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The global pollution crisis arising from the accumulation of plastic in landfills and the environment necessitates addressing plastic waste issues. Notably, polypropylene (PP) waste accounts for 20% of total plastic waste and holds promise for hydrophobic applications in the realm of recycling. Herein, the transparent and non-transparent superhydrophobic films made from waste PP are reported. A hierarchical structure with protrusions is induced through spin-casting and thermally induced phase separation. The films had a water contact angle of 159° and could vary in thickness, strength, roughness, and hydrophobicity depending on end-user requirements. The Bode plot indicated enhanced corrosion resistance in the superhydrophobic films. Antibacterial trials with Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus microbial solutions showed that the superhydrophobic film had a significantly lower rate of colony-forming units compared to both the transparent surface and the control blank sample. Moreover, a life cycle assessment revealed that the film production resulted in a 62% lower embodied energy and 34% lower carbon footprint compared to virgin PP pellets sourced from petroleum. These films exhibit distinctiveness with their dual functionality as coatings and freestanding films. Unlike conventional coatings that require chemical application onto the substrate, these films can be mechanically applied using adhesive tapes on a variety of surfaces. Overall, the effective recycling of waste PP into versatile superhydrophobic films not only reduces environmental impact but also paves the way for a more sustainable and eco-friendly future. [Display omitted] • Waste PP is transformed into superhydrophobic films—transparent and non-transparent. • Films are suitable for weather resistance and self-cleaning applications. • Films demonstrate improved corrosion resistance compared to bare carbon steel. • Reduced microbial growth in films makes them suitable for antibacterial use. • Films show lower embodied energy and fewer carbon emissions than virgin PP pellets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental pollution caused by plastic waste and oil spills has emerged as a major concern in recent years. Consequently, there has been a growing interest in exploring innovative solutions to address these challenges. Herein, we report a method to upcycle polyolefins-based plastic waste by converting it into a bimodal super-oleophilic sorbent using dissolution, spin-coating, and annealing techniques. The resulting sorbent possesses an extensive network of pores and cavities with a size range from 0.5 to 5 µm and 150–200 µm, respectively, with an average of 600 cavities per cm2. Each cavity can swell up to twenty times the thickness of the sorbent, exhibiting sponge-like behavior. The sorbent had an oil uptake capacity of 70–140 g/g, depending on the type of sorbate and dripping time. Moreover, the sorbent can be mechanically or manually squeezed to recover the sorbed oil. Our integrated methodology provides a promising approach to upcycling plastic waste as an abundant source of value-added materials. [Display omitted] • Polyolefins, which make up 60% of plastic waste, were used to produce a super-sorbent for oil and organic removal from water. • The super-sorbent has pores and cavities, with an oil uptake capacity of 70–140 g/g. • Each cavity can swell up to twenty times the thickness of the sorbent, exhibiting sponge-like behavior. • The sorbent can be squeezed mechanically or manually to recover the sorbed oil, with at least 97% efficiency. • This technique can lead to greater utilization of plastic waste as a source of value-added materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

E-waste, in particular waste PCBs, represents a rapidly growing disposal problem worldwide. The vast diversity of highly toxic materials for landfill disposal and the potential of heavy metal vapors and brominated dioxin emissions in the case of incineration render these two waste management technologies inappropriate. Also, the shipment of these toxic wastes to certain areas of the world for eco-unfriendly “ recycling” has recently generated a major public outcry. Consequently, waste PCB recycling should be adopted by the environmental communities as an ultimate goal. This article reviews the recent trends and developments in PCB waste recycling techniques, including both physical and chemical recycling. It is concluded that the physical recycling techniques, which efficiently separate the metallic and nonmetallic fractions of waste PCBs, offer the most promising gateways for the environmentally-benign recycling of this waste. Moreover, although the reclaimed metallic fraction has gained more attention due to its high value, the application of the nonmetallic fraction has been neglected in most cases. Hence, several proposed applications of this fraction have been comprehensively examined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]