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}
Pub Date : 2026-01-27DOI: 10.1016/j.seppur.2026.136961
Haiying Xiao , Mingdong Li , Ying Qin , Zhangfa TONG , Lishuo Li
Abstract
A sustainable and integrated strategy is developed for the synthesis of nitrogen-doped porous carbons (HNPCs) using organically modified CaCO₃ nanofluids as multifunctional precursors, and their CO₂ separation performance is systematically evaluated. Cubic and spherical CaCO3 nanofluids were prepared using M2070 and KH560 as organic modifiers to form an organic crown-like structure, followed by programmed pyrolysis at 800 °C to obtain HNPCs. The obtained HNPCs exhibit well-developed porous structures with a high BET surface area of 777.3 m2·g−1, a micropore volume of 0.0928 cm3·g−1, and a nitrogen content of 2.79 wt% (elemental analysis). XPS analysis reveals that pyrrolic N (48.98%) and pyridinic N (26.47%) are the dominant nitrogen species, contributing to enhanced CO₂ adsorption affinity. The spherical CaCO₃-derived sample (SNPC(II)) shows superior CO₂ uptake capacities of 2.85 mmol·g−1 at 25 °C and 3.98 mmol·g−1 at 0 °C under 1 bar. The isosteric heat of adsorption ranges from 17.3 to 36.5 kJ·mol−1, indicating a physisorption-dominated and energy-efficient process. Ideal Adsorbed Solution Theory predicts a CO2/N2 selectivity of 34.19 at 298 K and 1 bar. Fixed-bed breakthrough experiments using simulated flue gas (15 vol% CO₂/85 vol% N₂) demonstrate a CO₂ breakthrough time of 4631 s·g−1, markedly longer than that of N₂ (342 s·g−1). Moreover, SNPC(II) retains 98.7% of its initial CO₂ capacity after eight adsorption–desorption cycles, highlighting excellent cyclic stability.
{"title":"Nitrogen doping of porous carbons derived from CaCO3 nanofluids for enhanced CO2 adsorption.","authors":"Haiying Xiao , Mingdong Li , Ying Qin , Zhangfa TONG , Lishuo Li","doi":"10.1016/j.seppur.2026.136961","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.seppur.2026.136961","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Abstract</div><div>A sustainable and integrated strategy is developed for the synthesis of nitrogen-doped porous carbons (HNPCs) using organically modified CaCO₃ nanofluids as multifunctional precursors, and their CO₂ separation performance is systematically evaluated. Cubic and spherical CaCO<sub>3</sub> nanofluids were prepared using M2070 and KH560 as organic modifiers to form an organic crown-like structure, followed by programmed pyrolysis at 800 °C to obtain HNPCs. The obtained HNPCs exhibit well-developed porous structures with a high BET surface area of 777.3 m<sup>2</sup>·g<sup>−1</sup>, a micropore volume of 0.0928 cm<sup>3</sup>·g<sup>−1</sup>, and a nitrogen content of 2.79 wt% (elemental analysis). XPS analysis reveals that pyrrolic N (48.98%) and pyridinic N (26.47%) are the dominant nitrogen species, contributing to enhanced CO₂ adsorption affinity. The spherical CaCO₃-derived sample (SNPC(II)) shows superior CO₂ uptake capacities of 2.85 mmol·g<sup>−1</sup> at 25 °C and 3.98 mmol·g<sup>−1</sup> at 0 °C under 1 bar. The isosteric heat of adsorption ranges from 17.3 to 36.5 kJ·mol<sup>−1</sup>, indicating a physisorption-dominated and energy-efficient process. Ideal Adsorbed Solution Theory predicts a CO<sub>2</sub>/N<sub>2</sub> selectivity of 34.19 at 298 K and 1 bar. Fixed-bed breakthrough experiments using simulated flue gas (15 vol% CO₂/85 vol% N₂) demonstrate a CO₂ breakthrough time of 4631 s·g<sup>−1</sup>, markedly longer than that of N₂ (342 s·g<sup>−1</sup>). Moreover, SNPC(II) retains 98.7% of its initial CO₂ capacity after eight adsorption–desorption cycles, highlighting excellent cyclic stability.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":427,"journal":{"name":"Separation and Purification Technology","volume":"391 ","pages":"Article 136961"},"PeriodicalIF":9.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146077284","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.2026.137013
Mohammadu Bello Danbatta , Nasser Ahmed Al-Azri , Muhammad Abdul Qyyum , Nabeel Al-Rawahi
Rotating packed beds (RPBs) offer a compact and energy-efficient alternative to conventional absorbers for post-combustion CO₂ capture; however, their large-scale deployment is limited by the time and cost required for solvent evaluation and operational optimization. This study introduces an artificial intelligence-enabled framework that couples solvent selection with process-condition optimization to enhance CO₂ absorption performance in RPB systems. The framework combines machine-learning and reinforcement-learning methods to represent key RPB parameters, including revolution speed, gas–liquid flow ratios, solvent concentration, and temperature. It achieved a predictive accuracy of 92.8%, improving performance by more than 110% compared with conventional approaches, and enabled rapid identification of optimum solvent-operation pairs under realistic industrial ranges. The framework reduced evaluation time from weeks to hours while maintaining physical consistency and engineering reliability. When applied to process-level assessment, the AI-enabled configuration lowered capital and operating costs by 40% and 30%, respectively, and decreased the levelized cost of CO₂ capture from $63 to $40 per ton of CO₂. The economic advantage further widens under elevated energy prices, highlighting the framework's robustness and scalability. Integrating artificial intelligence with process-intensification principles, therefore, offers a practical pathway toward faster, cost-effective, and industrially viable RPB-based carbon capture.
{"title":"Artificial intelligence-accelerated solvent screening for CO₂ capture in rotating packed beds: Economic impact and decision-support insights","authors":"Mohammadu Bello Danbatta , Nasser Ahmed Al-Azri , Muhammad Abdul Qyyum , Nabeel Al-Rawahi","doi":"10.1016/j.seppur.2026.137013","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.seppur.2026.137013","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Rotating packed beds (RPBs) offer a compact and energy-efficient alternative to conventional absorbers for post-combustion CO₂ capture; however, their large-scale deployment is limited by the time and cost required for solvent evaluation and operational optimization. This study introduces an artificial intelligence-enabled framework that couples solvent selection with process-condition optimization to enhance CO₂ absorption performance in RPB systems. The framework combines machine-learning and reinforcement-learning methods to represent key RPB parameters, including revolution speed, gas–liquid flow ratios, solvent concentration, and temperature. It achieved a predictive accuracy of 92.8%, improving performance by more than 110% compared with conventional approaches, and enabled rapid identification of optimum solvent-operation pairs under realistic industrial ranges. The framework reduced evaluation time from weeks to hours while maintaining physical consistency and engineering reliability. When applied to process-level assessment, the AI-enabled configuration lowered capital and operating costs by 40% and 30%, respectively, and decreased the levelized cost of CO₂ capture from $63 to $40 per ton of CO₂. The economic advantage further widens under elevated energy prices, highlighting the framework's robustness and scalability. Integrating artificial intelligence with process-intensification principles, therefore, offers a practical pathway toward faster, cost-effective, and industrially viable RPB-based carbon capture.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":427,"journal":{"name":"Separation and Purification Technology","volume":"391 ","pages":"Article 137013"},"PeriodicalIF":9.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146077130","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.2026.137057
Narges Dehbashi Nia , Bokseong Kim , Yuhoon Hwang
Ammonium contamination poses a significant environmental concern due to its adverse impacts on aquatic ecosystems, including oxygen depletion, reproductive disorders in aquatic organisms, and the proliferation of harmful algal blooms that release toxic compounds. These effects deteriorate water quality and threaten ecosystem stability, underscoring the need for effective and selective ammonium removal strategies. In this study, copper hexacyanoferrate (CuHCF), a Prussian blue analogue with strong affinity for ammonium ions, was immobilized onto acetone-pretreated three-dimensional (3D)-printed polylactic acid (PLA) filters. Acetone pretreatment chemically etched the PLA surface, increasing surface porosity and hydrophilicity, thereby enhancing surface reactivity for subsequent functionalization and CuHCF immobilization. This surface engineering strategy enabled uniform and stable distribution of CuHCF particles on the biopolymer scaffold, resulting in improved adsorption performance and structural stability. The fabricated filter exhibited an ammonium adsorption capacity of 1.91 mg/g and maintained over 90% regeneration efficiency across five adsorption–desorption cycles. Continuous column experiments further demonstrated stable operation for up to 40 h without significant performance deterioration. Overall, this work presents a simple and scalable approach for fabricating 3D-structured adsorbents via acetone-assisted surface modification, offering a practical platform for selective ammonium recovery and resource-oriented water treatment applications.
{"title":"Facile surface modification of 3D-printed biopolymer filter via acetone treatment for enhanced copper hexacyanoferrate immobilization and selective ammonium capture","authors":"Narges Dehbashi Nia , Bokseong Kim , Yuhoon Hwang","doi":"10.1016/j.seppur.2026.137057","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.seppur.2026.137057","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Ammonium contamination poses a significant environmental concern due to its adverse impacts on aquatic ecosystems, including oxygen depletion, reproductive disorders in aquatic organisms, and the proliferation of harmful algal blooms that release toxic compounds. These effects deteriorate water quality and threaten ecosystem stability, underscoring the need for effective and selective ammonium removal strategies. In this study, copper hexacyanoferrate (CuHCF), a Prussian blue analogue with strong affinity for ammonium ions, was immobilized onto acetone-pretreated three-dimensional (3D)-printed polylactic acid (PLA) filters. Acetone pretreatment chemically etched the PLA surface, increasing surface porosity and hydrophilicity, thereby enhancing surface reactivity for subsequent functionalization and CuHCF immobilization. This surface engineering strategy enabled uniform and stable distribution of CuHCF particles on the biopolymer scaffold, resulting in improved adsorption performance and structural stability. The fabricated filter exhibited an ammonium adsorption capacity of 1.91 mg/g and maintained over 90% regeneration efficiency across five adsorption–desorption cycles. Continuous column experiments further demonstrated stable operation for up to 40 h without significant performance deterioration. Overall, this work presents a simple and scalable approach for fabricating 3D-structured adsorbents <em>via</em> acetone-assisted surface modification, offering a practical platform for selective ammonium recovery and resource-oriented water treatment applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":427,"journal":{"name":"Separation and Purification Technology","volume":"391 ","pages":"Article 137057"},"PeriodicalIF":9.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146048748","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 : 2026-01-26DOI: 10.1016/j.seppur.2026.137046
Su-En Wu , Ching-Ting Lin , Yen-Ting Chen
Seawater desalination is an essential approach to achieve a sustainable water supply amid increasing global water demand and freshwater scarcity. However, membrane fouling during pretreatment greatly impairs filtration performance and operational efficiency. Therefore, this study aims to develop a model to analyze and enhance flux performance during cross-flow microfiltration of a binary suspension containing inorganic particles and macromolecules in seawater pretreatment. The effects of cross-flow velocity and operational pressure on filtration flux, fouling resistance, cake properties, and solute rejection were examined. The results showed that cross-flow velocity exerted a stronger influence than transmembrane pressure (TMP), with higher velocities reducing cake resistance by up to 58.44% at 75 kPa owing to increased shear stress. An empirical model based on a force balance and resistance analysis was established, and semi-empirical equations were developed to predict filtration flux, cake thickness, and macromolecule rejection under various hydrodynamic conditions. Furthermore, a self-cleaning backwash strategy was evaluated, and a 12-min backwash cycle was found optimal for balancing fouling control and energy efficiency. These findings offer valuable insights into hydrodynamic behavior and fouling control, providing practical guidance for designing sustainable seawater pretreatment processes.
{"title":"Model development and flux improvement for separating particle/macromolecule binary suspension by cross-flow microfiltration","authors":"Su-En Wu , Ching-Ting Lin , Yen-Ting Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.seppur.2026.137046","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.seppur.2026.137046","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Seawater desalination is an essential approach to achieve a sustainable water supply amid increasing global water demand and freshwater scarcity. However, membrane fouling during pretreatment greatly impairs filtration performance and operational efficiency. Therefore, this study aims to develop a model to analyze and enhance flux performance during cross-flow microfiltration of a binary suspension containing inorganic particles and macromolecules in seawater pretreatment. The effects of cross-flow velocity and operational pressure on filtration flux, fouling resistance, cake properties, and solute rejection were examined. The results showed that cross-flow velocity exerted a stronger influence than transmembrane pressure (TMP), with higher velocities reducing cake resistance by up to 58.44% at 75 kPa owing to increased shear stress. An empirical model based on a force balance and resistance analysis was established, and semi-empirical equations were developed to predict filtration flux, cake thickness, and macromolecule rejection under various hydrodynamic conditions. Furthermore, a self-cleaning backwash strategy was evaluated, and a 12-min backwash cycle was found optimal for balancing fouling control and energy efficiency. These findings offer valuable insights into hydrodynamic behavior and fouling control, providing practical guidance for designing sustainable seawater pretreatment processes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":427,"journal":{"name":"Separation and Purification Technology","volume":"390 ","pages":"Article 137046"},"PeriodicalIF":9.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146075608","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 : 2026-01-26DOI: 10.1016/j.seppur.2026.136904
Yafang Zhang , Wenqi Fang , Gaoyan Shao , Yuming Tu , Chencan Du , Zhongqi Ren
The limited mass transfer efficiency at the three-phase interface remains a major challenge for the industrial application of catalytic ozonation processes. To address this kinetic limitation, this study proposes a catalytic system that combines structurally optimized Ca2+ cross-linked sodium alginate spheres (Ca@SA-LSR-PEG200) with a millimeter-scale packed bed reactor (mPBR). The mesoporous structure (32.61 nm) is formed through the incorporation of polyethylene glycol (PEG200) and liquid silica gel (LSR), which contributes to the mechanical stability. The integration of Ca@SA-LSR-PEG200 with the mPBR significantly improves the gas–liquid–solid contact efficiency, achieving 100% atrazine (ATZ) removal within a short residence time of 11 s. Compared to conventional bubble columns, the apparent rate constant (k = 0.81 s−1) is enhanced by two to three orders of magnitude. Mechanism investigations reveal that the CaO sites and delocalized π electrons present in carbon defects facilitate the decomposition of ozone, thereby promoting the generation of reactive oxygen species (1O2, ·OH, ·O2−), which are responsible for ATZ degradation. The system demonstrates excellent operational stability over a 100-h testing period, with an efficiency loss of less than 5%, primarily due to the protective role of the LSR framework in preventing metal leaching. This work offers valuable insights into the mass transfer limitations in catalytic ozonation and presents a scalable solution for the continuous removal of persistent organic pollutants.
{"title":"Engineering a millimeter-scale packed bed reactor with porous calcium-alginate particles for intensified continuous-flow catalytic ozonation of ATZ","authors":"Yafang Zhang , Wenqi Fang , Gaoyan Shao , Yuming Tu , Chencan Du , Zhongqi Ren","doi":"10.1016/j.seppur.2026.136904","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.seppur.2026.136904","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The limited mass transfer efficiency at the three-phase interface remains a major challenge for the industrial application of catalytic ozonation processes. To address this kinetic limitation, this study proposes a catalytic system that combines structurally optimized Ca<sup>2+</sup> cross-linked sodium alginate spheres (Ca@SA-LSR-PEG200) with a millimeter-scale packed bed reactor (mPBR). The mesoporous structure (32.61 nm) is formed through the incorporation of polyethylene glycol (PEG200) and liquid silica gel (LSR), which contributes to the mechanical stability. The integration of Ca@SA-LSR-PEG200 with the mPBR significantly improves the gas–liquid–solid contact efficiency, achieving 100% atrazine (ATZ) removal within a short residence time of 11 s. Compared to conventional bubble columns, the apparent rate constant (<em>k</em> = 0.81 s<sup>−1</sup>) is enhanced by two to three orders of magnitude. Mechanism investigations reveal that the Ca<img>O sites and delocalized π electrons present in carbon defects facilitate the decomposition of ozone, thereby promoting the generation of reactive oxygen species (<sup>1</sup>O<sub>2</sub>, ·OH, ·O<sub>2</sub><sup>−</sup>), which are responsible for ATZ degradation. The system demonstrates excellent operational stability over a 100-h testing period, with an efficiency loss of less than 5%, primarily due to the protective role of the LSR framework in preventing metal leaching. This work offers valuable insights into the mass transfer limitations in catalytic ozonation and presents a scalable solution for the continuous removal of persistent organic pollutants.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":427,"journal":{"name":"Separation and Purification Technology","volume":"390 ","pages":"Article 136904"},"PeriodicalIF":9.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146075740","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 : 2026-01-26DOI: 10.1016/j.seppur.2026.137041
Zhenle Gan , Xu He , Song Ge , Xuhao Wei , Wei Qian , Wu Kuang , Cuimiao Zhang , Chunli Song , Benfa Chu , Zhongbiao Zhang
The advancement of high-performance, low-cost ion exchange membranes (IEMs) is pivotal for enabling a sustainable energy future and ensuring safe water supplies. This study reports the synthesis and characterization of a sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) (SPEEK) membrane through copolymerization with pre-sulfonated monomers and fluorene-based constituents. The synthetic strategy allows precise regulation of the sulfonation degree and improves membrane robustness. The obtained membranes exhibit an optimal combination of properties, including moderate water uptake, limited swelling, high ionic conductivity, along with excellent mechanical and thermal stability. The m-SPEEK-FDH membrane was systematically applied in two distinct technologies: Zinc‑iron redox flow batteries (AZIFB) and electrodialysis (ED). In AZIFB applications, the 0.6-SPEEK-FDH membrane demonstrates excellent performance. It achieves an energy efficiency exceeding 79.4% even at a high current density of 400 mA cm−2. Meanwhile, it exhibits exceptional long-term cycling stability, maintaining an energy efficiency above 84.4% throughout a test of over 950 cycles that spanned 18 days at 200 mA cm−2. The investigation demonstrates that ED with the treated 0.6-SPEEK-FDH also exhibits high desalination efficiencies (up to 97%) with low energy consumption (<4.5 kWh·kg−1). The incorporation of rigid fluorene units with a tunable degree of sulfonation offers a viable approach to tailor-made CEMs, showcasing significant potential for both zinc‑iron flow batteries and electrodialysis processes.
高性能、低成本离子交换膜（IEMs）的发展对于实现可持续能源的未来和确保安全的水供应至关重要。本研究报道了通过预磺化单体和芴基组分共聚合成磺化聚醚醚酮（SPEEK）膜。该合成策略可以精确调节磺化程度，提高膜的鲁棒性。所获得的膜表现出最佳的性能组合，包括适度的吸水，有限的膨胀，高离子电导率，以及优异的机械和热稳定性。m-SPEEK-FDH膜系统地应用于两种不同的技术：锌-铁氧化还原液流电池（AZIFB）和电渗析（ED）。在AZIFB应用中，0.6-SPEEK-FDH膜表现出优异的性能。即使在400 mA cm−2的高电流密度下，其能量效率也超过79.4%。同时，它表现出优异的长期循环稳定性，在200毫安厘米−2下持续18天的超过950次循环测试中，能源效率保持在84.4%以上。研究表明，经处理的0.6-SPEEK-FDH的ED也具有高脱盐效率（高达97%）和低能耗（<4.5 kWh·kg−1）。结合具有可调磺化程度的刚性芴单元，为定制CEMs提供了一种可行的方法，展示了锌铁液流电池和电渗析工艺的巨大潜力。
{"title":"Rational molecular tuning of SPEEK membranes for high-performance zinc-iron flow batteries and electrodialysis","authors":"Zhenle Gan , Xu He , Song Ge , Xuhao Wei , Wei Qian , Wu Kuang , Cuimiao Zhang , Chunli Song , Benfa Chu , Zhongbiao Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.seppur.2026.137041","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.seppur.2026.137041","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The advancement of high-performance, low-cost ion exchange membranes (IEMs) is pivotal for enabling a sustainable energy future and ensuring safe water supplies. This study reports the synthesis and characterization of a sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) (SPEEK) membrane through copolymerization with pre-sulfonated monomers and fluorene-based constituents. The synthetic strategy allows precise regulation of the sulfonation degree and improves membrane robustness. The obtained membranes exhibit an optimal combination of properties, including moderate water uptake, limited swelling, high ionic conductivity, along with excellent mechanical and thermal stability. The m-SPEEK-FDH membrane was systematically applied in two distinct technologies: Zinc‑iron redox flow batteries (AZIFB) and electrodialysis (ED). In AZIFB applications, the 0.6-SPEEK-FDH membrane demonstrates excellent performance. It achieves an energy efficiency exceeding 79.4% even at a high current density of 400 mA cm<sup>−2</sup>. Meanwhile, it exhibits exceptional long-term cycling stability, maintaining an energy efficiency above 84.4% throughout a test of over 950 cycles that spanned 18 days at 200 mA cm<sup>−2</sup>. The investigation demonstrates that ED with the treated 0.6-SPEEK-FDH also exhibits high desalination efficiencies (up to 97%) with low energy consumption (<4.5 kWh·kg<sup>−1</sup>). The incorporation of rigid fluorene units with a tunable degree of sulfonation offers a viable approach to tailor-made CEMs, showcasing significant potential for both zinc‑iron flow batteries and electrodialysis processes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":427,"journal":{"name":"Separation and Purification Technology","volume":"390 ","pages":"Article 137041"},"PeriodicalIF":9.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146075654","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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