MIT chemical engineers have developed a polymer membrane that separates crude oil without heat, potentially replacing distillation and cutting carbon emissions from oil refining by up to 90%.
At a Glance
- The membrane filters oil by molecular size, not boiling point
- Crude separation via membrane could slash refinery energy use and global CO₂ emissions
- The material resists oil swelling using imine bonds and triptycene monomers
- Lab tests successfully separated diesel, kerosene, and naphtha components
- The technology uses scalable desalination-style polymerization for manufacturing
Heat-Free Fractionation Changes the Game
In a breakthrough announced by MIT News, researchers designed a durable polyimine membrane that acts like a molecular sieve. Traditional oil refining relies on massive energy inputs to heat crude oil for separation. But this membrane filters hydrocarbons at room temperature, targeting molecules by size.
The innovation replaces conventional amide bonds with stronger imine bonds and incorporates triptycene to prevent membrane swelling—making it stable even in hot, complex oil mixtures. The method is similar to reverse osmosis but tailored for petroleum.
Watch a report: MIT’s Oil-Splitting Membrane Could Transform Refining.
Climate Impact and Industry Potential
Crude oil refining accounts for about 6% of global CO₂ emissions, largely from the heat used in distillation towers. This membrane could eliminate 90% of that energy demand. The team validated the tech by separating real-world mixtures like toluene, diesel, and kerosene—crucial steps toward deployment.
Importantly, the membrane is produced via interfacial polymerization, a technique already used to manufacture water treatment membranes—suggesting compatibility with existing factory infrastructure and rapid scale-up opportunities.
What’s Next
MIT engineers are now preparing for pilot testing and industrial trials. Backed by the MIT Energy Initiative and supported by major partners, the project is moving toward commercialization.
If adopted at scale, this membrane could dramatically reduce fossil fuel processing emissions, aligning a historically polluting industry with global decarbonization goals. The innovation offers not just cleaner refining—but a blueprint for rethinking chemical engineering in the climate era.
