Abstract Propylene glycol (PG), a generally recognized as safe ingredient widely used in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and food products, has not previously been investigated as a green solvent for high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). This study reports the first application of PG as an organic modifier in reversed-phase HPLC. A simple, eco-friendly, and efficient isocratic method was developed for the simultaneous determination of acetaminophen and caffeine in combination tablets, with effective separation of the impurity 4-aminophenol. Using a 10-cm C18 column and a mobile phase comprising 25 % (v/v) PG in water, adjusted to pH 4.0 with glacial acetic acid, at 50 °C and a flow rate of 2.0 mL/min, complete separation was achieved within 2 min under a backpressure below 200 bar and detection at 275 nm. The method was fully validated and provided results consistent with the United States Pharmacopeial method. Greenness evaluation using AGREE and GAPI tools confirmed superior environmental performance, with a BAGI score of 85.0, demonstrating high practicality. Owing to low volatility, flammability, and toxicity, along with water miscibility, UV transparency, biodegradability, and renewable sourcing, PG represents a green and sustainable alternative to conventional volatile HPLC solvents without compromising analytical performance or reliability.

Abstract This study presents a comparative analysis of graphite, graphene oxide (GO), and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) to elucidate how oxidation and reduction influence their physicochemical characteristics. GO was synthesized via an eco-friendly thermal oxidation process and reduced at 300 °C to obtain rGO. Comprehensive characterization using XRD, FTIR, UV–Vis, SEM, and EDS revealed significant structural, optical, and morphological transformations. UV–Vis spectra showed absorption shifts from 284 nm (graphite) to 241 nm (GO) and 264 nm (rGO), with corresponding band gaps of 2.4, 3.0, and 2.1 eV, confirming electronic transition and partial restoration of conjugation in rGO. FTIR identified the formation of oxygenated groups in GO and their partial removal in rGO. SEM analysis showed a morphological evolution from smooth graphite layers to wrinkled GO sheets and crumpled rGO structures. XRD confirmed interlayer expansion in GO (d = 0.765 nm) and structural recovery in rGO (d = 0.385 nm), while EDS validated oxygen incorporation and reduction trends. Dielectric modulus analysis revealed distinct relaxation behavior: high conductivity in graphite, strong dipolar polarization in GO, and improved charge mobility in rGO. Controlled oxidation and reduction effectively tailor graphene-based materials for potential advanced technological applications.

Abstract Thermochemically treated lignocellulosic biomass represents a sustainable route to high-performance activated carbons for water purification. In this study, a miscanthus-derived activated carbon (ACM) was synthesized via one-step high-temperature KOH activation and evaluated for methylene blue (MB) removal from aqueous solutions. ACM exhibits a high specific surface area (SSA BET = 1,290 m 2 /g), dominant microporosity, and a hierarchical pore structure, enabling rapid dye diffusion. Adsorption kinetics follow a pseudo-second-order model, while intraparticle diffusion analysis reveals a two-stage mass-transfer mechanism. The weak pH dependence suggests that electrostatic interactions are not the sole controlling factor. Equilibrium data are best described by the Redlich–Peterson isotherm, indicating heterogeneous surfaces and mixed adsorption behavior. The maximum adsorption capacity increases from 410.2 to 463.8 mg/g as temperature rises from 298 to 318 K, confirming endothermic adsorption. Thermodynamic parameters indicate spontaneous, entropy-driven adsorption. FTIR analysis shows that MB uptake is predominantly governed by strong non-covalent interactions, including π–π stacking and hydrogen bonding with ACM surface functionalities, with partial contribution from pore filling rather than classical chemisorption. Reusability tests demonstrate an 80.7 % removal efficiency after three adsorption–desorption cycles without detectable mass loss, highlighting ACM as a cost-effective and sustainable sorbent for wastewater treatment.

Article Erratum to: Optimizing ultrasound-assisted extraction process of anti-inflammatory ingredients from Launaea sarmentosa: a novel approach was published on January 1, 2026 in the journal Green Processing and Synthesis (volume 15, issue 1).

Abstract For lowering energy consumption of low-concentration coal water slurry (CWS), this study investigates enhancing CWS performance through incorporation of micronized particles of coal as into the gasification raw material. Experimental results reveal that ultrafine particles of coal possess good physicochemical properties including low inherent moisture content, large specific surface area, and higher zeta potential. With the incorporation of 15 % fine coal particles, the concentration of CWS increased by 3 percentage points to 63.5 %, while the fractal dimension rose from 2.231 to 2.412, indicating improved packing efficiency of coal particles. Additionally, spread area per unit mass was increased by 21.2 %, and water separation rate was reduced by more than 50.3 %, depicting enhanced slurry stability. Further investigation indicated that fine particles lowered interparticle distance and increased ζ by 40.8 %, enhancing spatial resistance and electrostatic repulsion. The dynamic study indicated that incorporation of fine particles lowered activation energy by 1.42 %, the mean reaction rate ( K mean ) is increased by 188 %, and resulted in a forward shift in temperature of reaction. These observations reveal that incorporation of fine particles can be a means to enhance rheological and gasification properties of CWS and therefore improve energy efficiency in fuel applications on the basis of coal.

Abstract The article discusses current problems in the field of ecology and environmental protection related to the processing of industrial waste and the purification of sulfur dioxide. A technology has been developed for the purification of sulfur dioxide using phosphorous slag based on waste from phosphorus production as an adsorbent. Instrumental methods SEM, IR, TGA/DTA and X-ray were used to determine the physicochemical properties of the initial and final products. In the process of obtaining the adsorbent, a temperature of 500 °C was determined for 120 min, and optimal technological parameters were established during purification of sulfur dioxide: a temperature of 500 °C for 30 min, and the degree of efficiency is up to 65 %. The used adsorbent after sorption of sulfur dioxide is subjected to regeneration by thermal treatment at 800 °C for 120 min. After thermal treatment, the adsorbent is restored to its original state and is reused for purification of sulfur dioxide. The developed adsorbent based on phosphorous slag for purification of sulfur dioxide is 7.0–7.5 cheaper than analogues. The developed technology is aimed at processing accumulated industrial waste to obtain adsorbents for cleaning sulfur dioxide, which in turn improves the environmental situation in the region.

Abstract Early research on recycling agri-food industry waste focused on valorization to identify valuable components lost when waste is disposed of, reflecting a linear economy model. With the shift to a circular economy, current research aims for full recycling of waste containing high-value compounds. This study builds on previous work involving egg white layer proteins and high-purity calcium salts to explore the potential of eggshell membranes for lipase immobilization. Eggshell waste was treated with acids (5% hydrochloric, 10% acetic, 15% o -phosphoric), and then lipase from Burkholderia cepacia was immobilized using adsorption and covalent binding. The immobilized enzymes were tested for biochemical and operational properties. Results showed improved thermal stability, altered pH and temperature optima, and retention of up to 85% of initial activity after ten reuse cycles. Adsorption proved to be the most effective immobilization method, offering superior stability and reusability. Among the carriers tested, ESMC-HCl was identified as the most suitable, with the immobilized lipase successfully applied in the enzymatic pretreatment of wastewater from the oil-processing industry. This application achieved over 89% removal of chemical oxygen demand and reduced total oil content from 95% to 18% across four treatment cycles, demonstrating both effectiveness and reusability of the biocatalyst.

Abstract Launaea sarmentosa , a creeping herb, is utilized in folk medicines, either alone or in combination with other herbs, to treat various inflammatory diseases. Yet, the extraction efficiency improvement for its anti-inflammatory components has never been inspected deeply. Hence, response surface methodology was first employed to optimize the parameters of the ultrasound-assisted extraction process, approaching anti-inflammatory ingredients from Launaea sarmentosa via nitric oxide (NO) scavenging capacity. According to the Box–Behnken design model, the optimum parameters are as follows: solvent-to-solid ratio of 20.81 mL·g −1 , extraction time of 15.72 min, and temperature of 51.80°C using absolute ethanol (99.8%) at a constant frequency of 37 kHz. For such optimized conditions, the actual IC 50 value of NO removal capacity gained 206.56 µg·mL −1 , which agreed with the obtained model value (IC 50 , 209.68 µg·mL −1 ). Besides, the enhanced presence of anti-inflammatory ingredients was confirmed by deactivating nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-кB) signaling, thereby suppressing NO production and pro-inflammatory cytokines in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages. Furthermore, the initial life cycle assessment results indicated that the extraction process was environmentally friendly, with low-impact indicators on ecosystems. Lastly, these findings offer valuable insight into the anti-inflammatory extraction process of L. sarmentosa through a novel approach, along with its potential for “green and sustainable” industrial applications.

Abstract The current study successfully biosynthesized bimetallic silver–selenium nanoparticles (Ag–Se NPs) using an extract from Salvia hispanica seeds. Our research revealed that Salvia hispanica seed extract is a substantial source of various phytochemicals. Ag–Se NPs were characterized by UV, XRD, FTIR, HR-TEM, SEM-EDX analyses, and mapping studies. Moreover, Ag–Se NPs showed antimicrobial activity against E. coli, K. pneumoniae, P. aeruginosa, S. aureus , and B. subtilis . In addition, Ag–Se NPs demonstrated antibiofilm effectiveness against two biofilm-forming bacteria, K. pneumoniae and S. aureus. Ag–Se NPs exhibited significant antioxidant activity in the DPPH and ABTS experiments, surpassing ascorbic acid (IC 50 = 354 and 241 µg·mL −1 ). In contrast, the reported low IC 50 values for the tested Ag–Se NPs against prostate (PC3), and ovarian (SK-OV3) cancerous cell lines were 52.5 and 62.94 μg·mL −1 , respectively, indicating their significant efficacy against these cancerous cell lines, and the IC 50 for the Vero cells was 187.8 µg·mL −1 . Anti-diabetic effects were demonstrated by the inhibition of α-amylase (91.1%) and α-glucosidase (85.6%) at 1 mg·mL −1 . Ultimately, Ag–Se NP dosage at the MIC values exhibited reduced expression of the virulence genes mag A and tox A in K. pneumoniae and P. aeruginosa by 29.4% and 24.5%, respectively.

Abstract Despite antibiotics’ effectiveness in treating infectious diseases, their misuse and overuse have led to a serious public health issue, known as antimicrobial resistance. This study addresses the growing public health challenge of antimicrobial resistance by presenting a novel approach for synthesizing silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) from parsley ( Petroselinum crispum ) leaves using an eco-friendly method. The study evaluated and compared the antibacterial properties of the prepared AgNPs and the parsley boiled leaf extract against two foodborne and resistant microbes, Bacillus cereus ( B. cereus ) and Klebsiella pneumoniae ( K. pneumoniae ). Characterization techniques, including UV-Vis spectrophotometry (UV-Vis), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, confirmed the successful synthesis of spherical nanoparticles with crystalline structure at the nanoscale level. The boiled parsley leaf extract showed a lower antimicrobial effect compared to the nanosilver extract at the same concentration and against the same types of bacteria. The extract showed the highest inhibition zone again st B. cereus and K. pneumoniae at 14.50 and 10.50 mm, respectively; however, AgNPs showed inhibition zones of 31.33 and 20.50 mm against the same bacteria, respectively. In addition, AgNPs exhibited strong antibacterial activity against B. cereus and K. pneumoniae , significantly outperforming ceftriaxone ( P ≤ 0.05). Moreover, AgNPs are more effective than the traditional antibiotic ceftriaxone at preventing bacterial growth at a minimum inhibitory concentration of 32 μg·mL −1 . Additionally, AgNPs scavenge DPPH free radicals at the maximum concentration at rates of 85.60% compared to 65.89%, demonstrating superior antioxidant activity than the parsley extract. According to the findings, parsley-derived AgNPs have the potential to be antibacterial agents, particularly against food-related bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics, and thus, present novel strategies for combating antibiotic resistance. These findings pave the way for innovative techniques in antimicrobial therapy.