Sustainability

Phosphorus (P) is a crucial, limited resource responsible for sustaining food supply globally. However, P-discharge from agricultural runoff and wastewater treatment plant into water bodies contributes to eutrophication and the proliferation of harmful algal blooms, substantially threatening aquatic ecosystems. Several studies have demonstrated that metal-cation-containing materials like metal oxides, hydroxides and carbonates show great potential for P-capture and are emerging as a noteworthy category suitable for commercial and industrial applications in P-recovery.

The Reconquista River, the second most polluted river in Argentina, accumulates large amounts of organic matter and persistent toxic pollutants in its sediments. These conditions drive the selection of microorganisms with the potential to degrade contaminants and facilitate bioremediation. Notably, these microorganisms form biofilms on clay minerals, enabling them to survive under extreme conditions and alter the properties of the sediments.

The challenge of plastic waste management has intensified globally due to the non-biodegradable nature and fossil-based origin of most plastics. This research presented explores a novel approach to plastic upcycling through ideal catalytic cracking, with a focus on greener reaction conditions, such as supercritical CO₂ (scCO₂) processing.

This project aims to combine the Brazilian group’s expertise in nanomaterials’ surface engineering and polymer-based nanocomposite with the Spanish group’s expertise in transforming agricultural and industrial waste (which is abundant in both Spain and Brazil) into valued natural source polymers, to incorporate the intrinsic properties of sustainable materials into nanocomposites for advanced applications.

Enhancing the efficiency of material processing, utilization, and recycling is pivotal for advancing sustainability in modern society. The objective of this study is to create sustainable methods for converting non-food biomass into recyclable polymers. One key compound, 4,4'-biphenyldicarboxylic acid (BPDA), is used as an additive in copolymer production and as a blending agent to improve the properties of polyester. BPDA was synthesized through the oxidation of 4,4'-dimethylbiphenyl (DMBP), a compound that can be efficiently derived from biomass-sourced 2-methylfuran.

Refrigerants, essential to heating and cooling systems, are estimated to be used in large quantities daily (approximately 850 million kilograms). While advancements on past generations of refrigerants have reduced toxicity and flammability, current hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) refrigerants are being phased out due to their high global warming potential (GWP). Recycling and repurposing HFCs is challenging, as many are azeotropic mixtures that cannot be separated using conventional distillation.

This study aimed to evaluate sugarcane bagasse as a precursor for the synthesis of magnetic carbonaceous material (MC) produced at 230 °C via hydrothermal carbonization, followed by an activation process with KOH (1:2 and 1:4; m:m) at 700 °C under a nitrogen atmosphere (MAC). The study assessed the structure, texture, and adsorption capacity of MC and MAC for the dye methylene blue (MB). FTIR analysis was performed to investigate the structural properties, while BET and BJH analyses were conducted to determine the specific surface area and pore volume.