I-Corps: Development of Scalable Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework Membranes for Hydrocarbon Separation

聚丙烯是美国第二大石化商品和第五大生产材料。丙烯生产的关键步骤是通过高能耗的低温精馏法实现丙烯/丙烷的分离。膜分离技术是解决分离问题的一种更节能的方法，但丙烯-选择性聚合物或无机膜在该应用中不稳定。最近在首席研究员实验室的研究表明，一组新的膜，沸石-咪唑盐框架（ZIF），具有理想的分离性能和稳定性的应用。zif具有高度可定制性，具有广泛的化学、质地和晶体特性，可用于许多其他技术应用。本项目中提出的活动旨在开发可用于工业烯烃/石蜡分离的膜。该项目将深入了解膜支架材料选择的基本性质，以及在可伸缩支架上合成ZIF膜的性能。该项目将增加学术界对膜科学和工程的学习和理解，同时也为如何将这种新材料转化为有用的工业应用提供有价值的信息。

Polypropylene is the 2nd largest petrochemical commodity and 5th largest produced material in the US. The key step in propylene production is propylene/propane separation achieved by energy intensive cryogenic distillation method. Membrane separation technology is a more energy efficient solution to the separation problem, but propylene perm-selective polymer or inorganic membranes are not stable for this application. Recent study in the principal investigator's laboratory shows a new group of membranes, zeolitic-imidazolate framework (ZIF), to have desired separation properties and stability for the application. ZIFs are highly tailorable with a wide range of chemical, textural, and crystalline properties that can be implemented into a number of other technological applications. The activities proposed in this project are directed towards development of membranes that can be scaled up for industrial olefin/paraffin separation. This project will gain much insight into the fundamental nature of material selection for membrane supports and synthesis and properties of ZIF membranes on scalable supports. The project will increase learning and understanding in membrane science and engineering to the academic community, while also delivering valuable information on how to transition such novel materials into useful industrial applications.