PFI:AIR - TT: Scalable NIL-membranes

该PFI：空气技术转化项目专注于转化纳米光刻、表面图案的液体分离膜(NIL膜)的发现，以满足高性能工业分离的需求。该项目将为无膜的制造可伸缩性带来概念验证。NIL-膜具有规则的亚微米表面图案的独特特征，这些图案是在现有的商业膜上机械压花的，同时保留了原始膜的渗透选择性分离特性。与领先的膜表面化学改性方法相比，这些特性提供了更高的能效、更低的运营成本和不会产生化学废物。该项目解决了将研究发现转化为商业应用所需的放大技术差距(S)。特别是，用于制造无膜的柔性、低成本、聚合物图案模具的制造和使用--使用工业制造设备所需的连续、压力和温度应用--从未被研究或论证过。该项目将进行概念验证研究和开发(6“中试规模)，以制造柔性图案化薄膜；利用这些薄膜在夹辊压花工艺中制造更大尺寸的零膜；并评估这些原型膜在特定工业应用中的应用。该项目与洛基山脉和水智库创新中心合作，指导商业化方面的方面。此外，其他一些食品和膜公司也作为利益相关者积极参与了这项研究，以加强对在这项技术从研究发现到商业现实的转化过程中生产的更大膜的测试。无膜平台非常重要，因为合成膜广泛用于水、食品、生物制药、石化、化石和可再生能源、微电子、医疗和其他面向消费者的行业，以执行具有不同程度和复杂程度的“过滤”。近地膜的生产率提高将降低成本、节约能源并减少对环境的影响，从而加速以膜为基础的工艺在供水和再利用、食品和能源生产以及生物医药制造等领域的好处。此外，预计未来5年潜在的经济影响将达到4000万美元/年(此后每年增长7-8%)，这将有助于美国在全球膜供应市场空间的竞争力。

This PFI: AIR Technology Translation project focuses on translating the discovery of nanolithographically, surface-patterned, liquid separations membranes (NIL-membranes) to fill the need for high performance, industrial separations. The project will result in a proof-of-concept for the manufacturing scalability of NIL-membranes. A NIL-membrane has the unique feature of regular, submicron surface patterns, which are mechanically embossed on existing commercial membranes, while retaining the original membranes' permselective separation properties. These features provide the advantages of higher energy efficiency, lower operating costs, and no chemical waste generation when compared to the leading competing approach of chemically modifying the membrane's surface. This project addresses the scale-up technology gap(s) required to translate the research discovery toward commercial application. In particular, the fabrication and use of flexible, low cost, polymeric patterning molds for manufacturing NIL-membranes?using continuous, pressure and temperature application required for industrial manufacturing equipment?has never been studied or demonstrated. The project will conduct proof-of-concept research and development (on a 6" pilot scale) to fabricate flexible patterning films; use those films in a pinch roll embossing process to fabricate larger-sized NIL-membranes; and evaluate these prototype membranes for specific industrial applications.The project partners with the Innovation Center of the Rockies and Water Think Tank, LLC to guide commercialization aspects. Additionally, a number of other food and membrane companies have been actively engaged with the research as stakeholders to augment testing the larger membranes to be produced in this technology translation effort from research discovery toward commercial reality.The NIL-membrane platform is important because synthetic membranes are broadly used in water, food, biopharma, petrochemical, fossil and renewable energy, microelectronics, medical, and other consumer-oriented industries to perform "filtration" with varying degrees of "fineness" and complexity. Productivity enhancements from the NIL-membranes will lower costs, save energy, and lessen environmental impacts, thus accelerating the benefits of membrane-based processes across areas such as, water supply and reuse, food and energy production, and biomedicine manufacture. In addition, the potential economic impact is expected to be $40M/y in the next 5 years (and grow 7-8%/y thereafter), which will contribute to the U.S. competitiveness in the global membrane supply market space.