Green Chemistry Initiatives

𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻 𝗖𝗢₂ 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗲. 𝗢𝗻𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗮𝗻𝗸𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆. The Sabatier reaction has been on the books since 1897: CO₂ + 4 H₂ → CH₄ + 2 H₂O, ΔH° = −165 kJ/mol. Thermodynamics is favorable at low temperature. Kinetics is the bottleneck, because CO₂ carries a C=O bond of roughly 750 kJ/mol. Three catalytic pathways are currently pursued. Each one pays the activation-energy bill in a different currency. 𝟭. 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗼𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗮𝗹𝘆𝘀𝗶𝘀 — 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝘂𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗻𝘁 • Ni or Ru catalyst, 250–400 °C, 1–30 bar • >95% CO₂ conversion, ~100% CH₄ selectivity with Ru • ~80% methanation efficiency (LHV CH₄ / LHV H₂) when heat is recovered • TRL 8–9. Reference: Audi e-gas, Werlte (DE), 6 MWₑₗ, online since 2013, ~1,000 t CH₄/yr • ~70% of operating cost is electricity for H₂ (IEA Bioenergy Task 44) 𝟮. 𝗕𝗶𝗼𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗮𝗹𝘆𝘀𝗶𝘀 — 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝗮𝗯𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗲𝗿 • Hydrogenotrophic archaea (e.g. Methanothermobacter) at 40–70 °C, 1–10 bar • >95% CO₂ conversion, >98% CH₄ purity directly on raw biogas; H₂S tolerant • ~78–83% methanation efficiency reported by independent operators (Q Power) • TRL 7–8. Reference: Electrochaea BioCat, 1 MWₑₗ, Avedøre (DK, 2016); 10 MWₑₗ Roslev in construction • Volumetric productivity is the cost-binding constraint — 50–200 L CH₄ per L_reactor per day 𝟯. 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗮𝗹𝘆𝘀𝗶𝘀 — 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗲𝗿 • Non-thermal plasma (typically DBD) + Ni/Ru support, <200 °C bulk, atmospheric pressure • Electron temperatures >10,000 K activate CO₂ while the gas stays near ambient • Intrinsic millisecond ramp rates, well matched to renewable intermittency • Biset-Peiró et al. (ACS Sustainable Chem. Eng., 2020): ~20× higher CO₂ conversion vs pure thermal at 150 °C when plasma is combined with Ni • TRL 3–5. No industrial reference. Recent TEA (J. CO₂ Util., 2025) projects ~1,845 €/t e-CH₄ only in high-solar regions • Energy efficiency today sits at 30–55%, trailing both alternatives One structural fact ties all three together. Every pathway consumes 4 mol H₂ per mol CH₄: a stoichiometry no catalyst can change. The real competition on molecule cost is decided upstream, in the electrolyzer and the electricity market. The useful question is narrower: where each route first clears the bar of cost, infrastructure, and bankability and whether supply can concentrate there before policy disperses it into lower-value end uses. Same reaction. Same molecule. Three engineering bets, and one shared dependency: cheap renewable electrons. #PowerToGas #Methanation #EnergyTransition #CleanFuels

Turning apple waste into furniture? Material innovation is being redefined with a groundbreaking vegan-certified leather alternative crafted from upcycled agricultural waste. This innovative material offers a premium, bio-based option that seamlessly blends environmental responsibility with practical versatility. Manufactured on wide rolls, it provides a luxurious, durable alternative to traditional leather while addressing the urgent need for eco-friendly solutions. By utilising by-products of agricultural processes, this innovation exemplifies how waste can become a cornerstone for transformative design, challenging industry norms and fostering a more circular economy. Recently, this material has been introduced in the furniture sector, demonstrating its versatility and effectiveness in reducing carbon footprints. For example, when used in furniture, it achieves significant reductions in carbon emissions compared to traditional materials. This measurable impact highlights the potential of sustainable materials to advance both environmental and business objectives. Key Features of Bio-Based Materials →Transformative Origins: Converts agricultural by-products into high-quality materials. →Cross-Industry Applications: Ideal for furniture, fashion, and automotive sectors. →Design Customisation: Supports diverse finishes and textures, meeting unique design needs. →Supply Chain Transparency: Offers full traceability, ensuring ethical production and enhancing storytelling. Business Impact and ROI →Sustainability Leadership: Collaborating with material innovators demonstrates a commitment to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) goals. →Cost Optimisation: By utilising waste-based inputs, businesses can reduce dependence on costly, resource-intensive materials. →Market Differentiation: Offering products made with innovative materials positions companies as leaders in sustainability, appealing to a conscientious consumer base. →Carbon Reduction: Bio-based materials deliver tangible emissions savings, supporting corporate decarbonisation objectives. This innovation exemplifies how rethinking waste can drive sustainability and profitability, empowering businesses to lead in the era of bio-based innovation. Link for more info: https://lnkd.in/dmtMrnP3 #sustainability #esg #biomaterials #decarbonisation #wasteupcycling #innovation #bioeconomy #climateaction #circularity #greendesign

Polyamide Recycling and Upcycling: Turning Waste into Value with Engineered Bacteria. Nylons, or aliphatic polyamides, are workhorses in industries like textiles and automotive, praised for their strength and durability. Yet, less than 5% are recycled, and traditional chemical recycling often produces complex mixtures that are difficult to purify. Ina recent Nature Microbiology paper the researchers demonstrates the power of synthetic biology to transform nylon waste into valuable products. They have engineered Pseudomonas putida KT2440 to: Metabolize C6-polyamide monomers: including 6-aminohexanoic acid, ε-caprolactam, and 1,6-hexamethylenediamine, through adaptive laboratory evolution. Break down nylon oligomers: both linear and cyclic, derived from chemical hydrolysis, by expressing nylonase enzymes. Unlock the metabolic pathways: for these non-natural substrates, revealed through RNA sequencing and reverse engineering. But that's not all! They have taken it a step further by expressing the phaCAB operon from Cupriavidus necator, enabling P. putida to produce polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) from PA6 hydrolysates – a sustainable bioplastic. This study showcases a powerful microbial host for the biological conversion of polyamide monomers and mixed hydrolysates, in tandem with chemical hydrolysis, into a value-added product. This is a significant step towards a circular economy for plastics. #sustainability #biotechnology #syntheticbiology #circulareconomy

🌍 𝗖𝗢₂ 𝘁𝗼 𝗖𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗘𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝘆: 𝗔 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝗖𝗮𝘁𝗮𝗹𝘆𝘀𝘁 𝗕𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵! 🔋♻️ What if a greenhouse gas could become a safe, efficient energy carrier? Researchers at Yale University and the University of Missouri (Mizzou) have taken a major step in that direction by developing a low-cost, ultra-durable manganese-based catalyst that converts CO₂ into formate - a promising solution for hydrogen storage and clean energy systems. 🔬 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀: ✅ 𝗟𝗼𝘄-𝗖𝗼𝘀𝘁 & 𝗦𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲: The new catalyst replaces rare, expensive, and often toxic precious metals with abundant manganese, making large-scale deployment far more realistic and environmentally friendly. ✅ 𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗗𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆: Thanks to an innovative ligand design, the catalyst shows significantly higher stability than earlier versions—one of the biggest hurdles in CO₂ conversion technologies. ✅ 𝗦𝗮𝗳𝗲𝗿 𝗛𝘆𝗱𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗲𝗻 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲: Formate can store more hydrogen per liter than compressed hydrogen gas, without the risks associated with high-pressure tanks or explosion hazards 🛡️. This makes it a strong candidate for fuel cells and future hydrogen infrastructure. 🌱 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗶𝗴𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗽𝗶𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲: By transforming CO₂ into a stable liquid energy carrier, this research directly supports the vision of a circular carbon economy - where carbon emissions are not just captured, but reused to power the clean energy transition. 🚀 Innovations like this highlight how green chemistry and climate tech can converge to deliver scalable, real-world impact - bridging the gap between sustainability goals and industrial feasibility. The future of clean energy may well lie in turning today’s emissions into tomorrow’s power. 𝗗𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀 𝗮𝘁: https://lnkd.in/grQk8aUy #GreenChemistry #CleanEnergy #Sustainability #CarbonCapture #HydrogenFuel #ClimateTech #Innovation #CircularEconomy #YaleResearch #Mizzou #EnergyTransition

From forests to functional polymers - unlocking lignin’s commercial potential The plastics economy is overdue for transformation. With 98% of global polymer production still fossil-based, the urgency for sustainable alternatives has never been greater. Enter lignin - a renewable, underutilized resource with immense potential. The New Zealand Institute for Bioeconomy Science Limited's biomaterials team contributed to this integrated biorefinery proof of concept - demonstrating a breakthrough: synthesizing fully bio-based, functional lignin polyester copolymers via ring-opening copolymerization (ROCOP) of cyclic anhydrides and epoxides. This approach delivers: ✅ Industrial Feasibility – Polymerization under air, without extensive purification. ✅ Versatility – Tunable thermomechanical properties for targeted applications. ✅ High Biomass Content – Polyurethane films with up to 79% bio-based material. Beyond sustainability, these lignin-derived polyols open pathways to commercially viable biomaterials—polyesters and polyurethanes with performance tailored for real-world needs. Oliver Driscoll, Ph.D. I Daniel van de Pas I Kirk Torr I Hayden Thomas I Richard Vendamme I Elias Feghali VITO I New Zealand Institute for Bioeconomy Science Limited I Notre Dame University - Louaize (NDU) #Bioeconomy #Biorefinery #LigninValorization #SustainableMaterials #Polyurethane #Polyester #CircularEconomy #Biopolymers #ROCOP #GreenChemistry #Commercialization https://lnkd.in/gkrGxhHZ

I did not think it was possible when we started the study 4 years ago: CO2 electroreduction at 100% product selectivity and > 90% energy efficiency. In this paper, https://lnkd.in/dACQi6yQ, we report the development of an NiCo alloy encapsulated in samarium-doped ceria catalyst that enables CO2 electroreduction at 800 oC to make only CO at a voltage of only 1.1 V for an industrially relevant high current density of 1 A/cm2.  This represents an energy efficiency of more than 90%. We demonstrated that the catalyst could operate over 2000 hours, with a degradation rate of only 0.05 mV/h. To put in in the context of comparison, previous state of the art catalysts for this type of solid-oxide electrochemical cell gave an energy efficiency of below 70% and a lifetime of below 200 h at 1 A/cm2. And as for the popular alternative technology, the low-temperature liquid-phase CO2 reduction, the energy efficiency is below 35% and the lifetime is below 100 h. Congratulations to first-author Dr. Wenchao Ma who had ingeniously designed the catalyst and did a tour-de-force study to synthesize, characterize, and test the catalysts. This is the first study of our group in this area, and Wenchao has single-handedly established this new research program in our group. Before joining our group as a postdoc, he normally published 4 papers a year; as a postdoc in our lab, he publishes this single paper after 4 years. But I think it is a big one worthy of all the time it had taken.       We show that the efficacy of our catalyst arises from its unique encapsulated structure and optimized alloy composition, which simultaneously enable enhanced CO2 adsorption, moderate CO adsorption and suppressed metal agglomeration. The mechanistic understanding is only possible thanks to the support of various collaborators across the globe, and in particular Prof. Nuria Lopez and her postdoc Jordi Morales-Vidal. #CO2reduction #electrochemistry #SOEC #SOFC #electrocatalysis #electrochemistry #renewableenergies EPFL EPFL Chemistry NCCR Catalysis Hu's lab at EPFL ICIQ

ExxonMobil is expanding its chemical recycling capacity at its sites in Texas: https://lnkd.in/eGC43ym7 This $200 𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 will add nearly 160,000 metric tons per year of capacity, bringing the total amount of plastic waste these plants can process to over 220,000 metric tons per year. ⚖ To put that in perspective, that’s the weight of about 25 Eiffel Towers worth of plastic waste that could be diverted from landfills or incineration. We’ve proven that chemical recycling technology works at scale at our Baytown site in the U.S., and we’re considering additional investments in this technology at our sites here in Europe, at 𝐀𝐧𝐭𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐩 and 𝐑𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐝𝐚𝐦. And we aren’t the only ones. According to Plastics Europe , European plastics manufacturers are planning €8 billion of investments in chemical recycling by 2030. The EU already recognizes the role that both chemical and mechanical recycling can play in helping address plastic waste, which is a welcome start. However, the recent Draghi report states there’s currently not a viable 𝐛𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐞 for plastic recycling in Europe, because it is too costly compared to the lower costs of incineration and creating virgin plastic.   🔓 To make chemical recycling economically viable and unlock these investments, a practicable “𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐬 𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞” system is needed to qualify recycled content and generate the highest demand for plastic waste as a valuable feedstock for making new products.   This is in addition to the action that is urgently needed to restore Europe’s #competitiveness. Government and industry must work together to simplify rules, reduce regulatory burden and cut red tape. This week, Plastics Europe reported that European plastics manufacturing and recycled plastics production are declining. This is another example of 𝐝𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 in Europe. Chemical recycling technology can be deployed using existing industry assets, allowing them to contribute to the circular economy. EU policymakers must act quickly and decide if they want to keep the EU open for business and revitalize its industrial sector and its competitiveness.

🐘 Europe may be about to kill Advanced Recycling before it even scales. Hundreds of millions in projects from ExxonMobil, Dow, Neste and Ravago are already on ice. The culprit isn’t technology or investment $ — it’s Brussels’ myopic approach to mass balance accounting. By proposing to exclude molecules that end up in fuel streams, the Commission is setting rules that make most advanced recycling projects uneconomic. ♻️ Two recycling paths, two very different bets: 1) Mechanical Recycling:  flakes → washed → pellets ·       Works with clean, sorted plastic. ·       Economically proven / modest returns, widely adopted. ·       Backed by: NOVA Chemicals, LyondellBasell (JV), KW Plastics, Plastipak, Veolia, SUEZ. 2) Chemical / Advanced Recycling: mixed plastics → pyrolysis oil or monomers → virgin-quality resin ·       Can handle mixed plastic streams that mechanical cannot. ·       Attractive returns — but only if regulators allow full mass balance credit. ·       Backed by: Dow, ExxonMobil, Chevron Phillips Chemical Company, Shell, Eastman, SABIC, BASF. ⚖️ Policy: the make-or-break factor Advanced recycling doesn’t fail in the lab. It fails when policymakers declare that certain outputs “don’t count.” Excluding fuel fractions ignores industrial reality: co-products exist in every process, including refining and steam cracking. If Europe locks in this narrow definition, it won’t just stall projects in Germany or France — it will set a precedent. And what starts in Europe rarely stays in Europe. If U.S. states, Canada, or Asian markets adopt the same restrictive rules, advanced recycling could be written off everywhere. 📌 The takeaway Mechanical recycling will continue to expand steadily. But advanced recycling — the only scalable route for mixed plastic waste — hangs by a policy thread. Unless regulators broaden their perspective, the “circular economy” risks shrinking before it ever expands. 💬 What’s your take — is Europe safeguarding integrity, or choking off innovation?

🔍 Can a single catalyst unlock the future of mixed plastic recycling? 🌱 Today’s spotlight is on a breakthrough from Northwestern University that could reshape how we handle polyolefin waste—those stubborn plastics like polyethylene and polypropylene that dominate landfills. ⚙️ Researchers developed a single-site organonickel catalyst supported on Brønsted acidic sulfated alumina (AlS). Under hydrogen, it transforms into AlS/NiIIH, a highly selective system that: - Targets branched C–C linkages in polyolefins - Enables hydrogenolytic separation of mixed plastic streams - Remains active even in the presence of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) - Can be regenerated repeatedly using AlEt₃ 📊 The process operates under mild conditions, avoids precious metals, and achieves up to 85% conversion efficiency—a major leap from conventional pyrolysis. 💡 What caught my attention was the turnover-limiting C–C scission pathway, revealed through DFT modeling and mechanistic analysis. It’s a beautiful example of how deep chemistry meets real-world sustainability. "Compared to other nickel-based catalysts, our process uses a single-site catalyst that operates at a temperature 100 degrees lower and at half the hydrogen gas pressure," Kratish said. "We also use 10 times less catalyst loading, and our activity is 10 times greater. So, we are winning across all categories." 🔗 https://lnkd.in/egJi3Qr5 📚 Original research published in Nature #Decarbonization #PlasticRecycling #SustainableEnergy #CatalysisInnovation

A fully bio-fabricated boot just made its runway debut at Milan Design Week 🍄👟🌿 For the first time, a shoe prototype built entirely from pure mycelium, including a load-bearing sole, has gone on public display, signalling a structural leap for #fungalmaterials beyond surface-level applications. Mycelium materials have largely been confined to leather-alternative panels or foam-replacement packaging. The $400B+ global footwear market has lacked a bio-fabricated structural material capable of replacing conventional soles, until now. Researcher Lars D. (Vrije Universiteit Brussel) and master shoemaker Marie De Ryck (La Monnaie/De Munt) spent two years selecting two complementary fungal strains: one yields a mouldable, foam-like sole material; the other produces an elastic, leather-like upper. Multiple mycelium sheets are bonded into a dense, load-bearing formation,  no composite additives or reinforcing scaffolds. This is core #biofabrication and #biomaterials science delivering functional performance. The project sits within the #MycoMatters programme, which targets pure mycelium materials at the performance and scalability levels required for commercial deployment. The prototype is framed as a state-of-the-art demonstrator, not a market-ready product, but the gap is narrowing. Strain-specific material selection is the key insight here. Rather than a one-size-fits-all mycelium block, researchers are now matching fungal biology to mechanical requirements, a modular logic that could translate to #sustainabledesign applications in automotive, medical, and construction sectors. Scaling controlled-condition agricultural substrate growth, maintaining consistency across batches, and meeting repeated compressive-load durability standards remain open engineering problems. Craft-lab feedback loops, where shoemaking intuition directly informed material processing, offer a promising model for iterative development. Biology and artisanal craft are converging into something the #circulareconomy has long needed: a structural, compostable material that performs. Read more: https://lnkd.in/dEG3ZNuS 💬 Tag a #fungalbiotech founder, materials researcher, or footwear investor who should be watching this space. 👇 #Mycelium #MyceliumMaterials #FungalBiotech #BiofabricatedMaterials #SustainableFootwear #CircularFashion #GreenMaterials #BioDesign #Biomimicry #SustainableBusiness #MaterialsScience #FungalInnovation #MycoMatters #CleanTech #RegenerativeBusiness #BioEconomy #SustainableLuxury #FungalResearch #InnovationInMaterials #ImpactInvesting