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Recycling and Sustainability of Industrial Solid Waste

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A special issue of Materials (ISSN 1996-1944). This special issue belongs to the section "Green Materials".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 May 2025 | Viewed by 9223

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Special Issue Editor

Dr. Zhanjun Wang

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Guest Editor

School of Metallurgy, Northeastern University, Shenyang 110819, China
Interests: recycling; sustainability

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The Special Issue titled Studies on Recycling and Sustainability of Industrial Solid Waste provides important insights into the environmental and economic benefits of managing waste in an environmentally responsible manner. Industrial solid waste is a by-product of various industrial processes and can include items such as coal ash, mine tailings, slag from iron and steel production, and other inorganic residues. Recycling industrial solid waste can help reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills, conserve natural resources, and cut down greenhouse gas emissions. Sustainability is also key in the management of industrial solid waste. It involves efforts to minimize waste generation, promote resource efficiency, and reduce the environmental impact of solid waste disposal. Recycling and sustainability are essential aspects of industrial solid waste management that can help us address the global waste challenge while also protecting the environment and creating economic benefits. This Special Issue covers the following topics: industrial solid waste, recycling, sustainability, resource recovery, energy recovery, environmental impacts, and CO₂ emission reduction.

Dr. Zhanjun Wang
Guest Editor

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Keywords

industrial solid waste
recycling
sustainability
resource recovery
energy recovery
environmental impacts
CO₂ emission reduction

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Published Papers (9 papers)

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Research

14 pages, 7939 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Use of Recycled Cement-Bonded Particle Board Waste in the Development of Lightweight Biocomposites

by Girts Bumanis, Pauls P. Argalis, Maris Sinka, Aleksandrs Korjakins and Diana Bajare

Materials 2024, 17(23), 5890; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17235890 - 1 Dec 2024

Viewed by 496

Abstract

Cement-bonded particle boards are gaining popularity globally due to their durability, strength, and, more importantly, environmental sustainability. The increasing demand for these materials has also created the necessity for the sustainable recycling of these materials. In this study, the potential to recycle wood-wool cement board (WWCB) waste into new lightweight insulation biocomposite material was examined. The waste WWCBs were crushed and separated into a fine aggregate fraction, and WWCB production line residues were also collected and compared. The crushed WWCBs were used to produce biocomposites with various compaction ratios and different binder-to-aggregate ratios. To improve their thermal properties and reduce their density, hemp shives were used to partially replace the recycled WWCB aggregate. Their physical, mechanical (compressive and flexural strength), and thermal properties were evaluated, and the drying process of the biocomposites was characterized. The results showed that the density of the produced biocomposites ranged from 390 to 510 kg/m³. The reduction in density was limited due to the presence of cement particles in the aggregate. The incorporation of hemp shives allowed us to reduce the density below 200 kg/m³. The thermal conductivity of the biocomposites ranged from 0.054 to 0.084 W/(mK), placing the material within the effective range of natural biocomposites. This research has demonstrated that industrially produced WWCBs can be successfully recycled to produce sustainable lightweight cement-bonded insulation materials. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recycling and Sustainability of Industrial Solid Waste)

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14 pages, 16495 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Research on the Reusability of Bentonite Waste Materials for Residual Chlorine Removal

by Ieva Andriulaityte, Marina Valentukeviciene and Ramune Zurauskiene

Materials 2024, 17(22), 5647; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17225647 - 19 Nov 2024

Viewed by 527

Abstract

Recyclable construction waste can be used as a low-cost material to reduce stormwater pollution caused by various pollutants. In recent years, studies have reported increased water contamination from chlorine and chlorine compounds and its negative impact on aquatic ecosystems. When assessing the need for waste recycling, circularity, and stormwater reuse, it is worth evaluating the capacities of construction waste materials to reduce stormwater pollution from residual chlorine. Laboratory experiments using bentonite waste material (bentonite clay) and sodium hypochlorite solutions were carried out to analyze the potential of bentonite clay to retain residual chlorine in stormwater and evaluate its capacity to be applied as filtration media in green infrastructure. In the first stage, the particle size distribution and texture of bentonite clay were assessed using laboratory sieve analysis and microscopy. The results of the experiments indicated that the optimal grain size to retain pollutants was 0.8–2.0 mm. The microstructure analysis showed the capacity of bentonite to retain residual chlorine. The results of the static and dynamic experiments (leaching and filtration tests) show that the bentonite clay retained up to 44% of the residual chlorine. The obtained results indicate that bentonite clay might be suitable for application as filtration media in green infrastructure to reduce stormwater contamination. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recycling and Sustainability of Industrial Solid Waste)

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12 pages, 4691 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Effective Separation of Gallium, Vanadium, and Aluminum from a Simulated Bayer Solution by Resin Exchange

by Zhifeng Qin, Xi Jin, Zhen Yang, Yuntao Xin and Weizao Liu

Materials 2024, 17(16), 4109; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17164109 - 20 Aug 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1365

Abstract

The effective recovery of gallium from wastewater discharge in the Bayer process is promising for the long-term development of gallium resources. The adsorption and desorption behavior of gallium (Ga), vanadium (V), and aluminum (Al) ions on a strong acidic styrene cation exchange resin (JK resin) from a simulated Bayer solution was systematically investigated by static experiments. The results showed that the optimum conditions for separating Ga from V and Al were at low temperatures and short contact times, with 78.30%, 15.16%, and 6.63% of the adsorption efficiency at 25 °C and 60 min, respectively, for Ga, V, and Al. The adsorption kinetics of Ga³⁺ conformed to the pseudo-second order model, and the static saturation adsorption capacity was 18.25 mg/g. The Langmuir model fitted the adsorption isotherm of gallium well, and the maximum adsorption capacity was 1.11 mg/g at 25 °C. FT-IR spectroscopy and XPS showed that the mechanism of the Ga³⁺ adsorption was only related to the interaction of the oxygen atoms of the amide oxime group (C=NOH). The separation of Ga, V, and Al can be achieved by desorbing 98% of Al with low concentrations of ammonia and 90% of Ga with low concentrations of hydrochloric acid. The results indicate that JK resin is an efficient adsorbent for separating gallium and vanadium in alkaline solutions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recycling and Sustainability of Industrial Solid Waste)

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12 pages, 7348 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Experimental Study on Macro and Meso Characteristics of Steel-Slag-Based Cemented Backfill Due to Microbial Mineralization Action

by Fengwen Zhao, Jianhua Hu, Yinan Yang and Taoying Liu

Materials 2024, 17(13), 3165; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17133165 - 27 Jun 2024

Viewed by 680

Abstract

Steel slag is an industrial solid waste, which can provide a new calcium source for microbial mineralization as it contains abundant calcium elements. This study treated cemented backfill material with microorganisms and steel slag to enhance its performance. The influence of microbial treatment on the strength, microstructure, and pore characteristics of the backfill was assessed using a strength test, nuclear magnetic resonance, scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction. The results indicate that (1) the microbial mineralization and the hydration reaction take place at the same time; (2) when the proportion of bacterial solution exceeded 50%, microorganisms excessively consumed Ca²⁺, which hindered the following hydration reaction; (3) the additional amount of bacterial solution added into the steel-slag-based cemented backfill material should be less than 50%, which increases the strength by up to 22.10%; (4) the excessive bacterial solution sharply reduces the strength of the backfill even by 21.41%; and (5) the addition of bacterial solution affects the pore characteristics. A 50% bacterial solution can make backfill reach its lowest porosity. The strength has an inversely proportional relationship with porosity, diameter, and roundness (σ = ax + b, a < 0). Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recycling and Sustainability of Industrial Solid Waste)

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14 pages, 6009 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Wet Grinding Concrete Slurry Waste on Hydration and Hardening Properties of Cement: Micro-Nano-Scale Modification

by Guishan Liu, Hao Sun, Yongbo Huang and Peng Du

Materials 2024, 17(12), 3010; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17123010 - 19 Jun 2024

Viewed by 760

Abstract

The concrete slurry waste (CSW) produced by concrete mixing plants is a type of hazardous waste that is difficult to handle. To better recycle the CSW separated from the aggregates, this study uses a variety of wet-grinding processes to refine the solid in it, replaces some of the cement with the solid particles in wet grinding concrete slurry waste (WCSW), and investigates the properties of WCSW and its effect on the hydration and hardening properties of cement. The results show that a suitable wet-grinding process can ensure that the particle size in WCSW is less than 10 μm, the particle morphology is more flat, and the degree of hydration is higher. The WCSW particles can promote early cement hydration; after adding WCSW, the heat release peak of cement hydration appears earlier and more early hydration products are produced, and with the increase in the substitution amount, the promoting effect on early cement hydration will be more significant. The WCSW particles have a great effect on improving the strength of mortar, especially in the early stage. At 1 d, when the substitution amount is 7.5 wt.%, the compressive and flexural strength is increased by 43.67% and 45.04%; this is related to the filling of matrix pores and the improvement of the interface transition zone by micro- and nanoparticles. After the wet grinding of CSW, fine WCSW particles are obtained, which can improve the performance of cement-based materials by replacing cement. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recycling and Sustainability of Industrial Solid Waste)

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26 pages, 14265 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Potential of Reusing 3D Printed Concrete (3DPC) Fine Recycled Aggregates as a Strategy towards Decreasing Cement Content in 3DPC

by Szymon Skibicki, Karol Federowicz, Marcin Hoffmann, Mehdi Chougan, Daniel Sibera, Krzysztof Cendrowski, Mateusz Techman, João Nuno Pacheco, Maxime Liard and Pawel Sikora

Materials 2024, 17(11), 2580; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17112580 - 27 May 2024

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 1485

Abstract

This paper explores the new potential strategy of using fine recycled aggregates (fRA) derived from waste 3D printed concrete (3DPC) as a substitute for cement in additive manufacturing. This study hypothesizes that fRA can optimize mixture design, reduce cement content, and contribute to sustainable construction practices. Experimental programs were conducted to evaluate the fresh and hardened properties, printability window, and buildability of 3DPC mixes containing fRA. Mixes with replacement rates of cement with fRA by 10 vol%, 20 vol%, 30 vol%, 40 vol%, and 50 vol% were produced. A comprehensive experimental protocol consisting of rheological studies (static and dynamic yield stress), dynamic elastic modulus determination (first 24 h of hydration), flexural and compressive strengths (2 d and 28 d), and an open porosity test was performed. The obtained results were verified by printing tests. In addition, an economic and environmental life cycle assessment (LCA) of the mixes was performed. The results indicate that up to 50 vol% cement replacement with fRA is feasible, albeit with some technical drawbacks. While fRA incorporation enhances sustainability by reducing CO₂ emissions and material costs, it adversely affects the printability window, green strength, setting time, and mechanical properties, particularly in the initial curing stages. Therefore, with higher replacement rates (above 20 vol%), potential optimization efforts are needed to mitigate drawbacks such as reduced green strength and buildability. Notably, replacement rates of up to 20 vol% can be successfully used without compromising the overall material properties or altering the mixture design. The LCA analysis shows that reducing the cement content and increasing the fRA addition results in a significant reduction in mix cost (up to 24%) and a substantial decrease in equivalent CO₂ emissions (up to 48%). In conclusion, this study underscores the potential of fRA as a sustainable alternative to cement in 3D printed concrete. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recycling and Sustainability of Industrial Solid Waste)

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14 pages, 1268 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Analysis of Slag-Containing Steamed Concrete’s Composition Efficiency

by Leonid Dvorkin, Vadim Zhitkovsky, Ruslan Makarenko and Yuri Ribakov

Materials 2024, 17(6), 1300; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17061300 - 11 Mar 2024

Viewed by 986

Abstract

Thermal power plant slag is a waste that is presently obtained from many power stations all over the world. A possible method for its utilization is using it to produce concrete. This paper analyses the effect of thermal power plant slag on the technological properties of concrete mixtures and the mechanical properties of concrete subjected to heat–moisture processing. Quantitative estimates of the investigated factors’ influence on the concrete mixture’s water demand and the strength of steamed concrete were obtained. The influences of TPP slag content and its water demand on concrete composition features as well as concrete strength are shown. The novelty of the work lies in the use of an experimental–statistical model to optimize the composition of steamed concrete using slag from the viewpoint of maximum strength per kilogram of cement. It has been demonstrated that the optimal part of slag in aggregate, which provides maximum strength at 4 h and 28 days after steaming, is 0.5–0.55 and 0.45–0.55, respectively. A method for the design of concrete composition using slag from thermal power plants is proposed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recycling and Sustainability of Industrial Solid Waste)

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19 pages, 9769 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Corrosion Behavior of 10 ppi TAD_3D/5A05Al Composite in a Chloride Environment

by Zishen Li, Shengpu Wang, Yuxin Chen, Gaofeng Fu and Lan Jiang

Materials 2024, 17(6), 1280; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17061280 - 10 Mar 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1124

Abstract

This study utilizes desalted and denitrated treated aluminum dross (TAD) as a raw material, along with kaolin and 10 ppi (pores per inch) polyurethane foam as a template. The slurry is converted into an aluminum dross green body with a three-dimensional network structure using the impregnation method. A three-dimensional network aluminum dross ceramic framework (TAD_3D) is created at a sintering temperature of 1350 °C. The liquid 5A05 aluminum alloy at a temperature of 950 °C infiltrates into the voids of TAD_3D through pressureless infiltration, resulting in TAD_3D/5A05Al composite material with an interpenetrating phase composite (IPC) structure. The corrosion behavior of TAD_3D/5A05 composite material in sodium chloride solution was examined using the salt spray test (NSS) method. The study shows that the pores of the TAD3D framework, produced by sintering aluminum dross as raw material, are approximately 10 ppi. The bonding between TAD3D and 5A05Al interfaces is dense, with strong interfacial adhesion. The NSS corrosion time ranged from 24 h to 360 h, during which the composite material underwent pitting corrosion, crevice corrosion and self-healing processes. Results from Potentiodynamic Polarization (PDP) and Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) indicate that, as corrosion progresses, the E_corr of TAD_3D/5A05Al decreases from −0.718 V to −0.786 V, and I_corr decreases from 0.398 μA·cm⁻² to 0.141 μA·cm⁻². A dense oxide film forms on the surface of the composite material, increasing the anodic Tafel slope and decreasing the cathodic Tafel slope, thus slowing down the rates of cathodic and anodic reactions. Factors such as lower interface corrosion resistance or a relatively weak passivation film at the interface do not significantly diminish the corrosion resistance of TAD_3D and 5A05Al. The corrosion resistance of the composite material initially decreases and then increases. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recycling and Sustainability of Industrial Solid Waste)

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17 pages, 4427 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Development of Solid Waste-Based Composite Calcium Ferrite Flux and Its Application in Hot Metal Pre-Dephosphorization

by Zheng Zhao, Xiaoming Feng, Yanling Zhang, Yao Zhang and Yaoting Wu

Materials 2024, 17(5), 992; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17050992 - 21 Feb 2024

Viewed by 857

Abstract

To enhance the slagging efficiency of the lime-based slag system during the pre-treatment stage of hot metal, a composite calcium ferrite flux based on aluminum industry solid waste was developed in this study. The melting characteristics of the flux and its application in the pre-treatment of hot metal were investigated. The results indicated that the main phases of the composite calcium ferrite were CaFe₂O₄, Ca₂Fe₂O₅, and Ca₂(Fe,Al)₂O₄. It exhibited high oxidation, high alkalinity, and a low melting point, thereby achieving excellent melting performance. Simulations of various dephosphorization fluxes in the pre-treatment of high-phosphorus hot metal, ordinary hot metal, and kilogram-scale dephosphorization experiment processes were conducted. Under the same experimental conditions, the composite calcium ferrite flux was able to achieve a dephosphorization rate of over 90% and a final phosphorus content of less than 0.02 wt% under high carbon content ([%C] = 3.2 wt%). In the application of hot metal pre-dephosphorization, this flux was able to achieve efficient melting and rapid slagging of lime at a lower temperature, and its slagging time was 50% faster than that of calcium ferrite flux. In addition, this flux enhanced the utilization efficiency of lime during the steelmaking process, effectively prevented the agglomeration of slag, and achieved efficient slag–metal separation. These characteristics were significantly better than the application effect of calcium ferrite flux. This flux has significant implications for the industrial application of deep dephosphorization in the pre-treatment stage of hot metal or the early stage of converter steelmaking. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recycling and Sustainability of Industrial Solid Waste)

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