Final Report Summary - OFFGAS (OFFshore GAs Separation)
Gas separations on offshore platforms are of increasing importance for the purification of natural gas and for the separation of CO2 used in enhanced oil recovery (EOR). Separations based on nanoporous materials, adsorption and membranes will be the method of choice for applications on floating platforms, where liquid solvents cannot be used due to problems arising from the tilting and rolling of the moving platforms. Both Brazil and the EU have large vested interests in this field: Brazil has important offshore gas reservoirs situated where the seabed is too deep for a fixed platform, while EOR will be widely exploited in the North Sea.
The project was a collaboration between the University of Malaga (UMA), the University of Edinburgh (UEDIN) and the Federal University of Ceara (UFC). During the project we developed effective materials and efficient process technologies for gas separations at high pressure to allow the economic exploitation of offshore resources. Several materials including modified mesoporous silicas and several MOFs, PIMs and ZIFs and activated carbons were prepared at UMA and characterised in collaboration with the other 2 partners. Novel solutions for the process configurations were studied at UEDIN and UFC in order to optimise the separation for the materials developed and design more efficient processes.
The collaboration among the three universities led to progress in the technology that would not be possible otherwise.
A total of 80 exchanges has taken place involving both experienced and early stage researchers.
The exchange of experienced researchers has allowed the development of a strategic common research plan and has facilitated knowledge exchange among the three countries. This will lead to the development of other research proposals. The early stage researchers have been exposed to a different research and cultural environment that has greatly contributed to their formation as scientists.
The project was a collaboration between the University of Malaga (UMA), the University of Edinburgh (UEDIN) and the Federal University of Ceara (UFC). During the project we developed effective materials and efficient process technologies for gas separations at high pressure to allow the economic exploitation of offshore resources. Several materials including modified mesoporous silicas and several MOFs, PIMs and ZIFs and activated carbons were prepared at UMA and characterised in collaboration with the other 2 partners. Novel solutions for the process configurations were studied at UEDIN and UFC in order to optimise the separation for the materials developed and design more efficient processes.
The collaboration among the three universities led to progress in the technology that would not be possible otherwise.
A total of 80 exchanges has taken place involving both experienced and early stage researchers.
The exchange of experienced researchers has allowed the development of a strategic common research plan and has facilitated knowledge exchange among the three countries. This will lead to the development of other research proposals. The early stage researchers have been exposed to a different research and cultural environment that has greatly contributed to their formation as scientists.