Oil and Gas Facilities Group – Application of novel calixarene molecular baskets for improved low temperature gas purification

Nathan will be presenting his Ph.D. work on the development and modification of adsorbent for the removal of N₂ and CO₂ from CH₄ which is an increasingly important process for upgrading aging and sub-quality natural gas reserves. The use of pressure swing adsorption (PSA) for natural gas upgrading is an alternative to the more common and traditional methods of cryogenic distillation (N₂ separation) and amine absorption (CO₂ separation) and with the wide range of temperatures available in a Liquefied Natural Gas Facility there is significant potential to optimise the adsorption process. The efficiency of any adsorption process greatly relies on identifying the optimum system conditions (P,T) and a suitable adsorbent with a high selectivity and capacity for the target gas species.  As part of his research, Nathan investigated a number of different adsorbents including but not limited to zeolites, carbon based materials and metal organic frameworks.

Bio:

Nathan Jensen completed his bachelor and honours degree in applied chemistry at RMIT University. He went on to become a graduate chemist for Queensland Alumina Limited before undertaking his Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering with the Fluids Science and Resources under the supervision of “Western Australia’s Early Scientist of the Year” and  Winthrop Professor Eric May at the University of Western Australia. Nathan now is employed by Nalco Champion as their ANZ/PNG Technical Project Coordinator servicing and leading technical projects across the region.

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