Preparation of Alumina Hollow Fiber Membrane with Controlled Pore Structure for Contactor Process

Abstract

The alumina hollow fiber membranes were prepared by spinning and then sintering method. The dope solution was fabricated by using 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP), dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), dimethylacetamide (DMAc), and triethylphosphite (TEP) as solvents, which have different interaction rate with non-solvent. SEM analysis showed that the alumina hollow fiber membranes have different pore structure. In particular, the hollow fiber membranes prepared with DMSO, DMAc and NMP had finger structures. In contrast, when it was made with TEP, the membrane had a sponge structure. The gas permeability and the contact angle of each hollow fiber membranes were measured. The fabricated hollow fiber membranes were applied to the membrane contact process for the carbon dioxide absorption. The hollow fiber membranes prepared with TEP is had the highest carbon dioxide absorption characteristics. A higher carbon dioxide absorption activity of hollow fiber membranes prepared with TEP was suggested to be due to its gas permeability and hydrophobicity. In conclusion, it was confirmed that the higher gas permeation due to pore structure of the membrane had a favorable effect on the absorption performance.