Experimental and Theoretical Studies of Advanced Inorganic Membranes for CO2 Separation

该奖项是根据2009年美国复苏和再投资法案（公法111-5）资助的。美国国家科学基金会化学和生物分离项目的奖项支持弗吉尼亚理工学院和州立大学的S. Ted Oyama教授和Luke E. Achenie教授开发用于CO2/CH4分离的先进膜。这些研究将由两位首席研究员以合作的方式进行，以解决膜的制备和表征的实验方面，以及合成和渗透机制的理论方面。提出的CO2/CH4分离研究对天然气利用具有重要意义。许多气源含有被CO2污染的CH4，需要处理。开发一种改进的清洁天然气生产工艺将直接使消费者受益，并可能带来新的能源分配技术，如煤层气、页岩油天然气和微生物发酵。考虑到对绿色技术的高度兴趣，这是及时的。一些提出的概念，如在中空纤维上使用超薄梯度层，可以用来改进其他膜技术，这些技术已经做了很多很好的工作，但这超出了本项目的范围。例子包括负载钯和沸石膜。培养学生不仅在膜技术的重要领域，而且在先进的科学方法。膜反应工程是独特的，需要掌握广泛的知识，包括物理化学，无机化学，光谱学，量子力学，计算机编程和工程。这一领域的研究需要综合技能，并导致更高层次的思维。第四，我们承诺为妇女、少数民族和残疾人等代表性不足的群体提供教育。我们积极地从这些群体中招募研究团队的成员。目前，两位首席研究员的联合实验室由8名成员组成，其中一半是女性，一名是残疾人。政府亦致力让本科生参与研究，并协助改善本地社区学校的教学环境。将有密切的互动和相互交流的信息，从实验和理论方面，以帮助改进膜的发展，并增加对所涉及的分子过程的理解。总之，我们提出的项目将对社会的几个重要领域产生重大影响，并为“绿色”革命做出贡献。

This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5).0854316OyamaThe NSF award by the Chemical and Biological Separations program supports work by Professors S. Ted Oyama and Luke E. Achenie at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University to develop advanced membranes for CO2/CH4 separation. The studies will be carried out in a collaborative manner by the two Principal Investigators to address experimental aspects of the preparation and characterization of the membranes, and theoretical aspects of the mechanisms of synthesis and permeation. The proposed research on CO2/CH4 separation is of importance for natural gas utilization. Many gas sources have CH4 contaminated with CO2 and need treatment. The development of an improved process for clean gas production will benefit consumers directly and could lead to new technologies for energy distribution from new sources such as coal-bed and shale-oil gas and microbial fermentation. This is timely bearing in mind the heightened interest in green technologies. Some of the proposed concepts such as the use of ultrathin graded layers on hollow fibers, can be used to improve other membrane technology in which much good work is being done, but which is beyond the scope of this project. Examples include supported Pd and zeolite membranes.The training of students not only in the important area of membrane technology, but also in advanced scientific methodology. Membrane reaction engineering is unique in requiring mastery of a wide diversity of knowledge, including physical chemistry, inorganic chemistry, spectroscopy, quantum mechanics, computer programming, and engineering. Research in this area requires integration of skills, and leads to higher-level thinking. Fourth, we have a commitment to the education of underrepresented groups like women, minorities, and handicapped individuals. We actively recruit members of our research teams from these groups. Currently the combined laboratories of the two lead researchers are composed of 8 members, half of whom are women and one is handicapped. Great efforts are also underway to involve undergraduate students in the research and helping to enhance the teaching environment in local community schools. There will be close interactions and mutual exchange of information from the experimental and theoretical sides to help in the development of improved membranes and to increase understanding of the molecular processes involved. In summary our proposed project will have significant impact in several areas of importance to society and contribute to the "green" revolution.