Articles tagged with "green-chemistry"
Scientists develop non-toxic thermal paper using wood-based coating
Researchers at EPFL have developed a non-toxic thermal paper coating derived from wood-based materials, specifically lignin and a plant sugar-based sensitizer. Lignin, a major component of wood, was extracted using a controlled method called sequential aldehyde-assisted fractionation to produce light-colored polymers suitable for high-quality printing. The sensitizer, diformylxylose, is derived from xylan, a plant cell wall sugar, replacing petroleum-based chemicals. This bio-based formulation aims to substitute traditional thermal paper chemicals like bisphenol A (BPA) and bisphenol S (BPS), which are known hormone disruptors and environmental contaminants. The lignin-based coatings demonstrated clear image quality with color density comparable to commercial BPA-based thermal papers and maintained functionality after months of storage and a year of readability. Although image contrast is not yet fully optimized, the performance is promising. Safety tests revealed that the lignin developers exhibit estrogen-like activity significantly lower (by two to four orders of magnitude) than BPA
materialssustainable-materialsthermal-paperligninbio-based-coatingsnon-toxic-materialsgreen-chemistryScientists turn wood waste into glowing material for TVs and phones
Researchers from Yale University and Nottingham Trent University have developed an eco-friendly, light-emitting material derived from lignin, a natural polymer and abundant by-product of the wood pulping and paper industry. This new material offers a sustainable alternative to conventional photoluminescent substances used in display technologies like TVs and smartphones, which typically rely on toxic metals and complex, polluting manufacturing processes. By combining lignin with the amino acid histidine and using only green solvents such as water and acetone, the team created solid-state materials that fluoresce under UV light with tunable properties, while minimizing environmental impact. The glowing effect arises from a process called Excited State Proton Transfer (ESPT), where lignin’s phenolic groups absorb UV light and act as photoacids, transferring protons to histidine molecules within the material. This interaction, revealed through computational modeling, enables efficient, metal-free light emission, with some materials continuing to glow briefly after the UV source is removed. The study highlights lign
materialssustainable-materialsligninphotoluminescent-materialsgreen-chemistryeco-friendly-electronicsdisplay-technologyTerra Oleo’s oil-producing microbes could replace destructive palm oil plantations
Terra Oleo is a Singapore-based startup founded by Shen Ming Lee and Boon Uranukul that aims to develop sustainable alternatives to palm oil by using engineered microbes to convert agricultural waste into specialty oils. Lee, who grew up in a family deeply involved in the palm oil industry but felt conflicted about its environmental impact, teamed up with Uranukul, who had developed microbes capable of producing plastic precursors from waste during his doctoral research at MIT. Since 2022, Terra Oleo has been working stealthily to harness yeast species genetically optimized to produce high-value oils such as cocoa butter and specialty oleochemicals used in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals, bypassing the low-margin crude palm oil commodity stage. The startup has raised $3.1 million from investors including ADB Ventures and Better Bite Ventures, and is currently producing oils at a lab scale with plans to scale up to kilogram quantities. Terra Oleo’s microbial process offers significant cost advantages by producing target chemicals directly, eliminating expensive refining steps and potentially achieving
materialsbiotechnologysustainable-materialsbiofuelsmicrobial-engineeringagricultural-wastegreen-chemistryScientists create eco-friendly plastic from plants and captured CO2
Scientists at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering have developed an innovative, eco-friendly polyurethane made from lignin—a natural polymer found in plant cell walls—and captured carbon dioxide. This new plant-based plastic maintains the strength, heat resistance, and flexibility typical of conventional polyurethane but avoids the use of toxic isocyanates, hazardous chemicals traditionally required in polyurethane production. The process uses fewer steps, consumes less energy, and produces a biodegradable material from renewable resources, offering significant environmental and health benefits. The resulting lignin-based polyurethane is also easier to process, dissolving readily in solvents, which enhances its scalability and commercial viability compared to other biomass-derived plastics. This advancement builds on previous work by the team exploring lignin’s potential in sustainable polymers, expanding its application from polycarbonate to the more widely used polyurethane. Supported by Florida State University’s resources and funding from the U.S. Army Research Office and South Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry & Energy, the research represents a promising step toward greener manufacturing
materialssustainable-plasticspolyurethanelignincarbon-dioxide-utilizationbiodegradable-polymersgreen-chemistryGermany pressure-cooks waste to trap 50 tons of CO2 per hectare
A German startup, Humify, has revived a nearly century-old high-pressure process known as hydrothermal humification to rapidly regenerate soil and capture significant amounts of CO2. By heating organic waste to 200°C under pressure with water, they produce artificial humic substances—nutrient-rich polymers that mimic natural soil components. When added to soil, these substances enhance moisture and mineral retention, stimulate beneficial microbial ecosystems, and can bind up to 50 tons of carbon per hectare within the first year. This method compresses a natural soil regeneration process that typically takes over 3,000 years into just weeks, offering a promising solution to soil degradation and climate change. The process repurposes the Bergius-Pier method, originally developed in the early 20th century for converting biomass into fuel, to instead restore soil health and trap carbon underground. Humify’s approach is flexible, working with various organic wastes and adaptable to local agricultural conditions. Field trials in China have shown crop yield increases of up
energycarbon-capturesoil-regenerationhydrothermal-humificationsustainable-agricultureclimate-change-mitigationgreen-chemistryNew enzyme trick could slash chemical waste in drug production
Researchers at the University of Basel have engineered a natural haemoprotein enzyme to catalyze metal hydride hydrogen atom transfer (MHAT) reactions, a synthetic method crucial for creating complex three-dimensional molecules used in drug and fine chemical manufacturing. This breakthrough marks the first time an enzyme has been shown to perform MHAT reactions, combining the high selectivity and mild conditions of enzymatic catalysis with the versatility of synthetic chemistry. The engineered enzyme demonstrated exceptional stereoselectivity, producing desired enantiomers in ratios up to 98:2, which is significant for drug development where different enantiomers can have vastly different biological effects. While this hybrid biocatalytic approach offers greener, more efficient chemical synthesis with reduced waste, challenges remain. The enzyme’s high specificity limits its use to a narrow range of substrates, requiring redesign for different starting materials—a process that demands time and expertise. Additionally, the team is seeking more environmentally friendly methods to generate the metal hydride catalysts integral to the reaction.
materialsenzyme-engineeringbiocatalysisgreen-chemistrychemical-synthesisdrug-productionstereoselectivityThe Next Acetaminophen Tablet You Take Could Be Made From PET
Researchers at the University of Edinburgh have developed a novel method to convert plastic waste, specifically PET (polyethylene terephthalate), into acetaminophen using engineered E. coli bacteria. The team, led by Stephen Wallace, discovered that E. coli naturally contains phosphate, which catalyzes a chemical reaction called Lossen rearrangement. By leveraging synthetic biology, they redirected the bacteria’s metabolism to transform terephthalic acid—a molecule derived from PET—into the active ingredient of acetaminophen through a fermentation process completed in under 24 hours. Remarkably, this conversion occurs at room temperature with minimal carbon emissions, highlighting a more sustainable approach to drug production. This breakthrough is significant because it utilizes microbial cells’ inherent capabilities without requiring external catalysts, thereby reducing reliance on fossil fuels traditionally used in pharmaceutical manufacturing. Although the study demonstrates about 90% yield of acetaminophen, the researchers note that further work is needed to scale the process industrially and to assess the safety and efficacy of the drug
materialssynthetic-biologyplastic-waste-recyclingsustainable-drug-productionbiocatalysisgreen-chemistryPET-recyclingVisible light breaks fossil bonds for cleaner chemical production
A research team at Colorado State University, led by Professors Garret Miyake and Robert Paton, has developed an innovative method to convert fossil fuels into valuable industrial chemicals using visible light at room temperature. This light-driven process, inspired by photosynthesis, employs photoredox catalysis to trigger high-energy chemical reactions without the need for heat or high pressure. The breakthrough offers a cleaner, more energy-efficient alternative to traditional chemical manufacturing, which typically relies on energy-intensive conditions. By mimicking nature’s use of light, the system can rearrange or reduce stubborn molecules, potentially reducing environmental impact and lowering costs in industries such as plastics and pharmaceuticals. A key advancement of the CSU method is its double-photon strategy, where two photons simultaneously provide sufficient energy to break strong molecular bonds in aromatic hydrocarbons (arenes), compounds that are usually very stable and difficult to modify. This “super-reducing” capability enables the efficient transformation of arenes into useful chemicals without hazardous reagents or extreme conditions.
energysustainable-technologyphotoredox-catalysischemical-manufacturingvisible-light-catalysisindustrial-chemistrygreen-chemistry