Jack Phillips
Pronouns: he/him/his
Research Mentor(s): Anish Tuteja
Research Mentor School/College/Department: Material Science and Engineering / Engineering
Program: UROP
Session: Session 1 (9:00am – 9:50am)
Authors: Jack Phillips, Brian Ho, David Speer, Anish Tuteja
Abstract
Liquid-liquid mixture separations are ubiquitous across many industry production processes. However, common liquid mixture separation techniques (eg., distillation, evaporation, HPLC) demand high economic expenditure accompanied with damaging environmental implications. Membrane-based separation techniques have the potential to circumvent these energetic input requirements by eliminating the necessity of phase change and pressurized pumping. Unfortunately, membrane separation technology is limited by fouling of the membrane surface over the filtration process, in which deposited solutes or internal liquid accumulation obstructs membrane pores and prohibits liquid permeation. In response to these issues, we have optimized a procedure for fabrication of selectively wettable hydrophilic/oleophobic (HL/OP) cellulose membranes. Preferential wettability of polar substances permits polar compound permeation through membrane pores while simultaneously rejecting nonpolar substances. Notably, membrane separation methodologies minimize process input energy requirements, as gravitational hydrostatic pressures drive the filtration process. Moreover, the HL/OP character of these membranes offers resistance to membrane fouling over a filtration application lifecycle, as nonpolar compounds less capable of interfacing with membrane pores to block liquid sample permeation.
