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A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Materials Science and Engineering".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 May 2019) | Viewed by 32910

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Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Gang Wei

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Guest Editor

1. College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China
2. Faculty of Production Engineering, University of Bremen, D-28359 Bremen, Germany
Interests: protein/peptide molecular self-assembly; synthesis and application of biomimetic nanomaterials; biological nanomaterials and biomedical engineering
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Prof. Dr. Aiguo Wu

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Guest Editor

CAS Key Laboratory of Magnetic Materials and Devices, Key Laboratory of Additive Manufacturing Materials of Zhejiang Province, & Division of Functional Materials and Nanodevices, Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo, Zhejiang, 315201, P. R. China
Interests: nanomaterials; biomaterials; sensors and biosensors; aerogels; water treatments

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Water is the source of life and one of the most important material resources for human survival and development. Although 71% of the Earth’s surface is covered with water, freshwater resources that can be directly used by humans, such as river water, freshwater lakes and shallow groundwater, account for only 0.03% of the total water. Moreover, due to the rapid development of industries and increasing human activities, such as metal plating, fertilizers, tanneries, mining, paper, batteries, pesticides, etc., many harmful inorganic and organic pollutants are released into water, which seriously endangers the freshwater resource and ecological environment. Therefore, it is significant to analyze and remove these inorganic and organic pollutants from wastewater.

In recent years, various analytical methods, such as colorimetric, fluorescent, electrochemical, and electronic sensors, have been utilized to determine toxic ions, small molecules, biomacromolecules, and others from water system. In addition, a lot of nanomaterials (polymer and inorganic membranes) and purification techniques (chemical precipitation, adsorption, ion exchange, membrane filtration, electrochemistry, and phytoremediation) have been used to remove both inorganic and organic pollutants from water for wastewater purification. However, it is still necessary to develop novel analytical methods to detect toxic substrates from water and explore novel materials for water purification with higher efficiency.

This Special Issue is therefore dedicated to “New Materials and Technologies for Environmental Science” and it intends to welcome contributions on, but not limited to, the following subjects:

Analytical methods for detecting of pollutants in water
Sensors and biosensors
Fabrication and applications of nanoporous membranes
New materials synthesis and environmental science
New techniques for water purification
Performance analysis
Pollutant impact analysis
Recyclability of materials
Adsorption and removal mechanism

Dr. Gang Wei
Prof. Aiguo Wu
Guest Editors

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Keywords

Analytical methods
Sensors and biosensors
Heavy metal ions detection
Nanomaterials
Nanoporous membranes
Water purification
Removal of pollutants
Treatment technology
Recyclability

Published Papers (11 papers)

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Editorial

Jump to: Research

4 pages, 160 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Special Issue on “New Materials and Techniques for Environmental Science”

by Gang Wei and Aiguo Wu

Appl. Sci. 2019, 9(17), 3515; https://doi.org/10.3390/app9173515 - 27 Aug 2019

Viewed by 1514

Abstract

Water is the source of life and one of the most important material resources for human survival and development [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Materials and Techniques for Environmental Science)

Research

Jump to: Editorial

12 pages, 2264 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Preparation of Multicycle GO/TiO₂ Composite Photocatalyst and Study on Degradation of Methylene Blue Synthetic Wastewater

by Zhongtian Fu, Song Zhang and Zhongxue Fu

Appl. Sci. 2019, 9(16), 3282; https://doi.org/10.3390/app9163282 - 10 Aug 2019

Cited by 33 | Viewed by 3118

Abstract

A series of composite photocatalysts were prepared by using graphene oxide (GO) prepared by modified Hummers method and TiO₂ hydrogel prepared by using butyl titanate as raw materials. The composite photocatalyst was characterized through scanning electron microscope（SEM）, x ray diffraction （XRD）, and Raman spectroscopy, and the degradation effect of pure TiO₂ and composite photocatalyst on methylene blue (MB) dye wastewater under different experimental conditions was studied. The results showed that TiO₂ in composite photocatalyst was mainly anatase phase and its photocatalytic activity was better than pure TiO₂. When the addition of GO reached 15 wt%, the photocatalytic activity was the highest. When 200 mg composite photocatalyst was added to 200 mL synthetic wastewater with a concentration of 10 mg/L and an initial pH of about 8, the degradation rate could reach 95.8% after 2.5 h. It is presumed that the photogenerated charges of GO/TiO₂ composite photocatalyst may directly destroy the luminescent groups in the MB molecule and thus decolorize the wastewater, and no other new luminescent groups are generated during the treatment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Materials and Techniques for Environmental Science)

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10 pages, 3242 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Waterproof Aerated Bricks from Stone Powder Waste through Nano-TiO₂ Structured Hydrophobic Surface Modification

by Tao Li, Shaopeng Zeng, Yaxiong Ji, Boxu Shen, Zhuangmiao Wang, Hong Zhong and Shifeng Wang

Appl. Sci. 2019, 9(13), 2619; https://doi.org/10.3390/app9132619 - 28 Jun 2019

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3305

Abstract

To eliminate the negative impacts of waste stone powder that arises from stone processing, the waste was recycled into aerated bricks with a porous structure that exhibited exceptional properties when applied in buildings. However, the pores easily absorb rainwater and dust, causing performance degradation and mold growth inside. In this paper, we have developed through hydrothermal reactions an environmentally friendly aqueous suspension, containing homemade highly dispersive TiO₂ nanoparticles modified with super-hydrophobic groups on the surface. The suspension was coated onto the aerated bricks, creating a super-hydrophobic surface with a highly textured hierarchical structure. A large contact angle of 146° tested on the surface and negligible water absorption for 24 h immersion demonstrate the excellent water proofing performance, holding a great promise for large scale applications in construction and buildings. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Materials and Techniques for Environmental Science)

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13 pages, 4971 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Characterization of Slag Cement Mortar Containing Nonthermally Treated Dried Red Mud

by Gyeongcheol Choe, Sukpyo Kang and Hyeju Kang

Appl. Sci. 2019, 9(12), 2510; https://doi.org/10.3390/app9122510 - 20 Jun 2019

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2337

Abstract

In this study, a method was suggested to produce dried powder from red mud (RM) sludge with 40%–60% water content without heating. The RM sludge is discharged from the Bayer process, which is used to produce alumina from bauxite ores. Nonthermally treated RM (NTRM) powder was produced by mixing RM sludge (50%), paper sludge ash (PSA, 35%), and high-calcium fly ash (HCFA, 15%). The physicochemical properties of NTRM were investigated by analyzing its water content, X-ray fluorescence spectra, X-ray diffraction patterns, and particle size. Moreover, to examine the applicability of NTRM as a construction material, slag cement mortar in which 20 wt% of the binder was replaced with NTRM was produced, and the compressive strength, porosity, and water absorption rate of the mortar were evaluated. Results indicated that NTRM of acceptable quality was produced when the water content in RM sludge decreased and CaO contained in PSA and HCFA reacted with moisture and formed portlandite. The NTRM-mixed mortar requires further examination in terms of durability because of the increased capillary voids and high water absorption rate, but its compressive strength is sufficient to enable its use in sidewalks, bike roads, and parking lots. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Materials and Techniques for Environmental Science)

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20 pages, 5837 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Study on the Self-Monitoring of Bending Fatigue Cumulative Damage for Carbon Nanofiber Polyurethane Cement

by Nan Yang and Quansheng Sun

Appl. Sci. 2019, 9(10), 2128; https://doi.org/10.3390/app9102128 - 24 May 2019

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2795

Abstract

Polyurethane cement (PUC) is a kind of high-strength composite bending and strengthening material that is made by adding an appropriate amount of super fine aggregate, such as cement, into the polyurethane matrix. Carbon nanofiber polyurethane cement (CNFPUC) prepared by adding an appropriate amount of carbon nanofiber (CNF) can significantly reduce the resistivity of PUC. In order to reveal the change regulation of electrical resistivity of CNFPUC under fatigue load, the four-point bending fatigue life test of CNFPUC under different temperatures and stress levels was conducted by using a multifunction test device on a mixture of UTM-30 asphalt. The results showed that the resistivity increased slightly with the increase of bending strain in the process of the CNFPUC bending test, which presented a two-stage trend of a small increase and a sharp increase, and the maximum bending tensile stress was up to 26.65 MPa. Under periodic load, the resistivity increased with the increase of stress level and cycle times. When the damage amount reached 90%, the fatigue resistivity increased sharply, and with the increase of stress level, the effect of temperature on resistivity decreased gradually. This study may provide a theoretical basis for practical engineering applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Materials and Techniques for Environmental Science)

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15 pages, 772 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Classification and Disposal Strategy of Excess Sludge in the Petrochemical Industry

by Lei Guo, Hongzhe Zhang, Xueyan Jiang, Yan Wang, Zhengwei Liu, Shiping Fang and Zhiyuan Zhang

Appl. Sci. 2019, 9(6), 1186; https://doi.org/10.3390/app9061186 - 20 Mar 2019

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3175

Abstract

The excess sludge in the petrochemical industry is large in quantity, complex in composition, and highly harmful, and its rational disposal is of great significance for environmental protection and sustainable development. In the present study, a classification and disposal strategy for the excess sludge in the petrochemical industry is proposed. The strategy first analyzes the dioxin, flammability, corrosivity, reactivity, and leaching properties of the sludge, from which the waste type of the sludge (general waste or hazardous waste) can be determined. Then, methods of disposal can be selected depending on the type of waste and the corresponding risk analysis, enabling rationalized disposal of the sludge. To verify the effectiveness and practicability of the proposed sludge classification and disposal strategy, research on petrochemical excess sludge samples (i.e., Ah, Bl, and Cq) originated from three different regions in China is carried out as a case study. The component analysis of the above three sludge samples revealed that they are all general wastes. In addition, the possibility of employing Cq sludge for landfill, soil modification, and greening mud, as well as the risk of landfill and incineration disposal in solid waste landfills are investigated. Furthermore, natural radioactive elements uranium and thorium in Cq sludge sample are studied. The results show that Cq sludge cannot be used for landfill, soil modification, and greening mud due to excessive arsenic content. The proposed strategy provides a basis for the selection of reasonable petrochemical excess sludge disposal methods. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Materials and Techniques for Environmental Science)

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13 pages, 5166 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Efficient Demulsification of Acidic Oil-In-Water Emulsions with Silane-Coupled Modified TiO₂ Pillared Montmorillonite

by Gaohong Zuo, Yingchao Du, Lianqi Wei, Bo Yu, Shufeng Ye, Xiaomeng Zhang and Hongshun Hao

Appl. Sci. 2019, 9(5), 1008; https://doi.org/10.3390/app9051008 - 11 Mar 2019

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3767

Abstract

Emulsified pickling waste liquid, derived from cleaning oily hardware, cause serious environmental and ecological issues. In this work, a series of grafted (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTES) TiO₂ pillared montmorillonite (Mt), Ti-Mt-APTES, are prepared and characterized for their assessment in demulsification of acidic oil-in-water emulsion. After titanium hydrate is introduced through ion exchange, montmorillonite is modified by hydrophobic groups coming from APTES. The Ti-Mt-APTES in acidic oil-in-water emulsion demulsification performance and mechanism are studied. Results show that the prepared Ti-Mt-APTES has favorable demulsification performance. The Ti-Mt-APTES demulsification efficiency (E_D) increased to an upper limit value when the mass ratio of APTES to the prepared TiO₂ pillared montmorillonite (Ti-Mt) (R_A/M) was 0.10 g/g, and the 5 h is the optimal continuous stirring time for breaking the acidic oil-in-water emulsion by Ti-Mt-APTES. The E_D increased to 94.8% when 2.5 g/L of Ti-Mt-APTES is added into the acidic oil-in-water emulsion after 5 h. An examination of the demulsification mechanism revealed that amphiphilicity and electrostatic interaction both played vital roles in oil-in-water separation. It is demonstrated that Ti-Mt-APTES is a promising, economical demulsifier for the efficient treatment of acidic oil-in-water emulsions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Materials and Techniques for Environmental Science)

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9 pages, 1095 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A New Approach for Economical Pretreatment of Corncobs

by Yan Wang, Yanci Hu, Pengfei Qi and Lei Guo

Appl. Sci. 2019, 9(3), 504; https://doi.org/10.3390/app9030504 - 01 Feb 2019

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2527

Abstract

Huge amounts of waste acid and wastewater are generated during the corncob pretreatment process, which limits chemical utilization of biomass resources to produce value-added chemicals and biofuels. In this work, a new approach, i.e., reuse of the corncob pretreatment liquid, is proposed toward diminishing acid and water consumption. Metal ions and soluble proteins in the pretreatment liquid were analyzed by the inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES) and the Coomassie rilliant blue G250 method, respectively. The results showed that the increament of soluble proteins and total metal ions in solution by three reuse rounds of the pretreatment liquid is nearly identical to that in solution by new added pretreatment liquid. Besides, the surface morphology of the corncob obtained by three reuse rounds of the liquid pretreatment did not exhibit significant difference comparing to that of the corncob acquired by new liquid pretreatment. Further, selection basis of an optimal reuse round of the pretreatment liquid is suggested depending on the effective removal of soluble proteins and metal ions from corncobs. By repeated use of the pretreatment liquid, the consumption of both acid and water during the corncob pretreatment process is expected to be significantly reduced. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Materials and Techniques for Environmental Science)

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16 pages, 20581 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Dispersion and Pressure Sensitivity of Carbon Nanofiber-Reinforced Polyurethane Cement

by Nan Yang, Kexin Zhang and Quansheng Sun

Appl. Sci. 2018, 8(12), 2375; https://doi.org/10.3390/app8122375 - 24 Nov 2018

Cited by 18 | Viewed by 2729

Abstract

The sensitivity of carbon nanofiber polyurethane cement (CNFPUC) was evaluated to determine whether the cement can act as an intelligent reinforcement material. The percolation thresholds at different polymer-to-cement ratios were determined through experimentation. Taking a specific carbon nanofiber (CNF) content of the percolation zone, several CNFPUC mixtures with different poly-ash ratios and silica fume contents were made. They were then sampled from the mixture and poured into a hexahedron CNFPUC test block; the coefficient of variation of resistance and the piezoresistive characteristics under axial load were examined and the blocks were examined by scanning electron microscope. The sensitivity of the CNFPUC mixture was evaluated via the resistance variation coefficient of a sample hexahedron. For different CNF dosages, the critical value of the variation coefficient was used to assess the sensitivity characteristic by fitting the conic curve. These findings may provide a novel and simple method for determining the sensitivity of CNFPUC mixtures. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Materials and Techniques for Environmental Science)

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13 pages, 4180 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Lead Ion Sorption by Perlite and Reuse of the Exhausted Material in the Construction Field

by Andrea Petrella, Danilo Spasiano, Vito Rizzi, Pinalysa Cosma, Marco Race and Nicoletta De Vietro

Appl. Sci. 2018, 8(10), 1882; https://doi.org/10.3390/app8101882 - 11 Oct 2018

Cited by 21 | Viewed by 3523

Abstract

This paper deals with the possibility of using perlite as a lead ion sorbent from industrial wastewater. Dynamic (laboratory column) operations were carried-out using beads, which were percolated by metals in a 2–10 mg·L⁻¹ concentration range. To this purpose, lead ion solutions were eluted in columns loaded with different amounts of sorbent (2–4 g) within a 1–2 mm bead size range, at 0.15–0.4 L·h⁻¹ flow-rates. Tests were performed to complete sorbent exhaustion (column breakthrough). The highest retention was obtained at 0.3 L·h⁻¹, with 4 g of perlite and 10 mg·L⁻¹ of influent, lead ion concentration. Film diffusion control was the kinetic step of the process in the Nerst stationary film at the solid/liquid interface. At the end of the sorption, perlite beads were used as lightweight aggregates in the construction field (i.e., for the preparation of cement mortars). Specifically, conglomerates showing different weights and consequently different thermal insulating and mechanical properties were obtained, with potential applications in plaster or panels. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Materials and Techniques for Environmental Science)

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12 pages, 3711 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Efficient Removal of Lead Ions from Water by a Low-Cost Alginate-Melamine Hybrid Sorbent

by Keteng Li, Genhua Wu, Min Wang, Xiaohong Zhou and Zhuqing Wang

Appl. Sci. 2018, 8(9), 1518; https://doi.org/10.3390/app8091518 - 01 Sep 2018

Cited by 24 | Viewed by 3279

Abstract

A low-cost alginate-melamine hybrid sorbent (named as Alg-Mel) was designed and synthesized for the removal of Pb²⁺ from water. The as-prepared Alg-Mel sorbent exhibited high affinity and selectivity to Pb²⁺. The selectivity coefficients of the Alg-Mel for Pb²⁺/Cd²⁺, Pb²⁺/Cu²⁺, Pb²⁺/Cr³⁺ and Pb²⁺/Co²⁺ were all over 7. It is found that the hybrid sorbent could uptake 95.4% of Pb²⁺ from Pb²⁺-containing solutions (0.48 mM), and the maximum adsorption capacity for Pb²⁺ reaches 1.39 mmol/g (287.7 mg/g), which is much higher than that of most reported lead ion-sorbents. Furthermore, the Alg-Mel can be regenerated by a simple acid-washing process and used repeatedly. The results of adsorption mechanism analysis reveal that the adsorption of Pb²⁺ by Alg-Mel is mainly ascribed to the chemical coordination and ion exchange effects. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Materials and Techniques for Environmental Science)

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