Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Polymer Classification: Architecture01:14

Polymer Classification: Architecture

3.1K
Polymers are classified as linear or branched on the basis of their chain architecture. The polymer chains in linear polymers have a long chain-like structure with minimal to no branching at all. Even if a polymer features large substituent groups on the monomer, which appear as branches to the skeleton, it is not considered a branched polymer. A branched polymer contains secondary polymer chains that arise from the main polymer chain. The branching occurs when the polymer growth shifts from...
3.1K
Types of Step-Growth Polymers: Polyesters01:20

Types of Step-Growth Polymers: Polyesters

2.3K
The introduction of polyesters has brought major development to the textile industry. The wrinkle-free behavior of polyester blends has eliminated the need for starching and ironing clothes.
Polyesters are commonly prepared from terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol; the crude product is known as poly(ethylene terephthalate) or PET. However, polyesters are synthesized industrially by transesterification of dimethyl terephthalate with ethylene glycol at 150 °C. The two reactants and the...
2.3K
Plasticizers01:31

Plasticizers

124
Water-reducers, or plasticizers, are chemical admixtures used in concrete to improve strength and workability. These additives reduce the water-cement ratio without compromising workability, lower the cement content while maintaining the same workability, or increase workability to assist concrete placement in inaccessible areas.
Plasticizers function by using surface-active agents to create repulsive electrostatic forces between cement particles. This dispersion enhances the concrete's...
124
Ziegler–Natta Chain-Growth Polymerization: Overview01:17

Ziegler–Natta Chain-Growth Polymerization: Overview

3.5K
Ziegler–Natta polymerization is another form of addition or chain‐growth polymerization used for synthesizing linear polymers over branched polymers. The catalyst used for polymerization is the Ziegler–Natta catalyst, named after Karl Ziegler and Giulio Natta, who developed it in 1953. This catalyst is an organometallic complex of titanium tetrachloride and triethyl aluminum, with the active form of the catalyst being an alkyl titanium compound. Using the Ziegler–Natta...
3.5K
Plastic Deformation in Circular Shafts01:20

Plastic Deformation in Circular Shafts

268
When materials are subjected to forces that surpass their yield strength, they undergo a process known as plastic deformation. This results in a permanent alteration or strain in their structure. This concept can be specifically applied to circular shafts, where the deformation leads to a change in its shape. The precise evaluation of this plastic deformation requires understanding the stress distribution within the circular shaft, which is achieved by calculating the maximum shearing stress in...
268
Polymer Classification: Stereospecificity01:26

Polymer Classification: Stereospecificity

2.7K
Polymerization generates chiral centers along the entire backbone of a polymer chain. Accordingly, the stereochemistry of the substituent group has a significant effect on polymer properties. Polymers formed from monosubstituted alkene monomers feature chiral carbons at every alternate position in the polymer backbone. Relative to the predominant orientation of substituents at the adjacent chiral carbons, the polymer can exist in three different configurations: isotactic, syndiotactic, and...
2.7K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Assessing decarbonization strategies and industrial symbiosis in the chemical and waste-to-energy sector.

Journal of industrial ecology·2026
Same author

Machine learning based modeling of households: A regionalized bottom-up approach to investigate consumption-induced environmental impacts.

Journal of industrial ecology·2026
Same author

Do We Have the Right Performance Indicators for the Circular Economy?: Insight into the Swiss Waste Management System.

Journal of industrial ecology·2026
Same author

Life Cycle Impacts and Benefits of Wood along the Value Chain: The Case of Switzerland.

Journal of industrial ecology·2026
Same author

Global Plastic Industry Transition Addressing Key Drivers of the Triple Planetary Crisis.

Environmental science & technology·2025
Same author

Environmental impact of integrating decentralized urine treatment in the urban wastewater management system: A comparative life cycle assessment.

Water research·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Oct 3, 2025

Depolymerizable Olefinic Polymers Based on Fused-Ring Cyclooctene Monomers
08:12

Depolymerizable Olefinic Polymers Based on Fused-Ring Cyclooctene Monomers

Published on: December 16, 2022

3.4K

Limited utilization options for secondary plastics may restrict their circularity.

Magdalena Klotz1, Melanie Haupt1, Stefanie Hellweg1

  • 1ETH Zurich, Institute of Environmental Engineering, John-von-Neumann Weg 9, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland.

Waste Management (New York, N.Y.)
|February 14, 2022
PubMed
Summary

Increasing plastic recycling rates requires focusing on secondary material uptake in product manufacturing. This study shows that while recycling rates can increase, actual material substitution is limited by product application, highlighting a key challenge for future recycling systems.

Keywords:
Material flow analysisPlasticsRecycling barriersRecycling rateSecondary material utilization

More Related Videos

Designed for Molecular Recycling: A Lignin-Derived Semi-aromatic Biobased Polymer
10:22

Designed for Molecular Recycling: A Lignin-Derived Semi-aromatic Biobased Polymer

Published on: November 30, 2020

3.6K
The Effect of Construction and Demolition Waste Plastic Fractions on Wood-Polymer Composite Properties
09:06

The Effect of Construction and Demolition Waste Plastic Fractions on Wood-Polymer Composite Properties

Published on: June 7, 2020

8.2K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Oct 3, 2025

Depolymerizable Olefinic Polymers Based on Fused-Ring Cyclooctene Monomers
08:12

Depolymerizable Olefinic Polymers Based on Fused-Ring Cyclooctene Monomers

Published on: December 16, 2022

3.4K
Designed for Molecular Recycling: A Lignin-Derived Semi-aromatic Biobased Polymer
10:22

Designed for Molecular Recycling: A Lignin-Derived Semi-aromatic Biobased Polymer

Published on: November 30, 2020

3.6K
The Effect of Construction and Demolition Waste Plastic Fractions on Wood-Polymer Composite Properties
09:06

The Effect of Construction and Demolition Waste Plastic Fractions on Wood-Polymer Composite Properties

Published on: June 7, 2020

8.2K

Area of Science:

  • Environmental Science
  • Materials Science
  • Industrial Ecology

Background:

  • Plastic recycling offers environmental benefits by reducing waste and conserving primary resources.
  • Current research often overlooks the downstream utilization of recycled plastics in manufacturing.
  • Effective plastic waste management necessitates understanding the integration of secondary materials into product lifecycles.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the potential for substituting primary plastics with secondary materials in product manufacturing.
  • To analyze the impact of increased collection rates on secondary material availability and utilization.
  • To identify the limitations of secondary material uptake in achieving higher recycling rates.

Main Methods:

  • A material flow analysis was conducted for 11 plastic types across 54 product subsegments in Switzerland (2017 data).
  • A prospective scenario for 2025 modeled an 80% collection rate for 2017 plastic fractions.
  • Linear optimization allocated secondary material flows to suitable product subsegments under varying applicability scenarios.

Main Results:

  • Secondary plastics can substitute 21% to 100% of primary materials, meeting 11% to 17% of total material demand.
  • Overall recycling rates could reach 23%, but the true recycling rate, considering only utilized secondary materials, is lower (17% in a moderate scenario).
  • Secondary material uptake emerged as a critical limiting factor for enhancing future plastic recycling rates.

Conclusions:

  • The successful integration of secondary plastics into manufacturing is crucial for advancing recycling systems.
  • Recycling rate targets should be informed by realistic assessments of secondary material application potential.
  • Further research and policy development are needed to overcome barriers to secondary material utilization in the plastic industry.