Grantee Research Project Results
Final Report: Enhanced Processing of Green Solvents
EPA Contract Number: EPD13038Title: Enhanced Processing of Green Solvents
Investigators: Bowser, John
Small Business: Compact Membrane Systems Inc.
EPA Contact: Richards, April
Phase: I
Project Period: May 15, 2013 through November 14, 2013
Project Amount: $80,000
RFA: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) - Phase I (2013) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) , SBIR - Innovation in Manufacturing
Description:
Summary/Accomplishments (Outputs/Outcomes):
- The CMS3 and CMS7 perfluoro polymer membranes perform excellent separations of H2O from the ionic liquid ethyl methyl imidazolium acetate (EMIM), and CMS3 is more selective than CMS7. The large separation factors obtained from CMS membranes are not surprising because the permeate, which is removed as a vapor, cannot contain any significant EMIM because EMIM is essentially non-volatile.
- The permeability of CMS7 is approximately 55 percent greater than CMS3. Also, this is not surprising because the CMS7 polymer has more free volume than the CMS3 polymer. Both CMS3 and CMS7 are viable membranes for dehydrating EMIM.
- A perfluoropolymer membrane module was built, encased in a perfluoroalkoxy alkane cylindrical shell and had an effective membrane area of 45 cm2. Qualification gas testing showed that the module meets the module performance specifications.
- The membrane module initially was tested in the IL dewatering by pervaporation of a 50 percent EMIM aqueous solution at 50°C. The separation factor of 3800 was very high, and very little permeation of EMIM was observed.
- Additional tests consisted of feeding a mixture of EMIM-H2O containing 6 percent to 49 percent by weight H2O at 50 to 79°C during 11 days. The data show that the water permeability remains fairly constant at an average value of about 1500 Barrer for the duration of the test.
- CMS has demonstrated a membrane module efficiently dehydrating the ionic liquid EMIM with negligible loss of the ionic liquid and with stable performance.
Conclusions:
- Both CMS3 and CMS7 are viable commercial fluoropolymer membranes for dehydrating ethyl methyl imidazolium acetate (EMIM), a likely ionic liquid for use in the cellulosic pretreatment for the hydrolysis/fermentation route for the production of biofuels.
- CMS has demonstrated a membrane module efficiently dehydrating the ionic liquid EMIM with negligible loss of the ionic liquid and with stable performance. This was accomplished by feeding a mixture of EMIM-H20 containing 6 percent to 49 percent by weight H2O at 50 to 79°C during 11 days.
- The economic analysis demonstrated that drying costs using an evaporator are 11 percent to 16 perecnt greater than that of the membrane process. Since there is no cost savings offered by the evaporator based system to counter its disadvantage in evaporative acetate ion loss, the evaporator approach would be a significantly more expensive process.
- Membrane dehydration technology for the cost-effective recycle of ionic liquids, as demonstrated by this Phase I program, could result in dramatic expansion of U.S. cellulosic biofuel production. By decreasing the pre-treatment cost of cellulosic biomass, membrane dehydration will make cellulosic biofuels more competitive with traditional transportation fuels, which in turn could lead to a large expansion of the domestic biofuels industry.
The market opportunity for converting biomass to biofuels or value added products is huge. CMS is developing a technology and a commercialization strategy consistent with its ability to service the large market. By decreasing the pre-treatment cost of cellulosic biomass, membrane dehydration will make cellulosic biofuels more competitive with traditional transportation fuels, which in turn could lead to a large expansion of the domestic biofuels industry. This program represents a major commercialization opportunity for CMS, the EPA and the biofuel industry.
Supplemental Keywords:
green solvents, mass transfer, heat transfer, green technology, amorphous perfluoropolymers, PFOA, perfluoro octanoic acidsSBIR Phase II:
Enhanced Processing of Green Solvents | Final ReportThe perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.