STTR Phase I: Development of a zeolite filter to dry biomass in an energy efficient, cost effective, and gentle manner

这项小型企业技术转让（STTR）第一阶段项目的广泛影响是开发一种新的干燥农产品的方法，这种方法比目前的商业设备更节能，并保留了干燥产品的营养价值。这个项目是基于使用由一定大小和排列的颗粒组成的干燥剂对湿生物质进行快速脱水。根据初步试验，这种方法的能源效率可能比其他干燥方法高10倍。该项目将生产一种可重复使用的颗粒过滤器，可用于有效地脱水食品和农产品。这种干燥方法可以保持美国食品系统的营养价值，同时降低生产成本，使农业产业更具经济可行性，并且很容易由可再生能源提供动力，从而减少食品工业中的化石燃料消耗。STTR一期项目的技术创新是开发高效、有效的农产品干燥方法。该技术的基础是将沸石颗粒掺入基材，同时保持其孔隙度。为了实现湿物质的快速脱水，沸石必须体积小，并支撑在衬底上，使其表面保持功能。这种方法需要仔细的化学合成。关键的研究目标是将沸石颗粒结合或物理结合到多孔基板上，保持沸石的可接触表面积，并创造一种能够承受多次短暂低功率微波加热以完成脱水的新材料。在这个项目中，将研究几种方法，首先是多孔底物的合成，然后对表面进行修饰，使其含有一定数量的化学官能团，然后使用共价键在底物上涂上沸石。除了共价单层键外，该项目还将利用其他结合机制（如氢键）优化底物覆盖。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 of this Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I project is to develop a novel method of drying agricultural products that is more energy efficient than current commercial devices and preserves the nutritional value of the dried products. This project is based upon fast dehydration of wet biomass using desiccants comprised of particles of a certain size and arrangement. According to preliminary trials, this method may be 10 times more energy efficient than other drying methods. This project will produce a reusable particle filter that can be used to efficiently dehydrate food and agricultural products. This drying method can preserve nutritional value within the US food system while simultaneously reducing production costs, make agricultural industries more economically viable, and be easily powered by renewable energy sources thereby reducing fossil fuel consumption within the food industry.The technical innovation of this STTR Phase I project is the development of efficient and effective drying methods for agricultural products. The technology is based on the incorporation of zeolite particles onto a substrate while maintaining their porosity. In order to achieve rapid dehydration of wet matter, the zeolite must be small in size and supported on a substrate so that its surface retains functionality. This methodology requires careful chemical synthesis. The key research goals are to conjugate or physically bind zeolite particles to a porous substrate, maintain the accessible surface area of the zeolite, and create a new material that can endure many cycles of brief low-power microwave heating to accomplish dehydration. In this project, several approaches will be investigated, starting with the synthesis of porous substrates, then modifying the surface to contain a controlled number of chemical functional groups, and then coating the substrate with zeolite using covalent linkages. In addition to covalent monolayer linkages, the project will also aim to optimize substrate coverage using other binding mechanisms such as hydrogen bonding.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.