Grantee Research Project Results
Induction Surface Heating Membrane Distillation
EPA Grant Number: SU840149Title: Induction Surface Heating Membrane Distillation
Investigators: Zhang, Wen
Current Investigators: Zhang, Wen , Qing, Weihua
Institution: New Jersey Institute of Technology
EPA Project Officer: Page, Angela
Phase: I
Project Period: December 1, 2020 through November 30, 2021
Project Amount: $25,000
RFA: P3 Awards: A National Student Design Competition Focusing on People, Prosperity and the Planet (2020) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: P3 Awards , P3 Challenge Area - Safe and Sustainable Water Resources
Objective:
This project will embark on the development of an innovative induction-heating-assisted membrane desalination system that utilizes the electromagnetic induction energy to locally heat membrane/liquid interface to power salty water vaporization and transportation in direct-contact membrane distillation (DCMD) processes. One of the technical challenges to tackle is the synthesis of induction-responsive nanoparticles and conductive polymers, and their synergetic incorporation onto conventional hydrophobic MD membranes to maximize the absorption and conversion of electromagnetic induction energy into thermal energy to drive water transportation for desalination in DCMD.
Approach:
First, the NJIT team will synthesis a few induction-responsive nanoparticles and conductive polymers which will further be blended and coated onto conventional MD membranes to achieve composite interfacial-heating/separation dual functional membranes. The physicochemical properties and heating capability of the functional membrane will be determined through systematic characterization. Subsequently, benchtop scale induction-assisted DCMD experiments will be performed to evaluate several key operational conditions (e.g., flow rate, and catalyst loading) to verify the desalination performance of novel system. Moreover, the project will examine the thermal transfer efficiency from electromagnetic induction energy on an induction-responsive functionalized membrane by measuring the temperature changes of the membrane/liquid interface under variations of electromagnetic induction field intensities and/or frequencies.
Expected Results:
The potential project outcome is the transformation of traditionally bulk-feed-enabled membrane distillation to the next-generation localized-heating-powered membrane distillation process. The measure of success is the demonstration of induction-responsive membrane fabrication and its capability to transform electromagnetic induction energy to interfacial thermal energy to realize water transportation in DCMD process. This research will provide critical information for the development of cost-efficient and sustainable MD processes for desalination and water purification and offer interdisciplinary research opportunities for a mixed group of undergraduate and graduate students from environmental engineering and chemical engineering.
Publications and Presentations:
Publications have been submitted on this project: View all 1 publications for this projectJournal Articles:
Journal Articles have been submitted on this project: View all 1 journal articles for this projectSupplemental Keywords:
Desalination, Membrane distillation, Electromagnetic field, Induction heating, Interfacial heatingProgress and Final Reports:
The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.