A team of researchers in China says it has demonstrated an oil-refining method that requires 91% less energy, according to an Instagram post from Interesting Engineering (@InterestingEngineering).
Should the technique prove workable beyond the lab, the approach could make one of the most power-hungry stages of oil processing significantly more efficient.
Here's what to know
Rather than separating out different oil components through repeated heating and cooling, scientists at the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics successfully used a membrane-based approach to refine oil, according to Interesting Engineering. The researchers found that the approach used 91% less energy than standard distillation.
At the center of the process are specially designed metal-organic framework membranes that work like molecular sieves. The system distinguishes different oil components by molecular size and chemistry, which requires far less energy than traditional methods.
The technique showed other benefits as well. Test results indicated more precise separation in addition to lower energy demand. Researchers ran a 15-component light naphtha mixture through the system, divided it into three higher-value product groups, and reported recovery of 85% to 90%, according to Interesting Engineering.
Refining oil is one of the most energy-intensive stages of the entire fuel economy. Any major efficiency gain at that stage could significantly reduce both operating costs and emissions.
TCD Picks » Quince Spotlight
💡These best-sellers from Quince deliver affordable, sustainable luxury for all
More background
Crude oil refining produces a wide range of products, including both fuels and chemical feedstocks that go into products such as plastics, resins, and fibers. Because so many different aspects of the global economy rely on oil, lowering the energy it requires to refine oil could also reduce emissions tied to transportation, manufacturing, and food production.
Still, laboratory success is only a first step. Large-scale refineries run continuously and under harsh conditions, so researchers will need to show that the membranes can perform reliably in real-world industrial settings before the technique can be widely adopted.
What happens next?
Scientists next will be testing whether advanced membrane materials can move from controlled experiments into full industrial use without losing efficiency, selectivity, or durability.
If the technology reaches commercial scale, refineries could use less energy, generate fewer emissions, and gain tighter control over the production of fuels and petrochemical ingredients. While those gains would not eliminate the problems associated with nonrenewable fuels like oil, they could help reduce some of the negative impacts while the use of cleaner, alternative energy sources continues to expand.
Where can I learn more?
Researchers around the globe are racing to make oil processing and other energy-hungry industrial systems cleaner and more efficient. The stories here look at a crude-oil separation breakthrough at MIT, a jet-fuel refinery project, cleaner petrochemical production, oil-sector investment trends, and methane-cutting rules in Colorado.
• At MIT, engineers have tested a new crude-oil separation that could fit existing refineries.
• In Georgia, LanzaJet is building a jet-fuel refinery that turns alcohol into fuel.
• CERT Systems has advanced a cleaner ethylene process that could reshape petrochemical manufacturing.
• Across energy markets, analysts say oil-sector investment momentum has returned despite climate risks.
• In Colorado, tighter rules helped drive a major methane reduction across oil and gas operations.
Get TCD's free newsletters for easy tips, smart advice, and a chance to earn $5,000 toward home upgrades. To see more stories like this one, change your Google preferences here.
