SBIR Phase I: Development of High Efficiency NanoFilter Media

这个小企业创新研究（SBIR）第一阶段项目建议书的重点是提供一个可行性示范生产静电纺丝纳米纤维，并将它们与传统的过滤介质相结合，形成新的纳米过滤器介质的特定过滤应用。 这些应用非常适合于解决从流出物流中去除小于3微米的颗粒的问题，其中，在捕获亚微米颗粒方面，生物膜的优异效率对于成本降低也非常有吸引力。 最初，纳米纤维将从尼龙6在甲酸中的溶液中静电纺丝，并直接铺在传统的支撑过滤介质上作为预聚物。 通过改变纤维直径、纤维取向、纤维在纤维网内的填充分数和纤维网厚度，将容易地定制网结构以实现期望的复合过滤器性能。 该项目将由eSpin Technologies合作开展，eSpin Technologies是一家位于田纳西州查塔努加的小型高科技初创公司，专门提供定制的静电纺丝纳米纤维，并与学术中心和大公司合作。他们共同拥有成功开展这项资助工作所需的技能和设施。未来几年开发的纳米技术将成为重要商业平台的基础。该公司将成为过滤技术的主要供应商，该技术在各种领域具有商业应用潜力，包括过滤：工业过滤器，生物分离，超纯空气和水系统，下一代洁净室，农业和食品工业以及微电子工业。

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project proposal focuses on providing a feasibilitydemonstration of producing electrospun nanowebs of nanofibers, and combining them with conventionalfilter media to form novel NanoFilter media for specific filtration applications. These applications are wellsuited to address the problems of removal of particles smaller than 3 microns from effluent streams -wheresuperior efficiency of nanowebs in capturing sub-micron particles is very attractive for cost considerationsas well. Initially, the nanofibers will be electrospun from a solution of Nylon 6 in formic acid and laid directly on to a conventional support filter media as a nanoweb. The web architecture will be easily tailored to achieve the desired composite filter performance by varying fiber diameter, fiber orientation, fiber packing fraction within the nanoweb, and the nanoweb thickness. This project will be carried out collaboratively by eSpin Technologies, a small, high-technology start-up company based in Chattanooga, TN, and specializing in providing custom-made electrospun nanofibers, with academic centers and major corporations as its partners. Together they possess the skills and facilities needed to successfully carry out the work under this grant.Nanotechnologies developed in the coming years will form the foundation of significant commercialplatforms. This business will be a key supplier of nanofiber technology which have the potential forcommercial applications in a variety of fields including, filtration: industrial filters, biological separations,ultra pure air and water systems, next generation clean rooms, agriculture and food industries, andmicroelectronic industries.