An integrated process is provided for producing benzene, toluene, and/or xylene and hydrogen from shale gas under the feeding of carbon dioxide. The integrated process for producing an aromatic compound and hydrogen can efficiently and continuously produce high value-added aromatic compounds and hydrogen without the need to separate methane from shale gas through cryogenic distillation.

An integrated process is provided for producing benzene, toluene, and/or xylene and hydrogen from shale gas under the feeding of carbon dioxide. The integrated process for producing an aromatic compound and hydrogen can efficiently and continuously produce high value-added aromatic compounds and hydrogen without the need to separate methane from shale gas through cryogenic distillation.

A silica membrane filter 10 includes an ultrafiltration membrane 15, which is disposed on a support body 14 and which contains an element 14 as a primary component, and a silica membrane 18 which is disposed on the ultrafiltration membrane 15 and which has an aryl group. The ultrafiltration membrane 15 has a structure infiltrated by Si of the silica membrane 18, the atomic ratio A (=Si/M) of Si to the element M in a membrane-side region 16, which is a region corresponding to 25% of the ultrafiltration membrane 15 from the silica membrane 18, satisfies 0.01≦A≦0.5, and the ratio A/B of the atomic ratio A to the atomic ratio B (=Si/M) in a base-material-side region 17, which is a region corresponding to 25% from the support body 14, is within the range of 1.1 or more.

A silica membrane filter 10 includes an ultrafiltration membrane 15, which is disposed on a support body 14 and which contains an element 14 as a primary component, and a silica membrane 18 which is disposed on the ultrafiltration membrane 15 and which has an aryl group. The ultrafiltration membrane 15 has a structure infiltrated by Si of the silica membrane 18, the atomic ratio A (=Si/M) of Si to the element M in a membrane-side region 16, which is a region corresponding to 25% of the ultrafiltration membrane 15 from the silica membrane 18, satisfies 0.01≦A≦0.5, and the ratio A/B of the atomic ratio A to the atomic ratio B (=Si/M) in a base-material-side region 17, which is a region corresponding to 25% from the support body 14, is within the range of 1.1 or more.

A gas separation method includes supplying a mixed gas to a zeolite membrane complex and permeating a high permeability gas through the zeolite membrane complex to separate the high permeability gas from other gases. The mixed gas includes a high permeability gas and a trace gas that is lower in concentration than the high permeability gas. The molar concentration of a first gas included in the trace gas in the mixed gas is higher than the molar concentration of a second gas included in the trace gas in the mixed gas. The adsorption equilibrium constant of the first gas on the zeolite membrane is less than 60 times that of the high permeability gas. The adsorption equilibrium constant of the second gas on the zeolite membrane is 400 times or more that of the high permeability gas.

A gas separation method includes supplying a mixed gas to a zeolite membrane complex and permeating a high permeability gas through the zeolite membrane complex to separate the high permeability gas from other gases. The mixed gas includes a high permeability gas and a trace gas that is lower in concentration than the high permeability gas. The molar concentration of a first gas included in the trace gas in the mixed gas is higher than the molar concentration of a second gas included in the trace gas in the mixed gas. The adsorption equilibrium constant of the first gas on the zeolite membrane is less than 60 times that of the high permeability gas. The adsorption equilibrium constant of the second gas on the zeolite membrane is 400 times or more that of the high permeability gas.

A gas separation method includes supplying a mixed gas to a zeolite membrane complex and permeating a high permeability gas through the zeolite membrane complex to separate the high permeability gas from other gases. The mixed gas includes a high permeability gas and a trace gas that is lower in concentration than the high permeability gas. The molar concentration of a first gas included in the trace gas in the mixed gas is higher than the molar concentration of a second gas included in the trace gas in the mixed gas. The adsorption equilibrium constant of the first gas on the zeolite membrane is less than 60 times that of the high permeability gas. The adsorption equilibrium constant of the second gas on the zeolite membrane is 400 times or more that of the high permeability gas.

Provided is a method for upgrading a bio-based material, the method including the steps of pre-treating bio-renewable oil(s) and/or fat(s) to provide a bio-based fresh feed material, hydrotreating the bio-based fresh feed material, followed by separation, to provide a bio-propane composition.

Provided is a method for upgrading a bio-based material, the method including the steps of pre-treating bio-renewable oil(s) and/or fat(s) to provide a bio-based fresh feed material, hydrotreating the bio-based fresh feed material, followed by separation, to provide a bio-propane composition.

One variation of a method includes: ingesting an air sample captured during an air capture period at a target location for collection of a first mixture including carbon dioxide and a first concentration of impurities; conveying the first mixture through a liquefaction unit to generate a second mixture including carbon dioxide and a second concentration of impurities less than the first concentration of impurities; in a methanation reactor, mixing the second mixture with hydrogen to generate a first hydrocarbon mixture comprising a third concentration of impurities comprising nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen; conveying the first hydrocarbon mixture through a separation unit configured to remove impurities from the first hydrocarbon mixture to generate a second hydrocarbon a fourth concentration of impurities less than the third concentration of impurities; and depositing the second hydrocarbon mixture in a diamond reactor containing a set of diamond seeds to generate a first set of diamonds.