Porous Materials Embedded Mixed-Matrix Membranes for Precious Metal Recycling

This graphic illustrates the hands-on laboratory experience students will gain, showcasing the use of advanced porous materials (MOFs and COFs) to selectively capture and recover precious metals from electronic waste streams.

Learn sustainable materials design and circular economy concepts through hands-on research in metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), covalent organic frameworks (COFs), and polymer mixed-matrix membranes (MMMs).

Project description

This interdisciplinary project introduces undergraduate students to sustainable materials design and circular economy concepts through hands-on research in metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), covalent organic frameworks (COFs), and polymer mixed-matrix membranes (MMMs). The research focuses on embedding porous, functional frameworks into polymer matrices to create selective membranes for recovering precious metals (Au, Pd, Pt, Ag) from electronic and catalytic waste streams. Students will learn how to synthesize porous materials, fabricate membranes, and evaluate their separation performance, contributing to new approaches for resource recovery, environmental remediation, and materials sustainability. This project aligns with URCA’s goals by offering a structured, faculty-mentored research experience emphasizing scientific inquiry, interdisciplinary learning, and professional skill development, not hourly lab assistance. 

Project outcome

Students will gain both technical and professional competencies over the 12-month project period (Jan – Dec 2026), participating undergraduates will:

  • Learn MOF/COF synthesis, membrane fabrication and processing(incorporating porous fillers into polymer supports), and materials characterization(PXRD, BET, FTIR, SEM).
  • Apply chemistry and engineering principles and perform separation and adsorption tests with model metal-ion solutions (Au³⁺, Pd²⁺, Pt⁴⁺) to real-world sustainability challenges.
  • Analyze structure–property relationships between pore chemistry and ion selectivity and develop experimental design, data interpretation, and scientific writing skills.
  • Strengthen abilities in team collaboration, problem solving, and safe lab practice.
  • Understand how porous materials enable selective ion transport and resource recovery.
  • Improve oral and visual communication through presentations and reflective writing.
  • Build professional confidence and a clearer pathway toward graduate study or industry research.
  • Engage in professional communication, producing: A poster and presentation for the UB Celebration of Student Academic Excellence or Undergraduate Research Symposium or A short report or manuscript draft suitable for ACS/MRS submission, orA completed Experiential Learning Network (ELN) Digital Badge reflection documenting their learning journey.

By project completion, students will be able to conduct independent experiments safely, critically interpret data, and articulate their findings to both scientific and general audiences.

Project details

Timing, eligibility and other details
Length of commitment Longer than a semester (about 6-9 months)
Start time Anytime
In-person, remote, or hybrid? In-person
Level of collaboration Small group project (2-3 students)
Benefits

Stipend

Potential Academic Credit
Who is eligible Juniors and seniors that have completed general chemistry and one upper-division lab or materials course. Majors such as Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Chemistry, or Environmental Engineering preferred.

Project mentor

Hsinhan Tsai

Assistant Professor

Chemical and Biological Engineering

Phone: (716) 645-8618

Email: htsai7@buffalo.edu

Start the project

  1. Email the project mentor using the contact information above to express your interest and get approval to work on the project. (Here are helpful tips on how to contact a project mentor.)
  2. After you receive approval from the mentor to start this project, click the button to start the digital badge. (Learn more about ELN's digital badge options.) 
Start the Digital Badge

Preparation activities

Once you begin the digital badge series, you will have access to all the necessary activities and instructions. Your mentor has indicated they would like you to also complete the specific preparation activities below. Please reference this when you get to Step 2 of the Preparation Phase. 

Review the recent publications on our lab website and google scholar
https://htsailab.wixsite.com/tsailab
https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=no8uDikAAAAJ&hl=en

Review the below article:

Ion-capture electrodialysis using multifunctional adsorptive membranes

Keywords

porous materials, metal-organic frameworks, covalent organic frameworks, sustainability, chemistry, environmental engineering, materials science, chemical engineering