Pickering emulsion refers to an emulsion which is stabilized by ultrafine solid particles or solid colloidal particles instead of traditional surfactants. It is widely applied in many fields involving petroleum, water treatment, cosmetics, food, pharmacy and materials industries due to its advantages such as excellent stability, convenient regulation, environment protection and low cost. In view of preparation and stability of Pickering emulsions, the preparation methods of Pickering emulsions were reviewed systematically. Then, the pattern and research progress of solid emulsifier particles were sketched. Besides, the stability mechanism of Pickering emulsions were revealed. Furthermore, the influencing factors on stability of Pickering emulsions were analyzed. And then, the existing problems of Pickering emulsions were discussed. Finally, the development trends of Pickering emulsions were outlooked. In future, the progress of Pickering emulsion were mainly shown in the following three aspects. ① The cheap, environment-friendly and reused Pickering emulsions with unmodified or modified natural solid nanoparticles were realized. ② The intelligent responsive Pickering emulsions (temperature, pH, magnetic and other response types) were applied in preparation of materials, slowly release or recovery of substance, catalytic reaction and so on. ③ The structure of solid emulsifier particles and emulsions were accurately controlled, and the systemized theory of emulsions preparation was established through deeply investigating the stability mechanism of Pickering emulsions.

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) are organic porous materials with periodic network structure formed by the orderly connection of C, B, N, O, etc. light elements through strong covalent bonds. They have the advantages of large specific surface area, low density, ordered pore structure and easy to modify, diverse structure and good stability, which have been widely used in many fields. This review introduced the structure of COFs, mainly summarized the progress of boric acid polycondensation, C-C coupling, Schiff base, cyano self-polymerization and aryl ether polymerization for the synthesis of COFs, and introduced the main preparation methods of COFs, such as solvothermal, microwave, ion-thermal, mechanical grinding, interfacial synthesis, microfluidics and post-synthetic modification methods. At the same time, it also discussed the characterization of the structure of COFs. In addition, the application of COFs in gas adsorption and separation, photocatalysis, electrocatalysis, asymmetric catalytic synthesis and chiral separation and electrochemical energy storage was also summarized and discussed. Finally, the opportunities and challenges of the synthesis and application of COFs were prospected. It was hoped to provide useful reference and inspiration for the further in-depth study of COFs.

As an emerging pollutant, microplastics are ubiquitous in various environments, including water, soil and atmosphere, and pose a potential threat to ecological safety and human health. In this paper, the pollution characteristics of typical microplastics, including polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) are summarized. The microbial degradation pathways of microplastics are reviewed, and the degradation mechanisms are analyzed along with the influencing factors. Microplastics in environmental media can be degraded by bacteria, fungi and actinomycetes through microbial colonization, biofilm interception and enzyme degradation. The degradation efficiency of microplastics is closely related to microbial models and microplastic physicochemical properties, and is affected by various environmental factors, such as illumination, temperature and pH. This paper systematically summarizes the research progress of microbiome-mediated degradation of microplastics, which provides theoretical guidance and technical support for the effective control of microplastics.

Inspired by natural phenomena such as the lotus leaf and rose petal, superhydrophobic coatings have found widespread applications in areas such as self-cleaning, oil-water separation and anti-icing. However, traditional superhydrophobic coatings rely on surface microscale roughness and specialized coating materials, resulting in complex fabrication processes, poor durability and inadequate corrosion resistance. In contrast, superhydrophobic nano-coatings, due to their unique morphology and functionality, offer multifunctionality, universality, durability and high efficiency. This article provided an overview of the design and fabrication of superhydrophobic nano-coatings using various nanomaterials in recent years. It evaluated the strengths and weaknesses of different superhydrophobic nano-coatings and briefly outlined their potential applications in various fields, such as antimicrobial surfaces, sensors, microfluidics, catalysis and more. Finally, the article presented the latest developments and future trends in the use of nanotechnology for superhydrophobic coatings. By exploring innovative fabrication strategies and investigating the unique properties of these coatings, this review aimed to provide researchers in the field with valuable theoretical and technical insights, promoting the widespread application of superhydrophobic nano-coatings across multiple domains.

Direct air capture (DAC) of carbon dioxide technology is a kind of negative carbon technology. As one of the important technologies to help achieving the carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals, DAC technology has great development prospects. The development history of DAC and the operation and development of existing DAC projects were briefly described, and some liquid DAC technologies and solid DAC technologies were introduced. The liquid DAC technologies included aqueous hydroxide sorbents, aqueous basic solutions, aqueous amino acids/BIGs and alkalinity concentration swing technologies. The solid DAC technologies included solid alkali carbonates, solid-supported amine materials, MOFs materials,moisture swing technology and so on. The technological process and related equipment of various DAC technology were summarized. The principle of various DAC technologies, carbon dioxide capture methods and adsorbent/absorbent regeneration methods were described in detail. The advantages and disadvantages of each DAC technology in terms of adsorbent/absorbent performance, regeneration temperature, regeneration energy consumption and cycle stability were analyzed. It was pointed out that it was necessary to further develop DAC adsorbents/absorbents with low cost, high adsorption/absorption performance and good cycle stability, optimize and develop adsorbent/absorbent regeneration process, and develop process strengthening technology suitable for DAC technology, so as to lay a foundation for the subsequent large-scale and commercial application of DAC.

Metal-organic framework (MOF), which has the advantages of high specific surface area, abundant porosity and adjustable pore size, has received attention from many scholars and is considered as an ideal adsorbent for adsorption and separation. However, in practical applications, most microporous MOF materials are severely limited in their intrinsic mass transfer rates during adsorption, and methods for constructing hierarchically pores are not universally applicable. In this paper, the methods for constructing hierarchical pores MOF such as moderator strategy, template strategy and post-processing strategy were introduced. The hierarchically pores materials with both mesopores and macropores were prepared, and the advantages and disadvantages of each method with application scenarios to obtain a universal strategy for constructing hierarchical pores MOF with adjustable pore size under relatively mild conditions were evaluated. To address the application of hierarchically porous MOF materials in the field of gas adsorption and separation, this paper focused on the case of constructing hierarchical pores MOF to enhance the adsorption of CO₂ gas. It was found that the construction of hierarchically porous increased the pore size, improved the specific surface area of MOF, and provided additional pore channels to enhance the adsorption capacity and mass transfer rate of gas molecules. The results showed that the hierarchically pores MOF had excellent performance in gas adsorption and separation. Finally, the problems of hierarchical pores MOF synthesis and application were discussed, and the challenges faced by hierarchical pores MOF such as green reproducibility of the synthesis process were prospected.

Graphene, a two-dimensional nanomaterial with excellent physical and chemical properties, is widely used in batteries, catalysis, sensors, printing, biomedicine and other fields. However, the application and development of graphene and its derivatives face great challenges in achieving low-cost, high-quality and large-scale production. Herein, the progress of large-scale preparation of graphene by liquid-phase exfoliation was reviewed. The focus was on exploring the principles of pretreatment methods for liquid-phase exfoliation, including electrochemical intercalation, solvent intercalation, high-temperature expansion and microwave expansion, and their effects on the exfoliation effect of graphene. Subsequently, the advantages/disadvantages and selection principles of exfoliation solvents, such as water-based solvents, organic solvents and mixed solvents, were analyzed. The exfoliation principles and advantages/disadvantages of process intensification equipment, such as ultrasonic, high-shear and microchannel, were compared. Then, the post-processing method and separation effect of centrifugal separation on graphene were briefly described. Finally, the efficient production of graphene by liquid-phase exfoliation was being improved through multi-objective optimization techniques by integrating artificial intelligence. This included experimenting with residual-free functional intercalation agents and combining them with gentle and rapid expansion methods; exploring solvent systems with properties such as low toxicity, low boiling points and high dispersion characteristics; accurately regulating the liquid-phase exfoliation mechanism and engineering cascaded centrifugation equipment to achieve continuous, large-scale and cost-effective rapid production of graphene.

Biomass pyrolysis can produce high-grade energy products such as biochar, biogas and bio-oil, which has the advantages of high efficiency and multi-product utilization. However, the products obtained from direct pyrolysis with poor quality are inconducive to realizing high-value utilization. It is urgent to regulate and optimize the process of biomass pyrolysis. Starting from the optimization strategies for pyrolysis reactions, this review systematically outlined the influences of feedstock selection, pretreatment, pyrolysis parameters, reactor types, catalysts, and auxiliary techniques on the pyrolysis conversion process. Additionally, the methods for pyrolysis reaction optimization and product regulation were comprehensively summarized. To realize the green, low-carbon and value-added utilization of biomass, the regulation of pyrolysis products was reviewed from three parts: directional preparation of hydrogen-rich syngas, selective tuning of hydrocarbon liquid fuel, biochar structure tailoring and high-value utilization. Finally, the challenges and development prospects of biomass pyrolysis were summarized. The introduction of mhachine learning methods to accelerate the development of pyrolysis was also discussed, providing an important reference for the efficient pyrolysis conversion of biomass.

Catalysts with zeolite as active component have the advantages of easy recovery, non-corrosion, and environmental friendliness, and thus have been widely used in petrochemical industry. Designing and developing high-performance zeolite catalyst to achieve efficient chemical reaction can provide technical support for energy conservation and consumption reduction in chemical enterprises. The recent technological progress in the development of efficient zeolite was reviewed from four aspects, including active center construction and modification scheme of aluminosilicate and titanosilicalite zeolite, the construction scheme of mesopore structure inside and outside microporous zeolite, the preparation scheme of nanoscale zeolite particles and oriented growth control of zeolite nanocrystal, and topological structure innovation scheme of new structure zeolite. The future development direction of zeolite catalyst was also discussed. And it was pointed out that China still needs to strengthen technological innovation in this field, especially the original innovation, to achieve the deep integration of industry, academia, and research, to transform the advanced technology into practical solutions and the ultimate industrial applications.

The polyamic acid (PAA) was synthesized by pyromellitic dianhydride (PMDA) and 4,4'-diaminodiphenyl ether (ODA), followed by polymerization with a polyurethane prepolymer constructed by isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI), polytetramethylene tetramethylene ether glycol (PTMG) and 1,4'-butanediol (BDO) to prepare a block copolymer poly(amide-urethane) (PAA-PU). Subsequently, the PAA-PU evolved to final poly(imide-urethane) (PI-PU) by thermal imidization by a plate vulcanizer. The chemical structure and performance of aforementioned copolymers were characterized by infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), mechanical property testing, dynamic thermomechanical analysis (DMA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and gel permeation chromatography (GPC). As a result, the tensile strength was enhanced to 63.7MPa for PAA-PU and 86.4MPa for PI-PU, compared to 28.3MPa for polyurethane (PU). Besides, the temperature of maximum degradation rate of copolymer reached to 352.6℃ and the residual retention was increased. In addition, the glass transformation temperature of copolymer was improved from 37.2℃ to 91.6℃ as polyimide segments incorporated and further elevated to 128.5℃ due to additional content of polyimide segments. Meanwhile, the increases of storage modulus, reduction of loss modulus and widened rubber platform of PI-PU copolymer were also displayed in respect to PU.

Microbubbles have advantages including small size, high stability, long residence time in the fluid, large specific surface area, and high self-pressurization effect, etc. Microbubbles can greatly improve the contact area and contact time for gas-liquid system, which can intensify the interphase mass transfer between gas and liquid. Many different types of generators can produce microbubbles. The specific type of the generator is largely dependent on its application fields. This work reviewed the application of microbubble generator in water treatment, biological and medical field, mineral flotation, and chemical process. This review mainly focused on the type of generator and its working mechanisms in generating microbubbles. The bubble-generating characteristic of each type of microbubble generator was described. The influence of the structure and operating condition on the generator performance was reviewed. The suitable application condition of each type of microbubble generator was summarized. It was concluded that the microbubble generation technologies based on single mechanism would often have limitations. In contrast, the coupled microbubble generator, combining the advantages of multiple generation mechanisms, can generate smaller and more uniform microbubbles. Therefore, the development of coupled microbubble generator is of great significance for the future application. Finally, the possible application prospect and research direction of microbubble generator were summarized and previewed.

With the rapid development of renewable energy and hydrogen energy industry, as a hydrogen storage medium, ammonia has received widespread attention due to its ability to perform long-term hydrogen storage and long-distance hydrogen transportation. Hydrogen production and ammonia synthesis process based on fossil fuels is mature, but the intensity of carbon dioxide emissions is high. Green ammonia utilizes renewable energy with electrolytic hydrogen production as hydrogen sources, which has the advantages of reducing carbon emissions in the synthetic ammonia industry, consuming renewable energy such as wind and solar energy, and serving as a hydrogen storage carrier for storage and transportation. Under the goals of carbon peak and carbon neutrality, the development of green ammonia synthesis process is of great significance. This paper reviews the research progress and challenges of industrial Haber-Bosch, electrochemical, photocatalysis, plasma and chemical chain synthesis of ammonia. The technical route and existing situation of water electrolysis powered by renewable energy for hydrogen production and ammonia synthesis process are elaborated. The technical and economic feasibility of grey ammonia synthesis from coal and green ammonia synthesis from renewable energy are compared. The impacts of electricity price and energy consumption of electrolytic hydrogen production on the cost of electrolytic hydrogen production for ammonia synthesis are analyzed. The cost structure of hydrogen storage with ammonia as a carrier and liquid hydrogen storage are discussed. The costs of hydrogen transportation with ammonia as a carrier and gas-hydrogen transportation are studied. The considerations for industrial development of green hydrogen for green ammonia synthesis and hydrogen storage and transportation with green ammonia as a carrier are proposed.

Lignin can be used to obtain many kinds of fuels, chemicals and materials through rational processing and conversion. Extracting lignin by gentle method is the premise of realizing the high value utilization of lignin. In this paper, the separation methods and research progress of lignin in recent years are reviewed, with emphasis on the separation mechanism of various separation methods and the composition and structure characteristics of lignin. The advantages and disadvantages, applicability and industrial application of different separation methods are summarized. Acid method promotes the hydrolysis of ether bond in polysaccharide polymer to depolymerize hemicellulose and cellulose. Alkali method mainly cracks the ether and ester bond between lignin and carbohydrate. Acid method and alkali method are mature as traditional lignin separation methods, but they are easy to cause the self-polymerization of lignin. Organic solvent method mainly destroys the β-aryl ether bond, and its separation condition is mild, which can better retain the original structure and reactivity of lignin. New green solvent systems such as ionic liquid and deep eutectic solvent have dual functions of solvent and reaction medium, and have received extensive attention. The coupling of separation methods and the assistance of physical, chemical or biological technology will play an important role in optimizing the separation process of lignin and exploring the high-value utilization of lignin.

Self-healing hydrogel is a type of intelligent hydrogels that can repair its structure and function after being damaged by the surroundings. Self-healing hydrogels also have self-healing properties, high safety, fatigue resistance and long service life based on retaining the water absorption and retention properties of traditional hydrogels. In this paper, the self-healing hydrogels in recent years were reviewed, focusing on the combination of physical, chemical crosslinking and multiple action mechanisms, and partial application in wearable electronic products, 3D printing, biomedicine and petrochemical fields. Physical crosslinking included noncovalent interactions such as hydrogen bond, hydrophobic interaction and host guest interaction. Chemical crosslinking included dynamic covalent bonds such as acylhydrazone bond, imine bond and disulfide bond. Multiaction mechanism crosslinking introduced two or more physical and chemical crosslinking simultaneously introduce hydrogel. On the basis of the above research, this review pointed out that the current self-healing hydrogels had many deficiencies, such as complicated preparation methods, single function, inability to respond to multiple stimuli and lack of multi-directional analysis of self-healing mechanisms. Hence, the future research and development of self-healing hydrogels should focus on the research and development of multi-mechanism and multi-functional self-healing hydrogels, explore the mechanism of hydrogel healing process from multiple perspectives and multidisciplinary integration, and accelerate its application in many emerging fields.

CCS/CCUS is an effective way to alleviate the increasing serious environmental problems and CO₂ capture is an important part of CCS/CCUS. Through decades of sustained development, the chemical amine carbon capture technologies represented by MEA, and the subsequent developed polyamino amines, steric hindrance amines and ionic liquids technologies are gradually maturing, and many of them have been carried out or are undergoing large scale pilot test or industrial demonstration. The research institutions have achieved the key node validation of Technical Review (TR) and accumulated rich experiences. In this review, the pre-combustion, the Oxy-combustion, the chemical looping combustion and the post-combustion capture technologies were briefly introduced with some specific cases, and the main problems with different technologies were analyzed. High capture energy consumption, high equipment investment and maintenance spends, and large amount of wastes were the main factors influencing the capture cost. Moreover, the captured CO₂ was mainly used for enhanced oil recovery or sequestration, and the immature CO₂ conversion technologies still cannot produce competitive products in the market.

The ammonia industry has made outstanding contributions to human food security and economic and social development, while also causing a large amount of carbon dioxide emissions in the production process. Green ammonia produced using renewable energy has the characteristic of “zero carbon” and significant carbon reduction effects throughout its lifecycle. It has become one of the hotspots for low-carbon industry development worldwide. this paper introduces the policies of the green ammonia industry, the current development status and progress of the green ammonia industry, and analyzes the market competitiveness of green ammonia in four downstream applications such as vehicle and ship fuel, hydrogen storage carriers, fuel power generation, and chemical raw materials. It is considered that the major global ship engine technology companies and ship manufacturers are developing ammonia fuel engines and ammonia powered ships which are gradually conducting operational tests. And the ammonia fuel engines for vehicles have achieved breakthroughs in related technologies in China. It is believed that ocean shipping is the first breakthrough area for green ammonia, and when the price of green electricity drops to around 0.20CNY/kWh with the advancement of new energy technology, global green ammonia vehicle and ship fuel will usher in significant development. Green ammonia will become increasingly cost competitive in the heavy-duty truck and ocean shipping industries. At the same time, ammonia has great potential for development as a hydrogen storage carrier. The cost of liquid ammonia synthesis and dehydrogenation accounts for over 85% of the total cost, and it is not sensitive to transportation distance. In the future, it will become one of the main forms of global long-distance transportation of bulk hydrogen. The sustainable development of the green ammonia industry requires support from technological innovation, industrial policies, and standard formulation.

As the vision of building a green hydrogen society, the demand for hydrogen energy will grow massively on a large scale as well, but the storage and transportation will also be the bottleneck that restricts the scale of the industrial development. Liquid organic hydrogen carries (LOHCs) have advantages over conventional high-pressure hydrogen storage methods in terms of low cost and safety for the large-scale storage and long-distance transportation of hydrogen energy. However, this technology is still at the early stage of development, and the related reports are limited. This paper reviews the main liquid organic hydrogen materials, aromatic such as aromatic hydrocarbons and aza-aromatic hydrocarbons, and analyses their hydrogen storage properties, advantages, problems and development status. Furthermore, various metal catalysts involved in hydrogenation and dehydrogenation processes are described. Finally, based on the current research, the prospects for liquid organic hydrogen storage technology are presented and the feasibility of liquid organic hydrogen storage technology in various fields and its high economic values are pointed out. However, for large-scale application, it's necessary to select the optimal liquid organic hydrogen materials, develop new catalysts with high selectivity, high catalytic activity and low cost, and further optimize hydrogenation and dehydrogenation technologies.

A summary of National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC)'s fund applications, grants and funding in 2023 was provided about the discipline of Chemical Engineering & Industrial Chemistry (B08), where the fund applications and grants for the 16 secondary application codes of B08 were provided, and the statistics for a series of funded programs were detailed, giving suggestions for proposal applications in the next year.

Bipolar membranes (BPMs) with a unique "sandwich" structure are a particular class of ion-exchange membranes. Under reverse bias, the unique water dissociation (WD) feature and the local pH control extensively apply the BPMs in acid/base production, resource separation and recovery. The WD resistance can be effectively reduced via the introduction of catalyst at the interfacial layer (IL) of BPMs. However, due to the imperfections of the IL, most BPMs have unwanted behaviors, such as high WD voltage, severe membrane delamination, catalyst leakage and high limiting current density, which leads to the large-scale industrial application of BPMs being unachievable. Therefore, based on the latest research progresses of BPMs, beginning with the WD mechanism of BPMs, this paper reviewed the research progress in three aspects: the types of interfacial layer catalyst, the construction methods of IL and the composite process of the membrane layers. Also, this paper deeply analyzed the merits and demerits of interfacial catalyst fixation methods such as immersion method, coating method, electrostatic assembly, in-situ growth and layer stacking, striving to provide corresponding theoretical support for the large-scale preparation of BPMs. Moreover, this paper also pointed out the bottleneck problem of BPMs and the crucial role of asymmetric BPM electrodialysis in industrial acid and base production. Finally, it was expected to explore the electrochemical application of BPMs, that was, efforts should be made to explore the application of BPMs in energy fields such as hydrogen generation by water electrolysis, carbon dioxide reduction, electrochemical synthesis of ammonia, fuel cells and liquid flow batteries, etc, so as to facilitate the evolution of BPMs.

With the vigorous development of the electric vehicle industry, lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), as the core components of electric vehicles, have received extensive attention based on their environmental impact and sustainability. Under the background of dual-carbon policy, the carbon footprint evaluation of LIBs based on the full life cycle has become a key problem to solve the sustainable development of LIBs battery. Different studies have different research results due to differences in LIBs materials and recycling technologies. This paper summarizes the research progress of the full life cycle carbon footprint of LIBs, with the perspective "from the cradle to the grave" (full life cycle), "from the gate to the gate" (production stage), and "from the cradle to the cradle" (recovery stage), focusing on the production stage and the recovery stage. It is found that the carbon footprint of lithium iron phosphate batteries in the production stage is low. The benefit of hydrometallurgical recovery of lithium nickel cobalt manganese oxide battery is the best in the recovery stage. It is also found that the research and development of new technologies and the development and use of green energy can effectively reduce the carbon footprint of LIBs in the production, use and recycling stages of the full life cycle. Finally, this study looks forward to the future of multiple factors affecting the carbon footprint of LIBs and provides a basis for the sustainable development of LIBs and the realization of dual-carbon goals.

All-solid-state batteries using solid-state electrolytes instead of organic liquid electrolytes have the advantages of high safety and high energy density, providing a promising solution for next-generation energy storage devices. Although there is a general consensus in the industry on the trend of all-solid-state battery development, the industrialization of all-solid-state batteries is still facing many challenges, such as poor water-oxygen stability of the sulfide electrolytes and the interface between the cathode and the solid-state electrolyte, high interfacial impedance and poor processing performance of oxide electrolytes, as well as low ion conductivity at room temperature and narrow electrochemical windows of polymer electrolytes, which have not been solved yet, restricting the large-scale application of all-solid-state lithium batteries. Through investigation and research, this paper summarized the current status of all-solid-state lithium batteries technology development at home and abroad, analysed and proposed technical difficulties and solutions for all-solid-state lithium batteries, and finally looked forward to the future research directions of all-solid-state lithium batteries.

Microchemical processes have inherent advantages in efficiency, safety, energy conservation, small size, and high heat and mass transfer rates, and exhibit enormous development potential in the field of gas-liquid heterogeneous mass transfer and reaction enhancement. This article systematically discussed the current research status of gas-liquid two-phase flow and mass transfer characteristics in microchannels, summarized the gas-liquid two-phase flow shape and distribution in microchannels, analyzed the key factors affecting the two-phase flow shape from the aspects of operating conditions and microchannel design, discussed how multiple factors affect mass transfer and process enhancement, and summarized and classified the currently studied gas-liquid two-phase mass transfer models in microchannels. Based on the flow patterns of gas-liquid two-phase flow in the main flow channels, the latest research progress of various gas-liquid two-phase microreactors was classified and introduced. The article points out that further exploration of strengthening methods for microchemical processes and the development of new gas-liquid microchannel reactors are still the key development directions for future microchemical research.

Modelling of porous carbon materials serves as prerequisite and foundation for the characterization, structure-performance relationship investigation and adsorption simulation study. In this article, a critical literature survey was conducted on the strategy, application and merits/demerits of approaches to modelling of porous carbon materials based on molecular simulation, and the applicability of various modelling methods was analyzed in demand oriented for screening activated carbon for the purification of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The results showed that early models constructed by either fragment, basic structural units (BSUs) or basic buildings elements (BBEs) can exhibit some apparent properties of porous carbon materials. Meanwhile, they were incapable of providing guidance for the elucidation of adsorption performance and mechanism of porous carbons. Various modelling methods of porous carbon material can be classified into two groups according to their construction strategy, the mimetic and the reconstructive. The former was suitable for studying the microstructure evolution, but had disadvantages in requirement of high computing power. The latter constructed models via "reconstructing" porous carbon materials by fitting experimental and characterizing data under certain constraint conditions. Among the reconstructive methods, modelling by random packing that can intentionally regulate the pore structure and decorate functional groups of the model, was a promising approach to screening suitable activated carbon matching for purification of specific VOCs even to setting targeted goals for directional preparation of activated carbon. Reasonably, structural model with regulable pore structure and surface chemistry of porous carbons was helpful in adsorption simulation for structure-performance relationships studies. However, it was obvious that the reconstructive modelling methods (including by random packing) can provide guidance for the practical applications of porous carbon materials only till the time, when the pore structure and surface functional groups of porous carbon models could be quantitatively regulated, as well as multi-scale models capable of conducting multi-parameter structure-performance relationship studies would have been developed.

The green and efficient recycling of cobalt, nickel, lithium and other rare metals in spent lithium batteries has gradually become the focus of research at home and abroad. Traditional acid leaching owns the advantages of low energy cost, high purity of metal recovery and high efficiency. However, traditional acid leaching uses caustic acids and expensive extracts, takes a long time and produces secondary waste such as waste acids, sludge and highly saline solutions. Therefore, this paper focused on the application of green leaching agent and reducing agent in traditional acid-leaching and two novel green solvents of deep eutectic solvent (DES) and supercritical fluid (SCF) in the green and efficient recovery of cathode materials of lithium batteries. The important effects of selective leaching technology on simplifying recovery procedures and assisted means like microwave or ultrasonic on improving leaching conditions were reviewed. The application of supercritical water (SCW) and supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO₂) to degrade organic pollutants, recover rare metals, and improve the synthesis of cathode materials was emphasized, which provided important reference value for efficient, green and low-cost recovery of valuable metals from spent lithium batteries.

At present, LiFePO₄ materials is difficult to meet the demand of high energy density. LiMn _x Fe_1-x PO₄ (LMFP) cathode materials exhibit higher energy density compared with LiFePO₄, while maintain the advantage of low cost and high stability of olivine structure. However, the inferior rate and cycle performance limit its practical application, which is ascribed by poor Li-ion diffusion kinetic and Jahn-Teller effect of Mn³⁺. In this work, a F-doping strategy was proposed to construct 110nm nanoparticles of LMFP with highly ordered b-axis orientation. The basic physicochemical properties and electrochemical properties of materials were explored, finding that the exposed (010) crystal face acted as Li-ion diffusion channel can significantly improve the Li-ion transport efficiency, while the doped F ions can increase the Li—O bond distance and the PO₄^3- binding energy to enhance the stability of crystal structure. Therefore, the reversible specific discharge capacity of the F-doped LMFP was 153mA·h/g and 106mA·h/g at 0.1C and 5C, respectively. After 750 cycles at 1C, the capacity retention increased from 90.6% to 96.4% compared with the unmodified material.

With the rapid development of new energy vehicles, power battery ushered in the "decommissioning tide". In order to realize the recycling of spent power batteries in the context of dual-carbon, China has gradually released relevant policies to solve the technical and management problems. However, the current policy system is still in the exploratory stage, which makes the national and local policies different with each other in many aspects. In this research, the current status of national and local policies on the recycling process of spent power batteries in China was summarized with the policies analyzed in terms of year, region, and focus angle. At the same time, the impacts of the parameters on the policies, such as the current state of the market, technology, resources and energy structure, were explored under different degrees. The study revealed that the changes of policies in different years clarified their stages, and regions had significant gaps in the number and direction of policies. Besides, the study on market scale and related enterprises found that the recycling market of ternary lithium battery and lithium iron phosphate battery lacked governmental guidance. The progress and utilization of recycling technology could be used for policy update and optimization. The distribution, supply and energy structure of the resources played a warning role, forcing the country to improve the requirements for power battery recycling. Based on the above analysis, the "4C" policy principle was proposed. It provided a reference basis for the policy formulation and optimization of waste power battery recycling in the context of circular economy.

Incineration is the primary method of municipal solid waste disposal in China, and the resulting fly ash contains dioxins and heavy metals, classifying it as hazardous waste. The treatment methods are relatively limited, but the demand for effective disposal is substantial. Promoting the development of technologies for the harmless disposal and resource utilization of municipal solid waste incineration fly ash, actively addressing the shortcomings in municipal solid waste treatment facilities, all align with the national requirements for energy conservation, emission reduction, and green development. This study systematically analyzed the basic characteristics of municipal solid waste incineration fly ash in typical regions of China, focusing on the generation of dioxins and heavy metals. It provided an overview of the main technologies for treating dioxins in fly ash, including sintering, melting/vitrification, cement kiln co-treatment, low-temperature pyrolysis, and mechanochemical techniques. The major methods for treating heavy metals in fly ash were compared, encompassing solidification/stabilization, thermal treatment, and heavy metal extraction technologies. The study gave a summary and outlook on the application of fly ash treatment technologies, aiming to guide the development of reduction, harmlessness, and resource utilization technologies for municipal solid waste incineration fly ash in China.

The production of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) via electrochemical two-electron (2e^-) oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is a green, safe and efficient technical route, showing broad development prospects as an alternative to the industrial anthraquinone process. However, this route at present is limited by the sluggish ORR kinetics and the competitive four-electron (4e^-) reaction, and thus it is critically desired to develop efficient catalysts with high ORR activity and selectivity. Currently, carbon-based materials are the most widely studied catalysts for electrosynthesis of H₂O₂via 2e^- ORR and great progress has been made due to their abundance in earth, low cost and tunable catalytic properties. This review summarizes the recent advances in carbon-based electrocatalysts for 2e^- ORR to H₂O₂. Fundamental principles of the ORR and general methods of electrocatalyst evaluation are first introduced and the basic design guidelines for constructing highly-efficient electrocatalyst is also pointed out. Next, with a focus on the non-metal carbon-based materials and transition-metal carbon-based materials, the active site optimization strategies of catalysts including heteroatom doping, defect engineering, pore engineering and single-atom site local environment regulation are in depth discussed. Finally, the challenges and future development trend in the field of H₂O₂^{electrosynthesis by 2e- ORR are proposed in terms of H₂O₂ production medium, catalyst structure-performance relationship and steady production under industrial current densities.}

In response to the challenge of carbon neutrality, scholars in China have proposed the emerging discipline of “Engineering Thermochemistry”. Coal pyrolysis is an important industrial thermochemical reaction, which is an important research content in the field of engineering thermochemistry. In the face of increasing energy demand and deteriorating world environment, the clean and efficient utilization of coal has become a major strategic need in China. A comprehensive understanding of the coal pyrolysis process, improvement of coal pyrolysis theory and accurate description of the kinetic mechanism of coal pyrolysis are the basis for the development of efficient pyrolysis of coal. This paper firstly introduced the concept, classification and pyrolysis process of coal pyrolysis, and then summarized the research progress of coal pyrolysis mechanism, and conducted a detailed analysis of the ReaxFF MD molecular dynamics as well as thermal analysis kinetics of coal pyrolysis. The main reactions occurring in the pyrolysis process, the influencing factors of the reactions, and the effects of the reactions of minerals and heteroatoms in the process of thermal action were described. Finally, the development history and demonstration application of coal pyrolysis process were summarized.

In order to meet the operational requirements of high-heat-flux data centers, liquid cooling technology has gotten more and more attention and research efforts from scholars worldwide. Indirect liquid cooling is regarded as more efficient and energy-saving compared to traditional air cooling methods. However, its heat exchange capabilities are somewhat diminished in comparison to direct liquid contact methods, making the heat transfer enhancement a focal point of research in the realm of indirect liquid cooling. Additionally, indirect liquid cooling presents safety and cost-related challenges, such as liquid leakage and system complexity. Therefore, the integration of different technologies based on their respective strengths and weaknesses has become a meaningful research direction for current data center cooling systems. In this article, a comprehensive review of these key aspects is conducted. The current status and research advancements in the application of single-phase, two-phase, and heat pipe cooling in chip-level data center cooling are thoroughly analyzed. The pathways for enhancing heat transfer in chip-level indirect liquid cooling are outlined from three aspects: fluid dynamics, medium materials, and channel design optimization. Furthermore, the coupling of different technologies for chip-level data center cooling methods has also been organized, primarily including single-phase cooling and heat pipe cooling, along with the use of phase-change materials in conjunction with these methods to enhance energy efficiency and effectiveness. In the future, indirect liquid cooling in data centers still needs to be expanded in the direction of heat dissipation efficiency improvement and technology composite. This study provides a valuable reference for improving the cooling efficiency of high-temperature data centers and expanding the application of indirect liquid cooling technology.

Yellow phosphorus production is classified as a “high energy consumption” and “high pollution” industry. Currently, the electric furnace method stands as the sole industrialized approach for yellow phosphorus production. However, this method faces challenges such as excessive power consumption and the complexity of efficiently utilizing yellow phosphorus tail gas. Against the backdrop of the “peak carbon dioxide emissions” and “carbon neutrality” initiatives, it is an inevitable choice to fight the battle of pollution prevention and to realize the synergistic effect of pollution reduction and carbon reduction. Therefore, there is a pressing need for innovation in yellow phosphorus production technology. This paper summarizes the mechanism of phosphorus rock thermal reduction to produce yellow phosphorus and elucidates the influence of SiO₂, Al₂O₃, and MgO fluxes, as well as carbonaceous reductant activity, on phosphorus rock reduction. The technical principles, characteristics, and existing issues of the production of yellow phosphorus through blast furnace method, electric furnace method, fluidized bed method, molten electrolysis method, low-temperature carbon thermal reduction of phosphoric acid method, silicothermic process, and the phosphorus-coal coupled production of yellow phosphorus and carbon monoxide method are elucidated. It is emphasized that the overarching objective for future yellow phosphorus production technology is to achieve energy efficiency and optimize the utilization of carbon resources. Significantly, the advancement of technologies for utilizing low-grade phosphate rock and recovering phosphorus from waste with low phosphorus content holds immense importance in realizing the sustainable development and utilization of phosphorus resources.

Direct air capture (DAC) is a technology that can capture carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. This article introduces the development history, technical advantages and disadvantages, and development prospects of DAC technology. According to predictions, by 2050, the global annual demand for capturing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere will exceed 980 million tons. It reviewed the current status of policy support and funding for DAC technology. Countries and regions such as the United States, Canada, the European Union, and the United Kingdom have become pioneers in the research, development, demonstration, and deployment of DAC technology. The mainstream DAC technology routes and their progress in the industrialization process were analyzed. The current largest DAC plant had a capture capacity of 4000t/a, and there were plans to build million-ton commercial projects. It pointed out the research directions that DAC technology needs to focus on, suggesting that future efforts should focus on large-scale deployment of the technology, establishing carbon market mechanisms, and strengthening international cooperation. Further research and development of DAC equipment and systems are needed to reduce costs, improve efficiency, and develop mechanisms such as carbon pricing, carbon trading, and carbon offsetting to provide economic incentives for DAC projects, promote investment and market participation, and strengthen international cooperation, thus accelerating the rapid development of this technology.

In order to clarify the treatment target for high-risk and pungent odor substances, the odor threshold (OT) and the lowest concentration of interest (LCI) data were measured and collected, and the odor activity value (OAV) and risk value (R) were calculated and evaluated, based on the systematic analysis of odor substances in fiberboards. The results showed that benzene series, terpenes, acetic acid, hexaldehydes and other small molecules were the most odor substances released in fiberboards. Although acetic acid (strong, pungent, similar smell to vinegar ), propionic acid ( spicy vinegar odor), styrene (pungent, similar smell to rubber), p-, m-xylene ( irritating aromatic odor ), 1-butanol ( alcohol spicy odor ), o-xylene ( irritating aromatic odor ), benzaldehyde ( bitter almond odor ), and furfural (similar smell to benzaldehyde ) had irritating odor, the main odor substances (OAV>1) werealdehydes such as hexanal, nonanal, pentanal, and heptanal, and terpenes such as longifolene and \alpha-\mathrm{p}\mathrm{i}\mathrm{n}\mathrm{e}\mathrm{n}\mathrm{e}. The reduction of aldehydes and terpenes was the main way to reduce the pungent odor of fiberboards. The risk value of odor substances was related to both the amount of release and the LCI value. Although fiberboards contained low and medium toxic substances such as 2-methylnaphthalene and xylene, the risk values of these substances were far less than 1.

Hydrogen energy serves as an ideal intermediary for the clean and efficient utilization of fossil fuels and large-scale development of renewable energy. However, the storage and transportation of hydrogen are the key technical bottlenecks that limit the application of hydrogen energy. Liquid organic hydride carrier (LOHC) hydrogen storage technology, with its advantages of low cost, high hydrogen storage density, and safety, can be integrated into existing fossil fuel transport infrastructure, making it a promising solution for large-scale, long-distance, and distributed hydrogen storage and transportation scenarios. However, compared to more mature hydrogenation technologies, the efficiency and stability of LOHC dehydrogenation process are still not high enough in the storage cycle, which however is crucial for further development of LOHC storage technology. Herein, we provide a comprehensive review of the research progress and development trends in enhancing the catalytic dehydrogenation process for LOHC hydrogen storage technology. The review outlines the fundamental concepts of LOHC hydrogen storage and the principles of catalytic dehydrogenation reactions. It further summarizes the improvement strategies for the catalytic processes, product separation techniques, and energy efficiency. By analyzing the characteristics of different technical approaches, we point out the current challenges in the catalytic dehydrogenation process of LOHC hydrogen storage technology, including the development of dehydrogenation catalysts, enhancement of heat and mass transfer and optimization of energy efficiency, and highlight the research priorities and prospects in the future.

In order to degrade the highly toxic phenol-containing industrial wastewater, this paper combined micro-nano bubbles with ozone oxidation to investigate the effects of treatment temperature, solution pH, initial phenol concentration and ozone concentration on phenol degradation. The results showed that the rupture of micro-nanobubbles could induce the generation of more ·OH, which could make up for the shortcomings of low mass transfer efficiency and insufficient oxidizability of ozone, so that the redox potential of the reaction system could be significantly increased and played a major role in phenol degradation. Compared with ozone oxidation, the phenol degradation effect was significantly improved. The increase of ozone concentration, the increase of solution pH and the decrease of initial phenol concentration could promote the generation of more ·OH in the reaction system, which could enhance the phenol removal rate. The intermediate products of phenol degradation were detected by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and the possible pathways of phenol degradation were speculated. Overall, the combination of micro-nano bubbles with ozone oxidation was a potential phenol removal technology, and the results of this study were of great significance in guiding the application and popularization of this technology in the degradation of industrial wastewater.

Biomass is a kind of renewable resource with great application potential, which has the characteristics of wide source, abundant reserves and low price. The preparation of biomass activated carbon is an important route to promote the resource utilization of biomass materials. In this paper, the preparation of activated carbon from biomass and the regulation of preparation conditions for its microstructural characteristics including specific surface area, pore structure and surface properties are reviewed. The effects of biomass composition, carbonization and activation conditions (such as carbonization method, activator type, activator dosage, and reaction residence time) on the microstructure characteristics of activated carbon are emphatically expounded. The regulation mechanism of pore structure and surface properties by common activators (such as water vapor, CO₂, ZnCl₂, H₃PO₄, KOH, etc.) is discussed in detail. Finally, this paper summarizes the applications of activated carbon with different microstructure characteristics.

Methanol, as a stable liquid-phase hydrogen storage medium at room temperature and pressure, has the advantages of high hydrogen to carbon ratio, low price, and convenient storage and transportation. Replacing the traditional catalytic hydrocarbon reforming process by methanol reforming is an important means to realize the green production and efficient storage and transportation of hydrogen energy. In this review, we firstly introduce the mechanism and characteristics of methanol reforming for hydrogen generation. Then, the structural optimization strategies of metal active sites were reviewed from the aspects of monometallic, bimetallic and metal valence regulations. Subsequently, we elaborate the structure modulation methods of the metal-support interface such as the doping effect of support, defective site modulation, and support crystalline phase control. Furthermore, the strategy for reconstructing active sites was discussed from the aspects of support induced activation and metal site sustained release. Finally, the preparation strategies for developing high-performance catalysts in the future and the characterization techniques and theoretical calculation methods used to reveal the structure-activity relationship were discussed.

China's carbon peaking and carbon neutrality strategy has made electric vehicles and energy storage crucial tools for its implementation. Lithium-ion batteries have emerged as a core technology for electric vehicles and energy storage, exhibiting significant progress in recent years. Current lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) predominantly use liquid electrolytes, which encounter safety and energy density bottlenecks, posing challenges to meet the application demand for electric vehicles and energy storage. Sulfide all-solid-state lithium batteries (ASSLBs) incorporate an inorganic sulfide solid-state electrolyte in place of the commonly used liquid electrolyte, presenting a solution to the flammable and explosive safety concerns associated with the latter. Meanwhile, based on the high ionic conductivity of the sulfide electrolyte, the sulfide electrolyte based ASSLB has exhibited excellent rate performance. In this review, the history of their development was introduced before the classification and structure of sulfide electrolytes. Then, it was followed by a discussion of the structural features, ion transport mechanisms and electrochemical properties of both glassy and crystalline sulfide electrolytes. Three different synthesis methods and the corresponding electrochemical properties of the resulting sulfide electrolytes were then presented. Finally, key properties such as air stability and interfacial stability that determined their industrial applications were summarized. It was suggested in conclusion to offer recommendations for the future research path of sulfide electrolyte, which could boost the industrial usage of ASSLBs and contribute to the fulfilment of China's "dual carbon goals".

Under the “carbon peaking and carbon neutrality” goals, process intensification is one of the key technologies for achieving green production. Cyclic distillation, a new distillation technology based on the process intensification theory, utilizes specific tower internals and control schemes to change the flow mode of gas and liquid phase in the traditional distillation column and achieves periodic separate phase movement (SPM) of gas and liquid phases, offering advantages such as high processing capacity, low energy consumption, and excellent separation performance. Compared with traditional distillation operations, the Murphree efficiency of cyclic distillation technology can be increased to 140%—300%, and energy consumption can be reduced by 20%—30%. This article provided a brief overview of the research of background, working principle, industrial applications, and two special trays (Maleta tray and COPS tray) of cyclic distillation technology. The paper summarized the control methods and tower internals of cyclic distillation columns and proposed the prospective development of cyclic distillation technology.

As a representative of third-generation emerging solar cells, perovskite solar cells have rapidly developed since their inception, with small-area device efficiencies reaching a high level of 26.7%. This review systematically examines the latest research progress of perovskite solar cells, covering the latest developments in both single-junction and tandem structures, as well as their potential for commercialization and space applications. Firstly, the review introduces the different bandgap characteristics of single-junction perovskite solar cells, including conventional, wide, and narrow bandgap perovskite materials, analyzing their advantages and challenges in light absorption and energy conversion efficiency. Secondly, it explores various designs of perovskite-based tandem solar cells, including perovskite-silicon tandem cells and all-perovskite tandem cells, emphasizing the potential of tandem structures to enhance photovoltaic conversion efficiency and broaden application ranges. In terms of commercialization, the article analyzes the developments in photovoltaic performance and fabrication technologies of large-area perovskite solar modules, showcasing the commercialization progress in this field and the technological and market challenges it faces. Additionally, the review addresses the prospects of perovskite solar cells in space applications, highlighting their reliability and efficiency under extreme environmental conditions. Finally, the article summarizes the current achievements and future outlook of perovskite solar cells, emphasizing the importance of ongoing research and technological breakthroughs to advance this field. With continuous technological progress, perovskite solar cells are expected to play a larger role in the renewable energy sector, contributing to the global energy transition.

As an important carrier of acid-catalyzed thermal reaction, zeolite has the advantages of controllable acidity, strong thermal stability and shape selectivity, but its special rigid pore structure and internal charge distribution make it have a limiting effect, which will affect the zeolite’s acidic characterization and catalytic reaction performance. Since the catalytic role of zeolite is mainly the Brønsted acid site, the formation mechanism of the Brønsted acid site and the confinement effect is introduced, the influence of the restriction effect on the acid strength and acid density characterization of the Brønsted acid site is briefly described, and the influence of spatial constraint and local electric field on the catalytic reaction performance in the restriction effect is reviewed. It is pointed out that in the acidic characterization, spatial constraints limit the accessibility of probe molecules to acid sites, which further affects the measurement of acid density. The local electric field affects the adsorption and desorption of probe molecules, which in turn directly affects the acid intensity. Therefore, in the acidic characterization of zeolites, probe molecules with similar size and structure to reactants should be selected to measure the acid density and acid strength that can be acquired as the actual results close to the Brønsted acid site. In catalytically dominated thermochemical reactions, spatial constraints make zeolites shape-selective, and the reaction process, intermediate-transition-state product and final product distribution of thermochemical reactions can be selected by controlling the pore size of zeolite. At the same time, since the local electric field affects the apparent acid intensity, the catalytic performance of zeolite is related to the apparent acid intensity. The smaller the pore size of the zeolite, the greater the van der Waals interaction of the reaction molecules, which affects the formation of the transition state of the reaction and then changes the activation energy of the reaction, thereby affecting the catalytic thermochemical reaction efficacy. Comprehensive analysis shows that only a zeolite with appropriate acid strength and an accessible pore size similar to that of the reactant molecule is an ideal acid carrier for catalyzing the thermal reaction.

The conversion of carbon dioxide (CO₂) to valuable syngas (CO/H₂) by electrocatalytic carbon dioxide reduction reaction (CRR) has attracted widespread attention. The development of electrocatalysts for CRR is crucial for efficient and accurate synthesis of syngas. This article reviews the research progress on the reaction process, reaction mechanism, and the electrocatalysts of CRR to syngas. The types, advantages, existing problems, and development directions of existing CRR catalysts were introduced. The influence of the types and proportions of doping elements in catalysts on the reaction intermediates were analyzed in detail. The effects of the edge and active site of the metal atom doped with non-metallic elements on CRR were pointed out. The precise regulation CO and H₂ by catalyst design and reaction condition adjustment were discussed. The article also discusses the ways to promote CRR and regulate the hydrocarbon ratio of syngas such as increasing reaction active sites and reducing the reaction energy barrier of intermediates. Furthermore, it was concluded that the efficiency of CRR to syngas could be improved through multi-stage regulation of catalyst morphology, multi-active site design, and the coupling of CO₂ reduction and anodic reaction. Finally, the challenges and issues in future industrial production of syngas through CRR were discussed.

In this paper, the development process of iron and steel metallurgy technology and discipline is sorted out, and its development process is divided into five main periods. In the new era, the iron and steel metallurgical industry will change from the pursuit of efficiency priority to the direction of energy conservation and environmental protection, this paper summarizes the green and low-carbon development path of the iron and steel industry, and focuses on the development direction of hydrogen-based low-carbon ironmaking technology. Hydrogen-rich blast furnace technology represented by COURSE50, ULCOS, and tkH₂Steel can be used as the preferred direction for blast furnace process improvement at this stage. In terms of non-blast furnace processes, this paper introduces the development of hydrogen-based shaft furnace direct reduction ironmaking processes such as MIDREX and HYL/ENERGIRON, and also introduces the hydrogen-based direct reduction ironmaking processes of iron ore powder using fluidized beds, such as H-Iron, FIOR, Circored and HyREX. In the new era, China's iron and steel industry should make full use of low-carbon energy sources such as coke oven gas, coal-to-gas, natural gas and green hydrogen while developing traditional energy-saving and emission reduction technologies, so as to reduce carbon consumption and CO₂ emissions.

Ethyl acetate, ethanol and water can form a system with three binary and one ternary azeotropes. The aim of this study is to use ionic liquid (IL) as the extractant to break these azeotropes for effectively separating the ternary system. Based on the COSMO-RS model and the viscosity prediction model, selectivities, capacities and viscosities of 65 ILs were calculated. It was found that 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate ([BMIM][Ac]) was barged to the forefront as the extractant among 65 ILs. The vapor liquid equilibrium (VLE) experiments of ethyl acetate (1)+ethanol (2)+water (3)+selected IL (4) system were conducted. It was confirmed that the [BMIM][Ac] can effectively influence and break all the azeotropes in this system, proving the screening result. Correlation accuracies of the VLE data by the NRTL and UNIQUAC models were 1.69% and 2.20% of RMSDs, respectively. The slight errors emphasized the reliability of correlation results. The mechanism of separation for this ternary system with IL was qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed by quantum chemical calculations. It was showed that the [BMIM][Ac] formed weak hydrogen bond interactions with ethyl acetate (-8.22kcal/mol, 1kcal≈4.186kJ) and strong hydrogen bond interactions with ethanol and water (-15.83kcal/mol and -16.14kcal/mol, respectively). Based on the correlated model parameters, an extraction distillation process was simulated and optimized for separating the ethyl acetate+ethanol+water system with the selected IL as the extractant. It was achieved that the mass fractions of ethyl acetate, ethanol and water can all reach 0.999. The research result demonstrated the industrial feasibility of separating this ternary azeotropic system with [BMIM][Ac] as the extractant.

Ionic conductive hydrogels are polymeric materials with high water content, stretchability and good biocompatibility. The presence of free ions in polymer networks enable them to exhibit ionic conductivity very similar to human skin, showing great potential in applications such as wearable sensing devices, energy storage devices, and biomedical applications. In this review, the research background and progress of ionic conductive hydrogels were briefly introduced, and the preparation methods of ionic conductive hydrogels were discussed. The research progress of ionic conductive hydrogels in functional properties such as conductivity, flexibility, anti-freezing, water retention, self-healing, adhesion and biocompatibility was introduced, and the related application research progress of ionic conductive hydrogels was analyzed and described. Finally, the existing problems and challenges in stability, environmental suitability and synergetic compatibility between various functions of ionic conductive hydrogels were summarized, and the development trend and prospect of ionic conductive hydrogels were forecasted. It was pointed out that the development of functionally adjustable ionic conductive hydrogels with high conductivity, superior stability in an extreme environment, perfect self-healing properties and desirable biodegradability would be the focus of further research. In addition, it would also become an important research direction to develop a wearable sensing system with wireless sensing and self-powered function based on ionic conductive hydrogels.

Reductive amination is a convenient way to transform aldehydes (ketones) into amines. Reductive amination has a complex reaction pathway and numerous influencing factors. The implementation of appropriate reaction conditions can significantly enhance reaction efficiency and selectivity. This article summarizes prevalent catalytic systems and the impacts of catalysts, solvents, temperatures, substrate properties, as well as the addition of ammonia/water/acid on the reductive amination. Subsequently, the utilization of microreactors in reductive amination is further discussed. The discussion encompasses continuous reductive amination process with primary, secondary, and tertiary amines as the target product, continuous reductive amination processes utilizing nitro compounds as starting materials, enzyme-catalyzed, and catalyst-free continuous reductive amination processes. Temperature control, mass transfer enhancement, and residence time distribution within microreactors can further intensify the reaction and improve the selectivity. The continuous reductive amination technology, coupled with novel catalytic materials, is expected to play an increasingly pivotal role in the production of amine compounds.

This review provides a comprehensive overview of the reaction pathways involved in the co-conversion of CH₄ and CO₂ to produce syngas, acetic acid, and C₂ hydrocarbons. The focus is on elucidating the key reaction steps, intermediates, and the influencing factors on reaction selectivity. For the production of syngas, the activation and dissociation of CO₂ and CH₄ are identified as key steps. The mechanism depends on the acidity of the catalyst support. Acidic or neutral support follow a mono-functional mechanism, where both CH₄ and CO₂ are activated at the same active center. In contrast, a basic support leads to a bi-functional mechanism, involving the activation of CH₄ and CO₂ at different active centers. For acetic acid production, the C-C coupling process assumes to be significant. Two mechanisms are considered: the direct insertion of gas-phase CO₂ into the M—CH₃ bond (Eley-Rideal mechanism), and the prior adsorption of CO₂ followed by insertion (Langmuir-Hinshelwood mechanism), with a lower reaction energy barrier for the latter. For producing C₂ hydrocarbons, reactive oxygen species are considered to be key intermediates in the reaction, which may be derived from the activation and dissociation of lattice oxygen or CO₂ in the catalyst. To enhance the catalytic performance, constructing multiple active sites on the catalyst surface for the co-catalysis of CH₄ and CO₂ is regarded as a promising catalyst modification strategy. Furthermore, advanced simulation calculation methods and in-situ characterization techniques can help to reveal the dynamic evolution of reaction process and the catalytic mechanism, thus providing the theoretical guidance for the design of catalysts in the CH₄ and CO₂co-conversion reaction.

Battery-grade iron phosphate was synthesized by liquid-phase precipitation using ferric sulphate as the source of iron, which was obtained from purification of by-product ferrous sulfate of titanium dioxide. The effects of iron to phosphorus feed ratio (Fe/P feed ratio), reaction temperature, pH, CTAB addition on Fe/P, grain size and yield of iron phosphate were investigated. The optimal synthesis conditions for high-yield iron phosphate obtained by response surface methodology were Fe/P feed ratio of 1.33, 80℃, pH of 1.6 and CTAB addition of 2%. Through the response surface optimization experiment, the feed ratio of raw materials was reduced and the cost of materials decreased while ensuring the high yield of 90.98%. The product obtained was determined to be amorphous iron phosphate dehydrate, which was transformed into α-quartz type after calcination. The primary particle size of iron phosphate dihydrate was about 100nm and the average particle size D₅₀ of secondary particles was 8.4μm. The formation mechanism of amorphous iron phosphate was analyzed according to the theory of crystal nucleus formation and crystal growth. The nucleation rate of iron phosphate was much higher than its growth rate and a large number of micro-nuclei were formed in the system. These micro-nuclei were irregularly aggregated because their radius was less than the critical nucleus radius and then amorphous iron phosphate was formed. The element content of the product (FePO₄·2H₂O) was determined to meet the technical index of battery grade iron phosphate.

The review summarizes the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC)’s fund applications, grants and success rates, regarding the discipline of chemical engineering & industrial chemistry (B08) in 2024. Fund applications and grants under the 16 secondary application codes/sub-directions of B08 were outlined, and statistics for typical funded programs were specified, so as to provide suggestions for proposal applications in the next year.

The steel industry is a major energy consumer and carbon emitter, so seeking zero-carbon raw materials that can replace traditional coal in the context of carbon neutrality is a key carbon emission reduction technology for the steel industry. Biochar has the characteristics of carbon neutrality, and the carbon content and calorific value are close to that of coal, which is an ideal alternative raw material for pulverized coal and coke. This paper introduced the potential utilization methods of biochar in coking, sintering and blast furnace ironmaking, focused on the physical and chemical characteristics of biochar when applied to blast furnace ironmaking and expounded the effects and mechanisms of biochar alkali metal, strength, particle size and specific surface area in coal substitution. Aiming at the problems of alkali metal reducing coke strength, demineralization methods such as pickling were introduced to reduce the content of biochar alkali metal. Aiming at the problem that biochar had poor mechanical strength and was difficult to enter the furnace, the formation mechanism of coke strength and the enhancement process of biochar molding were summarized. In view of the problem of poor fluidity of coking coal mixture caused by biochar, the negative impact on coke was reduced by adjusting the particle size and specific surface area of biochar. Finally, the domestic and international progress of biochar in replacing pulverized coal and coke for blast furnace ironmaking and the expected CO₂ emission reduction effect were summarized. By analyzing the challenges of the current industrial application of biochar instead of coal/coke and the related research on life cycle assessment, it will provide technical support for the future carbon neutrality of the steel industry.