AI Article Synopsis
- Efficient droplet separation materials are increasingly needed for both environmental protection and economic growth, particularly for micron-sized water droplets in viscous oils.
- Inspired by tree xylem, a new cellulose-polyurethane sponge (CP-Sponge) has been developed using directional freeze-casting, which offers both superhydrophilicity and effective water absorption under oil.
- The CP-Sponge can be easily integrated into pumps and allows for continuous removal of water from oils, achieving less than 2 ppm residual water, while remaining eco-friendly and recyclable for repeated use.
Article Abstract
Efficient micron-sized droplet separation materials have become a new demand for environmental protection and economic development. However, existing separation methods are difficult to be effectively used for micron-sized water droplets surrounded by viscous oil, and common materials have difficulty maintaining hydrophilicity underoil. Here, inspired by the microstructure of tree xylem, we report a cellulose-polyurethane sponge (CP-Sponge) with wood-like pores and underoil superhydrophilicity using directional freeze-casting. The CP-Sponge has an excellent selective water absorption capacity underoil and compression resilience. This preparation strategy can flexibly control the sponge's dimensional morphology. The designed cylindrical CP-Sponge can be easily installed in the silicone tube of a peristaltic pump. During pump operation, with a simple absorption, compression, and recovery process, the CP-Sponge continuously and effectively removes micron-sized water from crude oil and lubricating oil, reducing residual water in the oil to less than 2 ppm. The absorption-saturated sponge can be dried to continue recycling. Eco-friendly, recyclable, and sustainable artificial porous sponges provide new ideas and inspiration for the practical application of deep dehydration of viscous oils.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acsami.2c00785 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Novel insights into released hydrochar particle derived from typical high nitrogen waste biomass: Special properties, microstructure and formation mechanism.
Waste Manag
December 2024
Key Laboratory of Agro-Environment in Downstream of Yangtze Plain/Scientific Observing and Experimental Station of Arable Land Conservation (Jiangsu), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Agricultural Resources and Environment, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing 210014, China. Electronic address:
Article Synopsis
- Hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) transforms waste biomass, particularly high nitrogen feedstocks like kitchen garbage and blue-green algae, into valuable resources, but the characteristics of small hydrochar particles remain underexplored.
- Hydrochar particles show unique properties such as poor porosity, moderate pH, negative charge, and high hydrophobicity, which differ from the original hydrochar and secondary char derived from simpler biomasses.
- The study identifies complex formation mechanisms through various chemical reactions in the hydrochar microparticles, highlighting their potential as soil fertilizers and decontaminants while emphasizing that effectiveness is influenced by HTC temperature and type of biomass used.
Detecting ion-specific forces between fatty acid colloids and salt crystals in brines using colloidal probe AFM.
J Colloid Interface Sci
December 2024
School of Chemical Engineering and ARC Centre of Excellence for Enabling Eco-Efficient Beneficiation of Minerals (UQ Node), The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia. Electronic address:
Hypothesis: Ion-specific forces in concentrated salt solutions play critical roles in many applications, ranging from biology to engineering, e.g., separating water-soluble minerals in brines by flotation using air bubbles.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFUnveiling the potential mobility and geochemical speciation of geogenic arsenic in the deep subsurface soil of the Tokyo metropolitan area.
J Hazard Mater
November 2024
Research Institute for Geo-Resources and Environment, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8567, Japan.
Article Synopsis
- Excavations for urban development can lead to soil and groundwater contamination with geogenic arsenic (As), necessitating effective management strategies due to the large volume of soil being moved annually.
- The study analyzed soil samples from Tokyo’s Yurakucho and Kanto Loam Formations, finding higher total arsenic concentrations and water-soluble As in the Yurakucho Formation compared to the Kanto Loam Formation.
- It identified that arsenic is mostly found in sulfide forms in the Yurakucho Formation, emphasizing the need to understand arsenic’s chemical forms to evaluate its environmental risks during excavation processes.
Venus cloud catcher as a proof of concept aerosol collection instrument.
Sci Rep
December 2024
School of Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA.
We report on the proof-of-concept of a low-mass, low-power method for collecting micron-sized sulfuric acid aerosols in bulk from the atmosphere of Venus. The collection method uses four wired meshes in a sandwich structure with a deposition area of 225 cm. It operates in two modes: passive and electrostatic.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSolution-Processable Metal-Organic Framework Featuring Highly Tunable Dynamic Aggregation States.
Adv Mater
December 2024
College of Chemistry, State Key Laboratory of Elemento-Organic Chemistry, Frontiers Science Center for New Organic Matter, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, P. R. China.
Article Synopsis
- The study addresses the challenge of creating more processable metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), specifically a new Mg-based MOF called NKU-Mg-1.
- The MOF allows for dynamic control of its size and aggregation state through a self-assembly process, which can be manipulated to achieve different nano-sized colloids.
- It demonstrates significant potential in applications due to its ability to switch luminescent properties and its incorporation of chiral modules that enhance circularly polarized luminescence (CPL).
Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!