Supported liquid membrane separation of propylene–propane mixtures using a metal ion carrier Original Research Article

Experimental results for the separation of propylene from a propylene/propane mixture using facilitated transport membrane system with silver nitrate as carrier are presented. The equilibrium constant of the reaction between propylene and silver ion (Ag+) at different operating conditions was determined, experimentally. For a 50:50 (vol.%) propylene–propane mixture, at feed pressure of 50–120 kPa, the separation performance of a facilitated transport membrane system was evaluated. It was observed that increasing carrier concentration and trans-membrane pressure, separation factor was increased. At feed pressure of 120 kPa and the carrier concentration of 20 wt.%, a separation factor of 270 was obtained.