The conversion of lignocellulosic biomass (LCB) into biofuels is hindered by its inherent resistance and the drawbacks of conventional pretreatment, which include high cost, intensive energy use, and inhibitor formation. Here, we present a novel, one-pot bioconversion process that bypasses pretreatment by integrating cerium-doped iron oxide nanoparticles (CeFeO4NPs) with a specialized enzyme system. The system utilizes enzyme supernatant from Penicillium janthinellum mutant EU-30, a strain developed via chemical–physical mutagenesis, which exhibits stable hemicellulase activity and a 25–30% increase in cellulase activity. The integrated approach effectively saccharified raw sugarcane bagasse (SB) within 24 h, generating the highest yields of 12.8 ± 0.5 g/L glucose and 11.54 ± 0.5 g/L xylose compared to other substrates tested. Subsequent fermentation with Saccharomyces cerevisiae yielded 13.47 g/L ethanol (1.21 g/L/h productivity) and demonstrated concurrent consumption of both hexose and pentose sugars. We propose that residual CeFe3O4NPs in the hydrolysate mitigate carbon catabolite inhibition, thereby increasing xylose utilization. This was attributed to the residual CeFe3O4NPs in the hydrolysate, which are thought to upregulate xylose-metabolism-related genes in S. cerevisiae, thereby alleviating carbon catabolite inhibition. This method offers a streamlined, economical, and sustainable platform for producing carbon-neutral bioethanol from agricultural waste, eliminating costly pretreatment and simplifying downstream processing.

ZnCl₂-induced fiber swelling for synergistic manufacturing of adhesive-free straw-chitin biocomposites: Performance and life cycle assessment.

Microwave assisted anaerobic digestion of waste-activated sludge: Integrating multi-scale characterisation and energy assessment for enhanced biogas recovery.

Is ozone pretreatment in algal-laden water adequately evaluated, or does synchronous O₃/Fe(II) offer a better alternative?

Carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites are widely used in lightweight aerospace, automotive, and wind-energy structures owing to their high specific strength and stiffness and durability. However, dissimilar bonding is highly sensitive to surface conditions: CFRP surfaces exhibit low surface energy and may retain mold-release agents, and conventional pretreatments have limitations in controlling and homogenizing surface topography and chemical activation, which undermines interfacial adhesion and reliability. This work presents a 355 nm flat-top picosecond-laser approach that integrates bioinspired hierarchical texturing with surface activation, enabling programmable construction of tree-frog–inspired “plateau-connected-groove” patterns and concomitantly enhancing surface polarity. Roughness and feature depth increase with fluence; the water contact angle decreases to 8.0°; and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy indicates higher fractions of oxidized carbon species, while the Raman I_D/I_G ratio remains essentially unchanged. In AA7075/CFRP single-lap-shear tests, the lap-shear strength increases from 5.9 to 19.6 MPa at 5.8 J cm−2, accompanied by a transition from interfacial adhesive failure to fiber-dominated mixed failure. Mechanistically, at an appropriate fluence, hierarchical micro-/nanostructures, together with enhanced surface polarity, enable synergistic mechanical interlocking and chemical coupling; by contrast, excessive fluence can introduce voids and microcracks and promote partial Cassie wetting. The non-contact, programmable process is compatible with complex geometries and automation, providing a high-throughput surface-engineering route for durable joining in CFRP–Al lap joints and stiffeners in aircraft, bonds between CFRP skins and aluminum honeycomb/cores; mixed-material joints in automotive body structures, and wind-turbine blade root–insert interfaces.

Comparative evaluation of novel versus conventional pretreatment technologies for coconut powder in oil extraction: Integrating HS-GC-IMS and lipidomics.

Cavitation-enhanced aroma and browning: A multiscale study of star anise (Illicium verum Hook. f.) pretreated by ultrasound and electrolyzed water

This study optimized ultrasound-assisted osmotic dehydration (USOD) as a pretreatment for convective drying of litchi quarters. Response Surface Methodology identified optimal conditions at 34.79% ultrasound amplitude, 30 min sonication, and 40% (w/w) sucrose, resulting in 23.76% predicted water loss and 3.89% solid gain, with experimental values showing less than 6% relative error. USOD pretreatment reduced drying time by 18% compared to control samples. The logarithmic model provided the best fit for drying kinetics in both USOD-pretreated and control samples, while the effective moisture diffusivity of USOD-pretreated samples increased by 39.58% compared to the control. USOD pretreated samples showed significantly (P < 0.05) higher lightness(L*:46.69), greater phenolic retention (10.72 mg GAE/g), and enhanced radical scavenging activity (56.47%). In addition, USOD pretreated samples showed significantly (P < 0.05) lower hardness (4.7 N), higher rehydration ratio (2.89), and superior sensory acceptability (7.4). Scanning electron microscopy of USOD-pretreated samples revealed noticeable microstructural alterations compared to fresh and control samples. FTIR analysis further confirmed better antioxidant preservation. Unlike previous studies that have largely focused on conventional or single-technique pretreatments, this work uniquely demonstrates the combined optimization of USOD as a novel pretreatment for litchi prior to hot air drying, while also establishing its link to microstructural modifications and FTIR-based confirmation of antioxidant preservation.

Site-selective hydroxyl functionalization: A dual-functional strategy for fabricating porous cellulose molecularly imprinted fiber for in vivo piperacillin sodium analysis.

The sustainable conversion of lignocellulosic biomass into high-value biobased products is a key low-carbon strategy to address global energy and environmental challenges. Deep eutectic solvents (DES) have emerged as green, tunable media for biomass pretreatment, but their environmental performance and scalability remain underexplored. This study applies a prospective life cycle assessment (pLCA) to a scaled-up multicomponent DES system based on volatile fatty acid (VFA) formulations. Laboratory-scale data were extrapolated through scale-up modeling, learning curves, and scenario analysis to simulate industrial conditions. Environmental impacts of the scaled-up system were compared to laboratory-scale and three conventional pretreatment technologies to assess trade-offs and feasibility. Results show that, with solvent recovery, the scaled DES system reduces environmental impacts by at least 67% across all midpoint categories and outperforms traditional methods. Monetization impact and economic analysis confirm its feasibility, showing a risk index below 0.65 and lower costs than binary DES systems, demonstrating superior environmental and economic potential. Sensitivity analysis highlights DES recovery as a key driver: increasing recovery from 50 to 90% cuts impacts by approximately 70%, underscoring its importance. This study delivers the first pLCA of a scaled multicomponent DES pretreatment, highlighting its environmental-economic trade-offs and supporting its sustainable industrial potential.

Synergistic fouling mitigation of co-contaminants of ultrafine microplastics and organics in seawater pretreatment using ferrous iron/peracetic acid.

Abstract Pre-treatment of lignocellulosic biomass is crucial for increasing biogas production via anaerobic digestion, as it breaks down complex organic compounds and reduces particle size, making feedstock more accessible to microorganisms. Conventional alkaline pre-treatments, such as sodium hydroxide (NaOH), are effective but pose environmental risks due to disposal difficulties and causticity. This study proposes using methylamine, an organic alkaline solution, as an environmentally friendly alternative to improve the pre-treatment sustainability. The study investigates the efficacy of methylamine as a pre-treatment for oil palm empty fruit bunches (OPEFBs) and compares its performance with conventional alkaline solution, NaOH, and magnesium hydroxide Mg(OH) 2 . Experimental results, including morphological analysis of the OPEFB fiber structure and biogas composition analysis via Gas Chromatography, revealed that methylamine and NaOH substantially enhanced gas output compared to untreated samples. The pre-treatments effectively degraded the lignin and hemicellulose layers in the OPEFB, leaving cellulose. The 10% methylamine treatment was the only condition to produce detectable methane (2.25%) after 21 days, suggesting that methylamine may facilitate earlier methanogenesis compared to untreated, NaOH, and Mg(OH) 2 treated samples. This is due to the efficient decomposition of organic compounds and increased microbial activity, which is assisted by the ability of the pre-treatment. The findings indicate that higher concentrations of alkaline pre-treatments improve biogas yields by optimizing the anaerobic digestion process. Methylamine has immense potential as an excellent pre-treatment solution, providing practical benefits for renewable energy generation and waste management due to its biodegradability and low environmental impact. These findings highlight the need to use the right alkaline solution and concentrations to maximise biogas production from OPEFBs.

Electrospun polyacrylonitrile/graphene oxide nanofibers membrane followed by HPLC-MS/MS for the separation and determination of benzimidazole fungicides.

Microwave-assisted diol DES system enables efficient biomass fractionation and lignin grafting stabilization from peanut shells via a lignin-first strategy.

The increasing accumulation of mineral wool waste, especially from construction and demolition sources, presents a major environmental burden. This study investigates a scalable grinding enhancement strategy using bauxite and glass cullet additives to improve the comminution of glass wool, rock wool, and mixed mineral wool waste. Mechanical grinding assisted with the use of 10 wt% and 20 wt% of hard mineral additives reduced milling time by up to 50% compared to unmodified samples, with bauxite consistently outperforming glass cullet. Laser diffraction confirmed a marked reduction in particle size, reaching sub-50 µm targets essential for alkali activation, while SEM analysis revealed smoother, fractured surfaces conducive to improved geopolymer reactivity. Energy consumption estimates suggest substantial efficiency gains; however, upstream impacts such as additive production and transport warrant further evaluation. Compared to conventional thermal and chemical pretreatments, this abrasive-assisted approach demonstrates a lower-energy pathway for producing geopolymer-compatible powders. The findings also offer guidance for developing standardized protocols and open avenues for testing these powders in future binder formulations.

The design of a water treatment plant requires thorough analysis of water quality, capacity, location, and reliable technologies. Groundwater sources with elevated levels of organic matter, color, arsenic, and dissolved gases represent a particular challenge for treatment. In this study, the application of dissolved air flotation (DAF) was systematically investigated as a pretreatment method for groundwater purification. Jar test experiments were conducted to evaluate the removal of total organic carbon (TOC), color, and arsenic under various coagulant dosages. The results demonstrated that DAF achieved up to 65% TOC removal and significant arsenic reduction, while also improving water color. Compared with conventional pretreatment, optimized DAF conditions provided higher efficiency and practical applicability for real-world water treatment plant design. The findings highlight the potential of DAF as an effective technology for addressing complex groundwater contamination and contribute to expanding its use beyond conventional surface water treatment.

Disrupting manure-to-soil transmission of antibiotic resistance genes with gamma irradiation and hydrogen peroxide.

Dynamics of lignocellulose degradation by acid: Kinetic insights into high-solid acid pretreatment at normal temperatures.

Abstract Some insect species represent sustainable tools for the bioconversion of organic waste into valuable products, supporting the development of circular economy supply chains. However, their bioconversion efficiency is significantly reduced in the presence of recalcitrant polymers, such as plastics and lignocellulose. Although conventional pretreatment methods — chemical or thermal — are useful for degrading these compounds, they are often expensive and environmentally harmful. In contrast, insect holobionts (i.e. the host and associated gut microbiota) reared on recalcitrant polymers may offer a nature-based alternative. Indeed, microbial strains and enzymes capable of breaking down these polymers can be isolated from their gut, and their activity can be improved through biotechnology and synthetic biology. In this setting, highly efficient bioconversion agents, such as black soldier fly larvae, and wood-decomposing insects like termites and their symbionts, represent a rich and underexplored resource for tackling persistent waste challenges through microbial biotechnologies.

Low-grade Gracilaria verrucosa biomass, typically discarded during seaweed processing, remains underutilized despite its rich polysaccharide content. This study explores the valorization of this waste stream through optimized acid hydrolysis, comparing conventional water bath heating and pressurized steam pretreatment. A low-concentration sulfuric acid (H2SO4) hydrolysis process was statistically optimized using response surface methodology (RSM), employing a central composite design (CCD), yielding a maximum reducing sugar concentration of 56.54 g/L under pressurized steam conditions—substantially higher than 37.51 g/L under water bath treatment. Structural changes in the biomass were characterized via scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and density measurements, revealing enhanced polysaccharide breakdown under pressurized conditions. Importantly, the sugar-rich hydrolysate, dominated by glucose and xylose, demonstrates potential as a substrate for microbial fermentation, supporting downstream bioproduct development such as biodegradable plastics. These findings offer a sustainable pathway for converting seaweed processing waste into high-value biochemical feedstocks using a mild, cost-effective hydrolysis process.