RSC Sustainability Blog

Surfactant-free Synthesis of Metal and Metal oxide Nanomaterials

Surfactant-free synthesis of metal and metal oxide nanomaterials: a perspective

Siavash Iravani

RSC Sustain., 2023,1, 72-82 D2SU00088A

Meet the author

Siavash Iravani (Pharm.D., Ph.D.) has worked on several academic research projects at the Isfahan University of Medical Sciences (Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences), including green and sustainable synthesis of nanomaterials, plant-derived nanostructures, phytochemical analysis, MXenes and their derivatives, carbon-based nanocomposites, drug/gene delivery nanosystems, biomedical engineering, and drug nanoparticles. He has been in the ‘World Ranking Top 2% Scientists’ list 2021 and 2022. His previous experience, of more than twelve years, centers on drug development and industrial pharmacy in various capacities including research and development, formulation, and quality control. Dr. Iravani has authored over 130 peer-reviewed scientific publications including 18 book chapters and two scientific books.

An interview with the author

What aspect of your work are you most excited about at the moment and what do you find most challenging about your research?

Investigation of sustainable and eco-friendly synthesis methods of nanomaterials with high stability and multifunctionality on an industrial scale, with the benefits of cost-effectiveness, mild reaction conditions, environmentally-benign properties, reduction in energy consumption, and avoid of laborious/complex processes. The main question is whether these strategies can be industrialized or whether it can compete with existing methods or not.

How do you feel about RSC Sustainability as a place to publish research on this topic?

This prestigious journal is a unique platform for growing and advanced research in the field of environmentally-benign and sustainable (nano)technologies, including the prevention or minimization of the generation of hazardous wastes, the elimination or reduction of toxic/hazardous chemical agents, environmentally-benign management of toxic chemicals, and more.

Can you share one piece of career-related advice or wisdom with other, early career scientists?

High effort and perseverance and looking to the future horizon for a world with less pollutants using sustainable and eco-friendly (nano)technologies based on green chemistry for preventing the generation of toxic or hazardous pollutants.

Optimizing Catalysed Gamma-Valerolactone Pulp of Silver Birch

Birch fractionation in γ-valerolactone with the emphasis on pulp properties: prehydrolysis, acid-catalyzed, and alkaline-catalyzed concept
Marianna Granatier, Huy Quang Lê, Eva Carmona Gonzáleza and Herbert Sixta
RSC Sustain., 2023,1, 97-106 DOI: D2SU00046F

Meet the authors

Marianna Granatier is a Ph.D. student at Aalto University in the group of Professor Sixta. She completed her Bachelor’s degree in Biotechnology at the Slovak University of Technology and her Master’s degree in Bioengineering at the Tampere University of Technology. Her research is focusing on pulping and biorefining. Specifically, she works on organosolv pulping using a green organic solvent called gamma-valerolactone.

Huy Quang Lê: “D. Sc. (Tech.) Together with Professor Sixta, Quang developed the proof-of-concept for the GVL biorefinery in his doctoral dissertation, titled “Wood biorefinery concept based on γ-valerolactone/water fractionation”. With extensive experience on various pulping techniques and pulping product characterization and valorization, Quang is currently responsible for the pulping activities in the Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems of Aalto University. Since 2020, Quang has been working part-time in a consultant company, specialized in biorefinery and regenerated cellulosic fibers.

Eva González Carmona is a Ph.D. student at Aalto University (Finland) in the group of Professor Sixta. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from the Polytechnic University of Madrid (Spain) and a Master’s degree in Industrial and Environmental Biotechnology from Complutense University (Spain). Eva did her Master’s Thesis about catalyzed birch fractionation in GVL at Aalto University.

Professor Herbert Sixta, D. Sc., is Head of the Biorefineries research group at Aalto University. Professor Sixta has an extensive industrial and academic career in the field of wood chemical pulping and conversion to cellulose derivatives. He has authored and co-authored over 250 scientific publications and written a comprehensive textbook on all aspects of pulp production, conversion, and characterization.

An interview with the authors

What aspect of your work are you most excited about at the moment and what do you find most challenging about your research?

After several years of working on GVL research, it is exciting to see the amount of knowledge and data that we could gather and present. It is exciting to work on the process step-by-step and see the gradual development. The most challenging part is to optimize the GVL pulping for a wider selection of raw materials. GVL works best with hardwood, but for successful industrial implementation, the process should be more flexible in terms of raw materials.

How do you feel about RSC Sustainability as a place to publish research on this topic?

We are extremely grateful for the opportunity to publish our article in the first issue of RSC Sustainability. We can certainly see the journal growing fast to one of the most popular in this field.

Can you share one piece of career-related advice or wisdom with other, early career scientists?

No matter how difficult reaching your goal seems to be, just persist, and keep walking. Once you look back, you will see that you have walked an amazing journey, with or without reaching your original goal.

We are delighted to announce our new annual essay competition

The International Organization for Chemical Sciences in Development (IOCD), in collaboration with the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC), is launching an annual essay competition on the role of the chemical sciences in sustainability. The competition is open globally to entrants under 35 years of age, and the theme for the 2023 competition is:

How can the chemical sciences lead the stewardship of the Earth’s element resources?

Essays will be grouped into seven regions for shortlisting and selection of winners, with each regional winner receiving a prize of $500 (USD). The winning entries will also be published in RSC Sustainability. Shortlisted essays will be collected in an annual compendium, Young Voices in the Chemical Sciences for Sustainability, that will be published online and will be available on IOCD’s website.

Find out more about submitting your essay, the collection theme, and the prizes on offer by reading RSC Sustainability’s editorial about the competition:

‘Global essay competition: Young Voices in the Chemical Sciences for Sustainability’

RSC Sustain., 2023,1, 10-10, DOI: D2SU90002E