Previous Issue
Volume 6, June
 
 

Sustain. Chem., Volume 6, Issue 3 (September 2025) – 7 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:
43 pages, 13206 KB  
Review
Cerium-Doped Strontium Ferrate Perovskite Oxides: Sustainable Materials to Face Energy and Environmental Challenges
by Maria Laura Tummino, Francesca Deganello and Vittorio Boffa
Sustain. Chem. 2025, 6(3), 24; https://doi.org/10.3390/suschem6030024 - 20 Aug 2025
Viewed by 524
Abstract
Facing energy and environmental issues is recognized globally as one of the major challenges for sustainable development, to which sustainable chemistry can make significant contributions. Strontium ferrate-based materials belong to a little-known class of perovskite-type compounds in which iron is primarily stabilized in [...] Read more.
Facing energy and environmental issues is recognized globally as one of the major challenges for sustainable development, to which sustainable chemistry can make significant contributions. Strontium ferrate-based materials belong to a little-known class of perovskite-type compounds in which iron is primarily stabilized in the unusual 4+ oxidation state, although some Fe3+ is often present, depending on the synthesis and processing conditions and the type and amount of dopant. When doped with cerium at the Sr site, the SrFeO3−δ cubic structure is stabilized, more oxygen vacancies form and the Fe4+/Fe3+ redox couple plays a key role in its functional properties. Alone or combined with other materials, Ce-doped strontium ferrates can be successfully applied to wastewater treatment. Specific doping at the Fe site enhances their electronic conductivity for use as electrodes in solid oxide fuel cells and electrolyzers. Their oxygen storage capacity and oxygen mobility are also exploited in chemical looping reactions. The main limitations of these materials are SrCO3 formation, especially at the surface; their low surface area and porosity; and cation leaching at acidic pH values. However, these limitations can be partially addressed through careful selection of synthesis, processing and testing conditions. This review highlights the high versatility and efficiency of cerium-doped strontium ferrates for energy and environmental applications, both at low and high temperatures. The main literature on these compounds is reviewed to highlight the impact of their key properties and synthesis and processing parameters on their applicability as sustainable thermocatalysts, electrocatalysts, oxygen carriers and sensors. Full article
Show Figures

Graphical abstract

50 pages, 1224 KB  
Review
Natural Dyes and Pigments: Sustainable Applications and Future Scope
by Arvind Negi
Sustain. Chem. 2025, 6(3), 23; https://doi.org/10.3390/suschem6030023 - 8 Aug 2025
Viewed by 1072
Abstract
Natural dyes and pigments are gaining importance as a sustainable alternative to synthetic dyes. Sourced from renewable materials, they are known for their biodegradable and non-toxic properties, offering a diverse range of color profiles and applications across industries such as textiles, cosmetics, food, [...] Read more.
Natural dyes and pigments are gaining importance as a sustainable alternative to synthetic dyes. Sourced from renewable materials, they are known for their biodegradable and non-toxic properties, offering a diverse range of color profiles and applications across industries such as textiles, cosmetics, food, and pharmaceuticals. This manuscript discusses various aspects of natural dyes and pigments (derived from plants and microbes), including anthocyanins, flavonoids, carotenoids, lactones, and chlorophyll. Furthermore, it highlights the polyphenolic nature of these compounds, which is responsible for their antioxidant activity and contributes to their anticancer, antibacterial, antifungal, antiprotozoal, and immunomodulatory effects. However, natural dyes are often categorized as pigments rather than dyes due to their limited solubility, a consequence of their molecular characteristics. Consequently, this manuscript provides a detailed discussion of key structural challenges associated with natural dyes and pigments, including thermal decomposition, photodegradation, photoisomerization, cross-reactivity, and pH sensitivity. Due to these limitations, natural dyes are currently used in relatively limited applications, primarily in the food industry, and, to lesser extent, in textiles and coatings. Nevertheless, with ongoing research and technological innovations, natural dyes present a viable alternative to synthetic dyes, promoting a more sustainable and environmentally conscious future. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

22 pages, 1368 KB  
Article
Liquid-Phase Hydrogenation over a Cu/SiO2 Catalyst of 5-hydroximethylfurfural to 2,5-bis(hydroxymethyl)furan Used in Sustainable Production of Biopolymers: Kinetic Modeling
by Juan Zelin, Hernán Antonio Duarte, Alberto Julio Marchi and Camilo Ignacio Meyer
Sustain. Chem. 2025, 6(3), 22; https://doi.org/10.3390/suschem6030022 - 6 Aug 2025
Viewed by 387
Abstract
2,5-bis(hydroxymethy)lfuran (BHMF), a renewable compound with extensive industrial applications, can be obtained by selective hydrogenation of the C=O group of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), a platform molecule derived from lignocellulosic biomass. In this work, we perform kinetic modeling of the selective liquid-phase hydrogenation of HMF [...] Read more.
2,5-bis(hydroxymethy)lfuran (BHMF), a renewable compound with extensive industrial applications, can be obtained by selective hydrogenation of the C=O group of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), a platform molecule derived from lignocellulosic biomass. In this work, we perform kinetic modeling of the selective liquid-phase hydrogenation of HMF to BHMF over a Cu/SiO2 catalyst prepared by precipitation–deposition (PD) at a constant pH. Physicochemical characterization, using different techniques, confirms that the Cu/SiO2–PD catalyst is formed by copper metallic nanoparticles of 3–5 nm in size highly dispersed on the SiO2 surface. Before the kinetic study, the Cu/SiO2-PD catalyst was evaluated in three solvents: tetrahydrofuran (THF), 2-propanol (2-POH), and water. The pattern of catalytic activity and BHMF yield for the different solvents was THF > 2-POH > H2O. In addition, selectivity to BHF was the highest in THF. Thus, THF was chosen for further kinetic study. Several experiments were carried out by varying the initial HMF concentration (C0HMF) between 0.02 and 0.26 M and the hydrogen pressure (PH2) between 200 and 1500 kPa. In all experiments, BHMF selectivity was 97–99%. By pseudo-homogeneous modeling, an apparent reaction order with respect to HFM close to 1 was estimated for a C0HMF between 0.02 M and 0.065 M, while when higher than 0.065 M, the apparent reaction order changed to 0. The apparent reaction order with respect to H2 was nearly 0 when C0HMF = 0.13 M, while for C0HMF = 0.04 M, it was close to 1. The reaction orders estimated suggest that HMF is strongly absorbed on the catalyst surface, and thus total active site coverage is reached when the C0HMF is higher than 0.065 M. Several Langmuir–Hinshelwood–Hougen–Watson (LHHW) kinetic models were proposed, tested against experimental data, and statistically compared. The best fitting of the experimental data was obtained with an LHHW model that considered non-competitive H2 and HMF chemisorption and strong chemisorption of reactant and product molecules on copper metallic active sites. This model predicts both the catalytic performance of Cu/SiO2-PD and its deactivation during liquid-phase HMF hydrogenation. Full article
Show Figures

Graphical abstract

11 pages, 2295 KB  
Article
Toward Green Substitutes: Electrochemical Properties of Conductive Inks Containing Biochar
by Gordana Stevanović, Jovan Parlić, Marija Ajduković, Nataša Jović-Jovičić, Vojkan Radonjić and Zorica Mojović
Sustain. Chem. 2025, 6(3), 21; https://doi.org/10.3390/suschem6030021 - 31 Jul 2025
Viewed by 270
Abstract
Dry Turkish oak (Quercus cerris) sawdust, untreated and treated with three activators, (H3PO4, NaOH and H2O2) was pyrolyzed under limited-oxygen conditions to obtain biochar samples. The electrochemical properties of these samples were tested [...] Read more.
Dry Turkish oak (Quercus cerris) sawdust, untreated and treated with three activators, (H3PO4, NaOH and H2O2) was pyrolyzed under limited-oxygen conditions to obtain biochar samples. The electrochemical properties of these samples were tested and compared to the properties of several commercial carbon blacks. The electrochemical characterization was performed via cyclic voltammetry, analyzing the response toward two commonly used redox probes, [Fe(CN)6]3−/−4− and [Ru(NH3)6]2+/3+. The influence of the scan rate on this response was investigated, and the resulting data were used to obtain the values of the heterogenous charge transfer constant, k0. Higher k0 values were observed for carbon blacks than for investigated biochar samples. The detection of 4-nitrophenol and heavy metal ions was used to assess the applicability of biochars for electroanalytical purposes. The response of untreated biochar was comparable with the response of Vulcan carbon black, which showed the best response of all analyzed carbon blacks. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 7078 KB  
Article
Synthesis and Catalytic Performance of Cotton-Derived Mn–Ce and Mn–Co–Ce Biomorphic Fibers for Soot Combustion and CO Oxidation
by Nicolás Sacco, Ezequiel Banús, Juan P. Bortolozzi, Sabrina Leonardi, Eduardo Miró and Viviana Milt
Sustain. Chem. 2025, 6(3), 20; https://doi.org/10.3390/suschem6030020 - 16 Jul 2025
Viewed by 977
Abstract
Biomorphic mineralization was employed to synthesize novel Mn–Ce and Mn–Co–Ce oxide fibers using commercial cotton as a biotemplate, aiming to assess their catalytic performance in diesel soot combustion and CO oxidation. Two synthesis protocols—one with and one without citric acid—were investigated. The inclusion [...] Read more.
Biomorphic mineralization was employed to synthesize novel Mn–Ce and Mn–Co–Ce oxide fibers using commercial cotton as a biotemplate, aiming to assess their catalytic performance in diesel soot combustion and CO oxidation. Two synthesis protocols—one with and one without citric acid—were investigated. The inclusion of citric acid led to fibers with more uniform morphology, attributed to improved precursor distribution, although synthesis yields decreased for Co-containing systems. In soot combustion tests, Mn–Ce catalysts synthesized with citric acid outperformed their monometallic counterparts. While cobalt incorporation enhanced the mechanical robustness of the fibers, it did not significantly boost catalytic activity. Selected formulations were also evaluated for CO oxidation, with Mn–Co–Ce fibers achieving T50 values in the 240–290 °C range, comparable to Co–Ce nanofibers reported in the literature. These results demonstrate that biomorphic fibers produced through a simple and sustainable route can offer competitive performance in soot and CO oxidation applications. Full article
Show Figures

Graphical abstract

23 pages, 1593 KB  
Review
Thermal Modification of Wood—A Review
by Veronika Jančíková and Michal Jablonský
Sustain. Chem. 2025, 6(3), 19; https://doi.org/10.3390/suschem6030019 - 11 Jul 2025
Viewed by 1445
Abstract
The thermal modification of wood has emerged as a sustainable and effective method for enhancing the physical, chemical, and mechanical properties of wood without the use of harmful chemicals. This review summarizes the current state-of-the-art in thermal wood modification, focusing on the mechanisms [...] Read more.
The thermal modification of wood has emerged as a sustainable and effective method for enhancing the physical, chemical, and mechanical properties of wood without the use of harmful chemicals. This review summarizes the current state-of-the-art in thermal wood modification, focusing on the mechanisms of wood degradation during treatment and the resulting changes in the properties of the material. The benefits of thermal modification of wood include improved dimensional stability, increased resistance to biological decay, and improved durability, while potential risks such as reduced mechanical strength, color change, and higher costs of wood under certain conditions are also discussed. The review highlights recent advances in process optimization and evaluates the trade-offs between improved performance and possible structural drawbacks. Finally, future perspectives are outlined for sustainable applications of thermally modified wood in various industries. Emerging trends and future research directions in the field are identified, aiming to improve the performance and sustainability of thermally modified wood products in construction, furniture, and other industries. Full article
Show Figures

Graphical abstract

21 pages, 3488 KB  
Article
Sample Origin Effect on Chemical Reactivity of Tajogaite Volcanic Ashes for Ancient Mortar Repair
by Imren Basar, David Torrens-Martín, Lucía Fernández-Carrasco, Cristhian Caiza, Joan Martínez-Bofill and Marcel Hürlimann
Sustain. Chem. 2025, 6(3), 18; https://doi.org/10.3390/suschem6030018 - 24 Jun 2025
Viewed by 808
Abstract
Volcanic ashes (VA) ejected by the Tajogaite Volcano were studied to determine their potential as pozzolanic materials for construction applications. A representative number of VA samples (15 in total) were collected from different geolocations and altitudes during and immediately after the volcanic eruption, [...] Read more.
Volcanic ashes (VA) ejected by the Tajogaite Volcano were studied to determine their potential as pozzolanic materials for construction applications. A representative number of VA samples (15 in total) were collected from different geolocations and altitudes during and immediately after the volcanic eruption, in order to assess their reactivity as a function of position and environmental exposure. Various analytical techniques—XRD, FTIR, and SEM/EDX—were used to determine the initial microstructural composition of the VA samples. Additionally, saturated lime testing and the Frattini test were performed to evaluate their pozzolanic reactivity for use in historical mortars. The microstructural analyses revealed that the dominant mineral phases are aluminosilicates. The reactivity tests confirmed a good pozzolanic response, with the formation of C-A-S-H gels identified as the main hydration products at the studied curing times. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

Previous Issue
Back to TopTop