Performance of activated carbon coated graphite bipolar electrodes on capacitive deionization method for salinity reduction

• Graphite bipolar electrodes act as an appropriate bed for the CDI process. • Activated carbon Coating improves the application of the electrodes. • CDI is an environmentally friendly method to apply for brackish water. • Initial concentration is the most important parameter in the CDI method. • CDI process in a batch-mode setup needs more development. This research investigates a capacitive deionization method for salinity reduction in a batch reactor as a new approach for desalination. Reductions of cost and energy compared with conventional desalination methods are the significant advantages of this approach. In this research, experiments were performed with a pair of graphite bipolar electrodes that were coated with a one-gram activated carbon solution. After completing preliminary tests, the impacts of four parameters on electrical conductivity reduction, including (1) the initial concentration of feed solution, (2) the duration of the tests, (3) the applied voltage, and (4) the pH of the solution, were examined. The results show that the maximum efficiency of electrical conductivity reduction in this laboratory-scale reactor is about 55%. Furthermore, the effects of the initial concentration of feed solution are more significant than the other parameters. Thus, using the capacitive deionization method for water desalination with low and moderate salt concentrations (i.e., brackish water) is proposed as an affordable method. Compared with conventional desalination methods, capacitive deionization is not only more efficient but also potentially more environmentally friendly.     

Developments in forward osmosis and membrane distillation for desalination of waters

Membrane technology has become a common separation technology over the past decennia. Membranes are used more and more for the production of drinkable water from groundwater, surface water and wastewater. Membranes are now competitive versus conventional techniques. Desalination is predominantly used to eradicate the problem of water scarcity. The sustainability of all desalination processes depends mainly on the reduction of energy costs (production cost) and the increase in water recovery. Forward osmosis and membrane distillation are emerging technologies for sustainable desalination. Here we review membrane processes of forward osmosis and membrane distillation and the advancements in membrane material and modules. We also discuss the capability of membrane distillation in treating highly concentrated aqueous solutions derived from other desalination processes. Furthermore, the advancements in fabrication of high-performance membrane is reviewed and the performance of different membranes and optimization of membrane distillation process are summarized.     

On the economics of desalination of brackish household water supplies

Chemical constituents dissolved in household water supplies can cause economic damages in the form of reduced life of water-using appliances and pipes. Technological advances in reducing desalination costs and improved measures of damages have changed the conditions under which desalination of brackish water supplies can be considered to be economically feasible. The analysis shows that estimated benefits of desalination exceed costs for some communities with high saline native waters, such as are found in the Arkansas River Valley of eastern Colorado and elsewhere in the Southwest.     

Nanomaterials for water cleaning and desalination,energy production,disinfection, agriculture and green chemistry

Nanomaterials may help to solve issues such as water availability, clean energy generation, control of drug-resistant microorganisms and food safety. Here we review innovative approaches to solve these issues using nanotechnology. The major topics discussed are wastewater treatment using carbon-based, metal-based and polymeric nanoadsorbents for removing organic and metal contaminants; nanophotocatalysis for microbial control; desalination of seawater using nanomembranes; energy conversion and storage using solar cells and hydrogen-sorbents nanostructures; antimicrobial properties of nanomaterials; smart delivery systems; biocompatible nanomaterials such as nanolignocellulosis and starches-based materials, and methods to decrease the toxicity of nanomaterials. Significantly, here it is reviewed two ways to palliate nanomaterials toxicity: (a) controlling physicochemical factors affecting this toxicity in order to dispose of more safe nanomaterials, and (b) harnessing greener synthesis of them to bring down the environmental impact of toxic reagents, wastes and byproducts. All these current challenges are reviewed at the present article in an effort to evaluate environmental implications of nanomaterials technology by means of a complete, reliable and critical vision.     

Pesticide wastewater treatment using the combination of the microbial electrolysis desalination and chemical-production cell and Fenton process

• MEDCC combined with Fenton process was developed to treat real pesticide wastewater. • Pesticide removal was attributable to desalination in the MEDCC. • High COD removal was attributable to organic distributions in different chambers. The combination of the microbial electrolysis desalination and chemical-production cell (MEDCC) and Fenton process for the pesticide wastewater treatment was investigate in this study. Real wastewater with several toxic pesticides, 1633 mg/L COD, and 200 in chromaticity was used for the investigation. Results showed that desalination in the desalination chamber of MEDCC reached 78%. Organics with low molecular weights in the desalination chamber could be removed from the desalination chamber, resulting in 28% and 23% of the total COD in the acid-production and cathode chambers, respectively. The desalination in the desalination chamber and organic transfer contributed to removal of pesticides (e.g., triadimefon), which could not be removed with other methods, and of the organics with low molecular weights. The COD in the effluent of the MEDCC combined the Fenton process was much lower than that in the perixo-coagulaiton process (<150 vs. 555 mg/L). The combined method consumed much less energy and acid for the pH adjustment than that the Fenton.     

Characterization and performance of nanofiltration membranes

The availability of clean water has become a critical problems facing the society due to pollution by human activities. Most regions in the world have high demands for clean water. Supplies for freshwater are under pressure. Water reuse is a potential solution for clean water scarcity. A pressure-driven membrane process such as nanofiltration has become the main component of advanced water reuse and desalination systems. High rejection and water permeability of solutes are the major characteristics that make nanofiltration membranes economically feasible for water purification. Recent advances include the prediction of membrane performances under different operating conditions. Here, we review the characterization of nanofiltration membranes by methods such as scanning electron microscopy, thermal gravimetric analysis, attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and atomic force microscopy. Advances show that the solute rejection and permeation performance of nanofiltration membranes are controlled by the composition of the casting solution of the active layer, cross-linking agent concentration, preparation method, and operating conditions. The solute rejection depends strongly on the solute type, which includes charge valency, diffusion coefficient, and hydration energy. We also review the analysis of the surface roughness, the nodule size, and the pore size of nanofiltration membranes. We also present a new concept for membrane characterization by quantitative analysis of phase images to elucidate the macro-molecular packing at the membrane surface.     

Possible solutions for sludge dewatering in China

In China, over 1.43×10⁷ tons of dewatered sewage sludge, with 80% water content, were generated from wastewater treatment plants in 2007. About 60% of the COD removed during the wastewater treatment process becomes concentrated as sludge. Traditional disposal methods used by municipal solid waste treatment facilities, such as landfills, composting, or incineration, are unsuitable for sludge disposal because of its high water content. Disposal of sludge has therefore become a major focus of current environmental protection policies. The present status of sludge treatment and disposal methodology is introduced in this paper. Decreasing the energy consumption of sludge dewatering from 80% to 50% has been a key issue for safe and economic sludge disposal. In an analysis of sludge water distribution, thermal drying and hydrothermal conditioning processes are compared. Although thermal drying could result in an almost dry sludge, the energy consumption needed for this process is extremely high. In comparison, hydrothermal technology could achieve dewatered sewage sludge with a 50%–60% water content, which is suitable for composting, incineration, or landfill. The energy consumption of hydrothermal technology is lower than that required for thermal drying.     

Comparison of the removal of monovalent and divalent cations in the microbial desalination cell

Microbial desalination cell (MDC) is a promising technology to desalinate water and generate electrical power simultaneously. The objectives of this study were to investigate the desalination performance of monovalent and divalent cations in the MDC, and discuss the effect of ion characteristics, ion concentrations, and electrical characteristics. Mixed salt solutions of NaCl, MgCl₂, KCl, and CaCl₂ with the same concentration were used in the desalination chamber to study removal of cations. Results showed that in the mixed salt solutions, the electrodialysis desalination rates of cations were: Ca²⁺ >Mg²⁺>Na⁺>K⁺. Higher ionic charges and smaller hydrated ionic radii resulted in higher desalination rates of the cations, in which the ionic charge was more important than the hydrated ionic radius. Mixed solutions of NaCl and MgCl₂ with different concentrations were used in the desalination chamber to study the effect of ion concentrations. Results showed that when ion concentrations of Na⁺ were one-fifth to five times of Mg²⁺, ion concentration influenced the dialysis more profoundly than electrodialysis. With the current densities below a certain value, charge transfer efficiencies became very low and the dialysis was the main process responsible for the desalination. And the phosphate transfer from the anode chamber and potassium transfer from the cathode chamber could balance 1%–3% of the charge transfer in the MDC.     

超滤分离、浓缩、脱盐青霉素酰化酶的研究

本文用中空纤维超滤膜对青霉素酰化酶进行了分离、浓缩的研究、实验了不同种类的膜、不同的酶活浓度、不同运行时间和不同压力等因素对膜透水量、截留率和酶的回收率的影响。结果表明:采用超滤技术分离、浓缩、脱盐青霉素酰化酶工艺,具有操作简单,酶的比活高,回收率高和省能等特点,适用于工业化生产。     

Crystalline mesoporous transition metal oxides: hard-templating synthesis and application in environmental catalysis

Mesoporous silicas such as MCM-41 and SBA-15 possess high surface areas, ordered nanopores, and excellent thermal stability, and have been often used as catalyst supports. Although mesoporous metal oxides have lower surface areas compared to mesoporous silicas, they generally have more diversified functionalities. Mesoporous metal oxides can be synthesized via a soft-templating or hard-templating approach, and these materials have recently found some applications in environmental catalysis, such as CO oxidation, N₂O decomposition, and elimination of organic pollutants. In this review, we summarize the synthesis of mesoporous transition metal oxides using mesoporous silicas as hard templates, highlight the application of these materials in environmental catalysis, and furnish some prospects for future development.     

Carbon nanotube- and graphene-based advanced membrane materials for desalination

The development of membrane-based desalination and water purification technologies offers new alternatives to meet the global freshwater demand. Rapid advancement in carbon nanotube-based and graphene-based nanomaterials has drawn the attention of scientific investigators on various desalination technologies. These nanomaterials indeed offer advantageous structure, size, shape, porosity and mass transport behavior for membrane separation process. This article  reviews theoretical and experimental investigations of carbon nanotube- and graphene-based composite materials for desalination. Special attention is given to the simulation of molecular transport through these materials. Further, recent advances in the application of functionalization of carbon nanotube- and graphene-based materials for salt rejection and hydraulic permeation properties are discussed.     

Fertilizer drawn forward osmosis as an alternative to 2nd pass seawater reverse osmosis: Estimation of boron removal and energy consumption

• The boron concentration in diluted DS can satisfy the irrigation water standard. • The boron concentration in diluted DS equaled that in two-pass RO permeate. • FDFO process SEC was slightly lower than the 2nd pass RO SEC. • FDFO has potential as an alternative to 2nd pass RO for irrigation water production. Agriculture is the largest consumer of freshwater. Desalinated seawater is an important alternative water source for sustainable irrigation. However, some issues of the current desalination technology hinder its use for agriculture irrigation, including low boron removal and high energy consumption. This study systematically explored the feasibility of employing fertilizer drawn forward osmosis (FDFO) as an alternative to 2nd pass reverse osmosis (RO) by considering the boron removal performance and specific energy consumption (SEC). Different operating conditions were investigated, such as the boron and NaCl concentrations in feed solution (FS), draw solution (DS) concentration, pH, the volume ratio of FS to DS, membrane orientation, flow rate, and operating temperature. The results indicated that a low boron concentration in FS and high pH DS (pH= 11.0) decreased the boron solute flux, and led to low final boron concentration in the DS. The other operating conditions had negligible influence on the final DS boron concentration. Also, a lower flow rate and higher specific water flux with certain permeate water volumes were conducive to reducing the SEC of the FDFO process. Overall, our study paves a new way of using FDFO in irrigation, which avoids the phytotoxicity and human health risk of boron. The results show the potential of FDFO as an alternative to 2nd pass RO for irrigation water production.     

Efficient suspension freeze desalination of mine wastewaters to separate clean water and salts

Suspension freeze desalination is a promising technique for producing clean water from mine wastewaters. The principle is that growing ice crystals reject impurities during freezing. As a result, pure water is separated from mine wastewaters as clean ice. Actually, there is a need for improved techniques to increase water yield and purity. Here we tested ice formation in complex synthetic solutions during cooling and addition of seed. Solutions included: pure distilled water, 50, 33 g/L NaCl and 17, 50 g/L Na₂SO₄, 50 g/L NaCl and 50 g/L Na₂SO₄. Results show that heat of crystallization was the highest with pure distilled water at 8859 J, whereas the lowest heat of crystallization, of 4608 J, was for the solution of 50 g/L NaCl and 50 g/L Na₂SO₄, indicating that the presence of the salt enhances ice formation. As an application, we designed a new flow diagram, which, in addition to heat exchanger and ice filter, now includes a fluidized bed reactor for salt crystallization and recovery, and a separate heat exchanger for ice crystallization.     

Reclamation of abandoned shrimp pond soils in southern Thailand for cultivation of Mauritius grass (Brachiaria mutica)

A study on soil reclamation for cultivation of Mauritius grass was conducted on soils obtained from abandoned shrimp ponds at Ranote District, Songkhla Province, southern Thailand. A glass house experiment on the reclamation of the soils included desalination by leaching soils using various amounts of deionised water, rice husk, plant nutrients and gypsum as well as an omission pot trial experiment. The result showed that Mauritius grass survived in the treatment with 15 L of water, 2% of rice husk with gypsum added or 8% of rice husk without gypsum added. The yield of Mauritius grass increased with increases in the amounts of water for desalination and rice husk. Thus, the highest yield of grass with a height of 148.3 cm, 12.7 tillers/pot and dry weight of 46.43 g/pot was observed in the gypsum added treatment with the highest amount of water and rice husk (25 L of water and 8% by weight of rice husk). Therefore, salinity and unfavourable structure of the abandoned pond soils were major factors governing the survival ability and growth of the grass. The omission pot trial experiment revealed that growth of the grass responded to the application of P, Ca, Mg and S, though existing amounts of such plant nutrient elements in the soils were adequate for plant growth. The anomalous characteristics were probably explained by soil pH, salinity and imbalance of plant nutrient elements.     

Green synthesis of symmetrical N, N′-disubstituted thiourea derivatives in water using solar energy

Thioureas are of importance in medicinal chemistry due to their biological activities such as antituberculosis, anti-HIV, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antiarrhythmic, fungicide, herbicides, rodenticides and as phenoloxidase enzymatic inhibitors. Treatment of primary and secondary amines with thiophosgene is the common method of making symmetrical disubstituted thioureas. However, this method is hazardous due to the toxic properties of thiophosgene. Here, we report a green, operationally simple approach for the synthesis of 1, 3-disubstituted thiourea derivatives in moderate to excellent yields of 57–99 %. We use primary amines and CS₂ in water without any catalyst and solar thermal energy. This method is more environmentally benign and energy-saving compared with previously reported methods.     

Improved power density and Cr/Pb removal using ozone in a microbial desalination cell

Environmental Chemistry Letters - Microbial desalination cells are promising bio-electrochemical technologies for water desalination, treating wastewater and bioelectricity production. In this...     

Cross-stacked super-aligned carbon nanotube/activated carbon composite electrodes for efficient water purification via capacitive deionization enhanced ultrafiltration

• A high-performance electrode was prepared with super-aligned carbon nanotubes. • SACNT/AC electrode achieved a ~100% increase in desalination capacity and rate. • SACNT/AC electrode achieved a ~26% increase in charge efficiency. • CUF process with SACNT/AC achieved an up to 2.43-fold fouling reduction. • SACNT/AC imparts overall improved water purification efficiency. The practical application of the capacitive deionization (CDI) enhanced ultrafiltration (CUF) technology is hampered due to low performance of electrodes. The current study demonstrated a novel super-aligned carbon nanotube (SACNT)/activated carbon (AC) composite electrode, which was prepared through coating AC on a cross-stacked SACNT film. The desalination capability and water purification performance of the prepared electrode were systematically investigated at different applied voltages (0.8–1.2 V) with a CDI system and a CUF system, respectively. In the CDI tests, as compared with the control AC electrode, the SACNT/AC electrode achieved an approximately 100% increase in both maximum salt adsorption capacity and average salt adsorption rate under all the applied voltage conditions, demonstrating a superior desalination capability. Meanwhile, a conspicuous increase by an average of ~26% in charge efficiency was also achieved at all the voltages. In the CUF tests, as compared with the control run at 0 V, the treatment runs at 0.8, 1.0, and 1.2 V achieved a 2.40-fold, 2.08-fold, and 2.43-fold reduction in membrane fouling (calculated according to the final transmembrane pressure (TMP) data at the end of every purification stage), respectively. The average TMP increasing rates at 0.8, 1.0, and 1.2 V were also roughly two times smaller than that at 0 V, indicating a dramatical reduction of membrane fouling. The SACNT/AC electrode also maintained its superior desalination capability in the CUF process, resulting in an overall improved water purification efficiency.     

The influence of fresh weight and water temperature on metabolic rates and the energy budget of Meretrix meretrix Linnaeus

Meretrix meretrix L. was held in the laboratory under simulated natural conditions to measure specific physiological parameters of its energy budget. O₂ consumption rate, NH₃ excretion rate (NR), ingestion rate, faeces excretion rate and scope for growth (SFG) were negatively related in an exponential manner to the fresh weight of the clams at all water temperatures, while almost all metabolic rates of the clams were positively related in an exponential or e-exponential manner with water temperature. However, the co-relationship between metabolic rates and water temperature was not as close as that between metabolic rates and fresh weight of the clam. The combined effect of fresh weight and water temperature was observed on all metabolic rates except for NR and SFG. At all culture temperatures and for all fresh weights of clams used, respiration took the largest percentage of ingested energy (41.5–51.2%), faeces excretion was second (31.0–42.3%), growth third (12.1–15.5%) and urine production last (2.1–5.6%).     

Recent advances in three typical configurations and applications of bioelectrochemical systems北大核心CSCD

As the world's freshwater resources and available energy are alarmingly decreasing, the bioelectrochemical system (BES) is a cutting-edge technology for the resolution of the resource and energy issue. Researchers have paid much attention to t he application of t he BES configuration. Based on t he brief i ntroduction of m icrobial f uel cell a nd m icrobial electrolytic cell structure, principles, and domestic and foreign research, the BES and its influencing factors are introduced, specifically including: microbial activity, electrode materials, and configuration. Three important aspects (i.e., the electrode chamber, the reaction chamber, and micro-sensor) are summarized, and the advantages and disadvantages of single-electrode and multi-electrode chambers are compared, based on the microbial desalination cell. Microbial electrolysis desalination cell: Microbial electrolysis desalination and chemical-production cell have been discussed to introduce increasing reaction chamber configuration; this review focuses on the research of BES monitoring with regards to biochemical oxygen demand. The potential applications of the research progress are explored. The results show that the configuration of multi-chamber microbial fuel cell is complex and its efficiency is low, while the single chamber configuration is advantageous. The reaction chamber added is mainly aimed at desalination, and the study of the desalination pool still needs to be focused on optimizing the cation exchange membrane to maintain the anode pH balance and reduce the air cathode dissolved oxygen. Microbial electrode sensor can be applied in more areas, and its sensitivity and long-term stability need to be further improved. However, there is relatively less research on the abundance and activity of electricigen communities; the configurations and scopes of application of BES are still the research priority. © 2018 Science Press. All rights reserved.     

Electro-assisted regeneration of ion exchange resins

Electro-assisted regeneration (EAR) for the mixed bed of strongly acidic cation and weakly basic anion exchange resins with the Al(OH)3 suspension in a three-compartment cell was investigated. The desalination experiments were carried out to evaluate the characteristic of the regenerated mixed resins. Experimental results showed that the efficiency of resin regeneration was strictly dependent on the voltage, regeneration time, and feed regenerant flow rate. The amount of the effluent reached 50 times the volume of the resins bed, and the conductivity was less than 1.0 μs/cm. Compared to the conventional ER, the total effluent volume of EAR was about 1000 mL more than that of ER under the same conditions, and the outlet conductivity was significantly lower. The desalination and regeneration reaction mechanisms of the mixed resins indicated the regeneration efficiency of resin with Al(OH)₃ as the regenerant was much higher than that with H₂O.