Membranes for olefin-paraffin separation: An industrial perspective

Area of Science:

• Separation science
• Chemical engineering
• Materials science

Background:

• Separation processes in petrochemicals account for significant energy consumption (up to 30%) and capital costs (up to 30%).
• Cryogenic distillation is the current standard, but membranes and adsorption offer potential alternatives.
• Industrial petrochemical operations require efficient and cost-effective separation solutions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide an industrial perspective on applying membrane technology in petrochemical cracker operations.
• To evaluate gas separation performance for propylene/propane separation using various membrane types.
• To analyze the impact of operational parameters on membrane design for industrial applications.

Main Methods:

• Review of industrial applications of membranes in petrochemical cracking.
• Gas separation performance evaluation of inorganic, carbon, polymeric, and facilitated transport membranes for propylene/propane.
• Utilizing an in-house developed model to study operational parameter effects on membrane design.

Main Results:

• A figure of merit for gas separation performance was reported for different membrane classes.
• Insights were gained into the influence of operational parameters on membrane design.
• Membrane technology presents a viable partial or full replacement for distillation in specific petrochemical separations.

Conclusions:

• Membrane technology is a key area for future research in separation science, addressing industrial challenges.
• The study highlights the potential of membranes to reduce energy consumption and capital costs in petrochemical processes.
• Optimized membrane design, considering operational parameters, is crucial for successful industrial implementation.