Pilot Scale Trialing of Multi-Leaf Spiral-Wound Polymer Membrane Modules for Efficient Carbon Capture

Large amount of energy is being contemporarily expended in carrying out separation and purification operations via thermodynamically inefficient conventional processes. Membrane-based separation technology has recently gained much attractiveness owing to its energy efficient process, reliable operation, low maintenance requirements, economical effectiveness, molecularly selective separation, and compact designing. Highly permeable and selective polymer-based flat-sheet polyether sulfone-based membranes were prepared followed by their insertion into compact spiral-wound modules for efficient carbon capture in this work. Carbon capture efficiency of prepared membranes and corresponding modules was evaluated by trialing them under various operating conditions on a custom-built laboratory-scale rig. Impact of precipitation technique and temperature on carbon capture capacity of resulting membranes and modules can be comprehended by precipitating cast films either through solvent evaporation or water submersion at two distinct temperatures of 5 and 20 °C. CO₂ permeability of water-immersed membrane having 57 Barrer was uplifted to 61 Barrer for solvent-evaporated membrane. CO₂/N₂ selectivity of water-precipitated membrane was improved from 6 to 11 by precipitating at 5 °C instead of 20 °C. Flexible and frail properties of water-precipitated amorphous membranes can be turned into robust and relatively rigid semi-crystalline films owing to solvent evaporation.