A specially-equipped ship is configured for environmental cleanup to collect plastic waste floating in the ocean. A method of using the ship is described. The specially-equipped ship can retrieve floating plastic waste in the ocean, shred it, melt it, and cool it to form a solidified block that is usefully employed to form an artificial reef on the ocean floor to house aquatic biota. The ship is outfitted with a conveyor belt fixed to the ship; a furnace to make molten plastic; a davit to drop the solidified block into the ocean to form a reef on the ocean floor. Optionally the ship includes a mold to contain molten plastic; a shredder; a storage compartment to receive plastic particles from the shredder; a fish escape; a vertical wall; a boring machine; photovoltaic cells and/or windmills to produce electric energy.

A specially-equipped ship is configured for environmental cleanup to collect plastic waste floating in the ocean. A method of using the ship is described. The specially-equipped ship can retrieve floating plastic waste in the ocean, shred it, melt it, and cool it to form a solidified block that is usefully employed to form an artificial reef on the ocean floor to house aquatic biota. The ship is outfitted with a conveyor belt fixed to the ship; a furnace to make molten plastic; a davit to drop the solidified block into the ocean to form a reef on the ocean floor. Optionally the ship includes a mold to contain molten plastic; a shredder; a storage compartment to receive plastic particles from the shredder; a fish escape; a vertical wall; a boring machine; photovoltaic cells and/or windmills to produce electric energy.

The present invention relates to a composition comprising a polymeric network having at least one unit of formula (I), (II), and/or (III); (I) (II) (III) wherein said composition is obtained by contacting at least one compound A comprising at least two functions selected from the group of function of formula X—C(═O)—CHR.sup.1—C(═O)—R.sup.2, —C(═O)—C—R.sup.2; or —C(═O)—CR.sup.1═CR.sup.2—NR.sup.4R.sup.5; wherein at least 25% by weight of compounds A have a functionality ≦5, with % by weight relative to the total weight of compounds A; with at least one compound B comprising at least one NH.sub.2, or NH.sub.3.sup.+ groups; wherein X, R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4, R.sup.5, L.sup.1 and L.sup.2 have the same meaning as that defined in the claims. The present invention also relates to a compound comprising at least two units and at most 5 units of formula (I), (II), and/or (III); wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, X, L.sup.1 and L.sup.2 have the same meaning as that defined in the claims. The present invention also relates to processes for preparing said composition and said compounds, to material, articles, and polymers comprising or using said compositions and compounds, and the use thereof.

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Pulp fiber containing little ash is effectively recovered from a used sanitary product containing the pulp fiber and a polymer absorbent. The method according to the present invention comprises: a step for treating the used sanitary product with an ozone-containing gas and thus decomposing and removing at least a portion of the polymer absorbent in the used sanitary product; and a step for stirring the used sanitary product, that has been treated with the ozone-containing gas, in water or an aqueous solution containing an antiseptic and thus decomposing the used sanitary product into constituents. If required, the method may further comprise a step for separating the pulp fiber from the decomposition product obtained by the decomposition step.

High surface area 3D mesoporous carbon nanocomposites can be derived from Zn dust and PET bottle mixed waste with a high surface area. Simultaneous transformation of Zn metal into ZnO nanoparticles and PET bottle waste to porous carbon materials can be achieved by thermal treatment at preferably 600 to 800° C., and reaction times of from 15 to 60 minutes, after optionally de-aerating the reaction mixtures with N.sub.2 gas. The waste-based carbon materials can have surface areas of 650 to 725 m.sup.2/g, e.g., 684.5 m.sup.2/g and pore size distributions of 12 to 18 nm. The carbon materials may have 3D porous dense layers with a gradient pore structure, which may have enhanced photocatalytic performance for degrading, e.g., organic dyes, such as methylene blue and malachite green. Sustainable methods make ZnO-mesoporous carbon materials from waste for applications including photocatalysis, upcycling mixed waste materials.

High surface area 3D mesoporous carbon nanocomposites can be derived from Zn dust and PET bottle mixed waste with a high surface area. Simultaneous transformation of Zn metal into ZnO nanoparticles and PET bottle waste to porous carbon materials can be achieved by thermal treatment at preferably 600 to 800° C., and reaction times of from 15 to 60 minutes, after optionally de-aerating the reaction mixtures with N.sub.2 gas. The waste-based carbon materials can have surface areas of 650 to 725 m.sup.2/g, e.g., 684.5 m.sup.2/g and pore size distributions of 12 to 18 nm. The carbon materials may have 3D porous dense layers with a gradient pore structure, which may have enhanced photocatalytic performance for degrading, e.g., organic dyes, such as methylene blue and malachite green. Sustainable methods make ZnO-mesoporous carbon materials from waste for applications including photocatalysis, upcycling mixed waste materials.

The invention relates to an apparatus for the pretreatment and subsequent conveying or plastification of plastics, with a container with a mixing and/or comminution implement that is rotatable around an axis of rotation, wherein, in a side wall, an aperture is formed, through which the plastics material can be removed, a multiscrew conveyor being provided, with at least two screws rotating in a housing, wherein the imaginary continuation of the longitudinal axis of the conveyor in a direction opposite to the direction of conveying passes the axis of rotation, where, on the outflow side, there is an offset distance between the longitudinal axis of the screw closest to the container and the radius that is parallel to the longitudinal axis, and in that the two screws closest to the intake aperture are counter-rotating relative to one another.

The invention relates to an apparatus for the pretreatment and subsequent conveying or plastification of plastics, with a container with a mixing and/or comminution implement that is rotatable around an axis of rotation, wherein, in a side wall, an aperture is formed, through which the plastics material can be removed, a multiscrew conveyor being provided, with at least two screws rotating in a housing, wherein the imaginary continuation of the longitudinal axis of the conveyor in a direction opposite to the direction of conveying passes the axis of rotation, where, on the outflow side, there is an offset distance between the longitudinal axis of the screw closest to the container and the radius that is parallel to the longitudinal axis, and in that the two screws closest to the intake aperture are counter-rotating relative to one another.

A separation device includes a first shredding unit, a first beating unit, and a first separation unit. The first shredding unit shreds a disposable diaper (processing target) containing a plastic (first material) and a water-absorbent polymer (second material) adhering to the plastic. The first beating unit beats the disposable diaper shredded by the first shredding unit with a first beating member, thereby promoting dissociation of the water-absorbent polymer from the plastic. The first separation unit rotates a first tubular portion in a state in which the disposable diaper beaten by the first beating unit is accommodated therein, thereby separating the water-absorbent polymer passing through first holes from the disposable diaper.

A separation device includes a first shredding unit, and a first separation unit. The first shredding unit shreds a disposable diaper (processing target) containing a plastic (first material) and a water-absorbent polymer (second material) adhering to the plastic. The first separation unit has a first tubular portion, and a first beating member. The first separation unit separates the water-absorbent polymer passing through first holes from the disposable diaper by beating the disposable diaper with a plate surface of the first beating member with the first tubular portion being rotated in a state in which the disposable diaper shredded by the first shredding unit is accommodated therein.