MICKOLS CONSULTING

New membrane chemistries and new process designs were combined with this US government program on the next generation mobile water purifier. It decreased the size of the membrane unit by 40% and improved water purity. The same modifications can be used to lower energy and capital costs. I lead the FilmTec program of patented new chemistry, membrane development and new designs... Development of ultrathin designed multi-layer polymeric membranes requires unique chemistry and sophisticated analytical techniques to determine chemical distribution across the 1000 angstrom layers. Collaboration across departments and national laboratories allows for this k edge scanning transmission x-ray microscopy with 10 nm resolution of an RO membrane. This unique study gives layer by layer determination of chemical moieties. [Mitchell, Mickols, Hernandez-Cruz, Hitchcock,Polymer 52 (2011) 3956-3962].