This applied research program focuses on the effects of surface and skeletal modification of zeolites for significant enhancements in current hydrocarbon separations. This is a multidisciplinary effort to research, design, develop, engineer, and test new and improved materials for the separation of branched vs. linear hydrocarbons streams via adsorption based separations. Extractive and cryogenic distillations are the dominant separation technology for hydrocarbon feedstock purification, which is inherently energy intensive. Thus, the motivation of this program is to create materials that can be used to enable breakthrough separation technology that will change the landscape of tomorrow’s manufacturing. These materials will advance current separation technology towards greater energy efficient and waste reducing processes that will increase productivity, product quality, and global competitiveness Novel Modified Zeolites for Energy-Efficient Hydrocarbon Separations will be developed in this project. Controlled surface and framework modification of zeolites is the focus of this research project. Successful research program will create an enabling technology for future adsorbents, materials for membranes, and the potential development of shape selective catalysts. Overall, the goals of this research and develop project are:

Team: Mutlu Kartin, Tina Nenoff; Jeff Goodwin, Gary Gray (Goodyear Chemicals Company); XXXX Nofsinger, Inc.

Funding: DOE/OIT/Industrial Materials for the Future, FY02-04