Molecular sieve membranes for N 2 /CH 4 separation
- PDF / 608,492 Bytes
- 12 Pages / 584.957 x 782.986 pts Page_size
- 43 Downloads / 258 Views
Natural gas consumption has grown from 5.0 trillion cubic feet (TCF) in 1949 to 27.0 TCF in 2014 and is expected to be ;31.6 TCF in 2040. This large demand requires an effective technology to purify natural gas. Nitrogen is a significant impurity in natural gas and has to be removed since it decreases the natural gas energy content. The benchmark technology to remove nitrogen from natural gas is cryogenic distillation, which is costly and energy intensive. Membrane technology could play a key role in making this separation less energy intensive and therefore economically feasible. Molecular sieve membranes are ideal candidates to remove natural gas impurities because of their exceptional size-exclusion properties, high thermal and chemical resistance. In this review, the state of the art of molecular sieve membranes for N2/CH4 separation, separation mechanisms involved, and future directions of these emerging membranes for natural gas purification are critically discussed.
Moises A. Carreon
Moises A. Carreon was born in Morelia, Mexico. He earned his BS in Chemical Engineering and MS in Materials Science at UMSNH, Mexico. In 2003, he obtained his PhD degree in Chemical & Materials Engineering at University of Cincinnati. He worked as postdoctoral fellow at University of Toronto, and University of Colorado. From 2007– 2013 he was Assistant and then Associate Professor in the Chemical Engineering Department at University of Louisville. Since 2014, he has served as Associate Professor in the Chemical & Biological Engineering Department at Colorado School of Mines. His research focuses on molecular gas separations, heterogeneous catalysis, and gas storage, and aims at tackling relevant societal issues related to energy and environment, including carbon dioxide capture and utilization, biomass conversion to fuels, natural gas purification and storage, and nuclear spent fuel treatment. Carreon has over 70 refereed publications, and 5 US granted patents. Carreon selected awards as independent scientist include: 2014 Innovator Award. Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers; 2014 List of 12 extraordinary personalities that moved Mexico in 2014; 2013 PECASE (Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers); 2013 AIChE Separations Division Kunesh Award; 2011 NSF CAREER award; and 2009 ACS-PRF Doctoral New Investigator award.
I. NATURAL GAS GENERALITIES
The United States is the world’s largest producer of natural gas.1 As of 2015, the United States produces 28.8 trillion cubic feet (TCF) of natural gas per year. 2 The United States natural gas production has been increasing every year since 2010,3 and this increase in production can, in part, be contributed to the increasing use of fracking and other technologies that release previously untapped natural gases in shale.3 According to US Energy Information Administration, the natural gas consumption is expected to rise to 31.6 TCF in 2040.4 Processing of natural gas is by far the largest industrial gas separation application.5 Every year close to 100 trillion st
Data Loading...
