Colorimetric aptasensor for Listeria monocytogenes detection using dual functional Fe3O4@MIL-100(Fe) with magnetic separation and oxidase-like activities in food samples.

A novel colorimetric aptasensor assay based on the excellent magnetic responsiveness and oxidase-like activity of Fe3O4@MIL-100(Fe) was developed. Fe3O4@MIL-100(Fe) absorbed with aptamer and blocked by BSA served as capture probe for selective isolation and enrichment of Listeria monocytogenes one of the most common and dangerous foodborne pathogenic bacteria. The aptamer absorbed on Fe3O4@MIL-100(Fe) was further used as signal probe that specifically binds with target bacteria conjugation of capture probe for colorimetric detection of Listeria monocytogenes, taking advantages of its oxidase-like activity. The linear range of the detection of Listeria monocytogenes was from 102 to 107 CFU mL-1, with the limit of detection as low as 14 CFU mL-1. The approach also showed good feasibility for detection of Listeria monocytogenes in milk and meat samples. The spiked recoveries were in the range 81-114% with relative standard deviations ranging from 1.28 to 5.19%. Thus, this work provides an efficient, convenient, and practical tool for selective isolation and colorimetric detection of Listeria monocytogenes in food.

Amorphizing MnIn2S4 Atomic Layers Create an Asymmetrical InO1S5 Polarization Plane for Photocatalytic Ammonia Synthesis and CO2 Reduction.

Building a polarization center is an effective avenue to boost charge separation and molecular activation in photocatalysis. However, a limited number of polarization centers are usually created. Here, a polarization plane based on two-dimensional (2D) atomic layers is designed to maximize the surface polarization centers. The Mn in a 2D crystal lattice is etched from the MnIn2S4 atomic layers to build a consecutive symmetry-breaking structure of isolated InO1S5 sites. More charges aggregate around O, making the isolated InO1S5 sites highly polarized. Due to the formation of the InO1S5 polarization plane, an enormous polarized electric field is formed perpendicular to the 2D atomic layers and the carrier lifetime can be prolonged from 93.2 ps in MnIn2S4 to 1130 ps in amorphous MnxIn2Sy. Meantime, the formed large charge density gradient favors coupling and activation of small molecules. Benefiting from these features, a good NH3 photosynthesis performance (515.8 µmol g-1 h-1) can be realized over amorphous MnxIn2Sy, roughly 2.5 and 48.9 times higher than those of MnIn2S4 atomic layers and bulk MnIn2S4, respectively. The apparent quantum yields reach 5.4 and 3.3% at 380 and 400 nm, respectively. Meanwhile, a greatly improved CO2 reduction activity is also achieved over MnxIn2Sy. This strategy provides an accessible pathway for designing an asymmetrical polarization plane to motivate photocatalysis optimization.

Advancing Adsorption and Separation with Modified SBA-15: A Comprehensive Review and Future Perspectives.

Mesoporous silica SBA-15 has emerged as a promising adsorbent and separation material due to its unique structural and physicochemical properties. To further enhance its performance, various surface modification strategies, including metal oxide and noble metal incorporation for improved catalytic activity and stability, organic functionalization with amino and thiol groups for enhanced adsorption capacity and selectivity, and inorganic-organic composite modification for synergistic effects, have been extensively explored. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the recent advances in the surface modification of SBA-15 for adsorption and separation applications. The synthesis methods, structural properties, and advantages of SBA-15 are discussed, followed by a detailed analysis of the different modification strategies and their structure-performance relationships. The adsorption and separation performance of functionalized SBA-15 materials in the removal of organic pollutants, heavy metal ions, gases, and biomolecules, as well as in chromatographic and solid-liquid separation, is critically evaluated. Despite the significant progress, challenges and opportunities for future research are identified, including the development of low-cost and sustainable synthesis routes, rational design of SBA-15-based materials with tailored properties, and integration into practical applications. This review aims to guide future research efforts in developing advanced SBA-15-based materials for sustainable environmental and industrial applications, with an emphasis on green and scalable modification strategies.

Chemical Structure and Thermal Properties versus Accelerated Aging of Bio-Based Poly(ether-urethanes) with Modified Hard Segments.

Aging of polymers is a natural process that occurs during their usage and storage. Predicting the lifetime of polymers is a crucial aspect that should be considered at the design stage. In this paper, a series of bio-based thermoplastic poly(ether-urethane) elastomers (bio-TPUs) with modified hard segments were synthesized and investigated to understand the structural and property changes triggered by accelerated aging. The bio-TPUs were synthesized at an equimolar ratio of reagents using the prepolymer method with the use of bio-based poly(trimethylene ether) glycol, bio-based 1,3-propanediol, and hexamethylene diisocyanate or hexamethylene diisocyanate/partially bio-based diisocyanate mixtures. The polymerization reaction was catalyzed by dibutyltin dilaurate (DBTDL). The structural and property changes after accelerated aging under thermal and hydrothermal conditions were determined using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA). Among other findings, it was observed that both the reference and aged bio-TPUs decomposed in two main stages and exhibited thermal stability up to approximately 300 °C. Based on the research conducted, it was found that accelerated aging impacts the supramolecular structure of TPUs.

Competitive Adsorptive Mechanism of H2/N2 in LTA/FAU Zeolites by Molecular Simulations and Experiments.

For industrial tail gas to be converted into high-purity hydrogen, the H2-N2 mixture needs to be separated efficiently. This work examined the adsorption characteristics and competitive mechanisms of H2 and N2 on LTA- and FAU-type zeolites, at 77 K, 298 K, and 0.1-10 bar by thoroughly analyzing results of adsorption capacity experiments and molecular simulations. In the Grand Canonical Monte Carlo (GCMC) simulations, the force field causing a molecular dipole of H2 and the polarization force field of N2 are first applied. The accuracy of the force field was experimentally verified. The findings indicate that N2 and H2 loading on Ca-FAU (Ca-LTA) are higher than Na-FAU (Na-LTA). On NaX at 77 K, the highest adsorption selectivity (N2/H2) is observed; on NaA at 298 K, it is the opposite. The GCMC data findings demonstrate that H2 and N2 have remarkably similar adsorption sites, with framework oxygen atoms and non-framework cations serving as the main adsorption sites for adsorbate molecules. Furthermore, the rate at which H2 diffuses is higher than that of N2. The study of redistribution charge before and after adsorption demonstrated that N2 has a greater affinity for the framework oxygen atoms than H2. This study provides a molecular theoretical foundation for the adsorption behavior of H2-N2 mixture in zeolites.

Unveiling the veil of RNA binding protein phase separation in cancer biology and therapy.

RNA-binding protein (RBP) phase separation in oncology reveals a complex interplay crucial for understanding tumor biology and developing novel therapeutic strategies. Aberrant phase separation of RBPs significantly influences gene regulation, signal transduction, and metabolic reprogramming, contributing to tumorigenesis and drug resistance. Our review highlights the integral roles of RBP phase separation in stress granule dynamics, mRNA stabilization, and the modulation of transcriptional and translational processes. Furthermore, interactions between RBPs and non-coding RNAs add a layer of complexity, providing new insights into their collaborative roles in cancer progression. The intricate relationship between RBPs and phase separation poses significant challenges but also opens up novel opportunities for targeted therapeutic interventions. Advancing our understanding of the molecular mechanisms and regulatory networks governing RBP phase separation could lead to breakthroughs in cancer treatment strategies.

Biomolecular condensates with liquid properties formed during viral infections.

During a viral infection, several membraneless compartments with liquid properties are formed. They can be of viral origin concentrating viral proteins and nucleic acids, and harboring essential stages of the viral cycle, or of cellular origin containing components involved in innate immunity. This is a paradigm shift in our understanding of viral replication and the interaction between viruses and innate cellular immunity.

Structural and physical-chemical properties of milk fat globules fractionated by a series of silicon carbide membranes.

Driven by the acknowledged health and functional properties of milk fat globules (MFGs), there is a growing interest to develop gentle methodologies for separation of fat from milk. In this study, separation of fat from raw milk and fractionation in streams containing MFGs of different size was achieved using a series of two silicon carbide ceramic membranes. A first step consisting of a 1.4 µm membrane aimed to concentrate the bulk of the fat, i.e. the larger MFGs (D[4,3] âˆ¼ 4 µm) followed by a 0.5 µm fractionation aimed to concentrate the residual milk fat in the permeate, i.e. fraction with the smaller MFGs (D[4,3] âˆ¼ 1.8-2.4 µm. The fat separation performance showed a yield of 92 % for the 1.4 µm membrane and 97 % for the 0.5 µm membrane. Both fat enriched retentates showed, by the confocal laser scanning microscopy, intact MFGs with limited damage in the MFG membrane. The fatty acid profile analysis and SAXS showed minor differences in fat acid composition and the crystallization behavior was related to differences in the fat content. The 0.5 µm permeate containing the smallest MFGs however showed larger aggregates and a trinomial particle size distribution, due to probably pore pressure induced coalescences. The series of silicon carbide membranes showed potential to concentrate some of MFGM proteins such as Periodic Schiff base 3/4 and cluster of differentiation 36 especially in the 0.5 µm retentates. A shift in casein to whey protein ratio from 80:20 (milk) to 50:50 was obtained in the final 0.5 µm permeate, which opens new opportunities for product development.

Use of chia (Salvia hispanica L.) seed mucilage powder as a stabilizer in the preparation of salep beverage.

Salep, a traditional Turkish beverage, derives its name from its primary component: salep powder (SP), which is sourced from the tubers of certain orchid species. This study investigated various physicochemical attributes (including dry matter, protein content, pH, titration acidity, water activity, color, serum separation, and zeta potential), as well as rheological and sensory characteristics of salep beverages. These drinks were prepared by substituting SP with chia (Salvia hispanica L.) seed mucilage powder (MP) with different ratios (10%, 20%, 30%, and 40%). The substitution of SP with MP did not influence the dry matter and protein contents or the pH and acidity values of the drinks significantly (p > .05). The inclusion of MP in the formulation of salep drinks resulted in a decrease in lightness (L*) and a* color values while increasing the b* color values. However, consumer perception, as indicated by color difference values (∆E*), showed no distinguishable difference between drinks containing MP and control drinks. Furthermore, higher ratios of MP led to increased apparent viscosity values in the drinks and effectively prevented or significantly reduced serum separation observed in control drinks (p < .05). Remarkably, sensory evaluations revealed that substituting up to 30% of SP with MP did not negatively impact the overall sensory properties of the drinks (p > .05), suggesting that MP could be recommended as a feasible alternative. This substitution has the potential to contribute to the conservation of orchid plants, the primary source of salep, while also offering cost-saving benefits in the production of salep drinks.

High sensitive Ratiometric fluorescent Aptasensor with AIE properties for Deoxynivalenol (DON) detection.

An emerging fluorescent ratiometric aptasensor based on gold nanoclusters (AuNCs) with aggregation-induced emission (AIE) properties was prepared and studied for deoxynivalenol (DON) detection. The ratiometric aptasensor used red fluorescent AuNCs620 labelled with DON aptamer (Apt-AuNCs620) as an indicator and green fluorescent AuNCs519 modified by complementary DNA (cDNA) and magnetic beads (MBs) as internal reference, namely MBs-cDNA-AuNCs519. Under the optimal conditions, the aptasensor exhibited two good linear ranges of 0.1-50 and 50-5000 pg/mL for DON detection with coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.9937 and 0.9928, respectively, and the low detection limit (LOD) of 4.09 pg/mL was achieved. Furthermore, this aptasensor was feasible to detect DON in positive wheat samples, and the results were in line with those from HPLC and ELISA, thus providing a promising route to detect DON with high sensitivity in cereals, even for other mycotoxins by replacing the suitable aptamer and cDNA.

A microfluidic chip with integrated plasma separation for sample-to-answer detection of multiple chronic disease biomarkers in whole blood.

Point-of-care testing of multiple chronic disease biomarkers is crucial for timely intervention and management of chronic diseases. Here, a "sample-to-answer" microfluidic chip was developed for simultaneous detection of multiple chronic disease biomarkers in whole blood by integrating a plasma separation module. The whole detection process is very convenient, i.e., just add whole blood and get the results. The chip successfully achieved the simultaneous detection of total cholesterol, triglycerides, uric acid, and glucose in undiluted whole blood within 21 min, including 6 min for plasma separation and 15 min for enzymatic chromogenic reactions. Moreover, the sensitivity levels of on-chip detection of chronic disease biomarkers can also meet clinically relevant thresholds. The chip is easy to use and has significant potential to improve home self-management of chronic diseases and enhance healthcare outcomes.

Highly sensitive two-dimensional profiling of N-linked glycans by hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography and dual stacking capillary gel electrophoresis.

BACKGROUND: N-Glycosylation is one of the most important post-translational modifications in proteins. As the N-glycan profiles in biological samples are diverse and change according to the pathological condition, various profiling methods have been developed, such as liquid chromatography (LC), capillary electrophoresis (CE), and mass spectrometry. However, conventional analytical methods have limitations in sensitivity and/or resolution, hindering the discovery of minor but specific N-glycans that are important both in the basic glycobiology research and in the medical application as biomarkers. Therefore, a highly sensitive and high-resolution N-glycan profiling method is required. RESULTS: In this study, we developed a novel two-dimensional (2D) separation system, which couples hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC) with capillary gel electrophoresis (CGE) via large-volume dual preconcentration by isotachophoresis and stacking (LDIS). Owing to the efficient preconcentration efficiency of LDIS, limit of detection reached 12 pM (60 amol, S/N = 3) with good calibration curve linearity (R2 > 0.999) in the 2D analysis of maltoheptaose. Finally, 2D profiling of N-glycans obtained from standard glycoproteins and cell lysates were demonstrated. High-resolution 2D profiles were successfully obtained by data alignment using triple internal standards. N-glycans were well distributed on the HILIC/CGE 2D plane based on the glycan size, number of sialic acids, linkage type, and so on. As a result, specific minor glycans were successfully identified in HepG2 and HeLa cell lysates. SIGNIFICANCE AND NOVELTY: In conclusion, the HILIC/CGE 2D analysis method showed sufficient sensitivity and resolution for identifying minor but specific N-glycans from complicated cellular samples, indicating the potential as a next-generation N-glycomics tool. Our novel approach for coupling LC and CE can also dramatically improve the sensitivity in other separation modes, which can be a new standard of 2D bioanalysis applicable not only to glycans, but also to other diverse biomolecules such as metabolites, proteins, and nucleic acids.

Advancing oil-water separation: Design and efficiency of amphiphilic hyperbranched demulsifiers.

HYPOTHESIS: An innovative strategy for designing high-performance demulsifiers is proposed. It hypothesizes that integrating mesoscopic molecular simulations with macroscopic physicochemical experiments can enhance the understanding and effectiveness of demulsifiers. Specifically, it is suggested that amphiphilic hyperbranched polyethyleneimine (CHPEI) could act as an efficient demulsifier in oil-water systems, with its performance influenced by its adsorption behaviors at the oil-water interface and its ability to disrupt asphaltene-resin aggregates. EXPERIMENTS: Several coarse-grained models of oil-water systems, with CHPEI, are constructed using dissipative particle dynamics (DPD) simulation. Following the insights gained from the simulations, a series of CHPEI-based demulsifiers are designed and synthesized. Demulsification experiments are conducted on both simulated and crude oil emulsions, with the process monitored using laser scanning confocal microscopy. Additionally, adsorption kinetics and small angle X-ray scattering are employed to reveal the inherent structural characteristics of CHPEI demulsifiers. FINDINGS: CHPEI demonstrates over 96.7 % demulsification efficiency in high acid-alkali-salt systems and maintains its performance even after multiple reuse cycles. The simulations and macroscopic experiments collectively elucidate that the effectiveness of a demulsifier is largely dependent on its molecular weight and the balance of hydrophilic and hydrophobic groups. These factors are crucial in providing sufficient interfacial active functional groups while avoiding adsorption sites for other surfactants. Collaborative efforts between DPD simulation and macroscopic measurements deepen the understanding of how demulsifiers can improve oil-water separation efficiency in emulsion treatment.

A Comprehensive Review on the Enantiomeric Separation of Chiral Drugs Using Metal-Organic Frameworks.

Chiral drugs play an important role in modern medicine, but obtaining pure enantiomers from racemic mixtures can pose challenges. When a drug is chiral, only one enantiomer (eutomer) typically exhibits the desired pharmacological activity, while the other (distomer) may be biologically inactive or even toxic. Racemic drug formulations introduce additional health risks, as the body must still process the inactive or detrimental enantiomer. Some distomers have also been linked to teratogenic effects and unwanted side effects. Therefore, developing efficient and scalable methods for separating chiral drugs into their pure enantiomers is critically important for improving patient safety and outcomes. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) show promise as novel materials for chiral separation due to their highly tunable structures and interactions. This review summarizes recent advancements in using MOFs for chromatographic and spectroscopic resolution of drug enantiomers. Both the opportunities and limitations of MOF-based separation techniques are discussed. A thorough understanding of these methods could aid the continued development of pure enantiomer formulations and help reduce health risks posed by racemic drug mixtures.

Dixon-based B0 self-navigation in radial stack-of-stars multi-echo gradient echo imaging.

PURPOSE: To develop a Dixon-based B 0 $$ {\mathrm{B}}_0 $$ self-navigation approach to estimate and correct temporal B 0 $$ {\mathrm{B}}_0 $$ variations in radial stack-of-stars gradient echo imaging for quantitative body MRI. METHODS: The proposed method estimates temporal B 0 $$ {\mathrm{B}}_0 $$ variations using a B 0 $$ {\mathrm{B}}_0 $$ self-navigator estimated by a graph-cut-based water-fat separation algorithm on the oversampled k-space center. The B 0 $$ {\mathrm{B}}_0 $$ self-navigator was employed to correct for phase differences between radial spokes (one-dimensional [1D] correction) and to perform a motion-resolved reconstruction to correct spatiotemporal pseudo-periodic B 0 $$ {\mathrm{B}}_0 $$ variations (three-dimensional [3D] correction). Numerical simulations, phantom experiments and in vivo neck scans were performed to evaluate the effects of temporal B 0 $$ {\mathrm{B}}_0 $$ variations on the field-map, proton density fat fraction (PDFF) and T 2 ∗ $$ {\mathrm{T}}_2^{\ast } $$ map, and to validate the proposed method. RESULTS: Temporal B 0 $$ {\mathrm{B}}_0 $$ variations were found to cause signal loss and phase shifts on the multi-echo images that lead to an underestimation of T 2 ∗ $$ {\mathrm{T}}_2^{\ast } $$ , while PDFF mapping was less affected. The B 0 $$ {\mathrm{B}}_0 $$ self-navigator captured slowly varying temporal B 0 $$ {\mathrm{B}}_0 $$ drifts and temporal variations caused by respiratory motion. While the 1D correction effectively corrected B 0 $$ {\mathrm{B}}_0 $$ drifts in phantom studies, it was insufficient in vivo due to 3D spatially varying temporal B 0 $$ {\mathrm{B}}_0 $$ variations with amplitudes of up to 25 Hz at 3 T near the lungs. The proposed 3D correction locally improved the correction of field-map and T 2 ∗ $$ {\mathrm{T}}_2^{\ast } $$ and reduced image artifacts. CONCLUSION: Temporal B 0 $$ {\mathrm{B}}_0 $$ variations particularly affect T 2 ∗ $$ {\mathrm{T}}_2^{\ast } $$ mapping in radial stack-of-stars imaging. The self-navigation approach can be applied without modifying the MR acquisition to correct for B 0 $$ {\mathrm{B}}_0 $$ drift and physiological motion-induced B 0 $$ {\mathrm{B}}_0 $$ variations, especially in the presence of fat.

Associations Between Divorce Histories and Unhealthy Alcohol Use Among Middle Aged and Older Adults.

Background: Unhealthy alcohol use has been considered a coping strategy related to stressful and traumatic life events such as relationship loss. Yet, the effects of marital status on health behaviors are generally studied cross-sectionally or over one transition. We explored associations between the frequency and quantity of alcohol use with the number of episodes and duration of separation/divorce events across adulthood among English adults in mid to later life. Methods: This study used life history data from wave 3 (2006/07) of the English Longitudinal Study of Aging to compute marital sequences based on marital status at each year of age from 18 years of 6,355 adults aged 50-80 years. These sequences were used to compute the portion of adulthood spent separated/divorced and the number of episodes of divorce. These variables were used as predictors in logistic regressions predicting unhealthy alcohol use, while also controlling for current marital status. Results: We found that the number of episodes of separation/divorce increased the odds of drinking ≥5 days/week and binge drinking (≥6 drinks/occasion for women; ≥8 drinks/occasion for men), whereas the portion of adulthood spent divorced was not associated with drinking frequency or binge drinking. Some nuances by gender were also noted. Conclusions: Recurrent transitions into separation/divorce over adulthood appears to increase risk of unhealthy alcohol use in mid to later life beyond the risks associated with current marital status.

Late maternal separation provides resilience to chronic variable stress-induced anxiety- and depressive-like behaviours in male but not female mice.

Maternal separation can have long-lasting effects on an individual's susceptibility to stress later in life. Maternal separation during the postnatal period is a commonly used paradigm in rodents to investigate the effects of early life stress on neurobehavioural changes and stress responsiveness. However, maternal separation during stress hyporesponsive and responsive periods of postnatal development may differ in its effects on stress resilience. Therefore, we hypothesised that late maternal separation (LMS) from postnatal day 10 to 21 in mice may have different effect on resilience than early maternal separation during the first week of postnatal life. Our results suggested that male LMS mice are more resilient to chronic variable stress (CVS)-induced anxiety and depressive-like behaviour as confirmed by the open field, light-dark field, elevated plus maze, sucrose preference and tail suspension tests. In contrast, female LMS mice were equally resilient as non-LMS female mice. We found increased expression of NPY, NPY1R, NPY2R, NPFFR1, and NPFFR2 in the hypothalamus of male LMS mice whereas the opposite effect was observed in the hippocampus. LMS in male and female mice did not affect circulating corticosterone levels in response to psychological or physiological stressors. Thus, LMS renders male mice resilient to CVS-induced neurobehavioural disorders in adulthood.

Sexual dimorphism exists in the effects of late maternal separation (LMS)LMS provides resilience to stress-induced anxiety and depression in male miceLMS upregulates NPY and NPVF system in the hypothalamus of male miceNo effect of LMS on stress-induced corticosterone levels.

Catechol-Fe(III) complexes modified PVDF membrane for hazardous pollutants separation and antifouling properties.

Organic pollutants, such as toluene and xylene, in industrial wastewater negatively impact the environment. Membrane treatment is one of the best methods to reduce impurities in wastewater. Existing membranes that coat the water surface with hydrophilic material only effectively resist the initial fouling, resulting in poor oil and water selectivity. Here we report a simple and efficient method to enhance the water flux and antifouling properties of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membranes. This method involves developing and applying Catechol-Fe(III) complexes with a rough surface to the PVDF surface. Forming Catechol-Fe(III) complexes on the surface better anchors them to the membrane than the dip-coating method. The PVDF membranes with rough Catechol-Fe(III) complexes are superoleophobic, with an oil contact angle of 152 and high permeability, with pure water flux of 10487 and 1 wt% toluene in water emulsion flux of 4697 . Overall, the straightforward manufacturing process, increased permeability, and outstanding antifouling capabilities of the PVDF membrane incorporating rough nanoparticles offer promising prospects for designing and implementing suitable membranes for oil in water emulsion separation applications.

Uncertainty propagation from probe spacing to Fourier 3-probe straightness measurement.

Reliable and precise straightness profile measurements are crucial for manufacturing ultra-precision components and are capable of further enhancing their accuracy. The Fourier three-probe (F3P) straightness measurement allows for precise assessment of the workpiece profile on the machine by eliminating the harmful influence of the error motion of the sliding table. However, the probe spacing uncertainty deteriorates the measurement accuracy remarkably; and, the affecting mechanism behind this phenomenon has not yet been studied in detail. In this context, this paper thoroughly investigated the propagation of the probe spacing uncertainty in the F3P measurement. First, the influence of the probe spacing deviation is analyzed. Next, by calculating the partial differential of Laplace transform of the workpiece profile, we algebraically deduce the probe spacing uncertainty propagation law, especially in the harmonic domain. Subsequently, Monte Carlo simulations are carried out to confirm the derived propagation law. To reduce uncertainty propagation, a hybrid approach is presented: (I) F3P measurements are carried out under changing probe spacings to produce several sets of Fourier coefficients; (II) optimal harmonic estimates are selected individually according to the harmonic uncertainty. Finally, simulations and experimental measurements are performed for verification.

High-Performance Carbon Molecular Sieve Membranes Derived from a PPA-Cross-linked Polyimide Precursor for Gas Separation.

Carbon molecular sieve (CMS) membranes have emerged as attractive gas membranes due to their tunable pore structure and consequently high gas separation performances. In particular, polyimides (PIs) have been considered as promising CMS precursors because of their tunable structure, superior gas separation performance, and excellent thermal and mechanical strength. In the present work, polyphosphoric acid (PPA) was employed as both cross-linker and porogen, it created pores within the PI polymeric matrix, while it also effectively acting as a cross-linker to regulate the ultramicropores of the CMS membranes, thus simultaneously improving both permeability and selectivity of the CMS membranes. By employing PI/PPA hybrid with PPA content of 5 wt % as a precursor, the obtained CMS membrane exhibited a CO2 and He permeability of 1378.3 Barrer and 1431.4 Barrer, respectively, which was an approximately 10-fold increase compared to the precursor membrane. Under optimized conditions, the CO2/CH4 and He/CH4 selectivity of the obtained CMS membrane reached 81.5 and 89.9, respectively, which was 278% and 307% higher than that of the pristine PI membrane. In addition, the membrane exhibited good long-term stability during a one-week continuous test. This study clearly denoted PPA can be used for precisely tailoring the ultramicroporosity of CMS membranes.