An exciting area of environmental research is to use natural materials and utilize them for water remediation. Thermochemical conversion of agricultural wastes to bioenergy has a potential to play forefront roles within the context of the food, energy, and water nexus. One of the by-products of this process, the biochar, can be used to manage food crop production and water resources by manipulating its surface properties. Observing transformation of agricultural waste ex-situ, using X-ray computed microtomography and in-situ, by utilizing infrared spectroscopy, allows a fine tuning of its properties. In addition to agricultural waste, utilization of mineral waste can be used to produce a new generation of ceramic membranes. In our research we utilize a very unique way to manufacture membranes by employing a thermal spray technique. Our group prepared a new generation of Alumina (Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>) ceramic membranes by highly scalable plasma spray and flame spray methods. The membranes showed excellent permeability comparable to some commercial membranes, while proving a roadmap to utilization of waste materials to manufacture membranes on a very large scale.

Innovative materials for water treatment: From custom designed adsorbents to scalable membranes

253rd National Meeting (2017)

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