Recycling of materials containing inorganic and carbonaceous nanomaterials

As to inorganic and carbonaceous nanomaterials considerable scope exists for a variety of recycling called resource cascading. Resource cascading aims at the maximum exploitation of quality and service time of natural resources. Extension of product use, product reuse, remanufacturing, and the reuse of materials are important elements in resource cascades. Options for resource cascading are available regarding nanomaterials applied in reactors, used as recoverable analyte, and for nanomaterials embedded in, or bound to the surface of, large-sized materials. Important research issues for nanomaterials applied in reactors are: recovery of nanomaterials in commercial processes, preventing aggregation of nanomaterials, kinetics of catalysts and adsorbents and preventing and reversing poisoning of catalysts and adsorbents. Options facilitating extended use and reuse of nanocomposites with large-sized materials include: preventing loss of nanomaterials, preventing poisoning of nanomaterials, preventing degradation of polymers and introducing self-healing properties. For the recycling of nanomaterials and nanocomposite materials a wide range of technologies has been investigated. Performance of thermoplastic polymeric nanocomposites often deteriorates on reprocessing. There is also scope for recycling of nanomaterials and sacrificed nanomaterials present in wastes. There can be good reasons for resource cascading of nanomaterials and recycling of wastes linked to functionality, resource savings and hazard minimization. Much work is still needed to extend our knowledge about options for resource cascading and the minimization of the environmental burden thereof, and to make resource cascading of nanomaterials fully operational.