SBIR Phase I: Chlorine-resistant block polymer nanofiltration membranes with added capacity for heavy-metal capture

这个小企业创新研究（SBIR）项目的更广泛的影响/商业潜力是开发新的水处理技术，可以改善获得清洁水的机会，降低水处理成本。这项创新是一种可直接更换的纳滤膜，具有耐氯性、高渗透性和独特的可定制性。耐氯性允许膜的连续氯化，这可以减少生物污染，从而增加膜的使用寿命;这一直是30多年来的主要创新目标。可定制性方面还有助于捕获铅和其他重金属，将纳滤膜的应用范围扩大到产生大量废水的行业，如半导体，采矿，纸浆和造纸以及着色剂行业。这些对纳滤技术的改进通过促进水的再利用和提供清洁和负担得起的水解决方案，对社会和经济产生了明确和直接的影响。SBIR项目资助使这种有前途的膜技术从实验室环境过渡到有价值的新产品的早期商业化阶段。SBIR第一阶段项目提出通过开发更具可扩展性和可调的合成和制造方案来提高新型纳滤膜的商业可行性。该技术基于具有可定制化学功能的自组装嵌段共聚物。以前的聚合物合成和浇铸方法并不理想，因此正在开发新的方案。将系统地进行聚合物和膜制造方法的变更，以开发新的结构-性质-性能关系，这将为更广泛的膜优化工作提供新的知识。对聚合物化学如何决定膜性能的更透彻理解也将通过投资于该技术的定制方面来培养。最后，将严格测试所得纳滤膜的渗透性、耐氯性、分离性和重金属捕获性能。总体结果将有助于将纳滤膜技术推进到一个高度模块化的平台，可以解决比目前更广泛的分离挑战。

The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) project is in the development of novel water treatment technologies that can improve access to clean water and reduce the cost of water treatment. The innovation is a drop-in-replacement nanofiltration membrane that is chlorine-resistant, highly permeable, and uniquely customizable. The chlorine resistance allows for the continuous chlorination of the membrane, which can reduce bio-fouling and thereby increase the lifespan of a membrane; this has been a chief innovation target for more than 30 years. The customizability aspect also facilitates capture of lead and other heavy-metals, broadening the reach of nanofiltration membranes to sectors that generate significant amounts of wastewater, such as semiconductor, mining, pulp-and-paper, and colorant industries. These improvements to nanofiltration technology have clear and direct societal and economic impact by facilitating water reuse and offering clean and affordable water solutions. SBIR project funding is enabling the transition of this promising membrane technology from the laboratory setting into the early commercialization stages of a valuable new product.This SBIR Phase I project proposes to improve the commercial viability of novel nanofiltration membranes through the development of more-scalable and tunable synthesis and manufacturing protocols. The technology is based on self-assembling block copolymers with customizable chemical functionalities. Previous methods for the synthesis and casting of the polymers are not ideal, so new protocols are being developed. The changes to polymer and membrane manufacturing methods will be conducted systematically to develop new structure-property-performance relationships that will contribute new knowledge for broader membrane optimization efforts. A more thorough understanding of how polymer chemistry dictates membrane performance will also be cultivated by investing in the customization aspects of the technology. Finally, the performance characteristics of resulting nanofiltration membranes will be rigorously tested with respect to permeability, chlorine-resistance, separations, and heavy metal capture. The overall results will help advance nanofiltration membrane technology into a platform that is highly modular and can address a wider range of separations challenges than is currently possible.