pH and Design on n-Alkyl Alcohol Bulk Liquid Membranes for Improving Phenol Derivative Transport and Separation.

Regardless of the type of liquid membrane (LM) (Bulk Liquid Membranes (BLM), Supported Liquid Membranes (SLM) or Emulsion Liquid Membranes (ELM)), transport and separation of chemical species are conditioned by the operational (OP) and constructive design parameters (DP) of the permeation module. In the present study, the pH of the aqueous source phase (SP) and receiving phase (RP) of the proposed membrane system were selected as operational parameters. The mode of contacting the phases was chosen as the convective transport generator. The experiments used BLM-type membranes with spheres in free rotation as film contact elements of the aqueous phases with the membrane. The target chemical species were selected in the range of phenol derivatives (PD), 4−nitrophenol (NP), 2,4−dichlorophenol (DCP) and 2,4−dinitrophenol (DNP), all being substances of technical-economic and environmental interest. Due to their acid character, they allow the evaluation of the influence of pH as a determining operational parameter of transport and separation through a membrane consisting of n−octanol or n−decanol (n−AlcM). The comparative study performed for the transport of 4−nitrophenol (NP) showed that the module based on spheres (Ms) was more performant than the one with phase dispersion under the form of droplets (Md). The sphere material influenced the transport of 4−nitrophenol (NP). The transport module with glass spheres (Gl) was superior to the one using copper spheres (Cu), but especially with the one with steel spheres (St). In all the studied cases, the sphere-based module (Ms) had superior transport results compared to the module with droplets (Md). The extraction efficiency (EE) and the transport of 2,4−dichlorophenol (DCP) and 2,4−dinitrophenol (DNP), studied in the module with glass spheres, showed that the two phenolic derivatives could be separated by adjusting the pH of the source phase. At the acidic pH of the source phase (pH = 2), the two derivatives were extracted with good results (EE > 90%), while for pH values ranging from 4 to 6, they could be separated, with DCP having doubled separation efficiency compared to DNP. At a pH of 8 in the source phase, the extraction efficiency halved for both phenolic compounds.

Transport and Separation of the Silver Ion with n-decanol Liquid Membranes Based on 10-undecylenic Acid, 10-undecen-1-ol and Magnetic Nanoparticles.

This paper presents a transport and recovery of silver ions through bulk liquid membranes based on n-decanol using as carriers 10-undecylenic acid and 10-undecylenyl alcohol. The transport of silver ions across membranes has been studied in the presence of two types of magnetic oxide nanoparticles obtained by the electrochemical method with iron electrodes in the electrolyte with and without silver ions, which act as promoters of turbulence in the membrane. Separation of silver ions by bulk liquid membranes using 10-undecylenic acid and 10-undecylenyl alcohol as carriers were performed by comparison with lead ions. The configuration of the separation module has been specially designed for the chosen separation process. Convective-generating magnetic nanoparticles were characterized in terms of the morphological and structural points of view: scanning electron microscopy (SEM), high-resolution SEM (HR-SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy analysis (EDAX), Fourier Transform InfraRed (FTIR) spectroscopy, thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry and magnetization. The process performance (flux and selectivity) was tested were tested for silver ion transport and separation through n-decanol liquid membranes with selected carriers. Under the conditions of the optimized experimental results (pH = 7 of the source phase, pH = 1 of the receiving phase, flow rate of 30 mL/min for the source phase and 9 mL/min for the receiving phase, 150 rot/min agitation of magnetic nanoparticles) separation efficiencies of silver ions of over 90% were obtained for the transport of undecenoic acid and about 80% for undecylenyl alcohol.

Osmium Nanoparticles-Polypropylene Hollow Fiber Membranes Applied in Redox Processes.

Composite membranes play a very important role in the separation, concentration, and purification processes, but especially in membrane reactors and membrane bioreactors. The development of composite membranes has gained momentum especially through the involvement of various nanoparticles, polymeric, oxide, or metal, that have contributed to increasing their reactivity and selectivity. This paper presents the preparation and characterization of an active metal nanoparticle-support polymer type composite membrane, based on osmium nanoparticles obtained in situ on a polypropylene hollow fiber membrane. Osmium nanoparticles are generated from a solution of osmium tetroxide in tert-butyl alcohol by reduction with molecular hydrogen in a contactor with a polypropylene membrane. The composite osmium-polypropylene hollow fiber obtained membranes (Os-PPM) were characterized from the morphological and structural points of view: scanning electron microscopy (SEM), high resolution SEM (HR-SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy analysis (EDAX), X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), Fourier transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, thermal gravimetric analysis, and differential scanning calorimetry (TGA, DSC). The process performance was tested in a redox process of p-nitrophenol and 10-undecylenic (10-undecenoic) acid, as a target substance of biological or biomedical interest, in solutions of lower aliphatic alcohols in a membrane contactor with a prepared composite membrane. The characteristics of osmium nanoparticles-polypropylene hollow fiber membranes open the way to biological and biotechnological applications. These membranes do not contaminate the working environment, operate at relatively low temperatures, provide a large contact area between reactants, allow successive oxidation and reduction operations in the same module, and help to recover the reaction mass by ultrafiltration. The results obtained show that the osmium-polypropylene composite membrane allows the reduction of p-nitrophenol or the oxidation of 10-undecylenic acid, the conversion depending on the concentration in the lower aliphatic alcohol, the nature of the lower aliphatic alcohol, and the oxidant or reducing flow through the membrane contactor.

Improving the Performance of Composite Hollow Fiber Membranes with Magnetic Field Generated Convection Application on pH Correction.

The membranes and membrane processes have succeeded in the transition from major technological and biomedical applications to domestic applications: water recycling in washing machines, recycling of used cooking oil, recovery of gasoline vapors in the pumping stations or enrichment of air with oxygen. In this paper, the neutralization of condensation water and the retention of aluminum from thermal power plants is studied using ethylene propylene diene monomer sulfonated (EPDM-S) membranes containing magnetic particles impregnated in a microporous propylene hollow fiber (I-PPM) matrix. The obtained membranes were characterized from the morphological and structural points of view, using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), high resolution SEM (HR-SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy analysis (EDAX) and thermal gravimetric analyzer. The process performances (flow, selectivity) were studied using a variable magnetic field generated by electric coils. The results show the possibility of correcting the pH and removing aluminum ions from the condensation water of heating plants, during a winter period, without the intervention of any operator for the maintenance of the process. The pH was raised from an acidic one (2-4), to a slightly basic one (8-8.5), and the concentration of aluminum ions was lowered to the level allowed for discharge. Magnetic convection of the permeation module improves the pH correction process, but especially prevents the deposition of aluminum hydroxide on hollow fibers membranes.

Removing of the Sulfur Compounds by Impregnated Polypropylene Fibers with Silver Nanoparticles-Cellulose Derivatives for Air Odor Correction.

The unpleasant odor that appears in the industrial and adjacent waste processing areas is a permanent concern for the protection of the environment and, especially, for the quality of life. Among the many variants for removing substance traces, which give an unpleasant smell to the air, membrane-based methods or techniques are viable options. Their advantages consist of installation simplicity and scaling possibility, selectivity; moreover, the flows of odorous substances are direct, automation is complete by accessible operating parameters (pH, temperature, ionic strength), and the operation costs are low. The paper presents the process of obtaining membranes from cellulosic derivatives containing silver nanoparticles, using accessible raw materials (namely motion picture films from abandoned archives). The technique used for membrane preparation was the immersion precipitation for phase inversion of cellulosic polymer solutions in methylene chloride: methanol, 2:1 volume. The membranes obtained were morphologically and structurally characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and high resolution SEM (HR SEM), energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDAX), Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR), thermal analysis (TG, ATD). Then, the membrane performance process (extraction efficiency and species flux) was determined using hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and ethanethiol (C2H5SH) as target substances.

New solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through energy efficiency of buildings of special importance - Hospitals.

Saving energy has an important role in the concerted actions to protect the planet from the effects of global warming, particularly the energy consumed by the existing buildings (with various energy consuming functions, inefficient energy), by implementing environmentally friendly solutions. The present paper emphasizes the need to include elements to stimulate the renovation of the existing buildings and of their energy efficiency in the national strategies, these constructions being important energy consumers. The research started with two case studies (2 hospital buildings) dating from 70-80s, with the aim to be energy efficient and modern constructions in Eastern Europe. In the presented best practice model, significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, primary energy consumption along with the use of renewable energy have been achieved by transforming some energy-inefficient buildings into intelligent buildings. Thus, the authors propose a new stake: "70-70-70" for similar buildings.

Barrier properties of anti-gas military garments, considering exposure to gas organic compounds.

The problems of determining the protective properties of barrier materials used for the production of body surface protection products of an isolative type are very actual. These garments are expected to have long-term resistance against permeation of toxic substances. The paper deals with the study of the effect of organic solvent vapours on the changes in protective properties of selected anti-gas protective garments commonly used by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization armed forces. Permeation measurements of selected gases with integral permeameter were performed to verify their barrier properties, surface changes after exposure to selected solvents by using a 3D optical profilometer, permeation measurements for vapours of these solvents with differential permeameter, and experimental simulating the possible influence of barrier properties of garments within permeation of air. It has been shown that in the case of gases, the permeability of the studied materials increases with decreasing kinetic diameter of the penetrant molecule used. In the case of acetonitrile and isooctane vapours, permeability increased with increasing vapour concentration due to interactions between polymeric materials and molecules of organic compounds. The permeation measurements of pure vapours and air/vapour mixtures indicate that the level of interactions between the molecules of the penetrant and the material of the protective garment is not strong enough to degrade the material of the garment in such a way as to allow a greater penetration of the pollutants through it. The results of permeation experiments for gases and organic vapours showed very good barrier properties of studied chemical isolated garments.

Protecting emergency workers and armed forces from volatile toxic compounds: Applicability of reversible conductive polymer-based sensors in barrier materials.

Barrier materials have wide applicability in both professional (military, medical, industrial) and non-professional (leisure and sports) fields. This paper focuses on the preparation of real conductive polymer (CP) sensors, for the study of the permeation of volatile toxic compounds through barrier materials. Use of such a CP sensor can help improve the quality of barrier materials used in protective clothing. Several types of platforms have been manufactured or purchased for use as comb sensors with different electrode dimensions, and a suitable method of applying the detection layer of conductive polymers (polyaniline and poly-pyrrole) has been developed. Prepared sensors were obtained using various technologies and were assessed not only for response to exposure to vapors of volatile toxic substances, but also for the possibility of their incorporation into a permeation cell, in order to expand the possibilities of using existing permeation devices. The resulting conductivity of the surface film ranges from 50 to 10,000 µS/cm. When exposed to ethanol vapors, the conductivity of the sensors dropped significantly and returned to the original value after exposure ended. The conductivity of the B12 CP sensor was in the range of 10-100 mS/cm and is considered the most valuable tested sensor. CPs deposited on this substrate have very high sensitivity in units of ppm (in special cases, even ppb) within the detection of analytes (in this case toxic vapors of ethanol, acetic acid) and the ability to return to initial (zero) conductivity.

Improving performance of a pharmacy in a Romanian hospital through implementation of an internal management control system.

According to general principles of good practice, adopted at the international level, quality control is a key function in management and not just a simple means of verification. In a clinic or hospital pharmacy, the chief pharmacist has the training and authority to take the control measures necessary to develop and implement an Internal Managerial Control System (IMCS). The present article analyzes and describes the case of the County Hospital of Oradea, Romania, and presents how the IMCS was adopted and integrated. Quality assessment in the health services takes place via an accreditation process and quality certification, as well as through an internal audit of the hospital pharmacy. The authors report a retrospective and descriptive study carried out from 2012 to 2017, analyzing how current legislative standards are applied. The IMCS in the hospital pharmacy is a dynamic process of continuous transformation, permanently adapted to hospital requirements, achieved under the direction of the chief pharmacist and involving all pharmacy employees, as well as through good coordination practices applied by hospital management. In this specific case, the IMCS features 11 annually updated compliance standards, classed under the headings of work procedures, risk register, job descriptions and staff training. The pharmacy's good practice model for IMCS development, was adopted by all of the hospital's sectors, services and departments.