• About Membrane Extraction Technology LTD

Membrane Extraction Technology (MET) Ltd is a chemical separations specialist supplying the pharmaceutical and fine chemicals industries. MET has an international client base spanning the USA, Europe and the Far East. MET has added significant value to our clients’ applications through a range of proprietary, patented membrane technologies. With a proven track record for contract research and process development, we continually review and develop new techniques to provide our customers with the tailored solutions they require.

History

• Founded in 1995 by researchers from Imperial College Department of Chemical Engineering, MET initially focused on treatment of aqueous process streams using the Membrane Aromatic Recovery System (MARS).
  
• In 1997, MET won the Cremer and Warner medal of the Institute of Chemical Engineers for the “best new environmental process”.
  
• Since 2002 MET have expanded our offering to include more general separation technologies. Using Organic Solvent Nanofiltration (OSN) membranes, we are currently focused on the production, recovery and purification of chemicals using solvent stable membranes.

Technology Platforms

• Molecular separations in organic solvents using Organic Solvent Nanofiltration (OSN). OSN technology was developed and commercialised for large-scale refinery operations by WR Grace and Co, USA. MET have pioneered the areas of purification of API, solvent exchange (MemSolVex), catalyst separation, heavy metal removal (MemSorb), and natural product fractionation as key areas where OSN offers major advantages over classical techniques such as distillation and chromatography.
• Selective extraction of organics from aqueous streams using membranes (the MARS process).

Commercialisation

• Commercial plants have been installed at major blue-chip manufacturers (Atofina, UK; Degussa, UK) using MARS technology to recover products and improve yields.
  
• MET has a commercial agreement with WR Grace, under which MET have the rights to develop applications for, and market the STARMEM(TM) range of OSN membranes, to the global fine chemicals and pharmaceuticals sectors.
  
• MET carry out process development at lab bench and pilot scale, supply testing equipment, and design plants for final installation on customer sites. MET supply membranes for process development and for scaled up commercial installations.

Further Information

• Case Studies
  
  
• Endorsements
  
  
• Publications