Baoxia Mi

Slug
mi
Type
Faculty
Photo
Mi headshot
Headshot
Mi headshot
First Name
Baoxia
Last Name
Mi
Email
mib@berkeley.edu
Office
623 Davis Hall
Office Phone
Office Hours

Thur, 1 pm to 2 pm

Fri, 11 am to 12 pm

Or by appointment

Programs
Energy, Civil Infrastructure and Climate
Environmental Engineering
Titles
Wood-Calvert Chair in Engineering
Associate Professor
Biography

Baoxia Mi is a Wood-Calvert Chair in Engineering and an Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at UC Berkeley. Mi’s research focuses on studying physicochemical processes with an emphasis on advanced membrane processes and nanotechnology to address some of the most challenging issues in sustainable water supply (desalination, drinking water purification, wastewater reuse), renewable energy production, and public health protection. She is a recipient of the prestigious Hellman Fellows Award in 2017, the CAPEES/Nanova Young Investigator Award in 2017, and the NSF Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Award in 2014, among other notable accomplishments.

Education

Ph.D., Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2006

M.S., Environmental Engineering, Tianjin University, 2001

B.S., Civil Engineering, Tianjin University, 1998

Research Interests
Membrane separation, Desalination, Water purification, Wastewater reuse, Environmental applications of nanomaterials
Research

Mi’s research focuses on physicochemical processes emphasizing nanomaterials and membrane science/technology for drinking water purification and wastewater reuse. She directs the research and educational activities of the Membrane Innovation Laboratory (MIL). Here are a few of the research projects Mi is currently working on below:

  • Graphene-Enabled, High-Performance Membranes for Enhanced Energy Efficiency - Dwindling water resources and increasing water demands have forced us to consider treating water from non-traditional sources that may contain contaminants typically overlooked in conventional water treatment. Besides, new water contaminants (e.g., pharmaceuticals and endocrine-disrupting compounds) are constantly emerging, and many of these contaminants have potential adverse health effects and thereby have raised severe public concerns over water safety.  Membrane processes are among the most effective strategies for removing contaminants from water. However, today’s membrane-based water separation, in general, suffers from high energy consumption. Therefore, it is very desirable to discover new materials to make high-performance membranes that will require much lower energy consumption.  Mi’s research group focuses on using novel nanomaterials and innovative methods to synthesize the next-generation, high-performance membranes. Her research explores the promising properties (e.g., fast water transport, thus lower energy consumption, highly stackable 2D nanostructure, amenable functional groups, and antibacterial properties) of the emerging graphene oxide (GO) nanomaterials to synthesize a fundamentally new class of water filtration membranes.  
  • Understanding Fundamental Fouling and Transport Mechanisms in Membrane Processes - The advancement of membrane technology is severely hampered by the long-standing problem of fouling, which is caused by the accumulation of foreign substances on membrane surfaces or inside pores. Fouling can seriously deteriorate membrane performance by lowering water permeability, worsening product water quality, increasing energy consumption, shortening membrane life, increasing operating costs, and, in an unsustainable manner, releasing chemical wastes from mandated cleaning process into the environment. Therefore, membrane fouling is a major obstacle to the efficient use of membranes. To address this critical issue, Mi’s research team is integrating multi-scale experiments and molecular simulation to systematically unveil the molecular-level membrane-foulant interactions, which cannot be fully understood by either experimental or simulation approaches alone. This research provides keen insight into many membrane-foulant interactions and thus facilitates the development of efficient fouling-mitigation strategies and fouling-resistant membranes. They are also exploring the use of layer-by-layer assembly of polyelectrolytes and nanoparticles to fabricate biofouling-resistant nanocomposite membranes. 
  • Integrated Membrane System to Promote Water, Energy, and Environmental Sustainability - Mi’s research group also strives to transform our membrane research and knowledge into real-world technologies that can promote water, energy, and environmental sustainability. Their research efforts in this area center on developing sustainable membrane processes for emergency water supply, water reuse, desalination, and sustainable energy harvesting. In the past few years, Mi’s research has focused on newly emerging membrane processes, such as forward osmosis (FO), pressure retarded osmosis (PRO), and membrane distillation (MD). 

Sponsors of Mi’s research include the National Science Foundation (NSF), U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), National Water Research Institute (NWRI), and American Membrane Technology Association (AMTA).

Awards

Hellman Fellows Award, 2017

CAPEES/Nanova Young Investigator Award, 2017

Invited Speaker, US Frontiers of Engineering Symposium, 2016

NSF Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Award, 2014

EPA P3 Award for Student Design Competition for Sustainability, 2013

Minta Martin Award, UMD, 2011

Institute for Sustainability Fellowship, GWU, 2010

University Facilitating Fund and Dilthey Faculty Fellowship, GWU, 2010

Best M.S. Thesis, Tianjin University, 2001

Best B.S. Thesis, Tianjin University, 1998

Excellent Undergraduate Student, Tianjin University, 1995

Teaching

CE 290 Emerging Technologies for Water Sustainability (Fall 2015)

CE 11 Engineered Systems and Sustainability (Spring 2016,  2018)

CE211A Environmental Physical Chemical Processes (Fall, 2017)

Students

Current Graduate Students

Sunxiang Zheng

Casey Finnerty

Monong Wang

Kelly Conway

Minerva Teli

Tvetene Carlson

Linlin Zang

Wenli Jiang

Publications

Jin, L., Wang, Z., Zheng, S., and Mi, B. (2018). "Polyamide-crosslinked graphene oxide membrane for forward osmosis." Journal of Membrane Science, 545, pp. 11-18.

Wang, Z., Tu, Q., Zheng, S., Urban, J.J., Li, S., and Mi, B. (2017). "Understanding the aqueous stability and filtration capability of MoS2 membranes." Nano Letters, 17(12), pp. 7289–7298.

Song, Z., Qiu, F., Zaia, E.W., Wang, Z., Kunz, M., Guo, J., Brady, M.A., Mi, B., and Urban, J.J. (2017). "Dual-channel, molecular-sieving core/shell ZIF@MOF architectures as engineered fillers in hybrid membranes for highly selective CO2 separation." Nano Letters, 17(11), pp. 6752–6758.

Liu, Z., An, X., Dong, C., Zheng, S., Mi, B., and Hu, Y. (2017). "Modification of thin film composite polyamide membranes with 3D hyperbranched polyglycerol for simultaneous improvement in filtration performance and antifouling properties." Journal of Materials Chemistry A, 5, pp. 23190-23197.

Finnerty, C., Zhang, L., Sedlak, D.L., Nelson, K.L., and Mi, B. (2017). "Synthetic graphene oxide leaf for solar desalination with zero liquid discharge." Environmental Science & Technology, 51(20), pp. 11701–11709.

Wang, Z., and Mi, B. (2017). "Environmental applications of 2D molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) nanosheets." Environmental Science & Technology, 51(15), pp. 8229–8244.

Oh, Y., Armstrong, D.L., Finnerty, C., Zheng, S., Hu, M., Torrents, A., and Mi, B. (2017). "Understanding the pH-responsive behavior of graphene oxide membrane in removing ions and organic micropollutants." Journal of Membrane Science, 541, pp. 235-243.

Zheng, S., Tu, Q., Urban, J.J., Li, S., and Mi, B. (2017). "Swelling of graphene oxide membranes in aqueous solution: Characterization of interlayer spacing and insight into water transport mechanisms." ACS Nano, 11(6), pp. 6440-6450.

Kang, Y., Zheng, S., Finnerty, C., Lee, M.J., and Mi, B. (2017). "Regenerable polyelectrolyte membrane for ultimate fouling control in forward osmosis." Environmental Science & Technology, 51(6), pp. 3242-3249.

Hu, M., Zhong, K., Liang, Y., Ehrman, S.H., and Mi, B. (2017). "Effects of particle morphology on the antibiofouling performance of silver embedded polysulfone membranes and rate of silver leaching." Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, 56(8), pp. 2240-2246.

Liu, M., and Mi, B. (2017). "Life cycle cost analysis of energy-efficient buildings subjected to earthquakes." Energy and Buildings, 154, pp. 581-589.

Zheng, S., Yang, Q., and Mi, B. (2016). "Novel antifouling surface with improved hemocompatibility by immobilization of polyzwitterions onto silicon via click chemistry." Applied Surface Science, 363, pp. 619–626.

Hu, M., Zheng, S., and Mi, B. (2016). "Organic fouling of graphene oxide membranes and its implications for membrane fouling control in engineered osmosis." Environmental Science and Technology, 50(2), pp. 685–693.

Zheng, S., and Mi, B. (2016). "Emerging investigators series: silica-crosslinked graphene oxide membrane and its unique capability in removing neutral organic molecules from water." Environmental Science: Water Research & Technology, 2, 717-725

Husnain, T., Liu, Y., Riffat, R., and Mi, B. (2015). "Integration of forward osmosis and membrane distillation for sustainable wastewater reuse." Separation and Purification Technology, 156, pp. 424–431.

Husnain, T., Mi, B., and Riffat, R. (2015). "Fouling and long-term durability of an integrated forward osmosis and membrane distillation system." Water Science and Technology, 72(11), pp. 2000–2005.

Kang, Y., Emdadi, L., Lee, M.J., Liu, D., and Mi, B. (2014). "Layer-by-layer assembly of zeolite/polyelectrolyte nanocomposite membranes with high zeolite loading." Environmental Science & Technology Letters, 1(12), pp. 504–509.

Xiang, Y., Liu, Y., Mi, B., and Leng, Y. (2014). "Molecular dynamics simulations of polyamide membrane, calcium alginate gel, and their interactions in aqueous solution." Langmuir, 30(30), pp. 9098-9106.

Hu, M., and Mi, B. (2014). "Layer-by-layer assembly of graphene oxide membranes via electrostatic interaction." Journal of Membrane Science, 469, pp. 80–87.

Mi, B. (2014). "Graphene oxide membranes for ionic and molecular sieving." Science, 343(6172), pp. 740–742.

Gao, Y., Hu, M., and Mi, B. (2014). "Membrane surface modification with TiO2-Graphene Oxide for enhanced photocatalytic performance." Journal of Membrane Science, 455, pp. 349–356.

Liu, Y., and Mi, B. (2014). "Effects of organic macromolecular conditioning on gypsum scaling of forward osmosis membranes." Journal of Membrane Science, 450, pp. 153–161.

Yu, H.-Y., Kang, Y. Liu, Y., and Mi, B. (2014). "Grafting polyzwitterions onto polyamide by click chemistry and nucleophilic substitution on nitrogen: A novel approach to enhance membrane fouling resistance." Journal of Membrane Science, 449(1), pp. 50–57.

Yang, Q., and Mi, B. (2013). "Nanomaterials for membrane fouling control: Accomplishments and challenges." Advances in Chronic Kidney Disease, 20(6), pp. 536–555

Xiang, Y., Liu, Y., Mi, B., and Leng, Y. (2013). "Hydrated polyamide membrane and its interaction with alginate: A molecular dynamics study." Langmuir, 29(37), pp. 11600–11608.

Wang, H., Zaghloul, M., Mi, B., Leng, Y., and Silver, J. (2013). "Development and evaluation of nanotechnology courses at The George Washington University." Journal of Nano Education, 5(1), pp. 79-84.

Hu, M., and Mi, B. (2013). "Enabling graphene oxide nanosheets as water separation membranes." Environmental Science & Technology, 47(8), pp. 3715–3723.

Liu, Y., Rosenfield, E., Hu, M., and Mi, B. (2013). "Direct observation of bacterial deposition on and detachment from nanocomposite membranes embedded with silver nanoparticles." Water Research, 47(9), pp. 2949–2958.

Coronell, O., Mi, B., Mariñas, B.J., and Cahill, D.G. (2013). "Modeling the effect of charge density in the active layers of reverse osmosis and nanofiltration membranes on the rejection of arsenic(III) and potassium Iodide," Environmental Science & Technology, 47 (1), pp. 420–428.

Mi, B., Elimelech, M. (2012). "Silica scaling and scaling reversibility in forward osmosis." Desalination, 312(1), pp. 75–81.

Liu, Y., Mi, B. (2012). "Combined fouling of forward osmosis membranes: synergistic foulant interaction and direct observation of fouling layer formation." Journal of Membrane Science, 407–408, pp. 136–144.

Mi, B., Elimelech M. (2010). "Gypsum scaling and cleaning in forward osmosis: measurement and mechanisms." Environmental Science and Technology, 44, pp. 2022-2028.

Mi, B., Elimelech, M. (2010). "Organic fouling of forward osmosis membranes: fouling reversibility and cleaning without chemical reagents." Journal of Membrane Science, 348, pp. 337-345.

Mi, B., Elimelech, M. (2008). "Chemical and physical aspects of organic fouling of forward osmosis membranes." Journal of Membrane Science, 320, pp. 292-302.

Mi, B., Cahill, D., Mariñas, B.J. (2007). "Physicochemical integrity of nanofiltration/reverse osmosis membranes during characterization by Rutherford backscattering spectrometry." Journal of Membrane Science, 291, pp. 77-85.

Mi, B., Mariñas, B.J., Cahill, D. (2007). "RBS characterization of arsenic (III) partitioning from aqueous phase into the active layers of thin-film composite NF/RO membranes." Environmental Science and Technology, 41, pp. 3290-3295.

Mi, B., Coronell O., Mariñas, B.J., Watanabe, F., Cahill, D., Petrov I. (2006). "Physicochemical characterization of NF/RO membrane active layers by Rutherford backscattering spectrometry." Journal of Membrane Science, 282, pp. 71-81.

Mi, B., Mariñas, B.J., Curl, J., Sethi, S., Crozes, G.F., Hugaboom, D. (2005). "Microbial passage through low pressure membrane elements with various levels of compromised integrity." Environmental Science and Technology, 39(11), pp. 4270-4279.

Mi, B., Eaton, C.L., Kim, J.-H., Colvin, C.K., Lozier, J.C., Mariñas, B.J. (2004). "Removal of biological and non-biological viral surrogates by spiral-wound reverse osmosis membrane elements with intact and compromised integrity." Water Research, 38(18), pp. 3821-3832.

Kitis, M., Lozier, J.C., Kim, J.-H., Mi, B., Mariñas, B.J. (2003). "Microbial removal and integrity monitoring of RO and NF membranes." Journal of American Water Works Association, 95(12), pp. 105-119.

Kitis, M., Lozier, J.C., Kim, J.-H., Mi, B., Mariñas, B.J. (2003). “Evaluation of biologic and non-biologic methods for assessing virus removal by and integrity of high pressure membrane systems.” Water Science and Technology: Water Supply, 3(5), pp. 81–92.

Crozes, G.F., Sethi, S., Mi, B., Curl, J., Mariñas, B.J. (2002). "Improving membrane integrity monitoring indirect methods to reduce plant downtime and increase microbial removal credit." Desalination, 149, pp. 493-498.