I-Corps Teams: An Investigation on the Commercial Potential of Advanced Filtration Media

最近的研究表明，基于纳米纤维的过滤系统可能提供一种有效、高效和易于使用的水净化技术。从根本上说，纳米纤维基材料由于其固有的特性而成为理想的过滤器，例如：极高的表面积与体积比，高水平的孔隙率，高水平的表面相互作用和凝聚力。虽然纳米纤维的社会效益是明确的，但商业化的障碍在于将制造从实验室环境转变为大规模生产的困难。目前最流行的纳米纤维生产方法是静电纺丝，但这种方法很难规模化生产。最近，该团队开发了一种聚合物加工系统，能够生产复合聚合物纤维的非织造垫。该工艺的独特之处在于能够严格控制纤维内交替层的数量和厚度。这个NSF I-Corps团队项目的目标是确定一种新型非织造聚合物纳米复合材料商业化的潜在市场。这些新型纤维材料是使用一种新型熔喷工艺制造的，提供了一种可扩展和环保的方法。该工艺的性质允许加工具有多种功能的各种类型的聚合物，为开发新产品创造了大量机会。有了如此广泛的潜在应用，并基于初步研究，该团队最初的重点是液体过滤行业。最初，该团队已经确定了这些纤维的潜力，以取代在？板框过滤器？用于微酿酒工业废水处理的最后步骤。

Recent research indicates a nanofiber-based filtration system can potentially provide an effective, efficient, and easy-to-use water purification technology. Fundamentally, nanofiber-based materials make ideal filters due to inherent properties, such as: extremely high surface area to volume ratios, high levels of porosity, and high levels of surface interactions and cohesion. While the societal benefits of nanofibers are clear, the barrier to commercialization lies in the difficulty of shifting manufacturing from the laboratory setting to full-scale mass production. Currently the most popular method of nanofiber production is electrospinning, which is very difficult to scale-up. Recently, this team has developed a polymer processing system capable of producing nonwoven mats of composite polymer fibers. Unique to this process is the ability to strictly control the number and thickness of alternating layers within the fibers.The goal of this NSF I-Corps Team project is to identify a potential market to commercialize a new form of nonwoven polymer nano-composites. These new fiber materials are created using a novel melt-blowing process that offers a scalable and environmental friendly approach. The nature of the process allows for the processing of various types of polymers with multiple functionalities creating a large number of opportunities for the development of new products. With such a wide range of potential applications, and based on initial research, the team's initial focus has been directed to the liquid filtration industry. Initially, the team has identified the potential for these fibers to replace those used in ?plate and frame filters? utilized in the final steps of processing waste water in the micro-brewing industry.