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Green engineering is an important direction for engineering education, especially in the field of chemical engineering, where green chemical is a necessary guarantee for achieving sustainable development in the industry. How to practice the principles of green engineering in curriculum education is a problem that needs to be faced in engineering education, due to the currently educated persons are the future practitioners. The aim of this study is to integrate green techniques into an undergraduate‐level chemical design course, demonstrating how green engineering principles can be embedded in the curriculum to practice green engineering education, and thus disseminate the sustainability concept, resulting in a framework for achieving sustainable development. According to the training programme and design procedure, each student receives a product process design project and is guided by a teacher through the data review and discussion and then integrates green technologies in all aspects of the design, and the design result is evaluated. The good results of the students' design show that the undergraduate‐level chemical design course can well integrate green engineering principles and green technologies in the design, enhance the green standard of process design, broaden the students' design vision and mobilize their engineering creativity. It is a good form of green engineering education that the integration of engineering green technologies into an undergraduate‐level chemical design course, as demonstrated by the design results, which achieve effective practice of the sustainability concept and develop green education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the increasing consideration of sustainability in infrastructure materials, both modified asphalt and warm-mix asphalt have received remarkable attention. However, little is known about characteristics of warm-mix styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS) modified asphalt with foaming technique (FWMA-SBS). The present study is dedicated to optimizing fabrication of the FWMA-SBS binder and investigating the performance of the foamed SBS-modified asphalt mixture. To achieve desirable foaming characteristics, the FWMA-SBS binder is produced at foaming temperature of 130°C, water content of 2.0%, and air pressure of 0.55 MPa. The production temperature of the FWMA-SBS mixture is significantly lowered by 20°C compared to traditional SBS-modified asphalt mixture. It has demonstrated that engineering performance of FWMA-SBS binder coincides with the mixture. The FWMA-SBS mixture features better low-temperature cracking resistance and fatigue performance, while it exhibits lower rutting resistance and similar moisture stability in comparison with a traditional SBS-modified asphalt mixture. The sustainability assessment verifies that compared to conventional SBS-modified asphalt mixture, the production of 1 ton of FWMA-SBS mixture leads to energy savings of 9.8%, cost reduction of $1.81, and less energy associated with CO2 by 9.8%. The research accomplishments promote the utilization of the foamed SBS-modified asphalt, realizing the pavement sustainability from principles to practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As part of its move towards net zero, the chemical industry, over time, will transition away from fossil-based chemical feedstocks towards more sustainable, 'green' carbon—biomass, recycled waste and captured carbon dioxide. One gateway to transforming these feedstocks into the vital chemicals and fuels society relies on is via synthesis gas or 'syngas'—a gaseous mixture of chemical building blocks (H2, CO and CO2). While today the majority of syngas is produced via steam reforming of natural gas, commercially available technologies are enabling syngas production and transformation from sustainable feedstocks. The optimization of sustainable syngas technologies would not be possible without the integrated development of both catalyst and process technology and the associated skills in chemistry and chemical engineering. This paper covers three example technologies that are unlocking the role of syngas as a gateway to sustainable fuels and chemicals and highlights the innovative developments in catalyst and process design that have enabled their optimization and commercialization. This article is part of the discussion meeting issue 'Green carbon for the chemical industry of the future'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the global population grows, the demand for protein‐enriched foods like meats is rising rapidly. Traditional farming practices face challenges including animal welfare, waste management, and carbon emissions, harming the environment. Consequently, meat substitutes have emerged as a promising area of research and as an alternative to traditional livestock‐sourced meats. Cultivated meat, produced through cell culture techniques, is a key area in cellular agriculture and offers a safe and well‐controlled production process for such future foods. The manufacturing of cultivated meat involves several disciplines, including cell culture, media optimization, scaffold design, and advanced manufacturing, along with nutrition, taste and safety topics to meet consumer acceptance and regulatory approvals. Although several review articles have addressed various aspects of cultivated meat, they tend to focus on specific domains rather than a comprehensive analysis of this transformative technology. This review highlights innovative and applied research findings in the field of cultivated meat, with a focus on critical aspects such as nutrition, cells, materials, and scaffold manufacturing technologies. Furthermore, the socio‐political and economic impacts of cultivated meat are explored, and practical recommendations for low‐cost and large‐scale production. Finally, the review also addresses existing challenges and outlines future directions for the development of cultivated meat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nature‐based solutions (NbS, and related concepts like natural infrastructure, Ecosystem‐based Adaptation, and green infrastructure) are increasingly recognized as multi‐benefit strategies for addressing the critical sustainability challenges of the Anthropocene, including the climate emergency and biodiversity crisis. Mainstreaming NbS in professional practice requires strategic, landscape‐level planning integrating multiple sources of benefits and their synergies and trade‐offs. Levee setbacks (LS) are among the best‐studied riverine NbS with recognized benefits for flood risk management, drought resilience, water quality management, recreational opportunities, and ecological restoration for biodiversity. Although awareness of the multifarious benefits of LS as forms of Natural Capital is growing, implementation remains ad‐hoc and opportunistic. To address this critical implementation gap for one major example of NbS, we review and synthesize literature across diverse disciplines to provide an overview of the primary social, economic, and ecological mechanisms that affect the co‐benefit delivery of LS projects. Next, to make this information relevant to NbS practitioners, we link these mechanisms to spatial metrics that can be used to approximate the relative magnitude of project benefits and costs across these mechanisms. Finally, we highlight examples of key synergies and trade‐offs among benefits that should be considered for LS planning. This synthetic approach is intended to familiarize readers with the diverse potential benefits of LS, and provide an understanding of how to select and prioritize potential sites for further study and implementation. Synergies and trade‐offs among important benefit drivers abound, and social equity concerns will be paramount in ensuring the successful implementation of LS and other NbS in the future. This article is categorized under:Engineering Water > Sustainable Engineering of WaterEngineering Water > Planning WaterWater and Life > Nature of Freshwater Ecosystems [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Together with other "bottom‐up" methods, climate stress testing is becoming a prominent approach for climate change impact assessment of water systems. Compared with traditional approaches, stress testing is: (i) more focused on exploring the vulnerabilities of the system at hand; (ii) potentially more inclusive, being amenable to stakeholder involvement and (iii) well suited to identify robust policy options that better account for the deep uncertainty associated with multiple plausible futures. Stress testing is rapidly evolving and giving rise to new techniques and concepts, but few articles provide an accessible overview that can serve as an introduction to the field. Here, we review the underlying principles and concepts of climate stress testing, providing a guide to the main decisions involved in practical application. Topics include selection of stressors, characterizing and exploring the exposure space and data generation including the use of stochastic data. In a complex world where water decisions are made in the context of wider socio‐ecological systems, stress testing and other bottom‐up methods can support decisions that are not only robust to future uncertainty but also regarded as legitimate by affected communities. This article is categorized under:Engineering Water > Sustainable Engineering of WaterScience of Water > Water and Environmental ChangeWater and Life > Stresses and Pressures on Ecosystems [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY: The Lamiaceae (mint family) is the largest known source of furanoclerodanes, a subset of clerodane diterpenoids with broad bioactivities including insect antifeedant properties. The Ajugoideae subfamily, in particular, accumulates significant numbers of structurally related furanoclerodanes. The biosynthetic capacity for formation of these diterpenoids is retained across most Lamiaceae subfamilies, including the early‐diverging Callicarpoideae which forms a sister clade to the rest of Lamiaceae. VacCYP76BK1, a cytochrome P450 monooxygenase from Vitex agnus‐castus, was previously found to catalyze the formation of the proposed precursor to furan and lactone‐containing labdane diterpenoids. Through transcriptome‐guided pathway exploration, we identified orthologs of VacCYP76BK1 in Ajuga reptans and Callicarpa americana. Functional characterization demonstrated that both could catalyze the oxidative cyclization of clerodane backbones to yield a furan ring. Subsequent investigation revealed a total of 10 CYP76BK1 orthologs across six Lamiaceae subfamilies. Through analysis of available chromosome‐scale genomes, we identified four CYP76BK1 members as syntelogs within a conserved syntenic block across divergent subfamilies. This suggests an evolutionary lineage that predates the speciation of the Lamiaceae. Functional characterization of the CYP76BK1 orthologs affirmed conservation of function, as all catalyzed furan ring formation. Additionally, some orthologs yielded two novel lactone ring moieties. The presence of the CYP76BK1 orthologs across Lamiaceae subfamilies closely overlaps with the distribution of reported furanoclerodanes. Together, the activities and distribution of the CYP76BK1 orthologs identified here support their central role in furanoclerodane biosynthesis within the Lamiaceae family. Our findings lay the groundwork for biotechnological applications to harness the economic potential of this promising class of compounds. Significance Statement: The discovery and functional characterization of CYP76BK1 orthologs across diverse Lamiaceae subfamilies revealed novel chemistry and their central role in furanoclerodane biosynthesis, providing insights into the metabolic landscape and dynamic evolution of this plant family over approximately 50 million years. These findings pave the way for targeted biosynthetic engineering efforts and the sustainable production of furanoclerodane compounds, offering promising prospects for agricultural and pharmaceutical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the gradual increase in public awareness of ecological environmental protection, how to manage the increasingly tight supply of natural ecological energy and resources and the more evident greenhouse effect, how to properly treat and deal with the relationship between people, engineering and the ecological environment during the construction phase of engineering projects as well as how to evaluate the degree of environmental friendliness and sustainable development ability of engineering projects will become an urgent issue. Stakeholders in engineering projects must seriously consider these vital issues. Existing studies on the evaluation of engineering–ecology sustainable development capacity mainly focus on the regional and industry levels, with less research focusing on the sustainability of individual engineering projects; furthermore, they are primarily concentrated on the qualitative evaluation perspective. In order to refine these shortcomings, based on the viewpoint of the ecosystem of construction projects, this paper integrates the concept of whole life cycle with the ecological footprint measurement model and defines the notion of the ecological footprint of the whole life cycle of construction projects. Subsequently taking the above concept as the foundation and making the ecological footprint of various activities throughout the life cycle of a construction project a specific study object, the research establishes the ecological footprint measurement model of the whole life cycle of the project, and comprehensively evaluates the impacts on the surrounding environment, which include the consumption of energy resources, CO2 and the absorption of solid wastes across the whole life cycle of the project. We then measure the sustainable development ability of engineering projects by comparing the ecological footprint with the ecological carrying capacity of a certain surrounding region. Finally, the practicability and reliability of the model is verified through the example's application. Thus, the results of the study have significant theoretical and practical implications: (1) the introduction of the ecological footprint addresses the gap about the quantitative evaluation of the sustainability of individual engineering projects from a micro perspective; (2) it compensates for the shortcomings of other evaluation methods that only evaluate a single element, such as only CO2, resources, energy or solid waste and so on; and (3) stakeholders can use the measured model to quantitatively assess the sustainability of new projects or urban renewal projects, providing strong support for project feasibility studies and project-establishment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Derivation of energy and materials from local waste streams may contribute to the obviation of the unsustainable linear fossil-based material economy. To that end, knowledge of products that may be derived from these feedstock streams must be expanded. When considering bio-based feedstock conversion methods (e.g., fermentation and whole-cell/enzymatic catalysis), techniques from metabolomics may be excellent for the comprehensive screening of underexplored feedstocks and/or underexplored bioconversion platforms. In this study, the compositions of various residues representative of local municipal organic waste streams were characterized and, subsequently, each residue underwent solid-state fermentation with a filamentous fungus (Talaromyces albobiverticillius NRRL 2120). Non-targeted ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole-time-of-flight electrospray ionization mass spectrometry in combination with multivariate analysis was applied to analyze the products of the fermentations. The product profile was observed to vary substantially with different residues (as well as between fermented and non-fermented samples of the same residue). Between 3647 and 7895 features were identified in each residue, with between 1823 and 2618 unique and statistically significant metabolites associated with specific fermented residues. Among these metabolites were many "top opportunity" chemicals, as identified by the US Department of Energy, including furans and organic acids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growing need for sustainable materials in engineering applications has led to increased interest in the use of waste-derived ceramics as reinforcing fillers in polymer composites. This study investigates the mechanical and tribological performance of epoxy composites reinforced with Yttria-Stabilized Zirconia (YSZ) waste ceramics, focusing on the effects of varying ceramic content (0–40 wt.%). The results demonstrate that while the tensile strength decreases with increasing ceramic content, the wear resistance and surface hardness improve, particularly at 20 wt.% YSZ. These findings are highly relevant for industries such as automotive, aerospace, and industrial manufacturing, where the demand for eco-friendly, high-performance materials is growing. This work aligns with the journal's focus on sustainable engineering by offering new insights into the practical application of waste materials in high-performance composite systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of low-cost, highly effective, environmentally friendly, multi-functional bio-cidal substances has become a top priority in the current scenario. This study aimed to create low-cost materials, such as green-engineered magnesium oxide (GEMgO) and chitosan-coated magnesium oxide (GECsMgO) nanoparticles (NPs), using Chara zeylanica Klein ex Willd extract as a reducing agent. The X-ray diffraction results confirmed the cubic face-centered structure of the GEMgO and GECsMgO NPs. The field emission scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy results showed that GEMgO and GECsMgO NPs exhibit a spherical structure and nanoflakes with spherical structures, respectively. The Mg–O stretching frequencies were measured at 779 and 456 cm−1 for GEMgO and 543 cm−1 for GECsMgO NPs in the Fourier-transform infrared spectra. The oxygen vacancies responsible for the biocidal activities of GEMgO and GEC-MgO NPs were observed in their photoluminescence spectra at 501 and 520 nm and at 506 and 524 nm, respectively. The antioxidant activity of GEMgO and GECsMgO NPs was investigated using a DPPH assay. The GECsMgO NPs exhibited higher scavenging activity than the GEMgO NPs. Antibacterial studies on gram-negative bacteria treated with GEMgO and GECsMgO NPs showed that GECsMgO NPs exhibited the highest antibacterial activity. The ultrastructural morphological results of E. coli showed that GECsMgO NPs can damage it better than GEMgO NPs. An MTT assay determined that GEC-MgO NPs had better anticancer properties than GEMgO NPs when tested against a blood cancer cell line (MOLT-7). Fibroblast L929 cell toxicity tests showed that GEC-MgO NPs were less toxic than GEMgO NPs. In the future, GECsMgO NPs can be used as biocidal agents in clinical and industrial applications. • GEMgO and GECsMgO nanoparticles were synthesized using the Green Engineering method. • GECsMgO NPs exhibit higher antibacterial activity against gram-negative bacteria than GEMgO NPs. • GECsMgO NPs exhibit potential anticancer activity against blood cancer cell lines. • GECsMgO NPs were less harmful to fibroblast cells than GEMgO NPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Student engagement has become increasingly significant in sustainability education for engineers because it enables future engineers to develop competencies, knowledge and values relevant to acting for sustainability. Therefore, this paper aims to examine characteristics of student engineer engagement with sustainability and to discuss the meanings of this concept. Design/methodology/approach: To build a more holistic picture of student engineer engagement with sustainability, this study followed a literature review approach to search, screen and appraise relevant journal articles on this topic. As a result of this research, 30 articles were identified as eligible. Findings: Based on the theoretical framework for student engagement with sustainability, newly synthesized here, and the content analysis of the 30 papers included in this study, four patterns of engagement were identified: intrapersonal engagement, inter-relational engagement, engagement as connection and disconnection and situated engagement. Practical implications: This review provides practical recommendations about how to support the engagement of student engineers with sustainability at the levels of the individual, staff, educational programmes and associated curricula. Future research directions are also discussed. Originality/value: This study contributes a theoretical framework synthesizing student engagement theory with sustainability education. It also describes current characteristics of student engineers' engagement with sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT The rapid increase of water pollution globally is a vital environmental concern that requires the immediate attention of researchers to find new innovative ways to remove unwanted environmental pollutants from our water sources. With the advances in the field of sustainable engineering, there is a high demand for the effective utilization of biomass resources for the removal of aqueous environmental contaminants. Biochar is carbon carbon‐enriched substance obtained by biomass pyrolysis; it is inexpensive and has received wide attention in the field of wastewater treatment. Herein, we describe the synthesis of pea pod (PO) biochar‐reinforced zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF‐8) nanocomposite (PO@ZIF‐8) through the in situ precipitation of ZIF‐8 onto the biochar surface. The crystal growth, morphology, chemical composition, and optical characteristics of fabricated PO@ZIF‐8 nanocomposite were scrutinized through PXRD, SEM, TEM, UV‐DRS, PL, and XPS analysis. The dodecahedral‐shaped PO@ZIF‐8 particles have an average size between 140 and 160 nm. The biochar‐reinforced ZIF‐8 nanocomposite showed significantly higher photocatalytic activity than the pure ZIF‐8 for the degradation of two commonly found organic dyes crystal violet (CV) and Victoria Blue (VB) in the presence of direct sunlight irradiation. The PO@ZIF‐8 nanocomposite showed the highest degradation efficiency of ~87% and ~80% within 50 min of irradiation time at a catalyst dosage of 20 mg for 30 ppm CV and VB dye solutions at pH 8. First‐order kinetics were obeyed during the photodegradation with 0.041 and 0.030 min−1 as the constant of degradation for the removal of CV and VB. The radical scavenger experiment and the photoluminescence analysis confirm the active participation of ·OH radical in the degradation of both dyes. LC–MS and TOC analysis was also performed to determine the degradation products and for evaluation of the degradation progress. Moreover, the synthesized PO@ZIF‐8 composite also exhibit good stability till the fourth cycle with high degradation efficiency thus making it a good choice of catalyst in the field of environmental decontamination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microgrids have emerged as a crucial focus in power engineering and sustainable energy research, with utility-scale microgrids playing a significant role in both developed and developing countries like the Philippines. This study presents a comprehensive framework for utility-scale microgrid planning, emphasizing the sustainable integration of renewable energy resources to the distribution grid. The framework addresses the operational modes of grid-connected and islanded microgrids, emphasizing the seamless transition between these modes to ensure a continuous power supply. By leveraging local distributed energy resources, the microgrid aims to reduce dependence on the main transmission grid while enhancing resilience and reliability. The proposed planning framework not only eases the economic burden of constructing renewable energy sources but also aids distribution utilities in maximizing local resources to achieve sustainable energy goals. Through a detailed network analysis and modeling, the framework provides a robust foundation for optimizing the energy mix and enhancing the overall system performance. This research contributes to advancing microgrid technology as a key driver towards achieving UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly in promoting clean and affordable energy access. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanocellulose‐reinforced composites hold great promise for outperforming the original polymer matrix by offering exceptional properties, including outstanding barrier characteristics achieved through the establishment of convoluted pathways for the diffusion of water vapor and gases, as well as superior mechanical and thermal properties. Nevertheless, a significant challenge when employing nanocelluloses as reinforcements in polymers arises from their limited compatibility with the polymer matrix, primarily attributed to the abundance of surface hydroxyl groups.To address this limitation, this study focuses on the acetylation modification of cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) and nanofibers (CNF) to enhance their compatibility with the polymer matrix. Poly(butylene adipate‐co‐terephthalate) (PBAT) nanocomposites were developed by incorporating 1 wt% of both untreated and acetylated cellulose. The process involved the molten state mixing of these components using a twin‐screw mini extruder, conducted at 160°C for 7 min. The efficacy of the acetylation process was verified through Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis confirmed the favorable interaction and dispersion of nanocelluloses within the polymer matrix. Importantly, introducing these fillers did not compromise thermal stability but notably enhanced the hydrophobic characteristics of the samples, as confirmed by contact angle measurements. Dynamic mechanical analyses further demonstrated the compatibility and effective interaction between the polymer and fillers. This research uniquely provides a comparative analysis of the effects of acetylated CNC and CNF within a PBAT matrix, unveiling distinct interactions and performance enhancements. Each type of nanocellulose exhibits its own characteristic ways of bonding and dispersing, leading to varying performance improvements for the material. This comparison elucidates the nuanced roles that these nanocelluloses play in reinforcing composites, offering insights into optimizing their contribution to polymer matrices. By demonstrating the differential impact of CNC and CNF post‐acetylation, our study contributes significantly to the field of polymer science, guiding future applications of nanocellulose‐reinforced materials in advanced engineering and sustainability efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review article focuses on the complex relationships between forests and water, particularly the effects of forests on streamflow during meteorological droughts. The impact of forests on water resources is a long‐standing research topic, but there are also many common beliefs that are not based on scientific evidence or only selective evidence. We critically examine the origin of some of the common public misconceptions and review the wealth of studies on how forests impact precipitation, soil water dynamics, evapotranspiration, and streamflow. Generally, reforestation increases evapotranspiration and decreases groundwater recharge and streamflow. However, some of the evaporated water will return as precipitation, potentially offsetting some of the increased evapotranspiration losses. Where reforestation leads to more extensive infiltration and recharge due to the effects of forests on the soil's hydraulic properties, it might increase streamflow during dry periods. Although these individual processes have been studied, predicting the impacts of forests on streamflow remains challenging as the effects are site‐specific and depend on many factors, such as the climate, the forest‐ and soil‐characteristics before and after reforestation, and the hydrogeological setting. However, a more accurate and nuanced understanding of the role of forests on hydrology and a better ability to predict where and when the net effects of reforestation are positive or negative is crucial for sustainable forest and water management.This article is categorized under: Science of Water > Science of Water Science of Water > Water and Environmental Change Science of Water > Hydrological Processes Engineering Water > Sustainable Engineering of Water [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The number of easily destroyed parts with high value is increasing in industry, and green remanufacture engineering is now mainstream in this new and expanding industrial field. Equal–additive–subtractive manufacturing, as a new technology that combines strengthening technology, additive manufacturing, and machining technology has great potential for development in the area of remanufacturing. Aiming at the damage characteristics of a plunger rod, this paper carries out a study about the repair technology by equal–additive–subtractive manufacturing of laser-directed energy deposition and shot peening. It was found that the microstructure of the materials repaired by equal–additive–subtractive technology is finer and the tensile strength can reach 100.4% of the base material. The surface residual stress of cladding materials changes from tensile stress to compressive stress, which reduces forming defects. Equal–additive–subtractive manufacturing has great significance in expanding the application of hybrid manufacturing and promoting green remanufacturing of parts with high value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Through experimental and theoretical studies, this research explores the materials, structural, and environmental aspects of multi‐grade concrete (MGC), a potentially sustainable structural concrete. The experimental part investigates the compressive, split cylinder, flexural, and shear strengths of MGC, essential parameters for the design of structural members composed of MGC. It also provides the relationships between various strengths. The compressive behavior is correlated with the cracking pattern and the confinement effect caused by the end platens. The theoretical study involves determining the carbon emissions (CEs) and modifying ASTM/ACI expressions for the flexural tensile strength (FTS) and shear capacity applicable to MGC. Three uni‐grade concretes (UGCs) with distinct materials, properties, and grades: grade 17 (G17), grade 25 (G25), and grade 30 (G30), were poured in layers of varied thicknesses to make two variants of MGC. Experimental investigations showed that the higher‐strength concrete (HSC) confined the lower‐strength concrete (LSC) part thus increasing the compressive strength. Replacing 50% of LSC with HSC led to an increase in compressive and shear strengths by 21% and 40%, respectively. The shear strength values of reinforced MGC beams observed experimentally are aligned with those obtained through the modified expressions developed by the authors. A trade‐off analysis among the strengths, CEs, and costs of UGC and MGC can aid in selecting MGC customized to specific requirements, thereby contributing to the development of sustainable structural concrete. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores a novel method for enhancing the mechanical properties of epoxy resin composites by incorporating carbonized chicken feathers as a filler material. The fabrication process involves carbonizing chicken feathers at 600°C and incorporating 5-10 wt% of the fillers into an epoxy matrix. The composites showed enhanced mechanical properties and samples containing 10 wt% filler exhibit the best properties. The performance corresponds to 49% increase in tensile strength, 16% rise in Young's modulus, 40% improvement in flexural modulus, and 57% in flexural strength. X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy were employed to characterize the filler. This characterization provides valuable insights into the structure and chemical composition of the pulverized carbonized chicken feathers that contributed to the attained improvement in composites' properties. Microstructural examination of the developed composite under scanning electron microscope also provides insights into matrix-filler interface and dispersion of the fillers within the composite matrix. The study not only highlights the unique combination of carbonized feathers' inherent strength and compatibility with the epoxy matrix but also underscores the eco-friendly nature of utilizing agricultural waste. The findings suggest promising applications in industries demanding lightweight, high-strength materials, which can contribute to sustainable engineering solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The limited oxidation stability of ether solvents has posed significant challenges for their applications in high‐voltage lithium metal batteries (LMBs). To tackle this issue, the prevailing strategy either adopts a high concentration of fluorinated salts or relies on highly fluorinated solvents, which will significantly increase the manufacturing cost and create severe environmental hazards. Herein, an alternative and sustainable salt engineering approach is proposed to enable the utilization of dilute electrolytes consisting of fluorine (F)‐free ethers in high‐voltage LMBs. The proposed 0.8 M electrolyte supports stable lithium plating‐stripping with a high Coulombic efficiency of 99.47 % and effectively mitigates the metal dissolution, phase transition, and gas release issues of the LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2 (NCM811) cathode upon charging to high voltages. Consequently, the 4.5 V high‐loading Li||NCM 811 cell shows a capacity retention of 75.2 % after 300 cycles. Multimodal experimental characterizations coupled with theoretical investigations demonstrate that the boron‐containing salt plays a pivotal role in forming the passivation layers on both anode and cathode. The present simple and cost‐effective electrolyte design strategy offers a promising and alternative avenue for using commercially mature, environmentally benign, and low‐cost F‐free ethers in high‐voltage LMBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to integrate the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the outlines of a Master's Degree in Industrial Engineering using active learning methodologies. The main objective of this integration is to favor sustainable human education and to increase students' awareness and responsibility towards future generations from the chemical engineering point of view. Within the process engineering course, the students must design a chemical process using technical, economic, social and environmental criteria. Active learning methodologies were gradually introduced in different academic courses (Project-Based Learning, Collaborative Work and Flipped Classroom) and finally SDGs were implemented in the 2020–21 academic course. A synergetic effect with the active learning methodologies was observed, increasing the motivation of the students and the academics, and the complexity of the projects performed by students. The introduction of the SDGs improved academic results, which was reflected in the absence of failures and a decrease in the percentage of students passing with the lowest grade from 16 % to 10 %. Moreover, students report that this project significantly enhanced their knowledge of the SDGs related to energy and climate change; students having low or very low knowledge about SDGs were reduced to 7 % as compared to the initial 45 %. • Active learning methodologies are a successful tool for the integration of SDGs in engineering courses. • The SDGs integation in the chemical processes design improves the quality, increasing the best marks from 83.9 % to 90.0 %. • The use of SDGs opens the door to introduce the development of new transversal Competences. • Face-to-face sessions are crucial for an effective learning when flipped classrooms are Implemented. • The introduction of SDGs in one PBL using flipped classroom has a very motivating effect on students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The United Nations adopted the Sustainable Development Goals in 2015 as a call to "end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that by 2030 all people enjoy peace and prosperity". The UK-based Science Hunters programme uses Minecraft to engage children with Science, Technology, Engineering, and Maths. Its Engineering for Sustainable Societies project engaged children from under-represented backgrounds with engineering and the Sustainable Development Goals. We conducted mixed-methods interviews with eleven teachers, with objectives of exploring their needs and views with regard to this opportunity to use Minecraft and engineering to engage their students with the Sustainable Development Goals. Inductive thematic analysis of the qualitative data indicated that teachers were interested in the appeal and creativity of Minecraft, opportunities to creatively learn about and explore engineering at various ages, and real-world relevancy. Access barriers and the unlimited nature of the game were concerns. They felt that students would gain greater understanding of sustainability and what they can do, and deep exploration of the topic at their own level. Overall, it was felt that engineering and the Sustainable Development Goals, explored in Minecraft, could give children the opportunity to think about the future of the world they live in. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Advances in green engineering and technology have revealed a number of environmentally acceptable alternatives for water purification. In line with this, recent advances in biosorption of pollutants from aqueous solutions using animal biowaste-based activated carbon (AC) are reported herein. Apart from the fish scale-derived AC which is extensively documented, animal bones, among the rest others, have been studied most widely, followed by hair and feathers. Out of the various target water pollutants, removal of heavy metals has been mostly studied. Majority of the reports showed the Freundlich isotherm and pseudo second order as the best fit. Few investigations on the thermodynamics of the adsorption studies and reports on the Gibbs free energy change (ΔG°), enthalpy change (ΔH°), and entropy change (ΔS°) have also been discussed in this report. It has been concluded that while plant-based AC has gained wide interest, the same is not true for the animal-based counterpart albeit the latter's potential for high sorption efficiency as seen in the present report. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper addresses the three-dimensional concurrent engineering and presents an integrated mathematical model to determine design and production process of each part of product and its supply chain network with a sustainable approach. Demand is assumed to be design-dependent, and supply chain under study is closed-loop. From sustainability viewpoint, total profit in planning horizon is considered as economic index, and an approach based on life cycle assessment is implemented to calculate environmental index. In this approach, the eco-costs method is utilized to quantify life cycle environmental impact of activities. Also, a ratio based on job creation opportunity and employment rate is considered as social index. To show the performance of the proposed mathematical model, data for a home appliance producer from Iran is utilized. Eventually, a sensitivity analysis is presented to examine the effects of variations in demand on the resulted solutions and the values of triple objective functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Utilizing marine waste and resources for eco‐friendly building materials is pivotal in promoting sustainable development in island and coastal construction industries. Among the potential alternatives, coral sand as well as sea sand stands out as a promising material. This research seeks to explore the potential of coral/sea sand as a fine aggregate in the creation of environmentally sustainable marine engineered geopolymer composites. An assessment was conducted on the influence of varying proportions of coral sand, meant as a substitute for sea sand, on the flowability, drying shrinkage, mechanical properties, and microstructure of the marine engineered geopolymer composites. The findings indicate that as coral sand replaces sea sand, flowability and drying shrinkage decrease, while compressive strength experiences an initial rise followed by a decline. Encouragingly, a combination of coral and sea sands enhances tensile ductility. Overall, a 20 wt.% coral sand mixture yields optimal results, with the compressive strength is 54.4 Mpa and the tensile strain capacity is 2.397% after 28 days. Moreover, microscopic tests reveal changes in hydration products and pore structure. Our research delves into the potential of coral/sea sand as a fine aggregate in the creation of environmentally sustainable marine engineered geopolymer composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Infrastructure resilience is a critical issue in arid regions due to the unpredictability of extreme rainfall events influenced by climate change. Accordingly, the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in engineering solutions to address such climatic challenges is important. This study aims to review AI-based engineering solutions for infrastructure resilience in arid areas against extreme rainfall and most importantly critically analyzes their sustainability benefits. By evaluating existing AI-based engineering solutions, this research highlights how these technologies can contribute to sustainable development goals (SDGs) and eventually aims to help set new standards in infrastructure resilience. The significance of this study lies in its potential to advance sustainable development goals by enhancing the resilience of critical infrastructure and equipping arid regions with innovative solutions to withstand adverse weather conditions. Expected outcomes of this study are anticipated to provide pivotal insights for policymakers, engineers, and urban planners, promoting the adoption of intelligent, sustainable infrastructure practices that are in line with global sustainability targets. Finally, this research promotes the adoption of AI solutions in infrastructure resilience and lays the groundwork for future explorations in this field.

Highly ordered spaced titanium dioxide nanotubes were fabricated via electrochemical anodization and modified with titania nanoparticles and copper oxides. Such materials were rapidly annealed in hydrogen atmosphere or conventionally in a tube furnace in air, in which the temperature slowly increases. Applied synthesis procedure can be considered as simple, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly as it allows for reduction in used materials and enhances sustainable engineering. Manipulating the chemical composition of materials by different thermal treatments resulted in various photoelectrochemical activities and density of CO2 adsorption sites. Rapidly annealed nanotubes decorated by copper oxides exhibit excellent electrochemical properties where one electrode combines both: solar to electricity conversion (photocurrent under visible light 30 µA/cm2) and CO2 adsorption systems (18 times higher current after CO2 saturation). Rapidly thermal hydrogenated TiO2 nanotubes with copper oxides had 17 times higher photocurrent and wider absorption band (380–780 nm) than conventionally annealed ones. Furthermore, the crystal planes such as Cu (111), Cu (220), Cu2O (110), CuO (002) and Cu0, Cu+, Cu2+ oxidation states, and oxygen vacancies were recognized for hydrogenated sample. It should be highlighted that thermal annealing conditions significantly affects ability of copper oxide to CO2 adsorption and CO2 reduction reaction for hydrogenated electrode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Facile fabrication, low material complexity and closed‐loop recycling are essential for polymer plastics to alter their linear product economy towards a cradle‐to‐cradle one. Covalent adaptable networks (CANs) are one way to achieve that, which intrinsically exhibit decent mechanical properties like the thermosets but could also be easily recycled like the thermoplastics. In this work, we introduce rigid ester structural motifs into dynamic poly(disulfide)s to form a series of dual polymer networks. Owning to the coherence of soft/rigid segments and the reversible sacrificial crosslinking, they exhibit tailorable mechanical properties and good resistance towards different chemicals. Their closed‐loop recycling is achieved via mild solvolysis, maintaining materials' mechanical integrities. It offers a solution as a sustainable replacement for engineering plastics which are massively under production but hard to be recycled. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The demand for sustainably produced bulk chemicals is constantly rising. Succinate serves as a fundamental component in various food, chemical, and pharmaceutical products. Succinate can be produced from sustainable raw materials using microbial fermentation and enzyme-based technologies. Bacteroides and Phocaeicola species, widely distributed and prevalent gut commensals, possess enzyme sets for the metabolization of complex plant polysaccharides and synthesize succinate as a fermentative end product. This study employed novel molecular techniques to enhance succinate yields in the natural succinate producer Phocaeicola vulgatus by directing the metabolic carbon flow toward succinate formation. The deletion of the gene encoding the methylmalonyl-CoA mutase (Δmcm, bvu_0309-0310) resulted in a 95% increase in succinate production, as metabolization to propionate was effectively blocked. Furthermore, deletion of genes encoding the lactate dehydrogenase (Δldh, bvu_2499) and the pyruvate:formate lyase (Δpfl, bvu_2880) eliminated the formation of fermentative end products lactate and formate. By overproducing the transketolase (TKT, BVU_2318) in the triple deletion mutant, succinate production increased from 3.9 mmol/g dry weight in the wild type to 10.9 mmol/g dry weight. Overall, succinate yield increased by 180% in the new mutant strain P. vulgatus Δmcm Δldh Δpfl pG106_tkt relative to the parent strain. This approach is a proof of concept, verifying the genetic accessibility of P. vulgatus, and forms the basis for targeted genetic optimization. The increase of efficiency highlights the huge potential of P. vulgatus as a succinate producer with applications in sustainable bioproduction processes. Key points: • Deleting methylmalonyl-CoA mutase gene in P. vulgatus doubled succinate production • Triple deletion mutant with transketolase overexpression increased succinate yield by 180% • P. vulgatus shows high potential for sustainable bulk chemical production via genetic optimization [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infrastructure resilience is a critical issue in arid regions due to the unpredictability of extreme rainfall events influenced by climate change. Accordingly, the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in engineering solutions to address such climatic challenges is important. This study aims to review AI-based engineering solutions for infrastructure resilience in arid areas against extreme rainfall and most importantly critically analyzes their sustainability benefits. By evaluating existing AI-based engineering solutions, this research highlights how these technologies can contribute to sustainable development goals (SDGs) and eventually aims to help set new standards in infrastructure resilience. The significance of this study lies in its potential to advance sustainable development goals by enhancing the resilience of critical infrastructure and equipping arid regions with innovative solutions to withstand adverse weather conditions. Expected outcomes of this study are anticipated to provide pivotal insights for policymakers, engineers, and urban planners, promoting the adoption of intelligent, sustainable infrastructure practices that are in line with global sustainability targets. Finally, this research promotes the adoption of AI solutions in infrastructure resilience and lays the groundwork for future explorations in this field. Highlights: AI solutions can improve infrastructure resilience and resource management in arid regions with extreme rainfall events. Using AI solutions in arid regions with extreme rainfall events aligns with SDGs for sustainable, resilient development. The study promotes working to develop cost-effective AI solutions for arid region resilience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon dots (CDs) are attracting increasing research attention due to their exceptional attributes, including their biocompatibility, water solubility, minimal toxicity, high photoluminescence, and easy functionalization. Green CDs, derived from natural sources such as fruits and vegetables, present advantages over conventionally produced CDs, such as cost-effectiveness, stability, simplicity, safety, and environmental friendliness. Various methods, including hydrothermal and microwave treatments, are used to synthesize green CDs, which demonstrate strong biocompatibility, stability, and luminescence. These properties give green CDs versatility in their biological applications, such as bioimaging, biosensing, and drug delivery. This review summarizes the prevalent synthesis methods and renewable sources regarding green CDs; examines their optical features; and explores their extensive biological applications, including in bioimaging, biosensing, drug/gene delivery, antimicrobial and antiviral effects, formatting of mathematical components, cancer diagnosis, and pharmaceutical formulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Metabolic engineering enables the sustainable and cost-efficient production of complex chemicals. Efficient production of terpenes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae can be achieved by recruiting an intermediate of the mevalonate pathway. The present study aimed to evaluate the engineering strategies of S. cerevisiae for the production of taxadiene, a precursor of taxol, an antineoplastic drug. Result: SCIGS22a, a previously engineered strain with modifications in the mevalonate pathway (MVA), was used as a background strain. This strain was engineered to enable a high flux towards farnesyl diphosphate (FPP) and the availability of NADPH. The strain MVA was generated from SCIGS22a by overexpressing all mevalonate pathway genes. Combining the background strains with 16 different episomal plasmids, which included the combination of 4 genes: tHMGR (3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase), ERG20 (farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase), GGPPS (geranyl diphosphate synthase) and TS (taxadiene synthase) resulted in the highest taxadiene production in S. cerevisiae of 528 mg/L. Conclusion: Our study highlights the critical role of pathway balance in metabolic engineering, mainly when dealing with toxic molecules like taxadiene. We achieved significant improvements in taxadiene production by employing a combinatorial approach and focusing on balancing the downstream and upstream pathways. These findings emphasize the importance of minor gene expression modification levels to achieve a well-balanced pathway, ultimately leading to enhanced taxadiene accumulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research focused on rainwater for human consumption is being conducted in different regions of the world. The systematic review revealed that the inadequate quality of harvested rainwater and its scarcity pose significant barriers to the installation of the catchment of rainwater for noble uses. The improper design of rainwater harvesting systems, often a result of the disregard of critical data, is a crucial factor leading to the development of poorly structured systems and inadequate management of this valuable resource. The absence of scientific knowledge about the process further compounds the problem, leading to a sense of insecurity for potential consumers. Ultrafiltration (UF) membranes, followed by ultraviolet disinfection or chlorination, have shown satisfactory results for the potability of rainwater. Additionally, the implementation of photovoltaic panel energized rainwater UF is both economically and technically feasible, and serves as an alternative to traditional water supply approaches. Most studies focused on the utilization of harvested water for non‐drinking purposes, thereby providing opportunities for new studies into effective treatment methods to cater to local and global potable water demands. Therefore, this review aimed to provide insights into the current progress, future challenges, and opportunities related to rainwater harvesting systems and their treatment for the supply of drinking water. This article is categorized under:Engineering Water > Engineering WaterEngineering Water > Sustainable Engineering of WaterEngineering Water > Planning Water [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

IT sustainability is becoming more and more important within the digitalization journey. It is more than green coding or the usage of power‐efficient hardware – it needs a holistic approach to leverage the potentials end‐to‐end in the software life‐cycle. The overall value stream within the IT organization is subject to sustainability alignment. This holistic alignment demands the engagement of different teams in large IT organizations. This article identifies the contributions of typical team stakeholders and evaluates their sustainability software engineering (SSE) contributions. This includes demand, architecture, design, implementation, operation, and usage. As an IT organization focuses on more than just software, the term sustainable IT engineering (SIE) fits better with the scope of organizational sustainability. The proposed approaches are presented based on instantiations within the Volkswagen Group IT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mycelium-bound composites (MBCs) represent a promising advancement in bio-based building materials, offering sustainable alternatives for engineering and construction applications. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the current research landscape, production methodologies, and standardization ideas related to MBCs. A basic search on Scopus revealed over 250 publications on MBCs between 2020 and 2024, with more than 30% focusing on engineering and materials science. Key studies have investigated the physical and mechanical properties of MBCs, optimizing parameters such as substrate type, fungal species, incubation time, and post-processing to enhance material performance. Standardizing the inspection of MBC properties is crucial for ensuring quality and reliability. Various testing standards, including those from the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), the Japanese Industrial Standard (JIS), European Standards (EN), Deutsches Institut für Normung (DIN), and the Thai Industrial Standards Institute (TIS), are utilized to evaluate density, water absorption, compression strength, tensile strength, insulation, and other critical properties. This review highlights the distinction between lab-scale and apply-scale testing methodologies, emphasizing the need for comprehensive evaluation protocols. Additionally, the production process of MBCs involves critical steps like substrate preparation, fungal species selection, and mycelium growth, necessitating the implementation of good manufacturing practices (GMPs) to ensure consistency and quality. The internal and external structures of MBCs significantly influence their performance, necessitating standardized inspection methods using advanced techniques such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray computed tomography (CT) scanning, and surface profilometry. By establishing robust inspection protocols and production standards, the industry can enhance the reliability and adoption of MBCs, contributing to innovations in materials science and promoting environmental sustainability. This review underscores the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration, advanced characterization tools, and regulatory frameworks to address challenges and advance the field of MBCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the flow characteristics of a viscous, incompressible, conducting Jeffrey fluid in a rotating channel filled with anisotropic porous medium with an inclined magnetic field. The study has relevance to fluid motion in striated rock formations and seepage flow in rotating systems across insulation or geological layers. The channel's rotation axis and a principal axis of the permeability tensor are perpendicular to the walls. The flow is described by the Darcy–Brinkman model under no-slip boundary conditions, applicable in regenerative heat exchangers. Key parameters include the rotation rate and the lateral permeabilities. They have significant impacts on flow behavior. Fluid velocity consists of a primary component aligned with the pressure gradient and a secondary component influenced by the Coriolis force. The variation in lateral permeabilities affects the convexity of the velocity profile, while the magnetic field allows for control of both velocity and volumetric flow rates. The Jeffrey parameter and the inclination angle further enhance the flow behavior. This study provides comprehensive analysis through tables and figures for various values of the anisotropic Darcy number and the rotation parameter, detailing the model's physical properties. The effects of the product of skin friction and the Reynolds number are also discussed, with results aligning with the existing literature for limiting cases. These findings offer valuable insights into fluid behavior in complex environments where rotation, porous structures, and magnetic fields interact with implications for process optimization, resource recovery, and sustainable engineering practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rainfall is one of the remarkable hydrologic variables that is directly connected to the sustainable environment for any region over the globe. The present study aims to review different research papers on rainfall forecasting using artificial intelligence (AI) models including a bibliographic assessment of the most popular AI models and a comparison of the results based on the accuracy parameters. 39 journal papers, published in renowned international journals from 2000 to 2023, were studied extensively to categorize modeling techniques, best models, characteristics of input data, the period for the input variables, data division, and so forth. Although certain drawbacks still exist, the results of reviewed studies suggest that AI models may help simulate rainfall in various geographic locations. In some cases, the data splitting mechanism was delivered to the model itself so that the model accuracy gets improved. The recommendations from the reviewed papers will help future researchers fill the research gaps, especially tuning the hyperparameters while building the training models. Hybrid models were advised in some cases to minimize the gap between the simulated and the observed data. All recommendations from reviewed papers aimed to achieve a resilient rainfall forecasting model in the era of climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY: Improvement of photosynthesis requires a thorough understanding of electron partitioning under both natural and strong electron sink conditions. We applied a wide array of state‐of‐the‐art biophysical and biochemical techniques to thoroughly investigate the fate of photosynthetic electrons in the engineered cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803, a blueprint for photosynthetic biotechnology, expressing the heterologous gene for ene‐reductase, YqjM. This recombinant enzyme catalyses the reduction of an exogenously added substrate into the desired product by utilising photosynthetically produced NAD(P)H, enabling whole‐cell biotransformation. Through coupling the biotransformation reaction with biophysical measurements, we demonstrated that the strong artificial electron sink, outcompetes the natural electron valves, the flavodiiron protein‐driven Mehler‐like reaction and cyclic electron transport. These results show that ferredoxin‐NAD(P)H‐oxidoreductase is the preferred route for delivering photosynthetic electrons from reduced ferredoxin and the cellular NADPH/NADP+ ratio as a key factor in orchestrating photosynthetic electron flux. These insights are crucial for understanding molecular mechanisms of photosynthetic electron transport and harnessing photosynthesis for sustainable bioproduction by engineering the cellular source/sink balance. Furthermore, we conclude that identifying the bioenergetic bottleneck of a heterologous electron sink is a crucial prerequisite for targeted engineering of photosynthetic biotransformation platforms. Significance Statement: We coupled the photosynthetic and biocatalytic (whole‐cell biotransformation) performance of model cyanobacteria. We employed a heterologous NAD(P)H utilising enzyme, as a strong artificial electron sink, allowing us to gain a comprehensive understanding of photosynthetic electron partitioning. We demonstrated that the strong electron sink outcompetes natural electron sinks and cyclic electron transport. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genetically engineered cyanobacterial strains that have improved growth rate, biomass productivity, and metabolite productivity could be a better option for sustainable bio-metabolite production. The global demand for biobased metabolites with nutraceuticals and health benefits has increased due to their safety and plausible therapeutic and nutritional utility. Cyanobacteria are solar-powered green cellular factories that can be genetically tuned to produce metabolites with nutraceutical and pharmaceutical benefits. The present review discusses biotechnological endeavors for producing bioprospective compounds from genetically engineered cyanobacteria and discusses the challenges and troubleshooting faced during metabolite production. This review explores the cyanobacterial versatility, the use of engineered strains, and the techno-economic challenges associated with scaling up metabolite production from cyanobacteria. Challenges to produce cyanobacterial bioactive compounds with remarkable nutraceutical values have been discussed. Additionally, this review also summarises the challenges and future prospects of metabolite production from genetically engineered cyanobacteria as a sustainable approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Advanced manufacturing research for sustainable battery life cycles is of utmost importance to reach net zero carbon emissions (European Commission, 2023a) as well as several of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs), for example: 30% reduction of CO2 emission, 10 million job opportunities and access to electricity for 600 million people (World Economic Forum, 2019). This editorial paper highlights international motivations for pursuing more sustainable manufacturing practices and discusses key research topics in battery manufacturing. Batteries will be central to our sustainable future as generation and storage become key components to on-demand energy supply. Four underlying themes are identified to address industrial needs in this field: 1. Digitalizing and automating production capabilities: data-driven solutions for production quality, smart maintenance, automation, and human factors, 2. Human-centric production: extended reality for operator support and skills development, 3. Circular battery life cycles: circular battery systems supported by service-based and other novel business models, 4. Future topics for battery value chains: increased industrial resilience and transparency with digital product passports, and next-generation battery chemistries. Challenges and opportunities along these themes are highlighted for transforming battery value chains through circularity and more sustainable production, with a particular emphasis on lithium-ion batteries (LIB). The paper concludes with directions for further research to advance a circular and sustainable battery value chain through utilizing the full potential of digitalization realising a cleaner, more energy-efficient society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The need for new sustainable engineering materials using polymer composites is evolving every day. Researchers are in a race to develop value‐added products from natural renewable sources and discarded waste materials. Studies indicate several hurdles while trying to provide ecologically friendly materials for product manufacturing over the years. Natural materials are more readily available, biodegradable, more affordable, have less processing health hazards, and are more environmentally friendly than synthetic materials. As the price of commercial polymers decreased, the incorporation of fillers became increasingly necessary for technical reasons.. The market for polymers can actually be expanded by appropriately combining fillers and polymers to produce a wide range of qualities in these two components. This review provides an overview on a variety of organic and inorganic fillers which were incorporated into the polymer composites and their influence on the physical, chemical, mechanical, thermal, and electrical properties of polymer composites by various characterization methods and their In fact, it is possible to achieve a wide range of qualities in these two components by appropriately combining polymers and fillers, which expands the market for which polymers may be employed.application scopes. This review aims to thoroughly examine and assess various polymer and filler combinations, with a particular emphasis on their potential suitability for a range of engineering and industrial applications. These encompass microelectronics, biomedical fields, flexible electronics, flame retardant uses, food packaging, automotive and aerospace sectors, as well as applications within the construction industry for structural and semi‐structural purposes. Highlights: New polymer composite engineering materials with long‐term sustainabilityValue‐added product development from renewable resources and discarded waste materials.Provide information to select appropriate reinforcements for composite manufacturing.Diverse discussion on the application of fillers and their composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Environmental education (EE) has been extensively studied and promoted in Latin America, particularly in Colombia, through educational policies and regulations at all educational stages. While EE is well-established, Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) is gaining increasing global importance, especially with the advent of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Despite this, there remains a lack of knowledge, application, and research of ESD within engineering programs in higher education. This study aims to explore these gaps and assess the acceptance of ESD compared to EE among engineering students in Colombia. Methods: A survey was conducted among 406 engineering students from eight universities in Colombia that offer undergraduate engineering programs. The survey included both Likert scale questions and open-ended questions. The objective was to measure students' knowledge and perception of ESD, identify the roots of EE within engineering programs, and evaluate the progressive integration of ESD in these curricula. Results: The results revealed the deep-rooted presence of EE in Colombian engineering programs and a gradual incorporation of ESD into these curricula. However, significant gaps were identified. The majority of students demonstrated limited knowledge of ESD and Sustainable Development (SD). Furthermore, there was a noticeable lack of academic areas or subjects within the engineering curriculum that specifically promote the knowledge and application of ESD. Students' responses also highlighted the unusual convergence between EE, a traditionally conservationist field, and ESD, which is more developmentoriented. Discussion: This research identifies several critical challenges faced by engineering education in Colombia. The limited awareness of ESD among students suggests a need for enhanced integration of sustainable development concepts within engineering curricula. The lack of academic subjects dedicated to ESD further exacerbates this issue. Based on these findings, a transition strategy is proposed to bridge the gap between EE and ESD in Colombian higher education. This strategy aims to provide a smoother transition and better integration of sustainable development principles within engineering programs, ultimately supporting the development of engineers equipped to address contemporary global challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Xyloglucan oligosaccharides (XyGOs) are highly branched, complex carbohydrates with a variety of chemical and biotechnological applications. Due to the regular repeating pattern of sidechain substitution of the xyloglucan backbone, well-defined XyGOs are readily accessed for analytical and preparative purposes by specific hydrolysis of the polysaccharide with endo-glucanases. To broaden the application potential of XyGOs, we present here an optimized, scalable method to access large quantities of galactosylated XyGOs by treatment of the bulk agricultural by-product, tamarind kernel powder (TKP), with a highly specific endo-xyloglucanase at high-solids content. Subsequent β-galactosidase treatment reduced XyGO complexity to produce exclusively the branched heptasaccharide XXXG (Xyl3Glc4: [α-D-Xylp-(1 → 6)]-β-D-Glcp-(1 → 4)-[α-D-Xylp-(1 → 6)]-β-D-Glcp-(1 → 4)-[α-D-Xylp-(1 → 6)]-β-D-Glcp-(1 → 4)-D-Glcp). The challenge of removing the co-product galactose was overcome by fermentation with baker's yeast, thereby avoiding chromatography and other fractionation steps to yield highly pure XXXG. This simplified approach employs many of the core concepts of green chemistry and engineering, enables facile production of 100 g quantities of XyGOs and XXXG for laboratory use, and serves as a guide to further production scale-up for applications, including as prebiotics, plant growth effectors and elicitors, and building blocks for glycoconjugate synthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To meet the ever-increasing demand for the continuous development of human society and carbon neutralization, biomass has been demonstrated to be a pluripotent and powerful alternative. Regardless of the low cost, natural abundance, renewability, and biodegradability of biomass, the role of its unique (bio)chemical features in contributing to the on-demand regulatable structure and widely applicable versatility of the products has sparked growing interest. Besides, sustainable production from biomass to smart materials is believed to be one of the key strategies to achieve the global goals of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality. This review will focus on the green engineering of diverse biomass feedstocks for different applications, and the proposed outline is as follows: First, renewable biomass feedstocks of different hierarchies are introduced. Second, green preparations of biomass-derived materials are systematically categorized from the viewpoint of the structural orientation of the biomass, and the correlation between the biomass's structural features and the sustainability assessments of the preparation process is also discussed. Third, the applications in electrochemical energy storage, biomedical engineering, electronics, and sensing which feature their smart functionality were comprehensively summarized. Fourth, the advantages and the limitations of biomass-derived materials are qualitatively evaluated. Finally, future prospects and directions on the sustainable production of materials with smart functionality from biomass will be presented. We endeavor to offer comparative and balanced views, as well as insights into which biomass is particularly advantageous for specific intelligent applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the transformative effects of incorporating Trinidad Lake asphalt (TLA), crumb rubber modifier (CRM), and the warm mix additive leadcap (LC) into petroleum-based asphalt binder PG 64-22. Our results show that LC significantly reduces binder viscosity, leading to easier application and lower energy consumption, especially when combined with TLA and CRM. The addition of TLA and CRM enhances rutting resistance, with notable improvements in both pre- and post-aging conditions, particularly in formulations combining PG 64-22, 20% TLA, and 10% CRM. These formulations exhibit superior performance metrics, such as increased percentage recovery (% rec) and reduced non-recoverable creep compliance (Jnr), indicating improved flexibility and deformation resistance. Furthermore, LC balances increased rigidity and susceptibility to fatigue cracking from higher TLA and CRM levels, respectively. These modifications also promote environmental sustainability by reducing energy usage and emissions during production and paving. This study highlights LC's critical role in advancing high-performance, eco-friendly warm mix asphalt binders, offering valuable insights for sustainable pavement engineering and setting a new benchmark for advanced asphalt technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sustainability of products remains a challenge, mainly due to the lack of consistent approaches for simultaneously taking into account the key criteria of the concept in the process. This research aims to develop an eco-innovative QLCA method to create new product solutions that integrate quality (customer satisfaction) and environmental impact assessment throughout the product life cycle. The QLCA method includes: (i) product prototyping according to quality and environmental criteria; (ii) prospective assessment of the quality of prototypes, taking into account customer requirements; (iii) prospective life cycle assessment of product prototypes using a cradle-to-grave approach in accordance with ISO 14040; and (iv) setting the direction of product development while taking into account the fulfilment of customer expectations and the need to care for the environment throughout the product life cycle. Owing to the lack of previous research in this area, as well as the popularity of photovoltaic (PV) panels in reducing greenhouse gases, an illustration was obtained and test of the method was carried out on the example of silicon photovoltaic panel modules (Crystalline Si PV Module). In accordance with the adopted assumptions, the results of the QLCA method test showed that the modelled PV prototypes will, in most cases, be satisfactory for customers, but they still require improvement actions to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions throughout their life cycle. These activities should be consistent so as to achieve quality that satisfies customers. The QLCA method can be used by designers, managers, and decision-makers at the early stages of design, but also during the product maturity phase for its sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the application of the epoxidation process of poly‐β‐myrcene, a constituent of the natural resin from Chios Mastic trees (Pistacia Lentiscus L.), as an educational instrument for teaching Green Chemistry and Engineering to students at various academic levels. The study provides a comprehensive presentation of foundational knowledge essential for interpreting the subsequent experimental data. Consequently, the production process that leads to the production of Mastic Epoxide (MASTEP) stands as an invaluable pedagogical resource, enabling educators to impart crucial principles of Green Chemistry and Engineering to both pre‐graduate and post‐graduate students. By employing MASTEP as a case study, this educational approach actively involves students in a dynamic learning environment. Through this methodology, learners develop a profound comprehension of sustainability, innovation, and good practices. The integration of the MASTEP concept into the curriculum would foster a deeper understanding of responsible methodologies among aspiring chemical engineers and scientists, equipping them to make substantial contributions towards a more sustainable global landscape. This educational model aims to contribute to preparing future generations for a pivotal role in fostering a sustainable world through their professional endeavors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]