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Explore the latest trending Chemicals research from ScienceDirect
Explore the latest trending research impacting the chemicals and materials industries. From reducing the impact of plastic waste to the development of zero-emission commercial vehicles, all of the below can be accessed via ScienceDirect.
Upcycling mixed plastic waste with reduced cost and carbon footprint
Polyactic acid (PLA) has established itself as one of the most popular alternative plastics, but like traditional plastics, there has been no clear solution to recycling them in the future. This article, published in One Earth, proposes a method for breaking PLA and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastics down into molecules before converting them into a new, biodegradable plastic.
“The findings reveal the potential of an IL-based one-pot conversion technology that integrates polymer hydrolysis and biological valorization of the plastics and plastic mixture. Waste plastics could serve as low- or negative-cost feedstock to provide a rich carbon source for microbial fermentation to produce advanced biofuels and bioproducts.” – Dou et al.
One Earth, November 2023
The future of used EV batteries as 2030 approaches
Currently, manufacturers consider the lithium-ion batteries used in EVs to reach their end of life below 80% state of health. This poses problems as decisions need to be made to reuse, recycle, or dispose of the cells inside these “used” batteries. This article, published in Joule, poses four non-destructive techniques to examine these cells and fuel sustainable decision-making.
“As the battery pack is used during EV life, the electrolyte is consumed due to aging mechanisms, leading to increased charge transfer and SEI layer resistance. This resistance is greater for the rotated cells, as one electrode will become drier sooner, leading to increased stress on the rotated cells and hence enhanced degradation. In an EV application, such electrolyte depletion cannot be ignored. The results give clear evidence to manufacturers about how to mitigate heterogeneous degradation by careful consideration of orientation effects during battery pack design.” – Fordham et al.
Joule, November 2023
The potential of zero-emission commercial vehicles
In the transition to electric vehicles, medium- and heavy-duty vehicles (MHDVs), such as commercial trucks, lag significantly behind. There are multiple options that can be explored to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions produced by MHDVs, and this article in iScience provides an overview of the various technologies and their respective benefits and shortcomings.
“Despite limited market adoption to date, BEVs are commercially available and becoming an increasingly viable option for many MHDV applications, with multiple outlooks projecting widespread near-term adoption in the US. Main BEV advantages include superior performance that can improve safety and is compelling for drivers; high efficiency and reliability, reducing driving and maintenance costs; and zero-emission operations.” – Muratori et al.
iScience, May 2023