SBIR Phase I: Nano-Engineered, Surface Selective Membranes for the Production of Oxygen-Enriched Air

这个小型企业创新研究(SBIR)第一阶段项目将评估用于生产含氧量为40-70的富氧空气的纳米工程表面选择膜。将采用的技术方法将首先缩小陶瓷的气孔，介孔载体的直径从3-5 nm到0.4-1.0 nm。然后，将采用第二次表面改性，以获得选择性地在氮气上吸附和输送氧气的表面。这种技术的结合将产生一种表面经过纳米工程处理的膜，其表面对氧气的吸附和传输具有高度的选择性，从而产生一种用于生产富氧空气的经济陶瓷膜。这一第一阶段研究计划的主要影响将是通过用更高效的膜方法来生产富氧空气来取代耗能分离，从而对社会产生影响。由于其低成本，这项技术将被用于燃料和化学品加工等小批量应用，以及钢铁和玻璃制造等较大规模的制造过程。

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will evaluate nano-engineered, surface selective membranes for the production of oxygen-enriched air with an oxygen content of 40-70. The technical approach that will be employed will be first to narrow the pores of a ceramic, mesoporous support from a diameter of 3-5 nm to 0.4-1.0 nm. A second surface modification will then be employed so as to obtain a surface which will selectively adsorb and transport oxygen over nitrogen. This combination of techniques will result in a membrane whose surfaces have been nano-engineered to be highly selective for oxygen adsorption and transport leading to an economical ceramic membrane for the production of oxygen-enriched air. The major impact from this Phase I research program will be its impact on society through the replacement of energy consuming separations with a more efficient membrane approach for the production of oxygen-enriched air. This technology will find use in small-volume applications such as fuels and chemicals processing and larger-scale manufacturing processes such as steel and glass making due to its low cost.