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Nanomaterials for Catalytic Upcycling/Conversion of Plastics/Biomass
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Nanomaterials for Catalytic Upcycling/Conversion of Plastics/Biomass

A special issue of Molecules (ISSN 1420-3049). This special issue belongs to the section "Nanochemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 December 2025 | Viewed by 2843

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Lei Huang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Research Center of Nano Science and Technology, College of Sciences, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China
Interests: catalytic oxidation; oxi-upcycling of plastics; photodeposition
Prof. Dr. Xiang Wang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, School of Chemical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China
Interests: catalyst development; heterogeneous catalytic reaction processes; in situ characterization; catalyst industrialization
Prof. Dr. Zhili Li

E-Mail Website1 Website2
Guest Editor
School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
Interests: micro-nano materials; biomass-based functional materials; molecular structure characterization; biomass polymer composite

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Given the immense pressure from carbon dioxide emissions and the enormous demand for resources and energy, converting biomass and waste plastics into high-value chemicals such as fuels and other chemicals is of great significance for reducing carbon emissions, optimizing carbon resource cycling, and promoting sustainable development. Nanomaterials play a crucial role in the catalytic conversion of biomass and plastics, and the design of efficient catalysts is key to achieving highly efficient and highly selective conversions. This has attracted widespread attention in academia and has led to significant progress.

This Special Issue aims to provide a broad survey of the most recent advances in the developed nanomaterials for catalytic upcycling/conversion of plastics/biomass. Original research articles or reviews that discuss the design and fabrication of effective catalysts for the conversion of plastics/biomass, the process research, the structure-activity effect, the mechanism in catalysis, and the applications of products in different fields are welcome.

Dr. Lei Huang
Prof. Dr. Xiang Wang
Prof. Dr. Zhili Li
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

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-blind 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

  • plastic waste
  • upcycling
  • conversion
  • biomass conversion
  • biomass upgrading
  • lignin depolymerization
  • nanocatalysis
  • thermal catalysis

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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18 pages, 3880 KiB  
Article
Sustainable Synthesis of Adipic Acid via MnOx-Catalyzed Electrooxidation of Cyclohexanol in Neutral Electrolyte
by Jiaming Shi, Guiling Zhang, Shiying Yang, Dan Yang, Yuguang Jin, Xiaoyue Wan, Yihu Dai, Yanhui Yang and Chunmei Zhou
Molecules 2025, 30(14), 2937; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30142937 - 11 Jul 2025
Viewed by 331
Abstract
Adipic acid (AA), a pivotal precursor for nylon-6,6 and polyurethane, was synthesized via an innovative catalytic electrocatalytic oxidation strategy in this study. Four distinct MnOx/CNT nanocatalysts were prepared by hydrothermal and co-precipitation methods and fabricated into electrodes for the oxidation of [...] Read more.
Adipic acid (AA), a pivotal precursor for nylon-6,6 and polyurethane, was synthesized via an innovative catalytic electrocatalytic oxidation strategy in this study. Four distinct MnOx/CNT nanocatalysts were prepared by hydrothermal and co-precipitation methods and fabricated into electrodes for the oxidation of cyclohexanol (Cy-OH) in a K2SO4 neutral solution. Comprehensive characterization revealed that the catalytic performance depended on both crystalline phase configuration and manganese valence states. MnO(OH) and MnOx were identified as the main active species, with the synergy between MnO species and carbon nanotubes significantly enhancing catalytic activity. Mechanistic investigations demonstrated that under Mn4+-dominant conditions, low-valence manganese species facilitated Cy-OH-to-cyclohexanone (Cy=O) conversion, while an optimal Oads/Olat ratio (≈1) effectively promoted subsequent Cy=O oxidation to AA. Under optimized conditions (1.25 V vs. Ag/AgCl, 80 °C, 15 h), complete Cy-OH conversion was achieved with 56.4% AA yield and exceptional Faradaic efficiency exceeding 94%. This work elucidates manganese-based electrocatalytic oxidation mechanisms, proposes a sequential reaction pathway, and establishes an environmentally benign synthesis protocol for AA, advancing sustainable industrial chemistry. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanomaterials for Catalytic Upcycling/Conversion of Plastics/Biomass)
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Review

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20 pages, 3579 KiB  
Review
Rigid Polyurethane Foam Derived from Renewable Sources: Research Progress, Property Enhancement, and Future Prospects
by Yao Yuan, Qinhe Guo, Lulu Xu and Wei Wang
Molecules 2025, 30(3), 678; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30030678 - 4 Feb 2025
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2173
Abstract
Rigid polyurethane foam (RPUF) is a widely utilized thermosetting polymer across various industrial applications, valued for its exceptional properties. However, the demand for sustainable alternatives to petroleum-based polymers has grown increasingly urgent due to rising environmental concerns. Despite its widespread use, RPUF faces [...] Read more.
Rigid polyurethane foam (RPUF) is a widely utilized thermosetting polymer across various industrial applications, valued for its exceptional properties. However, the demand for sustainable alternatives to petroleum-based polymers has grown increasingly urgent due to rising environmental concerns. Despite its widespread use, RPUF faces challenges such as inadequate mechanical strength, limited thermal stability, and high flammability, all of which are crucial considerations in commercial and household applications. Globally, ongoing efforts are focused on developing innovative technologies that convert renewable sources into new monomers and polymers, some of which could serve as alternatives to traditional RPUFs. Several approaches have been explored to improve the thermal stability, mechanical strength, and flame retardancy of RPUFs, including the modification of bio-based polyols and the incorporation of performance-enhancing fillers. This review emphasizes recent advances in RPUFs derived from natural resources, focusing on their preparation, characterization, and properties, and strategies to enhance the mechanical strength and flame safety of bio-based RPUFs. Additionally, it explores the applications of RPUF materials across various fields, addressing the challenges and potential developments in packaging, household items, construction, and automotive applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanomaterials for Catalytic Upcycling/Conversion of Plastics/Biomass)
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