[EMIM][Tf2N]-Modified Silica as Filler in Mixed Matrix Membrane for Carbon Dioxide Separation.

This study focuses on the effect of modified silica fillers by [EMIN][TfN] via physical adsorption on the CO separation performance of a mixed matrix membrane (MMM). The IL-modified silica was successfully synthesized as the presence of fluorine element was observed in both Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray photoelectron spectrometer (XPS) analyses. The prepared MMMs with different loadings of the IL-modified silica were then compared with an unmodified silica counterpart and neat membrane.

Composite amine mixed matrix membranes for high-pressure CO-CH separation: synthesis, characterization and performance evaluation.

The key challenge in the synthesis of composite mixed matrix membrane (MMMs) is the incompatible membrane fabrication using porous support in the dry-wet phase inversion technique. The key objective of this research is to synthesize thin composite ternary (amine) mixed matrix membranes on microporous support by incorporating 10 wt% of carbon molecular sieve (CMS) and 5-15 wt% of diethanolamine (DEA) in polyethersulfone (PES) dope solution for the separation of carbon dioxide (CO) from methane (CH) at high-pressure applications. The developed membranes were evaluated for their morphological structure, thermal and mechanical stabilities, functional groups, as well as for CO-CH separation performance at high pressure (10-30 bar).

Recent progress in integrated fixed-film activated sludge process for wastewater treatment: A review.

Integrated fixed-film activated sludge (IFAS) process is considered as one of the leading-edge processes that provides a sustainable solution for wastewater treatment. IFAS was introduced as an advancement of the moving bed biofilm reactor by integrating the attached and the suspended growth systems. IFAS offers advantages over the conventional activated sludge process such as reduced footprint, enhanced nutrient removal, complete nitrification, longer solids retention time and better removal of anthropogenic composites.

Release kinetics study and anti-corrosion behaviour of a pH-responsive ionic liquid-loaded halloysite nanotube-doped epoxy coating.

This study focuses on the release kinetics of inhibitor-loaded nanocontainers and the anti-corrosive properties of epoxy coatings doped and undoped with the nanocontainers. In this work, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride [Bmim][Cl] was loaded into halloysite nanotubes (HNTs), and the loaded HNTs were encapsulated with polyethyleneimine (PEI)/polyacrylic acid (PAA) and poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDADMAC)/polyacrylic acid (PAA) to allow controlled release upon pH stimuli. The polyelectrolyte layer deposition was characterized using zeta potential analysis, and the release profiles were evaluated in neutral, acidic, and alkaline media.

A review on geopolymers as emerging materials for the adsorption of heavy metals and dyes.

The world water resources are contaminated due to discharge of a large number of pollutants from industrial and domestic sources. A variety of a single and multiple units of physical, chemical, and biological processes are employed for pollutants removal from wastewater. Adsorption is the most widely utilized process due to high efficiency, simple procedure and cost effectiveness.

Efficient conversion of lignocellulosic biomass to levulinic acid using acidic ionic liquids.

In the present research work, dicationic ionic liquids, containing 1,4-bis(3-methylimidazolium-1-yl) butane ([C(Mim)]) cation with counter anions [(2HSO)(HSO)], [(2HSO)(HSO)] and [(2HSO)(HSO)] were synthesised. ILs structures were confirmed using H NMR spectroscopy. Thermal stability, Hammett acidity, density and viscosity of ILs were determined.

Swelling mechanism of urea cross-linked starch-lignin films in water.

Coating fertilizer particles with thin films is a possibility to control fertilizer release rates. It is observed that novel urea cross-linked starch-lignin composite thin films, prepared by solution casting, swell on coming into contact with water due to the increase in volume by water uptake by diffusion. The effect of lignin content, varied from 0% to 20% in steps of 5% at three different temperatures (25°C, 35°C and 45°C), on swelling of the film was investigated.

A new approach of probe sonication assisted ionic liquid conversion of glucose, cellulose and biomass into 5-hydroxymethylfurfural.

5-Hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) has been identified as a promising biomass-derived platform chemical. In this study, one pot production of HMF was studied in ionic liquid (IL) under probe sonication technique. Compared with the conventional heating technique, the use of probe ultrasonic irradiation reduced the reaction time from hours to minutes.

Effects of Phase Separation Behavior on Morphology and Performance of Polycarbonate Membranes.

The phase separation behavior of bisphenol-A-polycarbonate (PC), dissolved in -methyl-2-pyrrolidone and dichloromethane solvents in coagulant water, was studied by the cloud point method. The respective cloud point data were determined by titration against water at room temperature and the characteristic binodal curves for the ternary systems were plotted. Further, the physical properties such as viscosity, refractive index, and density of the solution were measured.

Potential biosorbent derived from Calligonum polygonoides for removal of methylene blue dye from aqueous solution.

The ash of C. polygonoides (locally called balanza) was collected from Lakki Marwat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, and was utilized as biosorbent for methylene blue (MB) removal from aqueous solution. The ash was used as biosorbent without any physical or chemical treatment.

Photocatalytic degradation of DIPA using bimetallic Cu-Ni/TiO2 photocatalyst under visible light irradiation.

Bimetallic Cu-Ni/TiO2 photocatalysts were synthesized using wet impregnation (WI) method with TiO2 (Degussa-P25) as support and calcined at different temperatures (180, 200, and 300°C) for the photodegradation of DIPA under visible light. The photocatalysts were characterized using TGA, FESEM, UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and temperature programmed reduction (TPR). The results from the photodegradation experiments revealed that the Cu-Ni/TiO2 photocatalysts exhibited much higher photocatalytic activities compared to bare TiO2.

Review on materials & methods to produce controlled release coated urea fertilizer.

With the exponential growth of the global population, the agricultural sector is bound to use ever larger quantities of fertilizers to augment the food supply, which consequently increases food production costs. Urea, when applied to crops is vulnerable to losses from volatilization and leaching. Current methods also reduce nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) by plants which limits crop yields and, moreover, contributes towards environmental pollution in terms of hazardous gaseous emissions and water eutrophication.

Dissolution and delignification of bamboo biomass using amino acid-based ionic liquid.

In the present work, the dissolution of bamboo biomass was tested using a number of ionic liquids synthesized in laboratory. It was observed that one of the synthesized amino acid-based ionic liquids, namely 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium glycinate, was capable of dissolving the biomass completely. The dissolved biomass was then regenerated using a reconstitute solvent (acetone/water) and was characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy.