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

电膜法使用电场作为驱动力和膜来进行分离。尽管它们在食品、生物制药和生物技术工业中具有强大的应用潜力，但这些过程的共同问题之一是离子交换膜的污染。待处理溶液的许多固有因素，如其组成和pH值，决定了带电物质迁移穿过膜或吸附的性质，并对固定在膜基质上的化学基团的质子化状态产生影响。在此背景下，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，膜结构和矿物污垢形成机制和性质的影响，2）了解在极限电流密度下或超过极限电流密度对离子交换膜结构和蛋白质-肽/膜相互作用的影响，3）通过优化电场参数，在双极膜电渗析（EDBPM）和过滤膜电渗析（EDFM）过程中，对复杂的食品模型溶液进行处理，以减轻离子交换膜（IEM）界面蛋白质-肽污染，提高过程性能。通过了解污染，这项研究计划将产生宝贵的信息污染的IEMs目前使用的电膜过程。这个基础研究计划与候选人的产业转移方法相结合，很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。这项研究计划将是一个独特的机会，形成高素质的个人。

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.