4.7 Article

Reviewing the thermo-chemical recycling of waste polyurethane foam

Journal

JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
Volume 278, Issue -, Pages -

Publisher

ACADEMIC PRESS LTD- ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD
DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2020.111527

Keywords

Polyurethane foam; Recycling; Thermo-chemical treatment; Thermal degradation

Funding

  1. Beijing Advanced Innovation Centre of Soft Matter Science and Engineering (Beijing University of Chemical Technology, China)

Ask authors/readers for more resources

The global production of polymeric foam materials is increasing, leading to a rise in waste generation, which can be mostly recycled or recovered. The PU industry is committed to assisting in waste management. Thermo-chemical and thermal processes are key in recycling, while incineration is primarily used in co-firing schemes.
The worldwide production of polymeric foam materials is growing due to their advantageous properties of light weight, high thermal insulation, good strength, resistance and rigidity. Society creates ever increasing amounts of poly-urethane (PU) waste. A major part of this waste can be recycled or recovered in order to be put into further use. The PU industry is committed to assist and play its part in the process. The recycling and recovery of PU foam cover a range of mechanical, physical, chemical and thermo-chemical processes. In addition to the welldocumented mechanical and chemical processing options, thermo-chemical treatments are important either as ultimate disposal (incineration) or towards feedstock recovery, leading to different products according to the thermal conditions of the treatment. The review focuses on these thermo-chemical and thermal processes. As far as pyrolysis is concerned, TDI and mostly polyol can be recovered. The highest recovery yields of TDI and polyols occur at low temperatures (150-200 degrees C). It is however clear from literature that pure feedstock will not be produced, and that a further upgrading of the condensate will be needed, together with a thermal or alternative treatment of the non-condensables. Gasification towards syngas has been studied on a larger and industrial scale. Its application would need the location of the PU treatment plant close to a chemical plant, if the syngas is to be valorized or considered in conjunction with a gas-fired CHP plant. Incineration has been studied mostly in a cofiring scheme. Potentially toxic emissions from PU combustion can be catered for by the common flue gas cleaning behind the incineration itself, making this solution less evident as a stand-alone option: the combination with other wastes (such as municipal solid waste) in MSWI' s seems the indicated route to go.

Authors

I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.

Reviews

Primary Rating

4.7
Not enough ratings

Secondary Ratings

Novelty
-
Significance
-
Scientific rigor
-
Rate this paper

Recommended

Article Electrochemistry

A new methodology to efficiently test pitting corrosion: design of a 3D-printed sample holder to avoid the occurrence of crevice corrosion in chemically aggressive media

Brent Verhoeven, Maarten Nagels, Pieter Van Aken, Roberto Gaggiano, Barbara Rossi, Walter Bogaerts, Raf Dewil

Summary: A new 3D-printed sample holder was designed and validated for studying pitting corrosion of metals, which significantly improved the reliability and efficiency of the testing method by avoiding unrealistic crevice corrosion. The results showed that the designed sample holder enables more realistic and representative pitting results in corrosion research.

JOURNAL OF APPLIED ELECTROCHEMISTRY (2023)

Article Engineering, Chemical

A new design approach for the acceleration region of vertical, dilute-phase pneumatic conveyors

John M. Wheeldon, Jan Baeyens, Shuo Li, Yimin Deng

Summary: An analysis was conducted on pressure drop data from the acceleration region of seven vertical dilute-phase pneumatic conveyors. Despite different conditions, no effect of other variables was identified. The developed spreadsheet model is simpler and provides more accurate results compared to complex numerical models.

PARTICULATE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (2023)

Review Engineering, Environmental

A review of wastewater treatment technologies for the degradation of pharmaceutically active compounds: Carbamazepine as a case study

Sara Feijoo, Mohammadreza Kamali, Raf Dewil

Summary: Pharmaceutically active compounds (PhACs) in natural water bodies have raised concerns due to their potential toxicological effects. In this article, the research progress and performance of different treatment methods for the removal of carbamazepine, a commonly found anticonvulsant, are summarized and evaluated. The review shows that novel advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) and advanced reduction processes (ARPs) are promising techniques, with degradation rate constants ranging from 4 to 12 h-1, allowing for 99% removal of carbamazepine in less than 70 minutes under optimal conditions. Particularly, electrochemical and photocatalytic AOPs have shown consistently successful degradation results.

CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL (2023)

Article Environmental Sciences

Anodic oxidation of sulfamethoxazole paired to cathodic hydrogen peroxide production

Izba Ali, Allisson Barros de Souza, Steven De Laet, Kwinten Van Eyck, Raf Dewil

Summary: A double chamber electrochemical system was developed, consisting of a boron-doped diamond anode and a graphite cathode, which efficiently degrades sulfamethoxazole (SMX) and generates hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) simultaneously. The system showed excellent performance at optimized conditions, achieving SMX degradation of 95% and COD reduction of 90% after 180 minutes of electrolysis, while accumulating around 535 μM H2O2. A degradation pathway for SMX was proposed based on the identification of five intermediates.

CHEMOSPHERE (2023)

Review Environmental Sciences

Immobilization of photocatalytic materials for (waste)water treatment using 3D printing technology-advances and challenges

Yongtao Xue, Mohammadreza Kamali, Xi Zhang, Najmeh Askari, Clem De Preter, Lise Appels, Raf Dewil

Summary: Photocatalysis is a promising technology for water pollution removal. Recent advancements in various types of photocatalysts have addressed the limitations of conventional photocatalysts. However, challenges still exist in the design of photocatalytic reactors, particularly in their recovery and reuse from treated water. 3D printing technologies have emerged as a solution for immobilizing photocatalytic materials in novel reactor designs.

ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (2023)

Article Green & Sustainable Science & Technology

Periodate activation with copper oxide nanomaterials for the degradation of ciprofloxacin- A new insight into the efficiency and mechanisms

Xi Zhang, Mohammadreza Kamali, Yongtao Xue, Shaoxian Li, Maria Elisabete V. Costa, Deirdre Cabooter, Raf Dewil

Summary: CuO was synthesized and characterized for the activation of periodate (PI) and exhibited improved degradation performance for ciprofloxacin (CIP). Both radical and nonradical degradation pathways were identified, with the nonradical pathway playing the most important role. The system showed improved efficiency under acidic or near-neutral conditions and demonstrated excellent removal efficiency for other organic contaminants in various water matrices.

JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION (2023)

Review Thermodynamics

Opportunities and challenges in using particle circulation loops for concentrated solar power applications*

Gilles Flamant, Benjamin Grange, John Wheeldon, Frederic Siros, Benoit Valentin, Francoise Bataille, Huili Zhang, Yimin Deng, Jan Baeyens

Summary: Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) is a renewable energy technology that uses heliostats to concentrate solar irradiance onto a receiver, where a fluid is used as a heat carrier. Using gas/solid suspensions as heat transfer medium in CSP offers advantages over other fluids, including higher achievable temperatures. Recent experiments have shown promising results using upflow bubbling fluidized beds for heat transfer in CSP systems. Challenges still remain in transferring particles between different components of the system.

PROGRESS IN ENERGY AND COMBUSTION SCIENCE (2023)

Article Engineering, Environmental

Activation of periodate with pinewood biochar-CuO composite for the removal of recalcitrant organic pollutants-Mechanisms and degradation products

Xi Zhang, Matthias Verbist, Mohammadreza Kamali, Yongtao Xue, Yong Liu, Pengrui Jin, Maria Elisabete V. Costa, Lise Appels, Deirdre Cabooter, Raf Dewil

Summary: This study investigated the degradation kinetics and mechanisms of different types of recalcitrant organic pollutants (ROPs) using a biochar-CuO/periodate (PI) system. The study found that the pH had significant effects on the formation of oxidative species, with the system being most efficient at pH 7. The system was able to efficiently remove methylene blue (MB) at pH 7, while under highly alkaline pH values, the degradation kinetics of the pollutant were lower. The system maintained its efficiency for other types of ROPs and could detoxify MB.

CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL (2023)

Editorial Material Environmental Sciences

Climate crisis and recent developments in bio-based restoration of ecosystems

Hrvoje Mikulcic, Xuebin Wang, Neven Duic, Raf Dewil

Summary: Due to the climate crisis, sustainable economic growth and biodiversity protection have been increasingly promoted. Scientists and experts emphasize the bio-based restoration of ecosystems and responsible resource management for future generations. This paper discusses the latest developments in energy, water, and environmental sustainability from the SDEWES 2021 conference and serves as an introduction to a virtual special issue of the Journal of Environmental Management.

JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT (2023)

Article Green & Sustainable Science & Technology

Pathway towards the commercialization of sustainable microbial fuel cell-based wastewater treatment technologies

Mohammadreza Kamali, Yutong Guo, Tejraj M. Aminabhavi, Rouzbeh Abbassi, Raf Dewil, Lise Appels

Summary: Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) have the potential to simultaneously remove contaminants from wastewater and generate bioelectricity as a green and renewable source of energy. However, large-scale applications of these technologies face technical and economic issues related to the fabrication and performance of MFC components. Innovative approaches such as using waste-driven carbonaceous structures and novel fabrication techniques like 3-D printing are discussed to enhance the efficiency and reduce costs of MFCs. Integrations with other technologies and novel applications are reviewed for practical implementation of MFCs in sustainable wastewater treatment.

RENEWABLE & SUSTAINABLE ENERGY REVIEWS (2023)

Article Green & Sustainable Science & Technology

Steam reforming of ethanol by non-noble metal catalysts

Yimin Deng, Shuo Li, Lise Appels, Huili Zhang, Nick Sweygers, Jan Baeyens, Raf Dewil

Summary: Catalytic steam reforming of ethanol (CSRE) is a promising method for hydrogen production. Ethanol can be derived from low-cost carbohydrates or biomass through fermentation. This study explores the use of novel non-noble catalysts, impregnated in alpha-Al2O3, for CSRE. The catalytic experiments demonstrate high hydrogen yields and negligible catalyst deactivation. Pilot-scale investigations have been initiated.

RENEWABLE & SUSTAINABLE ENERGY REVIEWS (2023)

Review Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology

Generation of oxidative radicals by advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) in wastewater treatment: a mechanistic, environmental and economic review

Sara Feijoo, Xiaobin Yu, Mohammadreza Kamali, Lise Appels, Raf Dewil

Summary: In response to the increasing presence of emerging contaminants in water streams, advanced oxidation processes have gained significant research interest due to their ability to effectively degrade recalcitrant compounds through the generation of oxidative radicals. This review paper provides insights into the generation methods of various oxidative species, with a focus on hydroxyl, sulfate, chlorine, and iodine radicals. Understanding the strengths and limitations of each generation route is crucial for future industrial applications. The review presents a comprehensive summary of different techniques that result in distinct radical types, and discusses the environmental and economic aspects of these methods.

REVIEWS IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND BIO-TECHNOLOGY (2023)

Review Engineering, Environmental

Biochar in hydroxyl radical-based electrochemical advanced oxidation processes (eAOPs)-Mechanisms and prospects

Yong Liu, Xiaobin Yu, Mohammadreza Kamali, Xi Zhang, Sara Feijoo, S. M. Al-Salem, Raf Dewil, Lise Appels

Summary: This review summarizes the desirable physicochemical properties of biochar for its application as a catalyst or electrode material in electrochemical advanced oxidation processes. It also presents the mechanisms for electrocatalytic in-situ generation and activation of H2O2 by biochar in these processes, providing deeper insights into the degradation of organic pollutants. Additionally, modification strategies to improve the performance of biochar in these processes are addressed, along with the remaining challenges and future perspectives.

CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL (2023)

Article Environmental Sciences

Effect of Fe-loading in iron-based catalysts for the CH4 decomposition to H2 and nanocarbons

Miao Yang, Shuo Li, Yimin Deng, Jan Baeyens, Huili Zhang

Summary: The catalytic CH4 decomposition over Fe-based catalyst is a cost-effective and environmentally friendly method for producing Co-x-free H-2 and carbon nanotubes. Varying the Fe-loading influenced the catalytic performance, with the highest H-2 yield obtained at a 12% Fe content. Characterization techniques revealed the properties of the fresh and spent catalysts.

JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT (2023)

Article Environmental Sciences

Treatment of cow manure from exercise pens: A laboratory-scale study of the effect of air injection on conventional and alternative biofilters

Elizabeth Alvarez-Chavez, Stephane Godbout, Mylene Genereux, Caroline Cote, Alain N. Rousseau, Sebastien Fournel

Summary: This study evaluated the effect of alternative filtering materials and bed aeration on the retention of nutrients and fecal bacteria in woodchip bedded stand-off pads for cows. The results showed that the alternative biofilters were more efficient in removing COD, SS, TN, and NO3-N, while conventional biofilters were more efficient for PO4-P removal. Aeration did not have a significant effect under the tested temperature conditions.

JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT (2024)

Article Environmental Sciences

Research on oxygen enrichment for municipal solid waste fly ash melting: A pilot-scale study on natural gas and coal as the melting fuel

Yike Zhang, Zengyi Ma, Zhuoting Fang, Yuandong Qian, Zhiping Huang, Yilong Ye, Jianhua Yan

Summary: This study investigates the application of oxygen enrichment melting technology in the melting of municipal solid waste incineration fly ash. The results demonstrate that oxygen enrichment technology can reduce energy consumption and operating costs, as well as decrease pollution emissions.

JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT (2024)

Article Environmental Sciences

Temporal and vertical dynamics of carbon accumulation potential under grazing-excluded grasslands in China: The role of soil bulk density

Liangang Xiao, Mingkai Leng, Philip Greenwood, Rongqin Zhao, Zhixiang Xie, Zengtao You, Junguo Liu

Summary: This study investigates the effects of grazing exclusion on soil organic carbon (SOC) accumulation and vegetation recovery. It finds that grazing exclusion can increase the potential for SOC accumulation, and higher annual precipitation is positively correlated with SOC accumulation.

JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT (2024)

Article Environmental Sciences

Adsorption on activated carbon combined with ozonation for the removal of contaminants of emerging concern in drinking water

Beatrice Cantoni, Jessica Ianes, Beatrice Bertolo, Selena Ziccardi, Francesco Maffini, Manuela Antonelli

Summary: This study evaluates the performance of ozonation and adsorption as in-series processes compared to standalone processes for the removal of Contaminants of Emerging Concern (CECs) in drinking water. The combination of both processes proves to be more effective than adsorption and ozonation alone. Ozonation improves the adsorption performance of poorly-oxidizable CECs but worsens that of well-oxidizable compounds. This research highlights the importance of considering both processes in the removal of CECs in drinking water treatment plants.

JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT (2024)

Article Environmental Sciences

The characteristic of compound drought and saltwater intrusion events in the several major river estuaries worldwide

Dan Li, Bingjun Liu, Yang Lu, Jianyu Fu

Summary: A new Standardized compound Drought and Saltwater intrusion Index (SDSI) was developed to detect changes in the severity of CDSEs in six estuaries. The study found that saltwater intrusion plays a dominant role in influencing SDSI severity, and CDSEs vary in frequency, duration and severity among different estuaries.

JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT (2024)

Article Environmental Sciences

Inactivation of pathogenic microorganisms in water by electron beam excitation multi-wavelength ultraviolet irradiation: Efficiency, influence factors and mechanism

Yong-Qiang Li, Rui Sun, Chong-Miao Zhang, Zi-Xuan Liu, Rui-tao Chen, Jian Zhao, Hua-dong Gu, Huan-Cai Yin

Summary: In this study, an electron beam excitation multi-wavelength ultraviolet (EBE-MW-UV) system was established and found to have significantly higher microbial inactivation effects compared to single-wavelength UV-LEDs in water. Mechanism analysis revealed that EBE-MW-UV damaged microbial DNA and proteins, and generated additional reactive oxygen species, leading to microbial inactivation.

JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT (2024)

Article Environmental Sciences

Improved anaerobic sludge fermentation mediated by a tryptophan-degrading consortium: Effectiveness assessment and mechanism deciphering

Kaili Ma, Xinxin Han, Qiujuan Li, Yu Kong, Qiaoli Liu, Xu Yan, Yahong Luo, Xiaopin Li, Huiyang Wen, Zhiguo Cao

Summary: This study reveals that the use of a tryptophan-degrading microbial consortium (TDC) can enhance the hydrolysis efficiency of waste activated sludge (WAS), increasing the yield and quality of short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and improving the solubilization and release of organic substances from WAS.

JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT (2024)

Article Environmental Sciences

Assessing and decoupling ecosystem services evolution in karst areas: A multi-model approach to support land management decision-making

Ling Xiong, Rui Li

Summary: Incorporating Ecosystem Service Value (ESV) into land use planning can provide informed land management decisions. This study evaluates the ESV of Guizhou Province in China's karst region. The results show an increase in total ESV over the past two decades due to ecological restoration projects.

JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT (2024)

Article Environmental Sciences

Secure water quality prediction system using machine learning and blockchain technologies

M. Geetha Jenifel

Summary: This article discusses the importance of water and the pollution of freshwater resources, and introduces the use of machine learning models and blockchain technology to predict and protect water quality.

JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT (2024)

Article Environmental Sciences

Effect of acid-modified biochar coupled with alternate wetting and drying on P leaching, soil P retention and plant P uptake in paddy fields

Stanslaus Terengia Materu, Taotao Chen, Chang Liu, Daocai Chi, Meng Jun

Summary: The study showed that H2SO4-modified biochar can reduce P leaching, increase soil available P, and enhance plant P uptake in alternate wetting and drying irrigation systems. Biochar additions B20A and IAWDB20A-M were effective in improving yield, reducing P leaching, and increasing APB.

JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT (2024)

Article Environmental Sciences

Enhancing nitrogen removal from wastewater in a low C/N ratio using an air-lift bio-electrochemical reactor (ALBER)

Amir Nouri, Ali Akbar Zinatizadeh, Sirus Zinadini, Mark Van Loosdrecht

Summary: This study focuses on the development of an air-lift bio-electrochemical reactor (ALBER) with a continuous feeding regime to enhance nitrogen removal from synthetic wastewater. The effect of temperature, hydraulic retention time (HRT), N -NH+4 /TN ratio, and current density on the reactor performance was investigated, and the ALBER achieved a maximum TN removal of 73%. The results suggest that the ALBER has potential for treating industrial wastewater at low temperatures.

JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT (2024)

Article Environmental Sciences

Agricultural practices and ditch size drive microbial community assembly and mediate N- and P-transformation in multistage drainage networks of paddy fields: Insights from a large-scale irrigation district in eastern China

Peifang Wang, Guoxiang You, Yang Gao, Juan Chen, Xun Wang, Chao Wang

Summary: This study investigated the ecological processes of microbial communities and N- and P-transformation processes in multistage agricultural drainage ditches. The results showed that the microbial communities were co-shaped by agricultural practices and ditch size, which further governed the N and P removal performance.

JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT (2024)

Article Environmental Sciences

The combination of multiple environmental stressors strongly alters microbial community assembly in aquatic ecosystems

Xiaofeng Niu, Huan Wang, Tao Wang, Peiyu Zhang, Huan Zhang, Hongxia Wang, Xianghong Kong, Songguang Xie, Jun Xu

Summary: Microorganisms play a critical role in maintaining ecosystem balance, and environmental stressors can affect the assembly processes of microbial communities. The study found that different stressors have opposite effects on microbial community assembly in water and sediment, and warming has different influences compared to herbicides and nutrients.

JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT (2024)

Article Environmental Sciences

Hydrological reduction and control effect evaluation of sponge city construction based on one-way coupling model of SWMM-FVCOM: A case in university campus

Yuqing Tan, Qiming Cheng, Fengwei Lyu, Fei Liu, Linhao Liu, Yihong Su, Shaochun Yuan, Wenyu Xiao, Zhen Liu, Yao Chen

Summary: The exacerbation of global warming, extreme weather events, and rapid urbanization have led to increased flooding in urban areas. China has adopted sponge city as an efficient means of preventing and controlling urban floods. Using a SWMM-FVCOM model, the hydrological reduction and control effect of sponge city construction (SPCC) within a university campus were evaluated. The study found that implementing SPCC effectively mitigates surface runoff and reduces the severity of urban flooding. However, the efficacy of runoff control decreases with longer rainfall return periods.

JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT (2024)

Article Environmental Sciences

Development of a two-dimensional model to assess carbon dynamics and anthropogenic effects on CO2 emissions in the Tan river, southern China

Zhonghan Chen, Qiuyan Li, Shibo Yan, Juan Xu, Qiaoyun Lin, Zhuangming Zhao, Ziying He

Summary: Tidal rivers are important biochemical reaction channels, receiving carbon from wastewater and agricultural drains, affecting CO2 emissions. Through modeling and data analysis, researchers explored carbon distribution, emissions, and greenhouse effects, emphasizing the potential of river management to change global CO2 emissions under climate change.

JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT (2024)