The role of solvent temperature and gas pressure on CO2 mass transfer during biogas upgrading within porous and dense-skin hollow fibre membrane contactors

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dc.contributor.authorLuqmani, Ben
dc.contributor.authorBrookes, A.
dc.contributor.authorMoore, A.
dc.contributor.authorVale, P.
dc.contributor.authorPidou, Marc
dc.contributor.authorMcAdam, Ewan
dc.date.accessioned2023-08-17T11:13:49Z
dc.date.available2023-08-17T11:13:49Z
dc.date.issued2023-08-02
dc.description.abstractBiogas upgrading uniquely requires pressurisation of hollow fibre membrane contactors (HFMC) to be competitive with classical water absorption, and when complemented with an ambient industrial temperature range, these conditions will determine CO2 mass transport phenomena that are distinct dependent upon whether microporous or nonporous membranes are used. This study therefore examines the independent and concomitant role of temperature and pressure in determining CO2 mass transport, and selectivity, within microporous and nonporous HFMC. At low solvent temperatures, higher CO2 flux was achieved which indicates that solvent solubility is more critical than CO2 diffusivity to enhancing mass transport. Low temperatures also favoured mass transfer within the microporous membrane, explained by the reduction in solvent vapour pressure which limited pore wetting by condensation. In contrast, the nonporous membrane exhibited poorer mass transfer at low temperatures due to a decline in dense polymer permeability. Crucially in this study, neither wetting of the microporous membrane or plasticisation of the nonporous membrane were observed following pressurisation. Consequently, CO2 flux increased in proportion to the applied pressure for both membrane types, emphasising the critical role of pressurisation in augmenting process intensification for biogas upgrading which is typically facilitated at pressures of 7–10 bar. Resistance-in-series analysis illustrated how pressurisation reduced gas-phase resistance, and subsequently enhanced selectivity. Consequently, an outlet gas quality of 98% methane could be achieved within a single microporous module at 4.5 bar, meeting the industrial standard for biomethane whilst reducing solvent requirements, separation energy and methane losses. Comparable behaviour was observed during pressurisation of the nonporous membrane, but with a less significant benefit to CO2 mass transfer and selectivity, ostensibly due to the resistance imparted by the dense polymer. When considered collectively, low solvent temperature and high gas pressure enhance process intensification subsequently reducing process size (e.g., membrane area) and separation energy, while also advancing selectivity to deliver a gas product at the composition required for biomethane with minimum methane losses, which are critical factors in demonstrating microporous HFMC as an industrially competitive solution for biogas upgrading.en_UK
dc.description.sponsorshipEngineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC): STREAM CDT Anglian Water; Northumbrian Water; Severn Trent Wateren_UK
dc.identifier.citationLuqmani B, Brookes A, Moore A, et al., (2023) The role of solvent temperature and gas pressure on CO2 mass transfer during biogas upgrading within porous and dense-skin hollow fibre membrane contactors, Journal of Membrane Science, Volume 685, November 2023, Article Number 121967en_UK
dc.identifier.eissn1873-3123
dc.identifier.issn0376-7388
dc.identifier.urihttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.memsci.2023.121967
dc.identifier.urihttps://dspace.lib.cranfield.ac.uk/handle/1826/20112
dc.language.isoenen_UK
dc.publisherElsevieren_UK
dc.rightsAttribution 4.0 International*
dc.rights.urihttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/*
dc.subjectAsymmetricen_UK
dc.subjectCarbon capture (CCS)en_UK
dc.subjectWateren_UK
dc.subjectBiomethaneen_UK
dc.subjectSelectivityen_UK
dc.subjectPermeabilityen_UK
dc.titleThe role of solvent temperature and gas pressure on CO2 mass transfer during biogas upgrading within porous and dense-skin hollow fibre membrane contactorsen_UK
dc.typeArticleen_UK

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