STRIVE 116 - Denise Rooney, Orla Power, Catherine Fox, Carmel Breslin, Bernadette Alcock Earley
Summary: This project involved a laboratory scale study into improving the properties of commercial water filtration membranes for removal of metal ions such as copper and chromium from water, forming ion selective smart membranes and the reduction of protein fouling.
Key points
• This project involved a laboratory scale study into improving the properties of commercial water filtration membranes for removal of metal ions such as copper and chromium from water, forming ion selective smart membranes and the reduction of protein fouling.
• The research in this project has indicated potential for the development of new environmentally advantageous technologies for water treatment using coated membranes. ‘
• The combination of a conducting coated membrane and electrochemical reduction is an attractive alternative, recyclable technology for the removal of chromium(VI) or copper(II) ions from water.
• A number of the coated membranes showed improved anti-fouling properties compared to unmodified commercial membranes.
• This research falls under the priority area Processing Technologies and Novel Materials as highlighted by the Forfás Report of the Research Prioritisation Steering Group.
• Future research would set out to increase the stability and recyclability of coated membranes, to investigate how other species present in real water samples may interfere with the membranes, to reduce the cost of forming the membranes, and to carry out cost analysis on this technology.
• Support for research which underpins innovative technologies that deal with current water challenges is important as there are significant economic opportunities for Ireland in a growing world market in this sector.
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