Hollow fiber membrane process for the pretreatment of methane hydrate from landfill gas

• PES hollow fiber membrane was produced by dry–wet phase inversion method.
• Two kinds of membrane were prepared for CH4 recovery from landfill gas.
• Pilot scale membrane separation process was concentrated to 88 vol.% of CH4.
• CO2 removal efficiency increases up to 86.7%.

Landfill gas is major source of green house effect because it is mainly composed of CH4 and CO2. Especially, the separation of CH4 from landfill gas was studied actively due to its high heating value which can be used for energy resource. In this study, polymeric hollow fiber membrane was produced by dry–wet phase inversion method to separate CH4 from the landfill gas. The morphology of the membranes was examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to understand and correlate the morphology with the performance of the membrane. Firstly, single gas permeation and mixed gas separation were performed in lab-scale. After then, a pilot scale membrane process was designed using a simulation program. The manufactured process settled in Gyeong-ju landfill site and operated at various conditions. As a result, CH4 was concentrated to 88 vol.% and also CO2 removal efficiency increases up to 86.7%.