Exactmer Research Published in Science Demonstrates Breakthrough Membrane Technology for Hydrocarbon Fractionation
New ultrathin polymer membranes combine exceptional selectivity, productivity and scalability, offering a potential lower-energy alternative to conventional hydrocarbon separations.
Exactmer is pleased to announce the publication of its latest research in Science, one of the world’s most prestigious scientific journals.
The paper, Ultrathin Polymer Membranes with Locked Intrinsic Microporosity for Hydrocarbon Fractionation, describes a new class of ultrathin polymer membranes capable of rapidly and selectively separating complex hydrocarbon mixtures while maintaining industrially relevant productivity and scalability.
Read the publication: DOI: 10.1126/science.aed1111
Conventional crude oil refining relies heavily on thermal distillation, one of the world’s most energy-intensive industrial processes. Although membrane-based separations have long promised a lower-energy alternative, achieving both high selectivity and high productivity in hydrocarbon mixtures has remained a major challenge.
The research team addressed this challenge through a novel membrane fabrication approach that locks nanoscale pores into their optimal configuration during membrane formation. The resulting materials, known as Polymers of Locked Intrinsic Microporosity (PLIMs), combine rapid hydrocarbon transport with exceptional molecular selectivity, overcoming limitations that have historically restricted membrane deployment in hydrocarbon processing.
The membranes demonstrated up to ten-fold higher permeance than existing state-of-the-art membranes while maintaining high selectivity. In tests using real Arabian Extra Light crude oil, they removed 99.8% of hydrocarbons heavier than 15 carbon atoms and reduced sulphur-containing compounds by 93%.
Importantly, the technology was also demonstrated at industrially relevant scale. The team successfully produced membranes using roll-to-roll manufacturing and integrated them into standard spiral-wound membrane modules commonly used across industry, demonstrating a clear pathway towards commercial deployment.
“Membranes can, in principle, do the same job as distillation or evaporation, using far less energy,” said Professor Andrew Livingston, Vice President for Research and Innovation at Queen Mary University of London and CEO of Exactmer. “This work shows that membrane-based molecular separation in organic liquids is no longer just a theoretical possibility. With the right materials design, it can be fast, selective, scalable — and ready for industry.”
Dr Adam Oxley, first author of the paper and Deputy Vice President, Membranes at Exactmer, added: “These membranes aren’t just laboratory curiosities. We have demonstrated that they can be manufactured using established industrial techniques and integrated into existing module designs, creating a realistic pathway towards deployment.”
Beyond hydrocarbon fractionation, the researchers believe the same pore-locking concept could be applied to a broad range of industrial separation challenges, including chemical manufacturing, solvent recovery and pharmaceutical production.
Publication in Science highlights Exactmer’s position at the forefront of membrane science and industrial separation technology. The company develops advanced membrane platforms for challenging molecular separations in organic liquids, with applications spanning refining, chemical manufacturing, pharmaceuticals and solvent recovery.
Read the full paper: DOI: 10.1126/science.aed1111
