Computational simulation and theoretical modeling of CO2 separation using EDA, PZEA and PS absorbents inside the hollow fiber membrane contactor

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This paper deals with developing a theoretical modeling and a two dimensional (2D) computational simulation to evaluate the CO2 separation percentage from CO2/CH4 gaseous mixture under non-wetting mode of operation inside the membrane pores and counter-current adjustment of liquid and gas flows. As the novelty, the effect of ethylenediamine (EDA), 2-(1-piperazinyl)-ethylamine (PZEA) and potassium sarcosinate (PS) liquid absorbents on the CO2 separation performance is studied and the most efficient absorbent is introduced. The results show that PZEA can sequester 88.75% of inlet CO2 while the separation percentage of CO2 using PS and EDA is 82.2 and 81%, respectively. In addition, the mathematical model outcomes corroborate that increase in some operational factors and hollow fiber module specifications such as liquid flow rate, fiber packing density, module length and number of fibers encourages the separation efficiency of CO2 due to enhancing the residence time, contact area and consequently mass transfer rates inside the HFMC while increment of tortuosity factor and gas flow rate negatively deteriorates the separation percentage of CO2 which is able to be justified due to enhancement of mass transfer resistance through the pores of microporous membrane.