Nearly four decades ago a fledgling industry emerged that specializes in developing advanced methods of separating the individual components of gases. Today, those efforts have become an important factor in driving production costs lower by using less energy, and eliminating some types of environmental pollution. Early experiments in diffusion led to practical industrial applications today, and gas separation membrane technology is rapidly expanding.
The process is already being used to remove nitrogen from the air, to separate carbon dioxide and water vapor during the refinement of natural gas, and to separate hydrogen in ammonia production facilities and petrochemical plants. In the past, various types of filters have been used to separate the individual components of water and other liquids, and similar principles also apply today to filtering industrial gases.
It has proven especially important to efficient operation of petrochemical industry plants, and is competitive in cost with other methods. It is now possible to extract small amounts of valuable suspended components without a greater expenditure. Compared to more traditional processes, filtering is low maintenance, the equipment takes less space, and is considered simple to run. Sales are in the millions and climbing.
The key to efficient success in this process is the membrane itself. Materials used to make them may differ, but all capitalize on the advantages of using a selectively permeable barrier. Each is designed to permit different types of materials, including gases, liquids, and vapors, to pass through at different rates. This effectively restricts the molecular flow, and prevents some from crossing the barrier at all.
Polymers are the most common materials used to make these filters. This form of plastic can be fashioned into hollow fibers that have a large surface dimension when made into a filter. They are made using existing manufacturing technology, which keeps production costs at a reasonable level. Current technology is advanced enough to make large-scale production for industry practical.
The process can be used continuously, and generally uses a high-pressure stream of the gas mixture. It is forced to pass by the membrane, and certain types of molecules are released on the other side, while others are prevented from passing. Those that cannot can be retained as well, and the efficiency of this method is determined by the properties of the permeable barrier.
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.
The petrochemical industry must continuously strive for better ways to make products by efficient processing of raw materials. The future of this field is limited only by the availability of resources, and continuous expansion is predicted. These methods are being currently applied to projected growth areas such as the removal of propylene from propane, or separating hydrogen from methane.
The process is already being used to remove nitrogen from the air, to separate carbon dioxide and water vapor during the refinement of natural gas, and to separate hydrogen in ammonia production facilities and petrochemical plants. In the past, various types of filters have been used to separate the individual components of water and other liquids, and similar principles also apply today to filtering industrial gases.
It has proven especially important to efficient operation of petrochemical industry plants, and is competitive in cost with other methods. It is now possible to extract small amounts of valuable suspended components without a greater expenditure. Compared to more traditional processes, filtering is low maintenance, the equipment takes less space, and is considered simple to run. Sales are in the millions and climbing.
The key to efficient success in this process is the membrane itself. Materials used to make them may differ, but all capitalize on the advantages of using a selectively permeable barrier. Each is designed to permit different types of materials, including gases, liquids, and vapors, to pass through at different rates. This effectively restricts the molecular flow, and prevents some from crossing the barrier at all.
Polymers are the most common materials used to make these filters. This form of plastic can be fashioned into hollow fibers that have a large surface dimension when made into a filter. They are made using existing manufacturing technology, which keeps production costs at a reasonable level. Current technology is advanced enough to make large-scale production for industry practical.
The process can be used continuously, and generally uses a high-pressure stream of the gas mixture. It is forced to pass by the membrane, and certain types of molecules are released on the other side, while others are prevented from passing. Those that cannot can be retained as well, and the efficiency of this method is determined by the properties of the permeable barrier.
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.
The petrochemical industry must continuously strive for better ways to make products by efficient processing of raw materials. The future of this field is limited only by the availability of resources, and continuous expansion is predicted. These methods are being currently applied to projected growth areas such as the removal of propylene from propane, or separating hydrogen from methane.
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