WRF/WERF: Functionalized nanofiber networks for nutrient removal and recovery: Integrated electrochemical controls for sustainable and autonomous treatment technologies

农业径流中的氮、磷危害生态系统，污染饮用水，对人类健康构成威胁。这些污染物不能通过传统的处理技术有效地去除。需要既能处理水又能回收这些有价值的营养物质的新方法。该项目将开发新的综合多功能材料，具有同时脱氮除磷的双重活性，并具有集成的电活性基质，以促进养分释放和传感。预计集成的材料功能将提高离网农村地区或小型公共供水系统饮用水处理的可靠性和自主性。该项目将使用静电纺丝来制备多功能、电化学活性的复合纳米纤维。这些纤维将包含两个活性中心，季铵盐强碱性阴离子交换中心以氮为目标，铁氧化物同时以磷为目标。通过表面活性剂、金属氧化物和聚合物的相互作用，电纺工艺将被优化，以最大限度地提高这些活性中心的表面可用性。将结合电活性基板，通过施加电势来促进材料再生、监测和性能循环。最有希望的电活性复合材料将使用典型的模型水源进行长期、自我控制的再生评估。该项目将支持跨学科研究生的培训、教育和推广。后者将利用与爱荷华州国家科学基金会国家研究培训计划相关的持续活动。参加当地的STEM会议将吸引K-12学生和教育工作者的参与。将在两个参与院校开发面向工科本科生的可持续技术发展模块。成功完成这项工作的技术方面将使公众和生态系统健康得到保护。这一奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The nitrogen and phosphorous in agricultural runoff harms ecosystems, contaminates drinking water, and poses a risk to human health. These pollutants are not effectively removed by conventional treatment technologies. New approaches that both treat the water and recover these valuable nutrients are needed. This project will develop new integrated multi-functional materials that have dual activity for simultaneous nitrogen and phosphorous removal, with integrated electroactive substrates to facilitate nutrient release and sensing. It is anticipated that the integrated material functionality will increase the reliability and autonomy of drinking water treatment in off-grid rural areas or small public water systems. This project will use electrospinning to fabricate multifunctional, electrochemically active composite nanofibers. The fibers will incorporate dual active sites, with quaternary ammonium strong base anion exchange sites to target nitrogen, and iron oxides to simultaneously target phosphorous. The electrospinning process will be optimized to maximize surface availability of these active sites through interactions of surfactants, metal oxides, and polymers. Electroactive substrates will be incorporated to promote material regeneration, monitoring, and performance cycling through the application of an electrical potential. The most promising electroactive composites will be assessed for long-term, self-controlled regeneration using representative model water sources. The project will support interdisciplinary graduate student training, education, and outreach. The latter will leverage ongoing activities associated with an NSF National Research Training program at Iowa. Participation in a local STEM conference will engage K-12 students and educators. Modules on sustainable technology development that are targeted for undergraduate engineering students will be developed at both participating institutions. Successful completion of the technical aspect of the work will enable protection of public and ecosystem health.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.