Hydrophobic Surface Properties Research Articles

Recent Developments in the Fabrication and Application of Superhydrophobic Suraces.

A superhydrophobic surface is defined as having a contact angle exceeding 150 °C, indicating a remarkable ability to repel water. Generally, superhydrophobicity originates from the utilization of low-surface-energy materials with unique micro- and nanostructures. Superhydrophobic surfaces have gained considerable recognition and are widely employed in diverse areas for anti-icing, oil-water separation, anticorrosion, self-cleaning, blood-repellent, and antibacterial applications. These surfaces can greatly enhance industrial processes by yielding significant performance improvements. In this review, we introduce the basic theories that provide a foundation for understanding the hydrophobic properties of superhydrophobic surfaces. We then discuss current techniques for fabricating superhydrophobic coatings, critically analyzing their strengths and limitations. Furthermore, we provide an overview of recent progress in the application of superhydrophobic materials. Finally, we summarize the challenges in developing superhydrophobic materials and future trends in this field. The insights provided by this review can help researchers understand the basic knowledge of superhydrophobic surfaces and obtain the latest progress and challenges in the application of superhydrophobic surfaces. It provides help for further research and practical application of superhydrophobic surfaces.

The Effect of Ultrasound Treatment on the Structural and Functional Properties of Tenebrio molitor Myofibrillar Protein.

The objective of this study was to explore the impacts of various ultrasonic powers (0, 300, 500, 700, and 900 W) on the structure and functional attributes of the myofibrillar protein (MP) of Tenebrio molitor. As the ultrasonic intensity escalated, the extraction efficiency and yield of the MP rose, while the particle size and turbidity decreased correspondingly. The reduction in sulfhydryl group content and the increase in carbonyl group content both suggested that ultrasonic treatment promoted the oxidation of the MP to a certain extent, which was conducive to the formation of a denser and more stable gel network structure. This was also affirmed by SEM images. Additionally, the findings of intrinsic fluorescence and FTIR indicated that high-intensity ultrasound significantly altered the secondary structure of the protein. The unfolding of the MP exposed more amino acid residues, the α-helix decreased, and the β-helix improved, thereby resulting in a looser and more flexible conformation. Along with the structural alteration, the surface hydrophobicity and emulsification properties were also significantly enhanced. Besides that, SDS-PAGE demonstrated that the MP of T. molitor was primarily composed of myosin heavy chain (MHC), actin, myosin light chain (MLC), paramyosin, and tropomyosin. The aforementioned results confirmed that ultrasonic treatment could, to a certain extent, enhance the structure and function of mealworm MP, thereby providing a theoretical reference for the utilization of edible insect proteins in the future, deep-processing proteins produced by T. molitor, and the development of new technologies.

Low-voltage organic field-effect transistors by using solution-processable high-κ inorganic-polymer hybrid dielectrics

Abstract Organic field-effect transistors (OFETs) incorporating hybrid high-κ inorganic Al2O3 and polymer dielectrics, including polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), polystyrene (PS), or polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), through solution-processing techniques were fabricated. The analyses revealed that the high surface energy and hydrophilicity property of Al2O3 and PVA, and the relatively hydrophobic property of PS surface, hindered the performance of corresponding OFETs. The Al2O3/PMMA-based OFET achieved the optimized performance, with a threshold voltage of 2.7 V, a hole carrier mobility of 0.056 cm2/Vs, and a current on/off ratio of 1.0×104 at a low operating voltage of 5 V. Through analyzing the characteristics of leakage current, capacitance, contact resistance, and trap density of OFETs, we found that the PMMA-engaged films possessed the optimized electrical properties. The introduction of PMMA eliminated the interfacial trapping, thereby lowering the threshold voltage and enhancing the performance of the device. The COMSOL Multiphysics simulation was conducted to confirm the physical mechanism. The strategy of utilizing Al2O3/PMMA hybrid dielectric could simultaneously ensure the low operating voltage and good performance of OFET, while guaranteeing the low leakage current by the thick PMMA.

Potential application of SDSO-layered double hydroxide in wastewater treatment: Synergy between hydrophobicity and activation activity

The hydrophobic surface properties of catalysts, generally overlooked in the field of sulfate radical-based advanced oxidation processes (SR-AOPs), have significant potential in enhancing the applicability of catalysts in realistic wastewater treatment. The conflicting nature of hydrophobicity and activation activity presents considerable challenges in developing heterogeneous oxidation. To overcome such limitation, herein, different surfactants were employed to regulate the surface properties of CoCu-layered double hydroxides (LDH) for the activation of peroxymonosulfate (PMS). Our results demonstrated that by comparison with sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and sodium laurate (SLA), sodium dodecyl sulfonate (SDSO) regulated LDH (SDSO-LDH) exhibited the most effective interpolation of organic anions into the interlayer space, simultaneously showing efficient ability for PMS activation and hydrophobicity. The SDSO-LDH/PMS system exhibited excellent degradation performance of various emerging contaminants (ECs), with Co(IV) = O and SO4•- species identified as the dominant oxidative intermediates. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations further confirmed the thermodynamic feasibility of these reactions. Moreover, the effective degradation of intrinsic organic substances in realistic wastewater and sustained hydrophobicity establishes SDSO-LDH a competitive candidate catalyst for SR-AOPs. The synergy between activation activity and hydrophobicity offers a novel perspective for the application of SR-AOPs in wastewater treatment.

Investigation of open air and under water laser surface texturing on surface roughness and wettability of Al-Mg alloy

Aluminum-Magnesium (Al-Mg) alloy is widely used in aerospace and marine related applications due to its high corrosion resistance, tensile strength and ductility properties. However, due to hydrophilic nature, its applications are restricted in areas where water absorption may cause problems like corrosion. In this research work, high speed laser texturing was carried out on Al-Mg alloy (AA5754) to improve hydrophobic properties of the material surface. Four different types of pattern, namely lines, grids, concentric circles and concentric rectangles were created on the material surface using a nanosecond fiber laser. Scanning speed was varied at two levels i.e., 500 mm/s and 1000 mm/s. Line density of texture designs was also varied at two levels of 10 lines per mm and 15 lines per mm. The texturing process was carried out in two different processing environment namely open air and in underwater condition. Distilled water with 1 mm thickness above the surface was used during underwater texturing condition. Surface morphology, surface roughness and wettability of all the surfaces were studied for all the experimental conditions. It was observed that lower scanning speed of 500 mm/s resulted in higher values of surface roughness and contact angles. Also, larger texture density leads to lower surface roughness and contact angles for all the pattern designs. Among all the studied texture patterns, grid structures, textured at 500 mm/s of scanning speed resulted in largest surface roughness and surface hydrophobicity.

Metal-phenolic networks spontaneously reinforced carrageenan-based packaging films with antibacterial and antioxidant properties

The burdens of microbial food safety and environmental contamination make it necessary to search sustainable, safe, antibacterial and antioxidant active food packaging materials. This contribution proposed the use of copper-ferulic acid networks (CuFA NWs) as antibacterial substances. By immobilizing CuFA NWs into carrageenan matrix, a CuFA network-reinforced carrageenan-based packaging film (Carr/CuFA) was obtained via spontaneously hydrogen bond and electrostatic interaction indicated by ATR-IR and XPS. Interestingly, the addition of CuFA NWs increased the mechanical strength, surface hydrophobicity, and water vapor barrier properties of the carrageenan-based film, and imparted the film with UV-shielding capacity. Importantly, the Carr/CuFAx film exhibited effective antioxidant activity, and antibacterial performance against four foodborne bacteria. As a result, after confirming the safety of Carr/CuFA3 films by releasing, hemolysis and cell viability experiments, the Carr/CuFA3 film exhibited great potential in the safety control and preservation of fresh fruit by using blueberry and cherry as model fruit. In summary, this work provides a feasible candidate for the preservation and contamination control of fresh fruit.

Effect of foaming and drying temperature on the physical, chemical, and functional properties of egg white powders produced using refractance window drying

This study investigated the effect of drying form (natural and foamed) and temperature (50–100 °C) on the physical, chemical, and functional properties of egg white powder produced using refractance window drying. The egg whites were dried in 4-55 min, depending on the drying conditions. On the one hand, the drying form was effective on the color properties, densities (bulk, tapped, or particle), Carr index, Hausner ratio, porosity, hygroscopicity, solubility, and foaming capacity of egg white powders. On the other hand, the drying temperature was effective for all analyzed properties except hygroscopicity, moisture content, and water activity of samples. The study demonstrated that foaming before refractance window drying enhances the color of the egg white powders and provides better solubility and foaming capacity. However, it has a detrimental effect on the flow properties of the powders evaluated according to the Carr index and Hausner ratio. Increasing the drying temperature until a certain extent (80 °C) generally provided better color, protein content, surface hydrophobicity, and functional properties. The study shows that egg powders suitable for different purposes (better foaming, low protein denaturation, better gelling, etc.) can be obtained if the drying form and temperature conditions are fine-tuned.

Structure, Functional Properties, and Applications of Foxtail Millet Prolamin: A Review.

Foxtail millet prolamin, one of the major protein constituents of foxtail millet, has garnered attention due to its unique amino acid composition and function. Foxtail millet prolamin exhibits specific physicochemical and functional characteristics, such as solubility, surface hydrophobicity, emulsifying, and foaming properties. These characteristics have been exploited in the preparation and development of products, including plant-based alternative products, nutritional supplements, and gluten-free foods. Additionally, because of the favorable biocompatibility and biodegradability, foxtail millet prolamin is frequently used as a carrier for encapsulation and targeted delivery of bioactive substances. Moreover, studies have shown that foxtail millet prolamin is highly nutritious and displays various biological activities like antioxidant effects, anti-inflammatory properties, and anti-diabetic potential, making it a valuable ingredient in medicinal products and contributing to its potential role in therapeutic diets. This review summarizes the current knowledge of the amino acid composition and structural characteristics of foxtail millet prolamin, as well as the functional properties, biological activities, and applications in functional food formulation and drug delivery strategy. Challenges and future perspectives for the utilization of foxtail millet prolamin are also pointed out. This review aims to provide novel ideas and broad prospects for the effective use of foxtail millet prolamin.

Wear and corrosion resistance behavior of hydrophobic surface on Ti-6Al-4V prepared by nitrogen gas-assisted EDM

Despite the widespread use of titanium alloys in various fields, surface defects that arise during the processing of Ti-6Al-4V can significantly reduce their service life. Therefore, developing a new approach to enhance the performance of TC4 alloys, particularly in challenging environments such as high-wear and wet conditions is crucial. This study proposes a novel method to create a hardened surface enriched with TiN using nitrogen gas-assisted electrical discharge machining (NA-EDM). The aim was to assess the impact of surface modification via NA-EDM on anti-wear and anti-corrosion performance across different peak currents and to explore the mechanism behind the surface's hydrophobic properties. The findings show that the NA-EDM process produces fewer surface defects compared to traditional EDM. Moreover, NA-EDM treatment significantly improves surface hydrophobicity, as evidenced by a 21.25 % increase in the contact angle (CA). Furthermore, the NA-EDM-treated surface exhibits enhanced resistance to wear and corrosion, with a notable 14.9 % reduction in wear rate and average friction coefficient.

Recent progress in the development of coatings for paper food packaging applications

Relevance and aim of the research: Many types of coatings have been developed to meet the demanding needs and properties of paper-based packaging, which is the most widely used sustainable category of food packaging. The purpose of this paper is to list and classify special sustainable coatings, such as bio-based coatings and coatings based on nanomaterials (NPs) that provide barrier, optical, mechanical, anti-microbial and other properties as well as additional functions to the final product for food paper packaging. Methodology and results: The study is an overview of the previously published works on trends and challenges in the development of healthy and eco-friendly for sustainable food paper packaging applications, which are green alternatives to conventional coatings. As known, paper/paperboard packaging, because of its structure made from cellulose fibers, is naturally sensitive to microbial attack due to the poor barrier properties (i.e., hydrophilicity, porosity, low grease resistance, high absorptivity to gases and water vapors). Thus, paper packages must be properly coated to withstand and keep the food safe, preventing temperature, humidity and other factors of the surrounding from affecting the composition of packaged food. However, the current market is based on the application of commonly used coatings, which are typically made from fossil oil or synthetic polymers, waxes and /or fluor-derivatives that improve surface hydrophobicity and barrier properties. Nowadays, the use of these materials is limited because of problems arising from fossil-oil resources, poor recyclability, and environmental issues. Therefore, these coatings must be replaced by new materials, with high biodegradability, recyclability and compostability features. Recent studies are focused on biopolymers including polysaccharides such as chitosan, starch, etc., proteins such as whey, wheat gluten, and zein, polyesters as polylactic acid (PLA), polycaprolactone (PCL), and polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) that are investigated to formulate coatings with barrier properties for food packaging paper. Petroleum-based polymers are commonly used in paper coating. Due to the good affinity with the substrate, they create suitable barriers to gases and aroma and increase the mechanical strength of the paper packaging. Moreover, biopolymer products have been developed as counterparts to smoothly replace petroleum-based polymers., they can be made from natural raw materials and sources, such as vegetal and marine biomass, this way they can be biodegradable, nontoxic. Additionally, they act as a basis for the incorporation of additives with specific functions for coated paper (ie, active-antimicrobial properties). The methods of chemical modification and combination as well as the processing and production of these new coatings for paper packaging are still under investigation. The addition of certain nanoparticles (NPs) such as metals and oxides in biopolymers and green coatings could be advantageous to add value and enhance the processing, performance and functionality of food paper packaging. Conclusions & practical implications: The application of coatings on paperbased food packaging is extensively investigated to replace petrochemical derivatives by choosing environmentally friendly alternatives that come from natural and renewable resources. These options determine the ultimate recyclability, biodegradability and even compostability of the final product. The incorporation of certain nanomaterials in the coatings promises to provide a wide range of enhanced properties and improve barrier characteristics of the paper-based food packaging.

Controlled Wrinkle Patterning on Thin Films to Improve Hydrophobicity.

Controlling surface morphology is one of the main strategies used to tune surface hydrophobic and icephobic properties. Taking advantage of coating growth by initiated chemical vapor deposition, random and ordered wrinkles were induced on a thin film of polyperfluorodecyl acrylate (pPFDA) deposited on polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) to simultaneously modify surface chemistry and morphology. A range of wrinkles of different wavelengths were studied, and how the wrinkle characteristics change with varying coating thickness. Ordered wrinkles enhanced hydrophobicity more when compared to random wrinkles, with a noticeable effect for coating thickness on the order of hundreds of nanometers. An insight into the mechanism of surface wrinkling and its effect on freezing delay is also provided, and promising results were found on ordered wrinkles, where a freezing delay was observed.

Functional biocarbon-based coatings for wood protection and indoor air depollution

Growing concerns about indoor air pollution heighten the need to develop depolluting materials to achieve a healthy built environment. This study developed functional coatings for wooden surfaces using 20 wt% photocatalytic biocarbon particles doped with manganese oxide (BC–MnO2) and two different coating materials (linseed oil and waterborne acrylic). The samples' surface hydrophobicity and color properties were tested before and after accelerated aging. The depolluting potential of the samples was evaluated by formaldehyde removal efficiency test in indoor conditions. Results showed that adding BC-MnO2 particles increased the hydrophobicity regardless of the coating material's type. After accelerated aging, the hydrophobicity of all samples increased, which was attributed to the curing of the oil and acrylic polymers and the increase in surface roughness eventually caused by surface damage. The color change (ΔE) was more intense in the case of uncoated wood and samples without BC-MnO2. However, the BC-MnO2-containing coatings were effective in color preservation (ΔE < 2), which was attributed to the anti-UV property of biocarbon. The BC-MnO2-containing coatings exhibited a promising formaldehyde removal efficiency of up to 24 % and 46 % for oil and acrylic samples, respectively. The combination of BC-MnO2 and acrylic material was more favourable to attracting the formaldehyde molecules, likely due to the similar polarity. The developed functional coatings exhibited an acceptable ability for wood protection and formaldehyde remediation and can be potentially used to enhance indoor air quality.

Ultrasound-assisted modification of soybean protein isolate with L-histidine: Relationship between structure and function

Herein, the effects of ultrasound-assisted L-histidine (L-His) on the physicochemical properties and conformation of soybean protein isolate (SPI) were investigated. Particle size, zeta potential, turbidity, and solubility were used to evaluate protein aggregation, and the relationship between structural and functional changes of the proteins was characterized using spectral analysis, surface hydrophobicity, emulsification, and antioxidant properties. After ultrasound-assisted L-His treatment, SPI exhibited a smaller particle size, higher solubility, and more homogeneous micromorphology owing to the decrease in alpha-helix content and subsequent increases in zeta potential and active sulfhydryl content. In addition, spectral analysis showed that L-His and SPI could form a complex, which changed the microenvironment of the amino acid residues in SPI, thus improving its emulsification and antioxidant properties. At the concentration of L-His was 0.3 % w/w, the nanocomplex had a smaller particle size (140.03 nm), higher ζ-potential (–23.63 mV), and higher emulsification stability (22.48 min).

Properties and application of antioxidant and antibacterial composite films based on methylcellulose and spine grape pomace fabricated by thermos-compression molding

Methylcellulose (MC)/grape pomace (GP) films, plasticized with either glycerol (GLY) or cinnamon essential oil (CEO), were prepared by thermo-compression molding and characterized. Compared to the GLY-plasticized MC50/GP50 films, a considerable increase in TS and YM values of CEO-plasticized films was observed, rising from 9.66 to 30.05 MPa, 762 to 1631 MPa, respectively. Moreover, the water vapor barrier, surface hydrophobic properties, and antioxidant/antibacterial activities of CEO-plasticized films remarkedly improved with increasing CEO content from 5 to 15% w/w. From scanning electron microscopy, phase separation between GP and the MC/GLY mixture were evident for GLY-plasticized MC/GP films. On the other hand, the CEO-plasticized films showed compact morphologies, attributable to the formation of hydrogen bonding and π-π stacking interaction. Preliminary shelf-life study on showed that fresh chicken wrapped with the CEO-plasticized MC/GP films exhibited lower TVB-N, TBARS, and TVC values than the unwrapped control samples, during 7 d storage at 4 °C.

Long‐time high‐pressure processing of a patatin‐rich potato proteins isolate: impact on aggregation and surface properties

SummaryIn this study, a 4% (w/w) dispersion of a commercial patatin‐rich potato protein isolate (Po‐PI) was pressurised at 400 MPa up to 48 h at 20 °C. Protein aggregation induced by high‐pressure processing (HHP) was followed by dynamic light scattering, intrinsic fluorescence (in‐situ or ex‐situ) or SAXS analysis. Surface properties (surface hydrophobicity and interfacial properties) of the HHP‐induced aggregates were also investigated. A gradual dimer dissociation/protein unfolding was observed under pressure. Po‐PI exhibited a slow relaxation time under pressure. Long‐time HHP (&gt;4 h) induced significant modification of the Po‐PI protein structure with partial non‐reversible unfolding. After 48 h of pressurisation at 400 MPa, large aggregates (160 nm) were obtained and a monomodal distribution in intensity and in number frequency was observed indicating a controlled aggregation. Up to 24 h of pressurisation at 400 MPa, intermediate states were obtained after high‐pressure release. SDS‐PAGE profiles showed that HHP‐induced aggregation of Po‐PI was driven by non‐covalent interactions. All high‐pressure processed dispersions displayed a higher surface hydrophobicity as compared to non‐treated Po‐PI. Po‐PI dispersion treated for 8 h at 400 MPa presented the lowest adsorption rate, the highest final surface tension and formed the most rigid interfacial film. Po‐PI showed resistance to moderate pressure levels (400 MPa) and long pressure application times were required to induce significant protein denaturation/aggregation (≥24 h) and to optimally modify its interfacial properties (8 h).

Experimental Evaluation of Nano Coating on the Draft Force of Tillage Implements and Its Prediction Using an Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS)

The effect of coating a flat blade surface with titanium nitride nano coatings (TiN), nano tantalum carbide (TaC), Fiberglass (Glass Fiber-Reinforced Polymer) (GFRP), Galvanized Steel (GAS), and St37 (SST37) was investigated in order to decrease the adhesion of soil on tilling tools, external friction and, ultimately, the draft force. The soil tank, which was filled with soil of the desired conditions, was pulled on the bearing on the rail. A S-shaped load cell was used to measure the draft force. Tests were conducted at a distance of 2 m and speeds of 0.1, 0.2, and 0.3 m·s−1 at a depth of 10 cm. A model based on input factors, including blade travel speed, rake angle, and cohesion and adhesion of soil–blade, was developed in an adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS), and draft force was the output parameter. To verify the performance of the developed model using ANFIS, a relative error(ε) of 6.1% and coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.956 were computed. It was found that blades coated with Nano (TiN-TaC), due to its hydrophobic surface, flatness, and self-cleaning properties, have considerable ability to decrease adhesion in wet soils and showed a linear relationship with draft force reduction.

Geopolymer-based radiative cooling coating: Tailoring surface hydrophobic properties while retaining optical characteristics

The longevity of geopolymer-based radiative cooling coatings is questionable due to their hydrophilic nature. This study used four hydrophobic agents - sodium methyl silicate (SMS), polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), and triethoxyoctylsilane (TEOS) - to modify the surface hydrophobicity of geopolymer while maintaining its optical properties. The optimal agent contents were determined by optical performance and water contact angle: 5 % for SMS, 10 % for 50 cP viscosity PDMS, and a single-layer thickness for PTFE and TEOS (60 °C). The agents' working mechanisms were analyzed using FTIR and XRD characterization: SMS forms a hydrophobic alkylsilanol layer by reacting with the geopolymer's silanol group; PDMS lowers the geopolymer's surface energy with its hydrophobic methyl groups; PTFE's low electric polarizability is due to its fluorine content; and TEOS replaces the geopolymer surface's hydroxyl groups with hydrophobic octyl groups. The long-term durability of these modified coatings was evaluated through outdoor exposure tests, resulting in total solar reflectance losses of 0.74 %, 1.9 %, 3.9 %, and 0.05 % respectively. A slight reduction in the water contact angle confirmed their enduring hydrophobic characteristics. These modification methods open up possibilities for the practical use of hydrophobic geopolymer radiative cooling coatings.

Fish‐Derived Collagen: A Promising Biomaterial for Regulating the Migration Behavior of MCF‐7 Cells

The uncontrollable migration of cancer cells is one of the reasons for the poor prognosis. The interaction between collagen and cellular processes is usually dominated by the full triple‐helix structure of collagen. However, it remains to be explored how the collagen configuration affects the migration behaviors of cancer cells. Michigan cancer foundation‐7 cells are chosen to study this relationship. Meanwhile, the grass carp is one of the representative fish species in Hubei and is virtually unaffected by zoonotic diseases. Therefore, grass carp‐derived collagen is prepared and used to modulate the migration behaviors. The collagen sample is pretreated via several procedures including the hydrothermal process and EDC/NHS, respectively. The underlying mechanisms affecting migration behavior are explored by tuning the degree of denaturation, assembly states, and cross‐linking conditions of collagen. Results demonstrate that moderate cross‐linking and assembly contribute to the migration processes, while denaturation significantly suppresses migration. Of particular note is the positive correlation of F‐actin expression levels with these phenomena. More importantly, the hydrophilic and hydrophobic properties of the collagen surface also affect the migration process. In summary, the study may provide insights to flexibly tune the migration behavior of cancer cells, which may be promising in inhibiting tumor metastasis.

Numerical investigation of water entry of hydrophobic spheres

We perform numerical simulations to study the dynamics of the entry of hydrophobic spheres in a pool of water. To track the air-water interface during the translation of the sphere in the pool of water, we use the volume of fluid model. The continuum surface force method computes the surface tension force. To represent the hydrophobic surface properties, we use wall adhesion in terms of a static contact angle. We perform simulations with different diameters and impact speeds of the sphere. Our simulations capture the formation of different types of air cavities, pinch-offs of these cavities, and other finer details similar to the experiments performed at the same parameters. Finally, we compare the drag force among the different hydrophobic cases. We further perform simulations of hydrophilic spheres impacting the pool of water and compare the drag force with the analogous hydrophobic cases. We conclude that the spheres with hydrophobic surfaces encounter a lower drag than their hydrophilic counterparts. This lower drag of the hydrophobic spheres is attributed to the formation of the air cavity by the hydrophobic surfaces while translating through the pool of water, which reduces the area of the sphere in contact with water. In contrast, no such air cavity forms in the case of hydrophilic spheres.

Removal of microparticles from hydrogenated oil by a microchannel separation coupling hydrocyclone: Industrial application

Separation techniques utilized in industrial manufacturing account for approximately 10–15% of the total global energy consumption. Energy-efficient separation has been made possible through the use of deep filtration technology. Herein, a novel continuous and regenerative microchannel separator coupled with a hydrocyclone was proposed. The microchannel separator, which had a processing capacity of 30 t/h, was constructed in a petroleum resin plant. This device could separate trace microfine particles in hydrogenated oil. After treatment with the microchannel separator, the average particle removal efficiency was 50.7%, and the turbidity of the hydrogenated oil was reduced by a maximum value of 60.9%. The removal efficiencies of pollutant particles with diameters smaller than 5 μm, in the range of 5–10 μm, and larger than 10 μm in the hydrogenated oil were 44.0%, 54.9%, and 75.9%, respectively. The processing load on the downstream diatomite filter was effectively reduced by the microchannel separator. The lifespan of the diatomite filter increased by 2.3 times compared to its initial value. Hazardous waste emissions decreased from 104 tons/year to 58.5 tons/year. The microchannel separator could be used not only for separating trace fine particles from liquids but also for separating oil and water by modulating the hydrophilic and hydrophobic properties of the particle surfaces.