Separation and Purification Technology最新文献

{"title":"Excellent sieving separation of methanol from water and ethanol by ultramicroporous molecular-sieving UTSA-280 and cage-like Cu-Tria","authors":"Xiaoqing Zheng ,&nbsp;Fahui Xiang ,&nbsp;Hongyu Lin ,&nbsp;Lei He ,&nbsp;Shengchang Xiang ,&nbsp;Zhangjing Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.seppur.2026.137142","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.seppur.2026.137142","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>High-purity methanol is in high global demand due to its critical role in chemical synthesis and energy production. However efficiently separating methanol from the impurities such as water and ethanol with low energy consumption remains a key challenge. Here two ultramicroporous MOFs (molecular-sieving UTSA-280 and cage-like Cu-Tria) are investigated for methanol purification. The results show excellent water/methanol separation performance in both MOFs. But in a single adsorption cycle from a 16/84 water/methanol mixture, Cu-Tria achieved a markedly higher methanol productivity of 23.24 mmol/g (98% purity) than that of UTSA-280 (3.63 mmol/g) with a higher water/methanol separation factor of 46.00. Moreover, methanol/ethanol mixture can be separated only by Cu-Tria, benefiting from the enhancing sieving effect of the cage-window structure. Adsorption enthalpies, diffusional time constants measurements and grand canonical Monte Carlo (GCMC) simulations demonstrate that the selective separation of water/methanol mixture in UTSA-280 is mainly ascribed to the kinetic mechanism by the faster transport of water over methanol in the confined channels. But the balance between high water adsorption capacity and high water/methanol separation selectivity in Cu-Tria is achieved by the synergistic effect of thermodynamic and kinetic mechanisms originating from its cage-window structure.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":427,"journal":{"name":"Separation and Purification Technology","volume":"392 ","pages":"Article 137142"},"PeriodicalIF":9.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146172430","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":"Fractionation of guaiacyl and syringyl- lignin units using organic solvent nanofiltration","authors":"Tim Croes ,&nbsp;Abhishek Dutta ,&nbsp;Korneel Van Aelst ,&nbsp;Bert Sels ,&nbsp;Bart Van der Bruggen ,&nbsp;Iris Cornet","doi":"10.1016/j.seppur.2026.137099","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.seppur.2026.137099","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>A major obstacle to employing the full potential of lignin-based aromatics is the fractionation of the monomers present in lignin, specifically the separation of guaiacyl (G) and syringyl (S) units, which possess nearly identical molecular weights (196 Da versus 166 Da) and dimensions, and identical functional groups. Such similarities make their separation highly challenging using conventional techniques and are generally considered beyond the capabilities of size-based membrane processes. This study examines the feasibility of organic solvent nanofiltration for fractionation of guaiacyl and syringyl units, and how membrane and process parameters affect separation of these two molecules. Sixteen commercially available membranes were tested with methanol and ethyl acetate as solvents. The results demonstrate that, despite the extreme similarity of the solutes, selective separation is achievable and is primarily governed by membrane material and solvent selection rather than the pore size-based molecular weight cut-off. Polyimide-based solvent-resistant membranes exhibited the highest selectivity, with a maximum observed separation factor of 3.33 obtained using a DuraMem™ 500 membrane in methanol. These findings demonstrate the potential of nanofiltration to address previously unresolved separation challenges in lignin valorization and provide a basis for further process development.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":427,"journal":{"name":"Separation and Purification Technology","volume":"392 ","pages":"Article 137099"},"PeriodicalIF":9.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146172429","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":"Capacitive deionization based on Ti2P2O9: symmetrical electrode and synergistic removal mechanism of thallium and fluoride","authors":"Yupeng Li,&nbsp;Lei Huang,&nbsp;Zhu Xiong,&nbsp;Gaosheng Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.seppur.2026.137151","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.seppur.2026.137151","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Electroplating and mining wastewater contain important pollutants such as thallium and fluoride. Capacitive deionization technology is the current cutting-edge technology for treatment. This study prepares titanium-based phosphate crystal material Ti₂P₂O₉ using the hydrothermal method, and the material particles exhibit a spherical morphology. Ti, P, and O elements are uniformly distributed on the material surface, with a specific surface area of 87.94 m²/g and capacitance of 30.54 F/g. The material demonstrates efficient removal of Tl(I) under different pH conditions and achieves efficient removal of fluoride ions in strong acidic environments. The maximum adsorption capacity of Ti₂P₂O₉ for thallium under neutral conditions, as determined from the Langmuir isotherm adsorption curve fitting results, is 526.96 mg/g, and the maximum adsorption capacity for fluoride under acidic conditions is 51.27 mg/g. The material exhibits excellent regenerative performance, achieving regeneration effects of 90.4% and 69.9% for the removal of thallium and fluoride ions, respectively, after multiple regenerations under electrochemical methods. After DFT simulation calculation, the energy barriers are ordered from high to low as: Ti₂P₂O₉-F, Ti₂P₂O₉-HF, Ti₂P₂O₉-Tl. This paper investigates the efficiency of this material for capacitive deionization in removing thallium and fluoride pollution under multi-factor conditions. The micro-mechanisms of the material during electroadsorption are discussed, that combined with theoretical calculations. It provides guidance for research on electroadsorption-assisted pollutant removal.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":427,"journal":{"name":"Separation and Purification Technology","volume":"392 ","pages":"Article 137151"},"PeriodicalIF":9.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146172418","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":"Synthesis of porous perovskite by a biological template method for catalytic partial oxidation of methane based on heat recirculation","authors":"Huaming Dai,&nbsp;Yang Xiao,&nbsp;Yi Yang","doi":"10.1016/j.seppur.2026.137153","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.seppur.2026.137153","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The catalytic partial oxidation of methane represents a safe and efficient route to syngas production. In this study, the perovskite catalysts doped with A/B-site elements were prepared via the citric acid sol-gel method using rapeseed pollen and straw as plant templates. Then they were loaded onto a composite porous media burner to investigate their activity regulation mechanism and the combination structure's impact on the partial oxidation of methane. Results indicate that the plant-template method effectively regulates the catalysts' microstructure and surface chemistry, thereby enhancing their activity. Notably, the Ce0.2-P3 catalyst doped with 3 g rapeseed pollen exhibited the largest specific surface area (12.81 m²/g) and optimal performance, achieving the highest methane conversion (98.53%) and a 17.8% increase in preheating efficiency over the undoped catalyst. Furthermore, the B-site-defective LCC-B0.8 catalyst, yielding syngas with a higher hydrogen content (12.6%), attained the maximum energy conversion efficiency (52.97%) while reducing the preheating time to 675 s. The integration of this optimized catalyst with a combined porous burner structure significantly promoted the methane partial oxidation efficiency and syngas yield through enhanced heat transfer and energy coupling. These results provide crucial theoretical and practical insights for designing high-performance catalysts and optimizing burner structures toward efficient and stable methane-based hydrogen production.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":427,"journal":{"name":"Separation and Purification Technology","volume":"392 ","pages":"Article 137153"},"PeriodicalIF":9.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146115824","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":"Recent progress in separation strategies for upgrading bio-oil: mechanisms, challenges and a way forward","authors":"Akhil Mohan ,&nbsp;Åsa Emmer ,&nbsp;Klas Engvall ,&nbsp;Mats Jonsson","doi":"10.1016/j.seppur.2026.137146","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.seppur.2026.137146","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Due to the presence of high content of oxygenated compounds (aldehydes, alcohols, carboxylic acids, esters, ethers, furfurals, ketones, lignin-derived compounds, phenols, and sugars), bio-oil has inferior oil properties compared to petroleum-derived oils. This creates numerous technological challenges in downstream separation processes. The present study outlines recent research trends on various separation strategies for upgrading crude biogenic pyrolysis oil for the production of valuable commodities. The present study mainly focuses on the various separation strategies, such as column chromatography, distillation, membrane filtration, crystallization, solvent extraction, electrosorption, and fractional condensation with respect to principles of operation, efficiency, economy and environmental concerns. Phase separation using solvent and adsorbent was found to be the best separation strategy compared to others due to lower capital investment and energy expenditure. However, there are various technological challenges with separation strategies for scale-up in industries. A comparative analysis of various separation strategies with the application of various bio-oil fractions from aqueous phases of bio-oil is summarized to understand the possible pathways for utilization in various industries. A brief section on technoeconomic analysis with existing pilot and semi-pilot pyrolysis plants is presented to understand the economic feasibility of pyrolysis and upgrading strategies. In the end, a circular economy perspective of pyrolysis-separation and its integration with a machine learning model, are briefly outlined.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":427,"journal":{"name":"Separation and Purification Technology","volume":"392 ","pages":"Article 137146"},"PeriodicalIF":9.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146115827","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":"Unveiling the potential of plasmonic Ag/AgCl@Bi-MXene photocatalysts for selective NO removal","authors":"Mohsen Padervand ,&nbsp;Shahnaz Ghasemi ,&nbsp;Ali Abdollahi ,&nbsp;Hui Wang ,&nbsp;Wei Shuwei ,&nbsp;Elham Abdollahzadeh Sharghi ,&nbsp;Mohammadreza Elahifard ,&nbsp;Abdelkader Labidi ,&nbsp;Elmuez Dawi ,&nbsp;Michela Signoretto ,&nbsp;Chuanyi Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.seppur.2026.136921","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.seppur.2026.136921","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>MXene-based photocatalysts have demonstrated excellent potential for the selective conversion of hazardous nitric oxide (NO). In this work, Ag/AgCl@Bi–MXene nanocomposites were successfully synthesized using a dual-etching-assisted strategy and systematically implemented for the photocatalytic NO removal. Characterization results confirmed the successful anchoring of Ag/AgCl nanoparticles and Bi incorporation onto MXene nanosheets, resulting in enhanced crystallinity and strong interfacial interactions. The photoluminescence (PL) and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) studies demonstrated suppressed charge recombination and surface defect states. Ag/AgCl nanoparticles on Mxene sheets can promote the formation of hot electrons and plasmonic effects, thereby favorably influencing the optical response. The optimized Ag/AgCl@Bi–MXene construction displayed 65.2% of NO removal in 10 min, substantially higher than Bi–MXene (38.6%), Ag/AgCl@MXene (51.4%), and pristine MXene (22.3%). Notably, NO₂ byproduct formation remained below 10 ppb, ensuring high selectivity. Quenching and electron spin resonance (ESR) experiments identified photogenerated electrons and O₂^•- radicals as the dominant reactive species, supported by in-situ diffuse reflectance infrared fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS). Complementary density functional theory (DFT) calculations revealed bandgap alteration, an increased density of states near the Fermi level, and metallic-like behavior induced by Bi and Ag/AgCl, which corroborates the dual plasmonic enhancement and efficient ohmic contact at the Bi–MXene/AgCl interface. These synergistic effects collectively enable superior charge separation, directional electron transport, and light harvesting, establishing Ag/AgCl@Bi–MXene as a promising photocatalyst for light-driven NO abatement.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":427,"journal":{"name":"Separation and Purification Technology","volume":"392 ","pages":"Article 136921"},"PeriodicalIF":9.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146135569","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":"Highly efficient degradation of tetracycline in water using low-cost pyrite activated periodate: Performance and mechanisms insight","authors":"Shensi Ma ,&nbsp;Chengyi Zhang ,&nbsp;Qinghao Wu ,&nbsp;Fanxu Meng ,&nbsp;Yuanfeng Liu ,&nbsp;Huan Liu ,&nbsp;Ruixue Zhao ,&nbsp;Xiaoqi Sun ,&nbsp;Zihan Zhong ,&nbsp;Wuerkaixi Maimuli ,&nbsp;Lingxi Xia ,&nbsp;Huifang Sun ,&nbsp;Kuichang Zuo","doi":"10.1016/j.seppur.2026.137172","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.seppur.2026.137172","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The ubiquitous contamination of aquatic systems by antibiotics necessitates effective remediation strategies. Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) utilizing periodate (PI) show great potential, yet the development of efficient and economical activators remains imperative to harness this technology. In this study, we employed pyrite (FeS₂), an abundant and low-cost natural mineral, as an activator for PI to establish a highly efficient heterogenous AOPs system. The FeS₂/PI system achieved rapid degradation of tetracycline (TC), with an observed rate constant <em>k</em>_<em>obs</em> of 0.465 min⁻¹. Remarkably, the system maintained high performance across diverse water matrixes, including high ionic strength, various coexisting anions, a broad pH range, the presence of humic acid, and in natural water. Moreover, the FeS₂/PI system demonstrated versatility in degrading other organic contaminants, exhibiting selectivity towards electron-rich organic compounds. •OH, IO₃•, ¹O₂ and Fe(IV) were identified as the primary reactive species responsible for TC degradation, with electron transfer processes also contributing to the oxidation. Additionally, a catalytic mechanism centered on Fe(II)/Fe(III) redox cycle was proposed and Fe site on the (100) plane of FeS₂ was identified as the dominant reactive center for PI adsorption and subsequent activation. Possible degradation pathways of TC were proposed, and ecotoxicity assessments indicated a notable toxicity attenuation among the intermediates. This work not only underscores the potential of FeS₂ as a cost-effective catalyst for antibiotics remediation but also provides a comprehensive and practical foundation for the application of FeS₂/PI system in real-world water treatment.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":427,"journal":{"name":"Separation and Purification Technology","volume":"392 ","pages":"Article 137172"},"PeriodicalIF":9.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146146016","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":"Surface hydroxyl-engineered lanthanum ferrite via solution combustion synthesis for efficient phosphate removal and recovery","authors":"Zhiguo Lin ,&nbsp;Jinwei Wang ,&nbsp;Yaling Dai ,&nbsp;Chen He ,&nbsp;Linxin Zhao ,&nbsp;Fengzhi Jiang ,&nbsp;Xia Luo ,&nbsp;Siping Ji ,&nbsp;Haijiao Xie ,&nbsp;Xiangjun Yang","doi":"10.1016/j.seppur.2026.137197","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.seppur.2026.137197","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Precise control over surface functional groups, especially hydroxyl groups, is crucial for designing high-performance adsorbents but remains challenging. This study presents a straightforward strategy to tailor this key property in the one-step synthesis of lanthanum ferrite (LaFeO₃). By employing solution combustion synthesis and precisely tuning the fuel-to-oxidizer ratio (<em>ϕ</em>) via adjusting the citric acid dosage, we directly regulated the surface hydroxyl content of LaFeO₃. This tailored hydroxyl content, rather than traditional textural properties, was identified as the primary determinant of phosphate adsorption performance. The optimally synthesized adsorbent (LaFe-1.0, <em>ϕ</em> = 1.0) achieved a high Langmuir adsorption capacity of 88.10 mg/g, exhibited strong resistance to interference from common coexisting ions, and demonstrated excellent regenerability with a cumulative uptake of 197.65 mg/g over ten cycles. Phosphate was efficiently recovered as calcium phosphate precipitate. Mechanistically, ligand exchange with these tailored hydroxyl groups was identified as the dominant adsorption mechanism. This work establishes <em>ϕ</em> as a fundamental synthetic parameter and provides a novel paradigm for engineering adsorbents through targeted surface chemistry control.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":427,"journal":{"name":"Separation and Purification Technology","volume":"392 ","pages":"Article 137197"},"PeriodicalIF":9.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146153691","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":"Electrode-free microwave discharge catalysis: Carbon cloth fibers-Ni@CNTs for efficient and sustainable reactive red 2 degradation","authors":"Jingzhe Zhang ,&nbsp;Guodong Yang ,&nbsp;Kenian Zhou ,&nbsp;Hongzhang He ,&nbsp;Zhihua Zhang ,&nbsp;Shaowei Zhang ,&nbsp;Yanan Wang ,&nbsp;Faliang Li ,&nbsp;Haijun Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.seppur.2026.137199","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.seppur.2026.137199","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Overcoming electrode corrosion and limited active sites in conventional microwave discharge systems remains a key challenge. Herein, we developed a groundbreaking electrode-free microwave induced discharge degradation method using a carbon cloth fiber-Ni@carbon nanotubes (CF-Ni@CNTs) catalyst for the efficient removal of azo dye Reactive Red 2 (RR2). This catalyst is ingeniously constructed via in-situ growth, where Ni nanoparticles, encapsulated within the CNTs, serve dual functions: catalyzing CNT formation and, crucially, acting as the discharge “electrode” without leaching, thereby eliminating metal pollution. The unique architecture, featuring abundant conductive CNT nano-tips on flexible carbon fibers, creates a “lightning rod” effect that intensely focuses microwave energy, generating powerful localized discharges and prolific hydroxyl radicals. Consequently, this system achieved complete degradation of RR2 (100 mg⋅L⁻¹) with 77.19% total organic carbon mineralization within 75 min at a neutral condition. Remarkably, the CF-Ni@CNTs catalyst exhibits exceptional stability, retaining 98.31% removal efficiency after even 20 cycles. This work establishes an electrode-free and energy-concentrating microwave induced discharge strategy, offering a sustainable and efficient solution for wastewater remediation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":427,"journal":{"name":"Separation and Purification Technology","volume":"392 ","pages":"Article 137199"},"PeriodicalIF":9.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146172231","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":"AI-driven machine learning and experimental optimization for sustainable solar distillers using recycled stainless-steel shavings-enhanced PCM and ag-NPs-coated recycled cans","authors":"K. Harby ,&nbsp;Hamada Mohamed Abdelmotalib ,&nbsp;Mohamed Abdelgaied ,&nbsp;Majdi Amin ,&nbsp;Hassan M. Hussein Farh ,&nbsp;Abdullrahman A. Al-Shamma'a","doi":"10.1016/j.seppur.2026.137158","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.seppur.2026.137158","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Enhancing solar still productivity while maintaining low cost and sustainability represents a primary challenge, especially for water-scarce and remote areas. This study presents an experimental and AI-based optimization approach for promoting the performance of hemispherical solar distillers using recycled stainless-steel shavings and recycled cans. The proposed modifications aim to utilize low-cost recycled materials to improve thermal storage, increase the heat transfer area, and extend daily production periods. Three innovative combined cases were investigated. In Case 1, silver nanoparticle-coated recycled tuna cans were used. In Case 2, the same recycled cans were filled with recycled stainless-steel shavings. In Case 3, a phase change material (PCM) was added along with stainless-steel shavings (20% wt.). Comparative tests against a traditional hemispherical solar distiller (THSD) demonstrated substantial productivity gains: 22.5%, 89.0%, and 123.0% improvements in water yield for Cases 1, 2, and 3, respectively with increases in thermal and exergy efficiencies of 22.31–121.03% and by 48.55%–332.94%, respectively. The cost reduction reached up to 106.0%, with shortened payback periods of 15.6–86.4%, while, CO₂ emissions decreased by 24.0–149.2%. Machine-learning models were developed to complement the experimental analysis, achieving high predictive accuracy with R² of 0.977, RMSE of 60.1, and MAE of 52.3, confirming reliable optimization performance. The integration of recycled stainless-steel shavings and cans with AI-driven design and optimization demonstrates a sustainable, efficient, and economically viable pathway for advancing solar distillation technologies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":427,"journal":{"name":"Separation and Purification Technology","volume":"392 ","pages":"Article 137158"},"PeriodicalIF":9.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146172392","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}