Citation:
Jefferson, B.; Nazareno, C.; Georgaki, S.; Gostelow, P.; Stuetz, R.M.; Longhurst, P.; Robinson, T.; Environmental Technology, Volume 26, Number 7, July 2005, pp. 793-804
Abstract:
A hollow fibre (HF) polypropylene membrane gas absorber was investigated for the
removal of hydrogen sulphide (H2S) from gas streams. Gas concentrations between
25-2010 ppmV were fed into the shell side of a membrane module whilst water-NaOH
solutions flowed counter-currently in the fibre lumens. The process was
effective at removing the H2S (96% at G:L ratios up to 50 and pH 13) from the
gas phase in a single pass through the membrane at all the concentrations of H2S
investigated. Analysis of the mass transfer process revealed the rate of
transfer to be controlled by the gas phase transfer coefficient with a value
between 1 and 25Ã 10-4 m.s-1. The possible integration of a membrane absorber
system into existing odour treatment strategies was assessed by comparing the
membrane system, based on the experimentally determined mass transfer
coefficient, with existing full scale biofiltration plants. The membrane system
became economically favourable at gas flow rates lower than 1630 m3.h-1