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Published on: November 17, 2017
Applications of Plasma Technologies in Recycling Processes.
Reinosuke Kusano1, Yukihiro Kusano2
1School of Physics and Astronomy, University of St Andrews, North Haugh, St Andrews KY16 9SS, UK.
Plasma technologies offer sustainable solutions for waste management, effectively recycling materials like metals and electronics. This review highlights advancements in plasma applications for circular economy models, demonstrating their successful integration into recycling processes.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Chemical Engineering
- Environmental Science
Background:
- Plasmas, ionized gases, create unique reaction fields applicable to diverse chemical processes.
- Growing urgency for sustainable waste management drives plasma technology adoption in recycling.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent developments in plasma technologies for recycling.
- To link these advancements with circular economy models and waste management hierarchies.
Main Methods:
- Review of literature on plasma applications in waste recycling.
- Analysis of thermal and nonthermal plasma technologies for specific waste streams.
- Integration with economic models of circular economy.
Main Results:
- Plasma technologies are successfully applied to thermal decomposition of organic waste, recovery of inorganic materials (e.g., metals), and treatment of paper, wind turbine, and electronic waste.
- Thermal plasmas excel in thermal processes, while nonthermal plasmas offer chemical selectivity for other applications.
- Most current plasma recycling applications are effective, with identified areas for further development.
Conclusions:
- Plasma technologies present viable and effective solutions for various recycling challenges within a circular economy framework.
- Continued research and development are essential to optimize and expand plasma applications in waste management and recycling.
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