Polymer membranes for gas separation

In the past several decades, membrane separation has gone from a laboratory curiosity to commercial reality. These membranes often have a separating layer thickness <100 nm and offer specific advantages in low energy costs, ease of operation, and compactness. Gas separation using polymeric membranes include many of the common gas pairs (i.e. O-2/N-2; H-2/N-2; CO2/CH4) in a multiplicity of applications. The basic fundamentals of gas permeability and separation will be discussed along structure/property relationships. A brief discussion on fabrication of these membranes and various applications is included. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.