Review
Environmental Sciences
S. Verma, S. Suresh, M. Mili, P. Diwedi, H. Bajpai, M. A. Khan, S. A. R. Hashmi, S. K. S. Rathore, A. K. Srivastava
Summary: India has achieved the goal of a circular economy, but the rapid urbanization and industrialization have resulted in huge amounts of waste and pollutants, causing water, air, and soil pollution. This paper reviews the environmental impacts of waste minimization in the chlor-alkali industry, focusing on the treatment and utilization of brine sludge. Different materials have been developed using brine sludge as a resource, and various technologies are available for removing solute from brine sludge. Membrane-based technologies are preferred for their efficient recovery and environmentally friendly treatment. Future perspectives include power generation from the salinity gradient between waste brine and freshwater using advanced membrane technologies.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Engineering, Environmental
Zhen Liu, Maryam Haddad, Sebastien Sauve, Benoit Barbeau
Summary: Research has shown that optimizing IX resin operational strategies and managing IX brine are key measures to mitigate the negative impacts of IX technology in water treatment.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ye Yang, Yuzhu Sun, Xingfu Song, Jianguo Yu
Summary: This study successfully separated and recovered sodium chloride from SWRO brine using monovalent selective electrodialysis technology, effectively avoiding direct discharge of the brine and achieving brine valorization. The research also examined the effects of current density and temperature on membrane performance, yielding significant results.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2021)
Review
Engineering, Environmental
Julie A. Korak, Annabel L. Mungan, Landon T. Watts
Summary: Strong base ion exchange (SBIX) is an effective technology for removing regulated oxyanions from potable water. The focus of research is to reduce salt usage, minimize waste generation, and manage waste effectively. This critical review summarizes studies on waste management strategies for SBIX processes, particularly for nitrate, perchlorate, arsenic, chromium, and uranium. The review identifies four categories of management strategies and discusses various brine treatment methods. The provided supporting information includes a comprehensive index of key experimental conditions and outcomes from over 130 studies, enabling the identification of opportunities for addressing emerging contaminants and developing sustainable treatment systems.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Tianshi Yang, Kai-Yu Wang, Tai-Shung Chung
Summary: The study successfully fabricated TFC NF hollow fiber membranes using pressure-assisted interfacial polymerization technique, showing high pure water permeability and molecular weight cut-off, as well as high rejection rates towards magnesium sulfate and cephalexin. These membranes also demonstrated stable rejection performance in high salinity solutions, suggesting great potential for applications in chlor-alkali and pharmaceutical industries.
JOURNAL OF MEMBRANE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Prem P. Sharma, Shabin Mohammed, Jamaliah Aburabie, Raed Hashaikeh
Summary: This paper proposes the use of monovalent selective electrodialysis technology to concentrate the valuable sodium chloride (NaCl) component present in seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) brine for direct utilization in the chlor-alkali industry. Ionic exchange membranes (IEMs) were modified using interfacial polymerization (IP) to enhance monovalent selectivity. The IP-modified IEMs exhibited higher divalent rejection rate and enabled successful concentration of SWRO brine to 14.9 g/L NaCl.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Wenyun Wang, Chao Yang, Wei Wang, Rongqiang Fu, Haizeng Wang
Summary: By optimizing the structure of ion exchange membranes, the TWEDMS membrane modules can effectively recover inorganic acids from acidic effluents with superior separation performance.
SEPARATION AND PURIFICATION TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Tamara Leon, Syed Abdullah Shah, Julio Lopez, Andrea Culcasi, Lluis Jofre, Andrea Cipollina, Jose Luis Cortina, Alessandro Tamburini, Giorgio Micale
Summary: The SEArcularMINE project aims to recover critical raw materials from brines and address the CRM shortage in Europe. It utilizes electrodialysis with bipolar membranes to valorize concentrated brines and generate required reactants. Performance evaluation of different types of membranes was conducted, and the effect of current density on membrane performance was assessed.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
A. Culcasi, R. Ktori, A. Pellegrino, M. Rodriguez-Pascual, M. C. M. van Loosdrecht, A. Tamburini, A. Cipollina, D. Xevgenos, G. Micale
Summary: This paper proposes an innovative brine recovery system for obtaining high purity chemicals by integrating Eutectic Freeze Crystallization and Electrodialysis with Bipolar Membrane technologies. The experiments show that the integrated system effectively minimizes waste, promotes sustainability, and provides potential economic return.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Junjian Niu, Wenjun Yan, Xiaoyuan Song, Wangwang Ji, Zhongde Wang, Xiaogang Hao, Guoqing Guan
Summary: A novel electrically switched ion exchange (ESIX) system with self-electrical-energy recuperation was developed to efficiently and selectively separate LiCl from brine lakes. The system demonstrated extremely low energy consumption and excellent selectivity, making it a promising alternative for LiCl recovery from brine lakes.
SEPARATION AND PURIFICATION TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Alexandra Rommerskirchen, Hannah Roth, Christian J. Linnartz, Franziska Egidi, Christian Kneppeck, Florian Roghmans, Matthias Wessling
Summary: Reducing undesired water crossover through ion-exchange membranes can increase the concentration of brine, improve the efficiency of desalination and concentration processes, and reduce energy demand. The efficacy of a crosslinked coating for cation-exchange membranes in mitigating such water crossover is demonstrated in this work.
ADVANCED MATERIALS TECHNOLOGIES
(2021)
Review
Energy & Fuels
Kai Li, Qun Fan, Hongyuan Chuai, Hai Liu, Sheng Zhang, Xinbin Ma
Summary: The chlor-alkali industry, as an energy-intensive sector, has caused environmental issues due to heavy electricity consumption and pollution. Upgraded from mercury and diaphragm electrolytic cells to ion exchange membrane (IEM) electrolytic cells, the industry still faces challenges such as selectivity of anodic reaction and kinetics of alkaline hydrogen evolution. This paper reviews research progress from materials to devices and suggests research directions and prospects for further improvement in the industry.
TRANSACTIONS OF TIANJIN UNIVERSITY
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Mehmet Dilaver, Gulfem Soydemir, Mehtap Dursun, Selda Murat Hocaog, Buelent Keskinler, Meltem Agtas, Ismail Koyuncu, Kadir Alp
Summary: This study assessed the recovery and reuse potential of highly alkaline and heavily polluted caustic discharges using ceramic membrane technology. The results showed that acceptable permeate results could be obtained with two stage ceramic membrane filtration, and the permeate can be reused in the causticization process again.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Ceramics
Tero Luukkonen, Elisa Olsen, Auli Turkki, Esa Muurinen
Summary: Alkali-activated membranes are a promising alternative to conventional ceramic membranes, offering lower costs and similar performance. In this study, metakaolin-based membrane showed better overall performance compared to blast furnace slag or their mixture. The membranes have potential in applications requiring ammonium nitrogen removal.
CERAMICS INTERNATIONAL
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Jianlong Lei, Xundao Liu, Xiaohong Chen, Panpan Guan, Wei Feng, Jiangshan Zhang, Hanfeng Luo, Feng Liu, Yongming Zhang
Summary: This study presents the design of an ultrabubble-repellent ion exchange membrane with high ion transport efficiency for electrolysis, which significantly reduces energy consumption and enables cost-effective production of sodium hydroxide and hydrogen.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
N. Benabdallah, D. Luo, M. Hadj Youcef, J. Lopez, M. Fernandez de Labastida, A. M. Sastre, C. A. Valderrama, J. L. Cortina
Summary: Due to the lack of high-purity copper ores, the copper industry has turned to exploit low-impurity ores containing As, Sb, and Bi, which can affect the quality of the final product. This study aims to develop an environmentally friendly and circular approach by selectively separating and recovering Sb and Bi from HCl stream polluted with As.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Alvaro Mayor, Emma Beltran, J. L. Cortina, C. Valderrama
Summary: Nitrogen is an essential macronutrient for improving agricultural yields, but its excessive use in fertilisation and presence in wastewater and sludge lead to emissions and eutrophication. The Haber-Bosch process is the main method for nitrogen production, but it is energy-intensive and relies heavily on imports. Sustainable alternatives and efficient management schemes are necessary to address these issues.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Aina Mir-Cerda, Iris Carretero, Jose Ruben Coves, Alba Pedrouso, Celia Maria Castro-Barros, Teresa Alvarino, Jose Luis Cortina, Javier Saurina, Merce Granados, Sonia Sentellas
Summary: This study focuses on the recovery and purification of polyphenols from the malolactic fermentation lees of Albarino wines. Green liquid extraction using water as a solvent successfully extracted phenolic acids and flavonoids from winery wastes. The resulting extract solution was further treated by microfiltration and ultrafiltration, revealing that malolactic fermentation lees are a valuable source of phenolic compounds.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
V. Valles, M. Fernandez de Labastida, J. Lopez, G. Battaglia, D. Winter, S. Randazzo, A. Cipollina, J. L. Cortina
Summary: The availability of raw mineral resources containing elements included in the Critical Raw Materials (CRMs) list is a growing concern for the European Union. Sea mining, particularly the extraction of brines obtained in solar saltworks, has shown promise as a secondary source of valuable CRMs. However, the low concentration of some elements in the brines presents challenges in developing sustainable and economically feasible recovery routes. This study investigates the recovery of Trace Elements (TEs) from saltworks brines after ion exchange processes, demonstrating successful recovery of targeted elements except for Ge(IV), which requires further evaluation of alternative routes due to the limitations of current precipitation methods.
SEPARATION AND PURIFICATION TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Giuseppe Battaglia, Maria Alda Domina, Rita Lo Brutto, Julio Lopez Rodriguez, Marc Fernandez De Labastida, Jose Luis Cortina, Alberto Pettignano, Andrea Cipollina, Alessandro Tamburini, Giorgio Micale
Summary: Magnesium has been recognized as a critical raw material by the EU, and there is a growing interest in finding sustainable sources of Mg2+ to meet the demand and reduce mineral ore consumption. Saltwork bitterns, the by-products of solar sea salt production, have gained attention due to their high Mg2+ concentrations and low content of Ca2+ and bicarbonate. This study investigates the possibility of extracting highly pure magnesium hydroxide powders from bitterns, demonstrating the potential for water valorization and resource recovery.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Marta Herrero-Gonzalez, Julio Lopez, Giovanni Virruso, Calogero Cassaro, Alessandro Tamburini, Andrea Cipollina, Jose Luis Cortina, Raquel Ibanez, Giorgio Micale
Summary: The EU-funded WATER-MINING project aims to validate water resource solutions and recover valuable salts from desalination brines. By increasing the flowrate, the production of HCl and NaOH slightly increased, while the specific energy consumption decreased and the current efficiency increased.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
M. Sheikh, J. Lopez, M. Reig, X. Vecino, M. Rezakazemi, C. A. Valderrama, J. L. Cortina
Summary: This study evaluated the integration of ion exchange-natural activated clinoptilolite zeolite (IEX-NZ) and hollow-fibre liquid-liquid membrane contactor (HF-LLMC) for ammonia recovery from treated urban wastewaters. The process is based on NaOH closed-loop process to ensure the extracted concentration of ammonia from the loaded zeolites and enhance the transport of NH3 through the HF-LLMC. A 1-D model was developed to describe the time evolution of NH3 concentration during the recovery process and to analyze the operational parameters to maximize the concentration of the recovered ammonium salts.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Mariana Figueira, Daniel Rodriguez-Jim, Julio Lopez, Monica Reig, Jose Luis Cortina, Cesar Valderrama
Summary: Desalination brine mining is proposed as a solution to supply raw materials to the EU industry in a circular economy approach. Brine pre-treatment using nanofiltration and calcium precipitation is important to remove impurities and increase recovery efficiencies. Experiments showed that Scenario 1, with nanofiltration before Ca(II) precipitation, is the best configuration in terms of cost, and PRO-XS2 membrane exhibited the best selectivity.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
D. Luo, M. Fernandez de Labastida, J. L. Cortina, J. Lopez
Summary: In the copper pyrometallurgical industry, the use of ion-exchange resins for treating the electrolyte can prevent the precipitation of un-soluble slimes containing bismuth, arsenic and antimony. A selective precipitation process was developed to recover antimony and bismuth from the eluate, considering the presence of high contents of As(V). Treatment with SO2(g) or NaHSO3(s) was used to reduce As(V) and Sb(V) before obtaining antimony oxychloride (Sb4O5Cl2) and bismuth oxychloride (BiOCl) with high purity using appropriate pH control.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Monica Reig, Xanel Vecino, Cesar Valderrama, Ignasi Siries, Jose Luis Cortina
Summary: The feasibility of Cu recovery from bottom ash (BA) has been studied for the first time through solid-liquid extraction and electrowinning (EW). By increasing the current density and electrodeposition time, the maximum electrochemical Cu recovery can be achieved. This approach can effectively utilize BA resources and promote the development of a circular economy.
SEPARATION AND PURIFICATION TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Alvaro Mayor, Monica Reig, Xanel Vecino, Jose Luis Cortina, Cesar Valderrama
Summary: This study evaluates a hybrid system combining zeolites and a hollow fiber membrane contactor (HFMC) for ammonia recovery from wastewater. The zeolites were used for pretreatment and concentration before the HFMC, and natural zeolite demonstrated effective desorption of ammonium. The system processed both urban wastewaters, achieving over 95% NH3 recovery and producing N streams suitable as liquid fertilizers.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Alvaro Mayor, Sergi Vinardell, Kishore Ganesan, Carles Bacardi, Jose Luis Cortina, Cesar Valderrama
Summary: This study conducted a life cycle assessment (LCA) and techno-economic assessment (TEA) of a novel pilotscale plant to recover ammonium nitrate and struvite for use in agriculture, aiming to promote circular economy in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). The LCA showed that using a fertilizer solution containing the recovered nutrients was environmentally better. The TEA demonstrated a negative net present value (NPV) for the implementation of the nutrient recovery scheme in the WWTP, primarily due to high chemical consumption, but could become economically favorable with higher prices for ammonium nitrate and struvite.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Mariana Figueiraa, Daniel Rodriguez-Jimenez, Julio Lopez, Monica Reiga, Jose Luis Cortina, Cesar Valderrama
Summary: Many essential materials in the EU lack primary resources and are supplied by non-EU nations. SWRO desalination brines are considered a circular solution for the supply of critical elements. Nanofiltration (NF) can efficiently separate target elements in SWRO brine, and removing Ca(II) before NF improves selectivity between multivalent and monovalent species. The polyamide membrane PRO-XS2 showed the highest selectivity and is recommended for this application.
SEPARATION AND PURIFICATION TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Oriol Gibert, Damian Sanchez, Jose Luis Cortina
Summary: This study compares the potential of four different polymer-stabilized nano zero-valent iron (nZVI) in removing nitrate (NO-3) from groundwater and assesses the effect of combined supplementation of polymer-stabilized nZVI and acetate on NO-3 reduction. The results show that Tween80-stabilized nZVI outperforms other polymer-stabilized nZVI in removing NO-3 from water. Coupling Tween80-coated nZVI and acetate enhances both the overall NO-3 removal and the conversion of reduced NO-3 to N2(g). This study demonstrates the potential of Tween80-stabilized nZVI in remediating NO-3-contaminated groundwater.
ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION
(2023)
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.
