Arrowhead Center, Inc.

The Procter Gamble Company

Case Western Reserve University

Reza Foudazi

Sahar Qavi

Aaron Lindsay

Steven Ray Merrigan

Stuart J Rowan

Ica Manas-Zloczower

Donald L Feke

Cody Bezik

Zahra Abbasian Chaleshtari

Neda Sanatkaran

Robyn Marks

Ryan Zowada

A method for in situ production of antimicrobial filtration membranes that uses self-assembly of surfactants such as block copolymers as a template. The mesophase structure (for example hexagonal or lamellar) can be determined, and membrane pore size can be controlled in the nanometer range, by changing the block copolymer and the amounts of the components such as the block copolymer, aqueous solution, monomer, crosslinker, and initiator. The monomer phase cures in the template and there is no need for organic solvents and coagulation bath or other post-modification. As-synthesized membranes were found to have pore sizes with a narrow size distribution in the range of 3-4 nm with a molecular weight cutoff of 1500 g/mol and displayed both excellent fouling resistance and high permeance of water, vastly outperforming a conventional NIPS UF membrane. The monomer can comprise a quaternary ammonium group so that the membrane is antibacterial. The block copolymer can comprise hydrophilic blocks which form the surfaces of the membrane pores, rendering them hydrophilic.

Antimicrobial filtration membranes

A material that can be formed into a porous prosthetic sleeve liner that provides particularly useful benefits for prosthetics. The material is breathable and sweat-absorbing, thus minimizing skin morbidity when used as a prosthetic liner. The material can include hydrophilic-lined continuous pores within a hydrophobic polymer, wherein the hydrophilic lining is crosslinked together with the hydrophobic polymer via non-degradable covalent interactions using chain crosslinkers.

Porous prosthetic sleeve liner material

Separation columns and methods for PFAS removal from water resources. Each column comprises perforated trays, level-controlled gates and air spargers placed on the top of each tray. Air bubbles of optimum size injected on the surface of each tray rise to the top of each tray, separating PFAS, thus creating a PFAS-enriched foam at the top. The amount of air or other gas injected at each stage of the column is optimally determined to increase the gas-water contact time and decrease enriched foam production. The foam is collected from the surface and undergoes a simple low-pressure evaporation process to break the bubbles. Multi-stage air injection using a sparger or distributer to inject air or other gas bubbles in each tray produces higher turbulence on each tray and more fresh and small bubbles of controlled size along the column height, thus enhancing contaminant removal and reducing operating costs.

Separation columns for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) remediation

A method for producing a High Internal Phase Emulsion foam is provided that comprises forming a first High Internal Phase Emulsion from an oil phase comprising monomer, crosslinking agent, emulsifier; and an aqueous phase. The High Internal Phase Emulsion is pumped into a water bath. The High Internal Phase Emulsion cures in the bath.

Method for the production of high internal phase emulsion foams

Growing community of inventors

Las Cruces, NM, United States of America

Reza Foudazi