New membrane could reduce energy use in oil refining
A new membrane could make oil refining less energy-intensive by separating crude oil at room temperature. Rather than relying on a fixed pore structure, the membrane uses the oil itself to create microscopic filtration channels.
In tests described by Science Daily, the approach reduced energy consumption by nearly 32%, carbon emissions by almost 38%, and operating costs by 36%. The results suggest that the membrane could improve the efficiency of one of the world’s most energy-intensive industries, although large-scale industrial performance remains important to establish.