Article
Chemistry, Physical
Xiujia You, Liguo Shen, Ying Zhao, Die Ling Zhao, Jiaheng Teng, Hongjun Lin, Renjie Li, Yanchao Xu, Meijia Zhang
Summary: In order to understand the interfacial behaviors controlling membrane fouling, a new method was proposed to simulate the actual membrane surface morphology and quantify interfacial interactions. This method precisely mimics the real membrane surface in terms of roughness and shape, achieving a precise description of the interactions between sludge foulants and the real membrane surface. Application of this method confirmed the significant antifouling propensity of the modified PVDF-NZPs membrane, which is highly consistent with experimental findings, suggesting the high feasibility and reliability of the proposed method.
JOURNAL OF COLLOID AND INTERFACE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Xiang Cai, Zuobin Wang, Yuchun Qian, Anqi Wang, Yifeng Yang, Siqing Xia
Summary: This study investigates the fouling properties of cake and bulk sludge in an anammox membrane bioreactor. The analysis reveals differences in the physical and chemical properties between the two sludges, such as denser structure and higher protein content in cake sludge. Moreover, the study finds that cake sludge has looser protein structures and more hydrophobic components, which play a key role in cake layer formation. Additionally, the relative abundance of certain microbial species in cake sludge suggests a higher biofouling potential. Overall, this research contributes to the understanding of membrane fouling control in anammox MBR.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Chang Liu, Liang Zhu, Huixin Xiong, Mei Pan
Summary: The impacts of antiscalants on fouling potential of rough membranes in membrane distillation (MD) system were explored. The addition of antiscalants led to deteriorated organic fouling, and different antiscalants showed different effects on surface properties and flux decline. Application of DTPMPA as an antiscalant might be a feasible method for fouling mitigation in MD.
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Rui Wang, Hong You, Zhipeng Li, Binghan Xie, Shaojie Qi, Jing Zhu, Qiqing Qin, Han Wang, Jinxu Sun, Yi Ding, Yuhong Jia, Feng Liu
Summary: A novel electric field membrane bioreactor (EMBR) using reduced graphene oxide/polypyrrole ceramic membrane (rGO/PPy CM) was constructed and compared with MBRs. The EMBR (rGO/PPy) showed the highest pollutant removal rates and the lowest membrane fouling rate. Mechanisms such as reduced attraction energy and improved electrostatic repulsion were identified, providing new insights into the application of EMBR for mariculture wastewater treatment.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Siao Zhao, Yunhuan Chen, Guanxiao Wu, Jiapeng Li, Yongsheng Ren, Xiaoxiao Duan
Summary: The study found that strontium ions are the main component of membrane fouling during mine water treatment, impacting the interfacial thermodynamic interactions. The addition of calcium ions increases repulsive forces and energy barriers, helping to alleviate the degree of membrane fouling.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Bing Zhang, Heli Tang, Dongmei Huang, Jianhui Xiong, Mingliang Wang, Wenxin Shi, Yu Shen
Summary: The superficial air velocity (SAV) significantly influences the performance and membrane fouling of AGMBR. Experimental results showed that SAVs provided sufficient dissolved oxygen for efficient removal of organics and ammonium nitrogen. Higher SAV extended the lifespan of AGMBR, altered the content of foulants and microbial community structure. The cake layer with the highest porosity was observed at SAV of 2.6 cm/s, corresponding to the largest pore blocking fouling resistance and presence of fluorine on fouled membrane.
SEPARATION AND PURIFICATION TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Bowen Li, Liguo Shen, Ying Zhao, Wei Yu, Hongjun Lin, Cheng Chen, Yingbo Li, Qianqian Zeng
Summary: Efficient quantification of the interfacial interaction between foulants and rough membrane surfaces is crucial for mitigating adhesive membrane fouling. This study employed artificial intelligence visualization technology and a simplified thermodynamic calculation method using genetic algorithm back propagation artificial neural network (GABP ANN) to address this issue. The GABP ANN with 5 neurons showed reliable prediction performance in seconds, significantly faster than the advanced extended Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek (XDLVO) theory. The results demonstrated the feasibility of using GABP ANN for quantifying interfacial interaction in adhesive membrane fouling.
JOURNAL OF COLLOID AND INTERFACE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Bing Zhang, Jing Shen, Xin Mao, Bing Zhang, Yu Shen, Wenxin Shi
Summary: A novel membrane bioreactor (MBR) called ABGMBR was developed to improve pollutant removal and reduce membrane fouling. Compared to the control MBR (AGMBR), the ABGMBR system had higher pollutant removal rate and longer operation time. The ABGMBR system effectively reduced the content of pollutants on the membrane, resulting in the formation of a porous and loose cake layer and a slow increase in transmembrane pressure. The extended Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek theory suggested that the aggregation and adhesion of foulants on the membrane were greatly inhibited in ABGMBR.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Weilong Song, Dong Xu, Xuan Yang, Jian Li, Pin Zhao, Xinhua Wang, How Yong Ng
Summary: Zwitterionic surface engineering was employed to improve the antifouling ability of hollow-fiber membranes. A flow-through coating method using zwitterionic organosilica material was used to introduce zwitterions onto the membrane, which was then incorporated into a membrane bioreactor (MBR) to demonstrate enhanced fouling control. The zwitterion-coated membrane showed superior fouling resistance in the MBR, with improved critical flux, extended fouling cycle, and higher resistance to key foulants such as extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) and soluble microbial polymer (SMP). The interfacial free energy analysis revealed that zwitterions altered the interfacial interaction between the membrane and the fouling substances, leading to elevated energy barrier for foulants attachment.
JOURNAL OF MEMBRANE SCIENCE
(2023)
Review
Engineering, Environmental
Jiaheng Teng, Ying Deng, Xiaoni Zhou, Wenfa Yang, Zhengyi Huang, Hanmin Zhang, Meijia Zhang, Hongjun Lin
Summary: Membrane technology is considered promising for wastewater treatment and reclamation. However, membrane fouling poses a significant challenge. Recent advances in thermodynamics have shed light on the mechanisms of membrane fouling, benefiting the development of fouling mitigation strategies and anti-fouling membranes. This review provides a comprehensive assessment of the importance of thermodynamics, a critical review of quantitative methods and factors, and a discussion on potential applications and future research prospects.
FRONTIERS OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Peng Tang, Baicang Liu, Wancen Xie, Panpan Wang, Qiping He, Jin Bao, Yongli Zhang, Zhenghua Zhang, Jing Li, Jun Ma
Summary: The study demonstrates that Fe(VI) pretreatment can significantly reduce membrane fouling in treating SGW with UF membrane, improving effluent quality mainly by oxidizing organic matters and enhancing the interaction forces between membrane and foulants.
JOURNAL OF MEMBRANE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Haiyang He, Yulei Liu, Lu Wang, Wei Qiu, Dong Li, Zhicen Liu, Jun Ma
Summary: This study discovered that the cheap NaClO reagent can improve the performance of ferrate(VI) pretreatment, establishing the Fe(VI)/NaClO (FC) process. The optimization of 20 μM Fe(VI)/4 μM NaClO [FC (5:1)] increased J/J0 to 0.491 at the end of cycle 1 filtration. Additionally, FC (5:1) reduced reversible and irreversible membrane fouling resistance by 50% and 56% respectively. The rejection ratio of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) increased from 27.18% in Fe(VI) group to 40.34% in FC (5:1). Rating: 8.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Xin Tong, Xue-Hao Zhao, Yin-Hu Wu, Yuan Bai, Nozomu Ikuno, Kazuki Ishii, Hong-Ying Hu
Summary: This study found that the molecular structure rather than molecular weight of polysaccharides influenced the fouling behavior of reverse osmosis membranes. Branched-chain polysaccharides were more likely to cause severe membrane fouling and form thicker foulant layers on membrane surfaces compared to straight-chain polysaccharides. Additionally, the presence of Ca2+ had a significant impact on the fouling behavior of straight-chain acid polysaccharides but not on branched-chain polysaccharides or neutral polysaccharides.
JOURNAL OF MEMBRANE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yuqi Sun, Runze Zhang, Chunyi Sun, Zhipeng Liu, Jian Zhang, Shuang Liang, Xia Wang
Summary: This study investigates the impact of solution chemistry on polyethersulfone (PES) ultrafiltration (UF) membrane fouling caused by a mixture of silica nanoparticles (SiO2 NPs) and natural organic matter (NOM). The extended Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek (xDLVO) theory is used to quantitatively evaluate the membrane fouling mechanisms, including Lifshitz-van der Waals (LW), electrostatic (EL), and acid-base (AB) interactions. The results show that membrane fouling increases with decreasing pH, increasing ionic strength, and increasing calcium concentration. The attractive AB interaction is identified as the major fouling mechanism.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Amir Hossein Nikoo, M. Reza Malayeri
Summary: This study investigated the impact of water injection on oil recovery efficiency, revealing the promoting effect of high salinity on gypsum scale formation. It also demonstrated that different subcomponents of rock surface energy have varying influences on scale formation.
COLLOIDS AND SURFACES A-PHYSICOCHEMICAL AND ENGINEERING ASPECTS
(2021)
Review
Engineering, Environmental
Mingzhu Zhou, Junjie Chen, Shuning Yu, Binghong Chen, Cheng Chen, Liguo Shen, Bisheng Li, Hongjun Lin
Summary: This paper introduces a PS-activation catalysis-membrane system (PACMS) for wastewater treatment, including homogeneous and heterogeneous systems. The activation methods and mechanisms of PS in PACMS are discussed, and various preparation strategies of catalytic membrane are summarized. The applications of PACMS in wastewater treatment are highlighted.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Hui Zou, Jiahui Huang, Meijia Zhang, Hongjun Lin, Jiaheng Teng, Zhengyi Huang
Summary: This study demonstrates that the addition of magnesium ions (Mg2+) can significantly reduce protein fouling on membranes, and an optimal concentration of Mg2+ exists for achieving the lowest fouling. This is attributed to the hydration repulsion effect of Mg2+ and the conformational change of protein molecules.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Xi-Lin Wu, Shiang Liu, Yu Li, Minjia Yan, Hongjun Lin, Jianrong Chen, Shoujie Liu, Shaobin Wang, Xiaoguang Duan
Summary: By constructing a core-shell Z-scheme heterojunction of semiconductor@single-atom catalysts, the photooxidation and Fenton-like reactions were significantly enhanced, leading to rapid degradation of various microcontaminants in water.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yansha Zeng, Zhe Wang, Zhenxiang Pan, Liguo Shen, Jiaheng Teng, Hongjun Lin, Jianzhen Zhang
Summary: This study investigated the combined effects of polymeric aluminum chloride (PAC) and polyacrylamide (PAM) on sludge dewatering, aiming to uncover the underlying mechanisms. The co-conditioning of 15 mg g-1 PAC and 1 mg g-1 PAM achieved optimal dewatering performance, significantly reducing the specific filtration resistance (SFR) of the co-conditioned sludge. The findings provide insights into the improved dewatering performance and the thermodynamic mechanisms of sludge dewatering with different chemical conditioning.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Bowen Li, Liguo Shen, Ying Zhao, Wei Yu, Hongjun Lin, Cheng Chen, Yingbo Li, Qianqian Zeng
Summary: Efficient quantification of the interfacial interaction between foulants and rough membrane surfaces is crucial for mitigating adhesive membrane fouling. This study employed artificial intelligence visualization technology and a simplified thermodynamic calculation method using genetic algorithm back propagation artificial neural network (GABP ANN) to address this issue. The GABP ANN with 5 neurons showed reliable prediction performance in seconds, significantly faster than the advanced extended Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek (XDLVO) theory. The results demonstrated the feasibility of using GABP ANN for quantifying interfacial interaction in adhesive membrane fouling.
JOURNAL OF COLLOID AND INTERFACE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Jiayu Zhang, Lin Yue, Zhihao Zeng, Chunran Zhao, Linjiang Fang, Xin Hu, Hongjun Lin, Leihong Zhao, Yiming He
Summary: The photocatalytic N2 immobilization performance of NaNbO3 is enhanced via oxygen vacancy introduction and Pt loading. The Pt-loaded NaNbO3 with rich oxygen defects (Pt/O-NaNbO3) is synthesized by combining ion-exchange and photodeposition methods. The introduction of oxygen defects greatly affects the energy band structure, resulting in higher photoactivity and NH3 production rate compared to O-NaNbO3 and NaNbO3. The loaded Pt nanoparticles further increase surface charge separation, contributing to the increased photocatalytic activity.
JOURNAL OF COLLOID AND INTERFACE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Xinru Zhou, Shusheng Zhang, Rui Wang, Zijing An, Faqian Sun, Chaofeng Shen, Hongjun Lin, Xiaomei Su
Summary: The study found that Rpf of Micrococcus luteus can resuscitate and stimulate the growth of PCB-degrading bacterial populations, thereby improving the bioremediation efficiency of PCBs. Soil microcosms amended with Rpf and LS1 degraded PCBs 1.1-3.2 times faster than control microcosms. The degradation process mainly occurred through the HOPDA-benzoate-catechol/protocatechuate pathways. These results suggest that Rpf and resuscitated strains serve as effective additives and bio-inoculants for enhanced bioremediation, providing new approaches for large-scale applications of in situ bioremediation.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Yijing Hu, Zhihao Chen, Yidan Ding, Yanchao Xu, Hongjun Lin, Wei Yu, Jiaheng Teng, Liguo Shen, Yang Jiao, Bao-Qiang Liao
Summary: The traditional layer-by-layer (LBL) self-assembly method used for preparing nanofiltration (NF) membranes often has low permeability due to the restricted free volume of the selective layer. In this study, a green and straightforward aqueous immersion method was used to form a coating of plant polyphenol tannic acid (TA) on the substrate surface, addressing the low permeability and rigorous chemical treatment issues. By utilizing this method, an NF membrane with ultrahigh pure water permeance and excellent rejection performance was achieved.
SEPARATION AND PURIFICATION TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Binghong Chen, Jing Wang, Renjie Li, Hongjun Lin, Bisheng Li, Liguo Shen, Yanchao Xu, Meijia Zhang
Summary: The integration of sulfate radicals-based advanced oxidation processes (SR-AOPs) with separation membranes has attracted significant attention due to its ability to remove persistent toxic micropollutants in a low-energy and cost-effective manner. However, the fabrication of an integrated membrane with excellent self-cleaning property, catalytic capability, and long-term durability remains a challenge. In this study, CoFe2O4 (CFO) and Mn3O4 (MO) nanoparticles were successfully anchored on ultrathin graphitic carbon nitride (UCN) nanosheets to prepare heterogeneous Fenton-like catalysts (MO/CFOUCN), which were then used to fabricate an integrated MO/CFO/UCN@P membrane. The membrane exhibited high removal rates and permeation flux driven solely by gravity.
SEPARATION AND PURIFICATION TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Mingming Zhang, Cui Lai, Fuhang Xu, Danlian Huang, Tianjue Hu, Bisheng Li, Dengsheng Ma, Shiyu Liu, Yukui Fu, Ling Li, Lin Tang, Liang Chen
Summary: In this study, single Fe atoms were successfully immobilized on Fe-SA/CN, which exhibited high efficiency in generating hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) through oxalic acid and O2 activation. Under visible light, the H2O2 concentration generated by Fe-SA/CN reached 40.19 mM g(-1) h(-1), which was 10.44 times higher than that of g-C3N4. This enhancement can be attributed to the formation of metal-organic complexes and rapid electron transfer. Furthermore, the O2 activation capacity of Fe-SA/CN was found to be higher than that of g-C3N4, facilitating H2O2 formation. Density functional theory calculations revealed that O2 was chemically adsorbed on Fe atomic sites, promoting O2 adsorption and activation. The photocatalytic mechanism of SACs-catalyzed H2O2 generation was also elucidated, providing a deeper understanding of this process.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Mingyue Dong, Jieyu Wang, Yingying Liu, Qianfeng He, Hongjie Sun, Zeqiong Xu, Huachang Hong, Hongjun Lin, Peng Gao
Summary: This study investigated the neurotoxic effects of 3-bromocarbazole, an emerging contaminant, on zebrafish embryos, and provided valuable insights for health and ecological risk assessments.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Lei Han, Jing Ma, Hongjun Lin, Cheng Chen, Jiaheng Teng, Bisheng Li, Dieling Zhao, Yanchao Xu, Wei Yu, Liguo Shen
Summary: The recycling of wastewater with multiple pollutants is an urgent issue, and gravity-driven membrane separation with metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) as membrane modifications has shown great potential. In this study, a novel Ni-MOF membrane was prepared by synthesizing flower-like nickel-based MOF particles and assembling them on a nylon membrane. The Ni-MOF membrane exhibited superhydrophilic and underwater superoleophobic properties, and demonstrated significantly improved rejection rates for various dye solutions, oil-water emulsion, and microplastic wastewater, while maintaining long-term stability. These findings highlight the broad application prospects of Ni-MOF membranes in wastewater treatment.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Zhiwen Li, Shuilian Peng, Wentian Zhang, Jianzhen Zhang, Yang Jiao, Renjie Li, Liguo Shen, Hongjun Lin, Yanchao Xu
Summary: A high performing polyamide (PA) nanofiltration (NF) membrane was successfully fabricated by regulating the role of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) to overcome the permeability-selectivity trade-off challenge. The study showed that PVP, contrary to the traditional view, can impact the interfacial polymerization (IP) process and result in a thinner PA layer with a higher cross-linking degree and a more uniform pore structure. Molecular dynamic simulations revealed that the interaction between PVP and piperazine (PIP) slowed down the diffusion of PIP, leading to a PA layer with a uniform pore size distribution and reduced thickness. By adjusting the concentrations of PVP and PIP, a PA membrane with high permeability and rejection rate was obtained.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Ning Kong, Liguo Shen, Qianqian Zeng, Cheng Chen, Jiaheng Teng, Yanchao Xu, Leihong Zhao, Hongjun Lin
Summary: A novel approach involving the synthesis of ultra-thin MXene and ferroferric oxide doped molybdenum disulfide (FM) was developed to improve the performance of MXene membranes for oil separation. The resulting membranes showed enhanced interface hydrophilicity, increased surface roughness, and improved permeability, leading to high water flux and efficient oil separation.
JOURNAL OF MEMBRANE SCIENCE
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Cheng Chen, Lingya Fei, Boya Wang, Jiujing Xu, Bisheng Li, Liguo Shen, Hongjun Lin
Summary: Photocatalytic membranes integrate membrane separation and photocatalytic degradation processes to provide an eco-friendly solution for efficient water purification. Highly efficient photocatalytic membranes driven by visible light, such as metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), have great potential in the construction of high-performance photocatalytic membranes. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of recent advancements in MOF-based photocatalytic membranes, including tailoring strategies, fabrication methods, applications, mechanisms, challenges, and future directions.
