BRITE Synergy: Chemically Resilient, Fouling Resistant Separation Membranes Manufactured Using Aqueous Phase Inversion

聚合物膜是用于从脏水和废水中去除颗粒物和水性病原体的现代技术。在操作过程中，膜被污染并且需要定期的物理和/或化学清洁，这增加了工艺停机时间并且导致膜降解。此外，不幸的是，用于制造聚合物膜的现代方法严重依赖于有毒溶剂，并且膜本身不能防止颗粒在其表面上的积累。这个促进工程变革和公平进步的研究思路（BRITE）奖支持基础研究，整合了分解的先前结果，以制造抗污染的聚合物膜。该膜将具有新的化学特性，能够实现不使用有毒溶剂的全水性制造工艺。抗结垢的选择性聚合物膜优选用于废水处理和水修复应用，以及另外的分离应用，例如工业清洁、食品加工、蛋白质分离和基因工程。因此，这项研究的结果将有利于美国的经济、环境和社会。这项研究将教育，提供研究经验，并在化学工程，聚合物科学和微生物学的新兴界面指导多样化的劳动力。自20世纪60年代以来，非溶剂诱导的相分离已被用于制造聚合物膜，这在可持续分离过程中是必不可少的。不幸的是，生产过程每年产生超过500亿升有毒溶剂污染的废水。这项研究提供了从水溶性带电聚合物的全水溶液加工的化学弹性多孔聚合物膜的制造的基本见解。具体而言，我们将（1）开发如何从水溶性带电聚合物，水和盐制造高性能膜的机械理解;和（2）评估多孔膜的稳定性，性能和耐污染性。通过在膜生产的同时进行渗透率测试，我们将在膜的化学、形态和性能之间形成反馈回路。这项研究将建立一个包容性的水分离聚合物膜研究团队，并为代表性不足的学生提供研究机会。该奖项反映了NSF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。

Polymer membranes are the modern technology used to remove particulates and waterborne pathogens from dirty water and wastewater. During operation, membranes get fouled and require regular physical and/or chemical cleaning, which increases process downtime and causes membrane degradation. Additionally, it is unfortunate that the modern process used to manufacture polymer membranes relies heavily on toxic solvents and that the membrane itself does not prevent the accumulation of particulates on its surface. This Boosting Research Ideas for Transformative and Equitable Advances in Engineering (BRITE) award supports fundamental research that integrates disaggregated prior results to manufacture polymer membranes that resist fouling. The membranes will feature a new chemistry that will enable an all-aqueous manufacturing process that does not use toxic solvents. Selective polymer membranes that resist fouling are preferred for wastewater treatment and water remediation applications, as well as additional separation applications, such as industrial cleaning, food processing, protein separation, and gene engineering. Therefore, results from this research will benefit the U.S. economy, the environment, and society. This research will educate, provide research experiences, and mentor a diverse workforce at the emerging interface of chemical engineering, polymer science, and microbiology. Since the 1960s, non-solvent induced phase separation has been used to manufacture polymer membranes, which are essential in sustainable separation processes. Unfortunately, the manufacturing process generates more than fifty billion liters of toxic solvent-contaminated wastewater annually. This research provides fundamental insights into the manufacturing of chemically resilient porous polymer membranes processed from all-aqueous solutions of water-soluble charged polymers. Specifically, we will (1) develop a mechanistic understanding of how to manufacture high performance membranes from water soluble charged polymers, water, and salt; and (2) evaluate the stability, performance, and fouling resistance of the porous membranes. By conducting permeance testing in parallel to membrane manufacturing, we will have a feedback loop between the chemistry, morphology, and performance of the membranes. This research will establish an inclusive research team in polymer membranes for water separations and also provide research opportunities for underrepresented students.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.