Review
Polymer Science
Mand Kamal Askar, Yaman S. S. Al-Kamaki, Ali Hassan
Summary: Plastic waste is increasing, leading to concerns over the environment and waste disposal. Recycling plastic waste as green concrete can help reduce carbon dioxide emissions and address plastic waste disposal problems. Using PET as a replacement material in concrete construction has been studied to determine its effects on mixing design and concrete behavior.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Nurul Fatin Syamimi Khairul Anuar, Fahrul Huyop, Ghani Ur-Rehman, Faizuan Abdullah, Yahaya M. Normi, Mohd Khalizan Sabullah, Roswanira Abdul Wahab
Summary: Plastic and microplastic pollution is a global threat to ecosystems, with an annual production reaching up to 400 tons. Soil ecosystems, including agricultural lands, act as sinks for microplastics, but the impacts may be more far-reaching. Current methods to reduce PET waste are costly and potentially produce toxic secondary pollutants, highlighting the need for better remediation methods. Enzymatic treatments offer a promising approach, as enzymes can function under near-ambient conditions without the use of chemicals. This review focuses on PET-degrading microbial hydrolases and their contribution towards alleviating environmental microplastics, highlighting information on PET's molecular and degradation mechanisms.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Georgy Lazorenko, Anton Kasprzhitskii, Elham H. Fini
Summary: This work explores the recycling potential of PET bottle wastes as a substitute for natural sand in GP mixtures, aiming to reduce plastic pollution and promote a circular economy. The study finds that increasing the content of plastic aggregates in GP mortars leads to a decrease in compressive and flexural strength, but replacing a certain volume of sand with plastic aggregates can improve the splitting tensile strength and workability of fresh geopolymer mixes. Additionally, the inclusion of recycled PET bottle wastes in GP mortars offers advantages in lightweight, water absorption, and thermal insulation properties, contributing to the production of sustainable construction materials with environmental and economic benefits.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Zezhou Chen, Barry J. Erwin, Lei Che
Summary: Hydrocracking is an effective method to convert waste polyolefins into fuel, and the choice of hydrogen donors is crucial for the reaction effectiveness. This study found that H2 is the most effective hydrogen donor, and proposed hydrocracking pathways using gaseous and liquidous hydrogen donors.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Ming Yan Tan, Leonard Goh, Dorsasadat Safanama, Wei Wei Loh, Ning Ding, Sheau Wei Chien, Shermin S. Goh, Warintorn Thitsartarn, Jason Y. C. Lim, Derrick W. H. Fam
Summary: Lithium-ion batteries are crucial for energy storage in our modern electrified world, and polymer electrolyte materials have the potential to revolutionize battery design by addressing safety concerns with current liquid electrolytes. This study demonstrates the use of waste PET bottles to create polymer electrolytes, which show promising performance in lithium-ion batteries. This opens up possibilities for sustainable electrolyte materials from waste plastics and contributes to a circular materials economy.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY A
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Hua Zhou, Yue Ren, Zhenhua Li, Ming Xu, Ye Wang, Ruixiang Ge, Xianggui Kong, Lirong Zheng, Haohong Duan
Summary: This study investigates a nickel-cobalt phosphide electrocatalyst for electroreforming PET plastic into valuable chemicals and fuel. The process shows profitability at high current densities and the developed catalyst demonstrates excellent performance in achieving desired products.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Jianwen Chu, Yanpeng Cai, Chunhui Li, Xuan Wang, Qiang Liu, Mengchang He
Summary: The study focuses on the production, trade, use, and recycling of PET in China. It found that discarded PET could be a future challenge and provided policies for improving the PET cycling system.
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Yunus Tasci, Ikbal Gozde Kaptanoglu, Senol Sert
Summary: The aim of this study was to investigate the potential use of PET waste as an adsorbent for removing radiotoxic elements Ce(III) and Sr(II) from aqueous solutions. Adsorption experiments were conducted using simple PET and modified PET (Phenol-PET) as the adsorbent. Characterization was done using Fourier transform infrared, thermogravimetric analysis, and scanning electron microscopy methods. The results showed that the maximum adsorption capacity for Ce(III) and Sr(II) was 1.27 mg/L and 1.92 mg/L using Phenol-PET, respectively. The adsorption processes followed the Langmuir isotherm and were defined as ion exchange according to the D-R isotherm.
JOURNAL OF RADIOANALYTICAL AND NUCLEAR CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Zezhou Chen, Linlin Xu, Xurui Zhang
Summary: The pyrolysis of polyethylene (PE) over Fe-modified Pt/Al2O3 catalysts in the absence of external H2 was investigated to achieve the mild conversion of PE. Results showed that a slight impregnation of Fe can improve the oil yield and light oil selectivity, and promote the formation of aromatics and alkenes. Multiple active sites including Pt, Fe, and Lewis acid site of Al2O3 work systematically to drive the tandem catalysis. Fe modification on Pt/Al2O3 plays multiple roles in catalysis, while over-impregnation of Fe can result in Pt sites deactivation.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2022)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Ashish Bohre, Prashant Ram Jadhao, Komal Tripathi, Kamal Kishore Pant, Blaz Likozar, Basudeb Saha
Summary: Chemical recycling is a commonly used method to transform post-consumer PET into building block chemicals, reducing plastic waste in landfills. Recent advancements in material science and catalysis have led to innovative strategies for PET depolymerization under mild reaction conditions. Heterogeneous catalysts have shown great potential for converting waste PET into monomers and value-added chemicals.
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Yifan Liu, Wenming Fu, Tao Liu, Yaning Zhang, Bingxi Li
Summary: This study investigated the microwave pyrolysis of PET plastic bottle sheets and the effects of sheet size, silicon carbide load, and pyrolysis temperature. The results showed that larger sheet size, higher silicon carbide load, and moderate pyrolysis temperature led to improved solid yield, gas yield, and energy recovery efficiency.
JOURNAL OF ANALYTICAL AND APPLIED PYROLYSIS
(2022)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Jose Wilson dos Santos Ferreira, John Fredy Ricardo Marroquin, Jorlandio Francisco Felix, Marcio Muniz Farias, Michele Dal Toe Casagrande
Summary: Microplastic pollution is contaminating the human food chain worldwide. The study evaluates the potential of recycled micro-PET replacing natural sand to achieve sustainable development. The findings suggest that substituting a certain percentage of sand with micro-PET can enhance the mixture's resistance to moisture damage, especially in regions with heavy rainfall.
CONSTRUCTION AND BUILDING MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Kaixin Yi, Jinhui Huang, Xue Li, Suzhou Li, Haoliang Pang, Zhexi Liu, Wei Zhang, Si Liu, Chunhua Liu, Wenli Shu
Summary: The mass production and daily use of plastic products have raised concerns about the potential toxicity of microplastics in the water environment. This study evaluated the effects of typical microplastics (PET) on the performance of activated sludge in membrane bioreactors (MBR). The accumulation of PET particles had adverse impacts on settleability and dewaterability of the sludge and also caused cell membrane damage. Furthermore, the abundance and diversity of microbial community in the activated sludge were reduced in the presence of PET. However, the physical scouring of particles mitigated membrane contamination in MBR.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Yosuke Nakaji, Masazumi Tamura, Shuhei Miyaoka, Shogo Kumagai, Mifumi Tanji, Yoshinao Nakagawa, Toshiaki Yoshioka, Keiichi Tomishige
Summary: A new low-temperature catalytic method using CeO2-supported Ru (Ru/CeO2) catalyst has been developed for upgrading waste polyolefinic plastics to valuable chemicals such as liquid fuels and waxes, with high yields of 92%. This catalyst is effective in hydrogenolysis of various polyethylenes and polypropylene, providing valuable chemicals with yields ranging from 83% to 90%. Additionally, commercial plastic bags and waste polyethylenes can be transformed to valuable chemicals with yields of 91% and 88%, respectively.
APPLIED CATALYSIS B-ENVIRONMENTAL
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Syed Shujaat Karim, Sarah Farrukh, Takeshi Matsuura, Muhammad Ahsan, Arshad Hussain, Sehar Shakir, Lai Fatt Chuah, Mudassir Hasan, Awais Bokhari
Summary: The massive increase in the use of PET plastic bottles has posed a challenge for waste plastic disposal and environmental concerns. Reusing this waste through solvent-based recycling process provides an eco-friendly solution to eliminate waste plastic and convert them into high quality products. A MATLAB program named HSPs-TPT was designed to evaluate solvent dissolving power and provide information on PET polymer solubility in different solvents.
Review
Agricultural Engineering
Ridha Djellabi, Dominic Aboagye, Melissa Greta Galloni, Vaibhav Vilas Andhalkar, Sana Nouacer, Walid Nabgan, Sami Rtimi, Magda Constanti, Francisco Medina Cabello, Sandra Contreras
Summary: The production of high-value products from lignocellulosic biomass is optimized through selective scission of crosslinked bonds. Photocatalytic technology has been proven effective in valorizing biomass at mild conditions, but low mass transfer limits high yields. The incorporation of ultrasonic cavitation enhances fragmentation and transformation of biomass. This review explores factors and tricks to boost selectivity and discusses the synergistic effects of combining sonolysis and photocatalysis.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Thuan Van Tran, A. A. Jalil, Duyen Thi Cam Nguyen, Mansur Alhassan, Walid Nabgan, Anh Ngoc T. Cao, Tung M. Nguyen, Dai-Viet N. Vo
Summary: Metal-organic framework material NH2-MIL-53(Al) with porous, flexible, and versatile structural properties is capable of detecting and removing various toxic pollutants. It exhibits efficient adsorption through multiple mechanisms and demonstrates high stability and recyclability.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Melissa Low Phey Phey, Tuan Amran Tuan Abdullah, Umi Fazara Md Ali, Mohamed Yusuf Mohamud, Muhammad Ikram, Walid Nabgan
Summary: The catalytic conversion of CO2 via the Reverse Water Gas Shift (RWGS) reaction for CO production is a promising approach that utilizes greenhouse gas emissions to produce valuable fuels or chemicals. This study focused on investigating the CO2 conversion using Cu/ZnO catalysts supported by regenerated spent bleaching earth (RSBE) with different Cu : Zn ratios. The results showed that the Cu/Zn ratio has a significant impact on the catalytic structure and performance, with the maximum catalytic activity observed at a Cu : Zn ratio of 1.5.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
M. B. Bahari, A. A. Jalil, C. R. Mamat, N. S. Hassan, N. F. Khusnun, A. R. Herrynaldi, A. F. A. Rahman, A. H. Hatta, M. A. H. Aziz, N. N. M. Huzaimi, M. H. Razak
Summary: Molybdenum trioxide doped on fibrous silica-titania (MoO3/FST) was synthesized and evaluated as a catalyst for the isomerization of C-5-C-7 for the first time. The structure and acid distribution of MoO3/FST were characterized through various analyses, revealing a moderate-to-strong distribution of Bronsted and Lewis acid sites. The addition of MoO3 led to intense metal-support interactions and increased Lewis acid sites. The isomerization tests showed high conversions for n-C-5, n-C-6, and n-C-7, with the highest yield achieved at 300 degrees C. The high activity of MoO3/FST was attributed to its interaction with silanol groups, resulting in the formation of protonic acid sites.
MOLECULAR CATALYSIS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
C. R. Tubio, C. Malatini, V. L. Barrio, C. F. Masaguer, M. Amorin, W. Nabgan, P. Taboada, F. Guitian, A. Gil, A. Coelho
Summary: A straightforward manufacture strategy is proposed to obtain an efficient and robust palladium-alumina (Pd0/Al2O3) cermet monolithic catalyst, specifically designed to perform safe microwave assisted organic synthesis. The catalyst is generated via 3D printing technology and sintering, resulting in a catalyst with high surface area, controlled composition, and adapted shape and dimensions. The Pd0 catalyst exhibits high activity, stability, and can be recycled and reused for at least 200 reaction cycles. The effective immobilization of palladium in the monolithic structure prevents the generation of hot spots, sparking, or hazardous discharges during the reaction.
MATERIALS TODAY CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
R. H. Adnan, A. A. Jalil
Summary: Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is a widely used mild and green oxidant in various fields. However, its current production process is expensive and unsustainable. Photocatalysis using gold (Au) nanoparticles supported on semiconductor photocatalysts offers a promising and sustainable strategy for H2O2 generation. This article discusses the key developments and roles of Au nanoparticles in enhancing the photocatalytic H2O2 generation, as well as the factors influencing photocatalytic activity and the challenges and prospects for further development in sustainable H2O2 synthesis.
MATERIALS TODAY CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Energy & Fuels
A. H. K. Owgi, A. A. Jalil, M. A. A. Aziz, M. Alhassan, H. U. Hambali, W. Nabgan, R. Saravanan, A. H. Hatta
Summary: Methane dry reforming was studied with Ni/Fibrous Silica-Alumina catalysts promoted with Cs, Ce, Sr, and Sm. The catalysts were characterized using various analytical techniques. The addition of Cs improved the activity and reducibility of the catalyst, leading to a lower reduction temperature of NiO species and less carbon accumulation. Cs seemed to be the most effective promoter in preventing carbon formation and increasing catalyst durability.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
N. S. Hassan, A. A. Jalil, L. Y. Twu, N. A. A. Fatah, H. U. Hambali, I. Hussain, M. L. Firmansyah
Summary: In this study, fibrous silica (KCC-1) was impregnated with cobalt (Co), iron (Fe), and zinc (Zn) oxides for the hydroisomerization of n-hexane. The introduction of Co, Fe, and Zn altered the physicochemical properties of KCC-1 and increased the number of Lewis acid sites (LAS) and Bronsted acid sites (BAS). The formation of binuclear species of Zn as [ZnOZn]2} was confirmed, and Zn/KCC-1 exhibited the best catalytic performance due to the presence of [ZnOZn]2} as a new acidic center.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HYDROGEN ENERGY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Muhammad Tahir, Rehan Mansoor
Summary: In this study, a 2D titanium aluminium carbide (Ti3AlC2) heterojunction was constructed with cobalt aluminium layered double hydroxide (CoAl-LDH) and graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4). The nanotextures exhibited enhanced visible light absorption and charge carrier separation. The ternary composite of CoAl-LDH/g-C3N4/Ti3AlC2 showed superior photocatalytic activity for the dry reforming of methane (DRM) process. The addition of water in the feed mixture for bireforming of methane (BRM) resulted in reduced syngas production due to the activation of the reversed water gas shift reaction (RWGSR).
JOURNAL OF ALLOYS AND COMPOUNDS
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Hasanain A. Al-Jaber, Agus Arsad, Muhammad Tahir, Mustafa Jawad Nuhma, Sulalit Bandyopadhyay, Abdulmunem R. Abdulmunem, Anis Farhana Abdul Rahman, Zakiah binti Harun, Augustine Agi
Summary: New nano-polymeric materials were synthesized from purple yam and cassava starches, with better performance in oil recovery compared to conventional method using partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide. The stability and optimal concentration of these nanoparticles were determined through various characterization techniques. This study provides a new technology for polymer flooding in enhanced oil recovery.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Shair Baz, Muhammad Ikram, Ali Haider, Anum Shahzadi, Anwar Ul-Hamid, Walid Nabgan, Junaid Haider, M. Imran, Thamraa Alshahrani, Francisco Medina, Muhammad Imran
Summary: In this study, vanadium oxide (V2O5) and carbonspheres (Cs)-doped NiO2 nanostructures were synthesized and characterized using various spectroscopic and microscopic techniques. The doped nanostructures exhibited a redshift in absorption and a decreased band gap energy compared to the pristine sample. Transmission electron microscopy revealed nonuniform nanorods with various nanoparticles, and a higher agglomeration was observed upon doping. The V2O5/Cs-doped NiO2 nanostructures showed superior catalytic activity and significant antibacterial efficacy, as well as strong binding affinity with enzymes involved in folate metabolism.
Review
Engineering, Environmental
Muhammad Tahir, Bilkis Ajiwokewu, Anifat Adenike Bankole, Ola Ismail, Hebah Al-Amodi, Naveen Kumar
Summary: Recently, there has been increasing interest in metal-organic framework (MOFs) based materials for photocatalysis in the fields of energy and environmental remediation. This review focuses on the engineering aspects, morphological developments, and efficiency enhancement of MOFs-based photocatalysts for CO2 reduction and hydrogen production. The review discusses the characteristics, band structures, morphological development, and visible light responsiveness of MOFs, as well as recent developments in MOF semiconductors and enhancement strategies for photocatalytic performance. The applications of MOFs in photocatalytic CO2 reduction and hydrogen production are also systematically discussed.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Saira Riaz, Muhammad Ikram, Sadia Naz, Anum Shahzadi, Walid Nabgan, Anwar Ul-Hamid, Ali Haider, Junaid Haider, Ali Al-Shanini
Summary: This study demonstrates the incorporation of different concentrations of graphene oxide (GO) into polyacrylic acid (PAA)-doped SnO2 quantum dots (QDs) and examines their catalytic and antibacterial effects. The QDs' optical properties, surface morphologies, crystal structures, elemental compositions, and d-spacings were analyzed. X-ray diffraction patterns revealed the tetragonal configuration of SnO2 and reduced crystallinity upon dopants. Electronic spectra identified a blue shift and a reduction in band gap energy with GO and PAA incorporation. Fourier transform infrared spectra confirmed the presence of functional groups during the synthesis process. The GO/PAA-SnO2 QDs exhibited enhanced catalytic activity and strong bactericidal efficacy against Escherichia coli (E. coli) at higher GO concentrations. Molecular docking studies predicted their potential as inhibitors of beta-lactamase E. coli and DNA gyrase E. coli.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Ayesha Habib, Muhammad Ikram, Ali Haider, Anwar Ul-Hamid, Iram Shahzadi, Junaid Haider, Mohammed Benali Kanoun, Souraya Goumri-Said, Walid Nabgan
Summary: In this study, different concentrations of Bi were incorporated into MoS2 and SnO2 QDs to enhance the dye degradation and antibacterial activity of SnO2. The binary dopants-based SnO2 showed improved performance due to the presence of nanostructured MoS2 and Bi metal. The prepared QDs were characterized and exhibited significant antimicrobial effects against E. coli. The interaction between MB and Bi/MoS2-SnO2 composite was investigated using density functional theory and HSE06 approach.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Sehar Tasleem, Muhammad Tahir
Summary: The study explores the use of Ti(3)C(2) MXene with embedded titania nanoparticles to construct a pCN/LaCoO3 heterojunction for solar hydrogen production. The MXene was produced using an oxidized/etched approach to maximize charge separation in pCN. Increasing the etching time increased the amount of embedded titania and resulted in a 1.71 times increase in H(2) evolution. The optimized Ti(3)C(2)T(x)/pCN showed enhanced efficiency, which was further improved by coupling with the LaCoO3 heterojunction.
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Guanshuai Zhang, Shanjian Liu, Dongmei Bi, Zhisen He, Jia Liu, Yinjiao Liu
Summary: Hydrogen peroxide pretreatment was applied for fast pyrolysis of corn stalks, and it was found that the pretreatment effectively promoted lignin depolymerization and decreased the reaction activation energy. The pretreatment also increased the cellulose content and removed alkali and alkaline earth metals from the biomass. The pH of the hydrogen peroxide solution affected the removal of lignin and ash by the pretreatment, and the composition of bio-oil changed significantly, with a significant increase in the relative content of levoglucosan after pretreatment.
JOURNAL OF ANALYTICAL AND APPLIED PYROLYSIS
(2024)
