Upcycling of Aqueous Phenol Pollutants via Directed C-C Coupling in an Enzyme-Inspired Angstrom-Confined Flow-Through System.

BACKGROUNDFuel‐synthesis wastewater (FSW), a byproduct of the Fischer‐Tropsch process, requiring efficient treatment and resource recovery strategies. This study aimed to optimize temperature conditions for purple non‐sulfur bacteria (PNSB) biofilm formation and bioproduct recovery while simultaneously treating FSW. Experiments were conducted in biofilm photobioreactors operated at 30 °C, 35 °C, and 45 °C under illuminated anaerobic conditions. The study evaluated PNSB growth, wastewater treatment efficiency, and the yields of bioproducts, including polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), single cell protein (SCP), lipids, carbohydrates and pigments.RESULTSNo PNSB growth was observed at 45 °C, while the highest suspended growth occurred at 35 °C and biofilm growth at 30 °C. Biofilm formation significantly increased PHB accumulation (17%) compared to suspended growth (4.3%–7.4%), highlighting the efficiency of biofilm‐based cultivation. Temperature had a minimal effect on PHB composition but influenced its crystallinity and morphology. The protein content remained consistent across conditions, while lipids increased with temperature.CONCLUSIONTemperature selection between 30 °C and 35 °C significantly influences biofilm versus suspended biomass ratios and differentially affects bioproduct yields. Biofilm cultivation is preferable for maximizing PHB recovery, indicating potential for sustainable resource recovery and wastewater treatment strategies, particularly in tropical regions where external temperature regulation may be unnecessary. © 2025 The Author(s). Journal of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry (SCI).

Light-driven carbon dioxide (CO2) capture and utilization is one of the most fundamental reactions in Nature. Herein, we report the first visible-light-driven photocatalyst-free hydrocarboxylation ...

Minimal Liquid Discharge (MLD) and Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) strategies for wastewater management and resource recovery – Analysis, challenges and prospects

Resource recovery and regeneration strategies for spent lithium-ion batteries: Toward sustainable high-value cathode materials

Electrochemical upcycling of organic pollutants in wastewater into value-added chemicals presents a dual solution for water treatment and sustainable synthesis, yet achieving high Faradaic and energy efficiencies remains challenging. Here we, for the first time, report the paired electrolysis strategy to produce valuable cyclohexanol and para-benzoquinone (p-BQ) simultaneously from phenol in wastewater. More importantly, to address the dilemma of mismatched operation conditions between cathodic hydrogenation and anodic oxidation, we propose a pulse current strategy with alternating high-/low-current periods, which ensures the reduction kinetics of phenol at the cathode while effectively preventing the over-oxidation of generated p-BQ at the anode. By using tailored PdRu/C and NiRu/C as the cathode and anode, the paired pulse system realizes 84.9% phenol conversion and 83.9% cyclohexanol yield at the cathode, alongside 100% phenol conversion and 68.5% p-BQ yield at the anode, with an exceptional Faradaic efficiency of 114.5% and ultra-low energy consumption of 0.064kWhmol-1. Carbon emission accounting and techno-economic analysis highlight its environmental benefits and economic feasibility (US$1.36 profit per kg phenol). This work offers a green and efficient route for environmental remediation and resource recovery.

The excessive use of nitrogenous fertilizers has thrown the nitrogen cycle out of balance. As a result, nitrate contamination in our water resources is pervasive, creating severe environmental and health consequences. The electrocatalytic reduction of nitrate to ammonia is an attractive strategy for addressing this issue, as it would treat nitrate contamination while simultaneously recovering the active nitrogen component. Several examples in the literature demonstrate the electrocatalytic reduction of nitrate, yet the water treatment industry has not adopted catalysis as a general strategy for nitrate removal and resource recovery. Catalyst selectivity has been a key roadblock to the adoption of electrocatalytic nitrate reduction technology, as the nitrate reduction mechanism is complex and highly sensitive to catalyst composition, structure, and operating environment. In this work, we apply density functional theory (DFT) to understand key factors that influence the nitrate reduction mechanism. We find that elementary reactions on the catalyst surface are highly sensitive to surface coverage. For example, metals that exhibit high coverage of adsorbed NO* promote N-N coupling and the production of dinitrogen over ammonia. Our results also show that nitrate adsorption and dissociation is sensitive to the structure of the exposed catalyst facet, and thus the morphology of the catalyst particle heavily influences reaction selectivity. In particular, we find that the triangular arrangement of atoms on (111) facets yield a lower nitrate dissociation barrier compared to the square arrangement of atoms on (100) facets. This behavior explains trends observed by our experimentalist collaborators, who found enhanced nitrate activation rates on octahedron particles that predominantly expose the (111) facet. These two examples illustrate how mechanistic insight from DFT can be used to guide strategies for tailoring catalyst composition and structure to achieve active and selective nitrate reduction to ammonia.

External Photocatalyst-Free Visible Light-Promoted 1,3-Addition of Perfluoroalkyl Iodides to Vinyldiazoacetates

A new theoretical model for inelastic tunneling in realistic systems : comparing STM simulations with experiments

Unlocking the dual resource potential of waste activated sludge: Insights into ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid-chelation driven methanogenesis and phosphorus mobilization mechanisms.

In this contribution, the structure‐reactivity relationships of ZnR2/DMAP (R=C6F5, C6H5 and C2H5) Lewis pairs in ring‐opening polymerization (ROP) of lactones were investigated by crystallographic analysis, density functional theory (DFT) calculations and kinetic studies. With decrease of ZnR2 Lewis acidity, the interaction between ZnR2 and DMAP weakens and the dissociation of ZnR2⋅2DMAP Lewis adducts become easier, which facilitates the activation of cyclic ester monomers. Thus, the ZnEt2/DMAP Lewis pair, bearing weakest interaction between Lewis acid and Lewis base, exhibits high catalytic activity and broad monomer adaptability. ZnEt2⋅2DMAP can convert lactide (LA) rapidly into polylactide (PLA) even at room temperature. Furthermore, a wide range of cyclic esters can also be polymerized using this dual catalyst, from small lactones such as β‐butyrolactone (β‐BL), δ‐valerolactone (δ‐VL) and ϵ‐caprolactone (ϵ‐CL) to the strainless macrolactone. The optimal reaction pathway, key species and active species in the ZnEt2⋅2DMAP catalytic ROP of LA were figured out by DFT calculations. The results clearly indicated that a DMAP‐LA exchange was necessary for activation of monomer, and the single molecular initiation is preferred. Meanwhile, the cyclic active species is more stable than the linear analogues, in which DMAP and ZnEt2 bond with each polymer chain end respectively and ZnEt2 interact with DMAP. The DFT calculation gives an account for the formation of the cyclic polyester in the ROP of LA by ZnR2‐based Lewis pairs.

Tin oxides (SnO2) have been widely utilized in electronics, nanolithography, and catalysis. As the atomically precise models of SnO2, tin-oxo clusters (TOCs) not only provide opportunities for mech...

Inadequacies of current recovery and disposal methods for mixed plastic wastes drive the exploration of viable strategies for plastics resource recovery. The combination of diminishing landfill space and increasing usage of plastic products poses a significant dilemma, since current recovery methods are costly and ill-suited to handle contaminants. Coprocessing of polymeric waste with other materials may provide potential solutions to the deficiencies of current resource recovery methods, including unfavorable process economics. By incorporating plastic waste as a minor feed into an existing process, variations in supply and composition could be mediated, permitting continuous operation. One attractive option is the coprocessing of polymeric waste with coal under direct liquefaction conditions, allowing for simultaneous conversion of both feedstocks into high-valued products. Catalyst-directed coliquefaction of coal and polymeric materials not only has attractive environmental implications but also has the potential to enhance the economic viability of traditional liquefaction processes. By exploiting the higher H/C ratio of the polymeric material and using it as a hydrogen source, the overall process demand for molecular hydrogen and hydrogen donor solvents may be reduced. A series of model compound experiments has been conducted, providing a starting point for unraveling the complex chemistry underlying coliquefaction of coal and polymeric materials. Tetradecane (C{sub 14} H{sub 30} ) was used as a polyethylene mimic, and 4-(naphthylmethyl)bibenzyl (NBBM) was used as a coal model compound. Neat and binary mixture reactions of tetradecane and NBBM were carried out in an inert atmosphere at both low and high pressures to establish a thermal baseline for subsequent catalytic experiments. Work in the past six months has focused on analysis of light gaseous products for neat reactions of tetradecane, resulting in mass balances greater than 94%. The experimental protocol developed in the previous project period was used to conduct experiments at elevated pressures more representative of coal liquefaction conditions, and both neat and binary mixture reactions of tetradecane and NBBM were examined. Mechanistic modeling studies were also initiated in order to support and quantify the mechanistic ideas put forth to explain the experimental observations.

Spatially informed multi-objective decision-making tool for retrofitting municipal wastewater treatment plants.

Strategies for resource recovery from the organic fraction of municipal solid waste

Molecular Simulations of Nanoscale Transformations in Ionic Semiconductor Nanocrystals