Developing a Novel Membrane to Reduce Emissions in Canola Oil Production
Funded through ERA’s Food, Farming and Forestry call in 2021, SepPure Technologies developed and validated a novel organic solvent nanofiltration (OSN) membrane to reduce the energy and emissions of canola oil refining by replacing traditional solvent recovery processes. Although the project was terminated before field trials, it successfully advanced the technology to a field-ready state, demonstrated a potential 52 per cent energy savings and led to the creation of a new membrane research and development facility in Calgary.
Currently, oilseed crush operations are highly dependent on carbon-intensive distillation processes to recover solvents used in their operations to extract oils from seeds. To address this issue, OSN uses novel membranes with tiny pores that separate oil from solvent at the molecular level, without needing much heat. Instead, OSN only requires a small pump to push the liquid through the filter. The membranes are also designed to handle harsh organic solvents like hexane, something most filters can’t do. This makes the process much less energy-intensive, which lowers both costs and greenhouse gas emissions.
Adapting the Technology to Industry Needs
During the project, SepPure created a research lab in Calgary and built a test system. First, the team tested the membranes in the lab setting to ensure they could meet performance targets—mainly how fast the membranes could filter solvent and how well they could separate oil from solvent. There was initial success filtering acetone; however, the partner facility used hexane. As a result, SepPure shifted focus and successfully created a membrane that works with hexane. The team tested over 40 membrane modules and used the results to produce economic and energy savings studies, which showed the technology could cut energy use by more than half. Based on these results, the team began designing a small-scale field system to test at an oilseed plant; however, the funding relationship with the project was ultimately terminated. Despite the cancellation, the project yielded key results for future projects. Adapting the technology to real-world industrial needs, like working with hexane, built valuable knowledge about fabricating this technology. This highlights the importance of flexibility and having a strong local research base to keep improving the technology.
What’s next?
Since the funding relationship was terminated in 2024, SepPure began selling the ONS membrane at the industrial scale. Branded as the GreenMem®, the ONS membrane is applicable to a variety of industries, including food, pharmaceutical and petrochemical. The testing facility created during this project is now a core center for SepPure’s ongoing research and development program. This research platform is focused on the continued creation of clean technologies, many of which are applicable to Alberta-based industries. Overall, Seppure Canada is working on projects with partners around the world, which have the potential to bring substantial revenues back to Alberta as well.