{"title":"Industrialization of hydrodynamic cavitation in plant resource extraction","authors":"Francesco Meneguzzo, Federica Zabini","doi":"10.1016/j.coche.2025.101140","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.coche.2025.101140","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Substantial evidence has accumulated about the outstanding effectiveness and efficiency of controlled hydrodynamic cavitation (HC) processes for extracting plant resources, as well as its compliance with the principles of green extraction of natural products. A few applications, such as the manufacturing of certain vegetable beverages and beer, offer considerable potential for industrial applications. However, resistance to innovation and possibly the issue of capital costs needed to replace or integrate existing installations can represent important barriers. Further promising application fields concern the manufacturing of dry extracts rich in bioactive compounds from plant resources. However, water removal steps account for most of the energy consumption, thus as high as possible biomass concentration should be used, which sets the design and test of effective strategies to intensify cavitation as a research priority. This short review surveys the most recent studies and proposes practical recommendations toward the actual industrialization of HC processes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":292,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Chemical Engineering","volume":"48 ","pages":"Article 101140"},"PeriodicalIF":8.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143898767","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ivan Grigioni, Gayathri Chellasamy, Annalisa Polo, Elena Selli, Maria Vittoria Dozzi
{"title":"Updates on tracking charge carriers in BiVO4- and CuWO4-based photoanodes","authors":"Ivan Grigioni, Gayathri Chellasamy, Annalisa Polo, Elena Selli, Maria Vittoria Dozzi","doi":"10.1016/j.coche.2025.101139","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.coche.2025.101139","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Semiconductor ternary metal oxides (TMOs) are ideal candidates as photoanode materials for the water oxidation reaction. The dynamics of photogenerated charge carriers dictates the efficiency of photoelectrocatalytic (PEC) systems depending on both internal (inside the photoactive material) and surface (mainly due to reaction kinetics) key issues. This paper presents recent results attained with up-to-date characterization tools to decouple bulk and surface charge recombination in relation to the synthetic strategies implemented to address PEC efficiency losses in TMO photoanodes, with particular focus on BiVO<sub>4</sub>- and CuWO<sub>4</sub>-based materials. Key aspects and the perspectives in the field are finally highlighted.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":292,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Chemical Engineering","volume":"48 ","pages":"Article 101139"},"PeriodicalIF":8.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143883252","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Marta Costa Figueiredo , Thijs de Groot , Antoni Forner-Cuenca
{"title":"Editorial overview: Electrochemical energy conversion","authors":"Marta Costa Figueiredo , Thijs de Groot , Antoni Forner-Cuenca","doi":"10.1016/j.coche.2025.101137","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.coche.2025.101137","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":292,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Chemical Engineering","volume":"49 ","pages":"Article 101137"},"PeriodicalIF":8.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143875029","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Ultrasonic activation of persulfate for removal of aqueous pollutants: cavitational versus thermal mechanisms","authors":"Jongbok Choi , Dukyoung Lee , Younggyu Son","doi":"10.1016/j.coche.2025.101136","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.coche.2025.101136","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Sulfate radicals have been extensively studied for application in advanced oxidation processes owing to their excellent oxidizing power and efficacy. Recently, ultrasound (US) technology has emerged as a promising method for activating persulfate (PS). This work provides a critical review of the removal efficiencies and pseudo-1st-order degradation rates in only-PS, only-US, and US/PS processes to clarify the ultrasonic activation mechanism in US/PS systems. Experimental data from 53 cases across 15 studies were analyzed, and synergistic effects were evaluated. In only-PS processes, significant activation below 40°C was rarely observed, with few exceptions. Although several researchers reported high synergistic effects in US/PS processes, most cases showed low or negligible synergistic effects. High synergistic effects were attributable to incomplete cooling systems, low pollutant concentrations, and high PS/pollutant ratios. Therefore, the ability of acoustic cavitation to activate PS without thermal activation induced by US attenuation below 40°C remains debatable.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":292,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Chemical Engineering","volume":"48 ","pages":"Article 101136"},"PeriodicalIF":8.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143865031","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Insights into the biodegradation and bioremediation of microplastics: mechanisms and analytical methods","authors":"Kanika Dogra , Manish Kumar , Nancy Ornelas-Soto , Abrahan Mora , Dibyendu Sarkar , Rangabhashiyam Selvasembian , Kanchan Deoli Bahukhandi , Jürgen Mahlknecht","doi":"10.1016/j.coche.2025.101133","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.coche.2025.101133","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Microplastics (MPs) degrade through various abiotic processes (thermal, mechanical, hydrolytic, and photo-oxidative) and biotic processes involving microorganisms. This study investigates specific bacteria, fungi, and algae that contribute to MP biodegradation, focusing on species like <em>Bacillus, Rhodococcus</em>, and <em>Pseudomonas</em>, which produce enzymes such as PETase, laccases, and peroxidases to break down high- and low-density polyethylene. However, the biodegradation process varies based on environmental factors and the durability of plastics. There is an urgent need to use advanced methods to understand degradation and its byproducts. Microbial degradation holds promise for addressing MPs, but further research is needed to enhance efficiency and develop sustainable solutions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":292,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Chemical Engineering","volume":"48 ","pages":"Article 101133"},"PeriodicalIF":8.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143851797","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Recent advances in ultrasound-assisted extraction of natural products using novel solvents: a mini-review","authors":"Santosh Sethi, Virendra K Rathod","doi":"10.1016/j.coche.2025.101132","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.coche.2025.101132","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>A key factor in the successful extraction of natural products is the choice of solvent and mass transfer tool, which directly affects the efficiency, yield, selectivity, and quality of the natural products. However, the limitations of traditional solvents and the growing demand for more sustainable and efficient processes have driven interest in novel solvents. This shift is further encouraged by strict environmental regulations aimed at reducing emissions and avoiding hazardous chemicals. Ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) has emerged as a promising technique, enhancing yields and preserving compound quality through the cavitation phenomenon. Recent advancements combine ultrasound with novel solvents, showcasing their synergistic potential to further intensify natural product extraction. This review highlights the comparative performance of UAE and novel solvents, offering insights into their roles and challenges in achieving high-efficiency extraction. These findings aim to guide researchers, educators, and industry professionals toward sustainable and innovative extraction methods that align with environmental and industrial goals.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":292,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Chemical Engineering","volume":"48 ","pages":"Article 101132"},"PeriodicalIF":8.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143854937","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Gabriel E De-la-Torre , Carolin Bapp , Ana D Forero-López , Sina Dobaradaran
{"title":"Analytical techniques for quantifying and identifying nanoplastics: recent advances","authors":"Gabriel E De-la-Torre , Carolin Bapp , Ana D Forero-López , Sina Dobaradaran","doi":"10.1016/j.coche.2025.101134","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.coche.2025.101134","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Nanoplastics (NPs), plastic particles smaller than 1 µm, have gained particular interest due to their ability to translocate across biological barriers. However, their quantification and identification across environmental matrices have proven to be a complex and significant challenge. As the literature on NPs continues to grow, we believe that it is imperative to provide a timely analysis and discussion of the latest advances. In this contribution, we will discuss the analytical techniques employed in the most recent studies on the quantification of NPs and provide analytical recommendations based on the latest developments in this line of research.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":292,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Chemical Engineering","volume":"48 ","pages":"Article 101134"},"PeriodicalIF":8.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143843900","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Nisha T Padmanabhan , Laura Clarizia , Priyanka Ganguly
{"title":"Advancing hydrogen storage: critical insights to potentials, challenges, and pathways to sustainability","authors":"Nisha T Padmanabhan , Laura Clarizia , Priyanka Ganguly","doi":"10.1016/j.coche.2025.101135","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.coche.2025.101135","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Research in green hydrogen production is advancing through photocatalysis and electrocatalysis, but storage remains a challenge. Promising hydrogen carriers, such as methanol, ammonia, formic acid, liquid organic hydrogen carriers, and metal hydrides, face issues like low hydrogen content and high energy demands. This review highlights innovations in hydrogen storage, focusing on carrier synthesis and photocatalytic hydrogen release for sustainable, energy-efficient solutions. Advancing catalysts, reactors, lifecycle assessments, and economic feasibility is crucial. Hybrid approaches and augmented intelligence are essential for developing cost-effective, high-efficiency storage systems, driving progress toward a sustainable hydrogen economy.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":292,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Chemical Engineering","volume":"48 ","pages":"Article 101135"},"PeriodicalIF":8.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143843804","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jin-Jin Li , Qi Luo , Yi-Xiang Lin , Zhenhao Xi , Ling Zhao
{"title":"Understanding synthesis and degradation of backbone deconstructable (co)polymers by radical ring-opening polymerization through theoretical calculation and numerical simulation","authors":"Jin-Jin Li , Qi Luo , Yi-Xiang Lin , Zhenhao Xi , Ling Zhao","doi":"10.1016/j.coche.2025.101131","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.coche.2025.101131","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Radical ring-opening polymerization (<em>r</em>ROP) has gained widespread attention due to the facile incorporation of cleavable groups (e.g. ester, thioesters) into all-carbon backbone vinyl polymers. The inclusion of a cleavable comonomer makes the vinyl copolymers biodegradable. However, competition between the ring-opening of cyclic monomer and vinyl addition without ring-opening, as well as efficient insertion of cleavable comonomer into the backbone, are challenging for <em>r</em>ROP. This minireview discusses the latest developments in theoretical and numerical simulations of <em>r</em>ROP, offering deep insights into both polymerization and degradation processes, including mechanistic identification, kinetic features, and chain microstructure tuning. Besides, challenges and future directions are included to attract more efforts to better perform <em>r</em>ROP and deconstruction process.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":292,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Chemical Engineering","volume":"48 ","pages":"Article 101131"},"PeriodicalIF":8.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143838482","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jason Stallings Jr, Endras Fadhilah, Malgorzata Chwatko
{"title":"Membrane synthesis via thermally induced phase separation: quantifying the shift to a more sustainable design","authors":"Jason Stallings Jr, Endras Fadhilah, Malgorzata Chwatko","doi":"10.1016/j.coche.2025.101130","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.coche.2025.101130","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Thermally induced phase separation (TIPS) technique is often employed in membrane manufacturing to create highly porous relatively homogenous membranes. The technique generates porous materials due to a phase separation driven by crystallization or thermodynamic immiscibility. To maintain the use of the technique in the future, the solution chemistry needs to be re-examined to meet the sustainability metrics required for the next generation of membrane design and manufacturing. In this work, we examine TIPS process sustainability and metrics that could be used in future works on the topic.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":292,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Chemical Engineering","volume":"48 ","pages":"Article 101130"},"PeriodicalIF":8.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143826307","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}