Experimental study of CO2 absorption/stripping via PVDF hollow fiber membrane contactor

Gas–liquid hollow fiber membrane contactor can be a promising alternative for the CO2 absorption/stripping due to the advantages over traditional contacting devices. In this study, the structurally developed hydrophobic polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) hollow fiber membranes were prepared via a wet spinning method. The membranes were characterized in terms of morphology, permeability, wetting resistance, overall porosity and mass transfer resistance. From the morphology analysis, the membranes demonstrated a thin outer finger-like layer with ultra thin skin and a thick inner sponge-like layer without skin. The characterization results indicated that the membranes possess a mean pore size of 9.6 nm with high permeability and wetting resistance and low mass transfer resistance (1.2 × 104 s/m). Physical CO2 absorption/stripping were conducted through the fabricated gas–liquid membrane contactor modules, where distilled water was used as the liquid absorbent. The liquid phase resistance was dominant due to significant change in the absorption/stripping flux with the liquid velocity. The CO2 absorption flux was approximately 10 times higher than the CO2 stripping flux at the same operating condition due to high solubility of CO2 in water as confirmed with the effect of liquid phase pressure and temperature on the absorption/stripping flux.

► Preparation and characterization of porous PVDF hollow fiber membranes.
► The membranes possess high permeability with low mass transfer resistance.
► The liquid resistance was dominant in the physical CO2 absorption/stripping experiments.
► The CO2 absorption flux was approximately 10 times higher than the CO2 stripping flux.