Articles tagged with Chemical Separation
Researchers have developed a new membrane technology that efficiently separates water from isopropanol, a widely used solvent in pharmaceuticals and electronics. The new membrane reduces energy consumption and improves purity levels, making it an attractive solution for a more climate-friendly chemical industry.
Scientists have developed a method to synthesize Neosrangcicin A, a complex molecule with potential as a reserve antibiotic. The successful synthesis provides a foundation for altering the natural substance and developing more stable variants.
Geoff Geise's research on non-aqueous redox flow batteries and membrane design has the potential to overcome renewable energy storage challenges. He is recognized for his work on long-lived membranes that increase conductivity while reducing permeability, a breakthrough in addressing global water purification and electrification needs.
Researchers developed a new gel-based material that filters PFAS 'forever chemicals' from water using 'molecular Velcro', improving filtration capacity and reducing the need for fluorinated materials. The material can be reused by flushing out contaminants, offering a potential solution to removing PFAS from water.
Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh have developed a more sustainable and economically competitive process to produce battery-quality graphite, with hydrogen generated as a valuable co-product. The new method uses molten metal catalysis to dehydrogenate ethane, producing high-quality graphite that is currently dominated by China.
Graphonos Materials, a startup from the University of Pittsburgh, has developed a novel technology to produce battery-quality graphite and hydrogen using molten metal catalysis. This process is more energy-efficient and sustainable than current methods, which require high temperatures and generate significant carbon emissions.
Researchers from NTU Singapore's School of Materials Science and Engineering and Nanyang Environment and Water Research Institute have developed a process called depolymerisation-induced polymer separation, or DIPS. This method selectively breaks down one type of plastic in mixed plastic packaging while leaving the other plastics intact.
Prof Liu Bin, a world-renowned researcher in organic functional materials, has been elected a Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors. Her groundbreaking work on light-emitting organic semiconductors has led to applications in medical diagnostics and optical data encryption.
Scientists have developed a light-activated material that can convert carbon dioxide into carbon monoxide, a key building block for fuels and chemicals, using sunlight and water. The material, which combines ideas from biology and materials science, produces CO extremely efficiently with no detectable by-products.
A new mechanochemical approach uses water as a catalyst to transform renewable resources into high-performance porous materials capable of capturing CO2 while removing pollutants. The method produces carbon-negative materials with exceptional hydrophobic characteristics and scalable production.
Researchers have developed a chemical-free method to upcycle waste chitin into high-performance porous carbons, which can efficiently capture and release hydrocarbons. The materials' pore structure can be precisely tuned through steam activation time, leading to improved adsorption and desorption performance.
Scientists from the University of Malaga have optimized wastewater use for green hydrogen production through artificial intelligence, improving its efficiency and sustainability. The study used machine learning to fine-tune the process, reducing energy consumption and organic waste.
A cellulose-based composite sheet can simultaneously adsorb and shield radioactive elements like cesium, iodine, and strontium. The resulting composite demonstrates its potential for controlling environmental contamination.
Researchers found that male fish exposed to vitamin C and potassium perchlorate showed improved fertility and less damage to their testes compared to those exposed only to the chemical. The study suggests a potential safeguard for individuals regularly exposed to these chemicals, including military personnel.
Researchers at Vienna University of Technology have developed a novel, non-toxic method to recycle mixed-fiber textiles, utilizing a deep eutectic solvent to separate and recover cotton and polyester components. The process achieves near-complete recycling with minimal damage to materials.
Researchers at the University of Missouri are exploring the use of extracellular vesicles to target lung cancer. By manipulating these tiny messenger particles, scientists can deliver specific instructions to kill cancer cells while sparing healthy ones.
A UH crystals expert has shown how to bend and twist crystals without physical force, using a molecule called a tautomer. This discovery has potential applications in drug delivery and material properties, such as optoelectronics and soft robotics.
University of Missouri researchers are helping farmers prevent disease outbreaks by teaching biosecurity practices, such as hand sanitizing and wearing farm-dedicated shoes. They also provide guidance on safe composting methods to dispose of dead livestock, reducing the risk of disease spread.
Researchers at Rice University have developed an eco-friendly technology to rapidly capture and destroy toxic PFAS in water, outperforming traditional methods. The new approach uses a layered double hydroxide material that can adsorb PFAS with record-breaking efficiency and be reused multiple times.
Researchers are creating anchored molecular catalysts to improve stability and efficiency in pharmaceutical manufacturing. The new approach could lead to cleaner, safer reactions, faster production, and reduced costs.
Researchers at Stellenbosch University discovered flavoalkaloids in Cannabis leaves, a rare class of phenolics with promising biomedical applications. The study highlights the potential medicinal value of Cannabis plant material, which is often regarded as waste.
Researchers developed a technique to separate and quantify ions, nanoparticles, and aggregates in nanomedicines, improving quality control for advanced pharmaceutical products. This method ensures the safe use of metal-based nanomedicines by distinguishing between their different forms.
A team of scientists at UNIST developed a data-driven structure prediction algorithm that led to the synthesis of three novel porous materials with exceptional selectivity in gas separation. The newly developed materials have significant potential for greenhouse gas separation and purification applications.
Researchers have successfully achieved low-threshold anisotropic polychromatic emission from monodisperse quantum dots by coupling them with microcavities, overcame technical bottlenecks for practical applications. This enables broadband gain, amplification, and even lasing, as well as full-color display and patterning.
Researchers have developed a mercury-free method to isolate lithium-6, essential for producing nuclear fusion fuel. The new method uses zeta-vanadium oxide and achieves enrichment rates comparable to the banned COLEX process, paving the way for unlocking nuclear fusion as a sustainable energy source.
A novel copper-based zeolite imidazolate framework (Cu-ZIF-gis) has been developed to separate deuterium (D2) from hydrogen (H2) at 120 K (-153°C), exceeding the liquefaction point of natural gas. This material exhibits improved separation efficiency and lower energy consumption compared to traditional methods.
The Rice Center for Membrane Excellence (RiCeME) aims to develop advanced membrane materials and separation technologies for energy, environmental sustainability, and chemical processing applications. The center will focus on securing funding from federal agencies, industry partners, and global collaborators to accelerate the developme...
Researchers have developed novel membranes that can pull lithium directly out of salt-lake brines using electricity, leaving other metal ions behind. The process could reduce the environmental impact of lithium mining and contribute to more efficient energy storage systems for renewable energy sources.
Researchers at TIFR Hyderabad developed a novel porous thin-film approach to enhance catalysis efficiency in industrial reactions. The new methodology increases the density of catalytic sites and improves reactant diffusion rates, resulting in higher turnover frequencies and reaction efficiency.
Researchers at TIFR Hyderabad have developed a novel porous thin-film approach to enhance reaction efficiency in catalytic reactions. The new methodology integrates a porous heterogeneous thin film in a cross-flow microfluidic setup, allowing for faster reaction rates and increased catalyst reusability.
A new comparative study has confirmed on-column injection as the most reliable method for analyzing odorants in food, minimizing artifact formation. This method proves to be particularly effective in reducing odor-active artifacts and obtaining a representative odorant spectrum.
Researchers at the University of Kansas developed an eco-friendly way to separate and recycle refrigerants, reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The innovative method uses membranes to efficiently isolate complex refrigerant mixtures, paving the way for effective recycling and reuse.
Daniel Armstrong, a renowned UTA chemist, has been honored with the prestigious 2025 Pittcon Analytical Chemistry Award for his pioneering work in analytical chemistry. His research focuses on developing new approaches to identify chiral disease biomarkers, peptide epimers, and isotopic compounds.
Researchers developed a novel method for carbon fiber recycling that leverages Joule heat generation, thermal stress, and expansion forces to separate fibers without chemicals. The technique is more effective than traditional methods, preserving longer fibers with higher strength and reducing environmental impact.
A new EU-funded project aims to develop innovative methods for recycling lanthanides, a rare earth group used in various industries, from nuclear waste. The MaLaR project will explore the use of graphene oxides as specific element scavengers to extract individual elements from synthetic mixtures.
Researchers at POSTECH developed an innovative injectable adhesive hydrogel that regenerates bone using harmless visible light. The hydrogel addresses limitations of existing treatments by simultaneously achieving cross-linking and mineralization without separate bone grafts or adhesives.
Researchers at Nagoya University developed a novel porous metal-organic framework (MOF) that combines adsorption and dissolution to separate oxygen from argon. The 'adsorptive-dissolution' mechanism enhances gas separation efficiency and selectivity, with potential applications in industries requiring high-purity oxygen.
A team of researchers at TIFR Hyderabad has devised a strategy to enhance control over the separation of chemical isomers using a nanoporous metal-organic framework. This approach enables fine-tuning of molecular interactions and diffusion processes, allowing for more efficient and sustainable separation methods.
At Oak Ridge National Laboratory, 104 researchers have reached this milestone. The honorees are working on strategies including advanced manufacturing and carbon management.
Researchers at University of Wisconsin-Madison have invented a water-soluble chemical additive that improves the performance of bromide aqueous flow batteries, making them more efficient and long-lasting. The additive solves issues such as ion leakage and gas formation, enabling the use of these batteries for grid-scale storage.
A novel citric-acid-based method has been developed to recycle metals from NCM cathodes with minimal energy usage and lower emissions. The process involves a relatively small amount of citric acid, allowing for efficient separation and reclamation of lithium, nickel, cobalt, and manganese metals.
A research team led by Virginia Tech will test the geologic conditions at the Roanoke Cement Plant for storing 1.7 million metric tons of carbon dioxide each year for three decades. The project aims to prevent estimated 50 million metric tons of carbon emissions from entering the atmosphere.
A new type of cationic epoxy photoresist exhibits greater sensitivity to two-photon laser exposure, enabling fast writing speeds and fine features. The material was developed by a research team led by Professor Cuifang Kuang, who achieved lithography speeds of 100 mm/s and resolution of 170 nm.
Scientists have developed MINFLUX microscopy to measure distances within biomolecules, down to one nanometer, and with Ångström precision. This allows for the detection of different conformations of individual proteins and the observation of their interactions.
Researchers developed a simpler method to produce IL-immobilized membranes through gas-phase reactions, transforming nanoporous tubes into selective separation tools. The innovative vapor-phase transport treatment enables the creation of tailored membranes with improved performance and potential industrial applications.
Researchers at the University of Birmingham used Porous Liquids to separate harmful alcohols from water mixtures, consuming up to 88% of the PL pore volume. This innovation can reduce alcohol content in drinks while retaining flavor profiles, aligning with growing consumer demand for low-alcohol beverages.
A new study proposes a method to accurately heal dynamic cracks in membranes using nanoparticles, improving separation performances and durability. The technique has been shown to save up to 85% of energy consumption while extending the lifespan of the membrane.
Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory discovered a chemical 'chameleon' that can improve the process of purifying rare-earth metals. The ligand changes its behavior depending on experimental conditions, allowing for multiple separations in different orders.
Researchers at Sandia National Laboratories have created a cleaner way to separate rare-earth elements from complex mixtures. They designed sponges that selectively absorb one metal while excluding others, with the potential to improve purification processes globally.
A research team from Aarhus University has found a method to recycle polyurethane foam into its original components, polyol and isocyanate. The new process recovers up to 82 weight percent of the material, making it possible to reuse them as raw materials in new PUR products.
Scientists have created a polymer that selectively attracts specific substances from solutions when electrically activated, opening the door to sustainable chemical separation. This breakthrough could minimize waste and benefit from renewable energy sources in industrial settings.
A team of researchers has developed a simple and efficient method to separate and recover rare earth metals from complex mixtures, including Europium. This approach uses tetrathiometallates to reduce the need for chemical- and energy-intensive separation processes, making it a more environmentally friendly and economically viable option.
Researchers developed a technique to separate well-mixed mixtures, creating an economically viable process for synthesizing and purifying ionic liquids like [bmim][BF4]. High-purity [bmim][BF4] was produced with a purity exceeding 99%, and the recovered layer containing methylimidazole could be recycled.
A novel process for extracting metals from spent alkaline batteries has been developed, offering a promising solution for recycling critical materials. The technique achieves high extraction efficiencies of 99.6% for zinc and 86.1% for manganese, making it cheaper and more energy-efficient than existing methods.
Researchers developed a simple method to measure nano/microplastic concentrations in soil using spectroscopy, eliminating the need for separation processes. The method uses a wavelength combination of 220–260 nm and 280–340 nm to accurately quantify N/MPs in different soil types.
Texas A&M University has received a $1.5 million grant from the Environmental Protection Agency to develop a technology capable of separating hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) in two ways: designing and testing a separation technology, and incorporating machine learning-based data-driven decision frameworks for reverse logistics.
Researchers at Pohang University of Science & Technology have created metasurfaces embedded with quantum dots, enhancing their luminescence efficiency. The study achieved up to 25 times greater luminescence efficiency compared to a simple coating of quantum dots.
Mim Rahimi, an assistant professor at the University of Houston, has received a National Science Foundation CAREER award to advance electrochemical carbon capture by employing engineered soft interfaces. His research aims to enhance carbon dioxide separation performance and system energetics.
Researchers developed polymeric protective films to improve anode interface stability in sulfide-based all-solid-state batteries. The films, made from various polymers, showed improved interfacial stability and high-capacity retention rates after multiple cycles.
Researchers developed a novel reactor design that efficiently converts CO2 emissions from small boilers into methane fuel. The design features a distributed feed and optimal gas mixture composition, resulting in improved temperature control and increased methane production.