Themed collection Circular Economy
The pathway to net zero: a chemicals perspective
The global ambition is to reach a net zero waste and emissions society by 2050.
RSC Sustain., 2024,2, 1337-1349
https://doi.org/10.1039/D3SU00368J
Chemistry and pathways to net zero for sustainability
Chemistry has a vital role in enabling the reductions in greenhouse gases, stewardship of material resources and new production processes needed to bring net CO2 emissions to zero by 2050, keeping within 1.5 °C of global warming.
RSC Sustain., 2023,1, 1704-1721
https://doi.org/10.1039/D3SU00125C
Some of the challenges faced by the Composites Industry in its bid to become more sustainable
The Composites Industry needs to participate in future circular chemical economies. Cooperation, standardisation and increased availability of transparent industry data for life cycle analysis, are seen as critical to a more sustainable future.
RSC Sustain., 2023,1, 1737-1742
https://doi.org/10.1039/D3SU00200D
Status, implications and challenges of European safe and sustainable by design paradigms applicable to nanomaterials and advanced materials
Current European (EU) policies, such as the Green Deal, envisage safe and sustainable by design (SSbD) practices for the management of chemicals, which cogently entail nanomaterials (NMs) and advanced materials (AdMa).
RSC Sustain., 2023,1, 234-250
https://doi.org/10.1039/D2SU00101B
Lignocellulosic biomass valorisation: a review of feedstocks, processes and potential value chains and their implications for the decision-making process
The complexity of lignocellulosic biomass valorisation was identified, and a novel assessment method is proposed to facilitate the decision-making process.
RSC Sustain., 2024, Advance Article
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4SU00342J
On the metal- and bio-catalyzed solvolysis of polyesters and polyurethanes wastes
Catalysis is a crucial tool to efficiently address the recycling and upgrading of polymeric waste within the context of a circular economy, providing affordable and selective methods for waste valorization.
RSC Sustain., 2024,2, 2781-2804
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4SU00233D
Chemical recycling of PET to value-added products
This review has focused on the concept of upcycling, which involves utilizing PET waste as a raw material for the production of value-added products such as monomers, fine chemicals, hydrogen, or carbon materials.
RSC Sustain., 2023,1, 2135-2147
https://doi.org/10.1039/D3SU00311F
Hydrometallurgical recycling technologies for NMC Li-ion battery cathodes: current industrial practice and new R&D trends
Latest advances in hydrometallurgical recycling open new sustainable processing options beyond efficient recovery of metals towards direct recycling and upcycling of the NMC active materials.
RSC Sustain., 2023,1, 1932-1951
https://doi.org/10.1039/D3SU00142C
A review on spent lithium-ion battery recycling: from collection to black mass recovery
The advent of lithium-ion battery technology in portable electronic devices and electric vehicle applications results in the generation of millions of hazardous e-wastes that are detrimental to the ecosystem.
RSC Sustain., 2023,1, 1150-1167
https://doi.org/10.1039/D3SU00086A
General equations to estimate the CO2 production of (bio)catalytic reactions in early development stages.
RSC Sustain., 2024, Accepted Manuscript
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4SU00535J
Mapping the end-of-life of chemicals for circular economy opportunities
Material flow analysis of chemicals in the United States highlights low recycling rates, substantial climate change and human health impacts, and the potential for a circular economy to reduce waste and drive sustainability in the chemical industry.
RSC Sustain., 2024, Advance Article
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4SU00517A
Novel CO2-philic porous organic polymers synthesized in water: a leap towards eco-sustainability
β-Keto-enamine POPs, synthesized in water at relatively low temperatures, without catalysts, and using common glassware, exhibit a competitive adsorption capacity and high selectivity for CO2 over N2 at 298 K (1 bar).
RSC Sustain., 2024, Advance Article
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4SU00479E
Chemically recyclable and reprogrammable epoxy thermosets derived from renewable resources
Bio-based epoxy networks were synthesized using a vanillin-based epoxy monomer and bio-derived diamines. These networks were recycled using both acidic depolymerization and transimination methods. Reprogramming was achieved using different amines.
RSC Sustain., 2024, Advance Article
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4SU00382A
Sustainable, upscaled synthesis of pinene-derived (meth)acrylates and their application as high Tg monomers in styrene/acrylic-based bioderived copolymer coatings
Here we report the scaled-up synthesis of α-pinene-derived monomers, using less hazardous/toxic reagents. The application of these terpene-derived monomers as high Tg components in copolymer coatings with high biobased content is also investigated.
RSC Sustain., 2024,2, 2515-2523
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4SU00210E
Thermal approaches based on microwaves to recover lithium from spent lithium-ion batteries
The coupling of carbon materials with magnetic materials, available in the black mass of spent lithium-ion batteries results in a high microwave-absorbing material.
RSC Sustain., 2024,2, 2505-2514
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4SU00202D
Ionic-liquid-processed keratin-based biocomposite films with cellulose and chitin for sustainable dye removal
Abundant biopolymers derived from wastes were used to prepare bio-based films, resulting in notable enhancements in their properties and promising potential as effective adsorbent materials.
RSC Sustain., 2024,2, 2239-2248
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4SU00179F
One-pot synthesis of carbon dots from neem resin and the selective detection of Fe(II) ions and photocatalytic degradation of toxic dyes
Neem resin-derived CDs (NR-CDs) exhibited a quantum yield of 21%, allowing them for multiple applications in sensitive detection of Fe2+ ions, and also in the degradation of multiple dyes in the presence of NaBH4.
RSC Sustain., 2024,2, 635-645
https://doi.org/10.1039/D3SU00404J
Recovery of palladium from waste fashion items through food waste by-products
We propose an affordable and safe route to recover palladium in its metallic form from waste fashion items and recycle it in electronic devices.
RSC Sustain., 2023,1, 2350-2357
https://doi.org/10.1039/D3SU00242J
Surface modification of aramid fiber meshes – the key to chemically recyclable epoxy composites
Fiber surface functionalization can play a dual role in the development of fiber reinforced polymer composites; improving the overall performance and enabling recovery of high-quality fibers.
RSC Sustain., 2023,1, 1967-1981
https://doi.org/10.1039/D3SU00258F
A techno-economic approach to guide the selection of flow recyclable ionic liquids for nanoparticle synthesis
An experimentally guided, early-stage techno-economic analysis reveals how ionic liquids can be economically adapted at scale through novel recycling methods to unlock their environmental benefits when used as solvents for nanoparticle syntheses.
RSC Sustain., 2023,1, 1861-1873
https://doi.org/10.1039/D3SU00182B
About this collection
The circular economy is an economic model that seeks to create a regenerative and sustainable system of production and consumption via management of material resources through consecutive product lifecycles. The goal is to keep products, components, and materials in use for as long as possible in closed-loop systems, extracting their maximum value, and in doing so decoupling economic activity from the consumption of finite resources while eliminating waste. Chemistry has a central role to play in designing more sustainable materials and recycling processes, and in converting waste to a valuable resource to manufacture new materials.