ChemBioEng Reviews最新文献

The hydrogen production from natural gas has advantages of low investment, low carbon emission, and high hydrogen production rate. This paper briefly describes the technical overview of hydrogen production from natural gas reforming and identifies its risk factors. According to the dangerous characteristics of high reaction temperature, easy leakage of reaction medium, flammability, and explosion in the process, the intrinsic safety of the process is discussed in combination with relevant research and industrial experience. The safety requirements of key equipment and materials are introduced in detail, followed by the optimization methods of process safety that can be taken in the engineering process. Besides, the accident prevention measures for emergency shutdown and fire explosion are summarized. Finally, the future research demands are put forward from the perspective of research and development, which is instructive for the safe hydrogen production from natural gas in the future.

Freshwater scarcity and water pollution pose significant global challenges, greatly impacting human well-being. To address these issues, water quality monitoring plays a crucial role as a preventive measure in various water security initiatives worldwide. However, many traditional testing methods suffer from drawbacks such as low accuracy, limited mobility, and high operational costs. Fortunately, the emergence of microfluidic technology offers a promising avenue for the development of highly sensitive, portable, and cost-effective water quality monitoring devices. In this study, a comprehensive review of recent advancements in microfluidic technology for water quality monitoring, water desalination, and water purification is provided. The potential for future developments in this field is highlighted, empowering researchers to create innovative water monitoring kits and optimize existing techniques. By harnessing the capabilities of microfluidics, the accuracy, portability, and affordability of water quality monitoring can be enhanced, ultimately addressing the global water challenges we face.

The olive oil sector generates a high quantity of biomasses every year, especially in the Mediterranean region. Olive pomace is the main one, but depending on the extraction and subsequent processing, other derived biomass by-products are generated like pâté, exhausted olive pomace, olive stone, and residual pulp. Their sustainable valorization is crucial. Therefore, this review first conceptualizes the current situation of the olive oil sector and describes these biomasses from a qualitative and quantitative point of view. Second, information on the bioactive compounds they present, the technologies used for their extraction, and examples of applications for their extracts is provided. Third, since the extraction of bioactive compounds will generate new residual biomasses, this review takes a step forward by integrating the extraction step in biorefinery cascading schemes. It also analyzes the benefits of this integration, the contribution to a circular (bio)economy, and the achievement of sustainable development goals.

Molybdenum sulfide (MoS₂)-based nanocomposites have attracted significant attention for various separation processes due to their ultrathin thickness, high mechanical and chemical strength, and good functionality. Herein, the recent progresses of various fabrication, synthesis, and modification methods for separation membrane-based on MoS₂ nanocomposites are reviewed. Emphasis is given on applications of MoS₂-based membranes in the purification of wastewater, separation of gas mixtures, energy storage separator, and proton-exchange fuel cells (PEFCs). Advantages and drawbacks of this material for separation applications are discussed. Finally, a future roadmap is suggested for this promising nanomaterial in various separation processes.

As climate change and environmental damage in the world are rising, the need for efficient waste management and purification is ever-increasing. At present, the existence of oil in water constitutes a large proportion of this pollution. This oil comes from various sources, including effluents released by industries and oil spills. As such, the removal of oil from marine waters is crucial to combat pollution and preserve the ecology. Bioadsorption has emerged as an efficient method, but the sustainability and eco-friendliness of this method are yet to be seen. This review summarizes the removal of different types of oil from the marine environment using bioadsorption, i.e., adsorption by biological materials. It briefly describes the adsorption mechanism by means of various bioadsorbents with oil. The preparation and performance of different types of bioadsorbents used in industries are discussed, along with some examples of bioadsorbents that can be applied for the removal of various oils from water. Also, an overview of the regeneration of the adsorbent by various methods is given.

The abundant natural resources and rapidly falling prices to generate and store renewable energy create a remarkable opportunity for a new group of manufacturing industries to emerge. These technology pathways use abundant or waste resources to produce green chemicals and fuels like green hydrogen (H₂), green ammonia (NH₃), and green synthetic hydrocarbons (HCs). Integrating chemical processes and renewable energy can complete the carbon loop and bring substantial decarbonization along with economic opportunities around the globe. An evidence-based and industry-focused critical review of technologies to produce green chemicals and fuels from renewable energy is presented. It also discusses the market size and applications for these emerging industries and presents their development status, benefits, and challenges to commercialization. Green hydrogen production from renewable energy turns out to be the initial and key stage for all these technological advancements and is indispensable for their techno-economic viability. Other environmentally friendly feedstocks, such as nitrogen (from the air) and wastes such as CO₂ (from industrial flue gas), can produce green chemicals. Besides environmental benefits, several other benefits of producing green chemicals from renewable energy are identified. These include but are not limited to (i) accelerating the economy for renewable energy and hydrogen generation, (ii) savings in energy, costs, and natural resources, and (iii) creating millions of jobs. A perspective on opportunities to develop the green chemical industry and assist academia, industry, and policymakers is provided.

Gas-particle aero-type cyclones have revolutionized biochemical processes, engineering industries, and environmental pollution protection by effectively separating particles from gas. These devices rely on gravitational energy and centrifugal force to dissipate particle phase energy, but achieving optimal energy efficiency while minimizing pressure drop remains challenging. This has led to the development of various cyclone designs in commercial industries, each with unique energy efficiency characteristics. The intricate gas-particle flow inside cyclones is a critical issue impacted by cyclone geometry, operating conditions, and media parameters. Advanced numerical simulations have been employed to understand this complex flow pattern better, offering researchers valuable insights into the mechanisms of different cyclone separators. This comprehensive review explores the available numerical methods in the literature on cyclones and their corresponding validations. Computational numerical modeling is a promising technique for predicting cyclone energy efficiency, gas-particle behavior, and overall performance. This investigation delves into the progress and numerical forms of gas-particle flow cyclones, examining how different parameters impact cyclone performance and flow patterns within the two-phase flow. The future developments and challenges that may further promote the development of aero-type cyclone separators, providing theory and engineering support for future cyclone designs, are also covered. As a result, it can confidently be reported that aero-type cyclone separators remain a critical component in various industrial sectors, offering energy-efficient solutions for mitigating environmental pollutants and gas-particle separation systems. With continued development and research, these devices will undoubtedly shape the future of energy processes and engineering industries, ushering in a new era of sustainability and efficiency.

Microalgae have emerged as a promising source of renewable energy and natural bioproducts since they show high biomass productivity, offer carbon dioxide fixation, and exhibit a rich content of compounds. Recent efforts have focused on green extraction technologies that utilize green solvents to further promote sustainability and minimize the environmental impact of the microalgal process. At this point, life cycle analysis (LCA) provides valuable insights into the environmental impacts of specific products and techniques. A comprehensive overview of the life cycle environmental and energy assessments conducted for the extraction of metabolites from microalgae is presented. Special attention is given to using green extraction technologies, i.e., supercritical fluid extraction, pressurized liquid extraction, microwave-assisted extraction, ultrasound-assisted extraction, and pulsed-electric field extraction, and solvents to ensure sustainability. Additionally, the main principles, historical development, tools, and challenges of LCA are discussed. By addressing these aspects, the paper attracts attention to the environmental impacts associated with green extraction techniques for obtaining microalgal metabolites.

Atmospheric water harvesting (AWH) is an important parallel or supplemental freshwater production technique to liquid water resource-based technologies due to the availability of moisture resources regardless of location and the possibility of realizing decentralized applications. Recent developments to regulate the characteristic features and nanostructures of moisture-harvesting materials demonstrate new opportunities to improve device efficiency. Focusing on the design of water harvesting materials and the optimization of the overall system, this review sums up the most recent developments in this area and presents prospects for the future development of AWH. An overview of the processes involved in water sorption by various sorbents and the characteristics and functionality of the polyaniline-based hydrogels developed for AWH is given. Newly reported hydrogel sorbents used for AWH are evaluated, focusing on their benefits, drawbacks, and design methodologies. Several AWH-specific water harvesters are described and the impact of the system's mass and heat transfer on its operational effectiveness is explored. Finally, potential roadmaps for the development of this technology are detailed and the challenges in this subject from both a basic research and practical application perspective are discussed.

In recent years, biocatalysts have emerged as crucial tool in organic synthesis, particularly for the production of drug intermediates and precursors, e.g., the synthesis of hydroxamic acids. Traditionally, hydroxamic acids were synthesized using organic chemistry methods. However, with the growing emphasis on sustainable and environment-friendly practices, the chemical industry has increasingly turned towards green synthesis approaches. The significance of hydroxamic acids in medicinal chemistry has also contributed to the changing trends. Following the approval of certain hydroxamic acids as histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors for cancer treatment by the Food and Drug Administration (US-FDA), there has been a renewed focus on their synthesis and the development of derivatives with improved properties. As an alternative route, amidases have emerged as promising biocatalysts for hydroxamic acid synthesis through their acyltransferase activity. Recent advancements in the synthesis approaches for hydroxamic acids are reviewed. The biocatalytic routes are explored, emphasizing the use of amidases and their acyltransferase activity. The scope and potential applications of this chemoenzymatic approach in synthesizing various hydroxamic acids and their derivatives are discussed. Such advancements have the potential to revolutionize the production of these important compounds, making the synthesis process more sustainable, efficient, and economically viable.