Novel Low-Cost Zeolite Ceramic Membrane Module--CeraMem Corporation, 12 Clematis Avenue, Waltham, MA 02154-7011; (781) 899-4495
Dr. Richard J. Higgins, Principal Investigator
Dr. Robert L. Goldsmith, Business Official
DOE Grant No. DE-FG02-98ER82548
Amount: $75,000

The unique material and separation properties of zeolite membranes provide several advantages over all other membranes. These advantages include high temperature stability and inertness to organic media as well as remarkable separation selectivities. However, a practical and cost effective module which incorporates such zeolites membranes is completely lacking. This project will develop a low cost, high surface area zeolite membrane module, suitable for high temperature service, which will be inert to attack by organics and other materials to be separated. The module will use chemically-inert ceramic monoliths as zeolite membrane supports, and a full size module will have over 20 square meters membrane area. In Phase I, zeolite membranes will be applied to small tubular supports and small monolith supports of the selected ceramic support material. Membrane specimens will be tested to demonstrate that the intrinsic properties of zeolite membranes can be achieved with these supports.

Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee: Many untapped applications exist in the petroleum refining, petrochemical and chemical industries. These include, for example, gas separations, isomer separations (e.g., xylenes), aromatic/non-aromatic separations, olefin/paraffin separations, and dehydration of organic fluids.