The elaboration of membrane from titanium dioxide is studied to develop systems which couple membrane separation with the photocatalytic degradation of pollutant for wastewater treatment. The elaboration of this kind of membrane happens following two steps: (1) the preparation of nano-sols of titanium dioxide by a sol-gel synthesis (2) the coating of the obtained sols, as thin layers, on a membrane support.
The main objectives of this research topic are:
- The study of TiO2 nanoparticles production during the sol-gel synthesis, according to a « process engineering » methodology applied to sol-gel synthesis. This original approach, among the experimental study of sol-gel synthesis, aims to understand and control the different phenomena (mixing processes, reaction kinetics …) happening during the TiO2 nanoparticles formation.
- The control of TiO2 nanoparticles coating on a membrane support in order to get optimized properties of separation and photocatalysis.
These research projects on the elaboration engineering of inorganic membranes are developed in collaboration with the topic 1 of our department (process intensification: coupling membrane with advanced oxidation process) and with the department DM3 of IEM.
Contacts:
Stéphan BROSILLON, Julie MENDRET