The use of carbon nanomaterials in membrane distillation membranes: a review

Membrane distillation (MD) is a thermal-based separation technique with the potential to treat a wide range of water types for various applications and industries. Certain challenges remain however, which prevent it from becoming commercially widespread including moderate permeate flux, decline in separation performance over time due to pore wetting and high thermal energy requirements. Nevertheless, its attractive characteristics such as high rejection (ca. 100%) of non-volatile species, its ability to treat highly saline solutions under low operating pressures (typically atmospheric) as well as its ability to operate at low temperatures, enabling waste-heat integration, continue to drive research interests globally. Of particular interest is the class of carbon-based nanomaterials which includes graphene and carbon nanotubes, whose wide range of properties have been exploited in an attempt to overcome the technical challenges that MD faces. These low dimensional materials exhibit properties such as high specific surface area, high strength, tuneable hydrophobicity, enhanced vapour transport, high thermal and electrical conductivity and others. Their use in MD has resulted in improved membrane performance characteristics like increased permeability and reduced fouling propensity. They have also enabled novel membrane capabilities such as in-situ fouling detection and localised heat generation. In this review we provide a brief introduction to MD and describe key membrane characteristics and fabrication methods. We then give an account of the various uses of carbon nanomaterials for MD applications, focussing on polymeric membrane systems. Future research directions based on the findings are also suggested.     

Pore-level numerical simulation of methane-air combustion in a simplified two-layer porous burner

A simplified two-dimensional model of two-layer porous burner based on pore level is developed.The heat transfer of solid phase in porous burner is seen as the synergistic effects of conduction through con-necting bridges and surface radiation between the solid particles in the model.A numerical simulation study on the characteristics of flow,combustion and heat transfer in the two-layer porous burner is car-ried out using the pore level model,and the effects of the control parameters such as the inlet velocity and solid thermal conductivity on thermal non-equilibrium are investigated.The results show that the flame structure is highly two-dimensional based on pore level.Obvious thermal non-equilibrium in the burner for the two phases and solid phase are observed,the largest temperature difference between the gas and solid phases is observed in combustion zone,while the temperature difference inside the solid particles is largest near the flame front.The results also reveal that thermal non-equilibrium of por-ous burner is much affected by the inlet velocity and solid thermal conductivity.     

RuAg/TiO2-C催化剂的制备及对甲醇的电催化氧化性能

采用改性溶胶凝胶法和水热合成法制备了掺C多孔纳米TiO2,并以其为载体制备了一种RuAg/TiO2-C甲醇催化剂。采用X射线衍射（XRD）、透射电镜（TEM）、X射线能谱（EDS）和X射线光电子能谱（XPS）等对催化剂进行了表征,测定了其对甲醇的电催化氧化性能。实验结果表明,RuAg的负载和C的掺杂能提高TiO2对甲醇的电催化性能,RuAg/TiO2-C对甲醇电催化的循环伏安曲线中未见甲醇氧化中间产物的氧化峰,0.544 V处有一个较大的甲醇氧化峰,其峰电流密度5.8 mA/cm2,RuAg/TiO2-C比商用PtRu/C催化剂具有更高的催化活性和抗毒性,RuAg合金的负载以及RuAg合金与掺C多孔纳米TiO2载体之间较强的相互作用是其对甲醇催化性能提高的主要因素。     

The Effects of Random Porosities in Resonant Frequencies of Graphene Based on the Monte Carlo Stochastic Finite Element Model

With the distinguished properties in electronics, thermal conductivity, optical transparence and mechanics, graphene has a powerful potential in nanosensors, nano-resonators, supercapacitors, batteries, etc. The resonant frequency of graphene is an important factor in its application and working environment. However, the random dispersed porosities in graphene evidently change the lattice structure and destroy the integrity and geometrical periodicity. This paper focuses on the effects of random porosities in resonant frequencies of graphene. Monte Carlo simulation is applied to propagate the porosities in the finite element model of pristine graphene. The statistical results and probability density distribution of porous graphene with atomic vacancy defects are computed based on the Monte Carlo finite element model. The results of porous graphene with atomic vacancy defects are compared and discussed with the results of graphene with bond vacancy defects. The enhancement effects of atomic vacancy defects are confirmed in porous graphene. The influences of atomic vacancy defects on displacement and rotation vector sums of porous graphene are more concentrated in local places.     

Fabrication of High Performance PET/TLCP Fibers through the Synergistic Interfacial Enhancement and Compatibilization of Functional 1D and 2D Carbon Nanomaterials

The maleic anhydride functionalized graphene oxide (GO-MA) is fabricated by an efficient and solvent-free Diels–Alder reaction. Polyethylene terephthalate (PET)/thermotropic liquid crystal polyester (TLCP), PET/TLCP/GO-MA, PET/TLCP/aminated multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs-NH₂), and PET/TLCP/GO-MA/MWCNTs-NH₂ composite fibers are systematically melt-spun. The structure and compatibilizing effects of GO-MA and MWCNTs-NH₂ on the mechanical, thermal, and crystallization properties of the composite fibers are indicated. The non-isothermal crystallization kinetics and X-ray diffraction (XRD) data show that TLCP and nanofillers can change the crystalline morphology of PET. The mechanical properties of the fibers rise with increasing TLCP content. The tensile strength 929 MPa and modulus 17.5 GPa of the fibers with 7 wt% TLCP and 0.25 wt% nanofillers (0.1 wt% GO-MA and 0.15 wt% MWCNTs-NH₂) are significantly higher than those with 7 wt% TLCP (tensile strength 622 MPa and modulus 16.1 GPa) and even higher than those with 15% TLCP (tensile strength 836 MPa, and modulus 18.0 GPa). When the GO-MA and MWCNTs-NH₂ co-exist, the anti-dripping phenomenon is improved. Therefore, the TLCP, GO, and MWCNTs synergistically strengthens the mechanical properties. This is promising for the industrial fabrication of high-strength fibers.     

GO-TSC/聚酰亚胺混合基质膜的制备及气体分离性能研究

使用氨基硫脲（TSC）对氧化石墨烯（GO）进行改性,制备GO-TSC层状复合材料。随后,将该复合材料加入到Matrimid^®5218（PI）基质中,制备用于二氧化碳分离的混合基质膜（MMMs）。通过TGA、SEM及气体分离性能测试考察了GO-TSC对膜热稳定性、结构和气体分离性能等的影响。SEM结果显示GO-TSC可均匀分散在聚合物基质上并与基质紧密结合;TGA结果显示混合基质膜在250 ℃以上仍保持稳定。与纯PI膜相比,MMMs显著增强了二氧化碳的渗透性。GO-TSC中所含的氨基与二氧化碳具有良好的亲和力,增加的碱性位点可以有效地转运二氧化碳。GO-TSC的层状结构增加了气体的传输路径,不利于大动态直径气体（甲烷、氮气）的通过,从而提高了分离性能。GO-TSC负载量为0.75%（质量分数）时混合基质膜的分离性能最佳。相比较纯PI膜,混合基质膜的二氧化碳渗透系数和二氧化碳/甲烷、二氧化碳/氮气分离系数分别提高了42.16%、95.79%和83.72%。     

Eddy current measurements of electrical conductivity and magnetic permeability of porous metals

This paper presents a method, which simultaneously estimates the electrical conductivity and magnetic permeability of porous metals. Porous Cu and Fe manufactured by the lost carbonate sintering process have been tested. An air-cored solenoid coil was designed for the measurements of rod-shaped samples when inserted coaxially with the coil. It was theoretically found that the phase-frequency response of the normalised eddy current signal of the coil is virtually independent of the radius, electrical conductivity and magnetic permeability of the test samples. For non-magnetic, conductive porous Cu, the electrical conductivity was measured with a calibration curve of the coil relating the impedance change and the electrical conductivity of the sample. For magnetic porous Fe, the imaginary part of the signal at the lowest frequencies can be used to estimate the permeability. The measured conductivity values of the porous Cu are shown in the paper in comparison with that of bulk materials with known conductivity. The measured permeability values of the porous Fe are given and the sample-length effect on the measurements is also discussed.     

多孔TiO2陶瓷光催化剂降解糠醛废水

以钛酸四丁酯等为原料，采用简单工艺制得多孔TiO2陶瓷光催化剂；并研究了利用多孔TiO2陶瓷光催化降解糠醛废水。结果表明，在紫外灯下照射60min，糖醛废水的COD去除率可达59．8％，而通入空气有利于污染物的去除。