PFI:AIR - TT: Scalable NIL-membranes

PFI:AIR - TT：可扩展的 NIL 膜

• 批准号: 1414317
• 负责人: John Pellegrino
• 金额: $ 19.62万
• 依托单位: University of Colorado at Boulder
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2014
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2014-05-01 至 2017-09-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1414317&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: PFI; AIR; TT; Scalable; NIL

This PFI: AIR Technology Translation project focuses on translating the discovery of nanolithographically, surface-patterned, liquid separations membranes (NIL-membranes) to fill the need for high performance, industrial separations. The project will result in a proof-of-concept for the manufacturing scalability of NIL-membranes. A NIL-membrane has the unique feature of regular, submicron surface patterns, which are mechanically embossed on existing commercial membranes, while retaining the original membranes' permselective separation properties. These features provide the advantages of higher energy efficiency, lower operating costs, and no chemical waste generation when compared to the leading competing approach of chemically modifying the membrane's surface. This project addresses the scale-up technology gap(s) required to translate the research discovery toward commercial application. In particular, the fabrication and use of flexible, low cost, polymeric patterning molds for manufacturing NIL-membranes?using continuous, pressure and temperature application required for industrial manufacturing equipment?has never been studied or demonstrated. The project will conduct proof-of-concept research and development (on a 6" pilot scale) to fabricate flexible patterning films; use those films in a pinch roll embossing process to fabricate larger-sized NIL-membranes; and evaluate these prototype membranes for specific industrial applications.The project partners with the Innovation Center of the Rockies and Water Think Tank, LLC to guide commercialization aspects. Additionally, a number of other food and membrane companies have been actively engaged with the research as stakeholders to augment testing the larger membranes to be produced in this technology translation effort from research discovery toward commercial reality.The NIL-membrane platform is important because synthetic membranes are broadly used in water, food, biopharma, petrochemical, fossil and renewable energy, microelectronics, medical, and other consumer-oriented industries to perform "filtration" with varying degrees of "fineness" and complexity. Productivity enhancements from the NIL-membranes will lower costs, save energy, and lessen environmental impacts, thus accelerating the benefits of membrane-based processes across areas such as, water supply and reuse, food and energy production, and biomedicine manufacture. In addition, the potential economic impact is expected to be $40M/y in the next 5 years (and grow 7-8%/y thereafter), which will contribute to the U.S. competitiveness in the global membrane supply market space.

该PFI：AIR技术翻译项目专注于翻译纳米光刻，表面图案化，液体分离膜（NIL膜）的发现，以满足高性能，工业分离的需求。该项目将为近红外膜的制造可扩展性提供概念验证。NIL膜具有规则的亚微米表面图案的独特特征，其机械压印在现有的商业膜上，同时保留原始膜的选择性渗透分离特性。与化学改性膜表面的领先竞争方法相比，这些特征提供了更高的能源效率、更低的运营成本和无化学废物产生的优势。该项目解决了将研究发现转化为商业应用所需的技术差距。特别是，制造和使用灵活的，低成本的，聚合物图案化模具制造近红外线膜？使用连续、压力和温度应用所需的工业制造设备？从未被研究或证明过。该项目将进行概念验证研究和开发（在6”试验规模上），以制造柔性图案化薄膜;使用这些薄膜在夹送辊压花工艺中制造更大尺寸的近红外线膜;并评估这些原型膜的特定工业应用。该项目与落基山脉创新中心和水智库有限责任公司合作，指导商业化方面。此外，许多其他食品和膜公司作为利益相关者积极参与研究，以增加测试将在从研究发现到商业现实的技术转化工作中生产的更大的膜。NIL膜平台非常重要，因为合成膜广泛用于水，食品，生物制药，石化，化石和可再生能源，微电子，医疗，以及其他面向消费者的行业，以不同程度的“精细度”和复杂性来执行“过滤”。近红外膜的生产力提高将降低成本，节省能源，减少对环境的影响，从而加速膜基工艺在供水和再利用，食品和能源生产以及生物医药制造等领域的效益。此外，潜在的经济影响预计将在未来5年内达到4000万美元/年（此后每年增长7-8%），这将有助于美国在全球膜供应市场空间中的竞争力。