GT Separations Science and Engineering Center

Check out our new website - ssc.chbe.gatech.edu!✨Along with center news and lots of research, you will find a "separations" page where you can learn more about six separations that have huge impacts on our daily lives. Thanks @impactmedialab for turning our science into art!

This counterintuitive mechanism opens new pathways for more efficient separation and capture processes. A key insight for DAC and other membrane-based applications! Read more: doi.org/10.1016/j.mems… #DirectAirCapture #Membranes #SeparationScience

🎉 Worth highlighting: In our latest Journal of Membrane Science publication, led by @inyoung5511 and @Haoyu_Chen_ (@GTChBE, Lively Lab), we reveal that CO2 can diffuse uphill across membranes when driven by the chemical potential difference of H2O.

From PrISMA to degradation-aware TEA, PSE is key to gigaton-scale carbon removal. 👉 doi.org/10.1016/j.coch… #DirectAirCapture #ProcessSystemsEngineering #CarbonRemoval #Sustainability

Excited to highlight a recent Curr. Opin. Chem. Eng. review led by @HannahE_Holmes, Jinsu Kim, and Matthew Realff! 🎉They outline how process systems engineering can unlock scalable adsorption-based DAC by linking sorbent selection, heat/water integration, and system viability.

This methanol-coupled transport boosts guaiacol/glucose selectivity 14× and reduces membrane area needs in OARO cascades by ~3.8×. A new route for energy-efficient solute concentration! 👉 doi.org/10.1016/j.mems… #Membrane #Biooil #OSRO #Separation

Excited to highlight our latest work!🎉 In our latest J. Membr. Sci. publication led by Woo Jin Jang (Lively group, @GTChBE), we report uphill transport of phenolics in bio-oil mixtures via "sorpvection", where methanol flux drives guaiacol enrichment across DUCKY-9 membranes.

🎉 Congratulations to Dr. Ryan Lively on being named a national finalist for the 2025 Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists! 👏 An incredible recognition of his leadership in sustainable separations and carbon capture research — one that continues to inspire the next generation of ChBE researchers. Read more 👉 research.gatech.edu/georgia-tech-r…

Excited to share that our recent J. Membr. Sci. paper led by Young Joo Lee (Lively group, @GTChBE) has been selected as an Editor’s Choice Article for the July 2025 issue!🎉👏 This work combines machine learning with transport modeling to guide the selection of high-performing microporous polymers for OSRO. Grateful to the editors and reviewers for recognizing its impact! 👉sciencedirect.com/science/articl… #MembraneScience #MachineLearning #OSRO #EditorsChoice #Sustainability

Another good news to share! 🎉 In our latest J. Membr. Sci. publication led by Young Joo Lee (Lively group, @GTChBE), we combine machine learning with transport modeling to screen microporous polymers for organic solvent reverse osmosis. Prediction-assisted selection enabled identification of a high-performing TB-based ladder polymer (POLYMER-4), showing strong separation of aromatic hydrocarbons! A promising direction for data-driven membrane design. 👉sciencedirect.com/science/articl… #MembraneScience #MachineLearning #PolymerMembranes #Sustainability

Join us for 2026 International Congress on Membranes and Membrane Processes (ICOM2026) on July 28-25, 2026, in San Antonio, TX, USA, featuring exciting plenary speakers – Suzana Nunes at @KAUST_News and Richard Baker at MTR. Organizers: Isabel Escobar @IC_Escobar, Jamie Hestekin & Ryan Lively

🎉Excited to share that in our latest Energy Environ. Sci. paper led by Seo-Yul Kim (Lively group, @GTChBE), we propose a new concept: near-cryogenic direct air capture (DAC) using physisorbents like Zeolite 13X and CALF-20, thermally coupled with LNG regasification. This approach cuts DAC energy demand to as low as 1.7-3.3 GJ/tCO₂ and slashes the levelized cost of capture by ~60%, opening a scalable, low-cost path for gigaton-scale carbon removal. Read more👉 pubs.rsc.org/en/content/art… #CarbonRemoval #DirectAirCapture #Sustainability #ClimateTech

We have good news to share! 🎉 In our latest Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. publication, led by Yuxiang Wang @PadaWANG3 (Lively group, @GTChBE), we identify a key degradation pathway in amine-infused cellulose acetate fiber sorbents for direct air capture. Aminolysis between PEI and CA reduces CO₂ capacity, but pre-hydrolysis or switching to PES can preserve up to 97% capacity over 20 cycles. A critical step forward in designing robust DAC contactors! Read more👉 pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/ac…

🎉Our latest work in Ind. Chem. Mater. led by MinGyu Song (Lively Group & @JonesGroup_GT , @GTChBE) investigates amine-impregnated Mg₂(dobpdc) MOFs for direct air capture under humid conditions. TEPA-impregnated samples achieve stable, high CO₂ uptake (up to 3.9 mmol/g at 70% RH), while PEI analogues degrade under humidity. Hydration unlocks deeper amine access and improved diffusion. Check it out! #CarbonCapture #MOFs #DAC #Sustainability pubs.rsc.org/en/content/art…

Another good news to share! 🎉 Our latest work just came out in Energy & Fuels! Led by Chunyi Li (Lively group, @GTChBE), we report MIL-101(Cr)-ee-2 as a standout material for simultaneous H₂S/CO₂ removal from biogas. With a high H₂S/CO₂ selectivity (~7) and tunable desorption behavior, this MOF enables compact, energy-efficient biogas upgrading. Check it out: pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/ac… #CleanEnergy #MOFs #Biogas #CarbonCapture

Excited to share our latest ACS Sustainable Chem. Eng. publication! 🎉 Led by Yuxiang Wang @PadaWANG3 (Lively group, @GTChBE), we systematically investigated IRA-900-C, a moisture swing sorbents for direct air capture. Using dynamic breakthrough experiments, we demonstrate robust CO₂ uptake (1.92 mmol/g at 20% RH), excellent cycling stability, and vacuum-triggered desorption. A step toward efficient, humidity-driven DAC! 🌍💨 Read more: pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/ac… #CarbonCapture #DAC #Sustainability