Grants / National Science Foundation / U.S. National Science Foundation

NSF PD-19-1417: Molecular Separations

Closed Closed Opportunity NSF PD-19-1417 ☆ Save

This grant is closed. A newer notice from the same program is open now: Major Research Instrumentation Program: (MRI) (NSF 27-500). Status: Closes January 29, 2027 (83 days left). It is in our archive of U.S. National Science Foundation notices from 2025.

• Total funding$3.2 million
• Cost sharingNot required
• Funding typeGrant

Key dates

Who can apply

This opportunity was open to any type of organization.

• Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility"

More grants for nonprofits, colleges and universities, state and local governments, tribes, small businesses, businesses, individuals.

Is this a realistic fit?

• Most of the program's money (89% over five years) went to colleges and universities.
• No cost sharing or match is required.

What the grant funds

The Molecular Separations program is part of the Chemical Process Systems cluster, which also includes 1) Catalysis; 2) Electrochemical Systems; and 3) Process Systems, Reaction Engineering, and Molecular Thermodynamics. The Molecular Separations program supports research focused on novel methods and materials for separation processes, such as those central to the chemical, biochemical, bioprocessing, materials, energy, and pharmaceutical industries. A fundamental understanding of the interfacial, transport, and thermodynamic behavior of multiphase chemical systems as well as quantitative descriptions of processing characteristics in the process-oriented industries is critical for efficient resource management and effective environmental protection. The program encourages proposals that address long standing challenges and emerging research areas and technologies, have a high degree of interdisciplinary work coupled with the generation of fundamental knowledge, and the integration of education and research. Research topics of particular interest include fundamental, molecular-level work on: A molecular-level design of scalable mass separating agents (e.g., adsorbents and membranes) targeted for a specific gas, chemical, or water separation A molecular-level understanding of interfacial thermodynamics, fluid nanoconfinement, and/or transport within nanopores or highly engineered surfaces Engineering science that advances a fundamental and/or a mechanistic understanding of mass transport principles and/or design of separation processes Downstream processing of biologically derived chemicals for increased throughput Integrated design of chemical separations with other chemical conversions for process intensification Innovative separation mechanisms or engineering processes, including but not limited to field (flow, magnetic, electrical) induced separations, that target a significant reduction in energy and/or materials requirements in the process industries NOTE:Field-based particle separations that advance fundamental transport principles with application to a novel separation problem will be considered, with co-review by this program and Particulate and Multiphase Processes (1415). Proposals concerning the separation of components from blood with simultaneous detection using sensors for biomedical diagnostics should be submitted to the Biosensing program (7909).

Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development.

Applying now

This notice no longer takes applications. Apply under the newer notice, NSF 27-500, which is open now.

The notice on Grants.gov keeps its full text and attachments, which is useful for planning a resubmission.