Optimizing Argon Recovery: Membrane Separation of Carbon Monoxide at High Concentrations via the Water Gas Shift

This paper investigates the feasibility of separating carbon monoxide at high concentrations from argon in silicon carbide production by using five commercial polymer membranes. Single gas and mixed gas experiments are reported and compared to module simulation.Three possible process routes with a membrane gas separation incorporated were studied: direct CO removal, methanation, and the water gas shift reaction. The latter proved to be the most promising membrane process route. While a polyether-based Polyactive (PEO) membrane separated CO2 best, polyimide membranes (PI) could separate both CO2 and H2 from argon but required a 10-time greater membrane area. In conclusion, carbon monoxide can be effectively separated from argon in the percentage concentration range via the water gas shift reaction and subsequent separation of the resulting CO2 and H2 using both cited membranes. However, since there was a trade-off between separation performance and required membrane area, future membrane processes should c...

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