Pub Date : 2026-03-16DOI: 10.1021/acs.iecr.5c04781
Yuniva Mendoza-Apodaca,Sarah Walsh,Anna Rosu,Mark B. Shiflett
Membrane-based separations have emerged as promising alternatives to conventional separation methods for recovering and recycling refrigerants, driven by environmental regulations, the need for sustainable resource recovery, and the phase-out of high global warming potential compounds. This review provides an overview of membrane technologies for refrigerant separation, emphasizing key materials, transport mechanism, and performance metrics. Fundamental challenges such as azeotrope formation, close boiling points, and molecular similarity among refrigerant compounds are discussed in relation to size-sieving, solution-diffusion, and facilitated transport. Attention is given to polymeric membranes, mixed-matrix membranes, and inorganic membranes, with analysis of permeability, selectivity, and resistance to plasticization and chemical degradation. Factors influencing membrane performance, including material-refrigerant interactions and operating conditions, are examined. This review highlights recent advances, identifies research gaps, and outlines future directions for optimizing membrane design to achieve high separation efficiency, environmental compliance, and economic viability in refrigerant recovery and reuse.
{"title":"Membrane Technology for Hydrofluorocarbon Refrigerant Separation","authors":"Yuniva Mendoza-Apodaca,Sarah Walsh,Anna Rosu,Mark B. Shiflett","doi":"10.1021/acs.iecr.5c04781","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.iecr.5c04781","url":null,"abstract":"Membrane-based separations have emerged as promising alternatives to conventional separation methods for recovering and recycling refrigerants, driven by environmental regulations, the need for sustainable resource recovery, and the phase-out of high global warming potential compounds. This review provides an overview of membrane technologies for refrigerant separation, emphasizing key materials, transport mechanism, and performance metrics. Fundamental challenges such as azeotrope formation, close boiling points, and molecular similarity among refrigerant compounds are discussed in relation to size-sieving, solution-diffusion, and facilitated transport. Attention is given to polymeric membranes, mixed-matrix membranes, and inorganic membranes, with analysis of permeability, selectivity, and resistance to plasticization and chemical degradation. Factors influencing membrane performance, including material-refrigerant interactions and operating conditions, are examined. This review highlights recent advances, identifies research gaps, and outlines future directions for optimizing membrane design to achieve high separation efficiency, environmental compliance, and economic viability in refrigerant recovery and reuse.","PeriodicalId":39,"journal":{"name":"Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research","volume":"11 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-03-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147462254","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"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 : 2026-03-16DOI: 10.1021/acs.iecr.6c00174
Kathirvel Periasamy, Kok Wei Joseph Ng, Jing Dan Hu, Chun-Po Hu, Yen Nan Liang, Xiao Hu
Plastic pollution is quickly becoming a global crisis. Despite the various methods published in the literature, mechanical recycling remains the main form of plastic recycling. However, mechanical recycling of mixed plastic waste still represents a challenge due to the need for separation and sorting. This study proposes and demonstrates depolymerization-induced polymer separation (DIPS), a new solventless, continuous twin-screw reactive extrusion process that allows for the separation and recycling of mixed plastic waste. Utilizing a blend of polypropylene (PP) and poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET), it is shown that through the depolymerization of the PET by reactive extrusion with glycerol, it is possible to separate the PP and oligomeric PET (OPET). Characterization also shows that the recovered PP has a similar performance to the virgin polymer. It is hypothesized that in situ separation occurs due to phase separation and viscosity differences. The process is also successfully tested on postindustrial waste comprising multilayer flexible plastic packaging. This novel process has the potential to be translated to the industrial setting due to the benign conditions used and the prevalence of screw extruders in the plastic industry.
{"title":"Depolymerization Induced Polymer Separation: A New Strategy for Continuous and Efficient Separation of PP/PET Multilayer Plastic Packaging Waste","authors":"Kathirvel Periasamy, Kok Wei Joseph Ng, Jing Dan Hu, Chun-Po Hu, Yen Nan Liang, Xiao Hu","doi":"10.1021/acs.iecr.6c00174","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.iecr.6c00174","url":null,"abstract":"Plastic pollution is quickly becoming a global crisis. Despite the various methods published in the literature, mechanical recycling remains the main form of plastic recycling. However, mechanical recycling of mixed plastic waste still represents a challenge due to the need for separation and sorting. This study proposes and demonstrates depolymerization-induced polymer separation (DIPS), a new solventless, continuous twin-screw reactive extrusion process that allows for the separation and recycling of mixed plastic waste. Utilizing a blend of polypropylene (PP) and poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET), it is shown that through the depolymerization of the PET by reactive extrusion with glycerol, it is possible to separate the PP and oligomeric PET (OPET). Characterization also shows that the recovered PP has a similar performance to the virgin polymer. It is hypothesized that in situ separation occurs due to phase separation and viscosity differences. The process is also successfully tested on postindustrial waste comprising multilayer flexible plastic packaging. This novel process has the potential to be translated to the industrial setting due to the benign conditions used and the prevalence of screw extruders in the plastic industry.","PeriodicalId":39,"journal":{"name":"Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research","volume":"2 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-03-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147462146","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"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 : 2026-03-16DOI: 10.1021/acs.iecr.5c04882
Weijun Tuo, Shangquan Zhao, Kangzhe Yu, Sheng Wang, Lei Su, Zhan Wang, Jie Liu, Zhihan Liu, Hao Tang, Bingbing Tian
All-solid-state lithium batteries (ASSLBs) are promising next-generation energy storage systems due to their superior safety. While low-cost Li2ZrCl6 is a candidate halide solid electrolyte, its ionic conductivity remains modest (0.33 mS cm–1). Herein, we report a highly conductive amorphous halide solid electrolyte (1.64 mS cm–1), synthesized using high-energy Li2CO3 as a precursor to replace conventional Li2O. This approach enhances reaction efficiency and reduces cost. The resulting Li2ZrOCl4 (LZOC) structure facilitates Li+ migration, as confirmed by experimental and theoretical results. ASSLBs incorporating the LZOC electrolyte with a Li–In anode and uncoated LiCoO2 (LCO) cathode demonstrate excellent cycling stability (97% capacity retention after 200 cycles at 1 C) and high-rate capability (over 70 mAh g–1 at 2 C). This work establishes the use of low-cost Li2CO3 as a practical strategy for developing high-performance, cost-effective ASSLBs.
全固态锂电池（ASSLBs）因其优越的安全性而成为下一代储能系统的发展前景。虽然低成本的Li2ZrCl6是一种候选的卤化物固体电解质，但它的离子电导率仍然适中（0.33 mS cm-1）。在这里，我们报道了一种高导电性的非晶卤化物固体电解质（1.64 mS cm-1），用高能Li2CO3作为前驱体来取代传统的Li2O。该方法提高了反应效率，降低了成本。实验和理论结果都证实了Li2ZrOCl4 （LZOC）结构有利于Li+的迁移。将LZOC电解质与Li-In阳极和未涂覆的LiCoO2 （LCO）阴极结合在一起的asslb具有出色的循环稳定性（在1c下200次循环后97%的容量保留）和高倍率容量（在2c下超过70 mAh g-1）。这项工作建立了使用低成本的Li2CO3作为开发高性能，具有成本效益的assb的实用策略。
{"title":"A Superior Li2CO3-Derived Li2ZrOCl4 Electrolyte Enabling High-Performance All-Solid-State Lithium Batteries","authors":"Weijun Tuo, Shangquan Zhao, Kangzhe Yu, Sheng Wang, Lei Su, Zhan Wang, Jie Liu, Zhihan Liu, Hao Tang, Bingbing Tian","doi":"10.1021/acs.iecr.5c04882","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.iecr.5c04882","url":null,"abstract":"All-solid-state lithium batteries (ASSLBs) are promising next-generation energy storage systems due to their superior safety. While low-cost Li<sub>2</sub>ZrCl<sub>6</sub> is a candidate halide solid electrolyte, its ionic conductivity remains modest (0.33 mS cm<sup>–1</sup>). Herein, we report a highly conductive amorphous halide solid electrolyte (1.64 mS cm<sup>–1</sup>), synthesized using high-energy Li<sub>2</sub>CO<sub>3</sub> as a precursor to replace conventional Li<sub>2</sub>O. This approach enhances reaction efficiency and reduces cost. The resulting Li<sub>2</sub>ZrOCl<sub>4</sub> (LZOC) structure facilitates Li<sup>+</sup> migration, as confirmed by experimental and theoretical results. ASSLBs incorporating the LZOC electrolyte with a Li–In anode and uncoated LiCoO<sub>2</sub> (LCO) cathode demonstrate excellent cycling stability (97% capacity retention after 200 cycles at 1 C) and high-rate capability (over 70 mAh g<sup>–1</sup> at 2 C). This work establishes the use of low-cost Li<sub>2</sub>CO<sub>3</sub> as a practical strategy for developing high-performance, cost-effective ASSLBs.","PeriodicalId":39,"journal":{"name":"Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research","volume":"10 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-03-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147462144","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pyromellitic acid (PMA) is a critical monomer in the synthesis of high-performance polyimides (PIs). A viable approach for the preparation of PMA is the synthesis of durene (DR) by liquid-phase oxidation using a Co/Mn/Br catalyst and acetic acid/water as solvents. Due to interaction between the transition metals Co/Mn and PMA, the catalytic effect is diminished, restricting industrial application of the liquid-phase oxidation method in the production of PMA. Based on the catalyst deactivation mechanism, the effects of different bromine sources, catalyst concentrations, solvent ratios, temperatures, and water contents on the liquid-phase oxidation of DR to PMA were systematically investigated in this work. A deactivation mechanistic model was developed covering DR, PMA, and other pivotal intermediates. Using hydrogen bromide as the bromine source and under conditions of a high solvent ratio, the yield of PMA was enhanced from 34.25 to 78.13 mol %. The kinetic model was utilized to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the impact of catalyst concentrations, temperature, and water content on the reaction and deactivation process. It was determined that the initiation of the DR oxidation chain is a rate-determining step and that the reaction rate increases while the deactivation rate decreases under high temperature and high-Co conditions. Furthermore, it is demonstrated that the optimum water content for the yield of PMA is 5%, with a concomitant slower deactivation reaction rate constant. Hopefully, the results obtained in this work can provide valuable insights into the liquid phase oxidation of polyalkyl aromatic hydrocarbons.
{"title":"Deactivation Kinetic Modeling on Liquid Phase Oxidation of Durene to Pyromellitic Acid Using a Co/Mn/Br Catalyst","authors":"Shuangfu Wang, Yudong Li, Weizhong Zheng, Weizhen Sun, Ling Zhao","doi":"10.1021/acs.iecr.5c05033","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.iecr.5c05033","url":null,"abstract":"Pyromellitic acid (PMA) is a critical monomer in the synthesis of high-performance polyimides (PIs). A viable approach for the preparation of PMA is the synthesis of durene (DR) by liquid-phase oxidation using a Co/Mn/Br catalyst and acetic acid/water as solvents. Due to interaction between the transition metals Co/Mn and PMA, the catalytic effect is diminished, restricting industrial application of the liquid-phase oxidation method in the production of PMA. Based on the catalyst deactivation mechanism, the effects of different bromine sources, catalyst concentrations, solvent ratios, temperatures, and water contents on the liquid-phase oxidation of DR to PMA were systematically investigated in this work. A deactivation mechanistic model was developed covering DR, PMA, and other pivotal intermediates. Using hydrogen bromide as the bromine source and under conditions of a high solvent ratio, the yield of PMA was enhanced from 34.25 to 78.13 mol %. The kinetic model was utilized to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the impact of catalyst concentrations, temperature, and water content on the reaction and deactivation process. It was determined that the initiation of the DR oxidation chain is a rate-determining step and that the reaction rate increases while the deactivation rate decreases under high temperature and high-Co conditions. Furthermore, it is demonstrated that the optimum water content for the yield of PMA is 5%, with a concomitant slower deactivation reaction rate constant. Hopefully, the results obtained in this work can provide valuable insights into the liquid phase oxidation of polyalkyl aromatic hydrocarbons.","PeriodicalId":39,"journal":{"name":"Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research","volume":"11 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-03-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147466094","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"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 : 2026-03-16DOI: 10.1021/acs.iecr.5c04749
Dangge Gao, Xin Wang, Bin Lyu, Yingying Zhou, Weijian Du, Yixue Ma, Youhua Chen
The sustainable utilization of leather resources is critical for eco-friendly and energy-efficient clothing. To address thermal comfort challenges in varying winter conditions, we developed a solar light responsive composite leather (MPLPP) with unidirectional moisture transport. This approach utilizes a facile surface engineering strategy: hydrophobic PDMS impregnation of suede leather, followed by brush-coating hydrophilic MXene@PDA on one side and spraying PDMS on the opposite side to create a wettability gradient. The MXene-PDA synergy achieves 93.9% solar absorption and 37.2% mid-infrared emissivity for efficient photothermal conversion with minimal radiative heat loss. The wettability contrast drives unidirectional moisture transport (index: 530%), promoting rapid sweat evaporation. MPLPP also exhibits electromagnetic interference shielding (∼32 dB), water vapor transmission (1039 g·m–2·24 h–1), air permeability (2195 mL·cm–2·h–1), and satisfactory mechanical flexibility. This study provides a sustainable method for high-value leather utilization and offers new insights into multifunctional energy-efficient materials.
{"title":"Solar Light Responsive Leather for Personal Thermal Management with Unidirectional Moisture Transport Properties","authors":"Dangge Gao, Xin Wang, Bin Lyu, Yingying Zhou, Weijian Du, Yixue Ma, Youhua Chen","doi":"10.1021/acs.iecr.5c04749","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.iecr.5c04749","url":null,"abstract":"The sustainable utilization of leather resources is critical for eco-friendly and energy-efficient clothing. To address thermal comfort challenges in varying winter conditions, we developed a solar light responsive composite leather (MPLPP) with unidirectional moisture transport. This approach utilizes a facile surface engineering strategy: hydrophobic PDMS impregnation of suede leather, followed by brush-coating hydrophilic MXene@PDA on one side and spraying PDMS on the opposite side to create a wettability gradient. The MXene-PDA synergy achieves 93.9% solar absorption and 37.2% mid-infrared emissivity for efficient photothermal conversion with minimal radiative heat loss. The wettability contrast drives unidirectional moisture transport (index: 530%), promoting rapid sweat evaporation. MPLPP also exhibits electromagnetic interference shielding (∼32 dB), water vapor transmission (1039 g·m<sup>–2</sup>·24 h<sup>–1</sup>), air permeability (2195 mL·cm<sup>–2</sup>·h<sup>–1</sup>), and satisfactory mechanical flexibility. This study provides a sustainable method for high-value leather utilization and offers new insights into multifunctional energy-efficient materials.","PeriodicalId":39,"journal":{"name":"Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research","volume":"35 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-03-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147462142","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"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 : 2026-03-16DOI: 10.1021/acs.iecr.5c05149
Yijie Cai, Bingxi Song, Chaoyang Liu, Xingyu Wang, Long Liu, Lei Chen, Zongjie Li, Yingying Cao, Yanqiang Zhang
In this study, a novel sulfonic acid-functionalized ionic liquid N,N,N-triethyl-4-sulfobutan-1-aminium nitrate ([Btem-SO3H][NO3]) was synthesized as a nitrating agent. The cation and anion of [Btem-SO3H][NO3], respectively, provide an acidic environment and a nitro source, enabling green nitration of TMETN (Trimethylolethane trinitrate). It was found that [Btem-SO3H][NO3] exhibited good thermal stability up to 170 °C. The acidity of [Btem-SO3H][NO3] increases with a decrease in the water content. When the water content is lower than 9%, the nitration efficiency remains unchanged. The [Btem-SO3H][NO3] system exhibited a ΔTad of 57.62 °C and an MTSR of 30.54 °C, which are significantly lower than 88.15 and 36.96 °C of the fuming HNO3 system. Under optimized conditions, a TMETN yield of 95% was achieved, and the ionic liquid maintained ideal activity after five recycling cycles, outperforming fuming nitric acid (89% yield, poor recyclability). Mechanism analysis showed that the reaction of [Btem-SO3H][NO3] with Ac2O to form acetyl nitrate (CH3COONO2) is a key step in the entire nitration reaction. These findings demonstrate that [Btem-SO3H][NO3] reduces waste acid emissions and improves thermal safety and reusability while maintaining high nitration efficiency, providing a promising strategy for replacing traditional nitric acid systems and achieving green and sustainable synthesis of nitrate esters.
{"title":"Green Synthesis of TMETN Using Ionic Liquid [Btem-SO3H][NO3] as a Nitrating Agent","authors":"Yijie Cai, Bingxi Song, Chaoyang Liu, Xingyu Wang, Long Liu, Lei Chen, Zongjie Li, Yingying Cao, Yanqiang Zhang","doi":"10.1021/acs.iecr.5c05149","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.iecr.5c05149","url":null,"abstract":"In this study, a novel sulfonic acid-functionalized ionic liquid <i>N</i>,<i>N</i>,<i>N</i>-triethyl-4-sulfobutan-1-aminium nitrate ([Btem-SO<sub>3</sub>H][NO<sub>3</sub>]) was synthesized as a nitrating agent. The cation and anion of [Btem-SO<sub>3</sub>H][NO<sub>3</sub>], respectively, provide an acidic environment and a nitro source, enabling green nitration of TMETN (Trimethylolethane trinitrate). It was found that [Btem-SO<sub>3</sub>H][NO<sub>3</sub>] exhibited good thermal stability up to 170 °C. The acidity of [Btem-SO<sub>3</sub>H][NO<sub>3</sub>] increases with a decrease in the water content. When the water content is lower than 9%, the nitration efficiency remains unchanged. The [Btem-SO<sub>3</sub>H][NO<sub>3</sub>] system exhibited a Δ<i>T</i><sub>ad</sub> of 57.62 °C and an MTSR of 30.54 °C, which are significantly lower than 88.15 and 36.96 °C of the fuming HNO<sub>3</sub> system. Under optimized conditions, a TMETN yield of 95% was achieved, and the ionic liquid maintained ideal activity after five recycling cycles, outperforming fuming nitric acid (89% yield, poor recyclability). Mechanism analysis showed that the reaction of [Btem-SO<sub>3</sub>H][NO<sub>3</sub>] with Ac<sub>2</sub>O to form acetyl nitrate (CH<sub>3</sub>COONO<sub>2</sub>) is a key step in the entire nitration reaction. These findings demonstrate that [Btem-SO<sub>3</sub>H][NO<sub>3</sub>] reduces waste acid emissions and improves thermal safety and reusability while maintaining high nitration efficiency, providing a promising strategy for replacing traditional nitric acid systems and achieving green and sustainable synthesis of nitrate esters.","PeriodicalId":39,"journal":{"name":"Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research","volume":"17 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-03-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147462145","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
We report microwave-assisted heating as an effective and versatile method for the formulation of particle-stabilized water-in-oil emulsions. This approach offers distinct advantages in terms of rapid processing compared with conventional mixing and thermal techniques. Upon microwave irradiation, water in the binary oil/water system undergoes selective heating, leading to localized vaporization. The vapor subsequently condenses in the overlaid particle-laden oil phase, generating droplets that are stabilized by colloidal particles. This process enables the production of emulsions with tunable droplet sizes controlled by the microwave exposure time and heating temperature, holding time at the target temperature, and oil-to-water ratio. The versatility of the methodology is further investigated by considering different types of stabilizers, including solid particles (hydrophobic fumed silica, hematite, magnetite, alumina) and surfactant (Span 80), and by considering different types of oils (n-decane, liquid paraffin, and sunflower oil). The resulting emulsions are characterized by a pronounced degree of polydispersity, with droplet diameters ranging from 3 to 115 μm depending on heating temperature and exposure time. Emulsion morphology and type are systematically investigated by using both optical and confocal microscopy, providing insight into droplet size distribution and stabilization mechanisms. Furthermore, we compare this methodology with a laboratory-scale homogenization process. Microwave-assisted Pickering emulsification requires 4 × 104 J of energy, whereas the homogenization process consumes 2 × 106 J to produce Pickering emulsion droplets of comparable size. These results highlight the versatility of microwave-assisted emulsification and emphasize its potential as a broadly applicable strategy for producing particle-stabilized emulsions across a wide range of systems.
{"title":"Microwave-Assisted Pickering Emulsification","authors":"Kaniska Murmu, Mahendra Tiwari, Ravikrishnan Vinu, Manas Mukherjee, Madivala G. Basavaraj","doi":"10.1021/acs.iecr.5c04651","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.iecr.5c04651","url":null,"abstract":"We report microwave-assisted heating as an effective and versatile method for the formulation of particle-stabilized water-in-oil emulsions. This approach offers distinct advantages in terms of rapid processing compared with conventional mixing and thermal techniques. Upon microwave irradiation, water in the binary oil/water system undergoes selective heating, leading to localized vaporization. The vapor subsequently condenses in the overlaid particle-laden oil phase, generating droplets that are stabilized by colloidal particles. This process enables the production of emulsions with tunable droplet sizes controlled by the microwave exposure time and heating temperature, holding time at the target temperature, and oil-to-water ratio. The versatility of the methodology is further investigated by considering different types of stabilizers, including solid particles (hydrophobic fumed silica, hematite, magnetite, alumina) and surfactant (Span 80), and by considering different types of oils (<i>n</i>-decane, liquid paraffin, and sunflower oil). The resulting emulsions are characterized by a pronounced degree of polydispersity, with droplet diameters ranging from 3 to 115 μm depending on heating temperature and exposure time. Emulsion morphology and type are systematically investigated by using both optical and confocal microscopy, providing insight into droplet size distribution and stabilization mechanisms. Furthermore, we compare this methodology with a laboratory-scale homogenization process. Microwave-assisted Pickering emulsification requires 4 × 10<sup>4</sup> J of energy, whereas the homogenization process consumes 2 × 10<sup>6</sup> J to produce Pickering emulsion droplets of comparable size. These results highlight the versatility of microwave-assisted emulsification and emphasize its potential as a broadly applicable strategy for producing particle-stabilized emulsions across a wide range of systems.","PeriodicalId":39,"journal":{"name":"Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research","volume":"122 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-03-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147462148","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"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 : 2026-03-15DOI: 10.1021/acs.iecr.5c05290
Chunliang Du, Zhensheng Tao, Jennifer Runhong Du, Jingwen Wang, Xueling Wei
Herein, the long-term stability of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)-based pervaporation membranes in desalinating seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) brine was investigated. A commercial PVA/polyacrylonitrile (PAN) composite membrane was evaluated using synthetic seawater. During desalination, the water flux and permeate conductivity decreased and increased, respectively, with notable salt scaling observed within the membrane substrate. Similar trends were observed when treating real SWRO brine, although salt scaling within the substrate was more severe. To mitigate salt-scaling-induced deterioration in desalination performance, a hydrophobic polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) substrate was selected as the support layer for fabricating a PVA/PTFE composite membrane, which was then applied to SWRO brine desalination. Although the water flux decreased during operation, the permeate conductivity remained constant, with negligible scaling within the substrate. These findings demonstrated that the PVA/PTFE composite membrane exhibits better performance and longer-term stability than the commercial PVA/PAN composite membrane for treating SWRO brine.
{"title":"Effect of Long-Term Operation on the Desalination Performance of Poly(Vinyl Alcohol)-Based Pervaporation Membranes","authors":"Chunliang Du, Zhensheng Tao, Jennifer Runhong Du, Jingwen Wang, Xueling Wei","doi":"10.1021/acs.iecr.5c05290","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.iecr.5c05290","url":null,"abstract":"Herein, the long-term stability of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)-based pervaporation membranes in desalinating seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) brine was investigated. A commercial PVA/polyacrylonitrile (PAN) composite membrane was evaluated using synthetic seawater. During desalination, the water flux and permeate conductivity decreased and increased, respectively, with notable salt scaling observed within the membrane substrate. Similar trends were observed when treating real SWRO brine, although salt scaling within the substrate was more severe. To mitigate salt-scaling-induced deterioration in desalination performance, a hydrophobic polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) substrate was selected as the support layer for fabricating a PVA/PTFE composite membrane, which was then applied to SWRO brine desalination. Although the water flux decreased during operation, the permeate conductivity remained constant, with negligible scaling within the substrate. These findings demonstrated that the PVA/PTFE composite membrane exhibits better performance and longer-term stability than the commercial PVA/PAN composite membrane for treating SWRO brine.","PeriodicalId":39,"journal":{"name":"Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research","volume":"3 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-03-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147462191","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The high shrinkage of isotactic polypropylene (iPP) during molding limits its application in high-precision products. Although nucleating agents are commonly used to regulate crystallization, they frequently increase shrinkage. In this study, l-isoleucine (l-Ile), an anti-nucleating agent that inhibits crystallization, was incorporated into iPP to regulate shrinkage behavior, with the nucleating agent HPN-68L used for comparison. Shrinkage tests show that l-Ile reduces iPP shrinkage by 11.8% in the flow direction and 14.2% in the transverse direction, whereas HPN-68L increases shrinkage by 15.4% and 27%, respectively. Crystallization behavior was analyzed by using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), flash differential scanning calorimetry (Flash DSC), polarized optical microscopy (POM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Results indicate that l-Ile suppresses nucleation and decreases the crystallinity, while HPN-68L exhibits the opposite effect. The shrinkage-reducing mechanism of l-Ile is attributed to its ability to reduce the crystallinity of iPP, thereby increasing the proportion of the amorphous polymer characterized by a high free volume. Moreover, the relationship between crystallinity and ultrafast cooling rates was established using Flash DSC, providing process optimization guidance for the production of low-shrinkage iPP products. This study presents not only a novel strategy for low-shrinkage modification of iPP but also new insights into enhancing the dimensional stability of semicrystalline polymers.
{"title":"Shrinkage Behavior and Mechanism of Isotactic Polypropylene Based on Anti-Nucleating Agent Modification","authors":"You Chen, Jichun Jiang, Zhilan Jin, Keqing Cai, Yuanyuan Xie, Shicheng Zhao","doi":"10.1021/acs.iecr.6c00372","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.iecr.6c00372","url":null,"abstract":"The high shrinkage of isotactic polypropylene (iPP) during molding limits its application in high-precision products. Although nucleating agents are commonly used to regulate crystallization, they frequently increase shrinkage. In this study, <span>l</span>-isoleucine (<span>l</span>-Ile), an anti-nucleating agent that inhibits crystallization, was incorporated into iPP to regulate shrinkage behavior, with the nucleating agent HPN-68L used for comparison. Shrinkage tests show that <span>l</span>-Ile reduces iPP shrinkage by 11.8% in the flow direction and 14.2% in the transverse direction, whereas HPN-68L increases shrinkage by 15.4% and 27%, respectively. Crystallization behavior was analyzed by using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), flash differential scanning calorimetry (Flash DSC), polarized optical microscopy (POM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Results indicate that <span>l</span>-Ile suppresses nucleation and decreases the crystallinity, while HPN-68L exhibits the opposite effect. The shrinkage-reducing mechanism of <span>l</span>-Ile is attributed to its ability to reduce the crystallinity of iPP, thereby increasing the proportion of the amorphous polymer characterized by a high free volume. Moreover, the relationship between crystallinity and ultrafast cooling rates was established using Flash DSC, providing process optimization guidance for the production of low-shrinkage iPP products. This study presents not only a novel strategy for low-shrinkage modification of iPP but also new insights into enhancing the dimensional stability of semicrystalline polymers.","PeriodicalId":39,"journal":{"name":"Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research","volume":"16 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-03-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147462192","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"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 : 2026-03-15DOI: 10.1021/acs.iecr.5c04951
Yuli Lai, Haozhi Zhou, Xiaofang Liu, Hui Wang
Direct valorization of diluted CO2 streams remains a critical hurdle for the sustainable carbonate synthesis. Here, we report a class of bifunctional poly(ionic liquid)s that unite nucleophilic bromide anions with tunable base sites on a robust porous framework. The catalysts are readily prepared via self-condensation followed by diamine quaternization, affording high surface areas and exceptional thermal stability. Under 1 MPa CO2 and 140 °C, the optimized PDBX-TMHDA catalyst realized one-step synthesis of dimethyl carbonate in >68% yield. Notably, it maintains 65% yield when challenged with 15% CO2 in N2, mimicking flue gas. The catalyst retains a constant activity over five cycles and is easily recovered by centrifugation. This work establishes a scalable, one-step route for converting low-grade CO2 into high-value carbonates and provides insights into integrating capture and catalysis within multifunctional solid materials.
{"title":"Fixation of Diluted CO2 into Dimethyl Carbonate by Bifunctional Base-Functionalized Poly(ionic liquid)s","authors":"Yuli Lai, Haozhi Zhou, Xiaofang Liu, Hui Wang","doi":"10.1021/acs.iecr.5c04951","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.iecr.5c04951","url":null,"abstract":"Direct valorization of diluted CO<sub>2</sub> streams remains a critical hurdle for the sustainable carbonate synthesis. Here, we report a class of bifunctional poly(ionic liquid)s that unite nucleophilic bromide anions with tunable base sites on a robust porous framework. The catalysts are readily prepared via self-condensation followed by diamine quaternization, affording high surface areas and exceptional thermal stability. Under 1 MPa CO<sub>2</sub> and 140 °C, the optimized PDBX-TMHDA catalyst realized one-step synthesis of dimethyl carbonate in >68% yield. Notably, it maintains 65% yield when challenged with 15% CO<sub>2</sub> in N<sub>2</sub>, mimicking flue gas. The catalyst retains a constant activity over five cycles and is easily recovered by centrifugation. This work establishes a scalable, one-step route for converting low-grade CO<sub>2</sub> into high-value carbonates and provides insights into integrating capture and catalysis within multifunctional solid materials.","PeriodicalId":39,"journal":{"name":"Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research","volume":"60 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-03-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147462149","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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