Fabrication of a superhydrophobic mixed matrix PVDF-SiO2-HDTMS hollow fiber membrane for membrane contact carbon dioxide absorption

• Main Authors: Huijuan Gong, Honglei Pang, Mengfan Du, Zezhi Chen
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier 2021-12-01
• Series: Cleaner Engineering and Technology
• Subjects: Superhydrophobic modification; Mixed matrix membrane; Membrane contact absorption; Carbon dioxide capture
• Online Access: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S266679082100238X

In order to obtain high performance polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) hollow fiber membrane for post combustion carbon dioxide (CO2) capture from flue gas by membrane contact absorption technology, a novel mixed matrix membrane fabrication process was proposed in this study. The mixed matrix PVDF-SiO2 (silicon dioxide)-HDTMS (hexadecyltrimethoxysilane) hollow fiber membranes fabricated via this process exhibit super-hydrophobicity on the outer surface and high mechanical strength. Among the membranes, the PVDF-SiO2(1.5)-HDTMS membrane exhibited the highest CO2 absorption performance, which was due to its excellent properties. It had water and diethanolamine (DEA, 1 mol/L) contact angles of 159.3° and 157.5°, respectively. Tensile strength, elongation at break, and LEPW (liquid entry pressure of water) of it were 3.2 × 106 Pa, 35.0%, and 9.0 × 105 Pa, respectively. The CO2 absorption flux of PVDF-SiO2(1.5)-HDTMS membrane attained 2.39 × 10−3 mol‧m−2‧s−1, which was 7.2% and 141.4% higher than that of the PVDF-HDTMS-1.5 and PVDF membranes, respectively. Moreover, CO2 absorption flux of the PVDF-SiO2(1.5)-HDTMS membrane decreased only 3% after twenty days of continuous operation. Highlighted by the outstanding performance in membrane contact CO2 absorption, the PVDF-SiO2(1.5)-HDTMS membrane shows great potential in the application of membrane contact absorption for post-combustion CO2 capture.