Covalent Organic Framework (COF) Membranes for Liquid Separations
Sponsored by National Science Foundation CAREER Award
Fabrication of composite membranes from two-dimensional covalent organic framework materials with tunable separation properties. The COF membranes have potential applications for liquid separations, including drinking water treatment and organic solvent filtration.
Suppressing Shuttle Effect with a Size-Selective Covalent Organic Framework Based Bilayer Membrane
Large-Area 2D Covalent Organic Framework Membranes with Tunable Single-Digit Nanopores for Predictable Mass Transport
Contorted Polyamide Membranes for High Performance Desalination
Sponsored by the Bureau of Reclamation Desalination and Water Purification Research Program
Development of contorted polyamide membranes with improved permselectivity to overcome the performance limitations of conventional polymeric desalination membranes. The research will achieve control over free volume and permselectivity in polyamide desalination membranes by incorporating contorted monomers.
Membrane Distillation for Produced Water Treatment
Sponsored by ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
Characterization of membrane materials for membrane distillation treatment of hypersaline produced water from oil and gas operations. The research will investigate the fouling, wetting, and cleaning of commercial hydrophobic membrane materials to advance produced water reuse through membrane distillation treatment.
Characterizing Microplastics from Land-Applied Biosolids and Modeling Their Transport
Characterization of microplastics and the biosolids from which they originate and development of a microplastics transport model. The research will characterize the physical and chemical properties of microplastics from land-applied biosolids and will apply this knowledge to predict the mobilization of microplastics from land to freshwater in precipitation runoff events.
Wettability Alteration and Immiscible Fluid Displacement in Porous Media
Sponsored by American Chemical Society Petroleum Research Fund
Investigation of the influence of waterflood chemistry on wettability alteration in carbonate porous media and the resulting impacts on immiscible fluid displacement. The research has implications for enhanced oil recovery through tuned waterflooding in carbonate petroleum reservoirs.
Measuring Soil Organic Carbon Content Using Infrared Spectroscopy
Sponsored by Texas EcoLab
Application of infrared spectroscopy as a facile measurement tool for soil organic matter content, which is an important measure of soil health to support wildlife habitat, farming, and ranching. The research will correlate infrared spectra to conventional laboratory measurements of soil organic carbon.