The demand for lithium is continuously rising as it is a key element in the construction of greener future energy storage systems. However, large amounts of delithiated β spodumene (DβS) are generated during the lithium extraction process from spodumene, which raises environmental concerns. Concurrently, the acquisition of raw materials for concrete production contributes significantly to CO₂ emissions and the generation of other pollutants, highlighting the opportunity to integrate DβS into sustainable concrete production. In this study, we consider DβS recycling as a cement or fine aggregate replacement material. A life cycle assessment (LCA) was performed to evaluate the environmental impact of Australian averaged standard strength concrete production and DβS recycling technologies, assessing various replacement scenarios involving cement (10%, 20%, and 25%) or sand (30% and 50%) with DβS. The results indicate that replacing cement with DβS comprehensively reduces the environmental footprint of concrete production. However, sand replacement is not recommended due to higher environmental burdens. The application of the rail shipping method for DβS recycling would increase the environmental impacts of concrete production compared with the coastal method. In addition, the evaluation of the Australian average transport distance can reflect the Australian condition with negligible error compared with localized conditions. Furthermore, the greenhouse gas emission reduction by replacing cement with DβS is satisfactory and comparable to that observed with other mineral processing by-products.

With the growing environmental awareness, more scrutiny is placed on the responsible handling of materials during the decommissioning of offshore facilities no longer in use. These facilities may contain polyurethane, renowned for its versatility, resilience, stability, buoyancy, and insulation (thermal, acoustic, and electrical). Recycling polyurethane (PU) from offshore facilities is both an opportunity and a challenge that has not been addressed thoroughly yet in the published literature. While recycling polyurethane from domestic and onshore industrial applications is relatively well-documented, literature reviews on recycling PU from offshore environments are scarce. To date, there are no comprehensive syntheses on offshore PU recycling approaches. The purpose of this review is to identify published articles that (1) describe the recycling of PU with a special focus on offshore oil and gas production and transport, (2) explore potential applications/consumers for recycled PU products, and (3) examine the economic/environmental viability of PU recycling in a typical offshore province, the North West Shelf of Australia.

A systematic search was conducted using three electronic databases (Scopus, ScienceDirect, and Web of Science) to source articles that describe the recycling of offshore polyurethane and its potential. Recycling methods were extracted and synthesised to identify their advantages, disadvantages, and possible gaps in the existing body of knowledge. By synthesising the literature on PU recycling, analysing the local market, and conducting a life cycle assessment of recycling methods, this study demonstrated that mechanical recycling is superior to its alternatives in terms of environmental impact and economic viability.