Membrane Technologies for Decarbonization

The deteriorating environmental situation has stimulated the world community to develop research related to the decarbonization of the economy and hydrogen energy. These two areas are essentially focused on membrane technologies, which play a crucial role in solving key tasks for these areas. This review is devoted to this research. The first part describes various membrane technologies aimed at capturing CO2 from the most common gas mixtures, primarily containing nitrogen, methane, and hydrogen. In recent years, studies related to the amine purification of CO2, including membrane technologies, and the use of porous membranes filled with ionic liquids has also been intensively developed. Electromembrane technologies are also being developed that allow not only capture of CO2 but also to process it into fuel or valuable chemicals. The course taken by several developed countries, including Russia, for the development of hydrogen energy includes the production, purification of hydrogen, and its conversion into energy. It should be noted that membrane technologies are fundamentally important for the development of each of these areas. Thus, the evolution of hydrogen is possible with the use of polymer membranes, and for deep purification and production of high-purity hydrogen by membrane catalysis; membranes based on palladium alloys are used. Finally, fuel cells are developed to produce energy from hydrogen, the most important part of which are proton or oxygen-conducting membranes.