(386g) Functionalized and Reactive Membranes for Water Applications

The integration of multifunctional materials in membrane pores for environmental and separation applications requires a high level of control of both the characteristics of the base polymeric support layer, as well as, its corresponding pore configurations. Membrane processes provide a highly flexible separation technique for water treatment, toxic materials degradation, and materials recovery. Microfiltration membranes are primarily used for the removal of bacteria and particles, but by appropriate pore functionalization with polymeric charge groups or integration of nanoparticles of these MF membranes (termed Functionalized Membranes) one can use these as high capacity metal capture membranes to catalysis and pH/temperature flux modulations with separation selectivity. The dependence of conformation properties of polyelectrolytes provides tunable separation and membrane flux control by pH and temperature-based stimuli responsive properties. Many current treatments for the reclamation of contaminated water sources are chemical-intensive, energy-intensive, and/or require post-treatment due to unwanted by-product formation. We demonstrate that through the integration of nanostructured materials within pore-functionalized synthetic membrane platforms (such as, PVDF membrane pores functionalized with poly-acrylic acid, and/or PNIPAM), we are able to conduct environmentally important reactions for toxic organic degradation and selective toxic material sorption from water without the addition of expensive or harmful chemicals. In addition, we have fabricated GO-PAA composite membranes by layer-by-layer assembly with an aim to integrate advanced sulfate radical-based oxidation reactions for efficient removal of chlorinated organics from water. The presentation will include: (a) pH and temperature responsive properties of bench-scale to full-scale pore functionalized membranes, (b) temperature modulated sorption/desorption of toxic PFOA by PVDF membrane pores functionalized with PNIPAM, and (c) Fe/Pd nanoparticle creation in PDVF membrane pore domain, and in GO-PAA composites for water and catalysis related applications. This research has been supported by NIH-NIEHS-SRP, NSF EPSCoR, and Chevron Corporation.