An experimental study on absorption/stripping CO 2 using mono-ethanol amine hollow fiber membrane contactor

Abstract

Abstract The present article focuses on making asymmetric porous hollow fiber membranes of polysulfone (PSF) through alternating phases of process using ethanol (2 wt.%) as a non-soluble additive in polymer solution. An aqueous solution of 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) was used as the splitter fluid to prevent the formation of internal dense crust and water was used as an external coagulant. The surface porosity, the pore size and the effective porosity of membrane were examined through characteristic tests. The structure of membrane was studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The performance of the produced membranes was examined to absorb and excrete carbon dioxide in a gas–liquid contactor membrane through the solution of mono-ethanolamine (MEA). The results of gas absorption and stripping test showed that the liquid phase is enhanced by increasing the flow rate. Membranes produced by ethanol indicated that the absorption and excretion of carbon dioxide hollow fiber membrane made of PSF were more than other membranes. The highest absorption of carbon dioxide (3.9 × 10 −3 mol/m 2 /s) and stripping (2.00 × 10 −4 mol/m 2 /s) could be obtained at the liquid flow rate of 300 and 200 ml/min, respectively.