Integrated membrane systems for gas separation in biotechnology: potential and prospects.

Integrated non-porous membrane systems were applied for microbial combustible gas separation processes. Methane/CO2 mixtures of various concentrations from methane fermentation processes (biogas) were separated using a membrane-separation complex of permabsorber type into individual components of technical grade (more than 95% purity). In experiments with three-component mixtures, using a selective membrane valve with various liquid carriers, all the gases of interest (H2, CH4 and CO2) were obtained at greater than 90% purity in one separation step. The perspectives for the further application of non-porous membrane separating devices for various gaseous mixtures from different microbial processes are discussed.