Cynara H₂S and CO₂ separation membranes

Cynara™ H₂S and CO₂ separation membranes consist of fibers made of a cellulose triacetate (CTA) base material, which—unlike filters—interacts with gas molecules to transport them through the membrane wall, a process called permeation. Each gas component has a specific permeation rate, determined by its ability to dissolve and diffuse through the membrane material. Highly soluble and small molecules (CO₂ and H₂S) permeate faster than large molecules (N₂, C₁, C₂, and heavier hydrocarbons). The pressure difference between the higher-pressure feed gas and the low-pressure permeate provides the “driving force” for the membrane separation.

Where are Cynara membranes used?

Cynara membranes are used in natural gas processing plant membrane systems with upstream dehydration (e.g., via molecular sieves). They sweeten high-pressure feed gas via bulk separation of H₂S and CO₂ and recover natural gas liquids (NGLs). The CO₂ can be used for enhanced oil recovery (EOR) operations or carbon capture and sequestration (CCS). Cynara membranes can withstand NGL-rich conditions, varying feed gas mixtures, H₂S, or a combination of these conditions, which are unsuitable for some other polymeric membranes.

Are the membrane elements suitable only for new installations or can they be retrofitted in existing plants?

Cynara membrane elements can be oriented vertically or horizontally. Vertically oriented elements are available in diameters up to 30 in, enabling significant acid gas treatment capacity. They can be part of the initial design of a natural gas treatment plant. They can also be used to debottleneck an existing amine-based acid gas removal system—or reduce the size of a new one—by introducing a hybrid natural gas sweetening process.

Horizontally oriented Cynara membrane elements are designed to fit in 8-in and 8 1/4-in tubes built to ASME B31.3 specifications. Intended for retrofitting existing membrane installations to improve separation performance, they have been operationalized in packaging that enables simple plug-and-play replacement of flat-sheet cellulose acetate, hollow-fiber polyimide, and other polymeric membrane elements without infrastructure modifications. They have delivered consistent improvement in production capacity and hydrocarbon retention versus other CO₂ removal membranes during competitive trials and full membrane replacement in existing systems. Read a case study from Australia.

Why should you choose Cynara membranes versus alternative polymeric membranes?

The asymmetric hollow-fiber membranes enable natural gas treatment facility operators to benefit in multiple ways.

How do Cynara membranes support industry carbon intensity reduction goals?

Large-diameter, vertically oriented Cynara membrane elements enable a greatly reduced footprint, which is especially beneficial offshore, where space is at a premium. As a result, embodied carbon decreases by up to 50% compared with alternative acid gas removal technologies.

Using Cynara membranes to replace amine-based acid gas removal units or reduce their size decreases the energy necessary to heat and circulate amine solvents. When combining membranes for bulk removal of acid gases with amine-based acid gas removal for the final polishing stage, a 30%–50% reduction in emissions can be achieved.

Lastly, the higher hydrocarbon retention provided by Cynara membranes versus alternative membrane materials enables pursuit of CCS for the high-purity CO₂ outlet stream (instead of thermal oxidation of the permeate gas), further reducing emissions intensity.

Learn about our collaborative approach and full field development solutions that drive high performance while reducing environmental impact throughout the life of your asset.

Thousands of individual asymmetric, hollow Cynara membrane fibers are packaged within each cylindrical membrane element. Pressurized feed gas flows along the fiber bundle; the more soluble acid gas components (CO₂ and H₂S) preferentially permeate to the bore side of each fiber, where they are combined. This low-pressure permeate flows out at the end of the fiber and is collected for CCS, CO₂ EOR, or additional processing. The hydrocarbon-rich nonpermeate gas continues through the plant for further processing and sale or direct use.

Using multiple stages and optimized arrangements enables the bulk acid gas removal unit to efficiently handle a wide range of feed gas compositions, flow rates, and operating parameters, such as pressure and temperature. Operation is fully automatic, and the modular system enables operators to add capacity incrementally as well as provide a large turndown capacity.