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Conceptual design of membrane processes

Project

Project Details

Program
Chemistry
Field of Study
​Chemical Engineering
Division
Physical Sciences and Engineering
Faculty Lab Link
https://www.kaust.edu.sa/en/study/faculty/zhiping-lai
Center Affiliation
Advanced Membranes and Porous Materials Center

Project Description

The aim of this project is to simulate different membrane processes to develop rules of thumb for conceptual design of membrane processes. The student in this project will learn how to use the software Aspen Plus®, a wide used software in petrochemical industry, to simulate the membrane process for the separation of propylene and propane. Through this project, the student will learn all the basic knowledge of membrane processes, understand the reason why gas separation is so important in chemical industry and what are the advantages and challenges in the membrane studies. The education aim of the project is to stimulate the interest of the student in membrane studies.

About the Researcher

Zhiping Lai
Professor, Chemistry
Physical Science and Engineering Division

Affiliations

Education Profile

  • Ph.D., University of Massachusetts, 2003
  • M.S., Tsinghua University, 1998
  • B.S., Tsinghua University, 1995

Research Interests

a€‹Professor Lai's research interests mainly focus on synthesis, characterization, and applications of inorganic membranes with ordered porous structures, such as zeolites, mesoporous silica or carbon, metal-organic frameworks, etc. The aim of his research is to understand the membrane formation and separation mechanisms in order to develop novel synthesis strategies to fabricate high performance membrane systems. The applications of these membranes are targeted on gas separations, hydrocarbon mixture separations, membrane reactors, wastewater treatment, and recovery of industrial organic solvents. Lai is also interested in coupling of inorganic and polymeric materials to develop novel mixed matrix membranes. Another area of his interests is synthesis of porous materials into nanostructures such as core-shell nanostructure and study their potential applications such as drug deliveries and micro-membrane reactors.

Selected Publications

  • Liu Y.Y., Hu E.P., Khan E.A., Lai Z.P. ""Synthesis and characterization of ZIF-69 membranes and separation for CO2/CO mixture"", J. Membr. Sci., 353, 36-40, 2010.
  • Hu E.P., Huang Y.L.W., Yan Q., Liu D.P., Lai Z.P. ""Synthesis of highly c-oriented AFI membranes by epitaxial growth"", Microp. Mesop. Mater, 126, 81-86, 2009.
  • Yoo Y., Lai Z.P., Jeong H.K. ""Fabrication of MOF-5 membranes using microwave-induced rapid seeding and solvothermal secondary growth"", Microp. Mesop. Mater., 123, 100-106, 2009.
  • Khan E.A., Hu E.P., Lai Z.P. ""Preparation of metal oxide/zeolite core-shell nanostructures"", Microp. Mesop. Mater., 118, 210, 2009.
  • Liu Y.Y., Ng Z.F., Khan E.A., Jeong H.K., Ching C.B., Lai Z.P. ""Synthesis of continuous MOF-5 membranes on porous-alumina substrates"", Microp. Mesop. Mater., 118, 296, 2009.

Desired Project Deliverables

Please contact professor for details.
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3-6 months
Internship period
100+
Research Projects
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Cumulative GPA
310
Interns a Year