Pub Date : 2026-01-29DOI: 10.1016/j.seppur.2026.137016
Oluwaseun Ogunbiyi , Yongfeng Tong , Qingyang Liu , Simjo Simson , Yiming Wubulikasimu , Khaled Mahmoud , Zhaoyang Liu
In the pursuit of environment-friendly solutions for oily wastewater treatment in challenging environments, the demand for efficient coalescing media is greater than ever. This study introduced a biomimetic coalescing medium, engineered to deliver superior oil-water separation through its unique architecture and surface wettability. The composite material features lotus-leaf-like papillae formed by porous Zn(OH)2 microspheres interwoven with ultralong MnO₂ nanowires, surface decorated with an ultrathin, chemically inert PVDF layer. The fabricated materials possess high surface area, hierarchically porous structure, and hydrophobic/oleophilic properties that are favorable for selective and effective oil droplets' coalescence. The coalescing medium demonstrates outstanding oil-water separation efficiency (over 99%) and water flux (1198 L m−2 h−1), regardless of acidic, alkaline, or saline environments. By paving a new way for the production of biomimetic, high-performance coalescing media, this research advances the practical application of coalescence technology for treating industrial oily wastewater - particularly in harsh operational settings.
为了在具有挑战性的环境中寻求环保的含油废水处理解决方案，对高效聚结介质的需求比以往任何时候都大。该研究介绍了一种仿生聚结介质，通过其独特的结构和表面润湿性，实现了卓越的油水分离。该复合材料具有荷叶状乳头状结构，由多孔Zn(OH)2微球与超长mno2纳米线交织而成，表面装饰有超薄的化学惰性PVDF层。制备的材料具有高表面积、分层多孔结构和疏水/亲油性质，有利于油滴的选择性和有效聚并。无论在酸性、碱性或盐碱环境中，该凝聚介质都具有出色的油水分离效率（超过99%）和水通量（1198 L m−2 h−1）。通过为生产仿生高性能聚结介质铺平了新道路，该研究推进了聚结技术在处理工业含油废水中的实际应用，特别是在恶劣的操作环境中。
{"title":"A simple strategy for developing biomimetic coalescing media with super-wetting and hierarchical-structured papillae for efficient oil/water separation","authors":"Oluwaseun Ogunbiyi , Yongfeng Tong , Qingyang Liu , Simjo Simson , Yiming Wubulikasimu , Khaled Mahmoud , Zhaoyang Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.seppur.2026.137016","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.seppur.2026.137016","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In the pursuit of environment-friendly solutions for oily wastewater treatment in challenging environments, the demand for efficient coalescing media is greater than ever. This study introduced a biomimetic coalescing medium, engineered to deliver superior oil-water separation through its unique architecture and surface wettability. The composite material features lotus-leaf-like papillae formed by porous Zn(OH)<sub>2</sub> microspheres interwoven with ultralong MnO₂ nanowires, surface decorated with an ultrathin, chemically inert PVDF layer. The fabricated materials possess high surface area, hierarchically porous structure, and hydrophobic/oleophilic properties that are favorable for selective and effective oil droplets' coalescence. The coalescing medium demonstrates outstanding oil-water separation efficiency (over 99%) and water flux (1198 L m<sup>−2</sup> h<sup>−1</sup>), regardless of acidic, alkaline, or saline environments. By paving a new way for the production of biomimetic, high-performance coalescing media, this research advances the practical application of coalescence technology for treating industrial oily wastewater - particularly in harsh operational settings.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":427,"journal":{"name":"Separation and Purification Technology","volume":"391 ","pages":"Article 137016"},"PeriodicalIF":9.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146077134","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 : 2026-01-28DOI: 10.1016/j.seppur.2026.137027
Rui Yang , Yizhou Feng , Yunan Song , Xianshu Zhou , Weihuang Zhu
Carbon matrix-encapsulated CoMn2O4 composite was prepared as an effectively peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activator. The prepared catalyst (2.0-C/CMO-700) achieved nearly 100% pollutant removal within 30 min in PMS-based Fenton-like reactions. The high catalytic performance and stability of 2.0-C/CMO-700 were attributed to the encapsulated reactive CoMn2O4 within the carbon matrix, low charge transfer resistance (Rct) and enhanced redox transformation among different valence states of Mn and Co. Consequently, when 2.0-C/CMO-700 functioned as an electron electron-pool, efficient charge transfer to PMS or the target pollutant (TC) was promoted, resulting in high PMS activation efficiency toward pollutant removal. Quenching experiments showed the generated reactive species, including SO4⋅-, O2⋅-, 1O2 and OH⋅, participated in the radical and non-radical pathways and played critical roles in pollutant degradation. Furthermore, the oxygen molecule actively contributed to the formation of reactive oxygen species (O2⋅- and 1O2), which was driven by the catalytic effect of 2.0-C/CMO-700. The presences of SO4⋅- and O2⋅- further enhanced the yield of 1O2 during PMS activation process. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations showed that the adsorption energy (Eads) of PMS on the surfaces of catalyst, as well as the OO bond length (lO–O) and OS bond length (lO–S) in the adsorbed PMS molecule were all strengthened, which thereby facilitating more efficient generation of reactive oxygen species during PMS activation. This study proposed a green, sustainable approach for producing highly efficient and durable metal‑carbon composites to support environmental remediation.
{"title":"Boosted performance of peroxymonosulfate-based Fenton-like reactions by employing CoMn2O4 encapsulated in carbon matrix as catalyst","authors":"Rui Yang , Yizhou Feng , Yunan Song , Xianshu Zhou , Weihuang Zhu","doi":"10.1016/j.seppur.2026.137027","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.seppur.2026.137027","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Carbon matrix-encapsulated CoMn<sub>2</sub>O<sub>4</sub> composite was prepared as an effectively peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activator. The prepared catalyst (2.0-C/CMO-700) achieved nearly 100% pollutant removal within 30 min in PMS-based Fenton-like reactions. The high catalytic performance and stability of 2.0-C/CMO-700 were attributed to the encapsulated reactive CoMn<sub>2</sub>O<sub>4</sub> within the carbon matrix, low charge transfer resistance (R<sub>ct</sub>) and enhanced redox transformation among different valence states of Mn and Co. Consequently, when 2.0-C/CMO-700 functioned as an electron electron-pool, efficient charge transfer to PMS or the target pollutant (TC) was promoted, resulting in high PMS activation efficiency toward pollutant removal. Quenching experiments showed the generated reactive species, including SO<sub>4</sub><sup>⋅-</sup>, O<sub>2</sub><sup>⋅-</sup>, <sup>1</sup>O<sub>2</sub> and OH<sup>⋅</sup>, participated in the radical and non-radical pathways and played critical roles in pollutant degradation. Furthermore, the oxygen molecule actively contributed to the formation of reactive oxygen species (O<sub>2</sub><sup>⋅-</sup> and <sup>1</sup>O<sub>2</sub>), which was driven by the catalytic effect of 2.0-C/CMO-700. The presences of SO<sub>4</sub><sup>⋅-</sup> and O<sub>2</sub><sup>⋅-</sup> further enhanced the yield of <sup>1</sup>O<sub>2</sub> during PMS activation process. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations showed that the adsorption energy (E<sub>ads</sub>) of PMS on the surfaces of catalyst, as well as the O<img>O bond length (l<sub>O–O</sub>) and O<img>S bond length (l<sub>O–S</sub>) in the adsorbed PMS molecule were all strengthened, which thereby facilitating more efficient generation of reactive oxygen species during PMS activation. This study proposed a green, sustainable approach for producing highly efficient and durable metal‑carbon composites to support environmental remediation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":427,"journal":{"name":"Separation and Purification Technology","volume":"391 ","pages":"Article 137027"},"PeriodicalIF":9.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146077283","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 : 2026-01-28DOI: 10.1016/j.seppur.2026.137059
Amit Barnwal , Andrea Locati , Maja Mikulić , Lundström Mari , Benjamin P. Wilson , Jere Partinen , Alexander Chernyaev , Roshan Budhathoki , Martina Petranikova
Nickel (Ni), one of the most expensive strategic metals, is frequently utilized in Li-ion batteries and other metal alloy applications due to its unique features that include corrosion resistance, high strength, storage capacity, and energy density. In this study, selective recovery of Ni from hydrometallurgical battery recycling solution of real industrial spent nickel‑manganese‑cobalt oxide (NMC) batteries was investigated. Versatic Acid 10 diluted in Isopar L was used as an organic extractant for the selective extraction of Ni2+ ions, followed by crystallization of nickel sulfate hexahydrate (NiSO4.6H2O). The kinetics of solvent extraction was studied in batch scale over a time range of 1 to 15 min at pH 6.8 ± 0.1. Results showed that the equilibrium needed for effective extraction and volumetric mass transfer coefficient could be rapidly achieved (within 3 min, 0.9 M Versatic Acid 10). The counter-current solvent extraction process was scaled up in a mixer-settler system for a pilot run using the optimized parameters established by the batch-scale experiments. Almost 100% Ni extraction was achieved through a two-stage counter-current process using 0.9 M Versatic Acid 10, with an organic-to-aqueous phase ratio (θ) of 1. The Ni loaded organic phase was subsequently stripped in two stages using 0.2 M sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄) at θ = 1. NiSO4.6H2O salt with 99.26 ± 0.01% purity was recovered from the stripped raffinate solution obtained after the mixer-settler operation via evaporative crystallization at 35 °C and a vacuum pressure of 0.1 MPa. Purity, morphology and phases of the recovered crystallized powder were analyzed with inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques respectively. Recovered crystallized nickel sulfate was determined to have sufficient purity for use as precursor cathode active materials (pCAM) in nickel-based lithium-ion battery manufacture.
镍（Ni）是最昂贵的战略金属之一，由于其独特的特性，包括耐腐蚀、高强度、存储容量和能量密度，经常用于锂离子电池和其他金属合金应用。研究了从实际工业废镍锰钴氧化物（NMC）电池湿法冶金电池回收液中选择性回收镍的方法。用异opar L稀释的Versatic Acid 10作为有机萃取剂，选择性萃取Ni2+离子，然后结晶六水硫酸镍（NiSO4.6H2O）。在pH为6.8±0.1的条件下，在1 ~ 15 min的时间范围内研究了溶剂萃取动力学。结果表明，在0.9 M Versatic Acid 10条件下，3 min内即可达到有效萃取所需的平衡，体积传质系数可快速达到。利用批量实验确定的优化参数，在混合-沉淀系统中进行了逆流溶剂萃取工艺的中试。采用两级逆流工艺，使用0.9 M Versatic Acid 10，有机水相比（θ）为1，镍的提取率几乎达到100%。然后用0.2 M硫酸（H₂SO₄）在θ = 1条件下分两段剥离负载Ni的有机相。在35℃、0.1 MPa的真空压力下，通过蒸发结晶，从混合-沉淀操作后的萃余液中回收纯度为99.26±0.01%的NiSO4.6H2O盐。采用电感耦合等离子体发射光谱（ICP-OES）、扫描电镜（SEM）和x射线衍射（XRD）技术对回收结晶粉末的纯度、形貌和物相进行分析。回收结晶硫酸镍具有足够的纯度，可作为镍基锂离子电池前驱体正极活性材料（pCAM）。
{"title":"Recovery of nickel from the pregnant leach solution of spent NMC batteries using Versatic acid 10 and mixer-settler operations","authors":"Amit Barnwal , Andrea Locati , Maja Mikulić , Lundström Mari , Benjamin P. Wilson , Jere Partinen , Alexander Chernyaev , Roshan Budhathoki , Martina Petranikova","doi":"10.1016/j.seppur.2026.137059","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.seppur.2026.137059","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Nickel (Ni), one of the most expensive strategic metals, is frequently utilized in Li-ion batteries and other metal alloy applications due to its unique features that include corrosion resistance, high strength, storage capacity, and energy density. In this study, selective recovery of Ni from hydrometallurgical battery recycling solution of real industrial spent nickel‑manganese‑cobalt oxide (NMC) batteries was investigated. Versatic Acid 10 diluted in Isopar L was used as an organic extractant for the selective extraction of Ni<sup>2+</sup> ions, followed by crystallization of nickel sulfate hexahydrate (NiSO<sub>4</sub>.6H<sub>2</sub>O). The kinetics of solvent extraction was studied in batch scale over a time range of 1 to 15 min at pH 6.8 ± 0.1. Results showed that the equilibrium needed for effective extraction and volumetric mass transfer coefficient could be rapidly achieved (within 3 min, 0.9 M Versatic Acid 10). The counter-current solvent extraction process was scaled up in a mixer-settler system for a pilot run using the optimized parameters established by the batch-scale experiments. Almost 100% Ni extraction was achieved through a two-stage counter-current process using 0.9 M Versatic Acid 10, with an organic-to-aqueous phase ratio (θ) of 1. The Ni loaded organic phase was subsequently stripped in two stages using 0.2 M sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄) at θ = 1. NiSO<sub>4</sub>.6H<sub>2</sub>O salt with 99.26 ± 0.01% purity was recovered from the stripped raffinate solution obtained after the mixer-settler operation via evaporative crystallization at 35 °C and a vacuum pressure of 0.1 MPa. Purity, morphology and phases of the recovered crystallized powder were analyzed with inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques respectively. Recovered crystallized nickel sulfate was determined to have sufficient purity for use as precursor cathode active materials (pCAM) in nickel-based lithium-ion battery manufacture.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":427,"journal":{"name":"Separation and Purification Technology","volume":"391 ","pages":"Article 137059"},"PeriodicalIF":9.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146077131","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 : 2026-01-28DOI: 10.1016/j.seppur.2026.137048
Jun Ma , Xiaolong Qiu , Jinliang Shang , Jinlong Jiang , Shuang Kou , Yanli Liu , Chuanjun Tu
In this study, the role of pore architecture in regulating the coupled thermo-mechanical behavior of prebaked anodes at 960 °C was systematically investigated. High-resolution X-ray computed tomography was employed to reconstruct the three-dimensional pore morphology of anodes fabricated by compression molding and vibration molding. Quantitative descriptors, including pore-size distribution, connectivity, and anisotropy, were extracted to construct representative pore-cluster models. Based on these experimentally derived structures, finite-element simulations were performed using COMSOL Multiphysics® to analyze temperature evolution and thermal-stress development under different preheating conditions. The results reveal that vibration-molded anodes possess a more isotropic and well-connected pore network, leading to a 35–40% reduction in peak thermal stress and an approximately 20 °C decrease in internal temperature fluctuations compared with compression-molded samples. This improvement is attributed to the formation of a homogeneous pore network that facilitates uniform heat dissipation and minimizes structural mismatch during high-temperature operation. These findings provide new insights into the microstructural origins of non-electrolytic consumption and establish a quantitative link among forming process, pore architecture, and the thermo-mechanical stability of carbon anodes.
{"title":"Coupled CT-based structural characterization and finite element Modeling for revealing the thermo–mechanical response of prebaked anodes during high-temperature service","authors":"Jun Ma , Xiaolong Qiu , Jinliang Shang , Jinlong Jiang , Shuang Kou , Yanli Liu , Chuanjun Tu","doi":"10.1016/j.seppur.2026.137048","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.seppur.2026.137048","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In this study, the role of pore architecture in regulating the coupled thermo-mechanical behavior of prebaked anodes at 960 °C was systematically investigated. High-resolution X-ray computed tomography was employed to reconstruct the three-dimensional pore morphology of anodes fabricated by compression molding and vibration molding. Quantitative descriptors, including pore-size distribution, connectivity, and anisotropy, were extracted to construct representative pore-cluster models. Based on these experimentally derived structures, finite-element simulations were performed using COMSOL Multiphysics® to analyze temperature evolution and thermal-stress development under different preheating conditions. The results reveal that vibration-molded anodes possess a more isotropic and well-connected pore network, leading to a 35–40% reduction in peak thermal stress and an approximately 20 °C decrease in internal temperature fluctuations compared with compression-molded samples. This improvement is attributed to the formation of a homogeneous pore network that facilitates uniform heat dissipation and minimizes structural mismatch during high-temperature operation. These findings provide new insights into the microstructural origins of non-electrolytic consumption and establish a quantitative link among forming process, pore architecture, and the thermo-mechanical stability of carbon anodes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":427,"journal":{"name":"Separation and Purification Technology","volume":"391 ","pages":"Article 137048"},"PeriodicalIF":9.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146077132","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 : 2026-01-28DOI: 10.1016/j.seppur.2026.137058
Rajdeep Mukherjee , Amiya K. Jana
This work synthesizes a plantwide control strategy for a multi-effect desalination system coupled with thermal vapor compression (MED-TVC). A dynamic model of MED-TVC is developed and validated using the dataset of a plant operated in Tripoli, Libya. There is a close agreement achieved between the model outputs and plat data, with relative errors ranging from 0.001 to 1.38% across all calculated outputs. For closed-loop study of this plant scenario, a set of nine controlled and manipulated variable pairs are identified. Subsequently, multi-loop proportional integral (PI) control schemes are designed to regulate the key controlled variables of the industrial MED-TVC. To select the control parameters, an optimal tuning algorithm is strategized by combining the graphical fit method, internal model control tuning relations and a global optimization algorithm. Closed-loop simulations demonstrate effective set point tracking and disturbance rejection with integral square error improvements ranging from 25.78 to 98.29% across all effects. These results confirm that the proposed plantwide control framework provided a stable and an efficient operation of industrial MED-TVC process.
{"title":"An industrial multi-effect desalination: Model validation and plantwide control","authors":"Rajdeep Mukherjee , Amiya K. Jana","doi":"10.1016/j.seppur.2026.137058","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.seppur.2026.137058","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This work synthesizes a plantwide control strategy for a multi-effect desalination system coupled with thermal vapor compression (MED-TVC). A dynamic model of MED-TVC is developed and validated using the dataset of a plant operated in Tripoli, Libya. There is a close agreement achieved between the model outputs and plat data, with relative errors ranging from 0.001 to 1.38% across all calculated outputs. For closed-loop study of this plant scenario, a set of nine controlled and manipulated variable pairs are identified. Subsequently, multi-loop proportional integral (PI) control schemes are designed to regulate the key controlled variables of the industrial MED-TVC. To select the control parameters, an optimal tuning algorithm is strategized by combining the graphical fit method, internal model control tuning relations and a global optimization algorithm. Closed-loop simulations demonstrate effective set point tracking and disturbance rejection with integral square error improvements ranging from 25.78 to 98.29% across all effects. These results confirm that the proposed plantwide control framework provided a stable and an efficient operation of industrial MED-TVC process.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":427,"journal":{"name":"Separation and Purification Technology","volume":"391 ","pages":"Article 137058"},"PeriodicalIF":9.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146057126","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 : 2026-01-28DOI: 10.1016/j.seppur.2026.137063
Donghyun Kim , Inho Choi , Young-Nam Kwon , Yeomin Yoon , Byung-Moon Jun
Acidic process streams from hydrometallurgy, lithium-ion battery recycling, semiconductor and steel manufacturing, phosphoric acid production, acid mine drainage, and biorefineries demand separation technologies capable of maintaining stability under highly corrosive conditions. This review provides an integrated perspective on acid-resistant nanofiltration membranes by correlating monomer chemistry, fabrication methods, and degradation mechanisms with operational performance. Semi-aromatic, fully aromatic, polysulfonamide, and triazine (cyanuric chloride)-based systems, along with polyelectrolyte multilayer and covalent organic framework architectures, are compared to elucidate the interrelationships among structure, properties, and stability. The effects of pressure, feed concentration, solution pH, salt type, and temperature are analyzed to elucidate the trade-off between flux and selectivity. Mechanistic insights obtained from scanning electron microscopy, contact angle measurements, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, zeta potential analysis, and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) are integrated with density functional theory and molecular dynamics simulations. In particular, ToF-SIMS enables molecular-level identification of surface chemical transformations induced by acid exposure, providing a powerful tool for differentiating degradation pathways and kinetics as a function of polymer structure. These combined analyses identify protonation-assisted amide hydrolysis as the rate-determining degradation pathway and highlight planarity-driven resonance stabilization as the principal factor governing acid tolerance. The review concludes with design guidelines for next-generation membranes that integrate intrinsic chemical robustness, scalable fabrication, and predictive modeling to enable circular resource recovery from acid-laden industrial effluents.
{"title":"Toward next-generation acid-stable nanofiltration membranes: Polyamide focused insights and amide-free alternatives on materials, degradation pathways, and performance optimization","authors":"Donghyun Kim , Inho Choi , Young-Nam Kwon , Yeomin Yoon , Byung-Moon Jun","doi":"10.1016/j.seppur.2026.137063","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.seppur.2026.137063","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Acidic process streams from hydrometallurgy, lithium-ion battery recycling, semiconductor and steel manufacturing, phosphoric acid production, acid mine drainage, and biorefineries demand separation technologies capable of maintaining stability under highly corrosive conditions. This review provides an integrated perspective on acid-resistant nanofiltration membranes by correlating monomer chemistry, fabrication methods, and degradation mechanisms with operational performance. Semi-aromatic, fully aromatic, polysulfonamide, and triazine (cyanuric chloride)-based systems, along with polyelectrolyte multilayer and covalent organic framework architectures, are compared to elucidate the interrelationships among structure, properties, and stability. The effects of pressure, feed concentration, solution pH, salt type, and temperature are analyzed to elucidate the trade-off between flux and selectivity. Mechanistic insights obtained from scanning electron microscopy, contact angle measurements, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, zeta potential analysis, and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) are integrated with density functional theory and molecular dynamics simulations. In particular, ToF-SIMS enables molecular-level identification of surface chemical transformations induced by acid exposure, providing a powerful tool for differentiating degradation pathways and kinetics as a function of polymer structure. These combined analyses identify protonation-assisted amide hydrolysis as the rate-determining degradation pathway and highlight planarity-driven resonance stabilization as the principal factor governing acid tolerance. The review concludes with design guidelines for next-generation membranes that integrate intrinsic chemical robustness, scalable fabrication, and predictive modeling to enable circular resource recovery from acid-laden industrial effluents.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":427,"journal":{"name":"Separation and Purification Technology","volume":"391 ","pages":"Article 137063"},"PeriodicalIF":9.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146077289","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 : 2026-01-27DOI: 10.1016/j.seppur.2026.137054
Lingling Liu , Ji-Hong Zhang , Long-Shuai Zhang , Jian Yu , Han Ding , Deng-Ke Wang , Jun Ma , Yu Luo , Xing-Yuan Xia , Jiale Yang , Jian-Ping Zou
It is a consensus that the redox cycling of metals plays a pivotal role in peroxymonosulfate (PMS)-based Fenton-like reactions for pollutant degradation. The acceleration of the redox kinetics is thus significant in developing efficient catalysts. Herein, we found that FeCu dual-atom catalyst (FeCu/CN) can drive interatomic redox cycling, thus boosting PMS activation for pollutant degradation. Specifically, FeCu/CN achieved 100% degradation of 4-chlorophenol within 10 min, which significantly outperformed its single-atom counterparts (Fe/CN and Cu/CN). In continuous-flow systems, it maintained robust pollutant removal over extended operation. Mechanistic studies confirmed that singlet oxygen (1O2) was the primary reactive species responsible for pollutant degradation. Further experimental and density functional theory (DFT) calculations confirm that the introduction of second metal atom can accelerate electron transfer and redox cycling between PMS and the dual atoms, lowering the energy barrier of the rate-determining step, thereby enhancing the stability of the catalyst and the degradation rate of pollutants. This work provides new insights into the design of highly efficient and stable catalysts for environmental remediation.
{"title":"Fe-cu dual-atom catalyst drives interatomic redox cycling to accelerate peroxymonosulfate activation for pollutant degradation","authors":"Lingling Liu , Ji-Hong Zhang , Long-Shuai Zhang , Jian Yu , Han Ding , Deng-Ke Wang , Jun Ma , Yu Luo , Xing-Yuan Xia , Jiale Yang , Jian-Ping Zou","doi":"10.1016/j.seppur.2026.137054","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.seppur.2026.137054","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>It is a consensus that the redox cycling of metals plays a pivotal role in peroxymonosulfate (PMS)-based Fenton-like reactions for pollutant degradation. The acceleration of the redox kinetics is thus significant in developing efficient catalysts. Herein, we found that Fe<img>Cu dual-atom catalyst (FeCu/CN) can drive interatomic redox cycling, thus boosting PMS activation for pollutant degradation. Specifically, FeCu/CN achieved 100% degradation of 4-chlorophenol within 10 min, which significantly outperformed its single-atom counterparts (Fe/CN and Cu/CN). In continuous-flow systems, it maintained robust pollutant removal over extended operation. Mechanistic studies confirmed that singlet oxygen (<sup>1</sup>O<sub>2</sub>) was the primary reactive species responsible for pollutant degradation. Further experimental and density functional theory (DFT) calculations confirm that the introduction of second metal atom can accelerate electron transfer and redox cycling between PMS and the dual atoms, lowering the energy barrier of the rate-determining step, thereby enhancing the stability of the catalyst and the degradation rate of pollutants. This work provides new insights into the design of highly efficient and stable catalysts for environmental remediation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":427,"journal":{"name":"Separation and Purification Technology","volume":"391 ","pages":"Article 137054"},"PeriodicalIF":9.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146076738","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 : 2026-01-27DOI: 10.1016/j.seppur.2026.137060
Wancen Xie , Jiuxian Zhao , Peng Tang , Li Jiang , Ancheng Luo , Qiyun Tian , Hongbing Luo , Xiaochan An , Wei Chen , Xiao Ma
Halophyte cultivation is an effective approach for reclaiming saline–alkaline soils, yet high-value utilization of the abundant residual biomass remains underexplored. Converting these residues into biochar provides a sustainable pathway for both waste valorization and environmental remediation. Herein, Salicornia europaea L. (S. europaea, salt-accumulating) and Apocynum pictum Schrenk (A. pictum, salt-excluding), two halophytes with distinct salt-tolerance strategies, were pyrolyzed at 300–800 °C to elucidate how feedstock characteristics and pyrolysis temperature govern biochar physicochemical properties and adsorption mechanisms. S. europaea-derived biochars developed well-defined micro−/mesoporous structures enriched with cations, attributable to their inherent high salt content and salt-compartmentalized structure, whereas A. pictum-derived biochars exhibited much poorer pore structure due to their low-salt, high-lignocellulosic properties. For S. europaea-derived biochars, increased pyrolysis temperature simultaneously enhanced pore structure and surface chemistry, shifting adsorption from predominantly physical to chemical contributions, driven by hydrogen bonding formation and π-π interactions. In contrast, A. pictum-derived biochars showed the opposite trend, transitioning from predominantly chemical to physical adsorption with increasing temperature, mainly due to strengthened pore filling and a marked loss of nitrogen/oxygen-containing functional groups, hydrophilicity and surface electronegativity. Among all samples, S. europaea-derived biochar produced at 700 °C achieved the best performance for livestock biogas slurry treatment, removing dissolved organic carbon (DOC, 47.54%) and UV254 (59.98%), with a DOC adsorption capacity of 10.52 mg/g. These findings highlighted the pivotal roles of feedstock property and pyrolysis conditions in tailoring biochar adsorption mechanisms, offering a novel route to integrate saline land restoration with wastewater treatment through high-value utilization of halophyte residues.
{"title":"Halophyte-derived biochar for organic removal from biogas slurry: Tunable adsorption performance and mechanism by feedstock type and pyrolysis temperature","authors":"Wancen Xie , Jiuxian Zhao , Peng Tang , Li Jiang , Ancheng Luo , Qiyun Tian , Hongbing Luo , Xiaochan An , Wei Chen , Xiao Ma","doi":"10.1016/j.seppur.2026.137060","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.seppur.2026.137060","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Halophyte cultivation is an effective approach for reclaiming saline–alkaline soils, yet high-value utilization of the abundant residual biomass remains underexplored. Converting these residues into biochar provides a sustainable pathway for both waste valorization and environmental remediation. Herein, <em>Salicornia europaea</em> L. (<em>S. europaea</em>, salt-accumulating) and <em>Apocynum pictum</em> Schrenk (<em>A. pictum</em>, salt-excluding), two halophytes with distinct salt-tolerance strategies, were pyrolyzed at 300–800 °C to elucidate how feedstock characteristics and pyrolysis temperature govern biochar physicochemical properties and adsorption mechanisms. <em>S. europaea</em>-derived biochars developed well-defined micro−/mesoporous structures enriched with cations, attributable to their inherent high salt content and salt-compartmentalized structure, whereas <em>A. pictum</em>-derived biochars exhibited much poorer pore structure due to their low-salt, high-lignocellulosic properties. For <em>S. europaea</em>-derived biochars, increased pyrolysis temperature simultaneously enhanced pore structure and surface chemistry, shifting adsorption from predominantly physical to chemical contributions, driven by hydrogen bonding formation and π-π interactions. In contrast, <em>A. pictum</em>-derived biochars showed the opposite trend, transitioning from predominantly chemical to physical adsorption with increasing temperature, mainly due to strengthened pore filling and a marked loss of nitrogen/oxygen-containing functional groups, hydrophilicity and surface electronegativity. Among all samples, <em>S. europaea</em>-derived biochar produced at 700 °C achieved the best performance for livestock biogas slurry treatment, removing dissolved organic carbon (DOC, 47.54%) and UV<sub>254</sub> (59.98%), with a DOC adsorption capacity of 10.52 mg/g. These findings highlighted the pivotal roles of feedstock property and pyrolysis conditions in tailoring biochar adsorption mechanisms, offering a novel route to integrate saline land restoration with wastewater treatment through high-value utilization of halophyte residues.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":427,"journal":{"name":"Separation and Purification Technology","volume":"391 ","pages":"Article 137060"},"PeriodicalIF":9.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146077200","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}
Neonicotinoid pesticides such as clothianidin (CLO) are widespread and persistent aquatic contaminants. Developing eco-friendly catalytic materials derived from natural sources is essential for advancing sustainable advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) for CLO degradation. Featured with sustainability and tunable catalytic properties, carbon-based catalysts sourced from natural materials show promise in effectively activating calcium sulfite (CaSO3) to generate reactive species capable of rapidly degrading CLO in water. In this study, a cobalt‑boron co-doped biochar (CoBGG) was synthesized through pyrolysis, using vitamin B12 (VITB12) as a natural Co precursor and a borax-crosslinked guar gum hydrogel as a three-dimensional microreactor. Under optimized conditions (0.10 g/L CoBGG, 0.10 g/L CaSO3, pH 6.87), the CoBGG/CaSO3 system achieved >95% removal for 10 mg/L CLO within 10 min and 98% within 60 min. SO3•−, SO4•− and 1O2 were identified as dominant reactive species, and degradation pathways, supported by Fukui function analysis, included nitro-reduction, cleavage of nitroguanidine-thiazole bond and thiazole ring opening. This led to the formation of transformation products with generally reduced toxicity. This study demonstrates the effectiveness and sustainability of AOPs based on VITB12-derived CoBGG and industrial byproduct sulfite, offering a promising strategy for the treatment of neonicotinoid-contaminated wastewater.
{"title":"Vitamin B12 derived cobalt‑boron biochar: An eco-friendly powerhouse for enhanced calcium sulfite activation and fast clothianidin degradation","authors":"Peilin Li, Chunyang Hu, Yiwen Cui, Nanxi Song, Tianming Li, Yian Zheng","doi":"10.1016/j.seppur.2026.137052","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.seppur.2026.137052","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Neonicotinoid pesticides such as clothianidin (CLO) are widespread and persistent aquatic contaminants. Developing eco-friendly catalytic materials derived from natural sources is essential for advancing sustainable advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) for CLO degradation. Featured with sustainability and tunable catalytic properties, carbon-based catalysts sourced from natural materials show promise in effectively activating calcium sulfite (CaSO<sub>3</sub>) to generate reactive species capable of rapidly degrading CLO in water. In this study, a cobalt‑boron co-doped biochar (CoBGG) was synthesized through pyrolysis, using vitamin B12 (VITB<sub>12</sub>) as a natural Co precursor and a borax-crosslinked guar gum hydrogel as a three-dimensional microreactor. Under optimized conditions (0.10 g/L CoBGG, 0.10 g/L CaSO<sub>3</sub>, pH 6.87), the CoBGG/CaSO<sub>3</sub> system achieved >95% removal for 10 mg/L CLO within 10 min and 98% within 60 min. SO<sub>3</sub><sup>•−</sup>, SO<sub>4</sub><sup>•−</sup> and <sup>1</sup>O<sub>2</sub> were identified as dominant reactive species, and degradation pathways, supported by Fukui function analysis, included nitro-reduction, cleavage of nitroguanidine-thiazole bond and thiazole ring opening. This led to the formation of transformation products with generally reduced toxicity. This study demonstrates the effectiveness and sustainability of AOPs based on VITB<sub>12</sub>-derived CoBGG and industrial byproduct sulfite, offering a promising strategy for the treatment of neonicotinoid-contaminated wastewater.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":427,"journal":{"name":"Separation and Purification Technology","volume":"391 ","pages":"Article 137052"},"PeriodicalIF":9.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146048076","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 : 2026-01-27DOI: 10.1016/j.seppur.2026.136995
Daniela Romero Guillén , Luciana Jandelli Gimenes , Denise Crocce Romano Espinosa , Tatiana Alves dos Reis , Jorge Alberto Soares Tenório , Marcela dos Passos Galluzzi Baltazar
The increasing demand for critical metals in clean energy technologies has driven the search for sustainable recovery methods from secondary sources, such as spent lithium-ion batteries (Li-ion). This study investigated the biosorption potential of three fungal species: Aspergillus niger (A. niger), Aspergillus flavus (A. flavus), and Penicillium simplicissimum (P. simplicissimum) for the removal of impurities from leachates obtained from NMC532 Li-ion battery black mass. This work is the first or among the first systematic studies of fungal biosorption applied directly to Li-ion battery leachates. Experiments were conducted in real leachates to evaluate the influence of pH, contact time, and agitation speed. Metal interference on biosorption performance using mono-element and multi-element solutions that simulate real leachates was studied as well. Results showed that biosorption occurs in two phases: a rapid initial phase within 30–60 min, followed by a slower approach to equilibrium. Among the species studied, A. flavus exhibited the highest biosorption capacity for nickel (Ni), manganese (Mn), cobalt (Co), and copper (Cu), particularly in mono-element solutions, whereas P. simplicissimum demonstrated superior stability in multi-element and real solutions, showing resilience to ion competition. A. niger consistently exhibited lower biosorption performance, except for aluminum (Al). The optimal conditions for Cu and Al removal were identified at pH 5–6, 60 min, and 125–150 rpm, minimizing the loss of metals such as Ni. The study highlights the impact of ionic competition and solution complexity on biosorption efficiency, providing insights for the development of fungal-based processes for the purification of battery leachates.
{"title":"Fungal biosorption for the selective removal of Al and Cu from Li-ion battery leachates","authors":"Daniela Romero Guillén , Luciana Jandelli Gimenes , Denise Crocce Romano Espinosa , Tatiana Alves dos Reis , Jorge Alberto Soares Tenório , Marcela dos Passos Galluzzi Baltazar","doi":"10.1016/j.seppur.2026.136995","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.seppur.2026.136995","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The increasing demand for critical metals in clean energy technologies has driven the search for sustainable recovery methods from secondary sources, such as spent lithium-ion batteries (Li-ion). This study investigated the biosorption potential of three fungal species: Aspergillus niger (<em>A. niger</em>), Aspergillus flavus (<em>A. flavus</em>), and Penicillium simplicissimum (<em>P. simplicissimum</em>) for the removal of impurities from leachates obtained from NMC532 Li-ion battery black mass. This work is the first or among the first systematic studies of fungal biosorption applied directly to Li-ion battery leachates. Experiments were conducted in real leachates to evaluate the influence of pH, contact time, and agitation speed. Metal interference on biosorption performance using mono-element and multi-element solutions that simulate real leachates was studied as well. Results showed that biosorption occurs in two phases: a rapid initial phase within 30–60 min, followed by a slower approach to equilibrium. Among the species studied, <em>A. flavus</em> exhibited the highest biosorption capacity for nickel (Ni), manganese (Mn), cobalt (Co), and copper (Cu), particularly in mono-element solutions, whereas <em>P. simplicissimum</em> demonstrated superior stability in multi-element and real solutions, showing resilience to ion competition. <em>A. niger</em> consistently exhibited lower biosorption performance, except for aluminum (Al). The optimal conditions for Cu and Al removal were identified at pH 5–6, 60 min, and 125–150 rpm, minimizing the loss of metals such as Ni. The study highlights the impact of ionic competition and solution complexity on biosorption efficiency, providing insights for the development of fungal-based processes for the purification of battery leachates.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":427,"journal":{"name":"Separation and Purification Technology","volume":"391 ","pages":"Article 136995"},"PeriodicalIF":9.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146077133","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}
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