Membranes functionalized with appropriate macromolecules or reactive groups can provide applications ranging from tunable flux and separations, high-capacity toxic metal capture, enzymatic reactions, to toxic organic dechlorination by nanoparticles. Depending on the types of functionalized groups (such as, chain length, charge of groups, biomolecule, etc.) and number of layers, these materials and membranes could be used in applications ranging from tunable metal (or oxyanions) separation to oxidative/reductive reactions. The dependence of conformation properties of polyelectrolytes provides tunable separation and membrane flux control by pH-based stimuli responsive properties. Layer-by-layer (LBL) assembly technique, most commonly conducted by intercalation of positive and negative polyelectrolytes or polypeptides, is a powerful, versatile and simple method for assembling supramolecular structures. Multilayer assemblies of polyelectrolytes within the membrane pore domain allow enzyme immobilization without covalent attachment. Depending on the enzymes used one can synthesize chemicals by green synthesis or oxidize toxic organic pollutants from water by varying membrane residence time through applied pressure. 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 or enzymes, within pore-functionalized synthetic membrane platforms (such as, PVDF membrane), we are able to conduct environmentally important reactions for water detoxification without the addition of expensive or harmful chemicals. The presentation will include various functionalization approaches, scale-up approaches, adsorptive separations, and applications involving groundwater to industrial process water treatment.

Functionalized membranes for environmental and chemical synthesis applications

255th National Meeting (2018)

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