Hylse Aurora Ruiz-Velducea, M. J. Moreno-Vásquez, Héctor Guzmán, J. Esquer, F. Rodríguez-Félix, A. Z. Graciano-Verdugo, Irela Santos-Sauceda, I. Quintero-Reyes, C. G. Barreras-Urbina, Claudia Vásquez-López, S. Burruel-Ibarra, Karla Hazel Ozuna-Valencia, J. A. Tapia-Hernández
{"title":"Valorization of Agave angustifolia Bagasse Biomass from the Bacanora Industry in Sonora, Mexico as a Biochar Material: Preparation, Characterization, and Potential Application in Ibuprofen Removal","authors":"Hylse Aurora Ruiz-Velducea, M. J. Moreno-Vásquez, Héctor Guzmán, J. Esquer, F. Rodríguez-Félix, A. Z. Graciano-Verdugo, Irela Santos-Sauceda, I. Quintero-Reyes, C. G. Barreras-Urbina, Claudia Vásquez-López, S. Burruel-Ibarra, Karla Hazel Ozuna-Valencia, J. A. Tapia-Hernández","doi":"10.3390/suschem5030013","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/suschem5030013","url":null,"abstract":"The aim of this research was to separate the over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), ibuprofen, from an aqueous solution using the adsorption method, as this NSAID is one of the most globally consumed. An adsorbent was crafted from the Agave angustifolia bagasse, a byproduct of the bacanora industry (a representative alcoholic beverage of the state of Sonora, in northwestern Mexico). Three bioadsorbents (BCT1, BCT2, and BCT3) were produced via pyrolysis at a temperature of 550 °C, with slight variations in each process for every bioadsorbent. The bioadsorbents achieved material yields of 25.65%, 31.20%, and 38.28% on dry basis respectively. Characterization of the bagasse and adsorbents involved scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The biomass morphology exhibited a cracked surface with holes induced via the bacanora production process, while the surface of the bioadsorbents before ibuprofen adsorption was highly porous, with a substantial surface area. After adsorption, the surface of the bioadsorbents was transformed into a smoother grayish layer. The macromolecules of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin were present in the biomass. According to functional groups, cellulose and hemicellulose degraded to form the resulting bioadsorbents, although traces of lignin persisted after the pyrolysis process was applied to the biomass. In an adsorption study, BCT1 and BCT2 bioadsorbents successfully removed 100% of ibuprofen from aqueous solutions with an initial concentration of 62.6 mg/L. In conclusion, the biocarbon derived from Agave angustifolia bagasse exhibited significant potential for removing ibuprofen via adsorption from aqueous solutions.","PeriodicalId":506371,"journal":{"name":"Sustainable Chemistry","volume":"60 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141663190","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":"The Peril of Plastics: Atmospheric Microplastics in Outdoor, Indoor, and Remote Environments","authors":"Shikha Jyoti Borah, Abhijeet Kumar Gupta, Vinod Kumar, Priyanka Jhajharia, Praduman Prasad Singh, Pramod Kumar, Ravi Kumar, K. Dubey, Akanksha Gupta","doi":"10.3390/suschem5020011","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/suschem5020011","url":null,"abstract":"The increasing commercial, industrial, and medical applications of plastics cannot be halted during the coming years. Microplastics are a new class of plastic pollutants which have emerged as escalating environmental threats. The persistence, effects, and removal of MPs present in soil, water, and numerous organisms have become an important research field. However, atmospheric microplastics (AMPs), which are subcategorized into deposited and suspended, remain largely unexplored. This review presents the recent developments and challenges involved in fully understanding suspended and deposited AMPs. The evaluation of indoor suspended MP fibers needs to be critically investigated to understand their implications for human health. Furthermore, the transportation of AMPs to isolated locations, such as cryospheric regions, requires immediate attention. The major challenges associated with AMPs, which have hindered advancement in this field, are inconsistency in the available data, limited knowledge, and the lack of standardized methodologies for the sampling and characterization techniques of AMPs.","PeriodicalId":506371,"journal":{"name":"Sustainable Chemistry","volume":"117 50","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-06-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141351788","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}
Alexander S. Shkuratov, Reshma Panackal Shibu, Obste Therasme, Paula Berton, Julia L. Shamshina
{"title":"Sustainable Production of Chitin Nanowhiskers from Crustacean Biomass Using Cost-Effective Ionic Liquids: Strategies to Avoid Byproduct Formation","authors":"Alexander S. Shkuratov, Reshma Panackal Shibu, Obste Therasme, Paula Berton, Julia L. Shamshina","doi":"10.3390/suschem5020010","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/suschem5020010","url":null,"abstract":"Nanochitin, especially in the form of chitin nanowhiskers (ChNWs), represents a significant advance in biopolymer technology due to its high specific surface area, superior tensile strength, and excellent thermal stability. Derived from crustacean waste, which contains 15–40% of chitin, these materials provide a sustainable option that diverts waste from landfills and contributes to environmental conservation. Traditional methods of isolating nanochitin are energy-intensive and generate substantial waste. This study introduces a more sustainable method using inexpensive ionic liquids (ILs) such as [Hmim][HSO4] and [HN222][HSO4], which bypass the costly and destructive steps of traditional procedures. This study also identified the byproduct in IL-mediated chitin hydrolysis reaction as calcium sulfate dihydrate and presented a solution to circumvent the byproduct formation. The effectiveness of the [HN222][HSO4] IL in producing ChNWs from both purified chitin and crustacean biomass was assessed, showing a high yield and maintaining the purity and structural integrity of chitin, thereby demonstrating a significant reduction in the environmental footprint of ChNW production.","PeriodicalId":506371,"journal":{"name":"Sustainable Chemistry","volume":"13 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-06-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141272097","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":"Materials and Methods for All-Cellulose 3D Printing in Sustainable Additive Manufacturing","authors":"Isabel Albelo, Rachel Raineri, S. Salmon","doi":"10.3390/suschem5020008","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/suschem5020008","url":null,"abstract":"Additive manufacturing, commonly referred to as 3D printing, is an exciting and versatile manufacturing technology that has gained traction and interest in both academic and industrial settings. Polymeric materials are essential components in a majority of the feedstocks used across the various 3D printing technologies. As the environmental ramifications of sole or primary reliance on petrochemicals as a resource for industrial polymers continue to manifest themselves on a global scale, a transition to more sustainable bioderived alternatives could offer solutions. In particular, cellulose is promising due to its global abundance, biodegradability, excellent thermal and mechanical properties, and ability to be chemically modified to suit various applications. Traditionally, native cellulose was incorporated in additive manufacturing applications only as a substrate, filler, or reinforcement for other materials because it does not melt or easily dissolve. Now, the exploration of all-cellulose 3D printed materials is invigorated by new liquid processing strategies involving liquid-like slurries, nanocolloids, and advances in direct cellulose solvents that highlight the versatility and desirable properties of this abundant biorenewable photosynthetic feedstock. This review discusses the progress of all-cellulose 3D printing approaches and the associated challenges, with the purpose of promoting future research and development of this important technology for a more sustainable industrial future.","PeriodicalId":506371,"journal":{"name":"Sustainable Chemistry","volume":" 25","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-05-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141128896","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}
Bhavika Bhatia, N. Amarnath, S. Rastogi, B. Lochab
{"title":"Isolation of Cardanol Fractions from Cashew Nutshell Liquid (CNSL): A Sustainable Approach","authors":"Bhavika Bhatia, N. Amarnath, S. Rastogi, B. Lochab","doi":"10.3390/suschem5020006","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/suschem5020006","url":null,"abstract":"Exploring sustainable approaches to replace petroleum-based chemicals is an ongoing challenge in reducing the carbon footprint. Due to the complexity and percentage variation in nature-generated molecules, which further varies based on geographical origin and the purification protocol adopted, a better isolation strategy for individual components is required. Agrowaste from the cashew industry generates phenolic lipid (cardanol)-rich cashew nutshell liquid (CNSL) and has recently shown extensive commercial utility. Cardanol naturally exists as a mixture of three structurally different components with C15-alkylene chains: monoene, diene, and triene. The separation of these three fractions has been a bottleneck and is crucial for certain structural designs and reproducibility. Herein, we describe the gram-scale purification of cardanol into each component using flash column chromatography within the sustainability framework. The solvent used for elution is recovered and reused after each stage (up to 82%), making it a cost-effective and sustainable purification strategy. This simple purification technique replaces the alternative high-temperature vacuum distillation, which requires substantial energy consumption and poses vacuum fluctuation and maintenance challenges. Three components (monoene 42%, diene 22%, and triene 36%) were isolated with good purity and were fully characterized by 1H and 13C NMR, GC-MS, HPLC, and FTIR spectroscopy. The present work demonstrates that greener and simpler strategies pave the way for the isolation of constituents from nature-sourced biochemicals and unleash the potential of CNSL-derived fractions for high-end applications.","PeriodicalId":506371,"journal":{"name":"Sustainable Chemistry","volume":"161 ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140788595","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}
Martinho Freitas, Luís Pinto da Silva, Pedro M. S. M. Rodrigues, Joaquim C. G. Esteves da Silva
{"title":"Sustainable Technological Applications of Green Carbon Materials","authors":"Martinho Freitas, Luís Pinto da Silva, Pedro M. S. M. Rodrigues, Joaquim C. G. Esteves da Silva","doi":"10.3390/suschem5020007","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/suschem5020007","url":null,"abstract":"Green carbon-based materials (GCM), i.e., carbon materials produced using renewable biomass or recycled waste, ought to be used to make processes sustainable and carbon-neutral. Carbon nanomaterials, like carbon dots and the nanobichar families, and carbon materials, like activated carbon and biochar substances, are sustainable materials with great potential to be used in different technological applications. In this review, the following four applications were selected, and the works published in the last two years (since 2022) were critically reviewed: agriculture, water treatment, energy management, and carbon dioxide reduction and sequestration. GCM improved the performance of the technological applications under revision and played an important role in the sustainability of the processes, contributing to the mitigation of climate change, by reducing emissions and increasing the sequestration of CO2eq.","PeriodicalId":506371,"journal":{"name":"Sustainable Chemistry","volume":"877 23","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140774910","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}