Title:Membrane Separation of CO2 from Natural Gas
VOLUME: 10 ISSUE: 1
Author(s):Maria G. Buonomenna*
Affiliation:Ordine dei Chimici della Campania-Consiglio Nazionale dei Chimici, Piazza S. Bernardo, Rome
Keywords:CO2 separation, gas permeation membrane, membrane contactors, membrane plasticization, membrane technology,
natural gas, pre-treatment systems.
Abstract:Background: Raw natural gas, one of the most important fuel sources worldwide, contains
high level of CO2, which must be removed to avoid problems like pipeline corrosion, compression cost
and reduction of heating value. The three main technologies used to separate CO2 from natural gas include
cryogenic distillation, amine absorption and membranes. Membrane technologies have various
advantages especially for offshore platforms. In recent years, more and more membrane systems have
been applied to large offshore natural gas upgrading projects. Two entirely different membrane processes
can be applied to the separation of CO2 from natural gas: gas permeation membranes and membrane
contactors.
Objective: An overview of some recent patents and related scientific literature on both gas permeation
membranes and membrane contactors for CO2 removal from natural gas is important to focus on the key
points for further advances.
Methods: From a thorough literature review of membrane processes for CO2 separation from natural
gas, several patents on this application have been identified and here reviewed. Besides, recent papers
in the field are discussed.
Conclusion: Membrane systems require a relatively small operational area, small amounts of energy,
only minor operational efforts with moderate maintenance and inspection requirements. Hence the interest
from oil gas industry companies such as UOP, L’Air Liquide, Statoil Petroleum, Aker Process
Systems, which are applicants and assignees of most patents for CO2 removal from natural gas by
membrane technologies.
