Innovative Membrane Technology Enhancing Natural Gas Efficiency and Sustainability

Francesco Benedetti’s journey at MIT embodies how visionary mentorship and cutting-edge material and science innovations can transform energy efficiency, aiming to revolutionize natural gas upgrading and combat climate change.

From Student to Startup Founder

Francesco Benedetti was not always a star student, but the inspiring people he met throughout his education motivated him to excel. His research at MIT led him to co-found Osmoses, a startup focused on enhancing the energy efficiency of traditional and renewable natural gas processing, hydrogen production, and carbon capture technologies. Osmoses aims to address one of society’s greatest challenges by deploying advanced membrane technology.

Innovative Membrane Technology for Energy

Benedetti and his team developed polymer membranes with micropores fine enough to separate molecules differing by fractions of an angstrom. This technology significantly outperforms existing commercial options by up to five times in selectivity for methane upgrading. By filtering impurities such as carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide without toxic solvents, Osmoses’ membranes can reduce CO2 emissions by up to 16 million metric tons annually in the U.S., while saving energy equivalent to powering seven million homes.

The MIT Community and Mentorship

Arriving at MIT in 2017 from the University of Bologna, Benedetti connected with like-minded mentors including Zachary P. Smith and Holden Lai. Their shared vision fostered the foundation of Osmoses. Benedetti also co-founded the MIT Visiting Student Association (VISTA) to build community and support international students, which quickly gained recognition and awards for enhancing campus life.

“The moment you lose touch with people, you lose the opportunity to create something special.” – Francesco Benedetti

Overcoming Failure and Inspiring Resilience

Benedetti embraces failure as a vital part of innovation. His organization FAIL!–Inspiring Resilience aims to destigmatize failure and promote humble leadership by sharing unfiltered stories from leaders. This culture fosters creativity and mental well-being, encouraging individuals to take risks that lead to breakthrough discoveries.

Path Forward for Osmoses

After winning the prestigious MIT $100K Entrepreneurship Competition in 2021 and securing a $3 million pre-seed round, Osmoses is advancing towards building an industrial-scale prototype. With ongoing support from MIT’s Deshpande Center and Sandbox Innovation Fund, the startup is poised to disrupt the $5 billion natural gas upgrading market by bringing sustainable innovation to energy separation processes.

Image credit: MIT Energy Initiative