Development of selective nanofiltration membranes based on nanoporous organic frameworks

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Marcus Rose
• Subject Area: Preparatory and Physical Chemistry of Polymers ; Technical Chemistry
• Term: from 2014 to 2020
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 261819694

Modern membrane technologies possess great potential for energy- and cost-efficient separation processes. Especially the development of selective nanofiltration technologies for future bio-refinery processes requires new membrane materials as well as a basic understanding of the structure-property-relations of those and the substances to be separated. Novel nanoporous polymers and organic frameworks, which have attracted considerable attention in recent years, offer great potential. They are promising materials for separation since various pore properties as well as the polarity of the inner surface can be tailored. The aim of this project is the development of mixed matrix membranes based on systematically optimized nanoporous polymers and their investigation in the separation of the application-related model system 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF)/fructose in aqueous solution by nanofiltration. One focus is the development of novel materials. Besides using reference materials, a new and scalable synthesis route for element organic frameworks is to be developed, using a Grignard instead of an organolithium intermediate. Due to the decreased reactivity the formation of the framework structure is better controlled, thus, enabling the tailoring of the pore properties as well as the inner surface chemistry. By a systematic variation of the connector species a series of materials with varying surface polarity are to be synthesized. Experiments on the liquid phase adsorption behavior of HMF and fructose from aqueous solutions are conducted to evaluate structure-property-relations, which are essential for separation technology development in liquid phase processing. Ultimately, the synthesized polymers, occurring as fine and non-soluble powders, are processed to mixed matrix membranes. Their separation performance is investigated in the nanofiltration of HMF/fructose aqueous mixtures. Overall, the project combines basic research focused on the field of novel porous materials and their structure-property-relations in liquid phase adsorption of biogenic platform chemicals with the application-related development of new separation technologies based on membrane nanofiltration for future biorefinery concepts.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants