Themed collection RSC Sustainability Recent Review Articles

The investigation of degradation processes provides opportunities for the stability improvement of photocatalysts and photoelectrodes. This perspective provides an overview on recent progress with a focus on (oxy)nitrides.

The global ambition is to reach a net zero waste and emissions society by 2050.

Traditional lab practices contribute to environmental issues through excessive energy consumption, hazardous- and single-use waste generation, and resource depletion. Sustainable laboratory practices are vital for the education of future scientists.

Established principles and practical application of phytomining and mycoremediation bioaccumulation processes hint at a feasible and environmentally sustainable “mycomining” solution with considerable growth environment versatility.

The 12 principles of green membrane materials and processes are formulated. Their contributions to the 3 pillars of sustainability and the UN-SDGs are explained. Research priorities are set. A membrane waste management hierarchy is introduced.

Plastics in oral healthcare: innovations to move away from landfills to create value and sustainable care.

We developed a Technology Roadmap for emissions intensive and trade exposed (EITE) sectors to help policymakers and firms formulate a climate change mitigation strategy employing innovative technologies for large industrial emitters.

What can we do with Deep Eutectic Solvents (DES) once they have been used? What can be their disposal and final fate? This perspective adds some considerations to stimulate the debate.

As the global energy landscape transitions towards a more diversified mix, with electricity and hydrogen constituting half of the final energy consumption by 2050, the focus on efficient and sustainable hydrogen production intensifies.

Chemistry has a vital role in enabling the reductions in greenhouse gases, stewardship of material resources and new production processes needed to bring net CO₂ emissions to zero by 2050, keeping within 1.5 °C of global warming.

The Composites Industry needs to participate in future circular chemical economies. Cooperation, standardisation and increased availability of transparent industry data for life cycle analysis, are seen as critical to a more sustainable future.

The developments in enzymology and biocatalytic processes designed as per the rules of green chemistry and green engineering are the keys to the concepts of biorefinery and bioeconomy which in turn enable sustainable development.

Presented here is an overview of progress in one approach to reducing greenhouse gas emission, namely substituting photosynthesis generated, woody biomass for fossil carbon as feedstock in the production of chemicals and liquid fuels.

This study suggests that lowering the cost of electrolytic hydrogen obtained in water alkaline electrolyzers requires to develop new nanostructured or single-atom Ni-based catalysts and newly shaped electrodes obtained via 3D printing.

Herein, we review recent advances in liquid–liquid extraction systems using task-specific ionic liquids as extractants for the separation of rare earth elements.

We need a paradigm shift towards prevention-based risk governance of chemicals and advanced materials via a transition towards SSbD. Defining SSbD metrics and trade-offs should be a co-creative process and can benefit from applying digital tools.

Key reactions and possible biomass resources for the synthesis of industrially important unsaturated compounds are summarized.

Enabling the design of silica materials with ordered and controllable pore structure using the principles of green and sustainable chemistry.

Current European (EU) policies, such as the Green Deal, envisage safe and sustainable by design (SSbD) practices for the management of chemicals, which cogently entail nanomaterials (NMs) and advanced materials (AdMa).

Strain engineering has advanced in the past decade. Herein, we review the importance of growth coupling, growth decoupling, regulatory control and medium optimization for microbial bioproduction to provide stable conversion over a longer period.

Recent developments pertaining to the surfactant-free synthesis of metal and metal oxide nanomaterials are deliberated, with a focus on important challenges, opportunities, and future perspectives.

Chemical modifications of vegetable oil and their 3D printing applications are discussed. Acrylate resin compatibility with 3D printing methods are presented. 3D printed products using vegetable oil-derived materials, providing insights into future opportunities are explored.

Supercritical fluid technology is a promising approach for sustainable and efficient resource recovery (especially fluorinated binders and electrolytes) from end-of-life lithium ion batteries with significant economic and environmental perspectives.

A review of the most representative advances in the chemical degradation of polythers and polysiloxanes, both in academia and industry.

Seaweeds, or macroalgae, have been used for centuries as food additives, fertilizers, and in traditional medicines. Recent uses include energy (fuels) and as a source of bioactive compounds (vitamins and fucoidan).

The review explores porous thermoelectric materials, emphasizing controlled porosity's impact on phonon scattering and thermal conductivity reduction. Multiple studies were discussed, highlighting prospects and limitations, alongside the latest trends.

Nanoplastic residues in our aquatic ecosystems poses a serious global concern which needs effective monitoring to implement actions and control measures. Electrochemical chemo(bio)sensors emerge as a promising tool for their detection to protect our global water and environmental resources.

Journeying towards inherently sustainable and green synthetic chemistry. Commitment to change and (re)design of practices, processes and goals, through reflection, awareness and education.

The unique characteristics of oxygen-doped g-C₃N₄ (O@g-C₃N₄), including enhanced charge carrier mobility and changed electronic structure, make it especially appealing for photocatalytic applications.

Supercapatteries with liquid salt based electrolytes, battery negatrodes of alkali or alkaline earth metals and supercapacitor positrodes of high anodic stability are promising for outperforming both rechargeable batteries and supercapacitors.

This tutorial review aims at providing a complete overview of the strategies for the conversion of lignocellulose in current and future biorefineries, with a particular focus on the transformation of lignin toward valuable products.

The review covers the advancements in bio-based polycarbonates with regards to their raw materials, polymerization techniques, and modification strategies.

Surfactants are considered amphiphilic substances, having excellent adsorption and association capabilities, offering them the potential for a variety of techniques designed to eliminate pollution and preserve the natural world.

Cu-MOF has gained attention due to its exceptional thermal stability, large surface area and pore volume. This review summarizes its advantages covering synthesis, reactivity and applications in removing toxic pharmaceutical residues from wastewater.

High pressure hydrogen generation by dehydrogenation of formic acid.

3D printing has been elaborated in all stages of a continuous flow biocatalytic process, from the reactor to the support material for biocatalyst confinement or the peripheral accessories that can establish a highly controlled process.

This review highlights how the inherent properties of cellulose have been employed to improve the properties of ionic conductive hydrogels (IHCs) and their application in fabricating iontronics.

This tutorial mini-review gives critical insight into sustainable strategies to prepare ordered mesoporous hierarchically structured nanoporous carbons from biosourced compounds. Modified soft-templating methods are proposed as promising candidates.

Vegetable oils and lipids, terpenes, lignin derivatives, carbohydrates, and proteins are used as biomass feedstock to prepare new bio-based monomers for radical polymerization in aqueous dispersed media, producing bio-based latexes.

Production quantity ratio of petroleum derived chemical products. This also presents the concept of replacing all petroleum-based chemical products with natural biomass-based chemical products.

Ginger waste is an increasingly available renewable feedstock, which is rich in biobased chemicals and materials as well as a source of bioenergy. Ginger waste is explored as a feedstock leading to a potential zero-waste biorefinery.

Rare Earths (REs) are referred to as ‘industrial vitamins’ and play an indispensable role in a variety of domains.

This tutorial review showcases the diversity & utility of organophosphorus molecules, focusing on P(V) structures. Their rich nomenclature, application & industrial synthesis will be highlighted within the context of sustainable chemistry.

Over the past 20 years, graphene has impacted various applications. Similar to graphene, monoelemental 2D materials from groups 13–16 have shown potential in catalysis, supercapacitors, and battery applications in recent years.

This review outlines the evolution, current status, and future trends in utilizing DESs as extraction solvents with innovative techniques to recover valuable compounds from natural sources for diverse laboratory and industrial applications.

For improved sustainability, remanufacturing is a vital loop of a circular economy. We detail progress on remanufacturing strategies for perovskite solar cells and highlight key aspects that need advancement to deliver a sustainable technology.

The implication of employing green chemistry in synthetic chemistry has opened new doors of sustainability and innovation.

Cleaning up heavy metal-polluted soil through various mechanisms of phytoremediation is an economical, aesthetically beautiful, and environmentally responsible alternative to chemical or physicochemical approaches for heavy metal decontamination.

Catalytic reduction of CO₂ to methane conversion by single-atom catalysts (SACs).

Greener production of supercapacitor electrode materials for sustainable energy saving.

This review provides a critical overview on the use of sustainable eutectic mixtures in S_EAr transformations.

Ionometallurgy can contribute to a sustainable production of metals and their compounds. In this context, chemical aspects, availability, environmental impact, and reusability of ionic liquids and deep eutectic solvents are critically discussed.

A comprehensive overview of various physicochemical modification and functionalization routes of lignin to produce alternative low carbon footprint feedstock for sustainable polymers for advanced material applications is presented.

Hydrogen sulfide is an extremely toxic, poisonous and flammable gas often found in natural gas streams and crude oil reservoirs.

Examining component additivity and reaction engineering literature models for best predictions of biocrude yields from hydrothermal liquefaction of biomass feedstocks.

A “toolbox” of processes is highlighted to recycle metals from energy storage and renewable energy devices.

g-C₃N₄: a sustainable game-changer in photocatalysis. This work explores synthesis, properties, mechanisms, and applications, addresses challenges, and charts future trends.

Immobilization of eutectic mixtures in supramolecular gels formed using low molecular weight gelators is a smart strategy to expand their design space. Advances in the last five years are reviewed from the viewpoint of sustainability.

An overview of the importance of green chemistry in synthesizing fluorescent carbon quantum dots as an effective tool for metal ion sensing is discussed. Various synthesis methods and mechanisms involved in metal ion sensing using CQDs are presented.

This review has focused on the concept of upcycling, which involves utilizing PET waste as a raw material for the production of value-added products such as monomers, fine chemicals, hydrogen, or carbon materials.

This work examines the process of using lignocellulosic biomass for cost-effective polyhydroxyalkanoate production, from pre-treatment to extraction.

Latest advances in hydrometallurgical recycling open new sustainable processing options beyond efficient recovery of metals towards direct recycling and upcycling of the NMC active materials.

Remediation of emerging contaminants (ECs), such as personal care products, antibiotics, endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), surfactants, pesticides, etc., via advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) and integrated bioelectrochemical systems (BESs).

This review summarizes the current fabrication methods of COF-based lamellar membranes, and discusses their application in water desalination.

A review on the selective catalytic hydrodeoxygenation of lignin biomass derived compounds. The focus is on recent reports which highlight achievements in selectively and reactivity trends which lead to deoxygenated aromatic products.

The water–energy–food nexus aims to achieve sustainable development by meeting present needs while safeguarding the capacity of future generations.

This review aims to assess the advances in protein extraction and separation from non-animal biomass using alternative solvents, namely ILs, and DESs. Also, the economic and environmental challenges of using such alternative solvents are discussed.

The advent of lithium-ion battery technology in portable electronic devices and electric vehicle applications results in the generation of millions of hazardous e-wastes that are detrimental to the ecosystem.

A metal–organic framework (MOF) has the ability to effectively and environmentally friendly store gas through the process of capture and separation.

Depicts the basic green synthesis process for making natural terpene-based nano-formulations from the extract obtained from different plant parts, including flowers, fruits, roots, stems, and leaves, and their mode of action on tumor cells.