Pub Date : 2025-12-11DOI: 10.1016/j.seppur.2025.136450
Shaohui Huang, Xinfeng Du, Maroof Ahmad Khan, Jieyi Liang, Qiqi Jia, Yihui Yuan, Ning Wang
The mobility and toxicity of uranium in nuclear wastewater necessitate efficient recovery strategies, yet coexisting cations often hinder effective uranium capture. Here, we discovered that impurity ions significantly improve UO22+ separation efficiency by guanosine monophosphate (GMP). Using Cu2+ as a representative interfering ion, the separation efficiency of UO22+ enhances by approximately threefold. Notably, an optimal GMP dosage of merely 0.02 g/L achieves a removal efficiency of 90 %, with a maximum separation capacity reaching 2170 mg g−1. These results demonstrate the superior performance of GMP compared with conventional phosphate-based adsorbents. Mechanistic studies have confirmed the existence of the Cu-phosphate-U bond. Combined with the CuN7 and U-OH bonds, GMP forms a complex network structure with Cu2+ and UO22+. Additionally, Cu2+ significantly reduce the binding energy between GMP and UO22+. These findings demonstrate that GMP functions as a robust small-molecule platform for efficient and scalable uranium recovery under complex aqueous conditions.
{"title":"Impurity-assisted targeting: a design strategy for unexpected enhancement of uranyl separation in complex aqueous systems","authors":"Shaohui Huang, Xinfeng Du, Maroof Ahmad Khan, Jieyi Liang, Qiqi Jia, Yihui Yuan, Ning Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.seppur.2025.136450","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seppur.2025.136450","url":null,"abstract":"The mobility and toxicity of uranium in nuclear wastewater necessitate efficient recovery strategies, yet coexisting cations often hinder effective uranium capture. Here, we discovered that impurity ions significantly improve UO<sub>2</sub><sup>2+</sup> separation efficiency by guanosine monophosphate (GMP). Using Cu<sup>2+</sup> as a representative interfering ion, the separation efficiency of UO<sub>2</sub><sup>2+</sup> enhances by approximately threefold. Notably, an optimal GMP dosage of merely 0.02 g/L achieves a removal efficiency of 90 %, with a maximum separation capacity reaching 2170 mg g<sup>−1</sup>. These results demonstrate the superior performance of GMP compared with conventional phosphate-based adsorbents. Mechanistic studies have confirmed the existence of the Cu-phosphate-U bond. Combined with the Cu<img alt=\"single bond\" src=\"https://sdfestaticassets-us-east-1.sciencedirectassets.com/shared-assets/55/entities/sbnd.gif\" style=\"vertical-align:middle\"/>N7 and U-OH bonds, GMP forms a complex network structure with Cu<sup>2+</sup> and UO<sub>2</sub><sup>2+</sup>. Additionally, Cu<sup>2+</sup> significantly reduce the binding energy between GMP and UO<sub>2</sub><sup>2+</sup>. These findings demonstrate that GMP functions as a robust small-molecule platform for efficient and scalable uranium recovery under complex aqueous conditions.","PeriodicalId":427,"journal":{"name":"Separation and Purification Technology","volume":"225 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.6,"publicationDate":"2025-12-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145717725","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"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 : 2025-12-11DOI: 10.1016/j.seppur.2025.136455
Feng Gao, Sijia Chen, Zixian Li, Weiping Zhang, Meicheng Wen, Kai Yan, Hongli Liu
The efficient capture and separation of ethylbenzene (EB) and styrene (ST) from industrial volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emissions remains a major challenge, not only because of their extremely similar physicochemical properties but also due to their typically low concentrations. Herein, a mixed-valence Cu(I,II)-MOF adsorbent was constructed via incorporation of Cu(I) sites into a Cu-BTC framework to leverage π-complexation interactions. Dynamic breakthrough experiments demonstrated that the optimized adsorbent with a Cu(I)/Cu(II) molar ratio of 1:2 exhibits superior EB/ST separation performance, enabling continuous recovery of high-purity ethylbenzene (99.0 %) for 172 min. In situ DRIFTS and NAP-XPS combined with Grand Canonical Monte Carlo (GCMC) simulations and density functional theory (DFT) calculations revealed that the enhanced selectivity originated from strong π-complexation between Cu(I) sites and the vinyl group of styrene, in addition to C–H···O, C–H···π and π···π interactions observed in Cu(II)-MOF. This work provides a molecular-level insight into the critical role of Cu(I)-mediated π-interactions for the selective adsorption of styrene analogues, offering a feasible strategy for designing high-performance adsorbents towards challenging VOC capture and separations.
{"title":"Efficient adsorption separation of ethylbenzene and styrene in low-concentration VOCs emissions via a mixed-valence copper-MOF","authors":"Feng Gao, Sijia Chen, Zixian Li, Weiping Zhang, Meicheng Wen, Kai Yan, Hongli Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.seppur.2025.136455","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seppur.2025.136455","url":null,"abstract":"The efficient capture and separation of ethylbenzene (EB) and styrene (ST) from industrial volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emissions remains a major challenge, not only because of their extremely similar physicochemical properties but also due to their typically low concentrations. Herein, a mixed-valence Cu(I,II)-MOF adsorbent was constructed <em>via</em> incorporation of Cu(I) sites into a Cu-BTC framework to leverage π-complexation interactions. Dynamic breakthrough experiments demonstrated that the optimized adsorbent with a Cu(I)/Cu(II) molar ratio of 1:2 exhibits superior EB/ST separation performance, enabling continuous recovery of high-purity ethylbenzene (99.0 %) for 172 min. <em>In situ</em> DRIFTS and NAP-XPS combined with Grand Canonical Monte Carlo (GCMC) simulations and density functional theory (DFT) calculations revealed that the enhanced selectivity originated from strong π-complexation between Cu(I) sites and the vinyl group of styrene, in addition to C–H···O, C–H···π and π···π interactions observed in Cu(II)-MOF. This work provides a molecular-level insight into the critical role of Cu(I)-mediated π-interactions for the selective adsorption of styrene analogues, offering a feasible strategy for designing high-performance adsorbents towards challenging VOC capture and separations.","PeriodicalId":427,"journal":{"name":"Separation and Purification Technology","volume":"14 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.6,"publicationDate":"2025-12-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145718036","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"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 : 2025-12-11DOI: 10.1016/j.seppur.2025.136463
He Zhao , Chi Zhang , Wenxin Shi , Chun Yang , Yanan Liu , Bing Zhang
High-valent metal-oxo species (HVMS), as potent non-radical oxidants in advanced oxidation processes (AOPs), exhibit prolonged operational stability and enhanced selectivity for recalcitrant micropollutants with electron-donating groups. However, heterogeneous catalyst-mediated HVMS generation under peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation remains a significant challenge. Herein, we presented a novel chelating ligand-assisted strategy employing biodegradable picolinic acid (PICA) to enhance MoS2/PMS catalytic activity. The optimized system achieved 100 % carbamazepine (CBZ) degradation within 20 min without Mo ion leaching, outperforming conventional MoS2/PMS system. Quenching experiments, probe-based experiments, electrochemical measurements, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and 18O isotope tracer experiments collectively confirmed that Mo(V) = O species dominated the CBZ oxidation pathway. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations and kinetic analysis revealed that the developed PICA-MoS2/PMS system demonstrated remarkable electron-rich selectivity toward twelve representative pollutants with diverse structures. It was found that the lnkobs values of these pollutants were strongly correlated with their electronic parameters, specifically EHOMO and vertical IP (R2 = 0.89–0.90). Furthermore, the catalytic system exhibited exceptional long-term operational stability, robust environmental adaptability, and high efficiency in treating complex water matrices. This study pioneers a PICA-functionalized MoS2 platform for controllable HVMS generation, providing new insights into sustainable PMS-based AOPs design for micropollutants remediation in complex aquatic environments.
{"title":"Mechanistic dominance of high-valent Mo-oxo species in the heterogeneous selective degradation of micropollutants by picolinate-MoS2/peroxymonosulfate system","authors":"He Zhao , Chi Zhang , Wenxin Shi , Chun Yang , Yanan Liu , Bing Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.seppur.2025.136463","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.seppur.2025.136463","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>High-valent metal-oxo species (HVMS), as potent non-radical oxidants in advanced oxidation processes (AOPs), exhibit prolonged operational stability and enhanced selectivity for recalcitrant micropollutants with electron-donating groups. However, heterogeneous catalyst-mediated HVMS generation under peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation remains a significant challenge. Herein, we presented a novel chelating ligand-assisted strategy employing biodegradable picolinic acid (PICA) to enhance MoS<sub>2</sub>/PMS catalytic activity. The optimized system achieved 100 % carbamazepine (CBZ) degradation within 20 min without Mo ion leaching, outperforming conventional MoS<sub>2</sub>/PMS system. Quenching experiments, probe-based experiments, electrochemical measurements, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and <sup>18</sup>O isotope tracer experiments collectively confirmed that Mo(V) = O species dominated the CBZ oxidation pathway. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations and kinetic analysis revealed that the developed PICA-MoS<sub>2</sub>/PMS system demonstrated remarkable electron-rich selectivity toward twelve representative pollutants with diverse structures. It was found that the ln<em>k</em><sub><em>obs</em></sub> values of these pollutants were strongly correlated with their electronic parameters, specifically E<sub>HOMO</sub> and vertical IP (<em>R</em><sup>2</sup> = 0.89–0.90). Furthermore, the catalytic system exhibited exceptional long-term operational stability, robust environmental adaptability, and high efficiency in treating complex water matrices. This study pioneers a PICA-functionalized MoS<sub>2</sub> platform for controllable HVMS generation, providing new insights into sustainable PMS-based AOPs design for micropollutants remediation in complex aquatic environments.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":427,"journal":{"name":"Separation and Purification Technology","volume":"385 ","pages":"Article 136463"},"PeriodicalIF":9.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145718011","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"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 : 2025-12-11DOI: 10.1016/j.seppur.2025.136459
Xuan Liang Choo, Yu-Ying Chen, Hao-Yeh Lee, Zong Yang Kong, Jaka Sunarso
This study extends our previous work on the extractive–reactive distillation (ED–RD) system reported in Separation Purification Technology 335 (2024) 126220 by evaluating its dynamic controllability. Four control structures (CSs) were evaluated. The first two (CS1 and CS2), based on common heuristic schemes using double- and triple-point temperature controllers (TCs), successfully restored tetrahydrofuran (THF) purity but failed to recover ethanol (EtOH) purity due to difficulty in maintaining the ethylene oxide (EO)–to–water (H2O) ratio near unity. This highlights the need for tighter control of the EO/H2O ratio, suggesting that a standalone composition controller (CC) could further enhance control efficiency. To address this, a third configuration (CS3) introduced a composition analyser at an internal stream to directly regulate the EO flowrate. Unlike conventional CC applied to product streams, this alternative approach improved overall control performance, enabling both THF and EtOH purities to return to their nominal values. The last structure (CS4) applied a feedforward control approach that estimated composition from temperature signals, which is a method rarely reported in literature. The motivation of CS4 is to reduce the reliance on a CC. As expected, the performance of CS4 aligned with CS3. Overall, the results confirm that the ED–RD process not only achieves the substantial energy and cost benefits reported previously but also demonstrates robust controllability, surpassing conventional reactive–extractive distillation (RED) systems in both efficiency and operational stability under the disturbances considered in this study.
{"title":"Control challenges of the new extractive–reactive distillation: An alternative workaround for stoichiometric ratio control","authors":"Xuan Liang Choo, Yu-Ying Chen, Hao-Yeh Lee, Zong Yang Kong, Jaka Sunarso","doi":"10.1016/j.seppur.2025.136459","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seppur.2025.136459","url":null,"abstract":"This study extends our previous work on the extractive–reactive distillation (ED–RD) system reported in <em>Separation Purification Technology 335 (2024) 126220</em> by evaluating its dynamic controllability. Four control structures (CSs) were evaluated. The first two (CS1 and CS2), based on common heuristic schemes using double- and triple-point temperature controllers (TCs), successfully restored tetrahydrofuran (THF) purity but failed to recover ethanol (EtOH) purity due to difficulty in maintaining the ethylene oxide (EO)–to–water (H<sub>2</sub>O) ratio near unity. This highlights the need for tighter control of the EO/H<sub>2</sub>O ratio, suggesting that a standalone composition controller (CC) could further enhance control efficiency. To address this, a third configuration (CS3) introduced a composition analyser at an internal stream to directly regulate the EO flowrate. Unlike conventional CC applied to product streams, this alternative approach improved overall control performance, enabling both THF and EtOH purities to return to their nominal values. The last structure (CS4) applied a feedforward control approach that estimated composition from temperature signals, which is a method rarely reported in literature. The motivation of CS4 is to reduce the reliance on a CC. As expected, the performance of CS4 aligned with CS3. Overall, the results confirm that the ED–RD process not only achieves the substantial energy and cost benefits reported previously but also demonstrates robust controllability, surpassing conventional reactive–extractive distillation (RED) systems in both efficiency and operational stability under the disturbances considered in this study.","PeriodicalId":427,"journal":{"name":"Separation and Purification Technology","volume":"33 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.6,"publicationDate":"2025-12-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145718009","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"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 : 2025-12-11DOI: 10.1016/j.seppur.2025.136454
Xingqi Huang , Zihao Chen , Lingce Kong , Haibo Wang , Jingjing Zhang , Wenming Chen , Wencai Xu , Yanjun Zuo , Hailing Xi
Pelargonic acid vanillylamide (PAVA), which is a capsaicin-type dacryagogue employed for maintaining social stability and counter-terrorism, has a low stimulus threshold. However, residual agents after missions may lead to environmental contamination and can easily result in secondary stimulation to unprotected personnel. A single-atom-embedded metal-organic framework (MOF)-derived Co@N-C/Ti3C2Tx composite was synthesized through the hydrogen-bond-assisted pyrolysis and self-assembly strategy for the activation of peracetic acid to catalytically degrade PAVA. In comparison to Co@N-C alone, the Co@N-C/Ti3C2Tx catalyst demonstrated superior activation efficiency, and the decomposition rate of PAVA reached 98.4 % within 60 min. The Ti3C2Tx substrate material increased the specific surface area to 941 m2/g and changed the CoN4 coordination of Co@N-C to CoN3 that of Co@N-C/Ti3C2Tx, boosting the chemical adsorption ability of the catalyst. Coupled with the high dispersion of single Co atoms and the bimetallic cycling interaction with Ti, the catalytic activation performance was significantly enhanced. Experiments identified CH3C(O)OO• and CH3COO• as the critical active species generated during PAA activation to degrade PAVA. The recycling experiments confirmed that the catalyst displayed outstanding stability and reusability, with good degradation efficiency over a wide range of pH values. Herein, the unique pore structure, the distinctive CoN3 coordination structure, and the synergistic electronic modulation effect between the MOF-derived material and the MXene carrier are the key points. This research provides new insights for the technology of catalytic purification.
{"title":"A single-atom-embedded MOF-derived Co@N-C/Ti3C2Tx composite towards catalytic activation of peracetic acid for the degradation of typical dacryagogue","authors":"Xingqi Huang , Zihao Chen , Lingce Kong , Haibo Wang , Jingjing Zhang , Wenming Chen , Wencai Xu , Yanjun Zuo , Hailing Xi","doi":"10.1016/j.seppur.2025.136454","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.seppur.2025.136454","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Pelargonic acid vanillylamide (PAVA), which is a capsaicin-type dacryagogue employed for maintaining social stability and counter-terrorism, has a low stimulus threshold. However, residual agents after missions may lead to environmental contamination and can easily result in secondary stimulation to unprotected personnel. A single-atom-embedded metal-organic framework (MOF)-derived Co@N-C/Ti<sub>3</sub>C<sub>2</sub>T<sub>x</sub> composite was synthesized through the hydrogen-bond-assisted pyrolysis and self-assembly strategy for the activation of peracetic acid to catalytically degrade PAVA. In comparison to Co@N-C alone, the Co@N-C/Ti<sub>3</sub>C<sub>2</sub>T<sub>x</sub> catalyst demonstrated superior activation efficiency, and the decomposition rate of PAVA reached 98.4 % within 60 min. The Ti<sub>3</sub>C<sub>2</sub>T<sub>x</sub> substrate material increased the specific surface area to 941 m<sup>2</sup>/g and changed the Co<img>N<sub>4</sub> coordination of Co@N-C to Co<img>N<sub>3</sub> that of Co@N-C/Ti<sub>3</sub>C<sub>2</sub>T<sub>x</sub>, boosting the chemical adsorption ability of the catalyst. Coupled with the high dispersion of single Co atoms and the bimetallic cycling interaction with Ti, the catalytic activation performance was significantly enhanced. Experiments identified CH<sub>3</sub>C(<em>O</em>)OO• and CH<sub>3</sub>COO• as the critical active species generated during PAA activation to degrade PAVA. The recycling experiments confirmed that the catalyst displayed outstanding stability and reusability, with good degradation efficiency over a wide range of pH values. Herein, the unique pore structure, the distinctive Co<img>N<sub>3</sub> coordination structure, and the synergistic electronic modulation effect between the MOF-derived material and the MXene carrier are the key points. This research provides new insights for the technology of catalytic purification.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":427,"journal":{"name":"Separation and Purification Technology","volume":"385 ","pages":"Article 136454"},"PeriodicalIF":9.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145735869","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Membrane distillation (MD) presents issues such as fouling, scaling, and temperature and concentration polarization. For the first time, protracted MD in continuous and intermittent operations was compared to overcome the aforementioned difficulties and accomplish simultaneous oxalic acid (OA) and sulfuric acid (SA) recovery from the actual waste acid solution (WAS). The long-term procedures lasted 75 h and included three rounds of intermittent EDTA cleansing. The permeate flux in continuous and intermittent modes was obtained as 10.33 LMH and 7.72 LMH, respectively. Severe wetness occurred in intermittent mode following the last operation due to increasing EC in the permeate. The final OA flow was 109.27 mmol m−2 h−1 (intermittent) and 13.75 mmol m−2 h−1 (continuous), whereas the SA flux was 10.59 mmol m−2 h−1 (continuous) and 136.39 mmol m−2 h−1 (intermittent). The continuous operation had minimal effect on temperature and concentration polarization, fouling, and scaling. Multivalent ions were firmly bound to humic-fulvic acid and tyrosine compounds, precipitating oxalate and sulfate salts, which were then deposited on the membrane surface. The study provides important insights for the future application of MD in concurrent OA and SA recovery in WAS, as well as controlling membrane fouling and scaling.
{"title":"Membrane distillation for oxalic and sulfuric acids recovery from real waste acid solution: Prolonged continuous and intermittent operations with fouling and cleaning insights","authors":"Dian Qoriati, Hsiao-Mei Wu, Jie-Bi Hu, Ade Lila Arale, Sheng-Jie You, Ya-Fen Wang, Nguyen Hoang Sao Mai","doi":"10.1016/j.seppur.2025.136467","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seppur.2025.136467","url":null,"abstract":"Membrane distillation (MD) presents issues such as fouling, scaling, and temperature and concentration polarization. For the first time, protracted MD in continuous and intermittent operations was compared to overcome the aforementioned difficulties and accomplish simultaneous oxalic acid (OA) and sulfuric acid (SA) recovery from the actual waste acid solution (WAS). The long-term procedures lasted 75 h and included three rounds of intermittent EDTA cleansing. The permeate flux in continuous and intermittent modes was obtained as 10.33 LMH and 7.72 LMH, respectively. Severe wetness occurred in intermittent mode following the last operation due to increasing EC in the permeate. The final OA flow was 109.27 mmol m<sup>−2</sup> h<sup>−1</sup> (intermittent) and 13.75 mmol m<sup>−2</sup> h<sup>−1</sup> (continuous), whereas the SA flux was 10.59 mmol m<sup>−2</sup> h<sup>−1</sup> (continuous) and 136.39 mmol m<sup>−2</sup> h<sup>−1</sup> (intermittent). The continuous operation had minimal effect on temperature and concentration polarization, fouling, and scaling. Multivalent ions were firmly bound to humic-fulvic acid and tyrosine compounds, precipitating oxalate and sulfate salts, which were then deposited on the membrane surface. The study provides important insights for the future application of MD in concurrent OA and SA recovery in WAS, as well as controlling membrane fouling and scaling.","PeriodicalId":427,"journal":{"name":"Separation and Purification Technology","volume":"143 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.6,"publicationDate":"2025-12-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145718012","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"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 : 2025-12-11DOI: 10.1016/j.seppur.2025.136439
Parth Gaud, Jay R. Patel, Y. Naresh
A solar still is a passive device used to produce freshwater from saline water using solar radiation. However, the productivity of solar stills is relatively low compared to traditional methods. Therefore, many efforts are still being made in the direction of productivity enhancement, and one of them is the Phase Change Material (PCM)-based technique. The present research focuses on the comparison of different PCM storage techniques and identifying the most effective, efficient, and economic technique. The major novelty of this work lies in the integration of rectangular copper fins with PCM-filled copper tubes, a configuration not previously explored, to significantly enhance the heat transfer area and rate between the saline water and the PCM. Five cases (A-E) are investigated in the current research. Cases A and B were conventional SS with acrylic and glass covers. While Cases C, D, and E were modified SS with different PCM encapsulations. The widely used PCM storage technique (below basin) was applied in Case C, while copper tubes based PCM encapsulation was used in Cases D and E. The rectangular fins were used in Case E with copper tubes. In the comparison of acrylic and glass covers, glass was found to be superior, with 45 % more freshwater yield. The productivity was achieved as 2.07, 2.41, and 2.92 L/m2-day in Cases C, D, and E, which is 6.3 %, 23.6 %, and 49.7 % higher than conventional SS (Case B). The higher freshwater production in Case E is due to the high heat transfer rate provided by fins, with values of evaporative heat transfer coefficient of 22.38 W/m2·K. The combination of copper tubes and fins-based storage was also found to be most efficient with 31.81 % energy efficiency. Case E was found to be the most economical with a minimum payback period of 218 days, which was 30 days lower than conventional SS. The environmental analysis indicated 55.28 % higher CO₂ emission mitigation using PCM in copper tubes with fins. The proposed design, Case E, is also found to be environmentally effective, with a maximum carbon credit gain of $167.46, compared to $136.95 in Case D and $112.59 in Case C. The results indicate that the solar still design, enhanced with specific encapsulation using copper tubes and fins, presents a valuable method for markedly enhancing solar desalination efficiency.
{"title":"A comprehensive assessment of different PCM storage techniques for solar distillation performance improvement: An experimental investigation","authors":"Parth Gaud, Jay R. Patel, Y. Naresh","doi":"10.1016/j.seppur.2025.136439","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seppur.2025.136439","url":null,"abstract":"A solar still is a passive device used to produce freshwater from saline water using solar radiation. However, the productivity of solar stills is relatively low compared to traditional methods. Therefore, many efforts are still being made in the direction of productivity enhancement, and one of them is the Phase Change Material (PCM)-based technique. The present research focuses on the comparison of different PCM storage techniques and identifying the most effective, efficient, and economic technique. The major novelty of this work lies in the integration of rectangular copper fins with PCM-filled copper tubes, a configuration not previously explored, to significantly enhance the heat transfer area and rate between the saline water and the PCM. Five cases (A-E) are investigated in the current research. Cases A and B were conventional SS with acrylic and glass covers. While Cases C, D, and E were modified SS with different PCM encapsulations. The widely used PCM storage technique (below basin) was applied in Case C, while copper tubes based PCM encapsulation was used in Cases D and E. The rectangular fins were used in Case E with copper tubes. In the comparison of acrylic and glass covers, glass was found to be superior, with 45 % more freshwater yield. The productivity was achieved as 2.07, 2.41, and 2.92 L/m<sup>2</sup>-day in Cases C, D, and E, which is 6.3 %, 23.6 %, and 49.7 % higher than conventional SS (Case B). The higher freshwater production in Case E is due to the high heat transfer rate provided by fins, with values of evaporative heat transfer coefficient of 22.38 W/m<sup>2</sup>·K. The combination of copper tubes and fins-based storage was also found to be most efficient with 31.81 % energy efficiency. Case E was found to be the most economical with a minimum payback period of 218 days, which was 30 days lower than conventional SS. The environmental analysis indicated 55.28 % higher CO₂ emission mitigation using PCM in copper tubes with fins. The proposed design, Case E, is also found to be environmentally effective, with a maximum carbon credit gain of $167.46, compared to $136.95 in Case D and $112.59 in Case C. The results indicate that the solar still design, enhanced with specific encapsulation using copper tubes and fins, presents a valuable method for markedly enhancing solar desalination efficiency.","PeriodicalId":427,"journal":{"name":"Separation and Purification Technology","volume":"15 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.6,"publicationDate":"2025-12-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145728802","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"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 : 2025-12-11DOI: 10.1016/j.seppur.2025.136468
Yiwei Fang , Moyi Li , Chenwei Niu , Huang Liu , Bo Jing , Xuezhi Zhao , Yujun Feng
Carbon dioxide-enhanced oil recovery represents a crucial low-carbon oil production method. This technology synergizes CO2 sequestration with improved hydrocarbon recovery. However, its implementation in heavy oil reservoirs remains constrained by high minimum miscibility pressure (MMP). This study systematically investigates the potential of a series of nonionic polyether surfactants (CmPn, m = 8, 12, 16, n = 4, 8, 12) in reducing the MMP of CO2-heavy oil systems, using heavy oil with a viscosity of 115 mPa⋅s. Through the vanishing interfacial tension technique, surfactant C16P8 was identified as the most effective, achieving up to 23.34 % MMP reduction at 1.0 wt% concentration. A clear concentration-dependent reduction was observed, with greater efficacy at higher surfactant levels. Notably, comparative analysis with literature data validated the superior performance of the developed surfactant in heavy oil, where conventional agents exhibit limited efficacy. Further investigations into oil droplet volume changes and carbon number distribution revealed enhanced mass transfer and interfacial activity, with a maximum reduction of 7.85 % in C25+ heavy components at 8 MPa, attributed to the CO2-philic groups and tailored alkyl chain architecture of the surfactant. These findings demonstrate that strategic molecular design enables effective MMP reduction, thereby offering concrete guidance for optimizing CO2-EOR processes in heavy oil reservoirs.
{"title":"Effect of nonionic polyether surfactants on CO2–heavy oil miscibility","authors":"Yiwei Fang , Moyi Li , Chenwei Niu , Huang Liu , Bo Jing , Xuezhi Zhao , Yujun Feng","doi":"10.1016/j.seppur.2025.136468","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.seppur.2025.136468","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Carbon dioxide-enhanced oil recovery represents a crucial low-carbon oil production method. This technology synergizes CO<sub>2</sub> sequestration with improved hydrocarbon recovery. However, its implementation in heavy oil reservoirs remains constrained by high minimum miscibility pressure (MMP). This study systematically investigates the potential of a series of nonionic polyether surfactants (C<sub>m</sub>P<sub>n</sub>, m = 8, 12, 16, <em>n</em> = 4, 8, 12) in reducing the MMP of CO<sub>2</sub>-heavy oil systems, using heavy oil with a viscosity of 115 mPa⋅s. Through the vanishing interfacial tension technique, surfactant C<sub>16</sub>P<sub>8</sub> was identified as the most effective, achieving up to 23.34 % MMP reduction at 1.0 wt% concentration. A clear concentration-dependent reduction was observed, with greater efficacy at higher surfactant levels. Notably, comparative analysis with literature data validated the superior performance of the developed surfactant in heavy oil, where conventional agents exhibit limited efficacy. Further investigations into oil droplet volume changes and carbon number distribution revealed enhanced mass transfer and interfacial activity, with a maximum reduction of 7.85 % in C<sub>25</sub>+ heavy components at 8 MPa, attributed to the CO<sub>2</sub>-philic groups and tailored alkyl chain architecture of the surfactant. These findings demonstrate that strategic molecular design enables effective MMP reduction, thereby offering concrete guidance for optimizing CO<sub>2</sub>-EOR processes in heavy oil reservoirs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":427,"journal":{"name":"Separation and Purification Technology","volume":"385 ","pages":"Article 136468"},"PeriodicalIF":9.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145718013","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The catalytic performance of transition metal oxides is strongly influenced by the crystallographic orientation of their exposed facets, which determines the concentration and reactivity of surface lattice oxygen. In this study, facet-engineered MnO2 nanomaterials were designed to elucidate the role of lattice oxygen in photothermal catalytic oxidation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Toluene was selected as a model aromatic VOCs due to its chemical inertness and environmental relevance. Among the investigated samples, MnO2 with predominantly exposed {001} facets (MnO2-A) exhibited superior photothermal activity, achieving 99.4 % toluene mineralization, outperforming MnO2 with {1−1−1} (MnO2-B) and {010} (MnO2-C) facets. Comprehensive characterization revealed that MnO2-A possessed the highest surface lattice oxygen concentration, enhanced oxygen migration dynamics, and excellent light-to-heat conversion efficiency. Under illumination, the generation and mobility of active oxygen species were further promoted, thereby accelerating deep oxidation of toluene. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations confirmed that the {001} facet significantly lowers the energy barrier for oxygen activation compared with other facets. In-situ diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS) further verified the critical role of lattice oxygen in facilitating complete mineralization pathways. This work highlights the facet-dependent lattice oxygen chemistry in MnO2 and provides fundamental insights into the design of advanced photothermal catalysts for efficient VOCs abatement.
{"title":"Unraveling the role of {001} facets in accelerating oxygen mobility for photothermal toluene mineralization","authors":"Juyuan Xing, Guangmei Gan, Yi Liu, Xiaobin Hao, Guoliang Tian, Yuan Li, Gaoke Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.seppur.2025.136466","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seppur.2025.136466","url":null,"abstract":"The catalytic performance of transition metal oxides is strongly influenced by the crystallographic orientation of their exposed facets, which determines the concentration and reactivity of surface lattice oxygen. In this study, facet-engineered MnO<sub>2</sub> nanomaterials were designed to elucidate the role of lattice oxygen in photothermal catalytic oxidation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Toluene was selected as a model aromatic VOCs due to its chemical inertness and environmental relevance. Among the investigated samples, MnO<sub>2</sub> with predominantly exposed {001} facets (MnO<sub>2</sub>-A) exhibited superior photothermal activity, achieving 99.4 % toluene mineralization, outperforming MnO<sub>2</sub> with {1−1−1} (MnO<sub>2</sub>-B) and {010} (MnO<sub>2</sub>-C) facets. Comprehensive characterization revealed that MnO<sub>2</sub>-A possessed the highest surface lattice oxygen concentration, enhanced oxygen migration dynamics, and excellent light-to-heat conversion efficiency. Under illumination, the generation and mobility of active oxygen species were further promoted, thereby accelerating deep oxidation of toluene. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations confirmed that the {001} facet significantly lowers the energy barrier for oxygen activation compared with other facets. In-situ diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS) further verified the critical role of lattice oxygen in facilitating complete mineralization pathways. This work highlights the facet-dependent lattice oxygen chemistry in MnO<sub>2</sub> and provides fundamental insights into the design of advanced photothermal catalysts for efficient VOCs abatement.","PeriodicalId":427,"journal":{"name":"Separation and Purification Technology","volume":"7 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.6,"publicationDate":"2025-12-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145728869","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"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 : 2025-12-10DOI: 10.1016/j.seppur.2025.136453
Peng Jin, Niao Fu, Ruining Bai, Qingzhi Liu, Yujiao Liu, Mei Chen, Jieli He
Eutrophication-driven cyanobacterial blooms release microcystin-LR (MC-LR), a potent hepatotoxin, posing severe environmental and public health risks. Effective, safe MC-LR degradation is critical for water remediation. Herein, we propose a rationally designed unique donor–acceptor–acceptor (D-A1-A2) structural strategy to synthesize a covalent organic framework (COF-TFP-TAPT-Me) for visible-light-driven, controllable 1O₂-mediated MC-LR photocatalysis. Structural/optoelectronic characterization confirmed triazine-based A2 (Melem) incorporation narrowed the parent D-A1 COF's band gap to 1.15 eV (vs. 1.38 eV) and enhanced charge separation via forming continuous π-conjugation, ordered π-π stacking, and a multi-level energy structure that promotes directional electron transfer (1.6-fold higher photocurrent than the parent COF). COF-TFP-TAPT-Me nearly completely degraded MC-LR in 25 min, with a pseudo-first-order rate constant 1.66-fold higher than the parent COF and outperforming benchmarks like P25 and PCN. Mechanistically, its D-A1-A2 configuration effectively enables highly selective and dominant 1O₂ generation in metal-free COFs (in contrast to mixed ROS in the parent COF) via photosensitized energy transfer, selectively attacking MC-LR's Adda chain (UPLC–MS verified). The catalyst retains >95 % activity after 5 cycles, is stable in natural water, and shows >80 % cell viability in cytotoxicity assays. This work highlights a novel D-A1-A2 framework for regulating 1O₂-dominated degradation, offering a trinity of high efficiency, stability, and low toxicity strategy for water purification.
{"title":"Singlet oxygen-driven degradation of microcystin-LR using a sustainable donor-acceptor-acceptor covalent organic framework","authors":"Peng Jin, Niao Fu, Ruining Bai, Qingzhi Liu, Yujiao Liu, Mei Chen, Jieli He","doi":"10.1016/j.seppur.2025.136453","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seppur.2025.136453","url":null,"abstract":"Eutrophication-driven cyanobacterial blooms release microcystin-LR (MC-LR), a potent hepatotoxin, posing severe environmental and public health risks. Effective, safe MC-LR degradation is critical for water remediation. Herein, we propose a rationally designed unique donor–acceptor–acceptor (D-A1-A2) structural strategy to synthesize a covalent organic framework (COF-TFP-TAPT-Me) for visible-light-driven, controllable <sup>1</sup>O₂-mediated MC-LR photocatalysis. Structural/optoelectronic characterization confirmed triazine-based A2 (Melem) incorporation narrowed the parent D-A1 COF's band gap to 1.15 eV (vs. 1.38 eV) and enhanced charge separation via forming continuous π-conjugation, ordered π-π stacking, and a multi-level energy structure that promotes directional electron transfer (1.6-fold higher photocurrent than the parent COF). COF-TFP-TAPT-Me nearly completely degraded MC-LR in 25 min, with a pseudo-first-order rate constant 1.66-fold higher than the parent COF and outperforming benchmarks like P25 and PCN. Mechanistically, its D-A1-A2 configuration effectively enables highly selective and dominant <sup>1</sup>O₂ generation in metal-free COFs (in contrast to mixed ROS in the parent COF) via photosensitized energy transfer, selectively attacking MC-LR's Adda chain (UPLC–MS verified). The catalyst retains >95 % activity after 5 cycles, is stable in natural water, and shows >80 % cell viability in cytotoxicity assays. This work highlights a novel D-A1-A2 framework for regulating <sup>1</sup>O₂-dominated degradation, offering a trinity of high efficiency, stability, and low toxicity strategy for water purification.","PeriodicalId":427,"journal":{"name":"Separation and Purification Technology","volume":"148 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.6,"publicationDate":"2025-12-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145728853","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
N7 and U-OH bonds, GMP forms a complex network structure with Cu2+ and UO22+. Additionally, Cu2+ significantly reduce the binding energy between GMP and UO22+. These findings demonstrate that GMP functions as a robust small-molecule platform for efficient and scalable uranium recovery under complex aqueous conditions.
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