Molecular Cage Membranes for PX Separation

Ortho/meta/para-xylene are precursors to appliances used in everyday life, with para-xylene (PX) heavily used in the production of plastics. The current industrial separation of these isomers is a highly energy demanding process owing to their similar boiling points. Porous materials such as polymers, metal-organic-frameworks and, more recently, molecular cages can be developed into membranes which can selectively separate these isomers under far less energy-intensive conditions. This project will focus mainly on the development of porous organic cages for their use in molecular separations to answer the question: How can organic porous materials reduce the emissions from industrial processes? To begin to approach the solution, a custom molecular separation rig will first be designed and built before the design and synthesis of cage molecules which will be implemented into membranes for use in the separation rig. These membranes will not be limited to only those formed from purely porous organic cages but also combined with polymers to form mixed-matrix membranes or treated to form carbon molecular sieves. Membrane performance will then be correlated with the structural and chemical characterisation to better understand the selectivity-structure relationship with a potential long-term aim to scale-up beyond laboratory size.

The production and processing of materials accounts for 15% of UK GDP and generates exports valued at £50bn annually, with UK materials related industries having a turnover of £197bn/year. It is, therefore, clear that the success of the UK economy is linked to the success of high value materials manufacturing, spanning a broad range of industrial sectors. In order to remain competitive and innovate in these sectors it is necessary to understand fundamental properties and critical processes at a range of length scales and dynamically and link these to the materials' performance. It is in this underpinning space that the CDT-ACM fits.

The impact of the CDT will be wide reaching, encompassing all organisations who research, manufacture or use advanced materials in sectors ranging from energy and transport to healthcare and the environment. Industry will benefit from the supply of highly skilled research scientists and engineers with the training necessary to advance materials development in all of these crucial areas. UK and international research facilities (Diamond, ISIS, ILL etc.) will benefit greatly from the supply of trained researchers who have both in-depth knowledge of advanced characterisation techniques and a broad understanding of materials and their properties. UK academia will benefit from a pipeline of researchers trained in state-of the art techniques in world leading research groups, who will be in prime positions to win prestigious fellowships and lectureships. From a broader perspective, society in general will benefit from the range of planned outreach activities, such as the Mary Rose Trust, the Royal Society Summer Exhibition and visits to schools. These activities will both inform the general public and inspire the next generation of scientists.

The cohort based training offered by the CDT-ACM will provide the next generation of research scientists and engineers who will pioneer new research techniques, design new multi-instrument workflows and advance our knowledge in diverse fields. We will produce 70 highly qualified and skilled researchers who will support the development of new technologies, in for instance the field of electric vehicles, an area of direct relevance to the UK industrial impact strategy.
In summary, the CDT will address a skills gap that has arisen through the rapid development of new characterisation techniques; therefore, it will have a positive impact on industry, research facilities and academia and, consequently, wider society by consolidating and strengthening UK leadership in this field.