(102h) The Industrialisation of an Ionic Liquidic Zeolite (ILZ) Adsorbent for Nitrogen Rejection and Methane Recovery

Methane (CH₄) is an important clean energy among fossil fuels. For the same power output, combustion of methane produces less than half CO₂ compared with coal, and nearly no sulphur oxides or particulate matters. Methane also plays a significant role in meeting the Paris Agreement, enabling sustainable energy supply while reducing the carbon emission and air pollution by replacing coals. Therefore, the capture and reuse of CH₄ from low grade gas sources such as coal mine gas, liquified natural gas (LNG) vent gas and biogas, has a critical environmental, social and economic impact. In this regard, materials with high selectivity for CH₄ is preferred. Here we report the roadmap of an initiated industrial separation process from laboratory research (a new porous material named ionic liquidic zeolite, ILZ, 2011), to large scale demonstration (2016) and then industry employment for coal seam gas purification last year (2020). Qualified natural gas products ranging from pipeline natural gas, compressed natural gas and liquefied natural gas were successfully produced through the vacuum swing adsorption (VSA) process using a newly developed zeolite material. This typical industry driven project also provides important suggestions for future industrialization of laboratory research. Key messages from this roadmap are:

1) The employment of laboratory results into industry could take decades;

2) Recovery of low concentration methane benefits environment, economy and energy;

3) Qualified natural gas products can be produced through adsorption techniques.