Fabrication and Characterization of Polyetherimide Hollow Fiber Membrane Contactor for Carbon Dioxide Stripping from Monoethanolamine Solution

In this research, process asymmetric polyetherimide hollow fiber membranes using ethanol (0, 2 and 4 wt%) as non-solvent additive in the polymer dope via phase inversion method were fabricated. Aqueous solution of 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidine (NMP) (90%) was applied as a bore fluid to avoid inner skin layer formation and water was used as the external coagulant. The morphology of fabricated membranes was examined using field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM). A gas permeation test was conducted using Nitrogen. Fabricated membranes were characterized in terms of pore size, critical water entry pressure, water contact angle and collapsing pressure. The performance of fabricated membranes for carbon dioxide stripping from monoethanolamine solution using a gas - liquid membrane contactor system was studied. The results showed that carbon dioxide stripping flux and efficiency increased by increasing liquid velocity. Also, enhancement of stripping flux by increasing gas velocity was negligible. By increasing MEA solution temperature, stripping flux increased; therefore, liquid phase temperature is a key parameter which needs to be controlled.