Abstract

Poly (vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) and poly-sulfone (PSF) polymer solutions were made at a concentration of 18% by weight of the polymer as a non-soluble additive of polymer solution in 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) solvent. PVDF and PSF hollow fiber membranes were fabricated via the wet phase-inversion process. Fabricated membranes were characterized in terms of gas permeability, wetting resistance, water contact angle and overall porosity. In order to study the structure of the membranes made, the scanning electron microscopy images of the model (TM3000, HITACHI, Japan) were used. The morphology study indicates that the PSF membrane shows an open cross-section structure with smaller pore sizes. However, the PVDF membrane illustrates a thick sponge-like structure. The fabricated PVDF membrane shows higher wetting resistance, surface porosity, water contact angle, and N2 permeability. The performance of the produced membranes was examined for the Absorption of carbon dioxide in a gas-liquid contactor membrane through the solution of mono-ethanolamine (MEA). The results show that CO2 absorption flux of the PVDF hollow fiber membrane is higher than PSF hollow fiber membrane. The maximum CO2 absorption flux of 8.10 × 10-3 (mole/m2 s) at the liquid phase flow rate of 300 ml/min for PVDF hollow fiber membrane was achieved and also the maximum CO2 absorption flux of 6.50 × 10-3 (mole/m2 s) at the liquid phase flow rate of 300 ml/min for PSF hollow fiber membrane was obtained. It can be concluded that a porous hydrophobic hollow fiber membrane with high surface porosity and high gas permeability can be a productive alternative for CO2 absorption through gas-liquid membrane contactors.