Time: Nov. 4th, 2019, 2:00 pm
Venue: Third Floor Conference Room, State Key Laboratory of Catalysis
Lecturer: Prof. Sankar Nair, School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology
Abstract:
This talk will describe our recent progress in the fabrication and properties of zeolitic and multiphase inorganic molecular sieving membranes on ceramic hollow fiber platforms. Membrane separation is a key component of strategies targeting step changes (rather than incremental ones) in cost and energy-efficiency during production of fuels and chemicals from conventional and renewable feedstocks. There are several important barriers to the development of zeolitic membrane separation technology such as the lack of scalable membrane fabrication processes, low-cost membrane supports, and the high-temperature calcination step. We will discuss several initiatives that address these issues. Firstly, we will discuss the development of scalable CHA hollow fiber membranes and membrane modules with excellent performance. Additionally, the removal of structure-directing agents (SDAs) by non-thermal ultraviolet (UV) irradiation will also be highlighted. Secondly, on the side of medium-pore membranes, we will highlight the fabrication of membranes based upon 2D MFI nanosheets on low-cost alumina hollow fibers for the first time. Overall, these CHA and MFI membranes have low levels of defects and allow high-performance separations of molecules such as hydrogen, CO2, and hydrocarbons. Finally, we will discuss the synthesis, applications, and potential of multiphase (hybrid) membranes containing more than one inorganic material. The talk will conclude with discussion on generalizing the above strategies towards a more versatile inorganic membrane fabrication technology that addresses a wider range of molecular separation targets.
Introduction:
Sankar Nair is Professor, Simmons Faculty Fellow, and Associate Chair for Industry Outreach, in the School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering at Georgia Tech. His research interests are in the chemistry and engineering of nanoporous materials and thin films/membranes for applications in separations and catalysis. Prof. Nair has authored/co-authored more than 150 journal publications on the above subjects and holds 17 US/PCT patents. He is an Executive Editor of Chemical Engineering Science. Recognitions of Prof. Nair's work include the CAREER award (NSF, 2008) and the FRI/John Kunesh Award (AIChE, 2012).
Contact: WANG Weiping, Group 504
Phone: 84379301