Porous anorthite (CaAl₂Si₂O₈) ceramics, suitable for thermal insulation in buildings, were obtained using waste seashells as a source of CaO, kaolin as a source of Al₂O₃ and SiO₂ and banana peel as a pore former. Changing the volume of banana peel as well as the processing temperature was found to be an effective approach to control the thermo-mechanical properties of the obtained anorthite ceramics. The sintering of powder compacts containing up to 30 wt% banana peel at temperatures ranging from 1100 to 1200 °C resulted in anorthite ceramics possessing up to 45% open porosity, a compressive strength between 13 and 92 MPa, a bulk density between 1.87 and 2.62 g/cm³ and thermal conductivity between 0.097 and 3.5 W/mK. It was shown that waste materials such as seashells and banana peel can be used to obtain cost-effective thermal insulation in buildings.

The extensive application of synthetic dyes in various industries and potential accidental uncontrolled discharge into natural water bodies have led to significant environmental challenges and a need for effective treatment. In this study, UiO-66 metal–organic framework/activated carbon (MOF/AC) composites were used to evaluate the photocatalytic degradation of Congo Red dye (CR) in aqueous solution under natural solar irradiation. The degradation efficiency of CR was determined using UV-Vis spectroscopy, while material characterization and additional insight into the reaction mechanism were obtained by XRD, FTIR, and Raman analysis. For a 50 ppm CR solution, within a 2 h reaction time, pure MOF achieved 57.2% and 26.3% degradation under solar irradiation and dark conditions, respectively, while the 75/25 MOF/AC composite reached 74% and 38.3% under the same conditions. These results confirm the synergistic interaction between MOF and AC, where AC acts as an electron sink, preventing charge recombination and enhancing photocatalytic activity. Chemisorption occurred simultaneously with photocatalytic degradation on the MOF surface. Reusability tests showed that pure MOF retained the highest stability over repeated cycles. Overall, the combination of MOF and AC enhances catalytic performance, which represents a sustainable approach for treating dye-contaminated wastewater under natural solar conditions.

The environmental impact of radionuclides, found in nuclear waste, nuclear power plants, agriculture, industrial effluents, research centers, and nuclear medicine facilities, is highly important, especially in the emerging nuclear era. Prior to its stabilization and permanent disposal, the development of appropriate techniques for radionuclide removal from the environment is a critical topic. Particular attention is given to materials that are easy to synthesize, manipulate, and demonstrate high pollutant removal efficiency. Among different radionuclides, yttrium isotopes are one the most common products associated with nuclear power activities. Polyamide (PA) and PA-MOF (MOF - metal-organic framework) nanofibrous composite membranes (containing 1% and 10% MOF), obtained via electrospinning, were investigated as sorption materials for yttrium ions. The highest removal efficiency of 76% was achieved using PA from simulated seawater samples at pH 5.7. Microstructural and morphological characterization of the prepared membrane samples confirmed the existence of both crystalline and amorphous phases of polyamide and wrinkled fiber arrangement with a diameter of less than 0.5 µm. Agglomerates of MOF particles, ranging in size from 2 to 8 µm, are embedded between the PA fibers. Changes in the lattice vibrations corresponding to the CH2- groups, observed in the range 1420-1475 cm-1, indicated that hydrogen bonding interactions were favorable for the sorption process of yttrium ions on the prepared materials.

Increasing water pollution, such as contamination with heavy metals, has become a pressing issue due to their omnipresence in the environment. In recent times, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) based adsorbents, micro- and nano-porous materials with crystalline structures with high specific surface areas, adjustable pore sizes, shapes, and easy modifications, have attracted much attention. The present study investigated the potential application of Zr-based MOF UiO-66 for removing radioactive iodine from aqueous solutions. In the batch experiment, 25 cm3 of aqueous solution containing 10 mg dm-3 NaI was brought into contact with 10 mg of UiO-66. The results showed that the highest removal efficiency of radioactive iodine was obtained in the pH range from 4 to 8 and that the removal of 88% of iodine was achieved after 40 min. Complete removal of radioactive iodine from aqueous solutions was achieved after 210 min.