Pub Date : 2026-01-06DOI: 10.1016/j.seppur.2026.136756
Chuang Li , Zhan Li , Xiao Xu , Kecheng Guan , Mengyang Hu , Pengfei Zhang , Xianghong Qian , Tomohisa Yoshioka , Hideto Matsuyama
In this study, a metal organic framework-303 incorporated reduced graphene oxide (MOF-303/rGO) membrane has been prepared and applied in the separation of rare earth element (lanthanum, La) and radioactive contaminant (strontium, Sr). To successfully prepare the MOF-303/rGO membrane, we have developed a polyelectrolyte sodium polystyrene sulfonate (PSSNa)-assisted method to improve the dispersion of MOF-303 particle and the uniformity of the resultant membrane. The incorporation of MOF-303 has introduced spacious pathway for water transportation, thus achieving approximately 4-fold higher water permeance. The prepared membrane has also demonstrated exceptional lanthanum/strontium separation performance under various conditions including a wide range of operation pressure, feed concentration, and different La/divalent ions. A detailed investigation of the separation mechanism has revealed that size sieving and electrostatic interactions are the primary factors driving selectivity. These findings highlight the potential of PSS-MOF-303/rGO membranes for the efficient separation of rare earth ions from radioactive wastewater.
{"title":"Fabrication of PSS-MOF-303/rGO membranes for effective separation of rare earth ions","authors":"Chuang Li , Zhan Li , Xiao Xu , Kecheng Guan , Mengyang Hu , Pengfei Zhang , Xianghong Qian , Tomohisa Yoshioka , Hideto Matsuyama","doi":"10.1016/j.seppur.2026.136756","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.seppur.2026.136756","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In this study, a metal organic framework-303 incorporated reduced graphene oxide (MOF-303/rGO) membrane has been prepared and applied in the separation of rare earth element (lanthanum, La) and radioactive contaminant (strontium, Sr). To successfully prepare the MOF-303/rGO membrane, we have developed a polyelectrolyte sodium polystyrene sulfonate (PSSNa)-assisted method to improve the dispersion of MOF-303 particle and the uniformity of the resultant membrane. The incorporation of MOF-303 has introduced spacious pathway for water transportation, thus achieving approximately 4-fold higher water permeance. The prepared membrane has also demonstrated exceptional lanthanum/strontium separation performance under various conditions including a wide range of operation pressure, feed concentration, and different La/divalent ions. A detailed investigation of the separation mechanism has revealed that size sieving and electrostatic interactions are the primary factors driving selectivity. These findings highlight the potential of PSS-MOF-303/rGO membranes for the efficient separation of rare earth ions from radioactive wastewater.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":427,"journal":{"name":"Separation and Purification Technology","volume":"388 ","pages":"Article 136756"},"PeriodicalIF":9.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145923830","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 : 2026-01-06DOI: 10.1016/j.seppur.2025.136613
Song Xiao , Yijiang Chen , Menglei Jin , Yuhang Xue , Ju Tang , Xiaoxing Zhang , Yi Li
The application of C4F7N/CO2 gas-insulated equipment has been progressively increasing in recent years. However, C4F7N will inevitably decompose under prolonged operation and electrical or thermal faults, generating toxic and corrosive harmful by-products. Targeted adsorption and elimination of these harmful substances are crucial for ensuring long-term, reliable operation of equipment. Nevertheless, highly selective adsorbents remain scarce. Herein, we developed metal-organic frameworks @ polyvinylpyrrolidone composite nanofiber membranes for the adsorption of C4F7N/CO2 decomposition by-products. We found that IRMOF-16 and Al-Fum exhibited multi-level pore synergy and interfacial enhancement effects, with Al-Fum filtering low-polarity molecules and IRMOF-16 accommodating larger components, facilitating extensive adsorption of C3F6, COF2, and CF3CN. Molecular dynamics revealed that the robust adsorption of cyanide-containing molecules (CF3CN, C2F5CN) by IRMOF-16 is due to the strong electrostatic interaction between Zn sites and the polar cyano groups, while Al-Fum preferentially captures non-polar molecules (C2F6) via Al-F dipole interactions. The composites overcome the traditional dilemma of trade-offs between selectivity and adsorption capacity, providing critical support for eliminating harmful gases for operation safety.
{"title":"IRMOF-16/Al-Fum@PVP composite film for adsorption of harmful decomposition products of C4F7N/CO2","authors":"Song Xiao , Yijiang Chen , Menglei Jin , Yuhang Xue , Ju Tang , Xiaoxing Zhang , Yi Li","doi":"10.1016/j.seppur.2025.136613","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.seppur.2025.136613","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The application of C<sub>4</sub>F<sub>7</sub>N/CO<sub>2</sub> gas-insulated equipment has been progressively increasing in recent years. However, C<sub>4</sub>F<sub>7</sub>N will inevitably decompose under prolonged operation and electrical or thermal faults, generating toxic and corrosive harmful by-products. Targeted adsorption and elimination of these harmful substances are crucial for ensuring long-term, reliable operation of equipment. Nevertheless, highly selective adsorbents remain scarce. Herein, we developed metal-organic frameworks @ polyvinylpyrrolidone composite nanofiber membranes for the adsorption of C<sub>4</sub>F<sub>7</sub>N/CO<sub>2</sub> decomposition by-products. We found that IRMOF-16 and Al-Fum exhibited multi-level pore synergy and interfacial enhancement effects, with Al-Fum filtering low-polarity molecules and IRMOF-16 accommodating larger components, facilitating extensive adsorption of C<sub>3</sub>F<sub>6</sub>, COF<sub>2</sub>, and CF<sub>3</sub>CN. Molecular dynamics revealed that the robust adsorption of cyanide-containing molecules (CF<sub>3</sub>CN, C<sub>2</sub>F<sub>5</sub>CN) by IRMOF-16 is due to the strong electrostatic interaction between Zn sites and the polar cyano groups, while Al-Fum preferentially captures non-polar molecules (C<sub>2</sub>F<sub>6</sub>) via Al-F dipole interactions. The composites overcome the traditional dilemma of trade-offs between selectivity and adsorption capacity, providing critical support for eliminating harmful gases for operation safety.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":427,"journal":{"name":"Separation and Purification Technology","volume":"389 ","pages":"Article 136613"},"PeriodicalIF":9.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145976008","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 : 2026-01-06DOI: 10.1016/j.seppur.2026.136807
Isa S.A. Hiemstra , Faridah Husna , Michel H.M. Eppink , Rene H. Wijffels , Antoinette Kazbar
Conventional alginate extraction from brown seaweed typically relies on harsh, non-recyclable chemicals, limiting process sustainability. This study presents temperature-responsive deep eutectic solvents (TRDES) as circular, recyclable extractants for alginate recovery. Using computational screening with COSMO-RS and experimental validation of TRDES affinity and alginate partitioning, TRDES1 (o-cresol: ethanolamine) was identified as the most promising combination, and was optimised and reused over eight cycles, yielding up to 55.6 ± 14.4 mg/g DW. COSMO-RS modelling validated the observed increase in extraction efficiency over successive cycles, showing enhanced partition coefficients and reduced Gibbs free energy of transfer with reuse. The process enabled mild extraction of functional alginate with increasing efficiency over the cycles. The main solvent parameters for TRDES design found to govern extraction and recyclability were capacity (C), partition coefficient (K), and Gibbs free energy (ΔG). Optimal performance was achieved with moderate TRDES–water capacity (1.27 × 101 to 3.15 × 101), low TRDES capacity (<1.2), and K > 1. This work establishes a theoretical framework with design rules for future TRDES development based on computational and experimental analysis and highlights the need for novel, biocompatible TRDES systems. As demonstrated, combining computational screening with these design principles enables the use of recyclable solvents. Incorporating natural compounds into TRDES design enhances both process efficiency and sustainability, facilitating the integration of DES technologies into circular biorefineries and supporting environmentally responsible biomass valorisation.
{"title":"Mechanistic insights into temperature-responsive deep eutectic solvent for alginate recovery and solvent recycling","authors":"Isa S.A. Hiemstra , Faridah Husna , Michel H.M. Eppink , Rene H. Wijffels , Antoinette Kazbar","doi":"10.1016/j.seppur.2026.136807","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.seppur.2026.136807","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Conventional alginate extraction from brown seaweed typically relies on harsh, non-recyclable chemicals, limiting process sustainability. This study presents temperature-responsive deep eutectic solvents (TRDES) as circular, recyclable extractants for alginate recovery. Using computational screening with COSMO-RS and experimental validation of TRDES affinity and alginate partitioning, TRDES1 (o-cresol: ethanolamine) was identified as the most promising combination, and was optimised and reused over eight cycles, yielding up to 55.6 ± 14.4 mg/g DW. COSMO-RS modelling validated the observed increase in extraction efficiency over successive cycles, showing enhanced partition coefficients and reduced Gibbs free energy of transfer with reuse. The process enabled mild extraction of functional alginate with increasing efficiency over the cycles. The main solvent parameters for TRDES design found to govern extraction and recyclability were capacity (C), partition coefficient (K), and Gibbs free energy (ΔG). Optimal performance was achieved with moderate TRDES–water capacity (1.27 × 10<sup>1</sup> to 3.15 × 10<sup>1</sup>), low TRDES capacity (<1.2), and K > 1. This work establishes a theoretical framework with design rules for future TRDES development based on computational and experimental analysis and highlights the need for novel, biocompatible TRDES systems. As demonstrated, combining computational screening with these design principles enables the use of recyclable solvents. Incorporating natural compounds into TRDES design enhances both process efficiency and sustainability, facilitating the integration of DES technologies into circular biorefineries and supporting environmentally responsible biomass valorisation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":427,"journal":{"name":"Separation and Purification Technology","volume":"388 ","pages":"Article 136807"},"PeriodicalIF":9.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145923665","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 : 2026-01-06DOI: 10.1016/j.seppur.2026.136791
Kieke de Boer, Karin Schroën
Molecular imprinting of the conductive polymer polypyrrole was investigated with the objective of creating an electrically-responsive material for the selective capture and release of vanillic acid. The reversibility was driven by switching between the oxidation states of polypyrrole, which affected, for example, charge and wettability. The synthesis of imprinted (PPy-MIP) and non-imprinted (PPy) polypyrrole films was performed through galvanostatic deposition on gold surfaces in a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) system, allowing real-time evaluation of layer formation kinetics, as well as following interaction with the target molecules. The difference in polymerization between the PPy and PPy-MIP was limited, with imprinting creating an estimated 25–30 % of specific adsorption sites. This increased the adsorption capacity and selectivity for vanillic acid in both the oxidized and reduced states. Simultaneously, imprinting appeared to decrease the adsorption capacity of structural analogues, eugenol and gallic acid. This resulted in an increase in the calculated selectivity ratio from 0.4 to 1.1 for eugenol and from 1.1 to 1.8 for gallic acid in the reduced polypyrrole film. These insights suggest that both the interaction between the molecule and polypyrrole, as well as steric hindrance, co-determine adsorption, which can be considered a first step toward designing materials with enhanced selectivity. We also tried reversible binding of vanillic acid and eugenol, but this resulted in the build-up of target molecules over time. To bring these materials toward application, a stronger switch is required, allowing desorption and reusability of the material.
{"title":"Piecing puzzle pieces together: Selective separation of vanillic acid with molecularly imprinted polypyrrole","authors":"Kieke de Boer, Karin Schroën","doi":"10.1016/j.seppur.2026.136791","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.seppur.2026.136791","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Molecular imprinting of the conductive polymer polypyrrole was investigated with the objective of creating an electrically-responsive material for the selective capture and release of vanillic acid. The reversibility was driven by switching between the oxidation states of polypyrrole, which affected, for example, charge and wettability. The synthesis of imprinted (PPy-MIP) and non-imprinted (PPy) polypyrrole films was performed through galvanostatic deposition on gold surfaces in a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) system, allowing real-time evaluation of layer formation kinetics, as well as following interaction with the target molecules. The difference in polymerization between the PPy and PPy-MIP was limited, with imprinting creating an estimated 25–30 % of specific adsorption sites. This increased the adsorption capacity and selectivity for vanillic acid in both the oxidized and reduced states. Simultaneously, imprinting appeared to decrease the adsorption capacity of structural analogues, eugenol and gallic acid. This resulted in an increase in the calculated selectivity ratio from 0.4 to 1.1 for eugenol and from 1.1 to 1.8 for gallic acid in the reduced polypyrrole film. These insights suggest that both the interaction between the molecule and polypyrrole, as well as steric hindrance, co-determine adsorption, which can be considered a first step toward designing materials with enhanced selectivity. We also tried reversible binding of vanillic acid and eugenol, but this resulted in the build-up of target molecules over time. To bring these materials toward application, a stronger switch is required, allowing desorption and reusability of the material.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":427,"journal":{"name":"Separation and Purification Technology","volume":"388 ","pages":"Article 136791"},"PeriodicalIF":9.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145903196","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}
Limited research exists on the use of hydrophobic deep eutectic solvents (HDESs) to recover toxic yet valuable metals, crucial for electronics and construction, from wastewater. This study addresses this gap by presenting a systematic investigation into the highly efficient and simultaneous extraction of these valuable heavy metals (Cd2+, Cr3+, Rb+) using tailored HDESs, offering novel insights into the underlying molecular mechanisms. Three HDESs were prepared, composed of lidocaine or tetrabutylammonium bromide as hydrogen bond acceptors (HBAs) and thymol, octanoic acid, or decanoic acid as hydrogen bond donors (HBDs). Under optimized conditions, the extraction efficiencies for Cd2+ and Cr3+ exceeded 99 %. The underlying mechanisms were elucidated through a combination of macroscopic experiments and multi-scale theoretical analyses. FT-IR and 1H NMR spectroscopy confirmed the formation of HDESs via non-covalent interactions. Furthermore, electrostatic potential (ESP), coupled with frontier molecular orbital and interaction region indicator (IRI) analysis, revealed that the extraction process is primarily governed by electrostatic and coordination interactions between the HDESs and the metal ions, and also demonstrated the high selectivity of the HDESs toward Cd2+ and Cr3+ through IRI analysis. The results of this research are expected to enable the efficient separation of heavy metals from wastewater using HDESs.
{"title":"Efficient stepwise separation of heavy metals from wastewater with hydrophobic deep eutectic solvents","authors":"Dandan Liu, Bailang Zhang, Yajing Luo, Peizhe Cui, Xin Li, Fengbin Zheng, Guoxuan Li, Yinglong Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.seppur.2026.136810","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.seppur.2026.136810","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Limited research exists on the use of hydrophobic deep eutectic solvents (HDESs) to recover toxic yet valuable metals, crucial for electronics and construction, from wastewater. This study addresses this gap by presenting a systematic investigation into the highly efficient and simultaneous extraction of these valuable heavy metals (Cd<sup>2+</sup>, Cr<sup>3+</sup>, Rb<sup>+</sup>) using tailored HDESs, offering novel insights into the underlying molecular mechanisms. Three HDESs were prepared, composed of lidocaine or tetrabutylammonium bromide as hydrogen bond acceptors (HBAs) and thymol, octanoic acid, or decanoic acid as hydrogen bond donors (HBDs). Under optimized conditions, the extraction efficiencies for Cd<sup>2+</sup> and Cr<sup>3+</sup> exceeded 99 %. The underlying mechanisms were elucidated through a combination of macroscopic experiments and multi-scale theoretical analyses. FT-IR and <sup>1</sup>H NMR spectroscopy confirmed the formation of HDESs via non-covalent interactions. Furthermore, electrostatic potential (ESP), coupled with frontier molecular orbital and interaction region indicator (IRI) analysis, revealed that the extraction process is primarily governed by electrostatic and coordination interactions between the HDESs and the metal ions, and also demonstrated the high selectivity of the HDESs toward Cd<sup>2+</sup> and Cr<sup>3+</sup> through IRI analysis. The results of this research are expected to enable the efficient separation of heavy metals from wastewater using HDESs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":427,"journal":{"name":"Separation and Purification Technology","volume":"388 ","pages":"Article 136810"},"PeriodicalIF":9.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145903197","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 : 2026-01-06DOI: 10.1016/j.seppur.2026.136811
Yanghao Huang , Xiaoting Hong , Chengyue Wang , Kwan San Hui , Junjie Pan , Junye Guo , Yueling Tao
In the C₄ alkylation process, waste chloroaluminate ionic liquid (CIL) catalysts pose significant environmental risks due to their strong acidity, toxicity, and extreme reactivity. Upon contact with water, these waste CILs undergo violent, self-accelerating hydrolysis reactions that release large amounts of heat and hydrochloric acid mist, leading to severe secondary pollution. To address this issue, this study proposes a novel “zero acid mist” hydrolysis treatment strategy that ensures the safe and environmentally friendly disposal of waste CILs under optimized reaction conditions. The results demonstrate that pretreating the waste CIL with dichloromethane (DCM) at a 1:1 volume ratio, followed by reaction with a 15 wt% NaCl aqueous solution (3:40 mass ratio) at 5 °C for 30 min, effectively suppresses reaction intensity and minimizes acid mist emissions. Enthalpy analysis confirms that these optimized conditions significantly reduce the reaction heat. The subsequent neutralization of the acidic hydrolysate with a 3 wt% NaOH solution (25,57 volume ratio) achieves pH = 7, yielding high recovery rates of 98.96 % for Al3+ and 95.37 % for Cu2+. After calcination, the recovered solids were confirmed to be copper–aluminate spinel (CuAl₂O₄). Cyclic experiments further determined the optimal reuse frequency of the neutralized solution. The mechanistic investigation revealed that the combined DCM solvation and NaCl-mediated common-ion effect underpin the “zero acid mist” phenomenon. This process not only mitigates secondary pollution but also enables efficient metal recovery and solution recycling, establishing a closed-loop treatment system consistent with circular economy principles. The proposed method offers a simple, safe, and sustainable solution for the harmless treatment and resource utilization of waste CILs in the petrochemical industry.
{"title":"Dichloromethane solvation pre-treatment coupled with NaCl-mediated “zero acid mist” hydrolysis for harmless treatment of waste chloroaluminate ionic liquid","authors":"Yanghao Huang , Xiaoting Hong , Chengyue Wang , Kwan San Hui , Junjie Pan , Junye Guo , Yueling Tao","doi":"10.1016/j.seppur.2026.136811","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.seppur.2026.136811","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In the C₄ alkylation process, waste chloroaluminate ionic liquid (CIL) catalysts pose significant environmental risks due to their strong acidity, toxicity, and extreme reactivity. Upon contact with water, these waste CILs undergo violent, self-accelerating hydrolysis reactions that release large amounts of heat and hydrochloric acid mist, leading to severe secondary pollution. To address this issue, this study proposes a novel “zero acid mist” hydrolysis treatment strategy that ensures the safe and environmentally friendly disposal of waste CILs under optimized reaction conditions. The results demonstrate that pretreating the waste CIL with dichloromethane (DCM) at a 1:1 volume ratio, followed by reaction with a 15 wt% NaCl aqueous solution (3:40 mass ratio) at 5 °C for 30 min, effectively suppresses reaction intensity and minimizes acid mist emissions. Enthalpy analysis confirms that these optimized conditions significantly reduce the reaction heat. The subsequent neutralization of the acidic hydrolysate with a 3 wt% NaOH solution (25,57 volume ratio) achieves pH = 7, yielding high recovery rates of 98.96 % for Al<sup>3+</sup> and 95.37 % for Cu<sup>2+</sup>. After calcination, the recovered solids were confirmed to be copper–aluminate spinel (CuAl₂O₄). Cyclic experiments further determined the optimal reuse frequency of the neutralized solution. The mechanistic investigation revealed that the combined DCM solvation and NaCl-mediated common-ion effect underpin the “zero acid mist” phenomenon. This process not only mitigates secondary pollution but also enables efficient metal recovery and solution recycling, establishing a closed-loop treatment system consistent with circular economy principles. The proposed method offers a simple, safe, and sustainable solution for the harmless treatment and resource utilization of waste CILs in the petrochemical industry.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":427,"journal":{"name":"Separation and Purification Technology","volume":"388 ","pages":"Article 136811"},"PeriodicalIF":9.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145947548","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 : 2026-01-06DOI: 10.1016/j.seppur.2026.136758
Qingyue Zhao, Haiyong Li, Qiang Li, Hongxing Wang
Lithium-ion battery electrolyte, as the core lithium-ion transport medium in batteries, directly affects battery cycle life, safety, and energy efficiency through its purity. Currently, strict technical requirements have led to the situation where very few enterprises can provide high-purity electronic-grade (mass fraction ≥99.995 %) carbonate products. In view of the current huge capacity gap of electronic-grade carbonates, economically feasible industrial production schemes for electronic-grade ethyl methyl carbonate (EMC) and diethyl carbonate (DEC) are proposed. Conventional exergy, advanced exergy, and extended exergy analyses were applied for the first time to optimize and evaluate the overall synthesis process of electronic-grade EMC and DEC. The overall process was divided into (1) EMC and DEC synthesis process, (2) EMC and DEC purification process and (3) Azeotrope separation process. Heat integration and heat pump technologies were adopted in the process to achieve further energy saving. The results show the optimized process reduce energy consumption by 56.69 % and total annual cost (TAC) by 25.21 %, respectively. The total exergy efficiency is increased from 63.21 % to 85.50 %. Additionally, this research innovatively introduced the extended exergy analysis (EEA) into the synthesis process, incorporating variables such as energy consumption, capital, labor and remediation into the evaluation system of the distillation process. The heat integration process can save 47.87 TJ/year equivalent exergy. Sustainability indices were proposed to describe the sustainability and productivity for the synthesis process. The methodology employed in this work provides a benchmarking case for future research of synthesis process optimization.
{"title":"Electronic-grade ethyl methyl carbonate and diethyl carbonate production process optimization based on exergy and extended exergy analyses","authors":"Qingyue Zhao, Haiyong Li, Qiang Li, Hongxing Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.seppur.2026.136758","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.seppur.2026.136758","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Lithium-ion battery electrolyte, as the core lithium-ion transport medium in batteries, directly affects battery cycle life, safety, and energy efficiency through its purity. Currently, strict technical requirements have led to the situation where very few enterprises can provide high-purity electronic-grade (mass fraction ≥99.995 %) carbonate products. In view of the current huge capacity gap of electronic-grade carbonates, economically feasible industrial production schemes for electronic-grade ethyl methyl carbonate (EMC) and diethyl carbonate (DEC) are proposed. Conventional exergy, advanced exergy, and extended exergy analyses were applied for the first time to optimize and evaluate the overall synthesis process of electronic-grade EMC and DEC. The overall process was divided into (1) EMC and DEC synthesis process, (2) EMC and DEC purification process and (3) Azeotrope separation process. Heat integration and heat pump technologies were adopted in the process to achieve further energy saving. The results show the optimized process reduce energy consumption by 56.69 % and total annual cost (TAC) by 25.21 %, respectively. The total exergy efficiency is increased from 63.21 % to 85.50 %. Additionally, this research innovatively introduced the extended exergy analysis (EEA) into the synthesis process, incorporating variables such as energy consumption, capital, labor and remediation into the evaluation system of the distillation process. The heat integration process can save 47.87 TJ/year equivalent exergy. Sustainability indices were proposed to describe the sustainability and productivity for the synthesis process. The methodology employed in this work provides a benchmarking case for future research of synthesis process optimization.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":427,"journal":{"name":"Separation and Purification Technology","volume":"388 ","pages":"Article 136758"},"PeriodicalIF":9.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145903198","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 : 2026-01-06DOI: 10.1016/j.seppur.2026.136816
Xiaozhen Xiao , Jianqiang Huo , Jipeng Dai , Rui Xue , Fujun He , Haoyun Tian , Chuxuan Song , Julong Sun , Suiqin Yang , Chenghao Shi , Shiquan Sun
In this study, Bi2O3-loaded polyurethane sponge (Bi2O3@PS) was prepared by hydrothermal and gel techniques, and a MNBs-vis system was built with micro-nano bubbles (MNBs) to remove Microcystis aeruginosa synergistically. The MNBs-vis process severely damaged various physiological characteristics of algae cells. ·O2− and ·OH were the main radicals responsible for inactivating algae cells. The effective oxygen supply from air MNBs stopped photogenerated electrons (e−) and holes (h+) from recombining in Bi2O3. Additionally, it has been shown that MNBs enhanced the efficiency of visible light photocatalytic algae removal by inhibiting the physiological stress escape of algae through sinking. Simultaneously, MNBs significantly increased the optical path length of photocatalytic materials by inducing a strong light scattering effect. In conclusion, MNBs can effectively overcome the bottleneck of severe light attenuation and enhance the photocatalytic ability of inactivated algae cells by preventing the physiological stress escape of algae. This work offers fresh perspectives on the application of MNBs to improve visible-light photocatalytic removal of harmful cyanobacterial blooms.
{"title":"Micro-nano bubbles enhance visible light photocatalytic algae removal efficiency by suppressing physiological stress escape of algae","authors":"Xiaozhen Xiao , Jianqiang Huo , Jipeng Dai , Rui Xue , Fujun He , Haoyun Tian , Chuxuan Song , Julong Sun , Suiqin Yang , Chenghao Shi , Shiquan Sun","doi":"10.1016/j.seppur.2026.136816","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.seppur.2026.136816","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In this study, Bi<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>-loaded polyurethane sponge (Bi<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>@PS) was prepared by hydrothermal and gel techniques, and a MNBs-vis system was built with micro-nano bubbles (MNBs) to remove <em>Microcystis aeruginosa</em> synergistically. The MNBs-vis process severely damaged various physiological characteristics of algae cells. ·O<sub>2</sub><sup>−</sup> and ·OH were the main radicals responsible for inactivating algae cells. The effective oxygen supply from air MNBs stopped photogenerated electrons (e<sup>−</sup>) and holes (h<sup>+</sup>) from recombining in Bi<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>. Additionally, it has been shown that MNBs enhanced the efficiency of visible light photocatalytic algae removal by inhibiting the physiological stress escape of algae through sinking. Simultaneously, MNBs significantly increased the optical path length of photocatalytic materials by inducing a strong light scattering effect. In conclusion, MNBs can effectively overcome the bottleneck of severe light attenuation and enhance the photocatalytic ability of inactivated algae cells by preventing the physiological stress escape of algae. This work offers fresh perspectives on the application of MNBs to improve visible-light photocatalytic removal of harmful cyanobacterial blooms.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":427,"journal":{"name":"Separation and Purification Technology","volume":"389 ","pages":"Article 136816"},"PeriodicalIF":9.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145975446","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 : 2026-01-06DOI: 10.1016/j.seppur.2026.136799
Guangxu Liu , Hanyu Chang , Long Wang , Hui Deng , Yang Wang , Qiubai Jiang , Bingyu Wang , Min Zhang , Hao Guo , Zilong Liu
Interfacial solar evaporation is a promising technology for water treatment. However, its practical application is limited by variable light conditions, salt accumulation, and secondary pollution of the condensate. In this study, carbon obtained by co-pyrolysis of sludge and corn cob (SC) was combined with sodium alginate (SA) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) to fabricate an SC@SA@PVA gel evaporator. The evaporator was mounted on a salt-resistant evaporation substrate. Evaporation experiments were conducted under two auxiliary modes: electric heating and solar concentrator assistance. Benefiting from the adsorption and photocatalytic properties of the sludge-derived carbon, the system enabled simultaneous water evaporation and the evaporated phenol removal. A removal efficiency of 80.6 % was achieved for a 10 mg·L−1 phenol solution. Coupled with the electric heating and solar concentration devices, the evaporation rate increased from 2.28 to 4.19 kg·m−2·h−1, corresponding to an 83.8 % enhancement. In addition, an evaporation rate of 1.39 kg·m−2·h−1 was maintained at night. Moreover, the salt-resistant evaporation substrate provided water transportation, salt resistance, and heat management. These functions ensured the long-term stable operation of the system. Through the integration of sludge resource utilization and a multifunctional system design, this study provides a new path for the development of efficient, stable, and water-purifying next-generation interfacial evaporation technologies.
{"title":"Material and system design: an all-weather multi-functional interface solar evaporator","authors":"Guangxu Liu , Hanyu Chang , Long Wang , Hui Deng , Yang Wang , Qiubai Jiang , Bingyu Wang , Min Zhang , Hao Guo , Zilong Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.seppur.2026.136799","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.seppur.2026.136799","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Interfacial solar evaporation is a promising technology for water treatment. However, its practical application is limited by variable light conditions, salt accumulation, and secondary pollution of the condensate. In this study, carbon obtained by <em>co</em>-pyrolysis of sludge and corn cob (SC) was combined with sodium alginate (SA) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) to fabricate an SC@SA@PVA gel evaporator. The evaporator was mounted on a salt-resistant evaporation substrate. Evaporation experiments were conducted under two auxiliary modes: electric heating and solar concentrator assistance. Benefiting from the adsorption and photocatalytic properties of the sludge-derived carbon, the system enabled simultaneous water evaporation and the evaporated phenol removal. A removal efficiency of 80.6 % was achieved for a 10 mg·L<sup>−1</sup> phenol solution. Coupled with the electric heating and solar concentration devices, the evaporation rate increased from 2.28 to 4.19 kg·m<sup>−2</sup>·h<sup>−1</sup>, corresponding to an 83.8 % enhancement. In addition, an evaporation rate of 1.39 kg·m<sup>−2</sup>·h<sup>−1</sup> was maintained at night. Moreover, the salt-resistant evaporation substrate provided water transportation, salt resistance, and heat management. These functions ensured the long-term stable operation of the system. Through the integration of sludge resource utilization and a multifunctional system design, this study provides a new path for the development of efficient, stable, and water-purifying next-generation interfacial evaporation technologies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":427,"journal":{"name":"Separation and Purification Technology","volume":"388 ","pages":"Article 136799"},"PeriodicalIF":9.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145923671","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}
Copper smelting waste acid contains multiple heavy metal ions such as copper and arsenic. Copper and arsenic can be separated from it, enabling resource recovery and reducing environmental pollution. Specifically, copper smelting waste acid contains 0.5–5 g/L of Cu(II). The rational utilization of this resource can effectively reduce dependence on extensive copper ore mining. However, no comprehensive review exists on copper‑arsenic separation from copper smelting waste acid. This paper therefore reviews adsorption, membrane separation, electrowinning, capacitive deionization and chemical precipitation methods, detailing the principles and current status of each approach for sulfide separation. Among these, chemical precipitation offers advantages including rapid reaction rates, strong precipitate stability, and high removal efficiency. The mechanisms for separating copper and arsenic from copper smelting waste acid were summarized and analyzed from multiple perspectives: different heavy metal ions, environmental factors, and precipitate properties. The ultimate separation efficiency is primarily determined by the solubility product constants between various heavy metal ions and S(-II). This review provides direction for further advancing the efficient separation of copper and arsenic from copper smelting waste acid.
{"title":"A critical review on cu/as separation in copper smelting waste acids: Separation strategies, sulfurization competition mechanisms, and perspectives","authors":"Yong Liu, Xiaolu Sun, Linhua Jiang, Hao Jin, Du Yuan, Hongfei Liu, Weidong Li, Baojun Ma, Zhiguo Song, Haofan Wang, Dekang Yuan, Ning Duan","doi":"10.1016/j.seppur.2026.136766","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seppur.2026.136766","url":null,"abstract":"Copper smelting waste acid contains multiple heavy metal ions such as copper and arsenic. Copper and arsenic can be separated from it, enabling resource recovery and reducing environmental pollution. Specifically, copper smelting waste acid contains 0.5–5 g/L of Cu(II). The rational utilization of this resource can effectively reduce dependence on extensive copper ore mining. However, no comprehensive review exists on copper‑arsenic separation from copper smelting waste acid. This paper therefore reviews adsorption, membrane separation, electrowinning, capacitive deionization and chemical precipitation methods, detailing the principles and current status of each approach for sulfide separation. Among these, chemical precipitation offers advantages including rapid reaction rates, strong precipitate stability, and high removal efficiency. The mechanisms for separating copper and arsenic from copper smelting waste acid were summarized and analyzed from multiple perspectives: different heavy metal ions, environmental factors, and precipitate properties. The ultimate separation efficiency is primarily determined by the solubility product constants between various heavy metal ions and S(-II). This review provides direction for further advancing the efficient separation of copper and arsenic from copper smelting waste acid.","PeriodicalId":427,"journal":{"name":"Separation and Purification Technology","volume":"29 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.6,"publicationDate":"2026-01-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145902742","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}
扫码关注我们
求助内容：
应助结果提醒方式：
京公网安备 11010802042870号