Scientists at Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen have developed a deoxygenation system with a range of potential applications. The technology is available for licence.
The unit is designed to be very light weight, robust, and with a reduced footprint. One of the keys to this is the incorporation of catalyst impregnated ceramic membranes, resulting in a compact and modular system.
The membrane reactor removes dissolved oxygen by catalytically reacting dissolved oxygen with hydrogen injected directly into the water. As the hydrogen passes through the highly active and dispersed catalyst within the membrane it is activated before contacting the dissolved oxygen in the water, resulting in instantaneous reaction with the dissolved oxygen and the hydrogen, consuming virtually all of the oxygen in the water. This process is so complete that scavenging is not necessary.
The designers claim their system has a number of advantages including, being very environmentally friendly as it only generates water, with no undesirable by products. Only a small amount of hydrogen is required and the system works efficiently with a low catalyst loading.
The slimline, compact shape eliminates many of the design considerations of conventional de-aeration processes. No booster pumps are required, and vacuum pumps and two sets of chemical pumps/tanks are also eliminated.
The system has potential applications in the Oil and Gas sector; Water & Wastewater treatment; Food and Chemicals Manufacturing.
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