Pyridine (PY) compounds in crude phenol generated during the primary processing of coal-based crude oils reduce the quality of phenolic products. Conventional acid washing produces large amounts of acidic wastewater, resulting in secondary environmental pollution and equipment corrosion. Therefore, developing an efficient and environmentally friendly process for PY removal is essential. Deep eutectic solvents (DESs) were screened using the COSMO-RS model and experimentally validated. In the model oil system, a DES composed of citric acid (CA) and glycerol (GLY) achieved the best extraction performance, with a PY extraction efficiency of over 99%. The DES also exhibited good recyclability. For actual coal-based crude phenol, the DES achieved an extraction efficiency of 99.9% for PY compounds and reduced the content of PY compounds in the purified crude phenol to below 0.1%, enabling the purified crude phenol to meet quality requirements. Quantum chemical calculations revealed that PY separation was driven by the synergistic effects of electrostatic and orbital interactions. This study provides a promising strategy for the efficient removal of nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compounds from complex systems.

Visible light-driven splitting of H₂O for H₂ offers a promising route for H₂ production. However, highly active catalysts are still needed to efficiently split H₂O into H₂ production. Herein, spherical MoO₂ was prepared by hydrothermal-annealing process, and the Pt loaded on MoO₂ was reduced using a room-temperature discharge-driven reduction process (RT-DR), we fabricated Pt/CdS/MoO₂ photocatalyst. Visible light-driven photocatalytic H₂ production from water was achieved on Pt/CdS/MoO₂. The highest catalytic efficiency was achieved when Pt loading was 0.25 wt % and RT-DR treatment time was 30 min, with the rate as high as 909.8 μmol∙h^–1. After a continuous 20-h photocatalytic test, the H₂ evolution rate could be maintained at 810 μmol∙h^–1. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis suggests changes of the valence state of Pt nanoparticles by room-temperature discharge-driven reduction process. In this work, the reduction of H₂O to H₂ has been studied by density functional theory calculation on MoO₂ (011) surfaces. On the surface, Pt²⁺ adsorbs H₂O and decomposes them, while Pt⁰ adsorbs H and synthesizes them into H₂, which allows the valence state regulation to have an important influence on the H₂ evolution rate.

Photocatalytic resource production, utilizing photo-generated electrons and holes for reactions like water splitting and uranium extraction from seawater, demands materials balancing broad light absorption and efficient charge separation. Two-dimensional sp²-carbon-conjugated covalent organic frameworks (sp²c COFs) emerge as highly promising photocatalysts due to their extended π-conjugation, enabling wide solar spectrum capture (including near-infrared) and enhanced carrier mobility. Current design strategies focus on incorporating photosensitive groups, constructing donor-acceptor heterojunctions, and optimizing high-conjugation to boost light harvesting and suppress charge recombination. Furthermore, designing specific active sites is also crucial for photocatalytic uranium extraction from seawater. This review summarizes the characteristics of different two dimensional sp²c COFs and their photocatalytic applications in photocatalytic hydrogen production and uranium recovery. Finally, it outlines future development trajectories for advancing sp²c COFs in sustainable photocatalysis.

The co-combustion of sewage sludge (SS) with coal is a promising strategy for waste valorization; however, the impacts on gaseous pollutant emissions and heavy metal (HM) behavior remain inadequately characterized. This study investigates NO and SO₂ release, the retention and extractability of six selected heavy metals (Mn, Zn, Cr, Ni, Cu, and Pb), and ash fusion characteristics during co-combustion. Co-firing with SS promoted early ignition and enhanced the coal combustion reactivity through the rapid release of volatiles, which facilitated fixed-carbon combustion; however, excessive SS blending reduced heat release owing to its low calorific value and high ash content. Concurrent in situ reductions of NO and SO₂ were achieved. The enhanced combustion reactivity accelerated O₂ consumption and promoted CO formation, creating a locally reducing atmosphere that contributed to the suppression of NO emissions. SO₂ mitigation was associated with sulfur retention via the formation of stable sulfates by Ca-bearing minerals. Co-combustion enhanced the retention of Cr, Cu, Pb, and Zn in ash matrices while reducing their extractability, which is associated with HM-encapsulating silicate-, aluminosilicate-, and phosphate-rich phases. These refractory phases increased ash flow temperatures and inhibited liquid slag formation. Overall, SS/coal co-combustion reduces gaseous emissions and ash fusibility while stabilizing HMs in ashes.

Nickel-cobalt-based (NiCo) supercapacitors have garnered widespread attention owing to their high rate performance, safety, and low cost. However, conventional NiCo-layered double hydroxide (LDH) materials often exhibit low electrical conductivity, structural instability, and a limited number of exposed active sites. To address these issues, a reaction-time-controlled hydrothermal strategy was utilized to regulate the growth of an aluminum-doped nickel-cobalt LDH, enabling the formation of flower-like microstructures composed of interconnected nanoneedle arrays with improved ion-transport pathways and electrochemical performance. Notably, Al doping expanded the interlayer spacing, which facilitated rapid ion diffusion and improved the rate capability and charge–discharge efficiency. The electrochemical performance of the assembled device, including energy density, power density, and cycling stability, was systematically studied. Moreover, device-level optimization was achieved using strategies to widen the operating voltage window in asymmetric supercapacitors. The feasibility of the device was further supported by powering a light-emitting diode, electronic watch, calculator, and small electric fan, confirming its stable output performance.

Supported Pt-based catalysts are promising for the oxidative dehydrogenation of propane with CO₂ (CO₂-ODP), which is regarded as an attractive process for simultaneous propene production and CO₂ reduction to CO. By incorporating La³⁺ into CeO₂, we found that the performance of PtSn/Ce_1−xLa_xO_2−δ (x = 0, 0.05, 0.1, and 0.3) for CO₂-ODP is enhanced. Specifically, the propene yield over PtSn/CeO₂ dropped sharply from 17% to 3% after 21.83 h on stream. In contrast, the optimized PtSn/Ce_0.9La_0.1O_2−δ catalyst maintained a much higher propene yield, declining only slightly from 23% to 20%, confirming that La incorporation markedly enhances both activity and stability. Complementary characterization results demonstrate that doping low-valent La³⁺ into CeO₂ increases oxygen vacancies via charge compensation, strengthening the Pt–O bond within the Pt–O–Ce interface. This preferentially activates C–H bonds in propane while suppressing C–C scission, thereby increasing propene yield. Meanwhile, the increased oxygen vacancies accelerate CO₂ activation, sustaining the redox cycle and thus improving the catalyst stability. Owing to these synergistic effects, PtSn/Ce_0.9La_0.1O_2−δ exhibits excellent catalytic performance, outperforming most reported Pt-based catalysts. These findings highlight that tuning oxygen vacancies at the metal-support interface is a promising strategy for developing efficient CO₂-ODP catalysts.