Since the product launch in 2011, Evonik has delivered gas separation membranes in more than 1,000 reference plants worldwide as of the end of 2021.

The group is experiencing continued strong demand in biogas, nitrogen, hydrogen and natural gas applications. The expansion of existing production capacities at the Austrian site in Schörfling am Attersee is progressing.

"Having developed and established the biogas industry in close cooperation with our partners, we are establishing now our SEPURAN membranes in demanding nitrogen, hydrogen and natural gas applications," said Iordanis Savvopoulos, Head of the Fibres, Foams and Membranes Product Line at Evonik. "We celebrated the 500th biogas reference plant just under a year ago, and now the next market success for the entire membrane portfolio is hitting us, giving us an important boost for further growth. The market is convinced of our innovative membrane technology."

Innovative edge through backward integration

At the heart of Evonik's SEPURAN membrane technology are polymer-based hollow-fiber membranes made of the high-performance polymer polyimide developed in-house. Evonik is the world's only backward-integrated manufacturer of highly selective gas separation membranes.

"Backward integration is the key driver of our innovative strength," said Dr. Goetz Baumgarten, head of the Membranes Innovation Growth Field at Evonik. "Thanks to our many years of expertise in polymer chemistry, we already adjust the membrane properties at the development stage of the base material—our high-performance polymer—in order to produce particularly selective, productive, and robust membranes that can be used even under extreme process conditions-such as those found in the oil and gas industry or in aviation." 

Polymer-based membrane technology for gas separation

SEPURAN membranes make it possible to separate gases such as methane, nitrogen, or hydrogen from gas mixtures. The advantages of Evonik's membrane technology are more precise separation of the gases and higher productivity. SEPURAN nitrogen membranes for efficient nitrogen generation are used, for example, to inert aircraft tanks. SEPURAN Noble membranes extract hydrogen transported through natural gas pipelines selectively from the methane/hydrogen gas mixture at the delivery points. SEPURAN NG membranes enable efficient natural gas processing from gas sources with high CO₂ concentration.

Evonik launched its first membrane product—SEPURAN Green, for efficient upgrading of biogas—on the market in 2011, laying the foundations for future business in membranes. This was followed by further membrane products for nitrogen, helium, hydrogen, natural gas, and nanofiltration applications. The membranes, which are now being successfully used in more than 1,000 system installations worldwide, are produced at Evonik’s site in Schörfling, Austria. The high-performance polymer-based material is produced in neighboring Lenzing.