Carbon nanotube yarns (CNTYs) have received more consideration recently due to their excellent specific mechanical, electrical and thermal properties, making them promising materials for different applications. Until now, the axial properties of the yarn have been thoroughly investigated; however, the transverse or radial properties, orthogonal to the fiber axis, remain relatively unknown due to the challenges associated with their measurement. In this study, the transverse or radial response of the CNTY including its elastic modulus was determined using Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and Raman Spectroscopy. Determining transverse properties in fibrous materials presents challenges owing to their geometry, inherent anisotropy, whereby mechanical characteristics exhibit directional disparities; i.e., the properties in the transverse direction may be several orders of magnitude smaller than those in the axial direction. To overcome these difficulties, AFM was utilized to perform nanoindentation experiments, where a tipless flexible cantilever probe was used to apply a controlled force to the CNTY surface. The resulting indentation depth was then analyzed to determine the transversal elastic modulus. Preliminary findings indicate that the transverse elastic modulus of the CNTYs ranges from 10–54 kPa for strain levels below 3%. Complementary Raman spectroscopy provided insight into the bulk-scale mechanical behavior of CNTYs. Incremental compressive loading between microscope slides induced nonlinear upshifts in the 2D Raman band (from ~2686.6 to 2691.4 cm−1), indicating nanoscale tube realignment, inter-tube densification, and compaction. From lateral diameter measurements under load, a stress–strain curve was constructed, revealing three distinct regimes: one with an initial elastic modulus of 3.12 MPa (0.3–11.2% strain), another one with an elastic modulus increasing to 8.46 MPa (11.2–14.4%), and finally one with an elastic modulus peaking at 16.86 MPa beyond 14.4% strain. Together, these methods delineate the hierarchical and anisotropic nature of CNTYs, validating the importance of multiscale mechanical characterization for their deployment in piezoresistive sensors and multifunctional composites. This study establishes a robust framework for quantifying the transverse mechanical response of CNTYs.

The rapid growth of synthetic textile production has intensified the release of micro- and nanoplastics (MPs/NPs) into aquatic environments, primarily through industrial effluents and domestic laundering. Textile-derived microplastics, especially polyester fibers and polymeric coating fragments, constitute a significant fraction of plastic contamination in wastewater systems. Although wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) can remove a large proportion of MPs, substantial quantities accumulate in sewage sludge, raising concerns about long-term environmental persistence and secondary release pathways. This review critically examines the sources, classification, and release mechanisms of textile-based micro- and nanoplastics, including fibrous debris and coating-derived fragments. Then it focuses on current identification and removal technologies, such as sedimentation, coagulation/flocculation, electrocoagulation, flotation, membrane filtration, adsorption, and biodegradation, and on the emerging strategy of converting recovered microplastics into value-added porous carbon materials via hydrothermal treatment and pyrolysis. Carbonized microplastics exhibit high surface area and adsorption capacity for dyes, heavy metals, and organic pollutants, offering a circular approach that simultaneously mitigates plastic pollution and enhances wastewater treatment efficiency. By integrating source control, optimized removal technologies, and carbonization-based valorization, this review proposes a dual-benefit framework that transforms textile-derived microplastic waste from an environmental liability into a functional resource for sustainable water purification.

Reducing emissions of nitrogen compounds represents a significant challenge in environmental protection, and catalytic treatment is an effective approach. Carbon-based catalysts offer a promising alternative by exploiting the redox properties of carbon materials and eliminating the need for external reducing agents. In this study, nitrogen-free and nitrogen-doped activated carbons were used for NO reduction. The catalysts were developed by incorporating transition metals (Cu and Fe), alkali metals (K), and bimetallic Cu-K formulations. The addition of K to Cu and the presence of nitrogen functionalities improved the catalytic performance and an optimum Cu/K ratio was identified. The best-performing catalyst, AC_M_BM@5Cu5K, achieved 100% NO conversion at 410 °C, producing mainly N2 and CO2, while N2O was detected as an intermediate and CO was not observed. The catalyst’s stability was evaluated in a 100 h continuous test at 376 °C, during which the catalyst maintained approximately 90% NO conversion for 40 h before deactivation. The deactivation mechanism is discussed in detail.

Graphene oxide (GO) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) have solidified their role as cornerstone nanomaterials in the pursuit of sustainable technology. This review synthesizes recent advances in harnessing the unique properties of GO and rGO such as their tunable surface chemistry and exceptional electrical conductivity for applications spanning environmental remediation and energy storage. In the environmental domain, they function as superior adsorbents and catalysts for the removal of hazardous pollutants. Concurrently, in the energy sector, their integration into supercapacitors and battery electrodes significantly enhances energy and power density. The adaptability of these materials also facilitates the creation of highly sensitive sensors and biosensors. However, the transition from laboratory research to widespread industrial application is hindered by challenges in scalable production, environmental health and safety concerns, and long-term stability. This review enhances the understanding of GO and rGO’s diverse applications and paves the way for future sustainable technologies in energy and environmental sectors.

The column photobioreactor has become the predominant approach for carbon sequestration by microalgae in power plant settings, owing to its capacity for high-density cultivation and efficient light energy utilization. Due to the dense arrangement of the columnar photobioreactor and its height, insufficient light became one of the main factors limiting the carbon sequestration rate of microalgae growth. In this paper, a light resource optimization method of reflective baffle and top diffusing glass was proposed. When the angle of reflective baffle on the north and east walls was 35°, and the angle of reflective baffle on the west and south floors was 0°, the overall light radiation intensity of the reactor array became the largest, reaching up to 916.81 W/m2, which was 14.39% higher than that before the optimization. The replacement of the top glass with diffusing material converted the direct radiation of solar radiation into scattered radiation. When the transmittance was 95% and the haze was 95%, the overall average light radiation intensity of the algal solution reached 830.93 W/m2, which was an increase of 3.7%. Four new exhaust air distribution methods were proposed, in which the three-entrance staggered-arrangement type glasshouse had the lowest algal liquid temperature.

Due to soil nutrient depletion and rising food demand from an increasing global population, it is essential to find sustainable ways to boost crop yields, improve soil health, and address the environmental issues induced by agriculture. The most appropriate approach is to consider sustainable amendments, such as biochar and its derivatives, which are vital constituents of soil health due to their affordability, low reactivity, large surface area, and reduced carbon footprint. In this context, biochar and its derivatives in farming systems focus on improving soil structure, nutrient holding capacity, microbial activities, and the perpetuation of soil fertility. Despite its benefits, biochar, if it is used in high concentration, can sometimes become highly toxic, causing soil erosion due to reducing surface area, increasing pH levels, and altering soil properties. This review highlights the production methods and sources of feedstocks, emphasizing their important contribution to the soil’s physicochemical and biological properties. Furthermore, it critically evaluates the environmental applications and their impacts, providing data built upon the literature on contaminant removal from soil, economic factors, heavy metal immobilization, carbon sequestration, and climate resilience. This review emphasizes the main challenges and future prospects for biochar use in comparison to modified biochar (MB) to propose the best practices for sustainable farming systems.

With global climate challenges intensifying, the cement industry, as a major CO2 emitter, has attracted significant attention regarding its emission reduction potential and strategies. Advanced economies like the European Union use carbon pricing to spur innovation, while emerging countries focus on incremental solutions, such as fuel substitution. Combining LMDI decomposition and the LEAP model, this study examines Jiangsu Province as a test bed for China’s decarbonization strategy, a highly efficient region with carbon intensity 8% lower than the national average. Historical analysis identifies carbon intensity, energy mix, energy intensity, output scale, and economic effects as key drivers of emission changes. Specifically, the reduction in cement production, real estate contraction, lower housing construction, and reduced production capacity are the main factors curbing emissions. Under an integrated technology strategy—including energy efficiency, fuel and clinker substitution, and CCS—CO2 emissions from Jiangsu’s cement sector are projected to decrease to 17.28 million tons and 10.9 million tons by 2060 under high- and low-demand scenarios, respectively. Clinker substitution is the most significant CO2 reduction technology, contributing about 60%, while energy efficiency gains contribute only 3.4%. Despite the full deployment of existing reduction methods, Jiangsu’s cement industry is expected to face an emissions gap of approximately 10 million tons to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060, highlighting the need for innovative emission reduction technologies or carbon trading to meet carbon neutrality goals.

Nuclear energy has a great impact on the global energy mix. In Spain, it supplies over 20% of current energy requirements, demonstrating the relevance of nuclear power plants. These plants generate different types of waste (apart from radioactive) that should be managed. For instance, the activated carbon included in filters (which neutralize isotopes in a possible radioactive leakage) should be periodically replaced. Nevertheless, these activated carbons might present long service lives, as they have not undergone any adsorption processes. Consequently, a considerable amount of activated carbon can be reused in alternative processes, even in the same nuclear power plant. The aim of this work was to assess the use of activated carbons (previously included in filters to prevent possible radioactive releases in primary circuits) for water treatment derived from the steam cycle of a nuclear power plant. A regeneration process (boron removal) was carried out (with differences between untreated carbon and after treatments, from SBET = 684 m2 g−1 up to 934 m2 g−1), measuring the adsorption efficiency for ethanolamine and triton X-100. There were no significative results that support the adsorption effectiveness of the activated carbon tested for ethanolamine adsorption, whereas a high adsorption capacity was found for triton X-100 (qL1 = 281 mg·g−1), proving that factors such as porosity play an important role in the specific usage of activated carbons.

Fullerenes are a class of highly symmetric spherical carbon materials that have attracted significant attention in optoelectronic applications due to their excellent electron transport properties. However, the isotropy of their spherical structure often leads to disordered inter-sphere stacking in practical applications, limiting in-depth studies of their electron transport behavior. The successful fabrication of long-range ordered two-dimensional fullerene arrays has opened up new opportunities for exploring the structure–activity relationship in spatial charge transport. In this study, theoretical calculations were performed to analyze the effects of different periodic arrangements in two-dimensional fullerene arrays on electronic excitation and optical behavior. The results show that HLOPC60 exhibits a strong absorption peak at 1050 nm, while TLOPC60 displays prominent absorption features at 700 nm and 1300 nm, indicating that their electronic excitation characteristics are significantly influenced by the periodic structure. Additionally, analyses of orbital distribution and the spatial electron density reveal a close relationship between carrier transport and the structural topology. Quantitative studies further indicate that the interlayer interaction energies of the HLOPC60 and TLOPC60 arrangements are −105.65 kJ/mol and −135.25 kJ/mol, respectively. TLOPC60 also exhibits stronger dispersion interactions, leading to enhanced interlayer binding. These findings provide new insights into the structural regulation of fullerene materials and offer theoretical guidance for the design and synthesis of novel organic optoelectronic materials.

The preliminary selection of adsorbents for the separation of a gas mixture based on pure gas adsorption remains a critical challenge; thus, an approximate adsorption performance indicator (AAPI) was proposed for the initial evaluation of the adsorbents to separate the biogas main constituents (carbon dioxide/methane (CO2/CH4)) by studying their pure gas adsorption. Three samples derived from cocoa pod husk (CPH), namely Cabosse-500 (pyrolyzed at 500 °C), Cabosse-700 (pyrolyzed at 700 °C), and Cabosse-A-700 (activated with CO2 at 700 °C), were synthesized, characterized, and evaluated for the pure gases adsorption. This study presents an AAPI evaluation, which takes into account adsorption capacity, approximate selectivity, and heat of adsorption. Adsorption isotherms indicate the ability of the CPH family to selectively capture CO2 over CH4, as they have a high approximate selectivity (>1) thanks to their physical properties. Changing the pyrolysis temperature, activation methods, and varying the pressure can significantly change the choice of the most effective adsorbent; Cabosse-A-700 showed better performance than the other two in the low and high pressure range owing to its presence of micropores and mesopores, which enhances the CO2 adsorption and therefore the AAPI.