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Motivated by the electric vehicle revolution, the demand for lithium (Li) has significantly increased during the last decade. Li is the key strategic resource in energy structure transformation to be extensively employed in several fields, such as new energy vehicles, electronic products, and energy storage. For sustainable Li supply, developing cost-effective and green methods to extract Li from various sources is urgently needed. Due to the abundant reserves and low cost, the recovery of Li from salt-lake brines has garnered immense attention globally. China is rich in salt-lake resources; among them, brine Li resources are mainly distributed in Qinghai and Xizang, but the separation is difficult because of low concentration and high Mg/Li ratio. Moreover, the composition of salt lakes in different regions varies, and the poor technical universality restricts the development of Li extraction from salt lakes in China. This review summarizes the major developments in Li recovery from brines. An overview of the Li distribution, endowment characteristics, extraction methods, and development direction is presented, concentrating on the mechanisms, operation and development of precipitation, solvent extraction, adsorption, membrane separation, and electrochemical Li extraction. The advantages and disadvantages, separation effects, and applicable conditions of the extraction methods are examined. Although the prevalent precipitation, extraction, and adsorption methods are appropriate for the mass extraction of Li from brine sources with low Mg/Li ratios, they are not ecofriendly and typically show low Li recovery. For example, precipitation and extraction methods have issues with large dosages of chemicals and severe environmental effects; meanwhile, adsorption methods have drawbacks of intensive water use and easy dissolution of adsorbents, greatly limiting industrial application. The emerging membrane separation and electrochemical methods have good separation effects, limited requirements for additional chemicals, minimal waste production, wide applicability, and outstanding performance in Mg/Li or Na/Li separation, thereby demonstrating broad application prospects. However, these methods are limited by the poor technical maturity for large-scale lithium recovery. We underscore the most pressing challenges that these technologies encounter, including limited electrode capacity, poor electrode stability, and limited Li selectivity between homovalent ions. Then, potentially effective strategies are systematically described to overcome these challenges. Finally, future development directions and research focus on Li extraction technology from salt-lake brines are prospected.

Abstract Water is an essential and irreplaceable necessity for life on earth, sustaining ecosystems, nourishing agriculture and vital for human survival. However, increasing population and industrialization has exacerbated water scarcity and pollution. The Sustainable Development Goal 6 focuses on clean water and sanitation for all; thus, water purification and conservation are key priorities globally. Rampant pollution of water sources by emerging bio-recalcitrant contaminants, often deviant of conventional treatment methods, necessitates new approaches to water treatment. In this regard, metal organic frameworks (MOFs) are gaining prominence and offer solutions in versatile applications due to their unique structural characteristics and tunable properties. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of MOFs, covering their diverse structures, types, synthesis methods and characterization techniques. We explore the application of MOFs in water purification, as adsorbents, photocatalysts, and in membrane separation. The mechanism of operation of MOFs in each application is critically evaluated. The effect of the water treatment methods on energy consumption has also been investigated. We propose that for MOFs application in water treatment to be competitive and sustainable, there is need to address key issues such as synthesis of highly selective MOFs, recovery and reuse, scalability (pilot and industrial scale), and integration with existing water treatment technologies to create synergy. We provide future perspectives on these aspects.

Covalent organic frameworks(COFs) is a new type of porous material,which is composed of light elements with first and second periods,such as C,H,O,N and B, connected by reversible strong covalent bonds(C—C,C—O,C—Si,B—O),with adjustable pore size and various functional groups. In recent years,it has been used in the modified preparation of water treatment membrane materials. In this paper,the preparation and application of imine type COFs materials were briefly introduced,and the latest application progress of imine based COFs modified membranes in organic dye separation,seawater desalination,pervaporation,heavy metal ion removal, and organic solvent nanofiltration was emphatically introduced,and the mechanism of COFs materials in water treatment membranes was analyzed. It was concluded that the COFs modified water treatment membrane had not been widely studied in the field of water treatment due to high production cost,inappropriate pore size,and easy to be contaminated. The above problems would be the focus of future research.

Heavy metal contamination in water sources poses a significant threat to environmental and public health, necessitating effective remediation strategies. Nanomaterial-based approaches have emerged as promising solutions for heavy metal removal, offering enhanced selectivity, efficiency, and sustainability compared to traditional methods. This comprehensive review explores novel nanomaterial-based approaches for heavy metal remediation, focusing on factors such as selectivity, regeneration, scalability, and practical considerations. A systematic literature search was conducted using multiple academic databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus, to identify relevant articles published between 2013 and 2024. The review identifies several promising nanomaterials, such as graphene oxide, carbon nanotubes, and metal-organic frameworks, which exhibit high surface areas, tunable surface chemistries, and excellent adsorption capacities. Surface functionalization with specific functional groups (e.g., carboxyl, amino, thiol) significantly enhances the selectivity for target heavy metal ions. Advances in regeneration strategies, including chemical desorption, electrochemical regeneration, and photocatalytic regeneration, have improved the reusability and costeffectiveness of these materials. Scalability remains a critical challenge, but recent developments in synthesis methods, such as green synthesis and continuous-flow synthesis, offer promising solutions for large-scale production. The stability and longevity of nanomaterials have been improved through surface modification and the development of hybrid nanocomposites. Integrating nanomaterials with existing water treatment infrastructure and combining them with other remediation techniques, such as membrane filtration and electrochemical methods, can enhance overall treatment efficiency and feasibility. In conclusion, nanomaterial-based approaches hold immense promise for revolutionizing heavy metal remediation and advancing sustainable water management practices. As future research is geared towards retrofitting existing treatment plants, it is equally critical to mitigate unintended environmental and public health consequences associated with the widespread production and use of nanomaterials, such as their leachability into water systems and environmental persistence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of integrated biorefineries and the greater utilization of biomass resources to reduce dependence on fossil fuel‐derived products require research emphasis not just on conversion strategies but also on improving separations associated with biorefining. A significant roadblock towards developing biorefineries is the lack of effective separation techniques evidenced by the relative deficiency of literature in this area. Additionally, high conversion yields may only be realized if effective separations generate feedstock of sufficient purity – this makes research into biomass conversion strategies all the more critical. In this review, the challenges associated with biomass separations are discussed, followed by an overview of the most appropriate separation strategies for processing biomass. One of the unit operations most appealing for biorefining, membrane separations (MS), is then considered along with a review of the recent literature utilizing this technique in biomass processing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanofiber membranes receive considerable interest recently because of their distinctive structural features, facile preparation, as well as high filtering efficiency. Due to ever‐increasing air pollution, membranes made from biodegradable materials can play a crucial part in providing purified air with minimum concerns of environmental issues after the membrane's end of service life. The purpose of this systematic review is to assess the performance of biodegradable electrospun nanofibrous membrane filters toward air sub‐micron particles. To identify relevant studies, a systematic search is carried out in major scientific search engines including PubMed, Scopus, and the Web of Science. Data extraction is used to collect the necessary information on the membranes' structural properties, as well as filtration performance metrics such as efficiency, pressure drop, and quality factor. Among the electrospun membranes derived from biodegradable polymers, the polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)‐based electrospun membranes are more effective in filtration efficiency in capturing sub‐micron particles. The results highlight that these types of membranes are effective in filtration with low energy consumption, making them more apt for air purification. The use of such membranes can supply both high filtering performance and protection of the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the separation of neroli from water by PDMS‐ZSM5 mixed matrix membrane and separation performance of the pervaporative process of the prepared membranes with the parameters of permeability flux and separation factor was investigated. The effect of adding nanoparticles in the polymer matrix, the effect of the operating parameter of temperature and concentration on the efficiency of the membrane in the pervaporative process to be placed. Comparison of the results for pure membrane and mixed matrix membrane shows a 3‐fold increase in flux along with a 5‐fold increase in the separation factor in the mixed matrix membrane with a ratio of 12% nano in the membrane matrix so that the permeability and separation factor are 1.256 kg/m2h and 550, respectively. Membrane function was also evaluated in the temperature range of 298–353 K and feed concentration of 122–209 ppm. With increasing temperature to 353 K, permeability of membrane containing 8% ZSM‐5 nanoparticles increased from 0.63 to 0.89 kg/m2h. Also, with increasing feed concentration, permeability increased from to 0.96 kg/m2h. The optimization of these conditions was investigated by response surface method (RSM) based on the design of central points (CCD). The effect of all three parameters on the permeability, flux, and separation factor was investigated simultaneously and the optimal conditions were obtained at 12 wt% of ZSM‐5, a concentration of 209 mg/L of neroli, and a temperature of 304 K. Under these optimal conditions, the values of permeability, flux, and separation factor were 1.414 kg/m2h and 1039.57, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low‐cost ceramic membrane support is important for the filtration performance of a asymmetry filtration membrane. In this study, the oil‐based drilling cutting pyrolysis residues (ODPRs) were used as raw materials incorporating with fly ash, and carbon particles were used as pore‐forming agents to prepare high‐flux low‐cost ceramic membrane supports. Besides the strength of the supports was decreased with increased carbon particles addition and size, the porosity, pore size and consequently the Darcey permeability k1 and pure water permeability of the support were increased with the increased carbon particle addition and size. The chemical stability of the support was deteriorated with the increased carbon particles addition. A leaching test on the support with 10% 12 µm carbon particle addition indicates that the support obtained by using the ODPRs incorporating with fly ash as raw materials is safe for aqueous filtration. This study showcased the utilization of ODPRs as a primary resource to manufacture a high‐permeability support for water filtration. This approach aligns with the principles of sustainable development, following a waste‐to‐product‐to‐environment pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanoparticle‐stabilized, bicontinuous interfacially jammed emulsion gels (bijels) find potential applications as battery, separation membrane, and chemical reactor materials. Decreasing the liquid domain sizes of bijels to sub‐micrometer dimensions requires surfactants, complicating bijel synthesis and postprocessing into functional nanomaterials. This work introduces surfactant‐free bijels with sub‐micrometer domains, solely stabilized by nanoparticles. To this end, the covalent surface functionalization of silica nanoparticles is characterized by thermogravimetric analysis, mass spectrometry, Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy, and contact angle measurements. Bijels are generated with the functionalized nanoparticles via solvent transfer induced phase separation (STrIPS), enabling the optimization of nanoparticle functionalization and surface ionization. Nanoparticles of intermediate functionalization and controlled negative surface charge stabilize bijels with sub‐micrometer liquid domains. This remarkable control over bijel synthesis provides urgently needed progress to facilitate the widespread implementation of bijels as nanomaterials in research and applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) have emerged as promising platforms for membrane separations, while remaining challenging for separating ions in a fast and selective way. Here, we propose a concept of COF membranes with vertically aligned nanorods for efficient separation of rare metal ions. A quaternary ammonium-functionalized monomer is rationally designed to synthesize COF layers on porous substrates via interfacial synthesis. The COF layers possess an asymmetric structure, in which the upper part displays vertically aligned nanorods, while the lower part exhibits an ultrathin dense layer. The vertically aligned nanorods enlarge contact areas to harvest water and monovalent ions, and the ultrathin dense layer enables both high permeability and selectivity. The resulting membranes exhibit exceptional separation performances, for instance, a Cs+ permeation rate of 0.33 mol m−2 h−1, close to the value in porous substrates, and selectivities with Cs+/La3+ up to 75.9 and 69.8 in single and binary systems, highlighting the great potentials in the separation of rare metal ions. Covalent organic frameworks (COF) membranes designed for the separation of ions in a fast and selective way are desirable. Here, the authors report COF membranes with vertically aligned nanorods to enlarge contact areas and harvest water and monovalent ions with high permeability and selectivity. [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 potential of potato by-products as a protein source presents an exciting opportunity to explore new methods and technologies to extract, enhance, and incorporate this valuable protein source into a variety of food products. This article reviews the progress in research related to potato and other tuber plant protein extraction technology. It also explores some conventional and novel techniques for plant protein extraction that may be applicable to tuber protein extraction. For extraction from solid matter, conventional methods such as acid-base extraction with heat assistance often mean a waste of energy, solvent, and destruction of protein structure. Enzyme-assisted, ultrasound-assisted, and pulsed electric field extraction have their own advantages as novel processing methods. For liquid by-products of tuber plants, precipitation, membrane filtration and chromatography are applied to extract proteins. By combining protein extraction with various biomass extraction methods, every part of the potatoes can be fully utilized, minimizing waste. This approach offers the opportunity to optimize the utilization of all potatoes components, reduce waste, generate additional revenue streams and ultimately increase the sustainability and effectiveness of the process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Covalent organic framework (COF) membranes feature with well‐developed 1D in‐plane pores and parallelly arranged 2D interlayer gallery, presenting promising platform for precise separations. However, it remains a formidable challenge to construct and regulate membrane channels at angstrom scale. Herein, pH‐sensitive dopamine is taken advantage to elaborately engineer the spatial size of 1D/2D channels in COF membranes for the separations of alkali metal ions. Acid treatment allows monomolecular dopamine to segment 1D in‐plane pores of COF membrane, achieving ultramicroporous regulation from 1.25 nm to 0.71 nm, which enables high selectivity of 18.7 for K+/Li+ separation. Molecular dynamics simulations reveal the higher dehydration degree, weaker channel‐cation interaction and faster diffusion coefficient of K+ than Li+. For alkaline treatment, dopamine self‐polymerizes to form nanoparticles between COF layers, which enlarges the 2D interlayer channels from 0.33 nm to 0.45 nm in COF membrane, enabling high‐permeance ion/molecule separations. The water permeance increases 86.7% to 404 L m−2 h−1 bar−1, without the sacrifice of membrane sieving ability. Both cation separation and ion/molecule separation performances outperform the current state‐of‐the‐art membranes. This dopamine‐mediated channel engineering strategy may provide the new insights for the design of membrane channels in precise separations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ionic liquids (ILs) are prized for their selective dissolution of carbon dioxide (CO2), leading to their widespread use in ionogel membranes for gas separation. Despite their advantages, creating sustainable ionogel membranes with high IL contents poses challenges due to limited mechanical strength, leakage risks, and poor recyclability. Herein, we leverage copolymerized and supramolecularly bound ILs to develop ionogel membranes with high mechanical strength, zero leakage, and excellent self‐healing and recycling capabilities. These membranes exhibit superior ideal selectivity for gas separation compared to other reported ionogel membranes, achieving a CO2/nitrogen selectivity of 61.7 and a CO2/methane selectivity of 24.6, coupled with an acceptable CO2 permeability of 186.4 Barrer. Additionally, these gas separation ionogel membranes can be upcycled into ionic skins for sensing applications, further enhancing their utility. This research outlines a strategic approach to molecularly engineer ionogel membranes, offering a promising pathway for developing sustainable, high‐performance materials for advanced gas separation technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bioinspired superwetting oil–water separation strategies have received significant attention for their potential in addressing global water scarcity and aquatic pollution challenges. Over the past two decades, the field has rapidly developed, reaching a pivotal phase of innovation in the oil–water separation process. However, many groundbreaking studies have not received extensive scientific recognition. In this review, we systematically examine the application of bioinspired superwetting materials for complex multiscale oil–water separation. We discuss the development of 2D membrane filtration and 3D sponge adsorption materials in confined spaces, summarizing the core separation mechanisms, key research findings, and the evolutionary logic of these materials. Additionally, we highlight emerging open-space separation strategies, emphasizing several novel dynamic separation devices of significant importance. We evaluate and compare the design concepts, separation principles, materials used, comprehensive performance, and existing challenges of these diverse strategies. Finally, we summarize these advantages, critical bottlenecks, and prospects of this field and propose potential solutions for real oil–water separation processes from a general perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growing scarcity of clean water necessitates urgent interventions in wastewater treatment. Polymeric membranes are prevalent in this domain. However, due to their hydrophobic behaviour, they become more prone to fouling. To address this issue, we synthesized hydrophilic nanomaterials as additives to prepare polymer nanocomposite membranes with enhanced hydrophilicity. The eco-friendly zinc oxide (ZnO) nanomaterial was synthesized via a green route, and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and a rGO/ZnO composite were synthesized using a chemical process and characterized using FESEM, FTIR, XRD, and zeta potential techniques. The synthesized nanomaterials were incorporated into PVDF membranes, and the prepared membranes were characterized using FESEM with EDX, FTIR, and contact angle measurements, along with mechanical strength determination. The filtration properties of the membranes were evaluated using a dead-end filtration module. The FESEM images revealed the finger-like structure in the membranes, which increases with the incorporation of nanomaterials. The results demonstrated that among all the membranes, the rGO/ZnO-PVDF showed the highest membrane permeability due to increased membrane porosity, pore size, and finger-like macrovoid sponge structures. The rejection of BSA protein and CBB dye increased due to the negative charge provided by the ZnO in the rGO/ZnO nanocomposite. The antifouling study reveals that the rGO/ZnO-PVDF membrane had the highest FRR value of ∼50.05% among the various synthesized membranes. The disk diffusion data of the synthesized nanomaterials and nanocomposite membranes confirms their antibacterial activity and suggests that the addition of rGO/ZnO nanomaterial can provide anti-biofouling behaviour to the polymer membranes by minimizing the adhesion of bacteria on the surface of the membrane. The results showed that the rGO/ZnO-PVDF membrane possesses antifouling and anti-biofouling behaviour, useful for minimising the pollutants from wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There were about 1,090,000 gastric cancer (GC) cases in 2020 in China. The incidence and mortality rates ranked the fifth and third among all kinds of cancers in China. Early diagnosis plays an important role in the treatment and prognosis of gastric cancer. In recent years, noninvasive diagnosis, especially plasma exosome lncRNAs, has become a promissing biomarkers with high specificity and sensitivity for early diagnosis of cancers. Methods: In this study, plasma exosomes of patients with early gastric cancer were extracted efficiently by affinity membrane separation technology, including affinity adsorption, elution, affinity membrane regeneration and other steps. After identified by electron microscopy observation, particle size analysis and Western blot verification, the lncRNAs in the exosomes were extracted and were analysized by high-throughput RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq). The differentially expressed lncRNAs were verified by RT-qPCR in 93 patients with early gastric cancer and 49 normal controls. Results: Electron microscopy, particle size analysis and Western blot showed that exosomes were successfully isolated from plasma. RNA-Seq results show that 76 lncRNAs were upregulated and 260 lncRNAs were downregulated in plasma exosomes of early gastric cancer patients compared with normal controls. RTqPCR analysis indicated that a total of 6 lncRNAs were significantly and differentially expressed in gastric cancer patients compared to normal controls, with 2 (lncmstrg. 1319590, Lncmstrg. 2312697) highly expressed and 4 lowly expressed (lncmstr-g.1004024.1, lncmstrg. 2441832.8, lncmstrg. 315376.1, lncmstrg.907985.2,) (p < 0.05). The survival curve analysis indicated that lncmstrg.2441832.8 and lncmstrg.2312697 had higher sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of gastric cancer, respectively and AUC curve areas were 0.6211 and 0.631, p < 0.05, respectively, which were greater than the traditional clinical detection indexes CEA (0.61) and AFP (0.57). When combined lncmstrg.2441832.8 and lncmstrg.2312697 in gastric cancer diagnosis, AUC curve area reached 0.73, which was greater than CA199 (0.71). Conclusion: Lncmstrg.2441832.8 and lncmstrg.2312697 may be a potential and promissing biomarkers for early diagnosis of gastric cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The separation of used engine oil (UEO) with an ultrafiltration (UF) membrane made of commercial copolymer of poly(acrylonitrile-co-methyl acrylate) (P(AN-co-MA)) has been investigated. The P(AN-co-MA) sample was characterized by using FTIR spectroscopy, 13C NMR spectroscopy, and XRD. The UF membrane with a mean pore size of 23 nm was fabricated by using of non-solvent-induced phase separation method—the casting solution of 13 wt.% P(AN-co-MA) in dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) was precipitated in the water bath. Before the experiment, the used engine oil was diluted with toluene, and the resulting UEO solution in toluene (100 g/L) was filtered through the UF membrane in the dead-end filtration mode. Special attention was given to the evaluation of membrane fouling; for instance, the permeability of UEO solution was dropped from its initial value of 2.90 L/(m2·h·bar) and then leveled off at 0.75 L/(m2·h·bar). However, the membrane cleaning (washing with toluene) allowed a recovery of 79% of the initial pure toluene flux (flux recovery ratio), indicating quite attractive membrane resistance toward irreversible fouling with engine oil components. The analysis of the feed, retentate, and permeate by various analytical methods showed that the filtration through the UF membrane made of P(AN-co-MA) provided the removal of major contaminants of used engine oil including polymerization products and metals (rejection—96.3%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to assess the efficacy of machine learning models in predicting solute concentration (C) distribution in a membrane separation process, using the input parameters which are spatial coordinates. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) was employed with machine learning for simulation of process. The models evaluated include Kernel Ridge Regression (KRR), Radius nearest neighbor regression (RNN), K-nearest neighbors (KNN), LASSO, and Multi-Layer Perceptron (MLP). Additionally, Harris Hawks Optimization (HHO) was utilized to fine-tune the hyperparameters of these models. Leading the way is the MLP model, which achieves a remarkable test R2 value of 0.98637 together with very low RMSE and MAE values. Strongness and generalization capacity are shown by its consistent performance on test and training datasets. To conclude, the effectiveness of using machine learning regression methods more especially, KRR, KNN, RNN, LASSO, and MLP in estimating concentration from spatial coordinates was demonstrated in this work. For separation science via membranes where predictive modeling of spatial data is essential, the results offer important new perspectives by developing hybrid model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Artificial membranes with ion‐selective nanochannels for high‐efficiency mono/divalent ion separation are of great significance in water desalination and lithium‐ion extraction, but they remain a great challenge due to the slight physicochemical property differences of various ions. Here, the successful synthesis of two‐dimensional TpEBr‐based covalent organic framework (COF) nanosheets, and the stacking of them as consecutive membranes for efficient mono/divalent ion separation is reported. The obtained COF nanosheet membranes with intrinsic one‐dimensional pores and abundant cationic sites display high permeation rates for monovalent cations (K+, Na+, Li+) of ≈0.1–0.3 mol m−2 h−1, while the value of divalent cations (Ca2+, Mg2+) is two orders of magnitude lower, resulting in an ultrahigh mono/divalent cation separation selectivity up to 130.4, superior to the state‐of‐the‐art ion sieving membranes. Molecular dynamics simulations further confirm that electrostatic interaction controls the confined transport of cations through the cationic COF nanopores, where multivalent cations face i) strong electrostatic repulsion and ii) steric transport hindrance since the large hydrated divalent cations are retarded due to a layer of strongly adsorbed chloride ions at the pore wall, while smaller monovalent cations can swiftly permeate through the nanopores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water scarcity is a critical global issue, necessitating efficient water purification and desalination methods. Membrane separation methods are environmentally friendly and consume less energy, making them more economical compared to other desalination and purification methods. This survey explores the application of artificial intelligence (AI) to predict membrane behaviour in water purification and desalination processes. Various AI platforms, including machine learning (ML) and artificial neural networks (ANNs), were utilised to model water flux, predict fouling behaviour, simulate micropollutant dynamics and optimise operational parameters. Specifically, models such as convolutional neural networks (CNNs), recurrent neural networks (RNNs) and support vector machines (SVMs) have demonstrated superior predictive capabilities in these applications. This review studies recent advancements, emphasising the superior predictive capabilities of AI models compared to traditional methods. Key findings include the development of AI models for various membrane separation techniques and the integration of AI concepts such as ML and ANNs to simulate membrane fouling, water flux and micropollutant behaviour, aiming to enhance wastewater treatment and optimise treatment and desalination processes. In conclusion, this review summarised the applications of AI in predicting the behaviour of membranes as well as their strengths, weaknesses and future directions of AI in membranes for water purification and desalination processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Science & Technology of Food Industry is the property of Science & Technology of Food Industry 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.)

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.)

Metal–organic frame UiO‐66‐NH2 was modified by 3‐glycidyl ether oxypropyl trimethoxysilane (KH560), and KH560‐UiO‐66‐NH2 was synthetized and added to Pebax to prepare KH560‐UiO‐66‐NH2/Pebax mixed matrix membranes (MMMs). The epoxy group of KH560 had an amine‐epoxidation reaction with the NH2 in UiO‐66‐NH2, which prevented UiO‐66‐NH2 from agglutinating in the MMMs. In addition, the NH bond and OH bond of KH560‐UiO‐66‐NH2 could theoretically form hydrogen bonds with CO and NH bonds in the main chain of polymerization, respectively, so as to improve the interfacial compatibility between fillers and polymers. The structure and properties of the filler particles and MMMs were evaluated by Fourier transform infrared spectrometer, x‐ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and thermogravimetric analyzer. The results showed that the filler particles were successfully synthesized, and had good crystallinity, uniform size distribution, and good thermal stability. The inorganic and organic interfaces of MMMs had no obvious interface defects. The obtained KH560‐UiO‐66‐NH2/Pebax MMMs showed CO2 permeability of 111.52 Barre and CO2/N2 selectivity of 92.16, which were 85.65% and 88.73% higher than that of pristine membranes, respectively. The gas separation performance of MMMs was significantly improved, exceeding the upper bound of 2008 Robeson. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Machine Tool & Hydraulics is the property of Guangzhou Mechanical Engineering Research Institute (GMERI) 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.)

This review examines recent technological developments for recovering critical metals from mining and metallurgical waste streams, focusing on Co, Ga, Ge, In, Li, Ni, Re, Te, Sn, W, and V. Novel approaches using electrochemical methods, membranes, solvent extraction, and biomining are critically evaluated for their effectiveness and potential for industrial adoption. Key competitive advantages of these technologies are discussed, along with aspects requiring further research, such as process control, fouling issues, and microbial stability. The exploration of integrated and hybrid solutions combining different technologies is a potential game-changer for technology transfer. Finally, while these novel approaches show promise, further research is needed to overcome challenges related to cost, process control, and scalability. Addressing these issues is crucial for successfully transitioning these technologies from laboratory-scale experiments to industrial applications. By overcoming these hurdles, the mining and metallurgy sector can play a vital role in supplying critical metals for the zero-carbon transition while reducing its environmental impact and advancing toward a circular economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We introduce a "solution‐processing‐transformation" strategy, deploying solvent vapor as scaffolds, to fabricate high‐quality hydrogen‐bonded organic framework (HOF) membranes. This strategy can overcome the mismatch in processing conditions and crystal growth thermodynamics faced during the facile solution processing of the membrane. The procedure includes the vapor‐trigged in situ transformation of dense amorphous supramolecules to crystalline HOF‐16, with HOF‐11 as the transient state. The mechanism involves a vapor‐activated dissolution‐precipitation equilibrium shifting and hydrogen bonding‐guided molecule rearrangement, elucidated through combined experimental and theoretical analysis. Upon removal of the molecular scaffolds, the resulting HOF‐16 membranes showcase significant improvement in hydrogen separation performance over their amorphous counterparts and previously reported HOF membranes. The method's broad applicability is evidenced by successfully extending it to other substrates and HOF structures. This study provides a fundamental understanding of guest‐induced ordered supramolecular assembly and paves the way for the advanced manufacture of high‐performance HOF membranes for gas separation processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In specific applications like ice-repellent coatings or membrane separation technology, wettability is a key parameter affecting the applicability of commodity polymers. This study presents a technique to fine-control the wetting properties of a hierarchically structured polypropylene surface, enabling the transition between superhydrophobic and superhydrophilic states. To demonstrate the tunability of the wetting properties of polypropylene (PP) substrate, we prepared in a consecutive way superhydrophobic (advancing contact angle (CAadv) of 152°) and superhydrophilic (CAadv of 0°) material by solvent-treatment and mild air plasma treatment. The optimal plasma treatment parameters to achieve superhydrophilic wetting behaviour, which is stable for at least one week of storage in air was also explored. Water contact angle measurement and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy were used to monitor the time dependency of hydrophobic recovery on a hierarchically structured PP surface. With a simple model considering structural and wetting parameters, we characterized the droplet spreading behaviour of plasma-treated roughened surfaces, which exhibited superhydrophilic wetting behaviour with equilibrium CAadv of nearly 0°. The proposed model, which aligns well with experimental data, can be used to compare the droplet spreading behaviour of plasma-treated roughened surfaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Achieving precise selective separation of monovalent and divalent cations, as well as anions, is vital yet challenging in practical applications involving complex component treatments. Current membranes are typically effective for separating either cation pairs or anion pairs. To address this issue, a straightforward strategy for fabricating a nanofiltration (NF) membrane is developed that selectively permeates monovalent ions. This study focused on neutralizing the surface charge and tuning the pore size distribution of the polyamide membranes through a secondary interfacial polymerization using a zwitterionic copolymer consisting of 2‐methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine and 2‐aminoethyl methacrylate hydrochloride. The optimized NF membrane prepared in this study, with a near‐neutrally charged membrane surface and appropriate pore size distribution, demonstrates favorable performance in precisely separating monovalent and divalent ions, irrespective of the ion charge sign. The optimum NF membrane features high selectivity for both Cl−/SO42− (93) and Li+/Mg2+ (67) ion pairs, along with high water permeance of 8.5 L m−2 h−1 bar−1, making it competitive with many reported membranes. This study offers new insights into the ion‐selective mechanisms of polyamide membranes for monovalent/divalent ions and may guide the development of advanced membranes with single‐solute selectivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CALF-20, [Zn2(1,2,4-triazolate)2(oxalate)] shows remarkable performance in post-combustion carbon capture, even under humid conditions1 but its reported crystal morphology hinders its applicability in mixed matrix membranes (MMMs). Here, a route to its preparation as platelets a few tens of nm thick is reported. These were incorporated into a PEBAX MH1567 polymer matrix and the resultant MMMs display improvement in CO2 permeability and CO2/N2 selectivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) exhibit considerable potential in gas separations owing to their remarkable stability and tunable pore structures. Nevertheless, their application as gas separation membranes is hindered by limited size‐sieving capabilities and poor processability. In this study, we propose a novel molecular weaving strategy that combines hydroxyl polymers and 2D TpPa−SO3H COF nanosheets, achieving high gas separation efficiency. Driven by the strong electrostatic interactions, the hydroxyl chains thread through the COF pores, effectively weaving and assembling the composites to achieve exceptional flexibility and high mechanical strength. The penetrated chains also reduce the effective pore size of COFs, and combined with the “secondary confinement effect” stemming from abundant CO2 sorption sites in the channels, the PVA@TpPa−SO3H membrane demonstrates a remarkable H2 permeance of 1267.3 GPU and an H2/CO2 selectivity of 43, surpassing the 2008 Robson upper bound limit. This facile strategy holds promise for the manufacture of large‐area COF‐based membranes for small‐sized gas separations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Osmotic energy conversion based on reverse electrodialysis (RED) technology has attracted intense attention. As the key component, the ion‐selective membranes should meet the basic requirements of high power density, high mechanical strength, and easy preparation. Polyelectrolyte hydrogel materials are good candidates, due to their high charge density. However, the severe swelling effect decreases the ion selectivity and mechanical strength. To solve this problem, an anti‐swelling 3D nanohydrogel is demonstrated, which is in situ polymerized in the nanoporous polyimide (PI) membrane, exhibiting ultrahigh power density in osmotic energy conversion. Because of the nano‐confinement of the PI matrix, the swelling ratio of the nanohydrogel decreases to 37.5% from 593.2% of the bulk hydrogel. Meanwhile, the hybrid membrane exhibits excellent mechanical strength (≈89.5 MPa). Under a 500‐fold concentration gradient, the nanohydrogel generates a power density of up to 48.5 W m−2, one order of magnitude higher than that of the bulk hydrogel. The anti‐swelling 3D nanohydrogel introduces a new concept in designing separation membranes for osmotic energy conversion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates simulation of pharmaceutical separation via membrane distillation process by computational simulation and machine learning modeling strategy. The efficacy of three regression models, i.e., Multi-layer Perceptron (MLP), Gamma Regression, and Support Vector Regression (SVR) in predicting the solute concentration, C(mol/m³), was evaluated. The hyper-parameters were optimized by fine-tuning the models using the Red Deer Algorithm (RDA). Computational analyses were carried out for removal of pharmaceuticals from solution by membrane distillation in continuous mode. Mass transfer and machine learning models were implemented focusing on concentration of solute in the feed section of membrane. Results indicate that the Multi-layer Perceptron model achieved great accuracy with an R2 of 0.9955, an MAE of 0.0084, and an RMSE of 0.0148, effectively capturing complex nonlinear relationships in the data. Gamma Regression also performed acceptably, with fitting R2 of 0.9214, showing its suitability for positively skewed data. The Support Vector Regression model, while capturing the general trend, showed the lowest performance with an R2 of 0.8710. These findings suggest that the Multi-layer Perceptron is the most accurate model for this dataset, followed by Gamma Regression and Support Vector Regression. This underscores the importance of careful model selection and optimization in regression analysis in combination with computational simulation of membrane processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global warming poses a significant environmental challenge, highlighting the urgent need to reduce and manage greenhouse gas emissions, especially carbon dioxide (CO2). One promising approach to mitigating this issue is membrane separation technology. Herein, the MIL-101 metal-organic framework was synthesized, characterized, and incorporated as a filler (0–40 wt.%) into Pebax®2533 polymer. Gas permeability measurements were conducted using a constant pressure module for pure gases at a fixed feed pressure (2 bar) and temperature (298 K). Various analytical techniques, such as FESEM, FTIR, TGA, and mechanical strength analyses, were employed for membrane characterization. Analytical techniques confirmed excellent particle dispersion and proper adhesion between the polymer and filler particles without void formation. The results showed substantial improvements in the selectivity for H2/N2 and CO2/N2, surpassing the values of the neat membrane by 52.33% and 52.56%, respectively, due to the narrow pore size of the filler. Despite the improvement in gas permselectivity, the permeability of all gases decreased with filler content compared to the pure membrane. Polymer chain rigidification and possible blockage of filler pores by polymer chains could be the main reasons for the decrease in gas solubility inside the Pebax rubbery polymer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Composite ion exchangers are studied extensively due to their numerous applications. These include antimicrobial agents, photocatalysts for dye degradation and ion selective electrodes. This review analyzes hybrid inorganic-organic tin(IV)-based composite ion exchangers used as anti-microbial agents, photocatalysts, ion sensors and water remediation agents. A complete analysis of synthetic approaches, characterization of composite ion exchangers by various analytical techniques, ion-exchange characteristics and applications has been provided. Results obtained from various studies has also been reviewed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Air pollution is becoming an increasingly pressing issue, with fiber-based air filtration materials now widely employed for personal protection, indoor purification and other purposes. However, conventional air filtration materials are only capable of filtering particles and the bacteria, viruses and other microorganisms that remain in the fires after filtration can be released under certain conditions, posing an additional risk to human health. Therefore, filter materials that incorporate antibacterial properties are better suited to meeting the needs of optimal human health. Nano-antimicrobial fibrous membranes with high filtration efficiency and low filtration resistance were prepared using polyamide 6 (PA6) and chitosan (CS) via solution blowing spinning technology. The membranes were shown to possess strong antimicrobial activity against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. Additionally, they were found to effectively remove microbial contaminants from water. Technical abbreviations are explained upon first use. Ambiguity and biased language are avoided and the register remains formal throughout. The text has been proofread for grammatical and punctuation correctness. Performance tests were undertaken on the pre-fabricated fiber mesh and results indicated the CS/PA6 nanofiber mesh prepared by the solution blowing spinning technique had a complex three-dimensional structure, containing a significant number of cavity structures located between the fibers. The nanofiber mesh achieved a filtration efficiency of 99.92% against PM 0.3 with a pressure drop of 55 Pa in resistance and exhibited antibacterial performance of over 99.99% against Staphylococcus aureus. Addressing the limitations of traditional air filtration materials, including poor antibacterial effect, low efficiency, and high filtration resistance, is a practical consideration. Commercial opportunities arise in the areas of personal protection, indoor purification, and industrial filtration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Growing studies that show that composite materials can improve performance by making up for the defects of ceramic membranes made of a single material. This paper prepared ZrO2/Al2O3 and TiO2/Al2O3 composite coating sols using the sol-gel technique. Ceramic membranes were prepared by dip-coating process and calcined at 350 °C calcination. The physical-chemical properties of membranes were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), N2 adsorption-desorption measurements and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The permeability and separation performance of membranes were analyzed by doping amount, dye type and pressure difference as reference factors, and the removal rates of chemical oxygen demand (COD) and chroma in the experiment were compared. These results showed that the modified composite membranes had better microstructure, and their retention rates on the dye solutes were significantly enhanced. When the Zr/Al and Ti/Al molar ratio (nZr, nTi) of the composite membrane is 0.5, under the experimental conditions of 0.2 MPa pressure difference and 30 min filtration time, the membrane rejection rates of the four 50 mg/L dyes reached more than 80%, which was much higher than that of the Al2O3 membrane of 57.9%. At the same time, the removal rates of COD and chroma were also greatly improved. The results revealed that the use of composite materials would be required to further explore their potential to improve the performance of ceramic membranes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study constructed a numerical model using the discrete element software EDEM to address the current lack of calibrated contact parameters for peanut seedling membranes and the absence of precise simulation model parameters for mechanized separation. The Hysteretic Spring Contact Model (HSCM) was employed to calibrate the contact parameters of peanut seedling membranes. The angle of repose of peanut seedling membranes was determined through image processing combined with the least squares method. Through central composite design (CCD), a second-order response model linking the contact parameters to the angle of repose was established. Optimization was achieved by using the angle of repose obtained from physical tests as the objective. Secondary simulation tests were conducted with the calibrated parameters, revealing a relative error of 1.37% between the simulated and physical angles of repose. This confirmed the effectiveness of the parameters in calibrating peanut seedling membrane characteristics. The findings offer theoretical and empirical support for discrete element simulations of peanut seedling membrane separation and peanut straw pulverization processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rapid industrial development worldwide, the volume of oily wastewater, including petroleum spills and industrial effluents, has increased dramatically, posing a threat to ecosystems and human health. Membrane separation technology, known for its advantages of phase-transition-free operation, low energy consumption, and simplicity, has gained rapid popularity in wastewater treatment. This study focused on modifying PVDF membranes using PVA-TA hydrogels with two distinct coordination strategies: TA-Fe3+ coordination and APTMS covalent cross-linking. The resulting composite membranes exhibited superhydrophilic/underwater superoleophobic properties with high emulsion flux (3800–6900 and 4200–12,000 Lm− 2h− 1bar− 1) and separation efficiency (> 98.9% and > 99.3%) for various oil-water emulsions. Notably, the stability of the hydrogel network allowed the composite membranes to maintain elevated fluxes (6847.2 and 10266.7 Lm− 2h− 1bar− 1) and separation efficiencies (97.8% and 99.3%) even after 10 cycles for dichloroethylene-water emulsion. The addition of Fe3+ and APTMS enhances hydrogel stability and roughness, with APTMS contributing to superior wetting and separation performance. This work provides valuable insights into the impact of different coordination mechanisms on hydrogel-coated membranes, offering a foundation for the development of advanced materials in efficient oil-water separation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Skim latex can be concentrated using an ultrafiltration process. It is a liquid separation process where water can be removed from latex through a membrane. Vulcanised dipped concentrated skim latex (CSK) films were prepared, and their properties were compared to commercial high ammonia natural rubber (HANR)-dipped films. As expected, HANR-dipped films were stronger as seen from the higher tensile and modulus values. However, the highest tensile strength and modulus values for CSK-dipped films stood at 17 MPa and 620%, respectively. Interestingly, the crosslink density of CSK-dipped films was higher than HANR-dipped films while the average molecular weight of rubber between crosslinks, Mc demonstrated the opposite. Both dipped films showed comparable results in oil and water uptakes, with CSK-dipped films having more water-resistance after prolonged immersion time than HANR-dipped films. The maximum decomposition temperature of CSK, i.e., 373.06 oC, and HANR dipped films, i.e., 374.08 oC, were almost identical. Interestingly, the TEM images revealed vulcanised CSK particles formed only intra-particle crosslinks, which agreed with the lower tensile strength, elongation at break (EB), crosslink density, and higher Mc. Overall, the non-rubber components and naturally occurring networks, with the influence of molecular weights, vulcanisation degree, and smaller particles, substantially affected the resulting CSK vulcanised dipped films. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cellulose is a widely available organic substance that forms membranes with excellent hydrophilicity and biocompatibility. However, it is prone to biological contamination because its surface is conducive towards the accumulation of biologically active substances, which has hindered its application potential. In this work, an antimicrobial cellulose-based membrane (Ag/UiO-66-NH2@BCM) with high water flux, high retention rate, and good hydrophilicity was prepared. At an optimal blend ratio of 1 wt% Ag/UiO-66-NH2, the membrane exhibited significant improvements, including a 31% increase in pure water flux, a Bovine Serum Albumin retention rate of 99.6%, and a water flux recovery of 97.4%. Crucially, the membrane demonstrated potent antibacterial, showcasing its broadspectrum antimicrobial properties. Investigations into the ability of Ag/UiO-66-NH2@BCM to remove Pb2+, Cd2+, and Cr6+ ions from a water column revealed that the maximum adsorption capacity of the monolayer was 405, 390, and 328 mg/g, respectively. The composite membrane demonstrated broad-spectrum and highly effective antimicrobial properties, along with efficient removal of heavy metal ions. The proposed method can be utilized to prepare other composite membranes for water treatment and other fields of membrane separation technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an autoimmune disease, in which antibodies bind to receptors in the neuromuscular junction (NMJ), causing muscle weakness. This disease is relatively challenging to diagnose due to its late onset and comorbidities. Several treatment options include therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) with membrane plasma separation, that aims to remove large molecular-weight toxins such as pathogenic antibodies and lipoproteins. A 61- year-old male patient was admitted to the ICU post-sternotomy due to mediastinal tumor resection. Extubation failed, so we decided to undergo a tracheostomy. The lung pathology result showed lymphocyte-predominant thymoma, and along with symptoms of chest weakness and ptosis, the patient was suspected for MG. Electromyography results confirmed the occurrence of functional lesions in post-synaptic NMJ consistent with MG. We assessed patient with myasthenic crisis (MC), then gave pyridostigmine 60 mg 6x/day, and planned for TPE using membrane plasma separation. Plasma exchange was done by 1.5 of blood volume. The patient developed sepsis pneumonia and was administered levofloxacin based on his culture results. Patient still had weakness. We reevaluated the drugs that might have exacerbated MG. Aztreonam in combination with co-trimoxazole was administered to combat Stenotrophomonas maltophilia pneumonia. The patient was eventually weaned from the ventilator and gradually recovered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to study the demulsification of oil-bearing water in Alpiniae officinarum rhizoma by the combination of chemical demulsification and membrane separation. Oil-bearing water of A. officinarum rhizoma was demulsification by two methods of inorganic salt-membrane separation and span-membrane separation, and the influence of process parameters was systematically studied by single factor analysis. Then the chemical demulsification process was optimized by orthogonal design (three factors and three levels). The membrane flux and enrichment rate before and after demulsification were measured. The results showed that the membrane flux and enrichment rate of the inorganic salt-membrane separation and demulsification were 2.03 times and 1.18 times higher than those of the undemulsification, and the span-membrane separation was 1.34 times and 1.18 times of that of undemulsification, respectively. The turbidity, viscosity, pH, and particle size of oil-bearing water before and after demulsification were measured, and the correlation between demulsification process, physicochemical properties, membrane flux, and enrichment rate was analyzed. The results indicate that inorganic salt and span change the membrane flux and enrichment rate by decreasing turbidity and increasing particle size. The chemical composition and relative content of volatile oil were similar before and after demulsitioning by GC-MS. The highest relative content was 1,8-eucalyptine (20.05∼51.42%), followed by α-terpineol (11.13∼12.66%), camphene (2.74∼6.75%), camphor (2.29∼4.74%), etc. The results showed that the composition of volatile oil of A. officinarum rhizoma collected by the two demulsification methods remains unchanged, and the inorganic salt-membrane separation was more suitable for the demulsification application of oil-bearing water of A. officinarum rhizoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pervaporation has been a central subject in the research community within the scope of the further development of energy- and cost-efficient alternatives to conventional liquid–liquid separation technologies. The potential eligibility of four commercial membranes (ZEBREX ZX0, PERVAPTM 4155-80, PERVAPTM 4100, PERVAPTM 4101) for use in an integrated dehydration application of a diethyl carbonate/water/ethanol mixture by pervaporation was assessed experimentally. The impact of feed concentration, operating temperature, pressure, and sweep gas flow rate on membrane separation performance, including permeation flux, permeate quality, selectivity, and permeance, was thoroughly investigated. Applying the ZX0 membrane delivered the best qualities of all tested membranes of the permeate stream, with a water concentration of mostly >98%. In comparing the water flux, the ZX0 membrane remained reasonably competitive with the polymer membranes. Furthermore, the sweep gas volume flow rate and the operating temperature were identified as influencing the flux significantly but not the product composition. At the same time, the feed concentration of water also influenced the water purity within the permeate. The experiments were monitored with a partial least squares model, allowing a quick assessment of obtained samples while delivering accurate results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plastic film mulching technology can effectively enhance crop yield and quality, and the use of mulch has been increasing in recent years; however, the problem of mulch residue is worsening due to the large amount of recycling work and slow natural degradation. In this study, a potato seedling killing and residual film recycling machine is designed to provide good working conditions for potato harvesters before harvesting in response to the problems of difficult separation of film tangles, the low net rate of recycling due to the mixing of residual film with soil, and the high soil content in residual film recycling operations in northwest China. The machine is based on the potato monoculture and double row planting mode in Gansu area. This paper puts forward the overall design scheme and carries out the theoretical analysis and parameter determination of the key components, such as the seedling killing device, the film surface cleaning device, the film unloading device, and so on. Using EDEM software to carry out the virtual simulation test and Design-Expert13 to analyze the test results, we determined the optimal working scheme for the machine, with a forward speed of 0.8 m/s, a film gap of 125 mm, and a spiral stirrer speed of 600 r/min. Based on a field test for verification, the test results show that the machine's residual film recovery rate was 83.3%, the impurity rate was 3.8%, and the rate of injury to the potatoes was 1.4%. The machine meets the requirements of national and industry standards, and it can simultaneously realize straw crushing, film surface cleaning, residual film recycling, and hydraulic film unloading operations, with better operating results and while reaching the expected results. It can also provide a reference for the design and testing of a seeding and residual film recycling machine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanoporous membranes have a variety of applications, one of which is the size‐selective separation of nanoparticles. In drug delivery, nanoporous membranes are becoming increasingly important for the isolation of exosomes, which are bio‐nanoparticles. However, the low pore density and thickness of commercial membranes limit their efficiency. There have been many attempts to fabricate sub‐micrometer thin membranes, but the limited surface area has restricted their practicality. In this study, large‐area silicon nitride nanosieves for enhanced diffusion‐based isolation of exosomes are presented. Notably, these nanosieves are scaled to sizes of up to 4‐inch‐wafers, a significant achievement in overcoming the fabrication challenges associated with such expansive areas. The method employs a 200 nm porous sieve (38.2% porosity) for exosome separation and a 50 nm sieve (10.7% porosity) for soluble protein removal. These 300 nm thick nanosieves outperform conventional polycarbonate membranes by being 50 times thinner, thereby increasing nanoparticle permeability. The method enables a 90% recovery rate of intact exosomes from human serum and a purity ratio of 3 × 107 particles/µg protein, 4.6 times higher than ultracentrifugation methods. The throughput of the method is up to 15 mL by increasing the size of the nanosieve, making it an ideal solution for large‐scale exosome production for therapeutic purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A wax-patterned paper analytical device (µPAD) has been developed for point-of-care colourimetric testing of serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT). The detection method was based on the transamination reaction of aspartate with α-ketoglutarate, leading to the formation of oxaloacetate which reacts with the reagent Fast Blue BB salt and forms a cavern pink colour. The intensity of the cavern pink colour grows as the concentration of SGOT increases. UV–visible spectroscopy was utilized to optimize reaction conditions, and the optimized reagents were dropped onto the wax-patterned paper. The coloured PADs, after the addition of SGOT, have been photographed, and a colour band has been generated to correlate the SGOT concentration visually. The images were used to calculate the intensity values using ImageJ software, which inturn was used to calculate the SGOT concentration. The PADs were also tested with serum samples, and SGOT spiked serum samples. The PAD could detect the SGOT concentration ranging from 5 to 200 U/L. The analysis yielded highly accurate results with less than 6% relative error compared to the clinical sample. This colourimetric test demonstrated exceptional selectivity in the presence of other biomolecules in the blood serum, with a detection limit of 2.77 U/L and a limit of quantification of 9.25 U/L. Additionally, a plasma separation membrane was integrated with the PAD to directly test SGOT from finger-prick blood samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global energy market is shifting toward renewable, sustainable, and low-carbon hydrogen energy due to global environmental issues, such as rising carbon dioxide emissions, climate change, and global warming. Currently, a majority of hydrogen demands are achieved by steam methane reforming and other conventional processes, which, again, are very carbon-intensive methods, and the hydrogen produced by them needs to be purified prior to their application. Hence, researchers are continuously endeavoring to develop sustainable and efficient methods for hydrogen generation and purification. Membrane-based gas-separation technologies were proven to be more efficient than conventional technologies. This review explores the transition from conventional separation techniques, such as pressure swing adsorption and cryogenic distillation, to advanced membrane-based technologies with high selectivity and efficiency for hydrogen purification. Major emphasis is placed on various membrane materials and their corresponding membrane performance. First, we discuss various metal membranes, including dense, alloyed, and amorphous metal membranes, which exhibit high hydrogen solubility and selectivity. Further, various inorganic membranes, such as zeolites, silica, and CMSMs, are also discussed. Major emphasis is placed on the development of polymeric materials and membranes for the selective separation of hydrogen from CH4, CO2, and N2. In addition, cutting-edge mixed-matrix membranes are also delineated, which involve the incorporation of inorganic fillers to improve performance. This review provides a comprehensive overview of advancements in gas-separation membranes and membrane materials in terms of hydrogen selectivity, permeability, and durability in practical applications. By analyzing various conventional and advanced technologies, this review provides a comprehensive material perspective on hydrogen separation membranes, thereby endorsing hydrogen energy for a sustainable future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The room temperature ionic liquid trihexyl(tetradecyl)phosphonium decanoate ([P66614][Dec]) was employed in the liquid-liquid extraction of Co(II) from hydrochloric acid solutions in the presence of Ni(II). The extraction performance in liquid-liquid separations showed a strong dependence on the acid content of the feed aqueous solution. The best performance in terms of extracted cobalt and selectivity was obtained when the feed contained a HCl concentration above 6 M On the contrary, when the experiment was performed in absence of HCl, a lower extraction and Co/Ni selectivity were obtained. This behavior has been rationalized by considering the protonation of the [Dec]− anion and the different Co(II)/Ni(II) speciation in HCl media. Moreover, polymer inclusion membranes (PIMs) were prepared using PVC and [P66614][Dec] at different weight rations. Only the PIM formulated with a 30:70/PVC:[P66614][Dec] weight ratio demonstrated effective extraction of Co(II) from the HCl solution. The extraction efficiency and selectivity of the PIM was comparable to that from biphasic liquid experiments at 8 M HCl. The results of this study constitute a promising background for further practical developments of carboxylate-based ILs applied in Co/Ni separations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphene oxide (GO) membranes have garnered significant attention in the field of membrane separation due to their superb hydrophilicity, abundant functional groups, extensive surface area, and chemical stability. In this study, we have established a simple and effective method to enhance GO layered materials using nitrogen-doped carbon dots (N–CDs) molecules as inserts and surface modifiers, aiming to develop highly efficient GO-based membranes. Consequently, the incorporation of N–CDs into the two-dimensional GO membrane augments its hydrophilicity and increases the membrane interlayer distance. Under ultra-low pressure nanofiltration conditions, the optimum GN-12 composite membrane exhibited a remarkable average pure water flux of 6.06 L m−2 h−1 bar−1. This flux was approximately 19.5 times higher than that of the pure GO membrane, which had a flux of 0.31 L m−2 h−1 bar−1. Furthermore, the composite membrane exhibited excellent capability in intercepting several charged dye molecules, with an interception rate exceeding 99.6%. Furthermore, the optimized composite membrane demonstrated robust performance and structural stability even under varying pH conditions. The findings of this fundamental research provide a straightforward and cost-effective strategy for the production of high-performance two-dimensional based nanofiltration membranes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]