• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.89-92
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• 2020

Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) fibers are widely used in the textile industry, filter media, membrane distillation, electronic appliances, and construction. In this study, PTFE-polyethylene oxide (PEO) fibrous membranes were fabricated by emulsion electrospinning; subsequently, pure PTFE nanofibers were obtained via sintering. PTFE-PEO electrospinning solutions were prepared using different weight ratios to determine the optimized condition. As the ratio of the PEO increased, the fiber structure improved. Scanning electron microscopy and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy observations indicate that PEO is removed and PTFE fused gradually to form bonds among them during sintering. The obtained pristine PTFE membrane demonstrated hydrophobicity at 143.6° water contact angle and oleophilicity at 0° oil contact angle, which is known to be utilized for oil/water separation. A simple separation experiment was performed to remove oil droplets from water. The PTFE membrane exhibited good chemical stability and a high surface-area-to-volume nanofiber ratio. These excellent properties suggest that it is applicable to oil/water separation in harsh chemical environments.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.77-94
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• 2012

Amorphous ceramic membranes have been developed for gas phase separation and liquid phase separation (water treatment, wastewater treatment and separation of organic solvent or compounds) because of their thermal stability and solvent resistance. In this paper, ceramic membranes were categorized by membrane pore size and materials, and summarized for hydrogen separation, carbon dioxide separation, membrane reactor, pervaporation and water treatment with membrane structure and properties.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.277-286
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• 2019

In 2014, the first demineralization plant, using nanofiltration (NF) membrane coupled with renewable energies was realized at Al Annouar high school of Sidi Taibi, Kenitra, Morocco. This project has revealed difficulties related to the membrane performances loss (pressure increase, flux decline, poor water quality of the produced water and increase of energy consumption), as consequences of membrane fouling. To solve this problem, an autopsy of the membrane was done in order to determine the nature and origin of the fouling. The samples of membrane and fouling were then analyzed by scanning electron microscopy using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) connected with an energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) detection system and X-ray diffractometer (XRD). Moreover, three cleaning solutions (hydrochloric acid, nitric acid and sulfuric acid) were tested and assessed in a single cleaning step to find the suitable one for the fouled membrane to regain its initial permeability and performances. The analysis of the experimental results showed that the fouling layer is mainly composed of calcium carbonate (inorganic fouling). Results showed also that the permeability is improved by the hydrochloric acid cleaning (pH=3) with a cleaning efficiency of 93%. Cleaning efficiency did not exceed 75 % with nitric acid (pH=3) and 40 % with sulfuric acid (pH=3).

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.331-338
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• 2016

Many studies using tracers have been conducted to understand a physical process in a system. Rain-on-snow could accelerate snowmelt processes, which influences the hydrological process in both temperate and polar regions. Hydrological and ecological conditions will be affected by the amount and timing of discharge reaching the bottom of a snowpack. The discharge consists of the rain-on-snow, pore water penetrating into the snowpack and natural meltwater. In this study, after a rain-on-snow experiment, we conducted an isotopic hydrograph separation to distinguish rainwater and pore water from meltwater. Using the isotopic data of snow and meltwater from Lee et al. (2010), two components were separated based on the assumption that rainwater and pore water are new water and natural meltwater is old water. After the second rain-on-snow experiment, the maximum contributions of rainwater and pore water reached up to 69% of the discharge and then decreased. During the study period, the measured total discharge was 4153 L and 40% (based on hydrogen isotope) of rainwater and pore water was calculated in the discharge, which is not consistent with what Lee et al. (2016) calculated using chemical separation (63%). This inconsistency can be explained by how an end-member was defined in both approaches. The contributions of artificial rainonsnow and pore water to melwater discharge range between the two methods. This study will suggest a mixing calculation from isotopic compositions of the Southern Ocean.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.154-161
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• 2003

We measured the permeation characteristics of water with the hydrophobic PTFE membranes dependent on water temperature to confirm the separation of oxygen isotopes using Air Gap Membrane Distillation (AGMD) and Vacuum Enhanced Membrane Distillation (VEMD). Isotopic concentrations of $H_2^{16}O$ and $H_2^{18}O$ of the permeated water vapor were measured by Diode Laser Absorption Spectroscopy. Concentrations of the heavy oxygen isotopes in the permeated water vapor were decreased. Isotope separation coefficients for the hydrophobic PTFE membranes were 1.004∼1.01 depending on the experimental conditions. We observed the effects of air in membrane pores on the oxygen isotope separation. Isotope separation coefficients for the hydrophobic PTFE membranes without air in pores are higher than those for the membrane with air in pores.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.319-323
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• 1999

Asymmetric polyetherimide membranes were prepared by phase inversion method. In the modification of the skin layers of polyetherimide membranes, the effects of NaOH concentration on the morphology and pervaporation separation of water-isopropanol mixtures were investigated. With increasing concentration of NaOH solution, polyamicacid structure was formed by the hydrolysis of imide group of polyetherimide, and the thickness of dense layer of the asymmetric membrane increased. In the pervaporation separation of water-isopropanol mixtures the overall permeation rate decreased and the separation factor increased with increasing concentration of NaOH solution. However, when the concentration of NaOH solution was very high, the permeation rate increased but separation factor decreased. From these results, it was found that the permeation behaviors of asymmetric polyetherimide membranes depended upon the concentration of NaOH solution. These modified membranes showed that both the permeation rate and separation factor increased as the operating temperature increased.

• Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
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• 2022.05a
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• pp.149-149
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• 2022

Accurate quantitative evaluation of baseflow contribution to streamflow is imperative to address seasonal drought vulnerability, flood occurrence and groundwater management concerns for efficient and sustainable water resources management in watersheds. Several baseflow separation algorithms using recursive filters, graphical method and tracer or chemical balance have been developed but resulting baseflow outputs always show wide variations, thereby making it hard to determine best separation technique. Therefore, the current global shift towards implementation of artificial intelligence (AI) in water resources is employed to compare the performance of deep learning models with conventional hydrograph separation techniques to quantify baseflow contribution to streamflow of Piney River watershed, Tennessee from 2001-2021. Streamflow values are obtained from the USGS station 03602500 and modeled to generate values of Baseflow Index (BI) using Web-based Hydrograph Analysis (WHAT) model. Annual and seasonal baseflow outputs from the traditional separation techniques are compared with results of Long Short Term Memory (LSTM) and simple Gated Recurrent Unit (GRU) models. The GRU model gave optimal BFI values during the four seasons with average NSE = 0.98, KGE = 0.97, r = 0.89 and future baseflow volumes are predicted. AI offers easier and more accurate approach to groundwater management and surface runoff modeling to create effective water policy frameworks for disaster management.

• Proceedings of the Membrane Society of Korea Conference
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• 1996.10a
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• pp.34-39
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• 1996

There is much recent interests in applying membrane separation technologies, especially for organic liquid and vapor separation or removing dissolved organics from water. Pervaporation separation can separate azeotropic mixtures and mixtures close to boiling point, and it has a potential for energy saving process instead of distillation. Removal of chlorinated oraganics from water is other measure application for pervaporation separation. Contaminated pollutant must be removed from water, and a pervaporation can effectively remove the pollutant. Air pollution by organic vapor recently became serious enviromncntal problem, and removing organic vapor from air is important application of the membrane technology.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.886-893
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• 2000

The Characteristics of dividing the dispersed bubble, plug, and slug steam-water flow in the horizontal junctions with horizontal branches have been experimentally investigated. The experimental investigation of the separation phenomena in a $45^{\circ}$ horizontal wye with equal pipe inner diameter of 25 mm is presented to provide a data base for the development and verification of the analytical models. The phase separation and pressure distribution in the three legs of each test section are obtained through the set of measurements made in the present work. And the dependence of phase separation on different parameters, such as inlet quality and mass flux, is discussed.

• Clean Technology
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.140-147
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• 2013

In this study, chemical demulsification and electrical treatment methods were investigated for improving the efficiency of water separation from a water/bitumen emulsion. Two types of motor oils (GS Caltex, Deluxe Gold V 7.5 W/30 and, Hyundai gear oil 85 W/140) were used as model oils in basic experiments to investigate the effects of a demulsifier on water/oil emulsion separation. Chemical demulsifiers showing good water separation performance were then used in asphalt emulsion and bitumen emulsion separation trials. Maleic anhydride and e-caprolactam were shown to be good oil soluble demulsifiers and 2-ethylhexyl acrylate and acrylic acid were effective as water soluble demulsifiers. Based on the results obtained in basic experiments, these four demulsifiers were used in further asphalt emulsion experiments. The oil soluble demulsifiers showed higher water separation efficiencies than the water soluble demulsifiers. To investigate the water separation efficiency using a combined chemical and electrical treatment method, the water/bitumen emulsion was separated with the electrical oil treatment apparatus after a chemical demulsifier had been added to it.