Tanaporn Tanupabrungsun, Petrochemical Technology, Chulalongkorn University, The Petroleum and Petrochemical College, Chulalongkorn University, Chula 12, Phyathai Rd., Patumwan, Bangkok, Thailand, Thirasak Rirksomboon, Petrochemical, The Petroleum and Petrochemical College, Chulalongkorn University, Soi Chula 12, Phyathai Rd., Patumwan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand, and Santi Kulprathipanja, UOP LLC, 50 East Algonquin Road, Des Plaines, IL 60017-5016.
One of the most attractive technologies for CO2/CH4 separation is membrane separation due to its low capital cost and low energy consumption. However, the significant limitation of this technology involving CO2 separation is plasticization. The plasticization in a glassy polymer membrane can occur by CO2 acting as a plasticizer. The polymer matrix swells upon sorption of CO2, accelerating the permeation of CH4. As a result, the polymer membrane loses its selectivity. Mixed matrix membranes have been developed to minimize the plasticizing effect and enhance the gas permeability and selectivity. In this study, mixed matrix membranes were prepared by introducing the zeolites into cellulose acetate. Zeolite-X, zeolite-Y and silicalite were used to investigate the plasticization phenomenon. The membrane performances for CO2/CH4 separation were carried out by using pure gas measurement at room temperature. Preliminary results obtained from the study are very promising. Detailed information on membrane preparation, gas permeation and selectivity will be discussed at the meeting.