Abdullah Al Ragib

The escalating global demand for sustainable energy and the environmental burden of organic and synthetic waste have intensified interest in co-pyrolysis, a thermochemical process that simultaneously converts biomass and various waste materials into valuable fuels and chemicals. This review presents an up-to-date, factorial analysis of co-pyrolysis systems, emphasizing synergistic interactions between lignocellulosic and non-lignocellulosic biomass, such as plastics, tires, sewage sludge, and other waste streams. The study systematically examines key factors such as feedstock properties, thermal decomposition mechanisms, and operational parameters (e.g., temperature, heating rate, residence time, particle size, and mixing ratio). It also highlights catalyst development, including zeolite- and biochar-based systems, to enhance product yield, aromatic selectivity, and hydrogen production while reducing oxygenated compounds. The review also discusses emerging trends in bio-oil upgrading techniques and advanced characterization protocols to address challenges in stability, acidity, and fuel applicability. We also review integrating co-pyrolysis with renewable technologies and artificial intelligence tools for predictive modeling, process optimization, and system scalability. Despite promising advances, critical gaps remain in mechanistic understanding, catalyst deactivation, long-term process viability, and comprehensive techno-economic and lifecycle assessments. This review offers actionable insights for researchers, engineers, and policymakers, providing a strategic roadmap to advance co-pyrolysis technologies toward industrial-scale implementation in a circular, low-carbon energy economy.

Manganese dioxide (MnO₂) modified biochar catalysts derived from biomass and waste polymer feedstocks were synthesized and evaluated as heterogeneous Fenton-like catalysts for solar-driven degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) in aqueous systems. Biochars produced from maple wood and plastic waste (high-density polyethylene) provided porous carbon matrices with oxygen-rich surface functionalities that enabled effective MnO₂ loading and catalytic activity. Photocatalytic experiments conducted under real sunlight using a solar-collector reactor demonstrated faster RhB degradation compared to a conventional ultraviolet (UV) system, confirming the advantage of solar-driven operation. Complete RhB removal was achieved at initial concentrations of 100–300 ppm, whereas higher dye concentrations (500 ppm) exceeded the catalytic capacity within the tested reaction time. Kinetic analysis revealed catalyst-dependent reaction behaviors, indicating that degradation pathways were strongly influenced by the biopolymer-derived carbon structure and MnO₂ dispersion. Degradation efficiency was correlated with solar irradiance and reactor temperature, with higher UV index conditions enhancing catalytic performance. Reusability tests showed that the catalysts remained active over multiple cycles, although gradual decreases in reaction rates and catalyst recovery were observed. These results demonstrate the potential of biopolymer-derived carbon materials as effective solar-driven catalysts for wastewater treatment applications.

The synthesis of sustainable and promising biomaterials for biomedical applications has recently gained increasing importance. In this study, a hybrid hydrogel was synthesized from empty palm date bunches through the blending of natural (carboxymethyl cellulose) and synthetic polymers (polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinylpyrrolidone) using both traditional and microwave-assisted methods. The aim was to investigate the ability of the hydrogel to immobilize and control the release of bovine serum albumin (BSA), a model protein widely used in pharmaceutical biotechnology. The effect of key parameters such as pH, temperature and hydrogel dosage on protein immobilization was investigated. Optimal results were observed at a pH of 7.4, a temperature of 37 °C and a dosage of 2 g/L—such conditions are very close to the human physiological environment. Kinetic and isotherm models indicated that the immobilization process adhered to pseudo-second-order kinetics and was well-fitted to the Langmuir isotherm. This implied a monolayer adsorption mechanism on a comparatively homogeneous surface. The release studies demonstrated a time-dependent and diffusion-controlled trend, with BSA attaining equilibrium release at 150 min. Overall, the results underline the potential of the microwave-synthesized plant-based hydrogel as a promising material for controlled drug delivery and other biomedical applications due to its efficiency and sustainability.

This study investigates the extraction of cellulose from Saudi Arabia-based date palm biomass utilizing a natural deep eutectic solvent (NaDES) integrated with a microwave-assisted process. A comprehensive life cycle assessment (LCA) was conducted in accordance with the ISO 14040 standard, encompassing four key stages: goal and scope definition, life cycle inventory analysis (LCI), life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) and interpretation. The analysis was confined to a gate-to-gate boundary in which two impact assessment methods, namely, ReCiPe Midpoint (H) 2016 and ILCD 2011 Midpoint, were used to assess the environmental impacts. The OpenLCA software (version 2.1.1) with the European Life Cycle Database 3.2 (ELCD 3.2) was used in the study. The ReCiPe method identified impact categories such as fossil resource scarcity, terrestrial ecotoxicity, freshwater ecotoxicity, water consumption, human carcinogenic toxicity and marine ecotoxicity. Conversely, the ILCD method identified freshwater ecotoxicity, water resource depletion, mineral, fossil and resource depletion, human toxicity and cancer effects. The results indicate that freshwater ecotoxicity presents the most substantial environmental impact across both assessment methods, surpassing other categories. Fossil resource scarcity, even though originally appearing impactful, demonstrated a relatively lower normalized score compared to freshwater ecotoxicity. Terrestrial ecotoxicity and water consumption were found to be negligible in their impact. Our findings provide important insights into sustainable material science and waste management, affording potential applications for biomass utilization in the Gulf region.

Elevated oxidative stress and hormonal imbalance have been suggested associate with polycystic ovarian syndromes (PCOS), a causal factor for unsuccessful pregnancy outcomes and other associated complications in women. The aim of this study was to compare the oxidative stress markers and different relevant hormone between pregnant women with and without PCOS. The levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), insulin, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), vitamin A and vitamin C were measured in 80 pregnant women with PCOS and 80 healthy pregnancies. The mean MDA and insulin levels were significantly elevated in pregnant with PCOS compared to healthy controls (1.98±0.07 vs. 1.06±0.02 nmol/mL and 11.15±0.25 vs. 6.67±0.25 mIU/L, respectively with pvs. 1.75±0.10 IU/L) and LH (15.67±0.63 vs. 3.65±0.16 IU/L) were significantly higher in pregnant women with PCOS, pvs.2.34±0.06, p=0.048). In contrast, the levels of vitamin A and C were lower in PCOS cases compared to healthy pregnancy group, 0.45±0.01 vs. 1.05±0.01 and 0.26±0.01 vs. 0.53±0.02, respectively with p-values <0.001 for both comparations. In conclusion, in PCOS, serum MDA, insulin, FSH, LH and TSH levels elevated while the level of antioxidant vitamins lower compared to healthy pregnant women. Unusual hormonal imbalance and increase of oxidative stress markers during the pregnancy might important to establish the PCOS diagnosis.