Adsorption selective carbon membrane the for separation of O2/N2 and C1-C4 Hydrocarbon/N2

Abstract

In this study, adsorption selective carbon membranes were developed using cellulose acetate as carbon precursor. The membranes were used for the separation of C1-C4 hydrocarbon and O2/N2. The carbon membranes were prepared via pyrolysis process using microfiltration ceramic membranes at different temperatures of 300 oC, 325 oC, 350 oC, 400 oC, 450 oC, and 500 oC under nitrogen (N2) flow rate maintained at 200 ml/min. The membranes were then further subjected to oxidative treatments at the temperatures between 150 oC to 400 oC with an interval of 50 oC. Results showed that the pyrolysis temperature played an important role in determining the morphology of the carbon membranes. As the pyrolysis temperature increased, more pores with smaller diameter were formed. As a result, the permeability of the permeating gases reduced. Results also showed that, for the separation of O2/N2 the highest selectivity of 3.92 was obtained using the carbon membrane prepared at 400 oC. The same membrane was then further subjected to an oxidation temperature at 300 oC. The membrane was used for the separation of single and binary gas. For single gas separation, the selectivities for, C2H6/N2, C3H8/N2, and n-C4H10/N2 were 2.52, 2.44 and 2.35, resepectivly. For the binary gas experiment, the selectivities for C2H6/N2, C3H6/N2 , and n-C4H10/N2 obtained were 3.3, 14.4, and 26.05, respectively.