Advances in gas separation

For gas separation, commonplace processes have been controlled-pressure distillation or separations using a solvent. Now, other separation techniques are available. These include: membrane separation, cryogenic separation and unconventional separations, such as dephlegmation and controlled freezing. This article reviews these later processes and discusses plant operations using solvents for acid gas removal. Membrane gas separation is an emerging technology for industrial gas separation. Membrane separation systems have gained worldwide acceptance in areas of gas processing such as helium recovery, hydrogen recovery and purification, acid gas removal, inert gas generation, air separation, and enhanced oil recovery. Membrane gas separation uses asymmetric semi-permeable polymeric material for separating different constituents of a feed gaseous stream. The major industrial membrane separators can be classified into the spiral wrap type and the hollow fiber type. This article depicts these two types of industrial membrane separators.