This project aims to develop durable, high-performance membranes to efficiently separate and recover critical minerals like lithium from challenging water sources.
This project will develop a new membrane platform for separating and recovering critical minerals using polymers of intrinsic microporosity (PIMs) in thin-film composite membranes. These materials have highly tunable internal structures, allowing control over polymer free volume and density, which govern ion transport and selectivity. The research focuses on scalable fabrication of PIM-based membranes with adjustable crosslinking and structure to enhance separation performance, particularly for trivalent ions. Advanced imaging techniques, including multi-modal electron tomography, will be used to characterize polymer free volume and establish relationships between structure, stability, and transport properties. Unlike conventional nanofiltration membranes formed by interfacial polymerization, PIM-based membranes offer broader chemical flexibility and improved stability under harsh conditions such as acid mine drainage and produced water environments. The project will generate proof-of-concept data demonstrating improved membrane stability and performance for lithium extraction and yttrium separation, advancing membrane-based technologies for critical mineral recovery. This project will leverage a collaboration with DuPont Water Solutions.
Researchers
Xiaoshi Zhang
