Recent advances in polymeric membranes for carbon dioxide capture from syngas

Integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) power generation is touted as a cost-effective technology for combining electricity generation with carbon capture. For IGCC carbon capture, membrane technology is ideally suited owing to its low energy requirements and operational simplicity. This paper describes the development of polymeric membranes for CO2 removal in IGCC plants and reviews both H-2-selective and CO2-selective membranes. First, the fundamentals of CO2/H-2 separation using polymeric membranes are presented along with their implications for the performances of H-2-selective and CO2-selective polymers. Popular H-2-selective and CO2-selective polymers that have been proposed for IGCC carbon capture are evaluated and compared. Benefits and drawbacks of each membrane type are discussed. Strategies that have resulted in improved performance are highlighted. Novelty statement Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) power plants are rapidly gaining attention as an economic way to integrate carbon capture with power generation. For IGCC carbon capture, membrane technology is ideally suited, and a number of polymeric membranes have been explored for this purpose. This review provides a well-timed update regarding the status of polymeric membranes for carbon capture from IGCC syngas. H-2-selective and CO2-selective polymeric materials are critically examined and compared, with an emphasis on promising candidates such as polybenzimidazoles, polyethers and facilitated transport membranes.