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Fuel cell research
News & Views have created have high p e r m e a n c e s a n d high separation selectivities, and have been synthesized with a relatively high concentration of aluminium incorporated into the ZSM-5 layer. These separation selectivities are not due to molecular sieving, however, b u t are the results of interactions between molecules, and the ability of one molecule to exclude another from entering the m e m b r a n e pore.
For further information contact: Department of Chemical Engineering, University o f Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309-0424, USA. Tel: +1 303 492 7471; +1 303 492 4341.
Fuel cell research Delphi Energy & Engine M a n a g e m e n t Systems, Flint, MI, h a s created a r e s e a r c h alliance with ARCO Products Co., Des Plaines, IL and Exxon Research and Engineering Co. Florham Park, NJ to jointly develop on-board petroleum fuel processing technology and hardware for automotive proton exchange m e m b r a n e (PEM) fuel cell systems. Fuel cells p r o d u c e electricity and water using an electrochemical process to combine hydrogen and oxygen. A fuel cell c a n operate on oxygen from air, b u t the h y d r o g e n m u s t either be m a n u f a c t u r e d elsewhere and stored on-board the vehicles, or produced on-board the vehicle from other fuels. The r e s e a r c h p r o g r a m m e will develop technology for converting petroleum to hydrogen on-board the vehicle. Petroleum's extensive production and distribution infrastructure would minimize concerns for s u p p l y a n d storage of hydrogen, making PEM fuel cells more attractive by facilitating their introduction to the m a r k e t place.
For further information contact: Delphi Automotive S y s t e m s , World Headquarters, 5725 Delphi Drive, Troy, MI 48098-2815, USA. Tel: +1 248 813 2000;fax: +1 248 813 2670
Rhodia Eco expands into membranes As part of a strategy to organise its activities into two distinct units, Rh6ne-Poulenc's Environmental Services h a s c h a n g e d its n a m e to Rhodia Eco Services. Two distinct units will incorporate life sciences (pharmaceuticals, vaccines, veterinary activities and agroehemicals) and speciality chemicals and services (fibres a n d polymers and speciality chemicals). A new wholly-owned subsidiary called Orelis has been created which will concentrate on products and
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systems for treating industrial effluent including cleaning technologies based on m e m b r a n e filtration, which until now were produced by Tech Sep. In addition, resources for engineering, developing processes and building installations will also be included. Orelis is based in St Maurice de Beynost, France, and h a s 110 employees. It expects to achieve sales of a r o u n d FRF 200 million (US$ 33.0 M) within three years. The subsidiary covers m o s t of the main industrial markets, including automobile manufacturing, surface treatment, agri-foods, bio industries, chemicals, paper, textiles and nuclear power. The c o m p a n y reports that the international market already a c c o u n t s for more t h a n 50% of sales. Orelis was established in response to the growing need to integrate effluent treatment in industrial processes so as to create complete clean process systems. Orelis say the market is moving towards atsource treatment based on a combination of techniques (membrane filtration, physical-chemical and biological treatment) and recycling of active ingredients.
For further information contact: Brigitte Gagnard, Rhodia Eco Services, 85 A v e n u e Victor Hugo, 92663 Rueil Malmaison Cedex, France. Tel: +33 1 41 39 71 23;fax: +33 1 41 39 71 64.
Ceramic virus filter? Researchers from two different departments at Rice University, TX, have collaborated to produce an inexpensive, environmentally benign ceramic membrane which one day could be used for Filtering viruses. Prof. Andrew Barron along with Prof. Mark Wiesner, report that they have developed a process which allows them to make a l u m i n a nano-particles (alumoxanes) in water solution. These alumoxanes can be doped with other metals to make (z-alumina, mixed metal aluminates and doped alumina, e.g., yttrium a l u m i n u m garnet (YAG). Using this new process, Barron and Weisner can control pore sizes in the 20 - 50 n m range and say it m a y be possible to improve their system to reduce the film thickness and to decrease the size of the pores to 1-2 nm, allowing them to filter viruses. B u t the real breakthrough, according to Andrew Barron, is that the pores produced are not at grain b o u n d a r i e s b u t are intra-granular, which does not compromise the mechanical strength of the ceramic. The researchers also report that the ceramic m e m b r a n e is environmentally friendly as the only solvents used in the preparation are water, acetic acid and other relatively non-toxic acids. CO 2 is the only waste p r o d u c t produced (during firing) which can be recycled, and energy use is lower, since a - a l u m i n a can be formed at m u c h lower temperatures t h a n other methods. In addition, boehmite is used as the raw material which is inexpensive compared with other materials. Rice environmental engineer Mark Wiesner comments, '~Fhis material is well suited to making
M e m b r a n e T e c h n o l o g y No. 9 5
For further information contact: Department of Chemical Engineering, University o f Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309-0424, USA. Tel: +1 303 492 7471; +1 303 492 4341.
Fuel cell research Delphi Energy & Engine M a n a g e m e n t Systems, Flint, MI, h a s created a r e s e a r c h alliance with ARCO Products Co., Des Plaines, IL and Exxon Research and Engineering Co. Florham Park, NJ to jointly develop on-board petroleum fuel processing technology and hardware for automotive proton exchange m e m b r a n e (PEM) fuel cell systems. Fuel cells p r o d u c e electricity and water using an electrochemical process to combine hydrogen and oxygen. A fuel cell c a n operate on oxygen from air, b u t the h y d r o g e n m u s t either be m a n u f a c t u r e d elsewhere and stored on-board the vehicles, or produced on-board the vehicle from other fuels. The r e s e a r c h p r o g r a m m e will develop technology for converting petroleum to hydrogen on-board the vehicle. Petroleum's extensive production and distribution infrastructure would minimize concerns for s u p p l y a n d storage of hydrogen, making PEM fuel cells more attractive by facilitating their introduction to the m a r k e t place.
For further information contact: Delphi Automotive S y s t e m s , World Headquarters, 5725 Delphi Drive, Troy, MI 48098-2815, USA. Tel: +1 248 813 2000;fax: +1 248 813 2670
Rhodia Eco expands into membranes As part of a strategy to organise its activities into two distinct units, Rh6ne-Poulenc's Environmental Services h a s c h a n g e d its n a m e to Rhodia Eco Services. Two distinct units will incorporate life sciences (pharmaceuticals, vaccines, veterinary activities and agroehemicals) and speciality chemicals and services (fibres a n d polymers and speciality chemicals). A new wholly-owned subsidiary called Orelis has been created which will concentrate on products and
2
systems for treating industrial effluent including cleaning technologies based on m e m b r a n e filtration, which until now were produced by Tech Sep. In addition, resources for engineering, developing processes and building installations will also be included. Orelis is based in St Maurice de Beynost, France, and h a s 110 employees. It expects to achieve sales of a r o u n d FRF 200 million (US$ 33.0 M) within three years. The subsidiary covers m o s t of the main industrial markets, including automobile manufacturing, surface treatment, agri-foods, bio industries, chemicals, paper, textiles and nuclear power. The c o m p a n y reports that the international market already a c c o u n t s for more t h a n 50% of sales. Orelis was established in response to the growing need to integrate effluent treatment in industrial processes so as to create complete clean process systems. Orelis say the market is moving towards atsource treatment based on a combination of techniques (membrane filtration, physical-chemical and biological treatment) and recycling of active ingredients.
For further information contact: Brigitte Gagnard, Rhodia Eco Services, 85 A v e n u e Victor Hugo, 92663 Rueil Malmaison Cedex, France. Tel: +33 1 41 39 71 23;fax: +33 1 41 39 71 64.
Ceramic virus filter? Researchers from two different departments at Rice University, TX, have collaborated to produce an inexpensive, environmentally benign ceramic membrane which one day could be used for Filtering viruses. Prof. Andrew Barron along with Prof. Mark Wiesner, report that they have developed a process which allows them to make a l u m i n a nano-particles (alumoxanes) in water solution. These alumoxanes can be doped with other metals to make (z-alumina, mixed metal aluminates and doped alumina, e.g., yttrium a l u m i n u m garnet (YAG). Using this new process, Barron and Weisner can control pore sizes in the 20 - 50 n m range and say it m a y be possible to improve their system to reduce the film thickness and to decrease the size of the pores to 1-2 nm, allowing them to filter viruses. B u t the real breakthrough, according to Andrew Barron, is that the pores produced are not at grain b o u n d a r i e s b u t are intra-granular, which does not compromise the mechanical strength of the ceramic. The researchers also report that the ceramic m e m b r a n e is environmentally friendly as the only solvents used in the preparation are water, acetic acid and other relatively non-toxic acids. CO 2 is the only waste p r o d u c t produced (during firing) which can be recycled, and energy use is lower, since a - a l u m i n a can be formed at m u c h lower temperatures t h a n other methods. In addition, boehmite is used as the raw material which is inexpensive compared with other materials. Rice environmental engineer Mark Wiesner comments, '~Fhis material is well suited to making
M e m b r a n e T e c h n o l o g y No. 9 5