Proof-of-concept design, characterization, and life cycle assessment of recycled PET–sand composite bricks via solvent-based dissolution

<p dir="ltr">Plastic waste, especially polyethylene terephthalate (PET), presents severe environmental challenges due to its persistence in landfills and oceans. Traditional recycling methods, such as melting PET for composite bricks, are energy intensive. This study introduces an in...

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محفوظ في:
التفاصيل البيبلوغرافية
المؤلف الرئيسي: Arslan Yousaf (21678389) (author)
مؤلفون آخرون: Shoukat Alim Khan (20892536) (author), Muammer Koç (8350053) (author)
منشور في: 2025
الموضوعات:
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author Arslan Yousaf (21678389)
author2 Shoukat Alim Khan (20892536)
Muammer Koç (8350053)
author2_role author
author
author_facet Arslan Yousaf (21678389)
Shoukat Alim Khan (20892536)
Muammer Koç (8350053)
author_role author
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv Arslan Yousaf (21678389)
Shoukat Alim Khan (20892536)
Muammer Koç (8350053)
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2025-09-01T00:00:00Z
dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2025.142612
dc.relation.none.fl_str_mv https://figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/Proof-of-concept_design_characterization_and_life_cycle_assessment_of_recycled_PET_sand_composite_bricks_via_solvent-based_dissolution/29665901
dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv CC BY 4.0
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv Engineering
Chemical engineering
Civil engineering
Environmental engineering
Fluid mechanics and thermal engineering
Materials engineering
Environmental sciences
Environmental management
Plastic bottle waste
Polyethylene terephthalate
Local sand
Chemical dissolution
Composites
Life cycle assessment
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv Proof-of-concept design, characterization, and life cycle assessment of recycled PET–sand composite bricks via solvent-based dissolution
dc.type.none.fl_str_mv Text
Journal contribution
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
text
contribution to journal
description <p dir="ltr">Plastic waste, especially polyethylene terephthalate (PET), presents severe environmental challenges due to its persistence in landfills and oceans. Traditional recycling methods, such as melting PET for composite bricks, are energy intensive. This study introduces an innovative chemical approach, dissolving PET with phenol crystals and chloroform, to integrate PET waste with local sand from Qatar, creating sustainable brick materials. Various PET-to-sand ratios (1:4, 1:8, 1:16, and 1:24) were tested for their mechanical, thermal, and hydrophobic properties. Results indicate that the 1:16 ratio achieved optimal load-bearing capabilities, with a compressive strength of 13.56 MPa and flexural strength of 2.88 MPa after 28 days. The 1:4 ratio demonstrated superior water resistance, showing 0 % water absorption, while the 1:24 ratio absorbed 2.89 %, highlighting the hydrophobic benefits of higher PET content. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) confirmed thermal stability up to 300°C, with degradation occurring between 300°C and 500°C. An environmental assessment revealed that phenol and chloroform contributed significantly to environmental impacts; however, recycling these solvents greatly reduced impacts across categories, lowering the global warming potential (GWP) from 1107.73 kg CO₂ eq to 37.48 kg CO₂ eq in the optimized scenario.</p><h2>Other Information</h2><p dir="ltr">Published in: Construction and Building Materials<br>License: <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" target="_blank">http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/</a><br>See article on publisher's website: <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2025.142612" target="_blank">https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2025.142612</a></p>
eu_rights_str_mv openAccess
id Manara2_e88e1f3ed8868217658d32419fcf5dfd
identifier_str_mv 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2025.142612
network_acronym_str Manara2
network_name_str Manara2
oai_identifier_str oai:figshare.com:article/29665901
publishDate 2025
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spelling Proof-of-concept design, characterization, and life cycle assessment of recycled PET–sand composite bricks via solvent-based dissolutionArslan Yousaf (21678389)Shoukat Alim Khan (20892536)Muammer Koç (8350053)EngineeringChemical engineeringCivil engineeringEnvironmental engineeringFluid mechanics and thermal engineeringMaterials engineeringEnvironmental sciencesEnvironmental managementPlastic bottle wastePolyethylene terephthalateLocal sandChemical dissolutionCompositesLife cycle assessment<p dir="ltr">Plastic waste, especially polyethylene terephthalate (PET), presents severe environmental challenges due to its persistence in landfills and oceans. Traditional recycling methods, such as melting PET for composite bricks, are energy intensive. This study introduces an innovative chemical approach, dissolving PET with phenol crystals and chloroform, to integrate PET waste with local sand from Qatar, creating sustainable brick materials. Various PET-to-sand ratios (1:4, 1:8, 1:16, and 1:24) were tested for their mechanical, thermal, and hydrophobic properties. Results indicate that the 1:16 ratio achieved optimal load-bearing capabilities, with a compressive strength of 13.56 MPa and flexural strength of 2.88 MPa after 28 days. The 1:4 ratio demonstrated superior water resistance, showing 0 % water absorption, while the 1:24 ratio absorbed 2.89 %, highlighting the hydrophobic benefits of higher PET content. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) confirmed thermal stability up to 300°C, with degradation occurring between 300°C and 500°C. An environmental assessment revealed that phenol and chloroform contributed significantly to environmental impacts; however, recycling these solvents greatly reduced impacts across categories, lowering the global warming potential (GWP) from 1107.73 kg CO₂ eq to 37.48 kg CO₂ eq in the optimized scenario.</p><h2>Other Information</h2><p dir="ltr">Published in: Construction and Building Materials<br>License: <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" target="_blank">http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/</a><br>See article on publisher's website: <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2025.142612" target="_blank">https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2025.142612</a></p>2025-09-01T00:00:00ZTextJournal contributioninfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersiontextcontribution to journal10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2025.142612https://figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/Proof-of-concept_design_characterization_and_life_cycle_assessment_of_recycled_PET_sand_composite_bricks_via_solvent-based_dissolution/29665901CC BY 4.0info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessoai:figshare.com:article/296659012025-09-01T00:00:00Z
spellingShingle Proof-of-concept design, characterization, and life cycle assessment of recycled PET–sand composite bricks via solvent-based dissolution
Arslan Yousaf (21678389)
Engineering
Chemical engineering
Civil engineering
Environmental engineering
Fluid mechanics and thermal engineering
Materials engineering
Environmental sciences
Environmental management
Plastic bottle waste
Polyethylene terephthalate
Local sand
Chemical dissolution
Composites
Life cycle assessment
status_str publishedVersion
title Proof-of-concept design, characterization, and life cycle assessment of recycled PET–sand composite bricks via solvent-based dissolution
title_full Proof-of-concept design, characterization, and life cycle assessment of recycled PET–sand composite bricks via solvent-based dissolution
title_fullStr Proof-of-concept design, characterization, and life cycle assessment of recycled PET–sand composite bricks via solvent-based dissolution
title_full_unstemmed Proof-of-concept design, characterization, and life cycle assessment of recycled PET–sand composite bricks via solvent-based dissolution
title_short Proof-of-concept design, characterization, and life cycle assessment of recycled PET–sand composite bricks via solvent-based dissolution
title_sort Proof-of-concept design, characterization, and life cycle assessment of recycled PET–sand composite bricks via solvent-based dissolution
topic Engineering
Chemical engineering
Civil engineering
Environmental engineering
Fluid mechanics and thermal engineering
Materials engineering
Environmental sciences
Environmental management
Plastic bottle waste
Polyethylene terephthalate
Local sand
Chemical dissolution
Composites
Life cycle assessment