Plasticization and Swelling in Polymeric Membranes in CO2 Removal from Natural Gas

Removal of CO2 from natural gas is necessary to purify the gas and to enhance its calorific value. Membrane technology is an efficient technique for CO2 removal due to its ease of operation and low cost. Polymeric membranes exhibit excellent separation performance which is affected by plasticization and swelling in the membrane. Recent technological advancements and major problems in polymeric membranes are reported in this review. Separation performance of polymeric membranes is highlighted in terms of permeability and selectivity. Moreover, techniques to overcome the major problems in polymeric membranes are reviewed. Commonly, cross-linking and thermal treatment are used to minimize the effect of plasticization and swelling in the membrane. For future perspectives, there is a need to find more efficient methods to overcome these problems.