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Lead halide perovskites (LHPs) have gained prominence for their exceptional photophysical properties, holding promise for applications in high-end optoelectronic devices. However, the presence of lead is one of the major obstacles to the commercialization of LHPs in the field of photovoltaics. To address this, researchers have explored environment friendly lead-free perovskite solar cells by investigating non-toxic perovskite materials. This study explores the enhancement of photophysical properties through chemical engineering, specifically cation exchange, focusing on the crucial photophysical process of hot carrier cooling. Employing femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy and optical pump terahertz probe spectroscopy, we have probed the carrier relaxation dynamics in A3Sb2I9 with cesium and rubidium cations. This study unravels that the carrier relaxation is found to be slower in Rb3Sb2I9; along with this, the transient mobility decay is found to be retarded. Overall, this study suggests that an antimony-based Rb3Sb2I9 perovskite could be a substantial lead-free perovskite in photovoltaics. These findings provide valuable insights into cation engineering strategies, aiming to improve the overall performance of lead-free-based photovoltaic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Droplets are essential for spatially controlling biomolecules in cells. To work properly, cells need to control the emergence and morphology of droplets. On the one hand, driven chemical reactions can affect droplets profoundly. For instance, reactions can control how droplets nucleate and how large they grow. On the other hand, droplets coexist with various organelles and other structures inside cells, which could affect their nucleation and morphology. To understand the interplay of these two aspects, we study a continuous field theory of active phase separation. Our numerical simulations reveal that reactions suppress nucleation while attractive walls enhance it. Intriguingly, these two effects are coupled, leading to shapes that deviate substantially from the spherical caps predicted for passive systems. These distortions result from anisotropic fluxes responding to the boundary conditions dictated by the Young–Dupré equation. Interestingly, an electrostatic analogy of chemical reactions confirms these effects. We thus demonstrate how driven chemical reactions affect the emergence and morphology of droplets, which could be crucial for understanding biological cells and improving technical applications, e.g., in chemical engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AgCrS e 2 exhibits remarkably high ionic conduction, an inversion symmetry-breaking structural transition, and is host to complex non-colinear magnetic orders. Despite its attractive physical and chemical properties and its potential for technological applications, studies of this compound to date are focused almost exclusively on bulk samples. Here, we report the growth of AgCrS e 2 thin films via molecular beam epitaxy. Single-orientated epitaxial growth was confirmed by x-ray diffraction, while resonant photoemission spectroscopy measurements indicate a consistent electronic structure as compared to bulk single crystals. We further demonstrate significant flexibility of the grain morphology and cation stoichiometry of this compound via control of the growth parameters, paving the way for the targeted engineering of the electronic and chemical properties of AgCrS e 2 in thin-film form. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plants are chemical engineers par excellence. Collectively they make a vast array of structurally diverse specialized metabolites. The raw materials for building new pathways (genes encoding biosynthetic enzymes) are commonly recruited directly or indirectly from primary metabolism. Little is known about how new metabolic pathways and networks evolve in plants, or what key nodes contribute to branches that lead to the biosynthesis of diverse chemicals. Here we review the molecular mechanisms underlying the generation of biosynthetic branchpoints. We also consider examples in which new metabolites are formed through the joining of precursor molecules arising from different biosynthetic routes, a scenario that greatly increases both the diversity and complexity of specialized metabolism. Given the emerging importance of metabolic gene clustering in helping to identify new enzymes and pathways, we further cover the significance of biosynthetic gene clusters in relation to metabolic networks and dedicated biosynthetic pathways. In conclusion, an improved understanding of the branchpoints between metabolic pathways will be key in order to be able to predict and illustrate the complex structure of metabolic networks and to better understand the plasticity of plant metabolism. This article is part of the theme issue 'The evolution of plant metabolism'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As part of its move towards net zero, the chemical industry, over time, will transition away from fossil-based chemical feedstocks towards more sustainable, 'green' carbon—biomass, recycled waste and captured carbon dioxide. One gateway to transforming these feedstocks into the vital chemicals and fuels society relies on is via synthesis gas or 'syngas'—a gaseous mixture of chemical building blocks (H2, CO and CO2). While today the majority of syngas is produced via steam reforming of natural gas, commercially available technologies are enabling syngas production and transformation from sustainable feedstocks. The optimization of sustainable syngas technologies would not be possible without the integrated development of both catalyst and process technology and the associated skills in chemistry and chemical engineering. This paper covers three example technologies that are unlocking the role of syngas as a gateway to sustainable fuels and chemicals and highlights the innovative developments in catalyst and process design that have enabled their optimization and commercialization. This article is part of the discussion meeting issue 'Green carbon for the chemical industry of the future'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This is a review on the feasibility of monolithic porous supports in biocatalysis carried out in a continuous flow system. It discusses factors affecting the efficiency and stability of enzyme immobilisation, kinetic parameters of enzyme processes carried out inside a monolith, biocatalysis in single and two-phase systems, and cascade reactions including cofactor regeneration. It also covers materials engineering (monolith types) and issues related to the flow of reactants through the monolith (chemical engineering). Emphasis is placed on the fact that the application of (bio)catalysis improves selectivity and atom economy, thus lowering the E factor. However, biocatalysts need to be employed in a reactor, which can aid further improvement towards green chemistry goals. The application of enzymes in flow chemistry has been shown to lead to higher space time yields (STYs) compared to batch reactions. In particular, with monolithic reactors a drastic decrease in volume and thus solvent can be achieved. By immobilising very high densities of enzymes directly on the monolith, reaction times dwindle, improving STYs. The small reaction volumes enable excellent heat transfer, helping to save energy. The underlying principles of monolithic flow reactors and their application in mono- and bi-phasic biocatalytic systems will be examined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT This paper presents an adaptive robust constraint controller for a continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR) system based on a self‐organizing fuzzy neural network (SOFNN). Due to the high complexity of the chemical reactions, the CSTR system contains many strong nonlinearities and uncertainties. This is the first time to introduce the SOFNN into the adaptive controller design of the CSTR system, which improves the adaptability to dynamic system changes through the adjustment of the fuzzy network structure. Meanwhile, the time‐varying integral barrier Lyapunov functions (TVIBLFs) are employed to ensure the dimensionless reactant concentration and mixture temperature within a reasonable scope, which can improve the stability and safety of the CSTR system. Based on Lyapunov stability analysis, all the signals in a closed‐loop system are ultimately bounded. Simulation results substantiate the efficacy of the proposed control scheme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are crystalline materials characterized by their porous structures, formed through coordination bonding between metal ions/clusters and multidentate organic linkers. MOFs have emerged as a significant class of materials with applications in energy storage, CO2 adsorption, and catalysis. This study serves as a brief introduction to the currently available synthesis methods of MOFs, aimed at acquainting beginners in the field of chemical engineering with the ongoing developments in MOF research. The discussed synthesis methods encompass traditional solvothermal/hydrothermal approaches, microwave synthesis of MOFs, one-pot synthesis, MOF nanocomposites, isothermal synthesis, and fluid-fluid synthesis. Notably, the MOF/NH2/Fe3O4 combination exhibited enhanced adsorption capacity of 618 mg/g and retained an efficiency of over 90 %. This study displays a valuable technique for designing functional MOF hybrid composites. By combining MOFs with specific materials, numerous advantages can be achieved in the newly created compounds (MOF composites), including synergistic effects beneficial in catalytic applications, and overcoming the challenges associated with using bare MOFs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microwave-induced combustion was evaluated as a sample preparation method for several types of tea (black, green, lemon balm, boldo, and mint) for further determination of bromine, chlorine, fluorine, iodine, and sulfur by ion chromatography. Parameters such as the sample mass efficiently decomposed and the most suitable absorbing solution (ultrapure water and 25, 50, 100, and 150 mmol L−1 NH4OH) were evaluated, considering the characteristics of the analytes and the determination technique used. The maximum sample mass possible to be decomposed was 900 mg of milled tea in the form of pellets, and the absorbing solution chosen was 100 mmol L−1 NH4OH, which provided suitable stabilization of the analytes (recoveries between 95 % and 103 %). To assess the accuracy of the proposed method, a certified reference material (BCR 060, aquatic plant) was analyzed. Agreements with the certified values ranged from 101 % to 107 %. The proposed method was used to analyze tea samples and the concentrations ranged from 549 to 2,549 mg kg−1 for chlorine, 223 to 828 mg kg−1 for fluorine, and 786 to 4,023 mg kg−1 for sulfur; bromine and iodine concentrations were below the limits of quantification (42 and 80 mg kg−1, respectively) in all evaluated samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Liquid-like protein condensates are ubiquitous in cellular system and are increasingly recognized for their roles in physiological processes. Condensed phase harbors distinctive chemical microenvironment, markedly different than dilute aqueous phase. Herein, we demonstrate chemoselective modification pattern of nucleophilic canonical amino acid sidechains (namely – cysteine, tyrosine and lysine) of the protein towards 4-chloro-7-nitrobenzofurazan in the dilute and condensed phase. We also delineate how the effect of nucleotides and their in situ enzymatic dissociation temporally modulate the protein condensate's pH and the protein's corresponding chemoselective modification. We have shown that the pH of the condensate decreases in the presence of nucleoside triphosphate, whereas it increases in the presence of nucleoside monophosphates or phosphate ion. For instance, we find lysine-specific modification gets inhibited in the presence of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), but significantly enhanced in the presence of monophosphates. This feature enables us to gain temporal control over dynamic change in protein functionalization via enzymatic ATP hydrolysis. Overall, this work substantiates the alteration in pH-responsiveness of Brønsted basicity of a protein's ε-amine in the condensed phase. Furthermore, this environment sensitivity in chemoselective protein functionalization in condensed phase will be important in adaptable protein engineering to the chemical biology of protein phase separation. Liquid-like protein condensates are ubiquitous in cellular systems and play key roles in physiological processes, with the condensed phase harboring a distinctive chemical microenvironment. Here, the authors systematically investigate how the local chemical environment within protein condensates impacts chemical reactivity, demonstrating nucleotide-mediated modulation of chemoselective protein functionalization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article in the journal "Advanced Functional Materials" discusses the evolution and impact of reticular materials, such as metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), zeolite imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs), and covalent organic frameworks (COFs), in academic and industrial settings. It highlights the exponential growth in research interest and publications on reticular materials, with MOFs being the most explored subclass. The article also emphasizes the increasing industrial relevance of reticular materials, particularly in applications like sensing, water harvesting, gas storage, and separation. The text underscores the need for interdisciplinary collaborations and closer academia-industry partnerships to unlock the full technological potential of reticular materials to address societal challenges and generate societal benefits. [Extracted from the article]

The presence of uncoordinated Pb atoms in perovskite materials, acting as non‐radiative recombination centers, significantly degrades the performance of perovskite‐based photoelectronic devices. Addressing this issue by passivating these deep energy level defects is essential for enhancing device performance. By now, the passivation methods are largely proposed by chemical additive engineering methods, which involve the oxidation of Pb through chemical additives. However, chemical passivation methods are often plagued by issues such as prolonged processing times, uncontrollable passivation regions uncontrollable, and environmental contamination. Here, a novel femtosecond laser oxidative passivation (FsLOP) technique for FAPbI3 is proposed, evidenced by X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) revealing the formation of Pb─O bonds. The role of peroxide anions in oxidation passivation is highlighted as pivotal. The oxidative passivation effect is further corroborated by a four‐fold increase in photoluminescence (PL) intensity and an exceptional improvement in photoresponse performance, achieving a detectivity of 6.77 × 1012 Jones. This work provides a deeper insight into the interaction between femtosecond lasers and perovskite materials, proposing an efficient, precisely controlled, and environmentally friendly way to improve the performance of perovskite photoelectronic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The simultaneous population balance equation (PBE) incorporating diverse particulate process aggregation, breakage, growth, nucleation and source is a long-standing and significant problem in the field of particulate sciences such as pharmaceutical industry, chemical engineering, astrophysics and biology. Owing to the complex and nonlinear nature of the governing equations, finding an analytical solution is quite challenging for empirical kernels. In this work, simultaneous PBEs are solved using sectional and semi-analytical techniques. The performance, adaptability and accuracy of both methods for solving simultaneous PBEs are discussed in detail. The iterative semi-analytical scheme for solving simultaneous PBE is introduced, and a detailed convergence analysis using Banach fixed point theory is also presented. Both the schemes are further extended to solve simultaneous PBE in multi-dimensions. Performance analysis is also executed for multi-dimensional models. This article is a comprehensive study on various solution techniques for solving simultaneous PBEs. Therefore, it will be beneficial for the researchers working in industry and computational fluid dynamics modelling to identify the best method according to their requirements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present contribution, the historical development of dimensionless numbers describing axial mixing effects in chemical reactors is analyzed. While the Bodenstein number has become established in Europe, the American literature often uses the Péclet number for this purpose. A journey through the historical reaction engineering literature shows that the development was complex and that Langmuir's decisive role in particular has hardly been acknowledged to date. Unfortunately, despite decades of using dimensionless numbers for mass and heat transport in chemical reactors, no consensus has yet been reached on a uniformly accepted nomenclature. To remedy this shortcoming, a proposal for consistently defined numbers at the molecular and the reactor level is made. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The micrometer scale grain size and large remnant polarization of Bi 0.5 Na 0.5 TiO 3 (BNT) ferroelectric ceramics severely constrain the breakdown strength and energy efficiency, respectively, restricting their energy storage application despite their large polarization. Hereby, superior energy storage performance is reported by a synergistic strategy of introducing Sr 0.7 Bi 0.2 TiO 3 (SBT) relaxor ferroelectrics and a solution combustion synthesis (SCS) method. The BNT-SBT solid-solution ceramics are comparatively investigated by the two methods, conventional sintering (CS) and SCS. An ultrafine average grain size of ∼0.39 μm was obtained in the SCS-derived ceramic, and thus exhibits an ultra-high critical electric field of 548 kV/cm, and a high recoverable energy density of ∼5.69 J/cm3. Those key energy storage parameters are superior to those of the previous reported samples prepared by the CS method. Meanwhile, a high energy efficiency ∼90 %, a large power density of ∼130.44 MW/cm3 (at 320 kV/cm), and an ultrafast discharge time of ∼61.7 ns are also achieved. This study indicates that grain engineering combing with chemical design is an effective way to enhance the dielectric energy storage performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photothermal hydrogels (PTHs) are considered next‐generation biomaterials as they offer remotely defined biophysical information of the extracellular milieu. PTHs allow precise and non‐genetic control for the regeneration of native tissues, which is the ultimate goal of tissue engineering (TE). Molecular and physical properties of PTHs, such as components, structural configurations, and mechanical characteristics, collectively serve as determinants for understanding the dynamic tissue response and clinical translation. PTHs have entered a period of fruition due to the development of numerous manufacturing technologies and polymeric matrices. Herein, this review comprehensively and meticulously elucidates the mechanisms of regenerative therapeutics underlying the design and fabrication of PTHs. Recent advances in the photothermal principles and various categories of photothermal agents (PTAs) have been extensively discussed. Vital components and structures of PTHs are summarized to enable efficacious and precise therapeutic energy delivery. Emerging applications of PTHs in TE are also demonstrated, which expand the strategies for the intrinsic regeneration of injured tissues. Then deliberate the structural and chemical engineering of PTHs to enhance prognosis while highlighting the challenges associated with clinical translation. In this review, we aim to provide guidance and prospects for exploration and innovation of PTHs in the field of TE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the concept of microreactor was first proposed in the 1980s, it has been entering the chemistry and chemical engineering fields at a high speed and is favored by both scientific and commercial fields. The development of microreactors has been extensively studied in the literature, but less analysis has been carried out from the perspective of industrial technology. This paper aims to identify, analyze, and map the technological profile of microreactors from the perspective of patents. Based on the text mining techniques, a quantitative analysis of 16,327 microreactor‐related patents in the Derwent Innovations Index database was conducted. The analysis reveals a consistent annual increase in the number of microreactor‐related patents from 1982 to 2021. Specifically, China emerges as the leading country in terms of patent disclosures, whereas the United States and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) play a crucial role in knowledge transfer. Moreover, this study identifies the technological evolution path for microreactors and analyzes in detail the key patents along this evolution path. Individuation, modularization, and greening are the developing directions of microreactor technology in the future. This research offers valuable guidance for researchers and industry professionals in decision‐making and driving advancements in microreactor technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The phenomenon of coagulation and breakage of particles plays a pivotal role in diverse fields. It aids in tracking the development of aerosols and granules in the pharmaceutical sector, coagulation or breakage of droplets in chemical engineering, understanding blood clotting mechanisms in biology, and facilitating cheese production through the action of enzymes within the dairy industry. A significant portion of research in this direction concentrates on coagulation or linear breakage processes. In the case of linear case, bubble particles break down due to inherent stresses or specific conditions of the breakage event. However, in many practical situations, particle division is primarily due to forces exerted during collisions between particles, necessitating an approach that accounts for nonlinear collisional breakage. Despite its critical role in a wide array of engineering and physical operations, the study of this nonlinear fragmentation phenomenon has not been extensively pursued. This article introduces an innovative semi-analytical method that leverages the beyond linear use of equation superposition function to address the nonlinear integro-partial differential model of collisional breakage population balance. This approach is versatile, allowing for the resolution of both linear/nonlinear equations while sidestepping the complexities associated with discretization of domain. To assess the precision of this method, we conduct a thorough convergence analysis. This process utilizes the principle of contractive mapping in the Banach space, a globally recognized strategy for verifying convergence. We explore a variety of kernel parameters associated with collisional kernels, alongside breakage and initial distribution functions, to derive novel iterative solutions. Comparing our findings with those obtained through the finite volume method regarding number density functions and their integral moments, we demonstrate the reliability and accuracy of our approach. The consistency and correctness of our method are further validated by depicting the errors between the exact and approximated solutions in graphical and tabular formats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The editorial discusses the importance of simple-comparative experiments in statistical analysis, focusing on the t-test developed by William Sealy Gosset in the early 1900s. The article provides an example of comparing filling 16-ounce plastic bottles from two production lines using statistical analysis to determine if there are significant differences. It emphasizes the need for proper statistical techniques, such as randomizing run order and calculating power, to ensure accurate results in simple-comparative design of experiments. [Extracted from the article]

Nonlinear supramolecular polymers (NLSPs) exhibit the merits of reversibility and tunability, along with a unique topological structure. These features contribute to the creation of novel supramolecular polymer species and drive advancements in macromolecular engineering, making NLSPs a promising direction for generating highly functional and complex structures with diverse applications. This article reviews recent advances in NLSPs, including star, brush, hyperbranched, dendritic, cross-linked, and cyclic topological supramolecular polymers, from three key perspectives: controlled synthesis, tunable self-assembly, and functional applications. Firstly, the direct and indirect synthesis strategies used to construct various NLSPs are discussed. Subsequently, the regulation methods of supramolecular self-assembly based on NLSPs are rationalized by considering internal structure parameters and external environmental responses. Finally, comprehensive summaries of the potential applications of NLSPs in biomedical materials, photoelectric materials, self-healing materials, degradable and recycling materials, as well as catalytic materials, are provided. These applications highlight the versatility and promise of NLSPs across various industries. This article addresses key scientific problems and existing challenges in this field. With the rapidly growing area of NLSPs, it is anticipated that they will shape the future of supramolecular chemistry and polymer science, and hold great promise for research fields such as chemical engineering, biomedicine, and the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, academic research on perovskite solar cells (PSCs) has attracted remarkable attention, and one of the most crucial issues is promoting the power conversion efficiency (PCE) and operational stability of PSCs. Generally, modification of the electron or hole transport layers between the perovskite layers and electrodes via surface engineering is considered an effective strategy because the inherent structural defects between charge carrier transport layers and perovskite layers can be reshaped and modified by adopting the functional nanomaterials, and thus the charge recombination rate can be naturally decreased. At present, large amounts of available nanomaterials for surface modification of the perovskite films are extensively investigated, mainly including nanocrystals, nanorods, nanoarrays, and even colloidal quantum dots (QDs). In particular, as unique size-dependent nanomaterials, the diverse quantum properties of colloidal QDs are different from other nanomaterials, such as their quantum confinement effects, quantum-tunable effects, and quantum surface effects, which display great potential in promoting the PCE and operational stability of PSCs as the charge carriers in perovskite layers can be effectively tuned by these quantum effects. However, preparing QDs with a neat and desirable size remains a technical difficulty, even though the present chemical engineering is highly advanced. Fortunately, the rapid advances in laser technology have provided new insight into the precise preparation of QDs. In this review, we introduce a new approach for preparing the QDs, namely pulsed laser irradiation in colloids (PLIC), and briefly highlight the innovative works on PLIC-prepared QDs for the optimization of PSCs. This review not only highlights the advantages of PLIC for QD preparation but also critically points out the challenges and prospects of QD-based PSCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

D-glucaric acid is an important organic acid with numerous applications in therapy, food, and materials, contributing significantly to its substantial market value. The biosynthesis of D-glucaric acid (GA) from renewable sources such as glucose has garnered significant attention due to its potential for sustainable and cost-effective production. This review summarizes the current understanding of the cell factories for GA production in different chassis strains, from static to dynamic control strategies for regulating their metabolic networks. We highlight recent advances in the optimization of D-glucaric acid biosynthesis, including metabolic dynamic control, alternative feedstocks, metabolic compartments, and so on. Additionally, we compare the differences between different chassis strains and discuss the challenges that each chassis strain must overcome to achieve highly efficient GA productions. In this review, the processes of engineering a desirable cell factory for highly efficient GA production are just like an epitome of metabolic engineering of strains for chemical biosynthesis, inferring general trends for industrial chassis strain developments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adsorption is a classical physicochemical process, widely used in heterogeneous catalysis, chemical engineering, and environmental science. Regenerating the exhausted adsorbents or reversible desorption is vital to achieving sustainable adsorption techniques, while the common chemical/thermal regeneration is energy‐intensive and environmentally unfriendly. Given that the adsorbents’ surface physicochemical properties like surface charge and electronic structures, significantly affect adsorption capacity and kinetics, which offers opportunities for green desorption by tailoring surface chemical/electronic features. Since a certain adsorbate possesses specific adsorption energy on adsorbents, an electro‐desorption idea is therefore proposed to electrically control the (sequential) release of aqueous substances by regulating the interfacial adsorption interaction above the corresponding threshold interfacial potential. Herein, as a proof‐of‐concept design, a sub‐millimeter‐sized carbon nanotube‐reinforced conductive resin composite adsorbent with high conductivity and mechanical strength is developed, which demonstrates a high electro‐desorption efficiency toward benzoic acid (94.1%; 3 V negative bias) and well‐controlled electro‐desorption kinetics by regulating the surface polarization. Using benzoic acid and terephthalic acid as a model of organic mixtures, the adsorbent exhibits an efficient bias‐dependent sequential electro‐desorption capability in separating mixtures. This work provides a promising efficient solution for green and efficient desorption/regeneration and a pioneering electrically‐driven strategy toward aqueous mixture separation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effective water management is crucial for the optimal operation of low‐temperature polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). Excessive liquid water production can cause flooding in the gas diffusion electrodes and flow channels, limiting mass transfer and reducing PEMFC performance. To tackle this issue, a nature‐inspired chemical engineering (NICE) approach has been adopted that takes cues from the integument structure of desert‐dwelling lizards for passive water transport. By incorporating engraved, capillary microchannels into conventional flow fields, PEMFC performance improves significantly, including a 15% increase in maximum power density for a 25 cm2 cell and 13% for a 100 cm2 cell. Electro‐thermal maps of the lizard‐inspired flow field demonstrate a more uniform spatial distribution of current density and temperature than the conventional design. Neutron radiography provides evidence that capillary microchannels in the lizard‐inspired flow field facilitate the efficient transport and removal of generated liquid water, thereby preventing blockages in the reactant channels. These findings present a universally applicable and highly efficient water management strategy for PEMFCs, with the potential for widespread practical implementation for other electrochemical devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the significance of developing new techniques and technical advances in experimental botany to enhance our understanding of plant biology. It specifically focuses on the importance of microscopy and gene editing technology in plant research. The article highlights the different branches of microscopy and their advantages and limitations, as well as specific research articles that utilize microscopy techniques to study autophagosomes, peptide-receptor binding, and redox dynamics. It also discusses the use of CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing technology in plants and provides resources for planning and performing gene editing experiments. The article emphasizes the need for a combination of advanced methods in plant biology research and acknowledges the contributions of previous methodologies to scientific progress. [Extracted from the article]

Instrumental Analysis”is an important foundational course offered for chemistry related majors such as chemistry, chemical engineering, medicine, environment, materials, and life sciences. It has a wide range of applications and strong interdisciplinary nature. Curriculum ideological and political education is an important measure to implement the fundamental task of cultivating morality and talents, inherit the red gene, and cultivate new talents of the times. “Instrumental Analysis” is an important carrier and medium of ideological and political education in the curriculum. Based on the teaching background of“Instrumental Analysis”and experimental courses, this article deepens the reform of course objectives, content, structure, and mode, and organically integrates ideological and political elements such as patriotism, cultural confidence, craftsmanship spirit, exploration and innovation, and ideal beliefs with the content of the Instrument Analysis course, strengthen the guiding role of teachers in ideological and political education in the curriculum, enhance the professional quality and moral cultivation of students, achieve the unity of knowledge transmission and value shaping, and provide reference and guidance for the implementation of ideological and political education in the curriculum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Colloidal particles fabricated using lithographic methods are used in micro-nanoengineering as well as biomechanical and chemical engineering. Much of the research in this field deals with close-packed colloidal particles in the form of continuous two-dimensional (2D) surface structures or membranes. The most common approach to modifying the arrangement and spacing of colloidal particles involves etching or the fabrication of micro-nanoimprinted structures at the micro- or nanoscale. In the current study, three-dimensional (3D) micro-printing was used to fabricate grid and honeycomb structures with precise control over the spatial distribution and height. We achieved a uniform distribution of polystyrene micro spheres across the surface of the structures by performing a variation of the floating assembly method referred to as drop deposition, which when implemented using methanol was shown to enhance the dispersal of microspheres in the mixture by reducing the London diverse force (LDF). The application of ultrasonic vibrations during microsphere deposition was shown to facilitate the integration of PS microspheres within the underlying lattice. We also found that methanol is highly effective in the removal of accumulated microspheres. The fabrication of grid and hexagonal structures spaced at intervals of 6, 6.5, and 7 μm followed by the deposition of PS microspheres (diameter = 6 μm) was shown to increase the water droplet contact angle from 103° (close-packed) to 110° (square arrangement) and 123° (hexagonal arrangement). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The jet impingement flash technology represents a paramount research subject in the domain of heat and mass transfer. To augment its commercial potential, the conjunction of annular multi‐aperture jet impingement with negative pressure flash evaporation is introduced in this study. The employment of an annular nozzle array is integral to the enhancement of the heat and mass transfer efficiency between the phases. The Realizable k‐ε model is used in this study. The negative pressure flash vaporization model was also developed by introducing a mass source term and an energy source term based on the Mixture model. The flow characteristics are characterized using numerical simulation. Additionally, the λ2 vortex identification criterion is investigated the vortex structure. The simulation results exhibit good agreement with experimental findings, demonstrating that a higher initial vacuum leads to a stronger flashing effect and a more chaotic movement of the flow group within the flow field. Thus, this study provides a reference method for the structural design and optimization of annular symmetric jet impingement negative pressure deammonia chemical equipment for engineering applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The efficiency of controlling the simulated moving bed (SMB) has long been a critical issue in the chemical engineering industry. Most existing research relies on finite element methods, which often result in lower control efficiency and are unable to achieve online control. To enhance control over the SMB process, this paper employs the Crank–Nicolson method to develop a discrete dynamical model. This approach allows for the investigation of system stability and convergence, fundamentally addressing the sources of error. During the discretization of partial differential equations (PDEs), two main types of errors arise: intrinsic errors from the method itself and truncation errors due to derivative approximations and the discretization process. Research indicates that for the former, the iterative process remains convergent as long as the time and spatial steps are sufficiently small. Regarding truncation errors, studies have demonstrated that they exhibit second-order behavior relative to time and spatial steps. The theoretical validation shows that the iteration works effectively, and simulations confirm that the finite difference method is stable and performs well with varying SMB system parameters and controller processes. This provides a solid theoretical foundation for practical, real-time online control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to a rise in industrial pollutants in modern life, the climate and energy crisis have grown more widespread. One of the best ways to deal with dye degradation, hydrogen production, and carbon dioxide reduction issues is the photocatalytic technique. Among various methods, catalytic technology has demonstrated tremendous promise in recent years as a cheap, sustainable, and environmentally benign technology. The expeditious establishment of carbon-based metal nanoparticles as catalysts in the disciplines of materials and chemical engineering for catalytic applications triggered by visible light is largely attributed to their advancement. There have been many wonderful catalysts created, but there are still many obstacles to overcome, which include the cost of catalysts being reduced and their effectiveness being increased. Carbon-based materials exhibit a unique combination of characteristics that make them ideal catalysts for various reaction types. These characteristics include an exceptional electrical conductivity, well-defined structures at the nanoscale, inherent water repellency, and the ability to tailor surface properties for specific applications. This versatility allows them to be effective in diverse catalytic processes, encompassing organic transformations and photocatalysis. The emergence of carbon-based nanostructured materials, including fullerenes, carbon dots, carbon nanotubes, graphitic carbon nitride, and graphene, presents a promising alternative to conventional catalysts. This review focuses on the diverse functionalities of these materials within the realm of catalysis materials for degradation, hydrogen production, and carbon dioxide reduction. Additionally, it explores the potential for their commercialization, delving into the underlying mechanisms and key factors that influence their performance. It is anticipated that this review will spur more research to develop high-performance carbon-based materials for environmental applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Furfural has become one of the most promising building blocks directly derived from biomass. It can be transformed into numerous important biobased chemicals. Among them, furfuryl ethers such as furfuryl ethyl ether (FEE) and tetrahydrofurfuryl ethyl ether (THFEE) are considered to be attractive derivatives, notably as fuel components, due to their high stability and high octane numbers. Therefore, the production of furfuryl ethers from furfural via a hydrogenation route is an important academic and industrial challenge and requires the deployment of new catalytic processes under green and competitive reaction conditions. The existing processes are based on a two-step process combining hydrogenation and reaction with a strong Bronsted acid catalyst in batch conditions. For the first time, a continuous flow one-step process has been elaborated for the conversion of furfural directly into furfuryl ethers based on reductive etherification. The present work explores the catalytic performance in a continuous flow of commercial palladium catalysts supported on activated carbon for the catalytic reductive etherification of furfural with ethanol in the presence of trifluoroacetic acid. The chemical and engineering aspects, such as the mechanisms and reaction conditions, will be discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reviews a series of cases for which the correct determination of the mass transfer coefficient is decisive for an appropriate design of the system and its operating conditions. The cases are of interest for applications in the energy sector, such as the thermoconversion of a fuel particle, processes in pipes, packed and fluidised beds, and corollary unit operations, such as extraction, absorption, and adsorption. The analysis is carried out by examining the expressions for the determination of the Sherwood number (which contains the mass transfer coefficient), and, when possible, generalised relationships (also in graphic form) have been provided, to offer a useful tool to cognoscenti. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the molecular interactions within mixtures of n-butylamine (NBA) and isomers of propanol. We conducted an exhaustive analysis of excess molar volume ($V_m^E$ V m E ), deviation in ultrasonic speed ($\Delta u$ Δ u), and excess isentropic compressibility ($\kappa _s^E$ κ s E ) by utilising the measured data of density ($\rho $ ρ) and ultrasonic speed ($u$ u) at T = 298.15 K to 318.15 K under pressure at 0.1 MPa. This led to the derivation of secondary properties such as partial (${\bar V_i}$ V ˉ i ), excess partial ($\bar V_i^E$ V ˉ i E ), and apparent molar volume (${V_{\varphi i}}$ V φi ). As the temperature rises, the $V_m^E$ V m E become more negative, while the $\Delta u$ Δu values more positive. The RK equation was employed to fit the excess properties data, with further exploration through additional theories. The findings presented here offer vital insights into amine – alcohol mixtures and their thermodynamic and acoustic properties, which are invaluable for optimising related chemical engineering and industrial processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

cGAS-STING Signaling Pathway-Mediated Cancer Immunotherapy: In this comprehensive review, the highlight advances of engineered biomaterials-mediated the cGAS-STING signaling pathway activation for antitumor immunotherapy are discussed and summarized in detail, and the critical challenges and future research direction are also discussed. [Display omitted] Immunotherapy that harnesses the specificity of the patients' immune system to heighten natural defenses against tumors has become one of the most attractive strategies in cancer therapy. Currently, the majority of immunotherapies mainly focused on encouraging the adaptive offshoot of the immune systems. Nevertheless, it is increasingly recognized that both the innate and adaptive immune offshoots need to be involved to motivate optimal antitumor immunity. Among them, the cyclic GMP-AMP synthase-stimulator of interferon genes (cGAS-STING) signaling pathway is vitally important for activating innate and adaptive antitumor immunity. Ongoing research related to the cGAS-STING signaling pathway mediated immunotherapies have testified their advantages in preventing cancer progression and achieving favorable clinical outcomes. In this review, we systematically elaborated the synopsis of the cGAS-STING signaling pathway as well as involved immunological effects in cancer immune cycle, and thoroughly overviewed the summary of chemical or engineering strategies to heighten the potential application of the cGAS-STING signaling pathway-related agonists. Meanwhile, the highlight advances of engineered biomaterials-mediated different strategies-guided the cGAS-STING signaling pathway activation for antitumor immunotherapy are summarized in detail. Moreover, the critical challenges and future research direction of the cGAS-STING signaling pathway-mediated cancer immunotherapeutic strategy are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Receptors are lipid bilayer‐resident molecules that perform a myriad of functions in a cell, from recognition to signaling and solute internalization, and are typically based on proteins. Herein, artificial receptors are engineered based on small organic molecules, toward chemical, non‐genetic engineering of cells. Specifically, artificial internalizing receptors are designed for selective targeting and cell‐specific drug delivery. The artificial receptors are shown to afford nanomolar potency of action for the cognate antibody‐drug conjugates. In the chemically engineered cells, the conjugate activity is at the same time more potent and significantly faster than that observed with the use of the pristine drug. In a mixed cell population, an antibody‐drug conjugate targeted to the artificial receptor can selectively eliminate the chemical receptor‐engineered cells. Taken together, these results illustrate that artificial receptors based on small organic molecules are simple by structure but can mediate one of the foundational cellular functions, namely endocytosis, with excellence. Most importantly, these receptors are truly bio‐orthogonal and thus afford a dedicated route of communication with the chemically engineered cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemical engineers heavily rely on precise knowledge of physicochemical properties to model chemical processes. Despite the growing popularity of deep learning, it is only rarely applied for property prediction due to data scarcity and limited accuracy for compounds in industrially-relevant areas of the chemical space. Herein, we present a geometric deep learning framework for predicting gas- and liquid-phase properties based on novel quantum chemical datasets comprising 124,000 molecules. Our findings reveal that the necessity for quantum-chemical information in deep learning models varies significantly depending on the modeled physicochemical property. Specifically, our top-performing geometric model meets the most stringent criteria for "chemically accurate" thermochemistry predictions. We also show that by carefully selecting the appropriate model featurization and evaluating prediction uncertainties, the reliability of the predictions can be strongly enhanced. These insights represent a crucial step towards establishing deep learning as the standard property prediction workflow in both industry and academia. Scientific contribution We propose a flexible property prediction tool that can handle two-dimensional and three-dimensional molecular information. A thermochemistry prediction methodology that achieves high-level quantum chemistry accuracy for a broad application range is presented. Trained deep learning models and large novel molecular databases of real-world molecules are provided to offer a directly usable and fast property prediction solution to practitioners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plastics, fibers and rubber are three mainstream synthetic materials that are essential to our daily lives and contribute significantly to the quality of our lives. The production of the monomers of these synthetic polymers usually involves oxidation or ammoximation reactions of olefins and analogues. However, the utilization of C, O and N atoms in current industrial processes is <80%, which represents the most environmentally polluting processes for the production of basic chemicals. Through innovation and integration of catalytic materials, new reaction pathways, and reaction engineering, the Research Institute of Petroleum Processing, Sinopec Co. Ltd. (RIPP) and its collaborators have developed unique H2O2-centered oxidation/ammoximation technologies for olefins and analogues, which has resulted in a ¥500 billion emerging industry and driven trillions of ¥s' worth of downstream industries. The chemical and engineering bases of the production technologies mainly involve the integration of slurry-bed reactors and microsphere catalysts to enhance H2O2 production, H2O2 propylene/chloropropylene epoxidation for the production of propylene oxide/epichlorohydrin, and integration of H2O2 cyclohexanone ammoximation and membrane separation to innovate the caprolactam production process. This review briefly summarizes the whole process from the acquisition of scientific knowledge to the formation of an industrial production technology by RIPP. Moreover, the scientific frontiers of H2O2 production and related oxidation/ammoximation processes of olefins and analogues are reviewed, and new technological growth points are envisaged, with the aim of maintaining China's standing as a leader in the development of the science and technologies of H2O2 production and utilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Motivation Chemical reaction networks (CRNs) play a pivotal role in diverse fields such as systems biology, biochemistry, chemical engineering, and epidemiology. High-level definitions of CRNs enables to use various simulation approaches, including deterministic and stochastic methods, from the same model. However, existing Python tools for simulation of CRN typically wrap external C/C++ libraries for model definition, translation into equations and/or numerically solving them, limiting their extensibility and integration with the broader Python ecosystem. Results In response, we developed Poincaré and SimBio, two novel Python packages for simulation of dynamical systems and CRNs. Poincaré serves as a foundation for dynamical systems modeling, while SimBio extends this functionality to CRNs, including support for the Systems Biology Markup Language (SBML). Poincaré and SimBio are developed as pure Python packages enabling users to easily extend their simulation capabilities by writing new or leveraging other Python packages. Moreover, this does not compromise the performance, as code can be just-in-time compiled with Numba. Our benchmark tests using curated models from the BioModels repository demonstrate that these tools may provide a potentially superior performance advantage compared to other existing tools. In addition, to ensure a user-friendly experience, our packages use standard typed modern Python syntax that provides a seamless integration with integrated development environments. Our Python-centric approach significantly enhances code analysis, error detection, and refactoring capabilities, positioning Poincaré and SimBio as valuable tools for the modeling community. Availability and implementation Poincaré and SimBio are released under the MIT license. Their source code is available on GitHub (https://github.com/maurosilber/poincare and https://github.com/hgrecco/simbio) and can be installed from PyPI or conda-forge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Addressing the challenges faced in “Principles of Chemical Engineering” teaching, characterized by students’ difficulties in comprehension, application, and persistence, the teaching team, guided by the Outcome-Based Education (OBE) philosophy, has enriched the theoretical teaching framework through a “multi-dimensional and comprehensive” approach. Efforts to solidify foundational knowledge and strengthen practical skills aim to cultivate chemical engineering thinking. The adoption of a “multi-project, multi-stakeholder” approach for teaching evaluation has facilitated the innovative reform of the “Principles of Chemical Engineering” course. This initiative has significantly enhanced students’ abilities in innovation, practice, and engineering thinking. Simultaneously, as the teaching team progresses with the instructional innovations and reforms, their engagement in teaching research and participation in teaching competitions have notably improved their teaching competencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compared with the conventional emulsification method, droplets generated within microfluidic devices exhibit distinct advantages such as precise control of fluids, exceptional monodispersity, uniform morphology, flexible manipulation, and narrow size distribution. These inherent benefits, including intrinsic safety, excellent heat and mass transfer capabilities, and large surface‐to‐volume ratio, have led to the widespread applications of droplet‐based microfluidics across diverse fields, encompassing chemical engineering, particle synthesis, biological detection, diagnostics, emulsion preparation, and pharmaceuticals. However, despite its promising potential for versatile applications, the practical utilization of this technology in commercial and industrial is extremely limited to the inherently low production rates achievable within a single microchannel. Over the past two decades, droplet‐based microfluidics has evolved significantly, considerably transitioning from a proof‐of‐concept stage to industrialization. And now there is a growing trend towards translating academic research into commercial and industrial applications, primarily driven by the burgeoning demands of various fields. This paper comprehensively reviews recent advancements in droplet‐based microfluidics, covering the fundamental working principles and the critical aspect of scale‐up integration from working principles to scale‐up integration. Based on the existing scale‐up strategies, the paper also outlines the future research directions, identifies the potential opportunities, and addresses the typical unsolved challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microstructured reactors offer fast chemical engineering transfer and precise microfluidic control, enabling the determination of reactions' kinetic parameters. This review examines recent advancements in measuring microreaction kinetics. It explores kinetic modeling, reaction mechanisms, and intrinsic kinetic equations pertaining to two types of microreaction: esterification and transesterification reactions involving acids, bases, or biocatalysts. The utilization of a micro packed-bed reactor successfully achieves a harmonious combination of the micro-dispersion state and the reaction kinetic characteristics. Additionally, this review presents micro-process simulation software and explores the advanced integration of microreactors with spectroscopic analyses for reaction monitoring and data acquisition. Furthermore, it elaborates on the control principles of the micro platform. The superiority of online measurement, automation, and the digitalization of the microreaction process for kinetic measurements is highlighted, showcasing the vast prospects of artificial intelligence applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Determination of the optimal operational policy for an automotive supply chain is explored under a centralized management approach using dynamic programming. A deterministic optimal control model is proposed to meet multi-product demand over a period while minimizing a cost performance index for a five-echelon network. The production-inventory levels are the state variables and the raw material acquisition rates are the control variables to be decided in the problem. The novelties include parts mixing operations, assembly requirements, and a push–pull chain operation strategy. The continuous model is solved using Iterative Dynamic Programming, an algorithm with successful applications in chemical engineering problems. Its implementation here is the first in supply chain (SC) management models. The results demonstrate that the proposal is suitable to represent the dynamic behavior of the SC and provides useful information to outline a cooperative decision-making process. Managerial insights are derived to improve the resilience and efficiency of the chain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While prior scholarship has theorised on how to incorporate decolonisation in curriculum and pedagogy, there is limited empirical work on how students experience this initiative. With a goal to provide a more diverse and inclusive educational experience, this paper explores ten undergraduate students' perceptions of their learning in a revised chemical engineering course project designed from a decolonisation standpoint. A thematic analysis of student interviews highlighted a generally positive response to the decolonisation initiative. Specifically, students felt that situating the project in the local context increased access to learning through increased relevance and helped them develop critical awareness about the impact of engineering work. Moreover, a community-driven project design allowed students to pay attention to the power dynamics between engineers and the community. However, there were struggles noted in terms of finding appropriate resources to execute a small-scale project and effectively participating in learning due to background-related linguistic and technical challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores Finnish chemical engineering students' peer and self-assessment perceptions. It is divided into two substudies. In Study I, we investigate students' perceptions of peer and self-assessment based on their responses to open questions and Likert-items adopted from existing literature. We identify six perception dimensions from these open responses: Learning and reflection, Motivation and participation, Self-efficacy, Exhaustion and workload, Cynicism, and Self-criticism. In Study II, we develop a new questionnaire for engineering students' peer and self-assessment perceptions, as pre-existing questionnaires fail to adequately capture these dimensions. Exploratory factor analysis is used to investigate how student perceptions form larger factors, and how they relate to theoretically connected pedagogical measures like study-related burnout, self-efficacy, and learning approaches. We find that negative perceptions correlate with study-related burnout and an unreflective approach to learning. Meanwhile, positive perceptions of self-efficacy and learning in peer and self-assessment are associated with the deep approach, underlining the importance of facilitating positive assessment experiences in students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) display heterogeneity in origin and functional role in tissue homeostasis. Subsets of MSCs derived from the neural crest express nestin and serve as niches in bone marrow, but the possibility of coaxing MSCs into nestin-expresing cells for enhanced supportive activity is unclear. In this study, as an approach to the chemical coaxing of MSC functions, we screened libraries of clinically approved chemicals to identify compounds capable of inducing nestin expression in MSCs. Out of 2000 clinical compounds, we chose vorinostat as a candidate to coax the MSCs into neural crest-like fates. When treated with vorinostat, MSCs exhibited a significant increase in the expression of genes involved in the pluripotency and epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT), as well as nestin and CD146, the markers for pericytes. In addition, these nestin-induced MSCs exhibited enhanced differentiation towards neuronal cells with the upregulation of neurogenic markers, including SRY-box transcription factor 2 (Sox2), SRY-box transcription factor 10 (Sox10) and microtubule associated protein 2 (Map2) in addition to nestin. Moreover, the coaxed MSCs exhibited enhanced supporting activity for hematopoietic progenitors without supporting leukemia cells. These results demonstrate the feasibility of the drug repositioning of MSCs to induce neural crest-like properties through the chemical coaxing of cell fates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractA study of mass and heat transport on fully developed laminar and transient free convective flow in a vertical cylinder containing a porous substance inside it. The Laplace Transform Method (LTM) is used to solve the governing equations with suitable boundary conditions. A compact form solution represented by using Bessel and modified Bessel functions. The numerical results were thoroughly scrutinized using graphs and tables to illustrate the effects of newly discovered fluid characteristics, including time, Grashof, mass Grashof, Schmidt, Prandtl, Darcy numbers, viscosity ratio on the concentration and the velocity profiles. The velocity and concentration profiles progressively increase with varying time values until reaching a steady state. Furthermore, it is found that the velocity profiles are decreased by the Prandtl, Schmidt number, and viscosity ratio. In contrast, the Darcy, Grashof, and mass Grashof numbers exhibit an opposite effect. The rate of mass transport, skin friction, and mass flux are presented in tables. The major finding of the current research is that the viscosity ratio parameter decelerates the skin friction and mass flux. This study has potential applications in innovative fields such as solar energy systems, chemical engineering processes, etc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study described the chemical engineering technology to signify the utilization of non-edible Faidherbia albida seeds as a promising botanical source for biofuel production, regarding their potential to address both energy needs and environmental concerns. This research offers valuable description into sustainable fuel production technology, along with the objectives to achieve the chemical engineering to develop solutions for a more sustainable future. The utilization of non-edible F. albida as a source for biofuel production, utilized phytonanoctalyst to enhance its catalytic efficiency. F. albida seed oil concentration of 38% (w/w), non-edible feedstock presents a valuable solution for producing high-quality biofuel. The application of an innovative green nanocatalyst of calcium oxide (CaO) and Tamarindus indica pods extract proved beneficial to enhance the transesterification process. The characterization tools such as SEM, EDX, XRD, FTIR, and HPLC were performed. The verification of methyl ester synthesis was confirmed through FTIR and HPLC analysis. The average nanoparticle size was determined 25.93 nm, while the diffraction peaks elaborate the hexagonal polycrystalline structure. This research provides implications for the advancement of biofuel production, explained the vital role of this interdisciplinary catalysis approach to address the global energy challenges and paving the way for a more sustainable future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]