Liquid-liquid extraction process for gas separation from water in polymeric membrane: Mathematical modeling and simulation

In this study, application of polypropylene hollow fiber membrane contactors for CO₂ removal from water in liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) mode was simulated. For this purpose, a steady state 2D mathematical model was developed. In this model axial and radial diffusion was considered to CO₂ permeation through the hollow fibers. CO₂ laden water is fed at a constant flow rate into the lumen side, permeated through the pores of membrane and at the end of this process, CO₂ solution in the lumen side was extracted by means of aqueous diethanolamine (DEA) and chemical reaction. The simulation results were validated with the experimental data and it was found a good agreement between them, which confirmed the reliability of the proposed model. Both simulation and experimental results confirmed the reduction in the percentage of CO₂ removal by increment of feed flow rate.