Breakthrough Concepts on Nanofibrous Membranes with Directed Water Channels for Energy-Saving Water Purification

用于节能水净化的具有定向水通道的纳米纤维膜的突破性概念

• 批准号: 1019370
• 负责人: Benjamin Hsiao
• 金额: $ 29万
• 依托单位: SUNY at Stony Brook
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2010
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2010-04-01 至 2012-03-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1019370&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Breakthrough; Concepts; Nanofibrous; Membranes; Directed

TECHNICAL SUMMARY:This EAGER proposal aims to investigate breakthrough concepts on a new format of thin-film nanofibrous composite (TFNC) polymeric membranes containing directed water channels for high-flux water purification (e.g. nanofiltration (NF) and reverse osmosis (RO)). Such nanofibrous membranes, radically different from conventional polymer membranes, are untested but represent a potentially transformative technology for significant energy-saving and cost-effective water purification applications. The two new concepts for the radically different membrane design involve (1) the replacement of the conventional flux-limited porous substrate layer with a high-flux functional nanofibrous scaffold containing an asymmetric structure with inter-connected void morphology, and (2) the creation of a thinner, stronger and functional nanocomposite barrier layer, imbedded with interconnected and directed water channels. Although the new membrane format is applicable to all liquid filtration, the proposed research will focus on water purification involving NF and RO. Preliminary experiments on the hierarchical design and assembly of this unique nanofibrous membrane for ultrafiltration (UF) application have already revealed very promising potentials. For example, by using a hydrophilic nanocomposite barrier layer, an asymmetric electrospun nanofibrous mid-layer scaffold and a non-woven microfibrous support, the flux rate of this not yet optimized membrane system is already 3-10 times better than that of the best among all known conventional UF media without losing the high rejection and low fouling criteria. NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY:This EAGER proposal aims to investigate breakthrough concepts on a new format of polymeric membranes, containing nanofibrous scaffolds and nanocomposite coatings, for very high-flux water purification (e.g. nanofiltration (NF) and reverse osmosis (RO)). The research shall allow us to verify this revolutionary and "high risk-high payoff" concept, as well as to gain new insights into the transportation of dynamic molecular water clusters in confined channels. The success of the proposed research can bring significant benefits to society by providing practical means for high-flux liquid filtration applications in the chemical, materials, energy and biomedical industries. The proposed high-flux technology on water purification can immediately reap benefits on the quality-of-life and health concerns as well as energy savings. For example, there are increasing concerns on the presence of emerging contaminants in drinking water sources all over the world. These challenges offer us new opportunities to develop novel and innovative energy saving membrane products as well as improved water processing technologies.

技术总结：EAGER提案旨在研究一种新形式的薄膜纳米纤维复合材料（TFNC）聚合物膜的突破性概念，该膜含有用于高通量水净化（例如纳滤（NF）和反渗透（RO））的定向水通道。这种纳米纤维膜与传统的聚合物膜完全不同，未经测试，但代表了一种潜在的变革性技术，用于显著节能和具有成本效益的水净化应用。这两种完全不同的膜设计的新概念涉及（1）用高通量功能纳米纤维支架替代传统的通量受限多孔基底层，该支架包含具有相互连接的空隙形态的不对称结构，以及（2）创建更薄，更强和功能性的纳米复合材料屏障层，嵌入有相互连接和定向的水通道。虽然新的膜格式适用于所有液体过滤，但拟议的研究将集中在涉及NF和RO的水净化上。这种独特的纳米纤维膜的超滤（UF）应用的分级设计和组装的初步实验已经揭示了非常有前途的潜力。例如，通过使用亲水性纳米复合材料阻挡层、不对称电纺纳米纤维中间层支架和非织造微纤维载体，该尚未优化的膜系统的通量速率已经比所有已知的常规UF介质中最好的膜系统的通量速率好3-10倍，而不丧失高截留率和低结垢标准。非技术总结：EAGER的提案旨在研究一种新形式的聚合物膜的突破性概念，包含纳米纤维支架和纳米复合材料涂层，用于非常高通量的水净化（例如纳滤（NF）和反渗透（RO））。这项研究将使我们能够验证这一革命性的和“高风险高回报”的概念，以及获得新的见解动态分子水簇在受限通道中的运输。拟议研究的成功可以为化学，材料，能源和生物医学行业的高通量液体过滤应用提供实用手段，从而为社会带来重大利益。拟议的高通量水净化技术可以立即在生活质量和健康问题以及节能方面获益。例如，人们越来越关注世界各地饮用水源中新出现的污染物。这些挑战为我们提供了新的机会，开发新颖和创新的节能膜产品以及改进的水处理技术。