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Novel Membrane Reactor for the Desulfurization of Transportation Fuels--Trans Ionics Corporation, P.O. Box 130511, 2408 Timberloch Place, Suite D-5, The Woodlands, TX  77382; 281-296-9210

Dr. Robert C. Schucker, Principal Investigator, rcschucker@transionics.com 

Sandra C. Schucker, Business Official, scschucker@transionics.com 

DOE Grant No. DE-FG03-01ER83317

Amount:  $750,000

The production of ultra low sulfur gasoline and diesel at a sustainable cost, and available in quantities that will meet the demands of U.S. drivers, is potentially the single most significant and costly challenge faced by the refining industry.  While commercially available hydrotreating technology is available to reduce sulfur in fuels, the cost to meet federal standards has been estimated to be $12-16 billion.  New, more cost efficient technology needs to be developed rapidly to provide alternatives to refiners in the 2006-2010 timeframe.  This project will develop a novel electrochemical membrane reactor that is capable of reducing the sulfur content of gasoline to the identified limit of 30 ppm with essentially no loss in octane.  It would also be capable of lowering the sulfur content of diesel to <10 ppm at pressures that are 500 psi lower than that needed for distillate hydrotreaters.  In Phase I, substantial progress was achieved in the fabrication of the solid electrolyte required for this process, and components for the membrane electrode assembly (MEA) were chosen based on their thermal and chemical stability.  Desulfurization of diesel fuel was demonstrated at levels well below the EPA requirements for 2006.  Phase II will optimize the fabrication procedure, scale up the MEA, produce a working prototype of the electrochemical reactor, and advance the desulfurization process to the small-pilot-plant stage.

Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee:  The electrochemical membrane reactor should be applicable to the desulfurization of gasoline, diesel, vacuum gas oil (cat cracker feed), and heavy oil.  The clean-up of liquid hydrocarbons for use in fuel cells (source of hydrogen) is another application.  The specific electrochemical device, apart from functioning as a membrane reactor, could also provide power to electric or hybrid electric vehicles.  Finally, it could be used for electric utility load leveling on a large scale (>10 MW).