On the Selective Transport of Nutrients through Polymer Inclusion Membranes Based on Ionic Liquids

In the last few years, the use of ionic liquid-based membranes has gained importance in a wide variety of separation processes due to the unique properties of ionic liquids. The aim of this work is to analyze the transport of nutrients through polymer inclusion membranes based on different concentrations of methyltrioctylammonium chloride, in order to broaden the application range of these kinds of membranes. Calcium chloride (CaCl2) and sodium hydrogen phosphate (Na2HPO4) nutrients were used at the concentration of 1 g·L−1 in the feeding phase. The evolution of the concentration in the receiving phase over time (168 h) was monitored and the experimental data fitted to a diffusion-solution transport model. The results show very low permeation values for CaCl2. By contrast, in the case of Na2HPO4 the permeation values were higher and increase as the amount of ionic liquid in the membrane also increases. The surface of the membranes was characterized before and after being used in the separation process by scanning electron microscopy coupled to energy dispersive X-Ray spectroscopy (SEM–EDX) and elemental mapping analysis. The SEM–EDX images show that the polymer inclusion membranes studied are stable to aqueous solution contacting phases and therefore, they might be used for the selective transport of nutrients in separation processes.

Enhanced Mechanical Properties of Ti(C,B)-Based Cermets with Multi-Component AlCoCrFeNi High-Entropy Alloys Binder

In this study, Ti (C,N)-based cermets with multi-component AlCoCrFeNi high-entropy alloys binder were successfully fabricated by mechanical alloying and low pressure sintering. The results indicate that the introduction of AlCoCrFeNi HEAs binder extended the formation process of (W,M)C rim phase by WC diffusion-solution mechanism, and repressed the precipitation process of the outer rim phase. On the other hand, the TEM micro-area analysis revealed a lath modulated structure, which massive nanoparticles are precipitated in the spinodal plate zone, 3-20nm in diameter. The nanocrystalline dispersion would provide an effective precipitation strengthening effect. The results of mechanical properties revealed that the cermets with AlCoCrFeNi HEAs binder achieved the co-enhancement of hardness and toughness. The novel material exhibits a high Vickers hardness of 1787 MPa, along with a good fracture toughness value of 11.4 MPa m1/2.