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Due to the high energy consumption characteristics of industrial warehouse buildings, the demand for energy regeneration technology is increasingly urgent. In recent years, with the rapid development of building energy technology, warehouse building energy regeneration technology has made remarkable progress in energy conservation and sustainable development. A deep understanding of the previous research progress and trends can provide the scientific basis for guiding subsequent in-depth research. Through the bibliometric analysis of 145 journal articles collected from the Web of Science (WoS) database between 2004 and 2024, this research has studied the research trends and progress on the application of energy regeneration in industrial warehouse buildings. This study first revealed the overall development trend of energy regeneration technology in warehouse buildings through quantitative analysis, indicating that related research is growing rapidly. Core scholars in the field such as Lund H. and Mathiesen B.V., as well as major journals such as Energy and Sustainability, have been identified through the analysis of the literature. Five core research themes, including energy efficiency improvement and regeneration technology, renewable energy system design, life cycle sustainable technology, renewable energy utility assessment, and policy support and energy consumption simulation, were identified through cluster analysis. Through evolutionary analysis, this study demonstrates the development process of energy regeneration in warehouse buildings and the critical role played by advances in new energy technologies in the field of warehouse construction. On this basis, this study proposes current key research directions, including energy life cycle assessment, energy regeneration environment optimization, and energy system management. The research on the energy regeneration of warehouse buildings has gradually become an important cross-subject of architecture and energy technology, providing technical support for the transformation of low-carbon storage buildings. The analysis of the current research status, evolutionary logic, and research trends can provide scientific references for further in-depth research and technological applications in this field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Biochar, produced from the thermochemical conversion of biomass waste, has various applications owing to its broad utility and advantageous properties. This study employs a scientometric approach to comprehensively assess the advancements in biochar application from 2022 to 2023. Utilizing 13,357 bibliographic records sourced from the Web of Science Core Collection with the search term “biochar”, the analysis focuses on authorship, national contributions, and keyword trends. Findings demonstrate a continual rise in annual publications since 2009, albeit with a moderated growth rate in 2023. China leads in publication outputs, followed by USA and India, with Hailong Wang emerging as a prominent figure in biochar research. Keyword co-occurrence analyses identify key research themes such as biochar’s role in climate change mitigation, easing salinity and drought stress, immobilizing toxic metals, degrading organic pollutants, serving as additives in anaerobic digestion, and functioning as electrodes in microbial fuel cells. Among these, biochar’s application for global climate change mitigation gains significant attention, while its utilization as electrodes in microbial fuel cells emerges as a promising research frontier, indicating the growing need for sustainable energy sources. The study also outlines critical research gaps and future priorities for enhancing biochar application. Overall, it highlights the diverse applicability of biochar and offers valuable insight into research progression and forthcoming directions in biochar studies. Graphical Abstract

Biochar, produced from the thermochemical conversion of biomass waste, has various applications owing to its broad utility and advantageous properties. This study employs a scientometric approach to comprehensively assess the advancements in biochar application from 2022 to 2023. Utilizing 13,357 bibliographic records sourced from the Web of Science Core Collection with the search term "biochar", the analysis focuses on authorship, national contributions, and keyword trends. Findings demonstrate a continual rise in annual publications since 2009, albeit with a moderated growth rate in 2023. China leads in publication outputs, followed by USA and India, with Hailong Wang emerging as a prominent figure in biochar research. Keyword co-occurrence analyses identify key research themes such as biochar's role in climate change mitigation, easing salinity and drought stress, immobilizing toxic metals, degrading organic pollutants, serving as additives in anaerobic digestion, and functioning as electrodes in microbial fuel cells. Among these, biochar's application for global climate change mitigation gains significant attention, while its utilization as electrodes in microbial fuel cells emerges as a promising research frontier, indicating the growing need for sustainable energy sources. The study also outlines critical research gaps and future priorities for enhancing biochar application. Overall, it highlights the diverse applicability of biochar and offers valuable insight into research progression and forthcoming directions in biochar studies. Highlights: Utilization of bibliometric review for keyword analysis. Examination of recent developments in biochar application. The emerging focus on biochar's effectiveness as electrodes in microbial fuel cells (MFCs). Suggested future research directions and priorities for sustainable biochar application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Significant concerns over energy security and environmental impact reduction will drive all stakeholders to generate proper alternative energies. Biodiesel is a prospective cleaner-burning biofuel that can contribute on addressing these concerns globally. Presently, pure biodiesel (B100) application is still facing several obstacles, principally in terms of its cold flow properties. Improvement in cold flow behavior parameters is the solution to promoting biodiesel implementation at a higher percentage and wider environmental temperature range. This study provides a detailed review of several improvement methods, both physical, chemical, and biological, from various scientific sources, to elevate the cold fluidity characteristics of biodiesel. The investigated methods convincingly offer proper enhancement in the cold flow properties of biodiesel. Mostly, this improvement is accompanied by an alleviation in oxidation stability, cetane number, and/or viscosity. However, the skeletal isomerization method presents promising cold fluidity refinement with minimal reduction in other physical properties. Therefore, the continuous development of these methods promises global sustainable application of high-quality biodiesel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A bibliometric analysis delves into top-tier research discoveries, providing information that enhances our understanding of diverse research areas. In this context, VOSviewer version 1.6.17 stands out as the preferred choice for visualising Scopus datasets, enabling a more thorough exploration of the subject matter and associated keywords. In our extensive bibliometric investigation spanning from 1992 to 2022, we analysed a total of 12,284 documents associated with the primary keyword 'hydrogel', as well as 29 documents related to the secondary keyword 'hydrogel development'. The bibliometric data revealed a strong presence of hydrogel researchers in China, followed by the USA, South Korea, and Japan. VOSviewer was able to refine the top 2000 documents for the detailed analysis and the most recent articles regarding the parameters such as co-authorship, co-occurrence, citation patterns, and bibliographic coupling. The pursuit for superior and sustainable polymers is essential for modifying the characteristics of hydrogels, boosting their functionality, and maintaining their long-term viability. As a result, selecting sustainable chemicals for hydrogel synthesis becomes a crucial concern in the time being. This review article primarily focuses on comprehending the historical and contemporary processes of hydrogel generation, along with the most recent tools for visualising author networks, keywords, organisational affiliations, and citation patterns. Furthermore, the latter part of this review explores the latest advancements, their accompanying limitations, the significance of these developments, the classification of hydrogels, and their sustainable applications, collectively shedding light on the extensive scope of hydrogels in various domains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the high energy consumption characteristics of industrial warehouse buildings, the demand for energy regeneration technology is increasingly urgent. In recent years, with the rapid development of building energy technology, warehouse building energy regeneration technology has made remarkable progress in energy conservation and sustainable development. A deep understanding of the previous research progress and trends can provide the scientific basis for guiding subsequent in-depth research. Through the bibliometric analysis of 145 journal articles collected from the Web of Science (WoS) database between 2004 and 2024, this research has studied the research trends and progress on the application of energy regeneration in industrial warehouse buildings. This study first revealed the overall development trend of energy regeneration technology in warehouse buildings through quantitative analysis, indicating that related research is growing rapidly. Core scholars in the field such as Lund H. and Mathiesen B.V., as well as major journals such as Energy and Sustainability, have been identified through the analysis of the literature. Five core research themes, including energy efficiency improvement and regeneration technology, renewable energy system design, life cycle sustainable technology, renewable energy utility assessment, and policy support and energy consumption simulation, were identified through cluster analysis. Through evolutionary analysis, this study demonstrates the development process of energy regeneration in warehouse buildings and the critical role played by advances in new energy technologies in the field of warehouse construction. On this basis, this study proposes current key research directions, including energy life cycle assessment, energy regeneration environment optimization, and energy system management. The research on the energy regeneration of warehouse buildings has gradually become an important cross-subject of architecture and energy technology, providing technical support for the transformation of low-carbon storage buildings. The analysis of the current research status, evolutionary logic, and research trends can provide scientific references for further in-depth research and technological applications in this field.

Increased attention has been attracted to saline–alkali soil amelioration due to the growing serious salinization of soils in the world. Lithium slag (LS) is an acid by-product of lithium production with potential properties to ameliorate alkalinity in saline–alkali soils. In this study, LS was reused as a saline–alkali soil amendment and potted plant experiments in a greenhouse were performed to evaluate the effect of LS application on the soil amelioration and the growth of vegetables (roquette and radish) in the saline–alkali soil during the 5-week growth period. LS was added at the amount of 0.5%, 1.0%, 2.0%, 5.0%, 8.0% and 10.0% (w/w) levels. Results showed that saline–alkali soil pH dropped obviously with the increase in LS application. Accordingly, the germination, survival and growth of roquette and radish were significantly improved by LS addition, especially at the optimum amount of 0.5% and 1.0% (w/w) in the saline–alkali soil. In contrast to the untreated saline–alkali soil, LS addition at 0.5% and 1.0% (w/w) levels increased the roquette's height by 49.7% and 36.1% and increased the radish's height by 54.6% and 53.7%, respectively. However, the soil electrical conductivity (EC) and soluble salt content increased with the addition of LS, and the salt stress induced by excessive LS (over 5.0% level) could inhibit the growth of plants. This study proposes a new way for the effective application of LS in the amelioration of saline–alkali soil in order to realize environment and resource sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As an environmentally friendly cement material in green buildings, due to its low contribution to air pollution and its substantial use of solid waste, supersulfated cement (SSC) has been extensively studied. However, the low early strength of sustainably utilized SSC needs to be addressed. In order to use SSC to achieve great reductions in energy consumption during industrial production, the effects of triethanolamine (TEA), diethanolisopropanolamine (DEIPA) and triisopropanolamine (TIPA) (with dosages ranging from 0.02% to 0.08%) on the strength and hydration of SSC were studied, and the underlying mechanism was analyzed by TGA, XRD and SEM. The results show that TEA and DEIPA significantly improve the 3-day and 28-day strength of SSC. The former is better at low dosages, while the latter is more suitable for high dosages. TIPA also enhances the 3-day strength of SSC, but it is not as good as the other two alkanolamines. The chelation of alkanolamine with Al3+ ions plays an important role in the strength development of SSC, which accelerates the decomposition of slag and the formation of ettringite. In summary, adding alkanolamines to low-carbon cement systems with a high proportion of industrial by-products such as SSC is a potential and effective solution. In addition, alkanolamines can be used as a strength promoter for most low-carbon blends, which fully utilize solid waste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Autonomous electric vehicle safety is crucially dependent on the accurate recognition of pedestrians in diverse situations. Current pedestrian detection techniques, however, face significant limitations due to reduced visibility and poor-quality images under low-lighting scenarios. With the aim of overcoming these challenges, this article proposes a novel, sustainable method for pedestrian detection and classification in electric vehicles using machine learning techniques. The approach processes video frame-based images as input, removing noise and smoothing the images for improved detection. A Bayesian component network analysis is employed to refine the features of the filtering-based boundary box detection, further enhancing the detection process. The selected features are then classified using a fully connected kernel operation based on the region with reward Q-Reinforcement architecture, resulting in a secure and efficient pedestrian detection system. The proposed method was evaluated on multiple image datasets using average precision, an area under the curve (AUC), log-average miss rate (MR), and root-mean-square error (RMSE) as performance measures. The experimental results demonstrated an average precision of 92%, MR of 48%, AUC of 56%, and RMSE of 61%. These findings indicate that the proposed technique effectively enhances pedestrian detection and classification for autonomous electric vehicles, contributing to increased safety and reliability in real-world applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights A total of 5535 publications were retrieved and evaluated by bibliometric analysis in 2021. Research frontiers and the evolution of research hotspots of biochar were identified. Future research outlooks were suggested for sustainable applications of biochar.

This article addresses the problem of increasing transport services that intercontinental corridors demand from the urban infrastructure networks along their routes. Yet, attention has not been paid to the coordination between the transportation potentials of a city infrastructure network located on the path of an intercontinental corridor and the sustainable application of the corridor itself. This article discusses solving this problem by increasing the transportation capacities of the cities on the path of the corridor. With field studies in Chabahar, we observe the situation of its transportation infrastructure network to discover shortcomings and suggest required changes. This paper recommends the necessary changes and improvements in the urban transportation system of Chabahar to have a sustainable intercontinental corridor and an effective urban infrastructure network simultaneously. The research methods used include observation of traffic flow and behavior in travel origins, destinations, and paths in Chabahar. Then, this study builds a mathematical model with a graph technique to calculate the traffic capacities on the nodes and streets and determine places that require changes. Analyses show that 13,420 cars enter just the center of Chabahar city due to the increasing pressure of the Chabahar–Milak corridor. This paper recommends a multi-modal transportation system with an urban public transport network. It also suggests physical and geometric corrections in sight distances and longitudinal curves of streets, sidewalks, and squares. We find urban transportation failures in the city and present a comprehensive transportation plan for its improvement. This model is applicable in all cities on the route of corridors and assists their sustainable function and urban transport system simultaneously. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The production mode of "high input, high yield and high waste" in the agricultural system poses a serious threat to the environment and the quality of agricultural products. Accelerating the adoption of green agricultural technology (GAT) by farmers is an emergency measure. However, according to microsurvey data, many farmers give up GAT within a year after adopting it. The implementation of this measure has been anticlimactic. Based on a survey of 1138 kiwi growers in Shaanxi Province, China, this paper builds a theoretical model and conducts empirical exercises to gain insight into the effects of perceived value, government support and their interaction with kiwi growers' sustainable application of GAT. We find that perceived value and government support have a significant impact on the sustainable application of GAT. Government support plays a moderating role in the influence of perceived value on the sustainable application of GAT. Furthermore, in order to overcome the potential endogeneity problem caused by the two-way causal relationship between subjective variables, "owning a smartphone" was selected as the instrumental variable. The 2SLS model was used for endogeneity analysis, and the OLS model was used for the robustness test. This paper discusses the relevant theories and policy implications of environmental management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global food system faces numerous challenges, creating an urgent need for sustainable reform. Functional microbiome assemblies offer transformative potential by endowing microbial foods with diverse, beneficial characteristics. These assemblies can dynamically influence specific food systems, positioning them as a promising approach for reshaping food production. However, the current applications and types of microbiome assemblies in foods remain limited, with a lack of effective screening and regulatory methods. This review introduces the functions and practical approaches for implementing microbiome assemblies in food systems alongside future directions for enhancing their applications. Several ecological studies evaluated how to regulate functional output and revealed that environmental conditions, which shape the niche for species survival, significantly influenced the functional output of microbiomes. Building on this theoretical foundation, this review presents a model for functional output comprising niche conditions, functional gene codes, and corresponding functional outputs. This model is illustrated with examples to explore sustainable applications and regulatory mechanisms for functional microbiome assemblies. By highlighting the roles of functional outputs in food systems and examining the potential for food environments to induce and modulate microbiome functions, this review provides a roadmap to address emerging challenges in food sustainability., (© 2025 Institute of Food Technologists®.)

[Display omitted] • Microwave-assisted preparation of a new alkaline DES using choline chloride (ChCl) and Tris. • ChCl:Tris DES showed minimal phytotoxicity effects on wheat seed germination, seedling growth and photosynthesis. • ChCl:Tris DES could function as an alkaline solvent for protein extraction. • ChCl:Tris DES exhibited antioxidant activities through scavenging ABTS and OH free radicals. The limited application of alkaline deep eutectic solvents (DESs) could arise from a lack of information on their toxicity and fundamental profiles. The objectives of this study were to (1) prepare a new alkaline DES with low toxicity; (2) characterize DES physicochemical, structural, and rheological properties; and (3) extend its applications beyond lignocellulose waste processing. A stable eutectic mixture containing choline chloride (ChCl) and tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane (Tris) was obtained at a 1:1 M ratio. Physicochemical evaluation suggested the alkaline (pH 9.30–9.63), low density (1.19 g/mL), and hydrophilic nature of DES. Structural characterization through Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) indicated intermolecular hydrogen bonding between ChCl and Tris in the eutectic mixture. Rheological analysis reflected the viscous (15.79 ± 0.94 Pa.s) and low thermal stability (dissociation temperature = 66.0 ± 1.0 °C) properties of DES, which should be considered for practical application. Based on phytotoxicity assessment, application of < 2 % (w/v) DES showed a minimal phytotoxic effect on wheat seed germination, shoot length, root length, and photosynthesis. DES was further explored as a protein extraction solvent, in which it yielded 115.0 ± 2.7 mg/g proteins from lotus seed. The DES also exhibited antioxidant properties, i.e., it scavenged 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS) and hydroxyl free radicals with IC 50 values of 5.9 ± 0.1 and 0.23 ± 0.2 mg/mL, respectively. To summarize, this study successfully prepared and characterized the new alkaline ChCl:Tris DES. The fundamental profile and low toxicity of DES supported its application as a protein extraction solvent with additional antioxidant effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to meet the dynamic mental health needs of college students, it is important to promote quality mental health services and to improve the development view of college students' mental health. This paper uses a knowledge management method to construct college students' developmental mental health service model. The model is informed by knowledge management, which comprehensively considers service-related components, namely, resources, content, approach, process, personnel, and objects. Furthermore, knowledge management constructs the system structure of the model and expands the research ideas and contents of the service resource pool. Moreover, knowledge management supports the platform, core technology system, and service process in the model. Finally, using Suzhou University as an example, this study examines the implementation and application of the service model to test the effectiveness of the knowledge management method. Thus, this study provides theoretical and methodological support for the construction, implementation, and application of a sustainable mental health service model for college students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The key pathways for synthesizing nanoparticles are physical and chemical, usually expensive and possibly hazardous to the environment. In the recent past, the evaluation of green chemistry or biological techniques for synthesizing metal nanoparticles from plant extracts has drawn the attention of many researchers. The literature on the green production of nanoparticles using various metals (i.e., gold, silver, zinc, titanium and palladium) and plant extracts is discussed in this study. The generalized mechanism of nanoparticle synthesis involves reduction, stabilization, nucleation, aggregation and capping, followed by characterization. During biosynthesis, major difficulties often faced in maintaining the structure, size and yield of particles can be solved by monitoring the development parameters such as temperature, pH and reaction period. To establish a widely accepted approach, researchers must first explore the actual process underlying the plant-assisted synthesis of a metal nanoparticle and its action on others. The green synthesis of NPs is gaining attention owing to its facilitation of the development of alternative, sustainable, safer, less toxic and environment-friendly approaches. Thus, green nanotechnology using plant extract opens up new possibilities for the synthesis of novel nanoparticles with the desirable characteristics required for developing biosensors, biomedicine, cosmetics and nano-biotechnology, and in electrochemical, catalytic, antibacterial, electronics, sensing and other applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The production mode of “high input, high yield and high waste” in the agricultural system poses a serious threat to the environment and the quality of agricultural products. Accelerating the adoption of green agricultural technology (GAT) by farmers is an emergency measure. However, according to microsurvey data, many farmers give up GAT within a year after adopting it. The implementation of this measure has been anticlimactic. Based on a survey of 1138 kiwi growers in Shaanxi Province, China, this paper builds a theoretical model and conducts empirical exercises to gain insight into the effects of perceived value, government support and their interaction with kiwi growers’ sustainable application of GAT. We find that perceived value and government support have a significant impact on the sustainable application of GAT. Government support plays a moderating role in the influence of perceived value on the sustainable application of GAT. Furthermore, in order to overcome the potential endogeneity problem caused by the two-way causal relationship between subjective variables, “owning a smartphone” was selected as the instrumental variable. The 2SLS model was used for endogeneity analysis, and the OLS model was used for the robustness test. This paper discusses the relevant theories and policy implications of environmental management.

Conventional agriculture often relies on bulky doses of fertilizers and pesticides that have adversely affected the living beings as well as the ecosystems. As a basic tenet of sustainable agriculture, minimum agrochemicals should be used so that the environment can be protected and various species can be conserved. Further, sustainable agriculture should be a low input system, where the production costs are lower and net returns are higher. The application of nanotechnology in agriculture can significantly enhance the efficiency of agricultural inputs and thus it offers a significant way to maintain sustainable development of agroecosystems via nanoparticles. In this regard, nano-plant growth promoters, nanopesticides, nanofertilizers, nano-herbicides, agrochemical encapsulated nanocarrier systems etc. have been developed for the potential applications in agriculture. These can have great benefits for agriculture, including higher production of crops, inhibition of plant pathogens, removal of unwanted weeds and insects with lesser cost, energy and waste production. However, there are several concerns related to the use of nanoparticles in agriculture. These include the approaches for synthesis, their mechanisms of penetration to applied surfaces and the risks involved. Though, advent of new technologies has significantly improved the synthesis and application of nanomaterials in agriculture, there are many uncertainties regarding nano-synthesis, their way of utilization, uptake and internalization inside the crop cells. Therefore, an elaborate investigation is required for deciphering the engineered nanomaterials, assessing their mechanistic application and agroecological toxicity. Hence, this review is aimed to critically highlight the NPs material application and points towards the vital gaps in the use of nanotechnology for sustainable agriculture. Unlabelled Image • Nanotechnology is an evolving tool to promote the sustainable agriculture. • Strategies of penetration of nanoparticles in plants are illustrated. • Various types of nanoparticles, their evaluation and impacts on habitat was described. • Applicability as well toxicity of nanoparticles. • Future prospective of nano-enabled agriculture for sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The educational space of the Architecture faculty is used to cultivate architects. At the same time, it becomes the carrier of architectural ideas and teaching methods. The type of architecture and its spatial organization reflect the architectural education philosophy and attitude. Back in history, as early as the Renaissance, there had study places for architects emerged. After the industrial revolution and the modernist process, the types of architectural education sites are more diverse, and their main features are the spatial form of hybrid and box-in-box. This article preliminarily analyzes the evolutionary outline of architectural education buildings and interprets the spatial ideas in each period. The study focuses on the famous Dutch architectural school–BKCity of the Delft University of Technology, analyzing the teaching space logic of its distinctive Why Factory and exploring how the related space could stimulate the vitality of architectural education. By the analogy of some architectural schools, it also tries to compare the differences and characteristics of Chinese and Western architectural academies, finding out the spatial significance in architecture discipline, education method as well as sustainable application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Nanoparticles of Lavandula angustifolia essential oil was successfully fabricated. • Ultrasound treatment can lead to reduce the average size of nanoemulsion droplets. • Nanoparticles of L. angustifolia essential oil showed long-term storage stability. • Nanoparticles of L.angustifolia essential oil can be used as anti-bacterial agents. As a non-thermally stable product, nanoemulsion followed by an encapsulation process was fabricated to enhance the techno-functional performance and sustainable applications of Lavandula angustifolia essential oil (La.EO). Integrated ultrasound-microwave techniques were used to enhance the release of Clevenger-hydrodistillation isolation of La.EO. Refined, bleached, and deodorized sunflower oil (RBDSFo) was used as a high unsaturated lipid-carrier type. Whey Protein Isolate (WPI, 95%) was used as a natural-biodegradable polymer wall material to formulate and stabilize Oil-in-Water nanoemulsion (O/W-NE). DLS, CLSM, and TEM were used to study the techno-functional characteristics of La.EO-nanoparticles. SEM, XRD, and FTIR spectroscopy were used to study the efficiency of the encapsulation process of La.EO. The fabricated formulations using a High-pressure Homogenizer showed a highly efficient at reducing the interfacial tension of O/W-NE interfaces. That led to produce nano-scaled droplets reached 128.8 d.nm with a polydispersity index of 0.151, and a ζ-potential of −42.1 mV. The optimized formulation of nanoemulsion showed a slight change in droplet size, PdI, and ζ-potential through 28 days of storage at ambient temperature. La.EO-nanoemulsion was stable against aggregation and coalescence at thermal destabilizing stresses similar to that can be exposed to in the commercial storage conditions (5, 25 and 45 °C) at neutral pH. The findings of this investigation showed that the thermal stability of La.EO can be enhanced through the encapsulation process within edible bio-polymers using both WPI and RBDSFo. In addition, La.EO nanoparticles demonstrated a great potential to be used to enhance the release of bioactive components coated in O/W-NE, as well as, to be used as pathogenic antibacterial agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Rare earth elements are widely used in the field of clean energy because of their physical and chemical properties. • Rare earths in secondary resources (low-carbon equipment and tailings). • Review rare earth recycling technologies for green economy in the context of sustainability and carbon neutrality. In order to cope with climate change and implement low-carbon development, the energy structure cannot be separated from the production of clean energy. Rare earth elements are widely used in the fields of electronics, metallurgy, energy, and environmental protection due to their physical and chemical properties. On the one hand, the accumulation of electronic waste has a large impact on the environment due to the widespread use of rare earth devices. On the other hand, with the continuous mining of mineral resources, the amount of rare earth tailings is increasing, which is not in line with the development of sustainable circular economy. Therefore, the green recycling of REEs is of great importance to the environment and sustainable development. This paper assesses the low carbon and sustainability of the recovery of rare earth elements from secondary resources by hydrometallurgical, pyrometallurgical and bio-metallurgical processes in terms of socio-economic factors, including their advantages and disadvantages and how losses can be minimized. In addition, it provides a fuller exploration path and prospect for achieving green recycling and sustainable application of recycling in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermoelectric materials, which can convert thermal behaviors into electrical properties, are widely used in thermoelectric power generation, friendly refrigeration, and wearable electronic devices. Compared to synthetic polymer materials, cellulose is one of the most sought-after natural polysaccharide polymers, mainly found in plants and some biological colonies. Cellulose can be designed as a flexible, ion/electron conductive ionogel material with robust mechanical properties through molecular-scale physical treatment, chemical-group substitution, topological network regulation, etc. Cellulosic functional materials, such as ionogels, show promising thermoelectric applications due to their structural/functional designability, rapid thermoelectric conversion, and good sustainability. In this review, we briefly introduced the structural characteristics, functionalization methods, and advanced thermoelectric applications of cellulose. Then, we discussed the design concept, current status, and application prospects (such as smart watches, electronic skins, health detectors, etc.) of cellulose ionogels for developing thermoelectric cells, sensors, and refrigerating units. Finally, we highlighted some key technologies and strategies to broaden the application prospects of cellulose-based gels for thermoelectricity and intelligent electronics. [Display omitted] ● Structure-design, composition regulation and functionalization of cellulosic thermoelectric ionogels are discussed in detail. ● The latest utilization of cellulose and its ionogels for thermoelectric devices are reviewed. ● The prospect and method for designing sustainable thermoelectric ionogels are thoroughly dissected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental pollution related to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) has become a global issue which attracts intensive work towards their controlling and monitoring. To this direction various regulations and research towards VOCs detection have been laid down and conducted by many countries. Distinct devices are proposed to monitor the VOCs pollution. Among them, chemiresistor devices comprised of inorganic-semiconducting materials with diverse nanostructures are most attractive because they are cost-effective and eco-friendly. These diverse nanostructured materials-based devices are usually made up of nanoparticles, nanowires/rods, nanocrystals, nanotubes, nanocages, nanocubes, nanocomposites, etc. They can be employed in monitoring the VOCs present in the reliable sources. This review outlines the device-based VOC detection using diverse semiconducting-nanostructured materials and covers more than 340 references that have been published since 2016.

Abstract Antibiotic concentrations in surface waters far exceed the pollution limit due to the abuse of pharmaceuticals, resulting in an urgent need for an approach with potential efficiency, sustainability and eco-friendliness to remove antibiotic pollutants. A novel biochar-based nanomaterial was synthesized by hydrothermal synthesis and was investigated for its removal potential for tetracycline hydrochloride (TC) from both artificial and real wastewater. The associative facilitation between biochar and g -MoS 2 nanosheets was proposed, revealing the favorable surface structures and adsorption properties of the composite. The related adsorption kinetics, isotherms and thermodynamics were studied by several models with adsorption experimental data, turning out that biochar decorated by g -MoS 2 exhibited optimum TC removal with adsorption capacity up to 249.45 mg/g at 298 K. The adsorption behavior of TC molecules on g -MoS 2 -BC can be interpreted well by three-step process, and it is dominated by several mechanisms containing pore-filling, electrostatic force, hydrogen bond and π-π interaction. In addition, the cost-effective g -MoS 2 -BC nanocomposites demonstrated excellent adsorption and recycling performance in TC-contaminated river water, which might provide the underlying insights needed to guide the design of promising approach for contaminant removal on a large scale in practical application. Graphical abstract Unlabelled Image Highlights • Hierarchical g -MoS 2 nanosheets were successfully loaded onto the surface of biochar. • Pore structures and surface properties of biochar were improved by decorated with g -MoS 2. • Sustainable efficient removal for TC by novel g -MoS 2 -biochar nanocomposite was confirmed. • Several mechanisms participated in the antibiotic removal were also discussed. • Further research focuses on the catalytic degradation ability of nanocomposite for its regeneration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Biomimetic hygro-actuated wooden building systems are reviewed. • Key to the hygroscopic actuation is the chemical and structural variations between bi-layers. • Typical hygro-actuated systems include self-shaping structures, smart ventilations, motor and self-propelling robot. • Existing issues and challenges in applying industrially the hygro-actuated building systems are given. Hygroscopic movement is widely observed in plant and is a self-shaping response that does not require an external force or energy. It is interpreted as the adaptation capability of plants to their environments. The key to the hygroscopic movement is the structural arrangement of the plant tissues, typically in a bi-layer configuration. Herein, the transfer from the principles of hygroscopic movement of plants to biomimetic wooden building systems is reviewed. Biomimetic wooden building systems have been generated from the centimeter- to meter-scale, such as "silenced tower", smart ventilations, and self-propelling robots. However, achieving programmed and precise shape changes on an appropriate time scale is challenging. For example, almost all currently available hygro-actuated composites are inferior to the pine cone scales, which can be conducted many opening-closing cycles without fatigue failure. Therefore, an optimized configuration of the biomimetic composites is necessary to improve their durability by fully understanding of the plants structures. Enhancing the applicability among the common wood species worldwide is also challenging when promoting hygro-actuated composites in industrial applications. Furthermore, finding an appropriate trade-off between response time and mechanical stability of the composites is essential when reacting to changing environmental stimuli. Over-all, the cross-disciplinary studies between plant biology and engineering provide solutions for fabricating sustainable and energy-saving smart building systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The sustainable application of HVMA is achieved by adding various anti-aging agents. • A single type of anti-aging agent has a little aging inhibition effect on HVMA. • The various anti-aging agents has a synergistic anti-aging enhancement effect. • The combination of UV absorbers and UV blocking agents can absorb/reflect UV rays. • The antioxidants can prevent further oxidation of asphalt molecules. This study aimed to use aging inhibition technology to actively improve the environmental aging resistance, thus achieving the sustainable and long-life application of high-viscosity modified asphalt (HVMA). The sustainable HVMAs with different anti-aging agents was prepared, and the long-term environmental aging effect, including solar radiation, heat, and moisture, was simulated using the accelerated environmental aging tester. Then, the chemical and molecular composition of sustainable HVMAs were investigated using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy test, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy test, and gel permeation chromatography test. Afterwards, the nano-indentation test was used to study the nanomechanical property of sustainable HVMAs. Finally, the dynamic shear rheology test and linear amplitude sweep test were applied to evaluate the aging resistance, crack resistance, and fatigue resistance of sustainable HVMAs. The results show that environmental aging leads to the rapid oxidation of asphalt molecules and substantial degradation of polymer molecules in HVMA, as evidenced by the transformation of carbon elements from C C/C H bonds to C O/C O bonds and sulfur elements from C S C bonds to S O/O S O bonds. A single anti-aging agent has a little aging inhibition effect, while the compounding of multiple anti-aging agents has a synergistic anti-aging enhancement effect. The combination of UV absorbers and UV blocking agents can absorb/reflect some of the UV rays and delay the UV aging process. However, they cannot effectively prevent the binding of UV-excited reactive radicals with oxygen. In contrast, incorporating antioxidants can allow hydrogen atoms to combine with UV-excited reactive radicals and prevent further oxidation of asphalt molecules. The compound incorporation of UV absorbers, UV blocking agents, and antioxidants can improve the rheology property, crack resistance, and fatigue resistance of aged HVMA, thus effectively promoting the sustainable and long-life application of HVMA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental pollution related to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) has become a global issue which attracts intensive work towards their controlling and monitoring. To this direction various regulations and research towards VOCs detection have been laid down and conducted by many countries. Distinct devices are proposed to monitor the VOCs pollution. Among them, chemiresistor devices comprised of inorganic-semiconducting materials with diverse nanostructures are most attractive because they are cost-effective and eco-friendly. These diverse nanostructured materials-based devices are usually made up of nanoparticles, nanowires/rods, nanocrystals, nanotubes, nanocages, nanocubes, nanocomposites, etc. They can be employed in monitoring the VOCs present in the reliable sources. This review outlines the device-based VOC detection using diverse semiconducting-nanostructured materials and covers more than 340 references that have been published since 2016. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]