High-Pressure CO₂/CH₄ Separation Using SAPO-34 Membranes

SAPO-34 membranes on stainless steel, tubular supports separated CO 2 from CH 4 at feed pressures up to 3.1 MPa. The highest CO 2 permeance was 2.4 × 10 -7 mol/(m 2 s Pa) for a 50/50 feed mixture at a pressure drop of 0.14 MPa. For a pressure drop of 3 MPa, the CO 2 /CH 4 separation selectivities at 253 K were 140−150; at lower pressure drops, the highest selectivity was 270. The highest CO 2 flux was 21 kg/(m 2 h) at 295 K and a pressure drop of 3 MPa. Separation selectivity decreased as temperature increased because separation was partly based on competitive adsorption. As transmembrane pressure drop increased, both CO 2 flux and CO 2 permeate concentration increased for a 50/50 mixture. The flux pressure dependence was modeled by Maxwell−Stefan diffusion for mixtures. Methane decreased the CO 2 diffusion rate and, thus, decreased the CO 2 flux. The CH 4 flux was also lower in a mixture because CO 2 inhibits CH 4 adsorption.