Dehydration of Acids and Harsh Chemicals Via Pervaporation/Vapor Permeation Using Inorganic Membranes

79270S Pervaporation (PV) and vapor permeation (VP) membranes have been touted as highly effective for a wide array of liquid and vapor separations, particularly for dehydration of aggressive chemicals; yet, they have been limited to a relatively small number of niche applications. The barriers to further penetration include cost, reliability, and performance stability of the current generation of membranes. This project will develop a next generation of PV/VP membranes based upon a nanoporous molecular sieving inorganic membrane. Molecular sieving nanoporous inorganic membranes will be supported on a commercial ceramic ultrafiltration membranes to overcome the current limitations. These membranes offer the potential to deliver very high fluxes and selectivities in a range of PV/VP applications, reducing system cost and improving separation efficiency in comparison to the current generation of polymeric and other inorganic based PV/VP membranes. Phase I will develop a technically and commercially viable inorganic composite membrane for initial application in the dehydration of aggressive solvents. First, existing and newly prepared membranes will be screened to identify suitable candidates in terms of flux and selectivity. The membranes will then be tested in several solvent/water systems to establish performance and stability at temperatures to 220¿C. Finally, the membrane PV and VP process economics will be determined to demonstrate commercial viability. In Phase II, scale-up to pilot/field demonstration scale will be conducted in selected acid and solvent dehydrations. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee: The composite membrane should permit the widespread application of PV/VP technology.