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Aluminum nitride (AlN) has attracted huge attention in new energy vehicle, communication equipment fields, due to the high-thermal conductivity and reliable insulating ability. One of the most crucial factors is the preparation of high-performance AlN powders, and more significantly, the two-dimensional nanostructure would change the phonon vibration mode and transport process, bringing in the novel heat conduction and electricity properties. In this paper, kilogram of two-dimensional aluminum nitride nanosheets (AlNNS) with thicknesses around 30 nm and particle sizes around 400 nm were prepared by a new strategy for the nano sanding process, in which they still keep high purity (impurity content ppm grade) without further purification. Furthermore, the technological parameters of the sanding time and line speed are found as the key factors, that would affect the transformation process fro m hexagonal AlN into super-thin AlNNS. The morphology of the nanosheets is more complete at the line speed of 8 m/s. In addition, AlNNS have an increase of 7% in thermal conductivity (at 50 °C) compared to that of raw powders. Moreover, AlNNS have stronger sintering activity due to the larger specific surface area, in which show an increase of 16.8% in shrinkage. Therefore, AlNNS would represent excellent physical properties more than thermal conductivity, providing a new dimension research in high-thermal conductivity ceramics. Last but not least, nano sanding strategy as a purely physical process, avoids the subsequent chemical purification process, and has the advantages of simple and efficient, low energy consumption and environmental protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The feasibility of bioprocess development relies heavily on the successful application of primary recovery and purification techniques. Aqueous two-phase extraction (ATPE) disrupts the definition of "unit operation" by serving as an integrative and intensive technique that combines different objectives such as the removal of biomass and integrated recovery and purification of the product of interest. The relative simplicity of processing large samples renders this technique an attractive alternative for industrial bioprocessing applications. However, process development is hindered by the lack of easily predictable partition behaviours, the elucidation of which necessitates a large number of experiments to be conducted. Liquid handling devices can assist to address this problem; however, they are configured to operate using low viscosity fluids such as water and water-based solutions as opposed to highly viscous polymeric solutions, which are typically required in ATPE. In this work, an automated high throughput ATPE process development framework is presented by constructing phase diagrams and identifying the binodal curves for PEG6000, PEG3000, and PEG2000. Models were built to determine viscosity- and volume-independent transfer parameters. The framework provided an appropriate strategy to develop a very precise and accurate operation by exploiting the relationship between different liquid transfer parameters and process error. Process accuracy, measured by mean absolute error, and device precision, evaluated by the coefficient of variation, were both shown to be affected by the mechanical properties, particularly viscosity, of the fluids employed. For PEG6000, the mean absolute error improved by six-fold (from 4.82% to 0.75%) and the coefficient of variation improved by three-fold (from 0.027 to 0.008) upon optimisation of the liquid transfer parameters accounting for the viscosity effect on the PEG-salt buffer utilising ATPE operations. As demonstrated here, automated liquid handling devices can serve to streamline process development for APTE enabling wide adoption of this technique in large scale bioprocess applications. • Automation minimised experimental set-up for binodal curve construction. • High throughput screening and automation can expedite ATPS characterisation. • Physicochemical properties of fluids impact the automated transfer characteristics. • Transfer volume and speed are critical parameters to determine optimal transfer. • Correlation of viscosity and transfer parameters minimises manipulation errors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ceramic nanofibrous sponges are attractive for their broad applications in high-temperature air filtration, thermal insulation, sewage treatment, and catalyst support. However, the present ceramic sponges usually show brittle fracture even under tensile stresses. Herein, a ceramic sponge assembled by ultralong and crimped Si 3 N 4 nanofiber nanofibers is designed and prepared to achieve temperature-invariant reversible from liquid nitrogen to 1200 °C and large elongations (ductile failure over 100 %) as well as excellent compressive anti-puncturing property. Moreover, the ceramic sponge illustrates a high filtration efficiency of 99.6 % for PM 2.5 and a low-pressure drop of 32 Pa during a long-term test under high-speed gas flow. It can also support photocatalyst g-C 3 N 4 nanoparticles, yielding a high efficiency of photodegradation of nitrogen oxide gases. The well-designed ceramic nanofiber sponge with good comprehensive mechanical performances thus shows promising applications in air purification under extreme working conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1-Methylxanthine is a high-value derivative of caffeine of limited natural availability with many potential pharmaceutical applications. Unfortunately, production of 1-methylxanthine through purely chemical methods of synthesis are unfavorable due to lengthy chemical processes and the requirement of hazardous chemicals, ultimately resulting in low yields. Here, we describe a novel biosynthetic process for the production of 1-methylxanthine from theophylline using engineered Escherichia coli whole-cell biocatalysts and reaction optimization. When scaled-up to 1590 mL, the simple biocatalytic reaction produced approximately 1188 mg 1-methylxanthine from 1444 mg theophylline, constituting gram-scale production of 1-methylxanthine in as little as 3 hours. Following HPLC purification and solvent evaporation, 1163 mg of dried 1-methylxanthine powder was collected, resulting in a 97.9 wt% product recovery at a purity of 97.8%. This is the first report of a biocatalytic process designed specifically for the production and purification of the high-value biochemical 1-methylxanthine from theophylline. This process is also the most robust methylxanthine N -demethylation process featuring engineered E. coli to date, capable of gram-scale production. • Novel, biosynthetic pathway for production of 1-methylxanthine at gram scale. • Engineered E. coli for high-value biochemical production. • High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) separation for high purity. • Co-factor (NADH) recycle through by-product (formaldehyde) degradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Typically, the X-ray diffraction spectrum of a highly oriented structure (HOS) MAX phase displays a prominent (002) characteristic peak. Surprisingly, this principle does not hold true for Ti 2 SC. Instead, the synthesized Ti 2 SC consistently exhibits a polyhedral structure (PS). Furthermore, even with hot-pressing sintering, the purity of Ti 2 SC remains relatively low. The primary factors contributing to anomalous crystal structures and low purity are insufficient crystal growth and limited reactant contact. In this study, we successfully achieved dual regulation of the crystal structure and purity of Ti 2 SC within the Ti/TiC/FeS 2 system, which was accomplished by enhancing reactant contact and controlling the growth rates of crystal planes. Notably, the intermediate products FeS and Fe, existing in a liquid phase at varying temperatures, played a crucial role in both the formation of Ti 2 SC and the growth of Ti 2 SC crystals. As a result, PS-Ti 2 SC and HOS–Ti 2 SC with purity greater than 99 wt% were successfully prepared. The formation of PS-Ti 2 SC can be attributed to the inadequate growth of each crystal plane at relatively lower temperatures (1500 °C). While the synthesis of HOS–Ti 2 SC necessitates the utilization of both a liquid phase and high temperature, as the epitaxial growth mechanism followed by vertical growth has been demonstrated to facilitate the generation of highly oriented crystals. The liquid phase facilitates the swift growth of Ti 2 SC crystals along the (001) crystal plane, while the (002) crystal plane necessitates a higher temperature (1760 °C) for relatively rapid growth. This work will open a new pathway for the development of the MAX phase from the perspective of crystal structure regulation and high purification preparation. [Display omitted] • The rationale behind the anomalous crystal structures in Ti 2 SC has been explicated. • The determinants governing the growth of individual crystal planes in Ti 2 SC have been identified. • Highly oriented structure Ti 2 SC was synthesized for the first time. • Two kinds of Ti 2 SC with purity greater than 99 wt% were successfully prepared. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Removing excessively produced cytokines is of paramount significance in blood purification therapy for hypercytokinemia-associated diseases. In this study, we devised a conduit that is modified with nanobodies (Nb) and incorporates static mixers (Nb-SMC) to eliminate surplus cytokines from the bloodstream. The low-pressure-drop (LPD) static mixer, with each unit featuring two 90°-crossed blades, was strategically arranged in a tessellated pattern on the inner wall of the conduit to induce turbulent mixing effects during the flow of blood. This arrangement enhances mass transfer and molecular diffusion, thereby assisting in the identification and elimination of cytokines. By utilizing computational fluid dynamics (CFD) studies, the Nb-SMC was rationally designed and prepared, ensuring an optimal interval between two mixer units (H/G = 2.5). The resulting Nb-SMC exhibited a remarkable selective clearance of IL-17A, reaching up to 85 %. Additionally, the process of Nb immobilization could be adjusted to achieve the simultaneous removal of multiple cytokines from the bloodstream. Notably, our Nb-SMC displayed good blood compatibility without potential adverse effects on the composition of human blood. As the sole documented static mixer-integrated conduit capable of selectively eliminating cytokines at their physiological concentrations, it holds promise in the clinical potential for hypercytokinemia in high-risk patients. High-efficient cytokines removal in critical care still remains a challenge. The conduit technique we proposed here is a brand-new strategy for cytokines removal in blood purification therapy. On the one hand, nanobody endows the conduit with specific recognition of cytokine, on the other hand, the build-in static mixer enhances the diffusion of antigenic cytokine to the ligand. The combination of these two has jointly achieved the efficient and specific removal of cytokine. This innovative material is the only reported artificial biomaterial capable of selectively eliminating multiple cytokines under conditions close to clinical practice. It has the potential to improve outcomes for patients with hypercytokinemia and reduce the risk of adverse events associated with current treatment modalities. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] A membrane is a thin layer or sheet at the interface of two material compartments aimed for separation and purification processes. Membranes made using nanofibers, termed as nanomembranes, are preferred at these interfaces to improve the materials and process efficiency because the extreme small size not only lowers the materials requirements but also controls the pore size and distribution. Among the nanofabrication techniques, electrospinning is an industrially viable method of preparing nanomembranes due to its tunable properties as well as affordability. Herein, techniques to modify electrospun nanomembranes (ENMs) for process improvement, such as post-heat treatment, coating, additives, interfacial polymerization, surface chemistry control, pore size and porosity control, hydrophobicity/ hydrophilicity, and flux rejection efficiency at liquid–liquid and solid–liquid interfaces are reviewed. The ENMs in desalination of seawater, textile wastewater remediation, agriculture, biomedical, renewable energy, electrical, and food industries have also been investigated. We also review ENM's potential in liquid gating, which has been cited as one of the top ten emerging technologies. This review also finds areas requiring innovation on ENMs and on the sustainability of the electrospinning technology. Thus, this review provides a one-stop center for various membrane applications at liquid–liquid and solid–liquid interfaces and areas requiring further innovation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hemagglutinin (HA), a nontoxic component of the botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) complex, binds to E-cadherin and inhibits E-cadherin-mediated cell-cell adhesion.HAis a 470 kDa protein complex comprising six HA1, three HA2, and three HA3 subcomponents. Thus, to prepare recombinant full-length HA in vitro, it is necessary to reconstitute the macromolecular complex from purified HA subcomponents, which involves multiple purification steps. In this study, we developed NanoHA, a minimal E-cadherin inhibitor protein derived from Clostridium botulinum HA with a simple purification strategy needed for production. NanoHA, containing HA2 and a truncated mutant of HA3 (amino acids 380-626; termed as HA3mini), is a 47 kDa single polypeptide (one-tenth the molecular weight of full-length HA, 470 kDa) engineered with three types of modifications: (i) a short linker sequence between the C terminus of HA2 and N terminus of HA3; (ii) a chimeric complex composed of HA2 derived from the serotype C BoNT complex and HA3mini from the serotype B BoNT complex; and (iii) three amino acid substitutions from hydrophobic to hydrophilic residues on the protein surface. We demonstrated that NanoHA inhibits E-cadherin-mediated cell-cell adhesion of epithelial cells (e.g., Caco-2 and Madin-Darby canine kidney cells) and disrupts their epithelial barrier. Finally, unlike full-length HA, NanoHA can be transported from the basolateral side to adherens junctions via passive diffusion. Overall, these results indicate that the rational design of NanoHA provides a minimal E-cadherin inhibitor with a wide variety of applications as a lead molecule and for further molecular engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mg-based alloys are potential candidate materials for a fabrication of lightweight boron carbide based composites through a reactive melt infiltration approach. In this paper, the effect of a mechanical purification of molten AZ91 alloy's surface on its wettability with polycrystalline B 4 C is experimentally evaluated for the first time. For this purpose, sessile drop experiments were performed under the same operating conditions (700 °C/5 min; Ar atmosphere), by using both the classical contact heating (CH) and the improved capillary purification (CP) procedure. It was found that the evolution of contact angle values was strongly influenced by the applied procedure. In particular, by using the classical CH procedure, the presence of a native oxide layer on the metal surface hinders the observations of melting process, resulting in a misleading conclusion that the system is non-wettable. Contrarily, during the wetting test performed by applying the CP procedure, the surface oxide layer was mechanically removed by squeezing the molten AZ91 alloy through a capillary. Accordingly, the oxide-free AZ91 drop with a regular and spherical shape was successfully obtained and dispensed on the B 4 C substrate. A reliable contact angle value of θ =83° was measured at the AZ91/B 4 C triple line at 700 °C, which in turn proves that B 4 C is wetted by the liquid AZ91 alloy. In contradiction to the literature, these good wetting conditions were assisted by a non-reactive wetting mechanism occurring at the AZ91/B 4 C interface. To succeed in the fabrication of AZ91/B 4 C composites by liquid metal infiltration, such experimental observations make it reasonable to expect a spontaneous infiltration process exclusively driven by capillarity, which in turn increases the efficiency of the process by the absence of reaction products that could be a potentially detrimental factor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-aqueous solvent extraction at elevated temperatures using undiluted ionic liquids in milliflow contacting devices has been identified as a feasible and alternative approach to accelerate and intensify such critical metal purification and recovery. In the present research, aforementioned principles were applied on the separation of a mixture of cobalt and nickel using two quarternary phosphonium-based extraction systems. For both investigated systems, selectivity towards extraction of cobalt to the extractant was observed. Extraction performance of the system involving EG and Cyphos IL 101 was found to be superior during batch trials. As a result, this system was selected for additional experiments involving the continuous milliflow setup, making it the first application of non-aqueous solvent extraction using ionic liquids in a milliflow reactor. Depending on the processing conditions such as tube diameter (0.08" or 0.04" ID) and flow rate (0.10 mL/min to 6.00 mL/min), different flow regimes and percentages extraction were attained. Best performance in flow was obtained for more elevated temperatures (80 ° C and 140 ° C) and low flow rates (< 0.25 mL/min), as a result of the improved kinetics and advantageous hydrodynamics. Variations of the reactor length to compare residence times under identical flow rates suggest kinetic limitations exist at lower temperatures. [Display omitted] • Cobalt/nickel separation by NASX in milliflow reactors. • Comparison of NASX systems involving ionic liquids to separate cobalt and nickel. • Using temperature up to 180 °C as process parameter to control physicochemistry and hydrodynamics. • High-speed imaging to investigate flow patterns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purity of nickel-based single crystal alloys plays an important role in the final service performance of turbine blades as it impacts the solidification structure, elemental segregation, and inclusions of castings. The highest purity of superalloys studied before was of altogether around 10 ppm of contents of N and O produced by the triple purification process (VIM+ESR+VAR). However, the impact mechanism still remains controversial, and meanwhile whether a lower content of N and O still keeps the impacts on castings is not yet clear due to the lack of raw materials. A superhigh purity of second generation of nickel-based single crystal superalloy DD98M with the sum of N and O contents as low as 4 ppm (hitherto the highest purity of the superalloy as published), home-produced by electron beam smelting (EBS), was put on focus in this work. The effect of three levels of purity (N-doped, commercial, and EBS, corresponding to 21, 10, and 4 ppm for the sum of N and O contents, respectively) on the microstructure evolution (including primary dendrite arm spacing (PDAS), eutectic, micropores, and γ′ phase) and the solute segregation behavior at dendritic scale and nano scale (γ/γ′ interfaces) were systematically studied and the influencing mechanisms were elucidated. The results show that the PDAS decreased from 406 μm to 322 μm with the reduction of O and N from 21 ppm to 4 ppm, which was irrelevant to precipitation of the nitride or oxide inclusions. Instead, it was due to the decrease of diffusion coefficient D or the increase of equilibrium coefficient k , or the decrease of the critical nucleation supercooling and the incubation time of dendrites. The micro-segregation, the number and volume fraction of eutectic, and the number and voltage percentage of shrinkage pores and gas pores were all greatly decreased with the increase of purity. These changes were closely related to the reduction of PDAS and the reduction of fluidity of the remained liquid in the interdendrites during solidification. The morphology and the size of the γ′ phase were independent from the purity, while the segregation of alloying elements at the γ/γ′ interface changed remarkably with the variation of the purity. • Super-high purity of nickel-based single crystal superalloys was explored. • The PDAS, micro-segregation, eutectic and pores all greatly decreased with the increase of purity. • Clyne-Kurz model was used to predict the volume fraction of eutectics. • The elemental segregation at γ/γ′ interface changed remarkably with the variation of the purity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The CsPbX 3 @(Ce)UiO-66-Y hybrid material allows to generate hydrogen. • The CsPbX 3 @(Ce)UiO-66-Y hybrid was obtained by synthesis in room temperature. • CsPbI 3 in combination (Ce)UiO-66-NH 2 shows higher activity than individual components. • Functionalization of (Ce)UiO-66-Y by -NH 2 allows to enhance photocatalytic performance. • The CsPbI 3 @(Ce)UiO-66-NH 2 _13:1 is characterized by twice as long reaction stability. Perovskites are attractive structures for photocatalytic hydrogen generation, but also are limited by low stability, which can be improved by combination with other materials. Perovskite structures have potential for photocatalytic hydrogen generation; however, their practical application is hindered by inherent low stability. This limitation can be effectively mitigated through strategic combinations with complementary materials. Therefore, hybrids consisting of the perovskite CsPbX 3 (X = Br, I) and the metal–organic framework (Ce)UiO-66-Y (Y = H, Br, NH 2) were successfully synthesized for the first time, using a straightforward ligand-assisted reprecipitation synthesis at room temperature. To develop a room temperature synthesis for CsPbX 3 @(Ce)UiO-66-Y hybrid nanomaterials, herein, we optimized the synthesis of perovskite firstly (considering factors such as the choice of solvents, the drying of stabilizers, and the purification) and then developed an efficient way to combine both materials. Six types of hybrid materials, differing in the type of perovskite and functional group in the MOFs linker, were synthesized by the introduction of MOFs powder into a solution containing perovskite precursors (CsX and PbX 2 in DMF stabilized by oleyamine and oleic acid) followed by antisolvent addition. We demonstrated that the hybrids containing perovskite in combination with MOF (Ce)UiO-66-NH 2 in a molar ratio of 13:1 exhibited significantly higher activity and twice as long reaction stability time compared to the individual components of the hybrids when tested separately. This outcome underscores the presence of a synergistic effect, highlighting the potential of these hybrid materials in catalyzing hydrogen generation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The scarcity of freshwater resources and energy crisis are major challenges to the progress of human society. Recently, solar-driven interfacial water evaporation utilizes photothermal conversion materials to convert solar energy into thermal energy, which possesses great application potential in seawater desalination and sewage treatment. Here, we fabricated porous nickel sponge (NSP) composite photothermal material (NiO-NSP) containing abundant NiO nanoneedles array. This in situ-grown NiO with enhanced bonding between photothermal material and substrate can be used as a solar absorber directly without consuming additional photothermal material compared to conventional coating and cladding on the carrier surface. Due to the multi-scattering induced light trapping effect of the semiconductor NiO nanoneedles array on the surface of nickel fibers, resulting in light absorption up to 96.5 %. NiO-NSP evaporators have an abundance of interconnected porous channels for water supply, which results in strong capillary action to pump water to the evaporation interface efficiently. Moreover, the highly dispersed nanoneedles array expand the evaporation surface area. Consequently, the NiO-NSP evaporator delivers an excellent evaporation rate of 1.78 kg m−2 h−1 and a photothermal conversion efficiency of 84.7 % at one sun radiation. In addition, the micron-sized porous mesh structure of NiO-NSP dissolve salt crystals and diffuse them downward into the bulk brine, exhibiting excellent salt resistance and remarkable seawater desalination stability. Moreover, NiO-NSP solar evaporators has been demonstrated to possess excellent ability to purify dye and heavy metal ion wastewater. Therefore, the NiO-NSP high-performance evaporator produced by straightforward process proved to be suitable for solar seawater desalination and wastewater purification. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Leachate of spent Li batteries is purified by precipitation and solvent extraction. • Mn that remains after precipitation can be removed by solvent extraction. • LiNiCoAlO 2 (NCA) is resynthesized using coprecipitation and solid-state method. • Cyclability and rate capability of resynthesized NCA are superior to pristine NCA. • Effects of major impurities of Mg and Mn in resynthesized NCA are elucidated. The burgeoning electric vehicle market is significantly leading to a substantial increase in spent lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), emphasizing the need for efficient recycling to address raw material supply challenges. The resynthesis of cathode active materials, one of emerging efficient LIB recycling methods, refers to the synthesis of precursors from the leachate of spent LIBs without the separation of each element. While the resynthesis of LiNi x Co y Mn z O 2 (NCM) from the Mn-rich industrial leachate of spent LIBs becomes popular nowadays, there is no practical approach for the resynthesis of LiNi x Co y Al z O 2 (NCA) from the industrial leachate. For the resynthesis of NCA, an additional purification step of solvent extraction with di(2-ethylhexyl) phosphoric acid for Mn removal is necessary. NCA is resynthesized from the Mn-removed leachate, after adjusting the Ni:Co ratio of precursors and sintering with Li and Al sources. While the initial discharge capacity of resynthesized NCA is slightly reduced to the electrochemically inactive impurities of Mg and Mn, its rate capability and cyclability are improved compared to pristine NCA from virgin materials. The effects of major impurities of Mg and Mn on the crystal structure and electrochemical properties of resynthesized NCA are further elucidated. Whereas the controlled Mg/Mn doping positively impacts both rate capability and cyclability, excessive Mn leads to degraded cyclability. Overall, our study expands the scope of resynthesis process of cathode active materials from spent LIBs, highlighting the intricate role of impurities and their impact on LIB performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) have been widely employed for metal ion adsorption owing to their inherent advantages, encompassing low crystal density, well-organized organic unit structures, adjustable pore size, and remarkable structural stability. However, it is still a great challenge to design excellent COFs with high adsorption and advanced purification capabilities for Pb2+ and Cd2+ ions. Herein, hydrazine-linked COFs (COF-TCH) were prepared for effective adsorption and advanced purification of metal ions. The adsorption capacity of COF-TCH for Pb2+ and Cd2+ ions are 395.3 and 153.5 mg/g, respectively. Moreover, the Pb2+ and Cd2+ ions in water can be treated from 75 and 30 mg L−1 to less than 0.01 and 0.003 mg L−1, respectively, indicating the excellent adsorption and advanced purification capability of COF-TCH. This is a rare example of COFs adsorbent that deeply purify water to meet the guideline values in drinking water for the World Health Organization. FT-IR, XPS and quantum mechanics calculation were performed to understand the adsorption mechanism. The remarkable adsorption and advanced purification capability of COF-TCH for Pb2+ and Cd2+ ions can be attributed to the synergistic interaction between the amine and thione groups, which can easily complex with Pb2+ and Cd2+ ions to form stable five-membered ring structure in COF-TCH. In addition, COF-TCH still remains an adsorption capacity of over 90% after ten adsorption-desorption cycles, indicating its excellent reusability and stability. COF-TCH with high adsorption and advanced purification capability, high stability, low cost and reusability has enormous practical application potential in high-performance remediation of Pb2+ and Cd2+ contaminated water. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ongoing development of second-generation oxy-fuel combustion system with higher oxygen concentration have presented a potential pathway for efficient biomass utilization. It also signified the meticulous role of recycled flue gas in altering the combustion behaviour in the combustor. Accordingly, investigation into different recirculation modes focusing on recycle ratio, wet/dry conditions, and excess oxygen ratio are conducted with an indirect supercritical power cycle integrated biomass oxy-fuel combustion system. Energy and exergy analyses, as well as composition of flue gas produced are presented. Energy and exergy efficiencies increased with reducing recycle ratio, with respective highest efficiency of 31.33% and 44.37% obtained at excess oxygen ratio of 1.01 and recycle ratio of 0.5 under wet condition. Investigation of CO 2 and H 2 O concentration in produced flue gas depicted a separated stage profile under dry recycle condition, different from the slight diverging profile observed under wet condition when the recycle ratio varied. Concentration of NOx and SOx increased with decreasing recycle ratio and are generally higher under dry condition. Selective exergy analyses of the proposed power cycle presented highest exergy loss in the combustor, followed by the air separation unit, heat exchanger, CO 2 compression and purification unit, and turbine generator. Based on the obtained result, wet recycle flue gas enhanced the combustion performance in the combustor but slightly impaired the convective heat transfer in the heat exchanger. The performance of proposed biomass power cycle is optimized at low recycle ratio of 0.5 under wet recycle condition. [Display omitted] • Oxy-fuel combustion process simulated under different recycle conditions. • Performance analysis in term of energy, exergy and combustion performance. • An improve in both efficiencies with decreasing recycle ratio. • Wet recycle condition showed higher efficiency over dry recycle condition. • Water potentially reduces the performance enhancement of the proposed system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growing demand for sustainable and efficient gas separation technologies has prompted the exploration of advanced materials to enhance the gas permeability and selectivity. Polyethersulfone (PES) membranes are widely used in gas separation, gas upgrading, and clean energy production owing to their environmental friendliness and low cost. However, their gas permeability and selectivity can be further improved for commercial application. This study explored the incorporation of 10 wt % of MIL-68(ln)-NH2 into PES membranes using a phase-inversion approach to enhance gas permeability and selectivity. The morphological, structural, and thermal properties of the resulting MOF/PES membrane were characterized using SEM, AFM, BET, XRD, FTIR, and TGA-DTG. Gas permeation experiments were conducted using different gases (CO2, N2, CH4, and H2) under different heating conditions (20–60 °C) to evaluate the gas permeability and selectivity of the MOF/PES membrane. The results showed that the incorporation of MOF into the mixed matrix membrane (MMMs) led to a 9% increase in porosity, 87% reduction in roughness, and 32% decrease in pore size compared to neat PES membranes. Significant changes in the morphology, crystallinity, and thermal stability were observed, with notable improvements of up to 22%. Moreover, the MOF/PES membrane exhibited high gas permeability (CO2 = 124656, N2 = 83650, CH4 = 159298, and H2 = 427075 Barrer) and selectivity (H2/N2 = 5.7, H2/CO2 = 4, CH4/N2 = 2, and CH4/CO2 = 1.7) for flammable gases. The optimal gas separation performance was observed at 20 °C and 60 °C for H2/N2 and H2/CO2 separation, respectively. These findings demonstrate the potential of MOF-based PES membranes for gas separation applications, particularly in H2 purification. [Display omitted] • The MMMs enhances the porosity, pore size, and thermal stability of PES membranes. • The MMMs exhibit superior gas permeability and selectivity for H 2 , CH 4 , CO 2 , and N 2. • The MMMs achieve a significant improvement in H 2 /N 2 and H 2 /CO 2 selectivity. • The thermal stability of MMMs was increased up to 22%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The suitability of 13 Chinese silicate rock certified reference materials for Sr and Nd isotope analyses was investigated. To indicate their homogeneity and to provide information values, we report Sr and Nd isotopic data and Rb, Sr, Sm and Nd concentrations for reference materials GBW07 103–105, 109–113 and 121–125 spanning a broad compositional range. Test portions were spiked with tracers enriched in 87Rb–84Sr and 149Sm–145,146,150Nd and digested using HF, HNO 3 , and HClO 4 acid-dissolution procedures. Chemical purification involved cation-exchange and HEHEHP or Ln resins. Analyses involved different instruments at four laboratories, including thermal ionisation mass spectrometry (TIMS) and multicollector–inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (MC–ICP–MS). This study provides a comprehensive report of the Rb–Sr and Sm–Nd isotopic compositions of the reference materials, and the results indicate that the materials are comparable to those of well-characterised and widely utilized reference materials from the US Geological Survey and the Geological Survey of Japan. This is the first report of the Sr and Nd isotopic composition of standards GBW07111, GBW07112, GBW07121, GBW07122, GBW07123, GBW07124 and GBW07125. Our results are useful for quality control and assurance between laboratories and provide a robust reference-rock dataset for future studies involving classical Sr and Nd isotopic geochemistry. [Display omitted] • Rb, Sr, Sm, Nd contents, Sr and Nd isotopic ratios of 13 Chinese rock reference materials are reported for the first time using ID-TIMS or ID-MC-ICP-MS. • The reference materials span a broad compositional range. • Results indicate that they are of comparable quality to the well characterized and widely utilized USGS and GSJ rock reference materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When water freezes, impurities are expelled from the ice crystals and accumulate in the grain boundary space. Salts are a major impurity common to aqueous systems and, upon freezing, are dissolved in the liquid phase at temperatures above the eutectic point. Some constituent ions remain near the ice interface, but some readily diffuse away from the interface. The behavior of ions depends on their properties and affects the progress of freezing. Therefore, although the equilibrium and dynamic behavior of ions at this interface is important for understanding water freezing, nothing is known because of the lack of a suitable approach to this aspect. We extend zone melting, which is used for the purification of metal and semiconductor materials, to frozen aqueous systems. The partition behaviors of anions (F−, Cl−, Br−, and NO 3 −) between frozen and thawed zones are evaluated using ice zone melting followed by ion chromatographic determination of ions. The effective partition coefficients of the ions are determined from the zone melting measurements of frozen aqueous solution. Differences in the effective partition coefficient between anions are observed. The ratios for anions reveal the ion-specific behaviors at the interface between the freeze concentrated solution (FCS) and melting zone. Poorly hydrated ions tend to be thermodynamically distributed well in the FCS. However, as zone melting proceeds, F− shows a different trend from that predicted by ion hydration. This characteristic behavior of F− is understood by considering its lower diffusivity than other halide anions. Thus, ice zone melting provides information on the equilibrium and dynamic features of ions at the frozen aqueous interface. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Separation of He/CH 4 mixture using Si-PWN was investigated. • Investigating the effect of pressure rise on the separation of He/CH 4 mixture. • Investigating the Si-PWN membrane showed the best He permeance of 1.22 × 105 GPU. Zeolites are recognized as a proper nanoporous material for gas separation. In this study, we employed molecular dynamics simulations to investigate the performance of the pure silica PWN-type (Si-PWN) zeolite membrane for helium recovery from natural gas, which consists mainly of methane. The molecular simulations were done under different temperatures and applied pressures. The results indicated that the Si-PWN membrane could satisfy both the necessity of high permeance and selectivity by presenting the best helium permeance of 1.22 × 106 GPU and ultrahigh selectivity of helium over methane molecules. The vdW interactions and potential of the mean force calculations were also carried out to evaluate the molecules' permeation through this membrane. The results revealed that adsorption favors methane molecules on the surface of the membrane, whereas diffusion prefers helium over methane across the membrane. All the obtained results indicate the considerable performance of the Si-PWN membrane in helium purification, making it a promising membrane in industrial applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A superwetting membrane-based strategy for miscible ionic liquid/water separation. • Separation concept based on polarity-controlled selective superwettability. • Excellent separation performance going beyond traditional separation modalities. • Exhibiting generality toward different ionic liquid/water mixture separation. Efficient technologies to purify ionic liquids (ILs) from aqueous mixtures are urgently needed for the increasing demand for environmentally-friendly solvents. However, current IL separation methods are often characterized by low-flux, energy-intensive processes or complex separation procedures. Here we develop a novel polarity-controlled superwetting membrane-based separation strategy by introducing a water-structuring salt and modifying the membrane surface with medium-polar molecule. As the Hofmeister effect of water-structuring salt, higher-polarity water/salt structure forms, which can concurrently weaken the interactions between water with the medium-polar porous membrane and medium-polar ILs. Thus, ILs can selectively interact with the porous membrane and be transported while water/salt mixture being effectively blocked. This newly-developed membrane-based separation method demonstrates exceptional separation efficiency and flux, recyclability, and self-cleaning for various water-soluble IL/water systems. Moreover, it can be applied without any additional energy input, thus presenting a novel concept in functional liquid separation and holding the potential for the development of eco-friendly industrial processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Solubility of K 2 SO 4 , Li 2 SO 4 , and (NH 4) 2 SO 4 in mixtures of water and methanol was determined. • The experimental data was correlated by the modified Pitzer model. • The modeling parameters were employed to predict salting-out precipitation. The study of electrolyte solutions is crucial for various industrial sectors. A thorough understanding of the solid–liquid equilibrium associated with mathematical models is necessary for the separation and purification of these materials, as well as for developing solution theories and process simulators. This study focuses on the solubility of K 2 SO 4 , Li 2 SO 4 , and (NH 4) 2 SO 4 in binary liquid solutions of water and methanol, at temperatures ranging from 283.2 K to 323.2 K. The results show that as the concentration of methanol increases, solubility decreases drastically while increasing temperature leads to an increase in solubility (except for Li 2 SO 4). The modified Pitzer model was successfully applied to describe the solid–liquid equilibrium, and it also explained the salting-out precipitation by the addition of an antisolvent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the performance of the mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) incorporating hybrid fillers of metal-organic framework (MIL-125-NH 2) and graphene nanosheets (GNs) for enhanced methane (CH₄) and hydrogen (H₂) separation in the purification sector. The physico-chemical properties of the MMMs were evaluated by SEM, XRD, FTIR, AFM, TGA, DTG, and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller. The permeability and selectivity of the MMMs were determined using different single gases (CO 2 , N 2 , H 2 , and CH 4) at various temperatures (20–60 °C). Optimization of fabrication parameters resulted in a significant improvement in porosity and roughness of the fabricated MMMs. The permeabilities of the MOF/PES membrane are 20.3 (CO 2), 23.9 (N 2), 32.2 (CH 4), and 24.1 (H 2) x 104 Barrer, while incorporating 0.05 wt% of GNs into the MOF/PES membrane improved the permeability by 36 % (CO 2), 41 % (N 2), 31 % (CH 4), and 370 % (H 2). In addition, the H 2 /CO 2 and H 2 /N 2 selectivities of the MMMs significantly increased up to 4 and 3.3, with an improvements of 236 % and 230 %, respectively, compared to the MOF/PES membrane. Furthermore, the CH 4 /CO 2 and CH 4 /N 2 selectivities of the MMMs decreased by 4 %. Therefore, a hybrid filler (10 wt % of MIL-125-NH 2 and 0.05 wt % of GNs is highly recommended to improve the permeability and selectivity of the PES membrane, expanding its potential applications in CH 4 and H 2 purification. [Display omitted] • Graphene/MIL-125-NH 2 /membranes were prepared using phase inversion process. • Gas permeation measurements were carried out on the developed graphene/MOF/PES membranes. • The permeability enhancements: 36 % for CO 2 , 41 % for N 2 , 31 % for CH 4 , and 370 % for H 2. • The best selectivity was achieved at 0.05 wt% of graphene with 236 % improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Mechanistic models for crystallization, filtration, washing, and drying are presented. • Systematic digital design framework is applied to an integrated purification step. • Demonstrated enhanced downstream isolation efficiency via optimized crystallization design. • Design space analysis allowed reliable operating region identification in optimization framework. In this work dynamic models of the continuous crystallization, filtration, deliquoring, washing, and drying steps are introduced, which are developed in the open-source pharmaceutical modeling tool PharmaPy. These models enable the simulation and digital design of an integrated continuous two-stage crystallization and filtration-drying carousel system. The carousel offers an intensified process that can manufacture products with tailored properties through optimal design and control. Results show that improved crystallization design enhances overall process efficiency by improving critical material attributes of the crystal slurry for downstream filtration and drying operations. The digital design of the integrated process achieves enhanced productivity while satisfying multiple design and product quality constraints. Additionally, the impact of model uncertainty on the optimal operating conditions is investigated. The findings demonstrate the systematic process development potential of PharmaPy, providing improved process understanding, design space identification, and optimized robust operation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A single method was developed for the extraction and purification of aleuritic acid from seedlac. • Microwave treatments enabled the complete hydrolysis of lac resin in < 30 min. • Removal of impurities before acid treatment of sodium aleuritate is crucial for the production of pure aleuritic acid. • The developed process produces aleuritic acid ten times faster and with>40 % higher yield with a purity of >98 %. Aleuritic acid is one of the high-value constituents of lac resin, which has a massive demand in the perfumery industry for synthesizing macrocyclic lactones. The commercial aleuritic acid extraction process is lengthy, inefficient, and produces low-quality aleuritic acid, which necessitates repeated purification using toxic chemicals, bleaching agents, organic solvents, and activated carbon to obtain the desired quality aleuritic acid. This study developed a single process for extraction and purification of aleuritic acid involving microwave-assisted hydrolyzing of the seed lac and removing impurities of lac resin through condensation and alkali heat treatment. The novel process has reduced the overall extraction time from 15 days to 1.5–2 days and increases the yield from 35 to 40 % to 85–86 % and purity from 70 to 86 % to > 98 % in a single process without the use of toxic chemicals, bleaching agents, or organic solvents, unlike the commercially available process. HPLC, FT-IR, DSC, and FESEM techniques were employed to characterize and evaluate the quality of the extracted aleuritic acid. The developed process is highly efficient and cost-effective and offers scalable and fast extraction while requiring minimal chemicals, labor, and energy compared to alternative processes. Moreover, it exhibits greater environmental sustainability. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Advances in salt-free electrolytes in electrochemical reduction CO 2 /O 2 are summarized. • Both H 2 O 2 production by power consuming mode (2e--ORR), or H 2 /O 2 fuel-cell are included. • Diverse roles of solid electrolytes have been reviewed. • Both roles and mechanism of solid electrolytes are included. Electrochemical conversion of abundant CO 2 /O 2 into value-added products and fuels holds great promise to achieve sustainable energy systems. In most cases, aqueous electrolyte containing salts are used, inevitably suffering subsequent purification if pure products needed for further purpose. Instead, the application of solid electrolyte has seen a booming and that thought to be commercially attractive. Nevertheless, there is a scarcity of comprehensive reviews focusing exclusively on the application of solid electrolytes in electrochemical CO 2 /O 2 reduction, in contrast to the more readily available reviews on battery technologies. In this manner, we review recent advance and challenges in the understanding electrochemical reduction of CO 2 /O 2 using solid electrolytes to produce high valuable chemicals like H 2 O 2 , formic acid, etc. It begins with a brief introduction of historical development of solid electrolyte and their properties. Then it followed with summarizing of its application used in oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) by power consuming mode (2e--ORR), or by power generating mode in fuel-cell. Afterward, diverse type of solid electrolytes has been systemically reviewed, including the corresponding cells, the production rate along with different roles in electrochemical CO 2 reduction. Finally, challenges and prospects of solid electrolytes are discussed, aiming to guide a promising direction for directly producing high-value chemicals in near future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Identification and pretreatment analysis of endogenous metabolites of patulin (PAT) in zebrafish were successfully carried out using UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap-HRMS. Three major metabolites, namely hydroascladiol, E-ascladiol, and Z-ascladiol, were identified. They exhibited similar fragmentation pathways to PAT, with the structurally significant ions *b' and *c' generated through the cleavage of the side chains of *b and *c, respectively. These ions were crucial for confirming the modification site and have been confirmed as characteristic fragments for the identification of PAT metabolites. Furthermore, a pretreatment method for analyzing PAT and the three metabolites in zebrafish was proposed, using solid-phase-assisted liquid/liquid extraction (SLLE) and matrix solid-phase dispersion (MSPD) techniques. The initial purification process involved loading the aqueous phase onto a macroporous diatomaceous column, followed by elution with acetonitrile. Following this, neutral alumina powder was added to the organic phase, effectively eliminating interference from hydrophilic and lipid-soluble compounds through the optimization of this step. Due to their structural similarity, the three metabolites were semi-quantitatively analyzed using a PAT standard curve. The results demonstrated a good linear relationship in the concentration range of 0.001–0.02 μg/mL (r2 ≥ 0.999). The limit of detection for PAT and the three metabolites ranged from 0.01 to 0.03 mg/kg. [Display omitted] • A method for determining PAT and its metabolites in zebrafish was proposed. • SLLE/MSPD effectively removes interferences from lipid/water-soluble compounds. • The *b' and *c' are crucial in confirming the modification site of PAT metabolites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Galanthamine is a competitive acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitor naturally produced by the plants of Amaryllidaceae family. It is used as a treatment against Alzheimer's disease (AD) and is an FDA approved drug. The content of this metabolite varies between different plant species as well as within the same species. To measure the galanthamine levels diverse extraction and pre-analytical methods at laboratory scale have been developed for chromatographic and spectroscopic analysis. Galanthamine identification and quantification methods are changing over time due to improvements in equipment. Development of new technologies also leads to new methods. At lab scale, there are various methods which can be used for the extraction of galanthamine from different sources. The final identification and quantitation of the alkaloid(s) can be achieved with different methods such as thin layer chromatography (TLC), liquid chromatography (HPLC, UPLC, LC-MS), GC(-MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. All these methods have been reviewed in this chapter. From different studies, it is evident that extraction time and method robustness are the basic parameters for selecting the best method. TLC, HPLC and GC-FID can be used for quick identification and quantitation, but for proper analysis standard reference compounds are required. Moreover, pre-analytical sample preparation is time consuming for LC-MS and particularly GC–MS. Considering these aspects 1HNMR spectroscopy is the fastest and best reproducible method, because compounds are identified and quantified based on their highly specific signals in the spectra of the extracts. For large scale extraction various methods (solvent extraction, microwave-assisted extraction, and supercritical carbon dioxide extraction) have been developed for galanthamine extraction and purification. But mostly classical organic solvent extraction is used in industrial production due to low cost and availability of large-scale extraction facilities. Galanthamine recovery rate is relatively low in this method. Recently, progress have been made towards developing better methods. Among these developments, super critical fluid (carbon dioxide) extraction has great interest because it is a more environmentally friendly (green) technology. Although the solvent extraction methods are commercially applied to date, there is still a possibility for improvement in the extraction and purification process of galanthamine from plants as based on the present yields, still only about 50% of galanthamine present is obtained from the plant material in the large-scale extraction process. • Different extraction and analysis methods for Amaryllidaceae alkaloid galanthamine are under review in this paper. • From the collected data it is evident that extraction and analysis methods vary a lot at small scale/laboratory scale to cover multiple aspects of the process. • While at large/industrial scale the extraction of galanthamine is mostly carries out through the solvent extraction with a few variations. Although it is economical feasible and relatively easy to operate, the extracted amount is relatively low when compared with the small scale methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of installing different lipid chains (C 6 , C 8 , C 10 , and C 16) on the N -terminus of an octapeptide derived from the antiparallel β-interface of the diaminopimelate decarboxylase protein homotetramer has been investigated. Notably, the C 8 peptide conjugate assembled into wide twisted nanoribbons and formed hydrogels, which to the best of our knowledge constitutes the first example of a peptide containing an eight carbon alkyl chain that demonstrates these properties, a space typically occupied by peptide amphiphiles with long lipid chains. Furthermore, this self-assembling lipopeptide exhibited pH and temperature stability with shear thinning properties suitable for biomedical applications. Importantly, in this work the application of the polystyrene-based sorbent Diaion™ HP20SS for the simple large-scale purification of self-assembling peptides is presented as an alternative to the use of time-consuming and labor-intensive reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. Peptides that can self-assemble into defined nanostructures are highly attractive for many biomedical applications given their unique physical and chemical properties. It is recognized that self-assembling peptides derived from naturally occurring proteins offer an unlimited source of functionalities and structures, which are hard to uncover with designed sequences. In this study, we have investigated the effect of installing different lipids chains on the N-terminus of an octapeptide derived from the antiparallel β-interface of the diaminopimelate decarboxylase protein homo tetramer. We also reported the use of polymeric DiaionⓇ HP20SS beads as an alternative solid support to purify self-assembling peptides. Image, graphical abstract [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A hybrid surrogate model for simulation of a CO 2 capture process in confined space using VPSA is developed. • A relatively fast and robust multi-objective optimization procedure for the process of interest is presented. • The data-driven part of the surrogate model is validated and its prediction capability is compared with selected peers. • The final model is capable of handling large-scale parameter optimization problems while reducing regular convergence challenges. Design and optimization of CO 2 capture processes have become a tremendously active area of research particularly in the past decade. In this context, development of intelligent techniques on the basis of first-principles models coupled with data-driven algorithms for such purpose looks very promising. In a series of works, we intend to present mechanism approaches in order to develop applicable structures for design and optimization of the CO 2 capture processes of interest via hybrid models. A systematic method is presented for optimizing a process for capturing CO 2 from a confined space through a Vacuum Pressure Swing Adsorption (VPSA) operation using a Hybrid Surrogate Model (HSM) and Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm (NSGA-III). The surrogate model is structured based on the VPSA process model offered in the Aspen Adsorption® environment and an artificial intelligence (AI) data-driven algorithm. The developed HSM is then used to predict the key process outputs including CO 2 purity, air recovery ratio and energy consumption rate. Accordingly, the optimized parameters are re-substituted into the VPSA process simulator for further data processing. It is demonstrated that the proposed model architecture provides considerable computational efficiency for the process optimization with only 48 h to complete the corresponding evolutionary search, while the optimization time by the conventional NSGA-direct method is close to 1129 h. The optimization results also show that the CO 2 purity changes from 1000 ppm to 399 ppm, the air recovery ratio remains at 93 %, and the energy consumption per unit product (ECP) decreases by 38.5 % to 99.7 kJ·Nm−3 air after an optimized air purification operation. The idea of chemical mechanism and industrial data twin modeling in this study holds substantial importance for the development of digital chemical twin systems and the process optimization of intelligent factory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel anti-solvent engineering purification strategy was reported to efficiently eliminate both the insoluble and soluble impurities from the low-quality PbI 2 within seconds, boosting the power conversion efficiency from ∼18.69 % to 23.91%. [Display omitted] • Anti-solvent engineering strategy is developed for the rapid purification of PbI 2. • A combination model of the D N value and Hansen solution parameters is realized. • A champion power conversion efficiency of 23.91% is achieved from purified PbI 2. The purity of PbI 2 plays a critical role in determining the performance, stability, and reproducibility of perovskite solar cells (PSCs). However, the cost of high-purity PbI 2 is much higher than that of low-purity, and even the expensive high-purity PbI 2 suffers from batch variance issues. Although several purification methods have been developed, the straightforward and rapid purification of PbI 2 remains a challenge. The solar cell efficiency achieved by previous direct purification of PbI 2 is much lower than the state-of-the-art value. Therefore, people still doubt whether the low-purity PbI 2 is eligible for the fabrication of efficient solar cells even after purification. Herein, we report an anti-solvent engineering strategy for the rapid and facile purification of low-purity PbI 2 , which allows us to efficiently eliminate both the insoluble and soluble impurities. Eventually, the formamidinium-cesium (FA 0.95 Cs 0.05 PbI 3) PSCs made from directly purified PbI 2 show much enhanced performance and reproducibility. A champion power conversion efficiency of 23.91% is realized, which is the highest value ever reported for PSCs made from purified low-purity PbI 2. The in-depth PbI 2 purification mechanism is further discussed from the perspective of solvent-coordination and solvent–solvent interactions by combining the donor number (D N) value of solvents and Hansen solution parameters. The results reveal that the weaker interaction between PbI 2 and solvent, together with the stronger interaction between solvent and anti-solvent, is crucial for achieving successful purification. This study not only provides a simple and rapid method for the purification of PbI 2 but also enhances our understanding of the selective crystallization of PbI 2 and perovskite by elucidating the solvate and de-solvation processes of PbI 2 within the perovskite precursor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A process using CO 2 -selective membranes was designed for dark fermentative bio-hydrogen purification. • The optimized two-stage process enables H 2 purification of 99.5 % purity at a low cost of 0.156$/Nm3. • A 3rd-stage membrane is added to achieve simultaneous CO 2 capture obtaining various CO 2 purities. • The benefits of using H 2 -selective or CO 2 -selective membrane in the 3rd-stage is analyzed and compared. In this work, a membrane separation process is designed and optimized to purify dark fermentative biohydrogen by removing CO 2. A CO 2 -selective PVAm-based nanocomposite membrane was selected considering its high CO 2 /H 2 separation performance and unique features suitable for the process. We tested the membrane performances under the separation conditions to provide a more accurate simulation basis. Several design scenarios were investigated. A two-stage process with a recycle stream is determined as the optimal design, in which the specific cost for purifying H 2 to 99.5 vol% with H 2 loss of <10% reaches only 0.156 $/Nm3. The techno-economic feasibility study of biohydrogen purification with simultaneous CO 2 capture was also performed through an alternative design by introducing a 3rd-stage using the same membrane or an H 2 -selective membrane. Adding a 3rd-stage membrane can capture and purify CO 2 as a side product of various purities, which further decreases the H 2 loss, leading to additional economic benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The wood frame structured carbons with integrated sieving layer enable competitive dynamic separation performance of C 3 H 6 /C 3 H 8 because of the combination of advantages of efficient mass transfer capability, high adsorption capacity as well as fine molecular sieving property. [Display omitted] • In-situ method to grow a seamless precursor layer in wood cell walls. • Impart seamless molecular sieving function layer in the wood-structured carbons. • Evident molecular sieving property for C 3 H 6 /C 3 H 8 separation. • Abundant regular macropores channels for fast mass transfer. • Highly scalable and self-supportive structured adsorbents. Adsorption separation of propylene/propane is of great importance in producing the key feedstock of propylene. The core challenge lies in the design of high-performance adsorbent materials capable of high adsorption uptake and selectivity. Here we report a proof-of-concept adsorbent of wood frame structured carbons with an integrated sieving layer, which is prepared on the basis of natural woods by imparting functional polymer layers in the wood cells. The polymer layers in the wood frame penetrate into the wood walls and transform into integrated sieving layer in the resultant carbon honeycombs, rather than block the wood channels. The effective sieving layer as well as the ordered free transport channels enable this type of material to display excellent propylene/propane separation performance, showing a high propylene adsorption uptake of 1.72 mmol g−1, and an ideal adsorbed solution theory and dynamic selectivity up to 3.8 × 104 and 139 at 298 K and 1 bar, respectively. This work provides a unique idea for designing structured carbon adsorbents with selective sieving layer, which may apply to other molecular recognition, separation, and purification processes beyond propylene/propane separation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• CO 2 hydrate vapour liquid equilibria in H 2 O/D 2 O were measured. • Shifts > 2 K were observed between H 2 O/D 2 O hydrate equilibrium lines. • MD simulations successfully reproduced the shifts. • Onset nucleation temperatures of CO 2 hydrates in H 2 O/D 2 O were measured. • The nucleation occurs in the vicinity of the temperature of maximum density of H 2 O/D 2 O. In this work, we report the CO 2 hydrate phase equilibria in water (H 2 O), heavy water (D 2 O), and their binary mixtures following the isochoric pressure search method using a rocking cell apparatus. The phase behaviour was mapped within the temperature and pressure range of 276.32 – 284.80 K and 1.59 – 3.78 MPa, respectively. It was found that there is a difference of ∼ 2 K in the equilibrium line of CO 2 hydrates formed in H 2 O and in D 2 O, respectively. The hydrate dissociation enthalpies obtained using the Clausius-Clapeyron equation indicate almost similar values formed either in D 2 O, H 2 O or their mixtures. These shifts in this equilibrium temperature were compared with the triphasic equilibrium temperature variation estimation obtained using Molecular Dynamics Simulations and a very good agreement with the experimentally obtained values was observed. Further, a constant cooling method was used to obtain the onset temperature of hydrate nucleation for these systems at 3.6 MPa. It has been found that during the cooling ramps, the nucleation always occurred in the vicinity of the temperature of maximum density (TMD) of the systems where water still retains some structuredness. The nucleation experiments also give information about the metastable zone width (MSZW) of the studied systems. The results reported in this work indicate the magnitude of the isotopic effect on CO 2 hydrate formation and dissociation that may have implications towards the application of hydrate technology for separation and purification processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stem cells are specialised cells characterised by their unique ability to both self-renew and transform into a wide array of specialised cell types. The widespread interest in stem cells for regenerative medicine and cultivated meat has led to a significant demand for these cells in both research and practical applications. Despite the growing need for stem cell manufacturing, the industry faces significant obstacles, including high costs for equipment and maintenance, complicated operation, and low product quality and yield. Microfluidic technology presents a promising solution to the abovementioned challenges. As an innovative approach for manipulating liquids and cells within microchannels, microfluidics offers a plethora of advantages at an industrial scale. These benefits encompass low setup costs, ease of operation and multiplexing, minimal energy consumption, and the added advantage of being labour-free. This review presents a thorough examination of the prominent microfluidic technologies employed in stem cell research and explores their promising applications in the burgeoning stem cell industry. It thoroughly examines how microfluidics can enhance cell harvesting from tissue samples, facilitate mixing and cryopreservation, streamline microcarrier production, and efficiently conduct cell separation, purification, washing, and final cell formulation post-culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Precipitates are formed to reduce oversaturation in the cold leg of PICOLO loop. • Precipitates were collected by the magnetic trap but not completely. • The electro-magnetic pump was plugged by precipitates and highlights the risk. • Precipitates are migrating with breeder flow and can growth up to some 100 μm. • The Fe/Cr precipitates exhibit a Cr amount of 9% similar to the Eurofer composition. Several blanket concepts (e.g., HCLL, WCLL, DCLL) are based on the application of the liquid breeder Pb-15.7Li, which is in direct contact with the structural components. Compatibility testing has shown that the structural materials (e.g., Eurofer) always suffer from corrosion attack. The governing mechanism can be attributed to dissolution of the steel by the liquid breeder. A fusion device with blanket modules or also corrosion testing loops, e.g., the PICOLO loop of KIT, are non-isothermal systems. The components dissolved at higher temperature are transported with the breeder flow. At sections with cooler temperature oversaturation of the breeder will occur. Effects such as deposition, precipitate formation and transport of corrosion products will take place. Corrosion testing in PICOLO showed that such particles are formed and that they can seriously affect safe and reliable operation of Pb-15.7Li systems up to blocking of components. Thus, during maintenance work tubing sections and components were removed for analyzing the issue of corrosion product deposition. The operation conditions of the components and the loop are given in detail to assess the deposition scenarios together with the size and shape of the formed particles to support future loop design and purification measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the suitability of mechanical pre-treatment methods (mechanical abrasion and treatments of heat, laser, and plasma) together with a hydrometallurgical process comprising leaching and cementation for recovering indium from used LCD screens. With mechanical abrasion pre-treatment, 96.2% of indium was recovered and black mass with an indium content of 15.6 wt percent was obtained. Following the mechanical recovery, sulfuric acid leaching was used to produce leachates with an indium purity ranging from 86.3 to 98.0% with an 88.7–100% yield for indium. Indium was recovered from the leachate by cementation with zinc powder, but also the impurity metals were cemented. The suggested mechanical pre-treatment involving the indium recovery process was seen as a viable option since it dramatically reduces the mass fed to the hydrometallurgical purification process (by roughly a factor of 1000), and up to 97.1% pure indium product can be obtained with a simplified process. The purity of the indium product can be further increased by additional purification steps. Image 1 • Novel pre-treatment methods for recovering indium from LCD screens are discussed • Mechanical grinding recovered indium with 96.16% yield • Purity of indium in the resulting black mass was 86–98% • Indium was further recovered from the black mass by acid leaching and cementation • Laser treatment vaporized the indium tin oxide film totally from the LCD surface [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focused Electron Beam Induced Deposition is a consolidated technique for the growth of three-dimensional (3D) nanostructures. However, this single-step nanofabrication method requires further efforts to optimize simultaneously dimensional and compositional properties, in particular for deposits with a high aspect ratio. More specifically, ferromagnetic 3D nanowires (NWs) with diameters in the sub-50 nm regime and high metallic contents up to 95 at. % attract great interest to improve the final performance of magnetic nanodevices such as magnetic tips for scanning probe microscopy. In this work, we report on real-time monitoring during chemical purification and structural crystallization processes of ultra-narrow 3D Fe NWs (<50 nm in diameter achieved) by post-growth in situ annealing in a transmission electron microscope. NW heating up to 700 °C in very high vacuum reveals the local increase of the metallic content along the entire NW length concomitant with the growth of large Fe single crystals from initially amorphous compounds. A metallic purity of 95 at. % is observed in several regions, dramatically boosting the initial Fe content of 40 at. %. The real-time in situ tracking of 3D nanostructures during thermal annealing is a key element to design and optimize novel purification processes for the fabrication of customized components to be integrated in spintronic, logic and sensing devices. Image 1 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • Graphene oxide (GO) nanocomposite membrane was synthesized by vacuum dip-coating method. • For preparation of GO membrane, the modified gamma-alumina support was used. • GO nanocomposite membrane indicated promising results for hydrogen separation. Abstract In the last five recent years, molecular-sieve Graphene Oxide (GO) membranes have shown a great potential to realize high-flux and high-selectivity mixture separation, at low energy cost. Hence, in this study, GO nanocomposite membranes were fabricated on modified γ-alumina tubes for hydrogen separation. As a high-performance process, H 2 -permselective GO membrane derived from graphite source was developed by using a modified hummer method. In fact, the GO nanocomposite membranes, referred to here as carbon membranes, were prepared via vacuum dip coating of the modified γ-alumina tubes using single-layer GO solution. Special attention was devoted to obtain high H 2 /CO 2 selectivity, high H 2 permeance, and good stability in separation process. Hence, the effects of the operating conditions (temperature, and pressure on quality and performance of the GO membranes) were investigated. At the best condition, the synthesized GO membrane exhibited good H 2 /CO 2 selectivity (>57) and high H 2 permeance (in the order of 7.9 × 10−7 mol Pa-1 m-2 s-1). Moreover, it was found that the GO membrane selectivities (H 2 /CO 2 and H 2 /N 2) were decreased by temperature increasing, while selectivity trends were improved by increasing pressure gradient. It should be noted that all permeation tests were reported after time durability of around 48 h. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • Mock strawberry-like aminopropyl-modified mesoporous silica (MSAMM-SiO 2) is prepared. • MSAMM-SiO 2 is characterized by SEM, FTIR and nitrogen adsorption-desorption analysis. • The average pore diameter of MSAMM-SiO 2 is 9.27 nm. • The surface area of MSAMM-SiO 2 were 170.19 m2 g−1. • MSAMM-SiO 2 is used for column chromatographic purifying paclitaxel in Taxus × media. Abstract Paclitaxel is a very important chemotherapy drug whose separation from natural resource is still attracting significant interest. In this work, a novel mock strawberry-like aminopropyl-modified mesoporous silica (MSAMM-SiO 2) was synthesized by using the cohydrolysis and condensation method. The morphology and structure of the as-prepared MSAMM-SiO 2 were confirmed by characterization of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and nitrogen adsorption–desorption isotherms. The surface area and average pore diameter of MSAMM-SiO 2 were 170.19 m2 g−1 and 9.27 nm, respectively. The results of adsorption and separation experiments showed that MSAMM-SiO 2 had good separation performance and re-usability in taxoid standard solution or the extract of Taxus × media. The adsorption capacity of MSAMM-SiO 2 was 4.02 mg g−1 at 20 °C and an initial paclitaxel concentration of 0.05 mg g−1. This work introduced a novel mock strawberry-like aminopropyl-modified mesoporous silica for column chromatographic purifying paclitaxel in Taxus × media , which also had the potential for separating other natural products in other plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The recovery of silicon from cutting kerf-loss slurry waste for the polycrystalline silicon production has been becoming a meaningful and urgent issue. In this paper, a united method of combining electromagnetic separation and slag treatment technology was used to separate and purify silicon from silicon kerf. The low melting compound of Na 3 AlF 6 is added to the synthetic binary CaO-SiO 2 slag, which can improve the separation effect of silicon from slag phase. The mechanism of physical separation and chemical purification of silicon from cutting kerf-loss slurry waste was investigated. The experimental results show that the electromagnetic stirring has an obvious effect for silicon separation in spite of no slag addition. The addition of CaO-SiO 2 or CaO-SiO 2 -Na 3 AlF 6 slag can further improve the separation rate of silicon. The purity of separated silicon is about 99.47% after the synthetic CaO-SiO 2 -Na 3 AlF 6 slag treatment and reaches 99.98% followed by a vacuum directional solidification treatment. The recovered silicon from cutting kerf-loss slurry waste by this method can meet the purity requirement to the raw materials for silicon ingot casting. Highlights • A new recovery technology from silicon cutting kerf-loss slurry waste. • Mechanism of silicon recovery by united electromagnetic and slag treatment technology. • Si is significantly separated by electromagnetic force in spite of no slag addition. • Silicon separated and purified by this method can reach a purity of 99.98%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Fluorite, one of the major raw materials for fluoride in China, is mainly associated with sulfide and calcite minerals. The presence of these sulfide and calcite minerals cause the pipe blockage and efficiency loss during the production of anhydrous hydrofluoric acid (AHF). Worldwide, direct flotation techniques are utilized to beneficiate the fluorite into the chemical grades, but their separation efficiency remained limited due to similar flotability behaviors of fluorite, sulfide and calcite in fatty acid. In the present study, a novel method based on the acid leaching and reverse flotation has been envisaged for the purification and desulfurization of fluorite concentrates containing higher concentrations of sulfur and calcium. Leaching tests were performed by using hydrochloric acid, whereas the reverse flotation experiments were performed by using butyl xanthate as the collector and terpenic oil as the foaming agent. Leaching results showed that, calcite mineral dissolved and the fatty acid lost its collecting and foaming activities under the action of hydrochloric acid. The reverse flotation tests demonstrated that weight percent of sulfides, which are the main causes of blockage in AHF production, was substantially reduced from the fluorite concentrate. Interestingly, this method has been successfully implemented in Shizhuyuan fluorite dressing plant in China for the upgradation of fluorite concentrate. Calcite and sulfur contents of the concentrate were reduced from 4% to 0.01% and 0.5%–0.01%, respectively, and the grade of fluorite concentrate improved from 93.2% to more than 97% with a slight loss of fluorite. Furthermore, the safety in production of AHF was ensured with increased profit from the concentrator. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a novel double-skin ventilated purified window integrated with solar photo-thermal conversion/synergistic-catalytic blinds that realized the functions of space heating, air purification and shading was proposed. Firstly, experimental tests on the hybrid system with solar photo-thermal conversion/synergistic-catalytic blinds were conducted under different blind turning angles. Secondly, the heat and mass transfer model of proposed system was developed and verified experimentally. Thirdly, the thermal and formaldehyde degradation performance applied in five cities under various blind turning angles were investigated to acquire the annual optimal operation strategy on blind angle. Main results were: (1) The photo-thermal composite catalyst behaved better formaldehyde removal performance compared with single thermal catalytic material. (2) The RMSD values of air outlet temperature, air thermal efficiency, formaldehyde outlet concentration, and CADR calculated by the established model were 1.8%, 7.1%, 2.1% and 8.5%, respectively. (3) Applying the annual optimal operation strategy on blind angle in Beijing, Nanjing, Hefei, Guangzhou and Xining, the annual total reduced heating load was 375.12, 276.42, 202.22, 124.49 and 947.61 MJ/m2. The annual total reduced cooling load was 257.78, 193.10, 355.87, 345.11 and 0 MJ/m2. The annual total generated clean air was 11393.11, 9868.48, 8367.68, 7151.36 and 18135.83 m3/m2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work was essential to analyze the behavior of Fe2+ and Mn2+ ions in water and deep eutectic solvent (DES) based on choline chloride and ethylene glycol (1ChCl:2EG (choline chloride and ethylene glycol, DES)) to evaluate the electrodeposition of metallic ions. Due to their low toxicity, high solubility, biodegradability and thermal stability, DES have shown promise as alternatives to traditional solvents such as water in various applications, including biological studies. They also dissolve insoluble substances in other types of solvents, working from the purification of chemicals to the manufacture of semiconductor devices. Water, choline and ethylene glycol molecules were optimized by Density Functional Theory (DFT) through B3LYP/6–311 +G(d,p) model implemented with the Gaussian 09 W software. Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations were performed by GROMACS software 2020.04 in a cubic box of dimensions 8 nm × 8 nm × 8 nm. Quantum Theory of Atoms in Molecules (QTAIM) and analysis of Non-covalent Interactions (NCI) used Multiwfn 3.8 software. The preliminary results of MD simulations showed that gradually adding water increased the interaction between the metal center and water. Fe2+ and Mn2+ ions were placed in water (OW) and 1ClCh:2EG, indicating that the interaction between the cations and the chloride anion in DES was strong, followed by the ethylene glycol molecules (O1, O2). In the presence of water, however, Fe-OW and Mn-OW interactions were more substantial in all systems, either with the ions alone or in a mixture. Electrostatic forces acting on the electrons in the last filled layer of the iron atom provided the formation of shorter and stronger bonds than the Mn2+ ions. When placed in a 1:1 equimolar mixture, they showed little difference from when they were isolated. Thus, the Mn-Cl interaction was more significant in the presence of a eutectic solvent than the Fe-Cl interaction. QTAIM analysis showed for the FeDES and MnDES systems that the Electron Localization Function (ELF) values increased for the Fe-(O1, O2) and Mn-(O1, O2) interactions but decreased for the Fe-Cl and Mn-Cl interactions in the metal mixture. It revealed strong hydrogen bonding interactions between the water molecules, Fe2+ and Mn2+, which may affect their chemical reactivity, as the Fe-Cl interaction in DES was stronger than Fe-Cl in any water. The Laplacians of the electronic densities were positive, and so were the ELF values, indicating a predominance of non-covalent interactions of the van der Waals forces type. Considering the two metal ions alone, in the presence of DES, the interaction strength followed Fe-Cl > Mn-Cl > Fe-(O1, O2) > Mn-(O1, O2). In the mixture, Fe-Mn followed the pattern Mn-Cl > Fe-Cl > Fe-(O1, O2) > Mn-(O1, O2). Thus, comparing the 3 systems, the interaction strength was Fe-Cl > Mn-Cl > Mn-Cl mixture > Fe-Cl mixture e Fe-(O1, O2) mixture > Fe-(O1, O2) > Mn-(O1, O2) mixture > Mn-(O1, O2). The interaction strength for the systems with water was Fe-Cl mixture > Fe-Cl > Mn-Cl > Mn-Cl mixture. However, for the interaction with OW, the observed behaviors were: W300, Mn-OW > Fe-OW mixture > Mn-OW mixture > Fe-OW mixture ; W600, Mn-OW mixture > Fe-OW mixture > Mn-OW > Fe-OW; W900, Mn-OW > Fe-OW > Mn-OW mixture > Fe-OW mixture ; W1200, Mn-OW > Mn-OW mixture > Fe-OW mixture > Fe-OW mixture ; W5580, Mn-OW > Fe-OW > Mn-OW mixture > Fe-OW mixture. The mixtures in the 1:1 molar ratio of the cations presented a little discrepant from their isolated ions, suggesting a new approach to observing the behavior of these systems and the coordination possibilities. One of the prospects for expanding the study will be temperature variation, modification of metal ions and molar proportions, and the effects of these changes. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aqueous two-phase systems (ATPS) have been widely used for the purification and separation of biomolecules. However, recent studies have shown that ATPS can also be effective in the purification and recovery of other compounds, such as ionic liquids (IL). Here, we investigated the liquid-liquid phase equilibria of ATPS consisting of 5-methyl-1,5,7-triaza-bicyclo[4.3.0]non-6-enium acetate ([ m TBNH][OAc]) and potassium salts (K 2 CO 3 and K 3 PO 4) at 293.2 K and 323.2 K. Our results indicate that both systems exhibited a high IL partition coefficient (k), exceeding 9.5, and achieved a 99.5% recovery of ionic liquid. Moreover, we found that the presence of potassium salt in the ionic liquid-rich phase had a negative impact on the IL cellulose dissolution capability. Therefore, we investigated the removal of potassium salt from the IL and successfully achieved it by using a nanoporous sodium zirconium cyclosilicate (ZS-9 or AV-13). Overall, our study suggests that ATPS can be a promising technique for the purification and recovery of ionic liquids, with potential applications in various industries. Synopsis. Recovery of superbase ionic liquid from spinning bath using salt-based aqueous two-phase systems. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shikimate, a precursor to the antiviral drug oseltamivir (Tamiflu®), can influence aromatic metabolites and finds extensive use in antimicrobial, antitumor, and cardiovascular applications. Consequently, various strategies have been developed for chemical synthesis and plant extraction to enhance shikimate biosynthesis, potentially impacting environmental conditions, economic sustainability, and separation and purification processes. Microbial engineering has been developed as an environmentally friendly approach for shikimate biosynthesis. In this review, we provide a comprehensive summary of microbial strategies for shikimate biosynthesis. These strategies primarily include chassis construction, biochemical optimization, pathway remodelling, and global regulation. Furthermore, we discuss future perspectives on shikimate biosynthesis and emphasize the importance of utilizing advanced metabolic engineering tools to regulate microbial networks for constructing robust microbial cell factories. • Summary of advances in shikimate biosynthesis. • Highlights of strategies with chassis construction, biochemical strategy, pathway remold, and global regulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanomaterials and nanotechnology have proven unassailable positions for environmental remediation and medicine. Currently, global environmental pollution and public health problems are increasing and need to be urgently addressed. Manganese (Mn) is one of the essential metal elements for plants and animals, it is necessary to integrate with nanotechnology. Mn and Mn oxide (MnO) nanoparticles (NPs) have applications in dye degradation, biomedicine, electrochemical sensors, plant and animal growth, and catalysis. However, the current research is limited, especially in terms of optimal synthesis of Mn and MnO NPs, separation, purification conditions, and the development of potential application areas is too basic and do not support by in-depth studies. Hence, this review comprehensively discusses the classification, green synthesis methods, and applications of Mn and MnO NPs in biomedical, environmental, and other fields and gives a perspective for the future. [Display omitted] • Manganese nanoparticle (Mn NPs); Types and green synthesis methods were summarized. • Recent biomedical and technological applications of Mn and MnO NPs were reviewed. • The detailed environmental applications of Mn and MnO NPs were presented. • The future application prospects of Mn and MnO NPs were discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A green composite aerogel with high adsorption capacity underwater was prepared. • The 3D porous layered CNF aerogel was selected as the carrier. • Preparation and extraction without reliance on organic solvents. • The adsorption mechanism under different configurations was optimized by DFT. • The extraction and purification of catechin from tea was achieved with good results. Due to people's concern about their health, catechins have good properties of scavenging free radicals and anti-oxidative aging, so it is of great significance to separate and purify catechins from tea. In this work, high-performance cellulose nanofiber aerogels (CNF AG) were prepared by freeze-casting CNF suspensions in the presence of hydrolyzed methyltrimethoxy-silane. Subsequently, the MIRs@CNF AG with environmental friendliness and laminar porosity were prepared by loading deep eutectic solvent (DES) based-molecularly imprinted resins (MIRs) through in-situ polymerization. Among them, the CNF AG is used as a 3D carrier to support and disperse the structural skeleton of MIRs. The prepared MIRs@CNF AG is used as an adsorption column to separate and purify catechin. It has good adsorption capacity (Q e =101.94 mg g−1), specific selectivity (k′=2.04) and reusability (n=5) through adsorption experiments, and the purity of catechin is 86.75%. It also exhibits excellent underwater structural stability and compressibility through mechanical property tests, which is beneficial for the separation and purification of catechin in aqueous environments. Density functional theory (DFT) is used to study the adsorption mechanism under different configurations and the main forces are hydrogen bond, electrostatic attraction and π-π stacking. This work develops a highly selective and environmentally friendly catechin adsorbent that provides a promising direction for utilizing sustainable natural biomaterials in bioseparation applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • S-nZVI has an excellent purification effect for low-concentration Hg(II). • Sulfidation can inhibit the generation of FeOOH within a specific time. • The S0 has a strong immobilization effect on Hg0 and prevents Hg0 into the air. • Surface complexation and coprecipitation are unfavorable factors. • The products of the adsorption and reduction of Hg(II) are quantified. Mercury is highly toxic. It is a great threat to human health even with low-concentration mercury ingestion. Herein, we systematically explored the performances and mechanisms of nano zero-valent iron (nZVI) and sulfurized nano zero-valent iron (S-nZVI) for low concentration Hg(II). The S0 produced in the sulfidation process has a strong immobilization effect on Hg0 and reduces the volatilization of Hg0 into the air, which prevents secondary pollution. We discovered some unique mechanisms that occur only in the rapid treatment of low concentrations of mercury: the theory that sulfidation will inhibit the formation of FeOOH and thus enhance the reduction properties of S-nZVI was proposed for the first time; The formation of Fe(OH) x is no longer able to promote adsorption and coprecipitation for Hg(II) but instead hinders reduction on Hg(II). These findings provide insights into the purification of water containing low concentrations of Hg(II) by iron nanoparticles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Stable and functionalized SU-101(Bi) derivatives are explored by GCMC and DFT. • Separating CO 2 and C 2 H 2 from C 2 H 4 in the new Bi-MOFs is fully investigated. • Bi-MOF-CHO shows the highest CO 2 /C 2 H 4 and C 2 H 2 /C 2 H 4 selectivity. • Effects of ligand replacement/modification on separation in Bi-MOFs are analyzed. • Fine-tuning pore structure and chemistry dominate in one-step C 2 H 4 purification. One-step C 2 H 4 purification from ternary C 2 H 4 /C 2 H 2 /CO 2 mixtures is of prime importance but challenging in chemical industries, owing to similar physicochemical properties of the three gases. Herein, we investigated the potential of ultramicroporous Bi-MOFs modified with –CHO, –COOH, –NO 2 , -F, -Cl, -Br, and -I for C 2 H 4 purification. These MOFs featured good thermodynamic and thermal stability and exhibited precise regulation of channel sizes and surface structures/electronegativity. Their separation performances for CO 2 /C 2 H 4 , C 2 H 2 /C 2 H 4 , and CO 2 /C 2 H 2 were theoretically investigated by grand canonical Monte Carlo, density functional theory, and transient breakthrough simulations. Results showed that introducing –CHO/–COOH/–NO 2 enlarged the difference of adsorption uptakes between CO 2 , C 2 H 2 , and C 2 H 4 favoring efficient separation of corresponding mixtures, in which Bi-MOF-CHO showed the highest selectivity for CO 2 /C 2 H 4 , C 2 H 2 /C 2 H 4 , and CO 2 /C 2 H 2 , with values of 58.6 (64.5), 11.8 (11.5), and 7.7 (21.5) under 50/50 (1/99) at ambient conditions. The enhanced separation performance is attributed to the synergism of pore size limitation, fine-tuned surface structure, and high surface electronegativity, resulting in special CO 2 recognition, moderate enhancement for C 2 H 2 , but negligible influence on C 2 H 4 adsorption. This work provides an effective strategy to design high-performance adsorbents for one-step C 2 H 4 purification from ternary C 2 H 4 /C 2 H 2 /CO 2 mixtures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]