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.     

Photoelectrocatalytic degradation of recalcitrant organic pollutants using TiO2 film electrodes: an overview

Photoelectrocatalytic (PEC) technology involved applying an electrical bias to a TiO₂ film electrode, has been widely applied to the degradation of refractory organic pollutants, owing to its high degradation efficiency. This paper reviews recent developments in the PEC degradation of recalcitrant organic contaminants using a TiO₂ film electrode. The preparation and application of various TiO₂ film electrodes have been investigated, as well as the parameters that influence PEC activity such as the crystal structure, the film thickness and substrate material, the applied electrical bias, the solution pH and conductivity. The improvement of PEC activity by doping the TiO₂ film electrode with metal and non-metal ions has been discussed. The mechanism and kinetics for the PEC degradation of organic pollutants have also been highlighted.     

Photoelectrocatalytic degradation of 4,4'-dibromobiphenyl in aqueous solution on TiO₂ and doped TiO₂ nanotube arrays

Polybrominated biphenyls have been widely used as flameretardants in textile and electronic industries, and additives in plastics. Over the past few decades, much attention has been given to polybrominated biphenyls in the environment and their effects on humans. In this paper, we studied on the degradation of 4,4′-dibromobiphenyl, a typical one of polybrominated biphenyls, through photoelectrocatalytic process with TiO₂, Zr/TiO₂ and Zr, N/TiO₂ nanotube arrays. The results showed that the photoelectrocatalytic process was more efficient than photocatalytic and electrolytic process alone. The results exhibited that the photoelectrocatalytic efficiency was significantly affected by the properties of the catalysts and bias potential, and the highest photoelectrocatalytic degradation rate was achieved with Zr, N/TiO₂ at 1 V and the order was Zr, N/TiO₂ > Zr/TiO₂ > TiO₂. The mechanism was also discussed by detecting the changes of pH value, bromine anion, total organic carbon and intermediates during the process.     

碳纳米管改性PVDF中空纤维超滤膜处理二级出水抗污染性能研究

采用碳纳米管改性PVDF中空纤维超滤膜以缓解膜污染.考察了CNTs的乙醇分散液浓度、CNTs尺寸和负载量对改性中空纤维膜的抗污染性能和改性膜内表面CNTs层稳定性的影响,分析了该改性膜对二级出水DOC、UV254的去除效果,并对改性膜出水的荧光特性进行了表征.结果表明,选用体积分数为50%的乙醇分散液、外径为30~50 nm碳纳米管、负载量为3 g·m-2时,制备的改性中空纤维膜CNTs层稳定,抗污染能力显著提高.与未改性膜相比,改性膜对二级出水DOC和UV254的去除率分别提高了37%和56%;且对二级出水中的腐殖类和蛋白质类物质去除能力明显增强.     

Application potential of carbon nanotubes in water treatment：A review

Water treatment is the key to coping with the conflict between people’s increasing demand for water and the world-wide water shortage. Owing to their unique and tunable structural, physical, and chemical properties, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have exhibited great potentials in water treatment. This review makes an attempt to provide an overview of potential solutions to various environmental challenges by using CNTs as adsorbents, catalysts or catalyst support, membranes, and electrodes. The merits of incorporating CNT to conventional water-treatment material are emphasized, and the remaining challenges are discussed.     

碳纳米材料在环境中的转化

碳纳米材料主要包括富勒烯、碳纳米管和石墨烯.随着碳纳米材料的研究和应用范围不断扩大,其对环境的影响和在环境中的行为也逐渐受到关注,而在环境中的转化是环境行为的一个重要方面.首先,环境转化会改变碳纳米材料的性质,从而影响其它行为如聚集沉降和生态毒性.同时,作为一种以碳为骨架的材料,能否被自然界转化、从而进入碳循环是评价碳纳米材料长期环境影响的必要信息.因此,本文重点总结了碳纳米材料在自然环境条件和水处理条件下可能发生的生物或非生物转化,并分析影响碳纳米材料转化的因素,和转化过程对其环境行为的影响.     

VB6在CNT修饰电极的电化学行为及检测

研究了维生素B6在碳纳米管修饰玻碳电极(CNT/GC)的电化学行为。实验表明,碳纳米管对维生素B6有良好的电催化作用;在磷酸盐缓冲溶液中,维生素B6有2个氧化峰(Epa1=0.20V,Epa2=0.44V)和2个还原峰(Epc1=-0.33V,Epc2=-0.66V),在CNT/GC电极上的氧化还原较复杂;在5.0×10-6—8.0×10-5mol/L浓度范围内,氧化峰电流与维生素B6的浓度呈线性关系,最低检测限(3σ/slope)为1.8×10-6mol/L。     

伏安法测定水中β-萘酚

研究了β-萘酚在多壁碳纳米管(MWNT)修饰电极上的电化学行为,在C6H8O7-Na2HPO4溶液中,β-萘酚在修饰电极上产生一对可逆峰,还原峰电位为-0.103V,氧化峰电位为-0.076V,该峰较灵敏、稳定,适于伏安测定。据此提出了一种灵敏,简便的检测β-萘酚的电化学分析方法。在合适的条件下,β-萘酚浓度在2×10-5～4×10-4mol/L范围内浓度与峰电流呈线性相关,相关系数r=0.9940,检出限2.5×10-7mol/L。同时对模拟水样进行测定,结果满意。     

海底声基阵大地坐标测量

声基阵是进行目标测量和定位的重要装备,而声基阵的海底坐标测量有广泛的应用场合。给出了一种基于时延测量的海底声基阵大地坐标测量的方法。在该方法中,声源在3个位置已知点上发射CW脉冲,利用声源发射和声阵接收的CW脉冲之间的时延获得空间中的3个声源发射点到阵元的距离,并以这3个声源发射点为圆心,以声源发射点到阵元的距离为半径作球面,得到的交点即为阵元的大地坐标。通过海上试验数据分析结果表明可以把该方法运用于实际的工程测量当中。     

Enhanced photocatalytic activity of nanotube-like titania by sulfuric acid treatment

IntroductionTiO2 nanotubehaswidelydrawnmuchattentionduetoitslargesurfaceareaandhighphotocatalyticactivity ,becausetheyhavegreatpotentialforsuchapplicationsasenvironmentalpurification ,decompositionofcarbonicacidgas,andgenerationofhydrogengas .Titaniananot…