Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Mingzhu Chi, Pingyun Zheng, Mingxin Wei, Aimei Zhu, Lubin Zhong, Qiugen Zhang, Qinglin Liu
Summary: In this study, the water permeability of the traditional polyamide composite nanofiltration membrane was enhanced by modifying it with a nanoporous TiO2 interlayer through a vacuum-assisted strategy. The modified membrane, with a crumpled structure, was fabricated by tuning the loading of nTiO2 nanoparticles. The hydrophilicity and porosity of the nTiO2 interlayer led to a reduction in the thickness of the polyamide layer. The modified membrane exhibited increased permeability and rejection rate, providing a solution for enhancing water permeability and extending the application of TiO2 in the modification of polyamide composite nanofiltration membranes.
JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL AND ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
T. M. Subrahmanya, Jing-Yang Lin, Januar Widakdo, Hannah Faye M. Austria, Yu-Hsuan Chiao, Tsung-Han Huang, Wei -Song Hung, Hideto Matsuyama, Kueir-Rarn Lee, Juin-Yih Lai
Summary: TFN membranes were synthesized by adding different functionalized nano-diamonds and surfactant mediation to enhance their performance. The addition of functionalized NDs improved the surface properties and crosslinking degree of the membranes, resulting in increased water flux and salt rejection. The addition of SDS further improved the membrane performance, leading to increased water flux and MgSO4 rejection. Overall, the addition of SDS improved the stability and performance of the TFN membranes, making them suitable for nanofiltration applications.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Zhewei Zhang, S. Shardul Wadekar, R. Omkar Lokare, D. Radisav Vidic
Summary: The impact of calcium scaling is affected by both feed salinity and separation driving force, and is much less severe in thermal than pressure driven membrane processes.
JOURNAL OF MEMBRANE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Patricia Marin Sam Roman, Kitty P. Nijmeijer, Rint Sijbesma
Summary: New isoporous nanofiltration composite membranes with high permeability and size-charge selectivity rejection were fabricated by photo-polymerization.
JOURNAL OF MEMBRANE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Youssef-Amine Boussouga, Bryce S. Richards, Andrea Schaefer
Summary: Directly-powered PV-membrane systems operate without energy storage components, leading to fluctuations in membrane performance. The resilience of these systems depends on membrane type, with tighter NF/RO membranes showing higher resilience to permeate quality variations but lower resilience to SEC fluctuations. System resilience exhibited a recovery time range of 50-350 seconds determined by the duration of the fluctuation.
JOURNAL OF MEMBRANE SCIENCE
(2021)
Review
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
P. Pasqualin, R. Lefers, S. Mahmoud, P. A. Davies
Summary: Liquid desiccant air conditioning (LDAC) is a promising technology for self-sustained greenhouses powered by solar energy, but faces challenges in liquid desiccant regeneration. Among the six desalination technologies investigated for LD regeneration, membrane distillation, reverse osmosis and electrodialysis have been tested for LDAC applications, but are not efficient. Multistage nanofiltration and thermoresponsive solutions show great potential for LDAC, particularly in achieving high efficiency, and future experimental studies are needed to explore their effectiveness.
RENEWABLE & SUSTAINABLE ENERGY REVIEWS
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Cheng-Ye Zhu, Chang Liu, Jing Yang, Bian-Bian Guo, Hao-Nan Li, Zhi-Kang Xu
Summary: The study presents a rational strategy to linearly regulate the thickness of polyamide nanofilms by using glycerol as an additive, making the interfacial polymerization process controllable. The synthesized nanofilms exhibit tunable cross-linking degree and pore size, providing the polyamide membranes with desirable water permeability and salt selectivity. This strategy opens up an eco-friendly and scalable avenue for synthesizing polyamide nanofilms, crucial for various membrane applications like nanofiltration, reverse osmosis, and forward osmosis.
JOURNAL OF MEMBRANE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Zhenjiang Li, Yucheng Xing, Yan Liu, Alan Meng, Xiaoyan Fan
Summary: By chemically modifying the surface of graphene oxide (GO) using diazonium chemistry, we introduce nitrobenzene groups as interlayer pillars in GO membranes, similar to the oxygen-containing functional groups on the surface. The larger pillars effectively enlarge the interlayer space of the GO membrane, leading to improved filtration performance for dyes.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
A. A. Poyarkov, D. I. Petukhov, A. A. Eliseev
Summary: The performance of nanoporous polypropylene membrane contactors in water evaporative transfer processes is reported in this paper, considering membrane packing density, flow, and temperature conditions. The efficiency of heat and mass transfer in the membrane evaporator is evaluated under various partial pressure gradients and gas phase Reynolds numbers. By inducing convective flows in the gas phase, the evaporation efficiency increases and reaches 4.6 kg x m-2xh-1 (3.0 kW x m-2xh-1) at the inlet water temperature of 60 degrees C. The efficiency is achieved through heat extraction from the gaseous phase and evaporation of water from the external surface of fibers. A thin graphene oxide coating is applied to prevent liquid penetration through the pores and salts crystallization, although slightly reducing the membrane performance.
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Haftu Gebrekiros Alemayehu, Rshan Beyene Hailu, Paulos Taddesse
Summary: Graphene oxide (GO) is a promising material for nanofiltration membranes to address the global water shortage. However, the stability of GO membrane in water and its long-term operation remains unresolved. In this study, an ultrathin GO membrane was fabricated on a nylon substrate within 5 min using vacuum filtration, and drying at 70 degrees C improved the stability and performance of the membrane.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Y. Pathania, Gaganpreet
Summary: Molecular dynamics simulations were used to investigate the mechanism of water transport and ions movement across nanoporous phosphorene for water desalination. The desalination performance is strongly influenced by structure of nanopore such as size, shape, water-membrane interaction and applied pressure.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Hongyun Xu, Han Xiao, Christopher J. Ellison, Mahesh K. Mahanthappa
Summary: This study successfully synthesized materials with nanoporous structures through thermal cross-linking and selective chemical etching, challenging the expectation that remaining cylinders cannot form a continuous material. Scanning electron microscopy imaging revealed the interconnected nanostructures, while permeation behavior of poly(ethylene oxide) based on hydrodynamic radius directly demonstrated the continuity and size selectivity of the material.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Yuling Ren, Pengfei Qi, Yinhua Wan, Chulong Chen, Xiangrong Chen, Shichao Feng, Jianquan Luo
Summary: In this study, a mix charged NF membrane was prepared using an etching-swelling-planting strategy. The membrane exhibited high salt permeation, high retention of small organics, and excellent antifouling performance.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Yong Suo, Siyao Chen, Yongsheng Ren
Summary: The study focused on the behavior and mechanism of nanofiltration membrane fouling in membrane water treatment, as well as the impact of fouling on membrane desalination efficiency. Results showed that PAC caused the most severe membrane fouling, followed by inorganic salts and BTA. PAC formed larger and loosely attached fouling layer on the membrane surface, while BTA increased the adhesion and cohesion between fouling and membrane. Contrary to BTA, PAC had a reverse interception effect on inorganic salts and the denudation effect of cross-flow shear force on the membrane surface maintained high permeability of membrane pores.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Siyu Zhou, Kecheng Guan, Zheng Wang, Qiangqiang Song, Zhan Li, Ping Xu, Luyao Deng, Shang Xiang, Hideto Matsuyama
Summary: Multilayered graphene oxide (GO) membranes with nanoporous interlayer have limitations in water desalination due to their tortuous transport pathways and water-swelling characteristics. This study develops a confined interlayer with mediated nanoparticle intercalation to enhance water transport and ion retardation in GO membranes. The roles of confinement and mediation in the intercalation modification of GO laminates are investigated, highlighting their indispensability in achieving efficient desalination processes. This strategy may also be applicable to fine-structure control of other two-dimensional laminates.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Hongguang Sun, Shiqian Nie, Aaron I. Packman, Yong Zhang, Dong Chen, Chengpeng Lu, Chunmiao Zheng
Summary: This study proposes a Hausdorff fractal derivative based advection-dispersion equation (HADE) model to describe the vertical concentration distribution of suspended sediment in turbulent flow. The HADE model accurately describes the observed vertical concentration profiles for suspended sediment with different sizes and captures the non-exponential decay of sediment concentration in turbulent flow.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SEDIMENT RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Shiliang Lin, Shanshan He, Sulaiman Sarwar, Roxana A. Milescu, Con R. McElroy, Simone Dimartino, Lu Shao, Cher Hon Lau
Summary: In this study, highly porous asymmetric membranes were fabricated by spray coating Cyrene (TM)-based polymer dope solutions, providing a sustainable alternative to toxic solvents. The spray-coated polyethersulfone (PES) membranes exhibited significantly higher pure water permeance compared to knife cast membranes, while still maintaining high separation performances in thin film composites (TFCs) for desalination of NaCl solution.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY A
(2023)
Editorial Material
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Fan Yang, Yanqiu Zhang, Junhui Huang, Gang Gao, Jiaqi Zhu, Jun Ma, Lu Shao
Article
Computer Science, Information Systems
Hongguang Sun, Chao Ma, Linyi Zhang, Jiahui Li, Xijun Wang, Shuqin Li, Tony Q. S. Quek
Summary: This letter proposes an analytical framework to evaluate the coverage performance of a cellular-connected unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) network with directional antennas and 3D mobility. Using stochastic geometry, the handover probability and coverage probability of a random UAV-UE under the strongest average RSS association strategy are derived. The framework allows the investigation of UAV-UE antenna beamwidth, mobility speed, cell association, and vertical motions on handover probability and coverage probability. The study concludes that the optimal UAV-UE antenna beamwidth decreases with GBS density and the nearest association model is preferred in a sparse network.
IEEE WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Chaloemporn Ponprasit, Yong Zhang, Xiufen Gu, Andrew M. Goodliffe, Hongguang Sun
Summary: Groundwater vulnerability assessment is important for managing subsurface water resources. A three-dimensional groundwater flow model was developed to evaluate the vulnerability of aquifer-aquitard systems in the East Gulf Coastal Plain of Alabama.
Article
Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence
Zhiming Lv, Shuqin Li, Hongguang Sun, Hongming Zhang
Summary: To address the challenges of parameter sensitivity and diversity maintenance, a multimodal multi-objective evolutionary algorithm with a two-stage double indicator selection strategy (MMEA-TDI) is developed. It introduces a dual-indicator with adaptive niche radius to estimate population crowding and suggests a diversity-based mating selection. The environmental selection is conducted in two stages, using a parameter-free automatic niching technique based on clustering and a double indicator selection strategy to maintain diversity in both decision and objective spaces. Extensive experiments on benchmark functions show that the proposed algorithm outperforms eight state-of-the-art MMEAs significantly.
SWARM AND EVOLUTIONARY COMPUTATION
(2023)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
ZhiPeng Li, Mehrdad Kiani Oshtorjani, Dong Chen, Yong Zhang, HongGuang Sun
Summary: This study examines the dual-mode bedload transport behavior based on experimental measurements and develops an Einstein's exponential-based model to represent the large fluctuations in bedload sediment discharge. By analyzing the waiting time distribution of sediments, two distinct modes are identified from the measured data. The study incorporates this dual-mode behavior into the continuous time random walk (CTRW) framework and obtains single-rate mass transfer (SRMT) and fractional-derivative SRMT (F-SRMT) models. The intensity of the dual-mode behavior can be quantified using a dimensionless index, eta. The dual-mode bedload transport models prove to be more accurate in characterizing bedload transport in a mixed-size gravel bed compared to the traditional exponential-based model, and nonlocal movement of bedload sediments is significant in such beds. Further research will focus on testing the applicability of dual-mode models in different flow regimes and conditions.
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-EARTH SURFACE
(2023)
Article
Mathematics, Interdisciplinary Applications
Meng Liu, Dong Chen, Hong-Guang Sun, Feng Zhang
Summary: This study proposes a new formula for the concentration profile of unsaturated sediment based on the Hausdorff fractal derivative advection-dispersion equation, to characterize the non-equilibrium regime in natural dammed rivers. The new formula performs better in describing the sediment concentration profiles in the Jingjiang Reach, approximately 100 km below the Three Gorges Dam, compared to Rouse and Han's formulae.
FRACTAL AND FRACTIONAL
(2023)
Article
Psychology, Multidisciplinary
Kai He, Junyun Liao, Fengyan Li, Hongguang Sun
Summary: This paper examines the manifestation, categories, motivational drivers, and consequences of consumers' participation in multiple competing brand communities. The results indicate that consumers engage in various behaviors in these communities, which can be classified into information-oriented, social-oriented, and oppositional categories. The attractiveness of other competing brands motivates consumers to participate, and consumers' product knowledge is positively associated with their engagement. The number of competing brand community engagements is also positively related to brand switching intention.
FRONTIERS IN PSYCHOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Telecommunications
Hongguang Sun, Yajun Ma, Tony Q. S. Quek, Xijun Wang, Kun Guo, Hongming Zhang
Summary: As a promising architecture, Mobile Data Collector (MDC) enhanced Internet of Things (IoT) has great potential in efficient data collection and aggregation for sparse deployment scenarios. By combining queueing theory and stochastic geometry, an analytical framework is proposed to study the network performance of an MDC enhanced IoT network. The framework allows quantification of the impact of key system parameters on network performance and provides guidelines for minimizing end-to-end delay.
IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON GREEN COMMUNICATIONS AND NETWORKING
(2023)
Article
Water Resources
ZhiPeng Li, Saiyu Yuan, Hongwu Tang, Yantao Zhu, HongGuang Sun
Summary: Recent studies have highlighted the importance of nonlocal models for understanding bedload transport in natural rivers. Existing models are inadequate at a regional scale, leading to errors in characterizing the nonlocal transport behavior. This study proposes a regional-based nonlocal bedload transport model using the principles of probabilistic Exner-based equations and the peridynamic differential operator, which can effectively describe the sub-, super-, and normal diffusion behaviors of bedload transport.
ADVANCES IN WATER RESOURCES
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yuanyuan Zhao, Xiaobin Yang, Zhongjun Cheng, Cher Hon Lau, Jun Ma, Lu Shao
Summary: This study presents a proactive fouling prevention mechanism by decorating a membrane surface with wrinkled-pattern microparticles, which can effectively prevent fouling caused by migratory viscous crude oil. The microparticles create nanoscale wrinkled patterns that increase the contact area between the membrane surface and water molecules, expanding the steric hindrance between the oil molecules and membrane surface. This concept successfully inhibits the initial adhesion, migration, and deposition of oil, achieving efficient migratory viscous crude oil antifouling. This research opens pathways for the development of superwettable materials with diverse applications in the environment, energy, health, and other fields.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Xiquan Cheng, Tongyu Li, Linlin Yan, Yang Jiao, Yingjie Zhang, Kai Wang, Zhongjun Cheng, Jun Ma, Lu Shao
Summary: On-demand biodegradable superhydrophilic membranes were developed for ultrafast purification of oily water. The use of polyethylene oxide hydrogels increased the hydrogen bonds formed between the membrane surface and water molecules by 357.6%, converting hydrophobic membranes into superhydrophilic ones. The newly designed nanofiber membranes exhibited a significant increase in oil-in-water emulsion permeance and separation efficiency, outperforming state-of-the-art membranes.
Article
Mathematics, Interdisciplinary Applications
Yuanyuan Wang, Hongguang Sun, Tao Ni, Mirco Zaccariotto, Ugo Galvanetto
Summary: This paper proposes a nonlocal model and peridynamic formulation to describe water transport in unsaturated porous media. The model accurately captures the fast diffusion process and sub-diffusion phenomenon in heterogeneous media. The experimental results validate the accuracy and capability of the proposed model in describing water transport phenomena.
FRACTALS-COMPLEX GEOMETRY PATTERNS AND SCALING IN NATURE AND SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Zengping Peng, Hassan Ahmed, Guangqiang Xu, Xuanhua Guo, Rulin Yang, Hongguang Sun, Qinggang Wang
Summary: A series of unreported aluminium complexes with chiral cyclohexylsalen ligands were synthesized and used for the asymmetric kinetic resolution polymerization (AKRP) of rac-lactide (LA). These chiral complexes exhibited an interesting stereoselectivity-switch behavior in rac-LA polymerization. Among them, (R,R)-Salen[6-Cl] showed the highest activity for the ROP of rac-LA, while (R,R)-salen[4,6-Br,Bu-t] demonstrated excellent stereoselectivity with enriched isotactic PLA (P-m = 0.88, CEC; P-m = 0.93, ESC). Kinetic study using (R,R)-salen[4,6-Br,Bu-t] as an initiator indicated first-order dependence on monomer concentration with a rate constant ratio k(L)/k(D) = 30. Asymmetric kinetic resolution polymerization provided evidence that the enantiomorphic site control mechanism plays a major role in rac-LA ROP mediated by aluminium catalysts with a bulkier electron donor near the metal center, while the ROP of rac-LA mediated by Al(salen) catalysts with electron-withdrawing groups primarily occurs via the chain end control mechanism.
