Kelly Leite dos Santos Castro Assis¹, Druval Santos de Sá¹, Bruno da Silva Marques¹, Carolina Carvalho de Mello¹, João Lucas Marques Barros², Henrique Carvalhais Milanezi², João Batista Oliveira dos Santos², Carlos Alberto Franchini¹, Bráulio Soares Archanjo¹, Carlos Alberto Achete¹, Adriana Maria da Silva^1,*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.14, No.7, 2026, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2026.02025-0233 - 28 July 2026

Abstract The transition toward a circular economy and zero-waste strategies has driven increasing interest in biomass-derived carbon materials as sustainable alternatives to conventional catalyst supports. Agricultural and industrial residues can be converted into porous carbons with high surface area, tunable porosity, and rich surface chemistry, enabling waste valorization and stabilization of metal species ranging from nanoparticles to single atoms. These properties support their application across heterogeneous catalysis, photocatalysis, and electrochemical systems, revealing cross-cutting opportunities among these fields. Despite these advantages, challenges remain, including feedstock heterogeneity, energy-intensive processing, scalability limitations, and the lack of standardized methodologies. This More > Graphic Abstract

Argyrios Kalaitzidis¹, Anastasia Zotou¹, Dimitra Loka², Paraskevi Mpeza¹, Persephone Archimandriti¹, Nicholas E. Korres^1,*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.95, No.6, 2026, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2026.081379 - 29 June 2026

Abstract The effects of water stress on the morphophysiological and biochemical characteristics of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) and velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti) were investigated in a pot experiment under greenhouse conditions. Both species were exposed to four irrigation levels: no stress (1000 mL H₂O), mild stress (800 mL H₂O), moderate stress (600 mL H₂O), and severe stress (400 mL H₂O), with treatments applied every 2 days over a period of eight weeks. The results demonstrated the negative impacts of water stress, especially under moderate and severe conditions. Specifically, there was a reduction in height and dry weight in both species, with… More >

Lorena E. Romero-Chávez^1,*, Emilee Calero-Rios², Uriel Aldava-Pardave³, Elvis Ottos-Díaz¹, Noelito Salgado-Veramendi³, Eldhy S. Huerto-Pajuelo⁴, Carolina Ibarra-Porras⁴, Richard A. Solórzano-Acosta²

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.95, No.6, 2026, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2026.081119 - 29 June 2026

Abstract The exploration and identification of spontaneous weed species in heavy metal–contaminated soils represent a relevant approach for understanding the role and their potential application in phytoremediation. In cacao cultivation, cadmium contamination poses a significant risk due to the restrictions established for soils and cacao-derived products, thereby threatening productive sustainability and export viability. The objective of this study was to identify weed species associated with cacao cultivation exhibiting accumulation patterns and phytoremediation potential for Cd and Pb, through the assessment of biomass production and the bioconcentration factor (BCF) and translocation factor (TF), in natural conditions. Soil… More >

Berry Lamy^*, Romaine Byfield, Yiding Cao

Frontiers in Heat and Mass Transfer, Vol.24, No.3, 2026, DOI:10.32604/fhmt.2026.079339 - 29 June 2026

Abstract Climate change and the ongoing dependence on fossil fuels present major challenges for global agriculture, with fossil fuel use in the agrifood sector accounting for a substantial and growing share of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Agrifood systems currently contribute approximately one-third of total anthropogenic GHG emissions. Integrating renewable energy solutions for heating and power can help offset a significant fraction of these emissions. In this study, an analytical heat transfer and thermodynamic model is developed to evaluate the performance, energy balance, and thermal losses of the proposed system under realistic operating conditions. The model enables… More >

Blessing C. Ahamefule¹, Chidimma Osilo^2,3, Jennifer O. Unachukwu², Stella N. Madueke², Chukwuemeka Samson Ahamefule^2,*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.14, No.5, 2026, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2026.02025-0202 - 28 May 2026

Abstract Lignocellulosic waste, consisting mainly of cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin, is the most abundant global biomass. Industries generate millions of tonnes of this waste biomass every year. This includes: sugarcane bagasse, corncob, rice straw and husk, oil palm fibres and empty fruit bunches, wheat straw, brewer’s spent grains, among others. These wastes could be valorized to produce high-value industrial lignocellulase enzymes, such as cellulases, hemicellulases and ligninases, by several microorganisms, including bacteria and fungi. Furthermore, the crude or purified lignocellulase enzymes or the microbes producing these enzymes could be used to hydrolyze the lignocellulosic wastes into… More >

Zhiying Lin¹, Boju Deng¹, Qianqian Zhang¹, Jingming Chen², Xinqiang Ye³, Yuling Lan¹, Jiuping Rao^1,*, Mizi Fan⁴, Weigang Zhao^1,*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.14, No.5, 2026, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2025.02025-0096 - 28 May 2026

Abstract Bio-derived carbon cryogels have garnered significant interest as promising electrode materials for supercapacitors due to their high specific surface area (SSA), hierarchical porosity, and eco-friendly synthesis methods. In this study, a tannin-modified phenolic hydrogel was synthesized using a sustainable tannin–phenol precursor system and subsequently subjected to three distinct drying methods-freeze-drying (FD), supercritical drying (SCD), and ambient pressure drying (APD)-to systematically evaluate their influence on structural integrity, porosity, and electrochemical behavior. Among these, the sample obtained via freeze-drying (TPUF-FD) maintained the most intact porous network, minimizing structural collapse during sublimation of ice under vacuum. This preservation… More > Graphic Abstract

Elizeu Monteiro Pereira Júnior, Lorena de Souza Cunha, Andreza Sousa Carmo, Ana Clara Lucarini, Ynglety Cascaes Pereira Matos, Allan Klynger da Silva Lobato, Elaine Maria Silva Guedes Lobato^*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.95, No.5, 2026, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2026.072138 - 27 May 2026

Abstract Nickel (Ni) is an essential metallic micronutrient for optimal plant growth and development, regulator of essential metabolic processes, but its interaction with other essential nutrients can result in differences in the absorption of these nutrients, which can disrupt the ionic balance. The objective of this research was to evaluate the physiological performance and growth of soybean plants subjected to Ni levels applied via soil under Fe (iron) excess, determining the behavior of redox metabolism, gas exchange, and photosynthetic pigments. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design with a factorial 2 × 3, with… More >

Mirna Omar^1,*, Sarah Omar¹, Kamaruzzaman Sopian^1,2, Taib Iskandar Mohamad¹

Energy Engineering, Vol.123, No.3, 2026, DOI:10.32604/ee.2026.072583 - 27 February 2026

Abstract Photoreforming is an emerging photocatalytic process that converts organic waste into hydrogen H₂ using solar energy, offering a dual solution for waste valorization and sustainable fuel production. This review comprehensively examines the fundamental mechanisms of photoreforming, emphasizing the critical role of photocatalyst design in optimizing hydrogen evolution. Key criteria for effective photocatalysts including suitable band edge positions, broad spectrum solar absorption, and photostability are systematically analyzed alongside advances in heterojunction engineering and defect modulation. The review further explores diverse waste-derived feedstocks, such as biomass: alcohols, saccharides, lignin and plastics: PET, PLA, polyolefins, highlighting substrate, specific challenges More > Graphic Abstract

Dilfuza Jabborova^1,2,3,*, Khurshid Sulaymanov¹, Muzafar Jabborov⁴, Nayan Ahmed⁵, Tatiana Minkina⁶, Olga Biryukova⁶, Nasir Mehmood^6,*, Vishnu D. Rajput⁶

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.95, No.1, 2026, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2026.072577 - 30 January 2026

Abstract The combined effects of macronutrients (Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium-N, P, K) and micronutrient fertilization on turmeric yield, soil enzymatic activity, microbial biomass, and nutrient dynamics remains poorly understood, despite their significance for sustainable soil fertility management and optimizing crop productivity across diverse agroecosystems. To investigate, a net house experiment on sandy loam Haplic Chernozem was conducted to 03 fertilizer regimes, viz. N₇₅P₅₀K₅₀ kg ha⁻¹ (T-2), N₁₂₅P₁₀₀K₁₀₀ kg ha⁻¹ (T-3), and N₁₀₀P₇₅K₇₅ + B₃Zn₆Fe₆ kg ha⁻¹ (T-4). Furthermore, the influence of these treatments was systematically assessed on soil nutrient status (N, P, K), enzymatic activities (alkaline phosphomonoesterase, dehydrogenase, fluorescein diacetate… More >

Cheng Zhang, Rui Zhang, Yu Shao, Jiabin Wang, Qianyue Yang, Fang Xie, Rongling Yang, Hongzhen Luo^*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.14, No.1, 2026, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2025.02025-0157 - 23 January 2026

Abstract Biomass is a resource whose organic carbon is formed from atmospheric carbon dioxide. It has numerous characteristics such as low carbon emissions, renewability, and environmental friendliness. The efficient utilization of biomass plays a significant role in promoting the development of clean energy, alleviating environmental pressures, and achieving carbon neutrality goals. Among the numerous processing technologies of biomass, hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) is a promising thermochemical process that can decompose and convert biomass into hydrochar under relatively mild conditions of approximately 180°C–300°C, thereby enabling its efficient resource utilization. In addition, HTC can directly process feedstocks with high… More >