Article
Engineering, Environmental
Phuoc-Dan Nguyen, Thi-Minh-Tam Le, Thi-Kim-Quyen Vo, Phuong-Thao Nguyen, Thi-Dieu-Hien Vo, Bao-Trong Dang, Nguyen-Thanh Son, Dinh Duc Nguyen, Xuan-Thanh Bui
Summary: The study investigated the combination of submerged membrane filtration and powdered activated carbon for nonylphenol ethoxylates removal, showing that the best removal efficiency was achieved under specific conditions. Removal efficiency varied over time, with a majority of organic carbon adsorbed into activated carbon.
WATER SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jingyi Sun, Zhonglin Chen, Shan Liu, Jing Kang, Binyuan Wang, Jimin Shen, Shengxin Zhao, Xueyan Li, Zilong Song, Zhe Wang
Summary: A novel carbon-cementitious microfiltration membrane (CCM) was fabricated to enhance the mechanical strength and stability of cementitious membrane (CM) during practical uses. The CCM exhibited better adsorption properties than CM in water treatment process, specifically for benzophenone-4, nitrobenzene, and p-chloronitrobenzene. These results expand the application scope of microfiltration membranes.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yajun Wang, Yanchao Xu, Siyong Zhang, Yanjuan Li, Wenlong Liu
Summary: This study thoroughly analyzed the effects of PAC dosage on the performance of PAC-MBRs in treating biochemical tailwater. The results showed that PAC addition enhanced the removal efficiency of MBRs, especially for total nitrogen. Furthermore, PAC application prolonged the duration of membranes by suppressing biological fouling.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Hua-Jun Feng, Long Chen, Xian-Bin Ying, Sheng-Song Yu, Yang-Cheng Ding
Summary: The effects of PAC with different redox properties on membrane fouling were investigated, and it was found that PAC with reductive properties could prolong the filtration cycle and enhance the anti-fouling performance mainly by reducing the content of extracellular polymer substances and soluble microbial products in the solution.
APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Sijia Yu, Jingwei Wang, Zhiping Zhao, Weiwei Cai
Summary: This study proposes a method that combines fluidized granular activated carbon (GAC) and PAC with the UF process to improve water treatment efficiency. The results show that fluidized GAC particles effectively remove PAC deposition and fouling. PAC improves the effluent quality by adsorbing humic acid-like substances, and the energy consumption of GAC fluidization is lower compared to conventional fouling control methods in UF. This integrated GAC-PAC-UF process is technically feasible and economically viable, potentially achieving high permeate quality and reducing membrane fouling.
SEPARATION AND PURIFICATION TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Jin Hyung Noh, Ji Won Park, Soohoon Choi, Sungpyo Kim, Sung Kyu Maeng
Summary: This study found that the addition of powdered activated carbon or calcium significantly reduced the formation potential of trihalomethane in hybrid membrane bioreactors, but high levels of trihalomethane exposure had toxic effects on zebrafish embryos and larvae, leading to behavioral and visual organ damage. Further research is needed to understand the mechanism behind trihalomethane toxicity.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Linda Li, Wayne Parker
Summary: The study assessed the performance of anaerobic membrane bioreactors (AnMBRs) at low temperatures commonly found in temperate climates (10-24 degrees C). It was found that as temperature decreased, COD removal and membrane fouling deteriorated. Addition of PAC reduced permeate VFA concentrations and mitigated membrane fouling at 10 degrees C.
WATER ENVIRONMENT RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Mohammad Reza Mehrnia, Fatemeh Nasiri, Fatemeh Pourasgharian Roudsari, Fatemeh Bahrami
Summary: This study investigated the utilization of powdered activated carbon (PAC) in the formation and performance of a self-forming dynamic membrane for wastewater treatment. The results showed that PAC helped in the formation of more uniform and permeable dynamic membranes, reducing biofouling. The optimal PAC concentration was found to be 4 g/L, with the highest effluent quality and the lowest biofouling. The short-term performance of the hybrid PAC-DMBR showed significant improvements in effluent quality. Thus, adopting hybrid PAC-DMBR has the potential to alleviate biofouling and reduce capital costs.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Jie Yang, Xuankun Li, Mingfei Wei, Jingyu Li, Guanghui Li, Yang Liu
Summary: A novel one-step chemical cleaning method using base-activated persulfate oxidation process was developed to solve the membrane fouling caused by natural organic matters (NOM). The permeate flux of SiC ceramic membranes dropped by 65% when used to filtrate river water. After cleaning with the developed method, the flux recovery rate nearly reached 100%.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING RESEARCH & DESIGN
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Xiao-Pin Guo, Peng Zang, Yong-Mei Li, Dong-Su Bi
Summary: The study successfully synthesized a TiO2/PAC photocatalyst for degrading 2-MIB in water, with removal efficiencies of 97.8% and 65.4% for TiO2/PAC and PAC respectively under UV light irradiation. The presence of NOMs affects the removal efficiency, and a simplified SEBC model can describe the competitive adsorption and photocatalytic processes. Novel composite photocatalysts show promise for efficiently removing MIB through a combination of adsorption and photocatalysis.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
J. Qian, P. Riede, G. Abbt-Braun, J. Parniske, S. Metzger, T. Morck
Summary: In this study, the efficacy of Powdered Activated Carbon (PAC)-Activated Sludge (AS) treatment in removing organic micropollutants (OMPs) was investigated through batch and pilot plant experiments. The results showed that the treatment was capable of achieving a high removal efficiency for nine OMPs. Additionally, intermittent dosage of PAC was found to stably remove OMPs, suggesting potential cost savings in terms of investment and maintenance.
JOURNAL OF WATER PROCESS ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Siying Xiang, Qinglian Wu, Weitong Ren, Wanqian Guo, Nanqi Ren
Summary: Caproate, which can be produced through microbial chain elongation, shows great potential as a carbon-neutral alternative to fossil-based products. However, its production performance needs improvement for industrial applications. This study found that the addition of powdered activated carbon (PAC) significantly enhanced the production, yield, and selectivity of caproate. PAC promoted ethanol oxidation and improved the efficiency of the reverse beta oxidation (RBO) pathway, leading to increased caproate synthesis. Additionally, PAC affected the microbial community, enriching caproate-producing bacteria and eliminating irrelevant ones. Metagenomic analysis revealed that PAC up-regulated key enzyme-encoding genes responsible for ethanol oxidation and RBO pathway, thus improving caproate production. This study provides insights into the mechanism of PAC promotion of caproate generation, laying the foundation for large-scale production of caproate.
CHINESE CHEMICAL LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Marina Gutierrez, Andrea Ghirardini, Michela Borghesi, Stefano Bonnini, Dragana Mutavdzic Pavlovic, Paola Verlicchi
Summary: This study analyzes the removal efficiencies of a large number of micropollutants in wastewater treated in a membrane bioreactor coupled with powdered activated carbon (PAC). The study discusses the influence of operational parameters and compound physico-chemical properties on the removal mechanisms. Statistical analysis suggests that micropollutant charge and LogD(ow) play the most important role in the removal mechanisms occurring in MBR coupled with PAC.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Tingting Zhang, Yanling Yang, Xing Li, Zhiwei Zhou, Bigui Wei
Summary: This study investigated the ultrasonic-thermal regeneration of powdered activated carbon (PAC) spent using 4-chlorophenol (4-CP). The ideal regeneration parameters were determined to be a 40 kHz frequency, 0.18 W/mL sonication power, 0.1 M NaOH and 50% (v/v) ethyl alcohol as the regeneration solution, and 1 g/L of saturated PAC mass with thermal regeneration as the second stage at 500 °C, desorbed for 30 min with a heating rate of 20 °C/min. The results showed that ultrasonic-thermal regenerated PAC had significantly increased oxygen functional group content, which positively affected the adsorption process of the regenerated PAC.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Jingyu Zhang, Sijia Yu, Jingwei Wang, Zhi-Ping Zhao, Weiwei Cai
Summary: In this study, a novel process combining powered carbon (PC) and fluidized granular activated carbon (GAC) with ultrafiltration was proposed to achieve high effluent quality and reduce membrane fouling. It was found that fluidized spherical GAC (RGAC) was highly effective in reducing fouling associated with biochar, and the overall fouling rate of the system was even lower than that of a system using powdered activated carbon (PAC). The RGAC-biochar-UF system achieved similar effluent quality but better permeability compared to the RGAC-PAC-UF system, with a 20% cost savings, making it a promising water treatment system for large-scale applications.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Arvin Sohrabi, Mousa Meratizaman, Shuli Liu
Summary: This paper simulates and discusses possible solutions to improve the economic and technical performances of a battery-less renewable energy-powered BWRO system under real climate conditions. The study finds that the photovoltaic-based system performs better in terms of specific energy consumption and unused energy ratio.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Chunlan Pan, Xiaoyin Hu, Vishal Goyal, Theyab R. Alsenani, Salem Alkhalaf, Tamim Alkhalifah, Fahad Alturise, Hamad Almujibah, H. Elhosiny Ali
Summary: This paper introduces a novel waste heat recovery method using the hot flue gas from a ship's engine to produce liquefied hydrogen while meeting the ship's air-conditioning requirement. A comprehensive feasibility assessment is conducted and an artificial neural network with a multiobjective grey wolf optimization method is used for optimization. The findings indicate the highest mean sensitivity index of the flash temperature and the best optimization scenario for exergy efficiency, CO2 emission reduction, and liquefied hydrogen cost.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Daniele Chinello, Jan Post, Louis C. P. M. de Smet
Summary: In this study, PVDF-based anion-exchange membranes were designed to selectively separate nitrate from chloride. Experimental data showed that increasing the concentration of PVDF enhanced nitrate transport but also increased the membrane electrical resistance. The selectivity of nitrate was found to be independent of the membrane thickness and mainly driven by the increased affinity between the anion and the membrane.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Umar Noor, Muhammad Fayyaz Farid, Ammara Sharif, Amna Saleem, Zubair Nabi, Muhammad Furqan Mughal, Kiran Abbas, Toheed Ahmed
Summary: Global water scarcity is increasing, and water desalination is an important solution. Multifunctional advanced materials, such as membrane materials and solar-driven desalination, play a crucial role in water desalination. Additionally, these materials can be used for water purification, wastewater treatment, and pollutant elimination.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Emrah Gumus
Summary: With growing global concerns about climate change and environmental impacts, the use of nuclear energy in naval vessels offers a cleaner and more efficient solution to reduce emissions and address water and energy supply challenges. This study explores a novel system that combines a nuclear-driven supercritical carbon dioxide power cycle with reverse osmosis cogeneration to meet the water and electricity demands in maritime operations, enhancing the sustainability, efficiency, and self-sufficiency of naval vessels. The results indicate that the system has the potential to be a viable and effective solution for naval operations.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Dao Thi Thanh Huyen, Saikat Sinha Ray, Young -Nam Kwon
Summary: This study focuses on the modification of a commercially available polyamide thin-film composite membrane with a zwitterionic material to enhance its fouling resistance. The modified membrane shows improved salt rejection and reduced permeability compared to the pristine membrane. Fouling tests demonstrate that the modified membrane has a lower fouling ratio and higher recovery ratio. The enhanced antifouling characteristics are attributed to the improved hydrophilicity resulting from the zwitterionic brushes and the salting-in effect.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Niklas Koeller, Lukas Mankertz, Selina Finger, Christian J. Linnartz, Matthias Wessling
Summary: This study presents a methodology to scale up Flow-electrode Capacitive Deionization (FCDI) technology from lab-scale to pilot-scale systems. By increasing membrane area and using a stacking approach, the FCDI modules were successfully scaled up and achieved a salt transfer rate comparable to lab-scale systems. This provides a foundation for future assessments of energy demand and economics.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Mona Gulied, Sifani Zavahir, Tasneem Elmakki, Hyunwoong Park, Guillermo Hijos Gago, Ho Kyong Shon, Dong Suk Han
Summary: This study introduces a novel hybrid system that combines direct contact membrane distillation (DCMD) and electrically switched ion exchange (ESIX) to facilitate seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) brine enrichment and selective lithium recovery.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Zhiqiang Zhang, Ruifeng Deng, Jiao Zhang, Lu She, Guangfeng Wei, Renyong Jia, Pengyu Xiang, Siqing Xia
Summary: A transmembrane electro-chemisorption system with authigenic acid and base was developed for enhancing ammonia recovery from strong ammonia wastewater. The system efficiently transformed ammonium into free ammonia, which was then adsorbed and recovered through transmembrane chemisorption. This system yielded pure (NH4)2SO4 product and produced valuable byproducts of pure hydrogen and oxygen. Higher applied voltage resulted in better ammonia recovery.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Alena Popova, Sandrine Boivin, Takuji Shintani, Takahiro Fujioka
Summary: This study aimed to produce a high-integrity RO membrane by forming a polyamide skin layer on a TE support layer, in order to enhance the integrity of the membrane and improve the microbiological safety of potable water reuse.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Sanjana Yagnambhatt, Saber Khanmohammadi, Jonathan Maisonneuve
Summary: This study investigates the concept of using heat to enhance reverse osmosis (RO) desalination. The effect of temperature on water permeate flux, specific energy, permeate quality, and applied operating pressures is evaluated using an analytical model. The results suggest that under specific conditions, the tradeoff between savings in mechanical pump work and thermal energy input in thermally-enhanced RO can be favorable, leading to overall energy savings.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Jiangju Si, Chenrui Xue, Shun Li, Linchao Yang, Weiwei Li, Jie Yang, Jihong Lan, Ningbo Sun
Summary: To meet the huge demand for lithium resources, there is an urgent need to develop a new efficient technology for lithium recovery from salt-lake brines. In this study, a selective membrane capacitive deionization system is reported, which achieves high lithium recovery capacity and rate through the use of materials with efficient intercalated pseudo-capacitance and a high specific area porous carbon. The use of a modified thin-coated membrane allows for selective Li+ recovery, and adjusting the concentrations of Li+ and Mg2+ in the feed solution enables higher Li+/Mg2+ selectivity.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Mohamed R. Salem, R. Y. Sakr, Ghazy M. R. Assassa, Omar A. Aly
Summary: This research proposes a new method of using wasted thermal energies as an additional heating source for solar still distillation units (SSDUs) to increase productivity and reduce pollution and global warming. By testing two SSDUs, the study shows that heating airflow can raise temperatures, enhance freshwater production, and improve system thermal efficiency.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Qimeng Sun, Miao Sun, Linyan Yang, Yuan Gao, Xinghai Zhou, Lihua Lyu, Chunyan Wei
Summary: This study presents an innovative design and fabrication of a fabric-based conical roll (FCR) evaporator, which enables low-temperature evaporation and achieves high evaporation efficiency with excellent thermal management ability. The evaporator has demonstrated advanced light-harvesting capability and can produce freshwater that meets drinking water standards, showing great potential for applications in desalination and sewage treatment.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Yidong Zhang, Wangfang Deng, Meiyan Wu, Chao Liu, Guang Yu, Qiu Cui, Pedram Fatehi, Chunlin Xu, Bin Li
Summary: In this study, a novel polydopamine-functionalized lignin-containing pulp foam evaporator with high-efficiency desalination and multi-contaminant adsorption capabilities was designed. The foam evaporator showed excellent light absorption, water absorption, thermal conductivity, and chelation abilities, allowing for solar evaporation and contaminant adsorption synergistically. It also exhibited potential applications in metal ion concentration and contaminated seawater treatments, and demonstrated superior biodegradability compared to poly-styrene foam. This foam material holds promise for developing multifunctional photo-thermal systems for solar-driven water purification.