The innovative recycling of waste tires into fuel is essential for promoting sustainable development, enhancing waste valorization, and advancing waste-to-energy technologies. For the processing of fr. ≤ 200 °C, separated from the liquid products of the pyrolysis process of waste tires, polycondensation with formaldehyde and extraction with a polar solvent (N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone) was used. Due to the sequential application of these processes, a raffinate product is produced that contains significantly fewer undesirable compounds, such as reactive unsaturated hydrocarbons and aromatics, which can negatively affect gasoline. Additionally, this raffinate demonstrates chemical stability during storage. Due to its operational properties, the obtained raffinate can serve as a high-quality component for gasoline production, which is advisable when mixed with low-octane gas condensate. As a result of compounding, Euro 4 gasoline is obtained with an octane number equal to 93 according to the experimental method. The possibility of effectively using the extract (concentrate of aromatic and unsaturated compounds) as a plasticizer for waterproofing mastic was shown. Overall, the valorization of waste tire pyrolysis processing contributes to waste reduction and is consistent with promoting sustainable industrial innovation by replacing primary petrochemical feedstocks with secondary feedstocks and supporting the development of alternative energy sources.

The effective utilization and effective valorization of various organic industrial wastes have become increasingly important issues. One significant area for enhancing the circular economy is the processing of waste generated from vegetable oils and animal fats. This article focuses on the processing and use of soapstocks, which result from the chemical reaction between fatty acids and alkali. These soapstocks represent the most significant portion (approximately 70–90 wt% by weight) of waste produced by the oil and fat industry. The raw material for this study was soapstock obtained from the neutralization of sunflower oil at the PJSC “Zaporizhzhya Oil and Fat Plant,” designed by the Belgian company “De Smet.” The soapstock yield was found to be 9.95 wt% based on 100 wt% oil. Through a series of treatments involving water, acid, and multiple washes, a low-sulfur fuel component was produced that nearly meets the standards for boiler fuels as outlined in DSTU 4058-2001 and PN-C-96024:2020, except for the heat of combustion. It fully complies with the requirements specified in ISO 8217:2024. The sulfur content of the final product was determined to be 0.12 wt%. Additionally, the fuels produced contained 75.33 wt% carbon, 11.64 wt% hydrogen, and 12.00 wt% oxygen. Due to the relatively low oxygen content, the resulting product exhibits approximately twice the heat of combustion of similar fuels derived from other waste streams in the oil and fat industry.

The study investigates the interaction of humic acids (HAs) with road petroleum bitumen to enhance its performance and resistance to technological aging. It addresses a critical gap in understanding the modification mechanisms. The research is motivated by the need for sustainable and effective bitumen modifiers to improve the durability of asphalt pavements. The primary objective was to characterize the interaction between HA and bitumen using advanced analytical techniques, including complex thermal analysis (DTA/DTG), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results demonstrated that adding two wt.% HA to bitumen BND 70/100 increased its thermal stability, raising the onset temperature of thermo-oxidative processes from 214 to 237 °C and reducing the mass loss rate during heating from 2.5 to 1.9%·min⁻¹. FTIR analysis revealed chemical interactions between polar groups of humic acids (e.g., –COOH, –OH) and bitumen components, forming a denser structure. SEM images confirmed a more homogeneous microstructure with fewer microcracks in the modified bitumen. Practical improvements included a higher softening point (52.6 to 54 °C) and enhanced elastic recovery (17.5 to 28.7%). However, the study noted limitations such as reduced ductility (from 58 to 15 cm) and penetration (from 78 to 72 dmm), indicating increased stiffness. The findings highlight the potential of humic acids as eco-friendly modifiers to improve bitumen’s aging resistance and thermal performance, offering practical value for extending pavement lifespan. The effective use of HA will, in turn, allow the use of Ukrainian lignite, the balance reserves of which are estimated at 2.0–2.9 billion tons, in non-fuel technologies.

The present research deals with forecasting the potential content of humic acids (HA) in Ukrainian lignite based on the coal’s physicochemical characteristics. The focus is on developing an experimental–statistical model that considers moisture content, volatile matter yield, and calorific value of lignite. The development of the humic acid yield’s dependence on some lignite parameters is based on both original research data and literature sources. Humic acids were extracted using alkaline solutions, and HA content was calculated for various lignite deposits in Ukraine. The adequacy check of the model showed a relative prediction error of up to 12%, indicating good agreement between the model and experimental data. The highest potential yield of humic acids was recorded for lignite from the Dnipropetrovsk region (Dnieper-Donets Basin), amounting to 53–56 wt.%. The presented results demonstrate the feasibility of using mathematical forecasting to assess the industrial potential of humic acid production from lignite.

The production of inexpensive, effective sorbents from natural materials for the purification of water bodies and/or soils is a pressing problem. Therefore, the purpose of this manuscript is to summarize current approaches to the use of brown coal (lignite) and its processing products (humic acids, HAs) as sorbents for the purification of aqueous and soil environments from heavy metal ions and other pollutants. Modification of lignite (chemical, biological, physicochemical) or the creation of lignite–mineral composites significantly increases its sorption capacity and stability: after modification, the sorption capacity can reach more than 85 mg of heavy metals per g of sorbent, which is only 3 times lower than that of specialized, expensive sorbents. Also, good results are achieved in the case of sorption of water-soluble organic drugs, dyes, etc. Humic acids obtained from brown coal have better selectivity and efficiency than the original lignite, and slightly worse than the modified one, in terms of removing cadmium, lead, copper, and other toxic elements; and also, can complex with organic xenobiotics. Current research trends indicate growing interest in multifunctional composite sorbents, environmentally friendly extraction technologies, and the development of materials with enhanced selectivity and regeneration ability. Future studies should focus on improving the understanding of sorption mechanisms, optimizing modification strategies, scaling up lignite-based technologies for practical environmental applications, and developing waste-free technologies to produce sorbents from lignite.