Identification of phenomena and mechanisms involved in mineral and protein/peptide fouling on ion-exchange membranes during electromembrane processes

电膜过程使用电场作为驱动力，膜进行分离。尽管它们在食品、生物制药和生物技术工业中具有很强的应用潜力，但这些过程的常见问题之一是离子交换膜的污染。要处理的溶液的许多固有因素，如其组成和pH，决定了带电物种的性质，即跨膜迁移或吸附，并对固定在膜基质上的化学基团的质子化状态产生影响。为此，拟议的5年研究计划的具体目标将是：1)研究不同类型和参数的电场对电膜过程性能、膜结构和矿物污染形成机理和性质的影响；2)了解在极限电流密度下或超过极限电流密度工作对离子交换膜结构和蛋白质-肽/膜相互作用的影响；3)论证通过优化电场参数来缓解离子交换膜(IEM)界面的蛋白质-肽污染并改善复杂食品模型溶液的电渗析(EDBPM)和过滤膜电渗析(EDFM)过程性能的可行性。通过了解污染，这项研究计划将产生关于目前用于电膜工艺的IEMS的污染的宝贵信息。这一基础研究计划与候选人的产业转移方法相结合，容易产生极具竞争力的科学信息，并在很大程度上有助于创新概念和新技术的出现。这项研究计划将是形成高素质个人的独特机会。

Electromembrane processes use an electric field as the driving force and membranes to perform the separation. Despite their strong potential of applications in food, biopharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, one of the common problems of these processes is fouling of ion-exchange membranes. Many factors intrinsic to the solution to be treated such as its composition and pH determined the nature of the charged species to migrate across the membrane or to adsorb and have an impact on the protonation state of chemical groups fixed on the membrane matrix. In this context, the specific objectives of the proposed 5 years research program will be to 1) study the impact of different types and parameters of electric field on electromembrane processes performances, membrane structure and mineral fouling formation mechanisms and nature, 2) understand the impact of working under or over the limiting current density on the structure of ion-exchange membranes and protein-peptide/membrane interactions and, 3) demonstrate the feasibility to mitigate protein-peptide fouling at the interface of ion-exchange membranes (IEMs) and improve process performances during electrodialysis with bipolar membranes (EDBPM) and electrodialysis with filtration membrane (EDFM) of complex food model solutions by using optimized electric field parameters. By understanding fouling, this research program will generate precious information on fouling of IEMs currently used in electromembrane processes. This fundamental research program joined to the industrial transfer approach of the candidate is susceptible to generate highly competitive scientific information as well as to largely contribute to the emergence of innovative concepts and new technologies. This research program will be an unique opportunity for the formation of highly qualified personal.