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Article Citation - WoS: 6Citation - Scopus: 6Salinity Gradient Energy Conversion by Custom-Made Interpolymer Ion Exchange Membranes Utilized in Reverse Electrodialysis System(Elsevier Sci Ltd, 2023) Altiok, Esra; Kaya, Tugce Zeynep; Smolinska-Kempisty, Katarzyna; Guler, Enver; Kabay, Nalan; Tomaszewska, Barbara; Bryjak, MarekReverse electrodialysis (RED) is one of methods to extract salinity gradient energy between two aqueous solu-tions with different salt concentrations. In this work, custom-made interpolymer ion exchange membranes were employed in the RED stack. The effects of divalent (Mg2+, Ca2+ , SO42-) and monovalent (Li+, K+ and Cl-) ions in the feed solutions prepared from NaCl salt as a function of such process parameters as number of membrane pairs, flow rate , salinity ratio on power generation by the RED method were studied. It was shown that the maximum power density of 0.561 W/m2 was reached by using three membrane pairs using 1:45 of salt ratio with a feed flow rate of 120 mL/min using only NaCl salt in the feed solutions. The maximum power density was 0.398 W/m2 at 120 mL/min of the flow rate of the feed solutions composed of 90 wt% NaCl and 10 wt% KCl by using a salt ratio of 1:30 while the lowest power density of 0.246 W/m2 was obtained with a feed flow rate of 30 mL/min in the presence of SO42-ions with a similar salt ratio. Consequently, it was seen that while the presence of divalent ions in NaCl solutions had negative impact on power generation by RED system, the addition of monovalent ions having smaller hydrated radius than that of the Na+ ions contributed positively to the power generation.Article Citation - WoS: 3Citation - Scopus: 3Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticle-Immobilized Antibacterial Anion-Exchange Membranes for Salinity Gradient Energy Production by Reverse Electrodialysis(Amer Chemical Soc, 2024) Eti, Mine; Cihanoglu, Aydin; Hamaloglu, Kadriye Ozlem; Altiok, Esra; Guler, Enver; Tuncel, Ali; Kabay, NalanBiofouling, stemming from the attachment of living microorganisms, such as bacteria, which form resilient biofilms on membrane surfaces, presents a significant challenge that hampers the efficiency of anion-exchange membranes (AEMs) in reverse electrodialysis (RED) applications. This limitation curtails the generation of electrical power from salinity gradients, which notably is a sustainable form of energy known as osmotic energy. RED stands as a clean and promising process to harness this renewable energy source. This study aimed to impart antibacterial activity to synthesized AEMs by using silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). For that purpose, AgNPs were synthesized at 30 degree celsius using two different pH values (6.0 and 9.0) and immobilized into synthesized AEMs using the dip-coating technique. In nanoparticle synthesis, ascorbic acid and trisodium citrate were used as a reductant and a stabilizer, respectively, to take control of the particle size and agglomeration behavior. The results indicated that AgNPs synthesized at pH 6.0 were dispersed on the AEM surface without agglomeration. The stability of AgNPs immobilized on the membrane surface was tested under low- and high-saline solutions. The antibacterial activities of AEMs were determined with the colony-counting method using Gram-negative (Escherichia coli) bacterial suspension. The viability of bacteria dramatically decreased after the immobilization of AgNPs in the AEMs. In the short- and long-term RED tests, it has been observed that the AEMs having AgNPs have high energy-generating potentials, and power density up to 0.372 W/m(2) can be obtained.Article The Impact of Quaternization Degree in Polyepichlorohydrin-Based Anion Exchange Membranes on Salinity Gradient Energy Generation by Reverse Electrodialysis(Elsevier, 2025) Cihanoglu, Aydin; Guler, Enver; Kabay, NalanAnion exchange membranes with tailored fixed-charge densities can improve monovalent ion selectivity and performance in reverse electrodialysis for salinity gradient power generation. In this study, poly(epichlorohydrin) was blended with polyacrylonitrile and quaternized with 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane at three different molar ratios to produce AEMs with systematically varied quaternization degrees via a one-step amination/ crosslinking procedure. The resulting membranes were characterized for their physicochemical, electrochemical, and RED performance using ATR-FTIR, XPS, SEM, AFM, water uptake, swelling degree, contact angle, surface zeta potential, ion exchange capacity, fixed charge density, and electrical resistance. Higher quaternization increased the IEC, reduced resistance, and shifted surface charge, leading to improved stack power output in model NaCl solutions. In the presence of Na2SO4, power loss was reduced for more highly quaternized membranes, indicating enhanced exclusion of divalent anions (SO42-) and reduced uphill transport. Fouling tests with humic acid/fulvic acid mixtures showed greater stability for quaternized membranes compared to a commercial benchmark. Moreover, stability tests conducted on fouled membranes revealed that the tailor-made membrane exhibits superior durability and lower fouling-induced power loss than commercial Fujifilm Type II AEMs. Overall, these results demonstrate that tuning the degree of quaternization is an effective strategy to balance conductivity and ion selectivity in AEMs for RED applications.Article Citation - Scopus: 1Effect of Asymmetric Feed Flow Rate and Temperature on Reverse Electrodialysis: A Response Surface Methodology Approach(Elsevier, 2025) Gul, Taha Furkan; Gonlugur, Miray Emreol; Guler, Enver; Cihanoglu, Aydin; Kabay, NalanReverse electrodialysis (RED) has the potential to generate sustainable energy by utilizing the salinity gradient potential between natural water sources with different salinities, such as river water and seawater. It is essential to comprehend the RED process's characteristics and optimize operational parameters to enhance its commercial viability. This study investigated the effects of varying inlet feed flow rates and temperatures on RED performance using Response Surface Methodology. Unlike conventional approaches, where inlet flow rates of seawater and river water solutions are typically kept equal, this research explores their diverse combinations. Key performance metrics of RED, including power density and open circuit voltage, were evaluated. Moreover, the impacts of different feed flow rates and temperatures on ohmic and non-ohmic resistances were thoroughly examined. The findings underscore significant interactions between feed flow rates, temperature, and RED performance outputs, providing insights essential for optimizing RED operations and enhancing its practical application in sustainable energy solutions.