{"title":"SCES: Surface condition evaluation system for electrical and electronic equipment reuse grading by combining defect detection and segmentation—A case study of laptops","authors":"Yifan Wu , Chuangchuang Zhou , Wouter Sterkens , Toon Goedemé , Wim Dewulf , Jef R. Peeters","doi":"10.1016/j.resconrec.2025.108608","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.resconrec.2025.108608","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>An essential step to maximize value recovery in Electrical and Electronic Equipment (EEE) is grading it based on surface defects for reuse. Although state-of-the-art computer vision-based methods can overcome manual inspections’ subjectivity, they are limited by different scales of defects and time-consuming segmentation annotation of small defects. This study addresses these challenges by proposing a Surface Condition Evaluation System (SCES). SCES refines manual grading guides for quantitative evaluation, enhances YOLOv8 with proposed Defect Channel and Spatial (DCS) attention modules and Slicing Aided Hyper Inference (SAHI) to improve defect detection, then cascades Segment Anything Model 2 (SAM2) with Zhang-Suen thinning algorithm to segment and measure small defects without segmentation annotations. SCES achieves the detection average precision (AP) of 98.9 %, 81.2 %, and 80.5 % for <em>missing_battery, missing_cover</em>, and <em>scratch</em> on the collected laptop surface defect dataset, respectively, which are higher than other state-of-the-art methods. Additionally, the measurement accuracy for scratches reaches over 85 %, verifying the reliability of the proposed method. The results indicate that SCES employs novel computer vision methods to realize the automated and quantified product surface condition grading. This research supports the transition from manual evaluation to an efficient and objective automated approach in the EEE reuse process, thereby contributing to resource conservation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21153,"journal":{"name":"Resources Conservation and Recycling","volume":"225 ","pages":"Article 108608"},"PeriodicalIF":10.9,"publicationDate":"2025-10-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145261955","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Purnima Rawat , Shivamurthy B. P․ , Vaibhav J. Patil , Nayaka G. P․
{"title":"Waste-to-sensor: Repurposing spent Li-ion battery graphite into reduced graphene oxide for electrochemical detection of ascorbic acid","authors":"Purnima Rawat , Shivamurthy B. P․ , Vaibhav J. Patil , Nayaka G. P․","doi":"10.1016/j.resconrec.2025.108610","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.resconrec.2025.108610","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Spent lithium-ion batteries (S-LIBs) are typically discarded in landfills after their lifecycle ends, despite containing valuable materials like graphite. While much research focuses on extracting precious metals from the cathode, this study explores the recycling, recovery, and reuse of spent graphite, converting it into reduced graphene oxide (rGO) for electrochemical sensing. The rGO material demonstrated excellent sensitivity to ascorbic acid (AA) in a concentration range of 1 mM to 100 mM at pH 7.6, offering a cost-effective solution for AA detection. The recovered graphite (RG) from S-LIBs and commercial graphite (CG) was first converted into graphene oxide (R-GO, C-GO) and then reduced (R-rGO, C-rGO). This material underwent extensive structural characterization using techniques such as powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analysis, field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM). Electrochemical performance was evaluated through cyclic voltammetry (CV), differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). This study underscores the \"waste-to-wealth\" concept and supports circular economy principles by transforming electronic waste into a valuable resource. The LOD and LOQ for both the material R-rGO and C-rGO were calculated as 3.055 mM, 10.18 mM, and 3.41 mM, 11.36 mM, respectively. The rGO-based sensor not only promotes sustainable recycling but also offers a low-cost, high-performance solution for ascorbic acid detection, with potential applications in food quality monitoring, medical diagnostics, and the cosmetic industry.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21153,"journal":{"name":"Resources Conservation and Recycling","volume":"225 ","pages":"Article 108610"},"PeriodicalIF":10.9,"publicationDate":"2025-10-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145221898","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jie Yang , Jie Guan , Xiaojiao Zhang , Yaoguang Guo , Yihao Li , Yanlin Wu , Hao Yuan , Qin Xu , Shuai Chen
{"title":"A fluorine-restrained pyrolysis process for sustainable photovoltaic modules recycling: two-stage decomposition of EVA and fluorine-containing backsheets","authors":"Jie Yang , Jie Guan , Xiaojiao Zhang , Yaoguang Guo , Yihao Li , Yanlin Wu , Hao Yuan , Qin Xu , Shuai Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.resconrec.2025.108611","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.resconrec.2025.108611","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Annually accumulating decommissioned Photovoltaic modules pose severe environmental risks. Pyrolysis is key for resource recovery via disassembly, but conventional 500 °C pyrolysis produces hazardous fluorinated pollution. This study analyzed pyrolysis mechanisms for EVA encapsulant and fluorinated KPK backsheets (PVDF/PET/PVDF) using thermal, IR, and MS techniques. Key findings: (1) EVA pyrolyzes in two stages: dominant deacetylation (300–400 °C), then chain scission (400–500 °C); (2) PVDF decomposition (300–600 °C) releases most fluorine as gaseous pollutants (e.g., 1,2,4-trifluorobenzene, SiF₄), leaving fluoride-containing solid residues; (3) The major KPK weight loss peak (350–500 °C) stems primarily from PET. Exploiting these thermal properties, a novel two-stage, fluorine-controlled process is proposed: First, heat to 350 °C to trigger intense EVA deacetylation and adhesion loss before significant PVDF cracking, allowing non-polluting backsheet removal. Then, raise temperature to 500 °C to fully pyrolyze residual EVA. This clarifies fluoride pathways and offers a practical emission-mitigation solution for thermal dismantling.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21153,"journal":{"name":"Resources Conservation and Recycling","volume":"225 ","pages":"Article 108611"},"PeriodicalIF":10.9,"publicationDate":"2025-10-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145221897","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Which plastic recycling approaches maximize climate benefits and balance fossil energy? Evidence from the Japanese experience","authors":"Cheng-Yao Zhang , Jun Nakatani , Takuma Nakamura , Shoma Fujii , Yuichiro Kanematsu , Yasunori Kikuchi","doi":"10.1016/j.resconrec.2025.108607","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.resconrec.2025.108607","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Circularity is considered to be pivotal for achieving carbon neutrality in plastic waste management. This study evaluated various recycling and recovery options for plastic packaging waste (PPW) in Japan, including circular and one-way chemical recycling. Using life cycle assessment, we examined these options in terms of fossil resource consumption and climate change impacts, categorizing fossil resources into coal, oil, and natural gas. All the evaluated options provide fossil energy benefits, however some chemical recycling technologies struggle to achieve climate benefits. Gasification for ammonia production provides the highest fossil energy benefits, while use of PPW in blast furnaces as coke substitute yielded the greatest climate benefits. Mechanical and circular chemical recycling proved effective in reducing oil consumption but did not offer the greatest advantages in terms of climate benefits. Insights from Japan’s experiences obtained from this study highlight a disparity between expedient solutions for carbon neutrality and conceptually circular recycling approaches.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21153,"journal":{"name":"Resources Conservation and Recycling","volume":"225 ","pages":"Article 108607"},"PeriodicalIF":10.9,"publicationDate":"2025-10-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145221883","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Managing solid waste to co-control carbon and nitrogen leakage in China","authors":"Xin Xu , Jingfang Zhan , Tianrun Chen , Xiuming Zhang , Yiyang Zou , Baojing Gu","doi":"10.1016/j.resconrec.2025.108603","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.resconrec.2025.108603","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Solid waste disposal generates substantial carbon and nitrogen leakage, adversely affecting air quality, aquatic ecosystems, and the climate. However, the coupled cycles of carbon and nitrogen within this sector remain insufficiently understood. This study develops an integrated carbon and nitrogen budget for China’s solid waste sector from 1980 to 2023. Over this period, atmospheric carbon emissions increased 3.6-fold, reaching 34.0 million tons (Tg) C yr<sup>-1</sup> in 2023, while nitrogen losses peaked at 1.4 Tg N yr<sup>-1</sup> in 2005 before declining. By 2060, an optimized co-control strategy could reduce carbon leakage by 87 % (30.2 Tg C yr<sup>-1</sup>) and nitrogen leakage by 96 % (0.9 Tg N yr<sup>-1</sup>), yielding net social benefits of US$34.6 billion. Source reduction strategies, particularly waste recovery programs and Pay-As-You-Throw tariffs, are the most cost-effective mitigation options. These findings underscore the critical role of solid waste management in promoting a circular economy and achieving sustainable development.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21153,"journal":{"name":"Resources Conservation and Recycling","volume":"225 ","pages":"Article 108603"},"PeriodicalIF":10.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145221884","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Mohamadali Mohit , Om Prakash , Masoud Makian , Ali Ashraf Joolaei , Xueqing Shi , Jong-Han Lee , Dong-Hoon Kim
{"title":"Food waste shock for reducing methane emissions from sewer pipelines","authors":"Mohamadali Mohit , Om Prakash , Masoud Makian , Ali Ashraf Joolaei , Xueqing Shi , Jong-Han Lee , Dong-Hoon Kim","doi":"10.1016/j.resconrec.2025.108612","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.resconrec.2025.108612","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Sewer pipelines, while essential for urban sanitation, are significant sources of methane (CH<sub>4</sub>) emissions, especially when food waste (FW) is introduced via kitchen disposers. This study explores a novel mitigation method “FW shock” inspired by shock loading known to disrupt anaerobic digestion. Five lab-scale gravity sewer pipelines (P1–P5) were operated, initially with only domestic wastewater (DWW), followed by FW addition: continuously in P1 and intermittently in P2–P5 after accumulating FW for 2 to 7 days. Continuous FW addition in P1 led to a sustained CH<sub>4</sub> increase (from 44.6 to 98.0 mL CH<sub>4</sub>/Lsewage), while FW shocks induced peak emissions on the shock day, followed by rapid declines. The greatest reduction (61.8 %) was observed in P4 (5-day shock). pH dropped to ∼6.4 in P4, compared to >7.8 in P1, contributing to methanogenic inhibition. Microbial and enzymatic analyses confirmed suppression of acetoclastic methanogens under low pH conditions induced by FW shock.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21153,"journal":{"name":"Resources Conservation and Recycling","volume":"225 ","pages":"Article 108612"},"PeriodicalIF":10.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145221885","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Converting woody biomass ash and CO2 into valuable resources via a sustainable chelation approach","authors":"Jiajie Wang , So Katsumi , Hiroshi Naganuma , Tomoyuki Makino , Chuanzhen Jian , Yuki Ohori , Vani Novita Alviani , Noriyoshi Tsuchiya , Noriaki Watanabe","doi":"10.1016/j.resconrec.2025.108606","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.resconrec.2025.108606","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Efficient valorization of woody biomass ash is essential for advancing sustainable bioenergy systems and supporting a low-carbon circular economy. A key challenge lies in safely managing heavy metals while recovering valuable resources. In this study, we developed a sustainable process for simultaneously producing high-purity potassium fertilizer (KHCO<sub>3</sub>) and industrial raw material (CaCO<sub>3</sub>) from woody biomass ash. This is achieved using a recyclable CO<sub>2</sub>-enriched solution containing a green chelating agent <em>N,N</em>-bis(carboxymethyl)-<em>L</em>-glutamic acid (GLDA), which enhances extraction and selective precipitation of metal ions under mild conditions (<100°C, ambient pressure). The process enables effective CO<sub>2</sub> capture and storage, significantly reducing heavy metal Cd, Cu, As, Pb, Zn content in the ash and recovers valuable K and Ca resources. By integrating carbon mitigation with material recycling, this approach provides a practical and scalable pathway toward circular economy implementation in biomass-based power generation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21153,"journal":{"name":"Resources Conservation and Recycling","volume":"225 ","pages":"Article 108606"},"PeriodicalIF":10.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145221896","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Rakesh Krishnamoorthy Iyer, Jarod C. Kelly, Michael Wang
{"title":"Life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions analysis of battery-grade lithium production in Finland","authors":"Rakesh Krishnamoorthy Iyer, Jarod C. Kelly, Michael Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.resconrec.2025.108592","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.resconrec.2025.108592","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Various countries are undertaking initiatives to domestically produce battery-related critical materials. Within Finland, Keliber Technology Oy is developing capabilities for battery-grade lithium hydroxide monohydrate (LHM) production from spodumene ores. A detailed life-cycle assessment (LCA) of this pathway is conducted to determine its life-cycle GHG impacts using Argonne’s R&D GREET (Research and Development Greenhouse gases, Regulated Emissions, and Energy use in Technologies) model. The analysis shows life-cycle GHG emissions of ∼9.2 kg CO<sub>2-eq</sub>/kg LHM, dominated by contributions from three energy sources – diesel, natural gas, and electricity – and two material inputs – lime (CaO) and soda ash (Na<sub>2</sub>CO<sub>3</sub>). Sensitivity analyses highlight the potential to reduce these impacts using low-carbon electricity, sequestration of process CO<sub>2</sub> emissions generated during CaO and Na<sub>2</sub>CO<sub>3</sub> production, and bio-based energy for LHM production (by ∼15 % each). A comparative analysis shows lower impacts for Keliber’s LHM than for existing LHM production from Australian spodumene ores processed in China (by ∼40 %).</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21153,"journal":{"name":"Resources Conservation and Recycling","volume":"225 ","pages":"Article 108592"},"PeriodicalIF":10.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145182922","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"A multi-AI approach to predicting municipal solid waste generation and recycling demand in Hong Kong","authors":"Pei Xu, Hao Zheng","doi":"10.1016/j.resconrec.2025.108590","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.resconrec.2025.108590","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Accurate prediction of municipal solid waste (MSW) generation is recognized as a critical component in establishing optimized waste management frameworks. Traditional regression and single time-series models often prove inadequate in capturing the nonlinear and multifactorial dynamics of MSW generation. To address these shortcomings, this study integrates advanced AI-driven regression methods (e.g.,MLP-ANN) with time-series models (e.g.,LSTM,ARIMA) to enhance predictive accuracy in the context of Hong Kong. By incorporating diverse socioeconomic variables, our approach markedly outperforms conventional techniques, particularly in forecasting food, plastic, and paper waste. Furthermore, aligned with Hong Kong’s recycling targets, we predict the recycling capacity required for 2024–2035. The results underscore the urgent imperative for immediate, large-scale investments in waste recycle infrastructure, especially in food and plastic waste, to mitigate future landfill saturation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21153,"journal":{"name":"Resources Conservation and Recycling","volume":"225 ","pages":"Article 108590"},"PeriodicalIF":10.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145159284","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Life-cycle carbon footprint of novel technologies for lithium production and potential implications for the supply chain in North America","authors":"Emily Nishikawa , Sylvia Sleep , Joule Bergerson","doi":"10.1016/j.resconrec.2025.108598","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.resconrec.2025.108598","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study explores unconventional lithium sources in North America for producing lithium hydroxide monohydrate (LiOH.H<sub>2</sub>O) with lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions compared to traditional sources. We also estimate how batteries using LiOH.H<sub>2</sub>O would compare with the emerging sodium-ion battery technology. Novel technologies (e.g., direct lithium extraction, DLE, and electrochemical refining) show promise to reduce GHG emissions compared to traditional methods, with carbon footprints from 2 to 18 kgCO<sub>2</sub>eq/kg LiOH.H<sub>2</sub>O (baseline, no allocation). Electricity carbon intensity and methodological choices (e.g., co-product allocation/substitution, boundary definitions) are the most influential factors across pathways, with impacts ranging from -156 % to 130 % in carbon footprints relative to baseline scenarios. Furthermore, while unconventional lithium sources coupled with novel processing technologies may reduce carbon footprints compared to current incumbent pathways, research and development (R&D) and innovation effects should be considered to maintain competitiveness in the face of other emerging technologies, such as sodium-ion batteries.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21153,"journal":{"name":"Resources Conservation and Recycling","volume":"225 ","pages":"Article 108598"},"PeriodicalIF":10.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145159282","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}