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Green Chemistry in China: Advancing Sustainable Science for a Better World, 2nd Edition

A Special Issue of Molecules (ISSN 1420-3049) belonging to the section "Green Chemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2026 | Viewed by 1641

Editors

School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300354, China
Interests: environmental chemistry; atmospheric VOCs management; agricultural soil remediation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

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Guest Editor
School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300354, China
Interests: environmental chemistry; environmental engineering; water pollution control
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In the face of escalating global challenges—such as resource depletion, environmental degradation, and climate change—green chemistry emerges as a transformative discipline dedicated to designing efficient, clean, and low-carbon technologies. China has rapidly ascended as a powerhouse in this field, pioneering innovations that align economic growth with ecological sustainability. The nation’s scientific community has made significant strides in developing technologies that minimize hazardous substances, utilize renewable resources, and enhance energy efficiency. To spotlight these critical advancements, we announce the launch of the Special Issue “Green Chemistry in China” which will serve as a premier platform for disseminating cutting-edge research addressing the urgent need for sustainable chemical processes and environmental protection.

Presenting a very broad scope, this Special Issue welcomes papers covering but not limited to the following technologies and green applications: sustainable catalysis (such as synthetic biology approaches, enzyme/biocatalysis, normal temperature catalysis, biomimetic catalysis, and photocatalysis); green processes (such as solvent-free reactions, process intensification, or atomic active site catalysis); green energy and materials; the degradation of micropollutants; and green remediation processes for soil, water, and air treatment.

This Special Issue will focus on the latest excellent academic achievements in green chemistry in China and will provide a collection of papers as a reference tool for researchers, especially those working in the fields of biotechnology, catalysis, environmental science, carbon neutrality, green energy and materials, and agriculture.

We are looking forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Hui Ding
Prof. Dr. Sihui Zhan
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Molecules is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • sustainable catalysis
  • green processes
  • green energy
  • green materials
  • green remediation processes
  • environmental catalysis
  • degradation of micropollutants
  • synthetic biology approaches
  • enzyme
  • biocatalysis
  • normal temperature catalysis
  • biomimetic catalysis
  • photocatalysis
  • solvent-free reactions
  • process intensification
  • atomic active site catalysis
  • biotechnology
  • carbon neutrality

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

12 pages, 10299 KB  
Article
Dual-Functional Carbon Residue Derived from Co-Pyrolysis of Iron Sludge and Biochar for Synergistic Adsorption and Catalytic Oxidation
by Zhipeng Li, Gangzheng Sun, Hao Zhang, Yiwei Xiang, Weikun Zhang, Guoying Pang, Siyu Wei, Nanxiang Deng and Tan Meng
Molecules 2026, 31(13), 2374; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules31132374 - 6 Jul 2026
Viewed by 400
Abstract
The persistence of refractory organic pollutants (e.g., antibiotics) in aquatic environments necessitates efficient and sustainable remediation strategies. In this study, a circular economy approach was adopted to convert iron sludge into a value-added carbon residue (CR) composite via one-step co-pyrolysis. The resulting material [...] Read more.
The persistence of refractory organic pollutants (e.g., antibiotics) in aquatic environments necessitates efficient and sustainable remediation strategies. In this study, a circular economy approach was adopted to convert iron sludge into a value-added carbon residue (CR) composite via one-step co-pyrolysis. The resulting material was designed as dual-functional, enabling synergistic pollutant removal through adsorption and catalytic oxidation. Experimental results demonstrated that the CR composite effectively adsorbed and degraded organic pollutants. The primary adsorption sites were attributed to surface functional groups, porous structure, and electrostatic interactions. Meanwhile, iron species, surface functional groups, and persistent free radicals facilitated the generation of singlet oxygen (1O2) and hydroxyl radicals (·OH), which in turn promoted pollutant degradation. The CR/PDS system exhibited excellent performance in real wastewater remediation, which was attributed to the high interference resistance of 1O2. Furthermore, the application of CR did not pose any significant environmental risk in aqueous solutions. Taken together, these findings present a novel material for pollutant removal and provide a cost-effective strategy for the valorization of waste iron sludge. Full article
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17 pages, 2123 KB  
Article
Sustainable Polyurea Greases Based on Epoxidized Soybean Oil: Influence of Ureido Structure on Performance
by Yifan Chen, Xiaoling Yao, Hongjiang Yu and Gaobo Lou
Molecules 2026, 31(9), 1484; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules31091484 - 29 Apr 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 860
Abstract
In this study, sustainable polyurea greases were prepared using epoxidized soybean oil (ESO) as bio-based base oil, with octadecylamine (ODA) reacted with three diisocyanates: 4,4′-diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI), 1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI), and toluene diisocyanate (TDI). The diisocyanate structure dominated the thickener microstructure: MDI-ODA formed [...] Read more.
In this study, sustainable polyurea greases were prepared using epoxidized soybean oil (ESO) as bio-based base oil, with octadecylamine (ODA) reacted with three diisocyanates: 4,4′-diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI), 1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI), and toluene diisocyanate (TDI). The diisocyanate structure dominated the thickener microstructure: MDI-ODA formed a compact short-rod fibrillar network with strong hydrogen bonding and π–π stacking, endowing the grease with the highest consistency (256), dropping point (262 °C), lowest oil separation (2.7%), and optimal thermal stability (T5% = 278 °C). HDI-ODA showed a lamellar structure with moderate performance, while TDI-ODA presented a loose porous network. Rheological tests confirmed MDI-ODA/ESO possessed the highest yield stress and structural recovery (79.5%). Tribological tests showed MDI-ODA/ESO delivered the lowest friction coefficient and wear scar diameter. Compared with non-epoxidized soybean oil (SO), ESO significantly enhanced grease performance. This improvement is attributed to the ring-opening reaction between the N–H of the ureido group and the epoxy groups of ESO, which improves thickener–oil compatibility. In addition, the polar epoxy groups promote the formation of stable lubricating films. This work verifies that diisocyanate structure and base oil epoxidation are critical for high-performance sustainable polyurea greases. Full article
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