Engineering topics
Belfort, Georges
Publications and source records attributed to Belfort, Georges.
Combinatorial Membrane Synthesis: Fundamentals of Hybrid Metal-Organic Brush (MOB) Membranes for Organic Solvent Nanofiltration (Renewal)
(a) Goals: The goals of our current 3-year research project are (i) expansion of the novel modification technique Single Electron Transfer- Living Radical Polymerization (SET-LRP) to graft polymer brushes on a polyimide stable support followed by characterization and testing of the ensuing membrane (ii) stiffen brush network utilizing (a) metal organic frameworks and (b) covalent bonds formed as a result of crosslinking the grafted brush network. (b) Approach: The approach taken for this research was: (i) to graft branches terminated with a carboxyl group on each bristle (or bristle branch) allowing (a) metal immobilization to form MOF-like structures between branches or (b) crosslink bristles using aliphatic or aromatic diamines; (ii) to test the performance of the membranes using organic dyes, pure solvents (alcohols) and industrially relevant organic solvent separations; and (iii) to characterize these modified brush membranes. (c) Findings: The significant findings from the past one year are summarized below (papers resulting from this work are listed below and in D. PUBLICATIONS and relevant references are found in E. REFERENCES.
Carbon-doped metal oxide interfacial nanofilms for ultrafast and precise separation of molecules
Membranes with molecular-sized, high-density nanopores, which are stable under industrially relevant conditions, are needed to decrease energy consumption for separations. Interfacial polymerization has demonstrated its potential for large-scale production of organic membranes, such as polyamide desalination membranes. We report an analogous ultrafast interfacial process to generate inorganic, nanoporous carbon-doped metal oxide (CDTO) nanofilms for precise molecular separation. For a given pore size, these nanofilms have 2 to 10 times higher pore density (assuming the same tortuosity) than reported and commercial organic solvent nanofiltration membranes, yielding ultra-high solvent permeance, even if they are thicker. Owing to exceptional mechanical, chemical, and thermal stabilities, CDTO nanofilms with designable, rigid nanopores exhibited long-term stable and efficient organic separation under harsh conditions.
Anti-fouling chiral surfaces for membrane filtration and methods therefor
The present disclosure relates to, inter alia, a modified surface comprising an optically active monomer, a polymeric material having a surface onto which the optically active monomer is covalently bound. In one aspect, a membrane comprising an optically active monomer, a poly(aryl sulfone) membrane having a surface onto which the optically active monomer is covalently bound. The present disclosure also relates to a method of modifying a surface, the method comprising applying sufficient energy to a surface to induce covalent bonding with an optically active monomer, and contacting the optically active monomer with the surface. In one aspect, a method of modifying a surface of a poly(aryl sulfone) membrane is disclosed. In another aspect, a method of synthesizing an optically active monomer is disclosed. In one aspect, a method of filtration of chiral compounds is disclosed.
Stiffening Polymer Brush Membranes for Enhanced Organic Solvent Nanofiltration Selectivity
Not provided.
Highly tunable structure-by-design polymer brush membranes for organic solvent nanofiltration
Synthetic polymeric nanofiltration membrane processes offer an alternate low-energy option to energy-intensive distillation to fractionate similar size organic solvents for chemical, petroleum, food and biotechnology industries. Here, in this study, we synthesize and test a new class of structure-by-design hydrophilic polymeric brush membranes, that address the limitations of commercial polymer membranes, are tunable and exhibit commercially relevant filtration performance. Because these brush membranes are grafted by Single Electron Transfer-Living Radical Polymerization (SET-LRP) and replace statistically random phase inversion or interfacial polymerization used for synthesizing commercial polymer membranes, their porous structure can be remodeled by varying their morphology and chemistry. We graft hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) brush structures with short and long crosslinkers, demonstrate two competing phenomena - pore stiffening and opening - and obtain high selectivity at reasonable permeability for commercially relevant methanol/toluene separation. This new class of stable, tunable, and scalable membranes offers exciting opportunities to reduce energy for separation of organic solvents.
Isobutanol production by combined in vivo and in vitro metabolic engineering
Not Available
Na + -gated nanochannel membrane for highly selective ammonia (NH 3 ) separation in the Haber-Bosch process
Currently, cryogenic condensation is the predominant process for recovering ammonia (NH 3 ) in the Haber-Bosch (HB) process, which is highly energy intensive. To be more compatible with the reaction conditions in the HB process and thus minimize the pressure and temperature swing during reactant recycling, energy-efficient technologies for NH 3 extraction at elevated temperature and pressure are greatly needed. In this work, the Na + -gated nanochannel membrane, shown exclusively for water conduction in our previous work, also exhibited highly NH 3 -selective performance, with NH 3 /H 2 selectivity as high as 4,280 and NH 3 /N 2 selectivity > 10,000 at temperature up to 250 °C and pressure up to 35 bar. Excellent stability of the Na + -gated nanochannel membrane was demonstrated during a 100-h run in ternary NH 3 /H 2 /N 2 gas mixture at 200 °C and 35 bar, consistent with structural characterization by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier transfer infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. A techno-economic analysis (TEA) was conducted for the HB process using the Na + -gated nanochannel membrane and the traditional HB process with condenser. Finally, under the optimized separation conditions, > 80% energy savings and approximately 20% reduction of the net NH 3 production cost can be achieved, demonstrating the great potential of the Na + -gated nanochannel membrane for NH 3 separation in the HB process.
Anti-fouling chiral surfaces for membrane filtration and methods therefor
The present disclosure relates to, inter alia, a modified surface comprising an optically active monomer, a polymeric material having a surface onto which the optically active monomer is covalently bound. In one aspect, a membrane comprising an optically active monomer, a poly(aryl sulfone) membrane having a surface onto which the optically active monomer is covalently bound. The present disclosure also relates to a method of modifying a surface, the method comprising applying sufficient energy to a surface to induce covalent bonding with an optically active monomer, and contacting the optically active monomer with the surface. In one aspect, a method of modifying a surface of a poly(aryl sulfone) membrane is disclosed. In another aspect, a method of synthesizing an optically active monomer is disclosed. In one aspect, a method of filtration of chiral compounds is disclosed.
Synthetic membranes and methods of use thereof
The present invention relates to synthetic membranes and use of these synthetic membranes for isolation of volatile organic compounds and purification of water. The synthetic membrane includes a hydrophobic polymer layer located on a polymeric membrane support layer. The invention includes a method of isolating volatile organic compounds with the synthetic membrane by contacting a volatile organic mixture with the hydrophobic polymer layer of the synthetic membrane and removing volatile organic compounds from the polymeric membrane support layer of the synthetic membrane by a process of pervaporation. The invention also includes a method of purifying water with the synthetic membrane by contacting an ionic solution with the hydrophobic polymer layer of the synthetic membrane and removing water from the polymeric membrane support layer of the synthetic membrane by a process of reverse osmosis. The invention also relates to methods of isolating non-polar gases by gas fractionation.
Synthetic membranes and methods of use thereof
The present invention relates to synthetic membranes and use of these synthetic membranes for isolation of volatile organic compounds and purification of water. The synthetic membrane includes a hydrophobic polymer layer located on a polymeric membrane support layer. The invention includes a method of isolating volatile organic compounds with the synthetic membrane by contacting a volatile organic mixture with the hydrophobic polymer layer of the synthetic membrane and removing volatile organic compounds from the polymeric membrane support layer of the synthetic membrane by a process of pervaporation. The invention also includes a method of purifying water with the synthetic membrane by contacting an ionic solution with the hydrophobic polymer layer of the synthetic membrane and removing water from the polymeric membrane support layer of the synthetic membrane by a process of reverse osmosis. The invention also relates to methods of isolating non-polar gases by gas fractionation.
A Simplified Predictive Tool for Design and Analysis of SET-LRP Reactions with Mechanistic Insight
Not provided.
Synthetic membranes and methods of use thereof
The present invention relates to synthetic membranes and use of these synthetic membranes for isolation of volatile organic compounds and purification of water. The synthetic membrane includes a hydrophobic polymer layer located on a polymeric membrane support layer. The invention includes a method of isolating volatile organic compounds with the synthetic membrane by contacting a volatile organic mixture with the hydrophobic polymer layer of the synthetic membrane and removing volatile organic compounds from the polymeric membrane support layer of the synthetic membrane by a process of pervaporation. The invention also includes a method of purifying water with the synthetic membrane by contacting an ionic solution with the hydrophobic polymer layer of the synthetic membrane and removing water from the polymeric membrane support layer of the synthetic membrane by a process of reverse osmosis. The invention also relates to methods of isolating non-polar gases by gas fractionation.
Synthetic membranes and methods of use thereof
The present invention relates to synthetic membranes and use of these synthetic membranes for isolation of volatile organic compounds and purification of water. The synthetic membrane includes a hydrophobic polymer layer located on a polymeric membrane support layer. The invention includes a method of isolating volatile organic compounds with the synthetic membrane by contacting a volatile organic mixture with the hydrophobic polymer layer of the synthetic membrane and removing volatile organic compounds from the polymeric membrane support layer of the synthetic membrane by a process of pervaporation. The invention also includes a method of purifying water with the synthetic membrane by contacting an ionic solution with the hydrophobic polymer layer of the synthetic membrane and removing water from the polymeric membrane support layer of the synthetic membrane by a process of reverse osmosis. The invention also relates to methods of isolating non-polar gases by gas fractionation.
Membrane Filtration with Liquids: A Global Approach with Prior Successes, New Developments and Unresolved Challenges
After 70 years, modern pressure-driven polymer membrane processes with liquids are mature and accepted in many industries due to their good performance, ease of scale-up, low energy consumption, modular compact construction, and low operating costs compared with thermal systems. Successful isothermal operation of synthetic membranes with liquids requires consideration of three critical aspects or “legs” in order of relevance: selectivity, capacity (i.e. permeation flow rate per unit area) and transport of mass and momentum comprising concentration polarization (CP) and fouling (F). Major challenges remain with respect to increasing selectivity and controlling mass transport in, to and away from membranes. Thus, prediction and control of membrane morphology and a deep understanding of the mechanism of dissolved and suspended solute transport near and in the membrane (i.e. diffusional and convective mass transport) is essential. Here, we focus on materials development to address the relatively poor selectivity of liquid membrane filtration with polymers and discuss the critical aspects of transport limitations. Machine learning could help optimize membrane structure design and transport conditions for improved membrane filtration performance.