Abstract BACKGROUND Hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) is a strong oxidant and a carbon‐free fuel which is synthesized by the costly anthraquinone method, prompting research into highly efficient electrocatalytic processes. RESULTS This study introduces a self‐sustaining Zn–air electrochemical cell with a carbon black cathode and an efficient polymer‐blend ion‐solvating membrane, which simultaneously generates electricity and synthesizes H 2 O 2 in situ via the 2e − reduction of atmospheric oxygen. The maximum quantity of hydrogen peroxide produced by the proposed method reached an average of 265 μmol h −1 , when functioning at a constant current of 10 mA, which exceeds expectations based on Faraday's law. The high faradaic yields are attributed to a carbon oxygenation reaction mechanism on carbon black electrodes, which is a novel observation in this context. CONCLUSION Zn–air electrochemical cells carrying an efficient and stable polymer electrolyte blend membrane can be employed as a means of efficient in situ production of hydrogen peroxide. The excess of hydrogen peroxide produced by this method is attributed to the formation of O 2 * − radicals produced in the presence of carbon electrodes. © 2026 The Author(s). Journal of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry (SCI).
Abstract BACKGROUND The present study aims to explore the oscillatory magnetohydrodynamic Couette flow of a two‐phase dusty fluid between two parallel plates, accounting for temperature variation on the walls, thermal radiation, and momentum, heat, and mass transfer between phases. RESULTS The governing equations for fluid and dust phases were derived and solved using the Poincaré‐Lighthill perturbation technique. The results reveal significant effects of thermal radiation on heat transfer, as the Nusselt number increases from 0.09397 to 2.55094 by increasing the radiation parameter from 5 to 10, whereas an increase in Prandtl number decreases heat transfer by decreasing thermal diffusivity. The results also reveal an increase in skin friction due to an increase in buoyancy parameters, from 0.15287 to 0.21439 by increasing the thermal Grashof number, whereas stronger magnetic field effects reduced skin friction from 0.15287 to 0.03604 due to the damping effect of the Lorentz force. CONCLUSION The velocity and temperature fields were enhanced by radiation, whereas magnetic field strength and dust‐fluid interaction reduced flow intensity through drag and electromagnetic resistance. The interphase heat and mass transfer significantly affected the thermal and concentration boundary layers of both phases. These findings demonstrate the coupled influence of radiative, magnetic, and interphase transport mechanisms in oscillatory dusty fluid flow and highlight the relevance of the model to chemically reactive transport, particulate processing, biomedical systems, and thermal management applications. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI).
Abstract BACKGROUND Therapeutic proteins are produced frequently by mammalian cells in large‐scale bioreactors. As a result, producer cells are exposed to a chemically (nutrients, gas exchange, target protein overexpression) and physically (shear due to mixing) stressful environment, which can lead to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and loss of proteostasis. In response, cells activate the unfolded protein response (UPR). The UPR includes activation of autophagy and proteasomes, both of which target unfolded/misfolded proteins for degradation. To investigate the impacts of autophagy and proteasome activity on secreted protein production in ER‐stressed cells, we used HeLa and MDA‐MB‐231 cells transfected to express Gaussia luciferase (as a model for therapeutic protein production) and exposed to tunicamycin (TM) (an N‐glycosylation inhibitor that induces ER stress and the UPR). RESULTS As expected, TM exposure decreased luciferase production and secretion. Inhibiting autophagy improved luciferase secretion in stressed cells as expected. However, increasing proteasomal degradation also improved luciferase secretion while inhibiting proteasomal activity decreased secretion; thus, proteasomal activity was directly correlated to luciferase secretion. CONCLUSIONS Taken together, our results demonstrate that protein secretion can be improved through control of autophagy and proteasomal activity, providing insight into strategies for improving yield from protein production bioprocesses. © 2026 The Author(s). Journal of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry (SCI).
Abstract BACKGROUND Foam separation is a low‐energy method for recovering dilute metal ions, but its practical use is often limited by reliance on synthetic surfactants. This study evaluated soapberry extract (SE), a biodegradable natural surfactant, for the separation and recovery of Ni 2+ from aqueous solution. RESULTS The critical micelle concentration of SE was 0.5 g/L, lower than those of SDS, DBS, and CTAB and close to that of SDBS. Single‐factor experiments showed that pH, air flow rate, collection time, liquid loading volume, SE concentration, and initial Ni 2+ concentration all affected recovery efficiency and enrichment ratio. The best single‐factor conditions were pH 8, 350 mL/min air flow, 5 min collection time, 300 mL liquid loading volume, 0.2 g/L SE, and 10 mg/L NiSO 4 · 6H 2 O, giving 84.7% recovery and an enrichment ratio of 8.2. Orthogonal optimization further improved recovery to 87.1% at pH 8.5, with an enrichment ratio of 6.9. CONCLUSION SE can serve as an environmentally benign collector for Ni 2+ foam separation and merits further testing in real wastewater matrices. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI).
Abstract BACKGROUND Recombinant protein expression in Escherichia coli frequently results in the formation of inclusion bodies (IBs), which provide high protein accumulation but often require additional steps to recover functional protein. Although culture conditions strongly influence IB physicochemical and structural characteristics, the impact of dissolved oxygen tension (DOT) remains poorly understood in thermoinducible expression systems widely used for industrial production. RESULTS Recombinant human granulocyte‐macrophage colony‐stimulating factor (rHuGM‐CSF) was produced in E. coli using the thermoinducible λpL‐cI857 system. Post‐induction DOT significantly affected recombinant rHuGM‐CSF production, size, and structural properties of IBs. Cultures maintained at low DOT (5–10%) showed the highest volumetric and specific protein production, despite lower specific growth rates compared to cultures at 30% and 70% DOT. Low DOT also produced larger IBs, with reduced amyloid‐like content and higher susceptibility to proteolytic degradation and partial solubilization, indicating a less compact aggregate structure. In contrast, higher DOT (30–70%) favored faster early post‐induction accumulation but resulted in smaller, more rigid IBs with increased resistance to solubilization and proteolysis. CONCLUSION Post‐induction DOT is an effective process parameter for modulating IB morphology, aggregation state, and recombinant protein yields, providing practical strategy to improve recombinant protein downstream recovery in thermoinducible E. coli bioprocesses. © 2026 The Author(s). Journal of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry (SCI).
BACKGROUND A Biodegradable microgel containing starch and sodium alginate was prepared by the free radical precipitation polymerization method, and nanoparticles of silver and nickel were incorporated by the in-situ reduction method.RESULTS Ag-O stretching, the main component of the bimetallic p (NIPAM-AAc-Str-SA), is indicated by the bands at 865 cm-1 in FTIR spectroscopic analysis. A porous structure with cavities that enhance water absorption and bimetallic nanoparticle entrapment was revealed in the hybrid microgel by SEM, with pore size regulated by SA. A high-intensity peak observed at 0.9 KeV and another smaller peak at 2.9 KeV were identified by EDX analysis and the presence of nickel (Ni) and silver (Ag), respectively, in the prepared sample of bimetallic p(NIPAM-AAc-Str-SA) hybrid microgel was indicated.CONCLUSION According to DLS, hybrid microgels had an average size of 80.83 nm and a polydispersity index of 0.653. A lower PDI value suggests that the nanoparticles were evenly distributed throughout the microgel. Reduction of organic dyes is performed by using a hybrid microgel. Different kinetic parameters, including the apparent rate constant (Kapp), reduction time, % reduction, and half-life, were compared for all substrates, and their catalytic activity was checked. Rhodamine B was the best reduced using hybrid microgel as compared to other dyes, about 98% reduction, having an apparent rate constant of 0.1349 min-1, reduction time of 20 min and half-life of 5 min.
Abstract BACKGROUND 3‐Hydroxybutanal (3‐HBA) is an important chemical product with a wide range of applications. This study investigated the liquid‐phase condensation of acetaldehyde to produce 3‐HBA over MgO‐based catalysts, such as MgO–Y 2 O 3 , MgO–La 2 O 3 , and MgO–Al 2 O 3 . The influence of the Mg/Y ratio on the catalyst performance was thoroughly investigated, and the effects of the reaction conditions on the formation of 3‐HBA were also studied. Furthermore, the relationship between the catalyst properties and the catalytic activity was investigated. RESULTS The MgO–Y 2 O 3 catalyst showed a high catalytic performance for the production of 3‐HBA, and the optimal Mg/Y molar ratio was 1:1. The MgO–Y 2 O 3 catalyst with a molar ratio of 1:1 exhibited both weak acidic and weak basic properties, and its acid and base amounts were lower than those of MgO. Reaction temperature significantly affected the reaction, and increasing the temperature was detrimental to the formation of 3‐HBA. In the reaction conducted using the MgO–Y 2 O 3 catalyst at 45 °C for 2.5 h, the conversion of acetaldehyde achieved was 52.5% with a 3‐HBA selectivity of 82.4%. CONCLUSION The MgO–Y 2 O 3 catalyst with appropriate acid–base properties effectively promotes the formation of 3‐HBA. An insufficient or excessive number of acidic or basic active sites is detrimental to 3‐HBA yield. It is proposed that the acidic sites activate the CO bond via an electron‐withdrawing effect, while the basic sites facilitate α ‐H elimination to generate a delocalized reactive intermediate. This intermediate subsequently undergoes nucleophilic addition to form 3‐HBA. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI).
BACKGROUND Climate change represents a critical challenge for global agriculture. Recurrent drought events associated with climate variability induce drought stress in crops, ultimately compromising productivity. Therefore, the development of effective drought adaptation strategies in agricultural systems is essential. In this context, this study evaluated a strategy for the fermentative production of bioactive compounds that enhance drought stress tolerance in lentil plants, based on two sequential fed-batch culture stages: an initial fed-batch containing endophytic fungi, followed by a second fed-batch containing rhizosphere bacteria.RESULTS A quadratic response surface model was successfully developed and optimized, demonstrating that a low dose combined with a high application frequency of the second fed-batch culture broth without cells maximizes stem growth efficiency. Under optimized conditions, drought-stressed lentil plants treated with the microbial broth without cells exhibited a stem growth efficiency of 48% and 92% of leaves with normal morphology, compared to untreated drought-stressed controls (7% stem growth efficiency and 37% normal leaf morphology). These findings confirm the efficacy of the produced microbial broth as a biostimulant for enhancing drought stress tolerance. The dominant bacterial genera identified in the second fed-batch were Pseudomonas (52.43%), Flavobacterium (40.67%), and Sphingobium (5.29%). On the other hand, the dominant fungal genus in fed-batch stage 1 was Talaromyces (93.6%). The positive effect on drought stress tolerance promotion observed in this study is likely associated with metabolites produced by both fungi (spiculisporic acid, citric acid, FA 9:0 + 10, FA 9:1 + 10, sebacic acid and chrysoeriol) and bacteria (ricinoleic acid, 10-hydroxydecanoic acid, 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid, 4-decyl-3-hydroxy-5-oxooxolane-2,3-dicarboxylic acid, chrysoeriol, omega-hydroxydodecanoic acid, p-coumaric acid, and thymol-beta-d-glucoside) across the two fed-batch stages, as the broth from fed-batch stage 2 represents a mixture of compounds generated in both stages, and also due to previous reports in the literature indicating potential relationships between these chemical compounds and stress tolerance in plants.CONCLUSION The sequential fed-batch system employed in this study (fed-batch stage 1: endophytic fungi; fed-batch stage 2: rhizosphere bacteria) proved to be effective in generating compounds associated with enhanced drought stress tolerance in lentil plants.
Abstract This article describes electroanalytical methods developed over the last 25 years for kaempferol (an important molecule) detection, with a main emphasis on voltammetric techniques like cyclic voltammetry, differential pulse voltammetry, and square wave voltammetry. Extensive research describes how electrode surface alterations (using metal nanoparticles, carbon nanomaterials, metal–organic frameworks, and conductive polymers) enhance electron transfer kinetics and analytical performance. These nanostructured devices enabled low‐level detection limits, i.e., nano‐ to picomolar concentrations, even in complex biological and environmental matrices, foods, and pharmaceuticals. Despite these improvements, challenges like electrode fouling, matrix interference, overlapping oxidation signals from structurally similar flavonoids, and low portability continue to be barriers to real‐world sample applications. Furthermore, this review highlights emergent solutions, comprising miniaturized and paper‐based devices, molecularly imprinted sensors, and smartphone‐integrated platforms. Special attention is given to the rising role of artificial intelligence and machine learning in electrochemical sensing, where chemometric and deep‐learning methods advance the signal processing, solve overlapping peaks, decrease human‐induced errors, and permit multi‐analyte analyses. Briefly, this review proves that the combination of nanotechnology and artificial intelligence is capable of transforming the electrochemical kaempferol determination from laboratory methods to portable, robust, and intelligent sensing systems for clinical diagnosis, food safety, and pharmaceutical analyses. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI).
BACKGROUND Copper contamination in industrial effluents represents a significant environmental concern and restricts wastewater reuse. This study aims to evaluate the performance of polymer-enhanced ultrafiltration (PEUF) for copper removal from industrial wastewater generated by a Tunisian cable manufacturing plant, using water-soluble polyelectrolytes as complexing agents. RESULTS Three polyelectrolytes poly(acrylic acid) (PAA), poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate) (PSS), and polyethylenimine (PEI) were investigated. Preliminary experiments using synthetic copper solutions assessed the effects of transmembrane pressure; pH, polymer concentration, and molecular weight on permeate flux and copper rejection. Conventional ultrafiltration showed poor copper retention (<13%), whereas PEUF significantly enhanced removal through the formation of polymer-metal complexes retained by the membrane. Under optimal conditions (3 bar, pH 7, and polymer concentration of 1000 ppm), copper rejection reached 96% with PEI and 95% with PSS, while PAA exhibited lower performance due to increased membrane fouling. When applied to real industrial wastewater, copper removal efficiencies of approximately 91% and 87% were achieved with PEI and PSS, respectively. Significant reductions in suspended solids, turbidity and conductivity were also observed, with moderate chemical oxygen demand removal. CONCLUSION The PEUF process demonstrates high efficiency for copper removal and enables compliance with the Tunisian discharge standard NT 106-02. These results highlight PEUF as a promising and effective technique for industrial wastewater treatment and reuse.
BACKGROUND This study reports the design and fabrication of a series of heterogeneous N,S-rGO/NiFe2O4-X% nanocomposites, where X represents the weight percentage of NiFe2O4. Nitrogen and sulfur dopants were deliberately introduced into the graphene oxide framework, followed by the concurrent anchoring of NiFe2O4 nanoparticles within the graphene oxide layers through a controlled hydrothermal approach. The structure, morphology, optical characteristics, and photocatalytic activity of the nanocomposites were precisely characterized using XRD, XPS, FTIR, Raman spectroscopy, FESEM, TEM, EDAX, elemental mapping, DRS, BET, PL, and EIS, which collectively validated the successful integration of the designed components.RESULTS The results confirmed the effective reduction of graphene oxide and the successful incorporation of NiFe2O4 nanoparticles between the reduced graphene oxide layers. For the first time, the photocatalytic activity of these engineered nanocomposites was exclusively evaluated for the chemical degradation of Congo red dye, selected as a model organic pollutant, under visible irradiation, yielding successful outcomes.CONCLUSION Our study demonstrated the outstanding photocatalytic activity of the N,S-rGO/NiFe2O4 heterostructured nanocomposite. Among the prepared samples, the N,S-rGO/NiFe2O4-30% nanocomposite demonstrated an outstanding degradation efficiency of 91.45% for a 10 mg/L solution within 1 h under visible-light irradiation. Furthermore, the material exhibited remarkable structural stability and reusability, maintaining its catalytic performance without any measurable loss in activity or mass even after 12 consecutive cycles. These findings establish the novelty of this research work and highlight the significant potential of the synthesized N,S-rGO/NiFe2O4 nanocomposites as durable and recyclable photocatalysts for environmental remediation applications.
Abstract Oil–water separation is an important process used to reduce pollution and recover valuable resources in many industrial applications. Electropun nanofibers with varying chemical composition and dimensions are commonly used to remove pollutants from water. Various nanoadditives, such as clays, metal nanoparticles, and C‐based nanoparticles, can also be introduced into the polymeric nanofiber matrix to improve the removal capacity and flux of the prepared membranes. Various studies in the literature have investigated the use of these polymeric nanofibers in the separation of oil–water mixtures and oil–water emissions, and very good separation efficiencies have been supported by experimental studies. This review briefly summarises the recent developments on polymeric nanofibres used in oil–water separation. The reviewed studies showed that wettability, fiber diameter, chemical structure, and composition of the nanofibers are important parameters for the removal of contaminants, and polymeric nanofibers produced by tailoring their chemical composition and dimensions are promising candidates for many oil–water separation applications. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI).
BACKGROUND: The separation of ethanol and water is challenged by the formation of a minimum-boiling azeotrope, rendering conventional distillation ineffective. Extractive distillation using ionic liquids (ILs) offers a promising alternative due to their negligible volatility and structural tunability. However, the vast number of potential cation-anion combinations necessitates a rational strategy for IL selection. RESULTS: Three acetate-based ILs-[N1111][Ac], [MMIM][Ac], and [EMMIM][Ac] - were identified via the conductor-like screening model for real solvents (COSMO-RS) and experimentally validated to effectively break the ethanol-water azeotrope with separation performance following [N1111][Ac] > [MMIM][Ac] > [EMMIM][Ac]. The NRTL (non-random two-liquid) model accurately correlated the vapor-liquid equilibrium data and quantum chemical analyses revealed that hydrogen bonding between the acetate anion and water is the primary interaction governing separation. Process simulation using [EMMIM][Ac] in a double-column extractive distillation system achieved ethanol purity exceeding 99.9 wt%. CONCLUSION: Acetate-based ILs demonstrate high efficacy as entrainers for ethanol-water extractive distillation. The integrated methodology combining COSMO-RS, experimental validation and molecular-level analysis provided a robust framework for IL selection. These findings offer valuable insights for designing sustainable separation processes in biofuel and chemical industries.
Abstract Nitrogen‐doped porous carbons have emerged as promising and cost‐effective adsorbents for carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) capture owing to their tuneable pore structures, varied nitrogen functionalities, and compatibility with sustainable precursors. This review provides a comprehensive overview of precursor types and synthesis strategies, including pyrolysis, chemical activation, template‐assisted, hydrothermal, plasma, and microwave‐assisted methods, and examines the effects of these approaches on the structural and surface properties of the materials. The role of nitrogen doping in enhancing CO 2 adsorption capacity, selectivity, and interaction mechanisms is critically assessed. Emphasis is placed on identifying active sites and understanding the contributions of pyridinic, pyrrolic, and graphitic nitrogen under various conditions. The discussion includes stability, regeneration behaviour, and comparisons with conventional adsorbents to assess their practical applicability. The review further integrates computational and data‐driven approaches. Density functional theory studies offer atomistic insights into potential energy of CO 2 surface interactions, while machine learning (ML) models facilitate the mapping of structure performance relationships and the prediction of adsorption capacity based by analysing key input such as micropore volume, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller surface area, and nitrogen speciation. Key challenges are also addressed, including lack of data, inconsistent datasets from the literature, and limited experimental validation of ML predictions. Despite significant progress, challenges remain in scaling synthesis methods, improving long‐term stability under realistic conditions, and optimising nitrogen functionalities. The integration of experimental, theoretical, and ML approaches offers strong potential to accelerate the design and development of nitrogen‐doped porous carbons for practical CO 2 capture applications. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI).
Abstract Nowadays, Pd/C represents a classic catalytic system that has been widely applied in fine organic synthesis, electrocatalysis, hydrogenation reactions, and many others. Since palladium belongs to precious metals, the urgent task is to intelligently manage its consumption and increase the activity and stability of such catalysts. One of the most effective approaches to enhance the performance of these catalysts is the modification of carbon support by heteroatoms such as N, P, B, and S elements. In the presented review, pathways for modification of Pd/C catalyst or carbon supports with phosphorus to improve their characteristics and, thereby, catalytic properties of Pd/C catalysts are discussed. The influence of phosphorus doping on electronic, structural, and composition of this catalytic system was analyzed. It was found that modification by phosphorus results in the richest variety of P‐based functionalities on a carbon support as compared to N, B, and S heteroatoms, as phosphorus possesses various stable oxidation states (−3, 0, +1, +3, +5) and can also subject Pd to partial phosphidation. This opens up the broadest possibilities for modulating and tuning catalytic properties of Pd/C catalysts. Furthermore, such modification results in significant enhancement of catalytic properties of Pd/C catalysts in electrooxidation of organic compounds in fuel cells, hydrogen storage, water electrolysis, cross‐coupling reactions, hydrogenation, and other applications. However, since this approach to modification is quite novel, many challenges remain to be overcome. For example, the necessity of thorough control over the types and distribution of P‐containing functionalities to obtain catalysts tuned for specific reactions is still an open question. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI).
Abstract Fluidized bed combustion is a widely adopted technology for fuel and waste processing, with bed material selection critically influencing process efficiency, operational stability, and emission profiles. This review systematically examines the four functional categories of bed materials – inert, sorbent, oxygen carrier, and catalytic – synthesizing current knowledge on their performance characteristics, degradation mechanisms, and application constraints. Quantitative analysis of operational parameters reveals that inert materials, such as silica‐based beds, require combustion temperatures of 1000–1200 °C to achieve complete fuel conversion, resulting in thermal NOx formation and agglomeration risks that initiate at temperatures between 660 and 980 °C depending on feedstock composition. In contrast, catalytic systems enable stable operation at 650–750 °C, achieving combustion efficiencies exceeding 99.9% while maintaining fluidization stability. Sorbent materials employed for carbon capture demonstrate CO 2 absorption capacity but exhibit progressive deactivation over multiple cycles, with mechanical attrition rates representing a limiting factor for long‐term application. Oxygen carriers utilized in chemical looping configurations exhibit oxygen transport capacities ranging from 2 to 8 wt%, with operational lifetimes estimated between 2000 and 5000 h under continuous fluidized bed conditions. Mechanical degradation through attrition and fragmentation constitutes a universal constraint across all material classes, directly impacting process economics and operational continuity. The review identifies the development of bed materials combining high mechanical durability, sustained functional activity, and resistance to agglomeration at reduced operating temperatures as the principal direction for future research and technological advancement. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI).
Abstract Bioelectrochemical platforms, which function as living circuits, now convert organic matter into electricity while monitoring environmental conditions through the integration of engineered electronics with microbial systems. The combination of synthetic biology with materials science and system design improvements has led to enhanced electron transfer, improved biofilm stability, and increased signal specificity, enabling real‐time pollutant detection, self‐powered sensors, and decentralized energy solutions. The living circuits operate at scale and regenerate via nearby waste materials and local substrates while requiring minimal upkeep. The continuous operation of microorganisms, combined with the cyclic reuse of electrons, carbon, oxygen, and water, allows for extended system operation. Here, this perspective examines the essential scientific and technological breakthroughs that form this paradigm while discussing its capabilities for independent power generation and environmental surveillance. The sustainable bioelectronics field of living circuits shows promise, but its power generation capacity and expansion capabilities need additional interdisciplinary research to overcome current limitations. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI).
