This study investigates the hydrothermal modification of commercial titanium dioxide (TiO2) in the presence of a natural licorice root extract (Glycyrrhiza glabra L.), serving as a stabilizing and growth-modulating agent. The experimental framework combines hydrothermal treatment in a Teflon-lined autoclave with subsequent thermal calcination to elucidate the structural, morphological, and chemical evolution of the material. The plant-based extract significantly influences particle assembly during synthesis, fostering the formation of an initial organic–inorganic hybrid system that results in enhanced morphological homogeneity compared to pristine TiO2. Thermal analyses (TGA and DSC) demonstrated the progressive decomposition of the organic components with increasing temperature, yielding a thermally stable, predominantly inorganic material at 600 °C. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) observations confirmed a more uniform particle distribution in the modified samples. X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns corroborated that the primary crystalline phase of TiO2 remains intact across all conditions, with structural variations limited to peak definition and long-range organization. Furthermore, FTIR spectroscopy supported the preservation of characteristic TiO2 vibrational features while indicating a gradual depletion of weakly bound surface species following thermal treatment. In conclusion, these findings demonstrate that natural extracts can effectively function as growth-modulating agents, steering material organization without altering its intrinsic chemical properties. This approach aligns with the principles of Green Chemistry and the circular economy, highlighting the potential of renewable plant-based resources as functional additives for the sustainable processing of inorganic materials. Rather than seeking to outperform commercial benchmarks, this work establishes a viable and low-environmental-impact strategy for morphological and structural modulation.

This study investigates the use of type A zeolite as a filtering material for the removal of toxic and carcinogenic compounds from cigarette smoke, which contains nicotine and other harmful substances produced by tobacco combustion. The aim is to evaluate the effectiveness of zeolite in reducing exposure to secondhand smoke, with particular attention to health and environmental impacts. The zeolite was characterized using SEM-EDS, XRD, DSC, and TGA to determine its morphology, chemical composition, crystalline structure, and thermal stability. An experimental setup was designed to simulate realistic smoking conditions and test filter efficiency based on the active mass. The system allowed identification of harmful substances trapped in the filter and those remaining in the air. Performance was assessed through gravimetric analysis and GC-MS, enabling identification of adsorbed and non-adsorbed compounds. Results demonstrate significant efficiency in selective removal of toxic components. Finally, filter performance was compared with carbon nanotubes, tested under the same experimental protocol.

This study investigates the use of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in the development of a filter capable of capturing toxic and carcinogenic compounds found in cigarette smoke dispersed in the environment. The aim is to contribute to the reduction in passive exposure to these substances, with potential benefits for public health and air quality. Carbon nanotubes were selected for their exceptional adsorption properties, attributed to their high specific surface area and porous structure. The material's adsorptive performance was evaluated based on the quantity used, to determine the optimal mass that ensures the best filtering capacity. To test the system, an experimental setup was assembled to simulate real-world smoke emission conditions. Filters containing CNTs were subjected to gravimetric analysis to measure the amount of retained substances, and to gas chromatography to identify the adsorbed chemical compounds. The results confirm the potential of carbon nanotubes as an advanced filtering material, paving the way for robust solutions to mitigate the environmental impact of secondhand smoke. The results indicate that CNT-based filters, particularly those containing 0.06 g of material, are highly effective in retaining several toxic components of cigarette smoke, including nicotine. This configuration achieves a strong reduction in harmful organic species while using a moderate amount of adsorbent, suggesting a promising selectivity of CNTs toward the most hazardous molecules.

Reforming processes are key technologies for the production of hydrogen and synthesis gas from hydrocarbon feedstocks, with steam reforming and dry reforming being the most extensively studied routes. Steam reforming remains the dominant industrial process due to its high efficiency and economic viability; however, its associated CO2 emissions raise environmental concerns, partially mitigated through an integration with carbon capture and storage technologies. Dry reforming has emerged as an attractive alternative, although it requires high operating temperatures and suffers from catalyst deactivation. Catalyst design is therefore critical for improving process efficiency and stability. Supported metal catalysts, particularly Ni-based systems, are widely employed, with the support material playing a decisive role in metal dispersion, resistance to sintering and coking, and reaction selectivity. Microporous and mesoporous silica-based materials, including zeolites and ordered mesoporous silicas, offer tunable structural and surface properties that enhance catalytic performance. The novelty of this work lies in its holistic approach to reforming catalysis, where the catalytic performance is not discussed solely in terms of active metals, but is systematically correlated with the surface properties, chemical composition, and structural features of silica-based supports. Moreover, this study expands the perspective to alternative and less-explored feedstocks. By considering multiple fuels and support types, the study provides new design guidelines for developing more efficient and sustainable reforming catalysts.

Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) is a perennial herb traditionally valued for its aromatic and therapeutic properties. In recent years, however, growing attention has shifted toward the technical and environmental potential of the plant’s industrial by-products, particularly the fibrous material left after extraction. This review integrates botanical knowledge with engineering and industrial perspectives, highlighting the role of licorice fiber in advancing sustainable innovation. The natural fiber obtained from licorice roots exhibits notable physical and mechanical qualities, including lightness, biodegradability, and compatibility with bio-based polymer matrices. These attributes make it a promising candidate for biocomposites used in green building and other sectors of the circular economy. Developing efficient recovery processes requires collaboration across disciplines, combining expertise in plant science, materials engineering, and industrial technology. The article also examines the economic and regulatory context driving the transition toward more circular and traceable production models. Increasing interest from companies, research institutions, and public bodies in valorizing licorice fiber and its derivatives is opening new market opportunities. Potential applications extend to agroindustry, eco-friendly cosmetics, bioeconomy, and sustainable construction. By linking botanical insights with innovative waste management strategies, licorice emerges as a resource capable of supporting integrated, competitive, and environmentally responsible industrial practices.

Growing interest in sustainable hydrogen production has brought renewed attention to photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting as a promising route for direct solar-to-chemical energy conversion. This study explores how integrating hematite (α-Fe2O3) and cupric oxide (CuO) photoelectrodes with a series of nickel-based co-catalysts can improve photoelectrochemical activity. Photoanodic (NiOx, NiFeOx, NiWO4) and photocathodic (Ni, NiCu, NiMo) co-catalysts were synthesized via co-precipitation and mechanochemical methods and characterized through X-ray Diffraction (XRD), X-ray Fluorescence (XRF), Transmission Electron Microscopy–Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (TEM-EDX), Scanning Electron Microscopy–Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (SEM-EDX), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) gas-adsorption analyses to clarify their crystallographic, morphological, and compositional properties, as well as their surface chemistry and textural properties (surface area and porosity). Electrochemical tests under 1 SUN illumination showed that NiOx significantly improves the photocurrent of hematite photoanodes. Among the cathodic co-catalysts, NiMo demonstrated the best performance when combined with CuO photocathodes. For both photoelectrodes, an optimal co-catalyst loading was identified, beyond which performance declined due to potential charge transfer limitations and light attenuation. These findings highlight the critical role of co-catalyst composition and loading in optimizing the efficiency of PEC systems based on earth-abundant materials, offering a pathway toward scalable and cost-effective hydrogen production.

The present research is aimed at the recovery of vegetable fibers from licorice root processing waste through simple methods that do not involve the use of chemical reagents to guarantee a complete eco-sustainability approach and for their use in the production of fiber-reinforced ecomaterials. The waste was treated through several washing cycles with only water at different temperatures to identify the optimal conditions to obtain clean fibers. The clean fibers and the waste were analyzed and characterized in advance by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), microanalysis (EDS) and thermal analysis (DSC). Subsequently, both the clean fibers and the waste were used to produce fiber-reinforced plaster artifacts. The mechanical properties of the artifacts were measured as a function of % clean fibers or untreated waste. The results obtained showed that it is possible to effectively recover clean vegetable fibers from licorice waste through repeated washing cycles of 30 min with only water. By increasing the temperature, the necessary washing cycles decrease, and a good compromise is five washes at 100 °C. The yield of clean fibers compared to waste is 50%. The creation of prototypes of gypsum matrix panels, which incorporate fibers recovered from licorice processing waste through the methodology tested in this study, has also been successfully realized, representing a significant step forward towards practical applications in the field of eco-friendly construction.

This study presents the development and characterization of Grätzel cells (DSSCs), part of third-generation photovoltaic technologies, fabricated with and without the addition of graphene nanoparticles. A TiO2 paste was prepared by combining colloidal solutions of Polyethylene Glycol (PEG) and Titanium Tetrachloride (TiCl4), and then deposited on FTO (Fluorine-doped Tin Oxide) glass substrates via spin coating and sensitized with N719 dye. Each cell was assembled using two FTO electrodes, a photoanode (TiO2/N719) and a platinum-coated counter electrode, separated by a liquid iodide/triiodide-based electrolyte to complete the redox cycle. The core objective was to optimize the graphene nanoparticle concentration within the TiO2 matrix to improve photovoltaic performance. Samples with 0.1%, 0.2%, and 0.5% graphene were tested under simulated illumination (AM 1.5G), evaluating photocurrent, efficiency, and Fill Factor (FF). Optical analysis included desorption of N719 using NaOH to quantify intrinsic light absorption. Graphene’s high transparency and charge transport properties positively affected light harvesting. Results showed that graphene dosage is critical; 0.1% yielded the best efficiency, while excess concentrations diminished electronic and optical behavior. Controlled integration of graphene nanoparticles enhances DSSC performance and supports the development of more efficient and sustainable solar cells.

The strong 1980 M6.81 Irpinia earthquake in Southern Italy critically damaged the Pavoncelli hydraulic tunnel. Based on geological, petrophysical and geomechanical investigations and seismological data, a multi-scale geological model was inferred. The detrital mode and key petrophysical properties (porosity, permeability, and nanopore volumes) data have been used for defining the water-reservoir potential of the arenitic successions, with a focus on defining the hydrogeological model. The model was then used to perform a novel back-analysis of the spatial distribution of the peak ground acceleration (PGA) caused by the 1980 earthquake accounting for site-effects in a robust manner. This analysis, which accounts for site-effects in a robust manner, shows high PGA values along the length of the Pavoncelli tunnel, which is located between the causative fault of the 1980 earthquake in the vicinity of the epicenter. The main outcomes of the study are that: (1) the multi-scale and interdisciplinary approach developed in this study can be used in future studies in this and other areas, (2) the spatial 2D-3D geological model must be accounted for when analyzing distributed systems, (3) the hydrogeological model coupled with porosity data allows for reservoir analyses and (4) the complex tectonic environment in the area hosting the Pavoncelli tunnel plays a strong role in the analysis of the spatial distribution of PGA, creating the need for site-specific seismic microzonation studies and the evaluation of near-fault effects.

This article simply aims to compare two case studies concerning the purification, using carbon nanotubes, of water contaminated by the following two different common pollutants: benzoic acid and diesel. In particular, the aim is to highlight how the different natures of both of the polluting molecules and the carbon nanotubes play a fundamental role in water treatment. These two pollutants were taken into consideration because of their different chemical natures: benzoic acid is a polar pollutant, while the molecules present in diesel are substantially nonpolar. The carbon nanotubes used were both functionalized and nonfunctionalized. Functionalization is a process that allows for the introduction of functional groups onto the surface of carbon nanotubes. In this research, carboxylic functionalization was performed, which allowed for the insertion of carboxylic groups through attacks with sulfuric and nitric acids. Thanks to the results obtained, it was possible to quantify the optimization of the purification process depending on the types of carbon nanotubes and polluting molecules considered. The functionalized nanotubes exhibited greater performances in the treatment of water contaminated by benzoic acid compared to the nonfunctionalized ones. Instead, in the treatment of water contaminated by diesel, a greater purification capacity was shown by the nonfunctionalized carbon nanotubes compared to the functionalized ones.

Adsorption represents an effective and reliable method to treat wastewater effluents containing dyes. In this work, authors tested a geopolymer-based adsorbent for the removal of methylene blue. Constant mass of powdered geopolymer (15 mg) was weighed into flasks containing 50 mL of dye solution of specified concentration (ranging between 4 and 200 mg L−1). Operative conditions were pH 9.3 and 25 °C. The concentration of methylene blue of the supernatant solution was determined using an UV spectrophotometer at 668 nm. The adsorption capacity at equilibrium increases from 2.4 to 39 mg g−1 with an increase in the initial dye concentration from 4 to 200 mg L−1. The isotherms of dye adsorption on the geopolymer are well described by Langmuir model. Experimental kinetic data fit a pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The prepared geopolymer showed a high methylene blue removal efficiency.

This research aims to prepare panels for green building that have the advantage of recovering and reusing materials, such as waste from exhausted tires, and the use of natural materials, such as natural plant resins.

In this work, La-based perovskites with various stoichiometries were synthesized and tested for Autothermal Reforming (ATR) in the intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cell technology (IT-SOFC). Three materials were compared, namely La 0.5 Sr 0.5 Fe 0.8 Cu 0.2 O 3-delta (LaSrFeCu), La 0.3 Sr 0.7 Fe 0.7 Ti 0.3 O 3-delta (LaSrFeTi) and La 0.4 Sr 0.4 Ba 0.2 TiO 3+delta (LaSrBaTi), where the subscripts indicate the atomic ratio used during the synthesis. In the specific, two wet-chemistry approaches (solution combustion synthesis and chelate complex route) were used to obtain mesoporous La-based perovskites. The physico-chemical properties of the materials were analyzed by complementary techniques. Their semiconductive and redox properties were studied by in situ electrical conductivity measurements as a function of the temperature and, at constant temperature, as a function of the partial pressure of oxygen and of the nature of the gaseous atmosphere flowing over the solid. Then, the perovskites were impregnated with 7 wt% of Ni, characterized and tested for the autothermal reforming of ethanol, model biogas, and methane at 500 and 600 degrees C. Catalytic tests showed a high syngas production (83%) when ethanol was used as fuel at 600 degrees C. Analysis of the carbon deposited under different reaction conditions was also performed, in order to assess the stability of the proposed materials. Ni_LaSrBaTi exhibited almost complete ethanol conversion and high H2 2 selectivity, together with strong structural/thermal stability and good resistance to coke formation, which make this catalyst a promising candidate as IT-SOFC's pre-layer anode.

The purpose of this research was to evaluate the adsorbent properties of carbon nanotubes by investigating, in particular, the possibility of their use in the purification of water contaminated with automotive diesel, caused, in most cases, as a result of spillage from underground tanks, leaks from pipelines, traffic accidents, etc. In particular, we investigated whether the high molecular weights of the hydrocarbon molecules present in diesel could influence the adsorption capacity of carbon nanotubes. Initial systems consisting of water and diesel were treated with different amounts of carbon nanotubes. The final post-adsorption phases were characterized using NMR analysis, FT-IR spectroscopy and TG-DTG-DTA thermal analysis. Carbon nanotubes showed great efficiency in the adsorption of diesel, the possibility of their reuse in several adsorption cycles and the consequent recovery of the adsorbed diesel and of the treated water.

Following the well-known pandemic, declared on 30 January 2020 by the World Health Organization, the request for new global strategies for the prevention and mitigation of the spread of the infection has come to the attention of the scientific community. Nanotechnology has often managed to provide solutions, effective responses, and valid strategies to support the fight against SARS-CoV-2. This work reports a collection of information on nanomaterials that have been used to counter the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. In particular, the objective of this work was to illustrate the strategies that have made it possible to use the particular properties of nanomaterials, for the production of personal protective equipment (DIP) for the defense against the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Ruthenium/nickel ex-solved perovskite catalysts have been synthesized by incipient impregnation. As-synthesized and spent catalysts have been characterized by XRD, TPR-H2, SEM-EDX and TEM analyses. Reduced catalysts have been tested in the autothermal reforming of ethanol, in the temperature range of 600-800 degrees C. All tested catalysts gave the total conversion of ethanol in the range of investigated temperatures, confirming the oxidative ability and oxygen storage capacity of perovskite, that promotes the catalyst activation. The highest hydrogen yield (83%) is obtained by ruthenium/nickel ex-solved perovskite containing the 0.5 wt% of Ru (SFMN/0.5Ru catalyst) at 600 degrees C. Increasing the amount of Ru in the catalyst an inhibiting effect is observed: high Ru content modifies the metal species and their reducibility. H2 yield strongly decreases (lower than the 50%) for the catalyst containing the 1 wt% of ruthenium (SFMN/1Ru catalyst), at all the reaction temperatures tested. At 600 degrees C, were the highest H2 yield is registered, the coke deposition increases with this order: SFMN/1Ru < SFMN/0.5Ru < SFMN, confirming the positive role of noble catalyst toward the inhibition of carbon species formation. By comparison of all catalytic aspects (ethanol conversion, hydrogen yield, coke deposition and stability) the catalyst showing the best performance is ruthenium/nickel ex-solved perovskite with 0.5 wt% of Ru content (SFMN/0.5Ru).(c) 2023 Institution of Chemical Engineers. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

In the present work, the catalytic behavior of nickel-based catalysts supported on ceria/zirconia, undoped and doped with lanthanum and neodymium (3.5Ni/Ce0.8La0.5Nd0.2Zr0.13O2−x), was investigated under different reactions: steam reforming, partial oxidation and autothermal reforming of different fuels (methane, biogas, and propane). The catalytic properties of these catalysts were evaluated at a temperature of 800 °C, under atmospheric pressure, at GSHV = 120,000 h−1, using steam/carbon and oxygen/carbon ratio, respectively, of S/C = 2.5 and O/C = 0.5 and, in the case of autothermal conditions, with the addition of H2S (100 ppm) as a contaminant. Depending on the tested fuel, ATR, SR, and POX reactions over doped and undoped catalysts showed different results. In particular, the doped catalyst, due to neodymium and lanthanum doping, better distributed nickel species on the catalyst surface, promoting a higher concentration of defect groups and oxygen vacancies. This resulted in improved catalytic performance and resistance to deactivation. Endurance catalytic test also confirmed the beneficial effect of the doped catalysts.

In this review the most significant results reported in the literature concerning the use of carbon nanotubes in heterogeneous catalytic reactions are reported. Carbon nanotubes are very versatile materials and find applications in many sectors. They present, thermal and chemical stability, large surface and high adsorbent and regenerative ability such as to make them excellent materials to be used in industrial catalytic processes.

The replacement of traditional process design approach by a more holistic approach is exi-gent in view of developing sustainable industrial systems and effectively reducing the energy and emission intensities in the process industries. Polygeneration systems are flexible and integrated multi-product systems that can potentially enhance energy efficiency, minimise financial risk and mitigate environmental impact. This paper presents a systematic conceptual process design and decision-making framework for facilitating multi-criteria analysis and selection of design options by considering three major criteria at process level—energy, environment and economy (3E). In this framework, three major steps are carried out: (i) defining system boundary, (ii) performance evaluation on the inner and outer system boundaries, (iii) 3E performance evaluation. 3E metric is proposed and it is derived from the relative economic worthiness associated with process energy intensity, greenhouse gas intensity and energy recovery which collectively indicates the techno-economic and environmental performances of a system with respect to the base case system. The methodology has been demonstrated through methanol and electricity production system with eight alternative configurations. Among the configurations under consideration, high offgas recycle for methanol production followed by electricity generation in series configuration has been found to carry the best 3E