• Advances in nano research
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.183-190
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• 2020

The objectives of this research were the reduction of membrane fouling and improvement of sludge properties by using synthesized H-ZSM-5 and NH₄-ZSM-5 zeolites. These two nano zeolites were synthesized and added to the membrane bioreactor (MBR). Three similar MBRs with the same operational condition were used in order to evaluate their effect on the mentioned matters. The evaluated parameters were trans-membrane pressure (TMP), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), particle size distribution (PSD), soluble microbial product (SMP), extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) and, excitation-emission matrix (EEM). The MBR₀ was without any additional zeolite while 0.4 g/L of H-ZSM-5 and NH₄-ZSM-5 were added to MBR_HZSM-5 and MBR_NH4ZSM-5, respectively. The COD removal of the MBR₀, MBR_H-ZSM-5 and MBR_NH4-ZSM-5 were 87.5%, 93.3% and 94.6%, respectively. The TMP of the MBR_H-ZSM-5 was 45% less than MBR₀ whereas the reduction for MBR_NH4-ZSM-5 was 65.5%. Also results showed that both H-ZSM-5 and NH₄-ZSM-5 caused reduction in protein and polysaccharide related EPS but the NH₄-ZSM-5 had better performance toward the elimination of organic compounds.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.70-83
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• 2005

By supplying air intermittently in various mode, the effects of oxic/anoxic time ratio and air scrubbing in aeration condition on the membrane flux and permeability were investigated. When suction pump stops, vacuum pressure remains inside the suction pump. Therefore, the effect of remaining vacuum pressure in the suction pump on fouling of membrane was investigated. The effect of EPS (Extra cellular Polymeric Substance) which is generated due to the long SRT and high concentration of MLSS and the dose of coagulant on the membrane were also investigated. The suitable oxic/anoxic time ratio for the best removal efficiency of organic matter and nitrogenous matter was 40 minutes (Oxic) : 20 minutes (Anoxic). At this time ratio, alum was dosed into the aeration tank. The result of dosing alum was that the concentration of alum solution might affect nitrification and denitrification. To remove 1 mg/L of phosphorus in MBR process, it needs 0.75 mg/L of alum solution.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.158-167
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• 2023

The increasing concerns for environmental pollution and depletion of natural resources have prompted the development of environmentally sustainable technologies. Pervaporation has garnered attention in recent decades due to its low energy consumption, environmental impact, and performance efficiency. This method has been used to separate chemical species and dehydrate organic solvents, as the membranes can be fine-tuned to fulfill the desired selectivity. Several separation processes, such as reverse osmosis and distillation, are being utilized in both experimental settings and industrial applications. However, pervaporation has several advantages, such as low operating pressure and temperature and a higher rejection rate. Nonetheless, the current state of membrane technology alone can't suffice the demands of practical applications. Composite membranes, on the other hand, can leverage the benefits of both organic and inorganic materials. Many studies have effectively incorporated inorganic nanomaterials such as graphene oxide (GO) and MXene (MX) in polymeric membranes to tackle the current limitations. This review investigates the recent development of 2D composite membranes in pervaporation and evaluates performance enhancement.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.57-65
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• 2022

Recently, computer simulation research has been rapidly increasing due to the development of computer and software technology. In particular, various computational simulation results related to polymers, which were previously limited by problems of the number of atoms and model size, are being published. In this study, a study was conducted to analyze the mechanical properties, one of the important properties for using a polymer material as a membrane, using molecular dynamics (MD) simulation. To this end, polyethylene (PE) and polystyrene (PS), which are commercial polymer materials with widely reported related properties, were selected as polymer models and the tensile properties of each polymer were compared through the difference in main chain length. Through the density, radius of gyration, and scattering analysis, it was found that the model produced in this study was in good agreement with the mechanical property trends obtained in the actual experiment. It is expected to enable the prediction of mechanical properties of various polymer materials for membrane fabrication.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.552-560
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• 2017

Quorum quenching (QQ) bacteria entrapped in a polymeric composite hydrogel (QQ medium) have been successfully applied in membrane bioreactors (MBRs) for effective biofouling control. However, in order to bring QQ technology closer to practice, the physical strength and lifetime of QQ media should be improved. In this study, enforcement of physical strength, as well as an extension of the lifetime of a previously reported QQ bacteria entrapping hollow cylinder (QQ-HC), was sought by adding a dehydration procedure following the cross-linking of the polymeric hydrogel by inorganic compounds like $Ca^{2+}$ and boric acid. Such prepared medium demonstrated enhanced physical strength possibly through an increased degree of physical cross-linking. As a result, a longer lifetime of QQ-HCs was confirmed, which led to improved biofouling mitigation performance of QQ-HC in an MBR. Furthermore, QQ-HCs stored under dehydrated condition showed higher QQ activity when the storage time lasted more than 90 days owing to enhanced cell viability. In addition, the dormant QQ activity after the dehydration step could be easily restored through reactivation with real wastewater, and the reduced weight of the dehydrated media is expected to make handling and transportation of QQ media highly convenient and economical in practice.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.99-107
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• 2004

Carbon molecular sieve (CMS) membranes were prepared by pyrolysis of polyimides having carboxylic acid groups and applied to the hydrogen separation. The polymeric membranes having carboxylic acid groups showed different steric properties as compared with polymeric membranes having other side groups ($-CH_3$ and $-CF_3$) because of the hydrogen bond between the carboxylic acid groups. However, the microporous CMS membranes were significantly affected by the decomposable side groups evidenced from the wide angle X-rat diffraction, nitrogen adsorption isotherms, and single gas permeation measurement. Furthermore, the gas separation properties of the CMS membranes were essentially affected by the pyrolysis temperature. As a result, the CMS membranes Prepared by Pyrolysis of polyimide containing carboxylic acid froups at $700^{\circ}C$ showed the $H_2$ permeability of 3,809 Baller [$1{\times}10^{-10}$ H $\textrm{cm}^$(STP)cm/$\textrm{cm}^2$.s.cmHg], $H_2$/$N_2$, selectivity of 46 and $H_2$/$CH_4$ selectivity of 130 while the CMS membranes derived from polyimide showed the H$_2$ permeability of 3,272 Barrer, $H_2$/$N_2$ selectivity of 136 and $H_2$/$CH_4$ selectivity of 177.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.33 no.8
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• pp.2489-2493
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• 2012

A new fluorescent system (acridine/RTIL hybrid gel) confined in the 3D micro-structure of a poly(lactic acid) membrane were prepared from 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium-based ionic liquids ([bmim]X (X = $SbF_6$, $NTf_2$, Cl); RTILs), poly(lactic acid) (PLA), and acridine via the sol-gel route. SEM images showed that, in the presence of [bmim]$SbF_6$ and [bmim]$NTf_2$, 3D-ly paticulated structures were created inside the PLA membranes and acridine/RTIL hybrid gels were confined in gabs of particulates. However, the use of [bmim]Cl induced the formation of a 3D-ly porous structure containing the hybrid gel of acridine/[bmimCl in the micropores. The three fluorescent systems exhibited different fluorescence behaviors (fluorescence maximum and intensity) depending on the C2-H acidity scale of the RTILs (or their anion type). Acridine gels hybridized with [bmim]$SbF_6$ and [bmim]$NTf_2$ showed blue fluorescence with relative high intensity, whereas the hybrid gel with [bmim]Cl exhibited almost no fluorescence under dry conditions. However, the acridine/[bmim]Cl hybrid system in the micro-porous PLA membrane started to emit fluorescent light under humid conditions and showed a possible response, indicating that it could be applied as a humidity sensor.

• Carbon letters
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.40-44
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• 2013

The bipolar plate is the most important and most costly component of proton exchange membrane fuel cells. The development of a suitable low density bipolar plate is scientifically and technically challenging due to the need to maintain high electrical conductivity and mechanical properties. Here, bipolar plates were developed from different particle sizes of natural and expanded graphite with phenolic resin as a polymeric matrix. It was observed that the particle size of the reinforcement significantly influences the mechanical and electrical properties of a composite bipolar plate. The composite bipolar plate based on expanded graphite gives the desired mechanical and electrical properties as per the US Department of Energy target, with a bulk density of 1.55 $g.cm^{-3}$ as compared to that of ~1.87 $g.cm^{-3}$ for a composite plate based on natural graphite (NG). Although the bulk density of the expanded-graphite-based composite plate is ~20% less than that of the NG-based plate, the I-V performance of the expanded graphite plate is superior to that of the NG plate as a consequence of the higher conductivity. The expanded graphite plate can thus be used as an electromagnetic interference shielding material.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.141-150
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• 1999

A novel permeation apparatus was developed which could make the on-line measurements of both flux transient and permeate composition in gas permeation. The measurement by using the per¬meation apparatus was based on the continuous-flow technique. The transient measurement allowed the simultaneous determinations of permeation characteristics, such as, permeability, diffusion and solubility coefficients, and activation energies only with one experiment. The apparatus performance was illustrated by conducting the permeation of pure gases through two glassy polyimides and a rubbery poly (dimethyl¬siloxane) membranes, respectively. A comparison of the permeation characteristics determined from the flux transients was made with the literature values for verifying the confidence and accuracy of the measurement. Also, the analysis of the permeation transients obtained was carried out for the close investigation of the permeation behaviors of gases through membrane.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.353-359
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• 2005

This study was conducted to evaluate the operation characteristics with aeration time in intermittent aeration membrane bioreactor. The BOD removal efficiency rate of this process was over than 97% regardless of aeration on/off time. To get over than 82% of nitrogen removal efficiency rate, aeration off time needs more than 70 minutes in reactor. Specific denitrfication rate was 2.68 mg $NO_3-N/gMv/hr$ in 40/80 min aeration on/off time, was 2.6 times more than 60/60 min, and 1.4 times more than 50/70 min in 6,300 mg/L of MLSS concentration. Specific nitrification rate was 1.96 mg $NH_4-N/gMv/hr$ in 50/70 min, was 1.4 times more than 40/80 min, but it was effectded little upon nitrification. Microbial activity was effected little according to aeration on/off time, oxygen demend was reduced according to aeration off time increased and microbial concentration increased. The longer aeration off time become, the higher Extraceller Pollymeric Substance (EPS), 50/70 min and 40/80 min in aeration on/off time was increased 1.6 times and 2.7 times, respectively more than 60/60 min because of increase of operation pressure.