SusChEM: Collaborative Research: Development of Multifunctional Reactive Electrochemical Membranes for Biomass Recovery with Fouling Reduction, Water Reuse, and Cell Pretreatment

CBET 1603609/1604776/1604886 Zhang，W.；Chaplin，B；Shuai，D.标题：用于高效生物质分离的多功能电反应膜这一合作研究项目，由新泽西理工学院、伊利诺伊-芝加哥大学和乔治华盛顿大学参与，将解决一个关键的研究问题，使人们能够利用藻类等生物质资源生产燃料和化学产品。藻类微生物在发酵罐中培养，通常在水相中稀释。生物质或藻类的脱水以及净化后的水的回收和再利用是影响商业竞争力的关键基础研究问题。PIS将研究和设计高效、可扩展和多功能的反应性电化学膜(REMS)，以可持续的方式从生物质(例如生物燃料和特种化学品)中获取增值产品。由于严重的膜污染和需要频繁的反冲洗来去除污染物，目前使用膜过滤的生物质分离的特点是运行成本高。拟议的研究将使用杂化膜来减轻膜污染，并去除将促进水再利用的有毒抑制剂。这些研究成果将推进生物质分离的基础科学和工程，并可能导致制药行业生物质和食品加工、饮用水处理和生物分子纯化的关键、变革性技术。这项主要的研究将以藻类作为生物质的模式生物，重点研究膜污染、水回用于藻类再生以及藻类细胞的电化学预处理。研究任务将包括：(1)用于藻类恢复的一套定制的整体式或纳米纤维REMS的合成和表征；(2)评估藻类分离效率、渗透水处理和抗污染性能；(3)利用微流控实验阐明藻细胞破坏效率和电化学氧化的基本机制；(4)膜污染和再生策略的实验和理论评估。该项目产生的基本知识将导致解决能源-水关系重大挑战的变革性解决方案。首先，该研究将为设计过滤性能优良、设计灵活、运行耐用的可再生水处理系统提供基本指导。其次，这项研究将促进废流或培养介质中的水和养分再利用，从而减少可再生能源生产的水和能源足迹。最后，该项目将培训和指导至少三名博士生和大量本科生和高中生，这些学生将从三个合作机构的STEM代表不足的群体中招募，以获得研究经验。

CBET 1603609/1604776/1604886 Zhang, W.; Chaplin, B; Shuai, D.Title: Multifunctional Electroreactive Membranes for Efficient Biomass SeparationsThis collaborative research project, involving the New Jersey Institute of Technology, University of Illinois-Chicago, and George Washington University, will address a key research issue to enable the production of fuels and chemical products from biomass resources such as algae. Alga microorganisms are cultivated in fermenters, often in dilute concentration in an aqueous phase. Dewatering of the biomass or algae and recycle and reuse of the cleaned-up water are key fundamental research issues that impact commercial competitiveness. The PIs will research and design efficient, scalable, and multifunctional reactive electrochemical membranes (REMs) to harvest value-added products derived from the biomass (e.g., biofuels and specialty chemicals) in a sustainable manner. Biomass separation using membrane filtration is currently characterized by high operational cost due to severe membrane fouling and the need for frequent backwashing to remove the foulants. The proposed research will use the hybrid membranes to mitigate membrane fouling and to remove the toxic inhibitors that will promote water reuse. The research outcomes will advance the fundamental science and engineering of biomass separations, and potentially lead to critical, transformative technologies for biomass and food processing, drinking water treatment, and biomolecule purification in the pharmaceutical industries. This principal investigators will use algae as a model biomass organism; and will focus on characterizing membrane fouling, water reuse for algae regrowth, and electrochemical pre-treatment of algal cells. Research tasks will include (1) synthesis and characterization of a suite of tailored monolithic or nanofibrous REMs for algal recovery; (2) evaluation of algae separation efficiency, permeate water treatment, and anti-fouling properties of REMs; (3) elucidation of algae cell disruption efficiency and the underlying mechanisms of electrochemical oxidation using microfluidic experiments; and (4) experimental and theoretical assessment of membrane fouling and regeneration strategies. The fundamental knowledge generated by this project will lead to transformative solutions that address the grand challenges at the energy-water nexus. First, the research will provide fundamental guidelines to the design of REMs with excellent filtration performance, flexible design, and durability of operation. Secondly, the research will promote water and nutrient reuse in waste streams or cultivation media, which reduces the water and energy footprints of renewable energy production. Finally, the project will train and mentor at least three Ph.D. students and a large number of undergraduate and senior high school students that will be recruited from underrepresented groups in STEM at the three collaborating institutions for research experiences.