BRITE Synergy: Chemically Resilient, Fouling Resistant Separation Membranes Manufactured Using Aqueous Phase Inversion

BRITE Synergy：采用水相转化技术制造的化学弹性、防污分离膜

• 批准号: 2227307
• 负责人: Jessica Schiffman
• 金额: $ 38.6万
• 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: 2023
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2023-01-01 至 2024-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2227307&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: BRITE; Synergy; Chemically; Resilient; Fouling; BRITE; Synergy; Chemically; Resilient; Fouling

Polymer membranes are the modern technology used to remove particulates and waterborne pathogens from dirty water and wastewater. During operation, membranes get fouled and require regular physical and/or chemical cleaning, which increases process downtime and causes membrane degradation. Additionally, it is unfortunate that the modern process used to manufacture polymer membranes relies heavily on toxic solvents and that the membrane itself does not prevent the accumulation of particulates on its surface. This Boosting Research Ideas for Transformative and Equitable Advances in Engineering (BRITE) award supports fundamental research that integrates disaggregated prior results to manufacture polymer membranes that resist fouling. The membranes will feature a new chemistry that will enable an all-aqueous manufacturing process that does not use toxic solvents. Selective polymer membranes that resist fouling are preferred for wastewater treatment and water remediation applications, as well as additional separation applications, such as industrial cleaning, food processing, protein separation, and gene engineering. Therefore, results from this research will benefit the U.S. economy, the environment, and society. This research will educate, provide research experiences, and mentor a diverse workforce at the emerging interface of chemical engineering, polymer science, and microbiology. Since the 1960s, non-solvent induced phase separation has been used to manufacture polymer membranes, which are essential in sustainable separation processes. Unfortunately, the manufacturing process generates more than fifty billion liters of toxic solvent-contaminated wastewater annually. This research provides fundamental insights into the manufacturing of chemically resilient porous polymer membranes processed from all-aqueous solutions of water-soluble charged polymers. Specifically, we will (1) develop a mechanistic understanding of how to manufacture high performance membranes from water soluble charged polymers, water, and salt; and (2) evaluate the stability, performance, and fouling resistance of the porous membranes. By conducting permeance testing in parallel to membrane manufacturing, we will have a feedback loop between the chemistry, morphology, and performance of the membranes. This research will establish an inclusive research team in polymer membranes for water separations and also provide research opportunities for underrepresented students.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

聚合物膜是用于从脏水和废水中去除颗粒和水传播病原体的现代技术。在操作过程中，膜会犯规并需要定期的物理和/或化学清洁，这会增加过程停机时间并导致膜降解。此外，不幸的是，用于生产聚合物膜的现代过程在很大程度上取决于有毒溶剂，并且该膜本身并不能阻止颗粒在其表面上的积累。这项提高了工程（BRITE）奖的变革性和公平进步的研究思想支持了基础研究，这些研究将先前的结果整合在一起，以制造抗污染的聚合物膜。该膜将采用一种新的化学反应，将使不使用有毒溶剂的全水性制造工艺。在废水处理和水补救应用以及其他分离应用（例如工业清洁，食品加工，蛋白质分离和基因工程）方面，选择性抗性膜的选择性聚合物膜是首选的。因此，这项研究的结果将使美国经济，环境和社会受益。这项研究将教育，提供研究经验，并在化学工程，聚合物科学和微生物学的新兴界面上提供多样化的劳动力。自1960年代以来，已使用非溶剂诱导的相分离来制造聚合物膜，这对于可持续分离过程至关重要。不幸的是，制造过程每年产生超过50亿升的有毒溶剂污染的废水。这项研究为从水溶性带电聚合物的全水溶液中加工的化学弹性多孔聚合物膜的生产提供了基本见解。具体而言，我们将（1）对如何从水溶性聚合物，水和盐中生产高性能膜的机械理解； （2）评估多孔膜的稳定性，性能和结垢性。通过与膜制造并行进行渗透测试，我们将在化学，形态和膜性能之间进行反馈回路。这项研究将在聚合物膜上建立一个包容性的研究团队，以供水分离，并为代表性不足的学生提供研究机会。该奖项反映了NSF的法定任务，并被认为是值得通过基金会的知识分子和更广泛影响的评估评估来获得支持的。