Gas separation technology using different types of membrane materials is used in many industrial applications, including; hydrocarbon refining/processing, gas separation plants, food processing, and water treatment/purification plants.  A variety of gas separation membrane materials have been used to conduct these types of operations, including; polyamide, cellulose acetates, various ceramic materials, silica, zeolites, a range of metallic organic materials, palladium, and perovskites.  The type and properties of the material used in a gas membrane depend on the specific application, the economics of the process, and the operational conditions of the chemical reaction being conducted. 

Membrane properties of interest to industry include; diameter (e.g., nanosize or larger), porosity, permeability, and surface area. The surface area is the most important property to consider when choosing a gas separation membrane material for an application. Investigators have developed a technology that provides a methodology to create ceramic fibers using bijels with surface areas several hundred times larger than what is achieved today by other commercial methods.

Competitive Advantages

•       Use of high surface area ceramic fibers in commercial gas separation plants is more economical than existing gas membrane technologies

•       Allows for the use of less organic solvents in manufacturing, reducing costs and manufacturing waste

•       Requires less industrial plant manufacturing space in membrane technology production

•       Increases throughput of gas separation processes

Opportunity

The ceramic membrane manufacturing market is seeing substantial growth.  The global ceramic membrane market was valued at $4,127 million in 2018 and is expected to register a CAGR of 11.3% over the 2019-2027 period with an expected value of $10,893 million by 2027.

Rowan University is looking for a partner for further development and commercialization of this technology through a license. The inventor is available to collaborate with interested companies.