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*STTR Project: High Temperature Membrane
Reactors--Compact
Membrane Systems, Inc.,
Dr. Sudipto Majumdar, PhD, Principal Investigator, smajumder@compactmembrane.com
Dr. Stuart Nemser
PhD, Business Official, snemser@compactmembrane.com
DOE Grant No. DE‑FG02‑07ER86305
Amount:
$750,000
Research Institution
Membrane reactors have
the potential to improve reactivity and productivity of various chemical
syntheses, including transesterification. However, to be of value, these systems must
provide a higher use temperature, improved chemical resistance, and better mass
transfer. This project will identify
chemically- and thermally-resistant membrane components, fabricate a membrane
reactor based on these components, demonstrate enhanced synthesis, and
determine economic and energy savings. In Phase I, membrane reactors with far
superior thermal resistance (e.g. 200ēC) and chemical resistance were
fabricated. Consistent with their hollow
fiber design, the membrane reactors exhibited superior mass transfer. Using the membrane reactor, a significant
enhancement in the chemical reactions was demonstrated, especially with respect
to transesterification and other equilibrium
controlled reactions. Phase II will
build larger-scale hollow fiber membrane modules (e.g., 1-10 ft2), and
use them to demonstrate enhanced transesterification
reactions and the ability to maintain stability when exposed to high
temperature and aggressive organics. Finally, the reactors will be field-tested,
and the data collected will be used to conduct detailed engineering and
economic evaluations, and for comparison to alternative non-membrane reactor
processes.
Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee: A broad platform of equilibrium-controlled chemical reactions could be enhanced by membrane reactors. Direct applications for the technology could lead to the production well over 5 billion pounds of product per year, with an energy savings of over 600 trillion BTU/yr. Other applications could be related to the drying of organics, most specifically fuel grade ethanol and pipeline ethanol.