2151444
Project Grant
Overview
Grant Description
Sbir Phase I: Optimization and Scaling of Ladder Polymers for Membrane-Based Gas Separations - This Broader Impact/Commercial Potential of This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I Project Aims to Develop Membrane Solutions to Address Opportunities in the Gas and Vapor Separation Market.
Today, This Market Is Dominated by Energy-Intensive Thermal Processes That Have Large Carbon Footprints, Such as Distillation and Absorption/Stripping. The Current Membrane Solutions Often Lack the Flux, Recovery, and Stability Required for Many Applications.
The Membranes That Will Be Developed in This Project Are Formed from Novel Polymeric Materials That Have the Highest Combinations of Permeability and Selectivity Out of All Polymers Reported in the Open Literature. If Deployed Commercially for Renewable and/or Traditional Natural Gas Purification, These Membranes Could Reduce Energy Consumption and Product Loss by Over 40% and Over 80%, Respectively, Compared to Current Commercial Membranes.
In This Way, the Advanced Membranes Being Developed Could Save Up to $2 Million per Day in Product Loss That Is Currently Flared from Commercial Membrane Systems, Resulting in Both Savings for the Customer and a Reduced Environmental Footprint. Related Opportunities in Other Gas and Vapor Separation Markets Could Also Be Enabled by This Research.
The Intellectual Merit of This Project Is to Develop Gas Separation Membranes from a Novel Class of Polymers with Record Performance. To This End, This Effort Aims to Scale Polymer Synthesis, Form Thin Films, Test Developed Membranes Using Complex Gas Mixtures, and Develop an Optimized Techno-Economic Model for Market Applications.
These Objectives Are of Practical Importance for Manufacturing and Commercialization, but They Are Likewise Important for Scientific and Technical Innovation in Polymer Science and Thin-Film Formation. Moreover, Testing These Materials in Thin Film Form Under Complex Gas Mixtures Will Provide Data on Stability Under Relevant Conditions.
The Research on Polymer Scaleup and Thin-Film Formation Is Critical for Refining Techno-Economic Assumptions for Capital Costs, and the Testing of Complex Gas Mixtures Is Critical for Refining Assumptions on Process Energy Costs and Cost Savings from Product Recovery.
Accomplishment of These Objectives Will Enable New Innovations Related to the Formation of Membrane Modules That Can Be Tested and Evaluated with Industrial Gas Mixtures.
This Award Reflects NSF's Statutory Mission and Has Been Deemed Worthy of Support Through Evaluation Using the Foundation's Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts Review Criteria.
Today, This Market Is Dominated by Energy-Intensive Thermal Processes That Have Large Carbon Footprints, Such as Distillation and Absorption/Stripping. The Current Membrane Solutions Often Lack the Flux, Recovery, and Stability Required for Many Applications.
The Membranes That Will Be Developed in This Project Are Formed from Novel Polymeric Materials That Have the Highest Combinations of Permeability and Selectivity Out of All Polymers Reported in the Open Literature. If Deployed Commercially for Renewable and/or Traditional Natural Gas Purification, These Membranes Could Reduce Energy Consumption and Product Loss by Over 40% and Over 80%, Respectively, Compared to Current Commercial Membranes.
In This Way, the Advanced Membranes Being Developed Could Save Up to $2 Million per Day in Product Loss That Is Currently Flared from Commercial Membrane Systems, Resulting in Both Savings for the Customer and a Reduced Environmental Footprint. Related Opportunities in Other Gas and Vapor Separation Markets Could Also Be Enabled by This Research.
The Intellectual Merit of This Project Is to Develop Gas Separation Membranes from a Novel Class of Polymers with Record Performance. To This End, This Effort Aims to Scale Polymer Synthesis, Form Thin Films, Test Developed Membranes Using Complex Gas Mixtures, and Develop an Optimized Techno-Economic Model for Market Applications.
These Objectives Are of Practical Importance for Manufacturing and Commercialization, but They Are Likewise Important for Scientific and Technical Innovation in Polymer Science and Thin-Film Formation. Moreover, Testing These Materials in Thin Film Form Under Complex Gas Mixtures Will Provide Data on Stability Under Relevant Conditions.
The Research on Polymer Scaleup and Thin-Film Formation Is Critical for Refining Techno-Economic Assumptions for Capital Costs, and the Testing of Complex Gas Mixtures Is Critical for Refining Assumptions on Process Energy Costs and Cost Savings from Product Recovery.
Accomplishment of These Objectives Will Enable New Innovations Related to the Formation of Membrane Modules That Can Be Tested and Evaluated with Industrial Gas Mixtures.
This Award Reflects NSF's Statutory Mission and Has Been Deemed Worthy of Support Through Evaluation Using the Foundation's Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts Review Criteria.
Awardee
Funding Goals
THE GOAL OF THIS FUNDING OPPORTUNITY, "SMALL BUSINESS INNOVATION RESEARCH (SBIR) PROGRAM PHASE I", IS IDENTIFIED IN THE LINK: HTTPS://WWW.NSF.GOV/PUBLICATIONS/PUB_SUMM.JSP?ODS_KEY=NSF21562
Grant Program (CFDA)
Awarding Agency
Place of Performance
Somerville,
Massachusetts
02143-3260
United States
Geographic Scope
Single Zip Code
Related Opportunity
21-562
Analysis Notes
Amendment Since initial award the End Date has been extended from 07/31/24 to 12/31/25.
Osmoses was awarded
Project Grant 2151444
worth $253,815
from in August 2023 with work to be completed primarily in Somerville Massachusetts United States.
The grant
has a duration of 2 years 4 months and
was awarded through assistance program 47.084 NSF Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships.
SBIR Details
Research Type
SBIR Phase I
Title
SBIR Phase I: Optimization and scaling of ladder polymers for membrane-based gas separations
Abstract
This broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project aims to develop membrane solutions to address opportunities in the gas and vapor separation market. Today, this market is dominated by energy-intensive thermal processes that have large carbon footprints, such as distillation and absorption/stripping. The current membrane solutions often lack the flux, recovery, and stability required for many applications. The membranes that will be developed in this project are formed from novel polymeric materials that have the highest combinations of permeability and selectivity out of all polymers reported in the open literature. If deployed commercially for renewable and/or traditional natural gas purification, these membranes could reduce energy consumption and product loss by over 40% and over 80%, respectively, compared to current commercial membranes. In this way, the advanced membranes being developed could save up to $2 million per day in product loss that is currently flared from commercial membrane systems, resulting in both savings for the customer and a reduced environmental footprint. Related opportunities in other gas and vapor separation markets could also be enabled by this research._x000D_ _x000D_ The intellectual merit of this project is to develop gas separation membranes from a novel class of polymers with record performance. To this end, this effort aims to scale polymer synthesis, form thin films, test developed membranes using complex gas mixtures, and develop an optimized techno-economic model for market applications. These objectives are of practical importance for manufacturing and commercialization, but they are likewise important for scientific and technical innovation in polymer science and thin-film formation. Moreover, testing these materials in thin film form under complex gas mixtures will provide data on stability under relevant conditions. The research on polymer scaleup and thin film formation is critical for refining technoeconomic assumptions for capital costs, and the testing of complex gas mixtures is critical for refining assumptions on process energy costs and cost savings from product recovery. Accomplishment of these objectives will enable new innovations related to the formation of membrane modules that can be tested and evaluated with industrial gas mixtures._x000D_ _x000D_ This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
Topic Code
CT
Solicitation Number
NSF 21-562
Status
(Ongoing)
Last Modified 9/18/25
Period of Performance
8/15/23
Start Date
12/31/25
End Date
Funding Split
$253.8K
Federal Obligation
$0.0
Non-Federal Obligation
$253.8K
Total Obligated
Activity Timeline
Transaction History
Modifications to 2151444
Additional Detail
Award ID FAIN
2151444
SAI Number
None
Award ID URI
SAI EXEMPT
Awardee Classifications
Small Business
Awarding Office
491503 TRANSLATIONAL IMPACTS
Funding Office
491503 TRANSLATIONAL IMPACTS
Awardee UEI
JVVCQDLHFWK1
Awardee CAGE
93UZ2
Performance District
MA-07
Senators
Edward Markey
Elizabeth Warren
Elizabeth Warren
Budget Funding
| Federal Account | Budget Subfunction | Object Class | Total | Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Research and Related Activities, National Science Foundation (049-0100) | General science and basic research | Grants, subsidies, and contributions (41.0) | $253,815 | 100% |
Modified: 9/18/25