Abstract Wood adhesives have come a long way from urea-formaldehyde (UF) resins to waterborne poly(vinyl acetate) (PVAc) latex polymerized by emulsion polymerization. Nevertheless, while modern adhesives are more environmentally friendly, they still contain low concentrations of substances considered to be toxic or carcinogenic. Increasing social awareness about the environmental friendliness and toxicity of chemical compounds has pressured producers of wood-based materials and furniture to develop new green technologies and eliminate potentially dangerous chemical compounds. The crucial parameter for wood adhesives is the durability class of water resistance according to the EN204:2016 standard. To achieve a higher class, i.e., D3 or D4, it is necessary to use a crosslinked polymer. Crosslinking is usually performed using N-(hydroxymethyl)acrylamide monomer (NMA), UF resins, or glutaraldehyde. NMA contains and emits formaldehyde, which is poisonous and carcinogenic, so the chemical industry is trying to replace this substance with greener, formaldehyde-free, and eco-friendly substitutes, such as silanes, bio vinyl and acrylate monomers, or 2,5-diformylfuran. In this short review, we focus on demonstrating updated green approaches to developing wood adhesives and methods to eliminate the presence of unwanted substances such as formaldehyde. We present the technologies for producing PVAc step by step and the stages that need to be further investigated or improved.

Abstract To alleviate the global climate changes driven by the utilization of carbon-based fuel, various countries of the world have put in more efforts in developing corresponding technologies that can curb global warming and reduce the use of fossil fuels in recent years. Self-heat recuperation (SHR) is a new energy-saving technology that guides the development of energy-consuming systems. Based on the theory of exergy recovery, SHR can minimize energy requirements and optimize energy structure. According to this theory, the heat of the whole process could be recycled into its designed exergy recovery process and circulated within the process without requiring additional heat sources. Herein, first, we introduce three principal analyses (energy analysis, exergy analysis, and entransy analysis) of SHR theory and its applications in distillation, drying, absorption, and other areas. Then, the advantages and existing issues of these applications are summarized in details. Finally, it is proposed that the future development direction for SHR theory should involve the integration of SHR with other energy-saving technologies for optimizing the energy-saving design and improving its industrial applications. This approach can help to achieve cascade energy utilization at the system level.

Abstract Process control and optimization have been widely used to solve decision-making problems in chemical engineering applications. However, identifying and tuning the best solution algorithm is challenging and time-consuming. Machine learning tools can be used to automate these steps by learning the behavior of a numerical solver from data. In this paper, we discuss recent advances in (i) the representation of decision-making problems for machine learning tasks, (ii) algorithm selection, and (iii) algorithm configuration for monolithic and decomposition-based algorithms. Finally, we discuss open problems related to the application of machine learning for accelerating process optimization and control.

Abstract Epoxy foam/aerogel materials (EP-AGs) have potential in the aerospace, construction, and energy industries, allowing the development of lightweight high-performance products for a wide range of applications. Research interest in developing EP-AGs is increasing as it has the potential to create greener and more sustainable materials for making various products. Several commercial applications of EP-AGs and techniques for creating, processing, and drying them have already been reported. The introduction of EP-AGs into value-added materials is one of the most promising options but suffers from a lack of knowledge about the relationships between microstructure and properties. The current obstacles to their use in the industrial sector and for applications and challenges related to factory scale-up are also taken into account. EP-AGs are hindered by critical gaps in applicational and processing complexity, such as scaling up from laboratory to large-scale production, optimizing synthesis and processing techniques, and developing standardized testing protocols. The review focuses on the processing complexities and further difficulties associated with EP-AGs to improve casting burdens, cost-effectiveness, and accessibility in various applications. This review also examines the challenges in synthesizing EP-AGs used to make special materials, their practices, and the technological barriers one would face.

Abstract High-throughput and cost-efficient fabrication of intricate nanopatterns using top-down approaches remains a significant challenge. To overcome this limitation, advancements are required across various domains: patterning techniques, real-time and post-process metrology, data analysis, and, crucially, process control. We review recent progress in continuous, top-down nanomanufacturing, with a particular focus on data-driven process control strategies. We explore existing Machine Learning (ML)-based approaches for implementing key aspects of continuous process control, encompassing high-speed metrology balancing speed and resolution, modeling relationships between process parameters and yield, multimodal data fusion for comprehensive process monitoring, and control law development for real-time process adjustments. To assess the applicability of established control strategies in continuous settings, we compare roll-to-roll (R2R) manufacturing, a paradigmatic continuous multistage process, with the well-established batch-based semiconductor manufacturing. Finally, we outline promising future research directions for achieving high-quality, cost-effective, top-down nanomanufacturing and particularly R2R nanomanufacturing at scale.

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Abstract Carbamazepine (CBZ) is a contaminant of emerging concern that is persistent in water and wastewater. At low concentrations, prolonged exposure to CBZ-containing water causes detrimental health effects to humans and may also have negative impacts on the environment. Here we critically review new treatment approaches to decrease CBZ concentrations in water and wastewater. First, we summarize the transformation pathways of CBZ in the aquatic environment and identify the corresponding products. Then, we describe the removal of CBZ and structurally-related pharmaceuticals by phototransformation, biotransformation, and adsorption processes, with an emphasis on the application of naturally- and biologically-derived nanoporous adsorbents, such as agricultural wastes, natural polymers, activated carbon, metal organic frameworks, silicas, and molecularly imprinted polymers. Biologically-derived activated carbons exhibited the highest adsorption capacities for CBZ, with adsorption predominantly occurring through hydrophobic and π–π interactions. CBZ was also effectively treated using titanium dioxide and other inorganic photocatalysts. This review not only provides a critical synthesis of state-of-the-art adsorption and degradation processes for CBZ and structurally-related pharmaceuticals, but also proposes knowledge gaps and future research directions.