(6jj) Next-Generation Molecularly Selective Materials and Processes for Scalable Energy Efficient Separations

My research interests are spanning broadly from chemistry, materials to chemical engineering. While primarily interested in designing materials and processes for advanced molecular separations (e.g. gas separation and water treatment), I have a particular focus on ultra-permeable and selective membranes for scalable energy-efficient gas separations. The overarching theme of my research is to develop next-generation membrane technology to mitigate the extensive energy consumption associated with conventional thermal-driven processes (e.g. cryogenic distillation). I employ a unique and synergistic approach via establishing fundamental structures by material design and manipulating material properties by process engineering. The science solutions alongside with engineering principles will create fundamentally energy efficient and cost effective membrane process outcompeting existing technologies, affording a positive impact onpresent gas separation industries.

Separation of gas mixtures at the industrial scale in US accounts for 10-15% of national energy consumption. In this context membranes can effectively reduce the enormous amount of energy required for gas separations, compared to phase-change separation processes (e.g. cryogenic distillation). Despite the promise, state-of-the-art membranes suffer from numerous challenges, predominantly relying on underdeveloped separation performance of existing materials and difficulties of scaling-up of new materials. Those issues severely hinder the growth of membrane separation technology and must be properly addressed to increase the completeness of membranes over other separation approaches. My research strives to tackle the critical hurdles facing in the community of membrane separations, aiming to minimize the energy penalty for large-scale gas separations.

Postdoc/Project Scientist Project: Metal-organic framework/polyimide mixed matrix membranes for energy efficient gas separations

Advisor: Dr. Jeffrey J. Urban, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA

Ph.D. Dissertation: Highly productive ester crosslinkable composite hollow fiber membranes for aggressive natural gas separations

Advisor: Prof. William J. Koros, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA

Research Experience:

I have comprehensive research experience during my education in three distinctively different majors, working in R&D for a world-class company for nearly 5 years and current employment in a world-leading national lab for multiple projects. Take the membrane research for example: during my PhD program in Prof. William Koros group, I was exposed in a wide spectrum of advanced separation technologies, including membranes, sorbents and barrier materials. My thesis project was focusing on the industrially most preferred format of membranes – hollow fiber membranes with the highest surface to volume ratios than other competing configurations (e.g. spiral wound). I addressed two key challenges associated with hollow fiber membrane technology – low performance and high cost of materials. My primary research involves polymer synthesis and process engineering to precisely control the membrane properties to substantially enhance separation performance and reduce the membrane cost. Upon graduation, I joined Air Liquide as a membrane research scientist, working on the most advanced membrane separation technologies. As one of the few candidates, if not the only, I have unique perspectives and first-hand experience in gas separation industries. In my current position at Berkeley National Lab, I am working on MOF/polymer mixed matrix membrane technology using the world-class facilities at Molecular Foundry. I have developed a generalizable approach of making ultra-permeable membranes with unprecedented performance (far beyond Robeson upper bounds for at least three different gas pairs) and enhanced compatibility with state-of-the-art membrane manufacturing processes. Overall, I have been working on the cutting-edges of membrane science and technology over a decade with a strong research portfolio of flat-sheet membranes, hollow fiber membranes and membrane bundles.

Teaching Interests:

I have engaged with different formats of teaching practices during Teaching Assistant appointments in both undergraduate and graduate studies. In addition, I have mentored students in prestigious programs, including Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internship (SULI) and Berkeley Lab Undergraduate Research (BLUR). With a solid background in chemistry and chemical engineering, I have interests in teaching fundamentals of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering. In particular, I am interested in teaching or developing courses related to my research, such as Mass Transfer, Membrane Separations etc.

Selected Publications (9+ first authored):

1. Ma and J. J. Urban, “Hydrogen-­bonded polyimide/metal­-organic framework hybrid membranes for ultra­-fast separations of multiple gas pairs”, Adv. Funct. Mater., 2019, 1903243
2. Ma and W. J. Koros, “Physical aging of ester-cross-linked hollow fiber membranes for natural gas separations and mitigation thereof”, J. Membr. Sci., 551 (2018) 214-221
3. Ma and J. J. Urban, “Polymers of Intrinsic Microporosity (PIMs) Gas Separation Membranes: a mini Review”, Proc. Nat. Res. Soc., 2 (2018) 1-19
4. Ma et al., “Thin-skinned intrinsically defect-free asymmetric mono-esterified hollow fiber precursors for crosslinkable polyimide gas separation membranes’, J. Membr. Sci., 493 (2015) 252-262
5. Ma and W. J. Koros, “Effects of hydrocarbon and water impurities on CO₂/CH₄separation performance of ester-crosslinked hollow fiber membranes”,J. Membr. Sci., 451 (2014) 1-9
6. Ma and W. J. Koros, “Ester-crosslinkable composite hollow fiber membranes for CO₂removal from natural gas”, Ind. Eng. Chem. Res.2013, 52(31) 10495–10505 (Invited paper in honor of Prof. Enrico Drioli)
7. Ma and W. J. Koros,“High-performance ester-crosslinked hollow fiber membranes for natural gas separations”, J. Membr. Sci., 428 (2013) 251–259

Selected Patents (9 total,6 granted):

1. Composite carbon molecular sieve membranes having anti-substructure collapse particles loaded in a core thereof, date of patent2019/1/21,patent numberUS10183258B2
2. Metallopolyimide precursor fibers for aging-resistant carbon molecular sieve hollow fiber membranes with enhanced selectivity, date of patent2018/12/4, patent number US10143973B2
3. Metallopolyimide precursor fibers for aging-resistant carbon molecular sieve hollow fiber membranes with enhanced selectivity, date of patent2018/10/30, patent numberUS10112149B2
4. Metallopolyimide precursor fibers for aging-resistant carbon molecular sieve hollow fiber membranes with enhanced selectivity, date of patent2018/10/2,patent numberUS10086337B2
5. Composite hollow fiber membranes useful for CO₂removal from natural gas, date of patent 2017/8/1, patent numberUS9718031B2
6. A direct bonding method for shortwave light auxiliary silicon slice,CN patent publication date 2009/12/23, publication numberCN100573821C