Development of Biomimetic Nanofiltration Membranes Using Aquaporins

The focus of the project is to combine the ultra-efficient functioning of biological molecules (aquaporins) with the productivity of synthetic water purification membranes. A successful formulation should lead to the production of water purification membranes with high selectivity along with high water flux. Aquaporin, a highly selective water channel protein, has received worldwide attention because of its potential to form biomimetic membranes with high flux and rejection for water reuse and desalination. However, a proof-of-concept that aquaporins can be used to make biomimetic membranes without chemical alterations during attachment and/or flattening under pressure during operation has not been successfully accomplished. Therefore, the overarching objective of this project is to form a biomimetic membrane made of unaltered aquaporin dispersed in a membrane selective layer and capable of operation under high hydraulic pressure. After that we will characterize the biomimetic membranes chemically (FTIR, SEM-EDS and XPS) and structurally (SEM and FESEM, AFM and TEM) and also with respect to membrane pure water permeability and salt permeability.