SBIR Phase II: Highly Ordered Membranes for Molecular Separation

本小型企业创新研究（SBIR）二期项目拟在硅胶溶胶-凝胶中以DNA为模板，开发一种具有垂直于膜表面的高度均匀孔隙的陶瓷纳滤膜。该膜将被优化用于从纤维素生物质中进行燃料和化学物质的分子分离和纯化。研究目标是制造具有所需孔径和取向特征的膜。将生产一种原型膜，并测试其通过渗透蒸发使生物燃料脱水的能力。人们期望这种选择性陶瓷膜层能够提供高效的分离，并具有高温和耐化学性。该膜将应用于一系列工业市场，包括废水净化和海水淡化。该项目的更广泛的影响/商业潜力是开发一种创新的膜技术，该技术将为从纤维素生物质中生产替代燃料节省大量能源。潜在的最终用户将包括将纤维素生物质转化为燃料和化学品的生物精炼厂。膜分离分子比蒸馏法有一个很大的优点，那就是可以节省40- 50%的能量。如果成功，该项目将产生一种新型的高通量陶瓷纳滤膜，将应用于其他工业领域，包括废水净化、天然气净化和煤炭气化。该项目有望为从可再生资源生产替代燃料节省大量能源。

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project proposes to develop a ceramic nanofiltration membrane with highly uniform pores oriented perpendicularly to the membrane surface using DNA as a template in a silica sol-gel. This membrane will be optimized to perform molecular separation and purification of fuels and chemicals from cellulosic biomass. The research objectives are to create a membrane with the desired pore size and orientation features. A prototype membrane will be produced and tested for its ability to dewater biofuels by pervaporation. It is anticipated that the selective ceramic membrane layer will provide efficient separations and have high temperature and chemical tolerance. The membrane will have applications for a range of industrial markets including wastewater purification and desalination.The broader impact/commercial potential of this project is the development of an innovative membrane technology that will contribute significant energy savings to the production of alternative fuels from cellulosic biomass. Potential end users will include biorefineries that convert cellulosic biomass to fuels and chemicals. A great advantage of molecular separations by membranes rather than distillation is the 40- 50% savings in energy. If successful, this project would lead to a new class of high-throughput ceramic nanofiltration membranes that will have applications to other industrial sectors, including wastewater purification, natural gas purification, and coal gasification. This project promises to contribute significant energy savings to the production of alternative fuels from renewable resources.