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        <title>Frontiers in Chemical Engineering | Sustainable Process Engineering section | New and Recent Articles</title>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/chemical-engineering/sections/sustainable-process-engineering</link>
        <description>RSS Feed for Sustainable Process Engineering section in the Frontiers in Chemical Engineering journal | New and Recent Articles</description>
        <language>en-us</language>
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        <pubDate>2026-05-14T16:27:32.505+00:00</pubDate>
        <ttl>60</ttl>
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        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fceng.2026.1732573</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fceng.2026.1732573</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Sustainable additive manufacturing of polymers and composites: optimization of nozzle design, printing parameters, and post processing for waste to value transformation]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-03-02T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Review</category>
        <author>Pradeep Raja C</author><author>G. Sridevi</author><author>Suman Pandipati</author><author>M. Satthiyaraju</author><author>B. K. Parrthipan</author><author>Vigneshwaran Shanmugam</author><author>Ronald Aseer</author><author>S. Babu</author><author>Rhoda Afriyie Mensah</author><author>Karthik Babu N B</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Additive manufacturing using fused deposition modelling (FDM) has emerged as a versatile and resource-efficient route for producing complex polymer and composite structures. However, the quality and sustainability of FDM-printed components are strongly governed by process parameters, nozzle design, and post-processing methods. This review provides a systematic analysis of these factors and their combined influence on mechanical integrity, surface finish, and dimensional accuracy. The study highlights how optimized layer thickness, build orientation, and extrusion temperature enhance interlayer adhesion and structural performance, while advanced nozzle geometries improve melt flow and minimize material waste. Post-processing techniques such as annealing, chemical smoothing, and surface finishing are evaluated for their roles in extending product life cycles and enabling recycled or bio-based polymer feedstocks. By linking process optimization to energy efficiency and material utilization, this review positions FDM as a pathway for sustainable, waste-to-value additive manufacturing. The insights presented support the development of eco-efficient design frameworks for next-generation polymer and composite processing within circular engineering systems.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fceng.2026.1727026</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fceng.2026.1727026</link>
        <title><![CDATA[The influence of nano-biochar on the mechanical and flame resistance of recycled PLA composites]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-02-16T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>G. Anbuchezhiyan</author><author>A. Vivek Anand</author><author>S. Senthil Babu</author><author>S. Madhubalan</author><author>Vigneshwaran Shanmugam</author><author>Rhoda Afriyie Mensah</author>
        <description><![CDATA[The growing accumulation of plastic and agricultural waste highlights the urgent need for sustainable material alternatives. This study investigates the incorporation of nano-biochar derived from cashew nut shell biomass to enhance the mechanical and thermal performance of recycled polylactic acid (rPLA). Nano-biochar produced via controlled pyrolysis and high-energy ball milling was incorporated into rPLA at 0–2 wt% loadings through melt compounding and injection moulding. The resulting composites were evaluated for tensile, flexural, impact, and interlaminar shear strength (ILSS), alongside UL-94 flammability testing. A one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s HSD post-hoc analysis confirmed statistically significant improvements (p < 0.05) across all mechanical properties. The tensile strength of virgin PLA (32.23 MPa) decreased to 25.92 MPa in recycled PLA due to polymer chain scission; however, the addition of 1.5 wt% nano-biochar increased tensile strength to 49.54 MPa and ILSS from 21.37 MPa to 36.31 MPa. Flexural and impact strengths also rose by 34.19% and 45.85%, respectively, compared to unfilled rPLA. In UL-94 testing, the rPLA1.5 composite achieved a V-0 rating with no dripping, indicating excellent flame retardancy. Overall, nano-biochar reinforcement not only restored but substantially enhanced the mechanical integrity and fire resistance of rPLA, with ANOVA validating the statistical robustness of these improvements. This work demonstrates a viable circular-economy pathway for converting biomass waste into functional nano-reinforcements for sustainable polymer composites. These composites are particularly suitable for automotive interiors, building materials, and consumer goods where improved flame resistance and mechanical durability are required.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fceng.2026.1721648</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fceng.2026.1721648</link>
        <title><![CDATA[A comprehensive review of risks and mitigation strategies for safe hydrogen infrastructure deployment]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-01-27T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Review</category>
        <author>Rhoda Afriyie Mensah</author><author>Andrea Correa</author><author>Solomon Asante-Okyere</author><author>Cecilia Wallmark</author><author>Michael Försth</author>
        <description><![CDATA[As hydrogen gains momentum as a clean and versatile energy carrier for decarbonizing hard-to-abate sectors, ensuring the safety of hydrogen infrastructure becomes critical for its widespread adoption. This review draws on peer-reviewed literature, industrial reports, and international standards for hydrogen technologies. It systematically examines safety risks across the hydrogen value chain, from production to end-of-life and assesses the effectiveness of existing mitigation strategies as well as identifying key research gaps. Common risks such as hydrogen leaks, over-pressurization, and material degradation are present at nearly every stage. Less frequent but potentially severe hazards include the risk of ice formation or equipment damage from cryogenic hydrogen leaks, and toxic exposures from chemical carriers like ammonia or hydrides used for hydrogen storage and transport. The mitigation technologies evaluated include leak detection systems, quick-release valves, emergency ventilation, and both material-based and physical barrier systems. While these safety solutions provide considerable protective potential, their long-term effectiveness depends on real-time responsiveness, and regulatory enforcement. The review also highlights critical gaps in predictive modeling, material durability under extreme conditions exacerbated by climate change, and human error analysis. Emerging technologies, such as AI-enabled safety systems and digital twins, remain underexplored, and current hydrogen safety frameworks have a limited understanding of hydrogen combustion behavior and effective fire suppression strategies. To support the safe and scalable deployment of hydrogen infrastructure, the study calls for targeted research, stakeholder education, and harmonized safety standards. This review provides a timely synthesis of risks and controls to guide future development, policy, and innovation in hydrogen safety. This review will support industry stakeholders, and researchers in developing safer, more reliable, and standardized hydrogen infrastructure.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fceng.2025.1717905</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fceng.2025.1717905</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Decarbonizing methanol synthesis via low-carbon hydrogen: process simulation and techno-economic insights]]></title>
        <pubdate>2025-12-02T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Razan Khawaja</author><author>Tagwa Musa</author><author>Mohamed Sufiyan Challiwala</author><author>Mahmoud M. El-Halwagi</author><author>Nimir O. Elbashir</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Methanol synthesis is one of the most hydrogen-intensive chemical processes, making its decarbonization a critical step toward climate-aligned chemical production. In this study, Aspen Plus® process simulation and techno-economic assessment (TEA) were applied to evaluate and compare four hydrogen production configurations for natural-gas-based methanol synthesis with capacity of 5,000 tons/day: (i) a conventional partial oxidation (POx)- water-gas shift reaction (WGS) base case, (ii) advanced reforming of methane (ARM) with integrated CO2 utilization and multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) co-production, (iii) methane pyrolysis coupled with reverse water–gas shift reaction (RWGS), and (iv) POx supplemented with renewable hydrogen and oxygen from alkaline water electrolysis (AWE). Each configuration was assessed for syngas composition, carbon intensity (CI), capital and operating expenditures, net present value (NPV), internal rate of return (IRR), levelized cost of fuel (LCOF), and marginal abatement cost (MAC). Both ARM and Methane Pyrolysis + RWGS achieved net-negative CI (−0.47 and −0.57 kg CO2/kg MeOH, respectively), while AWE + POx reduced CI by 75% compared with the baseline and exhibited the lowest indirect emissions. ARM provided the highest profitability (NPV ≈ $20.2 B, IRR ≈ 118%/year) due to MWCNT revenues, whereas AWE-integrated delivered the lowest LCOF (≈$296/ton) and a negative MAC (≈−$137/ton CO2e), representing a cost-saving “no-regrets” decarbonization pathway. Methane pyrolysis and RWGS offered the deepest CO2 reduction but were more sensitive to natural gas and electricity prices. These results identify clear deployment niches: ARM in regions with robust carbon co-product markets, methane pyrolysis + RWGS where CO2 supply is abundant and valorization is feasible, and AWE-integrated where low-cost renewable electricity is accessible. Two-way sensitivity maps further delineate viability domains as a function of gas and methanol prices, providing a compact decision-support tool for investors.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fceng.2025.1648187</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fceng.2025.1648187</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Valorization of agricultural waste biomass via solar-driven gasification in regions with high solar resources: the case of Mexico]]></title>
        <pubdate>2025-12-01T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Victor Manuel Maytorena-Soria</author><author>David Antonio Buentello-Montoya</author><author>Hugo Aldana</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Gasification is a technology that can produce high-value fuels and chemicals from waste biomass, with challenges mainly associated to energy required and scaling up. At the same time, solar-driven gasification can tackle the problems associated to the energy required by allothermal systems, but its feasibility requires not only technological maturation, but also a strategic location. This work analyses the potential of solar gasification in Mexico using thermodynamic simulations, based on the Gibb’s Free Energy method, and geographical and demographic information. Results indicate that states with large waste biomass production (e.g., Sinaloa and Veracruz) are better suited for solar gasification than states with a large direct normal irradiance (e.g., Sonora), particularly when based on the H2/CO ratio of the syngas. An index (Per capita Energy Self-sufficiency Index, PESI) was defined to establish a metric for the potential of different states for solar gasification, and it was found that several states (for example, Sinaloa with 480% and Sonora with 245%) can produce more energy from solar gasification than their per capita consumption.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fceng.2025.1722173</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fceng.2025.1722173</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Risk and safety assessment of hydrogen pipelines and storage tanks using preliminary hazard analysis]]></title>
        <pubdate>2025-11-27T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Solomon Asante-Okyere</author><author>Rhoda Afriyie Mensah</author><author>Joakim Sandström</author><author>Michael Försth</author>
        <description><![CDATA[The safe operation of hydrogen pipelines and storage tanks is essential for the development of a sustainable hydrogen economy. However, these systems are exposed to significant risks that must be effectively managed to prevent hazardous outcomes. The present study therefore assessed the hazards and risks associated with hydrogen transport through pipelines and storage in tanks using the preliminary hazard analysis (PreHA) on the Hydrogen Incident and Accident Database (HIAD2.1), developed as part of the European Network of Excellence, HySafe. This database reports 34 accidents involving pipelines and 28 accidents involving storage tanks over the past 5 decades. The outcomes of these incidents vary, as majority of pipeline incidents led to fires, whereas storage tank failures were more likely to escalate into explosions. Other reported consequences in both pipeline and storage tanks included leaks with no ignition and near misses which are incidents that did not cause harm but had the potential to escalate into serious accidents. The PreHA analysis further identified corrosion and welding related issues as the main hazards for pipelines, while storage tanks were more often affected by operational failures as well as corrosion. Less frequent but high-impact event of natural disasters also posed catastrophic risks to both systems. Specific to pipeline integrity, it was observed that civil/construction work had a rare but notable impact. The findings of this study provide insights into the critical vulnerabilities of hydrogen pipelines and storage tanks and highlight the need for continuous improvement in safety management practices.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fceng.2025.1722765</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fceng.2025.1722765</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Additive manufacturing of polymers and composites for sustainable engineering applications]]></title>
        <pubdate>2025-11-19T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Review</category>
        <author>Pradeep Raja C</author><author>Vigneshwaren S</author><author>B. K. Parrthipan</author><author>S. Babu</author><author>N. B. Kathik Babu</author><author>Rhoda Afriyie Mensah</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Additive manufacturing has rapidly emerged as a transformative and inherently sustainable technology in engineering. It enables the fabrication of components with minimal or near-zero material wastage. While additive manufacturing was initially focused on metals, it now includes polymers, ceramics, composites, and biomaterials, providing an efficient platform to produce sustainable materials. This review provides a comprehensive overview of additive manufacturing techniques for non-metal materials and emphasises their potential to minimise waste, promote resource circularity, and support sustainable production. Particular attention is given to polymer-based techniques such as fused deposition modelling, stereolithography, and selective laser sintering. These techniques offer design flexibility, reduced material wastage, and compatibility with recycled and bio-based feedstocks. This review highlights the major advantages and practical applications of polymer-based materials in biomedical engineering, microelectronics, flame-retardant and conductive systems, and multifunctional composites. While most limitations are presently observed in flame-retardant systems, a comparative discussion is also provided for the other application domains to maintain balance across the sections. Additionally, emerging research on sustainable and bio-derived polymers such as PLA and PHB reinforced with carbonised biomass or eco-friendly conductive fillers is introduced to emphasise environmentally responsible pathways for developing next-generation conductive materials. Overall, this review highlights additive manufacturing as a sustainable pathway for material valorisation and innovation within waste-to-material and waste-to-energy frameworks.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fceng.2025.1628799</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fceng.2025.1628799</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Greening the start-up of reactive distillation: A combined experimental and LCA study from cold and empty state]]></title>
        <pubdate>2025-09-17T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Nikhil Sharma</author><author>Shubham Sonkusare</author><author>Kannan M. Moudgalya</author><author>Sunil Shah</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Reactive distillation is a process intensification technique that merges reaction and separation in one unit, reducing equipment count and energy use. It boosts conversion by continuously removing products, making it ideal for equilibrium-limited systems. Reactive distillation is predominantly used for industrial processes such as esterification, etherification, hydrolysis, etc. Start-up of reactive distillation columns is difficult, owing to possibility of multiple steady states and runaway reactions resulting in increased start-up times and associated environmental impact. This work addresses optimal start-up of a methanol esterification by reactive distillation to reduce start-up time and energy. Novel scheduling framework developed by the authors is leveraged to manage variable structure of the model equations required for simulating and optimizing the start-up operation. The startup process is validated with experimental studies in a pilot plant. This method is compared with the traditional start-up process. Environmental impact associated with the start-up phase of methanol esterification in reactive distillation is assessed using a detailed cradle-to-gate LCI and applying the ReCiPe 2016 Mid-point (H) methodology. The optimal start-up demonstrates a 64% reductions in start-up time compared to traditional start-up, which significantly reduces environmental impacts. Key improvements in emissions included a 68% decrease in GWP, 56% reduction in fossil depletion, and 69% reduction in human toxicity when compared with the traditional method. These benefits were driven by reduced energy consumption and elimination of raw material loss during transient operation. The results highlight the environmental and operational advantages of optimal RD startup strategies and emphasize the need to include transient phases in LCA models. This approach supports sustainable process design and aligns with decarbonization goals in chemical manufacturing.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fceng.2025.1643007</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fceng.2025.1643007</link>
        <title><![CDATA[China’s strategic thoughts and suggestions on promoting South Africa’s clean energy transition]]></title>
        <pubdate>2025-07-22T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Review</category>
        <author>Hongli Guo</author><author>Wen Feng</author><author>Ruining Yan</author>
        <description><![CDATA[This paper analyzes the structural challenges faced by South Africa, such as high dependence on coal power, low penetration rate of clean energy and lagging power grid infrastructure. Combined with the basis and bottlenecks of energy cooperation between China and South Africa, it proposes a multi-dimensional cooperation path centered on technological synergy, financial innovation and institutional adaptation. This path requires both sides to focus on joint research and development of clean energy technologies, cultivation of localized industrial chains and upgrading of smart grids. By innovating hybrid financing tools and risk hedging mechanisms, they can break through capital constraints and promote the reform of South Africa’s energy policy to activate market vitality. At the same time, it is emphasized to deeply integrate China’s advantages in the clean energy industry with South Africa’s resource endowments, establish a mutual recognition system for technical standards and a long-term mechanism for talent cultivation, and ultimately achieve the dual goals of optimizing South Africa’s energy structure and regionalizing the application of China’s technical standards. Clean energy cooperation between China and South Africa is not only about capacity matching, but also requires the establishment of a sustainable collaborative innovation ecosystem to provide a replicable regional cooperation model for the energy transition of emerging economies.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fceng.2025.1526331</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fceng.2025.1526331</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Sustainable-green hydrogen production through integrating electrolysis, water treatment and solar energy]]></title>
        <pubdate>2025-07-21T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Afreenuzzaman Badruzzaman</author><author>Seckin Karagoz</author><author>Fadwa Eljack</author>
        <description><![CDATA[The growing interest in hydrogen as an alternative fuel has stimulated research into methods that enable the global shift to sustainable, green energy. One promising pathway is the production of green hydrogen via electrolysis, particularly when coupled with renewable energy sources like solar power. Integrating a proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyzer with solar energy can aid this transition. Using treated sewage effluent, instead of deionized water, can make the process more economical and sustainable. Thus, the objective of this research is to demonstrate that an integrated electrolysis-water treatment-solar energy system can be a viable candidate for producing green hydrogen in a sustainable manner. This study assesses different combinations of water pretreatment (RO and UF) and solar energy input (PV, ST, and PTC), evaluating their techno-economic feasibility, efficiencies, environmental impact, and sustainability. The study shows that CSP scenarios have the highest CAPEX, roughly fourfold that of PV cases and sevenfold that of national grid cases. Using solar energy sources like PV, ST, and PTC results in high material efficiency (94.87%) and environmental efficiency (98.34%), while also reducing CO2 emissions by approximately 88% compared to the national grid. The process’s economic sustainability averages 57%, but it could reach 90% if hydrogen production costs fall to $2.08-$2.27 per kg. The outcome of this study is to provide a green hydrogen production pathway that is technically feasible, environmentally sustainable, and economically viable.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fceng.2024.1476214</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fceng.2024.1476214</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Decreasing viscosity and increasing accessible load by replacing classical diluents with a hydrotrope in liquid–liquid extraction]]></title>
        <pubdate>2025-01-03T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Asmae El Maangar</author><author>Thomas Zemb</author><author>Clément Fleury</author><author>Jean Duhamet</author><author>Jean-François Dufrêche</author><author>Stéphane Pellet-Rostaing</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Using a generic example, we show that the strategy of replacing a classically used aliphatic diluent with a hydrotrope in liquid–liquid extraction induces higher performance. Liquid–liquid extraction is widely used in hydrometallurgical processes for recycling strategic metals, but it is limited due to the formation of a third phase. Hydrotropes have never been studied as diluents in the context of metal recycling. We show that using hydrotropes as a diluent decreases the viscosity of solutions by more than a factor of ten, even under high load by extracted cations. It also increases the efficiency of extraction for typical ionic extractants such as anionic phosphates or non-ionic amides. The latter also quench all types of third-phase transition that occur when classical diluents are used. The gain in distribution coefficient by a factor of ten comes from the entropy of the solvent phase involved and is not linked to apparent complexation constants. In the case of anionic extractants, the Gibbs energy of transfer depends linearly on the ionic radii of the rare earth considered, which is not true with non-ionic extractants. Moreover, the maximum load possible is increased by a factor of two to three versus alkanes, allowing more compact design and intensification of extraction processes. Based on SAXS and surface tension measurements, the origin of this gain in Gibbs energy of transfer and tunable selectivity in the family of rare earth elements is further identified by three mechanisms: reduction of the term linked to complexation, more than compensated by a synergistic effect of the hydrotrope and the comlexant, and the intra-aggregate entropy of mixing. The result is a systematic increase of distribution coefficient of the order of 50–150 of the distribution coefficients, induced systematically by the replacement of alcanes with hydrotropes as diluents.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fceng.2024.1450151</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fceng.2024.1450151</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Hydrogen gas and biochar production from kitchen food waste through dark fermentation and pyrolysis]]></title>
        <pubdate>2024-11-14T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Snigdhendubala Pradhan</author><author>Burak Yuzer</author><author>Yusuf Bicer</author><author>Gordon McKay</author><author>Tareq Al-Ansari</author>
        <description><![CDATA[The transportation and consumption of kitchen food waste is a major contribution to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in global warming. To reduce this risk, it is important to recycle food waste into energy production and agricultural byproduct for nutrient management. Dark fermentation is one of the most suitable nutrient recovery techniques for generating hydrogen (H2) gas and serves as a clean energy carrier for a sustainable environment. Potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.) and watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) are an important vegetable and fruit in demand in markets worldwide. Each year, almost 8,000 kilotons of potato peel is generated, with a GHG emission of 5 million tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalent. More than 90% of watermelon rind is considered waste and is discarded. A small-scale preliminary study was conducted on these two waste products to produce H2 gas from potato peel, watermelon rind, and a mixture of peel and rind by the dark fermentation process. After volume analysis of the H2 gas produced, the remaining residue was used to produce biochar. The highest volume of 149 mL H2 gas was achieved from the peel, followed by 140 mL and 135 mL of H2 gas from the rind and the mixture of peel and rind, respectively, with a biomass pH of 4.7–5.6 and volatile solids (VS) of 77%–88%. The biochar produced from all the sample types was alkaline in nature with a pH of 7.88 ± 0.33, electrical conductivity of 0.38 ± 0.03 mS/cm, zeta potential of −25.12 ± 0.32 mV, and had a nutrient richness that could be beneficial for soil quality improvement and plant growth. However, the outcomes of this small-scale analysis cycle requires additional analytical outcomes with field application that targets the future scope of research on sustainable H2 production and agricultural application.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fceng.2024.1497022</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fceng.2024.1497022</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Numerical study on a new adjustable multi-hole throttling device for natural gas flooding]]></title>
        <pubdate>2024-11-11T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Xuesong Xing</author><author>Huan Chen</author><author>Yingwen Ma</author><author>Jifei Yu</author><author>Dedong Xue</author><author>Minghua Zou</author><author>Lei Kou</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Natural gas flooding represents a significant technique for the enhancement of oil recovery, thereby facilitating the efficient utilization of oil and gas resources. In the injection and production system, the throttling gas nozzle is a key component that adjust the injection pressure according to the reservoir’s pressure. However, current throttling gas nozzles utilize a fixed structure, which presents a challenge in achieving online control of flow rate and pressure drop. Therefore, a new adjustable multi-hole throttling device was proposed in this paper, allowing for the regulation of pressure loss by changing the number of flowing holes. In order to gain insight into the operational principles and pressure drop characteristics of this new throttling device, the SST k-ω turbulence model and the NIST physical property model were employed to simulate the supercritical natural gas flow in the nozzle. The results demonstrate that there is an uneven distribution of velocity between the channels of the downhole multi-hole throttling device. The velocity in a single nozzle channel exhibits a trend of initially increasing rapidly and then decreasing, while the pressure exhibits an initial decrease, which is then followed by a slight increase. The pressure drops of the nozzle under different flow rates and flowing hole numbers were acquired, revealing that the pressure drop of the multi-hole throttling device is inversely proportional to the number of holes. The adjustment accuracy of pressure drop and flow rate is higher when the number of holes is between 4 and 6. However, a significant increase in pressure drop occurs when the number of holes is less than 3, resulting in poorer regulation accuracy. Furthermore, a pressure drop prediction model was developed based on the numerical results, which provides guidance for the application and design of the throttling device. In this study, a new natural gas flooding throttling device is proposed, offering a new approach for downhole equipment development. Additionally, this research provides guidance for the practical application and iterative improvement of this throttling device in future use.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fceng.2024.1439400</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fceng.2024.1439400</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Enhancing catalytic pyrolysis of polypropylene using mesopore-modified HZSM-5 catalysts: insights and strategies for improved performance]]></title>
        <pubdate>2024-09-23T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Qing He</author><author>Oguzhan Akin</author><author>Yannick Ureel</author><author>Parviz Yazdani</author><author>Lingfeng Li</author><author>Robin John Varghese</author><author>Kevin M. Van Geem</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Designing an active, selective, and stable catalyst for catalytic polyolefin pyrolysis is crucial for enhancing energy efficiency and economic viability in chemical processes. In this study, two synthesis methods—NaOH and NaOH/CTAB treatments—were employed to modify the physicochemical properties of CBV23, CBV55, and CBV80 zeolites. The catalytic performance of both parent and modified zeolites was evaluated for polypropylene pyrolysis using a two-stage micro-pyrolyzer coupled with two-dimensional GC-FID/MS. The NaOH/CTAB treatment preserved and enhanced strong acid sites while promoting a more uniform mesopore distribution. Among the catalysts tested, the hierarchical CBV80-ZM exhibited the best performance, achieving a propylene yield of 41 wt% and total light olefin and MA yields of 92 wt%. The improved catalytic performance was attributed to optimized acidity and larger pore size, which reduced the number of weak acid sites. These findings offer valuable insights for designing tailored zeolites based on specific target products for catalytic pyrolysis of plastic waste, particularly in the production of propylene and other high-value chemicals.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fceng.2024.1463638</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fceng.2024.1463638</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Catalytic revalorization of plastic waste phthalate plasticizers into simple aromatics and alkenes]]></title>
        <pubdate>2024-09-13T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Simon Windels</author><author>Nienke Seynaeve</author><author>Wouter Stuyck</author><author>Dirk E. De Vos</author>
        <description><![CDATA[In order to deal with legacy additives in plastic waste streams, multiple extraction processes are being developed. For sustainability and economic reasons, these processes call for the parallel implementation of revalorisation routes for the extracted toxic compounds, especially when dealing with large volumes as in the case of phthalate plasticizers. On account of its intrinsic value, the recovery of the aromatic fragment from such end-of-life phthalate ester mixtures was prioritized in this work. To that end, a hydrolysis-decarboxylation process was designed using hydrophobic zeolites and heterogeneous Pt-catalysts, in water as a safe and environmentally benign solvent. By carefully tuning the reaction parameters, the selective formation of phthalic acid, benzoic acid or benzene can be achieved in near-quantitative yields, next to the recovery of alkene and alcohol side chain fragments (yields up to 99%).]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fceng.2024.1412081</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fceng.2024.1412081</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Editorial: Bioprocess designing towards clean energy production from industrial wastewater]]></title>
        <pubdate>2024-05-15T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Editorial</category>
        <author>Santhana Krishnan</author><author>Mohd Nasrullah</author><author>Prabhu Saravanan</author><author>Mohd Fadhil Bin Md Din</author>
        <description></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fceng.2024.1282076</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fceng.2024.1282076</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Performance of removing aqueous contaminant by zirconium based adsorbents: a critical review]]></title>
        <pubdate>2024-04-26T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Review</category>
        <author>Dandan Zhao</author><author>Yi Yang</author><author>J. Paul Chen</author>
        <description><![CDATA[The studies on materials for decontamination in aqueous solutions have increasingly received greater attentions. Such contaminants as heavy metals, arsenic, fluoride and phosphate are harmful to humans and aqueous species due to higher toxicity. Zirconium based adsorbents have become more attractive due to outstanding performance in decontamination. This article provides a comprehensive review of the performance and mechanisms of five types adsorbents: zirconium (hydro)oxides, zirconium hydrogen sulfate, zirconium based multiple metal typed adsorbents and zirconium impregnated complexes. The pseudo-first order and pseudo-second order equations and the intraparticle diffusion model can be applied in describing the adsorption kinetics, while Langmuir and Freundlich equations are the most commonly used adsorption isotherms. The important mechanisms for uptake of contaminants are: ligand exchange between adsorbate and adsorbent, surface complexation formation, and Lewis acid–base and electrostatic interactions. A series of successful studies demonstrate that the adsorbents are promising for removing aqueous contaminants.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fceng.2024.1342755</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fceng.2024.1342755</link>
        <title><![CDATA[The effect of 1-deoxynojirimycin isolated from logging residue of Bagassa guianensis on an in vitro cancer model]]></title>
        <pubdate>2024-04-10T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Susanne Suely Santos da Fonseca</author><author>Thaíssa Vitória Portal Rodrigues</author><author>Wandson Braamcamp de Souza Pinheiro</author><author>Eliel Barbosa Teixeira</author><author>Kyouk Isabel Portilho dos Santos</author><author>Marcelli Geisse de Oliveira Prata da Silva</author><author>Amanda Marques de Sousa</author><author>Débora Monteiro Carneiro do Vale</author><author>Jaqueline Diniz Pinho</author><author>Taíssa Maíra Thomaz Araújo</author><author>André Salim Khayat</author><author>Antonio Pereira</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Introduction:Bagassa guianensis Aubl, a tree widely distributed in Brazil, significantly contributes to the furniture industry. Notably, it harbors the bioactive compound 1-deoxynojirimycin (1-DNJ), which is retrievable from timber residues and retains activity even days after wood extraction. This makes Bagassa guianensis a promising biological resource for anticancer therapy and pharmacology studies. This study delves into the in vitro antineoplastic actions of 1-DNJ, focusing on adenocarcinoma gastric cell lines (ACP02) and glioblastoma (A172).Methods: The effect of 1-DNJ on cell viability was evaluated after 72 hours of treatment in the ACP02 and A172 cell lines. We also assessed the effect of 1-DNJ on the pattern of cell migration, cell death, changes in the cell cycle by flow cytometry, the production of reactive oxygen, and its antioxidant capacity in the scavenging of free radicals.Results: Assessing cell viability after 72 h (about 3 days) of treatment reveals a remarkable reduction, particularly in glioblastoma cells (A172), exhibiting a lower IC50 compared to ACP02 and MRC5 (fibroblast derived from normal lung tissue) cell lines. This decreased viability correlates with reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in both cell lines after the treatment with 1-DNJ. Furthermore, 1-DNJ induces cell cycle arrest, impedes cell migration, and prompts cell death in ACP02 and A172.Discussion: These findings support 1-DNJ as a potent antineoplastic agent, particularly efficacious against glioblastoma and gastric adenocarcinoma. Thus, unveiling the therapeutic potential of Bagassa guianensis Aubl for cancer treatment and expanding the horizons of bioeconomy applications.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fceng.2023.1343629</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fceng.2023.1343629</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Editorial: The role of agave as feedstock within a sustainable circular bioeconomy]]></title>
        <pubdate>2024-01-04T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Editorial</category>
        <author>Jose A. Perez-Pimienta</author><author>Hugo O. Méndez-Acosta</author><author>Sarah C. Davis</author><author>Daniel Kean Yuen Tan</author>
        <description></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fceng.2023.1174689</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fceng.2023.1174689</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Molecular epidemiology of sisal bole rot disease suggests a potential phytosanitary crisis in Brazilian production areas]]></title>
        <pubdate>2023-11-01T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Fábio Trigo Raya</author><author>Gabriel Quintanilha-Peixoto</author><author>Adriele Barbara de Oliveira</author><author>Marina Püpke Marone</author><author>Wagner José Villela dos Reis</author><author>João Gabriel Oliveira Marques</author><author>Rafael Leonardo Almeida</author><author>Cezar Augusto Teixeira Falcão Filho</author><author>Oldair Del’Arco Vinhas Costa</author><author>Rafael Vasconcelos Ribeiro</author><author>Ana Cristina Fermino Soares</author><author>Aristóteles Goés-Neto</author><author>Gonçalo Amarante Guimarães Pereira</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Sisal bole rot disease is the major phytosanitary problem of Agave plantations in Brazil. The disease is caused by a cryptic species of Aspergillus: A. welwitschiae. To date, the only way to diagnose the disease was to observe external symptoms, visible only when the plant is already compromised, or through the isolation and sequencing of the pathogen, which requires cutting the entire plant for bole tissue sampling. We developed a new primer set based on a unique gene region of A. welwitschiae, which can detect the phytopathogenic strains through PCR directly from sisal leaves. Using the new marker to study the main sisal-producing areas in Brazil, we discovered a troublesome situation. The main producing areas of this crop had a pathogen incidence of 78%–88%. The dispersion index indicates a regular spatial pattern for disease distribution, suggesting that the use of contaminated suckers to establish new fields may be the main disease-spreading mechanism. Altogether, the high incidence of the pathogen, the unavailability of clean plants, the unpredictability of disease progression, and the low investment capacity of farmers reveal the vulnerability of this sector to a potential phytosanitary crisis. By correlating the disease symptomatology with soil nutritional traits, we suggest that higher potassium availability might decrease visual symptoms, while phosphorus may have the opposite effect. Also, we observe a potential cultivar effect, suggesting that common sisal may be more susceptible than hybrid cultivars (especially H400). This new molecular tool is a significant advance for understanding the disease, enabling the implementation of a monitoring program and studies that may lead to pathogen control strategies and changes in the Brazilian production model.]]></description>
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