Modification of ultrafiltration membrane using nanovesicles lipids for removing dyes from water

• Grant number: 23/15228-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: December 15, 2023
• End date: February 14, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Materials and Metallurgical Engineering - Nonmetallic Materials
• Principal Investigator: Priscila Alessio Constantino
• Grantee: Bruna Oliveira Salla do Carmo
• Supervisor: Laura Palacio
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia (FCT). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Presidente Prudente. Presidente Prudente , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Universidad de Valladolid (UVa), Spain
• Associated to the scholarship: 23/03506-4 - Ultrafiltration membrane modification using lipid nanovesicles for removing dyes from water, BP.IC

Abstract

This project aims to search for a solution to the growing water pollution caused byemerging contaminants such as organic pollutants, mainly dyes, seeking an efficientremoval method. Dyes are toxic to the environment and human health and are difficultto degrade. The use of filters, specifically membrane technology, has shown promisingresults in removing polluting dyes from water. Nanofiltration and Reverse Osmosis aretwo examples of membrane processes used in water treatment. In the same sense, theuse of modified membranes using biomimetic models, such as the incorporation ofaquaporin, also showed promise to improve the performance of separation membranes.However, the high cost and difficulty of producing aquaporin in large amount led to theinvestigation of alternative materials to improve membrane technology. Thus, in thisproject, we propose to study the performance of a commercial PTFE ultrafiltrationmembrane modified with a mimetic membrane composed of phospholipids for theformation of vesicles containing ion channels, which will be explored in an attempt toremove dyes from water.