SBIR Phase I: Nano-Engineered, Surface Selective Membranes for the Production of Oxygen-Enriched Air

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will evaluate nano-engineered, surface selective membranes for the production of oxygen-enriched air with an oxygen content of 40-70. The technical approach that will be employed will be first to narrow the pores of a ceramic, mesoporous support from a diameter of 3-5 nm to 0.4-1.0 nm. A second surface modification will then be employed so as to obtain a surface which will selectively adsorb and transport oxygen over nitrogen. This combination of techniques will result in a membrane whose surfaces have been nano-engineered to be highly selective for oxygen adsorption and transport leading to an economical ceramic membrane for the production of oxygen-enriched air. The major impact from this Phase I research program will be its impact on society through the replacement of energy consuming separations with a more efficient membrane approach for the production of oxygen-enriched air. This technology will find use in small-volume applications such as fuels and chemicals processing and larger-scale manufacturing processes such as steel and glass making due to its low cost.