The role titanate particle structure plays in governing its characteristics upon calcining and their ensuing influence on photocatalytic performance was investigated. Titanate nanotubes and nanoribbons were prepared by hydrothermal treatment of Aeroxide P25 and then calcined at temperatures in the range 200 - 800 °C. Heat treatment directly transformed the nanotubes to anatase while nanoribbon transformation to anatase occurred via a TiO(2)(B) intermediate phase. The nanoribbon structure also provided an increased resistance to sintering, allowing for retention of the original {010} facet of the titanate nanosheets up to 800 °C. The changing material properties with calcining were found to influence the capacity of the particles to photodegrade oxalic acid and methanol. The nanotubes provided an optimum photoactivity following calcination at 500 °C with this point representing a transition between the relative dominance of crystal phase and surface area on performance. The comparatively smaller initial surface area of the nanoribbons consigned this characteristic to a secondary role in influencing photoactivity with the changes to crystal phase dominating the continually improving performance with calcination up to 800 °C. The structural stability imparted by the nanoribbon architecture during calcination, in particular its retention of the {010} facet at temperatures >700 °C, advanced its photocatalytic performance compared with the nanotubes. This was especially the case for methanol photooxidation whose primary degradation mechanism relies on hydroxyl radical attack and was facilitated by the {010} facet. The effect was not as pronounced for oxalic acid due to its higher adsorption on TiO(2) and therefore greater susceptibility to oxidation by photogenerated holes. This study demonstrates that, apart from modulating sintering effects and changes to crystal phase, the titanate nanostructure influences particle crystallography which can be beneficial for photocatalytic performance.

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Carbon dioxide (CO2) has been anticipated as an ideal carbon building block for organic synthesis due to the noble properties of CO2, which are abundant renewable carbon feedstock, non-toxic nature, and contributing to a more sustainable use of resources. Several green and proficient routes have been established for chemical CO2 fixation. Among the prominent routes, this review epitomizes the reactions involving cycloaddition of epoxides with CO2 in producing cyclic carbonate. Cyclic carbonate has been widely used as a polar aprotic solvent, as an electrolyte in Li-ion batteries, and as precursors for various forms of chemical synthesis such as polycarbonates and polyurethanes. This review provides an overview in terms of the reaction mechanistic pathway and recent advances in the development of several classes of catalysts, including homogeneous organocatalysts (e.g., organic salt, ionic liquid, deep eutectic solvents), organometallic (e.g., mono-, bi-, and tri-metal salen complexes and non-salen complexes) and heterogeneous supported catalysts, and metal organic framework (MOF). Selection of effective catalysts for various epoxide substrates is very important in determining the cycloaddition operating condition. Under their catalytic systems, all classes of these catalysts, with regard to recent developments, can exhibit CO2 cycloaddition of terminal epoxide substrates at ambient temperatures and low CO2 pressure. Although highly desired conversion can be achieved for internal epoxide substrates, higher temperature and pressure are normally required. This includes fatty acid-derived terminal epoxides for oleochemical carbonate production. The production of fully renewable resources by employment of bio-based epoxy with biorefinery concept and potential enhancement of cycloaddition reactions are pointed out as well.

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The increase of annual organic wastes generated worldwide has become a major problem for many countries since the mismanagement could bring about negative effects on the environment besides, being costly for an innocuous disposal. Recently, insect larvae have been investigated to valorize organic wastes. This entomoremediation approach is rising from the ability of the insect larvae to convert organic wastes into its biomass via assimilation process as catapulted by the natural demand to complete its lifecycle. Among the insect species, black soldier fly or Hermetia illucens is widely researched since the larvae can grow in various environments while being saprophagous in nature. Even though black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) can ingest various decay materials, some organic wastes such as sewage sludge or lignocellulosic wastes such as waste coconut endosperm are destitute of decent nutrients that could retard the BSFL growth. Hence, blending with nutrient-rich low-cost substrates such as palm kernel expeller, soybean curd residue, etc. is employed to fortify the nutritional contents of larval feeding substrates prior to administering to the BSFL.Alternatively, microbial fermentation can be adopted to breakdown the lignocellulosic wastes, exuding essential nutrients for growing BSFL. Upon reaching maturity, the BSFL can be harvested to serve as the protein and lipid feedstock. The larval protein can be made into insect meal for farmed animals, whilst the lipid source could be extracted and transesterified into larval biodiesel to cushion the global energy demands. Henceforth, this review presents the influence of various organic wastes introduced to feed BSFL, targeting to reduce wastes and producing biochemicals from mature larvae through entomoremediation. Modification of recalcitrant organic wastes via fermentation processes is also unveiled to ameliorate the BSFL growth. Lastly, the sustainable applications of harvested BSFL biomass are as well covered together with the immediate shortcomings that entail further researches.

Titanate nanoribbons were prepared by hydrothermal treatment of neat TiO2 P25 with 10 M NaOH at 200 °C. Hydrothermal aging times were varied to assist with understanding the transformation process while the impact of postsynthesis acid washing on nanoribbon formation kinetics was assessed. Nanoribbon evolution was observed to occur via the formation of intermediate amorphous titanate particles. The final nanoribbon product was found to comprise a layered titanate framework with sodium cations interspersed between the sheets. Acid washing served to exchange the Na+ with H+ to give H2Ti3O7. Moreover, acid washing accelerated nanoribbon formation, providing a well-defined (i.e., no amorphous particles) nanoribbon sample after 15 h compared to 40 h when acid washing was not used. The difference in formation rates was attributed to interlayer formation of the intermediates in the hydrogen bond array (i.e., Ti−O−H) during H2Ti3O7 being faster than intermediate formation in the sodium bond array (i.e., Ti−O−Na). Acid washing of the nanoribbon samples after extended hydrothermal synthesis times (>24 h) led to fragmenting of the structure.

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