ACS Sustainable Resource Management最新文献

{"title":"A Sustainable Phosphonoacetic Acid–Based Sulfonated Acidic Ionic Liquid Catalyst for Efficient Conversion of Alkaline and Dealkaline Lignin into Phenolics","authors":"Kuldeep Singh,&nbsp;Sushil Adhikari","doi":"10.1021/acssusresmgt.6c00181","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acssusresmgt.6c00181","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The valorization of lignin into high-value phenolic compounds represents a pivotal step toward sustainable biorefineries, yet its recalcitrant structure poses significant challenges. Accordingly, we hypothesized that a hybrid inorganic and organic acid framework with controlled proton activity could provide tunable acidity. Herein, we report a sustainable, phosphonoacetic acid-based, novel sulfonated Brønsted acidic ionic liquid (IL) [C₃SO₃HMIM]-HCMP, designed as a dual-acidic catalytic system with a Hammett acidity of 2.09. The catalyst combines strong proton-donating ability with hydrogen bonding, promoting high lignin conversion. Under optimized conditions (120 °C, 1 h, 30 mL H₂O/CH₃OH (1:5 v/v) solvent system, and 1.5 mmol catalyst loading in a 100 mL batch reactor), the catalyst achieved remarkable lignin conversion of 44–48% for both alkaline (AL) and dealkaline lignin (DAL), yielding 36–40 wt % bio-oil. GC-MS analysis of volatile bio-oil fraction, based on normalized peak area percentages, revealed vanillin as the dominating product (66% for AL, 54% for DAL), followed by vanillic acid (10.7% AL, 6.8% DAL), apocynin (9.3% for AL, 5.4% DAL), and other phenol derivatives (1.4% for AL to 19.54% for DAL), indicating effective cleavages of both β–O–4 and Cα–Cβ linkages. These values represent the relative abundance of compounds detected in GC-MS total ion chromatograms. Comprehensive characterization of lignin before and after reaction via FTIR, 2D HSQC, NMR, XRD, TGA, CHNS, and SEM confirmed successful lignin depolymerization and phenolic compound formation. Crucially, the IL catalyst retained its activity over four consecutive cycles without performance loss. This study demonstrates that rationally designed hybrid acidic ILs offer a green, energy-efficient, and noncorrosive platform for selective lignin valorization, advancing sustainable aromatic chemical production within a circular bioeconomy.</p>","PeriodicalId":100015,"journal":{"name":"ACS Sustainable Resource Management","volume":"3 8","pages":"2714–2729"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-08-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148822489","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Optimizing Methane Production from Excessively Wilted Straw via Synergistic Enhancement of Silage Pretreatment and Microbial Community Reconfiguration","authors":"Weiwei Wang,&nbsp;Jing Yan,&nbsp;Peng Zhang,&nbsp;Haoxing He,&nbsp;Huiban He,&nbsp;Bingyuan Lu,&nbsp;Xiaotian Chen,&nbsp;Boting Wen,&nbsp;Hongliang Wang,&nbsp;Zongjun Cui,&nbsp;Xufeng Yuan","doi":"10.1021/acssusresmgt.5c00436","DOIUrl":"10.1021/acssusresmgt.5c00436","url":null,"abstract":"<p>In this study, a pretreatment strategy based on enhanced silage with complex lactic acid bacteria was proposed to investigate the effects of different silage cycles on the storage efficiency and anaerobic fermentation performance of excessively wilted straw (EWS). The results demonstrated that lactic acid bacteria inoculation led to a significant reduction in the loss of dry matter while concurrently promoting the degradation of lignocellulose. The silage-pretreated feedstock demonstrated a substantial reduction in the anaerobic fermentation lag phase (whereas the lag phase decreased by 20.00−66.67%), an augmentation in the average daily methane production rate by 1.84−10.94% (reaching 129.38 mL/g TS), and exhibited optimal gas production performance in the 60-day treatment group (LIS2). The microbial community reconfiguration significantly enriched key functional genes related to methane production. This study proposes an innovative solution to the problem of seasonal storage of straw and provides theoretical and technological support for the optimization of sustainable feedstock supply and energy conversion efficiency in biogas engineering.</p>","PeriodicalId":100015,"journal":{"name":"ACS Sustainable Resource Management","volume":"3 7","pages":"2024–2034"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-07-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148624760","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Nickel-Catalyzed Growth of Carbon Nanofibers for Chromium Removal from Water","authors":"Anmol Pandey,&nbsp;Rasmita Pujahari,&nbsp;Bhaskar Bhaduri,&nbsp;Puspendu Sardar","doi":"10.1021/acssusresmgt.6c00110","DOIUrl":"10.1021/acssusresmgt.6c00110","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Exposure to hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] via oral intake, skin contact, or inhalation may lead to its accumulation in vital organs such as the liver, kidneys, heart, blood, and endocrine glands, leading to serious health issues and organ damage. This study evaluates the efficiency of Ni-CNF synthesized by CVD for the adsorptive removal of Cr(VI) from both aqueous solutions and Cr(VI)-spiked river water. The adsorption performance was found to be strongly dependent on contact time, solution pH, and the initial Cr(VI) concentration. The maximum adsorption capacity, estimated using the Liu isotherm model, was 98.18 ± 2.85 mg/g at pH 2, an adsorbent dosage of 0.25 mg/mL, an initial Cr(VI) concentration of 100 mg/L, and a temperature of 30 °C. The adsorption mechanisms under acidic conditions include electrostatic attraction, surface complexation between Cr(VI) and oxygen containing functional groups, reduction of Cr(VI) to Cr(III) via redox surface reactions, and pore-filling effects. Furthermore, the adsorption capacity of Ni-CNF decreased only moderately from 48.57 mg/g in the initial cycle to 40.52 mg/g after five adsorption−desorption cycles, indicating good regeneration efficiency and structural robustness. Overall, the findings demonstrate that Ni-CNF is a promising multifunctional material with significant potential for the removal of other dyes and heavy metals from wastewater.</p>","PeriodicalId":100015,"journal":{"name":"ACS Sustainable Resource Management","volume":"3 7","pages":"2213–2230"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-07-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148650833","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Resource-Efficient Photobioreactor Cultivation of Nannochloropsis sp. Using a CO2-Pulsed pH-Stat Strategy","authors":"Rohith Sivakumar,&nbsp;Sanjoy Ghosh","doi":"10.1021/acssusresmgt.5c00683","DOIUrl":"10.1021/acssusresmgt.5c00683","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Sustainable microalgal bioprocesses offer a promising route for converting anthropogenic CO₂ into high-value bioproducts, yet their resource efficiency is often constrained by suboptimal carbon delivery and energy-intensive operation. In this study, a CO₂-pulsed pH-stat (CPPS) cultivation strategy was developed in a stirred-tank photobioreactor to enhance CO₂ utilization efficiency, biomass productivity, and EPA-rich lipid formation in <em>Nannochloropsis</em> sp. CCAP 211/78. Systematic evaluation of CO₂ concentration (0.04−7.5%) and photoperiod (24:0 to 12:12 h light:dark) identified 5% CO₂ and a 16:8 h photoperiod as optimal for promoting resource-efficient carbon assimilation. Dynamic pseudo−steady-state experiments demonstrated that 1 vvm aeration maximized photosynthetic performance and CO₂ uptake, yielding a peak oxygen evolution rate of 101.81 ± 5.42 μmol_O₂ L⁻¹ min⁻¹ and a CO₂ supply rate of 57.25 ± 2.34 mg L⁻¹ h⁻¹ under 200 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹ illumination. Validation of the optimized CPPS process across nitrate levels revealed robust EPA biosynthesis, achieving a biomass concentration of 2.40 ± 0.02 g L⁻¹ and an EPA titer of 43.25 ± 6.11 mg L⁻¹ at 2 g L⁻¹ nitrate. These findings demonstrate that integrating real-time CO₂ dosing with energy- and nutrient-optimized conditions enhances carbon conversion efficiency and supports the resource-efficient production of EPA-rich microalgal biomass.</p>","PeriodicalId":100015,"journal":{"name":"ACS Sustainable Resource Management","volume":"3 7","pages":"2072–2080"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-07-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148656328","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Sustainable Management of Chrome Shaving Dust for Leather Particle Board Preparation: A Circular Economy Approach","authors":"Fatema Tujjohra,&nbsp;Masrafe Bin Imran,&nbsp;Hasibur Rahaman Bhuiyan,&nbsp;Md. Rayhan Sarker,&nbsp;Mohammed Mizanur Rahman","doi":"10.1021/acssusresmgt.6c00226","DOIUrl":"10.1021/acssusresmgt.6c00226","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Chrome shaving dust (CSD), a tannery-derived solid waste, poses significant environmental and human health risks. This study focuses on producing leather particle boards (LPBs) by incorporating both chrome-tanned solid waste (CSD) and lignocellulosic agricultural waste (JCs). Valorization of CSD will significantly reduce the environmental pollution, while incorporating JCs will minimize the dependency on traditional wood resources. The mechanical properties of these underexplored leather particle boards were evaluated, and the findings showed their potential as sustainable alternatives to conventional wood-based particle boards. The response surface methodology was applied to optimize the ratio of the CSD to JC blend, identifying an ideal formulation containing a CSD-to-JC blend ratio of 70.43:44.41. The resulting LPBs exhibited superior mechanical performance, including an internal bonding strength of 0.97 ± 0.01 N/mm², a modulus of elasticity of 1627 ± 4.25 N/mm², a modulus of rupture of 20 ± 0.45 N/mm², a surface soundness of 1.2 ± 0.01 N/mm², and screw-holding capacities of 1195 ± 8.70 N at the face and 997 ± 6.35 N at the edge. Fire-retardant behavior was confirmed by a 31 ± 0.53% limited oxygen index and a burning duration of 9.3 ± 0.04 s. Field-emission scanning electron microscopy analyses showed uniform dispersion of components without structural degradation. Thermal analyses (thermogravimetric analysis–derivative thermogravimetry and differential scanning calorimetry) confirmed the thermal stability of the optimized samples up to 350 °C. Overall, the study demonstrates a circular economy-based sustainable pathway for converting CSD into an effective alternative to conventional wood-based particle boards.</p>","PeriodicalId":100015,"journal":{"name":"ACS Sustainable Resource Management","volume":"3 7","pages":"2399–2414"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-07-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148675571","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Ultralow-Content Pt-Catalysts with Enriched Oxygen Vacancies for Highly Efficient Hydrogenation of MEA-Captured-CO2 to Methanol","authors":"Jiahao Zheng,&nbsp;Jiong Sun,&nbsp;Cuizhen Bai,&nbsp;Salman Qadir,&nbsp;Songdong Yao,&nbsp;Shao-Tao Bai","doi":"10.1021/acssusresmgt.6c00278","DOIUrl":"10.1021/acssusresmgt.6c00278","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Direct hydrogenation of MEA-captured-CO₂ to methanol is likely to be an economically advantageous technology for mitigating CO₂ emissions and storing energy in a decentralized manner. However, the current catalysts have low activity and significant <em>N</em>-methylation selectivity when converting carbamate species to methanol via formamide intermediates. Building on our previous work, this manuscript presents the development of an ultralow-loading Pt-catalyst (0.0127 wt % Pt/C_SAP-TiO₂-CeO₂) with abundant oxygen vacancies. This novel catalyst demonstrates significantly improved efficiency in the direct hydrogenation of MEA-captured-CO₂ to methanol, achieving methanol turnover numbers (TONs) of up to 30252. The metal loadings, temperatures, CO₂ loadings, and catalyst recycling stability were thoroughly evaluated. Comprehensive structural and surface characterizations (XRD, SEM, ac-HAADF-STEM, BET, XPS, and CO₂-TPD) reveal that the positively charged Pt is highly likely atomically dispersed and predominantly anchored on the superabsorbent polymer (SAP)-derived hierarchical porous carbon skeleton (C_SAP) in the well-defined carbon-metal-oxide-composite support with rich oxygen vacancies. We proposed a rational mechanism featuring oxygen vacancy-assisted supramolecular heterogeneous single-atom catalysis for carbamate adsorption, preorganization, activation, and conversion to methanol.</p>","PeriodicalId":100015,"journal":{"name":"ACS Sustainable Resource Management","volume":"3 7","pages":"2456–2464"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-07-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148624558","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Piranha Solution-Enabled Removal of Carbon Species from Silicon Kerf Loss for Improved Raw Silicon Recovery","authors":"Ramesh Palanisamy,&nbsp;Bharathwaj Murugesan,&nbsp;Karuppasamy Pichan","doi":"10.1021/acssusresmgt.6c00099","DOIUrl":"10.1021/acssusresmgt.6c00099","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The photovoltaic (PV) industry continues to expand rapidly, and the volume of silicon (Si) waste has surged, leading to substantial environmental challenges. This waste primarily comprises Si powder from kerf-loss slurry generated during wire-saw wafer cutting and scrap fragments produced during the Si ingot growing process. To lower the cost of crystalline Si production and reduce environmental pollution, recovering and purifying Si waste has become a subject of great interest. In this study, the effect of hydrogen peroxide as a novel oxidizing agent in the purification of metallurgical-grade Si through leaching with sulfuric acid was examined at various ratios. Specifically, the purification of silicon kerf using piranha solution with a mixture of sulfuric acid and hydrogen peroxide was investigated with a focus on carbon reduction. The results demonstrate that increasing the oxidative strength of the piranha solution, particularly by adjusting the hydrogen peroxide ratio, led to progressive purification. Treatments with higher peroxide concentrations, especially at a 1:1 ratio, yielded significant improvements in crystallinity, reductions in surface impurities, and substantial decreases in carbon content, confirming the efficiency of oxidative leaching for recycling kerf-derived silicon waste. Characterization using PXRD, FTIR, FESEM, and EDS revealed the initial presence of multiple contaminants such as native silicon oxide, metallic residues, and carbonaceous impurities. The reduction of impurities was further confirmed through carbon analysis conducted for the three different solution ratios.</p>","PeriodicalId":100015,"journal":{"name":"ACS Sustainable Resource Management","volume":"3 7","pages":"2201–2212"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-07-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148624704","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Transition Metal-Loaded TiO2 Catalyst for Catalytic Thermoliquefaction of Municipal Solid Waste into Carbon-Rich Oil","authors":"Yogesh Badgujar,&nbsp;Nandini Ajgaonkar,&nbsp;Hitesh S. Pawar","doi":"10.1021/acssusresmgt.6c00177","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acssusresmgt.6c00177","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Continued fossil fuel depletion has accelerated the search for sustainable, clean energy solutions, positioning abundantly available biomass as a compelling pathway to meet global energy demand. The present study explores the use of an inexpensive transition metal-loaded TiO₂ catalyst for catalytic thermoliquefaction (mCTL) of the organic biodegradable municipal solid waste to produce carbon-dense mCTL oil at nonstringent reaction conditions. Various transition metal catalysts are synthesized as TiO₂-loaded catalysts from their nitrate precursors and evaluated for mCTL. Of the synthesized catalysts (Cr/TiO₂, Ni/TiO₂, Fe/TiO₂, Co/TiO₂, and Cu/TiO₂), Co/TiO₂ shows excellent performance in terms of biomass conversion (&gt;68%) and mCTL oil yield (&gt;58%) without formation of char and gaseous byproducts at 200 °C. The optimized conditions using Co/TiO₂ provide biomass conversion (&gt;84%) and mCTL oil yield (&gt;77%) at 250 °C in 60 min. Various surface-morphological and analytical characterization techniques are explored to elucidate the catalyst's physicochemical and surface features. The synthesized Co/TiO₂ exhibits the presence of Co₂O₃ and Co₃O₄ with a crystalline phase and uniform Co loading on TiO₂. Surface area analysis reveals a mesoporous structure with a specific surface area of 16.93 m² g⁻¹ and pore diameters ranging from 8 to 16 nm. The obtained mCTL oil was characterized by acid number, elemental analysis, infrared spectroscopy, GC-MS, and HPLC, confirming the presence of a wide range of hydrocarbons, including acids, esters, alcohols, etc. Catalyst recyclability tests over five consecutive runs demonstrate consistent mCTL process performance. Additionally, environmental metrics, including the E-factor, process mass intensity (PMI), and water and carbon footprints, indicated the sustainability of the mCTL process, highlighting its strong potential to produce next-generation fuels, chemicals, and value-added products from municipal waste. Thus, cobalt was found to be a more efficient metal to promote the mCTL process, which may be because of its excellent balance of redox activity, hydrogenation ability, C−O bond cleavage efficiency, and thermal stability.</p>","PeriodicalId":100015,"journal":{"name":"ACS Sustainable Resource Management","volume":"3 7","pages":"2332–2344"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-07-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148672549","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Distribution and Uptake of Copper, Chromium, Nickel, and Iron in Equisetum arvense and Equisetum hyemale Grown in Gold Mine Tailings","authors":"Levi J. Lundell,&nbsp;Derek Peak,&nbsp;Jolynn Amyotte,&nbsp;Katherine Stewart","doi":"10.1021/acssusresmgt.6c00146","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acssusresmgt.6c00146","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Globally, the <em>Equisetum</em> genus has been identified as metal tolerant with characteristics useful for revegetating metal-contaminated sites and tailings. In this study, <em><em>Equisetum arvense</em></em> and <em><em>Equisetum hyemale</em></em> were propagated from wild stock and grown under greenhouse conditions to investigate their interactions with metals. Substrates were northern Canadian gold mine tailings, 10% v/v peat amended tailings, and a constructed control. Plant survival, above and belowground biomass, and metal content were measured after 14 weeks. Then, roots and stems were measured with synchrotron X-ray fluorescence imaging (XFI) to identify tissues involved in plant–metal interactions. Both species were tolerant of the tailings substrate, but <em><em>E. hyemale</em></em> had higher survival across all substrates and consistently low metal translocation (studied metal translocation factors ≤4.61–41.7%). XFI revealed <em><em>E. hyemale</em></em> excluded most metals at the root epidermis, and <em><em>E. arvense</em></em> used distinct root vasculature for Cu and Fe transport, giving direction to future mechanistic studies. <em><em>E. hyemale</em></em>’s survival and belowground metal accumulation make it more desirable for tailings revegetation than <em><em>E. arvense</em></em>. By cultivating <em>Equisetum</em> under field relevant conditions and using XFI on these species for the first time, this study describes the potential of these native boreal species for metal phytostabilization.</p>","PeriodicalId":100015,"journal":{"name":"ACS Sustainable Resource Management","volume":"3 7","pages":"2308–2319"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-07-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148672645","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Mesoporous Silica Doped Porous Biocarbon as a Slow-Release Nitrogen and Silica Fertilizer","authors":"Bhavya Mod,&nbsp;Gurwinder Singh,&nbsp;Vibin Perumalsamy,&nbsp;Jolitta S. J. Britto,&nbsp;Ayush Kumar,&nbsp;Kavitha Ramadass,&nbsp;Ajayan Vinu","doi":"10.1021/acssusresmgt.6c00081","DOIUrl":"10.1021/acssusresmgt.6c00081","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Conventional fertilizers cannot deliver beneficial elements such as silicon (Si) and nitrogen (N) efficiently, which contribute to overall plant health and stress tolerance. In this work, mesoporous silica-doped porous biocarbon was developed as a multifunctional carrier to enable simultaneous delivery of N and plant-available Si. Activated porous biocarbon (APB) produced from sugarcane trash via KOH activation served as a porous scaffold for four mesoporous silica variants (SBA-15, KIT-6, FDU-12, and MSNs) with fixed 5 wt % loading. The hybrids were infused with urea at a 1:4 hybrid:urea ratio, and the mixtures were pelletized with a 10 wt % molasses binder. In the column leaching test, commercial urea exhibited a fast, immediate-release N profile, with most N lost in the first 12 h, whereas silica-doped biocarbon pellets exhibited controlled release, retaining (12–18%) of N in the solid scaffold after 72 h. Glasshouse ryegrass trials demonstrated shoot and root development comparable to urea and slightly higher biomass with the synthesized slow-release fertilizers. Post-harvest soil extracts contained substantially lower extractable N (90–105 mg kg⁻¹) than urea (250 mg kg⁻¹), while extractable Si increased from a low baseline to 3.5–5.5 mg kg⁻¹ for the silica-doped pellets. Overall, the MSNs doped porous biocarbon provides a promising, sustainable route to design dual-function fertilizers.</p>","PeriodicalId":100015,"journal":{"name":"ACS Sustainable Resource Management","volume":"3 7","pages":"2188–2200"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-07-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148650987","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}