Part of the DoW SBIR/STTR FY27 Release 2 topic list. Browse all 83 topics by industry or service.
Topic DON27TZ02-NV008 from the DoW STTR 2027 BAA, Release 2. Pre-release now; proposals due January 6, 2027, 12:00 PM ET.
Quick answer
DON27TZ02-NV008 is a Department of the Navy STTR topic seeking a low-cost, low-energy nonmetallic membrane process that continuously separates, purifies, compresses, and stores CO2 recovered from electrochemically processed seawater. It is an STTR topic that starts at Phase I; as an STTR, it requires a research-institution partner. Proposals are due January 6, 2027, 12:00 PM ET.
Solicitation at a glance
- Topic number: DON27TZ02-NV008
- Official title: Membranes for Separation, Purification, Compression, and Storage of Carbon Resources from Alkaline Water
- Agency: Department of the Navy
- Program: STTR (DoW STTR 2027 BAA, Release 2)
- Award type: Phase I (see topic text for Phase II)
- Award amount: Phase I base up to $200,000 plus an option up to $115,000. Source: Navy Release 2 instructions in DSIP.
- CMMC level: Level 2 (Self)
- ITAR: No
- Technology areas: None
- Pre-release (direct TPOC contact allowed): November 4 to December 2, 2026, 8:00 AM ET
- Opens in DSIP: December 2, 2026, 8:00 AM ET
- Proposals due: January 6, 2027, 12:00 PM ET
- Official source: DSIP Topics app (search DON27TZ02-NV008)
BW&CO's take
What the Department of the Navy wants
CO2 harvested from seawater can feed local synthesis of fuels, materials, nutrients, and pharmaceuticals in forward-deployed settings, but current recovery methods dilute the CO2 with air and water vapor, which can damage downstream catalysts and adds compression penalties. The Navy wants a nonmetallic membrane process operating at no more than 50°C that delivers pure, compressed CO2. Phase I validates feasibility in the lab across pH 2 to 5. Phase II designs a continuous prototype process to capture 90 to 100% of CO2 from a 25,000 gal/day acidified seawater source, purify it to 98% free of O2 and H2O, and compress it to at least 300 psi.
Who is a good fit
- Gas separation membrane development, especially nonmetallic membranes for CO2 in wet or acidic conditions
- Experience with electrochemical ocean carbon capture or acidified seawater degassing processes
- Process engineering skills for energy and material balances, compression, and continuous-flow system design
- Analytical capability to measure CO2 yield and purity and to test membrane structural and chemical integrity over time
Watch-outs
- This is an STTR topic, so you need a formal research-institution partner performing a meaningful share of the work.
- The process temperature must not exceed 50°C and the membrane must be nonmetallic per the topic description.
- Phase II targets are specific and large-scale: 25,000 gal/day throughput, 90 to 100% capture, 98% purity free of O2 and H2O, and at least 300 psi compression.
- The topic requires CMMC Level 2 (Self). It is not marked as ITAR-restricted in the topic metadata.
Think your company fits DON27TZ02-NV008? Talk with BW&CO before the January 6 deadline.
Plan Your DON27TZ02-NV008 Submission
Official topic text (verbatim from DSIP)
The text in this section is copied word for word from the official DSIP topic as published on November 4, 2026. DSIP is the official source and topics can be amended. Always confirm the current version at dodsbirsttr.mil before you submit. Our commentary above is BW&CO's interpretation, not Government guidance.
Title
Membranes for Separation, Purification, Compression, and Storage of Carbon Resources from Alkaline Water
Objective
Develop a low-cost, robust, energy-efficient, and scalable membrane process to continuously separate, purify, compress, and store carbon dioxide from electrochemically processed alkaline water sources to support the local synthesis of fuels, nutrients, materials, and pharmaceuticals in austere, forward-deployed environments.
Description
This STTR topic seeks to develop a low-cost, low-energy, low-temperature (not to exceed 50°C), high-throughput nonmetallic membrane process to purify and store carbon dioxide (CO2) (from acidic seawater solutions). Carbon resources harvested from seawater represent a critical renewable feedstock for the localized synthesis of tactical fuels, materials, nutrients, and pharmaceuticals. Developing the capability to generate these resources in-theater or at the tactical edge enhances multi-domain operational sustainment. Current technologies used to recover the dissolved CO2 produced from electrochemically processed seawater often result in dilution of the CO2 with air and water vapor that can lead to detrimental sintering and oxidation of catalysts used in thermochemical and biological synthetic approaches. In addition, there are volumetric and compression penalties associated with the dilution of the targeted gas. The proposed membrane process will reduce the complexity, size, and costs associated with supplying pure carbon dioxide resources from alkaline water sources.
The integrated membrane, purification, and compression process will provide equipment, process, design criteria, energy and material balance; and establish operational performance parameters.
Phase I
Define a concept for a specific membrane process for the separation and purification of CO2 from acidified seawater solutions. Define, develop, and perform initial laboratory assessment of the proposed membrane process to validate the technical feasibility of the approach for the capture, purification, and storage of CO2 from seawater over a pH range of 2 to 5. Perform analysis of the CO2 to determine yield and purity. Perform analysis on the membrane to determine the membranes’ ability to maintain performance, structural and chemical integrity.
Phase II
Develop a prototype process based on the work achieved in Phase I. Design the prototype as a continuous process to capture, purify, and store 90 to 100% of CO2 from a 25,000 gal/day acidified seawater source; and to purify the captured CO2 to 98% with the resulting purified CO2 stream free of oxygen (O2) and water (H2O), compressed to at least 300psi, and stored for utilization in various synthetic processes. Establish performance parameters and proof of concept for development of full-scale process. Prepare a Phase III commercialization/transition plan.
Phase III Dual Use Applications
Using data on the resulting integrated membrane, purification, and compression process, provide the design criteria for transitioning the technology to larger capacities. Develop and test a 250,000 gal/day process. Provide a cost-benefit analysis to show process outperforms current cryogenic distillation and pressure swing adoption processes.
Dual use applications include: (1) breweries and distilleries to recover and reuse CO2, (2) desalination plants for post treatment of CO2 capture and mineral scaling prevention, (3) offshore oil, gas, and maritime industries for commercial fuel synthesis, (4) commercial aquaculture, (5) fire suppression, and (6) dry ice for preservation.
References
Marquez, R. A., Nielander, A. C., Resasco, J., Jaramillo, T. F. and Mullins, C. B. “Electrochemical Ocean-Based Carbon Capture: Roadblocks to Scale-Up.” ACS Energy Letters, American Chemical Society, February 13, 2026, pp 1241-1259. https://carbondioxide-removal.eu/2026/02/07/marquez-et-al-2026-electrochemical-ocean-based-carbon-capture-roadblocks-to-scale-up/
Digdaya, I. A.; Sullivan, I., Lin, M., Han, L., Cheng, W. H., Atwater, H. A. and Xiang, C. “A Direct Coupled Electrochemical System for Capture and Conversion of CO2 from Oceanwater.” Nat Commun 2020, 11 (1). https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-020-18232-y
Captura “Innovation & cost reductions in Direct Ocean Capture, 08/13/2024.” Captura CORP, 2024. https://capturacorp.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/DOC-innovations-and-cost-reductions.pdf
Keywords
Synthesis, carbon, membrane, separation, purification, seawater, alkaline water
Frequently asked questions
What is DON27TZ02-NV008?
It is a Department of the Navy STTR topic to develop a scalable membrane process that continuously separates, purifies, compresses, and stores CO2 from electrochemically processed alkaline water sources to support local synthesis of fuels, nutrients, materials, and pharmaceuticals in austere environments.
When is DON27TZ02-NV008 due?
Proposals are due January 6, 2027, 12:00 PM ET. DSIP pre-release began November 4, 2026, and direct contact with the topic authors is allowed only until the topic opens on December 2, 2026, 8:00 AM ET. After that, questions go through DSIP Topic Q&A.
Is this a Phase I or Direct-to-Phase II topic?
It is a Phase I STTR topic. Phase I defines the membrane process concept and performs initial laboratory assessment over pH 2 to 5, including CO2 yield, purity, and membrane integrity analysis. Phase II builds a continuous prototype. As an STTR, it requires a research-institution partner.
What problem with current CO2 recovery does the Navy want solved?
Current technologies often dilute the recovered CO2 with air and water vapor, which can cause sintering and oxidation of catalysts used in thermochemical and biological synthesis, and adds volumetric and compression penalties. The membrane process should deliver a purified stream free of O2 and H2O.