Rapid pressure swing absorption cleanup of post-shift reactor synthesis gas

Abstract

This investigation is concerned with the separation of gas mixtures using a novel concept of rapid pressure swing absorption (RAPSAB) of gas in a stationary absorbent liquid through gas-liquid interfaces immobilized in the pore mouths of hydrophobic microporous membranes. The process is implemented in a module well-packed with hydrophobic microporous hollow fiber membranes. The specific objectives are (1) to develop a theoretical model which will provide guidelines for selecting an efficient RAPSAB process cycle which includes desorption; (2) to demonstrate the concept experimentally with a simple gas mixture (e.g., Co{sub 2}-N{sub 2}) and a simple absorbent liquid such as water, and (3) to extend the concept to reactive absorbent liquids for the separation of CO, Co{sub 2} from the post-shift reactor synthesis gas. A simplified theoretical description of the novel rapid pressure swing absorption process has been developed.