Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Xin Huang, Feng Tian, Guohong Chen, Fanan Wang, Rengui Weng, Beidou Xi
Summary: Efficient, renewable, biodegradable and economical membrane materials are of great significance. In this study, an organic-inorganic hybrid regenerated cellulose membrane with excellent hydrophilic and anti-fouling properties was developed. The membrane, prepared by introducing ZrO2 particles into a solution system, showed excellent rejection of bovine serum albumin and anti-fouling performance. The membrane has potential applications in water purification and wastewater treatment.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Mengying Yang, Sarah Lotfikatouli, Yvonne Chen, Tony Li, Hongyang Ma, Xinwei Mao, Benjamin S. Hsiao
Summary: Nanostructured cellulose membranes with excellent antifouling performance and stability are suitable for high-efficient wastewater treatment. Compared with commercial polymeric membranes, cellulose membranes exhibit higher permeation flux and separation efficiency, and can achieve near-total recyclability through washing.
JOURNAL OF MEMBRANE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Liang Ying Ee, Regina Pei Woon Tan, Sean Yi Rong Chia, Sam Fong Yau Li
Summary: Cellulose acetate (CA) desalination membranes can have improved fouling resistance and water permeability by introducing electrospray-mediated coating of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs). The results showed that the pure water permeability coefficient reached as high as 7.89 L m-2 h-1 bar-1 with one electrospray scan of 0.50% w/v CNC, while maintaining high ion rejection efficiencies against brackish water. The hydrophilic CNC facilitated the preparation of a low viscoelastic and swollen active layer, achieving high flux recovery and reduction in bacterial colonization with 0.50% CNC-coated CA membrane.
SEPARATION AND PURIFICATION TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Nan Li, Tian-Jiao Lou, Wenyi Wang, Min Li, Zhi-Xian Yang, Ru-Yu Chang, Jianxin Li, Hong-Zhang Geng
Summary: The appearance of composite membranes offers a new approach for reducing membrane fouling. In this study, polyaniline (PANI) and Ti3C2Tx (MXene) were combined using electrostatic assembly to create a conductive network and adjust the distance between MXene layers. The resulting MXene-PANI/PES membrane exhibited significantly improved permeation flux and retention rates compared to a regular PES membrane, while also demonstrating enhanced conductivity and anti-fouling capabilities.
JOURNAL OF MEMBRANE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Junkang Lin, Chenglong Fu, Wenchao Zeng, Dong Wang, Fang Huang, Shan Lin, Shilin Cao, Lihui Chen, Yonghao Ni, Liulian Huang
Summary: This study developed a simple strategy to fabricate cellulose acetate ultrafiltration membranes by adding methyl acetate (MAC) to N, N-dimethylacetamide (DMAc), aiming to improve their performance. The results showed that adjusting the DMAc to MAC ratio could regulate the pore morphologies of the membrane. Under optimal conditions, the pure water flux reached 188.0 L/m2h, with a BSA rejection ratio 20% higher than the control. Moreover, the anti-fouling and long-term stability of the ultrafiltration membranes were significantly improved.
INDUSTRIAL CROPS AND PRODUCTS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Wei Jin, Yu-Fei Lin, Zhen-Liang Xu, Ping-Ping Li, Jia-Yue Dai, Yi-Hao Tong, Xin Zhang
Summary: A new zwitterionic ultrafiltration membrane, synthesized using a zwitterionic polyethersulfone (PES), showed improved anti-fouling and antibacterial properties. The membrane exhibited higher water flux and protein rejection, and maintained excellent flux recovery and antibacterial effect.
JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL AND ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Xiao-Tong Yuan, Lei Wu, Hong-Zhang Geng, Luda Wang, Wenyi Wang, Xue-Shuang Yuan, Benqiao He, Yi-Xuan Jiang, Yu-jie Ning, Ze-Ru Zhu, Jianxin Li
Summary: Introducing polyaniline nanofibers can enhance the anti-fouling performance and tensile strength of polysulfone membranes, improving overall membrane performance. Experimental results confirm that the blended membranes exhibit significant anti-fouling properties when filtering solutions containing albumin, humic acid, and sodium alginate.
JOURNAL OF WATER PROCESS ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Shujuan Yang, Rong Tang, Yanan Dai, Tianhao Wang, Zhinong Zeng, Liping Zhang
Summary: The successful fabrication of HKUST-1@LCNFs with excellent performance and anti-fouling properties has been achieved to improve the ultrafiltration efficiency of cellulose acetate membranes and address membrane fouling issues, demonstrating their potential in wastewater treatment.
SEPARATION AND PURIFICATION TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Ying Hu, Min Yue, Fanshu Yuan, Luyu Yang, Chuntao Chen, Dongping Sun
Summary: The study introduces a method of modifying bacterial cellulose with dopamine and graphene oxide to fabricate a high-performance membrane with ultrafiltration and anti-fouling properties. The membrane shows high permeability and resistance to contaminants, making it a promising candidate for water purification applications.
JOURNAL OF MEMBRANE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Pengfei Zhang, Wenyi Liu, Saeid Rajabzadeh, Yuandong Jia, Qin Shen, Chuanjie Fang, Noriaki Kato, Hideto Matsuyama
Summary: The deposition of the hydrophilic PDA/MPC-co-AEMA layer on the hydrophobic PVDF membrane surface alleviated membrane fouling and scaling during long-term DCMD application. The modified membrane surface exhibited anti-fouling and anti-scaling properties due to a combination of several chemophysical properties.
JOURNAL OF MEMBRANE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Lanhe Zhang, Lu Wang, Yuning Zhang, Da Wang, Jingbo Guo, Mingshuang Zhang, Yiran Li
Summary: The electrode ultrafiltration membrane bioreactor (EMBR) showed better performance and membrane fouling characteristics in treating cosmetics wastewater, with increased COD removal efficiency and reduced transmembrane pressure compared to the conventional ultrafiltration membrane bioreactor (UMBR). The electrode ultrafiltration membrane had a higher energy barrier with pollutants, contributing to its strong anti-fouling property.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Nisha Malik, Vijaya Kumar Bulasara, Soumen Basu
Summary: A low-cost ceramic membrane was modified by coating cellulose acetate (CA) to enhance its performance. The porosity of the membrane changed significantly with the variation of polymer concentration and dipping duration. The optimized membrane showed excellent performance in ultrafiltration applications.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING RESEARCH & DESIGN
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Hongcheng Shen, Chaofei Cui, Zhe Wang, Yuanyuan Wang, Lin Zhu, Wenbo Chen, Qian Liu, Zhenguo Zhang, Hui Wang, Kai Yang
Summary: A novel carboxylated poly(arylene ether ketone) (C-PAEK) was successfully synthesized and used to prepare ultrafiltration membranes. The increase of carboxyl content in the PAEK polymer resulted in improved porosity, water flux, and reduced contact angle. The C-PAEK membranes exhibited excellent anti-fouling stability and durability.
SEPARATION AND PURIFICATION TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Zhonglong Yin, Shihao Zhou, Min Hu, Zhen Yang, Weiben Yang
Summary: In this study, a quaternary ammonium-functionalized MIL-125 (Me3N+-MIL-125) decorated polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) ultrafiltration membrane was fabricated. The membrane showed superior water flux, dye rejection ratio, antibacterial efficiency, and visible-light photocatalytic activity compared to other membranes. It has potential for the remediation of dye-contaminated water.
JOURNAL OF MEMBRANE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Kaizhen Wang, Shuhao Wang, Kaifeng Gu, Wentao Yan, Yong Zhou, Congjie Gao
Summary: In this study, an ultra-low pressure ultrafiltration (UF) membrane was developed by integrating PAA into the PES matrix. The PAA improved the hydrophilicity and refined the pore structures of the membrane, resulting in excellent permeability. The PES/PAA membrane exhibited high oil removal efficiency and anti-oil fouling properties, making it valuable for oily wastewater treatment.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
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.