This review examines the phytochemistry and nutritional composition of Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench grains and their potential as a fermented poultry feed resource. As a vital global protein source producing over 100 million metric tonnes of poultry meat annually, the industry faces challenges from the rising costs and climate vulnerability of conventional grains like maize. Sorghum emerges as a strategic alternative due to its drought tolerance, widespread cultivation by smallholder farmers, and comparable nutritional profile. Our comprehensive analysis of 80+ studies from Web of Science, PubMed, and Scopus reveals that while sorghum contains beneficial phytochemicals, its red varieties harbour antinutritional factors (ANFs) including tannins, cyanogens, protease inhibitors, and phytates that limit poultry utilization. Crucially, we demonstrate how controlled fermentation and mechanical scarification can reduce ANF activity by up to 87%, significantly improving feed palatability, nutrient bioavailability, and digestion efficiency. The process also enhances sorghum's inherent advantages - its antioxidant phenolic compounds help combat oxidative stress in poultry when present at optimized levels. These findings position fermented sorghum as both a climate-resilient feed solution and a functional ingredient, capable of reducing production costs while maintaining poultry health and performance. The review provides actionable insights for implementing sorghum-based fermented feeds across diverse production systems, from smallholder operations to industrial-scale poultry farming. Therefore, this study could potentially contribute to improving poultry feed production systems and promoting animal health while reducing the cost of production.

This paper offers a perspective on the future of energy harvesting through reverse electrodialysis (RED), particularly in systems using seawater and river water as feed solutions. Although significant progress has been made in membrane development and in optimizing flow configurations—through the introduction of alternative spacers and profiled membranes that enhance mixing and reduce polarization—the overall advancement of RED technology has stagnated for nearly a decade. A persistent negative scale factor continues to favor small-scale applications while limiting the feasibility of large-scale power generation. We propose that renewed progress may arise from fractal-inspired system architectures, in which the efficiency of small RED units is preserved and amplified through hierarchical organization and cooperative operation of many such elements. Two conceptual approaches are outlined. The first explores fractal geometries within the intermembrane compartments, focusing particularly on the river water compartment, which typically exhibits the highest ohmic resistance. The second envisions the modular aggregation of numerous cross-flow stacks into large-scale assemblies whose overall performance scales constructively with the number of units. Together, these ideas suggest a new design paradigm in which scalability and efficiency are reconciled through fractal system organization.

Rising prices of traditional protein sources like soybeans and maize are challenging the global livestock industry, necessitating cost-effective and sustainable alternatives. This study explores tannery raw hide trimmings waste (TRHTW), a chromium-free byproduct with high protein (33%) and fat (2%) content, as a viable poultry feed ingredient. Unlike chromium-tanned leather waste, TRHTW offers a safer and nutritionally balanced feed. The research formulated poultry feed blends incorporating TRHTW by washing, boiling, sun-drying, and grounding into fine powder alongside traditional ingredients like maize and soymeal, comparing them to conventional diets based on nutrient profile, energy value, and heavy metal content. Structural and chemical properties were analyzed using FTIR, SEM, and AAS. Key findings demonstrate that TRHTW-based feed is chromium and lead free, with 85% digestibility, reducing costs while providing a sustainable protein alternative for poultry feed formulation. Adherence to safety and regulatory standards is essential to ensure poultry and consumer health. Future studies should refine TRHTW processing for optimized nutritional and safety outcomes, advancing sustainable feed solutions within a circular economy framework.

Cellulose is a versatile and sustainable biopolymer that can be used to make microparticles for various applications. However, its inherent crystallinity limits the surface access for sorption and functionalization. This study presents a one-step method for tuning the crystallinity and chain accessibility of cellulose microparticles using a reactive spray drying technique. The spray drying parameters (e.g., feed concentration, N2 gas flow rate, and cross-linker dosage) were optimized to produce spherical, porous microparticles with a size distribution ranging from 0.54 to 5.65 μm. Among these parameters, feed concentration and N2 gas flow rate were shown to have the greatest influence on the morphology and internal structure, while cross-linking reduced crystallinity and enhanced chain accessibility. The extent of the enhancement in the chain accessibility was directly linked to the epichlorohydrin cross-linker/glucose monomer (E/G) ratio in the feed solution. As a result, the improved chain accessibility led to greater solvent absorptivity, methylene blue adsorption, and dispersibility of the spray-dried cellulose microparticles compared to those of pristine cellulose. These findings highlight the potential of the method as a simple and scalable approach to producing cellulose microparticles with tunable properties.

With the growing interest in fabricating nanofiltration membranes using novel materials and techniques, there is an increasing need to evaluate the practical viability of innovative membranes at the early stages of development. In many materials research laboratories, access to professionally manufactured membrane-evaluation systems may be limited. Here we present a pressure-driven filtration system for evaluation of nanofiltration membranes, which can be constructed from 3D-printed parts and widely available off-the-shelf components at a cost of approximately 60 €. The system uses a stirred cross-flow design capable of circulating the feed solution in the filter cell and maintaining a stable solute concentration during extended filtration experiments—as in conventional cross-flow cells. It is suitable for the filtration of aqueous solutions containing dyes, inorganic salts, and dilute acids. Validation was performed by filtering a 2000 mg L−1 MgSO4 solution through a Veolia RL membrane at 7.6 bar, achieving a 96.5% rejection rate and a permeance of 7.5 L m−2 h−1 bar−1 after 24 h of continuous operation.

Membrane distillation (MD) is a temperature-driven technology suitable for treating industrial wastewater, especially when utilizing low-grade heat sources like waste heat or renewable energy. Despite its potential, large-scale application of MD faces challenges due to high energy demands and operational instability caused by membrane fouling and wetting, particularly when surfactants are present. This study evaluated the thermal performance of a lab-pilot MD system using two commercial PTFE membranes. Initial experiments used saline feed solutions at varying feed and permeate temperatures. Subsequent tests introduced a non-ionic surfactant (Triton X-100), with and without NaCl, to investigate membrane fouling and wetting behavior. Results showed that higher feed temperatures increased permeate flux across all conditions, but also accelerated fouling and wetting, thereby shortening operational time. Notably, in the absence of NaCl, membrane degradation occurred more slowly, resulting in more stable performance. The novelty of this study lies in revealing the combined effect of salinity and non-ionic surfactants on the fouling and wetting performance of commercially available PTFE membranes in membrane distillation. Using a comprehensive two-stage experimental approach, the work systematically correlates MD system performance with membrane degradation mechanisms under feed conditions representative of real industrial wastewater. This dual focus not only uncovers the interplay between surfactants and salts but also provides practically relevant insights into the reliability and applicability of PTFE membranes in industrial MD operations. • In the membrane distillation system, increasing the initial feed temperature along with increasing the differences between feed and permeate initial temperatures lead to better thermal efficiency, also reduced thermal energy consumption which would result in a lower operational cost. • Increasing initial feed temperature leads to higher permeate flux in membrane distillation, but the fouling and wetting occurs faster in the membranes leading to a more unstable process. • The presence of NaCl deteriorated the permeate flux in the surfactant-saline feed solution due to the inorganic-organic interactions

Virus filtration is a critical step to ensure the safety of antibody-based therapeutics. Due to the stringent performance requirements, commercially available virus filtration membranes are limited, and studies on virus retention behavior across different antibodies remain scarce, partly due to the high cost of these biologics. Herein, we comprehensively evaluated a newly developed virus filtration membrane, UF-Viremoval-Plus, by benchmarking it against leading commercial virus filters. The results demonstrate that UF-Viremoval-Plus exhibits superior antifouling properties and virus retention performance, which are attributed to its less negative charge, higher hydrophilicity, gradient pore structure and funnel-shaped geometry. We further investigated the effects of key process parameters, including pH, ionic strength, antibody type, and concentration, on membrane flux and virus removal efficiency. The membrane maintained stable operation under varying pressures and process disturbances, consistently achieving virus removal levels above 4 log reduction value, with no evidence of virus breakthrough. However, significant shifts in feed solution pH or ionic strength, as well as membrane fouling caused by high protein concentrations, affected virus removal. These observations are governed by complex membrane-protein-virus interactions. This work provides theoretical insights for the rational design of virus filtration membrane microstructures and the optimization of viral clearance processes in biopharmaceutical manufacturing.

The effects of pretreatment pH value, operating pressure, and concentration factors on the performance of nanofiltration membrane concentration and the recovery of phosphorus-containing wastewater were systematically studied. A novel pretreatment strategy using solid sodium hydroxide was developed to adjust the feed solution pH, achieving optimal solid removal and minimized conductivity at pH = 5. Unlike conventional calcium-based methods, this approach avoids excessive chemical sludge formation and mitigates membrane scaling, enhancing system stability. Experimental results demonstrate that both phosphorus rejection and desalination efficiency are significantly influenced by feed solution pH, operating pressure, and concentration ratio. While increasing pH and pressure improve total phosphorus (TP) rejection and desalination rates, these benefits are accompanied by reduced membrane flux due to elevated osmotic pressure and intensified concentration polarization. The membrane exhibited optimal performance at a feed pH of 5 and an operating pressure of 3 MPa, with sustained flux and enhanced separation efficiency. Under these conditions, when the wastewater was concentrated fivefold at 25 °C, the TP rejection rate and desalination efficiency reached 92.9% and 91.8%, respectively.

Gastrointestinal failure represents a complex syndrome with various underlying causes. Effectively managing the diverse scenarios from practical, metabolic, and nutritional perspectives poses significant challenges, which this review aims to explore. Recent developments Acute gastrointestinal injury (AGI) has been characterized and has progressed into the gastrointestinal dysfunction score (GIDS), modeled after the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score, ranging from 0 (no risk) to 4 (life-threatening). However, a specific, reliable, and reproducible biomarker associated with it is still lacking. Assessing risk using the Nutrition Risk Screening (NRS) score is the initial step in addressing nutritional therapy. Nutritional management must be tailored to the severity of gastrointestinal failure and its clinical presentations, always focusing on preventing undernutrition and dehydration, as well as providing essential micronutrients. The incorporation of fibers in enteral feeding solutions has become more accepted and is even recommended based on microbiome research. Parenteral nutrition, whether used alone or in conjunction with enteral feeding, is warranted when the intestine cannot meet nutritional needs. Conclusion The variability of gastrointestinal insufficiency prevents a standardized nutritional approach for all critically ill patients, underscoring the importance of early detection and the need for personalized care.

This work is related to the development of a highly efficient pH-responsive ionic draw solute for forward osmosis applications utilizing microwave-assisted fast heating. This solute is classified as an ionic compound, a sodium salt originating from imidazole, with the scientific acronym 1-acetyl-2-methylbenzimidazole sodium bisulfate (AMBIM-Na). The synthesized compound was analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), as well as additional physical characteristics. The baseline performance was initially evaluated at various molar concentrations against distilled water as the feed solution (FS). The results indicated that the produced solute exhibits elevated osmotic pressure, resulting in a water flux of up to 130 LMH for a 1 M concentration, coupled with the absence of reverse salt flux. The synthesized AMBIM-Na at a concentration of 1 M was utilized as a draw solution (DS) against synthetic brackish water. The water flux declined progressively with the increase in FS concentration, decreasing from 130 LMH with distilled water to 99, 70, and 41 LMH at NaCl concentrations of 5, 10, and 15 g/L, respectively. The regeneration of the draw solute was assessed using pH adjustment, revealing that 100% regeneration occurs by reducing the pH to 2.

Forward osmosis (FO), particularly fertilizer-drawn forward osmosis (FDFO), offers a promising approach to tackling water scarcity challenges efficiently. This research project aims to investigate the performance of calcium nitrate (Ca(NO3)2) and commercial nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK) as draw solutions (DS) for desalination using the FDFO process on both bench and pilot scales. The feed solution (FS) consisted of synthetic brackish water (BW) with moderate salinity and trace levels of strontium (Sr2+) and barium (Ba2+), reflecting concentrations commonly found in natural brackish groundwater. This investigation was carried out using different concentrations of Ca(NO3)2 and NPK (0.5 M, 1 M, and 2 M) on the bench-scale trials. The performance of each draw solution was evaluated by measuring water flux, water recovery, specific reverse solute flux, and ion rejection efficiency. The results showed that water flux increased with DS concentration. Surface characterization via energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) revealed distinct elemental deposition patterns on the polyamide (PA) membrane. Greater elemental intrusion and fouling were observed in the NPK-treated membrane compared to Ca(NO3)2. The membrane demonstrated consistently high rejection rates for both Sr2+ and Ba2+ ions, with Ca(NO3)2 DS achieving up to 99% rejection. The evaluation of the pilot-scale FO system was based on using the highest-performing DS concentration as optimized from the bench-scale trials. Using 2 M Ca(NO3)2 resulted in the best performance of Pilot FO, achieving an average water flux of 2.23 ± 2.7 LMH and 115 ± 40 L of recovered water. Na+ rejection was 90%, while Sr2+ and Ba2+ rejections were 90% and 87%, respectively, with final concentrations within Egyptian agricultural reuse limits. The low specific reverse solute flux (SRSF) values (0-0.18 g/L) indicated high membrane selectivity.

Distribution of concentration in hybrid computation and finite element method in assessment of the flow properties in the two-phase contactor

Simultaneous stabilization of blueberry anthocyanin colorant through microencapsulation and ferulic acid copigmentation.

Membrane fouling in osmosis processes is less severe than in the pressure-driven processes, but it is inevitable over time. Physical or chemical cleaning methods, or a combination of both, are used for fouling mitigation. This study investigated membrane fouling in the forward osmosis (FO) membrane for seawater desalination by sodium metasilicate (SMS) sol-gel. Cellulose triacetate (CTA) and thin film composite (TFC) FO membranes were tested for fouling and cleaning in 3cycles of 5 and 24h. For 5-hour tests with the active membrane layer against the draw solution, TFC and CTA membranes experienced severe fouling due to silica and inorganic fouling despite cleaning with docusate sodium. Membrane fouling was reduced in the TFC membrane tested with the active layer against the feed solution. For 24h tests, TFC fouling was reduced in the 2nd and 3rd cycles to 4% and 1% following docusate sodium cleaning and osmotic backwash at 40°C. Cleaning with NaOH at pH11, followed by osmotic backwash at 40°C, reduced TFC fouling to 4% and 0.24% in the 2nd and 3rd cycles caused by silica and iron oxides. However, cleaning with EDTA had the highest flux decline at 4% and 3% in the 2nd and 3rd cycles, caused primarily by calcium sulfates and calcium silicate fouling. The results demonstrate the importance of combining physical and chemical cleaning for fouling mitigation in the FO processes and to reduce chemical use.

Implementation and evaluation of multi-dual mode counter-current chromatography in the CUP Modeler software.

Membrane distillation (MD), combining phase‐change purification with membrane separation, is a promising technology for treating industrial hypersaline wastewater with complex organics and residual oxidants (e.g., H2O2). However, membrane fouling remains a prominent challenge that limits both productivity and durability. To address this challenge, a superhydrophobic membrane capable of in situ micro‐bubble generation is developed at the membrane‐liquid interface, effectively mitigating salt accumulation while enhancing vapor transfer. This is achieved by applying a surface coating of γ‐MnO2 and perfluorodecyltrichlorosilane (FDTS) on a commercial polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) membrane, which facilitates the decomposition of H2O2 in the feed solution. The modified membrane evinced a flux enhancement of up to 35% for desalinating sodium chloride (NaCl) solution under various operating conditions, and its resistance to gypsum (CaSO4) fouling nearly doubled compared to the unmodified membrane. These improvements are attributed to the synergistic effects of the superhydrophobic property and the dynamic micro‐bubbles, which intensified turbulence and acted as nucleation barriers. Compared to recent studies, the developed membrane demonstrated superior productivity, antifouling, and cost‐effectiveness across various scenarios. The work provides a scalable and efficient approach for MD applications in hypersaline wastewater treatment.

This study investigates the impact of activated carbon microparticles on the current–voltage characteristics and energy efficiency of the electrodialysis process used for treating aqueous solutions containing inorganic salts and organic pollutants. Electrodialysis, despite its selectivity and eco-friendliness, often faces challenges such as membrane fouling and high energy consumption, especially with organic compounds like phenol. To address these issues, activated carbon microparticles were introduced directly into the feed solution. Experiments conducted on a laboratory-scale electrodialysis unit with alternating cation- and anion-exchange membranes compared four model solutions: sodium chloride, sodium chloride with phenol, sodium chloride with activated carbon, and a ternary mixture. Results revealed that the presence of phenol increased the ohmic resistance and decreased the limiting current density, while activated carbon microparticles mitigate these effects, extend the energy-efficient operational range, and reduce the specific energy consumption for salt removal. Additionally, the microparticles facilitate simultaneous adsorption of organic pollutants, supporting a hybrid separation mechanism. The findings highlight the potential of integrating adsorbent materials into electrodialysis systems to enhance treatment performance and energy efficiency, particularly for wastewater streams containing organic contaminants.

ABSTRACT In this study, we introduced a polyaniline@polypropylene pore-filled membrane (PANI@PP) as an effective alternative for the rapid extraction of acid from large volumes of industrial waste using single-pass diffusion dialysis (DD). We thoroughly examined the synthesized polyaniline (PANI) and the membrane through microscopic and spectroscopic analyses to confirm successful synthesis of PANI and effective pore-filling of the polypropylene (PP) substrate. The PANI@PP membrane depicted water content of 35.0%, indicating that the PANI material successfully infiltrated the PP substrate’s pores, maintaining the desired hydrophilicity. DD in batch mode, using a two-compartment cell across a single PANI@PP membrane exhibited 0.035 m h−1 proton diffusion coefficient, with a separation factor of 38.8 units for a simulated feed solution (6.0% FeSO4 in 2 M HCl). Single pass DD was performed using a dialyzer with 10 membrane pairs (total effective area of 1300 cm2), testing various diffusate to dialyzate flow rate ratios with a simulated feed solution. The optimized flow rate and large effective area of the dialyzer led to acid recovery efficiency of 96.0% and minimal Fe2+ leakage of 16.5%. The high efficiency of acid recovery demonstrates the practical effectiveness of the PANI@PP membrane for acid recovery by DD.

This study investigated the influence of different wilting durations on the fermentation characteristics and organic acid composition of silage prepared from a combination of banana leaves and pseudostems.Fresh material was chopped into 2-4 cm pieces and subjected to three wilting treatments: 0 h (control), 2 h (T1), and 3 h (T2).Silages were prepared in plastic silos (110-kg capacity) with six replicates per treatment, and stored for 46 days under anaerobic conditions.Samples collected before and after ensiling were analyzed for pH, ammonia-N, lactic acid (LA), propionic acid (PA), butyric acid (BA), and acetic acid (AA).Standard protocols were employed to determine fermentation parameters, and data were statistically analyzed using ANOVA with mean separation by Duncan's Multiple Range Test.Pre-ensiling pH values ranged from 5.70 to 5.90 and did not differ significantly among treatments (p = 0.233).In contrast, post-ensiling pH was significantly reduced (p < 0.001) by wilting, with values of 4.38, 4.08, and 3.92 for the control, T1, and T2, respectively.Ammonia-N content was markedly lower in wilted silages, being highest in the control (7.07%) and lowest in T2 (3.05%).Lactic acid concentrations increased progressively with longer wilting durations (4.20%, 6.13%, and 8.13% for control, T1, and T2; p < 0.001).Propionic acid levels were elevated in wilted silages (0.35%) compared to the control (0.23%), whereas acetic acid showed a non-significant increasing trend.Butyric acid concentrations remained uniformly low (0.10-0.14%) across treatments (p = 0.186).Overall, wilting significantly enhanced fermentation efficiency and nutrient preservation.The 3 h wilting treatment yielded the most favorable outcomes, characterized by the lowest silage pH, greatest lactic acid accumulation, and reduced proteolysis, while maintaining negligible butyric acid levels.These findings demonstrate that short-duration wilting, particularly up to 3 h, may represent an effective strategy for improving the fermentation quality of banana by-product silage, may offer a sustainable feeding solution for livestock in banana-producing regions.

Solar-driven desalination has emerged as a sustainable and efficient solution for addressing global water scarcity, especially beneficial in remote, off-grid, and disaster-affected regions. Among emerging technologies, photothermal membrane distillation (PMD) stands out due to its effective solar-energy conversion, scalability, and simplicity. Here, we report a hybrid PMD membrane fabricated by electrospinning MXene (Ti3C2Tx) nanosheets integrated with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) onto a poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (PH) substrate. The hybrid membrane synergistically combines MXene's exceptional photothermal conversion capabilities and the broad-spectrum antibacterial properties of AgNPs, thereby achieving enhanced permeate flux, excellent salt rejection (>99.99%), and superior resistance to biofouling. Under simulated solar irradiation (1 sun), the fabricated PMD membranes demonstrated permeate fluxes of 0.94 LMH and 3.08 LMH at ambient temperature (∼20 °C) and 30 °C, respectively, achieving a remarkable photothermal efficiency of 63.5% at ambient temperature, with a 35 g/L NaCl feed solution. When challenged with real Red Sea water (39 g/L salinity), the permeate flux showed only a marginal reduction (8.5%), underscoring excellent antifouling performance under realistic conditions. Beyond its desalination performance, the membrane demonstrated excellent antibacterial properties with a 99.8% killing effect. These findings underscore the potential of the Ag@MXene/PHNF membrane as a robust, scalable, and sustainable solution for decentralized water production, capable of producing approximately 24 L of potable water per square meter per day.