Membrane Type Research Articles

Biocompatible polyethersulfone membrane modified by hydrophilic polymer decorated magnetic nanoparticles gilded by facile external magnetic field

AbstractPolymer‐based membranes such as polyethersulfone are widely used for hemodialysis and bio‐related applications; however, this type of membrane still fails to satisfy optimum performance in terms of clearance, safety, and bio‐adaptability. Herein, a polymer brush of polyvinylpyrrolidone is decorated on the surface of magnetic nanoparticles by using reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer polymerization (RAFT), and under the guidance of an external magnetic field, the prepared magnetic nanoparticles with the polymer brush system are blended with a polyethersulfone membrane during a liquid‐liquid phase inversion process. The prepared membranes with different loads of the pure magnetic nanoparticle and polyvinylpyrrolidone@magnetic nanoparticle polymer brushes are prepared, compared with the pristine membrane, the modified membrane shows a high flux value at 349 L m−2 h−1 and 99.9% bovine serum albumin protein rejection. This membrane also demonstrated improved hydrophilicity and pore structure compared with the pristine membrane. Concerning the blood biocompatibility analysis, the modified membranes acquire prolonged time for clotting factors such as prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, and thrombin time while exhibiting less fibrinogen concertation at 0.4 g L−1. Furthermore, for the first time, an innovative method for fouling detection based on magnetic field attenuation due to protein accumulation on the membrane surface is reported; the method in this work could be a positive booster for the safe use of polymeric membranes in hemodialysis and bio‐based applications.

Unlocking Direct Lithium Extraction in Harsh Conditions through Thiol-Functionalized Metal-Organic Framework Subnanofluidic Membranes.

Metal-organic framework (MOF) membranes with high ion selectivity are highly desirable for direct lithium-ion (Li+) separation from industrial brines. However, very few MOF membranes can efficiently separate Li+ from brines of high Mg2+/Li+ concentration ratios and keep stable in ultrahigh Mg2+-concentrated brines. This work reports a type of MOF-channel membranes (MOFCMs) by growing UiO-66-(SH)2 into the nanochannels of polymer substrates to improve the efficiency of MOF membranes for challenging Li+ extraction. The resulting membranes demonstrate excellent monovalent metal ion selectivity over divalent metal ions, with Li+/Mg2+ selectivity up to 103 since Mg2+ should overcome a higher energy barrier than Li+ when transported through the MOF pores, as confirmed by molecular dynamics simulations. Under dual-ion diffusion, as the Mg2+/Li+ mole ratio of the feed solution increases from 0.2 to 30, the membrane Li+/Mg2+ selectivity decreases from 1516 to 19, corresponding to the purity of lithium products between 99.9 and 95.0%. Further research on multi-ion diffusion that involves Mg2+ and three monovalent metal ions (K+, Na+, and Li+, referred to as M+) in the feed solutions shows a significant improvement in Li+/Mg2+ separation efficiency. The Li+/Mg2+ selectivity can go up to 1114 when the Mg2+/M+ molar concentration ratio is 1:1, and it remains at 19 when the ratio is 30:1. The membrane selectivity is also stable for 30 days in a highly concentrated solution with a high Mg2+/Li+ concentration ratio. These results indicate the feasibility of the MOFCMs for direct lithium extraction from brines with Mg2+ concentrations up to 3.5 M. This study provides an alternative strategy for designing efficient MOF membranes in extracting valuable minerals in the future.

Evaluating the Durability of Perfluorosulfonic Acid Membranes in Fuel Cells Using Combined Open-Circuit Voltage-Accelerated Stability Testing

This study evaluates the chemical and mechanical durability of membranes used in proton exchange membrane fuel cells, highlighting the essential role of electrochemical tests in understanding the relationship between durability and performance. Our methodology integrates various electrochemical evaluation techniques to assess the degradation of perfluorosulfonic acid (PFSA) membranes. The results highlight the considerable improvement in the chemical and mechanical durability of annealed 3M PFSA-reinforced composite membranes (RCMs) compared with their non-annealed counterparts and other membrane types, indicating their superior resilience under challenging conditions. Moreover, the results of using a combined open-circuit voltage-accelerated stability testing protocol demonstrate that annealed 3M PFSA RCMs exhibit enhanced resilience, reaching 18,000 cycles before failure, considerably outperforming NR 211 (5000 cycles) and other membranes. In addition, membrane deterioration over time can be precisely measured by interpreting electrochemical indicators (electrochemically active surface area, circuit resistance, high-frequency resistance, and proton resistance). This approach provides a clear relationship between electrochemical data and durability, offering a comprehensive understanding of how different membranes withstand operational stresses.

Carbomer Hydrogels with Microencapsulated α-Tocopherol: Focus on the Biocompatibility of the Microcapsules, Topical Application Attributes, and In Vitro Release Study

The microencapsulation of α-tocopherol based on the complex coacervation of low-molecular-weight chitosan (LMWC) and sodium lauryl ether sulphate (SLES) without harmful crosslinkers can provide biocompatible carriers that protect it from photodegradation and air oxidation. In this study, the influence of the microcapsule wall composition on carrier performance, compatibility with a high-water-content vehicle for topical application, and release of α-tocopherol were investigated. Although the absence of aldehyde crosslinkers decreased the encapsulation efficiency of α-tocopherol (~70%), the variation in the LMWC/SLES mass ratio (2:1 or 1:1) had no significant effect on the moisture content and microcapsule size. The prepared microcapsule-loaded carbomer hydrogels were soft semisolids with pseudoplastic flow behavior. The integrity of microcapsules embedded in the hydrogel was confirmed by light microscopy. The microcapsules reduced the pH, apparent viscosity, and hysteresis area of the hydrogels, while increasing their spreading ability on a flat inert surface and dispersion rate in artificial sweat. The in vitro release of α-tocopherol from crosslinker-free microcapsule-loaded hydrogels was diffusion-controlled. The release profile was influenced by the LMWC/SLES mass ratio, apparent viscosity, type of synthetic membrane, and acceptor medium composition. Better data quality for the model-independent analysis was achieved when a cellulose nitrate membrane and ethyl alcohol 60% w/w as acceptor medium were used.

Optimal Permeance Ratio, Flux Direction and Layer Distribution in Composite Asymmetric Membranes composed of Sequences of Layers obeying Real-Power Flux Laws

In this study, the optimal permeance ratio and layers distribution in multilayer membranes and thin films in which each layer obeys the following real-power law: are determined for any positive real values of ni. Such an exponent has a physical meaning in several cases, such as: diffusion-controlled permeation of hydrogen in metal membranes i) under infinite-dilution conditions (n = 0.5), and ii) under higher-concentration ones (0.5 <n < 1.5), iii) desorption-limited permeation (n = 1) in the same type of membranes, Knudsen-type diffusional mechanism (n = 1) and viscous flow (n = 2) in microporous membranes. Furthermore, n is equal to 4 in radiation-driven thermal flux. The work considers two generic layers of different thicknesses and exponents, for which it is proven the existence of a general optimal permeance ratio π1/π2 maximising the flux ratio, which is found to be equal to the inverse of the ratio between the respective maximum theoretical driving forces that can be established in each layer. Such an optimal permeance ratio is also proven to be a global optimum. Afterwards, we provide a theoretical generalisation of this optimality to whatever types of driving forces. Then, we provide a demonstration that the highest species permeating flux is always established when feeding it from the layer side with the highest exponent independently of the permeance ratio. As an important consequence, to maximise flux, a multilayer membrane/thin film should be fabricated by depositing the layers in cascade according to the ascending or descending exponents, and should be used in a configuration in which the flux flows from the layer with the highest pressure exponent to the layer with the lowest one. It is also shown that there exists an optimal value of the lower exponent n1 that maximizes the flux ratio keeping constant the other parameters. Finally, we showed that a virial-type linear combination of polynomial driving forces can be approximated by the empirical flux law investigated. Overall, our results are valid not only for whatever type of composite membranes and thin films (metallic, ceramic, polymeric and hybrid ones), but also for any sequential system involving a flux of whatever physical entity obeying the aforementioned law, such as heat transfer in the presence of radiation, non-linear electrical resistances and possible others.

Multi-dimensional parametric study for enhancing Brackish Water Reverse Osmosis membrane performance suited for desalination of low salinity feeds.

Reverse osmosis (RO) effectively provides clean drinking water. Different RO membrane types are tailored to treat saline water feeds with varying characteristics. In the context of low brackish water feeds, the objective is to remove only a minimal excess of salinity through the membrane. Our study introduces a method of membrane post-treatments capable of achieving controlled salt rejection while concurrently enhancing permeate flux, which is vital for achieving effective and energy-efficient desalination of low brackish water. The post-treatments were conducted on our in-house-developed membranes using aqueous solutions of N,N-Dimethylformamide and glycerol for different drying times at the coupon level. The process was scaled up at the module level, allowing us to assess its potential for commercial application. At the coupon level, the permeate flux increased significantly from 3.7 ± 0.9 to 10.6 ± 0.2L/m2·h·bar, while the salt rejection decreased from 95.6 ± 1% to 70.5 ± 1% when measured with a feed of 2,000 ppm NaCl concentration. At the module level, we observed a higher flux of 12.8L/m2·h·bar, alongside a salt rejection of 55.5% with a similar feed. Varying post-treatment parameters at the coupon level allowed us to attain the desired salt rejection and permeate flux values. Physical changes in both pristine and post-treated membranes, including polymer swelling, were observed without chemical alterations, enhancing our understanding of the post-treatment effect and its potential for broader commercial use. PRACTITIONER POINTS: Post-treatment of RO membranes enhances flux. Physical structuring through polymer swelling was observed with the chemical structure unaltered. Post-treatment of RO opens doors for broader energy-efficient desalination application.

Membrane pre-concentration as an efficient strategy to enhance the enrichment of rare earth by MgO precipitation

Taking advantage of the environmentally-friendly properties of a magnesium salt leaching agent, magnesium oxide (MgO) was used as a precipitant to enrich rare earth (RE) from leaching liquor in the magnesium salt system. This approach not only tackles the issue of ammonia–nitrogen pollution but also enables efficient magnesium recycling. However, due to the high concentration of magnesium ions and the low concentration of RE ions in the leaching solution, the precipitation kinetics of RE concentrates are sluggish, leading to low RE purity in the resulting precipitated product. In this work, we proposed a novel strategy that combines complexation-ultrafiltration (UF) pre-concentration with subsequent MgO precipitation to enhance the hydrolysis of MgO, promoting the precipitation of RE. We further improved the RE enrichment efficiency by optimizing membrane type, complexing agent selection, concentration levels, precipitation temperature, and MgO dosage. Under the conditions of concentrating the leaching solution using optimal UF membrane and employing glyphosate as the complexing agent, the RE ions concentration increased from 101 to 3940 mg/L, and we successfully separated magnesium ions with a separation factor of 36.4. A comparison between direct MgO precipitation and the pre-concentration approach revealed an 80 % reduction in precipitation time and an 80 % decrease in MgO usage with pre-concentration. Furthermore, this combined process led to an 8 % increase in RE recovery and a 2.8-fold enhancement in RE purity, and similar results were obtained when using actual mine leaching solutions. Additionally, the glyphosate present in the UF permeate and the precipitated mother liquor can be efficiently reclaimed through resin adsorption. This proposed process holds significant potential for engineering applications aimed at enriching RE.

IOT Based Smart Lock Door System

Abstract: Security describes protection of life and property. The safety in the house is very important. Besides the traditional method door that used a key can be easily open by not authorized person or burglar if they have the right key. This will allow them to steal the entire valuable thing in the house. Nowadays the telecommunication technologies become wider and more new features exist to make human life better This project will use a Bluetooth feature in mobile phone to automatically open the door so that Bluetooth technology syncs your phone directly with the lock. It wills automatic open if authorized person is detected. The door will open for a certain delay and the door automatically closes within this time. IOT based smart door lock using 4x4 MATRIX MEMBRANE TYPE KEYPAD-16 KEYS, ARDUINO UNO, RELAY MODULE.

Assessment of production variables on the performance of ceramic membranes

Water crisis is one of the most important topics nowadays. The water crisis is approaching due to several factors, which is why finding alternative sources of water is important. Water treatment has gained its importance as it decreases the amount of waste water in addition to producing water that can be used in different applications based on its characteristics. Several water treatment techniques are present nowadays; however, research is needed to lower the cost of such techniques in addition to increasing productivity and maximize their range of applicability. Several water treatment techniques are capable of producing fresh water from different types of feed water (saline water, waste water, etc.), these techniques include membrane technologies and thermal technologies. Due to high energy consumption, and lower productivity in thermal techniques membrane techniques are mostly used nowadays in the applications of water treatment. Ceramic membranes have attracted researchers due to their characteristics and wide range of applicability. In this paper, different ceramic membrane types are illustrated; production techniques and the effect of each production variable on the membrane characteristics are shown, in addition to applying a comparison between different additives. Finally, a comparison of performance is carried out.

Identification of triacylglycerol remodeling mechanism to synthesize unusual fatty acid containing oils

Typical plant membranes and storage lipids are comprised of five common fatty acids yet over 450 unusual fatty acids accumulate in seed oils of various plant species. Plant oils are important human and animal nutrients, while some unusual fatty acids such as hydroxylated fatty acids (HFA) are used in the chemical industry (lubricants, paints, polymers, cosmetics, etc.). Most unusual fatty acids are extracted from non-agronomic crops leading to high production costs. Attempts to engineer HFA into crops are unsuccessful due to bottlenecks in the overlapping pathways of oil and membrane lipid synthesis where HFA are not compatible. Physaria fendleri naturally overcomes these bottlenecks through a triacylglycerol (TAG) remodeling mechanism where HFA are incorporated into TAG after initial synthesis. TAG remodeling involves a unique TAG lipase and two diacylglycerol acyltransferases (DGAT) that are selective for different stereochemical and acyl-containing species of diacylglycerol within a synthesis, partial degradation, and resynthesis cycle. The TAG lipase interacts with DGAT1, localizes to the endoplasmic reticulum (with the DGATs) and to puncta around the lipid droplet, likely forming a TAG remodeling metabolon near the lipid droplet-ER junction. Each characterized DGAT and TAG lipase can increase HFA accumulation in engineered seed oils.

Model-Based Design of Variable Stiffness Soft Gripper Actuated by Smart Hydrogels.

Soft grippers have shown their ability to grasp fragile and irregularly shaped objects, but they often require external mechanisms for actuation, limiting their use in large-scale situations. Their limited capacity to handle loads and deformations also restricts their customized grasping capabilities. To address these issues, a model-based soft gripper with adaptable stiffness was proposed. The proposed actuator comprises a silicone chamber with separate units containing hydrogel spheres. These spheres exhibit temperature-triggered swelling and shrinking behaviors. In addition, variable stiffness strips embedded in the units are introduced as the stiffness variation method. The validated finite element method model was used as the model-based design approach to describe the hydrogel behaviors and explore the affected factors on the bending performance. The results demonstrate that the actuator can be programmed to respond in a desired way, and the stiffness variation method enhances bending stiffness significantly. Specifically, a direct correlation exists between the bending angle and hydrogel sphere layers, with a maximum of 128° achieved. In addition, incorporating gap configurations into the chamber membrane results in a maximum threefold increase in the bending angle. Besides, the membrane type minimally impacts the bending angle from 21.3° to 24.6°. In addition, the embedded variable stiffness strips substantially increase stiffness, resulting in a 30-fold rise in bending stiffness. In conclusion, the novel soft gripper actuator enables substantial bending and stiffness control through active actuation, showcasing the potential for enhancing soft gripper performance in complex and multiscale grasping scenarios.

Large-size 19-channel monolithic silicalite-1 membranes for butane separation: Separation performance and quantification of concentration polarization

Developing an energy-saving membrane technology is important for the separation of hydrocarbon isomers. For the first time, separation performance of large-size 19-channel monolithic silicalite-1 membranes and the correlation of the performance with concentration polarization index were reported for separating industrial n-/i-butane (n-/i-C4) mixtures. The effective membrane area of each element was up to 0.1 square meters. Four membranes showed average n-C4 permeance and n-/i-C4 separation factor of (3.8 ± 0.1) × 10-8 mol/(m2 s Pa) and 27.5 ± 0.58 at 333 K, respectively. The impact of operating parameters and concentration polarization on separation performance of the typical monolithic membrane were investigated. Two solutions were proposed to reduce the influence of concentration polarization. The correlation of separation performance and concentration polarization can be used for performance prediction. The large-size silicalite-1 membranes exhibited long-term stability in the separation of butane isomers.

Enhancing hydrogen separation efficiency: Insights from the permeability study of nickel-based composite membranes

This research aims to validate the capability of composite nickel-based membranes in separating hydrogen and to examine how multi-layer deposits influence the density of the nickel film. The study evaluated the hydrogen permselectivity of the membranes for both single gases (H2, N2) and binary mixtures over a temperature range from 25 °C to 700 °C. The findings revealed that the thickness of the nickel layer (ranging from 2 μm to 37 μm) and its adhesion to the support material affected the hydrogen transport through the films. Increasing the number of electroless plating treatments and the nickel thickness on γ-alumina and α-alumina tubular supports resulted in decreased hydrogen permeance but improved hydrogen selectivity. This was attributed to the enhanced recovery of the γ-alumina support and efficient filling of α-alumina support pores, depending on the membrane type. The study identified multiple mechanisms contributing to hydrogen transport, including surface diffusion, Knudsen diffusion at lower temperatures (<300 °C), and activated diffusion processes at higher temperatures (>300 °C). At 700 °C, for a Ni/0.8 μm-α-Al2O3 membrane with a 37 μm nickel film, the hydrogen permeance for single gases was 5.8 × 10−8 mol/m2 s Pa (189 GPU: gas permeance unit) with an ideal selectivity of 199 towards N2. It was 7.3 × 10−8 mol/m2 s Pa (238 GPU) for gas mixtures with an H2/N2 separation factor of 148. These results suggest that these membranes are particularly effective at high temperatures, emphasizing their potential for hydrogen separation applications and positioning them as promising materials for further development in this field.

Socket Preservation in Dentistry: a Comprehensive Review on Efficacy, Tissue Volume Maintenance, and Economic Considerations with Focus on Membrane Types and Bone Regeneration Dynamics

Socket Preservation in Dentistry: a Comprehensive Review on Efficacy, Tissue Volume Maintenance, and Economic Considerations with Focus on Membrane Types and Bone Regeneration Dynamics

Piezoelectric and Dielectric Electrospun Fluoropolymer Membranes for Oral Mucosa Regeneration: A Comparative Study.

Wound healing of the oral mucosa is an urgent problem in modern dental surgical practice. This research article presents and compares the findings of the investigations of the structural, physicochemical, and biological characteristics of two types of polymeric membranes used for the regeneration of oral mucosa. The membranes were prepared from poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (PTFE) and a copolymer of vinylidene fluoride and tetrafluoroethylene (VDF-TeFE) and analyzed via scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, X-ray diffraction analysis, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Investigation results obtained indicate that both types of membranes are composed of thin fibers: (0.57 ± 0.25) μm for PTFE membranes and (0.43 ± 0.14) μm for VDF-TeFE membranes. Moreover, the fibers of VDF-TeFE membranes exhibit distinct piezoelectric properties, which are confirmed by piezoresponse force microscopy and X-ray diffraction. Both types of membranes are hydrophobic: (139.7 ± 2.5)° for PTFE membranes and (133.5 ± 2.0)° for VDF-TeFE membranes. In vitro assays verify that both membrane types did not affect the growth and division of mice fibroblasts of the 3T3-L1 cell line, with a cell viability in the range of 88-101%. Finally, in vivo comparative experiments carried out using Wistar rats demonstrate that the piezoelectric VDF-TeFE membranes have a high ability to regenerate oral mucosa.

Exploring the impact of polyvinylidenefluoride membrane physical properties on the enrichment efficacy of microfluidic electro-membrane extraction of acidic drugs

Membrane technology has revolutionized various fields with its energy efficiency, versatility, user-friendliness, and adaptability. This study introduces a microfluidic chip, comprised of silicone rubber and polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) sheets to explore the impacts of polymeric support morphology on electro-membrane extraction efficiency, representing a pioneering exploration in this field. In this research, three polyvinylidenefluoride (PVDF) membranes with distinct pore sizes were fabricated and their characteristics were assessed through field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). This investigation centers on the extraction of three widely prescribed non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs: aspirin (ASA), naproxen (NAP), and ibuprofen (IBU). Quantitative parameters in the extraction process including voltage, donor phase flow rate, and acceptor phase composition were optimized, considering the type of membrane as a qualitative factor. To assess the performance of the fabricated PVDF membranes, a comparative analysis with a commercially available Polypropylene (PP) membrane was conducted. Efficient enrichment factors of 30.86, 23.15, and 21.06 were attained for ASA, NAP, and IBU, respectively, from urine samples under optimal conditions using the optimum PVDF membrane. Significantly, the choice of the ideal membrane amplified the purification levels of ASA, NAP, and IBU by factors of 1.6, 7.5, and 40, respectively.

A Versatile 3D-Printable Soft Pneumatic Actuator Design for Multi-Functional Applications in Soft Robotics.

Soft pneumatic actuators (SPAs) play a crucial role in generating movements and forces in soft robotic systems. However, existing SPA designs require significant structural modifications to be used in applications other than their original design. The present article proposes an omni-purpose fully 3D-printable SPA design inspired by membrane type mold and cast SPAs. The design features a spring-like zig-zag structure 3D-printed using an affordable 3D printer with thermoplastic polyurethane and a minimum wall thickness between 0.4 and 0.6 mm. The new SPA can perform unidirectional extension (30% extension) and bidirectional (rotation around same axis) bending (100°), with the ability to exert 10 N blocking force for 350 kPa pressure input. In addition, the design exhibits the capability to be scaled down for the purpose of accommodating limited spaces, while simultaneously enabling the reconfigurable interconnection of multiple SPAs to adapt to larger areas and navigate intricate trajectories that were not originally intended. The SPA's ability to be used in multiple applications without structural modification was validated through testing as a robot end-effector (gripper), artificial muscles in a soft tendon-driven prosthetic hand, a tube/tunnel navigator, and a robot crawler.

Removal of multiple pesticides from water by different types of membranes

Pesticides are used in agriculture to protect crops from pathogens, insects, fungi and weeds, but the release of pesticides into surface/groundwater by agriculture runoff and rain has raised serious concerns not only for the environment but also for human health. This study aimed to investigate the impact of surface properties on the performance of seven distinct membrane types utilized in nanofiltration (NF), reverse osmosis (RO) and forward osmosis (FO) processes in eliminating multiple pesticides from spiked water. Out of the membranes tested, two are self-fabricated RO membranes while the rest are commercially available membranes. Our results revealed that the self-fabricated RO membranes performed better than other commercial membranes (e.g., SW30XLE, NF270, Duracid and FO) in rejecting the targeted pesticides by achieving at least 99% rejections regardless of the size of pesticides and their log Kow value. Despite the marginally lower water flux exhibited by the self-fabricated membrane compared to the commercial BW30 membrane, its exceptional ability to reject both mono- and divalent salts renders it more apt for treating water sources containing not only pesticides but also various dissolved ions. The enhanced performance of the self-fabricated RO membrane is mainly attributed to the presence of a hydrophilic interlayer (between the polyamide layer and substrate) and the incorporation of hydrophilic nanosheets in tuning its surface characteristics. The findings of the work provide insight into the importance of membrane surface modification for the application of not only the desalination process but also for the removal of contaminants of emerging concern.

Ultrasound of the eye – Part 2: Fundamentals of posterior wall detachment

AbstractDetachment of the posterior membranes of the eye may occur following trauma or surgery, can result from certain disease processes or just be attributed to the aging process. Irrespective of the cause, all can contribute to visual disturbance. Failure to diagnose and treat such conditions can have permanent effects on a patient's vision if not addressed in a timely manner. Ultrasound proves to be a useful tool to aid in the diagnosis of posterior wall detachments when the operator has a thorough knowledge of ocular structure and function, anatomical landmarks and the common sonographic appearances that differentiate the type of membrane involved in the disease process. Although ocular ultrasound has historically been performed in the emergency or ophthalmology settings, the incidence of ocular ultrasound being undertaken in radiology departments is increasing. Multiple recent studies have observed an increase in the incidence of retinal detachment, the main causative factors being linked to a higher prevalence of myopia and cataract surgeries. The purpose of this article therefore is to provide a comprehensive guide to the anatomical structure of the posterior orbital segment, including surface anatomy and attachment points, and how this can facilitate the correct identification of the different types of posterior membranous detachment based on common sonographic appearances. As such, operators skilled in performing ultrasound of the eye can play a pivotal role in ensuring an appropriate management pathway is achieved by way of accurate interpretation of pathological ultrasound images.

Electrochemical Hydrogenation of Aliphatic Aldehydes and Acids using Pentlandite Catalysts

AbstractElectrochemical hydrogenations are considered a sustainable alternative to classical thermocatalytic processes prevalent in industrial conversions. Using a base metal sulfide of the pentlandite class, the hydrogenation of glutaraldehyde and propionic acid was investigated. While propionic acid could not be converted, glutaraldehyde was conveniently transformed to the semi‐ and fully hydrogenated products 5‐hydroxypentanal and 1,5‐pentanediol with a partial current density of up to 34 mA cm−2 and a Faraday efficiency of 34 %. Crucial factors for a stable and efficient reaction were found to be the use of an appropriate buffer, avoidance of low pH and the used membrane type. The reaction was implemented into a zero‐gap cell reaching a single pass conversion of up to 22 %, underlining the potential for future application.