RSC Sustainability Blog

We are delighted to announce a themed collection arising from Symposium N – “Sustainable advanced and multifunctional polymer based materials for sensor and actuators, energy and environmental applications” – at E-MRS Fall Meeting.

Two RSC journals, RSC Sustainability and RSC Applied Polymers, welcome submissions on the following topics:

• New advanced sustainable materials processable by additive manufacturing
• Advanced materials based on piezoelectric materials for sensors/actuators and biomedical application.
• Membranes for environmental remediation.
• Advances composites for thermochromic and thermoelectric materials
• Binary and ternary composites for energy harvesting and storage.
• Novel approaches for porous lightweight materials
• Multifunctional coatings for self-sensing, self-cleaning and self-healing applications
• Sustainable materials for printed electronics
• Advanced magnetically responsive multifunctional materials
• Sustainable composites based on natural and biopolymers.
• Advanced characterization techniques for these materials, including in situ and operando techniques.

RSC Sustainability is a dedicated forum for scientists developing new sustainable technologies, or finding cleaner chemical solutions. The journal welcomes research from all subject areas that are dedicated to solving sustainability challenges for a better, greener future.

RSC Applied Polymers is a journal focused on the application of polymers, both natural and synthetic, including experimental and computational studies. The journal serves as a premier cross-disciplinary platform for scientific research that leverages polymeric materials in a range of applications, welcoming high-impact advances made possible with polymers across materials, biology, energy applications, and beyond.

The submission deadline to have your manuscript included is 31st March 2024. To express your interest in contributing to the collection, please contact Jon Ferrier in the editorial office (RSCSus-rsc@rsc.org). When submitting your paper, please quote XXSusAMP24 in Comments to the Editor on submission.

To submit a manuscript to RSC Sustainability: https://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/RSCSus

To submit a manuscript to RSC Applied Polymers: https://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/rscapplpolym

The Royal Society of Chemistry and the American Chemical Society are jointly organising and sponsoring a Focus Session at the IUPAC World Congress in The Hague, Netherlands, on August 21, titled ‘A Sustainable Planet and Society’.

The 90-minute session (15:10–16:40 Central European Time) will be chaired by Julie Zimmerman (Yale University) and Pete Licence (Nottingham University), and feature talks from

• Kristopher McNeill (ETH Zurich, Editor-in-Chief, Environmental Science: Processes & Impacts) – Working with the chemical industry to improve the environmental fate of their products.
• Alessandra Quadrelli (CNRS, Associate Editor, Green Chemistry) – The Nitrogen Cycle and the Situated Green Chemistries Framework
• Jakub Kostal (George Washington University) – Sustainable and Green by Design
• Walter Leitner (Max Planck Institute) – The full Iife-cycle approach to chemical design, use, disposal, and human and environmental protection

The session will close with a summary and panel discussion led by Paul Anastas (Yale University).

If you’re attending the conference, we hope to see you for this exciting session. Be sure to view the event website for the latest updates: https://cbd.eventsair.com/QuickEventWebsitePortal/iupac-chains-2023/schedule/Agenda

Attending the event and want to meet us? A number of RSC colleagues are attending the event and will be delighted to meet you in-person (we are at Exhibition Stand #20) – let us know when works for you. https://form.jotform.com/231772824357361

Announcing our themed collection in partnership with 6th EuGSC

The Royal Society of Chemistry is delighted to support the 6^th EuChemS Conference on Green and Sustainable Chemistry (6^th EuGSC) taking place from 3–6 September 2023 in Salerno (Italy).

As part of our partnership with this event, a number of our journals are inviting contributions to a themed collection, which will celebrate both the vibrant and collaborative spirit of the conference, and the contribution green & sustainable chemistry makes to solving global challenges.

This scope of this collection covers the breadth of green & sustainable chemistry, with emphasis on the following areas:

• Alternative fuels and green energy
• Benign low-energy chemical processes
• Biomass and CO₂ utilization
• Green chemistry metrics and environmental assessment
• Pollution prevention and remediation
• Sustainable catalytic, industrial and synthetic processes
• Waste recycling and valorisation and the circular (bio)economy

The following RSC journals are supporting the collection:

• Catalysis Science & Technology – a multidisciplinary journal focusing on cutting edge research across all fundamental science and technological aspects of catalysis.
• Green Chemistry – publishes original and significant cutting-edge research that is likely to be of wide general appeal.
• Reaction Chemistry & Engineering – an interdisciplinary journal bridging the gap between chemistry and chemical engineering.
• RSC Advances – the largest gold open access journal dedicated to the chemical sciences is at the heart of our global chemistry community.
• RSC Sustainability – an inclusive journal publishing solutions-focused research dedicated to solving sustainability challenges.

To express an interest in contributing to the collection, please reach out to Jon Ferrier (RSCSus-rsc@rsc.org)

We are honoured to support a conference that is well-aligned with the Royal Society of Chemistry’s aims, namely, to highlight chemistry’s role in addressing global challenges and driving progress towards a more sustainable world. You can learn more about our environmental sustainability campaigns, policy and research, and how to get involved, here.

To celebrate that RSC Sustainability has published its first issues we organised an author showcase webinar. The webinar highlighted a broad range of the excellent work published in our journal so far through a mix of live speakers and pre-recorded contributions.

Find out more about RSC Sustainability and read our published articles here.

Join our RSC Sustainability author showcase                

10 May 2023, 14:00-15.15 (UK time)

Our upcoming author showcase is your chance to discover papers from RSC Sustainability. Whether you’re curious about the newest solutions for a greener future, or are looking for the right place to publish your own discoveries, join us on 10 May to hear from our authors and editorial board members.

Tune in to the webinar on YouTube or LinkedIn.

What will the author showcase cover?

Join the people behind RSC Sustainability to:

• hear our editorial board present their highlights from the first quarter of 2023
• see interviews with the authors, including Karolina Matuszek, Ryohei Kakuchi and Mirella di Lorenzo
• find out more about RSC Sustainability – and discover a home for your own exceptional research

Start exploring RSC Sustainability

The latest research from RSC Sustainability is ready for you to discover. You’ll find the latest excellent, solutions-focused research in the chemical sciences dedicated to solving sustainability challenges – all free to read online. Read our papers here.

We look forward to you joining us.

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.

RSC Sustainability welcomes all solutions-focused research dedicated to solving sustainability challenges. We’re delighted to share with you a selection of popular articles from February.

From rocks to bioactive compounds: a journey through the global P(v) organophosphorus industry and its sustainability,  Sosthène P.-M. Ung et. al ,  RSC Sustain., 2023,1, 11-37, DOI: 10.1039/D2SU00015F

Replacing all petroleum-based chemical products with natural biomass-based chemical products: a tutorial review, Ryohei Mori, RSC Sustain., 2023, Advance Article, DOI: 10.1039/D2SU00014H

Biologically bound nickel accelerated de-polymerization of polyethylene to high value hydrocarbons and hydrogen, James Clark et al., RSC Sustain., 2023,1, 117-127, DOI: 10.1039/D2SU00001F

Flow-through reductive catalytic fractionation of beech wood sawdust, Majd Al-Naji et al.,
RSC Sustain., 2023, Advance Article, DOI: 10.1039/D2SU00076H

Tailoring lixiviant properties to optimise selectivity in E-waste recycling, Jennifer Hartley et al.,
RSC Sustain., 2023,1, 107-116, DOI: 10.1039/D2SU00038E

Highly selective CO2 photoreduction to CO on MOF-derived TiO2, Susana Garcia et al.,
RSC Sustain., 2023, Advance Article, DOI: 10.1039/D2SU00082B

To keep up to date with journal developments and opportunities to submit, sign up for the RSC Sustainability news and issue alerts.

We are delighted to welcome Dr Mike Sutton, Lubrizol, UK as an Editorial Board Member for RSC Sustainability, a new open access journal publishing solutions-focused research to solve sustainability challenges.

Learn more about our new Editorial Board Member

Mike Sutton is a Corporate Technical Fellow at Lubrizol. Mike has a broad range of projects for which he is accountable looking to bring environmental sustainability and lifecycle thinking into Lubrizol products and manufacturing in the short, medium and long term across the corporation and on a global basis.

Mike joined Lubrizol in 2002, historically working in chemical additives for engine oils, both in passenger and commercial vehicle areas. Prior to Lubrizol Mike worked for Ford Motor Company in their diesel engineering department and prior to that on completion of his PhD worked for the UK government in lubricants for the armed forces.

Mike is an Honorary Professor at the University of Nottingham and serves on the advisory board for the School of Chemistry at the University. He has previously served on various committees including the EPSRC Science Engineering and Technology Board.

Read out most recently published papers here. Find out more about RSC Sustainability on the journal webpage and submit your manuscript now.

Please join us in welcoming Dr Mike Sutton to RSC Sustainability.

The International Organization for Chemical Sciences in Development (IOCD) and the Royal Society of Chemistry are excited to collaborate in launching an annual essay competition, focusing on the role of the chemical sciences in sustainability. The theme for 2023 is “How can the chemical sciences lead the stewardship of the Earth’s element resources?”.

The competition is open globally to entrants under 35, providing a unique opportunity for young scientists and researchers to showcase their ideas and contribute to the important conversation on sustainability. The winning entries will be published in RSC Sustainability, providing a platform for the authors to share their work with a global audience and make a real-world impact.

Sustainability is a pressing issue that affects us all, and the chemical sciences have a vital role to play in addressing it. The chemical industry has the potential to drive innovation and develop new technologies that can help us make the transition to a more sustainable future. However, it is essential that these developments are guided by a responsible and ethical approach that takes into account the long-term impact on the planet and its resources.

The theme of this year’s competition, “How can the chemical sciences lead the stewardship of the Earth’s element resources?”, is particularly relevant in light of the growing demand for resources such as metals and minerals. The competition encourages young scientists to think about the challenges and opportunities that this presents and to explore ways in which the chemical sciences can help to ensure that these resources are used in a responsible and sustainable way.

We encourage all young scientists and researchers who are passionate about sustainability to submit an entry to the competition. The deadline for submissions is 31^st March 2023. Further information on entering the competition can be found here.