Rice University has established the Rice Center for Membrane Excellence (RiCeME), which is dedicated to developing advanced membrane materials and separation technologies for energy, environmental sustainability and chemical processing applications. The announcement was made during the Rice Global Paris Center Symposium held March 17-18 in Paris.
RiCeME aligns with the strategic priorities of Rice’s School of Engineering and Computing, focusing on energy and sustainability. The center aims to secure funding from federal agencies, industry partners and global collaborators to accelerate developing and deploying more efficient and sustainable membrane separation processes.
“Houston is the ideal place to drive innovation in membrane separation technologies,” said Menachem Elimelech, the Nancy and Clint Carlson Professor in Civil and Environmental Engineering and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, who will lead RiCeME. “Membranes are critical for energy-related separations such as fuel cells, carbon capture and water purification. Our work will enhance efficiency and sustainability in these key sectors.”
Mission and objectives
RiCeME’s mission includes advancing next-generation membrane materials.
Membranes act as selective barriers, allowing specific molecules to pass through while blocking others and are essential for separating reactants and products in energy conversion processes like fuel cells and electrolyzers.
“Membrane technology is transforming how we approach environmental challenges,” said Pedro Alvarez, the George R. Brown Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering and director of the Rice WaTER Institute. “Improving selective separations, efficiency and scalability can drive solutions for clean water and sustainable energy.”
Collaborative approach
RiCeME fosters a vibrant, interdisciplinary research environment by engaging faculty expertise from the departments of civil and environmental engineering, chemical and biomolecular engineering, materials science and nanoengineering and chemistry. This collaborative approach enables comprehensive investigation, from fundamental materials science to applied engineering solutions.
“Rice University is committed to pushing the boundaries of research that has real-world impact,” said Luay Nakhleh, the William and Stephanie Sick Dean of the George R. Brown School of Engineering and Computing. “RiCeME is a testament to our dedication to solving pressing global challenges through engineering innovation.”
The center prioritizes strong partnerships with Houston-area industries, including those in the oil and gas, chemical and energy sectors, addressing their specific needs such as water reuse and resource recovery. RiCeME’s research spans the entire development pipeline, encompassing membrane material design and synthesis, bench-scale testing and pilot-scale demonstrations.
“Breakthroughs in membrane technology will play a crucial role in addressing energy and sustainability challenges,” said Ramamoorthy Ramesh, executive vice president for research at Rice. “RiCeME’s interdisciplinary approach ensures that our discoveries move from the lab to real-world applications, driving innovation at the intersection of science and industry.”
Along with its research and deployment goals, the center also serves as a hub for knowledge dissemination and workforce development by hosting workshops, symposia and training programs on cutting-edge membrane science and technology.