Functional Recycling of Biobased, Borate-Stabilized Insulation Materials As B Fertilizer

• Published in: Environmental science & technology Vol. 53; no. 24; pp. 14620 - 14629
• Main Authors: Duboc, Olivier, Steiner, Konrad, Radosits, Frank, Wenzel, Walter W, Goessler, Walter, Santner, Jakob
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States American Chemical Society 17.12.2019
• Subjects: Borates; Boron; Cellulose; Cellulose fibers; Charcoal; Consumption; Europe; Fertilizers; Flame retardants; Incineration; Incineration plants; Insulation; Landfills; Rapeseed; Recycling; Sodium; Sodium tetraborate; Sunflowers; Sustainable development; Europe
• ISSN: 0013-936X; 1520-5851
• DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.9b04234

Boron is a finite resource, which has been listed as a critical raw material in the EU since 2014. Glass, frits and ceramics production, as well as fertilizers are among the major uses of B. Moreover, about 50 000 t B have been applied as fire retardant and pest repellent in cellulose fiber insulation (CFI) in Europe since the 1980s. Here we propose the end-of-life utilization of borated CFI as B fertilizer, to decrease societal B consumption and to avoid costly and potentially environmentally harmful CFI incineration and deposition in landfills. In a case study, we show that CFI biochar can provide substantial amounts of B to rapeseed and sunflower, with the B plant-availability being comparable to sodium tetraborate, a conventional B fertilizer. The annual B fertilizer consumption of the EU is estimated at ∼4000 t B yr–1, which could be sustained by the B currently installed as CFI for >10 years. In addition, the annual use of B in CFI of 1100 t B yr–1 could cover ∼25% of the annual B fertilizer demand of the EU. Hence, conversion of CFI to B fertilizer provides a meaningful end-of-life strategy, which would contribute to a more resource-efficient and sustainable economy and to several of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.