Article
Engineering, Environmental
Bert Swart, Arto Pihlajamaki, Y. M. John Chew, Jannis Wenk
Summary: This study presents a batch flotation method to assess the removal of microplastics of different densities, sizes, and shapes. By using in-situ image analysis, particle shape, size, and concentration as well as particle-bubble interactions were measured and analyzed. The study provides important quantitative results on bubble-particle interaction for the selective removal of microplastics and presents a visualization method for tracking and characterizing micrometer-sized particles in solid-liquid-gas multiphase media.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Bert Swart, Y. M. John Chew, Jannis Wenk
Summary: Dissolved air flotation (DAF) is an important water treatment process for removing suspended solids. This study constructed a continuously operating lab scale DAF tank to simultaneously monitor the size distributions and motions of microbubbles and microplastic particles. The addition of salt greatly reduced the particle counts during flotation. This new approach provides critical insights into the variations in DAF performance.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING RESEARCH & DESIGN
(2023)
Review
Engineering, Chemical
Nalaka Rajapakse, Masoumeh Zargar, Tushar Sen, Mehdi Khiadani
Summary: Microbubble aided clarification is widely used in many industries due to its high efficiency and compact unit size. Dissolved air flotation (DAF) is the most common method for generating microbubbles. Various physicochemical parameters of the influent can have significant impacts on the performance of DAF units. This article reviews the effects of viscosity, salinity, temperature, pH, zeta potential, surface tension, solid content, particle size, and hydraulic loading rate on air dissolution, bubble size distribution, and bubble rise velocity. The findings provide important insights for the design and operation of DAF units to improve separation efficiencies.
SEPARATION AND PURIFICATION TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Keying Ma, Zeneng Sun, Yuanyuan Shao, Jesse Zhu
Summary: The bubble size and rise velocity were investigated in a pilot-scale bubble-induced three-phase inverse fluidized bed. The study found that the bubble size distribution is affected by bubble coalescence and breakup, and proposed a parameter to describe the distribution width. The average bubble size increases with the axial distance and gas velocity until reaching a relatively stable size. The radial distributions of the average bubble size are almost uniform but experience a decreasing trend near the column wall. The bubble rise velocity increases with the bubble size and gas velocity.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Bowen Han, Zeneng Sun, Jesse Zhu, Zhijie Fu, Xiangwei Kong, Shahzad Barghi
Summary: Gas bubbles in a two-dimensional gas-solid fluidized bed were identified and characterized using image processing. Bubble size and rise velocity were found to increase with distance from gas distributor and excess gas velocity. A new empirical correlation for estimating bubble diameter along the bed height was proposed and showed good agreement with experimental data.
CANADIAN JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Thomas Abadie, Sultan M. al Ma Awali, Brian Brennan, Ciprian Briciu-Burghina, Mohammad Tajparast, Thayse Marques Passos, John Durkan, Linda Holland, Jenny Lawler, Kieran Nolan, Brid Quilty, Lorna Fitzsimons, Fiona Regan, Yan Delaure
Summary: This study aims to improve the understanding of the effects of gas injection, bubble sizes, and contaminants on oxygen transfer in microbubble clouds. The study investigates the effects of gas injection on oxygen transfer, as well as the influence of contaminants on bubble size distribution and interfacial mass transfer. The study also compares oxygen transfer efficiencies in wastewater and aqueous solutions. The findings highlight the importance of understanding oxygen transfer in wastewater treatment under laboratory conditions.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Wuguang Chen, Guangyuan Huang, Yuanbiao Hu, Junlian Yin, Dezhong Wang
Summary: This paper develops a Continuous Spectrum Bubble Generator that enables continuous control of bubble sizes, decoupling them from gas superficial velocity. A new overlapping bubbles processing technique based on fast segmented arcs clustering is proposed. The results show high accuracy and sub-second response time for mean diameter measurements.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Nuclear Science & Technology
Ziqi Gong, Jiejin Cai, Bing Tan, Facheng Chen, Rining Deng
Summary: The study investigates the dynamic parameters of bubbles and water disturbance using PIV and numerical image post-processing techniques. The results show that rising bubbles are elliptical and larger bubbles are more stable, with water perturbation being more sensitive to bubble size.
PROGRESS IN NUCLEAR ENERGY
(2022)
Review
Chemistry, Physical
Pratik D. Desai, William B. Zimmerman
Summary: Microbubble dispersions are commonly used in industrial applications, and the wetting properties of microbubble generation devices have a significant influence on bubble size distribution. Recent studies have shown that wetting is an important factor in microbubble performance. It is recommended to assess the influence of wetting based on mechanisms/devices where wetting effects have been demonstrated.
CURRENT OPINION IN COLLOID & INTERFACE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Md. Tariqul Islam, Anh V. Nguyen, Asif Afzal
Summary: This study investigated the rise behavior of bubbles in shear-thinning liquid using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling and artificial neural network (ANN) modeling. The results showed that the concentration of xanthan gum and the liquid flow index had a significant impact on the dynamics of bubble rise. The Carreau-Yasuda model was found to provide more accurate predictions compared to the rheological power-law model.
JOURNAL OF THE TAIWAN INSTITUTE OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERS
(2022)
Article
Thermodynamics
Jinggang Zhang, Wei Zhao, Haihu Liu, Guang Xi
Summary: A hybrid lattice Boltzmann and finite difference method is presented to simulate two-phase flows with unequal densities and insoluble surfactants. The study investigates the effects of surfactants on bubble motion, deformation, and coalescence. The results show that surfactants retard bubble motion and deformation, but the effect decreases with increasing density ratio (Bond number). Furthermore, the presence of surfactants delays or promotes bubble coalescence depending on the Galilei number and radius ratios of the bubbles.
INTERNATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS IN HEAT AND MASS TRANSFER
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Zeneng Sun, Bowen Han, Tianzi Bai, Shahzad Barghi, Jesse Zhu
Summary: The study found that as the sand volume fraction increases, the minimum fluidization velocity decreases in two different binary particle systems. Bubble size and rise velocity increase along the bed height, with a linear correlation between the two.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Physics, Multidisciplinary
Tianzi Bai, Rogerio Manica, Bo Liu, Evert Klaseboer, Zhenghe Xu, Qingxia Liu
Summary: This study investigates the thin film drainage between a viscous oil drop and a mica surface, highlighting the effects of Laplace pressure and viscous normal stress. The research indicates that the drop viscosity plays a significant role in the drainage process, and proposes a mathematical model relating drop size and capillary numbers. These findings have implications for industrial systems involving highly viscous liquids.
PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Diego Mesa, Paulina Quintanilla, Francisco Reyes
Summary: This article presents an open-source software, Bubble Analyser, for processing bubble images and quantifying bubble size distribution. The software includes a standard image processing algorithm with less than 5% error in calculating the Sauter mean diameter. Additionally, it supports integration of new segmentation algorithms to expand its capabilities and foster research collaboration.
MINERALS ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Ai Wang, Mohammad Mainul Hoque, Roberto Moreno-Atanasio, Elham Doroodchi, Geoffrey Evans, Subhasish Mitra
Summary: This study reports the behavior of millimetric particle-laden bubbles under different surface loadings, observing the transition of bubble shape, particle detachment, and stability or expansion of the surface covered zone. It was found that bubble rise velocity decreased with bubble surface loading and the presence of surfactant mitigated this effect. The study also proposed a correction factor to the drag coefficient model accounting for bubble surface loading.
MINERALS ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Nurul Hainiza Abd-Razak, Arto Pihlajamaki, Tiina Virtanen, Y. M. John Chew, Michael R. Bird
Summary: Ultrafiltration of orange juice using RCA membranes of different MWCOs showed that changes in membrane surface charge and porosity affected membrane performance. Cleaning restored surface charges but also increased pore volume, impacting separation efficiency.
FOOD AND BIOPRODUCTS PROCESSING
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Tom Matko, John Chew, Jannis Wenk, Jian Chang, Jan Hofman
Summary: This study introduces a CFD model of an aerated wastewater treatment oxidation ditch, which considers gas-liquid flow, oxygen mass transfer and dissolved oxygen, and emphasizes the influence of bubble size distribution and biochemical oxygen demand distribution on dissolved oxygen distribution. Results show that BOD distribution and BSD are key parameters for accurately predicting DO distribution.
PROCESS SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
(2021)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Thais Tasso Guaraldo, Jannis Wenk, Davide Mattia
Summary: Photocatalytic zinc oxide foams were successfully produced using liquid templating and sintering, with optimized sintering conditions leading to improved photocatalytic activity for degrading micropollutants in water treatment under UV irradiation.
ADVANCED SUSTAINABLE SYSTEMS
(2021)
Article
Polymer Science
Hassan Alhweij, Ida Amura, Jannis Wenk, Emma Anna Carolina Emanuelsson, Salman Shahid
Summary: The S-PANI ultrafiltration membranes showed improved chlorine resistance and antifouling properties compared to PANI membranes and commercial PES membranes. Chemical cleaning with sodium hypochlorite restored the transport properties of the membranes to their initial state. Overall, the developed S-PANI membranes have high potential for a range of UF membrane applications.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED POLYMER SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Jonathan E. Barnard, Stuart Scott, Steve Tennison, Martin W. Smith, Michael W. Harral, Andrew D. Burrows, Semali Perera, Y. M. John Chew
Summary: This study introduces a computationally efficient numeric model based on a bi-linear driving force model to investigate the purification of gas streams in commercial fire escape masks. The model optimizes the dimensions and configuration of the filter for improved efficiency and reduced computational time, demonstrating significant accuracy. The success of this work represents a step change in FEM design and air purification devices, highlighting the importance of heat absorption in the process.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Jannis Wenk, Cornelia Graf, Michael Aeschbacher, Michael Sander, Silvio Canonica
Summary: This study found that dissolved organic matter (DOM) has an impact on the phototransformation kinetics of contaminants in water, with its inhibitory effect increasing as the pH value rises.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Polymer Science
Hassan Alhweij, Emma Anna Carolina Emanuelsson, Salman Shahid, Jannis Wenk
Summary: This study introduces a new strategy to tune the transport properties of cross-linked polyaniline (PANI) membranes for organic solvent nanofiltration (OSN) by incorporating different molecular weight organic acids. The results show that the membranes are stable during long-term dynamic crossflow filtration tests and exhibit good permeance and rejection properties. Compared to commercial polyimide membranes, the PANI membranes prepared using this technique are more stable in N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF). This work has significant importance in various industries such as food, pharmaceutical, and petrochemical.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Jakob Kaemmler, Garyfalia A. Zoumpouli, Joern Sellmann, Y. M. John Chew, Jannis Wenk, Mathias Ernst
Summary: Membrane ozonation using polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) membrane contactors was used to treat bromide-containing, high-color natural organic matter (NOM) in groundwater. The study investigated the correlation between dissolved ozone concentration, water color, ultraviolet light absorption, bromate formation and various process parameters. The results showed that ozone dose played a major role in balancing bromate formation and NOM color removal, and could be controlled by adjusting gas concentration, hydraulic retention time, and Hatta number (Ha).
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Bert Swart, Arto Pihlajamaki, Y. M. John Chew, Jannis Wenk
Summary: This study presents a batch flotation method to assess the removal of microplastics of different densities, sizes, and shapes. By using in-situ image analysis, particle shape, size, and concentration as well as particle-bubble interactions were measured and analyzed. The study provides important quantitative results on bubble-particle interaction for the selective removal of microplastics and presents a visualization method for tracking and characterizing micrometer-sized particles in solid-liquid-gas multiphase media.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Zachary Warren, Jannis Wenk, Davide Mattia
Summary: In this study, highly porous and mechanically stable ZnO foams, called MolFoams, were prepared by doping with Co, Ni, or Cu salts. The doped foams showed improved stability and reduced leaching of Zn2+ after irradiation, but with a decrease in photocatalytic activity. Doping introduced Co3O4, NiO, and Cu2O into the ZnO lattice, resulting in a reduced band gap and increased resistance to photocorrosion.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Stuart Scott, John Chew, Jonathan Barnard, Andrew Burrows, Martin Smith, Steven Tennison, Semali Perera
Summary: This study presents the manufacture of tailored carbon-based adsorbent structures with low-pressure drops and improved kinetics using stereolithographic 3D printing. The activated 3D printed carbon achieves high surface areas and exceptional adsorption capacities. These structures demonstrate excellent adsorption kinetics and offer potential applications in gas separation technologies.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Franciszek Bydalek, Gordon Webster, Ruth Barden, Andrew J. Weightman, Barbara Kasprzyk-Hordern, Jannis Wenk
Summary: This study investigated the establishment and changes in microplastic-associated biofilms and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) during a conventional wastewater treatment process. The results showed that the microbial diversity on microplastics increased with incubation time. Although the treatment process reduced pathogen and AMR load, microplastic-associated biofilms still harbored AMR genes and potential pathogens.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Mingyi Jia, Muhammad Usman Farid, Jehad A. Kharraz, Nallapaneni Manoj Kumar, Shauhrat S. Chopra, Am Jang, John Chew, Samir Kumar Khanal, Guanghao Chen, Alicia Kyoungjin
Summary: Since their discovery in 1994, nanobubbles have attracted increasing attention and have been studied for their properties in various environmental fields. However, disagreements in the literature have hindered their practical implementation. This review aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of recent progress in nanobubble research for water and wastewater treatment, including challenges and prospects.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Zachary Warren, Thais Tasso Guaraldo, Jannis Wenk, Davide Mattia
Summary: This study successfully synthesized self-supporting zinc oxide foam monoliths for the efficient degradation of the pharmaceutical compound carbamazepine in wastewater. The size of the foam's macropores, and thus the degradation efficiency, could be controlled by adjusting the concentration of CTAB in the gel formulation. The foam exhibited high mechanical and chemical stability, outperforming photocatalytic slurries and immobilized systems, indicating its potential application in wastewater treatment.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY A
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Carlos M. Lopez-Alled, Sang Jun Park, Dong Joon Lee, Lloyd C. Murfin, Gabriele Kociok-Kohn, Jodie L. Hann, Jannis Wenk, Tony D. James, Hwan Myung Kim, Simon E. Lewis
Summary: AzuFluor 435-DPA-Zn, a azulene fluorophore with two zinc(ii)-dipicolylamine receptor motifs, exhibits fluorescence enhancement in the presence of adenosine diphosphate. Selectivity for ADP over ATP, AMP and PPi is achieved through appropriate positioning of the receptor motifs, as an isomeric sensor cannot distinguish between ADP and ATP.
CHEMICAL COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Qing Han, Mengqing Shi, Linkai Han, Di Liu, Mingwei Tong, Yuxin Xie, Zhonghua Xiang
Summary: Developing highly efficient bifunctional oxygen electrocatalysts is crucial for zinc-air flow batteries. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and covalent organic polymers (COPs) have emerged as promising alternatives due to their designable and controllable atomic-level structures. However, their catalytic performances are limited by conductivity and catalytic activity. In this study, nanosheet FeNi-MOF and iron phthalocyanine rich COP hybrid materials are assembled through the pi-pi stacking effect to create highly efficient bifunctional electrocatalysts. The resulting catalyst exhibits superior catalytic performance and stability, making it a promising candidate for zinc-air flow batteries.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING SCIENCE
(2024)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Daria Grigorash, Dmytro Mihrin, Rene Wugt Larsen, Erling H. Stenby, Wei Yan
Summary: The article introduces a new approach to describe the cross-association between molecules, allowing for the simulation of weakly bound molecular complexes with different conformations in mixtures. By incorporating this approach into the equation of state, accurate predictions of vapor-liquid equilibrium and liquid-liquid equilibrium can be made. The new method is validated through experiments on alcohol and acid mixtures, with the results compared to experimental data, demonstrating its accuracy and reliability.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING SCIENCE
(2024)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Mohammed Al-Sharabi, Daniel Markl, Vincenzino Vivacqua, Prince Bawuah, Natalie Maclean, Andrew P. E. York, Axel Zeitler
Summary: This study used terahertz pulsed imaging to investigate the transport process of different solvents into ceramic catalytic materials. The results showed that the heating rate of the samples influenced the water transport rate, while the viscosity of 1-octanol slowed down its transport.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING SCIENCE
(2024)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Chukwunonso Anyaoku, Sati Bhattacharya, Rajarathinam Parthasarathy
Summary: This study aimed to enhance understanding of settling dynamics in viscoelastic fluids by developing a semi-empirical correlation and a dimensionless ratio, which accurately described the characteristics of settling suspensions.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING SCIENCE
(2024)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Antti I. Koponen, Janika Viitala, Atsushi Tanaka, Baranivignesh Prakash, Olli-Ville Laukkanen, Ari Jasberg
Summary: This study focuses on the development of foam application chemicals for the paper and board industry. The research explores the rheology of the polyvinyl alcohol foam used in the process. Measurements were conducted to determine the foam viscosity and slip flow. The results suggest that slip flow contributes significantly to the total flow rate, and the obtained viscosity and slip models provide a solid foundation for industrial processes.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING SCIENCE
(2024)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Dalei Sun, Jinghui Cai, Yating Yang, Zhiwu Liang
Summary: In this study, Fe-doped alpha-Bi2O3 catalysts with different Fe/Bi molar ratios were synthesized and utilized in the carbonylation of isobutyl amine with CO2. The results showed that Fe doping significantly enhanced the catalytic abilities of alpha-Bi2O3.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING SCIENCE
(2024)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Yuan Tian, Xinxin Wang, Yanrong Liu, Wenping Hu
Summary: This paper predicts the solubility of nitrogen gas in ionic liquids (ILs) using two quantitative structure-property relationship (QSPR) models. By combining machine learning methods and ionic fragments contribution method, the accuracy and reliability of the prediction models are improved.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING SCIENCE
(2024)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Liwang Wang, Wei Liu, Pan Yang, Yulong Chang, Xiaoxu Duan, Lingyu Xiao, Yaoming Hu, Jiwei Wu, Liang Ma, Hualin Wang
Summary: This study investigates the effective phase interfacial area (ae) of hydro-jet cyclones at different injection angles. The results show that a 45 degrees upward incidence angle yields the most favorable flow field characteristics for efficient mass transfer. The significant enhancement in ae of the hydro-jet cyclones offers the advantage of reducing equipment volume and cost savings.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING SCIENCE
(2024)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Chuanjun Wu, Jiangzhi Chen, Jiyue Sun, I-Ming Chou, Shenghua Mei, Juezhi Lin, Lei Jiang
Summary: In this study, the solubility of H2S hydrate in water was measured using Raman spectroscopy. The results showed that the solubility increases with temperature under certain equilibrium conditions, and the solubility also depends on pressure and temperature under different equilibrium conditions. A thermodynamic model based on the van der Waals-Platteeuw theory was developed to predict the solubility, demonstrating its accuracy.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING SCIENCE
(2024)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Lorenzo Brivio, Serena Meini, Mattia Sponchioni, Davide Moscatelli
Summary: This study investigates the influence of three main parameters and proposes a kinetic model to predict the optimal operating conditions for high yield of dimethyl terephthalate (DMT) in the chemical recycling process of polyethylene terephthalate (PET).
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING SCIENCE
(2024)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Hongju Lin, Fanhui Liao, Yanchang Chu, Mingyu Xie, Lun Pan, Yuanyuan Wang, Lijian Leng, Donghai Xu, Le Yang, Gangfeng Ouyang
Summary: A honeycomb NiCo/C-Na catalyst with a micro-meso-macroporous structure has been fabricated and shown to have significantly higher catalytic activity for the decarboxylation of fatty acids. It also proves to be efficient in upgrading sludge HTL bio-crude, resulting in a biofuel with decreased viscosity and increased density.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING SCIENCE
(2024)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Xiaoxian Li, Rui Li, Min Lin, Mingde Yang, Yulong Wu
Summary: A series of coated non-noble metal porous carbon catalysts were synthesized and applied to the aqueous-phase deoxygenation of algal bio-oil. One of the catalysts showed excellent deoxygenation selectivity and catalytic activity at 250 degrees C. The catalyst exhibited good hydrothermal stability and the reaction mechanism was proposed based on product analysis and active site analysis.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING SCIENCE
(2024)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
M. V. Chudakova, M. V. Popov, P. A. Korovchenko, E. O. Pentsak, A. R. Latypova, P. B. Kurmashov, A. A. Pimenov, E. A. Tsilimbaeva, I. S. Levin, A. G. Bannov, A. V. Kleymenov
Summary: A series of catalysts with different potassium contents were prepared using solution combustion synthesis and characterized using various techniques. The results showed that the potassium content affected the phase composition and texture of the catalysts. The addition of a small amount of potassium resulted in a change in particle size distribution, leading to higher hydrogen yield. The Ni-1%K2O/Al2O3 catalyst exhibited the highest hydrogen yield at temperatures of 675 and 750 degrees Celsius.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING SCIENCE
(2024)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Aliakbar Roosta, Nima Rezaei
Summary: In this study, we modified the electrolyte cubic plus association equation of state (e-CPA EoS) and integrated it with two electrical conductivity models to estimate the electrical conductivity of 11 monovalent electrolyte solutions in water. The modified e-CPA model demonstrated better performance and the hybridization with electrical conductivity models resulted in two predictive models for estimating the electrical conduction of dilute and concentrated electrolyte solutions. These predictive models showed relative average percentage deviations (AARD) of 11.15% and 13.87% over wide ranges of temperature and electrolyte concentration.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING SCIENCE
(2024)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Haoren Niu, Jianzheng Wang, Qingzhu Jia, Qiang Wang, Jin Zhao, Fangyou Yan
Summary: A study developed two quantitative structure-property relationship models for the complexation performance of alpha- and beta-cyclodextrins and validated their stability and predictive ability through internal and external validation. The models showed robustness and satisfactory performance, as demonstrated by the experimental results and model validations. These models can effectively predict the binding constants between cyclodextrins and various types of molecules, providing valuable tools for cyclodextrin design.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING SCIENCE
(2024)
