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

1550316Arias Chavez膜污染限制了水处理膜技术的能效。这导致对用于资源回收的膜的潜在新应用的经济、环境和能量的惩罚。PI最近确定，聚酰胺形态在膜表面上可能会有显著变化，并且某些区域可能具有非常低的表面粗糙度。该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，并对这些膜的低粗糙度区域进行深入的局部评价，以：（1）更好地理解和量化这些区域的聚酰胺层结构，（2）证明在这些局部区域保持膜渗透性和选择性的高标准。电子显微镜，原子力显微镜和表面滴定方法将被用来获得额外的定量信息的低粗糙度区域的聚酰胺层的结构。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 cm 2）上测量膜传输性能。这项工作，如果成功的话，将表明，低粗糙度聚酰胺区域保持良好的渗透性和选择性，并将作为一个概念验证的一个新的线的膜有效对抗所有类型的污垢，而不仅仅是一种类型的污垢的发展。为了扩大覆盖面和多样性，PI将与当地一所高中合作，让学生参与思考分散式水处理技术。其中一些技术还将用于使环境工程在每年的工程未来外展活动中对中学生具有吸引力和可理解性。

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