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Research

Covalent Organic Framework (COF) Membranes for Liquid Separations

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Sponsored by National Science Foundation CAREER Award

Fabrication of composite membranes from two-dimensional covalent organic framework materials with tunable separation properties. The COF membranes have potential applications for liquid separations, including drinking water treatment and organic solvent filtration.

Contorted Polyamide Membranes for High Performance Desalination

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Sponsored by the Bureau of Reclamation Desalination and Water Purification Research Program

Development of contorted polyamide membranes with improved permselectivity to overcome the performance limitations of conventional polymeric desalination membranes. The research will achieve control over free volume and permselectivity in polyamide desalination membranes by incorporating contorted monomers.

Membrane Distillation for Produced Water Treatment

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Design, fabrication, and characterization of membrane materials for membrane distillation treatment of high-salinity produced water from oil and gas operations. The research will engineer membranes to optimize mass transfer and resist wetting.

Wettability Alteration and Immiscible Fluid Displacement in Porous Media

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Sponsored by American Chemical Society Petroleum Research Fund

Investigation of the influence of fluid chemistry on wettability alteration in carbonate porous media and the resulting impacts on immiscible fluid displacement. The research has implications for the properties and transport of petroleum in rock reservoirs and for waterflooding for oil recovery.

Quantifying Potential Water Savings from Conservation in Houston through Modeling

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Sponsored by the Harris-Galveston Subsidence District

Construction of a land use-based model of water demand for a mixed land use area in northwest Houston. The model will be used to quantify potential water savings from conservation best management practices, including incentives and efficiency measures.

Measuring Organic Matter in Texas Soils Using Infrared Spectroscopy

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Sponsored by Texas EcoLab

Application of infrared spectroscopy as a facile measurement tool for organic matter in Texas soils, which is an important measure of soil productivity to support wildlife habitat, farming, and ranching. The research will correlate infrared spectra to conventional laboratory measurements of soil organic carbon.

Research: Research
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Research: Photo Gallery
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