Article
Chemistry, Physical
Gang Yuan, Yu Jiang, Xiao Wang, Jiaojiao Ma, Hao Ma, Xiang Wang, Mehmet Yagmurcukardes, Sheng Hu
Summary: Biological ion channels reject large ions and molecules and allow selective permeation of small species by controlling the channel size and interior. This study reports the permeation of ions and molecules through interlayer channels in graphene-based laminar membranes. The channel walls, decorated with amino groups, form hydrogen bond networks with water molecules, providing a stable laminate structure and controlled channel size. Insights from this work enhance the understanding of manipulating channel structures for improved separation performance at the nanoscale.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Gang Yuan, Yu Jiang, Xiao Wang, Jiaojiao Ma, Hao Ma, Xiang Wang, Mehmet Yagmurcukardes, Sheng Hu
Summary: Biological ion channels use sizes and residual groups to selectively permit small species, while rejecting large ions and molecules. This study demonstrates the permeation of ions and molecules through interlayer channels in graphene-based laminar membranes. The controlled channel size and stable structure are achieved through hydrogen bond networks formed between amino groups on channel walls and intercalated water molecules. The work provides insights into manipulating channel structures for enhanced separation performance at the nanoscale.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Zheng Wang, Junyong Zhu, Shuainan Xu, Yatao Zhang, Bart Van der Bruggen
Summary: A stable composite membrane was developed by utilizing Cu-TCPP nanosheets to stabilize GO membranes, resulting in significantly improved water permeance and remarkable solute retention.
JOURNAL OF MEMBRANE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Tong Wu, Zhe Wang, Yuexiang Lu, Shuang Liu, Hongpeng Li, Gang Ye, Jing Chen
Summary: This study achieved selective separation of uranium from acidic radioactive waste containing multication by precisely adjusting the interlayer spacing of graphene oxide (GO) membranes. The swelling of GO was restricted in highly acidic solution due to protonation effect, and the interlayer spacing was further reduced below the diameter of uranyl ion by increasing the oxidation degree of GO, allowing successful sieving of uranyl ions from other nuclide ions in pH=3-3 mol L-1 nitric acid solutions.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Imamdin Chandio, Farooque Ahmed Janjhi, Ayaz Ali Memon, Shahabuddin Memon, Zubair Ali, Khalid Hussain Thebo, Azhar Ali Ayaz Pirzado, Ayaz Ali Hakro, Waheed S. Khan
Summary: A class of GO-based composite membranes with large interlayer spacing was fabricated using serine amino acid as a cross-linker and reducing agent, which showed outstanding separation efficiency and high permeance for organic dyes and salts. The membranes exhibited good rejection for various substances and high stability in aqueous environment, indicating their potential application in water filtration and desalination.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Jing Guo, Hongfei Bao, Yanqiu Zhang, Xi Shen, Jang-Kyo Kim, Jun Ma, Lu Shao
Summary: This study demonstrates the impact of molecular intercalation on the structure of graphene oxide membranes, revealing significant effects of different-sized intercalants on stacking. By intercalating with optimal-sized molecules, a nanostructured GO membrane with superior robustness and ultrafast water permeance is achieved.
JOURNAL OF MEMBRANE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Shuai Wang, Shanshan Liang, Liang Chen, Haiping Fang
Summary: Graphene-based membranes have gained attention in desalination and water treatment due to their unique physical and chemical characteristics. However, the permeability-selectivity trade-off of graphene oxide membranes has limited their real-world applications. This study demonstrates the feasibility of small-flakes reduced graphene oxide membranes for nanofiltration, achieving higher water permeance and maintaining high rejection rates. The research sheds light on improving the performance and stability of graphene oxide-based membranes.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Shuo Li, Wenyu Wu, Huaxin Ma, Zhao Zhang, Yu Gu, Jingjie Zhang, Ruijun Zhang
Summary: A newly-developed strategy for preparing layer-tunable graphene has overcome the poor service life issue of graphene oxide (GO)-based membranes in water purification. The assembled graphene membrane with an average layer number of 3 exhibits a high rejection rate of 99.9% for Rhodamine B and a water flux of up to 3452.6 L m-2 h-1 bar-1, thanks to its unique hierarchically nanochannel structure. The membrane also demonstrates superior service performance with the rejection rate of RB maintained at 99.9% even after 24 cycles of filtrations.
APPLIED SURFACE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Zhi Yi Leong, Zhaojun Han, Guangzhao Wang, Dong-Sheng Li, Shengyuan A. Yang, Hui Ying Yang
Summary: The precise and selective separation of ions using 2D laminar membranes is a developing field with various potential applications. By applying an electric field across a GO-based membrane, ionic selectivity can be enhanced by altering the polarity or increasing the strength of the field. The effects of selectivity can be dynamically adjusted during ion removal by changing the strength of the applied electric field, leading to improved efficiency in removing ions.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY A
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Musen Chen, Maxim Trubyanov, Pengxiang Zhang, Qian Wang, Zelong Li, Kostya S. Novoselov, Daria Andreeva
Summary: Graphene oxide (GO) based multi-layered membranes have exceptional molecular-sieving properties for gas separation, especially for hydrogen decarbonization. However, the mechanism of gas permeation through two-dimensional GO membranes is very different from traditional polymeric membranes due to their multilayer, laminated nature. Understanding and measuring gas transport parameters, such as diffusivity and solubility, are crucial for the strategic design of novel membranes based on two-dimensional materials.
JOURNAL OF MEMBRANE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Yinjie Lv, Lei Dong, Lvyang Cheng, Tianyi Gao, Cong Wu, Xin Chen, Tao He, Yuanyuan Cui, Wei Liu
Summary: By intercalating graphene oxide membranes with selective crown ethers, precise tailoring of monovalent cation sieving technology with enhanced water throughput is achieved. The critical interlayer distance is found to maximize water flux without sacrificing ion selectivity. The intercalated membranes can separate various specific cations with remarkably high selectivity.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Tianqi Liu, Xin Zhang, Jing Liang, Wenbin Liang, Wei Qi, Longlong Tian, Lijuan Qian, Zhan Li, Ximeng Chen
Summary: The wrinkles on GO membranes were flattened using vortex shear, resulting in ultraflat membranes with improved stability and water flux. The method also enhanced the selectivity of the membranes. This study introduces a novel concept for membrane preparation methods.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Hadi Ahmadi, Mohammad Zakertabrizi, Ehsan Hosseini, Withita Cha-Umpong, Mojtaba Abdollahzadeh, Asghar Habibnejad Korayem, Vicki Chen, Ho Kyong Shon, Mohsen Asadnia, Amir Razmjou
Summary: This study introduces an approach to enhance the Li+ selectivity of 2D membranes by inducing asymmetry in the morphology and chemistry of their nanochannels. This approach allows for manipulation of cation hydration shells through a sudden change in nanochannel size and the addition of nucleophilic traps. The design results in a new ion transport mechanism called Energy Surge Baffle (ESB) that significantly enriches Li+ selectivity.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Jinglei Liu, Guizheng Zou, Shifeng Hou
Summary: A multi-effect separation membrane with GO nanosheets was fabricated using L-cysteine functionalized gold nanoparticles as scaffolds and spacers. The membrane showed stability due to the robust spacer provided by the gold nanoparticles. By controlling the pH, the membrane achieved controllable ultrahigh permeance for size sieving. Furthermore, the membrane exhibited high enantioselectivity for chiral separation.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Guozhen Liu, Yanan Guo, Cailing Chen, Yong Lu, Guining Chen, Gongping Liu, Yu Han, Wanqin Jin, Nanping Xu
Summary: A high-probability theoretical coordination strategy is proposed and demonstrated to eliminate lattice defects in metal-organic framework (MOF) membranes. This strategy increases the ratio of ligands to metal clusters, enabling the creation of high-connectivity MOF membranes with angstrom-sized lattice apertures. The resulting membranes exhibit high and stable separation performance for gases, water desalination, and an organic solvent azeotrope.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Shu Wang, Jieshu Qian, Bingliang Zhang, Lei Chen, Si Wei, Bingcai Pan
Summary: This study used suspect and nontarget screening techniques to identify organo-phosphate triesters and diesters (tri-OPEs and di-OPEs) in influent and effluent samples from 25 municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in China. A total of 33 different OPE molecules were identified, with 11 being detected in wastewater for the first time and 4 being new to the public. Di-OPEs accounted for a significant portion (53% on average) of the total OPEs in all tested samples. Most of the OPEs could not be eliminated after treatment in these WWTPs, and some di-OPEs even accumulated. The ecological risk analysis of OPEs in the effluent highlighted the previously unrecognized exposure risk of emerging OPEs for aquatic living organisms. These findings provide a comprehensive understanding of the environmental relevance of OPEs in WWTPs on a country scale and can guide the upgrade of treatment protocols and governmental regulations in the future.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jianghua Yang, Wenguang Huang, Wentao Zhang, Kunrui Wei, Bingcai Pan, Shujuan Zhang
Summary: Immobilization of enzymes within metal-organic frameworks can enhance their long-term usability, but it often leads to a trade-off between stability and activity. This study shows that the trade-off can be solved by controlling defects through competitive coordination. The biocomposites collected before recrystallization exhibit increased activity and enhanced stability.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Xiaoyang Li, Jiahang Liu, Ruolin Lv, Yingying Chu, Lu Lv, Junhe Lu, Weiming Zhang
Summary: In this study, a novel octahedral carbon -encapsulated zirconium oxide catalyst (ZrO2-C) was developed with large specific surface area, highly-dispersed sub-5 nm active sites, and strong metal-support interactions. The catalyst exhibited excellent performance for peroxymonosulfate activation, and a two-step catalytic mechanism was proposed. The study also demonstrated the high selectivity of the catalytic process towards electron-rich compounds, with only those organics with EHOMO values higher than ca.-6.52 eV being oxidized. Overall, this research provides mechanistic insights into the catalytic selectivity of Zr-based catalysts and advances their further application in Fenton-like systems.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Qianlin Huang, Puzhen Zhao, Lu Lv, Weiming Zhang, Bingcai Pan
Summary: In this study, monolithic MnO2-O-v/CF catalysts were fabricated by the in situ growth of CuFePBA over copper foam followed by a redox-etching route. The as-synthesized catalyst displayed superior low-temperature activity and robust durability for toluene elimination. The study provides new insights into the development of highly active monolithic catalysts for the low-temperature oxidation of VOCs.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Zhichao Yang, Yaodan Cui, Bingcai Pan, Joseph J. Pignatello
Summary: Improving the reactivity of Fe(III) for activating peroxymonosulfate is crucial for practical wastewater treatment. The complexes of Fe(III) with biodegradable picolinic acid (PICA) were found to significantly outperform other Fe(III) complexes in activating PMS. The key intermediate in the activation pathway was identified as PICA-FeIII-OOSO3-, and the relative contributions of different species depended on the structure of target compounds.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Zhendong Zhao, Mingzhu Hu, Tiantian Nie, Wenjun Zhou, Bingcai Pan, Baoshan Xing, Lizhong Zhu
Summary: Dual-atom catalysts (DACs) show great potential in various catalytic reactions, but the origin of their high activity and the mechanism behind the enhancement are still not well understood. In this study, FeCo-N/C dual-atom catalyst was compared with its single-atom counterparts in activating peroxymonosulfate (PMS) for pollutant abatement. It was found that the spin-state reconstruction on FeCo-N/C effectively improves the electronic structure of Fe and Co, leading to enhanced PMS activation efficiency and a remarkable boost in the Fenton-like reaction. The study provides a mechanistic understanding of the enhanced catalytic activity of DACs and expands their potential applications.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Daowen Wu, Mengyao Sun, Wenbin Zhang, Weiming Zhang
Summary: The surface properties and microstructure of graphene oxide (GO) membranes can be regulated to enhance nanofiltration performance. The surface hydrophilicity and zeta potential of GO membranes can be adjusted by alkaline treatment time, and the presence of tiny defects in GO sheets can increase the number of pores and decrease the length of water nanochannels. These adjustments enable GO membranes to exhibit fast and selective water permeation, demonstrating excellent nanofiltration performance.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Jiahang Liu, Xiaoyang Li, Yingying Chu, Ling Yuan, Ruolin Lv, Weiming Zhang
Summary: The Fe(III)/H2O2 system showed high efficiency in remediation of tetracycline (TC) in water, even faster than the Fe(II)/H2O2 system. TC also initiated the degradation of other refractory pollutants. Complexation between Fe(III) and TC was observed with a stoichiometric ratio of 1:1 and electron transfer from TC to Fe(III) resulted in the production of Fe(II), which served as the initiator of the Fenton reaction. The main reactive species was found to be .center dot OH, facilitating the hydroxylation of TC and the reductive transformation of Fe(III) to Fe(II).
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Ling Yuan, Rongming Xu, Hang Yu, Chenghan Ji, Lu Lv, Weiming Zhang
Summary: This study reports a rare 3D fluorinated pyrazinium-based cationic organic polymer (TBPM-Fpz) that can selectively remove hazardous and radioactive anions from nuclear wastewater at an ultrafast rate. The polymer exhibits fast sorption kinetics, high capacity, and excellent selectivity towards ReO4-. It also shows high removal efficiency in simulated high-level and low activity waste streams.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Yi Ren, Weiming Zhang, Longguo Li, Bo Lai
Summary: The integration of catalytic oxidation and ultrafiltration in multifunctional membranes shows promise for enhancing wastewater treatment. Various strategies for further improving these membranes have been developed recently. However, a comprehensive evaluation of multifunctional membranes and their strengthened variants compared to separate oxidation and ultrafiltration units using real industrial wastewater has not been conducted.
INDUSTRIAL & ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Hualun Li, Jiahao Pan, Yitao Ping, Jialun Su, Moling Fang, Tian Chen, Bingcai Pan, Zhenda Lu
Summary: In this study, a novel approach for selective Li-ion extraction from brine was presented using an LiMn2O4 ion sieve coated with a dense silica layer. The optimized LMO@SiO2 adsorbent demonstrated an exceptional Li+ adsorption capacity, making it a promising candidate for efficient Li+ extraction from brine or other low-concentration Li+ solutions in future applications.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Yuqian Jia, Chao Shan, Wanyi Fu, Si Wei, Bingcai Pan
Summary: This study investigated the occurrences and fates of 27 legacy and emerging PFASs in textile dyeing wastewater treatment plants. It was found that most conventional processes were inefficient in removing PFASs, especially legacy PFASs. Microbial processes could remove emerging PFASs to some extent but commonly elevated legacy PFAS concentrations. Reverse osmosis (RO) could remove over 90% of PFASs and enrich them into the RO concentrate.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Rongming Xu, Yuan Kang, Weiming Zhang, Bingcai Pan, Xiwang Zhang
Summary: Inspired by biological potassium ion channels, researchers have developed a biomimetic ion channel membrane using MXene nanosheets and EDTA molecules, which achieves efficient separation of ions. This membrane shows high ion permeability and selectivity, making it significant for sustainable water treatment, resource extraction, and energy storage.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Ling Yuan, Mujian Xu, Rongming Xu, Chenghan Ji, Hailun Yang, Hang Yu, Xiaoyang Li, Ming Hua, Lu Lv, Weiming Zhang
Summary: Elucidating the dominant adsorption species of FeCln-n is important for managing waste pickling liquor. Anion resin was found to have high adsorption for both FeCl4- and FeCl3 and FeCl3 was identified as a critical species in the adsorption process. Using FeCl3 instead of FeCl4- can reduce the concentration of hydrochloric acid and promote its reutilization.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2023)
