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Preferentially oriented membranes
News and Views "Growth of technology c o m p a n i e s like Ballard will drive the C a n a d i a n e c o n o m y into the n e x t century", said The H o n o u r a b l e J o h n Manley, Minister r e s p o n s i b l e for I n d u s t r y C a n a d a . "This growth will c r e a t e high v a l u e j o b s for C a n a d a a n d r e s u l t in i n c r e a s e d exports of C a n a d i a n m a d e p r o d u c t s a r o u n d the world. The Technology P a r t n e r s h i p s C a n a d a p r o g r a m b r i n g s t o g e t h e r i n d u s t r y a n d g o v e r n m e n t to invest in r e s e a r c h a n d d e v e l o p m e n t for new technologies in C a n a d a a n d to c r e a t e knowledge b a s e d jobs. Ballard is the world l e a d e r in the d e v e l o p m e n t of p r o t o n e x c h a n g e m e m b r a n e fuel cells a n d the p a r t n e r s h i p will help to c o n t i n u e the growth a n d s u c c e s s t h a t B a l l a r d h a s achieved to date." " G o v e r n m e n t s u p p o r t for technology d e v e l o p m e n t is critical for c o m p a n i e s like Ballard," s a i d Firoz Rasul, Ballard P r e s i d e n t a n d Chief Executive Officer. "Because of the s t r a t e g i c n a t u r e of o u r technology a n d its a p p l i c a t i o n in m a s s m a r k e t s , o u r c o m p e t i t o r s in other c o u n t r i e s all receive s u b s t a n t i a l g o v e r n m e n t a s s i s t a n c e . This p r o g r a m with Technology P a r t n e r s h i p s C a n a d a will a s s i s t Ballard in m a i n t a i n i n g o u r world l e a d e r s h i p position".
For further information contact: BaUard Power S y s t e m s Inc. 9000 Glenlyon Parkway, Burnaby, BC, Canada V5J 5J9. Tel: +1 604 454 0900;fax: +1 604 412 4700.
Preferentially oriented membranes G a s s e p a r a t i o n by zeolites is achieved by p r e s s u r e swing a d s o r p t i o n (PSA), w h e r e s e p a r a t i o n relies on the p r e f e r e n t i a l a d s o r p t i o n of one c o m p o n e n t (usually the d e s i r e d one) over another. The r e p l a c e m e n t of this u n s t e a d y p r o c e s s with a c o n t i n u o u s p r o c e s s h a s b e e n one of the driving forces b e h i n d the d e v e l o p m e n t of zeolitic m e m b r a n e s . In a p a p e r p u b l i s h e d in the November i s s u e of the AIChE Journal, M a r k Lovallo a n d Michael T s a p a t s i s at the University of M a s s a c h u s e t t s , A m h e r s t r e p o r t on the p r e p a r a t i o n of a n oriented s u b m i c r o n silicalite m e m b r a n e , by growing a layer of oriented silicalite c r y s t a l s on a c o m p o s i t e p r e c u r s o r n a n o c r y s t a l l i n e s i l i c a l i t e / a l u m i n a film u s i n g controlled s e c o n d a r y growth. The o r i e n t a t i o n of the c r y s t a l s at the s u r f a c e was such that both straight and sinusoidal channel n e t w o r k s r u n n e a r l y p a r a l l e l to the m e m b r a n e surface. This m e m b r a n e exhibits ideal selectivities for H2 over N2 as high as 60 a t 150°C, a n d O2 over N2 as high as 3.5 a t 185°C. In a d d i t i o n , activation energies for N2 a n d O2 as high as 30 k J / m o l were observed. The a u t h o r s a t t r i b u t e d t h e s e u n i q u e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s to the o r i e n t a t i o n of the s u r f a c e layer forcing t r a n s p o r t a c r o s s the m e m b r a n e to o c c u r by j u m p i n g b e t w e e n s t r a i g h t a n d s i n u s o i d a l c h a n n e l networks.
M e m b r a n e T e c h n o l o g y No. 8 0
The s u c c e s s f u l d e m o n s t r a t i o n of s e c o n d a r y growth of p r e c u r s o r n a n o c r y s t a l l i n e layers in two d i s t i n c t zeolite types, a p p e a r s p r o m i s i n g as a g e n e r a l m e t h o d for the p r e p a r a t i o n of m o l e c u l a r sieve films with controlled m i c r o s t r u c t u r e .
For further information, contact: Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA. Tel: +1 413 545 2507, fax: +1 413 545 1647, e-mail: [email protected].
Elga supplies Pall Filtration Elga h a s b e e n a w a r d e d a c o n t r a c t w o r t h £ 1 8 6 000 to s u p p l y a d d i t i o n a l w a t e r p u r i f i c a t i o n p l a n t to the Ilfracombe Division of Pall Europe, in Devon, UK. C o m p r i s i n g two organic scavengers, two Duo 5 Plus Rapide twin-bed deionisers, two p o l i s h i n g mixed bed d e i o n i s e r s a n d a s s o c i a t e d t a n k s a n d p u m p s , the Elga s y s t e m forms p a r t of a n ongoing p r o g r a m m e of e x p a n s i o n at the Ilfracombe facility. The new s y s t e m will provide u p to 15 m 3 / h r of u l t r a - p u r e , deionised w a t e r u s e d in the m a n u f a c t u r e of h i g h - p e r f o r m a n c e cartridge filters for t h e p r o c e s s i n g i n d u s t r i e s . Key a p p l i c a t i o n s for the w a t e r i n c l u d e flushing m a t e r i a l s of c o n s t r u c t i o n a n d c o m p l e t e d c a r t r i d g e s to remove c o n t a m i n a n t s , as well a s wetting filter m e d i a prior to integrity testing. The c o n t r a c t i n c l u d e s i n s t a l l a t i o n a n d c o m m i s s i o n i n g of the w a t e r p u r i f i c a t i o n p l a n t , which will be fully o p e r a t i o n a l early in 1997, a n d will be the third Elga s y s t e m to be i n s t a l l e d at the Pall factory.
For further information, contact: Elga Ltd, High Street Lane End, High Wycombe, B u c k s HP14 3JH, UK. Tel: +44 1494 887 700;fax: +44 1494 881 007.
U.S./Russia collaborate on super-strength nanopowders A Russian process that stresses, squeezes and breaks down microscopic "nanopowders" could improve the p e r f o r m a n c e of m a n y c o n v e n t i o n a l m a t e r i a l s a n d p r o d u c e new, s t r o n g e r types of filter m e m b r a n e s . S y n m a t i x Corporation, a U . S . - R u s s i a n c o m p a n y b a s e d in Michigan, USA is working with r e s e a r c h e r s from Los Alamos National L a b o r a t o r y a n d t h r e e scientific i n s t i t u t i o n s in R u s s i a to develop a n d c o m m e r c i a l i s e the process.
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For further information contact: BaUard Power S y s t e m s Inc. 9000 Glenlyon Parkway, Burnaby, BC, Canada V5J 5J9. Tel: +1 604 454 0900;fax: +1 604 412 4700.
Preferentially oriented membranes G a s s e p a r a t i o n by zeolites is achieved by p r e s s u r e swing a d s o r p t i o n (PSA), w h e r e s e p a r a t i o n relies on the p r e f e r e n t i a l a d s o r p t i o n of one c o m p o n e n t (usually the d e s i r e d one) over another. The r e p l a c e m e n t of this u n s t e a d y p r o c e s s with a c o n t i n u o u s p r o c e s s h a s b e e n one of the driving forces b e h i n d the d e v e l o p m e n t of zeolitic m e m b r a n e s . In a p a p e r p u b l i s h e d in the November i s s u e of the AIChE Journal, M a r k Lovallo a n d Michael T s a p a t s i s at the University of M a s s a c h u s e t t s , A m h e r s t r e p o r t on the p r e p a r a t i o n of a n oriented s u b m i c r o n silicalite m e m b r a n e , by growing a layer of oriented silicalite c r y s t a l s on a c o m p o s i t e p r e c u r s o r n a n o c r y s t a l l i n e s i l i c a l i t e / a l u m i n a film u s i n g controlled s e c o n d a r y growth. The o r i e n t a t i o n of the c r y s t a l s at the s u r f a c e was such that both straight and sinusoidal channel n e t w o r k s r u n n e a r l y p a r a l l e l to the m e m b r a n e surface. This m e m b r a n e exhibits ideal selectivities for H2 over N2 as high as 60 a t 150°C, a n d O2 over N2 as high as 3.5 a t 185°C. In a d d i t i o n , activation energies for N2 a n d O2 as high as 30 k J / m o l were observed. The a u t h o r s a t t r i b u t e d t h e s e u n i q u e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s to the o r i e n t a t i o n of the s u r f a c e layer forcing t r a n s p o r t a c r o s s the m e m b r a n e to o c c u r by j u m p i n g b e t w e e n s t r a i g h t a n d s i n u s o i d a l c h a n n e l networks.
M e m b r a n e T e c h n o l o g y No. 8 0
The s u c c e s s f u l d e m o n s t r a t i o n of s e c o n d a r y growth of p r e c u r s o r n a n o c r y s t a l l i n e layers in two d i s t i n c t zeolite types, a p p e a r s p r o m i s i n g as a g e n e r a l m e t h o d for the p r e p a r a t i o n of m o l e c u l a r sieve films with controlled m i c r o s t r u c t u r e .
For further information, contact: Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA. Tel: +1 413 545 2507, fax: +1 413 545 1647, e-mail: [email protected].
Elga supplies Pall Filtration Elga h a s b e e n a w a r d e d a c o n t r a c t w o r t h £ 1 8 6 000 to s u p p l y a d d i t i o n a l w a t e r p u r i f i c a t i o n p l a n t to the Ilfracombe Division of Pall Europe, in Devon, UK. C o m p r i s i n g two organic scavengers, two Duo 5 Plus Rapide twin-bed deionisers, two p o l i s h i n g mixed bed d e i o n i s e r s a n d a s s o c i a t e d t a n k s a n d p u m p s , the Elga s y s t e m forms p a r t of a n ongoing p r o g r a m m e of e x p a n s i o n at the Ilfracombe facility. The new s y s t e m will provide u p to 15 m 3 / h r of u l t r a - p u r e , deionised w a t e r u s e d in the m a n u f a c t u r e of h i g h - p e r f o r m a n c e cartridge filters for t h e p r o c e s s i n g i n d u s t r i e s . Key a p p l i c a t i o n s for the w a t e r i n c l u d e flushing m a t e r i a l s of c o n s t r u c t i o n a n d c o m p l e t e d c a r t r i d g e s to remove c o n t a m i n a n t s , as well a s wetting filter m e d i a prior to integrity testing. The c o n t r a c t i n c l u d e s i n s t a l l a t i o n a n d c o m m i s s i o n i n g of the w a t e r p u r i f i c a t i o n p l a n t , which will be fully o p e r a t i o n a l early in 1997, a n d will be the third Elga s y s t e m to be i n s t a l l e d at the Pall factory.
For further information, contact: Elga Ltd, High Street Lane End, High Wycombe, B u c k s HP14 3JH, UK. Tel: +44 1494 887 700;fax: +44 1494 881 007.
U.S./Russia collaborate on super-strength nanopowders A Russian process that stresses, squeezes and breaks down microscopic "nanopowders" could improve the p e r f o r m a n c e of m a n y c o n v e n t i o n a l m a t e r i a l s a n d p r o d u c e new, s t r o n g e r types of filter m e m b r a n e s . S y n m a t i x Corporation, a U . S . - R u s s i a n c o m p a n y b a s e d in Michigan, USA is working with r e s e a r c h e r s from Los Alamos National L a b o r a t o r y a n d t h r e e scientific i n s t i t u t i o n s in R u s s i a to develop a n d c o m m e r c i a l i s e the process.
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