In the "SWIMEMSYS - Smart switchable membrane systems" project, the working groups led by Professor Matthias Faust (htw saar) and Professor Markus Gallei (UdS) aim to develop membranes for the sustainable and resource-saving filtration of nano- and microplastics from drinking water. "Within SWIMEMSYS, novel, externally switchable polymer membranes are being produced from new materials at UdS. These membranes will be used for water filtration at htw saar," says Markus Gallei, explaining the aims of the project. "In order to find out how such membranes should be constructed, we need to research the basic surface properties of the most important types of microplastics," continues the polymer chemist. This is being investigated at htw saar.
This information will in turn be used at the UdS to develop new types of "smart" polymers with tailored functionalities. The main focus here is on the "switchability" of the membranes by exposing them to external stimuli. Such stimuli can be, for example, a slight temperature change at the membrane, a change in the pH value or even the application of a low electrical voltage, which leads to a precise change in the pore size or the surface properties of the membranes. "In this way, we significantly increase the efficiency of membrane cleaning, which saves resources and increases the service life of the membranes," explains Markus Gallei.
About the cooperation:
Both research groups, Markus Gallei's Department of Polymer Chemistry and Matthias Faust's Institute of Physical Process Engineering, are working on membrane technology, but with different focuses. While Professor Markus Gallei's group deals with the research and development of membranes made from new materials, Professor Matthias Faust's group has expertise in industrial manufacturing processes for membranes and the use of membranes in filtration. Both groups are looking for new areas of application for membranes. The combination of expertise in new projects makes it possible to generate optimal membrane structures and use them in socially relevant processes. The SWIMEMSYS project is funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the Saarland with a total of 340,000 euros.