Article
Engineering, Chemical
Yuehua Zhang, Peng Xu, Xianfu Chen, Minghui Qiu, Yiqun Fan
Summary: In this study, a defect-free polyamide (PA) layer was directly prepared on a tubular alumina ceramic membrane to overcome the selectivity loss issue of thin-film composite (TFC) nanofiltration (NF) membranes in harsh conditions. The resulting organic-inorganic composite membrane exhibited high water permeance and good rejection to Na2SO4, as well as excellent compaction resistance and performance stability.
JOURNAL OF MEMBRANE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Ralph Rolly Gonzales, Noriaki Kato, Hiroki Awaji, Hideto Matsuyama
Summary: In this study, crosslinked polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) composite membranes were developed for organic solvent separation. The influence of PDMS molecular weight and crosslinking on membrane properties and performance was tested, and it was found that membranes prepared with lower molecular weights of PDMS showed lower permeability and higher separation coefficient. A correlation was observed between the separation coefficient and the difference of chi parameters between alcohol/PDMS and hexane/PDMS.
SEPARATION AND PURIFICATION TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Keng Siang Goh, Yunfeng Chen, Jeng Yi Chong, Tae Hyun Bae, Rong Wang
Summary: The study successfully developed a thin-film composite membrane with excellent performance and stability for pharmaceutical concentration and solvent recovery. The membrane, after cross-linking treatment and synthesis of thin-film composite through interfacial polymerization, was solvent-activated to enhance permeability. In experiments, the membrane showed good permeability and rejection rates for acetone and methyl red.
JOURNAL OF MEMBRANE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Jiahui Hu, Sushil Kumar, Rifan Hardian, Cong Yang, Gyorgy Szekely
Summary: In this study, polyamide and polyester thin-film composites (TFCs) and covalent organic frameworks (COFs) were fabricated as selective layers on a polyimide aerogel support for organic solvent nanofiltration (OSN) membranes. The polyimide aerogel support exhibited high stability and porosity, enabling high solvent flux. Both the experimental and predicted molecular weight cutoff (MWCO) values were obtained for the COFs and polyester TFC membranes. The operating temperature had minimal effect on the OSN performance.
SEPARATION AND PURIFICATION TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Jiahui Hu, Gergo Ignacz, Rifan Hardian, Gyorgy Szekely
Summary: This study focuses on the fabrication and characterization of a novel polytriazinane network polymer for TFC membranes. The membranes demonstrated high stability in organic solvents but were susceptible to acidic hydrolysis. A polyimide aerogel support was used in TFC fabrication to achieve high solvent permeance.
JOURNAL OF MEMBRANE SCIENCE
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Meiling Du, Li Chen, Hao Yang, Xinjuan Zeng, Yunfei Tan, Lichun Dong, Cailong Zhou
Summary: Organic solvent nanofiltration is an important separation technology, and thin film composite membranes play a crucial role in it. The separation performance of TFC membranes can be improved by optimizing the preparation process and selecting appropriate support materials.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Ruth Habte Hailemariam, June-Seok Choi, Bezawit A. Getachew, Mekdimu Mezemir Damtie, Hojung Rho, Kwang-Duck Park, Jonghun Lee, Yun Chul Woo
Summary: Nanofiltration (NF) and reverse osmosis (RO) membranes have shown promise in treating fluoridated brackish water. This study evaluated the performance of a self-fabricated membrane with acetone as a co-solvent for treating fluoridated brackish water. The addition of acetone improved water flux and fluoride rejection, and the acetone-added membrane outperformed commercial RO/NF membranes in terms of flux and rejection.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Izaz Ali Shah, Sharafat Ali, Zhe Yang, Ihsanullah Ihsanullah, Haiou Huang
Summary: Thin-film composite nanofiltration and reverse osmosis membranes are effective in removing pharmaceutically active compounds from water. The presence of organic fouling and co-existing ions significantly affect the rejection of these compounds.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Xuechen Zhou, Rahul Shevate, Dahong Huang, Tianchi Cao, Xin Shen, Shu Hu, Anil U. Mane, Jeffrey W. Elam, Jae-Hong Kim, Menachem Elimelech
Summary: This study demonstrates a molecular-level design of ceramic membranes with tunable subnanometer pores for precise molecular sieving. By burning off carbonaceous species in hybrid aluminum oxide films, the membranes show tunable molecular sieving and exceptional selectivity towards certain ions.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Chao Han, Qin Liu, Qing Xia, Yan Wang
Summary: A novel facile cyclization modification of PAN nanofiber substrate was proposed for the fabrication of TFC-OSN membrane, demonstrating high solvent permeance and resistance. The modified PAN nanofiber substrate supported TFC-OSN membrane exhibits potential industrial applications with good permeance and resistance in organic solvent systems.
JOURNAL OF MEMBRANE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Fadhilah Alduraiei, Priyanka Manchanda, Bruno Pulido, Gyorgy Szekely, Suzana P. Nunes
Summary: The study demonstrates that incorporating fluorinated monomers into polyamide membranes can significantly enhance their permeability and selectivity for nonpolar solvents, improving their hydrophobicity and permeance. By preparing thin-film composite membranes through reactions in organic and aqueous phases, high-performance membranes suitable for use in petroleum refining and pharmaceutical purification can be obtained.
SEPARATION AND PURIFICATION TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Cuijing Liu, Liang Cheng, Takuji Shintani, Hideto Matsuyama
Summary: The study introduces an organic solvent reverse osmosis (OSRO) membrane fabricated using Teflon polymer, AF2400, which efficiently separates polar and nonpolar organic liquids with high separation factor and acceptable flux.
JOURNAL OF MEMBRANE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Ruth Habte Hailemariam, June-Seck Choi, Mekdimu Mezemir Damtie, Hojung Rho, Kwang-Duck Park, Jonghun Lee, Yun Chul Woo
Summary: This study focused on improving the performance of polyamide thin film composite membranes through co-solvent-assisted interfacial polymerization. The results showed that adding co-solvent can enhance water flux performance of the membrane without sacrificing salt rejection. The study demonstrates the potential of CAIP membranes for brackish water desalination and water treatment.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Seungmin Lee, Taewon Kang, Jong Young Lee, Jiyu Park, Seoung Ho Choi, Jin-Yeong Yu, Serin Ok, Sang-Hee Park
Summary: This review paper focuses on the investigation of recently reported OSN thin-film composite (TFC) membranes, especially on the selective layer materials for non-polar solvents. Proper selection of monomers and additives for the selective layer can enhance microporosity, reduce transport resistance, and improve membrane performance. This paper could serve as a bridge to advance the development of next-generation OSN TFC membranes for non-polar solvents.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Ines Nulens, Rasheda Peters, Rhea Verbeke, Douglas M. Davenport, Cedric Van Goethem, Bart De Ketelaere, Peter Goos, Kumar Varoon Agrawal, Ivo F. J. Vankelecom
Summary: This study evaluates the influence of interfacial polymerization on the morphology and performance of polyamide thin film composite (TFC) membranes, considering varying monomer concentrations and organic phases with different physico-chemical characteristics. Two new descriptors, 'MPD supply' and 'TMC supply', are introduced to describe the synthesis-structure-performance relationship of polyamide TFC membranes. The study finds that well-performing membranes can be prepared until one of the monomers is added in excess, which depends on the interplay of MPD and TMC supply. The insights provided in this study can contribute to reducing the carbon footprint of reverse osmosis membrane synthesis and operation.
JOURNAL OF MEMBRANE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Yunfei Yu, Xue Yang, Chenchen Zhang, Jie Chen, Wei Lin, Jianqiang Meng
Summary: This study reports an environmentally friendly and simple approach for preparing double-network (DN) ion gel membranes with high strength and excellent gas separation performance. By optimizing crosslinking density, mass ratio, and the type and content of free ionic liquid, the mechanical and gas separation properties of the DN membrane are improved.
SEPARATION AND PURIFICATION TECHNOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Si-qi Jiang, Qiang Gao, Xi-guang Li, Chao-zhu Deng, Jun Qiu, Xiang-nan Zhu
Summary: A dual-strengthening pretreatment method is proposed to remove PVDF more efficiently and enhance the leaching of LiCoO2. Experimental results show that dual-strengthening pretreatment can effectively remove PVDF and significantly improve the leaching efficiency compared to single pretreatment methods.
SEPARATION AND PURIFICATION TECHNOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Zengchi Hu, Xiaoyu Wang, Xiaohui Zhang, Xue Li, Jiangbin Xia
Summary: The rapid fabrication of high-performance composite membranes based on CMPs using simple and low-cost methods is challenging. In this study, three CMPs-based composite membranes were rapidly fabricated with adjustable size using unidirectional diffusion synthesis. The microstructural design enhanced the rejection rates of the membranes and they showed strong hydrolytic resistance, thermal stability, and acid-base resistance. Electrostatic adsorption and the adjustable microstructures significantly varied the repellence of the membranes to different charged molecules.
SEPARATION AND PURIFICATION TECHNOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Farzaneh Rouhani, Matineh Ayedi, Nasser Safari
Summary: Introducing defects into porous metal-organic frameworks is important for improving their adsorption performance. Quasi-MOFs, an underutilized variant of large-scale, fundamentally deficient MOFs, have been found to have substantial amounts of unsaturated metal sites to offset the drawbacks of MOFs. In this study, a quasi-MOF was produced using a water-stable MOF and demonstrated significantly improved phosphate adsorption capability due to the presence of defect sites.
SEPARATION AND PURIFICATION TECHNOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Valentin Reungoat, Morad Chadni, Louis M. M. Mouterde, Fanny Brunissen, Florent Allais, Helene Ducatel, Irina Ioannou
Summary: This study focuses on the recovery of sinapic acid using liquid-liquid extraction assisted by a hollow fiber membrane contactor from an aqueous feed obtained through the hydrolysis of mustard bran. The screening of solvents of different chemical nature showed that all tested solvents had an extraction efficiency of more than 80% for pH < 5. Four solvents were selected for use in the hollow fiber membrane contactor, and the volatile solvents showed higher mass transfer coefficients compared to non-volatile solvents. The extraction efficiency was intensified by increasing the initial concentration of sinapic acid and the feed-to-solvent ratio. CPME was found to have optimal recovery efficiency at a phase ratio of 8:1, yielding 0.9 g of sinapic acid per liter of CPME used.
SEPARATION AND PURIFICATION TECHNOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Takahiro Sakamoto, Takafumi Hanada, Hayate Sato, Mayu Kamisono, Masahiro Goto
Summary: The emergence of the battery society has led to a high demand for battery metals, resulting in a strain on their supply. This study introduces a novel technique using a hydrophobic deep eutectic solvent (DES) for leaching and recovering battery metals from low-grade nickel laterite ores. The DES enables selective leaching and recovery of the metals, offering a promising pathway for the extraction of critical battery metals.
SEPARATION AND PURIFICATION TECHNOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Rongrong He, Jiarui Chen, Chunyao Zhang, Dan Lu, Lin Zhang, Tao He
Summary: Researcher has developed a method to quantify the charge density in nanofiltration (NF) membrane separation layer and applied it in NF membranes that can separate Mg2+ and Li+. The results showed that overcompensated amine groups played a major role, and there was a linear relationship between charge density and coating bi-layers or PAH layers.
SEPARATION AND PURIFICATION TECHNOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Zhijian Zhang, Min Chen, Zhe Lin, Zhichao Yang, Yafeng Du, Zhihui Chen, Zhenhao Yang, Kongyin Zhao, Ligang Lin
Summary: Membrane technology plays an important role in molecular/ion separation processes, but faces challenges such as membrane fouling. This study introduces a new ion-crosslinking method to fabricate copper alginate hydrogel membranes with improved mechanical strength and antimicrobial capabilities. The membranes exhibit excellent separation performance and enhanced long-term molecule/ion separation through improved anti-swelling properties. Molecular dynamics simulations and life cycle analysis highlight the pore structure and environmental friendliness of the hydrogel membranes. These findings provide valuable insights for developing sustainable hydrogel membranes with stable performance and high separation efficiency.
SEPARATION AND PURIFICATION TECHNOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Dongmei Liu, Aiying Guo, Yanling Qi, Zhixin Ji, Hongjuan Li, Zhiwei Zhang, Xinyue Zhang, Kunze Wu, Aijun Cai
Summary: In this study, a stable magnetic Mg/Mn-layered double oxide-doped biochar composite (MgMnLDO-MBC) was prepared and successfully used for the removal of antibiotics and bacteria from wastewater. The composite exhibited enhanced surface areas, adsorption sites, and free radicals, leading to improved catalytic activity. The effects of different factors on the removal efficiency were evaluated, and the composite showed good reusability.
SEPARATION AND PURIFICATION TECHNOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Feng Wang, Zhaoyong Bian, Yaru Zhang, Wenchao Yu, Qiang Zhang, Hui Wang
Summary: In this study, a nanofibrous layered structure of Ff-Ti3C2Tx-Co3O4 was prepared by self-assembling nanofibrous Co3O4 with lamellar fluorine-free MXene (Ff-Ti3C2Tx). The Ff-Ti3C2Tx-Co3O4 exhibited excellent catalytic activity for degradation, resistant to ionic interference, and maintained high removal efficiency of sulfamethoxazole (SMX) in municipal wastewater. The rapid SMX degradation involved fast electron transfer in redox cycles with PMS and the generation of 1O2 via PMS ->center dot O2 -> 1O2. This work provides new insights into antibiotic degradation mechanisms and electron transfer based on PMS activation.
SEPARATION AND PURIFICATION TECHNOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Weipeng He, Jiacheng Luo, Yujie Wu, Tianhao Luo, Chen Tang
Summary: This study comparatively evaluated the role of cationic, anionic, and nonionic polyacrylamides (PAMs) in ballasted flocculation of clay suspensions under different aluminum sulfate (AS) coagulant dosages. The selection of PAMs and AS dosage had a significant influence on the size and shear resistance of ballasted floc aggregates.
SEPARATION AND PURIFICATION TECHNOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Lixian Wang, Lizhi Zhao, Didi Si, Zhixin Li, Huiqin An, Hui Ye, Qingping Xin, Hong Li, Yuzhong Zhang
Summary: Metalloporphyrin-based nanozymes integrated with poly (vinylidene fluoride) membrane show high catalytic activity and reusability for the decolorization of Congo Red dye in continuous flow process.
SEPARATION AND PURIFICATION TECHNOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Yongfei Ma, Chenyu Zeng, Yongzhen Ding, Jiayi Tang, Ondrej Masek, Zhikang Deng, Rui Mu, Zulin Zhang
Summary: In this study, sludge-derived biochar (SBC) was functionalized with various iron salts to enhance its adsorption ability for sulfamethoxazole (SMX) and magnetic collection performance. Ball milling was further employed to treat the optimal iron salt functionalized SBC (MSBC), resulting in ball milled SBC (BMSBC) with improved adsorption performance for SMX. The dominant driving mechanism for SMX adsorption onto BMSBC was confirmed to be multiple physicochemical forces, including 7C-7C conjugation, pore filling, H-bonding, Fe-O complexation, and electrostatic interactions. BMSBC exhibited favorable adsorption ability for SMX in actual waters and could be easily collected within 1 min due to its magnetic sensitivity.
SEPARATION AND PURIFICATION TECHNOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Jinglin Tan, Xiaohui Mao, Wenjihao Hu, Hongbo Zeng
Summary: This study investigates the influence of PDMS chain architectures on surface properties and reveals that PDMS coatings with looped structures exhibit superior hydrophobicity, self-cleaning, and water sliding compared to coatings with linear structures. Additionally, both looped and linear PDMS coated stainless steel mesh/polyester fibers show efficient separation of oil/water mixture.
SEPARATION AND PURIFICATION TECHNOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Wei-Liang Chen, Chih-Chia Cheng, Chien-Hsing Lu, Jem-Kun Chen
Summary: This study designs a novel sandwich-structured capacitor that reduces the absorption time of pollutants using dielectrophoresis force. By coating graphene oxide on polystyrene microspheres as adsorbents and encapsulating them within the capacitor, the adsorption rate is significantly enhanced. Additionally, frequency manipulation allows for the recycling of adsorbents and concentration of dyes, minimizing secondary pollution.
SEPARATION AND PURIFICATION TECHNOLOGY
(2024)