Federico M. Ibarbalz, Nicolas Henry, Manoela C. Brandão et al.

Cell • 2019

Hui Xing, Charles Stuart, Stephen Spence et al.

Journal of Cleaner Production • 2021

Mario Coccia

The Science of The Total Environment • 2020

This study has two goals. The first is to explain the geo-environmental determinants of the accelerated diffusion of COVID-19 that is generating a high level of deaths. The second is to suggest a strategy to cope with future epidemic threats similar to COVID-19 having an accelerated viral infectivity in society. Using data on sample of N = 55 Italian province capitals, and data of infected individuals at as of April 7th, 2020, results reveal that the accelerate and vast diffusion of COVID-19 in North Italy has a high association with air pollution of cities measured with days exceeding the limits set for PM 10 (particulate matter 10 μm or less in diameter) or ozone. In particular, hinterland cities with average high number of days exceeding the limits set for PM 10 (and also having a low wind speed) have a very high number of infected people on 7th April 2020 (arithmetic mean is about 2200 infected individuals, with average polluted days greater than 80 days per year), whereas coastal cities also having days exceeding the limits set for PM 10 or ozone but with high wind speed have about 944.70 average infected individuals, with about 60 average polluted days per year; moreover, cities having more than 100 days of air pollution (exceeding the limits set for PM 10 ), they have a very high average number of infected people (about 3350 infected individuals, 7th April 2020), whereas cities having less than 100 days of air pollution per year, they have a lower average number of infected people (about 1014 individuals). The findings here also suggest that to minimize the impact of future epidemics similar to COVID-19, the max number of days per year that Italian provincial capitals or similar industrialized cities can exceed the limits set for PM 10 or for ozone, considering their meteorological conditions, is about 48 days. Moreover, results here reveal that the explanatory variable of air pollution in cities seems to be a more important predictor in the initial phase of diffusion of viral infectivity (on 17th March 2020, b 1 = 1.27, p < 0.001) than interpersonal contacts (b 2 = 0.31, p < 0.05). In the second phase of maturity of the transmission dynamics of COVID-19, air pollution reduces intensity (on 7th April 2020 with b' 1 = 0.81, p < 0.001) also because of the indirect effect of lockdown, whereas regression coefficient of transmission based on interpersonal contacts has a stable level (b' 2 = 0.31, p < 0.01). This result reveals that accelerated transmission dynamics of COVID-19 is due to mainly to the mechanism of "air pollution-to-human transmission" (airborne viral infectivity) rather than "human-to-human transmission". Overall, then, transmission dynamics of viral infectivity, such as COVID-19, is due to systemic causes: general factors that are the same for all regions (e.g., biological characteristics of virus, incubation period, etc.) and specific factors which are different for each region and/or city (e.g., complex interaction between air pollution, meteorological conditions and biological characteristics of viral infectivity) and health level of individuals (habits, immune system, age, sex, etc.). Lessons learned for COVID-19 in the case study here suggest that a proactive strategy to cope with future epidemics is also to apply especially an environmental and sustainable policy based on reduction of levels of air pollution mainly in hinterland and polluting cities- (having low wind speed, high percentage of moisture and number of fog days) -that seem to have an environment that foster a fast transmission dynamics of viral infectivity in society. Hence, in the presence of polluting industrialization in regions that can trigger the mechanism of air pollution-to-human transmission dynamics of viral infectivity, this study must conclude that a comprehensive strategy to prevent future epidemics similar to COVID-19 has to be also desig

Rakesh R. Narala, Sourabh Garg, Kalpesh Sharma et al.

Frontiers in Energy Research • 2016

In the wake of intensive fossil fuel usage and CO2 accumulation in the environment, research is targeted towards sustainable alternate bioenergy that can suffice the growing need for fuel and also that leaves a minimal carbon footprint. Oil production from microalgae can potentially be carried out more efficiently, leaving a smaller footprint and without competing for arable land or biodiverse landscapes. However, current algae cultivation systems and lipid induction processes must be significantly improved and are threatened by contamination with other algae or algal grazers. To address this issue, we have developed an efficient two-stage cultivation system using the marine microalga Tetraselmis sp. M8. This hybrid system combines exponential biomass production in positive pressure air lift-driven bioreactors with a separate synchronized high-lipid induction phase in nutrient deplete open raceway ponds. A comparison to either bioreactor or open raceway pond cultivation system suggests that this process potentially leads to significantly higher productivity of algal lipids. Nutrients are only added to the closed bioreactors while open raceway ponds have turnovers of only a few days, thus reducing the issue of microalgal grazers.

R. Miandad, Mohammad Rehan, M.A. Barakat et al.

Frontiers in Energy Research • 2019

Pyrolysis based biorefineries have great potential to convert wastes such as plastic and biomass waste into energy and other valuable products to achieve maximum economic and environmental benefits. In this study, the catalytic pyrolysis of different types of plastics waste (PS, PE, PP, and PET) as single or mixed in different ratios in the presence of modified natural zeolite (NZ) catalysts in a small pilot scale pyrolysis reactor was carried out. The NZ was modified by thermal activation (TA-NZ) at 550°C and acid activation (AA-NZ) with HNO3 to enhance its catalytic properties. The catalytic pyrolysis of PS produced the highest liquid oil (70 and 60%) than PP (40 and 54%) and PE (40 and 42%) using TA-NZ and AA-NZ catalysts respectively. The gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis of oil showed a mixture of aromatics, aliphatic and other hydrocarbon compounds. The TA-NZ and AA-NZ catalysts showed a different effect on the wt.% of catalytic pyrolysis products and liquid oil chemical composition, with AA-NZ showing higher catalytic activity than TA-NZ. FT-IR results showed clear peaks of aromatic compounds in all liquid oil samples with some peaks of alkanes that further confirmed the GC-MS results. The liquid oil has higher heating values (HHV) range of 41.7-44.2 MJ/kg, close to conventional diesel. Therefore, it has the potential to be used as an alternative source of energy and as transportation fuel after refining/ blending with conventional fuels.

Leonie Asfora Sarubbo, Maria da Glória C. Silva, Ítalo José Batista Durval et al.

Biochemical Engineering Journal • 2022

Biosurfactants have become attractive microbial products in the emerging biotechnology industry due to their advantages over synthetic surfactants in terms of environmental sustainability, global public health, and the concerns of industries to produce environmentally friendly goods. The amphipathic structure of biosurfactants with hydrophilic and hydrophobic moieties enable these molecules to play a key role in emulsification, foam formation, detergency, and oil dispersion activities, which are desirable traits in different industries. Several types of biosurfactants are commercially produced for applications in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries while others have promising roles in the food, petroleum, and agricultural industries. In this paper, we offer an extensive review of knowledge on microbial biosurfactants accumulated over the years. We also discuss current and promising industrial applications of biosurfactants as well as the advantages and challenges for their development and applications.

Recep Kaş, Khalid Khazzal Hummadi, Ruud Kortlever et al.

Nature Communications • 2016

Aqueous-phase electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide requires an active, earth-abundant electrocatalyst, as well as highly efficient mass transport. Here we report the design of a porous hollow fibre copper electrode with a compact three-dimensional geometry, which provides a large area, three-phase boundary for gas-liquid reactions. The performance of the copper electrode is significantly enhanced; at overpotentials between 200 and 400 mV, faradaic efficiencies for carbon dioxide reduction up to 85% are obtained. Moreover, the carbon monoxide formation rate is at least one order of magnitude larger when compared with state-of-the-art nanocrystalline copper electrodes. Copper hollow fibre electrodes can be prepared via a facile method that is compatible with existing large-scale production processes. The results of this study may inspire the development of new types of microtubular electrodes for electrochemical processes in which at least one gas-phase reactant is involved, such as in fuel cell technology.

Zitao Chen

MATEC Web of Conferences • 2025

This article studies the application of microbial fuel cells (MFCs) in scenarios involving the conversion of organic waste into renewable electrical energy. MFCs are aided by the electroactive bacteria, which oxidize the anode substrates at the cathode. This transfer of electrons from the anode to the cathode also results in wastewater treatment. The article presents a comprehensive review on the theoretical basis, most important parts of MFCs, and working principles. It emphasizes the influence of the choice of the substrate, the concentration, the microbial community composition, and the pH and temperature on the efficiency of MFC power generation. Furthermore, it discusses the problem in scaling microbial fuel cells due, in part, to expensive materials and the challenge of consistent microbial performance. Recent improvements like designing new biocatalysts or adopting microbial solar cells are analyzed as the most promising directions to accelerate the project's exploration of electron transfer rates and earning overall effectiveness. The study confirms the MFCs' potential as a practice for efficient waste management and familiar for powering; however, it recommends further research to perfect the MFC design and operations for pragmatic use.

Eunhee Gong, Shahzad Ali, Chaitanya B. Hiragond et al.

Energy & Environmental Science • 2021

Photocatalytic CO 2 conversion is vital technology to realize global carbon neutrality and generate future energy supplies. This review proposes fundamentals, challenges, strategies, and prospects for photocatalytic CO 2 conversion research.

Jan Baeyens, Huili Zhang, Jiapei Nie et al.

Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews • 2020

Yasser A. Attia, Mohamed Samer, Mahmoud Mohamed et al.

Journal of Chemical Technology & Biotechnology • 2024

Abstract BACKGROUND Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) offer a promising approach for treating wastewater and generating electrical energy simultaneously. However, their implementation in wastewater treatment plants is hindered by the limited electricity generation, often attributed to the electrolyte's high resistance. This study aimed to improve bioelectricity generation in MFCs by adding nanomaterials to the electrolyte to enhance conductivity. RESULTS Three types of nanomaterials – carbon nanotubes (CNTs), graphitic carbon nitride (g‐C 3 N 4 ), and reduced graphene oxide (r‐GO) – were synthesized and addition to the electrolyte at a concentration of 50 mg in 1.5 L. MFC performance was evaluated, employed a hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 140 h, and compared to a control with no nanomaterials added. The addition of nanomaterials significantly improved MFC performance. Compared to the control, the MFCs with CNTs, g‐C 3 N 4 , and r‐GO exhibited higher voltage: 1.301 V (CNTs), 1.286 V (g‐C 3 N 4 ), 1.280 V (r‐GO) versus 0.570 V (control); increased power density: 14.11 mW m −3 (CNTs), 13.78 mW m −3 (g‐C 3 N 4 ), 13.66 mW m −3 (r‐GO) versus 2.71 mW m −3 (control); enhanced areal power density: 21.06 mW m −2 (CNTs), 20.57 mW m −2 (g‐C 3 N 4 ), 20.39 mW m −2 (r‐GO) versus 4.04 mW m −2 (control); and improved coulombic efficiency: 19.43% (CNTs), 19.19% (g‐C 3 N 4 ), 19.11% (r‐GO) versus 8.54% (control). CONCLUSION Incorporating nanomaterials into the MFC electrolyte significantly increased bioelectricity generation by 5.21 times and coulombic efficiency by 2.28 times compared to the control. This improvement is attributed to the high specific surface area of the nanomaterials, which facilitates the adhesion and growth of microorganisms around the anode, enhancing direct electron transfer. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI).

Yongjin J. Zhou, Nicolaas A. Buijs, Zhiwei Zhu et al.

Nature Communications • 2016

Sustainable production of oleochemicals requires establishment of cell factory platform strains. The yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is an attractive cell factory as new strains can be rapidly implemented into existing infrastructures such as bioethanol production plants. Here we show high-level production of free fatty acids (FFAs) in a yeast cell factory, and the production of alkanes and fatty alcohols from its descendants. The engineered strain produces up to 10.4 g l(-1) of FFAs, which is the highest reported titre to date. Furthermore, through screening of specific pathway enzymes, endogenous alcohol dehydrogenases and aldehyde reductases, we reconstruct efficient pathways for conversion of fatty acids to alkanes (0.8 mg l(-1)) and fatty alcohols (1.5 g l(-1)), to our knowledge the highest titres reported in S. cerevisiae. This should facilitate the construction of yeast cell factories for production of fatty acids derived products and even aldehyde-derived chemicals of high value.

Bartosz Dziejarski, Renata Krzyżyńska, Klas Andersson

Fuel • 2023

The latest tremendously rapid expansion of the energy and industrial sector has led to a sharp increase in stationary sources of CO2. Consequently, a lot of concerns have been raised about the prevention of global warming and the achievement of climate mitigation strategies by 2050 with a low-carbon and sustainable future. In view of this, the current state of various aspects of carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) technologies in general technical assessment were concisely reviewed and discussed. We concentrated on precisely identifying the technology readiness level (TRL), which is beneficial to specifically defining the maturity for each key element of the CCUS system with a commercialization direction paths. In addition, we especially presented and emphasized the importance of CO2 capture types from flue gases and CO2 separation methods. Then, we determined valuable data from the largest R&D projects at various scales. This paper provides a critical review of the literature related to challenges of the CCUS system that must be overcome to raise many low TRL technologies and facilitate their implementation on a commercial scale. Finally, our work aims to guide the further scaling up and establishment of worldwide CO2 emission reduction projects.

Deliang Guo, Qikai Fu, Xinru Wang et al.

RSC Advances • 2024

The microbial fuel cell (MFCs) has dual functions, capable of achieving dye decolorization and synchronous power generation. Despite these advantages, the MFCs have faced challenges related to low electron transfer efficiencies and limited dye treatment capacity in wastewater applications. This work introduces an innovative approach by employing reduced graphene oxide-modified carbon cloth (TP-RGO@CC) anodes, utilizing tea polyphenols as the reducing agent. This modification significantly enhances the hydrophilicity and biocompatibility of the anodes. The MFC equipped with the TP-RGO@CC anode demonstrated a remarkable increase in the maximum power density, reaching 773.9 mW m -2 , representing a 22% improvement over the plain carbon cloth electrode. The decolorization rate of methyl orange (50 mg L -1 , pH 7) reached 99% within 48 h. Biodiversity analysis revealed that the TP-RGO@CC anode selectively enriched electrogens producing and organic matter-degrading bacteria, promoting a dual mechanism of dye decolorization, degradation, and simultaneous electro-production at the anode. This work highlights advanced anode materials that excel in effective pollutant removal, energy conversion, and biomass reuse.

Timothy J. Tse, Daniel Wiens, Martin J. T. Reaney

Fermentation • 2021

Fossil fuels are a major contributor to climate change, and as the demand for energy production increases, alternative sources (e.g., renewables) are becoming more attractive. Biofuels such as bioethanol reduce reliance on fossil fuels and can be compatible with the existing fleet of internal combustion engines. Incorporation of biofuels can reduce internal combustion engine (ICE) fleet carbon dioxide emissions. Bioethanol is typically produced via microbial fermentation of fermentable sugars, such as glucose, to ethanol. Traditional feedstocks (e.g., first-generation feedstock) include cereal grains, sugar cane, and sugar beets. However, due to concerns regarding food sustainability, lignocellulosic (second-generation) and algal biomass (third-generation) feedstocks have been investigated. Ethanol yield from fermentation is dependent on a multitude of factors. This review compares bioethanol production from a range of feedstocks, and elaborates on available technologies, including fermentation practices. The importance of maintaining nutrient homeostasis of yeast is also examined. The purpose of this review is to provide industrial producers and policy makers insight into available technologies, yields of bioethanol achieved by current manufacturing practices, and goals for future innovation.

Francesc X. Prenafeta‐Boldú, Sybren de Hoog, Richard C. Summerbell

Microbial Communities Utilizing Hydrocarbons and Lipids: Members, Metagenomics and Ecophysiology • 2018

Wu‐Jun Liu, Zhuoran Xu, Dongting Zhao et al.

Nature Communications • 2020

Glucose electrolysis offers a prospect of value-added glucaric acid synthesis and energy-saving hydrogen production from the biomass-based platform molecules. Here we report that nanostructured NiFe oxide (NiFeO x ) and nitride (NiFeN x ) catalysts, synthesized from NiFe layered double hydroxide nanosheet arrays on three-dimensional Ni foams, demonstrate a high activity and selectivity towards anodic glucose oxidation. The electrolytic cell assembled with these two catalysts can deliver 100 mA cm -2 at 1.39 V. A faradaic efficiency of 87% and glucaric acid yield of 83% are obtained from the glucose electrolysis, which takes place via a guluronic acid pathway evidenced by in-situ infrared spectroscopy. A rigorous process model combined with a techno-economic analysis shows that the electrochemical reduction of glucose produces glucaric acid at a 54% lower cost than the current chemical approach. This work suggests that glucose electrolysis is an energy-saving and cost-effective approach for H 2 production and biomass valorization.

Iris Lewandowski, Enno Bahrs, Nicolaus Dahmen et al.

GCB Bioenergy • 2019

This special issue covers three important fields of the bioeconomy: sustainable biogas value chains, bio-based products from lignocellulose, and the use of microalgae as a biomass resource and for the production of food and feed. In order to develop sustainable products and processes, an interdisciplinary systemic approach to the analysis of entire value chains is necessary. For this reason, the contributions cover aspects of the complete biobased value chain from biomass production, pretreatment, and conversion, through to the manufacture and marketing of biobased products, and in addition, include socio-economic and ecological assessments. According to the Global Bioeconomy Summit 2018 (GBS2018), the “bioeconomy” is defined as “the production, utilization and conservation of biological resources, including related knowledge, science, technology and innovation, to provide information, products, processes and services across all economic sectors aiming towards a sustainable economy” (http://gbs2018.com/fileadmin/gbs2018/Downloads/GBS_2018_Communique.pdf). The future bioeconomy is expected to drive the transition towards a more sustainable economy by addressing some of the major global challenges of our time, including food security, climate change, and resource scarcity. Up to 50 countries have already developed or are in the course of developing political strategies to support the growth of a sustainable bioeconomy. The bioeconomy is seen as an approach to the operationalization of sustainability. In this context, the development and provision of biobased products and services clearly requires an emphasis on economic, ecological and social impact assessment. This can only be dealt with in a cooperation between experts representing the different perspectives of sustainability. The supply of biobased products and energy can only be sustainable if all steps in the production process, from biomass supply to use, adhere to the major sustainability criteria. This requires thinking in complete value chains. In addition, resource use efficiency can best be achieved when the various process steps in a value chain are harmonized. To give an example: the better biomass quality can be tailored to the needs of the conversion technology, the less energy and material inputs are required and the higher the yields. This approach is also taken up by biorefinery concepts. These strive to make optimal use of the biomass feedstock by exploiting all components in the best possible way to deliver functional and at the same time environmentally benign products and by making maximal use of recycling options. It was against this backdrop that the theme of this special issue entitled “Biobased value chains for a growing bioeconomy” was designated. Here, we publish 24 papers, most of which were either drawn up as part of the Bioeconomy Research Program Baden-Württemberg or presented by international research partners at the 2nd International Bioeconomy Congress, held at the University of Hohenheim in September 2017. Both the research program and the congress are supported and financed by the Ministry of Science, Research and the Arts Baden-Württemberg. The research program evolved from the Bioeconomy Research Strategy developed in cooperation with all universities in the German federal state of Baden-Württemberg. As a result, this federal state has progressed to become one of the leading bioeconomy regions in the EU. The program comprises three Research Networks, reflecting Baden-Württemberg's regional strengths and relevancies in the following fields of the bioeconomy: Biogas, Lignocellulose, and Microalgae. Each Research Network is multidisciplinary, covers the complete biobased value chain from biomass production, pretreatment, and conversion, through to the manufacture and marketing of biobased products, and also includes socioeconomic and ecological assessments. Additionally, each of the research networks collaborates with the Competence Network “M

Masaud Azhar, Juhana Jaafar, Madzlan Aziz et al.

Journal of Applied Polymer Science • 2020

Abstract To address the impediments of low power generation of Nafion, which is the main hurdle in the commercialization of microbial fuel cells (MFC), the current study focuses on developing a new PEM for MFC from mild sulfonation of PEKEKK with relatively improved physiochemical properties. In this study, mild post sulfonation of a polyether ketone ether ketone ketone (PEKEKK) has been successfully achieved using 98% H2SO4 at 90°C under reflux. 5%–30% (wt%) of sulfonated PEKEKK (SPEKEKK) loaded polysulfone (PSU) composite membranes were fabricated via a solution casting method. Ingeminating evidence of the sulfonation and structure of sulfonated polymer was proved by 1 H NMR peaks integration data and FTIR, respectively. The addition of SPEKEKK to PSU showed significant improvement in conductivity owing to the availability of more protonated sites (SO3H) and water mediated pathways for the conduction of protons. The composite membrane containing 30 wt% SPEKEKK exhibits the highest conductivity of 0.12 S/cm at 90°C. The water uptakes and swelling ratio of the composite membranes are all higher than that of the pristine PSU membrane and show an increasing trend with increasing SPEKEKK content, thus validating the availability of water domains. Meanwhile, the lowest initial decomposition temperatures assigned to sulfonic acid groups and main chain degradation of the polysulfone/polyether ketone ether ketone ketone (PSU/SPEKEKK) composite membranes occurred at ~300°C and ~500°C respectively, which reflects an excellent thermal stability property. The experimental results indicate that the PSU/SPEKEKK membrane has the potential to greatly enhance the efficiency of MFCs.

Xu Pan, Ye Chen, Qing Wen et al.

Journal of Cleaner Production • 2025

Andi Mehmeti, Athanasios Angelis-Dimakis, George Arampatzis et al.

Environments • 2018

A common sustainability issue, arising in production systems, is the efficient use of resources for providing goods or services. With the increased interest in a hydrogen (H2) economy, the life-cycle environmental performance of H2 production has special significance for assisting in identifying opportunities to improve environmental performance and to guide challenging decisions and select between technology paths. Life cycle impact assessment methods are rapidly evolving to analyze multiple environmental impacts of the production of products or processes. This study marks the first step in developing process-based streamlined life cycle analysis (LCA) of several H2 production pathways combining life cycle impacts at the midpoint (17 problem-oriented) and endpoint (3 damage-oriented) levels using the state-of-the-art impact assessment method ReCiPe 2016. Steam reforming of natural gas, coal gasification, water electrolysis via proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEM), solid oxide electrolyzer cell (SOEC), biomass gasification and reforming, and dark fermentation of lignocellulosic biomass were analyzed. An innovative aspect is developed in this study is an analysis of water consumption associated with H2 production pathways by life-cycle stage to provide a better understanding of the life cycle water-related impacts on human health and natural environment. For water-related scope, Water scarcity footprint (WSF) quantified using Available WAter REmaining (AWARE) method was applied as a stand-alone indicator. The paper discusses the strengths and weaknesses of each production pathway, identify the drivers of environmental impact, quantify midpoint environmental impact and its influence on the endpoint environmental performance. The findings of this study could serve as a useful theoretical reference and practical basis to decision-makers of potential environmental impacts of H2 production systems.

Dolly Kumari, Gulab Singh Maurya, Ejaj Tarif et al.

Journal of environmental chemical engineering • 2025

Robert D. Stewart, Marc Auffret, Amanda Warr et al.

Nature Communications • 2018

The cow rumen is adapted for the breakdown of plant material into energy and nutrients, a task largely performed by enzymes encoded by the rumen microbiome. Here we present 913 draft bacterial and archaeal genomes assembled from over 800 Gb of rumen metagenomic sequence data derived from 43 Scottish cattle, using both metagenomic binning and Hi-C-based proximity-guided assembly. Most of these genomes represent previously unsequenced strains and species. The draft genomes contain over 69,000 proteins predicted to be involved in carbohydrate metabolism, over 90% of which do not have a good match in public databases. Inclusion of the 913 genomes presented here improves metagenomic read classification by sevenfold against our own data, and by fivefold against other publicly available rumen datasets. Thus, our dataset substantially improves the coverage of rumen microbial genomes in the public databases and represents a valuable resource for biomass-degrading enzyme discovery and studies of the rumen microbiome.

Hamza Kharti, Mohemed El Habib Hitar, Noureddine Touach et al.

Chemistry Africa • 2023

Christine H. Foyer, Hon‐Ming Lam, Henry T. Nguyen et al.

Nature Plants • 2016

Siyu Li, Fang Wang, Xizhen Yang et al.

Journal of environmental chemical engineering • 2024

Deepti Mittal, Gurjeet Kaur, Parul Singh et al.

Frontiers in Nanotechnology • 2020

In the current scenario, it is an urgent requirement to satisfy the nutritional demands of the rapidly growing global population. Using conventional farming, nearly one third of crops get damaged, mainly due to pest infestation, microbial attacks, natural disasters, poor soil quality, and lesser nutrient availability. More innovative technologies are immediately required to overcome these issues. In this regard, nanotechnology has contributed to the agrotechnological revolution that has imminent potential to reform the resilient agricultural system while promising food security. Therefore, nanoparticles are becoming a new-age material to transform modern agricultural practices. The variety of nanoparticle-based formulations, including nano-sized pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, fertilizers, and sensors, have been widely investigated for plant health management and soil improvement. In-depth understanding of plant and nanomaterial interactions opens new avenues toward improving crop practices through increased properties such as disease resistance, crop yield, and nutrient utilization. In this review, we highlight the critical points to address current nanotechnology-based agricultural research that could benefit productivity and food security in future.

Ahmad Baroutaji, Tabbi Wilberforce, Mohamad Ramadan et al.

Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews • 2019

Hanna Karlsson, Serina Ahlgren, Mats Sandgren et al.

Biotechnology for Biofuels • 2016

In extraction methods without drying the yeast, increasing lipid yield and decreasing the residence time for lipid accumulation are important for the energy and mass balance. Changing the lipid extraction method from wet to dry makes the greatest change to the mass and energy balance. Bioreactor agitation and aeration for lipid accumulation and yeast propagation is energy demanding. Changes in sugar concentration in the hydrolysate and residence times for lipid accumulation greatly affect electricity demand, but have relatively small impacts on fossil energy use (NER) and energy yield (EE). The impact would probably be greater if externally produced electricity were used.

Edwin Osebe Nyangau, Hiroya Abe, Yuta Nakayasu et al.

Bioresource Technology Reports • 2023

Highly catalytic cathodes for oxygen reduction reactions under neutral conditions allow major improvement in the power output of microbial fuel cells (MFCs). This work reports iron azaphthalocyanine impregnated into oxidized multi-walled carbon nanotubes to form a molecularly synthesized non-precious metal electrocatalyst. The synthesized catalyst was characterized using a rotating ring and disk electrode in a neutral medium (pH = 7.4) and exhibited a four-electron transfer pathway. When incorporated as a cathode in a two-chamber MFC assembly, the electrocatalyst achieved a power density of 1.54 W/m2 and a current density of 10.7 A/m2, which was 27 % higher than a commercial platinum‑carbon catalyst. In addition, the MFC loading of the molecular catalysts reached over 80 % COD removal efficiency. This work demonstrates that the use of an electrocatalyst based on the FeN4 structure and efficient electron-withdrawing nitrogen improves the application of MFCs in low-cost wastewater treatment and the generation of electricity from wastewater.

Mohamed S. Mahmoud, Wen Biao, Zhenhua Su et al.

Paper and Biomaterials • 2018

Pulp and papermaking industries generate high volumes of carbohydrate-rich effluents. Microbial fuel cell (MFC) technology is based on organic materials' consumption and efficient power production. Using a classical two-chamber lab-scale MFC design with an external resistance of 2000 W, we investigated the effects of anode chamber biofilm adaptation (ACBA) and cathode chamber redox solutions (CCRS) on the operation efficiency of MFC when treating wastewater. In ACBA studies, biofilm growth activation showed an increase in the power density to 20.48, 35.18, and 36.98 mW/m 2 when the acetate feeding concentrations were 3, 6, and 12 g/L, respectively. Improvement by biofilm adhesion on granular activated carbon (GAC) was examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The obtained power density increased to 25.47, 33.42, and 40.39 mW/m 2 when the GAC particles concentrations were 0, 50, and 100 g/L, respectively. The generated power densities were 51.26 and 40.39 mW/m 2 as well as the obtained voltages were 0.41 and 0.72 V when the electrode area increased from 16 to 64 cm 2 , respectively. Using the MFC optimized parameters, CCRS studies carried out using five different cathodic redox solutions. The results revealed that the use of manganese dioxide dissolved in hydrochloric acid generated the maximum power density of 112.6 mW/m 2 , current density of 0.094 A/m 2 , and voltage of 1.20 V with a successful organic removal efficiency of 86.0% after 264 h of operation.

Li Wang, Lan Liang, Ning Li et al.

Applied Sciences • 2025

Sludge-derived biochar (SDB) synthesized by the pyrolysis of sludge is gaining enormous interest as a sustainable solution to wastewater treatment and sludge disposal. Despite the proliferation of general biochar reviews, a focused synthesis on SDB-specific advances, particularly covering the recent surge in multifunctional wastewater treatment applications (2020–2025), receives little emphasis. In particular, a critical analysis of recent trends, application challenges, and future research directions for SDB is still limited. Unlike broader biochar reviews, this mini-review highlights the comparative advantages and limitations of SDB, identifies emerging integration strategies (e.g., bio-electrochemical systems, catalytic membranes), and outlines future research priorities toward enhancing the durability and environmental safety of SDB applications. Specifically, this review summarized the advances from 2020 to 2025, focusing exclusively on functional modifications, and practical applications of SDB across diverse wastewater treatment technologies involved in adsorption, catalytic oxidation, membrane integration, electrochemical processes and bio-treatment systems. Quantitative comparisons of adsorption capacities (e.g., &gt;99% Cd2+ removal, &gt;150 mg/g tetracycline adsorption) and catalytic degradation efficiencies are provided to illustrate recent improvements. The potential of SDB in evaluating traditional and emerging contaminant degradation among the Fenton-like, persulfate, and peracetic acid activation systems was emphasized. Integration with membrane technologies reduces fouling, while electrochemical applications, including microbial fuel cells, yield higher power densities. To improve the functionality of SDB-based systems in targeting contamination removal, modification strategies, i.e., thermal activation, heteroatom doping (N, S, P), and metal loading, played crucial roles. Emerging trends highlight hybrid systems and persistent free radicals for non-radical pathways. Despite progress, critical challenges persist in scalability, long-term stability, lifecycle assessments, and scale-up implementation. The targeted synthesis of this review offers valuable insights to guide the development and practical deployment of SDB in sustainable wastewater management.

Gahyun Baek, Jechan Lee

Journal of environmental chemical engineering • 2024

Kun Yin, Qiaoning Wang, Min Lv et al.

Chemical Engineering Journal • 2018

Fungmin Liew, Robert Nogle, Tanus Abdalla et al.

Nature Biotechnology • 2022

Dmitry Olegovich Bokov, Abduladheem Turki Jalil, Supat Chupradit et al.

Advances in Materials Science and Engineering • 2021

The sol‐gel process is a more chemical method (wet chemical method) for the synthesis of various nanostructures, especially metal oxide nanoparticles. In this method, the molecular precursor (usually metal alkoxide) is dissolved in water or alcohol and converted to gel by heating and stirring by hydrolysis/alcoholysis. Since the gel obtained from the hydrolysis/alcoholysis process is wet or damp, it should be dried using appropriate methods depending on the desired properties and application of the gel. For example, if it is an alcoholic solution, the drying process is done by burning alcohol. After the drying stage, the produced gels are powdered and then calcined. The sol‐gel method is a cost‐effective method and due to the low reaction temperature there is good control over the chemical composition of the products. The sol‐gel method can be used in the process of making ceramics as a molding material and can be used as an intermediate between thin films of metal oxides in various applications. The materials obtained from the sol‐gel method are used in various optical, electronic, energy, surface engineering, biosensors, and pharmaceutical and separation technologies (such as chromatography). The sol‐gel method is a conventional and industrial method for the synthesis of nanoparticles with different chemical composition. The basis of the sol‐gel method is the production of a homogeneous sol from the precursors and its conversion into a gel. The solvent in the gel is then removed from the gel structure and the remaining gel is dried. The properties of the dried gel depend significantly on the drying method. In other words, the “removing solvent method” is selected according to the application in which the gel will be used. Dried gels in various ways are used in industries such as surface coating, building insulation, and the production of special clothing. It is worth mentioning that, by grinding the gel by special mills, it is possible to achieve nanoparticles.

Liang Cheng, Mohamed A. Shahin, Donovan Mujah

Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering • 2016

Microbially induced calcite precipitation (MICP) is a sustainable biological ground improvement technique that is capable of altering and improving soil mechanical and geotechnical engineering properties. In this paper, laboratory column studies were used to examine the effects of some key environmental parameters on ureolytic MICP mediated soils, including the impact of urease concentrations, temperature, rainwater flushing, oil contamination, and freeze–thaw cycling. The results indicate that an effective crystal precipitation pattern can be obtained at low urease activity and ambient temperature, resulting in high improvement in soil unconfined compressive strength (UCS). The microstructural images of such crystals showed agglomerated large clusters filling the gaps between the soil grains, leading to effective crystals formation. The rainwater flushing was detrimental to the biocementation process. The results also indicate that traditional MICP treatment by the two-phase injection method did not succeed in treatment of oil-contaminated soils, and the proposed premixing of bioflocs with soil can significantly improve UCS and stiffness of oil-contaminated soils. Finally, MICP-treated soils showed a high durability to the freeze–thaw erosion, which is attributed to the interparticle contact points and bridging of crystals formation.

Enas Taha Sayed, A.G. Olabi, Abdul Hai Alami et al.

Energies • 2023

The use of fossil fuels has contributed to climate change and global warming, which has led to a growing need for renewable and ecologically friendly alternatives to these. It is accepted that renewable energy sources are the ideal option to substitute fossil fuels in the near future. Significant progress has been made to produce renewable energy sources with acceptable prices at a commercial scale, such as solar, wind, and biomass energies. This success has been due to technological advances that can use renewable energy sources effectively at lower prices. More work is needed to maximize the capacity of renewable energy sources with a focus on their dispatchability, where the function of storage is considered crucial. Furthermore, hybrid renewable energy systems are needed with good energy management to balance the various renewable energy sources’ production/consumption/storage. This work covers the progress done in the main renewable energy sources at a commercial scale, including solar, wind, biomass, and hybrid renewable energy sources. Moreover, energy management between the various renewable energy sources and storage systems is discussed. Finally, this work discusses the recent progress in green hydrogen production and fuel cells that could pave the way for commercial usage of renewable energy in a wide range of applications.

Onur Dogu, Matteo Pelucchi, Ruben Van de Vijver et al.

Progress in Energy and Combustion Science • 2021

Tean-Peng Teoh, Soon‐An Ong, Li‐Ngee Ho et al.

Energy Ecology and Environment • 2024