Next Sustainability最新文献

{"title":"Sustainable synthesis of shea butter-derived bio-lubricants: A green alternative to mineral oils","authors":"Samuel Joseph ,&nbsp;Fredah Batale Abifarin ,&nbsp;Williams Wangka Jikisim ,&nbsp;Bekas Nabieyeh Jibrillu ,&nbsp;Johnson Kehinde Abifarin","doi":"10.1016/j.nxsust.2025.100128","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.nxsust.2025.100128","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>As environmental concerns over mineral oil-based lubricants rise, the search for sustainable alternatives intensifies. This study explores producing bio-lubricant from shea butter using double-transesterification with sodium hydroxide and tetraoxosulphate (IV) acid as catalysts. The process achieved a 57.89 % yield at a 4:1 molar ratio of shea methyl ester to trimethylolpropane, with 0.8 % w/w catalyst at 110°C for three hours. Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy identified key functional groups in the crude oil: O-H (3340 cm⁻¹), C-H (2914–2980 cm⁻¹), C<img>O (1740 cm⁻¹), and C-H terminal alkane bonds (1456 cm⁻¹). In the bio-lubricant, the spectrum showed C-O ester groups (1173–1253 cm⁻¹), C<img>O carbonyl groups (1740 cm⁻¹), C-H stretching (2855–2923 cm⁻¹), and O-H polyol groups (3356 cm⁻¹). These findings demonstrate significant chemical and physicochemical modifications, underscoring the potential of shea butter-based bio-lubricant as a sustainable and green alternative to mineral oils.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100960,"journal":{"name":"Next Sustainability","volume":"5 ","pages":"Article 100128"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143820916","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":"Comparative analysis of selective gas adsorption on metal-organic frameworks: Cu–(abtc) vs. Cu–(hbtc)","authors":"Prudhviraj Medikonda","doi":"10.1016/j.nxsust.2025.100130","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.nxsust.2025.100130","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In this work, the adsorption characteristics of di-isophthalate-based metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) were evaluated by measuring the adsorption behavior of industrially relevant gases—including CO₂, CO, CH₄, N₂, C₂H₆, C₃H₈, and O₂—with varying polarity and polarizability. The functional group was modified by replacing the double bond (N = N) in a MOF derived from abtc with an NH–NH group (named hbtc). This modification highlights the enhanced affinity of the NH–NH group compared to N = N. Both frameworks feature open metal sites, which contribute significantly to their adsorption behavior. For all measured gases, Type–I isotherms were observed. The isotherms were modeled using the modified Virial equation for CO₂ and CO gases and the Langmuir model for nonpolar gases (O₂, N₂, CH₄, C₂H₆, and C₃H₈). Adsorption capacities increased with carbon chain length at low pressures, attributed to stronger dispersion interactions with longer hydrocarbons. Model parameters were used to calculate the enthalpies of adsorption, and the Ideal Adsorbed Solution Theory was employed to predict the selectivity of binary mixtures. CO₂ selectivity over N₂ increased significantly with pressure, with higher CO₂ selectivity observed for Cu–hbtc compared to Cu–abtc due to the stronger affinity of the functional group and framework–adsorbate interactions. The findings of this work indicate the potential of these MOFs for sustainable applications, including carbon capture for climate change mitigation, biogas upgrading, and industrial gas separations, contributing to energy-efficient and environmentally friendly solutions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100960,"journal":{"name":"Next Sustainability","volume":"5 ","pages":"Article 100130"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143839771","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":"Maple wood biochar-supported nickel nanoparticles: One pot synthesis for simultaneous removal of cationic and anionic dye mixture","authors":"Arvind K. Bhakta ,&nbsp;Lamia Znaidi ,&nbsp;Esther Blanc ,&nbsp;Nabil Challab ,&nbsp;Philippe Decorse ,&nbsp;Arlette Vega Gonzalez ,&nbsp;Dominique Vrel ,&nbsp;Souad Ammar ,&nbsp;Swaminathan Prasanna","doi":"10.1016/j.nxsust.2025.100124","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.nxsust.2025.100124","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This work reports on a facile and efficient technique to synthesize nickel particles supported on maple wood biochar to form magnetic nanocomposite able to remove dyes like methyl orange (MO) and rhodamine B (RhB) from water. Methodology involves wet impregnation with aqueous nickel nitrate solution followed by a pyrolysis at 500 ºC. This resulted in homogeneously and uniformly distributed irregular shaped Ni particles in the size range of 16 – 68 nm on the biochar surface. X-ray diffraction characterization confirms the presence of Ni particles and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy reveals their slight surface oxidation. Their ability to answer to a magnetic field has been confirmed by recording the variation of their magnetization as a function of the magnetic field at room temperature using a Vibrating Sample Magnetometer. The G Raman band of the biochar appeared to be less intense in the nanocomposite, compared to pristine biochar prepared as a reference, meaning Ni nanoparticles hinder carbonaceous graphitization during pyrolysis. This can be attributed to the porosity creation, as suggested by SEM observations. Ultimately, magnetic nanocomposites were successfully applied for the removal of RhB and MO from aqueous solutions. The adsorption capacity for the RhB is found to be 54.21 mg/g. Thanks to the magnetic properties of the engineered nanocomposites; they can be separated by a magnet and reused. Reusability test of adsorbent have shown 99.41 %, 74.58 %, and 49.78 %, adsorption efficiency after first, second and third cycles, respectively. This work opens up a future perspective to create filters for treating waste water coming from textile industries. This work well aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals 6 (clean water and sanitation), 11 (sustainable cities and communities) and 13 (climate action).</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100960,"journal":{"name":"Next Sustainability","volume":"6 ","pages":"Article 100124"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143628454","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Recycling cupola slag for manufacturing magnesium metal matrix composites with alumina for electric vehicle battery pack system housings","authors":"Andrea Sánchez-Arroyo ,&nbsp;Mario Rodríguez-Reyes ,&nbsp;Gerardo Daniel Olvera-Romero ,&nbsp;José Refugio Parga-Torres ,&nbsp;Zully Matamoros-Veloza ,&nbsp;Brandon Osvaldo Villarreal-Fuentes ,&nbsp;Dagoberto Vázquez-Obregón","doi":"10.1016/j.nxsust.2025.100103","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.nxsust.2025.100103","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study investigated magnesium matrix composites reinforced with cupola slag (a source of CaSiO₃) and Al₂O₃ particles for potential application in battery pack system (BPS) housings. The composites were fabricated via powder metallurgy, resulting in four systems: a pure magnesium system (100 M), a composite with 85 wt% Mg and 15 wt% cupola slag (85M-15C), and two hybrid composites with 85 wt% Mg combined with 12.5 wt% and 5 wt% cupola slag, and 2.5 wt% and 5 wt% Al₂O₃, respectively, forming the 85M-12.5C-2.5 A and 85M-10C-5A systems. Their mechanical properties and corrosion resistance in a 3.5 wt% NaCl solution were systematically evaluated. Microstructural analysis revealed a significant grain size reduction in the reinforced systems, with the 85M-12.5C-2.5 A system achieving an average grain size of 9.4 µm compared to 22.5 µm in the unreinforced 100 M system. The incorporation of CaSiO₃ and Al₂O₃ reinforcements improved microhardness by up to 55 % and increased compressive strength to a maximum of 329.13 MPa. These enhancements were attributed to grain size and the synergistic effects of micro- and nano-reinforcements. Additionally, the reinforced composites demonstrated superior corrosion resistance, as evidenced by reduced degradation rates in the NaCl solution. This improvement was attributed to the formation of protective Mg(OH)₂ layers, with the 85M-10C-5A system exhibiting the lowest corrosion current density (122 μA/cm²). These findings underscore the potential of magnesium matrix composites reinforced with cupola slag and Al₂O₃ as lightweight, durable, and sustainable materials for BPS housings, addressing both performance and environmental considerations.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100960,"journal":{"name":"Next Sustainability","volume":"6 ","pages":"Article 100103"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143163056","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Green extraction of natural indigoid from Baphicacanthus cusia (Nees) Bremek using hydrophilic and hydrophobic deep eutectic solvent technology","authors":"Patteera Aoonboontum ,&nbsp;Pattravee Thong-on ,&nbsp;Nakuntwalai Wisidsri ,&nbsp;Suradwadee Thugmangmee ,&nbsp;Tammanoon Rungsang ,&nbsp;Nanthaka Khorana ,&nbsp;Jukkarin Srivilai","doi":"10.1016/j.nxsust.2024.100090","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.nxsust.2024.100090","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study focused on the development of an alternative and more environmentally friendly extraction solvent, a deep eutectic system (DES), for extracting indigoid pigments, specifically indigo and indirubin, from <em>Baphicacanthus cusia</em> (BC). BC is recognized in the textile industry as a natural vat dye and in traditional Chinese medicine as \"Qing-Dai\". It is known for treating inflammatory diseases such as psoriasis. In this study, 46 DES systems were compared with conventional methods. The hydrophobic DES, a terpenoid and fatty acid system comprising thymol:decanoic acid (DES40), and the hydrophilic DES, a choline chloride-based system comprising choline chloride: <em>p</em>-toluenesulfonic acid (DES19), showed significant extraction improvements. DES40 and DES19 achieved approximately 26-fold higher indigo content compared to classical ethanol and outperformed the harsh organic solvent dichloromethane. The green extraction process was optimized using a Box–Behnken design, considering parameters such as temperature, time and co-solvent. DES19 maximized indigo and indirubin content to 270.91±14.38 and 5.70±0.11 mg/g, respectively, while DES40 yielded 108.28 ± 3.9 and 0.16 ± 0.00 mg/mg/g, respectively. Safety evaluations using a cell-based MTT model with human skin cells in keratinocytes and fibroblasts showed that both DES19 and DES40 were safe at all concentrations tested. These results indicate that a more environmentally friendly solvent technology for the extraction of indigoids from BC using the DES is an efficient and potential application in the textile and pharmaceutical industries.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100960,"journal":{"name":"Next Sustainability","volume":"5 ","pages":"Article 100090"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142748039","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Enhanced physicochemical properties of Himalayan Weeping Bamboo-biochar for rapid multicomponent textile dyes uptake under classical and ultrasound irradiation: A comparative study","authors":"Sumit Kumar ,&nbsp;Chetna Tewari ,&nbsp;Ligy Philip ,&nbsp;Nanda Gopal Sahoo","doi":"10.1016/j.nxsust.2024.100089","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.nxsust.2024.100089","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study focused on synthesizing a low-cost adsorbent via a unique two-step solvothermal slow pyrolysis of <em>Drepanostachyum falcatum</em> plant biomass. It evaluated its adsorption capabilities for removing various textile dyes, including methylene blue (MB), basic fuchsin (BF), and methyl orange (MO), from aqueous solutions. Under conventional and ultrasound-assisted conditions, the adsorption performance was assessed for single, binary, and ternary dye systems. Comprehensive investigations examined the effects of environmental factors such as temperature, pH, humic acid, and interfering ions on adsorption. The findings revealed that ultrasonication significantly accelerated the adsorption process, making it up to six times faster than classical adsorption methods, and equilibrium was reached in one-tenth the time required without ultrasound. The experimental data best fit the pseudo-second-order kinetics model, indicating that chemisorption was the dominant adsorption mechanism. Additionally, the Freundlich isotherm suggested multilayer sorption on the biochar surface. Maximum adsorption capacities under ultrasound were found to be 139.34 mg/g for MB, 75.09 mg/g for MO, and 98.13 mg/g for BF dyes, with a higher affinity observed for cationic dyes compared to anionic dyes. The study provides insights into an efficient, novel synthesis method for converting waste biomass into a valuable adsorbent for dye removal. It also highlights the role of ultrasound in enhancing physicochemical properties, facilitating improved mass transfer, and promoting better interaction between the dyes and the adsorbent.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100960,"journal":{"name":"Next Sustainability","volume":"5 ","pages":"Article 100089"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142700058","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"High energy and rate capable supercapacitor of polyaniline / vanadium pentoxide nanocomposite and its green electrolyte","authors":"Aranganathan Viswanathan,&nbsp;Adka Nityananda Shetty","doi":"10.1016/j.nxsust.2024.100088","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.nxsust.2024.100088","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The concept of hybrid supercapacitors of combining the high energy density (<em>E</em>) of batteries and high power densities (<em>P</em>) of supercapacitors is better achieved with the PANI53.84 %/V₂O₅46.15 % nanocomposite (PV). As it exhibited a supercapacitor performance on par with that of Li – ion batteries. This high energy features of PV are achieved by the green approach of using the by-product obtained in the synthesis of electrode material as its electrolyte with and without modification. The energy storage parameters of PV in the presence of 1 M H₂SO₄ (SA) as electrolyte, are very unique as they increased in quantity with increase in No. of energy storage/delivery cycles. The PV displayed an exceptional durability up to 20,500 cycles at 0.4 V s^<img>1, and specific capacity (<em>Q</em>) of 592.4 C g^<img>1, an <em>E</em> of 98.73 W h kg ^<img>1 (in the order of Li-ion batteries) and a <em>P</em> of 1.200 kW kg^<img>1 at 1 A g^<img>1 after 10,800 cycles in the presence of SA. A highest rate capability of 65.45 % up to 15 A g^<img>1 is achieved when the by-product of PANI (SL of PANI) is used as the electrolyte for PV. When the by-product of PV is used as its electrolyte after its acidification with conc. methane sulphonic acid (MSA+SLPV), the <em>Q</em> of 388.0 C g^<img>1, an <em>E</em> of 64.66 W h kg^<img>1 and a <em>P</em> of 1.200 kW kg^<img>1 were achieved at 1 A g^<img>1. The MSA+SLPV also features the energy enhancement with increase in number of days.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100960,"journal":{"name":"Next Sustainability","volume":"5 ","pages":"Article 100088"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142700059","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Exploring mechanisms, efficiency, and emerging technologies for zero-valent metals in water treatment: A review","authors":"Muhammad Yusuf Suleiman ,&nbsp;Ahmad Muhammad Abiso ,&nbsp;Opeoluwa Olusola Fasanya ,&nbsp;Abdulazeez Yusuf Atta ,&nbsp;Fei Ye ,&nbsp;Joydeep Dutta ,&nbsp;Baba Jibril El-Yakubu","doi":"10.1016/j.nxsust.2024.100087","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.nxsust.2024.100087","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Domestic, industrial and agricultural activities require large amounts of water. This necessitates the need for an effective solution to meet the increasing water demand worldwide. A Huge amount of wastewater is generated daily and when this is left untreated, the contaminants present in these effluents may be harmful to the environment. There are various treatment techniques for the abatement of the contaminants present in these wastewaters. Conventional approaches often employed are the biological, physical and chemical methods. Zero-valent metals (ZVMs) such as zero-valent iron, zero-valent zinc, zero-valent aluminium to mention a few have emerged as promising candidates for wastewater treatment applications due to their unique reactivity and ability to facilitate the removal of various contaminants. In this report, a comprehensive review of the mechanisms, efficiency, and emerging technologies associated with ZVM-based water treatment is provided. The underlying objectives for which the review aimed to address include (i) providing an understanding of the ZVMs used in water treatment applications and their properties, (ii) reviewing the mechanisms employed by ZVMs to sequestrate contaminants, (iii) evaluating the efficiency of ZVMs in the removal of contaminants and (iv) exploring the various emerging technologies used in ZVM-based water treatment and to provide some recommendations for future research.</div><div>It was concluded from the work that ZVMs abate contaminants found in wastewater through an interplay and synergy of physical, chemical and catalytic mechanisms. ZVMs, when used with other treatment techniques, provide better benefits in the treatment of diverse contaminants. To help achieve the full scale utilization of ZVMs potential, sustained research efforts combined with innovative approaches are needed for sustainable and efficient water treatment solutions. The review offers insights into technologies needed to eliminate diverse contaminants from wastewater, addressing important considerations regarding sustainability and future directions of ZVM-based water treatment technologies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100960,"journal":{"name":"Next Sustainability","volume":"5 ","pages":"Article 100087"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142700057","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Bioenergy potential of paper waste: Fungal pretreatment and kinetics modelling","authors":"Utibe A. Ofon ,&nbsp;Uduak U. Ndubuisi-Nnaji ,&nbsp;Anthony A. Adegoke ,&nbsp;Nnanake-Abasi O. Offiong ,&nbsp;Ogechi P. Ewenike ,&nbsp;Solomon E. Shaibu","doi":"10.1016/j.nxsust.2024.100086","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.nxsust.2024.100086","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Using the fungi <em>Phanerochaete chrysosporium</em> and <em>Aspergillus niger</em> as a biopretreatment agent to improve degradation of lignocellulosic paper with analogous increase in biogas production, anaerobic digestion (AD) was executed. Milled and hydrothermally-treated (HT) or steamed paper were separately inoculated for 360 hr at 28 °C with each fungal species, with an uninoculated treatment as control. AD experiment was conducted in bench-scale batch bioreactors for 48 days at 40°C. The initial characteristics of the feedstock and inoculum were examined in addition to biomethane yield, total and volatile solids degradation, and lignocellulosic content removal. The pretreatment of milled paper with <em>P. chrysosporium</em> resulted in the highest biogas yield of 1035 mL/gVS, followed by <em>A. niger</em> with a yield of 550 mL/gVS. These values represented a significant increase (p &lt; 0.05) of 226 % and 73 % compared to the untreated feedstock, respectively. <em>P. chrysosporium</em> pretreatment achieved the highest total solids removal of 66.85 %, whereas <em>A. niger</em> pretreatment resulted in the maximum volatile solids removal of 64.63 % in HT-paper waste. <em>P. chrysosporium</em> also exhibited the highest lignin removal efficiency, with 84.31 % in milled feedstock and 79.17 % in the steamed state. <em>A. niger</em> showed 77.28 % and 67.09 % lignin removal in the milled and HT paper, respectively. The study demonstrated that pretreatment with <em>P. chrysosporium</em> and <em>A. niger</em> significantly (p&lt;0.05) improved biogas production by facilitating the biodegradation of lignocellulosic components. All measured biomethane data from experiments fitted adequately to the modified Gompertz model with R² ranging from 0.97 to 0.99.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100960,"journal":{"name":"Next Sustainability","volume":"5 ","pages":"Article 100086"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142661689","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Alternatives assessment of polyvinylidene fluoride-compatible solvents for N-methyl pyrrolidone substitution in lithium-ion battery cathodes","authors":"Maxime Léger ,&nbsp;Andrea La Monaca ,&nbsp;Niladri Basu ,&nbsp;George P. Demopoulos","doi":"10.1016/j.nxsust.2024.100084","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.nxsust.2024.100084","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are central to electrification yet, to increase the efficiency and scalability of electric systems, energy storage technologies must integrate sustainability concepts into their design. Notably, the incumbent LIB technology uses the reprotoxic solvent N-methyl pyrrolidone (NMP) to dissolve polyvinylidene fluoride (PVdF) as a binder. This solvent, of concern to human and ecological health, must be replaced with less toxic alternatives. Accordingly, the objective of this study was to determine which potential solvents, compatible with PVdF binder within the cathode processing of LIBs, could replace NMP. This study followed the U.S. National Research Council’s <em>Framework to Guide Selection of Chemical Alternatives,</em> and thus assembled and compared data concerning ecological and human hazards, performance, and cost. Five solvents were assessed as alternatives to NMP, derived from an analysis of 948 cells of data (708 cells of hazard data, 54 cells of performance data, and 186 cells of cost data). Triethyl phosphate (TEP) and N-N’-dimethylpropyleneurea (DMPU) are found to exhibit reprotoxic properties, and dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) raised concerns in all three data categories studied. The most promising alternatives to NMP were dihydrolevoglucosenone (Cyrene) and γ-valerolactone (GVL). With demand for sustainable energy storage growing, the results of this study aim to guide research and innovation of LIB technologies while avoiding regrettable substitutions in developing NMP-free LIBs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100960,"journal":{"name":"Next Sustainability","volume":"5 ","pages":"Article 100084"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142571590","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}