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The use of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) in electric mobility requires proper end-of-life disposal to avoid environmental risks. Recycling for reusing active materials demands efficient pretreatment. In conventional processes, battery packs are disassembled into cells, shredded, and separated. The ensuing mixed black mass necessitates additional efforts for effective high-purity material recovery. The present research addresses this challenge by focusing on extending the disassembly depth of LIBs. The cells are subjected to a partially automated disassembly process. Based on a robot-assisted disassembly procedure, cells are opened using ultrasonic cutting technology, with various parameters being investigated with the Taguchi method. The assorted components, such as casing, separator, anodes and cathodes are separated. The electrodes subsequently undergo a crushing process to remove the active materials from the metal foils. Compared to the conventional method, disassembly and pre-sorting of the cell components improves the recovery of cathodic active materials by 12.8%. The findings highlight the importance of using robotic disassembly to achieve higher material separation efficiency, promoting sustainable recycling processes for spent LIBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focuses on developing high-performance electrodes by applying micro/nano structures to aluminum mesh electrodes and evaluating their electrochemical performance through the electroflotation process. First, the most suitable electrode material for electroflotation was selected, followed by the application of micro-nano structures to analyze bubble generation and size distribution in comparison to conventional electrodes. The bubble generation rate and size were used to predict electroflotation efficiency, which was then validated through experiments. The developed electrodes demonstrated a ninefold reduction in purification time compared to traditional electrodes and achieved higher wastewater treatment efficiency than spontaneous flotation. This research highlights the potential of micro-nano structured electrodes to enhance electroflotation processes and offers valuable insights for industrial applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to solve the problems of low separation efficiency and poor operation stability in the process of industrial sulfuric acid waste treatment, a concentration and recovery system of hollow fiber vacuum membrane distillation based on polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) was proposed. Experiments on concentration of sulfuric acid waste by vacuum membrane distillation under different working conditions were carried out to study the influence of operation parameters on the water production characteristic of the system. The results showed that the membrane flux decreased with the increase of feed concentration and vacuum side pressure, while increased with the increase of feed temperature and feed velocity. In addition, the system operated continuously for 10 days under the conditions of feed concentration of 2%, feed temperature of 80 ℃ and feed velocity of 1.0 m/s, the membrane flux of the system decreased slightly, and the fluctuation range of condensed water conductivity was 11-13 μS/cm, which was much lower than that of tap water (200 μS/cm), and the separation efficiency was as high as 99.9%. The system had excellent operation stability and could achieve high purity separation of sulfuric acid waste, which had a broad application prospect.

In order to solve the problems of low separation efficiency and high energy consumption in the industrial wastewater treatment, a combined system of mechanical vapor recompression and hollow fiber vacuum membrane distillation was constructed. The operational characteristics of the coupled system were investigated, and experimental studies were conducted on the evaporation of ammonium chloride solution under different feed conditions and long-term operation. The results indicated that as ammonium chloride mass concentration, feed temperature, feed flow rate and vacuum side pressure were 5%, 75 ℃, 10 m3/h and 24 kPa, the freshwater production ratio, freshwater conductivity, separation efficiency and specific heating energy consumption(SHEC) were obtained as 45.9 kg/h, 11.9 μS/cm, 99.9% and 118.5 kW·h/t. In addition, the increase of ammonium chloride mass concentration decreased the freshwater production ratio and increased the SHEC, while the increase of feed temperature and feed flow rate increased the freshwater production ratio and decreased the SHEC. After 240 h of long term operation, membrane fouling did not significantly affect the freshwater quality, but reduced the freshwater production ratio. The water production rate was restored to 96.1% of the original through membrane cleaning. The system can separate the ammonia chloride solution with high efficiency and has a broad application prospect.

Owing to its ability to separate substances with a broad scope of polarities, exploring the three‐phase solvent systems (TPSSs) with high‐speed countercurrent chromatography is a topic of interest in separation science, and their retention volumes should be more concerned. This study primarily investigates the behavior of retention volumes while examining the isolation abilities of the TPSS in the technique above. We took standard compounds, including sophoricoside, Sudan red 7B, and rotenone, which have a broad range of polarity, for investigation in this study and separated them using different four‐liquid TPSSs made up of water, acetonitrile, methyl acetate, and n‐hexane (WAMH). Our findings show that the retention volumes gradually alter in response to changes in phase polarity within the proposed solvent systems. With TPSSs, we preliminarily studied compound isolation and the promising formula of their retention volumes. The proposed solvent systems WAMH in different ratios showed high correlations and adjusted correlation coefficients above 0.9978 and 0.9913 for the actual and calculated retention volumes. This study will be particularly beneficial for researchers focusing on countercurrent chromatography with TPSSs, as it offers valuable time‐saving insights. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High liquid content is obtained in the T-junction side arm, which affects the operational performance of downstream equipment installed in offshore petroleum industries. Diameter ratio, velocity ratio, and side arm angle of T-junction play dynamic role to control phase redistribution. The effect of these parameters on liquid take-offs is unclear from literature, without any agreement among researchers. Literature only provides empirical correlations valid for one specific application for which the correlations were developed. There is a dire need of correlations with high accuracies to conclude the effect of a certain variable on liquid carryovers based on available data. Objectives of this study are to collect data from multiple research publications, develop easy to use correlations, and to study parameters response surfaces. Plot digitization and Design Expert software are utilized for data collection and statistical analysis, respectively. Results depicted that phase separation improves by reducing diameter ratio to 0.33 and upward inclined side arm. Furthermore, liquid carryovers escalate by increasing velocity ratio and decrease at higher velocity ratios. This research study is first attempt in last few decades which is based on collection of data from different experimentation facilities and eliminating confusions among researchers about effect of parameters on phase separation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the pursuit of mitigating CO2 emissions, this study investigates the optimization of CO2 purification within a negative CO2 emission power plant using a spray ejector condenser (SEC) coupled with a separator. The approach involves direct‐contact condensation of vapor, primarily composed of an inert gas (CO2), facilitated by a subcooled liquid spray. A comprehensive analysis is presented, employing a numerical model to simulate a cyclone separator under various SEC outlet conditions. Methodologically, the simulation, conducted in Fluent, encompasses three‐dimensional, transient, and turbulent characteristics using the Reynolds stress model turbulent model and mixture model to replicate the turbulent two‐phase flow within a gas–liquid separator. Structural considerations are delved into, evaluating the efficacy of single‐ and dual‐inlet separators to enhance CO2 purification efficiency. The study reveals significant insights into the optimization process, highlighting a notable enhancement in separation efficiency within the dual‐inlet cyclone, compared to its single inlet counterpart. Specifically, a 90.7 % separation efficiency is observed in the former, characterized by symmetrical flow patterns devoid of wavering CO2 cores, whereas the latter exhibits less desirable velocity vectors. Furthermore, the investigation explores the influence of key parameters, such as liquid volume fraction (LVF) and water droplet diameter, on separation efficiency. It is ascertained that a 10 % LVF with a water droplet diameter of 10 µm yields the highest separation efficiency at 90.7 %, whereas a 20 % LVF with a water droplet diameter of 1 µm results in a reduced efficiency of 50.79 %. Moreover, the impact of structural modifications, such as the addition of vanes, on separation efficiency and pressure drop is explored. Remarkably, the incorporation of vanes leads to a 9.2 % improvement in separation efficiency and a 16.8 % reduction in pressure drop at a 10 % LVF. The findings underscore the significance of structural considerations and parameter optimization in advancing CO2 capture technologies, with implications for sustainable energy production and environmental conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, superhydrophilic polyester textiles were fabricated via plasma modification with a view to their application in the separation of oil–water mixtures. The research delved into the impact of fabric treatment and variations in grammage, including 77, 104, and 132 g/m2 on separation performance and flux. The surface characteristics of the prepared polyester textiles were assessed through scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) analyses. Additionally, the antifouling properties and reusability of both fabrics without treatment and treated fabrics were examined. Notably, employing a five-layer treated fabric substantially improved separation efficiency up to 99.78%, and even after 5 cycles, it remained at 91.80%, attributable to the enhanced hydrophilicity conferred by APP treatment. In addition, after 20 abrasion cycles, the oil contact angle (OCA) of the five-layer treated polyester fabric decreased by 36 °. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, three geometries were analyzed for sand and microplastic separation to confirm the applicability of cyclones. This research aimed to apply plastic-based samples such as Styrofoam, PET, PP, and PU to an analytical model, characterized by separating sand spread on Korean beaches into different outlets using a cyclone model. Regarding the numerical analysis, the results of sand particle separation were analyzed by designing a general cyclone (Type A), a cone-shaped cyclone (Type B), and a cone-shaped cyclone (Type C) with double the cone length, for four microplastics in three shapes. The results of the analysis of the characteristics showed that Type B, which has a conical shape, achieved an efficiency of 99.3–100% for sand, 72.7% for Styrofoam, and 95.7–100% for other plastics at an exit speed of 5–7 m/s, after which the efficiency decreased as the speed increased. Type C showed an efficiency of 92.2–100% for sand, 66.6–70.8% for Styrofoam, and 61% for PET at 5–10 m/s. Type C showed a maximum efficiency of 95.5% for PP and 73.4% for PU at 11 m/s. As the speed increased, the efficiency decreased. This is believed to be due to differences in the Reynolds number range, which helps separate particles depending on their shape; therefore, the applicability of the cone-shaped cyclone separator for sand and microplastic separation was confirmed, and it was found that an optimal speed condition exists in relation to the Reynolds number. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Energy Chemical Industry is the property of Energy Chemical Industry Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of China Petroleum Machinery is the property of China Petroleum Machinery Editorial Department and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of China Petroleum Machinery is the property of China Petroleum Machinery Editorial Department and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The treatment of produced water is a major challenge faced by oil and gas industries worldwide. As a result of the increase in industrial activities, the generation of produced water has increased significantly. The most commonly used method for produced water oil–water separation is de-oiling hydrocyclone technology due to its simple construction, compact design, easy maintenance, and high efficiency. A wide breadth of scientific research studies has been carried out on performance evaluation, design optimisation, geometric parametrisation, external interventions, etc., to enhance the performance of hydrocyclones. These studies mostly rely on either experimental data obtained from the field, in laboratories under a controlled environment, or the application of numerical techniques for oil-in-water separation. Considering the extensive research studies published on hydrocyclone technology, this study aims to provide a comprehensive review of recent technological advancements in hydrocyclone technology in order to identify key areas where scientific research efforts should be concentrated. This will help make well-informed decisions for strategic investments in this wide area of research. Furthermore, it will widen the scope of applicability of hydrocyclones in the industrial sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Industrial Water Treatment is the property of CNOOC Tianjin Chemical Research & Design Institute and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Environmental pollution has become a pressing global concern that poses significant health risks and socioeconomic challenges. Developing countries are witnessing increased chronic diseases attributed to water and air pollution. This study focuses on Empaques del Cauca S.A., a Colombian company that manufactures fique bags for domestic and international markets. Due to the existing technological and technical infrastructure, the production process of these bags generates the emission of particulate material, specifically PM10 and PM2.5. Thus, developing a cyclone separator is proposed, following the V-quadrant methodology, incorporating the requirements of problem recognition and integrating it into design and simulation stages through computer-aided design and engineering. In this way, the results of the design and simulation of the Stairmand-type cyclone separator demonstrate the fulfillment of the functional, technical, and operational requirements established by the problem of the case study company. The cyclone separator achieved an 88 % average separation efficiency for particles between 1 and 10 μm. In addition, static studies on displacement and stress in the critical component of the outlet pipe indicate the optimum performance of stainless steel as a construction material, outperforming black steel plate. Stainless steel not only has minimal static displacement but also has maximum stress tolerance and operating speed limits. The materials proposed for the cyclone separators show commendable performance, especially for 10 μm particulate material (PM10). Both materials effectively eject zero particles per second into the air and collect the particles in the collector condenser with variable velocity profiles. In the case of the stainless-steel design, a marginal increase in particle collection is observed at specific velocity profiles, highlighting its overall efficiency. This research not only presents a satisfactory solution to reduce particulate emissions in the production of fique bags but also highlights the importance of material selection in the design of cyclone separators.

The integral inertial particle separator is a helicopter air inlet protection device. It has excellent performance and wide application，which is of great significance to ensure the regular operation and improve the service life of helicopter engines. This paper summarizes the research progress of integral inertial particle separators，including the following aspects：the classification and aerodynamic parameters of the integral inertial particle separators are introduced. The research methods and their results of the integral inertial particle separators are sorted out. The factors affecting the performance of the integral inertial particle separators are summarized and analyzed. The future development of integral inertial particle separators is predicted. This paper can be the reference for future study and the guide to integral inertial particle separators' optimization design.

Pipeline-type oil-water separation technology has the advantages of small footprint, high separation efficiency and low cost. A Y-type tubular oil-water separation structure was designed based on the principle of pipeline-type oil-water separation. The effects of internal flow field and external parameters on separation efficiency of Y-tube were studied by adopting standard k-ε turbulence model and mixture multiphase flow model in Fluent numerical simulation software. The results showed that the Y-shaped tube had little disturbance to fluid, stable internal flow field characteristics and was not easy to generate eddy current, which could realize oil-water separation. There was oil-water separation at the junction of branch pipe and main pipe. The oil-water separation efficiency increased gradually with the increase of the oil droplet size. The larger of the oil droplet size, the better the oil phase will float and gather in the upper layer of Y-shaped tube, which effectively improved the oil-water separation efficiency. The inlet velocity had a great influence on the oil-water separation effect. The higher the inlet velocity, the shorter the oil phase floating time, and the lower the separation efficiency of Y-shaped tube. The separation efficiency increased with the increase of branch shunt ratio. When the inlet velocity was 0.5 m/s, the separation efficiency would not increase when the shunt ratio exceeded 0.4. The results provided a new idea for oil-water separation and a theoretical reference for the design of Y-shaped tube.

Abstract Cell separation using microfluidics has become an effective method to isolate biological contaminants from bodily fluids and cell cultures, such as isolating bacteria contaminants from microalgae cultures and isolating bacteria contaminants from white blood cells. In this study, bacterial cells were used as a model contaminant in microalgae culture in a passive microfluidics device, which relies on hydrodynamic forces to demonstrate the separation of microalgae from bacteria contaminants in U and W-shaped cross-section spiral microchannel fabricated by defocusing CO2 laser ablation. At a flow rate of 0.7 ml/min in the presence of glycine as bacteria chemoattractant, the spiral microfluidics devices with U and W-shaped cross-sections were able to isolate microalgae (Desmodesmus sp.) from bacteria (E. coli) with a high separation efficiency of 92% and 96% respectively. At the same flow rate, in the absence of glycine, the separation efficiency of microalgae for U- and W-shaped cross-sections was 91% and 96%, respectively. It was found that the spiral microchannel device with a W-shaped cross-section with a barrier in the center of the channel showed significantly higher separation efficiency. Spiral microchannel chips with U- or W-shaped cross-sections were easy to fabricate and exhibited high throughput. With these advantages, these devices could be widely applicable to other cell separation applications, such as separating circulating tumor cells from blood. Graphical Abstract

This work investigates the feasibility of using a decanter centrifuge to separate solid particles coated with a high melting fat from a liquid oil. The process involves feeding cold silica particles into a melt, upon which the hardstock fat crystallizes, and the particles are subsequently separated using a decanter centrifuge. Being the first attempt for such a design, only the separation step is studied, and a model system is used. It comprised canola oil (CO), fully hydrogenated rapeseed oil a priori crystallized on silica gel particles. Different particle sizes and accelerations of gravity were studied. To measure the success of this separation process, the data from light microscopy, and differential scanning calorimetry of the feed, oleins, and stearins were used. The findings show that the separation of the fatty particles used in this work, and liquid oil in decanter centrifuges is feasible while future research should focus on the crystallization part of the process. The model developed to describe the oil‐holding capacity of the cake focuses on the capillary liquid entrapped in the spaces between the particles and sufficiently represents the experimental findings which show that separation efficiencies increase with increasing centrifugal acceleration. Practical Applications: This work introduces an alternative fat fractionation process by separating a model system of CO, FHRO, and solid entrainers through a decanter centrifuge. The results can be potentially used for the development of a fully continuous dry fractionation process, which can achieve in one step higher SE than the conventional ones and can be tripalmitate‐selective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper outlines the efforts to reduce the ash content of fine-size (−0.50 mm) high-ash Indian coal in a counter-current teeter bed separator, i.e. a CrossFlow separator. The tests conducted in the CrossFlow separator by varying the water injection flow rate and bed pressure reveal that an ash reduction of about 4.71% (from 34.94% to 30.23%) could be possible for −0.50 mm size coal. However, when the separation was analyzed by splitting it as coarser coal (−0.50 + 0.075 mm) and fines (−0.075 mm) independently, an appreciable reduction in ash content of about 11.0% was noticed in coarse fractions. In comparison, only a marginal ash reduction was possible for the finer fraction (−0.075 mm). Further, the size and density-based partition curves were plotted to understand and depict the separation behavior of the coarse fraction (−0.50 + 0.075 mm). The present investigation concluded that both size and density effects prevail in separating −0.50 + 0.075 mm coarse coal, while the separation fines below 0.075 mm are influenced by hydraulic entrainment. The effectiveness of separation of coarser and finer fractions has been evaluated by “Separation Efficiency.” Further, unified characteristic partition curves have been plotted to establish the prevalence of size and density effects in the CrossFlow separator and mathematically modeled. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A disc ceramic membrane was modified nano-TiO 2 via an impregnation and in-situ hydrolysis method, resulting in the generation of nano-TiO 2 particles on the surface and inside the pores of disc ceramic membrane. The uniform distribution of nano-TiO 2 enhanced the superior hydrophilic property of the membrane surface, and improved pure water flux and increased anti-fouling capacity. The modified disc ceramic membrane was employed to effectively separate stable oil-water emulsions under dynamic membrane filtration mode. Here, the preparation process of nano-TiO 2 and operational parameters of equipment on the separation efficiency of the modified disc ceramic membrane were investigated. The findings indicate that an increase in the permeability and separation rate of the modified disc ceramic membrane. Moreover, the modified disc ceramic membrane maintained a steady flux for a continuous separation time of 120-min at a TMP of 0.04 MPa. The rejection rate of oil-water emulsion also reached 99.9%. The excellent performance of the modified disc ceramic membrane was ascribed to the nano-TiO 2 modification and the dynamic membrane filtration applied together to alleviate membrane fouling, leading to improve the oil-water separation efficiency and permeate flux. This study presents a new technique for the separation of oil-water emulsions with high concentration, achieving outstanding separation stability and cost-effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnetic nanoparticles have emerged as a promising tool for wastewater treatment due to their unique properties. In this regard, Co0.33Mg0.33Ni0.33SmxFe2-xO4 (0.00 ≤ x ≤ 0.08) nanoparticles were prepared to examine their magnetic separation efficiency (MSE), photocatalytic, antibacterial, and antibiofilm performances. Pure nanoparticles, having the highest saturation magnetization (Ms = 31.87 emu/g), exhibit the highest MSE, where 95.6% of nanoparticles were separated after 20 min of applying a magnetic field of 150 mT. The catalytic performance of the prepared samples is examined by the photodegradation of rhodamine B (RhB) dye exposed to direct sunlight radiation. Improved photocatalytic activity is exhibited by Co0.33Mg0.33Ni0.33Sm0.04Fe1.96O4 nanoparticles, labeled as Sm0.04, where the rate of the degradation reaction is enhanced by 4.1 times compared to pure nanoparticles. Rising the pH and reaction temperature improves the rate of the photodegradation reaction of RhB. The incorporation of 15 wt% reduced graphene oxide (rGO) with Sm0.04 enhanced the rate of the reaction by 1.7 and 2.4 times compared with pure Sm0.04 sample and rGO, respectively. The antibacterial and antibiofilm activities against Escherichia coli, Leclercia adecarboxylata, Staphylococcus aureus, and Enterococcus faecium are assessed by the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) broth microdilution, the agar well diffusion, the time-kill assays, the biofilm formation, and destruction assays. The bacteria used in these assessments are isolated from wastewater. The nanoparticles exhibit a bacteriostatic activity, with a better effect against the Gram-positive isolates. Co0.33Mg0.33Ni0.33SmxFe2O4 (x = 0.00) nanoparticles have the best effect. The effect is exerted after 2–3 h of incubation. Gram-positive biofilms are more sensitive to nanoparticles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Heat pump water heater with liquid-separation condensation is modelled and verified. • A 7.43 % improved COP and a 13.1 % shorter time with same condenser area is achieved. • A 22.22 % reduced condenser area and a 4.1 % shorter time with similar COP is obtained. • Optimized cases are superior at early stage of transient heating-up process. Heat pump water heater (HPWH) offers great potential to reduce energy consumption in water heating applications. But its performance enhancement and/or initial cost deduction are the main challenges to promote market penetration. In this paper, a heat transfer improvement technology, i.e., liquid-separation condensation (LSC), is implemented to HPWH and screen to achieve the maximized COP (E-HPWH) or reduced condenser area (R-HPWH). A model of HPWH with LSC is developed and validated, and its predictions are in good agreements with tested results from the baseline (B-HPWH) with an average deviation of 4.92 % at most. By using this validated model, E-HPWH and R-HPWH are obtained by adjusting the path arrangement and separation efficiencies. With the same heat transfer area, the COP of E-HPWH reaches 4.48, which is 7.43 % higher than that of B-HPWH, and the heating time is shortened by 13.1 %. With the same COP of B-HPWH being 4.17, the heat transfer area of R-HPWH is reduced by 22.2 % and heating time is shortened by 4.1 %. Then transient heating-up process of three HPWHs are comparatively investigated. Results indicate that E-HPWH has the highest compressor power as well as pressures and temperatures at the inlets of condenser and evaporator, followed by R-HPWH and B-HPWH. E-HPWH and R-HPWH overperform B-HPWH in terms of heat capacity before 4220s, due to the increased mass flowrate. Compared to B-HPWH, E-HPWH and R-HPWH have averagely 15.02 % and 7.29 % higher COP before 2790s and 1860s, respectively. Their states are less differentiated as the water temperature increases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of gravity concentrators involves several challenges, such as determination of the liberation sizes of the minerals, selection of appropriate particle sizes for the applied concentration method, and the severity of the beneficiation of fines.In this study, the effects of fully liberated (artificial mixtures of magnetite and quartz) and non-liberated particles (chromite ore collected from a chromite processing plant) on various gravity concentration equipment were investigated as a function of particle size considering recoveries, separation efficiencies, and grades of products. A series of tests were conducted on shaking tables, spiral concentrators, and a Falcon concentrator with different design features under various operating conditions. Finally, the separation efficiencies were correlated with the settling rates of the particles.The test results confirmed a certain trend in the separation efficiency as a function of particle size for each condition. The separation efficiency initially increased with increasing particle size, peaked, and eventually decreased with increasing particle size. The maximum separation efficiency attained was 90% for 141 µm particles in the shaking table and 54% for 245 µm particles in the Falcon concentrator, both of which were used to treat the artificial feed. In the spiral concentrator, which treated chromite ore as feed, the maximum separation efficiency attained was 82% for 178 µm particles.This experimental study provides data to identify the concentration behavior of particles by investigating possible separation mechanisms. Consequently, it provides an understanding of the relationships between particle size and separation efficiency in terms of settling rates, especially in spiral concentrators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Industrial Water Treatment is the property of CNOOC Tianjin Chemical Research & Design Institute and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Chemical Engineering (China) / Huaxue Gongcheng is the property of Hualu Engineering Science & Technology Co Ltd. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Cell separation using microfluidics has become an effective method to isolate biological contaminants from bodily fluids and cell cultures, such as isolating bacteria contaminants from microalgae cultures and isolating bacteria contaminants from white blood cells. In this study, bacterial cells were used as a model contaminant in microalgae culture in a passive microfluidics device, which relies on hydrodynamic forces to demonstrate the separation of microalgae from bacteria contaminants in U and W-shaped cross-section spiral microchannel fabricated by defocusing CO2 laser ablation. At a flow rate of 0.7 ml/min in the presence of glycine as bacteria chemoattractant, the spiral microfluidics devices with U and W-shaped cross-sections were able to isolate microalgae (Desmodesmus sp.) from bacteria (E. coli) with a high separation efficiency of 92% and 96% respectively. At the same flow rate, in the absence of glycine, the separation efficiency of microalgae for U- and W-shaped cross-sections was 91% and 96%, respectively. It was found that the spiral microchannel device with a W-shaped cross-section with a barrier in the center of the channel showed significantly higher separation efficiency. Spiral microchannel chips with U- or W-shaped cross-sections were easy to fabricate and exhibited high throughput. With these advantages, these devices could be widely applicable to other cell separation applications, such as separating circulating tumor cells from blood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cyclone separators, which have a high separation performance, play a crucial role in mitigating the occurrence of dust explosion incidents. This study aims to improve the performance of an axial cyclone separator using the results of simulations employing the RNG   k - ε model together with a user-defined function to simulate the wall collision process. The effectiveness of various structural modifications to the vortex tube has been addressed. Specifically, we found that increasing the number of blades, reducing the blade exit angle, and adopting L-shaped blades increase separation efficiency. Additionally, enlarging the guide vane and exhaust pipe diameters, as well as increasing the exhaust pipe inclination angle, contribute to an improved separation performance due to the developed tangential velocity and vortex cores. However, it also increases the pressure drop losses due to the increase in the turbulence pulsation entropy and the wall entropy, while the time-averaged entropy is found to be less significant. As a result, our study sheds light on the flow characteristics, the gas–solid separation process, and the energy loss mechanism in the cyclone separator. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cereal grains like pea & lentil split are the principal component of human diet in Ethiopia. But the separation process is very exhaustive and disturbing for the environment since it is used traditional separation. To design an effective separator machine, experimental testing is carried out in a cyclone with body diameter of 0.25 m to determine the efficiency of pea & lentil split grain-chaff separation and cleaning. The average speed of inlet air used for better separation minimizing grain loss is measured using Mini Digital Anemometer at different speed of fan motor by controlling motor speed controller device. In this test, the average air speed of 10.3 m/s and 9.4 m/s are measured for better separation with separation efficiency of 99.03 % & 99.37 % and cleaning efficiency of 99.02 % & 99.07 % for pea and lentil split chaff separation respectively within 1 % of loss.

Harmonization in the analytical framework is needed to detect, define and further categorize plastics released into the environment. In the range of particles smaller than 200 μm, hydrocyclones (HCs) have proven their capacity in removing microplastics efficiently by offering technical advantages at low operational costs. This publication aims to expand scientific knowledge by introducing four commercially available, low-priced microplastics to a pilot-scale HC setting. The physicochemical characteristics of particles as well as the separation efficiency of the test rig were investigated in depth. Particles with a density of >1000 kg/m3 passed the primary vortex and were discharged into the underflow, allowing us to employ standard mode operation. Particles with a density of 3 entered the secondary vortex and were removed through the overflow. As expected, separation efficiencies were found to be higher for particles revealing a greater density difference when compared with the mobile phase water. Furthermore, an increase in the inlet volume flow revealed significant positive impacts on the separation efficiency for three plastics to a certain threshold. Data on standard and reverse mode operations presented in this publication can lay out an important source for the harmonization and standardization of future HC research, with the goal of overcoming plastic pollution by developing economically competitive separation processes.

This study focuses on developing high-performance electrodes by applying micro/nano structures to aluminum mesh electrodes and evaluating their electrochemical performance through the electroflotation process. First, the most suitable electrode material for electroflotation was selected, followed by the application of micro-nano structures to analyze bubble generation and size distribution in comparison to conventional electrodes. The bubble generation rate and size were used to predict electroflotation efficiency, which was then validated through experiments. The developed electrodes demonstrated a ninefold reduction in purification time compared to traditional electrodes and achieved higher wastewater treatment efficiency than spontaneous flotation. This research highlights the potential of micro-nano structured electrodes to enhance electroflotation processes and offers valuable insights for industrial applications.

Harmonization in the analytical framework is needed to detect, define and further categorize plastics released into the environment. In the range of particles smaller than 200 μm, hydrocyclones (HCs) have proven their capacity in removing microplastics efficiently by offering technical advantages at low operational costs. This publication aims to expand scientific knowledge by introducing four commercially available, low-priced microplastics to a pilot-scale HC setting. The physicochemical characteristics of particles as well as the separation efficiency of the test rig were investigated in depth. Particles with a density of >1000 kg/m3 passed the primary vortex and were discharged into the underflow, allowing us to employ standard mode operation. Particles with a density of <1000 kg/m3 entered the secondary vortex and were removed through the overflow. As expected, separation efficiencies were found to be higher for particles revealing a greater density difference when compared with the mobile phase water. Furthermore, an increase in the inlet volume flow revealed significant positive impacts on the separation efficiency for three plastics to a certain threshold. Data on standard and reverse mode operations presented in this publication can lay out an important source for the harmonization and standardization of future HC research, with the goal of overcoming plastic pollution by developing economically competitive separation processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acceptable zircon for composite formulation in the aerospace industry requires that the mineral contains a minimum of 65% zirconia (ZrO2). Despite having vast deposits of zircon, Nigeria's aerospace industry has historically relied primarily on imported mild steel tubes for solid rocket motor cases (SRMCs) construction, resulting in three major challenges: low strength-to-weight ratio, pressure, and temperature containment. In this study, the Arikya zircon deposit located in northern Nigeria was investigated with the aim of upgrading low-grade zircon ore using magnetic and gravity separation processes for use in composite formulation for SRMCs. The dry high-intensity magnetic separator (DHIMS) produced a ZrO2 grade of 52.48%, recovery of 57.99%, and an enrichment ratio of 0.78 with a separation efficiency of 0.56, while the air-floating separator (AFS) generated the highest of 65.52% ZrO2 grade with 70.81% recovery and enrichment ratio of 1.25 with a separation efficiency of 0.25. The ZrO2 content increased from 40.77 to 65.52% after beneficiation. Iron oxide and titanium dioxide contaminants at 0.73 and 0.83% were reduced to 0.66 and 0.54%, respectively, while the specific gravity increased from 4.4 to 4.6 g/cm3. The ZrO2 content and specific gravity were improved to the minimum standard specified for zirconia-reinforced composite application and competed effectively with industrially/globally accepted zircon. These results demonstrated the efficacy of combining DHIMS and AFS to upgrade the low-grade zircon ore from Arikya, Nasarawa State. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tar-rich coal holds the potential to substitute the supply of oil-gas resources. The in-situ pyrolysis contributes to efficient resource utilization and can potentially achieve net-zero CO2 emissions. However, it is challenging to efficiently separate oil-gas resources, which are predominated by tar, from multiphase products of in-situ pyrolysis of tar-rich coal. Additionally, the difference in fluid properties yields significant influences on separation performance, while the understanding of the separation characteristics of high-viscosity fluid remains insufficient. In this study, the separation process of pyrolysis products from tar-rich coal was investigated using the computational fluid dynamics simulation approach. The flow field, pressure drop, separation efficiency and distribution characteristics were analyzed. The simulation results indicate that the volute cyclone separator exhibits commendable separation efficiency, exceeding 98%. Meanwhile, in handling tars containing a high concentration of light oil, the separator demonstrates remarkable adaptability. The separation efficiency of solid particles decreases from 89% to 83% when the system contains a high content of pitch. The particle diameter exerts great influence on the flow field. The separation efficiencies are 99% and 0.37%, respectively, when the particle sizes are selected as 0.1 mm and 0.001 mm. In the scope of this study, the optimal working conditions of the cyclone separator were determined, which provides data support for improving the separation efficiency and recovery rate of the oil-gas resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work introduces a polydisperse aerosol testing system for respirable dust virtual impactor evaluation for the first time, and characterizes its performance. The aerosol in the dust chamber diluted and mixed completely, its diameter distribution follows a lognormal distribution. Although the aerosol concentration increased from top to bottom in the chamber, the particle distribution in the same measurement plane was relatively uniform. The sample flow rate of the test system is stable, and the change of temperature on the flow rate is negligible. The most common virtual impactor with the operating point flow rate of 4 L/min was selected as the subject, and its separation performance, flow variation and load characteristics were evaluated by this test system. The results show that the cutoff diameter deviation is − 2.8% and the maximum deviation from the BMRC curve is − 4.85%. The deviation in the cut-off diameter was more likely to be caused by the minor flow rate than that of a major flow rate. With an increase in the loading time and dust concentration, the virtual impactor was overloaded, which required maintenance according to its actual usage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we developed a novel nanocomposite-based membrane using maghemite copper oxide (MC) to enhance the separation efficiency of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) membranes for oil-in-water emulsions. The MC nanocomposite was synthesized using a co-precipitation method and incorporated into a PVC matrix by casting. The resulting nanocomposite-based membrane demonstrated a high degree of crystallinity and well-dispersed nanostructure, as confirmed by TEM, SEM, XRD, and FT-IR analyses. The performance of the membrane was evaluated in terms of water flux, solute rejection, and anti-fouling properties. The pinnacle of performance was unequivocally reached with a solution dosage of 50 mL, a solution concentration of 100 mg L−1, and a pump pressure of 2 bar, ensuring that every facet of the membrane's potential was fully harnessed. The new fabricated membrane exhibited superior efficiency for oil–water separation, with a rejection rate of 98% and an ultra-high flux of 0.102 L/m2 h compared to pure PVC membranes with about 90% rejection rate and an ultra-high flux of 0.085 L/m2 h. Furthermore, meticulous contact angle measurements revealed that the PMC nanocomposite membrane exhibited markedly lower contact angles (65° with water, 50° with ethanol, and 25° with hexane) compared to PVC membranes. This substantial reduction, transitioning from 85 to 65° with water, 65 to 50° with ethanol, and 45 to 25° with hexane for pure PVC membranes, underscores the profound enhancement in hydrophilicity attributed to the heightened nanoparticle content. Importantly, the rejection efficiency remained stable over five cycles, indicating excellent anti-fouling and cycling stability. The results highlight the potential of the maghemite copper oxide nanocomposite-based PVC membrane as a promising material for effective oil-in-water emulsion separation. This development opens up new possibilities for more flexible, durable, and anti-fouling membranes, making them ideal candidates for potential applications in separation technology. The presented findings provide valuable information for the advancement of membrane technology and its utilization in various industries, addressing the pressing challenge of oil-induced water pollution and promoting environmental sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work modeling the collection efficiency of an ESP numerical model based on industrial plant development. Under high dust loads, one power supply controlled the voltages on the two separation zones. The separation efficiency is different depending on the diameter of the dust particles, so the two zones receive dust particles with various distributions, and the electrical characteristics are not the same. In this article, we show the change in the efficiency of separation when the two zones are controlled at different voltages by power supplies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gas-liquid separators often encounter the challenge of liquid carry-over, where small liquid droplets become entrained in the produced gas stream. This phenomenon can lead to foaming and reduced capacity in downstream absorption processes, as observed in Iraq's Khor Mor gas-condensate processing plant. To assess whether liquid carry-over contributes to the foaming issue in the sweetening tower, this study analyzed the liquid droplet size distribution in the gas phase and the gas/liquid separation efficiency of the upstream Alpha, Bravo #1, Bravo #2, and Charlee separators feeding the tower. The analysis was conducted by using the industry-standard process software, Horizontal Vessel and ProSeparator correlations within Aspen HYSYS v.14. The study revealed that Alpha, Bravo #1, and Bravo #2 separators were unable to eliminate all liquid droplets within the specified size, failing to achieve the required efficiency. In response, the study proposes a vertical scrubber design with a standard mesh mist extractor, applying the Arnold–Stewart semi-empirical procedure. The design demonstrated a gas/liquid separation efficiency of 99% under current and future conditions. These findings suggest that the proposed design can serve as an optimal solution to control liquid carry-over, maintain high gas/liquid separation efficiency, and prevent foaming, even with an increase in the vessel inlet flow rate over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The elimination and retrieval of slag produced during the hot-dip galvanizing process are crucial in reducing plating defects and enhancing economic efficiency. Hot-dip galvanizing slag can be separated and purified efficiently by using graphite carbon felt filtration in a supergravity field. The effects of the gravity coefficient (G), separation temperature (T), and separation time (t) on the separation efficiency were investigated. Under the optimal conditions as G = 300, T = 460 °C, and t = 120 s, these conditions yielded filtered zinc with 0.022 wt% Fe and 1.097 wt% Al. The separation efficiencies achieved were 87% for the acquisition ratio of filtered zinc (AZn), 93.67% for the recovery ratio of zinc (RZn), and 96.01% for the loss ratio of iron (LFe). Based on these laboratory findings, an amplified centrifugal separation apparatus was conceptually designed for future online separation and recycle of zinc slag on an engineering scale. The filtered zinc obtained from this apparatus contained 0.027 wt% Fe and 1.844 wt% Al, while the recovery ratio of zinc (RZn) and the loss ratio of iron (LFe) achieved 85.97% and 95.47%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biodiesel production processes, such as gravity settling, have limitations in terms of biodiesel yield, purification efficiency, operating time in the separation process, and more extensive equipment. Therefore, this study has focused on using a recently developed centrifuge machine for biodiesel separation to address these challenges due to its compact design, high efficiency, and simplicity. Additionally, this study aimed to optimize the separation efficiency of glycerol from biodiesel using a centrifuge machine, employing response surface methodology (RSM) with central composite design (CCD). The optimum conditions for separating glycerol from biodiesel via centrifuge machine are a rotation speed of 1800 rpm, a mixture flow rate of 192.25 ml/min, and a temperature of 55 °C, respectively. In optimum conditions, 94.52% separation efficiency was achieved. Biodiesel production can be improved, leading to higher yields and greater purity. The utilization of RSM proved valuable in determining the optimum conditions for separation. Furthermore, the machine successfully separated the biodiesel to meet ASTM D6751 and EN 14,214 standards. The results highlight the potential of the centrifuge machine for efficient and reliable biodiesel production, contributing to the advancement of the biodiesel industry.

The paper highlights a lack of machines and equipment capable of cleaning highly impure soybean material efficiently and productively. Most of the existing grain cleaning machines are designed for the materials conforming to GOST 17109-88 that specifies weed and oilseed impurity contents of 2 and 6 percent, respectively. In reality, a typical soybean post-harvest waste often contains 20 to 60 percent of material unsuitable for extracting raw protein, that makes this type of material completely non–separable for this type of machine. (Research purpose) The research aims to determine the optimal efficiency of separating heterogeneous bulk mixtures in a vertically ascending air channel. (Materials and methods) To accomplish this, the authors employed a rotary batch classifier RBK 30 and a prototype sample of a precision air classifier PAC with column air flow accelerators. The paper defines impurity separation completeness and soybean waste separation efficiency in a novel pneumatic classifier, considering the accelerator thickness and the height above the processed material. (Results and discussion) The findings reveal that traditional pneumatic channels achieve no more than 20 percent of separation efficiency for highly impure soybean material, while the precision air classifier demonstrates approximately a 45 percent separation. (Conclusions) Typical air flow machines struggle with high impurity of material. The separation efficiency of highly impure material can be enhanced by equalizing the air flow velocity inside and above the layer of the separated material and installing a core air flow accelerator. The study indicates that the material being processed can be separated by air flow, provided a specialized pneumatic separation channel is used. Due to the ratio of the core accelerator height and the height above the material, the air flow velocity inside and above the separated layer is equalized.

ObjectiveAn optimal design scheme for the inertial stage structure of the diesel engine intake filter is proposed, in order to meet the requirements of high separation efficiency and low resistance loss at the same time.MethodsFirst, taking the inertial stage of a diesel engine intake filter as the research object, a fusion blade structure was established by the natural fusion of groove and blade. Then, numerical simulation was used to calculate the droplet separation efficiency and resistance loss characteristics, and compare them with commonly used blade structure schemes at present. Finally, the inertial stage performance test of the intake filter was carried out, and the numerical simulation results were verified by the test results.ResultsThe simulation results and test results show that the fusion-type airfoil structure keeps the uniform and continuous distribution of the airflow velocity field and pressure field as much as possible while making full use of inertia to separate droplets, taking into account the requirements of separation performance and resistance performance. The overall performance of the design scheme is optimal. Under standard conditions, the droplet separation efficiency is close to 99.9%, and the resistance loss is about 42 Pa.ConclusionThe design scheme of the blade structure can provide a technical reference for the design of the inertial stage of the filter that takes into consideration the droplet separation efficiency and resistance loss performance.

In this study, three geometries were analyzed for sand and microplastic separation to confirm the applicability of cyclones. This research aimed to apply plastic-based samples such as Styrofoam, PET, PP, and PU to an analytical model, characterized by separating sand spread on Korean beaches into different outlets using a cyclone model. Regarding the numerical analysis, the results of sand particle separation were analyzed by designing a general cyclone (Type A), a cone-shaped cyclone (Type B), and a cone-shaped cyclone (Type C) with double the cone length, for four microplastics in three shapes. The results of the analysis of the characteristics showed that Type B, which has a conical shape, achieved an efficiency of 99.3–100% for sand, 72.7% for Styrofoam, and 95.7–100% for other plastics at an exit speed of 5–7 m/s, after which the efficiency decreased as the speed increased. Type C showed an efficiency of 92.2–100% for sand, 66.6–70.8% for Styrofoam, and 61% for PET at 5–10 m/s. Type C showed a maximum efficiency of 95.5% for PP and 73.4% for PU at 11 m/s. As the speed increased, the efficiency decreased. This is believed to be due to differences in the Reynolds number range, which helps separate particles depending on their shape; therefore, the applicability of the cone-shaped cyclone separator for sand and microplastic separation was confirmed, and it was found that an optimal speed condition exists in relation to the Reynolds number.