High pressure gas permeability of microporous carbon membranes

Microporous carbon membranes are prepared, characterised structurally and tested in terms of high pressure CO2 permeability at temperatures around the critical. A maximum in the permeance versus relative pressure curve is observed in close analogy to the case of mesoporous membranes. This weakens considerably as the temperature is increased above the critical. The results offer significant input for an improved understanding and theoretical modelling of the process and may be potentially useful for the identification of the optimal pressure and temperature conditions for efficient gas separations.