ExxonMobil, Georgia Tech joint research could lead to massive reductions in energy use and emissions

ExxonMobil and Georgia Tech University have announced an innovation that could lead to major cuts in chemical manufacturing energy use and emissions -- a molecular-level filter.

The filter could significantly reduce energy needed to produce polyester and plastic in manufacturing facilities.
 
“Through collaboration with strong academic institutions like Georgia Tech, we are constantly exploring new, more efficient ways to produce the energy, chemicals and other products consumers around the world rely on every day," Vijay Swarup, vice president of research and development at ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company, said. “If advanced to commercial-scale application, this technology could significantly reduce the amount of greenhouse gas emissions associated with chemical manufacturing.”
 
The innovative research was published in the peer-reviewed journal, Science. At an industrial scale, the breakthrough could cut annual carbon dioxide emissions around the world by up to 45 million tons. Additionally, the use of the filter in production could reduce global energy costs for making plastic by close to $2 billion per year.
 
"In effect, we’d be using a filter with microscopic holes to do what an enormous amount of heat and energy currently do in a chemical process similar to that found in oil refining,” Mike Kerby, corporate strategic research manager at ExxonMobil, said.