Characterization and synthesis of high permeance SSZ-13 membranes to separate CO2 from CH4 for biogas upgrading

• Published in: Journal of membrane science Vol. 703; p. 122845
• Main Authors: Taherizadeh, Alireza, Simon, Adrian, Richter, Hannes, Stelter, Michael, Voigt, Ingolf
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.06.2024
• Subjects: Biogas upgrading; Gas permeation; High-Si CHA; SSZ-13; Zeolite membrane; SSZ-13; Biogas upgrading; High-Si CHA; Gas permeation; Zeolite membrane
• ISSN: 0376-7388; 1873-3123
• DOI: 10.1016/j.memsci.2024.122845

Small-pore zeolites, such as CHA (0.38 nm), have pores that are comparable to the size of CH4 but larger than the size of CO2. As a result of the combination of diffusion and adsorption, these membranes are projected to have strong CO2/CH4 selectivity and CO2 permeance. During this work, SSZ-13 CHA membranes were synthesized, evaluated, and characterized by X-ray Diffraction, Field-Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy, Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, Solid-State Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, and Thermogravimetric Analysis. Synthesized membranes on the inner surface of single channel alumina supports with a pore size of 200 nm and a length of 105 mm and an active membrane area of ∼17 cm2 showed an ideal permselectivity for CO2/CH4 of 122 (in the single gas permeation measurement) and a CO2 permeance of 36.1 × 10−7 [mol/(m2 s Pa)] and CO2/CH4 selectivity of 173 and a CO2 permeance of 6.5 × 10−7 [mol/(m2 s Pa)] for equimolar CO2 − CH4 mixture. According to the results, the membranes are capable of separating CO2 from natural gas and upgrading biogas for industrial purposes. [Display omitted] •SSZ-13 membranes characterized using XRD, ATR-FTIR, FESEM, EDX, Si-NMR.•High CO2 permeance of ∼3.61 × 106 [mol/(m2sPa)] in single gas permeation.•Ideal selectivity of 20, 122, 540 for CO2/N2,/CH4 and/SF6.•Mixed gas CO2 permeance of 9.92 × 10−7 [mol/(m2sPa)] with CO2/CH4 selectivity ∼170.•As-Produced membranes potential for industrial CO2 separation from biogas.