Self-Aggregation Control of Porphyrin for Enhanced Selective Covalent Organic Network Membranes.

Covalent organic networks (CONs) are considered ideal for precise molecular separation compared with traditional polymer membranes because their pores have a sharp molecular weight cut-off and a robust structure. However, challenges remain with regard to tuning pores as a prerequisite for facile membrane fabrication to a defect-free layer. Herein, a highly conjugated amino-porphyrin is used and exploited its tunable stacking behavior to fabricate porphyrin-based polyamide CONs with ordered structures through interfacial polymerization with acyl chlorides.

Development of an ion gel-based CO separation membrane composed of Pebax 1657 and a CO-philic ionic liquid.

A tough ion gel membrane containing a CO-philic ionic liquid, 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium tricyanomethanide ([Emim][C(CN)]), was developed, and its CO permeation properties were evaluated under humid conditions at elevated temperatures. Pebax 1657, which is a diblock copolymer composed of a polyamide block and a polyethylene oxide block, was used as the gel network of the ion gel membrane to prepare a tough ion gel with good ionic liquid-holding properties. The polyamide block formed a semicrystalline structure in [Emim][C(CN)] to toughen the ion gel membrane an energy dissipation mechanism.

Two-Dimensional Interlayer Space Induced Horizontal Transformation of Metal-Organic Framework Nanosheets for Highly Permeable Nanofiltration Membranes.

Laminar membranes comprising graphene oxide (GO) and metal-organic framework (MOF) nanosheets benefit from the regular in-plane pores of MOF nanosheets and thus can support rapid water transport. However, the restacking and agglomeration of MOF nanosheets during typical vacuum filtration disturb the stacking of GO sheets, thus deteriorating the membrane selectivity. Therefore, to fabricate highly permeable MOF nanosheets/reduced GO (rGO) membranes, a two-step method is applied.

Tough ion gels composed of coordinatively crosslinked polymer networks using ZIF-8 nanoparticles as multifunctional crosslinkers.

Constructing crosslinked polymer networks reversible interactions is a promising approach to recover the mechanical strength of damaged gels. In addition, by designing effective reversible crosslinks, the mechanical strength of the gel can be enhanced through energy dissipation based on the destruction of the crosslinks by an applied force. In this study, we introduced zeolitic imidazole framework-8 nanoparticles (ZIF-8 NPs), which acted as multifunctional crosslinkers, to provide multipoint coordination bonding with a poly(,-dimethylacrylamide)-based polymer network in a gel containing an ionic liquid.

Inorganic/organic nanocomposite ion gels with well dispersed secondary silica nanoparticles.

We have previously reported tough inorganic/organic nanocomposite (NC) ion gels composed of silica particles and poly(,-dimethylacrylamide) (PDMAAm) networks and a large amount of ionic liquid. In this study, the network structure and toughening mechanism of NC ion gels were investigated. The NC ion gels showed characteristic mechanical properties; the stress was significantly increased at a highly elongated state.

Energy dissipation via the internal fracture of the silica particle network in inorganic/organic double network ion gels.

Inorganic/organic double network (DN) ion gels, which are composed of an inorganic silica particle network, an organic poly(N,N-dimethylacrylamide) (PDMAAm) network, and a large amount of ionic liquid, showed excellent mechanical strength of over 25 MPa compression fracture stress at an 80 wt% ionic liquid content. The excellent mechanical strength of these inorganic/organic DN ion gels was attributed to the energy dissipation of the inorganic/organic DN structure. It has been considered that the energy dissipation in inorganic/organic DN ion gels is caused by the internal fracture of the silica particle network, which is preferentially fractured by deformation.

Tough and stretchable inorganic/organic double network ion gel containing gemini-type ionic liquid as a multiple hydrogen bond cross-linker.

Tough and stretchable inorganic/organic double network ion gels containing gemini-type ionic liquids with two OH groups in the di-cation, which can work as multiple hydrogen bond-based weak cross-linkers of the gel networks, are developed.

Fabrication of Stacked Graphene Oxide Nanosheet Membranes Using Triethanolamine as a Crosslinker and Mild Reducing Agent for Water Treatment.

Two-dimensional (2D) nanosheets show promise for the development of water treatment membranes with extraordinary separation properties and the advantages of atomic thickness with micrometer-sized lateral dimensions. Stacked graphene oxide (GO)-based membranes can demonstrate unique molecular sieving properties with fast water permeation. However, improvements to the structural stability of the membranes in water to avoid problems such as swelling, disruption of the ordered GO layer and decreased rejection are crucial issues.

Inorganic/Organic Double-Network Ion Gels with Partially Developed Silica-Particle Network.

Tough inorganic/organic composite network gels consisting of a partially developed silica-particle network and a large amount of an ionic liquid, named micro-double-network (μ-DN) ion gel, are fabricated via two methods. One is a one-pot/one-step process conducted using a simultaneous network formation via sol-gel reaction of tetraethyl orthosilicate and free radical polymerization of N, N-dimethylacrylamide in an ionic liquid. When the network formation rates of the inorganic and organic networks are almost the same, the μ-DN structure is formed.

Inorganic/Organic Double-Network Gels Containing Ionic Liquids.

Highly robust ion gels, termed double-network (DN) ion gels, composed of inorganic/organic interpenetrating networks and a large amount of ionic liquids (ILs), are fabricated. The DN ion gels with an 80 wt% IL content show extraordinarily high mechanical strength: more than 28 MPa of compressive fracture stress. In the DN ion gel preparation, a brittle inorganic network of physically bonded silica nanoparticles and a ductile organic network of polydimethylacrylamide (PDMAAm) are formed in the IL.

Niobate nanosheet membranes with enhanced stability for nanofiltration.

Niobate nanosheets are assembled into thin membranes by a vacuum filtration. The nanosheet membranes have a dense and stable structure in water via chemical cross-linking and show higher permeance and salt rejection compared with graphene oxide membranes. A water pathway model based on the void structure is presented to explain the membrane performances.

Sucrose purification and repeated ethanol production from sugars remaining in sweet sorghum juice subjected to a membrane separation process.

The juice from sweet sorghum cultivar SIL-05 (harvested at physiological maturity) was extracted, and the component sucrose and reducing sugars (such as glucose and fructose) were subjected to a membrane separation process to purify the sucrose for subsequent sugar refining and to obtain a feedstock for repeated bioethanol production. Nanofiltration (NF) of an ultrafiltration (UF) permeate using an NTR-7450 membrane (Nitto Denko Corporation, Osaka, Japan) concentrated the juice and produced a sucrose-rich fraction (143.2 g L sucrose, 8.

Development of a screen-printed carbon electrode based disposable enzyme sensor strip for the measurement of glycated albumin.

Glycated proteins, such as glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) or glycated albumin (GA) in the blood, are essential indicators of glycemic control for diabetes mellitus. Since GA, compared to HbA1c, is more sensitive to short term changes in glycemic levels, GA is expected to be used as an alternative or together with HbA1c as a surrogate marker indicator for glycemic control. In this paper we report the development of a sensing system for measuring GA by combining an enzyme analysis method, which is already used in clinical practice, with electrochemical principles.

An amino acid ionic liquid-based tough ion gel membrane for CO2 capture.

A tough and thin double-network gel membrane containing amino acid ionic liquids as a CO2 carrier exhibited superior CO2 permeability and stability under pressurized conditions.

Effects of water concentration on the free volume of amino acid ionic liquids investigated by molecular dynamics simulations.

Amino acid ionic liquids (AAILs) are gaining attention because of their potential in CO2 capture technology. Molecular dynamics simulations of AAILs tetramethylammonium glycinate ([N1111][Gly]), tetrabutylammonium glycinate ([N4444][Gly]), and 1,1,1-trimethylhydrazinium glycinate ([aN111][Gly]) and their corresponding mixtures with water were performed to investigate the effect of water concentration on the cation-anion interactions. The water content significantly influenced the free volume (FV) and fractional free volume (FFV) of the AAILs that varied with the hydrophobic and hydrophilic nature of the ion pairs.

Polymeric ion-gels containing an amino acid ionic liquid for facilitated CO2 transport media.

Novel ion-gel films containing an amino acid ionic liquid were fabricated by free radical polymerization of vinyl monomers. These high strength materials demonstrated superior CO2 permeability and separation performance.

Amino acid ionic liquid-based facilitated transport membranes for CO2 separation.

Supported liquid membranes incorporating amino acid ionic liquids remarkably facilitate CO(2) permeation under dry and low humid conditions.

[A case of Langerhans cell histiocytosis coincident with severe external ear canal inflammation].

We report a case of Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH), a rare disease caused by the proliferation of abnormal Langerhans cells, coincident with severe external ear canal inflammation. A 27-year-old man with a 1-year history of external ear canal discharge was found in computed tomography (CT) to have left temporal bone erosion with tissue granulation. Chest X-ray showed pulmonary fibrosis, necessitating transbronchial lung biopsy that yielded a definitive diagnosis of multisystem, multisite LCH involving the bone, skin, lung, pituitary, thyroid, and lymph node systems.

Design of a new static micromixer having simple structure and excellent mixing performance.

A novel micromixer with simple construction and excellent mixing performance is developed. The micromixer is composed of two stainless steel tubes with different diameters: one is an outer tube and another is an inner tube which fits in the outer tube. In this micromixer, one reactant fluid flows in the mixing zone from the inner tube and the other flows from the outer tube.

Microcapsules with macroholes prepared by the competitive adsorption of surfactants on emulsion droplet surfaces.

We demonstrate a simple, unique method for preparing microcapsules with holes in their shells. Cross-linked polymelamine microcapsules are prepared by the phase-separation method. The holey shell of each microcapsule is synthesized on the surface of an oil-in-water (O/W) emulsion droplet where a water-soluble polymeric surfactant and an oil-soluble surfactant are competitively adsorbed.

Investigation of alternative compounds to poly(E-MA) as a polymeric surfactant for preparation of microcapsules by phase separation method.

Various water-soluble polymers were used to examine an alternative emulsifier for poly(ethylene-alt-maleic anhydride), used in the preparation of crosslinked polyurea microcapsules. Microcapsules were successfully prepared by using the water-soluble polymers with large molecular weight alternating copolymers, namely poly(olefin-maleic anhydride), poly(olefin-maleic acid), and poly(acrylic acid). On the other hand, no microcapsule resulted from olefin-maleic acid with small molecular weight alternating copolymers.

Membrane formation mechanism of cross-linked polyurea microcapsules by phase separation method.

This research was conducted to clarify the membrane formation mechanism of cross-linked polyurea microcapsules by phase separation method, especially the role of polymeric surfactant, such as poly(ethylene-alt-maleic anhydride) (poly(E-MA)) at the interface of O/W emulsion. It was found that poly(E-MA) was necessary for the formation of cross-linked polyurea membrane. The addition of sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) prohibited the membrane formation reaction at the interface, even in the case of poly(E-MA) concentration enough for polymeric microcapsule formation.