Research
The research in the Shevate lab group focuses mainly on developing new membranes and modifying existing membranes for energy-efficient molecular separations. There are well-established advantages to membrane-based separation processes which make it more appealing compared with the state-of-the-art separation processes, for example, distillations. However, the need for high permeability, good selectivity, and long-term stability of membranes has spurred tremendous research efforts towards understanding the membrane-molecule interactions and designing advanced membranes with improved chemistry. The goal of our research is to improve the performance and energy-efficiency of liquid separations by gaining fundamental insights into the structure-property relationships of polymeric membranes and by synthesizing high performance membrane materials. This research vision is built upon our background in polymer synthesis, material characterizations, membrane fabrication, surface modifications, and performance evaluation of membranes.
Membrane Distillation (MD)
Our goal is to develop low-cost antifouling novel membranes that can facilitate the membrane distillation (MD) process for the reutilization of highly saline wastewater. We aim to enhance the physico-chemical properties of MD membranes, ensuring their resilience in hypersaline desalination processes. Additionally, our research endeavors include the re-engineering of low-grade heat utilization in MD to improve the overall energy efficiency of the desalination process. Through these efforts, we aspire to contribute to the advancement of MD technology, making it a more sustainable and efficient solution for addressing the complexities of high-salinity feed solutions in the context of thermal desalination and zero liquid discharge.
Forward Osmosis (FO)
FO is a two-step process, first, the osmotic pressure gradient between feed (low osmotic pressure) and draw solution (high osmotic pressure) separated by a semipermeable membrane acts as a driving force for water recovery followed by draw solution recovery to obtain pure water. We believe a rationally designed FO process with judiciously selected draw solution can be effectively employed for water recovery from complex feed streams.
Organic Solvent Nanofiltration (OSN)
Organic Solvent Nanofiltration (OSN), offer a recent breakthrough in separating solutes in organic solvents. OSN is increasingly adopted in industrial processes as an alternative to solvent distillation for obtaining pure products. However, a selectivity-permeability tradeoff limits OSN throughput. Our research focuses on designing monomers and employing new membrane fabrication techniques to overcome this tradeoff. By understanding fundamental transport models, we aim to develop predictive rules for optimizing large-scale OSN processes. This work aims to enhance the efficiency of OSN technology for industrial applications.
