Nanoimprinting Ultrafiltration Membranes for Non-Chemical Fouling Mitigation

用于非化学污染缓解的纳米压印超滤膜

• 批准号: 1264276
• 负责人: Yifu Ding
• 金额: $ 32万
• 依托单位: University of Colorado at Boulder
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2013
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2013-08-01 至 2018-07-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1264276&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Nanoimprinting; Ultrafiltration; Membranes; Non; Chemical

1264276 DingThe performance of ultrafiltration (UF) membranes used for liquid separations is often degraded by membrane fouling. The foulants can be partially removed by harsh chemical treatment, causing more energy consumption, loss of productivity, and shortened membrane lifetime. Thus, mitigation of membrane fouling remains a grand challenge for most liquid separation applications. While most antifouling strategies focus on modifying the surface chemistry of the UF membrane, this project aims to use micro and nanoscale patterns on UF membranes as a non-chemical approach to mitigate fouling during active filtration. To achieve this goal, the two specific objectives are: (1) to understand the processing ? structure ? performance relationships for creating patterns onto asymmetric porous UF membranes using nanoimprint lithography (NIL), without sacrificing the permselectivity of the membrane; and (2) to understand the mechanism of how these surface patterns affect fouling of the membranes during filtration. The PIs expect to advance current understanding of how surface topography affects fouling during active filtration. NIL will be applied to create patterns on the surface of the asymmetric UF membrane without sacrificing its permselectivity. Membranes with micro or nanopatterned surface have not been previously been fabricated. The NIL approach is applicable to all UF membranes, thus offering a platform for quantitative physico-chemical insights into the interplay between chemistry and topography on colloidal interactions in complex systems. The comparison of fouling between patterned and flat membranes with identical chemistry will shed light on the explicit role of surface topography on membrane fouling. The integration of lithographic patterns with the filtration membranes will allow the PIs to control the thermodynamic and hydrodynamic interactions between the membrane surface and the feed solution during active filtration. Broader impacts. Results of the project may guide a flexible non-chemical approach to produce UF membranes with reduced fouling and improved energy efficiency with benefits for a broad range of separation technologies. Results of the project will advance our current knowledge on how surface topography affects the membrane fouling during active filtration, which in turn will guide the design of surface patterns for targeting specific separation applications. The proposed educational impact will leverage the exceptional infrastructures for innovation in education and outreach at the University of Colorado to provide new, inspirational educational experiences, with a focus on membrane technology, for students at all levels. Other activities will enhance professional development of graduate students, promote diversity in science and engineering disciplines, and enhance K-12 outreach. The ultimate educational outcome of this proposal is to provide the essential membrane-science focused education to students at all levels, and encourage them to pursue careers in scientific disciplines.

1264276 Ding 用于液体分离的超滤（UF）膜的性能通常会因膜污染而降低。 通过严酷的化学处理可以部分去除污垢，从而导致更多的能源消耗、生产力损失和膜寿命缩短。 因此，减轻膜污染对于大多数液体分离应用来说仍然是一个巨大的挑战。 虽然大多数防污策略侧重于改变超滤膜的表面化学性质，但该项目旨在使用超滤膜上的微米级和纳米级图案作为非化学方法来减轻主动过滤过程中的污染。 为了实现这一目标，两个具体目标是：（1）了解加工过程？结构 ？使用纳米压印光刻 (NIL) 在不对称多孔超滤膜上创建图案的性能关系，而不牺牲膜的选择性渗透性； (2) 了解这些表面图案如何影响过滤过程中膜污染的机制。 PI 期望增进目前对主动过滤过程中表面形貌如何影响污垢的理解。 NIL 将用于在不对称超滤膜表面创建图案，而不会牺牲其选择性渗透性。 具有微米或纳米图案表面的膜以前尚未制造过。 NIL 方法适用于所有超滤膜，从而为定量物理化学洞察复杂系统中胶体相互作用的化学和形貌之间的相互作用提供了一个平台。 具有相同化学性质的图案膜和平板膜之间的污垢比较将揭示表面形貌对膜污垢的明确作用。 光刻图案与过滤膜的集成将使PI能够在主动过滤过程中控制膜表面和进料溶液之间的热力学和流体力学相互作用。 更广泛的影响。 该项目的结果可以指导灵活的非化学方法来生产超滤膜，减少污垢并提高能源效率，从而为广泛的分离技术带来好处。 该项目的结果将增进我们目前对表面形貌如何影响主动过滤过程中膜污染的了解，这反过来又将指导针对特定分离应用的表面图案设计。 拟议的教育影响将利用科罗拉多大学卓越的教育创新基础设施和推广，为各个级别的学生提供新的、鼓舞人心的教育体验，重点是膜技术。 其他活动将促进研究生的专业发展，促进科学和工程学科的多样性，并加强 K-12 的推广。 该提案的最终教育成果是为各级学生提供必要的以膜科学为重点的教育，并鼓励他们从事科学学科的职业。