Plastic waste poses a significant challenge in Africa and around the world, with its volume continuing to increase at an alarming rate. In Africa, an estimated 25–33% of daily waste is made up of plastic, posing a threat to the environment, marine life, and human health. One potential solution to this problem is waste-to-energy recycling, such as pyrolysis, which involves the conversion of waste materials into oil, char, and non-condensable gasses through a thermochemical process in the absence of oxygen. Given the abundance of waste in Africa and the continent’s energy challenges, pyrolysis offers a sustainable solution. This review delves into the concept of pyrolysis, its products, thermodynamics, and endothermic kinetics, presenting it as a promising way to address the plastic waste problem in Africa. Despite the African Union’s goal to recycle plastic waste, the continent faces significant barriers in achieving this target, including infrastructural, economic, and social difficulties. It is crucial to implement sustainable strategies for managing plastic waste in Africa to mitigate environmental degradation and promote a cleaner and healthier living environment. Pyrolysis technology is highlighted as a viable solution for plastic waste management, as it can convert plastic waste into valuable byproducts such as oil, char, and syngas. Case studies from countries like South Africa and Nigeria demonstrate the potential for scaling up pyrolysis to address waste management issues while generating energy and job opportunities. This review underscores the need for investment, regulatory support, and public awareness to overcome the challenges and unlock the full potential of pyrolysis in Africa. Embracing pyrolysis as a method for managing plastic waste could lead to significant environmental and economic benefits for the continent.

The growing challenge of electronic waste (e-waste) has heightened the interest in biodegradable electronic materials as sustainable options to traditional components. This review provides a comprehensive overview of recent advancements in biodegradable conductors, semiconductors, dielectrics, and encapsulation materials. It emphasizes assessing material performance, exploring fabrication methods, and showcasing applications in biomedical devices, environmental monitoring, and transient consumer electronics. Key biodegradation processes are outlined, along with evaluations of environmental impact and life cycle comparisons to conventional electronics. The review also examines how various production techniques affect material behavior and reliability. Major challenges such as maintaining functional stability, scaling up manufacturing, costs, and regulatory issues are thoroughly discussed. To guide future research, promising materials and technologies are highlighted, and critical questions are addressed, including degradation mechanisms, environmental benefits, and specific application needs. Biodegradable electronics offer a transformative approach to reduce e-waste while promoting sustainability. This review serves as a vital resource for understanding current capabilities and guiding future research toward practical and environmentally responsible electronic solutions. Graphical abstract

Automation and robotics are revolutionizing hydroponic and aquaponic farming techniques and also enhancing their efficiency, sustainability, and scalability within the Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA). This review explores the integration of key technologies, such as automated nutrient and pH management systems, advanced lighting solutions, and IoT-enabled smart farming practices. These innovations significantly boost productivity, optimize resource utilization, and reduce labor dependency, although with challenges like high initial capital investment, technical complexity, and energy demands. The paper examines case studies showcasing improvements in yield and resource efficiency while addressing scalability and energy limitations. Emerging technologies, including AI-driven analytics and off-grid power solutions, are identified as promising avenues to overcome these hurdles. By presenting actionable insights and emphasizing the importance of energy-efficient equipment and sustainable practices, this review underscores the potential of automation and robotics to transform hydroponic and aquaponic systems. Ultimately, this work supports global food security, environmental conservation, and the advancement of circular economy principles. Clinical Trial This research does not involve clinical trials.

This research presents a comprehensive experimental and computational analysis of ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) employing DFT alongside advanced characterization methods. The green synthesized ZnO NPs were subjected to analysis via FTIR spectroscopy for the identification of functional groups, HR-TEM for the evaluation of morphology, and XRD for the determination of their crystalline structure. The XRD analysis disclosed accurate lattice parameters, including a = 3.2497 Å, c = 5.2122 Å, bond lengths measuring 1.978 Å, and crystallite sizes determined to be 14.06 nm through Scherrer’s equation and 20.14 nm via the W–H method, all of which correspond to the acceptable range. The computational analyses revealed bond lengths of 1.966 Å and a band gap of 4.13 eV. The analysis of quantum chemical parameters, frontier molecular orbitals, density of states, and band structures derived from optimized ZnO NPs offers insights into their electronic properties at the nanoscale. The principal findings encompass a robust alignment between experimental and computational results, an increased band gap attributed to confinement, and strain-induced modifications to crystal characteristics, illustrating the collaborative potential of computational and experimental methodologies in optimizing the properties of ZnO NPs for advanced applications. Graphical Abstract

The advancement of nanotechnology and the growing demand for environmentally sustainable processes have fueled interest in green synthesis methods. In this research, copper-doped zinc oxide nanoparticles (Cu: ZnO NPs) were synthesized using a microwave-assisted approach, employing a bio-extract derived from Pistia Stratiotes (PS) leaves as a reducing agent. Comprehensive characterization through UV-Visible spectroscopy, PL, FTIR, SEM with EDS, TEM, DLS, XRD and XPS confirmed the formation, optical and structural features of the synthesized NPs. SEM and TEM images revealed spherical and nanorod-like morphologies, with particle sizes ranging from 15 nm to 65 nm and a tendency to agglomerate. Density Functional Theory (DFT) simulations using Quantum Espresso indicated a band gap narrowing to 3.0 eV after copper doping. Biologically, the Cu: ZnO NPs exhibited strong antibacterial activity against Candida albicans (16.3–17.5 mm), Staphylococcus aureus (18.4–21.5 mm), and Escherichia coli (19–21.6 mm). Additionally, the NPs showed promising anticancer potential against SK-MEL-28 melanoma cells, with an IC₅₀ value of 30.53 µg/mL. Overall, this research demonstrates an eco-friendly and efficient route for fabricating Cu: ZnO NPs with significant antimicrobial and anticancer properties, emphasizing their potential for future biomedical applications.

Electrical discharge machining is a thermo-physical-based material removal technique. 25 combinations of process variables were formulated with the aid of Taguchi technique for EDM of adsorbed Si₃N₄–TiN. Machining variables like pulse current, pulse-on time, pulse-off time, dielectric pressure, and spark gap voltage varied, and impact of each variables on the performance metrics (MRR, EWR, SR, ROC, θ, CIR, and CYL) was assessed. MCDM strategies like grey relational analysis and TOPSIS are utilized to find out the ideal arrangement of machining parameters to achieve most acute productivity of the multitude of reactions. Likewise, metaheuristic algorithm in particular GRA combined with teaching-learning-based optimization algorithm is utilized for getting global optimized input factors. Important factors like pulse current, pulse-on time, and spark gap voltage characteristically affect the outputs. It is recognized that the pulse-on time and the pulse current are the most significant input factors than others. The ideal machining parameters in view of GRA and TOPSIS techniques for acquiring better output factors are I, 12 amps; PON, 7 μsec; POFF, 4 μsec; DP, 12 kg/cm²; and SV, 36 volts.