ADVANCES IN POLYMERIC MEMBRANES FOR GAS SEPARATION IN PETROLEUM REFINING: A REVIEW.

Gas separation is an integral part of petroleum refining, involving the removal or recovery of valuable or problematic gaseous components from process streams. Among the available technologies, polymeric membranes have garnered increasing attention as energy-efficient, compact, and modular alternatives to conventional techniques such as cryogenic distillation, pressure swing adsorption, and amine absorption. This review critically examines the state of polymeric membranes for gas separations in refinery applications, with a focus on the mechanisms of gas transport, polymer materials used, and industrial relevance in separations involving hydrogen, carbon dioxide, and hydrocarbons. We highlight recent developments in high-performance polymers, such as polymers of intrinsic microporosity (PIMs) and thermally rearranged (TR) polymers, as well as composite strategies like mixed matrix membranes (MMMs). Persistent challenges including plasticisation, aging, limited thermal stability, and permeabilityselectivity trade-offs are evaluated. Finally, the review presents a perspective on future trends that could further enable polymeric membranes to play a transformative role in refining operations driven by sustainability, cost reduction, and energy efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]