Summary
- Profile Type
- Technology offer
- POD Reference
- TOIT20250423010
- Term of Validity
- 24 April 2025 - 24 April 2026
- Company's Country
- Italy
- Type of partnership
- Research and development cooperation agreement
- Targeted Countries
- All countries
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General information
- Short Summary
- A research group specialized in membrane technology, operating within a leading national research institution, has advanced expertise in multi-scale modeling and ab-initio simulations. Their work focuses on applications involving osmosis, ion-exchange and adsorbent materials. The group offers its competencies within R&D agreements and is open to joining consortia preparing proposals for European calls (for example patfinder challenges)
- Full Description
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Mission of the Institute for Membrane Technology is the research and development in the field of science and engineering of membranes. The research activities aim to promote knowledge, innovation, and high-level training in the field of membranes and their application to water treatment, gas separation, bioartificial organs, biotechnology, food, and agriculture. ITM has established collaborations with various Research Institutes, Universities, and Companies located in Italy, Europe, Middle East, China, South Korea, Japan, India, Brazil, United States, and Australia.
This research institute is part of a major national research institution.
The research group is expert in the following fields:
1) multi-scale modeling of Ion exchange and osmosis membranes.
This modeling approach is useful to:
1a. remove adjustable/fitting parameters;
1b. limit experimental data as much as possible or use easily obtainable data;
1c. increase the predictive capacity to enhance water permeability of osmosis membranes while maintaining good selectivity or to test them under specific operating conditions to predict and interpret experimental works;
1d. reveal structure-property relationships and mechanisms at the molecular scale;
1e. bridge the scales from describing properties at the atomic up to the macroscopic level within a multi-scale approach describing phenomena over different timescales
1d. model interfaces for post lithium-ion batteries.
2) Ab-initio (quantum and molecular mechanics) study of structure–property relationships in nanostructures and supramolecular systems; adsorption of rare earth elements on functionalized supports
This modeling is instrumental in:
2a. study adsorption and interaction mechanisms for adsorbent optimization;
2b. fundamental understanding of the underlying physical, chemical phenomena;
2c. Assist AI algorithms with quantum mechanical methods;
2d. model interfaces for post lithium-ion batteries.
3) Multi-scale modeling of protein adsorption on ultrafiltration and nanofiltration membranes
This modeling supports:
3a. predicting flux decline and membrane fouling behavior based on molecular-scale information on membrane surfaces and solutes.
The research group offers its expertise within the framework of research and development agreements. It is seeking to join partnerships aimed at developing project proposals in response to European funding calls.
The competencies of the Italian research group would be particularly valuable in the context of a proposal for the call “Waste-to-value devices – circular production of renewable fuels, chemicals and materials” (HORIZON-EIC-2025-PATHFINDERCHALLENGES-01-04). In particular, the proposal should focus on Challenge Area 2: "Understanding underlying mechanisms by means of computational material science and AI", where the group’s expertise in multi-scale modeling and quantum simulations would be highly relevant.
Nonetheless, the group is also open to evaluating participation in other calls, provided that its expertise aligns with the project goals and its contribution can support the successful development of a competitive proposal. - Advantages and Innovations
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1. Multi-Scale Modeling of Ion Exchange and Osmosis Membranes
Advantages:
Data Efficiency: Reduces reliance on time-consuming and costly experimental campaigns by minimizing or eliminating the need for fitting parameters and hard-to-obtain data.
Enhanced Predictive Power: Enables accurate simulation of membrane performance under various operational conditions, facilitating virtual prototyping.
Improved Membrane Design: Informs strategies to increase water permeability without sacrificing selectivity, accelerating innovation in filtration technologies.
Test advanced membrane materials even under particular conditions.
Innovative Aspects:
Structure–Property Insights: Reveals fundamental molecular mechanisms that govern transport and selectivity, often invisible to experimental methods alone.
Cross-Scale Integration: Uniquely combines atomic, mesoscopic, and macroscopic modeling within a single coherent framework—capturing both short- and long-term phenomena.
2. Ab-initio Modeling of Nanostructures and Adsorption Mechanisms
Advantages:
Material Optimization: Offers atomistic insight into adsorption and interaction processes, guiding the design of more effective functionalized materials (e.g., for rare earth recovery).
Scientific Rigor: Provides a fundamental, first-principles understanding of complex chemical and physical phenomena, supporting robust and transferable conclusions.
Innovative Aspects:
Quantum-Driven Discovery: Uses quantum mechanics to explore properties before materials are synthesized—cutting edge for the design of novel nanomaterials.
AI Synergy: Enhances the training and validation of AI algorithms by providing high-fidelity, physics-based data inputs—a powerful hybrid approach in materials science.
3. Multi-Scale Modeling of Protein Adsorption on Filtration Membranes
Advantages:
Fouling Prediction: Anticipates membrane fouling and flux decay from first principles, helping to design membranes that are more resistant to performance loss.
Process - Stage of Development
- Under development
- Sustainable Development Goals
- Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
- Goal 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
- Goal 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
- Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
- Goal 13: Climate Action
- IPR status
- Secret know-how
Partner Sought
- Expected Role of a Partner
- The sought partner aims to develop a project proposal under the EIC Pathfinder call or other relevant European funding calls and has a specific interest in the expertise of the Italian research group. The partner will collaborate with the Italian team to jointly develop a project proposal.
- Type and Size of Partner
- R&D Institution
- SME <=10
- University
- Other
- SME 50 - 249
- Big company
- SME 11-49
- Type of partnership
- Research and development cooperation agreement
Dissemination
- Technology keywords
- 05004001 - Filtration and Membrane Processes
- 02007014 - Plastics, Polymers
- 02007005 - Composite materials
- 05001002 - Computational Chemistry and Modelling
- 04001003 - Storage of electricity, batteries
- Market keywords
- 08001008 - Membranes and membrane-based products
- 06003008 - Other alternative energy
- 06008 - Energy Storage
- Targeted countries
- All countries