ACS Sustainable Resource Management最新文献

Natural deep eutectic solvents (NADESs), derived from biobased materials such as amino acids, polyphenols, sugars, and choline derivatives, represent the next generation of ionic liquid media. These solvents offer high solvation capacity, nontoxicity, and biocompatibility, making them ideal for various technological applications. This study introduces a series of plant-derived polyphenol-based NADESs as a green and cost-effective medium for lithium-ion battery (LIB) recycling. NADESs were used to sequentially dissolve metal oxides from end-of-life LIB cathodes, such as lithium cobalt oxide (LCO) and lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide (NMC). The polyphenols in NADESs demonstrated excellent metal-binding capacity and reducing properties, enabling high extraction efficiencies of ≥90% for valuable metals such as lithium, cobalt, nickel, and manganese. This process is energy-efficient and eco-friendly, offering a sustainable alternative to conventional hydrometallurgical techniques. To complete the recycling process, a selective precipitation method was employed, recovering metals in the form of useful chemical compounds. This approach highlights the potential of NADESs in addressing the challenges of LIB recycling while reducing environmental impact. Furthermore, this underscores the broader applicability of plant-derived biomolecules, such as polyphenols, phenolics, and flavonoids, in green technological innovations.

Here, we show that biomass derived from waste wood from forest (silver birch trees, Betula pendula) is an excellent starting material for fabricating activated carbon for supercapacitors. The carbon was prepared via hydrothermal carbonization with H₃PO₄ followed by pyrolysis. The effect of sulfur doping on its physicochemical and electrochemical properties was evaluated. The samples were named BCM (biomass carbon material) for non-doped and S-BCM (sulfur–biomass carbon material) for the doped samples. We further show that sulfur doping (with around 7% sulfur content) radically increases these nanoparticles’ performance, leading to higher capacitance and stability. The sulfur doping increased the specific surface area to 2124 m² g^–1 compared to non-doped (1972 m² g^–1), as reflected in the enhancement of the number of micropores. In addition, according to Raman spectroscopy analysis, the sulfur doping increased the structural defects based on the I_D/I_G values (S-BCM = 2.23 and BCM = 1.98). Furthermore, the sulfur doping increased the hydrophilicity of the carbon particles, allowing us to disperse them in water and use layer-by-layer self-assembly to fabricate supercapacitor electrodes with nanometer-layer precision. The assembled S-BCM electrodes exhibited a higher capacitance than those of pristine carbon with the highest values measured at 79.1 F/g at 1 A/g. They also had higher stability with a capacitance retention of 85.3% after 10 000 charge–discharge cycles. Our work shows a promising route for making advanced high-performance electrode materials for supercapacitors using waste byproducts, which is especially relevant for the Nordic hemisphere, to minimize carbon footprint while enabling advanced energy storage devices as we aim at reach a smooth transition toward a fossil-free future.

A biomass waste tree, which is an abundant and environmental friendly resource, was successfully employed for the fabrication of sulfur-doped electrodes for sustainable and greener supercapacitors.

Industrial side streams can be used to capture CO₂ due to the presence of metals such as Ca, Mg, Na, and others. Green liquor dregs (GLD), an industrial alkaline solid waste generated by pulp and paper companies, can capture CO₂ through aqueous direct carbonation. However, aqueous carbonation requires high water consumption. To address this, an alkaline wastewater from the pulp and paper industry was used as an alternative to fresh water, reducing the need for additional water consumption. In this work, the absorption capacities, reaction yield, and physicochemical characteristics of the samples were studied. A 3D-printed reactor, designed by our research group, was used to take advantage of bubble turbulence for mixing the aqueous and gaseous phases, thereby reducing electricity consumption. The solids before and after carbonation were analyzed using X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The absorption capacity for GLD in deionized water was in the range between 5.92 and 14.86 g/L, while for GLD in wastewater, it was between 8.11 and 17.81 g/L. These results indicate that the presence of wastewater can enhance CO₂ absorption. Physicochemical analysis confirmed the presence of CaCO₃ after the reaction.

The capture of CO₂ by side streams in alkaline wastewater is a promising method for reducing CO₂ and valorizing these byproducts.

This viewpoint highlights the future of renewable materials and potential research opportunities in sustainable packaging as the world transitions from conventional petrochemical-driven packaging into more renewable-focused packaging.

This viewpoint highlights the future of renewable materials and potential research opportunities in sustainable packaging as the world transitions from conventional petrochemical-driven packaging into more renewable-focused packaging.

This perspective provides an overview of glycerol–water aided thermoprocessing of biopolymers, showing that despite the inherent complexity, strong molecular interactions, and degradation sensitivity of biopolymers, they can be successfully thermoprocessed using industrial methods traditionally reserved for fossil-based thermoplastics. The findings extend to composites incorporating these biopolymers with bio-waste fillers, as well as to bio-waste itself, from which biopolymers are typically extracted. While the concept has been validated for commonly studied biopolymers such as starch, gluten, and soy, the perspective emphasizes the need for further research on other biopolymers, particularly those known for their film-forming properties via solvent casting. Lastly, the challenges that must be overcome to achieve commercial viability for thermoprocessed biopolymers are discussed, highlighting areas for future investigation and development.

In the present study, tea waste microcrystalline cellulose (TWMCC) was incorporated into the polymer matrix of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) to improve its properties for food packaging. TWMCC/PVA composite films were prepared using the solution casting method, and the fabricated films were characterized using various analytical techniques for determining chemical, morphological, thermal, mechanical, water resistance, and UV-barrier properties. Strong hydrogen bonding between the hydroxyl groups of PVA and TWMCC forms a dense network structure, resulting in improvement of water resistance, water vapor barrier, UV-blocking properties, and thermal properties, of the films. 5 wt % TWMCC increased the water contact angle of PVA film to 81.54°, while pure PVA film had a lower contact angle of 29.31°. The incorporation of 3 wt % TWMCC increased the tensile strength of PVA film by about 2-fold (from 9.11 ± 1.15 to 18.5 ± 1.93 MPa). PVA composite film containing 5 wt b % TWMCC showed promising performance in extending fruit shelf life by preserving grapes for up to 18 days, while unpacked grapes lost marketability within one week. The findings of the study reveal that microcrystalline cellulose derived from tea industry waste can be used as a suitable filler material for the development of environmentally friendly and sustainable food packaging to minimize the global plastic pollution issue.

Metal organic frameworks (MOF) are proven to be the efficient solid phase sorbents for uranium and thorium, the driver fuels for the present and future nuclear power program of India. In this article, a novel sorbent material (MOF-DHB) has been dove-tailed by a post-synthetic modification technique (here, 1,2-dihydroxybenzene functionalized on the surface of UiO66-NH₂), and sorption efficacy of the material for UO₂²⁺ and Th⁴⁺ from acidic solutions has been explored for the first time. It exhibits very high (>98%) removal efficiency for both actinides compared to the unfunctionalized MOF (with 52% and 65% for UO₂²⁺ and Th⁴⁺, respectively). The surface functionalization induced the enhancement in the saturation sorption capacity values of UO₂²⁺ and Th⁴⁺ (nearly 1.3-fold compared to parent MOF). Reusability has been demonstrated by quantitative back extraction of metal ions using suitable stripping agents and subsequent use of the sorbent for new extraction without any performance compromise. The synthesized MOF is stable up to 500 kGy dose and can be applied for more than five cycles of operation. FTIR analysis illustrates that major modes of coordination in MOFDHB and MOF are through phenolic −OH and −NH₂ groups.

Modifying nano/microporous fiber surfaces while preserving their bulk properties in a green and scalable way is desirable and highly challenging. This study employed the development of a plasma surface-engineered activated carbon fiber (ACF) mat to remove a model heavy metal (HM) manganese (Mn) from the air efficiently. This eco-conscious initiative will help to improve the air quality in severely contaminated mining regions. We investigated various precursors for plasma surface modification. The ACF treated with 2-mercaptoethanol (MCE) plasma exhibited superior filtration efficiency for HM-contaminated aerosols, resulting in a 25% enhancement compared to that of the pristine ACF. A comprehensive analysis of the mat’s physicochemical properties was conducted after modifications and filtration. The pressure drop values between the pristine and plasma-treated ACFs were found to be insignificant. Ultimately, these results have demonstrated the potential of MCE plasma-treated ACF as an efficient filter for removing HMs from the air.