Single-shot LIBS spectral quality for waste particles in open air

This work investigates the ability of LIBS to produce quality spectra from small particles of concrete demolition waste using single-shot spectra collected in open air. The 2–8?mm materials are rounded river gravel, green glass shards, and plastic flakes. Considered are focal length, air, moisture, laser energy, and laser incidence angle (LIA)....

Hot Mix Asphalt Recycling: Practices and Principles

Hot mix asphalt recycling has become common practice all over the world since the 1970s because of the crisis in oil prices. In the Netherlands, hot recycling has advanced to such an extent that in most of the mixtures more than 50% of reclaimed asphalt (RA) is allowed. These mixtures with such a high RA content are produced in a batch plant to...

Effect of using of reclaimed asphalt and/or lower temperature asphalt on the availability of the road network

There is a need for a method for assessing the results from changes in the potential durability of road materials due to the inclusion of reclaimed and secondary component materials in the manufacture of new road materials. Such changes will have an effect on the cost of the construction maintenance, both financially to the client and...

Magnetic Density Separation of Polyolefin Wastes

Polymer recycling has significantly positive impacts on the environment, economics and society. Using recycled polymer to replace virgins reduces the growing amount of post-consumer polymer wastes, decreases the demand for fossil fuel and creates local jobs. As the most used polymer types, polyolefins certainly have attracted attention of...

Effect of using of reclaimed asphalt and/or lower temperature asphalt on the availability of the road network

There is a need for a method for assessing the results from changes in the potential durability of road materials due to the inclusion of reclaimed and secondary component materials in the manufacture of new road materials. Such changes will have an effect on the cost of the construction maintenance, both financially to the client and...

A mechanical process for in situ recycling of eol concrete

Purification of post-consumer steel crap

Post-consumer steel scrap is often hand picked for contaminants such as copper to meet specifications of steelmakers. If the hand sorting capacity exceeds 20 tons scrap/h the efficiency generally becomes problematic, leaving 50% of the copper contaminants in the steel product. In response, new technologies are emerging that facilitate hand...

Magnetic fluid equipment for sorting of secondary polyolefins from waste

The paper presents the researches made on the FP7 project „Magnetic Sorting and Ultrasound Sensor Technologies for Production of High Purity Secondary Polyolefins from Waste” in order to develop a magnetic fluid equipment for sorting of polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE) from polymers mixed waste streams. Because both PP and PE float in...

Recycling of WEEE by magnetic density separation

The paper introduces a new recycling method of WEEE: Magnetic Density Separation. By using this technology, both grade and recovery rate of recycled products are over 90%. Good separations are not only observed in relatively big WEEE samples, but also in samples with smaller sizes or electrical wires.

Modelling the life-cycle of sustainable, living buildings

Credit-reductions by banks, as a consequence of the global monetary crisis, will hit the construction industry for many years to come. There are however still financing opportunities for building projects that are perceived as less risky. Buildings that are not only sustainable, but also flexible and adaptive, are becoming attractive...

The ecology of metals

Quality improvement of granular secondary raw building materials by separation and cleansing techniques

Contaminated granular wastes are potentially reusable because they have similar physical and chemical properties as primary raw building materials. From environmental aspects, the reuse must not result in polluting the soil, groundwater and surface water. Therefore the leaching values of inorganic components such as heavy metals and the...

Closing the clay brick cycle