An Overview of the Non-Energetic Valorization Possibilities of Plastic Waste via Thermochemical Processes.

The recovery and recycling/upcycling of plastics and polymer-based materials is needed in order to reduce plastic waste accumulated over decades. Mechanical recycling processes have made a great contribution to the circularity of plastic materials, contributing to 99% of recycled thermoplastics. Challenges facing this family of processes limit its outreach to 30% of plastic waste.

Renewable Energy Potential: Second-Generation Biomass as Feedstock for Bioethanol Production.

Biofuels are clean and renewable energy resources gaining increased attention as a potential replacement for non-renewable petroleum-based fuels. They are derived from biomass that could either be animal-based or belong to any of the three generations of plant biomass (agricultural crops, lignocellulosic materials, or algae). Over 130 studies including experimental research, case studies, literature reviews, and website publications related to bioethanol production were evaluated; different methods and techniques have been tested by scientists and researchers in this field, and the most optimal conditions have been adopted for the generation of biofuels from biomass.

Characterization of Akilbenza clay from Cameroon and its performance for the removal of copper(II) ions from aqueous solution.

Akilbenza clay (Akil) was characterized by XRD, FT-TIR, XRF, EDX, SEM, and N gas adsorption. The adsorption performance for Cu(II) ions by this clay was also studied. Akil is composed mainly of kaolinite with mica illite and quartz as minor minerals.

Lab-scale anaerobic digestion of cassava peels: the first step of energy recovery from cassava waste and water hyacinth.

Cassava processing in Republic of Benin, which is used to produce different food products, discharges a large amount of polluting organic matter into the environment in the form of peels and wastewater. Besides, water hyacinth a rich nitrogen plant invades Benin water streams leading in aquatic ecosystem asphyxia and blocks the navigation. Both cassava wastes and water hyacinth show a high biodegradable content enable to be treated through anaerobic digestion.

Optimization of biodiesel production from animal fat residue in wastewater using response surface methodology.

Animal fat residues (AFR) from waste water were used as feedstock to produce biodiesel by a two-step acid-catalyzed process. Treatment of the AFRs with 5.4% (w/w) of 17 M H2SO4 at a methanol/AFR ratio of 13:1 (50%w/w) at 60 °C converted more than 95% of the triglycerides into fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) with an acid value (AV) of 1.