Via Separations

Via Separations is a spinout company from the Abdul Latif Jameel Water and Food Systems Lab (J-WAFS) at MIT aiming to revolutionise industrial separation processes. Traditional methods of separation often use energy-intensive thermal techniques or rely on fragile polymer membrane. The research for the company commenced in 2012, with a J-WAFS Seed Fund grant awarded to MIT professor Jeffrey Grossman. In 2015, researchers Shreya Dave and Brent Keller commenced working with Jeffrey and went on to receive an inaugural J-WAFS Solutions Grant to develop the project into a business plan to massively decarbonise industrial separations processes.

After conducting research with Jeffrey, the two co-founders developed a robust and cost-effective membrane made of graphene oxide that can reduce energy consumption in industrial separations by 90%. This is particularly significant as separation processes account for about 22% of all in-plant energy use in the United States alone. Via Separations began piloting its technology in a US paper company in 2021 and deployed as a full commercial system there in 2022. In 2021, it also announced a USD 38 million Series B. The company's mission is to save energy and reduce carbon dioxide emissions, with a goal of eliminating 500 megatons of CO2 emissions by 2050.