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

张伟；卓别林,B;标题：高效生物质分离的多功能电反应膜这项合作研究项目涉及新泽西理工学院、伊利诺伊大学芝加哥分校和乔治华盛顿大学，将解决一个关键的研究问题，使从藻类等生物质资源中生产燃料和化学产品成为可能。藻类微生物在发酵罐中培养，通常在水相中以稀释浓度培养。生物质或藻类的脱水和净化水的回收再利用是影响商业竞争力的关键基础研究问题。pi将研究和设计高效、可扩展和多功能的反应性电化学膜（REMs），以可持续的方式收获来自生物质（例如生物燃料和特种化学品）的增值产品。由于膜污染严重，并且需要频繁的反冲洗以去除污染物，因此膜过滤生物质分离目前的特点是运行成本高。提出的研究将使用混合膜来减轻膜污染并去除有毒抑制剂，从而促进水的再利用。该研究成果将推进生物质分离的基础科学和工程，并有可能为生物质和食品加工、饮用水处理以及制药行业的生物分子纯化带来关键的、变革性的技术。本项目主要研究人员将使用藻类作为模型生物量生物；并将重点介绍膜污染的特性、藻类再生的水再利用以及藻类细胞的电化学预处理。研究任务将包括：(1)合成和表征一套定制的单片或纳米纤维REMs用于藻类恢复；(2)对REMs的藻类分离效率、渗透水处理和抗污染性能进行评价；(3)利用微流控实验研究藻类细胞破坏效率及电化学氧化机制；(4)膜污染与再生策略的实验与理论评价。该项目产生的基础知识将带来解决能源-水关系重大挑战的变革性解决方案。首先，该研究将为设计具有优异过滤性能、灵活设计和运行耐久性的REMs提供基本指导。其次，该研究将促进废物流或培养基中水和养分的再利用，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中代表性不足的群体中招募，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.