The Need

The transition to low-carbon energy and chemicals requires efficient separation of CO₂ from hydrogen-rich gas streams, particularly in high-pressure syngas environments such as coal or natural gas gasification. Existing separation technologies (e.g., solvent absorption or conventional membranes) suffer from high energy penalties, limited stability, or performance loss under high CO₂ partial pressures and elevated temperatures. Industry needs robust, scalable membrane solutions that maintain high selectivity and flux under realistic industrial operating conditions.

The Technology

OSU engineers have developed a novel facilitated-transport membrane platform designed for CO₂/H₂ separation under high pressure and temperature. The membrane integrates tailored CO₂-affinitive carriers within a polymer matrix to selectively and efficiently transport CO₂ while retaining hydrogen. The design mitigates common issues such as carrier deactivation and membrane compaction, enabling stable performance in aggressive syngas conditions. The membranes are compatible with established membrane module formats and scalable manufacturing approaches.

Commercial Applications

• Hydrogen purification from coal- or natural gas-derived syngas
• Pre-combustion CO₂ capture in integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) power plants
• CO₂ removal in hydrogen production for refineries and ammonia synthesis
• Acid gas separation in industrial gas processing systems

Benefits/Advantages

• High performance at industrial conditions: Maintains CO₂/H₂ selectivity and flux at high pressure and temperature
• Improved operational stability: Reduced loss of performance compared to conventional amine-based membranes
• Lower energy consumption: Membrane-based separation avoids regeneration energy required by solvents
• Scalable and integrable: Compatible with existing membrane manufacturing and process infrastructure