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Research progress on N2/CH4 gas separation membranes
based on N2-preferential permeation

Authors： WEI Yuchang, WANG Jinming, WANG Zhi

Units： Chemical Engineering Research Center, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Membrane Science and Desalination Technology, State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering and Low-Carbon Technology, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin), School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300350, China

KeyWords： unconventional natural gas; nitrogen; methane; separation membrane

ClassificationCode：TQ028

year,volume(issue):pagination： 2026,46(1):164-177

Abstract：

With the accelerated development and utilization of unconventional natural gas resources, the demand for nitrogen removal and methane purification is increasingly urgent. Compared with traditional chemical methods such as cryogenic separation and pressure swing adsorption, gas separation membrane technology has the advantages of low energy consumption, operational flexibility, and is considered an important technical pathway for efficient nitrogen removal from natural gas. This review firstly introduces the significance and common methods of nitrogen removal and methane purification for unconventional natural gas, and then systematically summarizes the research progress of N2/CH4 gas separation membranes based on N2-preferential permeation, covering the structural characteristics, fabrication methods and representative performances of polymer membranes, inorganic membranes (zeolite molecular sieve membranes, carbon molecular sieve membranes and two-dimensional layered membranes), as well as mixed matrix membranes. Finally, it highlights the key challenges that remain in industrial applications, including the development of new membrane materials, improvement of membrane structure and performance stability, optimization of module integration, and further proposes future development directions while outlining the application prospects of membrane technology in the field of N2/CH4 separation.

Funds：

国家自然科学基金重点项目(2193000314)

AuthorIntro：

魏玉昌(2000-)，男，江西南昌人，硕士研究生，研究方向为气体分离膜.

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