حيدر حسن محمد

This work explores the optimization of poly (ether sulfone) (PES) mixed matrix membranes including titanium dioxide/bismuth ferrite (TiO2–BiFeO3) nanoparticles for improved dye-contaminated wastewater treatment. The manufacturing and operational factors that affect membrane compatibility, nanoparticle dispersion, and overall performance were emphasized. Within a central composite design framework, response surface methodology (RSM) in conjunction with analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to methodically assess the effects of important variables, such as operating pressure (100–300 kPa), Congo Red (CR) dye concentration (0.1–0.3 g/L), and nanoparticle loading (0–0.1 wt%). Strong prediction ability was shown by the constructed model, which also found ideal conditions at 132 kPa operating pressure and 0.06 wt percent nanoparticle loading. In these circumstances, the membrane obtained a 99.88% CR dye rejection and a permeate flux of 44 kg·m⁻²·h⁻¹ . These results demonstrate the considerable potential of PES/TiO2–BiFeO3 mixed matrix membranes for advanced dye wastewater treatment applications by confirming their markedly improved permeability and separation efficiency. © 2026 The Authors.

The hydrogenation of naphtha is critical to producing stable, clean gasoline, yet current catalysts often lack selectivity and stability. In this work, a novel palladium-magnesium oxide (Pd/MgO) nanocatalyst was developed to address these challenges. The catalyst was prepared by reduction of PdCl4 on MgO support using sodium borohydride, resulting in well-dispersed Pd nanoparticles with an average size of 1.7 nm and a Pd loading of 0.9 wt. (nominally 1 wt.). The size, composition, and dispersion of the nanoparticles were confirmed using transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, hydrogen pulse chemisorption, inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy, and hydrogen temperature programmed reduction measurements. Catalytic tests showed great activity of quinoline hydrogenation at 150 °C and 40 atm H2, with a corrected turnover frequency (TOFcorr) of 6400 h⁻¹, which was almost fourfold higher than Pd/SiO2 and Pd/Al2O3 commercial catalysts (TOFcorr = 1600 - 1800 h⁻¹). Linear alkenes were hydrogenated with the catalyst at mild conditions (25 °C and 10 atm H2). Moreover, during biodiesel upgrading, the conversion of polyunsaturated fatty acid methyl esters to stable monounsaturated products was achieved at (100 °C, 1 atm of H2 with >80% conversion). Recyclability tests proved that the alkene hydrogenation activity was stable in three cycles, and only slight deactivation in quinoline hydrogenation occurred. This work shows that the Pd/MgO nanocatalysts are promising for enhancing the quality of gasoline, minimizing the formation of gums, and increasing the stability of biodiesel because of their nanoscale dispersion, high selectivity, and recyclability. © This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License

The development of heterogeneous catalysts remains a major focus due to their industrial importance and potential in emerging chemical processes. Mesoporous silica materials, particularly SBA-15, offer advantages as catalyst supports because their surface silanol groups act as intrinsic catalytic sites and allow for controlled functionalization. However, a limited understanding of structure–property relationships often restricts the optimal design of such systems. This study examines how solvent choice influences the grafting density of catalytic ligands on SBA-15 and the resulting catalytic performance. N-(2-aminoethyl)-3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (diamine) and 2-(diphenylphosphino)ethyltriethoxysilane (PPh2) were grafted onto SBA-15 using toluene or 2-propanol, followed by coordination with Fe(III) and evaluation in epoxide ring-opening reactions. Elemental analysis revealed that diamine-functionalized materials incorporated 15–20 times more ligand than PPh2-functionalized analogues. Despite their lower loading, PPh2-based catalysts exhibited roughly twice the activity reduction, resulting in significantly higher ligand-normalized turnover rates (up to 113 h−1). In contrast, diamine systems provided the highest Fe-normalized activity (up to 69 h−1), indicating improved metal stabilization. Additionally, 2-propanol consistently produced more active catalysts than toluene. Overall, the results demonstrate that solvent and ligand selection strongly govern metal accessibility and ligand efficiency, enabling the rational design of cost-effective Fe–SBA-15 catalysts. © 2026 Wiley-VCH GmbH.

The need to strike a balance between separation performance and environmental responsibility has led to the development of polymeric membranes with green functional groups as a viable approach for sustainable wastewater treatment. Beyond descriptive reporting, this review critically synthesizes molecular findings connecting membrane structure–property–performance correlations to bio-based functional additives. The effects of naturally occurring functional groups, such as phenolics, flavonoids, polysaccharides, amino-rich biopolymers, and plant-based reactive moieties, on the shape, surface chemistry, and interfacial interactions of the membrane are methodically examined. In order to assess several classes of green additives and fabrication techniques based on their operational stability, durability, sustainability indicators, permeability-selectivity trade-offs, and fouling resistance, a comparative approach is presented. The review clarifies the main mechanisms for antifouling and separation, including hydrogen-bonding networks, surface charge modulation, hydration layer formation, radical scavenging, and antimicrobial activity. It also critically analyzes how these mechanisms result in better dye, heavy metal, and oil contamination removal. Significantly, the analysis reveals the discrepancies and knowledge gaps in published mechanistic interpretations, such as the long-term stability of bio-functionalized membranes under practical operating conditions, the relative contributions of surface chemistry versus bulk structural changes, and additive dispersion and leaching effects. Lastly, future research directions are discussed, with a focus on scalable manufacturing routes, hybrid green nanocomposite functionalization, and intelligent and stimulus-responsive bio-additives. All things considered, this review offers a comparative and mechanistic viewpoint that clarifies the actual and potential constraints of green advanced functional groups for developing next-generation high-performance wastewater treatment membranes. © The Royal Society of Chemistry, 2026.