BRIGE: Engineering Antifouling Ultrafiltration Membranes Using Polycationic Nanofibers

BRIGE：使用聚阳离子纳米纤维工程防污超滤膜

• 批准号: 1342343
• 负责人: Jessica Schiffman
• 金额: $ 17.43万
• 依托单位: University of Massachusetts Amherst
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2013
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2013-09-01 至 2015-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1342343&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: BRIGE; Engineering; Antifouling; Ultrafiltration; Membranes

Background:Globally, diarrhea remains the second leading cause of childhood mortality. While membrane-based technologies can effectively diminish this mortality rate, the costs associated with retaining membrane performance prohibits developing countries from maintaining access to safe drinking water. This NSF-BRIGE proposal embarks on a new generation of antimicrobial ultrafiltration membranes that will last longer in operational systems. Technical Description:Polysulfone ultrafiltration membranes will be surface functionalized with polycationic/poly(ethylene oxide) nanofiber mats. The nanofiber layer will inactivate a broad-spectrum of microbes via contact with the exposed cationic surface charges. The poly(ethylene oxide) content will render the membrane surface more hydrophilic, and thus, more resistant to microbial attachment. For the polycation, we will investigate the biopolymer chitosan, as well as a synthetic analogue, poly(dimethyldiallylammonium chloride). Ultrafiltration membranes enhanced with nanofibers will be characterized for functionality, biofouling, and their materials properties.This research will provide critical structure-property relationships between high porosity nanofiber mats applied as a thin-layer on ultrafiltration membranes and their ability to retain high flux and inactivate microbes under operational conditions. These nanostructure-enhanced ultrafiltration membranes hold the potential to impact water quality on a local, national, and global scale by providing safe, high-quality water to local municipals and underdeveloped communities. In addition to improving the functionality and lifetime of membranes for water purification, understanding the materials-biology interface has great implications on the proper functioning of membranes for a broad range of separations, including, beverage clarification, blood filtration/treatment, protein purification, and metal ion recovery.Broader Signficance and Importance:From this work, new insights into the manufacturing of low cost, water purification membranes that feature "green" antimicrobials will be acquired. This technology holds the potential to impact water quality on a local, national, and global scale by providing safe, high-quality water to local municipals and underdeveloped communities. The continuous decline in water quantity and quality is a tangible societal impact that makes this project a powerful vehicle for communicating the vital role of STEM disciplines over a broad demographic.Broadening Participation of Underrepresented Groups in Engineering:A key component of this project is its aim to educate and mentor a diverse workforce at the emerging interface of chemical engineering, materials science, and environmental engineering. In addition to her on-going efforts, this proposal will result in numerous new research experiences for deaf or hard-of hearing undergraduate students, as well as women and minority undergraduate and graduate students. Additionally, the PI will act as the moderator to two new web-based international discussion groups. One will increase access to scientific knowledge globally and the second will provide a safe women-mentorship network to an underserved population of women, those living in remote places where there may not be other women role models. Additionally, the PI will act as the moderator to two new web-based international discussion groups maintained by the Global Materials Network. The first will be a topical forum to increase access to scientific knowledge on "Polymers" globally. The second, will be a "Women in Engineering Discussion Group" that will provide a mentorship network to women in remote locations where there may not be other women role models, an underserved population of women.This research has been funded through the Broadening Participation Research Initiation Grants in Engineering solicitation, which is part of the Broadening Participation in Engineering Program of the Engineering Education and Centers Division.

背景：在全球范围内，腹泻仍然是儿童死亡率的第二大原因。尽管基于膜的技术可以有效降低这种死亡率，但与保留膜性能相关的成本禁止发展中国家维持获得安全饮用水的机会。这项NSF-Brige提案将展开新一代的抗菌超滤膜，这些膜在操作系统中的持续时间更长。技术说明：多阳离子/多阳离子/聚乙烷氧化物纳米纤维垫表面将多硫酮超滤膜进行表面功能。纳米纤维层将通过与裸露的阳离子表面电荷接触来灭活一片微生物。聚乙烷氧化物含量将使膜表面更亲水，因此对微生物附着具有更耐药性。对于多阳离子，我们将研究生物聚合物壳聚糖以及合成类似物，聚二二叶二叶氯化铵）。用纳米纤维增强的超滤膜将以功能性，生物污染和其材料特性来表征。这项研究将在高孔隙率纳米纤维垫之间提供至关重要的结构 - 特性关系，以在超滤膜上应用于超滤光器的超层膜及其在较高的高浮肿和灭活性微生物下的能力。这些纳米结构增强的超滤膜通过向当地市政府和欠发达社区提供安全的高质量水来影响当地，国家和全球范围的水质。除了改善膜净化膜的功能和寿命外，了解材料生物学界面对膜的适当功能具有很大的影响将获得抗菌剂。这项技术通过向当地市政当局和欠发达的社区提供安全，高质量的水来影响当地，国家和全球范围的水质。水数量和质量的持续下降是一种有形的社会影响，它使该项目成为传达STEM学科在广泛人群中的重要作用的强大工具。在广泛的人群中，人数不足的群体参与工程学：这个项目的关键组成部分是该项目的目的是教育和指导与化学工具的各种互动互动的化学工具界面，材料科学和环境工程，并具有多元化的互动。除了她的持续努力外，该建议还将为聋哑或听力本科生以及妇女和少数群体本科生和研究生带来许多新的研究经验。此外，PI将充当两个新的基于Web的国际讨论小组的主持人。一个人将在全球范围内增加获得科学知识的机会，第二个将为服务欠佳的妇女提供安全的女性训练网络，那些居住在偏远地区的妇女可能没有其他女性榜样。此外，PI将充当两个由全球材料网络维护的两个新的基于Web的国际讨论小组的主持人。第一个将是一个主题论坛，以增加全球“聚合物”科学知识的访问。第二个将是一个“工程讨论小组中的女性”，它将为可能没有其他妇女榜样的偏远地区的妇女提供指导网络，这是通过扩大的参与研究开始授予工程学的研究，这是在工程学委托中的一部分，这是在工程教育教育和百年赛范围扩大参与计划的一部分。