Salinity Gradient Energy: Current State and New Trends

In this article we give an overview of the state of the art of salinity gradient technologies. We first introduce the concept of salinity gradient energy, before describing the current state of development of the most advanced of these technologies. We conclude with the new trends in the young field of salinity gradient technologies.

Viability of Harvesting Salinity Gradient (Blue) Energy by Nanopore-Based Osmotic Power Generation

The development of novel materials with ion-selective nanochannels has introduced a new technology for harvesting salinity gradient(blue)energy,namely nanopore power generators(NPGs).In this study,we perform a comprehensive analysis of the practical performance of NPG in both coupon-size and module-scale operations.We show that although NPG membrane coupons can theoretically generate ultrahigh power density under ideal conditions,the resulting power density in practical operations at a coupon scale can hardly reach 10 W·m^(-2) due to concentration polarization effects.For module-scale NPG operation,we estimate both the power density and specific extractable energy(i.e.,extractable energy normalized by the total volume of the working solutions),and elucidate the impact of operating conditions on these two metrics based on the interplay between concentration polarization and extent of mixing of the high-and low-concentration solutions.Further,we develop a modeling framework to assess the viability of an NPG system.Our results demonstrate that,for NPG systems working with seawater and river water,the gross specific extractable energy by the NPG system is very low(~0.1 kW?h?m?3)and is further compromised by the parasitic energy consumptions in the system(notably,pumping of the seawater and river water solutions and their pretreatment).Overall,NPG systems produce very low net specific extractable energy(<0.025 kW?h?m?3)and net power density(<0.1 W?m?2).Our study highlights the significant practical limitations in NPG operations,casting doubt on the viability of NPG as a technology for blue energy harvesting.

Highly Efficient Power Conversion from Salinity Gradients with Ion-Selective Polymeric Nanopores

A polymeric nanopore membrane with selective ionic transport has been proposed as a potential device to convert the chemical potential energy in salinity gradients to electrical power. However, its energy conversion efficiency and power density are often limited due to the challenge in reliably controlling the size of the nanopores with the conventional chemical etching method. Here we report that without chemical etching, polyimide （PI） membranes irradiated with GeV heavy ions have negatively charged nanopores, showing nearly perfect selectivity for cations over anions, and they can generate electrical power from salinity gradients. We further demonstrate that the power generation efficiency of the PI membrane approaches the theoretical limit, and the maximum power density reaches 130m W/m2 with a modified etching method, outperforming the previous energy conversion device that was made of polymeric nanopore membranes.

The Effect of a Liquid Cover on the Thermal Performance of a Salinity Gradient Solar Pond:An Experimental Study

SalinityGradient Solar Ponds(SGSPs)offer the potential to capture and store solar energy for use in a range of domestic and industrial activities in regions with high solar insolation.However,the evaporation of water from these ponds is a significant problem that must be overcome for them to be deployed successfully.Thus,two ponds were constructed in the city of Nasiriya,Iraq.The two ponds were cylindrical with a diameter of 1.4 m and a total depth of 1.4 m.The water body in the two ponds was constructed with layer depths of 0.5,0.75 and 0.1 m for the lower convective zone(LCZ),non-convective zone(NCZ)and the upper convective zone(UCZ)respectively.One of the two ponds was covered with a thin liquid paraffin layer(0.5 cm)to eliminate evaporation from the surface of the UCZ.The behavior of the standard SGSP and that of the covered pond with evaporation suppressed can be straightforwardly compared.The experimental units were run for six months from 1st of February to 31st of July 2019.It was shown in the first instance that by covering the pond with a thin layer of paraffin,that evaporation could be suppressed.The results showed that for the conventional SGSP,the temperature of the LCZ reached a maximum of ca.76℃ while in the covered pond the temperature of the LCZ was consistently lower than that in the uncovered pond by approximately 5-6℃.The results also indicated that the temperature of the UCZ in the covered pond was higher than that in the uncovered pond by about 10℃ in the second half of the study period.However,it was noted that on rainy days the paraffin layer was swept away from the surface;and this could hinder the implementation of thin liquid cover in the large SGSP.

Impacts of multi-foulings on salinity gradient energy conversion process in negatively charged conical nanochannels

Membrane fouling inevitably occurs during nanofluidic reverse electrodialysis.Herein,the impact of multi-fouling on the energy conversion performance of negatively charged conical nanochannels under asymmetrical configurations is systematically investigated.The results reveal that in Configuration I,where a high-concentration solution is applied at the tip side,at small concentration ratios,multiple foulings reduce the electric power.In Configuration II,where a low-concentration solution is applied at the tip side,multiple foulings near the base side contribute to the electric power.Any fouling that formed near the lowconcentration entrance diminished the electric power and energy conversion efficiency.Multi-fouling lowered the electrical power consumption by 69.27%and 99.94%in Configurations I and II,respectively.In Configuration I,the electric power first increased with increasing fouling surface charge density,reached its maximum value,and thereafter decreased.In Configuration II,the electric power first decreased with increasing fouling surface charge density,reached its minimum value,and thereafter increased.Large negative or positive charge densities of fouling contribute to the electric power and energy conversion efficiency.

Maximum power and corresponding efficiency of an irreversible blue heat engine for harnessing waste heat and salinity gradient energy

In this study,a novel irreversible cyclic model of a capacitive mixing blue heat engine mainly consisting of super capacitors,charging and discharging circuits,a heat source,as well as two water sources with given salt concentrations is established for harvesting salinity gradient energy and waste heat.Additionally,the effects of the charging voltage and ratio of the minimum to maximum surface electric charge density on the thermodynamic efficiency and power output of the cycle are discussed.The maximum power output of the cycle is calculated.The optimized ranges of efficiency and power output as well as the temperatures of two isothermal processes are determined.It is established that during the isoelectric quantity process,there is not only an increase in thermal voltage owing to the temperature difference,but also an increase in concentration voltage owing to the salinity gradient.Consequently,the blue heat engine can obtain higher energy conversion efficiency than a conventional heat engine.When the temperature ratio of the heat source to the heat sink is 1.233,the maximum efficiency can reach approximately36%.The results obtained can promote the application of capacitive mixing technology in real life,reducing the consumption of fossil fuels.

Effect of daily salinity fluctuation on the intraspecific interactions of a euhalophyte(Suaeda salsa)along a salinity gradient

Heterogeneity of soil salinity is a prominent environmental characteristic in the intertidal zone of estuaries,affecting the plant growth and the shift of biotic interactions in the salt marsh.This study aims to examine the interactive effects of a salinity gradient and salinity fluctuations on intraspecific interactions of a euhalophyte.We assessed the impact of daily fluctuating salinity on the outcome of intraspecific interactions by cultivating seeds of Suaeda salsa(Chenopodiaceae)in river sand.The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse with three treatments:daily salinity fluctuations(static and fluctuating salinity),a salinity gradient(200 and 400 mmol L^(−1))and three planting densities(1,2 and 4 plants/pot).First,height and biomass of plants were measured at both the start and end of the experiment.Then,the growth indexes and log response ratio of S.salsa were analyzed.The outcome of intraspecific interactions of S.salsa shifted from competition in low salinity to facilitation in high salinity,and high conspecific density strengthened the competition and facilitation intensities.Daily salinity fluctuation did not significantly affect the plant growth and the outcome of intraspecific interactions,but did have a significant influence on belowground biomass.Our results suggest that the stress-gradient hypothesis may apply to predicting the variation of the intraspecific relationship of a salt-tolerant species along a salinity gradient,and the magnitude of this variation is density dependent.These findings help us understand how individuals and populations of a euhalophyte species respond to the natural variation or human modification of salinity conditions.

Temperature difference-enhanced salinity gradient energy conversion enabled by thermostable hydrogel membrane with anti-swelling property

Coupling low-grade heat(LGH)with salinity gradient is an effective approach to increase the efficiency of the nanofluidic-membrane-based power generator.However,it is a challenge to fabricate membranes with high charge density that ensures ion permselectivity,while maintaining chemical and mechanical stability in this composite environment.Here,we develop a bis[2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl]phosphate(BMAP)hydrogel membrane with good thermal stability and anti-swelling property through self-crosslinking of the selected monomer.By taking advantage of negative space charge and three-dimensional(3D)interconnected nanochannels,salinity gradient energy conversion efficiency is substantially enhanced by temperature difference.Theoretical and experimental results verify that LGH can largely weaken the concentration polarization,promoting transmembrane ion transport.As a result,such a hydrogel membrane delivers high-performance energy conversion with a power density of 11.53 W·m^(−2)under a negative temperature difference(NTD),showing a 193%increase compared with that without NTD.

Salinity Tolerance and Genetic Diversity of the Dinoflagellate Oxyrrhis marina

To evaluate the relationship between salinity tolerance and genetic diversity of plankton,we collected a wild species of plankton from Taipingjiao,Qingdao.The fragment of ITS1-5.8S rDNA-ITS2 was extracted and sequenced.The results showed that the plankton belongs to Oxyrrhis marina.The salinity tolerance of O.marina ranges from 4 to 60.Seven selected groups were built up to evaluate salinity tolerance and to assess genetic diversity by RAPD.The salinity tolerance comparison revealed considerable differences among groups:the strains of O.marina in group 4 could survive under salinity from 4 to 32,while the strains selected for salinity 60 died under the salinity lower than 16.Analysis of genetic diversity of the seven groups showed that the mean genetic diversity index value was 0.28,but it was only 0.16 in selected group of 4 and was 0.24 for group 60.The result of AMOVA suggested a significantly positive relationship between the salinity tolerance and genetic diversity of O.marina (P<0.01).This study indicates that consideration of intraspecific genetic divergence in O.marina might be indispensable when using it as a model in the study of salinity tolerance of wild plankton.

The effect of salinity on Fucus ceranoides (Ochrophyta,Phaeophyceae) in the Mondego River(Portugal)

Algae(and their extracts)are increasingly important for pharmaceutical applications due to the diversity of useful compounds they contain.The genus Fucus contains one of the most studied species,Fucus vesiculosus.The species F.ceranoides differs from the others of the genus by presenting longitudinal air-vesicles and a capacity to survive at low salinities.It is an alga that inhabits the Mondego River estuary(Portugal),at the southern limit of its distribution,and can serve as a role model to understand the effect of a salt gradient on the production of bioactive compounds.We assessed the phenolic content and antioxidant activity of different F.ceranoides extracts(e.g.methanolic,aqueous and polysaccharide)prepared from samples harvested from two different zones to evaluate if the adaptation of F.ceranoides to different salinity levels influenced its chemical composition.The antioxidant activity of the extracts was determined using 1,2-diphenyl-picrylhydrazyl(DPPH)and 2.2-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)(ABTS)radicals.These assays demonstrated that the methanolic extract of lyophilized F.ceranoides that grew at low salinities was the most bioactive,i.e.DPPH(IC 50=50.39μg/mL)and ABTS(TEAC=2.42).The total phenolic content(Folin-Ciocalteu method)and the methanolic extract of the lyophilized F.ceranoides collected from a low salinity habitat exhibited the highest phenolic content(PGE=49.48μg/mg of lyophilized extract)amongst those sampled.Thin layer chromatography(TLC)and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy(FTIR)were used for the identification of compounds in the extracts.This characterization allowed confirmation that the various extracts contained almost the same compounds but with notable quantitative differences.Based on these results,we conclude that there were differences in the quantity of the compounds due to the effect of salinity.The drying methods used were also found to have influenced the quality of the extracted compounds.

Marine renewable energy in China: Current status and perspectives

Based on a general review of marine renewable energy in China, an assessment of the development status and amount of various marine renewable energy resources, including tidal energy, tidal current energy, wave energy, ocean thermal energy, and salinity gradient energy in China＇s coastal seas, such as the Bohai Sea, the Yellow Sea, the East China Sea, and the South China Sea, is presented. We have found that these kinds of marine renewable energy resources will play an important role in meeting China＇s future energy needs. Additionally, considering the uneven distribution of China＇s marine renewable energy and the influences of its exploitation on the environment, we have suggested several sites with great potential for each kind of marine energy. Furthermore, perspectives on and challenges related with marine renewable energy in China are addressed.

Development and Practical Applications of Blue Light-Emitting Diodes

The practical application of semiconductor-based high-efficiency white-light sources, also known as light-emitting diodes, or LEDs, is a recent development of Japanese engineering. This development could be a game-changer for lighting worldwide, given that current power consumption for lighting accounts for 16% of the total electricity consumption in Japan.

Dynamic genetic features of eukaryotic plankton diversity in the Nakdong River estuary of Korea

Estuaries are environments where freshwater and seawater mix and they display various salinity profiles.The construction of river barrages and dams has rapidly changed these environments and has had a wide range of impacts on plankton communities.To understand the dynamics of such communities,researchers need accurate and rapid techniques for detecting plankton species.We evaluated the diversity of eukaryotic plankton over a salinity gradient by applying a metagenomics tool at the Nakdong River estuary in Korea.Environmental samples were collected on three dates during summer and autumn of 2011 at the Eulsukdo Bridge at the mouth of that river.Amplifying the 18 S rDNA allowed us to analyze 456 clones and 122 phylotypes.Metagenomic sequences revealed various taxonomic groups and cryptic genetic variations at the intra-and inter-specific levels.By analyzing the same station at each sampling date,we observed that the phylotypes presented a salinity-related pattern of diversity in assemblages.The variety of species within freshwater samples reflected the rapid environmental changes caused by freshwater inputs.Dinophyceae phylotypes accounted for the highest proportion of overall diversity in the seawater samples.Euryhaline diatoms and dinoflagellates were observed in the freshwater,brackish and seawater samples.The biological data for species composition demonstrate the transitional state between freshwater and seawater.Therefore,this metagenomics information can serve as a biological indicator for tracking changes in aquatic environments.

Spatiotemporal optical properties of dissolved organic matter in a sluice-controlled coastal plain river with both salinity and trophic gradients

Due to the combined effect of sluices and sea tide,the sluice-controlled coastal plain river would be characterized by both trophic state and salinity gradients,affecting the spatiotemporal optical properties of dissolved organicmatter(DOM).In this study,we investigated the spatiotemporal variation of water quality parameters and optical properties of DOM in the Haihe River,a representative sluice-controlled coastal plain river in Tianjin,China.A significant salinity gradient and four trophic states were observed in the water body of the Haihe River.Two humic-and one protein-like substances were identified from the DOM by the three-dimensional fluorescence spectra combined with the parallel factor(PARAFAC)analysis.Pearson’s correlation analysis and redundancy analysis(RDA)showed that the salinity significantly affected the abundance of chromophoric DOM(CDOM)but did not cause significant changes in the fluorescence optical characteristics.In addition,the effect of Trophic state index(TSI)on the CDOM abundance was greater than that on the fluorescence intensity of fluorescent dissolved organic matter(FDOM).In the water body with both salinity and trophic state gradients,TSI posed a greater influence than salinity on the CDOM abundance.Our results fill the research gap in spatiotemporal DOM characteristics and water quality variation in water bodies with both salinity and trophic state gradients.These results are beneficial for clarifying the joint influence of saline intrusion and sluices on the DOM characteristics and water quality in sluice-controlled coastal plain rivers.

Response of gaseous carbon emissions to low-level salinity increase in tidal marsh ecosystem of the Min River estuary,southeastern China

Although estuarine tidal marshes are important contributors to the emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, the relationship between carbon dioxide（CO2）, methane（CH4）emission, and environmental factors, with respect to estuarine marshes, has not been clarified thoroughly. This study investigated the crucial factors controlling the emission of CO2 and CH4from a freshwater marsh and a brackish marsh located in a subtropical estuary in southeastern China, as well as their magnitude. The duration of the study period was November 2013 to October 2014. Relevant to both the field and incubation experiments, the CO2 and CH4emissions from the two marshes showed pronounced seasonal variations. The CO2 and CH4emissions from both marshes demonstrated significant positive correlations with the air/soil temperature（p 〈 0.01）, but negative correlations with the soil electrical conductivity and the pore water/tide water Cl-and SO42- （p 〈 0.01）. The results indicate no significant difference in the CO2 emissions between the freshwater and brackish marshes in the subtropical estuary, whereas there was a difference in the CH4 emissions between the two sites（p 〈 0.01）. Although future sea-level rise and saltwater intrusion could reduce the CH4 emissions from the estuarine freshwater marshes, these factors had little effect on the CO2 emissions with respect to an increase in salinity of less than 5‰. The findings of this study could have important implications for estimating the global warming contributions of estuarine marshes along differing salinity gradients.

Salinity exchange between seawater/brackish water and domestic wastewater through electrodialysis for potable water

Two-thirds of the world’s population has limited access to potable water.As we continue to use up our freshwater resources,new and improved techniques for potable water production are warranted.Here,we present a general concept called“salinity exchange”that transfers salts from seawater or brackish water to treated wastewater until their salinity values approximately switch,thus producing wastewater with an increased salinity for discharge and desalinated seawater as the potable water source.We have demonstrated this process using electrodialysis.Salinity exchange has been successfully achieved between influents of different salinities under various operating conditions.Laboratory-scale salinity exchange electrodialysis(SEE)systems can produce high-quality desalinated water at~1 mL/min with an energy consumption less than 1 kWh/m3.SEE has also been operated using real water,and the challenges of its implementation at a larger scale are evaluated.

Solar evaporation for simultaneous oil-water separation and electricity generation with Janus wood-based absorbers

Oily wastewater from ocean oil spills endangers marine ecosystems and human health. Therefore, developing an effective and sustainable solution for separating oil-water mixtures is urgent. Interfacial solar photothermal evaporation is a promising approach for the complete separation of two-phase mixtures using only solar energy. Herein, we report a carbonized wood-based absorber with Janus structure of comprising a hydrophobic top-layer and an oleophobic bottom-layer for simultaneous solar-driven oil-water separation and electricity generation. Under sunlight irradiation, the rapid evaporation of seawater will induce a separation of oil-water mixtures, and cause a high salt concentration region underlying the interface, while the bottom “bulk water” maintains in a low salt concentration, thus forming a salinity gradient. Electricity can be generated by salinity gradient power. Therefore, oil-water separation efficiency of > 99% and derived extra electricity power of ~0.1 W/m2 is achieved under solar radiation, demonstrating the feasibility of oil-water separation and electricity production synchronously directly using solar energy. This work provides a green and cost-effective path for the separation of oil-water mixtures.

Intensified river salinization alters nitrogen-cycling microbial communities in arid and semi-arid regions of China

Freshwater salinization is receiving increasing global attention due to its profound influence on nitrogen cycling in aquatic ecosystems and the accessibility of water resources.However,a comprehensive understanding of the changes in river salinization and the impacts of salinity on nitrogen cycling in arid and semi-arid regions of China is currently lacking.A meta-analysis was first conducted based on previous investigations and found an intensification in river salinization that altered hydrochemical characteristics.To further analyze the impact of salinity on nitrogen metabolism processes,we evaluated rivers with long-term salinity gradients based on in situ observations.The genes and enzymes that were inhibited generally by salinity,especially those involved in nitrogen fixation and nitrification,showed low abundances in three salinity levels.The abundance of genes and enzymes with denitrification and dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium functions still maintained a high proportion,especially for denitrification genes/enzymes that were enriched under medium salinity.Denitrifying bacteria exhibited various relationships with salinity,while dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium bacterium(such as Hydrogenophaga and Curvibacter carrying nirB)were more inhibited by salinity,indicating that diverse denitrifying bacteria could be used to regulate nitrogen concentration.Most genera exhibited symbiotic and mutual relationships,and the highest proportion of significant positive correlations of abundant genera was found under medium salinity.This study emphasizes the role of river salinity on environment characteristics and nitrogen transformation rules,and our results are useful for improving the availability of river water resources in arid and semi-arid regions.

Biomimetic smart nanochannels for power harvesting

With the increasing requirements of reliable and environmentally friendly energy resources, porous materials for sustainable energy conversion technologies have attracted intensive interest in the past decades. As an important block of porous materials, biomimetic smart nanochannels （BSN） have been developed rapidly into an attractive field for their well-tunable geometry and chemistry. With inspiration from nature, many works have been reported to utilize BSN to harvest clean energy. In this review, we summarize recent progress in the BSN for power harvesting from four parts of brief introduction of BSN, biological prototypes for power harvesting, BSN-based energy conversion, and conclusion and outlook. Overall, by learning from nature, exploiting new avenues and improving the performance of BSN, a number of exciting developments in the near future may be anticipated.

Effect of nitrate supply on the facilitation between two salt-marsh plants (Suaeda salsa and Scirpus planiculmis)

Aims In estuarine salt-marshes,nitrate supply and soil salinity,which are known as two main environmental drivers,simultaneously affect the interspecific interactions between plant species.However,to date,their interactive effects on interspecific interactions have not been closely examined for salt-marsh plant species.Methods Juvenile plants of Suaeda salsa L.(Chenopodiaceae)and Scirpus planiculmis Fr.(Cyperaceae)were grown in rinsed river sand to conduct a greenhouse experiment with three treatment categories:interspecific interaction(mixed culture or monoculture),three salinity levels(1,50 and 100 mmol L^(-1))and three nitrate levels(0.5,5 and 10 mmol L^(-1)).First,height and biomass of all plants were measured.Then,the growth data,relative interaction index and competitive important index of the two species were analyzed.Important Findings The interspecific interactions between S.salsa and S.planiculmis were facilitation across the salinity gradients.The promotion of S.salsa growth with high nitrate supply did not enhance the facilitative effect of the species,especially at low salinity.However,high nitrate supply significantly shifted the interspecific interactions of S.planiculmis from facilitation to competition at high salinity.Our results suggest that excessive nitrate application changes the prediction of the stress-gradient hypothesis along a salinity gradient,leading to collapse of the two species coexistence in the salt-marshes.These findings make a contribution to the understanding of how S.salsa and S.planiculmis,as well as salt-marsh communities,respond to the human modification of estuarine nutritional levels.