Polymeric membranes and their derivatives for H2/CH4 separation: State of the art

The hydrogen economy becomes an important route in approaching carbon neutrality. Compared to conventional methods, membrane separation possesses combined merits, including energy-saving, convenience, and economic efficiency. In the past few years, significant progress has been made in hydrogen (H-2)/methane (CH4) separation membranes, but a systematic review of membranes for this application is still lacking. Herein, the research progress of polymeric membranes, mixed matrix membranes (MMMs), and carbon molecule sieve (CMS) membranes has been critically reviewed and discussed. Research results from the latest literature are summarized and analyzed. It is found that polymeric membranes and CMS membranes exhibit outstanding H-2/CH4 separation properties, while MMMs, although widely investigated, show lower performance. The perspectives and future research directions for H-2/CH4 separation membranes were also presented. This review provides an in-depth understanding of the latest research and offers valuable inspirations for theoretical research and practical applications for the H-2/CH4 separation membranes.

Automated summary

This article critically reviews and discusses the research progress of membranes for hydrogen/methane separation, including polymeric membranes, mixed matrix membranes, and carbon molecule sieve membranes. The study finds that polymeric membranes and carbon molecule sieve membranes exhibit outstanding separation properties, while mixed matrix membranes show lower performance. The article also presents the future research directions and perspectives for hydrogen/methane separation membranes.