Abstract: This study focuses on enhancing the photoelectro - catalytic (PEC) performance of LaFeO₃ photocathodes by incorporating Ag nanocrystals. LaFeO₃, a perovskite - type metal oxide semiconductor, has potential in PEC water splitting but suffers from fast charge carrier recombination. Ag nanoparticles are introduced due to their surface plasmon resonance (SPR) property and ability to form Schottky junctions with LaFeO₃. A series of Ag/LaFeO₃ materials are prepared using the molten salt method for LaFeO₃ synthesis and the direct reduction method for Ag loading. The results show that Ag nanoparticles are uniformly dispersed on LaFeO₃. The 3 mol% Ag loading significantly enhances the photocurrent density, about 9 - fold higher than that of pure LaFeO₃. Ag loading improves light absorption, reduces the band gap, and optimizes charge kinetics. EIS and Mott - Schottky analysis reveal that 3 mol% Ag/LaFeO₃ has the lowest charge transfer impedance and the highest carrier concentration. This work provides valuable insights into the interaction between Ag and LaFeO₃, and offers experimental and theoretical support for developing efficient photocatalytic materials for PEC water splitting.

Abstract: The pyrolysis of non-recyclable construction, renovation, and demolition (CRD) wood waste is a complex thermochemical process involving devolatilization, diffusion, phase transitions, and char formation. CRD wood, a low-ash biomass containing 24-32% lignin, includes both hardwood and softwood components, making it a viable heterogeneous feedstock for bioenergy production. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) of CRD wood residues was conducted at heating rates of 10, 20, 30, and 40°C/min up to 900°C, employing model-fitting (Coats-Redfern (CR)) and model-free (Ozawa-Flynn-Wall (OFW), Kissinger-Akahira-Sunose (KAS), Friedman (FM)) approaches to determine kinetic and thermodynamic parameters. The degradation process exhibited three stages, with peak weight loss occurring at 350-400°C. The Coats-Redfern method identified diffusion and phase interfacial models as highly correlated (R² > 0.99), with peak activation energy (Ea) at 30°C/min reaching 114.96 KJ/mol. Model-free methods yielded Ea values between 172-196 KJ/mol across conversion rates (α) of 0.2-0.8. Thermodynamic parameters showed enthalpy (ΔH) of 179-192 KJ/mol, Gibbs free energy (ΔG) of 215-275 KJ/mol, and entropy (ΔS) between -60 and -130 J/mol·K, indicating an endothermic, non-spontaneous process. These results support CRD wood’s potential for biochar production through controlled pyrolysis.

Abstract: The complex nature of the hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) of lignin product downstream requires an effective separation strategy. In this study, the use of adsorption separation was undertaken using deep eutectic solvent (DES) modified Amberlite XAD-4 adsorbents to achieve this goal. The XAD-4 was modified with a choline chloride: ethylene glycol DES and characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform nfrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET). In addition, the HTL product was characterized using Gas Chromatography with Flame Ionization Detection (GC-FID). The performance of unmodified and DES modified adsorbents were initially tested on the model compounds of guaiacol, phenol and catechol before being extended to the HTL product in a batch adsorption system. Adsorbent mass was varied and the data fitted to the Freundlich model. The experiments showed an increase in adsorption capacity and selectivity for all species in solution when the DES modified adsorbents were used at all mass loadings. GC-FID analytics showed that DES modified XAD-4 (300 mg) as having the highest selectivity for guaiacol, with an equilibrium concentration of 121.45 mg/L representing an 85.25 % uptake, while catechol was the least favorably adsorbed. These results suggest the potential of DES modified adsorbents in the selective separation of HTL of lignin products.

Abstract: This article presents a comprehensive and technical analysis of modern natural gas sweetening technologies, including chemical absorption, physical absorption, hybrid processes (such as Sulfinol), direct conversion (e.g., Stretford and iron sponge), and dry bed adsorption. It discusses their thermodynamic principles, removal mechanisms, operational conditions, and associated technical challenges, all supported by up-to-date technical literature and regulatory frameworks. The methodology was based on a systematic review of scientific literature, utilizing well-established databases and rigorous bibliographic selection criteria. The findings indicate that chemical absorption—particularly using MEA and MDEA solutions—remains the most versatile option for gas streams with high compositional variability. However, technologies such as physical absorption (e.g., Selexol and Rectisol) offer energy efficiency advantages in high-pressure environments. Hybrid systems provide a more balanced operational performance in complex scenarios, while direct conversion and dry bed adsorption, although limited in capacity and regeneration potential, are effective for small-scale or targeted applications. In conclusion, the selection of an appropriate sweetening process should take into account technical, economic, and environmental considerations, including energy efficiency, ease of solvent regeneration, selectivity, and overall operational feasibility. Finally, the study highlights future research directions focused on novel regenerable adsorbent materials and integrated carbon capture technologies (CCUS), in alignment with global energy sustainability objectives.

Abstract: A one-dimensional plug-flow reactor modeling procedure was developed and used to investigate the performance of a membrane reactor (MR) for hydrogen separation from syngas. A feed syngas enters from one side, while a sweep gas of nitrogen enters from the opposite side. The model treats the membrane reactor as a series of 200 segments with a constant cross section and temperature. The adopted spatial resolution was verified to be accurate based on a conducted resolution sensitivity analysis. Permeation is modeled as happening through thin palladium membranes that are selectively permeable to hydrogen, depending on the temperature and membrane thickness. After analyzing the hydrogen permeation profile in a base case corresponding to reference operational temperature and pressures, the temperature of the module, the retentate-side pressure, and the permeate-side pressure were varied individually and their influence on the permeation performance was investigated. In all the simulation cases, fixed targets of 95% hydrogen recovery and 40% mole-fraction of hydrogen at the permeate exit were demanded. The module length is allowed to change to satisfy these targets, with a shorter module requiring less space and reflecting better hydrogen permeation mass flux. Other dependent permeation-performance variables that were investigated include the logarithmic mean pressure-square-root difference, the hydrogen apparent permeance, and the efficiency factor. Various linear and nonlinear regression models were proposed based on the obtained results. This work gives general insights about hydrogen permeation via palladium membranes.

Abstract: This study evaluates Lolium perenne press juice as a sustainable substrate for Single-Cell Protein (SCP) production using Kluyveromyces marxianus. Key fermentation parameters were systematically optimized, including microbial reduction, dilution ratios, temperature, and nutrient supplementation. Pasteurization at 75 °C preserved essential nutrients better than autoclaving, resulting in a 27.8% increase in biomass yield. A 1:2 dilution of press juice enhanced fermentation efficiency, achieving 20.2% higher biomass despite lower initial sugar content. Cultivation at 30 °C enabled sustained substrate utilization and outperformed 40 °C fermentation, increasing final biomass by 43.4%. Nutrient supplementation with yeast extract, peptone, and glucose led to the highest biomass yield, with a 71% increase compared to unsupplemented juice. Press juice from the tetraploid variety Explosion consistently outperformed the diploid Honroso, especially when harvested early, reaching up to 16.62 g·L⁻¹ biomass. Early harvests promoted faster growth, while late harvests exhibited higher biomass yield coefficients due to improved sugar-to-biomass conversion. Compared to conventional YM medium, fermentation with L. perenne press juice achieved up to a threefold increase in biomass yield. These findings highlight the potential of grass-based substrates for efficient SCP production and demonstrate how agricultural parameters like variety and harvest timing influence both quantity and quality. The approach supports circular bioeconomy strategies by valorizing underutilized biomass through microbial fermentation.

Abstract: Resource depletion and environmental degradation have resulted from the substantial increase in the use of natural aggregates and construction materials brought on by the growing demand for infrastructure development. Road building using mining waste has become a viable substitute that reduces the buildup of industrial waste while providing ecological and economic advantages. In order to assess the appropriateness of several mining waste materials for use in road building, this study investigates their engineering characteristics. These materials include slag, fly ash, tailings, waste rock, and overburden. To ensure long-term performance in pavement construc-tions, it evaluates their tensile and compressive strength, resistance to abrasion, durability under freeze-thaw cycles, and chemical stability. The review indicate that waste rock and slag have excellent mechanical strength and durability, which makes them suitable alternatives to conventional aggregates for high-traffic roadways. Despite their need for stabilization, fly ash and tailings have important pozzolanic qualities that improve subgrade reinforcement and soil stability. When properly processed, overburden mate-rials can be used again for subbase layers and embankment building. This review also assesses the environmental effects, such as acid production and leachability, to make sure that the use of mining waste complies with legal and sustainable requirements. This review paper helps to re-duce landfill disposal, minimize carbon emissions, and promote circular economy concepts in the construction sector by maximizing the use of mining waste in road building. The findings show that mining by-products have the potential to be widely used in infrastructure projects as an economical and ecologically friendly substitute for traditional materials. To enable broad adop-tion, future studies should concentrate on improving stabilizing methods, long-term field per-formance tracking, and policy frameworks.

Abstract: A simple and efficient synthesis route was introduced to develop an electrochemically active and promising binary composite that was made up of titanium based MXene (Ti3C2Tx) and rGO to simultaneously detect ions namely Cd2+ and Cu2+ in water. XRD, FTIR, Raman, XPS, FESEM, elemental mapping and EDX analysis affirmed successful formation of Ti3C2Tx-rGO composite. The produced Ti3C2Tx-rGO electrode exhibited an homogeneous rGO sheet coved Ti3C2Tx MXene plates with the all the detailed Ti2p, C1s and O1s XPS peaks. The high performance Ti3C2Tx-rGO composite was successfully tested Cd2+ and Cu2+ ions via differential pulse voltammetry (DPV), altering the pH, concentration and the real water sample quality. The electrochemical performances revealed that the proposed Ti3C2Tx-rGO composite depicted very low detection and quantification limits (LOD and LOQ) respectively, both for Cd2+ (LOD = 0.31 nM, LOQ = 1.02 nM) and Cu2+ (LOD = 0.18 nM, LOQ = 0.62 nM) ions, where the result is highly comparable with the reported literature. The Ti3C2Tx-rGO is proven highly sensitive towards Cd2+ (0.345 μMμA−1) and Cu2+ (0.575 μMμA−1) with great repeatability and reproducibility properties. Ti3C2Tx-rGO electrode was also exhibited excellent stability over four weeks with the retention of 97.86% and 98.01% for Cd2+ and Cu2+, respectively. This simple approach on modifying Ti3C2Tx utilizing rGO can potentially be advantageous in the development of highly sensitive electrochemical sensors for simultaneous detection of heavy metal ions.

Abstract: In this study, a Brönsted-Lewis bifunctional acidic catalyst PW/UiO/CNTs-OH was synthesized via hydrothermal method. The esterification reaction parameters between oleic acid and methanol catalyzed by PW/UiO/CNTs-OH were optimized using central composite design-response surface methodology (CCD-RSM). The process achieved 92.9% biodiesel yield under optimized reaction conditions, retaining 82.3% biodiesel yield after four catalytic cycles. The enhanced catalytic performance of PW/UiO/CNTs-OH can be attributed as follows: the [Zr6O4(OH)4]12+ anchored on the surface of MWCNTs provides nucleation sites of UiO-66, enabling dual functions of HPW stabilization and Lewis acid site generation via quadrupole inversion. In addition, HPW introduction during synthesis of UiO-66 reduces solution pH, inducing the protonation of the p-Phthalic acid (PTA) to disrupt the coordination with the [Zr6O4(OH)4] cluster, thereby creating an unsaturated Zr4+ site with electron pair-accepting capability as additional Lewis acid sites. EIS analysis revealed that PW/UiO/CNTs-OH exhibited superior electron migration efficiency compared to UiO-66 and PW/UiO. Furthermore, NH3-TPD and Py-IR analysis showed that PW/UiO/CNTs-OH possessed high densities of Lewis acidic sites of 83.69 μmol/g and Brönsted acidic sites of 9.98 μmol/g.

Abstract: This work presents an optimized and sustainable chemical recycling method for epoxy resin matrices, which uses microwave-assisted reactions to achieve complete recovery of the matrix without generating waste byproducts. The proposed method employs a green chemistry approach, with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and tartaric acid (TA) as eco-friendly reagents. Microwaves are used to activate the chemical reaction, ensuring localized heating, reduced energy consumption and shorter processing times compared to conventional thermal methods. Unlike most existing recycling processes, which focus on fiber recovery, this study emphasizes the recovery and reuse of the matrix, transforming it into a valuable resource for producing new thermosetting materials. The recovered matrix was characterized using FTIR and H-NMR analyses, confirming the presence of reactive functional groups that enable its reintegration into new composite matrices formulations. The process has demonstrated environmental benefits and economic advantages also due to the absence of any waste and the reduced need for virgin raw materials. This method addresses a critical gap in composite material recycling, paving the way for a circular lifecycle and advancing the principles of sustainability in materials engineering.

Abstract: The work was focused on the qualitative improvement of porous fly ash-based geopolymer properties, by reaching a better correlation between the thermal insulation and mechanical strength properties of this product intended for application in construction. The starting mixture for preparing the geopolymer included type F-coal fly ash as an alumina-silicate precursor, silica fume as a nanomaterial, olive oil as a surfactant as well as an alkaline activator solution composed of potassium hydroxide and sodium silicate. After hardening the geopolymer paste at 70 ℃ for 24 hours, the curing process was carried out at room temperature for 7 and 28 days, respectively. Results showed excellent heat insulation properties (apparent density between 475-518 kg·m-3 and heat conductivity between 0.107-0.129 W·m-1·K-1) as well as high compression strength between 6.89-7.42 MPa (after 28 days) and in the range of 4.71-5.18 MPa (after 7 days).

Abstract: The global campaign to reach net zero will necessitate the use of hydrogen as an effi-cient way to store renewable electricity at large scale. Methane pyrolysis is rapidly gaining traction as an enabling technology to produce low-cost hydrogen without di-rectly emitting carbon dioxide. It offers a scalable and sustainable alternative to steam reforming, whilst being compatible with existing infrastructure. The process most commonly uses thermal energy to decompose methane (CH4) into hydrogen gas (H2) and solid carbon (C). The electrification of this reaction is of great significance, allow-ing it to be driven by excess renewable electricity rather than fossil fuels, and elimi-nating indirect emissions. This review discusses the most recent technological ad-vances in electrified methane pyrolysis and the relative merits of the mainstream re-actor technologies in this space (plasma, microwave, fluidised bed, and direct resistive heating). The study also examines the economic viability of the process, considering energy costs, and the market potential of both turquoise hydrogen and solid carbon products. Whilst these technologies offer emissions-free hydrogen production, chal-lenges such as carbon deposition, reactor stability, and high energy consumption must be addressed for large-scale adoption. Future research should focus on process opti-misation, advanced reactor designs, and policy frameworks to support commercialisa-tion. With continued technological innovation and sufficient investment, electrified methane pyrolysis has the potential to become the primary route for sustainable pro-duction of hydrogen at industrial scale.

Abstract: Methanol is of rising interest as a potential hydrogen storage molecule and chemical building block producible from green hydrogen and captured carbon dioxide. Although the reaction kinetics have been studied for decades and numerous models are available, new recent insights reveal that a so far not quantitatively considered autocatalytic reaction pathway is of large relevance in heterogeneously catalyzed methanol synthesis over Cu/ZnO/Al2O3 catalysts. Inspired by these recent reports, an extended kinetic model was derived and parameterized exploiting the same data base used to parameterize earlier derived models. Thus, we provide the first model for quantifying the kinetics of the heterogeneously catalyzed methanol synthesis from CO/CO2/H2 which includes a methanol-assisted autocatalytic reaction pathway. Various reduced model variants were derived from the suggested model. A comparison with these reduced models and also with recalibrated further literature models reveals that the incorporation of the autocatalytic reaction pathway is beneficial. This finding encourages further assessment and validation considering a broader data base.

Abstract:

This study investigates biopolymers as environmentally sustainable alternatives to par-tially hydrolysed polyacrylamide (HPAM), noted (H) in enhanced oil recovery (EOR). Mucilage (M) extracted from the cactus plant Opuntia ficus-indica is an alternative to tra-ditional polymer solutions, aiming to reduce dependency on synthetic materials. The study also evaluates the properties and performance of a blend of 80% HPAM and 20% mucilage. The polymers were analysed using characterisation techniques, including thermogravi-metric analysis (TGA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Rheological tests demonstrated favorable viscoelastic properties for the 80-20 blend in saline environments at a concentration of 10,000 ppm. Core flooding tests conducted on core plugs from Algerian oil reservoirs at 120°C indicat-ed that incorporating Opuntia ficus-indica mucilage and the 80-20 blend significantly improved flow characteristics and pore permeability compared to HPAM alone. Notably, the recovery factors were 63.3% for HPAM, 84.35% for Mucilage, and 94.28% for the HPAM-mucilage blend, highlighting superior performance in enhancing oil recovery. In conclusion, this study highlights the potential of biopolymers and the blend as sus-tainable solutions for EOR. They offer an effective alternative to conventional polymers and leverage local resources in reservoir applications.

Abstract:

Amid the advancements in computer-based chemical process modeling and simulation packages used in commercial applications aimed at accelerating chemical process design and analysis, there are still certain tasks in design optimization such as distillation column internals design that become bottlenecks due to inherent limitations in such software packages. This work demonstrated the use of soft actor-critic (SAC) reinforcement learning (RL) in automating the task of determining the optimal design of trayed multi-stage distillation column. The design environment was created using the AspenPlus® software with its RadFrac module for the required rigorous modeling of column internals. The RL computational work was achieved by developing a Python package that allows interfacing with AspenPlus®, and by implementing in OpenAI’s Gymnasium module the learning space for the state and action variables. The results evidently show that: (1) SAC RL works as automation approach for the design of distillation column internals, (2) the reward scheme in the SAC model significantly affects SAC performance, (3) column diameter is a significant constraint in achieving column internals design specification in flooding, and (4) SAC hyperparameters have varying effect on SAC performance. SAC RL can be implemented as a one-shot learning model that can significantly improve the design of multistage distillation column internals by automating the optimization process.

Abstract: Pollution from industrial wastewater containing dyes poses a significant health concern in many countries, necessitating advanced remediation techniques. This study explores using a magnetized Kaolin filter cake (KFC)-Fe3O4 composite, synthesized through a co-precipitation method, as an adsorbent for removing Reactive Black 5 (RB5) from aqueous solutions. This method enables quick and easy separation of the adsorbent, resulting in no secondary pollution. The synthesized adsorbent was characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) techniques to analyze its crystalline nature, microstructures, functional group, and surface area respectively. The efficiency of the adsorbent for dye removal in a batch system was examined by studying various parameters, including pH, contact time, adsorbent dosage, and initial dye concentration. To optimize the RB5 removal procedure, a Box-Behnken design (BBD) was employed under response surface methodology (RSM). The pseudo-second-order model best described the adsorption kinetics, while the Langmuir equation accurately described the isotherm. The maximum adsorption capacity was determined to be 92.84 mg/g. Thermodynamic studies revealed that the adsorption of RB5 onto the Kaolin filter cake-Fe3O4 composite is spontaneous and endothermic. Notably, the adsorption activity of RB5 by KFC-Fe3O4 composite remained effective even after five successive cycles. Overall, the Kaolin filter cake-Fe3O4 composite is a highly efficient adsorbent for treating aqueous solutions containing dyes, with easy separation from the solution using a magnet after the reaction.

Abstract: The discharge of textile effluents containing dyes poses severe environmental risks. This study aimed to develop a Fe_3 O_4–HTM (magnetite–heat-activated termite mound) composite via the coprecipitation method for the adsorption of Basic Blue 41 (BB41) dye from textile wastewater under batch conditions. The Fe_3 O_4–HTM composite was characterized using BET (surface area), XRD (crystalline structure), FTIR (functional groups), and SEM (microstructure) analyses, confirming the successful synthesis of Fe_3 O_4–HTM. Comprising 80% HTM by mass, the composite demonstrates economic viability. Using batch experiments and a Box-Behnken design, the adsorption performance of Fe_3 O_4–HTM for BB41 dye removal from aqueous solutions was evaluated. Optimization of the sorption process revealed that a dosage of 2.6 g/L, a contact time of 47.5 minutes, a temperature of 60°C, and an initial dye concentration of 100 mg/L resulted in a BB41 dye removal efficiency of 98%. Additionally, Fe_3 O_4–HTM effectively removed BB41 dye from real wastewater samples, achieving a removal efficiency exceeding 80%, highlighting the improved sorption properties of the modified termite mound. The spent Fe_3 O_4–HTM was easily separated from the treated solution using an external magnet and successfully recovered. Its reusability demonstrated a dye removal efficiency of 78% after four cycles, without compromising its magnetic properties. Overall, the magnetically separable Fe_3 O_4–HTM composite shows significant potential for the treatment of textile wastewater.

Abstract: Hydrogen has been presented as a promising energy vector in decarbonized economies. Its singular properties can affect important aspects of industrial flames, such as the temperature, emissions, and radiative/convective energy transfer balance, thus requiring in-depth studies to optimize combustion processes using this fuel isolate or in combination with other renewable alternatives. This work aims to conduct a detailed numerical analysis of temperatures and gas emissions in the combustion of biomethane enriched with different proportions of hydrogen, with the intent to contribute to the understanding of the impacts of this natural gas surrogate on practical combustion applications. RANS k-ω and k-ϵ turbulence models were combined with the GRI Mech 3.0, San Diego, and USC mechanisms using the ANSYS-Fluent software to evaluate its performance regarding flame prediction. The results highlight the importance of carefully selecting turbulence and chemical kinetics models, indicating a reduction in flame radiation due to hydrogen enrichment that can affect practical combustion systems such as those in glass and other ceramics industries.

Abstract: This study aimed to investigate the impact of ultrasonic pretreatment vacuum drying (UAVD) and temperature on drying kinetics and qualitative attributes of blood oranges, in comparison to several drying methods: hot air drying (HAD), vacuum drying (VD), and freeze drying (FD). The drying kinetics and modeling, total phenolic content (TPC), anti-oxidant capability (assessed using DPPH and ABTS tests), individual phenolic profiles, vitamin C concentration, and color factors were meticulously examined. The HAD, VD, and UAVD procedures were conducted at 50, 60, and 70°C, resulting in reduced drying periods with increasing temperature. The integration of ultrasound markedly lowered drying durations. Eleven thin-layer drying models were utilized to recreate the drying process precisely. Among the desiccated blood orange slices, the greatest total phenolic content (TPC) was observed in freeze-dried samples (131.27 mg GAE/100g), followed by those dried using ultrasonic-assisted vacuum drying (UAVD) at 50°C (128.77 mg GAE/g DM). Dried blood orange slices have a vitamin C content of 29.79 to 49.01 mg/100. The drying process substantially impacted the color parameters L*, a*, and b*. These findings highlight the efficacy of ultrasound-assisted drying in decreasing drying duration while improving the retention of bioactive components in blood orange slices.

Abstract: The present research focuses on the creation of a prototype cosmetic emulsion from two amazonian oils, Morete oil (Mauritia flexuosa L.f.) and Ungurahua oil (Oenocarpus Bataua Mart). The objective was to realize a conceptual design of the process. The development of the methodology contains three phases, for which the recovery of information and collection of experimental data performed, followed by the identification of operations and equipment proposal. Finally, the construction and description of the diagrams was carried out. The design was achieved by means of simulation with SuperPro Designer V10.0. The experimental data from the research show that it is possible to realise the conceptual design of a technological process for its subsequent scaling up. The unit operations, equipment and operation time of the case study designed in this research are an example of the previous statement. In the conceptual design for obtaining cosmetic emulsion, an operation time of 4, 25 hours is estimated, which would allow the production of 2 or more batches per day, depending on the demand. In addition, the initial investment is expected to be recovered within 6,24 years.