Optimization of hollow fiber membrane contactor system for CO2 mineralization using seawater brine: Comparative analysis of performance and transport mechanisms
Yechan Lee, Chihyuk Ahn, Ji-Hun Mun, Aqil Jamal, Jaewoo Lee, Tae‐Hyun Bae
Abstract
Carbon mineralization is a promising approach for carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) but still faces technical and economic challenges. This study reports on CO 2 mineralization using various hollow fiber membrane contactors (HFMCs) to optimize the system and understand the mass transport mechanism . We conducted a quantitative comparative assessment through theoretical and experimental approaches to evaluate the performance of three HFMC types with different morphological and chemical characteristics at various gas and liquid velocities . Results showed that the in-house developed highly porous hollow fiber (HF) membrane exhibited superior CO 2 capture efficiency compared to commercial membranes. In contrast to other HFMCs showing a sharp decline in CO 2 flux due to internal fouling caused by pore wetting and external fouling, the highly porous HF membrane with surface modification maintained stable performance during continuous operation due to its superhydrophobicity and surface roughness . The HF membrane also achieved the highest overall mass transfer coefficients, closely matching the theoretical non-wetted mode due to negligible partial wetting. We expect that this study will provide insights into optimizing HFMCs for enhanced carbon mineralization efficiency.