Purification Technology Research Articles

Hepatocellular Carcinoma-Derived Exosomes: Key Players in Intercellular Communication Within the Tumor Microenvironment

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths in the world. Due to the insidious onset and rapid progression and a lack of effective treatments, the prognosis of patients with HCC is extremely poor, with the average 5-year survival rate being less than 10%. The tumor microenvironment (TME), the internal environment in which HCC develops, can regulate the oncogenesis, development, invasion, and metastasis of HCC. During the process of cancer progression, HCC cells can regulate the biological behaviors of tumor cells, cancer-associated fibroblasts, cancer-associated immune cells, and other cells in the TME by releasing exosomes containing specific signals, thereby promoting cancer progression. However, the exact molecular mechanisms and the roles of exosomes in the specific cellular regulation of these processes are not fully understood. Herein, we summarized the TME components of HCC, the sources and the biological traits of exosomes in the TME, and the impact of mechanical factors on exosomes. In addition, special attention was given to the discussion of the effects of HCC-exosomes on different types of cells in the microenvironment. There are still many difficulties to be overcome before exosomes can be applied as carriers in clinical cancer treatment. First of all, the homogeneity of exosomes is difficult to ensure. Secondly, exosomes are mainly administered through subcutaneous injection. Although this method is simple and easy to implement, the absorption efficiency is not ideal. Thirdly, exosome extraction methods are limited in number and inefficient, making it difficult to prepare exosomes in large quantities. It is important to ensure that exosomes are used in sufficient quantities to trigger an effective tumor immune response, especially for exosome-mediated tumor immunotherapy. With the improvement in identification, isolation, and purification technology, exosomes are expected to be successfully used in the clinical diagnosis of early-stage HCC and the clinical treatment of liver cancer.

Biomimetic Structural Design of Fabric for Low‐Cost, Scalable, and Highly Efficient Off‐Grid Solar‐Driven Water Purification

AbstractInterfacial solar‐vapor generation (ISVG) is an emerging technology for water purification. However, high cost, low evaporation rate, clogging issues, and limited solar utilization under natural condictions greatly hinder its practical application. Herein, inspired by the aligned microstructure of dragonfly wings, a 3D microarray structure composed of vertically aligned hierarchical and hydrophilic carbon fibers (CFs) is constructed using a scalable fiber manufacturing technology. The microarray structure of the high‐thermal‐conductivity CFs with nanocapillaries contributes to the fast mass (steam and salt ions) and heat transfer as well as high omnidirectional light absorption. More importantly, due to the strong multiscale capillary effect, the formed 3D water evaporation surface containing abundant micro‐meniscuses and nanoscale thin water layers in the CFs arrays effectively reduces the evaporation enthalpy and creates more water/air interfaces, leading to the significant increasing evaporation rate. As a result, a high evaporation rate of 2.21 kg m−2 h−1 under one‐sun irradiation can be achieved. Moreover, the off‐grid water treatment device assembled with multiple 3D CFs‐based customized spherical evaporators can obtain a high pure water collection of 10.71 kg m−2 per day without salt accumulation under real environmental conditions. This work demonstrates a high‐efficiency, cost‐effective, and scalable strategy for high‐performance ISVG.

THE USE OF PVDF-BASED MEMBRANE FOR TREATING INDUSTRIAL WASTEWATER IN THE PERSPECTIVE OF FABRICATION TECHNIQUE AND FOULING MITIGATION VIA ADDITIVE BLENDING AND SURFACE COATING

This review particularly discusses current development of PVDF (polyvinylidene fluoride)-based membrane technology for wastewater purification in terms of the potentiality, various fabrication techniques and specific fouling mitigation. Firstly, membrane technology for treating industrial wastewater and other polluted water is presented properly. In this section, essential aspects in membrane technology such as membrane usage in wastewater treatment field, fouling phenomena, fouling characteristics, and its mechanism would be explained. The second part then includes PVDF polymer, the utilization of conventional and green solvents used in membrane fabrication process as well as prominent methods available for fabricating PVDF-based membranes. Ultimately, the last section critically covers fouling mitigation efforts covering two prominent strategies namely additive blending and surface coating using novel substances as reported in current literature. Although some research related to the preparation of membrane materials has existed in the literature, there are still several challenging issues that need to be critically discussed deeper for establishing a reliable PVDF-based membrane and modifying the membrane for obtaining better properties of permeate flux, selectivity and anti-fouling leading to better membrane performance for purifying industrial wastewater containing high concentration of recalcitrant organic and inorganic pollutants. Overall, this review will considerately contribute to understand membrane fabrication and current surface modification as part of possible dependable loopholes for reducing fouling rate especially on PVDF-based membranes, and it will be a strong foundation for future research regarding the fabrication of polymeric membrane derived from PVDF having better durability and antifouling property.

Preparation of Protein A Membranes Using Propargyl Methacrylate-Based Copolymers and Copper-Catalyzed Alkyne-Azide Click Chemistry.

The development of convective technologies for antibody purification is of interest to the bioprocessing industries. This study developed a Protein A membrane using a combination of graft polymerization and copper(I)-catalyzed alkyne-azide click chemistry. Regenerated cellulose supports were functionalized via surface-initiated copolymerization of propargyl methacrylate (PgMA) and poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate (PEGMEMA300), followed by a reaction with azide-functionalized Protein A ligand. The polymer-modified membranes were characterized using attenuated total reflectance Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), gravimetric analysis, and permeability measurements. Copolymer composition was determined using the Mayo-Lewis equation. Membranes clicked with azide-conjugated Protein A were evaluated by measuring static and dynamic binding (DBC10) capacities for human immunoglobulin G (hIgG). Copolymer composition and degree of grafting were found to affect maximum static binding capacities, with values ranging from 5 to 16 mg/mL. DBC10 values did not vary with flow rate, as expected of membrane adsorbers.

Regulation of surface acidic sites on birnessite-type MnO2 and its function in the adsorption of gaseous ammonia

Ammonia (NH3) is not only a characteristic malodorous contaminant, but also one of the important precursors in the formation of haze. In engineering practice, the most widely used technology for NH3 purification is adsorption, and the development of adsorbent with excellent NH3 adsorption capacity is the key to adsorption method. Herein, the surface acidic sites of layered birnessite-type MnO2 were regulated for the adsorption of NH3. Results presented that the adsorption capacity of birnessite-type MnO2 reinforced by surface acidic sites could reach 36.1 mg/g, which significantly superior to pristine MnO2 and other commercial carbon materials. In addition, the effects of space velocity, NH3 concentration, adsorption temperature and relative humidity on its adsorption performance were also studied. It was found that the effect of space velocity and relative humidity had no significant effect on the equilibrium NH3 adsorption capacity; while the equilibrium adsorption capacity showed an increasing trend with the rise of NH3 concentration and the decrease of adsorption temperature. Furthermore, the function of surface acidic sites, especially Lewis and Brønsted acidic sites, in the adsorption of birnessite-type MnO2 for NH3 was further revealed. On the one hand, the acidic site strengthening method of acid impregnation can significantly increase the specific surface area of birnessite-type MnO2, which is beneficial for the physical adsorption of NH3. Importantly, this acidic site strengthening method significantly enhances the number and intensity of surface acidic sites of birnessite-type MnO2, especially the Brønsted acidic sites, which greatly promoted the adsorption of alkaline gas NH3. Finally, the cyclic thermal regeneration performance at low temperatures was further studied. This work reports a strategy to improve NH3 adsorption performance by enhancing acidic sites, and further reveals the functional role of surface acidic sites in NH3 adsorption.

Nano carbon-modified air purification filters for removal and detection of particulate matters from ambient air

Particulate matters (PMs) pose significant risks to human health and the environment, necessitating research to enhance air purification filters and reduce harmful emissions. This study focuses on the preparation of carbon nanomaterials, including graphitic carbon nitride nanosheets (g-C3N4 NSs), reduced graphene oxide (r-GO), and carbon nanotubes (CNT), for modifying filters in air particle monitoring devices. The objective is to investigate the impact of these nanomaterials on enhancing PM adsorption efficiency. Quantitative and qualitative analyses of the modified filters’ adsorption efficiency towards PMs are performed using spectroscopic techniques such as Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX), Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP), and Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS). The results reveal that CNT-modified filters exhibit superior adsorption efficiency compared to the control, g-C3N4, and r-GO-modified filters. The exceptional performance of CNTs is attributed to their large specific surface area and pore volume. Additionally, LIBS demonstrates its capability to detect heavy metals like Cd, which remain undetected by EDX and ICP. The technique proves sensitive for heavy metal monitoring. This novel approach is expected to garner significant attention and contribute to the development of improved air purification technologies.

Anchoring CoTiO3/TiO2 heterostructure on fiber network actuates flow-through Fenton-like oxidation: Electronic modulation and rapid pollutants degradation

Versatile catalytic oxidation filtration system, especially under low operating pressure conditions, is a frontier technology for organic wastewater purification. Herein, CoTiO3/TiO2 heterostructure was anchored on fiber network (CTO/TOF) to actuate flow-through peroxymonosulfate (PMS) based oxidation toward organics removal. The well-developed built-in electric field in CoTiO3/TiO2 heterostructure induced local charge redistribution, and promoted the targeted adsorption and activation of PMS, thereby facilitating the activation process. Meanwhile, the 3D network of CTO/TOF fully exposes active sites, providing an ideal platform for mass transfer and surface reactions. Above 91% for nimesulide degradation was maintained after 24 h of catalytic permeation under high permeate flux (300.7 L/m2·h), corresponding to ultrafast retention time (4.9 s). Practical application experiments demonstrated that CTO/TOF+PMS system had strong anti-interference capability under diverse conditions. Synergy of radical-nonradical mixed pathways for pollutant removal was verified by electron paramagnetic resonance spectra, quenching tests, and electrochemical measurements. The degradation intermediates and possible degradation pathways of nimesulide were also proposed. The toxicity assessments confirmed decreased toxicity of degradation products. This study is dedicated to designing high-performance filters and broadening Fenton-like oxidation in environmental remediation.

Study on the morphology, nanostructure and fragmentation properties of diesel and diesel-DMM soot particles oxidized in the air/air-NO environment

As an alternative fuel for diesel engines, dimethoxymethane (DMM) has attracted wide attention in recent years, but its impact on the post-treatment process of diesel exhaust particles has been rarely studied. To get a better understanding of the oxidation kinetics of soot in diesel particulate filters (DPFs), the oxidation process of soot emitted from a modern compression ignition (CI) fueled by diesel (D100) and its blend with 11 vol% dimethoxymethane (DMM11) at the same working conditions were investigated by a thermogravimetric analyzer in the air and air-NO atmospheres in this study, respectively. Soot samples at different oxidation degrees (0 %, 20 %, 50 % and 80 % mass loss) were tested by a high-resolution transmission microscopy to characterize the variations of physical properties (morphology, fractal dimension, primary particle diameter and nanostructure) and oxidation-induced fragmentation properties over the oxidation process. The results showed that DMM11 soot had higher oxidation reactivity than D100 soot, and the oxidation reactivity of soot was enhanced by NO involved in the air atmosphere. During the oxidation process, the fractal dimension of D100 and DMM11 soot aggregates gradually increased, and the number and diameter of the primary particles in an aggregate became smaller. This variation trends became more obvious with the presence of NO in the air environment. The nanostructures of D100 and DMM11 soot particles gradually become ordered (characterized by longer fringe length, narrower separation distance and less tortuosity) as the oxidation proceeds. While, when NO added in the air atmosphere the possibility of microcrystals oxidation inside the particles decrease to slow down the getting-ordered rate of soot. Moreover, the fragmentation probability of D100 and DMM11 soot aggregates decreases gradually as oxidation proceeds. During the oxidation process, the probability of primary particle fragmentation for D100 soot increases continuously, while the probability of DMM11 primary soot particles fragmentation showed an increase-then-decrease trend. Compare with D100 soot, DMM11 soot are more likely to occur the fragmentation behavior over the oxidation process. It is worth noting that the addition of NO to the air atmosphere increases the possibility of aggregate fragmentation, while it decreases the possibility of primary particle fragmentation. This work can provide theoretical basis for the development of high efficiency purification technology for diesel exhaust particles.

Research progress and perspectives of biogas production from municipal organic solid waste

Abstract Anaerobic digestion is a prevailing technology for the treatment and utilization of municipal organic solid waste (MOSW). In this technology, the macromolecular organic matter in waste degrades into small molecular substances through the anaerobic decomposition of microorganisms, producing biogas that can provide enormous energy. This paper focuses on the research progress of anaerobic digestion of various organic wastes for biogas production. The principle and process of anaerobic digestion for biogas production are introduced, along with the key factors affecting anaerobic digestion efficiency, such as temperature, pH, and sealing conditions. At the same time, the current cycle treatment technology and comprehensive treatment system of MOSW are also summarized. Furthermore, the paper explores biogas purification technologies, including desulfurization, deoxidation, drying, and decarbonization. Finally, the state-of-the-art of the utilization of MOSW for biogas production in the world and the problems faced by the utilization of MOSW for biogas production in China are reviewed. By summarizing the anaerobic digestion technology of MOSW, this review hopes to provide some reasonable solutions for the high-value utilization of MOSW.

Thermodynamic and Kinetic Equilibrium for Adsorption of Cellulosic Xylose of Commercial Cation-Exchange Resins.

The development of low-cost purification technology is an indispensable need for industrial biorefinery. Xylose is easily obtained from hydrothermal pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass. This current study emphasizes the chromatographic monosaccharide separation process using commercial cation-exchange resins (CER) including Amberlite 120 and Indion 225 to separate xylose from a mixture of hydrolysates. To understand the performance of the two CER, the studies of equilibrium, thermodynamics, and kinetics were evaluated. In this study, with different xylose concentrations, the adsorption equilibrium was found to follow the Freundlich isotherm model well (R2 > 0.90 for both CER). The results indicated that a pseudo-second-order model represented the xylose adsorption kinetics. In addition, the activation energy of xylose adsorption onto both CER, i.e., Amberlite 120 and Indion 225 was 34.9 and 87.1 kJ/mol, respectively. The present adsorption studies revealed the potential of these commercial CER to be employed as effective adsorbents for monosaccharide separation technology.

ТЕХНИКО-ЭКОНОМИЧЕСКОЕ СРАВНЕНИЕ МЕТОДОВ УЛУЧШЕНИЯ ПОКАЗАТЕЛЕЙ КАЧЕСТВА ОЧИСТКИ ПРИРОДНОЙ ВОДЫ

The work is devoted to a technical and economic comparison of methods for improving the quality of cleaning at an operating installation. Surface water sources suffer significantly from anthropogenic impact, and water quality deteriorates depending on the amount of wastewater discharges, both domestic and industrial in nature. The high concentration of industrial enterprises located on the shore significantly complicates the process of natural water purification to the required values according to the SanPi N. The aim of the work was to develop a cost-effective solution to modernize the existing purification technology aimed at improving the final qualitative and quantitative composition of the prepared water. The goal was achieved as a result of analyzing the current purification technology, identifying technological features, and conducting pilot industrial experiments. The existing ways to improve the quality of cleaning are of a cardinal nature, the reconfiguration of existing equipment with the elimination of outdated parts. But this method is not feasible at a working station, as it requires a complete shutdown of the equipment for a long time. The most important result in this work was the determination of a cost-effective processing method with minimal modification of the current scheme. The achievement of these results suggests that the sorption treatment plant is a promising and economically low-cost way to improve the quality of drinking water purification. The use of environmentally friendly sorption material significantly improves the preparation process.

Energy and tellurium deposits

<abstract> <p>In this article, we focus on the next generation of green batteries that are closely related to semi-metallic tellurium and its deposits. We briefly summarize the chemical and geochemical characteristics of tellurium that ordinary readers are not familiar with or have never heard of, and its important role in many fields such as high-tech and medical care, current global resource distribution, major mineral extraction and purification technologies and market evolution, etc. The spatiotemporal distribution of the two main types of tellurium deposits, namely associated tellurium deposits and independent tellurium deposits, is introduced in detail. The geological and geochemical characteristics of the only independent tellurium deposit in the world are introduced in detail, so that relevant researchers can use this deposit as an example to discover more independent tellurium deposits around the world, meeting people's increasingly urgent demand for tellurium and realizing the sustainable development of human society. We believe that humans will discover more and more new energy metals in the near future to meet the dual goals of protecting the earth's environment and developing the economy, which are contradictory and mutually reinforcing. New generation of energy metal batteries must be small, compact, easy to carry, charge quickly, and have a long life.</p> </abstract>

Thermodynamic models for solution behavior and solid-liquid equilibrium in acetate binary systems from low to very high concentration at 25oC

In this study we developed new thermodynamic models for solution behavior and solid-liquid equilibrium in eight acetate binary systems from low to very high concentration at 25oC: six systems of the type 1-1 (X(CH3COO)-H2O with X= (Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, and Tl)) and two systems of the type 2-1 (Y(CH3COO)2-H2O with Y= (Mg, and Ba)). Models were developed on the basis of Pitzer ion interactions approach. To parameterize models for binary systems we used all available experimental osmotic coefficients data (φ) for the whole concentration range of solutions. To develop models, we used different versions of the standard molality-based Pitzer approach. It was established that for all acetate systems under study application of extended approach with 4 parameters (β0 , β1 , β2 and Cφ ) and variation of 1 and 2 terms in fundamental Pitzer equations leads to the lowest values of standard model-experiment deviation. The predictions of new developed here models are in excellent agreement with experimental φ data, and with recommendations on the mean activity coefficients (±) from low to very high concentration: up to 23.8 m in K(CH3COO)-H2O, up to 39.2 m in Rb(CH3COO)-H2O, and up to 52.2 m in Cs(CH3COO)-H2O. On the basis of evaluated binary parameters important thermodynamic characteristics (Deliquescence Relative Humidity DRH, thermodynamic solubility products Ko sp; standard molar Gibbs free energy of formation, fGo m) for 7 acetate solids were determined at 25oC. The calculated DRH and fGo m values were compared with those reported in the literature. The models described in this study are of high importance, especially in development and improvement of technology for production and purification of acetate solutions and solid phases.

Low Pollution Water Investigation and Integrated Technology of Ecological Purification in Fuxian Lake Basin

Low Pollution Water Investigation and Integrated Technology of Ecological Purification in Fuxian Lake Basin

Solar interface evaporation system multi-field synergies boost water purification and blue energy harvest technologies

The escalating water and energy crises have led to attempts at combining purifying water and blue energy harvesting using solar interfacial evaporation systems (SIESs) based on hybrid systems. The thermally-localized...

Transformations in crystals of DNA-functionalized nanoparticles by electrolytes.

Colloidal crystals have applications in water treatments, including water purification and desalination technologies. It is, therefore, important to understand the interactions between colloids as a function of electrolyte concentration. We study the assembly of DNA-grafted gold nanoparticles immersed in concentrated electrolyte solutions. Increasing the concentration of divalent Ca2+ ions leads to the condensation of nanoparticles into face-centered-cubic (FCC) crystals at low electrolyte concentrations. As the electrolyte concentration increases, the system undergoes a phase change to body-centered-cubic (BCC) crystals. This phase change occurs as the interparticle distance decreases. Molecular dynamics analysis suggests that the interparticle interactions change from strongly repulsive to short-range attractive as the divalent-electrolyte concentration increases. A thermodynamic analysis suggests that increasing the salt concentration leads to significant dehydration of the nanoparticle environment. We conjecture that the intercolloid attractive interactions and dehydrated states favour the BCC structure. Our results gain insight into salting out of colloids such as proteins as the concentration of salt increases in the solution.

Analytical Review of Microplastics Occurrence in Bottled Water, Tap Water, and Wastewater Treatment Plants

Currently, water availability and accessibility have become more challenging due to population growth, development of industrial and agricultural activities, and the effects of climate change. Various types of pollutants released by human activities threaten water quality and availability. Microplastics and emerging contaminants are currently affecting water resources and posing a risk to human health. The present study reviews the available studies that analyzed the abundance, shape, and size of microplastics in water, including glass, plastic, reusable, recyclable, and beverage bottled water, tap water, and wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) influent and effluent. Analysis of the collected data allowed comparison of microplastic abundance in different packaging water bottles, tap water, and raw and treated water from WWTPs. The analysis results suggest that microplastics in drinking water are mainly associated with water sources. Therefore, more attention should be paid to water treatment and purification processes and technologies. The type of packaging is also a crucial parameter to consider when quantifying microplastics in drinking water, although the use of glass bottles is recommended to minimize the potential associated risk to humans and ensure safe consumption. Increasing public awareness and knowledge about waste separation, the potential risks of microplastics to human health, and the urgent need for behavioral change in the management of waste, mainly plastic objects, remain the main keys to reducing the number of plastics entering our environment and our bodies.

Highly selective capture of SO2 with supported micro-mesoporous silica sphere from CO2-rich environment

Selective adsorption of sulfur dioxide (SO2) is an important clean technology for purification of exhaust gas from fossil fuel combustion. The widely applied zeolite-based adsorbents interact with SO2 through weakly physical adsorption, resulting in low adsorption capacity and selectivity for SO2. Herein, a facile strategy that combines improving the textural property of zeolite and optimizing adsorption sites is developed for efficient and stable SO2 adsorption. The micro-mesoporous silica sphere (MS) with high specific surface area and well-defined pore structure is obtained through a micelle expander assisted soft-template method, which can facilitate the dispersion and exposure of designed adsorption sites- methylated polyethyleneimine (mPEI). Since the Lewis basic sites of N in mPEI can strongly interact with the π-receptor SO2, and the tertiary amine groups exhibit a weak attraction for CO2, the optimized MS supported mPEI adsorbent exhibits remarkable SO2 adsorption performance (7.5 mmol/g), exceptionally high SO2/N2 selectivity (16673) and SO2/CO2 selectivity (551). Moreover, it presents an outstanding stability in the adsorption-regeneration test. This work sheds light on the design of high-performance organic-solid composite adsorbent for selective capture of SO2.

Emerging environmentally friendly bio-based nanocomposites for the efficient removal of dyes and micropollutants from wastewater by adsorption: a comprehensive review.

Water scarcity will worsen due to population growth, urbanization, and climate change. Addressing this issue requires developing energy-efficient and cost-effective water purification technologies. One approach is to use biomass to make bio-based materials (BBMs) with valuable attributes. This aligns with the goal of environmental conservation and waste management. Furthermore, the use of biomass is advantageous because it is readily available, economical, and has minimal secondary environmental impact. Biomass materials are ideal for water purification because they are abundant and contain important functional groups like hydroxyl, carboxyl, and amino groups. Functional groups are important for modifying and absorbing contaminants in water. Single-sourced biomass has limitations such as weak mechanical strength, limited adsorption capacity, and chemical instability. Investing in research and development is crucial for the development of efficient methods to produce BBMs and establish suitable water purification application models. This review covers BBM production, modification, functionalization, and their applications in wastewater treatment. These applications include oil-water separation, membrane filtration, micropollutant removal, and organic pollutant elimination. This review explores the production processes and properties of BBMs from biopolymers, highlighting their potential for water treatment applications. Furthermore, this review discusses the future prospects and challenges of developing BBMs for water treatment and usage. Finally, this review highlights the importance of BBMs in solving water purification challenges and encourages innovative solutions in this field.

Study of the dependence of component composition - degree of wastewater purification by adsorbents based on plant raw materials to control the content of priority pollutants in water bodies

In conditions of intensive development of industrial and agricultural production, measures aimed at protecting the hydrosphere from harmful substances are becoming increasingly important every year. Water purification using the sorption method and water treatment is one of the most common technological processes. Almost unlimited reserves of sorbents of natural origin, their low cost, and fairly high adsorption and ion-exchange properties make their use advisable. Sorbents developed on the basis of available secondary plant raw materials show high efficiency and open up the possibility of their practical use in solving environmental problems. New sorbents based on plant raw materials have been developed, their structure and morphology have been studied in order to identify the absorption capacity and effectiveness of use as oil sorbents. Studies of the kinetics and dynamics sorption of oil pollutants confirm the effectiveness of mentioned sorbents and sorption purification technology can be used for environmental monitoring of water bodies.