Developing Desiccant Coatings for the Elastomer Bed for Optimal Enthalpy Exchange Ventilation

65769 Traditional separation technologies are highly sophisticated and well established, however they are extremely energy intensive. Therefore, new, innovative separation technologies, such as membrane separations are needed for improved energy efficiency and cost effectiveness. This project will develop a thin, tubular, high temperature, impact resistant, nanoporous composite membrane that can selectively and efficiently remove hydrogen during dehydrogenation reactions to increase conversion and decrease energy input. In Phase I, the membrane will be characterized in terms of permeance, pore size, and microstructure. The ability of the membrane to selectively remove hydrogen during styrene synthesis will be evaluated using a laboratory scale membrane reactor. A methodology for manufacturing the nanoporous composite membranes, ready to be installed in membrane reactors, will also be developed. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee: The nanoporous composite membranes should find application in important industrial processes, such as the synthesis of styrene monomer from ethylbenzen via catalyzed dehydrogenation, by increasing the conversion and decreasing the energy requirements substantially. Other reactions that would benefit include dehydrogenation of parafinns to olefins and decomposition of hydrogen sulfide to hydrogen and sulfur.