Roughness Optimization of Road Networks: An Option for Carbon Emission Reduction by 2030

Investigation of mechanical, thermal, and wear‐resistant properties of PDMS nanocomposites filled with low loading of 2D MoS2

“…It is noted that 0.1 wt% MoS 2 loading results in a relatively large deviation in tensile strength and fracture strain of the nanocomposites compared to other loading concentrations. This could also be due to the aggregation of MoS 2 inside the PDMS matrix, as usually observed at higher filler concentrations 52–54 . The MoS 2 aggregates may interact with PDMS in an uncontrollable manner, which could lead to some degree of deviation in mechanical properties.…”

On the Control Strategy to Improve the Salt Rejection of a Thin-Film Composite Reverse Osmosis Membrane

“…Given that a process approach entailed a significant loss of water permeability (5.54 to 3.31 LMH/bar; about a 40% reduction), it is not a surprise that a process approach may be accompanied by a substantial increase in the SEC. On the other hand, the SEC change by a material approach is likely to be negligible, as evidenced by the CB [6] TFN membrane exhibiting only a marginal reduction in water permeability (4.30 to 4.01 LMH/bar; about a 7% reduction). Although a quantitative assessment could not be made with regard to the SEC due to the lack of information required to model at different pressures with variable salt rejection, those qualitative comparisons showed which approach we need to pursue to improve the selectivity of RO membranes without a substantial increase in the SEC (i.e., a Our observation implies that a material approach is required to achieve a fundamental improvement in the selectivity of RO membranes.…”

“…Although a quantitative assessment could not be made with regard to the SEC due to the lack of information required to model at different pressures with variable salt rejection, those qualitative comparisons showed which approach we need to pursue to improve the selectivity of RO membranes without a substantial increase in the SEC (i.e., a Our observation implies that a material approach is required to achieve a fundamental improvement in the selectivity of RO membranes. For instance, the high-selectivity RO membrane was recently developed using porous nanomaterials called cucurbit [6]uril (CB [6]; it features 0.39 nm pores with a partially negative charge) and demonstrated that it could significantly reduce salt permeability to half of its original value (1.29 to 0.66 LMH) without significant flux decline (4.30 to 4.01 LMH/bar) owing to selective water transport over monovalent ions [2]. This result indicates that a CB [6] thin-film nanocomposite (TFN) membrane could achieve high salt rejection almost without paying the price for the increased SEC, unlike a process approach.…”

“…For instance, the high-selectivity RO membrane was recently developed using porous nanomaterials called cucurbit [6]uril (CB [6]; it features 0.39 nm pores with a partially negative charge) and demonstrated that it could significantly reduce salt permeability to half of its original value (1.29 to 0.66 LMH) without significant flux decline (4.30 to 4.01 LMH/bar) owing to selective water transport over monovalent ions [2]. This result indicates that a CB [6] thin-film nanocomposite (TFN) membrane could achieve high salt rejection almost without paying the price for the increased SEC, unlike a process approach. To qualitatively weigh up the SEC change stemming from the process and material approaches to improve salt rejection, we roughly estimated the ideal SEC (SEC i ) obtainable under ideal operating conditions (i.e., no leakage of energy recovery devices (ERD), perfect pressure transfer efficiency of ERD, and perfect overall pump efficiency) without consideration of the salt concentration based on the following relationship [38]:…”

“…The world has sought a sustainable and environmentally friendly society to overcome the crisis caused by climate change threatening food and water security as well as biodiversity [1][2][3][4]. For instance, many countries have been struggling to reduce carbon emissions to about 50% of 1990 levels by 2030 and reach carbon neutrality by 2050, since the European Green Deal was announced [5,6]. To achieve carbon neutrality, it is necessary for humankind to reduce the amount of carbon burned for energy generation in all areas.…”