EAGER: Intrinsic, Universal Fouling Resistance in Membranes for More Sustainable Production, Use, and Recovery of Critical Resources

1550316Arias chavez膜污染限制了膜技术在水处理中的能源效率。这导致了经济，环境和能量惩罚潜在的新应用膜资源回收。PI最近确定，聚酰胺的形态可以在膜表面上发生显着变化，并且某些区域的表面粗糙度非常低。本研究将提高对薄膜复合膜结构与性能之间关系的科学认识。对这些膜的低粗糙度区域进行深入的局部评估，可以：(1)更好地理解和量化这些区域的聚酰胺层结构，(2)证明这些局部区域保持了高水平的膜通透性和选择性。电子显微镜、原子力显微镜和表面滴定法将用于获得关于低粗糙度区域聚酰胺层结构的额外定量信息。将开发用于测试活性层膜渗透性和选择性的新设备，以允许在与粗糙度表征工作相同的尺度（1 cm2）上测量膜传输性能。这项工作，如果成功，将证明低粗糙度聚酰胺区域保持良好的渗透性和选择性，并将作为一个概念的证明，为开发新的膜系列有效对抗所有类型的污垢，而不仅仅是一种类型的污垢。为了增加外延和多样性，PI将与当地一所高中合作，让学生参与分散式水处理技术的思考。其中一些技术还将用于在每年一度的“未来工程”外展活动上，使环境工程对中学生来说更有吸引力和更容易理解

1550316Arias ChavezMembrane fouling limits achieving energy efficiency of membrane technologies for water treatment. This results in economic, environmental, and energetic penalties on potentially new applications of membranes for resource reclamation. The PI has recently determined that polyamide morphology can vary significantly across membrane surfaces and that some regions can have a very low surface roughness. The proposed study will improve the scientific understanding of the relationship between thin-film composite membrane structure and performance.An in-depth, localized evaluation of the low-roughness regions of these membranes is proposed to: (1) better understand and quantify the polyamide layer structure in these regions, and (2) demonstrate that high standards for membrane permeability and selectivity are maintained in these local regions. Electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy and surface titration methods will be used to obtain additional quantitative information about the structure of the polyamide layer in low-roughness regions. New equipment for testing active layer membrane permeability and selectivity will be developed to allow membrane transport performance to be measured on the same scale ( 1 cm2) as roughness characterization work. This work, if successful, will demonstrates that low-roughness polyamide regions retain excellent permeability and selectivity, and will serve as a proof-of-concept for the development of a new line of membranes effective against foulants of all types rather than just one type of foulant. To increase outreach and diversity, the PI will partner with a local high school to involve the students in thinking about decentralized water treatment technologies. Some of these technologies will also be used to make environmental engineering compelling and understandable to middle-school-aged girls at the annual Engineering the Future outreach event held at the