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Review
. 2020 Nov 29;10(12):380.
doi: 10.3390/membranes10120380.

Research Progress in Gas Separation Using Hollow Fiber Membrane Contactors

Linlin Li  1 , Guiyang Ma  1 , Zhen Pan  1 , Na Zhang  2 , Zhien Zhang  3
Affiliations
Review

Research Progress in Gas Separation Using Hollow Fiber Membrane Contactors

Linlin Li et al. Membranes (Basel). .

Abstract

In recent years, gas-liquid membrane contactors have attracted increasing attention. A membrane contactor is a device that realizes gas-liquid or liquid-liquid mass transfer without being dispersed in another phase. The membrane gas absorption method combines the advantages of chemical absorption and membrane separation, in addition to exhibiting high selectivity, modularity, and compactness. This paper introduces the operating principle and wetting mechanism of hollow membrane contactors, shows the latest research progress of membrane contactors in gas separation, especially for the removal of carbon dioxide from gas mixtures by membrane contactors, and summarizes the main aspects of membrane materials, absorbents, and membrane contactor structures. Furthermore, recommendations are provided for the existing deficiencies or unsolved problems (such as membrane wetting), and the status and progress of membrane contactors are discussed.

Keywords: CO2 capture; absorbent; gas separation; membrane contactor; membrane wetting.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Classifications of gas treatment methods.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Operating principle of membrane absorption method [5].
Figure 3
Figure 3
Schematic diagram of three wetting states. (a) Non-wetted, (b) partially wetted, and (c) fully wetted conditions.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Schematic illustration of (a) fouling characteristics of ceramic membranes using filtration models [55] and (b) fouling of polymeric and ceramic nanofiltration membranes by alginate [56].
Figure 5
Figure 5
CO2 concentration distribution in the tube with different absorbents (absorption temperature: 313 K; operating pressure: 4 bar; gas flow rate: 800 mL/min; and liquid flow rate: 75 mL/min) [74].
Figure 6
Figure 6
(a) Grazing (or shuttle) effect [78]; (b) mass transfer interface increase by bubble breaking effect [79]; (c) gas–liquid interface shape in hydrodynamic effect [80].
Figure 7
Figure 7
Schematic arrangements of membranes in the proposed novel dual-membrane system [100].
Figure 8
Figure 8
Effect of temperature on CO2 absorption for various absorbents under the non-wetting condition (CO2: 20%; N2: 80%; gas velocity: 0.2 m/s, liquid velocity: 0.01 m/s; absorbent concentration: 1 M; pressure: 120 kPa) [107].
Figure 9
Figure 9
Effect of operating pressure on the hollow fiber membrane contactor (HFMC) performance for various absorbents (initial CO2 concentration: 40%; PA concentration: 5 wt%; gas velocity: 0.32 m/s; liquid velocity: 0.06 m/s) [108].
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