Recent advances in osmotic microbial fuel cell technology: A review

Integration of Forward Osmosis (FO) and Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC) technology is called Osmotic Microbial Fuel Cell (OMFC). It has several advantages, including improved performance in electricity generation and drinking water recovery compared to MFC. Making OMFC efficient for treatment and resource recovery, basic concepts of MFC and FO must be properly understood and implemented. Various researchers have focused on its components, degradation of wastewater, electron and proton transport mechanism, designs, the role of draw solution, etc. Recent publications have also shown growth in FO membrane composition and OMFC design. Utilizations of an efficient draw solution for better compatibility of anodic bacteria along with its recovery are also a big challenge. The aim of this review paper is to compile all the scattered information on the above aspects and present it in a more logical way in one place for the easy understanding of researchers. The paper also focuses on encouraging OMFC technology for commercial use by developing cost-effective FO membranes and electrodes, improving bacterial metabolic activity for energy production, and enhancing draw solution and cost-effective draw solution recovery methods. Therefore, OMFC technology seems the ultimate solution for wastewater treatment, electricity generation, and freshwater recovery in the coming future.     

NaOH-NaAl(OH)4-H2O溶液体系渗透系数的测定及离子作用模型

用等压法测定了在303.15 K时总碱质量摩尔浓度mNaOH(T)从0.61 mol/kg到5.72 mol/kg, 苛性比αK从1.98到7.04的NaOH-NaAl(OH)4-H2O溶液体系的等压平衡浓度和渗透系数, 并得到该溶液体系的水活度. 用Pitzer模型对实验结果进行了参数化研究, 拟合求得了离子相互作用参数. 用Pitzer模型计算的渗透系数值与实验结果一致. 用获得的参数计算了NaOH和NaAl(OH)4在NaOH-NaAl(OH)4-H2O溶液体系中的活度系数, 其值随总碱质量摩尔浓度的增加呈增加的趋势.     

Osmotic and activity coefficients in the binary solutions of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride and bromide in methanol or ethanol at T = 298.15 K from isopiestic measurements

Osmotic coefficients of the binary solutions of two room-temperature ionic liquids (1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride and bromide) in methanol and ethanol have been measured at T = 298.15 K by the isopiestic method. The experimental osmotic coefficient data have been correlated using a forth-order polynomial in terms of (molality)^0.5, with both, ion interaction model of Pitzer and electrolyte non-random two liquid (e-NRTL) model of Chen. The values of vapor pressures of above-mentioned solutions have been calculated from the osmotic coefficients. The model parameters fitted to the experimental osmotic coefficients have been used for prediction of the mean ionic activity coefficients of those ionic liquids in methanol and ethanol.     

Alginate-coated microporous PTFE membranes for use in the osmotic distillation of oily feeds

Osmotic distillation (OD) has two main advantages over thermally driven concentration processes attributable to its ambient temperature operation. These are maintenance of the integrity of thermally labile components and minimisation of the loss of volatile flavour/fragrance components. However, a major disadvantage of osmotic distillation is the potential for wet-out of the hydrophobic membrane when fouled by surface-active agents such as citrus oils. In this work, sodium alginate hydrogel coatings were applied to PTFE membranes for protection against wet-out. The coating technique developed for this purpose resulted in a 10-fold increase in adhesion strength over that achievable by simple casting. This was effected by increased intrusion of the coating solution meniscus into the porous PTFE structure by surface tension adjustment with ethanol, precipitation of sodium alginate by the selective removal of water, and finally alginate crosslinking. Precipitation occurred both on the surface and in the void spaces between the PTFE fibres, thereby providing better anchorage for the coating. The coating decreased the overall OD mass transfer coefficient by less than 5%. OD flux measurements using coated membranes with 0.2, 0.4 and 0.8 wt.% orange oil–water mixtures over a period of 300 min indicated that the coating was successful in protecting the membrane against wet-out. An uncoated membrane was immediately wet out by a 0.2 wt.% orange oil–water OD feed. In a separate trial, a coated membrane retained its integrity after contact with a 1.2 wt.% oil–water mixture for 72 h.     

Efficient kefiran production by Lactobacillus kefiranofaciens ATCC 43761 in submerged cultivation: Influence of osmotic stress and nonionic surfactants,and potential bioactivities

Kefiran is a water soluble polysaccharide produced by Lactobacillus kefiranofaciens ATCC 43761. It has wide potential applications in food, pharmaceutical and nutraceutical industries. To the best of our knowledge, there have been no previous reports on the effect of osmotic stress and ionic surfactants on kefiran production by L. kefiranofaciens ATCC 43761. Accordingly, the current work aimed at optimizing kefiran production as affected by osmotic stress and nonionic surfactants in submerged cultivation system. Afterwards, the work was extended to investigate cytotoxic as well as antioxidant potentials of kefiran. Firstly, different osmolarities, different ionic surfactants (Triton X-100, Tween 20, Tween 80) as well as their concentrations and addition time were evaluated. The kinetics of cell growth and kefiran production were evaluated before and after the addition of surfactants. Results clearly demonstrated that osmotic stress and surfactant addition had a stimulatory effect on kefiran production. Using the optimal medium osmolality, 550 mOsmol.kg⁻¹, kefiran production was enhanced from 1.29 to about 1.38 g.L⁻¹. Furthermore, Triton X-100 was found to be the best surfactant stimulating kefiran production when added at a concentration of 1.0 g.L⁻¹ at the onset of cultivation process (0 h). This increased kefiran production from 1.38 g.L⁻¹ to 1.62 g.L⁻¹. To summarize, the maximal kefiran production can be enhanced using 550 mOsmol.kg⁻¹ and by adding 1.0 g.L⁻¹ of Triton X-100 at 0 h. The new optimized medium showed an increase of about 25.6% in kefiran production (1.29 up to 1.62 g.L⁻¹). After this step, the process was further optimized in 16-L stirred tank bioreactor. Maximal kefiran production reached 2.32 g.L⁻¹ and 1.87 g.L⁻¹ in bioreactor under control and un-controlled pH conditions, respectively, corresponding to 72.9 and 45.0% increase from the initial production titer, respectively. The produced kefiran exhibited promising anticancer activity against breast cancer (MCF-7) cells, with an IC₅₀ value of 193.89 μg.mL⁻¹. Also, kefiran showed 96.58% radical scavenging activity at 100 μg/mL, with an ED₅₀ recorded of 12.29 ± 0.98 μg.mL⁻¹.     

Osmotic coefficient data and an excess Gibbs energy function for single-phase complex system of glucose + alcohol + water

Thermodynamics of single-phase complex systems of glucose + alcohol + water is significantly important in food and pharmaceutical industries. The water activity is a practical parameter in thermodynamic characterization in food and pharmaceutical and other biological industries, which its value has an important role in growing microorganisms and rate of reactions. In this work, the NRTL-NRF excess Gibbs function has extended for ternary system of water, different alcohols (as second molecular solvent) and a special molecular solute like a sugar. The extended NRTL-NRF model with three parameters was used for correlation of the osmotic coefficient of the aqueous systems of glucose and alcohol at different concentrations. The data of the osmotic coefficient of water for these systems are obtained by an isopiestic method. The adjustable parameters are calculated by optimization of the experimental data of the osmotic coefficient using the Nedler–Mead algorithm. It is shown that the results of the modified NRTL-NRF model demonstrate low deviation from the experimental data.     

Evaluation of coelectroosmotic capillary zone electrophoresis for the rapid analysis of twelve aromatic sulphonate compounds

Summary Coelectroosmotic capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) has been investigated as a means of rapid analysis of twelve aromatic sulphonate compounds. The main factors affecting reversal of electroosmotic flow (EOF)—type of osmotic modifier and concentration-were studied. Two types of osmotic modifier, an alkylammonium salt (cetyltrimethylammonium bromide, CTAB) and a cationic polyelectrolyte (hexadimentrine bromide, HDB) were investigated. The composition of the running buffers was optimized according to the characteristics of each osmotic modifier. A concentration of HDB as low as 0.0001% (w/v) was used successfully to provide a stable and reversed EOF.     

Measurement and modeling of osmotic coefficients of aqueous solution of ionic liquids using vapor pressure osmometry method

Osmotic coefficients of binary mixtures containing an ionic liquid, (1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate, [BMIm]BF₄, 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium ethyl sulfate, [EMIm]ES, and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium methyl sulfate, [BMIm]MS) with water were measured until about 3 molal concentrations using vapor pressure osmometry method (VPO) at temperature ranges 298.15–328.15 K and modeled using different electrolyte excess Gibbs free energy models including electrolyte non-random two liquids (NRTL), modified NRTL (MNRTL), mean spherical approximation NRTL (MSA-NRTL), non random factor (NRF), and extended Wilson models. The results show that osmotic coefficient data increase with increasing temperature. The calculated standard deviations of the studied systems show that the applicability of these models for the correlation of VLE properties of ionic liquid solutions. The average standard deviations for the models have the order σ(?) MNRTL < σ(?) Wilson < σ(?) NRTL < σ(?) MSA-NRTL < σ(?)NRF. The results show MNRTL model is able to reproduce experimental osmotic coefficients of aqueous solution of studied ionic liquids with good precision.     

Thermodynamics of the Solubility of Water in 1-Hexanol, 1-Octanol, 1-Decanol, and Cyclohexanol

Summary. The solubility of water in 1-hexanol, 1-octanol, 1-decanol, and cyclohexanol was determined as a function of water activity by the isopiestic method at 298.2K. The solubility of water in the alcohol was expressed by a Setchenov type of equation and the correlation coefficients were related to the virial coefficients of the McMillan-Mayer theory of solution. From the solubility data both the activities and the osmotic coefficients of the alcohols were calculated. The Henrys law constants for the solubility of water in the alcohols are given. They depend linearly on the Gibbs energy of hydration. The excess Gibbs energy of mixing of water and alcohols is positive as a consequence of the strong intermolecular interactions of the two pure components of the mixture.     

Phase Behavior of Aqueous Na–K–Mg–Ca–Cl–NO<Subscript>3</Subscript> Mixtures: Isopiestic Measurements and Thermodynamic Modeling

A comprehensive model has been established for calculating thermodynamic properties of multicomponent aqueous systems containing the Na⁺, K⁺, Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, Cl⁻ and NO₃⁻ ions. The thermodynamic framework is based on a previously developed model for mixed-solvent electrolyte solutions. The framework has been designed to reproduce the properties of salt solutions at temperatures ranging from the freezing point to 300 °C and concentrations ranging from infinite dilution to the fused salt limit. The model has been parameterized using a combination of an extensive literature database and new isopiestic measurements for thirteen salt mixtures at 140 °C. The measurements have been performed using Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s (ORNL) previously designed gravimetric isopiestic apparatus, which can also detect solid phase precipitation. In addition to various Na–K–Mg–Ca–Cl–NO₃ systems, results are reported for LiCl solutions. Water activities are reported for mixtures with a fixed ratio of salts as a function of the total apparent salt mole fraction. The isopiestic measurements reported here simultaneously reflect two fundamental properties of the system, i.e., the activity of water as a function of solution concentration and the occurrence of solid–liquid transitions. The thermodynamic model accurately reproduces the new isopiestic data as well as literature data for binary, ternary and higher-order subsystems. Because of its high accuracy in calculating vapor–liquid and solid–liquid equilibria, the model is suitable for studying deliquescence behavior of multicomponent salt systems.