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USC researchers have developed a new process to upcycle the composite materials appearing in automobile panels and light rail vehicles, addressing a current environmental challenge in the transportation and energy sectors. The study recently appeared in the Journal of the American Chemical Society. "I wasn't sure if it was possible to fully recycle composite materials," said Travis Williams, professor of chemistry at the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences. "As wonderful as these materials are for making energy-efficient vehicles, the problem with composites is we don't have a practical route to recycle them, so the materials end up in landfills." The chemistry demonstrated in the study, a partnership among Williams and professors Steven Nutt of the M.C. Gill Composites Center at the USC Viterbi School of Engineering, Clay C.C. Wang of the USC Alfred E. Mann School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Berl Oakley of the University of Kansas, is a new approach that shows that composite materials can be recovered and recycled in a manner that preserves the integrity of the materials.

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Plastic pollution is ubiquitous in the environment and managing plastic waste is a global problem. In addition to developing more reasonable production methods and ways to use plastic, one solution to the problem is to develop biorecycling technology. The very nature of plastic, made with highly resistant polymers in order to not break down, makes this a huge scientific challenge. Yet, plastic shares analogous properties with other—natural—recalcitrant polymers, like wood cellulose, which can be broken down by filamentous fungi. The fungi achieve this by secreting an arsenal of enzymes. They notably secrete very special enzymes known as "lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases," or LPMOs, capable of breaking down the surface of cellulose to then weaken it and make complete degradation easier. These properties make the LPMOs perfect candidates for engineering to create new functions like breaking down plastics.

The world consumes a mind blowing 4 billion cans of soft drinks made of recycled aluminium every week. DCODE how they are recycled.

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Extraordinary amounts of energy, water, and capital are put into food systems. However, anywhere from 30 to 40% of the food that is produced ends up in landfills in the United States. What if there was a way to convert it into something we use every day? Researchers in Virginia Tech's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences are doing just that by developing biodegradable bioplastics from food waste to give those materials a new—and useful—life. "By creating cost-effective bioplastics that naturally decompose, we can reduce plastic pollution on land and in oceans and address significant issues such as greenhouse gas emissions and economic losses associated with food waste," said lead researcher Zhiwu "Drew" Wang, associate professor in the Department of Biological Systems Engineering and director of the Center for Applied Water Research and Innovation.

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In a development that could advance the 3D printing industry, researchers at the University of Louisville have discovered a way to transform a significant waste output from soy biodiesel plants into a valuable resource. The team, led by Dr. Jagannadh Satyavolu, has developed a process to convert matter organic non-glycerol (MONG), a byproduct of biodiesel production, into copolymers suitable for 3D printing filaments. This innovative approach not only offers an environmentally friendly solution to waste management but also presents a new avenue for value addition within the biodiesel industry. The global demand for renewable energy sources has led to an increase in biodiesel production, resulting in a significant amount of waste byproducts such as MONG. Traditionally, MONG has been landfilled, posing environmental challenges and economic inefficiencies. However, the study presents a two-fold solution: a method to stabilize MONG for use in 3D printing and a reduction in the synthetic polymer content of natural fiber composites (NFC).