Molecular sieve breaks chemical separation barrier using defect-free atomic structure

The petrochemical industry relies on separating chemicals that differ by just fractions of a nanometer in size. Methanol must be purified from similarly-sized molecules in the production of plastics, pharmaceuticals, and fuels. Currently, this separation requires heating massive quantities of liquid mixtures until they boil at slightly different temperatures - an energy-intensive process that consumes as much electricity as the entire continent of Africa.