Separation Science and Technology, Vol.47, No.7, 963-971, 2012
Optimization of Membrane Process for Methane Recovery from Biogas
Including biogas, methane (CH4) could be used as one of the important energy sources. In this research, the membrane separation process took place to recover purified CH4, such as hydrogen sulfide (H2S). The Polyethersulfone (PES) Hollow Fiber Membranes (HFM) was prepared by the dry-wet phase inversion technique. The simulation program using MATLAB was evaluated by utilizing the information from experimental results of a well-designed process. From the simulation program, the process that meets the specified conditions was designed. The three-stage process that has a membrane area of 454.3 m(2) recovered 91.3% of CH4 in the feed of 250 l/min at 5 kg(f)/cm(2) and 30 degrees C. The membrane area and the recovery of CH4 decreases as the operating process increases.
Keywords:bio-gas treatment;methane recovery;modeling;polyethersulfone hollow fiber membrane;process design