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TECHNOLOGY LICENSING OPPORTUNITY: PBI High-Temperature Hollow Fiber Membranes
Contact and place of performance
Kathleen McDonald
Los Alamos, NM 87545
USA
Polybenzimidazole (PBI) High-Temperature Hollow Fiber Membranes offer a practical way to improve separation efficiency in process environments where standard polymer membranes often lose performance or durability. The platform combines high-temperature operation, chemical resistance and compact hollow-fiber design in a membrane system that can help users recover hydrogen, separate carbon dioxide and process difficult...
View moreTechnical Description
The polybenzimidazole invention is centered on a method for making asymmetric hollow fiber membranes from polybenzimidazole, a polymer valued for strong thermal and chemical stability. A PBI dope solution and a bore fluid are extruded through a spinneret, then passed through an optional air gap and into a water coagulation bath, which forms a hollow fiber with an integrated selective layer and a porous support structure. The process can produce nearly defect-free selective layers, and the patent states that selective layer thickness can be controlled from about 0.1 to 5 µm, with examples demonstrating thicknesses down to about 160 nm and one example near 0.38 µm.
A major technical advantage is control over membrane microstructure and durability. PBI High-Temperature Hollow Fiber Membranes emphasize macrovoid-free fibers, which are important because macrovoids create weak points that can fail under high temperature and pressure. The membranes can be thermally annealed or chemically crosslinked to improve solvent resistance and stability, and a defect-sealing layer can be added to improve selectivity without changing the core fiber architecture. In demonstrated gas-separation modules, the technology showed hydrogen permeance above 100 GPU, with one example reporting 242 GPU at 250 °C and hydrogen/carbon dioxide selectivity of 19.1, while long-term testing in wet syngas with 20 ppm H2S showed stable performance over 40 days. The patent also states that the membranes can operate up to about 400 °C and are suitable for gas, vapor and liquid separations including hydrogen purification, carbon capture, brine treatment and organic solvent separations.
Advantages
Market Applications
Development Status: TRL 5
US Patent No. 10,071,345
LA-UR-26-24561
LANL Tech Partnerships: Unlock the Innovative Potential
Los Alamos National Laboratory offers a wide range of cutting-edge technologies and capabilities that may provide your company with a competitive edge in the market and unlock the innovative potential that can enhance, refine, and revolutionize your products.
LANL’s licensing program focuses on moving inventions developed by our researchers to commercial innovations. Patented and patent pending inventions and copyrighted software are available to existing and start-up companies through exclusive and non-exclusive licensing agreements. For specific discussions, please contact [email protected].
Note: This is not a call for external services for the development of this technology.
https://www.lanl.gov/engage/collaboration/feynman-center/partner-with-us/licensing-technology
m.lanl.gov/tech-search
The Department of Energy, through Triad National Security, LLC, is offering a technology licensing opportunity for Polybenzimidazole (PBI) High-Temperature Hollow Fiber Membranes. This technology provides a method for fabricating asymmetric hollow fiber membranes that maintain performance and durability in extreme environments where standard polymer membranes typically fail. Centered on US Patent No. 10,071,345, the invention utilizes a robust PBI material to create a compact, macrovoid-free fiber structure capable of operating at temperatures up to 400 °C. The membranes are designed for high-efficiency separation in energy, chemical, and water treatment settings, with demonstrated applications in hydrogen recovery, carbon capture, and the processing of high-salinity brines.
The fabrication process involves extruding a PBI dope solution and bore fluid through a spinneret to form an integrated selective layer and porous support structure in a single step. This method allows for precise control over the selective layer thickness, ranging from 160 nm to 5 μm, and produces fibers that can be thermally annealed or chemically crosslinked to enhance solvent resistance. Performance testing at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 5 has demonstrated hydrogen permeance above 100 GPU at 250 °C and stable operation in wet syngas containing sulfur for over 40 days. Potential market applications include oil and gas refining, syngas cleanup, organic solvent recovery, and pharmaceutical separations.
This special notice, identified by solicitation number S-133262, is categorized under NAICS 541715 for Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology) and PSC AJ12 for General Science and Technology R&D Services; General Science and Technology; Applied Research. There is no set-aside assigned to this opportunity. Responses are accepted through December 5, 2026, and the primary point of contact is Kathleen McDonald. The place of performance is Los Alamos, New Mexico, and interested parties may seek exclusive or non-exclusive licensing agreements to commercialize the technology.
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