Development of ceramic membranes

Wet spinning of hollow fiber membranes
© Fraunhofer IGB
Wet spinning of hollow fiber membranes
© Fraunhofer IGB
© Fraunhofer IGB

Proprietary wet-spinning process for asymmetric capillary membranes

For the production of asymmetric ceramic capillary membranes, we have established a wet-spinning process that can be used to produce capillaries with outer diameters of between 0.5 and 4 millimeters and wall thicknesses of 50 to 500 µm. In a first step, we produce microfiltration membranes, which can then be modified by coating them with selective layers.

 

Processing of various ceramics and metals from laboratory to pilot scale

In addition to oxide ceramics, other ceramics (e.g. SiC) and even metals (e.g. stainless steel) can be processed. Production capacities range from just a few meters on a laboratory scale to production in pilot scale.

 

Sintering processes for the production of dense capillary membranes from perovskite

When functional ceramics such as perovskite are used, we can manufacture dense capillary membranes by sintering processes. The geometry of the capillaries can be influenced by different spinning nozzles as well as by spinning parameters.

 By such mixed ionic and electronically conducting materials we can achieve high oxygen permeation. Due to the lattice transport of oxygen in the dense material, the selectivity from O2 to N2 approaches infinity. Therefore, dense perovskite capillaries are of interest as membranes for synthesis gas production (gas partial oxidation) and for the production of pure O2.

Our research

Ceramic hollow fiber membranes

 

Ceramic capillaries are used for liquid filtration in the food, chemical or pharmaceutical industry. For these applications Fraunhofer IGB develops ceramic hollow fibers with high packing densities.

Oxygen conducting perovskite capillary membranes

 

In recent years, conductive perovskite blends have become an increasing focus of research as membrane materials for the selective separation of oxygen from air-gas mixtures.

Dense metal membranes for hydrogen purification

 

Membranes for the separation of hydrogen from other gases.

Reference projects

March 2021 - February 2024

NexPlas

NEXT GENERATION PLASMA CONVERSION: Integration of green hydrogen into the plasma conversion of CO2

The NexPlas project aims at the innovative combination of a plasma process with a membrane process for the synthesis of higher-value basic chemicals from CO2 and "green hydrogen". The focus of the work at the IGB is on the upscaling of the individual process areas. In addition to membrane production, work is being carried out in particular on the integration of multi-fiber module systems in a plasma torch.

February 2017 – February 2020

PiCK

Plasma-induced CO2 conversion

The Kopernikus satellite project PiCK is developing a novel process employing implementing regenerative electrical energy to utilize climate-damaging CO2 as a carbon source. A combination of plasma and membrane processes  will be used to break down CO2 into O2 and CO, which serves as the starting product for the synthesis of platform chemicals and chemical energy stores such as methanol. Within the framework of the project, gas-tight ceramic capillaries were produced at IGB for the first time. These capillaries are both CO2-stable and suitable for the separation of oxygen from a plasma.