Reverse atom transfer radical polymerization of styrene in the presence of tetraethylthiuram disulfide

Reverse atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of styrene initiated with tetraethylthiuram disulfide (TD)/cuprous bromide (CuBr)/2,2′-bipyridine (bpy) has been successfully carried out at 120 °C. The kinetic plot was first order in monomer. The measured number-average molecular weight was in good accordance with the theoretical one. Radical scavenger 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) immediately terminated the reaction, which supported the radical essence of this polymerization. ¹H NMR and UV spectra analyses revealed α-S₂CNEt₂ and ω-Br end groups on the polystyrene chain. Conventional ATRP of methyl methacrylate could progress with the obtained polymer acting as the macroinitiator and CuBr/bpy or CuCl/bpy as the catalyst.     

Distillation vs. membrane filtration: overview of process evolutions in seawater desalination

The worldwide need for fresh water requires more and more plants for the treatment of non-conventional water sources. During the last decades, seawater has become an important source of fresh water in many arid regions. The traditional desalination processes [reverse osmosis (RO), multi stage flash (MSF), multi effect distillation (MED), electrodialysis (ED)] have evoluated to reliable and established processes; current research focuses on process improvements in view of a lower cost and a more environmentally friendly operation. This paper provides an overview of recent process improvements in seawater desalination using RO, MSF, MED and ED. Important topics that are discussed include the use of alternative energy sources (wind energy, solar energy, nuclear energy) for RO or distillation processes, and the impact of the different desalination process on the environment; the implementation of hybrid processes in seawater desalination; pretreatment of desalination plants by pressure driven membrane processes (microfiltration, ultrafiltration and nanofiltration) compared to chemical pretreatment; new materials to prevent corrosion in distillation processes; and the prevention of fouling in reverse osmosis units. These improvements contribute to the cost effectiveness of the desalination process, and ensure a sustainable production of drinking water on long terms in regions with limited reserves of fresh water.     

Mathematical modelling of a reverse flow reactor with catalytic surface dynamics

This paper studies a system of partial differential equations modelling the behaviour of a reverse flow reactor. For the parameters appropriate for the oxidation of ammonia on a Pt/Al₂O₃ catalyst in a typical laboratory set-up, the reactor may be split into regions where approximate formulas that determine its behaviour are deduced. Numerical calculations are presented and can be used to compare with the analytical formulas. The physical insight gained from the asymptotic analysis suggests a new switching strategy which is the subject of numerical experiments. The switching strategy is found to be efficient at minimising the ammonia exiting the reactor after reversal.     

Reuse of reverse osmosis membranes in advanced wastewater treatment

In areas where tap water has a high salt content, wastewater is not appropriate for reuse in agriculture, particularly for sensitive crops. One alternative is reduction, via desalination, of the brackish character to the secondary effluent. A filtration stage is also required before desalination. On the other hand, used reverse osmosis membranes can be recycled and used as filters in the advanced treatment stage in order to reduce suspended matter contained in the secondary effluent—one advantage being the environmental recovery of solid waste. Used membranes can be treated with strong chemical oxidants to peel off the active separation layer in order to transform them into microfiltration or ultrafiltration elements. Preliminary tests have been carried out with 8″ elements, aimed at comparing membrane performance before and after the peeling process. An index denoted as peeling effectiveness (high flux, high salt passage) is used for comparison. It was soon observed that potassium permanganate was more effective than others, together with sodium hydroxide. Doses around 1000 mg/L KMnO₄ provided the best results. It was also concluded that membrane cleaning, done with sodium bisulphite prior to peeling, was better when recirculating the cleaning solution around the membrane rather than soaking it. Next steps in the research will test the actual filtration capability of the peeled membranes in actual wastewater.     

真空膜蒸馏处理垃圾渗沥液反渗透浓水的研究

采用疏水聚四氟乙烯(PTFE)中空纤维膜对垃圾渗滤液反渗透浓水进行真空膜蒸馏(VMD)试验,研究了曝气量、原液温度、冷侧真空度和浓缩倍数等对产水通量、COD、BOD5、氨氮含量、电导率、色度和pH的影响。结果表明,曝气可提高产水通量,当曝气量超过4 m3/(h.m2)时,产水通量趋于稳定;随着原水温度和真空度的提高,产水通量显著增加;浓缩倍数增大会降低产水通量,浓缩4倍后产水通量急剧下降。试验最大产水通量为8.38 kg/(h.m2),产水COD≤100 mg/L,BOD5≤30 mg/L,NH3-N的质量浓度≤25 mg/L,色度小于40度,电导率≤60μS/cm。     

Physicochemical Investigation of Biocompatible Mixed Surfactant Reverse Micelles: III. Aqueous NaCl Solubilization, Thermodynamic Parameters of Desolubilization Process and Conductometric Studies

Solubilization of water and aqueous NaCl in mixed reverse micelles (RMs) comprising sodium bis(2‐ethylhexyl) sulfosuccinate (AOT), and polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan trioleate or polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monooleate has been studied at different compositions (X_nonionic = 0–1.0) at a total surfactant concentration, S_T = 0.10 × 10³ mol m^?3 in biocompatible oils of different chemical structures; viz., ethyl oleate (EO), isopropyl myristate (IPM) and isopropyl palmitate (IPP) at 303 K. The enhancement in water solubilization (i.e., synergism) has been evidenced by the addition of nonionic surfactant to dioctyl sulfosuccinate/oil(s)/water systems. Addition of NaCl in these systems at different X_nonionic enhances their solubilization capacities further until a maximum, ω_NaCl,max is reached. ω_NaCl,max and [NaCl]_max (concentration at which maximization of NaCl solubilization occurs) depend on type of nonionic surfactant, its content (X_nonionic) and oil. A new solubilization efficiency parameter (SP*_water or SP*_NaCl) has been proposed to compare solubilization phenomena in these oils. The energetic parameters of the desolubilization process of water or aqueous NaCl in single and mixed RMs have been estimated. Energetically, the water dissolution process in oil has been found to be more exothermic as well as more organized in IPP. Overall, the dissolution of water and aqueous NaCl in mixed RMs is entropically driven process. Conductance behavior of these systems in the presence of NaCl has been investigated under different [NaCl] at 303 K. An attempt has been made to give an insight to the mechanism of solubilization phenomena, percolation in conductance and microstructures vis‐à‐vis role of biocompatible oils in these systems.     

马莲河苦咸水淡化中试项目

中试项目处理水量20 m3/h,采用一级两段式反渗透(RO)处理系统,段内加压。运行结果表明,反渗透工艺可有效去除苦咸水中的各种有害离子,水回收率达到84%以上。处理后的淡化水各项水质指标均显著优于生活饮用水卫生标准(GB 5749-2006)和饮用净水水质标准(CJ 94-2005)的相应标准值。     

2种超滤膜作为反渗透预处理工艺处理印染废水的比较

采用超滤和反渗透双膜技术处理广东省某印染污水处理有限公司的印染废水。分别使用了PVDF和PP中空纤维超滤膜,做为反渗透的预处理,并考察对比了2种超滤膜的性能和在相同操作条件下对印染废水的处理效果。结果表明,2种超滤膜均能有效地去除废水浊度和大分子有机物,PVDF膜对浊度的去除率达到了97%~99%,PP膜对浊度的去除率为94%~97%;2种超滤膜对SDI处理都能达到SDI<3,符合反渗透系统的进水要求。PVDF膜的膜通量稳定保持在18 L/(m2·h)以上,PP膜的膜通量在8~16 L/(m2·h)。PVDF膜的进水压力小于PP膜,能耗较低。PVDF膜的跨膜压差在0.08 MPa以下,PP膜的跨膜压差在0.13~0.19 MPa。PVDF中空纤维超滤膜对印染废水的处理性能要优于PP中空纤维超滤膜。     

Treatment of Fumaric Acid Wastewater Using Integrated Process of Hollow-Fiber Supported Liquid Membrane-Strip Dispersion with Reverse Osmosis

In this paper, the integrated process of series connected hollow-fiber supported liquid membrane-strip dispersion (HFSLM-SD) with reverse osmosis (RO) was designed and used to recover fumaric acid (FA) from waste effluents and treat FA wastewater. The results showed that FA could be almost completely recovered by this integrated process, and TOC of wastewater finally decreased to the environment acceptable level. In addition, the continuous operation of wastewater treatment was implemented by the integrated process. After FA wastewater was extracted by six series connected HFSLM-SD modules, its TOC decreased from 35625 mg/L to 1000 mg/L, and the TOC removal rate reached 97.17%. Then the effluent from HFSLM-SD was further treated by RO, and TOC of permeate in RO was below 100 mg/L. The total TOC removal rate of the integrated process was as high as 99.7%. Furthermore, the effect of the osmotic pressure of RO process on TOC in the feed was obtained. The investigation of RO membrane fouling revealed that washing process was necessary because of the serious fouling in RO system.     

Parameters of the Mass-Transfer Through the Reverse Osmosis Polysulphonamid Membrane of the Binary Aquatic Solutions of Salts

Abstract

Experimental data of mass transfer through the reverse osmosis polysulfonmide membrane of binary aqueous solutions of salts are compared with the predictions of phenomenological equations of mass transfer.