Building from building waste: The development of an instrument to determine the circularity of materials from the existing building stock in order to maximise high quality reuse

On a global level the population growth and increase of the middle class lead to a growing demand on material resources. The built environment has an enormous impact on this scarcity. In addition, a surplus of construction and demolition waste is a common problem. The construction industry claims to recycle 95% of this waste but this is in fact mainly downcycling. Towards the circular economy, the quality of reuse becomes of increasing importance. Buildings are material warehouses that can contribute to this high quality reuse. However, several aspects to achieve this are unknown and a need for more insight into the potential for high quality reuse of building materials exists. Therefore an instrument has been developed that determines the circularity of construction waste in order to maximise high quality reuse. The instrument is based on three principles: ‘product and material flows in the end of life phase’, ‘future value of secondary materials and products’ and ‘the success of repetition in a new life cycle’. These principles are further divided into a number of criteria to which values and weighting factors are assigned. A degree of circularity can then be determined as a percentage. A case study for a typical 70s building is carried out. For concrete, the circularity is increased from 25% to 50% by mapping out the potential for high quality reuse. During the development of the instrument it was clarified that some criteria are difficult to measure. Accurate and reliable data are limited and assumptions had to be made. To increase the reliability of the instrument, experts have reviewed the instrument several times. In the long-term, the instrument can be used as a tool for quantitative research to reduce the amount of construction and demolition waste and contribute to the reduction of raw material scarcity.

Synthesis of denim waste-based adsorbents and their application in water defluoridation

This study evaluates the application of denim fiber scraps as a precursor for the synthesis of adsorbents for water treatment via pyrolysis and their application in water defluoridation. The best pyrolysis conditions for the synthesis of this novel adsorbent have been identified and a metal doping route with different salts of Al3 +, La3 + and Fe3 + was proposed to improve its fluoride adsorption behavior. Different spectroscopic and microscopic techniques (i.e., FTIR, XPS, XRF, SEM) were used to characterize the precursor and adsorbents, and to analyze the surface interactions involved in the fluoride removal mechanism. Experimental results showed that these adsorbents were effective for fluoride adsorption showing uptakes up to 4.25 mg/g. The Si-O–metal–F interactions appear to be highly relevant for the fluoride removal. This study highlights the potential of denim textile waste as a raw material for the production of added-value products, thus minimizing their associated disposal cost. It also shows the performance of denim textile waste as a precursor of adsorbents for addressing relevant environmental concerns such as fluoride pollution.

Pharmaceutical industry : hazardous waste generation, treatment, and disposal.

Final report (SW-508) describing work performed for the Federal Solid waste management program under Contract no. 68-01-2684.

Charts: relation of pastures, feed production, and butterfat price ratios to dairy production ....

Mimeographed.

Feed from the egg to the market.

Mode of access: Internet.

Waste material series,

Reproduced from type-written copy.

Chemical product clean-out protocol : how you can remove unwanted chemical products in a safe and environmentally sound way! /

Cover title.

Guide to pollution prevention for the fabricted metal products industry /

"June 1994."

Illinois recycled products guide, 1997.

"9/97"--P. 4 of cover.

Ink and cleaner waste reduction evaluation for flexographic printers /

"HWRIC TR-012."

LUST regulations (from Title 35 : Environmental protection; subtitle G: Waste disposal) : leaking underground storage tanks.

"Title 35: Environmental protection, subtitle G: Waste disposal, chapter I: Pollution Control Board, subchapter d: Underground injection control and underground storage tank programs, Part 731, Underground storage tanks, subpart A: Program scope and interim prohibition."--Caption title.

Measurements of indoor toxic VOC concentrations attributed to the residential storage of household products /

"HWRIC RR-074."

Opportunities to enhance the purchase of environmentally preferable products : a report to the Illinois General Assembly.

State government purchases a wide array of goods and services, ranging from office supplies to motor vehicles to energy. While purchasing officials are working to get the maximum value out of each dollar they spend, products with reduced environmental impacts are becoming increasingly available in the marketplace to help state agencies meet the challenge of operating more efficiently. Known as environmentally preferable or "green," these products can save energy and water, reduce waste generation and improve the workplace environment. ... This report provides recommendations on steps Illinois state government can take to expand the purchase of products that have a reduced impact on human health and the environment, while maintaining fiscal responsibility. The report was prepared by the Interagency Working Group on Environmentally Preferable Purchasing, which was created by Governor Rod Blagojevich in response to House Resolution 797. The Working Group included representatives of the Capital Development Board; Department of Central Management Services; Department of Natural Resources, Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity; Environmental Protection Agency; and Governor's Office of Management and Budget.

Preliminary study of recycled materials, markets, and products /

"Illinois Energy Conservation Program."

Total and phytate-phosphorus contents and phytase activity of Australian-sourced feed ingredients for pigs and poultry

A total of 160 samples of 20 Australian-sourced feed ingredients of plant origin for pigs and poultry was analysed for total phosphorus and phytate-phosphorus contents and endogenous phytase activity. The majority of total P was present as phytate-phosphorus, and these concentrations were significantly correlated in 9 feed ingredients. The endogenous phytase activity in tested feed ingredients was negligible other than for wheat, its by-products and barley. Phytate-phosphorus was determined by a standard 'ferric chloride precipitation' method, which was satisfactory for individual feed ingredients, with the exception of lupins and faba beans. It appears that phytate is more difficult to extract from these two feedstuffs, possibly because of the affinity of phytate for protein. Ferric chloride precipitation methods are not suitable for phytate-phosphorus determinations of complete feed samples containing other sources of phosphorus, which is a distinct limitation. A lesser limitation is that these methods cannot distinguish between the various esters of myo-inositol phosphate present. Given the variation of phytate contents within ingredients, particularly wheat, the desirability of determining dietary substrate levels is emphasised to take full advantage of including exogenous phytases in pig and poultry diets to reduce phosphorus excretion and abate phosphorus pollution.