CO2 Transport Through Hollow Fiber Membranes

CO₂ transport through hollow fiber membranes

Studies on absorption of CO₂ into an aqueous solution using hydrophobic microporous hollow fiber membranes (HFM's) were performed.  The membrane modules were operated in a sealed-end, parallel flow configuration.  Several modules were constructed that ranged in interfacial surface area from 466 to 1397 m²/m³.  The mass transfer coefficients were calculated based on a model of the system that included a prediction of the internal axial gas concentrations within the fiber lumen.  This model was validated by measuring bulk gas velocity within fiber lumen.  A trend of increasing mass transfer coefficients with internal pressure was observed.  A correlation for predicting this effect was developed.  The use of HFM's for CO₂ transfer could significantly improve the biomass growth rate for algal biofuel production.  As a result, experiments were performed with a growing algal culture, to investigate the extent of membrane performance reduction as a result of fouling.