innovative membrane technologies
Permylene™ Membrane System
High performance, lower cost alternative to conventional
olefin / paraffin separation methods from Imtex™ Membranes Corp
Cross-Sectional View of Permylene Membrane Module
The only commercially viable alternative to traditional distillation techniques for olefin purification and extraction
OLEFIN-PARAFFIN
FEED MIXTURE
OLEFIN PRODUCT
(99.5% PURITY)
HOUSING
MEMBRANE
PERMEATE PIPE
OLEFIN-DEPLETED STREAM
Imtex Membranes Corp. is committed to
delivering technology to the petrochemical
industry that dramatically improves
the efficiency, sustainability and
cost effectiveness of separating
olefins from olefin / paraffin
or other olefin containing
mixed gas streams.
Breakthrough Membrane Technology
The Permylene olefin/paraffin separation technology uses a natural source polymer facilitated transport
membrane designed for industrial conditions. This unique, patented technology, centered on a robust
membrane formulation, results in high separation performance delivering polymer-grade olefins.
The composition of the membrane allows ethylene, propylene and other olefins to chemically interact with the
membrane, facilitating olefin transport across the membrane while rejecting paraffins and other constituents.
Permylene Performance for C2, C3 and C4
This graph shows the relative performance
of each of the olefins; ethylene, propylene
and 1-Butene with changes in the %
olefin content in the feed.
Even with feed streams as low as
40% in olefin content, purities
of over 99.5% can be
achieved.
Permeate flow
rate (kg/m2.h)
Permeate
olefin purity
3.5
100.0 %
Permeate olefin purities
3.0
99.5 %
2.5
rat
on
i
t
ea
rm
pe
e
n
ute
Propylene permeation rate
–B
99.0 %
e
Permylene technology has been developed
for C2, C3 and C4 applications.
2.0
1.5
1
98.5 %
1.0
98.0 %
0.5
Ethylene permeation rate
0.0
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
97.5 %
Feed mixture olefin content (%)
Innovative Membrane Technologies
Permylene Benefits Summary
Light olefins production is a multi-billion dollar commodity industry, and the olefin/paraffin separation process is the most
energy-intensive operation in the production of ethylene, propylene and other high volume olefin petrochemicals.
The benefits will vary based on the specific characteristics of the existing processes and target markets:
Lower capital cost (CAPEX) – relative to distillation
With its facilitated transport membrane technology that is not based on relative volatility, Permylene efficiently achieves a high degree of separation, and
therefore high olefin purity, with smaller, lighter, modular systems that are easily shipped to and deployed on site.
Lower energy cost – relative to distillation
Permylene’s facilitated transport mechanism doesn’t directly consume energy for heating and cooling. Depending on the application, energy savings for
Permylene technology can be up to 90% when compared with distillation systems.
Reduced environmental impact from emissions
Permylene’s net lower energy consumption will result in a proportional reduction of GHG, VOC and other CAC emissions related to energy consumption and
waste stream flaring, significantly reducing the environmental footprint of the plant.
Recovery of valuable olefins from waste streams
Permylene systems can be used to recover olefins from the purge or waste streams from polymerization reactors to a useful purity level for recycle
processing, often where distillation is not feasible. This diverts olefins that would likely normally be flared off to a high value use. The olefin
recovery is often in excess of 90%.
Olefin containing stream value upgrading
Permylene systems can enhance feed stream value of certain olefin consuming processes by separating the olefins
from paraffins or other non-olefins, allowing the downstream process to be more efficient and effective.
New product opportunities
The Permylene membrane transports olefins via a facilitated transport mechanism that
employs a specific chemical interaction between the olefin double bond and the
materials of the membrane, not by relative volatility differences.
Applications
The breadth of olefins applications in the refining and
petrochemicals industries is extensive.
Prominent applications include:
Olefins production
from cracking
Olefins recovery from
purge streams
On purpose propylene
and butenes production
Oil refining and
upgrading
Specialty
chemicals
The Opportunity
For over 30 years, companies in the petrochemical industry have sought commercially viable alternative separation technologies
to distillation. Many attempts have been made to satisfy this need by industry R&D teams, academic researchers, government
researchers and by technology providers looking to commercialize a new, more economic, environmentally advantaged
technology.
Imtex is the first company to have successfully answered this need and has created the first truly commercially viable alternative
to distillation for olefin/paraffin separation with its Permylene membrane technology. It meets industry’s need for a stable, high
performance separation process that is designed to withstand the rigors of long-term operation.
Contacts
Imtex Membranes Corp.
Headquarters
2596 Dunwin Drive
Mississauga, ON L5L 1J5
[email protected]
Tel: + 1 (905) 363-0111
North America
Business Development
Dale Kline
[email protected]
Tel: + 1 (803) 554-1002
International
Business Development
Jamie Hughes
[email protected]
Tel: + 1 (345) 815-3986
innovative membrane technologies
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