In a world increasingly focused on environmental sustainability and the imperative of efficient waste management, innovative approaches in material science are becoming crucial. This research is centered on the synthesis of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) from post-use exam waste paper and the development of a chitosan-CNC (CS-CNCs) composite. CNCs were successfully isolated from waste paper by alkali treatment, bleaching, and sulfuric acid hydrolysis with FTIR and XRD analyses confirming successful extraction and a crystallinity index of 66.3%. TEM imaging revealed CNCs with a unique spherical morphology and diameters of 6-7 nm, significantly smaller than those reported in existing literature. Chitosan (CS), derived from shrimp shell waste, was integrated into the CNCs to form a composite thin film. This film, as revealed by SEM, had a homogeneous and consistent structure. The CS-CNCs composite demonstrated superior mechanical properties, with tensile strength increasing from 17.74 megapascal (MPa) in pure CS film to 22.08 MPa in composite, indicating its potential for robust and sustainable packaging materials. Soil degradation tests over 25 days showed a 24.7% degradation for CS-CNCs films, compared to 9.09% for CS films, underscoring their enhanced biodegradability. The composite exhibited notable antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli, suggesting its suitability for medical and hygiene applications. The measured contact angle of 80.4 degrees indicates the film's hydrophilicity, making it an excellent candidate for self-cleaning surfaces, such as textiles and windows. Remarkably, the CS-CNCs composite demonstrated exceptional photocatalytic degradation of Alizarin Red S dye, achieving 99.7% efficiency in 45 min, far surpassing the 87% efficiency of standalone CS films. The study showcases the green-synthesized CS-CNCs composite from waste paper offering an effective, eco-friendly, and economical approach for wastewater treatment due to its dual capabilities in dye degradation and antibacterial properties, while also opening avenues for its prospective application in self-cleaning surfaces, environmental remediation, and packaging thereby presenting a sustainable and economical solution for environmental cleanup and material innovation.

Expansive soils have a high tendency for volume change in case of fluctuations in moisture content, potentially causing significant damage to light structures, particularly road pavements. This paper investigates the influence of waste paper sludge (\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$$\:WPS$$\end{document}) as an alternative sustainable stabilizer on the volume change behavior of expansive road subgrade soils of different origins. For this purpose, \documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$$\:WPS$$\end{document} was added to the expansive soils at ratios of 3%, 6%, 9%, 12%, and 15% by dry weight of the soils. A series of Atterberg's limit, swelling, shrinkage, compaction, and consolidation tests were performed on pure soils and soil specimens with \documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$$\:WPS$$\end{document} to attain a comprehensive understanding of the role that \documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$$\:WPS$$\end{document} plays in the volume change behavior of expansive soils. The experimental test results showed that the addition of \documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$$\:WPS\:$$\end{document} led to a considerable decrease in the plasticity and swell-shrink potentials of subgrade soils. The consolidation settlement of expansive road subgrades was also reduced to some extent with \documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$$\:WPS$$\end{document}. Moreover, the statistical analysis of the test data indicated a significant relationship among different swelling-shrinkage parameters. The experimental results presented here suggest that the \documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$$\:WPS$$\end{document} may be a cost-effective, environmentally friendly, and sustainable stabilizer to reduce the volume change sensitivity of expansive road subgrade soils.

This study explores the development of an environmentally friendly binder by integrating locally sourced port sediment from Dunkirk Port with waste paper fly ash (WPFA). The aim is to innovate construction materials with a reduced carbon footprint, without prioritizing high mechanical performance. The sediment was processed to achieve two levels of fineness, namely 10 microns and 2 microns, to increase its reactive potential. The formulation of the eco-binder involved a mixture of 75% port sediment and 25% WPFA. Findings indicate that optimal compressive strengths, reaching 14.8 MPa, were obtained in highly humid environments (> 95% R-H) at a temperature of 50 degrees C. It was observed that finer sediment particle size (2 microns) contributed to enhanced mechanical properties. Nonetheless, the sediment's pozzolanic activity is somewhat restricted at ambient temperatures, necessitating specific conditions for effective reactions. Environmental safety assessments confirm that the produced eco-binder meets the criteria set forth in the SETRA guidelines for sustainable use in construction. The leaching and release potential of WPFA after the development of the eco-binder was meticulously assessed using the four-phase sequential extraction method recommended by the Reference Bureau of the European Communities Commission (BCR). A marked change was observed in the speciation of trace metal elements, with a predominant transition from the soluble fraction to the carbonate fraction, attributed to the carbonation process. In conclusion, the marine sediment investigated shows promise as a sustainable construction material, provided that controlled temperature and humidity conditions are maintained to attain adequate mechanical strengths.

The challenge of global climate change has drawn people's attention to the issue of carbon emissions. Reducing the use of petroleum-derived materials and increasing the use of biodegradable materials is a current focus of research, especially in the packaging materials industry. This study focused on the use of environmentally friendly plastics and waste paper as the main materials for packaging films. Poly(butylene succinate-co-lactate) (PBSL) was modified with maleic anhydride (MA) to form a biobased compatibilizer (MPBSL), which was then blended with a mixture (WPS) of waste-paper powder (WP) and silica aerogel powder (SP) to form the designed composite (MPBSL/WPS). The modification of PBSL with MA improved interfacial adhesion between PBSL and WPS. The structure, thermal, and mechanical properties, water vapor/oxygen barrier, toxicity, freshness, and biodegradability of MPBSL/WPS films were evaluated. Compared with the PBSL/WP film, the MPBSL/WPS film exhibited increased tensile strength at break of 4-13.5 MPa, increased initial decomposition loss at 5 wt% of 14-35 degrees C, and decreased water/oxygen permeabilities of 18-105 cm(3)/m(2)dPa. In the water absorption test, the MPBSL/WPS film displayed about 2-6 % lower water absorption than that of the PBSL/WP film. In the cytocompatibility test, both MPBSL/WPS and PBSL/WP membrane were nontoxic. In addition, compared with PBSL/WP film and the control, the MPBSL/WPS film significantly reduced moisture loss, extended the shelf life, and prevented microbial growth in vegetable and meat preservation tests. Both MPBSL/WPS and PBSL/WP films were biodegradable in a 60-day soil biodegradation test; the degradation rate was 50 % when the WP or WPS content was 40 wt%. Our findings indicate that the composites would be suitable for environmentally sustainable packaging materials.