Chemical separations
are critical to our daily lives, from the energy we use to the medications we take. They consume 10-15% of the total energy used in the world
What if we can develop highly selective membranes that, as they are scaled up, could make these separations ten times more energy efficient?
We are working together to achieve this, with a potential to save an estimated 100 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions and contribute to a sustainable future for chemicals manufacture.
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What
we do?
We are chemical and process engineers, chemists, materials scientists and experts in scaling-up of industrial manufacturing processes. Our breadth of expertise allows us to be more inventive, exploring how to improve the selectivity of membranes across a wide range of membrane classes. Our links with users and manufacturers of membranes allows us to apply this knowledge to a wide range of industrial processes.
SynHiSel
is a five year award from The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) - the main funding body for engineering and physical sciences research in the UK. It funds research in 6 universities across the UK- University of Bath, Imperial College London, Queen Mary University London, Newcastle University, University of Edinburgh and University of Manchester.
Our Vision for the award is to use our research expertise to create high selectivity membranes and to work with the membrane community to enable the adoption of a novel generation of emerging high-value/high-efficiency membrane processes.
We fabricate membranes
across membrane classes: polymeric, inorganic, metal, hybrid and liquid membranes as well as evaluating membrane performance and characterising membranes under working conditions.
Our collaboration enables us to work along the continuum from novel materials, through membranes, membrane modules and processes.
Our ambition
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To change the way the whole community thinks and writes about membrane performance, shifting attention from a race to achieve ever higher permeance to obtaining higher selectivities over the membranes operating life.
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To break the barrier between academic research and industrial adoption, pushing beyond a focus on novel materials development, via a materials up-scaling process;
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To directly contribute, via research co-created with our industrial partners, to UK’s emission reduction and productivity increase targets.
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To train researchers and the wider team with user-relevant skills and experience, improving both employability and the skills and network of the UK membrane research community.
Public
Engagement
We believe there should be opportunities for people and communities to discuss, create and participate in research- and that includes our research.
Not considered the chemistry of the materials that filter mixtures that much? Not to worry! But you probably have enjoyed a cup of tea, or a glass of orange juice that has been through a membrane filter during its manufacture. The products of membrane-based processes surround us, from clean water to pharmaceuticals or food products to removing CO2 from emissions. And with the products, the impacts of manufacturing also surround us. Chemicals are major factors in both climate change and biodiversity. To make decisions about the environment we all share, all of us must be included.
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