Ambient CO2 adsorption via membrane contactors – Value of assimilation from air as nature stomata

• Published in: Journal of membrane science Vol. 546; pp. 41 - 49
• Main Authors: Nogalska, Adrianna, Ammendola, Mario, Tylkowski, Bartosz, Ambrogi, Veronica, Garcia-Valls, Ricard
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 15.01.2018
• Subjects: CO2 absorption; Membrane contactor; Nanocomposite; Polysulfone; Nanocomposite; Membrane contactor; CO2 absorption; Polysulfone
• ISSN: 0376-7388; 1873-3123
• DOI: 10.1016/j.memsci.2017.10.007

Biomimetic systems represent one of the most attractive ways to produce artificial complex devices taking the best from nature in a simple and repetitive manner. Some of these systems can imitate trees in some of their functions, in this article, the objective is to imitate trees in their ability to fixate CO2 and use it to produce organic compounds. As trees do that fixation after the penetration of the gas though the smart pores of the leaves, stomata, we call our pores as artificial stomata. The project aims to end up with compact systems for small size devices that would work with autonomy in the near future in energy systems. Polysulfone based membranes were prepared by a Phase Inversion Precipitation method using different polymeric solutions (N,N-Dimethylformamide or 1-Methyl-2-pyrrolidone). Obtained asymmetric fingerlike, droplike, or spongy morphologies were characterized: by SEM and ESEM equipped with EDX, while their surfaces were investigated by: AFM, dynamic and static contact angle, swelling measurement. Moreover, copper - ferrite nanoparticles, used for preparation of composite membranes was characterized by TEM, and X-ray diffraction. Their influence on material CO2 solubility, membrane surface morphology and wettability were deeply investigated, and demonstrated influence of membranes roughness on their performance. Furthermore, generated results reveled higher CO2 assimilation than the natural stomata and shown very high CO2 absorption flux (67.5mmol/m2*s). •Highly improved CO2 absorption from ambient air in comparison to commercially available membranes.•Excellence process efficiency due to compatibility of polysulfone and potassium hydroxide.•Membrane contactor morphology and composition influences on CO2 absorption flux.