In the last decades, the EPS (expanded polystyrene) and the XPS (extruded polystyrene) have become the most frequently used thermal insulation. Furthermore, the XPS has step resistant thermal insulation with higher strength. Nowadays in our current economic situation, the circular economy plays a significant role. That means we need to intend making a product that becomes waste as late as possible. Instead of a product, the goal is to return it to the economy as a basic material for a new product. Instead of generating waste, a new chance must be given by reusing it. Based on that consideration, our research work was in producing reinforced EPS material, which has the physical and thermal properties at least, as the XPS is much more expensive to produce. For reinforcement, materials have been chosen, in terms of its current life cycle, considered as product or waste. The first choice were plastic straws and cutleries that will be redrawn from the market. The next additives were renewab... [more]

The objective of this work was to present an overview of abrasive technologies with solid carbon dioxide as a blasting medium. These methods can be successfully used for the removal of a wide range of types of industrial pollution. The article covers literature reports in the field of the examined cleaning mechanisms and manufacturing process of dry ice, focusing on the structure and size of the product. Having the correct understanding of these processes is crucial for further technological development. Then various configurations of the dry-ice-blasting and snow-blasting systems are presented, including a range of typical parameters met in the literature and in industrial applications. Because the nozzle can be treated as a key part of the system, typical examples of nozzles are described. Special attention is paid to the usability of each type. This study also covers the actual scope of applications for the described systems, especially in industry and science.

When finishing the Topical Issue “New Research on Detection and Removal of Emerging Pollutants”, some reflections came to my mind, which I include in the piece below [...]