Session Ii Membrane Separations

October 23-27, 2011 Gatlinburg, TN page 8 of 45 17th Symposium on Separation Science and Technology for Energy Applications agents for human applications are being developed. Toward this goal, we are testing in vivo efficacy of Cuprimine and Syprine therapeutics, that are approved by the U.S. FDA to treat copper overload in Wilson Disease (a genetic defect in copper metabolism and transport), for decorporation of radioisotopes of cobalt. In alternative approach, we are exploring a potential of readily available and established for human applications natural chelators as decorporation agents for radionuclides. The Role of a Transformed National Defense Stockpile in U.S. Strategic Materials Security Richard A. Lowden, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN The United States established a stockpile of strategic materials in 1939 beginning with a handful of ores and minerals which with time was expanded to include additional minerals, metals, chemicals, and other processed materials. The purpose of the stockpile was to preclude a dangerous and costly dependence by the United States upon foreign sources for supplies of scarce but important materials in times of national emergency. Although emphasis has traditionally been on the acquisition and retention of certain strategic and critical materials, the legislation includes provisions that encourage the conservation and development of resources and materials. The authors of the Stockpiling Act realized the value of recycling, improved separation techniques, and alternative methods for refining or processing of materials thus included language to address these issues. Since 1993 the Stockpile has been downsizing, selling off most of its assets, however, recent changes in the global marketplace and increasing risks associated with the supply of important materials such as the rare earths, interest in the stockpile has been renewed. The Stockpile is in the process of being transformed in a more flexible and dynamic strategic materials risk management (security) program with much broader scope and applicability with respect to the entire supply chains for important materials. SESSION II – MEMBRANE SEPARATIONS Water Containing Gas Stream Separations at High Temperature J. R. Klaehn*, C. J. Orme, F. F. Stewart, E. S. Peterson, Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho Falls, ID There is direct interest in high temperature gas separations (> 150 °C), especially for carbon dioxide (flue gas) or hydrogen (syn-gas). However, most industrially relevant high temperature gas separations involve water. At ambient temperatures, water vapor can permeate easily through most polymeric membranes, and possibly change (swell) the polymeric membrane. At higher temperatures, water vapor can be destructive to polymer membranes. Little data has been presented in the literature regarding how water vapor affects gas separations at high temperatures; therefore, investigations into water containing gas streams is important for indentifying a polymeric membrane’s physical and gas separation properties. Previous INL studies have shown that polyimides are promising membrane candidates and gave interesting results for high temperature gas separations. Additionally, INL has found that polyimides can be blended with various polymers and several show excellent thermal stability with good gas permeabilities. This presentation will discuss polyimides that have been evaluated [like, Kapton®] for high temperature gas separations (up to 200 °C) with water containing gas streams. Polyetherimide/ZIF-8 Asymmetric Mixed Matrix Hollow Fiber Membranes for Gas Separations Y. Dai*, J.R. Johnson, D. Sholl, W.J. Koros, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA In recent years, organic-inorganic hybrid (mixed matrix) membranes have been receiving increasing attention in the literature. These materials can potentially extend the separation performance of traditional polymeric materials. There have been few reported cases of these materials being successfully extended to the asymmetric hollow fiber morphology. In this work we report the first successful production of mixed matrix asymmetric hollow fiber membranes containing metal-organic-framework (MOF) fillers. Specifically, we have incorporated ZIF-8 into a polyetherimide (Ultem® 1000) matrix and produced dual-layer (composite) asymmetric hollow fiber members via the dry jet-wet quench method. The outer separating layer of these composite fibers contains 17vol% of ZIF-8 filler. These membranes have been tested over a range of temperatures and pressures for a variety of gas pairs. An increase in separation productivity for multiple gas pairs (e.g., CO2/N2, CO2/CH4) has been observed. Furthermore, these membranes were tested using humid gas feeds (representing flue gas) wherein additional increases in membrane efficiency were also observed. (Acknowledgement: This project is funded by the ARPA-E IMPACCT Program via award DE-FOA-0000208.) Steam Reforming of Methanol in a Pd-composite Membrane Reactor S. Ilias*, D. Kuila, M.A. Islam, North Carolina A&T State University, Greensboro, NC Palladium-based membranes are being studied for simultaneous production and separation of hydrogen from reforming reactions in a single-unit operation by equilibrium shift. Although electroless plating (EP) has been the method of choice for fabrication of Pd and Pd-alloy membranes on microporous ceramic and stainless steel October 23-27, 2011 Gatlinburg, TN