Large-scale preparation of composite membranes for CO2 separation via interfacial polymerization: Monomer selection and processing parameter optimization

Abstract

The increasingly serious situation of CO2 emissions compels researchers to pay extensive attention to industrial processes for carbon capture. Membrane-based separation technology is widely regarded as a promising reserve method for carbon capture, featuring a wide adjustment range, flexible operation and modular design. In this work, a large-scale interfacial polymerization membrane production process for carbon capture was developed together with the construction of novel interfacial polymerization equipment with an adjustable organic phase bath and surface cross-linking unit. A monomer suitable for efficiently preparing high-performance CO2 separation membranes was selected through a combination of experiments and simulations. The effect of production conditions on the structure and performance of large-scale membranes was investigated. The performance resilience at high pressure and short-term stability in the presence of impurities of the optimized membranes were examined. Techno-economic evaluation targeting carbon capture from post-combustion gas verifies the significant industrial application potential of the membranes.