Current Green Chemistry - Volume 11, Issue 4, 2024

Plastic waste is a current issue worldwide that is already negatively influencing and threatening the lives of human beings, with residual micro- and nanoplastics entering water and soil bodies inducing recalcitrant pollution and health issues. The proposed perspective has been aimed to provide an overview of the potential of plastic waste valorization to green hydrogen and carbonaceous nanostructures. The overall concept additionally includes the utilization of the generated carbonaceous nanostructures to design advanced functional materials in combination with the obtained green hydrogen from plastic waste in a number of batch-to-flow catalytic hydrogenations to close the circle of sustainable integrated valorization of plastic waste. The concept also includes insightful Life-Cycle Assessment (LCA) and techno-economic studies in order to select the most relevant lines from the sustainability and cost-competitive standpoints.

Over the past two decades, researchers have witnessed the synthesis of diaryl sulfides and diaryl selenides via transition metals-mediated carbon-heteroatom cross-coupling reactions in the presence of various organic and inorganic solvents. The use of water as a clean and environmentally friendly solvent in cross-coupling chemistry of C-S/Se bond formations has attracted profound interest owing to its availability, non-toxicity, low cost and renewability. The most commonly used solvents have been recognized as being of environmental concern, but the use of green and eco-friendly solvents like water is frequently considered with respect to the recovery of catalysts, isolation of products, and recycling. The fundamental interactions between the water and the transition metal catalysts or ligands are viewed from mechanistic aspects, which mostly favours the rational selection of high-performance and safe solvents. In this article, the authors intended to focus extensively on the critical role of water in various transition metals mediated C-S/Se cross-coupling methodologies.

Pyrazole derivatives are a significant group of heterocyclic compounds that have a diverse variety of biological activities and are used in several fields, such as medicines, agrochemicals, and materials research. Conventional methods for synthesizing pyrazole derivatives typically require severe reaction conditions, hazardous reagents, and environmentally harmful solvents, presenting considerable obstacles to achieving sustainable chemistry. This analysis specifically examines the latest progress made in creating environmentally friendly procedures for producing pyrazole derivatives. The study investigates different strategies in green chemistry, such as reactions without solvents, techniques including microwave and ultrasonic assistance, and using renewable resources and environmentally friendly catalysts. An in-depth analysis is conducted to evaluate the efficiency, selectivity, and environmental impact of these approaches. This review intends to comprehensively explore the potential for sustainable practices in synthesizing pyrazole derivatives by emphasizing advancements in green synthetic methods. It seeks to encourage further research and use of green chemistry concepts in heterocyclic chemistry.

Aspergillus sp., a ubiquitous filamentous fungus, poses significant challenges to the food industry as a common spoilage and mycotoxin producing organism. The conventional use of chemical preservatives to control Aspergillus contamination raises concerns about potential health risks and environmental impacts. Therefore, alternative approaches, such as the utilization of natural biopreservatives, as inexpensive, safe, and promising mycotoxin decontamination strategies are being explored. Lactic acid bacteria have gained considerable attention as potential candidates due to their antimicrobial properties and long-standing safe use in food fermentation. This review provides a thorough summary of the potential of lactic acid bacteria as biopreservatives against Aspergillus sp. The inhibitory mechanisms of lactic acid bacteria against the proliferation of Aspergillus and mycotoxin yield are explored, highlighting the role of organic acids, antimicrobial peptides, and other bioactive compounds. The versatile application of lactic acid bacteria based natural preservatives across a range of food matrices, storage conditions, etc. is also addressed. Further research is warranted to optimize lactic acid bacteria strains, explore synergistic combinations, and investigate their efficacy in real food systems. Implementing lactic acid bacteria based biopreservative strategies could significantly enhance food safety and quality by reducing Aspergillus contamination and mycotoxin risks.