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Applebee Z, Howell C. Multi-component liquid-infused systems: a new approach to functional coatings. INDUSTRIAL CHEMISTRY & MATERIALS 2024; 2:378-392. [PMID: 39165661 PMCID: PMC11334363 DOI: 10.1039/d4im00003j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 08/22/2024]
Abstract
Antifouling liquid-infused surfaces have generated interest in multiple fields due to their diverse applications in industry and medicine. In nearly all reports to date, the liquid component consists of only one chemical species. However, unlike traditional solid surfaces, the unique nature of liquid surfaces holds the potential for synergistic and even adaptive functionality simply by including additional elements in the liquid coating. In this work, we explore the concept of multi-component liquid-infused systems, in which the coating liquid consists of a primary liquid and a secondary component or components that provide additional functionality. For ease of understanding, we categorize recently reported multi-component liquid-infused surfaces according to the size of the secondary components: molecular scale, in which the secondary components are molecules; nanoscale, in which they are nanoparticles or their equivalent; and microscale, in which the additional components are micrometer size or above. We present examples at each scale, showing how introducing a secondary element into the liquid can result in synergistic effects, such as maintaining a pristine surface while actively modifying the surrounding environment, which are difficult to achieve in other surface treatments. The review highlights the diversity of fabrication methods and provides perspectives on future research directions. Introducing secondary components into the liquid matrix of liquid-infused surfaces is a promising strategy with significant potential to create a new class of multifunctional materials. Keywords: Active surfaces; Antimicrobial; Antifouling; Interfaces; Sensing surfaces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zachary Applebee
- Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, Maine College of Engineering and Computing, University of Maine ME 04469 USA
- Graduate School of Biomedical Science and Engineering, University of Maine ME 04469 USA
| | - Caitlin Howell
- Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, Maine College of Engineering and Computing, University of Maine ME 04469 USA
- Graduate School of Biomedical Science and Engineering, University of Maine ME 04469 USA
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2
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Bazyar H, Kandemir MH, Peper J, Andrade MAB, Bernassau AL, Schroën K, Lammertink RGH. Acoustophoresis of monodisperse oil droplets in water: Effect of symmetry breaking and non-resonance operation on oil trapping behavior. BIOMICROFLUIDICS 2023; 17:064107. [PMID: 38162227 PMCID: PMC10757468 DOI: 10.1063/5.0175400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
Acoustic manipulation of particles in microchannels has recently gained much attention. Ultrasonic standing wave (USW) separation of oil droplets or particles is an established technology for microscale applications. Acoustofluidic devices are normally operated at optimized conditions, namely, resonant frequency, to minimize power consumption. It has been recently shown that symmetry breaking is needed to obtain efficient conditions for acoustic particle trapping. In this work, we study the acoustophoretic behavior of monodisperse oil droplets (silicone oil and hexadecane) in water in the microfluidic chip operating at a non-resonant frequency and an off-center placement of the transducer. Finite element-based computer simulations are further performed to investigate the influence of these conditions on the acoustic pressure distribution and oil trapping behavior. Via investigating the Gor'kov potential, we obtained an overlap between the trapping patterns obtained in experiments and simulations. We demonstrate that an off-center placement of the transducer and driving the transducer at a non-resonant frequency can still lead to predictable behavior of particles in acoustofluidics. This is relevant to applications in which the theoretical resonant frequency cannot be achieved, e.g., manipulation of biological matter within living tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- H. Bazyar
- Engineering Thermodynamics, Process & Energy Department, Faculty of Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Leeghwaterstraat 39, 2628CB Delft, The Netherlands
| | - M. H. Kandemir
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Automation, Aalto University, 02150 Espoo, Finland
| | - J. Peper
- Soft Matter Fluidics and Interfaces, MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Twente, P. O. Box 217, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands
| | - M. A. B. Andrade
- Institute of Physics, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-090, Brazil
| | - A. L. Bernassau
- School of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - K. Schroën
- Membrane Processes for Food, University of Twente, P. O. Box 217, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands
| | - R. G. H. Lammertink
- Soft Matter Fluidics and Interfaces, MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Twente, P. O. Box 217, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands
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Song C, Rutledge GC. Three-Dimensional Imaging of Emulsion Separation through Liquid-Infused Membranes Using Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2023; 39:11468-11480. [PMID: 37540768 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.3c01477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/06/2023]
Abstract
The removal of emulsified oils from water has always been a challenge due to the kinetic stability resulting from the small droplet size and the presence of stabilizing agents. Membrane technology can treat such mixtures, but fouling of the membrane leads to dramatic reductions in the process capacity. Liquid-infused membranes (LIMs) can potentially resolve the issue of fouling. However, their low permeate flux compared with conventional hydrophilic membranes remains a limitation. To gain insight into the mechanism of transport, we use 3D images acquired by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) to reconstruct the sequence of events occurring during startup and operation of the LIM for removal of dispersed oil from oil-in-water emulsions. We find evidence for coalescence of oil droplets on the surface of and formation of oil channels within the LIM. Using image analysis, we find that the rate at which oil channels are formed within the membrane and the number of channels ultimately govern the permeate flux of oil through the LIMs. Oil concentration in the feed affects the rate of coalescence of oil on the surface of the LIM, which, in turn, affects the channel formation dynamics. The channel formation dynamics also depend on the viscosity of the infused liquid and the operating pressure. A higher affinity to the pore wall for infused liquid than permeating liquid is essential to antifouling behavior. Overall, this work offers insight into the selective permeation of a dispersed liquid phase through a LIM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Song
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Gregory C Rutledge
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
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Bang J, Park S, Hwang SW, Oh JK, Yeo H, Jin HJ, Kwak HW. Biodegradable and hydrophobic nanofibrous membranes produced by solution blow spinning for efficient oil/water separation. CHEMOSPHERE 2023; 312:137240. [PMID: 36379429 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.137240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2022] [Revised: 11/10/2022] [Accepted: 11/11/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The development of nanofibrous oil-water separation materials is explosively progressing, but the remarkably low productivity is the main factor hindering their practical application. In this study, biodegradable polybutylene succinate (PBS) nanofibers with excellent productivity (27.0 g/h per nozzle) were successfully fabricated using the solution blow spinning (SBS) process, breaking away from the conventional electrospinning method. The prepared PBS nanofibers exhibited extremely thin fiber diameters (130 nm) with high porosity (97.4%). Without any chemical modification or inorganic/organic hybrid materialization, the PBS nanofibrous membrane showed excellent oil adsorption capacity (minimum: 18.7 g/g and maximum: 38.5 g/g) and separation efficiency; water and oil mixtures (99.4-99.98%) and emulsions (98.1-99.5%) compared to conventional organic polymer-based nanofibers. In terms of disposal after use, this biodegradable nanofibrous membrane was able to return to nature through hydrolysis and biodegradation processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junsik Bang
- Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Bioresources, College of Agriculture & Life Sciences, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, 08826, South Korea
| | - Subong Park
- Fisheries Engineering Division, National Institute of Fisheries Science, Busan, 46083, South Korea
| | - Sung-Wook Hwang
- Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, 08826, South Korea
| | - Jung-Kwon Oh
- Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Bioresources, College of Agriculture & Life Sciences, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, 08826, South Korea; Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, 08826, South Korea
| | - Hwanmyeong Yeo
- Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Bioresources, College of Agriculture & Life Sciences, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, 08826, South Korea; Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, 08826, South Korea
| | - Hyoung-Joon Jin
- Program in Environmental and Polymer Engineering, Inha University, 100 Inha-ro, Namgu, Incheon, 22212, South Korea
| | - Hyo Won Kwak
- Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Bioresources, College of Agriculture & Life Sciences, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, 08826, South Korea; Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, 08826, South Korea.
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Saeid P, Zeinolabedini M, Khamforoush M. Simulation of a crossflow ultrafiltration polysulfone/polyvinylpyrrolidone membrane separation using finite element analysis to separate oil/water emulsion. IRANIAN POLYMER JOURNAL 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s13726-022-01134-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
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Ahmed FU, Upadhaya D, Dhar Purkayastha D, Krishna MG. Stable hydrophilic and underwater superoleophobic ZnO nanorod decorated nanofibrous membrane and its application in wastewater treatment. J Memb Sci 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.memsci.2022.120803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
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Ultrahigh efficient emulsification with drag-reducing liquid gating interfacial behavior. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2206462119. [PMID: 35858305 PMCID: PMC9304007 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2206462119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Emulsification is a crucial technique for mixing immiscible liquids into droplets in numerous areas ranging from food to medicine to chemical synthesis. Commercial emulsification methods are promising for high production, but suffer from high energy input. Here, we report a very simple and scalable emulsification method that employs the drag-reducing liquid gating structure to create a smooth liquid-liquid interface for the reduction of resistance and tunable generation of droplets with good uniformity. Theoretical modeling and experimental results demonstrate that our method exhibits ultrahigh efficiency, which can reach up to more than 4 orders of magnitude greater energy-saving compared to commercial methods. For temperature-sensitive biological components, such as enzymes, proteins, and bacteria, it can offer a comfortable environment to avoid exposure to high temperatures during emulsifying, and the interface also enables the suppression of fouling. This unique drag-reducing liquid gating interfacial emulsification mechanism promotes the efficiency of droplet generation and provides fresh insight into the innovation of emulsifications that can be applied in many fields, including the food industry, the daily chemical industry, biomedicine, material fabrication, the petrochemical industry, and beyond.
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Song C, Rutledge GC. Electrospun Liquid-Infused Membranes for Emulsified Oil/Water Separation. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2022; 38:2301-2313. [PMID: 35129364 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.1c03016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
From an environmental perspective, microfiltration membranes are attractive for the separation of emulsified oils from contaminated water. However, fouling of the membrane is a major drawback of the technology. "Liquid-infused membranes" (LIMs) have the potential to eliminate membrane fouling. Here, we demonstrate the practical application of LIMs for the separation of oil from a stable oil-in-water emulsion and characterize their resistance to fouling. The base membrane is an electrospun nonwoven fibrous layer of the fluorinated copolymer poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (PVDF-co-HFP). The surface energy of the PVDF-co-HFP fibers was lowered by the covalent attachment of a fluorinated silane (PFOCTS), and then, the membrane was infused with a perfluoropolyether. The membrane was then challenged with model emulsions of dodecane in water in a cross-flow configuration. This PFOCTS-modified LIM showed better infused liquid stability, permeation selectivity, higher permeate flux than the unmodified LIM, and better anti-fouling properties than the bare membrane without infused liquid. We also examine the mechanism for transport of the dispersed oil phase through the liquid-infused membrane. We find a linear relationship between the dodecane flux and dodecane concentration in the feed and a higher dodecane flux through the PFOCTS-modified membrane than the unmodified one, which suggests that the capture of dodecane droplets from the feed plays an important role in determining the overall rate of permeation. Other factors such as lower viscosity of the infused liquid, larger pore size, and higher operating pressure also improved the permeate flux through the LIMs. Overall, this work provides some guidelines on the design of composite membranes comprising infused liquids and the choice of operating conditions for the filtration process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Song
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Gregory C Rutledge
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
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Liu J, Xu X, Lei Y, Zhang M, Sheng Z, Wang H, Cao M, Zhang J, Hou X. Liquid Gating Meniscus-Shaped Deformable Magnetoelastic Membranes with Self-Driven Regulation of Gas/Liquid Release. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2022; 34:e2107327. [PMID: 34762328 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202107327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2021] [Revised: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Liquid gating membranes have been demonstrated to show unprecedented properties of dynamicity, stability, adaptivity, and stimulus-responsiveness. Most recently, smart liquid gating membranes have attracted increasing attention to bring some brand-new properties for real-world applications, and various environment-driven systems have been created. Here, a self-driven system of a smart liquid gating membrane is further developed by designing a new sytem based on a liquid gating magnetoelastic porous membrane with reversible meniscus-shaped deformations, and it is not subject to the complex gating liquid restriction of magnetorheological fluids. Compared with other systems, this magnetic-responsive self-driven system has the advantage that it provides a universal and convenient way to realize active regulation of gas/liquid release. Experiments and theoretical calculations demonstrate the stability, the nonfouling behavior, and the tunability of the system. In addition, this system can be used to perfectly open and close gas transport, and the gating pressure threshold for the liquid release can be reduced under the same conditions. Based on the above capabilities, combined with the fast and 3D contactless operation, it will be of benefit in fields ranging from visible gas/liquid mixture content monitoring and energy-saving multiphase separation, remote fluid release, and beyond.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, and Department of Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, China
| | - Xue Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, and Department of Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, China
| | - Yi Lei
- Department of Physics, Research Institute for Biomimetics and Soft Matter, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory for Soft Functional Materials Research, Jiujiang Research Institute, College of Physical Science and Technology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, China
| | - Mengchuang Zhang
- Department of Physics, Research Institute for Biomimetics and Soft Matter, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory for Soft Functional Materials Research, Jiujiang Research Institute, College of Physical Science and Technology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, China
| | - Zhizhi Sheng
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, and Department of Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, China
- Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano Bionics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Huimeng Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, and Department of Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, China
| | - Min Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, and Department of Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, China
| | - Jian Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, and Department of Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, China
| | - Xu Hou
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, and Department of Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, China
- Department of Physics, Research Institute for Biomimetics and Soft Matter, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory for Soft Functional Materials Research, Jiujiang Research Institute, College of Physical Science and Technology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, China
- Tan Kah Kee Innovation Laboratory, Xiamen, Fujian, 361102, China
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Jabbary Farrokhi S, Pakzad H, Fakhri M, Moosavi A. Superhydrophobic home-made polyurethane sponges for versatile and cost-effective oil and water separation. Sep Purif Technol 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.seppur.2021.119240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
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Zhang J, Chen B, Chen X, Hou X. Liquid-Based Adaptive Structural Materials. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2021; 33:e2005664. [PMID: 33834566 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202005664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2020] [Revised: 02/08/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Structural materials are used to provide stable mechanical architectures and transmit or support forces, and they play an important role in materials science and technology. During the long process of the exploitation of structural materials, the functionality of structural materials has gained prominence. Adaptive structures responding to external stimuli have come to the fore with significant advantages in structural materials. However, many solid adaptive structural materials still suffer from their single function and the lack of dynamic performance, such as issue around fouling and energy consumption, defects present everywhere in materials at the microscale, etc. To meet the increasing demands, more and more researchers have started turning their attention to liquid-based materials owing to their intrinsic spontaneous, dynamic, and functional properties. Liquid-based adaptive structural materials (LASMs) have been proposed and developed. Building upon both dynamic liquids and fixed solids, LASMs have been demonstrated to possess both dynamic adaptivity (from the active liquid part) and stable mechanical structure (from the fixed solid part), which are desired in many applications such as 3D printing, droplet manipulation, omniphobic surfaces, microfluidics, mass separation, etc. A unifying view of the recent progress of LASMs is presented, including liquid with particles, liquid with surfaces, as well as liquid with membranes. In addition, the discussion of the prospects and challenges are provided for promoting the development of LASMs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, China
| | - Baiyi Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, China
- College of Materials, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, China
| | - Xinyu Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, China
| | - Xu Hou
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, China
- College of Materials, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, China
- Research Institute for Biomimetics and Soft Matter, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory for Soft Functional Materials Research, Jiujiang Research Institute, College of Physical Science and Technology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, China
- Tan Kah Kee Innovation Laboratory, Xiamen, Fujian, 361102, China
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Han Y, Zhang Y, Zhang M, Chen B, Chen X, Hou X. Photothermally induced liquid gate with navigation control of the fluid transport. FUNDAMENTAL RESEARCH 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fmre.2021.07.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
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13
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Graphene-bentonite supported free-standing, flexible membrane with switchable wettability for selective oil–water separation. Sep Purif Technol 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.seppur.2021.118569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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14
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Yan X, Liu G, Xu J, Ma X. In Situ Oil Separation and Collection from Water under Surface Wave Condition. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2021; 37:6257-6267. [PMID: 33979523 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.1c00585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Removal of oil from water is strongly desired due to environmental pollution, and related studies are mainly limited to the material itself. Here, we propose an oil-water separation device, called a floating well, which includes a container for oil collection and a modified mesh screen for oil separation. The mesh screen is superhydrophilic to oil and superhydrophobic to water. The oil removal experiment was performed in a basin. Under the calm surface condition, the oil collection efficiency is shown to be 42-69%. The inadequate oil collection is explained by the breakdown of a thin oil film above water to form an oil-free area, preventing direct contact between the separator and the oil. Sustained by a wave generator, we are surprised to find that with a low-frequency surface wave, the oil collection efficiency is increased to 98%, and the collection speed reaches 2.5 times that under the calm surface condition. The almost complete collection is due to the sustained contact between the separator and the oil, under which the surface wave continuously drives the oil film toward the separator from elsewhere, thus the oil-free area cannot be formed. Our work presents a new clue for large-scale in situ applications, in which the nature wave energy of river/sea can be the driving force for continuous oil separation and collection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Yan
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Multiphase Flow and Heat Transfer for Low Grade Energy Utilization, North China Electric Power University, Beijing 102206, China
- National Institute of Clean-and-Low-Carbon Energy (NICE), Beijing 102211, China
| | - Guohua Liu
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Multiphase Flow and Heat Transfer for Low Grade Energy Utilization, North China Electric Power University, Beijing 102206, China
- Key Laboratory of Power Station Energy Transfer Conversion and System, Ministry of Education, North China Electric Power University, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Jinliang Xu
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Multiphase Flow and Heat Transfer for Low Grade Energy Utilization, North China Electric Power University, Beijing 102206, China
- Key Laboratory of Power Station Energy Transfer Conversion and System, Ministry of Education, North China Electric Power University, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Xiaojing Ma
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Multiphase Flow and Heat Transfer for Low Grade Energy Utilization, North China Electric Power University, Beijing 102206, China
- Key Laboratory of Power Station Energy Transfer Conversion and System, Ministry of Education, North China Electric Power University, Beijing 102206, China
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