Membrane Systems for Coal Bed Carbon Dioxide Sequestration and Methane Production

Sequestration of carbon dioxide from coal-power-plant flue gas and landfill gas, by injection into coal beds, is a topic of current interest. In this process, the methane produced by displacing the carbon dioxide could cover the cost of sequestration. However, the nitrogen and oxygen, which is injected along with the carbon dioxide, lead to a coal bed methane product that is contaminated with multiple impurities. Because conventional gas processing technology applied to such contaminated gas is expensive and complex, this project will develop a membrane process that can remove all of the main impurities in a single operation. In Phase I, the membranes will be produced and evaluated as bench-scale membrane modules. The data obtained will be used to prepare optimized process flow schemes. In Phase II, the technology will be scaled up and pilot-scale/small-industrial-scale membrane modules will be produced and installed in a field test system operating at a gas processing plant. Commercial Applications and other Benefits as described by the awardee: The process should be widely applied in the treatment of natural gas containing multiple contaminants. Coal bed methane produced by injection of flue gas or landfill gas is one such gas stream.