Simulation studies for the separation of propylene and propane by ethylcellulose membrane

Membrane-based separation of olefin-paraffin mixtures and the subsequent sc aling-up of the process is gaining a lot of importance in today's chemical and petrochemical industry. The performance of polymeric membranes made of poly (phenylene oxide), polysulfone, cellulose acetate and ethylcellulose w as investigated for the separation of propylene from propane. Ethylcellulos e was found to have good potential for recovering propylene from propane-pr opylene mixtures commercially. The performance of single stage permeators e quipped with ethylcellulose membrane was simulated by comparing mathematica l models available in literature for counter-current and cocurrent flow pat terns. The derivations were cast in a form suitable for computer calculatio n. The permeate compositions and the membrane area requirements were determ ined as functions of stage cut, stage pressure ratio and feed composition. A study of multistage cascade calculation for obtaining propylene of polyme r grade purity has been presented for the two flow patterns. The performanc es of all the membranes were simulated and compared for single stage separa tion for countercurrent flow pattern. Comprehensive characterisation of pol ymeric membranes through experimental studies was essential to suggest the most optimum configuration of commercial separation system. (C) 1999 Elsevi er Science B.V. All rights reserved.