SBIR Phase II: Ion-Exchange Fiber Composites for Rapid and Selective Removal of Perchlorate from Water

该小型企业创新研究二期项目将继续开发新型超快、高选择性、高渗透性离子交换纤维复合材料（ixfc），用于去除饮用水中的高氯酸盐。该材料去除高氯酸盐的速度比现有的最佳技术快10-100倍，并采用与广泛可用的制造设备兼容的低成本生产方法。通过使用微米级的传质距离，可以快速去除污染物；然而，通常使用的珠状和颗粒状介质限制在更大的尺寸，导致诸如难以密封和巨大的压降等缺点。然而，ixfc由于其永久缠绕的自支撑结构而显示出高渗透性和自封闭性。Serionix在第一阶段证明了该技术的可行性，并将在第二阶段继续实现以下关键目标：1)优化用于高氯酸盐去除的超高容量ixfc；2)设计/制造IXFC净化盒，供行业合作伙伴评估；3)确定和验证对铅和汞等重金属具有选择性的互补ixfc的化学物质；4)试点生产ixfc，并制定商业化生产战略。这项研究的更广泛影响/商业潜力在于开发一种低成本技术并使之商业化，从而能够遵守法规并更好地保护人类健康。第一个目标应用是高氯酸盐，EPA计划在2014年之前对饮用水中的高氯酸盐进行监管。这代表了平台技术的第一个商业机会，它具有改变工业和住宅水处理景观的最终潜力。未来的应用可能包括超高效率的水去离子，软化和工业废水回收，个人防护设备和服装，以及高活性固体酸/碱催化剂。数据的传播和解释将有助于更好地了解用于水和空气处理的纤维吸收材料的传质特性。

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase II project will result in the continuing development of novel ultrafast, highly selective, high permeability ion-exchange fiber composites (IXFCs) for removing perchlorate from drinking water. The proposed material removes perchlorate 10-100 times faster than the best available technology and employs a low-cost production method compatible with widely available manufacturing equipment. Rapid contaminant removal is made possible by the use of micron-scale mass transfer distances; whereas commonly used beads and granular media are limited to much larger sizes resulting in drawbacks such as difficult containment and enormous pressure drops. However, IXFCs display both high permeability and self-containment due to their permanently intertwined, self-supporting structure. Serionix demonstrated the feasibility of this technology in Phase I and will continue in the Phase II with the following key goals: 1) optimization of ultra-high capacity IXFCs for perchlorate removal; 2) design/build IXFC purification cartridges for evaluation by industrial partners; 3) identify and validate chemistries for complimentary IXFCs that are selective for heavy metals such as lead and mercury; and 4) produce IXFCs at a pilot scale and develop strategy for commercial production.The broader impact/commercial potential of this research is the development and commercialization of a low-cost technology enabling regulatory compliance and improved protection of human health. The first targeted application is perchlorate, which the EPA is set to regulate in drinking water by 2014. This represents only the first commercial opportunity for a platform technology with the ultimate potential to transform the industrial and residential water treatment landscape. Future applications may include ultrahigh efficiency water deionization, softening, and industrial wastewater recycling, personal protective equipment and clothing, and high activity solid acid/base catalysts. Dissemination of data and interpretation will contribute to improved understanding of mass transfer characteristics in fibrous sorbent materials used in both water and air treatment.