The permeabilities of carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide and oxygen and their mixtures through silicone rubber and cellulose acetate membranes

Measurements have been made of the permeability of nitrous oxide (N₂O), carbon dioxide (CO₂) and oxygen (O₂) through silicone rubber and cellulose acetate membranes using a flat sheet permeator. Measurements have also been made of individual gas permeabilities from a mixed feed stream. N₂O had the highest permeability when using the silicone rubber membrane, followed by CO₂, with O₂ an order of magnitude less. All three gas permeability coefficients were independent of feed pressure for this membrane and N₂O and CO₂ permeability coefficients were temperature independent. For the cellulose acetate membrane, N₂O and CO₂ permeabilities varied with feed pressure and all three gases gave positive temperature coefficients. No separation of CO₂ from N₂O could be achieved under any conditions with the cellulose acetate membrane.