No Cover Image

Journal article 65 views 10 downloads

Sustainable nanomaterials: the role of Cyrene in optimising carbon nanotubes dispersion and filtration efficiency

Roxana A. Milescu, C. Rob McElroy, Edward J. Taylor, Peter Eaton, Paul Williams Orcid Logo, Richard Phillips, Thomas J. Farmer, James H. Clark

Frontiers in Chemistry, Volume: 12, Start page: 1498279

Swansea University Author: Paul Williams Orcid Logo

  • 68632.VOR.pdf

    PDF | Version of Record

    © 2024 Milescu, McElroy, Taylor, Eaton, Williams, Phillips, Farmer and Clark. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY).

    Download (5.04MB)

Abstract

This study focuses on the fabrication and characterisation of single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) buckypapers and polyethersulfone (PES) flat-sheet membranes using Cyrene, aiming toevaluate its efficacy as a green solvent for these applications. Pristine SWCNTs were dispersed inCyrene without surf...

Full description

Published in: Frontiers in Chemistry
ISSN: 2296-2646
Published: Frontiers Media SA 2024
Online Access: Check full text

URI: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa68632
first_indexed 2025-01-09T20:34:01Z
last_indexed 2025-02-08T05:44:32Z
id cronfa68632
recordtype SURis
fullrecord <?xml version="1.0"?><rfc1807><datestamp>2025-02-07T15:22:24.2686436</datestamp><bib-version>v2</bib-version><id>68632</id><entry>2025-01-02</entry><title>Sustainable nanomaterials: the role of Cyrene in optimising carbon nanotubes dispersion and filtration efficiency</title><swanseaauthors><author><sid>3ed8f1e5d997e0fcb256fb6501605cec</sid><ORCID>0000-0003-0511-4659</ORCID><firstname>Paul</firstname><surname>Williams</surname><name>Paul Williams</name><active>true</active><ethesisStudent>false</ethesisStudent></author></swanseaauthors><date>2025-01-02</date><deptcode>EAAS</deptcode><abstract>This study focuses on the fabrication and characterisation of single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) buckypapers and polyethersulfone (PES) flat-sheet membranes using Cyrene, aiming toevaluate its efficacy as a green solvent for these applications. Pristine SWCNTs were dispersed inCyrene without surfactants and compared to N-Methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) dispersions. Buckypapers were fabricated from these dispersions and characterised using Scanning ElectronMicroscopy (SEM), Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), and infrared spectroscopy. Their performancewas tested in wastewater and oil-water emulsion filtrations and antimicrobial activity. PESmembranes incorporating SWCNTs were prepared using phase inversion and analysed via SEM,optical microscopy, and contact angle. Membrane properties and water permeability were assessed,and bacterial challenge tests evaluated antimicrobial activity. Cyrene enabled the dispersion ofSWCNTs at higher concentrations (0.038 mg mL&#x207B;1) compared to NMP (0.013 mg mL&#x207B;1). Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) analysis revealed that Cyrene effectively debundles SWCNTs, yielding better dispersion. Buckypapers fabricated with Cyrene demonstrated dense, uniform networks with enhanced surface smoothness and promising filtration performance for wastewater treatment and oil-water separation. PES membranes made with Cyrene exhibited well-organised finger-like structures, interconnected pores, superior porosity, and higher water permeability than NMP-based membranes. Incorporating SWCNTs further improved membrane performance. However, bacterial challenge tests indicated no significant antimicrobial activity. The findings highlight Cyrene&#x2019;s potential as a sustainable alternative to traditional solvents, offering improved material properties and filtration performance. Despite these advantages, further studies are necessary to address solvent residuals and long-term safety considerations, ensuring its suitability for broader applications.</abstract><type>Journal Article</type><journal>Frontiers in Chemistry</journal><volume>12</volume><journalNumber/><paginationStart>1498279</paginationStart><paginationEnd/><publisher>Frontiers Media SA</publisher><placeOfPublication/><isbnPrint/><isbnElectronic/><issnPrint/><issnElectronic>2296-2646</issnElectronic><keywords>Cyrene, carbon nanotubes, nanofluid, nanocomposite, buckypaper, filtration membrane, sustainability, renewable chemistry</keywords><publishedDay>19</publishedDay><publishedMonth>12</publishedMonth><publishedYear>2024</publishedYear><publishedDate>2024-12-19</publishedDate><doi>10.3389/fchem.2024.1498279</doi><url/><notes/><college>COLLEGE NANME</college><department>Engineering and Applied Sciences School</department><CollegeCode>COLLEGE CODE</CollegeCode><DepartmentCode>EAAS</DepartmentCode><institution>Swansea University</institution><apcterm>Another institution paid the OA fee</apcterm><funders>The author(s) declare that financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. The authors would like to thank the Circa Group for part-funding of this study through the RenewChem. The funder was not involved in the study design, collection, analysis, interpretation of data, the writing of this article, or the decision to submit it for publication.</funders><projectreference/><lastEdited>2025-02-07T15:22:24.2686436</lastEdited><Created>2025-01-02T13:02:32.2611743</Created><path><level id="1">Faculty of Science and Engineering</level><level id="2">School of Engineering and Applied Sciences - Chemical Engineering</level></path><authors><author><firstname>Roxana A.</firstname><surname>Milescu</surname><order>1</order></author><author><firstname>C. Rob</firstname><surname>McElroy</surname><order>2</order></author><author><firstname>Edward J.</firstname><surname>Taylor</surname><order>3</order></author><author><firstname>Peter</firstname><surname>Eaton</surname><order>4</order></author><author><firstname>Paul</firstname><surname>Williams</surname><orcid>0000-0003-0511-4659</orcid><order>5</order></author><author><firstname>Richard</firstname><surname>Phillips</surname><order>6</order></author><author><firstname>Thomas J.</firstname><surname>Farmer</surname><order>7</order></author><author><firstname>James H.</firstname><surname>Clark</surname><order>8</order></author></authors><documents><document><filename>68632__33228__68d59ddd560944b0a89c3241fdb7f57d.pdf</filename><originalFilename>68632.VOR.pdf</originalFilename><uploaded>2025-01-02T13:07:23.1829267</uploaded><type>Output</type><contentLength>5286683</contentLength><contentType>application/pdf</contentType><version>Version of Record</version><cronfaStatus>true</cronfaStatus><documentNotes>&#xA9; 2024 Milescu, McElroy, Taylor, Eaton, Williams, Phillips, Farmer and Clark. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY).</documentNotes><copyrightCorrect>true</copyrightCorrect><language>eng</language><licence>https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/</licence></document></documents><OutputDurs/></rfc1807>
spelling 2025-02-07T15:22:24.2686436 v2 68632 2025-01-02 Sustainable nanomaterials: the role of Cyrene in optimising carbon nanotubes dispersion and filtration efficiency 3ed8f1e5d997e0fcb256fb6501605cec 0000-0003-0511-4659 Paul Williams Paul Williams true false 2025-01-02 EAAS This study focuses on the fabrication and characterisation of single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) buckypapers and polyethersulfone (PES) flat-sheet membranes using Cyrene, aiming toevaluate its efficacy as a green solvent for these applications. Pristine SWCNTs were dispersed inCyrene without surfactants and compared to N-Methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) dispersions. Buckypapers were fabricated from these dispersions and characterised using Scanning ElectronMicroscopy (SEM), Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), and infrared spectroscopy. Their performancewas tested in wastewater and oil-water emulsion filtrations and antimicrobial activity. PESmembranes incorporating SWCNTs were prepared using phase inversion and analysed via SEM,optical microscopy, and contact angle. Membrane properties and water permeability were assessed,and bacterial challenge tests evaluated antimicrobial activity. Cyrene enabled the dispersion ofSWCNTs at higher concentrations (0.038 mg mL⁻1) compared to NMP (0.013 mg mL⁻1). Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) analysis revealed that Cyrene effectively debundles SWCNTs, yielding better dispersion. Buckypapers fabricated with Cyrene demonstrated dense, uniform networks with enhanced surface smoothness and promising filtration performance for wastewater treatment and oil-water separation. PES membranes made with Cyrene exhibited well-organised finger-like structures, interconnected pores, superior porosity, and higher water permeability than NMP-based membranes. Incorporating SWCNTs further improved membrane performance. However, bacterial challenge tests indicated no significant antimicrobial activity. The findings highlight Cyrene’s potential as a sustainable alternative to traditional solvents, offering improved material properties and filtration performance. Despite these advantages, further studies are necessary to address solvent residuals and long-term safety considerations, ensuring its suitability for broader applications. Journal Article Frontiers in Chemistry 12 1498279 Frontiers Media SA 2296-2646 Cyrene, carbon nanotubes, nanofluid, nanocomposite, buckypaper, filtration membrane, sustainability, renewable chemistry 19 12 2024 2024-12-19 10.3389/fchem.2024.1498279 COLLEGE NANME Engineering and Applied Sciences School COLLEGE CODE EAAS Swansea University Another institution paid the OA fee The author(s) declare that financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. The authors would like to thank the Circa Group for part-funding of this study through the RenewChem. The funder was not involved in the study design, collection, analysis, interpretation of data, the writing of this article, or the decision to submit it for publication. 2025-02-07T15:22:24.2686436 2025-01-02T13:02:32.2611743 Faculty of Science and Engineering School of Engineering and Applied Sciences - Chemical Engineering Roxana A. Milescu 1 C. Rob McElroy 2 Edward J. Taylor 3 Peter Eaton 4 Paul Williams 0000-0003-0511-4659 5 Richard Phillips 6 Thomas J. Farmer 7 James H. Clark 8 68632__33228__68d59ddd560944b0a89c3241fdb7f57d.pdf 68632.VOR.pdf 2025-01-02T13:07:23.1829267 Output 5286683 application/pdf Version of Record true © 2024 Milescu, McElroy, Taylor, Eaton, Williams, Phillips, Farmer and Clark. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). true eng https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
title Sustainable nanomaterials: the role of Cyrene in optimising carbon nanotubes dispersion and filtration efficiency
spellingShingle Sustainable nanomaterials: the role of Cyrene in optimising carbon nanotubes dispersion and filtration efficiency
Paul Williams
title_short Sustainable nanomaterials: the role of Cyrene in optimising carbon nanotubes dispersion and filtration efficiency
title_full Sustainable nanomaterials: the role of Cyrene in optimising carbon nanotubes dispersion and filtration efficiency
title_fullStr Sustainable nanomaterials: the role of Cyrene in optimising carbon nanotubes dispersion and filtration efficiency
title_full_unstemmed Sustainable nanomaterials: the role of Cyrene in optimising carbon nanotubes dispersion and filtration efficiency
title_sort Sustainable nanomaterials: the role of Cyrene in optimising carbon nanotubes dispersion and filtration efficiency
author_id_str_mv 3ed8f1e5d997e0fcb256fb6501605cec
author_id_fullname_str_mv 3ed8f1e5d997e0fcb256fb6501605cec_***_Paul Williams
author Paul Williams
author2 Roxana A. Milescu
C. Rob McElroy
Edward J. Taylor
Peter Eaton
Paul Williams
Richard Phillips
Thomas J. Farmer
James H. Clark
format Journal article
container_title Frontiers in Chemistry
container_volume 12
container_start_page 1498279
publishDate 2024
institution Swansea University
issn 2296-2646
doi_str_mv 10.3389/fchem.2024.1498279
publisher Frontiers Media SA
college_str Faculty of Science and Engineering
hierarchytype
hierarchy_top_id facultyofscienceandengineering
hierarchy_top_title Faculty of Science and Engineering
hierarchy_parent_id facultyofscienceandengineering
hierarchy_parent_title Faculty of Science and Engineering
department_str School of Engineering and Applied Sciences - Chemical Engineering{{{_:::_}}}Faculty of Science and Engineering{{{_:::_}}}School of Engineering and Applied Sciences - Chemical Engineering
document_store_str 1
active_str 0
description This study focuses on the fabrication and characterisation of single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) buckypapers and polyethersulfone (PES) flat-sheet membranes using Cyrene, aiming toevaluate its efficacy as a green solvent for these applications. Pristine SWCNTs were dispersed inCyrene without surfactants and compared to N-Methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) dispersions. Buckypapers were fabricated from these dispersions and characterised using Scanning ElectronMicroscopy (SEM), Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), and infrared spectroscopy. Their performancewas tested in wastewater and oil-water emulsion filtrations and antimicrobial activity. PESmembranes incorporating SWCNTs were prepared using phase inversion and analysed via SEM,optical microscopy, and contact angle. Membrane properties and water permeability were assessed,and bacterial challenge tests evaluated antimicrobial activity. Cyrene enabled the dispersion ofSWCNTs at higher concentrations (0.038 mg mL⁻1) compared to NMP (0.013 mg mL⁻1). Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) analysis revealed that Cyrene effectively debundles SWCNTs, yielding better dispersion. Buckypapers fabricated with Cyrene demonstrated dense, uniform networks with enhanced surface smoothness and promising filtration performance for wastewater treatment and oil-water separation. PES membranes made with Cyrene exhibited well-organised finger-like structures, interconnected pores, superior porosity, and higher water permeability than NMP-based membranes. Incorporating SWCNTs further improved membrane performance. However, bacterial challenge tests indicated no significant antimicrobial activity. The findings highlight Cyrene’s potential as a sustainable alternative to traditional solvents, offering improved material properties and filtration performance. Despite these advantages, further studies are necessary to address solvent residuals and long-term safety considerations, ensuring its suitability for broader applications.
published_date 2024-12-19T08:26:32Z
_version_ 1824382981277483008
score 11.051562