To identify and initiate R&D programs to address key challenges for commercializing new separations technology for improved energy efficiency, economics, environment and sustainability.

• CO2 Production – Published a report to define the drivers and R&D requirements of the chemical and petrochemical industries for equilibrium separations in commercial, CO2 production. The report Carbon Dioxide Separation Technology: R&D Needs for the Chemical and Petrochemical Industries was published in November 2007.
• Hydrogen Production – Published a report identifying R&D needs for separation technology to drive equilibrium process for the chemicals and petrochemicals industry. The report, Separation Technology R&D Needs for Hydrogen Production in the Chemical and Petrochemical Industries, December 2005, is now available online (PDF 1.8 MB).
• Bioseparations – Evaluated and published a report on the direct capture of products and water removal for bioprocessing. Initiated collaborative projects on pervaporative membranes and ionic liquid bioseparations. Direct Capture of Products from Biotransformations, March 2002, is now available online (PDF 206 KB).
• Gas separations – Preliminary analysis initiated to identify opportunities for energy reduction.

Associated Organizations: DOE, Industrial Technologies Program (ITP)

• Vision2020 conducted an analysis of Driving Gas Phase Equilibrium Processes with Adsorbents and Membranes, a priority bio-based technique that could significantly reduce the need for separation. In 2005, Vision2020 completed a literature review of commercial practices; analyze energy, environmental, and safety impacts; and conducted a roadmap workshop to establish an R&D agenda. The new roadmap will target 6 membrane and adsorbent processes:
• H2 industrial production in chemical, petrochemical, and refining industries
• Olefins production (light hydrocarbons)
• Hybrid distillation of azetropes
• Driving reactions by dehydration processing
• CO2 separation
• Isomerization
• Of the six areas, H2 and CO2 separations were selected for the complete studies listed above.

Successful implementation of this study will provide energy, environmental, security, and economic benefits to the U.S. chemical, petrochemical, and pharmaceutical industries.

• Identified and prioritized several potential collaborative research areas: direct capture of products, water removal, oxygen/nitrogen separations, synthesis matching criteria, biocayalysts, foams and emulsions, analytical techniques, CO2 separations, selective separations, alternative solvent separations, advanced electrodialysis, water purification, catalytic processes for alternatives to disposal, CO fuel cells (non oxidative processes), synthesis of new highly selective materials, biopolymers, and sodium separations associated with paper production. There was an AIChE Focus on Separations which included a Bio-separations Networking Poster Session in November 2002.

Thrust Area: Direct capture of products from bio-transformations for manufacture of specialty and commodity chemicals.

• Results were presented at November AIChE meeting in Separations 2020 session on Nov. 5th, 2002. See agenda (PDF 73 KB).
• Projects Performers: Seth Snyder, Jamie Hestekin, Argonne National Laboratory, Brian Davison, Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Air Products, Cargill, Dow, Dow Corning, DuPont, Eastman, ExxonMobil, GlaxoSmithKline, Practical Sustainability, Praxair, Tate & Lyle, Argonne National Lab, Oak Ridge National Lab

Francis Via
(914) 962-5583
via@frlicense.com

Sharon Robinson
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
(865) 574-6779
robinsonsm@ornl.gov