Volume 41, Issue 3

The last four decades have witnessed the flourished harvesting in optical tweezers technology, leading to the development of a number of mainstream and emerging disciplines, particularly in physico-chemical processes. In recent years, with the advancement of optical tweezers technology, the study of particle dynamics has been further developed and enhanced. This review presents an overview of the research progress in optical tweezers from the perspective of particle dynamics. It cites relevant theoretical models and mathematical formulas, delves into the principles of mechanics involved in optical tweezers technology, and analyzes the coupling of the particle force field to the optical field in a continuous medium. Through a review of the open literature, this paper highlights historical advances in research on the dynamical behavior of particles since the invention of optical tweezers, including diffusion, aggregation, collisions, and fluid motion. Furthermore, it shows some specific research cases and experimental results in recent years to demonstrate the practical application effects of the combination of particle dynamics and optical tweezers technology in several fields. Finally, it discusses the challenges and constraints facing the field of combining particle technology with optical tweezers technology and prospects potential future research directions and improvements.

Flotation is the most widely used technology for mineral separation and purification. The flotation production process has complex mechanism characteristics and is influenced by multiple variables that are coupled with each other, which has always been a difficulty in controlling the beneficiation process. The flotation system of mineral processing plants mostly relies on manual control, which is influenced by subjective factors such as worker experience, technical level, and sense of responsibility, making it difficult to optimize control parameters and maximize production efficiency. This paper systematically summarized the automation systems of flotation equipment such as automatic dosing device, automatic liquid level detection device, automatic feed concentration adjustment device, and automatic feed flow adjustment device. The accurate extraction methods of physical and dynamic characteristics such as color, texture, size, and moving speed of flotation froth were reviewed. The traditional data-driven model and image feature-based prediction methods for prediction of the grade, recovery rate, ash content in the concentrate, and tailings were combed. On this basis, a technical route for achieving intelligent flotation process was proposed with the aim of providing theoretical and practical references through the collaborative operation of flotation devices, detection sensors, and machine learning algorithms.

Ionizing radiation offers unique opportunities for addressing critical challenges in the oil industry, including efficient hydrocarbon processing and environmental remediation. This review highlights the diverse applications of ionizing radiation in oil-related processes, such as cracking, polymerization, desulfurization, and the treatment of oilfield-produced wastewater. By synthesizing findings from recent studies, this paper emphasizes the advantages of radiation technologies in enhancing process efficiency, reducing environmental impact, and supporting sustainable energy production. The necessity of this review lies in bridging knowledge gaps, identifying emerging trends, and fostering the broader adoption of advanced radiation-based technologies in the oil sector.

Epoxy foam/aerogel materials (EP-AGs) have potential in the aerospace, construction, and energy industries, allowing the development of lightweight high-performance products for a wide range of applications. Research interest in developing EP-AGs is increasing as it has the potential to create greener and more sustainable materials for making various products. Several commercial applications of EP-AGs and techniques for creating, processing, and drying them have already been reported. The introduction of EP-AGs into value-added materials is one of the most promising options but suffers from a lack of knowledge about the relationships between microstructure and properties. The current obstacles to their use in the industrial sector and for applications and challenges related to factory scale-up are also taken into account. EP-AGs are hindered by critical gaps in applicational and processing complexity, such as scaling up from laboratory to large-scale production, optimizing synthesis and processing techniques, and developing standardized testing protocols. The review focuses on the processing complexities and further difficulties associated with EP-AGs to improve casting burdens, cost-effectiveness, and accessibility in various applications. This review also examines the challenges in synthesizing EP-AGs used to make special materials, their practices, and the technological barriers one would face.