skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Characterization of CO2 flux through hollow-fiber membranes using pH modeling

Journal Article · · Journal of Membrane Science

CO2 must be delivered efficiently during large-scale microalgal cultivation. Bubbleless mass-transfer via diffusion through hollow-fiber membranes (HFM) can achieve much higher CO2-transfer efficiency than traditional sparging systems. Here this study developed and used a model to compute accurate values for the CO2 flux (JCO2), overall mass-transfer coefficient (KL), and overall volumetric mass-transfer coefficient (KLa) based on the rate of change of pH in batch experiments. A composite HFM comprised of two macroporous polyethylene layers and a nonporous polyurethane layer was tested for CO2 transfer to a sodium carbonate solution using a range of total pressures, inlet CO2 concentrations, and open-end versus closed-end modes of operation. The model accurately computed JCO2 and KLa for pH values above 8. Key trends are that (i) JCO2 and KLa increased with increasing average inlet CO2 partial pressure; (ii) open-end HFMs performed better than closed-end HFMs when the supplied CO2 was less than 100%; and (iii) the available membrane area used for CO2 mass-transfer decreased as the inlet CO2 partial pressure decreased due to depletion of CO2 inside the membrane, especially for closed-end HFMs, since inert gases could not be vented.

Research Organization:
Arizona State Univ., Tempe, AZ (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)
Grant/Contract Number:
EE0007093
OSTI ID:
1799270
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1564311
Journal Information:
Journal of Membrane Science, Vol. 592, Issue C; ISSN 0376-7388
Publisher:
ElsevierCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 6 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

References (17)

Long-Term Performance of Parallel-Flow, Bubbleless, Hollow-Fiber-Membrane Aerators journal January 1999
Techno-economic analysis of autotrophic microalgae for fuel production journal October 2011
An efficient system for carbonation of high-rate algae pond water to enhance CO2 mass transfer journal February 2011
CO2 bio-mitigation using microalgae journal May 2008
Advanced Control for Photoautotrophic Growth and CO 2 -Utilization Efficiency Using a Membrane Carbonation Photobioreactor (MCPBR) journal June 2011
Periodic venting of MABR lumen allows high removal rates and high gas-transfer efficiencies journal September 2017
Enhanced CO2 fixation and biofuel production via microalgae: recent developments and future directions journal July 2010
Transfer of Carbon Dioxide within Cultures of Microalgae: Plain Bubbling versus Hollow-Fiber Modules: TRANSFER OF CARBON DIOXIDE WITHIN CULTURES OF MICROALGAE journal January 2001
Compilation of Henry's law constants (version 4.0) for water as solvent journal January 2015
The thermodynamics of direct air capture of carbon dioxide journal February 2013
The use of independently sealed microporous hollow fiber membranes for oxygenation of water: model development journal April 1992
Selection of Lactococcus lactis HY7803 for Glutamic Acid Production Based on Comparative Genomic Analysis journal February 2021
Use of sealed end hollow fibers for bubbleless membrane aeration: experimental studies journal April 1992
Measurement of Overall Volumetric Mass Transfer Coefficients for Carbon Dioxide in a Well-Mixed Reactor Using a pH Probe journal June 2006
Microalgal Reactors: A Review of Enclosed System Designs and Performances journal January 2006
Method to Prepare Lab-Sized Hollow Fiber Modules for Gas Separation Testing journal May 2014
Use of transverse flow hollow fibers for bubbleless membrane aeration journal February 1996