Application of hollow fiber membrane contactor for the removal of carbon dioxide from water under liquid–liquid extraction mode

Abstract

In this study, we investigate the application of a hollow fiber membrane contactor operated in the LLE mode for the removal of dissolved CO 2 from water. The membrane contactor consists of hydrophobic polypropylene microporous hollow fibers. Experiments are performed to determine the extent of CO 2 removal from the feed water flowing through the lumens of the hollow fibers. The feed at different concentration levels of dissolved CO 2 was extracted using aqueous diethanolamine solution flowing on the shell side of the contactor. A mathematical model was developed, incorporating radial and axial diffusion of solute CO 2 in the lumen and its permeation through the pores of the membrane. The governing second order partial differential equation of species balance was numerically solved using the alternate direction implicit technique. The developed mathematical model was used to predict the concentration profiles of CO 2 and study its transport through water and membrane pores. The numerical value of the permeation coefficient obtained for CO 2 in the hollow fiber membrane was found to be in good agreement with the data in literature.