(4dh) Surface Modified Membranes for Pollutant Removal

Research Interests: Bio-mimetic materials, Wastewater separations, water treatment systems, surface functionalization

The continued growth of the world population continues to put a strain on access to clean water. Water that does not meet the standards for potable water tends to be used for non-human uses, such as oil and gas industry. After use, this water has to undergo multiple different treatments in order to potable. This water typically is sent underground and not used again due to issues caused trying to separate the pollutants. The emulsions with the oil droplets causing fouling on the membrane surface causes issues and decreased lifetime in membrane separation facilities. Along with oil emulsions, the high levels of salt that are typically found in these waters, and other industrial waste waters, are extremely hard to clean due to the high levels of salt ions present. Methods of treatment to reduce fouling and efficiently remove high levels of salt is of extreme importance due to the limits of clean water available for use.

In one project, membranes with surface modifications via patterns were developed to understand the relationship between foulant size and pattern size to limit and prevent fouling and improve membrane cleanability. The goal of this project is to help determine the ideal foulant to pattern size that can be used in multiple applications, besides oil and gas. In a second project, solvents were studied to desalinate hypersaline brine solutions. Two solvents have been considered the gold standard in literature, but there is limited knowledge as to why and how they worked. The goal of this project is to better understand what molecular properties allow the two solvents to work in order to find a solvent that potentially works better, without the drawbacks of the current solvents.

My proposed future research will focus and expand upon improving and expanding the lifetime of membranes. One future research project will synthesize covalent organic frameworks (COFs) to be incorporated into the membrane active layer for removal of emerging pollutants, such as pharmaceutical and personal care products, from water. Previously, it has been difficult to determine to detect low amounts of these hazardous substances, but with recent advances in technology, we are now able to detect the amounts and better understand how these materials can be detrimental to human health with long term exposure. One challenge will be to ensure uniform dispersion of the COFs in the membrane active layer. Another project is incorporating the Fibonacci curve as a pattern on the surface of a nanofiltration membrane to reduce fouling. The Fibonacci curve can be found in multiple places in nature, such as pinecones, fruits, and more, and can help in reducing fouling, which is a common problem in membrane systems. With this pattern being ever present in nature, there must be something about the pattern that makes it better than others. A potential method to incorporate the pattern is to use photolithography or 3D printing to create the circle that can then be thermally pressed into the membrane and create the pattern on the surface of the membrane. The results of this research could help expand the use and lifetime of membranes.

Teaching Interests:

For four years, I have had the opportunity to be a TA for both graduate and undergraduate level classes, including winning the Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant award in 2022. Each year, I gave at least three lectures due to requirements for my GAANN fellowship. I have given a total of 12 lectures to a variety of different classes and students. Also, I have participated in outreach activities to promote STEM topics to young children. In the lab, I have had the opportunity to mentor 6 undergraduates, along with helping train 2 new graduate students. Out of the 6 undergraduates, 2 of them have placed in the Top 3 at the Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity (URCA) Poster Competition. Being trained as a chemical engineer, I look forward to teaching classes related to mass and energy balances, transport phenomena, polymers, and membrane separations.