Research Article
Nayef Ghasem and Mohamed Al
Abstract
In the present work porous poly (vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) hollow fiber membranes were fabricated via thermally induced phase separation (TIPS) method for the application in gas-liquid membrane contactor. For this purpose long air gap distance was used (90 mm). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used for membrane characterization. Gas permeation test was performed using carbon dioxide as test gas. It was observed that the effective surface porosity and membrane pore size increased with increased glycerol concentration. CO2 absorption using the fabricated hollow fiber membranes were measured in a gas-liquid hollow fiber membrane contactor. The results of the CO2 absorption rate of the tested fibers revealed that complete removal of CO2 was achieved using 7% glycerol added to the casted solution at normal operating conditions for equal gas to liquid volumetric flow rates using sodium hydroxide as absorbent liquid.