Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Asmat Ullah, Saad Ullah Khan, Kamran Alam, Umar Wahid, Victor Mikhilovich Starov
Summary: The research focuses on developing a model for evaluating oil droplet concentration in permeate using a nonconverging slotted microstructured membrane. Experimental results show that the nonconverging microstructured membrane provides low friction to oil droplets and can be used for predicting overall oil content in the permeate.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Yanhu Yao, Bing Zhang, Mengsheng Jiang, Xueqian Hong, Yonghong Wu, Tonghua Wang, Jieshan Qiu
Summary: Microfiltration SiO2/carbon membranes were prepared by blending SiO2 microspheres into carbon membrane matrix and characterized by various techniques. The addition of SiO2 microspheres improved the surface properties and separation performance of carbon membranes, resulting in membranes with efficient oil removal capabilities.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Xi Zhang, Chang Liu, Jing Yang, Xiao-Jun Huang, Zhi-Kang Xu
Summary: The study demonstrates the potential of separation membranes with switchable wettability in efficiently treating both oil-in-water and water-in-oil emulsions. By using a simple co-deposition method of tannic acid and diethylenetriamine, commercial polypropylene membranes are endowed with switchable surface wettability that can cyclically translate between hydrophilicity and hydrophobicity through water/ethanol treatments without losing surface wettability. Density functional theory simulations and UV-vis spectra analysis were used to illustrate the chemical mechanism behind this hydrophilicity-hydrophobicity translation.
JOURNAL OF MEMBRANE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Mashael Al-Maas, Altaf Hussain, Joel Minier Matar, Deepalekshmi Ponnamma, Mohammad K. Hassan, Mariam Al Ali Al-Maadeed, Karim Alamgir, Samer Adham
Summary: Membrane filtration processes like microfiltration (MF) and ultrafiltration (UF) are effective in industrial wastewater treatment, generating suitable quality permeate for water reuse. Research has focused on developing new polymers to improve oil-water separation performance of commercial MF/UF membranes. A comprehensive protocol is still lacking to assess membrane performance in terms of flux, rejection, fouling, and cleanability.
JOURNAL OF WATER PROCESS ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Asmat Ullah, Kamran Alam, Saad Ullah Khan, Victor M. Starov
Summary: A new method using membrane oscillation and slotted pores in microfiltration membranes was proposed to increase rejection and reduce fouling. Experimental results in oil water separation showed a significant reduction in oil droplet concentration in the permeate, indicating the effectiveness of membrane oscillation.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Mohammed Rashad, G. Logesh, Ummen Sabu, M. Balasubramanian
Summary: Monolithic ceramic microfiltration membranes made of mullite crystals show excellent properties for oil-in-water emulsion separation, with high permeate flux and oil rejection rate. Compared to conventional asymmetric ceramic membranes, the fabrication of monolithic mullite membranes is more cost-effective and can be a viable alternative for oil-in-water emulsion separation.
JOURNAL OF MEMBRANE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Bing Zhang, Yao Peng, Yanhu Yao, Xueqian Hong, Yonghong Wu
Summary: Composite microfiltration carbon membranes (MCMs) were prepared by doping phenolic resin with TiO2 and Fe2O3. The effect of dopant amount on the separation performance of MCMs was investigated and it was found that a mixed matrix system constructed by TiO2 and Fe2O3 can optimize the pore size, porosity, and hydrophilicity of MCMs. The maximum oil rejections of 98.9% and 99.6% were achieved with MCMs containing 25% TiO2 and Fe2O3 dopant, respectively.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Thi Xuan Quynh Nguyen, Shiao-Shing Chen, M. Pasawan, Huy Quang Le, Hau-Ming Chang, Nguyen Cong Nguyen
Summary: In this study, Nylon 6 (N6) membranes blended with ZnO nanoparticles were fabricated by the electrospinning technique, which showed excellent performance in separating water from oily wastewater. The membranes exhibited high flux, fouling resistance, and removal efficiency for different pollutants. This research provides a feasible approach for treating oil-containing wastewater.
SEPARATION AND PURIFICATION TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Chintu Sharma, Rahul Gupta, Justin K. George, Nishith Verma
Summary: A resorcinol-formaldehyde (RF)-based Janus membrane with super-hydrophobic and super-oleophilic properties on one side, and hydrophilic and oleophobic properties on the other side, was fabricated. It showed excellent oil-water separation performance in microfiltration tests under different conditions. The comparative performance data demonstrated the superiority of the CNF-RF/ACF/GO-RF membrane over other membranes discussed in the literature.
COLLOIDS AND SURFACES A-PHYSICOCHEMICAL AND ENGINEERING ASPECTS
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Meiyue Yang, Jingwei Wang, Mengqi Zhang, Kang Liu, Haiou Huang
Summary: Membrane surface patterning is a promising technique for fouling control, but its underlying mechanism is not well understood. In this study, an in-situ real-time observation system was constructed to investigate the transport and deposition behaviors of particle tracers on a corrugated membrane surface. It was observed that particles traveled wavily along the membrane surface pattern and exhibited different behaviors in the pattern valleys at different velocities. Numerical simulations suggested that local turbulence and boundary layer separation were the major mechanisms underlying the observed particle behaviors. These findings provide insights into the dynamics of particle transportation in patterned membrane filtration.
SEPARATION AND PURIFICATION TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Yi-Jui Yeh, Jinn P. Chu, Jhen-De You, Ting-Hao Chang, Jr Rong Liou, Wei-Hung Chiang, Pakman Yiu, Chun-Hway Hsueh, Yu-Lin Shen, Kuo-Lun Tung
Summary: This study demonstrates the use of a stainless-steel nano-pyramid structure coated on a mixed cellulose ester membrane for the separation of oil/water emulsions. The coated membrane exhibited superhydrophilicity, antifouling properties, and underwater superoleophobicity. It achieved a high separation efficiency of >99% for various light oil-water emulsions. The fabrication process of the coated membrane is also scalable and suitable for industrial applications.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Joyeeta Bose, Jhilly Dasgupta, Utpal Adhikari, Jaya Sikder
Summary: The research has developed a polymeric nanocomposite membrane with low-cost nanoparticles for efficient oil-water separation. The modified nanocomposite membranes showed improved performance in terms of pore size, hydrophilicity, and water content, with enhanced antifouling attributes. Characterization techniques revealed that functionalized SiC nanoparticles led to increased water flux and hydrophilicity in the membranes.
JOURNAL OF WATER PROCESS ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Afshin Hamta, Farzin Zokaee Ashtiani, Mohammad Karimi, Yegane Sadeghi, Sareh MoayedFard, Shima Ghorabi
Summary: The experimental investigation focused on the microfiltration membrane separation process in oil effluent treatment, studying the flux of different poly (styrene-co-acrylonitrile) compositions in varying solvents and feed types. Results indicated a decrease in flux when treating O/W emulsion compared to distilled water.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Yu Gu, Bowu Zhang, Zhiang Fu, Jihao Li, Ming Yu, Linfan Li, Jingye Li
Summary: This study developed a non-traditional but simple method to modify the surface of polymer membranes, providing good hydrophilicity and underwater superoleophobicity, with excellent separation performance for various oil-in-water emulsions and oil rejection up to 99.5%.
JOURNAL OF MEMBRANE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Physics, Fluids & Plasmas
Nikolai Lebovka, Mykhaylo Petryk, Eugene Vorobiev
Summary: A two-dimensional Monte Carlo simulation of dead-end diafiltration of bidispersed particle suspensions was conducted. It was found that there are complete and incomplete separation regimes during the diafiltration process, with filtration and diffusion-driven stratification of particles observed in the vertical direction.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Asmat Ullah, Keun Hyeong Park, Hieu Dinh Nguyen, Yasir Siddique, S. F. A. Shah, Huyen Tran, Sunghyeok Park, Seok In Lee, Kyung-Koo Lee, Chi-Hwan Han, Kihwan Kim, SeJin Ahn, Inyoung Jeong, Young S. Park, Sungjun Hong
Summary: Recent advancements in perovskite solar cells have shown improvements in performance through enhanced interfacial engineering and charge selective contacts. A novel phenothiazine-based self-assembled monolayer has been introduced as a hole-selective contact, demonstrating significantly improved charge extraction/transport and device stability, leading to high power conversion efficiencies and exceptional operational stability.
ADVANCED ENERGY MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Amjad Ali, Tariq Aziz, Jieyuan Zheng, Fan Hong, Mahamed F. Awad, Sehrish Manan, Fazal Haq, Asmat Ullah, Muhammad Naeem Shah, Qaiser Javed, Ameer Ali Kubar, Li Guo
Summary: Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) have unparalleled advantages in the preparation of nanocomposites, but their lack of compatibility with hydrophobic polymers poses a major challenge. In this study, CNCs were synthesized from cotton and modified with 2-carboxyethyl acrylate to improve their mechanical, adhesive, contact angle, and thermal properties. The modified CNCs showed enhanced modulus of elasticity, reduced energy coefficient, and thermal expansion, as well as high shear stress, toughness, degradation efficiency, thermal stability, and recyclability. The findings suggest that the modification of CNCs with 2-carboxyethyl acrylate in the presence of epoxy resin can expand their applications in various sectors.
FRONTIERS IN BIOENGINEERING AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Hammad Khan, Saad Ullah Khan, Sajjad Hussain, Asmat Ullah
Summary: This study compared the prediction of transmembrane pressure using empirical, statistical, and machine learning methods, with ANN demonstrating better accuracy. The findings suggest that ANN can be helpful for process design and scale-up.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Osama Zaid, Syed Roshan Zamir Hashmi, Fahid Aslam, Zain Ul Abedin, Asmat Ullah
Summary: Graphene oxide and steel fibers have significant effects on the mechanical properties and durability of concrete. The addition of 0.12% graphene oxide and 2% steel fibers improves the mechanical properties and reduces permeability of concrete.
DIAMOND AND RELATED MATERIALS
(2022)
Review
Polymer Science
Tariq Aziz, Asmat Ullah, Amjad Ali, Muhammad Shabeer, Muhammad Naeem Shah, Fazal Haq, Mudassir Iqbal, Roh Ullah, Farman Ullah Khan
Summary: Bio-based polymers have emerged as a promising alternative to petroleum-based polymers in various industries. Although they have desirable properties such as biodegradability and non-toxicity, their performance still falls short of end-use requirements. Incorporating nanosized reinforcement can greatly improve the properties and commercial potential of bio-polymers. Bio-based polymers can serve as a substitute for petroleum-based fibers, and the application of smart nanoparticles is size-dependent.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED POLYMER SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Asmat Ullah, Muhammad Usman, Ahmer Shah, Iftikhar Ahmad, Muhammad Maqbool
Summary: Thin films of AlN:Gd were deposited on Si substrates using reactive magnetron sputtering technique in pure N atmosphere, and then irradiated by protons. The structural, electronic, optical, and electrical properties of the films were investigated before and after the irradiation. The results showed that the irradiation induced changes in the structure and enhanced the optical and electrical characteristics of the films, making them suitable for advanced electronics and optical technology.
ECS JOURNAL OF SOLID STATE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Composites
Asmat Ullah, Muhammad Usman, Ahmer Hussain Shah, Altaf Hussain Shar, Muhammad Maqbool
Summary: Er-doped AlN thin films were deposited and fabricated on Si substrates using plasma magnetron sputtering. The films were thermally annealed and irradiated with protons. RBS and XRD were used for stoichiometric and structural analysis, while FTIR was performed to track the changes in optical characteristics. The irradiation affected the optical and structural properties of the films, suggesting potential applications in optoelectronic and solid-state devices.
JOURNAL OF COMPOSITES SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Sunghyeok Park, Hee Sung Park, Thuy Thi Dao, Seung Han Song, Seok In Lee, Hung Van Tran, Asmat Ullah, Chi-Hwan Han, Sungjun Hong
Summary: Dual-band electrochromic smart windows, which can control near infrared (NIR) and visible (Vis) light independently, are a promising technology for improving building energy efficiency. In this study, oxygen deficient tungsten oxide (WO3-x) nanoparticles were synthesized and formulated into highly dispersible inks, which could be deposited at low temperature. The resulting films showed excellent control of NIR and VIS light transmittance, with the optical modulation being maintained for 1000 consecutive cycles.
SOLAR ENERGY MATERIALS AND SOLAR CELLS
(2022)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Nadia Waheed, Maryam Naseer, Nighat Haider, Sufyan Suleman, Asmat Ullah
Summary: This study reports a unique case of IL-2R alpha deficiency caused by a novel mutation in a Pakistani family. Clinical whole exome sequencing revealed a new variant, which was interpreted as likely pathogenic. The patient presented with congenital diarrhea, metabolic crisis, and a strong family history of death in infancy due to similar complications.
Article
Nuclear Science & Technology
Asmat Ullah, Qingyu Wang, Yushou Song
Summary: Controlled defects population and their movement are essential for understanding micro-structural evolution in nuclear materials. Molecular dynamics simulations were used to study the effects of temperature and kinetic energy on displacement cascades and point defect populations. Nudged Elastic Band calculations were performed to determine the activation energy for inter and intra-planar transitions of self-interstitial Mo, and the impact of applied strains on the transition energies was investigated.
RADIATION EFFECTS AND DEFECTS IN SOLIDS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Uzma Imran, Asmat Ullah, Rasool Bux Mahar, Kaleemullah Shaikh
Summary: This study investigated the pollution loads of trace elements in the sediment of Manchar Lake in arid Pakistan. The results revealed significant pollution in the lakebed sediment, primarily influenced by Fe, Zn, Hg, Cr, and As. The Main Nara Valley Drain was identified as the main pollution source to the lake.
SOIL & SEDIMENT CONTAMINATION
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Aya Atef El-Sawi, Ibrahim Hassan Habib, Mohamed Ramadan Elmorsy, Asmat Ullah, Rehab Omar El-Attar, Abdel-Rahman Hassan Abdel-Rahman, El-Sayed Ibrahim El-Desoky, Mohamed Ahmed Abozeid
Summary: In this study, heteroatom-doped polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons with excellent optoelectronic properties were successfully synthesized through base-catalyzed cascade reaction. The synthesized compounds were found to have a decreased energy gap, indicating their potential in semiconducting and light-harvesting applications. Additionally, they exhibited good thermal stability, qualifying them for various organic electronic applications.
JOURNAL OF PHOTOCHEMISTRY AND PHOTOBIOLOGY A-CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Geological
Akhtar Gul, Bashir Alam, Inayat Ullah Khan, Syed Azmat Ali Shah, Sajjad Wali Khan, Khan Shahzada
Summary: The aim of this study is to improve the seismic parameters of self-interlocking mortarless masonry by providing confinement at the corners. A full-scale structure was fabricated using locally prepared self-interlocking stabilized earth blocks and evaluated through quasi-static test. The research assessed damaged patterns and different seismic parameters, including lateral load carrying capacity, energy dissipation, displacement ductility, structural stiffness, response modification factor, and performance levels. Based on the test data, the corners confinement of dry stacked masonry enhanced the ultimate lateral load and drift capacity by 64% and 288% respectively.
SOIL DYNAMICS AND EARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Multidisciplinary
Mohammad Adeel Khan, Suleman Ayub Khan, Bazid Khan, Khan Shahzada, Fadi Althoey, Ahmed Farouk Deifalla
Summary: This research focuses on developing a new marble-based binding material by blending it with rice husk ash and fly ash to evaluate its strength. The results show that the compressive strength of the marble cement mortar is higher than the minimum requirement for brick masonry, and the mortar prepared with blended marble cement and rice husk ash exhibits higher strength than ordinary Portland cement mortar. Additionally, using marble waste, rice husk ash, and fly ash as binding materials for building materials production can contribute to sustainable growth by reducing environmental issues.
RESULTS IN ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Asmat Ullah, Jai Krishin, Nighat Haider, Brekhna Aurangzeb, Abdullah, Sufyan Suleman, Wasim Ahmad, Torben Hansen, Sulman Basit
Summary: This study reports a novel loss of function mutation in the EXOC8 gene that is associated with neurodevelopmental disorder. Clinical phenotyping and whole exome sequencing revealed a protein-truncating variant in affected individuals. These findings contribute to the understanding of genotype-phenotype correlations and have implications for genetic counseling and clinical management.
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.