Enhanced Non Fouling Membranes for Water Purification and Recycling

 描述(申请人提供)：许多工业过程产生难以处理的含环境污染物的废水，这些废水以溶解固体的形式存在，必须在排放前进行净化。通常，废水产生于金属精加工和电镀作业、制造过程中印刷电路板和半导体的漂洗、汽车制造中用于清洁和油漆的水、食品和饮料(排放前用于重复使用和减少BOD的浓缩废水)、制药以及垃圾渗滤液。在许多情况下，废水不能得到经济有效的处理。因此，大量未经净化的废水被土地利用来处理， 被处置在地下，或排放到我们的地表水供应，导致对环境的重大影响。据观察，目前用于废水净化的所有传统膜工艺都受到某种形式的膜污染的阻碍。当使用渗透膜法处理废水时，通常需要对废水进行预处理，以保护膜免受有机污染、矿物结垢和化学降解的影响。在我们的第一阶段工作中，我们开发了一种先进的渗透膜技术，通过成功地用氧化石墨烯和超亲水纳米颗粒涂层对商业渗透膜进行改性，极大地改善了抗污染特性。这些改性膜在使用高浓度有机和无机污染物的挑战试验中表现出优异的防污染特性和更高的耐久性。此外，该改性工艺可普遍应用于所有用于废水净化的商用膜技术。在第二阶段的工作中，Lynntech将致力于进一步推进这项新技术，旨在优化膜涂层技术，从而实现商业规模，并在商业设施进行外部测试。这些目标包括(1)进一步优化和改进改装工艺，(2)扩大改装工艺以实现可行的商业化，以及(3)在商业环境中包装和测试最终产品。具体目标的成功完成将促进这项新技术商业化的道路，其应用超越了废水处理，例如海水淡化、食品加工和制药。这些增强的防污染膜的实施将极大地减少废水净化系统中的膜污染，减少必要的维护，同时保持或提高高净化标准。

 DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Many industrial processes produce difficult to treat wastewater containing environmental contaminates, in the form of dissolved solids, that must be purified before being discharged. Typically, wastewaters are generated from metal finishing and plating operations, rinsing of printed circuit boards and semiconductors during fabrication, water used for cleaning and painting in automotive manufacturing, food and beverage (concentration of wastewater for reuse and reduction of BODs prior to discharge), pharmaceutical manufacturing, as well as landfill leachate. In many cases, wastewaters cannot be treated cost effectively. As a result, massive quantities of unpurified wastewater is land-applied for disposal, disposed of underground, or discharged into our surface water supply leading to a significant impact on the environment. It has been observed that all conventional membrane processes currently used for wastewater purification are hampered by some form of membrane fouling. When treating wastewater using an osmosis membrane process, pretreatment of the wastewater is typically necessary to protect the membrane from organic fouling, mineral scaling, and chemical degradation. During our Phase I effort, we developed an advanced osmosis membrane technology with greatly improved anti-fouling characteristics by successfully modifying commercially available osmosis membranes with graphene oxide and superhydrophilic nanoparticle coatings. These modified membranes showed excellent antifouling characteristics and improved durability under challenge tests using high concentrations of organic and inorganic foulants. Furthermore, the modification process is universally transferable to all commercially available membrane technologies used for wastewater purification. During the Phase II effort, Lynntech will work to further advance this novel technology with specific aims devised to optimize the membrane coating technology leading towards commercial scale up, and perform outside testing at a commercial facility. These aims include (1) further optimization and improvement of the modification processes, (2) scale up the modification processes geared towards viable commercialization, and (3) packaging and testing the final product in a commercial setting. Successful completion of the specific aims will facilitate the pathway to commercialization of the novel technology with applications beyond the wastewater treatment, e.g., desalination, food processing, and pharmaceuticals. Implementation of these enhanced anti- fouling membranes will greatly reduce the membrane fouling within a wastewater purification system, reducing the necessary maintenance while maintaining or improving high purification standards.