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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - NSF Chemical and Biological Separations (CBS) Program

1) What is the NSF Chemical and Biological Separations (CBS) program?

The National Science Foundation's Chemical and Biological Separations (CBS) program funds fundamental research that creates new methods, materials, and scientific understanding for separation processes. The program is centered on building deep, mechanistic insight into how separations work, particularly in complex, multiphase systems that matter to process-oriented industries.

2) What kinds of outcomes is CBS trying to enable?

CBS is tied to practical outcomes such as improved resource efficiency and stronger environmental protection. However, the program is explicitly grounded in fundamental science, not routine process scale-up or product development.

3) What is the core scientific focus of CBS-funded work?

CBS emphasizes molecular-to-process understanding of separations, including mechanistic descriptions of interfacial phenomena, transport behavior, and thermodynamics. A strong fit is research that produces quantitative descriptions of processing characteristics that matter in real-world separations.

4) Does CBS support incremental improvements to existing separation processes?

The program's stated emphasis is on moving beyond incremental process improvements. Proposals are expected to advance fundamental understanding and reveal governing mechanisms, rather than primarily reporting performance gains or making routine refinements.

5) What separation approaches and platforms are highlighted as major thrust areas?

A major thrust is advanced separation materials, with particular attention to membrane-based and adsorption-based separations. The program also includes areas such as chromatography, biochemical separations, and hybrid separation processes that combine multiple mechanisms.

6) What types of membrane materials are specifically mentioned?

The solicitation highlights interest in new membrane platforms, including novel polymers, zeolites, mixed-matrix materials, carbon nanotube-based structures, biological or biomimetic materials, and glassy systems.

7) Is modeling and simulation within scope for CBS?

Yes. CBS supports modeling and simulation of transport processes, especially molecular-level work that explains selectivity, permeability, fouling, and other performance-limiting behaviors. Projects that connect structure to function through theory, computation, and experiment are particularly aligned.

8) What does CBS mean by connecting "structure to function"?

Within this program framing, "structure to function" means explaining separation performance (for example selectivity, permeability, or fouling behavior) through underlying mechanisms that link material structure, interfaces, transport, and thermodynamics, rather than only providing performance metrics.

9) What energy-related separation needs does CBS call out?

The program points to emerging national needs such as the hydrogen economy and fuel cell technologies. Examples include membranes capable of selectively transporting atomic, molecular, or ionic hydrogen (and in some cases oxygen) while rejecting impurities, and membranes that reduce or prevent fuel crossover in fuel cells.

10) Why are hydrogen separations specifically emphasized?

CBS notes that many current membrane materials do not yet provide the selectivity needed to remove critical contaminants from hydrogen streams, which can poison downstream systems. This creates an opportunity for fundamentally new membrane chemistries and architectures.

11) What is "fuel crossover" and why does CBS care about it?

In the context provided, fuel crossover is the undesired transport of fuel through a membrane in a fuel cell. The program notes that crossover directly harms efficiency and durability, motivating research into membranes that reduce or prevent it.

12) Does CBS fund separation research for water purification?

Yes. The program identifies drinking water purification as an area that depends on new membranes and adsorbents and supports the materials science and separation science needed to enable next-generation purification processes.

13) What biological and biochemical separation topics are included?

Topics explicitly listed include biochemical separations and purification; separation of biological molecules; separation of molecular constituents from blood; chiral separations; adsorption and chromatography; and rational ligand design for selective binding and separation.

14) Are adsorption and chromatography explicitly within scope?

Yes. Adsorption and chromatography are explicitly listed, along with microporous and molecular-recognition adsorbents and rational ligand design for selective binding.

15) What materials and design strategies beyond membranes are encouraged?

The program includes microporous and molecular-recognition adsorbents, self-assembly approaches for creating membranes and adsorbents, nanostructured separation materials, and combinatorial strategies for designing separation systems.

16) What are "hybrid separation processes" in the CBS context?

Hybrid separation processes combine multiple separation mechanisms, such as pairing membranes with adsorption or reactive separations. The program highlights these combinations as within scope.

17) Are ionic liquids and field-induced separations considered relevant?

Yes. The program includes separations using ionic liquids and field-induced separations driven by flow, magnetic fields, or electric fields.

18) Does CBS include work on organic crystalline materials?

Yes. The opportunity notes interest in control and separation of organic crystalline materials.

19) Is thermodynamics and transport simulation for process design supported?

Yes. CBS welcomes thermodynamics and transport simulations used to design separation processes, consistent with its molecular-to-process understanding theme.

20) What proposal characteristics does CBS encourage?

CBS encourages projects that tackle emerging research areas and technologies, demonstrate genuine interdisciplinary thinking, and explicitly integrate research with education. Proposals should clearly communicate how the work advances foundational knowledge.

21) What does "integrate research with education" mean in this program description?

In the description provided, integration can include training students in cross-cutting skill sets (for example materials, chemical engineering, bioseparations, and modeling), developing educational modules or research experiences, and clearly articulating educational impacts alongside the research plan.

22) Are there particular thematic directions that CBS considers especially important?

Yes. The program highlights two especially important directions: separations of biological molecules and separations that enable environmentally benign processing.

23) What does CBS mean by "environmentally benign processing"?

As described, it includes greener processing approaches such as reduced solvent or energy use and improved environmental outcomes, while still being grounded in fundamental separation science.

24) How long are typical CBS unsolicited research awards?

Typical unsolicited research awards are generally one to three years.

25) What is the typical funding level for CBS awards?

The average annual award size is around $80,000, as stated in the opportunity description.

26) Are small equipment proposals allowed under this program?

Yes. The program considers small equipment proposals under $100,000, and these must be submitted during the same submission windows as regular proposals.

27) Are there strict submission windows for CBS proposals?

Yes. A key compliance point is that proposals submitted outside the announced window dates are returned without review.

28) How are CAREER proposals handled for CBS?

CAREER proposals follow NSF's separate CAREER mechanism with a five-year duration. The Engineering CAREER deadline is typically in July each year, according to the description provided.

29) Can conference, workshop, or supplement proposals be submitted anytime?

Yes, the announcement states that proposals for conferences, workshops, and supplements may be submitted at any time, but they require prior discussion with the program director.

30) What about RAPID and EAGER proposals?

RAPID and EAGER proposals require prior consultation with the program director before submission and must follow NSF's Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG) requirements.

31) Is eligibility restricted to certain applicant types?

The listing indicates unrestricted eligibility in general (open to any applicant type), subject to any additional eligibility clarifications in the full text.

32) What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?

This opportunity is listed under NSF Engineering Grants with CFDA 47.041.

33) The posting says it is archived. Which guidance should applicants follow?

The description notes that the referenced posting is archived and points to a later program description number for current guidance. Applicants are expected to use the most recent CBS program announcement and the current PAPPG when preparing a submission, while treating the scientific focus described here as the program's core mission and scope.

34) Does CBS fund routine scale-up or product development work?

The program description emphasizes fundamental science and mechanistic understanding, and it explicitly distinguishes itself from routine scale-up or product development.

35) What types of industrial sectors does CBS consider separations to underpin?

The opportunity notes that separation processes underpin major sectors such as chemicals, biotechnology, materials manufacturing, energy, and pharmaceuticals.