Molecularly Imprinted Phase-Change Microcapsule System for Bifunctional Applications in Waste Heat Recovery and Targeted Pollutant Removal

Abstract

An innovative design of a molecularly imprinted phase-change microcapsule (MIM) system for bifunctional applications in waste heat recovery and targeted pollutant removal was reported in this work. This molecularly imprinted system was successfully constructed by encapsulating n-eicosane with a SiO2 base shell through emulsion-templated interfacial polycondensation and then coating a molecularly imprinted polymeric layer with bisphenol A (BPA) as a template molecule through surface free-radical polymerization. The morphology, microstructure, and chemical structure of the resultant molecularly imprinted phase-change microcapsules (MIMs) were characterized, and their phase-change behavior, thermal energy-storage performance, and selective adsorption capability were investigated intensively. The MIMs developed in this study achieved an outstanding latent heat-storage capability with a high capacity more than 165 J/g and also showed an excellent phase-change reliability with a very small fluctuation in phase-change temperatures and enthalpies after 500 thermal cycles. Moreover, the MIMs also presented a high thermal stability over 200 °C and good shape stability up to 120 °C. Most of all, an effective specific recognition capability and high recognition efficiency were achieved for the MIMs due to the formation of BPA-molecular imprinting sites on their surface. As a result, the MIMs exhibited good adsorption selectivity toward the BPA molecules and satisfactory reusability for targeted removal of BPA with a removal efficiency of 61.7% after 10 cycles of the rebinding–elution procedure. In view of a smart combination of thermal energy-storage and selective adsorption functions, the MIMs developed in this study demonstrate a great potential in applications for waste heat recovery and targeted pollutant removal of industrial and domestic wastewaters.

ZnO‐Reinforced Thermal Regulating Microcapsules with Double‐Layer Shell via Atomic Layer Deposition

“…After ceasing the simulated sunlight radiation, both microcapsule samples showed obvious temperature plateau in the range of 43-55 °C, which suggests that the latent heat released by crystallization of paraffin offsets the cooling effect, and thus delaying the temperature decline of the microcapsules. [49] It is noteworthy that the temperature-hysteresis zones of the upward curves and downward curves are consistent with the melting and crystallization temperature regions of DSC curves, respectively. To conclude, although the DLSPCM reported in this paper has a slightly inferior temperature regulation performance than that of paraffin @ MF microcapsules, its application value can be determined to be higher than that of singlelayer shell microcapsule due to its greatly improved thermal stability and durability.…”

“…By observing the temperature rising stage, a plateau appears around 59 °C of the two curves, where the heating rate slows down, which is due to the solid–liquid phase transition and heat absorption of PCM in the microcapsule. [ 49 ] In contrast, the temperature of paperboard increased to 71.4 °C, and there was no temperature plateau during the heating process. After ceasing the simulated sunlight radiation, both microcapsule samples showed obvious temperature plateau in the range of 43–55 °C, which suggests that the latent heat released by crystallization of paraffin offsets the cooling effect, and thus delaying the temperature decline of the microcapsules.…”

Multielement Synergetic Effect of Boron Nitride and Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes for the Fabrication of Novel Shape-Stabilized Phase-Change Composites with Enhanced Thermal Conductivity

“…To solve the ubiquitous defects of pure organic PCMs, extensive studies concerning shape stabilization and thermal conductivity enhancement have been conducted. , To overcome the leakage issue, some techniques must be used to fabricate shape-stabilized phase-change composites (SSPCCs). These composites have been prepared by encapsulating organic PCMs with polymers , and inorganic materials, or by impregnating organic PCMs into porous supporting materials ,, such as expanded graphite , and metal–organic frameworks . Meanwhile, highly thermally conductive fillers have been introduced to SSPCCs for thermal conductivity enhancement.…”

Thermoregulating Papers Containing Fabricated Microencapsulated Phase Change Materials through Pickering Emulsion Templating

“…Particularly, incorporating nanoscale inorganic particles into the polymeric shell commonly endows the MicroCapPCMs with good mechanical toughness and high thermal conductivity. To investigate the effect of hybrid shell on thermoregulation efficiency of PCMs, several works have been reported in recent years as follows: polyurea/Fe 3 O 4 nanoparticles, aminoplast/Ag nanoparticles, polystyrene/SiO 2 nanoparticles, melamine urea formaldehyde resin/iron nanoparticles, poly­(methyl methacrylate)/SiO 2 nanoparticles, , polyaniline/SiO 2 , polyaniline/CNT, and poly­(acrylic acid)/SiO 2 . All obtained results proved that the nanocomposite shells performed more efficiently than pure polymer shells.…”