Engineered Inorganic Membranes for Novel Mineral Brine Processing

本项目旨在合成新一代用于新型盐水处理的工程分层膜。该研究的关键概念是精确剪裁无机膜的孔隙，形成分离盐和水的功能介观结构。盐垂直于膜表面结晶，同时很容易被空气除去，这个过程可以重复多次，从而提高生产率。研究分层膜的结构、组成、表面性质和输运现象之间的关系。研究结果将推动矿物工业（锂、钾和镁）的卤水处理分离技术。

This project aims to synthesise a new generation of engineered hierarchical membranes for novel brine processing. The key concept of the research is the precise tailoring of pores of inorganic films, forming functional meso-structures for separating salts from water. Salt crystallises perpendicular to the surface of the membrane, whilst easily removed by air, a process that can be repeated many times leading to high production rates. The hierarchical membranes will be studied to elucidate the relationships between structure, composition, surface properties and transport phenomena. The outcomes should advance brine processing separation technologies for the mineral industry (lithium, potassium, and magnesium).