document

RFID-based material passport system in a recycled concrete circular chain

Vahidi, A. (author), Gebremariam, A.T. (author), Di Maio, F. (author), Meister, K.R. (author), Koulaeian, T. (author), Rem, P.C. (author)

The construction industry urgently requires a resilient information system for effective coordination of data transmission among various stakeholders, including both the public and private sectors. Such an advanced digital solution would not only enhance transparency along the value chain but also improve both the quality of and confidence in...

journal article 2024

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To see or not to see: The effect of observability of the recycled content on consumer adoption of products made from recycled materials

Polyportis, Athanasios (author), Mugge, R. (author), Magnier, L.B.M. (author)

Despite their environmental benefits, products made from recycled materials are not readily adopted. Prior studies focused on improving consumer adoption via product attributes and marketing elements, but the impact of product appearance remains a gap in the literature. This research contributes by investigating how observability of the recycled...

journal article 2024

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Syngas fermentation to ethanol: the effects of gas recycling on economics

Shijaz, H. (author), Gallucci, Fausto (author), Straathof, Adrie J.J. (author), Posada Duque, J.A. (author)

Syngas fermentation is a biochemical pathway to produce ethanol and has been commercialized successfully. The economic viability of this process could be further improved to become more competitive in the existing ethanol market. Improving gas utilization is the key, and can be done by recycling the unreacted syngas. This work is an early...

book chapter 2023

document

Life cycle assessment of material footprint in recycling: A case of concrete recycling

Zhang, Chunbo (author), Hu, Mingming (author), van der Meide, Marc (author), Di Maio, F. (author), Yang, Xining (author), Gao, Xiaofeng (author), Li, Kai (author), Zhao, Hailong (author), Li, Chen (author)

Meeting the current demand for concrete requires not only mining tons of gravel and sand, but also burning large amounts of fossil fuel resources in cement kilning. Consequently, concrete recycling is crucial to achieving a material-efficient society, especially with the application of various categories of concrete and the goal of phasing...

journal article 2023

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Towards neodymium recycling: Analysis of the availability and recyclability of European waste flows

van Nielen, Sander S. (author), Sprecher, B. (author), Verhagen, Teun J. (author), Kleijn, René (author)

The world is facing a growing neodymium demand, creating the need for developing a recycling system to handle future waste flows. Recycling technologies are emerging, but the recycling system around them can only be established with knowledge about available end-of-life (EoL) products. Therefore, this study quantified neodymium waste in European...

journal article 2023

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Afgedankte elektronische componenten scheiden

van Beek, M.C. (author)

Elektronica is een snel groeiende stroom van complex afval in Nederland. De huidige technieken zijn echter niet in staat om dit type afval, bekend als afgedankte elektrische en elektronische apparatuur (AEEA), te behandelen tot het niveau van ruwe materialen dat onze duurzaamheidsdoelen vereisen. Als stap op weg naar dit doel bespreken we hier...

journal article 2023

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Circularity in Practice: Review of Main Current Approaches and Strategic Propositions for an Efficient Circular Economy of Materials

Megevand, B.P.N. (author), Cao, Wen-Jun (author), Di Maio, F. (author), Rem, P.C. (author)

This paper aims to summarize, propose, and discuss existing or emerging strategies to shift towards a circular economy of materials. To clarify the landscape of existing circular practices, a new spectrum is proposed, from product-based strategies, where entire products go through several life cycles without being reprocessed, to material-based...

journal article 2022

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Mapping the flat glass value-chain: a material flow analysis and energy balance of UK production

Hartwell, Rebecca (author), Coult, Graham (author), Overend, M. (author)

Glass is one of the UK’s eight energy-intensive industries. As such, it is under scrutiny to decouple growth in production from greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Recycled glass, also known as cullet, requires less energy to melt than primary raw materials in new glass production. The use of cullet thus reduces the energy intensity per unit of...

journal article 2022

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Drivers and Barriers to the Circular Economy Transition: The Case of Recycled Plastics in the Automotive Sector in the European Union

Baldassarre, B.R. (author), Maury, Thibaut (author), Mathieux, Fabrice (author), Garbarino, Elena (author), Antonopoulos, Ioannis (author), Sala, Serenella (author)

The circular economy aims to decouple growth from environmental impacts by optimizing resource use, minimizing waste and pollution. The European Union (EU) has the ambition to lead a circular economy transition on a global level. Realizing the transition is complex, because it requires substantial and interconnected changes in the current...

journal article 2022

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Recycled carbon fibre mats for interlayer toughening of carbon fibre/epoxy composites

Quan, D. (author), Farooq, U. (author), Zhao, Guoqun (author), Dransfeld, C.A. (author), Alderliesten, R.C. (author)

Exploring routes for the effective use of recycled carbon fibres (rCFs) is critical to close the loop in the life cycle of carbon fibres. This work demonstrated a potential of using rCFs for interlayer toughening of carbon fibre/epoxy composites. Nonwoven mats based on rCFs and commingled rCFs/Polyphenylene-sulfid (PPS) fibres were used to...

journal article 2022

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Zinc Vaporization and Self-reduction Behavior of Industrial Waste Residues for Recycling to the HIsarna Furnace

Kerry, T.J. (author), Peters, A.G.A. (author), Georgakopoulos, E. (author), Dugulan, A.I. (author), Meijer, Koen (author), Hage, Johannes (author), Offerman, S.E. (author), Yang, Y. (author)

Within the steelmaking industry, a large amount of zinc-bearing waste is produced which cannot be effectively treated through integrated steel mills. Concurrently, zinc smelters generate waste residues containing significant amounts of iron and zinc which are stored or landfilled. The zinc concentration of iron and steelmaking residues...

journal article 2022

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Template-free preparation of porous Co microfibers from spent lithium-ion batteries as a promising microwave absorber

Wu, Xiao Min (author), Xie, Fei (author), Yao, Yong Lin (author), Sun, Yue (author), Hua, Zhong Sheng (author), Zhao, Zhuo (author), Yang, Y. (author)

In order to take full advantage of the secondary resources, in this paper, we reported a template-free process to prepare porous Co microfibers from spent lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). First, the waste LiCoO₂ powders were leached by oxalic acid at a suitable temperature, and rod-like cobalt oxalate powders were obtained. Second,...

journal article 2022

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Sensor-based quality inspection of secondary resources: Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy

Xia, H. (author)

The quality control of materials from waste is an important step for acceptance in new high-quality products. Given the large volumes and complexity of waste streams, this requires advanced sensor technology such as the Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) investigated in this thesis. Recyclers often rely solely on manual sorting and...

doctoral thesis 2021

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A Circular Healthcare Economy; a feasibility study to reduce surgical stainless steel waste

van Straten, Bart (author), Dankelman, J. (author), van der Eijk, A. (author), Horeman, T. (author)

The Circular Economy faces a growing interest. The aim of this study is to determine the feasibility of a circular approach towards reusing discarded hospital instruments and stainless steel waste. Secondary, this study aims to identify if any cost savings can be realized by following a circular instrument repair and recycling approach....

journal article 2021

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Economic viability of extracting high value metals from end of life vehicles

Arnold, Mona (author), Pohjalainen, Elina (author), Steger, Sören (author), Kaerger, Wolfgang (author), Welink, J.H. (author)

Electronics containing growing quantities of high value and critical metals are increasingly used in automobiles. The conventional treatment practice for end-of-life vehicles (ELV) is shredding after de-pollution and partial separation of spare parts. Despite opportunities for resource recovery, the selective separation of components...

journal article 2021

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Circular economy of façades: Real-world challenges and opportunities

Hartwell, R.C. (author), Macmillan, Sebastian (author), Overend, M. (author)

Reuse and high-value recycling have a pivotal role to play in reducing waste and minimising carbon emissions in the built environment. Design strategies for such recovery methods have yet to be fully established in the façade industry. Meanwhile, stringent regulations, aimed at reducing operational carbon emissions of buildings and improving...

journal article 2021

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Recycled Glass Mixtures as Cast Glass Components for Structural Applications, Towards Sustainability

Anagni, G.M. (author), Bristogianni, T. (author), Oikonomopoulou, F. (author), Rigone, Paolo (author), Mazzucchelli, Enrico Sergio (author)

The problem of sustainability represents one of the most important issues that the world has to face nowadays, not only in terms of energy consumption and of the consequent CO2 emissions, but also in terms of material waste streams that end in landfill. 38 million tons of glass waste are produced every year in the European Union and new targets...

conference paper 2020

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Sustainable designed pavement materials

Xiao, Yue (author), Erkens, S. (author), Li, Mingliang (author), Ma, Tao (author), Liu, X. (author)

This Special Issue "Sustainable Designed Pavement Materials" has been proposed and organized as a means to present recent developments in the field of environmentally-friendly designed pavement materials. For this reason, articles included in this special issue relate to different aspects of pavement materials, from industry solid waste...

contribution to periodical 2020

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Post Syrian-war material recovery, reuse and transformation in the Old City of Aleppo

Kousa, C. (author), Pottgiesser, U. (author)

Purpose: Eight years of civil war in Syria severely impacted the historic core of Aleppo, with about 30 percent of its buildings completely destroyed and huge amounts of debris generated. This paper proposes recovery strategies for some of the most badly damaged sites in the city through material reuse and transformation, one of the goals of...

journal article 2020

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Evaluation of rheological behaviors and anti-aging properties of recycled asphalts using low-viscosity asphalt and polymers

Ren, S. (author), Liu, X. (author), Wang, H. (author), Fan, Weiyu (author), Erkens, S. (author)

Recycling technology is widely used in the asphalt road construction due to its environmental and economic effects. Many efforts have focused on the performance restoration of aged base asphalt by adding light oil, but the possibility of recycling the aged asphalt using low-viscosity asphalt and polymers has been few explored. Therefore, the...

journal article 2020