Previous Issue
Volume 6, March
 
 

Sustain. Chem., Volume 6, Issue 2 (June 2025) – 4 articles

  • Issues are regarded as officially published after their release is announced to the table of contents alert mailing list.
  • You may sign up for e-mail alerts to receive table of contents of newly released issues.
  • PDF is the official format for papers published in both, html and pdf forms. To view the papers in pdf format, click on the "PDF Full-text" link, and use the free Adobe Reader to open them.
Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
14 pages, 1519 KiB  
Article
Antiviral Activity of Rambutan Peel Polyphenols Obtained Using Green Extraction Technology and Solvents
by Christian Hernández-Hernández, Luis E. Estrada-Gil, Sonia A. Lozano-Sepúlveda, Ana M. Rivas-Estilla, Mayela Govea-Salas, Jesús Morlett-Chávez, Cristóbal N. Aguilar and Juan A. Ascacio-Valdés
Sustain. Chem. 2025, 6(2), 14; https://doi.org/10.3390/suschem6020014 - 29 Apr 2025
Viewed by 281
Abstract
Rambutan peel is a great source of bioactive compounds, the same that, over the years, has been extracted using conventional technologies which have been proven to be harmful to the environment and potentially toxic to human beings. This study aimed to extract the [...] Read more.
Rambutan peel is a great source of bioactive compounds, the same that, over the years, has been extracted using conventional technologies which have been proven to be harmful to the environment and potentially toxic to human beings. This study aimed to extract the same compounds using a hybridization of ultrasound/microwave extraction. The results were promising, as a total of 378.48 ± 9.19 mg/g of polyphenols were recovered from this procedure, and the most important molecules (geraniin, corilagin, and ellagic acid) were identified, giving this much more relevance. Furthermore, treatment with rambutan peel extract recovered with green technologies significantly reduced cell viability in HCV-infected liver cells. Notably, higher concentrations (4000 and 5000 ppm) led to more pronounced cell death in huh7 cells. The treatment also led to a significant reduction in viral protein and RNA expression in HCV-infected cells. These findings suggest that rambutan peel extract obtained from the combination of ultrasound and microwave extraction, particularly the ellagitannins present, have potential antiviral properties. Further research is needed to explore its mechanism of action and its potential as a therapeutic agent for Hepatitis C. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

36 pages, 971 KiB  
Review
Physical Pretreatments of Lignocellulosic Biomass for Fermentable Sugar Production
by Damázio Borba Sant’Ana Júnior, Maikon Kelbert, Pedro Henrique Hermes de Araújo and Cristiano José de Andrade
Sustain. Chem. 2025, 6(2), 13; https://doi.org/10.3390/suschem6020013 - 14 Apr 2025
Viewed by 468
Abstract
Physical pretreatments play a crucial role in reducing the recalcitrance of lignocellulosic biomass, facilitating its conversion into fermentable sugars for bioenergy and chemical applications. This study critically reviews physical pretreatment approaches, including mechanical comminution, irradiation (ultrasound, microwave, gamma rays, and electron beam), extrusion, [...] Read more.
Physical pretreatments play a crucial role in reducing the recalcitrance of lignocellulosic biomass, facilitating its conversion into fermentable sugars for bioenergy and chemical applications. This study critically reviews physical pretreatment approaches, including mechanical comminution, irradiation (ultrasound, microwave, gamma rays, and electron beam), extrusion, and pulsed electric field. The discussion covers the mechanisms of action, operational parameters, energy efficiency, scalability challenges, and associated costs. Methods such as ultrasound and microwave induce structural changes that enhance enzymatic accessibility, while extrusion combines thermal and mechanical forces to optimize hydrolysis. Mechanical comminution is most effective during short periods and when combined with other techniques to overcome limitations such as high energy consumption. Innovative approaches, such as pulsed electric fields, show significant potential but face challenges in large-scale implementation. This study provides technical and strategic insights into developing more effective physical pretreatments aligned with economic feasibility and industrial sustainability. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

16 pages, 1536 KiB  
Article
Assessment of Co-Pyrolysis of Polypropylene with Triacylglycerol-Based Waste Biomass to Obtain Sustainable Hydrocarbons
by Isaac de Carvalho Guimarães, Mirele Santana de Sá, Tarcísio Martins and Alberto Wisniewski, Jr.
Sustain. Chem. 2025, 6(2), 12; https://doi.org/10.3390/suschem6020012 - 8 Apr 2025
Viewed by 481
Abstract
Sustainable hydrocarbons are one of the main methods of decreasing the use of fossil fuels and derivatives, contributing to the mitigation of environmental impacts and greenhouse gas emissions. Circular economic concepts focus on reusing waste by converting it into new products, which are [...] Read more.
Sustainable hydrocarbons are one of the main methods of decreasing the use of fossil fuels and derivatives, contributing to the mitigation of environmental impacts and greenhouse gas emissions. Circular economic concepts focus on reusing waste by converting it into new products, which are then input again into industrial production lines, thus decreasing the necessity of fossils. Polypropylene-based plastic waste can be depolymerized into smaller chemical chains, producing a liquid phase rich in hydrocarbons. In the same way, triacylglycerol-based waste biomasses can also be converted into renewable hydrocarbons. Our research studied the co-processing of polypropylene (PP) and cottonseed oil dreg (BASOs) waste from the biodiesel industry using a micropyrolysis system at 550 °C, previously validated to predict the scale-up of the process. PP showed the production of alkanes and alkenes, while BASOs also produced carboxylic acids in addition to the PP products. The main impacts were observed in the conversion yields, reaching the highest values of pyrolytic liquid (64%), gas (14%), and solid product (13%) compared to the co-processing mixture of BASO:PP (1:2). Also, in this mixture, the production of carboxylic acids decreased to the lowest value (~10%), improving the conversion to sustainable hydrocarbons. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

13 pages, 1477 KiB  
Article
Cultivation of Chlorella sp. in a Closed System Using Mining Wastewater and Simulated Flue Gas: Biomass Production and CO2 Fixation Potential
by Thiago J. T. Cruz, Guilherme Q. Calixto, Fabiana R. de A. Câmara, Dárlio I. A. Teixeira, Renata M. Braga and Sibele B. C. Pergher
Sustain. Chem. 2025, 6(2), 11; https://doi.org/10.3390/suschem6020011 - 31 Mar 2025
Viewed by 266
Abstract
Chlorella sp. was cultivated in a closed system using PET bottles (5 L) and with the continuous injection of air and commercial gas (98% CO2) and in simulated conditions (15% CO2, 73% N2, and 12% O2 [...] Read more.
Chlorella sp. was cultivated in a closed system using PET bottles (5 L) and with the continuous injection of air and commercial gas (98% CO2) and in simulated conditions (15% CO2, 73% N2, and 12% O2). The culture medium was prepared using well water and mining wastewater, the cultivation period occurred in a 10-day cycle, and the cell growth curves were evaluated through cell counting using a Neubauer chamber. The cultivation was carried out under the following conditions: temperature at 22 °C to 25 °C; aeration rate with commercial and simulated CO2 gas at 0.01 vvm; and synthetic air containing 0.042% CO2. The dry biomass productivity was 0.81 g·L−1·day−1 and the maximum CO2 fixation rate was 0.90 g·L−1·day−1 when the microalgae were cultivated with a continuous flow of simulated waste gas and a culture medium composed of wastewater. The percentages of macromolecules obtained in the biomass cultivated in wastewater reached 20.95%, 26.48%, and 9.3% for lipids, proteins, and carbohydrates, respectively. Full article
Show Figures

Graphical abstract

Previous Issue
Back to TopTop