work tested on the separation of ethane and ethylene as a case
study. Normally, separation of such hydrocarbons performs
via cryogenic distillation. However, this technology is needed
high energy consumption which required high capital. Therefore, exploration of this technology is aimed to lowering the
energy and cost expenditure. This system consists of compressor, cooler and distillation column which developed via
process simulator called and Unisim Design; MATLAB was
prepared to analyse that adoption of pallor membrane. By
using this approach, separation of ethylene from ethane is
proved could be savings up to 20% of cost, and at the same
time, 30% energy consumption can be reduced (Caballero
et al. 2009).
Computer simulation was practised in order to test an
economical method of pervaporation-distillation in separating
azeotropic mixtures of alcohol-ether and consequently producing ether (González and Ortiz 2002). gPROMS software
had been used in developing the modelling and simulation of
such hybrid technology. This software works together with
mass transfer model in order to test on hybrid system which
having different formation for its feed stream. From the testing, it shows that in order to obtain 99.8 wt% of ether special
grade, a membrane that having 1590 m
2 of area is needed.
While 2110 m
2 of membrane area is needed for recovering
98 wt% of gasoline. Both conditions having different percent
of methanol escape the reactor. Moreover, such combination
of pervaporation–distillation could minimize the complexity
and capital needed for the conversion plant. Besides, this
hybrid process produces almost pure ether in the bottom of the
stream; at the same time, it also could be applied in generating
2-methyl propane via thermal decomposition.
Membrane distillation system had been coupled together
with heat pump system in a propylene/propene separation. In
study conducted by Park et al. (2019), 99.6 wt% of C 3 H 4 of
separation recovery was targeted via membrane distillation
system hybrid with recompression heat pump. Membrane
characters also play an important role in this technology such
as permeability, selectivity, pressure ratio and stage-cut. This
alternative technology shows a significant energy saving and
reducing investment cost by cutting the number of stages in
the distillation part.
4 Challenges in Membrane Technology
for Hydrocarbon Separation
There are a lot of challenges faced to implement membrane
technology for hydrocarbon separation or refinery produced
water treatment. The major challenges to achieve a sustainable operation include reducing the membrane fouling
and degradation, lack of real example of pilot and full-scale
plant and high capital and operation cost.
Membrane fouling has been the major challenge faced by
researchers where this problem will influence the performance and operation of the membrane in long term. It is also
greatly influenced by the quality of the produced water,
condition and location of the membrane operation as well as
the characteristic of the membrane itself. Typical solutions to
membrane fouling are the use of extensive pre-treatment,
development of an effective cleaning regimen, operation
optimization and proper selection of membrane materials.
However, cleaning by chemicals may lead to the damage of
the membrane, and hence, proper handling and further study
should be made for a solution.
Finally, although many innovations have been made to
encounter the problem, however, no real implementation has
been reported. Almost all reported study used synthetic PW
and only in lab scale. The high energy consumption needed
to operate the membrane system also has been one of the
challenges to implement the system in real life. Proper
costing and full operational analysis should be done prior to
be used.
5 Conclusion and Future Development
In conclusion, excellent progression in the development of
membrane technology gives huge benefits to the wastewater
treatment especially in treating PW in petrochemical industry. Membrane technology not only useful for treating the
water from the PW collected, but it also increases the production of oil from the PW itself. High performance of
ultrafiltration, nanofiltration, microfiltration, reverse osmosis, vapour permeation, pervaporation, membrane distillation
and membrane contactor technology have successfully
implemented in many petrochemical industries. With the
help of driven factor including thermal-driven, electricaldriven and biological-driven, membrane technology could
achieve a high performance of separation system with high
removal of total dissolved solids (TDS) and COD.
Recently, the developments chemical synthesis has
brought to the great progress in membrane materials. The
need to develop novel new membrane materials has emerged
to be improvement in membrane technology especially in
hydrocarbon separation. Membrane’s capacity and permeability together with cost-effective and simple fabrication
have been studied to overcome membrane fouling in various
applications. Werber et al. (2016) have pointed out some key
parameters for desalination are selectivity rather than permeability. Some modifications or improvement suggested
are as below:
• New alternative materials from ceramic-based materials
such as bentonite clay, kaolin which also including
Hydrocarbon Separation and Removal Using Membranes
87
study. Normally, separation of such hydrocarbons performs
via cryogenic distillation. However, this technology is needed
high energy consumption which required high capital. Therefore, exploration of this technology is aimed to lowering the
energy and cost expenditure. This system consists of compressor, cooler and distillation column which developed via
process simulator called and Unisim Design; MATLAB was
prepared to analyse that adoption of pallor membrane. By
using this approach, separation of ethylene from ethane is
proved could be savings up to 20% of cost, and at the same
time, 30% energy consumption can be reduced (Caballero
et al. 2009).
Computer simulation was practised in order to test an
economical method of pervaporation-distillation in separating
azeotropic mixtures of alcohol-ether and consequently producing ether (González and Ortiz 2002). gPROMS software
had been used in developing the modelling and simulation of
such hybrid technology. This software works together with
mass transfer model in order to test on hybrid system which
having different formation for its feed stream. From the testing, it shows that in order to obtain 99.8 wt% of ether special
grade, a membrane that having 1590 m
2 of area is needed.
While 2110 m
2 of membrane area is needed for recovering
98 wt% of gasoline. Both conditions having different percent
of methanol escape the reactor. Moreover, such combination
of pervaporation–distillation could minimize the complexity
and capital needed for the conversion plant. Besides, this
hybrid process produces almost pure ether in the bottom of the
stream; at the same time, it also could be applied in generating
2-methyl propane via thermal decomposition.
Membrane distillation system had been coupled together
with heat pump system in a propylene/propene separation. In
study conducted by Park et al. (2019), 99.6 wt% of C 3 H 4 of
separation recovery was targeted via membrane distillation
system hybrid with recompression heat pump. Membrane
characters also play an important role in this technology such
as permeability, selectivity, pressure ratio and stage-cut. This
alternative technology shows a significant energy saving and
reducing investment cost by cutting the number of stages in
the distillation part.
4 Challenges in Membrane Technology
for Hydrocarbon Separation
There are a lot of challenges faced to implement membrane
technology for hydrocarbon separation or refinery produced
water treatment. The major challenges to achieve a sustainable operation include reducing the membrane fouling
and degradation, lack of real example of pilot and full-scale
plant and high capital and operation cost.
Membrane fouling has been the major challenge faced by
researchers where this problem will influence the performance and operation of the membrane in long term. It is also
greatly influenced by the quality of the produced water,
condition and location of the membrane operation as well as
the characteristic of the membrane itself. Typical solutions to
membrane fouling are the use of extensive pre-treatment,
development of an effective cleaning regimen, operation
optimization and proper selection of membrane materials.
However, cleaning by chemicals may lead to the damage of
the membrane, and hence, proper handling and further study
should be made for a solution.
Finally, although many innovations have been made to
encounter the problem, however, no real implementation has
been reported. Almost all reported study used synthetic PW
and only in lab scale. The high energy consumption needed
to operate the membrane system also has been one of the
challenges to implement the system in real life. Proper
costing and full operational analysis should be done prior to
be used.
5 Conclusion and Future Development
In conclusion, excellent progression in the development of
membrane technology gives huge benefits to the wastewater
treatment especially in treating PW in petrochemical industry. Membrane technology not only useful for treating the
water from the PW collected, but it also increases the production of oil from the PW itself. High performance of
ultrafiltration, nanofiltration, microfiltration, reverse osmosis, vapour permeation, pervaporation, membrane distillation
and membrane contactor technology have successfully
implemented in many petrochemical industries. With the
help of driven factor including thermal-driven, electricaldriven and biological-driven, membrane technology could
achieve a high performance of separation system with high
removal of total dissolved solids (TDS) and COD.
Recently, the developments chemical synthesis has
brought to the great progress in membrane materials. The
need to develop novel new membrane materials has emerged
to be improvement in membrane technology especially in
hydrocarbon separation. Membrane’s capacity and permeability together with cost-effective and simple fabrication
have been studied to overcome membrane fouling in various
applications. Werber et al. (2016) have pointed out some key
parameters for desalination are selectivity rather than permeability. Some modifications or improvement suggested
are as below:
• New alternative materials from ceramic-based materials
such as bentonite clay, kaolin which also including
Hydrocarbon Separation and Removal Using Membranes
87