Adsorption of Anionic or Cationic Surfactants in Polyanionic Brushes and Its Effect on Brush Swelling and Fouling Resistance during Emulsion Filtration

Aqueous lubrication and wear properties of nonionic bottle-brush polymers

The usage of aqueous lubricants in eco-friendly bio-medical friction systems has attracted significant attention. Several bottle-brush polymers with generally ionic functional groups have been developed based on the structure of biological lubricant lubricin. However, hydrophilic nonionic brush polymers have attracted less attention, especially in terms of wear properties. We developed bottle-brush polymers (BP) using hydrophilic 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA), a highly biocompatible yet nonionic molecule. The lubrication properties of polymer films were analyzed in an aqueous state using a ball-on-disk, which revealed that BPHEMA showed a lower aqueous friction coefficient than linear poly(HEMA), even lower than hyaluronic acid (HA) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), which are widely used as lubricating polymers. Significantly, we discovered that the combination of HA, PVA, and BPHEMA is demonstrated to be essential in influencing the surface wear properties; the ratio of 1 : 2 (HA : BPHEMA) had the maximum wear resistance, despite a slight increase in the aqueous friction coefficient.

Delamination-Free In-Air and Underwater Oil-Repellent Filters for Oil-Water Separation: Gravity-Driven and Cross-Flow Operations

Separating oil-water mixtures is critical in a variety of practical applications, including the treatment of industrial wastewater, oil spill cleanups, as well as the purification of petroleum products. Among various methodologies that have been utilized, membranes are the most attractive technology for separating oil-water emulsions. In recent years, selective wettability membranes have attracted particular attention for oil-water separations. The membrane surfaces with hydrophilic and in-air oleophobic wettability have demonstrated enhanced effectiveness for oil-water separations in comparison with underwater oleophobic membranes. However, developing a hydrophilic and in-air oleophobic surface for a membrane is not a trivial task. The coating delamination process is a critical challenge when applying these membranes for separations. Inspired by the above, in this study we utilize poly(ethylene glycol)diacrylate (PEGDA) and 1H,1H,2H,2H-heptadecafluorodecyl acrylate (F-acrylate) to fabricate a hydrophilic and in-air oleophobic coating on a filter. We utilize methacryloxypropyl trimethoxysilane (MEMO) as an adhesion promoter to enhance the adhesion of the coating to the filter. The filter demonstrates robust oil repellency preventing oil adhesion and oil fouling. Utilizing the filter, gravity-driven and continuous separations of surfactant-stabilized oil-water emulsions are demonstrated. Finally, we demonstrate that the filter can be reused multiple times upon rinsing for further oil-water separations.

Polyelectrolytes as Building Blocks for Next-Generation Membranes with Advanced Functionalities

The global society is in a transition, where dealing with climate change and water scarcity are important challenges. More efficient separations of chemical species are essential to reduce energy consumption and to provide more reliable access to clean water. Here, membranes with advanced functionalities that go beyond standard separation properties can play a key role. This includes relevant functionalities, such as stimuli-responsiveness, fouling control, stability, specific selectivity, sustainability, and antimicrobial activity. Polyelectrolytes and their complexes are an especially promising system to provide advanced membrane functionalities. Here, we have reviewed recent work where advanced membrane properties stem directly from the material properties provided by polyelectrolytes. This work highlights the versatility of polyelectrolyte-based membrane modifications, where polyelectrolytes are not only applied as single layers, including brushes, but also as more complex polyelectrolyte multilayers on both porous membrane supports and dense membranes. Moreover, free-standing membranes can also be produced completely from aqueous polyelectrolyte solutions allowing much more sustainable approaches to membrane fabrication. The Review demonstrates the promise that polyelectrolytes and their complexes hold for next-generation membranes with advanced properties, while it also provides a clear outlook on the future of this promising field.

Microfiltration of saline crude oil emulsions: Effects of dispersant and salinity

Dispersants reduce oil-water interfacial tension making the separation of oil-water emulsions challenging. In this study, crude oil stabilized by the dispersant, Corexit EC9500A, was emulsified in synthetic sea water using a range of Corexit/crude oil concentration ratios (up to 10% by volume). With an interfacial tension of only 8.0 mJ/m² at 0.5 mL(Corexit)/L, approximately 50% of the crude was dispersed into droplets <10 µm. Near complete rejection of oil in crossflow separation tests was accompanied by a precipitous flux decline attributable in part to dispersant- and salinity-induced decrease in membrane's oleophobicity (4.2 mJ/m² decrease in surface energy). Screening of electrostatic interactions prompted oil coalescence that occurred at the membrane surface but not in the bulk of the emulsion. Real-time in situ visualization by Direct Observation Through Membrane gave direct evidence of surface coalescence pointing to both its detrimental effects (spread of contiguous films) and possible advantages (removal of large droplets by crossflow shear).

Hysteretic Swelling/Deswelling of Polyelectrolyte Brushes and Bilayer Films in Response to Changes in pH and Salt Concentration

We use a quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM-D) to investigate the swelling/de-swelling and hysteresis in brushes of weakly ionizable polyanion poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) brushes and bilayers containing a PAA brush and a poly(ethylene imine) (PEI) overlayer. We show that for a long PAA chain (M_w = 39 kDa), at low grafting density (σ < 0.05 chains/nm²) and at a pH value (=4.2) at which it is partially charged, in the low-salt “osmotic brush” regime, the brush height no longer increases with increased grafting density as is seen for shorter brushes and denser grafting, but shows a slight decrease in height, in qualitative agreement with predictions of scaling theory. In a cycle of stepped pH changes, we also show that at a low grafting density of σ = 0.023 chains/nm² and M_w = 39 kDa, there is hysteresis in swelling over timescales of many minutes. For higher grafting densities σ = 0.87 chains/nm² and shorter chains (2 kDa), we see little or no measurable hysteresis, and, at intermediate chain length 14 kDa and grafting density σ = 0.06 chains/nm², hysteresis is observed at short timescales but is greatly reduced at longer timescales. These results are similarly observed when bilayers are made by adsorbing onto the PAA brush a layer of the polycation PEI. In addition, we also note hysteresis in swelling upon changes of salt concentration when pH is fixed. These results show the rich thermodynamics and kinetics of even monolayers and bilayers of polyelectrolyte films.

Membrane-based separation for oily wastewater: A practical perspective

The large volumes of oily wastewater generated by various industries, such as oil and gas, food and beverage, and metal processing, need to be de-oiled prior to being discharged into the environment. Compared to conventional technologies such as dissolved air flotation (DAF), coagulation or solvent extraction, membrane filtration can treat oily wastewater of a much broader compositional range and still ensure high oil removals. In the present review, various aspects related to the practical implementation of membranes for the treatment of oily wastewater are summarized. First, sources and composition of oily wastewater, regulations that stipulate the extent of treatment needed before discharge, and the conventional technologies that enable such treatment are appraised. Second, commercially available membranes, membrane modules, operation modes and hybrids are overviewed, and their economics are discussed. Third, challenges associated with membrane filtration are examined, along with means to quantify and mitigate membrane fouling. Finally, perspectives on state-of-the-art techniques to facilitate better monitoring and control of such systems are briefly discussed.

Responsive Nanoporous Membranes with Size Selectivity and Charge Rejection from Self-Assembly of Polyelectrolyte "Hairy" Nanoparticles

We report the preparation and characterization of charged nanoporous membranes by self-assembly of "hairy" silica nanoparticles (HNPs) functionalized with polyelectrolyte copolymer brushes. We show that HNP membranes possess high water flux, have well-defined pore sizes, and rejection up to 80% of charged species in solution. The properties of these membranes can be tuned by controlling the length and composition of polymer brushes and the electrolyte concentration in solution. We demonstrate that membrane pore sizes undergo changes of up to 40% in response to changes in the ionic strength of the salt solution. Using MD computer simulations of a coarse-grained model, we link these tunable properties to the conformations of polymer chains in the spaces between randomly packed HNPs. As polymer length increases, the polymers fill the interparticle gaps, and the pore size decreases markedly. On the basis of their straightforward fabrication and tunable properties, HNP membranes may find applications in size- and charge-selective separations, water desalination, and responsive devices.

Photosensitive Cationic Azobenzene Surfactants: Thermodynamics of Hydration and the Complex Formation with Poly(methacrylic acid)

In this computational work, we investigate the photosensitive cationic surfactants with the trimethylammonium or polyamine hydrophilic head and the azobenzene-containing hydrophobic tail. The azobenzene-based molecules are known to undergo a reversible trans-cis-trans isomerization reaction when subjected to UV-visible light irradiation. Combining the density functional theory and the all-atom molecular dynamics simulations, the structural and the hydration properties of the trans- and the cis-isomers and their interaction with the oppositely charged poly(methacrylic acid) in aqueous solution are investigated. We establish and quantify the correlations of the molecular structure and the isomerization state of the surfactants and their hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity and the self-assembling altered by light. For this reason, we compare the hydration free energies of the trans- and the cis-isomers. Moreover, the investigations of the interaction strength between the azobenzene molecules and the polyanion provide additional elucidations of the recent experimental and theoretical studies on the light triggered reversible deformation behavior of the microgels and the polymer brushes loaded with azobenzene surfactants.

Evaluation of a mixed anionic-nonionic surfactant modified eggshell membrane as an advantageous adsorbent for the solid-phase extraction of Sudan I-IV as model analytes

The coadsorption of mixed anionic-nonionic surfactants, sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate with Triton X-100, on the surface of eggshell membrane was investigated based on adsorption isotherms to improve the solid-phase extraction performance of eggshell membrane toward organic contaminants. Results showed that even though excess Triton X-100 might inhibit the adsorption of sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate, a low dosage of Triton X-100 can significantly improve sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate modification and enhance the extraction efficiency of eggshell membrane from 73.7 to 100.4% because of the formation of mixed hemimicelles. The highest recovery was achieved at 2:8 (Triton X-100/sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate mass ratios), and multiple mechanisms involving π-π interactions, hydrophobic effect, and π-π electron donor-acceptor interactions contributed to the strong extraction affinity. When mixed, the Triton X-100 and sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate modified eggshell membrane packed cartridge coupled with high-performance liquid chromatography was applied for the simultaneous determination of trace Sudan I-IV, and low detection limits (0.16-0.26 ng/L) were achieved with satisfactory linearity (R²  > 0.999) in 10-10 000 μg/L. For real samples, Sudan II and III in one chilli sauce sample were found at 4.3 and 1.7 μg/kg. Sudan I-IV recoveries at three spiked levels were 87.4-102.9% with precisions <6.8%. Comparison with commonly used solid-phase extraction adsorbents and methods further reflected the superiorities of the proposed adsorbent in sensitivity, retention ability, and applicability.