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Less than forty years ago a fledgling industry appeared that specialized in the technology of separating the individual components of gases. Today those processes have become even more significant as a method of driving down production costs while decreasing the amount of collateral pollution. Those early experiments in diffusion sparked development of important processes used currently, and gas separation membrane technology has an important future.
The primary impact is in hydrogen separation in petrochemical plants or ammonia production facilities, in removing nitrogen from air, separating water vapor and carbon dioxide from natural gas during refining, and the removal of organic vapor from air or other gas mixtures. Various types of filters have separated liquid components successfully, and the same general filtering principles are being applied to industrial gases.
The newer processes have become especially significant within the petrochemical industry, and are now cost-competitive with other methods. Extracting various valuable components from natural gas has been historically expensive, but can now be removed quickly and efficiently without incurring extra costs. The associated equipment is relatively simple to use, and is considered low-maintenance. Related sales are in the multi-miillion dollar range.
Membranes are the key to the success and efficiency. While the materials they are made of may differ, all are basically a type of barrier that is selectively permeable. They are designed to allow different materials, including liquids, vapors and gases to pass through at varying speeds, restricting the flow of specific molecules. Some are slowed down, while others are prevented from crossing the barrier entirely.
Polymers are the most common types of plastic used to make these filters. The material can be fashioned into hollow fibers that create a comparatively large surface area when combined. Most are produced using existing raw materials and currently available technology, and the cost of making them is within competitive range. These advantages have allowed them to become important in various types of industrial production.
A stream of a gas mixture under high pressure can be passed through the filtering system continuously. As it is forced through a filtering system various specific molecules are released on the far side, while others are retained and can also be used, reducing waste. The process of separation varies, but in general is determined by the properties of the membrane barrier itself.
The most attractive advantage associated with this process is the removal of a major step in production that is characteristic of more established technologies, which include cryogenic distillation of air, amine absorption, or basic condensation. The older processes all include a phase where gas converts to liquid, a step that necessarily uses more energy and is costlier. Membranes eliminate that effort at significant cost savings.
Because the petrochemical industry must continuously find new ways to produce fuels and other products in a way that makes the best use of existing raw materials, the future of this type of technology is open-ended. New applications can be applied to growth areas such as the removal of hydrocarbons from hydrogen or methane, or propylene from propane. Expansion in the next two decades promises to be continuous.
The primary impact is in hydrogen separation in petrochemical plants or ammonia production facilities, in removing nitrogen from air, separating water vapor and carbon dioxide from natural gas during refining, and the removal of organic vapor from air or other gas mixtures. Various types of filters have separated liquid components successfully, and the same general filtering principles are being applied to industrial gases.
The newer processes have become especially significant within the petrochemical industry, and are now cost-competitive with other methods. Extracting various valuable components from natural gas has been historically expensive, but can now be removed quickly and efficiently without incurring extra costs. The associated equipment is relatively simple to use, and is considered low-maintenance. Related sales are in the multi-miillion dollar range.
Membranes are the key to the success and efficiency. While the materials they are made of may differ, all are basically a type of barrier that is selectively permeable. They are designed to allow different materials, including liquids, vapors and gases to pass through at varying speeds, restricting the flow of specific molecules. Some are slowed down, while others are prevented from crossing the barrier entirely.
Polymers are the most common types of plastic used to make these filters. The material can be fashioned into hollow fibers that create a comparatively large surface area when combined. Most are produced using existing raw materials and currently available technology, and the cost of making them is within competitive range. These advantages have allowed them to become important in various types of industrial production.
A stream of a gas mixture under high pressure can be passed through the filtering system continuously. As it is forced through a filtering system various specific molecules are released on the far side, while others are retained and can also be used, reducing waste. The process of separation varies, but in general is determined by the properties of the membrane barrier itself.
The most attractive advantage associated with this process is the removal of a major step in production that is characteristic of more established technologies, which include cryogenic distillation of air, amine absorption, or basic condensation. The older processes all include a phase where gas converts to liquid, a step that necessarily uses more energy and is costlier. Membranes eliminate that effort at significant cost savings.
Because the petrochemical industry must continuously find new ways to produce fuels and other products in a way that makes the best use of existing raw materials, the future of this type of technology is open-ended. New applications can be applied to growth areas such as the removal of hydrocarbons from hydrogen or methane, or propylene from propane. Expansion in the next two decades promises to be continuous.
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