Breakthrough Concepts on Nanofibrous Membranes with Directed Water Channels for Energy-Saving Water Purification

用于节能水净化的具有定向水通道的纳米纤维膜的突破性概念

• 批准号: 1019370
• 负责人: Benjamin Hsiao
• 金额: $ 29万
• 依托单位: SUNY at Stony Brook
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2010
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2010-04-01 至 2012-03-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1019370&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Breakthrough; Concepts; Nanofibrous; Membranes; Directed

TECHNICAL SUMMARY:This EAGER proposal aims to investigate breakthrough concepts on a new format of thin-film nanofibrous composite (TFNC) polymeric membranes containing directed water channels for high-flux water purification (e.g. nanofiltration (NF) and reverse osmosis (RO)). Such nanofibrous membranes, radically different from conventional polymer membranes, are untested but represent a potentially transformative technology for significant energy-saving and cost-effective water purification applications. The two new concepts for the radically different membrane design involve (1) the replacement of the conventional flux-limited porous substrate layer with a high-flux functional nanofibrous scaffold containing an asymmetric structure with inter-connected void morphology, and (2) the creation of a thinner, stronger and functional nanocomposite barrier layer, imbedded with interconnected and directed water channels. Although the new membrane format is applicable to all liquid filtration, the proposed research will focus on water purification involving NF and RO. Preliminary experiments on the hierarchical design and assembly of this unique nanofibrous membrane for ultrafiltration (UF) application have already revealed very promising potentials. For example, by using a hydrophilic nanocomposite barrier layer, an asymmetric electrospun nanofibrous mid-layer scaffold and a non-woven microfibrous support, the flux rate of this not yet optimized membrane system is already 3-10 times better than that of the best among all known conventional UF media without losing the high rejection and low fouling criteria. NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY:This EAGER proposal aims to investigate breakthrough concepts on a new format of polymeric membranes, containing nanofibrous scaffolds and nanocomposite coatings, for very high-flux water purification (e.g. nanofiltration (NF) and reverse osmosis (RO)). The research shall allow us to verify this revolutionary and "high risk-high payoff" concept, as well as to gain new insights into the transportation of dynamic molecular water clusters in confined channels. The success of the proposed research can bring significant benefits to society by providing practical means for high-flux liquid filtration applications in the chemical, materials, energy and biomedical industries. The proposed high-flux technology on water purification can immediately reap benefits on the quality-of-life and health concerns as well as energy savings. For example, there are increasing concerns on the presence of emerging contaminants in drinking water sources all over the world. These challenges offer us new opportunities to develop novel and innovative energy saving membrane products as well as improved water processing technologies.

技术摘要：该渴望的建议旨在研究以薄膜纳米纤维复合材料（TFNC）聚合物膜的新格式进行突破性概念，该膜含有有向水通道的高速净水纯化（例如纳米滤过（NF）（NF）和反向渗透（RO））。这种纳米纤维膜与常规聚合物膜根本不同，未经测试，但代表了一种潜在的转化技术，用于省力和具有成本效益的水净化应用。根本不同的膜设计的两个新概念涉及（1）用高频率的功能性纳米纤维支架替换常规通量限制的多孔底物层，其中包含具有不对称结构，具有相互连接的空隙形态，以及（2）创建的创造一个较薄，更强和功能性的纳米复合屏障层，并嵌入了相互连接和定向的水通道。尽管新的膜格式适用于所有液体过滤，但拟议的研究将集中于涉及NF和RO的水纯化。关于超滤（UF）应用的这种独特的纳米纤维膜的层次设计和组装的初步实验已经揭示了非常有希望的潜力。例如，通过使用亲水性纳米复合屏障层，不对称的静电传播纳米纤维中层支架和非编织的微纤维支撑物，该尚未优化的膜系统的通量速率已经比最佳的3-10倍好所有已知的常规UF媒体都不会失去高排斥和低犯规标准。非技术摘要：这项渴望的建议旨在研究新的聚合物膜形式的突破性概念，其中含有纳米纤维支架和纳米复合材料，以实现非常高的通量水的纯化（例如纳米滤过（NF）和反向渗透（RO））。这项研究应使我们能够验证这一革命性和“高风险最高的回报”概念，并获得有关在密闭渠道中动态分子水簇运输的新见解。拟议的研究的成功可以通过为化学，材料，能源和生物医学行业的高速液体液体过滤应用提供实用手段，从而为社会带来重大利益。拟议的有关水净化的高流量技术可以立即利用生活质量和健康问题以及节能的利益。例如，人们越来越担心世界各地的饮用水中存在污染物。这些挑战为我们提供了开发新颖和创新的节能膜产品以及改进的水加工技术的新机会。