Separation and Purification Technology最新文献

{"title":"Aqueous hydrotrope-based green extraction of alkaloids: insights into mechanism and experimentation with Coptis chinensis","authors":"Nhan Trong Le ,&nbsp;The-Huan Tran ,&nbsp;Vy Khanh Thi Nguyen,&nbsp;Tuong Cat Chau Mai,&nbsp;Hoai Thi Nguyen","doi":"10.1016/j.seppur.2026.137195","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.seppur.2026.137195","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The search for environmentally benign solvents has become a central task in natural product research, as conventional organic solvents remain problematic for both safety and sustainability. Hydrotropes (HTs) are emerging as an attractive alternative because they can significantly increase the aqueous solubility of poorly soluble compounds. This study explored the use of aqueous HT solutions for alkaloid recovery, exemplified by the case of <em>Coptis chinensis</em>. Initial screening highlighted sodium salicylate (SS) as a particularly effective solvent, affording higher yields of coptisine, palmatine, berberine, and total alkaloids than conventional or other green solvents. Through response surface methodology, the optimum conditions were identified (46.4% SS, liquid–solid ratio 26.7 mL/g, 21.8 min, 60 °C), under which the yields of coptisine, palmatine, berberine, and total alkaloids reached 1.85%, 1.39%, 8.97%, and 15.57%, respectively. Mechanistic analyses, combining electrostatic potential mapping, interaction region indicator plots, and molecular dynamics simulations, revealed that the strong performance of SS stems from cooperative anion–Cδ⁺ electrostatic interactions together with dispersion forces and weak hydrogen bonding. The extraction followed a second-order kinetic model (<em>E</em>_<em>a</em> = 26.14 kJ/mol), suggesting contributions from both dissolution and diffusion. Importantly, alkaloids were efficiently recovered with macroporous resins (best with HPD-400), and both SS and the resins could be reused for at least five cycles with negligible efficiency loss. Sustainability was further quantitatively assessed using the AGREEprep metric. Taken together, these findings establish aqueous SS as a practical, reusable, and environmentally responsible solvent system for sustainable alkaloid extraction, with mechanistic validation demonstrated for berberine.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":427,"journal":{"name":"Separation and Purification Technology","volume":"392 ","pages":"Article 137195"},"PeriodicalIF":9.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146153706","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Fabrication and properties of air filter materials with fluffy multi-scale micro/nano bimodal fibers via multi-nozzle solution blow spinning","authors":"Pengqi Shi ,&nbsp;Gaohui Fan ,&nbsp;Wanli Yue ,&nbsp;Yanru Bai ,&nbsp;Xu Zhao ,&nbsp;Hao Guo ,&nbsp;Qiaomei Zhang ,&nbsp;Bowei Liu ,&nbsp;Guorui Zhang ,&nbsp;Jingyi Sun ,&nbsp;Xuling Jin ,&nbsp;Baokang Yu ,&nbsp;Rongwu Wang ,&nbsp;Jianxin He","doi":"10.1016/j.seppur.2026.137183","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.seppur.2026.137183","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>To address the challenge of balancing high efficiency, low resistance, and long-term stability in fibrous filter materials, this study proposes an innovative parallel-integrated spinning strategy. By combining solution blow spinning and electrostatic solution blow spinning units in situ, a three-dimensional fluffy micro/nano-bimodal fiber composite filter material was successfully prepared in a single step. This method achieves the synchronous formation and uniform interweaving of a microfiber skeleton and a nanofiber filtration network, while allowing precise optimization of the material's pore size distribution and pore structure through adjustment of the spinning unit ratio. The results show that the prepared filter material exhibits a distinct bimodal fiber distribution, high porosity (&gt;92%), and strong hydrophobicity endowed by its micro-nano multi-scale rough structure. Among them, the filter prepared with a spinning unit ratio of 1 (WNfm1/1) demonstrates the optimal initial comprehensive filtration performance (99.648 ± 0.36% efficiency, quality factor of 0.03646 ± 0.0002 Pa⁻¹). In contrast, the filter prepared with a spinning unit ratio of 2 (WNfm2/1), benefiting from its more open pore structure, exhibits higher dust-holding capacity (29.54 g/m²), longer service life (34 days), and excellent stability in long-term tests, revealing the balance between initial efficiency and long-term, low-resistance operation. Combined with microstructural evolution observations and numerical simulations, the research elucidates the synergistic mechanism of micro- and nanofibers in depth filtration. The material also possesses good mechanical resilience and thermal stability. This work provides a novel preparation strategy and theoretical foundation for the development of high-performance and sustainable air filter materials.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":427,"journal":{"name":"Separation and Purification Technology","volume":"392 ","pages":"Article 137183"},"PeriodicalIF":9.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146153363","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Interchain hydrogen bonding in one-dimensional benzimidazolone-based covalent organic frameworks: charge modulation for improved gold recovery efficiency","authors":"Zhen-Wen Zhang ,&nbsp;Cheng-Peng Niu ,&nbsp;Sai-Jin Xiao ,&nbsp;Hao-Xuan He ,&nbsp;Qiang Shi ,&nbsp;Zhi-Hao Xue ,&nbsp;Bin Lin ,&nbsp;Ru-Ping Liang ,&nbsp;Li Zhang ,&nbsp;Jian-Ding Qiu","doi":"10.1016/j.seppur.2026.137144","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.seppur.2026.137144","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>One-dimensional covalent organic frameworks (1D COFs), as linear crystalline porous polymers, are highly promising materials for gold recovery due to their exceptional atomic utilization efficiency and fully exposed active sites. However, their development for gold adsorption is constrained by the lack of gold-specific organic building blocks and limited electronic regulation strategies. Herein, we introduce benzoimidazolone units into 1D COFs and design interchain hydrogen bond through molecular engineering to rationally modulate their charge distribution. The constructed 1D COF, featuring improved crystallinity/stability, enriched recognition sites, and enhanced protonation capability, demonstrates superior performance in gold recovery with rapid kinetics, excellent selectivity and a high adsorption capacity of 2900.56 mg g⁻¹. Theoretical calculations reveal the multiple and synergistic interactions between benzimidazolone and AuCl₄⁻, and elucidate the effect of hydrogen bonding on electron redistribution/transfer towards benzimidazolone, thereby promoting its protonation and significantly enhancing the adsorption and reduction capabilities for gold. This work highlights the significance of hydrogen bonding on charge modulation and develops a benzimidazolone-based 1D COFs for efficient gold recycling from electronic waste.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":427,"journal":{"name":"Separation and Purification Technology","volume":"392 ","pages":"Article 137144"},"PeriodicalIF":9.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146110310","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Upcycled PET carbon dots build an S-scheme Fe2O3 heterojunction photocatalyst for visible-light degradation of tetracycline","authors":"Pandi Kalimuthu ,&nbsp;Gopi Kalaiyarasan ,&nbsp;Jinho Jung ,&nbsp;Diwakar Tiwari","doi":"10.1016/j.seppur.2026.137122","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.seppur.2026.137122","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Polyethylene terephthalate-derived carbon dots (PET-CDs) were interfaced with iron oxide (Fe₂O₃) to develop a visible-light PET-CDs/Fe₂O₃ photocatalyst for tetracycline (TC) removal. Waste PET bottles were upcycled via a peroxide-free route, enabling oxidant-free operation. The photocatalyst forms a defect-rich, mesoporous carbon-dot network with uniformly dispersed Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles, enhancing adsorption and interfacial charge transport. This study demonstrates efficient TC removal at a relatively high initial concentration (<em>C₀</em> = 100 mg L⁻¹) under visible-light (λ &gt; 420 nm) without added oxidants. The optimized PET-CDs/Fe₂O₃ (0.4) reaches 98.2% TC removal. Kinetics follow a pseudo-first-order model, and blank tests confirm negligible photolysis and dark adsorption. The TOC and LC-MS results show rapid degradation followed by slower oxidation. Mineralization is substantial, with TOC decreasing from 100 to 34 mg L⁻¹ at 4 h and reaching 89.6% removal at 10 h. The PET-CDs/Fe₂O₃ photocatalyst operates across pH 3–11. Phosphate reduces activity by competitive site blocking. At least 80% efficiency is retained over repeated cycles. Convergent evidence supports an S-scheme pathway rather than a type-II junction. DRS-Tauc analysis and band alignment indicate favorable energetic offsets and interfacial band bending. Steady-state PL shows selective quenching of PET-CDs emission with enhanced red Fe₂O₃ or interfacial emission. Transient photocurrent and EIS Nyquist plots reveal enhanced charge separation and reduced charge-transfer resistance. Scavenger tests and ESR identify h⁺ and •O₂⁻ as dominant species, with •OH secondary. LC-MS tracking shows early functional-group loss products at <em>m</em>/<em>z</em> 417 and 402, followed by lower-mass fragments (m/z 301–231 and 189–72), confirming stepwise oxidation toward mineralization.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":427,"journal":{"name":"Separation and Purification Technology","volume":"392 ","pages":"Article 137122"},"PeriodicalIF":9.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146101347","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Organic acid tailors anhydrous magnesium carbonate: DFT-guided dehydration mechanism and morphology engineering","authors":"Yahui Feng ,&nbsp;Jiajun Xu ,&nbsp;Jie Xu ,&nbsp;Li Gao ,&nbsp;Bingxin Liu ,&nbsp;Chao Zhang ,&nbsp;Shiai Xu ,&nbsp;Yunhua Lu","doi":"10.1016/j.seppur.2026.137211","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.seppur.2026.137211","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Mineral carbonation into Anhydrous Magnesium Carbonate (AMC) is a promising pathway for permanent CO₂ storage, yet the strong hydration of Mg²⁺ hinders its precipitation under mild conditions. To overcome this limitation, organic acids (<span>l</span>-ascorbic acid (LA), citric acid (CA), malic acid (MA), and tartaric acid (TA)) are employed as dual-functional agents: carbon sources and hydration disruptors. Through combined density functional theory (DFT) calculations and experimental validation, it is revealed that organic acids weaken the hydration shell of [Mg(H₂O)₆]²⁺ by forming stable coordination bonds with Mg²⁺, significantly reducing the dehydration energy barrier (e.g., ΔG^‡₆-₅ decreased from 180.53 kJ/mol in H₂O to 76.71 kJ/mol for LA). Systematic hydrothermal synthesis demonstrates that LA enables high-purity AMC formation at 450 K, the widest temperature window among the tested acids. At the same time, TA requires ≥525 K. Crucially, each acid directs distinct AMC morphologies, hydrangea-like (LA), cubic (CA), layered (MA), and block-like (TA), attributed to site-specific adsorption on crystal surfaces. This work provides a molecular-level blueprint for overcoming the dehydration barrier in AMC synthesis and advances strategies for accelerating sustainable CO₂ mineralization.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":427,"journal":{"name":"Separation and Purification Technology","volume":"392 ","pages":"Article 137211"},"PeriodicalIF":9.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146172229","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Construction of hydrophilic PDMS/PEI gutter layer to fabricate ultrathin Pebax membrane for CO2 capture","authors":"Danjiao Shi,&nbsp;Kai Cheng,&nbsp;Meng Guo,&nbsp;Rong Xu,&nbsp;Tiandan Lu,&nbsp;Dongliang Jin,&nbsp;Shengshen Gu,&nbsp;Yang Pan,&nbsp;Jing Zhong","doi":"10.1016/j.seppur.2026.137170","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.seppur.2026.137170","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) is extensively utilized as a gutter layer in thin-film composite membranes (TFC) owing to its exceptional gas permeability and mechanical robustness. However, the hydrophilic modification of PDMS is necessary to ensure the uniform coating of selective layer materials containing polar groups on the hydrophobic PDMS gutter layer surface. Conventional hydrophilic treatment such as plasma treatment or UV irradiation produces transient Si-OH groups but require controlled atmosphere or chemical grafting to maintain sustained hydrophilicity. To address these challenges, the inverted interfacial polymerization (IP) process (aqueous phase upper/organic phase down) was designed to construct the PDMS-polyethyleneimine (PEI) interpenetration network (IPN), so as called IP-IPN strategy. The anchored PEI segments endowed PDMS surface with superior hydrophilicity as the water contact angle decreased from 110^o to 67^o and the hydrophilicity was retained over 7 days. The introduction of glycerol as the thickener contributed significantly to tuning the PEI-TMC crosslinking process and improved the gas permeance effectively. The hydrophilic-modified PDMS membrane retained 87.9% of its original CO₂ permeance (9100 GPU). The permeance decline rate was much smaller than plasma treatment and UV irradiation which usually generate dense SiO_x layer. When integrated with an ultrathin Pebax selective layer (∼30 nm), the composite membrane exhibited exceptional CO₂/N₂ separation performance (CO₂ permeance: 2300 GPU; CO₂/N₂ selectivity: 31.5). This work offered a feasible pathway to achieve hydrophilic-modification of PDMS gutter layer, showing great potential in developing highly permeable membrane for efficient CO₂ capture.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":427,"journal":{"name":"Separation and Purification Technology","volume":"392 ","pages":"Article 137170"},"PeriodicalIF":9.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146172393","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The improvement of selective removal of nitrate using reactive cationic surfactant modified activated carbon in capacitive deionization","authors":"Yubo Zhao ,&nbsp;Yingyun Li ,&nbsp;Xiaofei Liu ,&nbsp;Silu Huo ,&nbsp;Jinfeng Fang ,&nbsp;Rupeng Liu ,&nbsp;Cuizhen Sun ,&nbsp;Linxu Xu ,&nbsp;Xue Shen ,&nbsp;Shuying Geng ,&nbsp;Jin Wang ,&nbsp;Kexun Li","doi":"10.1016/j.seppur.2026.137188","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.seppur.2026.137188","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Nitrate (NO₃⁻) pollution in aquatic environments is a global problem of increasing concern. Capacitive deionization (CDI) exhibits remarkable potential for NO₃⁻ removal due to its advantages of cost-effectiveness and environmental benignity. However, traditional activated carbon (AC) suffers from low electrosorption capacity and poor NO₃⁻ selectivity in the presence of coexisting anions (e.g., Cl⁻). To address this challenge, this study proposes a new surface functionalization strategy using the reactive cationic surfactant. 3-chloro-2-hydroxypropyltrimethylammonium chloride (CHPTAC) was used as the representative to modify AC via covalent grafting, yielding RCS-functionalized AC (RCS-AC). Multiple material characterizations confirmed the successful incorporation of CHPTAC-derived groups onto the surface of AC, which not only reversed the inherent negative surface potential of AC but also notably improved its surface hydrophilicity. CDI experiments demonstrated that the covalent modification endowed RCS-AC with superior electrosorption performance compared to pristine AC while maintaining exceptional cyclic stability. In the single-component experiments, RCS-AC achieved a maximum NO₃⁻ adsorption capacity of 20.58 mg/g at 1.8 V according to Langmuir isotherm model. A high NO₃⁻/Cl⁻ selectivity coefficient of 5.75 was also obtained for RCS-AC at 0.8 V and retained at 2.47 upon voltage elevation to 1.8 V in the brine-component experiments, in contrast to the non-selective behavior of pristine AC. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations revealed that the enhanced adsorption and selective recognition of RCS-AC for NO₃⁻ was related to the multi-dimensional specific interactions between CHPTAC-derived groups and NO₃⁻, including strengthened electrostatic attraction, directional hydrogen bonding, and partial covalent interaction. This work offers a simple yet stable approach to enhance NO₃⁻ selectivity via RCS modification and provide experimental evidence for adaptability of RCS-AC in competitive ion environments.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":427,"journal":{"name":"Separation and Purification Technology","volume":"392 ","pages":"Article 137188"},"PeriodicalIF":9.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146172383","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Programmable hourglass nanochannels in thermally rearranged copolyimides for advanced gas separation","authors":"Haodi Wang ,&nbsp;Yu Zhang ,&nbsp;Hesheng Li ,&nbsp;Shuangjiang Luo ,&nbsp;Xin Wei","doi":"10.1016/j.seppur.2026.137141","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.seppur.2026.137141","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>A central challenge in developing thermally rearranged (TR) polymer membranes lies in navigating the complex interplay between polymer structure and performance, where achieving a synergistic combination of high gas permeability, selectivity, and mechanical strength through precursor design is non-trivial. To overcome this limitation, we designed a series of copolyimide precursors from 4,4′-(hexafluoroisopropylidene)diphthalic anhydride (6FDA), a bulky diamine (TFDB), and ortho-functionalized diamines with varied bridging units (p-HAB, BAS, 6FAP). We demonstrate that the synergistic combination of rigid, bulky segments and ortho-functional groups guides the formation of a unique “hourglass-shaped” multi-modal pore architecture upon thermal rearrangement, as directly evidenced by positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy (PALS). This tailored nanostructure serves as molecular highways, concurrently enhancing gas transport pathways and molecular sieving capability. The resulting TR membrane (CoHPI-6FAP-450) thus achieves an exceptional combination of a CO₂ permeability of ∼8000 Barrer and a CO₂/CH₄ selectivity of 22, surpassing the 2008 Robeson upper bound, while retaining a robust mechanical strength (&gt;60 MPa). This work provides a definitive precursor design strategy for engineering multi-modal pore architectures, paving the way for high-performance TR membranes that reconcile the critical balance between separation performance and mechanical integrity.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":427,"journal":{"name":"Separation and Purification Technology","volume":"392 ","pages":"Article 137141"},"PeriodicalIF":9.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146172514","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Enriching trace protein peptides from extract liquid with foaming deep eutectic solvent (FDES)-loaded effervescent discs","authors":"Xinlu Li ,&nbsp;Yong Cao ,&nbsp;Jie Tang ,&nbsp;Yihan Zhao ,&nbsp;Subhan Mahmood ,&nbsp;Shun Yao","doi":"10.1016/j.seppur.2026.137181","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.seppur.2026.137181","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Snake shedding skin (snake molt) exhibits good potential for nutritional and functional applications, yet current methods for sustainable and efficient extraction of protein peptides from such an animal raw material are relatively limited. Herein, we reported novel foaming deep eutectic solvents (FDES) loaded effervescent discs for enriching target protein peptides in hydrolyzed extract of snake molt. Two kinds of natural sweeteners were used in the FDESs, which played an important role on foam stabilization and endowed FDESs with higher biocompatibility. After comprehensive characterizations, the discs exhibited good properties and expected forming performance. Under the ideal conditions, the effervescent discs enriched 91.40% protein peptides within 4 min, which was much higher than the alcohol precipitation method (40.12% within 3 d) and the aqueous two-phase system (80.67% within 1 h). Green assessment and scale-up experiments were also carried out for possible actual applications. Finally, the enriched product was analyzed by comprehensive physicochemical characterizations confirmed structural integrity and performance. The developed method offers a rapid, sustainable approach for obtaining peptides from natural products.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":427,"journal":{"name":"Separation and Purification Technology","volume":"392 ","pages":"Article 137181"},"PeriodicalIF":9.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146135565","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Nanoporous fibrous 3D solar evaporator for efficient freshwater generation and salt recovery","authors":"Mojtaba Ebrahimian Mashhadi,&nbsp;Md. Mehadi Hassan,&nbsp;Ningxin Chen,&nbsp;Ruijie Yang,&nbsp;Qingye Lu","doi":"10.1016/j.seppur.2026.137162","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.seppur.2026.137162","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Solar-driven interfacial evaporators (SDIEs) have advanced sustainable desalination by enabling freshwater production and salt harvesting from brines. Here, electrospun cellulose acetate (CA) films with aligned nanoporous fibers are rolled into a 3D cylinder and partially coated with a carbon black/poly(vinyl alcohol) (CB/PVA) photothermal layer to create an environmentally-friendly SDIE for concurrent desalination and salt recovery. The evaporator achieves a high evaporation rate of 4.44 kg m⁻² h⁻¹ under 1 sun, corresponding to a photothermal conversion efficiency of 107.3% based on equivalent evaporation enthalpy. This performance is ascribed to reduced vaporization enthalpy from material-water interactions and nanoporous structures, along with cold evaporation-induced environmental energy harvesting. Under 1 sun, the SDIE stably treats brines of 3.5–20 wt% salinity with edge-preferential salt crystallization due to its fibrous microporous architecture. This feature allows gravity-assisted salt collection and durable function in 10 wt% NaCl for 10 days, maintaining average steam generation and salt harvesting rates of 4.71 kg m⁻² h⁻¹ and 3.21 kg m⁻² day⁻¹, respectively. Condensed waters from 3.5 wt% NaCl and simulated seawater exhibit high purity with significantly lower conductivities. The outdoor experiment also reveals the stable performance of the SDIE under actual conditions. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation further validates edge-preferential salt aggregation. This innovative device offers a promising route for simultaneous freshwater and salt collection from brines.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":427,"journal":{"name":"Separation and Purification Technology","volume":"392 ","pages":"Article 137162"},"PeriodicalIF":9.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146135574","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}