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In order to improve the functionality of cellulosic materials research and development of high performance soluble materials. Therefore, the Fe3O4/CMS composite membrane was prepared by using carboxymethyl salix powder (CMS) and Fe3O4 as raw materials, 1-propenyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride and dimethyl sulfoxide as dissolution system. The effects of swelling time, swelling temperature, pH and ionic strength on the swelling performance of Fe3O4/CMS composite membranes and the swelling kinetics of the composite membranes were studied. The structure of the composite membrane was characterized by SEM, FT-IR, XRD and TG. The results showed that the swelling degree reached 5.54 g·g−1, when the swelling time was 45 min, the swelling temperature was 65°C, the pH was 5 and the ionic strength was 0.08 mol·L−1. The initial phase of dissolution of the composite membrane fits well with the Fickian diffusion model, and the whole dissolution process belongs to the Schott model, indicating that the main role of the dissolution process is the diffusion of water molecules, while the composite membrane can be preserved for a long time at high temperature, which provides sustainability for the composite membrane. The characterization results showed that the surface of Fe3O4/CMS composite film was rough with small grooves. The O-H effect was enhanced and the Fe-O absorption peak appeared at 600 cm−1, indicating that Fe3O4 had been successfully loaded onto the cellulose membrane. The Fe3O4/CMS composite membrane belonged to cellulose type II structure, meanwhile, the composite membrane had good thermal stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this research, silver/graphene oxide (Ag/GO) nanohybrid was first synthesized and used in production of polysulfone (PSF) ultrafiltration (UF) membranes via phase inversion method for concentrating phycocyanin (PC) and treating methylene blue (MB) dye effluent. Designing the experiment (DOE) using Box-Behnken method by Design Expert software helped to calculate the optimal values of the variables under study. The studied variables included PSF polymer concentration, polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) pore-former concentration and Ag/GO nanohybrid content, which were investigated for their effects on pure water flux (PWF) and MB pigment rejection. According to the results of the DOE, the membrane containing 19.485 wt% PSF, 0.043 wt% PVP and 0.987 wt% Ag/GO was selected as the optimal membrane. Due to the high price of PC as drug, and the importance of removing MB pigment from the effluent of dyeing and textile industries, the membranes were first optimized with MB pigment and then the optimal membrane was used for concentrating PC. The results showed that PWF reaches from 40.05 L.m− 2.h− 1 (LMH) for the neat membrane to 156.73 LMH for the optimized membrane, which shows about 4 times improvement. Compared to the neat membrane, flux recovery ratio (FRR) of the optimized membrane increased by about 20% and its total fouling (Rt) decreased by about 10%. Also, the results showed that the optimized membrane can remove 81.6% of MB, as well as to reject 93.8% of PC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Food & Fermentation Industries is the property of Food & Fermentation Industries and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

AbstractThe membrane, a core element in pervaporation technology, is of utmost importance for its advancement. Membrane modification is one of the most effective means of achieving an efficient membrane, which is crucial for the progress of this technology. High selectivity and flux can be achieved by modifying the membrane or membrane polymer by changing properties such as the surface energy, surface roughness, arrangement of polymer chains, and polymer network. Hence, recent publications on various methods for modifying polymeric membranes in the context of pervaporation applications are meticulously summarized and categorized, and aging and fouling factors have been mentioned in this review. This evaluation provided a thorough summary of the benefits and drawbacks of each method. Among the numerous techniques, mixing, crosslinking, and surface modification are commonly employed to modify polymeric membranes specifically tailored for pervaporation processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Food & Fermentation Industries is the property of Food & Fermentation Industries and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The recovery of pure water and valuable substances from wastewater is a major challenge in the context of the circular economy, requiring advanced separation methods. However, actual membrane separation techniques such as forward osmosis are limited by membrane fouling and selectivity. Here, we synthesized composite membranes by crosslinking polyvinyl alcohol hydrogel, using both glutaraldehyde and borax as crosslinking agents, on top of cellulose ester membranes. We tested these composite membranes on model and real wastewater. Results show that the composite membranes retain ammonium effectively, maintain surface electroneutrality, and exhibit remarkable resistance to fouling by organic and biological contaminants. This is explained by the high hydrophilicity of the membrane surface after application of a hydrogel layer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nafion membranes are widely used as proton exchange membranes, but their proton conductivity deteriorates in high-temperature environments due to the loss of water molecules. To address this challenge, we propose the utilization of porous aromatic frameworks (PAFs) as a potential solution. PAFs exhibit remarkable characteristics, such as a high specific surface area and porosity, and their porous channels can be post-synthesized. Here, a novel approach was employed to synthesize a PAF material, designated as PAF-45D, which exhibits a specific surface area of 1571.9 m2·g−1 and possesses the added benefits of facile synthesis and a low cost. Subsequently, sulfonation treatment was applied to PAF-45D in order to introduce sulfonic acid groups into its pores, resulting in the formation of PAF-45DS. The successful incorporation of sulfonic groups was confirmed through TG, IR, and EDS analyses. Furthermore, a novel Nafion composite membrane was prepared by incorporating PAF-45DS. The Nyquist plot of the composite membranes demonstrates that the sulfonated PAF-45DS material can enhance the proton conductivity of Nafion membranes at high temperatures. Specifically, under identical film formation conditions, doping with a 4% mass fraction of PAF-45DS, the conductivity of the Nafion composite membrane increased remarkably from 2.25 × 10−3 S·cm−1 to 5.67 × 10−3 S·cm−1, nearly 2.5 times higher. Such promising and cost-effective materials could be envisioned for application in the field of Nafion composite membranes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The application of sulfonated poly (ether ether ketone) (SPEEK) membrane in vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFBs) is hindered by the trade-off between proton conductivity and ion selectivity. To optimize its performance, the metal-organic frameworks loaded with phytic acid (PA-UiO-66-NH2) are introduced into the SPEEK matrix to construct a proton-selective transport channel. Better proton conductivity and ion selectivity are achieved in composite membranes due to the unique porous structure and chemical characteristics of PA-UiO-66-NH2 fillers. When the PA-UiO-66-NH2 content is at 2 wt%, the S/PA-UiO-66-NH2-2 membrane exhibits higher proton conductivity (35.3 mS cm−1) and ion selectivity (41.0 × 103 S min cm−3) compared to other composite membranes, pristine SPEEK and commercial Nafion 212 membranes. As a result, the S/PA-UiO-66-NH2-2 membrane shows excellent energy efficiencies (88.1%-74.0%) at current densities ranging from 60 to 180 mA cm−2. The cell efficiencies maintain stability during the 300 times charge-discharge cycle, proving the outstanding stability and durability of the S/PA-UiO-66-NH2-2 membrane in a strong acidic and oxidizing environment. These results suggest that the combination of phytic acid and metal-organic framework can effectively improve the performance of the membranes, and it also can be further utilized to solve other challenges in the membrane separation field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the potential enhancement of proton conductivity in Nafion membranes through the incorporation of sulfo ethyl cellulose (SEC) at varying weight ratios (5 and 10 wt.%). Results indicated that increasing the weight ratio of SEC led to improvements in water absorption, activation energy, and proton conductivity within the composite membranes. Specifically, the composite membrane exhibited a significant increase in proton conductivity, reaching up to 170 mS cm−1, in contrast to the pristine Nafion membrane which recorded 40.08 mS cm−1, particularly at temperatures exceeding 120°C. At the sub‐molecular level, Fourier transfer inferred spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis of Nafion/SEC membranes unveiled cross‐linking interactions occurring between the sulfo acid groups of Nafion chains and the hydroxyls within the SEC matrix. Moreover, X‐ray diffraction (XRD) findings of the composite membranes were instrumental in identifying crystalline phases, orientation, and structural features. The results indicated variations in atomic radius and alterations in lattice parameters at the nanoscale, induced by heightened surface forces resulting from the inclusion of SEC in the Nafion matrix. This phenomenon leads to a reduction in crystallite size, accompanied by an increase in peak broadening and surface area within the composite membranes. Such changes signify a clear interaction between SEC and Nafion, as confirmed by both scanning electron microscopy and thermal gravimetry analyses. Taken together, these findings strongly indicate that the cross‐linked composite membranes utilizing SEC‐Nafion hold significant promise as proton exchange membranes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-fluorinated chitosan-based proton exchange membranes (PEMs) have been attracting considerable interest due to their environmental friendliness and relatively low cost. However, low proton conductivity and poor physicochemical properties have limited their application in fuel cells. In this work, a reinforced nanofiller (sulfonated CS/GO, S-CS/GO) is accomplished, for the first time, via a facile amidation and sulfonation reaction. Novel chitosan-based composite PEMs are successfully constructed by the incorporation of the nanofiller into the chitosan matrix. Additionally, the effects of the type and amount of the nanofillers on physicochemical and electrochemical properties are further investigated. It is demonstrated that the chitosan-based composite PEMs incorporating an appropriate amount of the nanofillers (9 wt.%) exhibit good membrane-forming ability, physicochemical properties, improved proton conductivity, and low methanol permeability even under a high temperature and low humidity environment. When the incorporated amounts of S-CS/GO are 9 wt.%, the proton conductivity of the composite PEMs was up to 0.032 S/cm but methanol permeability was decreased to 1.42 × 10−7 cm2/s. Compared to a pristine CS membrane, the tensile strength of the composite membrane is improved by 98% and the methanol permeability is reduced by 51%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a series of collagen–chitosan–eugenol (CO–CS–Eu) flow‐casting composite films were prepared using collagen from sturgeon skin, chitosan, and eugenol. The physicochemical properties, mechanical properties, microstructure, as well as antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of the composite membranes were investigated by various characterization techniques. The findings revealed that the inclusion of eugenol augmented the thickness of the film, darkened its color, reduced the transparency, and enhanced the ultraviolet light‐blocking capabilities, with the physicochemical properties of the CO–CS–0.25%Eu film being notably favorable. Eugenol generates increasingly intricate matrices that disperse within the system, thereby modifying the optical properties of the material. Furthermore, the tensile strength of the film decreased from 70.97 to 20.32 MPa, indicating that eugenol enhances the fluidity and ductility of the film. Added eugenol also exhibited structural impact by loosening the film cross‐section and decreasing its density. The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy results revealed the occurrence of several intermolecular interactions among collagen, chitosan, and eugenol. Moreover, the incorporation of eugenol bolstered the antioxidant and antimicrobial capabilities of the composite film. This is primarily attributed to the abundant phenolic/hydroxyl groups present in eugenol, which can react with free radicals by forming phenoxy groups and neutralizing hydroxyl groups. Consequently, inclusion of eugenol substantially enhances the freshness retention performance of the composite film. Practical Application: ● The CO–CS–Eu film utilizes collagen from sturgeon skin, improving the use of sturgeon resources.● Different concentrations of eugenol altered its synergistic effect with chitosan.● The CO–CS–Eu film is composed of natural products with safe and edible properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing proton-exchange membranes (PEMs) for energy applications is necessary for fulfilling the increasing energy demand without environmental effects. In this study, we prepared composite membranes containing mercaptoethanol-assisted sulfonic acid-functionalized polysiloxanes (MASFPs) and perfluorinated sulfonic acid (PFSA). The MASFP-containing composite membrane (i.e., CMASFP-2) exhibited better membrane properties than the composite membrane prepared without mercaptoethanol (CMASFP-1) and the reference Nafion 212 membrane. Wide-angle X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies revealed a broad peak at 2θ = 17.4° and 39°, indicating that the composite membranes are semicrystalline. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis revealed that the prepared composite membranes had good morphology, whereas energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analysis revealed that it had siloxane and more sulfonic acid than the pristine PFSA membrane. Thermogravimetric and mechanical strength analyses revealed that incorporating sulfonic acid-functionalized siloxanes improved the thermal stability and mechanical strain of the membrane. The prepared CMASFP-2 membrane had a high ionic conductivity of 0.106 mS cm−1 and an ion-exchange capacity of 1.09 meq·g−1. CMASFP-2 also exhibited lower hydrogen gas permeability than the Nafion 212 and PFSA membranes, demonstrating that it can be used for energy applications. [Display omitted] • A new sulfonic acid-functionalized siloxane was used in composite membranes with PFSA. • The addition of mercaptoethanol enhanced the sulfonic acid amount in the siloxanes. • The CMASFP-2 membrane had a better ionic conductivity and ion-exchange capacity than Nafion 212. • The addition of siloxane improves mechanical strain and lowers H 2 gas permeability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, a nanocellulose acetate and acrylate polymer composite membrane was formed by the phase transfer technique. The physical and mechanical properties, water flux, and desalination performance of the achieved composite membrane were investigated. When 3 % (w/w) acrylate polymer, 10 % acetylated nanocellulose, and 0.3 % mass fraction of TiO2 were used for the formation of the membrane, the obtained product could reach a tensile strength of 1.97 N/mm2 and a pure water flux of 51 L/(m2 h). Moreover, the composite membrane achieved a desalination rate of 92.4 %. Thus, the obtained composite membrane could meet the performance requirements for the treatment of industrial wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the preparation, characterization, and fuel cell performance tests of high‐performance and low‐cost zirconium phosphate (ZrP)‐additive sulfonated polyethersulfone (sPES) membranes, which may serve as a substitute for the commercial membrane used in proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC), were carried out. ZrP‐additive sPES membranes were prepared by solution casting method with different weight ratios (2.5%, 5%, and 9%). Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), water uptake capacity (WUc), dynamic mechanical analysis, ion exchange capacity (IEx), degree of hydration, impedance analysis, and oxidative stability were used to characterize the created membranes. Ultimately, single‐cell performance experiments were used to evaluate the membranes' performance in real fuel cell environments. ZrP additive improved the WUc, mechanical properties, IEx, and proton conductivity properties of the membrane. WUc of the membranes enhanced by approximately 94% at 80°C, while the proton conductivity augment by approximately 47% with 9% ZrP by weight. 0.97 meq g−1 IEx was obtained for the sPES, whereas it was obtained as 1.41 meq g−1 for sPES‐9ZrP. Oxidative stability experiments for 120‐h determined that all synthesized membranes had a stable structure, and their weight losses varied between 68% and 85%. The sPES‐9ZrP exhibited very high values at 0.6 V, resulting in a power density of 680 mW cm−2 and a current density of 1100 mA cm−2. The results obtained are quite promising, and sPES and ZrP in composite membrane structures have high synergy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research aims to validate the capability of composite nickel-based membranes in separating hydrogen and to examine how multi-layer deposits influence the density of the nickel film. The study evaluated the hydrogen permselectivity of the membranes for both single gases (H 2 , N 2) and binary mixtures over a temperature range from 25 °C to 700 °C. The findings revealed that the thickness of the nickel layer (ranging from 2 μm to 37 μm) and its adhesion to the support material affected the hydrogen transport through the films. Increasing the number of electroless plating treatments and the nickel thickness on γ-alumina and α-alumina tubular supports resulted in decreased hydrogen permeance but improved hydrogen selectivity. This was attributed to the enhanced recovery of the γ-alumina support and efficient filling of α-alumina support pores, depending on the membrane type. The study identified multiple mechanisms contributing to hydrogen transport, including surface diffusion, Knudsen diffusion at lower temperatures (<300 °C), and activated diffusion processes at higher temperatures (>300 °C). At 700 °C, for a Ni/0.8 μm-α-Al 2 O 3 membrane with a 37 μm nickel film, the hydrogen permeance for single gases was 5.8 × 10−8 mol/m2 s Pa (189 GPU: gas permeance unit) with an ideal selectivity of 199 towards N 2. It was 7.3 × 10−8 mol/m2 s Pa (238 GPU) for gas mixtures with an H 2 /N 2 separation factor of 148. These results suggest that these membranes are particularly effective at high temperatures, emphasizing their potential for hydrogen separation applications and positioning them as promising materials for further development in this field. • Composite Membrane Success: Nickel-based membranes show remarkable efficiency in hydrogen separation. • Optimized Thickness: Balancing nickel layer thickness enhances hydrogen permeance and selectivity. • Temperature-Dependent Mechanisms: The study reveals diverse hydrogen transport modes at different temperatures. • Nickel's Thermal Resilience: High-temperature performance without hydrogen embrittlement highlights nickel's potential. • Application Versatility: Membranes demonstrate effectiveness for both single gases and binary mixtures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low-sulfonation-level polyether sulfone octyl sulfonamide (LSPSO) was blended with a layered double hydroxides (LDHs, Mg2AlCl)/sepiolite nanostructure clay as a filler to create an electrolyte membrane for fuel cell applications. Comprehensive characterization of the composite membranes was conducted, encompassing Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, mechanical stability assessment, thermal gravimetric analysis, ion exchange capability, swelling characteristics, water uptake performance, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy analysis. In comparison to the pristine LSPSO membrane, the presence of LDHs/sepiolite nanoarchitecture material within LSPSO exhibited superior water retention and proton conductivity values, especially at elevated temperatures. The proton conductivity of the composite membranes reached approximately 250 mS/cm, while the unmodified LSPSO membrane only achieved 35 mS/cm at 100 °C. Moreover, LSPSO composite membranes demonstrated enhanced chemical and thermal stability along with higher proton conductivity when compared to pristine LSPSO membranes. These findings highlight the potential of developing tailored LSPSO composite membranes to advance the prospects of commercial applications in proton exchange membrane fuel cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An innovative methodology was employed to fabricate ion exchange membranes tailored for fuel cell applications. This approach entailed blending low sulfonated polyether sulfone octyl sulfonamide (LSPSO) with Hectorite (Hect) clay at varying weight percentages (1 wt%, 3 wt%, and 6 wt%). The resultant composite membranes underwent comprehensive characterization via Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis, aiming to assess their surface morphology and thermal resilience. Remarkably, the thermal stability of the composite membrane exhibited a substantial enhancement in comparison to the pristine LSPSO membrane. Moreover, the incorporation of 6 wt% Hectorite into the composite membrane yielded a noteworthy amplification in proton conductivity, achieving a fourfold increase (141.66 mS/cm) as opposed to the LSPSO membrane in isolation (35.04 mS/cm). Consequently, the Hect/LSPSO composite membrane exhibits remarkable potential as an electrolyte membrane for fuel cells operating at temperatures surpassing 100 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, phosphotungstic acid (HPW)-loaded polydopamine-coated magnetic nanoparticles (DMNPs@HPW) were prepared and incorporated into sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) (SPEEK) matrix with magnetic field assistance to construct aligned channels to shorten proton transport pathways. The structure of the prepared composite membranes (M-SP/DMNPs@HPW) with magnetic field-induced proton channels was confirmed by SEM. The proton conductivity of M-SP/DMNPs@HPW-2 was significantly improved, with in-plane proton conductivity (σ //) of 159.3 mS/cm and through-plane proton conductivity (σ ⊥) of 129.2 mS/cm in the hydrated state at 80 °C, which were 1.31 and 1.57 times higher than the pristine SPEEK membrane, due to the strong acidity of HPW and acid-base interaction of amine and sulfonic acid groups. Meanwhile, the σ ⊥ of M-SP/DMNPs@HPW-2 was 1.14 times higher than that of SP/DMNPs@HPW-2 membrane prepared without magnetic field assistance. The fuel cell power output of M-SP/DMNPs@HPW-2 was 433 mW/cm2, while SP/DMNPs@HPW-2 and pristine SPEEK membranes tested under the same conditions were 360 mW/cm2 and 277 mW/cm2, respectively. The hydrogen crossover of M-SP/DMNPs@HPW-2 was slightly increased compared to SP/DMNPs@HPW-2 due to the construction of through-plane proton transport channels in the membrane. [Display omitted] • Phosphotungstic acid-loaded magnetic nanoparticles (DMNPs@HPW) were prepared. • Proton transport channels were constructed with magnetic field assistance. • DMNPs@HPW orderly aligned in SPEEK matrix, facilitated proton transfer. • The composite PEMs showed high proton conductivity and fuel cell performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Combined high ionic conductivity and high mechanical properties are the requirements of the electrolyte membrane for alkaline anion exchange membrane fuel cells. Quaternary ammonium groups functionalized MXene as filler could improve the mechanical strength and ionic conductivity of membrane. In this work, a Quaternized poly(p-terphenylene piperidinium) (QPAP) /Quaternary MXene(NH 4 –Mo 2 Ti 2 C 3 T x)/QPAP triple-layer membrane was fabricated. The OH− ionic conductivity of the triple-layer QPAP/NH 4 –Mo 2 Ti 2 C 3 T x /QPAP membrane is 0.121 S cm−1 at 80 °C, which is around 53 % higher than that of the pristine QPAP. The QPAP/NH 4 –Mo 2 Ti 2 C 3 T x /QPAP membrane exhibits peak power density of 540 mW cm−2. The improved conductivity and performance of AEM could be attributed to the quaternary ammonium groups on the NH 4 –Mo 2 Ti 2 C 3 T x surface as the vehicle for OH− transport. The QPAP/NH 4 –Mo 2 Ti 2 C 3 T x electrolyte membrane was also observed to exhibit high stability. Moreover, QPAP/NH 4 –Mo 2 Ti 2 C 3 T x /QPAP with a three-layer structure membrane exhibits a high tensile strength (TS, ∼68 MPa) and high elongation at break (EB, ∼21 %), which reach about three times that of the pristine QPAP membrane. • NH 4 –Mo 2 Ti 2 C 3 T x could provide more hopping sites and construct hydroxide ion transfer channels. • The QPAP/NH 4 –Mo 2 Ti 2 C 3 T x /QPAP three layers membrane exhibits a substantial increase for fuel cell performance. • The active surface with terminated –NH 4 + groups renders Mo 2 Ti 2 C 3 T x a useful nanoblock in AAEMFCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanoparticles can suppress asymmetric precursor support collapse during pyrolysis to create carbon molecular sieve (CMS) membranes. This advance allows elimination of standard sol‐gel support stabilization steps. Here we report a simple but surprisingly important thermal soaking step at 400 °C in the pyrolysis process to obtain high performance CMS membranes. The composite CMS membranes show CO2/CH4 (50 : 50) mixed gas feed with an attractive CO2/CH4 selectivity of 134.2 and CO2 permeance of 71 GPU at 35 °C. Furthermore, a H2/CH4 selectivity of 663 with H2 permeance of 240 GPU was achieved for promising green energy resource‐H2 separation processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A unique functionalized organosilane (FOSi) is synthesized and prepared as a hybrid organic-inorganic composite membrane (OICM) using short-side-chain perfluorosulfonic acid (SSC-PFSA) at a large scale for vanadium redox flow battery (VRFB). The OICM solution is fabricated by using 75 wt % of SSC-PFSA and 25 wt % of FOSi and cast with the help of Roll to Roll (R2R) film casting equipment. The OICM's proton conductivity and performance are comparable to the Nafion membrane, owing to additional hydrophilic fields in the hybrid membrane. The OICM possesses proton conductivity of 0.13 S/cm and an ion exchange capacity of 1.44 meq/g, even though the water uptake has been lowered than the PFSA owing to better dispersion of FOSi. OICM has a low vanadium permeability (1.52 × 10−6 cm2/min) and remarkable selectivity, which is a significant benefit. Consequently, over 45th cycles, the OICM performs comparably to Nafion in energy efficiency combined with coulombic and voltage efficiency. The unit cell-test with OICM shows a normalized coulombic efficiency due to low permeability than PFSA and high voltage efficiency due to high proton conductivity. Hence OICM divulges a promising path to developing an alternative membrane for energy devices. [Display omitted] • Short-side-chain PFSA is mixed with Functionalized Organosilane (75:25). • Large-scale production of the composite membrane using roll-to-roll equipment. • Functionalized silane addition effectively increased ionic conductivity. • The composite membrane's vanadium ion permeability is substantially decreased. • Cell performance of composite membranes is comparable to that of Nafion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bipolar membrane fuel cell (BPMFC) undergoes self-humidification due to formation of water at the interface of proton exchange layer (PEL) and anion exchange layer (AEL). Ion conductivity and dimensional stability of individual layers (PEL/AEL) play crucial role in the ohmic resistance/interface resistance of the BPM. A series of polysulfone based composite anion exchange membranes (AEMs) were synthesized by varying 2, 4, 6, and 8 % w/w of surface modified montmorillonite (MMT) nano clay (SM-MMT), and their electrochemical/physiochemical properties were optimized and compared with commercial AEM fumasep®, FAS-50. The AEM with 6 wt% SM-MMT (AEM-SM-MMT-06) showed improved OH− conductivity (103.34 mS cm−1, 80 °C) compared to both AEM-pristine (72.68 mS cm−1, 80 °C) and commercial FAS-50 (86.61 mS cm−1, 80 °C), while dimensional stability (i.e. swelling ratio, %) of AEM-SM-MMT-06 (16.43 %) much higher compared to pristine AEM (47.37 %), but closer to fumasep® (FAS-50, at 80 °C, 15.78 %). Finally, BPM fuel cell test carried out without external humidification showed peak power density of 331.2 mW cm−2 with nafion-212 (PEL)/AEM-SM-MMT-06 (AEL), followed by other two BPMs (nafion-212/FAS-50, 270 mW cm−2; nafion-212/AEM-pristine, 246 mW cm−2). • Polysulfone based composite anion exchange membranes (AEM) were synthesized. • Surface modified nano clay (SM-MMT) was incorporated as nanofiller. • AEM with SM-MMT loading of 6 wt% showed highest OH− conductivity and dimensional stability. • Synthesized AEM was used as anion exchange layer in bipolar membrane fuel cell (BPMFC). • BPMFC with AEM-SM-MMT-06 achieved highest power density of 331.2 mW cm−2 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Novel composite membranes are successfully developed for adsorption and catalytic degradation of methylene blue (MB) by blending Fe3O4‐coated CNTs (Fe3O4@CNTs) nanoparticles in polyethersulfone (PES) and sulfonated polysulfone (SPSf) matrix via nonsolvent‐induced phase separation (NIPS) method assisted by magnetic field. Fe3O4@CNTs nanoparticles migrate to the separation layer under the induction of magnetic field, thus Fe3O4@CNTs/PES/SPSf composite membranes prepared under magnetic field exhibit a better dye removal ability compared with that without magnetic field. The MB removal ratio by Fe3O4@CNTs/PES/SPSf composite membrane containing 8 wt% Fe3O4@CNTs (M2−M) can reach up to 99% in 30 min under the conditions of 0.25 g composite membrane, 20 mg/L MB, 0.1 mol/L H2O2, pH = 3 and 80°C. Furthermore, the composite membranes show excellent recycling performance, as the MB removal capacity remains at 99% even after four cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The composites consisted of oxygen ion conductive (La 0.75 Sr 0.2 Ba 0.05) 0.175 Ce 0.825 O 1.891 (LSBC) and proton conductive BaZr 0.1 Ce 0.7 Y 0.2 O 3 -δ (BZCY) prepared by solid state reaction and impregnation are sintered to form composite and phase gradient membranes, respectively. The conductivity of (100-x)LSBC-xBZCY composite membranes exhibit non-ohmic in air and semiconductive diode behavior in Ar/5%H 2 higher than 500 °C. The elemental concentration gradient of Ba, Ce and O at grain boundaries of LSBC/BZCY corresponds to the inter-diffusion and Schottky barrier formation. The Schottky barrier of dual phase boundary (DPB) may be beneficial for dual-ion conduction. The microstructures of sintered and polished (100-x)LSBC-xBZCY surface exhibit convex hard LSBC and concave soft BZCY. The percolated 70LSBC-30BZCY of the composite membrane obtains the power density of 20.51 mW/cm2. The phase gradient membrane of BZCY impregnated LSBC presents the higher power density of 40.6 mW/cm2 (700 °C). The new two-phase composite and phase gradient membranes generate more simple and compact layer structure than sandwiched solid oxide fuel cell. Such two-phase dual-ion membranes provided by our economical process can be considered to develop new single membrane fuel cells possibly. [Display omitted] • Realize two-phase composite and phase gradient membrane fuel cells economically. • Schottky barrier of dual phase boundary (DPB) is beneficial for dual-ion conduction. • Percolated two-phase composite membrane obtains the high power density. • Phase gradient membrane provides more enhanced single layer fuel cell performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we have reported a new strategy to prepare metal/ceramic membranes that can be used as an alternative to conventional high-cost palladium membranes. For the first time, a uniform Ni layer was deposited using the organic-inorganic activation method via the ELP technique. Although, alloying Pd–Ni resulted in a defect-free thin membrane layer (2 μm). The H 2 permeation flux of the composite membrane was 1.43 × 10−2 mol m−2 s−1 at 450 °C and TMP of 100 kPa with infinite H 2 /N 2 selectivity. Stage cut effect as a function of transmembrane pressure (TMP) was assessed in binary mixtures at 450 °C. The prepared composite membrane indicated perfect long-time permeance stability for 145 h at 450 °C and TMP of 100–300 kPa. The results showed that solution-diffusion is the dominant mechanism in the hydrogen transport through the composite membranes. [Display omitted] • A uniform Ni layer was deposited using the organic-inorganic activation method. • Knudsen diffusion governed hydrogen transport in the Ni composite membrane. • Alloying Pd–Ni results in a defect-free membrane layer with infinite H 2 /N 2 selectivity. • The Pd–Ni composite membrane showed perfect permeance stability over 145 h at 450 °C. • Solution-diffusion governed hydrogen transport in the Pd–Ni composite membrane. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since high costs restrict the wide-range implementation of green hydrogen production capacities based on proton exchange membrane water electrolysis (PEMWE), efforts on cost reduced components need to be made. Beside the necessary noble metal catalyst, the membrane material is a main cost driver. In this work, a novel glass fibre reinforced PFSA/ssPS composite membrane is investigated as an alternative to widely used Nafion®. These membranes are processed into membrane-electrode-assemblies (MEAs) in conjunction with catalyst-coated substrates, prepared via electrochemical catalyst deposition. This approach is promising to reduce costs due to less expensive raw materials and due to increasing catalyst utilization by graded catalyst layers. Characterisation of the components and entire MEAs was performed ex-situ as well as in-situ via PEMWE operation. Novel MEAs revealed 2.0 V at 0.5 A cm2, which indicates good potential, but still requires further development efforts. • PEM based on Aquivion ionomer, glass fibre fabric and crushed ion exchange resin. • CCM based on glass fibre reinforced composites reveals 2 V at 2 A cm−2. • Ti-PTL/ATO/Ir anode unveils 2 V and GDL/CNF/Pt cathode 2.3 V at 2 A cm−2. • Electrodeposited electrodes maintain 2.2 V during 62 h of operation at 2 A cm−2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this research, glycerol was used as fuel for a direct glycerol fuel cell (DGFC). Nafion (NF) was used to fabricate a proton exchange membrane and microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) was used as a filler for fabricating the NF composite membranes with different MCC loadings (0, 5, 10, or 15 wt%). The composite membranes were characterized using X-ray diffraction XRD for study of the crystallinity index (CI), SEM-EDS was applied to observe the atom dispersion of membranes, and FTIR-ATR was used to identify the chemical bonds of samples. The results showed that the 15 % MCC/NF membrane had a greater CI than the 5 % MCC/NF composite membrane, while the atom dispersion of the 5 % MCC/NF membrane was better than the others. The composite membrane properties were tested based on water uptake, solubility, ion exchange capacity, chemical degradation, 1 M and 2 M glycerol permeability, proton conductivity, selectivity, and fuel cell performance. The 5 wt% MCC loading increased the water uptake and proton conductivity and decreased the glycerol crossover compared to the other membranes. However, 15 wt% MCC had more durable chemical membrane degradation than the 5 wt% MCC membrane and the solubility test identified that the 5 %, 10 %, and 15 % MCC/NF composite membranes had 2.97, 3.08, and 4.92 times, respectively, that of the recast NF membrane. The highest selectivity (1.54 × 105 Sscm−1) of the membranes was recorded for the 5 % MCC/NF composite membrane at 50 °C. The DGFC performance with 1 M glycerol at 70 °C of the 5 % MCC/NF composite membrane had a maximum power density 18.07 mW/cm2 and a current density 0.139 mA/cm2. • MCC loadings of 0, 5, 10, and 15 wt% was composited to Nafion membranes. • The highest selectivity was 1.54 × 105 Sscm−1 for the 5 % MCC/NF at 50 °C. • 5 % MCC/NF showed the maximum power density of 18.07 mW/cm2. • 5 % MCC/NF demonstrated the highest current density of 0.139 mA/cm2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) is one prominent alternative energy technology. However, there are many problems that prevent the commercialization of DMFC, such as methanol crossover, low power density, and degradation of the membrane. To resolve these issues, functionalized graphene oxide (GO) and calcium hydroxy phosphate (CHP) were incorporated into the Nafion membrane to make a composite membrane. The content of the CHP was varied to determine and further investigation involved spraying the same amount of CHP onto the Nafion membrane to compare with the composite membrane. The fillers were characterized using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray Powder Diffraction. The ex-situ tests investigated water uptake, solubility, and chemical degradation, while the in-situ tests investigated electrochemical impedance (EIS), methanol permeability, fuel cell performance, and durability. Adding both 1 wt% of CHP and 0.05 wt% functionalized GO into the Nafion membrane, resulting in a 1.86-fold higher durability than that of recast Nafion. In addition, the maximum power density of the composite membrane was 1.34-fold higher (75.41 mW/cm2) than that of the recast Nafion (56.11 mW/cm2) at 1 M methanol and 70 °C. At 2 M methanol and 70 °C, the maximum power density of the composite membrane increased to 80.19 mW/cm2 but then decreased to 46.00 mW/cm2 when the methanol feed increased to 4 M, due to the large amount of methanol crossover. • 1 wt% CHP functionalized 0.05 wt% GO/Nafion was used for DMFC. • The composite membrane was 1.86-fold higher durability than that of recast Nafion. • Power density was 1.34-fold higher than that of Nafion at 1 M methanol and 70 °C. • At 2 M methanol and 70 °C was the optimum condition for DMFC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fumion (FAA3) is a predominant anion exchange membrane/ionomer (AEM/AEI) widely used in energy storage and energy conversion applications. However, its physicochemical stability and electrochemical performance are still quite low for profitable commercialization. Improving the properties of Fumion membrane via the addition of nanofillers or polymer blends is not being widely studied so far. Therefore, in this study, the Fumion membrane with different wt% of graphene oxide (GO) nanofiller was widely investigated for the fuel cell application. The obtained results indicated that water uptake, ionic conductivity, water contact angle, ion exchange capacity, physicochemical stability, and single-cell performance was improved by the incorporation of GO. Notably, the Fumion/GO nanocomposite membrane with 1.08 wt% of GO reached the highest ionic conductivity of 106.83 mS cm−1 at 90 °C, whereas the pristine Fumion exhibited ionic conductivity of only 29.19 mS cm−1. On top of that, the composite membrane achieved a maximum peak power density of 132 mW/cm2 in an alkaline H 2 /O 2 fuel cell with robust open-circuit voltage (OCV) for 150 h. The overall study demonstrates that an appropriate amount of GO addition could result in a promising Fumion anion exchange membrane for electrolyte applications. [Display omitted] • Novel Fumion/GO nanocomposite membrane was prepared by simple solution casting method. • Addition of GO enhances the various properties of Fumion membrane. • Robust alkaline stability in 5 M NaOH over 200 h at 60 °C was observed. • Enhanced fuel cell performance and open circuit voltage maintain up to 150 h. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photocatalysis has emerged as a promising technology for the removal of emerging contaminants such as antibiotics from water. Fixing photocatalytic materials on polymers to prepare applicable membranes is a feasible method for applying photocatalysis. This study explored the preparation of composite PAN-TiO2 and PAN-TiO2-rGO (PAN-rGTi) photocatalytic membranes by combining TiO2, TiO2-reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and polyacrylonitrile (PAN) using electrospinning. Characterization through SEM and EDS analysis confirms the composite membrane's microstructure and elemental composition. The electrospun PAN-TiO2 and PAN-rGTi composite membranes exhibit a stable and efficient photocatalytic performance in degrading sulfamethoxazole (SMX) and enrofloxacin (ENR), two typical antibiotics commonly found in water bodies. Photocatalytic degradation experiments under simulated solar light reveal the superior performance of the composite photocatalytic membranes compared to PAN alone, with a notable increase in the reaction rate constants of PAN-TiO2 (1.8 to 2.2 times for SMX and 3.2 to 4.0 times for ENR) and even higher enhancements for PAN-rGTi (2.8 to 3.0 times for SMX and 5.4 to 6.5 times for ENR) compared to PAN alone. Despite minor decreases (from 97.6% to 90.4%) in activity over five cycles, the photocatalytic composite membranes remain effective, showcasing their stability and recyclability. This study highlights the potential application of PAN-TiO2 and PAN-rGTi composite membranes as sustainable and effective materials for removing emerging contaminants from water. Further exploration should focus on optimizing materials for specific emerging contaminants and improving their application feasibility for wastewater and water treatment and water purification in water bodies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Copyright of Cotton Textile Technology is the property of Cotton Textile Technology Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Composite membranes comprising sulfonated poly (ether ether ketone) (SPEEK) blended with varying proportions of sulfo ethyl cellulose (SEC) at 5 wt% and 10 wt% were fabricated for fuel cell application. The structural, morphological, and thermal properties of these membranes were investigated using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. The composite membranes exhibited enhanced thermal stability and increased water absorption compared to the pristine SPEEK. Moreover, the proton conductivity of the composite membranes surpassed that of pure SPEEK, reaching up to 110 mS/cm at temperatures exceeding 100 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salix psammophila wood flour /polyvinyl alcohol hydrogel composite membrane (SPPM) with high adsorption capacity and good cycle adsorption performance was prepared by wet spinning technology. The SPPM was characterised by the scanning electron microscope (SEM), specific surface area test (BET), energy dispersive spectrum (EDS) thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The results showed that the surface of SPPM is rough and porous, with good pore structure and thermal stability, and mercury ions (Hg(II)) have been successfully adsorbed on SPPM. At the same time, the effects of adsorption conditions (Hg(II) initial concentration, pH, adsorption time, and temperature) on the adsorption performance of SPPM were studied. Results from the adsorption experiment showed that the adsorption capacity of SPPM for Hg(II) can reach 426 mg/g. After four adsorption and desorption experiments, the adsorption capacity can reach 375 mg/g, which indicates that SPPM has good cycle adsorption performance. The adsorption kinetics was better described by the Pseudo-second-order kinetic, and their adsorption isotherms were fitted for the Langmuir model. The obtained results showed that SPPM is an available, economical adsorbent and was found suitable for removing Hg(II) from an aqueous solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simultaneously high-rate and high-safety lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) have long been the research focus in both academia and industry. In this study, a multifunctional composite membrane fabricated by incorporating poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) with magnesium carbonate hydroxide (MCH) nanofibers was reported for the first time. Compared to commercial polypropylene (PP) membranes and neat PVDF membranes, the composite membrane exhibits various excellent properties, including higher porosity (85.9%) and electrolyte wettability (539.8%), better ionic conductivity (1.4 mS·cm−1), and lower interfacial resistance (93.3 Ω). It can remain dimensionally stable up to 180 °C, preventing LIBs from fast internal short-circuiting at the beginning of a thermal runaway situation. When a coin cell assembled with this composite membrane was tested at a high temperature (100 °C), it showed superior charge–discharge performance across 100 cycles. Furthermore, this composite membrane demonstrated greatly improved flame retardancy compared with PP and PVDF membranes. We anticipate that this multifunctional membrane will be a promising separator candidate for next-generation LIBs and other energy storage devices, in order to meet rate and safety requirements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study proposed fabricating an industrially feasible zeolite membrane on an indigenously developed inexpensive tubular ceramic substrate. A type of zeolite framework, Faujasite, was deposited on the substrate using source materials, such as alumina and silica, by hydrothermal treatment. The membrane was characterised by XRD, FESEM, zeta potential, and contact angle analyses. Distinguishable physical and structural characteristics of the zeolite membrane from ceramic substrate substantiated a formation of the composite membrane. Further, the potentiality of the membrane was assessed on the removal of hexavalent chromium from synthetic wastewater at various operating parameters in a crossflow system. The prepared membrane offered a maximum chromium removal of 82% with a flux of 5.05 × 10-5 m³m-2s-1 at the operating conditions of 1,000 ppm concentration, 345 kPa pressure, and 1.11 × 10-6 m³s-1 crossflow rate. The membrane revealed its essential employment by providing a higher flux with better rejection than other membranes applied in chromium removal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To prepare air filtration materials with antibacterial properties, PSF nanofibrous membranes were prepared by electrospinning method. Polysulfone (PSF) was used as solute, N, N-dimethylformamide (DMF) and l-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) were used as solvent, and then zinc oxide (ZnO) films were magnetron sputtered on the surface of the prepared PSF nanofibrous membranes. Finally, the PSF/ZIF8 nanofibrous membranes were obtained by converting ZnO film into zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF8) crystals after the hydrothermal process. The physical and chemical properties, filtration properties, air permeability, antibacterial and bacterial filtration properties of the obtained composite membranes were tested subsequently. The results show that the filtration efficiency of PSF/ZIF8 nanofibrous membranes can reach 99. 82% for PM0.3. The high porosity of the nanofibrous membranes results in a high air permeability (340. 36 mm • s-1). In addition, the composite membrane has certain antibacterial properties against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, and the interception efficiency against both bacteria reaches 99. 99%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyvinyl alcohol/agar/maltodextrin composite membranes at different ratios are investigated for the removal of the antibiotic ciprofloxacin from water. The factors affecting the adsorption capacity of the as-synthesized membranes include time, pH, temperature, concentration, and dosage of film. The PAM244 and PAM433 membranes are subjected to optimization using response surface methodology model employing the Box-Behnken experimental design model. The optimal model has shown compatibility between the experimental value and the predicted value of the model. The correlation coefficients of PAM244 and PAM433 are recorded as R² = 0.999 and R² = 0.991, respectively. The model also proposes the optimal parameters. For PAM244, the adsorption capacity predicted from the model is 11.52 mg g-1 (42% of efficiency) at pH 5.89, a concentration of 41.28 mg L-1, over a time period of 19.87 min, and dosage of film 2.08 g L-1 For PAM433, the adsorption capacity predicted from the model is 10.46 mg g-1 (40% of efficiency) at pH 6.07, a concentration of 41.24 mg L-1, over a time period of 19.59 min, and dosage of film 2.16 g L-1 To enhance the potential of the material, the membrane reusability is also examined with the number of reuses being three times with the PAM244 membrane and twice with the PAM433 membrane. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to improve polycarbonate (PC) membrane properties by incorporation of various amounts of polydopamine-modified titanium oxide (TiO2-PDA) nanoparticles (0.5–1.5 wt%). Neat PC and composite membranes fabricated were evaluated by a submerged membrane system for the removal of oily wastewater. The results observed from Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis demonstrated PDA immobilization on the surfaces of TiO2 nanoparticles. Moreover, the PC nanocomposite membranes fabricated were characterized using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), field emission scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, contact angle, porosity measurement, mechanical analysis and pure water flux. TGA analyses indicated that the degradation temperature of neat PC membrane was increased influenced by the incorporation of TiO2-PDA nanoparticles in the polymer matrix. The addition of TiO2-PDA nanoparticles led to increase in hydrophilicity and porosity of neat PC membranes. Incorporation of TiO2-PDA nanoparticles resulted in forming large pores and macrovoids on the surface and cross-section of the composite membranes. The tensile strength was lessened up to 43% by adding 1.5 wt% TiO2-PDA nanoparticles. Among the samples, PC/TiO2-PDA-1 nanocomposite membranes revealed higher FRR (76.3%) and lower IFR (23%) with a total organic carbon content of 62.6 mgL−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two lignin-based composite films were prepared by solution casting, which were named Cu-CLA/PVA and CuO-LA/PVA/CNF, respectively. The kinetic and thermodynamic analyses of the deodorization process of the composite membranes were performed by using adsorption models. The results showed that both membranes had good adsorption performance for H2S with the adsorption amounts of 36.39 mg g−1 and 35.69 mg g−1, respectively. The adsorption processes were mainly following the pseudo-secondary kinetic model, intraparticle diffusion model, and Freundlich isothermal adsorption model, indicating that the intraparticle diffusion resistance controlled the H2S adsorption rate and H2S was adsorbed on the non-homogeneous surface of the membranes through multiple layers. The adsorption of H2S by Cu-CLA/PVA is an exothermic process, while the adsorption of H2S by CuO-LA/PVA/CNF is a heat-absorbing process, indicating that Cu-CLA/PVA is more suitable for H2S adsorption at low temperatures, but CuO-LA/PVA/CNF, at higher temperatures, is favorable for H2S adsorption reactions. △G is negative of both Cu-CLA/PVA and CuO-LA/PVA/CNF, indicating that both Cu-CLA/PVA and CuO-LA/PVA/CNF are spontaneous for H2S adsorption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, a novel multipurpose Faujasite (FAU) zeolite composite membrane was fabricated by in‐situ hydrothermal method to separate different solute molecules such as vanillic acid, phenol, and brilliant green from the aqueous solution. The coal fly ash based ceramic substrate was synthesized and used as substrate for preparing the zeolite composite membrane. The X‐ray diffraction (XRD) pattern confirmed the crystalline nature of membranes and the presence of Quartz and hematite in the composite membrane. The presence of Si‐O and Al‐O in zeolite coated composite membrane was confirmed by Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis showed the porous structure and 8.34 μm thickness of zeolite coating on membrane. The isoelectric point of composite membrane was observed at pH 2.07 through zeta potential analysis. Brunauer‐Emmett‐Teller (BET) surface area, average pore volume and pore diameter of zeolite composite membrane were estimated as 6.406 m2/gm, 0.0070 cm3/gm, and 4.371 nm, respectively. The hydraulic pore radius and porosity of composite membranes were 27.7 nm and 20.1%. The maximum separation efficiency of FAU zeolite composite membrane towards vanillic acid, phenol and brilliant green was estimated as 78.67%, 89.13%, and 94.28%, respectively, for 200 mg/L feed concentration at 276 kPa applied pressure. The results obtained in this study reveals that the multipurpose FAU zeolite composite membrane fabricated in this study can be effectively used for separation of various solutes molecules present in the wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, monolithic zinc oxide/bismuth oxychloride/ graphite oxide/polyvinylidene fluoride (ZnO/BiOCl/GO/PVDF) composite membrane was prepared by immersion precipitation phase transition method. The photocatalytic degradation performance of the composite membrane was verified by using methylene blue (MB), rhodamine (RhB) and tetracycline (TC) as target pollutants, and the composite membrane was tested by XRD, SEM and other testing methods. The results show that the thin sheet structure of bismuth oxychloride (BiOCl) provides more active sites, the fold-like structure of graphene oxide (GO) facilitates the adhesion of ZnO, which contributes to the improvement of photocatalytic effect. Meanwhile, ZnO combines with BiOCl to form p-n heterojunction structure, expanding the visible light response range of the composite material. Under the irradiation of visible light, the removal rate of RhB reaches 95. 5% at 180 min, and the removal rate of TC reaches more than 93. 1% at 140 min, which can achieve the basic removal of pollutants. The degradation rate of MB by the composite membrane still reaches 97. 8% after 5 times of recycling. Under the background of "double carbon", the monolithic ZnO/BiOCl/GO/PVDF composite membrane prepared in this work can be used as an environmentally friendly, stable and economical photocatalyst for the removal of water-soluble pollutants such as MB, and the composite membrane has a broad application prospect in the degradation of water-soluble pollutant wastewater by monolithic catalyst. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Porous PPS membranes are commonly employed to separate the released gases in conventional alkaline electrolyzers. However, their poor ionic conductivity and high gas permeability bring up the issues of high energy consumption and rapidly raised safety risks when the electrolyzers operate at high-pressure levels. Therefore, it is of great significance to develop alternative membranes with superior conductivity and gas tightness. In this study, we prepared an ultrathin composite membrane with support layer via combination of hot-pressing and phase inversion precipitation techniques. The comprehensive performances of the prepared membranes, commercial PPS fabric and commercial Zirfon membrane were compared. The cell performance of the prepared membranes and commercial membranes at high current density was also evaluated. The ultrathin composite membrane exhibits lower cell voltage and ionic resistance than commercial membranes. With the introduction of support layer, the tensile strength of the prepared ultrathin composite membrane significantly increased by 19 times. • Cell performance of the membranes at high current density was evaluated. • Lower cell voltage and area resistance obtained for ultrathin composite membrane. • Tensile strength of prepared membranes rose sharply with support layer insertion. • Membranes prepared by combination of hot-pressing and phase inversion techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the high-temperature electrochemical Hydrogen (H 2) purification performance of a polybenzimidazole/UIO-66 metal-organic framework (PBI/UIO-66) membrane is investigated and analyzed at different values of current, temperature, and reformate feed composition. Purification measurements show that a significant reduction in gas impurities can be obtained. In the performance tests, three different ratios of reformate gas (RG) (H 2 :carbon dioxide (CO 2):carbon monoxide (CO)) as RG-1= (75:25:0), RG-2= (75:22:3), and RG-3= (95:0:5) were used. The highest purification values were observed at 160 °C as 99.999%, 99.931%, and 99.708% for RG-1, RG-2, and RG-3, respectively. The obtained results show that an electrochemical H 2 purification (ECHP) based on PBI/UIO-66 composite membrane is promising for H 2 purification. • H 2 separation from reformate gases was investigated with the ECHP system. • The PBI/UIO-66 membrane can provide higher H 2 separation performances. • PBI/UIO-66 composite membranes can be good candidates for ECHP applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon molecular sieve (CMS) membranes are attractive candidates to meet requirements for challenging gas separations. The added ability to maintain such intrinsic properties in an asymmetric morphology with a structure that we term a "Pseudo Wheel+Hub & Spoke" asymmetric form offers new opportunities. For CMS membrane, specifically, the structure provides both selective layer support and low flow resistance even for high feed pressures and fluxes in CO2 removal from natural gas. This capability is unavailable to even rigid glassy polymers due to the much higher modulus of CMS materials. Combining precursor asymmetric hollow fiber formation and optimized pyrolysis creates a defect free CMS proof‐of‐concept membrane for this application. Facile formation of the sheath‐core spun precursor with a 6FDA‐DAM sheath and Matrimid® core also avoids the need to seal defects before or after the carbonization of the precursors. The composite CMS membrane shows CO2/CH4 (50 : 50) mixed gas feed with an attractive CO2/CH4 selectivity of 64.3 and CO2 permeance of 232 GPU at 35 °C. A key additional benefit of the approach is reduction in use of the more costly high performance 6FDA‐DAM in a composite sheath‐core CMS membrane with the "Pseudo Wheel+Hub & Spoke" structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Incorporating phosphotungstic acid (HPW) in proton exchange membranes (PEMs) is an effective way to improve proton conductivity, but its leakage remains a problem. It can be solved by immobilizing acid in membranes to enhance the stability of PEMs. Herein, we proposed a novel sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) (SPEEK) composite membrane (SPEEK/HPW@MIL) that was prepared by blending amino‐modified MIL‐101(Cr) to anchor HPW. In this work, HPW was anchored through hydrogen bond to minimize its leakage and enhance the overall compatibility. The incorporation of MIL‐101(Cr)‐NH2 also helped lower the swelling ratio and improve the dimensional stability. Compared with pristine SPEEK and SPEEK/MIL membrane, the proton conductivity of the SPEEK/HPW@MIL composite membrane increased by 26% and 14%, respectively. The superior performance recommended a promising conception for anchoring HPW in PEMs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is a great challenge to obtain an ideal guided bone regeneration (GBR) membrane. In this study, tragacanth gum (GT) was introduced into a chitosan/nano-hydroxyapatite (CS/n-HA) system. The effects of different component ratios and strontium-doped nano-hydroxyapatite (Sr-HA) on the physical-chemical properties and degradation behavior of the CS/Sr-n-HA/GT ternary composite membrane were investigated using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), contact angle, electromechanical universal tester and in vitro soaking in simulated body fluid (SBF). The results showed that CS could be ionically crosslinked with GT through electrostatic interaction, and Sr-n-HA was loaded via hydrogen bond, which endowed the GT/CS/n-HA composite membrane with good tensile strength and hydrophilicity. In addition, the results of immersion in SBF in vitro showed that CS/n-HA/GT composite membranes had different degradation rates and good apatite deposition by investigating the changes in pH value, weight loss, water absorption ratio, SEM morphology observation and tensile strength reduction. All results revealed that the CS/Sr-n-HA/GT (6:2:2) ternary composite membrane possessed the strongest ionic crosslinking of GT and CS, which was expected to obtain more satisfactory GBR membranes, and this study will provide new applications of GT in the field of biomedical membranes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The wastewater generated from the semiconductor production process contains a wide range and a large number of harmful substances at high concentrations. Excessive exposure to fluoride can lead to life-threatening effects such as skin necrosis and respiratory damage. Accordingly, a guideline value of fluoride ions in drinking water was 1.5 mg L−1 recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) has the characteristics of excellent chemical and thermal stability. Boehmite (AlOOH) is a mineral and has been widely used as an adsorbent due to its high surface area and strong adsorption capacity for fluoride ions. It can be densely coated on negatively charged surfaces through electrostatic interaction due to its positively charged surface. In this study, a composite membrane was fabricated by a simple and economical dip coating of a commercial melamine sponge (MS) with PVDF and boehmite to remove fluoride ions from semiconductor wastewater. The prepared MS-PVDF-Boehmite composite membrane showed a high removal efficiency for fluoride ions in both incubation and filtration. By the incubation process, the removal efficiency of fluoride ions was 55% within 10 min and reached 80% after 24 h. In the case of filtration, the removal efficiency was 95.5% by 4 cycles of filtering with a flow rate of 70 mL h−1. In addition, the removal mechanism of fluoride ions on MS-PVDF-Boehmite was also explored by using Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms and kinetic analysis. (R2-1) From the physical, chemical, thermal, morphological, and mechanical analyses of present materials, this study provides an MS-PVDF-Boehmite composite filter material that is suitable for fluoride removal applications due to its simple fabrication process, cost-effectiveness, and high performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main objective of this work has been to carry out the synthesis of composite membranes from carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC)/polysulfone (PSf) by the crosslinking of glutaraldehyde (GA) or lactic acid (LA), using the nonsolvent induced phase separation (NIPS) method. The effects of different parameters, such as the type and degree of crosslinking, the immersion method, and the coating procedure, including the thermal treatment have been studied. The prepared membranes were analyzed in terms of water absorption and flux, as well as their efficiency in retaining salt ions from synthetic waters rich in mono/divalent salts and real seawater samples. The optimized membrane containing 2% by weight of CMC and 2% of lactic acid as crosslinking agent, coagulated by immersion for 10 min, represented a rejection efficiency of 97.3%, 88.3% and 34% for the solutions of MgSO4, CaCO4 and NaCl, respectively. The optimal membrane recorded a pure water flux of 127.37 L/m²h, under a low transmembrane pressure of 10 bars, and permeability of 26 L/m² h bars. The membrane flux recovery rate was greater than 94%, indicating satisfactory resistance to fouling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]