Recovery of Valuable Materials and Methods for Their Management When Recycling Thin-Film CdTe Photovoltaic Modules

Due to the development of new photovoltaic technologies, there is a need to research new recycling methods for these new materials. The recovery of metals from photovoltaic (PV) modules would reduce the consumption of raw materials. Therefore, the development of recycling technologies for used and damaged modules of newer generations is important for environmental reasons. The aim of the research is to shed light on the nature of the chemical reactions that occur in recycling technology for second-generation photovoltaic modules. This work is focused mainly on cells made of Cadmium Telluride (CdTe). It was proven that prior thermal delamination was necessary. Moreover, an improvement in understanding of the recovery process depending on used leaching solution was achieved.

Introduction of cold-in-place recycling technology in practice as an innovative tool

Roads exposed to continuous and heavy traffic often shown sight of damage which particularly extend to the underlying layers of roads. Due to the advantages of less raw materials and fossil fuel consumption, lower carbon footprint and the capability of pavement performance improvement enormous effect have been done in the western countries over the past decades. Thanks to the efforts of some construction companies in Slovakia our focus in this paper on the innovation technology of cold-in-place recycling is given. The presumption of success of this innovative technology is the introduction and use of the set of a powerful and interconnected machines. This technology allows the repair of deep defects, rutting and fatigue failure, which cannot be done by surface treatment with significant reducing the impact on the environment, material, and economical savings. Moreover, it enables the repair of deep defects, rutting and fatigue failure, which cannot be done by surface treatment. To promote the widespread application of cold-in-place recycling technology in practice and to monitor the progress of developments, this article has examined and discussed the basic aspects of the use of this technology based on laboratory analyzes of recycled material.

Innovative approaches to plastic waste recycling using the example of the textile industry

Nowadays, pollution problem is very acute all over the world. Significant reduction of negative impact of pollutants on humans and the environment, as well as the improvement of a number of environmental and economic indicators can be ensured by the achievement by the countries of a proper level of development in the waste recycling issue. Within the framework of this article, the problems of plastic waste processing and the introduction of innovative solutions for their disposal and recycling are considered. The research aims to study the innovative ways of plastic waste recycling and assess the feasibility of their use in the textile industry. In the course of the study, the experience of introducing innovative environmentally-oriented technologies for plastic waste recycling was studied, the main approaches and strategies for introducing environmental innovations, as well as priority areas of environmentally oriented innovations in production, were considered. The main result of the study includes reasonable proposals for the implementation of plastic waste recycling technology in the production of textiles.

USE OF ACRYLIC COPOLYMER ADDITIVE SOIL STABILIZATION PLUS FOR PREPARATION OF MIXTURES MADE BY COLD RESYCLING TECHNOLOGY AND CRUSHED STONE-SAND MIXTURES IN PAVEMENT FOUNDATION LAYERS

ntroduction. Rehabilitation of public roads network requires a comprehensive recovery with strengthening of the bearing capacity of the pavement foundation. Rehabilitation of the foundation bearing capacity performed by arranging layers of road material made by cold recycling technology (hereinafter — CRRM) in accordance with [4] or by arranging a layer of crushed stone — sand mixture reinforced with cement or complex binder (hereinafter — CSSM 20) according to [13]. Purpose. The purpose of the work is to study the feasibility of using acrylic additives for the preparation of mixtures made by cold recycling technology and crushed stone-sand mixtures treated with cement in the layers of pavement foundation. Materials and methods. Experimental comparative tests of CRRM and CSSM 20 with different content of complex binder were performed. Results. Feasibility of acrylic additives use has been established (hereinafter — the additive) for the preparation of CRRM and CSSM 20 in the pavement foundation layers. Recommendations on technological parameters of preparation, transportation, laying and compaction of mentioned mixtures are given. Conclusions. Performed researches have shown that according to physical and mechanical indicators CRRM and CSSM20 meet the requirements of the current normative documents of Ukraine. The advantages of use are noted.

Innovative recycling of end of life silicon PV panels: ReSiELP

In Europe, an increasing amount of End of Life (EoL) photovoltaic silicon (PV) panels is expected to be collected in the next 20 years. The silicon PV modules represent a new type of electronic waste that shows challenges and opportunities. ReSiELP was a European project that aimed at recovery of valuable materials (aluminum, glass, copper, silicon, and silver) from EoL silicon PV modules. During the project a pilot plant, constituted by a furnace, a gas abatement system, an apparatus for the mechanical separation and a hydrometallurgical plant was designed and built. The pilot plan was realized to upscale recycling technology to TRL 7, with a 1500 panels/year capacity. The feasibility of industrial-scale recovery and the reintegration of all recovered materials in their appropriate value chain was investigated. The results obtained showed that 2N purity silicon and 2N purity silver can be recovered with high efficiency. In order to realize a zero-waste plant, a hydrometallurgical process was developed for the wastewater treatment. Moreover, the use of recovered glass for building materials was investigated and the obtained performance seemed comparable with commercial products.

On the application of the concept of circular economy to ensure balanced sustainable development of the national logistics system in Ukraine

The evolution and preconditions of formation, challenges and factors for circular economy development are investigated in the article. Were analyzed and generalized the existing scientific approaches to the definition of "circular economy", which are conditionally systematized into 9 groups: section of economy, paradigm, strategy, model, system, ecological opportunity, recycling technology, tool of "green" economy, type of economic activity. It is proposed to consider the term "circular economy" from such aspects as: the modern paradigm of logistics systems’ development; sustainable development strategy; sustainable business model of the national economy; economic model based on industrial waste recycling technology; logistics flow management tool, which is based on an integrated approach (integration of system, process, situational, functional); activities aimed at implementing a closed cycle of logistics flows to increase the level of the national economy environmental security. Were was accomplished a statistical analysis of the national logistics system development in consideration of the environmental component. It was established that the "green" transformation of Ukrainian logistics system in a circular economy is not effective enough. This is due to the limited amount of funding for environmental protection and insufficient development of the industrial waste recycling system. These issues require the development of a set of appropriate institutional measures and the adoption of radical logistics decisions based on European best practices.

Microbiological Effectivity Evaluation of New Poultry Farming Organic Waste Recycling

Due to the intensification of the poultry sector, poultry manure is being produced in increasing quantities, and its on-site management is becoming a critical problem. Animal health problems can be solved by stricter the veterinary and environmental standards. The off-site coupled industrial chicken manure recycling technology (Hosoya compost tea) fundamentally affects the agricultural value of new organic-based products. Due to the limited information available on manure recycling technology-related microbiological changes, this was examined in this study. A pot experiment with a pepper test plant was set up, using two different soils (Arenosol, slightly humous Arenosol) and two different doses (irrigation once a week with 40 mL of compost tea: dose 1, D1; irrigation twice a week with 40 mL of compost tea: dose 2, D2) of compost tea. Compost tea raw materials, compost tea, and compost tea treated soils were tested. The products (granulated manure, compost tea) and their effects were characterized by the following parameters: aerobic bacterial count (log CFU/g), fluorescein diacetate activity (3′,6′-diacetylfluorescein, FDA, µg Fl/g soil), glucosidase enzyme activity (GlA; PNP/µmol/g), and identification of microorganisms in compost tea with matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). Furthermore, we aimed to investigate how the microbiological indicators tested, and the effect of compost tea on the tested plant, could be interpreted. Based on our results, the microbiological characteristics of the treated soils showed an increase in enzyme activity, in the case of FDA an increase +0.26 μg Fl/g soil at D1, while the GlA increased +1.28 PNP/µmol/g with slightly humous Arenosol soil and increased +2.44 PNP/µmol/g at D1; and the aerobic bacterial count increased +0.15 log CFU/g at D2, +0.35 log CFU/g with slightly humous Arenosol and +0.85 log CFU/g at W8. MALDI-TOF MS results showed that the dominant bacterial genera analyzed were Bacillus sp., Lysinibacillus sp., and Pseudomonas sp. Overall, the microbial inducers we investigated could be a good alternative for evaluating the effects of compost solutions in soil–plant systems. In both soil types, the total chlorophyll content of compost tea-treated pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) had increased as a result of compost tea. D1 is recommended for Arenosol and, D2 for slightly humous Arenosol soil.