WEEE polymers valorization, its use as fuel in the gasification process and revaluation of the inert by-products obtained: Sustainable mortars as a solution
The global production of polymer materials has exploded in the last few decades. Their mechanical properties, erosion and corrosion resistance, good performance as insulation materials, and their ease and flexibility of manufacturing have made polymers one of the most widely used materials in the in...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2023-09-01
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| Series: | Heliyon |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844023074029 |
| _version_ | 1797669723027013632 |
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| author | Daniel Díaz-Perete Manuel Jesús Hermoso-Orzáez Julio Terrados-Cepeda Pedro Silva-Romano Cristina Martin-Doñate |
| author_facet | Daniel Díaz-Perete Manuel Jesús Hermoso-Orzáez Julio Terrados-Cepeda Pedro Silva-Romano Cristina Martin-Doñate |
| author_sort | Daniel Díaz-Perete |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The global production of polymer materials has exploded in the last few decades. Their mechanical properties, erosion and corrosion resistance, good performance as insulation materials, and their ease and flexibility of manufacturing have made polymers one of the most widely used materials in the industry and in daily life. Several institutions and governments are beginning to raise serious environmental and ecological concerns with international impact soon, due to the increasing level of polymer production, which does not seem to be slowing down. It is necessary for the scientific community to make efforts in the development and evaluation of new methodologies to enable the inclusion of these types of materials in the circular economy of various production sectors. This is important in order to reduce the ecological impact caused by the current global production level of polymers. One of the most used methods for the recovery of polymeric materials is energy valorization through thermochemical processes. An example of this is thermal gasification using fuels composed of biomass and a mixture of polymeric waste from electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE). Through this thermochemical process, high-energy value synthesis gas, with a high concentration of hydrogen, is obtained on one hand, while waste products in the form of chars, ashes and slag are generated on the other hand. This manuscript presents a detailed study methodology that begins with chemical analysis of the raw material and includes subsequent analysis of mechanical results for the revaluation of these residual inert by-products, using them as partial substitutes in cement clinker to produce building mortars. This described methodology influences directly in the LCC (Life Cycle Costing) of final designed products in plastic and extend material life cycle Plastic materials are here to stay, so the study and optimization of polymer waste recovery processes are vital in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the European Union in terms of efficiency and sustainability. It is also the only possible way to create an environmentally sustainable future world for future generations. After applying the described methodology, the mechanical test results show that the modified mortars exhibit established behaviour during the hardening time and similar strength growth compared to commercial mortars. The maximum mechanical strengths achieved, including compressive and flexural strength, make modified mortars a viable choice for several applications in the civil engineering sector. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T20:48:40Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ab29143486d24541b611fba71606b1be |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2405-8440 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T20:48:40Z |
| publishDate | 2023-09-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Heliyon |
| spelling | doaj.art-ab29143486d24541b611fba71606b1be2023-10-01T06:02:49ZengElsevierHeliyon2405-84402023-09-0199e20194WEEE polymers valorization, its use as fuel in the gasification process and revaluation of the inert by-products obtained: Sustainable mortars as a solutionDaniel Díaz-Perete0Manuel Jesús Hermoso-Orzáez1Julio Terrados-Cepeda2Pedro Silva-Romano3Cristina Martin-Doñate4Department of Graphic Engineering, Design and Projects, University of Jaén, 23071, Jaén, Spain; VALORIZA - Research Center for Endogenous Resource Valorization, Polytechnic Institute of Portalegre, Portugal IP Portalegre - Polytechnic Institute of Portalegre, Portalegre, PortugalDepartment of Graphic Engineering, Design and Projects, University of Jaén, 23071, Jaén, Spain; Centre for Advanced Studies in Energy and Environment, University of Jaén, 23071, Jaén, Spain; Corresponding author. Department of Graphic Engineering, Design and Projects, University of Jaén, 23071, Jaén, Spain.Department of Graphic Engineering, Design and Projects, University of Jaén, 23071, Jaén, Spain; Centre for Advanced Studies in Energy and Environment, University of Jaén, 23071, Jaén, SpainVALORIZA - Research Center for Endogenous Resource Valorization, Polytechnic Institute of Portalegre, Portugal IP Portalegre - Polytechnic Institute of Portalegre, Portalegre, PortugalDepartment of Graphic Engineering, Design and Projects, University of Jaén, 23071, Jaén, SpainThe global production of polymer materials has exploded in the last few decades. Their mechanical properties, erosion and corrosion resistance, good performance as insulation materials, and their ease and flexibility of manufacturing have made polymers one of the most widely used materials in the industry and in daily life. Several institutions and governments are beginning to raise serious environmental and ecological concerns with international impact soon, due to the increasing level of polymer production, which does not seem to be slowing down. It is necessary for the scientific community to make efforts in the development and evaluation of new methodologies to enable the inclusion of these types of materials in the circular economy of various production sectors. This is important in order to reduce the ecological impact caused by the current global production level of polymers. One of the most used methods for the recovery of polymeric materials is energy valorization through thermochemical processes. An example of this is thermal gasification using fuels composed of biomass and a mixture of polymeric waste from electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE). Through this thermochemical process, high-energy value synthesis gas, with a high concentration of hydrogen, is obtained on one hand, while waste products in the form of chars, ashes and slag are generated on the other hand. This manuscript presents a detailed study methodology that begins with chemical analysis of the raw material and includes subsequent analysis of mechanical results for the revaluation of these residual inert by-products, using them as partial substitutes in cement clinker to produce building mortars. This described methodology influences directly in the LCC (Life Cycle Costing) of final designed products in plastic and extend material life cycle Plastic materials are here to stay, so the study and optimization of polymer waste recovery processes are vital in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the European Union in terms of efficiency and sustainability. It is also the only possible way to create an environmentally sustainable future world for future generations. After applying the described methodology, the mechanical test results show that the modified mortars exhibit established behaviour during the hardening time and similar strength growth compared to commercial mortars. The maximum mechanical strengths achieved, including compressive and flexural strength, make modified mortars a viable choice for several applications in the civil engineering sector.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844023074029Polymer valorization methodologyPolymer wasteGasification wasteWaste-to-By-productSustainabilityWEEE |
| spellingShingle | Daniel Díaz-Perete Manuel Jesús Hermoso-Orzáez Julio Terrados-Cepeda Pedro Silva-Romano Cristina Martin-Doñate WEEE polymers valorization, its use as fuel in the gasification process and revaluation of the inert by-products obtained: Sustainable mortars as a solution Heliyon Polymer valorization methodology Polymer waste Gasification waste Waste-to-By-product Sustainability WEEE |
| title | WEEE polymers valorization, its use as fuel in the gasification process and revaluation of the inert by-products obtained: Sustainable mortars as a solution |
| title_full | WEEE polymers valorization, its use as fuel in the gasification process and revaluation of the inert by-products obtained: Sustainable mortars as a solution |
| title_fullStr | WEEE polymers valorization, its use as fuel in the gasification process and revaluation of the inert by-products obtained: Sustainable mortars as a solution |
| title_full_unstemmed | WEEE polymers valorization, its use as fuel in the gasification process and revaluation of the inert by-products obtained: Sustainable mortars as a solution |
| title_short | WEEE polymers valorization, its use as fuel in the gasification process and revaluation of the inert by-products obtained: Sustainable mortars as a solution |
| title_sort | weee polymers valorization its use as fuel in the gasification process and revaluation of the inert by products obtained sustainable mortars as a solution |
| topic | Polymer valorization methodology Polymer waste Gasification waste Waste-to-By-product Sustainability WEEE |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844023074029 |
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