The contribution of new technology is intended to reduce energy consumption in oil refinement by 90 percent at the online magazine Basic Thinking. You can start the day well every morning via our newsletter update.
Researchers have developed a membrane that separates crude oil energy -efficiently according to molecular size – without distillation. Technology could reduce energy consumption in oil refinement by up to 90 percent.
The refining of crude oil in products such as petrol, diesel and heating oil is an energy -intensive process. He is responsible for around one percent of global CO2 emissions. Most of this energy is spent on heat that is necessary to separate the components according to their boiling point.
Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (with) now have one New technology Developed that could drastically lower the energy consumption of both crude oil fractionation: a membrane that filters oil components according to their molecular size.
Novel membrane is said to reduce energy consumption in oil refinement
So far, the various crude oil components have been separated by distillation. Oil is heated so that the components – according to their boiling points – can evaporate and be separated. However, this process is extremely energy -intensive because large amounts of heat have to be applied.
It is estimated that the use of membranes for separation of crude oil could reduce the amount of energy required by around 90 percent. In order for this to succeed, a separating membrane has to let hydrocarbons pass relatively quickly and selectively filter connections of different sizes.
The co-scientists therefore follow a new approach: instead of cooking the oil, they rely on membranes that sort the molecules by size and shape. This is comparable to a fine sieve on the atomic level that separates the severity of light molecules – without heating.
Existing technology further developed
The co-researchers are not the first to try to develop such a filter membrane. So far, most efforts have concentrated on polymers with intrinsic microporosity (PIMs), including a name PIM-1.
Although this porous material enables quick transportation of hydrocarbons, it tends to excessively absorb some of the organic compounds when entering through the membrane. This in turn leads to the swelling of the film and affects its ability to separate size.
In order to find a better alternative, the MIT team decided to modify polymers that were used for reverse osmosis in sea water relaxation. They changed the membrane in such a way that instead of flexible amid binding, it received a stiff and water -repellent imin bond.
As a result, hydrocarbons can hike faster without the membrane swinging. In addition, a special molecule called triptycs was installed, which ensures that the pores of the membrane have exactly the right size for separating the different oil components.
Energy consumption in oil refinement: Labort tests with good results
In the laboratory, the membrane was able to separate a mixture of toluene and triisopropylbenzene so effectively that the concentration of toluene in the filtrate was twenty times higher than in the output mixture. Even with more complex mixtures such as Naphtha, Kerosene and Diesel, the technology showed a precise separation according to molecular size.
“The imaginative approach in which a interface catalytic converter is linked to hydrophobic monomers leads to membranes with high permanz and excellent selectivity,” explains Andrew Livingston, professor of chemical engineering at Queen Mary University of London. The study shows how this membrane can be used in relevant separations.
In industrial use, several of these membranes could be switched in a row. In this way, the desired products can be obtained step by step. The energy -consuming distillation process would at least partially be replaced.
The membrane is a thin film that can be made with a technology that is already widespread in industrial processes. So it may be possible to increase them for a large -scale use. If the technology prove itself in practice, it would be a milestone on the way to a more climate-friendly energy and raw material supply.
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The contribution of new technology is intended to reduce energy consumption in oil refinement by 90 percent first appeared on Basic Thinking. Follow us too Google News and Flipboard Or subscribe to our update newsletter.
As a Tech Industry expert, I am thrilled to hear about the new technology that is capable of reducing energy consumption by oil refinement by 90 percent. This is a significant advancement that will not only benefit the environment by reducing carbon emissions, but also help to make oil production more sustainable and efficient.
It is crucial for industries, especially the oil and gas sector, to adopt technologies that prioritize energy efficiency and reduce their environmental impact. This new technology has the potential to revolutionize the way oil is refined, making the process more environmentally friendly and cost-effective.
I believe that investing in and supporting the development of innovative technologies like this is essential for transitioning towards a more sustainable future. It is encouraging to see advancements in the tech industry that are focused on reducing energy consumption and promoting environmental sustainability. I look forward to seeing the widespread adoption of this new technology and the positive impact it will have on the oil refinement industry.
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