PFI: Development of Fiber-based Technology for Creating New Opportunities in Economically-depressed Northeastern US

这一创新伙伴关系(PFI)项目将采用一种创新的方法，将IXF和金属氧化物纳米颗粒的研究转化为环境工业应用，从而重振纺织业。该项目将结合高附加值制造和相对较短的上市时间，导致知识库和应用程序在重要环境问题上的新颖组合。该设计旨在将纺织生产与生产具有高度选择性离子交换和离子产生特性的纳米和微型纤维的能力结合起来。纺织生产专业知识是美国东北部的遗产，将与新工艺相结合，以开发一种基于纤维的技术，并在工业产品和工艺中应用。新纤维最终可用于生产用于水处理、过滤过程、除磷和清理受污染水体的纺织品和产品。该项目的更广泛影响是通过私人合作伙伴关系和学生的创新以及加强学术和私营部门的互动创造新的就业和商业机会，从而产生可持续的技术，以减轻环境危害，并带来切实的经济效益。详细的管理计划将开发IFX技术并将其转让给代表经济中不同净水需求的广泛商业合作伙伴。在每个领域都建立了明确的目标，并应确保新的IFX技术对家庭、社区和工业层面的重要净水问题产生影响。该项目还将为人数不足的学生群体创造接受教育和培训的机会，并发展加入高科技劳动力所需的技能。由于促进发现和理解的概念的潜在影响，该项目的结果很可能将有效地促进教学、学习以及研究和教育的整合。合作伙伴包括马萨诸塞大学达特茅斯分校(牵头机构)、利哈伊大学、雪佛龙能源技术公司、唐纳森公司、普罗莱特公司、皇家咨询服务公司、Solmetex公司和南方公司世代。

This Partnerships for Innovation (PFI) project will apply an innovative approach for translating research on IXF and nano-particles of metal oxide into environmental industrial applications, thus serving to revitalize the textile industry. The project will combine high value-added manufacturing and relatively short times-to-market production, leading to novel combinations of knowledge base and applications to important environmental problems. The design is to combine textile production with the ability to generate nano- and micro-fibers having highly selective ion exchanges and ion generating properties. The textile production expertise, a legacy of the northeastern U.S., will be combined with new processes in order to develop a fiber-based technology with applications in industrial products and processes. The new fibers can ultimately be used to produce textiles and products for water treatment, filtration processes, phosphorus removal, and clean-up of contaminated water sites.The broader impacts of the project are the creation of new jobs and business opportunities through private partnerships and students' innovations and enhanced academic-private sector interaction leading to sustainable technologies for mitigating environmental hazards with tangible economic benefits. The detailed management plan will develop and transfer IFX technology to a broad range of commercial partners representing different water purification needs in the economy. Clear objectives have been established in each area and should ensure that the new IFX technologies have impact on the important water purification problems at the household, community, and industrial level. The project will also create opportunities for underrepresented groups of students to receive education and training and develop skills required to join the high technology workforce. Because of the potential impact of the concept for advancing discovery and understanding, it is likely that results from this project will effectively promote teaching, learning, and the integration of research and education. Partners include the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth (lead institution), Lehigh University, Chevron Energy Technology Company, Donaldson Company, Inc., The Purolite Company, Royal Consulting Services, Inc., Solmetex, Inc., and Southern Company Generation.