We’re excited to announce that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has officially granted U.S. Patent No. 12,427,473 for technology co-developed by Chromis Technologies and the University of Kansas. This new patent covers a novel class of fluoropolymer-coated hollow fiber membranes designed to separate azeotropic refrigerant blends – specifically, the selective removal of difluoromethane (HFC-32) from mixtures like R-410A.
Behind the patent is a larger story – one of climate urgency, innovation in polymer science, and a new path forward for refrigerant sustainability.
The Problem: A Climate-Sized Chemistry Challenge
The HVAC and refrigeration industry is facing a collision of forces:
- A global boom in cooling demand – with 10 new air conditioners sold every second through 2050 (IEA).
- Tightened regulation on high-GWP refrigerants like R-410A, which contains HFC-32 and HFC-125 (US EPA).
- No viable way to recycle these refrigerants once mixed, due to their azeotropic behavior – they boil and condense as a single substance, making traditional separation techniques like distillation ineffective (https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adp7414).
The result? Most end-of-life refrigerants are burned or vented. Valuable compounds are lost. Emissions spike. And a circular economy for refrigerants remains out of reach.
The Breakthrough: A Material That Separates the Unseparable
Our team at Chromis collaborated with Prof. Mark Shiflett, Dr. Abby Harders, and other researchers at the University of Kansas to create a new kind of hollow fiber membrane – one coated with a submicron layer of a custom fluoropolymer that selectively permeates HFC-32 while rejecting HFC-125.
This wasn’t just a material discovery – it was a full-system innovation:
- Custom polymers based on PBVE-co-PDD (amorphous perfluoropolymers) were tuned for high permeability and selectivity.
- A reel-to-reel coating system was developed to scale production of defect-free, coated hollow fibers – no intermediate layers, no compromises.
- Lab-scale testing demonstrated single-pass purities exceeding 95 mol% HFC-32, opening the door to real-world reclaim and reuse.
“This is the first time an azeotropic refrigerant blend like R-410A has been effectively separated into its pure components using a scalable membrane solution.” – Prof. Mark Shiflett, University of Kansas
From Research to Reality: Icorium Engineering Launches
With this patent as its foundation, the technology has been spun out into Icorium Engineering Company – a startup focused on commercializing extractive distillation- and membrane-based refrigerant separation.
Icorium is already developing industrial-scale modules for refrigerant reclaimers and equipment manufacturers, with the goal of closing the loop on refrigerant lifecycle management and reducing emissions across the board.
Our Role: Materials Science, Scaled for Impact
Chromis brought its deep expertise in specialty polymer design and hollow fiber processing to the project. Our contributions included:
- Developing the PBVE-co-PDD polymer platform optimized for refrigerant selectivity.
- Collaborating on the coating process to ensure micron-scale control, scalability, and manufacturing repeatability.
- Working hand-in-hand with university researchers to integrate lab results into commercial membrane design.
The end result is not just a patent – it’s a technology ready for real-world deployment.
“We were glad to have the opportunity to work with the experts at the University of Kansas to address this critical environmental problem using our amorphous fluoropolymer technology.” – Dr. Whitney White, co-founder and CTO of Chromis Technologies
Why It Matters: Refrigerant Circularity is No Longer Theoretical
With the EPA requiring recycled refrigerants for servicing and new systems by 2028, and global supply of high-GWP refrigerants tightening, this membrane solution arrives at the right moment.
It offers a non-thermal, low-energy pathway to separate and reclaim refrigerants, dramatically reducing the environmental impact of cooling.
And it shows how the right polymer – engineered with precision – can unlock climate solutions that scale.
Want to collaborate or learn more about membrane-based refrigerant separation?
Let’s talk. Whether you’re reclaiming refrigerants, designing HVAC equipment, or working on clean tech integration, we’re open to partnerships that move the industry forward.
FAQs
What is azeotropic refrigerant separation?
Azeotropic refrigerants, like R-410A, contain components that boil and condense as one, making them nearly impossible to separate using traditional methods like distillation. Azeotropic separation involves breaking this behavior to recover the individual components.
Why is this patent significant?
This is the first scalable membrane-based technology proven to separate azeotropic refrigerant blends like R-410A into their pure components. It enables the recovery and reuse of valuable compounds like HFC-32, previously destined for incineration or venting.
What are the environmental benefits?
The new membrane system reduces emissions by enabling refrigerant reclamation instead of disposal. It supports a circular economy and aligns with upcoming regulations requiring recycled refrigerants.
Who developed the technology?
The membrane was co-developed by Chromis Technologies and researchers from the University of Kansas, including Prof. Mark Shiflett and Dr. Abby Harders.
What is Icorium Engineering Company?
Icorium is a startup spun out to commercialize the patented technology. It focuses on building membrane modules and systems for industrial-scale refrigerant separation.
What role did Chromis Technologies play?
Chromis developed the custom fluoropolymer and scalable coating process that made the membrane separation possible. Their material science expertise was critical to transforming the lab discovery into a commercial-ready solution.
How does the membrane work?
The membrane uses a fluoropolymer coating that selectively allows HFC-32 to pass through while rejecting HFC-125, enabling efficient separation in a single pass.
Can this technology be integrated into existing systems?
Yes. It’s being designed for integration into refrigerant reclaim operations and equipment manufacturing, making it suitable for wide-scale adoption.