- myLubrizol
-
-
Search Energy Solutions
The truth is that there has been little breakthrough innovation in this space for years. Today’s polymer membranes have plateaued, creating a ceiling on potential throughput in many separation applications and leaving operators with few options for processing optimization.
Through synthesizing scalable molecules, careful polymer formulating and a world-class understanding of surface science, we’re working to optimize polymeric membranes to meet the specific permeation and improved flux requirements of unique applications. And by combining our polymer technology, our deep experience in formulation and our comprehensive real-world testing capabilities, we can create true performance solutions unlike anything currently available in the separation market.
And we know that an effective membrane solution does not function alone. Lubrizol has built relationships with key industry partners to provide a more holistic view of the entire separation market’s value chain, resulting in the most robust solution for your business.
Lubrizol, a Berkshire Hathaway company, is a global specialty additive company that has a deep history in materials, surface science and formulating expertise across a wide range of end-use markets. Today, we’re committed to applying that expertise to sustainably solve the world’s most valuable bioprocessing and resource recovery separation problems in emerging applications.
Membrane separation is a type of separation technology used to extract valuable byproducts or remove impurities down to the molecular level in various processing applications.
Separation membranes are used in numerous commercial manufacturing markets, including dairy, food and beverage, life sciences like precision fermentation, etc., and industrial applications such as wastewater treatment and mining. Common types include polymer membranes, also known as organic membranes, and ceramic membranes, also known as inorganic membranes.
At a basic level, separation membranes are permeable filters that divide single material streams into multiple material streams.
In some cases, processors repurpose filtered byproducts into sellable goods. For example, separation membranes are used in the dairy industry to extract and capture whey proteins leftover from the cheese production process. The whey proteins can then be dried, made into powder and sold as a valuable nutritional component.
In other instances, such as wastewater treatment, membranes filter harmful substances out of water for water reuse or discharge. They may also be used for removing water from process chemicals for process chemical reuse.
Processors in every industry are under increasing pressure to deliver more value from existing infrastructure. As separation membranes are central to better efficiency, scientists are looking at ways to improve existing solutions through increased flux, improved separation or longer membrane life.
For decades, Lubrizol has combined our rich understanding of surface science with extensive formulating expertise to solve the unique challenges our customers face. And now, with the world racing to find more efficient and sustainable energy solutions, Lubrizol is ready—developing transformative technologies that solve real-world challenges for our customers, capture better energy efficiency and deliver overall value to the market. Optimizations in food ingredient enablement and process fluid reuse underscore Lubrizol’s commitment to sustainability.
Sign up to stay in touch. We'll have more to share soon.