SBIR Phase I: Instruments for Dynamic Characterization of Ultra-Rapid Cycle Adsorbents

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project investigates the feasibility of modifying three laboratory instruments for the dynamic analysis of ultra-rapid cycle (URC) sorptive processes. Current approaches have functional and/or software characteristics that limit their performance in dynamic examinations of supra-millisecond duration URC periods. This project will address these limitations through software modifications, transducer and data acquisition upgrades, and by the adoption of frequency modulated laser spectroscopy (FMS) technology. Analytic instruments are available that can characterize adsorbents by surface area and pore size distribution. The improvements to sorptive separations systems, in both size and efficiency, have their foundations in improved laboratory analysis techniques. The separations/purifications industry is finding increasing commercial and aerospace applications. These include transportation fuel cells, medical oxygen concentrators, fuel tank inerting. Laboratories throughout the world are striving to understand and develop URC processes that will enable these and other new applications.