I-Corps: Water Purification Membranes Made using Green Solvents

I-Corps项目的更广泛影响/商业潜力是开发新的绿色和无毒水处理技术。应用包括提供安全的自来水和改善的水系统运行在安全水平，但不理想的美学。这项技术可以影响工业和家庭应用。这个I-Corps项目是基于溶剂的开发来制造分离膜的几种应用，包括饮用水处理和面罩制造。该技术使用两种环保溶剂，甲基5-（二甲氨基）-2-甲基-5-氧戊酸酯（“PolarClean”）和γ -戊内酯（GVL）作为共溶剂来制造聚砜（PSf）超滤膜。根据计算的溶解度值，PolarClean/GVL共溶剂一起使用比单独使用表现出更好的性能。以往的粘度研究表明，该体系具有较强的性能。拟议的项目将探索这项技术的翻译。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The broader impact/commercial potential of this I-Corps project is the development of new green and non-toxic technologies for water treatment. Applications include providing safe tap water and improved water for systems operating at safe levels but with undesirable aesthetics. The technology can impact industrial and household applications.This I-Corps project is based on the development of solvents to fabricate separations membranes for several applications, including drinking water treatment and face mask fabrication. The technology uses two environmentally friendly solvents, methyl 5-(dimethylamino)-2-methyl-5-oxopentanoate ("PolarClean") and gamma-valerolactone (GVL), as co-solvents to fabricate polysulfone (PSf) ultrafiltration membranes. Based on calculated solubility values, PolarClean/GVL co-solvents showed better performance together than independently. Previous viscosity studies suggest strong performance of this system. The proposed project will explore translation of this technology.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.