Selective Ceramic-Supprted Polymer Membranes

该项目的主要目的是制备和开发用于分离过程的无机聚合物膜。这些复合材料应结合无机膜的结构强度和聚合物品种的高选择性。制造将从无机膜基底的乙烯基硅烷化开始，然后在这些乙烯基片段表面位点上进行自由基接枝聚合。最终复合材料的性质可以通过无机载体的结构（如孔径）、接枝位点的密度、单体种类的选择和聚合的反应条件来改变。将测试膜的水力渗透性和基本分离性能。某些膜工艺非常适合于涉及稀溶液的分离，如生物分子的净化和浓缩，或从废水流中去除重金属。其他方法，如挥发性有机混合物的渗透蒸发，有可能取代蒸馏作为分离方法。如果要实现膜分离方法解决重要的环境和工业问题的预期潜力，如果美国要继续作为全球膜生产和销售的领导者，材料开发是必不可少的。陶瓷支撑的聚合物杂化膜有助于这一努力。

The Main objective of this project is the preparation and development of inorganic-polymeric membranes for separation processes. These composites should combine the structural strength of inorganic membranes with the high selectivity of the polymeric varieties. Fabrication will start with a vinyl silanation of an inorganic membrane substrate followed by free radical graft polymerization onto these vinyl moiety surface sites. Properties of the final composite can be altered through the structure of the inorganic support (e.g. pore size), the density of graft sites, choice of monomeric species, and the reaction conditions for the polymerization. Membranes will be tested for hydraulic permeability and for basic separation performance. Certain membrane processes are well-suited to separations involving dilute solutions like the purification and concentration of biomolecules or the removal of heavy metals from wastewater streams. Others like pervaporation of volatile organic mixtures have the potential to replace distillation as the method of separation. Materials development is essential if the expected potential of membrane separation methods to address important environmental and industrial problems is to be realized and if the United States is to continue as a leader in the production and sales of membranes worldwide. The ceramic-supported polymeric hybrid membranes contribute to this effort.