Polyetherimide hollow fiber membranes for CO2 absorption and stripping in membrane contactor application

Abstract

Porous asymmetric polyetherimide (PEI) hollow fiber membranes with various non-solvent additives, e.g. lithium chloride, methanol and phosphoric acid (PA) were prepared for CO₂ absorption and stripping process in a membrane contractor. The PEI membranes were characterized via gas permeation, liquid entry pressure of water (LEPw), contact angle and field emission scanning electronic microscopy analysis. The CO₂ absorption and stripping performance was evaluated via the membrane contactor system. Addition of non-solvent additives increased the LEPw and membrane porosity of the PEI membrane with the formation of various membrane microstructures and contact angles. Absorption test was performed at 40 °C showed that the PEI–PA membrane produced the highest absorption flux of 2.7 × 10⁻² mol m⁻² s⁻¹ at 0.85 m s⁻¹ of liquid velocity. Further testing on PEI–PA membrane was conducted on CO₂ stripping at 60 °C, 70 °C to 80 °C and the results indicated that the stripping flux was lower compared to the absorption flux. Stripping tests at 80 °C produced the highest stripping flux which might due to the increase in equilibrium partial pressure of CO₂ in the liquid absorbent. Modification of PEI membrane via incorporation of additive can enhanced the performance of a membrane contactor via increasing the absorption and stripping flux.