Improved Separation Efficiency Research Articles

Pervaporation Membrane Development via PSf/PMMA/PDMS Polymeric Blends and ZSM-5/TiO2 Integration for Bioethanol Purification as Sustainable Green Energy

This study introduces a novel nanocomposite membrane designed for pervaporation (PV) by employing polymer blending, inorganic integration, and polymer coating techniques. ZSM-5 or TiO2 nanoparticles were synthesized and incorporated into a polysulfone (PSf) and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) matrix, followed by a coating of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) to enhance perm-selectivity. Comprehensive analyses confirmed the well-dispersed nature of the nanoparticles and a significant increase in hydrophilicity. The research systematically examined the effects of particle loading, PDMS coating, and temperature on the separation efficiency. The findings revealed that the PDMS-coated PSf/PMMA/ZSM-5 membrane with a 2 wt.% loading demonstrated a substantial 41% increase in permeate flux and achieved a separation factor of 61.227 ± 1.92 at 40 °C. These improvements are attributed to the establishment of water channels and the molecular sieving effect introduced by the ZSM-5 incorporation. This study suggests that the developed membrane offers promising enhancements for ethanol recovery through pervaporation, showcasing the potential of nanocomposite membranes in improving separation efficiency and selectivity.

Anhydrous interfacial polymerization induced by isopropanol to construct high permeance polyamide membranes for organic solvent nanofiltration

Highly permeable polyamide (PA) membranes with precise molecular sieving capabilities are crucial for energy-efficient chemical separations. There is a critical need to design solvent-stabilized membranes with enhanced permeance to improve separation efficiency. In this work, we propose a novel anhydrous interfacial polymerization (IP) method, where flexible polyethyleneimine (PEI) and rigid p-phenylenediamine (PPD) are uniquely dissolved in isopropanol (IPA) and subsequently crosslinked with trimethyl chloride (TMC) in situ to fabricate high-performance PA membranes. Notably, the use of IPA as a solvent represents a significant advancement in membrane fabrication. This approach resulted in PA membranes with a relatively loose selective layer compared to traditional PA membranes, allowing for exceptionally high solvent permeance while maintaining strong rejection performance in organic solvent nanofiltration (OSN). The obtained PEI + PPD/TMC PA membranes demonstrated outstanding ethanol (EtOH) permeance of 46.44 L m−2 h−1 bar−1 in the organic solvent system, along with good rejection for small organic molecules, such as 93.84% for Eriochrome Black T (EBT, 461.38 Da). In addition, the performance of the PEI + PPD/TMC PA membranes remained at a high level even during 510 min of continuous cross-flow filtration, under high pressure (5 bar) testing, and after 6 cycles of separation, which demonstrated their good stability in long-term service. This work establishes a robust foundation for employing anhydrous IP reactions and innovative solvent systems, such as IPA, to develop high-permeance PA membranes.

CFD analysis of microscopic particle separation in low-volumetric classifiers: DPM tracking and experimental validation for enhanced efficiency using geometric modification strategy

The increasing demand for advanced air quality management technologies highlights the need for efficient separators capable of classifying microparticles by size. This study introduces a novel approach of geometric modifications to optimize low-volumetric environmental separators through Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations. This study investigated micron particle flow behaviour, vortex strength, and separation chamber design using Lagrangian particle tracking to capture the complex particle–fluid interactions. Key geometry modifications included optimizing internal configurations, such as tube arrangements and discharge tube lengths, which resulted in significantly improved separation efficiency. The CFD simulations were validated against experimental data with flow rates ranging from 10 to 20 LPM (Re = 1008, 1512, 2016), demonstrating flow patterns, vorticity, and particle retention. A major contribution of this study is the particle retention efficiency analysis across a wide range of particle sizes. Particles larger than 10 µm were captured with near-perfect efficiency, while capturing finer particles (1–8 µm) proved more challenging, highlighting areas for future improvement. Notably, increasing the number of separation tubes from 3 to 4 and adjusting their heights led to a 10 % increase in particle retention for particle diameters of 10 and 20 µm. Additionally, higher flow rates, especially at 17 LPM (Re = 1714), increased capture rates for medium-sized particles by prolonging residence times through increased turbulence. This research advances micron particle separation technologies through design optimizations, supported by experimental and numerical analysis. The findings have broad implications for improving the performance of environmental separators in industrial applications, and for future developments in air quality management systems.

Improving separation efficiency of various micropollutants from water by polymer-enhanced ultrafiltration using oxidized alginate featuring less viscous and low filtration resistance

Polymer-enhanced ultrafiltration (PEUF) is an economical and energy-efficient alternative using a versatile water-soluble polymer (WSP) to remove micropollutants by electrostatic interactions, allowing size exclusion through ultrafiltration (UF) membranes due to the WSP being bigger than the pores of UF membranes. However, the WSP used in PEUF is so viscous that it inevitably causes significant filtration resistance and membrane fouling, reducing filtration and energy efficiency. To overcome this problem, in this study, sodium alginate (Alg), which significantly performs in removing cationic pollutants, was oxidized using sodium periodate to produce oxidized alginate (OxAlg). The retention and water flux profiles of OxAlg for three micropollutants, methylene blue (MB), ciprofloxacin, and tetramethylammonium hydroxide, using the PEUF method were investigated in terms of pH, ionic strength, polymer and pollutant amount. A comparison between Alg and OxAlg demonstrated 1.19% to 1.8% higher MB retention rates (99.31%-99.97%) and up to 4.07 times higher water flux depending on the amount of polymer added. Furthermore, OxAlg displayed excellent retention rates of the NF level and 20-60 times higher water flux than typical NF. This outstanding OxAlg performance was mainly due to OxAlg’s properties, such as the low viscosity, flexibility and the resulting accessibility, and appropriate size from the perspective of filtration. Lastly, OxAlg was found to have the potential to surpass the existing WSP in that it showed a higher maximum retention capacity than about 560 to 1250mg/g in the real-world pH enrichment test even before the saturation.

Design of 3D printing superhydrophilic pyramid-shaped porous materials for oil-in-water emulsion separation and visualization of separation mechanism

This study focuses on the design and fabrication of a superhydrophilic pyramid-shaped porous material using high-precision 3D printing technology for effective oil-in-water emulsion separation. The unique pyramid-shaped structure enhances droplet interception, significantly improving separation efficiency. The material’s surface was modified with a self-polymerized dopamine (DA) and polyethyleneimine (PEI) coating, resulting in superhydrophilic and underwater superoleophobicity. This porous material achieved a separation flux of 3098 L/m2h with a separation purity of 99.3 %. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations were employed to visualize the emulsion separation mechanism, providing insights into the dynamic process of droplet behavior within the funnel structure. The material also demonstrated excellent corrosion resistance, maintaining its performance after prolonged exposure to acidic, alkaline, and saline environments. These results suggest that the developed material offers a promising solution for high-efficiency oil–water separation with potential applications in environmental remediation and industrial wastewater treatment.

Cogeneration Improves Separation Efficiency

Cogeneration Improves Separation Efficiency

Research on Magnetic Field of Permanent Magnet Rolls Arranged Periodically in Circumferential—Axial Direction

The separation of non-magnetic non-ferrous metals such as copper and aluminum from scrapped automobiles is a critical area of research due to the increasing number of end-of-life vehicles. Traditional eddy current separation methods have limitations, particularly in handling large-sized broken copper and aluminum parts. This paper proposes a novel magnetic roller model featuring a circumferential–axial periodic arrangement of permanent magnets. This study explores the external magnetic field distribution of this new roller design by constructing an equivalent current model, solving magnetic scalar potential equations, and employing simulation tools. The findings indicate that the new magnet array enhances both the magnetic field strength and the range of the external magnetic field, leading to improved separation efficiency of large-sized metal fragments. The results provide a theoretical basis for advancing the separation technology of large-sized broken copper and aluminum parts in scrapped automobiles, offering potential improvements in the recycling of non-ferrous metals from end-of-life vehicles.

Effective Boundary Correction for Deterministic Lateral Displacement Microchannels to Improve Cell Separation: A Numerical and Experimental Study.

Particle separation and sorting techniques based on microfluidics have found extensive applications and are increasingly gaining prominence. This research presents the design and fabrication of a microfluidic device for separating cells using deterministic lateral displacement (DLD), enabling accuracy and continuity while being size-based. Nevertheless, it remains demanding, to completely reverse the detrimental effects of the boundaries that disturb the fluidic flow in the channel and reduce particle separation efficiency. This study introduces a novel approach to enhance the boundary structure of channels. By using this design, separation efficiency is boosted, and the fluid behavior around the walls is improved. The boundary correction (BC) enhances the operation of the microchannel and is very effective in microchannels. With boundary correction, the device exhibited improved separation efficiencies, but in its absence, separation efficiencies dropped. The collected microscopic images of the isolation of prostate cancer cell lines and red blood cells revealed promising outcomes. The efficiency of circulating tumor cell (CTC) throughput in the microfluidic channel, quantified as the ratio or proportion of tumor cells exiting the channel to cells entering it, exceeds 93%. Moreover, the efficiency of CTC isolation, expressed as the proportion of tumor cells from the upper outlet of the microfluidic channel to all cells, is over 89%. Additionally, the efficiency of red blood cell isolation, evaluated as the ratio of red blood cells from the lower outlet of the microfluidic channel to all cells, surpasses 77%. While using the same DLD separator without boundary correction reduced the separation efficiency by around 5%.

A Novel Size-Based Centrifugal Microfluidic Design to Enrich and Magnetically Isolate Circulating Tumor Cells from Blood Cells through Biocompatible Magnetite-Arginine Nanoparticles.

This paper presents a novel centrifugal microfluidic approach (so-called lab-on-a-CD) for magnetic circulating tumor cell (CTC) separation from the other healthy cells according to their physical and acquired chemical properties. This study enhances the efficiency of CTC isolation, crucial for cancer diagnosis, prognosis, and therapy. CTCs are cells that break away from primary tumors and travel through the bloodstream; however, isolating CTCs from blood cells is difficult due to their low numbers and diverse characteristics. The proposed microfluidic device consists of two sections: a passive section that uses inertial force and bifurcation law to sort CTCs into different streamlines based on size and shape and an active section that uses magnetic forces along with Dean drag, inertial, and centrifugal forces to capture magnetized CTCs at the downstream of the microchannel. The authors designed, simulated, fabricated, and tested the device with cultured cancer cells and human cells. We also proposed a cost-effective method to mitigate the surface roughness and smooth surfaces created by micromachines and a unique pulsatile technique for flow control to improve separation efficiency. The possibility of a device with fewer layers to improve the leaks and alignment concerns was also demonstrated. The fabricated device could quickly handle a large volume of samples and achieve a high separation efficiency (93%) of CTCs at an optimal angular velocity. The paper shows the feasibility and potential of the proposed centrifugal microfluidic approach to satisfy the pumping, cell sorting, and separating functions for CTC separation.

Covalent Organic Framework Membranes with Patterned High-Density Through-Pores for Ultrafast Molecular Sieving.

The creation of uniformly molecular-sized through-pores within polymeric membranes and the direct evidence of these pores are essential for fundamentally understanding the transport mechanism and improving separation efficiency. Herein, we report an electric-field-assisted interface synthesis approach to fabricating large-area covalent organic framework (COF) membranes that consist of preferentially oriented single-crystalline COF domains. These single-crystalline frameworks were translated into high-density, vertically aligned through-pores across the entire membrane, enabling the direct visualization of membrane pores with an ultrahigh resolution of 2 Å using the low-dose high-resolution transmission electron microscopy technique (HRTEM). The density of directly visualized through-pores was quantified to be 1.2 × 1017 m-2, approaching theoretical predictions. These COF membranes demonstrate ultrahigh solvent permeability, which is 10 times higher than that of state-of-the-art organic solvent nanofiltration membranes. When applied to high-value pharmaceutical separations, their COF membranes exhibit 2 orders of magnitude higher methanol permeance and 20-fold greater enrichment efficiency than their commercial counterparts.

The role of the cation and anion in aqueous liquid chromatography with sodium dodecyl sulphate and imidazolium-based ionic liquids as mobile phase reagents

BackgroundIn reversed-phase liquid chromatography, solute retention is primarily influenced by interactions between a nonpolar stationary phase and a moderately polar hydro-organic mobile phase, based on the solute lipophilicity. However, challenges regarding retention and peak tailing can arise due to ionic interactions between positively charged analytes and free silanols present on silica-based stationary phases. To address these challenges, incorporating surfactants and ionic liquids (ILs) into the mobile phase offers an effective solution. These additives synergistically enhance chromatographic performance through electrostatic and lipophilic interactions, which enable fine-tuning of selectivity and improved separation efficiency. ResultsThis study explores the chromatographic behaviour of several basic compounds in aqueous mixtures containing the anionic surfactant sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS), above its critical micellar concentration, combined with various 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium-based ionic liquids (ILs) featuring chloride, tetrafluoroborate, and hexafluorophosphate anions, all without the addition of organic solvents. Specifically, this research investigates the influence of different anion types within the ILs and considers the impact of the IL cations. Analysis of solute peak profiles reveals narrow and symmetrical peaks. By introducing tetrafluoroborate and hexafluorophosphate IL anions into a mobile phase that contains an anionic surfactant, the study sheds light on the interactions occurring within the chromatographic column. This enhanced understanding of the combined effects of surfactants and ILs contributes to refining chromatographic methodologies. SignificanceThis research highlights the importance of carefully selecting the appropriate IL when incorporating it into a micellar mobile phase alongside SDS. This combination results in practical retention times that surpass the performance achieved with either the surfactant or IL alone in the mobile phase. The study particularly emphasises the impact of the IL anion, especially in the absence of SDS and organic solvents. This unveils interactions that are otherwise obscured in micellar and hydro-organic media, providing new insights into chromatographic dynamics.

Dual Contributions of Analyte Adsorption and Electroosmotic Inhomogeneity to Separation Efficiency in Capillary Electrophoresis of Proteins.

Improving separation efficiency in capillary electrophoresis (CE) requires systematic study of the influence of the electric field (or solute linear velocity) on plate height for a better understanding of the critical parameters controlling peak broadening. Even for poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDADMAC)/poly(sodium styrenesulfonate) (PSS) successive multiple ionic-polymer layer (SMIL) coatings, which lead to efficient and reproducible separations of proteins, plate height increases with migration velocity, limiting the use of high electric fields in CE. Solute adsorption onto the capillary wall was generally considered as the main source of peak dispersion, explaining this plate height increase. However, experiments done with Taylor dispersion analysis and CE in the same conditions indicate that other phenomena may come into play. Protein adsorption with slow kinetics and few adsorption sites was established as a source of peak broadening for specific proteins. Surface charge inhomogeneity was also identified as a contribution to plate height due to local electroosmotic fluctuations. A model was proposed and applied to partial PDADMAC/poly(ethylene oxide) capillary coatings as well as PDADMAC/PSS SMIL coatings. Atomic force microscopy with topography and recognition imaging enabled the determination of roughness and charge distribution of the PDADMAC/PSS SMIL surface.

Bionanocomposite MIL-100(Fe)/Cellulose as a high-performance adsorbent for the adsorption of methylene blue

World production of dyes is estimated at more than 800,000 t·yr−1. The purpose of this research falls within the scope of the choice of an effective, local, and inexpensive adsorbent to remove dyes from wastewater. Adsorptive elimination of dyes by commonly accessible adsorbents is inefficient. The metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are an important class of porous materials offering exceptional properties as adsorbents by improving separation efficiency compared to existing commercial adsorbents. However, its powder form limits its applications. One way to overcome this problem is to trap them in a flexible matrix to form a hierarchical porous composite. Therefore, in this work, we prepared MIL-100 (Fe) embedded in a cellulose matrix named MIL-100(Fe)/Cell, and used it as an adsorbent of methylene blue (MB) dye. According to the BET analysis, the specific surface area of the synthesized MOF is 294 m2/g which is related to the presence of the cellulose as efficient and green support. The structure of this composite is approximately hexagonal. Adsorption was studied as a function of contact time, adsorbent mass and pollutant load (concentration), and pH, and the effect of each of them on absorption efficiency was optimized. The MIL-100(Fe)/Cell was capable of removing 98.94% of MB dye with an initial concentration of 150 mg/L within 10 min at pH = 6.5 and room temperature. The obtained maximum adsorption capacity was 384.615 mg/g. The adsorption isotherm is consistent with the Langmuir models. The mechanism of MB adsorption proceeds through п-п and electrostatic interactions.

Construction of adamantane-based monolithic column with three-dimensionally porous structure for small molecules separation and biosample analysis

BackgroundThe fabrication technique of capillary column is the key to the development and application of capillary liquid chromatography (cLC) to improve separation efficiency for analytes. The capillary monolithic column possessed three-dimensionally connected porous or channel structures. Unique porous structure endows excellent permeability and high performance in diverse fields, especially in separation. Thereinto, organic monolithic columns have attracted widespread attention due to their advantages of simple preparation and excellent biocompatibility. However, their separation selectivity needs to be further developed and regulated to apply the separation of more diverse samples. ResultsA novel polymeric monolithic column was prepared via thermally initiated in situ copolymerization of 2-methyladamantan-2-yl acrylate (MADA) with ditrimethylolpropane tetraacrylate (DTTA) in fused silica. The prepared poly(MADA-co-DTTA) monolith showed adjustable permeability, developed porous structure and high thermal stability. Consequently, it exhibited excellent separation capability of small molecules (alkylbenzenes and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons). Especially, when acetonitrile/water (60/40, v/v) was used as the mobile phase, the theoretical plate numbers reached 84,000 plates m−1 for butylbenzene at a linear velocity of 0.5 mm s−1. Most importantly, the hydrophobicity of the poly(MADA-co-DTTA) monolithic column was regulated via host-guest interaction between adamantyl group and cucurbit [7]uril (CB[7]). Additionally, the poly(MADA-co-DTTA) monolith was further adopted for the analysis of the tryptic digest of proteins from HeLa by cLC-MS/MS. The 33,783 unique peptides and 5,299 proteins were identified on the monolith, which exhibited great separation ability for complex samples. Significance and noveltyDue to abundant pore structure and good chemical properties, the poly(MADA-co-DTTA) monolithic column exhibited high performance for the separations of small molecules and biological sample. Meanwhile, owing to the existence of adamantyl-group, CB[7] was immobilized on the poly(MADA-co-DTTA) monolithic column to fabricate poly(MADA-co-DTTA)-CB[7] by host-guest interaction. It is possible to adjust the surface chemistry of the monolithic materials to accommodate more complex analytes.

Enhancing the efficiency of two‐stage cyclones without increasing pressure drop by optimizing inlet and outlet dimensions

AbstractEfforts to enhance cyclone separators aim to minimize gas energy consumption while improving separation efficiency. This study attempts to achieve this goal for cyclones arranged in series using straightforward methods. Experimental and numerical simulation analyses were performed to study the effect of matching inlet and outlet diameters on the performance of a two‐stage tandem cyclone separator. The results show that the matching method, in which the inlet gas velocities of both stages are higher than the outlet gas velocity, has a better separation efficiency. The efficiency and pressure drop models of the two‐stage cyclones in series were constructed using the response surface methodology (RSM) to obtain the optimal combination of inlet size and exhaust pipe diameter. Experimental tests showed that the accuracy of this model was reasonable. At different permitted pressure drops, the optimized structure revealed that: (1) The inlet area should be smaller than the outlet area for each cyclone stage. (2) The secondary inlet size (KA) should be as large as possible. (3) dr decreases while KA increases in each step.

Fabrication and catalytic activities of ZnSnO3/C nanofibers in the piezo/photocatalysis of diclofenac

Piezo-photocatalysis is a “green” approach to decompose various pollutants using natural clean energy. Herein, a series of ZnSnO3/C nanofibers with excellent piezo-photocatalytic activities were reported. The XRD, TEM and SEM, as well as XPS measurements were carried out and the results indicate that ZnSnO3/C nanofibers with the orthorhombic phase were fabricated successfully. The UV–vis absorbance spectra, photocurrent response, EIS curves and photoluminescence characteristics indicate that the incorporated C decreases the band gap of ZnSnO3 and improves separation efficiency of photoinduced charge-hole pairs, which results in higher catalytic activity of ZnSnO3/C nanofibers. The photocatalytic, piezocatalytic and piezo-photocatalytic activities were investigated by degrading diclofenac. The ZnSnO3/C‒0.3 ‰ has the highest reaction constant among the series of catalysts. The reaction constat of ZnSnO3/C‒0.3 ‰ in photocatalysis process (0.0185 min−1) is 2.15 times that of ZnSnO3. The reaction constat of ZnSnO3/C‒0.3 ‰ in piezo-photocatalysis process (0.0549 min−1) is 2.97 times that of ZnSnO3/C‒0.3 ‰ in photocatalysis and 3.47 times that of ZnSnO3 in piezo-photocatalysis (0.0158 min−1). The •OH and e− radicals are key roles for degrading diclofenac in catalysis processes.

Visible-Light Self-Powered Photodetector with High Sensitivity Based on the Type-II Heterostructure of CdPSe3/MoS2.

Transition metal thiophosphates (MTPs) are a group of emerging van der Waals materials with widely tunable band gaps. In the MTP family, CdPSe3 is demonstrated to possess a wide energy band gap and high carrier mobility, making it a potential candidate in optoelectronic applications. Here, we reported photoelectric response behaviors of both CdPSe3- and CdPSe3/MoS2-based photodetectors (noted as CPS and CM, respectively); these showed prominent photoelectric performances, and the latter proved to be significantly superior to the former. These devices exhibited ultralow dark current at a magnitude order of 10-12 A and fine cycle and air stabilities. Compared with CPS, CM demonstrated the highest responsivity (91.12 mA/W) and detectivity (1.74 × 1011 Jones) at 5 V under 425 nm light illumination. Besides, CM showed self-powered photoelectric responses at zero bias, which was attributed to the improved separation efficiency of photogenerated carriers by the built-in electric field at the interface of the p-n junction. This work proves a prospect for the CM device in portable, self-powered optoelectronic device applications.

Modulation of Photoactive Nanocomposite Cu Doped SnO2 Anchored on G-C3N4 Polymeric Sheets by Green Synthesis and Degradation of Dye Malachite Green

Wastewater containing harmful dyes such as Malachite green poses a significant environmental challenge because of its high levels of carcinogenicity, mutagenicity, and toxicity. To address this issue, we developed a photocatalyst consisting of Cu doped SnO2 nanocomposite supported onto g-C3N4 using green synthesis method with the assistance of Murraya paniculata leaves extract. To know about the structural, morphological chemical composition of the synthesized heterojunction several techniques of characterization techniques were employed such as XPS, XRD, BET, HRTEM, FESEM, EDAX and UV-Vis spectra. XRD results shows the spherical shape of the particles with the mean grain size of 2.18 and 2.14 nm for Cu doped SnO2 and Cu doped SnO2/g-C3N4 respectively. HRTEM results reveal that the fabricated Cu doped SnO2 shows formation of very small size spherical nanoparticles. The heterojunction Cu doped SnO2/g-C3N4 showed 2-D sheeted structure of g-C3N4 which acts as a translucent layer that captured sphere shaped Cu doped SnO2 NPs. The XPS analysis verifies the existence of Sn, Cu, O, C and N in the synthesized heterojunction. The UV-Visible spectra helped to demonstrate the effective inhibition of plasmonic exciton annihilation within the heterojunction nanocomposite. When exposed to solar light, the designed nanocomposite heterojunction exhibited superior photocatalytic activity in the degradation of MG compared to undoped g-C3N4 and Cu doped SnO2 binary nanocomposite. Radical scavenging studies indicated that •O2– radicals were the principle species accountable for the degradation of MG by the nanocomposite heterojunction. The dye MG photodegraded with pseudo-first order kinetics. The excellent photocatalytic performance and recyclability of nanocomposite can be attributed to its greater surface area, improved separation efficiency of excited e--h+ pairs and superior absorption of visible light.

A Mini Review on Liquid Phase Catalytic Exchange for Hydrogen Isotope Separation: Current Status and Future Potential

Liquid phase catalytic exchange (LPCE) appears a highly promising technology for separating hydrogen isotopes due to being less energy-intensive and having a high separation factor. This paper provides an overview of the current development of the hydrophobic catalysts used in the LPCE process, including the LPCE fundamentals, factors influencing its effectiveness, and proposals for future research areas. This paper specifically reviews the active metal catalysts, catalyst supports, operating temperatures, and molar feed ratio(gas-to-liquid,G/L). The addition of a second metal such as Ir, Fe, Ru, Ni, or Cr and modified catalyst supports showed enhancement of LPCE performance. Additionally, the validated optimized temperature of 60–80 °C and G/L of 1.5–2.5 provide an important basis for designing LPCE systems to improve separation efficiency. This paper concludes by highlighting potential research areas and challenges for future advancements in the sustainability of LPCE for hydrogen isotope separation, which include the optimization, scalability, techno-economic analysis, and life-cycle analysis of modified catalyst materials.

Enhancement of Filtration Performance Characteristic of Glass Fiber-Based Filter Media, Part 2: Chemical Modification with Surface-Active Treatment.

Standard glass fiber filter media were chemically modified with suitably chosen surface-active agents. The aim of these modifications was to improve the three fundamental filtration performance characteristics, namely, to increase the separation efficiency, reduce the differential pressure (∆P) and increase the dirt holding capacity (DHC). The increase in separation efficiency was considered quantitatively in terms of changes in the work of adhesion between the contaminant and the modified media substrate derived from the contact angle measurements. The experimental confirmation of this behavior was demonstrated by an improved separation efficiency especially for particles in the smaller size ranges, well below the mean porosity of the original substrate. In addition, the effect of different surface modifications, especially those of the opposite ends of the surface energy values, has clearly manifested itself in the experimental results of separation efficiency derived from the multipass evaluations. Collectively, the obtained contact angle (surface energy) and separation efficiency results are strongly indicative of a wide range of filtration performance enhancements that can be achieved through suitably chosen surface-active modification of standard substrate materials.