Dual-ion permeation Janus membrane-assisted element reconstitution system enables fluorosilicate-oriented recovery from fluoride-rich and silica-rich wastewaters.

Rapid development of semiconductor manufacturing and photovoltaic industry leads to significant generation of fluoride-rich and silica-rich wastewaters. Due to the emphasis on circular economy and resource recovery, there is a shift from regarding wastewater as waste to a recoverable resource. In this study, we present a uniquely designed dual-ion permeation Janus membrane (DPM)-assisted element reconstitution system (MERS) for selective recovery of high-value fluorosilicates from fluoride-rich and silica-rich wastewaters.

Polyfunctional Arylamine Based Nanofiltration Membranes with Enhanced Aggressive Organic Solvents Resistance.

Organic solvent nanofiltration (OSN) membranes with high separation performance and excellent stability in aggressive organic solvents are urgently desired for chemical separation. Herein, we utilized a polyfunctional arylamine tetra-(4-aminophenyl) ethylene (TAPE) to prepare a highly cross-linked polyamide membrane with a low molecular weight cut-off (MWCO) of 312 Da. Owing to its propeller-like conformation, TAPE formed micropores within the polyamide membrane and provided fast solvent transport channels.

Rational regulation of post-electrodialysis electrochromic anion exchange membranes via TiO@Ag synergistically strengthens visible-light photocatalytic anti-contamination activity.

Membrane-contamination during electrodialysis (ED) process is still a non-negligible challenge, while irreversible consumption and unsustainability have become the main bottlenecks limiting the improvement of anion exchange membranes (AEMs) anti-contamination activity. Here, we introduce a novel approach to design AEMs by chemically assembling 4-pyndinepropanol with bromomethylated poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene oxide) (BPPO) in an electrochromic-inspired process. Subsequently, the co-mingled TiO@Ag nanosheet with the casting-solution were sprayed onto the surface of the substrate membrane to create a micrometer-thick interfacial layer.

Joint modeling of human cortical structure: Genetic correlation network and composite-trait genetic correlation.

Heritability and genetic covariance/correlation quantify the marginal and shared genetic effects across traits. They offer insights on the genetic architecture of complex traits and diseases. To explore how genetic variations contribute to brain function variations, we estimated heritability and genetic correlation across cortical thickness, surface area, and volume of 33 anatomically predefined regions in left and right hemispheres, using summary statistics of genome-wide association analyses of 31,968 participants in the UK Biobank.

Advancing Lithium-Magnesium Separation: Pioneering Swelling-Embedded Cation Exchange Membranes Based on Sulfonated Poly(ether ether ketone).

With the continuous advancement of electrodialysis (ED) technology, there arises a demand for improved monovalent cation exchange membranes (CEMs). However, limitations in membrane materials and structures have resulted in the low selectivity of monovalent CEMs, posing challenges in the separation of Li and Mg. In this investigation, a designed CEM with a swelling-embedded structure was created by integrating a polyelectrolyte containing N-oxide Zwitterion into a sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) (SPEEK) membrane, leveraging the notable solubility characteristic of SPEEK.

The mitigation potential of synergistic quorum quenching and antibacterial properties for biofilm proliferation and membrane biofouling.

Biofouling has been a persistent problem hindering the application of membranes in water treatment, and quorum quenching has been identified as an effective method for mitigating biofouling, but surface accumulation of live bacteria still induces biofilm secretion, which poses a significant challenge for sustained prevention of membrane biofouling. In this study, we utilized quercetin, a typical flavonoid with the dual functions of quorum quenching and bacterial inactivation, to evaluate its role in preventing biofilm proliferation and against biofouling. Quercetin exhibited excellent antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli (E.

A genotyping array for the globally invasive vector mosquito, Aedes albopictus.

Background: Although whole-genome sequencing (WGS) is the preferred genotyping method for most genomic analyses, limitations are often experienced when studying genomes characterized by a high percentage of repetitive elements, high linkage, and recombination deserts. The Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus), for example, has a genome comprising up to 72% repetitive elements, and therefore we set out to develop a single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) chip to be more cost-effective. Aedes albopictus is an invasive species originating from Southeast Asia that has recently spread around the world and is a vector for many human diseases.

Ion Resource Recovery via Electrodialysis Fabricated with Poly(Arylene Ether Sulfone)-Based Anion Exchange Membrane in Organic Solvent System.

Ion resource recovery from organic wastewater is beneficial for achieving emission peaks and carbon neutrality targets. Advanced organic solvent-resistant anion exchange membranes (AEMs) for treating organic wastewater via electrodialysis (ED) are of significant interest. Herein, a kind of 3D network AEM based on poly(arylene ether sulfone) cross-linked with a flexible cross-linker (DBH) for ion resource recovery via ED in organic solvent system is reported.

Rechargeable Multifunctional Anti-Bacterial AEMs for Electrodialysis: Improving Anti-Biological Performance via Synergistic Antibacterial Mechanism.

Constructing a functional layer on the surface of commercial membrane (as a substrate) to inhibit the formation of biofilms is an efficient strategy to prepare an antibacterial anion exchange membrane (AEM). Herein, a rechargeable multifunctional anti-biological system is reported by utilizing the mussel-inspired L-dopa connection function on commercial AEMs. Cobalt nanoparticles (Co NPs) and N-chloramine compounds are deposited on the AEM surface by a two-step modification procedure.

Patterned dense Janus membranes with simultaneously robust fouling, wetting and scaling resistance for membrane distillation.

Membrane fouling, wetting and scaling are three prominent challenges that severely hinder the practical applications of membrane distillation (MD). Herein, polyamide/polyvinylidene fluoride (PA/PVDF) Janus membrane comprising a hydrophobic PVDF substrate and a patterned dense PA layer by reverse interfacial polymerization (R-IP) was developed. Direct contact MD experiments demonstrated that PA/PVDF Janus membrane could exhibit simultaneously superior resistance towards surfactant-induced wetting, oil-induced fouling and gypsum-induced scaling without compromising flux.

Application of Bipolar Membrane Electrodialysis in Environmental Protection and Resource Recovery: A Review.

Bipolar membrane electrodialysis (BMED) is a new membrane separation technology composed of electrodialysis (ED) through a bipolar membrane (BPM). Under the action of an electric field, HO can be dissociated to H and OH, and the anions and cations in the solution can be recovered as acids and bases, respectively, without adding chemical reagents, which reduces the application cost and carbon footprint, and leads to simple operation and high efficiency. Its application is becoming more widespread and promising, and it has become a research hotspot.

Subnanometer Ion Channel Anion Exchange Membranes Having a Rigid Benzimidazole Structure for Selective Anion Separation.

Ion-conductive polymers having a well-defined phase-separated structure show the potential application of separating mono- and bivalent ion separation. In this work, three side-chain-type poly(arylene ether sulfone)-based anion exchange membranes (AEMs) have been fabricated to investigate the effect of the stiffness of the polymer backbone within AEMs on the Cl/NO and Cl/SO separation performance. Our investigations via small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), positron annihilation, and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) demonstrate that the as-prepared AEM with a rigid benzimidazole structure in the backbone bears subnanometer ion channels resulting from the arrangement of the rigid polymer backbone.

Collagen Fibril-Assembled Skin-Simulated Membrane for Continuous Molecular Separation.

A skin-simulated thin-film-composite membrane was fabricated using a vacuum-assisted interfacial polymerization method. A negatively charged surface-selective layer on a polyacrylonitrile (PAN) substrate was cross-linked using trimesoyl chloride to form polyamide and polyester with a three-layer structure that was similar to skin. The loading of collagen fibrils assembled on the membrane surface was varied, and a selective layer was obtained, of which the thickness, morphology, and hydrophilicity can be manipulated.

Covalent Organic Framework-Mediated Thin-Film Composite Polyamide Membranes toward Precise Ion Sieving.

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) have evinced a potential solution that promises for fast and efficient molecular separation due to the presence of orderly arranged pores and regulable pore apertures. Herein, the synthesized COF (TPB-DMTP-COF) with the pore aperture matching the pore size of the nanofiltration (NF) membrane was utilized to modulate the physicochemical characters of the polyamide (PA) membranes. It is demonstrated that COFs with superior polymer affinity and hydrophilicity not only circumvent the nonselective interfacial cavities but also improve the hydrophilicity of the resultant thin-film nanocomposite (TFN) membranes.

Achieving Enhanced Capacitive Deionization by Interfacial Coupling in PEDOT Reinforced Cobalt Hexacyanoferrate Nanoflake Arrays.

Capacitive deionization (CDI) as a novel energy and cost-efficient water treatment technology has attracted increasing attention. The recent development of various faradaic electrode materials has greatly enhanced the performance of CDI as compared with traditional carbon electrodes. Prussian blue (PB) has emerged as a promising CDI electrode material due to its open framework for the rapid intercalation/de-intercalation of sodium ions.

Planning of smart gating membranes for water treatment.

The use of membranes in desalination and water treatment has been intensively studied in recent years. The conventional membranes however have various problems such as uncontrollable pore size and membrane properties, which prevents membranes from quickly responding to alteration of operating and environmental conditions. As a result the membranes are fouled, and their separation performance is lowered.

Cation Exchange Membranes Coated with Polyethyleneimine and Crown Ether to Improve Monovalent Cation Electrodialytic Selectivity.

Developing monovalent cation permselective membranes (MCPMs) with high-efficient permselectivity is the core concern in specific industrial applications. In this work, we have fabricated a series of novel cation exchange membranes (CEMs) based on sulfonated polysulfone (SPSF) surface modification by polyethyleneimine (PEI) and 4'-aminobenzo-12-crown-4 (12C4) codeposited with dopamine (DA) successively, which was followed by the cross-linking of glutaraldehyde (GA). The as-prepared membranes before and after modification were systematically characterized with regard to their structures as well as their physicochemical and electrochemical properties.

Bismuth Nanoparticle-Embedded Porous Carbon Frameworks as a High-Rate Chloride Storage Electrode for Water Desalination.

Capacitive deionization (CDI) is a promising cost-effective and low energy consumption technology for water desalination. However, most of the previous works focus on only one side of the CDI system, , Na ion capture, while the other side that stores chloride ions, which is equally important, receives very little attention. This is attributed to the limited Cl storage materials as well as their sluggish kinetics and poor stability.

Enabling Superior Sodium Capture for Efficient Water Desalination by a Tubular Polyaniline Decorated with Prussian Blue Nanocrystals.

The application of electrochemical energy storage materials to capacitive deionization (CDI), a low-cost and energy-efficient technology for brackish water desalination, has recently been proven effective in solving problems of traditional CDI electrodes, i.e., low desalination capacity and incompatibility in high salinity water.

Exploration of Energy Storage Materials for Water Desalination via Next-Generation Capacitive Deionization.

Clean energy and environmental protection are critical to the sustainable development of human society. The numerous emerged electrode materials for energy storage devices offer opportunities for the development of capacitive deionization (CDI), which is considered as a promising water treatment technology with advantages of low cost, high energy efficiency, and wide application. Conventional CDI based on porous carbon electrode has low salt removal capacity which limits its application in high salinity brine.

Preparation of Low-Lactose Milk Powder by Coupling Membrane Technology.

Due to lactose intolerance, there is a growing need for lactose-free or low-lactose dairy products. Herein, a combination of three membrane technologies (UF, electrodialysis (ED), and nanofiltration (NF)) was used as a novel green technology to replace the enzymatic preparation of low-lactose milk powder in the traditional industry. In which, large molecules such as proteins and fats are first retained using UF, mineral salt was intercepted and re-added into milk by electrodialysis, and finally, lactose is recovered by NF.

Nanofiber Based Organic Solvent Anion Exchange Membranes for Selective Separation of Monovalent anions.

Present anion exchange membranes are generally constructed by simple and positively charged polymers with insufficient organic solvent resistance, and exhibit a low selectivity in the separation of anions. Here, dissolving poly(paraphenylene terephthalamide) nanofibers into small nanofibers and performing a reaction with quaternary ammonium groups in the one-dimensional small nanofibers, high-performance anion exchange membranes were successfully fabricated. By increasing the 2,3-epoxypropyl trimethylammonium chloride content, the synthesized amide nanofiber quaternary ammonium membranes (ANF#QA) exhibited a higher anion exchange capacity (as high as 1.

A facile approach to prepare crosslinked polysulfone-based anion exchange membranes with enhanced alkali resistance and dimensional stability.

Novel anion exchange membranes with enhanced ion exchange capacity, dimensional stability and alkali stability were prepared by a facile synthesis method. Internal crosslinking networks in the resulting membranes were achieved by reacting chloromethylated polysulfone with 4,4'-trimethylene bis(1-methylpiperidine) (BMP), where BMP was used as both a quaternization reagent and crosslinker without requirement of post-functionalization. In order to evaluate the alkali resistance and dimension stability performance of the resulting membranes, the molar ratio of BMP in the resulting membranes was fixed at four different contents: 40%, 60%, 80% and 100%.

Three-Dimensional Stable Cation-Exchange Membrane with Enhanced Mechanical, Electrochemical, and Antibacterial Performance by in Situ Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles.

In this study, a simple and facile approach was proposed to synthesize silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) loaded cation-exchange membranes (CEMs). A wide analytical study involving scanning electronic microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy was accomplished to corroborate that the in situ generated AgNPs were uniformly dispersed in the polymer matrix. In addition, as a result of the proposed synthesis strategy, the cross-linking structure inside the membrane was formed.