Topic Review
Recycling and Use of Plastic Waste
Research into plastic recycling is rapidly increasing as ocean and land pollution and ecosystem degradation from plastic waste is becoming a serious concern. In this study, we conducted a systematic review on emerging research topics, which were selected from 35,519 studies on plastic recycling by bibliometrics analysis. Our results show that research on the biodegradability of plastics, bioplastics, life cycle assessment, recycling of electrical and electronic equipment waste, and the use of recycled plastics in construction has increased rapidly in recent years, particularly since 2016. Especially, biodegradability is the most emerging topic with the average year of publication being 2018. Our key finding is that many research area is led by developed countries, while the use of recycled plastics in the construction sector is being actively explored in developing countries. Based on our results, we discuss two types of recycling systems: responsible recycling in the country where plastic waste is generated and promoting recycling through the international division of labor between developed and developing countries. We discuss the advantages and disadvantages of both approaches and propose necessary measures for sustainable and responsible production and consumption of plastics such as waste traceability system and technology transfer between developed and developing countries.    
  • 677
  • 03 Jan 2023
Topic Review
Recycled Silicon and Silicon-Based Thermoelectrics for Power Generation
Silicon is the second most earth-abundant element in the earth’s crust, and the most abundant element used in modern-day technologies. Its popularity partially stems from the nontoxic and relatively unreactive nature of derivatives, such as silica and silicates, at room temperature. Consequently, the sheer volume of silicon being used has accelerated the rate of production of waste materials.
  • 403
  • 11 Mar 2022
Topic Review
Recyclability of Abandoned Fishing Net-Based Plastic Debris
 Plastics in marine environments undergo molecular degradation via biocatalytic and photocatalytic mechanisms. Abandoned, lost, or discarded fishing gear (ALDFG) damages marine and coastal environments as well as plant and animal species. There is a need for a new and rapid “multidimensional molecular characterization” technology to quantify, at a batch level, the extent of photocatalytic or biocatalytic degradation experienced on each recovered fishing net, comprising molecular weight alteration, chemical functional group polydispersity and contaminant presence. Rapid multidimensional molecular characterization enables optimized conventional material mixing of recovered fishing nets. In this way, economically attractive social return schemes can be introduced for used fishing nets, providing an economic incentive for fishers to return conventional fishing nets for recycling.
  • 355
  • 08 Sep 2022
Topic Review
Recrystallization
In chemistry, recrystallization is a technique used to purify chemicals. By dissolving both impurities and a compound in an appropriate solvent, either the desired compound or impurities can be removed from the solution, leaving the other behind. It is named for the crystals often formed when the compound precipitates out. Alternatively, recrystallization can refer to the natural growth of larger ice crystals at the expense of smaller ones.
  • 1.2K
  • 14 Oct 2022
Topic Review
Recovery of Waste-Printed Circuit Boards Non-Metallic Components
The reutilization non-metallic components from a waste-printed circuit board (WPCB) has become one of the most significant bottlenecks in the comprehensive reuse of electronic wastes due to its low value and complex compositions, and it has received great attention from scientific and industrial researchers. To effectively address the environmental pollution caused by inappropriate recycling methods, such as incineration and landfill, extensive efforts have been dedicated to achieving the high value-added reutilization of WPCB non-metals in sustainable polymer composites.
  • 187
  • 11 Sep 2023
Topic Review
Recovery of Phosphorus and Metals from Waste Ashes
Sewage sludge ash (SSA) is a rich source of P, while municipal solid waste incineration fly or bottom ashes (MSWI-FA, MWSI-BA) are rich in metals, especially Zn, Pb, and Cu.
  • 139
  • 24 Nov 2023
Topic Review
Recovery of Bioactive from Food Waste
Biowastes, especially food wastes, contain bioactive compounds that are suitable for producing functional foods, supplements, and nutricosmetics. Vegetables and fruits have primary metabolites (e.g., amino acids, lipids, dietary fibers, cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, and fatty acids), and secondary metabolites (e.g., flavonoids, phenols, alkaloids, glucosinolates, carotenoids, and terpenes). The extraction of bioactive compounds from biowastes depends on the source, functionality, chemical properties, and end-use. Various temperatures, pH values, electromagnetic waves, and extraction techniques are used (e.g., supercritical fluid, subcritical water, ultrasonic wave, microwave, and pulsed electric field).
  • 703
  • 29 Mar 2022
Topic Review
Recovery Copper Using CSP
On the one hand, copper slag is nowadays a waste in copper pyrometallurgy despite the significant quantities of iron (>40 wt. %) and copper (1 to 2 wt. %). On the other hand, solar energy, when properly concentrated, offers great potential in high-temperature processes. Therefore, concentrated solar power (CSP) could be used in the treatment of copper slag to transform fayalite into magnetite and copper sulfides and oxides into copper nodules. This is the objective of this paper. The results show that fayalite was partially decomposed into magnetite and silica. Moreover, copper nodules (65–85 wt. % Cu) were identified in the treated samples, while the initial slag, analyzed by X-ray diffraction, X-ray fluorescence, and SEM-EDX, did not show the presence of metallic copper. Finally, the treated copper slag was crushed and grinded down to 40 μm, and two fractions were obtained by magnetic separation. The magnetic fraction (85%) was mainly comprised of magnetite, while the non-magnetic fraction (15%) had 5–10 wt. % Cu. Considering the experimental results, 7.5–18 kg Cu/t slag might be recovered from the slag. A preliminary economic analysis, considering the current copper price, indicates that only the recovery of copper could represent a significant economic benefit (>30 €/t slag). Therefore, CSP might be a potential candidate for the treatment of copper slag to recover copper and iron.
  • 727
  • 23 Jul 2021
Topic Review
Reconstituted High-Density Lipoprotein Nanoparticles
Epidemiological results revealed that there is an inverse correlation between high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels and risks of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Mounting evidence supports that HDLs are atheroprotective, therefore, many therapeutic approaches have been developed to increase HDL cholesterol (HDL-C) levels. Nevertheless, HDL-raising therapies, such as cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) inhibitors, failed to ameliorate cardiovascular outcomes in clinical trials, thereby casting doubt on the treatment of cardiovascular disease (CVD) by increasing HDL-C levels. Therefore, HDL-targeted interventional studies were shifted to increasing the number of HDL particles capable of promoting ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1)-mediated cholesterol efflux. One such approach was the development of reconstituted HDL (rHDL) particles that promote ABCA1-mediated cholesterol efflux from lipid-enriched macrophages. Here, we explore the manipulation of rHDL nanoparticles as a strategy for the treatment of CVD. In addition, we discuss technological capabilities and the challenge of relating preclinical in vivo mice research to clinical studies. Finally, by drawing lessons from developing rHDL nanoparticles, we also incorporate the viabilities and advantages of the development of a molecular imaging probe with HDL nanoparticles when applied to ASCVD, as well as gaps in technology and knowledge required for putting the HDL-targeted therapeutics into full gear.
  • 701
  • 01 Nov 2020
Topic Review
Reconfigurable and Programmable Metamaterials
As an emerging research product in the 21st century, or a new type of artificial composite functional material, metamaterials are subwavelength artificial composite structural materials, whose unit size is generally less than half of the working wavelength.
  • 1.6K
  • 08 Sep 2021
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