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。虽然膜技术可以有效降低这一死亡率，但与保持膜性能有关的费用使发展中国家无法继续获得安全饮用水。NSF-BRIGE的这一提议开始了新一代抗菌超滤膜的开发，该膜将在操作系统中使用更长时间。技术描述：聚砜超滤膜将使用聚阳离子/聚（环氧乙烷）增塑剂进行表面官能化。通过与暴露的阳离子表面电荷接触，抗菌层将抗菌广谱的微生物。聚（环氧乙烷）含量将使膜表面更亲水，并且因此更耐微生物附着。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）。纳米纤维增强超滤膜的功能性、生物污染性及其材料特性将得到表征，本研究将提供高孔隙率超滤膜上的薄层过滤材料与其在操作条件下保持高通量和抑制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通过为当地居民和欠发达社区提供安全，高质量的水，有可能在地方，国家和全球范围内影响水质。除了提高水净化膜的功能和寿命外，了解材料-生物界面对膜的正常功能有很大的影响，这些膜用于广泛的分离，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，将获得对制造低成本，具有“绿色”抗菌剂的水净化膜的新见解。该技术通过为当地居民和欠发达社区提供安全，高质量的水，有可能在地方，国家和全球范围内影响水质。水的数量和质量的持续下降是一个有形的社会影响，使这个项目成为一个强大的工具，传播STEM学科在广泛的人口中的重要作用。扩大工程中代表性不足的群体的参与：这个项目的一个关键组成部分是它的目的是教育和指导多元化的劳动力在化学工程，材料科学和环境工程的新兴接口。除了她正在进行的努力，这一建议将导致许多新的研究经验，为聋人或听力困难的本科生，以及妇女和少数民族的本科生和研究生。此外，PI将担任两个新的基于网络的国际讨论组的主持人。第一个项目将在全球范围内增加获得科学知识的机会，第二个项目将为得不到充分服务的妇女人口提供一个安全的妇女指导网络，这些妇女生活在偏远地区，那里可能没有其他妇女榜样。此外，PI将担任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。第一个将是一个专题论坛，以增加全球对“聚合物”科学知识的获取。第二，将是一个“工程学中的妇女讨论小组”，将为偏远地区的妇女提供一个指导网络，那里可能没有其他妇女榜样，妇女人口得不到充分的服务，这项研究是通过工程学中的扩大参与研究启动赠款征集资助的，这是工程教育和中心司扩大参与工程学方案的一部分。