Critical Factors for the Recycling of Different End-of-Life Materials: Wood Wastes, Automotive Shredded Residues, and Dismantled Wind Turbine Blades

Abstract

Different classes of wastes, namely wooden wastes, plastic fractions from automotive shredded residues, and glass fiber reinforced composite wastes obtained from dismantled wind turbines blades were analyzed in view of their possible recycling. Wooden wastes included municipal bulky wastes, construction and demolition wastes, and furniture wastes. The applied characterization protocol, based on Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy in attenuated total reflection (ATR) mode, scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDX), and thermogravimetric analysis (TG) coupled with FTIR spectrometry for the investigation of the evolved gases, revealed that the selected classes of wastes are very complex and heterogeneous materials, containing different impurities that can represent serious obstacles toward their reuse/recycling. Critical parameters were analyzed and discussed, and recommendations were reported for a safe and sustainable recycling of these classes of materials.

Circular Design of Composite Products: A Framework Based on Insights from Literature and Industry

“…The presented strategies focus on prolonging product lifetime and preserving resources, but do not explicitly account for safety issues involved with composite materials. Risks are found across the composite product life and include the release of volatile organic compounds, fibres and particles and dust [72,73]. All of these pose a threat to human health and the environment.…”

“…Zappeloni [73] discusses best practices to minimise such emissions in the manufacturing stage, and Medici expressed concerns over long-term outdoor exposure [74]. Additionally, (re)processing, which aims to separate, or at least downsize the materials, risks hazardous emissions [7,72,75]. Thus, next to preserving resources, additional measures are needed to address human, environmental and ecological impacts of manufacturing, using and reprocessing composite materials.…”

Co-Pyrolysis of Low-Density Polyethylene and Motor Oil—Investigation of the Chemical Interactions between the Components

“…Kim et al [10], in line with one of our previous works [11], show a thermal stabilization effect during the co-pyrolysis of waste automobile lubricating oil and polystyrene (i.e., degradation temperatures of the mixture shifted towards higher values, when compared to the pyrolysis of the pure compounds). A thermal stabilization effect of inorganic materials on the lignocellulose fraction in construction and demolition waste was also mentioned by Castaldo et al [12], and Avella et al [13] highlighted that compatibilizing agents induce a thermal stabilization of plastic and cellulose in composite material.…”

Prospective Utilization of Wood Waste From Wood-based Industries in Ethiopia: Synthesis

“…It has been reported that wood waste reprocessing for the production of new products is an economically viable plan (Carpio et al, 2013). Wood recycling is one of the basic steps towards a circular economy regenerative system that can able to minimize resource depletion and energy consumption (Keskisaari and Kärki, 2018;Castaldo et al, 2019). It also guaranteed the sustainability of the forest conservation in the emerging economies (Bergeron, 2014).…”