Novel Membranes for Organic/Organic Separations--Bend Research, Inc., 64550 Research Road, Bend, OR 97701-8583; (541) 382-4100
Dr. Scott B. McCray, Principal Investigator
Dr. Rod Ray, Business Official
DOE Grant No. DE-FG03-98ER82539
Amount: $75,000

Improved separation technologies are needed for many processes in the chemical-process and petrochemical industries. For difficult-to-separate organic compounds conventional technologies have serious drawbacks, including high cost and high energy requirements. This project will develop a new class of isoporous membranes suitable for separation of compounds with similar vapor pressures or solubilities (e.g., isomer pairs, olefins from paraffins). These novel membranes -- composed of thin, selective isoporous ceramic coatings on temperature- and chemical-resistant microporous polymeric supports -- will separate organic compounds on the basis of size. Phase I will demonstrate feasibility by making isoporous ceramic coatings suitable for separating small organic compounds, screening these coatings for the separation of five organic pairs, and applying the coatings to the outside surfaces of high-performance polymeric hollow-fiber supports.

Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee: This technology could be used for a wide range of difficult separations in the chemical-process and petrochemical industries, supplanting the use of energy-intensive, expensive technologies. Potential applications include the separation of isomer pairs and olefins from paraffins, two major categories of difficult industrial separations.