RSC sustainability最新文献

{"title":"Reimagining chemistry education for a sustainable future","authors":"Rebecca A. Tobias, Ava N. Nemerovski, Mya C. Collins, Steve Bella, Emma G. Louthain, Andrew A. Sojka, Anna Ryu and Jesse B. Morin","doi":"10.1039/D5SU00963D","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D5SU00963D","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Chemistry education plays a critical role in preparing future scientists to address global sustainability challenges, yet traditional, instructor-focused pedagogies often obscure chemistry's societal impacts and limit students' sense of belonging and agency within chemistry. In this paper, we describe the implementation of <em>Reimagining Chemistry</em>, a course developed through a student-directed independent study, which contextualizes chemistry within social, environmental, and ethical frameworks aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Grounded in Culturally Sustaining Pedagogy (CSP) and the framework of Rightful Presence, <em>Reimagining Chemistry</em> emphasizes student voice, collaborative knowledge-building, and community-engaged projects that empower students as changemakers. Using surveys, observations, student reflections, and project outcomes from two course offerings, we examined student motivations, learning experiences, and the evolution of the course across its iterations. Students demonstrated significant engagement, broadened their perspectives on chemistry's role in society, and produced projects addressing educational equity, environmental justice, and local community engagement. Achieving a sustainable future requires chemistry education that not only develops technical competence, but guides and empowers all students to critically engage. This curriculum provides a model for chemistry educators seeking to foster inclusive learning environments that connect chemical education to global and community impact.</p>","PeriodicalId":74745,"journal":{"name":"RSC sustainability","volume":" 5","pages":" 2156-2166"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2026/su/d5su00963d?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147924020","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":"Catalytic aerobic oxidation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural to 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid using Co–Mn/N–C catalysts in aqueous media","authors":"Shuolin Zhou, Sha Wen, Ying Liu and Xianxiang Liu","doi":"10.1039/D5SU00783F","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D5SU00783F","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Aerobic oxidation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) can yield numerous furan-based chemicals, and enhancing the selectivity for specific products poses a significant challenge. In this study, a novel non-noble bimetallic catalyst supported on N-doped carbon (Co–Mn/N–C) was designed and synthesized, and various characterization techniques, including XRD, BET analysis, TEM, XPS and VSM studies, were employed to investigate the catalyst's structure and properties. Catalytic testing studies demonstrated that Co–Mn/N–C exhibits superior catalytic performance in the selective oxidation of HMF to 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) in aqueous media, outperforming both Co/N–C and Mn/N–C catalysts. Nearly 100% HMF conversion and 98.3% selectivity towards FDCA were achieved using the Co–Mn/N–C catalyst at 150 °C with Na<small>₂</small>CO<small>₃</small> (0.5 mmol) as a base. Furthermore, the Co–Mn/N–C catalyst exhibited good stability, maintaining its catalytic activity throughout the recycling experiments. This stable performance is attributed to the robust interaction between the metal and nitrogen-carbon materials.</p>","PeriodicalId":74745,"journal":{"name":"RSC sustainability","volume":" 5","pages":" 2364-2373"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2026/su/d5su00783f?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147924047","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":"Electrocatalytic valorization of lignin","authors":"Muhammad Bilal, Prashanth W. Menezes, Arne Thomas, Reinhard Schomäcker, Matthias Drieß, Frank Rosowski and Majd Al-Naji","doi":"10.1039/D5SU00803D","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D5SU00803D","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Lignin is the largest resource of biobased renewable aromatic feedstock for chemicals and fuels. For profitable biorefineries, lignin valorization is essential, as it enhances the overall efficiency of biomass conversion and improves process economics. In recent decades, lignin valorization and depolymerization processes have attracted significant scientific interest. Many approaches have been explored, including thermochemical methods, such as pyrolysis, oxidative depolymerization, and reductive catalytic fractionation; biological methods, like enzymatic depolymerization and microbial degradation; and electrochemical techniques, such as electrocatalytic oxidation and electrocatalytic hydrogenation. Among them, electrochemical processes play a significant role in lignin valorization by employing green electricity sources with <em>in situ</em> hydrogen generation, being environmentally friendly, and contributing to the economic feasibility of lignin conversion. In this review, the electrochemical conversion of lignin from lignocellulosic biomass, including lignin fractionation or depolymerization to lignin derived compounds (such as vanillin, benzoic acid and quinones) through electrocatalytic oxidation, and its upgrading through electrocatalytic hydrogenation or hydrogenolysis to produce industrially valuable lignin-based chemicals, are discussed in detail. Finally, a summary of current challenges, limitations and emerging opportunities in electrochemical valorization of lignin is provided to frame this technology for sustainable and biobased development.</p>","PeriodicalId":74745,"journal":{"name":"RSC sustainability","volume":" 5","pages":" 2042-2077"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2026/su/d5su00803d?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147923985","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":"Heterogeneous-catalyzed methanolysis for efficient chemical recycling of bio-based PEF","authors":"Beatriz Agostinho, Armando J. D. Silvestre, Shanmugam Thiyagarajan and Andreia F. Sousa","doi":"10.1039/D5SU00905G","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D5SU00905G","url":null,"abstract":"<p >The promising bio-based polymer poly(ethylene 2,5-furandicarboxylate) (PEF) is expected to be produced on a large scale worldwide to meet demands across various market segments due to its superior properties and performance, although its end-of-life management still remains challenging due to its non-(bio)degradable nature. In this work, two different heterogeneous catalysts, Amberlyst 70 and Zeolite H–Y, were studied for the first time in the methanolysis of PEF. The depolymerization conditions, such as time, temperature, and catalyst loading, were optimized to maximize the depolymerization of PEF, resulting in high selectivity to dimethyl 2,5-furandicarboxylate (DMFDC), as confirmed by <small>¹</small>H NMR and GC-MS. A complete PEF conversion and 100% DMFDC yield were achieved during a 1 hour reaction at 175 °C with 5 wt% zeolite. The potential to reuse the most effective catalyst (Zeolite H–Y) across two depolymerization cycles while maintaining its catalytic activity comparable to that of virgin zeolite was also demonstrated, enhancing process greenness as assessed by its E-factor. Additionally, a closed-loop PEF value chain is confirmed by reusing the recovered monomers to produce PEF polyester with physical and thermal properties, such as <em>T</em><small>_g</small> and thermal stability, identical to those of the original, as verified by <small>¹</small>H and <small>¹³</small>C NMR, GPC, DSC, and TGA.</p>","PeriodicalId":74745,"journal":{"name":"RSC sustainability","volume":" 5","pages":" 2355-2363"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2026/su/d5su00905g?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147924046","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":"A concept for the molecular design of readily treatable chemicals","authors":"Gabriel Sigmund, Sanne J. Smith, Anett Georgi, Thomas V. Wagner, Mohamed Ateia, Benedikt M. Aumeier, Jouke E. Dykstra, Holger V. Lutze, Michael Neumann, Nora B. Sutton, Daniel Zahn and Zhanyun Wang","doi":"10.1039/D5SU00944H","DOIUrl":"10.1039/D5SU00944H","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Existing chemicals assessment and management approaches focus on chemical behavior in the natural environment and humans, including using chemical-specific inherent properties such as persistence (P), bioaccumulation potential (B), and mobility (M). To prevent chemical pollution, concepts such as safe-by-design and benign-by-design consider P, B, M, toxicity, and other hazardous properties when selecting existing chemicals or developing new ones. However, certain applications rely on chemical properties that inherently conflict with safe-by-design (<em>e.g.</em>, high stability during use often results in P). In such cases, in addition to applying such chemicals only for essential uses and reducing emissions, early consideration of effective removal using available (water) treatment technologies may also be advisable. This may serve as a second line of defense to safe-by-design by minimizing environmental exposure. Here we explore inherent chemical properties relevant to “treatability”, focusing on commonly used and widely available water treatment technologies. These technologies include (i) biodegradation in wastewater and drinking water treatment, (ii) advanced separation technologies such as activated carbon and membrane-based separation, and (iii) oxidation processes. Our conceptual framework sheds light on “treatable-by-design” chemicals for specific applications where safe-by-design chemicals are not (readily) feasible, offering potential for further exploration by the broader community.</p>","PeriodicalId":74745,"journal":{"name":"RSC sustainability","volume":" 6","pages":" 2527-2537"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13034026/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147596732","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":"A comparative analysis of MCDA methods for safe and sustainable by design assessment","authors":"Takshak Shende and Viktor Popov","doi":"10.1039/D6SU00028B","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D6SU00028B","url":null,"abstract":"<p >The Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) framework is central to the European Union's cleaner and safer production and chemical sustainability goals, necessitating robust tools for implementation. This paper presents a review and comparative computational analysis of Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) methodologies for SSbD. Standard fully compensatory MCDA methods are shown to be fundamentally unsuitable as primary safety gates in regulatory decision contexts because they permit high sustainability performance to offset critical safety hazards, conflicting with the non-compensatory principle of chemical safety legislation like REACH. Three approaches were mathematically formulated and evaluated using a plasticizer case study: compensatory composite indicators, the regulatory-aligned multiple-criteria decision analysis for assessments of chemical alternatives (MCDA-ACA), and the Joint Research Centre (JRC) quantitative SSbD framework. The analysis demonstrates that compensatory methods fail to reliably implement safety-first logic at the gate, while non-compensatory or hybrid frameworks such as MCDA-ACA, the JRC method, and the CI-SSbDC composite indicator successfully implement safety-first logic through discrete value functions, minimum aggregation, and explicit cut-off criteria. We recommend a robust, two-stage hybrid approach for practitioners: (1) apply a validated non-compensatory safety gate to eliminate hazardous alternatives, and (2) subsequently rank the remaining safe options using comprehensive sustainability and performance criteria. This work contributes to operationalizing SSbD by providing a clear and validated methodological pathway for informed decision-making in cleaner chemical innovation.</p>","PeriodicalId":74745,"journal":{"name":"RSC sustainability","volume":" 6","pages":" 2510-2526"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2026/su/d6su00028b?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148214948","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":"RECOMPENSE: a student-led open science initiative for sustainable polystyrene waste upcycling in academic labs","authors":"Victoria Lageard, YuHan Yan, Jiayin Liu, Yueze Gong, Shuoxi Liu, Bob C. Schroeder and David Palomas","doi":"10.1039/D5SU00927H","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D5SU00927H","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Plastic waste is a global challenge, with polystyrene (PS) among the least recycled polymers despite its widespread use in laboratories. Conventional recycling routes for PS remain economically and technically limited, creating an urgent need for accessible, sustainable alternatives. Here, we introduce RECOMPENSE, a student-led open science initiative designed to upcycle PS waste into polystyrene sulfonic acid (u-PSSA), a heterogeneous catalyst for green organic synthesis. Developed through MSc research projects at UCL, RECOMPENSE combines technical innovation with educational engagement, offering detailed protocols and video resources freely available online. We report a reproducible method for sulfonating expanded PS under simple laboratory conditions, yielding u-PSSA with up to 45% sulfonation. Its catalytic performance was validated in Friedel–Crafts reactions using biobased substrates, achieving quantitative yields of a biofuel precursor under mild conditions. Comparative studies with commercial PSSA confirmed the viability of waste-derived catalysts, while additional tests with aromatic aldehydes demonstrated broad applicability. Beyond experimental results, RECOMPENSE exemplifies co-creation in sustainable chemistry education. By involving students in research and resource development, the project fosters practical skills, systems thinking, and global collaboration. Demonstrating how academic labs can transform plastic waste into valuable resources while preparing future scientists to lead sustainability transitions.</p>","PeriodicalId":74745,"journal":{"name":"RSC sustainability","volume":" 4","pages":" 1986-1995"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2026/su/d5su00927h?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147686489","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":"Production of syringic acid by direct CO2 insertion into syringol via a Kolbe–Schmitt type reaction","authors":"Omar Mohammad, Jude A. Onwudili and Qingchun Yuan","doi":"10.1039/D5SU00232J","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D5SU00232J","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Syringic acid (4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxybenzoic acid) is a valuable hydroxybenzoic acid with applications in pharmaceuticals, food additives, and polymeric materials such as poly(phenylene oxide) (PPO). Despite its industrial relevance, current synthesis methods are reported only in patents, relying on expensive precursors such as syringaldehyde and multi-step chemical reactions, leading to high production costs and chemical waste. In contrast, syringol, a biomass-derived phenolic compound, is commercially available at half the cost of syringaldehyde, making it a more economical alternative. This study presents, for the first time, a one-pot method for the direct carboxylation of syringol to produce syringic acid. Initial experiments using sodium syringolate (SyONa) and the conventional Kolbe–Schmitt reaction yielded only 0.53% syringic acid. However, at 225 °C and <em>p</em>CO<small>₂</small> between 5 and 50 bar over 2–6 hours, the addition of guaiacol or potassium carbonate (K<small>₂</small>CO<small>₃</small>) significantly promoted the yield of syringic acid. Guaiacol enhanced conversion but led to substantial by-product formation, whereas K<small>₂</small>CO<small>₃</small> improved selectivity to syringic acid (up to 90%) and increased the yield to 39.2% after 6 h. A mechanistic analysis indicates that K<small>₂</small>CO<small>₃</small> activates the <em>para</em>-C–H bond of syringolate more effectively than guaiacol, enabling a previously inaccessible carboxylation pathway. By leveraging CO<small>₂</small> as a reactant and biomass-derived feedstock, this work aligns with Green Chemistry principles, reducing reliance on costly reagents and minimising chemical waste. These findings not only offer a sustainable route for syringic acid synthesis but also open new possibilities for the large-scale production of green PPO, advancing the development of bio-based polymers for a sustainable future.</p>","PeriodicalId":74745,"journal":{"name":"RSC sustainability","volume":" 4","pages":" 1964-1974"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2026/su/d5su00232j?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147686487","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":"Surveying user experiences in an inclusive online green chemistry education community of practice","authors":"Nimrat K. Obhi, Jonathon W. Moir, Sarah Prescott, Alisha Szozda, Sarah Kennedy, Omar Villanueva and Amy S. Cannon","doi":"10.1039/D5SU00950B","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D5SU00950B","url":null,"abstract":"<p >The Green Chemistry Teaching and Learning Community (GCTLC)—launched in October 2023—is an online platform dedicated to fostering a global community of practice (CoP) that supports the integration and advancement of green and sustainable chemistry in chemical education systems worldwide. Consistent with the platform's mission and vision, the success of such a CoP requires an understanding of how well it can create and support a communal sense of belonging amongst users and how effectively the platform encourages and facilitates behavior change in teaching practice. To assess this, we present herein the findings from the first annual survey of GCTLC members, administered in 2024. The results demonstrate that not only has the platform helped create a strong sense of belonging among users in its first year of operation, but that it has also increased the confidence of those users to teach green chemistry. The ability to access and download curriculum materials and resources from the site was rated as one of the most useful features, and comments from respondents suggest they are actively incorporating (or plan to incorporate) those resources into existing courses they teach. The results lend strong evidence to the power of collaborative online platforms and how virtual CoPs can effect change at a global level.</p>","PeriodicalId":74745,"journal":{"name":"RSC sustainability","volume":" 6","pages":" 2581-2588"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2026/su/d5su00950b?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148214952","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":"Citizen analytical chemistry: building a participatory and shared science through global data generation","authors":"Adrián Fuente-Ballesteros, Victoria Samanidou and Vânia G. Zuin Zeidler","doi":"10.1039/D6SU00052E","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D6SU00052E","url":null,"abstract":"<p >This work presents citizen analytical chemistry (ZAC) as a framework that unites analytical science with the participatory nature of citizen science, enabling professionals and especially non-professionals to collect, interpret, and share chemical data using simplified, low-cost, and portable tools. Through smartphones, open-source platforms, and do-it-yourself devices, ZAC democratizes access not only to chemical measurement but also to chemical information and knowledge, creating opportunities for environmental monitoring, public health protection, and food safety assessment on a global scale. It encourages large-scale data generation while promoting education, transparency, and scientific literacy. At the same time, it raises new challenges related to data quality, privacy, ethics, and public engagement that must be addressed to ensure reliability and trust. This article highlights ten pillars of ZAC, presents key enabling technologies, and explores future directions where community-driven sensor networks, mobile platforms, and AI-assisted analysis could transform analytical chemistry into a shared societal practice. ZAC proposes a more inclusive, participatory, and sustainable model of science, one in which analytical chemistry becomes a bridge connecting people, data, and the environment.</p>","PeriodicalId":74745,"journal":{"name":"RSC sustainability","volume":" 4","pages":" 1808-1821"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2026/su/d6su00052e?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147686545","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}