Renewable carbon sources as microbial substrates for the production of amylases and lignocellulases

Renewable magnetic biomass-based carbon aerogel materials for highly efficient removal of elemental mercury from combustion flue gas

Dataset of in-situ meteorological measurements for urban wind energy assessment in the southern region of the Dominican Republic.

Lignin is the largest renewable source of aromatic carbon, yet its heterogeneity and recalcitrance limit its use in higher-value bioconversion processes. In this study, Aspergillus niger was engineered to enable the bioconversion of lignin-derived aromatics and base-catalyzed depolymerized (BCD) lignin streams into malic acid, a value-added C4 dicarboxylic acid with broad industrial relevance. Overexpression of the C4 dicarboxylate transporter C4T318 from Aspergillus oryzae enhanced malic acid secretion, while medium optimization under buffered conditions further improved the production. The engineered strain efficiently assimilated representative lignin-derived aromatics, including 4-hydroxybenzoic acid and p-coumaric acid, producing up to 3.9g/L malic acid. Conversion of BCD lignin liquors from poplar and sorghum demonstrated effective utilization of heterogeneous aromatic mixtures, generating up to 0.82g/L malic acid. This work demonstrates direct fungal conversion of real lignin streams into malic acid and establishes A. niger as a promising platform for sustainable lignin valorization.

Fibrous biomaterials have showed considerable potential in cartilage tissue engineering due to their ability to imitate the structure and characteristics of the original extracellular matrix. Sustainable biomaterials such as chitosan, silk fibroin, and collagen can be produced into a variety of shapes, including hydrogels, scaffolds, and electrospun nanofibers, to develop an optimal milieu for chondrocyte adhesion, proliferation, and cartilage matrix deposition. In recent years, various studies showed that biomaterials-based fiber mats obtained through electrospinning as scaffolds exhibit remarkable chondrocyte growth support. These fiber mats promote high chondrocyte viability and cell proliferation, particularly when thin neutralized fibers are utilized. The biomimetic attributes of these biomaterials obtained from renewable resources such as plants, animals, and microbes have intrinsic benefits such as biocompatibility, microstructure resemblance to the original extracellular matrix, and adjustable mechanical properties. However, there are still hurdles in optimizing scaffold-cell interactions, controlled degradation, stress response, and flexibility for successful clinical translation. As a result, fibrous biomaterials exhibit significant potential for cartilage tissue engineering by promoting chondrocyte adhesion, proliferation, and cartilage matrix deposition. Nonetheless, additional study is required to solve the obstacles and optimize these materials for successful clinical applications.

The global plastic waste crisis, especially from poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET), demands urgent sustainable solutions. Using green hydrogen from renewable sources to hydrogenolyze PET shows promise for producing key industrial commodity chemicals including para-xylene (PX) and ethylene glycol (EG), which are essential for the production of polyester, antifreeze, and other chemicals. However, developing scalable, cost-effective, and atom-efficient processes for synthesizing drop-in chemicals via PET hydrogenolysis remains challenging. This study presents a catalytic system with a ternary Cu-Zr-Al inverse catalyst (Al-ZrO2/Cu) that operates at 180 °C and 6 MPa H2. It nearly quantitatively converts PET into PX (>99% yield) and EG (92% yield). The catalyst, with modulated surface acidity and abundant oxygen vacancies, selectively activates the benzylic C-O bonds in PET for efficient hydrogenolytic depolymerization. In hexafluoroisopropanol (HFIP)-mediated continuous-flow reactions, the process generates a spontaneously biphasic PX/EG mixture, simplifying separation. Mechanistic studies reveal that interfacial oxygen vacancies and Lewis acid centers synergistically activate H* species and macromolecular ester bonds. This work offers a strategic approach to interfacial catalyst design, providing a technically and economically feasible way to transform waste commodity plastics into high-demand bulk chemicals. By combining scalable catalysis with circular economy concepts, it enhances plastic waste valorization and delivers sustainable, large-scale solutions for global plastic pollution.

Purpose: The study investigated the effect of energy consumption and economic development in Nigeria. Methodology: The data for the study were sourced from the World Bank Database from 1990 to 2023. Following the unit root test, the Toda-Yamamoto Granger Causality or Block Exogeneity Wald was carried out. Results and conclusion: Principally, no causality exists from access to electricity for the urban population (UPEt), electricity availability to rural populations (RPEt), energy production through renewable sources (EPRt) (hydro), electricity production through non-renewable sources (EPNt), and electric power transmission and distribution losses (EDLt) to per capita income in Nigeria. The findings suggested that enhancements in electricity access and production did not significantly contribute to economic development, as measured by per capita income during the period analyzed. Implication of findings: The study, among others, recommended that stakeholders in the energy industry in Nigeria should synergize to enhance the provision of a reliable and quality electricity supply instead of merely increasing access. The implication of this finding is that making energy utilization and affordability better will improve the economy.

The natural resources and local communities of Madre de Dios, Peru, face severe environmental degradation due to illegal mining, deforestation, and the expansion of agricultural activities, threatening one of the most ecologically sensitive regions of the Amazon. This research proposes a low-carbon and bioclimatic architectural design for a Sustainable Interpretation and Research Center dedicated to the conservation of the ecosystems of Manu National Park. The study is based on an analysis of the surrounding environment in terms of flora, fauna, and climate, applying bioclimatic strategies focused on sustainability and supported by specialized digital tools (Revit 2024, Canva, Global Mapper 2024, SketchUp 2024, Photoshop 2022, and Illustrator 2022). The project presents a bioclimatic architectural design that integrates constructive techniques ensuring thermal comfort in a warm-humid climate, while promoting the use of clean technologies such as photovoltaic solar systems generating 15,571.8 kWh per year and a rainwater harvesting system collecting 70,675 L annually. The infrastructure is built with bamboo and locally sourced wood, renewable materials that ensure durability and low environmental impact. In addition, the design includes the reforestation of 17.92% of the total area and 3.46% of public spaces, incorporating native species such as Brazil nut, rosewood, and capirona to reinforce local biodiversity. Overall, this research demonstrates how low-carbon construction, renewable materials, and bioclimatic design can contribute to sustainable development, environmental awareness, and the preservation of natural ecosystems in tropical regions.

The efficient recycling of plastics and polymers is a focal point within the development of circular chemistry. In this realm, the development of new types of recyclable-by-design polymers plays a crucial role in answering a growing need for plastic formulations that can build on this intrinsic feature while using renewable resources. Within the large and diverse family of engineering polymers, polycarbonates (PCs) play an essential role as modular components for many consumer products. Challenges related to a more sustainable production of PCs and their end-of-life disposal have created incentives towards a more responsible use and reuse of these macromolecules. This review focuses on key aspects that should guide future PC development, with both a mechanistic understanding of controlled degradation and identifying efficient depolymerization approaches being the major outcomes. In addition, emerging classes of polycarbonates, such as heteroatom-containing ones are highlighted and discussed.

Generation of BBSOAS patient-specific induced pluripotent stem cell lines harboring six NR2F1 pathogenic variants.

Modular co-culture engineering of Escherichia coli and Saccharomyces cerevisiae for de novo biosynthesis of tryptophol from glucose.

ABSTRACT Polylactide (PLA) is an important bioplastic derived from renewable resources, valued for its biocompatibility and biodegradability. The tacticity and microstructure of PLA significantly influence its thermomechanical properties, yet achieving both high reactivity and precise stereocontrol in the organocatalytic ring‐opening polymerization of rac ‐lactide remains a major challenge. Herein, we show that chiral cyclopropenimine‐thiourea organocatalysts enable a rapid and highly stereoselective polymerization of rac ‐lactide to produce isotactic stereoblock PLAs. This strategy supports fast propagation and living behavior, yielding PLAs with controlled molecular weights and narrow dispersities. Notably, our bifunctional organocatalyst exhibits a remarkably high turnover frequency of up to 1,710 h −1 and delivers stereoregular PLA with a high stereoregularity parameter of 0.90 at 25°C, which increases to 0.99 at −78°C. The resulting PLAs undergo stereocomplexation, forming a long‐range ordered lamellar structure with reduced interlamellar spacing, as confirmed by x‐ray scattering analysis.

The problems are that: (i) frequent power outage by inadequate infrastructure and outdated technologies led to poor supply, (ii) limited access to reliable electricity and high cost of installation of off-grid energy and fossil fuel caused financial burden on households in the region, (iii) lack of a reliable energy, low renewable sources and reliability misconceptions affected the usage of renewable energy in the region, (iv) overall reliance on fossil fuel such as: diesel and petrol despite its high cost had contributed to global warming, and lack of strong implementation strategies and research affected renewable energy applications in the region. The study is aimed at comparing models for non-conventional energy supply to a four storey Building using Gauss-Seidel Algorithm in Abo-Mbaise, Imo State, southeast region, Nigeria. The objectives of the study are to: (i) evaluate the current energy infrastructure and consumption pattern in a-six- person-household per flat in the region, (ii) identify the renewable energy resources available in the region, (iii) assess the technical, economic and viability of implementing different renewable energy systems in a-four-storey-Building and the environmental impact of utilization in the region, and (v) apply optimization algorithm on different renewable energy sources on design configurations and fabrication. The reliability of the research experiment was determined using Pearson product moment correlation (r). The experimental result of (r), was found to be approximately (r = 1.0) which confirmed 100% (percent) level of performance between the model and prototype (fabricated Flywheel). The result also shows that there exist a strong correlation between the designed (model) and the fabricated (prototype). The work concluded that: (i) the cost of energy per kwh from Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) is ₦53.78, Solar/Battery option is ₦65.62, Flywheel option is ₦34.27, Biomass option is ₦49.97 and Wind option is ₦74.01.Therefore, cost of energy for a-4-hour supply per flat of 6-person-household per month from EEDC is ₦18,070, while (ii) the optimization (GA) results show that for every-24-hour: (i) Wind option has a minimum cost of N14.66million in 30years, N488,666:67K in one year, N40,722:22K in one month per Building of 8flats, and per flat of 6persons has to pay N5090:00K ($3.4 US Dollars) per month, (ii) Biomass option has a minimum cost of N20.62million in 30years, N687,333:33K in one year, N57,277:78K in one month per Building of 8flats, and per flat of 6persons has to pay N7,160:00K ($4.8 US Dollars) per month, (iii) Flywheel option has a minimum cost of N6.9million in 30years, N230,000:00K in one year, N19,166:67K in one month per Building of 8flats, and per flat of 6persons has to pay N2,396:00K ($1.6 US Dollars) per month and (iv) Solar/Battery has a minimum cost of N28.16million in 30years, N938,666:67K in one year, N78,222:22K in one month per Building of 8flats, and per flat of 6persons has to pay N9,778:00K ($6.5 US Dollars) per month. It further concluded that there is zero emission of Co2 and other green house gasses using the Flywheel energy generating system and also it is the most efficient option. The work recommended that: for federal government of Nigeria to realize her vision/policy on climate change and SDG 2030: the Federal Housing Authority should promulgate a law for the provision of power supply in any building meant for rent age to reduce over-reliance on national grid, and the said regulatory council should implement the collection of appropriate tariffs using off-grid power supply in collaboration with other organizations in the renewable energy field.

Hybrid renewable energy systems (HRESs), mixing conventional and renewable power sources and occasionally storage units, have become the norm regarding electricity generation. Robust long-term planning of such systems requires stakeholders to test different layouts and system configurations, while their operational management relies on forecasting surpluses and deficits to achieve optimal decision making. However, both tasks, which in fact constitute a flow allocation problem across power networks, are subject to multiple peculiarities, arising from the nonlinear dynamics of the underlying processes, subject to numerous technical and operational constraints. Interestingly, a mutual problem emerges in water resource systems, also comprising network-type storage, abstraction and conveyance components. In this vein, triggered from well-established simulation approaches from the water domain, we introduce a generic (i.e., topology-free) and time-agnostic framework, the key methodological elements of which are: (a) the graph-based representation of the power fluxes; (b) the effective handling of energy uses and constraints through virtual nodes and edges; (c) the implementation of priorities via proper assignment of virtual costs across all graph components; and (d) the configuration of the overall problem as a network linear programming context, which allows the use of exceptionally fast solvers. Specific adjustments are required to address highly complex issues within HRESs, particularly the representation of conventional thermal and pumped-storage hydropower units, as well as the power losses across transmission lines. The modeling approach is stress-tested by means of configuring a hypothetical HRES in a non-interconnected Aegean island, i.e., Sifnos, Greece.

Abstract— The growing need for sustainable and efficient delivery drone operations calls for advanced energy management solutions. This system leverages solar and wind renewable energy to power docking stations, creating a reliable and eco-friendly charging infrastructure. To ensure uninterrupted power, dual high-capacity batteries store surplus energy, providing a buffer during periods of low renewable generation. At the heart of the system is an AI-driven discharge optimization mechanism that intelligently manages battery usage based on real-time demand forecasts and environmental conditions. By balancing charging and discharging cycles across the two batteries, the AI extends battery life, boosts system reliability, and maintains consistent energy availability for drone operations. This intelligent control reduces maintenance costs while improving overall efficiency. In essence, this hybrid renewable energy solution with AI-based battery management delivers a resilient, sustainable, and future-ready charging network for drone delivery systems. It demonstrates how combining renewable resources with advanced AI can transform autonomous logistics, enabling greener and more reliable urban delivery. Keywords—Artificial Intelligence, Hybrid Energy System, Wind-Solar Power, Smart Charging Dock, Autonomous Delivery Drones, Renewable Energy Integration, Energy Optimization, Sustainable Logistics, Adaptive Control System.

ABSTRACT Sustainable management of renewable resources is essential for ensuring ecological balance and long‐term sustainability in sectors such as forestry, fisheries, and water management. Awareness programmes serve as an important mechanism for emphasizing the need for sustainable management practices and for inducing behavioral changes in the population regarding the utilization of renewable resources. In this study, we formulate and analyze a nonlinear mathematical model to investigate how awareness programmes influence the sustainable use of renewable resources. The analysis includes equilibrium and stability analyses, as well as the impact of time delay in implementing awareness programmes. We also explore the possibility of Hopf bifurcation with time delay as the bifurcation parameter, leading to persistent oscillations in resource density and other state variables. Numerical simulations validate these dynamics, highlighting that timely awareness programmes are crucial for stabilizing resource levels. Our findings emphasize the importance of minimizing funding delays and narrowing the gap between the resource consumption rates by aware and unaware human populations for long‐term sustainability.

Residual lignin generated by pulp, paper, and biorefining industries is commonly burned for energy, despite its potential as a renewable source of aromatic compounds. Studies focusing on microbial lignin degradation contribute to lignin valorization and represent a sustainable strategy to enhance biomass circularity. Here, we report the isolation of Klebsiella sp. IL2_9 from a ruminal consortium and demonstrate its ability to degrade and metabolize organosolv lignin. After 24 h of cultivation, the strain removed 22% of the initial lignin content. FTIR analysis revealed alterations in functional groups associated with guaiacyl and syringyl units, indicating structural modification of the polymer. GC-MS analyses further showed the consumption of lignin-derived aromatics, including vanillin, 2-aminobenzoic acid, and 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, along with the formation of vanillyl alcohol and phenyllactic acid derivatives. Overall, these findings highlight the potential of Klebsiella sp. IL2_9 as a promising biotechnological candidate for lignin valorization under anaerobic conditions.

The use of renewable energy sources on board ships is one solution to reduce pollution from maritime transport. Considering it one of the many solutions for the transition to "zero" emission ships, we studied the possibility of installing a new type of power plant on ships already in operation that uses solar/photovoltaic and wind energy conversion systems. The current electricity production system is transformed into a hybrid system, and by improving the available electrical power management algorithms, clean energy consumption will be prioritized. Monitoring daily electricity consumption and recording values for renewable energy source parameters during ship periods and voyages enabled calculations to determine the potential for electricity production from renewable sources and demonstrated the viability of the chosen solution. The results obtained highlight that installing the ecological marine power plant (ENPP) can achieve significant reductions in fuel consumption for producing electricity on board the ship.

Isobutane is a key feedstock for alkylate production. For separating an equimolar isobutane/n-butane mixture with 2 mol% ethane, two conventional designs are reported in the literature: a single water-cooled condenser (SC) and a dual condenser system with refrigeration (DC). This study proposes two vapor recompression retrofit configurations, SC-VR and SC-PHVR (with preheating), to improve energy efficiency and enable electrification. Economic and environmental performance were evaluated using total annualized cost (TAC) and CO2 emissions. Compared with SC and DC schemes, SC-VR reduces CO2 emissions by 49 and 52%, while SC-PHVR delivers higher reductions of 64 and 66%. A sensitivity analysis of electricity prices across 3-, 5-, and 10-year payback periods indicates the most favorable performance at 10 years. At 16.67 USD/GJ, SC-PHVR lowers TAC by 22 and 25%; in contrast, SC-VR provides marginal savings. At 24.03 USD/GJ, SC-VR is not economically competitive, whereas SC-PHVR continues to outperform the conventional cases, with TAC reductions of 8% and 4%. Both retrofit options significantly reduce emissions, with SC-PHVR offering the best economic performance. Finally, the proposed configurations enable the complete electrification of the de-isobutanizer system, eliminating reliance on fossil-based thermal utilities, which allows the use of renewable sources in line with the decarbonization efforts.

Polylactide (PLA) has become widely adopted across biomedical, packaging, and manufacturing sectors due to its biodegradability and renewable sourcing. However, the rapid growth in PLA consumption has created urgent challenges related to waste management and the cleaning of processing equipment. This study investigates glycolysis as a promising chemical depolymerization pathway for PLA recycling and in situ reactor cleaning. A systematic analysis of four glycolysis agents (GA) (ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, propylene glycol, and glycerol) was performed across molar PLA:GA ratios from 1:0.125 to 1:4 at 220 °C, targeting the efficient conversion of high-molecular-weight PLA (Mn ≈ 165 kDa) into low-molecular-weight oligomers. Gel permeation chromatography (GPC) demonstrated that propylene glycol exhibited the highest depolymerization efficiency, yielding oligomers with Mn as low as 200 g·mol-1 even at minimal glycolysis agent ratios, while glycerol produced hydroxyl-rich oligomers optimal for subsequent lactide synthesis. Hydroxyl value (HV) measurements showed excellent agreement with theoretical values (<5% deviation), allowing us to make an assumption about an approximate, close to near-quantitative con-version. Glycolysis products with Mw below 400 g·mol-1 displayed excellent water solubility, making them particularly attractive for reactor cleaning applications. Using glycerol-derived (GL) oligomers (PLA:GL = 1:0.25), purified L-lactide with a melting point of 98.1 °C and high purity (>99%) was obtained through thermocatalytic depolymerization and five recrystallization cycles, as confirmed by 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analyses. The recovered lactide's high purity renders it suitable for ring-opening polymerization, enabling closed-loop PLA recycling schemes. Overall, glycolysis emerges as a highly promising chemical recycling route complementary to hydrolysis and pyrolysis: propylene glycol maximizes depolymerization efficiency for cleaning applications, while glycerol optimizes oligomer functionality for lactide recovery and advanced material synthesis. Our results provide practical guidelines for selecting glycolysis agents and conditions for cleaning and recycling applications.