STTR Phase I: Novel Chemically Resistant Membranes

这个小型企业技术转让第一阶段项目将开发具有高选择性的新型化学和热稳定、高度氟化的混合基质聚合物膜。该计划的目标是应用增强膜分离作为处理高温和腐蚀性化学物质的蒸馏分离的替代方法。蒸馏是化学工业中一个主要的分离过程，消耗大量的能源和资本成本。许多具有腐蚀性的化学物质很难用蒸馏法分离。虽然膜具有潜力，但大多数膜都受到腐蚀性化学物质和温度限制的困难。紧凑型膜系统公司开发了一系列全氟化膜，具有高温性能，在腐蚀性化学品中工作的能力，以及高通量。化学加工工业将受益于使用温度高达240ºC的全氟膜，并改善分离系数。该计划通过开发具有全氟基聚合物和高氟添加剂的混合基质膜来解决这一特殊需求。通过引入更大量的添加剂以及适当的添加剂选择，我们期望在保持其独特稳定性的同时显著改变基础全氟聚合物的通量和分离性能。这项技术的广泛影响/商业潜力可以减少化学加工工业的能源消耗。蒸馏消耗了化学过程工业三分之一的能源。具有优异化学和热性能的增强型膜工艺可用于取代/改进许多这些蒸馏分离。最大的市场是乙醇脱水市场。乙醇预计将增长到美国燃料的40%以上。如果这种情况发生，市场每年将消耗500 - 600亿加仑的燃料。这个项目可能会导致生产乙醇的节能过程，并减少化学加工工业的能源消耗。

This Small Business Technology Transfer Phase I project will develop novel chemically and thermally stable, highly fluorinated mixed matrix polymeric membranes with high selectivity. The program's objective is to apply enhanced membrane separation as an alternative to distillation separations that deal with high temperature and aggressive chemicals. Distillation is a major separation process in the chemical industry and consumes significant energy and capital costs. Many aggressive chemicals are difficult to separate by distillation. While membranes offer potential, most are limited by difficulties with aggressive chemicals and temperature limitations. Compact Membrane Systems has developed a family of perfluorinated membranes featuring high temperature capability, ability to operate in aggressive chemicals, and high flux. The chemical process industry would benefit from perfluorinated membranes with high upper use temperatures of 240ºC with improved separation factors. This program addresses this particular need by developing mixed matrix membrane having perfluorinated base polymer and highly fluorinated additives. By introducing greater quantities of additives as well as appropriate choice of additives, we expect to significantly modify flux and separation properties of the base perfluoropolymers while retaining their unique stability.The broader impact/commercial potential from this technology could reduce energy consumption in the chemical process industries. Distillation consumes one-third of chemical process industry energy. Enhanced membrane processes with superior chemical and thermal properties can be used to replace/improve many of these distillation separations. The largest market is the ethanol dewatering market. Ethanol is expected to grow to upwards of 40% of U.S. fuel. If this occurs the market is 50-60 billion gallons of fuel per year. This project could lead to an energy-efficient process to produce ethanol as well as reduce the energy consumption of the chemical process industries.