Circular Economy

J Environ Manage. 2025 Nov 28;396:128089. doi: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.128089. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

With the rapid advancement of industrialization, the rising demand for resources and associated greenhouse gas emissions have intensified global environmental concerns. Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) technologies utilizing industrial solid wastes have emerged as promising solutions to advance carbon neutrality and circular economy goals. Among these industrial solid wastes, steel slag (SS), has attracted increasing attention in CO₂ storage technologies due to its high reactivity with CO₂ and considerable sequestration potential. This review systematically evaluates the CO₂ storage pathway by SS and elucidates the direct carbonation reaction mechanisms of SS under gas-solid, liquid-solid, and gas-liquid-solid conditions. Key challenges are discussed, including surface passivation, gas-liquid mass transfer limitations, and the optimization of process conditions. Three dominant kinetic models-shrinking core, surface coverage, and random pore models, are analyzed to interpret multistep reaction behaviors and guide process optimization. Additionally, the review highlights the role of experimental data in deriving kinetic parameters and guides their integration into reactor-scale modeling. By synthesizing existing knowledge and outlining future research priorities, this work aims to enhance the direct carbonation performance of SS and promote its industrial deployment as a sustainable carbon capture solution aligned with environmental and policy objectives.

PMID:41317552 | DOI:10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.128089

Bioresour Technol. 2025 Nov 27:133731. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2025.133731. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Phthalate esters (PAEs), widely used as plasticizers, are persistent environmental and food contaminants associated with endocrine disruption and health risks. Enzymatic degradation offers a promising solution, yet the catalytic mechanisms of the sparsely studied family VIII carboxylesterases remain largely unexplored. Here, a novel family VIII carboxylesterase HylD3 was characterized with efficient PAEs hydrolysis performance. Biochemical analysis revealed optimal activity at pH 9.5 and 45 °C but poor thermostability (half-life 0.12 min at 65 °C). Structural bioinformatics and mutagenesis uncovered a non-classical catalytic triad (S79-K82-Y185), while molecular docking and simulations showed that substrate affinity was enhanced by an enlarged active pocket and a reshaped binding energy landscape of the enzyme HylD3, which collectively provided first molecular-level insight into PAEs hydrolysis by this enzyme family. To overcome thermostability limitations, COF-LZU1@HylD3 was prepared via rapid aqueous-phase one-pot immobilization within 10 min. The immobilized system preserved the free enzyme's catalytic properties, exhibited a 21.00-fold improvement in thermostability at 65 °C, and maintained 47.06 % activity after five cycles of catalysis, achieving a sustainable hydrolysis efficiency of 8.22 g/(L·d). This study advances the mechanism understanding of family VIII carboxylesterase in PAEs hydrolysis and establishes a thermostable biocatalytic platform for efficient PAEs detoxification food-related and environmental systems.

PMID:41317923 | DOI:10.1016/j.biortech.2025.133731

J Food Sci. 2025 Dec;90(12):e70716. doi: 10.1111/1750-3841.70716.

ABSTRACT

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into food packaging systems is transforming traditional packaging from passive containment into an intelligent, adaptive component of food quality management. This review provides a critical and systematic evaluation of AI-driven packaging technologies published between 2015 and 2025, retrieved from Scopus, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, and IEEE Xplore databases using defined keywords related to AI, machine learning, and smart packaging. It examines how algorithms such as convolutional neural networks, recurrent neural networks, and support vector machines are integrated with embedded sensors, computer vision, and edge analytics to enable real-time spoilage prediction, microbial risk detection, and supply-chain traceability. The analysis incorporates model performance indicators precision, recall, and coefficient of determination (R²) and assesses limitations associated with dataset imbalance, energy consumption, and model transferability. Regulatory frameworks from European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), and Codex Alimentarius are reviewed alongside sustainability aspects concerning life-cycle impacts, e-waste, and biodegradable AI components. Industrial implementations, including SpoilerAlert, Aryballe, and Tetra Pak's connected systems, demonstrate the transition toward commercial adoption. The review concludes by defining future directions for developing scalable, ethical, and resource-efficient AI-enabled packaging systems aligned with global food safety and circular economy objectives.

PMID:41316858 | DOI:10.1111/1750-3841.70716

J Am Chem Soc. 2025 Nov 28. doi: 10.1021/jacs.5c16685. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The growing burden of plastics on the environment represents an urgent global challenge. We report a robust strategy to convert waste cooking oil (WCO), an abundant biomass waste, into chemically recyclable polyesters that mimic polyethylene in performance but offer degradability and excellent adhesion. Through catalytical transformation, both the fatty acid and glycerol components of WCO are valorized into monomers, which are then polymerized into long-chain linear and branched aliphatic polyesters with tunable crystallinity and mechanical properties. These materials, especially branched polyesters with long aliphatic side chains, rival low-density polyethylene (LDPE) in flexibility and strength and notably outperform commercial adhesives in shear strength by creating robust yet temporary bonds with multiple substrates, offering safety, ease of handling, and removability. These mimics can be depolymerized and repolymerized under mild conditions, even in mixed plastic streams. Simulations and experiments reveal that the strikingly increased crystallinity in polyesters with longer side chains is driven by side-chain alignment, offering new molecular insights for materials design. This work illustrates a powerful waste-to-materials approach that aligns with circular economy principles and elevates the potential of biomass in sustainable plastics' innovation.

PMID:41313228 | DOI:10.1021/jacs.5c16685

Mar Pollut Bull. 2025 Nov 27;223:119028. doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2025.119028. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The circular economy has emerged as a transformative framework in environmental research, promoting resource efficiency, waste reduction, and sustainable production-consumption cycles-crucial for addressing marine pollution challenges. The growing urgency of marine environmental degradation and the global shift toward a sustainable blue economy have driven interdisciplinary research linking ocean health and economic development. This study conducts a bibliometric analysis of 3261 Scopus-indexed publications (1990-2025), focusing on the thematic convergence of marine pollution and blue economy discourses. Using keyword co-occurrence mapping, the analysis identifies major research clusters related to marine contaminants, wastewater treatment technologies, circular economy practices, environmental economics, and marine governance. Results reveal three dominant thematic domains: (1) marine and coastal pollution, including plastic debris, oil spills, and harmful algal blooms; (2) sustainability and life cycle approaches tied to economic valuation and waste management; and (3) ocean policy, ecosystem services, and climate resilience. Central cross-cutting terms-such as sustainability, monitoring, and ecosystem valuation-highlight the field's integrative nature. A thematic literature review further synthesised interdisciplinary insights. This study proposes an Integrated Marine Sustainability Framework (IMSF) linking marine sustainability outcomes to key drivers-pollution, technology, and policy-moderated by governance and stakeholder engagement. It underscores circular economy and blue economy strategies to minimize marine pollution, ensuring environmental protection, economic growth, and effective, integrated ocean management for sustainable development. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of the knowledge structure and priorities in marine environmental science, offering insights for policy alignment, academic collaboration, and future research on sustainable ocean development.

PMID:41313822 | DOI:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2025.119028

J Environ Manage. 2025 Nov 27;396:128132. doi: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.128132. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Microplastics (MPs) pollution necessitates efficient removal technologies. This study developed a novel combined filtration-adsorption process using coal-based modified activated carbon (CMAC) synthesized from low-ash anthracite via carbonization, KOH activation, and chitosan dip-coating. Characterization revealed CMAC's positive surface charge under acidic conditions (pH < 7) enhances electrostatic adsorption of negatively charged MPs, while chitosan coating provides additional active sites. Orthogonal experiments identified bed loading as the most influential parameter, followed by flow velocity, initial concentration, and pH value. Under optimal conditions, the combined process achieved 95.48 % MP removal rate, surpassing pure filtration by 52.59 %. This improvement stems from dual mechanisms: (1) Filtration stage physically intercepts coarse MPs (>0.125 mm) via quartz sand's "pseudo-filter" structure; (2) Adsorption stage combines chemical interactions (electron donor-acceptor interactions, electrostatic forces) with physical adsorption (chitosan-mediated bridging). This synergistic approach effectively removes MPs of varying sizes and properties, demonstrating superior performance for practical wastewater treatment applications. The study provides a sustainable, scalable solution for MPs pollution control through waste-derived adsorbents and mechanistic insights for process optimization.

PMID:41313989 | DOI:10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.128132

Sci Total Environ. 2025 Nov 27;1009:181048. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.181048. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Soil-biodegradable mulch films offer a sustainable alternative to conventional plastics in agriculture, especially where recollection or recycling are impractical. However, biodegradation of these materials must not result in the formation of persistent microplastics. This study investigates the fragmentation and biodegradation of the certified soil-biodegradable mulch film ecovio® M2351 in standardized laboratory conditions (ISO 17556). The material was incubated in agricultural soil in two different forms: cryomilled fragments and 1 cm² film pieces. Fragment formation was quantified using μ-FTIR microscopy. Biodegradation as well as fragmentation kinetics were modelled by the open-source mechanistic FRAGMENT-MNP model. Results demonstrate that fragmentation is a transient phase within the biodegradation process, with particle counts transitionally peaking, then declining as mineralization progresses. Cryomilled fragments exhibited faster biodegradation and more pronounced fragmentation than larger film pieces. When biodegradation experiments were stopped, more than 90 % of the polymeric carbon was converted into CO₂ and residual fragments showed comparable chemical composition to the original material but showed significantly reduced molar masses, indicating that the biodegradation was still progressing. This is supported by the model, predicting that particle concentrations will decrease to below one particle per gram of soil within 600-700 days for both scenarios. These findings confirm that certified soil-biodegradable polymers like ecovio® M2351 do not form persistent microplastics. The combined experimental and modelling approach provides mechanistic insights into the interplay between fragmentation and mineralization and could be further improved by additional measurements of fragments <25 μm and of the polymer mass in the dissolved phase. In future, field data can support the extrapolation of the model predictions to the real-world.

PMID:41314070 | DOI:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.181048

Int J Biol Macromol. 2025 Nov 26:149307. doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.149307. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) is a renewable and biodegradable biopolymer that has attracted significant interest as a reinforcing filler in polymer biocomposite films. This review provides a comprehensive overview of MCC-based biocomposites and their impact on film sustainability. It covers MCC sources from agricultural and industrial waste, new extraction processes (e.g., microwave- and enzyme-assisted processes), and environmentally friendly solvents such as ionic and deep eutectic solvents. Alternative fabrication methods, including solution casting, melt blending, and electrospinning were discussed. Furthermore, the impact of MCC on the mechanical properties, thermal resistance, and barrier properties was analyzed. Biodegradation behavior, environmental performance, and new surface modification strategies of MCC were comprehensively discussed. Applications in packaging, biomedical devices, agriculture, and intelligent sensing were emphasized, alongside lifecycle and circular economy considerations. The study concluded with a discussion of the challenges faced and future directions, highlighting the potential of MCC to advance sustainable biopolymer-based technologies.

PMID:41314572 | DOI:10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.149307

Front Public Health. 2025 Nov 12;13:1623725. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2025.1623725. eCollection 2025.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Hazardous healthcare waste (HHCW) presents escalating environmental and operational challenges, yet traditional indicators such as waste generation rate (kg/bed/day) fail to account for patient complexity or care intensity, leading to biased institutional comparisons. Despite various previous normalization attempts, no validated framework has yet integrated clinical and operational heterogeneity into a single benchmarking metric. This study introduces and validates the Complexity-Adjusted Waste Index (CAWI), a novel metric that integrates the Case-Mix Index (CMI) and Length of Stay (LOS) to normalize waste generation across hospitals with heterogeneous clinical profiles.

METHODS: Using national data from 94 inpatient institutions in Hungary (2017-2021), CAWI was calculated and compared with conventional HHCW generation rates through Spearman correlation, Fisher's Z-tests, and robust regression models.

RESULTS: Results show that higher CMI correlates with increased HHCW (r = 0.49, p < 0.001), while shorter LOS is associated with higher daily waste intensity (r = -0.67, p < 0.001). CAWI demonstrated reduced statistical dispersion (SD = 0.15 vs. 0.27) and stronger correlations with key institutional variables, including number of ICU-patients (r = 0.78 vs. 0.67) and number of inpatients (r = 0.71 vs. 0.54), with significantly lower model error terms.

DISCUSSION: By explicitly combining patient complexity and treatment intensity into a transferable normalization framework, CAWI advances current benchmarking approaches both theoretically and methodologically. The CAWI framework offers a statistically robust and scalable solution for complexity-sensitive benchmarking, enabling more accurate cross-institutional comparisons and supporting targeted waste reduction strategies aligned with circular economy principles.

PMID:41312247 | PMC:PMC12647027 | DOI:10.3389/fpubh.2025.1623725

Water Sci Technol. 2025 Nov;92(10):iii-v. doi: 10.2166/wst.2025.163. Epub 2025 Nov 7.

NO ABSTRACT

PMID:41313655 | DOI:10.2166/wst.2025.163

Sci Rep. 2025 Nov 27;15(1):42499. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-26635-4.

ABSTRACT

Global health resources have expanded quickly and global health has improved in many places. However, such progress has resulted in a demand for the management and safe disposal of medical waste, particularly in many developing countries which still lack adequate facilities and regulatory framework to deal with their medical waste. This study analyzes decarbonization and circular economy principles of sustainable medical waste management to find optimal solutions for reducing environmental impact and enhancing system efficiency. A novel hybrid MCDM model which combines DEMATEL-ANP is applied for identifying the key factors influencing the decarbonization and medical waste practices. It takes into account the interaction between factors and assists in decision making under uncertainty, particularly when data are scarce. The outcomes of the study highlight the sustainable management of medical waste and their correlation with certain UN-SDGs. According to DEMATEL results, both sustainable development (C1) and advanced technology adoption (C3) have significant cause-effect relationships on the other CE practices, whereas according to ANP findings, prospective investigative dominances of the advanced technology adaption (C2) and sustainable development (C1) are great backbones of decarbonization circular economies. The finding of this study offer specific insights for policymakers and administrators for reducing their environmental burdens, enhancing resource efficiency, and developing the resilience and sustainability of healthcare systems. To the best of our knowledge, this study becomes the first to emphasize medical waste management as a climate challenge and a sustainability issue and utilize a hybrid DEMATEL- ANP approach to facilitate evidence based policy making in low-resource settings in developing countries concurrently considering environmental sustainability as well as healthcare operations gap.

PMID:41309852 | PMC:PMC12660948 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-025-26635-4