Research Progress in Gas Separation Using Hollow Fiber Membrane Contactors

• Published in: Membranes (Basel) Vol. 10; no. 12; p. 380
• Main Authors: Li, Linlin, Ma, Guiyang, Pan, Zhen, Zhang, Na, Zhang, Zhien
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 29.11.2020; MDPI
• Subjects: absorbent; Absorption; Carbon dioxide; Carbon dioxide removal; CO2 capture; Coalbed methane; Contact angle; Contactors; Gas mixtures; Gas separation; Gases; Hollow fiber membranes; Liquid membranes; Mass transfer; membrane contactor; Membrane separation; membrane wetting; Membranes; Modularity; Natural gas; Review; Selectivity; Solvents; Wetting; absorbent; CO2 capture; membrane wetting; gas separation; membrane contactor
• ISSN: 2077-0375; 2077-0375
• DOI: 10.3390/membranes10120380

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.