SBIR Phase I: Highly Ordered Membranes for Molecular Separation

这个小型企业创新研究第一阶段项目研究了一种新方法的可行性，该方法用于制造具有垂直于膜表面的高度均匀的孔的陶瓷膜。这些膜将被设计和优化，以进行分子分离和纯化的化学品从木材提取物。用于分子分离的理想膜必须非常薄，具有垂直于膜表面取向的均匀孔，具有非常少的缺陷，并且是热稳定和化学稳定的。不存在提供所有这些特征的市售膜。本项目的研究目标是创造第一个DNA模板陶瓷薄膜，并提供其结构特征的证据。高通量实验将用于确定在溶胶-凝胶存在下形成均匀取向的DNA单层的最佳条件。还将确定溶胶-凝胶聚合以在表面上形成二氧化硅包封的DNA的条件。预计X射线衍射、原子力显微镜、扫描电子显微镜和透射电子显微镜等分析技术将证实在表面上存在高度取向的二氧化硅包封的DNA单层，这些新膜与现有的有机聚合物膜相比具有显着的优势。Zeomatrix的目标是陶瓷纳滤膜市场。据估计，无机膜市场每年约为3.75亿美元。纳滤市场虽然小于微滤市场，但每年以大约8%的速度增长。石油成本的迅速增长预计将大大增加生物质等可行替代品的潜在市场。Zeomatrix将生产的第一种无机膜的潜在客户是将木质生物质转化为糖、有机酸和醇的生物精炼厂。目前的膜技术可以将糖与乙酸和糠醛分离。然而，需要一种新的膜技术，将糠醛化合物与乙酸分离。通过膜而不是蒸馏进行分子分离的一个很大优点是成本较低，主要是节能。这个第一阶段项目可能会导致一种新的膜，将应用于其他工业部门。具体行业包括石油和石化、煤气化、纸浆和造纸以及天然气生产商。在这些工业中的每一个中，需要耐腐蚀、耐高温并且能够在10至20埃范围内分离的膜。

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project investigates the viability of a new method for manufacturing ceramic membranes with highly uniform pores oriented perpendicularly to the membrane surface. These membranes will be designed and optimized to perform molecular separation and purification of chemicals from wood extracts. The ideal membrane for molecular separation must be very thin, have uniform pores which are oriented perpendicularly to the surface of the membrane, have very few defects, and be thermally and chemically stable. There are no commercially available membranes that provide all of these features. The research objectives of this project are to create the first DNA templated ceramic thin film and provide evidence of its structural characteristics. High throughput experimentation will be used to determine the optimum conditions to form the monolayer of uniformly oriented DNA in the presence of sol-gel. The conditions for the polymerization of the sol-gel to form the silica encapsulated DNA on a surface will also be determined. It is anticipated that analytical techniques such as X-ray diffraction, atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy will confirm the existence of a highly oriented monolayer of silica encapsulated DNA on a surface.These new membranes have significant advantages over existing organic polymer-based membranes. Zeomatrix is targeting the ceramic nanofiltration membrane market. It is estimated that the inorganic membrane market is approximately $375 million per year. The nanofiltration market segment, while smaller than the microfiltration segment, is growing at a rate of roughly 8% per year. The rapid growth of oil costs is expected to dramatically increase the potential market for viable alternatives such as biomass. Potential customers for the first inorganic membrane Zeomatrix will produce are biorefineries which convert woody biomass to sugars, organic acids, and alcohols. Current membrane technologies can separate the sugars from acetic acid and furfurals. However, a new membrane technology is needed which will separate furfural compounds from acetic acid. A great advantage of molecular separation by membranes rather than distillation is lower cost primarily in energy savings. This Phase I project could lead to a new class of membranes that will have applications to other industrial sectors. Specific industries include oil and petrochemical, coal gasification, pulp and paper, and natural gas producers. In each of these industries, membranes which are resistant to corrosion, tolerate high temperatures, and are capable of separations in the 10 to 20 angstrom range are needed.