Grant: Alliance Grants
University of Alberta
$90,900.00
Development of thermally stable and fouling-resistant polymeric membranes for SAGD produced water treatment
FY 2021-22
Summary
Fluctuating oil prices and recent Federal and Provincial efforts to address climate change and to protect water resources are motivating the oil sands industry to develop technologies that reduce the operating cost per barrel of product and the amount of energy and freshwater consumed during resource extraction. The proposed research project will pursue this goal by developing innovative nano-enabled membranes with enhanced filtration performance. The membrane technology, equipped with our membranes, offers a promising alternative to current processes by providing higher separation efficiency and thermal stability. Thermally tolerant membranes have the potential to improve heat integration in thermal extraction facilities, thereby reducing boiler feed water heating requirements and greenhouse gas production. This proposal is the result of three years of research involving oil sands companies, through Canada's Oil Sands Innovation Alliance (COSIA), to develop nanocomposite membranes for the treatment of oil sands produced water. The extended work on selected membrane materials (nanocomposite membranes by carbon-based nanomaterials, e.g., graphene, and nanopatterned membranes) and the production of larger-scale membranes has the potential to improve the efficiency of water treatment in oil sands, leading to decreased energy usage and increased water recycle. Our specific goals are to (1) develop thermally stable and antifouling membranes, (2) fabricate larger-scale membranes and development of spiral wound modules, (3) test the membranes for the filtration of oil sands produced water at elevated temperatures (>90oC). The proposed membrane technology will be tailored first for oil sands produced water; however, there are many other water remediation issues in other sectors that it will address. The technology will also positively contribute to the health of Canadians as it will reduce contaminants in our environment and maintain the integrity of our water systems. The HQP will appreciate the importance of water management in the natural resource sector, which will be an asset in the development of emerging technologies and future water policies.
Program
Alliance Grants
Recipient
Location
Alberta, Canada
Recipient Type
Academia
Type
Grant
Source
NSERC's Awards Data
As published
Application id
556293-2020
Name nom
Sadrzadeh, Mohtada
Department département
Mechanical Engineering
Organization id
9
Institution établissement
University of Alberta
Province en
Alberta
Province fr
Alberta
Country en
CANADA
Country fr
CANADA
Fiscal year exercice financier
2021
Competition year année de concours
2020
Award amount
90900
Program id
ALLRP
Program name en
Alliance Grants
Program name fr
Subventions Alliance
Group en
Research partnerships programs
Group fr
Programmes de partenariat
Committee code
96
Committee name en
RPP Internal Decision Cttee
Committee name fr
Cté de décision interne - PPR
Area of application code
301
Area of application group en
Energy resources
Area of application group fr
Ressources d'énergie
Area of application en
Oil, gas and coal
Area of application fr
Pétrole, gaz et charbon
Research subject code
1502
Research subject group en
Environmental engineering
Research subject group fr
Génie de l'environnement
Research subject en
Waste water treatment
Research subject fr
Traitement des eaux usées
Installment
inst:2
Partie
1
Nb partie
3
Application title
Development of thermally stable and fouling-resistant polymeric membranes for SAGD produced water treatment
Keyword
NSERC
Application summary
Fluctuating oil prices and recent Federal and Provincial efforts to address climate change and to protect water resources are motivating the oil sands industry to develop technologies that reduce the operating cost per barrel of product and the amount of energy and freshwater consumed during resource extraction. The proposed research project will pursue this goal by developing innovative nano-enabled membranes with enhanced filtration performance. The membrane technology, equipped with our membranes, offers a promising alternative to current processes by providing higher separation efficiency and thermal stability. Thermally tolerant membranes have the potential to improve heat integration in thermal extraction facilities, thereby reducing boiler feed water heating requirements and greenhouse gas production. This proposal is the result of three years of research involving oil sands companies, through Canada's Oil Sands Innovation Alliance (COSIA), to develop nanocomposite membranes for the treatment of oil sands produced water. The extended work on selected membrane materials (nanocomposite membranes by carbon-based nanomaterials, e.g., graphene, and nanopatterned membranes) and the production of larger-scale membranes has the potential to improve the efficiency of water treatment in oil sands, leading to decreased energy usage and increased water recycle. Our specific goals are to (1) develop thermally stable and antifouling membranes, (2) fabricate larger-scale membranes and development of spiral wound modules, (3) test the membranes for the filtration of oil sands produced water at elevated temperatures (>90oC). The proposed membrane technology will be tailored first for oil sands produced water; however, there are many other water remediation issues in other sectors that it will address. The technology will also positively contribute to the health of Canadians as it will reduce contaminants in our environment and maintain the integrity of our water systems. The HQP will appreciate the importance of water management in the natural resource sector, which will be an asset in the development of emerging technologies and future water policies.
