2403678
Project Grant
Overview
Grant Description
SBIR Phase I: Organic solvent nanofiltration membrane process - The broader impact/commercial potential of this Phase I Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) project will be enhancement of filtration capabilities across a range of industries.
The project will develop a novel membrane filtration process to address the market need for energy-efficient separation and recovery of products on the molecular level from industrial process streams.
This is critical across a range of industries.
As an example, every day 100M barrels of crude oil is processed in refineries around the world by thermal distillation, a process that uses ~1% of global energy use.
In contrast to these high levels of energy use, membrane-based separations have potential to provide a 10-fold increase in energy efficiency.
This efficiency can also be leveraged across a range of industries including pharmaceuticals and production of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs).
This project's novel process will increase energy efficiency and reduce the environmental impact of the purification and recovery of products which will be enabling for chemical, petrochemical, and pharmaceutical industries alike.
This SBIR Phase I project will develop a novel membrane separation technology to address the energy-efficient separation of small molecules from industrial process streams for a range of industries.
Separation/recovery of molecules in organic solvents in the molecular weight range of 150-2000 Da is currently carried out by distillation, solvent extraction, or crystallization.
Energy-intensive distillation dominates the separation of organic solvent mixtures (MW < 2,000 Da).
Pressure-driven membrane processes such as organic solvent nanofiltration (OSNF) and organic solvent reverse osmosis (OSRO) are needed since they consume less energy vis-à-vis distillation.
Industrial implementation of OSNF and OSRO processes is currently limited due to the limited solvent and thermal resistance of commercial polymeric membrane materials.
Advances in polymeric membrane's chemical and solvent stability are needed to rival the industrial success of membrane-based water treatment.
This project will develop functionalized nanoporous membranes from commercial plastic.
The engineering polymer utilized in this project will provide exceptional solvent and chemical resistance and outstanding thermo-mechanical properties.
The polymer is functionalized by a reticulate synthetic methodology to form a composite membrane with separation properties in the OSNF range.
The membrane preparation methodology will be advanced towards the separation of active pharmaceutical intermediates (APIs).
OSNF process for separation and purification of APIs from a range of industrial organic solvents will be developed.
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.
Subawards are not planned for this award.
The project will develop a novel membrane filtration process to address the market need for energy-efficient separation and recovery of products on the molecular level from industrial process streams.
This is critical across a range of industries.
As an example, every day 100M barrels of crude oil is processed in refineries around the world by thermal distillation, a process that uses ~1% of global energy use.
In contrast to these high levels of energy use, membrane-based separations have potential to provide a 10-fold increase in energy efficiency.
This efficiency can also be leveraged across a range of industries including pharmaceuticals and production of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs).
This project's novel process will increase energy efficiency and reduce the environmental impact of the purification and recovery of products which will be enabling for chemical, petrochemical, and pharmaceutical industries alike.
This SBIR Phase I project will develop a novel membrane separation technology to address the energy-efficient separation of small molecules from industrial process streams for a range of industries.
Separation/recovery of molecules in organic solvents in the molecular weight range of 150-2000 Da is currently carried out by distillation, solvent extraction, or crystallization.
Energy-intensive distillation dominates the separation of organic solvent mixtures (MW < 2,000 Da).
Pressure-driven membrane processes such as organic solvent nanofiltration (OSNF) and organic solvent reverse osmosis (OSRO) are needed since they consume less energy vis-à-vis distillation.
Industrial implementation of OSNF and OSRO processes is currently limited due to the limited solvent and thermal resistance of commercial polymeric membrane materials.
Advances in polymeric membrane's chemical and solvent stability are needed to rival the industrial success of membrane-based water treatment.
This project will develop functionalized nanoporous membranes from commercial plastic.
The engineering polymer utilized in this project will provide exceptional solvent and chemical resistance and outstanding thermo-mechanical properties.
The polymer is functionalized by a reticulate synthetic methodology to form a composite membrane with separation properties in the OSNF range.
The membrane preparation methodology will be advanced towards the separation of active pharmaceutical intermediates (APIs).
OSNF process for separation and purification of APIs from a range of industrial organic solvents will be developed.
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.
Subawards are not planned for this award.
Awardee
Funding Goals
THE GOAL OF THIS FUNDING OPPORTUNITY, "NSF SMALL BUSINESS INNOVATION RESEARCH (SBIR)/ SMALL BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER (STTR) PROGRAMS PHASE I", IS IDENTIFIED IN THE LINK: HTTPS://WWW.NSF.GOV/PUBLICATIONS/PUB_SUMM.JSP?ODS_KEY=NSF23515
Grant Program (CFDA)
Awarding / Funding Agency
Place of Performance
Woburn,
Massachusetts
01801-6307
United States
Geographic Scope
Single Zip Code
Avanpore was awarded
Project Grant 2403678
worth $275,000
from National Science Foundation in October 2024 with work to be completed primarily in Woburn Massachusetts United States.
The grant
has a duration of 5 months and
was awarded through assistance program 47.084 NSF Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships.
The Project Grant was awarded through grant opportunity NSF Small Business Innovation Research / Small Business Technology Transfer Phase I Programs.
SBIR Details
Research Type
SBIR Phase I
Title
SBIR Phase I: Organic Solvent Nanofiltration Membrane Process
Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Phase I Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) project will be enhancement of filtration capabilities across a range of industries. The project will develop a novel membrane filtration process to address the market need for energy-efficient separation and recovery of products on the molecular level from industrial process streams. This is critical across a range of industries. As an example, every day 100M barrels of crude oil is processed in refineries around the world by thermal distillation, a process that uses ~1% of global energy use. In contrast to these high levels of energy use membrane based separations have potential to provide a 10-fold increase in energy efficiency. This efficiency can also be leveraged across a range of industries including pharmaceuticals and production of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). This project’s novel process will increase energy efficiency and reduce the environmental impact of the purification and recovery of products which will be enabling for chemical, petrochemical, and pharmaceutical industries alike.
This SBIR Phase I project will develop a novel membrane separation technology to address the energy-efficient separation of small molecules from industrial process streams for a range of industries. Separation/recovery of molecules in organic solvents in the Molecular Weight range of 150-2000 Da is currently carried out by distillation, solvent extraction, or crystallization. Energy-intensive distillation dominates the separation of organic solvent mixtures (MW< 2,000 Da). Pressure-driven membrane processes such as organic solvent nanofiltration (OSNF), and organic solvent reverse osmosis (OSRO) are needed since they consume less energy vis-à-vis distillation. Industrial implementation of OSNF and OSRO processes is currently limited due to the limited solvent and thermal resistance of commercial polymeric membrane materials. Advances in polymeric membrane’s chemical and solvent stability are needed to rival the industrial success of membrane-based water treatment. This project will develop functionalized nanoporous membranes from commercial plastic. The engineering polymer utilized in this project will provide exceptional solvent and chemical resistance and outstanding thermo-mechanical properties. The polymer is functionalized by a reticulate synthetic methodology to form a composite membrane with separation properties in the OSNF range. The membrane preparation methodology will be advanced towards the separation of Active Pharmaceutical Intermediates (APIs). OSNF process for separation and purification of APIs from a range of industrial organic solvents will be developed.
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 23-515
Status
(Complete)
Last Modified 9/25/24
Period of Performance
10/1/24
Start Date
3/31/25
End Date
Funding Split
$275.0K
Federal Obligation
$0.0
Non-Federal Obligation
$275.0K
Total Obligated
Activity Timeline
Additional Detail
Award ID FAIN
2403678
SAI Number
None
Award ID URI
SAI EXEMPT
Awardee Classifications
Small Business
Awarding Office
491503 TRANSLATIONAL IMPACTS
Funding Office
491503 TRANSLATIONAL IMPACTS
Awardee UEI
XTETLC9WRPJ3
Awardee CAGE
95V16
Performance District
MA-05
Senators
Edward Markey
Elizabeth Warren
Elizabeth Warren
Modified: 9/25/24