Development of a nano-filtration membrane using different linear aliphatic amines and linear cross-linkers for purification of expensive and precious organic solvents
Theseparation, purification, and recovery of precious organic solvents is a huge challenge for many industriesincludingpetroleumandpharmaceuticalcompanies,sincethesecompaniesusehugequantities of organic solvents [1-2]. Natural dissolvable nanofiltration(ON)has atremendous potential for supplantingafewenergy-concentratedcrudepurgingtechniques,similartorefiningandextraction[3-4- 5]. The importance of OSN is obvious from the fact that one cubic meter of methanol requires 1750 MJ of energy for distillation since the process of distillation is comprised of heating, evaporation, and condensation while OSN can purify the same volume of methanol by consuming 3 MJ of energy [6-7]. Additionally, OSN is a useful technology since it is simpler to use than conventional purification and separationmethods.Themembrane'sporestructure,whichinfluencesbothitsselectivityandpermeance, hasasignificantimpactonhowwellthemembranesperform[8-9].Ingeneral,thetrade-offbetweenflux andselectivityaffectsthemembrane'sperformance.Asaresult,themembranes'fluxandpermeabilityare affectedbythetailoringandtuningoftheirporestructure.Therefore,designinganefficientnanofiltration membranes with ideal porosity is highly desirable. Interfacial polymerization (IP) is highly versatile as it provides a freedom of selection of various monomersfortargetingaspecificapplicationsuchasnanofiltrationandreverseosmosisThepotentialfor organicsolventnanofiltration(ON)toreplacevariousenergy-intensivetraditionalpurificationtechniques, suchasdistillationandextraction,isenormous.[8-9].Despitethefactthatmanydifferentmonomershave been successfully used by utilizing IP to create thin film composite nanofiltration TFC-NF membranes, one of the main limitations of such membranes continues to be the poor selection of closely related comparable nanometer sized solutes. Many efforts are still being made to develop potential monomers with the perfect properties for creating membranes that operate excellently [10-11]. Another strategy is also getting more popular in which different porous additives are added to the TFC membrane either at thesupportleveloractivelayerlevel.Theseadditivesincludecarbonorganicframeworks(COFs),metal organic frameworks (MOFs), hyper-cross-linked porous polymers (HCPs), and natural polymers such as chitosan[12-13-14-15]. However,maintainingthecrystallinity ofsuch additives,particularlyMOFsthat lead to crystalline membranes, is extremely difficult while other additions suffer from aggregation and agglomeration that results in membrane flaws that impair the performance of the membranes [16]. Therefore,changingthechemistryofthereacting monomerduringIPcansignificantlyalterthestructure of the resultant active layers of the membranes. The current study was carried out by using linear aliphatic amines 4A-3P and 4A on a crosslinked PAN support. The study was carried out through interfacial polymerization between either 4A-3P and TPC or 4A and TPC on crosslinked PAN. In comparison to the previous studies where cyclic amines such as piperazine or aromatic amines such as meta-phenylenediamine (MPD) are used, we have used linear aliphatic amines 4A and 4A-3P crosslinked with organic phase containing terephthaloyl chloride (TPC) asacross-linker.TheIPreactionwascarriedoutbetweenamineandTPConacrosslinkedPANsupport. The fabricated membrane was extensively characterized by using scanning electron microscope (SEM), ATR-FTIR, water contact angle (WCA), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) and elemental mapping . The fabricated membrane was used for OSN applications by using dead-end filtration setup.
Silver nanoparticles-loaded titanium dioxide coating towards immobilized photocatalytic reactor for water decontamination and bacterial deactivation under natural sunlight irradiation
The environmental implications of rapid industrialization, including rising pollution, depleted resources, the effects of climate change brought on by global warming, and unrestrained groundwater extraction, are contributing to a growing water scarcity crisis [1-3]. The improvements in quality of life are largely attributable to the innovations in manufacturing technology made possible by the Industrial Revolution, but these innovations also pose risks to the natural world and human health [1-3]. The textile business uses a wide variety of raw materials, including natural fibers like cotton as well as synthetic and woolen fibers, and the chemical components of dyes are just one example. The annual output of synthetic dyes is around 700,000 tons, and there are over 10,000 different varieties available. As much as 200,000 tons of synthetic dyes are released into the environment every year due to the inefficient dyeing technique commonly employed in the textile industry. According to the World Bank, the processing of textiles for dyeing and finishing accounts for between 17 and 20 percent of industrial wastewater [1-3]. Textile wastewaters contain a high biological oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), nitrogen, color, acidity, high suspended particles, high dissolved solids, surfactants, dyestuffs, heavy metals, and other soluble chemicals [3] due to the variety of dyes used to color textile items. In particular, water-soluble reactive and azo dyes are employed to obtain the required color. Ten to twenty percent of the dyes used end up in the effluents, where they might harm wildlife and the ecosystem (carcinogenic or mutagenic). Headaches, nausea, skin irritation, respiratory difficulties, and congenital deformities are only some of the health problems linked to exposure to textile wastewater. There are repercussions for aquatic ecology, environmental biodiversity, and the quality of receiving water bodies. New, low-cost, and highly effective water treatment methods are needed to deal with polluted wastewater. Adsorption and coagulation, two common water purification methods, just concentrate pollutants by shifting them to other phases; they do not "eliminate" or "destroy" them. Sedimentation, filtration, chemical oxidation, and biotechnology are all examples of conventional water treatment methods, but they all have their drawbacks. These include insufficient removal, high chemical reagent consumption, high treatment costs, long treatment times, and the creation of toxic secondary pollutants. New water treatment procedures are needed to improve the quality of treated effluent [1-3]. The use of semiconductor particles in photocatalysis is gaining appeal as a solution to global pollution problems due to its shown efficiency in degrading a wide variety of contaminants. Photocatalyst-coated surfaces-based reactors have proven to be practical for long-term operation over photocatalytic powder-based reactors (i.e., slurry-based reactors) [4-5]. As a promising photo-electrode and photocatalyst, titanium dioxide (TiO2) has enjoyed wider applicability in photocatalytic hydrogen generation, solar cells, and remediation of organic contaminants among other photo-catalytic applications [4-6]. TiO2 has been recognized as one of the low-cost, most effective, and fascinating photo-catalyst as a result of its interesting thermal and chemical stability, desirable electronic features, others, and environmental benignity [6-8]. Pristine TiO2 semiconductor is characterized by a wide band gap that can only utilize the UV part of the light spectrum with a wavelength of less than 385 nm, which is just 5% of the sunlight energy capacity. Spectrum usability extension to visible regions warrants further and extensive research study [8-10]. Additionally, the quickness of the recombination of photo-generated holes and electrons further restricts the practical applicability of the semiconductor [10-12]. It is highly desirable to develop a cost-effective scalable strategy to over these drawbacks toward sustainable development and a clean environment using only natural sunlight irradiation [5-11]. In addition, it is preferred to fabricate them as films rather than powders as photocatalytic immobilized reactors are more practical than powder-based reactors [4-8]. Dye sensitization, supports, magnetic separation, and surface modification by doping with non-metals, metals, and transition metals and coupling with other semiconductors have all been used to enhance the photocatalytic activity of TiO2 photocatalyst. Higher photonic efficiency can be attained through the synergistic fine-tuning of features such as physical, chemical, and electronic, and these composites and hybrid materials based on TiO2 are creating a big trend. Doping has been widely studied as a means of altering the surface of TiO2. Rare earth metals, noble metals, and transition metals are all discussed in the existing literature on the surface modification of TiO2 doped with cations [4-12]. In this study, for the first time, Ag nanoparticles loaded mesoporous TiO2 coating was prepared and applied as an immobilized photocatalytic reactor for water decontamination and bacterial deactivation under natural sunlight irradiation.
SVMR: Smart Versatile Medication Robot
In 2565 B.E., 泰國's elderly, comprising 18.3% of the population at 12,116,199, faced health challenges, with diabetes, cerebrovascular disease, arthritis, and lung cancer prevalent. Caregiving hurdles arose as many family members worked outside, impacting the care of elderly individuals with these conditions. To address this, the "SVMR Medication Reminder and Care Robot for the Elderly" was developed. Known as the Smart Versatile Medication Robot (SVMR) or "New Robot," it serves as a user-friendly solution for home-based elderly care. Recognizing the adverse effects of missed medication on health, the SVMR system, combining hardware (New Robot) and software (Application), aimed to alleviate caregiving burdens. The New Robot's hardware includes a customizable medication reminder system, a video call system, closed-circuit camera system, doctor's recommendation display system, and an SOS system for emergency assistance. The Application complements this with features like medication schedule setting, video call communication, activity tracking, daily schedule management, and live camera monitoring. During the SVMR prototype trial, one unit was tested, with developers' relatives trying the medication dispensing system. Positive results emerged, showcasing improved medication adherence among the elderly and affording caregivers more time for other responsibilities. Satisfaction levels, as assessed through interviews, were notably high. Elderly feedback suggested the need for additional compartments for different medications and enhanced notification methods, particularly when they were not in proximity to the medication cabinet. In essence, the SVMR system provides a comprehensive solution to the challenges faced by households with elderly members, ensuring better disease management, increased medication adherence, and support for caregivers, all within a concise and user-friendly framework.