Effect of quenching temperature on the performance of poly(vinylidene fluoride) microporous hollow fiber membranes fabricated via thermally induced phase separation technique on the removal of CO2 from CO2-gas mixture

The capture and utilization of carbon dioxide from flue gases and sweetening of natural gas, is currently a global issue. Hollow fiber membranes contactors are new emerged technology proposed for this purpose. In the present work hollow fiber membranes were fabricated and used as a membrane contactor and utilized in the absorption of carbon dioxide from natural gas. Poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) was used to fabricate microporous hollow fiber membranes. The fibers were prepared by using glycerol triacetate (triacetin) as solvent, and through thermally induced phase separation technique. The fabricated fiber membranes were investigated at various quenching temperatures. Characterization of the resulting membranes included scanning electron microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. Microscopic observation showed that the membrane was composed of spherical clusters. The crystallinity increased with the quenching temperature. Permeation performance was also determined, including pure water permeability and gas permeation test. The results showed that at lower quenching temperatures, the structure of the membrane was dense. Therefore the water permeability and gas permeability were low. Complete removal of CO2 was possible using PVDF hollow fiber membrane contactor enclosed of hollow fiber membranes fabricated at high quenching temperatures. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.