Grantee Research Project Results
Final Report: Novel Membrane Process to Utilize Dilute Methane Streams
EPA Contract Number: EPD10036Title: Novel Membrane Process to Utilize Dilute Methane Streams
Investigators: Lin, Haiqing
Small Business: Membrane Technology and Research Inc.
EPA Contact: Richards, April
Phase: I
Project Period: March 1, 2010 through August 31, 2010
Project Amount: $70,000
RFA: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) - Phase I (2010) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: SBIR - Greenhouse Gases , Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)
Description:
Methane is the second largest contributor to global warming after carbon dioxide. Various technologies and process improvements have been developed to curb methane emissions in the United States. There still is, however, a lack of economically viable technology to utilize dilute methane streams containing 10-40 percent methane, in which the other component is primarily carbon dioxide. The streams often are vented, contributing to the climate change effects associated with greenhouse gases. Membrane Technology and Research, Inc. (MTR) estimated that the methane emissions from these streams could be up to 1.0 Tg (million metric tons) per year. A key objective of this project is to develop a simple and low cost membrane process to convert dilute methane waste gas streams into fuel gas streams, thus reducing methane emissions.Summary/Accomplishments (Outputs/Outcomes):
Conclusions:
The Phase I experimental work and the technical and economic analysis have demonstrated the feasibility of using a membrane system to convert dilute methane streams to fuel use by removing excess carbon dioxide. The next step in moving this technology closer to commercialization is to demonstrate the membrane process in a real field application. The focus of the Phase II work will be to demonstrate the enrichment of dilute methane streams using the proposed membrane approach in a small-scale field test.
Supplemental Keywords:
small business, SBIR, EPA, methane, greenhouse gases, GHG, global warming, methane emissions, landfill sites, natural gas, climate change, environment, membrane technology, fuel gas, methane streams, air quality, methane utilizationSBIR Phase II:
Novel Membrane Process to Utilize Dilute Methane Streams | Final ReportThe perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.