Permeation of wet CO2/CH4 mixed gas through a liquid membrane supported onsurface of a hydrophobic microporous membrane

A double-layer liquid membrane was proposed where a supported liquid membra ne of diglycolamine (DGA) or triethylene glycol (TEG) was supported on the surface of another microporus membrane, a Durapel membrane(Millipore). by i ts hydrophobicity, This surface supported liquid membrane was used for the separation of CO2 from a wet CO2/CH4 mixed gas. The liquid membrane of this construction is durable up to a transmembrane pressure of 250 kPa. That is . the liquid membrane is applicable for the vacuum mode permeation and pres surized permeation mode. Permeation experiments through the DGA liquid memb rane with a 25 mum thickness shows that the CO2 permeability was 30-100 Bar rer with a CO2/CH4 separation factor of 40-100. The CO2 permeability was co mparable to polymer membranes. The partial pressure dependency of the CO2 p ermeability may imply the existence of facilitated transport during the vac uum mode permeation. A comparison of the dry feed and wet feed experiments using the TEG liquid membrane showed that there was no large effect of the water vapor in the feed on the selectivity and permeabilities. (C) 2001 Els evier Science B.V. All rights reserved.