Template-Medicated Synthesis of Periodic Membranes for Improved Liquid-Phase Separations

40417 November 18, 1996 American Research Corporation of Virginia This project addresses the hazardous waste problem at Department of Energy sites by developing a new class of ultrafiltration membranes for use in corrosive aqueous or organic streams. These membranes will utilize mesoporous ceramics, which have narrow pore size distributions and tailorable pore sizes, and should lead to enhanced selectivity and efficiency, filling the need for solid/liquid separations in hazardous waste streams. This series of these porous ceramics consists of silica or aluminosilicates distinguished by periodic arrays of uniform channels. Phase I will deposit thin, defect-free periodic mesoporous membranes on porous supports; construct a fully instrumented membrane test unit; measure membrane separation factors, permeance, and fouling; and measure membrane lifetime as a part of an engineering and economic analysis. Anticipated Results/Potential Commercial Applications as described by the awardee: The mesoporous ultrafiltration membranes should fill the need for solid/liquid separations in hazardous waste streams and represent an improvement over existing commercial membranes for applications in the environmental, food and beverage, petroleum processing, and biotechnology/medical industries.