Low energy membrane-based sulfuric acid dewatering system
A cutting-edge sulfuric acid dewatering system utilizing fluorinated polymer membranes for energy-efficient separation of water from acid, operating below azeotropic limits and reducing capital expenses.
Overview
Ardent Technologies introduces an advanced sulfuric acid dewatering system that leverages the latest in membrane technology to optimize energy efficiency and reduce operational costs. By utilizing specialized fluorinated polymer membranes, our system effectively separates water from sulfuric acid without the need for energy-intensive thermal boiling. This innovation not only conserves energy but also minimizes the use of expensive corrosion-resistant materials, offering a cost-effective and scalable solution for industrial applications.
Technical specifications
Key features:
- Sorption-Diffusion Process: The system employs a unique sorption-diffusion mechanism where dilute acid is passed over a dense, non-porous membrane. The vacuum applied on the permeate side facilitates the selective passage of water molecules while hydronium and sulfate ions are rejected.
- Stream Output: Concentrated sulfuric acid is retained, with clean water vapor being extracted, condensed, and recycled, ensuring minimal acid slip and high water purity.
- Energy Efficiency: By bypassing the need for bulk thermal boiling, the system significantly reduces energy consumption and operates at lower temperatures, thereby decreasing the requirement for costly tantalum equipment.
- Modular Design: The system's modular nature allows for easy scalability through bolt-on skids, adapting to various industrial scales and demands.
Technology readiness level
The technology is at TRL 9, indicating full commercial readiness. It has been validated with existing commercial pervaporation systems, demonstrating its cost advantages over traditional methods. Future collaborations with Pall's metallic separation systems aim to further enhance solution delivery and validation.
About Ardent Technologies / Syensqo
Ardent Process Technologies, also known as Ardent, is a company specializing in advanced membrane technologies designed to facilitate industrial decarbonization. Its core offering is the Optiperm platform, which utilizes facilitated transport membranes (FTMs) to perform complex chemical separations, such as point-source carbon capture and olefin-paraffin separation. Unlike traditional methods that rely heavily on pressure or temperature, these membranes employ embedded carrier molecules to selectively transport target molecules. The company leverages over 30 years of experience in membrane development, manufacturing, and system design, providing modular and bolt-on solutions that are engineered to be energy-efficient, scalable, and cost-effective for challenging industrial environments.
These technologies are vital for companies in sectors like power generation, industrial chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and oil and gas, as they allow for cleaner, more efficient manufacturing processes with lower emissions. Ardent has a demonstrated history of taking its technologies from laboratory research to field-scale deployments, with over 10,000 operating hours on its olefin-paraffin systems and 8,000 hours on carbon capture pilots. The company maintains strategic partnerships with major industry players such as Chevron, Pfizer, and Braskem. Additionally, Ardent has formalized a strategic partnership with Syensqo, which involves a licensing agreement, direct investment, and a supply chain collaboration to provide specialty materials necessary for scaling Ardent’s membrane modules and systems.
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