Fouling is a major hurdle in membrane-based desalination, water/wastewater treatment processes, and resource recovery from wastewater. Through surface chemistry, polymer chemistry, and nanomaterial-based surface modification, we develop multi-functional membranes that simultaneously control fouling on the surface and fast and selective transport of water or other target chemical species. Recently, we have developed simultaneously anti-fouling and anti-wetting membranes that can enable the desalination of hyper-saline, extremely challenging industrial wastewater.
Relevant Publication
- A. Dutta, S. Kalam, and J. Lee, “Elucidating the inherent fouling tolerance of membrane contactors for ammonia recovery from wastewater.” Journal of Membrane Science, 645, 120197 (2022).
- A. Dutta, X. Li, and J. Lee, “Dissolved methane recovery from anaerobically treated wastewaters using solvent-based membrane contactor: An experimental and modelling study.” Separation and Purification Technology, 258, 118004 (2021).
- X Li, A Dutta, S Saha, HS Lee, J Lee, “Recovery of dissolved methane from anaerobically treated food waste leachate using solvent-based membrane contactor.” Water Research, 175, 115693 (2020).
- X. Li, A. Dutta, Q. Dong, S. Rollings-Scattergood, and J. Lee, “Dissolved Methane Harvesting Using Omniphobic Membranes for Anaerobically Treated Wastewaters.” Environmental Science and Technology Letters, 6 (4), 228-234 (2019).
- A.P. Straub, N.Y. Yip, S. Lin, J. Lee and M. Elimelech, “Harvesting Low-grade Heat Energy using Thermo-osmotic Vapor Transport through Nanoporous Membranes.” Nature Energy, 1, 16090 (2016)