Enhanced Non Fouling Membranes for Water Purification and Recycling

 描述（由申请人提供）：许多工业过程产生难以处理的含有溶解固体形式的环境污染物的废水，这些污染物在排放之前必须净化。通常，废水产生于金属精加工和电镀操作、制造过程中印刷电路板和半导体的冲洗、汽车制造中用于清洁和喷漆的水、食品和饮料（废水浓缩以供再利用并在排放前减少BOD）、制药以及垃圾渗滤液。在许多情况下，废水无法得到成本效益高的处理。结果，大量未净化的废水被土地处理， 处置于地下，或排放至地表水供应，对环境造成重大影响。已经观察到，目前用于废水净化的所有常规膜方法都受到某种形式的膜污染的阻碍。当使用渗透膜工艺处理废水时，通常需要对废水进行预处理以保护膜免受有机污染、矿物结垢和化学降解。在我们的第一阶段工作中，我们开发了一种先进的渗透膜技术，通过使用氧化石墨烯和超亲水性纳米颗粒涂层成功地改性市售渗透膜，大大提高了抗污染特性。这些改性的膜显示出优异的耐腐蚀特性和改进的耐久性下的挑战测试，使用高浓度的有机和无机污垢。此外，该改性工艺可普遍转移到用于废水净化的所有市售膜技术。在第二阶段的工作中，Lynntech将致力于进一步推进这项新技术，其具体目标是优化膜涂层技术，从而实现商业规模的扩大，并在商业设施中进行外部测试。这些目标包括（1）进一步优化和改进改性工艺，（2）扩大改性工艺，以实现可行的商业化，以及（3）在商业环境中包装和测试最终产品。具体目标的成功完成将促进新技术的商业化途径，其应用范围超出废水处理，例如，海水淡化、食品加工和制药。这些增强的抗污染膜的实施将大大减少废水净化系统内的膜污染，减少必要的维护，同时保持或提高高净化标准。

 DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Many industrial processes produce difficult to treat wastewater containing environmental contaminates, in the form of dissolved solids, that must be purified before being discharged. Typically, wastewaters are generated from metal finishing and plating operations, rinsing of printed circuit boards and semiconductors during fabrication, water used for cleaning and painting in automotive manufacturing, food and beverage (concentration of wastewater for reuse and reduction of BODs prior to discharge), pharmaceutical manufacturing, as well as landfill leachate. In many cases, wastewaters cannot be treated cost effectively. As a result, massive quantities of unpurified wastewater is land-applied for disposal, disposed of underground, or discharged into our surface water supply leading to a significant impact on the environment. It has been observed that all conventional membrane processes currently used for wastewater purification are hampered by some form of membrane fouling. When treating wastewater using an osmosis membrane process, pretreatment of the wastewater is typically necessary to protect the membrane from organic fouling, mineral scaling, and chemical degradation. During our Phase I effort, we developed an advanced osmosis membrane technology with greatly improved anti-fouling characteristics by successfully modifying commercially available osmosis membranes with graphene oxide and superhydrophilic nanoparticle coatings. These modified membranes showed excellent antifouling characteristics and improved durability under challenge tests using high concentrations of organic and inorganic foulants. Furthermore, the modification process is universally transferable to all commercially available membrane technologies used for wastewater purification. During the Phase II effort, Lynntech will work to further advance this novel technology with specific aims devised to optimize the membrane coating technology leading towards commercial scale up, and perform outside testing at a commercial facility. These aims include (1) further optimization and improvement of the modification processes, (2) scale up the modification processes geared towards viable commercialization, and (3) packaging and testing the final product in a commercial setting. Successful completion of the specific aims will facilitate the pathway to commercialization of the novel technology with applications beyond the wastewater treatment, e.g., desalination, food processing, and pharmaceuticals. Implementation of these enhanced anti- fouling membranes will greatly reduce the membrane fouling within a wastewater purification system, reducing the necessary maintenance while maintaining or improving high purification standards.