A review of various strategies in e-waste management in line with circular economics

Waste management of electrical and electronic equipment has become a key challenge for electronics manufacturers due to globalization and the rapid expansion of information technology. As the volume of e-waste grows, legal departments lack the infrastructure, technology, and ability to collect and manage it environmentally soundly. Government laws, economic reasons, and social issues are important considerations in e-waste management. The circular economy concept is built on reusing and recycling goods and resources. A novel idea called the circular economy might prevent the negative consequences brought on by the exploitation and processing of natural resources while also having good effects such as lowering the demand for raw materials, cutting down on the use of fundamental resources, and creating jobs. To demonstrate the significance of policy implementation, the necessity for technology, and the need for societal awareness to build a sustainable and circular economy, the study intends to showcase international best practices in e-waste management. This study uses circular economy participatory implementation methods to provide a variety of possible approaches to assist decision-makers in e-waste management. The purpose of this article is to review the most accepted methods for e-waste management to emphasize the importance of implementing policies, technology requirements, and social awareness in creating a circular economy. To conclude, this paper highlights the necessity of a common legal framework, reform of the informal sector, the responsibility of different stakeholders, and entrepreneurial perspectives.

Olive mill waste sludge: From permanent pollution to a highly beneficial organic biofertilizer: A critical review and future perspectives

Olive mill wastewater sludge (OMWS) is a by-product of the olive extraction process that is attracting substantial attention due to its extremely hazardous effects on aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. OMWS is a product of the common disposal method of olive oil mill wastewater (OMWW) that accumulates in evaporation ponds. It is estimated that approximately 10 × 10⁶ m³ of OMWS is generated worldwide each year. OMWS is characterized by its significantly variable physicochemical properties and organic pollutant constituents, such as phenols and lipids, which are dependent upon the environmental features of the receiving ponds. Nonetheless, many related studies have recognized the biofertilizer potential of this sludge owing to its high mineral nutrient and organic matter load. OMWS exhibits promising valorization potential in several fields, including agriculture and energy production. Compared to those of OMWW, studies of OMWS are still lacking concerning its composition and characteristics, which are necessary for the future implementation of efficient valorization strategies. The main purpose of this review paper is to fill the gap that exists in the literature by providing a critical analysis of the available data on OMWS production, distribution, characteristics, and properties. Additionally, this work sheds light on important factors affecting OMWS properties, including the variability of the indigenous microbial communities regarding bioremediation. Finally, this review addresses the current and future valorization routes, from detoxification to the development of promising applications in agriculture, energy, and the environment, which could have significant socioeconomic implications for low-income Mediterranean countries.

Analytical and reclamation technologies for identification and recycling of precious materials from waste computer and mobile phones

Waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) is one of the world's fastest-growing class of waste. WEEE contain a large amount of precious materials that have aroused the interest to develop new recycling technologies. Hence, effective recycling strategies are extremely necessary to promote the proper handling of these materials as well as for environmentally sound recovery of secondary raw resource. This paper reviews important existing methods and emerging technologies in WEEE management, with special emphasis in characterization, extraction and reclamation of precious materials from waste computer and mobile phones. Traditional pyrometallurgical and hydrometallurgical technologies still play a central role in the recovery of metals. More recently, emerging greener recycling technologies using microorganisms (i.e. biometallurgical), plasma arc fusion method and pretreatments (i.e. ultrasound and mechanochemical technologies) combined with other recycling methods (e.g. hydrometallurgical), and using less toxic solvents such as ionic liquids (ILs) and deep eutectic solvents (DESs) have also been attempted to recycle metals from computer and mobile phone scrap. The role of analytical method development, especially using spectroanalytical methods for chemical inspection and e-waste sorting process at industrial applications is also discussed. This confirmed that most direct sampling techniques such as laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) and X-ray fluorescence (XFR) have several advantages over traditional sorting methods including rapid analytical response, without use of chemical reagents or waste generation, and greater reclamation of precious and critical materials in the WEEE stream.

SKY59, A Novel Recycling Antibody for Complement-mediated Diseases

BACKGROUND

The complement system usually helps protect against microbial infection, but it could also be involved in the onset of various diseases. Inhibition of complement component 5 (C5) with eculizumab has resulted in a significant reduction of hemolysis, reduction of thromboembolic events, and increased survival in patients with Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria (PNH). However, eculizumab requires frequent intravenous infusions due to the abundance of C5 in plasma and some patients may still experience breakthrough hemolysis. This review introduces the recent body of knowledge on recycling technology and discusses the likely therapeutic benefits of SKY59, a novel recycling antibody, for PNH and complement-mediated disorders.

METHODS

By using recycling technology, we created a novel anti-C5 antibody, SKY59, capable of binding to C5 pH-dependently.

RESULTS

In cynomolgus monkeys, SKY59 robustly inhibited C5 and complement activity for significantly longer than a conventional antibody. SKY59 also showed an inhibitory effect on C5 variant p.Arg885His, whereas eculizumab does not suppress complement activity in patients with this type of mutation.

CONCLUSION

SKY59 is a promising anti-C5 biologic agent that has significant advantages over current therapies such as long duration of action and efficacy against C5 variants.

An innovative method to reduce oil waste using a sensor made of recycled material to evaluate engine oil life in automotive workshops

In this work, a capacitive sensor made of recycled material is proposed to monitor oil quality in automotive workshops in order to reduce the waste of useful lubricant oil caused by shorter periods of use than those established by the manufacturers. The sensor was fabricated from a recycled aluminum heat sink and used to measure the permittivity of oil samples. The proposed method was compared with Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy analysis to evaluate degradation parameters, as described in standard practice ASTM E-2412. The obtained results showed good agreement between both techniques, validating the use of the proposed sensor to evaluate oil condition. The use of permittivity measurements could be used to evaluate oil quality in an easier, faster, and economical way compared with other laboratory tests.

Separation studies of concrete and brick from construction and demolition waste

The quality of recycled aggregates from construction and demolition waste (CDW) is strictly related to the content of porous and low strength phases and is specifically related to the high content of brick particles, despite representing approximately 50 wt.% of the total recycled aggregates. This paper focus on air jigging separation studies for removing brick particles from recycled construction and demolition waste aggregates. The operational parameters were achieved by studying the aggregate movement trajectories based on the small specific density differences of 2.52 g/cm³ and 1.97 g/cm³. Separation tests were conducted with a binary mixture of concrete and brick particles ranging from 5 to 10 mm for three operational parameters. The attained results confirmed that the brick fraction increases the water absorption and compromises the consistency and strength of the recycled aggregates. The proposed air jigging separation method was effective at reducing brick particle content and producing significant recycled concrete aggregates with a purity of 95 wt.%, paving the way for greater use of recycled aggregates in high grade applications, such as concrete and pavement layers.

WEEE management in Europe and China - A comparison

Over the last years Europe and China have developed specific regulations to address the challenge of managing Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE). Households in today's urban China are similarly equipped with electrical and electronic appliances as households in European metropolitan areas, which in turn will lead to similar per capita generation rates in WEEE. While the challenge is a similar one, the systems, technologies and legislation in place in Europe and China are partly different, partly aligned to each other. In Europe WEEE collection is based on existing municipal structures. Additionally, retail and other take-back channels are in place. In China the informal sector dominates WEEE collection, being more competitive and flexible and offering pecuniary reimbursement to consumers. In Europe manual dismantling as a first treatment step has been gradually replaced by mechanical break up of appliances, followed by sorting out of hazardous and valuable components. In the subsequent second treatment level, cathode ray tubes are separated, whereby compound materials like motors and coils are mechanically treated, printed circuit boards go to special smelters, and plastics are separated and partly recycled. In China large formal dismantling capacities have been set up in recent years. There dismantling practices follow similar principles as in European plants; however, further processing is only partly implemented in Chinese recycling facilities. Specifically metallurgical treatment of printed circuit boards is still not existent in China. Companies selling electrical and electronic products within the EU are obliged to organise collection and treatment. This has led to a larger number of producer responsibility organisations. Financed and controlled by producers and importers, these systems aim to fulfil legal requirements at optimised costs subject to compliance with environmental standards and monitoring requirements. The Chinese system is built on a state controlled fund which subsidies formal recyclers. For these recyclers this financial support is essential to compete with informal recyclers, who operate at lower costs and do not necessarily comply with environmental standards.

Challenges in legislation, recycling system and technical system of waste electrical and electronic equipment in China

Waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) has been one of the fastest growing waste streams worldwide. Effective and efficient management and treatment of WEEE has become a global problem. As one of the world's largest electronic products manufacturing and consumption countries, China plays a key role in the material life cycle of electrical and electronic equipment. Over the past 20 years, China has made a great effort to improve WEEE recycling. Centered on the legal, recycling and technical systems, this paper reviews the progresses of WEEE recycling in China. An integrated recycling system is proposed to realize WEEE high recycling rate for future WEEE recycling.