{"title":"Simultaneous extraction of Al, Fe, Si to prepare aluminum-based intermediate alloys from secondary aluminum dross by a high temperature electrochemical reduction method","authors":"Biao Zeng , Jian Chen , Zegang Wu , Jingjing Zhong , Mingzhuang Xie , Hongliang Zhao , Fengqin Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.resconrec.2025.108595","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.resconrec.2025.108595","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>A short-process technology integrating hydrolysis-calcination and molten salt electrolysis was developed to recover Al, Si, and Fe from secondary aluminum dross (SAD). Thermodynamic and characterization studies elucidated the reaction pathways, phase transformations during pretreatment, and the dissolution behavior, electrolytic mechanism, and element migration (Al, Si, Fe) of pretreated SAD (P-SAD) in cryolite molten salts, overcoming its poor solubility. The research results show that the presence of Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> can promote the recovery of the Si element, and optimized electrolysis (30 wt.% P-SAD, 1000 °C, 1 A/cm<sup>2</sup>, 3 h) produced an Al-alloy containing 1.2 wt. % Si and 0.9 wt. % Fe with 76.7 % current efficiency. Microstructural analysis showed an Al matrix with Al-Si and Al-Si-Fe intermetallic phases, exhibiting uniform Si distribution and localized Fe enrichment. This study provides systematic insights into the electrolytic recovery process for high-value SAD utilization.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21153,"journal":{"name":"Resources Conservation and Recycling","volume":"225 ","pages":"Article 108595"},"PeriodicalIF":10.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145093781","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}
Valentina Guerrieri , Laura García-Herrero , Sylvain Marsac , Andrea Monti , Matteo Vittuari
{"title":"Assessing sustainability trade-offs through life cycle thinking: introducing conservation agriculture in Mediterranean carbon farming systems","authors":"Valentina Guerrieri , Laura García-Herrero , Sylvain Marsac , Andrea Monti , Matteo Vittuari","doi":"10.1016/j.resconrec.2025.108572","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.resconrec.2025.108572","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The environmental impacts of farming are central in sustainable food system discussions, as current practices often harm soils, water, biodiversity, and ecosystem health. Carbon farming has emerged as a promising strategy, improving soil health, increasing organic carbon, and supporting profitability. However, Life Cycle Assessment has limitations in capturing agriculture's multifunctional roles, prompting the integration of socio-economic analyses. This study uses Life Cycle Thinking (LCT) methods to assess the environmental, economic, and social aspects of Conservation Agriculture, specifically testing camelina [Camelina Sativa (L.) Crantz] as a cash-cover crop in Mediterranean dryland systems. Across eight case studies, findings suggest that conservation practices and camelina introduction can enhance biodiversity, soil health, and farmer incomes, while reducing environmental costs and creating sustainable market opportunities for oilseeds. Despite potential trade-offs, such as increased input costs and nitrous oxide emissions, policy recommendations are provided to support sustainable practices, with LCT frameworks guiding resilience in Mediterranean agriculture.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21153,"journal":{"name":"Resources Conservation and Recycling","volume":"225 ","pages":"Article 108572"},"PeriodicalIF":10.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145093817","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}
Yi Zhang , Fang Liu , Lili Xu , Jun Zhang , Siyan Zeng , Jian Yu , Lei Wang
{"title":"Trade-offs in packaging tape performances: Insights from life cycle assessment and multi-criteria decision-making","authors":"Yi Zhang , Fang Liu , Lili Xu , Jun Zhang , Siyan Zeng , Jian Yu , Lei Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.resconrec.2025.108581","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.resconrec.2025.108581","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The booming express delivery sector urgently needs alternatives to petroleum-based tape, which hinders the recycling of packaging. Biobased tapes that can be repulped with paper packaging are produced using viscose and ionic liquid (IL) processes. This study evaluates their environmental and economic performance via techno-economic and life cycle assessment. The results show that IL-based tape reduces global warming impacts by 29 % compared to polypropylene (BOPP) tape, but it increases the impacts of toxicity. Viscose-based tape has the shortest economic payback period but results in 15 %–62 % higher environmental impacts than IL-based tape. To reconcile these trade-offs, we developed a multi-criteria decision-making framework to support policymakers and industry stakeholders for their decision-making. The results identify the IL-based tape process as optimal and Qinghai Province as the preferred production location. These findings demonstrate that this advanced biobased tape manufacturing process, adapted to regional conditions, can provide sustainable packaging solutions and circular bioeconomy solutions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21153,"journal":{"name":"Resources Conservation and Recycling","volume":"225 ","pages":"Article 108581"},"PeriodicalIF":10.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145061272","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}
Rohit Prajapati, Shiju Joseph, Patricio A. Burdiles, Julian M. Allwood, Cyrille F. Dunant
{"title":"Recovered cement paste for recycling and production of cement in different countries","authors":"Rohit Prajapati, Shiju Joseph, Patricio A. Burdiles, Julian M. Allwood, Cyrille F. Dunant","doi":"10.1016/j.resconrec.2025.108580","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.resconrec.2025.108580","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Using waste concrete as recycled aggregates is a down-cycling practice because cement paste, responsible for 80–90 % emissions and 40–60 % cost in concrete, is not extracted. A better approach is to separate cement paste from aggregates, which can produce better quality recycled aggregates and recovered cement paste (RCP) with high calcium content. This paper compares processing techniques for producing RCP and proposes a new classification currently absent from reports and standards. We evaluate potential RCP applications in cement production, as raw meal for clinker production and for cement replacement after forced carbonation. Further, we evaluate potential of quality-adjusted substitution of RCP for cement production across a panel of countries, with a range of different economic status, to outline optimal practices for cement recycling. Finally, this paper aims to change the perception of concrete waste, showing that when processed efficiently, it can be recycled into cement with minimal loss at each cycle.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21153,"journal":{"name":"Resources Conservation and Recycling","volume":"225 ","pages":"Article 108580"},"PeriodicalIF":10.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145047602","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}
Han Tu , Shoujuan Tang , Guangxin Liu , Yang Li , Lei Shi
{"title":"Resource and the environmental burdens of excessive construction in China's urban housing sector","authors":"Han Tu , Shoujuan Tang , Guangxin Liu , Yang Li , Lei Shi","doi":"10.1016/j.resconrec.2025.108579","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.resconrec.2025.108579","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In China's complex urbanization process, excessive construction has led to large-scale housing vacancies, hindering the development of low-carbon and sustainable cities. This study proposes a three-layer accounting framework based on dynamic Material Flow Analysis (MFA). The framework innovatively identifies and quantifies the impacts of excessive construction on urban building metabolism and systematically evaluates five vacant housing disposal strategies across multiple dimensions, focusing on material consumption, land use, and carbon emissions. The results indicate that the excessive vacant housing stock in Chinese cities reached approximately 3986 km<sup>2</sup> in 2024. If excessive vacant stock can be effectively revitalized, between 2025–2060, the total material consumption could be reduced by up to 3873 Mt and carbon emissions by 1241 Mt. However, historical excessive construction has significantly diminished the metabolic efficiency of urban housing, and even under the optimal strategy (revitalization), it remains challenging to fully offset the excessive resource inputs already incurred. Throughout the entire urban housing development period (2000–2060), conservative estimates suggest that at least 2200 Mt of ineffective material input and 1395 Mt of additional carbon emissions will be generated. Given that the existing housing stock is theoretically sufficient to meet demand through 2030, it is imperative for China to curb further expansion of the housing stock while actively advancing the revitalization of existing vacant units. Furthermore, with housing demand expected to peak around 2050, a large volume of vacant stock beyond that point may render revitalization strategies ineffective, necessitating more aggressive interventions such as proactive demolition.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21153,"journal":{"name":"Resources Conservation and Recycling","volume":"225 ","pages":"Article 108579"},"PeriodicalIF":10.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145047601","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}
Ge Song , Shunan Zhao , Kai Zhao , Ruiping Liu , Chengzhi Hu , Mark C.M. van Loosdrecht
{"title":"Recovery of C, N, and P from waste activated sludge by enzymatic anaerobic fermentation: Stoichiometry and metatranscriptomics analysis","authors":"Ge Song , Shunan Zhao , Kai Zhao , Ruiping Liu , Chengzhi Hu , Mark C.M. van Loosdrecht","doi":"10.1016/j.resconrec.2025.108578","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.resconrec.2025.108578","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The recovery of C, N, and P elements by sludge biorefinery potentially reduces operation costs and increases the extra benefits. Herein, we analyzed the elemental stoichiometry of C, N, and P and functional microbiome involved in enzymatic anaerobic fermentation. Enzymatic hydrolysis was observed to increase the release of C, N, and P into the sludge supernatants by 21.8 %–26.3 %. Metatranscriptome analysis indicated that enzymatic pretreatment enhanced the metabolism of the organic carbon degradation, ammonium conversion, and P solubilization in subsequent fermentation. Specifically, enzymatic pretreatment enhanced endogenous carbon hydrolase activity by 48.4 %–72.7 % and upregulated intra-C metabolic pathways, such as glycolysis and pyruvate metabolism. Ammonium transport and conversion were significantly increased by 4–6 fold, stimulating the synthesis of glutamine and endogenous amino acids. Additionally, enzymatic hydrolysis promoted phosphatase secretion and enhanced bacterial P uptake. These effects improved the recovery of C, N, and P as dentification carbon source and struvite by 13.7 %–41.8 % and the dry sludge production was reduced by 24.3 %–28.1 %. Life cycle assessment (LCA) indicated the shift of CO<sub>2</sub> emissions from net positive to net negative levels as compared to the conventional A<sup>2</sup>/O process. This study offers valuable insights into the redistribution and metabolism of various elements involved in the enzymatic anaerobic fermentation, and proposes the potential strategy to recovery C, N, and P from sewage via sludge biorefinery.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21153,"journal":{"name":"Resources Conservation and Recycling","volume":"225 ","pages":"Article 108578"},"PeriodicalIF":10.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145027868","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}
Maartje Leemans , Bjorn de Koeijer , Gabriëlle J.M. Tuijthof
{"title":"Adopting circular strategies in medical device development: Mapping of methods along the engineering design process","authors":"Maartje Leemans , Bjorn de Koeijer , Gabriëlle J.M. Tuijthof","doi":"10.1016/j.resconrec.2025.108577","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.resconrec.2025.108577","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>With growing awareness of the environmental impact of medical devices, there is increasing recognition of the need to adopt circular strategies into their designs. This adoption involves redesigning existing devices and developing new devices, prioritizing efficiency and longevity of use through R-strategies such as Reduce, Reuse, Repair, and Recycle. As circular product design is still emerging, there is a need for practical guidance on integrating these R-strategies in medical devices. This study focuses on an inventory and mapping of methods (design methods) explicitly mentioned in the literature related to the (re)design of medical devices under the framework of circular economy principles. Through a systematic review of 28 papers, we identified 12 methods and mapped them to the corresponding R-strategies and phases of the generic engineering design process. Life cycle assessment (LCA) and material flow analysis were the two most frequently applied methods, with 12 and five citations, respectively, and tend to focus more on eco-efficient R-strategies. Nine out of the 12 identified methods focus on redesigning existing medical devices, primarily applied during the analysis and evaluation phases. By highlighting existing methods and their R-strategy applications in medical device (re)design, our findings aim to offer guidance to select and integrate methods that can support circular design practices throughout the design process of medical devices to drive the transition to a circular economy within healthcare.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21153,"journal":{"name":"Resources Conservation and Recycling","volume":"225 ","pages":"Article 108577"},"PeriodicalIF":10.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145027869","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}
Yanhui Yu , Kairui You , Shicong Zhang , Xinyan Yang , Chengcheng Zhu , Weiguang Cai
{"title":"A city-level assessment framework for low-carbon transition of residential district heating in China","authors":"Yanhui Yu , Kairui You , Shicong Zhang , Xinyan Yang , Chengcheng Zhu , Weiguang Cai","doi":"10.1016/j.resconrec.2025.108576","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.resconrec.2025.108576","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The energy transition of residential district heating (RDH) in China has achieved remarkable progress, driven by improvements in heating efficiency, optimization of energy structures, and enhanced building energy performance on the demand side. The implementation of clean heating policies has further accelerated this process. This study develops a Low-carbon Energy Transition Index (L-ETI) to evaluate the progress of RDH energy transition in 129 cities from 2013 to 2022, focusing on two dimensions: energy system performance and transition readiness. Our findings reveal significant disparities in the energy transition progress among cities. Although the <span>L</span>-ETI scores for RDH have generally increased over time, the transition faces substantial challenges due to insufficient driving forces. We demonstrate the positive impact of clean heating policies on promoting RDH energy transition, particularly in the “2+26” key cities. Furthermore, we estimate that if the heating facility mix and building energy efficiency levels (adjusted for climatic factors) in all cities were elevated to the top 10% national benchmark, total carbon emissions from RDH could be reduced by 50.5 MtCO<sub>2</sub> (14.0%). This study provides an in-depth analysis of RDH energy transition, offering valuable insights for similar analyses in other sectors and serving as a reference for city policymakers.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21153,"journal":{"name":"Resources Conservation and Recycling","volume":"225 ","pages":"Article 108576"},"PeriodicalIF":10.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145027867","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":"Curated dialogue: a new article format from the RCR webinar program","authors":"Mitchell P. Jones , Ming Xu","doi":"10.1016/j.resconrec.2025.108575","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.resconrec.2025.108575","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":21153,"journal":{"name":"Resources Conservation and Recycling","volume":"224 ","pages":"Article 108575"},"PeriodicalIF":10.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145045398","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}
Dennis Ashilenje , Fatma Ashour , Mirko Barz , Veronica Belandria , Alberto Borello , Stéphane Bostyn , Toufik Boushaki , Raffaella Branciari , Joseph K. Bwapwa , Elisa Cerza , Andrea Dell'Orto , Hassan El Bari , Mayuren Govender , Sanae Habchi , Fadoua Karouach , Nourhan H. Khashaba , Lamfeddal Kouisni , Ombretta Marconi , Assunta Marrocchi , Meryem Saber , Volker Wohlgemuth
{"title":"A literature review of slaughterhouse waste valorisation: Techniques, environmental, and economic implications","authors":"Dennis Ashilenje , Fatma Ashour , Mirko Barz , Veronica Belandria , Alberto Borello , Stéphane Bostyn , Toufik Boushaki , Raffaella Branciari , Joseph K. Bwapwa , Elisa Cerza , Andrea Dell'Orto , Hassan El Bari , Mayuren Govender , Sanae Habchi , Fadoua Karouach , Nourhan H. Khashaba , Lamfeddal Kouisni , Ombretta Marconi , Assunta Marrocchi , Meryem Saber , Volker Wohlgemuth","doi":"10.1016/j.resconrec.2025.108571","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.resconrec.2025.108571","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Managing slaughterhouse waste (SHW) is a critical global challenge. Over the past two decades, the focus on sustainable waste management has intensified, with valorisation emerging as a key solution. This review examines the most significant outcomes of recent advancements in SHW valorisation, particularly from 2010 onward, with an emphasis on African contexts, which remain underrepresented in the literature. Notable results include the successful integration of biochemical processes, advanced waste-to-energy technologies, and nutrient recovery techniques. These approaches have demonstrated measurable outcomes such as significant reductions in environmental impact, enhanced energy recovery, and economic benefits for local communities. Case studies from African countries showcase the effectiveness of specific valorisation strategies, including high-efficiency biogas production and resource recovery, offering practical insights for wider adoption and scalability. Organized into 11 sections, the review identifies key research gaps, such as the need for region-specific technologies and policy frameworks and proposes concrete recommendations for advancing circular economy practices. The ultimate aim is to provide a roadmap for researchers, policymakers, and industry professionals to drive the sustainable development of SHW management, contributing to global efforts for waste reduction and resource maximization.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21153,"journal":{"name":"Resources Conservation and Recycling","volume":"224 ","pages":"Article 108571"},"PeriodicalIF":10.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144932713","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}