Background and Aim: recycling of brackets can significantly reduce the price of fixed orthodontic appliances but if the bond is more prone to failure during treatment, this potential benefit will disappear. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of chemical recycling on bond strength of metal orthodontic brackets and failure pattern of recycled brackets. Material and Methods: In this experimental study Instron machine was used to measure shear bond strength (SBS) of brackets in two stages on 60 human maxillary first premolars using No-Mix composite. Shear bond strength and pattern of failure were compared between recycled and new brackets in two stages. Data were analyzed by ANOVA and Duncan tests. Adhesive Remnant Index was evaluated in different groups by Pearson Chi-square test. P<0.05 was considered as the limit of significance. Results: Statistical analysis showed that the mean values of SBS for new bracket group was 12.00 MPa and for recycled group and double recycled group, 9.94Mpa and 10.00 MPa respectively. A significant reduction (about 18%) in bond strengths of brackets was observed at the first time of recycling. recycling at the second time had no significant influence on the bond strength. Pattern of bond failure of these brackets showed that a great amount of residual adhesive material was remained on the teeth surfaces after debonding of recycled brackets which indicates that cleaning the teeth surfaces after debonding of recycled brackets is more time consuming. Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, before using recycled brackets, several advantages and disadvantages must be considered.

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is one of the most important and commercial thermoplastics polyesters which has been in the market since 1977 and it has vastly been used both in industry and household. Through chemical recycling, plastics can be converted into their primary components for use in other chemical processes under especial conditions. Polyethylene terephthalate is a thermoplastic, therefore, recycling by chemical method which converts it into primary components can be achieved. In this study the optimal routes of the existing chemical methods have been chosen. For chemical recycling, acidic hydrolysis is used and PET is converted to terephthalic acid (TPA) and ethylene glycol (EG). Effective factors in the decomposition and the yield such as acid concentration, time, temperature and PET particle size were investigated. Characterization of the products is carried out by FTIR, and the effect of reaction time on PET particles is evaluated by scanning electron microscopy.

In Thailand, sewage sludge production from the Bangkok metropolitan area can reach up to 63,000 ton/y by 2010. The Beer-Thai Company, Thailand, produces beer and generates lots of sludge as waste. Sewage sludge and brewery sludge can be used to generate energy which could be saved on the fossil fuels conventionally used as a source of energy. The possibility was explored to mix brewery sludge with sewage sludge at different mixing ratios for anaerobic digestion so that the energy can be generated as biogas and at the same time, digested sewage sludge can be used as fertilizer for agricultural applications. A batch anaerobic reactor under mesophilic condition for a digestion period of 40 days was used in the laboratory. The acrylic reactor was cylindrical with a working weight of 12 kg. The diameter was 23.7 cm and the height was 34.5 cm. Sludge mixtures at different ratios were fed into the reactors and the optimum mixing ratio was determined. Experimental results showed that the sludge mixture at ratio of 25:75 % by weight (sewage: brewery) yielded higher biogas production. A reduction in heavy metals and pathogens was observed at this ratio after the digestion indicating its safe use as fertilizer. Nitrogen content was about 4.95 % which is well above the commercial fertilizers. At optimum mixing ratio of 25:75, the amount of the generated biogas is 1.15x106 m3/y. This large amount of biogas is equivalent to 1.44 million kWh/y of electricity, 561,000 L/y of diesel oil and 936,000 L/y of vehicle gasoline.