Strategies for Considering Environmental Justice in the Early-Stage Development of Circular Economy Technologies DOI Creative Commons
Taylor Uekert, Julien Walzberg, Hope Wikoff

et al.

ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 12(22), P. 8307 - 8312

Published: May 21, 2024

The circular economy could transform how industry and society approach resources waste, resulting in significant environmental justice (EJ) implications. However, there are few for analyzing the EJ impacts of new technologies before they deployed. This work presents an framework tailored early stage showcases its capabilities through a case study on enzymatic plastic recycling. By providing concise, actionable, accessible guidelines based technology readiness levels series 20 questions, empowers both experts nonexperts to evaluate implications solutions. Preliminary user feedback highlights approachability corresponding interactive worksheet, as well their potential stimulate innovative thinking toward more just sustainable future.

Language: Английский

Recent Progress in Micro- and Nanotechnology-Enabled Sensors for Biomedical and Environmental Challenges DOI Creative Commons
Francisco J. Tovar‐Lopez

Sensors, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 23(12), P. 5406 - 5406

Published: June 7, 2023

Micro- and nanotechnology-enabled sensors have made remarkable advancements in the fields of biomedicine environment, enabling sensitive selective detection quantification diverse analytes. In biomedicine, these facilitated disease diagnosis, drug discovery, point-of-care devices. environmental monitoring, they played a crucial role assessing air, water, soil quality, as well ensured food safety. Despite notable progress, numerous challenges persist. This review article addresses recent developments micro- for biomedical challenges, focusing on enhancing basic sensing techniques through micro/nanotechnology. Additionally, it explores applications addressing current both domains. The concludes by emphasizing need further research to expand capabilities sensors/devices, enhance sensitivity selectivity, integrate wireless communication energy-harvesting technologies, optimize sample preparation, material selection, automated components sensor design, fabrication, characterization.

Language: Английский

Citations

88

From biofilms to biocatalysts: Innovations in plastic biodegradation for environmental sustainability DOI

Slavica Porobic Katnic,

Ram K. Gupta

Journal of Environmental Management, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 374, P. 124192 - 124192

Published: Jan. 21, 2025

Language: Английский

Citations

3

Responsible consumption and production: a roadmap to sustainable development DOI Open Access
Naveen Kumar Arora,

Isha Mishra

Environmental Sustainability, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 6(1), P. 1 - 6

Published: March 30, 2023

Citations

34

Enzymatic polyethylene biorecycling: Confronting challenges and shaping the future DOI Creative Commons
Jin Jin,

Jane Arciszewski,

Karine Auclair

et al.

Journal of Hazardous Materials, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 460, P. 132449 - 132449

Published: Sept. 1, 2023

Polyethylene (PE) is a widely used plastic known for its resistance to biodegradation, posing significant environmental challenge. Recent advances have shed light on microorganisms and insects capable of breaking down PE identified potential PE-degrading enzymes (PEases), hinting at the possibility biorecycling. Research enzymatic degradation still in early stages, especially compared progress made with polyethylene terephthalate (PET). While PET hydrolases been extensively studied engineered improved performance, even products PEases remain mostly undefined. This Perspective analyzes current state research, highlighting obstacles search bona fide suggesting areas future exploration. A critical challenge impeding this field stems from inert nature C-C C-H bonds PE. Furthermore, into small molecules using only one monofunctional enzyme theoretically impossible. Overcoming these requires identifying pathways, which can be facilitated emerging technologies like omics, structure-based design, computer-assisted engineering enzymes. Understanding mechanisms underlying biodegradation crucial research solutions global pollution crisis.

Language: Английский

Citations

27

Enhancing Polymer Sustainability: Eco-Conscious Strategies DOI Open Access
Aparna Beena Unni,

Tomy Muringayil Joseph

Polymers, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 16(13), P. 1769 - 1769

Published: June 22, 2024

Polymer sustainability is a pressing concern in today’s world driven by the increasing demand for environmentally friendly materials. This review paper provides comprehensive overview of eco-friendly approaches towards enhancing polymers. It synthesized recent research and developments various areas such as green polymer synthesis methods, biodegradable polymers, recycling technologies, emerging sustainable alternatives. The environmental impact traditional production processes importance adopting greener alternatives were critically examined. delved into advancements technologies like mechanical, chemical, biological aimed at minimizing plastic waste promoting circular economy. innovative upcycling, hybrid methods etc., which offer promising solutions addressing pollution achieving long-term goals also analyzed. Finally, discussed challenges future prospects sustainability, emphasizing need researchers concerted efforts from scientists across industries academia to drive meaningful change more future.

Language: Английский

Citations

16

Recent technologies for transforming textile waste into value-added products: A review DOI Creative Commons
Manikant Tripathi,

Minaxi Sharma,

Saroj Bala

et al.

Current Research in Biotechnology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 7, P. 100225 - 100225

Published: Jan. 1, 2024

The disposal of textile waste has become a growing issue worldwide. rising consumption clothing and materials resulted in high generation. This could adversely impact environmental health, including humans, animals plants. three recycling methods can be divided into mechanical, chemical, biological processes. There been focus on mechanical chemical processes, pyrolysis, enzymatic hydrolysis, recycling, microbial engineering, this study reviews the important parameters that affect performance are significant for success process. To reach zero-waste goal, converting value-added bioproducts necessary steps. present review addresses current status strategies, valorisation processes products like biofuels, bioplastics, others sustainable materials.

Language: Английский

Citations

15

Microbial Biodegradation of Synthetic Polyethylene and Polyurethane Polymers by Pedospheric Microbes: Towards Sustainable Environmental Management DOI Open Access

Maryam Najam,

Sana Javaid, Shazia Iram

et al.

Polymers, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 17(2), P. 169 - 169

Published: Jan. 11, 2025

This study attempted to isolate and identify pedospheric microbes originating in dumpsites utilized them for the degradation of selected synthetic polymers first time a cost-effective, ecologically favorable sustainable manner. Specifically, low-density polyethylene (LDPE) polyurethane (PUR) were converted by isolated fungi, i.e., Aspergillus flavus, A terreus, A. clavatus, nigers bacterial coccus filamentous assessed biotransformative assay under simulated conditions. Commendable biodegradative potentials exhibited against that analyzed over span 30 days. Among fungal microbes, highest activity was achieved niger, expressing 55% 40% conversion LDPE PUR, respectively. In case strains, 50% PUR coccus. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) analyze degradative patterns terms vibrational thermal characteristics, stereomicroscopic performed visual assessment morphological variations. Profound structural transformations detected FT-IR spectra TGA thermograms microbes. Stereomicroscopic also indicative remarkable transformation surface morphology these after comparison reference samples not treated with any The results are supportive utilization as environmental remediators cleanup persistent polymeric toxins. current work can be further extended successful optimization augmented percentages using other adoption biotechnological tools at practical level.

Language: Английский

Citations

1

Role of microbial enzymes in the degradation of plastics DOI
H.K.S. De Zoysa, G.G.N. Thushari, N.P.P. Liyanage

et al.

Elsevier eBooks, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 299 - 322

Published: Jan. 1, 2025

Language: Английский

Citations

1

Designing biodegradable alternatives to commodity polymers DOI Creative Commons
Emanuella F. Fiandra, Lloyd Shaw, Matthieu Starck

et al.

Chemical Society Reviews, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 52(23), P. 8085 - 8105

Published: Jan. 1, 2023

The development and widespread adoption of commodity polymers changed societal landscapes on a global scale. Without the everyday materials used in packaging, textiles, construction medicine, our lives would be unrecognisable. Through decades use, however, environmental impact waste plastics has become grimly apparent, leading to sustained pressure from environmentalists, consumers scientists deliver replacement materials. need reduce is beyond question, yet reality replacing these ubiquitous with sustainable alternatives complex. In this tutorial review, we will explore concepts design biodegradability, as applied synthetic intended for use at We provide an overview potential biodegradation pathways available different environments, highlight importance considering when designing new identify gaps collective understanding production, fate biodegradable polymers: identifying appropriate feedstock materials, changes needed production recycling practices, improving produce. discuss current standard methods determination where lengthy experimental timescales often frustrate develop better tools models assess degradation rate environments.

Language: Английский

Citations

19

Recent Theoretical Insights into the Oxidative Degradation of Biopolymers and Plastics by Metalloenzymes DOI Open Access
Anna Rovaletti, Luca De Gioia,

Piercarlo Fantucci

et al.

International Journal of Molecular Sciences, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 24(7), P. 6368 - 6368

Published: March 28, 2023

Molecular modeling techniques have become indispensable in many fields of molecular sciences which the details related to mechanisms and reactivity need be studied at an atomistic level. This review article provides a collection computational works on topic enormous interest urgent relevance: properties metalloenzymes involved degradation valorization natural biopolymers synthetic plastics basis both circular biofuel production bioremediation strategies. In particular, we will focus lytic polysaccharide monooxygenase, laccases, various heme peroxidases processing polysaccharides, lignins, rubbers, some polymers. Special attention dedicated interaction between these enzymes their substrate different levels theory, starting from classical docking dynamics up based quantum chemistry.

Language: Английский

Citations

17