Mohammad Sagor Hosen , Heon E. Park , Mark P. Staiger
{"title":"Toward circular, value-added recycling of modified-poly(ethylene terephthalate): Microstructure and performance across multiple fused particle fabrication cycles","authors":"Mohammad Sagor Hosen , Heon E. Park , Mark P. Staiger","doi":"10.1016/j.resconrec.2026.108781","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.resconrec.2026.108781","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Dimensional instability remains a principal concern in extrusion-based additive manufacturing, driven by volumetric shrinkage stemming from microstructural changes, especially throughout closed-loop recycling of semicrystalline polymers such as poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET). The present study investigates the microstructural evolution and corresponding volumetric shrinkage of modified-PET (mPET) quantifying key microstructural contents (<em>i.e.</em>, degree of crystallinity, and mobile and rigid amorphous fractions) across 4 fused particle fabrication cycles for the first time. The results reveal proto-spherullite formation in recycled mPET microstructure and associated microstructural changes that cause progressive volumetric shrinkage. The degree of crystallinity and rigid amorphous content are found to vary as a function of the FPF cycle number. Notably, recycled mPET exhibited an increase in density from 1.23 to 1.30 g/cm³ and volumetric shrinkage from 0 to 4.8 % following 4 FPF cycles. The study observations have important implications for predicting dimensional accuracy in 3D-printed parts manufactured from both virgin and recycled semicrystalline polymers using extrusion-based additive manufacturing.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21153,"journal":{"name":"Resources Conservation and Recycling","volume":"228 ","pages":"Article 108781"},"PeriodicalIF":10.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145915293","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}
Vijhay Krisshna Mahenthren , Gabriele Weber-Blaschke , Mark Hughes , Michael Risse
{"title":"PRecTimber 2.0: Forecasting quantitative and qualitative potentials for wood circularity in Germany, Finland, and Sweden","authors":"Vijhay Krisshna Mahenthren , Gabriele Weber-Blaschke , Mark Hughes , Michael Risse","doi":"10.1016/j.resconrec.2026.108813","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.resconrec.2026.108813","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>National bioeconomy strategies in Germany, Finland, and Sweden are expected to increase wood demand, putting pressure on already strained forest resources. Circularity of wood products can reduce this demand by improving resource efficiency, but barriers like uncertain availability and quality of post-consumer wood hinder implementation. This study optimizes and extends the PRecTimber model to forecast post-consumer wood quantities and qualities in Germany (revised with quality information), Finland, and Sweden. By 2050, predicted post-consumer wood volumes are 14.11 Mt in Germany, 1.64 Mt in Finland, and 2.74 Mt in Sweden, mainly from the construction sector. Our quality assessment methodology with scenario analysis (status quo S0 and improved scenarios S1–S2 with +10 and +20 percentage-point gains in key quality factors) reveals that the shares of post-consumer construction sawnwood suitable for lifespan extension and material recycling, respectively, are 25 % and 59 % under S0, 36 % and 50 % under S1, and 49 % and 38 % under S2. Leveraging these quantity and quality insights, policy reforms can support industries and technological innovation to optimize the use of post-consumer wood.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21153,"journal":{"name":"Resources Conservation and Recycling","volume":"228 ","pages":"Article 108813"},"PeriodicalIF":10.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146078781","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":"Synergistic mechanochemical activation and carbon-thermal shock for full-component upcycling of retired photovoltaic modules","authors":"Lanbin Wang, Zishuo Wang, Jing Wu, Beikai Zhang, Jiadong Yu, Jinhui Li","doi":"10.1016/j.resconrec.2026.108822","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.resconrec.2026.108822","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study introduces mechanochemical activation–instantaneous carbon thermal shock (CTS) as a synergistic strategy for the high-value utilization of all components in retired crystalline-Si photovoltaic (PV) modules, addressing recycling bottlenecks such as limited metal recovery, high chemical consumption, and low-value treatment of Si. Mechanochemical ball milling effectively disrupts the Ag–Si interface and glassy interlayers, increasing the specific surface area and inducing lattice distortions. This lowers the reaction activation energy, enabling high leaching efficiencies for Ag (99.5%) and Al (94%) while markedly reducing the required nitric acid dosage. Subsequent CTS, with its ultrafast heating, overcomes the kinetic limitations of silica reduction, rapidly converting the acid-leached Si residue into high-purity, highly crystalline SiC. The synthesized SiC is well suited for high-temperature electronic devices and thermal management applications due to its excellent thermal stability, high thermal conductivity, and semiconducting properties. Life cycle and economic analyses indicate that, compared with conventional hydrometallurgical methods, the proposed process reduces the environmental footprint by 88.19% and lowers material treatment costs, offering an economically viable pathway for green, closed-loop recycling of PV waste.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21153,"journal":{"name":"Resources Conservation and Recycling","volume":"228 ","pages":"Article 108822"},"PeriodicalIF":10.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146072566","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}
Maidu Silm , Qixiang Jiang , Anu Kisand , Alexander Bismarck , Mitchell P. Jones
{"title":"Transforming textile waste into materials using fungi","authors":"Maidu Silm , Qixiang Jiang , Anu Kisand , Alexander Bismarck , Mitchell P. Jones","doi":"10.1016/j.resconrec.2026.108812","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.resconrec.2026.108812","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Textile waste from ‘fast fashion’ has considerable environmental impact and is an EU priority area. Colonising textiles with fungi provides a unique solution, with options to bond them together to create composite materials, fruit them to provide mushrooms (source of chitin-glucan complex), or both. We produced mycelium-textile composites in analogy to traditional prepreg-based composite manufacturing, consolidating multiple textile stacks colonised with <em>Ganoderma lucidum</em> into a single material of customisable thickness and free-form geometry. An oxygen gradient existed through the cross-section of textile stacks, resulting in more growth on surface than core plies. Consolidated composites comprising only surface layers achieved tensile strengths up to ∼14 MPa. Their flexural and shear strengths (7 MPa and 0.5 MPa, respectively) indicated suitability for semi-structural construction applications. Waste textile substrate could also be fruited (5.7% w/w yield). These advances expand the stalled application of mycelium composites and provide a nature-based solution to textile upcycling.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21153,"journal":{"name":"Resources Conservation and Recycling","volume":"228 ","pages":"Article 108812"},"PeriodicalIF":10.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146072569","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}
Meng Xiao , Hongzhen Zhang , Xianglan Li , Chunlong Zhang , Meijie Zhu , Jingqi Dong , Hao Meng , Peng Liu , Jingfei Deng , Huijian Shi , Xingliang Lu
{"title":"Coupling life cycle assessment with social media-based matrices for multidimensional sustainability assessment of site remediation","authors":"Meng Xiao , Hongzhen Zhang , Xianglan Li , Chunlong Zhang , Meijie Zhu , Jingqi Dong , Hao Meng , Peng Liu , Jingfei Deng , Huijian Shi , Xingliang Lu","doi":"10.1016/j.resconrec.2026.108789","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.resconrec.2026.108789","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Current sustainability assessments for contaminated site remediation lack unified frameworks integrating multidimensional impacts and public input, alongside data-supported weighting methods. We developed a methodology coupling life cycle assessment (LCA) with sustainability matrices, using social media big data to derive public perception-based weights. Environmental, social, and economic dimensions were weighted at 73.7%, 19.2%, and 7.1%, respectively, with critical indicators of soil (15.9%), business and local economy (4.7%) and indirect/external costs (4.6%) in each dimension. Applied to a site with metals and total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) contamination, environmental impacts dominated sustainability scores despite offsetting social/economic gains. <em>In situ</em> remediation using chemical oxidation and immobilization (net -306) demonstrated significantly lower net impact than <em>ex situ</em> excavation with cement kiln co-disposal (net -355), proving more sustainable. This novel sustainability assessment methodology is transferrable to other contaminated sites for improved efficiency and reduced costs during the decision-making and implementation of green and sustainable remediation (GSR).</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21153,"journal":{"name":"Resources Conservation and Recycling","volume":"228 ","pages":"Article 108789"},"PeriodicalIF":10.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146001032","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":"Material performance, economic feasibility, and greenhouse gas emissions of natural pozzolans in concrete: A review and meta-analysis","authors":"Asahi Amitani, Sabbie A. Miller","doi":"10.1016/j.resconrec.2025.108769","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.resconrec.2025.108769","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>There is an urgent need to decarbonize cement and concrete production. One of the most rapidly implementable strategies is to partially replace Portland cement (PC) in concrete with supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs), such as natural pozzolans (NPs), which are globally abundant but underused. Current studies have focused on only one or a subset of NPs and used inconsistent approaches for estimating their environmental impacts and production costs, hindering the ability to compare these SCMs and determine their best applications. We systematically review NPs—including calcined clays, diatomaceous earth, pumice, scoria, and tuff—to examine both their composition as well as their contributions to fresh and hardened concrete properties. We use a harmonized assessment approach to examine greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and costs from producing concrete with these NPs, and we concurrently examine experimental results from the review with these emissions and cost findings. Our results show that these NPs can offer necessary composition, improve durability, and offer desired contributions to strength with proper mixture proportioning. On average, NP concretes resulted in 7–24 % GHG emissions reduction, while lowering consumption of the costliest constituent, PC. These results demonstrate that, with appropriate selection and processing, NPs offer a scalable, cost-effective route to partial PC replacement, advancing concrete decarbonization.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21153,"journal":{"name":"Resources Conservation and Recycling","volume":"228 ","pages":"Article 108769"},"PeriodicalIF":10.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145915292","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}
Yulin Patrisia , Nghia P. Tran , Chamila Gunasekara , David W. Law , Tuan D. Ngo , Sujeeva Setunge
{"title":"Potential SCMs for low-carbon concrete in Australia: Cradle-to-gate LCA and cost perspectives","authors":"Yulin Patrisia , Nghia P. Tran , Chamila Gunasekara , David W. Law , Tuan D. Ngo , Sujeeva Setunge","doi":"10.1016/j.resconrec.2026.108823","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.resconrec.2026.108823","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Concrete production is a major source of global emissions, and incorporating supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) offers a pathway to lower carbon construction. This study evaluates the life cycle and cost performance of eight alternative SCMs in Australia: recycled concrete powder (RCP), clay brick powder (CBP), recycled glass powder (RGP), lithium slag powder (LSP), red mud powder (RMP), limestone calcined clay (LC2), steel slag powder (SSP) and pond ash (PA). The study considers 83 mixes containing these SCMs, as reported in the literature, which achieved 30–40 MPa. The results showed that LC2 achieved the lowest GWP (283 kg CO₂-eq/m³; 8.22 kg CO₂-eq/MPa) and the lowest cost (∼133 AU$/m³). RGP and LSP also reduced ADPF to 71–70 MJ/MPa, while RMP and LSP achieved the lowest strength-normalised costs (3.8–3.9 AU$/MPa). CBP and PA performed worse due to poor reactivity and higher costs (>4.3 AU$/MPa). These findings highlight the potential of LC2, RGP, LSP, and RMP to support circular, low-carbon concrete in Australia.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21153,"journal":{"name":"Resources Conservation and Recycling","volume":"228 ","pages":"Article 108823"},"PeriodicalIF":10.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146072564","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}
Selene Paz Adaglio , Romina Ingrassia , Gisela Tubio , Ariel Di Loreto , María Julia Boggione
{"title":"Sustainable innovation: Artificial Intelligence-assisted design of bio-based plastics","authors":"Selene Paz Adaglio , Romina Ingrassia , Gisela Tubio , Ariel Di Loreto , María Julia Boggione","doi":"10.1016/j.resconrec.2026.108814","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.resconrec.2026.108814","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This work presents a machine learning-driven methodology for bioplastic formulation design, valorizing eggshell waste as reinforcement. Two bioplastic formulations were developed: bioplastic from Droguería Industrial San Juan starch (BADSJ) and bioplastic from Biopack starch (BAS), reinforced with eggshell powder (ESP). PCA was performed on thickness, moisture, solubility, puncture strength (Ps), deformation at break point (Pd), biodegradability and opacity. Six machine learning algorithms were evaluated. Random Forest ntree = 200 and Linear Support Vector Machine (SVM) achieved the best performance, achieving 83.3% accuracy and 0.81 Kappa. These models estimated concentration ranges associated with improved Ps and Pd. The SVM exhibited higher predictive consistency, with R² of 0.9724 and lower error metrics (RMSE: 0.1422; MAE: 0.1043) compared to Random Forest. SVM predicted broader range of eggshell concentrations (0.47–1.47%) associated with improved Ps and Pd values, indicating better differentiation between formulations. These models provide a data-driven framework for optimizing bioplastic formulations and reducing experimental iterations.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21153,"journal":{"name":"Resources Conservation and Recycling","volume":"228 ","pages":"Article 108814"},"PeriodicalIF":10.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146072565","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":"Mapping waste mismanagement: Detecting litter hotspots with geospatial AI and pedestrian imagery","authors":"Nicolás Valenzuela-Levi, Cristobal Nilo, Javiera Ponce-Méndez, Nicolás Gálvez Ramírez","doi":"10.1016/j.resconrec.2025.108772","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.resconrec.2025.108772","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study introduces a novel methodology for urban litter detection and management by combining enhanced pedestrian inspection with automated visual registry, GPS, and machine learning. To establish the model, the research team collected over 10,000 georeferenced point-of-view (POV) images across three predetermined routes in downtown Santiago, Chile. A pre-trained YOLOv8 deep learning model was successfully utilized to binary classify the presence of litter in each image, achieving a precision of 89.03%. Subsequently, a multivariate logistic regression model quantified the correlation between these detection results and urban contextual variables, such as proximity to non-residential activities and transport hubs. The key finding demonstrates that litter occurrence is significantly more prevalent in areas surrounding metro stations and bus stops, thereby providing empirical data to inform targeted, spatially optimized waste management strategies. This approach offers a scalable, low-cost solution for cities globally, particularly in the Global South.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21153,"journal":{"name":"Resources Conservation and Recycling","volume":"228 ","pages":"Article 108772"},"PeriodicalIF":10.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145929113","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":"Building inequality: How construction materials shape service provision and socio-economic divides in Lima","authors":"Alessia Linares-Capurro , Úrsula Cárdenas-Mamani , Ramzy Kahhat , Tomer Fishman","doi":"10.1016/j.resconrec.2026.108815","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.resconrec.2026.108815","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Urban infrastructure is crucial for socio-economic development, yet the link between construction material stocks and societal needs in rapidly growing Global South cities remains insufficiently understood. This study conducts a spatially explicit analysis of Lima, Peru, mapping material stocks for buildings dedicated to shelter, education, healthcare, and collective amenities, and relates them to Decent Living Standard (DLS) thresholds and income levels. Results show that heavily populated, low-income, informal areas accumulate greater material stocks but suffer from poorer access to essential services, driven primarily by population demand. In higher-income zones, per-capita living space becomes more significant. This reveals socio-metabolic inequality, as material-intensive expansion in marginalized neighborhoods does not translate into improved well-being. Service privatization and informality exacerbate unequal access. The study concludes by recommending additional factors for future research to refine the understanding of material stocks and service provision relationships in urban contexts.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21153,"journal":{"name":"Resources Conservation and Recycling","volume":"228 ","pages":"Article 108815"},"PeriodicalIF":10.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146098306","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}