Sustainable catalysts: Advances in geopolymer-catalyzed reactions and their applications

Abstract

This study investigated using geopolymers as sustainable catalysts, utilizing both computational and experimental methods to improve the synthesis process. We used tools like Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) and hierarchical clustering algorithms to find patterns, gaps, and new topics. We also experimented to see how structural and chemical factors affect the catalyst's performance. Adding industrial waste like blast furnace slag and fly ash made catalysts that worked very well and had properties that worked well in both chemical and environmental settings. It was easier for reagents to move through and get to active sites because of the pores and the addition of nanoparticles like TiO₂ and copper ferrites. This made the catalyst work better. Geopolymer catalysts were more than 90 % effective at breaking down pollutants like Rhodamine B and methylene blue, and they stayed stable after being used more than once. Studies also showed that these materials can be used to make biodiesel, with high yields in optimized transesterification made easier by machine learning. Notably, the resulting glycerol byproduct can serve as a precursor for biopolyesters, further enhancing the economic and ecological benefits of this approach. The results consolidate geopolymers as viable and multifunctional alternatives, promoting sustainability and technological innovation. Their versatility meets industrial and environmental demands, positioning them as promising solutions for global challenges, such as pollutant mitigation and energy transition. To make sure that geopolymers can meet the growing need for clean and long-lasting technologies, future research should focus on making them more industrially scalable, stable over time, and able to use a broader range of precursors.