| NSF Org: |
EEC Division of Engineering Education and Centers |
| Recipient: |
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| Initial Amendment Date: | July 6, 2016 |
| Latest Amendment Date: | May 17, 2023 |
| Award Number: | 1624602 |
| Award Instrument: | Continuing Grant |
| Program Manager: |
Prakash Balan
pbalan@nsf.gov (703)292-5341 EEC Division of Engineering Education and Centers ENG Directorate for Engineering |
| Start Date: | July 15, 2016 |
| End Date: | December 31, 2023 (Estimated) |
| Total Intended Award Amount: | $500,000.00 |
| Total Awarded Amount to Date: | $500,000.00 |
| Funds Obligated to Date: |
FY 2018 = $200,000.00 FY 2019 = $100,000.00 |
| History of Investigator: |
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| Recipient Sponsored Research Office: |
3100 MARINE ST Boulder CO US 80309-0001 (303)492-6221 |
| Sponsor Congressional District: |
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| Primary Place of Performance: |
3100 Marine Street, Room 479 Boulder CO US 80303-1058 |
| Primary Place of
Performance Congressional District: |
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| Unique Entity Identifier (UEI): |
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| Parent UEI: |
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| NSF Program(s): | IUCRC-Indust-Univ Coop Res Ctr |
| Primary Program Source: |
01001718DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT 01001819DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT 01001920DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT 01002021DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT |
| Program Reference Code(s): |
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| Program Element Code(s): |
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| Award Agency Code: | 4900 |
| Fund Agency Code: | 4900 |
| Assistance Listing Number(s): | 47.041 |
ABSTRACT
A membrane is a selective barrier that enables some small particles, molecules or ions to pass through but rejects others. Membrane-based separations offer a number of advantages over conventional processes used in chemical separations. They are often more energy efficient, more environmentally friendly, easier to scale-up for manufacturing, and more compatible with process streams, and thus provide lower-cost separation in a wide range of critical applications including sea water desalination, food and beverage production, pharmaceutical processing and blood dialysis. The University of Colorado Boulder site of the MAST Center is focused on providing more advanced membranes for future separations needs as well as leading the development of new separations processes. This work addresses critical national economic competitiveness, defense and health needs.
The MAST Center is a multi-campus industry-university collaborative research Center with the University of Colorado Boulder (UCB) as one of the three sites that (1) conduct fundamental and applied research in the field of membranes via innovative materials and processes to facilitate the use of membrane technology for current and emerging industrial applications; (2) sustain U.S. technological leadership in membrane materials and membrane-based separation processes and accelerate commercialization by Center industrial sponsors of novel, sustainable and innovative technologies; and (3) provide undergraduate, graduate and postdoctoral researchers with a superior educational and research experience that will enable them to become productive and effective professionals. Research at the UCB site is focused on the development of novel membrane materials and structures, innovative membrane characterization techniques and the generation of fundamental and applied knowledge regarding selective molecular transport mechanisms and membrane fouling. The technical expertise represented by participating UCB faculty from five academic departments is focused on important membrane applications in water, energy, and barrier materials.
PUBLICATIONS PRODUCED AS A RESULT OF THIS RESEARCH
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PROJECT OUTCOMES REPORT
Disclaimer
This Project Outcomes Report for the General Public is displayed verbatim as submitted by the Principal Investigator (PI) for this award. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this Report are those of the PI and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation; NSF has not approved or endorsed its content.
Award Title: Phase II U. of Colorado Boulder Site: Center for Membrane Science, Engineering and Technology (MAST)
Federal Award ID: 1624602
Report Submission Period: 07/01/2016 to 12/31/2023
Membrane technologies are critical to addressing societal challenges in water scarcity, industrial decarbonization and public health. This NSF award builds collaborations between membrane-related industries with university researchers to create a leading membrane-research center, the Membrane Science, Engineering and Technology (MAST) center. This phase II award supported University of Colorado Boulder (CU) site within the MAST center to achieve the following scientific and educational objectives: (1) Conduct fundamental research in the field of membranes via innovative materials and processes that facilitate the use of membrane technology for current and emerging industrial applications. (2) Sustain technological leadership in membrane materials and membrane-based separation processes and facilitate commercialization of innovative technologies. (3) Provide further and expanded opportunities for collaborative and interdisciplinary research with not only sponsor-student collaboration but also expanded technological diversity within membrane science. (4) Provide undergraduate and graduate students, and post-doctoral fellows with relevant educational and research experience.
The award has generated the following outcome, in terms of both intellectual merits and broader impacts: (1) Conducted and completed industry-relevant research projects at CU site. These projects brought together 14 faculty throughout CU campus with a broad range of expertise including synthesis, characterizations, modelling, and processing, to address difficult problems facing membrane industries. (2) The research resulted in 34 peer-reviewed publications that have been disseminated on leading membrane journals, over 50 technical presentations at national and international conferences. The research also led to three US patents being awarded to CU, with one currently pending. One patent is currently licensed to a commercial partner to improve membrane technology efficiency in desalination. The knowledge gained will have significant economic impacts on membrane industries on desalination, wastewater treatment, membrane manufacturing, and bioseperations. (3) Educated and trained over 20 graduate students (7 females) at CU site with 11 Ph.D degrees and 2 M.S. degrees awarded. Several postdoctoral researchers also received training throughout the project duration. Several students received prestigious fellowships (NSF, NASA) and awards from professional societies (North American Membrane Society, American Chemical Society, and American Institute of Chemical Engineering). A significant number of undergraduate students, most of whom are from underrepresented minority groups, received training through MAST center research projects. Such workforce development is crucial for maintaining the R&D leadership of the U.S.A. in the membrane field.
Upon completion of this Phase II award, MAST center, including CU site, has successfully transitioned to Phase III, which will allow the Center to continue making significant impacts in addressing technical challenges facing membrane industries, as well as training and educating the next generation diverse workforces.
Last Modified: 05/13/2024
Modified by: Yifu Ding
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