Browse Topic: Recycling
Researchers have used inkjet printing to create a compact multispectral version of a light field camera. The camera, which fits in the palm of the hand, could be useful for many applications including autonomous driving, classification of recycled materials and remote sensing
NASA Kennedy Space Center has developed a water remediation treatment system that utilizes an affordable media that is highly selective for ammonia, allowing large concentrations of ammonia in wastewater to be reduced to levels less than 1 ppm. Following treatment, the media is regenerated for reuse in the system and ammonia is captured as a by-product
Unlike glass, which is infinitely recyclable, plastic recycling is challenging and expensive because of the material’s complex molecular structure designed for specific needs. New research from the lab of Giannis Mpoumpakis, Associate Professor of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering at the University of Pittsburgh, focuses on optimizing a promising technology called pyrolysis, which can chemically recycle waste plastics into more valuable chemicals
Used lithium-ion batteries from cell phones, laptops, and a growing number of electric vehicles are piling up, but options for recycling them remain limited mostly to burning or chemically dissolving shredded batteries. The current state of the art methods can pose environmental challenges and be difficult to make economical at the industrial scale
A global team of researchers and industry collaborators led by RMIT University has invented recyclable ’water batteries’ that won’t catch fire or explode
Recycling of advanced composites made from carbon fibers in epoxy resins is required for two primary reasons. First, the energy necessary to produce carbon fibers is very high and therefore reusing these fibers could greatly reduce the lifecycle energy of components which use them. Second, if the material is allowed to break down in the environment, it will contribute to the growing presence of microplastics and other synthetic pollutants. Currently, recycling and safe methods of disposal typically do not aim for full circularity, but rather separate fibers for successive downcycling while combusting the matrix in a clean burning process. Breakdown of the matrix, without damaging the carbon fibers, can be achieved by pyrolysis, fluidized bed processes, or chemical solvolysis. The major challenge is to align fibers into unidirectional tows of real value in high-performance composites
Researchers at Kennedy Space Center have developed a technology that generates plasma activated water in pH ranges that allow for the addition of nitrates and other nutrients to the water while maintaining a healthy pH for plants. A plasma torch is used to treat inedible biomass, generating ash containing nutrients useful for plant growth. The same plasma torch is also used to treat water, which results in the formation of nitric acid that lowers the pH of the water
The world is on a “take-make-waste,” linear-growth economic trajectory where products are bought, used, and then discarded in direct progression with little to no consideration for recycling or reuse. This unsustainable path now requires an urgent call to action for all sectors in the global society: circularity is a must to restore the health of the planet and people. However, carbon-rich textile waste could potentially become a next-generation feedstock, and the mobility sector has the capacity to mobilize ecologically minded designs, supply chains, financing mechanisms, consumer education, cross-sector activation, and more to capitalize on this “new source of carbon.” Activating textile circularity will be one of the biggest business opportunities to drive top- and bottom-line growth for the mobility industry. Textile Circularity and the Sustainability Model of New Mobility provides context and insights on why textiles—a term that not only includes plant-based and animal-based
Developed by a team led by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, a self-assembling nanosheet could significantly extend the shelf life of consumer products. And because the new material is recyclable, it could also enable a sustainable manufacturing approach that keeps single-use packaging and electronics out of landfills
Epoxy polymers are widely used in various industries, e.g., as coatings, adhesives, and for lightweight construction due to their unique properties such as high strength, chemical resistance, and adhesion to various surfaces. Therefore, one of the most prominent applications is their use as matrix material in fiber-reinforced composites, which are heavily employed in the aerospace sector. However, the disposal of epoxy polymers and composites thereof has become a significant concern due to their recalcitrant nature and the adverse environmental effects caused by traditional recycling methods
The efficient and economical recycling of EV batteries is not just possible, but inevitable, said a panel of battery-recycling experts at the 2023 Battery Show North America in Novi, Mich. Panelists indicated that although the business model is evolving and is likely to remain comparatively fluid for the near term, the sector's broad directionals are firming and at least a few aspects of the business have become certain - one being that EV batteries ending up in landfills “absolutely will not happen,” asserted Renata Arsenault, Technical Expert for Advanced Battery Recycling at Ford. Equally important, established recycling companies and startups understand that the EV battery recycling environment will be diverse and require a variety of players at various points and places in the recycling process, said Mike O'Kronley, CEO of Ascend Elements, a startup with a proprietary process focused on recycling material specifically for lithium-ion battery cathodes. He said there will be
Drawing inspiration from how spiders spin silk to make webs, a team of researchers from the National University of Singapore, together with international collaborators, has developed an innovative method of producing soft fibers that possess three key properties (strong, stretchable, and electrically conductive), and at the same time can be easily reused to produce new fibers
Recycling and reusing battery materials is a top priority for Honda as the vehicle maker targets 100% of its global automotive sales being electrified vehicles by 2040. Honda says this is the year when sustainability solutions for its future EV business establish a firm foothold. “This includes beginning to build up an infrastructure for EV battery recycling and reuse in preparation for the eventual end-of-life for [electrified] vehicles and their batteries,” Phil Cozad, North American lithium-ion battery recycling leader for Honda Development & Manufacturing America LLC, told SAE Media. Earlier this year, Honda inked agreements with two battery recycling companies, Cirba Solutions and Ascend Elements. “These agreements with battery recycling companies are well-timed, as the Honda electrification strategy we announced two years ago is now well underway, starting with accelerating our sales of hybrid-electric vehicles as we work toward our transition to 100% electrified BEVs and FCEVs
In significant industrial segments across the globe, there continues to be major investment in large-scale equipment that incorporates heavy-duty material movement and handling systems. In mining applications such as bucket wheel excavators and conveyors, to metal shredders in recycling operations, as well as winch systems and drilling equipment in offshore applications, powerful low-speed drives that can deliver high torque and reliably function in rugged demanding environments are in high demand
Rapid socio-economic development and technological advancement has made the hazardous chemical components of end-of-life electronics waste (e-waste) an imminent challenge. Conventional extraction methods rely on energy-intensive processes and are inefficient when applied to recycling e-waste or waste streams that contain mixed materials and small amounts of metals. NASA Ames Research Center has developed an inexpensive biological approach to removing or adsorbing a target substance or material, for example a metal, non-metal toxin, dye, or small molecule drug, from solution
Researchers have developed a low-cost device that can selectively capture carbon dioxide gas while it charges. Then, when it discharges, the carbon dioxide (CO2) can be released in a controlled way and collected to be reused or disposed of responsibly
In today’s world, many consumers are demanding that brands and corporations become more sustainable and make a dedicated effort to reduce their carbon footprint. This has led companies to show how they are helping the planet by setting environmental, social, and governance (ESG) goals, such as achieving zero-waste, lowering their carbon footprint, and switching to more sustainable, recyclable products. In many industries, such as consumer packaged goods, there are a variety of companies and options, allowing consumers to make a conscious decision to switch to more recyclable or eco-friendly alternatives. So, companies that are not making moves to become more sustainable will likely be at a competitive disadvantage in the future
Many technical processes only use part of the energy consumed. The remaining fraction leaves the system in the form of waste heat. Frequently, this heat is released into the environment unused; however, it can also be used for heat supply or power generation. The higher the temperature of the waste heat, the easier and cheaper it is to reuse
Decarbonizing transportation is key for meeting U.S. greenhouse gas reduction targets because moving people and goods is the largest direct source of climate-altering emissions. Consequently, analysts predict a coming surge in electric vehicle sales
As centralization of automotive E/E (Electrical and/or Electronic) architectures becomes reality for future vehicles, it is crucial that existing assets be reused in the most efficient and effective manner. We report on our experience developing a new centralized E/E architecture for a propulsion domain, and migrating the corresponding propulsion elements of an existing decentralized, CAN-based architecture to a prototype of the centralized propulsion domain. Our migration adopts automotive Ethernet and supporting standards as a next-generation communications backbone technology; a next-generation computation platform from automotive supplier NXP; and a new automotive virtualization solution from OpenSynergy. We discuss aspects of legacy software reuse and adaptation; modification of vehicle HiL simulation models used in testing; existing vendor tool support; and implications arising from functional safety and the ISO 26262 standard
Researchers have developed a method that converts cotton into sugar that in turn can be turned into spandex, nylon, or ethanol
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