Date of Defense
10-11-2025 6:00 PM
Location
F1-1077
Document Type
Dissertation Defense
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy in Chemical Engineering
College
COE
Department
Chemical and Petroleum Engineering
First Advisor
Prof. Mohamed Al-Marzooqi
Keywords
CO2 desorption; solvent regeneration; catalytic enhancement; membrane contactors.
Abstract
Global warming, which is mostly caused by greenhouse gas emissions, is rapidly becoming a serious issue. Prospective technology for capturing CO2 from point source pollution has recently received a lot of interest. Carbon capture and storage (CCS), particularly through amine-based absorption methods, is one of the most developed industrial processes for capturing anthropogenic and natural CO2. Although amine-based absorption remains the most mature technology for industrial CO2 capture, yet its largescale deployment is hindered by the high energy requirement of solvent regeneration. To address this challenge, we explored both catalytic and membrane-assisted approaches to improve the efficiency of CO2 desorption from rich amine solutions. Catalytic strategies employing nanocomposites such as MoO3/ZIF-67 modified with phosphotungstic acid (HPW) and MXene@MOF hybrids introduced abundant Lewis and Brønsted acid sites, significantly accelerating carbamate breakdown and proton transfer for promoting regeneration. These catalysts enhanced CO2 desorption rates significantly and increased CO2 release while reducing regeneration energy consumption by up to one-third compared with conventional methods. In parallel, membrane-based techniques were advanced through the design of hollow fiber membrane contactors (HFMCs). Commercially available PTFE and self-fabricated PES-based hollow fiber membranes module (HFMM) were developed, with PES membranes further modified using LiCl and TiO2 to optimize pore structure, mechanical stability, and surface chemistry. These modifications improved mass transfer and facilitated solvent regeneration, improving stripping efficiency under favorable operating conditions. Integration of catalytic materials within membrane modules further boosted desorption, demonstrating the synergistic potential of catalystmembrane hybrid systems. Collectively, these studies highlight that advanced catalysts and hollow fiber membranes module system can substantially reduce the energy penalty associated with amine regeneration. The integrated approach provides a promising pathway for developing energy-efficient, scalable CO2 capture technologies to mitigate industrial greenhouse gas emissions.
Included in
ENHANCING THE ENERGY EFFICIENCY OF CO2-RICH AMINE SOLUTION REGENERATION THROUGH INNOVATIVE CATALYST AND ADVANCED MEMBRANE MODULE SYSTEM
F1-1077
Global warming, which is mostly caused by greenhouse gas emissions, is rapidly becoming a serious issue. Prospective technology for capturing CO2 from point source pollution has recently received a lot of interest. Carbon capture and storage (CCS), particularly through amine-based absorption methods, is one of the most developed industrial processes for capturing anthropogenic and natural CO2. Although amine-based absorption remains the most mature technology for industrial CO2 capture, yet its largescale deployment is hindered by the high energy requirement of solvent regeneration. To address this challenge, we explored both catalytic and membrane-assisted approaches to improve the efficiency of CO2 desorption from rich amine solutions. Catalytic strategies employing nanocomposites such as MoO3/ZIF-67 modified with phosphotungstic acid (HPW) and MXene@MOF hybrids introduced abundant Lewis and Brønsted acid sites, significantly accelerating carbamate breakdown and proton transfer for promoting regeneration. These catalysts enhanced CO2 desorption rates significantly and increased CO2 release while reducing regeneration energy consumption by up to one-third compared with conventional methods. In parallel, membrane-based techniques were advanced through the design of hollow fiber membrane contactors (HFMCs). Commercially available PTFE and self-fabricated PES-based hollow fiber membranes module (HFMM) were developed, with PES membranes further modified using LiCl and TiO2 to optimize pore structure, mechanical stability, and surface chemistry. These modifications improved mass transfer and facilitated solvent regeneration, improving stripping efficiency under favorable operating conditions. Integration of catalytic materials within membrane modules further boosted desorption, demonstrating the synergistic potential of catalystmembrane hybrid systems. Collectively, these studies highlight that advanced catalysts and hollow fiber membranes module system can substantially reduce the energy penalty associated with amine regeneration. The integrated approach provides a promising pathway for developing energy-efficient, scalable CO2 capture technologies to mitigate industrial greenhouse gas emissions.