Richard D. Noble

Bio: Richard D. Noble is an academic researcher from University of Colorado Boulder. The author has contributed to research in topics: Membrane & Ionic liquid. The author has an hindex of 87, co-authored 402 publications receiving 24368 citations. Previous affiliations of Richard D. Noble include National Institute of Standards and Technology & University of Colorado Denver.

Guide to CO2 Separations in Imidazolium-Based Room-Temperature Ionic Liquids

Abstract: Room-temperature ionic liquids (RTILs) are nonvolatile, tunable solvents that have generated significant interest across a wide variety of engineering applications. The use of RTILs as media for CO2 separations appears especially promising, with imidazolium-based salts at the center of this research effort. The solubilities of gases, particularly CO2, N2, and CH4, have been studied in a number of RTILs. Process temperature and the chemical structures of the cation and anion have significant impacts on gas solubility and gas pair selectivity. Models based on regular solution theory and group contributions are useful to predict and explain CO2 solubility and selectivity in imidazolium-based RTILs. In addition to their role as a physical solvent, RTILs might also be used in supported ionic liquid membranes (SILMs) as a highly permeable and selective transport medium. Performance data for SILMs indicates that they exhibit large permeabilities as well as CO2/N2 selectivities that outperform many polymer membra...

Designing the Next Generation of Chemical Separation Membranes

Abstract: Synthetic membranes are used in many separation processes, from industrial-scale ones—such as separating atmospheric gases for medical and industrial use, and removing salt from seawater—to smaller-scale processes in chemical synthesis and purification. Membranes are commonly solid materials, such as polymers, that have good mechanical stability and can be readily processed into high–surface area, defect-free, thin films. These features are critical for obtaining not only good chemical separation but also high throughput. Membrane-based chemical separations can have advantages over other methods—they can take less energy than distillation or liquefaction, use less space than absorbent materials, and operate in a continuous mode. In some cases, such as CO2 separations for CO2 capture, their performance must be improved. We discuss how membranes work, and some notable new approaches for improving their performance.

Room-Temperature Ionic Liquids and Composite Materials: Platform Technologies for CO2 Capture

Abstract: Clean energy production has become one of the most prominent global issues of the early 21st century, prompting social, economic, and scientific debates regarding energy usage, energy sources, and sustainable energy strategies. The reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, specifically carbon dioxide (CO2), figures prominently in the discussions on the future of global energy policy. Billions of tons of annual CO2 emissions are the direct result of fossil fuel combustion to generate electricity. Producing clean energy from abundant sources such as coal will require a massive infrastructure and highly efficient capture technologies to curb CO2 emissions. Current technologies for CO2 removal from other gases, such as those used in natural gas sweetening, are also capable of capturing CO2 from power plant emissions. Aqueous amine processes are found in the vast majority of natural gas sweetening operations in the United States. However, conventional aqueous amine processes are highly energy intensive; their imp...

Membrane separations technology : principles and applications

Abstract: 1 Microfiltration and ultrafiltration (W Eykamp) 2 Polarization phenomena and membrane fouling (MHV Mulder) 3 Vapor permeation (Y Cen, RN Lichtenthaler) 4 Reverse osmosis (CJD Fell) 5 Pervaporation (J Neel) 6 Electrodialysis and related processes (H Strathmann) 7 Liquid membranes (liquid pertraction) (L Boyadzhiev, Z Lazarova) 8 Membrane bioseparations (SL Matson) 9 Food and beverage industry applications (M Cheryan, JR Alvarez) 10 Membrane contactors (BW Reed, MJ Semmens, EL Cussler) 11 Analysis and design of membrane permeators for gas separation (A Sengupta, KK Sirkar) 12 Gas separation using inorganic membranes (K Keizer, RJR Uhlhorn, AJ Burggraaf) 13 Economics of gas separation membrane processes (R Spillman) 14 Catalytic membrane reactors (JL Falconer, RD Noble, D Sperry) Subject index

Science and technology for water purification in the coming decades

Abstract: One of the most pervasive problems afflicting people throughout the world is inadequate access to clean water and sanitation. Problems with water are expected to grow worse in the coming decades, with water scarcity occurring globally, even in regions currently considered water-rich. Addressing these problems calls out for a tremendous amount of research to be conducted to identify robust new methods of purifying water at lower cost and with less energy, while at the same time minimizing the use of chemicals and impact on the environment. Here we highlight some of the science and technology being developed to improve the disinfection and decontamination of water, as well as efforts to increase water supplies through the safe re-use of wastewater and efficient desalination of sea and brackish water.

The Future of Seawater Desalination: Energy, Technology, and the Environment

Abstract: In recent years, numerous large-scale seawater desalination plants have been built in water-stressed countries to augment available water resources, and construction of new desalination plants is expected to increase in the near future. Despite major advancements in desalination technologies, seawater desalination is still more energy intensive compared to conventional technologies for the treatment of fresh water. There are also concerns about the potential environmental impacts of large-scale seawater desalination plants. Here, we review the possible reductions in energy demand by state-of-the-art seawater desalination technologies, the potential role of advanced materials and innovative technologies in improving performance, and the sustainability of desalination as a technological solution to global water shortages.

Ordered porous materials for emerging applications

Abstract: "Space—the final frontier." This preamble to a well-known television series captures the challenge encountered not only in space travel adventures, but also in the field of porous materials, which aims to control the size, shape and uniformity of the porous space and the atoms and molecules that define it. The past decade has seen significant advances in the ability to fabricate new porous solids with ordered structures from a wide range of different materials. This has resulted in materials with unusual properties and broadened their application range beyond the traditional use as catalysts and adsorbents. In fact, porous materials now seem set to contribute to developments in areas ranging from microelectronics to medical diagnosis.