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Kalutantirige FC, He J, Yao L, Cotty S, Zhou S, Smith JW, Tajkhorshid E, Schroeder CM, Moore JS, An H, Su X, Li Y, Chen Q. Beyond nothingness in the formation and functional relevance of voids in polymer films. Nat Commun 2024; 15:2852. [PMID: 38605028 PMCID: PMC11009415 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46584-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Voids-the nothingness-broadly exist within nanomaterials and impact properties ranging from catalysis to mechanical response. However, understanding nanovoids is challenging due to lack of imaging methods with the needed penetration depth and spatial resolution. Here, we integrate electron tomography, morphometry, graph theory and coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulation to study the formation of interconnected nanovoids in polymer films and their impacts on permeance and nanomechanical behaviour. Using polyamide membranes for molecular separation as a representative system, three-dimensional electron tomography at nanometre resolution reveals nanovoid formation from coalescence of oligomers, supported by coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations. Void analysis provides otherwise inaccessible inputs for accurate fittings of methanol permeance for polyamide membranes. Three-dimensional structural graphs accounting for the tortuous nanovoids within, measure higher apparent moduli with polyamide membranes of higher graph rigidity. Our study elucidates the significance of nanovoids beyond the nothingness, impacting the synthesis‒morphology‒function relationships of complex nanomaterials.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jinlong He
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
| | - Lehan Yao
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
| | - Stephen Cotty
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
| | - Shan Zhou
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
| | - John W Smith
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
| | - Emad Tajkhorshid
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
- NIH Resource for Macromolecular Modelling and Visualization, Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
| | - Charles M Schroeder
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
- Materials Research Laboratory, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
| | - Jeffrey S Moore
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
| | - Hyosung An
- Department of Petrochemical Materials Engineering, Chonnam National University, Yeosu, Jeollanam-do, 59631, South Korea
| | - Xiao Su
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
| | - Ying Li
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53706, USA.
| | - Qian Chen
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA.
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA.
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA.
- Materials Research Laboratory, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA.
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA.
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2
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Sun Y, Zhang X, Huang R, Yang D, Kim J, Chen J, Ang EH, Li M, Li L, Song X. Revealing microscopic dynamics: in situ liquid-phase TEM for live observations of soft materials and quantitative analysis via deep learning. NANOSCALE 2024; 16:2945-2954. [PMID: 38236129 DOI: 10.1039/d3nr04480g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
In various domains spanning materials synthesis, chemical catalysis, life sciences, and energy materials, in situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM) methods exert a profound influence. These methodologies enable the real-time observation and manipulation of gas-phase and liquid-phase reactions at the nanoscale, facilitating the exploration of pivotal reaction mechanisms. Fundamental research areas like crystal nucleation, growth, etching, and self-assembly have greatly benefited from these techniques. Additionally, their applications extend across diverse fields such as catalysis, batteries, bioimaging, and drug delivery kinetics. However, the intricate nature of 'soft matter' presents a challenge due to the unique molecular properties and dynamic behavior of these substances that remain insufficiently understood. Investigating soft matter within in situ liquid-phase TEM settings demands further exploration and advancement compared to other research domains. This research harnesses the potential of in situ liquid-phase TEM technology while integrating deep learning methodologies to comprehensively analyze the quantitative aspects of soft matter dynamics. This study centers on diverse phenomena, encompassing surfactant molecule nucleation, block copolymer behavior, confinement-driven self-assembly, and drying processes. Furthermore, deep learning techniques are employed to precisely analyze Ostwald ripening and digestive ripening dynamics. The outcomes of this study not only deepen the understanding of soft matter at its fundamental level but also serve as a pivotal foundation for developing innovative functional materials and cutting-edge devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yangyang Sun
- School of Mathematics, Statistics and Mechanics, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China.
| | - Xingyu Zhang
- School of Mathematics, Statistics and Mechanics, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China.
| | - Rui Huang
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Anhui Province, 230009, China.
| | - Dahai Yang
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Anhui Province, 230009, China.
| | - Juyeong Kim
- Department of Chemistry and Research Institute of Natural Sciences, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 52828, South Korea
| | - Junhao Chen
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Anhui Province, 230009, China.
| | - Edison Huixiang Ang
- Natural Sciences and Science Education, National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637616, Singapore
| | - Mufan Li
- Institute of Physical Chemistry, the College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Pecking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Lin Li
- Beijing Shunce Technology Co., Ltd, Beijing, 102629, China
| | - Xiaohui Song
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Anhui Province, 230009, China.
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3
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Khanzada NK, Rehman S, Kharraz JA, Farid MU, Khatri M, Hilal N, An AK. Reverse osmosis membrane functionalized with aminated graphene oxide and polydopamine nanospheres plugging for enhanced NDMA rejection and anti-fouling performance. CHEMOSPHERE 2023; 338:139557. [PMID: 37478994 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.139557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Revised: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 07/16/2023] [Indexed: 07/23/2023]
Abstract
The use of reverse osmosis (RO) for water reclamation has become an essential part of the water supply owing to the ever-increasing water demand and the utmost performance of the RO membranes. Despite the global RO implementation, its inferior rejection against low molecular weight contaminants of emerging concerns (CECs) (i.e., N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA)) and propensity to fouling remain bottle-neck thus affecting process robustness for water reuse. This study aims to enhance both the rejection and antifouling properties of the RO membrane. Herein for the first time, we report RO membrane modification using polydopamine nanospheres (PDAns) followed by aminated-graphene oxide (AGO) deposition as an effective approach to overcome these challenges. The modification of the RO membrane using PDAns-AGO resulted in 89.3 ± 2.7% rejection compared to the pristine RO membrane which demonstrated 69.2 ± 2.1% NDMA rejection. This significant improvement can be ascribed to the plugging and shielding of defective areas (formed during interfacial polymerization) of the polyamide layer through active PDAns and AGO layers and to the added sieving mechanism that arose through narrow channels of the AGO owing to its reduction. Moreover, the in-situ and non-destructive fouling monitoring using optical coherence tomography (OCT) revealed that the PDAns-AGO coating enhanced both the anti-scaling and anti-biofouling characteristics. The improved hydrophilicity and bactericidal effect together with roughness and surface charge suppression synergistically enhanced anti-fouling properties. This study provides a new direction for safe and cost-effective water reuse practices. The membrane with high selectivity against CECs such as NDMA has the potential to eliminate permeate staging using second pass RO and other advanced oxidation processes which are utilized as a tertiary treatment to make reclaimed water suitable for potable/non-potable application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noman Khalid Khanzada
- School of Energy and Environment, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; NYUAD Water Research Center, New York University Abu Dhabi, P.O. Box 129188, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Shazia Rehman
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
| | - Jehad A Kharraz
- School of Energy and Environment, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; Center for Membranes and Advanced Water Technology (CMAT), Department of Chemical Engineering, Khalifa University of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 127788, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Muhammad Usman Farid
- School of Energy and Environment, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
| | - Muzamil Khatri
- NYUAD Water Research Center, New York University Abu Dhabi, P.O. Box 129188, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Nidal Hilal
- NYUAD Water Research Center, New York University Abu Dhabi, P.O. Box 129188, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
| | - Alicia Kyoungjin An
- School of Energy and Environment, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
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4
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Chu R, Hao S, Shi W, Hu Y. Quantitatively Unveiling the Structure-Activity Relationship of Polyamide Nanofiltration Membranes with Complex Structures. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2023; 39:13503-13511. [PMID: 37705201 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.3c01440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/15/2023]
Abstract
Nanofiltration polyamide (NF PA) membranes are widely used in seawater desalination and wastewater treatment due to their excellent permeability. The structure-activity relationship of PA membranes has attracted extensive attention in decades. In this work, NF PA membranes with planar structure, nodular structure, and peak-valley structure were constructed, and the pure water permeance was calculated by nonequilibrium molecular dynamics simulation to quantitatively investigate the structure-activity relationship between the microstructure and water permeance. Results showed that the peak-valley structure had the highest effective utilization rate of the membrane surface, which had the highest number of water molecules that passed through membranes per unit cross-sectional area (7.09). Furthermore, with the increase of the specific surface area ratio, the water permeance of the NF PA with peak-valley increased at a rate about 2.5 times than that of the planar NF PA. Therefore, some molecular scale insights were supplied about the structure-activity relationship of NF PA membranes, which is helpful for the fabrication of high-performance NF PA membranes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rongrong Chu
- State Key Laboratory of Separation Membranes and Membrane Processes, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tiangong University, Tianjin 300387, PR China
| | - Shuang Hao
- State Key Laboratory of Separation Membranes and Membrane Processes, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tiangong University, Tianjin 300387, PR China
| | - Wenxiong Shi
- Institute for New Energy Materials and Low Carbon Technologies, School of Materials Science & Engineering, Tianjin University of Technology, Tianjin 300384, PR China
| | - Yunxia Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Separation Membranes and Membrane Processes, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tiangong University, Tianjin 300387, PR China
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5
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Yang D, Ng YXA, Zhang K, Chang Q, Chen J, Liang T, Cheng S, Sun Y, Shen W, Ang EH, Xiang H, Song X. Imaging the Surface/Interface Morphologies Evolution of Silicon Anodes Using in Situ/ Operando Electron Microscopy. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2023; 15:20583-20602. [PMID: 37087764 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.3c00891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Si-based rechargeable lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) have generated interest as silicon has remarkably high theoretical specific capacity. It is projected that LIBs will meet the increasing need for extensive energy storage systems, electric vehicles, and portable electronics with high energy densities. However, the Si-based LIB has a substantial problem due to the volume cycle variations brought on by Si, which result in severe capacity loss. Making Si-based anodes-enabled high-performance LIBs that are easy to utilize requires an understanding of the fading mechanism. Due to its distinct advantage in morphological changes from microscale to nanoscale, even approaching atomic resolution, electron microscopy is one of the most popular methods. Based on operando electron microscopy characterization, the general comprehension of the fading mechanism and the morphology evolution of Si-based LIBs are debated in this review. The current advancements in compositional and structural interpretation for Si-based LIBs using advanced electron microscopy characterization methods are outlined. The future development trends in pertinent silicon materials characterization methods are also highlighted, along with numerous potential research avenues for Si-based LIBs design and characterization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dahai Yang
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, Anhui Province 230009, China
| | - Yun Xin Angel Ng
- Natural Sciences and Science Education, National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637616, Singapore
| | - Kuanxin Zhang
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, Anhui Province 230009, China
| | - Qiang Chang
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, Anhui Province 230009, China
| | - Junhao Chen
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, Anhui Province 230009, China
| | - Tong Liang
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, Anhui Province 230009, China
| | - Sheng Cheng
- Instrumental Analysis Center, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, Anhui Province 230009, China
| | - Yi Sun
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, Anhui Province 230009, China
| | - Wangqiang Shen
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, Anhui Province 230009, China
| | - Edison Huixiang Ang
- Natural Sciences and Science Education, National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637616, Singapore
| | - Hongfa Xiang
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, Anhui Province 230009, China
| | - Xiaohui Song
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, Anhui Province 230009, China
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6
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Hu Y, Wang F, Yang Z, Tang CY. Modeling nanovoid-enhanced water permeance of thin film composite membranes. J Memb Sci 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.memsci.2023.121555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/09/2023]
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7
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Yao L, An H, Zhou S, Kim A, Luijten E, Chen Q. Seeking regularity from irregularity: unveiling the synthesis-nanomorphology relationships of heterogeneous nanomaterials using unsupervised machine learning. NANOSCALE 2022; 14:16479-16489. [PMID: 36285804 DOI: 10.1039/d2nr03712b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Nanoscale morphology of functional materials determines their chemical and physical properties. However, despite increasing use of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to directly image nanomorphology, it remains challenging to quantify the information embedded in TEM data sets, and to use nanomorphology to link synthesis and processing conditions to properties. We develop an automated, descriptor-free analysis workflow for TEM data that utilizes convolutional neural networks and unsupervised learning to quantify and classify nanomorphology, and thereby reveal synthesis-nanomorphology relationships in three different systems. While TEM records nanomorphology readily in two-dimensional (2D) images or three-dimensional (3D) tomograms, we advance the analysis of these images by identifying and applying a universal shape fingerprint function to characterize nanomorphology. After dimensionality reduction through principal component analysis, this function then serves as the input for morphology grouping through unsupervised learning. We demonstrate the wide applicability of our workflow to both 2D and 3D TEM data sets, and to both inorganic and organic nanomaterials, including tetrahedral gold nanoparticles mixed with irregularly shaped impurities, hybrid polymer-patched gold nanoprisms, and polyamide membranes with irregular and heterogeneous 3D crumple structures. In each of these systems, unsupervised nanomorphology grouping identifies both the diversity and the similarity of the nanomaterial across different synthesis conditions, revealing how synthetic parameters guide nanomorphology development. Our work opens possibilities for enhancing synthesis of nanomaterials through artificial intelligence and for understanding and controlling complex nanomorphology, both for 2D systems and in the far less explored case of 3D structures, such as those with embedded voids or hidden interfaces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lehan Yao
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.
| | - Hyosung An
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.
- Department of Petrochemical Materials Engineering, Chonnam National University, Yeosu, 59631, Korea
| | - Shan Zhou
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.
| | - Ahyoung Kim
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.
| | - Erik Luijten
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
- Department of Engineering Sciences and Applied Mathematics, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
- Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
| | - Qian Chen
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
- Materials Research Laboratory, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
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8
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Shao S, Zeng F, Long L, Zhu X, Peng LE, Wang F, Yang Z, Tang CY. Nanofiltration Membranes with Crumpled Polyamide Films: A Critical Review on Mechanisms, Performances, and Environmental Applications. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2022; 56:12811-12827. [PMID: 36048162 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c04736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Nanofiltration (NF) membranes have been widely applied in many important environmental applications, including water softening, surface/groundwater purification, wastewater treatment, and water reuse. In recent years, a new class of piperazine (PIP)-based NF membranes featuring a crumpled polyamide layer has received considerable attention because of their great potential for achieving dramatic improvements in membrane separation performance. Since the report of novel crumpled Turing structures that exhibited an order of magnitude enhancement in water permeance ( Science 2018, 360 (6388), 518-521), the number of published research papers on this emerging topic has grown exponentially to approximately 200. In this critical review, we provide a systematic framework to classify the crumpled NF morphologies. The fundamental mechanisms and fabrication methods involved in the formation of these crumpled morphologies are summarized. We then discuss the transport of water and solutes in crumpled NF membranes and how these transport phenomena could simultaneously improve membrane water permeance, selectivity, and antifouling performance. The environmental applications of these emerging NF membranes are highlighted, and future research opportunities/needs are identified. The fundamental insights in this review provide critical guidance on the further development of high-performance NF membranes tailored for a wide range of environmental applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Senlin Shao
- School of Civil Engineering, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, PR China
| | - Fanxi Zeng
- School of Civil Engineering, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, PR China
| | - Li Long
- Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, SAR, China
| | - Xuewu Zhu
- School of Municipal and Environmental Engineering, Shandong Jianzhu University, Jinan 250101, PR China
| | - Lu Elfa Peng
- Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, SAR, China
| | - Fei Wang
- Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, SAR, China
| | - Zhe Yang
- Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, SAR, China
| | - Chuyang Y Tang
- Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, SAR, China
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9
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He J, Yang J, McCutcheon JR, Li Y. Molecular insights into the structure-property relationships of 3D printed polyamide reverse-osmosis membrane for desalination. J Memb Sci 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.memsci.2022.120731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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10
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Fraser AC, Chew NGP, Hegde M, Liu F, Liu CW, Coronell O, Dingemans TJ. Linear versus Nonlinear Aromatic Polyamides: The Role of Backbone Geometry in Thin Film Salt Exclusion Membranes. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2022; 14:36143-36156. [PMID: 35901316 PMCID: PMC9711938 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.2c09810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Two aromatic polyamides─poly(3,3'-dihydroxybenzidine terephthalamide) (DHTA) and poly(3,3'-dihydroxybenzidine isophthalamide) (DHIA)─are compared for their ability to remove salts from water. DHTA is linear and rigid whereas DHIA is nonlinear and semirigid. DHTA and DHIA were selected as they allow us to investigate the effect of polymer backbone geometry on salt exclusion in a non-crosslinked thin film membrane, independently of the backbone chemistry. Because of their differences in solution viscosity, spin coating parameters for DHTA and DHIA solutions were optimized separately to produce thin film composites (TFCs) with reproducible membrane properties. The resulting DHTA TFCs displayed salt rejections of 87.8% (NaCl), 97.0% (MgSO4), and 80.3% (CaCl2). In comparison, DHIA TFCs demonstrated poor salt rejections of 21.0% (NaCl), 29.3% (MgSO4), and 15.4% (CaCl2). Cross-sectional SEM images of DHTA and DHIA films reveal that DHTA has a stratified (layered) morphology whereas DHIA exhibits a dense, featureless morphology. Both DHTA and DHIA TFCs exhibit similar surface morphology, contact angle, surface charge, and water uptake. PEG rejection experiments indicate that the average pore size of DHTA TFCs is ∼2 nm while DHIA TFCs have an average pore size of ∼3 nm. Our findings illustrate that using a rigid, linear aromatic polyamide gives an active layer with a stratified morphology, uniplanar orientation, smaller pores, and higher salt rejection, whereas the nonlinear aromatic polyamide analogue results in an isotropic active layer with larger pores and lower salt rejection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna C Fraser
- Department of Applied Physical Sciences, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-3050, United States
| | - Nick Guan Pin Chew
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-7431, United States
| | - Maruti Hegde
- Department of Applied Physical Sciences, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-3050, United States
| | - Fei Liu
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-7431, United States
| | - Chih-Wei Liu
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-7431, United States
| | - Orlando Coronell
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-7431, United States
| | - Theo J Dingemans
- Department of Applied Physical Sciences, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-3050, United States
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11
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Dissecting the structure-compaction-performance relationship of thin-film composite polyamide membranes with different structure features. J Memb Sci 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.memsci.2022.120553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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12
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Samanta P, Horn H, Saravia F. Removal of Diverse and Abundant ARGs by MF-NF Process from Pig Manure and Digestate. MEMBRANES 2022; 12:membranes12070661. [PMID: 35877864 PMCID: PMC9317629 DOI: 10.3390/membranes12070661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2022] [Revised: 06/16/2022] [Accepted: 06/22/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistances are emerging as one main threat to worldwide human health and are expected to kill 10 million people by 2050. Intensive livestock husbandry, along with biogas digestate, are considered as one of the biggest ARG reservoirs. Despite major concerns, little information is available on the diversity and abundance of various ARGs in small to large scale pig farms and biogas digestate slurry in Germany, followed by their consequent removal using microfiltration (MF)-nanofiltration (NF) process. Here, we report the identification and quantification of 189 ARGs in raw manure and digestate samples, out of which 66 ARGs were shared among manures and 53 ARGs were shared among both manure and digestate samples. The highest reported total ARG copy numbers in a single manure sampling site was 1.15 × 108 copies/100 µL. In addition, we found the absolute concentrations of 37 ARGs were above 105 copies/100 μL. Filtration results showed that the highly concentrated ARGs (except aminoglycoside resistance ARGs) in feed presented high log retention value (LRV) from 3 to as high as 5 after the MF-NF process. Additionally, LRV below 2 was noticed where the initial absolute ARG concentrations were ≤103 copies/100 μL. Therefore, ARG removal was found to be directly proportional to its initial concentration in the raw manure and in digestate samples. Consequently, some ARGs (tetH, strB) can still be found within the permeate of NF with up to 104 copies/100 μL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prantik Samanta
- DVGW-Research Center at the Engler-Bunte-Institut, Water Chemistry and Water Technology, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Engler-Bunte-Ring 9, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany; (H.H.); (F.S.)
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Engler-Bunte-Institut, Water Chemistry and Water Technology, Engler-Bunte-Ring 9, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
- Correspondence:
| | - Harald Horn
- DVGW-Research Center at the Engler-Bunte-Institut, Water Chemistry and Water Technology, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Engler-Bunte-Ring 9, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany; (H.H.); (F.S.)
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Engler-Bunte-Institut, Water Chemistry and Water Technology, Engler-Bunte-Ring 9, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Florencia Saravia
- DVGW-Research Center at the Engler-Bunte-Institut, Water Chemistry and Water Technology, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Engler-Bunte-Ring 9, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany; (H.H.); (F.S.)
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13
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Chen M, Luo J, Wan Y, Chen X, Liang X. Probing the influence of shape and loading of CeO2 nanoparticles on the separation performance of thin-film nanocomposite membranes with an interlayer. Sep Purif Technol 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.seppur.2022.120930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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14
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Zhang M, Hu X, Peng L, Zhou S, Zhou Y, Xie S, Song X, Gao C. The Intrinsic Parameters of the Polyamide Nanofilm in Thin-Film Composite Reverse Osmosis (TFC-RO) Membranes: The Impact of Monomer Concentration. MEMBRANES 2022; 12:membranes12040417. [PMID: 35448387 PMCID: PMC9032585 DOI: 10.3390/membranes12040417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2022] [Revised: 03/28/2022] [Accepted: 04/05/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
The realistic resistance zone of water and salt molecules to transport across a TFC-RO membrane is the topmost polyamide nanofilm. The existence of hollow voids in the fully aromatic polyamide (PA) film gives its surface ridge-and-valley morphologies, which confuses the comprehensions of the definition of the PA thickness. The hollow voids, however, neither participate in salt–water separation nor hinder water penetrating. In this paper, the influence of intrinsic thickness (single wall thickness) of the PA layer on water permeability was studied by adjusting the concentration of reacting monomers. It confirms that the true permeation resistance of water molecules originates from the intrinsic thickness portion of the membrane. The experimental results show that the water permeability constant decreases from 3.15 ± 0.02 to 2.74 ± 0.10 L·m−2·h−1·bar−1 when the intrinsic thickness of the membrane increases by 9 nm. The defects on the film surface generate when the higher concentration of MPD is matched with the relatively low concentration of TMC. In addition, the role of MPD and TMC in the micro-structure of the PA membrane was discussed, which may provide a new way for the preparation of high permeability and high selectivity composite reverse osmosis membranes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengling Zhang
- Center for Membrane Separation and Water Science & Technology, Ocean College, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310014, China; (M.Z.); (X.H.); (L.P.); (S.Z.); (C.G.)
| | - Xiangyang Hu
- Center for Membrane Separation and Water Science & Technology, Ocean College, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310014, China; (M.Z.); (X.H.); (L.P.); (S.Z.); (C.G.)
| | - Lei Peng
- Center for Membrane Separation and Water Science & Technology, Ocean College, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310014, China; (M.Z.); (X.H.); (L.P.); (S.Z.); (C.G.)
| | - Shilin Zhou
- Center for Membrane Separation and Water Science & Technology, Ocean College, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310014, China; (M.Z.); (X.H.); (L.P.); (S.Z.); (C.G.)
| | - Yong Zhou
- Center for Membrane Separation and Water Science & Technology, Ocean College, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310014, China; (M.Z.); (X.H.); (L.P.); (S.Z.); (C.G.)
- Correspondence: (Y.Z.); (S.X.); (X.S.)
| | - Shijie Xie
- Center for Membrane Separation and Water Science & Technology, Ocean College, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310014, China; (M.Z.); (X.H.); (L.P.); (S.Z.); (C.G.)
- Correspondence: (Y.Z.); (S.X.); (X.S.)
| | - Xiaoxiao Song
- Bruker Shanghai Office 9F, Building NO.1, Lane 2570 Hechuan Rd, Minhang District, Shanghai 200233, China
- Correspondence: (Y.Z.); (S.X.); (X.S.)
| | - Congjie Gao
- Center for Membrane Separation and Water Science & Technology, Ocean College, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310014, China; (M.Z.); (X.H.); (L.P.); (S.Z.); (C.G.)
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15
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Shimura H. Development of an advanced reverse osmosis membrane based on detailed nanostructure analysis. Polym J 2022. [DOI: 10.1038/s41428-022-00627-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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16
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An H, Smith JW, Ji B, Cotty S, Zhou S, Yao L, Kalutantirige FC, Chen W, Ou Z, Su X, Feng J, Chen Q. Mechanism and performance relevance of nanomorphogenesis in polyamide films revealed by quantitative 3D imaging and machine learning. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eabk1888. [PMID: 35196079 PMCID: PMC8865778 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abk1888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2021] [Accepted: 12/28/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Biological morphogenesis has inspired many efficient strategies to diversify material structure and functionality using a fixed set of components. However, implementation of morphogenesis concepts to design soft nanomaterials is underexplored. Here, we study nanomorphogenesis in the form of the three-dimensional (3D) crumpling of polyamide membranes used for commercial molecular separation, through an unprecedented integration of electron tomography, reaction-diffusion theory, machine learning (ML), and liquid-phase atomic force microscopy. 3D tomograms show that the spatial arrangement of crumples scales with monomer concentrations in a form quantitatively consistent with a Turing instability. Membrane microenvironments quantified from the nanomorphologies of crumples are combined with the Spiegler-Kedem model to accurately predict methanol permeance. ML classifies vastly heterogeneous crumples into just four morphology groups, exhibiting distinct mechanical properties. Our work forges quantitative links between synthesis and performance in polymer thin films, which can be applicable to diverse soft nanomaterials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyosung An
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA
- Materials Research Laboratory, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - John W. Smith
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Bingqiang Ji
- Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Stephen Cotty
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Shan Zhou
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Lehan Yao
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA
| | | | - Wenxiang Chen
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA
- Materials Research Laboratory, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Zihao Ou
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Xiao Su
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Jie Feng
- Materials Research Laboratory, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA
- Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Qian Chen
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA
- Materials Research Laboratory, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA
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17
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Grzebyk K, Armstrong MD, Coronell O. Accessing greater thickness and new morphology features in polyamide active layers of thin-film composite membranes by reducing restrictions in amine monomer supply. J Memb Sci 2022; 644:120112. [PMID: 35221456 PMCID: PMC8870508 DOI: 10.1016/j.memsci.2021.120112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Polyamide formation, via interfacial polymerization (IP) during thin-film composite (TFC) membrane fabrication, is regarded as self-limiting-in the sense that the polyamide film limits its own growth as it forms. During IP, trimesoyl chloride (TMC) and m-phenylenediamine (MPD) react rapidly to form an incipient polyamide film that densifies and slows the diffusion of the more permeable monomer (MPD), thereby limiting polyamide growth and yielding films that typically exhibit thicknesses <350 nm. The morphology of these polyamide films is characterized by a basal layer of void nodular and leaf-like features that is sometimes overlaid by a secondary layer of overlapping flat features. Here, we present evidence showing that polyamide active layers are substantially permeable to MPD, and that minimizing certain restrictions in the MPD supply conditions during IP can result in polyamide active layers of thicknesses several times greater (>1 μm) than those typically reported in the literature. In addition to the basal layer of void nodular features and secondary layer of overlapping flat features that characterize typical polyamide active layers, the thicker films also exhibited three additional morphological features: blanket-like layers atop the basal layer or other void features, multi-layer void structures, and/or void mega-nodules (up to over a micron in diameter). Overall, the results indicate that reducing restrictions in the MPD supply conditions during IP: (1) overcomes the limited polyamide growth observed in conventional TFC membrane fabrication and (2) leads to film morphologies with a more prominent void structure. This latter observation is consistent with recent literature describing the role of CO2 degassing and nanobubble confinement in the development of polyamide active layer morphology. Future studies could vary MPD supply conditions as a new tool to expand the range of achievable thicknesses in active layer casting, regulate active layer morphology and optimize nanobubble confinement conditions independently of MPD supply. Such capabilities could aid in the development of novel supports and TFC structures.
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18
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Chen
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Materials Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry,Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, and Beckman Institute of Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
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19
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20
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Wang Z, Liang S, Kang Y, Zhao W, Xia Y, Yang J, Wang H, Zhang X. Manipulating interfacial polymerization for polymeric nanofilms of composite separation membranes. Prog Polym Sci 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.progpolymsci.2021.101450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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21
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Impact of pilot-scale PSF substrate surface and pore structural properties on tailoring seawater reverse osmosis membrane performance. J Memb Sci 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.memsci.2021.119395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
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22
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Towards a High Rejection Desalination Membrane: The Confined Growth of Polyamide Nanofilm Induced by Alkyl-Capped Graphene Oxide. MEMBRANES 2021; 11:membranes11070488. [PMID: 34209924 PMCID: PMC8304696 DOI: 10.3390/membranes11070488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2021] [Revised: 05/31/2021] [Accepted: 06/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
In this paper, we used an octadecylamine functionalized graphene oxide (ODA@GO) to induce the confined growth of a polyamide nanofilm in the organic and aqueous phase during interfacial polymerization (IP). The ODA@GO, fully dispersed in the organic phase, was applied as a physical barrier to confine the amine diffusion and therefore limiting the IP reaction close to the interface. The morphology and crosslinking degree of the PA nanofilm could be controlled by doping different amounts of ODA@GO (therefore adjusting the diffusion resistance). At standard seawater desalination conditions (32,000 ppm NaCl, ~55 bar), the flux of the resultant thin film nanocomposite (TFN) membrane reached 59.6 L m-2 h-1, which was approximately 17% more than the virgin TFC membrane. Meanwhile, the optimal salt rejection at seawater conditions (i.e., 32,000 ppm NaCl) achieved 99.6%. Concurrently, the boron rejection rate was also elevated by 13.3% compared with the TFC membrane without confined growth.
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23
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Wang J, Armstrong MD, Grzebyk K, Vickers R, Coronell O. Effect of Feed Water pH on the Partitioning of Alkali Metal Salts from Aqueous Phase into the Polyamide Active Layers of Reverse Osmosis Membranes. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2021; 55:3250-3259. [PMID: 33600153 PMCID: PMC7949323 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c06140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
The partitioning of solutes into the polyamide active layers of reverse osmosis (RO) membranes is a key membrane property determining solute permeation. Quantification of partition coefficients and their dependence on feedwater pH would contribute to the development of predictive transport models of contaminant transport through RO membranes; however, neither solute partitioning nor the effect of feed solution pH on partitioning has been thoroughly characterized in the literature. Accordingly, we characterized the partitioning of all chloride salts of alkali metals (CsCl, RbCl, KCl, NaCl, and LiCl) from the aqueous phase into the polyamide active layers of five polyamide RO membranes, including one prepared in-house and four commercial membranes. We evaluated the effect of pH on the partitioning of alkali metal salts and whether the effect of pH on salt partitioning and rejection is consistent with Donnan theory predictions. Results showed that for all membranes, the partition coefficients of all salts were less than one and did not differ substantially among RO membranes. Results also indicated that for all membranes tested, Donnan theory provided an appropriate theoretical framework to estimate the effect of pH on salt partitioning (evaluated for all chloride salts of alkali metals) and salt rejection (evaluated for NaCl). Thus, we conclude that changes in salt rejection resulting from feed solution pH are primarily driven by changes in salt partitioning with comparatively small changes in salt diffusion coefficients.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Orlando Coronell
- Corresponding author [tel: +1-919-966-9010; fax:
+1- 919-966-7911; ]
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24
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Yang Z, Sun PF, Li X, Gan B, Wang L, Song X, Park HD, Tang CY. A Critical Review on Thin-Film Nanocomposite Membranes with Interlayered Structure: Mechanisms, Recent Developments, and Environmental Applications. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2020; 54:15563-15583. [PMID: 33213143 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c05377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 128] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
The separation properties of polyamide reverse osmosis and nanofiltration membranes, widely applied for desalination and water reuse, are constrained by the permeability-selectivity upper bound. Although thin-film nanocomposite (TFN) membranes incorporating nanomaterials exhibit enhanced water permeance, their rejection is only moderately improved or even impaired due to agglomeration of nanomaterials and formation of defects. A novel type of TFN membranes featuring an interlayer of nanomaterials (TFNi) has emerged in recent years. These novel TFNi membranes show extraordinary improvement in water flux (e.g., up to an order of magnitude enhancement) along with better selectivity. Such enhancements can be achieved by a wide selection of nanomaterials, ranging from nanoparticles, one-/two-dimensional materials, to interfacial coatings. The use of nanostructured interlayers not only improves the formation of polyamide rejection layers but also provides an optimized water transport path, which enables TFNi membranes to potentially overcome the longstanding trade-off between membrane permeability and selectivity. Furthermore, TFNi membranes can potentially enhance the removal of heavy metals and micropollutants, which is critical for many environmental applications. This review critically examines the recent developments of TFNi membranes and discusses the underlying mechanisms and design criteria. Their potential environmental applications are also highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhe Yang
- Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, SAR, P. R. China
| | - Peng-Fei Sun
- School of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, South Korea
- Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, SAR, P. R. China
| | - Xianhui Li
- Key Laboratory for City Cluster Environmental Safety and Green Development of the Ministry of Education, Institute of Environmental and Ecological Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Bowen Gan
- Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
- Centre for Membrane and Water Science & Technology, Ocean College, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310014, P. R. China
| | - Li Wang
- Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
| | - Xiaoxiao Song
- Centre for Membrane and Water Science & Technology, Ocean College, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310014, P. R. China
| | - Hee-Deung Park
- School of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, South Korea
| | - Chuyang Y Tang
- Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, SAR, P. R. China
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25
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Immobilization of sulfonated polysulfone via 2D LDH nanosheets during phase-inversion: A novel strategy towards greener membrane synthesis and enhanced desalination performance. J Memb Sci 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.memsci.2020.118508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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26
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Gan B, Qi S, Song X, Yang Z, Tang CY, Cao X, Zhou Y, Gao C. Ultrathin polyamide nanofilm with an asymmetrical structure: A novel strategy to boost the permeance of reverse osmosis membranes. J Memb Sci 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.memsci.2020.118402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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27
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Su GM, Cordova IA, Wang C. New Insights into Water Treatment Materials with Chemically Sensitive Soft and Tender X-rays. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2020. [DOI: 10.1080/08940886.2020.1784695] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Gregory M. Su
- Advanced Light Source, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California, USA
- Materials Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Isvar A. Cordova
- Materials Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Cheng Wang
- Advanced Light Source, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California, USA
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28
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Ogieglo W, Idarraga-Mora JA, Husson SM, Pinnau I. Direct ellipsometry for non-destructive characterization of interfacially-polymerized thin-film composite membranes. J Memb Sci 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.memsci.2020.118174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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29
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Zhang M, Jin W, Yang F, Duke M, Dong Y, Tang CY. Engineering a Nanocomposite Interlayer for a Novel Ceramic-Based Forward Osmosis Membrane with Enhanced Performance. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2020; 54:7715-7724. [PMID: 32401501 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c02809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Rational design of a high-performance defect-free polyamide (PA) layer on a robust ceramic substrate is challenging for forward osmosis (FO) water treatment applications. In this study, we first demonstrated a robust ceramic-based thin-film composite (TFC) FO membrane by engineering a novel nanocomposite interlayer of titanium dioxide and carbon nanotube (TiO2/CNT). The structural morphologies and properties were systematically characterized for different substrates (without interlayer, with TiO2 interlayer, or with TiO2/CNT interlayer) and the corresponding ceramic-based TFC-FO membranes. Introduction of low roughness nanocomposite interlayers with decreased pore size created an interface with improved surface characteristics, favoring the formation of a defect-free nanovoid-containing PA layer with high cross-linking degree. The resulting ceramic-based FO membrane had a water permeability of approximately 2 L/(m2 h bar) and a NaCl rejection of 98%, showing simultaneous enhancements in both compared to the control membrane without an interlayer. Mechanism analysis indicates that such a special nanocomposite interlayer not only provided more active sites for the formation of a thinner defect-free nanovoid-containing PA layer without penetration into substrate but also acted as a highly porous three-dimensional network structure for rapid water transport. This work provides a novel protocol for rational design and fabrication of a high-performance multilayered inorganic FO membrane as well as extended applications in water treatment with enhanced performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingming Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Ecology and Environmental Engineering (Ministry of Education, MOE), School of Environmental Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China
| | - Wenbiao Jin
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Fenglin Yang
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Ecology and Environmental Engineering (Ministry of Education, MOE), School of Environmental Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China
| | - Mikel Duke
- Institute for Sustainable Industries & Liveable Cities, Victoria University, PO Box 14428, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Yingchao Dong
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Ecology and Environmental Engineering (Ministry of Education, MOE), School of Environmental Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China
| | - Chuyang Y Tang
- Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, China
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30
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Peng LE, Yao Z, Yang Z, Guo H, Tang CY. Dissecting the Role of Substrate on the Morphology and Separation Properties of Thin Film Composite Polyamide Membranes: Seeing Is Believing. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2020; 54:6978-6986. [PMID: 32396337 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c01427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Recent studies show that the surface morphology of a thin film composite (TFC) polyamide membrane depends strongly on its porous substrate. Nevertheless, the underlining mechanisms and the effects on membrane separation performance remain controversial. To dissect the exact role of pore properties, we synthesized TFC polyamide membranes on polycarbonate substrates with cylindrical track-etched pores (PCTE) of well-defined pore size ranging from 10 to 800 nm. Leaf-like roughness features were most prominent for polyamide films formed on substrates of intermediate pore sizes (80 and 100 nm). Smaller pores inhibited leaf-like features as a result of insufficient storage of m-phenylenediamine (MPD) monomers for the interfacial reaction, whereas larger pores resulted in diminished surface roughness due to the lack of confinement to the interfacially degassed nanobubbles. Substrate porosity plays a critical role on membrane water permeability, while smaller pores with greater pore density are favored to improve membrane rejection. TFC polyamide membranes prepared on sponge-like poly(ether sulfone) and polysulfone substrates exhibit better water permeability and salt rejection compared to the PCTE-TFC membranes thanks to the simultaneously enhanced confinement and MPD storage effects. The mechanistic insights gained in this study reveal the huge potential of substrate design toward high-performance TFC RO membranes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu Elfa Peng
- Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Zhikan Yao
- College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China
| | - Zhe Yang
- Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Hao Guo
- Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Chuyang Y Tang
- Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
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31
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Comparison of water and salt transport properties of ion exchange, reverse osmosis, and nanofiltration membranes for desalination and energy applications. J Memb Sci 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.memsci.2020.117998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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32
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Song X, Gan B, Qi S, Guo H, Tang CY, Zhou Y, Gao C. Intrinsic Nanoscale Structure of Thin Film Composite Polyamide Membranes: Connectivity, Defects, and Structure-Property Correlation. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2020; 54:3559-3569. [PMID: 32101410 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.9b05892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Transport of water, solutes, and contaminants through a thin film composite (TFC) membrane is governed by the intrinsic structure of its polyamide separation layer. In this work, we systematically characterized the nanoscale polyamide structure of four commercial TFC membranes to reveal the underlying structure-property relationship. For all the membranes, their polyamide layers have an intrinsic thickness in the range of 10-20 nm, which is an order of magnitude smaller than the more frequently reported apparent thickness of the roughness protuberances due to the ubiquitous presence of nanovoids within the rejection layers. Tracer filtration tests confirmed that these nanovoids are well connected to the pores in the substrates via the honeycomb-like opening of the backside of the polyamide layers such that the actual separation takes place at the frontside of the polyamide layer. Compared to SW30HR and BW30, loose membranes XLE and NF90 have thinner intrinsic thickness and greater effective filtration area (e.g., by the creation of secondary roughness features) for their polyamide layers, which correlates well to their significantly higher water permeability and lower salt rejection. With the aid of scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and tracer tests, the current study reveals the presence of nanosized defects in a polyamide film, which is possibly promoted by excessive interfacial degassing. The presence of such defects not only impairs the salt rejection but also has major implications for the removal of pathogens and micropollutants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoxiao Song
- Centre for Membrane Separation and Water Science & Technology, Department of Chemical Engineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310014, P. R. China
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Membrane Separation and Water Treatment of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou 310014, China
| | - Bowen Gan
- Centre for Membrane Separation and Water Science & Technology, Department of Chemical Engineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310014, P. R. China
| | - Saren Qi
- Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics (SINANO), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou 215123, P. R. China
| | - Hao Guo
- Department of Civil Engineering, the University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR P. R. China
| | - Chuyang Y Tang
- Department of Civil Engineering, the University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR P. R. China
| | - Yong Zhou
- Centre for Membrane Separation and Water Science & Technology, Department of Chemical Engineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310014, P. R. China
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Membrane Separation and Water Treatment of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou 310014, China
| | - Congjie Gao
- Centre for Membrane Separation and Water Science & Technology, Department of Chemical Engineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310014, P. R. China
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Membrane Separation and Water Treatment of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou 310014, China
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33
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Zhan ZM, Xu ZL, Zhu KK, Tang YJ. How to understand the effects of heat curing conditions on the morphology and performance of polypiperazine-amide NF membrane. J Memb Sci 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.memsci.2019.117640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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34
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Virtanen T, Rudolph G, Lopatina A, Al-Rudainy B, Schagerlöf H, Puro L, Kallioinen M, Lipnizki F. Analysis of membrane fouling by Brunauer-Emmet-Teller nitrogen adsorption/desorption technique. Sci Rep 2020; 10:3427. [PMID: 32098983 PMCID: PMC7042297 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-59994-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2019] [Accepted: 02/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Membrane fouling is the major factor limiting the wider applicability of the membrane-based technologies in water treatment and in separation and purification processes of biorefineries, pulp and paper industry, food industry and other sectors. Endeavors to prevent and minimize fouling requires a deep understanding on the fouling mechanisms and their relative effects. In this study, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) nitrogen adsorption/desorption technique was applied to get an insight into pore-level membrane fouling phenomena occurring in ultrafiltration of wood-based streams. The fouling of commercial polysulfone and polyethersulfone membranes by black liquor, thermomechanical pulping process water and pressurized hot-water extract was investigated with BET analysis, infrared spectroscopy, contact angle analysis and pure water permeability measurements. Particular emphasis was paid to the applicability of BET for membrane fouling characterization. The formation of a fouling layer was detected as an increase in cumulative pore volumes and pore areas in the meso-pores region. Pore blocking was seen as disappearance of meso-pores and micro-pores. The results indicate that the presented approach of using BET analysis combined with IR spectroscopy can provide complementary information revealing both the structure of fouling layer and the chemical nature of foulants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiina Virtanen
- LUT University, Department of Separation Science, P.O. Box 20, FI-53851, Lappeenranta, Finland.
| | - Gregor Rudolph
- Lund University, Department of Chemical Engineering, P.O. Box 124, SE-221 00, Lund, Sweden
| | - Anastasiia Lopatina
- LUT University, Department of Separation Science, P.O. Box 20, FI-53851, Lappeenranta, Finland
| | - Basel Al-Rudainy
- Lund University, Department of Chemical Engineering, P.O. Box 124, SE-221 00, Lund, Sweden
| | - Herje Schagerlöf
- Lund University, Department of Chemical Engineering, P.O. Box 124, SE-221 00, Lund, Sweden
| | - Liisa Puro
- LUT University, Department of Separation Science, P.O. Box 20, FI-53851, Lappeenranta, Finland
| | - Mari Kallioinen
- LUT University, Department of Separation Science, P.O. Box 20, FI-53851, Lappeenranta, Finland
| | - Frank Lipnizki
- Lund University, Department of Chemical Engineering, P.O. Box 124, SE-221 00, Lund, Sweden
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Song X, Xu W, Su D, Tang J, Liu X. The Synthesis of Hollow/Porous Cu 2O Nanoparticles by Ion-Pairing Behavior Control. ACS OMEGA 2020; 5:1879-1886. [PMID: 32039324 PMCID: PMC7003190 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.9b03380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2019] [Accepted: 01/09/2020] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Owing to the properties of low density, large surface areas, excellent loading capacity, high permeability, and interstitial hollow spaces, hollow nanostructures have been widely applied in many important research fields, such as catalysis, drug-controlled release, confined synthesis, optics and electronics, and energy storage. This work provided a simple platform for hollow Cu2O nanostructure synthesis based on the surfactant controlling methodology, which is under the supposed mechanism of ion-pairing behavior at the initial nucleation stage. Thus here, we explore our system in two different directions: (1) we get different types of hollow Cu2O nanoparticles by controlling the surfactant concentration during the synthesis step in colloids, which is critical to the novel structure design and potential application in many different areas and (2) we explore the method to Cu2O hollow particle synthesis to test the hypothesis of the ion-pairing behavior during the initial nucleation by tuning the solvent ratio, cation concentration (such as NH4NO3 addition amount difference in the synthetic step), and selective etching. By tuning the synthetic conditions as well as designing control experiments, we hope to provide a solid understanding of the crystal growth mechanism. Our improved understanding in similar systems (both Cu2O and ZnO systems) will make it easier for interpreting nanostructure formation in new discoveries and, more importantly, in rationally designing various complex nanostructures based on a bottom-up strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaohui Song
- The
Molecular Foundry, Lawrence Berkeley National
Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
- Division
of Chemistry and Biological Chemistry, Nanyang
Technological University, 637371 Singapore
- Department
of Materials Science and Engineering, University
of California, Berkeley, California, 94720, United States
| | - Weichang Xu
- Division
of Chemistry and Biological Chemistry, Nanyang
Technological University, 637371 Singapore
| | - Dongmeng Su
- Division
of Chemistry and Biological Chemistry, Nanyang
Technological University, 637371 Singapore
| | - Jing Tang
- Department
of Material Science and Engineering, Stanford
University, Palo Alto, California 94305, United States
| | - Xiaotao Liu
- The
Molecular Foundry, Lawrence Berkeley National
Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
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Tailoring the internal void structure of polyamide films to achieve highly permeable reverse osmosis membranes for water desalination. J Memb Sci 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.memsci.2019.117518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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37
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Smith JW, Chen Q. Liquid-phase electron microscopy imaging of cellular and biomolecular systems. J Mater Chem B 2020; 8:8490-8506. [DOI: 10.1039/d0tb01300e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Liquid-phase electron microscopy, a new method for real-time nanoscopic imaging in liquid, makes it possible to study cells or biomolecules with a singular combination of spatial and temporal resolution. We review the state of the art in biological research in this growing and promising field.
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Affiliation(s)
- John W. Smith
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign
- Urbana
- USA
| | - Qian Chen
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign
- Urbana
- USA
- Department of Chemistry
- University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign
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Verbeke R, Bergmaier A, Eschbaumer S, Gómez V, Dollinger G, Vankelecom I. Elemental Depth Profiling of Chlorinated Polyamide-Based Thin-Film Composite Membranes with Elastic Recoil Detection. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2019; 53:8640-8648. [PMID: 31286771 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.8b07226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The chlorine resistance of nanofiltration and reverse osmosis membranes is of high importance in the water treatment industry. Elastic recoil detection (ERD) is now presented as a powerful tool to uniquely provide elemental depth profiles, including hydrogen, of NaOCl-treated polyamide-based thin-film composite (TFC) membranes. The influence of pressure, pH, and chlorine feed concentration on the volume-averaged Cl uptake, the location of chlorine throughout the membrane, and the z-gradient in the Cl/N ratio is demonstrated. The results suggest that (i) higher volume-averaged Cl uptakes are achieved at higher chlorine doses and at acidic pH; (ii) chlorination is mostly restricted to the top layer; (iii) a gradient in the Cl/N ratio exists along the membrane depth; and (iv) the shape of this gradient is influenced by the chlorination pH and the applied pressure. Conclusions on the chlorination mechanisms could also be deduced. Conversely, no conclusive relationships between H fractions and Cl uptake could be drawn, even though changes in the H content after chlorination were observed. To corroborate these results and fully exploit the potential of ERD, the exact microstructure of the (chlorinated) TFC membranes should be better understood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rhea Verbeke
- Membrane Technology Group (division cMACS), Faculty of Bioscience Engineering , KU Leuven , Celestijnenlaan 200F , P.O. Box 2454, 3001 Leuven , Belgium
| | - Andreas Bergmaier
- Institut für Angewandte Physik und Messtechnik , Universität der Bundeswehr München , 85577 Neubiberg , Germany
| | - Stephan Eschbaumer
- Institut für Angewandte Physik und Messtechnik , Universität der Bundeswehr München , 85577 Neubiberg , Germany
| | - Verónica Gómez
- Dow Water Solutions , Autovía Tarragona-Salou s/n , 43006 Tarragona , Spain
| | - Günther Dollinger
- Institut für Angewandte Physik und Messtechnik , Universität der Bundeswehr München , 85577 Neubiberg , Germany
| | - Ivo Vankelecom
- Membrane Technology Group (division cMACS), Faculty of Bioscience Engineering , KU Leuven , Celestijnenlaan 200F , P.O. Box 2454, 3001 Leuven , Belgium
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