Current Opinion in Green and Sustainable Chemistry最新文献

Flow chemistry is having an increasing influence on manufacturing in the chemical industry, but significant barriers remain in the development of these continuous processes. Dynamic flow experiments have the potential to democratize and accelerate process development in a data-rich manner, reducing time and material wastage. Models based on the data gathered can also be leveraged to decrease waste in a manufacturing environment. Here, we summarize the literature reports of dynamic flow experiments (most of which are from the past 5 years), with a focus on experiment design, process analytics, and utilization of the resulting data. Finally, an example of dynamic experiments in pharmaceutical development is discussed in detail. A higher uptake of dynamic experiments in industrial environments in the coming years will undoubtedly facilitate greener manufacturing processes.

This article reviews various synthesis and modification methods employed for valorization of marine-derived wastes into green sorbents, which show promise for mitigating pollutants from diverse sources. This approach is particularly relevant for promoting sustainable development in shellfish processing industry. In-depth discussions cover the physicochemical characteristics of the green sorbents, including surface area and porosity, sorption capacity and surface functionality, and how they affect their reactivity with different pollutants. The prospects and technical challenges associated with regenerating these green sorbents are highlighted and addressed to conclude this state-of-the-art review.

This review explores the thermal conversion of chitin, an abundant and low-cost biomaterial, into value-added chitin-biochar via pyrolysis and activation processes. Chitin-biochar exhibits desirable porosity, surface functionality, and adsorption potential, rendering it suitable for environmental applications as an eco-friendly adsorbent. The review highlights the versatility of chitin-biochar by comparing the insect-derived and crustacean-derived sources, showcasing its adaptability across different biomass feedstocks. Notably, the tailor ability of its physicochemical properties through activation, coupled with adsorption capabilities in water treatment, non-toxic nature, and biodegradability, position it as a promising material for industrial applications and circular economy integration. This review provides insights into production processes, adsorption performance, and sustainability aspects, paving the way for future research and large-scale sustainable implementation of chitin–biochar technology.

The recent energy crisis and the increasing societal awareness of the problems caused by plastic pollution have enhanced the efforts and the funding to develop novel technologies for the synthesis, processing, and recycling of innovative materials. This review article summarizes the most recent advances made on the use of biocatalysis as a sustainable technology for the synthesis and the recycling of nonfuranic aromatic polyesters, a very young and still largely unexplored field that has a great potential to provide alternative solutions to the use of 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid to produce aromatic-aliphatic polyesters.

This perspective analyses last year's trends in green synthesis and sustainable processing routes from the viewpoint of the leading emerging industrial directions and needs. After briefly introducing the future scenario, the aspects discussed regard carbon neutrality and defossilization of the chemical industry, electrification of the processes and introduction of low-carbon H₂ routes. Some elements of artificial leaf and solar-to-X technologies, as well as e-chemistry, are also discussed. Trends, opportunities, and personal concerns regarding some directions are presented. The aim is to give clues to analyse this complex topic rather than offer a state-of-the-art and in-depth discussion of the presented examples.

Water, a fundamental resource for life, faces an increasing threat from heavy-metal pollution driven by population growth, industrialization, and shifting consumption patterns. This review addresses the rising threat of heavy-metal contamination in water resources by examining its causes and awful consequences. By evaluating innovative mitigation strategies the study emphasizes a key role of plant–microbe interactions, nanotechnology-based remediation, and environmental biotechnological approaches such as including real-time monitoring and microbial fuel cells. Insights provided contribute to a universal understanding that is used to pave the way for sustainable solutions to combat heavy-metal pollution and safeguard global water ecosystems.

The combination of plasma with catalysis for the synthesis and decomposition of NH₃ is an attractive route to the production of carbon-neutral fertiliser and energy carriers and its conversion into H₂. Recent years have seen fast developments in the field of plasma-catalytic NH₃ life cycle. This work summarises the most recent advances in plasma-catalytic and related NH₃-focussed processes, identifies some of the most important discoveries, and addresses plausible strategies for future developments in plasma-based NH₃ technology.

With the escalation of global climate change, reducing carbon emissions and achieving carbon neutrality have gradually become significant concerns. Conversion of CO₂ into valuable products is regarded as a viable solution to address these challenges. In comparison to other catalytic approaches, non-thermal plasma (NTP) offers diverse reaction pathways for CO₂ conversion under mild process conditions and can ensure selective production of value-added chemicals and fuels when combined with catalytic materials. However, further research is needed to translate plasma-based technologies to the industrial scale. This article focuses on three crucial characteristics of CO₂ conversion in NTP: energy efficiency, conversion rate, and selectivity. We overview recent research advances, outline challenges for technological innovations, and propose potential directions for future research.

Most studies nowadays focus on the recovery of precious metals in cathode from spent lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), neglecting the recycling of electrolyte and organic matters. The electrolyte and organic matters from spent LIBs can be converted into resources through component separation and regeneration, which brings certain economic benefits. In this review, the domestic and foreign pretreatment technologies of electrolyte from spent LIBs, such as high-temperature pyrolysis, solvent extraction, and supercritical CO₂ extraction, are summarized, and the advantages and disadvantages of different pretreatment technologies are compared. In addition, the research progress of high-value utilization of electrolytes, separators, and binders are reviewed, and the development directions of the recycling process of electrolyte and organic matters are prospected.

The increasing emission of electronic waste (e-waste) accelerates the depletion of natural metal resources and raises growing concerns for human health and environmental sustainability. Herein, the valuable metal recovery driven by the development of a circular economy has increasingly become a focal point in research. Recovering metals from e-waste can rationally allocate resources and significantly alleviate environmental issues; however, it remains challenging. Deep eutectic solvents (DESs) provide an ideal alternative for these separation and recovery processes due to their green properties. This article reviews recent advances in the recovery of metals from e-waste using DESs, encompassing spent battery materials, printed circuit boards, lamp phosphor waste, and end-of-life permanent magnets. Recovery approaches involving redox/coordination leaching, solvent extraction, precipitation, and electrodeposition are discussed within the framework of DESs' unique solvent characteristics, eco-design principles, and technology features. Finally, challenges facing this emerging recovery technology are outlined while future prospects are also envisioned.