S-FOX · Smart Fenton OXidation: a catalytic membrane for water purification

The main goal of this project is the development of new polymeric catalysts and new catalytic membranes, designed to carry out high-end chemical oxidation in aqueous streams. Catalytic membranes are means to perform chemical transformation at the solid/ fluid interface and they are ideal interfacial reactors and contactors, simultaneously catalyzing and directing the heterogeneous phase reaction between substrates and oxidant agents. These systems have a key role in the future process industry and in water treatment since they enable oxidation reactions whilst reducing reagents and waste. Current systems employ inorganic and often high-value catalysts, which are generally of high cost, and prone to leaching causing loss of performance in time. I propose the first fully polymeric catalytic membrane made exclusively of bio-inspired iron coordination polymers. This research will lead to key scientific breakthroughs by: i) creating new non-heme catalytic polymers that mimic the activity of biological enzymes and that can be efficiently deployed to cast membranes for heterogeneous reaction; ii) designing and fabricating polymeric membranes consisting of the catalytic macromolecules and with suitable surface and morphological properties to precisely guide and enhance the contact among the reagents and with the catalyst; iii) successfully applying these systems maintaining high catalytic rate and yield and to understand the mechanisms and pathways of transformation of compounds, especially water micropollutants. These innovations will enable membrane robustness, long-term efficiency, and low cost. In particular, the potential of the new catalysts, membranes, and membrane reactors will be exemplified in the purification of contaminated streams to produce safe water. Thus, this new system represents a platform for a plethora of further advances in the field of oxidation processes applied to chemistry, engineering, and the environment.