(394b) Process Intensification for Olefins Recovery

The separation of light olefins from paraffins is one of the most energy-intensive unit operations in petrochemicals and refining. Membranes have long held promise for reducing the energy and capital requirements for this separation but previously, no membrane had demonstrated sufficient stability and ruggedness for commercial scaleup and adoption. Compact Membrane Systems has developed, and is in the process of bringing to commercial fruition, a membrane for this purpose. Optiperm^TM is a facilitated transport membrane that combines the chemical stability of fluoropolymers with the selectivity of a silver facilitating agent. Two membrane units are being deployed this year: a demonstration unit will be installed at a Braskem facility in September of this year and a demonstration unit will be installed on a propane dehydrogenation system at Dow shortly thereafter. This talk will review both of those projects and share progress on both fronts. In addition, membrane cartridges are being scaled up and we will show the manufacturing progress.