Novel Nanoporous Polymer Membranes for Gas and Vapor Separations

The separation of value-added products from hydrocarbons is a widespread, process in energy industry processes. This project will develop a new class of nanoporous polymer membranes that have exceptional permeation characteristics for hydrocarbon/hydrogen and hydrocarbon/methane separation in refinery and natural gas applications. In Phase I, a nanoporous, polydioxane-based polymer was synthesized, and its gas sorption, diffusion, and permeability properties were evaluated using thick dense films. Defect-free, thin-film composite membranes were made, and their pure- and mixed-gas permeation properties were determined. The permeation data obtained showed that these membranes would allow membrane technology to be competitive with other more-conventional technologies in a number of important separations. In Phase II, the membranes produced in Phase I will be scaled up and packaged into bench- and pilot-scale membrane modules. These modules will be used to demonstrate membrane performance for hydrocarbon/hydrogen and hydrocarbon/methane natural gas separations. The modules will be tested in the laboratory and at field sites. Commercial Applications and other Benefits as described by the awardee: Currently, membrane separation holds only a small share of the total hydrocarbon/hydrogen and hydrocarbon/methane separation market in refinery and natural gas applications. Membranes with improved permeability and selectivity should lower the cost of membrane processes and substantially increase the market share held by membranes