NTE Phase II Proposal: Removal of Toxic Metal Ions from Contaminated Water by Dendrimer Enhanced Ultrafiltration

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The objective of this collaborative proposal is to perform an integrated experimental and multi-scale modeling project to optimize the operation of a continuous bench-scale dendrimer enhanced ultrafiltration (DEUF) system for recovering metal ions from aqueous solutions. The focus will be on commercially available ethylene diamine (EDA) core, poly(amidoamine) PAMAM dendrimers as functional materials for DEUF-based processes for recovering metal ions from industrial wastewater streams. Research activities will involve (i) measurements and molecular dynamics simulations of proton and metal ion binding to dendrimers in aqueous solutions, (ii) experimental characterization and mesoscale simulations of dendrimer sorption to polymeric ultrafiltration membranes, and (iii) evaluation and optimization of a bench-scale DEUF system. The fundamental mechanisms of proton and metal ion binding in aqueous solutions of dendrimers will be probed through a combination of experimental measurements and molecular dynamics simulations. In terms of the broader impacts, the project will provide educational opportunities at an HBCU. DEUF has the potential to recover toxic metal ions from contaminated public water supplies.