SBIR Phase I: Carbon Nanotube Membranes for Ultrafiltration

这个小企业创新研究第一阶段项目的重点是开发具有高通量和均匀孔径的碳纳米管超滤（CNT-UF）膜。众所周知，碳纳米管可以提高水和气体应用中的膜通量。初步研究表明，我们可以生产出比商用超滤膜具有更高通量和更好选择性的膜。预计本项目开发的CNT-UF膜通量将显著高于目前的商用膜，具有良好的天然有机物截留效果，并具有优异的耐化学性。该项目使高性能CNT-UF膜的制造和优化成为可能。该项目更广泛的影响/商业潜力是，具有更高通量和改进的碳纳米管超滤膜将在广泛的应用中节省能源和成本。应用包括但不限于用于饮用水生产的地表水处理，使用反渗透进行海水淡化的预处理，市政和工业废水回收以及各种其他工业过程。更有效的海水淡化、水回收和再利用将减少水资源短缺。改进的超滤技术将减轻对水资源的压力，并有助于确保全球新鲜饮用水的供应。

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project is focused on the development of carbon nanotube ultrafiltration (CNT-UF) membranes with high flux and uniform pore size. Carbon nanotubes are known to enhance flux in membranes for water and gas applications. Initial studies have shown that we can produce membranes with higher flux and better selectivity than commercial UF membranes. It is anticipated that the CNT-UF membranes developed in this project will have significantly higher flux than current commercial membranes, achieve good natural organic matter rejection, and have excellent chemical resistance. This project enables fabrication and optimization of high performance CNT-UF membranes. The broader impact/commercial potential of this project is that carbon nanotube ultrafiltration membranes with higher flux and improved rejection will result in energy and cost savings in a broad set of applications. Applications include but are not limited to treatment of surface water for potable water production, pretreatment for seawater desalination using reverse osmosis, municipal and industrial wastewater reclamation and a variety of other industrial processes. More efficient desalination, water reclamation, and reuse will reduce water scarcity. Improved ultrafiltration technology will reduce strain on water resources and aid in securing a supply of fresh drinking water worldwide.