Eliminating 90 percent of energy used during thermal separations with durable graphene oxide membranes
Via Separations, an MIT-based venture, has developed a cost-effective, innovative membrane for industrial separations. Made of graphene oxide, the membrane can reduce the amount of energy used in industrial separations by 90% and capital expenditures by 50%. Unlike its polymer alternatives, graphene oxide's chemical composition enables it to withstand various environments, pH levels, and temperatures, factors that often lead polymer membranes to swell, react, or degrade during separations. Via's cross-industry filtration system is inherently modular and flexible to demand, offering a more efficient and sustainable solution without downtime or overhaul of production facilities. Via's pilot with Graphic Packaging International (GPI) demonstrated the first successful implementation of membranes in the black liquor process in history, representing the first step towards deploying membrane-based filtration systems across pulp, chemical, and petrochemical separations.
Notable Achievements
- Deployed two (third ongoing) successful field pilots demonstrating 10 million times scale up of the technology.
- Scaling to commercial implementation just 4 years after inception.
- Raised nearly $50M in venture and grant capital.
Press Mentions

October 21, 2021
MIT spinoff Via Separations scores $38M Series B to decarbonize manufacturing
Via Separations is a startup from a couple of MIT material science engineers who figured out a way to reduce the amount of energy required in a manufacturing process, resulting in lower carbon...
Read on TechCrunch »Work at Via Separations
Posted September 13, 2023
Research & Development Co-Op - Spring 2024
Watertown, MA, USA
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