Special issue on “Advanced materials for environmental protection and sustainability in Asean countries”

During the past 20 years, Southeast Asian (ASEAN) countries have been considered as the worst-affected regions in the world in terms of deaths from climate disasters. Thus, the impact of climate change on the Asean economy is huge and predicted to cost 11 % of its GDP by 2100.

Rapid urbanization, massive development of industrial sectors, modern agricultural practices, all-cause controlled or uncontrolled release of environmentally related hazardous contaminants that are seriously threatening all key spheres including the atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, lithosphere, and anthroposphere. The mitigation of environmental pollution is the biggest challenge to researchers and the scientific community due to its significant adverse impact on the natural ecosystem, aquatic organisms, and human health. This problem is inescapably intensified due to the lack of efficient technologies for the proper disposal, management, and treatment of waste.

This special issue aims to report the recent and critical aspects of advanced materials for environmental protection and remediation. It explores the various development aspects related to environmental remediation, including design and development of novel and highly efficient materials, aimed at environmental sustainability. Synthesis of advanced materials with desirable physicochemical properties and emerging applications is also included.

In this Special Issue, we have collected 17 articles from Viet Nam and Malaysia. For environmental pollution treatment, various advanced materials have been synthesized to remove both organic pollutants and polluting chemicals. Nguyen Thi Thom et al. discovered “composite based on Mxene-Ti₃C₂ and coconutshell-derived activated carbon” for desalination of brackish water, Pure and Applied Chemistry, 2024, 96. https://doi.org/10.1515/pac-2024-0107. Ayesha Kausar et al. prepared “Nanocomposite nanofibrous membranes of graphene and graphene oxide” for water remediation potential, Pure and Applied Chemistry, 2024, 96. https://doi.org/10.1515/pac-2023-0803. Pham Thi Nam et al. explored “Selection of graphene as a conductive additive for biomass-based activated carbon electrode in capacitive deionization”, Pure and Applied Chemistry, 2024, 96. https://doi.org/10.1515/pac-2024-0109. Phi Hung Dao et al. described a topic of “Enhanced photocatalytic and antibacterial properties of silver–zirconia nanoparticles” for environmental pollution treatment, Pure and Applied Chemistry, 2024, 96. https://doi.org/10.1515/pac-2024-0108. Oanh H. Nguyen et al. reported a topic of “Bio-based aerogel composites of coconut pith-derived carbon and chitosan” for efficient anionic dye-polluted water treatment, Pure and Applied Chemistry, 2024, 96. https://doi.org/10.1515/pac-2024-0102. Nhuan N. Doan et al. summarized their study on “Biochar-based catalysts: a potential disposal of plant biomass from phytoremediation”, Pure and Applied Chemistry, 2024, 96. https://doi.org/10.1515/pac-2024-0105.

To protect from the bacteria/viruses/fungi/parasites, the researchers fabricated some promising nanomaterials. Duy Du Bui et al. presented their research on “sulfur nanoparticles in chitosan-copper complex and investigation of its nematicidal activity against Pratylenchus pratensis in vitro”, Pure and Applied Chemistry, 2024, 96. https://doi.org/10.1515/pac-2023-1208. Thien Vuong Nguyen et al. introduced “An antimicrobial acrylic polyurethane coating with TiO₂-Ag hybrid nanoparticles”, Pure and Applied Chemistry, 2024, 96. https://doi.org/10.1515/pac-2024-0019. Van Cuong Bui et al. discovered “complex of sorafenib with 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin” to enhance the anticancer activity of the drug substance, Pure and Applied Chemistry, 2024, 96. https://doi.org/10.1515/pac-2024-0024.

The new green/natural materials with desirable physicochemical properties and promising applications have also been reported. Tuan Anh Nguyen et al. presented their study on “an antibacterial acrylic polyurethane coating with acylated mimosa tannins”, Pure and Applied Chemistry, 2024, 96. https://doi.org/10.1515/pac-2024-0018. Chan Qi-Hua et al. introduced the “Biodegradable thermochromic polylactic acid (PLA) sensor”, Pure and Applied Chemistry, 2024, 96. https://doi.org/10.1515/pac-2024-0023. Lenar reported the “Efficient synthesis of tricaproin: catalyst and reaction optimization”, Pure and Applied Chemistry, 2024, 96. https://doi.org/10.1515/pac-2024-0017. The team of Mimi Syahira Masraff, Noor Faezah Mohd Sani and Mohd Hafiz Zainol discovered the self-healing and recycling abilities of natural rubber composites, Pure and Applied Chemistry, 2024, 96. https://doi.org/10.1515/pac-2023-1203, https://doi.org/10.1515/pac-2024-0028, https://doi.org/10.1515/pac-2024-0021. Finally, Mun’aim Mohd Idrus et al. described a study on “Evaluating the Strength and Toughness of Web Kapok/Fiberglass Hybrid Composites” in Marine Structures, Pure and Applied Chemistry, 2024, 96. https://doi.org/10.1515/pac-2024-0021.