In response to the global interest and efforts towards reducing plastic use and promoting resource recycling, there is a growing need to establish methods for recycling discarded fishing gear. In Korea, various technologies are being developed to recycle discarded fishing gear, but significant technical and policy challenges still remain. In particular, biodegradable gill nets require a pre-treatment process to separate biodegradable materials from other substances and to remove salt before recycling. Therefore, this study aims to develop a pre-treatment device for recycling biodegradable gill nets and to evaluate the feasibility of recycling them.

Because plastics are cheap and light, their use is indispensable in our daily lives. However, the extensive use of plastics causes the disposal issue. Among various disposal processes, plastic recycling is of great attention because of minimizing waste and harmful byproducts. Herein, we recycle the most popular thermoplastic materials, high-density and low-density polyethylene, producing the anode materials for the Li-ion batteries. The electrochemical properties of the as-recycled soft carbon are investigated to study the energy storage capability as the anode of Li-ion batteries. Our work demonstrates the soft carbon recycled from plastic wastes is a promising anode material.

This study aimed to develop an efficient recycling process for wastewater generated from soil-washing used to remediate uranium (U(VI))-contaminated soil. Under acidic conditions, U(VI) ions leached from the soil were precipitated and separated through neutralization using hydrazine (N2H4). N2H4, employed as a pH adjuster, was decomposed into nitrogen gas (N2), water (H2O), and hydrogen ions (H+) by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). The residual N2H4 was precipitated when the pH was adjusted using sulfuric acid (H2SO4) to recycle the wastewater in the soil-washing process. This purified wastewater was reused in the soil-washing process for a total of ten cycles. The results confirmed that the soil-washing performance for U(VI)-contaminated soil was maintained when using recycled wastewater. All in all, this study proposes an efficient recycling process for wastewater generated during the remediation of U(VI)-contaminated soil.

최근 전기차 및 전력저장 시스템과 같은 대형 전지 시장의 성장으로 인해 리튬 이온 배터리에 대한 수요가 급증하 고 있다. 이에 따라 폐전지의 발생이 빠르게 증가할 것 으로 예상되며, 이에 대한 처리가 사회적 문제가 될 것 으로 예상된다. 폐전지 처리의 가장 효과적인 방법은 폐전지의 소재를 재활용하는 방법이다. 이 중 고가의 금속 물질로서, 재활용 시 경제성이 가장 높은 양극 소재 재활용 연구가 가장 활발히 이뤄지고 있다. 하지만 폐전지로부터 회수된 블 랙 파우더에는 도전재 및 바인더가 포함되어 있는데 양극 소재를 재활용하기 위해서는 이를 제거하는 공정이 필요하 다. 본 연구에서는 폐전지에서 추출된 폐양극 소재의 재활용을 위한 소재 전처리 연구를 제시한다. 열처리 및 화학 처리의 두 가지 전처리 공정을 사용하여 불순물을 제거하였고, 이에 따른 제거 정도를 SEM 분석을 통해 확인하였고, 불순물의 정량 분석을 TGA, EA 분석을 통해 확인하였으며, 전기화학 성능을 분석하였다.

내구연한이 도래한 아스팔트 혼합물은 사용자의 주행성 및 안전성 확보를 위해 주기적인 유지·보수를 실시한다. 과거에는 유지·보수 과정에서 발생된 폐아스팔트 혼합물을 각종 건설현장에서 단순 매립재로서 활용하였으나, 재활용 아스팔트 혼합물의 배합설계 기술이 확립된 이후에는 도로포장재료로서의 재활용되어왔다. 하지만 현재 시공된 재활용 아스팔트 혼합물 또한 내구연한이 다가옴에 따라 노화된 재활용 아스팔트 혼합물의 처리방안 수립이 필요한 시점이다. 본 연구에서는 한번 재활용된 아스팔트 혼합물이 기존의 재활용 배합설계법으로 반복적인 재활용이 가능한지 검증해보고자 하였다. 이를 위해 아스팔트 혼합물의 물성을 결정하는 가장 큰 요인 중 하나인 아스팔트의 물성이 노화 및 재생을 반복할때 어떻게 변하는지를 시험을 통해 분석하였다. 아스팔트 바인더의 노화를 모사하기 위해 공용성등급시험에 사용되는 단기노화 장비(Rolling Thin Film Oven, RTFO)와 장기노화 장비(Pressure Aging Vessel, PAV)을 활용하 였다. 노화된 아스팔트의 회생을 위한 재생첨가제 사용량은 국토부 시공지침의 배합설계법을 참고하였다. 실험결과, 노화된 바인더는 회생시 원바인더에 비해  sin는 감소하였으나, 회생된 바인더 간에는 유사한 결과값을 보였다. 반면 단기노화 시료는 회생이 반복 됨에 따라  sin이 감소한 경향을 보였으며, 장기노화시료는 회생이 반복되어도  sin가 유사한 것으로 확인되었다.

교통량이 증가하고 교량과 같은 특수구조물에 아스팔트 포장이 시공되는 사례가 증가함에 따라 일반적으로 사용되는 아스팔트보다 높은 성능을 가진 아스팔트에 대한 수요가 증가하고 있다. 일반 아스팔트 혼합물은 내구연한이 지나면 재생첨가제 등을 사용하여 다 시 도로포장재료로서 재활용할 수 있는 방안이 마련되어 있으나, 개질 아스팔트가 사용된 폐아스팔트 혼합물은 매립재로 사용하는 것 이외에는 별다른 대안이 없는 실정이다. 이에 본 연구에서는 국토부 지침에 규정된 재활용 아스팔트 혼합물 배합설계법을 적용하여 개질 폐아스팔트 혼합물을 재활용할 수 있는지를 검토해보고자 하였다. 이를 위해 개질 아스팔트를 활용하여 혼합물을 제작하였으며, 현장에서 수거되는 폐아스팔트 혼합물의 노화상태를 모사하기 위해 AASHTO R 30을 참고하여 강제 노화를 실시하였다. 노화 및 추출 과정에서 아스팔트의 물성 변화를 확인하기 위해 절대점도, DSR, MSCR 시험을 실시하였다. 시험결과, 추출 후 바인더의 절대점도는 감소하였으나 G*(복합전단계수)와 δ(위상각)은 증가하는 경향을 보였다. 소성변형 저항성을 확인하기 위해 MSCR(다중 응력 크리프 및 회복) 시험을 실시한 결과,  이 2배 가까이 증가하여 소성변형 저항성이 감소한 것을 확인할 수 있었다. 이러한 결과는 추출시 사용 되는 용매가 개질첨가제를 추출하지 못하여 기인한 결과로 판단된다. 따라서 개질 폐아스팔트 혼합물을 재활용하기 위해서는 기존과 는 다른 별도의 배합설계법이 개발되어야 할 것으로 판단되었다.

Disposable masks manufactured in response to the COVID-19 pandemic have caused environmental problems due to improper disposal methods such as landfilling or incineration. To mitigate environmental pollution, we suggest a new process for recycling these disposable masks for ultimate application as a conductive material in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). In our work, the masks were chemically processed via amine functionalization and sulfonation, followed by carbonization in a tube furnace in the Ar atmosphere. The residual weight percentages, as evaluated by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), of the chemically modified masks were 30.6% (600 °C, C-600), 24.5% (750 °C, C-750), and 24.1% (900 °C, C-900), respectively, thereby demonstrating the possibility of using our proposed method to recycle masks intended for disposal. The electrochemical performance of the fabricated carbonized materials was assessed by fabricating silicon/graphite (20:80) anodes incorporating these materials as additives for use in LIBs. Using a coin-type half-cell system, cells with the aforementioned carbonized materials exhibited initial capacities of 553 mAh/g, 607 mAh/g, and 571 mAh/g, respectively, which are comparable to those of commercial Super P (591 mAh/g). Cell cycled at the rate of 0.33 C with C-600, C-750, and C-900 as additives demonstrated capacity retention of 53.2%, 47.4%, and 51.1%, respectively, compared with that of Super P (48.3%). In addition, when cycled at rates from 0.2 to 5 C, the cells with anodes containing the respective additives exhibited rate capabilities similar to those of Super P. These results might be attributable to the unique surface properties and morphologies of the carbonized materials derived from the new recycling procedure, such as the size and number of heteroatoms on the surface.

Around the 1980s, with government’s promotion and dissemination policies for FRP (Fiberglass Reinforced Plastics) of the government as a main material of fishing boats, approximately 97% of the entire fishing boats in Korea have utilized FRP until now. Nevertheless, diverse social and environmental issues have emerged due to the susceptibility to fire and the generation of substances detrimental to human health during the construction process of FRP fishing vessels. Especially, the high disposal cost and the limitation of recycling technology in the disposal process of FRP fishing boats have elicited attention to circular economy. This research intended to grasp the management status and problems of disposed FRP fishing boats in Korea, and to assess the level of competitive advantage of FRP fishing boats’ recycling technologies of FRP fishing boats based on VRIO (Value, Rarity, Imitability, Organization) analysis through domestic and foreign management policies and related recycling examples. According to the survey of 161 respondents, including the industry, stakeholders and experts related to the collection, treatment and recycling of fisheries wastes, it was revealed that FRP fishing boats’ recycling technologies of FRP fishing boats are at the level of ‘unused competitive advantage’ that satisfied the level of value, rarity and imitability, but not the level of organization.

Electronic waste (E-waste) has become a long-standing global concern. People are purchasing new affordable and improved technologies long before the end-of-life (EOL)’s of their old devices, which is leading to overconsumption and growing volumes of e-waste. At present, official data indicates that 80% of the volume of e-waste is not formally treated globally. The complex nature of e-waste recycling processes is a significant challenge.

우리나라 폐기물관리법상 의료폐기물은 소각 또는 멸균분쇄 후 소각하도록 되 어 있으나, 멸균분쇄 후 소각하는 경우는 미미하다. 의료폐기물은 멸균분쇄 하 더라도 위해성이 남아 있다는 전제하에 잔재물을 소각해야 한다는 법률규정 때문에 멸균분쇄는 불필요한 과정으로 인식되어 대부분 의료폐기물 전용소각 장에서 소각되고 있다. 그러다보니 의료폐기물 전용소각장의 처리용량이 부족 해지고, 이를 해결하기 위하여 법정한도를 초과해서 처리하는 것을 허용하는 경우도 있으며, 감염정도가 낮은 일회용기저귀는 폐기물관리법 특례를 적용하 여 의료폐기물에서 제외하여 일반폐기물 소각장에서 처리하고 있다. 국내 폐기물관리법은 기계적 처분 방식인 고압증기멸균법 및 마이크로웨이브 멸균법 등이 규정되어 있지만 아직 활성화 되지 못하고 있다. 이는 의료폐기물 처리에 대해 어떠한 방식을 통해서라도 자원을 재활용해야 한다는 당위성에 대한 인식이 부족하기 때문이다. 멸균분쇄 후 남은 잔재물을 소각하지 않고 재활용하기 위해서는 개정되어야 할 규정 들이 많이 있다. 의료폐기물은 발생지인 의료기관이 자가처리 방식으 로 멸균분쇄하여 일반폐기물로 배출하여 재활용하는 것이 가장 바람직한 방법 이다. 따라서, 해외 선진 국가들과 마찬가지로 우리나라도 의료폐기물 재활용, 특히 소재 자체가 활용도가 매우 높은 일회용기저귀에 대해서는 반드시 재활 용 및 재생원료로 사용될 수 있도록 연구, 검토되어야 할 것이다.

RUCAS (Recycling-Underlying Computational Dose Assessment System), a dose assessment program based on the RESRAD-RECYCLE framework, is designed to evaluate dose for recycling scenarios of radioactive waste in metals and concrete. To confirm the validity of the recycling scenarios provided by RUCAS, comparative evaluations will be conducted with RESRAD-RECYCLE for metal radioactive waste recycling scenarios and with MicroShield® for concrete radioactive waste recycling scenarios. In the evaluation of metal recycling scenarios without shielding, RUCAS showed similar results when compared to both MicroShield® and RESRAD-RECYCLE. This validates the function of dose assessments using RUCAS for metal recycling scenarios. However, when shielding was present, RUCAS produced results that were comparable to MicroShield®, but differed from those of RESRAD-RECYCLE. The underestimation of dose values up to 1.66E+08 times difference by RESRAD-RECYCLE could potentially decrease reliability and safety in evaluated doses, further emphasizing the importance of RUCAS. Because validation is also necessary for the expanded calculation capabilities resulting from methodological changes of RUCAS (i.e., various radiation source geometries), based on prior validations, it was determined that additional validations are required for different radiation source materials and shielding conditions. In case where the radiation source and shielding materials were identical, RUCAS and MicroShield® produced similar results according to both the Kalos et al. (1974) and Lin and Jiang (1996) methodologies. This demonstrates that the that differences in methodology are inconsequential when considering the same source and shielding materials. However, when the atomic number of the radiation source materials was larger than that of shielding material (HZ-LZ condition), RUCAS obtained results similar to MicroShield® only for the Kalos et al. (1974) methodology. While Lin and Jiang (1996) methodology yield higher results than MicroShield®. Lastly, in case where the atomic number of the radiation source material was smaller than that of the shielding material (LZ-HZ condition,) both methodologies yielded results comparable to MicroShield®. In conclusion, the validity of RUCAS’s shielding calculations has been verified, confirming improvements in dose assessment compared to RESRAD-RECYCLE. Additionally, we observed that shielding effectiveness calculations differ depending on the methodology of build-up effect. If the validity of these methodologies is confirmed, it is expected that selecting the most advantageous methodology for each condition will enable more rational dose assessments. Consequently, in future research, we plan to evaluate the validity of Lin and Jiang (1996) methodology using particle transport codes based on the Monte Carlo method, such as MCNP and Geant 4, rather than MicroShield®.

Controlling fashion waste throughout the entire product lifecycle is critical in a circular economy. This study explored the possibility of establishing a public recycling system for fashion waste. Since consumer interests and participation are essential, theoretical research, social-text analysis, and quantitative research were conducted to identify consumers’ perceptions of the public recycling of fashion waste and circular fashion. Data were collected via an online survey among women in their 20–30’s living in Korea, and 304 samples were used for data analysis. The results were as follows. First, consumers’ perceptions of recycling fashion waste were composed of recycling difficulty, the need for public recycling, and the need for EPR. Circular fashion perception comprised favor, environment protection, attractiveness, economics, quality and hygiene risks, and lack of diversity. Second, the reuse-recycle attitude and need for EPR affected the favor of all types of circular fashion products. Third, environmental concerns impacted attractiveness, and the favor significantly affected the purchase intention of all types of circular fashion products. In particular, quality and hygiene risk negatively affected the purchase intention of used-fashion products, while attractiveness positively impacted the purchase intention of upcycled-fashion products. The results implied that discussing the public recycling system of fashion waste and EPR policy is imperative. The results also showed the need to classify different types of circular fashion products, such as used, upcycled, and regenerated fashion items, to examine consumers’ perceptions. In addition, the recycling of the fashion waste scale developed in this study could be used for further research.

With a rapid expansion in electric vehicles, a huge amount of the spent Li-ion batteries (LIBs) could be discharged in near future. And thus, the proper handling of the spent LIBs is essential to sustainable development in the industry of electrical vehicles. Among various approaches such as pyrometallurgy, hydrometallurgy, and direct recycling, the hydrometallurgical manner has gained interest in recycling the spent LIBs due to its high effectiveness in recycling raw materials (e.g., lithium, nickel, cobalt, and manganese). However, the hydrometallurgical process not only requires the use of large amounts of acids and water resources but also produces toxic gases and wastewater leading to environmental and economic problems, considering potential economic and environmental problems. Thus, this review aims to provide an overview of conventional and state-of-the-art hydrometallurgical processes to recover valuable metals from spent LIBs. First, we briefly introduce the basic principle and materials of LIBs. Then, we briefly introduce the operations and pros-and cons- of hydrometallurgical processes. Finally, this review proposes future research directions in hydrometallurgy, and its potential opportunities in the fundamental and practical challenges regarding its deployment going forward.