TECHNOLOGY LICENSING OPPORTUNITY: UltraGraph Membrane Extraction System
Overview
Buyer
Place of Performance
NAICS
PSC
Set Aside
Original Source
Timeline
Qualification Details
Fit reasons
- NAICS alignment with historical contract wins in similar service areas.
- Scope strongly matches core technical capabilities and delivery model.
Risks
- Past performance thresholds may require one additional teaming partner.
- Potential clarification needed on staffing minimums before bid/no-bid.
Next steps
Validate eligibility requirements, assign capture owner, and schedule partner outreach to confirm teaming strategy before submission planning.
Quick Summary
Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) is offering a Technology Licensing Opportunity for its UltraGraph Membrane Extraction System. This is not a call for external services or a procurement, but an invitation for existing and start-up companies to license patented and patent-pending inventions for commercial innovation. The system is a compact, modular device designed for efficient separation and recovery of targeted materials from liquid mixtures using an ultra-thin graphene membrane.
Technology Overview
The UltraGraph system utilizes a three-layer membrane (graphene between two porous formvar polymer films) within microchannels to achieve mass transfer performance comparable to conventional separation equipment, but with significantly smaller active areas. It allows for controlled mass transfer, ion exchange, or heat exchange without fluid mixing. The system is designed for easy integration into existing laboratory infrastructure with minimal modification.
Key Features & Advantages
- High Efficiency: Performs comparably to systems with separation areas 250 times larger.
- Tunable Selectivity: The graphene membrane can be chemically modified to target specific ions, molecules, or particles.
- Modular & Scalable: Additional chip-and-membrane layers can be stacked to increase capacity without a full redesign.
- Robust: Chemically stable and radiation resistant formvar support layers are inert to most chemicals and tolerate radiation exposure.
- Cost-Effective: Reusable quartz chips and inexpensive membranes lower the economic discard limit for recoverable materials.
- Leak-Resistant: ETFE gaskets and a compression housing address common leakage issues in microfluidic membrane systems.
Market Applications
The technology is suitable for diverse applications including:
- Water Treatment and Desalination (ion removal, brine processing)
- Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology (drug compound purification, sample preparation)
- Chemical Manufacturing (solvent extraction, chemical purification)
- Environmental Remediation (industrial wastewater treatment, heavy metal removal)
- Medical Diagnostics and Research (blood and plasma separation, analytical chemistry)
Licensing Details
LANL's licensing program focuses on moving research inventions to commercial innovations. Patented and patent-pending inventions, along with copyrighted software, are available through exclusive and non-exclusive licensing agreements. The technology is at TRL 4.
Contact & Deadline
Interested organizations should contact licensing@lanl.gov for specific discussions. Response Date: September 30, 2026. Published Date: June 5, 2026. Agency: Department of Energy, Los Alamos National Laboratory. Place of Performance: Los Alamos, NM.