ChemBioEng Reviews最新文献

Biomass resources are abundant and have huge production capacity. Reasonably and efficiently converting biomass can not only alleviate the depletion of fossil resources but also protect the environment and promote the green and sustainable development of human society. Microwave is one of the currently highly regarded process intensification technologies. This paper reviews the research progress of microwave technology in biomass pyrolysis, biomass pretreatment, and biomass conversion, and analyzes its technical characteristics. Finally, it summarizes and prospects the application of microwave in the field of biomass conversion.

The iron and steel industry is a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, responsible for about 7–9 % of the total emissions. This paper examines sustainable production methods in the iron and steel industry, focusing on decarbonization strategies and energy integration. It covers a wide range of alternative reductants to replace the conventional use of coal. Moreover, the paper highlights the challenges and opportunities associated with each approach. Additionally, it discusses the design modifications for coal-based sponge iron plants, aiming to reduce coal consumption and waste gas generation while ensuring economic viability. This study provides a roadmap for transitioning to environmentally friendly, technically feasible, and economically viable iron and steel manufacturing processes.

The fast spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria has prompted scientists to investigate alternate techniques to tackle infectious illnesses. Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have appeared as a favorable route for creating novel antibacterial agents in this area. This article seeks to provide a concise review of MOFs as a prospective candidate in the fight against bacterial contamination and the mechanism involved in disinfection. The structural features of MOFs that contribute to their antibacterial activity are reviewed. Also, it comparatively analyzes the various commonly used MOFs in antibacterial applications in facemasks and discusses the challenges and future recommendations to increase the efficiency of the antibacterial activity. It also briefs down the mechanism, commonly available MOFs and the scope of the MOFs in antibacterial applications.

Effective biobased thermally insulating materials are crucial to addressing the escalating concerns surrounding climate change and plastic waste. Numerous experimental biobased foams have demonstrated properties that are either equal to or superior to those of traditional foams employed in the construction sector. The comprehensive review titled “Recent Advances in Biobased Foams and Foam Composites for Construction Applications” by DSouza et al. (DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/cben.202300014) specifically focuses on the fabrication methods, advancements, and future prospects of biobased polyurethanes (BPU), biobased phenol formaldehyde (BPF), and cellulose nanofibers (CNF) foams for application in residential construction. To be a suitable material for construction, a biobased foam must be an excellent thermal insulator (possessing low thermal conductivity), a fire retardant (with high limiting oxygen index) and possess remarkable mechanical properties. The cover image thus depicts forest waste-based foams that meet the design criteria for construction applications. [Credits: Riddhi Gadre for the initial design and InMyWork Studio team for the final design]

Biobased Foams for Construction Applications. Copyright: Glen Cletus DSouza, Harrison Ng, Paul Charpentier, Chunbao Charles Xu

The leaching of pharmaceutical ingredients into water bodies poses an escalating threat, demanding urgent remediation strategies. Among several techniques advanced for their remediation, advanced oxidation methods utilizing persulfate (PS) and peroxymonosulfate (PMS) stand out as promising avenues for pharmaceutical degradation in wastewater. This article consolidates the research on photocatalytic degradation of pharmaceutical contaminants, focusing on PMS-based photoactive composites, and elucidates their efficacy in removing active pharmaceutical ingredients from water. Moreover, it delineates alternative techniques for activating PS and PMS, providing a holistic understanding of the field's advancements. By outlining research limitations and knowledge gaps, this review underscores the imperative for further investigation and innovation in pharmaceutical wastewater treatment.

Multidrug resistance (MDR) remains a formidable challenge in cancer treatment, necessitating innovative strategies to enhance therapeutic outcomes. This review explores the potential of a synergistic gold nanorod (GNR) therapy (SGNRT) utilizing GNRs as multifunctional platforms for co-delivering chemotherapy and thermal therapies. The rational design of SGNRT systems enables targeted payload delivery, circumvention of Adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-binding cassette drug efflux transporters, and hyperthermia-induced chemo sensitization. In vitro studies demonstrate the synergistic impact of SGNRT in overcoming MDR, emphasizing its potential for enhanced antitumor efficacy. However, further in vivo investigations are essential to assess the clinical viability of this nanoparticle (NP)-directed approach against advanced multidrug-resistant malignancies. The integration of SGNRT holds promise for advancing precision cancer therapies and addressing the intricate challenges of drug resistance in clinical settings.

Generally, thermal inputs dominate the food processing industry for food preservation. Pulsed electric field (PEF) is one of the most promising nonthermal microorganism-killing techniques. The most important factors in PEF processing are electric field strength and treatment duration. At the laboratory level, encouraging results are reported; however, industrialization raises the cost of the command charging power supply and the high-speed electrical switch. In this review, the results of previous experimental studies on PEFs and proposed future research directions in this field are discussed. There is currently no successful PEF processing system for industrial applications. Those who wish to promote the industrial application of the PEF processing system face a significant barrier in the form of the system's high initial cost of installation. Innovative developments in high-voltage pulse technology will reduce the cost of pulse generation and make PEF processing competitive with thermal processing methods.

Efforts from the scientific community and the private sector are required to lower the costs of large-scale production of nanomaterials (NMs) to enhance their commercialization. In this work, the computer-aided process design of large-scale NM synthesis procedures is comprehensively reviewed. Moreover, a generalized process flow diagram for all large-scale production processes was constructed by surveying numerous scalable experimental procedures reported in the literature. Previous studies reporting simulation cases of large-scale production processes of NMs and nanocomposites (NCs) are also reviewed based on the type of material produced, e.g., oxides, sulfides, carbonaceous materials, organic materials, metals, and other types of NMs. Finally, technical insights from classical chemical engineering specializations, such as altering process configurations, optimizing process variables, integrating chemical processes, utilizing renewable energy sources, conducting computational calculations, employing machine learning techniques, and studying the process's environmental impact, are reviewed for large-scale NMs and NCs synthesis.