Expanding Membrane Functionality Through Post-Assembly Modifications and Additive Manufacturing

As interest in decentralized water treatment technologies grows, the development of nanofiltration (NF) as a complementary process to reverse osmosis has emerged. However, NF membranes that overcome the trade-off between selectivity and permeability, that expand the range of molecules that can be separated selectively, and that resist the detrimental effects of fouling must be developed in order to realize the potential of NF-based processes. One approach for overcoming the permeability-selectivity trade-off is through the development of membranes with better controlled pore size distributions. In fact, the performance of NF membranes based on self-assembled materials is already pushing the limits of these size-selective separation mechanisms. Therefore, many researchers are considering approaches that move beyond improved control of size-selective separation mechanisms. In this regard, the functionality lining the pore walls of NF membranes offers another means through which to increase selectivity without sacrificing permeability. In this talk, we will discuss membrane platforms that allow for the post-assembly modification of the pore wall chemistry such that the membranes can be tailored to myriad separations for the treatment and conservation of water resources.