To address the challenge of efficiently removing sulfonamides (SAs) from environmental water, a vortex-assisted liquid-liquid microextraction method using an L-menthol-based natural hydrophobic deep eutectic solvent (NaHDES), combined with ultra-performance liquid chromatography, was employed. The single-factor experiments, response surface methodology, and artificial neural network coupled with genetic algorithm (ANN-GA) were applied to optimize the key extraction parameters. Under the optimized conditions, the method exhibited excellent linearity (1.67–500 μg·L−1), low limits of detection (0.42–0.77 μg·L−1), relative standard deviations of 0.23–4.27%, and negligible matrix effects, as evaluated using real water samples from different sources. The extraction mechanism of SAs by the NaHDES was investigated using the conductor-like screening model for real solvents (COSMO-RS). Moreover, the validated method was successfully applied to environmental water samples. Finally, the results from three green chemistry assessment tools, including AGREE, AGREEprep and ComplexGAPI, demonstrated the greenness of the method. Overall, the proposed method is dispersant-free, simple, time-saving, environmentally friendly, and highly efficient, making it well suited for the analysis of SAs in different water samples.
{"title":"Sulfonamides extraction from environmental water using natural hydrophobic deep eutectic solvent: COSMO-RS calculations and ANN-GA optimization","authors":"Jiacao Wu , Yi Kuang , Shengxiang Yang, Xu Han, Yiyu Qi","doi":"10.1016/j.seppur.2026.137213","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.seppur.2026.137213","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>To address the challenge of efficiently removing sulfonamides (SAs) from environmental water, a vortex-assisted liquid-liquid microextraction method using an L-menthol-based natural hydrophobic deep eutectic solvent (NaHDES), combined with ultra-performance liquid chromatography, was employed. The single-factor experiments, response surface methodology, and artificial neural network coupled with genetic algorithm (ANN-GA) were applied to optimize the key extraction parameters. Under the optimized conditions, the method exhibited excellent linearity (1.67–500 μg·L<sup>−1</sup>), low limits of detection (0.42–0.77 μg·L<sup>−1</sup>), relative standard deviations of 0.23–4.27%, and negligible matrix effects, as evaluated using real water samples from different sources. The extraction mechanism of SAs by the NaHDES was investigated using the conductor-like screening model for real solvents (COSMO-RS). Moreover, the validated method was successfully applied to environmental water samples. Finally, the results from three green chemistry assessment tools, including AGREE, AGREEprep and ComplexGAPI, demonstrated the greenness of the method. Overall, the proposed method is dispersant-free, simple, time-saving, environmentally friendly, and highly efficient, making it well suited for the analysis of SAs in different water samples.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":427,"journal":{"name":"Separation and Purification Technology","volume":"392 ","pages":"Article 137213"},"PeriodicalIF":9.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146153026","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 : 2026-06-19Epub Date: 2026-02-11DOI: 10.1016/j.seppur.2026.137205
Xiaoyu Tan , Liang Zhou , Yuchun He , Min Chen , Xingbang Wan
Nickel smelting slag is an important secondary resource since its nickel content often exceeds that of certain primary ores. In this study, a novel process of recycling valuable metals from nickel slag was developed and experimentally verified, which can help Ni, Cu, and Co selectively separated from the slag. Under optimal conditions (650 °C, 90 min, 5%SO2–20%O2–75%Ar atmosphere, and Na2SO4/slag mass ratio of 0.5,1), the water-leaching efficiencies of Ni, Cu, and Co reached 96.5%, 99.7%, and 81.4%, respectively, whereas most Fe, Si, and other impurities were retained in the solid residue. Moreover, the reaction and catalysis mechanism were experimentally investigated and concluded. It was found that controlled gas atmosphere and temperature can achieve the selective sulfation of Ni, Cu, and Co into soluble sulfates, while Fe and Si remained as stable oxides, and the formation of nickel ferrite (NiFe2O4) was identified as a major inhibitory phase that limited Ni recovery. The addition of Na2SO4 promoted the generation of a low-melting-point salt (NaMgFe(SO4)3), which effectively suppressing NiFe2O4 formation and improving overall recovery efficiency. Furthermore, this process could utilize industrial SO2 off-gases as the sulfur source, and a ‘waste-treats-waste’ approach that converts harmful emissions into reactive agents was then established. This study provides a green, acid-free, and economically viable pathway for the comprehensive utilization of nickel slag and offers valuable guidance for the sustainable recovery of valuable metals from metal-bearing secondary resources.
{"title":"Green and synergistic process for high-efficiency recycling and valorization of nickel smelting slag","authors":"Xiaoyu Tan , Liang Zhou , Yuchun He , Min Chen , Xingbang Wan","doi":"10.1016/j.seppur.2026.137205","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.seppur.2026.137205","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Nickel smelting slag is an important secondary resource since its nickel content often exceeds that of certain primary ores. In this study, a novel process of recycling valuable metals from nickel slag was developed and experimentally verified, which can help Ni, Cu, and Co selectively separated from the slag. Under optimal conditions (650 °C, 90 min, 5%SO<sub>2</sub>–20%O<sub>2</sub>–75%Ar atmosphere, and Na<sub>2</sub>SO<sub>4</sub>/slag mass ratio of 0.5,1), the water-leaching efficiencies of Ni, Cu, and Co reached 96.5%, 99.7%, and 81.4%, respectively, whereas most Fe, Si, and other impurities were retained in the solid residue. Moreover, the reaction and catalysis mechanism were experimentally investigated and concluded. It was found that controlled gas atmosphere and temperature can achieve the selective sulfation of Ni, Cu, and Co into soluble sulfates, while Fe and Si remained as stable oxides, and the formation of nickel ferrite (NiFe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>4</sub>) was identified as a major inhibitory phase that limited Ni recovery. The addition of Na<sub>2</sub>SO<sub>4</sub> promoted the generation of a low-melting-point salt (NaMgFe(SO<sub>4</sub>)<sub>3</sub>), which effectively suppressing NiFe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>4</sub> formation and improving overall recovery efficiency. Furthermore, this process could utilize industrial SO<sub>2</sub> off-gases as the sulfur source, and a ‘waste-treats-waste’ approach that converts harmful emissions into reactive agents was then established. This study provides a green, acid-free, and economically viable pathway for the comprehensive utilization of nickel slag and offers valuable guidance for the sustainable recovery of valuable metals from metal-bearing secondary resources.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":427,"journal":{"name":"Separation and Purification Technology","volume":"392 ","pages":"Article 137205"},"PeriodicalIF":9.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146153685","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 : 2026-06-19Epub Date: 2026-02-05DOI: 10.1016/j.seppur.2026.137154
Cheng Chen , Lihua Wang , Fei Wang , Nan Xu
Dephosphorized ash (DA) retains considerable potential for zeolite synthesis due to its inherent silicon and aluminum content after phosphorus extraction. In this study, a one-step alkaline hydrothermal method was employed to promote the formation of zeolite P, and its adsorption performance toward Cd (II) ions in aqueous solution was systematically investigated. The presence of OH− ions in the alkaline environment effectively facilitates the dissolution and hydrolysis of the original DA structure. An appropriate hydrothermal temperature (150 °C) and sufficient reaction time (9 h) ensure that zeolite P is the dominant crystalline product. The synthesized zeolite P exhibits an optimal Cd (II) adsorption capacity of 33.08 mg/g at pH 5, which is associated with its negatively charged surface as indicated by zeta potential analysis. The adsorption behavior of Cd (II) is well described by the Langmuir isotherm model and pseudo-second-order kinetic model. Mechanistic analysis suggests that Cd (II) adsorption on zeolite P involves ion exchange and surface complexation via dehydration–condensation reactions. Furthermore, density functional theory (DFT) calculations indicate that Cd (II) preferentially binds to AlO sites to form CdO bonds, owing to the stronger interaction at Al-associated hydroxyl groups compared with Si-associated sites. Overall, this study provides a feasible strategy for converting DA into zeolite P and offers insights into its application for Cd (II) removal, which can realize a waste to waste utilization pathway.
{"title":"Zeolite P synthesis based on dephosphorized ash and its adsorption of Cd (II) ions","authors":"Cheng Chen , Lihua Wang , Fei Wang , Nan Xu","doi":"10.1016/j.seppur.2026.137154","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.seppur.2026.137154","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Dephosphorized ash (DA) retains considerable potential for zeolite synthesis due to its inherent silicon and aluminum content after phosphorus extraction. In this study, a one-step alkaline hydrothermal method was employed to promote the formation of zeolite P, and its adsorption performance toward Cd (II) ions in aqueous solution was systematically investigated. The presence of OH<sup>−</sup> ions in the alkaline environment effectively facilitates the dissolution and hydrolysis of the original DA structure. An appropriate hydrothermal temperature (150 °C) and sufficient reaction time (9 h) ensure that zeolite P is the dominant crystalline product. The synthesized zeolite P exhibits an optimal Cd (II) adsorption capacity of 33.08 mg/g at pH 5, which is associated with its negatively charged surface as indicated by zeta potential analysis. The adsorption behavior of Cd (II) is well described by the Langmuir isotherm model and pseudo-second-order kinetic model. Mechanistic analysis suggests that Cd (II) adsorption on zeolite P involves ion exchange and surface complexation via dehydration–condensation reactions. Furthermore, density functional theory (DFT) calculations indicate that Cd (II) preferentially binds to Al<img>O sites to form Cd<img>O bonds, owing to the stronger interaction at Al-associated hydroxyl groups compared with Si-associated sites. Overall, this study provides a feasible strategy for converting DA into zeolite P and offers insights into its application for Cd (II) removal, which can realize a waste to waste utilization pathway.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":427,"journal":{"name":"Separation and Purification Technology","volume":"392 ","pages":"Article 137154"},"PeriodicalIF":9.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146172298","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 : 2026-06-19Epub Date: 2026-02-09DOI: 10.1016/j.seppur.2026.137204
Yang Zhao , Weifeng Liu , Baiqi Sun , Duchao Zhang , Lin Chen , Tianzu Yang , Qunli Zhou
Noble antimony chloride leaching residue represents an important silver-bearing secondary resource that also contains Pb, Sb, and trace Au. However, existing processes predominantly focus on silver extraction and are constrained by excessive reagent consumption, limited selectivity, and low overall recovery. In this study, a novel ligand-free and integrated process was developed, comprising alkaline dechlorination, H2O2–HNO3 synergistic oxidative leaching, stepwise precipitation, and direct hydrazine reduction, enabling the efficient recovery of silver together with the selective separation of associated metals. Thermodynamic analysis demonstrated that the alkaline reduction–synergistic leaching strategy facilitates preferential dissolution of Ag and Pb while enriching Au and Sb in the residue. Under optimal conditions, the leaching efficiencies of Ag and Pb reached 99.2% and 79.4%, respectively, with effective suppression of NO2 emission. Subsequent sulfate and chloride precipitation yielded high-purity products, including ultrafine Ag powder (99.7%) and PbSO4 (99.3%). The overall direct recoveries of Ag and Pb were 98.9% and 78.6%, while the remaining residue was upgraded to a high-grade AuSb concentrate (Au 2.92%, Sb 23.8%). The process was successfully validated at an industrial scale in an antimony smelter, enabling annual recovery of 1.62 t Au and 1.4 t Ag, with reductions of 57% in reagent cost and 72.9% in wastewater discharge. This work provides a sustainable, low-emission, and industrially scalable route for the comprehensive valorization of high-Ag chloride residues.
贵金属氯化锑浸出渣是一种重要的含银二次资源,它还含有Pb、Sb和微量Au。然而,现有的工艺主要集中在银的提取上,并且受到过多的试剂消耗、有限的选择性和低的总回收率的限制。在本研究中,开发了一种新的无配体集成工艺,包括碱性脱氯、H2O2-HNO3协同氧化浸出、分步沉淀和直接肼还原,实现了银的高效回收和伴生金属的选择性分离。热力学分析表明,碱还原-协同浸出有利于银和铅的优先溶解,同时富集了渣中的Au和Sb。在最佳浸出条件下,银和铅的浸出效率分别达到99.2%和79.4%,并能有效抑制NO2的排放。随后的硫酸盐和氯化物沉淀得到了高纯度的产品,包括超细银粉(99.7%)和PbSO4(99.3%)。银和铅的总直接回收率分别为98.9%和78.6%,剩余残渣升级为Au 2.92%、Sb 23.8%的高品位AuSb精矿。该工艺在一家锑冶炼厂的工业规模上得到了成功验证,每年可回收1.62 t Au和1.4 t Ag,试剂成本降低57%,废水排放量降低72.9%。这项工作为高氯化银残留物的综合增值提供了一条可持续、低排放和工业可扩展的途径。
{"title":"Rapid ag and Pb extraction and high-purity material regeneration from silver-containing waste via selective reduction, leaching, and precipitation","authors":"Yang Zhao , Weifeng Liu , Baiqi Sun , Duchao Zhang , Lin Chen , Tianzu Yang , Qunli Zhou","doi":"10.1016/j.seppur.2026.137204","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.seppur.2026.137204","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Noble antimony chloride leaching residue represents an important silver-bearing secondary resource that also contains Pb, Sb, and trace Au. However, existing processes predominantly focus on silver extraction and are constrained by excessive reagent consumption, limited selectivity, and low overall recovery. In this study, a novel ligand-free and integrated process was developed, comprising alkaline dechlorination, H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>–HNO<sub>3</sub> synergistic oxidative leaching, stepwise precipitation, and direct hydrazine reduction, enabling the efficient recovery of silver together with the selective separation of associated metals. Thermodynamic analysis demonstrated that the alkaline reduction–synergistic leaching strategy facilitates preferential dissolution of Ag and Pb while enriching Au and Sb in the residue. Under optimal conditions, the leaching efficiencies of Ag and Pb reached 99.2% and 79.4%, respectively, with effective suppression of NO<sub>2</sub> emission. Subsequent sulfate and chloride precipitation yielded high-purity products, including ultrafine Ag powder (99.7%) and PbSO<sub>4</sub> (99.3%). The overall direct recoveries of Ag and Pb were 98.9% and 78.6%, while the remaining residue was upgraded to a high-grade Au<img>Sb concentrate (Au 2.92%, Sb 23.8%). The process was successfully validated at an industrial scale in an antimony smelter, enabling annual recovery of 1.62 t Au and 1.4 t Ag, with reductions of 57% in reagent cost and 72.9% in wastewater discharge. This work provides a sustainable, low-emission, and industrially scalable route for the comprehensive valorization of high-Ag chloride residues.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":427,"journal":{"name":"Separation and Purification Technology","volume":"392 ","pages":"Article 137204"},"PeriodicalIF":9.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146172301","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 : 2026-06-19Epub Date: 2026-02-06DOI: 10.1016/j.seppur.2026.137145
Xingxing Li , Jianing Qi , Mingjing Shi , Yuan Yao , Yingying Cao , Xue Wang , Hui Wang
Artemisinin is primarily derived from Artemisia annua L. However, due to the complex composition of its leaf extract, the purification and separation of artemisinin remain a significant challenge. In this work, various poly(ionic liquid)s (PILs) containing polar ester groups and non-polar long-chain alkyl groups were synthesized through radical polymerization. Subsequently, these PILs were made into coatings with controllable pore sizes and adjustable hydrophobicity. The ethyl octadecanoate based PIL coating showed excellent capability to intensify this purification process. The product purity could reach 96.8% after one crystallization step under the optimal conditions, approximately 30.8% higher than the traditional method. And the product purity could reach 99.9% after three sequential separation processes. In addition, the adsorption kinetics of wax oil on the PIL coating were studied, and the results indicated that it followed a pseudo-first-order kinetic model with a maximum adsorption capacity of 226.33 mg/g. Mechanism analysis demonstrated that hydrogen bonding and van der Waals forces between the wax oil (the main impurity in the extract) and PIL facilitated the adsorption of the wax oil, thereby increasing the purity of artemisinin.
{"title":"Controllable design of poly(ionic liquid) coatings for enhanced artemisinin purification","authors":"Xingxing Li , Jianing Qi , Mingjing Shi , Yuan Yao , Yingying Cao , Xue Wang , Hui Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.seppur.2026.137145","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.seppur.2026.137145","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Artemisinin is primarily derived from <em>Artemisia annua</em> L. However, due to the complex composition of its leaf extract, the purification and separation of artemisinin remain a significant challenge. In this work, various poly(ionic liquid)s (PILs) containing polar ester groups and non-polar long-chain alkyl groups were synthesized through radical polymerization. Subsequently, these PILs were made into coatings with controllable pore sizes and adjustable hydrophobicity. The ethyl octadecanoate based PIL coating showed excellent capability to intensify this purification process. The product purity could reach 96.8% after one crystallization step under the optimal conditions, approximately 30.8% higher than the traditional method. And the product purity could reach 99.9% after three sequential separation processes. In addition, the adsorption kinetics of wax oil on the PIL coating were studied, and the results indicated that it followed a pseudo-first-order kinetic model with a maximum adsorption capacity of 226.33 mg/g. Mechanism analysis demonstrated that hydrogen bonding and van der Waals forces between the wax oil (the main impurity in the extract) and PIL facilitated the adsorption of the wax oil, thereby increasing the purity of artemisinin.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":427,"journal":{"name":"Separation and Purification Technology","volume":"392 ","pages":"Article 137145"},"PeriodicalIF":9.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146172415","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 : 2026-06-19Epub Date: 2026-02-10DOI: 10.1016/j.seppur.2026.137207
Honghong Yi , Kai Chen , Hongkun Ni , Yiming Ma , Xiaolong Tang , Qingjun Yu , Fengyu Gao , Shunzheng Zhao
This study employs a synergistic strategy of Zn doping and KOH etching to precisely regulate the physicochemical properties of CeO2, significantly enhancing its H2S catalytic oxidation performance. Experimental results indicate that Zn doping induces lattice expansion of CeO2, while KOH etching further removes Zn, increases Ce3+ and oxygen vacancy concentrations, thereby optimizing surface acidity-basicity and redox capability. The obtained E-Zn/CeO2 material exhibits excellent H2S conversion, reaction and kinetics, while promoting the selective formation of SO2. Mechanistic studies reveal that H2S undergoes adsorption and dissociation via μ2-OH/–COOH groups on the material surface, with the oxidation process following the MvK mechanism, where oxygen vacancies play a key role in adsorption and lattice oxygen transfer. Theoretical calculations further demonstrate that the synergistic modification induces reconstruction of the electronic structure of CeO2, including weakened covalency of CeO bonds and a spin-state transition of O2p orbitals, which significantly reduces the oxygen vacancy formation energy (as low as −1.47 eV) and enhances structural stability. This work provides both experimental and theoretical foundations for the rational design of highly efficient H2S catalytic materials.
{"title":"Synergetic Zn doping and KOH etching of CeO2 for enhanced H2S oxidation via electronic structure reconstruction","authors":"Honghong Yi , Kai Chen , Hongkun Ni , Yiming Ma , Xiaolong Tang , Qingjun Yu , Fengyu Gao , Shunzheng Zhao","doi":"10.1016/j.seppur.2026.137207","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.seppur.2026.137207","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study employs a synergistic strategy of Zn doping and KOH etching to precisely regulate the physicochemical properties of CeO<sub>2</sub>, significantly enhancing its H<sub>2</sub>S catalytic oxidation performance. Experimental results indicate that Zn doping induces lattice expansion of CeO<sub>2</sub>, while KOH etching further removes Zn, increases Ce<sup>3+</sup> and oxygen vacancy concentrations, thereby optimizing surface acidity-basicity and redox capability. The obtained E-Zn/CeO<sub>2</sub> material exhibits excellent H<sub>2</sub>S conversion, reaction and kinetics, while promoting the selective formation of SO<sub>2</sub>. Mechanistic studies reveal that H<sub>2</sub>S undergoes adsorption and dissociation via μ<sub>2</sub>-OH/–COOH groups on the material surface, with the oxidation process following the MvK mechanism, where oxygen vacancies play a key role in adsorption and lattice oxygen transfer. Theoretical calculations further demonstrate that the synergistic modification induces reconstruction of the electronic structure of CeO<sub>2</sub>, including weakened covalency of Ce<img>O bonds and a spin-state transition of O<sub>2p</sub> orbitals, which significantly reduces the oxygen vacancy formation energy (as low as −1.47 eV) and enhances structural stability. This work provides both experimental and theoretical foundations for the rational design of highly efficient H<sub>2</sub>S catalytic materials.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":427,"journal":{"name":"Separation and Purification Technology","volume":"392 ","pages":"Article 137207"},"PeriodicalIF":9.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146172495","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 : 2026-06-19Epub Date: 2026-02-10DOI: 10.1016/j.seppur.2026.137206
Haotian Gan , Baohuai Zhao , Qing Liu , Xuefeng He , Zhisheng Shi , Shuai Han , Kezhi Li , Bo Liu , Shengen Zhang , Yunji Ding
Catalysts play a significant role in oil refining field. Reforming catalysts, hydrogenation catalysts and fluid catalytic cracking catalysts (FCC catalysts) are extensively employed in the petroleum refining, which account for over 90% of total catalysts. Consequently, large amounts of spent catalysts are generated once they lose the effectiveness and end of life. Spent catalysts are classified as hazardous waste and their disposal has become a great concern for the refineries. Recovery of spent catalysts has attracted great attention due to the environmental issues and economic benefits as containing valuable metals (such as Pt, Pd, Co, Mo, Ni, V, rare earth metals) as well. This review summarized the recycling technologies on the recovery of valuable metals from spent petroleum catalysts, as well as the latest achievements of the authors' group. More recycling technologies with less environmental impacts have been developed in recent years. For instance, pyrometallurgical enrichment of valuable metals have become the research focus for recovery of spent reforming catalysts and hydrogenation catalysts. Hydrometallurgical leaching and alkali roasted methods are the main recycling technologies, which were widely used in industry. The comparison of different technologies has been provided and the existing challenges have also been put forward. Finally, with the aim to promote the sustainable development of petroleum industry, several considerations for highly and efficiently recovery of valuable metals from spent petroleum catalyst have been proposed.
{"title":"Critical reviews on recovery of valuable metals from spent petroleum catalysts","authors":"Haotian Gan , Baohuai Zhao , Qing Liu , Xuefeng He , Zhisheng Shi , Shuai Han , Kezhi Li , Bo Liu , Shengen Zhang , Yunji Ding","doi":"10.1016/j.seppur.2026.137206","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.seppur.2026.137206","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Catalysts play a significant role in oil refining field. Reforming catalysts, hydrogenation catalysts and fluid catalytic cracking catalysts (FCC catalysts) are extensively employed in the petroleum refining, which account for over 90% of total catalysts. Consequently, large amounts of spent catalysts are generated once they lose the effectiveness and end of life. Spent catalysts are classified as hazardous waste and their disposal has become a great concern for the refineries. Recovery of spent catalysts has attracted great attention due to the environmental issues and economic benefits as containing valuable metals (such as Pt, Pd, Co, Mo, Ni, V, rare earth metals) as well. This review summarized the recycling technologies on the recovery of valuable metals from spent petroleum catalysts, as well as the latest achievements of the authors' group. More recycling technologies with less environmental impacts have been developed in recent years. For instance, pyrometallurgical enrichment of valuable metals have become the research focus for recovery of spent reforming catalysts and hydrogenation catalysts. Hydrometallurgical leaching and alkali roasted methods are the main recycling technologies, which were widely used in industry. The comparison of different technologies has been provided and the existing challenges have also been put forward. Finally, with the aim to promote the sustainable development of petroleum industry, several considerations for highly and efficiently recovery of valuable metals from spent petroleum catalyst have been proposed.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":427,"journal":{"name":"Separation and Purification Technology","volume":"392 ","pages":"Article 137206"},"PeriodicalIF":9.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146172431","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 : 2026-06-19Epub Date: 2026-02-04DOI: 10.1016/j.seppur.2026.137142
Xiaoqing Zheng , Fahui Xiang , Hongyu Lin , Lei He , Shengchang Xiang , Zhangjing Zhang
High-purity methanol is in high global demand due to its critical role in chemical synthesis and energy production. However efficiently separating methanol from the impurities such as water and ethanol with low energy consumption remains a key challenge. Here two ultramicroporous MOFs (molecular-sieving UTSA-280 and cage-like Cu-Tria) are investigated for methanol purification. The results show excellent water/methanol separation performance in both MOFs. But in a single adsorption cycle from a 16/84 water/methanol mixture, Cu-Tria achieved a markedly higher methanol productivity of 23.24 mmol/g (98% purity) than that of UTSA-280 (3.63 mmol/g) with a higher water/methanol separation factor of 46.00. Moreover, methanol/ethanol mixture can be separated only by Cu-Tria, benefiting from the enhancing sieving effect of the cage-window structure. Adsorption enthalpies, diffusional time constants measurements and grand canonical Monte Carlo (GCMC) simulations demonstrate that the selective separation of water/methanol mixture in UTSA-280 is mainly ascribed to the kinetic mechanism by the faster transport of water over methanol in the confined channels. But the balance between high water adsorption capacity and high water/methanol separation selectivity in Cu-Tria is achieved by the synergistic effect of thermodynamic and kinetic mechanisms originating from its cage-window structure.
{"title":"Excellent sieving separation of methanol from water and ethanol by ultramicroporous molecular-sieving UTSA-280 and cage-like Cu-Tria","authors":"Xiaoqing Zheng , Fahui Xiang , Hongyu Lin , Lei He , Shengchang Xiang , Zhangjing Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.seppur.2026.137142","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.seppur.2026.137142","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>High-purity methanol is in high global demand due to its critical role in chemical synthesis and energy production. However efficiently separating methanol from the impurities such as water and ethanol with low energy consumption remains a key challenge. Here two ultramicroporous MOFs (molecular-sieving UTSA-280 and cage-like Cu-Tria) are investigated for methanol purification. The results show excellent water/methanol separation performance in both MOFs. But in a single adsorption cycle from a 16/84 water/methanol mixture, Cu-Tria achieved a markedly higher methanol productivity of 23.24 mmol/g (98% purity) than that of UTSA-280 (3.63 mmol/g) with a higher water/methanol separation factor of 46.00. Moreover, methanol/ethanol mixture can be separated only by Cu-Tria, benefiting from the enhancing sieving effect of the cage-window structure. Adsorption enthalpies, diffusional time constants measurements and grand canonical Monte Carlo (GCMC) simulations demonstrate that the selective separation of water/methanol mixture in UTSA-280 is mainly ascribed to the kinetic mechanism by the faster transport of water over methanol in the confined channels. But the balance between high water adsorption capacity and high water/methanol separation selectivity in Cu-Tria is achieved by the synergistic effect of thermodynamic and kinetic mechanisms originating from its cage-window structure.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":427,"journal":{"name":"Separation and Purification Technology","volume":"392 ","pages":"Article 137142"},"PeriodicalIF":9.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146172430","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 : 2026-06-19Epub Date: 2026-02-02DOI: 10.1016/j.seppur.2026.137099
Tim Croes , Abhishek Dutta , Korneel Van Aelst , Bert Sels , Bart Van der Bruggen , Iris Cornet
A major obstacle to employing the full potential of lignin-based aromatics is the fractionation of the monomers present in lignin, specifically the separation of guaiacyl (G) and syringyl (S) units, which possess nearly identical molecular weights (196 Da versus 166 Da) and dimensions, and identical functional groups. Such similarities make their separation highly challenging using conventional techniques and are generally considered beyond the capabilities of size-based membrane processes. This study examines the feasibility of organic solvent nanofiltration for fractionation of guaiacyl and syringyl units, and how membrane and process parameters affect separation of these two molecules. Sixteen commercially available membranes were tested with methanol and ethyl acetate as solvents. The results demonstrate that, despite the extreme similarity of the solutes, selective separation is achievable and is primarily governed by membrane material and solvent selection rather than the pore size-based molecular weight cut-off. Polyimide-based solvent-resistant membranes exhibited the highest selectivity, with a maximum observed separation factor of 3.33 obtained using a DuraMem™ 500 membrane in methanol. These findings demonstrate the potential of nanofiltration to address previously unresolved separation challenges in lignin valorization and provide a basis for further process development.
{"title":"Fractionation of guaiacyl and syringyl- lignin units using organic solvent nanofiltration","authors":"Tim Croes , Abhishek Dutta , Korneel Van Aelst , Bert Sels , Bart Van der Bruggen , Iris Cornet","doi":"10.1016/j.seppur.2026.137099","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.seppur.2026.137099","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>A major obstacle to employing the full potential of lignin-based aromatics is the fractionation of the monomers present in lignin, specifically the separation of guaiacyl (G) and syringyl (S) units, which possess nearly identical molecular weights (196 Da versus 166 Da) and dimensions, and identical functional groups. Such similarities make their separation highly challenging using conventional techniques and are generally considered beyond the capabilities of size-based membrane processes. This study examines the feasibility of organic solvent nanofiltration for fractionation of guaiacyl and syringyl units, and how membrane and process parameters affect separation of these two molecules. Sixteen commercially available membranes were tested with methanol and ethyl acetate as solvents. The results demonstrate that, despite the extreme similarity of the solutes, selective separation is achievable and is primarily governed by membrane material and solvent selection rather than the pore size-based molecular weight cut-off. Polyimide-based solvent-resistant membranes exhibited the highest selectivity, with a maximum observed separation factor of 3.33 obtained using a DuraMem™ 500 membrane in methanol. These findings demonstrate the potential of nanofiltration to address previously unresolved separation challenges in lignin valorization and provide a basis for further process development.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":427,"journal":{"name":"Separation and Purification Technology","volume":"392 ","pages":"Article 137099"},"PeriodicalIF":9.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146172429","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 : 2026-06-19Epub Date: 2026-02-04DOI: 10.1016/j.seppur.2026.137151
Yupeng Li, Lei Huang, Zhu Xiong, Gaosheng Zhang
Electroplating and mining wastewater contain important pollutants such as thallium and fluoride. Capacitive deionization technology is the current cutting-edge technology for treatment. This study prepares titanium-based phosphate crystal material Ti2P2O9 using the hydrothermal method, and the material particles exhibit a spherical morphology. Ti, P, and O elements are uniformly distributed on the material surface, with a specific surface area of 87.94 m2/g and capacitance of 30.54 F/g. The material demonstrates efficient removal of Tl(I) under different pH conditions and achieves efficient removal of fluoride ions in strong acidic environments. The maximum adsorption capacity of Ti2P2O9 for thallium under neutral conditions, as determined from the Langmuir isotherm adsorption curve fitting results, is 526.96 mg/g, and the maximum adsorption capacity for fluoride under acidic conditions is 51.27 mg/g. The material exhibits excellent regenerative performance, achieving regeneration effects of 90.4% and 69.9% for the removal of thallium and fluoride ions, respectively, after multiple regenerations under electrochemical methods. After DFT simulation calculation, the energy barriers are ordered from high to low as: Ti2P2O9-F, Ti2P2O9-HF, Ti2P2O9-Tl. This paper investigates the efficiency of this material for capacitive deionization in removing thallium and fluoride pollution under multi-factor conditions. The micro-mechanisms of the material during electroadsorption are discussed, that combined with theoretical calculations. It provides guidance for research on electroadsorption-assisted pollutant removal.
{"title":"Capacitive deionization based on Ti2P2O9: symmetrical electrode and synergistic removal mechanism of thallium and fluoride","authors":"Yupeng Li, Lei Huang, Zhu Xiong, Gaosheng Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.seppur.2026.137151","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.seppur.2026.137151","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Electroplating and mining wastewater contain important pollutants such as thallium and fluoride. Capacitive deionization technology is the current cutting-edge technology for treatment. This study prepares titanium-based phosphate crystal material Ti<sub>2</sub>P<sub>2</sub>O<sub>9</sub> using the hydrothermal method, and the material particles exhibit a spherical morphology. Ti, P, and O elements are uniformly distributed on the material surface, with a specific surface area of 87.94 m<sup>2</sup>/g and capacitance of 30.54 F/g. The material demonstrates efficient removal of Tl(I) under different pH conditions and achieves efficient removal of fluoride ions in strong acidic environments. The maximum adsorption capacity of Ti<sub>2</sub>P<sub>2</sub>O<sub>9</sub> for thallium under neutral conditions, as determined from the Langmuir isotherm adsorption curve fitting results, is 526.96 mg/g, and the maximum adsorption capacity for fluoride under acidic conditions is 51.27 mg/g. The material exhibits excellent regenerative performance, achieving regeneration effects of 90.4% and 69.9% for the removal of thallium and fluoride ions, respectively, after multiple regenerations under electrochemical methods. After DFT simulation calculation, the energy barriers are ordered from high to low as: Ti<sub>2</sub>P<sub>2</sub>O<sub>9</sub>-F, Ti<sub>2</sub>P<sub>2</sub>O<sub>9</sub>-HF, Ti<sub>2</sub>P<sub>2</sub>O<sub>9</sub>-Tl. This paper investigates the efficiency of this material for capacitive deionization in removing thallium and fluoride pollution under multi-factor conditions. The micro-mechanisms of the material during electroadsorption are discussed, that combined with theoretical calculations. It provides guidance for research on electroadsorption-assisted pollutant removal.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":427,"journal":{"name":"Separation and Purification Technology","volume":"392 ","pages":"Article 137151"},"PeriodicalIF":9.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146172418","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}