The inclusion of adsorption thermodynamic analysis and performance benchmarking with existing adsorbents reinforces both the theoretical significance and practical applicability of this study. The modified rubber-derived carbon demonstrated a remarkably high DBT adsorption capacity of 254.45 mg/g. These results establish it as a promising alternative to conventional materials such as commercial activated carbon, zeolites, and even metal–organic framework materials. In addition to confirming the superior performance of the adsorbent, the findings provide a deeper understanding of the DBT adsorption mechanism and offer a solid scientific basis for large-scale fuel desulfurization applications. This research highlights the potential of transforming end-of-life tire waste into value-added functional materials and contributes to the advancement of sustainable and efficient desulfurization technologies. Future work should focus on optimizing surface functionalization and regeneration strategies to further improve long-term adsorption stability and practical deployment.
29 December 2025 in Case Studies in Thermal Engineering
Bisphenol A (BPA) epoxy resins are widely used because of their excellent thermal and mechanical properties but are difficult to recycle owing to their highly crosslinked network. This study investigated the effect of curing-agent chemistry on epoxy resin degradation and BPA recovery, with emphasis on chemical recycling of legacy thermoset waste. Three amine curing agents, ethylenediamine (EDA), 1,2-diaminocyclohexane (DCH), and p-phenylenediamine (PPD), together with methyl tetrahydrophthalic anhydride (MTHPA), were evaluated, and a commercial wind blade epoxy resin was used as a representative waste material. Ethanol was selected as the degradation solvent because it combined effective degradation under the tested conditions with lower toxicity than several screened alternatives. The highest BPA recovery from the wind blade resin reached 31.79% at 170 °C after 24 h. MTHPA- and DCH-cured resins achieved BPA recoveries of 45.38% and 44.38%, respectively, whereas EDA and PPD exhibited lower degradability because of network and bond-stability effects. By linking curing-agent structure to depolymerization and monomer recovery, the study supports waste prevention and resource circularity objectives relevant to Sustainable Development Goal 12.