Research on hydrogen separation from gaseous mixtures using multistage polymeric membranes

Researchers from REFRESH’s Energy Lab are developing and testing advanced multistage polymeric membrane systems for the efficient separation of hydrogen from gaseous mixtures such as syngas, biogas, and industrial process gases. The research is aimed at developing innovative technologies for the production of high-purity, low-carbon and green hydrogen, which can significantly contribute to the energy transition and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in industry.

“The research focuses on studying the properties of polymeric membranes and evaluating their permeance, selectivity, chemical stability, and long-term operational durability under various pressure and temperature conditions. It also includes the design of multistage separation configurations, optimization of operating parameters, and experimental testing of membrane modules to achieve higher hydrogen purity and recovery,” said Ján Vereš from CEET/ERC.

Some of the results have been published in journals such as Fuel Processing Technology and Energy Conversion and Management. For example, in the paper H2 Separation of Synthetic Multicomponent Gas Mixtures Using Single-Stage and Multistage Hollow Fiber Membrane Systems: An Experimental and Theoretical Study, Ján Vereš from the Energy Research Center (ERC) at CEET, together with Italian colleagues from CNR-ITM, investigates the possibility of obtaining highly pure hydrogen from industrial gases through membrane separation.

The authors designed, experimentally validated, and subsequently simulated a multistage membrane system aimed at increasing hydrogen separation efficiency and recovery compared to a conventional single-stage arrangement. Numerical simulations further demonstrated that the proposed system can effectively recover other valuable components of the gaseous mixture, particularly methane, with recovery rates approaching 100%. The study thus confirms the potential of multistage hollow fiber membrane systems for efficient hydrogen purification and the utilization of energy-rich by-product gases in industrial applications.