{
  "id": 7089037,
  "title": "Chinese scientists develop new oil refining method that may cut energy use by 90%",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/13/chinese-scientists-develop-new-oil-refining-method-that-may-cut",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-09-13T10:00:07.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Reuters Business via SCMP",
    "slug": "reuters-business-via-scmp",
    "url": "https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3367332/chinese-scientists-develop-new-oil-refining-method-may-cut-energy-use-90"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Chinese scientists have developed a new method for refining oil that could potentially reduce energy consumption by up to 90%. This innovative technique, termed \"molecular refining,\" utilizes a chemical membrane to separate crude oil molecules at the molecular level, unlike traditional distillation methods that rely on boiling points and energy-intensive heating and cooling cycles. By employing metal organic framework membranes with precise pore sizes and surface properties, the process can effectively segregate various compounds, such as ethylene, aromatics for plastics and resins, and petrol components, thereby maximizing resource utilization. The researchers from the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics described their method as \"cascade membrane separation,\" where two distinct membranes are used sequentially to achieve high-value product separation with a recovery rate of between 85-90%. In laboratory tests, the new process separated a simulated light naphtha mixture containing 15 components into three high-value product groups. Crucially, the new refining method consumed significantly less energy—around 91% less compared to traditional distillation. The study, published in National Science Review, highlights the potential of this technique to reduce production costs, emissions, and enhance product value, marking a significant advancement in sustainable petrochemical refining.",
  "summary": "Chinese scientists say they have devised a new technique for refining oil that cuts the amount of energy consumed during the process by roughly 90 per cent. If the technology used in the study could be scaled up for industry, it would not only greatly reduce production costs and emissions, but also make the process more precise and boost product value. Crude oil cannot be turned directly into…",
  "key_points": [
    "Chinese scientists develop molecular refining method",
    "Reduces energy use by up to 90% compared to traditional distillation",
    "Cascade membrane separation achieves 85-90% product recovery rate"
  ],
  "editors_take": "This breakthrough in molecular refining could significantly reduce energy consumption and production costs in petrochemical refining, marking a major shift towards more sustainable practices in the industry.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "South China Morning Post",
        "title": "Chinese scientists develop new oil refining method that may cut energy use by 90%",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/13/chinese-scientists-develop-new-oil-refining-method-that-may-cut-7089689",
        "published": "2026-09-13T10:00:07.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}