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Catalysts, Volume 15, Issue 10 (October 2025) – 6 articles

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26 pages, 703 KB

Open AccessReview

Eco-Friendly Biocatalysts: Laccase Applications, Innovations, and Future Directions in Environmental Remediation

by Hina Younus, Masood Alam Khan, Arif Khan and Fahad A. Alhumaydhi

Catalysts 2025, 15(10), 921; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal15100921 - 26 Sep 2025

Abstract

Laccases, a class of multicopper oxidases found in diverse biological sources, have emerged as key green biocatalysts with significant potential for eco-friendly pollutant degradation. Their ability to drive electron transfer reactions using oxygen, converting pollutants into less harmful products, positions laccases as promising tools for scalable and sustainable treatment of wastewater, soil, and air pollution. This review explores laccase from a translational perspective, tracing its journey from laboratory discovery to real-world applications. Emphasis is placed on recent advances in production optimization, immobilization strategies, and nanotechnology-enabled enhancements that have improved enzyme stability, reusability, and catalytic efficiency under complex field conditions. Applications are critically discussed for both traditional pollutants such as synthetic dyes, phenolics, and pesticides and emerging contaminants, including endocrine-disrupting chemicals, pharmaceuticals, personal care products, microplastic additives, and PFAS. Special attention is given to hybrid systems integrating laccase with advanced oxidation processes, bioelectrochemical systems, and renewable energy-driven reactors to achieve near-complete pollutant mineralization. Challenges such as cost–benefit limitations, limited substrate range without mediators, and regulatory hurdles are evaluated alongside solutions including protein engineering, mediator-free laccase variants, and continuous-flow bioreactors. By consolidating recent mechanistic insights, this study underscores the translational pathways of laccase, highlighting its potential as a cornerstone of next-generation, scalable, and eco-friendly remediation technologies aligned with circular bioeconomy and low-carbon initiatives. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Catalysis for Energy and a Sustainable Environment)

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17 pages, 1112 KB

Open AccessArticle

Efficient Photodegradation of Congo Red and Phenol Red in Wastewater Using Nanosized Cu-Polyoxometalate: A Promising UV-Active Catalyst for Environmental Treatment

by Suhair A. Bani-Atta, Ahmed Ali A. Darwish, Nada M. Alatawi, Nada D. Alkhathami, Jozaa N. Al-Tweher and Eman F. M. El-Zaidia

Catalysts 2025, 15(10), 920; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal15100920 - 25 Sep 2025

Abstract

This research focuses on the synthesis, characterization, and photocatalytic performance of Cu-based polyoxometalate (Cu-POM) as an effective catalyst for the degradation of organic dyes, specifically Congo Red (CR) and Phenol Red (PR). The main goals are to synthesize Cu-POM using a controlled self-assembly technique, characterize its optical and structural characteristics using FTIR, XRD, SEM, TGA, and UV-Vis spectroscopy, and estimate its photocatalytic activity when exposed to UV light. The outcomes confirm the successful formation of Cu-POM with well-defined nanostructures and a crystalline polyoxometalate framework. The determined optical bandgap of 3.65 eV indicates its strong UV-light responsiveness. The photocatalytic degradation experiments demonstrated high removal efficiencies of 58.1% for CR and 64.6% for PR under UV irradiation, corresponding kinetic rate constants of 0.00484 min⁻¹ and 0.00579 min⁻¹, respectively. The superior photocatalytic activity is attributed to the efficient charge carrier separation and high surface area of Cu-POM. These findings highlight the potential of Cu-POM as a promising heterogeneous photocatalyst for sustainable wastewater treatment and environmental remediation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Heterogeneous Catalysis for Environmentally Compatible Reactions and Processes, 2nd Edition)

13 pages, 7281 KB

Open AccessArticle

Photo-Thermal Synergistic Catalytic Oxidative Dehydrogenation of Propane over NiO Nanoparticle-Decorated Graphitic Carbon Nitride

by Pengcheng Dai, Hui Zhao, Dehong Yang, Yongxin Zhao, Longzhen Cheng, Huishan Chen, Dongzhi Jiang and Yilong Cui

Catalysts 2025, 15(10), 919; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal15100919 - 24 Sep 2025

Abstract

The oxidative dehydrogenation of propane (ODHP) catalyzed by oxygen offers several advantages, including resistance to carbon deposition and low energy consumption. However, achieving high propylene selectivity at industrially relevant conversions remains challenging, as existing catalysts typically require temperatures exceeding 500 °C, promoting over-oxidation to CO_x. In this study, we developed a NiO nanoparticle-decorated graphitic carbon nitride catalyst (NiO@CN-600) via thermal polymerization–oxidation for photo-thermal synergistic ODHP. At 430 °C, thermal catalysis achieved a propane conversion of 14%. Remarkably, introducing light irradiation boosted conversion to 24%, a 10% increase. Further experimental results reveal that the photo-thermal synergistic catalysis can be described by the following mechanism: initial thermal energy provides sufficient activation energy, enabling the reaction to overcome the energy barrier and proceed smoothly. Simultaneously, the introduction of light energy enhances the activity of lattice oxygen, making it more likely to detach from the lattice and form oxygen vacancies, which in turn boosts the efficiency of the oxidation reaction on the catalyst surface. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Catalytic Reaction Engineering)

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22 pages, 6790 KB

Open AccessArticle

Reverse Steam Rising: A Novel Route to Hierarchical Nickel Organometallics for Enhanced Oxygen Evolution

by Nezar H. Khdary, Mamdouh E. Abdelsalam, Abdulrahman S. Alablan, Sami D. Alzahrani, Ahmad O. Fallatah and Muteb F. Alotaibi

Catalysts 2025, 15(10), 918; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal15100918 - 24 Sep 2025

Abstract

This work introduces the Reverse Steam Rising Process (RSRP), a novel dissolution method, for the preparation of highly homogeneous organo-nickel composites. This approach enables gradual material dissolution, resulting in improved material integration. We investigate two distinct synthetic pathways: a direct organic material–nickel composite and a surfactant-assisted variation. Our findings demonstrate that the inclusion of a surfactant significantly improves the properties of the resulting organo-nickel composite. The RSRP method differs from traditional synthesis methods in that it utilizes reverse steam condensation to create a highly porous, multi-level structure. This unique structure significantly boosts the material’s electrocatalytic performance, particularly for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). The Ni-MOF-CTAB catalyst exhibits an overpotential of 397 mV at 10 mA cm⁻² and a Tafel slope of 183 mV dec⁻¹, outperforming pristine Ni-MOF. The hierarchical design promotes superior ion and gas transport, while the distinctive organometallic configuration optimizes electronic interactions critical for OER activity. This innovative process enables precise control over both the micro- and nanoscale morphology of the nickel-based catalyst, ultimately leading to superior performance metrics. This advancement offers a new pathway for developing high-performance nickel organometallic materials for diverse electrocatalytic applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Catalysis for Green Chemistry and Energy Transition, 2nd Edition)

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14 pages, 650 KB

Open AccessArticle

Hydrothermal Upgrading of Industrial Hemp Waste: Effect of Cultivars and Fibre Sheath Presence on Bio-Oil Yield

by Jiří Hájek, Vladimir Hönig, Nikita Šarkov, Jakub Frątczak, Ivana Hradecká, Jan Jenčík, Jose Miguel Hidalgo Herrador and Tomáš Herink

Catalysts 2025, 15(10), 917; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal15100917 - 24 Sep 2025

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Abstract

Industrial hemp is an abundant agricultural residue with potential for sustainable fuel production. In this work, stalks of two hemp cultivars (Futura-75 and Fedora-17), considered either before or after fibre extraction (with and without fibre sheath), were processed by hydrothermal upgrading (HTU) to obtain bio-oil. A total of twelve autoclave reactions were conducted using 10 g of biomass and 2–4 g of potassium carbonate as a catalyst. The resulting bio-oils exhibited significantly reduced oxygen content (26–36%) compared to the raw feedstock (47%) and achieved higher heating values of 25.9–32.1 MJ/kg versus 17.7–17.9 MJ/kg for the untreated biomass. Fractionation analysis revealed that the main products were high-boiling (>360 °C) and diesel-range fractions, while overall yields ranged from 21.3% to 32.8%. The highest yield was obtained from Fedora-17 with the fibre sheath and 2 g of catalyst. Overall, the study highlights the potential of hemp waste as a renewable feedstock for liquid fuel production and demonstrates how fibre content and cultivar type influence both yield and product quality. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Catalytic Biomass Conversions into Fuels and Materials—Sustainable Technologies and Applications)

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19 pages, 1317 KB

Open AccessArticle

Emulsion Systems Stabilized with Nonionic Emulsifier and Cross-Linked Polyacrylic Acid: A Promising Strategy to Enhance the Activity of Immobilized CALB

by Joanna Siódmiak, Jacek Dulęba, Dominik Mieszkowski, Piotr Bilski and Tomasz Siódmiak

Catalysts 2025, 15(10), 916; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal15100916 - 23 Sep 2025

Viewed by 35

Abstract

The application of lipases in biphasic oil–water emulsions offers an efficient and sustainable alternative to conventional chemical synthesis. However, the natural immiscibility of these phases is a substantial limitation. To address this issue, we proposed a dual-stabilized emulsion system combining a nonionic emulsifier (Kolliphor^® CS 20) and cross-linked polyacrylic acid (Carbopol^® Ultrez 10), exceeding conventional single-stabilized systems. The activity of Candida antarctica lipase B (CALB), both in its free form and immobilized onto an IB-D152 support, was investigated in the prepared emulsion system. The olive oil emulsion stabilized with 10.0% Kolliphor^® CS 20 and 0.1% Carbopol^® Ultrez 10 significantly enhanced the lipolytic activity of immobilized CALB (156.27 ± 3.91 U/g of support), compared to the activity obtained in the emulsion stabilized only with 10.0% Kolliphor^® CS 20 (71.11 ± 3.86 U/g of support). On the other hand, the activity of immobilized CALB in the emulsion containing 5.0% Kolliphor^® CS 20 and 0.1% Carbopol^® Ultrez 10 (62.22 ± 3.85 U/g of support) was lower than in the corresponding system without Carbopol^® Ultrez 10 (72.03 ± 4.63 U/g of support), stabilized with only 5.0% Kolliphor^® CS 20. Furthermore, immobilization onto IB-D152 led to lipase hyperactivation, with activity approximately eight-fold higher than that of free CALB. This dual emulsion stabilization strategy not only improves emulsion stability but also enhances lipase activity, offering new opportunities for scalable, high-performance biocatalysis using emulsions in industrial applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Enzyme and Biocatalysis Application)

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