The development of photocatalytic materials for organic pollutant degradation has continued to advance. In this study, a MnFe₂O₄/Chitosan–Alginate@TiO₂ composite was synthesized, in which magnetic MnFe₂O₄ was encapsulated within a chitosan–alginate polymer matrix and doped with TiO₂. The composite’s crystal structure, morphology, elemental composition, optical, and magnetic properties were characterized using XRD, SEM–EDX, UV–DRS, and VSM analyses. Optimization of Procion Red MX-5B (PRD) dye degradation was performed using Response Surface Methodology (RSM), with PRD concentration, pH, and irradiation time as independent variables. The composite exhibited strong magnetic behavior (magnetic moment: 44.63 emu/g) and a narrow band gap (2.20 eV). The photocatalytic degradation followed a quadratic model, with all variables showing significant effects (p-value < 0.05). The predicted optimal conditions, which include a PRD concentration of 45 mg/L, pH 3.3, and 59 min of irradiation time, resulted in a measured degradation efficiency of 99.71%. The composite demonstrated excellent stability after six recycling cycles. TOC removal of 84.30% confirmed substantial mineralization into inorganic compounds, such as CO₂ and H₂O, while ecotoxicity tests using green gram seeds germination indicated that the degradation products were non-toxic.

Conventional controlled-release fertilizers often rely on synthetic polymer coatings that are costly, non-biodegradable, and environmentally harmful. Biodegradable alternatives such as microfibrillated cellulose and nanocellulose have attracted significant attention for use as sustainable fertilizer coatings. Their high surface area and mechanical strength enable improved nutrient retention, moisture resistance, and reduced leaching. Cationic modification further enhances coating adhesion and nutrient binding, offering superior control of nutrient release compared with unmodified cellulose. This review evaluates recent progress in the development of cationic cellulose-based coatings, including cost considerations, biodegradation behavior under soil conditions, physicochemical interactions that regulate nutrient release, and potential industrial applications. Challenges and future directions are also discussed, highlighting the role of cationic cellulose in advancing environmentally friendly fertilizer technologies.

Curcumin, a bioactive compound derived from turmeric, has significant pharmacological potential but suffers from poor aqueous solubility (<10 μg/mL) and low bioavailability. To overcome these limitations, this study introduces a one-step ultrasound-assisted liquid antisolvent (UALA) precipitation method, integrating simultaneous sonication during solvent–antisolvent mixing to promote rapid nucleation and suppress particle aggregation. The method reduced particle size from >1000 nm to 255 nm (76% reduction), accompanied by a decrease in crystallinity from 58.7% to 21% and a reduction in enthalpy of fusion from 442.61 to 28.57 kJ/mol (93% decrease), indicating partial amorphization. Dissolution was markedly enhanced, achieving 94.36% release within 60 min, compared with only 7.75% for raw curcumin. Antioxidant activity improved significantly, with IC₅₀ values decreasing from 15 mg/mL (without sonication) to <1 mg/mL after optimized sonication, representing more than a 15-fold increase in potency. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that the UALA method provides a sustainable, carrier-free, and efficient route to produce nanocurcumin with superior physicochemical and bioactive properties, suitable for advanced pharmaceutical applications.

Recycling agricultural and food wastes provides a sustainable approach to paper production. This study investigated banana pulp papers with the addition of 10–20 wt.% of eggshell waste powder (ESWP) using fresh and dried banana stems. The addition of ESWP increased paper thickness and weight, reduced moisture content, and enabled rapid water absorption. However, tensile strength and tear index decreased with higher ESWP content due to increased brittleness and the presence of pores and voids. Papers from dried banana stems tended to exhibit higher strength, faster water absorption, and greater moisture retention than those from fresh stems, likely reflecting the effect of thin, continuous fibers in retaining pulp and ESWP. These results demonstrate the potential of using waste to produce environmentally friendly paper products.

Vanillin, a flavoring agent, is used extensively in the food industry. It is primarily derived from a petroleum derivative through synthetic procedures, though these technologies present certain drawbacks, including the generation of undesired byproducts and a relatively low yield. Furthermore, residual lignocellulosic biomass serves as a renewable source of aromatic compounds with the potential to be used as raw material in the synthesis of vanillin. This would allow the valorization of the residue, resulting in the production of a highly demanded compound for the food industry. To achieve this objective, a heterogeneous Pd catalyst supported on alumina was prepared and its activity was investigated in the oxidation reaction of vanillyl alcohol, a model compound of lignin, to obtain vanillin. The impact of key reaction parameters, including temperature, oxidant concentration, pH of the medium, and solvent, was evaluated. The Pd(1%)/Al₂O₃ catalyst used was capable of achieving 84% conversion and selectivity over 99% towards vanillin under mild conditions after a 3-hour reaction period in an alkaline medium using water as a solvent.

Myrmecodia sp. is a plant species often used in conventional medicine for its anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and wound recovery activities. This study was to determine the wound healing properties of AgNPs produced using bulb extracts of Myrmecodia sp. (M-AgNPs). M-AgNPs were synthesized by adding 100 mL of a 1 mM aqueous solution of silver nitrate to 100 mL of a 0.1% ethanolic bulb extract of Myrmecodia sp. The M-AgNPs experiment was characterized by visible changes in color, UV–VIS spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The present study used mice to conduct an in vivo examination of wound healing. The results showed a color transition from a dark brown hue to a lighter pale brown shade and a 460 nm peak in the UV-visible spectrum, indicating M-AgNP synthesis. Several possible wound-healing chemicals for M-AgNPs were identified (FTIR and XRD). The morphology of the M-AgNPs was mostly nanocubes (with average size of 805 nm). Mouse wounds treated with 20% M-AgNPs showed enhanced healing rates and reduced levels of proteins, DNA, and hydroxyproline. Histopathological wounds treated with M-AgNPs had notably elevated fibroblast counts. M-AgNPs-treated mice exhibited a notable enhancement in wound recovery, suggesting eco-friendly practices of M-AgNPs in wound medicine.

Annually, a staggering 1.3 billion tons of edible food are wasted globally, representing not only a substantial economic loss but also a squandered opportunity for sustainable energy production. While anaerobic digestion offers a potential pathway for valorizing this waste, its limitations in feedstock conversion efficiency and substrate versatility necessitate the exploration of innovative alternatives. This comprehensive perspective review elucidates the transformative potential of tri-phase fermentation (TPF), a groundbreaking approach that represents a paradigm shift in waste valorization by synergistically integrating solid-state fermentation (SSF), submerged fermentation (LF), and gas fermentation (GF) to derive bioethanol from food waste. This study highlights the successful integration of these three phases within the TPF framework, demonstrating effective carbohydrate breakdown in SSF, significant ethanol production in LF, and valuable product generation from syngas in GF. By harnessing the metabolic capabilities of diverse microorganisms and leveraging emerging technologies, TPF offers a holistic solution, effectively converting both the primary food waste and its residual byproducts into valuable bioethanol. This review critically examines the fundamental principles, comparative advantages, and inherent challenges associated with each fermentation phase, while also elucidating their potential for synergistic integration within the TPF framework. Furthermore, the technological and economic hurdles inherent to TPF are addressed, emphasizing the need for further research in strain engineering, process optimization, and downstream processing to enhance its commercial viability. This review accentuates and provides a comprehensive perspective on the urgent need for further research and development to fully unlock the transformative potential of TPF and promote a circular bioeconomy by converting food waste into valuable bioethanol, addressing both waste and energy challenges.

Pumice, a volcanic mineral abundant in Indonesia that can contain up to 70% silica, is a great source of nanosilica material. The mesoporous amorphous nanosilica, called nano active filler of pumice particle (nAFPP), has been successfully synthesized using a sol-gel process with different precipitation temperatures at 45, 55, and 65 °C. The nAFPP was characterized using SEM-EDX, Multi-Point BET, and BJH techniques for surface properties and morphologies studies, FTIR for chemical bond studies, XRD for crystallinity properties, and TGA/DTA characterization for thermal stability studies. The influence of nanosilica filler in forming GFRP/nAFPP composites was evaluated using impact testing and morphological analysis with SEM on the fracture surfaces. The result shows that the nanosilica of nAFPP has good purity (93.68%), mesoporous amorphous, nano-sized silica particles, and a pore diameter of 4.36–6.97 nm. The spectra of FTIR display the absorption peaks of the functional group silanol (Si-O-Si). The GFRP/nAFPP composites have higher impact strength than those with pumice particles or without particles. The highest impact strength (97.37 KJ/m2) is achieved in the GFRP composite with 2.5 of nAFPPP, and its addition until 10 decreases the impact strength slightly. Further research on this material is needed to accelerate its application.

Hydrogen has emerged as a promising renewable energy source to replace fossil fuels, driving the need for efficient and low-emission hydrogen production methods. Among these, photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting using solar energy and semiconducting materials as photoanodes holds significant potential. This study focuses on enhancing the performance of bismuth vanadate (BiVO4), a highly promising photoanode material, synthesized on fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) substrates via a hydrothermal method. This research aims to improve the efficiency and stability of BiVO4 as a photoelectrochemical anode material by integrating sulfur-nitrogen-doped carbon quantum dots (S,N-CQDs), derived from Egeria densa algae, to minimize charge recombination and enhance light absorption as well as the efficiency of solar energy conversion to hydrogen. To address the challenge of charge recombination, S,N-CQDs were integrated into BiVO4 using a spray-coating method in varying volumes (0, 2.5, 5, 7.5, and 10 mL). The incorporation of S,N-CQDs significantly reduced the band gap of BiVO4, with the most notable reduction at 7.5 mL (from 3.14 eV to 2.70 eV). This modification resulted in enhanced PEC water splitting performance, with a maximum photocurrent density of 0.0698 mA/cm² and a photoconversion efficiency of 0.0131%. Additionally, the optimized BiVO4/S,N-CQDs photoanode exhibited a double-layer capacitance (Cdl) of 0.102 mF/cm², indicating improved charge transport properties. These results demonstrate that the integration of S,N-CQDs into BiVO4 not only enhances PEC efficiency but also contributes to the development of cost-effective, sustainable solutions for solar-driven hydrogen production, supporting the transition to a renewable energy future.

3D printing is increasingly used in various industries due to its ability to easily fabricate complex shape parts. However, the low mechanical properties of 3D-printed parts remain a major drawback. Numerous studies have focused on enhancing mechanical properties through material improvements, process optimization, and high-strength reinforcement materials. However, limited research has explored the effect of continuous vibration on interlayer bonding and mechanical properties, an area that remains largely unstudied. A vibration device was attached to the printer base, generating vibration during the printing process. Dog-bone-shaped workpieces were printed in horizontal (x-y plane) and vertical (z-axis) orientations using three vibration frequencies: 50 Hz, 77 Hz, and 105 Hz, with a fixed amplitude of 0.03 mm. The results revealed that vibration improved interlayer bonding and the elongation of samples but had no significant effect on tensile strength, while surface roughness was slightly poorer compared to non-vibrated samples. At 50 Hz, elongation increased by 62.7% for horizontal workpieces and 21.6% for vertical ones. Similarly, at 77 Hz and 105 Hz, elongation improvements were 95.2% and 98.1% for horizontal workpieces, and 20.1% and 22.8% for vertical ones, respectively. Optical microscopy analysis showed that the enhanced elongation was due to increased interlayer adhesion, as the vibration facilitated material insertion between layers.