(374d) Responsive Membranes for Enhanced Capture and Detoxification of Water and Air Pollutants

This research focuses on the development of responsive functionalized membranes that can exhibit enhanced capture of water and air pollutants, while simultaneously incorporating the detoxification of such contaminants. Functionalized membranes with zero-valent catalytic nanoparticles have shown immense promise for enhanced removal and degradation of water-based polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), yet reaction efficiency is hindered by mass transfer limitations between the particles and water contaminants. In recent years, the incorporation of a thermo-responsive polymer, poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAm), has shown to mitigate such limitations in preliminary flat-sheet membranes. In this study, enhanced degradative efficiency with PNIPAm functionalization of catalytic hollow fiber membranes (HFMs-higher particle packing density) was investigated for superior environmental remediation. Additionally, to further overcome these limitations and enhance reaction rates, transparent membranes were functionalized with plasmonic catalytic nanoparticles and PNIPAm, and their efficiency to degrade polychlorinated pollutants, such as trichloroethylene (TCE), with targeted surface heating of catalytic plasmonic particles (via Near-IR illumination) was investigated for cost-effective remediation applications. Furthermore, with respect to viral air-borne contaminants, various membrane functionalization materials, such as salts, enzymes, and silver nanoparticles, have exhibited antiviral properties to reduce or eliminate the infectivity of SARS-CoV-2. In this research, the denaturation of the SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein (facilitates host cell infection) by iron-palladium-functionalized membranes was investigated for the development of enclosed-environment responsive filters. Overall, this study advances the field of separations, membrane science, catalysis, and environmental remediation with responsive materials for air and pollutant detoxification. This research is supported by the NSF RAPID Grant Program, NSF GRFP and NIEHS/SRP Program.