Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
5.3
2.5
Journals
Applied Sciences
Special Issues
Industrial Chemical Engineering and Organic Chemical Technology
applsci-logo
Submit to Special Issue Submit Abstract to Special Issue Review for Applied Sciences Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

► Journal Menu

Journal Browser

► Journal Browser
share announcement

Industrial Chemical Engineering and Organic Chemical Technology

A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Chemical and Molecular Sciences".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 July 2025 | Viewed by 3059

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Rafael Bailón-Moreno

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Sciences, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain
Interests: chemical engeering
Prof. Dr. Josefa Nuñez-Olea

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Sciences, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain
Interests: wastewater treatment industry; drinking water purification; surface physical chemistry; detergent products and emulsions
Dr. Manuela Lechuga

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Sciences, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain
Interests: toxicity; environmental assessment; emerging contaminants; surfactants; skin irritation, modelization
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Industrial chemical engineering and organic chemical technology primarily focus on the development of sustainable raw materials and process improvements to minimise environmental impacts. The organic chemicals market is experiencing growth in sectors such as pharmaceuticals and cosmetics, driven by the demand for more sustainable products and new chemical applications. One approach is the development and application of green solvents, which offer less toxic, and more energy-efficient alternatives compared with traditional solvents. The industry is also exploring sustainable routes to producing chemicals like ethylene and propylene, basic raw materials for many organic chemicals, which can potentially reduce reliance on fossil fuels and bring us closer to closing the carbon cycle. Additionally, advanced technologies are being explored to treat and reuse water produced from crude oil extraction, aiming to develop fewer polluting methods. Overall, within the concept of green chemistry, there is a shift towards integrating new technologies and methods that are not only technically effective but also environmentally and economically viable, aiming for a broader adoption of sustainable practices in the global chemical industry.

Prof. Dr. Rafael Bailón-Moreno
Prof. Dr. Josefa Nuñez-Olea
Dr. Manuela Lechuga
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Applied Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • sustainable raw materials
  • sustainable products
  • reduction in fossil fuels
  • produced water
  • green solvents
  • pharmaceuticals
  • cosmetics
  • ethylene
  • propylene, green chemistry

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (4 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

15 pages, 3554 KiB  
Article
Ozone Nanobubble-Assisted Pretreatment of Lignocellulose: Enhancing Wood Liquefaction and Bio-Polyurea Development
by Go Masuda, Christian Ebere Enyoh, Weiqian Wang, Satoshi Anzai and Qingyue Wang
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(9), 4618; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15094618 - 22 Apr 2025
Abstract
Nanobubbles have emerged as a novel technology, yet their applications remain largely limited to cleaning and oxidation. This study explores the potential of ozone nanobubbles as a pretreatment method for liquefied wood. Wood meal was treated with ozone nanobubbles in tap water under [...] Read more.
Nanobubbles have emerged as a novel technology, yet their applications remain largely limited to cleaning and oxidation. This study explores the potential of ozone nanobubbles as a pretreatment method for liquefied wood. Wood meal was treated with ozone nanobubbles in tap water under three different conditions: room temperature, 50 °C, and room temperature followed by ultrasonic treatment. The treated samples were then compared with untreated wood meal through component analysis, FT-IR functional group evaluation, and X-Ray diffraction (XRD) analysis of cellulose crystallinity. In the liquefaction process, residue rates, FT-IR analysis, hydroxyl numbers, and viscosity were examined. Additionally, the mechanical properties of synthesized polyurea films were evaluated via tensile testing. The results showed a reduction in amorphous cellulose from 62.3% to 56.6% and hemicellulose from 42.8% to 35.9%, leading to liquefied wood with a high hydroxyl value from 341 KOH/mg to 387 KOH/mg and significantly lower viscosity from 684 cP to 264 cP. Furthermore, the polyurea films synthesized from the treated liquefied wood exhibited no deterioration in physical properties. These findings highlight ozone nanobubble pretreatment as a promising and industrially valuable process for producing low-residue, low-viscosity liquefied wood without compromising material performance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Industrial Chemical Engineering and Organic Chemical Technology)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

22 pages, 5046 KiB  
Article
Purification of Produced Water by Solvents to Enhance Oil Recovery and Reuse Separated Droplets
by Aqeel Shaikhah Arafat Aljadiri and Rafael Bailón-Moreno
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(4), 1700; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15041700 - 7 Feb 2025
Viewed by 585
Abstract
In crude oil production, large volumes of produced water are generated as a highly polluting waste byproduct. On average, at least two barrels of produced water are generated for every barrel of oil. This water contains oil traces in stable and complex emulsions. [...] Read more.
In crude oil production, large volumes of produced water are generated as a highly polluting waste byproduct. On average, at least two barrels of produced water are generated for every barrel of oil. This water contains oil traces in stable and complex emulsions. To purify it, a method is proposed based on breaking these emulsions using solvents that induce the coalescence of oil droplets, facilitating their separation from the water. The method has two main objectives: (1) To identify the characteristics a solvent must have to effectively break oil emulsions according to the Hansen solubility parameter (HSP) model. (2) To select, from 40 solvents of different chemical families, the most suitable ones based on efficiency, low toxicity, industrial availability, and cost. The experimental procedure included the following steps: (1) Contacting the solvent with produced water containing 150 ppm of oil under agitation. (2) Allowing the mixture to rest until a layer of recovered oil formed. (3) Spectrophotometric analysis of the residual oil. Three distinct HSP solubility spheres were identified, within which the most effective solvents were xylene (99.4% recovery), cyclohexane (99.5% recovery), and tetrahydrofuran (100% recovery). Their high efficiency not only facilitated oil separation but also made the recovered oil suitable for commercialization. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Industrial Chemical Engineering and Organic Chemical Technology)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 3401 KiB  
Article
The Development of a Novel Aluminosilicate Catalyst Fabricated via a 3D Printing Mold for Biodiesel Production at Room Temperature
by Selene Díaz-González, Karina Elvira Rodríguez and Laura Díaz
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(3), 1094; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15031094 - 22 Jan 2025
Viewed by 758
Abstract
Biodiesel production has gained attention as a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels, but challenges related to catalyst recovery and energy consumption remain. In this study, a novel lithium-impregnated aluminosilicate catalyst (LiSA) was developed using a 3D-printed mold, providing precise control over its structure [...] Read more.
Biodiesel production has gained attention as a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels, but challenges related to catalyst recovery and energy consumption remain. In this study, a novel lithium-impregnated aluminosilicate catalyst (LiSA) was developed using a 3D-printed mold, providing precise control over its structure to optimize performance. The structured catalyst featured a cylindrical shape with multiple circular channels, enhancing fluid dynamics and reactant interaction in a fixed-bed reactor. Catalyst characterization by SEM, TGA, XRD, and ICP-MS confirmed high thermal stability and uniform pore distribution. Jatropha curcas oil was used as feedstock, with diethyl ether (DEE) acting as a cosolvent to improve methanol solubility and enable transesterification at room temperature. The process achieved a high fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) yield, averaging 97.1% over 508 min of continuous operation, demonstrating the catalyst’s stability and sustained activity. By reducing mass transfer limitations and energy demands, this approach highlights the potential of 3D-printed catalysts to advance sustainable biodiesel production, offering a scalable and efficient pathway for green energy technologies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Industrial Chemical Engineering and Organic Chemical Technology)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 3368 KiB  
Article
Depolymerization of Kraft Lignin Using a Metal Chloride-Based Deep Eutectic Solvent: Pathways to Sustainable Lignin Valorization
by Shubho Ghosh, Masud Rana and Jeong-Hun Park
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(24), 11571; https://doi.org/10.3390/app142411571 - 11 Dec 2024
Viewed by 1026
Abstract
Driven by the urgent need for sustainable alternatives to fossil fuels, the focus on the exploration of lignocellulosic biomass, particularly lignin, as a promising renewable feedstock for biofuels and high-value chemicals has intensified. This study investigated the depolymerization of KL using a DES [...] Read more.
Driven by the urgent need for sustainable alternatives to fossil fuels, the focus on the exploration of lignocellulosic biomass, particularly lignin, as a promising renewable feedstock for biofuels and high-value chemicals has intensified. This study investigated the depolymerization of KL using a DES comprising ChCl and ZnCl2. Our analysis systematically focused on the effects of reaction temperature, time, and the DES-to-lignin ratio on the yields and characteristics of the products. Optimal KL depolymerization was observed at a temperature of 190 °C and a duration of 8 h, yielding a maximum liquid product yield of 54.44% and RL yield of 45.56%. The results revealed that increasing the reaction temperature enhanced the depolymerization process owing to a reduction in the viscosity of the DES, which improved mass transfer and interactions with lignin. Under these optimal conditions, the molecular weight of the bio-oil was considerably lower (Mw = 1498 g/mol and Mn = 1061 g/mol) than that of the bio-oil obtained without DES treatment (Mw = 1872 g/mol and Mn = 1259 g/mol), indicating a more favorable molecular weight distribution with DES treatment. Furthermore, elemental analysis revealed a reduction in the O, N, and S contents of the RL following DES treatment, increasing the high heating value from 24.82 MJ kg−1 for the non-DES-treated RL to 26.44 MJ kg−1 for the DES-treated RL. These findings underscore the potential of the (ChCl:ZnCl2) DES as a sustainable and effective medium for lignin valorization, paving the way for the synthesis of high-quality biofuels and chemicals from lignocellulosic biomass. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Industrial Chemical Engineering and Organic Chemical Technology)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-4
Back to TopTop