14 Membranes
This webpage gives the basic outline for a weekly module. The full module with videos, readings, homework assignments, and other resources is available in Canvas by contacting the instructor.
MEMBRANES
Overview
Clean drinking water has a long history of its relationship with materials. Since civilization began materials have been used to procure, transport and store drinking water. As society grows the availability of clean water is a growing crisis. Polymeric membranes offer one solution to the problem. Through the use of reverse osmosis it is possible to desalinate sea water and create drinking water. This process was discovered less than 75 years ago. Today millions of gallons of water are purified through reverse osmosis. However there are tremendous challenges associated with the materials and process including energy costs, fouling etc. This module examines the challenges and opportunities afforded by membranes to help address ta variety of needs including the critical need for clean water.
Module Objectives
Students will:
- learn about the process of reverse osmosis
- the polymers used for reverse osmosis
- the history of water purification
- the challenges associated with water purification and reverse osmosis
- the history of materials and water
- the future materials being developed to address water purification
Day 1
Prof. Jones gives an overview of the history of membranes, including passive and active transport the process of reverse osmosis and the polymers involved in the process. This includes the scientific principles behind filtration and osmosis, the history of membranes, their current applications, the challenges associated with the reverse osmosis and the global water challenge perspective.
Day 2
Dr. Christine Overdevest discusses membranes and water purification in the context of cultural cognition
Day 3
As we learned from Lecture 2 there are significant scientific and social challenges to the creation of clean water. From the video you learned about new approaches to improving the membranes through bioinspired membranes. On Day 3, we examine these new innovations and the cultural cognition challenges one might face socially with their adoption.
