Membrane-based gas separation systems are now widely accepted and employed as unit operation in industrial gas, chemical, and allied industries. Following their successful commercialization in the late seventies to recover hydrogen from ammonia purge gas streams, membrane-based systems have gained acceptance in a wide variety of applications. Numerous systems are in operation today to: recover hydrogen from other purge gas and hydrocarbon streams; adjust the H2/CO ratio in syngas; remove CO2 from natural gas; recover helium; dry gas streams; and separate air. Lower cost, ease of operation, operational flexibility and portability are a few of the reasons membrane-based systems are chosen over absorption and cryogenic-based separations in certain applications.

• Puri Pushpinder S.(Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. 7201 Hamilton Boulevard Allentown, PA, 18195 U.S.A.)