Purdue Research Foundation

University of Notre Dame Du Lac

William A Phillip

Bryan William Boudouris

Matthew J Webber

Yizhou Zhang

A highly permeable sorbent platform based on polysulfone and polystyrene-b-poly(acrylic acid) composite membranes. The membranes possess a fully interconnected network of poly(acrylic acid)-lined pores, which enables the surface chemistry to be tailored through sequential attachment of polyethyleneimine moieties and metal-binding terpyridine ligands. The polyethyleneimine moieties increase the saturation capacity, while the addition of terpyridine enables high-affinity binding to a diversity of transition metal ions. This membrane platform removes such metal contaminants from solution. The metal capture performance of the functionalized membranes persists even in high concentrations of competitive ions. Also, fluorescence quenching of the terpyridine moiety upon metal ion complexation offers an in-situ probe to monitor the extent of sorbent saturation. The permeability, capacity, and affinity of these membranes, with high-density display of a metal-binding ligand, offer a chemically tailored platform to address the challenges that arise in ensuring clean water.

Block polymer composite membranes

The present invention relates to polymer compositions and their manufacture. Specifically, the invention relates to multiblock polymers and copolymers, their fabrication, modification and/or functionalization and use as membranes or films.

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South Bend, IN, United States of America

William A Phillip