· 논문명 : Design and optimization of a moisture removal process for methane purification: a component

                of a palm oil mill effluent upgrading facility

· 저   자 : Chan Hyun Lee*1, Jae Hyeon Park1, Joungho Park, Hee-Tae Beum, Jong-Nam Kim*, Sun Hyung Kim*

· 게재지 : Separation and Purication Technology (2026, 380, 135150)

· 초록

Biogas composed of methane and carbon dioxide derived from palm oil mill effluent (POME) is a promising renewable energy

source; however, the design of serial separation processes faces considerable challenges in upgrading and compressing 

bio-methane. This study designed a layered adsorption column for removing H2O via pressure–temperature swing adsorption 

(PTSA) and analyzed various effects on the performance of PTSA units and the POME upgrading process combining water 

scrubbing and PTSA. A layered adsorption column, composed of activated alumina and zeolite 4A, was investigate for its H2O

removal performance, using a bench-scale laboratory apparatus and numerical simulation. Based on breakthrough curves, 

the optimal packing ratio was 30 % activated alumina and 70 % zeolite 4A by height, and the column was sufficiently regenerated

at > 150 ◦C with 10 % of product stream. Numerical simulations supported the experimental results and the effects of different

packing configurations on the performance of the layered adsorption column. However, H2O removal, the primary factor used 

for assessing the adsorption column, was not solely affected by CH4 recovery and the purity of CH4 during integrated POME 

upgrade. Further simulations based on the experimental data showed that the CH4 recovery and purity of CH4 from the 

integrated system was enhanced by applying a high-activatedalumina- content layered column. This study highlights the 

contrasting effects of the packing ratio of layered adsorption columns on the performances for independent PTSA units and

integrated processes. The findings contribute to developing scalable and energy-efficient bio-methane or bio-CNG production

processes, aligning with global efforts toward sustainable energy solutions.