RSC sustainability最新文献

{"title":"Sustainable approach for the sequestration of lead from water involving the synergistic influence of PET waste and l-cysteine encapsulated in sodium alginate beads","authors":"K. Krishna Priyanka, Arunraj Balasubramanian, M. Christina Nilavu, Himanshu Aggarwal and N. Rajesh","doi":"10.1039/D6SU00033A","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D6SU00033A","url":null,"abstract":"<p >The toxicity of heavy metals, particularly lead, in water is a significant environmental and health concern. Carbonaceous adsorbent materials derived from waste sources exhibit promising potential for sequestering toxic metals from water. Herein, we developed a sustainable approach using valorised waste polyethene terephthalate (PET) obtained from plastic bottles as a carbonaceous adsorbent material <em>via</em> microwave assistance and functionalized it with <small>L</small>-cysteine to incorporate surface functionalities for effective coordination with lead ions. The adsorbent was further encapsulated using a sodium alginate matrix to form a hydrogel, which increased the adsorption capacity and enabled scaling up. Analytical surface characterisations, including FE-SEM, EDS, BET, TGA, XPS, XRF, FT-IR spectroscopy, and PXRD, were performed to study the adsorbent. The maximum adsorption capacity under optimised conditions was found to be 370.84 mg g<small>⁻¹</small>. Kinetic studies revealed that the system follows a pseudo-second-order model, and thermodynamic analysis showed that adsorption is spontaneous and exothermic in nature. The interaction of lead ions with the surface of the adsorbent was further corroborated using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. The prepared adsorbent was tested in tap water and drinking water, and the adsorbent material exhibited 86.04% and 90.00% removal of lead, respectively. Lead was successfully desorbed using 0.1 M NaOH. In addition to supporting sustainable waste management, this work presents a relatively low-cost, eco-friendly adsorbent system that can serve practical utility in real-world applications for the remediation of lead-contaminated water.</p>","PeriodicalId":74745,"journal":{"name":"RSC sustainability","volume":" 3","pages":" 1508-1526"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2026-02-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2026/su/d6su00033a?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147388494","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":"Chemical recycling: a new toolbox for materials recycling in industry and the application of the mass balance chain-of-custody approach","authors":"Christian Krueger, Ivana Krkljuš and Jenny Reuber","doi":"10.1039/D5SU00505A","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D5SU00505A","url":null,"abstract":"<p >The chemical sector continues to rely predominantly on fossil-based carbon sources, resulting in substantial waste generation throughout its value chains and contributing notably to greenhouse gas emissions. Increasing circularity in chemical value chains is therefore critical to meet climate and sustainability objectives (SDG 12, SDG 13), but progress is constrained by heterogeneous waste streams, limited recycling infrastructure, and unclear accounting rules for recycled feedstocks. This paper assesses the technical potential, economic implications and governance requirements of chemical recycling and mass balance chain-of-custody (CoC) models to scale the use of waste-derived feedstocks in integrated petrochemical systems. Using a literature review we characterise technology trade-offs and introduce a Cost Multiplier Index (CMI) to quantify how proportional <em>versus</em> non-proportional mass balance attribution affects off-taker costs. We also evaluate policy and Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) implications considering current EU regulatory developments (<em>e.g.</em>, SUPD) and certification schemes (ISCC PLUS, REDcert<small>²</small>). Key findings are: (1) no single recycling technology fits all waste types—mechanical recycling is most effective for clean single streams, while chemical and thermochemical routes are required for mixed or contaminated wastes; (2) mass balance CoC enables rapid scale-up of recycled feedstock use without expensive physical segregation, but attribution rules and credit losses materially affect downstream costs and commercial viability; (3) the CMI demonstrates strong economic sensitivity – strict proportional attribution can substantially increase off-taker costs compared with targeted non-proportional approaches; and (4) robust MRV, third-party verification and clearly specified regulatory rules (including treatment of fuel use) are essential to avoid double counting, limit leakage and mobilise investment. Well-designed mass balance frameworks, combined with technology-open policy and harmonised MRV, can unlock significant volumes of recycled feedstock and accelerate the chemical industry's transition to a more circular, low-carbon future. These outcomes support SDG 12 (responsible consumption and production) and SDG 13 (climate action).</p>","PeriodicalId":74745,"journal":{"name":"RSC sustainability","volume":" 4","pages":" 1778-1791"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2026-02-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2026/su/d5su00505a?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147686543","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":"Correction: Change of tides in European chemical legislation. A turning point in European chemicals policy: reconciling green ambitions with the viability of the manufacturing sector in Europe","authors":"Éva Ujaczki and Jan Backmann","doi":"10.1039/D6SU90007K","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D6SU90007K","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Correction for ‘Change of tides in European chemical legislation. A turning point in European chemicals policy: reconciling green ambitions with the viability of the manufacturing sector in Europe’ by Éva Ujaczki <em>et al.</em>, <em>RSC Sustainability</em>, 2026, https://doi.org/10.1039/d5su00746a.</p>","PeriodicalId":74745,"journal":{"name":"RSC sustainability","volume":" 3","pages":" 1633-1633"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2026-02-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2026/su/d6su90007k?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147388490","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":"Embedding UN SDGs in chemistry education through project-based learning: insights from case studies in the UK and USA","authors":"Yalinu Poya","doi":"10.1039/D5SU00954E","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D5SU00954E","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Chemistry education is central to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) by advancing resource efficiency, reducing environmental impact, and embedding sustainable practices. This study reports two international case studies at the University of the West of Scotland (UK) and Wentworth Institute of Technology (USA), which integrate UN SDGs into undergraduate curricula through project-based learning. Students engaged in projects linking foundational chemistry concepts to real-world sustainability challenges. Assessment combined written reports, presentations, and reflective tasks to evaluate disciplinary knowledge and transferable skills. Results indicate that UN SDG-aligned projects enhance engagement, deepen understanding of sustainability, and foster interdisciplinary competencies essential for addressing global challenges. This work provides a practical framework for embedding sustainability into STEM education through active learning approaches.</p>","PeriodicalId":74745,"journal":{"name":"RSC sustainability","volume":" 3","pages":" 1557-1569"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2026-02-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2026/su/d5su00954e?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147388497","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":"Biobased epoxy resins from itaconic anhydride functionalized lignin: insights and comparison with succinic analogues","authors":"Celeste Libretti, Gianluca Giuseppe Rizzo, Sophia Abou El Mirate, Mats Johansson and Michael A. R. Meier","doi":"10.1039/D6SU00045B","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D6SU00045B","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Lignin, the most abundant renewable aromatic polymer, remains underutilized despite its potential as a sustainable feedstock for polymeric materials. In this work, lignin was functionalized with itaconic and succinic anhydrides to introduce carboxylic acid groups, enabling its use as a polyfunctional macromonomer. The influence of temperature, reaction time, reagent stoichiometry, and catalysts on the functionalization efficiency was systematically investigated. The resulting lignin derivatives were incorporated as crosslinkers into fully biobased epoxy resins formulated with epoxidized soybean oil and Pripol™ 1009, and their mechanical and thermal properties, as well as insights into the curing, were investigated in detail. Elastic moduli ranged from 4.87 to 1.24 MPa. The glass transition temperature (between −36 and −23 °C) was found to be primarily influenced by the aliphatic matrix, while the lignin content and the resulting network architecture strongly affected the mechanical properties of the materials. Comparative studies with succinic anhydride modified lignin highlighted the role of unsaturation due to itaconic acid in the network, especially for mechanical properties. Finally, degradation studies demonstrated depolymerization under alkaline hydrolysis, suggesting potential for designing easily cleavable thermoset systems. This work contributes to the development of greener epoxy networks and highlights lignin's versatility as a reactive renewable building block for sustainable polymer chemistry.</p>","PeriodicalId":74745,"journal":{"name":"RSC sustainability","volume":" 3","pages":" 1615-1632"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2026-02-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2026/su/d6su00045b?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147388489","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":"Assessing tin demand and supply pressures under terawatt-scale photovoltaic deployment","authors":"Piyal Chowdhury, Priyom Das, Hemal Chowdhury, Tamal Chowdhury, Elza Bontempi and Richard Corkish","doi":"10.1039/D5SU00956A","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D5SU00956A","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Terawatt-scale photovoltaic (PV) deployment will materially increase demand for solder, for which tin is the primary constituent. We quantify potential tin demand to 2050 by combining historical global refined-tin production/consumption (1999–2024) with trend-based machine-learning (ML) forecasts and exogenous PV deployment scenarios. The analysis uses an accounting approach in which the ML forecasts form a trend-continuation baseline (BAU) and PV demand is overlaid to explore conditional supply risks. Under BAU, refined production grows slowly while consumption stabilises; when realistic PV trajectories and replacement demands are added, several scenarios generate substantial and persistent gaps between refined tin demand and plausible BAU supply paths. Sensitivity analysis shows that raising the Recycling Input Rate (RIR) materially reduces the shortfall, while reductions in tin intensity and diversification of supply also mitigate risk. Recent declines in refined output reflect supply disruptions and a post-2020 slowdown in consumption; available data do not indicate a clear global decline in tin ore grades. Policy measures combining increased recycling, reduced tin intensity, and targeted supply diversification are therefore the most effective near-term responses to reduce vulnerability.</p>","PeriodicalId":74745,"journal":{"name":"RSC sustainability","volume":" 3","pages":" 1581-1592"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2026-02-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2026/su/d5su00956a?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147388499","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":"Transforming the chemical industry: a BASF perspective on net-zero and circularity","authors":"Bernhard von Vacano, Wolfgang Hübinger, Willis Muganda, Grigorios Kolios, Talke Schaffrannek, Alois Kindler, Kai Ehrhard and Markus Weber","doi":"10.1039/D5SU00825E","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D5SU00825E","url":null,"abstract":"<p >This contribution to the collection of “industry perspectives” discusses pathways for a transformation of the chemical industry to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions and switch to a circular feedstock base. It is based on the specific perspective of BASF as a multinational, deeply integrated chemical company. At the source of its CO<small>₂</small> emissions is the energy-intensive nature of basic chemical production, and the triple role of petrochemical feedstocks to provide carbon, hydrogen and energy. Along these themes, the importance of circularity is discussed and the shift to non-fossil carbon feedstocks, including bio-based, recycled, and potentially CO<small>₂</small>-derived sources. It is shown how they are inextricably linked to the energy perspective, emphasizing the transition to renewable energy sources and exploring alternatives to conventionally thermally driven processes. As an industry currently facing unprecedented economic challenges, any transformation must be coupled to economically viable pathways, enabled by the right tools, business models and products, to leverage the potential of chemistry to drive the sustainability transformation of the whole economy.</p>","PeriodicalId":74745,"journal":{"name":"RSC sustainability","volume":" 3","pages":" 1304-1326"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2026-02-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2026/su/d5su00825e?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147388505","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":"Nanofiltration membranes based on cellulose triacetate from millet husk","authors":"Maryam Khadim MBACKE, Mouhamed Ndoye, El Hadji Moussa Diop and Moustapha Sene","doi":"10.1039/D5SU00889A","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D5SU00889A","url":null,"abstract":"<p >This study reports the sustainable fabrication of nanofiltration (NF) membranes based on cellulose triacetate (CTA) derived from millet husk, an abundant and underutilized agricultural residue in Sahelian Africa. Cellulose was extracted, acetylated to a degree of substitution of 2.67, and processed into asymmetric membranes by non-solvent induced phase inversion using contrasting solvents (chloroform and dichloromethane) and glycerol as a benign pore-forming additive. Structural, electrokinetic, and separation analyses reveal that solvent choice governs phase-inversion kinetics, pore size distribution, and surface charge, thereby controlling the permeability–selectivity balance. Chloroform-based membranes exhibit macrovoid-rich morphologies with broader pore size distributions, delivering higher water permeability (9.7 L·m<small>⁻²</small>·h<small>⁻¹</small>·bar<small>⁻¹</small>) while maintaining high divalent-ion rejection (up to 95% for MgSO<small>₄</small>). Dichloromethane induces denser skins, narrower pore size distributions, and more negative surface charge, enhancing steric and electrostatic exclusion at the expense of flux. The combined steric and Donnan effects explain the selective rejection of multivalent ions over monovalent salts. This work demonstrates that agro-residue-derived CTA membranes can achieve performance comparable to commercial NF membranes while offering a low-carbon, bio-based alternative, providing a viable pathway toward sustainable water treatment technologies.</p>","PeriodicalId":74745,"journal":{"name":"RSC sustainability","volume":" 3","pages":" 1464-1484"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2026-02-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2026/su/d5su00889a?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147388488","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":"Engagement of early-career scientists in sustainable chemistry: science policy perspectives","authors":"Lovish Raheja, Francisca J. Benítez, José Ferraz-Caetano, Maulline G. Leviev, Aanchal Saxena and Anna Isabel Becker","doi":"10.1039/D5SU00550G","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D5SU00550G","url":null,"abstract":"<p >As global sustainability challenges become more complex and interconnected, the engagement of scientists, and specifically early-career chemists in policymaking, is gaining urgency. This perspective highlights the current status of science policy engagement in chemistry across all continents. It identifies key institutional models, regional disparities and opportunities for action. Using examples from Europe, the Americas, Africa, Asia and Oceania, we explore how chemists are engaging and shaping the science policy interface. We argue that coordinated frameworks, youth-driven initiatives and regionally grounded strategies are essential for advancing sustainable chemistry on a global scale.</p>","PeriodicalId":74745,"journal":{"name":"RSC sustainability","volume":" 3","pages":" 1285-1303"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2026-02-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2026/su/d5su00550g?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147388504","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":"Sustainable extraction of bioactive compounds: a life cycle perspective on technologies, solvents, and process scale-up","authors":"Justin Z. Lian, Tie Liu, Jintian Yang, Hengyi Zhu, Nalinpat Chalermchotiwong, Yemima Grain, Long Yue, Xiang Luo, Stefano Cucurachi, Jian Li, Fanran Meng and Bin Dong","doi":"10.1039/D5SU00832H","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D5SU00832H","url":null,"abstract":"<p >The extraction of bioactive natural compounds is crucial to the pharmaceutical, food, and cosmetic industries, but it often entails high energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, and environmental impacts associated with solvent use. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) provides a structured approach to identify environmental hotspots and evaluate trade-offs across solvent use, energy demand, and process scale-up. This review adopts a life-cycle perspective to examine the environmental impacts from upstream stages, including agriculture, raw material processing, and transportation, to extraction, waste management, and end-of-life treatment. Extraction technologies, including microwave-assisted, ultrasound-assisted, solvent-based, pressurized liquid, and high-voltage electrical discharge methods, are compared in terms of environmental performance and process efficiency. Solvent selection is highlighted as a critical factor, with a focus on the balance between extraction yield and sustainability across water, organic, and deep eutectic solvents. The integration of LCA with simulation tools, such as SuperPro Designer and Aspen Plus, is also reviewed for its potential to support scaling-up decisions and resource optimization. Although current LCA studies provide valuable insights, gaps remain in addressing energy constraints, waste flows, and real-world implementation. Advancing sustainable extraction requires a combination of system-level design, data-driven modeling, and circular resource utilization.</p>","PeriodicalId":74745,"journal":{"name":"RSC sustainability","volume":" 3","pages":" 1180-1202"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2026-02-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2026/su/d5su00832h?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147388528","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}