Green and Sustainable Chemical Processes

Topic Information

Dear Colleagues,

The way we transform material substances into many different forms has changed over the years and has continued to change since ancient times as a result of ideas, aspirations, ambitions, or simply by chance. At present, cutting-edge solutions are required to meet “Net Zero” targets and/or solutions based on “Industry 4.0” technologies. This topic is open to all. Let’s work together to define and redefine “sustainability” and “green” in chemical and biochemical processing. Subjects of interest include, but are certainly not limited to, the following:

• Advanced manufacturing technologies
• Advanced materials and nanomaterials 
• Bioactive compounds 
• Green solvents 
• Smart sensors
• Biofuels 
• Residue reutilization 
• Waste minimization 
• Simulation and integration
• Carbon footprint and eco-industry 
• Life cycle assessment

Dr. Iuliana Deleanu
Dr. Cristina Busuioc
Topic Editors

Keywords

Participating Journals

Journal Name	Impact Factor	CiteScore	Launched Year	First Decision (median)	APC
Catalysts catalysts	4.0	7.6	2011	16.6 Days	CHF 2200	Submit
ChemEngineering ChemEngineering	3.4	4.9	2017	29.6 Days	CHF 1600	Submit
Chemistry chemistry	2.4	3.9	2019	18.5 Days	CHF 1800	Submit
Materials materials	3.2	6.4	2008	15.2 Days	CHF 2600	Submit
Molecules molecules	4.6	8.6	1996	16.1 Days	CHF 2700	Submit
Processes processes	2.8	5.5	2013	16 Days	CHF 2400	Submit
Sustainability sustainability	3.3	7.7	2009	19.3 Days	CHF 2400	Submit
Clean Technologies cleantechnol	4.7	8.3	2019	33.7 Days	CHF 1600	Submit

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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All Catalysts ChemEngineering Chemistry Materials Molecules Processes Sustainability Clean Technol.

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Open AccessReview

Transitioning Ammonia Production: Green Hydrogen-Based Haber–Bosch and Emerging Nitrogen Reduction Technologies

by Cátia Ribeiro and Diogo M. F. Santos

Clean Technol. 2025, 7(2), 49; https://doi.org/10.3390/cleantechnol7020049 - 16 Jun 2025

Viewed by 662

Abstract

Ammonia production is a cornerstone of the modern chemical industry, essential for fertilizer manufacturing and increasingly relevant in the energy sector. However, the conventional Haber–Bosch (HB) process is highly energy- and carbon-intensive, contributing significantly to global greenhouse gas emissions, releasing approximately 1.6 tonnes [...] Read more.

Ammonia production is a cornerstone of the modern chemical industry, essential for fertilizer manufacturing and increasingly relevant in the energy sector. However, the conventional Haber–Bosch (HB) process is highly energy- and carbon-intensive, contributing significantly to global greenhouse gas emissions, releasing approximately 1.6 tonnes of carbon dioxide for every tonne of ammonia produced. In the context of the ongoing climate crisis, exploring sustainable alternatives that can reduce or even eradicate these emissions is imperative. This review examines the potential of ammonia as a future energy carrier and evaluates the transition to green hydrogen-based HB production. Key technologies for green hydrogen generation are reviewed in conjunction with environmental, energy, and economic considerations. The transition to a green hydrogen-based HB process has been demonstrated to offer significant environmental advantages, potentially reducing carbon emissions by up to eight times compared to the conventional method. Furthermore, the economic viability of this process is particularly pronounced under conditions of low-cost renewable electricity, whether utilizing solid oxide electrolysis cells or proton-exchange membrane electrolyzers. Additionally, two emerging zero-emission, electrochemical routes for ammonia synthesis are analyzed in terms of their methodologies, efficiencies, and economic viability. Promising progress has been made in both direct and indirect nitrogen reduction approaches to ammonia. The indirect lithium-mediated pathway demonstrates the greatest potential, significantly reducing ammonia production costs. Despite existing challenges, particularly related to efficiency, these emerging technologies offer decentralized, electrified pathways for sustainable ammonia production in the future. This study highlights the near-term feasibility of decarbonizing ammonia production through green hydrogen in the HB process, while outlining the long-term potential of electrochemical nitrogen reduction as a sustainable alternative once the technology matures. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Green and Sustainable Chemical Processes)

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18 pages, 2153 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Catalytic Biorefining of Cigarette Butts Recycling Waste

by Eric Borges Ribeiro, Maria Betânia d’Heni Teixeira, Thérèse Hofmann Gatti, Romulo Davi Albuquerque Andrade and Paulo Anselmo Ziani Suarez

Chemistry 2025, 7(3), 86; https://doi.org/10.3390/chemistry7030086 - 23 May 2025

Viewed by 490

Abstract

Urban solid waste (USW) is a promising alternative source of valuable chemical compounds. It is considered an adsorbent material due to its chemical structure, porosity and electronic charge available to form chemical bonds and can be recovered or transformed for use in bioprocesses [...] Read more.

Urban solid waste (USW) is a promising alternative source of valuable chemical compounds. It is considered an adsorbent material due to its chemical structure, porosity and electronic charge available to form chemical bonds and can be recovered or transformed for use in bioprocesses and industrial applications. This is the case with cigarette butts (CBs), which consist of thousands of substances that can be chemically converted for various purposes. This work showed high efficiency in the production of cellulose mass from the recycling of CBs, a patented technology in operation at the company Poiato Recicla—SP. The lignin-like solid (LLS)—a material obtained from the recycling of cigarette butts (CBs) by catalytic transfer hydrogenation (CTH), under non-rigorous conditions—showed high efficiency in its conversion into molecules of great interest. In the bio-oil obtained, characterized by analyses such as GCMS and RMN 2D HSQC, a mixture of predominantly hydrocarbons (many of them with cyclic and/or branched chains) was identified in almost all the experiments. This method demonstrates the potential of the TCH process for SSLs and completes the recycling chain designed for CBs, promoting their complete conversion into chemical compounds of greater interest. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Green and Sustainable Chemical Processes)

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18 pages, 8652 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Removal of Azo Dyes from Water on a Large Scale Using a Low-Cost and Eco-Friendly Adsorbent

by Ma. Guadalupe Aranda-Figueroa, Rosenberg J. Romero, Mario Rodríguez, Adriana Rodríguez-Torres, Alexis Rodríguez, Gloria Ivette Bolio-López, Dulce María Arias-Ataide, Álvaro Torres-Islas and Maria Guadalupe Valladares-Cisneros

Sustainability 2025, 17(11), 4816; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17114816 - 23 May 2025

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Abstract

The use of natural materials as adsorbents and the environmentally friendly removal of pollutants and azo dyes from water are important topics today. The goal of this research work was to assess the utility of Luffa cylindrica (L. cylindrica) as a [...] Read more.

The use of natural materials as adsorbents and the environmentally friendly removal of pollutants and azo dyes from water are important topics today. The goal of this research work was to assess the utility of Luffa cylindrica (L. cylindrica) as a natural and non-conventional adsorbent for azo dyes in water on a large scale (2 L). An azo dye (AD) at a concentration of 0.250 g/L was removed from the solution at a rate of 63.07% using 10.0 g/L doses of L. cylindrica, and the maximum adsorption capacity of L. cylindrica was 25.25 mg/g. L. cylindrica desorbed 95.8% of the AD in 0.1 M NaOH. Thermodynamically, the adsorption occurs through pseudo-second-order kinetics and the behaviors adjust better to the Langmuir isotherm. The analysis of variance (p-value < 0.05) shows that the contact time and the concentration of AD significantly influence the adsorption capacity and removal of AD. Few studies have examined the environmentally friendly removal of azo dyes from water using a natural non-conventional adsorbent. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Green and Sustainable Chemical Processes)

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14 pages, 2084 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Immobilized Phosphotriesterase as an Enzymatic Resolution for Sofosbuvir Precursor

by Weerapha Panatdasirisuk, Suthathip Phetlum, Thanat Tiyasakulchai, Nitipol Srimongkolpithak, Tanaporn Uengwetwanit and Nongluck Jaito

Catalysts 2025, 15(4), 339; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal15040339 - 31 Mar 2025

Viewed by 377

Abstract

The enzymatic resolution of chiral sofosbuvir precursors is a critical step in producing stereoisomerically pure ProTide drugs, essential for their therapeutic efficacy. In this study, a mutated phosphotriesterase (W131M-PTE) was immobilized onto various polymeric macroporous beads, including commercial immobead 150P (IB), modified (IB-EDA [...] Read more.

The enzymatic resolution of chiral sofosbuvir precursors is a critical step in producing stereoisomerically pure ProTide drugs, essential for their therapeutic efficacy. In this study, a mutated phosphotriesterase (W131M-PTE) was immobilized onto various polymeric macroporous beads, including commercial immobead 150P (IB), modified (IB-EDA and IB-MTD), and synthetic polyacrylamide (PAM) beads functionalized with glutaraldehyde (PAM-GA) or 1-Ethyl-3-(3-dimethyl aminopropyl) carbodiimide (PAM-EDC). The immobilization efficiency, stability, and reusability of the enzyme were systematically evaluated. Among the tested supports, PAM-EDC demonstrated superior performance, retaining high enzymatic activity across multiple cycles and achieving a 92% yield of the (Sp)-diastereomer. The study highlights the potential of immobilized W131M-PTE as a cost-effective and scalable solution for chiral separation in pharmaceutical manufacturing, with implications for broader applications in ProTide drug production. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Green and Sustainable Chemical Processes)

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