Separations最新文献

{"title":"Fenton Oxidation Combined with Iron–Carbon Micro-Electrolysis for Treating Leachate Generated from Thermally Treated Sludge","authors":"Xiaoqing Dong, Hui Liu, Ji Li, Ruiqi Gan, Quanze Liu, Xiaolei Zhang","doi":"10.3390/separations10110568","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/separations10110568","url":null,"abstract":"In this study, Iron–Carbon Micro-Electrolysis (ICME), Fenton oxidation, and their combination were investigated to treat the leachate obtained from a wastewater treatment plant located in southern China. The results show that the Fenton-ICME process was the most efficient one. After the leachate was treated with the Fenton-ICME process, the COD concentration was reduced from the initial 35,772 mg/L to 13,522 mg/L, and the removal efficiency was up to 62.2%. In addition, the biological oxygen demand (BOD) to COD ratio increased by 40% at optimal conditions. This suggests that the biodegradability of the leachate has been increased, facilitating the biodegradation of the leachate after it is mixed with the raw wastewater. By studying the characteristic variation of the leachate treated with the Fenton-ICME process, it was found that the combined process mainly removes organic compounds such as aromatic compounds, ketones, and aldehydes. The separated sludge does not have a crystalline structure, and the iron in it mainly exists in the form of trivalent iron. It reveals that the Fenton-ICME process has great potential to be used as a pretreatment of leachate.","PeriodicalId":21833,"journal":{"name":"Separations","volume":"59 47","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-11-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"134901528","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Simultaneous Quantification Method of Flavonoids in Jeju Native Citrus from Different Harvest Times Using a High-Performance Liquid Chromatography–Diode Array Detector (HPLC–DAD)","authors":"Hyejin Hyeon, Ho Bong Hyun, Sung Chun Kim, Boram Go, Seon-A Yoon, Yong-Hwan Jung, Young-Min Ham","doi":"10.3390/separations10110567","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/separations10110567","url":null,"abstract":"In Jeju-native Citrus, flavonoids are the main contributors to the various types of biological activity, such as antioxidant, antitumor, and anti-inflammatory activity. Thus, we developed simultaneous quantification methods for the analysis of ten bioactive flavonoids in Jeju Citrus fruits (Dangyuja, Gamja, Jigak, Sadugam, and Soyuja) harvested at six different time points using a high-performance liquid chromatography–diode array detector (HPLC-DAD). Separation was performed using a flow rate of 0.8 mL/min, a column temperature of 40 °C, a mobile phase buffer of 0.5% acetic acid, and a detection wavelength of 278 nm. The established analytical method showed good linearity (R2 ≥ 0.9997), precision (inter-day < 0.599%, intra-day < 0.055%), and accuracy (recoveries 92.30–108.80%). The HPLC–DAD method was subsequently applied to analyze flavonoids in Citrus samples. Overall, the quantification results indicated that the compositions and content of flavonoids differed for each Citrus species. The harvesting period also influenced the changes in flavonoid content within each Citrus species. The analytical results with chemometrics revealed that higher flavonoid levels in early-harvested Citrus were derived from the improved fruit size and reduced flavonoid synthesis during maturation. This study provides a practical and reliable method for the analysis of ten flavonoids that can be further utilized in the quality assessment of Jeju Citrus.","PeriodicalId":21833,"journal":{"name":"Separations","volume":"36 6","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-11-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135086355","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Identifying the Early Post-Mortem VOC Profile from Cadavers in a Morgue Environment Using Comprehensive Two-Dimensional Gas Chromatography","authors":"Darshil Patel, Rushali Dargan, Wesley S. Burr, Benoit Daoust, Shari Forbes","doi":"10.3390/separations10110566","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/separations10110566","url":null,"abstract":"Understanding the VOC profile released during the early post-mortem period is essential for applications in training human remains detection dogs and urban search and rescue operations (USAR) to rapidly locate living and deceased victims. Human cadavers were sampled at the UQTR morgue within a 0–72 h post-mortem interval. VOC samples were collected from the headspace above the cadavers, using Tenax TA/Carbograph 5TD dual sorbent tubes, and analyzed using GC×GC-TOFMS. Multiple data processing steps, including peak table alignment and filtering, were undertaken using LECO ChromaToF and custom scripts in R programming language. This study identified 104 prevalent VOCs, some of which are linked to human decomposition, while others are connected to the persistence of living scent. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) further highlighted that VOC profiles can change dynamically over time, even in a controlled setting. The findings underscore the complexity and variability in VOC profiles during the early post-mortem period. This variability is influenced by multiple factors including the individual’s biological and physiological conditions. Despite the challenges in characterizing these profiles, the identified VOCs could potentially serve as markers in forensic applications. The study also highlights the need for additional research to build a dataset of VOCs for more robust forensic applications.","PeriodicalId":21833,"journal":{"name":"Separations","volume":" 11","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-11-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135187948","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Enhancing Trace Metal Extraction from Wastewater: Magnetic Activated Carbon as a High-Performance Sorbent for Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry Analysis","authors":"Sergio J. Abellán-Martín, David Villalgordo-Hernández, Miguel Ángel Aguirre, Enrique V. Ramos-Fernández, Javier Narciso, Antonio Canals","doi":"10.3390/separations10110563","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/separations10110563","url":null,"abstract":"A new fast, sensitive, and environmentally friendly analytical method has been developed for the simultaneous determination of Ba, Be, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn in wastewater samples using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP OES). A preconcentration step using a magnetic dispersive solid-phase extraction (MDSPE) technique with a new magnetic sorbent was performed. The new sorbent material was a carbon containing magnetic cobalt and nitrogen groups. This material was synthetized using controlled pyrolysis of a zeolitic imidazolate framework (i.e., ZIF-67). In order to optimize the experimental parameters that affect the MDSPE procedure, a multivariate optimization strategy, using Plackett–Burman and circumscribed central composite designs (CCD), was used. The method has been evaluated employing optimized experimental conditions (i.e., sample weight, 10 g; sample pH, 7.6; amount of sorbent, 10 mg; dispersive agent, vortex; complexing agent concentration, 0.5%; ionic concentration, 0%; eluent, HCl; eluent concentration, 0.5 M; eluent volume, 300 μL; elution time, 3 min and extraction time, 3 min) using external calibration. Limits of detection (LODs) in a range from 0.073 to 1.3 μg L−1 were obtained, and the repeatability was evaluated at two different levels, resulting in relative standard deviations below 8% for both levels (n = 5). An increase in the sensitivity was observed due to the high enrichment factors (i.e., 3.2 to 13) obtained compared with direct ICP OES analysis. The method was also validated through carrying out recovery studies that employed a real wastewater sample and through the analysis of a certified reference material (ERM®-CA713). The recovery values obtained with the real wastewater were between 94 and 108% and between 90 and 109% for the analysis of ERM®-CA713, showing negligible matrix effects.","PeriodicalId":21833,"journal":{"name":"Separations","volume":"118 20","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-11-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135138218","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Analysis of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons Using Magnetic Three-Dimensional Graphene Solid-Phase Extraction Coupled with Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry","authors":"Hassan Sereshti, Mahsa Karimi, Sajad Karami, Shokouh Mahpishanian, Mehdi Esmaeili Bidhendi, Shahabaldin Rezania, Amin Mojiri, Hesam Kamyab, Hamid Rashidi Nodeh","doi":"10.3390/separations10110564","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/separations10110564","url":null,"abstract":"In this study, a composite material consisting of three-dimensional graphene aerogel and iron oxide nanoparticles (3DG/Fe3O4) was created and utilized for the purpose of magnetic solid-phase extraction (MSPE) of thirteen polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) compounds via gas chromatography–mass spectrometry/selected ion monitoring (GC-MS/SIM) analysis. The synthesized adsorbent underwent a range of characterization techniques, including scanning electron microscopy, vibrating sample magnetometry, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller, Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy, and Barrett–Joyner–Halenda techniques, to examine its properties and morphology. The synthesized adsorbent integrates the benefits of superior adsorption capacity from modified graphene oxide (GO) with the magnetic separability of magnetite microparticles, resulting in a high adsorption capacity with easy separation from sample solutions. The efficiency of the proposed method was optimized and modeled using a central composite design (CCD), which considered the primary factors influencing it. The optimal conditions were obtained as the adsorbent dosage of 10 mg, the extraction time of 4 min, and the salt concentration of 3% w/v. The limit of detection for the target PAHs was established to range from 0.016 to 0.2 ng mL−1 in optimal conditions, exhibiting a signal-to-noise ratio of 3. The linear dynamic range spanned from 5 to 100 ng mL−1, with determination coefficients (R2) ranging from 0.9913 to 0.9997. The intra- and inter-day precisions were calculated as relative standard deviations (RSDs) equal to 3.9% and 4.7%, respectively. The proposed method was successfully applied to the determination of PAHs in water samples (tap, river, and rainwater), and recoveries in the range of 71–110% (RSDs < 5.2%, n = 3) were obtained.","PeriodicalId":21833,"journal":{"name":"Separations","volume":" January","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-11-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135186679","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A Study on the Removal Characteristics and Mechanism of Phosphorus from Simulated Wastewater Using a Novel Modified Red-Mud-Based Adsorption Material","authors":"Wenbao Liu, Qin Zhang, Yanbai Shen, Weichao Li, Sikai Zhao, Qiang Zhao, Yiqun Zhang","doi":"10.3390/separations10110562","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/separations10110562","url":null,"abstract":"In this work, a common third-generation environmentally friendly quaternary ammonium salt disinfectant, dimethyl dioctadecyl ammonium chloride (DDAC), was used as the modifier to achieve one-step rapid preparation of the modified red-mud-based adsorption material under the condition of microwave assistance, and applied it to the adsorption phosphorus in solutions. After the process of this modification, the structure of the red mud (RM) was not changed, and the DDAC modification could provide more adsorption active sites. The adsorption experiments indicated that the novel modified red mud (NMRM) exhibited a good adsorption performance for phosphorus. The adsorption capability of NMRM for phosphorus was significantly enhanced, and was about eight times higher than that of the initial RM. The kinetics model of the pseudo-second-order, which implied that phosphorus was chemically adsorbed on the surface of the NMRM, could accurately represent the adsorption procedure of NMRM. The adsorption equilibrium of NMRM could be better depicted using the isotherm model of Freundlich. It was speculated that the ion exchange might be responsible for the adsorption mechanism of NMRM for phosphorus. Thus, the NMRM is a potential material for the treatment of phosphorus-containing wastewater due to its outstanding adsorption capability.","PeriodicalId":21833,"journal":{"name":"Separations","volume":"101 42","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-11-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135137705","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Advancements in Adsorption Techniques for Sustainable Water Purification: A Focus on Lead Removal","authors":"Amal M. Badran, Uthumporn Utra, Nor Shariffa Yussof, Mohammed J. K. Bashir","doi":"10.3390/separations10110565","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/separations10110565","url":null,"abstract":"The long-term sustainability of the global water supply, with a paramount emphasis on cleanliness and safety, stands as a formidable challenge in our modern era. In response to this pressing issue, adsorption techniques have emerged as pivotal and widely recognized solutions for the removal of hazardous pollutants, with a particular emphasis on lead adsorption from wastewater. This comprehensive review explores the relentless advancements made in the adsorption domain, highlighting innovations using separation and purification techniques that surpass traditional metal oxide-based adsorbents. Of particular note is the growing exploration of alternative materials, such as starch, chitosan, nanoscale structures like zeolites and metal-organic frameworks, magnetic materials, and carbon-based substances for the development of inorganic adsorbents. These materials, with their remarkable capacity for nanoscale structural adjustment, possess extraordinary capabilities for effective contaminant removal, facilitating swift water purification. The literature survey for this review was conducted using the Google Scholar engine, with “adsorbents for lead remediation” as the starting keywords, resulting in approximately 6000 papers. The search was refined to focus on the last three years and specifically targeted review papers which are most relevant to lead remediation. More than 100 papers were analysed to investigate various techniques, surface modifications, and adsorbent materials for managing inorganic pollutants in water. This review also illuminates research limitations, with a specific focus on starch-based adsorbents in lead remediation. As we progress towards practical commercial applications, this review identifies challenges associated with the development of inorganic adsorbents and provides invaluable insights into future prospects. Surface modification emerges as a promising path, with the potential to substantially enhance adsorption capacity, potentially doubling or even quadrupling it. Moreover, the adsorbents demonstrate impressive regenerative capabilities, maintaining up to 90% regeneration efficiency after multiple cycles. In conclusion, starch-based adsorbents show considerable potential as effective agents for lead purification from aquatic environments. Nevertheless, the need for further research persists, emphasizing the optimization of the adsorption process and exploring the long-term stability of starch-based adsorbents in real-world scenarios.","PeriodicalId":21833,"journal":{"name":"Separations","volume":" November","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-11-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135186681","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Analysis of Kazakhstan Crude Oil Biomarkers by Gas Chromatography in Combination with Mass Spectrometry","authors":"Mereke Alimzhanova, Bauyrzhan Abdykarimov","doi":"10.3390/separations10110561","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/separations10110561","url":null,"abstract":"Kazakhstan ranks as the 12th largest oil producer globally and boasts a diverse range of crude oils. This research introduces a method for distinguishing between the different types of crude oils based on biomarker analysis of 28 crude oils from Western and Southern Kazakhstan using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Biomarkers serve as valuable tools, especially in forensic investigations of oil spills. These biomarkers effectively retain a significant portion of the original natural product’s carbon structure, providing crucial evidence regarding the origin and identity of the oils under examination. This study identifies a set of biomarkers, including pristine, phytane, n-C17 and n-C18 alkanes, hopanes, bisnorhopanes, iso-copalanes, pregnane, androstane, allopregnane, homopregnane, cholestane, and stigmastane. By examining ratios such as pristane/phytane, pristane/n-C17 alkane, tricyclic/pentacyclic terpanes, and hopane, as well as the distribution of steranes, it was deduced that crude oils from West Kazakhstan exhibited resilience to biodegradation. These findings showed that gas chromatography-mass spectrometry is an effective method for oil biomarkers determination, especially because it provides efficient separation and identification. Additionally, this study delved into the origin conditions and maturity of these oils, contributing to a deeper understanding of their characteristics and analysis that is simple to use and available worldwide.","PeriodicalId":21833,"journal":{"name":"Separations","volume":" 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-11-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135241778","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effects of Rare Earth Doping on Structural and Electrocatalytic Properties of Nanostructured TiO2 Nanotubes/SnO2-Sb Electrode for Electrochemical Treatment of Industrial Wastewater","authors":"Lisha Yang, Yanming Guo","doi":"10.3390/separations10110560","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/separations10110560","url":null,"abstract":"The solvothermal synthesis technique was employed to successfully fabricate a series of rare earth doped SnO2-Sb electrodes on the TNTs array substrate, serving as anode material for electrocatalytic degradation of phenol. The electrode doped with rare earth elements demonstrated superior electrocatalytic activity and stability in comparison to the undoped electrode. The influence of adding rare earth elements (i.e., Gd and Nd) into the precursor solution on the structural and property of TNTs/SnO2-Sb electrodes was studied in detail. The results obtained from SEM and XRD indicated that, compared to TNTs/SnO2-Sb-Nd, TNTs/SnO2-Sb-Gd exhibited a finer grain size due to the smaller ionic radius of the Gd element. This facilitated its incorporation into the SnO2 lattice interior and inhibited grain growth, resulting in a significant decrease in particle size for exposing more active sites. The influence mechanism of rare earth doping on electrochemical activity was investigated through XPS, EPR, LSV, EIS and Hydroxyl radicals (•OH) generation tests. The results demonstrated that the enhanced electrocatalytic activity can be attributed to an increased generation of oxygen vacancies on the electrode surface, which act as active sites for enhancing the adsorption of oxygen species and promoting •OH generation.","PeriodicalId":21833,"journal":{"name":"Separations","volume":" 18","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-11-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135286121","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Adsorption Properties and Mechanism of Copper Ions from Wastewater by Lessonia nigrescens and Lessonia nigrescens Residue","authors":"Haoran Chen, Rui Zhang, Xiaohan Qu, Yuan Yuan, Bo Zhu, Shichao Zhao, Tengyao Jiang","doi":"10.3390/separations10110559","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/separations10110559","url":null,"abstract":"Given the advantages of readily availability, low cost, convenient operation, and large adsorption capacity, brown seaweed has been studied extensively as a biosorbent for heavy metal remediation from aqueous media. Herein, raw Lessonia nigrescens and brown seaweed residue, a waste product from the manufacturing of alginate from L. nigrescens, were employed as low-cost and renewable adsorption materials for effective copper removal in wastewater streams. The influences of temperature, sample loadings, adsorption time, initial metal ion concentrations, and pH on the efficiency of the metal ions adsorption process were investigated. The thermodynamics and kinetics of Cu (II) adsorption for both the raw seaweed and seaweed residue were studied in order to determine the maximum removal efficiency and capacity. The characterization of the seaweed and seaweed residue before and after copper adsorption with SEM, FTIR, EDS, etc., coupled with the thermodynamics study, confirmed the ion exchange mechanism involved in the adsorption process. Under optimal conditions, the removal efficiencies were 75% and 71% for L. nigrescens and seaweed residue, respectively, and the adsorption capacities can reach 12.15 mg/g and 9.09 mg/g within 10 min for L. nigrescens and seaweed residue, respectively. The slight reduction in removal efficiency was because the active ion exchange sites were partially removed during the alginate extraction. The comparable metal ion removal efficiency between raw seaweed and seaweed residue suggesting the L. nigrescens residue is viable as bio-adsorbent and potential for industrial applications in adsorption process. The results provided a novel way to upgrade seaweed biomass in a biorefinery concept.","PeriodicalId":21833,"journal":{"name":"Separations","volume":"40 S25","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-11-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135725440","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}