Pub Date : 2026-02-07DOI: 10.1016/j.ces.2026.123534
Asmaa A. Atwan, Ibrahim M. El-Mehasseb, Naser Talha, Nagi M. El-Shafai
A sustainable nanocomposite (NCP) was developed for pollutant remediation in complex aqueous and soil environments. A novel NCP was synthesized using naturally derived biochar and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC). Zinc sulfide and calcium sulfide nanoparticles (ZnS/CaS NPs), incorporated into the Carbopol/CMC framework with urea as a nitrogen source, were engineered to enhance pollutant removal, water absorption, and nutrient delivery to soils. The NCP demonstrated high photocatalytic activity, achieving degradation efficiencies of 48.7%, 89.7%, 83.3%, and 95% for MB. It was 16.8%, 26%, 64.5%, and 81% for Rh.B, and it was 91.6%, 87.9%, 66.5%, and 82.3% for MO under Vis, Vis-NaOH, UV, and UV-NaOH, respectively, after 120 min. Additionally, moxifloxacin (Moxi.) degradation under UV light reached 87.7% within 120 min, while adsorption efficiencies of the NCP were 74.6%, 34.2%, 33.3%, and 60.5% for MB, Rh.B, MO, and Moxi., respectively. While the adsorption efficiency on the surface NCP was 74.6%, 34.2%, 33.3%, and 60.5% for MB, Rh.B, MO, and Moxi, respectively. The incorporation of CMC into Carbopol significantly enhanced the nanocomposite’s water-holding and retention properties by forming a hydrogel-like network that can store and gradually release water. With its large specific surface area, high adsorption and photocatalytic performance, and favorable optical characteristics, the developed NCP represents a promising, eco-friendly material for clean water applications and sustainable agricultural enhancement.
{"title":"A novel sustainable polymer/carboxymethyl cellulose/metal sulfide nanocomposite for clean water production, water retention","authors":"Asmaa A. Atwan, Ibrahim M. El-Mehasseb, Naser Talha, Nagi M. El-Shafai","doi":"10.1016/j.ces.2026.123534","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ces.2026.123534","url":null,"abstract":"A sustainable nanocomposite (NCP) was developed for pollutant remediation in complex aqueous and soil environments. A novel NCP was synthesized using naturally derived biochar and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC). Zinc sulfide and calcium sulfide nanoparticles (ZnS/CaS NPs), incorporated into the Carbopol/CMC framework with urea as a nitrogen source, were engineered to enhance pollutant removal, water absorption, and nutrient delivery to soils. The NCP demonstrated high photocatalytic activity, achieving degradation efficiencies of 48.7%, 89.7%, 83.3%, and 95% for MB. It was 16.8%, 26%, 64.5%, and 81% for Rh.B, and it was 91.6%, 87.9%, 66.5%, and 82.3% for MO under Vis, Vis-NaOH, UV, and UV-NaOH, respectively, after 120 min. Additionally, moxifloxacin (Moxi.) degradation under UV light reached 87.7% within 120 min, while adsorption efficiencies of the NCP were 74.6%, 34.2%, 33.3%, and 60.5% for MB, Rh.B, MO, and Moxi., respectively. While the adsorption efficiency on the surface NCP was 74.6%, 34.2%, 33.3%, and 60.5% for MB, Rh.B, MO, and Moxi, respectively. The incorporation of CMC into Carbopol significantly enhanced the nanocomposite’s water-holding and retention properties by forming a hydrogel-like network that can store and gradually release water. With its large specific surface area, high adsorption and photocatalytic performance, and favorable optical characteristics, the developed NCP represents a promising, eco-friendly material for clean water applications and sustainable agricultural enhancement.","PeriodicalId":271,"journal":{"name":"Chemical Engineering Science","volume":"73 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2026-02-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146135438","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-02-07DOI: 10.1016/j.ces.2026.123479
Ferdinand Breit, Marc Hofmann, Eduard Kharik, Erik von Harbou
This work presents an intermediate step towards the extension of the multifluid population balance model (MPB) approach to describe the behavior of the dispersed gas phase in an isothermal, non-reactive, gas–liquid, semi-batch perfectly stirred tank reactors (STRs). In previous work, this model was developed for bubble columns. The MPB framework combines the population balance equation (PBE) with simplified balance equations derived from the kinetic theory approach with size resolution, allowing all relevant properties of the dispersed phase to be resolved as functions of bubble size. To efficiently solve the resulting equations, a new finite volume method with Gauss quadrature (FVMG) was developed. The method is easy to implement, computationally efficient, and robust.Extensive sensitivity and parameter studies were conducted to investigate the impact of breakage and coalescence kernels, operating conditions, sparger design, and fluid properties. Model predictions were in the most cases consistent with literature trends, and the FVMG method demonstrated numerical robustness (in terms of stability and convergence) and accuracy across a wide parameter space. In a preliminary experimental validation, the model successfully reproduced measured bubble size distributions using a minimal number of fitted parameters. This study highlights the MPB’s suitability for engineering analysis and its potential as a tool for STR design, with future work aimed at extending the model to capture dynamic gas holdup and residence time effects.
{"title":"Sensitivity and Parameter Analysis of a Population Balance Model Applied to Non-Reactive Gas–Liquid Semi-Batch Perfectly Stirred Tank Reactors","authors":"Ferdinand Breit, Marc Hofmann, Eduard Kharik, Erik von Harbou","doi":"10.1016/j.ces.2026.123479","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ces.2026.123479","url":null,"abstract":"This work presents an intermediate step towards the extension of the multifluid population balance model (MPB) approach to describe the behavior of the dispersed gas phase in an isothermal, non-reactive, gas–liquid, semi-batch perfectly stirred tank reactors (STRs). In previous work, this model was developed for bubble columns. The MPB framework combines the population balance equation (PBE) with simplified balance equations derived from the kinetic theory approach with size resolution, allowing all relevant properties of the dispersed phase to be resolved as functions of bubble size. To efficiently solve the resulting equations, a new finite volume method with Gauss quadrature (FVMG) was developed. The method is easy to implement, computationally efficient, and robust.Extensive sensitivity and parameter studies were conducted to investigate the impact of breakage and coalescence kernels, operating conditions, sparger design, and fluid properties. Model predictions were in the most cases consistent with literature trends, and the FVMG method demonstrated numerical robustness (in terms of stability and convergence) and accuracy across a wide parameter space. In a preliminary experimental validation, the model successfully reproduced measured bubble size distributions using a minimal number of fitted parameters. This study highlights the MPB’s suitability for engineering analysis and its potential as a tool for STR design, with future work aimed at extending the model to capture dynamic gas holdup and residence time effects.","PeriodicalId":271,"journal":{"name":"Chemical Engineering Science","volume":"17 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2026-02-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146135355","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Although gas–liquid mass transfer in microchannels has attracted increasing research interest, a comprehensive understanding of how rheological properties influence mass transfer is still lacking. In this study, three-dimensional numerical simulations are performed to investigate oxygen absorption into shear-thinning fluids within a T-junction microchannel. The multiphase mass transfer model employs the Volume-of-Fluid method coupled with a Compressive Continuous Species Transfer formulation, and the rheology behavior is described by the Cross model. The results show that rheological parameters significantly govern various bubble morphologies and hydrodynamics. Specifically, increasing the zero-shear viscosity promotes earlier breakup, whereas increasing the time constant delays breakup. The volumetric mass transfer coefficient kLa is modulated by a factor of 3 across the investigated range of rheological parameters. An enhancement of mass transfer is revealed under higher time constant. This is attributed to the intensified interfacial renewal during the bubble formation stage, which compensates for the reduced transport efficiency in the downstream region caused by longer liquid segments and lower bubble velocities. Furthermore, the contribution of mass transfer flux from the bubble formation region decreases with increasing η0 and increases with increasing λ, thereby leading to the dominance of mass transfer in the formation region over a relatively short channel length. Finally, a dimensionless predictive model for kLa with a deviation within 20% is established, which captures the effects of flow inertia and rheological properties. These findings provide theoretical guidance for the design and optimization of non-Newtonian microfluidic systems.
{"title":"Role of non-newtonian rheology on gas-liquid mass transfer and bubble dynamics in T-junction microchannels","authors":"Xingrui Zhou, Lian Duan, Jingru Sun, Dongjie Liu, Wenjun Yuan, Fei Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.ces.2026.123525","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ces.2026.123525","url":null,"abstract":"Although gas–liquid mass transfer in microchannels has attracted increasing research interest, a comprehensive understanding of how rheological properties influence mass transfer is still lacking. In this study, three-dimensional numerical simulations are performed to investigate oxygen absorption into shear-thinning fluids within a T-junction microchannel. The multiphase mass transfer model employs the Volume-of-Fluid method coupled with a Compressive Continuous Species Transfer formulation, and the rheology behavior is described by the Cross model. The results show that rheological parameters significantly govern various bubble morphologies and hydrodynamics. Specifically, increasing the zero-shear viscosity promotes earlier breakup, whereas increasing the time constant delays breakup. The volumetric mass transfer coefficient <em>k<sub>L</sub>a</em> is modulated by a factor of 3 across the investigated range of rheological parameters. An enhancement of mass transfer is revealed under higher time constant. This is attributed to the intensified interfacial renewal during the bubble formation stage, which compensates for the reduced transport efficiency in the downstream region caused by longer liquid segments and lower bubble velocities. Furthermore, the contribution of mass transfer flux from the bubble formation region decreases with increasing <em>η</em><sub>0</sub> and increases with increasing <em>λ</em>, thereby leading to the dominance of mass transfer in the formation region over a relatively short channel length. Finally, a dimensionless predictive model for <em>k<sub>L</sub>a</em> with a deviation within 20% is established, which captures the effects of flow inertia and rheological properties. These findings provide theoretical guidance for the design and optimization of non-Newtonian microfluidic systems.","PeriodicalId":271,"journal":{"name":"Chemical Engineering Science","volume":"97 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2026-02-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146121903","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The hydrate-based CO2 sequestration has been considered as an effective approach for the long-term carbon storage. When liquid CO2 is injected into the seabed, it could be sheared into CO2 droplets. However, existed studies on the CO2 hydrate formation and growth in the liquid CO2 droplet system have been lacking. This study focuses on the investigations of morphological evolution processes of the CO2 hydrate formation and growth kinetics in the liquid CO2 droplet system. The effects of temperature, pressure, CO2 saturation and addition of SDS in the surrounding water phase on the evolution of liquid CO2 hydrate growth process were investigated. The morphological results indicate three liquid CO2 hydrate growth stages for a single liquid CO2 droplet located on a platform, namely, the lateral growth of hydrate film on the surface of liquid CO2 droplet, the growth of hydrate film at the contact edge between the CO2 droplet and platform and the vertical fibrous hydrate growth in the form of columnar pattern. The higher CO2 saturation in the surrounding water, higher pressure and lower temperature can contribute to the faster lateral growth kinetics and smoother hydrate film surface. It was confirmed that the formed hydrates cannot exist stably, gradually dissolving into the surrounding water when the driving force for hydrate formation was low. The addition of SDS in the surrounding water could alter the shape of hydrate-coated CO2 droplet and remarkably promoted the formation of CO2 hydrates, resulting in the significant vertical fiber-like hydrate growth phenomena.
{"title":"Experimental investigation on CO2 hydrate formation and growth in a liquid CO2 droplet system for hydrate-based CO2 sequestration","authors":"Xingxun Li, Longyan Gao, Shuang Liang, Xuesong Li, Guangjin Chen, Changyu Sun","doi":"10.1016/j.ces.2026.123550","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ces.2026.123550","url":null,"abstract":"The hydrate-based CO<sub>2</sub> sequestration has been considered as an effective approach for the long-term carbon storage. When liquid CO<sub>2</sub> is injected into the seabed, it could be sheared into CO<sub>2</sub> droplets. However, existed studies on the CO<sub>2</sub> hydrate formation and growth in the liquid CO<sub>2</sub> droplet system have been lacking. This study focuses on the investigations of morphological evolution processes of the CO<sub>2</sub> hydrate formation and growth kinetics in the liquid CO<sub>2</sub> droplet system. The effects of temperature, pressure, CO<sub>2</sub> saturation and addition of SDS in the surrounding water phase on the evolution of liquid CO<sub>2</sub> hydrate growth process were investigated. The morphological results indicate three liquid CO<sub>2</sub> hydrate growth stages for a single liquid CO<sub>2</sub> droplet located on a platform, namely, the lateral growth of hydrate film on the surface of liquid CO<sub>2</sub> droplet, the growth of hydrate film at the contact edge between the CO<sub>2</sub> droplet and platform and the vertical fibrous hydrate growth in the form of columnar pattern. The higher CO<sub>2</sub> saturation in the surrounding water, higher pressure and lower temperature can contribute to the faster lateral growth kinetics and smoother hydrate film surface. It was confirmed that the formed hydrates cannot exist stably, gradually dissolving into the surrounding water when the driving force for hydrate formation was low. The addition of SDS in the surrounding water could alter the shape of hydrate-coated CO<sub>2</sub> droplet and remarkably promoted the formation of CO<sub>2</sub> hydrates, resulting in the significant vertical fiber-like hydrate growth phenomena.","PeriodicalId":271,"journal":{"name":"Chemical Engineering Science","volume":"23 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2026-02-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146135359","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The full potentials of polymeric nanoparticles (NPs) in advanced applications strongly rely on the precise control of their physicochemical properties and some of them remain unexplored. Here, a facile strategy is presented to prepare polymeric NPs with tunable size, uniformity, shape and surface function in a single step by nanoprecipitation. Upon solvent exchange, the formation of NPs experiences three steps, including supersaturation, nucleation and growth. It is demonstrated that rapid mixing by microfluidics is a prerequisite to control the nanoprecipitation process and the precise control of NP size, uniformity, shape and surface function in a single step further broadens their applications. The insight on the underlying mechanism also shines light on the advancements of nanoprecipitation techniques. The review provides a systematic guideline for the rational design and one-step preparation of polymeric NPs with desired functions and optimal performances.
{"title":"One-step nanoprecipitation of polymeric nanoparticles with tunable size, uniformity, shape and surface function","authors":"Dongpeng Sun, Jingyi Chen, Canghai Luo, Yuan Zheng, Xinxiong Wang, Baoling Guo, David Weitz, Dong Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.ces.2026.123557","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ces.2026.123557","url":null,"abstract":"The full potentials of polymeric nanoparticles (NPs) in advanced applications strongly rely on the precise control of their physicochemical properties and some of them remain unexplored. Here, a facile strategy is presented to prepare polymeric NPs with tunable size, uniformity, shape and surface function in a single step by nanoprecipitation. Upon solvent exchange, the formation of NPs experiences three steps, including supersaturation, nucleation and growth. It is demonstrated that rapid mixing by microfluidics is a prerequisite to control the nanoprecipitation process and the precise control of NP size, uniformity, shape and surface function in a single step further broadens their applications. The insight on the underlying mechanism also shines light on the advancements of nanoprecipitation techniques. The review provides a systematic guideline for the rational design and one-step preparation of polymeric NPs with desired functions and optimal performances.","PeriodicalId":271,"journal":{"name":"Chemical Engineering Science","volume":"3 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2026-02-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146135439","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-02-06DOI: 10.1016/j.ces.2026.123520
Jian Liu, Jianyi Song, Na Liu, Qiao Lan
A pump-free, stable and efficient aerogel reactor with abundant pores is designed using Ag-loading cellulose Pickering emulsions as a template for the continuous flow catalytic reduction of 4-nitrophenol. The fabrication of the aerogel reactor entails the two-step oxidation synthesis of aldehyde-functionalized cellulose nanocrystals (ACNC), the in-situ reduction of Ag nanoparticles (NPs) on them to form Ag@ACNC, the utilization of this material to stabilize a Pickering emulsion for preparing the hydrogel, and finally the freeze-drying of the hydrogel laying on a fabric strip. The emulsion-templated aerogel features abundant pores with loading Ag NPs on inner walls, enabling reactant to flow through the pores rapidly under driving by its gravity and the capillary action of the supporting fabric strip and react on the walls. The aerogel reactor achieves efficient three-dimensional flow catalysis without an external power source and exhibits excellent conversion and stability. The conversion all remains above 91.8% during the continuous flow catalysis reaction of 6 cycles (totaling 72 h), and the conversion still reaches 94.4% at 12 h after storage in air for 60 days. This emulsion-templated aerogel reactor demonstrates great potential for advancing recyclable catalytic systems, thereby paving the way for its wide applications.
{"title":"A passive and stable aerogel reactor based on Ag-loading cellulose Pickering emulsion","authors":"Jian Liu, Jianyi Song, Na Liu, Qiao Lan","doi":"10.1016/j.ces.2026.123520","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ces.2026.123520","url":null,"abstract":"A pump-free, stable and efficient aerogel reactor with abundant pores is designed using Ag-loading cellulose Pickering emulsions as a template for the continuous flow catalytic reduction of 4-nitrophenol. The fabrication of the aerogel reactor entails the two-step oxidation synthesis of aldehyde-functionalized cellulose nanocrystals (ACNC), the in-situ reduction of Ag nanoparticles (NPs) on them to form Ag@ACNC, the utilization of this material to stabilize a Pickering emulsion for preparing the hydrogel, and finally the freeze-drying of the hydrogel laying on a fabric strip. The emulsion-templated aerogel features abundant pores with loading Ag NPs on inner walls, enabling reactant to flow through the pores rapidly under driving by its gravity and the capillary action of the supporting fabric strip and react on the walls. The aerogel reactor achieves efficient three-dimensional flow catalysis without an external power source and exhibits excellent conversion and stability. The conversion all remains above 91.8% during the continuous flow catalysis reaction of 6 cycles (totaling 72 h), and the conversion still reaches 94.4% at 12 h after storage in air for 60 days. This emulsion-templated aerogel reactor demonstrates great potential for advancing recyclable catalytic systems, thereby paving the way for its wide applications.","PeriodicalId":271,"journal":{"name":"Chemical Engineering Science","volume":"29 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2026-02-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146135360","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Copper-based catalysts are extensively utilized in heterogeneous catalysis due to their cost-effectiveness and superior activity. However, their industrial production predominantly relies on conventional precipitation or impregnation methods, which inevitably generate substantial liquid and gaseous waste. Furthermore, these routes typically depend on nitrate precursors, where the production involves dissolving metals in strong acids, creating significant upstream environmental burdens. To address these issues, this work presents a facile and environmentally friendly electrochemical synthesis strategy. In this approach, a Cu mesh acts as the in-situ Cu2+ source, while OH– generated from the hydrogen evolution reaction serves as the precipitating agent. Furthermore, by adding sodium citrate to the electrolyte, we can control the morphology of the catalyst, and by replacing the metal cations in the nitrate electrolyte, we can control the composition of the catalyst. Notably, a copper-cerium mixed oxide synthesized with 0.1 M cerium nitrate and 0.01 M sodium citrate delivers exceptional performance in CO oxidation, achieving a T60 of 78 ℃ and a T90 of 92 ℃. This enhanced activity is attributed to a unique dispersed nanosheet morphology that promotes the formation of Cu-Ce solid solutions and oxygen vacancies. Consequently, this green synthesis protocol holds great promise for sustainable industrial catalyst manufacturing.
{"title":"Electro-initiated co-precipitation for synthesis of copper-based powder catalysts","authors":"Haoyuan Gu, Shengbin Dong, Pengfei Tian, Jiancheng Guo, Fu-Zhen Xuan, Minghui Zhu","doi":"10.1016/j.ces.2026.123549","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ces.2026.123549","url":null,"abstract":"Copper-based catalysts are extensively utilized in heterogeneous catalysis due to their cost-effectiveness and superior activity. However, their industrial production predominantly relies on conventional precipitation or impregnation methods, which inevitably generate substantial liquid and gaseous waste. Furthermore, these routes typically depend on nitrate precursors, where the production involves dissolving metals in strong acids, creating significant upstream environmental burdens. To address these issues, this work presents a facile and environmentally friendly electrochemical synthesis strategy. In this approach, a Cu mesh acts as the in-situ Cu<sup>2+</sup> source, while OH<sup>–</sup> generated from the hydrogen evolution reaction serves as the precipitating agent. Furthermore, by adding sodium citrate to the electrolyte, we can control the morphology of the catalyst, and by replacing the metal cations in the nitrate electrolyte, we can control the composition of the catalyst. Notably, a copper-cerium mixed oxide synthesized with 0.1 M cerium nitrate and 0.01 M sodium citrate delivers exceptional performance in CO oxidation, achieving a T<sub>60</sub> of 78 ℃ and a T<sub>90</sub> of 92 ℃. This enhanced activity is attributed to a unique dispersed nanosheet morphology that promotes the formation of Cu-Ce solid solutions and oxygen vacancies. Consequently, this green synthesis protocol holds great promise for sustainable industrial catalyst manufacturing.","PeriodicalId":271,"journal":{"name":"Chemical Engineering Science","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2026-02-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146135366","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-02-06DOI: 10.1016/j.ces.2026.123538
Ahmed Mohamed Radwan, Manosh C. Paul
Ammonia’s narrow flammability and low reactivity limit its use in micro-combustors, but hydrogen enrichment offers a pathway to stable ultra-lean operation. Hydrogen enrichment has been proposed as a viable strategy to overcome these limitations, yet systematic mapping of lean NH<sub>3</sub>/H<sub>2</sub> flames under micro-scale confinement remains scarce. In this work, a two-dimensional numerical study was conducted on a planar micro-combustor fuelled with an NH<sub>3</sub>/H<sub>2</sub> blend (10/90 vol%) to quantify flame stability, heat transfer, and NOx chemistry over a broad range of Reynolds numbers Re = 191–1330 and <em>ϕ</em> = 0.65–0.20. Hydrogen addition extends the lean limit from <em>ϕ</em> = 0.65 to <em>ϕ</em> = 0.2, with ultra-lean flames (<em>ϕ</em> = 0.20–0.25) stabilized only at Re = 572 and 381, respectively. Outlet temperatures rise with Re and approach adiabatic values, while heat loss ratio <span><span style=""></span><span data-mathml='<math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><msub is="true"><mrow is="true"><mo stretchy="false" is="true">(</mo><mi is="true">Q</mi></mrow><mrow is="true"><mi mathvariant="italic" is="true">loss</mi></mrow></msub></math>' role="presentation" style="font-size: 90%; display: inline-block; position: relative;" tabindex="0"><svg aria-hidden="true" focusable="false" height="2.779ex" role="img" style="vertical-align: -0.812ex;" viewbox="0 -846.5 2499.3 1196.3" width="5.805ex" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><g fill="currentColor" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="0" transform="matrix(1 0 0 -1 0 0)"><g is="true"><g is="true"><g is="true"><use xlink:href="#MJMAIN-28"></use></g><g is="true" transform="translate(389,0)"><use xlink:href="#MJMATHI-51"></use></g></g><g is="true" transform="translate(1181,-287)"><g is="true"><use transform="scale(0.707)" xlink:href="#MJMATHI-6C"></use><use transform="scale(0.707)" x="298" xlink:href="#MJMATHI-6F" y="0"></use><use transform="scale(0.707)" x="784" xlink:href="#MJMATHI-73" y="0"></use><use transform="scale(0.707)" x="1253" xlink:href="#MJMATHI-73" y="0"></use></g></g></g></g></svg><span role="presentation"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><msub is="true"><mrow is="true"><mo is="true" stretchy="false">(</mo><mi is="true">Q</mi></mrow><mrow is="true"><mi is="true" mathvariant="italic">loss</mi></mrow></msub></math></span></span><script type="math/mml"><math><msub is="true"><mrow is="true"><mo stretchy="false" is="true">(</mo><mi is="true">Q</mi></mrow><mrow is="true"><mi mathvariant="italic" is="true">loss</mi></mrow></msub></math></script></span>/HoR) reduces below 0.065 once Re exceeds 953 across the entire equivalence ratio range. Radiative coupling provides an additional stabilizing effect, with incident radiation increasing from 3.6 × 10<sup>4</sup> W/m<sup>2</sup> (<em>ϕ</em> = 0.20, Re = 572) to 76 × 10<sup>4</sup> W/m<sup>2</sup> (<em>
{"title":"Flame stability and NOx pathways in ultra-lean NH3/H2 micro-combustion","authors":"Ahmed Mohamed Radwan, Manosh C. Paul","doi":"10.1016/j.ces.2026.123538","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ces.2026.123538","url":null,"abstract":"Ammonia’s narrow flammability and low reactivity limit its use in micro-combustors, but hydrogen enrichment offers a pathway to stable ultra-lean operation. Hydrogen enrichment has been proposed as a viable strategy to overcome these limitations, yet systematic mapping of lean NH<sub>3</sub>/H<sub>2</sub> flames under micro-scale confinement remains scarce. In this work, a two-dimensional numerical study was conducted on a planar micro-combustor fuelled with an NH<sub>3</sub>/H<sub>2</sub> blend (10/90 vol%) to quantify flame stability, heat transfer, and NOx chemistry over a broad range of Reynolds numbers Re = 191–1330 and <em>ϕ</em> = 0.65–0.20. Hydrogen addition extends the lean limit from <em>ϕ</em> = 0.65 to <em>ϕ</em> = 0.2, with ultra-lean flames (<em>ϕ</em> = 0.20–0.25) stabilized only at Re = 572 and 381, respectively. Outlet temperatures rise with Re and approach adiabatic values, while heat loss ratio <span><span style=\"\"></span><span data-mathml='<math xmlns=\"http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML\"><msub is=\"true\"><mrow is=\"true\"><mo stretchy=\"false\" is=\"true\">(</mo><mi is=\"true\">Q</mi></mrow><mrow is=\"true\"><mi mathvariant=\"italic\" is=\"true\">loss</mi></mrow></msub></math>' role=\"presentation\" style=\"font-size: 90%; display: inline-block; position: relative;\" tabindex=\"0\"><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\" height=\"2.779ex\" role=\"img\" style=\"vertical-align: -0.812ex;\" viewbox=\"0 -846.5 2499.3 1196.3\" width=\"5.805ex\" xmlns:xlink=\"http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink\"><g fill=\"currentColor\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"0\" transform=\"matrix(1 0 0 -1 0 0)\"><g is=\"true\"><g is=\"true\"><g is=\"true\"><use xlink:href=\"#MJMAIN-28\"></use></g><g is=\"true\" transform=\"translate(389,0)\"><use xlink:href=\"#MJMATHI-51\"></use></g></g><g is=\"true\" transform=\"translate(1181,-287)\"><g is=\"true\"><use transform=\"scale(0.707)\" xlink:href=\"#MJMATHI-6C\"></use><use transform=\"scale(0.707)\" x=\"298\" xlink:href=\"#MJMATHI-6F\" y=\"0\"></use><use transform=\"scale(0.707)\" x=\"784\" xlink:href=\"#MJMATHI-73\" y=\"0\"></use><use transform=\"scale(0.707)\" x=\"1253\" xlink:href=\"#MJMATHI-73\" y=\"0\"></use></g></g></g></g></svg><span role=\"presentation\"><math xmlns=\"http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML\"><msub is=\"true\"><mrow is=\"true\"><mo is=\"true\" stretchy=\"false\">(</mo><mi is=\"true\">Q</mi></mrow><mrow is=\"true\"><mi is=\"true\" mathvariant=\"italic\">loss</mi></mrow></msub></math></span></span><script type=\"math/mml\"><math><msub is=\"true\"><mrow is=\"true\"><mo stretchy=\"false\" is=\"true\">(</mo><mi is=\"true\">Q</mi></mrow><mrow is=\"true\"><mi mathvariant=\"italic\" is=\"true\">loss</mi></mrow></msub></math></script></span>/HoR) reduces below 0.065 once Re exceeds 953 across the entire equivalence ratio range. Radiative coupling provides an additional stabilizing effect, with incident radiation increasing from 3.6 × 10<sup>4</sup> W/m<sup>2</sup> (<em>ϕ</em> = 0.20, Re = 572) to 76 × 10<sup>4</sup> W/m<sup>2</sup> (<em>","PeriodicalId":271,"journal":{"name":"Chemical Engineering Science","volume":"83 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2026-02-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146121904","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-02-06DOI: 10.1016/j.ces.2026.123554
Merve Karabıyık, Gizem Cihanoğlu, Özgenç Ebil
Semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) are attractive fluorophores for sensor applications due to their narrow emission bandwidths and high photostability; however, their performance is often limited by insufficient chemical and thermal durability under operating conditions. In this study, a solvent-free encapsulation strategy based on initiated chemical vapor deposition (iCVD) is proposed to enhance the stability of QD-based sensor nanoprobes. Cross-linked poly (glycidyl methacrylate-co-ethylene glycol dimethacrylate) (ECOP) thin films were conformally deposited as encapsulation layers onto CdTe QD-functionalized poly(GMA) sensor surfaces. The encapsulated nanoprobes were evaluated under chemically aggressive environments (water, saltwater, toluene, and sulfuric acid) and elevated temperatures. Following exposure to aggressive solvents, both the polymer film thickness variation and QD fluorescence intensity change remained below 10 %, confirming the robustness of the cross-linked network. Also, thermal durability tests showed stable fluorescence performance after annealing at 250 °C, with structural and optical changes remaining within the accepted 10 % threshold. The results demonstrate that coatings deposited using iCVD exhibit conformal coverage and enhanced stability. This enables reliable protection of QD-based sensor nanoprobes without compromising optical performance. This study presents a promising method to extend the operational lifetime and environmental durability of QD-integrated sensor platforms by using chemically and thermally stable polymer encapsulation.
{"title":"Robust CVD polymer encapsulation for thermally and chemically resistant fluorescent sensor nanoprobes","authors":"Merve Karabıyık, Gizem Cihanoğlu, Özgenç Ebil","doi":"10.1016/j.ces.2026.123554","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ces.2026.123554","url":null,"abstract":"Semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) are attractive fluorophores for sensor applications due to their narrow emission bandwidths and high photostability; however, their performance is often limited by insufficient chemical and thermal durability under operating conditions. In this study, a solvent-free encapsulation strategy based on initiated chemical vapor deposition (iCVD) is proposed to enhance the stability of QD-based sensor nanoprobes. Cross-linked poly (glycidyl methacrylate-co-ethylene glycol dimethacrylate) (ECOP) thin films were conformally deposited as encapsulation layers onto CdTe QD-functionalized poly(GMA) sensor surfaces. The encapsulated nanoprobes were evaluated under chemically aggressive environments (water, saltwater, toluene, and sulfuric acid) and elevated temperatures. Following exposure to aggressive solvents, both the polymer film thickness variation and QD fluorescence intensity change remained below 10 %, confirming the robustness of the cross-linked network. Also, thermal durability tests showed stable fluorescence performance after annealing at 250 °C, with structural and optical changes remaining within the accepted 10 % threshold. The results demonstrate that coatings deposited using iCVD exhibit conformal coverage and enhanced stability. This enables reliable protection of QD-based sensor nanoprobes without compromising optical performance. This study presents a promising method to extend the operational lifetime and environmental durability of QD-integrated sensor platforms by using chemically and thermally stable polymer encapsulation.","PeriodicalId":271,"journal":{"name":"Chemical Engineering Science","volume":"91 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2026-02-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146135361","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
A multi-field coupling model of wet coating is proposed in the production process of battery electrode based on parallel and dynamic mesh methods. Its heat-mass transfer among wet coating, substrate and hot wind are considered in this model, and it is proved reliable because its errors are within ±15%. Through this model, the variations and distribution of drying characteristics of wet coating are studied with different design conditions. It can be found that the temperature, saturated vapor pressure, diffusion coefficient and moisture rate of wet coating are most significantly influenced by motion velocity. Liquid film thickness is most significantly influenced by thickness. Drying rate is subjected to the combined influences of mass transfer coefficient, saturated vapor pressure difference and initial moisture content, and its variation trend is different. The drying uniformity and moisture rate correlations of wet coating are proposed for comprehensive consideration of thickness, water saturation and motion velocity based on nonlinear regression method. And it can be found that they are proved reliable because the errors between simulation and calculation data are less than 14.55% and 10%, respectively. Finally, the evaluation strategy of drying characteristics is further obtained for wet coating.
{"title":"Investigation of drying characteristics and evaluation strategy for wet coating in the manufacturing process of battery electrode","authors":"Jiajun Wang, Yue Zeng, Hongqiang Ma, Huilun Kang, Jing Wu, Xuefeng Wu, Ruixiang Ding, Yujin Zhang, Weihua Cai","doi":"10.1016/j.ces.2026.123541","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ces.2026.123541","url":null,"abstract":"A multi-field coupling model of wet coating is proposed in the production process of battery electrode based on parallel and dynamic mesh methods. Its heat-mass transfer among wet coating, substrate and hot wind are considered in this model, and it is proved reliable because its errors are within ±15%. Through this model, the variations and distribution of drying characteristics of wet coating are studied with different design conditions. It can be found that the temperature, saturated vapor pressure, diffusion coefficient and moisture rate of wet coating are most significantly influenced by motion velocity. Liquid film thickness is most significantly influenced by thickness. Drying rate is subjected to the combined influences of mass transfer coefficient, saturated vapor pressure difference and initial moisture content, and its variation trend is different. The drying uniformity and moisture rate correlations of wet coating are proposed for comprehensive consideration of thickness, water saturation and motion velocity based on nonlinear regression method. And it can be found that they are proved reliable because the errors between simulation and calculation data are less than 14.55% and 10%, respectively. Finally, the evaluation strategy of drying characteristics is further obtained for wet coating.","PeriodicalId":271,"journal":{"name":"Chemical Engineering Science","volume":"58 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2026-02-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146121905","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
京公网安备 11010802042870号
京ICP备2023020795号-1
扫码关注我们
求助内容：
应助结果提醒方式：