Carbon Dioxide Removal in a Membrane Contactor – Selection of Absorptive Liquid/Membrane System

Abstract

This report demonstrates the application of the membrane contactor for carbon dioxide removal. The investigations were performed with the use of a single polypropylene capillary membrane. Two primary amines (monoethanolamine MEA, diglycolamine DGA), one secondary amine (diethanolamine DEA), one tertiary amine (methyldiethanolamine MDEA) were used to prepare absorbate solutions. Batch experiments were conducted for the counter-current flow with liquid on the tube side of the module. The system was investigated for aqueous solutions of amines and for the solutions with piperazine addition. The absorption kinetics with the use of primary amines appeared to be much faster than those of secondary and tertiary amines. The amine efficiency can be stated as follows: MEA>DGA>DEA>MDEA. Further investigations have shown/show that the presence of an activator improves the reaction and process kinetics and brings the DEA and MDEA efficiency to the level of primary amines. The influence of different types of amine solutions used as liquid absorbents on the stability of the membrane shows that these solutions do not wet PP (polypropylene) membranes even after 150 days' immersion in different absorbents.

Biocatalytic Membranes for Carbon Capture and Utilization

“…This category emerged as a new hybrid membrane system, called gas-liquid membrane contactors (GLMC), that combines the modularity and high surface area of the membrane with the high selectivity of the chemical absorption process [83,84]. Non-enzymatic GLMC developments have focused on improving membrane stability [85], minimizing pore wetting [86], and selecting the best solvent and activator [9]. Reviews of modeling methods used to analyze the mass transfer in hollow fiber gas-liquid membrane contactors (HFGLMC) for postcombustion carbon capture are available [83].…”

“…For example, a conventional membrane separation process can be assisted by a cryogenic unit to improve CO 2 purity to a level that is not attainable by the membrane alone [8]. In another hybrid example, the porous structure of a gas-liquid membrane contactor (GLMC) is used to increase the contact Membranes 2023, 13, 367 2 of 32 surface areas of a gas stream with conventional chemical absorption solvents to achieve higher CO 2 capture efficiency with a smaller footprint [9]. The development of more sophisticated hybrid systems that combine the relatively newer concepts of metal organic frameworks (MOFs), ionic liquid (IL), and enzyme-based CO 2 capture and reactor systems, together with conventional CO 2 capture technologies, offer new possibilities for carbon capture and utilization applications [10].…”

Polymer Blends for Improved CO2 Capture Membranes

“…Current processes are based on physical or chemical solvents as well as membrane technology; recently, new hybrid processes have been developed, which combine advanced membrane techniques with an effective CO 2 absorption process in one device, called a contactor [3,4,5]. In these compact systems, an advanced gas membrane, which helps the mass exchange process by increasing the surface area for phase contact, is present between the gas and an absorbing aqueous solution [3,6]. This approach is inspired by natural photosynthesis, in which leaves, by means of stomata, are able to efficiently capture carbon dioxide.…”

Atmospheric CO2 capture for the artificial photosynthetic system

“…polyacetylenes [9], polyaniline [10], poly(ethylene oxide) [11], polyolefin [12], polypropylene [13] and others [14]. Polysufone, chosen in the study, is a thermally and chemically stable polymer, easy to handle.…”