Pub Date : 2026-01-12DOI: 10.1016/j.mtsust.2026.101302
Chen Jiao , Osama Alfarraj , Amr Tolba , Jianyong Yu , Jong Hyuk Park
An integrated Analytic Hierarchy Process–Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (AHP–TOPSIS) framework is developed to support renewable energy planning in low-carbon port cities, with explicit attention to marine-pollution mitigation. The approach is applied to Ningbo–Zhoushan Port, China, using a criteria system organised into four main groups and twelve sub-criteria. Judgements from 50 experts indicate that environmental and marine-pollution impacts (weight = 0.36) dominate over technical performance (0.24), social/policy acceptance (0.22), and economic feasibility (0.18), with emission reduction and marine-pollution pressure together accounting for almost 0.29 of the total weight. Combining these weights with normalised performance scores, TOPSIS identifies offshore wind farms (closeness coefficient = 0.83) and hybrid systems with storage and hydrogen-readiness (0.80) as the most suitable options for Ningbo–Zhoushan, followed by coastal onshore wind and port-area solar photovoltaic. At the same time, waste-to-energy/biomass CHP ranks lowest. Scenario analysis confirms the robustness of these findings under varying environmental, cost, and reliability priorities, highlighting portfolios centred on offshore wind and hybrid systems as key to reducing port-related emissions and pressures on coastal waters.
{"title":"Integrated AHP–TOPSIS model for renewable energy planning in low-carbon port Cities: Implications for marine pollution mitigation","authors":"Chen Jiao , Osama Alfarraj , Amr Tolba , Jianyong Yu , Jong Hyuk Park","doi":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2026.101302","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2026.101302","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>An integrated Analytic Hierarchy Process–Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (AHP–TOPSIS) framework is developed to support renewable energy planning in low-carbon port cities, with explicit attention to marine-pollution mitigation. The approach is applied to Ningbo–Zhoushan Port, China, using a criteria system organised into four main groups and twelve sub-criteria. Judgements from 50 experts indicate that environmental and marine-pollution impacts (weight = 0.36) dominate over technical performance (0.24), social/policy acceptance (0.22), and economic feasibility (0.18), with emission reduction and marine-pollution pressure together accounting for almost 0.29 of the total weight. Combining these weights with normalised performance scores, TOPSIS identifies offshore wind farms (closeness coefficient = 0.83) and hybrid systems with storage and hydrogen-readiness (0.80) as the most suitable options for Ningbo–Zhoushan, followed by coastal onshore wind and port-area solar photovoltaic. At the same time, waste-to-energy/biomass CHP ranks lowest. Scenario analysis confirms the robustness of these findings under varying environmental, cost, and reliability priorities, highlighting portfolios centred on offshore wind and hybrid systems as key to reducing port-related emissions and pressures on coastal waters.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18322,"journal":{"name":"Materials Today Sustainability","volume":"33 ","pages":"Article 101302"},"PeriodicalIF":7.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145976909","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-08DOI: 10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101298
Chiemela Victor Amaechi , Salmia Binti Beddu , Idris Ahmed Ja'e , Abiodun Kolawole Oyetunji , Raqib Abu Salia , Obafemi M. Oyewole , Olalekan O. Ojedokun , Bo Huang
There are numerous environmental impacts associated with the construction industry because it consumes significant energy and other resources. The design and construction of civil structures such as residential buildings require several construction materials. This paper presents an overview of sustainable composite materials for construction projects such as buildings, factories, public structures and offshore structures. The construction materials that are used to produce structural elements, or build houses, as well as other structures include composites and conventional materials. New construction technologies using composite materials, have been developed in the construction sector to promote sustainability. The advantages of using composites as construction materials over traditional materials are highlighted in this paper. There are increasing implementation of composite materials on construction sites as they incorporate fewer materials, light-weight materials, newer designs and time-saving materials. Also, composite materials offer a promising option when it comes to architecture and sustainable construction, as they guarantee high performance. Thus, this paper provides an overview of composites as construction materials for the development of sustainable structures in the construction industry with some recommendations given. This review is to enhance policies for industry application of composites geared towards sustainability.
{"title":"An overview of composites as construction materials for the Development of sustainable structures","authors":"Chiemela Victor Amaechi , Salmia Binti Beddu , Idris Ahmed Ja'e , Abiodun Kolawole Oyetunji , Raqib Abu Salia , Obafemi M. Oyewole , Olalekan O. Ojedokun , Bo Huang","doi":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101298","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101298","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>There are numerous environmental impacts associated with the construction industry because it consumes significant energy and other resources. The design and construction of civil structures such as residential buildings require several construction materials. This paper presents an overview of sustainable composite materials for construction projects such as buildings, factories, public structures and offshore structures. The construction materials that are used to produce structural elements, or build houses, as well as other structures include composites and conventional materials. New construction technologies using composite materials, have been developed in the construction sector to promote sustainability. The advantages of using composites as construction materials over traditional materials are highlighted in this paper. There are increasing implementation of composite materials on construction sites as they incorporate fewer materials, light-weight materials, newer designs and time-saving materials. Also, composite materials offer a promising option when it comes to architecture and sustainable construction, as they guarantee high performance. Thus, this paper provides an overview of composites as construction materials for the development of sustainable structures in the construction industry with some recommendations given. This review is to enhance policies for industry application of composites geared towards sustainability.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18322,"journal":{"name":"Materials Today Sustainability","volume":"33 ","pages":"Article 101298"},"PeriodicalIF":7.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145976908","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-07DOI: 10.1016/j.mtsust.2026.101301
Zeinab M. Ahmed , Ahmed A. Allam , Mohamed I. El-Sayed , Zakaria Abdullah , Yasser Salama , Hassan A. Rudayni , Wail Al Zoubi , Mostafa R. Abukhadra
The persistence of endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs) such as bisphenol A (BPA) in aquatic environments necessitates the development of efficient, sustainable, and cost-effective treatment strategies. In this study, a multifunctional photocatalyst composed of nickel oxide (NiO), nickel hydroxide [Ni(OH)2], and metallic nickel (Ni0) supported on sulfonated carbon-rich bentonite (SB) was synthesized via a low-temperature, calcination-free route. The fabrication process—comprising acid activation, ion exchange, and mild chemical reduction—preserves hydroxide-layered structures while integrating redox-active and light-responsive phases within a hierarchically porous clay matrix. The resulting NiO/Ni(OH)2@SB composite demonstrated outstanding photocatalytic performance under visible light. Complete degradation and mineralization of BPA (5 mg/L) were achieved within 20 and 60 min, respectively using 0.5 g/L catalyst. Kinetic modeling confirmed pseudo-first-order behavior (k1 = 0.2177 min−1), while quantum yield analysis indicated high photon-to-reactivity efficiency (Φ = 3.32 × 10−7). Mechanistic studies revealed that photogenerated •OH and •O2− radicals—amplified by Ni2+/Ni3+ redox cycling and Ni0/NiO Schottky junctions—drive the oxidative degradation pathway. The sulfonated bentonite support enhances pollutant adsorption, interfacial contact, and dispersion of the active phases. The catalyst exhibited remarkable structural integrity and reusability, maintaining >90 % of its initial activity after six consecutive cycles, with negligible Ni leaching (<0.001 mg/L). This work offers a scalable and environmentally benign strategy for solar-assisted remediation of phenolic micropollutants. The design principles established herein provide a blueprint for developing next-generation clay-supported photocatalysts targeting a wide range of emerging contaminants in real-world wastewater matrices.
{"title":"Low-temperature synthesis of a multifunctional NiO/Ni(OH)2 decorated sulfonated bentonite for sustainable and enhanced visible-light-driven degradation and mineralization of bisphenol-A in water","authors":"Zeinab M. Ahmed , Ahmed A. Allam , Mohamed I. El-Sayed , Zakaria Abdullah , Yasser Salama , Hassan A. Rudayni , Wail Al Zoubi , Mostafa R. Abukhadra","doi":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2026.101301","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2026.101301","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The persistence of endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs) such as bisphenol A (BPA) in aquatic environments necessitates the development of efficient, sustainable, and cost-effective treatment strategies. In this study, a multifunctional photocatalyst composed of nickel oxide (NiO), nickel hydroxide [Ni(OH)<sub>2</sub>], and metallic nickel (Ni<sup>0</sup>) supported on sulfonated carbon-rich bentonite (SB) was synthesized via a low-temperature, calcination-free route. The fabrication process—comprising acid activation, ion exchange, and mild chemical reduction—preserves hydroxide-layered structures while integrating redox-active and light-responsive phases within a hierarchically porous clay matrix. The resulting NiO/Ni(OH)<sub>2</sub>@SB composite demonstrated outstanding photocatalytic performance under visible light. Complete degradation and mineralization of BPA (5 mg/L) were achieved within 20 and 60 min, respectively using 0.5 g/L catalyst. Kinetic modeling confirmed pseudo-first-order behavior (k<sub>1</sub> = 0.2177 min<sup>−1</sup>), while quantum yield analysis indicated high photon-to-reactivity efficiency (Φ = 3.32 × 10<sup>−7</sup>). Mechanistic studies revealed that photogenerated •OH and •O<sub>2</sub><sup>−</sup> radicals—amplified by Ni<sup>2+</sup>/Ni<sup>3+</sup> redox cycling and Ni<sup>0</sup>/NiO Schottky junctions—drive the oxidative degradation pathway. The sulfonated bentonite support enhances pollutant adsorption, interfacial contact, and dispersion of the active phases. The catalyst exhibited remarkable structural integrity and reusability, maintaining >90 % of its initial activity after six consecutive cycles, with negligible Ni leaching (<0.001 mg/L). This work offers a scalable and environmentally benign strategy for solar-assisted remediation of phenolic micropollutants. The design principles established herein provide a blueprint for developing next-generation clay-supported photocatalysts targeting a wide range of emerging contaminants in real-world wastewater matrices.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18322,"journal":{"name":"Materials Today Sustainability","volume":"33 ","pages":"Article 101301"},"PeriodicalIF":7.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145976911","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-26DOI: 10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101297
Omid Bamshad, Amir Mohammad Ramezanianpour
In the life cycle assessment (LCA) of concrete, it is essential to consider the service life, mechanical properties, and end-of-life scenarios to obtain accurate results, especially in the case of comparing geopolymer concretes with ordinary concrete. In this study, a conceptual framework was designed to produce circular concretes based on the main principals of circular economy. Then, a comparative economic and environmental life cycle assessment (LCA) was performed to evaluate the sustainability potential of circular geopolymer concrete (CGPC), geopolymer concrete (GPC), and circular ordinary concrete (COC), as alternatives to Portland cement concrete (PCC), using analytical hierarchy process (AHP). The results showed that using GPC and CGPC significantly alleviated the environmental impacts of cement production, such that they reduced the global warming potential (GWP) by about 69 %. The environmental burdens of CGPC were slightly higher than GPC in all midpoint (<5 %) and endpoint (<2 %) levels. The minimum life cycle cost was related to PCC, and then GPC, CGPC, and COC had higher life cycle costs than PCC with relative total cost of 1.08, 1.14, and 1.18, respectively. According to the multi-criteria decision making and final scores from AHP model, GPC and CGPC performed the best in the sustainability assessment, respectively, with a marginal difference, whereas COC performed the worst.
{"title":"Assessing the sustainability potential of circular geopolymer concrete: A life cycle assessment and multi-criteria decision making approach","authors":"Omid Bamshad, Amir Mohammad Ramezanianpour","doi":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101297","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101297","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In the life cycle assessment (LCA) of concrete, it is essential to consider the service life, mechanical properties, and end-of-life scenarios to obtain accurate results, especially in the case of comparing geopolymer concretes with ordinary concrete. In this study, a conceptual framework was designed to produce circular concretes based on the main principals of circular economy. Then, a comparative economic and environmental life cycle assessment (LCA) was performed to evaluate the sustainability potential of circular geopolymer concrete (CGPC), geopolymer concrete (GPC), and circular ordinary concrete (COC), as alternatives to Portland cement concrete (PCC), using analytical hierarchy process (AHP). The results showed that using GPC and CGPC significantly alleviated the environmental impacts of cement production, such that they reduced the global warming potential (GWP) by about 69 %. The environmental burdens of CGPC were slightly higher than GPC in all midpoint (<5 %) and endpoint (<2 %) levels. The minimum life cycle cost was related to PCC, and then GPC, CGPC, and COC had higher life cycle costs than PCC with relative total cost of 1.08, 1.14, and 1.18, respectively. According to the multi-criteria decision making and final scores from AHP model, GPC and CGPC performed the best in the sustainability assessment, respectively, with a marginal difference, whereas COC performed the worst.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18322,"journal":{"name":"Materials Today Sustainability","volume":"33 ","pages":"Article 101297"},"PeriodicalIF":7.9,"publicationDate":"2025-12-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145925700","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-26DOI: 10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101299
Xiao Wang , Wai Yan Cheah , Sirasit Srinuanpan , Eng-Poh Ng , Joon Ching Juan , Tau Chuan Ling
Bacterial cellulose is a water-insoluble polysaccharide, and is gaining increasing attention for its high purity and ultra-fine network structure. It has been widely used in food, biomedicine, and many other industries. However, low microbial productivity and high fermentation bioreactor costs primarily limit its production and application. It could be the limited efficient breeding of high-yielding strains and the understanding of its biosynthesis mechanism. Metabolic engineering and genetic engineering reveal the molecular structure of bacterial cellulose-specific, and its molecular theories for biosynthesis in vivo, transport and supramolecular assembly in vitro. The high-yield strains, and the bacterial cellulose of structural and functional performance, can be regulated by effective breeding, genetics, metabolism modifications. Owing to recent progress in genomics and metabolism, different bacterial strains are designed by overexpression or knockdown, for both increasing its productivity and improving key properties such as mechanical strength and thermal stability. This review comprehensively evaluates the breeding methods of bacterial cells, and how biosynthesis, regulation, and application are governed at the molecular scale. It further discusses the bottlenecks of its production, both by analyzing the characteristics of high-yield strains and combining traditional methods with genetic engineering to regulate its biosynthesis and secretion. Overall, this review provides an updated and clear understanding of the bacterial cellulose synthesis network for production and modification, and it provides valuable ideas for continuous bacterial cellulose-related research and ultimately for its effective production.
{"title":"Towards efficient production and application of bacterial cellulose: the progress from conventional to advanced production","authors":"Xiao Wang , Wai Yan Cheah , Sirasit Srinuanpan , Eng-Poh Ng , Joon Ching Juan , Tau Chuan Ling","doi":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101299","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101299","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Bacterial cellulose is a water-insoluble polysaccharide, and is gaining increasing attention for its high purity and ultra-fine network structure. It has been widely used in food, biomedicine, and many other industries. However, low microbial productivity and high fermentation bioreactor costs primarily limit its production and application. It could be the limited efficient breeding of high-yielding strains and the understanding of its biosynthesis mechanism. Metabolic engineering and genetic engineering reveal the molecular structure of bacterial cellulose-specific, and its molecular theories for biosynthesis <em>in vivo</em>, transport and supramolecular assembly <em>in vitro</em>. The high-yield strains, and the bacterial cellulose of structural and functional performance, can be regulated by effective breeding, genetics, metabolism modifications. Owing to recent progress in genomics and metabolism, different bacterial strains are designed by overexpression or knockdown, for both increasing its productivity and improving key properties such as mechanical strength and thermal stability. This review comprehensively evaluates the breeding methods of bacterial cells, and how biosynthesis, regulation, and application are governed at the molecular scale. It further discusses the bottlenecks of its production, both by analyzing the characteristics of high-yield strains and combining traditional methods with genetic engineering to regulate its biosynthesis and secretion. Overall, this review provides an updated and clear understanding of the bacterial cellulose synthesis network for production and modification, and it provides valuable ideas for continuous bacterial cellulose-related research and ultimately for its effective production.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18322,"journal":{"name":"Materials Today Sustainability","volume":"33 ","pages":"Article 101299"},"PeriodicalIF":7.9,"publicationDate":"2025-12-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145925703","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-24DOI: 10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101296
Fengyi Zhang , Chee Lok Yong , Xinghan Huang , Chiu Chuen Onn , Saznizam Sazmee Sinoh , Chung-Chan Hung , Kim Hung Mo
Building materials can act as carbon sequestration agents by capturing atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) and enhancing their performance. This represents a promising approach to reducing the carbon footprint of the construction industry and mitigating the greenhouse effect through CO2 utilization. However, gypsum-based materials tend to show a decline in performance after carbonation, a challenge that remains unresolved in current research. This study is the first to utilize the unique properties of basic oxygen furnace slag (BOFS), which is a type of steel slag waste, to address this issue. A comprehensive evaluation was conducted on bulk density, compressive strength, water resistance, water absorption, porosity, and environmental impact, complemented by advanced analytical techniques, including TGA, SEM, and XRD, to gain deeper insights into the underlying reaction mechanisms. The findings reveal that incorporating BOFS into gypsum-based materials and activating the system with an alkaline activator mitigated deterioration after carbonation while maintaining effective CO2 sequestration. The results indicated that adding 20 % BOFS to gypsum-based blocks with a water-to-binder ratio of 0.20 generated sufficient carbonation products (CaCO3 and SiO2-rich gel) after carbonation. These products effectively filled the internal pores of the specimens and induced subsequent hydration reactions, further improving their compressive strength and water resistance. Furthermore, based on life cycle assessment, these specimens achieved an ideal CO2 uptake of 32 kg CO2 eq per ton, reducing the global warming potential by 94.5 % compared to carbonated cement-based materials. This greener carbon sequestration agent offered promising potential for advancing sustainable building materials.
{"title":"Optimizing carbon sequestration and performance of a sustainable gypsum-based materials using steel slag waste","authors":"Fengyi Zhang , Chee Lok Yong , Xinghan Huang , Chiu Chuen Onn , Saznizam Sazmee Sinoh , Chung-Chan Hung , Kim Hung Mo","doi":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101296","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101296","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Building materials can act as carbon sequestration agents by capturing atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO<sub>2</sub>) and enhancing their performance. This represents a promising approach to reducing the carbon footprint of the construction industry and mitigating the greenhouse effect through CO<sub>2</sub> utilization. However, gypsum-based materials tend to show a decline in performance after carbonation, a challenge that remains unresolved in current research. This study is the first to utilize the unique properties of basic oxygen furnace slag (BOFS), which is a type of steel slag waste, to address this issue. A comprehensive evaluation was conducted on bulk density, compressive strength, water resistance, water absorption, porosity, and environmental impact, complemented by advanced analytical techniques, including TGA, SEM, and XRD, to gain deeper insights into the underlying reaction mechanisms. The findings reveal that incorporating BOFS into gypsum-based materials and activating the system with an alkaline activator mitigated deterioration after carbonation while maintaining effective CO<sub>2</sub> sequestration. The results indicated that adding 20 % BOFS to gypsum-based blocks with a water-to-binder ratio of 0.20 generated sufficient carbonation products (CaCO<sub>3</sub> and SiO<sub>2</sub>-rich gel) after carbonation. These products effectively filled the internal pores of the specimens and induced subsequent hydration reactions, further improving their compressive strength and water resistance. Furthermore, based on life cycle assessment, these specimens achieved an ideal CO<sub>2</sub> uptake of 32 kg CO<sub>2</sub> eq per ton, reducing the global warming potential by 94.5 % compared to carbonated cement-based materials. This greener carbon sequestration agent offered promising potential for advancing sustainable building materials.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18322,"journal":{"name":"Materials Today Sustainability","volume":"33 ","pages":"Article 101296"},"PeriodicalIF":7.9,"publicationDate":"2025-12-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145925698","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-24DOI: 10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101287
Hesam Kamyab , Elham Khalili , Tayebeh Khademi , Ali Yuzir , Mohammad Mahdi Taheri , Saravanan Rajendran , Ana Belén Peñaherrera-Pazmiño
Green synthesis of nanoparticles (NPs) has garnered a considerable amount of attention lately due to its low production expenses, simplicity of manufacturing, safety, and environmental friendliness. It is a dependable method for creating a variety of nanostructures from fungal, plant, and bacterial extracts as well as hybrid materials, including metal salts. A viable and sustainable substitute for traditional synthesis methods is the green synthesis of NPs. According to recent research, NPs have very promising antiviral and antimicrobial capabilities. This article highlights the progress made in the green method for manufacturing NPs utilizing natural substances, including fruit juices, plant extracts, and other pertinent sources. A thorough understanding of these NPs' anticancer, antiviral, and antimicrobial abilities was presented. Numerous opportunities are presented by these NPs to combat potentially fatal viral and other antimicrobial diseases. This review provides readers with a grasp of the latest data and a variety of tactics for designing and developing advanced green nanomaterials using a more environmentally friendly approach. A summary is provided of the present difficulties, critical analysis, and prospects for the green synthesis of NPs as well as the potential for their innovative and successful investigation for biomedical applications.
{"title":"Advances in green synthesis of nanoparticles for biomedical applications: Antimicrobial, antiviral, and cancer therapies","authors":"Hesam Kamyab , Elham Khalili , Tayebeh Khademi , Ali Yuzir , Mohammad Mahdi Taheri , Saravanan Rajendran , Ana Belén Peñaherrera-Pazmiño","doi":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101287","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101287","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Green synthesis of nanoparticles (NPs) has garnered a considerable amount of attention lately due to its low production expenses, simplicity of manufacturing, safety, and environmental friendliness. It is a dependable method for creating a variety of nanostructures from fungal, plant, and bacterial extracts as well as hybrid materials, including metal salts. A viable and sustainable substitute for traditional synthesis methods is the green synthesis of NPs. According to recent research, NPs have very promising antiviral and antimicrobial capabilities. This article highlights the progress made in the green method for manufacturing NPs utilizing natural substances, including fruit juices, plant extracts, and other pertinent sources. A thorough understanding of these NPs' anticancer, antiviral, and antimicrobial abilities was presented. Numerous opportunities are presented by these NPs to combat potentially fatal viral and other antimicrobial diseases. This review provides readers with a grasp of the latest data and a variety of tactics for designing and developing advanced green nanomaterials using a more environmentally friendly approach. A summary is provided of the present difficulties, critical analysis, and prospects for the green synthesis of NPs as well as the potential for their innovative and successful investigation for biomedical applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18322,"journal":{"name":"Materials Today Sustainability","volume":"33 ","pages":"Article 101287"},"PeriodicalIF":7.9,"publicationDate":"2025-12-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145925697","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-24DOI: 10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101295
Maryam Nejati , Li Zha , Rhoda Afriyie Mensah , Oisik Das , Antonio J. Capezza , Amparo Jiménez-Quero
This study presents a multiscale investigation of mycelium-based biocomposites produced via solid-state cultivation of Ganoderma lucidum on agro-food sidestreams. Three lignocellulosic residues, wheat bran (in two particle sizes), rice straw, and spent coffee grounds, were selected based on global availability and chemical diversity. The biocomposites were characterized to investigate how substrate composition and mycelial growth influence microstructure and macroscopic performance.
Monosaccharide analysis and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed that wheat bran supported enhanced mycelial growth. Fine wheat bran-based composites exhibited compressive strengths up to 449 kPa at 30 % strain and tensile moduli of 15–25 MPa, significantly higher than expanded polystyrene (EPS), a conventional insulator. All biocomposites showed intrinsic surface hydrophobicity (water contact angles of 106–120°). Thermal analyses, including thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and hot-plate conductivity measurement, confirmed their suitability as porous insulation. Cone calorimetry demonstrated improved fire safety in wheat bran-based composites, with reduced peak heat release rates (112–115 kW/m2).
Embodied energy and carbon footprint assessments indicated up to 89 % lower energy demand and 72 % lower CO2 emissions compared with EPS. Through multiscale characterization and direct benchmarking, this study shows how substrate selection and fungal-substrate interactions can be utilized to tailor performance. The findings provide insights into converting low-value biomass into scalable, fire-safer, and environmentally responsible insulation materials.
{"title":"Agro-food waste upcycling into mycelium insulation: Linking structure with mechanical and fire performance","authors":"Maryam Nejati , Li Zha , Rhoda Afriyie Mensah , Oisik Das , Antonio J. Capezza , Amparo Jiménez-Quero","doi":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101295","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101295","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study presents a multiscale investigation of mycelium-based biocomposites produced via solid-state cultivation of <em>Ganoderma lucidum</em> on agro-food sidestreams. Three lignocellulosic residues, wheat bran (in two particle sizes), rice straw, and spent coffee grounds, were selected based on global availability and chemical diversity. The biocomposites were characterized to investigate how substrate composition and mycelial growth influence microstructure and macroscopic performance.</div><div>Monosaccharide analysis and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed that wheat bran supported enhanced mycelial growth. Fine wheat bran-based composites exhibited compressive strengths up to 449 kPa at 30 % strain and tensile moduli of 15–25 MPa, significantly higher than expanded polystyrene (EPS), a conventional insulator. All biocomposites showed intrinsic surface hydrophobicity (water contact angles of 106–120°). Thermal analyses, including thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and hot-plate conductivity measurement, confirmed their suitability as porous insulation. Cone calorimetry demonstrated improved fire safety in wheat bran-based composites, with reduced peak heat release rates (112–115 kW/m<sup>2</sup>).</div><div>Embodied energy and carbon footprint assessments indicated up to 89 % lower energy demand and 72 % lower CO<sub>2</sub> emissions compared with EPS. Through multiscale characterization and direct benchmarking, this study shows how substrate selection and fungal-substrate interactions can be utilized to tailor performance. The findings provide insights into converting low-value biomass into scalable, fire-safer, and environmentally responsible insulation materials.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18322,"journal":{"name":"Materials Today Sustainability","volume":"33 ","pages":"Article 101295"},"PeriodicalIF":7.9,"publicationDate":"2025-12-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145925809","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-23DOI: 10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101283
Aswin Kumar Krishnan , Yat Choy Wong , Youli Lin , Arul Arulrajah
This research study was to investigate fly ash (FA) and crumb rubber (CR) in clay bricks using sodium metasilicate at low heating temperatures which is an emerging trend in the construction industry to eliminate landfill depletion problems. The fly ash weight ratios studied was at 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 %, while the crumb rubber weight ratios was fixed at 1 % for all the samples. During previous study, the initial temperature of 50 °C for 48 h was conducted. In this study, the curing temperature was increased to 60 °C for 72 h. Then, the temperature was raised further to 160 °C for 24 h to obtain the best optimum curing conditions. The sodium metasilicate powder was used as a solid activator for the alkaline activation of FA and CR. The varying weight ratios of Na2SiO3was at 2.5, 5, 7.5 and 10 %. Compressive strength, cold water absorption, linear shrinkage, initial rate of absorption and thermal conductivity were tested and compared with the properties of clay bricks. The surface morphology of FA and CR blends was examined using scanning electron microscopy. Furthermore, the different Na/Si ratios were identified using EDS analysis. The experimental results indicated that the highest compressive strength of 11.7 MPa was achieved with 25 % FA + 1 % CR using 10 % Na2SiO3. It was found that thermal conductivity satisfied the requirement for the standard bricks except for 10 % FA + 1 % CR at 10 % sodium metasilicate. The high porosity in bricks resulted in low thermal conductivity, which is an excellent thermal insulation property of the bricks. This study demonstrates the potential benefits of using fly ash and crumb rubber using sodium metasilicate powder in green buildings could reduce the extraction of natural resources and improve disposal efficiency.
本研究是利用偏硅酸钠在低温加热下研究粉煤灰（FA）和橡胶屑（CR）在粘土砖中的作用，这是建筑行业消除垃圾填埋场枯竭问题的新兴趋势。研究的粉煤灰质量比分别为5、10、15、20和25 %，橡胶屑质量比固定为1 %。在之前的研究中，初始温度为50 °C，持续48 h。在本研究中，将固化温度提高到60 °C，固化72 h。然后进一步升温至160 ℃，保温24 h，获得最佳固化条件。以偏硅酸钠粉末为固体活化剂，na2sio3的质量比分别为2.5、5、7.5和10%，对FA和CR进行碱性活化。测试了其抗压强度、冷水吸收率、线收缩率、初始吸收率和导热系数，并与粘土砖的性能进行了比较。用扫描电镜观察了FA和CR共混物的表面形貌。此外，利用能谱分析确定了不同的Na/Si比。实验结果表明，25% FA + 1% CR （10% Na2SiO3）复合材料抗压强度最高，达到11.7 MPa。在10%偏硅酸钠条件下，除10% FA + 1% CR外，导热系数均满足标准砖的要求。砖的高孔隙率导致了低导热系数，这是砖的优良保温性能。本研究表明，粉煤灰和偏硅酸钠粉胶屑在绿色建筑中的潜在效益可以减少自然资源的开采，提高处理效率。
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Pub Date : 2025-12-23DOI: 10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101293
Sara Reguera Riera , Ana Matilde Pérez-Mas , René Bes , María González de la Vega , María González-Ingelmo , Uriel Alejandro Sierra Gómez , Clara Blanco , Ricardo Santamaría , Victoria G. Rocha , Jonathan Ruiz Esquius
IrMnFeCoNiOx and IrOx oxides self-supported on carbon fibres were synthesised through a facile and rapid thermal decomposition in air (300–500 °C, 1 h). The effect of temperature on the material's properties and their performance towards the acidic oxygen evolution reaction (OER) were assessed.
For IrMnFeCoNiOx catalysts, the higher the annealing temperature, the better the catalytic activity and stability towards the acidic OER, which was assigned to the crystallisation to a spinel structure (cubic Fd3m). The IrMnFeCoNiOx annealed at 500 °C reached 10 mA cm−2 at a low overpotential of 283 mV with no evident signs of deactivation for 70 h operating at 10 mA cm−2. On the contrary, for IrOx crystallisation towards rutile IrO2 with increasing temperature resulted in an activity decay, with the overpotential to reach 10 mA cm−2 progressively worsening from 304 mV to ca. 400 mV.
At comparable iridium loading (0.4 mgIr cm−2), the best performing IrMnFeCoNiOx catalyst surpasses in terms of activity and stability the best performing IrOx catalysts. This methodology that required only metal chloride precursors, water and heating enables the synthesis of metal oxide spinel catalysts, including high entropy spinel, through a fast, simple and scalable route. In addition, this route can aid in the design of low Ir-loading catalysts for the production of green hydrogen.
通过在空气中（300-500 °C, 1 h）快速热分解，合成了碳纤维上自负载的IrMnFeCoNiOx和IrOx氧化物。考察了温度对材料性能和酸性析氧反应（OER）性能的影响。对于IrMnFeCoNiOx催化剂，退火温度越高，对酸性OER的催化活性和稳定性越好，这归因于结晶为尖晶石结构（立方Fd3m）。在500 °C下退火的IrMnFeCoNiOx在283 mV的低过电位下达到10 mA cm−2，在10 mA cm−2下工作70 h没有明显的失活迹象。相反，随着温度的升高，IrOx向金红石型IrO2结晶导致活性衰减，过电位达到10 mA cm−2，从304 mV逐渐恶化到约400 mV。在同等的铱负载（0.4 mgIr cm−2）下，性能最好的IrMnFeCoNiOx催化剂在活性和稳定性方面都超过了性能最好的IrOx催化剂。该方法只需要金属氯化物前体、水和加热就可以通过快速、简单和可扩展的途径合成金属氧化物尖晶石催化剂，包括高熵尖晶石。此外，这条路线可以帮助设计用于生产绿色氢的低负载催化剂。
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