LNG is Australia’s only option for participating in the international trade of its significant natural gas resources.
Natural gas fields, however, are often uneconomical to develop as they contain high concentrations of impurities such as CO2 and N2.
We have investigated the use of Cryogenic Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) as an alternative process for removing CO2 and N2 from methane-dominant flow. We have also developed a ‘volumetric’ type apparatus to measure adsorption behaviour at cryogenic temperatures and high pressures.
Further, we have collected equilibrium and kinetic data of adsorption for pure N2, CO2 and CH4 gas and their mixtures from -160ºC to +50ºC, and up to a pressure of 5000 kPa for different adsorbents.
We are looking for the optimal adsorbent for cryogenic PSA: large adsorption capacity, favourable selectivity and kinetics, easy regeneration, and a long lifetime.
This research is supported by Chevron, the Western Australian Energy Research Alliance and the Australian Research Council.
University information
CRICOS Code: 00126G
