Co-hydrothermal carbonization of typical plastics waste and garden waste: Effect of plastic additives on hydrochar formation and properties.

Circular valorization of agricultural, industrial, and post-consumer waste into fiber-reinforced composites for environmental sustainability.

Biodegradable mulch film-enriched with biochar, chicken feather, and oyster shell powder for improved soil quality and crop productivity.

This review examines advanced strategies for the sustainable valorisation of food and agricultural waste (FAW) by integrating nanoengineering, artificial intelligence (AI), and innovative bioconversion platforms. The study aims to address the limitations of conventional waste management systems. It highlights transformative technologies that improve efficiency, scalability, and sustainability. A systematic analysis of recent advancements is presented across three domains. These include nanomaterials from agro-waste for catalytic and functional applications, AI-driven predictive modelling and process control for real-time valorisation, and smart bioconversion using microbial, enzymatic, and insect-based systems. The findings show that nanoengineered materials enhance catalytic selectivity. AI algorithms precisely optimise fermentation and waste-to-value pathways. Smart bioconversion platforms achieve over 40% improvement in biohydrogen yield and more than 65% conversion efficiency in insect-based systems. Integrated frameworks enable multi-product recovery and align with the principles of the circular bioeconomy. Overall, combining nanoengineering, AI, and intelligent bioconversion creates a transformative approach for FAW management. This convergence can advance Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by enabling scalable, decentralised, and resource-efficient waste-to-value systems. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.

Microwave and ultrasound assisted synergistic extraction of aromatics from food and agro-waste using DES and NADES

Comprehensive investigation on mechanical properties of mango seed shell short fiber-reinforced epoxy based polymer composites

Agricultural waste accumulation presents significant environmental challenges, including greenhouse gas emissions and ecological degradation. Microwave-assisted pyrolysis (MAP) has emerged as a superior thermochemical strategy to valorise these residues into high-value biochar-based materials. Compared to conventional pyrolysis (CP), MAP provides unique advantages such as volumetric heating and precise structural control, enabling the synthesis of advanced carbon forms including biochar-derived graphene oxide (GO). This review systematically evaluates the fundamental mechanisms of MAP, emphasizing the influence of biomass composition and process parameters on the physicochemical properties of the resulting carbon. We highlight how MAP facilitates the fine-tuning of porosity, graphitization, and surface functionality, which are critical for high-end applications. Specifically, the review discusses the integration of these materials into additive manufacturing and their role as high-performance electrode modifiers in electrochemical sensors. A significant focus is placed on the emerging application of biochar-based coatings in providing anti-biofouling properties, which enhance the durability and efficiency of surfaces in marine and biomedical environments. Furthermore, we address technical bottlenecks in upscaling MAP and propose future research directions, such as optimizing process atmospheres to support a circular bioeconomy. This review provides a comprehensive roadmap for transforming agricultural waste into functional carbon materials with diverse industrial applications. ● MAP offers fast, low-energy routes to value-added carbon materials. ● MAP conditions tune biochar porosity, graphitization, and surface functionality. ● Biochar and derived carbons enable composites, coatings, and sensing applications. ● Upscaling challenges and process limitations of MAP are critically assessed. ● Future directions include atmosphere control and underexplored MAP parameters.

Design and fabrication of smart and biodegradable food packaging film using anthocyanins from eggplant peel based on starch-chitosan polymer modified with green-synthesized copper nanoparticles

The plastic-based pollution is globally upsurging necessitating for the eco-beneficial and sustainable alternatives to the availed conventional plastics.In the present study, we have designed biologically degradable plastic (bioplastic) adopting the microbe (Bacillus sp.) and an agricultural waste (sugarcane bagasse), as an economically effective source of carbon.Approxiamtely 49.13% of PHB (polyhydroxybutyrate), a native biopolymer was successfully yielded under optimized parameters (pH 7.0 to 7.5 and 37 ).To enhance the efficacy of the developed bioplastic, it was blended with titanium dioxide (TiO2) and chitosan.The bioplastic had stupendous bactericidal activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli and two pathogenic fungi (Aspergillus niger and Penicillium sp.).The bioplastic was highly flexible, biodegradable and durable which entirely broke down in the soil.The PHB-chitosan-TiO2 film incorporated in the food packaging added shelf-life to the edibles (chocolate and bread) dictating potent sustainability in contrast to the synthetic plastics.By upcycling sugarcane bagasse and leveraging renewable materials, this study supports a circular economy approach while reducing dependence on petrochemical plastics.The results highlight the potential for scalable, eco-friendly bioplastics that combine biodegradability, antimicrobial activity, and versatility, addressing environmental challenges and advancing sustainable packaging solutions.

Sugarcane bagasse-derived hydrochar for enhanced graphitic carbon nitride photocatalysis in Rhodamine B degradation via electron channel engineering.

Revealing improvement mechanism of yak meat quality by dietary with Codonopsis pilosula stems and leaves based on transcriptomics and metabolomics.

Lanthanum-modified biochar for dual removal of particulate/dissolved phosphorus in agricultural runoff: Performance and reuse as slow-release fertilizer.

Dual-mode Mn– and Sn–Silica composites from millet husk: Photoreduction of Cr(VI) and sulphanilamide, adsorptive capture of basic fuchsin

Microplastics and impurities in digestates and compost: A comparative study of waste-derived soil amendments.

An integrated assessment and visualization framework combining PCA-weighted WQI and human health hazard index to map groundwater hotspots: Evidence from Maharashtra, India.

Selective enhancement of bio-oil from pyrolysis of corn stalk: A tandem dual-catalyst system of reduced red mud and Fe/Ca catalyst

Integrated multi-barrier attenuation of antibiotic resistance genes by self-elevating ultra-high temperature composting: Phase-resolved evidence for within-process risk reduction.

Evaluation of carotenoid bioaccumulation in black soldier fly, Hermetia illucens (Diptera: Stratiomyidae), and its influence on nutritional characteristics and antioxidant capacity.

Composting is widely used for agricultural waste management, and the composting method significantly influences composting processes. This study compared static composting (SC), turning composting (TC), forced aeration composting (AC), and membrane-covered forced aeration composting (MAC) to evaluate which method is more effective for mitigating carbon emissions and promoting humification. Compared to the other methods, MAC shortened the composting period and reduced cumulative CH 4 emissions by 53.4%–99.7% and cumulative CO 2 emissions by 25.7%–66.2%. Moreover, MAC promoted the formation and transformation of humic precursors, achieving the highest degree of humification among the methods. Microbial–physicochemical association networks suggested that MAC had more microorganisms associated with humic-precursor-related processes than with carbon-emission-related processes. Microbial co-occurrence networks further revealed that MAC enhanced microbial cooperation, particularly bacterial–fungal interactions, which played a critical role in humification. Notably, MAC increased the relative abundance of bacterial pathways associated with substrate metabolism in the early stage and enriched pathways for secondary metabolite biosynthesis in the late stage, while shifting the fungal community toward saprotroph dominance. Overall, by combining a parallel comparison of composting methods with the elucidation of the underlying microbial mechanisms, this study reinforced the application potential of MAC. • Membrane-covered forced aeration composting (MAC) reduced carbon emissions. • MAC resulted in the highest degree of polymerization (DP = 1.91). • More microorganisms processed humus precursors than carbon emissions in MAC. • MAC enhanced microbial cooperation intra- and inter-domain. • MAC enhanced humification-related bacterial metabolic pathways.

Synthesis of a nickel oxide infused biomass nanocomposites for enhanced cadmium ion removal from wastewater