One end-dead perovskite hollow fiber membranes for high-purity oxygen production from ambient air

The high-purity oxygen production from ambient air through the dense one end-dead perovskite hollow fiber membrane based on Ba0.5Sr0.5Co0.8Fe0.2O3−δ prepared by a phase inversion spinning process is reported. High oxygen purity up to 99.7 vol% and high oxygen permeation flux of 1.74 ml/min cm2 are obtained after 2-h activation in the initial stage at 950 °C under the vacuum degree of 99.0 kPa on the core side and the ambient air of 1.0 atm on the feed side. The X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy spectrum analysis (EDS) show that the carbonate appears in the spent hollow fiber membrane after 24-h oxygen permeation in the ambient air, which leads to the decline of the oxygen permeation flux. However, the pure oxygen can be produced in one step through the one end-dead hollow fiber membrane without any inert gas, so the second separation is not necessary any more and it is beneficial to the industrial application for high-purity oxygen production.

► A novel one end-dead hollow fiber membrane has been prepared by a phase inversion spinning process.
► High-purity oxygen has been produced in one step from ambient air through the one end-dead hollow fiber membrane by vacuum.
► CO2 in the ambient air has a poisoning effect on the perovskite membrane due to the formation of carbonate.