is 3.7% in 2021, and landfills are responsible for 70% of the emissions (Rogelj et al. in Nat Clim Chang 591:365–368, 2021). Therefore, a new approach to waste management and disposal strategies is crucial. This paper reviews the key elements and challenges involved in waste management systems, specifically in the UK, including policy and legislation, infrastructure, and technological advancements. The review offers a clear summary of the application of circularity waste management strategies, focusing on the UK’s goal to achieve the net-zero target. This review found that to reach the sustainable development goals (SDGs) and 2050 net-zero goals, the existing waste management hierarchy is no longer appropriate for the global and national setting. The metrics in waste management in the context of the circular economy should be aligned with the optimization of using resources, waste minimization, and increasing product life cycle by considering environmental impacts. Therefore, the circular model can be deployed instead of the hierarchy concepts.

Graphical abstract

In this study, kitchen waste which is otherwise discarded or allowed to putrefy and pose environmental discomfort is co-composted with biochar to assess the effects of the biochar on the composting of kitchen waste as well as the quality of the final compost. To achieve this, biochar was composted with kitchen waste (w/w) in ratios of 10%, 20%, 30%, and 40% to determine its effect on composting process and the final compost product compared to cow dung-fortified kitchen waste as a control. Results indicate that pH and EC were not affected by biochar content during composting; however, biochar content had a profound effect on the attainment of thermophilic temperatures during composting, nitrification and other maturity/stability indexes such as germination index (GI), humification index (HI), degree of polymerization (DP) and HA/FA ratio. In effect, higher biochar content (more than 10% biochar/feedstock ratio) favored faster humification, higher available P and S content.

Milk-based products are essential to the human diet, with India contributing 23% of global milk production. Dairy industries generate large amounts of waste, including solid and liquid waste, which are treated using wetland, biological, and physico-chemical methods. In India, dairy sludge is effectively managed by converting it into fertilizers. If industrial solid and liquid dairy waste is not managed correctly, it will increase pollution and harm biodiversity. If the sludge is properly managed, there is potential to transform it into various value-added products, including biofuels, biomass, biofertilizers, bricks, struvite, fertilizer, etc. Consequently, this technical review’s focal topic includes information on dairy operations’ wastewater treatment methods, the viability of microalgal cultures in wastewater, dairy sludge management, the range of biological product recovery, and its impact on the environment.

Graphical Abstract

Despite COVID-19, the world economy still contributes to the growth of production and consumption worldwide. Waste disposal, recycling management and energy generation are challenges for many companies in developing economies, including Poland. This article aims to assess the operation of a municipal waste treatment plant (MWTP) from the perspective of green business process management (BMP) solutions. The processes implemented in the MWTP were discussed, with specific consideration of the mechanical waste processing (sorting) process, including the reuse and recycling of materials, composting, energy production (anaerobic process), landfill storage and efficiency parameters of the sorting line. A sustainable waste management system was identified; the cost as well as social and environmental perspectives were analyzed. Also, strategic goals and key performance indicators were considered. The performed analysis included costs, environmental criteria and key environmental indicators. This paper has shown the successful implementation of green BPM, with potential cost and material savings results. The findings of this case study are expected to inspire other waste management companies to adopt green BPM. The presented case study might help raise awareness and promote the implementation of green BPM in municipal plants in Eastern and Southern Europe.

In the Korean cement industry, cement is not produced using fossil fuel such as bituminous coal alone but rather using combustible waste as an auxiliary fuel. The standards for using alternative fuel in cement processes are specified in the “Waste Management Laws.” However, an analysis process has not been clearly defined, which hinders the development of appropriate standard operating procedures (SOPs) required to objectively evaluate the use of waste as an alternative fuel for cement production. This study proposed clear SOPs to expand the utilization of alternative fuels in cement production, and these procedures were derived by selecting appropriate analysis methods and standards. The thermal, environmental, and quality characteristics of non-recyclable wastes and cement samples treated based on the SOPs were critically examined. Non-recyclable wastes showed a higher calorific value (7010 kcal/kg) and lower chlorine content (0.08 wt.%) compared to bituminous coal, and the cement analysis indicated that the characteristics did not change based on the type of fuel used. Nonrecyclable waste is appropriate for application if processed with a fuel manufacturing system. These findings provide procedural guidelines to promote the use of combustible waste as auxiliary fuels in the cement industry.

Biochar physicochemical properties vary greatly depending on the origin of the residues. The present study contributes to leveling the scientific gap on biochar properties. We produced and characterized the chemistry of 8 biochars from agricultural crop residues (corncobs, bean straws, cocoa pod husks, coconut shells, palm kernel shells, palm mesocarp fibers, rice husks, and cassava peels), for assessing their suitability as organic amendments, and their potential to sequester carbon dioxide in the soil. Bean straws and cocoa pod husks exhibited higher total nitrogen and phosphorus, exchangeable bases, and electrical conductivity. Ash content was highest in biochar from rice husks (43.8%). Coconut shells and corncobs had the highest total carbon concentration of 77.4% and 75.6%, respectively. Coconut shells exhibited the greatest carbon dioxide reduction potential (374.6) among all studied biochars. According to the International Biochar Initiative (IBI) standard, heavy metal concentrations were low in all tested biochar. Therefore, biochars from bean straw and cocoa pod husks were the most promising as agricultural amendments and biochar from coconut shells had the best carbon dioxide reduction potential. The advantages highlighted by this chemical characterization should be tested in field soils for validation.

This study presents the first life cycle assessment for the municipal solid waste management system of Samsun, the largest city in the Black Sea region in Turkey (about 1 million people). Its importance is that it proposes to identify the environmental impacts and improvements for the waste management system planned to be implemented by 2023 and the separate collection at source system to be adopted in the future, within the scope of the zero waste policy. Six scenarios were compared using LCA to highlight the potential impacts from transportation. Data were collected from Samsun landfill, Ecoinvent 3 database, regional data collected with the industrial partner and literatures from scientific articles. Life cycle impact analysis was evaluated with the environmental footprint (EF) 3.0 method. In this study, it is reported that environmental impacts are sensitive to transport emissions and the recycling rate of virgin materials. According to the results, the Scenario S3 without the material recovery facility system was approved as the worst final disposal alternative. In contrast, the Scenario S5, which supports the separation of recyclable and organic wastes at the source, showed the most environmentally friendly performance. This research contributes to improving Samsun’s current municipal solid waste management (MSWM) system and policies for sustainable development.

The issue of marine plastic contamination has been raising concern for a long time. Despite the difficulties Vietnam faces, there are relatively few studies related to the assessment of potential leaked plastic sources into the marine environment. A large amount of marine debris was predicted to come from land-based plastic waste sources in coastal areas with high population densities. This research provides the data on the amount of daily generated plastic waste, behaviors and perception on plastic waste in riverside and coastal households in Da Nang City, Vietnam. The results indicate that the waste generation rate was 311.1 g/cap/day of which plastic waste accounted for 18%. Plastic bags were frequently used and discarded at the highest rate due to its convenience and accessibility. Meanwhile, the rate for plastic bags separation is relatively low (36.1%). Single-use plastic for food stuffs and beverage is also a problem with highly frequent use. Instead, the rate of willingness to participate in reducing plastic bags usage is quite positive (approximately 70%). To address these challenges, this study discusses on the policies and emphasises the importance of campaigns to minimise the consumption of single-use plastic at source, the education and outreach programs to modify disposal habits, etc.