Maryam Ghodrat

Techno-economic Analysis of Energy Recovery from Plastic Waste

Treatment of polymer-based wastes has a tremendous potential for generating alternative energy, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, creating economic and environmental benefits, and achieving a sustainable development of the energy sector. During the past few decades, plastic waste generation increased at a greater rate than the population, with the move towards single-use products. Also with raising the cost of oil-based products, greater emphasis should be placed upon the usage of plastic/polymer in the waste stream as a supplementary source of fuel. This study presents a techno-economic analysis of the recycling potential of plastic waste in Australia by evaluating the possible use of these wastes as a reductant in steel making incinerators. The study tries to shed light on a possible cost effective alternative route in the smart treatment of waste plastic in Australia.

Recovery of Platinum Group Metals Out of Automotive Catalytic Converters Scrap: A Review on Australian Trends and Challenges

The Platinum Group Metals (PGMs) are of substantial technological prominence. They are also extremely rare, because of their low natural existence and their complicated extraction and refining process. To meet the future demand and preserve resources, it is essential to process end-of-life platinum-containing materials, such as catalytic converters. PGMs recovery from catalytic converters scrap commonly carried out by pyro/hydrometallurgical processes that involved thermal treatment followed by leaching and solvent extraction. This paper reviews current methods in used in the recovery of PGMs out of waste catalytic converters in Australia and discusses some of the key factors and opportunities in improving the existing methodologies. Emerging trends that are likely to affect the current or future PGM recovery are also explored.

Thermodynamic Analysis of Incineration Treatment of Waste Disposable Syringes in an EAF Steelmaking Process

Disposal of waste syringes in a safe and eco-friendly way has been an issue of considerable scale for decades. The generated amount of waste syringes has escalated with the rapid growth in population and wide acceptance towards single-use medical devices. Some hospitals have their own on-site incinerators, but recent tightening of air quality regulations and landfill levies led to the closure of many on-site incinerators. The solution to this problem implicates the development of an environmentally-sound method that would employ these waste materials. This work investigates a thermodynamic modelling approach for incineration treatment of waste plastic syringes in Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) steelmaking. Mass balance was obtained from HSC Chemistry thermochemical package. The results indicate that the rate of iron oxide reduction in the slag is higher when coke is partially replaced by waste plastic syringes. Furthermore, the amount of dust and stack gas emission was reduced by around 0.4% and 1.25% respectively by replacing 20%-weight of pure coke with waste plastic syringes. The study demonstrates part of the coke can be successfully replaced by waste plastic syringes in electric arc furnace to provide additional energy from combustion without affecting the main process

Life Cycle Assessments of Incineration Treatment for Sharp Medical Waste

Treatment of sharp medical waste (waste disposable syringes) produced in hospitals or health care facilities in an environmentally sound ways have raised concerns relating to public health and occupational safety. Life cycle assessment (LCA) is a decision-supporting tool in waste management practice; but relatively little research has been done on the evaluation of sharp medical waste treatment from a life cycle perspective. Our study assesses the environmental performances of medical waste incineration as a type of dominant technology for specific medical waste of average composition. Inventory models were used for waste incineration and residues landfill. Background data were derived from modelling performed in HSC Chemistry thermochemical package linked with GaBi environmental assessment tool. Two scenarios have been considered and compared: Waste disposable syringes partially replacing coke in Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) steelmaking (WSI) and conventional incineration with pure metallurgical coke without adding waste syringes (CI). The results of this study could support the medical waste hierarchy and indicate that from a life cycle perspective, replacing part of metallurgical coke with waste syringes in electric arc furnace steelmaking leads to fairly significant reduce in most of environmental impact categories.

Bridge Abutment Movement and Approach Settlement — A Case Study and Scenario Analysis

Movement of bridge abutment is a significant issue affecting the overall reliability and safety of the structure. However, despite considerable consequences, potential movement of abutment is usual...