Selective and Stability-Enhancing 1-D Crystalline Channels for Efficient Olefin Production

Industrial separation processes account for 10-15% of global energy use, largely due to the inherent inefficiencies of thermal-based separation methods. Among these processes, the separation of alkenes from alkanes alone accounts for roughly 0.3% of global energy use, frequently reliant on cryogenic distillation separation methods with temperatures as low as -160 °C. Membrane technologies show potential to reduce the industrial energy consumption of these processes by up to 90%, but current membrane materials are too limited by poor separation performance and instability issues. In this project, we look to overcome these membrane limitations through the introduction of our highly selective, highly permeable, and plasticization-resistant membrane materials. Our unique membranes feature abundant 1-D channels that selectively and rapidly transport olefins over paraffins while also improving membrane stability. In Phase I, we will use multiple membrane fabrication approaches to create, characterize, and test thin-film composites that contain our high-performance membrane materials as the active separation layer. The material compositions of our membranes will be carefully tuned to optimize olefin/paraffin separation performance. The stability of our materials will be tested alongside plasticizing conditions (e.g., in the presence of plasticizing impurities and high pressures) that commonly compromise existing membrane materials. In Phase II, we plan to further advance our technology by developing a membrane module prototype and testing our materials with real olefin-containing gas mixtures. Throughout these developments, we will continue to scale our membrane materials toward pilot-scale, ultimately allowing access to a variety of gas separation industries.