Enormous industrial waste is being produced while manufacturing food supplements, beverages, desserts, medicaments, bakery items, energy, and tonics containing varying quantities of foodstuff like organic acids, vitamins, and amino acids from feedstocks due to operational flaws which is discharged in water or thrown away at open spaces where it is piling up as environmental load besides adding millions of revenue loss annually to the national exchequer in the form of foreign reserve enhancing import bill. These important food items must be restored by separating them from waste at war footings to improve the economy and quality of life regarding environmental cleanliness. Anion exchange membrane-based electrodialysis has emerged as one of the finest techniques to get rid of this unavoidable process flaws besides carrying out technologically matchless and cheap separation of such food items from industrial waste and from the reaction broths where such products are being ruined due to heat and discharging exuberantly with accuracy without further damaging them and polluting the environment. Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) based IEMs were synthesized by introducing varying amounts of ion exchange resin applying the solution blending technique with Methyl 2-pyrrolidone being its compatible organic solvent whereas, a single-step phase inversion opted for pore formation in deionized water-ethanol solution. Subsequently, each membrane was modified with PANI coating to enhance its conductivity. Bubbles were removed from the casting solution by continuous stirring and uniform composite membranes were fabricated. Every membrane showed enhanced conductivity, IEC, superhydrophilicity, and better anion exchange capability. The effect of PANI and varying quantities of ion exchange resin incorporated while fabricating ion exchange membrane in the matrix of PVDF was studied in terms of its separation efficiency of glycine via electrodialysis in feed and glycine product solutions as glycinate ions quantifying with acid-based titration and subsequently verified with HPLCMSMS which is instrumental in designing and developing efficient, most modern anion-exchange membrane (AEM) system on an industrial scale for commercial applications
Industrial, agricultural, and domestic activities have been generating various carcinogenic pollutants and imparting toxic, non biodegradable, and long-enduring impacts on both humans and animals, even at low concentrations. This article has been reported for the first time to investigate the kinetics and isotherms models of carcinogenic pollutants including Acid violet 17 (AV17), Mercaptan 1, Humic acid, Phenol and Methylene Blue (MB), which were adsorbed on the surface of NYEX (R) 1000. The effects of adsorbent dosage and contact time for AV 17 (8.2-70 ppm), contact time (0-180 min), Marcaptan 1 (11.7-100 ppm), contact time (0-180 min), Ethane Thiol (7.5-50 ppm), contact time (0-180 min), Humic acid (21.7-60 ppm), contact time (0-120 min), Phenol (8.8-70 ppm), contact time (0-180 min) and MB (11.7-100 ppm), contact time (0-180 min) were investigated against NYEX (R) 1000 respectively. The kinetics findings showed the adsorption of Humic acid (R2=0.99908), AV 17 (R2=0.9977), Mercaptan 1 (R2=0.9982), Phenol (R2=0.9989) and MB (R2=0.9966) on the surface of NYEX (R) 1000 were well described by Pseudo-second order kinetics. The Pseudo-1st order kinetics revealed lower regression coefficient values for all pollutants, confirming it to be least followed. The Isotherm models such as Halsey (R2=0.9971, R2=0.9485) showed the good agreement to describe the equilibrium of AV 17 and Phenol adsorption respectively. On the contrary, equilibrium adsorption of Mercaptan 1, Humic acid and MB on the surface of NYEX (R) 1000 was found to be well described by Dubinin-Radushkevich with R2= 0.984, 0.9331 and 0.9766 respectively. It would be undoubtedly valuable for achieving a comprehensive explanation of the adsorption process and ultimately enhancing the removal performance.
The increasing discharge of dye waste water from Pakistan textile industries causes serious environmental problems. This study focus to explore an efficient method to remove malachite green dye through chemically treated activate carbon derived with (coal waste and calcium silicate). This study examines the effectiveness of activated carbon under controlled conditions and looks into how acid and alkali modifications affect the material adsorption capabilities. Several Batch adsorption experiments have been conducted by varying factors like adsorbent type and contact time. Langmuir and Freundlich model isotherms have been used to access the adsorbents performance, and pseudo first order and second order have been used to investigate adsorption. The acid treated activated carbon gives the highest dye removal efficiency attaining 80% removal efficiency in a short period of time. While the kinetic data more closely matched the pseudo-second-order model, indicating that chemisorption is the predominant process, the equilibrium data better fit the Langmuir isotherm, indicating monolayer adsorption onto a homogenous surface. Because of its increased surface area and pore structure, these data demonstrate how well acid-treated activated carbon adsorbs dye molecules. This study helps to develop cost-effective and environmentally friendly wastewater treatment strategies in dye-intensive industries. In conclusion, acid-treated activated carbon offers a promising, sustainable solution for industrial dye wastewater treatment. Its high removal efficiency and rapid adsorption kinetics make it a suitable candidate for large-scale applications.
Climate change, driven by greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, poses a significant threat to China's environment, economy, and society. This review paper examines China's evolving response to this challenge. It explores China's international commitments, including the Paris Agreement and its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) aiming for carbon neutrality by 2060. Additionally, the paper analyzes domestic policies like the 1+N Climate Policy framework, the 14th Five-Year Plan (FYP) for Energy, and the National Emissions Trading Scheme. These policies highlight China's multi-pronged approach, focusing on GHG reduction and a comprehensive energy sector transformation. The paper emphasizes the importance of evaluating these policies for effectiveness and acknowledges the challenges China faces, such as balancing climate goals with economic growth. Ultimately, the paper argues that China's strategic approach signifies a growing recognition of the need for climate action. The success of this approach, coupled with continued advancements in clean energy technologies and international collaboration, will be paramount in achieving carbon neutrality and securing a sustainable future.
Three alcohol-based zircon coating compositions were developed using a variation of dextrin binder for high-temperature steel castings in silica sand molds. The average particle size of zircon sand used in formulating the coatings was measured as 40 microns. The coatings were characterized by using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), thermal stability testing, surface roughness and permeability measurement. The results demonstrated that increasing the dextrin content principally improved the mold and casting surface finish. There was a significant improvement in an average surface roughness reduction of the mold, and by 25% of the casting. The permeability number of the sand mold with coating was reduced by more than 20% of that of the sand mold without coating, which greatly influenced in enhancing the mold-metal interface protection and reducing the casting surface defects. The thermal stability of the coating was observed from 200oC to 1600oC and no cracks and delamination were observed. The findings highlight the potential of dextrin as an effective binder in zircon coatings, optimizing performance for steel casting applications.
Magnesium (Mg) alloys as biodegradable materials, are attracting significant importance for implant applications due to their suitability as biodegradable material. In the present research, An AZ31B Magnesium alloy was grit blasted with quartz and alumina particles with different blasting pressures and anodized in KOH solution for different durations to develop an anodized film on the different substrates. The surface morphology of the anodization layer was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy. The nature, coverage, and effectiveness of the anodized layer were investigated with potentiodynamic polarization (PD) scans and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) in a simulated body fluid (SBF) solution. The results show an increase in surface coverage with an increase in anodization time. It is also revealed that a capacitive anodized layer with a dense inner layer having full coverage was obtained at 40 minutes anodization time for quartz and alumina blasted samples at 1000 kPa blasting pressure. The outcomes of this study help in developing a protective anodized film on the surface of Mg alloys for bone fixation implants.
The present study investigates the desulfurization of heavy and light crude oils using ferric-oxide (Fe2O3) nano-catalysts under mild operating conditions, with the goal of developing an energy-efficient, hydrogen-free alternative to conventional hydrodesulfurization (HDS). Laboratory experiments were conducted in a fixed-bed catalytic reactor, evaluating the effects of temperature (35-75 degrees C), pressure (1.0-1.9 bar), catalyst particle diameter (54-91 nm), and catalytic-bed diameter (1-2.5 cm) on sulfur-removal efficiency. Optimal desulfurization occurred at 55 degrees C, 1.6 bar, and a bed diameter of 2.5 cm, with 58 nm and 77 nm nanoparticles showing the best performance for heavy and light crudes, respectively. A quadratic regression model developed through analysis of variance (ANOVA) yielded an excellent fit (R-2 = 0.9997, Adj-R-2 = 0.9899), validating the model's predictive capability. Compared with conventional HDS, the Fe2O3 nano-catalyst achieved 70-90 % sulfur removal without hydrogen consumption and at less than one-tenth of the energy intensity. A preliminary techno-economic analysis indicated that the heating energy accounts for similar to 45 k USD yr(-1) (approximate to 0.1 kWh kg(-1) S removed) for a 1,000 bbl day-1 pilot system. Benchmarking against HDS, oxidative desulfurization (ODS), and bio-desulfurization (BDS) demonstrated the potential of the nano-catalyst process for decentralized or small-scale refinery units. The findings provide a foundation for scaling up low-pressure, low-temperature catalytic desulfurization systems and integrating them with sustainable refining operations.
Enormous industrial waste is produced while manufacturing food supplements, beverages, desserts, medicaments, energy drinks, tonics, and bakery items containing varying quantities of foodstuffs such as organic acids, vitamins, and amino acids derived from feedstocks. This waste is discharged into water, or is discarded in open spaces where it accumulates, contributing to environmental burden and causing millions in revenue loss annually. These crucial food items must be recovered by separating them from waste to ameliorate the economy and quality of life regarding environmental cleanliness. Anion exchange membrane-based electrodialysis has emerged as one of the most effective techniques to address these unavoidable process gaps and flaws. Polyvinylidene fluoride-based ion exchange membranes were synthesized by introducing varying amounts of ion exchange resin, applying the solution blending technique with N-Methyl 2-pyrrolidone as its compatible organic solvent, and a single-step phase inversion was opted for pore formation in deionized water-ethanol solution. Subsequently, each membrane was modified with polyaniline coating to enhance its conductivity, ion exchange capacity, superhydrophilicity, and anion exchange capability. The effect of polyaniline coating and varying quantities of ion exchange resin incorporated while fabricating membranes in Polyvinylidene fluoride matrix was studied in terms of its separation efficiency of glycine via electrodialysis in feed and glycine product solutions as glycinate ions quantifying with acid-based titration which found to be enhanced from 10% to 43% and verified with HPLCMSMS. These membranes can be considered as a novel approach for developing an efficient, modern anion-exchange membrane system on an industrial scale for commercial applications.
This study proffers a solution to the issue of hydrocarbon loss in petrochemical plants. Three sections were identified as locations where the loss occurred during the polyethylene production operations within the Indorama polyethylene plant facility. This study focused on developing a hollow-fiber membrane system designed to enhance the recovery of methane, ethylene, and propylene within polyethylene production plants. The membrane model was developed and analyzed for use in the Indorama polyethylene plant to predict the recovery of hydrocarbon gas at designated points of loss. Comprehensive modeling showed that the system was described by eleven coupled ordinary differential equations accounting for mass, energy, and momentum. The model equations were discretized into a set of algebraic equations using the orthogonal collocation method, and the solution to these equations was obtained using the Newton-Raphson method. The results showed a remarkable recovery of methane (~86%), ethylene (~80%), and propylene (~91%) on the shell side while capturing about 82% of carbon dioxide on the fiber side. These results were achieved using the spirobisindane-based ladder polymer (PIM-1) membrane material under 90 bar and 2 bar pressure on the shell and fiber side, respectively, with a membrane area of 6900 m2. These findings were instrumental in assessing the effectiveness of the PIM-1 for recovering these hydrocarbon gases.
Magnesium (Mg) alloys have garnered considerable interest as biodegradable materials for bone fixation implants. In this study, AZ31B Mg alloy substrates were grit-blasted with quartz and alumina particles at varying pressures and subsequently coated with hydroxyapatite via electrodeposition for different durations. Scanning electron microscopy was employed to examine the surface morphology of the hydroxyapatite layer, while potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy were conducted to assess the layer's nature, coverage, and effectiveness in a simulated body fluid. The findings indicate that longer deposition times led to increased surface coverage. Notably, a capacitive hydroxyapatite layer with a dense inner structure and complete surface coverage was achieved after 40 minutes of deposition on quartz- and alumina-blasted samples at a blasting pressure of 1000 kPa. The findings of this study aid in developing biocompatible coatings on magnesium alloys for bone fixation implants.
Commercial grade motor radiator coolant is a mixture of glycol, corrosion inhibitors, inorganic compounds, and water. These type of radiator coolants formulations are used to enhance the thermal efficiency and lifespan of internal combustion engines. In this study we added a radiator coolant solution in a distilled water to investigate potential improvements in the heat transfer rate during boiling. Thus, the heat dissipation from a coiled Nichrome wire (electrically operated) was analyzed in open air, pure water, and various concentrations of aqueous coolant solutions. The boiling of coolant aqueous solution at concentrations of 5% wt./wt., 10% wt./wt., 15% wt./wt., and 20% wt./wt. were compared with pure water. In general, a heat transfer coefficient values increases with coolant concentration. For example, at 5% wt./wt., the heat transfer coefficient is 40 W/m²·K, whereas at 20% wt./wt. concentration, it rises to 140 W/m²·K. Moreover, qualitatively the bubble size in pure water is significantly larger than that of bubbles of the coolant solutions. Turbidity and total dissolved solids increase with coolant concentrations, whereas at a 20% wt./wt. concentration, the surface tension decreases to 68.8 mN/m. This study suggests that adding an engine coolant solution into standard boiler feed water or similar cooling system devices will improve the overall heat transfer rate and hence reduces the operational fuel expenses.
Water resource scarcity is increasing day by day in the present time so it needs an effective treatment of wastewater to grow water availability and economy. Many wastewater treatment technologies have been developed but nano-material sciences also play a vital role. So, in this study, a gold chloride zinc oxide (Au/ZnO) nanocomposite catalyst was synthesized by chemical precipitation method. Methyl Orange, Eriochrome Black Tea, and Brown Cesol Green its mixture was used as model dyes and textile industry wastewater in the degradation studies. The nanocomposite was also characterized by various techniques such as FT-IR, XRD TEM, and Ultra Violet - visible spectrophotometer, the results represent that the FTIR spectrum of nanocomposites shows six-well peaks at different values and it signifies that N-H stretching primary amine, N-H stretching amine salt, O-H bending carboxylic acid and C-I stretching are present in the nanocomposites structure. X-ray diffraction results show eight well peaks at 2-theta from this peak it indicating the existence of a hexagonal phase ZnO structure with Au. The Transmission Electron Microscopy results show that Au is highly spread with small size and uniform morphology over the surface of the ZnO. The UV-visible absorption spectra of nanocomposite samples showed a distinct band center around 350-400nm. The concentration of 0.5ml of 1.0M sodium borohydride, Methyl Orange, Eriochrome Black Tea, and Brown Cesol Green, and five mg of Nanocomposite were used in degradation studies and the result was analyzed with the help of a UV-visible spectrophotometer the average time of complete degradation was from five minutes to nine minutes it is noticed that the prepared Au/ZnO nanocomposite is very effective eco-friendly for the degradation of dyes and wastewater.
Polymeric materials are significantly affected by epoxy-based thermosets. Epoxies have a high crosslink density, making them brittle and prone to break. A commercial process known as "polymer blending" creates a new material by combining two or more polymers in varying proportions that have specific desired properties. In this study, the mechanical properties of polymer blends were enhanced by the addition of TiO2 nanoparticles with different parentages, and mechanical and characterization tests were conducted to investigate the changes in the mechanical properties. FTIR spectroscopy showed that the nanomaterial did not cause a chemical change in the polymeric mixture, whereas the mechanical properties improved to a certain extent at low percentages. When the percentage increased, agglomeration occurred in the nanomaterial, leading to a decrease in the mechanical properties, as observed in the SEM tests.
This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the electro-Fenton process in the treatment of textile wastewater using carbon felt modified with graphene nanoparticles as the cathode and a thin film of platinum as the anode. The primary characteristics of wastewater, including COD, color, BOD5, 5 , pH, electrical conductivity (EC), and chlorides, were measured. Factors affecting the efficiency of the electro-Fenton process were studied. The optimum conditions were determined as follows: the inlet airflow of 1 (L/min), pH=2.5, the current intensity of 200 mA, and ferrous ion concentration of 1.5 mM. Based on the results maximum system decolorization and COD removal rates were 94.31% in 120 minutes and 57.47% in 30 minutes of reaction respectively. Dye removal efficiency increases due to graphene particles on the carbon felt and increasing surface area. Also, the application of the platinum electrode and the role of this electrode in anode oxidation causes an increase in the efficiency of dye removal. Because the electro-Fenton process is carried out at acidic pH, it is necessary to conduct pH modification on the final effluent of this process.
Carbonate or naturally fractured reservoirs have vast reserves of hydrocarbons that can help to fulfill energy needs. However, the modeling of these reservoirs is a challenging task due to several technicalities involved. These include matrix-fracture transfer rate and subsequent flow of fluid towards the wellbore. In order to investigate this particular and complex fluid flow mechanism, the grid block shape has been varied from typical cubical to elongated parallelopiped and slab type during numerical simulation studies. Further, the effects of fracture capillary pressure on reservoir performance have been investigated for these block types in the water injection process. This in-depth investigation, at a broader level of its kind, shows that with the increase in fracture capillary pressure as a function of matrix capillary pressure, there is a significant decrease in hydrocarbon recovery. Moreover, a drastic change in recovery has been observed by switching to slab and matchstick-type grid block shapes rather than simple cubical grid block shapes. The obtained results provide a new insight into the modeling of naturally fractured reservoirs and fluid flow dynamics, which can lead to improved hydrocarbon recovery estimations along with better designing of the water injection process.
Membrane based purification of crude glycerin is of unique importance due to its vast applications in pharmaceutical, polymer and food industries. Polyether Sulfone/Cellulose Acetate Based Mixed Matrix Membranes being reinforced with modified activated carbon has shown enough capability to purify crude glycerin. The membrane is synthesized by phase inversion method by using N- Methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) as solvent and aminopropyl-triethoxycyclene as crosslinker. After adding modified activated carbon as a filler, the membrane is characterized using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and Thermal Gravimetric Analysis (TGA) to determine the chemistry and mechanical strength of the created membrane, respectively. All membranes' glycerin rejection is investigated using dead end filtration apparatus operating at two bar pressure. The impact of modified activated carbon is also examined by adjusting the filler concentration in a pure mixed matrix membrane solution. As a result, it is noted that the greatest glycerin rejection of 72.7% is achieved at 0.6% weight percentage of activated carbon. Nonetheless, at 0.8% weight of filler, a maximum water flux of 17.8 kg/hr.m2 was attained.
Herein, the effect of laser-scanning speeds on the morphological properties of CO2 laser-modified, wire-arc sprayed aluminum-bronze coating was investigated. Firstly, the aluminum-bronze coating was deposited on AISI-304 stainless steel by wire-arc spray method. The surface of the deposited coating was then modified, using CO2 laser remelting process under various scanning speeds, ranging from 100-500 mm/min. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that the CO2 laser treatment melted the aluminum bronze coating and the substrate beneath. This melting resulted in a stable, homogeneous alloy of coating and substrate. At CO2 laser scanning speed of 100 mm/min, the coating was deeply diffused into the substrate and formed a coating of 696 mu m thickness, composed of an alloy coating and substrate. With the increase in CO2 laser scanning speed, a gradual reduction in the thickness of the diffused coating was observed. A maximum of 61% reduction in the diffused coating was observed at CO2 laser scanning speed of 500 mm/min. SEM energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) validated the diffusion of aluminum bronze coating into the substrate by exhibiting 36.31 wt% Fe, 38.1 wt% Cu, and 2.82 wt% Al in the newly formed coating. With an increase in CO2 laser scanning speed, the percentage of Fe was reduced whereas the percentage of Cu was increased in alloyed coatings. A maximum of 18% reduction in Fe percentage and 28% improvement in Cu percentage were achieved at the highest scanning speed of 500 mm/min, compared to 100 mm/min scanning speed.
In this study, AZ31B Magnesium alloy samples were grit blasted with quartz and alumina particles at 1000 kPa blasting pressure to achieve sample roughness. The blasted samples were anodized and electrodeposited HA-coated for 40 minutes to improve the corrosion resistance and biocompatibility. The coating characteristics and composition of the coatings were studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive Xray (EDX) analysis respectively. The thickness of the coatings was measured using optical microscope. The corrosion behavior of the coatings was determined by open circuit potential (OCP) in a simulated body fluid (SBF) solution. The biocompatibility of the coatings was analyzed by bio-assessment using MTT assay. The results revealed that the electrodeposition of HA coating on alumina blasted samples results in best surface morphology, yielding lowest corrosion rate and best biocompatibility with a cell viability about 80% even after 7 days treatment.
The synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) has been made more economically feasible and environmentally friendly by use renewable and non-toxic Litchi chinensis as a capping and reducing agent instead of chemical reducing agents. to convert silver ions into silver nanoparticles. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and UV-Vis spectrophotometry (UV-Vis spectrophotometry) were used to study the resulting silver nanoparticles. The facecenter -cubic (FFC) structure of the produced silver particles is evident from the X-ray diffraction study.
The textile industry generates effluents containing toxic dyes, which have detrimental effects on the environment, including air, soil, and water contamination. These dyes also pose risks to human health and disrupt aquatic ecosystems. Developing ecological and cost-effective method to address this issue is a major challenge. This study focuses on utilizing waxy cornstarch, which exhibits unique properties such as high biodegradability, environmental compatibility, low sludge volume, small particle size, and high surface area (1.27 m2/g), for removing the reactive dye Rhodamine 6G (Basic Red-1) from textile wastewater. The composition of waxy cornstarch was analyzed, including determination of protein content using the Kjeldahl apparatus, as well as moisture content, ash content, and fine fiber content through experimental methods. The rate of dye removal from wastewater was assessed using a UV-spectrophotometer. The experimental design was selected, and trials were conducted using a glass testing apparatus. Dye removal rates were investigated at different dosages, temperatures, and pH ranges. The highest dye removal efficiency of 83.6% was achieved at a pH of 5, a temperature of 40 °C, and a coagulant dosage of 40 mg/l. These findings highlight the potential of waxy cornstarch as a natural coagulant for effective removal of Rhodamine 6G dye from textile wastewater.
