ORCID Profile
0000-0003-4186-1563
Current Organisation
Yale University
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Research Topics
In Research Link Australia (RLA), "Research Topics" refer to ANZSRC FOR and SEO codes. These topics are either sourced from ANZSRC FOR and SEO codes listed in researchers' related grants or generated by a large language model (LLM) based on their publications.
Top 5 Research Topics
ANZSRC Field of Research (FoR)
Chemical Engineering | Water And Sanitary Engineering | Membrane And Separation Technologies | Membrane and Separation Technologies | Chemical Engineering Not Elsewhere Classified | Wastewater Treatment Processes | Functional Materials | Environmental Technologies |
ANZSRC Socio-Economic Objective (SEO)
Prevention and treatment of pollution | Environmental health | Waste management and recycling | Urban and Industrial Water Management | Land and water management | Industrial Energy Conservation and Efficiency | Land and water management | Industrial Chemicals and Related Products not elsewhere classified | Electricity, gas and water services and utilities | Farmland, Arable Cropland and Permanent Cropland Water Management
Related Links
Publications
Impact of organic and colloidal fouling on trace organic contaminant rejection by forward osmosis: Role of initial permeate flux
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 03-2014
Delayed development of specific thyroid hormone-regulated events in transthyretin null mice
Publisher: American Physiological Society
Date: 2013
DOI: 10.1152/AJPENDO.00216.2012
Abstract: Thyroid hormones (THs) are vital for normal postnatal development. Extracellular TH distributor proteins create an intravascular reservoir of THs. Transthyretin (TTR) is a TH distributor protein in the circulatory system and is the only TH distributor protein synthesized in the central nervous system. We investigated the phenotype of TTR null mice during development. Total and free 3′,5′,3,5-tetraiodo-l-thyronine (T 4 ) and free 3′,3,5-triiodo-l-thyronine (T 3 ) in plasma were significantly reduced in 14-day-old (P14) TTR null mice. TTR null mice also displayed a delayed suckling-to-weaning transition, decreased muscle mass, delayed growth, and retarded longitudinal bone growth. In addition, ileums from postnatal day 0 (P0) TTR null mice displayed disordered architecture and contained fewer goblet cells than wild type. Protein concentrations in cerebrospinal fluid from P0 and P14 TTR null mice were higher than in age-matched wild-type mice. In contrast to the current literature based on analyses of adult TTR null mice, our results demonstrate that TTR has an important and nonredundant role in influencing the development of several organs.
Osmotic dilution for sustainable greenwall irrigation by liquid fertilizer: Performance and implications
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 11-2015
Osmotic equilibrium in the forward osmosis process: Modelling, experiments and implications for process performance
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 03-2014
A Forward Osmosis–Membrane Distillation Hybrid Process for Direct Sewer Mining: System Performance and Limitations
Publisher: American Chemical Society (ACS)
Date: 15-11-2013
DOI: 10.1021/ES404056E
Abstract: This study demonstrates the robustness and treatment capacity of a forward osmosis (FO)-membrane distillation (MD) hybrid system for small-scale decentralized sewer mining. A stable water flux was realized using a laboratory-scale FO-MD hybrid system operating continuously with raw sewage as the feed at water recovery up to 80%. The hybrid system also showed an excellent capacity for the removal of trace organic contaminants (TrOCs), with removal rates ranging from 91 to 98%. The results suggest that TrOC transport through the FO membrane is governed by "solute-membrane" interaction, whereas that through the MD membrane is strongly correlated to TrOC volatility. Concentrations of organic matter and TrOCs in the draw solution increased substantially as the water recovery increased. This accumulation of some contaminants in the draw solution is attributed to the difference in their rejection by the FO and MD systems. We demonstrate that granular activated carbon adsorption or ultraviolet oxidation could be used to prevent contaminant accumulation in the draw solution, resulting in near complete rejection (>99.5%) of TrOCs.
Role of electrostatic interactions in the retention of pharmaceutically active contaminants by a loose nanofiltration membrane
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 12-2006
Removal of trace organic contaminants by the forward osmosis process
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2013
Rethinking wastewater risks and monitoring in light of the COVID-19 pandemic
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 19-08-2020
Impact of humic acid fouling on membrane performance and transport of pharmaceutically active compounds in forward osmosis
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 09-2013
DOI: 10.1016/J.WATRES.2013.05.013
Abstract: The impact of humic acid fouling on the membrane transport of two pharmaceutically active compounds (PhACs) - namely carbamazepine and sulfamethoxazole - in forward osmosis (FO) was investigated. Deposition of humic acid onto the membrane surface was promoted by the complexation with calcium ions in the feed solution and the increase in ionic strength at the membrane surface due to the reverse transport of NaCl draw solute. The increase in the humic acid deposition on the membrane surface led to a substantial decrease in the membrane salt (NaCl) permeability coefficient but did not result in a significant decrease in the membrane pure water permeability coefficient. As the deposition of humic acid increased, the permeation of carbamazepine and sulfamethoxazole decreased, which correlated well with the decrease in the membrane salt (NaCl) permeability coefficient. It is hypothesized that the hydrated humic acid fouling layer hindered solute diffusion through the membrane pore and enhanced solute rejection by steric hindrance, but not the permeation of water molecules. The membrane water and salt (NaCl) permeability coefficients were fully restored by physical cleaning of the membrane, suggesting that humic acid did not penetrate into the membrane pores.
Combined organic and colloidal fouling in forward osmosis: Fouling reversibility and the role of applied pressure
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 06-2014
Elements Provide a Clue: Nanoscale Characterization of Thin-Film Composite Polyamide Membranes
Publisher: American Chemical Society (ACS)
Date: 30-07-2015
Abstract: In this study, we exploit the nitrogen-sulfur elemental contrast of thin-film composite (TFC) polyamide membranes and present, for the first time, the application of two elemental analysis techniques, scanning transmission electron microscopy-energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (STEM-EDX) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) C60+ ion-beam sputtering, to elucidate the nanoscale structure and chemical composition of the polyamide-polysulfone interface. Although STEM-EDX elemental mapping depicts the presence of a dense polyamide layer at the interface, it is incapable of resolving the elemental contrast at nanoscale resolution at the interfacial zone. Depth-resolved XPS C60+ ion-beam sputtering enabled nanoscale characterization of the polyamide-polysulfone interface and revealed the presence of a heterogeneous layer that contains both polyamide and polysulfone signatures. Our results have important implications for future studies to elucidate the structure-property-performance relationship of TFC membranes.
Molecular Design of Liquid Crystalline Brush-Like Block Copolymers for Magnetic Field Directed Self-Assembly: A Platform for Functional Materials
Publisher: American Chemical Society (ACS)
Date: 05-2014
DOI: 10.1021/MZ500161K
Abstract: We report on the development of a liquid crystalline block copolymer with brush-type architecture as a platform for creating functional materials by magnetic-field-directed self-assembly. Ring-opening metathesis of
Comparison of the removal of hydrophobic trace organic contaminants by forward osmosis and reverse osmosis
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 05-2012
DOI: 10.1016/J.WATRES.2012.02.023
Abstract: We compared the rejection behaviours of three hydrophobic trace organic contaminants, bisphenol A, triclosan and diclofenac, in forward osmosis (FO) and reverse osmosis (RO). Using erythritol, xylose and glucose as inert reference organic solutes and the membrane pore transport model, the mean effective pore size of a commercial cellulose-based FO membrane was estimated to be 0.74 nm. When NaCl was used as the draw solute, at the same water permeate flux of 5.4 L/m(2) h (or 1.5 μm/s), the adsorption of all three compounds to the membrane in the FO mode was consistently lower than that in the RO mode. Rejection of bisphenol A and diclofenac were higher in the FO mode compared to that in the RO mode. Because the molecular width of triclosan was larger than the estimated mean effective membrane pore size, triclosan was completely rejected by the membrane and negligent difference between the FO and RO modes could be observed. The difference in the separation behaviour of these hydrophobic trace organics in the FO (using NaCl the draw solute) and RO modes could be explained by the phenomenon of retarded forward diffusion of solutes. The reverse salt flux of NaCl hinders the pore diffusion and subsequent adsorption of the trace organic compounds within the membrane. The retarded forward diffusion effect was not observed when MgSO(4) and glucose were used as the draw solutes. The reverse flux of both MgSO(4) and glucose was negligible and thus both adsorption and rejection of BPA in the FO mode were identical to those in the RO mode.
Standard Methodology for Evaluating Membrane Performance in Osmotically Driven Membrane Processes
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 03-2013
Thermally Switchable Aligned Nanopores by Magnetic‐Field Directed Self‐Assembly of Block Copolymers
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 04-06-2014
Abstract: A scalable approach for developing large area polymer films, with stimuli responsive vertically aligned nanopores is reported. Magnetic fields are used to create highly aligned hexagonally packed block copolymer cylindrical microdomains with order parameters exceeding 0.95. Selective etch removal of material yields nanoporous films which demonstrate reversible pore closure on heating.
Pharmaceutical Retention Mechanisms by Nanofiltration Membranes
Publisher: American Chemical Society (ACS)
Date: 30-08-2005
DOI: 10.1021/ES0507665
Abstract: This study investigates the retention mechanisms of three pharmaceuticals-sulfamethoxazole, carbamazepine, and ibuprofen-by nanofiltration (NF) membranes. Laboratory-scale experiments were carried out with two well-characterized NF membranes, with the goal of relating pharmaceutical retention behavior to membrane characteristics, physicochemical properties of the pharmaceutical molecules, and solution chemistry. Results show that retention of pharmaceuticals by a tight NF membrane is dominated by steric (size) exclusion, whereas both electrostatic repulsion and steric exclusion govern the retention of ionizable pharmaceuticals by a loose NF membrane. In the latter case, speciation of pharmaceuticals may lead to a dramatic change in retention as a function of pH, with much greater retention observed for ionized, negatively charged pharmaceuticals. For uncharged pharmaceutical species, intrinsic physicochemical properties of the pharmaceutical molecules can substantially affect their retention. In its neutral form, ibuprofen adsorbs considerably to the membrane because of its relatively high hydrophobicity. Similarly, polarity (represented by the dipole moment) can influence the separation of molecules that are cylindrical in shape because they can be directed to approach the membrane pores head-on due to attractive interaction between the molecule polar centers and fixed charged groups on the membrane surface. This phenomenon is probably inherent for high dipole moment organic compounds, and the governing retention mechanism remains steric in nature.
Scalable Fabrication of Polymer Membranes with Vertically Aligned 1 nm Pores by Magnetic Field Directed Self-Assembly
Publisher: American Chemical Society (ACS)
Date: 06-11-2014
DOI: 10.1021/NN505037B
Abstract: There is long-standing interest in developing membranes possessing uniform pores with dimensions in the range of 1 nm and physical continuity in the macroscopic transport direction to meet the needs of challenging small molecule and ionic separations. Here we report facile, scalabe fabrication of polymer membranes with vertically (i.e., along the through-plane direction) aligned 1 nm pores by magnetic-field alignment and subsequent cross-linking of a liquid crystalline mesophase. We utilize a wedge-shaped hiphilic species as the building block of a thermotropic columnar mesophase with 1 nm ionic nanochannels, and leverage the magnetic anisotropy of the hiphile to control the alignment of these pores with a magnetic field. In situ X-ray scattering and subsequent optical microscopy reveal the formation of highly ordered nanostructured mesophases and cross-linked polymer films with orientational order parameters of ca. 0.95. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (TEM) imaging provides direct visualization of long-range persistence of vertically aligned, hexagonally packed nanopores in unprecedented detail, demonstrating high-fidelity retention of structure and alignment after photo-cross-linking. Ionic conductivity measurements on the aligned membranes show a remarkable 85-fold enhancement of conductivity over nonaligned s les. These results provide a path to achieving the large area control of morphology and related enhancement of properties required for high-performance membranes and other applications.
Effects of feed and draw solution temperature and transmembrane temperature difference on the rejection of trace organic contaminants by forward osmosis
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 07-2013
Role of pressure in organic fouling in forward osmosis and reverse osmosis
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 11-2015
Nanofiltration of Hormone Mimicking Trace Organic Contaminants
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 10-2005
Membrane scaling and flux decline during fertiliser-drawn forward osmosis desalination of brackish groundwater
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 06-2014
DOI: 10.1016/J.WATRES.2014.03.034
Abstract: Fertiliser-drawn forward osmosis (FDFO) desalination has been recently studied as one feasible application of forward osmosis (FO) for irrigation. In this study, the potential of membrane scaling in the FDFO process has been investigated during the desalination of brackish groundwater (BGW). While most fertilisers containing monovalent ions did not result in any scaling when used as an FO draw solution (DS), diammonium phosphate (DAP or (NH4)2HPO4) resulted in significant scaling, which contributed to severe flux decline. Membrane autopsy using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and x-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis indicated that the reverse diffusion of DAP from the DS to the feed solution was primarily responsible for scale formation during the FDFO process. Physical cleaning of the membrane with deionised water at varying crossflow velocities was employed to evaluate the reversibility of membrane scaling and the extent of flux recovery. For the membrane scaled using DAP as DS, 80-90% of the original flux was recovered when the crossflow velocity for physical cleaning was the same as the crossflow velocity during FDFO desalination. However, when a higher crossflow velocity or Reynolds number was used, the flux was recovered almost completely, irrespective of the DS concentration used. This study underscores the importance of selecting a suitable fertiliser for FDFO desalination of brackish groundwater to avoid membrane scaling and severe flux decline.
Forward osmosis desalination of brackish groundwater: Meeting water quality requirements for fertigation by integrating nanofiltration
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 06-2013
Role of Reverse Divalent Cation Diffusion in Forward Osmosis Biofouling
Publisher: American Chemical Society (ACS)
Date: 09-11-2015
Abstract: We investigated the role of reverse alent cation diffusion in forward osmosis (FO) biofouling. FO biofouling by Pseudomonas aeruginosa was simulated using pristine and chlorine-treated thin-film composite polyamide membranes with either MgCl2 or CaCl2 draw solution. We related FO biofouling behavior-water flux decline, biofilm architecture, and biofilm composition-to reverse cation diffusion. Experimental results demonstrated that reverse calcium diffusion led to significantly more severe water flux decline in comparison with reverse magnesium permeation. Unlike magnesium, reverse calcium permeation dramatically altered the biofilm architecture and composition, where extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) formed a thicker, denser, and more stable biofilm. We propose that FO biofouling was enhanced by complexation of calcium ions to bacterial EPS. This hypothesis was confirmed by dynamic and static light scattering measurements using extracted bacterial EPS with the addition of either MgCl2 or CaCl2 solution. We observed a dramatic increase in the hydrodynamic radius of bacterial EPS with the addition of CaCl2, but no change was observed after addition of MgCl2. Static light scattering revealed that the radius of gyration of bacterial EPS with addition of CaCl2 was 20 times larger than that with the addition of MgCl2. These observations were further confirmed by transmission electron microscopy imaging, where bacterial EPS in the presence of calcium ions was globular, while that with magnesium ions was rod-shaped.
High Performance Nanofiltration Membrane for Effective Removal of Perfluoroalkyl Substances at High Water Recovery
Publisher: American Chemical Society (ACS)
Date: 31-05-2018
Abstract: We demonstrate the fabrication of a loose, negatively charged nanofiltration (NF) membrane with tailored selectivity for the removal of perfluoroalkyl substances with reduced scaling potential. A selective polyamide layer was fabricated on top of a poly(ether sulfone) support via interfacial polymerization of trimesoyl chloride and a mixture of piperazine and bipiperidine. Incorporating high molecular weight bipiperidine during the interfacial polymerization enables the formation of a loose, nanoporous selective layer structure. The fabricated NF membrane possessed a negative surface charge and had a pore diameter of ∼1.2 nm, much larger than a widely used commercial NF membrane (i.e., NF270 with pore diameter of ∼0.8 nm). We evaluated the performance of the fabricated NF membrane for the rejection of different salts (i.e., NaCl, CaCl
Microporous organic nanotube assisted design of high performance nanofiltration membranes
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 27-12-2022
DOI: 10.1038/S41467-022-35681-9
Abstract: Microporous organic nanotubes (MONs) hold considerable promise for designing molecular-sieving membranes because of their high microporosity, customizable chemical functionalities, and favorable polymer affinity. Herein, we report the use of MONs derived from covalent organic frameworks to engineer 15-nm-thick microporous membranes via interfacial polymerization (IP). The incorporation of a highly porous and interpenetrated MON layer on the membrane before the IP reaction leads to the formation of polyamide membranes with Turing structure, enhanced microporosity, and reduced thickness. The MON-modified membranes achieve a remarkable water permeability of 41.7 L m −2 h −1 bar −1 and high retention of boron (78.0%) and phosphorus (96.8%) at alkaline conditions (pH 10), surpassing those of reported nanofiltration membranes. Molecular simulations reveal that introducing the MONs not only reduces the amine molecule diffusion toward the organic phase boundary but also increases membrane porosity and the density of water molecules around the membrane pores. This MON-regulated IP strategy provides guidelines for creating high-permeability membranes for precise nanofiltration.
Relating rejection of trace organic contaminants to membrane properties in forward osmosis: Measurements, modelling and implications
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 02-2014
DOI: 10.1016/J.WATRES.2013.11.031
Abstract: This study elucidates the relationship between membrane properties and the rejection of trace organic contaminants (TrOCs) in forward osmosis (FO). An asymmetric cellulose triacetate (CTA) and a thin-film composite (TFC) polyamide FO membrane were used for this investigation. The effective average pore radius (rp), selective barrier thickness over porosity parameter (l/ε), surface charge, support layer structural parameter (S), pure water permeability coefficient (A) and salt (NaCl) permeability coefficient (B) of the two membranes were systematically characterised. Results show that measured rejection of TrOCs as a function of permeate water flux can be well described by the pore hindrance transport model. This observation represents the first successful application of this model, which was developed for pressure-driven nanofiltration, to an osmotically-driven membrane process. The rejection of charged TrOCs by the CTA and TFC membranes was high and was governed by both electrostatic repulsion and steric hindrance. The TFC membrane exhibited higher rejection of neutral TrOCs with low molecular weight than the CTA membrane, although the estimated pore size of the TFC membrane (0.42 nm) was slightly larger than that of the CTA membrane (0.37 nm). This higher rejection of neutral TrOCs by the TFC membrane is likely attributed to its active layer properties, namely a more effective active layer structure, as indicated by a larger l/ε parameter, and pore hydration induced by the negative surface charge.
Removal of Natural Hormones by Nanofiltration Membranes: Measurement, Modeling, and Mechanisms
Publisher: American Chemical Society (ACS)
Date: 13-02-2004
DOI: 10.1021/ES034952R
Abstract: The removal mechanisms of four natural steroid hormones-estradiol, estrone, testosterone, and progesterone-by nanofiltration (NF) membranes were investigated. Two nanofiltration membranes with quite different permeabilities and salt retention characteristics were utilized. To better understand hormone removal mechanisms, the membrane average pore size was determined from retention data of inert organic solutes of various molecular weights and a pore transport model that incorporates steric (size) exclusion and hindered convection and diffusion. Results indicate that, at the early stages of filtration, adsorption (or partitioning) of hormones to the membrane polymer is the dominant removal mechanism. Because the adsorptive capacity of the membrane is limited, the final retention stabilizes when the adsorption of hormones into the membrane polymer has reached equilibrium. At this later filtration stage, the overall hormone retention is lower than that expected based solely on the size exclusion mechanism. This behavior is attributed to partitioning and subsequent diffusion of hormone molecules in the membrane polymeric phase, which ultimately results in a lower retention. Hormone diffusion in the membrane polymeric matrix most likely depends on the size of the hormone molecule, hydrogen bonding of hormones to membrane functional groups, and hydrophobic interactions of the hormone with the membrane polymeric matrix.
Impact of solution chemistry on viral removal by a single-walled carbon nanotube filter
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 07-2010
DOI: 10.1016/J.WATRES.2010.04.023
Abstract: This study investigates the effectiveness of a single-walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) filter for removal of viruses from water. MS2 bacteriophage viral removal was examined over a range of environmentally relevant solution chemistries, spanning various ionic strengths, monovalent and alent salts, pH, and natural organic matter (NOM) concentrations. Viral removal by the SWNT filter was governed by physicochemical (depth) filtration. The removal of viruses increased at higher ionic strengths (NaCl) due to suppression of repulsive electrostatic interactions between viruses and SWNTs. Addition of alent salts, however, had varying impacts. While CaCl(2) increased virus removal, likely due to complexation of calcium ions to viral surfaces, addition of MgCl(2) reduced viral removal by the SWNT filter. Solution pH also had significant impact on viral removal as the interactions between viral particles and SWNTs changed from attractive below the virus isoelectric point (about pH 3.9) to repulsive at higher pH. Suwannee River NOM was shown to be detrimental to filter viral removal. Reduction of viral removal by NOM was attributed to adsorption of NOM macromolecules to viruses and SWNTs, thereby resulting in steric repulsive forces. Modifications of the filter to incorporate thicker SWNT layers mitigate the negative impacts of NOM on filter performance. This study has shown that while it is possible to attain high levels of viral removal over a broad range of solution chemistries, the extent of viral removal will be highly dependent on the specific solution chemistry of the treated water.
Boron transport in forward osmosis: Measurements, mechanisms, and comparison with reverse osmosis
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 04-0011
An Osmotic Membrane Bioreactor–Membrane Distillation System for Simultaneous Wastewater Reuse and Seawater Desalination: Performance and Implications
Publisher: American Chemical Society (ACS)
Date: 28-11-2017
Abstract: In this study, we demonstrate the potential of an osmotic membrane bioreactor (OMBR)-membrane distillation (MD) hybrid system for simultaneous wastewater reuse and seawater desalination. A stable OMBR water flux of approximately 6 L m
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