Structure Control in Membrane Formation

摘要提案标题：膜形成中的结构控制，提案编号：CTS-0625233，主要研究者：道格拉斯R。劳埃德，机构：德克萨斯大学奥斯汀分校摘要：该项目旨在了解膜形成过程中铸后条件的影响（即，固化，提取和干燥）的微孔和纳米多孔膜的结构，使用理论/模拟和实验研究。拟议的研究将是第一个系统和基础研究，将膜形成过程的固化，交换和干燥步骤与膜形态学（细胞和连接细胞的孔的大小和大小分布）联系起来。这种关系将通过基于材料科学，传输现象和表面现象的基本概念的模拟开发来建立。将要开发的模拟将描述后期或后粗化过程的敏感性，从而使制造商能够将材料结构和性能与材料形成过程联系起来。计算机模拟的过程将允许调查到不同的加工条件，稀释剂和萃取剂没有广泛和昂贵的实验室研究。从本研究中获得的基础知识将适用于膜形成过程，包括非溶剂诱导相分离以及热诱导相分离。拟议的研究将产生重大影响的应用程序中，一个良好的控制结构是重要的分离和选择性。例如，在电池隔板、膜蒸馏应用和血液透析中需要严格控制的形态是有据可查的。具体而言，这些应用需要具有较窄孔径分布和较高孔隙率的膜。通过调整膜的形态，渗透性、截留率和选择性可以针对分离应用进行优化。这在生物化学、制药和生物医学分离中尤为重要。例如，分子生物学领域的最新进展增加了大分子量蛋白质和肽类药物的可用性，从而增加了治疗许多疾病的新方法。这些新生物药物的结构、理化性质、稳定性、药效学和药代动力学对它们在加工过程中的分离方式以及它们被递送到体内的方式提出了严格的要求。适当控制用于分离或回收这些药物的膜中的细胞和孔径以及用于递送的载体可以具有显著的有益影响。PI过去与工业实验室合作研究的记录将有助于转让在拟议研究中获得的知识。广泛的影响将是显著的，其中良好控制的膜孔结构可以影响用于各种分离应用的膜设计。因此，控制孔径分布的改进方法可以在许多工业中提供有益的结果。

Abstract Proposal Title:Structure Control In Membrane Formation, Proposal Number: CTS-0625233, Principal Investigator:Douglas R. Lloyd, Institution: University of Texas at AustinAbstract:This project aims to understand effects of post casting conditions during membrane formation (i.e., solidification, extraction, and drying) on structures of microporous and nanoporous membranes using theoretical/simulational and experimental investigations. The proposed research will be the first systematic and fundamental study to relate the solidification, exchange, and drying steps of the membrane formation process to the membranemorphology (size and size distribution of the cells and the pores connecting the cells). This relationship will be established through the development of simulations based on fundamental concepts of materials science, transport phenomena, and surface phenomena. The simulations to be developed will describe the sensitivities of the late-stage or post-coarsening processes and thereby allow manufacturers to relate material structure and performance to the material formation process. Computer simulation of the processes will allow investigation into differentprocessing conditions, diluents, and extractants without extensive and expensive laboratory research. The fundamental knowledge gained from this research will be applicable to membrane formation process that involves nonsolvent-induced phase separation as well as thermally induced phase separation.The proposed research will have a major impact in applications where a well-controlled structure is important for separation and selectivity. For example, the need for tightly controlled morphologies in battery separators, membrane distillation applications, and hemo-dialysis is well documented. Specifically, these applications need membranes with narrower pore size distributions and higher porosities. By tailoring the morphology of membranes, permeability, rejection, and selectivity, can be optimized for separations applications. This is particularly important in biochemical, pharmaceutical and biomedical separations. For example, recent advances in the field of molecular biology have increased availability of large molecular weight protein- and peptide-based drugs, and thus new ways to treat a number of diseases. The structure, physicochemical properties, stability, pharmacodynamics, and pharmacokinetics of these new biopharmaceuticals place stringent demands on the way they are separated during processing and the way in which they are delivered into the body. Proper control of cell and pore size in embranes used for the separation or recovery of these drugs, as well as the carriers used for delivery, could have significant beneficial impact. The PI's past record of collaborative research with industrial laboratories will facilitate the transfer of the knowledge gained in the proposed research. Broad impact will be significant where well-controlled membrane pore structure can affect membrane design for a variety of separation applications. Therefore, improved method of controlling pore size distribution can provide beneficial results in many industries.