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Mixed-Conducting Oxide Ceramic Membranes for Oxygen Separation Using Novel Low Cost Combustion Chemical Vapor Deposition--MicroCoating Technologies, Inc., 3901 Green Industrial Way, Chamblee, GA 30341; 770-457-8400
Dr. Girish Deshpande, Principal Investigator
Mr. Jerome J. Schmitt, Business Official
DOE Grant No. DE-FG02-99ER82835
Amount: $100,000
The efficient separation and purification of oxygen gas from air is very important to industry due to its increased utilization in various processes ranging from natural gas conversion to transportation fuel, refinery processing, chemical processing, and fuel cells. The development of new membrane materials could improve separation efficiencies, transport rates, and membrane lifetimes and lower overall costs. This could dramatically increase the utility of oxygen recovery. This project will develop and demonstrate a family of hybrid, multilayer membranes, based on the Combustion Chemical Vapor Deposition (CCVD) process, that have improved efficiencies and lifetimes at reduced cost. These membranes will combine the strengths of the individual component layers, while eliminating their inherent weaknesses, thus decreasing the cost of oxygen recovery from air tremendously. In Phase I, a prototype system for the production of composite membranes will be developed, specific solutions and deposition conditions for the CCVD process will be prepared, and coupon-sized mixed-ionic conducting membrane samples will be fabricated. The membranes will be tested for ionic conductivity using complex impedance analysis, and a high-temperature gas permeation cell will be constructed to test membrane performance.
Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee: The composite membrane uses air to generate pure oxygen and thus eliminates the need for a cost-intensive cryogenic plant. These ceramic membranes could be used in a stack or shaped into a hollow-tube reactor for in situ oxidation of methane (natural gas) to useful transportation fuels.