Article
Engineering, Chemical
Yuandong Jia, Kecheng Guan, Lei Zhang, Yuqing Lin, Qin Shen, Pengfei Zhang, Hideto Matsuyama
Summary: The study successfully deposited a hydrophilic alginate hydrogel onto a polyketone membrane, achieving underwater superoleophobicity and ultralow oil adhesion of the membrane. By optimizing the concentration of the alginate hydrogel, the membrane showed significantly improved separation efficiency for various oil-in-water emulsions.
JOURNAL OF MEMBRANE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Subin Oh, Junsik Bang, Hyoung-Joon Jin, Hyo Won Kwak
Summary: Currently, the majority of oil-water separation membranes are made of fluorine-based polymers with low surface energy. However, these materials are non-biodegradable and require a large amount of organic and toxic solvents in the manufacturing process. Therefore, there is increasing interest in developing a new eco-friendly oil-water separation membrane that does not cause secondary pollution and exhibits selective wettability characteristics.
ADVANCED FIBER MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Qi Zhong, Qing Sun, Bin Xiang, Peng Mu, Jian Li
Summary: Membrane technology greatly enhances the rapid collection of clean water from oily wastewater. A polyethylene glycol (PEG) grafted polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membrane (PPG membrane) with underwater superoleophobic properties was prepared through an environmentally friendly and energy-saving surface grafting method. The PPG membrane exhibited excellent oil-water separation performance, with a separation efficiency of up to 99.6% and a permeation flux of 1130 L m(-2) h(-1). It also showed remarkable mechanical and chemical stabilities, making it suitable for real-world applications in treating oily wastewater.
NEW JOURNAL OF CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Yuying Deng, Hengzhi Bian, Min Dai, Xie Liu, Changsheng Peng
Summary: Due to the small particle size, complex system and high degree of emulsification, traditional separation methods face difficulties in achieving effective oil-water emulsion separation. However, the rapid development of membrane separation technology has shown excellent separation performance. Yet, membrane stability and fouling remain prominent challenges, and the research on demulsification-separation process is insufficient, limiting the practical application of membrane separation technology. In this study, an underwater superoleophobic HKUST-1/PDA@SM membrane was developed using step-by-step deposition and secondary growth method. The membrane demonstrated outstanding anti-fouling performance with a flux recovery ratio of over 95%. It achieved selective separation of surfactant-free and surfactant-stabilized emulsions under gravity-driven conditions. Additionally, the membrane exhibited excellent mechanical stability, chemical stability, thermal stability, and recyclability. The analysis of membrane fouling mechanism revealed membrane pore blockage as the fundamental reason for fouling. Moreover, the migration-transformation of emulsifier in the separation process was proposed, and it was confirmed that most emulsifier entered the filtrate. The demulsification-separation mechanism of the membrane was discussed in detail. Overall, the HKUST-1/PDA@SM membrane with excellent stability and anti-fouling performance holds great potential for practical oil-water emulsion separation.
JOURNAL OF MEMBRANE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Tang Zhu, Chi Jiang, Junjie Wu, Mingliang Wang, Caizhen Zhu, Ning Zhao, Jian Xu
Summary: In this study, a PVDF microfiltration membrane was modified using an eco-friendly and low-cost mussel-inspired method for oil/water separation applications. The modified membrane exhibited excellent underwater superoleophobicity, high separation efficiency, exceptional antifouling properties, and stability in acid and alkali environments. The membrane showed potential for practical oily wastewater treatment with its unique combination of properties.
COLLOIDS AND SURFACES A-PHYSICOCHEMICAL AND ENGINEERING ASPECTS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Feng Shijie, Zhao Jiefeng, Gao Yunling, Yun Junxian
Summary: A superhydrophilic/underwater superoleophobic CaCO3@PDA@nylon nanocomposite membrane was prepared by a simple dip-coating method. The modified membrane showed highly efficient oil-in-water emulsion separation performance and demonstrated high permeation flux and good regeneration ability. The study provided a simple and environmentally friendly method for the separation of high oil concentration oil-in-water emulsions.
COLLOIDS AND SURFACES A-PHYSICOCHEMICAL AND ENGINEERING ASPECTS
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Feng Shijie, Zhao Jiefeng, Zhang Pengyu, Gao Yunling, Yun Junxian
Summary: Environmentally friendly membranes with high hydrophilicity and underwater superoleophobicity were prepared by co-depositing polydopamine and chitosan-tripolyphosphate nanoparticles onto a nylon membrane. The modified membrane exhibited excellent antifouling performance and could effectively separate oil-in-water emulsions of different particle sizes.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Wei Deng, Tianzhu Fan, Ying Li
Summary: The in situ biomineralization method was used to fabricate PVDF-TiO2 membranes with superhydrophilic and underwater superoleophobic properties, which showed excellent antifouling performance and high rejection of oil during crossflow filtration of oil-in-water emulsions. The superior performance of the membrane was attributed to the durable and super-wetting TiO2 coatings, as well as the relatively smooth surface structure that prevented oil trapping.
JOURNAL OF MEMBRANE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Fazli Wahid, Xiang-Jun Zhao, Yun-Xia Duan, Xue-Qing Zhao, Shi-Ru Jia, Cheng Zhong
Summary: The study developed a bacterial cellulose-based superhydrophilic/underwater superoleophobic membrane for efficient oil/water separation, with high separation efficiency and flux rate, along with anti-fouling, recyclability, and stability properties.
CARBOHYDRATE POLYMERS
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Bahri Turk, Omer Kazak, Gulizar Kurtoglu Akkaya, Ali Tor
Summary: This study introduced a novel, low-cost underwater superoleophobic membrane for efficient separation of oil-in-water emulsions. The membrane exhibited remarkable separation performance in various emulsions and showed stability in corrosive solutions. The use of waste red mud in membrane preparation presents an economical, practical, and environmentally-friendly option for industrial by-product reuse.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Qi Zhong, Guogui Shi, Qing Sun, Peng Mu, Jian Li
Summary: A composite polyvinyl alcohol-graphene oxide-titanium dioxide (PGT) membrane with rough structure was prepared through a simple hydrothermal and suction-filtration method, exhibiting outstanding underwater superoleophobicity even for high-adhesion crude oil. The membrane displayed efficient oil-in-water emulsions separation performance with high separation efficiency and permeation flux, as well as corrosion resistance and mechanical stability.
JOURNAL OF MEMBRANE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Yu-Ling Yang, Man-Man Li, Li-Jing Zhu, Gang Wang, Zhi-Xiang Zeng
Summary: This study successfully addressed the oil fouling issue of PVDF membranes by engineering a strong underwater superoleophobic surface. PVDF-g-PDMAEMA membranes were fabricated and their underwater superoleophobicity was enhanced through surface zwitterionicalization. The modified membranes exhibited excellent separation performance for oil/water emulsions and showed superior resistance to oil fouling.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Yi Zhou, Jihao Zuo, Ting Zhao, Zehao Chen, Min Chen, Shouping Xu, Jiang Cheng, Xiufang Wen, Pihui Pi
Summary: A superhydrophilic/underwater superoleophobic fabric with outstanding chemical and physical durability was successfully fabricated. It exhibited high separation efficiencies for surfactant-stabilized emulsions and could be reused effectively.
MATERIALS TODAY COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Maryam Aliabadi, Wilfried Konrad, Thomas Stegmaier, Yan Liu, Bin Zhan, Guoyong Wang, Cigdem Kaya, Goetz Gresser
Summary: In this contribution, we present a model of oil-water separation based on the movement of liquid droplets on cone-shaped structures inspired by spider silk. The forces acting on the droplets are derived from first principles of physics, and their directional movement in another liquid medium is thoroughly investigated and modeled. The resulting model predicts the droplet motion dependence on time and system defining parameters, which provides a possibility for the design and preparation of bionic structures in droplet transport phenomena.
SEPARATION AND PURIFICATION TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Zhixiang Cui, Jiaqi Zhou, Haoran Wang, Xiaolong Liu, Changxiong Gong, Qianting Wang, Sen Zeng, Junhui Si
Summary: In this study, a cellulose acetate/graphene nanofiber membrane evaporator with superior oil resistance was prepared by electrospinning. The evaporator exhibits high solar absorption, high porosity, and low thermal conductivity. It can efficiently purify oil-in-water emulsion and stably desalinate seawater, providing a feasible solution to the water resource shortage issue.
SOLAR ENERGY MATERIALS AND SOLAR CELLS
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Ting Shen, Hongxi Zeng, Zhiwei Chen, Shu-Rui Zhao, Hao-Cheng Yang, Weihua Li
Summary: In this study, a thermoreversible epoxy coating was developed by regulating the curing program, which exhibited a reversible solid-liquid transition during the heating-cooling cycle. Furthermore, a photothermal coating was fabricated by embedding carbon nanoparticles, enabling in situ repairing by near-infrared laser irradiation.
ACS APPLIED POLYMER MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Joan M. Montes de Oca, Johnson Dhanasekaran, Andres Cordoba, Seth B. Darling, Juan J. de Pablo
Summary: Janus nanopores show promise as ionic current rectifiers, with efficiency increasing as their diameter decreases, but little is known about the underlying transport processes under experimental conditions. Molecular simulations with explicit water and ions reveal previously unknown features, leading to a proposed model explaining ionic current rectification in Janus pores.
Article
Polymer Science
Zhao-Yu Ma, Yu-Ren Xue, Hao-Cheng Yang, Jian Wu, Zhi-Kang Xu
Summary: Surface and interface engineering plays a crucial role in tailoring the structures and properties of polymer membranes for sustainable development. This Perspective provides an overview of both conventional and emerging strategies in membrane surface engineering and discusses current trends in surface and interface engineering for porous and thin-film composite membranes, including the evolution from uniform functionalization to asymmetric performance construction and the regulation of interfacial polymerization.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Zijing Xia, Wen Chen, Rahul Shevate, Yuqin Wang, Feng Gao, Di Wang, Omar A. Kazi, Anil U. Mane, Sang Soo Lee, Jeffrey W. Elam, Seth B. Darling
Summary: Membranes integrating two-dimensional materials have unique ion transport properties and can be used for separation applications in both aqueous and nonaqueous systems. By tuning interlayer spacing and enhancing membrane stability, ion diffusivity can be controlled.
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Shao-Lin Wu, Feng Lu, Ran Deng, Lu-Na Quan, Hao-Cheng Yang, Zhi-Kang Xu
Summary: Researchers propose a novel solar-driven evaporator with thin-film composite architecture and large-pore sponge to tackle the challenge of purifying nano-sized and concentrated emulsions, achieving high-efficiency oil/water separation.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Andres Cordoba, Joan M. Montes de Oca, Johnson Dhanasekaran, Seth B. Darling, Juan J. de Pablo
Summary: Bipolar nanochannels with charged nanoparticles can significantly enhance current rectification, potentially providing new opportunities for designing nanopore membrane-nanoparticle systems for energy storage.
MOLECULAR SYSTEMS DESIGN & ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Natalia Alzate-Carvajal, Jaewoo Park, Ilhem Bargaoui, Ranjana Rautela, Zachary J. Comeau, Lukas Scarfe, Jean-Michel Menard, Seth B. Darling, Benoit H. Lessard, Adina Luican-Mayer
Summary: Real-time detection of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) using phthalocyanine (Pc)-functionalized graphene chemiresistors is studied. The VOC sensing performance is supported by theoretical predictions of Pc's interactions with VOCs. The impact of Pc functionalization and metalation on the gas sensing response is explored parametrically, and fingerprint signatures for different VOCs are established.
ACS APPLIED ELECTRONIC MATERIALS
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Hao-Cheng Yang, Feng Lu, Hao-Nan Li, Chao Zhang, Seth B. Darling, Zhi-Kang Xu
Summary: Solar-driven evaporation process has great potentials to recover clean water and resources sustainably from various sources. This review focuses on the unique roles of membranes in solar evaporator construction and design, discussing the design principles of membrane materials and devices for different processes. Photothermal membranes fabrication strategies are introduced and the pursuit of optimal performance and advanced functions are discussed. The future of this field, including challenges and opportunities, is also forecasted.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Yu Fang, Cheng-Ye Zhu, Hao-Cheng Yang, Chao Zhang, Zhi-Kang Xu
Summary: This study demonstrates the advantages of vacuum-assisted interfacial polymerization (VAIP) in fabricating polyimide nanofiltration membranes. By using vacuum filtration, aqueous solutions of PIP can be evenly distributed on different microfiltration substrates, leading to the fabrication of uniform and ultra-thin polyamide layers with excellent performance. The membranes exhibit high rejection rates and water permeance, as well as satisfactory long-term stability.
JOURNAL OF COLLOID AND INTERFACE SCIENCE
(2024)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Jin-Bo Li, Cheng-Ye Zhu, Bian-Bian Guo, Chang Liu, Chao Zhang, Jian Wu, Lin Zhang, Hao-Cheng Yang, Zhi-Kang Xu
Summary: Synthesizing ultrathin polyamide nanofilms through glycerol-regulated interfacial polymerization (IP) at the hexane-water/glycerol interface enables large-scale synthesis, defect-free transfer, and seamless compositing. The nanofilms exhibit ultrafast and robust nanofiltration performance when integrated using a facile and universal transfer printing method. The resulting sub-5 nm polyamide composite membrane demonstrates extraordinary water permeance and salt rejection, making it highly promising for practical separation scenarios.
JOURNAL OF MEMBRANE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Kai Li, Hao-Nan Li, Yu-Ren Xue, Hao-Cheng Yang, Chao Zhang, Zhi-Kang Xu
Summary: This study develops a photothermal Janus fabric that enables directional sweat-wicking and enhanced evaporation rate, suitable for high sweating rates during vigorous exercise. The fabric also helps maintain skin temperature within the normal range and exhibits excellent washing durability, ensuring prolonged performance and safety.
JOURNAL OF COLLOID AND INTERFACE SCIENCE
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jia-Hui Xin, Hong-Yu Fan, Bian-Bian Guo, Hao-Cheng Yang, Cheng-Ye Zhu, Chao Zhang, Zhi-Kang Xu
Summary: This review summarizes recent advances in tailoring interfacial polymerization using interfaces beyond the conventional alkane-water interface to achieve high-performance separation films with designed structures. Diverse liquid-liquid interfaces are introduced for synthesizing separation films by adding co-solvents into the organic phase and/or the aqueous phase, respectively, or by replacing one of the liquid phases with other solvents. Innovative liquid-gel and liquid-gas interfaces are then summarized for the synthesis of polymer thin films for separation. Novel strategies to form reaction interfaces, such as spray-coating, are also presented and discussed. In addition, the review discusses the details of how a physically or chemically patterned substrate affects interfacial polymerization. Finally, the potential of unconventional interfaces in interfacial polymerization is forecast with both challenges and opportunities.
CHEMICAL COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Ran Deng, Feng Lu, Yu-Tang Li, Hao-Cheng Yang, Jun Huang
Summary: In response to the pressing global water crisis, researchers have been exploring alternative sources and technologies to address this issue. This study focuses on harvesting atmospheric water from humid air as a promising solution. The research presents a strategy to enhance the absorption and desorption dynamics of moisture by utilizing capillary transport and enlarged interfaces in a photothermal wood enhancer. The results show significant improvements in moisture absorption rate and desorption efficiency, making this approach a potential method for moisture harvesting.
JOURNAL OF COLLOID AND INTERFACE SCIENCE
(2024)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Sabyasachi Das, Margaret G. O'Connell, Hui Xu, Roy Bernstein, Jae-Hong Kim, Kirti Sankhala, Tamar Segal-Peretz, Rahul Shevate, Wei Zhang, Xuechen Zhou, Seth B. Darling, Jennifer B. Dunn
Summary: This study reports the potential cost and energy savings of using fouling-resistant membranes in desalination and wastewater treatment. Increasing membrane lifetime has the greatest impact on reducing operating expenses, while energy consumption is less sensitive to the evaluated parameters.
ACS ES&T ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Hao-Nan Li, Hao-Cheng Yang, Cheng-Ye Zhu, Jian Wu, Andreas Greiner, Zhi-Kang Xu
Summary: A self-descaling Janus evaporator (SJE) with a moving interface and thermal responsiveness was developed for durable and efficient desalination of hypersaline water. The SJE exhibited reversible wettability transition under sunlight and self-descaling ability at night. This design achieved a high-efficiency water evaporation rate and long-term stability.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY A
(2022)