CENG221 Reading Assignment 1

Name: Barry, Lai Di Pang (04096239) Date: 29-9-2005

This article generalized the usage of separation processes in chemical industry
and petroleum refining industry. Basic principles of various separation techniques
(distillation, crystallization, etc) and their application in industry were introduced.
Among those separation methods, membrane processes are rather new to me. After
viewed this articles, I have a better understanding on those different separation
methods and I known that the membrane processes are very energy efficient methods
and were widely used in chemical industry and petroleum refining industry.
Separation processes were applied in manufacturing high purity gases and chiral
compounds, which help the production of ultra-high purity H 2 and pharmaceuticals
respectively. Moreover, various separation techniques(gas separation membranes,
reactive metal complex absorbents) were also used in environmental approach like
removal of VOCs and contaminants in waste streams)
Many separation processes in petroleum refinery industry are extremely energy
intensive because large amount of heat is needed to feed the system, including
olefin/paraffin separation, methane conversion. If new separation technologies with
higher energy efficiency are investigated, the industries will certainly be benefited due
to the reduction of energy consumption in separation processes.
New membrane technologies were widely used in separation processes
nowadays, because it can give high energy efficiency and cost effectiveness. For
example, uses of membrane reactors have the potential to significantly reduce the
energy required for the dehydrogenation of ethylbenzene and paraffins. Furthermore,
isomer separation involve the use of molecular sieve membranes could significantly
reduce the energy consumption for manufacturing of petroleum products. In hydrogen
separation, new membrane materials were used, such thin membrane (<500 oA) will
decrease costs and increase productivity, could reduce costs and expand markets.
Regarding to environmental aspect, the petroleum refining industry need better
separation methods to remove acidic gases and VOCs from various gases. Examples
include the removal of CO2 and SO2 from natural gases and removal of chlorinated
hydrocarbons from air. Gas separation membranes with high selectivity can be used to
separate them. On the other hand, usage of high-temperature microfiltration can
remove particulate from gas stream. These new technologies allow the industry to safe
the environment in a more economic and effective way.
Finally, I would like to mention that the improved separation technologies give a
better energy efficiency, raw material use, and cost effectiveness. It benefit the
industry and help to match the demand of customers and market.