Sustainable Chemistry

31 pages, 6343 KiB

Open AccessReview

Envisioning a BHET Economy: Adding Value to PET Waste

by Clarissa C. Westover and Timothy E. Long

Sustain. Chem. 2023, 4(4), 363-393; https://doi.org/10.3390/suschem4040025 - 18 Dec 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2788

Poly(ethylene terephthalate), the fifth most produced polymer, generates significant waste annually. This increased waste production has spurred interest in chemical and mechanical pathways for recycling. The shift from laboratory settings to larger-scale implementation creates opportunities to explore the value and recovery of recycling [...] Read more.

Poly(ethylene terephthalate), the fifth most produced polymer, generates significant waste annually. This increased waste production has spurred interest in chemical and mechanical pathways for recycling. The shift from laboratory settings to larger-scale implementation creates opportunities to explore the value and recovery of recycling products. Derived from the glycolysis of PET, bis(2-hydroxyethyl) terephthalate (BHET) exhibits versatility as a depolymerization product and valuable monomer. BHET exhibits versatility and finds application across diverse industries such as resins, coatings, foams, and tissue scaffolds. Incorporating BHET, which is a chemical recycling product, supports higher recycling rates and contributes to a more sustainable approach to generating materials. This review illuminates the opportunities for BHET as a valuable feedstock for a more circular polymer materials economy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Green and Sustainable Chemistry)

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24 pages, 3893 KiB

Open AccessReview

Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFASs) Detection Via Carbon Dots: A Review

by Ricardo M. S. Sendão, Joaquim C. G. Esteves da Silva and Luís Pinto da Silva

Sustain. Chem. 2023, 4(4), 339-362; https://doi.org/10.3390/suschem4040024 - 15 Dec 2023

Viewed by 1180

Abstract

PFASs are a class of highly persistent chemicals that are slowly infiltrating soils and waterways. Thus, there is a great need for fast, sensitive, and reliable techniques to detect PFASs. Conventional methods, such as LC-MS/SPE, allow high sensitivities. However, such methods can be [...] Read more.

PFASs are a class of highly persistent chemicals that are slowly infiltrating soils and waterways. Thus, there is a great need for fast, sensitive, and reliable techniques to detect PFASs. Conventional methods, such as LC-MS/SPE, allow high sensitivities. However, such methods can be complex and expensive. Considering this, it is not surprising that the scientific community has turned their attention to the search for alternatives. New types of PFAS sensors have been reported over the years, being generally part of three classes: optical, electrochemical, or hybrid sensors. Carbon dots (CDs) are new alternative fluorescent sensors that can present great affinity towards PFASs, while allowing for a fast response and promising sensitivity and selectivity. Furthermore, CDs have more attractive properties than traditional fluorophores and even metal-based nanomaterials that make them better candidates for sensing applications. Thus, CDs display great potential for permitting a fast and accurate quantification of PFASs. This review aims to serve as a basis for the future development and optimization of CD-based fluorescent sensors for PFASs. Full article

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18 pages, 7761 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Saccharide-Derived Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles with High Photocatalytic Activity for Water Decontamination and Sanitation

by Kazi Afroza Sultana, Javier Hernandez Ortega, Md Tariqul Islam, Zayra N. Dorado, Bonifacio Alvarado-Tenorio, Ignacio Rene Galindo-Esquivel and Juan C. Noveron

Sustain. Chem. 2023, 4(4), 321-338; https://doi.org/10.3390/suschem4040023 - 3 Nov 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1401

Abstract

Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) with a high photocatalytic performance were prepared by using the aerobic combustion of saccharides such as glucose, fructose, dextrin, and starch with zinc nitrate. The ZnO NPs were characterized by using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy [...] Read more.

Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) with a high photocatalytic performance were prepared by using the aerobic combustion of saccharides such as glucose, fructose, dextrin, and starch with zinc nitrate. The ZnO NPs were characterized by using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray scattering spectroscopy (EDX), X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), and UV-vis spectroscopy. The TEM images revealed that the ZnO NPs have sizes ranging from ~20 to 35 nm with a bandgap of ~3.32 eV. The XRPD pattern revealed the hexagonal wurtzite crystalline structure of the ZnO NPs. The photocatalytic properties of the ZnO NPs were studied by the photocatalytic degradation of methyl orange (MO) in deionized water (DIW) and simulated fresh drinking water (FDW) under ultraviolet light (UV-B) and sunlight illumination. The terephthalic acid photoluminescence technique was also used to study the generation of a hydroxyl radical (•OH) by ZnO NPs. The saccharide-derived ZnO NPs exhibited higher photocatalytic activity than the nonsaccharide-derived ZnO NPs. Varying the type of saccharides used during the calcination had some effect on the degree of the catalytic enhancement. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Efficient and Ecofriendly Chemical Synthesis of Advanced Materials for Energy and Environment)

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Sustain. Chem., Volume 4, Issue 4 (December 2023) – 3 articles

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