Enhancement of Carbon Dioxide Absorption using Nanofluids in Hollow Fiber Membrane Contactor

Abstract In this work, CO 2 gas was absorbed from a gas mixture in a custom made Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) hollow fiber membrane contactors by using a variety of Methyl Diethanolamine (MDEA) aqueous solutions and nanofluids. An ultrasonic dispersion method was used to prepare nanofluids. SiO 2 nanoparticles and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were dispersed in deionized (DI) water and MDEA without adding any surfactant. The prepared solvents were fed into the tube side of the membrane module, whereas the gas mixture passed through the shell side. CO 2 absorption experiments were carried out using four different liquid flow rates: 10, 20, 30 & 40 ml/min. All experiments were conducted at ambient temperature and atmospheric pressure. CO 2 absorption process carried out by using pure deionized water as a reference. The effects of different parameters on the removal efficiency of CO 2 were investigated and analyzed with a focus on concentrations and types of amines and nanoparticles and liquid flow rates. Carbon nanotubes show substantial enhancement in the absorption of CO 2 from the CO 2 /N 2 gas mixture.