Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39859939›Full record

ArticleMaterials (Basel, Switzerland)2025

Treatment and Valorization of Waste Wind Turbines: Component Identification and Analysis.

Xiaohan Zhao, Daria Pakuła, Miłosz Frydrych, Roksana Konieczna, Bogna Sztorch, Rafał Kozera, Hongzhi Liu, Hui Zhou, Robert E Przekop

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Materials (Basel, Switzerland), 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Xiaohan ZhaoInternational Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Innovation of Silsesquioxane Science, Key Laboratory of Special Functional Aggregated Materials, Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan 250100, China.
Daria PakułaCenter for Advanced Technologies, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Uniwersytetu Poznańskiego 10, 61-614 Poznań, Poland.ORCID 0000-0001-6741-3019
Miłosz FrydrychCenter for Advanced Technologies, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Uniwersytetu Poznańskiego 10, 61-614 Poznań, Poland.ORCID 0000-0003-4196-5522
Roksana KoniecznaCenter for Advanced Technologies, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Uniwersytetu Poznańskiego 10, 61-614 Poznań, Poland.ORCID 0009-0007-1217-9430
Bogna SztorchCenter for Advanced Technologies, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Uniwersytetu Poznańskiego 10, 61-614 Poznań, Poland.
Rafał KozeraFaculty of Materials Science and Engineering, Warsaw University of Technology, ul. Woloska 141, 02-507 Warszawa, Poland.
Hongzhi LiuInternational Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Innovation of Silsesquioxane Science, Key Laboratory of Special Functional Aggregated Materials, Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan 250100, China.ORCID 0000-0002-4821-5698
Hui ZhouKey Laboratory for Thermal Science and Power Engineering of Ministry of Education, Beijing Key Laboratory of CO2 Utilization and Reduction Technology, Department of Energy and Power Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.ORCID 0000-0003-1410-4794
Robert E PrzekopCenter for Advanced Technologies, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Uniwersytetu Poznańskiego 10, 61-614 Poznań, Poland.

Funding

Smart Growth Operational Programme, European Fund, the Ministry of Science and Higher Education POIR.04.02.00-00-D003/20-00, RPWP.01.01.00-30-0004/18, 21/529535/SPUB/SP/2022
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Recycling end-of-life wind turbines poses a significant challenge due to the increasing number of turbines going out of use. After many years of operation, turbines lose their functional properties, generating a substantial amount of composite waste that requires efficient and environmentally friendly processing methods. Wind turbine blades, in particular, are a problematic component in the recycling process due to their complex material composition. They are primarily made of composites containing glass and carbon fibers embedded in polymer matrices such as epoxies and polyester resins. This study presents an innovative approach to analyzing and valorizing these composite wastes. The research methodology incorporates integrated processing and analysis techniques, including mechanical waste treatment using a novel compression milling process, instead of traditional knife mills, which reduces wear on the milling tools. Based on the differences in the structure and colors of the materials, 15 different kinds of samples named WT1-WT15 were distinguished from crushed wind turbines, enabling a detailed analysis of their physicochemical properties and the identification of the constituent components. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) identified key functional groups, confirming the presence of thermoplastic polymers (PET, PE, and PP), epoxy and polyester resins, wood, and fillers such as glass fibers. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) provided insights into thermal stability, degradation behavior, and the heterogeneity of the samples, indicating a mix of organic and inorganic constituents. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) further characterized phase transitions in polymers, revealing variations in thermal properties among samples. The fractionation process was carried out using both wet and dry methods, allowing for a more effective separation of components. Based on the wet separation process, three fractions-GF1, GF2, and GF3-along with other components were obtained. For instance, in the case of the GF1 < 40 µm fraction, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) revealed that the residual mass is as high as 89.7%, indicating a predominance of glass fibers. This result highlights the effectiveness of the proposed methods in facilitating the efficient recovery of high-value materials.

Indexed as

epoxy resinpolyester resinrecyclingwaste compositewind turbines

Identifiers

PMID39859939
PMCPMC11767024

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.