Join us for a highlight lecture given by Professor Alamgir Karim from University of Houston, USA.
Advanced Separation Nanomembranes for Sustainable Clean Water
When and Where
Monday 24 March 11.00-12.00
617 Roderic Hill Building – The easiest way to get to the room is to enter through the Roderic Hill Build entrance on Prince Consort Road. Take the lift up to level 6. The lecture will be held in room 617 which is through the clear doors that say. “The Sargent Centre for Process Systems Engineering”. Please note that you will need your college card to enter Roderic Hill and the sargent centre doors.
Abstract
Membrane-based water purification is poised to play an important role in tackling the potable water crisis for safe and clean water access for the general population. Several studies have focused on near two-dimensional membranes for this purpose, as a potential alternate to expensive reverse osmosis (RO), which is based on an ion rejection technique. However, membrane swelling in these materials has emerged as a significant challenge because it leads to the loss of function. Herein, we report a self-cross-linked MXene-intercalated graphene oxide (GO) membrane that retains ion and dye rejection properties because the physical cross-linking interaction between Ti–O–Ti and neighboring nanosheets effectively suppresses the swelling of the membrane. In addition to the associative Ti–O–Ti bonds, C–O–C, O═C–O, and C–OH bonds are also formed, which are important for inhibiting the swelling of the membrane. To ensure the longevity of these membranes in a service context, they were subjected to heat pressurization and subsequent thermal annealing. The membrane subjected to this novel processing history exhibits minimal swelling upon immersion in solutions and retains function, rejecting salt and dyes over a wide range of salt and dye concentrations, and were stable for over 72 h. Likewise, the oil and gas industry produces large volumes of oily wastewaters that are typically treated by conventional technologies such as flotation, centrifugation, and gravity separation to remove free and dispersed forms of the total oil and grease (TOG). Nevertheless, the pressure on applying advanced treatment technologies has increased recently due to the stringent environmental regulations restricting the deep-well injection volumes and the discharge limits of oil-in-water. With such drivers toward water recycling, various oil and gas companies have started seeking for opportunities of treating and reusing generated by-product waters. Recently, a specific type of emerging UF membranes consisting of block copolymer (BCP) films gained a wide attention due to their improved water fluxes. *We present our work on the use of ionic liquid to obtain vertically oriented block copolymer membranes by simple solution casting without further processing typically required for their long-range order in morphology development and orientation control. Etching the cylindrical nanopores with UVO results in the formation of hydrophilic nanopores with vertical geometry. Replicated produced water such as in off-shore drilling and fracking is separated with high efficiency with these membranes, and their durability tested using the harsh rinsing chemicals used by the water purification industry. Essential separation properties demonstrates their viability as separation membranes.
* Collaboration with ConocoPhilips and Qatar University
Biography
Professor Alamgir Karim, the Dow Chair Professor and Director of the Doctoral Materials Program at the University of Houston, is a distinguished researcher with a diverse range of interests and contributions to the field of polymer nanotechnology. His work spans multiple areas with a particular focus on thin films, surfaces, and interfaces, exploring their applications in energy, sustainability, and human health. Dr. Karim’s research extends to the fascinating realm of polymer nanocomposites, including nanoparticle polymer systems, polymer blend phase separation, and block copolymer thin film ordering. Additionally, his expertise encompasses the development of innovative materials such as elastomers-based systems and polymer thin films for functional applications. His impressive h-index of 70, extensive publication record, and leadership in organizing international conferences highlight his significant contributions to the field of polymer research. Furthermore, Dr. Karim’s work intersects with emerging areas of study, such as the use of graphene oxide membranes for desalination and investigations into dielectric properties and separation applications, reinforcing his commitment to pushing the boundaries of materials science and engineering. In addition, Dr. Karim is a Fellow of the American Physical Society and the American Association for the Advancement of Science, as well as a recipient of the prestigious Keck Foundation Award.
About The Institute for Molecular Science and Engineering
The Institute for Molecular Science and Engineering (IMSE) is one of Imperial College London’s Global Institutes, drawing on the strength of its four faculties to address some of the grand challenges facing the world today. The Institute’s activities are focused on tackling problems where molecular innovation plays an important role.
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