The thermodynamics of complex mixture separations using glassy polymer membranes
Abstract:
Membrane based separations provide a low energy alternative to thermal separations based on distillation. Unlike traditional fluid phase separations which have a definitive equilibrium, membrane based processes are inherently out of equilibrium. For this reason, most researchers intuition is formulated on the idea that membrane based separations are controlled by the relative diffusivities of the species being separated. In this presentation we challenge this idea, by showing that the membrane based separations of liquid mixtures using glassy polymer membranes is dominated by the thermodynamic effect of the relative solubilities of liquid species in the polymer membrane.
Biography:
- PhD from Walter Chapmans Group at Rice University (2014)
Statistical mechanics of interfacial and hydrogen bonding fluids
- ExxonMobil Research and Engineering - Thermodynamics Group (2014-2019)
Develop custom thermodynamic models for new processes
Manufacturing support
Equation of state development and implementation
Gas adsorption theory and process conceptualization
- ExxonMobil Corporate Strategic Research (2019 – 2022)
New theory development to predict the separation of complex mixtures with polymer membranes
Direct air capture process conceptualization
Gas adsorption fundamentals
- ExxonMobil Technology and Engineering Company (2022 – Present)
Modelling lead in carbon capture new leads program