Andrew D. Burrows

Cut flowers undergo rapid physiological decline following harvest, driven by membrane degradation, oxidative stress, pigment loss, and reduced metabolic activity. Nanoparticle-based treatments offer a promising strategy to extend vase life, yet their effects in ornamental species remain poorly defined. The amino acid coatings were employed to enhance nanoparticle solubility, thereby facilitating the delivery of the micronutrients to the floral tissues. Here, we evaluate a suite of amino acid-coated nanoparticle formulations based on seven key micronutrients (Fe, Cu, Zn, Mn, Mg, Si, and Se) alongside synergistic multielement blends to determine their impact on postharvest performance in Avalanche Roses. Flowers were assessed for physiological, biochemical, and optical parameters, including water uptake, membrane stability index (MSI), malondialdehyde content, antioxidant enzyme activity, soluble sugars, and pigment profiles, alongside nanoparticle uptake quantification via X-ray fluorescence spectrometry and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. Nanoparticles based on Mn, Cu, and Fe significantly improved MSI, enhanced superoxide dismutase activity, and reduced lipid peroxidation compared with controls, indicating reduced oxidative stress. These treatments also promoted favorable pigment dynamics and increased fructose levels, with the lower-dose iron (10 mg/L) and the iron–manganese blend showing particularly strong combined benefits. In contrast, several higher-concentration treatments (copper, silicon, selenium, and magnesium) induced anthocyanin degradation, elevated phenolics, and lipid peroxidation, revealing clear toxicity thresholds.

Microporous materials store gases under dry conditions (e.g., hydrogen or oxygen via physisorption), but in some cases microporous materials also show triphasic (e.g., in a solid|gas|liquid system) gas storage in the presence of humidity/water. This is exploited recently to enhance gas solubility in aqueous media (in microporous deposits or in “microporous water”) aided by microporous materials. Data obtained from NMR spectroscopy shows stored H ₂ within particles of a polymer of intrinsic microporosity (PIM‐1) suspended in water, which supports the concept and conclusions of triphasic gas storage derived from accelerated electrochemical reactions. This can be important for accelerating both electrocatalytic gas evolution as well as gas‐consuming electrocatalytic processes (e.g., in O ₂ to H ₂ O ₂ or N ₂ to NH ₃ conversions). Comparison can be made between this observed acceleration in electrocatalysis and enzyme‐catalytic processes in nature, where enzymes are equipped with “gas tunnel” transport, for example, for producing ammonia in nitrogenases. This perspective examines this analogy and focuses primarily on the use of i) metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) and ii) polymers of intrinsic microporosity (PIMs). Gas binding under wet and dry conditions is contrasted. Reactions involving oxygen reduction, nitrogen reduction, hydrogen evolution/oxidation, and related applications in triphasic energy storage are discussed.

Water scarcity remains a critical global challenge, necessitating the advancement of sustainable water treatment technologies. Polymeric membranes have emerged as an indispensable solution for desalination and wastewater treatment due to their high efficiency and low energy consumption. However, conventional membrane fabrication relies on petroleum-derived polymers and toxic solvents, generating significant environmental concerns. This review sheds light on the state-of-the-art approaches to sustainable membrane development, focusing on green chemistry principles and circular economy strategies. Mechanosynthesis offers a solvent-free alternative for synthesizing advanced membrane materials, including metal–organic frameworks, covalent organic frameworks, and polymers of intrinsic microporosity. Additionally, the adoption of biobased green solvents, such as Cyrene and γ-valerolactone, provides viable substitutes for hazardous dipolar aprotic solvents traditionally used in membrane fabrication. The incorporation of biopolymers, including cellulose derivatives and polyhydroxyalkanoates, further enhances the sustainability of polymeric membranes. To mitigate membrane waste, circular economy strategies, including downcycling, upcycling, and repreparation via covalent adaptable networks, offer promising pathways for extending membrane lifecycles and minimizing environmental impact.

The increasing demand for sustainable solutions to oil–water separation and end-of-life membrane disposal has prompted the development of recyclable membrane technologies. In this study, we present an innovative approach to fabricating closed-loop, recyclable nanofibrous membranes (RFMs) utilizing reversible covalent networks based on the Diels–Alder reaction. A methacrylate-based copolymer was synthesized via free radical polymerization, combining hydrophobic monomers for enhanced separation performance, with furan-functionalized monomers for recyclability. This copolymer was electrospun into a porous substrate and cross-linked with bismaleimide cross-linkers to form a dynamic covalent network. By incorporating postthermal modification to the nanofibrous membrane, the hydrophobicity and the membrane porosity can be optimized. The resulting RFM exhibited outstanding oil–water separation capabilities, achieving a pure oil flux of up to 1,187 LMH with a separation efficiency up to 99% in water–oil emulsions, as demonstrated in tests with dichloromethane and other oils. Notably, the RFMs maintained structural and chemical stability after two recycling cycles, with recycled membranes retaining fluxes of 474–1,187 LMH and efficiencies of 98.8–99.5%. Thermal and mechanical characterizations confirmed the great stability of the membranes, with the Diels–Alder reaction enabling depolymerization and reformation of the network without causing significant degradation. Additionally, the RFMs were recycled the third time, maintaining the fluxes (752 to 823 LMH) from the previous generation with a slight decrease in separation efficiency in dichloromethane-water emulsion separation (98.3 to 97%). By integrating dynamic covalent chemistry with scalable fabrication methods, RFMs represent a transformative step toward a circular economy in oil–water separation and broader wastewater treatment and resource recovery.

We report the fabrication, performance and degradation of a vanillin cross-linked chitosan film containing gallic acid as the active component.

Particle size affects the rate of release of semiochemicals from channel-type MIL-68(In) and cage-type ZIF-8 metal–organic frameworks differently. Larger MIL-68(In) particles enhance release, whereas larger ZIF-8 particles reduce the release rate.