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调查了一种制造具有垂直于膜表面的高度均匀气孔的陶瓷膜的新方法的可行性。这些膜将被设计和优化，以执行木材提取物中化学物质的分子分离和提纯。理想的分子分离膜必须非常薄，具有与膜表面垂直的均匀的孔，很少有缺陷，并且在热和化学上是稳定的。目前还没有商业上可用的膜来提供所有这些特征。本项目的研究目标是创造第一个DNA模板陶瓷薄膜，并为其结构特征提供证据。高通量实验将被用来确定在溶胶-凝胶存在的情况下形成均匀取向的DNA单层的最佳条件。还将确定溶胶-凝胶聚合在表面形成二氧化硅包裹的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表面存在高度取向的包裹DNA的二氧化硅单分子膜。这些新的膜比现有的有机聚合物基膜具有显著的优势。Zeomatrix瞄准了陶瓷纳滤膜市场。据估计，无机膜市场每年约为3.75亿美元。纳滤市场部分虽然比微滤部分小，但正以每年约8%的速度增长。石油成本的快速增长预计将极大地增加生物质等可行替代品的潜在市场。Zeomatrix将生产的第一批无机膜的潜在客户是将木质生物质转化为糖、有机酸和酒精的生物精炼厂。目前的膜技术可以将糖从醋酸和糠醛中分离出来。然而，需要一种新的膜技术来将糠醛化合物从醋酸中分离出来。与蒸馏相比，膜分离分子的一大优点是成本较低，主要是在节能方面。这个第一阶段的项目可能会导致一种新型的膜，这种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。在这些行业中的每一个，都需要耐腐蚀、耐高温并能够在10到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.