Richard D. Noble

Richard D. Noble is a Research Professor in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Colorado Boulder. His research focuses on advanced membrane technologies for gas and liquid separations, with particular expertise in ionic liquids, liquid crystals, and the application of external fields for selective separations. He maintains an active laboratory in Cristol Chemistry (room 357) and collaborates extensively with Professor Doug Gin on many research projects.

Noble received his BE and ME from Stevens Institute of Technology in 1968 and 1969 respectively, followed by a Ph.D. from the University of California, Davis in 1976. His educational background in engineering has provided a strong foundation for his research in chemical engineering and materials science.

Professor Noble's research program centers on three interconnected areas. His primary focus is on ionic liquids for gas separations, where he evaluates various ionic liquids and complexation chemistry to tailor material properties to specific feed mixtures. He explores composite polymer/IL structures and incorporation of complexation chemistry and zeolites, and has developed specialized apparatus to measure gas solubility and diffusivity in ionic liquids. This work is conducted in collaboration with Professor Doug Gin.

His second research thrust involves the use of external fields for selective separations. Noble studies how electric or light energy can enhance separation processes by changing binding affinity of complexing agents. His notable achievement is an electrochemical pump with no moving parts that produces pressures exceeding 20 atm, with applications in lab-on-a-chip and micro-scale devices. He also develops charged polymer structures for membrane separators with wide temperature and chemical stability.

His third major area focuses on liquid crystals organized to form nanostructured polymer network films. These cross-linked stable films are evaluated for nanofiltration applications, particularly in water filtration including treatment of water from fracking operations. This work often intersects with his ionic liquids research, creating composite structures with potential applications in electrochemical pumps.

Noble's publication record from 2017-2019 shows consistent focus on membrane technologies for separation processes, with increasing sophistication in membrane design incorporating ionic liquids, liquid crystals, and novel materials like pillar[5]arenes. His work demonstrates a clear trend toward addressing practical industrial challenges, particularly in natural gas purification (CO₂/CH₄ separation) and environmental applications (treatment of fracking wastewater). His collaborations have produced high-impact work published in top journals including Nature Materials, Journal of Membrane Science, and Angewandte Chemie.

Professor Noble has received numerous prestigious awards recognizing his contributions:

• AIChE Institute Service to Society Award (2005)
• Alfred T. and Betty E. Look Professor of Chemical Engineering (2005-present)
• Multiple Outstanding Graduate Teaching Awards from the Chemical Engineering Department (2006-2008)
• ACS Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Division Fellow (2007)
• CU Boulder Inventor of the Year (2008)
• Barrer Lecture at Penn State University (2008)
• Fellow at the Renewable and Sustainable Energy Institute (2009-2012)
• Robert L. Stearns Award from CU Alumni Association (2010)
• Chair d'Excellence Pierre de Fermat at Paul Sabatier University, Toulouse (2010)
• AIChE Institute Excellence in Industrial Gas Technology Award (2010)
• And numerous others through 2015

While specific grant details aren't provided, Noble's extensive publication record with multiple co-authors suggests active research mentoring and well-funded projects. His work on sophisticated apparatus and high-quality publications indicates substantial research support. His collaborations, especially with Doug Gin, suggest a strong research group environment focused on membrane science and separation technologies.

Professor Noble's research operates at the intersection of chemistry, chemical engineering, and materials science. His laboratory includes facilities for membrane fabrication, gas separation testing, and characterization of novel materials. The development of specialized apparatus for measuring gas properties in ionic liquids suggests dedicated equipment for fundamental property measurements. His work on electrochemical pumps indicates capabilities in microfluidics and device fabrication, with the collaborative nature of his research suggesting a team approach to tackling complex separation challenges.