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Item type:Publication, Access status: with files , A strategic methodological roadmap for designing circular economy data systems: from integrated architecture to indicator prioritization(Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI), 2026-06-09); ; ; ; Despite growing global interest in Circular Economy (CE) strategies, developing reliable and scalable CE data systems remains challenging, due to methodological gaps. These include the absence of stepwise planning frameworks, lack of integrated cross-sectoral data architectures, and inadequate mechanisms for indicator prioritization. This theoretical and conceptual study introduces a comprehensive three-layered methodological framework, TRIADS (<i>Three-layer Integrated Architecture for Decision-Support in Circular Systems</i>), to support the strategic design, operational structure, and adaptive evaluation of CE data systems. Layer 1 defines a Strategic Roadmap involving planning, stakeholder engagement, and iterative system development. Layer 2 establishes an Integrated Data Architecture that enables data acquisition, storage, interoperability, and delivery in compliance with privacy regulations. Layer 3 focuses on CE Indicator Development using structured literature mining, and Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA), along with AI-assisted ranking techniques. The proposed roadmap, TRIADS, was systematically compared against 13 existing CE frameworks using 20 evaluation criteria derived through literature review and text mining analysis. TRIADS appears to address most evaluation criteria compared to existing frameworks. Key findings indicate that current CE frameworks suffer gaps in advanced implementation capabilities, which TRIADS successfully addresses. TRIADS provides practitioners with standardized protocols for CE system design, reducing implementation time and enabling cross-sector benchmarking through unified metrics. By embedding stakeholder feedback and contextual adaptation, this unified framework enables evidence-based CE strategy implementation within diverse operational environments. While this theoretical study focuses on framework development rather than empirical cases, inclusive evaluation suggests practical implementation potential, pending empirical validation.Publicationtype: Journal Article50 13 - Some of the metrics are blocked by yourconsent settings
Item type:Publication, Access status: with files , Environmental assessment of reusable plastic packaging systems: a systematic review of LCA research across industrial sectorsThis paper presents a systematic review of life cycle assessment (LCA) studies evaluating the environmental performance of reusable plastic packaging compared with single-use alternatives. A structured search in Web of Science and Scopus identified 245 publications from 2000 to 2025, of which 55 met relevance, quality, and transparency criteria. These were grouped into original LCA studies and LCA review papers to support an unbiased assessment, and then analyzed to identify key application areas, methodological trends, and factors influencing environmental outcomes. The review shows that polypropylene (PP), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) are the most commonly assessed polymers in reusable systems. Although reusable packaging has been studied across several sectors, notable gaps persist in cosmetics, beverages, and delivery applications. In contrast, studies on food and fresh produce generally report environmental benefits when sufficient reuse cycles are applied. However, the comparability of existing findings is constrained by methodological inconsistencies, including narrow selections of impact categories, inconsistent end-of-life (EOL) modelling methodology, and omission of important life cycle stages such as backhaul transport and secondary packaging. Two parameters emerge as central to determining the environmental performance of reusable packaging systems: the number of reuse cycles and the configuration of reconditioning activities, including washing, refilling, and return logistics. Reported reuse cycle assumptions vary widely across studies, highlighting the need for more realistic and application-specific definitions. Overall, the review underscores the potential environmental benefits of reusable plastic packaging while emphasizing the need for more consistent methodological choices to support reliable and comparable LCA outcomes.Publicationtype: Review Article50 37 - Some of the metrics are blocked by yourconsent settings
Item type:Publication, Access status: with files , Catalytic pyrolysis of Açaí (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) seeds: circular economy for agro-industrial waste-to-energy in the Amazon(Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute, 2026-05-21); ; ; This study aims to systematically investigate the combined effect of chemical activation of açaí seeds (<i>Euterpe oleracea</i> Mart.), with an aqueous sodium hydroxide (NaOH) solution at 2 mol·L<sup>−1</sup>, and process temperature by pyrolysis of alkaline activated açaí seeds on the yield of reaction products (bio-oil, gas, H<sub>2</sub>O, and biochar), physicochemical properties (acid value, density, and kinematic viscosity) and chemical composition (hydrocarbons and oxygenates) of bio-oil. Catalytic pyrolysis was carried out in a 143 L reactor at temperatures of 350 °C, 400 °C, and 450 °C, 1.0 atmosphere, operating in batch mode. The NaOH activation played a crucial role in modifying the thermal degradation pathway of the biomass, promoting the formation of specific chemical structures and altering the product yields. NaOH acted as a catalyst, enhancing the deoxygenation of the biomass and stimulating the formation of hydrocarbons. As a result, the yields of bio-oil, water, biochar, and gas varied from 5.77 to 7.20% (by mass), 14.90 to 19.77% (by mass), 41 to 54% (by mass), and 25.33 to 32.03%, respectively, influenced by the increase in temperature. FT-IR analyses indicated the presence of characteristic chemical functions of hydrocarbons (alkanes, alkenes, and aromatics) and oxygenated compounds (phenols, cresols, ketones, esters, carboxylic acids, aldehydes, and furans), with an intensification of hydrocarbon signals at higher temperatures. GC-MS analysis identified hydrocarbons and oxygenated compounds as the main chemical classes in the bio-oil, showing a strong dependence on pyrolysis temperature. It was observed that hydrocarbon concentration in bio-oil increased from 49.7% to 57.88% (area) with increasing temperature, while the concentration of oxygenated compounds decreased from 13.88% to 6.69% (area), demonstrating that NaOH activation, combined with temperature elevation, favors the formation of hydrocarbons and the reduction of oxygenated compounds, thereby improving the quality of the produced bio-oil.Publicationtype: Journal Article29 12 - Some of the metrics are blocked by yourconsent settings
Item type:Publication, Access status: with files , Scaling lithium-ion battery recycling: systemic failures, innovation pathways, and policy imperativesThe global lithium-ion battery market is projected to exceed by 2030, highlighting the need for scalable and sustainable solutions to address the anticipated rise in end-of-life batteries. Traditional recycling techniques exhibit systemic inefficiencies marked by high energy requirements, considerable greenhouse gas emissions, and restricted economic feasibility, especially for low-value materials such as lithium iron phosphate. This review analyzes the limitations and presents direct regeneration as a feasible solution, providing enhanced economic and environmental results. Direct regeneration consumes only 16% of the energy and generates merely 1.34% of greenhouse gas emissions compared to Hydrometallurgy, while achieving nearly double the profit of conventional methods. To realize its full potential, the sector must tackle the “black mass bottleneck” by establishing a quality-based routing framework, exemplified by the Black Mass Quality Index, which channels high-purity feedstocks towards value-maximizing Direct regeneration pathways. The EU Batteries Regulation promotes this transition through the establishment of mandatory targets for recycled content and carbon footprint thresholds. Achieving true circularity requires an integrated smart recycling ecosystem that includes the Digital Battery Passport, AI-assisted disassembly, and advanced Direct regeneration technologies. The implementation of enhanced circularity metrics, such as EVDP and CTI-LCIA, is advocated to assess and promote the resource efficiency of cathode-to-cathode recycling.Publicationtype: Review Article43 21 - Some of the metrics are blocked by yourconsent settings
Item type:Publication, Access status: without files , Recovery of fluoride toward sustainable integrated circuit manufacturing: quantifying water–energy–carbon–fluorine footprints in ChinaIntegrated circuit (IC) industry in the world faces unprecedented environmental challenges like carbon neutrality, and China is serving as a critical manufacturing hub in this global supply chain. However, fluorinated chemicals used in IC manufacturing and discharged to wastewater systems remain underexamined in environmental assessments. This study integrates life cycle assessment, material flow analysis, PROMETHEE II, and support vector machine-based Sobol analysis to evaluate water, energy, carbon, and fluorine (WECF) footprints across IC manufacturing, fluorine-containing wastewater double membrane treatment, and sludge recycling in a representative Chinese IC plant. The results showed that chemical vapor deposition accounted for the highest energy consumption and contributed over 30% of greenhouse gas emissions, primarily due to the intensive energy required for managing fluorinated chemicals. Although most fluorine enters the wastewater system, sludge recycling serves as a highly effective pathway for recovery of approximately 32% of the total fluorine. Moreover, sludge recycling and double membrane treatment showed better WECF footprint performance than manufacturing processes. Furthermore, fluorinated chemicals and energy consumption emerged as the most interactive inputs, which demonstrates that the mitigation of fluorine would significantly increase the energy and carbon footprints. Scenario analysis showed that substituting fluorinated chemical inputs and optimizing steam use could cut fluorine and carbon footprint by up to 65% and 30%, respectively. These findings indicate that achieving sustainable IC manufacturing requires a transition from isolated energy efficiency measures to comprehensive management of WECF nexus, alongside the development of low-fluorine manufacturing alternatives.Publicationtype: Journal Article41 - Some of the metrics are blocked by yourconsent settings
Item type:Publication, Access status: without files , Proteins and peptides(Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC), 2025-12-19); ; Marine-derived proteins and peptides represent a unique resource with exceptional nutritional, functional, and bioactive properties. This chapter explores the diverse sources of marine proteins, including fish, molluscs, crustaceans, algae, and microorganisms, and highlights their structural and compositional characteristics. The bioactive potential of marine peptides, including antioxidant, antimicrobial, antihypertensive, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer properties, is discussed alongside their industrial applications in food, nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals, and biomaterials. Furthermore, this chapter reviews common and novel extraction and purification techniques that enhance the recovery and functionality of marine-derived proteins and peptides. Future directions for research and development should focus on optimising bioavailability, enhancing bioactivity, and expanding industrial applications. By leveraging innovative technologies and sustainable practices, marine-derived proteins and peptides have great potential for addressing global challenges in nutrition, health, and sustainability.Publicationtype: Book Part15 - Some of the metrics are blocked by yourconsent settings
Item type:Publication, Access status: with files , Recycled concrete aggregate in self-consolidating concrete: a systematic review and meta-analysis of mechanical properties, RCA pre-treatment and durability behaviour(Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI), 2025-11-26); This systematic review and meta-analysis per PRISMA 2020 addresses the use of recycled concrete aggregates as a replacement for aggregates in self-consolidating concrete for structural and non-structural use. It provides a comprehensive evaluation of the available research and offers a synthesised overview of the potential use of recycled concrete aggregate in self-consolidating concrete beyond standardised replacement levels. A total of 256 research papers were obtained from different databases, and after a detailed content review, only 24 unique experimental research studies fulfilled the review criteria. Data were extracted on recycled concrete aggregate source, pre-treatment, replacement ratio, mix proportions, fresh properties, strength, stiffness, and durability. It was observed across all studies that the recycled concrete aggregates originated from precast concrete rejected elements with a low water-to-cement ratio, producing an equal or stronger concrete than the reference concrete in the studies; however, none of the studies included in this research resulted in a higher modulus of elasticity than the corresponding reference concrete. Additionally, moderate aggregate replacement (20–50%) preserved the workability, whereas high replacements (75–100%) affected fresh concrete properties as well as increased shrinkage and creep. The inclusion of fine recycled concrete aggregate in addition to coarse recycled concrete aggregate has a larger effect on lowering compressive strength and stiffness in the concrete. Overall, high-quality coarse recycled concrete aggregate (precast rejects or screened demolition waste)—an aggregate replacement level of around 50%—facilitates the production of sustainable self-consolidating concrete, whereas full replacement requires aggregate pre-treatment and a carefully optimised mix design.Publicationtype: Journal Article30 24 - Some of the metrics are blocked by yourconsent settings
Item type:Publication, Access status: without files , Screening of the regulations and legislations that control the chemical content of plastics through their lifecycleThe mechanical recycling of plastic waste plays a crucial role in advancing the circular economy, ensuring that valuable resources within the waste stream are preserved for extended periods. However, the sustainable, economic, and environmentally responsible management of plastic waste remains a significant challenge, particularly when plastics are sourced from contaminated streams, such as those originating from electronic waste (e-plastics). These materials often contain a wide range of chemical substances, some of which can pose considerable environmental and health risks. Therefore, assessing the degree of contamination in plastic waste is essential to ensure a safe and sustainable life cycle for plastics. Regulatory frameworks aim to address this issue by establishing guidelines and limitations on the use of hazardous chemicals, as well as providing standards for the proper treatment of contaminated waste streams. This paper offers a comprehensive review of the regulations and legislation governing the chemical content of plastics throughout their life cycle—spanning from production to waste disposal and recycling. The objective is to deepen the understanding of the challenges and limitations associated with the recycling of e-plastics and to highlight the importance of these regulatory measures in achieving sustainable plastic waste management.Publicationtype: Book Part55 - Some of the metrics are blocked by yourconsent settings
Item type:Publication, Access status: with files , Overlooked Impact of Moisture on the Stability of Printing Ink and Its Impact on Recycled Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE) Quality(Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI), 2024-11-21); ; ; ; Printing inks, composed of binders, pigments, and additives, are essential components in plastic packaging but complicate recycling due to plastic contamination and degradation. While polyolefins are resistant to hydrolytic degradation, moisture generated from upstream cleaning processes, which is often ignored, can accelerate the degradation of ink binders, affecting the recyclate quality. This study has examined the impact of 3 wt.% moisture, introduced before extrusion, on the degradation of nitrocellulose (NC), polyurethane (PU), polyvinyl butyral (PVB), and cellulose acetate propionate (CAP) binders mixed with virgin, low-density polyethylene (LDPE) at varying concentrations to simulate contamination levels. Control samples were prepared by extrusion under dry conditions and using p-xylene to compare with degradation-free conditions. Analyses, including the measurement of the melt–flow index (MFI), tensile testing, FTIR (Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy), TGA (thermogravimetry analysis), and gas chromatography mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) have established that NC is fully degraded, causing discoloration and altering the MFI. Moreover, PU degrades mainly in the presence of moisture, contrary to previous findings. In contrast, PVB does not degrade but exhibits modified mechanical properties; whereas, CAP shows minimal impact. The findings of this research demonstrate the critical role of moisture in determining recyclability, informing strategies for ink selection and recycling processes to facilitate plastic packaging circularity.Publicationtype: Journal Article43 25 - Some of the metrics are blocked by yourconsent settings
Item type:Publication, Access status: with files , Thermal degradation and hydrolysis depolymerization of printing ink components for plastic packaging in recycling processes : a reviewThis review covers the decomposition mechanisms of various printing ink binder resins, with a particular focus on their behavior under extrusion conditions in the mechanical recycling process of polyolefin (PO) based plastic packaging. Thermal degradation and hydrolysis of the nitrocellulose (NC) — the most used binder for flexographic surface printing on single-layer flexible plastic packaging, occur concurrently during the mechanical recycling process under 160–210 °C. For other printing ink binders, polyurethane (PU) noticeable degradation takes place between 200 and 300 °C, mostly above 250 °C. However, with the involvement of humidity, degradation by hydrolysis can start from 150 °C. A similar effect is also discovered with the cellulose acetate (CA) derivatives, which are thermally stable until 300 °C and can be hydrolyzed at 100 °C. The thermal stability of polyvinyl butyral (PVB) is not influenced by humidity, with thermal stability ranging from 170 to 260 °C, depending on different types. Ultraviolet (UV)-cured acrylics are thermally stable until 400 °C. The hydrolysis degradation can take place at room temperature. Moreover, this review covers the thermal stability of different colorants used for printing ink application and elaborates on several thermal-stable alternatives of some common colors. This study further reviews how the binder resin affects the quality of recyclates, revealing it to be not only induced by the degradation of the binder resin but also by the immiscibility between the plastic and binder resin. In advanced recycling processes, mainly selective dissolution-precipitation and pyrolysis, the presence of binder resin and its degradation products could still affect the quality of the product. This review accentuates the imperative need for in-depth research to unravel the impact of printing ink constituents on the quality of recycled products. (Figure presented.)Publicationtype: Review Article32 32