Article
Materials Science, Ceramics
Hatice Ilhan, Gamze Belkis Durmaz Cayci, Erkan Aksoy, Halide Diker, Canan Varlikli
Summary: Graphene oxide (GO), amine-modified graphene oxide (mGO), and N-TiO2 composites were prepared by low-temperature hydrothermal method for photocatalytic degradation of Rhodamine B. The non-sensitized films showed significant enhancement in photocatalytic activity under direct sunlight, while PTE-sensitized catalyst films exhibited more than two folds of increase in rate constants under Xe lamp irradiation.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF APPLIED CERAMIC TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Xia Li, Huimin Hao, Xianjun Lang
Summary: Through molecular inverse design, researchers have revealed the underlying mechanism of the superior photocatalytic activity of alizarin red S-TiO2 assembly, showing that the substituted -OH groups provide visible light absorption and binding sites, 1,2-DHA plays a major role in photocatalytic activity, and the -SO3 Na+ groups increase the binding strength. The study indicates that this dye-semiconductor assembly can be used for green light-induced selective oxidation reactions.
JOURNAL OF COLLOID AND INTERFACE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Weichao Li, Liexing Zhou, Linkun Xie, Kunyong Kang, Juan Xu, Xijuan Chai
Summary: The study successfully fabricated a composite material consisting of g-C3N4 nanolayer/N, Gd, and Fe co-doped TiO2, and demonstrated that adjusting the amount of g-C3N4 nanosheets can enhance the photocatalytic performance of the composites.
ADVANCED COMPOSITES AND HYBRID MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Moumita Chandra, Utsab Guharoy, Debabrata Pradhan
Summary: The present research focuses on improving the efficiency and sustainability of solar-to-chemical energy conversion. By utilizing nanostructured materials, the water splitting technology has been revolutionized to produce decoupled hydrogen and value-added organic chemicals simultaneously. Through theoretical modeling and experimental verification, a non-noble metal-based catalyst has been demonstrated to exhibit high efficiency in successful redox reactions.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2022)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Xiaoyan Liu, Baoyan Fan, Zhenhui Wang, Zhiang Guo, Bo Tang, Siyi Lv, An Xing, Jun Zhang, Xiao Cheng, Hang Xie
Summary: By utilizing the pyroelectric effect of BaTiO3 and introducing consecutive periodic thermal variation into BaTiO3-TiO2 nanostructures, this study achieved dynamic internal field engineering, leading to significantly enhanced photocatalytic activity.
ACS APPLIED NANO MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Chunling Lin, Boyang Liu, Liuyue Pu, Yan Sun, Yanli Xue, Mulan Chang, Xin Li, Xingyu Lu, Rong Chen, Jiaoxia Zhang
Summary: The highly active g-C3N4/TiO2 heterojunction nanocomposites were successfully synthesized using a hydro-thermal method and calcination, showing a significantly higher photocatalytic activity compared to pure g-C3N4. Characterization and photocatalytic activity tests revealed that the heterojunction played a key role in the efficient separation of photogenerated electron-hole pairs and rapid charge transfer.
ADVANCED COMPOSITES AND HYBRID MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
F. El-Sayed, Mai S. A. Hussien, T. H. AlAbdulaal, Abdel-Haleem Abdel-Aty, H. Y. Zahran, I. S. Yahia, Mohamed Sh. Abdel-wahab, Essam H. Ibrahim, Medhat A. Ibrahim, Hanan Elhaes
Summary: Cationic dye (methylene blue) and anionic dye (carmine) degradation were demonstrated using SrO and G-SrO NPs. The efficacy of photocatalysis and electro & photo-electrocatalytic oxidation in degrading carmine dye was compared. The study found that graphene-modified SrO nanoparticles showed improved photocatalytic activity and the 0.25G-SrO catalyst achieved high degradation efficiency for methylene blue dye under UV light.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY-JMR&T
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Munirathinam Elavarasan, Kasimayan Uma, Thomas C. -K. Yang
Summary: An efficient method to prepare In2O3/TiO2 heterojunction photocatalysts with different micro-structures was reported, showing that ITNC and ITNR exhibited higher photocatalytic activity due to the formation of semiconductor-semiconductor heterojunction, leading to lower recombination rate of electron-hole pair. Various physicochemical tests were conducted to characterize the materials and verify their photocatalytic properties.
JOURNAL OF THE TAIWAN INSTITUTE OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Inorganic & Nuclear
Xin Chang, Ye Wang, Xuejiao Zhou, Yi Song, Mingyi Zhang
Summary: In this study, a metal-organic framework (ZIF-8)-derived nitrogen-doped carbon (C-ZIF)-modified g-C3N4 composite was prepared by pyrolysis, showing enhanced photocatalytic activity. The hierarchical inorganic/organic heterostructure of C-ZIF@g-C3N4 provides abundant active sites for photocatalytic reactions, leading to improved separability and catalytic efficiency under visible-light irradiation.
DALTON TRANSACTIONS
(2021)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Houman Niknam, Abbas Sadeghzadeh-Attar
Summary: Constructing heterostructured nanocomposites using coupling metal oxide semiconductors with visible-light-responsive photocatalytic materials is an effective strategy to improve the photocatalytic potential. A trinary TiO2/CoCr2O4/SrTiO3 hetero-structured photocatalyst with enhanced visible-light photocatalytic activity was fabricated.
MATERIALS CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Martina Kocijan, Milan Vuksic, Mario Kurtjak, Lidija Curkovic, Damjan Vengust, Matejka Podlogar
Summary: Water pollution is a serious environmental issue, with the textile industry being one of the major contributors. In this study, a new photocatalyst was developed by modifying titanium dioxide with graphitic carbon nitride. The synthesized material showed superior photocatalytic properties in degrading methylene blue, making it a promising candidate for real-life applications.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Meena Nemiwal, Tian C. Zhang, Dinesh Kumar
Summary: The review discusses the issue of water contamination by dyes and explores the potential solution using semiconductor-assisted materials and renewable solar energy. By developing semiconductor composite and heterojunction systems, the efficiency and stability of photocatalysts have been enhanced.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Ivana Grcic, Natalija Koprivanac, Gianluca Li Puma
Summary: The study validated photocatalytic reactor models for the decomposition of oxalic acid (OA) and formic acid (FA) in different configurations, and used a systematic methodology to determine intrinsic reaction kinetics rate parameters for water contaminants. This methodology can be used to predict the photocatalytic oxidation of contaminants in various experimental conditions.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Dongxiang Li, Ruiqin Li, Fanjin Zeng, Wanjun Yan, Mingsen Deng, Shaohong Cai
Summary: In this paper, the carrier transfer in g-C3N4/A-TiO2 and g-C3N4/R-TiO2 heterojunctions was systematically studied using non-adiabatic molecular dynamics. It was found that g-C3N4/A-TiO2 formed a typical S-scheme heterojunction, allowing efficient electron-hole recombination and increased photocatalytic efficiency. In contrast, g-C3N4/R-TiO2 exhibited a typical Type-II heterojunction with no notable features. Furthermore, the effective tuning of charge transfer and bandgap in g-C3N4/TiO2 under an electric field was explored.
APPLIED SURFACE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Dai Yongheng, Yuan Huayu, Li Jiang, Su Qi, Yi Qianwen, Zhang Yuntao
Summary: In this article, a Z-scheme P-TiO2/g-C3N4 (CNPT-X) heterostructure was fabricated using the calcination method. The CNPT-X composites demonstrated excellent photocatalytic degradation ability towards sulfonamide antibiotics under simulated sunlight. The internal electron transfer paths and mechanisms for the composites were revealed, and four possible degradation pathways for sulfonamide pollutants were proposed. This photocatalyst provides new insights into the photocatalytic degradation mechanism for composite pollutants and offers new ideas for practical environmental 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.