Celanese venture to commercialize fuel cell technology

Electropure Inc of Laguna Hills, Californiahas been granted a second US patent for itsion-exchange membranes.

These membranes form an integral part of thecompany’s electrodeionization (EDI) waterpurification technology. EDI is used in industri-al water treatment systems to produce ultrapurewater for electronic, pharmaceutical and powergeneration applications. The company marketsits membrane for non-EDI uses under the tradename Excellion.

The patent (US 6716888) describes animproved ion-exchange membrane made by

using Electropure’s environmentally friendly,‘solventless’ process. This reduces the mem-brane’s exposure to heat, which could damagesensitive ion-exchange sites.

Electropure says that it is continuing toexpand its portfolio of US and foreign patents inthis technology. The company currently exportsabout two-thirds of its EDI products, and sellsto 37 countries worldwide.

Contact: Electropure Inc, 23456 South Pointe Drive,Laguna Hills, CA 92653, USA. Tel: +1 949 770 9347,Fax: +1 949 770 9209, www.electropure-inc.com

German-based Celanese AG has formedPEMEAS Fuel Cell Technologies – with a con-sortium of investors led by UK-basedConduit Ventures Ltd – to promote the com-mercialization of its fuel cell technology.

PEMEAS supplies membrane-electrodeassemblies for high-temperature polymer elec-trolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cells, which areexpected to be more cost-effective and reliablethan conventional low-temperature fuel cells.

The venture, in which Celanese holds aminority stake, has raised total financing ofapproximately �18 million. The Conduit-ledconsortium also comprises Sustainable AssetManagement in Zürich, CDP Capital inQuébec, Canada and InfraServ GmbH & CoHoechst KG in Frankfurt, a Celanese affiliate

which manages the industrial park Frankfurt-Hoechst. Conduit is a venture capital companythat focuses on fuel cells and related hydrogentechnologies, and is backed by Danfoss A/S,Johnson Matthey, Mitsubishi Corporation andShell Hydrogen.

Contacts:Dr Jürgen Pawlik, PEMEAS Fuel Cell Technologies,Industriepark Hoechst, G864, D-65926 Frankfurt amMain, Germany. Tel: +49 69 305 82463, Fax: +49 69305 17709, Email: J.Pawlik@pemeas.com,www.pemeas.com

Conduit Ventures Ltd, 20–21 Took’s Court, CursitorStreet, London EC4A 1LB, UK. Tel: +44 207 242 9595,www.conduit-ventures.com

ISSN 0958-2118 June 2004www.filtsep.com

C o n t e n t s

News 1–4

In Brief 3, 4

Feature:GTL synthesis gas generationmembrane for monetizingstranded gasBy Susanne Olsen and Edward Gobina– Centre for Process Integration &Membrane Technology, RobertGordon University, UK 6–10

Patents 11–14

Events Calendar 15

Research Trends 15–16

Celanese venture to commercialize fuel cell technology

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Electropure second patent for ion-exchange membrane

French-based Veolia Environnement hassigned an agreement under which it will sellUS Filter Corporation’s systems and servicesbusinesses to Siemens, for US$993 million.

Veolia Environnement says that the move is amajor step in its strategy to refocus its water activ-ities in North America on long-term contracts forboth municipal and industrial clients, which wasannounced last September. It follows the sale ofEverpure in November 2003.

‘The sale of US Filter Corp’s systems and ser-vices businesses generated significant interestfrom both strategic and financial investors,’ saysHenri Proglio, chairman/CEO of VeoliaEnvironnement.

The transaction is expected to close duringthe third quarter of 2004 following approval bythe applicable antitrust authorities.

Contact:Veolia Water North America, 14950 Heathrow ForestParkway, Suite 200, Houston, TX 77032. Tel: +1 281 9855479, Fax: +1 281 449 1500, www.veoliawaterna.com

Siemens to buy USFilter

Ceramic membranes aid hydrogen-based technologiesThe US Department of Energy’s ArgonneNational Lab is working on a ceramic mem-brane which may help develop hydrogen-based technologies, such as fuel cell vehicles.

Ceramic membranes lack pores, and are madeof dense, conductive materials through whichonly electrons and certain ions can pass. Themembranes behave differently depending on thematerial used to form them. After studying the

conductivity and solubility of various materials,an Argonne research team developed a compos-ite ceramic oxide that transports only hydrogenand electrons, producing a stream of pure hydro-gen suitable for use in hydrogen technologies.

The new membrane tolerates temperatures upto 900°C, unlike most membrane systems. Atsuch high temperatures more hydrogen can bepushed through the membrane’s structure.