Evolution of Natural Gas Treatment with Membrane Systems

Evolution of Natural Gas Treatment with Membrane Systems 

Membranes for natural gas treatment have been employed since the 1980s, with the earlier critical discoveries that cellulose acetate membranes for reverse osmosis (RO) could be transformed into gas separation membranes [3,4]. Since membranes for treatment of water have a high affinity for water transport, a molecule with unique polar properties, there is also an affinity for other polar molecules such as carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide. Water, CO2 and HjS are impurities in natural gas (methane) termed acid gases that can promote corrosion of steel. Since pipelines are used in the transport 

Membrane Gas Separation Edited by Yuri Yampolskii and Benny Freeman 2010 John Wiley Sons, Ltd 

This chapter will describe some of the market forces driving m brane growth in natural gas treatment, explore some of the competing technologies to CA membranes, examine membrane compaction and the implication to long-term performance, report both recent laboratory and field studies with CA membranes and comment on some of the technical challenges and trends existing today in natural gas treatment with membrane systems that would benefit from future research and development activities. 

Natural gas prices have tripled since 2002, which increases the incentive for treatment by producers to improve the quality and increase supply. The top 20 countries for proven gas reserves are listed in Table 15.1. This list is dominated by the top three of Russia, Iran and Qatar. The three top natural gas producing countries are the combined Russia and former Soviet Union states, the United States and Canada. Worldwide in 2007 there were 15 new gas plants, expansions and modifications scheduled and this number jumped to 24 for 2008 [10]. Opportunities for new membrane installations have been expanding. 

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