Saudi university develops scalable membrane to cut industrial energy use
New membrane technology could reduce gas purification costs by up to 80% while improving efficiency in carbon capture and hydrogen processing
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (MNTV) — Researchers at Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) have developed a high-performance membrane technology that could dramatically reduce energy consumption in industrial gas separation, offering a more efficient alternative to conventional purification methods.
The breakthrough, published in the journal Nature, addresses one of the world’s most energy-intensive industrial processes, with gas separation currently accounting for an estimated 15% of global energy consumption.
The newly developed membrane is made of more than 90% metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), highly porous materials known for their exceptional ability to separate gas molecules.
Researchers said the material combines high separation performance with the flexibility and durability needed for large-scale industrial production.
Mohamed Eddaoudi, professor of chemical science and corresponding author of the study, said the main challenge has been translating high-performing laboratory materials into products that can be manufactured on an industrial scale.
The research team demonstrated the technology’s commercial potential by producing continuous membrane rolls measuring 20 meters in length using an industrial roll-to-roll manufacturing process, a significant step toward large-scale deployment.
During testing, the membrane delivered strong performance in applications including carbon capture, hydrogen purification and propylene purification.
It also produced polymer-grade propylene in a single separation stage while maintaining stable operation for more than 150 consecutive days.
Researchers said economic modeling indicates the technology could reduce gas purification costs by as much as 80% compared with conventional thermal distillation techniques.
They added that the membrane could also be applied in natural gas processing, hydrogen recovery and direct air capture of carbon dioxide.
The international research project was led by KAUST doctoral graduate Xing Zhu in collaboration with scientists from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, the University of Montpellier and France’s National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS), marking a major advance in scalable membrane technology for industrial and environmental applications.
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