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Recycling solid waste to develop a novel and sustainable glass shielding for nuclear and radiation applications
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  • Published: 02 April 2026

Recycling solid waste to develop a novel and sustainable glass shielding for nuclear and radiation applications

  • Mohamed Mitwalli  ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0003-3967-00201,
  • Mohammed Humaid2,
  • Jehad Asad3,
  • Mohammad Hasan Abu Mhareb4,5,
  • Abdalrhman AboAlatta2,
  • Yasser Alajerami2,
  • Naji AlDahoudi3,
  • Abdullah Metebi6 &
  • …
  • Sahr Alzhrani7 

Scientific Reports , Article number:  (2026) Cite this article

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We are providing an unedited version of this manuscript to give early access to its findings. Before final publication, the manuscript will undergo further editing. Please note there may be errors present which affect the content, and all legal disclaimers apply.

Subjects

  • Engineering
  • Environmental sciences
  • Materials science
  • Physics

Abstract

This study investigates the mechanical properties and multifunctional radiation shielding performance of a Novel Glass System (NGS) synthesized from recycled waste materials. NGS was produced from discarded lead-acid batteries and automotive glass, representing a sustainable and environmentally responsible method of glass manufacturing through the reuse of lead-free industrial waste. A thorough characterization was performed by density measurements, compositional analysis, and assessment of mechanical properties utilizing the Makishima–Mackenzie model. Structural features were examined via Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). The mechanical performance of the NGS was significantly influenced by the PbO content, which was varied from 10 to 50 mol%. With the rise in PbO content, a significant decline in both Young’s modules (from 73.446 GPa at 0% PbO to 37.480 GPa at 50% PbO) and hardness (from 4.709 GPa to 3.141 GPa) was noted, demonstrating adjustable mechanical properties. The radiation shielding properties, evaluated by the Exposure Buildup Factor (EBF) and Energy Absorption Buildup Factor (EABF), demonstrated significant energy dependency with noticeable peaks at specific penetration depths. Moreover, the Specific Absorbed Fraction of Energy (SAFE) and Gamma-rays Transmission Factor (GTF) illustrated the efficacy of the NGS in attenuating gamma radiation throughout a wide energy range. The results highlight the dual capabilities of the designed glass system, which integrates sufficient mechanical strength with effective gamma-rays shielding. These findings proved NGS as a viable option for sustainable shielding materials, enhancing the circular economy and tackling significant issues in radiation safety and waste management.

Data availability

All results for the present study are included in this published version of article. The analyzed data is free available and would be requested on reasonable correspondence.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are thankful to the Deanship of Research at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM) and Interdisciplinary Research Center for Industrial Nuclear Energy (IRC-INE), KFUPM for supporting this work through the Fast-Track Scientific Research Program. The authors would like to express sincere gratitude to all colleagues at the Research Laboratories in the Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University, Gaza, Palestine, for conducting the present research. Also, the authors acknowledge the scientific collaboration among KFUPM, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Taif University, and Jazan University in Saudi Arabia, and express sincere gratitude to all for their support of this work.

Funding

The authors declare that no funding had been received.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Interdisciplinary Research Center for Industrial Nuclear Energy (IRC-INE), King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM), Dhahran, 31261, Saudi Arabia

    Mohamed Mitwalli

  2. Medical Imaging Department, Al Azhar University-Gaza, Gaza, 1277, Palestine

    Mohammed Humaid, Abdalrhman AboAlatta & Yasser Alajerami

  3. Physics Department, Al Azhar University-Gaza, Gaza, 1277, Palestine

    Jehad Asad & Naji AlDahoudi

  4. Department of Physics, College of Science, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, 31441, Saudi Arabia

    Mohammad Hasan Abu Mhareb

  5. Basic and Applied Scientific Research Center, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, 31441, Saudi Arabia

    Mohammad Hasan Abu Mhareb

  6. Radiological Sciences Department, Taif University, Taif, Saudi Arabia

    Abdullah Metebi

  7. Department of Physical Sciences/Physics Division, College of Science, Jazan University, Jazan, 45142, Saudi Arabia

    Sahr Alzhrani

Authors
  1. Mohamed Mitwalli
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  2. Mohammed Humaid
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Contributions

M. Mitwalli, M. Humaid, M. Mhareb, Y. Alajerami, S. Zahrani: Supervision, Conceptualization, Methodology, Validation, Resources, Data Curation, Writing—Original Draft Preparation; M. Mitwalli, M. Humaid, J. Asad, M. Mhareb, A. AboAlatta, Y. Alajerami, N. AlDahoudi, A. Metebi, S. Zahrani: Visualization, Software, Formal Analysis, Investigation, Writing—Review & Editing. All authors have read and agreed to the published this version of the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Mohamed Mitwalli.

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Mitwalli, M., Humaid, M., Asad, J. et al. Recycling solid waste to develop a novel and sustainable glass shielding for nuclear and radiation applications. Sci Rep (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-46099-4

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  • Received: 14 November 2025

  • Accepted: 24 March 2026

  • Published: 02 April 2026

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-46099-4

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Keywords

  • Industrial nuclear energy
  • Glass shielding
  • Mechanical properties
  • Recycling
  • Waste management
  • PbO
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