Conventional Separation Research Articles

Development and characterization of cranberry pomace extract incorporated and vitamin E fortified edible films as an edible separation sheet for fruit leather.

The separation sheets for fruit leather are traditionally made of plastic film or wax paper, which not only leads to environmental issues but also is inconvenience to consumers. This study evaluated edible fruit leather separation sheets using food polymers, including hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC) and incorporation of cranberry pomace water extract (CPE) for providing natural fruit pigment, flavor, and phenolics. HPMCCPE film was then further improved by incorporating hydrophobic compound (oleic acid, OA) and vitamin E (VE) via cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) Pickering emulsion (CNCP) for enhancing film hydrophobicity and nutritional benefit, respectively. The CNCP-HPMCCPE film exhibited reduced water vapor permeability (∼0.033gmm/m2dPa) compared to HPMCCPE film (∼0.59gmm/m2dPa) and had the least change in mass and moisture content when wrapping fruit leather for up to 2 weeks of ambient storage. The fruit leather wrapped by CNCP-HPMCCPE film showed lower weight change than those by films without CNCP due to low mass transfer between film and fruit leather. CNCP resulted in controlled release of VE into a food simulating solvent (ethanol). The developed colorful and edible fruit leather separation sheet satisfied the increased market demands on sustainable food packaging. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Colorful and flavorful edible films made of edible polymers, fruit pomace water extract, and emulsified hydrophobic compounds with vitamin E were created. The films have the satisfactory performance to replace the conventional fruit leather separation sheet made of plastic or wax paper. The edible films can be eaten with packaged fruit leather for not only reducing packaging waste but also providing convenience and nutritional benefit to consumers. These functional edible films may also be utilized to package other food products for promoting packaging sustainability and nutritional benefit.

The electrochemistry of stable sulfur isotopes versus lithium

Sulfur in nature consists of two abundant stable isotopes, with two more neutrons in the heavy one (34S) than in the light one (32S). The two isotopes show similar physicochemical properties and are usually considered an integral system for chemical research in various fields. In this work, a model study based on a Li-S battery was performed to reveal the variation between the electrochemical properties of the two S isotopes. Provided with the same octatomic ring structure, the cyclo-34S8 molecules form stronger S-S bonds than cyclo-32S8 and are more prone to react with Li. The soluble Li polysulfides generated by the Li-34S conversion reaction show a stronger cation-solvent interaction yet a weaker cation-anion interaction than the 32S-based counterparts, which facilitates quick solvation of polysulfides yet hinders their migration from the cathode to the anode. Consequently, the Li-34S cell shows improved cathode reaction kinetics at the solid-liquid interface and inhibited shuttle of polysulfides through the electrolyte so that it demonstrates better cycling performance than the Li-32S cell. Based on the varied shuttle kinetics of the isotopic-S-based polysulfides, an electrochemical separation method for 34S/32S isotope is proposed, which enables a notably higher separation factor than the conventional separation methods via chemical exchange or distillation and brings opportunities to low-cost manufacture, utilization, and research of heavy chalcogen isotopes.

Improving Autonomous Separation Assurance through Distributed Reinforcement Learning with Attention Networks

Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) introduces a new, efficient mode of transportation with the use of vehicle autonomy and electrified aircraft to provide increasingly autonomous transportation between previously underserved markets. Safe and efficient navigation of low altitude aircraft through highly dense environments requires the integration of a multitude of complex observations, such as surveillance, knowledge of vehicle dynamics, and weather. The processing and reasoning on these observations pose challenges due to the various sources of uncertainty in the information while ensuring cooperation with a variable number of aircraft in the airspace. These challenges coupled with the requirement to make safety-critical decisions in real-time rule out the use of conventional separation assurance techniques. We present a decentralized reinforcement learning framework to provide autonomous self-separation capabilities within AAM corridors with the use of speed and vertical maneuvers. The problem is formulated as a Markov Decision Process and solved by developing a novel extension to the sample-efficient, off-policy soft actor-critic (SAC) algorithm. We introduce the use of attention networks for variable-length observation processing and a distributed computing architecture to achieve high training sample throughput as compared to existing approaches. A comprehensive numerical study shows that the proposed framework can ensure safe and efficient separation of aircraft in high density, dynamic environments with various sources of uncertainty.

Organic Solvent Nanofiltration in Pharmaceutical Applications.

Separation and purification in organic solvents are indispensable procedures in pharmaceutical manufacturing. However, they still heavily rely on the conventional separation technologies of distillation and chromatography, resulting in high energy and massive solvent consumption. As an alternative, organic solvent nanofiltration (OSN) offers the benefits of low energy consumption, low solid waste generation, and easy scale-up and incorporation into continuous processes. Thus, there is a growing interest in employing membrane technology in the pharmaceutical area to improve process sustainability and energy efficiency. This Review comprehensively summarizes the recent progress (especially the last 10 years) of organic solvent nanofiltration and its applications in the pharmaceutical industry, including the concentration and purification of active pharmaceutical ingredients, homogeneous catalyst recovery, solvent exchange and recovery, and OSN-assisted peptide/oligonucleotide synthesis. Furthermore, the challenges and future perspectives of membrane technology in pharmaceutical applications are discussed in detail.

MFI Zeolite Membranes and PV Separation of Isopropanol-Water Azeotropic Mixtures

Membrane separation process has become one of the emerging technologies that undergo a rapid growth since few decades. Pervaporation (PV) is one among the membrane separation processes which gained foremost interest in the chemical and allied industries. It is an effective and energy-efficient technology that carries out separations, which are difficult to achieve by conventional separation processes. Inorganic membranes such as zeolite membranes with uniform, molecular-sized pores, selective adsorption and molecular sieving action offer unique type of pervaporation membrane for a number of separation processes. This paper presents the role of MFI-zeolite membrane and its progress in the pervaporation process. The fundamental aspects of pervaporation over different types of membranes are reviewed and compared. The focus of this paper is on zeolite membrane synthesis, membrane characterization and pervaporation studies. The transport mechanism during pervaporation is discussed and the issues related with pervaporation are addressed. Innovation and future development of zeolite membrane in pervaporation are also presented.

Study of the performance and flow field of a new spiral-roof cyclone separator

This paper addresses deficiencies in the separating efficiency of conventional spiral-roof cyclone separators compared to flat-roof cyclone separators. A novel design is proposed, adding spiral guide vanes into the spiral-roof cyclone separator's annular space. The performance of the new spiral-roof cyclone separator is evaluated through cold-model experiments and numerical simulations and compared with conventional flat-roof and spiral-roof counterparts. The results demonstrate a more than 20% reduction in pressure drop compared to the flat-roof cyclone. The new design exhibits 3%–5% higher efficiency than the conventional spiral-roof cyclone and surpasses the flat-roof cyclone by 2%–3%. The numerical simulations investigate tangential velocity distribution, airflow residence time, short-circuit flow air volume, particles carried away by short-circuit flow, and vortex core stability. The findings confirm the new spiral-roof cyclone as a low-pressure and highly efficient separator with promising practical applications in diverse gas-solid separation operations.

Dairy farmers’ preferences for immediate versus late calf separation

The practice of separating calves from their dams right after birth is one of the main dairy cattle welfare concerns among the public. Farmer perceptions about the practice and the available alternative contact systems in the US are however, not well understood. Using data from a sample of Wisconsin dairy farmers, the study examines farmer preferences for different prolonged (relative to immediate separation) contact systems and the potential role of farm structural and individual-level specific factors. Four alternative hypothetical systems - free dam, half day, foster cow, and restricted suckling systems – differing on the basis of calf access to dam-were considered. The analysis controls for farm size, production system (conventional, organic, grazing), farmer socio-demographic characteristics in addition to farm animal welfare (FAW) perceptions. The findings indicate that amongst the set of alternative practices considered, foster cow system is most preferred alternative to the conventional early separation practised by most farmers. This is followed by restricted suckling systems. The least ranked alternative system is free calf-dam contact. The analyses further indicate that calf contact duration is negatively associated with herd size. Relative to conventional farms, calf-dam pairs on grazing, organic and mixed farms are less likely to be separated immediately after birth. Prolonged calf-dam contact is also prevalent amongst older farmers. Overall, the findings imply that farming system and structural considerations may be the key drivers of transition to prolonged contact systems in dairy production. Foster cow systems may offer the most feasible pathway for achieving this objective.

Reimagining doctoral success for "non-traditional students": A phenomenological inquiry into the experiences of emerging researchers

Against the backdrop of a transforming doctoral education landscape and the emergence of non-traditional doctoral students, this article investigates strategies to promote the success of students balancing academic studies and their careers. Prevailing discussions on doctoral success strategies have often centred on “traditional” doctoral students. This article examines the doctoral success challenges confronted by “non-traditional” doctoral candidates who pursue higher education at different stages of their lives, often juggling such with work and family or other responsibilities. The study was informed by Ward and Brennan’s model to analyse the compatibility of student-doctoral education. This framework introduces the concept of student-doctoral fit that asserts that non-traditional students achieve optimal success when there is alignment between the student’s values and those upheld by their organization and social structure. Therefore, doctoral success for non-traditional students lies in the alignment of three main spheres, namely, the 1) student-doctoral environment, 2) student vocation, and 3) the student-doctoral culture. In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 non-traditional doctoral students employed by a research organization. The findings underscore the intricacies of balancing academic and professional demands, shedding light on the challenges arising from the lack of integration between academic work and doctoral pursuits. They highlight the need to challenge the conventional separation of these facets. Notably, participants highlighted that they received more substantial academic training and support from the research organization and work mentors, emphasizing the variable nature of support by university supervisors. Given that the majority of challenges reported revolve around the fit between the student-doctoral culture and environment, it is recommended that research organizations and universities collaborate and establish robust support structures. This collaborative approach is essential to ensure academic success and facilitate non-traditional doctoral students’ smoother transition into professional careers

Technology Focus: Artificial Lift (March 2024)

The industry is now in its second year beyond the COVID-19 pandemic, and the workforce has changed in many ways, but issues facing production performance remain. Major conferences saw 116 submissions from 28 countries, with 64% regarding electrical submersible pumps (ESPs), and 18% and 8% devoted to gas lift and rod lift, respectively. Many of the papers dealt with case history successes. That is all well and good, but it doesn’t necessarily drive reader interest if it can’t be applied to their asset. The top three papers were selected on the guidelines of clarity of the abstract in addressing the scope, methods/procedures/process, results/observations/conclusions, and novel or additive information. The papers described here focus on novel unconventional horizontal downhole pump card signatures, carbon reduction through alternative energy to pump wells, and predicting downhole-discharge pressure of ESPs. Paper SPE 214723 presents a discussion of the design, evaluation, and field testing of a new type of mechanical gas separator with what the authors term a “hydrohelical” design. The separator, in Permian Basin tests, almost doubled the flow capacity of conventional gas separators with a high level of efficiency. The authors draw particular attention to the improvement of ESP operations under multiphase conditions. Carbon reduction is a hot topic, and paper OTC 32671 does not disappoint as it looks at the use of a 10-MW floating solar photovoltaic power system to meet the energy needed for 10 ESP wells on an oil platform in the Brazil equatorial region. Collaboration with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and its System Advisor Model was used with extensive meteorological and wind data to examine the sustainability of green energy use for the petroleum industry and offer valuable guidance for future renewable energy projects in regions with similar characteristics. Finally, paper SPE 216598 comes from Sudan and Saudia Arabia and focuses on digital solutions for the challenge of knowing the downhole-discharge pressure of an ESP system. Most ESP systems do not have downhole gauges, so an artificial neural network (ANN) approach is used to predict the ESP discharge pressure for performance optimization. Forty wells and more than 12,000 data points were reduced to 16 inputs plus one hidden layer of seven neurons to provide a high degree of accuracy in prediction of discharge pressure. The authors state that the ability to accurately predict discharge pressure can lead to the early detection of possible anomalies, which can prevent costly failures and reduce downtime. Artificial intelligence technology may improve the accuracy of ANNs, but, for now, ANNs are worth a look to obtain much-needed ESP discharge pressure. Other notable papers dealt with gas separation, ESP reliability, and the increasing challenges of low rates, low pressures, and high gas fractions. Recommended additional reading at OnePetro: www.onepetro.org. SPE 214913 Solved: ESP Shutdowns and Restart Issues—Novel Pump Protection and Active 3D Dispersion System Improve ESP Performance in Multiple Wells by A. Bhattacharjee, SLB, et al. SPE 215474 A New Artificial Lift Approach in Telisa Low-Productivity Reservoir: Utilized Very Low-Rate ESP by Agus Aryanto, Medco E&P Indonesia, et al. SPE 215170 A Comprehensive Study of a Novel Submersible Pump by Hattan Banjar, Saudi Aramco, et al. SPE 214722 Case Study: Predicting Electrical Submersible Pump Failures Using Artificial Intelligence and Physics-Based Hybrid Models by Shejuti Silvia, Baker Hughes, et al. SPE 214733 Gas-Flow-Management Technology Designed To Decrease Downtime and Improve ESP Efficiency by S. Fulwider, ConocoPhillips, et al.

Effective separation of maslinic acid and oleanolic acid from olive pomace using high-speed shear off-line coupled with high-speed countercurrent chromatography and their antibacterial activity test

In this work, a high-speed shear extraction off-line coupling high-speed countercurrent chromatography method was developed to separate maslinic acid and oleanolic acid from olive pomace. To improve extraction efficiency, the polar disparity between maslinic acid and oleanolic acid necessitated the concurrent utilization of both polar and non-polar solvents during high-speed shear extraction. Then, the high-speed shear extraction was directly feed to high-speed countercurrent chromatography for subsequently separation. A total of 250 min were needed to complete the extraction and separation process. This yielded two molecules from 3.3 g of defatted olive pomace: 7.2 mg of 93.8 % pure maslinic acid and 2.3 mg of 90.1 % pure oleanolic acid, both determined by HPLC at 210 nm. Furthermore, the compounds exhibited inhibitory activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. At a concentration of 100 μg/mL, its efficacy in inhibiting hyaluronidase was comparable to that of the standard drug indomethacin. Compared with the conventional separation method, this coupled technique reduced the whole time due to the direct injection of sample extraction solution. This technique provides a useful approach for the separation of natural products with significant polarity differences.

SnS/SnS2 Heterostructures Embedded in Hierarchical Porous Carbon as Polysulfides Immobilizer for High-Performance Lithium-Sulfur Batteries.

Driven by the strong adsorptive and catalytic ability of metal sulfides for soluble polysulfides, it is considered as a potential mediator to resolve the problems of shuttle effect and slow reaction kinetics of polysulfides in lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries. However, their further development is limited by poor electrical conductivity and bad long-term durability. Herein, one type of new catalyst composed of SnS/SnS2 heterostructures on hierarchical porous carbon (denoted as SnS/SnS2-HPC) by a simple hydrothermal method is reported and used as an interlayer coating on the conventional separator for blocking polysulfides. The SnS/SnS2-HPC integrates the advantages of a porous conductive network for promoting the transport of electrons and an enhanced electrocatalyst for accelerating polysulfides conversion. As a result, such a cell coupled with a SnS/SnS2-HPC interlayer exhibits a long-term lifespan of 1200 cycles. This work provides a new cell configuration by using heterostructures with a built-in electric field formed from a p-n heterojunction to improve the performance of Li-S batteries.

Effect of thermal processing conditions on the structure and properties of porous PENK/PVDF composite films and its application as lithium-ions separators

By developing high-performance lithium-ion battery technology, the demands on the design of separator modification have increased. However, battery performance and safety are limited by conventional polyolefin separators' poor thermal resistance and electrolyte wettability. Biphenyl-type poly (arylene ether nitrile ketone) (BP-PENK) is synthesized. PENK polymers are a class of poly (aryl ether) with excellent properties of both Poly (aryl ether nitrile) (PEN) and Poly (ether ketone) (PEEK). The BP-PENK/PVDF composite film is further processed by non-solvent induced phase separation (NIPS), and the impact of annealing temperatures on the thermal resistance and crystalline phase structure of composite separators has been studied. The composite separator owns enhanced ionic conductivity, excellent electrolyte wettability, and superior thermal durability. The cell equipped with the composite separator has a discharge-specific capacity of 146.5 mAh·g−1 and a capacity retention rate of 86.64 %. In this way, A novel approach to producing lithium-ion battery separators that possess outstanding electrochemical properties and high thermal durability is provided.

Particulate filtration by cryogenic condensation using a high efficiency Stairmand cyclone separator

This paper describes the synergy of a high-efficiency Stairmand cyclonic separator and the phenomenon of condensation generated by the low temperatures of the mixture of liquid nitrogen and ethanol, to increase the separation efficiency on particles with diameters of 1 μm, 45 μm, 75 μm, 150 μm and 250 μm. The cyclone separator adds the phenomenon of condensation, generating a film of liquid water on its internal walls. The film of liquid water causes a loss of kinetic energy in the particles, reducing their speed and becoming stuck. Al2O3 particles and pozzolana rock particles are used to perform the particle separation experimental tests. A computational fluid dynamics analysis using the second order RSM model is incorporated to describe the fluid dynamic behavior of the particles within the separator cyclone. The results in computational fluid dynamics show the agglomeration of larger diameter particles near the internal walls. Using condensation as a phase change generated by cryogenic mixing results in an overall particle separation efficiency of 76.00 %, standing for an increment of 70.14 % in comparison to a conventional high-efficiency Stairmand separator cyclone.Technological innovation: Particles, filtration, separation, condensation, cryogenic.

Hydrothermally synthetized WO3 coated stainless steel mesh for oil–water separation purposes

To separate oil–water mixtures especially in oil field operations, new energy-efficient methods are urgently required. Conventional separation techniques using demulsifiers for separation of oil–water mixtures or even use of membranes usually suffered from high cost and energy consumption, composition dependency of demulsifiers and fouling or inability of a single membrane to separate all types of oil–water mixtures. This research aimed to synthesize tungsten oxide-coated stainless steel mesh using the hydrothermal method, with a focus on evaluating its effectiveness in oil–water separation. The coating procedure was carried out using hydrothermal techniques, with an emphasis on investigating the impact of precursor concentration, pH levels, reaction temperature and duration, on the separation efficiency of the optimal coating solution. The hydrothermally coated stainless steel mesh was created within a polytetrafluoroethylene reaction vessel, submerged in a 150 ml aqueous solution containing 0.0094 mol of sodium tungstate di-hydrate at pH 3.0, achieved through the addition of hydrochloric acid. Additionally, 1 g of oxalic acid, acting as a chelating agent, was introduced. Subsequently, the mesh underwent a 4 h reaction at 220 °C and was subsequently annealed for 30 min in a 350 °C furnace. Remarkably, the resultant mesh exhibited an exceptional water separation flux of 9870 ± 15 L/hr/m2 when exposed to 1:1 v/v oil–water mixtures. This performance significantly outperformed previous filters designed for similar oil–water separation tasks. The mesh efficiently facilitated the passage of water through the oil–water mixture, achieving an efficiency rate exceeding 98 ± 1%. To gauge its wetting behavior, the hydrophilic/underwater oleophobic filter underwent static contact angle measurements. The filter's wetting mechanism was primarily attributed to its hierarchical surface structure, which enhanced surface hydrophilicity and roughness. Analytical techniques such as XRD, FTIR, and FE-SEM were employed to scrutinize the fabricated filter's composition. These analyses confirmed the successful creation of a nanostructured WO3 coating on both sides of the stainless steel mesh. Moreover, the utilization of commercially available chemicals and straightforward fabrication techniques underscores the promising potential of this approach for large-scale applications.

Development of a centrifugal dry magnetic separator for separation of fine magnetite ore

Dry magnetic separation (DMS) has been used for separating large magnetic ores, but it produces a low selectivity for fine particles, due to the challenge of dispersing feed materials. A novel full-scale centrifugal dry magnetic separator (cDMS) was developed, and in this investigation, it was used to process a fine magnetite ore, which assays 28.57% Fe in magnetite. The separation results indicate that the cDMS separator is capable of producing a high separation selectivity for magnetite powders. For feed particle size below 0.10 mm, the iron grade of magnetite in concentrate reached 43.07% at 98.38% recovery for magnetite, with the iron grade of magnetite in tailings significantly reduced to 1.33%. It was found that for the material available, the finer particle size for effective separation reached 0–0.037 mm, and the larger particle size reached 2.0 mm, being an excellent separation performance in comparison with typically conventional dry magnetic separators.

Efficient removal of Mo(VI) ions via adsorbing colloid flotation based on the synergic effect of metal salts and CTAB

Treatment of molybdenum-containing wastewater is crucial for mitigating the environmental threat of Mo(VI) ions and recovering valuable metals. Compared to conventional separation methods, adsorbing colloid flotation emerges as a viable way to efficiently remove Mo(VI) ions. However, the current colloidal adsorption reagents have constrained the development of adsorbing colloid flotation due to their poor removal efficiency and narrow solution pH range. To overcome these challenges, Zr(IV) salts and La(III) salts were employed as colloidal adsorption reagents for the first time to remove Mo(VI) ions from wastewater in this work. In particular, the differences in removal efficiency of Mo(VI) ions between Zr(IV) salts, La(III) salts and traditional Fe(III) salts were systematically evaluated over a wide solution pH range. Zr(IV) salts demonstrated robust pH stability, displaying a significant removal efficiency of over 70.00% for Mo(VI) ions during the colloidal adsorption stage across a broad solution pH range from 3 to 11. Even more astonishingly, the removal efficiency of Mo(VI) ions was further enhanced through the synergistic effect of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) during the flotation separation stage. Under the optimal conditions of bubble flotation, the solution turbidity decreased rapidly from 164.50 NTU to 3.33 NTU, and the removal efficiency of Mo(VI) ions reached an impressive 99.10% which was enhanced by 23.73% compared to the colloidal adsorption stage. In conclusion, Zr(IV) salts, serving as colloidal adsorption reagents, have overcome the limitations of traditional colloidal adsorption reagents and exhibit significant potential for the removal of Mo(VI) ions from wastewater.

Innovative Approach to Producing Palladium-103 for Auger-Emitting Radionuclide Therapy: A Proof-of-Concept Study.

Auger-emitting radionuclides, exemplified by Pd-103, exhibit considerable therapeutic potential in cancer treatment due to their high cytotoxicity and localized biological impact. Despite these advantages, the separation of such radionuclides presents a complicated challenge, requiring intricate and time-intensive "wet chemistry" methods attributed to the exceptional chemical inertness of the associated metals. This study proposes an innovative solution to this separation challenge through the design and implementation of a piece of radionuclide separation equipment (RSE). The equipment employs a dry distillation approach, capitalizing on differences in partial vapor pressures between irradiated and resulting radioactive metals, with a diffusion-driven extraction method applied to separate Pd-103 radionuclides generated via the proton irradiation of Rh-103 at cyclotron. Our optimization endeavors focused on determining the optimal temperature for effective metal separation and adjusting the diffusion, evaporation, and deposition rates, as well as addressing chemical impurities. The calculations indicate 17% ± 2% separation efficiency with our RSE. Approximately 77 ± 2% and 49 ± 2% of the deposited Pd-103 were isolated on substrates of Nb foil and ZnO-covered W disc, respectively. The proposed innovative dry distillation method that has been experimentally tested offers a promising alternative to conventional separation techniques, enabling enhanced purity and cost-efficient cancer treatment strategies.

Deep Eutectic Solvent Modified Surface Molecular Imprinting Polymers on Boron Nitride Sheets for Specific Recognition of the Genotoxic Impurity Benzo(a)Pyrene

As a typical genotoxic impurity (GTI), the concentration of benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) must be below the threshold of toxicological concern (TTC). However, achieving a trace BaP is a significant challenge by conventional separation media. Utilizing the unique recognition capabilities of surface molecular imprinting polymers (SMIPs), the versatility of N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone deep eutectic solvents (NVP-DES), and the high surface area of two-dimensional nano-boron nitride (2D-nano-BN) sheets, a series of functionalized 2D-BN materials were prepared (NVP-DES-SMIP@2D-nano-BN) for the specific recognition and removal of BaP. Utilizing 2D-nano-BN sheets as the base, four NVP-DESs were employed as monomers, BaP as the template, EGDMA as the cross-linker, and BPO/DMA as the initiator to prepare NVP-DES-SMIP@2D-nano-BN. The free energy of DES was computed using Gaussian software, and characterization of NVP-DES-SMIP@2D-nano-BN was performed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Quantitative and qualitative determinations of BaP were conducted using high performance liquid chromatography and fluorescence. Using a recognition model, NVP-DES-SMIP@2D-nano-BN exhibited a Freundlich isotherm fit and second-order kinetics for BaP.

Integrated Microfluidics for Single‐Cell Separation and On‐Chip Analysis: Novel Applications and Recent Advances

From deciphering infection and disease mechanisms to identifying novel biomarkers and personalizing treatments, the characteristics of individual cells can provide significant insights into a variety of biological processes and facilitate decision‐making in biomedical environments. Conventional single‐cell analysis methods are limited in terms of cost, contamination risks, sample volumes, analysis times, throughput, sensitivity, and selectivity. Although microfluidic approaches have been suggested as a low‐cost, information‐rich, and high‐throughput alternative to conventional single‐cell isolation and analysis methods, limitations such as necessary off‐chip sample pre‐ and post‐processing as well as systems designed for individual workflows have restricted their applications. In this review, a comprehensive overview of recent advances in integrated microfluidics for single‐cell isolation and on‐chip analysis in three prominent application domains are provided: investigation of somatic cells (particularly cancer and immune cells), stem cells, and microorganisms. Also, the use of conventional cell separation methods (e.g., dielectrophoresis) in unconventional or novel ways, which can advance the integration of multiple workflows in microfluidic systems, is discussed. Finally, a critical discussion related to current limitations of integrated microfluidic single‐cell workflows and how they could be overcome is provided.

Memory‐Processing‐Display Integrated Hardware with All‐In‐One Structure for Intelligent Image Processing

AbstractEmpowering displays with intelligent functions enables their application in intelligent image processing and intelligent interactive displays, which is the combination of future display and artificial intelligence technologies. However, existing display technologies face significant processing and transmission burdens due to their conventional hardware separation architecture, which separates memory from the processor and display module from the processing module. To address these challenges, a highly integrated memory‐ processing‐display intelligent light‐emitting hardware (MPDIH) capable of information generation, memory, processing, and visualization is proposed. The MPDIH, based on an organic light‐sensitive layer and activated by ultraviolet light irradiation, exhibits unique photoinhibition behavior attributed to the reverse light‐induced electric field formed by the directional arrangement of photo‐generated excitons. This behavior enables dynamic regulation and autonomous learning during the device training process. Leveraging this phenomenon, intelligent image processing is successfully demonstrated, achieving a significant contrast improvement with a maximum enhancement of 261% compared to unprocessed raw signals. Furthermore, the memory‐processing‐display intelligent image processing scheme enables fashion MNIST image recognition using an artificial neural network, and achieves noticeably higher recognition accuracy (>89%) compared to the original fuzzy images (<59%). Consequently, the proposed memory‐processing‐display intelligent light‐emitting hardware holds promise for future applications in integrated photonic systems and interactive artificial intelligence displays.