CO2 M-Tech Co's membrane-based CO2 separation technology offers significantly reduced energy consumption compared with chemical absorption methods. In addition, separation facilities can be downsized by half.
CO2 M-Tech Co was established in 2013 as a joint venture between Sumitomo Chemical and other partners and is working to commercialise the membrane CO2 separation technology. Pilot facilities incorporating the technology were installed at Sumitomo Chemical’s Ehime Works in May last year and at the domestic chemical manufacturer's plant in September this year, where performance verification testing was conducted under actual operating conditions to demonstrate the performance of the CO2 separation membrane in terms of CO2 permeability, durability, etc.
CO2 separation technology is mainly used in hydrogen production and natural gas refining to remove CO2 from gas streams. Demand for the use of CO2 separation technology is expected to expand as the utilisation of hydrogen energy increases. In addition, in the field of carbon capture and storage (CCS), technologies that reduce costs for CO2 separation and capture (which account for over half the overall CCS costs) are in demand.
