SBIR Phase II: Ion-Exchange Fiber Composites for Rapid and Selective Removal of Perchlorate from Water

这一小型企业创新研究第二阶段项目将继续开发用于去除饮用水中高氯酸盐的新型超高速、高选择性、高渗透性离子交换纤维复合材料(IXFC)。这种材料去除高氯酸盐的速度比最好的现有技术快10-100倍，并且采用了一种与随处可见的制造设备兼容的低成本生产方法。通过使用微米级的传质距离，可以快速去除污染物；而常用的微珠和颗粒介质被限制在更大的尺寸上，导致难以遏制和巨大的压降等缺点。然而，IXFC由于其永久交织的、自支撑的结构而显示出高渗透性和自容性。SERIONIX在第一阶段证明了这项技术的可行性，并将继续进行第二阶段的主要目标：1)优化用于去除高氯酸盐的超大容量IXFC；2)设计/制造IXFC净化盒，供工业合作伙伴评估；3)确定和验证免费IXFC的化学成分，这些IXFC对铅和汞等重金属具有选择性；以及4)在中试规模生产IXFC，并为商业生产制定战略。这项研究的更广泛影响/商业潜力是开发和商业化一种低成本技术，使其能够遵守监管规定并改善对人类健康的保护。第一个有针对性的应用是高氯酸盐，美国环保局将在2014年前对其在饮用水中进行监管。这只是平台技术的第一个商业机会，平台技术具有改变工业和生活用水处理景观的最终潜力。未来的应用可能包括超高效率的水去离子、软化和工业废水回收、个人防护装备和服装以及高活性固体酸/碱催化剂。数据的传播和解释将有助于更好地了解水和空气处理中使用的纤维吸附材料的传质特性。

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase II project will result in the continuing development of novel ultrafast, highly selective, high permeability ion-exchange fiber composites (IXFCs) for removing perchlorate from drinking water. The proposed material removes perchlorate 10-100 times faster than the best available technology and employs a low-cost production method compatible with widely available manufacturing equipment. Rapid contaminant removal is made possible by the use of micron-scale mass transfer distances; whereas commonly used beads and granular media are limited to much larger sizes resulting in drawbacks such as difficult containment and enormous pressure drops. However, IXFCs display both high permeability and self-containment due to their permanently intertwined, self-supporting structure. Serionix demonstrated the feasibility of this technology in Phase I and will continue in the Phase II with the following key goals: 1) optimization of ultra-high capacity IXFCs for perchlorate removal; 2) design/build IXFC purification cartridges for evaluation by industrial partners; 3) identify and validate chemistries for complimentary IXFCs that are selective for heavy metals such as lead and mercury; and 4) produce IXFCs at a pilot scale and develop strategy for commercial production.The broader impact/commercial potential of this research is the development and commercialization of a low-cost technology enabling regulatory compliance and improved protection of human health. The first targeted application is perchlorate, which the EPA is set to regulate in drinking water by 2014. This represents only the first commercial opportunity for a platform technology with the ultimate potential to transform the industrial and residential water treatment landscape. Future applications may include ultrahigh efficiency water deionization, softening, and industrial wastewater recycling, personal protective equipment and clothing, and high activity solid acid/base catalysts. Dissemination of data and interpretation will contribute to improved understanding of mass transfer characteristics in fibrous sorbent materials used in both water and air treatment.