Research Progress of Methane Membrane Separation Technology

Membrane technology demonstrates broad prospects in the field of methane capture and purification due to its high efficiency and low energy consumption characteristics. This paper systematically reviews the research progress in membrane technology for methane separation in recent years, focusing on the design and optimization of membrane material systems, in-depth analysis of mass transfer mechanisms, and practical applications in areas such as biogas upgrading and natural gas decarbonization. Researchers have significantly enhanced membrane separation performance for CO₂/CH₄, CH₄/N₂, and other systems by developing novel material systems such as polymer membranes, inorganic membranes, and mixed matrix membranes (MMMs), combined with strategies like pore structure regulation, interface optimization, and functionalization. Although membrane technology has shown good economic feasibility and application potential in some scenarios, challenges such as long-term material stability, anti-plasticization capability, and large-scale manufacturing remain the main current obstacles. Future research should further focus on the development of novel membrane materials, process integration optimization, and intelligent process control to promote a greater role for membrane technology in the efficient utilization of methane resources and energy structure transformation.