Renewable Research Articles

Light Cured Bio‐Based Self‐Healing Polyurethane Coating Based on Imine Bond

ABSTRACTAlthough bio‐based polyurethane materials have attracted much attention due to their characteristics such as renewable and long service life conventional polyurethane materials do not have self‐healing properties due to structural limitations, leading to their limited application. Imine bond is a kind of dynamic and reversible covalent bond, which can self‐heal damaged materials under mild conditions. Based on this, this work utilized p‐phthalaldehyde and poly (propylene glycol) bis (2‐aminopropyl ether) to prepare T‐NH monomers containing imine bonds. Subsequently, four kinds of bio‐based polyurethanes containing T‐NH were synthesized from castor oil, epoxy soybean oil, glycerol monostearate, and Sorbitan monooleate under UV conditions. The self‐healing performance of bio‐based polyurethane materials containing imine bonds was evaluated through optical microscopy and mechanical properties. The results showed that the coating had certain self‐healing properties at room temperature, and the self‐healing efficiency of the coating was greatly improved when heated to 50°C. Among them, the polyurethane material prepared from glyceryl monostearate had the best self‐healing ability, with a self‐healing efficiency of 90% and a healing cycle of 4 times. This work not only enhanced the added value of biomass materials but also provided a reference for the preparation of polyurethane materials with self‐healing properties.

Small-Signal Stability Analysis of DC Microgrids

The conventional cascaded control strategies using proportional-integral-derivative controllers often result in high settling times, considerable oscillations, poor voltage regulation, and low bandwidth. This leads to unsatisfactory performance in systems where multiple input variables are each subject to high levels of temporal variability, such as in DC microgrids (MGs) with renewable sources of generation. To overcome these challenges, a new combined control technique including average current mode and PI controllers based on root locus tuning is proposed for DC MGs to maintain small-signal stability. An analytical small-signal equivalent model of DC MG, including the proposed control, is developed to examine the impact of control parameter variations on system dynamics. The stability of the DC MG is assessed to evaluate the effectiveness of the designed controller, while a sensitivity analysis identifies critical parameters affecting system performance. The effectiveness of the proposed control scheme is demonstrated through a comprehensive comparative analysis with a conventional PID controller and a terminal sliding mode controller, which specifically addresses small-signal disturbances. Results demonstrate that the proposed control scheme provides superior robustness against small-signal disturbances, minimises settling time, and eliminates oscillations. Moreover, it offers improved power quality, bandwidth, and voltage regulation compared to conventional methods under both normal operating conditions and in response to small-signal perturbations.

Importance of policy for Energy System Policy Making Transformation using the WSM Method

The process of developing policies and laws that apply to energy the manufacturing, distribution, and consumption phases systems is known as energy system policy-making. Energy policies are important in directing the growth and evolution of energy systems, providing security of supply, promoting sustainability, and helping to mitigate climate change. Energy sector development is critical for societal advancement, economic prosperity, and environmental sustainability. It incorporates a wide range of potential energy sources such as nuclear power, energy from renewable sources, along with fossil fuels (including sunlight, breeze, water, as well as natural gas). To cut greenhouse gas emissions, battle climate change, and achieve an environmentally friendly and less costly energy future, the world must prioritize the transition to a more resilient and sustainable energy system. The formulation of energy system policy involves a variety of stakeholders, including governments, regulatory bodies, energy companies, industry groups, environmental protection organizations, and the general public. These stakeholders collaborate to establish the objectives of energy policy, develop strategies, and implement the plans. energy system policy is critical in combating climate change due to how it encourages the use all energy produced from renewable sources, efforts to improve energy efficiency, and low-carbon technology. in order to attain aggressive emission reduction targets, research in this sector can give knowledge on effective policy formulation, implementation tactics, and evaluation frameworks. as the world progresses approaching an economy with fewer greenhouse gases, it is critical to understand the causes, impediments, and consequences of the shift to cleaner energy. research can assist identify the optimum governance structures, market mechanisms, and regulatory frameworks for facilitating the changeover to renewable energy sources while achieving carbon reduction goals. access to affordable, dependable energy services is essential for socioeconomic development and the eradication of poverty. research has the potential to shed light on the financial plans and legislative frameworks that might increase access to energy, especially in neglected areas, while addressing concerns of poverty and inequality. In order for the energy system to keep up with technological advancement, policy makers must encourage the use of cutting-edge energy technology. research may give decision-makers knowledge about emerging technologies, prospective implications, and the regulatory frameworks necessary to promote their acceptance and integration into the energy system. In this research we will be using weighted sum method. Clean fossil fuel power generation, natural gas combined cycles (ngcc), integrated gasifier combined cycles (igcc), improved transmission and distribution systems, decentralized power-fuel cells, decentralized power-micro-turbines. Evaluation parameters: impact on energy and carbon intensity, impact on security, impact on energy security, status and technological potential, barriers to commercial use. Result: the WSM method of Ranking Energy System Policy Making in Natural Gas Combined Cycles (NGCC) is got the first rank whereas is the Decentralised Power-fuel Cells is having the Lowest rank. The WSM method of Ranking Energy System Policy Making in Natural Gas Combined Cycles (NGCC) is got the first rank whereas is the Decentralised Power-fuel Cells is having the Lowest rank.

A review of appropriate use of agroforestry residues for biogas production and prospects

Making bioenergy from waste or residue is one of the innovative and valuable ways to use renewable resources in addition to wind and solar energy. Many poor countries can benefit from this as they attempt to address the enormous amounts of rubbish left in landfills. This waste could be liquid (oil and wastewater) or solid (food and agricultural and agroforestry wastes). These consist of waste or agroforestry residues, like tree stumps and leftover leaves from timber harvest. Its’ all produced via an agroforestry system. Waste has a detrimental impact on the ecosystem and, consequently, all living organisms. One solution to this waste issue is to use garbage as a resource to produce beneficial products like biogas using compressed bioenergy production equipment. In this work, bibliometric methodologies were employed to assess global research advancements in bioenergy production from garbage through the Scopus database and developments in bioenergy production from waste. This review study assumed that agroforestry waste may be an optimistic substrate for biogas production in developing countries due to its widespread availability. Compressed biogas production, among other alternatives, is a workable solution to the countrys’ current energy issues and is safe for the environment because it emits no pollutants.

Control Of High Gain Converter

Nowadays, because of pollution problems of the conventional energy resources and their unpleasant effects on the earth planet and people life, renewable resources such as photovoltaic(PV) cells and fuel cells are considered to produce electrical energy. These sources directly convert solar energy into electrical energy. Since, the output voltage of PV cells is low; a high gain boost DC-DC converter is needed to increase the low voltage so as to produce high dc output voltage. In this work, a unique high boost DC-DC converter is considered. This converter has higher voltage gain compared to the conventional boost converters. For conventional boost converter, in order to obtain high voltage gain, the extreme duty ratio of its switch is required, which increases the input current ripple greatly. Meanwhile, the power component suffers high voltage stress and work in hard switching condition, bringing about serious conducting losses and reduces the conversion efficiency. The converter used in the present study has network of switched inductor and switched capacitor and can achieve high voltage gain under appropriate duty cycle. Meanwhile, the active switches and diodes suffer from low voltage stress. In this paper, a control scheme is proposed for this non-isolated high step-up dc-dc converter. A closed loop scheme is developed using PI controller. The circuit simulation is done using MATLAB/Simulink. The performance of the high gain converter with PI controller is analyzed and the results are presented.

Microwave Assisted Synthesis of Nickel Sulfide/Iron sulfide (NiS2/Fe7S8) Rods for Oxygen Evolution Reaction

Generation of hydrogen fuel from renewable sources like water via electrolysis is an effective process to produce it. For this process an efficient, inexpensive and durable electrocatalyst is required for splitting of water molecules. Herein, we fabricate a rod shaped Nickel Sulfide/Iron sulfide (NiS2/Fe7S8) electrocatalyst for water splitting reaction by microwave method. NiS2/Fe7S8 exhibits a very low overpotential of 190 mV at a current density of 10 mA/cm2 (η10) and Tafel slope value of 26 mV/dec for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in basic electrolyte. It shows an electrochemical stability of 45 h with low impedance and high electrochemical surface area.

Kinetic Insight into the Formation of Physically Robust Molecular Network in Cellulose Hydrogels.

Sol-gel method unlocks the enormous potential of utilizing abundant and renewable cellulose resources. However, the molecular-level structural evolution during the cellulose gelation process is less well understood, bringing challenges for achieving high performance of cellulose hydrogels by regulating their molecular network. Herein, a fascinating journey is unveiled through time-resolved in situ techniques for the evolution of the hierarchical structure of cellulose from micro to molecular scale during the gelation process. The two-regime gelation mechanism of cellulose is proposed. Unexpectedly, it is discovered that the polarity of anti-solvents could effectively control the gelation kinetics and manipulate the molecular network of cellulose hydrogels. As a result, the performance of cellulose hydrogels can be purposefully customized, which are either robust and elastic, or tough and high-damping. Understanding the gelation mechanism of cellulose and its structural evolution kinetics unlocks the pathways to exceptional performance and multifunctionality, which will foster potential advances in sustainable cellulose-based hydrogels.

Exergy Calculations in Wastewater Systems. Case Study

Faced with geopolitical, socio-economic and environmental pressures, in 21st century is a growing global demand for sustainable, renewable energy systems. These demands also apply to engineering systems and civil engineering structures. The method for analysing the energy balance of a wastewater system is exergy analysis. Exergy analysis is a measure of the efficiency of the system and also a measure of the change in the potential of the system. In this study, the amount of resources required for the wastewater system of the city of Ogre (Ogre region, Latvia) is evaluated through exergy analysis. The Ogre wastewater system is characterised by the reuse of wastewater – heat is recovered from the wastewater. The recovered heat is used to provide heating in the Ogre Central Library (the largest passive public building in Latvia). The study compares two exergy calculations. The first is calculated without a heat recovery system (the authors’ patent), the second with a proprietary heat recovery system. The study shows that the wastewater system has a higher exergetic potential with a higher value if wastewater heat is recovered or used. In addition to the energy saved, carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions are reduced proportionally. The calculations in the study were carried out using the Hellström methodology. The aim of the study is to compare the exergy balance of a wastewater system including heat recovery from wastewater. The main objective of the study is to promote the use of renewable resources in water management facilities, to highlight the importance of exergy calculations and to encourage CO2 footprint reduction activities. Hypothesis: “using renewable resources and exergy method reduces CO2 footprint”.

From Waste to Polyurethanes: Environmental Assessment of Bio-Polyols Based on Used Cooking Oil

Used cooking oil (UCO) is a valuable resource that can be utilized in different ways, from animal feed and biodiesel production to bio-based feedstock for polymeric materials. UCO is a cheap, renewable resource that can be utilized as an input to produce polymer precursors like polyols, the starting material for polyurethane. Due to the fact that the European Union has recognized the bio-based industrial sector as a priority area for sustainability, it is crucial to evaluate the environmental performance of bio-based products. UCO was successfully employed to synthesize bio-polyols that will be used to produce a two-component polyurethane system. Experimental results at the laboratory showed that UCO, a biogenic waste stream, can be successfully used as a renewable feedstock for polyurethane production. The aim of the study was to evaluate the environmental impact of UCO-based bio-polyols developed at the Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry suitable for development of flexible polyurethane foams. The chosen system boundary was cradle-to-(laboratory) gate and the functional unit was 1 kg UCObased bio-polyol. The production system for bio-polyols included feedstock production, required energy, and other chemicals needed for the synthesis process. The LCA model was built according to the ISO 14040/44:2006 series. LCA analysis was performed using SimaPro 9.6 software by Pré Consultants. Potential environmental impacts were assessed according to ReCiPe’s (2016) v1.1 midpoint method and global warming potential (GWP) was assessed using the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), 2021 GWP 100a’ method. Results show that GWP for UCO-based bio-polyols was more than 40 % lower than petrochemical polyols. ReCiPe results indicate that chemicals besides the UCO used in bio-polyol synthesis contribute around 70 % to the environmental impact, electricity consumption 20 % and 10 % contributes waste generated. LCA results can provide guidance on the improvement options of the UCO-based bio-polyol synthesis process. The results show the importance of life cycle assessment integration in the earlystage development of new bio-based precursors and polymers.

Review of Biogas Production and Bio-Methane Potential of Fish Solid Waste and Fish Waste

The growing amounts of fish waste from South Africa’s fishing and aquaculture sectors pose environmental challenges and present opportunities for renewable energy production. South Africa’s current energy mix heavily relies on coal, with renewable sources representing only a fraction of the total supply. The country’s waste management is also constrained by the large volumes of organic waste sent to landfills, increasing greenhouse gas emissions and pollution. The review synthesizes findings from various studies on the anaerobic digestion of fish waste, assessing its feasibility, efficiency, and ecological advantages as an energy source. Fish waste, high in proteins and lipids, shows promise as an effective feedstock for biogas production, particularly when codigested with other organic materials to improve microbial activity and methane output. However, the variability in results across studies highlights the need for standardized methodologies and consistent reporting, as differences in study designs and digestion parameters affect outcomes. Key limitations identified include the heterogeneity in research approaches, inconsistent biogas yield reporting, and a lack of thorough sustainability evaluations, which hinder the generalizability of findings. The review recommends further empirical studies to optimize the anaerobic digestion of fish waste tailored to South Africa’s specific context. The methodological quality of the reviewed studies supports a JBI Grade B recommendation, indicating moderate promise for fish waste as a renewable energy resource. In conclusion, fish waste represents a valuable yet underutilized resource for renewable energy that aligns with South Africa’s energy and waste reduction objectives. Expanding biogas production from fish waste could help decrease reliance on fossil fuels, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and divert organic waste from landfills. Policymakers and energy practitioners are urged to explore fish waste digestion within the renewable energy framework. At the same time, future research should focus on optimizing co-digestion processes and addressing logistical and regulatory challenges. This review lays the groundwork for future research and policy efforts to harness fish waste for sustainable biogas production.

A Hybrid Machine Learning Approach for Real Time Wind Power Prediction for Micro grid Energy Management

Abstract In today’s dynamic energy, it is difficult to predict the accurate forecasting of wind energy generation. In order to accurately estimate wind energy, this study investigates the use of a hybrid machine learning system that combines XG-Boost and Linear Regression. By utilizing past data on temperature, humidity, wind speed and wind direction the hybrid model outperforms separate algorithms in terms of predictions. After a thorough analysis with metrics like mean absolute error (MAE), root mean square error (RMSE) and R2 error, the hybrid algorithm regularly performs better than its competitors in capturing the non-linear and linear interactions present in wind energy systems. The present study advances the methodology for renewable energy forecasting by highlighting the effectiveness of hybrid machine learning approaches in enhancing the accuracy of wind energy predictions. The results highlight the hybrid model's potential to improve wind energy production's efficiency and dependability, supporting sustainable and effective utilization of renewable energy resources. We have employed five machine learning algorithms such as Linear Regression, Random Forest, Support Vector Machine, and XG-Boost and hybrid model for wind energy forecasting.

Decarbonizing Energy Systems: A Review of Green Hydrogen Generation Technologies and Their Socio-Economic Impacts

As the global demand for clean energy intensifies, hydrogen has emerged as a promising energy carrier capable of addressing both environmental concerns and energy security. The transition to a hydrogen economy is gaining momentum worldwide, with green hydrogen production—particularly from biomass—being viewed as a sustainable and scalable solution. Biomass, an abundant, renewable, and carbon-neutral resource, offers significant potential for hydrogen production through thermochemical processes like gasification. Among the various methods, biomass briquettes serve as an efficient feedstock, contributing to improved energy density and reduced emissions. This paper reviews the stage-wise production of hydrogen from biomass, beginning with feedstock preparation and briquetting, followed by gasification, gas cleanup, and hydrogen separation. Gasification converts carbon-rich biomass into syngas, a mixture of hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and other gases. Advances in gasifier design, such as updraft and fixed-bed reactors, have enhanced gas quality while minimizing contaminants like tar and particulate matter. The subsequent gas purification and desulfurization processes are critical to improving hydrogen yield and equipment longevity. Warm gas cleanup (WGCU) technologies and advanced sorbents, including palladium-based materials, are being developed to increase efficiency and reduce costs. Hydrogen is then separated from purified syngas using techniques like membrane separation and pressure swing adsorption. This review highlights the economic and environmental benefits of biomass-derived hydrogen, especially for countries like India that face energy dependency and pollution challenges. Hydrogen can play a transformative role in industrial decarbonization, clean transportation, and renewable energy storage. Moreover, government initiatives such as India’s National Hydrogen Mission underline the growing policy support for green hydrogen development. The integration of biomass gasification into hydrogen production not only reduces greenhouse gas emissions but also enhances energy security and supports sustainable rural development. Thus, green hydrogen production from biomass presents a viable path toward a low-carbon future.

The Potential of Energy Community Development in Latvia through Dynamic Building and Renewable Technology Modeling

As the world faces climate change induced increases of mean average temperature and severe weather events, the transition to renewable energy resources is ever important. The current rate of the transition is shown to be too slow, therefore, a more decentralized approach, for example, energy communities, might accelerate the phase-out of fossil fuels. Thus, the goal of this study is to realize the current state of energy communities, including the technology with the highest potential, and the barriers that are preventing a wider adoption, and to see how renewable technologies and peer-topeer energy trading models can be practically integrated to develop renewable energy communities in Latvia. This is done by placing an emphasis on renewable technologies that support these communities, such as 5th Generation District Heating and Cooling and Distributed Energy Resources, and how these innovations contribute to energy efficiency and carbon reduction. As part of this study, a dynamic multiple building model is developed, through which the integration of the renewable technologies and peerto-peer energy trading schemes are analysed. The study finds that the most significant barriers include regulatory gaps and uncertainties, financial constraints, technical and knowledge limitations, and social resistance, which continue to hinder the widespread integration of energy communities, specifically in Latvia. By examining these barriers and the technological advancements that support decentralized energy and analysing them through the dynamic model, this study highlights the potential and creates opportunities for energy communities to drive the European Union's and the Latvian green energy transition and reduce energy poverty, paving the way for a resilient and sustainable future.

Assessment of Shallow Geothermal Development Potential Based on the Entropy Weight TOPSIS Method—A Case Study of Guizhou Province

Shallow geothermal energy is a renewable and clean resource, yet its potential varies significantly across different regions of China. The disparity in resource conditions, technology development, and the level of regional understanding regarding its potential hinder efficient utilization. This study applies the entropy weight method, combined with the TOPSIS model, to assess the shallow geothermal utilization potential across various regions of the country, with a case study in Guizhou Province employed to evaluate the actual development potential. Additionally, SWOT analysis is employed to assess regional development and provide recommendations for the future growth of shallow geothermal energy in Guizhou. The findings indicate a high potential for shallow geothermal energy in East China, with significant resource potential and conceivable economic benefits in Guizhou Province. This research not only evaluates the development potential for shallow geothermal energy in different regions but also proposes strategic recommendations to enhance its effective development and contribute to the high-quality transformation of the energy industry.

Hydrothermal Humification of Spruce Greenery as an Environmentally Friendly Tool for Production of Synthetic Humic Substances and Evaluation of Reaction Dynamics

Peat is the main raw material for soil enhancers, but it is a slowly renewable fossil resource, and its extraction leads to significant greenhouse gas emissions, primarily in form of CO2 and CH4 with minimal NOx discharge. According to the Latvian State Forest Research Institute "Silava", 70 % of these emissions come from peat used in agriculture, contributing to a total of 1.709 kt CO2 equivalent. A sustainable alternative is spruce (Picea abies L.) greenery, a forestry by-product left behind after log extraction. This underutilized biomass, which can account for up to 50 % of a spruce tree’s dry mass, contains valuable compounds that can be extracted. The remaining material, rich in lignin, cellulose, and hemicellulose, can then be converted into synthetic humic substances through a hydrothermal humification process. This study promotes an end-of-waste approach by applying an innovative hydrothermal humification method to transform low-value forestry residues into synthetic humic substances that replicate the properties of natural peat humic substances for agricultural use. This conversion process generates significantly fewer greenhouse gas emissions than peat extraction and has the advantage of not requiring energy-intensive drying of biomass before synthesis. The findings of this research contribute to the development of high-value bioproducts from forestry residues, supporting circular economy principles within Latvia’s bioeconomy. Results demonstrate that spruce greenery biomass can be effectively converted into synthetic humic substances. The study examines the optimal conditions for hydrothermal humification, synthesis duration, and process temperature, to maximize the yield of synthetic humic acids, fulvic acids, and their low-molecular byproducts. The structural formation dynamics of synthetic humic substances were analyzed using advanced analytical techniques such as FTIR, 13C-CPMAS-NMR, and EPR spectroscopy, while the formation of fulvic acids and by-products were assessed using spectrophotometric methods such as total carbohydrates, total polyphenols, and their corresponding biological activities. This research provides essential insights into hydrothermal humification dynamics for the production of synthetic humic substances, their properties and future synthesis designs.

From Wind to Power: Unlocking Latvia's Renewable Energy Potential for Climate Neutrality

The European Union has set an ambitious goal to achieve climate neutrality by 2050. To meet this target, it is essential to significantly increase renewable energy production. However, electricity generation from renewable energy sources is intermittent, meaning energy can only be produced when the respective resources (e.g., sun, wind, favorable hydrological conditions) are available. This often does not align with the electricity consumption demand curve and to meet the demand, electricity must be generated from fossil energy sources. In Latvia, according to 2024 data, the largest share of electricity is generated by hydropower plants (53 %), followed by thermal generation (29 %), with natural gas accounting for most of this share. Meanwhile, only 4 % of total electricity production comes from wind energy, which is a low figure considering Latvia's geographical conditions and wind energy potential. However, several large-scale wind power projects with a combined capacity of 700 MW are currently in the planning stages. The implementation of all planned projects could make a significant contribution to achieving the EU's climate goals. In the energy sector, meteorological data plays a crucial role in calculating and forecasting the availability of renewable energy resources and energy production potential. To assess electricity generation from planned wind farms, calculations were carried out to determine the potential wind energy available. To estimate wind speed at a height of 185 meters, available wind speed data from ground measurement stations were adjusted using the logarithmic function most frequently employed in literature. The calculations provided an estimate of the potential electricity generation from wind farms, with results visually represented by calendar months. The findings indicate that the total electricity output from wind farms could increase by 2383 GWh/year, allowing decreased use of natural gas during spring and consequently reducing GHG emissions. The data shows that during winter and spring months, the available electricity exceeds the electricity demand. Consequently, it is essential to find solutions to balance electricity consumption and production loads, ensuring the efficient use of valuable renewable electricity. Such solutions include energy storage, for example, battery energy storage systems or converting electricity into other energy carriers, such as hydrogen. Results can further be used to identify the most suitable methods for electricity storage.

Investigating the Influence of Renewable Energy Use and Innovative Investments in the Transportation Sector on Environmental Sustainability—A Nonlinear Assessment

Ecologically sustainable economic development is increasingly recognized as essential to global efforts to improve and protect environmental and socio-economic conditions. The transportation sector is also important regarding the movement of human beings and goods. Fossil fuels are primarily used in transport vehicles and emit carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Hence, innovative investments in the transportation system and the use of renewable energy play a key role in overcoming this lingering problem. This study utilizes nonlinear autoregressive distributed lag (NARDL) methods to uncover key drivers influencing innovative investments in the transportation sector and the impact of renewable energy use on environmental sustainability in France between 1995 and 2020. The results indicate that renewable energy use and transport infrastructure innovations positively and negatively impact environmental sustainability. Both variables have different influences on the dependent variable depending on the economic shock period. Based on the outcomes, this study offers the following significant policy insights: (i) France could invest in innovations in renewable energy sourcing and incentivize switching from combustion engine-based transport systems. (ii) France should commit to the Europe 2020 strategy for green growth to ensure resource efficiency and promote environmental sustainability, which requires a coordinated effort to invest in smart transport systems that leverage technologies like the Internet of Things, artificial intelligence, and big data analytics. (iii) Given that two-thirds of France’s electricity is produced from nuclear sources, the government needs to implement policies in the renewable energy sector to reduce over-reliance on nuclear energy sourcing.

Synthesis of MCM‐41 and SBA‐15 from rice husk silica and their carbon replicas for hydrogen adsorption

AbstractBACKGROUNDRice husk, an abundant agricultural by‐product, presents a promising renewable silicon source for producing carbon‐based materials through sustainable and eco‐friendly approaches. Among emerging clean energy solutions, hydrogen storage remains a critical challenge for the practical deployment of hydrogen energy systems. This study explores the use of rice husk‐derived silica to synthesize mesoporous nanostructured silicon materials and their corresponding carbon replicas. The goal is to develop efficient materials for hydrogen adsorption, with performance surpassing that of other biomass‐derived carbons synthesized under comparable conditions – thereby offering a competitive and sustainable solution for hydrogen storage.RESULTSA cost‐effective, sustainable synthesis route was developed to produce siliceous templates MCM‐41 and SBA‐15 using cetyltrimethylammonium bromide and Pluronic P123 as surfactants. Their carbon replicas – rice husk ash (RHA)‐MCM‐41 and RHA‐SBA‐15 – were fabricated via a nanocasting method employing sucrose as a carbon source. The resulting materials were characterized using X‐ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and nitrogen adsorption–desorption techniques. Notably, the synthesized mesoporous carbons, RHA‐CMK‐3 and RHA‐RMCM‐41, exhibited high surface areas ranging from 800 to 1400 m2g−1 and featured both mesoporous and microporous structures.CONCLUSIONThe synthesized carbon replicas demonstrated significant hydrogen adsorption capabilities. Among them, RHA‐CMK‐3 showed the highest hydrogen storage performance, reaching 3.6 wt% at 196.15 °C and 10 bar. These findings highlight the potential of rice husk‐derived nanostructured carbons as efficient and sustainable materials for hydrogen storage applications. Moreover, the obtained materials exhibit hydrogen adsorption capacities surpassing those of other biomass‐derived carbons synthesized under similar conditions, reinforcing their competitive advantage for energy storage solutions. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI).

Sustainable Fire Retardants for Wood: Bridging the Gap Between Safety and Sustainability

Wood-based products contribute significantly to Latvia's and Estonia's GDPs, playing a crucial role in their economies. Wood is increasingly being promoted as a sustainable alternative in the construction sector as a renewable, easily processable, and high-strength material. However, its inherent flammability presents a major safety concern, necessitating the use of fire-retardant treatments. While effective in enhancing fire resistance, traditional fire-retardant development often poses environmental and human health risks due to their toxic components, less environmental friendliness, potential indoor air quality hazards, and economic infeasibility. With the increasing regulatory restrictions under European Union framework, there is a pressing need to meet the regulatory and market demands for environmentally friendly, efficient, and economically viable fire retardant. This review follows the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analysis) methodology to ensure a systematic and transparent selection of studies related to fire retardant chemicals for wood products. Through PRISMA screening and analysis, this paper provides a comprehensive evaluation of fire-retardant chemicals for wood, assessing their safety, fire performance, and environmental impact through the lens of the Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) framework. The paper critically examines the limitations of conventional fire-retardants, including their toxicological concerns, persistence in the environment, and compliance challenges with EU regulations. The implementation of SSbD principles in fire-retardant design offers a viable pathway towards safer, high-performance, and sustainable solutions. By integrating regulatory compliance with sustainability-driven innovations, this review outlines key considerations for developing new fire-retardants that meet technical, safety and environmental standards. Research gaps, policy challenges, and industrial opportunities are highlighted to facilitate the wider adoption of sustainable fire-retardant solutions for wood applications. Ultimately, this review underscores the critical need for an industry-wide shift toward holistic, sustainable fire-safety strategies, ensuring that wood remains a viable and eco-friendly construction material without compromising fire protection standards.

Screening Life Cycle Assessment of Biobased Vitrimer Component Synthesis

The development of polymers from renewable raw materials while ensuring that the material is recyclable after the end of its life cycle is essential for Europe to achieve the goals set by the Green Deal and to approach climate neutrality in 2050. The goal of the TReResin project is to develop a new type of thermosetting resin with almost 100 % renewable raw material content, which can be recycled by changing the chemical conformation of the polymer due to the thermally reversible reactions of βamino polyesters. Within the project, Aza-Michael components, donor and acceptor, will be synthesized from used cooking oil (UCO). UCO is a waste without nutritional value generated in food processing industries, restaurants, and households. UCO is a combination of triglycerides and free fatty acids that have undergone physicochemical changes during food preparation (high temperature, moisture). Life cycle assessment (LCA) can be helpful early in the development phase, particularly for chemical processes, in identifying hotspots, comparing alternatives, assessing possible environmental implications, selecting production routes, and improving the processes themselves. The aim of the study was to evaluate the environmental impact of UCO-based AzaMichael donors and acceptors developed at the Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry suitable for the development of bio-based vitrimer resins. The synthesis technology currently is at TRL 2. The chosen system boundary was cradle-to-(laboratory) gate, and the functional unit was 10 g UCO-based Aza-Michael donor or acceptor. The production system for Aza-Michael components included feedstock production, required energy, and other chemicals needed for the synthesis process. The LCA model was built according to the ISO 14040/44:2006 series. LCA analysis was performed using SimaPro 9.6 software by Pré Consultants. Potential environmental impacts were assessed according to ReCiPe’s (2016) v1.1 midpoint method, and global warming potential (GWP) was assessed using the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), 2021 GWP 100a’ method. For the first time, the environmental impact of a lab-scale bio-based vitrimer component synthesis is investigated, hot spots are identified, and routes for improvement are explored. Primary data for the life cycle inventory were gathered from the experiments in the laboratory which is an advantage and best-case scenario. However, the LCA also highlighted the challenges of performing LCA on new types of chemical synthesis pathways, as background data availability and quality are limiting.