ChemBioEng Reviews最新文献

Controlled-release fertilizers (CRFs) offer a sustainable pathway to enhance nutrient use efficiency while reducing the environmental burdens associated with conventional fertilizers. By delivering nutrients in synchrony with plant demand, CRFs minimize volatilization, leaching, and eutrophication and support soil microbial function. Biopolymer-based matrices have emerged as promising candidates due to their biodegradability and tunable properties, yet their low mechanical strength and high permeability require reinforcement and improved processing strategies. Advances in coating technologies, ranging from chemical to solvent-free physical methods, have been key to improving CRF performance. Although chemical coatings are effective, their reliance on organic solvents motivates a shift toward greener techniques such as melt blending, spray coating, and extrusion. Melt blending is particularly attractive for its simplicity and compatibility with three-dimensional (3D) printing, enabling precise control of architecture and release kinetics. Remaining challenges include optimizing material formulations and tailoring release profiles to specific crops and environments.

Electrocoagulation (EC) has emerged as an effective treatment technology capable of simultaneously removing pollutants and generating hydrogen as a valuable co-product. This review examines recent progress in EC fundamentals, electrode dissolution behavior, and key operational factors influencing contaminant removal and gas generation. Analysis of over 120 studies shows that EC achieves 75–98% chemical oxygen demand (COD) reduction, 80–99% turbidity removal, Faradaic efficiencies of 60–95%, and hydrogen yields of 80–300 L H₂ m⁻³, with energy consumption ranging from 25 to 120 kWh kg⁻¹ H₂. Despite these promising results, scalability remains hindered by electrode passivation, energy intensity, sludge formation, and lack of standardized reactor configurations. Current research needs are identified in three-dimensional (3D) electrode designs, integrated EC–advanced oxidation process (AOP) and EC–membrane systems, and sludge utilization strategies. Particular focus is placed on the potential of EC-based hydrogen recovery to enhance energy self-sufficiency and advance circular-economy practices. The findings define major research priorities to establish EC as a combined platform for advanced wastewater treatment and sustainable hydrogen production.

The increasing efficiency of upstream production of biotherapeutics exposes significant challenges in downstream purification. Chromatography, the traditional gold standard, offers high purity and yield but faces limitations such as restricted mass transfer, limited capacity, and scalability issues, especially with high-titer strains. As biomanufacturing moves toward fully continuous production, interest grows in alternatives beyond chromatography. Precipitation has emerged as a versatile, scalable, and titer-independent technique that achieves yields and purities comparable to chromatography while offering simpler and more adaptable processing. It can be operated continuously, enabling seamless bioprocessing. Despite its potential, continuous precipitation remains less explored for biotherapeutics due to biomolecular complexity. Effective design requires deep understanding of thermodynamics, process modeling, hardware, and real-time monitoring. This review discusses these critical factors, key design elements, and application examples, highlighting precipitation as a promising purification technology and exploring future research directions.

Microorganisms such as bacteria, yeasts, and select filamentous fungi exhibit the capability to synthesize biosurfactants (BSs), each characterized by distinct molecular compositions and surface-active traits. The exceptional structural versatility, adaptability, and multifaceted properties of BSs have positioned them as promising candidates for diverse applications. The industrial landscape has increasingly embraced these molecules, driven by their potential to enhance various processes. Notably, genetic engineering and recombinant DNA technologies have gained traction as strategies to efficiently produce BSs, opening new avenues for innovation. As environmental awareness grows and regulations tighten, BSs emerge as viable alternatives, although cost competitiveness remains an obstacle. Life cycle assessment (LCA) is necessary when assessing environmental impacts in order to get the most precise idea of the environmental impact connected to a product or service delivered from a large-scale BS production system and reduce prices, enabling a transition toward greener practices.

Industrial wastewater management poses significant environmental challenges that require sustainable and innovative treatment strategies. This review explores the potential of bacterial cellulose (BC) synthesized from agricultural waste as an efficient and eco-friendly adsorbent for industrial wastewater treatment applications. BC, a biopolymer produced by certain microbial species, exhibits a high surface area, porosity, and excellent biocompatibility, which enhance its adsorption capacity. Various agro-waste sources used for BC production are highlighted, emphasizing the benefits of waste valorization and pollution mitigation in this regard. Key findings from recent research demonstrate the effective adsorption of heavy metals and organic pollutants compared with that of conventional adsorbents. In addition, the current challenges, research gaps, and future directions for large-scale BC production and wastewater applications are discussed. Overall, BC is a promising sustainable material that bridges the gap between green chemistry and waste management for effective industrial wastewater remediation.

Algae for biofuels as an alternative to fossil fuels. Copyright: toa555@AdobeStock

Many industries are located near coastal regions due to the availability of water resources and efficient transportation. These industries use mild steel extensively due to its cost-effectiveness, mechanical properties, and ease of fabrication. However, mild steel faces a significant challenge from corrosion under aggressive industrial conditions (temperature, corrosive ions, pH, humidity, etc.). Hence, it is vital to address the corrosion-related issues to minimize the economic, environmental, and safety impacts. This review outlines the electrochemical processes that lead to corrosion and its effects on industrial systems while emphasizing cost-effective solutions. The review classifies protective coatings into three types: inorganic, organic, and hybrid. It highlights the role of nanocomposites and assesses their performance under various conditions. Additionally, it discusses the importance of surface preparation using a rust conversion agent for effective corrosion resistance. Finally, the review surveys future directions, emphasizing sustainable strategies to combat corrosion and offers valuable insights designed to enhance protection methods in industrial applications.

1-Dodecanol, a medium-chain fatty alcohol containing 12 carbon atoms, has attracted industrial interest due to its widespread applications. However, its traditional production methods, which rely on petrochemical and plant-based sources, may raise concerns related to environmental impact and resource use. As an alternative, microbial cell factories using engineered Escherichia coli have emerged as a promising approach, with the aid of metabolic engineering and synthetic biology. This review explores strategies for engineering E. coli for 1-dodecanol biosynthesis, focusing on modifications of the native fatty acid biosynthetic pathways to direct the flux toward de novo 1-dodecanol production. We present a workflow for modifying the pathways and discuss studies that have implemented engineered E. coli for 1-dodecanol production. The challenges of product toxicity and low yields are also discussed. This review highlights the potential of microbial cell factories for sustainable 1-dodecanol production and outlines opportunities for future optimization and scale-up.

This paper reviews the research progress of the two key technologies of fine chemical continuous process—reaction continuous and post-processing continuous. First, based on laboratory studies, the introduction covers continuous reactor technologies—such as microchannel, tubular, fixed bed, fluidized bed, and stirred tank reactors—and continuous post-processing technologies, including separation, purification, drying, granulation, and particle separation. It also describes the coupling of reaction with separation and the integrated continuous operation of reaction and post-processing. Second, it introduces the application of continuous process technology in the industry. Third, it explores the challenges and future development trends of continuous process technology, providing theoretical support and practical reference for process upgrading of fine chemicals. In future, the fine chemical industry will further advance toward four cutting-edge directions: AI-driven optimization, modular process intensification, hybrid batch-continuous systems, and digital twin technology to promote a comprehensive transformation toward “greener, smarter, and more efficient” operations.