{"title":"Outstanding Reviewers for RSC Sustainability in 2024","authors":"","doi":"10.1039/D5SU90032H","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D5SU90032H","url":null,"abstract":"<p >We would like to take this opportunity to thank all <em>RSC Sustainability</em> reviewers for helping to preserve quality and integrity in chemical science literature. We would also like to highlight the Outstanding Reviewers for <em>RSC Sustainability</em> in 2024.</p>","PeriodicalId":74745,"journal":{"name":"RSC sustainability","volume":" 8","pages":" 3227-3227"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-07-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2025/su/d5su90032h?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144740067","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":"Mechano-enzymatic and deep eutectic solvent (DES) mediated sulfoxidation reactions: a comparison study†","authors":"Amina Cheraitia, Chuhan Li, Michele Crotti, Naima Merabet and Daniele Castagnolo","doi":"10.1039/D5SU00467E","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D5SU00467E","url":null,"abstract":"<p >The oxidation of sulfide substrates into sulfoxides is a common reaction in organic chemistry, and it has found broad applications in the synthesis of drugs, chemicals and materials. Many sulfoxidation catalytic methods, including photo-, organo- and biocatalytic methods, have been developed to date with the aim to make such transformation more sustainable and in line with the principles of green chemistry. This work describes the development and green assessment of three sulfoxidation methodologies that combine biocatalysis with mechanochemistry and the use of deep eutectic solvents (DESs). A new mechano-enzymatic method where sulfoxides are prepared under mechanochemical conditions with CALB biocatalyst, UHP and AcOEt was first developed, followed by a mechanochemical method requiring only lactic acid (LacOH) and UHP. Finally, a DES-mediated method where sulfoxides are generated by the reaction of UHP with LacOH-based DES media was developed. All three methodologies afforded sulfoxide products selectively with high yields. A comparison of the green metrics revealed that the mechano and the mechano-enzymatic methods show the best green profile in terms of <em>E</em>-factor and RME parameters.</p>","PeriodicalId":74745,"journal":{"name":"RSC sustainability","volume":" 9","pages":" 4098-4107"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-07-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2025/su/d5su00467e?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144909559","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}
Shirley Min Yang, Rukayya Ibrahim Muazu, Enny Tran, Clifford B. Talbot, Nilay Shah, Milo S. P. Shaffer and Agnieszka Brandt-Talbot
{"title":"Sustainable low-cost carbon fibres produced by integrating wood fractionation with lignin fibre spinning†","authors":"Shirley Min Yang, Rukayya Ibrahim Muazu, Enny Tran, Clifford B. Talbot, Nilay Shah, Milo S. P. Shaffer and Agnieszka Brandt-Talbot","doi":"10.1039/D5SU00218D","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D5SU00218D","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Conventional carbon fibre manufacturing is costly and relies on fossil-based raw materials with significant environmental impacts. This study presents a new, low-cost route to biobased carbon fibres generated directly from wood by integrating ionosolv wood fractionation with carbon fibre spinning. The approach avoids isolating lignin powders by spinning lignin directly from the black liquor, offering a simpler process with a lower environmental impact. The concept is demonstrated using lignin extracted from eucalyptus wood into the recyclable ionic liquid (IL) <em>N</em>,<em>N</em>-dimethylbutylammonium hydrogen sulfate with 20% water, generating delignified cellulose pulp as a co-product. After adding non-toxic poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) into the lignin-containing ionic liquid (with up to a 4.7 : 1 lignin : PVA ratio) continuous lignin–PVA fibres were generated by spinning into an aqueous coagulation bath. Circular, homogenous fibres were formed, which were carbonised at 1000 °C, with carbon fibre yields of up to 37%. The proof-of-concept monofilament carbon fibres (452 MPa tensile strength and 43 GPa tensile modulus) outperformed carbon fibres generated from pre-isolated ionosolv eucalyptus lignin using the same fibre spinning approach. A techno-economic analysis (TEA) of the modelled process at scale suggests that carbon fibre production costs were $9.02 kg<small><sup>−1</sup></small> for the integrated process and $9.69 kg<small><sup>−1</sup></small> for the redissolution-spun carbon fibres, while life cycle assessment (LCA) indicated that 20.7 kg CO<small><sub>2</sub></small>-eq and 25.3 kg CO<small><sub>2</sub></small>-eq greenhouse gas emissions were associated with integrated and redissolution spinning, respectively, providing strong motivation for future optimisation of the carbon fibres' mechanical performance and for process development.</p>","PeriodicalId":74745,"journal":{"name":"RSC sustainability","volume":" 9","pages":" 3972-3986"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-07-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2025/su/d5su00218d?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144909538","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":"Effects of alkanolamines on photocatalytic reduction of carbon dioxide to liquid fuels using a copper-doped dititanate/graphene photocatalyst†","authors":"Wannisa Neamsung, Nutkamol Kitjanukit, Apisit Karawek, Napatr Chongkol, Napat Lertthanaphol, Poomipat Chotngamkhum, Kongphoom Khumsupa, Poomiwat Phadungbut, Woranart Jonglertjunya, Pattaraporn Kim-Lohsoontorn and Sira Srinives","doi":"10.1039/D5SU00268K","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D5SU00268K","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Carbon dioxide (CO<small><sub>2</sub></small>) photoreduction is a promising alternative to carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) technologies. It relies on photocatalysts to convert CO<small><sub>2</sub></small> to high-value products. The copper-doped dititanate nanosheets/graphene oxide composite (CTGN) is a heterostructure of two 2-dimensional nanomaterials: nanosheets and graphene oxide (GO), exhibiting outstanding photoactivity. It was demonstrated to assist in CO<small><sub>2</sub></small> photoreduction, yielding fuel products such as methanol, ethanol, and isopropanol. In this study, we used CTGN as a photocatalyst model to investigate the effects of alkanolamines, including monoethanolamine (MEOA), diethanolamine (DEOA), and triethanolamine (TEOA), in facilitating CO<small><sub>2</sub></small> photoreduction. TEOA performed the best, producing methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, acetone, and <em>n</em>-butanol with an impressive total carbon consumption (TCC) of 7890 μmol g<small><sub>cat</sub></small><small><sup>−1</sup></small>. Alkanolamines exhibited a dual function as a sacrificial agent (SCR) and a CO<small><sub>2</sub></small>-capturing substance for photoreduction. TEOA was an excellent SCR and captured CO<small><sub>2</sub></small> loosely <em>via</em> base-catalyzed hydration, promoting the subsequent release of CO<small><sub>2</sub></small> for photoreduction. A study on medium pH revealed a decreased photoreduction rate at increased pH due to a strong bond between CO<small><sub>2</sub></small> and the alkali solution, which reduces the reaction rate.</p>","PeriodicalId":74745,"journal":{"name":"RSC sustainability","volume":" 8","pages":" 3520-3529"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-07-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2025/su/d5su00268k?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144740034","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":"Negative emission technologies: a way forward?","authors":"Haris Ishaq and Curran Crawford","doi":"10.1039/D5SU00162E","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D5SU00162E","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Negative Emission Technologies (NETs) can play a pivotal role in mitigating climate change by removing CO<small><sub>2</sub></small> from the atmosphere, complementing emission reduction efforts especially as 1.5 °C Paris Agreement targets are exceeded and historical emissions removals are required. This review systematically evaluates the current landscape, technical performance, and scalability of key NETs, including Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS), Direct Air Carbon Capture and Storage (DACCS), afforestation, soil carbon sequestration and biochar, enhanced weathering, and ocean-based methods. Technological advancements required are analyzed to highlight and enhance the efficiency, scalability, resource requirements (land, water, and minerals), and economic viability of these solutions. The interplay between NETs and existing emissions reduction strategies is critically examined, emphasizing the need for synergies that maximize overall climate benefits while minimizing resource competition. Comparative analyses highlight differences in technological readiness, energy use, and environmental impacts, offering insights into the practical and theoretical limits of CO<small><sub>2</sub></small> sequestration for each approach. The review also explores energy balances, cost structures, and life-cycle assessments (LCA), identifying bottlenecks in deployment and potential areas for innovation to enhance efficiency and reduce costs. Additionally, we evaluate the current policy frameworks that support NET development, identifying key challenges in both governance and measurement/reporting/verification (MRV) that must be addressed to facilitate widespread deployment. The review underscores the necessity for robust international cooperation and financing mechanisms tailored to NETs, particularly for capacity building in developing regions. As we pursue a net-zero future, addressing the research gaps and promoting effective integration of NETs into comprehensive climate strategies will be crucial for mitigating the long-term impacts of anthropogenic CO<small><sub>2</sub></small> emissions.</p>","PeriodicalId":74745,"journal":{"name":"RSC sustainability","volume":" 9","pages":" 3652-3680"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-07-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2025/su/d5su00162e?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144909476","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}
Haoxuan Zeng, Qiao Liang, Lu He, Ziyuan Li, Taihui Chen and Xiaoli Wu
{"title":"Facile hydrothermal synthesis of rare earth hydroxycarbonate phosphors for high-performance warm white LEDs","authors":"Haoxuan Zeng, Qiao Liang, Lu He, Ziyuan Li, Taihui Chen and Xiaoli Wu","doi":"10.1039/D5SU00406C","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D5SU00406C","url":null,"abstract":"<p >The traditional synthesis of inorganic phosphors often requires complex procedures, including precursor preparation and high-temperature treatment. In contrast, this study introduces a simplified hydrothermal precipitation approach for fabricating europium/terbium hydroxycarbonates (Eu<small><sub>2</sub></small>(OH)<small><sub><em>x</em></sub></small>(CO<small><sub>3</sub></small>)<small><sub><em>y</em></sub></small>(NO<small><sub>3</sub></small>)<small><sub>(6−<em>x</em>−2<em>y</em>)</sub></small>·<em>n</em>H<small><sub>2</sub></small>O and analogous Tb compound). The synthesized materials demonstrate high thermal stability, with high quenching activation energies (<em>E</em><small><sub>a(Eu)</sub></small> = 0.283 eV, <em>E</em><small><sub>a(Tb)</sub></small> = 0.221 eV). When applied in white LED devices, these phosphors demonstrate warm white light emission with a color rendering index (CRI) reaching <em>R</em><small><sub>a</sub></small> = 84.0 and correlated color temperature (CCT) of 3865 K, making them promising for lighting applications.</p>","PeriodicalId":74745,"journal":{"name":"RSC sustainability","volume":" 8","pages":" 3392-3395"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-07-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2025/su/d5su00406c?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144740057","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}
Mano Ranjan Barik, Jagadish Kumar and Sushanta Kumar Badamali
{"title":"Nyctanthes arbor-tristis L. mediated sustainable synthesis of α-Fe2O3/g-C3N4 S-scheme heterojunctions for enhanced photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline hydrochloride: a mechanistic insight and DFT study†","authors":"Mano Ranjan Barik, Jagadish Kumar and Sushanta Kumar Badamali","doi":"10.1039/D5SU00437C","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D5SU00437C","url":null,"abstract":"<p >The development of efficient and sustainable photocatalytic systems is critical for addressing emerging pollutants in wastewater. In this study, we report the green synthesis of a novel S-scheme α-Fe<small><sub>2</sub></small>O<small><sub>3</sub></small>/g-C<small><sub>3</sub></small>N<small><sub>4</sub></small> heterojunction, engineered to enhance the visible-light-driven photodegradation of tetracycline hydrochloride (TCH). The composite was fabricated using an eco-friendly route involving <em>Nyctanthes arbor-tristis</em> L. leaf extract, ensuring a minimal environmental footprint. Structural and chemical characterization studies <em>via</em> XRD and FTIR confirmed the presence of distinct crystalline phases and key functional groups, including Fe–O and C<img>N bonds. Morphological analysis using FESEM and HRTEM revealed a well-defined interfacial architecture, while XPS confirmed the presence of Fe<small><sup>3+</sup></small>, C, and N elements, validating successful heterojunction formation. The heterostructure exhibited a BET surface area of 21 m<small><sup>2</sup></small> g<small><sup>−1</sup></small> and a narrowed optical band gap of 2.2 eV, using UV-Vis DRS. Photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy demonstrated significantly reduced recombination of photogenerated electron–hole pairs, indicating efficient charge separation. Under visible-light irradiation, the α-Fe<small><sub>2</sub></small>O<small><sub>3</sub></small>/g-C<small><sub>3</sub></small>N<small><sub>4</sub></small> photocatalyst achieved an impressive 93% degradation of TCH within 60 minutes, significantly outperforming pristine g-C<small><sub>3</sub></small>N<small><sub>4</sub></small>(32%) and α-Fe<small><sub>2</sub></small>O<small><sub>3</sub></small>(43%). The enhanced photocatalytic activity is attributed to a synergistic S-scheme charge transfer pathway that promotes redox potential and suppresses charge recombination. A detailed parametric study was conducted to evaluate the effects of catalyst dosage, initial TCH concentration, heterojunction ratio, and exposure duration. DFT calculations explained the geometrically favorable crystal and band structures. Superoxide radicals were identified as major reactive species from scavenging studies. A plausible mechanism for TCH degradation was established based on LCMS analysis.</p>","PeriodicalId":74745,"journal":{"name":"RSC sustainability","volume":" 8","pages":" 3582-3600"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-07-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2025/su/d5su00437c?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144740051","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}
Antonio A. Castillo-Garcia, Jörg Haupenthal, Anna K. H. Hirsch and Katalin Barta
{"title":"Lignin-derived guaiacols as platform chemicals for the modular synthesis of 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinolines and benzomorpholines†","authors":"Antonio A. Castillo-Garcia, Jörg Haupenthal, Anna K. H. Hirsch and Katalin Barta","doi":"10.1039/D5SU00151J","DOIUrl":"10.1039/D5SU00151J","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Reductive catalytic fractionation (RCF) has emerged as a centrally important method in modern biorefining, delivering well-defined aromatic platform chemicals from lignin with high selectivity. To establish attractive future biorefinery schemes, urgent attention needs to be devoted to the development of sustainable catalytic methods for the downstream conversion of these aromatic platform chemicals. In this regard, the efficient production of structurally complex, biologically active amines with high atom and step economy represents an attractive goal. Herein, we describe the development of novel catalytic pathways for converting prominent lignin-derived guaiacols that originated during RCF processing into different series of six-membered N-heterocycles, applying hydrogen borrowing amination and C–N cross coupling as key catalytic steps. Specifically, 4-propanol guaiacol (<strong>1G</strong>) was converted into 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinolines <strong>1Gd<small><sub>n</sub></small></strong>, whereas the formation of benzomorpholines <strong>2–3Gd<small><sub>n</sub></small></strong> from 4-propyl guaiacol (<strong>2G</strong>) and 4-ethyl guaiacol (<strong>3G</strong>) was achieved. The biological activity of the developed compound libraries was evaluated in terms of anticancer activity using human HepG2 cells, which displayed promising activity in several examples.</p>","PeriodicalId":74745,"journal":{"name":"RSC sustainability","volume":" 9","pages":" 4039-4048"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-07-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12264585/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144676730","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}
E. S. Sowbakkiyavathi, Preethi Dhandapani, Senthilkumar Ramasamy, Ju Hyun Oh, Insik In, Seung Jun Lee and A. Subramania
{"title":"Recent advances in MOFs, MOF-derived materials and their composites as electrocatalysts for hydrogen production","authors":"E. S. Sowbakkiyavathi, Preethi Dhandapani, Senthilkumar Ramasamy, Ju Hyun Oh, Insik In, Seung Jun Lee and A. Subramania","doi":"10.1039/D5SU00199D","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D5SU00199D","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Climate change, global warming, and other adverse environmental impacts are largely driven by carbon dioxide (CO<small><sub>2</sub></small>) emissions. One promising pathway to mitigate these issues is the growing eco-friendly hydrogen production technologies. Hydrogen, as a clean energy carrier, has the potential to transition industries toward decarbonization. Amongst the numerous hydrogen production approaches, water splitting <em>via</em> electrocatalysis presents a sustainable route. However, achieving huge productivity in the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) requires advanced catalytic agents with enhanced active sites, huge porosity, and robust adaptability. Recently, materials based on metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have received more consideration in electrocatalysis for environmental remediation and energy. The metal component of MOFs typically consists of metal ions (often transition metals) or metal clusters. These metal ions act as the nodes in the framework, coordinating with the organic ligands. The choice of metal determines the chemical properties, stability, and reactivity of the MOF. Numerous MOF-based materials were effectively established for the applications of the hydrogen evolution process. To produce hydrogen, this review article examines various MOF-related electrocatalysts, which include MOF-derived metals, metal oxides, metal phosphides, metal nitrides, metal chalcogenides, dichalcogenides, and their composites. Furthermore, the pros and cons of various MOF-based materials as water-splitting catalysts are discussed. Lastly, the present challenges and future prospects of these materials as electrocatalysts are also discussed.</p>","PeriodicalId":74745,"journal":{"name":"RSC sustainability","volume":" 9","pages":" 3628-3651"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-06-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2025/su/d5su00199d?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144909475","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}
Clayton Gentilcore, Cagri Un, Josue Martinez-Maldonado, Petr Vozka and Nien-Hwa Linda Wang
{"title":"Continuous low-pressure hydrothermal processing methods for polystyrene conversion to oils†","authors":"Clayton Gentilcore, Cagri Un, Josue Martinez-Maldonado, Petr Vozka and Nien-Hwa Linda Wang","doi":"10.1039/D4SU00796D","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D4SU00796D","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Polystyrene (PS) waste is generated at an annual rate of 28 million tons, yet less than 1% is recycled. PS in landfills and ecosystems degrades into microplastics and releases harmful chemicals. This study introduces a continuous low-pressure hydrothermal processing (LP-HTP) method for converting PS into valuable oils without a catalyst. Two continuous reactors were designed, built, and tested at average temperatures from 394 to 538 °C, PS feed rates up to 1.2 kg h<small><sup>−1</sup></small>, and residence times from 0.7 to 3.4 minutes. The process achieved 99 wt% oil yields with minimal gas formation. Water in LP-HTP suppressed char formation to <1 wt%. Lower temperatures and shorter residence times favored styrene production. At 397 °C and 2.0 minutes, the oil contained 65 wt% styrene monomer, and 88 wt% combined styrene monomer, dimer, and trimer. Reaction pathways were proposed based on hydrocarbon species identified <em>via</em> GC-MS/FID analyses. A detailed kinetic model was developed using oil composition data from 28 oil samples across three experiments. The model-predicted oil compositions agreed within 6% standard error of the values measured in an independent fourth experiment. The model was used to determine optimal conditions for maximizing styrene product yields. This atmospheric-pressure continuous LP-HTP process is simpler and more cost-effective than batch LP-HTP (2–3 MPa) or supercritical water liquefaction (>22 MPa). It offers a scalable and efficient route to recover valuable monomers from PS waste. It has the potential to reduce PS waste consigned to landfills and mitigate its impact on human health and the environment.</p>","PeriodicalId":74745,"journal":{"name":"RSC sustainability","volume":" 9","pages":" 3925-3946"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-06-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2025/su/d4su00796d?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144909535","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}