Ion-imprinted membranes for lithium recovery: A review.

This review critically examines the effectiveness of ion-imprinted membranes (IIMs) in selectively recovering lithium (Li) from challenging sources such as seawater and brine. These membranes feature customized binding sites that specifically target Li ions, enabling selective separation from other ions, thanks to cavities shaped with crown ether or calixarene for improved selectivity. The review thoroughly investigates the application of IIMs in Li extraction, covering extensive sections on 12-crown-4 ether (a fundamental crown ether for Li), its modifications, calixarenes, and other materials for creating imprinting sites.

Novel LiAlO Material for Scalable and Facile Lithium Recovery Using Electrochemical Ion Pumping.

In this study, α-LiAlO was investigated for the first time as a Li-capturing positive electrode material to recover Li from aqueous Li resources. The material was synthesized using hydrothermal synthesis and air annealing, which is a low-cost and low-energy fabrication process. The physical characterization showed that the material formed an α-LiAlO phase, and electrochemical activation revealed the presence of AlO* as a Li deficient form that can intercalate Li.

Degradation of Organic Methyl Orange (MO) Dye Using a Photocatalyzed Non-Ferrous Fenton Reaction.

Removal of recalcitrant organic pollutants by degradation or mineralization from industrial waste streams is continuously being explored to find viable options to apply on the commercial scale. Herein, we propose a titanium nanotube array (based on a non-ferrous Fenton system) for the successful degradation of a model contaminant azo dye, methyl orange, under simulated solar illumination. Titanium nanotube arrays were synthesized by anodizing a titanium film in an electrolyte medium containing water and ethylene glycol.

Reactive Halogen Species-Mediated Electrocatalytic Oxidation of Arsenite(III).

Electrocatalytic advanced oxidation processes have long been considered among of the most viable ways to remediate aquatic contaminants, including As(III). Although direct electrochemical oxidation of As(III) is thermochemically facile, a high reaction rate is not easily achieved because of the competitive oxygen evolution reaction (OER), particularly at high potentials. This study examines the effect of three halides (Cl, Br, and I) on the electrochemical oxidation of As(III) with nanoparticulate TiO electrodes in an aqueous bicarbonate solution at pH 8.

Thermally assisted efficient electrochemical lithium extraction from simulated seawater.

Extracting lithium electrochemically from seawater has the potential to resolve any future lithium shortage. However, electrochemical extraction only functions efficiently in high lithium concentration solutions. Herein, we discovered that lithium extraction is temperature and concentration dependent.

Fluorescent Zn(II)-Based Metal-Organic Framework: Interaction with Organic Solvents and CO and Methane Capture.

Adsorption of carbon dioxide (CO), as well as many other kinds of small molecules, is of importance for industrial and sensing applications. Metal-organic framework (MOF)-based adsorbents are spotlighted for such applications. An essential for MOF adsorbent application is a simple and easy fabrication process, preferably from a cheap, sustainable, and environmentally friendly ligand.

Tandem Osmotic Engine Based on Hydrogel Particles with Antipolyelectrolyte and Polyelectrolyte Effect Fuelled by Both Salinity Gradient Modes.

In this study, we propose a new approach to attain energy by salinity gradient engines with pistons based on hydrogels possessing polyelectrolyte and antipolyelectrolyte effects in a tandem arrangement, providing energy in each salinity gradient mode in a repeatable manner. The swelling of hydrogel with a polyelectrolyte effect and shrinking of hydrogel particles possessing an antipolyelectrolyte effect in desalinated water, and subsequent shrinking of hydrogel with polyelectrolyte and swelling of hydrogel antipolyelectrolyte effect in saline water, generate power in both increasing and decreasing salinity modes. To investigate the energy recovery, we scrutinized osmotic engine assemblies by a setup arrangement of pistons with hydrogel particles, with polyelectrolyte and antipolyelectrolyte effects, in tandem.

Thermo-osmosis-Coupled Thermally Regenerative Electrochemical Cycle for Efficient Lithium Extraction.

Lithium (Li) production based on the soda evaporation process is time-consuming and unsustainable. The emerging electrochemical Li extraction is time-efficient but requires high-concentration Li sources and significant electrical energy input. Here, we demonstrate a fast, energy-saving, and environment-friendly Li production process by coupling a thermally regenerative electrochemical cycle (TREC) using lithium manganese oxide (LMO) and nickel hexacyanoferrate (NiHCF) electrodes with poly(vinylidene fluoride) membrane-based thermo-osmosis (denoted as TO-TREC).

TiCT MXene-Based Light-Responsive Hydrogel Composite for Bendable Bilayer Photoactuator.

Soft actuators based on hydrogel materials, which can convert light energy directly into mechanical energy, are of the utmost importance, especially with enhancements in device development. However, the hunt for specific photothermal nanomaterials with distinct performance remains challenging. In this study, we successfully fabricated a bilayer hydrogel actuator consisting of an active photothermal layer from incorporated TiCT MXene in poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) p(NIPAm)hydrogel structure and a passive layer from the N-(2-hydroxylethylpropyl)acrylamide (HEAA) hydrogel structure.

In Situ-Generated Reactive Oxygen Species in Precharged Titania and Tungsten Trioxide Composite Catalyst Membrane Filters: Application to As(III) Oxidation in the Absence of Irradiation.

This study demonstrates that in situ-generated reactive oxygen species (ROSs) in prephotocharged TiO and WO (TW) composite particle-embedded inorganic membrane filters oxidize arsenite (As(III)) into arsenate (As(V)) without any auxiliary chemical oxidants under ambient conditions in the dark. TW membrane filters have been charged with UV or simulated sunlight and subsequently transferred to a once-through flow-type system. The charged TW filters can transfer the stored electrons to dissolved O, producing ROSs that mediate As(III) oxidation in the dark.

Ion-Enhanced Conversion of CO into Formate on Porous Dendritic Bismuth Electrodes with High Efficiency and Durability.

Invited for this month's cover is the group of Prof. Hyunwoong Park at the Kyungpook National University. The image shows the high-efficiency CO conversion to formate using multilayered porous dendrite Bi electrocatalysts.

Fouling and performance of outer selective hollow fiber membrane in osmotic membrane bioreactor: Cross flow and air scouring effects.

This study assessed impacts of cross-flow velocity (CFV) and air scouring on the performance and membrane fouling mitigation of a side-stream module containing outer-selective hollow fiber thin film composite forward osmosis membrane in osmosis membrane bioreactor (OMBR) system for urban wastewater treatment. CFV of draw solution was optimized, followed by the impact assessment of three CFVs on feed solution (FS) stream and periodic injection of air scouring into the side-stream module. Overall, the OMBR system exhibited high and stable performance with initial water flux of approximately 15 LMH, high removal efficiencies of bulk organic matter and nutrients.

Ion-Enhanced Conversion of CO into Formate on Porous Dendritic Bismuth Electrodes with High Efficiency and Durability.

Facile synthesis of efficient electrocatalysts that can selectively convert CO to value-added chemicals remains a challenge. Herein, the electrochemical synthesis of porous Bi dendrite electrodes and details of their activity toward CO conversion to formate in aqueous solutions of bicarbonate are presented. The as-synthesized multilayered, porous, dendritic Bi electrodes exhibit a faradaic efficiency (FE) of approximately 100 % for formate production.

Efficient fouling control using outer-selective hollow fiber thin-film composite membranes for osmotic membrane bioreactor applications.

This paper investigates the efficiency of fouling mitigation methods using a novel outer selective hollow fiber thin-film composite forward osmosis (OSHF TFC FO) membrane for osmosis membrane bioreactor (OMBR) system treating municipal wastewater. Two home-made membrane modules having similar transport properties were used. Two operation regimes with three different fouling mitigation strategies were utilized to test the easiness of membrane for fouling cleaning.

Modification of Nanofiber Support Layer for Thin Film Composite forward Osmosis Membranes via Layer-by-Layer Polyelectrolyte Deposition.

Electrospun nanofiber-supported thin film composite membranes are among the most promising membranes for seawater desalination via forward osmosis. In this study, a high-performance electrospun polyvinylidenefluoride (PVDF) nanofiber-supported thin film composite (TFC) membrane was successfully fabricated after molecular layer-by-layer polyelectrolyte deposition. Negatively-charged electrospun polyacrylic acid (PAA) nanofibers were deposited on electrospun PVDF nanofibers to form a support layer consisted of PVDF and PAA nanofibers.

Calix[4]arene-Based Porous Organic Nanosheets.

Calixarenes are a common motif in supramolecular chemistry but have rarely been incorporated in structurally well-defined covalent 2D materials. Such a task is challenging, especially without a template, because of the nonplanar configuration and conformational flexibility of the calixarene ring. Here, we report the first-of-a-kind solvothermal synthesis of a calix[4]arene-based 2D polymer (CX4-NS) that is porous, covalent, and isolated as few-layer thick (3.

Redox-Responsive Covalent Organic Nanosheets from Viologens and Calix[4]arene for Iodine and Toxic Dye Capture.

Owing to their chemical and thermal stabilities, high uptake capacities, and easy recyclability, covalent organic polymers (COPs) have shown promise as pollutant sponges. Herein, we describe the use of diazo coupling to synthesize two cationic COPs, COP1 and COP2 , that incorporate a viologen-based molecular switch and an organic macrocycle, calix[4]arene. The COPs form nanosheets that have height profiles of 6.

Sunlight-charged heterojunction TiO and WO particle-embedded inorganic membranes for night-time environmental applications.

A metal oxide-heterojunction photocatalyst is developed to harvest sunlight, store the energy in electrons, and apply the stored energy in water treatment. Light-absorbing nanoparticular and nanotubular TiO2 are hybridized with electron-storing WO3 at different weight ratios of TiO2 to WO3 (e.g.

A windable and stretchable three-dimensional all-inorganic membrane for efficient oil/water separation.

There is strong interest in windable and stretchable membranes to meet the technological demands of practical water treatments. Oil/water separating membranes of this type is still significantly underdeveloped. Here, we reported a windable and stretchable membrane with three-dimensional structure for efficient oil/water separation.

Viologen-Based Conjugated Covalent Organic Networks via Zincke Reaction.

Morphology influences the functionality of covalent organic networks and determines potential applications. Here, we report for the first time the use of Zincke reaction to fabricate, under either solvothermal or microwave conditions, a viologen-linked covalent organic network in the form of hollow particles or nanosheets. The synthesized materials are stable in acidic, neutral, and basic aqueous solutions.

Photocatalytic H production on trititanate nanotubes coupled with CdS and platinum nanoparticles under visible light: revisiting H production and material durability.

The photocatalytic production of molecular hydrogen (H) on ternary composites of Pt, CdS, and sodium trititanate nanotubes (NaHTiO, TNTs) is examined in an aqueous 2-propanol (IPA) solution (typically 5 vol%) at a circum-neutral pH under visible light (λ > 420 nm). The H production rates are dependent on the Pt-loading level, and the optimum production rate in the Pt/CdS/TNTs is approximately six times higher than that in Pt/CdS/TiO. A DO solution containing 5 vol% IPA leads only to the production of D molecules, whereas increasing the IPA amount to 30 vol% leads to the production of DH molecules.

Redox-Responsive Viologen-Mediated Self-Assembly of CB[7]-Modified Patchy Particles.

Sulfonated surface patches of poly(styrene)-based colloidal particles (CPs) were functionalized with cucurbit[7]uril (CB[7]). The macrocycles served as recognition units for diphenyl viologen (DPV(2+)), a rigid bridging ligand. The addition of DPV(2+) to aqueous suspensions of the particles triggered the self-assembly of short linear and branched chainlike structures.

Characterization of Mn-Based Self-Forming Barriers on Low-k Samples With or Without UV Curing Treatment.

In the present work, we report a Cu-Mn alloy as a material for the self-forming barrier process, and we investigated the diffusion barrier properties of the self-formed layer on low-k dielectrics with or without UV curing treatment. Cu alloy films with 3.8 at% Mn were directly deposited onto low-k dielectrics by co-sputtering followed by annealing at various temperatures.

Reactive iron sulfide (FeS)-supported ultrafiltration for removal of mercury (Hg(II)) from water.

This study investigated removal of Hg(II) from water using FeS(s) with batch and continuous contact filtration systems. For the batch system, kinetic experiments showed that removal of Hg(II) by FeS(s) was rapid at lower concentration (500 μM), but at higher concentration (1000 and 1250 μM), more time was required to achieve greater than 99% removal. The concentration of iron released to the solution remained relatively low, typically below 3 μM.