Projekty Specjalne
Novel Smart Filtration Media - NFSM
Project realized within the MNT ERA-NET
supported by National Center of Research and Development
No. ERA-NET/MNT/NFSM/1/2011
DURATION OF THE PROJECT:
Beginning: 01.06.2011
Completion: 31.05.2014
COORDINATOR:
Warsaw Univ. Of Technology, University Research Center “Functional Materials” (WUT)
PARTNERS:
- Polymem sp. z o.o.
- SecuraNova sp. z o.o
- Josef Stefan Institute
- University of Ljubljana
- Litostroj Jeklo Ltd.
SUMMARY:
The overall objective of the project is to develop robust, safe, efficient and relatively cheap novel membranes and pre-filter media that can be used to produce clean water from significantly contaminated ground water and irrigation water from municipal, brackish or industrial wastes. The project will be based on tried-and-tested filtration techniques (in order to minimise risk) that will be modified by smart membranes and innovative pre-filtration media.
Pre-filtration objective:The aim is to develop a set of candle filters (deep filtration) to reduce suspended solids down to a size of 5 m. A special combination of selected polymers and inorganic nanoparticles with antiseptic substances will ensure a significant reduction of biological risk.
Cross-flow Filtration objective: A micro-ultra-filtration component based on capillary membranes working in a sequential regime and designed to reduce the SDI factor. The sequential working regime should significantly reduce the level of energy consumption. The micro-ultra-filtration will be enhanced by “smart” membranes with variable pore size, which will be controlled and adjusted on the basis of current needs as well as special membranes surface modification.
The pre-filtration strategy of this project will be based on filter media for the removal of particles of particular sizes. The media will be fabricated via the melt-blown technique available within the consortium. In this technique, fibres formed from a melted polymer in a special die are extended to an assumed size in a stream of hot air of controlled velocity and temperature. For specific filtration applications the fibre structure will be modified by a plasma, which forms in the melting zone. The induced secondary fibrillation process increases the fibre surface and thus enhances the effect of the Brownian deposition of submicron particles. It should be noted that the fibres produced by the above-described technique, for specific operational conditions and properties of the purified suspension, can be modified with biostatic substances in a form of nanoparticles, possibly with an optimized surface charge.
The cross-flow filtration strategy designed during the project will be based on tried-and-tested membrane material. The work will be focused on: (a) developing and testing of the advanced, “intelligent”, “smart”, polymer membranes with a variable, magnetically and/or thermally or pH activated, porous geometry, (b) modifying and functionalizing these two types of polymer membranes. These two strategies applied to UF membranes will be investigated, and the most promising will be implemented into the technical scale in collaboration with industrial and SMEs project partners. Such a procedure allows for reduction of potential project risks.
