RSC sustainability最新文献

We described the first synthesis of biobased ethyl and methyl formates. The synthetic strategy is based on the transesterification of natural geranyl and citronellyl formates derived from Pelargonium species essential oils with ethanol or methanol, promoted by an ecocatalyst^®. Good yields (up to 80%) were obtained with an excellent selectivity.

Microplastics (MPs) in wastewater are a growing environmental issue that needs effective solutions. This review examines the use of nanocellulose and biopolymers as sustainable options for removing these pollutants from water. Nanocellulose (NC) is efficient due to its large surface area and biodegradable nature, achieving up to 98% removal of microplastics through various processes, including adsorption and filtration. Similarly, biopolymers like polysaccharides, lignin, and pectin can remove up to 99% of particles by clumping and settling them out. However, some microplastics are not easily removed by these materials on their own. Combining different materials, such as cellulose and chitosan, can enhance removal efficiency to about 75%. Integrating these solutions into existing wastewater treatment plants could help reduce microplastics and save costs; however, it is essential to ensure compatibility with current systems and establish appropriate regulations. The review also highlights the need for future research to support the widespread use of these methods in water treatment.

This investigation assesses electrochromic windows as a novel green alternative to traditional double-pane windows through a life cycle assessment, which analyzes and compares both types of windows. The life cycle assessment was conducted using the impact categories of TRACI 2.1 in the SimaPro 9.1 application, with ecoinvent, and 1 m² of each window type as the functional unit for the comparisons. The manufacturing of EC windows yielded a total CO₂ generation of 49.6 kg CO₂, and the manufacturing of double-pane windows resulted in 76.05 kg CO₂. In the manufacturing of electrochromic glass windows, the float glass production process contributed 9.79 kg of CO₂ at that stage of fabrication. From the sensitivity analysis, it was determined that using 10% less electricity during electrochromic window production can lower carbon emissions for electrochromic windows by 1.51 kg CO₂. These life cycle assessment impact results were later used for advanced AI-predictive modeling using Python's scientific ecosystem, including PyTorch for neural network implementation, scikit-learn for data preprocessing and metric calculation, and custom-built hierarchical architectures to develop both Artificial Neural Network and Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System models. Considering that 200 m² of double-pane windows were replaced by electrochromic windows, the embodied impact of electrochromic window production would be offset by the operational impact of 30.1 t CO₂ in 10.5 months. Since the lifespans of both window types are similar, electrochromic windows are promising green alternatives to double-pane windows.

This report provides a brief synopsis of the inaugural International Conference on Sustainable Chemistry for Net Zero (ICSC-NZ), held at the University of St Andrews in June 2025.

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Green synthesis of efficient photocatalysts using agricultural waste is a promising approach toward sustainable wastewater treatment. In this work, magnetite (Fe₃O₄) and jarosite (KFe₃(SO₄)₂(OH)₆) nanoparticles were synthesized using banana peel extract as a natural reducing/stabilizing agent and potassium source under microwave-assisted conditions. The structural, optical, and magnetic properties of the nanoparticles were systematically characterized. Photocatalytic performance was evaluated for Rhodamine B (RhB) degradation under simulated sunlight irradiation, and reaction kinetics were analyzed using pseudo-first-order models. Jarosite exhibited a rate constant (k) of 0.0198 min⁻¹, approximately double that of magnetite (k = 0.0098 min⁻¹), achieving >99% RhB removal within 30 minutes. Mechanistic studies, including scavenger tests and photoluminescence analysis, confirmed the dominant role of ˙OH radicals and efficient charge separation in jarosite. The catalyst retained >94% activity over five cycles, and total organic carbon (TOC) removal reached 92%, indicating effective mineralization. This study demonstrates a low-cost, scalable, and environmentally friendly route for synthesizing iron-based photocatalysts, aligning with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for clean water and responsible consumption.

Recovering cathode-active materials (CAMs) from end-of-life lithium-ion batteries without added heat or chemicals is pivotal for low-impact, closed-loop manufacturing. We show that circuit capacitance dictates whether a single electrical pulse yields clean, solvent-free delamination or destructive pulverization. Commercial Li(Ni₀.₃₃Mn₀.₃₃Co₀.₃₃)O₂ coated on aluminum foil was exposed to 375–475 J discharges from 6.4 μF (low-C) and 400 μF (high-C) capacitor banks. The low-C circuit squeezed the stored energy into sub-200 μs current spikes (≈15 kA) that heated the CAM/Al interface from ambient to ≈500 K within 100 μs, generating transient stresses of tens of MPa before the foil was severed. A 425 J pulse cleanly lifted the entire coating (99.9 wt% CAMs), leaving only 0.3 wt% residual aluminum, and X-ray diffraction confirmed that the layered oxide structure remained intact. Conversely, the high-C circuit stretched the same energy over > 500 μs, diverting the current into the plasma and fragmenting both the foil and coating. The delamination plateaued near 90 wt%, and at 475 J, aluminum contamination surged nine-fold. One-dimensional transient heat-rise analysis corroborated that temporal energy concentration—enabled by low capacitance—triggers the instantaneous interfacial heating required for clean separation, whereas energy dispersion channels power into fragmentation. This heat- and solvent-free pre-treatment supplies battery-grade layered oxides ready for direct cathode recycling, eliminating the furnaces, acids, and wastewater typical of pyro- or hydrometallurgical routes.

An efficient two-phase leaching system using a hydrophobic deep eutectic solvent (DES) composed of 2 mol of 4,4,4-trifluoro-1-(2-thienyl)-1,3-butanedione and 1 mol of tri-n-octylphosphine oxide, with H₂O₂ as the aqueous phase, was developed for the selective recovery of Li, Co, Ni, and Mn from spent lithium-ion batteries. Under optimized conditions (80 °C, 30 min, 500 rpm, 10 mg per mL black mass loading, DES-to-aqueous ratio 1 : 1, and 5 M H₂O₂ as the aqueous phase), the two-phase leaching system achieved leaching efficiencies of 98% for Li, 94% for Co, 94% for Ni, 98% for Mn, with 73% Cu, 54% Al, and 76% Fe in the DES phase and minor amounts of Cu and Al in the aqueous phase, demonstrating pronounced phase-selective partitioning in a single-step process. The equilibrium pH (pH_eq) of the aqueous solution controlled the metal transfer behavior from the DES to the aqueous phase: Li was fully stripped at pH_eq ≤ 4, while Co, Ni, and Mn migrated to the aqueous phase at pH_eq < 2. Furthermore, the DES exhibited stable performance over three successive cycles without regeneration or stripping, confirming its recyclability and operational robustness.

Biomass presents a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels; however, it faces limitations such as high moisture content, low bulk density, and poor grindability. This study investigates the pyrolysis of waste orange peels to produce pyro-char, pyro-oil, and pyro-gas, a process that has been rarely reported in the literature. The effects of pyrolysis temperature, feedstock mass, and heating rate on the yield of these pyro-products were systematically investigated. The biomass was characterized using proximate analysis and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), while the pyro-products were analyzed for their higher heating value (HHV), lower heating value (LHV), morphology and elemental composition via scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX), and chemical composition using gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Critical parameters influencing the pyrolysis outcomes were identified: feedstock mass (1–3 kg), temperature (573–1173 K), and heating rate (10–30 K min⁻¹). Under optimal conditions of 2 kg feedstock mass, 873 K temperature, and a heating rate of 20 K min⁻¹, the theoretical yields were 26.52 wt% pyro-char, 22.76 wt% pyro-oil, and 50.72 wt% pyro-gas, with an overall process desirability of approximately 0.7. Experimental yields showed slight deviations, resulting in 28.12 wt% pyro-char, 22.89 wt% pyro-oil, and 48.99 wt% pyro-gas, all within a ±5.7% margin of the theoretical values. The estimated payback period for the initial investment is 1.3 years at a 10% discount rate, which is considerably shorter than the previously reported 6-year period for pyro-gas and pyro-oil production. Scale-up to larger plants is expected to further reduce this duration. This study bridges the gap in comprehensive techno-economic analyses of industrial-scale waste orange peel pyrolysis by producing pyro-char, pyro-oil, and pyro-gas, a three-product yield not previously reported. It offers a sustainable approach to valorizing orange peel waste into high-value products, aligning with Industry 5.0 principles and the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.

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