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UID:2026031201415820251003T11000020251003T12000069b2c2a601fd0@uic.edu
CATEGORIES:MEETING
STATUS:TENTATIVE
DTSTAMP:20250929T095153
DTSTART:20251003T110000
DTEND:20251003T120000
SUMMARY:Pushing the Limits of Membrane Selectivity
DESCRIPTION:Presenter: Seth Darling, PhD, Argonne National Laboratory  Location: ERF 1047    Abstract: Membrane-based separations represent a critical opportunity to reduce industrial energy consumption, potentially offering 10× greater efficiency than thermal separation processes. However, current membranes struggle to deliver sharp separations due to polydisperse pore structures and fundamental transport limitations. This presentation explores two innovative approaches to overcome these challenges and achieve unprecedented selectivity in ionic and nanoscale separations.    First, we demonstrate how isoporous membranes can overcome hindered transport limitations through process engineering. Using customized cross-flow filtration systems, we show that rejection sharpens with time while maintaining a precise cutoff at the pore size - representing the first demonstration of overcoming hindered transport via the combination of membrane isoporosity and process engineering. Second, we present a novel approach using phyllosilicate mineral membranes derived from abundant clay materials. Through controlled exfoliation and crosslinking strategies, these clay-based membranes enable tunable ion transport properties. This approach transforms low-cost geological materials into high-performance separation membranes with unprecedented control over transport properties.    These advances, supported by high-throughput automation platforms for accelerated discovery, demonstrate pathways toward achieving the sharp separations required for next-generation energy-efficient industrial processes. The work highlights how fundamental understanding of transport phenomena, combined with innovative materials design and process engineering, can push membrane selectivity beyond traditional limitations.    Speaker Bio: Dr. Seth Darling is the chief science & technology officer of the Advanced Energy Technologies Directorate and a senior scientist in the Chemical Sciences & Engineering Division at the U.S. Department of Energy?s Argonne National Laboratory, where he has worked for more than 20 years. He also serves as the director of the Advanced Materials for Energy-Water Systems Center and is a senior scientist with the Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering at the University of Chicago. Darling received his undergraduate degree from Haverford College, majoring in chemistry and astronomy and his PhD in physical chemistry from the University of Chicago. Darling has been recognized as a Fellow of the AVS, is a member of the Forbes Technology Council, and has received multiple R&D100 Awards. Darling has published more than 150 scientific articles, holds more than 20 patents, and lectures widely on topics related to energy and water. | Event post: https://cme.uic.edu/events?page_id=5491
LOCATION:ERF 1047 842 W. Taylor St.  Chicago IL 60607
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