The Experimental, Technical, and Economical Evaluations of Green Fabricated Activated Carbon/PVA Mixed Matrix Membrane for Enhanced CO<inf>2</inf>/CH<inf>4</inf> Separation

Abstract

In the experimental part of the work, carbon powders were synthesized and then activated in this work from tea and carbonated soft drink (coke) wastes. The synthesized activated carbon (AC) particles were incorporated into the matrix of PVA to form mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) to be examined for the separation of CO2 from CH4. SEM, FTIR, N2 adsorption-desorption, DFT pore size distribution (PSD), and BET analysis were used for the characterization of MMMs. The applied permeation tests indicated that tea wastes were better precursors for the synthesis of ACs than coke for the removal of carbon dioxide from methane by AC/PVA MMMs. In the technical and economical evaluation of the work, MATLAB programming was used. The result of the techno-economical evaluation of membranes in a designed two-stage membrane separation configuration showed the maximum process global performance index (IGP) of 351.9 for a sample and it appeared that the CO2 recovery was the most effective factor in IGP determination. The turbine for generating power was determined to be only economically interesting in the process with the lowest gas flow rates. The membrane lifetime and the plant lifetime were determined to be two of the most important parameters affecting the total costs of the system. Membranes with an average lifetime below 6 months and the plant lifetime below 20 years, cause a considerable rise in total costs of the system and potential economical failure of the designed system configuration.