Upgrading natural gas by means of highly performing polyimide membranes

Technical Report · Fri Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1993

OSTI ID:10119923

Stern, S A

The objective of the present research project is to assess the potential usefulness of membrane separation processes for the removal of acid gases (CO{sub 2} and H{sub 2}S) and H{sub 2}O vapor from low-quality natural gas. The following tasks were performed during the last two years of the project: (1) A laboratory-scale apparatus for measuring the permeability and selectivity of polymer membranes to gas mixtures was built and tested. (2) The permeability and selectivity of seven new polyamide membranes to binary CH{sub 4}/CO{sub 2} and ternary CH{sub 4}/CO{sub 2}/H{sub 2}S mixtures were measured at 95{degrees}F (35{degrees}C) and at ``upstream`` pressures in the range from 58.8 psia to 200 psia (4 atm to 13.6 atm). (3) Gas separation measurements were made using binary CH{sub 4}/CO{sub 2} and ternary CH{sub 4}/CO{sub 2}/H{sub 2}S feed gas mixtures. (4) Process design studies and economic evaluations of membrane processes for upgrading low-quality natural gas were made using the experimentally obtained permeability and selectivity values for the three most promising polyamide membranes. For the sake of comparison, similar studies were made also for cellulose acetate membranes, which are at present being widely used on an industrial scale for the separation of CO{sub 2} from natural gas.

• Research Organization: Syracuse Univ., NY (United States). Office of Sponsored Programs
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: FG21-91MC28072
• OSTI ID: 10119923
• Report Number(s): DOE/MC/28072--94/C0306; CONF-931156--9; ON: DE94006010; BR: AB0520000/AB0530050
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

03 NATURAL GAS
030300
37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
400105
CARBON DIOXIDE
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
DRILLING, PRODUCTION, AND PROCESSING
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
HYDROGEN SULFIDES
IMIDES
MATERIALS TESTING
MEMBRANES
NATURAL GAS
POLYMERS
PROCESSING
SEPARATION PROCEDURES
SEPARATION PROCESSES
WATER VAPOR