BRIGE: Engineering Antifouling Ultrafiltration Membranes Using Polycationic Nanofibers

BRIGE：使用聚阳离子纳米纤维工程防污超滤膜

• 批准号: 1342343
• 负责人: Jessica Schiffman
• 金额: $ 17.43万
• 依托单位: University of Massachusetts Amherst
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2013
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2013-09-01 至 2015-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1342343&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: BRIGE; Engineering; Antifouling; Ultrafiltration; Membranes

Background:Globally, diarrhea remains the second leading cause of childhood mortality. While membrane-based technologies can effectively diminish this mortality rate, the costs associated with retaining membrane performance prohibits developing countries from maintaining access to safe drinking water. This NSF-BRIGE proposal embarks on a new generation of antimicrobial ultrafiltration membranes that will last longer in operational systems. Technical Description:Polysulfone ultrafiltration membranes will be surface functionalized with polycationic/poly(ethylene oxide) nanofiber mats. The nanofiber layer will inactivate a broad-spectrum of microbes via contact with the exposed cationic surface charges. The poly(ethylene oxide) content will render the membrane surface more hydrophilic, and thus, more resistant to microbial attachment. For the polycation, we will investigate the biopolymer chitosan, as well as a synthetic analogue, poly(dimethyldiallylammonium chloride). Ultrafiltration membranes enhanced with nanofibers will be characterized for functionality, biofouling, and their materials properties.This research will provide critical structure-property relationships between high porosity nanofiber mats applied as a thin-layer on ultrafiltration membranes and their ability to retain high flux and inactivate microbes under operational conditions. These nanostructure-enhanced ultrafiltration membranes hold the potential to impact water quality on a local, national, and global scale by providing safe, high-quality water to local municipals and underdeveloped communities. In addition to improving the functionality and lifetime of membranes for water purification, understanding the materials-biology interface has great implications on the proper functioning of membranes for a broad range of separations, including, beverage clarification, blood filtration/treatment, protein purification, and metal ion recovery.Broader Signficance and Importance:From this work, new insights into the manufacturing of low cost, water purification membranes that feature "green" antimicrobials will be acquired. This technology holds the potential to impact water quality on a local, national, and global scale by providing safe, high-quality water to local municipals and underdeveloped communities. The continuous decline in water quantity and quality is a tangible societal impact that makes this project a powerful vehicle for communicating the vital role of STEM disciplines over a broad demographic.Broadening Participation of Underrepresented Groups in Engineering:A key component of this project is its aim to educate and mentor a diverse workforce at the emerging interface of chemical engineering, materials science, and environmental engineering. In addition to her on-going efforts, this proposal will result in numerous new research experiences for deaf or hard-of hearing undergraduate students, as well as women and minority undergraduate and graduate students. Additionally, the PI will act as the moderator to two new web-based international discussion groups. One will increase access to scientific knowledge globally and the second will provide a safe women-mentorship network to an underserved population of women, those living in remote places where there may not be other women role models. Additionally, the PI will act as the moderator to two new web-based international discussion groups maintained by the Global Materials Network. The first will be a topical forum to increase access to scientific knowledge on "Polymers" globally. The second, will be a "Women in Engineering Discussion Group" that will provide a mentorship network to women in remote locations where there may not be other women role models, an underserved population of women.This research has been funded through the Broadening Participation Research Initiation Grants in Engineering solicitation, which is part of the Broadening Participation in Engineering Program of the Engineering Education and Centers Division.

背景：在全球范围内，腹泻仍然是儿童死亡的第二大原因。虽然基于膜的技术可以有效降低死亡率，但与保持膜性能相关的成本阻碍了发展中国家获得安全饮用水。 NSF-BRIGE 的这项提案着手开发新一代抗菌超滤膜，该膜在操作系统中的使用寿命将更长。技术描述：聚砜超滤膜将用聚阳离子/聚环氧乙烷纳米纤维垫进行表面功能化。纳米纤维层将通过与暴露的阳离子表面电荷接触来灭活广谱微生物。聚环氧乙烷含量将使膜表面更加亲水，因此更能抵抗微生物附着。对于聚阳离子，我们将研究生物聚合物壳聚糖以及合成类似物聚（二甲基二烯丙基氯化铵）。用纳米纤维增强的超滤膜将对其功能、生物污垢及其材料特性进行表征。这项研究将提供作为超滤膜薄层应用的高孔隙率纳米纤维垫与其在操作条件下保持高通量和灭活微生物的能力之间的关键结构-性能关系。这些纳米结构增强型超滤膜有可能通过为当地市政和欠发达社区提供安全、优质的水来影响当地、国家和全球范围内的水质。除了提高水净化膜的功能和使用寿命之外，了解材料-生物界面对于膜在广泛的分离中的正常运行也具有重大影响，包括饮料澄清、血液过滤/处理、蛋白质纯化和金属离子回收。更广泛的意义和重要性：从这项工作中，我们对制造具有“绿色”特征的低成本水净化膜有了新的见解 将获得抗菌药物。该技术有可能通过向当地市政和欠发达社区提供安全、优质的水来影响地方、国家和全球范围内的水质。水量和水质的持续下降是一种切实的社会影响，使该项目成为在广大人群中宣传 STEM 学科重要作用的强大工具。扩大工程领域代表性不足群体的参与：该项目的一个关键组成部分是其目标是在化学工程、材料科学和环境工程的新兴领域教育和指导多元化的劳动力。除了她持续的努力之外，该提案还将为失聪或听力困难的本科生以及女性和少数族裔本科生和研究生带来大量新的研究经验。此外，PI 将担任两个新的基于网络的国际讨论组的主持人。一是在全球范围内增加获得科学知识的机会，二是向服务不足的女性群体（那些生活在可能没有其他女性榜样的偏远地区的女性群体）提供安全的女性指导网络。此外，PI 将担任由全球材料网络维护的两个新的基于网络的国际讨论组的主持人。第一个将是一个主题论坛，以增加全球对“聚合物”科学知识的获取。第二个是“工程中的女性讨论小组”，该小组将为偏远地区的女性提供指导网络，这些地区可能没有其他女性榜样，女性群体服务不足。这项研究是通过工程征集扩大参与研究启动赠款资助的，该赠款是工程教育和中心部门扩大工程参与计划的一部分。