scholarly journals Extending Multilevel Statistical Entropy Analysis towards Plastic Recyclability Prediction

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 3553
Author(s):  
Philippe Nimmegeers ◽  
Alexej Parchomenko ◽  
Paul De Meulenaere ◽  
Dagmar R. D’hooge ◽  
Paul H. M. Van Steenberge ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Circular Economy ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Plastic Waste ◽  
Entropy Analysis ◽  
Waste Collection ◽  
Statistical Entropy ◽  
Waste Streams ◽  
Material Component ◽  
Future Work

Multilevel statistical entropy analysis (SEA) is a method that has been recently proposed to evaluate circular economy strategies on the material, component and product levels to identify critical stages of resource and functionality losses. However, the comparison of technological alternatives may be difficult, and equal entropies do not necessarily correspond with equal recyclability. A coupling with energy consumption aspects is strongly recommended but largely lacking. The aim of this paper is to improve the multilevel SEA method to reliably assess the recyclability of plastics. Therefore, the multilevel SEA method is first applied to a conceptual case study of a fictitious bag filled with plastics, and the possibilities and limitations of the method are highlighted. Subsequently, it is proposed to extend the method with the computation of the relative decomposition energies of components and products. Finally, two recyclability metrics are proposed. A plastic waste collection bag filled with plastic bottles is used as a case study to illustrate the potential of the developed extended multilevel SEA method. The proposed extension allows us to estimate the recyclability of plastics. In future work, this method will be refined and other potential extensions will be studied together with applications to real-life plastic products and plastic waste streams.

scholarly journals Bromine Recycling in the Chemical Industry – An Example of Circular Economy

2019 ◽  
Vol 73 (9) ◽  
pp. 737-742
Author(s):  
Francis Pilloud ◽  
Nasibeh Pouransari ◽  
Luc Renard ◽  
Rebecca Steidle
Keyword(s):  
Chemical Synthesis ◽  
Environmental Risk ◽  
Chemical Industry ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Closed Loop ◽  
Industrial Ecology ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Significant Safety ◽  
Recovery Yield

This paper discusses the application of the circular economy concept and industrial ecology approach in the context of industrial chemical sites. A real-life case study about the use of bromine as reactant for chemical synthesis and its recycling by Syngenta in Monthey is described in detail. With a recovery yield of 97% it represents a well-established example of closed loop recycling, one aspect of the circular economy. The process leads to significant safety and environmental risk reduction and economic savings in the order of several million CHF per year.

scholarly journals Using iterated greedy and randomized iterated greedy algorithms to solve urban area waste collection in Riyadh city

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 21
Author(s):  
Abdulwahab Almutairi
Keyword(s):  
Greedy Algorithms ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Study Data ◽  
Waste Collection ◽  
Kingdom Of Saudi Arabia ◽  
Routing Problem ◽  
Riyadh City ◽  
Iterated Greedy ◽  
Case Study Data

This paper addresses the real-life waste collection vehicle routing problem by applying Iterated Greedy (IG) and Randomized Iterated Greedy (RIG) in order to improve the processes. This kind of problem becomes more complex in developing countries in several aspects such as costs and fuel. Nowadays, the waste collection is considered as one of the interesting areas. There are three types of waste: commer-cial, residential and roll-on-roll-off. In this paper, we mainly consider the residential waste collection problem. The problem can be summa-rized as follows: a vehicle has to satisfy the demand at each customer location while satisfying the capacity of the vehicle for reducing the total cost. We report a case study that is related to waste collection in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. To solve the case study problem, IG and RIG were employed. Experiments have been done on the case study data and show a better performance when compared IG algo-rithm results with RIG algorithm results.  

scholarly journals Case studies of Statistical Entropy Analysis in Recycling Processes: A tool in Support of a Circular Economy

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rodrigo Serna-Guerrero ◽  
Omar Velazquez Martinez ◽  
Annukka Santasalo-Aarnio ◽  
Markus Reuter
Keyword(s):  
Case Studies ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Entropy Analysis ◽  
Statistical Entropy

Teaching outbreak investigation to undergraduate food technologists

2015 ◽  
Vol 117 (2) ◽  
pp. 766-778 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hanne Karlsen ◽  
Lisbeth Mehli ◽  
Erik Wahl ◽  
Ragnhild Lyngved Staberg
Keyword(s):  
Small Sample Size ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Outbreak Investigation ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Module Design ◽  
Food Borne ◽  
Future Work

Purpose – Investigations of food-borne outbreaks are complex and require multidisciplinary collaboration. The purpose of this paper is to help food technologists face this challenge and be competent members of a multidisciplinary team, a study module on the investigation of a “real-life” food-borne outbreak was developed. Design/methodology/approach – The module design was based on the principles of inquiry-based learning with the purpose to motivate and activate students with challenging assignments. The didactic impact of the module was evaluated as a qualitative case study with questionnaires, reflection assignments and interviews of students and lecturers. Findings – A teaching module developed by an external professional taking part in the academic environment provides a learning environment well adapted to the curriculum, as well as bringing first-hand realism and enthusiasm into the classroom. The external lecturer’s dedication to the subject was appreciated by the students. A majority of the students believed that the outbreak investigation simulation play gave a better understanding of how food-borne outbreaks are investigated. A majority of the students 68 per cent (2011) and 82 per cent (2012) believed that what they learned in this module would be useful in a future work situation. Research limitations/implications – There are some limitations to the study, the most important one being the small sample size, and as the classes rarely exceeds 30 students, the use of a control group was not logistically feasible. Originality/value – Teaching food technologists to become knowledgeable professionals in this field will constitute a valuable contribution to the multidisciplinary food-borne outbreak investigation team. In turn, this may increase confidence among the general public in the food industry.

Performance indicators for a circular economy: A case study on post-industrial plastic waste

2017 ◽  
Vol 120 ◽  
pp. 46-54 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sofie Huysman ◽  
Jonas De Schaepmeester ◽  
Kim Ragaert ◽  
Jo Dewulf ◽  
Steven De Meester
Keyword(s):  
Circular Economy ◽  
Performance Indicators ◽  
Plastic Waste ◽  
Post Industrial

scholarly journals Statistical entropy analysis as tool for circular economy: Proof of concept by optimizing a lithium-ion battery waste sieving system

2019 ◽  
Vol 212 ◽  
pp. 1568-1579 ◽  
Author(s):  
O. Velázquez Martínez ◽  
K.G. Van Den Boogaart ◽  
M. Lundström ◽  
A. Santasalo-Aarnio ◽  
M. Reuter ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lithium Ion Battery ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Lithium Ion ◽  
Proof Of Concept ◽  
Entropy Analysis ◽  
Statistical Entropy

Identifying effective institutions for China’s circular economy: Bottom-up evidence from waste management

2020 ◽  
pp. 0734242X2097279
Author(s):  
Benjamin Steuer
Keyword(s):  
Waste Management ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Performance Indicators ◽  
Field Research ◽  
Institutional Arrangements ◽  
Urban China ◽  
Waste Collection ◽  
Formal Systems ◽  
Evaluation Matrix

The present article centres on institutions, that is, systems of rules that guide behaviour and interaction of socio-economic actors, and their role in advancing China’s circular economy (CE), particularly in waste management (WM). Since the early 2000s, state and non-state actors in China have begun to explore CE ideas in WM resulting in a multitude of related patterns and schemes. In regard to why such systems exhibit different degrees of effectiveness, it appears that much is determined by the institutional arrangements within. Based on several years of field research in China, the article identifies and analyses key institutional ingredients for effective outcomes. Methodologically, these components are identified via an analytical model incorporating WM performance indicators and a framework for assessing interest inclusiveness. Empirically, the analysis is applied to case study findings on the informal and semi-formalised recycling sector in Beijing and Changchun. The resulting findings are synthesised into an evaluation matrix: it indicates which effective informal institutional elements in waste collection and pre-processing allow for a translation into formal systems. The so-demonstrated convertibility indicates a substantial potential for the innovation of current formal WM systems in urban China.

scholarly journals A Service-Learning Based Computers Reuse Program

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (14) ◽  
pp. 7785
Author(s):  
Fermín Sánchez-Carracedo ◽  
David López
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Service Learning ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Technical Skills ◽  
Waste Streams ◽  
Non Profit ◽  
The World ◽  
Challenging Situation ◽  
The Impact

Higher Education Institutions are facing a challenging situation: how to introduce concepts such as Sustainability or the Circular Economy into their curricula. This study presents how to organize a Computer Reuse Program, an educational proposal for the Reuse, Repair, Refurbishment, Remanufacture and Recycling of computers into a Curriculum and a case study. The proposal is based in the Service-Learning methodology, by which students develop technical and professional skills while undertaking a project that has a direct and real impact on society. Students work on old or broken computers provided by donors, thereby acquiring technical skills. These now flawlessly functioning computers are donated to NGOs and other non-profit organizations, thus endowing the equipment with a much longer life as well as reducing e-waste, one of the fastest-growing waste streams in the world. As a case study, this paper presents the UPC Computer Reuse Program, carried out at Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya UPC-BarcelonaTech. Since the program started in 2004, some 2500 computers have been donated to 359 different organizations in 29 countries, and more than 5200 students have participated. The paper analyzes the impact of the program on society, on the reduction of e-waste, on the environment and on student awareness regarding social justice and sustainability.

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