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Non-enzymatic electrochemical blood glucose sensors often suffer from issues such as requiring an alkaline environment, limited monitoring range, and poor anti-interference properties. Carbon substrates have been demonstrated to improve the performance of non-enzymatic sensors, but complex and energy-consuming manufacturing processes restrict their use. Herein, a simple and green approach for the preparation of 3D porous Au/Au-Pt networks (PAAPNs) is proposed using tissue paper for recycling as the nanomaterial substrate to deposit Au-Pt bimetallic nanoparticles. The unique structure of the PAAPNs sensor allows for low-potential operation (-1.0 V) with a wide monitoring range (-0.25 to 36 mM) in a neutral environment. Moreover, the sensor exhibited excellent selectivity (<10% response of interference) even without the use of an anti-interference outer membrane. Further investigation using density functional theory (DFT) simulation revealed the synergistic effect between Au and Pt in promoting glucose oxidation. Overall, this work provides a simple and low-carbon footprint method for creating carbon substrates from tissue paper for recycling, offering new opportunities for fabricating novel value-added nanomaterials for medical sensing applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Petroleum-based plastics are useful, but they pose a huge threat to the environment and human health. The development of sustainable cellulose paper materials with excellent mechanical and water-resistance properties to replace plastics is highly desirable but also challenging. Herein, we report a new kind of rosin-based modifier synthesized from fully hydrogenated rosin and (3-glycidoxypropyl)triethoxysilane, which can covalently bind with cellulose fiber networks to improve the hydrophobicity and weaken the capillarity of cellulose paper. The rosin-grafted cellulose composite paper shows a unique combination of water resistance (water absorption of 19.2% and 37.9% in 25 and 90 °C water, respectively) and high strength (tensile strength of 47.9 MPa and Young's modulus of 2.32 GPa). Moreover, the rosin-grafted cellulose composite paper can be completely degraded when buried in soil for up to 100 days, and it can be recycled when treated with an alkali. These impressive performances make rosin-grafted cellulose composite paper a promising eco-friendly alternative material to replace plastics in straws, boxes, cups, bags and so on. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Waterproof coating is necessary for paper-based packaging materials, especially as a plastic substitute in single-use applications. Currently, most paper-based packaging employs hazardous fluorocarbon coatings or other petroleum-based additives, which has caused a lot of concerns over safety. Herein, a novel edible waterproof coating was fabricated by a beeswax-in-water Pickering emulsion using hemicellulose-grafted-lauric acid (H-LA) micelles as nano-stabilizers. The fully biomass-based waterproof coating agent presented a uniform and stable water dispersion with a droplet size of around 1 μm. And compared with conventional surfactants, H-LA micelles stabilized at the oil–water interfaces and formed Pickering emulsions with enhanced stability. The Pickering emulsion was then applied as a coating of paper. The coated paper exhibited excellent water-resistance with a water contact angle of 130 ± 2.89° and an effective waterproof time of up to 6 h. The coated paper also showed good moisture barrier properties; the water vapor transmission rate was lower than 5.05 g mm m−2 day−1. Moreover, the waterproof coating was non-toxic, environmentally friendly and biocompatible, and could completely biodegrade in soil within 2 months. This work may provide an alternative solution for safe, cost-effective and sustainable paper-based packaging materials to replace traditional disposable plastics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polymers and surfactants are used in many technological and industrial applications such as the manufacture of functional materials and coatings, personal care and pharmaceutical products, food science, paints, anti-icing fluids, tertiary oil recovery and the paper industry. Polymer–surfactant mixtures are particularly important in shampoos and conditioners. However, as in almost every other industry over the past five or more decades, the performance of hair care formulations has been significantly improved by the use of petrochemical-derived ingredients. As a result, cosmetic formulations, and hair care formulations in particular, have been based primarily on polymers and surfactants that are neither renewable, nor derived from environmentally friendly processes, nor have a positive environmental impact. This contrasts with the extensive use of natural and renewable products, mainly plant extracts, in cosmetics in ancient times. Therefore, the substitution of currently used ingredients with others of natural origin has been a top priority for the cosmetic industry over the last two decades, and in order to achieve greater consumer acceptance, it is crucial to maintain and, where possible, improve the technical performance of such products. This paper describes the complexities and challenges of developing greener shampoo and conditioner ingredients and formulations to meet current and future needs, and outlines a methodological approach based on model hair surfaces and a selection of appropriate experimental and numerical techniques to achieve our goals. Some encouraging technical routes using biosurfactants, biopolymers and bio-based polymers are presented, along with the significant opportunity to obtain a wide range of green ingredients through molecular design and well-controlled biotechnological processes. Similar concerns apply to other cosmetic products such as waxes, fragrances, bleaching agents, etc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The document is a contents list for the journal "Green Chemistry," published by the Royal Society of Chemistry. It highlights various articles and research papers related to sustainable chemistry and green technologies. Topics covered include chemical recycling of polyester textile wastes, carbon-based catalytic materials, solvent effects on carbohydrate transformation, and the future nickel metal supply for lithium-ion batteries. The journal aims to connect the global chemistry community and promote research in all areas of chemistry. This document is a list of papers published in the journal Green Chemistry. The papers cover a range of topics related to sustainable and environmentally friendly chemistry. Some of the topics include the synthesis of diisocyanates, development of organic solvent nanofiltration membranes, preparation of fluorescent nanomaterials, and liquid mining of lithium. The papers provide valuable research for library patrons interested in these specific areas of study. [Extracted from the article]

The document is a contents list for the journal "Green Chemistry," published by The Royal Society of Chemistry. It highlights the articles and research papers included in the issue, covering topics such as waste valorization, plasticizers, noble metal recovery, bio-upcycling, CO2 reduction, and seaweed-based polysaccharides. The journal aims to promote cutting-edge research for a greener and more sustainable future. The papers in this compilation cover a range of topics related to sustainable and environmentally friendly chemistry, providing insights into innovative and greener approaches to chemical processes. [Extracted from the article]

This review article provides a thorough overview of barrier coating materials that have been used in food packaging with a focus on biodegradable (bio-based or petroleum-based) materials, such as lipids, proteins, polysaccharides, agriculture waste and polyesters. The goal is to provide an opportunity to acknowledge progress made in this field, focusing on modifications made to coatings. These modifications aim to address the shortcomings of biodegradable substrates (either plastic or paper) and improve their performance, enabling them to compete with traditional petroleum-based food packaging materials. This includes their barrier against water vapor and oxygen, mechanical and surface characteristics (sealability and adhesion), as well as antimicrobial properties. The barrier of most biodegradable polymers underperforms in comparison with petroleum-based non-biodegradable polymers, which possess either high water vapor barrier or high oxygen barrier. Coating technology is a promising solution particularly in barrier improvement of biodegradable polymers. Currently, there are only metallized, or inorganic nanosheet coatings available for biodegradable films that meet food packaging requirements. There are some challenges in this field, for example, being able to retain the coating's biodegradability despite applied modifications to improve it's performance, the large-scale fabrication of biodegradable coatings, the coating's delamination and heat-sealability during service time, and the migration of the coating into the packaged food. Moreover, green chemistry and its sustainability needs in biodegradable polymeric coatings are also discussed regarding new ideas and possible directions for widespread application of coatings in food packaging. This is the first review that specifically summarizes biodegradable coatings on plastic and paper substrates with a focus on coating modifications to improve the performance of the base substrate to meet the required properties for food packaging applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A single-step protocol was developed for the hydrolytic hydrogenation of microcrystalline cellulose into sorbitol over commercial carbon-supported Ru, in the presence of gaseous CO2 as an acid source and molecular hydrogen as a reductant. Under these conditions, cellulose was first hydrolysed to glucose by reversibly formed carbonic acid in water and then instantaneously hydrogenated on Ru/C. By tuning the reaction parameters, such as temperature, time and the relative pressure of CO2 and hydrogen gas, cellulose was fully converted at 220 °C in 18 h under 30 and 40 bar of H2 and CO2, respectively, with a sorbitol yield of 81%. Blank experiments revealed that without a catalyst and hydrogen, the reaction exhibited <5% conversion and glucose was the only detected product when the reaction was performed under CO2 pressure. XRD measurements on CO2-treated cellulose surprisingly revealed no noticeable changes in the crystallinity index (<10% with respect to microcrystalline cellulose), suggesting that hydrolytic hydrogenation took place on crystalline, not amorphous, cellulose. Furthermore, not only several cellulosic feedstocks, including filter paper, cotton wool, and cotton fiber, but also typical cellulose-based wastes such as a cardboard pizza box were also tested and under the optimized conditions sorbitol was obtained with yields ranging from 56% up to 72% in all cases. No less significant was the Ru/C catalyst stability, which could be recycled at least six times without any noticeable activity loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The document is a contents list for the journal "Green Chemistry," published by the Royal Society of Chemistry. It features cutting-edge research on sustainable chemistry and a greener future. The contents list includes articles on topics such as electrosynthesis, sustainable chemical synthesis, corrosion science, lignin modification, and more. The journal aims to connect the world with the chemical sciences and invest profits back into the chemistry community. This document is a list of papers published in the journal Green Chemistry. The papers cover a range of topics related to sustainable and environmentally friendly chemistry. Some of the topics include the efficient fractionation of hemicellulose from hardwood pulp, the synthesis of fructose-based surfactants, and the electrochemical synthesis of formaldehyde. The papers provide valuable research for library patrons interested in these specific areas of study. [Extracted from the article]

This document is a contents list for the journal "Green Chemistry," published by the Royal Society of Chemistry. It features research papers on various topics related to sustainable chemistry, including photocatalytic upgrading of hydroxymethylfurfural, lignin extraction and nanodispersion, selenium-doped carbon materials, and the valorization of bio-renewable glycerol. The journal also includes tutorial reviews on topics such as Pickering emulsion-derived nano/microreactors and the iron ligand-to-metal charge transfer chemistry in water. Additionally, there are perspective papers, communications, and other research papers covering a range of subjects in green chemistry. The papers provide valuable insights into the development of greener and more sustainable chemical processes. [Extracted from the article]

The electrocatalytic hydrogenation of aromatic rings in benzoic acid derivatives has arisen as a notionally engaging substitute for thermal catalysis under mild conditions. However, the utilization of organic solvents and low faradaic efficiency are incompatible with the principles of green chemistry and energy conservation. Herein, bimetallic PtRu supported on carbon paper developed by co-electrodeposition with optimized atomic ratios maintains an inspiring high conversion of 92.9%, high selectivity of 100% and a high faradaic efficiency of 62.2% for the hydrogenation of benzoic acid to cyclohexanecarboxylic acid in an acidic aqueous electrolyte without external H2, which is the best result to date. The optimized electrocatalyst also exhibits outstanding stability and universality for the electrocatalytic hydrogenation of benzoic acid derivatives. In situ Raman results and theoretical calculations prove that the synergistic effect generated by Ru modifying the electronic structure of Pt simultaneously enhances the capture of benzoic acid molecules and interfacial active hydrogen species and lowers the reaction energy barrier. After adsorbing benzoic acid, more accumulation of electrons around the Ru atom reduces the electron density of phenyl, thereby activating the reaction. Meanwhile, the uniform alloy nanoclusters anchored to the carbon paper surface ensure highly efficient electronic transmission and high dispersion of active components, reducing excessive agglomeration. A proton-exchange membrane reactor is also used to certify the potential of the electrocatalytic hydrogenation of benzoic acid derivatives for large-scale application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wood bark is a structurally complex by-product of the pulp and paper industry, which focuses primarily on the valorization of structurally more regular wood xylem components. The aim of this study was the elucidation of the less valorised willow wood counterparts (whole bark, inner bark, sclerenchyma bundles, and parenchymatous tissues) by NMR spectroscopic techniques. This allowed a better understanding of the structural features of macromolecular components of bark (i.e. pectin, hemicellulose, and lignin), thus providing a base for a more rational design of the customized biochemical processes prior to chemical processing of bark. This crucial knowledge contributed to the creation of a protocol/decision tool to select tailored enzymes (discarding the slightest substrate binding) for the biological pre-treatment of bark to a state suitable for chemical pulping. Such a protocol/decision-making tool would significantly improve the efficiency of enzyme selection by 60–70% due to the specific catalytic activity of the enzymes involved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reusing spent anodes is a pivotal step for recycling lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). However, it proves challenging to completely eliminate Cu impurities from spent graphite (SG), which hinders the effective recycling of spent anodes. In this paper, a straightforward air oxidation method is proposed to directly upgrade spent anodes into stable CuO/C anodes by harnessing the inherent Cu impurities in spent anodes. The air oxidation process not only repairs the SG to some extent but also generates uniformly dispersed CuO nanoparticles, which chemically bind with the repaired graphite (RG) through Cu–O–C bonds. The specific discharge capacity of the CuO/RG anode can reach as high as 647 mA h g−1 even after 500 cycles (at 372 mA g−1 ). In addition, this program is found to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions by ∼80% compared to previously reported CuO/C production programs. Clearly, this approach provides a new direction for large-scale recycling of spent LIBs and low-cost production of high-performance CuO/C anodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports an innovative work on the green production of furfural using a covalent organic framework (COF), thereby expanding the range of catalysts in the furfural manufacturing industry and achieving efficient production of furfural from sustainable biomass-derived sugars. The research results will provide a theoretical basis for the green and sustainable production of furfural. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, poly(ionic liquid)s (PILs) have emerged as a family of polymeric materials which are being increasingly investigated for interdisciplinary applications. Their high electrical conductivity, excellent thermal/mechanical stability, low vapor pressure, and easy processibility render PILs exceptionally attractive as versatile platforms for green chemistry. Recent decades have witnessed fruitful efforts devoted to the development of PIL-based green chemistry platforms, achieving significant discoveries that will unfold their uniqueness in catalysis, separation, sensors, electrolyte, and functional materials. However, few review papers offer comprehensive discussion on PILs' application in the green chemistry field. In this review, we initially introduce the structure and types of PILs, which is followed by a systematical summary of the synthesis of PILs in terms of direct polymerization of monomer, polymerization after monomer modification, and modification of polymers. Furthermore, several aspects of the application of PILs related to green chemistry are highlighted, such as sensors, separation, catalysis, electrolytes for energy storage devices, and as versatile precursors yielding functional materials. Current challenges and corresponding research directions in PILs for green chemistry are clarified, to make PILs truly green platforms for existing technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fungi are a diverse group of organisms that play an essential role in the biosphere. They have a unique ability to produce a vast array of secondary metabolites, including enzymes that have important applications in various industries. Fungal enzymes have been utilized in many fields, such as food processing, textile, paper, and pulp industries, to name a few. In recent years, there has been growing interest in the use of fungal enzymes in the synthesis of pharmaceutical compounds due to their scalability, high catalytic activity, relatively low cost, and ability to catalyze a wide range of chemical reactions under mild reaction conditions making the overall process greener and sustainable. Fungi produce a variety of enzymes such as oxidoreductases, transferases, and hydrolases which can be used in the synthesis of specific compounds with required chemo-, regio-, and stereoselectivity. This paper discusses the role of fungal enzymes in the synthesis of various drugs, active pharmaceutical ingredients (API), and drug intermediates and their applications in the pharmaceutical industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The coatings industry is aiming to replace petrochemical-based binders in products such as paints and lacquers with bio-based alternatives. Native polysaccharide additives are already used, especially as adhesives, and here we show the use of oxidised dextran as a bio-based binder additive. Linear dextran with a molecular weight of 6 kDa was aerobically oxidised in water at the C3-position of its glucose units, catalysed by [(neocuproine)PdOAc]2(OTf)2. The resulting keto-dextran with different oxidation degrees was studied using adipic dihydrazide as a crosslinker in combination with the commercial petrochemicalbased binder Joncryl®. Coating experiments show that part of the Joncryl® can be replaced by ketodextran while maintaining the desired performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glycidyl-based chain extenders are broadly used as processing aids to enhance the physical properties of polyesters, but glycidyl-containing compounds have severe toxicity concerns. Reported herein are glycidyl-free chain extenders produced via the grafting of 9-(oxiran-2-yl)nonyl methacrylate (EAT) and 8-(3-octyloxiran-2-yl)octyl methacrylate (EAI) on biodegradable poly(e-caprolactone) (PCL). EAI and EAT were grafted onto PCL via free radical grafting using melt extrusion to produce PCL-epoxy-grafted PCL-g-EAI and PCL-g-EAT. The obtained PCL-g-EAI and PCL-g-EAT were characterized by 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, intrinsic viscosity measurements, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and size exclusion chromatography (SEC). Using reactive melt extrusion, PCL-g-EAI and PCL-g-EAT were tested as potential chain extenders for poly(lactic acid) (PLA). PCL-g-EAI showed comparable or better mechanical properties than those of the commercial chain extender Joncryl ADR. A cytotoxicity assay has been conducted on PLA samples with the new chain extender and showed the absence of cytotoxicity in all samples. The outcomes reported in this paper offer new opportunities for the development of safer chain extenders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study shows a functional deep eutectic solvent (DES) employing choline chloride (ChCl) and glyoxylic acid (GA) for lignocellulose fractionation. This DES exhibited a higher pretreatment efficiency (92.15%) than that composed of ChCl and lactic acid (10.36%). Molecular dynamic (MD) simulations indicated that the ChCl : GA DES showed a higher total binding energy (ΔE) with lignin than the ChCl : LA DES, resulting in a higher dissolution of lignin. GA prevented lignin condensation during pretreatment. The stabilized lignin containing 69.39% β-O-4 linkages can be used for phenolic monomer production with a bio-oil yield of 59.60% and lignin-based sunscreen preparation with a SPF of 58.46. The cellulose residues with a mild pretreatment severity exhibited a high enzymatic saccharification yield of 91.99%. Meanwhile, an esterification reaction occurred between cellulose and GA during pretreatment. The inhibition of enzymatic hydrolysis and microbial growth enables the use of functional cellulose to produce antibacterial paper. Furthermore, 96.80% of the DES could be easily recycled and reused for biorefinery purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The document is a contents list for the journal "Green Chemistry," published by The Royal Society of Chemistry. It features a range of articles on topics related to sustainable chemistry, including reviews on hydrogenation of amides, manganese oxide-based catalysts, and the design of depolymerizable polymers. The journal also includes tutorial reviews on topics such as electroreductive upgradation of biomass and green synthesis of hypercrosslinked polymers. Additionally, there are perspective articles and communications on various research topics in the field of green chemistry. The papers cover a range of topics related to environmentally friendly and sustainable chemical processes, providing insights into the development of greener and more efficient chemical processes. [Extracted from the article]

2-Aminomethylpiperidine is an important organic compound, which is the basic raw material for the synthesis of flecainide acetate. In this paper, a new method for synthesizing 2-aminomethylpiperidine by selective hydrogenolysis of bio-renewable 2,5-bis(aminomethyl)furan was developed. The catalytic performance of Pt catalysts supported on different carriers (including γ-Al2O3, ZrO2, TiO2, H-ZSM-5) and several commercial hydrogenation catalysts was studied. It was found that the Pt/γ-Al2O3 catalyst showed the best performance. The effects of the preparation method, reduction temperature and reaction parameters on the catalytic performance of the Pt/γ-Al2O3 catalyst were studied. The results show that good Pt dispersion and more acidic sites favor the reactivity and selectivity of hydrogenolysis. The large size of Pt particles facilitates BAMF hydrogenation. The yield of 2-aminomethylpiperidine reached 72.0% at 140 °C and 1 MPa H2 in aqueous solution using direct hydrogen at 350 °C to reduce 2 wt% Pt/γ-Al2O3 catalyst. In addition, the reaction pathways of selective hydrogenolysis of 2,5-bis(aminomethyl)furan to 2-aminomethylpiperidine were proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the increasing use and the consequent retirement of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), there has been an upsurge in spent LIBs, posing significant challenges to energy, resources, and the environment, which has led to the necessity to recycle spent LIBs. For the recovery of valuable components in cathode materials, traditional hydrometallurgical and pyrometallurgical methods are not conducive to the sustainable development of the environment, making it crucial to explore lithium-ion battery (LIB) recovery technologies beyond traditional methods. This paper focuses on introducing intensification technologies that are beyond the traditional methods, including external field intensification technologies (in the fields of acoustics, optics, electricity, and magnetism), novel solvent-based intensification technologies, direct recovery technologies, and potential development technologies. From the perspective of process intensification, the process flow, principle, effect, and scope of application of various recovery technologies are systematically summarized. Furthermore, the advantages of these advanced recovery methods and the current challenges faced by them are discussed to propose the potential research direction of the recovery technology of lithium-ion battery cathode materials, which is of significant importance for the sustainable development of the global new energy industry, the maintenance of ecological balance, and the circular utilization of mineral resources, such as lithium, nickel, and cobalt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing green analytical approaches has become a crucial trend in green chemistry. These approaches encourage direct analysis to avoid any sample treatment that involves energy and reagent consumption or the generation of waste. In this study, a green sensitive analytical workflow was developed for the direct analysis of anionic compounds via a charge inversion strategy using matrix-assisted ionization and a miniature mass spectrometer. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which are a representative category of emerging pollutants, were selected as model analytes for method development. An imidazolium-based germinal dicationic ionic liquid (DIL), 1,1-bis(3-methylimidazolium-1-yl) butylene difluoride ([C4(MIM)2]F2), was chosen as a charge donor to form positively charged complexes with the PFAS for mass spectrometry (MS) analysis. Without any sample treatment, 1 μL of sample was loaded on a paper strip, followed by the addition of a mixture of 3-nitrobenzonitrile and [C4(MIM)2]F2. The adduct complexes were analyzed using a miniature mass spectrometer with tandem MS capability. The signal intensity was enhanced by up to two orders of magnitude in positive ion mode compared to negative ion mode without a DIL. The developed protocol was validated and satisfactory sensitivity was obtained, with limits of detection and quantitation ranging from 5 to 10 μg L−1. Recoveries ranging from 86.6% to 106.3% were achieved, with relative standard deviations between 3.5% and 9.3%. As indicated by three typical green analytical chemistry metric tools, this analytical procedure had a high degree of greenness. The developed protocol was applied to the analysis of real environmental and municipal water samples, demonstrating good potential for the rapid on-site analysis of anionic compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The predominant adhesives currently utilized in the wood sector are sourced from petroleum. However, it is crucial to acknowledge that fossil resources possess a limited supply, and their extraction procedures can lead to adverse effects on the ecosystem. Renewable biomass resources have important application prospects in wood adhesives. This paper reviews the recent research progress on utilizing biomass to replace or modify conventional petroleum-based adhesives, focusing on the application of tannin, lignin, protein, starch, and cellulose in urea–formaldehyde (UF), melamine, phenol–formaldehyde (PF), epoxy (EP), and polyurethane (PU) resin adhesives. The symbiosis of renewable biomass with conventional petroleum-based adhesives portends substantial advancements for the wood adhesive industry. This review evaluates the substitution capacity and modification effect of biomass, discusses its application prospects in the wood-based panel industry, and predicts the future direction of biomass in wood adhesives, providing new inspirations for the development of novel green adhesives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In view of the growing demand for synthetic molecules or materials by researchers from both the core sciences and interdisciplinary sectors, the field of organic synthesis needs to be strategically more powerful to produce more molecules in a shorter time. Ensuring a reduction in the use of solvents, catalysts, reagents, time, effort, and waste is essential during green chemical syntheses. Keeping those criteria in mind, the integration of chemical reactions is very much needed. Integrated organic synthesis can be considered the ideal replacement for stepwise synthesis to fulfill demand while maintaining green parameters. The electrochemical cascade process satisfies the essential criteria of greener integrated synthesis to a great extent, providing a modern strategic tool in the arsenal of synthetic chemists. The strategy is applied extensively by researchers, as evidenced by the growing number of publications, amounting to more than a hundred papers on the development of synthesis methods using electrochemical cascade reactions. A thorough understanding of the process is needed to implement the strategy further in targeted synthesis and methodology development for cutting-edge research. To grow the concept among researchers, a concise account of published articles on the topic, depicting the mechanisms, prospects, and problems of the developed methods, is highly desirable. Quenching the thirst herein, we present a concise review of electrochemical cascade processes reported in the literature since 2015. The precedent reactions developed earlier are also discussed in this context. Electrochemical multicomponent reactions involving the cascade process are also covered, expanding the scope of the review. The sections are classified based on the types of functionalization. The mechanistic details of each category of reactions are thoroughly covered to present a clear idea of the redox behavior of different reagents under electrochemical conditions. The prospects and problems associated with the methods are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the production of electric vehicles and lithium-ion batteries continues to rise, concerns over resource scarcity and supply shortages of critical metals, including Cu, Ni, Co, Mn, and Li, have become increasingly urgent. To address these concerns and promote environmental protection, there is a growing demand for the recycling of hazardous waste containing these critical metals as secondary resources. Therefore, this paper proposes a novel synergistic solvent extraction system of D2EHPA-NNPA, which fills a gap in the lack of a suitable extraction system for the hydrometallurgical industry of secondary resources containing Cu, Ni, Co, Mn, and Li. With the specific extraction sequence of D2EHPA-NNPA, a novel process has been designed and proposed for the stepwise extraction of Cu, Ni, Co, Mn, and Li from secondary resources, which significantly simplifies process flows while avoiding cross-contamination of the extractants and the production of industrial wastewater. Furthermore, the proposed "extraction-scrubbing-stripping" process has been investigated from both macroscopic and microscopic perspectives, demonstrating that the novel synergistic solvent extraction system of D2EHPA-NNPA is a viable option for industrial applications to promote a circular economy and achieve sustainability objectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phenolic resin adhesives are usually synthesized using phenol and formaldehyde. Both of them are fossil-based and the resins are not biodegradable. Replacing them with whole biomass-based lignin and furfural is attractive. However, it is still difficult to wholly replace them, especially lignin due to its low reactivity. In this paper, a preparation method for a composite adhesive was presented. A lignin-based composite adhesive was prepared by using a deep eutectic solvent (DES), lignin, and furfural. The lignin-based composite adhesive is a machinable adhesive for wood, and the adhesive strength for the paulownia plate reached 5.71 MPa. The adhesive also possessed outstanding flame retardance performance with a V0 grade and the ultimate oxygen index of the adhesive-coated wood was 30%. Interestingly, it also had excellent thermal insulation and photothermal performances. Importantly, wood chips can also be processed into strong regenerated wood using the adhesive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a versatile and environmentally friendly chemical, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is in high demand. The current anthraquinone oxidation process suffers from high energy consumption in hydrogen production and the cumbersome alternating operations of hydrogenation and oxidation. The direct synthesis of H2O2 from H2 and O2 is constrained by the balance between safety and efficiency and heavy metal pollution from catalysts. Two-electron oxygen reduction reaction (2e− ORR) is an efficient, safe, and low-cost route for the production of H2O2. This 2e− ORR pathway has potential to become a supplement to the anthraquinone process because of fossil energy-free feature. The bottleneck of the industrialization of 2e− ORR is the lack of efficient catalysts. The 2e− ORR catalytic performance of noble metal electrode materials urgently needs to be significantly enhanced by smart design. However, the high price and limited reserves of these noble metal-based materials still severely limit their commercialization. Among many 2e− ORR catalysts, carbon-based catalysts have received much attention because of their low cost and diverse structures. This study reviews the research progress and the synthesis methods of carbon-based catalysts for 2e− ORR in recent years. First, this paper introduces the fundamental mechanism of H2O2 production by 2e− ORR through a combination of theory and experiment. Then, the synthesis methods and optimization strategies of various high-efficiency carbon-based catalysts are discussed. Finally, the various influencing factors (pH effect, pore structure, and carbon defects) and the practical applications for H2O2 production are analyzed. In addition, the future research direction is also proposed to promote the development of carbon-based catalysts for 2e− ORR toward industrialization. Although carbon-based catalysts display obvious advantages for electrocatalytic applications, there are still a few shortcomings that need to be overcome. The intrinsic activity and the long-term stability of carbon-based materials still require to be improved to a level that can be compared with those of noble metal-based catalysts. This review presents a comprehensive overview of the latest developments in the production of H2O2 by 2e− ORR on carbon-based catalysts, combining the most advanced theoretical and experimental literature available. The current state of the research on carbon-based catalysts in recent years indicates great promise for further advancement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electrochemical reductive cleavage of the C–O bond in the lignin α-O-4 model compound benzyl phenyl ether (BPE) at room temperature was investigated using earth-abundant nickel as a catalyst in methanol. Experiments using a divided cell setup using either NiCl2·6H2O salt or pre-deposited Ni on a carbon paper cathode (Ni/CP) under an inert atmosphere revealed the essential role of freshly and uniformly deposited Ni0 on the electrode surface for the reductive, catalytic cleavage to yield phenol and toluene. To better understand the reaction mechanism, the surface morphology and composition of the Ni/CP electrode were investigated by SEM, XRD, and XPS. Additionally, the role of methanol as a proton donor was established, and electrochemical hydrogenation/hydrogenolysis (ECH) experiments of BPE with sterically hindered substituents revealed that the reaction mechanism shares similarities with Pd/C hydrogenation/hydrogenolysis chemistry. DFT calculations further supported this mechanistic route and were consistent with the experimental observations. Based on both experimental and calculation results, a mechanism including (1) the interaction of the benzylic side of BPE with the catalyst surface, (2) adsorbed hydrogen interacting with the benzylic carbon to induce C–O bond scission, and (3) proton transfer to the phenoxy anion from the methanol was proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Regarding issues such as the removal of Al and resource utilization of phosphorus iron, a recycling process is proposed in this paper in which spent cathode materials and Al foil are leached by low-concentration acids, then Al is selectively precipitated, and finally the lithium iron phosphate material is synthesized by a one-step hydrothermal synthesis method after being prepared in a certain liquid ratio. Each influencing factor in the processes of acid leaching and precipitation of Al was investigated, and the corresponding mechanism and elemental direction were analyzed. The experimental results showed that the ideal leaching effect could be achieved using low concentrations of sulfuric acid, at leaching rates of 99.98%, 99.12%, 99.16%, and 22.44% for lithium, iron, phosphorus, and Al, respectively, under optimal conditions. Al was selectively precipitated in the form of Al phosphate, and the removal rate could reach more than 99.71%. This experimental scheme significantly reduces the necessary amounts of acid and alkali, produces less slag, is carried out using a compact process, and realizes the efficient recycling of lithium iron phosphate resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the severe waste plastics pollution issues, fabricating biodegradable films as substitutes for plastic has been a pursuit of modern scientists for the past few years. UV (ultraviolet) shielding is essential for the application of biodegradable films in packaging materials, agricultural mulch, plastic greenhouses, and window films. Identified as a natural UV-absorber, lignin can be a safe additive to biodegradable film, endowing the film with urgently needed UV-resistance properties while ensuring the overall sustainability of the films. The present paper comprehensively reviews the research status on the preparation and application of lignin-containing biodegradable UV-blocking films. Additionally, the effect of lignin on the mechanical and optical properties of films is revealed. In general, this review provides some theoretical guidance for manufacturing lignin-containing biodegradable UV-blocking films with outstanding mechanical properties and optical transmittance, thus broadening their application in packaging, agriculture, and green building materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nano-polystyrene, as a new type of organic pollutant, has attracted extensive attention. Nano-sized particles in the water environment could be easily absorbed by hydrophytes and accumulate in root and shoot organs, while porous carbon obtained by high-temperature carbonization is employed as the anode material of supercapacitors, which exhibits good electrochemical performance. In this work, a new strategy of Pistia stratiotes absorbable nano-polystyrene as the pore-forming agent is regarded for preparing porous carbon materials. The absorption of polystyrene nano-plastics by plants will change the graphitization degree and promote pore formation in carbon materials during carbonization. The obtained root-derived carbon materials have a hierarchical pore structure, a large specific surface area (845.61 m2 g−1), and a high micropore ratio (52.95%). The prepared carbon materials exhibit a specific capacitance of 253.0 F g−1 at 0.5 A g−1 in 6 M KOH; compared with the control group, the specific capacitance increases by nearly 3 times, and the specific capacitance curve is stable. This paper provides a new strategy for the recovery of nano-plastics from aqueous environments by natural aquatic plants and the preparation of high-performance biomass carbon materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyurethanes (PUs) are key players in the plastics industry. According to the Global Polyurethane Market (2019–2023), their value in the global market reached $95.13 billion in 2019 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 12%. This is in line with the increase in the number of research papers and patents on the synthesis and application of petroleum-based PUs (P-PUs) and biomass or green PUs (G-PUs) (from 67 657 to 79 468, and from 198 810 to 226 164 for papers and patents, respectively, just over the past decade). Environmental concerns about fossil-based isocyanates are the reason why investigations on their green counterparts have got receiving more attention. According to statistics, almost 8% of research papers published on PUs between 2015 and the present used green-based resources. However, no comprehensive report or review dealt with such an important field in the chemistry of polyurethanes. This review highlights and reviews the production of isocyanate compounds directly from biomass. Moreover, various methods applied in the synthesis of bio-derived isocyanates are discussed. Technically, we discuss the main difficulties in the synthesis of biomass-based PUs. To address sustainability concerns, we overview the whole range of isocyanate compounds economically viable for biomass-based synthesis. We believe that the elimination of phosgene is a key to the production of green PUs. However, there is still a long way to go to develop green PUs with properties and performance comparable to fossil-based ones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lignocellulosic biomass, especially lignin and extractives, has the potential to substitute fossil precursors in the chemical industry. The conversion of lignin has been intensively researched, but challenges remain as high temperatures and increased pressure are commonly used, which is not energy efficient. Lignin and wood extractives bear chromophoric groups that can absorb light in the ultraviolet (UV) region, which enables photochemical reactions. Ultraviolet light emitting diodes (UV-LEDs) are an emerging technology; they are cheap, versatile, and energy-efficient compared to existing mercury lamps. UV-LEDs were used in this study as a proof of concept for the valorisation of a lignocellulosic residual stream from the pulp and paper industry, sawdust. In a process at ambient temperature and pressure and without the use of a catalyst, we have shown that lignin and extractives can be valorised using light from UV-LEDs. Simplified lignin model compounds were used to pinpoint chemical reactions during irradiation, and to ease the analysis of the sawdust samples. The rate of conversion upon irradiation of the model compounds was found to be 0.7–2.3 g L−1 h−1, depending on the concentration of the starting compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the combination of halide perovskite photocatalysts and plasma ensures the effective conversion of CO2, there is still much room to improve its conversion ratio and energy efficiency. The traditional experimental trial-and-error method is extremely demanding for researchers in each experimental operation and result analysis, while the experiments greatly consume time and raw materials and require complex equipment. In this paper, for the first time, we modeled the process of CO2 conversion synergistically driven by dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma and a Cs2TeCl6 photocatalyst via machine learning. K-fold cross-validation combined with the coefficient of determination (R2) was used to evaluate the regression algorithms, and the BPANN with the best performance was selected to establish a model for predicting the CO2 conversion ratio and energy efficiency. In order to make the predictions more accurate, genetic algorithms, particle swarm optimization and Bayesian optimization were applied to improve the hyperparameters of the neural network, and the GA-BPANN model achieved an R² of 0.9713 and 0.9622 on the training and testing sets, respectively, while its practical application was also demonstrated. In addition, the effect of each process parameter on conversion efficiency was quantified by the Spearman correlation coefficients, which could provide insights into the roles of different process parameters in CO2 conversion. This work provides a new approach for boosting CO2 conversion, which could facilitate future experimental design and process optimization to promote carbon dioxide utilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pure subcritical water autohydrolysis is an economical and green biorefinery method and potentially applicable technology. Elucidating and regulating the energy input effects on the structural dissociation and chemical depolymerization of lignocellulosic biomass will progress the industrialization of pure subcritical water autohydrolysis biorefineries. In this work, a method for determining the degree of tissue dissociation was invented. Combined with the analysis of the microstructure, ultrastructure, chemical composition, and aggregation state, this paper reveals the process and mechanism of the P-factor effect as an energy input measurement on the bio-structural dissociation and chemical depolymerization during naked oat stem autohydrolysis. A method of using the P-factor to regulate the biostructural dissociation and chemical depolymerization was developed. For the first time, a critical point for the autohydrolysis of naked oat stem in pure subcritical water between 170–210 °C was found to be at a P-factor = 233, around which an essential change in biostructural dissociation and chemical depolymerization occurred. The findings indicate that the control of naked oat-stem tissue and cell dissociation, ultrastructure, and chemical depolymerization can be accomplished using the P-factor as an energy input measurement for autohydrolysis. The revealed mechanism and method created in this study enable the stepwise separation of gramineae tissues, cells, and major chemical components, enabling a full-composition multi-purpose biorefinery of lignocellulose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper reviews 47 Life Cycle Assessments (LCA) applied to chemical reactions. The selection of the evaluated articles was conducted with a systematic literature review methodology. The review arises from the need to define the best methods for developing LCAs of chemical processes at industrial scale. The authors go through the stages defined in ISO 14040 and 14044, identifying both the gaps and the best techniques used in all the reviewed papers. The main difficulty observed when developing LCAs of chemical reactions is the lack of data due to confidentiality issues in chemical companies. In addition, this data is commonly only available at the laboratory scale. Laboratory data is sometimes directly upscaled without further consideration. Even though, simulation software, advanced calculations benchmarks, pinch analysis and retrosynthetic analysis are the best methods to estimate and scale up the mass and energy balances in the Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) stage. The article discusses these upscale procedures, makes a deep analysis of each single LCA stage, and assesses how chemical process information is managed, which is a novelty regarding previous reviews of chemical reaction LCA. From the Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA) methodologies, they should be standardized to enable the comparability between LCAs of the same product. Both the European Commission and the Life Cycle Initiative are making progress in this regard. Eventually, the ReCiPe is the most used methodology among the reviewed papers. Finally, the article proposes different analyses to be performed in the interpretation phase: i.e., projecting the energy mix foreseen for the years 2030 and 2050 in energy-intensive processes or including other sustainability vectors (economic and social) in cross-cutting projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chiral recognition has attracted extensive attention in the field of pharmaceutical science as it plays an important role in understanding biological and pharmaceutical mechanisms. Chiral carbon dots (CCDs), which integrate the advantages of fluorescence properties and the unique chiral properties, have great potential in chiral recognition. However, the synthetic method, chirality, and optical enantioselective sensing performance of CCDs have been scarcely investigated. Herein, N,Cl-doped CCDs were prepared for the first time through a one-step hydrothermal method using vine tea as the precursor, and a natural deep eutectic solvent (NADES) as the eco-friendly solvent, doping agent, and chiral source. In this synthesis strategy of CCDs, the NADES integrates multiple functions to prepare novel CCDs without adding organic solvents, additional chiral sources and doping agents, providing a new method for the green synthesis of CCDs. The obtained N,Cl-doped CCDs exhibit a high quantum yield, great enantioselective recognition ability, outstanding enantiomeric percentage detection performance, and satisfactory sensitivity to L -lysine (L -Lys). The chiral sensing system of CCDs reported here is simpler for the detection of L -Lys by directly recording the change in fluorescence intensity without any other indicators. The enantioselectivity (FL/FD) reaches 5.46 and the detection limit for L -Lys is 10 nM, which are better than those previously reported. Interestingly, the fabricated CCD-based paper micro-sensor system with a smartphone shows good sensitivity and excellent storage stability for L -Lys detection. Both the CCD dispersion-based method and CCD paper microchip-based visual method can accurately determine L -Lys in actual samples with satisfactory recoveries (96.19–109.65% and 86.74–114.10%, respectively). Furthermore, by combining experiments with theoretical calculation, the response mechanism and the chiral optical activity of CCDs were elucidated in detail. This work opens up a new avenue not only for developing nanomaterials using green methods, but also for broadening the application prospects of chiral nanomaterials in clinical diagnosis and drug screening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphdiyne is an emerging material widely used in photocatalysis. Its excellent physicochemical properties, such as nonuniform electron distribution, uniform pore distribution, excellent electron mobility, and high chemical stability, make it promising for solar fuel production. Given the rapid development of graphdiyne-based photocatalysts and their application in solar fuel production, a timely review of this field is urgently needed. This paper summarises the structure, properties, synthesis and characterisation of graphdiyne, and the achievements of graphdiyne-based photocatalysts in solar fuel production, including H2 evolution, CO2 reduction and N2 fixation. The challenges and outlook of graphdiyne-based photocatalysts for efficient solar fuel production are presented. This paper is expected to provide new insights into graphdiyne-based photocatalysts for solar fuel production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemical catalytic conversion of biomass-derived sugars to lactic acid has attracted considerable attention due to the cheap, abundant and renewable nature of biomass and its huge potential application in the synthesis of biocompatible and biodegradable polylactic acid resins. However, this route is still a huge challenge in view of the transformation efficiency. This paper reports a series of Zn-based catalysts, which are facile and cheap to prepare and highly efficient for the conversion of biomass-derived carbohydrates to ethyl lactate (EL). The microstructure, active site composition and surface properties were characterized by TEM, HRTEM, XRD, NH3-TPD, CO2-TPD, Py-IR, and XPS. The catalytic performance of catalysts in the conversion of biomass-derived carbohydrates to ethyl lactate (EL) and the effect of water content were investigated. It was found that the Zn species played a decisive role in regulating the strengths of the acidic and basic sites to match the rate of each reaction in the tandem reactions. The basic sites are beneficial for isomerization and retro-aldol condensation, while the temperature-responsive released H+ protons are responsible for the dehydration of triose to methylglyoxal, a rate-determining step in the conversion of triose to EL. Addition of a small amount of water could enhance the release of the protons and thus accelerate the dehydration reaction, but excessive water would favor the formation of humins. Using ZnSi-2 as a catalyst under optimal conditions, yields as high as 74.5% of EL from glucose, 81.0% from fructose, 70.9% from mannose, and 80.3% from sucrose could be achieved with tens of times higher productivity than the previously reported values in the literature. DFT calculations revealed that Zn(OEt)Cl, Zn(OH)Cl, and Zn(OH)(OEt) were probably the active components. In addition, the stability of the catalyst as well as the deactivation and regeneration was also studied. The findings in this research provide new insights into the exploration of efficient catalysts for biomass conversion to value-added chemicals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For much of the Caribbean region, plastic pollution and the persistence of the great Atlantic Sargassum belt lead to significant regional loss in biodiversity, employment and tourism. Yet, seaweeds such as Sargassum possess all the characteristics for bioplastic production. This study presents a new process on the production of biodegradable calcium alginate (Ca(Alg)2) composite bioplastic, and evaluates its economic feasibility and environmental impact in the Caribbean, compared to bio-based polylactic acid (PLA) and synthetic plastics (PET). Our cradle-to-gate life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) shows normalized (kg CO2eq per kg plastic) greenhouse gas (GHG) impacts 3 to 7 times higher for the baseline alginate composite process over those of PLA and PET films – linked mainly to chemical consumption. However, through the integration of abundant bioenergy from the local paper industry and the nascent E-methanol (E-MeOH) supply chains, GHG impact reduces by 79% – illustrating a pathway to a sustainable bioplastic production flowsheet. More attractively, the alginate bioplastic outperforms in providing ultra-low oxygen barrier packaging properties – with a required mass of plastic material producing a total carbon footprint (kg CO2eq) 64–978 times lower than PLA and PET respectively, and overall packaging costs 280 times less than current synthetic plastic. Techno-economics illustrate that a total annualized cost (TAC) for alginate bioplastic of $US 4.56 per kg is possible, ensuring high economic feasibility, comparable to current commercial bio-based alternatives. Moreover, sensitivity analysis highlights that variability in TAC was mainly associated with sodium alginate utilization in the manufacture process – contributing up to 67% to the overall cost. In light of this, the integration of sound policies aligned to improved consumer awareness and reduced plastic waste can help to drive greater economic feasibility of the alginate bioplastic industry. Ultimately, our study illustrates a viable and sustainable alginate bioplastic alternative, promoting and informing on packaging innovation while achieving low carbon operations within the Caribbean plastic sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a kind of super stable thermoset resin, phenolic epoxy vinyl ester resin (PEVER) is widely applied as a solvent and corrosion resistant material. However, its highly cross-linked three-dimensional network challenges its degradation and recycling. In this study, we report an efficient catalytic system of KOH/C2H5OH–H2O to degrade PEVER under a mild reaction condition of 160 °C. It is discovered that the efficiency of KOH for degrading PEVER resulted from the high affinity of K+ to PEVER. Besides the resin, K+ shows good affinity to other organic substances, such as ethyl acetate, toluene, and petroleum ether, and it surpassed largely Na+ (NaOH) in the affinity to organic substances. The NMR and FT-IR characterizations indicated the degradation of PEVER via the hydrolysis of ester bonds, by which high value-added copolymer of styrene and methacrylic acid (SMAA), potassium salt of SMAA (SMAA-K), and novolac glycidyl ether (NOGE) were obtained. SMAA-K can be used as an interface modifier owing to its surface activity. The modified filter paper prepared by SMAA has high hydrophobicity. NOGE can be recycled to prepare a new polyurethane material. This study provides a new strategy for the chemical degradation and recycling of thermoset PEVER waste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a set of copper-based ternary deep eutectic solvents (Cu-DESs) is synthesized and applied in Glaser-type homo- and cross-coupling of terminal alkynes. These reactions occur under exogenous-ligand-free, base-free, and additive-free conditions and provide satisfactory to excellent yields (up to 99%) under mild conditions. The Cu-DESs can be recycled eight times and the only by-product is water, which fully accords with the principles of green chemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Single-electron reduction of a carbonyl by photoredox catalysis enables the generation of ketyl radicals, providing a benign procedure for constructing C–C bonds. However, external photocatalysts are required. In this paper, photoinduced generation of ketyl radicals and application in C–C coupling are reported, which require no use of any external photocatalyst. Irradiation of carbonyl with purple light in the presence of a tertiary amine generates highly reactive ketyl radicals, enabling a series of important reactions in synthetic chemistry, such as the reductive coupling of aldehydes, ketones, and imines, the allylation of aldehydes, the Barbier reaction, reductive arylation, and aldehyde–aniline coupling. We also present evidence to support the ketyl radicals being formed via photoinduced intermolecular electron transfer from the tertiary amine to aryl aldehydes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the last few years, renewable, inexpensive, biocompatible, and biodegradable wood and lignocellulose materials have triggered considerable research interest for application in various functional devices. However, there is still a lack of a new perspective to deeply understand the structure–property–function relationships of micro-/nanostructures and components of natural wood, so as to explore the potential of wood assembly of nano-energy materials with different dimensions. Herein, the recent progresses in the design and construction of free-standing supercapacitor (SC) electrodes containing wood-derived materials are reviewed. We begin with an illustrated introduction to the hierarchical structure and characteristics of natural wood with a "top–down" view, which includes the cell walls, cellulose microfibers, nanocellulose, and cellulose supramolecules. Next, the fabrication, structure, and properties of lignocellulose are highlighted. We focus on the structure–property–function relationships between the hierarchical micro- and nanoscale structure of wood and electroactive materials. The focus then turns to a summary of the recent advances in wood-based free-standing SC electrodes with a unique point that is ever out of the spotlight, including one-dimensional integrated fibers, two-dimensional flexible films/papers, three-dimensional porous hydrogels/aerogels, and ultra-thick electrodes. Finally, we put forward our perspectives on the challenges to further promoting the development of this emerging field in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The simultaneous production of hydrogen and biomass-based chemicals from biomass-derived feedstock aqueous solutions via photocatalysis is appealing because no additional sacrificial agent is needed. However, limited success has been achieved. This paper reports efficient nori-shaped carbon nitride-based photocatalysts with potassium/oxygen co-doping and cyano group introduction for efficient conversion of biomass-derived monosaccharides to produce lactic acid and hydrogen simultaneously. The obtained photocatalyst has an adjustable bandgap, fast migration/separation rate of photo-generated carriers and displays excellent photocatalytic performance with respect to xylose conversion (∼95.0%), lactic acid selectivity (90.5%) and hydrogen generation (∼33 380 μmol g−1 h−1) in the presence of visible light. The h+, ˙OH, ˙O2− and 1O2 drive xylose conversion and lactic acid production. For biomass-derived pentoses and hexoses, the reaction system also exhibits excellent photocatalytic activity of lactic acid selectivity and hydrogen generation; the reported photocatalyst has excellent reusability. This paper provides a new perspective for hydrogen generation and biorefineries via a photocatalyst. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For a knowledge-based design of enzyme catalysis in deep eutectic solvents (DESs), the influence of the DES properties (e.g., water activity and viscosity) and the impact of DESs and their individual components must be assessed. This paper investigates three different DESs: choline chloride–glycerol (ChCl–Gly), choline chloride–ethylene glycol (ChCl–EG), and ethyl ammonium chloride–glycerol (EACl–Gly). The specific activity and half-life time of horse liver alcohol dehydrogenase (HLADH) were experimentally determined in these DESs with water contents ranging from 0%–100%. HLADH showed limited activity in neat DESs, which was enhanced by adding water. Experiments with individual DES components of ChCl–Gly were carried out to clarify their individual influence. Glycerol acts as a strong stabilizer for the enzyme, whereas choline chloride's results are deleterious. To understand the experimental findings, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were carried out to quantify the solvation layer and calculate the spatial distribution of the solvent molecules around HLADH. The experimental and the in silico approach suggests that designing novel DESs with higher glycerol loadings would result in improved media for biocatalysis. This is demonstrated by performing the reduction of cinnamaldehyde to cinnamyl alcohol—a relevant compound for the food industry and cosmetics—in ChCl–Gly (1 : 9 molar ratio), with 20 vol% water to decrease the viscosity. HLADH is highly active and stable under these new conditions, giving promising productivity (15.3 g L−1 d−1). This paper demonstrates that DESs can be designed to be both substrate-solubilizers and enzyme-compatible, opening new research lines for green chemistry and biocatalysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electrochemical ring hydrogenation of aromatic compounds is an important synthetic tool, though scarcely described in the literature. This research paper investigates the utilization of different Pd- and Pt-containing electrocatalyst materials for an electrosynthesis of tetrahydrofuran derivatives from furfural and related furans. It focuses on the selectivity of the ring hydrogenation as a function of the electrocatalyst composition, as well as on a preliminary elucidation of the electrocatalytic activity during repetitive electrode use. Furthermore, different furanic derivatives are employed as starting material for mechanistic considerations. While furfural, furfuryl alcohol and furan are found to be highly reactive in ring hydrogenation reactions, furoic acid and 2-methyl furan do not show this behavior. Selectivities for tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol of up to 15.3% (from furfural) and 33% (from furfuryl alcohol) are observed in this context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spent lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) have gradually become an indispensable raw material to regenerate new LIBs and close the material loop. Hence, the development of efficient recovery methods with minimal recovery cost, chemical and energy consumption, and secondary waste emission is essential. Among the various recycling methods, the salt-thermal method has emerged as an efficient approach, which involves the use of inorganic salts as the agent and thermal energy, to drive the desired reactions such as oxide-to-salt conversions and crystal healing with the aim to extract valuable metals from spent LIBs. Unlike pryo-carbothermal reduction methods using a carbon source as the reductant and hydro-leaching methods using inorganic/organic acid as the leaching agent to recycle spent LIBs, the salt-thermal process usually converts spent LIBs materials to Li-rich salt and/or lithium-deficient oxides, which can be easily separated or reutilized. Salt-thermal methods can be used to separate active electrode materials from the current collector, selectively leach valuable elemental metal from cathode materials, and regenerate anode graphite/cathode materials (LiCoO2, LiNixCoyMnzO2, and LiFePO4). Herein, we review the-state-of-art technologies for recycling spent LIBs by salt-thermal approaches such as separation of electrode materials, roasting, electrochemical separation, and regeneration. Furthermore, we summarize the benefits and drawbacks of using inorganic salts (sulfuric, sulfate, chlorinate, ammonium, carbonate, and alkali metal salts) for recycling spent LIBs. It should be noted that some important papers may have been overlooked given that the development of this field has been rapid in recent years. Overall, we hope that this review can make contributions not only in academia but also in the LIB industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The thermochemical upcycling of biomass into high value-added fuels and carbon materials in molten salts has attracted much attention in recent years. Molten salts have a wide variety of applications ranging from heat transfer fluids to storage media due to their thermal conductivity, dissolution ability, and high catalytic activity. Noteworthily, solar energy can be effectively stored in molten salts, providing high temperature heat for thermochemical conversion of biomass. Many efforts have been made in the development of molten salt-mediated thermochemical processes focusing on hydrolysis, pyrolysis and gasification. This paper discusses the advances in molten salt-mediated thermochemical conversion of biomass into chemicals, fuels and advanced carbon materials. The discussion is concentrated on the mechanisms of the molten salt-mediated thermochemical conversion of biomass. Moreover, fuels and carbon materials obtained by the pyrolysis and gasification processes are highlighted in the aspects of their synthesis processes and applications such as electrochemical applications (e.g., supercapacitors) and pollutant removal (e.g., adsorption and catalytic degradation). Furthermore, challenges and recommendations regarding various molten salt-mediated thermochemical conversions of biomass in the current stage are outlined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]