A surface modification of polyamide 6 (PA), polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polypropylene (PP) textiles was performed using zinc oxide to obtain antibacterial layer. ZnO microrods were synthesized on ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) as a nucleus centers by chemical bath deposition (CBD) process. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) indicated that wurzite ZnO microrods were obtained on every sample. Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and Liquid Absorption Capacity (LAC) analysis indicate that the amount and structure of antibacterial layer is dependent on roughness and wettability of textile surface. The rougher and more hydrophilic is the material, the more ZnO were deposited. All studied textiles show significant bactericidal activity against Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). A possible mechanism and difference in sensitivity between Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria to ZnO is discussed. Considering that antibacterial activity of ZnO is caused by Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) generation, an influence of surface to volume ratio and crystalline parameters is also discussed.

The mass production of lithium-ion batteries and lithium-rich e-products that are required for electric vehicles, energy storage devices, and cloud-connected electronics is driving an unprecedented demand for lithium resources. Current lithium production technologies, in which extraction and purification are typically achieved by hydrometallurgical routes, possess strong environmental impact but are also energy-intensive and require extensive operational capabilities. The emergence of selective membrane materials and associated electro-processes offers an avenue to reduce these energy and cost penalties and create more sustainable lithium production approaches. In this review, lithium recovery technologies are discussed considering the origin of the lithium, which can be primary sources such as minerals and brines or e-waste sources generated from recycling of batteries and other e-products. The relevance of electro-membrane processes for selective lithium recovery is discussed as well as the potential and shortfalls of current electro-membrane methods.

A facile and low-cost method has been developed for separation of oily wastewater. Polyvinylidene fluoride/polyacrylonitrile (PVDF/PAN) nanofibers laminated on a supporting layer were tested. In order to create highly permeable and fouling-resistant membranes, surface modifications of both fibers were conducted. The results of oily wastewater separation showed that, after low vacuum microwave plasma treatment with Argon (Ar) and chemical modification with sodium hydroxide (NaOH), the membranes had excellent hydrophilicity, due to the formation of active carboxylic groups. However, the membrane performance failed during the cleaning procedures. Titanium dioxide (TiO₂) was grafted onto the surface of membranes to give them highly permeable and fouling-resistance properties. The results of the self-cleaning experiment indicated that grafting of TiO₂ on the surface of the membranes after their pre-treatment with Ar plasma and NaOH increased the permeability and the anti-fouling properties. A new surface modification method using a combination of plasma and chemical treatment was introduced.

Salinity gradient energy is a prominent alternative and maintainable energy source, which has considerable potential. Reverse electrodialysis (RED) is one of the most widely studied methods to extract this energy. Despite the considerable progress in research, optimization of RED process is still ongoing. In this study, effects of the number of membrane pairs, ratio of salinity gradient and feed velocity on power generation via the reverse electrodialysis (RED) system were investigated by using Fujifilm cation exchange membrane (CEM Type 2) and FujiFilm anion exchange membrane (AEM Type 2) ion exchange membranes. In the literature, there is no previous study based on a RED system equipped with Fujifilm AEM Type II and CEM Type II membranes that have homogeneous bulk structure. Using 400 µm of intermembrane distance, maximum obtainable power density by 5 pairs of Fujifilm membranes at 1:45 salinity ratio and with a linear flow rate of 0.833 cm/s was 0.426 W/m².

A method for the synthesis of anion-exchange membranes by the grafting of ethylenediamine (EDA), diethylenetriamine (DETA) or pentaethylenehexamine (PEHA) onto poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) film has been presented. The chemical structure was determined by means of Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and the membranes were characterized by ion-exchange capacity, chloride and nitrogen contents, water regain and surface energetics. The obtained membranes were evaluated in the Donnan dialysis (DD) of hexavalent chromium solutions. Among the membranes, those modified with EDA and DETA showed the best separation features: high flux and high recovery factor (RF). The highest degree of recovery was observed for membranes prepared by the casting of PVC solution in (THF), followed by grafting EDA.

This paper shows the investigation for the optimal anion exchange membranes (AEM) supporting the desorption step of the HCDI process. The chemical modification of PVDF by diethylene triamine created the AEM. To confirm the ion-exchange character of materials, the chemical analysis with FTIR, SEM, surface energetics, and transportation analysis were applied. Next, the investigated membranes were applied for the sorption and desorption of lithium chloride. The specific sorptive parameters were higher according to the incorporation of the nitrogen groups into polymeric chains. Considering the desorption efficiency, membranes modified by four days were selected for further evaluation. The application in the HCDI process allowed reaching the desorption efficiency at 90%. The system composed of PVDF-DETA4 membrane was suitable for sorption 30 mg/g of salt. By applying the PVDF-DETA4 membrane, it is possible to concentrate LiCl with four factors. The anion exchange character of the developed membrane was confirmed by adsorption kinetics and isotherms of chlorides, nitrates, sodium, and lithium. The prepared membrane could be considered a perspective material suitable for concentration salt with electro-driven technologies for the above reasons.