Waste Processing Technologies

Module B1 focuses on routes and technologies that produce high-quality raw materials from different solid waste sources with high economic and societal impacts and a degree of urgency. Examples are household waste, WEEE, plastics, metals, industrial wastes, incineration residues, and tailings from mines. Routes are designed to uphold and further develop the circular economy's generic principles and concepts as taught in the stepping stone and Module A: i.e., effective solutions for recovery of materials from End-of-Life constructions, design out harmful residues and emissions to water, air, and soil, and prevent the depletion of non-renewable resources.

This module will further explore the issues and variables that play a role in preparing and using secondary resources more efficiently, safeguarding the environment, and in closed loops. In this context, the limitations of circularity will also be addressed.

The student will be challenged to apply the knowledge and skills provided by the expert teaching teams in a final project of design and analysis (B1-3), in compliance with regulations and discussing ethical aspects. This module also addresses the development of soft skills such as presentation techniques, professional reporting, team working, and efficient communication with internal and external experts.

Goal: Gain knowledge and skills to understand materials and waste flows and to develop technologies for recycling, resource recovery, waste separation, characterisation, and disposal in the context of the circular economy.

The module content is organised in the following three themes:

(1) Resources recovery from End-of-Life constructions

Link to learning objectives of the module:

B1: LO1, LO2, LO3, LO5, LO8, and LO10.

With a focus on the environment and the economy, this theme offers an engineering perspective to address critical aspects related to circular production and construction processes, advanced technologies for recycling, and recovery of resources from construction and demolition waste in a circular economy. The following topics will be addressed:

• Regulations

• Processes and procedures

• Material labels

• Waste flows

• Dismantling strategy

• Demolition techniques

• Collection strategies

• Primary and secondary raw materials

• Innovative technological solutions that foster circularity

• Routes to market

• Environmental aspects

(2) Waste collection and separation techniques

Link to learning objectives of the module:

B1: LO3, LO4, LO5, LO6, LO7 and LO8.

Knowledge of solid waste separation principles and techniques is key to efficient recycling and improving the sustainability of material resources.

This theme provides detailed knowledge about the flows of resources and wastes resulting from human activities. This theme will further explore the issues and variables that play a role in using secondary resources more efficiently and in closed loops. In this context, the practical limitations of circularity will also be addressed.

The theme concentrates on the different steps and processes comprised in the solid waste management chain, from waste collection to treatment, recycling, and disposal. Taking into account the issues of sustainability and circularity, the theme provides knowledge on the processes costs, the quality, and the value of the secondary materials resulting from the different processes/treatments discussed. The following topics will be addressed:

• Collection methods

• Physical waste properties

• Particle segregation and agglomeration

• Sampling theory

• Pre-treatments

• Pre-processing methods

• Performance-based modelling

• Separation principles

• Separation technologies

• Ore

• Tailings

• Household waste

• Waste incineration and Rankin cycle

• Optimizing separation lines for value or recovery

• Sensor feeding techniques

• Sensor principles

• Sensor applications

• Detection-limited sensor data

(3) Recovery and quality of raw materials from waste

Link to learning objectives of the module:

B1: LO2, LO9, LO10 and LO12.

A challenging design and analysis exercise in student groups, spanning the route from waste source to extraction and further purification and/or refinement to high-quality raw materials.

Specific knowledge about mining operations, minerals processing, metallurgical refinement techniques, and final solutions for harmful residues (e.g., landfilling techniques) can be provided in a series of starting lectures or workshops, depending on the specified design topics. The following topics will be addressed:

• Waste sources

• Volumes and capacity

• Conditions and limitations

• Design of separation and treatment strategy and technologies

• Quality of raw materials

• Purification

• Refinement

• Treatments

• Residues

• Emissions

• Energy consumption

• Ethics

• Ecological and societal impacts.

Quantification and discussion of environmental impacts in connection to regulations on residues and emissions are part of the evaluation of the technical design.

Moreover, students are challenged to identify and discuss possible ethical implications of their design in a dedicated workshop organised in collaboration with the Faculty of Technology, Policy, and Management.